#oh yeah and happy Summer Solstice/First Day Of Summer
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catwolfdragongirl133 · 1 year ago
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OMG GUYS I JUST HAD AN IDEA!!!
SO LIKE!!! I was trying to figure out what to wear for a trip to the bank when I got the idea of an app!!!
First, you make an account whether by Google or Facebook or Twitter or Email or whatever you want to use!!! Next you allow location so the app can track weather!!! After that you scan and/or search all the clothes you have!!! When you're done with that all you have to do is out down what you are doing and it will give you an outfit based on what is appropriate for the outing/event/whatever and what the weather will be!!! Also it will have a tab where you can get recommended different clothing based on what kind of fashion you're into in your profile!!!
I think that it would be a lifesaver if you don't know what to wear!!! :3
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stubz · 5 months ago
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Goodbye
"Have a good summer Pollix! See you in September Zyz! Have fun in the Lakes of Nebula Ezshi!"
Today was the last day of the youngling centre and the first day of summer vacation. Although according to the Captain and his second in command it's the Galactic Solar Solstice. But Kim and Max preferred to call it summer.
Both humans walked around the centre saying goodbye and farewell to the younglings. Many of whom gave hugs or small gifts as a sign of thanks or respect in their respective culture and planet.
All but two children who stood away from the others. Looking not as happy as the others.
"Hey. Look." Max nudged his friend to the two kids.
"Ah...Sam and Dan." together the two walked towards them.
.
"Where's Kim and Max?"
"They're over there."
"What are they doing?"
"I think they're checking on Sam and Dan."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Look they're hugging. Maybe they're just sad that we won't see them for a long time."
"Probably. Lets play!"
..
"Teacher?"
"Yes Emira?"
"Why did you hug Sam and Danny longer than any of us?"
"Oh...because this is probably the last time I'll see them."
"Why??"
"Sam and Dan are leaving. They're going to a new school. One that's on Earth and we live in different parts of Earth so this is probably the last I'll see them."
"But your only supposed to have one teacher! They can't just leave!"
"Humans are different. We don't have one teacher all our school life. We have different teachers and can change schools."
"Even if you really like your teacher?"
"Even if you really like your teacher."
"Even if you really like your friends and classmates?"
"Even if you really like your friends and classmates. It's not always easy."
They stand in silence. Emira's feathers ruffling as she thinks.
"That must be sad." she finally says.
"It is. Sam and Dan tried to convince us to go work at the new school they'll be going to. They were pretty sad today too but we told them to remember the good memories we have-"
"No I mean for teachers."
"..."
"I know they were the first ones here. They love you a lot, Danny even called you both Mom and Dad before. And I know you both love them."
"...Your quite observant Emira. You know what that means?"
"I'm good at noticing things."
"Yeah. I don't have siblings like Kim and I'm actually not that much older than Sam. I'm the same age as their oldest brother...and to be honest they sometimes felt like my younger brothers."
"So you're going to miss them a lot?"
"Yes. Kim has done this before but this is my first time. Kinda sucks that its with kids I've known for over 3 years..."
"Do you want a hug?"
He nodded and the little avian hugged him.
...
"Max!"
"Hey Kim."
"I got something for you."
"Thanks...but my birthday isn't till next week?"
"Not from me, from Sam and Dan." she handed him the wrapped up gift.
He slowly opened it. It was light, like a feather, and was the size of a picture frame. It was a black screen.
"What is it?"
"Tap the screen."
He did and the screen lit up. Dozens of holographic pictures shot out from it. Most were from class field trips and events but were zoomed in on him and the two brothers. Some he doesn't remember Kim taking but he remembers the time the place.
"I got one too. It started out as a gift for the boys so they could remember us but then they and their parents wanted to return the favor so they made an extra two for us. Some of these are from the parents." she explained smiling at the biggest picture of the boys holding a sign saying 'Thank you for the memories, love Samuel and Daniel'
"..."
"I know I don't show it but I'm gonna miss them too. It does get easier with each time but you never stop missing the kid. Remember the kid I told you about, Penny?"
"The girl who gave you 3 stitches?"
"She was my first goodbye. She was at the preschool I first started at. Sweet, kind, a little ankle biter, but I really liked her. I had known her for 3 years when she left."
"...I'm really gonna miss them." he sighs, slumping towards his friend. She holds him in a side hug.
"I know buddy, me too...me too" they looked at the pictures in silence and if one of them let a tear fall then that was nobodies business but their own.
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fruitcoops · 11 months ago
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Solstice Sweetheart
Happy Secret Santa, Elise! This was such a fun prompt to tackle, and I hope you find as much joy in the New Year as these three <3 O'Darwin belong to @lumosinlove and the Cold Brewed Enchantments/ witchy coffeeshop genderbend AU is credited to the server's lovely minds!
Nat inhaled.
Bottles on the table—mostly. Repurposed jars held most of their previous contents, and those had been scattered to kingdom come since the night began. As they should be, of course. He could think of nothing worse than a mediocre solstice party. Awkwardness was born and bred in the cliquey little huddles of a party gone wrong.
Nat exhaled.
None of that, now. The house was still standing. People had fun. Out-of-control spellwork had been kept to a dull roar, even after the firewhiskey made an appearance. He could feel, deep in his soul, that it had been a good night.
Glass chimed in the other room. Kasey, if Nat had to guess. That sound had the hallmarks of her careful handling all over it. Alex was somewhere on the stairs if the heavy footsteps were any indication. If she was untangling the streamers from the banister, Nat was going to…he didn’t even know, anymore. He had spent the better part of a year since Alex’s arrival in their little town trying to figure out what the hell was going on between his girlfriend and the gorgeous new girl, with naught but a spinning head to show for it.
They knew each other. Kasey had told him that much. The dulled gray-blue of her tone said more than words could.
Soft humming floated through the empty doorframe. The gentle rasp of Alex’s voice had such a lovely color to it, like fresh maple syrup or crystalline honey. It glowed against the jewel tones of the rest of her—rich, curling clues tucked in tight next to sparking reds.
Kasey’s braid caught the light when she turned, only just visible through the kitchen doorway. Nat had loved that about their house since the first day; so few doors to still the air. Something was always in motion, always making noise. He wished Kasey could see it—the brilliance of sound, the cool shades of her voice—but she just seemed to like it so much when he described it.
And maybe that was something just for him to cherish. Their life clung to the ceiling corners like cobwebs. Words and music and laughter. A snippet of Kasey singing ‘happy birthday’ had been lingering in the dining room window since the summer.
“Winter!”
An electric blue comet zipped from the stairs to the kitchen sink.
“What?” came the mossy wave of Kasey’s answer.
“Knutty promised pastries for us tomorrow! She’s trying new recipes. Needs extra mouths.”
Alex would need more hands if she was trying to text Leo and clean at the same time. Nat gathered an armful of empty bottles off the table and dumped them into the recycling bin before turning to the staircase, where one sneaker-clad foot was barely visible through the slats in the railing.
“New recipes?” he asked.
Alex’s face popped into view. Still freckled, even in the dead of winter. Nat felt his stomach perform a funny little flip-flop over itself at her bright smile. “Oh, hey!”
Orange and gold fireworks, crackling about her head. “Thanks for cleaning that up.”
“Ah, don’t worry about it.” Alex’s vague wave sent a curlicue of taupe his way. His mouth tanged with citrus when it reached him. “Least I can do.”
“None of the other guests stayed to help,” Nat pointed out, bending to collect a few paper crowns.
“None of the other guests are as gracious as me.” Her smile was quick and mischievous, but genuine. How often had Nat thought the same of its owner? “Get up here, Music Man. Where’s your solstice sweetheart?”
“Downstairs, with the dishes.”
Alex pulled a face that made her pointed nose wrinkle. “I told her I’d handle those.”
“Clearly it worked,” Nat teased. “Don’t feel too bad. You know how she gets around the solstice.”
A test. Just a teeny-tiny-itty-bitty maybe of a test. Alex’s fond smile was far and away the best answer. “Yeah,” she said, darting a grin toward Nat. “You’re a lucky one, Darcy. It ain’t easy being a seasonal delight.”
“I think she’s pretty great all year.”
“Good answer.”
It was times like this when Nat wondered if Alex could see what he saw. Or at least, if she understood. Dark topaz eyes ticked along the path of pensive purple.
Alex had been speaking in purple a lot, lately. He knew why. Even without his gift, he’d be a fool to miss the way she reached, hesitated, ached for Kasey now that their distance could be measured in inches instead of borders. It pulled at them both, torn edges of the past snagging on the present. He knew what it felt like to match himself to Kasey’s steady keel and let her draw him through her oceans. Alex spoke like someone who had swum those waters before, unafraid that Kasey would ever close the ice around her.
Nat…wanted that. For himself, and a laughed morning, Music Man held in golden parentheses, but more than that, for Kasey. She deserved so much. He could give so much. But if Alex had ridden out the storm and found harbor in Kasey’s heart enough to linger after all these years, Nat would be worse than a fool to let that fall away for his own sake. He could love them both.
Did.
Would.
“Nathaniel.”
“Alexandra.”
“You’re thinking at me.”
“You’re in love with my girlfriend.”
Alex’s hands never stuttered on the loops of ribbon. “Yes.”
Butter yellow. A pastel, more tender than her heavy saturation, but unyielding. “You didn’t stay here just to be a good guest.”
“No.”
Dandelion cradled in blush pink. “You’re in love with me.”
“Yes.”
She didn’t whisper. He didn’t know why he thought she would. Alex never whispered. She was far too vibrant for it to do any good. It didn’t matter if she was banging on their door to drag them out for a taste of Leo’s kitchen witchery or falling asleep on their throw pillows in her fox form—wherever Alex was, the world grew brighter.
“You should tell her,” Nat said.
“I won’t get in the way of what you have.”
“You won’t,” he agreed. It had lacked the fuzzy edges of a question, but that didn’t matter. Anything, as long as she understood.
“It’s—” The maroon undercurrent of her voice curdled mauve. Her gaze fell on him with the weight of a feather alighting on the water. “It was before you. I let her go. It’s okay.”
“Alexandra.” An old joke between them, perhaps too flirty for simple friends. Nat propped his chin on the end of the railing and made sure she was looking, really looking, before he continued. “I’m in love with my girlfriend, and I’m more in love with you every time you come by, and I’m pretty sure our solstice sweetheart has been head over heels for you since the day you met.”
Alex’s lips pressed together, but the smile ticking at the corners betrayed her.
“It seems like a waste to sit here and be sad on the stairs when Kasey Winter is in the kitchen and waiting for you to say something,” he finished quietly.
His heart should be racing. His stomach should be in knots, all aflutter the way it had been when he first asked Kasey out. But with Alex looking at him like she could hardly believe the marvel of her ears, he found only calm waiting.
“Yes.”
Crimson bloomed around the word. Alex was so sure of herself—Nat thought he might love that most about her, from not-so-sneaky tips stuffed into her sister’s café jar to her utter confidence that whatever new drink she brought to their doorstep would be the most delicious thing they had ever tasted. She was unfailingly correct. His eyes flickered to her mouth.
“What are you waiting for?” she challenged.
“Kasey first.” She deserved so much.
Alex’s smile grew, and she pushed herself up with a “don’t have to tell me twice” that flashed peacock through the stairwell. Peacock, like Kasey’s laughter on the first day of winter when her magic was thick and strong in her veins. Nat was pretty sure some part of his heart beat just to hear that sound and watch it coat their home.
He was already reaching for the ribbon where she left off when Alex’s hand closed around his wrist and dragged him after her. He couldn’t help a laugh and didn’t particularly want to—turquoise shimmered ahead of them where Kasey was singing along to the record player under her breath. What a thing to have waiting.
“Winter.”
Kasey looked up, a casserole dish held in both hands under the warm water. Her eyes darted between them; a golden brow arched. “What did you…”
It took two steps for Alex to close the distance between them. She shut the faucet off and took Kasey’s hands from the sink, holding her wrists between them without a care for the water dripping on them both. “Please?” came the lilac-soft request.
Any other time of year, and Kasey might have questioned it.
The solstice lined her in threads of gold and blue. Her cheeks were round and flushed pink with power, and her hands were steady despite the anticipation that quickened her breath when she looked to Nat, then back to Alex, then to Nat once more. “You spoke?”
“Yeah.”
Kasey leaned in and kissed her without a moment’s hesitation.
Nat watched Alex’s ribs expand to accommodate a deep breath in—tiny crystals of ice began budding in the water droplets on Kasey’s skin as she cupped her hands around the back of Alex’s head and exhaled, long enough for steam to billow up between them. It was kind of the season to let everyone else see how much of a wonder she was.
“Mmm, wait wait wait,” Alex hummed when Kasey began pulling away. She closed her hands around Kasey’s forearms without a care for the chill and kissed the smile from her lips in a burst. “Storm girl,” she whispered with periwinkle fondness that made Kasey blush. Her thumb traced the peony-pink of her cheekbones and Nat steadied himself on the countertop. “Gods and fae, I missed you.”
Nat loved her when she was a chattering fox on their couch, and loved her when she was tall and kind and warm in every word. He loved her when her booming reds mingled with Kasey’s mellow blue in harmony so perfect it struck him silent, just to listen and watch for a second longer.
“Nathaniel!”
When Alex pulled away to launch herself into his arms with a laugh so bright and happy he could see it through closed eyes, he thought he might love her so much he’d burst with it. The solstice was the time of greatest and best change for them. He could think of no better way to start anew than with Alex beside them.
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twistedhypersonicnavigator · 5 months ago
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Day 20: First Day of Summer
(Happy Summer Solstice!)
It was hotter then Emmet could remember, since they lived in a city most of the pools around them were full of people. So Ingo and Emmet had to do what they could to beat the heat. On the roof of their building they had a small pool full of water, a lemonade in one hand, and an ice cream in the other.
"Is that all you two are planning on doing today?" Elesa asked walking up the emergency exit ladder to the roof. technically they weren't allowed up there, but since they lived on the very top floor no one ever knew.
"Yup, less movement equals less activity." Emmet said as he poured more water into the bowl for his pokemon who also had a small pool. A little splash pad that circulated water to spray the smaller ones.
"Why don't you two just get an AC unit for your apartment?" Elesa asked. Ingo looked over the rim of his glasses before going back to being lazy.
"You spent your money on that train lego set didn't you?" Elesa said not surprised or amused.
"It was beautiful." Emmet said as he yawned.
"But it was only $300...you both have more then that saved up...right?" Elesa ran her fingers down her face going over to the small fridge to grab out a bottle of water.
"To beautiful...Elesa...we are not strong men in the ways of the locomotive." Ingo said as he sipped his drink.
"I guess you both are screwed for the summer. Looking as red as a Clawdaunt." She giggled as she drank deeply from the bottle before sitting down.
"So...why aren't you home?" Emmet asked biting his ice cream.
"Oh I just came over here to give you a present." Ingo slowly turned to look at her. She was right, Emmet was starting to look a bit red. He was sure he probably was too.
"Present?"
"Yeah, an AC unit." She giggled as she sprinted toward the emergency exit.
Both Ingo and Emmet looked at one another and then at Elesa before jumping up and following her downstairs. their pokemon following closely behind.
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simpingcowboy · 1 year ago
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Love Will Abide
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Pairing: Bill x Frank (TLOU) ft. brief interlude of Tess and bisexual!Joel
Word Count: 4K (exactly!!)
Warning: mix of fluff and heavy Angst! Discussions of homophobia, AIDs epidemic, coming out, being in the closet, toxic masculinity, losing loved ones and passing reference to sex
Summary: The story of Lincoln, Massachusetts's first pride 🌈
A/N: Happy Pride!!! These two deserve to celebrate Pride most of all, so they're getting it here. RIP Bill and Frank, they would've loved "Padam Padam" by Kylie Minogue
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The two men sat together on the old wooden porch. The sun sets slowly before them. The summertime brings with it extended days together. Frank's head rests against Bill's shoulder as he gleams in the light of dusk.
"Bill? What day is it?" He asks curiously, knowing they must be nearing the summer solstice.
"June thirtenth." Bill answers, remembering the day from the wooden calendar on his bedside table. "About eight days from the solstice."
Frank smiles, "June huh?"
"Peak of summer. Some of our crops should be ready soon. Rhubarb…oh the snap peas…"
Bill continues on, excitedly rambling about their crops and what kinds of dishes he can make with them. Frank is only half listening. Memories of June returning to him. He recalls floats and parades. Bodies filling the streets. Pride flags waving in the air. He remembers his elders, telling him of the first Prides before there were ever more "official" ones. Of riots. Of protests. He was just a kid then, but he remembers.
Remembers the look of horror on his mother's face when two men beside them kissed in the grocery store. The way she covered his eyes as if the sight alone would have turned him gay; though of course it was much too late for that. Then to his first pride out, with his mother by his side. The same woman who nearly fainted when she caught her only son with a boy was proudly standing beside him, a sign reading "Silence=Death" in hand. As they marched together at Pride, standing up against the AIDS epidemic. Walking in memory of all his friends that had come and gone. Frank thinks of how many more friends he'd lost before the worst was over…and how many more were likely gone now.
"Frank? Are you even listening to me?" Bill huffs, breaking Frank's train of thought.
