#of course is mullet James

[nickybloodhead]

Kinktober day 29: Breath Play

James had you in missionary, his hands holding your thighs to keep your legs open while he was balls deep in your eager hole. You scratched his back every time he buried himself deep in you, his hips bucking in a relentless rhythm.

James had been so needy after being out all day, his impatience had driven him to wake you up in the middle of the night just to fuck you once and for all; he kissed your collarbones and breasts, his balls slapping against your ass with each thrust.

"I can never get enough of you baby, you're like a fucking addiction and I want you so bad" His hands let go of your legs to caress the contours of your body, he cradles your tits and kneads them as he sucks one of them. He stops laying on your body and kneels to fuck you harder, he rests a hand on your neck gently, it makes your brain melt and you moan desperately.

You grab his wrist and force him to tighten his grip on your throat, you bite your lip and squeal as you feel the slight pressure, but you need more, he seems surprised by your reaction but gets the message, he chuckles and squeezes your throat a little harder.

You cling to his arm and gasp as you feel his thrusts getting rougher and rougher, his fat cock is stretching you deliciously, the pre cum and your slick helping to make the slide smooth and fast.

"Come on James, you can choke me better than that" With your voice cracking you tell him in a teasing tone and wink teasingly, he raises his eyebrow and smiles sideways, his hand wraps around your throat tightly, clench as his hips crash hard against your pussy, the bumps hard enough to move you off the bed.

"That's the way you want it, huh? I was trying to make love to you but you're the filthy one who wants it rough" Shortness of breath makes you gasp at his words, you wrap your legs around his waist and pull him closer to you, he grunts keeping his firm grip on your neck.

Your walls contract around his length, you're close as he is, his hips stutter in his thrusts, your mouth hangs open as you watch him lose control, drool dripping from the corner of your mouth.

You bring your hand down to fiddling with your clit, make circles over the swollen bud until you feel the climax flood your body, with his hand wrapped tightly around your throat and your back arched you cum, wave after wave of your wetness dripping around his girth, you gasp for air and moan his name repeatedly until you're done. His hand withdraws from your neck, you feel him pull out of you, you see him masturbating on your belly, his head turned back with his mouth open, his chest damp with sweat and his fist pumping his cock until he milks the last drops of his cum.

Your chests rise and fall, trying to even out your breathing, you smile sleepily at James, take his hand and pull him to lie down next to you. You snuggle against his warm body and drift back to sleep.

And finally, it's here... I don't know about you, but I hate family reunions, they're always so uncomfortable.

[jimmyspades]

My mom made a point to say she really liked Alan’s hair here….. bf got the parental seal of approval

[floredaqueen]

billy and isa after a huge fight? 👀👀 (love, love, LOVVEEE your art and fics! keep up the great work, baby doll! you’re so fab :))

Hello, helloo!!♡

I love love LOOOOVVVEEE YOU!! And you're so lovely ♡♡ I hope I can do your ask justice (also sorry in advance if it takes me forever to finish but I hope you enjoyy♡>///< ♡♡

BLURB +18

TW: Deals w/Bullying, Heavy Profanity, Billy being a dickhead. Hurt w/Comfort The usual ♡

...

Isa and Billy don't really fight, especially since Isa is very conflict avoidant. She's getting better at that communication, but they rarely ever yell, scream, or say mean things to one another. If they ever did fight, it was probably during the first year they met; their senior year...

The first week of senior year for Isabela was like riding a bike. Easy A's all across the board. The Latina was already climbing the academic totem pole, and now, with all of her extracurriculars, she'd be moving faster and to new heights. She made time for other important tasks, not having much of it for boys or crushes.. that is until she heard about the new boy from Cali.

Rumors were already spreading, and he hasn't even been seen on campus anywhere yet. Just a few greetings on account to the popular girls at school, including her friend - and co-captain of the cheer squad- Nova James.

Still, though, to the intelligent Latina, it was all up to interpretation.. until she saw him strutting in with his denim on denim ensemble. His dirty blonde mullet perfectly quafted, and his ocean blue gaze stared down anyone, whether intentional or not. Her Hersheys chocolate gaze heavied one every perfect aspect he had to offer. His chilled chin was probably a dream to lovingly scratch, his very well-shaped hair, his piercing blue eyes that made her fold into herself, and his beautiful smile. He was all perfect.. too perfect.. which is why she wasn't surprised he turned out to be a complete asshole.

When they first crossed paths, he didn't even acknowledge her, the Cali boy bumping into her and only rolling his eyes in annoyance before brushing her off to the side. That when she knew he was a jerk, even if he was the most beautiful boy she's ever seen.

Later that day, she'd see him a few more times. He was notably in her calculus honors class, looking as confused as one who wasn't ready for this level of comprehension. Out of the corner of her wide eyes, Isabela could Billy trying to get someone's attention... and then he turns to her. He turns to her, whispering, "Hey,"s and "Excuse me,"s until he decides to get her attention by force.

The next thing the fresh-faced senorita knows is she's being hit on the side of the head with a balled up piece of notebook paper. She didn't believe it at first, still trying to process it right as he threw another. The second ball of paper clung to her hair as she turned around to face him, an annoyed expression on her face as she met his eyes.

As "taboo" as Isabela was to Billy, he had to admit that she wasn't half bad looking. In fact, she looked veey sweet with her pouting lip. Her eyes were so full and bright even theough her glasses, like a deer. He found it cute when she very clearly was getting nervous just by the look of him. He knew he could have that effect on people.

Billy smiled with teeth, his eyes setting on her filled out worksheet to note that she one hundred percent knew what she was doing. All of the questions filled out precisely by the slightly timid hispanic. A smart girl too? He knew it's be fun to make her lose her cool.

"What?" Isabela would whisper in annoyance, already wanting this interaction to be over. Of course, quite the opposite happened, Billy dragging on his words as if he was spelling it out for her. top!

"You mind helping me with this assignment? I'm a little lost," He asked, all with a toothy smile. Isa dead panned for a moment, letting herself express a bit of her annoyance with an eyebrow before turning to her own worksheet.

"Clearly," She muttered under her breath before handing him her notes. He looked over them and then stashed them in his notebook on the other side of her desk.

"The hell are you doing??"

"I'm gonna need this if I plan on passing any assignments for this week," Isabela huffed at his snark response as she tried to snatch his folder. Swiftly he moved his things, and her worksheet, away from her grasp.

"Give it back!" She whispered with an annoyed twitch with her upper lip. She even tried to grab at it, Billy quickly gripping her wrist only to throw her hand back in her direction.

"I don't hear that magic word, sweetness," With an eye roll and the crossing of her arms, Isa let it go, hoping she can get it back at least at the end of the day.

...

It'd be like that for the rest of the school year. Isa would be minding her business (and admiring Billy from afar) and the asshole in question would tease her and steal her work if he managed to get his hands on it. As annoying as it was it never got violent.. and it was pretty tame.. until one day.

Isa couldn't shake the feeling of so many eyes on her. She was able to hold her head high, but it felt near impossible today. When she did catch a few guys staring and snickering, she realized it was at her.. was there something on her face? In her hair..? What was their deal??

The hispanic scholar would soon find that out when she was approached by Tommy Hagan. The freckle covered guy was snickering as he walked over, crossing his sweater clad arms as he leaned against the locker beside hers.

"Wheeler, when were you gonna let me in on your dirty little secret..?" He jibed mischievously as Isa attempted to ignore him while retrieving her materials for her next class.

"What are you on about, Hagan..?" She turned to face him, her eyes rolling in response to his snarky grin. He casually shrugged his arms, not-so-subtly cornering her against the metal lockers while simultaneously spilling all of beans to her.

"Well, it seems that a hefty amount of my friends know what's under that pretty skirt of yours.. and I was wondering if I could get in on th-" Before Tommy could even finish his sentence, he was met with a hard slap against his face. It even has him stepping back a bit, giving Isabela ample time to hastily walk away from that conversation.

She knew for a fact he was spouting bullshit.. but it was strange that he had the balls to tell her, so who told him that? Who would even believe it? Whoever it was, she couldn't take for another second someone trying to shit on her perfect reputation and perception of who she really was.

By 6th period, things had only gotten worse, the overwhelmed Isabela finding herself hiding behind the abandoned bleachers that clung to the outskirts of the outdoor basketball court. She was calming herself down, attempting to get lost in one of her favorite Shakespeare fables, wondering if she'd ever find something as tantalizing as this culture phenomenon wrote about instead of having to deal with the likes of these jerks in this podink town..

One of her dainty, delicate hands wiped the tears developing in her eyes from the thought of all the mean and assuming words that were thrown her way today. Isa continued to keep her focus on the pages until she heard a snap of a twig.

The snap was caused by none other than the pretty boy she's been trying steadily to avoid, one of his calloused hands running through dirty blonde curls as the other flicked at his lighter to light the cigarette between his full lips.

She thought quickly.. too quick. She practically scattered as she jumped off the bleachers only to hide behind them on the other side as the rest of possey appeared beside him. The hung out beside on her side, too close to wear she kept herself as hidden as she could.

Their conversation went about as the latina thought it would, overhearing the socialites go on and on about on about their usual. Having or crashing parties, stealing booze from their parents' liquor cabinets, unprotected sex in the most obscene of places.. and girls.. but not just any girls. It was hurt they were joking about..

"Man, Isabela is so damn up tight," Tommy starts with a heavy huff. The side of his face was stilly slightly red from the hearty slap the latina previously gave him.

"The prude acts like she has a stick up her ass every time a guy walks up to her," He jibed, earning a soft giggle from Carol as they both relaxed against the brick wall.

"Only because she's never had dick in her life," She deduced, taking another hit of her tobacco stick.

"Yeah.. because she's boring," Billy finally snorts while crossing his denim covered arms. They both look at him with curious eyes, confused about his knowledge of the mouse that was way closer than they thought she was.

"I dont know about you, but I'm not getting a hardon for someone who's probably going to end up with cats because she doesn't know how to open her legs, "

The other takes, Isa's heard before. They were superficial and petty, especially coming from the two infamous idiots who's never worked for anything. But from Billy? Like an idiot, she thought he'd be above this, but his words hit right on her already racing heart.

"Good point," Tommy nodded, stomping out how own cig as Billy started.

"That's why I spread that rumor about her. Was trying to do her a favor. Maybe she'll actually get laid and get her first taste of dick.." The blonde said matter-of-factly as if she should be thanking him.

"Seems Billy has a soft spot for the prude," Carol would scoff teasingly, her face practically egging him on to prove her wrong. Billy, of course, denies her accusation.

"Nah. You won't ever see me going out with that bitch.."

All of those words.. those mean hurtful words. As much as she promised herself not to let it hurt her, Isa couldn't stop the constant stream of tears going down her cheeks. She tried to remain quiet, but a soft sniff of a breath gave her away.

"Who's there??" The alpha of the pack of wolves called out, his sharp blues finding sorrowful wide does eyes as Isa revealed herself to the group. They all sighed, embarrassed that she just happened to be there to listen to the conversation about her. With the tears still running down her glowing cheeks, they felt a little guilty. Not Billy, though. All Billy could think about was how pretty she looked when she cried. All sweet and innocent, even if they're hope was crushed.

"..you spread those rumors about me..?"

"C'mon, Wheeler- it was a j-"

"You're the reason why guys are following me??? Why everyone is calling me a slut, and how I simplemente no puedo guardarlo en mis pantalones cuando tÚ ERES EL VERDADERO PERRO,"

It was silent for a few seconds after that, the wind the only thing between them before Billy broke the airy stillness with a chuckle.

"You're just upset that I wouldn't waste my time on someone like you.. but," He lazily takes a heavy step forward in her direction.

"If you keep that up..." The way his eyes relaxed gave Isa pause, and then she could feel her body tense as he invaded her space. "..I might throw you a bone,"

Right then and there, she completely tensed, her hand swinging open palm to connect with his face for a hard slap. Neither of them had time to register it as the left side of Billy's face stung.

"You don't know what I could do for you," Isa's voice shook in a shaky whisper, stepping ever closer towards her bully.

"You thinking thay one would get a leg up just by being with you, when you can't even fathom how lucky you'd be to have me. To be with me..." Her sharp eyes stayed on Billy as he scoffed and kept his head held high, obviously not expecting the slightly menacing utterance of her words. For some reason, it was hard to keep a steady eye contact.. The braniac then tilted her head as her brows furrowed.

"..maybe, you wouldn't be so insecure.." was the last thing she said before she turned around and grabbed her things. Billy sucked his teeth, not even realizing that his nails were digging into his own palms.

He watched as everyone around him brushed it off as her being sensitive.. but he knew she was right. And that was something he hated about her. She was always. Fucking. Right.

...

Every other day after, Billy couldn't ignore the heavy weight in his chest. Best believe he tried, using all the usual tricks he had up his denim sleeve. But no matter how much drugs, girls, and bench pressing he did, he knew what he had to do to really get over.

Suddenly, after the usual attempt to mind melt at one of Tommy's parties, he found himself at the Wheeler residence. It was nicer than he anticipated, turning off the loud engine so as not to disturb anyone else.

Isabela was half asleep, cuddling her pillow in nothing but a tank top, mint colored undies, and sunflower socks she had recently bought from the mini market. So, when she heard -and soon saw- rocks being thrown at her window..

Begrudgingly, she got up, her footsteps as light as a feather. Billy annoyingly felt his body slightly perk uo at the sound of the front door unlocking, only to see Isa all tuckered out and peering up at him.

"Good, I got your attention.." He jibed, his hands stuffed in his jean pockets as his sharp blues took her in. Usually, Billy excelled at eye contact.. but this time around, his eyes roamed a lot more than he meant for them to.

Her curls were all messy, her nipples were poking out of her baby tee, and her bottom lip was pouted out. Fuck. Out of all the times to feel something for this girl, this was the worst time.

"What do you want, Hargrove?" She huffed, watching as he slightly awkwardly straightened up.

"I just wanted to.. uh.." He began to trail off, his eyes drifting down to her legs. Billy then only realized how he's never seen them before. They've been hidden by all the loose jeans and maxi skirts she'd wear.

He didn't expect them to be so.. toned. Every smooth curve was built with muscle even though she was known to be light on her feet. Not to mention her huge thighs.

"Yea- okay.." She rolled her eyes, going to close the door in his face only for Billy to swiftly propped his arm up against the hatch.

"I came here to... apologize" There was a long pause after that, the latina blinking a couple of times before parting her lips.

"Well, you're very bad at it," He scoffed, annoyed at her snarky remarks she'd conjure up from every word he spoke.

"Yeah, I've gathered that," He'd pause, letting the air between them fill the silence for a bit as he thought about what to say.

"You didn't deserve what I put you through. It wasn't right, and—" and as he continued to practally ramble, Billy became all the more aware of being under her scrutiny. He could feel her big brown, fatigued eyes studying his every word before her whole demeanor relax.

This.. this whole situation was weird. Why the hell did he feel like this? No girl has ever made him think twice about the words that would flawlessly flow from his kissable lips. And out of all the girls at Hawkins, it was some measly little book worm that had him fumbling.

Isa wasn't doing good either. She was starting to believe him, her mind running through his emotions as he spoke. Billy seemed sincere, but Latina refused to expose her sympathy. Her expression stayed neutral.

By the end of it, the silence between them returned and thickened, Billy cleared his throat before he crossed his strong arms.

"..As much as your apology is appreciated, I don't accept it..." She softly spoke, grabbing the edge of the hatch. As he tried to protest, he was met with a door being shut in his face.

♡♥︎♡...♥︎♡♥︎

[eyesthatroll]

NOBODY'S LOVE

pairing: luke hughes x fem!reader

summary: your best friend is getting married, this is supposed to be a happy day, right?

warning(s): sad shit, idk

word count: 1.7k

author's note: would first like to give a disclaimer that i am not meaning any ill will toward any blondes who meet the beauty standard, it's just a plot line within the story. secondly, here are the songs that i listened to while writing this, that you could also listen to, to better the experience:

-Nobody's Love by Maroon 5

-Can I Be Him by James Arthur (acoustic version!)

-Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon

really hope you enjoy. sort of ends on a cliffhanger but i kind of like this a lot for the moment. as per usual, reblogs + feedback / constructive criticism are always appreciated. sending my love —mari

You can't help the sour expression that twists your features as your gaze remains fixed on Luke and Lacey. They're entwined in an intimate dance on the crowded floor, more akin to grinding than traditional dancing, with his hands gripping her waist as she moves against him.

Luke, as always, looks gorgeous, his white dress shirt slightly unbuttoned to reveal the glimmering silver chain nestled against his neck, and droplets of sweat glistening on his chest. His hair had at last emerged from the clutches of that dreadful mullet, now a lush cascade of curls artfully styled, with their length nearly reaching the nape of his neck.

She looks absolutely stunning, adorned in her sleek, form-fitting, white lace reception dress that gracefully accentuates every curve of her figure. Her blonde hair, meticulously blown out, showers down her back like a silken waterfall, its length elegantly concluding just below her waist. Of course, Luke had to marry a girl who was the epitome of the beauty standard.

You savor another mouthful of your White Russian, the sweet liquid sliding down your throat in a single, indulgent gulp. The empty glass collides with the table, emitting a sharp clink that punctuates your mounting inebriation. The responsible choice at this point, would be to balance it out with some water to regain sobriety. However, the longer you fixate on Luke and Lacey, the more you find yourself making repeated trips to the bar for another round.

Drinking, aside from providing a numbing effect to shield you from the emotional turmoil of observing Luke and Lacey, also effectively distracts you from dwelling on the rather disheartening image you must present: a solitary figure at a table in the back corner, solemnly nursing your drinks amidst the vibrant celebration of your best friend's wedding.

In this moment, regret gnaws at you for not scrounging up a plus one. Granted, you wouldn't have genuinely cared for the guy, but at least it would have spared you the pain and humiliation of sulking alone the entire reception. You could have been dancing with him, providing a buffer against the impending flood of tears as you watched Luke dance with Her.

Finishing off your glass, you stand up from your seat, and begin an unsteady journey back up to the bar, your gaze fixated on the ground in hopes of not having to make conversation with anyone. You slump on one of the barstools, and the bartender sends you a look of pity, shaking his head before you can even open your mouth to ask for another refill.

