#ours rocket's red glare

[oursmusic]

Happy Holidays. Sending love out from everyone here in the Ours camp.

New album Rocket's Red Glare digital release January 6th!!!

Cds and vinyl to follow.

[jimmygneccoofficial]

Surprise...

In light of recent events, the current state of the world, and as a sign of our love and appreciation for you, we would like to offer you an upcoming Ours album...

Rocket's Red Glare.

Thank you and enjoy the ride. Rocket's Red Glare available now to own on Bandcamp. Download high quality wavs and pay only what you like.

Official release 2025.

New Age Heroine coming in the fall. *These are all new mixes and masters of these songs for both albums.

CLICK HERE

[the-muppet-joker]

I stare at you, talking about how I cannot speak about muppet piss slavery, I simply just chuckle to myself and take down my hood, revealing that i am infact.....

UNNAMED MUPPET PISS SLAVE.

It's my right to talk about muppet piss slavery fighting against those big companies and spreading the word of mistreatment...

Say, can you see By the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed At the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly, yeah, streaming?

And the rockets' red glare The bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

I kick you down to the floor like the alpha I am and shakes his head putting a cool cigarette and smoking it, "Out of all people... I thought you'd understand..." I hop on my motorcycle and drive away into the sunset in my leather jacket and cool ass sunglasses since Im a cool ass lawyer who helps muppet piss slaves out and win against those big companies.

-The one and only, Piss Anon

News flash, asshole! You cannot reclaim Muppet Piss Slavery and speak on behalf of all current or former Muppet Piss Slaves (or those who have kin memories of experiencing it). Writing fanfiction about Muppet Piss Slavery is fucking unacceptable and is irredeemable fiction. You make me sick and your fake fucking patriotism on the day after 9/11 should have you banned from Tumblr and killed by God.

[things-arent-what-they-seem66]

Ok remember that one shot where Adam finds out he’s pregnant, can we please please PLEASE get a part two where Adam (mostly Adam) and Lucifer are going through the turmoils of pregnancy including, morning sickness, hot flashes, weird cravings, and my oh so favorite mood swings

Okay! Part 2 of Adams surprise pregnancy.

Adam groaned as he rolled out of bed, hand going to his extended belly. He was about six months pregnant now, and the cheeky little shits liked jumping on his bladder making him pee all damn night. They were having twins, but wanted to keep the genders a surprise. "Seriously my babies? This is the fifth time tonight." Adam walked to the bathroom, his bladder felt full.

Might as well get ready for the fucking day he was up.

A wave of nausea hit him, oh no. Adam threw up in the toilet. Damn morning sickness. "You okay in there love?" Lucifer asked from the doorway.

"Just fucking peachy." Adam cleaned up and left the bathroom.

-

For breakfast Adam got Lucifer to go to that good place on Main Street. He got an egg, bacon and cheese English muffin with pickles, tomato, the muffins replaced with donuts and everything dipped in hot sauce.

For whatever reason, he needed to eat hot sauce with everything. Didn't matter if it was sweet or not. He craved spicy foods. And ice cream, he couldn't get enough of mint chocolate chip. "Mmm, this is so fucking good."

"If you say so." Lucifer wrinkled his nose as he ate his normal pancakes.

Adam was practically vibrating with how happy food made him lately, it was weird. Oddly enough, he didn't want ribs.

Adam reached over and took the pickle jar and drank half the juice. He ate the rest of the jar and polished off the juice. "We need more pickles."

"I'll get more this afternoon, my love. More hot sauce and ice cream as well?"

"Yes, thank you Luci.~" Adam placed many kisses on his boyfriends cheek and nuzzled him. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

-

"Oh my god you hate meeeee." Adam sobbed, tears pooled in his golden eyes. "You're yelling, you hate me!"

"I don't hate you! Adam, sweetie-"

"Then why are you yelliiiinnngg!" The rational part of Adams brain said no, Lucifer didn't yell he was just speaking up so he could hear him. But his pregnancy brain said otherwise and that part won.

His emotions have been all over the place lately.

Lucifer wrapped his arms around Adam's waist rubbing his baby bump. He spoke softly. "I love you, hun. I'm sorry I raised my voice."

Adam sniffed. "I love you too."

"And here I thought you were a whiney bitch before." Came Alastors voice and Adam's temper sky rocketed. His golden eyes flashed red, his blood boiled.

"THE FUCK DID YOU CALL ME YOU BAMBI REJECT!?" Adam roared, he picked up the closest thing by him, a lamp, and threw it at the radio demon who dodged and laughed at him. This only served to piss Adam off more.

"Shhh shh shh, think of our babies love." Lucifer tried to sooth, his hand rubbing soothing circles on Adam's belly. A baby kicked. Adam placed his own hand on his belly as he glared Al down. "I'll handle this." Lucifer whispered in his ear.

"Yes, think of you little devil spawns." Alastor sneered in disgust. He blinked when he felt a harsh grip on his shoulder.

Lucifer had brought out his full demon form grinning madly. "No speaks to him that way."

Adam sighed dreamily as he rubbed his baby bump and watched his love beat the holy hell out of Alastor. "Your daddy is truly amazing.~"

-

"Holy shit balls it's fucking hot in here." Adam laid on the bed, only in his boxers. He had fans pointed at him as he felt like he was on fire. He knew Hell was hot but damn!

He felt so warm he wanted to peel his skin off.

Lucifer was on the bed beside him, pressing a cold damp cloth to Adams forehead. It helped a bit.

-

"Luci, hey Luci, you awake?"

Lucifer cracked an eye open. "What is it?"

"Can you go get me something to eat from that place we love? Pleeeeease?"

Lucifer looked at the time. "It's 2am, I'm not sure they're open."

"I called they are." Adam grinned widely. He straddled Lucifer's hips and ground his ass on his dick, Adam gave a weak moan when he felt him twitch. "I'll make it worth it for you. That's not the only meat I want in me.~" He gasped when Lucifer jolted his hips up.

Lucifer sat up and placed a kiss on Adam's baby bump before kissing him on the mouth. "Of course my love.~"

[francesderwent]

I have a question. Answer it and it’s back to fireworks and rockets’ red glare.  Answer it right, and – I’ll forget the last hundred and forty-five years I’ve spent missing you.  I’ll forget how much I loved you, I’ll forget everything and we can start over.  This can be our defining moment, because we have the time, that’s the beauty of eternity.  I just need the truth, just once. Stop. I already know your question, and its answer. The truth is, I’ve never loved you. It was always Stefan.

[atomicradiogirl]

The Battle of the Tenaru, August 21, 1942

by Robert Leckie

A helmet for my pillow,

A poncho for my bed,

My rifle rests across my chest-

The stars swing overhead.

The whisper of the kunai,

The murmur of the sea,

The sighing palm and night so calm

Betray no enemy.

Hear! river bank so silent

You men who sleep around

That foreign scream across the stream-

Up! Fire at the sound!

Sweeping over the sandspit

That blocks the Tenaru

With Banzai-boast a mushroomed host

Vows to destroy our few.

Into your holes and gunpits!

Kill them with rifles and knives!

Feed them with lead until they are dead-

And widowed are their wives.

Sons of the mothers who gave you

Honor and gift of birth

Strike with the knife till blood and life

Run out upon the earth.

Marines, keep faith with your glory

Keep to your trembling hole.

Intruder feel of Nippon steel

Can't penetrate your soul.

Closing, they charge all howling

Their breasts all targets large.

The gun must shake, the bullets make

A slaughter of their charge.

Red are the flashing tracers,

Yellow the bursting shells.

Hoarse is the cry of men who die

Shrill are the woundeds' yells.

God, how the night reels stricken!

She shrieks with orange spark.

The mortar's lash and cannon's crash

Have crucified the dark.

Falling, the faltering foemen

Beneath our guns lie heaped.

By greenish glare of rocket's flare

We see the harvest reaped.

Now has the first fierce onslaught

Been broken and hammered back.

Hammered and hit, from hole and pit-

We rise up to attack!

Day bursts pale from a gun tube,

The gibbering night has fled.

By light of dawn the foe has drawn

A line behind his dead.

Our tanks clank in behind him,

Our riflemen move out.

Their hearts have met our bayonet-

It's ended with a shout.

"Cease fire!" -the words go ringing,

Over the heaps of the slain.

The battle's won, the Rising Sun

Lies riddled on the plain.

St. Michael, angel of battle

We praise you to God on high.

The foe you gave was strong and brave

And unafraid to die.

Speak to the Lord for our comrades,

Killed when the battle seemed lost.

They went to meet a bright defeat-

The hero's holocaust.

False is the vaunt of the victor,

Empty our living pride.

For those who fell there is no hell-

Not for the brave who died.

