#so wistfully nostalgic and bittersweet

[sinful-morningstar]

Spartober Day 23 Rose (Vergil x Sparda)

Author's Note: I loved writing this I adore Sparda and Vergil as a pairing, dare I say I like them a bit more just a bit more than Vergil and Dante (I still adore Dante x Vergil) . anyways this is very heavy on the forbidden aspect of their relationship and the imagery is there, also Eva is mentioned . but anyways i hope you enjoy Today's (Yesterday's) Prompt Prompts by whatsanapocalae1 (I use a combination of SparTober and Devil MayTober Prompts) 23: Rose (Vergil x Sparda)

Vergil smiled warmly as he walked past the Garden he saw an array of different flowers planted there, all tended to and cared for by the family but mostly Eva and Sparda. He saw Holly Bushes, Black Cherry Petunias, Midnight tulips and his personal secret favourite; a cliche pick of flower but it was something he enjoyed immensely, Red and black roses in thorn bushes, he thought the dark beauty of the roses within the harmful thorns carried such elegance to them.

he watched as Sparda was trimming the thorns and branches that stuck out like a sore thumb making sure the bushes looked presentable in the garden, only the best for the Sparda Family.

"Careful Father..." he said, nodding at how close the man's hands were to the razor sharp thorns.

"Thank you, Vergil" Sparda smiled kindly to his son, he was cutting back some of the thorny branches from the bushes. He always enjoyed garden work, it was something he did with Eva when she was still around, he knew she would appreciate the flowers being given special attention.

Vergil nodded gently as he sat on the iron garden bench tracing over the intricate designs the various swirls and twists of the metal forming shapes of hearts , he hummed to himself in thought this garden was very Romantic the choices of both flowers and décor complemented each other greatly it left him sighing wistfully.

he took his hand away from the bench as he reached for his poetry book letting his eyes scan various passages enjoying the words that flooded his mind he adored the emotional works of various poets the written word making his heart soar just as much as Aesthetically pleasing art

His eyes caught sight of Sparda and he gave him a fond look "It's beautiful...you tend to this garden well..."

"Why thank you!" Sparda said with a light chuckle. "And yes, I do my best, your mother would've loved to see it" he looked off into the distance, towards the sun that was beginning to set. "I do miss her, and you my son."

He looked at Vergil, a nostalgic warmth washed over him when he remembered his younger days with his family, but then it was met with a twinge of sadness. He knew that those days were long gone now.

"Is it hard to be without her?" He asked after a moment of silence.

Vergil smiled warmly at Sparda. He gazed at the sunset. It was so beautiful. Something about this moment was bittersweet but it held something else, something unspoken in the air, a connection between Father and Son that surpassed the conventional.

"You still have me Father ..and Dante..." he said as he closed his book with a sigh, setting it down and approaching Sparda as he sat beside him at the rose bush.

He gently stroked the rose petals mindful of the thorns that surrounded them .

"It 's always hard but. Not so hard when you're around.." he said softly with a fond expression, his eyes locked on Sparda's a look of adoration in his gaze. He was so distracted he pricked his finger on the thorn. wincing in pain he looked at the bead of blood that formed on his fingertip.

Sparda looked worried, but then he caught the look in Vergil's eyes and it warmed him, he gently took Vergil's injured finger and sucked the blood off.

"It will heal better" he said, not seeming to mind the taste of his sons blood much. As he was doing this he looked directly at him, a bit of sadness in his own eyes but mostly warmth. "You're right, I still have you...and Dante. And I will always do my best for you both."

Vergil blushed as he watched Sparda suck the blood off of the tip of his finger, he bit his lip and looked away bashfully before looking back at him he saw how Sparda enjoyed the taste of his blood and it made his heart race.

"I..I forget ..you can heal simply by..doing this.." he said trying to get himself to calm down.

"You do your best every single day Father...Forgive Dante for being distant, I know he was closer to Mother than I..."

The corner of Sparda's mouth curled into a soft smile, he watched Vergil as his face flushed.

"You don't need to look away," he said gently, "I'm just glad I could... help."

He saw the look of sadness in Vergil's eyes, and he felt the same way. He knew Dante and Eva were more close, but it still hurt him that his son felt a bit neglected.

