#pallas || answered ic

[masteryoftheseas]

@asoulunbound asked: "I'm not pleased, Pallas," Crius answered after a moment of silence. Leaning back in his chair the king could already see the disappointment growing on his son's face. "But, at least she's a Titaness." The best he could do. He thought lowly of all of Oceanus' daughters, but Metis wasn't some ambitious Oceanide at least. "I had hoped my oldest son would marry one of Coeus' daughters." Crius sighed. "And Metis is close to the queen, my worry is that Rhea might use your union to seed mistrust against us for her own advantages."

Pallas hoped for a more congratulatory response than what he was initially given after announcing his engagement with Metis to his father. Publicly, Pallas wasn't Crius's son. A ward or underling at most after being sent to the palace for his training as general. His marriage mattered little to the overall order of things...he wasn't a prince. He had a choice. At least...that was what he believed.

"Metis is a brilliant and capable titaness. Her domains complement mine. And most of all....I love her." Pallas affirmed as his eyes scowled momentarily at his father. "Leto or Asteria? Are you joking? What...just because they are titaness daughters of your most beloved brother? I've never cared for either of them. I want to marry for love. Just because you didn't doesn't mean I have to follow the same path!" He added, pursing his lips as he instantly regretted those last words. He spoke freely with his father, he was the king of the gods but still the titan who sired him. Either he had no fear or too foolish and rash to consider his words. Probably both.

Dark eyes scowled again at his father as even in a moment that should have been a happy occasion had to be ruined by the elder titan's suspicions. Everything came back to Rhea and her possible meddling. Crius and his suspicions that she would try to overthrow him at any moment. She adored Metis; would she really try to cause a wedge between Pallas and Crius through Metis? Wouldn't she had started a coup by now if she truly wanted the crown for herself and Cronus?

"So your paranoia is also preventing you from being truly happy for my engagement?" Pallas surmised with a shake of his head. He lifted from his seat and placed his hands on his father's desk. "I won't have you put any doubt in my head because of your own mistrust towards your wife. You started this bad blood with Rhea when you took what was destined for Cronus. Don't put us in the middle of it. Because if you do, you will lose me. Forever."

[infernally-fond]

Wednesday WIP

--

“Do you know what I think?”

The Devil’s Den is cast in warm shadows of late afternoon. Each curated indulgence of Raphael’s little retreat knits together into a vague sense of distance from the urgency that has hunted her for months.

A discernible warmth curls against the her ears and temples- some formless, touchless caress that dulls the characteristic wariness of her stature. The effect of his shield from the Emperor, perhaps. Or some passive, ambient allure.

Her host leans against a desk far across the room, having turned away from a stretch of penning letters while she spent her invitation to his space staring vacantly into the moving waters of the bath and attempting to reason the best way through the impossibilities ahead.

She raises her stare in silent acknowledgement.

“I think Cania unsuited for such a nervous little mouse. I must admit to some interest in the proceedings behind such an unusual situation."

The longer she watches him, so perfectly unmoved by her silence, the more it seems apparent that this moment seems destabilizing. 

“Mephistar is quiet,” she answers, in infernal. The words are of the language's coarser, lesser dialect but oddly filtered through the pronunciation of the language spoken in the Court. “Everything here, it’s -”

Pallas looks out the open doors overseeing the private balcony with the hint of a wince pulling at her bro. The muffled symphony of dizzying life reaches even Raphael’s little oasis.

“Loud.”

Her gaze flits back to her host’s, unable to place whatever nuance might cross over his face as he stares out over the balcony. 

“One must make peace or make peace, Pallas.”

Raphael responds in infernal in turn - a dialect higher than what she could manage herself, but simplified that she could make sense of it. Yet another hand extended.

Accustomed to the effortful parsing that was necessary to extract meaning from the riddled syntax of higher infernal (often to no avail), she nearly misses the obvious in the habit of dissecting the words – the telling ice-blistered lilt of his speech.

“You’re Canian?”

The roaring surge of her own heartbeat flushes unpleasantly through her ears. No Canian devil so closely resembled her patron’s visage without cause.

And to look at him now, that neutrality clarifies to tension. He's bracing. 

She lasts another moment following his gaze to the dusking sky before dropping her head into her hands and rubbing at the pressure building between her eyes. 

“Gods damn it, Raphael.”

So intolerably, obscenely- sometimes even silently- loud.

[taylortruther]

tagged by @notesonartistry (thank u friend)

get to know you game! answer the questions and tag 9 people you want to know better!

last song i listened to is: lead me on by fletcher

currently reading: ghosts by dolly alderton - i'm enjoying it, i just can't seem to make time to read anything

currently watching: twin peaks s3

currently obsessed with: ttpd theories! stok not too sweet iced coffee! dill tuna salad on triscuits! twin peaks! decorating my bedroom!

tagging with ZERO pressure: @wavesoutbeingtossed @pallas-amanda @genxtraordinaire @laughingupatusfromhell and anyone else who wants to do it! sorry i didn't do 9 lmao

[snakarscrolls]

hi pallas ^_^ ! what are your fav hat flairs and color palletes & costume. maybe you have a favorite combo of clothes/palettes. you can show if it's convenient for you. also love the design of this blog

heyyyyy :3 title screen answered for me lol (its right)

as much as i like the default outfit (a lot) my fav costume is definitely the comfy sweater! when i first played my fav hat flair was the dinosaur hood :) nowadays i think the most about the raccoon ears ice hat & default sprint hat. while i never payed any attention to it at all i lately took a liking to the ladybug band :) i dont remember where exactly i found its official, and ive lost the link to the account, but apparently there was an official a hat in time curiouscat account where questions were answered by hat kid? and a few years ago i looked through it and i remember there was something about her wanting to paint her nails red w black dots / the ladybag pattern..? so i think its probably a nod to that! also a flair i LUV is the headphones time hat, although not pictured.

aesthetically, my fav dye is the minty fresh one (pictured on the right), but one i feel the most strongly about is the blueberry pie because its one that always makes me recall an old friend talking about on their private blog. that makes it dear and nostalgic. oh, also, the ribbon is very cute :) i always think about snatcher helping hat tie it, even though shes most likely plenty capable of doing that herself lol

im also very attached to dweller masks, especially the fox and... pink... ones. i used to have a pinkmask dweller on my various social media icons at some point, as well as a blog about kinning it, essentially... i have mixed feelings about it but it was a nice time. in the beta, i believe its incredibly strongly implied that the fox mask belonged to the prince! i mean, its found in the cellar of a place painter/prince used to live in (according to betasnatcher at least), and moonjumpers theme was included in the ost renamed to "fox mask theme"... id say thats pretty explicit. i dont mind people having fun designing their own masks for them, but it really boggles my mind to know im probably the first ever person to publicly talk about this connection...

as for mods! the pleasant parka is adorable, im such a sucker for cute winter clothes ;_; & the miku scarf goes pretty well with the queens dress, with the snowflake motifs, even more so since i hc vanessa to having been a very sickly person. unrelated to mods, i never played w the justice dye but its so sweet seeing hat/bow emulate the way mu looks, i cant not read that in a positive light ;_;

thanks for the ask i luv ahit customization so much. its lots of fun. luv talking about it

[thatoneguy031]

Thanks for the understanding, I guess.

But Pallas... I feel him. I haven't done anything like him, not at all, but I get the sorta-introverted thing. Can't help but think Cheesecake's the same way. I still apologize for basically dragging him to that party a while back. Oh, and he's still down there, by the way. I get he's a Water-type, but he's been gone for... quite a while.

Had to look up what a "neet" is, but I don't think that word really fits him. He's still getting enrichment, I guess, he's still being useful, doing stuff. The only thing that checks out is that he's technically unemployed... I dunno, I get 'em.

Also, to lighten the mood, and if you're wondering why Mx. Suicune isn't answering this...

[Video ID: A Suicune with dull-colored fur standing near the water by what you can tell is Undella Bay. Suddenly, they dived towards it, hitting the newly-formed ice under them face-first. He continued to attempt jumping into the water, ice forming under them every time. While it's hard to tell, one of their front legs is bandaged, implying that it's still broken. End ID]

Being that your last name means "knight", what is the story behind it? More specifically, was there a fate you were supposed to meet? Do you have a Kalosian origin?

-@thatoneguy031 (Asked by Mx, Suicune, translated and rewritten by Cherry)

I have to wonder if you guys are at all familiar with how humans are named, because to be perfectly honest with you, I have no idea what the story is. I have to imagine one of my great ancestors must've been a knight from Kalos, because I was basically born and raised in Unova before I had to move to Johto, and my mom was of Paldean descent (my dad doesn't count since neither of us kept his surname after he left). That being said, mom always attributed her somewhat overprotective nature to this nickname, and unfortunately, I never did much of anything to disprove its relevance for myself...

And yes, I know, very funny...a Samurott named "knight". The irony of this is not lost on me.

-Cooper

You know, eebying has a scientific explanation here, but if it didn't, I'd totally call our Arceus out on making him a sword-based Pokemon based on the name alone. From the species to the behavior to the name itself, toe to tip, that's a Cooper Chevalier for you. It's pretty funny to me.

-Pallas

EDIT: ALSO! If you're on mobile, the next person to reblog this is probably not gonna be one of us--I think Rotomblr's got a weird glitch where the original answerer shows up as the first reblog instead of the person who actually reblogged the post! I can't fix this and hand the code over to the staff, so can everyone else who sees this pretty please tell them to fix their website? Thanks~

[shehili]

"I hope, for your sake, that what you fight for in worth all this."

“It is.”

Mariam stared forward, blinking sluggishly. Her eyes were bruised, though whether it was the stress, lack of sleep, or a miserable combination of both was anyone’s guess. In a momentary lapse of judgment she allowed the mask to slip, scarred fingers pushing her glasses up to her brow bone so she could rub soothing circles against her eyelids.

A few moments would pass before she curled a hand around her chin, crimson lentils back in place through darkest browns persisted through artfully-colored glass. They were boring into Diana; unfazed, unmoving.

“And if it turns out I’m wrong, I’ll simply work harder. Give me a mound of clay, and I’ll make it into a palace. All I need is time.”

With every calamity that visited them it became more apparent that time was not a resource to be misspent. With that in mind, she returned to her work, though not before offering a final, perhaps slightly provocative, answer.

“My efforts won’t be wasted.”

[thcfaircst]

&*& ~ Athena and Lena!

Send me &*& / Accepting

“ kiss it better. ”

[rainyprompts]

✧✦⭒ ASTROLOGY MUSE QUESTIONS ---

inspired by different aspects of astrology and the zodiac signs to be answered IC or OOC.

ARIES - is destruction a viable route for change in their opinion? TAURUS - are they currently owed anything or in debt to someone else? GEMINI - can they recognize the forces beyond their control? CANCER - what did their last emotional outburst look like? LEO - how do they feel about hedonism? VIRGO - can they withstand and calculate chaos? LIBRA - do they feel admired or loved for the right reasons? SCORPIO - what did they do to deserve all this? SAGITTARIUS - where do they feel their fury? CAPRICORN - what will be in their obituary or death certificate? AQUARIUS - do they make room for fragile things in their life? PISCES - are they a dreamer, a creator, or a destroyer? PALLAS - how do they go about problem-solving? VESTA - what keeps them alive? JUNO - who was the last person to show them understanding? CERES - is something watching over them? CHIRON - what type of counsel could others rely upon them for?

[cream-and-tea]

LAY ME DOWN. chapter twelve excerpt. 844 words. unedited. featuring: pallas, feeling lost, alone and with more questions than answers, seeks advice from the one person they trust to give it. one of the characters in this book that i genuinely hate. implied child abuse. it’s pallas so also implied death/murder. brief flashbacks (the PTSD kind, not the literary device kind).

[Transcript under the cut]

villain time!!! meet the Director. is that her real name? fuck no! is she human? not a clue! the important things are that she’s very powerful, very dangerous, is quite literally the only thing The Library together, and unfortunately is actually a little bit cool which makes her fun to write sometimes. still not forgiving her for [REDACTED] though.

TAGLIST (ask to be +/-).  @vellichor-virgo​ @nicola-writes​ @doctormoss​ @gerbermatter​ @cactusprincewrites @dauntless-shadow-ice-1 @houndmouthed @muddshadow @aeipathys @just-wublrful

The falling is easy, but they can never quite get used to the rush that comes at the end, when everything wobbles and bends around them and they’re left sitting in a chair in front of a desk, all that movement halted suddenly in a slipperhiss of air as the Director's office forms around them. Cozy today, a worn wood desk and cluttered bookshelves, tiny wood stove puttering away in the corner. Logically Pallas knows the space will look different for everyone, save the black of the ceiling that leads endlessly into nothing and the sword hanging in suspended animation just above their head, the anchorpoint around which The Library orbits. 

Across from them the Director sits, scribbling dutifully with a sleek black fountain pen. She’s working on something (always working on something) and she’ll never tell them what. It’s important, that’s all they’ll ever need to know, that it’s important.

After a moment she looks up, pitchpit eyes doing the opposite of gleaming, as if she’s only just noticed them there. “Ah! If it isn’t just who I wanted to see.”

She sets the pen aside and smiles, straight and bright as the edge of a blade. 

“Thank you. For having me.” Pallas shifts slightly in the squishy leather armchair. No matter how this space manifests it always manages to make them feel small.

“Have some tea,” the Director says, all business. She doesn’t take her eyes off Pallas as, right on time, the kettle begins to scream. They take the cue, internally thanking her for giving them something to do with their hands. Even just being here they feel clearer, cooler, more themself than they’ve been in weeks. It’s like her voice is balm on their scattered brain, pulling it back together at the seams. Cold water to the face on a hot day. 

They move the kettle from the stovetop with a bright red cloth and when they turn there’s already a teapot and two mugs sitting on the edge of the Director's desk that weren’t there before. Chipped and worn just enough to feel lived-with, familiar even though Pallas is sure they’ve never seen them before. They pour out the water and suddenly the smell of Earl Gray hits them like a brick to the chest, stealing all the air from their lungs in a bloody rush of memory.

Nina hated coffee. Nina didn’t hate many things because she said that it was a waste of energy to spend time thinking about that kind of thing when she could be focused on something actually interesting. But she hated coffee so tea it was when they needed to stay awake and focused and they always needed to stay awake and focused. Cups and cups of the stuff. Earl Gray most of all because it was the only kind they could both agree on. Cups cradled in hands. Heady late night overexhaustion. Tea stains splotching across notes and pages. Blood coating their hands and blank empty eyes.

I didn’t want to. I promise. I promise I didn’t want to. 

It only lasts for a split second and still leaves them reeling. They’re good at hiding that, good at not letting anything show, but nothing escapes the Director's eyes. She looks at them knowingly, chin resting on her hands. An almost imperceptible shifting gesture rings as a clear order to them, not to be disobeyed: sit.

Pallas sits.