"Boss man says you're cut off, sorry." He apologizes, his hands efficiently polishing an empty glass.

Your mouth drops open, bewilderment etched across your face. You rub at your eyes, hoping to shake off the daze. "Boss man?"

He nods affirmatively. "Mr. Hughes."

Your face goes blank at his words. The revelation that Luke had noticed your excessive drinking at his wedding and even went as far as instructing the bartender to cut you off, feels like another dagger to your already wounded heart. An overwhelming sense of embarrassment envelops you, clinging to you like a suffocating second skin. Tears threaten to spill from your eyes, and with a heavy heart, you make a hasty retreat to the nearest bathroom, craving the solitude it offers for your impending emotional breakdown.

You rush into the bathroom, the door slamming shut behind you with a resounding thud. Your back meets the cool, unforgiving surface of the door, and you sink down to the floor in despair. Sobs wrack your body, escaping your quivering lips in a heartbreaking symphony of agony. Your elegant dress, once a symbol of celebration, now clings to you in disarray, its baby blue fabric gathering at your ankles. Unchecked tears stream down your face, creating dark rivulets against the pastel material, as you draw your knees up to your chest, a fragile attempt to find comfort amid the chaos of your sentiments. Snot drips from your nose, and you make no effort to wipe it away, too lost in your own despair to care about appearances.

The pounding music from outside serves as a veil, muffling your cries and offering you a small refuge, shielding you from the judgmental eyes of the reception as you succumb to this moment of pathetic, emotional turmoil.

You shouldn't have come. The realization hit you like a sledgehammer to the chest the moment Luke's voice choked out his vows to Lacey. It was in that poignant moment that you understood that attending this wedding had been a grave mistake. A searing pang of bitterness and longing seized your chest, an agonizing blend of emotions that consumed you entirely.

Luke poured his heart out to Lacey, and your own heart burned with a fiery jealousy you couldn't extinguish. You wished desperately that it was you standing at the altar, facing Luke with the warmth of family and friends as witnesses. You yearned for the opportunity to exchange vows with him, to profess your love openly and honestly, but it was a privilege that belonged to Lacey. Beautiful, intelligent, and sweet Lacey.

You searched relentlessly for a rational reason to despise her, an explanation that could somehow justify your feelings towards her, but she remained an enigma of kindness and grace. Lacey always went out of her way to strike up conversations with you, treating you with unwavering honor and consideration. She respected the cherished traditions you shared with Luke as best friends, even went as far as asking you to be a bridesmaid in the wedding. She truly was the epitome of an angel in human form, embodying virtues and qualities you felt outperformed your own shortcomings by a mile. Even so, you hated her. You didn't show it, but you felt it in your chest every time she was around, or Luke mentioned her.

You're unsure how much time passed as you sat there, silently weeping. A soft knock on the bathroom door, however, jolts you back to reality, and you unsteadily scramble to your feet, trying to compose yourself in a quick manner. As you gaze at your reflection in the mirror, a bitter, mirthless laugh escapes your lips. The person staring back at you is hardly recognizable.

Your once-radiant makeup is now a smudged mess. Black mascara and eyeliner have streaked down your cheeks, giving you the appearance of a disheveled raccoon. Your eyes are swollen and red from crying, and your foundation is ruined, marred by tear stains that have traveled all the way down to your neck. The reflection staring back at you is a stark contrast to the composed, put-together version of yourself you had intended to be at Luke's wedding.

You hastily tear off a few sheets of paper towels from the dispenser, letting them soak under a stream of warm water for a few moments before setting to work. The damp paper towel becomes a weapon against the lingering evidence of your emotional breakdown as you scrub mercilessly at your skin, each harsh stroke a testament to your turmoil. You ignored the stinging pain that accompanied it, and only when the paper towel had become a shredded, saturated mess, rendering it unusable, did you finally cease your relentless efforts.

Exhaling a series of deep breaths, you wipe at your eyes one last time, a sudden exhaustion mixed with the overwhelming desire to be alone, washing over you.

The night was far from over, and the lively atmosphere of the party still pulsed through hall. Family members of both Luke and Lacey, along with a scattering of friends and NHL players, mingled and celebrated. Your eyes scanned the crowded space, contemplating the possibility of making a discreet exit through the back door, escaping without notice.

As you inch closer to the side exit, your heart skips a beat when a sudden hand lands firmly on your shoulder. Startled, you instinctively clutch your chest, the adrenaline from the surprise coursing through your veins. You turn around, your breath slowing at the relief of seeing it's only Jack. His intense gaze locks onto yours, his hand still resting on your shoulder as he asks, "Leaving without saying goodbye?"

Your voice quivered, barely rising above a harsh whisper, as if the music's deafening volume could somehow amplify your confession. "I can't be here."

Jack's gaze softens with a deep understanding as he witnessed the raw emotion you could no longer conceal. His gentle touch finds its way to the small of your back, effortlessly drawing you into his comforting embrace. Your body quivers with dejection, and you give in to your overwhelming afflictions, sobbing uncontrollably into his collar.

"I shouldn't have come, Jack. It hurts too much," you stutter, your sobs punctuating each word like an unwelcome intruder within a happy home. He stays silent, his hands tenderly massaging your back in a desperate attempt to offer solace. Though it's a mutual understanding that the one person who could truly comfort you in the situation, could never know the reason behind your pain.

"I'm sorry, Y/N," he says, his apology carrying the weight of an unspoken truth. Jack shouldn't be apologizing for his brother, but he can't help it. He was there throughout the entirety of you realizing your newfound feelings for Luke. He truly believed that the two of you were destined to be together, especially after you had confided in the him about what happened between you and Luke that one night.

He was there when the light dimmed in your eyes, the day when Luke introduced everyone to Lacey just a week after meeting her, claiming immediate love at first sight. You are like the little sister he never had, and he found himself standing at a crossroads, torn between the pain his little brother had caused you and his desire for both of you to find happiness. But the realization that it might not be with each other changed the dynamic within everything.

"What's going on here?"

[in-hav3n]

i have this idea of you reacting to james' mullet haircut for the first time, like you don't like it at first sight but after a few days you start to get into it <3 he was so hot in that era btw

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄 

As you parked in front of the studio around 2pm, you were still wondering what was this important thing James needed to show you. You knew they were preparing a few new songs but you were sure he showed you all the riffs ideas they got. The only clue you had was a note he wrote this morning and left on the table.

"Meet me in the studio this afternoon, have something to show you".

Your first reaction was to smile at the note. You were used to these random quick messages, addressed to you for many reasons, like "Can you please buy bacon ? I'm hungry for it" or "Giant barbecue with the guys on Saturday night?". But this one was particularly mysterious…

More and more intrigued, you came into the studio's little kitchen a few minutes later, greetings the band and the studio's management, hoping that at least one of them could help you to discover what it was.

"Do you know why James asked us to all come here today?", Kirk handed you a coffee mug. You shook your head at his question, thanking him for the drink.

"Absolutely no idea and honestly, I thought you could help me..."

"Sorry honey", Lars added as he was playing with his drumsticks, pretending he was playing on invisible drums. "Jaymz is the best when it's about keeping secrets or hiding informations".

"Oh yes, he is...", you answered with a smirk, taking a sip of the hot drink, wondering when your boyfriend would show up to put an end to this mystery.

And just at the thought of him, his truck was heard outside, roaring into the parking area until he stopped the engine.

"There he is!", Jason said as he peeped through he window. "and...oh oh...", you saw the bassist opening his eyes like if he had noticed something. "NO he didn't!".

You frowned even more at his words, wondering what was happening. But soon enough you got your answer...James finally came into the room, joining you all and you discovered the big change he had done with his hair.

Everyone reacted to it of course, some laughed, others couldn't believe their eyes. And you, well. You just stared, eyes and mouth opened, realizing slowly that your boyfriend had cut those beautiful long hair of his you loved to do a mullet instead.

When he had finished greeting everyone, he came over you, wearing a proud grin on his face.

"So...", he started, hands on his hips, "do you like it baby?". He posed then to show his haircut in different angles.

"I...hum...", you mumbled, searching for the right words. You didn't want to disappoint him but honestly, you didn't like it...

"You?", he added, encouraging you to speak and it was worst. You couldn't lie to him. So you sighed and pouted, feeling sorry already for the words you were about to say...

"I'm sorry James, I don't like it...". You saw his smile fading away and you felt bad for it so you quickly added, "but if you like it then it's great!", hoping this would comfort him.

"I do like it"!, he defended himself, crossing his arms. "And I thought you'd have too ! But seems like no one does!", he complained, even pouted slightly and you felt bad.

"I know James but...you have to understand it's really...unusual and very 80s", you told him, still feeling bad.

"Well I like it and I'll keep it!", he declared and you didn't talk about his haircut anymore...

...until a few few days later.

Lying down on a deck chair, enjoying the beautiful spring sun, you were focusing on some papers you need to read for your job. James was out too, a few meters away, cutting some wood pieces with his axe for the next winter.

Lost in your thoughts for a second, proceeding to understand something you just read, you looked up from your paper and your gaze landed on him. He was wearing a black short, his working boots and had taking off his flannel shirt he had tied up around his waist. Some what drops were rolling from his forehead to his cheeks, some of his long hair were stuck on his back due to the sweat.

And this is how you realized that this haircut was absolutely sexy on him. It awaken you something primal, something you've never felt or thought before. He truly looked like a strong wood man and this was exciting.

James stopped his task for a moment, grabbed the bottle of water he let near the tree trunk and drank a big gulp, some water even ran along his bare chest. And soon he noticed your glance in his peripheral vision, smirking as he put the bottle down, wiping his lips with his palm.

"Enjoying the view baby?", his question put you out of your trance. You blinked a few times before you realized he had caught you. You blushed and smirked at him too, biting your lips.

"Forget what I said a few days ago..."

"About?", he wondered, walking over you with his axe on his shoulder. You looked more at him with sparkling eyes, biting your lips.

"Your haircut is absolute sexy". James frowned at first but then cracked a laughter at her revelation.

"Sexy uhm?...what made you change your mind sweetheart? A few days ago, you told me it was horrible".

"I don't care anymore. I changed my mind. Come here you sexy man!", you giggled as you grabbed him by his shirt's sleeve, ready to embrace those primal needs you were feeling...

A/N : I love those asks about James hairstyles! The mullet is definitely one of his most iconic one. I personally like it but I know some don't lol. Thanks for asking this sweet anon, hope you'll like it :)

[jimblejamblewritings]

the fake date plot | part 3.

Summary: Gryffindors, seventh years, classmates, unrequited love. Just a few things Y/N and James Potter had in common. When a brilliantly dumb plan is hatched the two end up getting something a little different than what they wanted.

Warnings for the Series: literally none that I can think of this is supposed to be just good fluffy fun

Pairing: James Potter x reader

Word Count: 4.4k

A/N: there is music in this chapter so here's a spotify playlist —> click here

Previous Part | (Series Chapter List)

You waved Alice over to the Gryffindor table when she came down for breakfast. The two of you were always early. After realizing your roommates weren’t morning people, you started to sneak to breakfast and avoid the squeaky dip in the floor right before the door. It was always you and Alice in the mornings for about twenty minutes before even the professors came to eat. Your friend sat down right in front of you. 

“You know my friend, Lucille, right?” she asked as she piled her plate with breakfast pastries. 

“Yeah. The girl with the mullet?” 

“Yes. Great, so she’s telling me that Xeno was staring at you the entire time at the party and complaining about you leaving with James. So now, we just want to know what’s going on between you two?” 

“I was drunk off my rocker. All he did was help me, James and I are just friends.” 

That word felt oddly right in your mouth. You and James were acting but a real friendship seemed to be forming. Since you both were going to come clean to Xeno and Lily once reaching your goals, you’d be happy to be real friends when the whole situation was over. 

Although keeping up appearances without someone else to know the secret was kind of draining. You wanted to tell Alice. You thought so as you and your friend walked to class. Maybe just maybe you could tell Alice.

Of course, you’d have to talk about it with James first. He’d probably want to tell the marauders. And you couldn’t tell Dorcas by any means. Because Dorcas talked a lot and she would tell Lily by complete accident and ruin the plan. You bent down to get your books out of your leather school bag and prepare for Charms. 

“Hey, so I’m thinking we go to Hogsmeade this weekend like the whole group. Of course, I’ll have to see if James isn’t asking Lily out. Although, I’m starting to be friends with the others I think so maybe Peter and Si—” 

You looked up to see Xeno instead of Alice sitting next to you. He gave you a smile that you meekly returned. 

“Is that an invitation for me?” 

You nodded. “Do you like karaoke?” 

You honestly didn’t hear Xeno’s answer. He sat next to you for the rest of the class and you had a hard time focusing. Maybe James’ plan was actually working. This was the longest conversation you ever had with the man next to you. The moment class ended and Xeno and Alice left you for their classes, you ran to the quidditch pitch to try and find James. 

He usually practiced or went over plays in his free time before lunch. You guys had given each other your school schedules on the first day so you could speak with each other privately or meet at different classrooms. James was right where you expected him, polishing his broom and cleaning the end of it. He grunted in surprise when you launched yourself at him, arms around his neck. 

“Xeno wants to go to karaoke, we have to move the date up to this weekend!” 

James left as he moved you off him. “Did you tell him we were going on a group date this weekend?” 

“Well, I thought I was talking to Alice but I turned around and it was him and I panicked.” 

“Okay, we’ll make it this weekend. You know, I’m glad this plan is working for one of us.” 

“Has Lily still not budged?” 

He shook his head. You tried to comfort James but it didn’t work. He put up the polish and held out a hand to help you off the bench. The two of you started the walk back to the castle. James looked at you multiple times before finally opening his mouth. 

“I know this is shitty of me but can we continue the karaoke plan even if Xeno asks you out? It’s just I’m not getting anywhere and I’m not sure why and Lily doesn’t se—” 

“Prongs.” You tried to shut him up. “Yeah, we can continue. I’m only having luck because of your plan.” 

“Thanks.” 

You linked your arm in his. “Don’t mention it. Come on, we’re totally going to get our people.” 

“Totally.” 

“Skip with me, Jamie.” 

“Of course, my lady.” 

The two of you skipped through the halls until you made it back to Gryffindor, ignoring the stares of the other students. People were bound to talk about it which would only help your case but you found you didn’t care. You wanted to stop thinking of James as just a coworker for the plot and more like a buddy. 

You told James, when the two of you reached the Gryffindor Tower, that you would ask Lily to Hogsmeade instead of him. She was more likely to go with roommates instead of a boy she knows has a crush on her. The moment your roommates found out it was karaoke night at the small pub next to Three Broomsticks, they were down. 

They also insisted on dressing you the moment you mentioned that Xeno was in the group of people going. You pulled down at the tight silk slip dress going barely past your butt that Dorcas had lent you. She swatted your hand before you reached the entrance of the school, insisting you looked great. 

Everyone else met you a few minutes after. Despite this being the start of how you guys were supposed to date, you and James walked with your crushes to Hogsmeade. You were up at the front and he was in the back of the group. You wondered if your friend was having better luck than you. Xeno was complimenting you but you were just unsure how to respond. Maybe you should have gone over flirting with James before the weekend had arrived. 

The group reached the small pub where almost no one else was. Three Broomsticks was way more popular but usually the small pub also had customers. Peter looked in the window of Broomsticks to see a bunch of people gathered around a stage. The Sugar Quills were playing and everyone was listening to them. You all shrugged. Sure, listening to the band would be fun but now you all had the small pub all to yourselves. 

The bartender seemed to be happy to see customers and greeted you all. You took the couch up at the front, overjoyed it was finally free for once. As expected, Sirius was first to the karaoke machine while you all were ordering drinks and food. You were curious what he was going to pick. A lot of muggle songs were covered by wizard bands or just got popular that his pick was the luck of the draw. 

You slapped a hand to your mouth when the first notes of Lady Marmalade started playing. The marauders looked at the rest of you. 

“He’s tone deaf,” Peter explained. “But loves singing.” 

Remus nodded. “Every day in the shower, under his breath, loves duets. Don’t worry, you can laugh. He’s already told us he doesn’t mind the laughter, he actually likes it cause it means you’re paying attention and enjoying the performance. It’s not like he doesn’t know he’s bad but he just thinks he’s not a strong singer.” 

“We haven’t had the heart to tell him the truth,” James said before turning to cheer his friend on. 

After their explanation, you all got comfortable and enjoyed Sirius’ performance. It was horrible singing but he looked so happy. He couldn’t dance either. That somehow made it so much more endearing. His arms were just flailing and his knees were shaking. But Sirius could strut like any runway model. He finished the performance with a spin before handing the mic to Mary. 

Between bites of sliders, fries, nachos, and desserts, you enjoyed everyone’s singing. Mary’s I Will Survive made the bartender dance. Lily found the trunk of accessories and costumes for karaoke to perform September which she put on a funny voice for.

She passed the mic to Alice’s other Hufflepuff friend who grabbed the group of Puffs to sing Hotel California on inflatable instruments. Alice stayed on stage to sing Superstition with her inflatable piano. She handed you the mic and your roommates cheered you on as you held up both hands and shuffled your way to the stage. You shuffled through all the songs available which was basically every single one. 

“I’m not a good singer,” you murmured into the mic as you picked a song. “Okay, this one.” 

It was a French song you knew because one of your childhood neighbors was an older French couple who moved to Uk because the wife was working in the Ministry of Magic as a liaison between the UK Ministry and France’s Circle of Magic. It wasn’t a dancing song, making you worried that you wouldn’t be as entertaining as everyone else so far. But Tous les garçons et les filles was a song that you were comfortable with. 

The others swayed on the couches and armchairs as you sang softly. Your smile got bigger when Sirius started singing with you, eyes closed, as he swayed on the couch. Bless him. The beautiful solo turned duet ended with soft claps from your friends before you handed the mic to Xeno. His hand covered yours, fingers rubbing slightly before continuing to the small stage. You didn’t know he was a fan of The Turtles but there he was singing Happy Together.  

“Do you mind if I sing another?” 