"Hmm? No- I'm sorry I-"
"Strawberry rhubarb pie! We can make it this year!" Bill exclaims excitedly.
"Bill…have you ever celebrated Pride?" The older man interrupts.
"What- did you even hear what I just said? The pie-" Bill responses offended.
"Yes, strawberry rhubarb pie like your mother used to make, I would absolutely adore making it with you! Now-" his hand finds his lovers, encasing his around Bill's "have you ever celebrated Pride?"
The younger man's face softens, an eyebrow ticked up in a quiet curiosity. "What like…the rainbows and parades and stuff?"
Frank can't help but chuckle, "A bit more than that but yeah more or less."
Bill fidgets with his hands, tucking them into his lap. "...No." Blue eyes falling to his feet. "We didn't do any of that out here."
"And you never did anything?" Frank asks, his voice as soft as the hand that touches Bill's cheek. "Not even for yourself?"
"Didn't know…it was anything to be proud of."
"Bill-"
"I don't mean-"
"No." Frank stops him, fingers brushing over the other man's beard. "I know what you mean." He says with a soft smile. "You know…we could celebrate now?"
Bill's eyebrows pinch together, a small pout on his face. He's tailoring his excitement. "Yeah?"
Frank can't hide the smile at his partner's interest. "Yeah, of course we can!" He chuckles, leaning in to deliver a soft kiss to the other man's cheek. "Town's ours isn't it?"
"Sure is…" Bill smiles back.
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Frank had lots to do. It was decided that he would do the entirety of the set up, allowing Bill to enjoy the element of surprise, and granting Frank freedom from his beloved's "resource management" lectures. Perhaps it was some long lost vigor in him, or excitement to be a part of Bill's first pride, but Frank finished it at an ungodly pace. It took all of ten days for him to pull it together. It was all perfect.
The morning of Frank rises before dawn. Sneaking out of bed to open air where he prepares everything needed for Pride. Heading back inside, he works on making the perfect breakfast for his love. Like magic, Frank appears in the doorway of their shared bedroom just as Bill's alarm rings.
"Happy Pride!" He shouts happily, breakfast tray in hand.
Bill is not as quick to pick up on the enthusiasm. His blue eyes are still straining against the morning light. "Hmm- Frank what?"
"It's Pride!" The older man plops himself down on the bed, setting the tray down on the bedside table. "Today’s the day! We're having our first Pride!"
Bill's brain slowly comes together, "Yeah…our first Pride." He offers his lover a soft sleepy smile.
"Gonna be the best Pride you've ever seen! Now eat up, we've got a big day ahead of us!"
The morning passes easily, the seasoned couple going through their usual routine. Wake, eat, feed the chickens, shower, get dressed. As they approach the front door to begin their day, Frank pauses. “Wait! I’ve got something.” With a big smile he pulls from his pocket two small wooden rainbow flag pins. “Tada!” A goofy grin on his face as he fixes one to Bill’s flannel shirt. The other flag taking its place on his own shirt. “Now we’re ready.” Clearing his throat, Frank readies to make his announcement. “Fair citizens of Lincoln, Massachusetts! It is my honor and privilege to welcome you to Lincoln’s first ever Pride!”
With that, the door swings open. The smile on Bill’s face is morphed into one of pure awe. The sight before him fulfilling something he never knew he wanted. Wooden pallets painted rainbow stand in for flags. Covering the yard, and even visible along the street. Looking out he sees a banner, stretched between the missing neighbor’s house and shed that reads “Lincoln Pride!” Hearts in the pride flag colors surrounding the letters. Bill’s eyes are bright. A smile lingering on his face far longer than usual.
“Frank- how did you? I mean-”
“Step outside.” Frank smiles in admiration, suddenly wondering why he didn’t do this sooner.
Bill hesitates, just a moment his heart beating in his chest. As he steps through the non-lethal tripwire, a sudden burst of music greets his ears.
~Im…Coming…Out!~
Bill doesn’t know whether to laugh or to cry as Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out” plays over a set of speakers. Frank decides for him, a hearty laugh escaping from his lips.
“I couldn’t help myself!”
"How did you- Where did you get that?" Bill joins in the laughter.
"From the neighbors!" Frank smiles back, rolling his eyes when Bill's expression changes to one of disapproval. "I'm borrowing it!" He says defensively. "Come on!" He continues on, pulling Bill out to the front yard.
Bill feels his heart beat like it's never beat before. The multitude of bright colors infiltrating his perfectly union town, brings about an unprecedented feeling. Something that feels a lot like love. He finds himself running in circles, admiring the decorations. Looking down the street to get a glimpse of what lies ahead of him. His heart erupts with joy at the display. A hand traces up his shirt to find the homemade pin, caressing it in one hand, holding Frank's hand in the other. And for the first time in his forty-some years of life, he feels so entirely seen.
"Frank- it's I- you did all this?" Bill beans up at his boyfriend.
"It's not much, but-"
For Frank it's simple, just the pallets and banners that he managed to put along the town. A couple of hand picked songs, courtesy of Bill's old neighbors. The ancient relics of Madonna, Tina Turner, George Micheal, ABBA, Kylie Minogue, and Linda Ronstadt being dug up for the big day. Far from the extravagant afars he once experienced before the outbreak.
Bill cuts him off with a kiss, "Frank. It's perfect."
His cheeks go warm, every internal critique disappears in an instant. "I love you."
Bill just responds with a chuckle, "Sap." Before running off to get a closer look at the banner.
Frank rolls his eyes at the light-hearted insult, trying to pull himself together.
A part of him wishes Bill could have seen it. The grand displays of love and acceptance. Could have seen just how many people would have loved him, just the way he is. There's little doubt in Frank's mind that Bill would have been quite popular in a lot of circles. The thought makes him glow with pride, thinking about how this beautiful man was all his. Even through the end of the world, he managed to be the luckiest man alive.
"The whole town done up like this?" Bill asks, snapping Frank from his train of thought.
"Most of it." He responds proudly.
Bill shuffles excitedly, looking like he's about to bound off towards the town center. "Can we?"
"Not yet-" Frank smiles, inching over towards the garage. "I have one more tiny surprise."
"Well! what is it?" Bill asks in an excited impatience.
"Close your eyes."
"But-" Bill pouts.
"Not buts! Just do it. Please?" Frank asks with a pout of his own.
The younger man huffs but does what he's asked, closing his eyes. The faint sound of a garage opening is heard. Then something- the rumble of wheels on pavement. The soft creak of wood. Hands come up over his from behind, slowly pulling them away from his eyes.
"You can look now…" Frank whispers.
Like magic, a float appears. Six feet long, four feet wide. A white covering, with “Lincoln Pride 2013” painted along the sides. A small blue ottoman propped in the middle for sitting. In the front, a boombox is attached, as well as a pulley. The back of the float is Frank’s most impressive creation. A rainbow arch of chicken wire and tissue paper standing proudly on the back; easily standing six feet tall.
Bill’s eyes are wide as he takes it in just as awestruck as when he first left the house this morning. “Frank- you?” His head snaps, spinning to look at his lover. Eyes cutting between Frank and the float. “You made this?” Bill finishes his question nearly toppling over with excitement.
Frank is beaming with joy at Bill’s reaction. “I’ve made a float or two in my day.” He says with a shrug trying to play it cool. “Do you like it?”
“I…I-” Bill bursts into a fit of giggles. Hands flying up to his chest in excitement. Wordlessly he scuttles over to it. Staring at the float with admiration. Looking back at Frank he asks, "Can I?"
Frank nodding is all it takes for Bill to hop on. Though he's just a few inches off the ground, he feels on top of the world. While he's busy exploring, Frank takes the opportunity to circle to the front and turn on the boombox. One of Bill's favorite albums is already set to play, Kylie Minogue's Fever. The crescendoing music grabs Bill's attention. His expression going all soft as "Love At First Sight '' begins playing over the boombox.
"Oh Frank-" he pouts.
With the pulley in hand ready to kick off the parade, Frank asks, "You ready for the rest of it?"
Bill smiles back, "Yes." He says sitting upon the blue ottoman. "I'm ready!"
They set off, Frank pulling the float behind him. Bill can't help but dance in his place on the float. Frank spins around to watch his lover, looking more carefree than he's been in the past 5 years together. Big smiles plastered on each of their faces as they began to sing along.
"Then there was you!" Frank sings first, horribly off-key
Bill takes the next line bashfully, "And everything went from wrong to right…"
"And the stars came up and filled up the sky!" Frank continued, encouraging him.
"The music you were playing really blew my mind!"
"It was love-"
"At first sight!" They finish the line together, laughing at each other. Embracing the joy they found together, and relishing in the absurdity of their position. How somehow, in this abandoned town, amidst a life-altering outbreak, they'd found everything they ever needed.
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There's silence at the gate. Joel and Tess standing, a bit oblivious to the sight set before them. Unsure what to make of the unusual display of joy on Bill's behalf. Both uncertain if they've ever even seen the man smile before. Let alone what to make of the grandiose decorations covering the town.
“Do you think they forgot?” Joel asks.
“No…Bill’s never forgotten our drop-off dates.” Tess replies, squinting so as to ensure she wasn't imagining things. “I think…they just had other priorities.” They watch, for a moment as Frank pulls Bill in the makeshift float. Their joy radiating through the distance between them. A pang of jealousy hitting Tess at the obvious love the two men hold for each other. “Come on Joel, let’s head back to QZ.”
Joel scoffs, hands coming up on his hips. “Came all this way for nothing…”
“It’s fine, Joel. They’ve always been good to us. We can let it slide.”
“Easy for you to say, you didn’t carry the wire all this way.” He huffs, looking at Tess and back at Bill and Frank. As he steps forward towards the gate, Tess stops him.
“Joel…” she says lowly, “This isn’t for us.”
He pauses, an eyebrow quirked up as he looks at her. “Not for you maybe.”
Tess just stares at him, eyes going a little wide. Obviously not having expected him to say that. “I- you? We?”
To her confusion, he just shrugs. “I’ve been around.” Joel rolls his eyes at Tess’s continued silence. “Hey” he says, nudging her on the shoulder, “never stopped me from being into you.”
"Well, no but-"
The gruff man hikes the heavy backpack up higher on his back. “Come on. Let’s go.” He says, turning on his heels back to QZ.
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The day was pure magic. Bill running around his hometown totally enamored, as if it were someplace totally new. Frank reaping the brilliant reward of his labor, getting to see his boyfriend glimmer with joy. The parade marches through the day, stopping for lunch at home. Where Bill improvises a "pride-themed lunch" by making the most colorful salads he could manage. The sun sets slowly, light stretching long over the small Massucheuttes town. As night encroaches on their celebration Frank decides it’s time to bring Bill to his final surprise.
Frank pulls his love behind him on the float. Though it was technically his turn to be pulled, Frank insisted that the location be a secret! The ride is slow, the parade taking a leisurely pace. Bill anxiously twiddles his thumbs from his seat on the float; his mind racing with ideas of what the surprise would be. Eventually they stop, Bill turns his head to see the wine shop. He notes how much better it looks since Frank had been fixing it up. The old barn color was replaced with a fine burgundy color, deep and rich like wine.
“We’re here!” Frank exclaims, practically pulling Bill through the doors of the winery.
Passing through the doors, is a set table. Unlit candles that Frank quickly works to light. Dinner bowls set for two. Cloth napkins and fine silverware. A red tablecloth covered the circular table. Bill’s eyes linger over the display, before landing on Frank’s. A big smile plastered on Frank’s face.
“I know you’re more of a cook than I am but…” Frank begins, rounding the table to Bill’s side. “I thought I’d let you try some of my famous New England chowder.”
Bill just smiles softly, the romantic gesture giving him butterflies. “I’d like that.” He says simply.
“Perfect. Just give me a couple minutes to warm it up and we’ll be set!”
With that Frank bounds off to the small kitchen, making quick work of the dinner he’d prepped the night before. Bill sits eagerly at the table, shuffling in his seat unable to contain his joy. Eventually, Frank returns with the food in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. The pair are quick to dig in, having grown an appetite through the day’s activities. The soup is delicious, and the wine maybe even a little better. Their conversation is light and playful. Frank recounts his fun stories of Pride. His tales grow in exaggeration with each passing minute.
Bill laughs along, intrigued by the experience of his beloved. His face goes soft thinking about just how different it is from his own life and then- a question comes to mind.“Frank?” He asks.
“Yeah?” Frank replies, slurping on his chowder.
“When did you…know? How did you-” Bill gestures outwards with his hands, “You know!”
Frank smiles. “How did I come out?”
The younger man nods.
“Hmm…” He pauses to think, taking a swig of his wine. “I always knew.” He says with a shrug. “There was really never any question. That’s just the way I was.”
“And how did you come out?” Bill asks with the tilt of his head.
The older man laughs, “Well when my mom caught me kissing my ‘study buddy’ that conversation kind of had itself!”
A tinge of red creeps across Bill’s face at the prospect of being caught by his parents in such a way. “Oh…and your dad too?”
Frank grimaces, but then chuckles. “My dad…well my mom thought he’d freak so she told me we’d tell him together. When we finally did, this man had the audacity to look up at me from over his newspaper and then over at my mother and say ‘Was I not supposed to know?” He finishes with a laugh. “So much build up for that! It was ridiculous!”
Bill laughs along, trying not to choke on his wine. As hilarious as the anecdote was, it does bring about some unpleasant memories of his own.
The shift of mood catches Frank’s attention. “Hey…” he says softly, a hand coming over Bill’s to soothe him. “We can change the subject.”
A soft sniffle comes from Bill as he shakes his head. “No. I- I’m happy they accepted you.” He says with a bittersweet smile. “Who wouldn’t love you?”
“Alot of people actually.” He chuckles. “But you love me. And I love you. And we’re still here.” Frank says with a smirk, lifting his wine glass up to toast.
Bill smirks back, feeling boastful about his survival skills. “Yes. Yes, we are.” He raises his wine glass to cheer with Frank’s.
They cheer, each relishing in the taste of fine wine that coats their tongue. Smiling at their shared survival. Both silently thanking the universing for gifting them to each other. Finishing off their glasses- Bill starts again, a certain vigor finding it’s way to his lips. “My dad…he was a big military guy. Air force…and when I was thirteen I tried-” He inhales, his tongue getting tied. “He stopped me. Said that I’d never be a real man if I went down that path. That it was wrong…dirty.” Bill exhales, the memory suddenly feeling a bit lighter, “ So I just…didn’t. Kissed a girl- once. She uhh turns out there were two gay people in town.” An awkward laugh escapes his lips, as he uncomfortably picks at his soup.
"And your mom? Did you ever?"
Bill freezes, his voice quivering slightly. “No…I wanted to I just didn’t know how she’d take it and-”
“I understand Bill.” Frank reassures him.
“She always wanted me to settle down…find someone to love.” His clear blue eyes look up at Frank’s. “I just don’t think this is how she imagined it…”
“Oh Bill…” Frank says softly, rushing over to pull him into a hug.
“I’m sorry.” Bill sniffles, trying and failing to hold back the tears. “Ruining the day-”
Frank continues to comfort him. Delivering soft kisses to his tear stained cheek. “Don’t be sorry.” A soft smile on his face as he says, “This is part of pride.” Pressing a kiss to his lover’s lips. “Being who we are…” his hands wrap around Bill’s “Loving who we love despite all the things that say we shouldn’t. Adversity is part of it.” Frank offers him a soft smile. “It’s why we celebrate!”
Bill returns the expression with a pouty smile of his own. “And we’re still here.” He says repeating Frank’s words from earlier.
“And we’re still here.” He repeats, pressing another soft kiss against Bill’s lips. A chuckle spilling from his lips as he takes ahold of the bottle of wine, “Old. Gay. And still here!” he says drinking straight from the bottle.
That’s enough to break Bill from his guilt. A full hearty laugh erupting from him. “Alright that’s enough!” he says grabbing the bottle from his boyfriend, just to steal a swig himself.
“Hey! You need to share!” Frank chastises.
Bill shakes his head, maneuvering out of Frank’s reach. Laughing at the half-hearted fight. They continue on, chasing one another through the winery. Though the store had stood for many years, these would be the first sounds of its kind to be heard here. The thump of footsteps rumbling along the old wooden floors. The heavy boots of the men fall like feathers, light and airy. Laughter echoing through the abandoned hallways. Bill swapping between his high toned giggles and heavy pants. Frank’s laughter is more subdued, but no less heartful; his weak taunts doing little to threaten his opponent. Despite Bill’s steady hand, small droplets of wine escape the bottle, seeping into the wood. Their mark being made. Frank is quick to catch up; his slender arms catching Bill’s waist.
“Oh no you don’t!” Frank says, holding onto Bill tighter as he attempts to make an escape.
Bill just laughs. His resilience rapidly deteriorates when he’s in Frank’s arms. “You win!” He proclaims, letting his head rest back on his lover’s shoulder. “You win…” he repeats, feeling on top of the world.
Frank’s face relaxes as he eases his grip on Bill; eyes tracing his partner’s tranquil expression. “Yeah…I did win.” He smiles, taking his trophy of the wine bottle and hydrating himself from the short run. They rest momentarily, recovering from the physical excursion. Their hearts pounding in time. “The pie.” Frank says abruptly, the day’s itinerary forcing its way to the front of his mind.