“Cream? Sugar?” The Director is fond of asking things she already knows the answers to. The cream and sugar are there in a blink just where she needs them. Pallas nods, not trusting themselves enough to speak just yet. Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. They’ve completely countless missions, survived hundreds of tests, and all it takes is a whiff of Yorkshire Tea to render them speechless. The Director would be well within her right to terminate them here and now for such an outstanding display of weakness. 

She must know that full-well, but she simply widens her smile and set’s about pouring the tea. It’s a ritual, as everything is with her, rituals and tests, that’s all there really is. The Director taught them that the way the Director taught them everything else, layering metaphor and reinforcing action over the steel core truth of the matter. Hours upon hours in this office learning to bleed out the truth of the world into her careful, clever hands and watching her turn it into something great, turn Pallas into something great. They’ve earned their place as the best and brightest, but every masterpiece needs an artisan to sculpt in the perfect brushstrokes of blood, to push for the sacrifice necessary to stand a cut above the rest. It would be an easy mistake to forget who’s careful teaching has put them where they are today and it’s a mistake Pallas will never be fool enough to make. 

“Now.” the Director takes a sip of her tea. sliding the second cup in front of Pallas with barely a flick of her to-long fingers, her expression never changing once. “Let’s talk.”

[spellbounds-aaron]

AARON JAMES ANDERSON | ASTROLOGY BREAKDOWN

'JOSHUA SAMUEL REYES' aka 'AARON JAMES ANDERSON' was born on JANUARY 25TH, 1994 at 1:25 PM in 'ABRIA, TREORA' aka 'AVON, INDIANA, UNITED STATES'.

-----

SUN IN 5 DEGREES AQUARIUS (9TH HOUSE)

People born under the sign of Aquarius are influenced by two different planets. Saturn gives them peace of mind, concentration and persistence, while Uranus is responsible for their restlessness, originality and short temper. These characteristics rarely occur separately; their character consists of their balanced mixture.

The Sun in the ninth house suggests somewhat idealistic and less practical focus. It creates thinkers with vast horizons who express their opinions on a general level. They have somewhat noble motives but they may be very impractical. They may have a serious interest in religious and spiritual matters and they are naturally interested in philosophy and the law. Their intuitive mind is profoundly developed and they may be extreme idealists. They may even become fanatics. When they believe that they know the answers to important life questions, they will try to persuade others. The Sun in the ninth house creates a desire for travel and suggests that these people will travel long distances and get to know other countries.

SUN CONJUCTION VENUS

There can only be conjunction between the Sun and Venus. This aspect highlights feminine characteristics of both sexes. It also supports artistic and creative inclinations. These people are often optimistic and they enjoy the company of other people. They have a good taste for fashionable clothes.

SUN CONJUNCTION MARS

Conjunction is a typical aspect of fighters, explorers and researchers. These people often have too much energy. However, they also suffer from sudden energy losses.

SUN SQUARE JUPITER

This aspect creates people who are idealistic and this is the reason why they often support various dubious movements and clubs. People with this aspect are often willing to make great sacrifices. They are overly optimistic, they like to travel, and they do not like commitment.

SUN ASPECTS

Sun Sextile Descendant orb: 0 ° Sun Trine Ascendant orb: 0 ° Sun Square Juno orb: 4 ° Sun Sextile True Node orb: 5 ° Sun Opposition IC orb: 7 ° Sun Conjunction MC orb: 7 ° Sun Septile Vesta orb: 0 ° Sun Quincunx Chiron orb: 3 °

MOON IN 12 DEGREES CANCER (2ND HOUSE)

Safety for people with Moon in Cancer is their home, family and related activities such as cooking, gardening and DIY. Other people can be attracted by your home-loving character. Your inborn disposition to educate and protect allows you to be a good parent and a supportive friend.

The Moon in the second house heralds repeated changes in financial affairs. Money and material matters are important for these people because their sense of emotional security is dependent on them. For these reasons they are cunning and greedy. Their emotional satisfaction is dependent on material comfort. Financial difficulties create emotional insecurity, which can have a strong impact on their household.

MOON TRINE JUPITER

These people are extremely open, optimistic and generous. Thanks to these characteristics they are often successful and they radiate them on to others. They are idealists and they love to have a pleasant home. They are excellent students and they are successful in winning legal disputes.

MOON TRI-OCTILE SATURN

This aspect creates people who are unable to express their feelings and prefer to hide behind a mask they create. They need a stable home where they can feel safe. In their family life they tend to artificially create too many duties. They are inclined to depressions.

MOON OPPOSITION NEPTUNE

This aspect influences people in a similar way conjunction does but not as strongly. This aspect gives people the need to search for something transcendental, and this is often the reason why these people tend to be religious or join various esoteric movements. These people tend to be a bit confused, chaotic and have unrealistic desires. This aspects gives them the ability to perceive deep mental processes and difficulties of human psyche. It's a great aspect for psychologists, but sometimes these people may experience difficulties coping with the depths of human psyche.

MOON TRI-OCTILE PLUTO

This aspect evokes deep feelings, which often complicate relationships with loved ones. These people occasionally get into situations that have profound impact on their personal life and then they make significant changes based on these experiences. They are interested in psychology, occultism, alternative movements and new lifestyles. This aspect can cause a bad relationship with body - these people can have trouble accepting the way they look.

MOON ASPECTS

Moon Trine Jupiter orb: 0 ° Moon Trine Pallas orb: 1 ° Moon Sextile Chiron orb: 4 ° Moon Sesquiquadrate Pluto orb: 0 ° Moon Quincunx MC orb: 0 ° Moon Semi-sextile IC orb: 0 ° Moon Sesquiquadrate North Node orb: 2 ° Moon Sesquiquadrate Saturn orb: 2 ° Moon Quintile Ceres orb: 2 ° Moon Sesquiquadrate True Node orb: 3 °

ASCENDANT IN 5 DEGREES GEMINI

Gemini Ascendant is associated with curiosity and interest in how things work. Versatility and adaptability are your advantages, but these traits can lead to fragmentation of interests. These people can do everything, but they do not excel in anything. They do not like to choose only one thing if they have more options. Their mission is to disseminate information. If the horoscope has a water or earth character, then this person needs to develop analytical and objective thinking. If it is of airy and fiery nature, then the mind is very restless, you understand everything very quickly, but only by the head, body and emotions remain untouched.

These people tend to be mentally active, they often think about their behavior and they try to find explanation for it. These people never do what they want; they let other tell them what to do and it upsets them. They function as a connector or mediator. They act through spoken or written words.

These people acts suddenly and unexpectedly while they are generating friendship and sympathy of other people. They are able to create romantically and impulsively. They are able to predict the future. They behave according to their predictions or they are pleased with their predictions. Often they try to test themselves in order to find out what they actually believe in.

These people rise higher and higher and they control others. Predisposition to leadership or to influence others.

ASCENDANT TRINE SUN

This aspect indicates a relationship between behaviour and true nature: there is a certain harmony between behaviour and the true nature of the person.

ASCENDANT SQUARE VENUS

These people are charming, friendly and they want to please others.

ASCENDANT TRINE SATURN

The positive thing about this aspect is that these people are prudent and honest. The negative side of this aspect is that they can feel obstructions and difficulties in gaining popularity among people. They also get tired easily and they may suffer from frequent colds and attacks of rheumatism.

ASCENDANT TRI-OCTILE NEPTUNE

The positive thing about this aspect is that these people are intuitive and understanding. The negative side of this aspect is that they are impetuous and they find it hard to adapt to new situations. They should stay away from alcohol.

ASCENDANT ASPECTS

Ascendant Opposition Descendant orb: 0 ° Ascendant Trine MC orb: 7 ° Ascendant Octile Lilith orb: 2 ° Ascendant Quintile Vesta orb: 3 °

MERCURY IN 19 DEGREES AQUARIUS (10TH HOUSE)

People with Mercury in Aquarius do not care what they write as long as they can write. These people learn foreign languages easily and they flirt with abstract ideas, scientific predictions and their intuition. Their mind goes through processes that are "connected" to the so-called Universal Mind, so they perceive things that other people find highly unlikely. It can be said that Mercury feels the best in air signs, but it can be a bit shallow in them - these people do not like to study things into the greatest detail.

Mercury in the tenth house tells us about achieving personal goals and ambitions. These people express themselves well both orally and in writing, and they can use this ability to achieve success and recognition in their work. Their job is important to them and their career is carefully and thoroughly planned, including education and preparation necessary to achieve their goals. Mercury brings the ability to present ideas and opinions to the public, and it often generates a talent for making great speeches, publishing or political strategy.

MERCURY SEMI-SEXTILE NEPTUNE

This aspect considerably complicates practical life. Eccentric artists and spiritual explorers sometimes have this aspect in their horoscope. These people change their opinions often and unexpectedly. When they get in trouble they do not hesitate to use lies or deceive themselves or others. These people do not express themselves very well and they tend to be dreamers. In order to grow they need to have creative people around them. They often close themselves in their own fantasy word and they do not have a very good short-term memory. They are aware of their special abilities but they are not always able to use them. Depending on other aspects, other people may take advantage of them. Others may find it hard to deal with their chaotic thinking and lack of order.

MERCURY ASPECTS

Mercury Sextile Lilith orb: 3 ° Mercury Square Jupiter orb: 7 ° Mercury Opposition IC orb: 7 ° Mercury Conjunction MC orb: 7 ° Mercury Semi-sextile Neptune orb: 2 ° Mercury Quintile Descendant orb: 2 ° Mercury Semi-sextile Neptune orb: 2 ° Mercury Quintile Descendant orb: 2 ° Mercury Quintile Ceres orb: 3 ° Mercury Semi-sextile Uranus orb: 4 °

VENUS IN 7 DEGREES AQUARIUS (9TH HOUSE)

People with Venus in Aquarius have an open and experimental approach to relationships and art. On the one hand, it can be both relaxing and stimulating because it lets other people relax and be themselves. But on the other hand it may be harder to understand their feelings because their style may be disturbing, shocking or weird. They want to satisfy all types of people with their liberal attitude but if they do not adhere to some moral code, their relationships will end when their partner finds out that their broad-mindedness and free spirit are only manifestations of hidden objections. Their cold and impersonal personality may be ok on social events or with their friends, but it may be the reason why somebody who is more than a friend leaves them.

Venus in the ninth house is related to higher education, travel and philosophical thinking. These people enjoy learning, religion or art. They are intuitive people with fine taste. They long for beautiful things. Venus in this house suggests pleasant trips, expeditions and perhaps even longer journeys that create opportunities for important social contacts and romantic encounters. These people will probably have close contacts with foreigners or people coming from different environments.

VENUS SQUARE JUPITER

People with this aspect are emotionally demanding. They are often unable to maintain friendships because of their interests, for example because of their religious activities, idealism, or long stays abroad. They often have artistic ambitions but they lack talent. They are difficult to get along with because they are often selfish and demanding. They like luxury items on which they spend considerable amounts of money.

VENUS ASPECTS

Venus Sextile Descendant orb: 2 ° Venus Trine Ascendant orb: 2 ° Venus Square Jupiter orb: 5 ° Venus Opposition IC orb: 5 ° Venus Conjunction MC orb: 5 ° Venus Quincunx Chiron orb: 1 ° Venus Quintile Pluto orb: 2 ° Venus Quintile Lilith orb: 3 ° Venus Semi-sextile Pallas orb: 4 °

MARS IN 28 DEGREES CAPRICORN (9TH HOUSE)

People with Mars in Capricorn do not like to waste time daydreaming. In other words, when they make plans, they are realistic and they will accomplish what they plan. The influence of Mars in Capricorn is stronger, which means that these people are usually able to get what they want in a sophisticated, pragmatic and infallible way. Their achievements are built on solid foundations and they usually do not tend to make things easier for themselves. Still, it is likely that they do not fully realize how deep and broad are the foundations on which they build on are. It is important for them to believe that there is a progress, that the "construction work" continues, even though it can be done unconsciously, under the surface where the foundations are.

Mars in the ninth house suggests interest in travelling, sports, religion and philosophy. These people adhere to their principles and strongly advocate their opinions. They usually easily convince others about the correctness of their opinions. If they are not successful in doing what they do, they become impatient and they get angry easily. They are adventurous travellers who like to travel abroad. They are trying hard to learn new skills and gain new knowledge.

MARS SEMI-SEXTILE SATURN

This aspect brings one personality trait that is not very constructive - these people are often unable to finish things they have started, even when it is important for them. They can get excited about it but then they quickly give up when they see obstacles along the way that appear to happen "by chance". These people often have a weaker will which reduces their stamina. It is precisely the problem that they should learn to deal with in life - they should learn to be more persistent and firm and to complete things they have started.

MARS CONJUNCTION URANUS

This conjunction gives people independence, individualism and, as is the tradition when the aspect is related to Uranus, inventiveness and the desire to discover new things and insights. Routine would kill these people. They like responsibility for their activities and they prefer solving problems on their own. This conjunction is very risky because both planets are impulsive. These people like to be very active and they like extreme experience. They are often hyperactive.

MARS SEXTILE PLUTO

This aspect increases Mars' power, so these people are hardworking and very thorough in all their activities. However, they are also stubborn, and if they have a goal, they are not easily discouraged from trying to achieve it. This harmonious aspect is typical for army commanders and it gives them great talent for strategy. These people´s aim is to control both themselves and others. It is the only aspect that gives people the ability to achieve their objectives despite all possible obstacles.

JUPITER IN 12 DEGREES SCORPIO (6TH HOUSE)

People with Jupiter in Scorpio will be limited by things they consider irresistible. Whether they are aware of it or not, their life philosophy is "there is no profit without hardship," meaning profit in either material or mental life. The desire that grows out of this philosophy is truly powerful because it causes yearning for depth, darkness and mystery, but it ultimately helps them to find themselves. People with Jupiter in Scorpio hate manifestations of superficial happiness, whether it is behavior of other people or their own. The dark side of their nature is the place where the most precious feelings are hidden. They will go through hell to destroy the weepy and shaggy parts that threaten or hinder the discovery of this preciousness. They may find many opportunities for the sexual dimension of experience while they are searching for depth and catharsis. They will probably emphasize sex in some way during the searching process.

JUPITER ASPECTS

Jupiter Square IC orb: 0 ° Jupiter Square MC orb: 0 ° Jupiter Trine Pallas orb: 1 ° Jupiter Sextile Chiron orb: 4 ° Jupiter Sesquiquadrate Vesta orb: 1 ° Jupiter Quintile Uranus orb: 1 ° Jupiter Quintile Neptune orb: 3 °

SATURN IN 29 DEGREES AQUARIUS (10TH HOUSE)

People with Saturn in Aquarius strive for a complex system of life rules because they somehow want to combine freedom with order. However, they may also fight against principles that somebody set in order to achieve liberation. Then they try to make adjustments that suit their actions as well as the actions of other people. They have to learn to free themselves from what limits them. In order to do that they must first of all find out what it was in their past that prevented them from uniting themselves with the concurrent stream of emotions or to preserve that stream - because that is the real cause of their troubles in their search for freedom, not some external factor in their present life. It is likely that the source of this dilemma was their father who did not give them a clear idea of authority or feelings because he did not consider them to be the right individual.