“Let’s go!” Sirius shouted, making all of you laugh. 

“Perfect.” Xeno ran a hand through his hair. “Frank, boys. Want to help me out?” 

Everyone ooh’d at the notion of backup singers. People made their own plans to do backup for each other. Frank Longbottom stood at the front of the backup crew, hands on his hips in a sassy pose as if he was born ready for this exact moment.

Xeno faced the back so he could dramatically turn around when it was time to sing Somebody to Love. You felt your cheeks get hot as you blushed from the song. It felt like he was staring right at you for most of the song. Or were you making it all up? He was definitely staring, right?  

The boys left Frank on stage at his request of being the next singer. He took your route of performing a slower song. Dorcas was the first to pull out her wand and let the tip of it light up ever so slightly as Frank continued his performance of Tiny Dancer. You, Mary, and Lily squealed when he approached Alice and held her hand. Frank had always been an unnoticed sweetheart that you guys couldn’t help but melt at his gesture. He ended the song and gave it back to Alice. 

She grabbed Mary and forced her onstage to do a duet of Ain’t No Mountain High. They swapped out Alice and added Marlene and Lily to perform Proud Mary. The girls forced all of you off the couch to dance which you did.

You shimmied shoulders with James before turning to Xeno and dancing with him a little. The song ended and James was up next. He looked Lily in the eye as he took the mic that was in her hands even though Marle was closer. She looked away quickly, almost nervous. 

James picked Build Me Up Buttercup. His singing voice was deeper than you thought it would be. You smiled as you watched him direct his attention to Lily who seemed to be enjoying it but wasn’t making any moves. James sat next to her and gave the mic to Xeno’s friends. He wasn’t listening too hard as they sang I Want You Back or when Dorcas sang L-O-V-E or when Peter sang I’m a Believer. However, Lily didn’t move much closer to him but she did give him a smile. 

You all laughed when Marlene picked I’m Coming Out. Sirius informed you she sings that at every opportunity despite coming out every other week since fourth year. She gave the stage to Remus who was the only person that hadn’t performed since y’all been there. The songs were coming to an end and you all would probably leave after thirty minutes or so of talking. Your mouth dropped open when Remus opened his mouth to sing It’s Not Unusual. 

Sirius nodded as he leaned over. “Voice of an angel that one.” 

“No kidding.” 

You shivered, rubbing up and down your arms after Xeno took a short run to the bathroom. James moved over when he spotted you out of the corner of his eyes. You looked away from Remus’ stellar performance for a moment to see a sweater underneath your nose. James was now in a t-shirt. 

“You seemed uncomfortable too,” he whispered. 

“The girls picked this outfit. It’s cute but I don’t think I’m drunk enough to wear it.” 

He laughed. “That the only reason you accepted my outfit?” 

“I took four shots before you even arrived at our dorm.” 

“Four shots? No wonder you were blackout by the end of the night.” 

You were about to say something else but the two of you were interrupted by Remus calling the boys on stage. James left the couch while you put on his jumper. You never thought you would see the day that the marauders plated Y.M.C.A.

How many times had they sung the song? Because they had a whole routine that didn’t seem to be made up on the spot. No one was looking at one person to follow the moves they were doing. This was an entire production. James tapped his head three times and you knew it was the signal. 

Nervous was an understatement as you approached the stage when the marauders finished their song. Remus winked at you and you would have thought he knew what you and James were doing but that was impossible. It was time for the acting performance of your life. James and you had to look in love to everyone else but simultaneously oblivious to each other. Easier said than done. 

Naturally, you picked Crocodile Rock. Not quite the romantic duet but it was one of your favorite songs and the most comfortable for acting. You and James spun around, held hands, danced like you were in your own world.

When Alice choked on her drink after James dipped you, you thought you might actually convince them. James didn’t linger on stage, giving the mic to Peter the moment the song ended. Peter, in a bit  of shock, called Dorcas and Mary up with him. The three of you laughed when he picked Play That Funky Music — a perfect way to end karaoke. 

Everyone talked a little after before the whole group left the pub to head back to the castle. Being a seventh year was great, there was basically no curfew as long as you had your id on you to check back in with whoever was at the front.

Everyone had kind of defaulted back to walking with their friend group, except you and James who were now at the very front of the pack. You stumbled a little at the end of the Hogsmeade oath. James held your elbow to stop you from face planting completely. 

“You and platforms are clearly not friends.” 

“Shut up.” You made it only two steps before tripping again over a branch. “I’m sorry, help me please.” 

James laughed as he took off his shoes. You raised your eyebrows as he told you to take your shoes off. James switched with you, charming the platforms so they would fit properly on his feet. 

“Can you even wa…” 

He had no problems making it back to the castle. He didn’t even have problems making it up the stairs. You didn’t follow the rest of the Gryffindors, making sure Alice got back to Hufflepuff then the Ravenclaws made it to their tower. You paused outside of Ravenclaw common room when Xeno stopped. He turned to face you. 

“Tonight was a lot of fun. You should hang out with us a lot more.” 

“You were a great singer.” 

“Thank you,” Xeno said with a smile. “You were good too, I’m not lying.” 

You looked away from him for a moment before meeting his eyes again. “Well, thank you. Bye.” 

“Wait, wait a minute. I’m not letting you walk to Gryffindor alone.” 

A smile crept onto your face as he walked with you. The two of you were right in step with each other up until you reached the entrance of your House. Xeno grabbed your hand. 

“You looked really nice tonight… Hey, at the party, that was your first time drinking, right?” 

“Was it that obvious?” 

“You did kind of shout it to the world.” 

“No, I was talking to James about it.” 

“You were shouting it over the music. So was that your only first?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“You’ve shagged before? Or snogged maybe?” 

“No,” you whispered. 

“Oh.” 

“Oh?” 

“Nothing. I’ll see you around, yeah?” 

Xeno tapped your shoulder and gave you a side hug before leaving for his dorm. You felt tears start to well up. Before you knew it, the tears were streaming down your face as you stepped inside. You ran up to your dorm where almost everyone in the Gryffindor group was hanging out and playing cards. Trying to hide your face you went to your wardrobe to find some pajamas and your toiletry bag. You turned back around with a bundle of clothes in your hands, hiding half of your face. 

“What does it mean when someone says oh because the person they’re talking to hasn’t even kissed someone before?” 

Sirius shrugged, not looking up but shuffling the cards. “If they’re saying oh then they probably think the person is a loser virgin. Don’t get why that matters though… What? I don’t care if they’re a virgin or no—” 

Sirius looked up when Peter shoved him with an elbow and pointed at you. The other boy stuttered through trying to cover up what he said, not realizing you were asking because you were said person. The tears were coming down a bit harder. 

“Where’s James?” 

“Our room,” Peter said. 

Thanks barely left your throat as you left the room. You practically ran to the boys’ dorm, knocking on it softly. Groaning could be heard from the other side. James shuffled his slipper covered feet, opening the door with a bit of annoyance. You looked up at his half closed eyes. 

“I’m sorry, were you sleeping?” 

James opened his eyes when your voice sounded different. “Oh, Y/N, what happened?” 

You shook your head. “Can I just stay here for tonight?” 

James moved aside so you could come in. He had been asleep but was glad you came in because he was still in clothes from karaoke night and needed to change and properly get ready for bed. The two of you went into the bathroom. James tried to make you laugh as you both brushed your teeth, looking at each other through the mirror. He was succeeding a little bit. 

You both decided to just clean yourself up without making the other leave the bathroom. Besides, you wanted to vent with each other. James got into the shower, stripping from behind the curtain and throwing his clothes into a pile a little bit away. You got into the bathtub filled with bubble bath taken from James’ prime selection of bathing tools.

It was apple scented and clearly one of his favorites based on how empty it was. The bubbles covered all your important bits. James made the curtain levitate so it would cover his bottom half but opened the shower more so he didn’t have to shout for a conversation. 

“She gave me a side hug. A side hug! Girls don’t even give their friends side hugs, what does that mean? We are friends or supposed to be,” James said as he ran a washcloth over his body. 

“Was she weirded out when she hugged you?” 

“No.” 

“Then maybe she’s confused? We talk a lot in our dorms. I think she likes you but is concerned about how it makes her look.” 

“Huh?” 

“Well she’s spent a long time building up the perfect Head Girl image and no time for men especially you James. You are the definition of himbo jock that gets the nerdy perfect girl. It’s so cliché when you think about it.

"Next thing you know, you guys will get married at nineteen, have three kids too young and then she’ll resent you for the rest of her life and you will divorce and marry some barely legal Gryffindor to relive your glory days like the pathetic man you’d become and she’d get revenge by marrying your best-friend turned brother you turned out to be a better man than you ever were. It’s a typical fiction story whether book or movie, especially in the muggle world.” 

James laughed. “Thank you for that, bug.” 

You audibly shrugged. “We just have to show her that you’re more than a himbo jock who only cares about sports and banging the one girl he can’t have.” 

“Sounds good… and what about you?” 

“What about me? Sirius made it clear that Xeno thinks I’m some loser virgin. What do I do about that?” you asked as you finished washing up. 

“Sex isn’t the most important thing in a relationship and Xeno needs to realize that. He seems to be into your looks, that’s not the only thing. What if you guys get married then what?” 

“Are you insinuating I’m going to be an ugly sixty year old?” 

“I’m just saying sometimes looks fade. Xeno needs to see that dating is better than a one night stand or even a friend with benefits.” 

“Thanks. I guess we’re gonna start dating now?” 

“Phase two starts next Wednesday,” James confirmed. 

“How are we doing it?” 

You swore you could hear him thinking from where you were. 

“Do you mind getting drunk again?” 

“I was planning on living hangover free for the rest of my life.” 

“Can you fake it?” 

“How good of an actress do you think I am?” 

“I got it!” James clapped his hands. “Small party in our dorm, tell your roommates that they’re invited.” 

“I’m trusting you James… Okay, I’m getting out of the tub now.” 

“Eyes are closed.” 

You looked over to see he was so serious about not looking. You slipped into your pajamas, a set of shorts and a short sleeved shirt with a bunch of teddy bears on them. You hopped up on the counter to do your skincare, telling James you were dressed and he could look again. 

“Love the bears.” 

“Are you being sarcastic?” you asked as you applied toner. 

“No,” he scoffed. “Maybe I just like bears. Can you throw me my briefs?” 

“These?” 

“You don’t have to hold them like they’re soaked in basilisk venom.” 

“It’s your panties,” you said with a toss. 

“Um, ladies wear panties. These are briefs.” 

“You know in some countries they’re all panties.” 

James left the shower to put on the rest of his clothes. He stood behind you as you stayed sitting on the counter. You lifted your leg a little so he could grab his pants. You looked at him through the mirror and smiled. 

“Your curls are so pretty.” 

“Thank you. Everyone else in my family has bone straight hair but I finally started learning to take care of it. You have a lot of skin care… What?” James asked when you whipped around. 

“James Potter. This is just seven steps.” 

“SEVEN?” 

You sat on your knees and pulled your products closer to you. “Here. I’ll show you.” 

James was happy to hear he got six steps instead of seven because he had already washed his face with a cleanser. Technically with soap but you didn’t want to think about that. James listened intently as you went through the steps of toner, green tea and aloe serum, eye cream, moisturizer, and a light oil. You were positive everything was going in one ear and out the other but at least he stood still when you wiped the cotton pad of toner over his face. 

The two of you heard commotion in the dorm room. One set of footsteps followed by more sound. Remus’ voice was very loud as he asked if James was down in the common room. You pulled away for a moment so he could shout to his friends that he was in the bathroom and they could come in before returning to the aloe vera serum you were spreading on his face. 

Peter opened the door. His eyes went wide as he squeaked and then closed the door quickly. Sirius and Remus, who were looking for pajamas after using the cleaning spell on themselves because they just couldn’t be bothered to take a proper shower, looked over at him. Sirius took off his shirt, his question coming out muffled. 

“What’s the problem, Wormy?” 

Peter moved away from the door. “Y/N’s in there and Prongs is shirtless.” 

The other two boys went wide-eyed. At first they didn’t believe him but they heard James laugh from the bathroom and you yell at him to give something back before he ruins it with his grubby fingers. When the bathroom door opened, the other marauders tried to look as nonchalant as possible in their beds.

James was no longer shirtless but in a white henley but you did come out of the bathroom with him. Instead of leaving, you made him move over so you could share his bed. The room was extra quiet as the boys tried to eavesdrop. 

“Can we not bother with the pillow barrier?” you asked James. “I’m still kind of upset.” 

James opened his arms. “Come here.” 

The other three marauders heard nothing else. You and James had wanted to go to sleep after the eventful night. Besides, there was lots to plan when it was a more respectable time of the day. 

(part 4)

THIS TAGLIST:

@starsval @helloitsmeeeeeee @callsigndiamond @isabela30 @rachelccollier @siriuslycaptainofthedawntreader @mommymilkerfanclub @ghostkingblake @b3t0xic @tendous-pretty-hair

PERMANENT TAGLIST:

@venomsvl @peaches-n-sunscreen @summerellaz @supernaturallover2002 @sambucky8 @9daykrisr @thebitchinleo @23victoria @scarlets-widow @pagetpagetpagetpaget @lovexnatasha @awesomebooklover17 @1234-angelika @imatrisk @blackreaderatrisk @princess-jules47 @alexloveskili @a-marie-a @siriuslysirius1107​ @i-have-no-life-charlie

[artemisrogers]

Holier than Thou James Hetfield x Kirk Hammett

Songs to listen to during story

It's only a few weeks after the end of the black album tour, and the band decided to go ahead and spend a few days outdoors for camping. Kirk doesn't want anyone finding out his dirty secret with James. Of course what happens in the woods, stays in the woods.

I couldn't sleep for the life of me! I've tried counting sheep, sleep pills, something to help me out. Lars, Jason, and James were sleeping in their tents. Knowing I wasn't gonna sleep anytime soon I quietly unzipped my tent and stepped out into the cool air. I put my hands in the pockets of my jeans, a slight wind blowing my hair around and put a small shiver up my spine as I was in my sleeveless shirt too.

I didn't really pay much attention to what was going on. When I heard a zipper open I looked over and saw James' tall figure coming out. From the looks of it he couldn't sleep either still in his black leather jacket, blue ripped jeans and black tank top from earlier.

I felt my cheeks heat up and looked away shaking my head. James walked to me seeing me, I hope not what I just did.

"Hey James, couldn't sleep either?"

"Yeah but a different reason for it."

"Oh?" I said my brain not registering fully what what intended.

He pulled me flush against him and I blushed in the darkness when I felt, something hard against my softness. I mean yeah James and I have fucked, kissed, given head to each other, all that but it still caught me off guard every time!

"J-James your not think about fucking out in the damn opening?"

"Why not?"

"What if we wake up Lars or Jason or one of them sees us?!" I said flustered and nervous.

James chuckles softly as he starts to kiss my neck. I let out a shaky whimper feeling my own arousal growing. I hated how he fucking knew how to take care of me. I kissed him on the lips and prayed we wouldn't get caught Red Handed at this point. I knew just as well as James did that when, he wanted something he got it. Especially when he was drunk.

I bit my lips trying to hold back a moan when he started to grind his hips against me. Whispering dirty things in my ear I hid my head in his neck inhaling his scent. My nipples were already erect and James gently walked me backwards. My back roughly hit a tree as he kissed me passionately, a make out session breaking out. He groaned gripping my hips tightly as I tangled my fingers in his long mullet.

"Ghah James!"

"Such a good submissive for me aren't you? Always obeying me giving me attention!" James said his voice rough as he began to unbuckle my belt.

I helped him by pulling both my boxers and jeans down exposing my half soft dick to the air. As James knelt down and gave my dick a few tugs, pulling a few moans out of me he took the head of my cock in his mouth. I held on to the tree as my knees buckled, his warm mouth sucking my gardening cock. His tounge swirled the head as he took me deeper bobbing, up and down and played with my balls.

I panted feeling the familiar throbbing in my cock. I wanted him to make me cum, fuck me. Use me as his little toy. He pulled off with much disappointment for me as he turned me so my ass was facing him, and my front was against the tree. I gasped softly as I felt his finger tease my hole, stretching me out. I knew I was close as my balls got heavy.

"Fuck fuck gonna c-cum James! Please let me cum!''

"Go ahead baby boy you earned it." James cooed as he reached down and squeezed my balls. encouragingly.

Letting out a loud moan I shot my hot load onto the tree in front of me. James lined up his cock against my entrance as he slowly pushed inside me. I moaned when I finished riding my orgasm. James gripped my hips pushing balls deep into me and thrusting hard and fast. Gasping for air my moans and whimpers mixed with his grunts. Wet slapping noises could be heard in the silence.

I felt his hot breath on my neck his breath shaky. I knew he was getting close as I felt my balls getting full again. My hair is all in my face sticking to my upper back and cheeks , from the sweat on my face.

"Shit I'm gonna cum all inside that hole okay?! Yes yes just like that. F-fuck!" James groaned loudly as he thrusts one last time emptying his load inside me, gripping me for support. A few seconds afterwards I shot another load onto the tree. Both of us panting still connected to each other, we rode out our highs. I was completely satisfied and exhausted from the rough sex session.

James pulled out and pulled his pants up as did I. We went back to my tent together and ended up falling asleep on each other. I laid on his chest as he wrapped an arm around me holding me close to him. This was something that we both needed!

[shuddupsiky]

The glow up of the 20th century

Sirius and James stepped onto the busy platform, where the Hogwarts express train sat in all its shiny glory. James was whispering to him all the people he could see who had gotten a glow up over the hols. Peter was waddling mechanically over to them, heels getting caught on the front of his trolley a few times.

“And then there’s Lily, obviously, and Frank is looking pretty good, oh fuck pads look at-,” James was interrupted by Peter, who had finally made it to them.

“Alright lads?”

“Alright Pete,” Sirius murmured back, barely hearing him. He was too busy looking for someone.

They hadn’t seen Remus all Hols! Neither did he write back – to any of them! He was probably too busy out hanging with his cool London friends. Sirius felt such strong resentment toward them, merely for the fact that they’d taken his their moony away from him them!

Okay.

So maybe Sirius had the slightest, smallest, practically miniscule crush on Remus.