[ddagent]

@gabolange: okay but the science teacher arguing with the tour guide is *delightful* and should exist

Margo Madison had just spent the better part of the afternoon arguing with Thomas Paine about Pathfinder. She had been looking forward to spending the rest of her day in silence, approving performance reviews for the different department heads, before heading out to 11:59 to unwind. However, her late afternoon silence was shattered by muted yelling from the outside corridor. She ignored it. Kept ignoring it. Until, eventually, Margo had to intervene. She did not care if it was Ronald Reagan himself – they would be quiet.

In the corridor stood one of the NASA tour guides; a tall young man in a blue polo shirt. He was arguing with a blond man, with a visitor lanyard, accompanied by twelve high school students who were watching the scene with various levels of interest. Emma was trying to usher them both along.

Sighing, Margo waded in. "You know, people have work to do in this building."

Emma's shoulders dropped, immediately launching into apologies. The tour guide, a young man by the name of Tim, began to apologise as well. "Director Madison, I am so, so sorry—"

"—you are Margo Madison?" The blond man with the visitor lanyard addressed her. "Finally, someone who knows what they are talking about." Tim spluttered. "Director Madison, your...guide here has been delivering faulty information all day. I can tolerate it no longer."

Margo stared, somewhat amused, at the audacity of this man. They come through every once and awhile; they read up about the space program, maybe built rockets in their garage, and thought they were worthy of being NASA engineers. This high school science teacher was nothing Margo had not seen before. She crossed her arms and stared him down. "With all due respect, I've been listening to you two argue for about twenty minutes now. I think you reached your toleration point a while ago."

She half-expected him to turn his ire towards her rather than poor Tim. Instead, he actually smiled. "I have no appreciation for factual inaccuracies, Ms Madison, especially when I am with my students. Your...guide has been giving my students inaccurate data regarding trajectories, fuel requirements, even the amount of people who land in the LEM." He glared at Tim. "I am surprised he was even able to tell them who first landed on the Moon."

"Well, Mister—"

"—Bezukhov. Sergei Bezukhov. I supervise the Aeronautics Club at our school." He handed her a clipboard of detailed notes. "I have listed the inaccuracies in red."

It was at this point that Tim intervened, defending his work. "Director Madison, everything I deliver has been double and triple checked by NASA public affairs. It is one hundred percent accurate. Some people—" Tim glared at Mister Bezukhov. "—are clearly misinformed."

Margo looked at Sergei Bezukhov's notes. His criticisms were incredibly detailed, with calculations in the margin that would not look out of place in any of the engineering labs. They were also one hundred accurate. She passed the notes back to Mister Bezukhov, before turning to Emma. "Get me the head of NASA public affairs. I want to review all tour transcripts." She then turned to Tim. "There will be an updated transcript for you on Monday. Learn it. Also, everyone knows three people go up but only two actually go down." And then, finally, to Mister Bezukhov. "Bring your students back next week. There will no longer be any inaccuracies and I expect no more arguing."

Sergei grinned. "How can you be sure? I would hate to bring my students back only to once again be met with inaccurate data and inadequate information."

"Well, I guess I'll just have to give you the tour myself then."

Margo nodded at the assembled group before retreating to her office. As she retook her office chair, she still wasn't quite sure why she had agreed to give this man and his students a tour. But a part of her relished the prospect of going toe-to-toe with Sergei Bezukhov. Finally, a worthy opponent.

[happyk44]

Zeus being like "we need to kill our living children because prophecy" and Hades is just "fuck you" and defies Nico and Bianca instead. Bianca is seething when she sees little Percy, Annabeth, and Grover sneak into the Underworld. She's spent way too much time with Zagreus.

But Nico is curious. He thinks the little heroes are cute. Watches them succeed to get around Cerberus. Watches one of them suddenly flying towards the pit. The other two are panicking.

Poor kids, he thinks, and he touches down in front of them. Catches the satyr with one hand. He yanks away, determined to get to the pit but Nico is an unmoving as a dead man. Just stuck to the ground and peeling off his wild shoes with ease. The satyr is lowered gently to the ground. Nico melts the shoes into shadows.

"You look hungry," he says.

They all stare at him. Then scamper into a little clustered triad. The girl nudges the boy and he huffs before clearing his throat.

"Um, Lord Hades-"

Nico's lip twitches. "I am not my father, little demigod. Do you wish to speak with him?" The boy's soul is untamed waves and a hurricane. "Ah. My cousin." He pauses. Gives it a think. "Perseus, right?"

The kid goes a little pink around his cheeks. Flushes down to throat and up through his ears. "Uh, yeah. Um. It's Percy." He blinks. Clears his throat. "Percy Jackson."

Nico thinks about it. "I think I'll just say Perseus, if you don't mind. I quite like it as a name. Strong. Heroic."

"Yeah, sure," Percy says quickly. His soul is a sea of panic. Tinged red around its edges. Tastes syrupy sweet at the back of Nico's throat. "You- I-"

The girl saves him. "We would like to seek an audience with Lord Hades. If we can." After a beat, she tacks on a tinny, "Please."

"Annabeth Chase," Nico says. She stiffens, eyes going big. "Athena's child." He glances over to the satyr. "Grover Underwood. Cute name. Fits you." Grover stammers before thanking him quietly. "My sister is with my father now. I'll see if I can steer her away. She's not always the best company to have when speaking with Papa. Especially with what is going on now."

The kids twitch and he stifles the urge to giggle.

The ground melts beneath them. They gasp aloud as earth turns to obsidian tile. His room is clean and tidy. Filled to the brim with silly junk throughout history. Trinkets and toys he's picked up from his travels too.

"You can wait here," he says. And he disappears without another word.

It takes longer than it should, to steer Bianca out of the way. Hades is no help. Bemused all the while. Nico tries to get him to take a nicer stance, but he's stubborn. Normally so is Nico, but he can't imagine the trio in his bedroom are taking his absence easily, so he caves and let's his father being as intimidating as he wants.

Personally, Nico can't see it. His father is his father. Whether he's twenty-feet tall with black eyes and a crown of nightmares, or six foot six with warm hands and smiles.

"Be nice, Papa," he says as he guides the children into the throne room.

Hades grunts and glares down at his nephew. Nico sighs and stands in the back. They are children. Perhaps if they were older he'd care less. But he remembers what it is to be twelve years old and staring at a god that wished you were dead an unbreathing.

It is haunting and hurting.

They speak and it's confusing. The children are lost with every word his father speaks. His father is getting more and more annoyed with every word they speak.

No one is lying, but no one has the reality of the situation at hand. Nico strides forwards, out of the shadows. Hades's eyes are angry, but he quiets. He does not like to shout in front of Nico. Not when the anger rockets back at Nico's soul like a mirror and leaves him winded. The trio goes silent.

He slides his hands through the flimsy material of the backpack. Electricity crackles at his skin. He flinches and steps back.

Percy is confused. His soul is a crashing thing, drowning his mind in panic untold. Annabeth is horrified. Her soul is sputtering. There is no logic to this. No facts to back up what she has discovered. She is unsure, for the first time in her life. Grover is on the verge of fainting.

"He didn't know," Nico says. "None of them did."

Hades scoffs, but let's Nico flip through the pages of their souls like a history book. Ares and the backpack. But that is not possible. He cannot touch his father's bolt, or Hades's helm. Not without permission and certainly not with his own bare hands. Further back, there is a face. Scarred and angry. He is giving Percy the shoes.

Grover takes them when his back is turned.

Smart creature, Nico thinks.

He lets goes and the trio breathes.

"There is a boy," he says. "I'll need to look at him, but I feel he has orchestrated this mess."

Hades's lips curl. He is unhappy. He wanted to blast his nephew to pieces and lock the others up for their troubles in bringing him along.

"You have got to stop talking to Bianca," Nico huffs. "Give me a day. I will head to camp-"

"No," Hades says.

Everything topples downhill. The Furies descend. Skeletons take charge. Shadows whip and hiss like volatile snakes.

Nico blinks and they are gone. Sunny grass, untouched by darkness. There's the crashing of the waves behind him. The kids are gasping. Nico steadies their ever-changing souls, collisions of nauseous colours.

"My mom," Percy gasps. His voice is on the edge of tears.

Nico stares at him. Then presses a cold hand to his shoulder. "She will be fine. My father knows what it is to have a mother lost to their child. She is a guest, although unwilling. No harm shall come to her."

"How-" Annabeth presses small hands to her face. "The bolt- how-"

"Luke Castellan," Nico says. "Is he a kind boy?"

Annabeth twitches, stares up at him, frustrated, confused. Grover answers in her stead. "He's a good person."

"Hmm." Nico turns to see his cousin waiting for them on the sand. "Even good people can be turned to do terrible things. Many people do terrible things in the name of good."