Saturn in the tenth house suggests an ambitious character with a desire for recognition, especially after Saturn's transit at the age of twenty-nine. Saturn creates ambitious people with great range of knowledge, excellent organizational abilities and a desire for power and authority.

SATURN SQUARE PLUTO

This aspect is responsible for the fact that these people do not know what they want and they often try to drastically change their personal life. They have reformist ideas but they lack clear foundations. Their feelings of uniqueness, exclusivity and inimitability are responsible for their very difficult personality.

SATURN ASPECTS

Saturn Square North Node orb: 0 ° Saturn Sextile Ceres orb: 1 ° Saturn Square True Node orb: 1 ° Saturn Square Pluto orb: 2 ° Saturn Trine Juno orb: 2 ° Saturn Square Descendant orb: 6 ° Saturn Square Ascendant orb: 6 ° Saturn Semi-sextile Vesta orb: 3 °

URANUS IN 23 DEGREES CAPRICORN (9TH HOUSE)

Uranus in Capricorn intensifies some controversial features of people born under the sign of Capricorn, for example their ability to control others, but it also gives them the tendency to rebel against order and authority. They will tend to introduce new orders and they may also try to control politics. It will increase the coldness of people born in this sign. These people have a fairly good chance to introduce and enforce new management methods.

Uranus in the ninth house suggests confusion and changes in the area of higher thought, law, religion, philosophy and travel. It suggests that these people have progressive and broadminded attitude towards life. They are intuitive and idealistic. Their mind is not hindered by the conventional way of thinking. These people are willing to give up their habits and traditions and give priority to new ideas. They are usually adventurous and independent travelers who like long journeys to unusual places.

URANUS CONJUNCTION NEPTUNE

This conjunction is responsible for urge for changes. These people tend to change their lives and to interfere with political affairs that they are never satisfied with. If they are publicly engaged, then their reformist efforts have some chances to be successful, otherwise they live in discontent with the circumstances all their life. This conjunction gives people immense originality, intense creative abilities and innovative inspirations.

URANUS ASPECTS

Uranus Square Lilith orb: 1 ° Uranus Conjunction Neptune orb: 2 ° Uranus Sextile Vesta orb: 3 ° Uranus Sextile Pluto orb: 4 ° Uranus Sesquiquadrate Chiron orb: 0 ° Uranus Sesquiquadrate Ascendant orb: 3 ° Uranus Octile Pallas orb: 3 ° Uranus Octile Descendant orb: 3 °

PLUTO IN 26 DEGREES SCORPIO (6TH HOUSE)

People with Pluto in Scorpio have a passionate desire for mystery. They like to use intrigues and they have a great disposition for personal transformation that can happen especially through their desires. They are prolific, universal and capable. They radiate occult powers. Their sexuality is also transforming for them, but at the same time they can feel restricted by it.

Pluto in the sixth house gives people the ability to substantially improve their working environment, but usually in a way that is considered too novel. These people may be too bossy. When this planet becomes active, it can mean that the person cannot get along with his co-workers or employees. Pluto often causes havoc in the working environment. These people can also have extreme attitude towards health issues.

PLUTO ASPECTS

Pluto Trine Vesta orb: 1 ° Pluto Conjunction North Node orb: 2 ° Pluto Conjunction True Node orb: 3 ° Pluto Opposition Ascendant orb: 8 ° Pluto Conjunction Descendant orb: 8 ° Pluto Quincunx Ceres orb: 1 ° Pluto Quintile MC orb: 3 ° Pluto Semi-sextile Juno orb: 4 °

NORTH NODE (MEAN) IN 29 DEGREES IN SCORPIO (6TH HOUSE) (R) / SOUTH NODE IN 12TH HOUSE

North Node in Scorpio brings the conflict between spiritual and material property, between acknowledgement of transience and the desire to own something. These people need to accept transience and to recognize that death is a great teacher. They should not base their life on false material values and build on them. They should explore spiritual values instead. They should stop avoiding conflicts and they should not stay in comfortable sterility. Beware of greed and clinging to material assets that are proven and secure. Actual values lie deeper.

North Node in the sixth house brings the conflict between rational and irrational, between dream and reality, between self-adjustment and self-sacrifice. These people have to learn to be more concrete and to cope with everyday routine and reality. They need to move from vague imagination to activity and fulfilment of routine duties. They need to stop escaping into their dream world and go through transcendental experiences in everyday life instead. Beware of unreliability, escaping the world and isolating from the world.

NODE TRI-OCTILE MOON

Desires of the Moon and its demands on emotional safety and affection are in opposition with the position of the lunar node and with life tasks associated with it. These people are hesitant, irritated and dissatisfied all their lives.

NODE SEXTILE MARS

The positive thing about this aspect is that it gives people vigour and determination that help them achieve their goals. They can fight with passion for what is important to them.

NODE SQUARE SATURN

The positive thing about this aspect is that these people are focused on overcoming challenges in their life. They are consistent, aware of their responsibilities, and they walks tirelessly along their life path. They have high standards for themselves and they set ambitious goals. They are able to overcome their limits. The negative side of this aspect is that it also gives people pessimism or even hopelessness about overcoming challenges in their life. They live lives full of obstacles and they are afraid to cross the threshold in order to become themselves. They often believe that their responsibilities stop them from reaching their soul. They often fall back into their old patterns. They frequently overload themselves.

NODE CONJUNCTION PLUTO

The positive thing about this aspect is that it gives people great and fascinating energy that leads them to the focal point of their life. The experiences of power and powerlessness and the encounter with their own Shadow helps them overcome their life challenges and find their life path. The negative thing about this aspect is that it causes inner tension and feelings of obsession because strong forces drag and pull in a different direction than towards the focal point of life. These people often have the feeling that they are the prisoners of misconceptions.

NODE ASPECTS

North Node Conjunction True Node orb: 1 ° North Node Trine Vesta orb: 3 ° North Node Quincunx Ceres orb: 1 ° North Node Quintile MC orb: 1 ° North Node Semi-sextile Juno orb: 2 °

TRUE NODE IN 0 DEGREES SAGITTARIUS ASPECTS

True Node Trine Vesta orb: 4 ° True Node Opposition Ascendant orb: 5 ° True Node Conjunction Descendant orb: 5 ° True Node Quintile MC orb: 0 ° True Node Semi-sextile Juno orb: 1 ° True Node Quincunx Ceres orb: 2

LILITH (MEAN) IN 22 DEGREES ARIES (12TH HOUSE)

Blind force, a brutal indulgence in challenges that are often devastating. Lilith in this position emphasizes spontaneity and impulsivity of Aries. These people are active and difficult to control. They want to conquer or create something ideal, replace something old with something new, and break or overcome old standards. They possess the ability to self-develop and act and they are able to think and create in their own way. Beware of head injuries, cuts, scars and violence.

Tendency to become a victim; cult of mystery; exploration of the suffering of others.

LILITH ASPECTS

Lilith Semi-sextile Vesta orb: 4 °

CHIRON IN 8 DEGREES VIRGO (4TH HOUSE) (R)

These people are sick all their life; their illnesses are not too serious, but they are chronic and it seems that they cannot be cured, especially when both medical professionals and traditional healers cannot give the correct diagnosis. It is as if these people took all the illness of others on themselves and had no choice but to learn to live with their health problems and keep searching for new ways to cure them or at least to alleviate the symptoms. But there is always the fear that once one illness is cured, another, more serious illness will suddenly appear.

The unhealable injury of these people is their family. They believe that their parents did not give them proper care, love and a sense of security. Even in adulthood, unhappy childhood can still be their open, unhealing injury. They compensate for this for example by creating their own big family, by constantly dealing with the past, or by deciding to never become parents in order to never cause pain to their children.

CHIRON ASPECTS

Chiron Square Descendant orb: 3 ° Chiron Square Ascendant orb: 3 ° Chiron Opposition Pallas orb: 3 ° Chiron Sesquiquadrate Lilith orb: 1 ° Chiron Semi-sextile IC orb: 4 °

MIDHEAVEN IN 12 DEGREES AQUARIUS (10TH HOUSE)

People with Aquarius on the tenth house cusp are without prejudices and they tend to be highly intelligent. These people want the truth and they want the old traditions disrupted and new ways to replace them. They may work for some organization, or have a career in arts, finance or electro technology.

These people often work in education, religion, philosophy or science and they have great teaching skills. They may go on long journeys and meet foreign officials in connection with their profession. They are often teaching at a mature age.

MC CONJUNCTION SUN

In a positive sense this aspect indicates the ability to succeed using own means or with the help of others. In the negative sense it indicates difficulties acknowledging own values.

MC CONJUNCTION VENUS

The positive thing about this aspect is that these people are popular at work. The negative side of this aspect is that they tend to be jealous and dissatisfied in their work environment.

MC SQAURE JUPITER

The positive thing about this aspect is that these people believe in their ability to achieve success. This ability helps them grow. The negative side of this aspect is that they often overestimate their skills that are frequently not as great as their ambitions.

MC ASPECTS

MC Opposition IC orb: 0 ° MC Semi-sextile Pallas orb: 1 ° MC Octile Vesta orb: 1 ° MC Quintile Lilith orb: 2 °

DESCENDANT IN 5° 26' SAGITTARIUS

Descendant Trine IC orb: 7 ° Descendant Sesquiquadrate Lilith orb: 2 ° Descendant Semi-sextile Juno orb: 4 °

IC IN 12 DEGREES LEO

IC Sesquiquadrate Vesta orb: 1 ° IC Quincunx Pallas orb: 1 °

CERES IN 28 DEGREES ARIES

Ceres Opposition Juno orb: 3 ° Ceres Semi-sextile Vesta orb: 2 ° Ceres Octile Pallas orb: 2 ° Ceres Semi-sextile Vesta orb: 2 ° Ceres Octile Pallas orb: 2 °

VESTA IN 26° 43' PISCES JUNO IN 1° 11' SCORPIO PALLAS IN 11° 6' PISCES

[masteryoftheseas]

@nectaric asked: ❛ here, give this a try and tell me what you think. ❜ nike to pallas, she baked!

Curious eyes studied the pastry he took in his grasp. He pretended to inspect it closely but he couldn't hide the playful smirk his lips formed. He took a large bite without saying a word and chewed it slowly before the pieces ran down his throat. He looked at the pastry again and then at his daughter.

"I have one stipulation!" Pallas huffed before he took another bite. "You better have more and not share them with anyone else but me. I'd fight anyone over these. Even your mother." He laughed before leaning in and rubbing his thumb against Nike's chin. "A good pastry is worth going to war for. No...over the baker who made them! Thank you, little wing." The titan quickly added before he leaned away to finish off the baked good.

[mythologyfolklore]

Ares and Athena through the years - Ch. 23

Chapter twenty-three: A lesson for Athena

.

Athena's mind was reeling with questions.

Why was her father sending her to Ares' office of all places?

So many possibilities went through her head, one more absurd than the other.

When she arrived at her destination and looked inside, the office was – apart from the stacks of paperwork – minimalistic and surprisingly clean and tidy.

Ares was working through piles of papers (probably letters), signing some and stamping others.

Athena knocked at the door frame and he looked up.

“Oh hey, Daddy's Owl”, he greeted her, then returned his attention to his paper work.

For a few seconds she was agitated both at the nickname and at being ignored, but then he looked up again and frowned. “Whatcha waitin' for? Sit down. Or ya wanna stand there all day?”

Athena sighed (mostly at his way of talking) and sat opposite him.

“Why am I here?”, she asked.

Ares stamped another paper (because Athena could read upside down, she could tell, that it was a “DENIED”-stamp) and finally focussed on her.

“Okay”, he said, “So I petitioned Zeus and grandaunt Thémis to be allowed to show ya some of my work. To make sure, that bullshit like with the Romans won't happen again.”

“Why is it just some of your work?”, Athena asked. She couldn't help but be curious about this kind of work, which was so different from what she knew about Ares, and this didn't seem to suit him at all.

“Right, I'll explain.”

“This sounds really wrong”, she muttered, making him snicker.

“Eh, don't worry, Daddy's Owl. You'll live. So this is my paperwork for the day. It's sorted into several piles.”

He pointed at the stacks and elaborated: “The one in front of me is the work I still gotta do. The rest is stuff I've already finished or which isn't my responsibility. The three piles on the right are my business. On the left is stuff for the other gods that somehow ended up with me, but isn't my responsibility. I'll sort it into folders and later Hermes will come to pick 'em up and distribute them. Though when you an' I are done here, you can take yer own folder with ya.”

“And what is in that wooden box?”, Athena asked curiously and pointed at a red box, which was also on Ares' right side.

“That's where I put the confidential and/or really important stuff. Anyway, I'll start by showin' ya, where everything is. Follow my lead.”

“This feels even more wrong than 'I'll explain'.”

Ares cackled.

“Awww, it's nothin', Daddy's Owl!”, he teased and ruffed her head (Athena resisted the urge to break his hand). “Once you've got it all, I'm sure it won't last! Anyway …”

He opened a side door and gestured for her to go inside: “Ladies first.”

Athena smiled lopsidedly and entered the other room.

It was dark, but when Ares turned the lights on, there were shelves filled with files and crystals.

“The newest stuff is here in the front”, Ares started and knocked at the shelf to his left. “The latest prayers to Zeus. This is stuff that ain't top priority, but too important not to pass on to him. I always do that in the mornin', so these here are pretty new. Unless they're really urgent, I keep them here till next day. Or if I can, I answer them myself.”

Athena frowned. “You're allowed to do that?”

Ares shrugged: “Sure. As long as it ain't too major, Zeus doesn't mind. Actually, he likes havin' as little paperwork as possible.”

Athena rolled her eyes, recalling how eager Zeus had been to delegate his paperwork onto her, when Ares had gone for his world journey.

The red-eyed war god went on: “Anyway, the shelves on the right hold the mail actually directed to me. Except for the five in the back, they hold the stuff directed to grandaunt Thémis. But she always gets her mail directly, so this is work she's already taken care of. Obviously only the stuff important enough to be kept. Once a month she, Zeus and I sit together and sort out the spam. Stuff that isn't relevant and worth keeping anymore gets shredded. Otherwise everything will get cramped and cluttered and we don't need that.”

Athena nodded in acknowledgement. That was sensible so far.

Ares sighed: “Yeah, that's all in here you had to see. Back into my office.”

“Wait, what about that one over there?”

She pointed at a closet at the back of the room that was covered in locks and chains.

Whatever was in it was probably top secret, but maybe her half-brother would at least give her a hint as to what it concealed …

“You know my answer, Daddy's Owl. Now don't look so disappointed”, Ares added at seeing his half-sister's expression. “Did you seriously expect me to tell ya what's inside a locked closet? Anyway, let's go back. We got a few more things to talk about, you an' me.”

They returned to Ares' office.

In the meantime the unfinished stack on his desk had been doubled and he groaned at the sight.

“I was almost done for the morning!”, he lamented, while Athena snickered.

Her half-brother gave her a killer stare, before opening one of the drawers and picking out a few papyrus scrolls.