But it really wasn’t his fault! It was Remus’s, for being so fucking hot!

As James and Peter were stuck in conversation about the dick size of Mick Jagger, they started heading toward the train. Sirius followed them like a lost puppy, stepping into the train and going to their usual compartment.

“Sirius…Sirus? SIRIUS!”

“Hm? What? Whassup?”

“You went away with the fairies for a bit there mate. I was just gonna ask if you’re fine with Remus sitting next to you,” James said with a knowing look. Both the boys knew about his ‘barely there’ crush on Remus.

“Yes,” Sirius replied, practically straight away. Maybe a little too fast. James and Peter shared a look. Sirius fucking hates when they do that!!

Every time a person walked past their compartment, Sirius would look up quickly, only to realize that its not Remus and look back down again.

Cool it Black!

He saw someone walk past in the corner of his eye. Its probably not moony, just rela-

“Alright boys?”

James squealed like a schoolgirl. He always gets excited when the group reunites. Sirius rapidly looked up and – oh. Oh fuck. Now there’s someone who has had a massive fucking glow up.

“Hi Remus!!” James all but yells.

“Alright thanks mate,” Peter replies, wincing a bit from James’s excessive volume.

Nodding his head at James and Peter, just once, he smirked and pulled his luggage in, slumping down in the seat next to Sirius.

Remus was… well he was really bloody hot. His curly golden locks that once sat around his head, had been shaved around next to his ears, into a mullet. He must’ve gotten a tan somehow in grimy grey London because his skin was practically glowing, all tanned. Of course, he had yet another growth spurt because he was even fucking taller than before, and he’d really… filled out. Broad shoulders, his arms were bigger, his jumper was a little more tight fitting and fuck if Sirius didn’t love it. Couldn’t help that his gaze went down to Remus’s hands, nearly moaning at the fucking size of them, at the slightly chipped nail polish someone had done on his nails.

You know what they say about guys with big hands-

Remus looked at him, still smirking and nudged him with his shoulder.

“Alright pads? Good summer?”

Sirius just stared at him, before processing that Remus was talking to him.

Y-yeah thanks moons. Good summer. You?” Sirius stuttered out, smiling at him softly. He looked at James and Peter across from them and saw them making kissy faces at each other. Fuck off guys.

Remus smiled back. “Yeah, great summer. Hung out with my mates from London for a bit, then me an’ my ma went to Fiji, can you believe?”

Oh. That explains the absence of letters and writing. And the fucking tan.

“Wow that’s so cool Remus! My hols weren’t as exciting as that, mostly just James and I bumming around the local town he lives close to. Which is still like 30minutes away because he lives in buttfuck nowhere.”

“Oi! The easygoing Potter lifestyle clashes with big city pace! Besides you live there too!”

“You can shove the ‘Potter lifestyle’ right up your arse where it belongs mate,” Sirius retorts, snorting.

 “What? S’not just me! Pete lives out there too! Wormtail back me up here!”

Peter held his hands up in surrender. “Hey, it was my parents choice, not me. I think I’d prefer to live in London with Remus to be honest with you.”

“Oh. Well then. Fuck you too Wormy.”

Remus had his head thrown back, laughing openly and loudly. In a position like Sirius’s, he couldn’t not miss an opportunity to stare at the expanse of neck, dotted with fading hickies. Fuck.

“I forgot how fucking stupid you lot are. ‘Specially you pads,” he looked at Sirius, with a downright obscene smirk playing on his lips, practically begging for Sirius to retaliate.

“Oh fuck off! I’m the most smart!”

And so, that’s how the train ride went, the whole way there. Playful banter, little jabs, and laughter. When they arrived at Hogwarts, Sirius’s was sure he was in love.

Fuck you Remus Lupin.

[unpopularvivian]

My Ttte Human Designs (Edward):

Headcanons:

Kind, helpful, loyal and wise. Is willing to give good advice to anybody who needs it. (If they deserve it of course)

Is actually pretty young, even younger than Gordon. (Hey, being wise doesn't mean you're a grandpa)

His human age is 43 while his actual age is 128.

His personality is way more assertive and serious. On top of that, he's a lot more sarcastic and he's now the burnt out mentor™️.

Do NOT call him "Old Iron", it triggers him so much that he will thrown you out of a window if you do. The nickname gives him bad memories when he was working at his old railway and had to deal with a nasty crane called Rick. Rick constantly harassed him and called him names which ties in with Edward's weird bias of cranes.

He needs COFFEE.

Has really bad insomnia and it gives him horrifying nightmares as a result.

Gay asf.

He and Toby are married for 10 years. Had a thing with James but broke up with him. Their relationship now are more like brothers.

When he was red, he was a fucking gremlin. Didn't listen to anybody and just did his own thing. He eventually calmed down and become a functioning member of society.

Tired dad of Thomas and taught him all of the pranks he knew. (Toby didn't approve of that)

Is a pretty honest guy in general. But, that also leads him being unintentionally savage with his wording. He ended many people's careers on accident (Or on purpose).

He does smoke but only in rare situations.

He's pretty tall if you compare him with other characters. Only James is taller than him by a couple inches.

Is really good at playing the drums. Maybe, a bit TOO good.

Loves heavy metal and rock music and literally has hundreds of metal and rock music albums stored in his closet.

He HATES mullets and having his hair down. He doesn't why he hates them so much but maybe the pandemic has something to do with this... (Although to be fair, him having his hair down looks more like a wolf cut than a mullet)

[lastchancevillagegreen]

Tuesday, 27 June 2023:

Wild Life (Deluxe Edition) Wings (Capitol) (reissue released in 2018, original album released in 1971)

This was the third album (the second album has yet to find it's way to my mailbox) I bought in the bizarre Sound of Vinyl sale I spoke about in the previous post involving The Jam's compilation Snap!. That sale involved upwards of 175 titles that were free of charge but for which the customer would have to pay shipping costs. The Jam's double album with bonus 45 cost a mere $8 and change to mail, but this double album (with no bonus 45) cost $10 and change.

So why am I buying a Macca album that I've never much cared (and truth be told, like so many other things in my collection, I once owned this back in the day)? Well, it wasn't because it was free. On 13 May I finally made my way through the massive book The McCartney Legacy Volume 1: 1969-1973 and boy, did I develop a taste for those early records of his that are discussed in detail within the book: 1970's McCartney, 1971's Wild Life and 1973's Red Rose Speedway. Even crazier is the fact just two weeks ago I watched the bonus Blu Rays in the Super Deluxe version of Red Rose Speedway because they included one television show I've not seen since it aired on TV and then another show that has never aired.

The first was the one hour TV special James Paul McCartney, a bizarre variety special that is corny beyond cornball. It aired in 1973 and featured the original members of Wings (the McCartneys, of course, along with Denny Laine, Henry McCullough and Denny Seiwell). The second special that McCartney devised and created that is just terrible to a certain degree: The Bruce McMouse Show. Both of these shows are discussed at length in the book. In Bruce McMouse, the premise is Wings are giving a concert (some of it is authentic, some of it obviously staged--Macca's phony introductions to the songs are colossally staged) and their music disrupts a family of animated mice living below the stage where Wings is performing.

This silly premise and show caused dissension in the ranks of Wings (McCullough and Seiwell were none too pleased with the fact they had to act with an imaginary animated mouse family). The animation is pure Saturday morning cartoons and the script (for the mouse family) is abysmal humor like you find in the worst of comedy television.

The live show, on the other hand, is fantastic. Wings is one rocking band. I believe the live show presented was from late 1970, perhaps very early 1971 and Wings is on fire. Denny Laine wears black nail polish (okay, on just one nail, but still), Henry McCullough is a hell of a live lead guitarist and at one point falls down on his back and rips out a guitar solo all while Denny Seiwell proves to be a magnificent drummer. (I ended up really liking the latter two musicians via the book's presentation, and ended up really disliking Mrs Macca.)

So what does that have to do with this album? In this concert they let loose with a live version of Wild Life that I simply got stuck in my head for one week! This is the only version of the song I've played (in my playing the three albums I mentioned, I cherry picked what I played and the title track of Wild Life was not one I played because I had yet to see The Bruce McMouse Show. When I saw this album offered for free on the Sound of Vinyl, I snapped it up after one day of deliberation. I plan on blasting the title track later this week!

Above you see the cover of the album with a hype sticker followed by the gatefold and then the back of the album cover. And man, is that not one of the worst haircuts McCartney suffered from back then? Did he invent the mullet?

Below you will see a close up of that hype sticker on the album cover. The second photo shows you the sticker that is on the back of the album which announces the tracklist.

This album comes with a booklet. Below is the cover of the booklet. That is a drawing Macca did of his vision of what the group looked like. The second photo is the back of the booklet.

I don't normally shoot photos of plain inner sleeves, but this album has an inner sleeve that mimics the original sleeve. It is certainly far different from the normal white inner sleeve as you can see.

When I bought this album I remember thinking these were the weirdest record labels I'd ever seen. I'm not claiming Macca was the first person to use photos on labels, but I certainly cannot recall any before although I'm certain there has to be some I have forgotten. Anyhow, the book I keep mentioning does a good job explaining why Macca opted for his labels to look like this and why he refused to allow the Apple logo on any of his first two post-Fabs releases (think Apple lawsuit and his abhorrence of Allen Klein). You make your claims for Lennon being the smart Beatle and the defacto leader and I'll make my claims for it being Macca. Anyhow, below are both sides of the labels for the first album, the album proper.

The second album is all outtakes, singles and single edits. It too is found in a yellow sleeve, so I didn't shoot a photo of that. But I did provide photos for both sides of the label.

[majwrites]

Halloween Plans

Eddie Munson x platonic!Reader

Reader has no plans for Halloween and Eddie helps them to figure out what to do.

Notes: contains some swearing, M*A*S*H is mentioned

"Eddie, I have a problem", you stared into your wide open wardrobe, staring at the sweaters. "I'm going to be honest with you, I don't see it. But maybe if you point it out to me, we can freak out about it together", Eddie stared at your clothes in confusion.

"You see my M*A*S*H sweater, right?". "Yeah, I've known and loved it since approximately 1982", you had worn that sweatshirt every Halloween, without fail, for the past four years but now the streak would break. "I don't have any pants to wear with it, my green corduroys ripped the other day and I'm not about to go into one of these fucked up stores to get army style pants", you thought back at all the adventures you had gone through with these corduroys. They must have been the most resistant piece of clothing your mom had ever sewn.

"Does that mean you'll go as something else this year?", he looked like he was already thinking of other possibilities. "Unfortunately. But I have no idea what to wear, it's only one more week, I have work to take care of and my mom said my corduroys can't be fixed. The fabric has gotten so thin it would just rip apart more if she'd try to sew it back together". "You could be a cat again, or a mouse", suggested Eddie, "it's an easy to make costume". "Ed, last time I went as an animal was in first grade. If I start again I'll never hear the end of it", you were thinking harder. Meanwhile Eddie started suggesting your favourite movies, maybe you'd find a character there. "Escape from New York?" "I don't wear a mullet anymore". "Once upon a time in the west?". "I could but I'm not really in the mood for that". "James Bond?" "Probably. I think I need a whole chart to decide what to dress like for Halloween. I just wanted to wear my M*A*S*H outfit", Eddie had seen you wear the corduroys and the sweatshirt individually on many occasions, but both together were reserved for Halloween. It had always brought across the message, with your self made dog tags and that green hat you'd wear on cold enough nights.

"You'll find something else, I'm sure", but there was something other than your inability to choose an outfit, another question plagued Eddie. "I sure hope I will", you shrugged. "Are you coming to hellfire on Halloween?", he watched your reaction. "Are you sure I'm invited? I don't really play that much anymore ever since I graduated", you'd love to go though. "You're a founding member, I bet everyone would be excited to get to know you", Eddie was sure about this one. "Are you sure the new kids would accept me? I must be ancient to them", you had graduated a year prior to the year Eddie should've graduated. Both of you had started the Hellfire Club in your sophomore year and to you that time had long passed. You have started college, gotten a job and D&D has unfortunately been left behind. "Of course they will. They've seen our old club photos and they'll all look up to you, so why don't you join us for a final round of D&D on Halloween", Eddie looked at you with his best puppy dog eyes, "and if you're up for it you could stay after the session and we'll listen to that new Billy Idol album you haven't showed me yet". "Oh right, I got so worked up about my costume that I forgot about that", you made your decision at that moment, "alright, I'll be there for the Hellfire party".

[aftertheskyy]

Merlin Throughout the 20th Century

for @gayfirebender!! happy holidays luv!! Just imagine Merlin living his best life through the 20th century while he waits for Arthur. I think at some point he’d travel the world and explore life beyond the shores of Avalon. 

1900s:

Merlin wears a jacket with coattails

I realize they were made in the 1890sh era but he also owns a penny farthing bike

As photographs become more popularized, Merlin becomes worried about being caught and seen repeatedly as more time passes

But he learns to love them and owns like 10 cameras by the end of the decade

He also befriends the Wright brothers at some point in time

And becomes obsessed with the Sherlock Holmes novels

I’d also love to imagine Merlin wandering through any modern city

1910s:

Merlin is totally aboard the Titanic, you can’t change my mind

When World War I breaks out, I can’t imagine Merlin doing anything else except being a medic for those four years

And Merlin develops a love for Irving Berlin

And silent films. Merlin loves films.

He travels all around the world right? So he’s totally part of the women’s suffrage movements

Also imagine Merlin wearing a newsboy hat because yes

1920s:

Merlin wearing oxfords (those black and white ones)

Upon seeing one of the first sound films, Merlin almost loses it. That’s how happy he is

Merlin watching Steamboat Willie

I think Winnie the Pooh was published around here; Merlin loves those stories

And the Great Gatsby

AND FLAPPERS OKAY

Merlin works as a bartender during this time-- I can’t imagine him in the 20s doing anything else

And he’s really good at the Charleston

Also Merlin enjoying Harry Houdini’s work and considering approaching him regarding magic. After thinking it over many times, he decides not to

Loving Lon Chaney’s Phantom of the Opera

1930s-40s:

Chocolate chip cookies were invented here-- Merlin eats at least 5 a day

When Snow White is released, he starts a Disney phase

And I think he would really enjoy Hollywood-- his favorite movie is Gone With the Wind

And he helps with the construction of the Empire State Building

When the Second World War breaks out, Merlin enlists in the army again as a medic

The whole time he’s hoping it’s time for Arthur to come back. He can’t imagine a greater time of need

1950s:

Merlin peaks in the 50s, that’s all I have to say

With the war over, he begins to wear bright colors and sport coats

Merlin becoming fascinated by space travel

He loves Elvis and Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry-- music is a huge component of his life

He joins a barbershop quartet

He buys his first television here and enjoys I Love Lucy and The Roadrunner Show

He attends the Olympics in Australia

Film-wise, he loves Singing in the Rain and Gene Kelly

And he loves loves loves Abbott and Costello

And does a killer Humphrey Bogart impression

Merlin loves jukeboxes and milkshakes, too

He tries growing sideburns-- a friend quickly implores him to stop

1960s-70s:

Merlin is a consistent viewer of Gilligan’s Island, Looney Tunes, the Carol Burnett Show, etc

He loves tie dye and flowers and is thoroughly stoned for about a week

PRIDE MOVEMENTS YOU BETTER BELIEVE MERLIN WAS THERE

The whole time he thinks of Arthur, wishing he could be there

AND WOMENS RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS YOU KNOW HE’S PARTICIPATING

He keeps up to date with space exploration and hosts a bunch of people over for the moon landing

He’s jumping up and down with excitement the entire day

Merlin loving the Beatles and the Temptations

He goes back and forth between light pop music and heavy metal. Everyone’s very confused but he loves all of it

Reading the Peanuts comics daily

He goes to Woodstock with a friend group and is so hyper the whole time

Merlin loving Mary Poppins and in awe of Julie Andrews

He’s an avid fan of the Bee Gees, much to his friends annoyance

He buys stock in Apple (yes he does)

His favorite movies include Star Wars, Grease, and any James Bond film

1980s-90s:

All I can say is neon

He tries to grow a mullet. It doesn’t work.

He’s an avid viewer of MTV

Loves Bon Jovi and David Bowie.

Like

Obsessed with David Bowie

His new favorite movies are ET, Indiana Jones, and The Breakfast Club

And he’s obsessed with arcade games and everything-- Pac Man, Centipede, Galaga...

It’s very rare that you would see Merlin in the 80s without Ray Bans

And he’s in a Rubik’s cube club, among the first people to create algorithms and stuff to solve them

He brings a boom box to Avalon one day, just like John Cusack in Say Anything

In the 90s, nothing much changes except he has a new love for Britney Spears

He finally buys a computer and ends up sitting at it all day

And soon he becomes a technology whiz

He loves the electronic age

And of course, Merlin jumping on the Y2K trend, wondering if that’ll be the year Arthur returns

[brian-in-finance]

REVEALED: ALL THE WINNERS AT THE GOSSIES 2022

SOME OF IRELAND’S BIGGEST STARS STEPPED OUT FOR GOSS.IE’S SEVENTH ANNUAL AWARDS SHOW, THE GOSSIES 2022, ON APRIL 8TH.

The glitzy awards bash, which was held at The Convention Centre Dublin, saw major Irish stars from TV, radio, music, and social media grace the red carpet.

Hosted by the fabulous Lucy Kennedy, the ceremony will be broadcast on Goss.ie’s YouTube channel on April 10th – so you can catch the winner’s speeches, see all the glitz and glam from the red carpet, and all the laughs in between.

Lucy Kennedy at The Gossies Awards 2022 at The Convention Centre, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Celebrity guests on the night included: Maura Higgins, Love Island’s Faye Winter and Teddy Soares, Dáithí Ó Sé, Claudine Keane, Grainne Seoige, Alan Hughes, Martin King, Clare Dunne, Erica Cody, Holly Carpenter, Rosanna Davison, Erin McGregor, Doireann Garrihy, Stephen Byrne, Thalia Heffernan, Dr. Ciara Kelly, Aoife Walsh, Pamela Uba, and Ellen Keane.