"I'll forgive him... I promise" he said, trying to reassure Vergil.

"You know... You remind me of your mother a bit when you blush" he laughed.

Vergil blushed scarlet at the smirk he received from his father; he understood his reassurance and nodded in turn. his heart racing as he looked back at Sparda gently, his eyes meeting him as he listened closely to him giving him his undivided attention.

his eyes widened as he blushed pure red, almost as red as the gem on his amulet given to him by Eva "F-Father..." he stammered in surprise he knew he was teasing but it irked him.

Sparda seemed to enjoy the fact that Vergil was embarrassed by his comment, his smirk grew as he saw how red Vergil turned. He took his other hand and caressed Vergil's face affectionately.

"I'm only teasing you" he said lovingly, "But it's true, I do see some of your mother in you from time to time. It makes me smile to see it."

He smiled at his son, and he could see the sadness in Vergil's eyes diminish as a result.

Vergil felt mixed feelings from the statement. Part of him was happy to give him comfort but the other felt pain. He heard the words ' it makes me smile' but he wondered if it was a fake smile, a bittersweet smile or what could be?, he didn't want to be a reminder of the woman Sparda had lost, he didn't want to put him through that pain.

"F-Father.." he said softly with that small bit of sadness still in his eyes as he spoke.

Sparda felt the sadness in his son's voice, and he couldn't hide his feelings much longer. "I do miss her, Vergil" he spoke, his voice cracking.

He looked at the rose bushes, trying to conceal the emotion in his eyes, but it was clear that he was hurt just as much as Vergil.

"I miss Eva so much..." the tears in his eyes were beginning to spill onto his cheeks.

"And this garden... I wish she could be here to see it again." He said.

Vergil teared up gently "I miss her as well..." he sighed softly.

"This garden is thriving with each passing day. She would be proud Father.." he said as he looked at the rose bush and the way the sunset hit the scenery just right it was all so heart-warmingly beautiful, a truly romantic evening.

He looked at his son, and then back to the garden, seeing the beauty in it, and it brought a small smile to his face. "Yes, you're right," he said softly but lovingly.

He looked at the setting sun as it cast a warm light on the garden, making it even more romantic. It reminded him of when he would visit Eva here, when she was still alive. The memories were bittersweet and they made him even more sad. "She would be proud..."

Sparda then looked back at his son, and wiped away his tears with the back of his hand.

Vergil smiled warmly looking back at Sparda as he spoke "What is grief if not love persevering?" he said in a gentle tone as he leaned against Sparda's shoulder watching the sunset with a dreamy sigh.

He was taken aback as he saw Sparda handing him something, he felt the stem of the flower as he held the Rose lifting it up to smell it with a happy hum.

"A beautiful sentiment," Sparda said with a smile. His son always had such a way with words. He enjoyed the feeling of Vergil leaning against him, he felt safe with his son's presence.

He saw that Vergil was admiring the rose he gave him, and it made him happy to see him enjoying it.

"I didn't want you to get pricked again" he said jokingly "But you should make a wish"

He knew that Eva used to love making wishes on roses.

"Oh..a wish..." Vergil said gently as he looked back at Sparda with a smirk smelling the rose once more inhaling its scent as he made his wish and sealed it with a kiss letting his lips brush against the soft petals.

This bond between himself and Sparda was something else, something different..something one couldn't fathom if they tried to explain it, but it was more than fatherly love.

Sparda noticed the way Vergil placed his lips against the rose petals, and he couldn't deny that his heart pounded just slightly.

After a moment, he cleared his throat. "Well... What did you wish for?"

He knew that this was something that he and his wife used to do together, he hoped that Vergil would have a good wish.

He then realised the weight of the bond between him and his son "It's more than father and son isn't it..." he asked softly.

Vergil smirked playfully "If I tell you it won't come true..." he hummed softly, holding the rose in his hand examining it as he played with the petals gently tracing his fingertips over them individually seeing how it spiralled and bloomed in his hands.

He was too distracted to hear the question. He figured it was a question that was rhetorical .

Sparda's face blushed slightly "I see... I'll leave you to your rose and secrets then" he said playfully.