Percys soul gardens when he catches sight of their shared cousin. Ares's demeanour does nothing for Nico. But it fills the crevices of Percy's misery with boiling rage. Nico squeezes along his shoulder. Mats his soul with a softening quell.

"Breathe," he says. Ares approaches. Too calm. Too steady. The people around him scatter with every step. "Ares, you are an idiot." Dreams are awash in his soul. He is faintly pressed behind a matte wall. He laughs, carefree, amused. But behind that wall, his truer self is screaming. "I much prefer it when my sisters bully you. Rather than whoever is doing so now. Did you not notice the memories in your head turned awry?"

He scoffs. They banter. Nico lets Percy, angry and distressed at being played with, take the fight. He remembers the ways he wished his father would let him knock their family down a peg. When his siblings were blasted apart miles away in another state. His mother electrocuted and turned to ash in front of his very eyes.

As Ares lay panting on the sand, Nico takes a hold of his soul and clears the wall away.

"Next time stay vigilant. What would your mother think of you working with her father in this way?" He flicks the other god's forehead and watches him rocket down into the earth. The kids stare at him. Awed. Confused. Percy is wet and breathing hard, pink around his ears.

"You should return the bolt," Nico says. The wind sweeps. "In the meantime, this prophecy has waited far too long to pass." He sighs. "It should've been me. Or my sister. Someone long before your time, Perseus."

Nico pats his head and he squeaks. It's adorable.

"I will assist where I can," he says. He presses a token into Percy's hand. The other two jolt as similiar beads tuck into the flat of their palms. "Just give me a call."

The earth gives out beneath their feet and they disappear into sand and darkness. Nico runs his wrists over one another and glances up to the mortals pooling around the beach. Police officers looking mystified at the sudden absence of the two players in their so-called gun fight.

He will string a tale into their cores, a belief so certain no one can dash it away. And then he will retire to his father's side just as he did when he was ten years old, the stains of his mother's death lingering on his skin.

Certainly the three of them will make use of his tokens in due time. He will wait for them to do so.

And then he will help.

[choicesbookclub]

Current Featured Book: Veil of Secrets

Welcome to the Veil of Secrets Book Club!

This Book Club is open to anyone and everyone! You can participate as much or as little as you want.

Our playthrough of Veil of Secrets will take place on Saturdays with posts going up around noon EST. However, late entries are more than welcome. [Learn how to participate here]

Meet our VOS MCs:

If you have a profile page for your MC, feel free to send it to me so I can add it to our directory.

Reading Schedule:

Saturdays beginning May 4

We will start with 2 chapters a week as decided by our poll, but if people feel this is too much, please don't hesitate to reach out and we can reevaluate.

Each week, I'll try to include questions, polls, or prompts to inspire some discussion. Feel free to send suggestions if you have something you want to see!

Weekly Prompts:

links will be added when the prompts are posted

May 4:

Chapter 1: Missing Persons

May 11:

Chapter 2: Unveiled

Chapter 3: The Powers That Be

May 18:

Chapter 4: First Blood

May 25:

Chapter 5: The Whole Bloody Affair

Chapter 6: Down by the Water

June 1:

Chapter 7: Into the Woods

June 8:

Chapter 8: ...And Found

Chapter 9: The Rocket's Red Glare

June 15:

Chapter 10: Collateral Damage

June 22:

Chapter 11: Lawful Good

Chapter 12: The Kraken

June 29:

Chapter 13: Under the Bed

Chapter 14: The Face of Evil

July 6:

Chapter 15: The End of the Line

Chapter 16: All's Well That Ends…

I hope you'll join us! 💛

[jeridandridge]

Only Girl

You go on a Schemmenti family vacation and have a very important question for Melissa.

As soon as the plane touches down in Italy your anxiety sky rockets. In a jewelry shop 45 minutes away from the hotel you’re staying in, the engagement ring you bought for Melissa sits. Thanks to her cousin Joey you were able to find the most perfect ring and order it so you could propose early on the vacation.

You can’t help but lean over kissing your girlfriends cheek. “You’re so cute.” You giggle looking at her beaming smile.

“I’m so happy.” She squeezes your hand.

In the airport everyone grabs their luggage and Joey gives you a discreet thumbs up after checking his phone.

It takes two cars to get everyone to the hotel, you with Joey, his kids, and Annette in one car while Melissa, her nana, Uncle Tommy, his sons, and Kristen riding in another.

“Take a load off, y/n.” Joey laughs. “We’re not even at the hotel yet.”

“I know I know.” You nod. “I figure if I freak out now while in a separate car I’ll be fine the rest of the day.” You laugh nervously.

“Wait what’s going on?” Joeys son Anthony chimes in.

You twist in your seat looking back at the kid. You’d grown close to Melissa’s family over the past two years, especially Anthony. “I’m asking Mel to marry me.” You smile.

“No way!” Bianca, joeys daughter smiles from the back.

“Way.” You laugh. “So I need you guys to keep it quiet until dinner tomorrow night.”

In the other car as you all get closer to the hotel, Melissa’s nanna, Maria, sits grilling her granddaughter.

“Cara, when are you going to ask that girl to marry you?”

“Nanna!”

“What? It’s a good question!” She defends with a shrug.

“Nanna, we’ve talked about it but we’re in no rush. She knows how I feel about it.”

“You should bag her before she runs off.” Kristen grumbles. Maria reaches over to smack her other granddaughter.

“Careful, Kristen don’t make me knock those fake nails off a ya.” Melissa glares.

Family vacation is off to a great start.

At the hotel everyone gathers their things and files into the gorgeous lobby. You couldn’t stop looking around, the curved architecture of the ceiling holding you in a trance.

“Tesoro,” Melissa laughs reaching for your hand, “Ready to see our room?”

“Yeah, this place is beautiful. It’s not like the tourist traps I thought I’d see.” You smile following her to the elevators.

“They built it in the ‘60s, it was a hot spot for artists.” Melissa informs you with bright eyes. You can’t help but smile at the redhead as she goes into the history of the hotel.

You look at the cage style doors pushing them open when you reach the floor. “We’re in 1201.” Melissa reads off the card.

You feel a giddy excitement as you walk down the hall, your hand finding the small of Melissa’s back when she opens the door. “I think it’s time for wine on the balcony.” You grin kissing her shoulder.

“You read my mind.”

Unpacking your bags for the almost two week stay you pull out an evening dress for the balcony and dinner later that night.

When Melissa changes you let out a whistle when you see her red dress. The sight of your girlfriend smirking at you in a gorgeous room over looking the water with the sound of the waves crashing have you in a euphoric state. it couldn’t get much better than this. “Now I’m really in Heaven.”

“Sweet talker.” Melissa comes over wrapping her arms around you resting her head on your shoulder as you get out of your jeans and tshirt. Turning your head you meet her lips in a soft kiss, getting lost in her hold on you.

“If we start something now we’ll never make it to dinner tonight.” You smile resting your head against hers.

“I’d skip a meal just for you.”

You let out a giggle resting your hand on top of hers before moving to step into your floral dress. “We can’t do that, I don’t wanna piss your nanna off.”

“I hate when you’re right.” She teases letting go of you. “I’ll get the wine.”

Slipping into your dress you adjust your hair and opt to go barefoot up the one step to the private balcony that overlooks the sand and water. Melissa hands you a glass before pulling you onto her lap in one of the chairs. Smiling like an idiot you wrap your arm around her neck pulling her into searing kiss with a hum.

Breaking away you rest your forehead against hers. “There’s no where else I’d rather be than right here.” You whisper.

Melissa beams, warmth radiating through her chest. You were so special to her and she was so happy to share this family trip with you. She strokes your cheek with her thumb meeting your eyes.

“I love you, angel.”

In that moment you realize that your decision to propose on this trip was the best idea you’ve ever had.

“I love you.” You grin clinking your wine glass against hers.

You two sit in comfortable silence together, sipping your wine and stealing kisses as you watch the sun dip into the waves below. When the bottle of wine is polished off your phone chimes, a text from Joey letting you know that he made it back from the jewelry shop.

“What’s Joey sayin?”

Your eyes go wide and immediately turn the phone off. “He said the car is almost here.” You smile recovering easily.

In a few minutes you and Melissa get to the lobby where Maria is talking to the concierge and everyone else is hanging around. You squeeze Melissa’s hand jogging over to where Joey and Anthony are waiting.

“Hey, y/n! I got it right here.” Joey says quietly.

“Perfect! Perfect, I think I’m gonna do it tonight. After dinner. I can’t wait anymore.” You beam.

Anthony jumps up squeezing your arm. “Do it!”

“Okay, okay,” you laugh, “keep it chill remember?” You say quietly, discreetly taking the ring box from Joey.

“Pockets!” You beam turning in your dress heading over to Melissa and Kristen.