“These will interest ya”, he remarked and unrolled them.

Athena bent over the papyri, read them and frowned. “But … these are my letters to the Roman gods.”

“Copies of them”, Ares corrected. “They wouldn't give me the actual letters. But I didconvince them to give me these copies.”

“How and why?”

“How – ya don't wanna know. Why – because I wanted to see what exactly pissed them off about your letters. And now that I've read them, it's high time we discuss that out of character diplomatic blunder of yours.”

Athena clenched her teeth.

Why, why did Ares have to bring that up! That cursed incident that still haunted her mind and drove her to the brink of madness, whenever she thought about it too hard. The utter humiliation of making a grievous mistake and it getting fixed by … him.Not Hermes, not Apollon or Zeus, or even Poseidon, no, of all the gods dwelling on Olympos, it just had had to be-

“… Uh, Athena? Hey! Hellooo! Earth to Pallas Athena! Oi, Daddy's Owl! Snap out of it!”

She jumped, when Ares snapped his fingers in front of her face.

The god of terrible war was folding his arms and looking at her, like she had a mental problem.

“See? This is why we gotta talk about it. Because you've been butthurt about this for twenty Olympian Years and it's getting freaky! Aren't you supposed to be more wise and rational than this? Then again, a bit more than five mortal centuries ago you and my mother decided that a perfectly fine city had to fall, because one random prince didn't pick ya to be beauty queen.”

“Shut. Up.”

Thankfully, he got the hint and stopped talking.

.

Ares observed each tiny shift in Athena's facial expressions, as he waited for her to calm down.

This situation was even worse than he had thought.

Of course he had sensed the anger boiling inside her, the sombre frown that always indicated when she was thinking about that day. He was the god of rage, after all.

But he hadn't expected it to still be that hard for her!

For a moment he considered telling her to talk it out with Psykhe, but he didn't feel like getting disembowelled.

Only when he was sure, that it was safe, did he unroll one papyrus and sigh: “Alright, Athena. We're gonna do this your way. Namely, go over the whole thing, analyse it and figure out what went wrong. Whatcha say?”

Athena stared. “Alright, who the Tartaros are you and what have you done to my half-brother Ares?”

At that he couldn't help but cackle: “Sorry, Daddy's Owl, it's still me! Your big brother Ares, Destroyer of Men, Bearer of the Bronze Shield, Stormer of Cities, insatiable in war- why are you laughing?!”

(He was still proud of himself for breaking the ice.)

.

By the time they were done, Athena felt like a huge weight was off her shoulders.

For such a long time she had felt burdened by the trouble she herself had caused for her entire family, just because of a social ineptitude she hadn't been aware of.

Now she was able to laugh at herself for how silly that had been.

And also at the Roman gods for being offended by irrelevant things like the question of how different their culture was to that of the Etruscan gods, or the Hellenic cultures.

But Athena had learned her lesson: next time Ares wasn't there and Zeus was too lazy, she would just let him delegate the foreign correspondence to Hermes and observe the god of diplomacy at work. He was more familiar with those foreigners anyway.

As she left her half-brother's office with her own paperwork, she considered: Maybe I'll travel around the world one day too. Clearly it did Ares a world of good, so why shouldn't it to me? Of course, that'll have to wait, until there isn't much to do for me around here-

Her process of thought was interrupted, when Ares dashed past her and right towards their father's office.

She just had time to wonder what had happened, before the commanding voice of Zeus rang through the halls:

“DEITIES OF ALL HELLAS, ATTENTION! FOR URGENT REASONS YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED IN THE OLYMPIAN ASSEMBLY HALL IMMEDIATELY!”

[thecandywrites]

Jewel Of The North Part 3

Aaah, we’re getting closer. Also this is fantasy, let’s pretend pallas cats are thunder cats and that they can be tamed. Also Scottish wild cats are a thing too. They can be thunder cats too. 

Again major thanks to @monstersandmaw​ for sharing ice orcs with me. 

Jewel of the North 

Part 3

You found yourself getting up at 4:30 and quickly got a shower and got ready as the sun was coming up and by 5 am, you were itching to leave and decided to just go and practically speed walked to Noah’s house in the misty dawn, only to find Sakura and Noah sitting on the front porch, wrapped in blankets as Noah looked particularly tired as he downed his coffee as two snow dogs laid on the porch, trying to get some sleep before they heard your approach and sat up and stared at you before they got up and slowly wagged their tails but didn’t make a sound. 

“Paradise!” Sakura squealed when she saw you as she instantly got up and ran to you as you laughed at the name as you caught her and picked her up and kissed her cheek as the dogs came running over to you too. 

“Well good morning to you too Munchkin!” You greeted happily before you carried her back to the house and cooed to the dogs who seemed happy and excited to see you too and sniffed at you eagerly and barked and ‘greeted’ you too in their own way. 

“What are you doing up so early?” You asked her. 

“I didn’t want to miss you coming!” She insisted. 

“Aw,” you cooed. “How long have you been up?” You asked her. 

“Since 4:30- she woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed.” Noah answered as he slowly got up out of his deck chair and grabbed his daughter’s blanket she left behind in her chair before he put it over her and you. 

“Oh that’s better, it’s chilly this morning.” You insisted as you curled into the warmth of the blanket as you followed him into the house, grateful he held the door open for you. Thankfully he had already made breakfast which you happily started eating with them as the dogs instantly put their heads in your lap, wanting pets, acting like they never got pets or any kind of attention ever. Typical. 

“So are you going to teach me how to be an heiress today?” Sakura asked eagerly and Noah nearly choked on his coffee. 

“Probably not because I wanted to talk to your dad about that first .” You put to her before you turned to Noah. 

“First I wanted to reassure you that whatever she tells me or whatever you tell me, I will keep in strict confidence and won’t be repeated to anyone unless I have your express and freely given consent to do so. Because honestly- the only people I would ever want to be telling anything to would be professionals, mostly very experienced lawyers and I will not do so unless I had your express permission to do it and I will not discuss anything of a private or sensitive nature unless it was in your presence as well. Second, I understand how I’m the outsider and honestly and realistically- you don’t know me from anyone and I completely understand if you’re uncomfortable with this and I’m not offended if you don’t want to involve me in anything sensitive, private or especially financial. If all you are comfortable with me doing is being here and watching her and being a babysitter, that’s fine with me, if you just want me to be a friend, I’ll just be a friend, if you want me to be an advisor, I’ll be an advisor. But only if you want me to be. You need to have your own boundaries for me and I’ll do my best to respect any and all boundaries given as long as those boundaries are clearly and expressly stated so there’s no confusion and no gray areas. I can not read your mind so if I cross a line, or if I have already crossed a line, please tell me as quickly as possible.” You insisted. 

“Oh, no you haven’t crossed any lines at all, you’re good.” Noah readily assured you. 

“Ok, good, I want us to stay on good terms and clear communication is the best way to achieve that.” You offered which earned a nod of agreement from Noah. 

“So moving forward- if you do end up wanting my advice, I can be as specific or as generic as you want me to be. But I will not give unwanted advice and I will not involve myself without your permission and I would want to make sure that my involvement is welcome by especially Neena’s parents and perhaps your own since it’s obvious they all still play an active role in her life because moving forward, if you’re going to continue to rely on them for support, it’s best to have everyone on the same page and even though you are her sole parent and guardian and the responsibility for her rests solely on your shoulders- I know I appreciated having more than my own eyes and mind on a problem- the whole- two heads are better than one principle, but at the same time we don’t want to involve anyone who doesn’t need to be involved because of the other principal of having too many cooks in the kitchen as we need to find a balance between the two.” You suggested. 

“I completely agree.” Noah nodded again in agreement with a fond smile. 

“Well, speaking from experience, I have had unwanted advice crammed down my throat more times than I can count and I hated it and I’m not going to do that to you guys. And if you do want my advice, please know that I will be honest and transparent about it and the only thing I want to gain from any of it- is the assurance and reassurance that you and Sakura are going to be ok and taken care of and if I can pass on the lessons I learned so that you don’t have to go through what I went through to learn them- I’ll be content.” You explained as Noah’s eyebrows knitted closer together for a moment at your choice of words. 

“Do you mind if I ask how you became an heiress?” Noah asked carefully. 

“I don’t mind at all, so what happened was I befriended about a dozen older couples when I went to massage school a decade ago and at the time they were all retirement age and they never had any kids, or the ones who did, their kids had passed before they did and they didn’t have any other natural heirs, no kids or grandkids or anything like that and they all practically adopted me because I took care of them the way I would take care of my own grandparents and I just tend to adopt grandparents in general and kids obviously.” You gestured to Sakura who was sitting next to you at the kitchen table. 

“Anyway, about two to three years before Andy died, most of them lost their partners and, again, none of them had kids to take care of them so I felt it was my responsibility as their friend to care for them because if I didn’t, no one else would and none of them were bad enough that they needed to go into a nursing home and I did all I could to keep them as independent as possible which is what they needed and what was best for them in those circumstances. So when Andy did die, the remaining ones were there for me to help me cope with his loss and how to protect myself and how to protect my kids and how to use what Andy left me in life insurance policies best and I took their advice and used it and benefited and then when they passed a few months later, and they all passed within the span of a week which was unreal - so it was just all one big funeral for me and I found out that all of them individually- left everything to me and none of them used the same lawyers or anything so there was no way for me or any of them to know that the others were doing the same thing since going into that ordeal I had only known that one of them were going to leave me anything and what they were leaving me was very modest in all respects. But within the span of another week after that in settling their final affiars which is when I found out I became inheriter to 15 different estates , it was really weird and I was investigated because the sheer coincidence of it seemed odd to everyone, most of all- me, and because there wasn’t any other parties coming forward trying to claim anything and because the only role I had in their passing was that I helped relieve pain and suffering and didn’t actually murder anyone, I got to keep it all and for a whole week after the deaths, I literally just kept going from each house and just cleaning out the fridges and freezers because I had already taken all their pets home with me, so now I have a freaking menagerie at home because I love and adore all of the pets and didn’t have the heart to take them to a shelter because most of them were old anyways and they should live out the rest of their lives in comfort and peace like their owners, and it’s obvious that your precious babies have picked up on that.” You explained as you turned your adoring attentions back to his dogs who were soaking up your attentions happily.  

“So what about the wolves and vultures?” Sakura asked. 

“Oh boy, well, that’s figurative, I’ve had to deal with figurative wolves and vultures in that people have tried to take advantage of me and think that because I was a woman who didn’t have any experience with managing estates and money and property that they could come in and take it from me the way a vulture will try to take a carcass from another or how they’ll prey on an injured animal and wait for it to die or how wolves will surround their target and overpower it, the same thing happened to me and it’s awful.” You answered. 

“How?” Sakura asked curiously. 

“Well, while the rest of my adopted grandparents were dying and I was inheriting all those estates, the company Andy had worked for- sued the manufacturer of the crystal grower that malfunctioned and killed him at work and because I was- and I quote- “the prettiest of the widows” his company paid me a ridiculous sum of money and other benefits to be the public face of the lawsuit even though there were five widows and widowers involved but it was my face that was crying in a courtroom that sold the story in the news and got the jury to sympathize and his company used my sob story, leaving out the fact that I was also an heiress for all these other estates- for their benefit and won the case in court- but because of my adopted grandparents who had amazing lawyers, who then became my lawyers, they made sure I got the lion’s share of the settlement because it was my face and my life that was put in the public eye for a hot minute and because of my own exposure, suddenly I had dozens of organizations and charities contact me too but because the settlement was so big, my biggest priority was making sure the other widows and widowers got a fair share and that they and their families were also taken care of because they didn’t have good lawyers like I did. So I used what little power and control I had in that situation to benefit them too because corportate greed is second to none.” You revealed. 

“Oh good grief.” Noah huffed. 

“Yeah, it wasn’t fun. The absolute worst part about it were just the figurative vultures and wolves. All these men came out of the woodwork after the court win because it was in the news- all of them thinking I was this ‘poor, inexperienced, stupid widow’ who practically won the lottery because the settlement was the same size as a small lottery and thought that I had gotten all of the settlement which wasn’t true or thought that I didn’t have any sense or propriety and thought that because I was young and inexperienced, they could take advantage of me which backfired on them spectacularly. Especially since I have clients on the local police force, fire department and other first responders who had been friends of mine before all this went down and who saw me through all of it and the moment any guy crossed that line of getting too close to me or especially my kids, who before any of this happened, I was already an overprotective Mama Bear anyway and through this whole ordeal, I just grew bigger claws and fangs and one hell of a bite and swing,” You gestured, making your hand clawed and swiping at the air which got Noah to grin appreciatively. 

“Anyway so if they got too close, they got the boot and a restraining order, I currently have over two dozen restraining orders against creepy vulture slash wolf tipes and I have gotten really good at spotting them from a mile away. I was already good at reading people and getting a sense of them because I’m an empath, it’s what I naturally do best, but now it’s basically a super power.” You chuckled before you continued to eat your breakfast. 

“And despite all that, you’re still... just a normal, down to earth mom.” Noah praised which made your smile bloom even brighter. 

“I try really hard not to let my past experiences change who I am too much because at the end of the day, what you just said is all I want to be. I used to be an easily trusting, very carefree, easy going and down to earth kind of person and I always reserved my judgement of people until I saw by their words and most importantly their actions- what kind of person they were and reacted accordingly I’ve always done my best to be a kind, generous and hospitable and caring person and I don’t want what has happened to me to change those parts of me that I like the most and that I’ve worked hard to cultivate despite how vicious and cold the rest of the world can be and just because I have suffered, doesn’t mean I should add to anyone else’s suffering and I don’t want greed or the love of money to corrupt me, I want to use it as the tool it is to build up instead of a precious finite resource that should be hoarded whenever encountered. A good person is a good person no matter how much money they have, and there’s a saying in the south about ‘acting too big for your britches’ that my parents and my inlaws are really good at calling me out on and at the time, I didn’t like it but after I thought about it, I realized they were right and I’m still humble enough to accept their council and we all need someone in our lives to bring us to our senses and remind us to keep it real.” You revealed as Noah smiled and nodded his approval to those sentiments. 

“Which is why I, for better or worse tried dating again, and why the few dates have been really casual. Two of them had no idea about my past with the inheritances or the court case or anything like that. All they knew about me was that I was a widow, a single mom of two, that I own my own massage business that I run out of my house and that’s it and that’s all they needed to know about me. I had two dates at a trampoline park that I take my kids to a lot and we met, sat in side by side massage chairs and chatted while our kids played. That’s literally all that happened and in talking to them, while they were nice and friendly, I just didn’t connect with them. And because of my past, my walls are already pretty high and thick and most guys just assume it’s because my late husband was abusive, which- he wasn’t, but they just assume I’m more trouble than I’m worth and leave me alone in peace which is all I can ask for from them.” You explained. 