He gently took the rose from Vergil's hand, and looked at it for a moment, trying to see if he could figure out what his son asked the rose for.

Then he saw that the setting sun was now fully beneath the horizon, and the sky was beginning to fill up with stars. "I remember... Eva and I used to look at the stars together... It was so beautiful." He sighed softly.

Vergil looked up at the stars with Sparda , he watched as the lights twinkled in the night sky he was mesmerised by it as he stayed close to Sparda his head on his shoulder as he aimlessly tried to retrieve the rose from his fathers hand only to accidentally grab his hand making the rose fall in Sparda's lap.

he blushed gently as he looked away only to have Sparda's hand lift his chin to face him.

Sparda gently lifted his son's face so he could look into his eyes. "Why are you blushing?" He had a sweet smile on his face.

He then chuckled as he saw the rose in his lap, he gave it back to Vergil, but he didn't let go of his son's hand. "Be careful with that" He joked softly.

Sparda watched the stars for a moment more, then looked back at Vergil. "Do you think... that she's looking at us right now?" He asked.

Vergil bit his lip gently, swallowing surprised by these emotions, of course he had been harbouring them for quite some time but now on this night under these circumstances he knew deep down what it was he was feeling.

His heart raced as he heard Sparda chuckle; it made him flutter inside as he held Sparda's hand gently. He was indeed falling for him, and despite everything he didn't feel that much guilt... that was until Sparda spoke of Eva once more.

'I sure hope not...' Vergil thought to himself as Sparda asked him the question.

Sparda looked at him closely, he was starting to notice that his son's feelings for him were growing, maybe because their bond had become deeper. But there was also something else... something he was trying to hide.

He saw the way Vergil looked away when he asked him about Eva. It made his heart sink a little for a moment as he realised his son's feelings. But then, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth in a playful way.

"Is there someone special to you?" He asked the question playfully.

Vergil avoided Sparda's gaze as he looked at the starlight , his heart racing as he shivered at the now cool air blowing past them this clear night sky during the fall. He swallowed softly as he slowly mustered the courage to look his father in the eye.

when Sparda asked the question he couldn't help but clear his throat "Heh what? no..why..why do you ask?" he said looking back at him cautiously.

Sparda chuckled softly when Vergil tried to evade his gaze, that only made the feeling of love he had for him grow. He looked at his son in a new light, he looked almost... attractive.

"Well... your flushed face says otherwise" Sparda teased jokingly as he looked at Vergil's face.

He then brought his face close to Vergil's "I won't tell anyone" he whispered, smiling seductively. The way Sparda was acting was unusual for him, even though many people knew him to be kind, he was never the type to be this flirtatious.

Vergil gasped softly seeing how close they were as he looked back up at Sparda with a newfound desire in his eyes, he bit his lip and swallowed audibly , he looked back down at the rose that sat in Sparda's lap, he reached for it.

"I..I mustn't..."

Sparda sighed softly when he saw the look in Vergil's eyes, and then he noticed the way his son's fingers began to trace the rose softly, in a suggestive way.

Sparda looked down at the flower and then he suddenly got on with an idea. "What if..." He looked at Vergil and then he placed his other hand on Vergil's cheek, in the most tender way possible.

He looked into his own eyes "What if I give you what you want? Do you think you'd be able to control yourself?" He whispered, a hint of a teasing smile on his face.

Vergil shivered softly as he leaned into the touch almost melting at his fathers Suggestion. "But..We..We shouldn’t..." he Stammered as he looked away only to be turned back to his gaze. He shuddered as he moved closer to him.

"We musn’t..."

Sparda gently pulled Vergil closer "I'm not saying we should, but maybe we both can have what we want?" He whispered, his voice sounding gentle, but also seductive.

He looked down at the flower the two of them were sharing, he placed his lips gently on the petal. And then he looked at Vergil, his eyes sparkling. He was still holding his hand, in fact, he placed the other free hand on Vergil's other cheek.

"I think... you can control yourself" Sparda said with a smirk on his face.

Vergil watched Sparda close, seeing him kiss the flower petals exactly where he had kissed it himself, the pair sharing a kiss from a rose. He smirked gently and he couldn't help it, Sparda was charming. A handsome Devil that made him weak to the knees.