“Hmm?” Bill says, only half paying attention to anything being said. He is dealing with something else at the moment.
“I made the pie. Strawberry rhubarb pie-” He is cut off with a kiss by Bill.
“Pie can wait.” Bill insists, leaning deeper into the passionate embrace. Giving himself over to all the desires he wanted, but thought he could never have.
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The sun sets over the small town of Lincoln. Bill and Frank wander back home on unsteady feet, holding hands the whole way home. Walking up the public streets, so hopelessly in love with each other. That same love that currently covered the town in rainbow flags and banners. A love strong enough to survive in a world where little did. At home they eat cold pie and carry on light conversation about days past. Reminiscing on their youths and follies. Quick to turn in early, both men exhausted by the day’s events.
As they tuck into bed, Bill feels a tear strike at his eye. He watches dutifully as Frank falls asleep. Observing the way his chest rises and falls with each breath. Admiring just how beautiful of a man Frank really was. That perfectly sculpted nose. Fully shapely beard. Soft age lines etched into his soft skin. And had his eyes been open, sparkling blue eyes. Bill thinks back to what his mother had told him time again. To find someone nice. Kind. Someone he could take care of. Someone who would take care of him. Someone to love. To grow old with. Someone to make the living worthwhile. And as Bill looks over at Frank, he can’t help but remember that his mother never did specify it had to be a woman.
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nancypullen · 1 year ago
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Soggy Solstice
Good thing I didn’t pan to celebrate the summer solstice by dancing nekkid in a meadow or anything because it rained all day.  I’m not complaining about that one bit because we really needed the rain.  It was a lovely, steady, restful rain - more than a drizzle less than a deluge.  I know the gardens were slurping up the water. It almost seems like the very best way to welcome summer, by helping green things flourish. I like it. Because it was a rainy day, I spent most of my time inside.  I did do a little porch sittin’ with a good book for a while, but most of my time was in the house.  B-O-R-I-N-G. All of that time on my hands and I didn’t get a whole lot done. I puttered. I did make a pot of vegetable soup, did one load of laundry, tidied a bit...and then wasted the day. Oh wait! It wasn’t all wasted - I did a physical therapy session!  My insurance offers telehealth PT so I thought I’d take advantage of it for my issues.  I signed up, filled out a long form with my ailments, then had a phone call with a physical therapist who set up my program, and they shipped me a kit.  Inside the kit was a tablet, some motion sensors that I strap on my chest and my hips, and chargers for all of it.  Today was my first session and it was great, I could feel the difference, but....I can’t keep the damn cat from batting at the screen and moving me on to the next exercise.  Phoebe was fascinated with the lady on the screen and no matter where I moved it the floor the counter, whatever, she was right there.
This...  
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looked like this most of the time.
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I guess I’ll have to do it in a bedroom with the door locked.  Still, it felt great and if it works I’ll be very happy.  Even better, my insurance considers this preventative for chronic pain management so it’s FREE.  Yippee! Just wait, I’ll be as good as new in no time. Look for me on the streets.
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When I tidied up today I wondered if anyone else keeps a basket of reading glasses by their bed.
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I don’t wear prescription glasses, but my old lady eyes do get tired by the end of the day.  I read in bed so I have a wardrobe of cheap eyeglasses nearby. The last time I had my peepers checked the doctor sort of rolled his eyes at that, but didn’t scold me.  I’m terrified of needing glasses. They’re expensive and I know I’d sit on them, drop them, or lose them.  I mean, I guess the idea is to keep them on your face so none of that happens, but I’m not taking any chances. I’ll keep buying cute specs at Target and Amazon until I can’t anymore.
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I’ll tell you what I did see - some cute crafts at Artisans on the Choptank last week. I was on sort of a scouting mission to see if anyone was selling wares similar to what I make.  Nope.  The next event is in mid-September so I might give it a whirl.  It’s a really cool chance for local makers to show and sell their stuff.  It’s down by the water at Wharves of the Choptank Visitor Center and there’s usually live music and a couple food trucks.  I really liked what I saw there -  a nice variety and all of it really interesting and well-made.  I met a super fun lady who had a booth and we chatted a lot.  I wanted to take her home with me, but she probably just wanted to make a sale.  She did.  I bought a keychain made of wood beads and a tassel. The disk it what sold it for me.
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Yeah, I’m too old for an Eminem joke but it still makes me giggle. I think the fact that I have a loyalty tag for my local grocery and my library card on that keychain makes me a total gangsta.
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They see me rollin’. They hatin’.
My jokes aren’t even current. How old is that song?  Fifteen, twenty? Yikes. It’s time for me to go upstairs and take a bath.  I’ll grab a pair of my basket glasses and read a good book.  I picked up two at the library yesterday, so I have high hopes.
Take care of yourselves, sweethearts. Do something that’s good for your soul every day, even if it’s just for ten minutes. Those minutes add up. I read poetry. Sometimes I come across a poem that hits right in the heart and I think about it all day. For you it might be turning your face to the sunshine, taking a dance break, or making a quick sketch of something.  Okay, sure, it could also be exercise,  a quick ten minutes walk used to revive me mid-afternoon at work.  Sometimes just a lap around the building is enough to recharge.  You get the idea - take care of yourself, body and spirit.   Off to a bubble bath I’ll see you soon. Stay safe, stay well. XOXO, Nancy
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fourteentrout · 10 days ago
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Hello and howdy! Secret Santa back again!
I hope you’re getting excited the closer we get to December! I’ve got something special in the works for you and the elves are going to ensure that your gift really shines! In the meantime, I have a few more little questions for you!
When you think of Tamsand, what kind of things do you think of? Pretend this is like one of those “taste, see, touch, hear” games. Is there a color you associate with them? A line of dialogue? Symbols of their relationship (canon or otherwise)? What song would you listen to while thinking about them?
How affectionate do you see them being together? Is Tamlin reserved or happy to hold hands, nudge shoulders? Does Rhysand brush fingers and put a hand on the waist, or does he save his affection for pet names? How do you like the imagine them being affectionate with each other?
Hello my friend!! What a pleasant Monday surprise!
I am indeed getting very excited and this ask has increased that by a SIGNIFICANT amount let me tell you. I'm sure whatever you come up with will be absolutely fantastic, just getting any sort of gift is truly such an honor. Tbh you could literally write like a 100 word drabble and i'd still be like OH MY GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS FOR ME.
Ah. So yeah. Clearly I am getting hyped😅😅
Let's see, when I think of tamsand, I definitely think of like...tension. Even when they were friends, to me there would always be this undercurrent of like "we can't be caught", and obviously after their Big Breakup, there's just bucketloads of tension resulting from. Everything. I always think about like, a build and release. There's always something so charged about their interactions, it really grabs the interest.
Ha I don't know about a color, but I certainly think of many scenes/lines!
Recently what's been plaguing me has been the exchange from the first book where Rhys shows up in the dining room the day after I think...the Summer Solstice festival.
"Rhysand smiled--heartbreaking in its beauty--and put a hand on his chest. 'Rhysand? Come now, Tamlin. I don't see you for forty-nine years and you start calling me Rhysand? Only my prisoners and my enemies call me that.'"
What gets me about this line (which by itself gives enough to make me feel Insane) is that Tamlin LISTENS. He exclusively uses "Rhys" instead of "Rhysand" for the REST OF THE SCENE. Later in the series he goes back to using Rhysand for obvious reasons, but in this instance it makes me think like. What was going through his mind? Was that a conscious choice or was he just falling back into habit? Did he have some underlying, undying hope that things between them could be changed for the better one day? Was it too hard for him to think of himself as Rhysand's enemy, even though Rhys had, for all intents and purposes, only acted like his enemy this whole time? I don't know! I don't know. It makes me lose it.
Symbols of the relationship. Instantly think of the knives and bandolier, and also what has come to be known as Tamsand Steak among friends (as represented by the 🥩 emoji).
OUGH a SONG. There's so many lol. I've been listening to a lot of The Doors lately. "Break on Through (To The Other Side)" is my favorite by them and I think because of that it's the one I connect to tamsand (with a slight Feylin flair during the bridge) the most. But like if you look at the lyrics I feel like it does make sense.
EDIT: I FORGOT ABOUT MITSKI. "First Love/Late Spring". Ohhhh. Oughhh.
I picture them being VERY affectionate when there's no one watching. Full on possessiveness. Not to be crude I imagine a lot of Tam Tam titty grabbing on Rhys' part. And id imagine him doing a lot of hair touching. Also other indications of possessiveness. Touching his jaw, his throat, shoulders, etc. For Tamlin I actually picture him being more of a waist and hip grabber. Being unexpectedly sexy about it. That's part of what I like about Tamlin--that his sensuality is sort of slowly revealed. But once it's there you're like whoa there buddy where did THAT come from. So yeah I like to think when they're alone and not on bad terms they are Very touchy. I also imagine this coming into play with Rhys whole "Who do you think taught your beloved Tamlin the finer aspects of swords and females?" thing. Like yeah bud I bet u did.
But yes overall I am Pro tamsand physical affection.
Lol I hope this was sufficient, I know I can get kind of off track at times! Thank you for dropping in! Also I just realized I'd been tagging all my ask answers with acotar secret santa 2025 which is. Obviously wrong. So I'm gonna try to change that from now on!
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withay · 3 years ago
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'TIS THE SEA-SUN FOR LOVE!
Apollo and Perseus Jackson are officially together! Couple confirms the rumors with the Instagram posts of the century.
By Pheme
Apollo, god of reason, logic, et. al., and Perseus Jackson, twice-hero of Olympus, have confirmed their relationship on Instagram last Wednesday. Posting a picture of himself and Perseus, Apollo wrote, “Honey, when you kill the lights and kiss my eyes I feel like a person for a moment of my life. #i'llgiveyousunsets #wheremyrayskissesyourwaves #eachandeveryday #couple.” Perseus later updated his own Instagram account, created the day before, with a simple “Yeah we’re dating.”
Not much is known about how Apollo and Perseus first met. “I guess the first time we met was when he brought us to camp,” Perseus said, when asked during the previous Winter Solstice. Perseus, alongside Grover Underwood (Lord of the Wild) and Thalia Grace (Lieutenant of Artemis) had retrieved both Nico and Bianca di Angelo (children of Hades). “He drove us and the Hunters in the sun chariot.”
“But we really started talking some time later,” Apollo added. “We bumped into each other on Olympus. It was a private reading. We were preparing for the Second Titanomachy. I noticed him in one of those meetings, and we began talking.” When pressed, the pair refused to answer any more questions.
The couple first made waves when they were seen and photographed by some aurae outside Radio City Music Hall, Manhattan, New York. This sparked rumors of them dating, which only grew as the pair was spotted multiple times together. Apollo has accompanied Perseus to several of his mortal swimming competitions, and Perseus was spotted at the Olympic Beats music festival, where Apollo performed. They’ve also been seen attending Dies Natalis Solis Invicti in New Rome together, and even in the Olympus public gardens during the Summer Solstice.
“I was heading to the Temple of Demeter when I saw them making-out in the gardens,” says an anonymous source. Surrounded by the bougainvillea, the two love birds were caught lip locked in one of the lesser-used groves. “I didn’t dare interrupt, so I left soon after but it was so clearly them. Luckily they didn’t notice me—too lovestruck in each other. It’s adorable,” the source adds.
They’re not the only one who thinks it's adorable. We reached out to several gods to ask them what they think of the relationship.
“It’s the relationship we didn’t know we needed,” Aphrodite says. “But when you see them together, you realize how perfect they are for each other.”
Even Artemis approves. “My brother deserves some good in his life,” she says. “Perseus is an honorable man. I wish them both the best.”
Poseidon refused to comment at first, however Amphitrite says “we’re very happy for them.” “I’m watching him though,” Poseidon remarks. “He better treat my son well.”
Rumor has it that Apollo's latest hit single, "Would You Be So Kind?", is about Perseus. With the rumors of their relationship confirmed, we can all safely assume that this is definitely the case here. "Oh I like you but that's not enough," go the lyrics. "So if you will, please fall in love with me." Nothing like good music to help you get the guy, huh?
Notes:
This was made for Day 5 of Perpollo Week with the prompt “Honey, when you kill the lights and kiss my eyes I feel like a person for a moment of my life."
My face claim for Percy is Younes Kahlaoui, a French model, while Apollo is Charles Bilgrien, an American model. Seriously, go look them up. They look pretty much how I envision the characters. All the men shown in the pictures are Kahlaoui and Bilgrien except for the two in Apollo's IG post. Those two are Emilio Osorio and Joaquín Bondoni, actors from Mi Marido tiene más familia, a Mexican telenovela. I chose them because the picture looked nice.
The title is the best pun I will ever come up with in my entire life.
The article was written by Pheme, goddess of gossip. To quote Theoi.com, "PHEME (also known as OSSA) was the goddess or personified spirit (daimona) of rumour, report and gossip. She was also by extension the spirit of fame and good repute in a positive sense and infamy and scandal in the bad." I like to imagine that the goddess of rumor and gossip would be the editor-in-chief of Olympus' main tabloid.
Apollo's hashtags form a haiku, which I'm particularly proud of.
The private reading on Olympus mentioned in Apollo's interview is a reference to Lorixjake's "Reading Percy Jackson" series. Lorixjake was one of the first writer's to get me into shipping Perpollo. You can read it on ao3.
The song I mentioned, "Would You Be So Kind?", is by dodie. You can listen to it on YouTube, it's really sweet and I was obsessed with it for like 3 weeks straight.
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cuchufletapl · 2 years ago
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dulzaina
For Edling Week 2022. Day 2: Hello | Goodbye | Music
AO3
“I can’t explain why,” Ling said suddenly, and Ed hummed to make him know that he was listening, even as he didn’t lift his head to look at him where he was spread-out on Ed’s bed, “but now that I see you with it, I can’t shake the feeling that if you played an instrument, it should be… I don’t know, percussion.”
Ed snorted. “Eh, you’re not the first one to say that.” He set down the cloth that he’d been using to rub the sweet almond oil into the rod of the shawm and took up the vial again, this time to pour it gently into the instrument. The room smelled so sugary woodsy. “The woman who’s in charge of the Resembool band said the same thing when my mum enrolled me in the junior group.”
“It was her idea then?”
“Oh, yeah, band classes looked boring as fuck. I wanted to go learn the traditional dances with Winry, but,” he paused here, as he took the long duster brush and inserted it into the shawm. “Well, mum wasn’t much of a dancer, but she’d been playing music in the festivals since she was a teenager, so, y’know. She wanted to teach us herself. She…” His hand stilled for a second. “I mean, we learnt the basics from her, at least. We didn’t keep playing much after she died, though, even before we left Resembool.”
Ling drifted his eyes towards the ceiling. “I see. Sorry,” he said, in a more subdued voice to match his boyfriend’s tone.
“It’s fine.” He had moved on to the holes in the instrument, using a smaller brush. “It’s a nice thing to remember her by. Al hasn’t really picked up on it again, but I have more time on my hands than he does, anyway.”
There was a dry, slightly bitter note in that sentence. Ling sat up on the bed to look at him properly.
He had decided to come back to Amestris on a sort of sixth-sense impulse. Lately, too often when he called Ed (through the newly installed Xing-Amestris phone line, courtesy of his ailing father deciding to grant what his now appointed heir had been requesting for an entire year and a half), he had sounded frustrated and put-out, even as he was ostensibly happy to get to hear his boyfriend’s voice.
Ling had started almost every conversation with a “So, how was your day?” And Ed had answered to most of those questions by snorting humourlessly and saying something like, “Boring and tiring. Rebuilding a house without alchemy may not be the stupidest thing we’ve decided to do, but it’s up there, I’ll tell you that much.”
Lan Fan had told him that even Winry had mentioned something along those lines in a letter about her automail arm. It was in passing, in the middle of a brief recounting of how she kept her days busy in Rush Valley, but her taking a line to say that “and Ed keeps pestering me on the phone, he’s just so bored” had raised another alarm in Ling’s head. He had then asked Mei if she had heard anything about Edward from Alphonse in their long-distance alkahestry studies, and she had said that yes, actually, because Al had remarked several times now that lately his older brother would rarely ask about his research, and wasn’t that weird.
So when Ed had mentioned that the preparations for the summer solstice festival in Resembool had begun, Ling had taken the excuse to go pay a long-due visit.
“And besides,” he had said on the phone, when an incredulous Ed had asked why the hell he was coming now, when as per Ling’s description the Emperor was so weak that a breeze could might as well kill him any day, “I’ll get to hear you play the instrument you’ve been telling me about, yes?”
Ling looked at his boyfriend now, and as he went on with the process of caring for his shawm—getting it ready to play in a few days at the village square—, he took in again how his features seemed somehow eroded, how his eyes glassed over without him even noticing. His hands were rough with work they hadn’t been accustomed to before he had traded away his alchemy, and his shoulders were broader than Ling had remembered, but they seemed less straight now—and not because the weight that he’d carried for so long was finally gone, but rather as if there was something else wearing him down.
“The offer to come live in Xing still stands.” He said finally, breaking the small silence. “It will always stand. You can come back with me this time, if you’d like.”
Ed’s hands stilled where they had been wiping down the excess oil with a grey cloth. He lifted his head to smile at him, gently, fondly, his eyes brimming with understanding of what exactly Ling was offering and why.