“Although. There was a third guy that I’m pretty sure he found out about my financial past mid date because we were out to dinner, everything was going ok, the kids are getting along and him and I are having the ‘expectations’ talk about what we’re looking for a in a partner, what we’re not looking for, what our turn offs are and the more I talk I can see it in his eyes that he’s losing interest because he walked into the date thinking he can just move right on in, instant perfect family, his partner would have “a little hobby side business”,” You waived off dismissively, scrunching your nose as your tone grew sarcastically condescending which got Sakura to giggle and Noah to chuckle. “Which I get a lot, people who undervalue or underestimate it and it’s not my job to prove its validity, I let the work speak for itself, anyway- so he thought all he would have to do is go to work and provide and to hear that- that’s not exactly how things were going to work with me- he’s clearly not interested anymore and he withdraws which is fine because the more he talked, the more I didn’t like him either because if he can’t respect me and my profession, I don’t have to respect him in turn but I have manners so I stay pleasant, especially since kids are present and there’s never a reason to be rude or mean to a child. So he gets up to go to the bathroom, and he’s gone for like 30 minutes, like long enough that I start to worry he just dropped his kids off on me and ran and I’m talking to the kids trying to figure out if I need to be calling their mother to come pick them up or cramming them all into my car or what and then he comes back and it’s instantly a whole new version of him that I’m having dinner with- he comes swaggering back to the table with a bottle of the most expensive wine the Olive Gardens had and the difference in attitude, opinions and outlooks were night and day- like he had schizophrenia and I just had dinner with a different version of him and he’s all smiles and charm and talking about how all the ways he can support me in “my calling” and how ‘all he’s wanted is to be a stay at home dad and how “honorable” staying home and taking care of kids really is and taking extra care in raising and educating kids and taking care of animals is his life’s ambition’ when half an hour ago- he admitted that he never even once changed a poopy diaper and all domestic activities were what he got married for so he didn’t have to do them and that he never let his kids have indoor pets because they shed and make a mess and are more trouble than they're worth and at this point all of his kids are looking at him like he’s grown a second and third head and I put two and two together pretty quick that he got wind of my financials and he absolutely insisted he pay for everyone’s dinner when before we had agreed that we’d be paying separately and for the next week he was calling me at least three times a day trying to get another date which I always ignored his calls so he left the most ridiculous voicemails ‘how our kids really “clicked”,’ and ‘how beautiful I was’ and ‘what an amazing and accomplished woman I was’ and how he ‘needed me in his life’ and how ‘we need to hang out and go do stuff’ and even offered to take me and my family to Cedar Points for a whole weekend getaway and get a suite and so with some courage, I finally called him back and I just had to be very honest with him and tell him under no uncertain terms that none of those things were going to happen and to lose my number because I was not interested and I called him out on his behavior and point blank demanded why he had such a sudden change of heart and demanded to know why he was calling me so much and he tried to play it off but when I didn’t buy it and tried to tell him to go take a hike- he pushed back saying I owed him money for him buying me and my ‘ungrateful brats’ dinner that’s when I involved my friends with law enforcement because he got real nasty real quick and after that I took a break and that was a month and a half ago and I’ve just been doing my best to be patient and wait for the right guy with the right circumstances and the right personality and the right morals and values to come along and just...give me kindness, and sympathy, empathy and understanding and just..love me for me for me, with all my flaws and shortcomings without thinking that my bank account makes up for any of them or who won’t look at my bank account and think he’s expected to match it. Honestly I’m more scared that the right guy will take one look at my bank account and get scared off or think he’s not good enough because he’s humble or he came from a humble background like I did or think that all rich people are bad selfish people because that’s not true.” You confessed and realized that Noah wasn’t really talking but he was giving you the most interesting look. Like he was thinking very deeply about what you were saying before his phone started to ring. 

“Oh, sorry, you should get going to work, sorry if I kept you.” You apologized but he waived you off as he listened to who was on the other end of the phone and got up from the table. 

“Yeah, I’ll see you in a bit.” He bid them before he stopped and kissed Sakura goodbye before he, out of habit- kissed the crown of your head as he passed you before he had to pause after the fact and stood up straight as a board as Sakura giggled gleefully as your cheeks were bright kashmir sapphire blue along with your ears as you couldn’t help but giggle yourself because that was the most precious thing he could have done in that moment. 

“Uhh, sorry?” He apologized as his own cheeks were a deep midnight along with the tips of his ears. 

“Don’t apologize, it’s ok, I take it you used to do that a lot with Neena, old habits die hard, I don’t mind one bit, if anything I’m very flattered and honored, you’re good, we’re good.” You reassured him with a bright happy smile. 

“Thanks,” Noah ducked his head sheepishly before he continued on his way and ran his hand down his face. 

“Fuck.” He breathed once he got in his truck and started it and drove away. 

“Actually Zara, I wasn’t thinking of Neena at all when I kissed you, I just did it because it felt like the most normal, natural thing to do with you looking like an absolute vision sitting at my table at 5 in the morning eating pancakes with my daughter and I- and the way you are with her is all I could have ever wanted and dreamed of and I’ve also been praying to the gods for patience while I wait for the right woman with the right heart condition and the right values and morals to come along and love her and me and you’re exactly what I’ve been praying for and I’m scared shitless because you are so much more than I could have ever dreamed of and you just radiate warmth and love and Sakura already loves you and I’m hopelessly head over heels, over the moon- crazy about you and I haven’t been sleeping well because every time I close my eyes, I see your face and because of that,  I’m just constantly horny with you on my mind and I haven’t had sex with a woman since Neena and burying myself to the hilt in you is now my number 1 fantasy since I met you two days ago and I just want to kiss you every time I see you because I’m attracted to you and I can’t do that because you don’t know me even though it feels like I’ve known you for forever and this is crazy and I don’t know how this is going to work at all and I’m ready to just up and sell everything I own and follow you home like a lost puppy but I don’t know if you’ll let me and I’m stuck and the more you talk, the more I find out about you, the more I find to like and love about you and I’m in way over my head and I’m praying to the gods, every day to reveal to me the best path to take with you but I don’t know where to start.” Noah ranted to himself as he drove down to the airfield. 

Meanwhile back at Noah’s house. 

“Did your dad used to kiss your mama a lot before he left for work?” You asked Sakura. 

“Yup, and every time he left for work, she would pray to all the gods for fair winds and for him to have safe flights and return home to us.” She informed you proudly. 

“Could we do that? I feel like we should do the same, it’s a tradition we need to keep going.” You proposed as she eagerly got up and took your hand and brought you to the wall in the living room where a few stone symbols- symbolizing the gods they worshiped- hung on the wall-- you also had the same at your own house, a couple of them you recognized but you didn’t know the others. Then she got her prayer rug out from under the couch and got her mom’s old one and got it out and put in down for you to kneel on too which you did, copying her movements. 

“We always prayed in Intuck though.” She sighed. 

“Well, I don’t know any Intuck- but if you say the words first, I will do my best to repeat them, could you help me learn? Because the best way to learn something is to teach someone else and I know Intuck is a big part of your heritage and we should honor that and use it as much as we can.” You asked her as she nodded eagerly before she carefully and slowly and deliberately said the words as you did your best to repeat them exactly or as closely as you could and kept looking at her to make sure you were saying these words right. 

“You did really good! Not one mistake!” She cheered. 

“Thank you, I tried really hard. So what did we just pray for? Can you tell me in Anglo?” You asked her hopefully. 

“Yup, we prayed for Daddy to have good flights in good weather, we prayed for generous customers, we prayed for his plane to fly well and we prayed for him to come home safe.” She told you even though she purposefully left off the last thing. The last thing she had you pray for was for her daddy to come home with more love than he left with and for him to come home to find more love than he left knowing was there, it was an extra prayer her mom prayed for when her mama and her dad had disagreements that they needed to reconcile over but Sakura knew when she hugged you the first time that your hugs and her mom’s hugs were the same. She could feel how much you loved her already just from that one hug was enough to convince her that you were her mom and that her wait for one was over and with you already showing respect to her mama and her mama’s memory and her mother’s native language and culture told her that you were a respectful person who wouldn’t try to change her and her culture, that you would be embracing it with her and she knew that the gods sent you all the way from the Great Lakes, just to be with her. She didn’t know if she would be moving in with you or if you and your family would be moving in with her, but she was going to love having siblings. She felt like looking at you was the same as looking at a new story book, one she didn’t know the story in it yet, but could tell from the pictures that it would be her new favorite and that it would be a happy story and one with the best ending where everyone lived happily ever after. 

“Will I offend you or the gods if I continued to pray my own prayers but in Anglo?” You asked respectfully.

“Nope, the gods listen to all those who genuinely and honestly pray to them, no matter their language.” She insisted. 

“I was taught the same. Ok, do you mind if I pray out loud or should I keep my prayers to myself?” You asked her as she got back on her little prayer mat before you sat down cross legged on yours since your lower legs were killing you sitting on them and you always prayed sitting down cross legged.

“Please pray out loud, I want to hear how you pray.” She answered excitedly. 

“Come here Honey,” You invited her before she happily got into your lap and sat in it and settled against you as you wrapped your arms around her and placed your palms together but upturned.

“Why do you have your hands turned up?” She asked. 

“So that the gods can take all my troubles and anxieties, all my hurt, all my sorrow and pain and give me instead- happiness, peace, serenity, calm and answers to the problems or they can provide the answers themselves and if I’m lost, they can take my hands and lead me to where I need to go and place me where I need to be. So that I can enjoy the day and every moment in the day without my joy and happiness stolen by worry and anxiety or anger. To love and appreciate the people around me and that friends and family who will love me and care for me as much as I love and care for them.” You answered before she did the same, her little hands upturned between your own as you watched as she closed her eyes with a serene smile on her face which brought a bright, appreciative smile to your own before you closed your eyes and took a cleansing breath and addressed not just your own gods but the ones who you had just been introduced to as well. 

“Please oh gods of the heavens above, in the earth with me and in the depths of the sea-, hear my prayer. Please help me to help Sakura and her father Noatak with their troubles, no matter the kind. Help me guide them to the best and most successful path. Help me keep in mind what is best for both Sakura and Noatak and help all my words to be used with grace, kindness, gentleness, wisdom and respect. Please let there be no mistaking my words and intentions. Help me ease their pain and discomfort so that they can embrace the present and enjoy their future while not abandoning the past, but to honor it and those in it. Please grant Sakura, Noatak and my family and myself peace and serenity to accept the things we can not change and should not change, but courage to change the things we can and that need to be changed and to face what we need to face with bravery, perseverance and patience and the wisdom to distinguish between what we can not change and what we can. But to walk with our eyes towards all of you, please direct my steps so that I continue to walk the path you’ve set before me and help me guide others on their paths so that we all can have happiness, peace, meaning, purpose and fulfillment and if at all possible, success. Amen.” You prayed. 

“Amen.” Sakura mirrored emphatically as you noticed the dogs were laying down around you as you curled your hands around hers and squeezed them as she squeezed back and smiled adoringly up at you. 

“That was a really good prayer. I liked it.” Sakura praised. 

“Thank you.” You grinned. 

“So, your Daddy told me that you guys have horses,” you began. 

“We do! We should go feed them breakfast, Daddy forgot to do that before he left!” Sakura realized before you got up and got your jacket on and got Sakura bundled up before she led you to the back where a barn was and horses were sleeping in their stalls but awoke once you opened the barn door as the dogs came trotting into the barn with you before Sakura walked you through what Noah usually did when he cared for them as you happily followed her instructions and even took extra care to brush them, clean out their feet and check them over the way you did with your own horses before you walked them out to the pasture so you could muck out their stalls and tidy things up a bit before your phone rang. 

“Well hello, I take it you’re up in the air.” You mused since you could hear the plane running in the background. 

“Yeah, I was just calling to check in.” Noah said, feeling like an idiot, you were a mom, he knew he could trust you to take care of his child but he was more anxious to know how you were faring, if Sakura was behaving for you and he was desperate for reassurance that everything was ok because he couldn’t ignore the urge to call. 

“We’re doing great. Here, it’s your Daddy,” you offered the phone to Sakura as you continued to muck out the stalls. 

“Daddy! Paradise and I prayed for you in Intuck just like Mama and I used to and the way Nana and I still do and Paradise did so good! She got all the words right and she’s having me teach her Intuck because she says the best way for me to learn and remember it is to teach someone else and it’s true! Then she showed me how she prayed and I got to sit in her lap and pray with her and it was just as nice and now we’re taking care of the horses because you forgot to before you left and she says she has horses too and she’s mucking out their stalls and even cleaned out their feet and brushed them even though it was kind of hard because all they wanted to do was hug her the way they used to hug mom and the dogs are being really good too.” Sakura babbled excitedly as she sat on a bale of hay and talked with her Dad on your phone. 

Meanwhile Noah was scrunching his face because he knew he had forgotten something this morning. 

“Well tell her I said thank you very much for helping me with the horses, I really appreciate it.” He urged her. 

“My Daddy says ‘thank you for helping him and he appreciates it’,” Sakura repeated. 

“Tell him it’s no problem at all, I’m happy to do it but tell him that the blue roan will need a trim soon.” You answered. 

“She said Kabluey needs a trim.” Sakura repeated as you busted out laughing. 

“What’s so funny?” Sakura asked. 

“Kabluey is the name of a variety of blueberries. I grow kablueys at home. I think Kabluey is an amazing name for a blue roan.” You explained.  

“Well hopefully I’ll be able to do it when I get home.” Noah answered. 

“He said he’ll do it when he gets home.” Sakura said. 

“I didn’t realize your Daddy was also a ferrier.” You appraised appreciatively as you imagined what Noah would look like on your farm in a tight pair of jeans bent over trimming your own horses feet, preferably with his shirt off and maybe a shimmering sheen of sweat on him that you could help him shower off. 

Focus Zara. Horse stall. 

“So can Paradise and I go riding later? Please?”  She asked hopefully. 

“If he trusts me to take you on a ride, then I’ll happily do so but if he’s not comfortable with that, then don’t beg him and try to push him when he’s not ready.” You insisted as Noah just smiled wide into the phone as any stress he was feeling melted away. 

“Sweetie, give the phone to Paradise.” He urged her. 

“Yes?” you answered. 

“You have my permission to do whatever you want to do. I trust you completely.” Noah insisted. 

“You sure?” You questioned. 

“Absolutely. You girls have fun today, do whatever you want to do.”  Noah urged you and you both heard and felt his genuineness and earnestness in that. 

“Ok.” You agreed. “Is there anything in particular you want us to do today? Laundry, dishes? Not burn the house down?” You asked and Noah barked an amused laugh. 

“Yeah, just that last one.” Noah.

“Dinner?” You asked hopefully.

“Only if you want to, this is your vacation after all.” Noah tried to dissuade you but his tone was incredibly weak because honestly food from you would be food from the gods at this point. 

“Oh I definitely want to.” You firmly resolved. Oh you were going to woo him with food damn it. 

“Well honestly there’s some grocery shopping I need to do, there should be a list on the fridge, if you go, keep your receipts and I’ll pay you back for whatever.” Noah revealed. 

“Is there a budget you want me to try to keep?” You asked thoughtfully. 