“There’s the only person on the planet that can stand my sister.”

You smile wrapping your arm around Melissa’s waist. “You know Kristen, I’m having such a good time even your D - attitude isn’t gonna bother me.”

“Ha! Alright, Melissa. I like this one.” She points at you before going to Maria.

“Wow, it only took two years.” You roll your eyes when Melissa starts to laugh.

“Cmon, hon. You don’t have to sit by the wicked witch of the east coast.”

Not long later you’re seated with everyone on a gorgeous patio with wine in hand. Everyone’s laughing and having a good time and you couldn’t be happier sitting across from your love. Giving her a wink as you sip your wine you pay attention to uncle Tommy sitting next to you.

“Hey, Joey and Annette let me in on your plan. I’m really excited for you two.” He smiles.

“Thank you, Tommy.” You give him a grateful nod. “I just need to ask Maria for her permission and I’ll be set.”

Tommy looks at you with a smile of approval patting your shoulder. “Going for the head of the family, I like it. I’ll get Melissa out on the dance floor with the kids after dinner that way you can talk to Ma.”

“You’re the best, Tommy.” You smile patting his arm.

“No no, Melissa cut the hair off my doll first THEN I drew on her face in permanent marker.” Kristen explains through a laugh.

“You girls made my blood pressure go up.” Maria laughs along with the table.

You catch Melissa’s eyes across the table giving her a warm smile just before Anthony and Bianca come up to her. “Mel, come dance with us!” They drag her out to the stone walkway where a few others are dancing to the classic Italian guitar.

While Melissa goes off to dance with the kids you make your way over to the other side of the table, your hand over the tin box in your pocket.

“Maria, can I speak to you for a sec?” You beam.

“Of course, cara ragazza. Are you having a good time?”

“Absolutely! It’s beautiful and I’m so happy to be here with all of you.”

Kristen rolls her eyes downing her wine. “Out with it, pipsqueak.”

You shoot her a glare you reserve just for her, almost a frenemy type situation between you two since you started dating Melissa.

Maria takes your hands ignoring her other granddaughter.

“Maria, I love Melissa and your family and I would really like to have your blessing so I can ask her to marry me.”

The older woman’s eyes well up as she squeezes your hands pulling you into a bone crushing hug. For such a small woman you felt like she could break you.

“My dear girl, yes you have my blessing.” She smiles holding onto your shoulders when she pulls back. “I’ve never seen my grand baby so happy. Not since she was a cosa giovane. I see how you look at her and how you treat her. She’s deserved someone like you for a long time.” She all but weeps wiping her eyes.

Listening to Nannas words you look out to the dance floor seeing Melissa laugh and spin with her young cousins, the fairy lights from the patio making everything look like a dream.

“I’m lucky to have her. Thank you, Nanna.” You smile hugging the woman again.

“I’m too old for that!” Melissa laughs coming back to the table. “Nanna, are you okay?” She asks, smile immediately falling.

The older redhead waves her off drying her eyes. “I was having a nice heart to heart with y/n is all. Nothing to worry about.

You smile at the redhead, Maria winking at you.

You’re extremely excited now, still nervous but grateful to have the blessing from the most important person in Melissa’s family. For the rest of the evening you relax enjoying everyone’s company.

“Baby, let’s go down by the water for a bit.” You suggest wrapping your arm with Mel as you two get out of the car.

“Yeah? Wanna walk in the sand like a mushy couple?” She beams at you.

“Exactly.” You grin. Looking over your shoulder Joey gives you a thumbs up before you two break away from the group heading out the back to the beach.

Full from dinner and more wine, you hold Melissa’s hand as you two walk barefoot in the sand down to the glistening shoreline.

“God look at that moon.” You beam wrapping your arm around her waist. The ring box in your pocket sits against your thigh as you two walk across the cool sand, practically burning a hole in the fabric.

“It’s the perfect night.”

You hum pulling her closer. “I think it could be even better.”

She gives you a curious look and before she can say anything else you’re kneeling in front of her pulling the ring out of your pocket. Melissa looks at you with a gasp, her eyes going to the gold band that holds a green sapphire surrounded by other diamonds. It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, and it was now hers.

“Mel, I want the movie nights, family dinners, parties, the vacations, and the opportunity to introduce you as my wife. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you.” You smile with tears in your eyes. “Marry me?”

Melissa beams through her own happy tears pulling you up and wrapping her arms around your neck.

“Yes! A million times yes, Tesoro.” She laughs holding you tight. You keep your hand on her lower back and the other holds the ring box as she cries into your hair. For a moment, time freezes and it’s just you two and the water.

“Hell yeah!!” You hear whoops and hollers from up the beach causing you and Melissa to separate just enough to look over to see your entire group, and most importantly Maria crying tears of joy. Even Kristen gives a thumbs up your way.

You can’t help but laugh seeing Tommy and Joey smoking cigars in celebration.

“You think they’re happy?” You tease your fiancé keeping your arm around her.

“I think so.” She laughs holding her hand up for you. “Do I gotta put it on myself?”

Biting your lip you take the ring out and shove the box back in your pocket before sliding the band onto her finger.

“Beautiful. It matches your eyes.” You beam bringing the back of her hand to your lips. Bringing both of her hands to your cheeks she pulls you in close.

“I love you, Tesoro.” She whispers pulling you into the most loving kiss you’ve ever experienced.

“Did she say yes?!” Anthony yells making you laugh against Melissa’s lips before she pulls away with the biggest smile you’ve ever seen.

“Yeah I did, kid!

—————

Melissa’s ring

[coffeeandbatboys]

The Art Of Stupidity (Peter Quill x Fem!reader)

In which Peter nearly gets killed because he's a dumba** so you do a lot of screaming at him.

Warnings: swearing (whaa ikr?) Injury, insult to injury, Rocket being himself, Peter being an idiot (aka himself) mebbe some slight foreshadowing for vol. 3 but it ain't a spoiler if you don't think too much about it.

"Rocket, where's Peter?" You gasped.

In your glorious retreat back to the Bowie, you'd lost him in the chaos that he caused. How does the idea of stealing a heavily secured antique piece of junk sound now?

"He had to go and get the damn Zune he dropped in the hallway of that security station."

"He told me he was down to one blaster!?" You shrieked, realizing that this was not, in fact, going well.

"And he's the lazy asshole who didn't charge them up!"

"You didn't think to, I dunno, COVER HIM?" You flapped your arms in disbelief.

"Hell no, you're the girlfriend!." The insufferable Raccoon snarled. "If you wanna go get Star munch, he's all yours missy."

You muttered under your breath as you turned to go get your boyfriend. "That stupid Zune is gonna be the death of him someday I swear. Thanks a lot, Yondu."

You readied your blaster and dodged bullets in the space between the ship and aforementioned security station, before kicking the door open to find an incredibly absurd sight.

The Doobie Brother's 'What a Fool Believes' blasted from the ridiculous object he went back for, as he was trying in vain to fight off the security droids. Sighing, you stepped in and blasted to your heart's delight, until the two of you (or, mostly you) successfully eradicated the rest of them.

"Thanks, babe." Peter offered a sheepish smile and you just rolled your eyes in frustration.

"Let's go before these guys blow a freaking hole in our ship!" You growled.

His eyes widened and the smile dropped. "Ohh ok yeah you're like really mad."

Once again you we're crossing the distance back to the ship, only this time, you didn't dodge one of the bullets as it lodged itself in your calf. You were already frustrated beyond rational capacity, and physical pain just added insult to injury. But you were too hyped up on adrenaline to care. Tumbling into the ship, Peter in tow, you sat down and glared.

He wasn't sure whether to apologize or leave you be, when he noticed your leg trembling. That's when your world went fuzzy and you sorta just, checked out of reality while somehow staying conscious.

"Shit! I need a med pack and a pair of tweezers." He hollered for anyone in earshot as the ship lifted off and set out for Knowhere. Soon, the bullet was pulled out of your leg and the med pack placed over the hole.

And this...this, is where you snapped back to reality.

"You asshole!" You screamed, "You could've gotten yourself killed!"

Kraglin, who had brought the medical supplies, just cringed and stepped away, leaving you two alone.

"I'm sorry, y/n..."

"Sometimes I feel like that stupid thing is more important than any of us!"

You regretted the statement as soon as it left your mouth. The Walkman was one of the only things he had left of his younger years, and when his father had destroyed that, the Zune was all he had left of Yondu.

His eyes fell and your heart broke. He moved to stand up, but you stopped him.

"No—wait. I'm sorry. I shouldn'tve said that. I'm sorry." You repeated.

He relaxed and sat back down, giving you a lopsided apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry I freaked you out. I wasn't trying to get killed back there. I feel like it was my fault that you got shot, too."