“Yeah, I know.” He looked out of the window. Ling didn’t need to turn his head to know that he was looking at the hill where the new version of his childhood home stood, still missing the roof. “But I… I don’t think I’m finished here yet.”
“I get it, but,” Ling started, and then bit his lip for a second, contemplating, “I’m not sure you actually need to stay here as long as you think you do.”
Ed blinked and turned to him with a slight frown. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that it may be starting to get counterproductive to take this much time, and that you need to get out again and do stuff.”
“I have been doing—” he began, but then realised that he was being purposefully obtuse and pursed his lips. “I’m just not done. I’m not leaving until—until Al is ready and our home is the way it used to be. I just. I need to do it like this.”
Ling stood up from the bed to go crouch at Edward’s feet. His hands came to rest where Ed’s still clutched the traditional wind instrument. He brushed his boyfriend’s knuckles with his thumbs and stared into his eyes, steadily, hoping to convey how much safety he wanted to mean. Ed’s eyes looked so deep, so sleep-less, not unlike those few weeks prior to Promised Day—more uncertain in some ways, although decidedly less scared.
“I understand, and I’ll be waiting either way, but just consider it. Coming with me, I mean. And don’t… don’t let it swallow you, okay?”
The corners of Ed’s lips turned up slightly.
“What do you think the shawm’s for?”
Ling smiled back. “I figured, yes.”
 .
 The summer solstice festival in Resembool was way less elaborate than the festivals back home (although, as a prince in a rich clan, his experience was pretty much based on grand celebrations in the rather large capital of province, so he had to admit a certain bias).
The entire town was gathered in the main square, waiting for the main event of the morning—the performance of regional dances—to begin. A few garlands here and there had been strung from balcony to balcony, and a stand of food and cold drink was sequestered in one of the few corners in the shade, beneath a huge oak tree. It was by far the most frequented spot, as the June heat bore down onto the square and people started to order their first cold beers of the day (“Half the town will be blackout drunk by the time of lighting up the bonfire, you’ll see,” Pinako had warned him merrily).
It was blindingly sunny and scorching in a way that made him feel like his skin was sizzling.
Resembool wasn’t that far from a desert but somehow he hadn’t expected the Amestrian summer to be this hot. He wondered how Lan Fan was faring, wearing all black and hidden away on some roof, as usual observing for any potential threat.
Next to him, Al was fanning himself while offering casual greetings to his neighbours as they passed by the bench he was sitting on. He looked good. He still needed a cane to walk—may always need it—but his face looked full and tan and he’d grown enough that he wasn’t that far from getting to Ling’s height, which was saying something. (Ed’s torn-up face about this, bitter but nonetheless happy for his little brother, was a delight to see.)
“Winry!” he shouted suddenly, standing up and waving his hand up in the air.
She seemed to appear out of nowhere from among the crowd, smiling and breathless as if she’d run straight from the station.
“I thought I wasn’t going to make it,” she huffed after greeting and hugging the both of them. “I swear to god, this week out of all weeks, we just had to be so swamped—where’s Ed? And Granny?”
“Granny’s with the patrons of the bar, like usual. Ed’s already with the other musicians,” answered Al. “Last minute preparations and all that. He’s opening the first song, did he tell you that?”
“No, but what else is new.” She cracked a grin. “Is he nervous?”
“Yeah, a bit.”
“I’m so excited! I haven’t listened to him play since we were nine. And back then I was too focused on not tripping over my feet to really listen.”
Ling hummed. “Ed mentioned that you used to dance in events like these. I’ve been meaning to ask how come you stopped.”
“Have you seen the outfits?”
“Not yet.”
“Then you’ll see why. It’s honestly a crime to make people dance under the sun, in summer, at noon while wearing that many layers.” Winry shrugged and shared a meaningful glance with Al, who was suddenly fiddling with the handle of his cane. “And also, well, I don’t really live here anymore.”
“Yeah,” sighed Alphonse. “It’s a bit… It feels weirdly too much like the past.”
Ling looked away. He kind of understood what they were talking about—he’d known it, when he had set foot back into the Yao palace and his mother had hugged him for the first time in nearly a year, and what he’d felt most keenly still was the lack of an ouroboros tattoo on his hand and the sensation that a piece of him had been left in Amestris. He’d seen it in Ed’s eyes a few days ago too, but he seemed to cling to the notion of something different while he struggled to heal.
The clock on the city hall struck noon and the people of Resembool made space in the middle of the square for the twelve dancers to walk into it, hands on their hips and one after the other in a single straight file, as they all took well-practiced positions. Winry was right. The women’s dresses seemed to have several layers of skirts, while the men wore long sleeves and trousers and nearly all black—and the fabric didn’t seem that light. Several of them already had a shiny sheen of sweat on their foreheads. But Ling’s amazement at the fact that these were summer dance outfits was swiftly ended as the musicians followed and took position at the edges of the crowd-made circle.
Hilariously, their outfits seemed far more weather appropriate, despite the fact that they wouldn’t be the ones engaging in extraneous physical activity. They even got to have knee-length trousers.
Edward stood by the fringes of the group as he took out the shawn from its leather case, which hung by a strap on his shoulder. He had (to Ling’s surprise and delight, because he usually only saw this in the mornings and bedtime and his boyfriend was so handsome like that) his hair down, beautiful and shiny like a beacon of gold. He wore a sleeveless white shirt under an embroidered black vest and a red sash around his waist and it just really, really suited him. Distantly, Ling thought of procuring a camera, because he didn’t think he would get to see his love wearing the Amestrian traditional musician clothes often.
Ed took a deep breath before bringing the shawm’s mouthpiece to his lips. He spared a glance towards the other five musicians, who nodded, and he closed his eyes as the first note filled the air and bounced off the buildings that formed Resembool’s main square.
For some reason, Ling was left bereft at the realisation that this was not a sad song. Of course it wasn’t—it was music to dance to, to celebrate the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer. Nevertheless, he was struck by the quick tempo and the flourishes of the melody, by the way in which the dancers sprung into motion, hands up and turning and jumping, and by how Ed started to tap his foot as another two wind instruments and the drums joined him.
Ling thought back to when he’d suggested that drums would suit Ed better and couldn’t for the life of him explain why he had ever thought it. He wasn’t a life-changing, world-turner performer, but it was clear that he’d grown knowing this instrument, like he’d grown knowing alchemy. This wasn’t the first time Ling had heard him play, since he’d listened to him practice the days leading up to the solstice, but there was a stark difference between the Rockbells’ kitchen and Resembool’s lively plaza. He screwed up a note or two; Ling could tell by the way he’d scrunch his nose and scowl and play the next few notes more forcefully, as if making up for his mistake. He was seventeen, and if one paid attention it was obvious that he lacked expertise next to the other, middle-aged shawm player by his right. But he was Edward Elric and he embodied everything he did, and this time in particular he seemed to be bolstered by something else, something akin to a certain type of nostalgia-tinted desperation, as if a scream was hidden in his fingers as they moved up and down the instrument.
Ling realised why he thought this was meant to be a sad music and why, in a roundabout way, despite the energy and the joy that went into it, it was.
He also realised that Ed wouldn’t be coming home with him this summer, but that it truly wouldn’t be long until he did.
At the end of the sixth song, the entire square shouted, “Happy Solstice Day!” and Ling was shaken out of his stupor. His eyes finally strayed from his boyfriend and he saw that the dancers were panting, drinking readily from water bottles that people from the crowd handed them.
Huh.
He kind of hadn’t been paying attention to the actual performance.
“That was really good!” Winry said, clapping. “I’m so proud.”
“He’s been practicing for months,” Al nodded.
Ed was busy being clapped in the back and getting his hair ruffled by the other musicians, so they made their way to him. He had barely noticed them when he already had Ling’s arms around his torso and was being lifted off the ground.
“Ah, fuck! Ling, put me down, you shithead—” he yelled, but he was laughing, and his hands on Ling’s shoulders weren’t pushing him away.
“If we weren’t dating, your musical talent surely would have seduced me, love,” he said into blond hair as he put his boyfriend down. He heard one of the musicians snort good-naturedly.
Ed leaned back to look him in the face and make sure that Ling could see the way he rolled his eyes, but he didn’t pull away from the embrace yet.
“Yeah, okay, I’m a sweaty siren playing folk music to lure the sailors to crash into the rocks.”
“You’re my siren.”
“Oh my god,” said a voice next to them.
Ed turned towards Winry and pointed an accusatory finger at her. “You’re worse with Paninya, don’t even try.”
“Untrue, Paninya isn’t nearly as cheesy as that. And neither am I. No offense, Ling.”
“None taken.”
Ed huffed while Alphonse burst out laughing, and soon after they were all in a fit. When they calmed down, Winry suggested to go find Granny Pinako and they set out towards the food stand under the oak tree.
Edward was still smiling when he let Ling take his hand.
“So, Al mentioned that at the bonfire tonight there’s also going to be music?”
“Yeah, but it’s an actual band that the mayor hired. It’s not folk or anything.”
“Will I get a dance, though?”
“Duh, as if you need to ask,” Ed said, deadpan, but there was a blush high on his cheeks.
Ling lifted their joined hands to kiss the back of Ed’s. “It really was nice, though.”
“Yeah?”
“Hm-mh. All your practicing here paid off. You’ll have to play privately for me again sometime.”
Ed looked into his eyes for a few seconds, then stood on his tip-toes to peck him on the lips.
“I’m really glad you came,” he murmured against his mouth. He squeezed his hand. “Now let’s go find Granny.”
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baepsaesbae · 3 years ago
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Eclipse
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Pairing— Day Fairy!Hoseok x Night fairy!reader    
Genre— SMUT, fae au, angst, idiots to lovers
Warnings— Oral (F receiving), nipple play, explicit unprotected sex, hair pulling, both praise and slight derogatory dirty talk bc I can’t make up my mind, slight swearing
Word Count— 3.3k  
Summary— The summer solstice is here and it’s time to celebrate. Your favorite part of the solstice is that you get to see Hoseok, or rather, the love of your life. It’s too bad you haven’t told him how you really felt, even though it has been centuries. Maybe this year will be different. 
A/N— This fic is part of The Fabled Collab hosted by @joontopia, @kimtaehyunq, and @whipped-for-kpop-fics. Hoseok is my sunshine, so I just had to write about him! Thank you to @s0seo and @taegularities for giving me motivation to write. Lastly, huge shoutout to Eden from @thebiasrekkers​ for making this awesome banner for me! As always, let me know how you guys like the fic! My askbox is always open <3
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Fae clans have many holidays and rituals, but solstices are by far the most celebrated. Solstices mark the pivotal event that shifts the seasonal responsibilities between the sun and moon clans. The summer and winter solstice are always the biggest events of the year, with about a week of festivities leading up to the final event. 
Sweat ran down your spine as the sun beat down on you. You’ve been holding up a stupid banner for what felt like an eternity.
“Okay wait, you’re gonna hate me but I think we should put it back to where we originally had it,” Sunghoon said with furrowed brows.
“That’s it. We’ve been doing this all morning. Figure this out yourself,” you angrily threw down the banner and stormed off before Sunghoon had the chance to yell at you.
You ignored the friendly calls from other fae that were setting up decor nearby. It was way past your bedtime. Cranky and drenched in sweat, you were definitely not a happy night fairy. Heading straight to the pond, you derobed and found comfort in the cool waters that  washed away your stress instantly. You gazed up at the blue sky while floating on your back. The day truly was beautiful, you couldn’t deny that. However, nighttime was better in your very much biased opinion. The dark sky littered with countless stars that glittered like diamonds was an unbeatable sight. 
“Hey there sunshine!” a familiar voice interrupted your thoughts. You dipped back into the water and turned to the source of the sound.
“Hey there, perv. Care to join me?” you beckoned.
“I wish I could, but I need to go finalize some plans for the handoff ceremony--”
“It’s the same EVERY year. C’mon Hobi, you don’t need to go,” you whined.
“I’ll meet you back here at sunset, how does that sound?” he tried to appease you.
“Midnight. I’m already exhausted, I don’t wanna wake up early,” you blew raspberries into the pond.
“That’s fair. I’ll see you then okay?” Hoseok waved before flying off.
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On top of parties filled with indulgences that would blow the mind of any feeble human, Hoseok was the added bonus that made you eager for each solstice. Admittedly, you two have had some sort of flirtationship going on for the past few centuries. Your friends always teased you about how madly head over heels you were for him. As much as you wanted to believe that he loved you in the same way, something always felt off.  
Hoseok always reciprocated your flirtatious advances, but it felt more like a game between friends rather than something substantial. You’ve even observed his interactions with other fairies, and it didn’t seem like he gave you any special treatment. He was simply a good friendly guy that everyone loved, but not the way that you loved him. 
You were dying to know how he truly felt about you. All these years of playful banter had been fun, but they had also been simultaneously eating away at you. There’s no way he doesn’t know that you love him. At the same time, what if he thinks you’re just a good friend? You needed to know for sure, and you intended to confront him about it at midnight.
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“Good evening,” you greeted Hoseok shyly as you approached the pond’s bank. 
“Good day to you sunshine,” Hoseok called back as he kicked at the water.
“How’d the meeting go?” you asked.
“Boring as always. You’re right, it’s the same every year. But the elders still want to go over everything again to ensure that the ceremony is perfect,” Hoseok sighed.
“Thanks for coming to hangout with me even though you’re so busy,” you said, suddenly feeling guilty.
“Are you kidding? I’ve been looking forward to this all day! You’re the perfect person to unwind with after a long day,” Hoseok smiled. There it was. The radiant smile you fell for the first time you ever met him. 
“You sure I’m the perfect person for that? What do you do when you’re back in your own land surrounded by other day fae?” you prodded, hoping to steer the conversation onto the ‘what are we’ topic. 
“I have my friends there for sure, and I appreciate them too. But it’s different with you. Maybe because I can only hangout with you twice a year. You’re like my super special friend, yaknow?” Hoseok tried to explain. 
“Uh yeah, for sure. Like a special playdate kind of thing huh?” you tried to hide your hurt feelings.
“Exactly! You get it. It’s like you’re my favorite dessert that I can only have twice a year,” Hoseok nodded.
“Right…” you whispered softly to yourself. You spent the rest of the night listening to the unfruitful discussions Hoseok had during his meetings. All the excitement over the festival had drained from you. Now, you just wanted it to be over so you can go sulk in peace. 
“You’re awfully quiet,” Hoseok observed, “You haven’t interjected once about how stupid our traditions are or how you’re looking forward to having long nights again.”
“Hm? Oh yeah, I’m just tired. Sunghoon really worked me to the bone yesterday, that damn day fairy,” you faked a yawn.
“Hey, be nice! Wasn’t it you who volunteered to help us anyway?” Hoseok shook his head.
‘Yeah, because I thought I’d be able to work with you,’ you thought.
“It was a bizarre streak of altruism, that’s all,” you shrugged. 
“Nah, I know you’re a kind fairy deep down!” Hoseok playfully nudged your shoulder. Normally you would welcome this type of physical affection, but for right now it served as a painful reminder that you were merely seen as a buddy. 
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You actively avoided Hoseok for the remainder of the week, counting down the hours to when it would finally all be over. You made up some lame excuse to not hangout with Hoseok every time he approached you. He must have caught on by the final day, either that or he was extremely busy. Afterall, he was the MC for the entire ordeal. 
Apparently, your abrasive reputation preceded you because no one wanted your help with anything. As soon as they saw you coming, they would randomly find themselves very preoccupied with something that made them too busy to talk to you. The only person who would put you to work was Sunghoon, who was one of Hoseok’s best friends. You wondered why he was always so nice to you even when you complained the entire time you helped him.
“That’s the last table! They all look great, thanks for helping with the set up,” Sunghoon gave you a thumbs up.
“You know it’s pointless setting up all these tables. Most of the fairies are just gonna be dancing or fucking all night long, no one is gonna be sitting down,” you said.
“Are you gonna be one of the fairies partying?” Sunghoon inquired.
“Definitely not,” you answered curtly.
“Then I’m happy at least one of these tables will be utilized,” Sunghoon nodded, “Try to enjoy yourself tonight okay?”
“Whatever,” you rolled your eyes.
The entire forest seemed to come alive that night. The trees swayed with the enchanting music while cheers of merriment erupted around the party scene. You sat alone at a mushroom table with your third (or was it fourth?) cup of berry wine. You glared at the fairies who had lost themselves to their pleasures, whether it be the wine or the toadstools, or perhaps even both. Fairies who had given into their more lustful urges could be seen on the outskirts of the dance floor, some in the innocent stages of kissing and others entangled full fledged fornication. Scoffing at the obscene orgy, you stumbled off to get another cup of wine. Even though you weren’t really participating, you had to admit that fairies knew how to throw a party. 
“Hey ___, I noticed you’ve been by yourself the whole evening. Want some company?” someone asked behind you as you filled up your mug to the brim. You turned to see two Sunghoons merge to become one hazy Sunghoon in the blink of an eye. 
“F-ffuck off Sunghoon,” you slurred.
“I wanted to thank you for all the hard work you did for this year’s summer solstice,” Sunghoon continued, unfazed by your harshness, “Wanna dance to celebrate?”
“Nope,” you answered as you pushed him aside.
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“Yeah she seemed pretty pissed dude,” Sunghoon said while taking a large swig.