“Well that’s the thing, grocery shopping is really expensive up here, it’s gonna be about a hundred dollars.” He warned you. 

“Yeah that’s not going to be a problem.” You reassured him. Oh you were going to hook him up. 

“Any food allergies I should be aware of? Nuts? Dairy?” You asked. 

“Nope. Although if you can find a way to make vegetables slightly more appealing to Sakura I’ll be forever grateful.” Noah hinted. 

“Awesome, and between what times should we expect you home? Like between 6-7 or 7-8?” You asked.

“Honestly I don’t know at this point, right now it looks like I’ll be home by 5-5:30 but that could change several times between now and then, but I shouldn’t be home any later than 8.” He mused. 

“Ok, do you have any preferences or any foods that you’re not allergic to but you’d rather eat cardboard than eat it? Like mushrooms? Peppers? Broccoli?” You began to list off. 

“Ok, I’ll level with you, Sakura isn’t the only one who doesn’t like her vegetables, and I feel like the reason for that is because I’m not particularly good at making them.” He confessed which got  you to laugh. 

“I appreciate your honesty. None of us are perfect. Are we usually meat and potatoes kind of people?” You gently teased. 

“Yup.” Noah nodded. 

“Ok, I’ll see what I can do, keep me posted Babe.” You offered before you slapped your hand over your mouth as Sakura cackled with glee. Her prayers were working already! And the sound of Noah laughing told you that he was at least amused. 

“Habit?” He asked. 

“Yup.” You lied because that was easier than fessing up that you were falling helplessly, hopelessly head over heels for him. You were fucked. 

“It’s ok, we’re ok, you’re good.” Noah reassured you. 

“Thank you, see you at home later. Fly safe.” You urged him. 

“Will do, see you later, bye.” Noah bid you and felt twice as high as he was. You called him a pet name. He didn’t care if it was on accident, that was heavenly. Today was going to be a great day. 

Once you were done in the barn you had Sakura come back into the house so you could clean up from breakfast and get a look at that grocery list before there was a scratch at the window and you saw a massive thunder cat at the kitchen window before it meowed at you as it looked expectantly at you. 

“Is..this cat yours?” You asked before Sakura eagerly rushed to the back porch where a trio of cats were from having gotten out of the house when Noah and Sakura had initially been in the porch waiting for you this morning. One of them was clearly a thunder cat, the others, were two of the biggest tom cats you’ve ever seen in your life and all three eagerly came into the house and rubbed against Sakura before all three came over to check you out before the thunder cat outright climbed you like a tree. 

“Claws,” you whimpered as you braced against the counter before it happily got to your shoulder to look you over and sniff you before it started rubbing it’s face on your face. 

“Well hello to you too.” You greeted happily before it outright laid down over your shoulders. 

“Comfy there?” You gently teased as you scratched his ears as it started to purr very loudly in your ears before you continued to have Sakura go through the cupboards and showed you and told you what they had food wise as you made your own grocery list as you went through the freezer and fridge to see what he had and what he needed as recipes started popping like fireworks in your head of what you wanted to cook as you made notes of what dishes he had and what you wanted in each dish. You wanted to go all out. Not just the classics and tried and true but take a leap of faith on something else as you suddenly realized- your second trunk. YES. 

Whenever you traveled you packed one set in one thing and another set in something else. Just in case either the airline, the cruise ship or whatever lost a piece of luggage, you weren’t screwed. You had packed two sets of spices and other staple ingredients. And both cases made it. In fact, not a piece of luggage had gone missing. You were going to try to sneak it in with the clan’s gift of seeds. Now- you were going give it to Noah and you couldn’t imagine a more deserving recipient or a more appreciative one. Then you went though the rest of the house, hunting to see if he needed laundry supplies or other cleaning supplies and jot those down. 

Passing by Noah’s bedroom, you practically stopped in your tracks as your nose led you to turn your head as you sniffed in a deep lungful. His scent was so strong and so alluring there and it made your mouth water. You noticed some laundry and got a basket and gathered it before you picked up a pair of socks by the bed and upon picking up both socks- they squished in your hand and you did your best to stifle your laughter and one sniff confirmed your suspicion. It felt really “fresh”, maybe from last night or early this morning and really big loads in both socks. Your ego hoped that it was thanks to you. And even if it wasn’t, maybe tonight it might be. 

Normally such a thought would annoy you or even disgust you. But with Noah? Nope. Quite the opposite. Part of you wanted to turn him on and light his fire so to speak and the thought of running him dry was a brand new fantasy for you and felt more like a mission than anything. You weren’t ashamed to admit it. You wanted him. And in this moment, badly. 

You had your work cut out for you.

You did your best to tidy as you went through the house. Not that it was terribly dirty or unkempt. Just a little cluttered here and there, some dusting was in order though. You could tell that he was in the middle of his busy season, you knew that sometimes things got forgotten or not done perhaps as often as they should when you were at your busiest. You were going to help him catch up and you had all day to do it. 

You noticed he really only had the bare essentials as far as cleaning supplies and you wondered if that was because that was all he could afford. 

Honestly, it was because of his patience and good will that you were able to make as much money as you did the day you met him and at this point, it was extra money you had not anticipated making or having in your budget for this trip and you had the very strong urge to pamper and spoil Noah and Sakura with it. All you needed was Taylor and her van. Besides she seemed keen on the match herself and you were sure she would help you and you were making your to do lists and shopping lists by the time she got there at 9. 

“Good morning.” You greeted her cheerfully. 

“Good morning,” She greeted you back sleepily. 

“So, I need the biggest of favors.” You began and your eager eyes and mischievous smile had her mirroring your expression. 

“What do you need and why?” She asked as she sidled up next to you. 

“Ok so Noah needs a few things from the store and a little bit of housework here and there and he said I could make him dinner for when he gets home tonight.” You began. 

“And?” She prodded as her grin grew into a full blown smile. 

“Want to get a breath of fresh air?” You hinted as the kids were playing in the living room with the cats and the dogs before you and her stepped out of the sliding glass door in the back so you could keep an eye on the kids but keep some level privacy. 

“Ok, so uh, stop me if I sound completely insane, but I really like Noah and Sakura and I don’t know what it is about them but I’m drawn to both of them. Like holding Sakura is like holding my own daughter and it’s like I’ve known them my whole life and we’re just the best and oldest of friends and I have the overwhelming urge to just...take care of them.” You confessed and Taylor was practically vibrating with joy. This was a great start. Things could grow and flourish from here. She just needed to give you the right encouragement. 

“You are not crazy or insane for feeling that way, especially about Noah and Sakura. No one is more worthy or deserving of whatever help you can give them. And I know Noah will appreciate even the smallest or simplest of things you can give or even do for him.” Taylor nodded her agreement. 

“Well Noah did tell me that he trusted me completely and that I can do whatever I wanted with Sakura today. So, that being said. I need to go back to your house to get my second trunk. Because that first one had all the spices and seeds in it? I had two just in case one didn’t make it. And I wasn’t sure what to do with the second and coming here and seeing how bare Noah’s kitchen really is…” You began. 

“Oh definitely. Up here there’s a belief of The Gods’ Will. Sometimes we’re moved to do or say things that may not make a ton of sense to us in the moment. But end up fulfilling the prayers of others. I know Noah and Sakura have been praying for help for a year and a half. And last year Noah and Sakura were ok because Neena’s death was still fresh in everyone’s minds and everyone helped them out but this year- it’s like most of them forgot all about them and poor Noah is grappling with how to fulfill both roles by himself and he’s just plain overwhelmed and this year he’s picking up every job he can just trying to make ends meet and some of his customers that he used to really depend on are trying to cut corners by hiring newer pilots who are less experienced with smaller planes that are cheaper to run and so far the weather has been really good so the other pilots have been able to do his job better and instead of doing several jobs at once, these places can afford to send out five individual pilots with single loads to a single destination quicker, like truckers and these other pilots can afford to all share an apartment together because they’re all single guys with no dependants and can pool resources while Noah is all by himself and has not just his own mouth to feed but Sakura and his animals in addition to his own aging parents and Neena’s aging parents because Neena’s other siblings haven’t moved back to help out Neena’s parents too but he can’t afford to lower his prices to try to compete or else he would actually lose money instead of make it and some of his customers are becoming difficult to deal with and he’s left between a rock and a hard place and in the meantime Sakura needs to go to school this year and that’s a challenge in itself.” Taylor explained. 

“Has Noah tried to move on romantically since he lost Neena?” You asked thoughtfully. 

“No. Neena was practically a saint and most women around here feel they can’t measure up to her which isn’t fair to anyone. She wasn’t perfect but she was a really wonderful person. But I know he’s really lonely and he’s been praying for the right woman with the right heart condition who will recognize his situation and treat him and Sakura with love and kindness. And I’m thinking if you instantly feel like helping them upon meeting them even if you don’t know them very well and especially if you have the means and the drive to- that you’re most likely the answer to their prayers.” Taylor revealed. 

“And if I just to happen to uh, coincidentally, find Noah incredibly, irresistably attractive and want to woo him by making him a feast and getting his house in perfect running order? And maybe even run him dry or at least raw?” You asked with a wince but a bright bashful smile none the less. 

“Yyeeaass!” Taylor practically screamed in a bright cheer before she accidentally spilled some of her coffee. “Oh shit, can’t spill the coffee, it’s precious coffee.” Taylor murmured before she eagerly sipped more of it before she put it down and hugged you and practically jumped up and down on the porch with you. 

“Ok, tell me how I can help.” She beamed. 

You had her take you and Sakura back to her house where you grabbed not only your other crate but also a few other things and then once unloaded those things into Noah’s house and you took your lists and she drove you to the best big box club store in the area that would have everything you wanted even if it was a two hour drive away. You got two flatbed carts and Sakura, Jamie and Matt all sat one one that Taylor pushed around as Katie happily helped you with yours as you happily started to strategically loaded up what you wanted and needed, not caring in the least what it would cost because you had a budget of a few grand and it made you so happy and gave you so much satisfaction to be doing this for Noah and Sakura and with some sweet talking to the head butcher, he gave you one hell of a deal on a ton of meat as you also got some junk food for the kids to keep them happy and had lunch there at the place, having got two rotisserie chickens and by a miracle, you managed to squeeze it all back into the van as the kids were happily holding their new junk food in exchange to being a little cramped with other stuff packed in around them before they quickly fell asleep and took a nap on the way back as you spent the whole two hours back working out a schedule of what to do when so that right about 6- the house could be clean and a feast would be ready and once back at the house you put the plan into action and with Taylor keeping the kids busy with a movie, she helped you as much as she could as she also wrote down your recipes as you cooked them since you knew them by heart and showed her what you were doing as you did it so she could replicate it and right at 4:30, she took her kids home to make dinner for her own family since she was going to be using the same recipes you were since all the food you would be making was already in motion which left you to portion out the remainder of the meat. 

By 5 you got the call that Noah would be another hour away from coming home and you knew it was then to start cooking the steaks and start the risotto since risotto was a very labor intensive process which would take the remainder of your attention as you and Sakura danced in the kitchen to music on your little portable speaker as you taught her how you danced and you were so caught up in dancing and grooving in the kitchen- you didn’t hear Noah come in the door as his nose practically went nuts. He had never smelled food like this before and it smelled better than anything he had ever smelled before. It made his stomach growl loudly which finally alerted you and Sakura to his presence. 

“Daddy!” Sakura cheered as she ran over and leaped into his arms. 

“Hey Kiddo, how was your day?” He asked her as he picked her up and carried her over to the kitchen. 

“It was awesome! We had so much fun!” Sakura fawned. 

“Did you go riding?” He asked. 

“We didn’t have time, we went shopping and we did something called “being domestic” which was really just chores but she made it into a game, she bought these really cool cloths that pick up all kinds of dust and she had me dust everything I could reach with my stool so that I can help you keep our castle clean.” Sakura beamed as she showed him the dusting cloth. 

“Castle?” Noah repeated, with amusement. 

“Castle law- every man’s home is his castle.” You supplied as Noah ‘oh’ed’ in understanding. 

“And she agrees that our castle is very grand in it’s own way. It may not be as big as others but it’s ours and we need to take care of it so it can protect us.” Sakura beamed. 

“I agree.” Noah nodded. “So...how far over budget did we go?” Noah asked with a bit of a nervous laugh. 

“I didn’t go over my budget, don’t worry about it, just sit down and eat. That’s all I want from you right now.” You urged as you took out the steaks from the oven and Noah made a whimpering keen when he saw them. 

“Oh I’m in trouble, so much trouble.” Noah murmured in awe as he shook his head as he just watched in awed wonder as you seamed to pull a feast out of his kitchen, he didn’t think his kitchen was big enough for half of this. He was not worthy. 

“Trouble of what?” You asked curiously. 

‘Of falling in hopelessly in love with you’. Noah’s mind was begging his mouth to say. 

“I...I’m in over my head. I have no idea how I’m...gonna pay you back for any of this.” Noah admitted. 

“Hey, Noah, look at me.” You reached out and framed his face in your hands and you had the overwhelming urge to kiss him but you knew it would probably be inappropriate and he may not appreciate that, yet anyway. 

“Do not cheapen my gifts by trying to put a monetary value to them or feel that you have to repay anything. Everything I’ve done and given was given freely and and with immense pride and joy. Do we owe the gods for when they answer our prayers and bless us? Do you think they keep a tally? No. So don’t start a tally with me, I give to you because I know you’ll be appreciative and you’re more than deserving and worthy. Please do me the honor of accepting these gifts with grace and happiness, that’s all that I ask and all that I want.” You insisted before he just lifted his own hands to hold your own face before he kissed your forehead and hugged you which you happily returned as his words of muffled thanks were music to your ears and this big hug from his was all you could fantasize about as his affection was practically making you love drunk and so unbelievably happy as you once again had that overwhelming sensation that you were at home in his arms. A new home, this one filled with so much more love than your last and it wasn’t until the dogs tried to nose their way between you that you finally let go of each other. 

“Now let’s eat before it gets cold.” You urged before you handed him the largest plate as you quickly got Sakura her own plate. 

“So what do we have?” Noah asked eagerly. 

“Ok, so what we have is bacon sauteed brussel sprouts with maple syrup and goat cheese. We have broccolini with cheddar cheese those are my two- “healthy” vegetable dishes. From there we have loaded twice baked potatoes, liquor yams, but all the alcohol should have baked off so it’s safe for Sakura to eat them, she won’t get drunk or anything. Then we have death by cheese mac and cheese, mushroom risotto with extra sauteed mushrooms to go over your steaks and dinner rolls. The only rule I have is you are not allowed to put ketchup on my steaks. I bought steak sauce and brought homemade hot sauce.” You revealed as you pointed everything out and the only thing Noah wanted to devour more than the food was you but he didn’t have the nerve or the courage just yet as he just stood there and stared at the feast as his eyes just got a little watery. 

“Could you um, like pinch me because I am not sure if I’m dreaming or halucinating. Because this is bordering on too good to be true.” He teased you. 