A host of influencers and social media stars also made an appearance, including: James Patrice, Carl Mullan, Tadhg Fleming, Rachel Gorry, Sophie Murray, Kiki Nugent, Keilidh Cashell, Lauren Whelan, Miriam Mullins, Shauna Lindsay, Katja Mia, Enya Martin, Victoria Adeyinka, Bonnie Ryan, Aideen Kate Murphy, and Paddy Smyth.

On the night, 19 awards were presented to the winners of each category. Check out the full list of winners below:

https://goss.ie/featured/revealed-all-the-winners-at-the-gossies-2022-290945

Other well-known guests at The Gossies included: Lea Heart, Soulé, Triona McCarthy, Fiona Fagan, Chloe Markham, Corina Gaffey, Laura Jordan, Grainne Gallanagh, Emily O’Donnell, Lynn Kelly, Rebecca Rose, Fionnghuala O’Reilly, Kerri-Nicole Blanc, Rosalind Lipsett, Kelly Horrigan, Lynsey Bennett, Ceira Lambert, Denise Kenny Byrne, Linda Stinson, Aoife McNamara, Aisling Kavanagh, Sue Brophy, Paula Callan, Jade Mullet, Yvonne Maher, Ciara Ryan, and Gogglebox Ireland’s John and Dave.

Guests were treated to a fabulous three-course meal during the ceremony, and were entertained by The Event Band – who had everyone up on their feet throughout the night.

Before the show, our nominees and celebrity guests were invited to our official Gifting and Pamper Suite.

They were given glam makeovers by our Official Makeup Partner KASH Beauty, and had their hair transformed by our Hair Partner Silke Hair & Beauty.

Ahead of the ceremony, nominees also had their skin prepped by our Official Skincare Partner REFORM Skincare.

On top of that, nominees were treated to gifts from some of our incredible brand partners this year, including treats from: 17 now available at Boots, Aperol Spritz Ireland, humm, NOW, Ór Jewellery, Carry Out, Expert Electrical, and Oakpark Foods.

As always, guests also took home a luxury goodie bag from The Gossies, which included products/vouchers from our brand partners, and more treats from category sponsors SHEIN, Flowers.ie, and O’Donnell’s Crisps.

https://www.odonnellscrisps.com/about#OurStory

Remember… in 2007 Ed O’Donnell, a young seventh generation farmer wanted to diversify as farming was looking bleak at the time. He saw a niche in the market for an Irish hand cooked cooked crisp and decided to make crisps from the potatoes grown on his farm. Ed believed it was important that the product and flavours were Irish and artisan so he sourced local food producers to give the crisps fantastic individual flavours. In June 2010 O’DONNELLS Crisps were born!

[writtenonreceipts]

Here’s a Harry Potter fic, it’s just an old Jily fic I found in my files, enjoy. It’s a Canon ifc right around 5.4k words

fine my main masterlist here

The Name of the Game

Year 6- September 2

The one thing that Lily Evans appreciated most about Hogwarts was the fact that escape was possible. Escape from friends, escape from the world, escape even from herself.  

It was only the second day of the term and Lily was already feeling smothered by everything.  After disentangling herself from Severus Snape at the end of last year, her friends (wonderful as they were) tried too hard in getting Lily to be social and have girl’s night.  

Mary, Marlene, Alice, and even Dorcas were her closest confidents while at school.  Especially now that she hadn’t been able to reconcile with her sister.  Really, she should have been willing to open up and talk to them.

Maybe in a few weeks she would be up to it, but for now she just wanted to mourn.  

Running a hand through her hair, Lily shook the thoughts from her head and left the castle.  The autumn air was still warm enough that Lily only needed a cardigan to keep warm, her hair hung in a thick sort of mess just past her chin.  Thankfully it had begun growing out from the terrible cut she had gotten at the start of the summer.  Maybe she could see if Marlene would help her find a spell to lengthen it.

“Hey, Red!”

Lily cringed at the loud and robust call that hailed her from entry way of the Castle.  Trying to keep a muted expression, Lily glanced over her shoulder to see none other than James Potter bounding down the steps of the Castle toward her.  She was surprised that he wasn’t sliding down the banisters. In First Year, he and Sirius had gotten a month’s worth of detention and a frenzied chase around the castle by Filch.  Although, she was sure the boys still found ways to slide down the banisters without getting noticed.

“What did you call me Potter?” she demanded as she continued her walk across the grounds.  He, much to her annoyance, kept pace with his freakishly long legs.  

They walked down the well-worn path that lead down by the Forbidden Forrest on that late Thursday afternoon.  Lily had no real destination in mind, she just desperately needed to walk around after escaping Alice’s pleads for another hour of discussing herbology theory.

Although now that Potter had found her and seemed to be bored, Lily realized she needed to come up with someplace to go quick or else she may be stuck with his presence the rest of the day.  Or else she could return to Alice’s side and have another in-depth discussion on mandrake breeding processes.  

Given how they’d left things the previous year, Lily wasn’t sure how she felt about being around him anymore than necessary.  

“Called you Red,” he replied lightly, his deep hazel eyes catching hers with a near maniac gleam to them. She had a sudden flashback to running about the castle with him in third year trying to get away from Mrs. Norris. “You know, with the fiery red hair, the fiery red attitude.”

She could slap him. Twice.  Maybe add an effectively aimed kick.  “See, Potter, this is the reason that I choose to ignore you.”

“Ignore me, eh?” he grinned easily his lopsided smile was a force to be reckoned with and Lily had to fight not to crack a smile.  “You’ve never been very good at that.”

“Only because you are too starved for attention.” Lily rolled her eyes and waved to Professor Sprout who was maneuvering some rather stubborn looking plants about the First Year Greenhouses.  Their conversation flowed easy, too easily, and Lily found herself troubled by it. She should be mad at him.  She should be yelling and threatening.  And yet, she couldn’t find the energy.  Or the desire.  The notion of hating him didn’t settle well with her now.  

Even after what transpired after the O.W.L.S examination last year, Lily really couldn’t ignore him. She never had been able to.  James Potter was an enigma that she couldn’t rightly wrap her mind around.  

“And yet, you still chose to satiate my childish need of said attention,” James replied.  He stuffed his hands in his pockets, not before Lily noticed, nearly running them through his hair.  Lily’s stomach twisted.  He remembered the way they left things.  Of course he did.  Oh, she needed to find an escape route.  “What are you up to today, Emerald?”

“Really Potter? Emerald?” She scoffed shaking her head. “I thought you were more creative than that.”

“Well, I was going to call you “love,” but I’d really like to be able to play Quidditch for the rest of the year, y’know?”

“Yes, I agree,” Lily mused, “you really should not call me love.”

James chuckled and Lily noticed (dammit) that he seemed to favor a lower tone, the kind that reminded her of a nicely stoked fire.  “So, does Lily Evans have nothing better to do with her day than wander around the Castle Grounds?”

Oh, Lily thought as she finally paid attention to their surroundings.  She’d begun to walk in a lackadaisical zigzag pattern, nearing a bit too close to the edge of the Forrest.  Potter didn’t seem to be annoyed, just amused.  Blast it.  

“Well, I’m just clearing my head.  We’ve got that Transfiguration essay to write and all.”

“Right,” he agreed, and ran a hand through his hair.  Did he really feel that uncomfortable around her?  Yes.  Yes, he did. And she couldn’t blame him.  “I didn’t expect McGonagall to be so intense with us this early.  But, she never ceases to surprise me.”

Lily hummed in agreement. “Yeah.”

In truth, while the essay was bedraggling a great part of her mind, Lily was also caught up with thoughts of Severus, her sister, and now the stiff awkwardness she was feeling toward James.  Over the summer, while Severus had tried to remain in contact with Lily, she’d finally decided that enough was enough and she wasn’t going to respond.  Marlene, Mary, Dorcas, and Alice had all supported her enthusiastically with the decision.

The Petunia Issue was a great deal more complicated.  And much to Lily’s horror to the fact, she was slowly realizing that she may need to let her sister go.  That thought alone was enough to cause her to want to crawl into bed and never get up.

“Firecracker?” James asked, though it sounded much more like he was searching approval of the name than calling for her attention.  

Sweet Merlin, what is this?  Lily looked at him incredulously to find that he was failing miserably at fighting back a smile.  “Are you serious?”

“No, actually, but I know—”

He was cut off by Lily’s fist trying to connect with his shoulder.  Laughing madly, James dashed out of the way and nearly into the line of trees of the Forrest.  

“I’m going to tell Black that you tried to make that joke again,” she threatened, but the fear she tried to evoke was lost to her giggles.  “I thought you all’d made an oath never to use that on anyone again?”

James suddenly looked very somber. “Yes, I would actually appreciate it if you didn’t tell the boys about that.  I already owe them each three galleons.”

“Oh?” Lily was still shaking with laughter as they rounded another corner.  “Already?  I thought you reset your betting game at the start of the year after you all settled up.”

“Yeah,” James mumbled, a distinct blush flushed his cheeks.  “There was a thing, and then this other—I failed again on that front.”

Eyeing him curiously, Lily corralled them away from the trees.  While she wasn’t afraid of what was in the Forrest, she still felt a bit uneasy about what lay inside.  “Right.”

He kept quiet as they weaved around a patch of boulders and nearer to the Lake.  It was curious; James Potter actually seemed embarrassed by something.  What he had anything to be embarrassed about, Lily had no idea.  Potter was always the calm, savvy type.  Albeit a goofball and prankster as well, but this sudden sputtering and blushing caught Lily off guard.  

“Why have the boys started calling you Prongs?” she asked suddenly, hoping that would change the mood between them.  

His eyes widened, only briefly before his usual easy grin flashed across his face.  “Oh, just a bit of a joke between us from the start of last year.  Moony couldn’t be the only one with a nickname.”

“Right,” Lily said, though she wasn’t convinced.  One of James’ hands seemed to flex at his side.  Probably trying to keep from roughing up his hair—again.  Lily bit her lip to keep from grinning.  “Do I want know where Padfoot and Wormtail came from?”

“Actually, those are funny stories,” James’ eyes brightened and Lily could feel the energy radiating off of him.

“Funny or disturbing,” Lily asked, miming that she was weighing a scale, “because I just don’t know with you.”

“Evans, Evans, Evans,” James chuckled as they came to the edge of the Lake.  “Just imagine for me, Peter growing out his hair and deciding to cut it all off except for this long braided strand.  He tried to put beads in it.”

Lily let out a laugh and clamped her hands over her mouth.  Encouraged by her reaction, James laughed to, continuing the image.

“Evans, I wish I had gotten a picture, for a while there it was a mullet.  A mullet that we did not tell him to do.  I think he was trying to be a bit more like Sirius honestly,” James glanced out over the glassy water thoughtfully.  “We thought he’d grown out of that phase in Fourth Year.  We were terribly mistaken.”

Lily sputtered another laugh and had to bit her lip to keep quiet.  “Please tell me you cut it off.”

“We got all but that tail,” James mourned.  “And he took extra precaution to keep it safe after that.  Now, Sirius on the other hand, was much more scandalous.  He decided to sneak down into the Kitchen in nothing but his boxers to grab a box of cookies.  And then my Mum caught him like that stuffing as many cookies in his mouth as he could.”

They stopped walking now, just at the edge of the Lake.  To Lily’s horror, they were near the old tree from last year where most of their issues had boiled over, painfully.  Though James didn’t seem too worried about it, so neither would she.  Instead, Lily rolled her eyes at the image of Sirius and his lack of modesty.  “So, Sirius lives with your family?”

“Yeah,” James’ face brightened at the fact and he looked as though he could talk about it all day. “He does.”

Lily almost asked him what had spurred that, but caught herself.  There was no reason why Potter should confide in her like this.  There was no reason why they should spend this much time talking to one another either.  

After the incident by the Lake, near this exact spot, Lily had been certain she wouldn’t have anything to do with him.  She was sure that would be it, that they’d finally go their own ways.  Yet here they were.

“Are you just going to follow me around?” Lily finally asked.  “I would assume you have better things to be doing with your day.”

His mouth quirks in a smile, he begins to say something before he shakes his head.  Biting his lip, James stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Nah.  The boys are all in detention.  Well, Peter and Sirius are.  Remus is…well he’s around.  And, I wanted, er, needed to talk to you.”

“About what?”  Nice Lily. Hmm, I wonder what you two could possibly need to talk about.  It was Lily’s turn to flush and she ran a hand through her hair.

He didn’t look at her as shuffled his feet, hands stuffed in his pockets.  James exhaled stiffly and looked out over the glassy surface of the lake, the water reflected sharply in the sun.  “I wanted to apologize.”

Lily blinked.

Apologize? As in try to make amends?  Wanted? As in he desired to do this and admit he was in the wrong?

“Oh.”  Brilliant.  That was just a beautiful thing to say to that.  Congratulations Lily, keynote speaker right there.  

“I mean,” James said quickly.  “I’ll be honest that he deserved it.  But I should have handled it better than I did.  I know he’s your friend and—”

“Was.” She watched a ripple expand over the surface of the water as a tentacle of the Giant Squid skimmed the water.

“Was?”

“Was.”

“Oh.”  He frowned deeply and finally turned toward her.  “I didn’t know.”

Lily scraped her teeth against her lower lip.  She would not start crying.  “I couldn’t make excuses anymore.”

“I’m sorry Evans,” he even sounded sincere, Lily realized.  They stared at each other for a moment and Lily almost felt a swell of gratitude for him, almost.

“Thanks for apologizing Potter,” she finally said.  He pursed his lips and nodded, the fact that she didn’t actually accept the apology wasn’t lost on him.  

“No one should ever lose their best friend,” he told he firmly.  Something caught his attention as he turned, a broad grin stretching on his features.  Lily glanced over her shoulder to see Peter Pettigrew looping awkwardly across the grounds waving madly.

“Prongs!  Prongs!” The boy wasn’t as tall as James, nor as slender and lean, but he had a solid quality to him, even as he nearly went tumbling down after tripping over a rock.

“Wormtail,” James called exasperated.  He shook his head, but Lily could see the affection he had toward his friend. “You’re going to break your ankle, again!”

“Moony’s here,” replied Peter.  He stopped trying to run, opting instead to try and catch his breath, hands on his knees.

“Excellent.”  James clapped his hands and tipped an imaginary hat to Lily and smiled. “Thank’s for not hexing me.”

“You didn’t give me a reason to,” Lily replied quietly.  She wasn’t sure he heard her as he ran to his friend.  The two began talking animatedly as they hurried back to the castle. “Bye.”

Shaking her head, Lily looked back over the Lake.  It used to be one of her favorite places to come to and think.  It was always one of the quieter places around Hogwarts. Quiet, but with just enough noise to keep her sane.  

She stood there for a while longer until she noticed someone come stand next to her.  Mary McDonald said nothing as she leaned her head on Lily’s shoulder and breathed deeply.

“Alice is talking about getting another toad,” Mary finally said.  “We need an intervention.”

Snorting Lily began laughing and she couldn’t bring herself to stop as she and Mary slowly began to head back to the castle.

.*.*.*

After nearly two weeks, Lily almost forgot about the interaction she had with Potter that day by the Lake.  The second interaction.  Not the first.  That was a lie.  They were both still the center of attention to her.  But, she couldn’t let them consume her completely.  Not when she had to be at the top of her game in her classes and not slack off as a Prefect.  Not when the possibility of becoming Head Girl was so close and so possible.

Lily almost forgot about it though.  Almost forgot about the nickname game that Potter seemed to be playing.  

Almost.

“If it isn’t the Tempestuous Redhead herself.”  Sirius Black called cheerfully across the Common Room late one evening.  Lily, upon returning from a particularly terrible night of rounds, only wanted to go up to bed and be dead to the world for the rest of her life.  Black wasn’t helping matters.

Under different circumstances she might have smiled.  But the way Black lounged in his chair twirling his wand nonchalantly, Lily had no qualms about setting him straight with a bat-boogey hex.

“Padfoot,” Potter stage whispered.  He sat cross-legged on the floor by the coffee table and could see the murderous expression on Lily’s face.  Genuinely concerned for his friend’s safety, he tried to smack Sirius.  But, the other young man seemed unconcerned with the looming threat.

The other Marauders seemed at an impasse, be worried or be amused?  The general consensus was amused as Pettigrew’s head snapped between Lily and Sirius and terribly hidden smile on his lips.  Lupin smirked resting an elbow on the back of the couch, his eyes gleamed with approval in Lily’s direction.

“Care to repeat that Black?” Lily finally asked slowly walking fulling into the Common Room. Black didn’t baulk or shift as Lily glared at him.  If anything, he was much more confident.  This is why he and Potter are friends, Lily realized suddenly.

“The Tempestuous Redhead,” Black shrugged.  His shaggy hair fell across his face casting shadows sharply against his skin.  He was actually decently fit.  Lily realized she would need to concede in her argument with Marlene over the more attractive boys of Gryffindor.  

“Hmm,” Lily raised an eyebrow. “I was going to give you an opportunity to spare your life.”

Sirius propped his feet up on the table, giving more access for James to slap him.  Shaking off his mate, Sirius’ grin broadened.  “C’mon, Evans, it’s a good nickname.  I guarantee you if you have people call you that, those third years will give you less flak.”

“And I can guarantee you that if you continue calling me that, I will murder you,” Lily responded.  She held his gaze for a moment before looking between the other Marauders.  Pettigrew was giddily bouncing in his seat, Lupin now blatantly smiled as he shook with silent laughter.  Potter too seemed to be laughing, but was doing his best to control it.  Though, his eyes never left Lily.

“But you could be a pirate with that name,” Peter suddenly burst out.  A look of pure terror came across his face, but the damage was done.

“What?” Absolutely flabbergasted at what the blond boy had said, Lily stared at him.

Black, Lupin, and Potter couldn’t fight it anymore and they began laughing outright now.  Potter fell back on his elbows, the light of the fire falling on his features and Lily could see dark shadows beneath his eyes.

“Y-you could be a pirate,” Peter whispered horrified that he was still allowing his traitorous tongue to speak.

This sent the boys into another fit of giggles that Lily couldn’t seem to understand.  Maybe if she weren’t so tired, if they weren’t all such insufferable gits, she would be laughing with them.