“At you or in general?” Hoseok inquired.
“Dunno man, she’s always been like that. However, she seemed more aggravated than usual, which is hard to imagine,” Sunghoon chuckled, “Did you do something to her?”
“No! I’ve been replaying everything we talked about at the pond but everything seemed fine! I even told her that she was my super special friend and---oh shit,” Hoseok’s face fell.
“Idiot,” Sunghoon tsked. 
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Both fae clans had gathered by the main stage, intently listening to the same speeches that the clan leaders have spoken for centuries. You watched apathetically as the everlasting flame was being formally handed over. The crowd roared as the flame changed from a deep crimson red to an icy silver color with a blue hue, signifying that the solstice had come to pass. 
If the festival wasn’t wild before, it had only gotten more out of hand after the official ceremony. Seeing the other fairies go wild in every sense of the word made you nauseous. The noise level intensified as you watched your fairy brethren engage in rather promiscuous activities. Someone even beckoned for you to join in the fun, but you just walked away. The only person you wanted to have that kind of fun with was Hoseok. It infuriated you that your thoughts always drifted to him. You filled up your cup one last time and walked away from the ruckus, towards an empty grove. Hopefully you would be able to wallow in self pity in peace there. 
The stars twinkled above you, and dim moonlight speckled the ground around you as it shone through the trees. You could still hear the party, but it was much fainter now and served as nice background noise to keep you from drowning in your thoughts. With a deep exhale, you fought to hold back tears. You felt so foolish. Too many years have been wasted in vain for an unrequited love that you should have seen coming. It was so stupid of you to hold onto a sliver of hope that Hoseok would like you back. 
“The party is that way,” a familiar voice called out to you.
“Then why aren’t you there?” you didn’t try to mask the annoyance in your voice.
“I saw you walk away, I wanted to check up on you.”
“Why the fuck would you even care?” you sat up and hissed.
“Why are you being so hostile? You’re the one who has been avoiding me all week!” Hoseok raised his voice.
“I’m sure you didn’t have much time to spend with me anyway,” you huffed.
“That’s not true. I spent every moment of my free time looking for you, only for you to turn me away. Can you tell me what’s wrong?” Hoseok calmed down.
“Fine. I’m in love with you, okay? How fucking embarrassing. It hurt when you said that I was your super best friend or whatever. Seeing you afterward just reminded me of how dumb I am,” you couldn’t make eye contact with him.
“Oh sunshine, I’m the idiot. I shouldn’t have said that. You’re my special friend because I like you too. I wanted to spend every second with you this week. I didn’t mean to hurt you like that, I’m so sorry ____,” Hoseok got down on his knees and pulled you in for a hug. You were stunned.
“Why didn’t you say anything sooner then!” you pushed him off.
“I thought it was obvious from the way we flirted!” he argued. 
“You’re nice to everyone, it was hard for me to tell,” you pouted.
“My apologies for not being a sourpuss like you,” Hoseok laughed.
“So...what now? It wasn’t really a romantic confession but I guess our feelings are out in the open now,” you whispered as you leaned against him.
Suddenly, Hoseok pushed you back to the ground, straddling your hips. His dark hair nearly covered his eyes as he looked down at you. He was beyond beautiful, his white iridescent wings glittered ethereally in the moonlight. 
“Remember when I said you’re like a dessert I can only have twice a year? I’d like to make that a reality,” Hobi smirked. He bent over to kiss you. It was soft at first, his plush lips pressing up against yours. He gently cupped your face with one hand while the other wandered to your chest, undoing your blouse. Lust overtook the both of you as the kiss deepened and Hoseok fondled your breasts. You let out a small gasp as he played with your nipples, rolling them between his fingers.  
“Spread those legs for me, sunshine,” he demanded.
You complied, slowly exposing yourself to him. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him while in such a compromising position. Hoseok gingerly kissed a trail along your inner thighs towards your core. His hot breath against your pussy made you squirm under him in anticipation.
“So impatient,” he chuckled, “Let’s play a game. You have to make eye contact with me while I eat you out. Every time you look away, I stop.”
“You’re evil,” you huffed before reluctantly looking at the beautiful being perched between your legs. 
“That’s my girl,” he purred approvingly before spreading your folds with his fingers. His eyes darkened with lust as you watched him lick tantalizingly slow stripes. He could feel your need for more, so he moved up to focus on your clit, giving it special attention as his tongue swirled around it. 
You tangled your fingers into his hair, gripping him tighter as he licked your clit faster. All your composure was lost as you looked down at him with pleading eyes.
“What is it? Need more?” Hoseok teased as his fingers traced your entrance.
“Please,” you whimpered.
“Please what?” Hoseok feigned ignorance
“Please touch me,” you said softly.
“We need to work on your begging, but you’re so adorable I can’t say no,” Hobi dove back into stimulating your clit as he slipped a finger inside of you. He smirked at how easily he went in, and immediately added a second finger. The new feeling had you throwing your head back as he grazed your g-spot. Right as things began to feel good, he retracted everything.
“Hobi!” you cried out in frustration.
“You looked away. Remember the rules to our little game?” Hoseok chided. You glared down at him as he immediately picked up where he left off, not giving you time to readjust. Fighting back the urge to close your eyes, soft moans escaped from your lips.
“Ready to cum, my dear ___?” he asked sweetly as his fingers dipped to directly attack your g-spot.
There was no time to give a proper response. Your back arched and your toes curled up as your orgasm overwhelmed you. Drenched in your juices, Hoseok glistened under the moonlight.
“Absolutely gorgeous,” Hoseok praised, “But I’m not finished with you yet,” he leaned in to whisper in your ear.
He unbuckled his trousers, releasing the monster that dangled between his legs. You willingly spread your legs for him, eager for more.
“So needy, you haven’t had enough yet?” Hoseok tsked as he rubbed the tip of his cock along your folds.
Finally, Hoseok began to bury himself into you. He took his time, relishing how your warm walls squeezed him. You closed your eyes in ecstasy, focusing on feeling every inch of him. Once he bottomed out, you wrapped your legs around him in an attempt to bring him impossibly closer. The dark lust that swam in his eyes broke for a second, replaced by the warm smile that made you fall in love with him in the first place. He bent down to kiss you, and you happily reciprocated. 
Hoseok moved his hips slowly as he fucked you at a deep yet gentle pace. Mouths still colliding, you shyly licked at his lips. Taking your hint, Hoseok’s tongue met yours. As the kisses deepened with more saliva being interchanged, Hoseok’s thrusts became harsher.    
“You’re so fucking sexy. Lemme see that ass baby,” Hoseok growled as he flipped you over.
He smacked your ass twice and watched it jiggle in awe before placing a firm grip on your hips. Almost animalistically, he bucked into you. Your body jolted forward with each thrust. You had never been fucked this hard before, and it was heavenly. Hoseok’s control over his body movement was insane. Your moans grew louder as his hips continuously rolled into you. 
One of Hoseok’s hands formed a tight grip on your hair, roughly bringing your head up off the ground. You couldn’t stop your wanton moans from filling the open air. 
“H-Hoseok,” you cried out.
“What is it? Is it too much for you?” Hoseok cooed in your ear as he brought your head back even closer to him.
“Mmm-no,” was all you could make out.
“I knew you could take it all, such a good slut,” Hoseok praised as he let go of your hair.
Unable to hold yourself up, you immediately fell back onto your chest. Your fingernails dug into the dirt as you could feel another orgasm swelling up inside of you. 
“I’m gonna cum again,” you wailed out.
“I’m almost there, wait for me baby,” Hoseok instructed.
With perfect timing, Hoseok let out a guttural moan as he spilled his seed inside of you. Sounds of pleasure bounced around the grove as you came in unison. Hoseok’s cum dripped down the sides of your inner thighs when he pulled out. 
“How did I do, sunshine?” Hoseok asked jovially as you laid on the ground before him.
“You knocked me out. I don’t think I can move for a while,” you weakly answered with a smile.
“Not a problem, we can just stay here for a while, sunshine,” Hoseok laid down beside you, beckoning for you to rest atop his chest. 
“I like when you call me that,” you yawned.
“Sunshine?” Hoseok asked.
“Yeah, that. It makes me feel special,” you nodded.
“Is that so? I’m glad it makes you feel special, because you are. You’ve always been the spunky night fairy that everyone knows but is too afraid to approach,” Hoseok laughed.
“What! I am totally friendly! Just not to those who piss me off,” you defended, “Which...I guess is a lot of people so I suppose I see your point. What made you want to be my friend if everyone thought I’m scary?”
“You treated me like everyone else. It always felt like people put on a fake facade around me since I’m the chief’s son. They’re nice to me to try and curry favor with my father, or maybe flirt with me to try and gain some special sort of status. I don’t know. I’m just me,” Hoseok shrugged. 
“If it makes you feel any better, you’re my sunshine,” you hugged him.
“That makes me feel great. I’ll do my best to see you more than twice a year, okay?” he kissed your forehead.
“I guess I can clear my schedule and come over to visit you too,” you giggled, “Or maybe we can run away and make a clan of our own.”
“Are you serious?” he asked, “Don’t tempt me. I’d love to go somewhere where no one knows my name or expects anything from me.”
“How about we go to where the day meets the night?” you offered.
“Like what? An eclipse?” Hoseok said as he gazed into the night sky.
“Precisely. We can make an eclipse clan. We only have to do festivals for eclipses, and those are kinda rare,” you giggled.
“Sounds like a good dream, sunshine. Let’s seriously discuss it in the morning when we’re both more sober,” Hoseok kissed your forehead.
“Goodnight, my sunshine,” you whispered into his chest.
Published July 23, 2021. No editing, copying, translating, or reposting allowed. All Rights Reserved © 2021 Baepsaesbae.
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themonotonysyndrome · 3 years ago
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david, angel and cub going on a camping trip. you already know they’re making smores. david also packed them lunches.
they scratch the lottery (i forgot what it was called) and cub surprisingly wins some money!!
for the winter solstice, cub and the other kids are begging david to let them join when go out for the run. cub and asher/milo’s kid have their own little group, they’re troublemakers
but when its the summer solstice poor david and cub are in pain, and angel is more than happy to take care of them.
Yes! Camping food and outdoor cooking look so delicious! I'm not the outdoor type but I do love to try glamping one day with family and friends!!
Smores is a must; in fact, Angel insist on it! They'll make sure to keep close to the Cub so they won't get hurt from the fire. Angel cheers when the Cub had their first taste of smores. Seeing the look of wonderment on their face is everything to Angel and David.
Lunches packed by David are very tasty and healthy! It's one of those bento boxes too. Lots of veggies and meat (Angel frown because their bento box has more veggies than the others and their baby just laugh at their parent disgruntled expression).
Oh! Wouldn't it be funny that the Cub has insanely good luck when it comes to those lottery scratches? They earned themselves more money than David ever had when he was younger! He and Angel put the money in the Cub's piggy bank for future allowances once they're older.
Speaking of Winter Solstice, you know that really young puppies have ears and feet that are too big for them so they're constantly falling all over the place? Yeah, Shifter Wolves are the same. So when the babies beg David to let them join everyone else on the run, these Cubs could hardly waddle properly without tripping on the soft snow.
IT'S SO FUCKING ADORABLE!
So David came up with a compromise. The Cubs would 'run' (or flops around, lol) with the rest of the Pack and once they're tuckered out, the Pack would settle them down back at the cabin for a nap and then it's their turn to run. Everyone's happy!
Asher, Milo and David's cubs, bless them, did their best to 'run' at the front but they trip more than they run, lol.
Summer Solstice! Fuck! Poor babies! I think because they're still getting used to the magic, it won't be so painful for them. Just tummy aches or mild headaches. Angel, Babe and Sweetheart are champs at caring for their men and babies when this happens! Don't worry!!
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dcforts · 3 years ago
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[week #1: summer solstice]
1.9k, deancas, established relationship, night out.
Dean killed the engine in the parking lot and looked across the street.
The huge neon sign on the door said Summer Solstice in yellow and orange and was decorated with palms and flamingos. It was flashy and intimidating.
“Is this the place?” asked Cas from the passenger seat. Dean looked over at him. He was wearing that baby blue shirt Sam had gotten him for Christmas and had styled his hair in a cute way – at least before Dean had gotten it all messed it up in the garage before they even left. Now there were some locks doing what they wanted in the back. Dean liked it anyway.
“Yeah,” he said, looking towards the entrance again. “That’s what Google says.”
“Mh,” said Cas. He didn’t sound convinced.
“We don’t have to go in,” said Dean, a little nervous.
A couple of young girls were disappearing behind the door right then. They seemed happy and relaxed and Dean was feeling uneasy.
He was too old for this. Had too much trauma, a too complicated history. This was more of a place for Claire. Or maybe not. Maybe she was too cool for it and she’d make fun of him if she knew where he was.
He and Cas didn’t belong there.
They should have stayed at the bunker, kissing on the couch, like the did every Friday night. Dean liked that.
They could still just drive away, pull over in the middle of nowhere and sit on the hood. But they did that all the time. This was supposed to be them trying new things – being out in the world, proud and all. They thought this Summer Solstice's Rainbow Friday could be a good start.
It had taken them all afternoon to find something they liked, driven an hour and a half. Cas had read him the place's entire website and now they were there and Dean was thinking of chickening out. He couldn’t believe himself sometimes.
Dean sighed. “We don’t have to go in, man,” he repeated like a broken record.
Cas was looking at a group of people coming out of the bar. They looked like they were having a good time. Behind them was a couple of guys walking hand in hand. The couple crossed the street to get into the parking lot and stopped to kiss all sweet and soft right in front of their car.
Fuck, alright, Dean was feeling really old and not at all okay.
He wasn’t even sure if he ever kissed Cas in public like that. Actually, that was a lie. He remembered every single kiss they ever shared, he just didn’t know if “no one around for miles” counted as public.
“I think we should go in.” Cas said but then looked over at him and his expression changed. “Are you feeling okay?”
Dean gulped, overheating all of the sudden even if he didn't have his usual jacket on. “Yeah, yeah.”
He rolled down his window, and now he could hear the bubbly pop song that was playing in the bar. That didn’t help.
“Dean, are you sure?”
Yeah. Yeah, sure. He was okay. He was. He could go to a damn bar with his boyfriend. That's what people did. He could do that.
“We can just see if we like it,” Cas said. “We don’t have to stay if we don’t.”
“You said you wanted to try their cocktails.”
Cas looked like he was trying very hard not to roll his eyes at him, “I think I’ll survive if I don’t.”
“It’s just – I’m not used to this kind of –" he couldn’t finish the sentence.
“I know,” Cas said anyway and Dean felt like he really did. He sighed and slumped against the seat. He caught Cas’ eyes. “We don’t have to like it,” he said once more. “It’s just something that we’re trying.”
Dean was watching his eyes and hearing his voice and he was feeling calmer already. He kept saying we and that was really helping for some reason. He couldn’t believe he'd just been freaking out about going into a bar.
“Okay, yeah,” he said, and this time he meant it. Kind of. He looked over at the place again. “So. What’s with that name anyway? Summer solstice?”
He was stalling.
Cas let him, “The longest day of the year,” he said, like a professor. Dean liked when he used that voice and didn’t say that he knew that already. “It signs the start of a new season.”
“What’s that – what’s that cocktail you wanted to try?”
“I think one was called Heatwave Sweet Heatwave,” he said and Dean couldn’t help but huff a laugh, “Oh, God”.
“And another was – Feeling Beachy.”
“Alright, stop, you’re killing me.”
Cas smiled at him. He knew Cas wouldn’t be let down if he said he wanted to go home. But Dean didn’t want to go home. He’d chosen his outfit and all, even ironed his shirt.
He didn't even know what was holding him back. He sighed, took one last look at the neon sign, then rolled the window up and took the keys out.
“Alright, come on, let’s do it,” he said opening his door.
Cas got out, rounded the car as Dean locked it and grabbed his hand.
Crossing the street felt like a huge deal, but being pulled by Cas' strong grip made it easier and Dean felt lighter and lighter. He kind of held his breath when he passed under the rainbow flag by the entrance, but nothing happened, no cold shower, no electrocution. And once they got in, he just felt – normal.
It was a long room, bustling with people, crowding the bar and the dancefloor on the far end. They were of different ages and wearing all kinds of different clothes - not the usual patrons of the hunter bars Dean was used to, but no one turned to stare at him like he'd thought would happen. They were all just chatting away and dancing and minding their business.
Cas squeezed his hand. Dean started to relax.
The bartender was half his age, had an hawaiian shirt on and sunglasses on top of his head. He was wearing one of those flag pins, but Dean couldn’t remember what it meant. He took one look at them and said, “First time?” and Dean thought he must have looked like grade-A idiot.
Not even the time to open and close his mouth like a fish that the guy had slammed two shots on the counter in front of them and winked, “On the house. Welcome.”
So that was a good start.
Then Dean got addicted real quick to a concotion called Tropic Like It’s Hot and went back for seconds and thirds on the mini sandwich platter on the buffet table, all while saying sandwich with fruit should be made illegal worldwide.
They played really terrible remixed songs that Dean didn’t know but got the crowd going, but then they played a bunch of his girl's Taylor and a bunch of the ones Cas liked. Cas said he wasn’t gonna dance but still followed him onto the dancefloor and kind of moved his head and feet a bit while working through his second Feeling Beachy and Dean got to dance all stupid around him and make him laugh so that was nice.