"Its fine, baby." You smiled sadly. "If I hadn't been seeing red, I probably would've payed more attention."

The med pack needed a bit more time, and Rocket was calling for him, so he kissed your forehead, then your nose, before finally catching your lips in a sweet, tender kiss.

One that would take priority over anything else.

Star Lord fics are back in business baby!!

[catiecat1320]

Sonadowtober Prompt 4: Red and Blue

Direct continuation of Accident!

Shadow races to save Sonic, running into both a problem and a miracle

Read Below 🔽

Red light threw shadows on the walls, somehow making the atmosphere more tense than it should be. He hugged the hedgehog in his arms a little tighter, wishing he glowed any other color for once— red made it look like a horror movie, unsettling, like there could be a monster in the shadows. 

As if Gaia had decided to pity him, he turned what amounted to a corner in this natural maze to find glowing blue at the foreseeable end. Blue like Sonic, who breathed in awe at the sight, head lulling with the sway brought by Shadow’s skating.

Unfortunately, the light did not come from the end of the tunnel but from a bioluminescent ecosystem of some kind, self contained underground. Plants of unknown variety thrived, little critters darting among them. 

He felt bad for intruding this wonder, Sonic’s leg still dripping with blood, trailing into the grass. Red staining blue, as opposed to the blue light consuming the red still pulsing from Shadow’s stripes. 

Sonic mumbled something about Tails. 

They needed to hurry.

But a quick scan of their surroundings showed no viable exit. A dead end. Something Shadow had stupidly forgotten to consider before he rushed in. 

Panic hit him all at once.

Sonic had lost a copious amount of blood already. Shadow wasn’t sure how fast the hedgehog would bleed out at this point, but it was far too likely to happen. They wouldn’t have enough time to run back and get out. He hadn’t seen any forks in the path that could lead—

Sonic had nearly flopping out of his arms then, dragging him out of his frantic thoughts. As he readjusted, careful of his partner’s injuries, Shadow spotted a serpent, covered in patches of fluorescent blue and much, much too big.

It had been a warning. 

His eyes blew wide and, ignoring Sonic’s incoherent babbling, he made a dash for the exit, a foot too high up. The monstrous snake lunged at them, jaw opening to reveal glistening fangs as long as Shadow’s forearm, undoubtedly filled with something deadly. He sidestepped the attack clumsily, just in time.

He couldn’t fight like this. Not with Sonic bleeding out in his arms.

“S—! Shadow…”

Said hedgehog was a bit preoccupied with avoiding death. “What?!”

“Up. Up.”

His gaze darted up the rocky wall, for a moment not understanding. Then he spotted a ruby glow, his breath catching.

Chaos emerald.

Ever so innocently resting in an alcove several meters above ground, was the thing that could solve all their problems. The only thing was that damn serpent was still circling them, preventing Shadow from reaching it.

Unless…

“Sonic, can you still curl up?”

“Mmphm.”

“I have a stupid idea that only you can pull off.”

A second later, Shadow prayed to whatever god was listening, wound up his arm, and tossed Sonic toward the emerald with as much accuracy as he could muster with a giant snake staring him down.

At least he was on point. Sonic’s ball form disappeared up above as Shadow dodged the serpent, ready to give it a taste of revenge. Without a person occupying his arms, his mobility increased drastically, allowing him his usual range of attacks. 

As his rocket skate connected with its head with a crunch, he heard the other hedgehog calling his name overhead. 

“Shadow!” He was already sounding better, at least. Chaos energy was a lifesaver.

“I’ll be right there,” Shadow replied, giving the disoriented snake his best death glare before charging up the wall. Sonic would be upset if he did anything more than injure the beast, unfortunately. His stance was strong, and Shadow had no choice but to cave to the other’s morals or face the consequences.

The alcove was barely big enough for the two of them, but they managed. Red emitted from inside mixed with blue seeping in from out, Sonic sitting in the middle bathed in both. It’d make for a beautiful picture if he didn’t look absolutely wrecked, crusting blood streaking the side of his head, face pale from anemia.

Shadow made a grabbing motion at the emerald cradled in the other’s hands, more than ready to leave this place. Sonic tiredly lifted it, and with a Chaos Control, they were back where they started.

Rouge, who had gotten the SOS, was standing next to the cave entrance when the two hedgehogs materialized next to her. Needless to say, they scared the living daylights out of her.

“Chaos, you two! What the hell happened?”

“Gee, not even an ‘ello?” Sonic slurred, keeling over and curling around the emerald. “I dun feel so good.”

“Nausea. Given your condition, it wasn’t ideal to chaos control back,” Shadow reasoned, more to sooth his concern than Sonic’s. Rouge watched as he knelt beside the hedgehog. Passively, the emerald was powerful, but it wouldn’t hurt to speed up the healing process by giving it a little direction.

The sunrise was in full bloom now, dying the sky a brilliant vermillion. Shadow was fully aware of it occurring behind his back, attracting the attention of Sonic and Rouge. He hoped it was worth all the trouble it brought about before the day even started.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” He murmured, more an offhand comment than anything as he watched Sonic’s wounds heal. His emerald eyes were saturated with the sky, altering their color but brightening their spark. 

He smiled so softly, distant.

“Yeah…” Sonic whispered. “Beautiful.”

[david-goldrock]

I need y'all to explain the grammer to me:

your anthem starts with 2 questions:

Oh, say,

Can you see, by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's lasted gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O 'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And ends with another question:

Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

SO WHAT DOES THIS PART MEAN?! HOW DOES IT FIT?

And the rockets` red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

I AM SO CONFUSED

[needfantasticstories]

Read here below:

Summary:

Legend is not happy with the Yiga who captured him.

Notes:

Trigger Warnings: Canon-typical violence Spiders Cursing/foul language

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Furious

They had teleported. Even as the Yiga blademasters wrestled Legend’s hands behind him, the veteran found muddy ground replaced with solid, reliable stone underfoot. Supplanting the damp forest was a musty cavern full of crates and vender’s stalls. 

“Astor needs the vials! Hurry up with him!” yelled a reedy voice outside the circle of giant red soldiers crushing him. 

With the benefit of solid ground, Legend planted his feet and wrenched his arm forward enough to break loose and shove a hand into his bag. Before they could stop him, the veteran’s fingers closed on a well-worn, familiar handle. 

Legend ignited the brilliant red gem. 

The swarm of Yiga reeled back as he swung the flaming rod. He aimed fiery orbs that rocketed into the nearest one’s mask. The Yiga had reached for their blades too late; the reek of singed hair and burnt flesh remained in the wake of their retreat. 

They gave him room to breathe, room to think, to look. 

“ HYRULE !” Legend shouted, and the word echoed in the cave amid shouts and grunts as they lunged for him again. But he fired volley after volley, pressing them forward and carefully scanning the room. Tapestries with the inverted Sheikah eye in red and black glared down at him, but he found no sign of Hyrule nor the pale white demon here. But he did find a hoard of bananas: in boxes, on market-like stalls, and in barrels. 

Puffs of smoke around the room revealed a wave of six scrawny footsoldiers along the walls and atop crates, aiming scythes and a pair of drawn bows in his direction. Their clothes were muddy and torn, some bleeding from wounds his brothers had given them. 

The archers fired. 

Legend rolled and dodged the shots, rising again with a shout and a fresh wave of fire from his weapon. “WHERE DID YOU TAKE HIM?” Legend roared, panting, sweeping his fire rod across the Yiga soldiers like a scythe. Alone within the enemy’s stronghold, he found no reason to hold back. He could handle the heat, his rings already pulsing with protective magic. Dark scorch marks painted the walls, and high-pitched screams reverberated as orbs hit their targets.

Waves of heat radiated over the back of Legend’s hands as he aimed and released, but it was gentle compared to the scorching gales he invoked on them. 

“Stop, you idiot!” one footsoldier shouted as she fumbled to lose an arrow. She missed him entirely when, with a squeal, she dove to avoid a fireball. She jumped back up, crouched low, and panted, “Yield… and I’ll… make sure… that you…will see him!” Her voice was mockingly kind, a honey laced with poison.  

Legend responded without words, and she danced away to dodge a fiery end, disappearing to the smell of burnt hair. He sent a matching attack to the other archer, who dropped his bow as he shrieked and vanished. 

“You’re going to die here if you keep this up!” yelled a deep-voiced  blademaster as he hurled forward to strike Legend, but the veteran adventurer leapt high, feet far above the blade’s path, and sent an attack of his own toward the man, forcing him away. They did not know about his rings that would keep him safe from the heat. They didn’t know he’d already sworn to burn this whole place down—for Hyrule, for Wild, for his own satisfaction—it would be wiped from the map.

They were starting to keep out of range, but they’d also blocked the door. Hyrule could be in there. 