“I-I don’t want to be a pirate Peter,” Lily finally said.  She closed her eyes as there was even more giggling and hisses to “shut-up ya fool” and “she really will kill us.”  Lily opened her eyes to see Peter had slunk down into the couch so only his eyes and the tip of his forehead peeked over the back.  Potter sat up wiping tears of mirth from his eyes.  “I’m just going to go to bed.  When I get up in the morning, I will not be the Tempestuous Redhead, nor will I be a pirate.”

“Agreed,” Peter squeaked as his eyes disappeared into the couch.

“G’night Evans!” Black called as Lily stomped up to the girl’s dormitory’s.

“Sorry!” Potter called not long after.

Lily spent the rest of that evening falling over in fits of giggles as she recounted the encounter with her friends.

.*.*.*

“Lilykins!” It was James who dared to try the naming game again.  Nearly a month after the pirate incident Lily had taken hope that it would be just the two times.  Hoped in the relative sense.  She would only admit to herself, that yes, it was amusing to see what the boys could come up with as nicknames.  And if she was being honest with herself, it nice to have the interaction.  Despite how ridiculous it always seemed to be.

This time, Lily and Marlene were headed down to Hogsmead, after Marlene had finally settled on a scarf to wear with her outfit.  Apparently the first five scarf attempts made Marlene look like she had five chins. Something Lily didn’t see, but there was no persuading Marlene otherwise.  James and Remus walked, a bit to quickly about the halls.  Stuffing a spare bit of parchment in his pocket Remus waved kindly at the two witches.

“I think I would prefer to be a pirate,” Lily responded mildly as she carefully observed the two boys. They were trying too hard to appear innocent for Lily’s liking.

“I’ll be sure to let Peter know,” James with a wink as they continued.

“We should probably get out of the castle as soon as possible,” Lily decided.  There was the distinctive sound of running footsteps and she was convinced that Potter and Lupin were the source.

“Probably,” Marlene agreed. “Although, the pixie invasion of Halloween was rather enjoyable.”

Lily rolled her eyes as Marlene bumped into her with a hip.

.*.*.*

The chill of the dungeons made Lily wish she’d worn a scarf that morning.  Even for late November, it was cold.  Pulling her robes tighter around her, Lily hurried from Professor Slughorns office.  After an incident with a few fourth years the previous night, Lily hadn’t been able to finish an assigned essay, but gratefully, Slughorn now extended the due date for her.  Even if it was just one extra day, it still relieved the pressure that had been building in Lily’s chest throughout the week.

Mary had offered to stay back with her, but Lily declined.  They had a free period now, and Mary needed to get caught up on her Charms work.  A fact the brunette firmly denied, but Lily had seen the small look of relief in her eyes.  That and Mary had begun talking in her sleep.  It was bad enough that Alice wasn’t a good sleeper, having two in the dorm who would talk or walk unconsciously could only end in disaster.

Lily smirked at the thought. She wondered if there would be a way to get Mary to admit anything in particular in her sleep.

Someone shouted along the way ahead, Lily almost thought it could be Mary coming back, but the voice was too deep.  Frowning, Lily glanced over her shoulder, but it didn’t seem Slughorn was emerging from his office, and she knew he had no other classes that afternoon.

“C’mon Rooky,” the voice continued.  Lily felt her stomach sink, Avery.  Not that she should be afraid of him.  Or Rookwood.

“Relax,” Avery responded as he rounded the corner of the corridor.

To her chagrin, Lily’s breath caught and she automatically felt her muscles constrict, forcing her body to become smaller.  This was ridiculous.  Inhaling sharply, Lily threw her shoulders

Their voices stilled as they caught sight of her, and the only sound in the dungeons was shuffling feet and swishing robes.

“Well look who it is,” Rookwood mused.  They were too far down the hall to actually do anything, but the way the torches unevenly lit the way and the small space of the hall made them feel closer.  

“The Gryffindor.” Avery’s low voice seemed to slide across the old stone of the dungeons to Lily.  Straightening, she did her best to look neutral to their goads.

“The mudblood,” Rookwood corrected with a disapproving click of his tongue.

“Something I can help you boys with?” Lily asked as they drew nearer.  They couldn’t be stupid enough to actually try anything.  Could they?  Slughorn’s office wasn’t too far down, he would hear if anything escalated.  But it wouldn’t.  There was nothing Lily needed to be worried about.

“Why would anyone want to be defended by a mudblood?” Ignoring Lily, the two Slytherin’s continued their conversation, drawing closer.

No one would blame her if she cast a sticking charm to keep them in place if she ran, would they? But she wasn’t going to run because there was nothing to run from.  It was just like Severus said, Avery especially talked a lot, he never actually did anything.  Rookwood, Severus never said anything about him.

So now you’re trusting his word again? Lily thought to herself.  She pursed her lips as she neared the boys.  Neither moved aside to let her pass, if anything they seemed to be moving toward her like a net.  A net of stupid and stupider.  She needed to stop listening to Alice and her “insults.”

“If you don’t have a purpose in the dungeons, I can give you detentions,” Lily said, rather proud of the firm authority in her voice.

“Meeting with our head of house, mudblood,” Rookwood said.  He was the taller of the two, long limbs that were too spindly, his blonde hair too stringy, lips too thin.  A slow smile crossed his features.  “We could ask you the same question.”

“Besides,” Avery added. He had attractive features, with dark eyes and splashes of freckles beneath his eyes.  “It’s a free period.”

Before Lily could say anything Rookwood smoothly continued. “We are free to do what we want.  A mudblood like you however, you shouldn’t even be in Hogwarts.”

“Interesting,” Lily deadpanned.  “I’ll be sure to tell that to Dumbledore when I see him next: Blood status is more important than talent.  I’m sure he’ll agree.”

Rookwood took a step closer to Lily, forcing her to lean against the wall. “Finally, the mudblood understands.”

“About time,” Avery scoffed. “Maybe she’ll see now this can’t be stopped.  That there’s no place for dirty blood here.”

“So, you see,” Rookwood took liberty to make another slur, one that tempted Lily to curse his tongue off. “You see, your time’s limited.”

Swallowing stiffly, Lily kept her gaze locked with Rookwood.  “I’ll keep that under advisement.”

“We’ll see that you do,” Rookwood’s hot breath on Lily’s cheek made her long for the chill she’d felt earlier.

And just as suddenly as the boys chose to stop and target her, they were gone.  After a moment, Lily heard Slughorn’s booming voice welcome to the two boys and a door slam shut.  Closing her eyes, Lily felt tears prick and begin to form.

“Bloody fool,” she whispered bracing herself on the wall.  Coving her face, Lily took several deep breaths.  She was fine.  It was fine. They didn’t actually do anything, just like she’d originally thought.  Even if their words still echoed in her mind.

The chill returned, a welcome change in the atmosphere.  Tucking her hair over her shoulder, Lily straightened and ran.  Stumbling into the main hall of the castle, she was grateful to see that it wasn’t busy.  In fact, there wasn’t another soul in sight.

Sighing in relief, Lily straightened her clothes, glancing at her watch.  She had about a half hour until Ancient Runes; a delightfully difficult class that would require her full attention.

“Everything alright, Evans?” Squawking in surprise, Lily glanced around to see James Potter emerging from a hall that Lily was sure led to the kitchens.

“Fine,” Lily said, though she knew her voice was an octave too high and she could feel her own eyes bugging out of her head.  She usually wasn’t this horrid of a liar.

James, unconvinced, nodded. “You sure—?”

“Yes!” She snapped. The word settled between them heavily and Lily instantly regretted losing her temper, but James didn’t seem hurt or offended.  Instead, he merely watched her; lips pursed, arms crossed over his chest.

“I am utterly convinced,” he said dropping his hands to stuff in his pockets. They stood in silence like that for several moments longer.  Lily began to feel increasingly uncomfortable while James seemed more and more at ease.

“I shouldn’t have snapped at you,” Lily finally said and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

James merely shrugged. “Thanks, but that’s not why I stuck around.”

Quirking an eyebrow, Lily watched as he walked over to her, and not in that lazy saunter he usually favored.

“What did you want Potter?” she asked.

“Just making sure,” he paused and leaned against the wall.  His glasses gleamed in the light making as he glanced in the direction the Slytherin’s left.  “Just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”

“I’m fine,” Lily said with a little more authority than she’d had previously.  But, she was distinctly aware that his eyes flashed to the dungeons like hers had and one of his hands dove into his pocket where she was sure she heard the crinkle of parchment.  “I would ask if you are alright Potter.”

James snorted, shaking his head. “Please Evans.  I’m more than alright.”

“Sweet Merlin.”  While it was classic Potter and she really didn’t want to egg him on, Lily couldn’t help but chuckled.  “You are insufferable.”

“I do try.”  He grinned and followed after she left the dungeons.

Lily rolled her eyes over her shoulder at him.  “What were you doing down in the dungeons anyways Potter?”

“Um,” he stumbled up the stairs after her, working over his words. “I don’t want you to hex me.”

“Then don’t give me a reason to.”

James gave a soft laugh as he walked beside her. “Of course not Evans, of course not.  It’s just that I know you. And you tend to like hexing me.”

“No more than you antagonize me,” she replied.  Though, she really couldn’t help but smile.

James cleared his throat before speaking. “I knew you had a meeting with Slughorn.  And then I saw Avery and Rookwood head down there too. And while I know you can take care of your self—I’d really hate to see you get expelled.”

They came to a stop in the middle of the Great Hall as students moved between their classes. Lily turned to look at him, still a bit confused that she and James Potter were having a somewhat decent conversation.

 Raking a hand through his hair, James shrugged again.  “Well, Evans, once again, thank-you for not hexing me.”

“Thank-you for not giving me a reason to,” she replied, his impish grin and sparkling eyes only made her smile more.

With a wink, James made for the stairs, Lily was quite certain she could hear Sirius bellowing at the top of his lungs for his friend.

“You know Potter, you could just call me Lily,” she burst out as she walked to the base of stairs. Her cheeks flushed immediately as she said it.  Sweet Merlin her face was probably the same color as her hair.  Crap.  Despite that fact, she did her best to meet his gaze as boldly as she could.

Surprise burst across his feature, but only for a moment before his grin returned. “Then do one thing for me in return Red.”

Lily quirked an eyebrow. If he dared ask her out, she would deliver that kick she’d thought of since third year. “Oh?”

“You could,” he stepped up the three steps separating with such quick grace that Lily didn’t have time to stumble back or flinch.  James was too close to her now.  So close, she realized, that she could smell his cologne and feel the heat radiating off his body.  Or was it her own body heat?  There was a blush already stretching across her cheeks despite how hard she did to fight it.  “You could call me James.”

And with that, he bounded back up the steps towards Sirius’ magnified voice (with a bit of McGonagall mingled there as well).  

It was only after he’d disappeared up a few more flights that Lily released the breath she had been holding.  Running a hand through her hair, Lily watched the way James went and felt a slow smile slip over her lips.

“Alright James,” she whispered.

.*.*.

thanks for reading!

[365days365movies]

War November I: The Last of the Mohicans (1992) - Recap: Part One

Ah, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steel City of Bridges.

Home of the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates! Historic center of the United States steel and glass industries! Birthplace of Heinz Ketchup and the Clark Bar! The first place where Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood ever aired, and where the first movie theatre opened!  And of course, it’s the starting place of a conflict known as the French and Indian War. Sort of.

To fully understand this war, you gotta go back to the beginning of European settlement in the American colonies. See, once world was out about the New World, everybody looked across the Atlantic and wanted a thick, juicy piece of that sweet, sweet, delicious land. And by the time we reach 1754, tensions are high against the two European countries that tensions were always high between: the English and the French.

See, in 1753, the French decided to perch right on the confluence to two rivers in Pennsylvania, on a site that would later be Pittsburgh. However, there was already a British settlement there in the form of a trading post. In response, the Americans would build Fort Prince George, named after every Hamilton fan’s favorite British king. And since America did belong to him at the time, the American armies were ordered to kick the French the fuck OUT.

Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie, decided to send a force to finish and occupy the fort, as well as five more spots along the rivers in the territories. To lead this offensive, he sent a 21 year-old major who had recently had success in negotiating with a local Native American tribe. His name was also George.

George Washington is on one of his first big military missions. He’s sent to route the French out of English territory, and ends up going to to Williamsburg, Virginia to do so. The French have already taken off at this point, but the tensions have already risen to the point of escalation. Each side builds new fortifications in the region, with the English fortification erected under future Pittsburgh.

Washington ends up going after some of the French, they retaliate, and before you know it, THERE’S A WAR ON! Is it English or is it French territory? Well, technically, when you think about it...

Yeah, what about the Native Americans?

Even at this early pre-American point in our history, our relationships with native Americans were...not good, to say the least. At the Albany Congress in 1754, the British managed to formally ally with the Catawba, Mohawk, and Cherokee tribes. Which is good for them. Except for the fact that the French allied with the Abenaki, Wabanaki, Mi’kmawm Algonquin, Lenape, Ojibwa, Ottawa, Shawnee, and Wyandot (or Huron) tribes. And yeah...that was BAD for the Brits, because that’s a LOT of enemies to face. 

And so, the stage is set. While war wouldn’t be officially declared until TWO YEARS LATER, the British have their 42,000 poised to fight the 10,000 of the French armies. And while you’d THINK the French were at a disadvantage here, it turns out that having people who know the American frontier like the back of their hands is really valuable, and they proceed to just SPANK the British for two years. By 1757, Britain isn’t going great, and while the Native Americans are getting increasingly screwed by both sides. 

With that, it’s time to get into the battle with an adaptation of a story written during this historic conflict. I’ll get more into that later, I promise. 

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Recap: Part One

The year is 1757, and the French and Indians War rages on! A young man with a glorious mullet runs headlong through the woods, brandishing a musket. This is the star of the show, Nathaniel “Hawkeye” Poe (Daniel Day-Lewis), and he’s on the hunt for venison. He’s accompanied by a Mohican man named Chingachgook (Russell Means), and his son Uncas (Eric Schweig).

At the end of a busy day in the Adirondack Mountains, they meet with a family of settlers, the Camerons. These are John (Terry Kinney), Alexandra (Tracey Ellis) and son James Cameron (Justin M. Rice), all of whom somehow have different accents, and one of whom will one day make a mediocre Pocahontas rip-off YEAH I SAID IT.

The Camerons tell the three men about the war between the English colonies and the French, but they don’t seem to care much. The next day, they plan on heading west, hopefully away from any conflict. The next day, a British soldier comes to the village nearby, known as Albany, in an attempt to get soldiers, colonist and Native American alike, to join the fight against the French. And as said, Nathaniel doesn’t really care.

This is probably a good time to mention that our friend Nathaniel is white, and is essentially the adopted son of Chingachgook. As such, he travels and identifies specifically with the Native Americans in the area, specifically of the Mohawk and Mohican variety. Although, of course, there are much fewer of the latter.

On the same day, the representatives of the local city council go to the local British general to negotiate their terms of service in serving for the crown as a militia. This is distasteful to the newly arrived officer, Major Duncan Heyward (Steven Waddington), who seems like, well...kind of a dick. He’s on his way to Fort William Henry, and to pick up the daughters of the general he’s to serve under. He’ll also be accompanied by Mohawk guide, Magua (Wes Studi).

Said daughters include Cora Munro (Madeleine Stowe), whom Heyward wishes to marry. But, immediately, it’s obvious that Cora’s not exactly into the whole proposition. Indeed, during a luncheon on a fancy table in the middle of a field...OK...she shoves him immediately into the friendzone, and he hangs on to the edge kicking and screaming. He eventually gets her to agree to think about it, through good old-fashioned chauvinism.

Cora’s sister Alice (Jodhi May) shows up, excited for their adventure into the wilderness, and to see the...color-based slur for Native Americans that I don’t feel comfortable saying for OBVIOUS REASONS. The next day, the uncertain Cora heads out with Alice, Duncan, and a platoon, led by Magua through the forest.

Magua suddenly and unexpectedly turns on the British army, killing several soldiers as part as an ambush by a group of Native Americans. Can’t be Mohawk, then, since they allied with the British at this point in the war. The troop of soldiers is slaughtered, only saved by the intervention of Chingachcook and his sons.

The Munro sisters and Duncan survive, as do all three of our Mohicans. The guys agree to lead the tourists to Fort William Henry, and reveal that Magua and his compatriots are actually Huron. Makes sense, since they did ally with the French in the war. Speaking of, Duncan’s incensed by the fact that Hawkeye seems to not be a part of the war effort, but Hawkeye genuinely doesn’t give a shit.

The group happens upon the Camerons, and find that they were indeed slaughtered, likely by Magua and his people. They choose not to bury them, despite their connection, in order not to reveal their presence there, and thus aid in tracking the party. Now it’s Cora’s turn to be incensed, until she learns the reason why later that night from Hawkeye, while on a watch. In the process of their conversation, we learn that Hawkeye’s parents died when he was a toddler, and he was raised by Chingachgook as his own son. And as he tells her a Mohican myth about the origins of the night sky, Cora beings her transformation into the inevitable love interest.

Their journey continues through the next day, and they happen upon a battlefield that night. This is Fort William Henry, where Colonel Edmund Munro (Maurice Roeves) is waging a battle against General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm (Patrice Chereau). The date is August 3, 1757, which I know because this actually happened. This siege, as well as its commanding generals, is real. However, it’s not gonna go well for the British.

When the family reunites, Duncan reveals that Magua’s a dick, and didn’t deliver a letter that was meant to prevent the girls from coming, and to get reinforcements from Albany. At this point, Munro has accepted that, well...they’re completely fucked. With more men and a greater artillery, the French are absolutely going to win. However, there’s some hope when it’s revealed that Webb is in a fort only 12 miles way, and might be able to send reinforcements.

But JUST as he gets that information, Magua tells Montcalm that he’s headed to Fort Edwards. He also reveals that he ABSOLUTELY DESPISES Munro for some reason. And when I say he hates him...

When the Grey Hair is dead, Magua will eat his heart. Before he dies, Magua will put his children under the knife, so the Grey Hair will know his seed is wiped out forever.