He went to the bathroom for two seconds and when he came out, Cas was at the bar again and someone was chatting him up. Dean prepared for the worst, but when he got closer the guy smiled all bright and said, “Hey, you’re Dean, right?”
He looked a little like Benny, which was weird, and was wearing very short shorts ,which Benny wouldn’t have worn, even if he could’ve totally pulled them off in Dean’s opinion.
Anyway, the fact that it looked a little like Benny made Dean feel instantly comfortable around him and he felt only moderately scrutinized when they were joined by a couple of his friends who asked about their whole life story – even the damn bartender from before leaned over the counter to listen in. Apparently they were all regulars of their Friday events and they all knew each other.
Dean almost doubled over in laughter when Cas said he was an exterminator and that got him thinking that he should definitely stop drinking Tropics, because apparently they were pretty strong under all the sugar. He was glad to let Cas handle the conversation and they were nice to them, even said they hoped to see them back before they left with their drinks.
Dean realized it was the first time he was being seen for who he was by total strangers and not feeling worried about it at all. It felt good, it felt exciting.
Dean looked at Not-Benny walking away with his short shorts and wondered if he could pull them off too.
“Yes, of course,” said Cas all serious, and Dean realized he’d asked that out loud.
Yeah, he should have stopped drinking like a drink ago.
Cas got suddenly very close to his face and said “Is everything okay? Do you wanna go?” and Dean leaned forward to kiss him, because everything was okay, and it was Friday night after all, and that was still his favourite thing to do on a Friday night.
Not-Benny found them again and gave them flower garlands to wear for being newbies and Dean only itched to get rid of his for the first ten minutes, but then he didn’t and the itch disappeared. Also, Cas kept pulling him around with it and that felt especially nice.
They came out of there two hours later and Cas stopped him by the car to kiss him all sweet and soft right there in the parking lot.
Dean felt dizzy and happy and not at all too old.
They got breakfast at a diner on the way to the bunker and although Dean longed for his bed, the sight of Cas sitting across from him sipping on his coffee, his left side lighted by the rising sun was so nice that he also kind of wished he could stay there forever.
“We should get something for Sam,” said Cas in the end, so they got up, went back to the car and drove the rest of the way, speeding with the windows rolled down, humming those catchy songs that got stuck in their head.
Sam was yawning in the kitchen, waiting for his coffee to brew, when they appeared on the door. He had an amused expression on his face in two seconds when he saw them, “You guys are just coming in?”
Dean gave him his donut. Sam smiled at him and said, “Really nice garland, man. Cas sent a pic.”
Dean regretted giving him his donut. He scowled at Cas, “How do you even do that?” He hadn't even seen him using his phone.
Cas was stealing Sam’s coffee and pretended not to hear him, his back turned, doing the worst impression of the Invisible Man ever.
He also put a cup in Dean's hand though, so Dean stopped scowling at him. They got out of the kitchen right before Sam started lamenting, “Guys, you drank all my coffee!”
They collapsed in bed without undressing and Dean got to unbutton Cas’ baby blue shirt and slip a hand in to touch his skin, then bury his nose in his neck. He smelled of pineapple and coffee and still somehow of that cologne he’d sprayed himself with the night before.
"In my defence, you look very good in that picture," whispered Cas, sounding like he was one moment away from falling asleep.
Dean stayed awake for a while longer, basking in an unfamiliar state of quiet euphoria. He was smiling.
He was okay. He was.
@bend-me-shape-me said #deancassummerprompts21 and I said YES
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nautiscarader · 3 years ago
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Since Father's day is coming soon, how would Rayla announce to Callum that he'd be celebrating this day from now on?
Callum and Rayla relaxed underneath the tree, being shaded from warm, Summer sun, indulging in a picnic outside of castle walls. It was one of their favourite places, and Rayla knew exactly which place to pick to give him the news.
She climbed his laps to kiss him, watching as his eyes open up in child-like wonder, despite the fact that it has been five years already...
- R-Rayla? - he stuttered - What-what's the occasion? - Does it have to be one? - she ended her kiss - But, well, I just wanted to wish you a very happy day... You will now have a new holiday to celebrate.
Her cheeks brightened, as she spoke with warm, seductive voice, hoping to see the excitement in her boyfriend's eyes.
Callum blinked.
- Er, what holiday?
The soft smile on Rayla's face vanished.
- Really? The first full Moon after Summer Solstice?
Callum's face remained as perplexed as before.
- Father's day! - Oh! - he suddenly exclaimed - We use different calendar in Katolis, it's not Moon-based, it has a fixed date, and it's in two months. But why would you-
And only now, as her lips curled into a soft smile, Callum realised the meaning of her words. He looked at her, and then at her underbelly she was now pressing against his.
- R-Rayla... - Yeah, that;s my name, dummy. - she joked - We better start thinking of some new ones...
And she kissed him again, until he regains the ability to put words into coherent sentences.
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emily-the-fae · 3 years ago
Text
Sound of a Heartbeat
Part 6. The Devil's Hospitality
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5
And I am back from celebrating the summer solstice. Mosquitoe-bitten, red-haired and with a new chapter. Thanks for following the story if you still are, I'm very sorry that editing takes me so long. (STILL IN NEED OF A BETA). So yes, please enjoy and like&reblog&comment, because interaction with readers makes me extremely happy. Also please write in comments if you want me to tag you so that you don't miss the new parts.
Pairing: Dracula x OC
Warnings: none, a little bit of death threats and the usual tuberculosis part
"Maps used to say there'd be dragons here. Now they don't, but that doesn't mean dragons aren't there." ~ Lorne Malvo, "Fargo"
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Shari began to open her eyes hesitantly, slowly when nothing rushed at her in the first few moments of her presence inside the castle. The healer was still extremely tense, ready to jump aside and try to fight off anything that tried to attack her. Nothing. Dark, still, terrifying, but also quiet and…empty. Lisa hadn’t told her a complete lie. Apparently, Dracula wasn’t home. Shari looked around the dark place she found herself in - she was standing in the middle of an enormous hall, columns going way up, she needed to raise her head to see the gothic arcs of the dark ceiling above her; two large round marble staircases in front of her led to the opening on the second floor and behind that space she could see a darkened entrance to an inner corridor. Shari could hear nothing but her own heartbeat and Rodo's husky breathing, the silence was almost ideal, her own quiet breathing echoed around the wide halls - the castle appeared to be completely empty, apart from her, Rodo and her ghastly companion. Lisa seemed frozen in awe for a while, looking around too, but with a kind of familiar melancholic look on her face - staring once again at the place she had spent so much time in must have felt odd. Odd and slightly painful. All the memories of her life, all the “what if”s of her never leaving this peculiar home or never finding it in the first place rushed in, frustrating her for a few moments. The ghost quickly recalled she needed to keep collected – for the sake of her new guest and the adventure she was planning ahead.
- Wait, Lisa! - Shari rushed to her side, afraid to be left alone even for one moment. Rodo hopped behind her easily. - We will go and grab books, yeah I get it, but... How do I... Where do I rest? I mean I need a bed and preferably next to a chimney and then after I wake up, I can study through whatever we need and search for whatever other materials I can need, sure, but I'd there... I mean it's kind of a vampire castle... - Shari trailed off and in a moment she was coughing again, heading to the supposed library entrance, but barely seeing her way.
- Wait, Lisa! - Shari rushed to her side, afraid to be left alone even for one moment. Rodo hopped behind her easily. - We will go and grab books, yeah I get it, but... How do I... Where do I rest? I mean I need a bed and preferably next to a chimney and then after I wake up, I can study through whatever we need and search for whatever other materials I can need, sure, but I'd there... I mean it's kind of a vampire castle... - Shari trailed off and in a moment she was coughing again, heading to the supposed library entrance, but barely seeing her way.
- That is quite funny of you, - Lisa responded, when Shari quieted down a bit. - To be asking me if you can have a normal bedroom in a vampire castle, especially since you know I've lived here for quite a long time.
- Yeah and married the host, - Shari argued breathlessly.
- What do you think vampires sleep in?
- Coffins?
- Don't be shallow.
- Well, sorry if didn't live with them for twenty years and didn't realise they may as well use beds... - Shari hesitated. - They do, right? Because if you were implying that you want me to sleep in your old room, then thanks I'd better sleep on library floor.
- You'll take one of the guestrooms, - Lisa rolled her eyes. - And you have to get there soon, otherwise you'll collapse and I am in no form to drag you up the stairs.
- Oh, you've finally noticed, - Shari huffed. - I hope there will be a very - no, extremely - warm chimney, - she added, shivering.
- As you wish, - answered the ghost, pushing the heavy door. They walked into the library together, careful not to make any noise and Shari had to catch her breath: of course she had expected something like this, but neither the size of the room nor the abundance of different apparatuses and strange objects could have ever been embraced by her imagination - it seemed like one lifetime would never be enough to study through all the centuries of knowledge kept in these walls.
- Wow.
- Well, that… is one way to place it, - Lisa laughed, amused with the healer's surprise. - Come, - she beckoned. - Take this, this... oh, and this, - she walked to one of the tall shelves, pointing to several books for Shari to take. - Oh, wait, I forgot, can you...?
- Read? You ask only now? You offend me, - Shari threw the ghost an unamused glare, her hands loaded with heavy foliants. Lisa laughed, obviously the question was only poorly hidden sarcasm. Rodo behind her back was running around the room, smelling the air with curiosity - if he ever visited the castle before, she doubted that he was let anywhere near the living areas.
- Well, you never know with people these days, - Lisa replied. - These must have something on your lung disease, as far as I remember - or some similar things - you'll need to go through lung sections, compare the symptoms and check what might work for you.
- Will try to, - the girl nodded, weighting the books in her arms and already estimating how much time she may possibly have for all that study.
- Come on now, don't waste time, - Lisa was too enthusiastic to be a ghost inside of an abandoned vampire castle. Far too enthusiastic. Something must have been off, but Shari couldn’t place what and couldn’t possibly be able to do so in her exhausted state.
Shari followed her down another large door and out of the library; there was a narrow staircase leading somewhere upstairs, dark and empty, just like the rest of the place – the golden lights of the library couldn’t reach into its curves, so Shari had to watch her step carefully. She was not sure how many floors they passed before they finally left the stairs and turned into a dark corridor lit only by the moonlight, falling from a small window way in front of them. Shari felt cold and slightly anxious for no evident reason - the whole place had an intense, intimidating mood to it – as expected. Lisa made a few more steps and stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. Shari hesitated once more, but Lisa nodded towards it encouragingly; the girl then freed one of her hands from underneath the books and pushed the door open, stepping into the room more confidently.
A big four-poster bed, a fireplace, a wardrobe and a table with a chair placed by the window. Old, slightly dusty, but more than enough for her to rest her head. Shari threw the books on the table and lit the fire in no time, sinking down on her knees to warm her freezing fingers. After several days of survival and freezing, she could finally heat and rest. Rodo crawled to the corner of the room and lay down there calmly, hiding his clawed paws beneath himself and seemingly beginning to drift off, Lisa stood by the window, facing away, staring into the darkness, seemingly already detached from what was happening within the walls of the castle. The door was locked - pointlessly, as a bow to paranoia - the fire was burning nicely - how good it was to finally feel its warmth - the room was silent apart from its creaking and Shari knew she herself was starting to fall asleep.
She stood up from her place by the chimney, checked the door once more and threw herself on the bed, kicking off her boots and crawling under the heavy blankets. Now she wanted nothing more than sleep - sleep and warmth of the chimney to ease her cold, the soreness of her limbs and the pain in her lungs. Lisa slowly dissolved in the corner of the room, but even that didn't seem to be a problem to the healer - she would catch up with the ghost tomorrow, get to her reading and preferably medicine. Now - rest.
Shari rolled into a ball under the covers and surrendered to the long awaited sleep.
***
Dracula was returning to his home after two days of absence; following his son proved counterproductive - apart from assuring, that the boy didn't have it easy with the demons, there was not much more he could do. The group held together, never separated - not after they became three instead of four. That was almost a pitiful chain of events. Though it did make them less vulnerable to his attacks and he decided not to rush things - the speed at which they traveled bought him more than enough time for any further proceedings.
The world outside was crushed and burned by war. The world inside his castle was dark and hollow as usual. At least it was so normally - but surprisingly, not that night.
Dracula knew there was an intruder in his castle the moment he entered – there was no way he wouldn’t have noticed; the vampire had to stop on his tracks, trying to detect what caught him off guard, and then he finally felt it - the smell of the human was very subtle, but still there. He tracked her down(undeniably this one was a female, he could almost recognize that mix of cinnamon and lavender as if he had encountered it before) - from the main entrance to the library - pausing by the shelves for a moment, a few foliants were missing here and there with the traces of her human warmth still hovering around the place - and upstairs to one of the rooms - just like the guestroom Lisa stayed at when she first found him.
The door was expectably locked, but as soon as the vampire's nail trailed along the keyhole, the lock clicked by itself, opening up. Dracula expected a lost and tired stranger or a hopeful witch seeking out his help and teaching, but when he opened the door, letting himself inside, he finally understood why her smell seemed so familiar to him. The girl from the forest camp, his son's willing helper, witch and healer by her own words. The vampire was surprised to say the least. He had been quite sure she was gone for good; in the end he had tried his best to give her a peaceful death and yet here she was: alive, breathing and in his castle. Sleeping peacefully, having willingly crawled under his roof and left herself at his mercy.
The vampire entered the room quietly, shutting the door behind him and sitting down in the chair by the table, his eyes observing the human figure on the bed. Petite, blond haired and pale - the girl looked so similar to Lisa, but yet was nothing like her - no, the darker tint to her hair and the weakness of her tired body drew the distinction quite clearly, as well as the reddish mark standing out against her pale neck. A mark he left on her.
He briefly wondered how that weak creature managed to survive his bite, but he would set the question aside for the time being. He needed to decide what to do with his guest: the easiest option was to finally enjoy the remnants of her sweet living blood without interruption now, but one look at the pale sleeping form made him suddenly feel doubtful: her chest heaving as she breathed, her heartbeat slow and peaceful, she coughed in her sleep dryly and turned on her back, her arms spread across the bed, she faced away from him with the crook of her neck so temptingly open to his view - so calm and vulnerable. How are you still alive? Dracula suddenly for himself felt rather than decided that he would not end her, not yet and not here, that he wanted to know more: how she found him, what she wanted and what may come of her - after all, he hadn't had such bold human visitors, ever since...
***
Dim light was shining through the window, strands of it falling onto her face and disturbing her peaceful sleep. Shari moved about a bit, wincing at the pain in her limbs and the full ache somewhere deep in her chest, letting a few (thankfully) dry coughs pass her lips, trying to hide away from the morning rays, hoping for a few more minutes of the blissful unconsciousness, then finally stilled, opening her sleepy eyes and sitting up. The instant she did so, she knew something was very wrong: the room was identical to how it looked the evening before, but she felt it still – even the air seemed denser, more dangerous and alert. She felt a shiver run down her back – as she finally noticed it, on the wall before her, next to the door, she could see a large dark shadow of something standing in front of the window, cutting off the light. Please let it be something outside. Shari turned her head slightly to the left and saw Rodo crouched on the ground - worried and tense, looking in the direction of something behind her back; the healer suddenly had absolutely no wish to turn around. Maybe if she would stay still the thing - whatever it was - would go away and leave her alone.
The sound of movement behind her back announced her that her stillness would most probably not protect her - whatever it was, it was inside of the room and very much uncaring of whether she moved or not.
- I think I have already killed you once this week, - Shari jumped on the spot and turned abruptly to finally face her host: Dracula was leaning against the table and staring down at her, his sharp face unreadable. - You are quite persistent for a human, I dare say. And bold.
Shari leaped out of the bed, as if a bucket of ice cold water was spilled over her, and backed away from him until her back hit the stone wall, her eyes searching for Lisa frantically – but the ghost was nowhere to be seen. Not this again. The vampire crossed the room in a swift, undetectable motion, his figure appearing in front of her in a matter of seconds. Rodo growled at his master, but remained motionless, still afraid to step out against the vampire.
Shari tried to move away, slip out of his grasp before he could properly get ahold of her, possibly even reach the door and run down the stairs - anything - but a large clawed hand grabbed her throat suddenly and firmly and the healer found herself unable to breathe properly, gasping and coughing in his hold, trying to wriggle away. Where was Lisa when she was so needed? "Oh no, Dracula is rarely visiting this castle nowadays!" Sure, like there was ever any point in believing that.
- How did you find this place? - Dracula growled rather than asked. His grasp was tight and Shari felt panic rise inside as if she was already in the claws of Death itself. Not far from truth.
"Your dead wife dragged me all the way here."
- Rumours. Mostly. And a bit of luck, - she rasped, out of breath.
- What do you want?
"Out."
- Shelter. And knowledge. I know there are books here that can help me heal, - she coughed and tried to free herself, once again unsuccessfully.
- And you expected the castle to be empty? - he almost laughed.
"No, but your beloved wife is a big liar."
- I recognize it was incredibly stupid of me, but back then it seemed like a plan, - oh yes, a plan of a very annoying and untrustworthy ghost.