Another pair of bulky soldiers slammed their palms to the ground, and Legend felt the earth rumble. From the impact points sped circles of burning red light, the air above whistling up from the heat. Magic , tapping into the powers of Din, he guessed. They rushed at him. Legend leapt aside, but the glowing heat followed. Heat scorched his legs, despite his numerous protective enchantments, as he was forced to run, his boots moving him beyond the soldiers that lurched to catch him. 

Behind him, the red glows finally burst, pebbles pelting his back. Legend turned only to see another pair of the red spells giving chase, their creators laughing. 

Legend grinned at the Blademasters and made a rude gesture, letting the lights come closer. At the last moment, he flipped backward and let the lights pass under him. They burrowed under a pillar of stacked banana crates. 

The crates exploded. 

The Yiga shrieked and wailed in horror.  

This could keep them busy.

Legend dodged between shrieking Yiga soldiers as they rushed to put out the fire. Aided by the pegasus boots, he sent blast after blast of fire into the other crates and barrels, and scorched the bunches lying on the tables.

Like a nest of ants, the Yiga scrambled in vain to put out the flames as the whole supply caught fire. More importantly, they left a clear path to the doorway. Scorched bananas landed in the frame, and without thinking Legend scooped them into his bag. He sent back a few more blasts, just in case, as he left the room only to collapse against the stone hallway. 

He could not afford to rest long, not until he found Rule. Soldiers could appear at any moment. But sweat dripped from his face, his hands shook, and the places where his magic usually pooled ached with an emptiness as sharp as hunger. 

Legend hadn’t eaten in hours. He reached for a potion when his hand brushed something warm. He grabbed it too only to find one blackened banana. Shrugging, he ate it quickly, the flesh surprisingly soft and sweet. He’d eaten bananas before, but not like this one. Far more strength than he was expecting fueled him, even replenishing a small portion of his magic. He retreated into the shadows cast by the door, hoping no one saw him beyond the blaze within.

He sipped half of his last magic potion as he scrounged in his pack again. He needed to hide, and fast. And just a moment to rest. Ravio’s bracelet? No paintings here, and he didn’t have a direction. Ice rod? No... His cape! He’d discovered it within a tomb underneath the graveyard just outside Hyrule Castle, long ago. He avoided using it often since it drained his magic quickly; it was difficult enough keeping reserves up before meeting Hyrule, but the fire rod drained him already, despite the thrill of the fight.

 Legend pulled out the heavy garment, dark red with gold trim. He threw it on and hurried into a far corner of the hall, magic fueling the cape. His body faded out of sight. And just in time. Shouts erupted as red lights revealed new soldiers in the hall. Legend pressed into the corner as a half dozen soldiers hurried past into the blazing room.  

“Where is he?” the newcomers demanded. Each voice fought to be heard over the others. “Put that out!”—“The whole place is burning!”---“Sooga is going to kill us!” “He ran that way!”--“Where’s the other one?”---“The Demon Lord said –-”

They don’t know where Rule is? His successor had been limp and unconscious when he last saw him, a sight the veteran wished he could forget. His successor wasn’t brawny or one to pick fights, but he was scrappy, determined,and powerful in magic. And they couldn’t find him! He escaped! For all his confidence in the kid, he could have cried in relief. Sure, the kid could take down a lynel, and could make anything into a weapon. But they both needed to get out of here fast, and the kid might not know he had an ally in here. But how to tell him?

“We need the mage!” one shrieked loudly as he streaked past Legend down the echoing hall. 

Mage? Could that be the pale demon?

“Go! Find them! Now!” a deeper voice roared from inside, drowning out the rest of the yelling.  

Soldiers ran from the room. Legend followed, then passed by on his boots, looking for the soldier who mentioned the mage. 

The cape and pegasus boots were draining what little magic he’d recovered with worrying speed, but he could hold on a bit longer. He had to. Catching up to the soldier who’d run for the mage, he followed close. It was as good a clue as any. He memorized the switchbacking tunnels as he chased after the soldier. How big is this place? They ran for what Legend could only assume was several miles, though it was probably just exhaustion dulling his senses. They passed room after room in quick succession: storerooms, living quarters, mess halls, a smith’s forge.

At last, the soldier ran through a set of double doors. 

Yiga fighters scrambled everywhere. With all the yelling and commotion inside, Rule had to be inside! Legend hurried to follow. 

But the commotion within was not Hyrule. Instead, he entered a foreboding armory: racks of blades and bows covered the left half; three giant, spiked balls too big for a hinox to carry provided the centerpieces dead ahead, a painted, glowing red eye on the largest glared at him, as if alive; ot the right, towers of ghostly white masks filled the wall. Fresh fighters scrambled to arm themselves and receive orders.

Legend stuck to the wall and carefully tracked the soldier he’d been following. The figure dashed past the other Yiga, hurrying behind the dais with the spiked spheres.

Legend followed quickly, catching bits of banter: colorful complaints over and over that neither the Heroes called Legend nor Hyrule could be found.

How do they know us? How does Ghirahim know about Hyrule’s curse? Why take me too?

With a muffled grunt of pain, Legend hid behind the giant metal ball just as his magic ran out. His chest ached, and his blood felt cold and slow, but he forced his eyes to take in the narrow, secluded area in the back of the armory. He was visible now, but the soldier leading him to the mage was already halfway through a hidden doorway. 

Legend ducked low, and followed. 

The Veteran caught the door before it closed. He shoved it open just enough to slip inside, noting how the torch nearby slid down as he did. 

A massive table stood in the center, surrounded by stiff-back but elegantly carved chairs. A symbol had been scratched out and recarved on each – an eye poorly covering the triforce. 

A war room. Schematics and charts and maps covered the wall, from strange looking helmets decorated with lightning bolts to designs for flying platforms (manned by what he guessed were bokos), to poorly drawn maps of Wild’s Hyrule.

Including a map of the caves. 

Another door on the far wall stood ajar. “Your Eminence?” a voice called from inside. 

Legend snatched the map and ducked under the table. It wasn’t the safest place, but it would have to do. 

A grumble preceded the soldier’s return from the mysterious room beyond. He passed Legend’s hiding place, muttering, “where in the shadow realms is he? Sooga is going to kill us!” as he returned to the armory. 

The mage wasn’t in the room? Perfect. Legend rolled out and forged ahead, eating another banana as he went. 

Licking his fingers, he entered a large study and immediately gagged. It reeked of foul body odor and wet dog hair and rotten fruit. He covered his nose and mouth, and looked around. Shelves overburdened with books lined the walls, the tomes crammed mercilessly and coated in dust, veiled in cobwebs. One book lay open with obvious care on the central table, perched atop an elegantly carved stand and flanked by tall glass oil lamps, glowing orange.

His stomach growled. Two bananas wasn’t nearly enough.

Fumbling in his bag, the veteran snatched the last banana and glared at it as he peeled. Stupid Yiga and their inexcusably delicious fruit. It refreshed him more than he cared to admit. Unfortunately, it still did little for his dwindling reserves of magic. Between the firerod, boots, and cape, he barely had enough magic left to hide for a few seconds, and his quick glance at the map revealed a sprawling dungeon complex. 

Moving carefully around the crowded table, Legend looked around for something useful. It was quiet enough he could hear the rustle of his clothes, completely immune to the chaos and shouting two rooms away. A silencing spell? The room pulsed with enchantments, spells, and curses, their auras tangling and mixing to the point that he could not identify most of them. Each had a sort of flavor or sense to them, but one dominated the rest: a sense of endless hunger mixed with anger, glowing magenta and tasting like wine and ashes. It was hard to pin down, but it made his throat burn.   

On a shelf beside a crowded desk stood a battalion of bottled potions in rows. Legend hurried to read the labels. He blew dust off of the corks and fluted shoulders, and then smiled. Healing, stamina, magic, and electricity resistance. Legend uncorked a green one and smelled it. Dancing Din! A Magic potion!  

He dumped the whole stock into his pouch save the one he’d smelled, which he guzzled, the liquid tickling his dry throat. It tasted like spring sunshine in a bottle. It soothed and filled and spread from throat to chest to arms and legs to toes and fingers. His boots hummed with power, as did the firerod sheathed on his hip. Legend smiled and sighed at the tingle of magic racing down his veins.  

This was going to work. He had enough potions to search the caves for days. Weeks! No one would see him, and nothing would stop him. 

Legend grabbed the whole stock of healing potions and, after removing a bit of firewood he had been storing for Wild, he had plenty of room for all of them. Legend dumped the whole supply in his pouch. With a satisfied grin, he replaced his cape and disappeared once more. 

Legend pushed back the bookstand and set the pilfered cave map on the table. The layout was strange, with zigging, zagging, and curving halls, but he could see the layout. He’d need to search every room, and leave a trail to make sure Rulie could find him as he went. 