"I don't think I Can...Can you?..." he asked gently, his eyes looking up at Sparda with a puppy eyed expression.

Sparda leaned closer, his head now facing Vergil's, almost touching. He was so close to his son, their faces almost touching.

He then softly smirked, showing a bit of his sharp teeth, "No, I don't think I can either" He said, his voice sounding seductively low.

"Shall we find out?" He asked, his eyes sparkling and his voice sounding seductively soft, this was a side of Sparda that he normally didn't show to his son, but he decided to do something special for Vergil tonight. Vergil leaned in as he gave in to his Father’s seduction the scent of roses on them both as they shared a passionate embrace, locking mouths as their tongues tasted one another, the rose fell to the ground in the pile of thorns as Father and Son give in to their Forbidden love…a rose amongst thorns…

[lilythehopelessromantic]

I’m Too Young to Be This Nostalgic

As a member of Generation Z or even younger millennials, I often find myself in a charmingly ironic position: I’m too young to be this nostalgic. The feeling is almost bittersweet, a mix of yearning for experiences I never fully lived and an awareness that my memories exist in a reality that isn't mine. Yet, as I scroll through social media or engage in conversations with friends, I can't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia for things I barely experienced firsthand. How can this be?

The Echoes of the Past

Nostalgia is often associated with older generations who reflect on their childhoods, their innocence, and the simplicity of earlier times. However, with the rise of technology and the vast availability of content, nostalgia has become a cultural currency even for those of us in our late teens or early twenties. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are flooded with throwback trends that showcase clip after clip of past fashion, music, and even childhood television shows from decades past.

When I see a video of someone wearing butterfly clips or raving about the latest Tamagotchi, I'm struck by a feeling that’s hard to articulate. It’s a yearning for something that feels impossibly distant yet intimately familiar, as if those moments are somehow imprinted in my collective memory.

The Influence of Pop Culture

Our pop culture is a treasure trove of nostalgia, largely because of its cyclical nature. TV shows and movies from the late '90s and early 2000s are getting reboots or sequels, and the music is being reimagined or sampled in songs that top today’s charts. For someone who wasn’t even alive during the original releases, this begs the question: Why do I feel connected to it?

Perhaps it’s because of the way these pieces of art are marketed today. Series like “Stranger Things” tap into the aesthetics and cultural nuances of the past, providing a nostalgic lens through which we can engage with eras we didn’t truly experience. The fashion and music are cleverly curated to evoke a sense of wistfulness for an era that many of us associate with icons like Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, despite never living through it.

The Melancholy of the “What If”

There’s a unique kind of melancholy that comes from nostalgia when you’re too young to have lived the moments you romanticize. It’s a “what if” scenario playing in the back of your mind—the “what if” of simpler times, carefree summers, and laughter-filled hangouts with friends. The sepia-toned filters of our childhoods glimmer with what could have been, leaving us to wonder whether we missed out on something monumental.

I often find myself imagining what it would be like to have grown up in a world before smartphones, a time when friendship meant face-to-face interactions rather than group chats. While I know that loneliness and heartbreak existed then, too, my mind drifts to the idealized moments, desperately longing for connections that felt more tangible.

Finding Nostalgia in the Present

However, while I may feel too young to be nostalgic, I can embrace the power of creating my own nostalgic experiences. Rather than wistfully looking to the past, I can focus on crafting memories in the present that I'll reflect on fondly in the years to come. Whether it’s hosting a ’90s-themed party, styling outfits inspired by the nostalgic eras I admire, or diving into the music of my parents’ youth, the nostalgia I crave doesn't have to center around what I've missed—it's about what I'm experiencing now.

In a way, our generation has the best of both worlds. We can access the past while living in the now. We can cultivate our own nostalgia-filled moments, enriched by appreciation for eras we might never see again but can still celebrate.

Conclusion: Embracing the Cycle of Nostalgia

So, yes, I’m too young to be this nostalgic, but instead of feeling burdened by that sentiment, I choose to embrace it. Nostalgia can serve as a reminder of the beauty in moments we get to create, an opportunity to look back fondly while continuing the cycle of memory-making.