- Are you alone here?
"Apart from a mean ghost and your demon..."
- Yes! - she gritted her teeth, as his hand pressed her farther into the wall.
- Give me one reason, human, not to finish now what I started a few days ago, - he was growling now even deeper, his face close to hers and she wondered how painful it may be this time. She did not want to find out.
- When I'm here I can't help Adrian! - she replied quickly, rasping each word.
- Same as when you are dead, - came the answer, his head leaning down to the crook of her neck. She shrieked.
- Repeating the same action and awaiting a different outcome of it is the definition of insanity, - Shari blurted out, not fully aware of her own words. What the hell was this even about? - You have ready killed me once, remember? I should have died back then, but something kept me going. You killed me and it didn't work. And you are not insane, are you?
Dracula suddenly removed his hand from her throat, laughing and took a small step back - as soon as he did so, she could feel against herself the growling form of Rodo who jumped in front of the human, protecting her from his master. Shari slid to the floor and threw her arms around the creature's neck, holding it to herself and caressing the dark fur. The vampire stared at the demon with a dissatisfied gaze, but the beast held his ground firmly now.
- You are a particularly peculiar human being, healer, - the vampire laughed. - That was the most unsettling answer you could have given.
- Was it? - she rasped, catching her breath. He smirked, knowing well he would not eat her now; he was too amused to make her his meal. - I can leave if you want, I will... - Shari searched for words. What exactly was she going to do if he made her leave? Crouch down on his porch and die?
- You are a curious specimen... Besides it likes you for some reason, - Dracula nodded towards Rodo. - You may stay until you annoy me out of my patience, - he stated blankly, instantly hating how welcoming he was being towards the human.
- Thank you. Making me leave would have been unfortunate and embarrassing to no limit, - Shari spoke quickly with no intonation, calming her rapidly beating heart. That was unexpected, but appreciated and she tried to be as short and non-annoying as possible as to not make him change his mind.
- Rest, use the library, and try to stay out of my line of sight. And remember I could still decide to draw a conclusion to our previous meeting, - he walked out of the guestroom, almost slamming the door behind him. So much for hospitality, but at least she wasn't being kicked out. Or eaten, for that matter.
Shari breathed in deeply and caressed Rodo's head and neck. What has she gotten herself into? Where the hell did Lisa disappear to?
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pocketsizeddemon · 4 years ago
Text
Litha - Bang Chan Smut
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           I got the idea last year but I didn't really have time to do anything and I'm beyond lucky that I got to finish it just on time this year. Hope you enjoy~ Chan has his first weekend off in a while and he spends it on a camping trip with you.
Bang Chan Smut , 2.5k words , AO3
       It was a lovely, sunny early June afternoon and you and your boyfriend, Chris were chilling on your balcony. Your hands were playing with his fluffy black hair as you were enjoying the sunshine. You still couldn’t believe how lucky you were to have been calling him your boyfriend for over a year now. 
           Earlier, in April, a little after your first anniversary, you shared with him one little thing about yourself that you weren’t entirely sure how to address all that time. You were a witch. Not the fairytale kind. A real-life, moon-loving, herb-growing, tea-drinking, spell-casting, witch. You didn’t know what to expect as an answer but after a few minutes of silence he just exclaimed with a giggle “Well, suddenly the number of candles and house plants make a lot more sense now!” 
           After that followed a lot of random conversations about your craft and even more 3 a.m. texts like: 
“Wait so you can turn people into animals?”
           “No babe, but I can jinx them to get their tongues twisted when they talk shit about me.”
but you were beyond happy with how sweet, understanding and curious he was about this all.  
           “Babygirl?” his voice brought you out of your reminiscing and you looked at him with a smile. 
           “Yes, love?” you asked
           “You had a really adorable look in your face. Were you daydreaming?”
           “Ah- I was just thinking of how lucky I am to have you…” a soft blush blooming on your cheeks as your voice trailed off. He chuckled and leaned up to kiss said blushing cheeks. Before he was able to answer, a yawn escaped him.
           “Oh, baby. Are you tired?” you asked, fluffing up his hair.
           “Yeah… my insomnia has been getting worse lately…” his voice trailed off as a frown appeared on his face. “Oh!” he sat up excitedly as his eyes gleamed with hope. “Can you… can you help me? Is there like a spell or a potion you can do?”
           You pondered for a few moments before answering.
           “Well, there are a few things I can do. I already have a bedtime tea blend that I can give you… And you’re going to have to come to pick something up on the weekend.” You smiled at him.
           “Why on the weekend?” he asked.
           “Full moon on Friday.” You winked cheekily before getting up to prepare him a jar of your bedtime tea. (Lavender, Chamomile, Valerian root, Linden tea)
           You wouldn’t get to meet him properly for the next two weeks as they were preparing for the comeback but that didn’t stop you from visiting his studio for a little while that same weekend to drop off the special restful sleep & sweet dreams sachet that you had made for him just that Friday night. (Lavender, Rosemary, Sea salt, Hops flowers, Sugar, Chamomile, Valerian, Amethyst and Rose Quartz)You kissed him sweetly and wished him a good rest before leaving that night. 
~
           You spent most of Saturday morning as a bit of a road trip, driving to your destination and listening to music in the car and just enjoying each other's company. Late on Saturday afternoon, you arrived at the beach you had found a few weeks ago online. It was even more beautiful than the pictures showed and the weather seemed to be just perfect for your camping trip, although it was still a bit too cool for swimming. After setting up your tent, you took off your shoes and went on a long walk on the beach. You and Chris picked up a few seashells, threw skipping rock and you just had to admit, he was great at that.
You returned to the tent as the sun was setting and just in time for dinner. Before you could even bring the food that you had left in the cooler, back in the car, Chris had already built a little bonfire. 
           “Funny how you built a fire...” your voice trailed off as you two finished up your food, “You see, today, or better tomorrow is the summer solstice!”
           “That's another witch holiday, right?” he beamed 
           “Exactly!" you smiled back at him. “Remember last year on the picnic we had on the 1st of May how I told you about Beltane?” He nodded and grinned, remembering very well what that story had sparked. 
           “While in Beltane the God and Goddess unite for the first time, in Litha, Midsummer, the God is maturing and the Goddess is pregnant, that’s why most fruits, vegetables and all grains are ripening and growing this season. And it's celebrated with big fires and staying up until sunrise to greet the longest day of the year.” you quickly wrapped up your story since you didn't want to overwhelm him. 
           Yet little did you know that his mind was racing in a whole different direction. All Chris heard was “pregnant” and his eyes focused with you, glimmering mischievously. Ever since the first of May, when you guys made love in the forest and he filled you up with his cum it’s all that he’s been thinking. He didn’t actually want to get you pregnant, not just yet, but cumming inside you and imagining you soft and round with his baby was doing things to him.
           “Speaking of my craft” you tried to change the subject a bit “how's your insomnia been treating you lately baby?”
            “I had almost forgotten about that” he turned to you with a massive smile “I really can't thank you enough babygirl. The tea on its’ own had been doing a great job calming me down before bed but after you brought me the little bag? I've been sleeping like a baby! I don't know if it's because it works or it's because I look at it and think of you... And feel warm and safe...” he held your hand lovingly rubbing circles on your palm. But it does a great job! Please just... Tell me anything you want, I want to thank you.”
           “Well I am a witch!” you jokingly answered, “You could give me your firstborn!” You laughed at your own joke until you turned to him to see a smirk on his face. 
           “Oh perfect! Let’s get baby-making!” he pounced at you, pushing you in the tent, suddenly very happy with himself that he had remembered to pack a groundsheet with him. You pulled him on the floor with you, him peppering your face with small kisses as you giggled. He leaned over you, supporting himself on his hands as he gazed upon you, his eyes sparkling with love and mischief under the soft lighting of the fire and the stars. 
           He slowly dipped down to kiss your lips, ever so softly but you pulled him closer and deepened the kiss. Over two weeks away from him had you craving for his affection and touch. His lips were so soft and sweet you simply had to bite them.
           “Eager girl…” he teased as he pecked your lips again.
           “I just missed you… a lot” you answered quietly, your fingers tangling to his hair.
           “I can’t complain, babygirl. I really missed you too.” He kissed you again, hearing a small sigh of content leave you. His warm fingers were soon on your waist, toying with the hem of your shirt as his lips lowered to your neck. 
           Your shirt and bra came off first and he could already see your nipples react to the cool summer breeze. He cupped one of your breasts while teasing the other’s nipple with his tongue, not missing your reaction. Your breath hitched as his warm tongue met the sensitive skin and a fluttery moan left your lips.
           Chris’ shirt followed before he leaned back down to keep on scattering kisses and small bites along your neck and exposed chest. His hands were now resting on your hips, massaging and squeezing the soft skin under the thin linen pants you were wearing. You couldn’t help but squirm in response. You were almost surprised by how hungry he was for you. Even his kisses were seemed hotter than usual, as he was lovingly leaving hickeys on your neck. It wasn’t long before you felt his finger fumbling with your zipper.
          You helped him take them off, wriggling out of the tight jeans with a chuckle. He kissed every single patch of skin he could reach while removing them, along with your panties. You instinctively spread her legs a little and he pushed them further apart. His hands rested on your thighs as he looked at you in all your naked glory.
           “Which one of the Gods am I supposed to thank for sending the most marvelous girl to me?” he mattered between scattering kisses on your inner thigh.
           “Hmm… Eros I suppose. Or maybe Aphrodite.” You answered with a warm smile and an even warmer blush, as your fingers weaved through his hair. 
           Chris' hot breath was getting closer and closer to your core. When his lips touched you where you needed him most, you let out a little moan. He took his time eating you out, humming as your thighs clenched and relaxed according to his Ministrations. Your hips were moving on their own account, following the movements of his tongue on your pussy, desperate mewls spilling from your mouth, but he was having none of that. 
           With his arms wrapping around your thighs and his hands now resting on your abdomen, he pinned you down, hearing your little whines of protest. He locked eyes with you and you could barely keep your eyes open as his pillowy lips sucked on your clit. Your back arched off the floor and your moans only urged him to continue. Switching between licking your folds with his skillful tongue and sucking he was making a squirming mess out of you. He could feel you clenching as your release approached so he focused on your clit even though his jaw was starting to ache but his efforts paid off as he saw you orgasm from just his tongue. After kissing your hipbones, whispering words of praise, he came up to your lips for a kiss. Taking advantage of his relaxed state, you flipped the two of you around. 
           “My turn.” You smirked cheekily. You kneeled in between his legs, pulling down his pants along with his briefs as he was steadying himself on his elbows. You were a bit impatient, silly as it seemed, but you wanted to make him feel good too. His painfully hard erection was resting on his stomach and it made your mouth almost water. There was precum already leaking from the tip and you wasted no time, licking it off. 
           He hissed as you licked up from the base to the tip, feeling his veins on your tongue. You slipped the tip in your mouth and sucked on it before you slowly started taking in the rest of his cock. Your hands were pumping what you couldn’t fit in your mouth, trying to match the pace. Chris groaned when he hit the back of your throat, his hands grabbing at the floor of the tent. Your head bobbed as you tried to take more of him, tears prickling your eyes in the process. 
           “Fuck! That feels good babygirl.” He moaned as you finally took all of him in your mouth. “But” he continued as he stroked your cheek “I want to fuck you so much, baby. I want to cum inside you. I did say we’d make a baby.” 
           His dick twitched as you let him off of your mouth with a pop. You crawled on to his lap, his hands grabbing on your hips as his tip rested against your wet folds. You adjusted your position and slowly took him in, as you felt his grip tighten. Soft gasps could be heard as he sank deeper inside you, stretching you out. Chris marveled at the sight of you above him, your flushed cheeks, swollen lips and messy hair were beyond beautiful to him. 
           He couldn’t keep himself from staying still, even though he wanted to admire you a little more. He started thrusting up, meeting your unsteady pace, his hands trailing up towards your chest. You moaned as he met you with a particularly hard thrust, your legs shaking as you were starting to get tired.
           He didn’t need you to say it twice and took no time in flipping you over. Your legs, instinctively wrapped around his waist, keeping him close to you. You left a moan as he could reach deeper in this position. His groans responded to you, as he felt you clenching around him. Your hands reached to his neck, pulling him down for a rough passionate kiss.
           The smile on his lips was prominent even through your kiss and he set up a slow, sensual pace wanting nothing more than to make this last longer. Deep, slow thrusts, drawing long, breathless moans from you. Praises and I-love-yous were whispered in your ears as he kept a steady pace. You were overpowered by how he was sweetly making love to you, rocking the tent with his powerful thrusts. 
           With the knot in your abdomen started to grow tighter you begged him to go faster and he complied. His pace grew faster as he leaned closer to you, hitting just the right spot to make you see stars. He could feel your blunt nails scratching his back as he lost himself, pistoning faster and faster. Groans spilled from his mouth as he noticed you tightening around him, your orgasm approaching. You were but a pleading mess, so close, looking so beautiful just for him, moaning his name as you squirmed with pleasure. Knowing he couldn’t hold any longer either, he fucked you even harder. With the first few thrusts, your back arched off the floor of the tent, your moans filling the little space as you writhed in his arms. He let you ride out your orgasm as he chased his own, releasing his hot seed deep inside of you.  
           “That was amazing!” he said as he laid down next to you, left out of breath. You curled into his arms for a cuddle with a soft hum of agreement. Pressing your lips together into a kiss, he wrapped his arms around you as he played with your hair.
           “You realize that this was only round one, right?” you stated with a smirk after a few minutes of cuddling, causing him to chuckle.
           “Of course not, I haven’t given your my firstborn yet!” he answered through his laugh as he peppered your face with tiny kisses.
           And that’s how your night went. Soft warm cuddles, turning to slow and sensual lovemaking and back to cuddling again until the sunrise, leaving both of you pleasantly tired and sated. 
          “Did you really mean that Chris?” you asked him with half-closed eyes while basking in the soft pink light of dawn that was peeking through the tent's entrance. “The baby-making thing...?” 
          “Well... Perhaps not just yet but I can surely picture myself starting a family with you in the future. I love you so much.” He stated before nuzzling into your neck as the sun shined his first rays upon your skin.
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guileheroine · 4 years ago
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a sky full of song, chapter one
Korra, princess of the Water Kingdoms, receives a gift from her blacksmith friend on the auspicious winter festival / Korrasami royalty AU / ao3 / My piece for the @korrasami-valentine-exchange (assignment: Date A) (reposting with cover!)
“The wedding of the Earth Prince, yes, on the solstice. But it’s an opportune moment for a longer tour, we don’t want to waste the journey. I’m afraid your father can’t afford it, and before you ask, I’ve been conferring with your mother’s office. And frankly, I’m loath to request it of her after…
Councillor Panak trailed off as Korra hurried him along with a gesture of the hand. He pushed his eyeglass up his nose and took her eye seriously. “To the point, then—what do you say?”
Korra was tapping her foot under the meeting table. Prince Wu, if she recalled, was equally as intolerable as old Hou-Ting, the spirits bless his poor betrothed. But the prospect of a fortnight around the Earth Kingdom, with its delicious fare and diverse landscapes… that made her much more amenable to the whole idea.
“Around the solstice, huh? Alright. Why not.” It was a way off. She had time to arrange her retinue and her schedule as efficiently as possible for maximum enjoyment.
“…That means a tour to the Earth Empire in the spring—or summer, if Her Royal Highness prefers it?”
“Oh, spring,” Korra said in a rush. “Spring. I’m not sure I can do Earthen summers.”
Panak smiled quite kindly at that, and nodded at his scribe to jot it down. Korra returned his smile. They really were getting along better. It was nice. This meeting was also stretching much farther into the evening than she had understood it would.
The Lotus Guard at the doorway didn’t so much as blink as she pushed the heavy door open and went out. He was one of the older men, having been here long before the war, and quite accustomed to her ways.
Once Korra was out in the foyer, she raced. Her quarters, and her next appointment, were in the other wing of the palace, but she had promised to go see her mother first for a few minutes before the Queen went to bed. The winter sun was long gone; all the windows she skipped past were dark, torchlight gleaming on the icy sills. In the halls, on the other hand, the air was bright as frost, festive. She wove around decorators from all over Agna Qel’a hanging new crystalwork along the old bead tapestries and tying berry wreaths around the tall pillars. Down the stairs, in the main hall, the humongous fires that burnt uninterrupted over the winter lit the place generously. As she sped through, headed for the opposite staircase, Korra caught the eye of one of the housekeepers.
“Mina! Mina, are you busy?” She took the girl’s arm, whose eyes goggled, alarmed only at the princess’s sudden appearance but unperturbed by her familiar ways. “Could you go to the kitchen and send for some tea to my apartment? Milk and honey for me—and some of whatever black blend is left, what my blacksmith friend likes. They’ll know. Thank you!”
When she turned to continue, she was immediately waylaid by one of the ice sculptors.
“Your Highness! A moment.”
Just a moment to breathe was exactly what it took for Korra to finally notice the centerpiece of the hall: an elaborate sculpture-fountain of Yue. The moon and ocean spirits hovered above each of her hands, water pouring in gentle arcs out of their gaping mouths.
Korra’s father was pulling out all the stops for Yue’s Day. She knew, for her part, that it was a private gesture for the Queen, newly returned from a long diplomatic engagement with the northern Air court. Korra stood at attention for the sculptor, whose fingerless gloves allowed him to bend with especial precision.