Course now set, Legend glanced again at the massive book.  

Browned pages, cracked with age, showed a heavily stylized ink drawing, angular and ugly: a tripod lashing dominated the page: three logs tied securely into a triangular structure. A Hylian in a pale tunic dangled by the wrists under it. Dark red ink trailed down the arms and chest and dripped into a wide stone basin. Red ink flowed down a channel within the basin into a large clay pot. A beastly, tusked shadow sat inside it.

Shit shit shit shit!

Legend slammed the book closed and shoved it in his bag. He had to get Rulie out of here. Now . Who the hell was this mage? 

Cape and fire rod at the ready, Legend left two bombs on the floor atop the firewood, and ran back the way he came. He barely closed the door to the war room when the explosion shook the cave.

Soldiers in the armory shouted in response. He hurried along the wall to avoid detection. 

He paused beside the door as a group of footsolders ran into the armory. 

“They blew it up!” one shouted, his voice high-pitched with incredulity.

“Where the hell are they!”

“Damned heroes!”

“I’m gonna gut every last one of them when he’s finished with them!” The others yelled in agreement, surveying the damage from the side while others ran to put out the flames. 

And Legend knew that, given a chance, they would. He stopped feeding magic to the cape.

The Yiga soldiers startled when they saw him, then crouched and raised their weapons.

“Where is the Hero of Hyrule?” Legend demanded.

“We’ve got one!” a soldier shouted into the hall behind Legend. The Veteran grinned. Good. Let them come. 

“Surrender, Hylian filth!” one laughed. “You’re outmatched! There’s no escape!”

“WHERE? IS? HE?” Legend demanded again, voice echoing down the hall as he adjusted the grip on his fire rod.  

The five soldiers moved fast, but not one reached him. 

Legend left the blazing room behind, and no longer bothered with the cape. Hyrule can find me better this way. I’ll mark a trail for him. 

As if in a trance, he slashed and burned hallway traps, footsoldiers, blademasters, stockpiles, and weapons racks. Scorches, ash, and embers trailed in his wake. Passing an underwater canal and a hoard of bokoblins hiding there, he cleared every room he found, sweating and panting, but he downed one of the stolen potions and forged on. Yiga popped away almost as soon as they appeared.

He blazed through a sort of court, empty but for a few sleepers rudely awakened. He let them vanish. 

There was a crease in the wall behind them, marking a hidden passage. He used his power bracelets, their hum familiar and soothing, and he shoved the wall open.

Snow and sand drifted in on the wind. It was strangely dark. 

“HYRULE!” He screamed, and immediately regretted it.

He took it in rapidly: Sand. Snow. Webs. Skultulas.  

The spiders stopped their slow creeping and turned to face him. A multitude of eyes locked onto the hero. They began chittering and clacking. 

Fuck! He wasn’t expecting that.  

He sent out a barrage of fireballs, then slammed the door on them and leaned against it, just to be sure it stayed put. He breathed hard, his body begging for rest and his legs trembling, his mind reeling at the new enemy. 

This was not on the map.

Notes:

Writers block was HORRIBLE, so thank you HotCheetoHatred for your patience, and Estelian for your amazing art that broke me out of it. I have been DYING to get this chapter out ever since I wrote it. It feels great to finally set it free! I hope you enjoyed the update! There's so much more to come!

(@la-sera I updated the fic! I hope it entertains!)

[peskybirdenjoyer]

and in a hazy day dream (our bodies marry the stream)

At first, Scar had almost missed the two of them, Mumbo and Grian laying in the wheat by the fishing doc. Despite how stark the deep reds and blacks of their clothes were, they were almost hidden by the tall, golden stalks, completely surrounded by the ever-growing fields.

It was clearly a serene sort of moment, with the two of them beside each other, the world around them so quiet that they were left with only the sound of the wind rushing through the tillers and the water brushing up to the shore. Scar couldn't help but wonder if he had ever heard the Hermitcraft so quiet; even in the middle of the night, he swore he could hear the buzz of elytra soaring past and the wooshing of portals opening and closing. Here and now, however, even the thrum of magic seemed to temper down into a gentle hum.

Mumbo and Grian seemed to be making the most of the quiet, spending their afternoon sunken into the sandy soil. If Scar squinted, he could've sworn that the two of them were swaying gently, as if following the patterns of the crop around them. Grian's hair seemed to slowly fade to the pale tint of wheat, one strand at a time, and the tips of Mumbo's fingers lengthened out into the flowers at the head of the tillers.

Scar shook his head, looking away to the water for a moment. His mind simply must've been playing tricks on him, merging the stocks of the wheat and the figures of his dear friends in his brain, confused by how the rows of crop obscured their forms. When he shifted his gaze back to their place in the field, the plant-like features of his friends were no more. Mumbo and Grian were there, looking as they always did, laying in the field once more...

Except the freckles that dotted Mumbo's face didn't quite look like freckles anymore. They were much brighter, with a slight scarlet glow, shimmering almost identically to the redstone dust that the man carried around in a small pouch. And Grian's nose had begun to gleam as well, angular as always but with the same form as a golden carrot, the type he always kept handy for a snack while building. When a grin grew across his face, seemingly full of content from the serene beauty of the day, it seemed that his teeth were made of nether quartz, gleaming as though all of the netherrack dust had been scrubbed away. And Mumbo's cheeks had grown rosy, with a sheen that made it appear as if the juice of a glistening melon had been brushed onto his skin.

Scar blinked, unsure if the glare of the sun had been messing with his vision, only to open his eyes and see that the forms of his friends had disappeared altogether, replaced with the forms of two ocelots, curled around each other as they lazed in the sun. Their speckled yellow coats practically melded together as they laid, hidden amongst the wheat.

Scar blinked, and was met with the figures of two bees, circling each other with wings aflutter. Another blink, and the form of a shulker was resting, with a chirping parrot perched upon his shell. Another blink, two sniffers were laid upon the soil, one with its head and beak resting on the other's back. Another blink, a goat with a frog sat on its head, right between its horns.

Scar blinked one final time, and there they were, the forms of two skeletons, bones all criss-crossed, looking as they had been decomposing for centuries, their stark white a strong contrast to the fields. They laid there, intertwined, utterly confused in where their own bones ended and the other's started. Clutched in their flesh-less hands were everything one could ever want, pouches of redstone dust and books full of architectural sketches and flint to light the nether portal and rockets to take off into flight and seed to feed the birds and-- beyond all else, above anything more-- each other's cold, dead hand.

Before his very eyes, Scar saw every item fade away, and he watched as the flesh and blood of his friends returned to their eternal selves, side by side, fingers intertwined, laying in the wheat field. There was no indication that they had noticed a thing, entirely undisturbed in their quiet afternoon by the water.

As if sensing his presence, Grian's eyes opened, and he leaned up, propmting Mumbo to follow his lead. In their half-reclined states, they looked over to Scar, standing on his own by the dock, eyes still firmly upon his friends. They grinned, bright as nether quartz, and their eyes shone with the all-encompassing type of adoration that made Scar feel as though he had never witnessed true love until he saw the way Mumbo and Grian directed it at every person, every mob, every book and flower and speck of redstone dust.

"Scar!" Grian called, and his voice sounded like bees buzzing and note blocks singing. "Come join us!"

Mumbo nodded, like tulips swaying or phantoms swooping, and made a beckoning motion that Scar could've sworn was controlling the wind.

Scar couldn't help the way his legs pulled him forwards, as weak as kelp to the whims of his two lovers. It was barely a journey before he found himself in the fields of wheat, traversing the stalks to reach them. He didn't need a clock to tell that it was even shorter until he was pulled down between them, cradled by the sides of Grian and Mumbo-- so full of love, so full of adoration, so full of care for their home, their friends, their entire world that they had become one with it.

In time, Scar wondered if he could become one with it too.

[kimhargreeves]

My Mate-Adam Warlock x Reader

Summary: Your team has to find a way to save Rockets life. New enemies appear and sovereign being known as Adam Warlock is entranced by you. How will he react when he meets you?

(Wrote an Adam Warlock one shot a long time ago, but wanted to write an official one with Will Poulter as Adam this time. Hope it's good and I apologize if it seemed rushed and credits for the person who made the gif. Also I'm laughing at the haters who now love Will Poulter and made fun of my crush on him long ago.)

I was taking down a couple of Christmas lights that were still being clung to the ceiling to one of the buildings, a party we had thrown Peter a few weeks with the help of everyone. Though I do wish Peter would've helped, I went to see him but saw him drunk with plenty of bottles scattered around him.

"Mantis, do you think you can wake Peter up?" I call out to her.