Yeah, OK, he fucking hates this dude. Can’t wait to find out the probably horrible reason why. In the meantime, Hawkeye and his guys are taking the fuck off, but not before he goes to Cora one last time to make goo-goo eyes with her. She makes them back at him, because Inevitable Love Interest, and they part ways.

Speaking of parting ways, the militia find out about the Camerons, and realize that it’s time to head back home. Based on their deal with Webb, they have the right to leave if their livelihoods and properties are threatened. However, Munro decides to...well, he decides to be a dick, and he refuses to release them for this purpose on only Hawkeye’s word about the Camerons.

When asked to testify to the slaughter, Duncan also goes for the asshole route, and says that he saw nothing of concern. Hawkeye calls him a liar (which he fucking is), he gets all pissy about it, and Cora (who saw the entire thing) officially says “fuck this dude” and storms off. The militia and Hawkeye start to indicate their plans to leave, Duncan shouts that “THAT IS SEDITION”, and Hawkeye straight-up threatens the dude. Good, kick his ASS.

After Munro tells them to fuck off, and the militia suddenly starts feeling the urge to throw all the British tea in a harbor somewhere for some reason, Cora tells Duncan to promptly fuck off. She also goes to make out with Hawkeye, because Inevitable Love Interest. However, that comes back to bite them in the ass when Hawkeye sneaks the militia out that night, and is arrested by Munro for sedition.

Good place to pause, I think! See you in Part Two!

[wiypt-writes]

Leave No One Behind

Ch4- Not So Little Problem Co written with @icanfeelastormbrewing​

Episode Summary: Ari deals with the aftermath of his conversation with Hannah the previous night, and the resort has some unwelcome visitors

Episode Warnings: Bad Language words.

Episode Pairings:  Ari Levinson x OFC Hannah Horowitz

Leave No One Behind Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter 3

“I’ll be there to comfort you, build my world of dreams around you, I’m so glad that I found you.”  I’ll Be There by the Jackson 5

19th March 1971

“Oh Mama!” Hannah beamed at her mother as the large chocolate cake was set in front of her, complete with candles “Did you make this?”

“Of course I did!” her mother smiled “I’ve made you every birthday cake you’ve had, naturally I would make your 21st one!” “It stops here Han!” Sammy grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Mama ain’t made me a cake for the last 7 years.” “You’ll get one on your 30th.” Mama Navon narrowed her eyes “That is if you cut your hair. What on Earth makes you think it looks good?”

Ari let out a snort at that point and Sammy gave him a punch on the arm. “It’s a mullet, Ma, it’s fashion”

“Fashion, really?” Ari asked.

“You’ve no room to talk…you had that dodgy mop top for years.” Ari shook his head laughing, running his hand through his newly shorn hair, careful so as not to disturb the side parting he’d spent ages ensuring was pristine.

“Yeah, you’ve gone from George Harrison to George Lazenby.” Hannah winked at him and Ari grinned back.

“Whatever, get those candles blown out, I want some cake.” Sammy grumbled.

“Yeah, Han, make a wish!” Hannah’s friend, Amira instructed. The rest of the table began to join in, and with a grin she leaned forward, pulling her long bouffant pony tail back out of the way. She glanced over the table, looked at Ari before closing her eyes and blowing her candles out.

“Speaking of Bond…” Sammy spoke as their Mother began to slice the cake up. “The new film is due next month.”

“Connery returns, thank fuck!” Hannah nodded “Because Lazenby is shit.”

“Yeah, hear that, shit…” Sammy nudged Ari who shrugged.

“Hey, the fact that Firefly think’s I’m like James Bond is good enough for me.”

“Well you are an agent so… “ she shrugged, before she grinned wickedly “Although I’m not sure he would wear white skinny Levi's...” she gestured to his pants and he looked at her, his eyebrow raising.

“Erm, I’ll have you know that these are Sta-Prest and happen to be the height of mod fashion” he scoffed.

“Whatever.” she shrugged, before she smirked again “At least you don’t look like Rod Stewart. Mama’s right, that mullet needs sorting Sammy.”

“Can everyone stop taking the piss out of my hair?” Sammy glowered.

Once the cake was eaten, they all had another drink each before the meal came to a natural close. At this point Hannah’s mother wished them all goodbye and headed off home, the rest of them heading to the club across the road.

They headed straight to the bar and then Sammy vanished to go and find a couple of American Green Berets who were on a secondment into Mossad for 6 months, pending a potential formal recruitment following a successful mission a few weeks back.

They all placed their orders, and Ari took a quick check over his shoulder before he moved behind Hannah, bending over to speak into her ear.

“You know, you should be careful what you wish for, it might come true”

Hannah took a breath before letting it out slowly, and turning her head to look at him “What are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about Firefly…” he arched an eyebrow at her.

“So you think you know what my wish was, Levinson?” she asked, coyly, looking up at him.

“I think I know, yes” his voice was loaded.

“And are you gonna make it come true Lobo?”  her eyes were suggestive as she bit her lip and Ari smirked a little. He wasn’t an idiot, he hadn’t missed the signs Hannah had been giving him for the past 3 years since her 18th. He’d been trying to ignore it, due to the 7 year age gap but in the 4 years he had known her he had watched her turn into the amazing, gorgeous young woman stood in front of him, and now, well, it was getting increasingly hard to come up with reasons as to why he should be ignoring her, especially now she was 21.

Before he could respond, Sammy returned interrupting their little moment, slapping Ari’s back.

“Let me introduce you to my little sister, this is Hannah, Hannah meet Andy and Max.”

Ari didn’t miss the way Andy’s eyes travelled up and down Hannah’s form and felt himself bristle a little as the man took in her outfit. He couldn’t blame them though, she did look good in her blue and purple paisley print mini dress and knee high white boots.

“Nice to meet you guys!” Hannah smiled at them both.

“Pleasure is all mine” Andy grinned.

“Sammy say’s it’s your 21st” Max looked at her “Happy birthday” he grinned, kissing her hand.

“Thank you” she smiled

“Yeah, congratulations.” Andy grinned, bending over to kiss her cheek. .

Ari shifted on the spot, reaching for the scotch that the bar tender had set in front of him. He took Hannah’s Campari and Soda, handing it over to her, her fingers brushing his slightly as she took it and he saw that adorable pink tinge appear on her cheeks.

“So if it’s your birthday why you hanging bout with these 2 morons?” Max asked, jerking his thumb in Sammy’s direction.

“I’m not, they’re hanging with me.” Hannah shrugged, taking a sip of her drink through the straw.

All of them laughed, and Max looked at Sammy, then Ari, then back to Sammy again. “I like this girl.”

“That’s my sister for you.” Sammy shrugged, turning to the bar tender to place his order.

“Yeah, be careful, she looks like a Firefly but can bite like a mosquito.” Ari looked at Max before he glanced at Hannah.

She winked at him and then turned to Andy and Max. “Well, seeing as you guys are in town for a while, come with me and I’ll introduce you to a few of my friends”

Ari watched as she led them over the light up dance floor, tapping Amira on the shoulder. She started to talk to the rest of the her group of University friends, and he saw one of them, a red head, Abigail, lock eyes with him and he smiled politely before looking away.

“She giving you the eye again?” Sammy smirked, nodding to Abi and Ari shrugged.

“Got my eye on someone else.” he said simply. For once Sammy didn’t pry.

15 minutes or so later, the band was in full swing running through a number of hits from the 60s through to the present day. Hannah seemed to be having a good time, and as the opening bars to Sweet Caroline struck up she grinned over at Ari and Sammy. Ari, done with observing from a far, downed what remained of his drink and jerked his head towards them. Sammy nodded and followed him over to the group where they joined in the dancing and singing and laughing as they all chanted along, When that finished it morphed into another song, then another, then another… they were dancing for a good half an hour to hit after hit, and then Twist and Shout by the Beatles started. Hannah gave a cheer at this point before her and the girls launched into some kind of dance routine, twisting on the balls of their feet, dipping to the floor, laughing as they did so.

It was the perfect opportunity for Ari who moved behind Hannah, giving her a hug from behind. No one paid them the slightest bit of attention as they were too busy dancing themselves so he took it upon himself to pull her back closer into him, his hands falling to her hips as he swayed with her to the music, grinding up against her, his face resting against her neck, the short whiskers of his beard scratching at her skin. Taking her hand in his he spun her out, then back to face him, his spare arm curling around her, hand splaying on her back.

She glanced up at him as the music faded into “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5. The song was slow enough but not too slow, so he could keep her in that hold and it looked perfectly innocent. Just two friends enjoying a dance, even if the electricity between them was crackling…and then she leaned up to whisper into his ear.

“What were you saying about making my dreams come true?” she purred, her eyes locked onto his, a sultry look on her face as she blinked slowly.

Ari swallowed and glanced at Sammy, who was fooling about with Max, Andy and a few of Hannah’s friends and he felt himself hesitate. Was he doing the right thing? Was this really appropriate? It was an unwritten rule that you didn’t touch your best friends little sister, especially when she is 7 years your junior. And then there was the whole thing about was he good enough? She was a bright, young, clever woman...with a huge career as a doctor ahead of her which was almost unheard of for a female... Fuck! He had been so sure before but now it actually came down to it, he was plagued with doubts. Subconsciously he loosened his hold slightly and Hannah, as perceptive as ever noticed.

“Are you backing off, Levinson?” she looked at him, reading his face as always.

“Hannah, you look amazing, you are amazing but..”

At that point she rolled her eyes and pulled back slightly “Oh just don’t…”

“Firefly…” he began to protest but she stepped away, shaking her head.

“I need the bathroom”

And with that she headed off over the dancefloor.

Ari watched her leave, groaning as he ran a hand through his hair, grappling with himself once more. He wanted her, like he had never wanted anyone before, and he knew that there was something there on her side too. But was it right? But then again, how could something that felt this good be anything but?  

With a last glance at the group, he strode after her. Positioning himself outside the women’s bathroom he leaned against the wall, trying not to look like too much of a pervert. It took her a little while but when she emerged he reached out, grabbing her hand.

“Ari?” she asked but he didn’t say anything, simply laced his fingers between hers and dragged her outside.

Once there he spun round, backing her against the wall to the left of the door, placing his hands lat against the concrete either side of her head, looking down at her

“You’re driving me crazy.” he looked down at her as she bit her lip, her eyes wide, suddenly her demeanour was all coy. He chuckled and shook his head, “Don’t play innocent with me now, Han. You want me as much as I want you.”

“Well, sometimes we don’t always get what we want do we, mi Lobo hambriento?”

Fuck that nickname! It did things to him, inappropriate things and he gave a little groan as he looked down at her.

“You can have what you want Firefly.” Ari’s voice was low as he looked at her “I’m all yours, but I think you already know that…”

Her breathing became deep and Ari could tell she was turned on but he wasn’t going to do anything until she had given him a sign. He was ensuring she had the power, that this was her decision. Her eyes bounced across each of his, as if she was searching for something, making sure he was absolutely telling the truth. Which he was. He had come clean about his feelings it was up to her now. As he watched, her gaze flickered down to his lips and then back up again and she took a deep breath that was almost a gasp.

“Ari it’s almost midnight…” her voice was soft, almost a whisper. “And I’m pretty sure birthday wishes are supposed to be granted on the actual day…”

Ari grinned, arching his eyebrow slightly “Better not keep my girl waiting.”

His hands moved to her face, cupping her cheeks gently before he leaned down and kissed her. It was soft at first but quickly became heated as her hands slid up to his chest, clutching fistfuls of his black sweater. He kissed the life out of her. It was raw and heated as they both poured out 4 years of fucking frustration in one another.

Eventually Ari broke the kiss, more to breathe properly than anything, pressing his forehead to hers, both of them breathless.

“Were you serious?” Hannah asked.

“About what?” he frowned, and he watched as she bit her lip and looked down before she glanced back up at him.

“About me being your girl…”

“I thought I just made myself perfectly clear…” he said, his eyes boring into hers.

She looked at him, a smile playing on her lips before she shrugged, her hands sliding up round his neck, pulling his face back down to her.

“Hmm, maybe you better show me again…”

******

Ari woke up when the first rays of sun seeped through the latticed window above his bed. When he opened his eyes he was hugging his pillow for dear life and it took him a couple of seconds to adjust to reality, the memories of that night slowly retreating to the back of his mind where they had been kept for nearly 9 years now. He yawned and stretched and pulling his bed sheets away, he sat up on the edge of his bed and rubbed his eyes.  

He groaned when he looked down and his eyes focused on his erection. Fuck, he thought. He tried to remember when the last time he had had a wet dream was but couldn't even recall it. Being around Hannah and stirring old feelings and painful memories was surely having an effect on him. An effect he had to sort immediately if he wanted to impersonate his role as the owner of this God forsaken hotel in front of the group of Germans that had unexpectedly arrived the previous evening. 

Once he had got rid of his, not so little, problem in the shower of the small bathroom attached to his hut and after pulling on a pair of black shorts he headed out in the scorching Sudanese sun.  

He went round the side of the building and he met Max leading some kind of class to a group of tourists, apparently Tai Chi. He saw Max turn to him standing on one leg and give him a wave, and so did the tourists mimicking Max movements. Ari waved back, an astonished smile on his face. He was surprised Max knew Tai Chi, a trained assassin and sniper giving an ancient soothing martial art class clad in what looked like a pair of pyjama pants. And to make it more surprising he had stopped eating to do so, seeing as he, for once, didn't have food in his hands. 

Ari watched him for a second before looking down and giving a huff of a laugh. He decided then to head towards the main building with the intention of getting a cup of coffee. He stopped again as he saw Rachel walking from one of the jeeps, carrying a load of what looked like new bed linen, followed by a member of the staff carrying a box of groceries. Ari wondered where the fuck had they got all that, but then concluded they must have gone shopping as he spotted a load more boxes and baskets in the back of the open trunk of one of the jeeps.

And just as he turned towards the doors of the main building he saw Sammy walking from an outhouse with a basket of laundry and a blatantly grumpy expression on his face. He didn't stop, but gave Ari a stare instead of a good morning greeting.  What was wrong with him? Ari wondered if he would still be pissed at him for the incident during the mission the previous night. Whatever. He shrugged and headed inside the main building.

He entered the kitchen and grabbed a mug. The kitchen and the reception area were deserted at this time of the morning. As he poured some coffee he noticed there was still no sign of Hannah, or Jake for that matter, and he thought it was probably for the best given the way things had gone last night and his damned dream and issue that morning when he woke up. Moreover, he wasn't quite sure how he should handle himself around her. She would probably be upset at him if not mad. Or maybe she simply wouldn’t give a damn, which would be worse because that would mean she didn't care anymore about their.... past. But then again it had seemed like she cared last night. A lot if you asked him, she had even admitted she had been in love with him back then.

Sighing slightly he grabbed his coffee mug and headed out to the seafront part of the building only to find Jake led on a sun-lounger in a very tight pair of red speedos. And, Damn it!, he spotted Hannah next to him in another lounger. She was lay on her stomach, her chin resting on her folded arms, and her head turned towards Jake who was explaining something to her, probably some of his exotic diving adventures.

Ari then noticed she was wearing a red bathing suit which had cut out panels on each side of her waist. She hadn't worn it before, Ari thought he would definitely remember if she had. Her hair was piled on her head in a messy bun and her eyes were covered by her Aviators. Ari couldn't help but check out those damned legs and curves, and that ass and he was suddenly glad he had jerked off in the shower that morning, though he still felt something stirring in the pit of his stomach.

He hesitated but he then decided to approach, watching as Hannah turned half her body to Jake and resting on her right elbow, her head  on her hand just a moment before the two of them burst out with laugher. With the green eyed monster in the pit of his stomach groaning, Ari walked over to them and saw Jake had matches between his fingers and thought that would give him the perfect opportunity to engage in conversation and see where that would lead.

"What's with the matches?" he asked Jake.

Hannah lifted her head to face him. Ari couldn't see her eyes, hidden as they were by her shades but her demeanour didn't appear angry or stiff…just passive which was what he feared the most. Had someone asked him how to handle her, the answer would have been no fucking idea.

Jake looked up and then at the matches, which fell out at the motion of his hand moving his shades up his face, before answering which gave Ari the perfect opportunity to steal another glance at Hannah. A very appreciative one, now that he could take in the curve of her breasts and her cleavage.

 “It's the only way to spread the tan evenly.” Jake answered.

 "That's the stupidest thing I ever heard." Ari replied.

Hannah snorted at Ari's comment and Jake looked at her slyly before saying “You won’t be laughing at the tan lines you'll get from that thing.”

She frowned and looked down at her body. As did Ari, and Jake.  Ari looked at Jake a second later and caught him checking her out. Not that he could blame him. He himself had been doing the same thing since he had spotted them both, but for some reason it pissed him. Then Hannah spoke bringing him back from his thoughts.

“Not like anyone’s gonna see em Loop.”

Ari swallowed hard and brought his coffee mug to his lips to conceal his raising uneasiness. Ok, so now we are on pet name terms. Fuck my life.

“You never know Red…” Jake winked.

Hannah laughed before retorting “I should be so fucking lucky…”

What in the name... 

Ari tried to divert the attention and looked around him before asking Jake "What's going on here?"

"Well, your brochure mentioned the daily relaxing Tai Chi class. Irving" he said nodding at Max. "Liam is doing laundry because he lost a bet." he continued.

Ari looked down back at Jake, a dumbfounded expression on his face.

"He bet Rachel that Max didn’t know how to do Tai Chi…stupid bastard, not like he ain't known Max for 9 years or anything…" Hannah explained rather harshly.

“Are you mad at your brother?” Jake asked turning to look at her.

“Damned right I am.” Hannah snorted. Jake looked at her, raising an eyebrow but she said no more so he looked at Ari who shrugged. It was clear to him that he was not getting a reason why.

Ari shifted position and put his left fisted hand inside his shorts' pocket as he knew all too well what the reason for her bitterness against her brother was. He suddenly felt uncomfortable and looked behind them both, seemingly interested in the Tai Chi class while Jake continued his report of the chores assignment at the resort.