“Should her hair run—” he said, bending Yue’s locks of ice into free-flowing rivulets, “or stand arrested?” Another curl of his palm froze them again.
“Freeze them. More volume!” Korra said, thinking of her mother, who always grumbled about her limp hair. Then she was on her way to the Queen’s chambers, and then her own.
“I got your tea. Hi, princess.”
Korra’s blacksmith friend took a pointed sip when she finally entered her drawing room. Asami’s smirk was hidden behind the glassy cup, and her hair was wet. One of Korra’s towels was slung over the back of her seat—one of the nice ones with the finely embroidered monogram.
“Asami. Sorry I’m late!” Korra slumped onto her divan, sending one of the cushions flying onto the carpet. “It’s good to see you.” She took a moment to catch her breath before picking the cushion up, sitting comfortably and grasping for the tray on the table.
“Don’t worry about it,” Asami said, moving the cup from her mouth, the smirk finally melting off. She pushed the tray into Korra’s reach. “I’m done for the day. A couple of the apprentices are closing up shop for the very first time.” Her brows waggled.
“Impressive! But still, thanks for coming. I know you’re working hard.”
“We had an appointment, right? And—” Asami grinned and stretched, pulling her warm wools tighter around her “nothing like the thought of a royal shower at the end of the day to get you through it, you know?”
Korra rolled her eyes. The staff knew to let Asami into Korra’s apartments, and even if she could tell they were a little reticent about her using the princess’s bath and vanity, they of course said nothing. The dogs more or less dragged Asami in through the gates every time she came by the palace, and by order of the princess, they were the ones that decided things in her absence.
Asami scrutinised the tray from the kitchen carefully before picking out a little moon pastry. “How was your meeting?” She took a bite, attentive both to the pastry and Korra.
“Looks like I’m going on tour to the Earth Kingdom in the spring,” Korra told her. She wasn’t surprised to see Asami’s brow spring up, and her taste-testing pause.
“What, all over?”
It was a town in the Earth Kingdom that Asami originally hailed from, before she travelled to the Fire Empire with her father, an innovator in the art of war. After the war’s end and the subsequent reunification of the Water Kingdoms, the newly humbled Sun Emperor had gifted King Tonraq an ancient forge for the royal armoury as a token of good faith and cultural exchange. Korra remembered how it had taken several pulleys, and days, for it to be transported into place in one of the main avenues in the city. They had set up a house around it for a new smith to eventually train locals in the foreign art. Asami—skilled as a metalworker, but bereft of a livelihood and a family after her father’s foundries were shut down—had decided to venture north to start afresh. She vied for the position and won it handily.
Korra glanced at her long. “You could come with me, you know. Take a vacation, if you manage to get this new shop set up in time. I’m sure you’ve trained all your underlings well.”
“We’re getting there,” Asami said vaguely. “But I’ll keep it in mind.”
Korra was musing, recumbent with her feet up now. “I must warn you, t’s for the wedding of the Queen’s nephew. They’re a lot stuffier in the Earth kingdom. All the pomp and pageantry,” she clarified. “I’m not looking forward to that part.”
“I’ll bet.” Asami gave her a sympathetic smile.
Sitting pretty in formal assemblies, she did not enjoy. Peace was harder than war, in a lot of ways. At least it was for Korra, who had been right at home as a strategist commanding the bending battalions in the few Fire Empire skirmishes that had reached the north. Or as a captain fending off the marauding warlords and shaman-kings in the southern fiefs who took advantage of the chaos to arouse the spirits and stage deadly rebellions. Her leadership, covert though it was, had played no small part in subduing the northern theater and paving the way for all the ancient Water tribes to be reunified under Agna Qel’a and her father’s leadership. The lasting peace of the years since had proven they were stronger together. Just as it had proven that the Princess’s patience for peacetime bureaucracy needed a good deal of practice.
“You should come. We’ll do you up as my retainer so you get a salary. I might need you to keep me straight.”
Asami was good at that, blowing off steam after long, boring days. The mellowness of the warmth, nothing like that of her forge, evened Korra’s mood like little else.
“Oh, so you want me to drop everything and trail you around as a handmaiden?”
Korra scoffed, embarrassed. “Well, don’t put it like that.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Asami sat up. “An Earth royal wedding, huh? Think they’ll let me in?” She picked at the cushion in her lap.
“They will if I have anything to say about it.” Korra yawned. “It’ll be my turn soon enough.”
“How’s your mother?” Asami said, following her train of thought seamlessly—it was always the queen that pestered Korra about finding a match, good-natured but more earnest than she ever realised she was appearing.
“Sleeping. She had a long journey back from the Northern Air Temple. Dad’s happy, though. Just casually planning her a ball this weekend for Yue’s Day.”
“Hey, is that what that business down in the hall is?” Some forgotten curiosity clearly jolted Asami. “There were all these new kayaks moored around the drawbridges when I came through, too.”
Korra nodded, while tentative recognition continued to filter into Asami’s expression. It was easy to forget Asami had been here nary a year. But she had, and it had been a busy year too, with little time for exploration, per her own frequent complaints. “You know about it, right?” When Asami shrugged evasively, Korra explained, “It falls on the day of the first full moon after the winter solstice. Yue was a princess of legend—our ancestor, apparently—who became the moon spirit.”
Asami sat forward. She loved tales like this, and listened to them like she was being entrusted a secret.
“We’ve celebrated it as long as anyone remembers, but the festival is supposed to usher good fortune and fertility. I think that’s why it became a couples thing.” Korra didn’t think much of that. “But, well, the idea is to spend the evening under the full moon, which is why all the kayaks are out. Really, everyone just needs an excuse to liven up the winter!”
“That I understand,” Asami said wryly, ill accustomed to the polar night. “Yeah, I went to the market in town to pick up some new gloves and they had stalls and stalls of new fare. Jewelry, wind chimes, furs.”
Korra sat up, conspiratorial. “I bet at least one of your new proteges will sneak you a little gift. I get messages every year. Mostly upstarts, but some cute ones, too.”
When Asami had first been appointed as the blacksmith, Korra was uncertain what a girl her age was doing heading up an official royal undertaking like that, with all its bells and whistles. When she arrived at a welcome dinner with her family, Korra found her altogether too precious, and definitely not deserving of the private summons and the White Lotus escort. Especially not when the whole rigmarole was keeping Korra from her planned retreat to the kennels for the evening, where, in the end, the strapping night guards were giggling and blushing about the new blacksmith.
At her father’s behest, Korra had put on her most functional anorak and taken Asami some cakes, conserves and newly dried jerky from the palace a couple weeks after their meeting. He insisted it was a part of the Princess’s duty to look after someone in their employ so new to the land—a girl her own age no less. Down in the city, the townsfolk were pleased to see Korra as she made her way to the workshop, but no one made a fuss (unless they were young and excitable already), unlike what she had heard of the other Kingdoms, larger and loftier as they were. She wondered if Asami the Blacksmith liked that about here, or found it lacked decorum, as Korra knew some folk abroad definitely did.
Asami had a study above the forge, from which she dealt with its administration, and living quarters on the next storey. These were yet lonely and sparse, but not completely devoid of homely touches, as though she would have spruced them up if she only had the opportunity. Korra noticed well-kept shrubs and a vivid landscape on the wall; then Asami came and curtseyed deep and pulled off her apron.
She was willowy and beautiful under the gear and the soot (over it, too, to be honest), which endeared and repelled Korra in fairly equal measure, ultimately leaving her as indifferent as ever.
“My parents and Lord Arnook want to know how you’re getting on.” Lord Arnook was the esteemed keeper of the royal armoury, and he liked Asami just as much as everyone else did.
A flicker of sadness—shame?—crossed her face, then she put her hand on the table. “Won’t you sit? Your Highness. Let me bring you something hot first.”
Asami lit the fire in the blink of an eye and stoked it without watching, like it was the back of her hand. She had some bread in the pantry, over which she spread the aqpik jam Korra had delivered her. Korra watched her as she boiled the water. Her skirt was heavy, probably to insulate from the heat and cold alike, but it fell flatteringly from her height; and her long hair, which had flown in waves in a foreign style at dinner, was pinned into a practical bun. She made a sharp, fragrant tea she had brought from the continent. Her eyes lit up unexpectedly when Korra bent her own cup to cool it.
“Ah, I love seeing that,” she cooed. “I suppose I’m still not used to it. The other elements don’t bend like that. And I hear you have great skill.”
Korra’s own smile came too quick for her to suppress. “Who told you that, the King?” Then she regarded her keenly. So, how are you… Do you need anything? Do the men from the quarry treat you okay?”
“Oh, everyone here is… They’re very warm. Makes up for the chill,” Asami laughed.
It was a line so hackneyed that gritting through it was itself a country-wide inside joke. But this calm and rosy girl injected fresh, charmless charm into it. Maybe everything was charming if someone this winsome did it. After that, Korra softened considerably.
“They are,” she replied, with no small amount of pride. A sudden shame crept up her chest, that she probably couldn’t count herself among those nice people that had made Asami feel welcome.
Then Asami swallowed and the colour of her voice changed. “I miss my home, though. I know this job is more kindness than I deserve, after what we did but… It is a little lonely here.” She confirmed what Korra had already deduced, mostly because she knew the feeling all too well. “I guess I just don’t have a lot of time to go and make friends after work.”
Korra didn’t doubt that; it was hard, physical work. The one or two times she’d witnessed it, the clang rang in her ears for hours afterwards. She wouldn’t have pegged a girl like this for it. Asami reminded her more of some of the young ladies she knew from her old classes, when all the children around the court would be dumped into the royal healing hut together for some hands-on learning.
“Have you been beyond the city yet? The land out there… that’s our land. This is just a fortress.”
“Oh, I’ve been wanting to,” Asami said, wistful. “Pretty sure I can’t go on foot though.”
“Well, if… if you don’t know anyone else, I could take you. I have the best dogs in the Four Kingdoms.”
Before the month was up, Korra had sent a commission to the Queen’s personal seamstress for some sealskin gloves and winter-grade furs. She gifted them to Asami on her birthday. “You need these anyway, I think, but you’ll definitely need them where we’re going.” And that night, Korra took her to see the aurora.
There was a hamlet a few miles north of Agna Qel’a where Korra knew the elderly chief and had asked her for passage to an outcrop in their territory, after divining the well kept secret that it was one of the prime spots for watching the sky dance. Asami, enchanted, never took her eyes off it—so unflinching that Korra almost began to feel envious of the lights.
It became a routine. Korra knew every inch of her realm. If a diplomatic mission sent her to one tribe or settlement, she would be sure to take a day or two exploring the local country before she returned to the capitol. It had been a great boon when the southern tribes first came under their stewardship. The Princess spent time in every village, took interest in their land and in their lore; met challenges of the wilds and the weather with hunger, and any unknowns thereof with abiding curiosity. She knew what to wear, which sled or boat to take. When to find the rarest whale pods before they went south; where the starriest cliffs were, and the sunniest lakes.
All of which impressed Asami a great deal, and that made Korra happier than most things. And no worse were the days they spent in her apartments going over the sordid palace gossip, or in her apartments tracing old scars by lamplight, healing them word by gentle word.
On Yue’s Day, Korra stopped by to see various palace aides located around the city with customary gifts. In a castle town, there were plenty with such connections, and she relished the ruddy smiles, quick drinks, and flustered curtsies she received in turn. She saved Asami for last, because Asami had asked for some time together. Korra entered the smithy by the front, her senses clogging with immediate heat. Two of the apprentices were there: one of them gaped while the other barely blinked.
“Asami? I come bearing punch… and those moon pastries you like!”
She commenced the usual ritual of announcing her presence over the steam and noise while peeling off all but a couple of her layers, when Asami emerged out of the back. She was squeezing her hands together in excitement.
“No, no, no, don’t,” she urged, a gleam in her eyes like the blades that hung behind her, “we’re going somewhere.”
A few minutes later, they were walking along the main canal under the sparkling lights, milling through the townspeople. A fresh drift crunched beneath their boots. In a few more, they were alighting one of the kayaks in the dock.
Asami faced her and paddled like a natural; and naturally, Korra gaped.
“Do not tell me you haven’t done this before!”
Asami’s tongue stuck out in concentration as she suppressed a giggle, but her limbs moved with finesse. “Just the once. So far. Don’t be distracting me.”
“I won’t let us capsize,” Korra assured her.
Eventually, Asami settled into her rhythm, and the canal carried them out of the city, past all the lights. The banks of glass-cut brick gave way to a more jagged channel littered with pack ice at its mouth, floating blue and still. Korra gripped the edge of the kayak, not for any physical comfort. A crackling anticipation, and an unnameable fondness both, were welling and welling in her with every mundane word they shared.
When they disembarked on the lake’s other edge, the ice was landfast: a ghostly field glowing under the full moon.
Korra knew this place, but she had scarcely been here in the middle of winter, when the ice field extended endlessly, as vast as the sky. As they tramped across the snow, she began to wonder what Asami’s surprise was. There wasn’t much for a mile in any direction.
“We should sit for this,” Asami said, pointedly ignoring Korra’s prying questions.
The wind had kicked the snow up into berms along the field. Korra froze one so it was sturdy enough to perch on. Then Asami took her pack, and pulled out some plain tubes of parchment; nothing Korra would have looked at twice, although she didn’t know what they were.
“What’s in there?” She said.
“Some of my metals, some of my salts,” Asami replied enigmatically, almost sing-song. “Wait here.”
She heaved herself off the berm, ran several yards towards the horizon and stooped. She planted the tubes, and did something else Korra couldn’t see, though she thought she recognised the bright filigree on the cover of the pocket matchbook Asami carried everywhere.
When Asami had trundled back and sat again, Korra crossed her arms and laughed, bemused, her humour ebbing. “Are you going to tell me what’s going—”
BOOM!
Korra gasped, startled out of her words. She would have fallen from the perch if Asami didn’t catch her around the waist, giggling blithely all the while—
A wheel of light bloomed in the sky like a flower, dazzling and surreal. All the colours of the aurora—except they were peals of crystal fire, pouring out like diamonds before disappearing into the smoky air. Another wheeled up after it with a strange whirr, before it exploded into a glittering shower, and more in succession.
They reminded Korra of the spirit hales in the heart of the wilds, and even deeper in a buried memory, of the Fire explosives some of the raiders had once set off on the Southern Sea. Except these were brighter—and safer, because Asami had made them.
Korra looked to her when they had died, beaming under the mitten that covered her mouth in shock. “Are there more?”
To her eternal delight, there were more. New flowers sprouting on the celestial vault, they would be burned in her memory forever.
“They’re no aurora,” Asami said, while Korra scoffed and slung her arms around her, huddling for the cold and the buzz. Under her embrace, and half her weight, Asami looked chuffed. “But I thought they might liven up your night.”
Korra cupped her earmuff, then her cheek. “Thank you. This is the best day I’ve had all winter.”
Asami’s pyrotechnical skills didn’t even surprise her, but that could hardly diminish the sheer majesty, and novelty, of the display. Even minutes later, Korra could hardly believe what she had seen.
“Well, I couldn’t let you be the only show-off around here.” Asami smiled. Then the smile dropped from her eyes and she hesitated, like she couldn’t let that sit for an explanation. “Korra. I wanted to do something special. You’ve made me feel at home here in a way I never imagined. And I’m just a smith, from the Fire Empire!”
Korra felt her eyes water and blinked the tears back quickly, because they would ice and sting in the bitter air. She bit the smile off her lips. “You’re not just anything. You’re a terrific handmaiden.”
She snorted as Asami shoved her off and reached for her pack again.
“One more thing. I thought it might be too smokey for this after all those incendiaries, but it’s worth a shot anyway.”
This time Korra recognised the device she emerged with. It was made of two cylinders, and the mechanism that held them together spun smoothly like the spokes of a wheel. She handed it to Korra, who held the spyglass up.
A field of stars materialised. Korra held her breath.
The stars were luminous at the poles, but she had never seen them like this, and for the first time they felt close enough to touch, invoking a bracing, irrepressible wonder. In silence, she gazed.
“The moon spirit leads all the stars out tonight, right?”
Asami had done her research. Korra turned back to her. “So they say.” She hooked her arm through Asami’s, and held her hand. With the spyglass still to her eye, she let her head fall against Asami’s bundled shoulder.
“Tired, princess?”
Korra rustled her breath, long-suffering. “Why do you call me that!”
The way Asami said it—like it was something of her own decree, and not that of ten thousand years of tradition and some profoundly sacred doctrines. There was a sweet and strange tug in Korra’s belly whenever it happened, and this time, tonight, it lingered longer than ever.
“‘Cause you’re a piece of work,” Asami said, trying to interlace their thick, mittened fingers, which required some effort.
Tentatively, Korra turned the spyglass to the moon herself. She winced— it glared straight back, too bright. Maybe another night, when it wasn’t Yue’s Day.
Yue’s Day. She now held the thought delicately in her chest, as if she wanted to guard it from the wind and chill. If Asami loved her—were to love her—there were several reasons not to say it. They both knew them, whether they had turned them over consciously or not.
But the risk of showing was low. And the reward, as her own euphoric mood tonight proved, was magnificent.
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