"I'll try my best, I'll ask Nebula to help him wake up." Mantis began to search for Nebula and watched them together enter where Peter was. Groot was nearby helping Rocket with a couple of things.

I stopped what I was doing and could feel something wasn't right. Looking around I noticed no one was around and in an instant I felt a gush of wind and the sound of a broken window. I fell back but regained my posture and I looked above and saw Rocket being taken away.

"Rocket!" I cry out when I see Rocket with his eyes closed now.

I began to climb up a couple of stairs and tried reaching at whoever suddenly came to kidnap Rocket from us. I continued to run through the roofs and could hear see below me, Nebule and Groot trying stopping him but he kept avoiding our attacks at first. I grabbed hold of my sword and started walking quickly towards a tall man in red and golden armor.

"Hey! Golden boy!" I shout raising my sword towards him not planning on sparing him if he were to harm Rocket in about way.

The man furrows his eyebrows together continue to hold the raccoon. I hear quick footsteps approach me and look back to see Peter and Nebula.

"You want the easy or hard way, buddy?" Peter says holding onto his blasters.

The tall man in front of me finally speaks. "Who is she?" I ask the man asks continuing to look at me.

Everyone looks around not knowing who he is referring to. "What?"

"Her. That woman next to you." My eyes widen when I see the tall man pointing at me.

"What the hell is he talking about?" Nebula says glaring at him and standing in front of me with Peter.

Peter seemed uneasy and takes his fighting position, "Look man, just go back to where you came from-"

"Every since I was released from the cocoon I've been having strange feelings, confusion and loneliness being the most effective. Now I realize what I need, You."

My eyes widen being surprised at what he's saying and seeing Peter turn to glance back at me with a weird expression.

"You're not making any sense man." He tells the sovereign. "(Y/N), sneak out as fast as you can." Peter mutters under his breath.

"I've been so lonely, I only desire to be with my mate. That human is pleasant to my eyes. Thus I choose her." He says looking at me.

"Whoa whoa I make my own decisions with who I decide to stay or leave. I barely know you!" I exclaim yet can't help the blush spread across my face.

Peter continues to try and block me from him. "Ayesha must've sent this himbo. Alright! You can have her only if you leave." Peter makes a face and see Nebula shaking her head.

"You are not going to put her at bait." She warns him.

"I have a plan.."

"Some of your plans don't work out Peter!"

"I have a right in all of this. And you!" I pushed right last Peter and stepped closer to the tall golden man. "Kidnapping is not okay, especially if you plan on taking something that doesn't belong to you." I point and felt Nebula pulling my arm so I can step back.

We stared at the man who seemed confused and stayed silent for a couple of seconds. "I can't?"

I sigh loudly and face palmed myself. "Are you serious?!"

The man now seemed completely taken back, almost on the verge of tears at my sudden raise of voice. "I was taken out of my cocoon early." Is all he says.

The man seems like a being built like no other species has. He's clearly Ayesha's son. He looks like a god, tall, muscular and seems threatening..but he's…kinda dumb. I tilt my head wondering how he acts looks completely to how menacing he could look to others. For the short while I've see him he acts child like, irrational not knowing exactly what to say or do..

"He's an asshole, that's what he is." Peter says interrupting my thoughts, he now steps forward with me. "Hand us our friend over." Peter says when the man held onto Rocket.

"Alright, we already gave him a warning." The three of us began to fight him, or attempted to since he was too strong for us, Groot also tried to but got cut with only his head remaining. Nebula was quickly thrown to the ground and beaten with only Peter remaining trying to fight back.

I threw Peter my sword so he would continue the fight and I quickly was about run to Mantis's side when I heard her cry until I was tripped and quickly caught myself and saw the man standing back in front of me.

I positioned my fists up ready to fight him back. "I won't go easy on you." I threw the first punch, punching the side of his face, then was about to do it again but he began avoiding it, not fighting back at me.

I groaned angrily and tried to hit him but he would avoid me. "Quit dodging me and fight!" I shouted at him when all he did was simply trip me again. I glare at him and quickly got to my feet.

"You really are a strange man."

"Thank you." He said almost smiling.

"That wasn't a compliment." I bluntly tell him

"My name is Adam if you are wondering."

"I don't care. You hurt my friend." I managed to hit him again and quickly Peter came to my side and began to help me defeat Adam but we were unsuccessful and he left.

Time is quickly running out for us. We've been in search of the High Evolutionary, our friend Rocket is fighting for his life. We had arrived to counter earth and I was guarding the shop with Gamora, well new Gamora from the different timeline.

"I missed you, you know." Was the first thing I said, unsure of what to say since the silence was a bit awkward. I awkwardly adjusted my blue suit and started playing with the sleeves.

"I don't know who you are." Gamora replied glancing back at me.

I decided to say nothing more and crossed my arms over my chest. We used to be an amazing team with her, if it weren't for Thanos past Gamora would still be with us.

"Hey..look." both of us stood up and when we did the ground began to shake. I ran closer to inspect outside and saw that the planet was blowing itself up. This was all planned then. Everyone will die here.

"Gamora, I need you to try and contact either Peter or Drax."

"Hey! Where are you going?!" She shouted when she saw me running outside of the Bowie.

"Trying to save any one I can!" I continued to run outside and saw many of counter Earth's citizens running for their lives, others unfortunately died in the fire. Some of them recognized me of when we landed and began to follow me when I began to motion for them to follow me.

"No where the hell is Mantis and Drax?!" I ask myself and panting while continuing to run.

Another loud and huge explosion happened and I watched the High Evolutionary's ship now beginning to ascend. That's where Peter is! I began to run now faster when the ground beneath my feet started to shake.

"Shit!" I cursed now running faster towards the ship again, I nearly fell when the ground started to crack and fall down. Damn it in not gonna make it!

I continued to run until I didn't feel my feet on the ground, I slipped down and I reached my hands out and tried holding onto the ground above me tight. I cried out and tried pulling myself up but the ground continued to shake and I slipped again. I closed my eyes tight and was prepared to die.

Only that I didn't fall. Well, I did fall but I didn't hit my head as hard as I thought. I opened my eyes slowly and found myself inside Peter's ship, I looked to my side and saw a small creature, a Blurp wagging itself and his what I assume owner now fainted by my feet.

"Adam?" I stared down at him surprised and I reached carefully down and poked him. He's unconscious. So he's the one who saved me.

I jumped in my spot when I heard Gamora cursing and she appeared in front of me. "Where were you?! Never mind help me get him up, I'm going to tie him up."

Gamora walked past me and made it to Adams side. "Now!" She ordered. If I were to disobey her we would have a fight, so I did as she said and helped Gamora tie Adam down. The small Blurp had peed when Gamora shouted at it and felt safe with Adam so it stayed with him while Gamora and I went back to control the ship.

The Guardians of the Galaxy and I were safe, everyone of us survived though mostly disbanded. The High Evolutionary was now dead for all the suffering he placed on innocent animals. Knowhere was now a refuge for people in need. Gamora went back with the Ravagers…Mantis left to discover herself..and Peter left back for Earth.

Drax and Nebula would look after the many experimented children we rescued on the enemies ship. They would make sure they would find a home and look after Knowhere and the rest of it's citizens.

I felt like staying. I wanted to continued helping people, so I stayed with the original Guardians. Rocket and Groot.

Now we had a new members, new Guardians to protect the planet. Kraglin, Cosmo, Phyla Vell and Adam Warlock with his pet Blurp.

I zipped up my suit and got myself comfortable sitting next to Adam. "I never properly thanked you for saving back then." I said nudging him and saw him tense up.

"N-No problem, (Y/N). Glad I can finally be of proper help. I apologize for calling you..my mate." He muttered the last bit and seemed embarrassed by it not scratching his golden hair

I giggle and smiled looking at him. "It was weird but adorable of you to stay that." I reached down and scratched Blurps head and saw it scratching itself with it's back paws.

"We should hang out more often. I know of a place that makes delicious meals, Kraglin and Cosmo recommended it to me. I'll even teach you good songs to listen to, every great 80's and old songs Peter and I used to listen."

"Hang out? Like the t-two of us or the whole team?" Who knew I could have a god stuttering over a simple thing.

I shrugged my shoulders and saw Blurp raving over to Adam and sitting itself over his lap. "I would like to know more about you, so yes, only the two of us should hang out. I don't think our Captain would mind."

I raised my voice and saw Rocket holding onto his gun and turning back to look at us. "Whatever love birds. You can do whatever you want with each other after we finish this mission."

"I am Groot."

"I know it'll just be a date. Why you gotta mention that?!" Rocket said looking up at his partner.

Adam and I stood back up and I reached up to grab his shoulder and felt himself tense back up and shiver. "You're invited to join us next time. So, Adam…"

I turn to look up at him and smiled, "Ready for our date after this?