“Angela went shopping after giving a massage to a hairy Nazi. And now I'm giving a diving tour…”  and at that he looked at his diving watch as he stood “which starts in exactly 12 minutes…” Jake informed, giving Ari a look “as per your fucking brochure.” But before leaving he glanced down at Hannah.

 “You coming sweetheart?”

“Hell yeah…” she replied taking the hand Jake was offering her to help her up, but she then stopped.

"You promise I'm not gonna get eaten by a shark?" Hannah asked.

"Don't worry, I'll look after you." he chuckled. "Come on."

They both started to walk off without any more explanation before Jake turned to Ari. “Care to join?”

Ari looked at them for a moment but didn’t answer, he simply scoffed and drank his coffee. He was taken by surprised. He hadn't expected Jake and Hannah to hit it off and become so close in such few days. The green eyed monster now stopped groaning and started growling. He decided to shut it up by finishing his coffee and going to call Ethan and Isaacs to debrief the previous night successful mission in the privacy of his the outhouse where they kept the diving equipment.

***** Ari got back to the main building after the call to Tel Aviv and sorting a misunderstanding with a German couple who had been assigned separate rooms by mistake. Ethan and Isaacs had been giving him a hard time about the radio failure issue, Ari was willing to bet Ethan hadn't believed any of the excuses he had improvised. And seeing the turn the conversation with Isaacs had taken, he wouldn't like to be in Ethan's shoes and having to deal with Isaacs in person.

By the time he entered the main dining room Hannah and Jake had already come back from their diving tour and Hannah was gushing about the marine life, and how Jake had been amazing on the tour, showing everyone where to go and what to see. Max, Sam and Rachel listened carefully to her colourful account of Jake's expertise in the matter while Jake leaned back casually on one chair smoking and brushing off Hannah's flattering comments.

Honestly all Ari wanted to listen to was the sound of Jake's jaw breaking from his punch.  But he faked interest as he sat on one of the free chairs and lit a cigarette after brushing his hand over his hair, an equally fake smile on his face. Rachel then suggested it would be nice if they all took a trip that afternoon after lunch seeing as they would be dismissed from their chores by then. 

So for the second tour of the day, the entire team bar Sammy, who allegedly had a phobia of fish no one knew anything about and so offered to stay in the boat as spotter, decided to take a dive.

Later that day, when all the equipment had been checked and the tourist taking part in the diving tour were all settled in the boat on the way out, Sam sat next to Hannah who shifted in her seat. 

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he whispered. “You’ve been avoiding me all morning and now you’re looking at me like I murdered someone…”

“Not someone…” she replied without even bothering to look at him and shrugging. 

If Ari could have turned himself invisible he would have, but seeing as that was impossible he was seriously considering throwing himself overboard and getting eaten by a shark instead. But chances were there wouldn't be sharks in the Red Sea, given his luck lately.

"What do you mean?" Sammy asked a bit taken aback.

Hannah shrugged again not looking at him. She still was undecided about how to confront her brother about his big fuck up many years ago, but it surely wasn't gonna happen in a boat in the middle of the sea with a group of chubby sunburnt tourists and Ari fucking Levinson nonetheless.

"What have you done to her, man?" Max chuckled.

"The fuck I know." Sammy groaned, looking at him

"Time of the month cracker?" Max asked Hannah, grinning.

 “Seriously?” Rachel groaned.

"Like, that’s the one thing I never understand, why men assume when a woman is a little moody that they’re on their period?" she huffed.

"The one thing I never understand is why lesbians use dildos or strap-ons. I mean they either like cock or not." Jake thought out loud.

Ok, I might as well give a chance to the sharks, Ari thought.

"Maybe they like cock but just can’t be arsed dealing with the 6ft useless ball sack attached to it…" she offered before cursing in Spanish "Maldito cabrón." (Fucking asshole) Ari noticed Sammy rolling his eyes, clearly understanding whatever curse she had just spoke. Then a middle-aged German woman laughed and said something to Hannah in Spanish.

"Con quién estás más enfadada?" (Which one are you most angry at?)

Hannah laughed and glanced at Ari, Sammy, Max and lastly Jake.

"Ahora mismo, con todos." (Right now, all of them)

Sammy turned at her giving her a questioning look, but he couldn’t blow cover in front of the tourists so he bit back the urge to ask her what the fuck was going on.

Ari rubbed his face. Suddenly this boat trip was taking too long for his liking and his wetsuit felt far too tight.

Everyone remained silent, lost in their own thoughts. Silence only broken by sound of the waves and the lively chatter of a pair of overexcited German youths.  Once they had reached the diving spot, Jake helped Hannah as she tumbled backwards into the sea before helping the tourists to do the same. Then it was Rachel and Max. Ari was the last to go. 

"When did those two become so close? Is Jake hitting on my sister or am I imagining things?" Sam asked Ari, who merely shrugged before he tumbled backwards into the sea effectively determined to have his date with destiny... and sharks. Thanks, Sam.

God. Hannah had been right. The bottom of the sea at that spot was gorgeous. Being there, underwater, diving through the crystal-clear waters among all that rich variety of fish was simply overwhelming. Ari could recognise butterflyfish and clownfish along with sea turtles and some eels, and then a school of an unknown to him species of fish came swimming off a breath-taking  coral reef when the group approached it. And just when he thought he couldn't be more amazed, Jake led them to a rather ghostly ship wreck. 

The experience was as amazing as Hannah had described it, yes. But it would have been even better if Ari hadn't had to put up with her and Jake diving close together the whole time and him guiding her instead of the tourists. He would be lying if he said he wasn't low key pissed at them, had he a reason or the right to be or not. And he might or might not have not voluntarily kicked a school of fish with one of his fins. And to make things worse, that tight short legged wet suit she was wearing was doing nothing to help.

Just when he had decided to dive a bit more inside the ship wreck in order to keep his mind and his eyesight away from the pair, he felt a tug on his line. He swam up a bit and saw it was Sammy pulling so he heading up to the surface. He bobbed at the side of the boat gripping the boat side handle with his right hand and pulling his mask off with the left one.

"What's up?" he asked Sammy catching his breath.

Sammy just nodded towards the shore and said "Turn around."

Ari turned around and saw a bunch of armed guards all stood along the beach.

"Shit" he cursed. "Ok, I’ll go down get the others."

A few minutes later he had warned Jake and they all had gotten the tourists back in the boat and headed back to shore. Ari trying to keep calm so as not to scare the tourists and to reassure his team at the same time. Everyone more or less succeeding in keeping up appearances till they got to the beach. 

When they descended the boat, Ari saw a man in an army uniform, with his hat on his head and a pair sunglasses covering his eyes. He quickly guessed it must be Colonel Ahmed of the local force, the one Kabede had warned him about.

"Hello." Ari greeted walking towards him, followed by his team.

"How can I help you?" he asked reaching his hand out to the Colonel, who looked back at him seriously as they shook hands.

"There's been an incident last night, and we wanted to make sure that all of you in the hotel are safe." Ahmed informed in his thick accent.

Ari looked back at his team, trying to buy some time, before turning back to the man.

"What kinda incident?" he asked faking a curious expression.

"Smugglers."  Ahmed replied as he turned and walked back towards the hotel, all of them following.  "They drove through one of our roadblocks last night. Nearly killed two of my soldiers." 

The team exchanged glances as the soldiers began flanking them as they walk, guns held in their hands.

 "I heard there's a smuggling problem up and down the coast, I hope no one was hurt." Ari offered casually.

Ahmed stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him. He inspected Ari's expression carefully before smiling an ample white toothed grin. He then nodded and continued walking, heading straight for the trucks parked at the left front side of the main building.

Ari had to put his quick thinking skills to the test before Ahmed started suspecting he didn't want his trucks inspected. He stopped as Ahmed walked to the trucks and leaned against the bonnet. He removed his glasses and gave Ari that inspecting look again before speaking.

"My soldiers shot the trucks. So the trucks from last night should have bullet holes in them."

Ari kept his face passive. Behind him Max and Jake both move nearer to Hannah and Rachel in a protective mode as the soldiers started circling the group. Tension was rising fast.

Ahmed resumed his walk round the side of the trucks towards the rear of them "There's no reason why your trucks should have bullet holes, Mister..."

"Thomas. Guy Thomas" Ari offered, walking after him.  "And no. No reason."  he admitted laughing a little with the last two words, as if he found it all ridiculous.

Ahmed didn't spare him a glance and proceeded to check the trucks, pushing at the wooden panels. Ari stood there watching. Then he looked at Ahmed whose face had fallen as he hadn't found the bullet holes he was sure he would find. 

Overtaken by frustration Ahmed then barked something to his soldiers in Arabic. A second later a soldier ran up, saying something back as he nodded and Ahmed looked at him, before looking at Ari and returned to check the truck again. 

Ahmed comes back a few seconds later and said something to his soldier, his voice steely, before beginning to make his way back down the side of the truck to his troop. Ari lowered his head with relief and in a bold move, encouraged by the rush of adrenaline, he chimed

 "I hope you come visit us again real soon." 

Hannah looked at Max and hissed "Seriously?" once the armed men had jumped back in their trucks. “I hope you come visit us again?” she looked at Ari, “You’re such a dick…”

Ari frowned as she turned away and with a shake of her head waked back down the sand and took a right towards the boat that they had occupied little over 10 minutes ago which were now moored by the launching ramp near the diving centre part of the resort. Max looked at Ari, gave him a shrug and then shouted after Hannah.

“Cracker, wait up…”

She stopped and turned, allowing him to catch her and Ari stood with his hands on his hips as Max tossed an arm round her, gave her a squeeze and they fell into step with one another walking down the soft sand.

“Come on, let’s get the gear away and we can talk.” Ari said, tearing his eyes way from Hannah’s back and nodding to Jake. Between them they all grabbed various bits of equipment and began hauling it up the beach to outhouses. It was hot work, the boys all undoing the tops of their wetsuits in an attempt to keep reasonably cool, but as Ari felt the sweat dripping down his back he could think of nothing better than getting out of the damned thing.

Once the last oxygen tank was placed on the floor by Jake, he let out a loud breath and wiped at his brow then his chest with a towel. Ari saw Hannah look at Jake and smile and that damned green eyed monster stirred in his gut again.

“Like what you see Red?” Jake teased with a wink and a smirk as he gave a little twirl.

“Well, there’s not much left that I ain’t seen, Loop, thanks to those fucking speedos.” she shot back and he gave a laugh, as she unzipped the front of her wet suit before she paused and then stopped when Max broke the silence.

“Smugglers huh…”

“Well they weren’t wrong.” Hannah mused “Just not smuggling the types of things they expect…”

“I almost shat in my wet suit.” Jake said, with a chuckle.

“Yeah, if that soldier hadn't been too scared to admit he'd missed, we'd all be locked up right now.” Sammy spoke, shaking his head.

Hannah’s attention flicked to Ari who wasn’t listening. Instead he was leaning against the wall, looking out of the window at the guests on the beach, one arm folded across his bare abdomen, the other playing with his beard and she could tell from the look on his face that an idea was forming in his head.

“Come here.” he spoke to the group as he pointed out of the window, his hands falling to his slim hips “What do you see?”

With that he turned and looked into the hut. Hannah, who was stood closest to him stepped up beside him, following his gaze to the tourists who were sat out on the sand, a few of them drinking beer from a cool box. Sammy moved to stand next to her and raised an eyebrow.

“Unsuspecting collateral damage?” he huffed a sarcastic laugh.

Hannah rolled her eyes and give him a filthy look as she shook her head, her hands falling to her hips. She shared a glance with Rachel who smiled at her, clearly they were both on Ari’s wave length.

“Best cover we could ask for.” Hannah said. Ari turned to look at her, smiling as she met his eyes her face almost smiling back.

“Imagine if the Germans hadn't been here when Ahmed arrived.”  Ari looked at Sammy before he turned back to the window, folding his arms again.

There was a moment’s pause as the group stood looking out of the window for before they glanced round at one another, Max, Rachel, Hannah, Jake and Ari all grinning. Ari turned his attention back to the tourists, the idea was genius. Operate as a fully functioning hotel! They had the staff, and it was the perfect damned cover should anyone come sniffing around. Granted it might slow things down, they’d need a good few months to get it fully operational, and then there was the task of getting Ethan and Isaacs on board but he was confident he could sell it, especially with all the team’s support.

Well, almost all the team that is.

“You're kidding, right?” Sammy deadpanned.

“Yeah, coz this is one big fucking hilarious joke Sammy.” Hannah snarked and Ari turned round everyone’s attention focussed on her “Ari has a point…”

“What a surprise, you’re backing him up, again!” Sammy rolled his eyes.

Ari gave a sigh and stepped forward a little “Hey, hey come on…” he placated but Hannah ignored him completely and glared at her brother.

“Oh fucking grow up Sammy!” she shook her head, before she barged past him, shoving into him with her shoulder before she stormed out of the group.

“Oh fuck this…” Sammy grumbled, following her out.

Hannah stormed down to the sea front, Sammy hot on her heels.

“Hannah! Hannah, STOP!” he yelled, “What the fuck is your problem?”

“You really wanna know?” she rounded on him, her eyes blazing.

“Well I’d appreciate it if you told me instead of the snidey, bitchy comments and looks!”

“Would you appreciate it if I came round to your apartment one morning and punched you in the jaw…sound familiar?”

Sammy’s eyes grew wide and Hannah shook her head at him as the realisation spread across his face.

“How did you…” he started to ask but Hannah cut him off.

“Fuck you Sammy, how could you? You had no right to interfere in my life!”

“Hannah, you were my little sister…”

“I was 21 years old….a fucking adult.” she shook her head.

“I just…” Sammy sighed, and shrugged “I was trying to protect you.”

“From what? From Ari?” she shook her head “He’s your best friend Sammy, I mean how bad do you really think he is?”

“I know what he’s like Hannah.”  Sammy shook his head “He’s a great guy but he’s reckless and arrogant and selfish…” “He wasn’t…” Hannah swallowed “He wasn’t like that with me.” “Look at what happened with Sarah.” Sammy sighed “That would have been you.” “Well, funnily enough neither of us has a husband now do we?” she shot back.

“Don’t say that.” Sammy looked at her.

“Why not?” she shrugged. “It’s true.” “You were 21…he was 28…”

“And?” “You had all your training to do.” “You had NO RIGHT!” she screamed at him “You had not right to decide what was best for me…I fucking loved him Sammy!”

At that Sammy’s face fell, and he looked down, shaking his head. “Hannah, I-“ “I loved him…and you took him away from me.” she sniffed “Why you would do something that you knew would hurt me so much?”

“I was trying to stop you getting hurt.” Sammy shook his head

“I mean, was it jealousy, is that it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous Han.” Sammy scoffed.

“You were scared I was gonna take your best friend or something?” she looked at him

“I didn’t know how serious it was.” Sammy looked at her “I didn’t know you’d been together for any amount of time…” “Hang on…” Hannah frowned “You didn’t know, so what? You just saw us at the party and then decided you’d punch him in the face?”

“I…I never saw you together.” Sammy looked down.

Hannah stopped dead and looked at her brother as he raised his eyes to hers “What? Then how did you-“ “I never saw you Han.” he repeated “Someone else did and they told me.”

“Who?”

“Hannah, does it matter?”

She snorted, remembering how Ari had said the exact same words to her the night before and let out a sarcastic laugh.

“I’m getting sick and tired of people telling me what does and doesn’t matter. I want to know. WHO told you?” “Hannah, don’t do that to yourself.”

“What the fuck does that even mean?” she said loudly “I have the right to know, tell me Sammy who told-“ “It was Andy!” Sammy yelled back “Ok, you happy now?” At his words Hannah visibly recoiled, stepping backwards on the sand. It felt like someone had just slapped her round the face.

“Andy?” she whispered.

“Yeah…” Sammy sighed

Hannah looked at her brother again, before she took a deep breath and turned and headed back up the sand towards her hut, the tears stinging her eyes. Her husband had been the one that had caused Ari to leave her. She didn’t want to believe it, but she knew her brother wasn’t lying. It felt like a double betrayal, from both of them, and it hurt. It physically hurt.

“Cracker?” Max stepped into her path, his voice gentle as he gently laid his hands on her shoulder

“Just...leave me Max, please…” she said, the tears pouring down her cheeks.

“I can’t leave you like this….” he said softly “What’s wrong? What are you and Sammy fighting about?”

“Hannah?” Ari asked softly as he appeared and Hannah groaned inwardly. She really didn’t need this. All she wanted to do was go and lie on her bed, curly up and cry. “Firefly, what happened?”

It didn’t take a genius to work out what the siblings had been arguing about. Ari watched her as her chest heaved with sobs, debating whether or not to hug her but he stopped himself, not sure exactly how well it would be received.

“He…” she started to talk and shook her head, taking a deep breath before she turned her beautiful blue eyes onto his, they were shining with tears “It was Andy.” Ari felt like the rug had been pulled from his feet, he knew instantly what she was referring to but couldn’t quite believe it.

“Andy?” he repeated, looking at her and she nodded.

“Andy saw us that night, and he was the one that told Sammy…” “Aah, shit…” Max sighed, and both Ari and Hannah turned to look at him. “That isn’t exactly what happened”

“How do you…how do you know what we’re talking about?” Hannah frowned.

“Because it was me. I saw you.” “What? Hannah whispered as Ari let out a groan and turned away for a moment to gain some composure.

“I saw you and Ari outside Cracker, and I made a joke to Andy because he liked you….and we knew Ari had some secret girlfriend he was refusing to tell us about and…”

“God, Max!” Ari spun round to look at him, shaking his head.

“I didn’t know he was gonna tell Sammy, or that he did…I swear.” Max finished, apologetically “I’m so sorry.” Hannah looked around at Max, lost for words.

“Cracker…” he said but she simply shook her head.

At that point Sammy approached and that was it, she’d had enough.

“You….” she pointed at Sammy “Had no goddamned right to interfere…” she turned to Max “You should have kept your mouth shut…and you…” she looked at Ari, wanting to scream and shout and rail at him for walking away and not fighting for her, but as his eyes locked onto hers, she saw the sadness behind them and even now, with the anger and hurt coursing through her veins, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Instead, she simply turned and stormed into her hut, slamming the door behind her.

**** Chapter 5