“It’s very much real, but if you insist on a pinch...” You playfully reached over and pinched his butt as he recoiled only slightly but started laughing as his sleep deprived brain was about to short circuit because he was on the edge of being overstimulated. Like a pet diving into a pool of new toys, wanting to play with all of them at the same time and can’t decide which one to go for first. 

“Eat, eat!” You urged him. 

“You slaved for the meal, you go first, women and children first right?” He urged you. 

“How chivalrous,” you flattered before you got yourself a good portion and sat down at the table before you opened your little jar of hot sauce for your steak. 

“Hot sauce?” You offered as you sucked on the tip of your thumb as Noah seemed to fixate on your mouth before he swallowed hard before he tore his eyes away from your mouth to take the jar and found a tiny spot on his already heaping plate for it. 

“It’s best on the mac and cheese though, like buffalo chicken dip but without the chicken.” You hinted. 

“Prayer Daddy.” Sakura urged him before he could eat before you happily reached out and took Sakura’s hand and offered your hand to Noah who happily took it and held it as he tried not to let the touch completely blank his mind as he noticed your eyes were closed and the most beautiful, serene smile was on your lips as you held his hand and you were even more of a vision now than you were this morning. He closed his eyes and addressed all of his gods. In his prayer he thanked the gods for the pleasure of your presence and prayed that whatever blessings you gave and whatever you spent to make those blessings happen, returned to you a hundred fold and that whatever you did or would ever do would find success and you did your best to wipe away your tears as quickly as you could once he said amen. Andy had never prayed about you like that and it meant the world to you. 

Noah tried his best not to moan, or cry. He tried, and he failed. 

“So, I have to say, this is the best food I have ever put in my mouth. It’s like...the gods either prepared this food or this food was prepared for them, and I don’t know if I’m worthy as a mortal to eat it.” Noah teasingly praised and you beamed happily. 

“Thank you. Welcome to Zara’s greatest hits food wise.” You gestured to the food. “For all the holidays, it’s always my dad, my brother in law Jake and myself who are in charge of the food. My dad is in charge of the smoker, so he smokes all the wings, the salmon, all the ribs and brisket and pulled pork and stuff. Obviously these are my specialties. Although my turkeys usually make my sisters cry. Jake, believe it or not is the king of casseroles and one pan and one dish dinners, like paella and all things seafood. While Anya and Tasha are on drink duty because Anya’s a professional bartender. And when it’s not holidays it’s superbowl, or it’s championships. Any excuse to get together and eat.” You explained. 

“So what did your family think of Andy?” Noah asked. 

“They got along really well, Andy was really quiet and shy at first and he was incredibly introverted. But he was also a really big guy, not quite as big as you but close and solid and he had resting…” You paused as you tried to think of the appropriate substitute. 

“Jerk face?” Noah supplied. 

“Yeah, jerk face. He couldn’t help it, that was just his face. But once he warmed up to you- oh man, you had to have a sharp wit to keep up with him and he could just deliver line after line and he could verbally roast anyone. Which at first is very entertaining and fun and my brother and my dad thought it was awesome because Andy was very much just one of the guys. But being married to that, it’s exhausting and hurtful and he had a really hard time turning the sarcasm off and he forgot to filter himself most of the time and when I would inevitably get my feelings hurt his mother would chastise me for being too thin skinned and that if ‘a Kingsley wasn’t making fun of you- they didn’t like you’ and Andy only ever had brothers. No sisters. But because he was so big and so mean looking, I could go anywhere I wanted with him and no one messed with me because they took one look at Mr. Big Scary Giant and thought twice about trying to spit game and Andy was incredibly strong and he only ever got into one fight when he was a kid and he put the guy into the hospital but Andy used that to his advantage he was a very intimidating person and one lip curl or a crack of his neck and knuckles and low growl and it was enough to unnerve anyone. Otherwise he was a great earner and provider financial and materially, he just had to be reminded often to be kind and nice.” 

“But the price of all that was you were married to a sarcastic jerk.” Noah realized in disgust as you nodded. 

“Yup, which is why I look at his life insurance policy money as money earned for being married to him so long, I know that sounds incredibly horrible and shallow but it’s the truth. Which is why when and if I get married again- how much money they make means very little to me and I don’t care about what they do as long as they like what they do because life is too short to slave away in a job you hate with people you despise. Personality is everything to me now. I got enough financially so that I’m set for the rest of my life. Now I just want to share my life with someone who makes me happy mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and of course the other kind that shouldn’t be talked about in polite company.” You specified with a mischievous grin which made Noah smile wide as he nodded and forced his mouth shut because he was about to volunteer himself, even though he was sleep deprived and exhausted, he felt he could push himself to really love you right. At least give his tongue a good work out. Because if you have the cooking skills of a goddess, by the gods, he was going to worship you like one.

Then you looked over at Sakura who was shoveling food in her mouth. 

“Hey, hey, hey, slow down, the food’s not gonna disappear when you close your eyes, if you eat too much too fast you’ll get a stomach ache, do you want to throw everything up?” You asked her which made her pause. 

“I’m not taking any of this food home with me, it’s all staying here. I made enough that you should have two dinners and a couple of lunches. And it all keeps in the fridge and microwaves pretty good.” You reassured her before she finally slowed down. 

“It’s hard for me not to inhale it all too Baby,” Noah reassured his daughter with an understanding smile. 

Once dinner was eaten, Noah happily helped you put the left overs away and got started on washing the bigger pots and pans that wouldn’t fit in the dishwasher and he was never sexier to you. Just to see this fine specimen of a man standing in front of a sink scrubbing pots. You were ready to suck him dry in the kitchen as you tried to stomp that down because he probably wouldn’t appreciate that or would be keen on letting you around his daughter again. He was a sensible, reasonable man and he may not be ready for that yet and he may not be interested romantically in you either and while you knew you were meant to be here to help. You didn’t feel you were meant to come and stay forever. You wanted him to be sure but you didn’t know how moving forward this could possibly work. You didn’t want to do him the injustice of a one night stand. You wanted more with him than just a night or two of casual sex. So in order for you to hopefully enjoy more in the future, you could deal with enjoying less in the moment. You wanted to build more. You still had a week up here, you had a little bit of time. 

“So how long will you need to get your own appointments done?” Noah asked. 

“Give me a day, I can get them all done tomorrow then I can be all yours the day after, I take it you’ll need more help with the bigger loads?” You guessed as Noah nodded. 

“Honestly more of my most difficult customers.” Noah confessed. 

“How are they difficult?” You asked thoughtfully as you helped him dry the dishes and put them away. 

“Well only because I have a bigger plane and there’s some things that won’t fit in a normal bush plane. Otherwise they’ve used the newer pilots who are less expensive and don’t have the overhead or dependants I do that can do it cheaper than I can. In fact there’s a few of them who all room together on the other side of town. But I can’t lower my own prices any lower because if I do, I’ll lose money instead of making it.” Noah explained. Normally he wouldn’t be comfortable breathing anything this personal or private to anyone. But he felt comfortable confiding in you. 

“How old are the other pilots?” You asked. 

“Psh, barely adults, they’re like walking disasters, I’ve seen them try to do flips in the air with cargo on board and they don’t show any respect for anything. They think it’s all fun and games.” Noah griped and you felt rage lick up your spine. 

“Well it does make business sense to try to undercut what you can and take chances on the less reliable if it saves your bottom line in the moment. But when you do that- you risk the quick easy fix costing you quite a bit in the future. Especially when the new easy fix isn’t reliable and catastrophic failure is always a thing you have to contend with- with anything. When I have new clients as they look at how much my own fees are and the numbers give them pause. My usual go-to is to remind them that they get what they pay for and it’s my experience and my specialities that recommend me. When we go to the hospital, do we want an inexperienced surgeon operating on us? Who’s trying to get their start in their career by slashing prices to get new clients? No. Hell no. We want the older more experienced surgeon with thousands of operations under their belt, who has kept up with their continuing education and has prided themselves on staying on the cutting edge because it’s our lives on the line. That’s why I used your services at first was because you had the most experience and you were the greatest professional that could be recommended and that’s why you’re worth your fees. Because it’s not just your own livelihood on the line, it’s your family’s and it’s your clients livelihoods too. You’re a serious and respectful professional. They aren’t. I think it’s only a matter of time before your clients get burned by using young and stupid. Because honestly, if they fail, it’s no big deal, they don’t have families that will go hungry, you do. Are these other pilot’s- locals, natives or outlanders?” You asked. 

“They’re all outlanders,” Noah answered. 

“And your clients?” You inquired as you tilted your head. 

“Locals and natives.” Noah answered. 

“Can you do me a favor?” You asked. 

“Anything.” Noah answered. 

“Write down the names of your difficult clients for me. Whenever I have issues especially with clients, especially tight fisted, cheapskate ones or ones that have problems out of my control that they’re somehow making me responsible for, I pray for them to come to their senses or simply have sense and reason. And if you could write down the names of the other pilots, I would also like to pray for them too.” 

“You’re not going to curse them are you?” Noah teased as he did as you asked of him after he dried off his hands after finishing the dishes. 

“No, I pray for my own competitors, because honestly there are some clients that are more trouble to keep than they’re worth and so I send them to my own competitors to deal with and I pray that those clients stay with them instead of coming back to me when they find out that I’m better than they are. Some clients are always about getting as much out of you as they can for as cheap as they can and I put as much distance between me and them as I can so that I will have the free space for the clients who will appreciate my quality and feel that I’m worth the investment. Instead of a “stupid splurge” that others think I am. So maybe these other clients that you’ve lost, you’re better off without them and now you’re free to take on new clients, clients who will appreciate you and not undercut you but build you up and hopefully pay better than the ones you lost ever paid you. Besides, if push comes to shove and your business goes belly up, I mean heaven forbid and knock on wood...” You quickly knocked on the countertops as he did too. “I have all kinds of connections with the air force base that’s half an hour away from me and there’s a local international airport that’s forty minutes away and there’s air fields all over, I’m sure there’s still all kinds of opportunities for you as a pilot anywhere you go, you could even be a private jet pilot if you really wanted to.” You mused as Noah considered those options. 

“But that’s neither here nor there and that’s puting like...7, 8, maybe even 9 carriages before our horses so don’t worry about it. Sometimes all we can do is pray and leave things in the god’s hands and trust that it’ll be ok.” You reassured him. “And I have a feeling everything will be just fine.” You added with a serene smile before you just enveloped him in a hug which he happily returned and he could have died happily right there in his kitchen and holding you, he felt the rest of his stress and anxiety completely leave him and if you were a goddess in the kitchen, you were an ethereal deity in his arms. Your touch was grounding yet uplifting all the same and you smelled amazing and he just wanted to lose himself in you. 

“Paradise? Could you give me a bath please?” Sakura asked which reluctantly pulled you out of Noah’s arms. 

“Sure thing Kiddo.” You agreed as you went to her and took her hand and together you went upstairs to where a large clawfoot tub was as you got her a bath, letting her use one of the bath bombs you had packed. You had again packed two sets of bath bombs and with one set with Taylor’s kids, the other set would be here for Sakura and Sakura picked one of your absolute favorites as you both watched as it dissolved, turning the water a kaleidoscope of colors as you used your special body wash to gently clean her skin as you sat on the floor next to the tub so that you could wash and rinse her hair as well as she played with her toys in the tub and once her hair was done, you got some leave in hair conditioner and detangler for her hair as you lovingly and patiently combed it all out. Sakura had such long and delicate fine white hair, like strands of silk by the time you were done with it and didn’t even notice how Noah was watching from the doorway. 

He had taken the moment of peace to finish up his paperwork for the day and just watching you be the mother you were with his daughter was practically bringing him to tears again. It was such a beautiful, heartwarming sight and if he had thought he was head over heels in love with you this morning, he was a goner for sure now. He felt incredibly whole and full after feeling so broken and hollow for so long. Something he thought impossible three days ago. But he was not about to question it. He was just grateful for it. 

Once she was cleaned up and the water was turning cold, you drained the tub and wrapped her up in a towel and helped her get ready for bed before she had you read her a story as Noah got a shower himself after rinsing out the tub of the remains of the bath bomb and since Sakura’s room was right across the hall, you got the glorious gift of seeing Noah in nothing but a towel around his waist as he walked from the bathroom to his room and seeing that big strong muscled back dripping with water, oh gods, you nearly fainted and the words out of your mouth trailed off as you realized Noah had one the best deriers you had probably ever seen in your life. He had curves that would put a back road to shame and once his door was shut that pulled you from admiring him back to Sakura’s story book but thankfully once you looked back to see if Sakura had noticed, she was thankfully out like a light. 

You closed the book and kneeled next to the bed and prayed to all the gods that she would sleep well and sleep in tomorrow to give Noah a chance to recover and you prayed for guidance in helping her and Noah and for the way to help to become evident to you and for you to recognize the opportunities and to have courage to take them when they presented themselves. 

When you were done you got up just to see Noah coming out of his room, dressed in pajamas and while you would love nothing more than to peel them off, the thought of bed and sleep did sound amazing and you were so tired, you had worked a miracle today, in cleaning the house and making a feast fit for a king and cleaning up after it too, although the cleaning up part was easy thanks to Noah’s help. 

“Well, today was awesome, thank you for welcoming me into your home, it’s beautiful.” You praised as you leaned against the wall after closing the door behind you and leaning against it. 

“It’s small and falling apart.” He admitted as he leaned against the wall across from you. Just taking in the vision of you in his hallway. 

“But it has a thousand times the love inside it than there is any mansion. A house is just a house until you put people in it, then it’s a home. And because of who is in this home means this is one of the finest ones I’ve ever been in.” You praised as you bashfully ducked your head as Noah looked like he was about to eat you alive in a very carnal way as he pushed off the wall and took a step forward before your phone rang and it was Taylor. 

“Hey, could you come get me? I’m ready to go and I’m so tired, I could fall over, please don’t make me walk back to your house.” You whined sarcastically as you couldn’t help but giggle a little and Noah reluctantly took a step back and knew that the door for him to prove to you just how much love was in his home, let alone himself, the door had closed as quickly as it opened and he missed his opportunity to prove it. All he could do is hope that it would open again the day after tomorrow. Maybe it was for the best, it would give him time to rest up and be fully energized. But he was determined. He was going to make you his one way or another before you left, if it was the last thing he would do and so begrudgingly he watched you leave as once again, the emptiness and hollow feeling crept back into him and he felt like warm light left the house once you did. 

Hell he would find a way to build you whatever kind of house you wanted, with his own two hands if he had to. 

“Why the fuck did you have me come get you when Noah is looking at you like a damn feast and he’s starving, I thought you wanted to raw him? What the fuck? Your opportunity to do that is behind you.” Taylor chastised you once you got in her minivan. 

“It’s not the right time. Noah deserves better than a one night stand or even a two nighter.” You argued. 

“Uh by my calculations it could have been a seven nighter if you got started tonight.” Taylor argued. 

“And then what? Have the best week of my life and then just...what? Walk away? No. I’m too invested emotionally with Sakura to do anything like that. I feel like if I rush the intimacy with Noah, I’ll lose the prize of having Sakura in the long run and they both deserve more attention and effort and time. And Noah and especially Sakura are a prize worth waiting for, worth fighting for worth doing whatever I can to help them and worth doing right. I don’t want to hit it and quit it.” You explained. 