As we navigate our young lives in a world filled with echoes of the past, let’s create our own experiences worth feeling nostalgic about. After all, in the end, nostalgia doesn’t just belong to those who lived it; it can also be the thread that connects generations, enriching how we understand ourselves and each other. So here's to the nostalgia yet to come!

[nibsdarling]

“Really? Are any of them single?” Nibs hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting Mei’s friends yet, but he knew from Slightly showing him some of her TikToks that she had a main squad consisting of herself and three close girl friends who often appeared in her videos. “It’ll be fun to have new friends around anyway!” he added brightly after a moment’s pause, as he truly didn’t just care about their guests in terms of whether they were viable options to kiss. It was always fun when Tink’s friends were around—which Cubby surely agreed with if his relationship with Prilla was anything to go by. Those two were adorable together…but with both Cubs and Sly having new girlfriends at the same time and being ready to move out into their own place together, it really felt like they were growing up and flying the nest, both at the same time.

Nibs was as happy for his brothers as he was sad to see them go, and from a purely logistical standpoint, this place was getting pretty crowded with the two latest additions to the household, so two leaving would bring them back to a more manageable balance…but it was still bittersweet. Ah, New Year’s. Nibs clapped a hand over Cubby’s shoulder and smiled wistfully. Cubby wasn’t privy to his thoughts and the nostalgic air that had come over him at the moment, so he just said, “It’ll be too quiet around here when you and Sly move out.” (That was mostly untrue; it would still be loud as hell. But it was the vibes he was talking about.)

"Oh," Cubby answered simply, eyebrows furrowed momentarily until he remembered that he did still have some soup he made leftover in the fridge. He was glad Nibs was enjoying it, at least! He nodded his head as his brother described the actual smell of confidence. "Those are really good smells.." He trailed off, watching the older lost boy take a whiff of his shirt. Cubs smiled in return as he rocked back and forth on his heels excitedly, the thought of kissing Prilla tonight making him eager for her to arrive; perhaps Nibs' confidence was rubbing off on him, too. "I dunno, maybe? Or you could wait and see who else shows up —" he shrugged, attempting to help by thinking of who else was coming. "— I think I heard Sly's girlfriend is bringing some of her friends?"

[kotoyin]

when you get lyra's friendship level to a high enough level that she starts to talk about her childhood this is the song that would play durring it

[shuotaizawa]

MY GOD i was naruto fic hunting and i saw this fic that was published in 2008 that UPDATED THIS YEAR APRIL.... i haven’t even read the fic but holy FUCK seeing that made me so emotional????

[ikenugs]

I decided that, while I've been in this fandom for a considerably decent amount of time, I have never wrote a one-shot or story of any Mystic Messenger characters. Anyways Yoosung is a precious little bean and a cinnamon roll and who I was first attracted to all my first times playing the game. He. Is. Adorable. And thought that, I should do a fantasy I had nearing the end of his route.

Sleepy Times~ Mystic Messenger One-shot

Summary- Basically you are visiting his dorm for the first time and are decidedly staying there for a week and a half. So while making the most of this time, one night you fall asleep beside him and gently wake him up to go brush your teeth.

Pairing- Yoosung x (I always insert my oc's name but feel free to put yourself in the situation) Emi

Genre- Fluff for days

The iconic sound of the Disney laughter drew her from the depths of dreamland. She groaned and pulled the cozy sweater further up her face, and snuggled closer into her arm. Emi's eyelids slowly opened, she was immediately blinded by the flatscreen in front of her, it was playing old Disney reruns. You know in the golden age of Disney, not whatever it has become, with all the iconic tv shows. Beside her she spotted an empty tub of chocolate ice cream, the greasy smell of cheesy deliciousness caught her attention turning her head to the side. There was a singular slice of pizza left in the box, but she felt as though she had a food baby coming soon, she would totally snatch that later though. Pushed to the far side of the wall were stacks of textbooks, with sheets of paper in between the pages, now this wouldn't have been out of the ordinary, as she was a college student herself, if she didn't notice the picture of Rika hung above it (-_-). No way would that snake be in her dorm, so then where......? She hastily looked beside her as she heard a quiet snore. Her gaze instantly became tender as she glanced at the sleeping figure beside her, his blonde locks fell over his eyes and brushed softly against his cheek. Why must he look so peaceful? And so adorable? Emi HAD to get a picture of the cutie next to her, and reached over for her phone, the time read 2:45 a.m., was it really that late?!!!! She quickly took a picture of the snoring babie, ignoring the missed chats in the chatroom.