“Look, I get it and that makes sense but I am telling you now, Noah looks like he’s about to hump that beam he’s leaning against and if you gave him half a chance I’m pretty sure he would have rocked the northern lights into your eyes tonight and every night from here on out, I know him, he’s not a hit and quit it person either and he’s as loyal as the summer days are long up here and when he does anything, he goes whole hog and he’s in it till the end, he’s a ride or die kind of guy. You said you were flexible and could go anywhere.” Taylor reminded you.

“...true. But again, I’ve only known him two days, would you drop everything and sell everything you own to move in with a stranger you’ve only known for two days?” You posed to her. “That’s putting a few carts ahead of the horse don’t you think?” You posed back to her. 

“Well ok, get to know him a tiny bit more and then bang his lights out and we can figure the rest out later.” Taylor compromised. 

“Ok, that’s a little more fair.” You laughed as she drove you back to her house where you promptly crashed. 

[theiceandbones]

21 questions

tagged by @squeakingcleopatraboy (thank you!!) rules: answer 21 questions and tag 21 people you want to get to know better

1: Nickname? i don’t think i have one but Lucky calls me Shan sometimes (only they may do so tho)

2: Name? Shannon

3: Zodiac? Scorpio sun, Aries moon, Capricorn rising (i don’t feel like a scorpio tho)

4: Favourite musicians or groups? haven’t thot about this in a while but Lord Huron, Hozier, The Mountain Goats, Stan Rogers, Fleet Foxes, Jackie Oates, The Grizzly Folk, Nick Drake, Wellington Sea Shanty Society, The Longest Johns, The Oh Hellos, The Decemberists, Beirut, Lotus Plaza, Beach House 

5: Favourite sports teams? does Terrebus FC count (i don’t follow sports jfjkhfgkh)

6: Other blogs? Not really they are inactive now. But I do plan to start up a history blog on blogspot soon! If only i could get over this writer’s block.

7: Do I get asks? From time to time, if you’ve ever indulged me in an ask meme thank you!

8: How many blogs do you follow? lots

9: Tumblr crushes? what that

10: Lucky numbers? i have no idea i cannot be bothered to pay attention but i think 9 is a pretty cool number

11: What are you wearing now? A sweater that says “bon voyage” and some harem pants from my fav boutique 

12: Dream vacation? That’s a hard one bc it’s anywhere right now but i would like to go to the UK to see some of the floating museums from the age of sail! HMS Victory and Trincomalee are right up there. as well as the Chesapeake Mill cafe! I’ve also wanted to go to Japan for a long time and to the Palermo Catacombs. 

13: Dream car? Hearse

14: Favourite food? I’ve been obsessed with quesadillas and souvlaki lately, and uhhhh spicy chicken burger

15: Drink of choice? It’s usually tea with milk and lots of sugar but i’m also all about iced coffee

16: Instruments? Bass and acoustic guitar although i’ve fallen out of the habit of playing them lately. But i would die to be able to play the hurdy gurdy or the dulcimer. and i also want an accordion. 

17: Languages? English, conversational German, can understand French but am bad at it :c

18: Celebrity crushes? there is a hint on my blog (is this really a secret)

19: Random fact? Once started a mosh pit to Johnny B. Goode 

20: Favourite ecosystem? Definitely am about oceans, tundra, taiga, and bogs/wetlands

21: Favourite cat species? Oriental Shorthair, Norwegian Forest, Pallas Cat, this is very hard and all cats are the best cat

Bonus question: Feminist text everyone should read? I’m sorry but i’m bad at recommending lit so i’m going to rec a song instead. I’ve been vibing to Katie Shaw by Kerfuffle as of late. A girl who runs away to become a coal miner and fools everyone? hell yeah. 

tagging:  @longwalk-shortpier @awildprancingbaratheon@bloodydroolingmaw @radiojamming @abvolt @andrewsblogforstuff @anthropoperipherism @carpe-mamilia @uglyjetta @ceilingninja @entwinedmoon @glorioustidalwavedefendor @actualmichelle @singersargent @norvegiae @zucchinigal no pressure as always and also anyone else who wants to do this!

[queernuck]

21 Questions

tagged by @ad-hene

Rules: Answer 21 questions and tag 21 people you would like to get to know better!

Nickname? at this point i can hardly distinguish between what kinds of names all my different names are so like, i guess shortenings of my online handles and so on.

Name? Lauren, Joan, Siobhan, Mary

Zodiac? Virgo Sun, Taurus Moon, Cancer Rising

Favorite musicians or groups? Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Elite Gymnastics, Mitski, Vampire Weekend, Lana Del Rey, The Mountain Goats, Crystal Castles (fuck Ethan tho) Lady Gaga, Death Grips Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Lil Peep, Juice WRLD, Eyehategod, Fleetwood Mac, gotta listen to the new Purity Ring, My Chemical Romance, and a lot of others

Favorite sports teams? The tops are New York Islanders, New York Yankees, New York Giants, Golden State Warriors and Manchester United. I ALSO enjoy any California NFL team, both of the Bay Area MLB teams, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, and players on various teams. I still need to get more into the NBA, I love Ja Morant and the Grizzlies’ throwback Vancouver jerseys. 

Other blogs? I have an Instagram! otherwise I’m just on Facebook, that’s it.

Do I get asks? Every once in a while, yeah.

How many blogs do I follow? nearly 5,000 lmao i been on here a long time

Tumblr crushes? the biggest ones are @klonopin-cruise-control and @ultraheavensdoor <3 <3 <3

Lucky numbers? 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 22, 27, 69

What are you wearing now? J Crew pyjama bottoms and a Red Wings t-shirt

Dream vacations? ATL and Bay Area right now, but also wanna do a lot of Drug Tourism tbh, like, coppin ounces of blow for the low, getting that real pure China White straight from the source, truffles MDMA and ketamine in Amsterdam, all of that

Dream car? i dont drive. but a Nissan Skyline lol

Favorite food? oh shit, good buffalo wings? pulled pork? steak? sushi? cookies n cream ice cream? xanax? idk

Drink of choice? i drink a lot of Diet Coke, after some of the instagrams Ive followed though I could go for some Dirty Sprite, or Pina Colada or Pinapple Fanta, a nice $400 soda if you know what I mean

Instruments? lol none 

Languages? English

Celebrity crushes? Mitski, Young Thug, Paul Pogba, Jamie Brooks, Grimes (yes i hate myself), a large portion of the NHL, Von Miller, a lot of the PLL as well 

Random facts? my ADHD is paired with Delayed Phase Sleep Disorder so im an anxious weird sleepy bitch even before you fuck that sleep pattern up with drugs and the internet. I have never left North America. I do not have a college degree.

Favorite ecosystem? Florida Mangrove forests kick ASS

Favorite cat species: All Cats Are Beautiful. Pallas Cat, Sand Cat, panthers and tigers are cool though.

Bonus question: What’s a feminist book that more people should read? Bodies That Matter by Judith Butler

Tagging: @klonopin-cruise-control @ultraheavensdoor @uncut-femmes @plum-soup @methed-up-marxist @deephouseforlesbians @rqqu @capresesandwich @lesbiangiroux @badgrapple @gnarcisist @t4t34 @lsd-xm @americanterrorist fuck it i cant think of that many more people to tag lmaooo

[windyfiend]

Alexis stepped out of the artificers’ chamber, and the heavy door closed on the smoke and flicker of candlelight. They stood alone in the palace corridor, their shining helmet gripped beneath an arm, head bowed, eyes closed.

The judgment of a spire-skewered sun pierced the open window, casting long gashes of light across their face. They could feel the hum and churn of the orrery like a sleeping dragon beneath the floor.

All of this was for the best.

“HEY!” a shout echoed, followed by the stomping clank of armored feet. “You the new commander?”

Alexis looked up. The approaching officer’s beetle-like armor shimmered and flashed as she passed the long windows. Her black hair bristled short and stamped with sweat, her forehead imprinted with the red mark of a helmet now carried at her hip. Her blue eyes burned furious.

“I’m just an officer,” Alexis corrected her gently. “My name is --”

“Alexis, yeah.” She stopped before them, stretched herself as straight as she could and craned her neck, glowering. “Commander Alexis. You were called to the atrium an hour ago, Sir. Where the hell have you been?!”

Alexis furrowed their brows. “You have me mistaken with someone else. I was only recruited last week--”

“--And now you’re our new commander,” she hissed. “The empress announced it an hour ago, but I guess you weren't at the meeting.”

“I’m sorry,” Alexis snapped like ice, “but though you know my name, I can’t recall that we’ve met.”

The officer raised her sharp chin.

“I’m Officer Pallas. While you were doing whatever the hell you’ve been doing,” she glanced hatefully behind Alexis at the engraved door, “the rest of us have been fighting a war down in the city--”

“The Light?” Alexis guessed, eyes wide.

“No, polar bears,” Pallas deadpanned. “Yes, the Light! We found a weapons stockpile under the street!”

Alexis launched sprinting down the hall with Pallas quick behind them. “Where did they get weapons!?” Alexis demanded.

“How would I know! I’m just an officer,” Pallas said savagely.

Alexis' helmet, twisted into place, greeted them with a flashing alert on the other side of the sprawling city.

The two Scythes burst out of an open door into the sunlight, flipped the hoverboards from their backs and shot like bullets across the garden, toward the long steps that led down into the city.

 --

BOOOOM!

An explosion ripped the street and bystanders coughed stumbling out of a wave of dust and smoke. Alexis and Pallas kicked up their hoverboards and raced on foot into the haze and debris, a curved blade in each armored hand.

[The stockpile was in a blocked-off part of the sewer] Pallas’ voice snapped in Alexis’ helmet.

Alexis stepped around an open manhole and watched the scanners for movement. A shadow darted through the smoke ahead.

“How many Light operatives are we dealing with?” asked Alexis.

[Nine that I’ve counted.] This new voice was unfamiliar, smooth and smiling teeth. [Eight… Seven.]

[Kieran!] shouted Pallas. [We take them alive, you get it?]

[It was self-defense, Pallas dear. Perfectly justified. ...Six.]

[Goddammit, Kieran!]

A flash of metal caught Alexis’ eye and they whirled in place--

*clang!*

The attacker struggled, ragged and filmed in dust, while his sword scraped between Alexis’ crossed blades.

“You’re defending a monster,” the operative hissed. Righteous determination burned in his sharp glare.

Alexis’ helmet blinked warning.

Alexis moved, swift deadly violence, a flash of blades, a strike and a kick, and the sword clattered while the operative curled shuddering in the street, one arm useless while the other hand cradled his broken ribs.

Alexis dodged a spear, lashed like a scorpion and sent a second operative stumbling facefirst into the cobblestones.

“Four,” Alexis announced.

[Two!] called Pallas. [One!]

[Now where could that last little mole be hiding?] Kieran chuckled. [Shall we make a game of it?]

[Kieran, if you don’t shut your mouth I’ll shut it for you] Pallas snarled.

[Oh, please do.]

“I’m headed down,” said Alexis, and they lowered themself into the open manhole and dropped into the dark sewer below.

 --

The screen inside Alexis’ helmet shifted night-vision green. They could see the racks of swords and axes lined up like soldiers against the decaying walls. A workbench was laden with twisted metal, stripped wires, mounds of clay, jugs of unidentified liquid.

They knelt and picked up a crude package encased in soft putty and tape, riddled with unfinished wires.

“Put it down, Scythe!” A voice called behind them. “Stand up and turn around slowly.”

Alexis laid down the unfinished bomb, then raised their empty hands and stood.

They turned to see a woman with long dreads of black hair, holding up a modified radio communicator. Her hands were shaking. She stood her ground.

“One wrong move,” she warned, “and I’ll blow this city block sky-high.” She cracked a flare with one hand and tossed it hissing to the floor, illuminating the sewer in sparkling red light. “Take off your helmet.”

[Alexis, what’s happening?] Pallas demanded. [Do you--]

Alexis pulled off their helmet. They laid it on the grimy floor at their feet.

“Good,” the woman spat. “Now. You listen. We have a message for the empress.”

Alexis watched her steadily. No movement. No betrayal of expression. “I’m listening.”

“Tell her,” the woman’s voice rose in a quiver, “that we know she’s stealing our children. Tell her I know she stole my child. My Liam.”

Her teeth scraped. Her throat trembled. Tears brimmed and spilled wet down her thin cheeks.

“Tell her that we know she’s drinking them dry for the sake of her sick immortality. Three hundred years is long enough for a monster like her to live. Tell her we’re coming for her. Tell her we’ll kill her, and tear her open, and release the sun back into the sky because we know that, too.” She shook her head as she spoke, a seething detestation like venom in her voice.

“We know she took everything from us,” she spat. “As long as she lives, our children aren’t safe. As long as she lives, there will always be darkness. And we are sick of the dark. The sun will rise again!”

She raised her head, the whites of her eyes gleaming, sneering and rigid and manic. She lifted the communicator high over her head.

“WE ARE THE LIGHT--!”

 --

*swish*

 --

The woman’s body collapsed while her head rolled and splashed into the foul water.

A blue-armored Scythe-- thin and sharp as a switch --stood over the corpse, curved blades dripping blood.

“Zero,” Kieran said with a smile.

 --

Alexis stood frozen in the sizzling light of the flare. They watched the blood creep viscous across the floor.

The light dimmed.

When Kieran didn’t move nor speak again-- waiting, a hand on his hip, for a reaction --Alexis retrieved their helmet and put it on.

[-- the hell is happening!] Pallas was shouting.

“It’s over,” Alexis said, their eyes trained steady on Kieran. “Pallas, call the artificers to clear the bodies. We’ll take the rest back with us as prisoners. Check them for bombs before you move them. We need a team to sweep the area for explosives and clear the sewer. I will notify the empress.”

[Sure] Pallas said with a skeptical lilt. [I’ll get right on it. Commander.]

Alexis released the tension in their shoulders, grateful that Pallas had agreed without a fight, but Kieran took a step and Alexis’ posture straightened like a rod.

“So you’re the new Commander,” Kieran purred behind his helmet while he treaded softly in the pooling blood. “The mysterious Alexis, who appeared out of nowhere-- no home, no family, no credentials --and stole the empress’ favor out from under us.”

Kieran stopped, his arms calmly akimbo, his head raised high. A smirk bled through his words. “I hear you’re friendly with the artificers. Why might that be?”

The bomber’s blood soaked into the flare. The fizzling light snuffed out.

“I am not obligated to explain myself,” Alexis stated, “and I will not answer questions that do not pertain to our duties. Your recklessness today will be overlooked this once, because your actions may have prevented a lethal explosion. But I will not turn a blind eye again. I’m putting you in charge of the bomb sweep efforts. Conduct a thorough search of the surrounding area.”

Kieran folded a thin arm at his waist and gave a deep, mocking bow.

“As you wish,” he hissed in a slithering voice, “Commander.”