After spending the past few days with Yoosung, it was apparent he tended to forget to take care of himself properly. He had fallen out of habit around the time of Rika's death, he hadn't had the motivation to do much, not studies, not eat, nothing. Plus her teeth had hurt from her grinding habits, and she needed to brush her teeth. She really didn't want to disturb him but began gently shaking him. "Yoosung~ie~~ Hey, " He groggily looked up at her, and broke into a sweet tired smile. "We need to go brush our teeth~" she whispered and attempted to help him up from their position on the floor. After several minutes they had finally reached the bathroom, his blue toothbrush (and yes I looked on his picture to confirm that his toothbrush was blue >///<) came into view, as it was held in one of those holder things attached to the wall.

Immediately after walking into the bathroom, Emi closed the door behind them, and in response to Yoosung's questioning gaze, explained why she did it. She had always been a secretive, introverted person, and so even doing simple tasks like washing her face or brushing her teeth, she liked the privacy of shutting the door. The only thing that could be heard for a couple of minutes was the noises of sluggish brushing. After spitting out, she began having recollections of the dream she had earlier, it was a sweet one where he gave her a surprise peck while playing LOLOL together. The thought made her blush, but it gave her a few ideas. She idly waited until Yoosung had spit out some toothpaste, and rushed forward. A thud could be heard, his back against the wall, he let out a soft moan and his amethyst eyes widened, if he wasn't awake before, he was wide awake now. She held his arms on either side of him, pinning him to the wall, his toothbrush still in his mouth. By his point his face completely flushed, he was definitely not expecting that. Now their noses were touching and he could feel her breath on his face, though she acted a bit dominant in the situation, Yoosung was the one who finally closed the gap between them, bringing their lips together for a sweet tender kiss. After a few seconds they parted only to stare perplexed at each other, in shock of the cute moment, and Yoosung bashfully smiled her way. Blush still dusting their cheeks.

Even Emi was surprised at the way she had acted, which was most definitely upon her desires. In the flustered moment of realization she quickly turned away, and just to be clear this bathroom was not the biggest, it's a college dorm after all, so this was just calling for catastrophe. In her rush to get away ,her toe, her pinkie toe to be specific, smashed into the sink cabinet. She fell to the floor in embarrassment, as she lacked the capacity in her brain to keep her composure, she felt Yoosung's blue tooth brush under her hands. So she just flopped on the floor for a few moments before pulling herself back up. She made a beeline for the door. And as they walked back to their own little makeshift bed she began whining about the pain, you could see the playful smile on his perfect lips. He couldn't help but laugh, this is something you're meant to cherish, the little moments like these. It wasn't long before they were both laying down on the large blanket placed on the floor, he stared at the ceiling lost deep within his thoughts. Even the small things like this are precious because in what feels like just moments, it would be all gone. The warm times they would look back on, longing, wishing that it could have lasted forever. His smile faltered slightly, at the bittersweet thoughts that pestered him. He turned to her, about to ask her a question, but all thoughts we're lost as he saw the cutest sight before him. She was already passed out on the floor, her delicate facial features all pleasantly eased. His gaze was full of complete love and adoration, as he smiled and watched her chest rise and fall softly. Sure, these moments won't last forever, nothing ever does, but they just have to make the most of it while these sweet times happen. He walked over to a cupboard along his wall and pulled out a fuzzy blanket, walking quietly over to his lover. Yoosung laid it down and tucked her in, gently stroking down her arm. Emi hummed and grabbed his hand in hers and delicately nuzzled into it. His heart felt warm and fuzzy, and he couldn't help but admire her, he loved everything about her. He wanted to cuddle her then and there, and there were plenty of other things he wanted to do with her, but neither were truly ready, and he would never disrespect her boundaries. After a few more moments he lowered himself beside her, a satisfied smile crossing his face. It wasn't long before her soothing steady breaths began lulling him into a peaceful rest. His last thoughts echoed in his head as these. No matter how small, he would cherish these moments, never take her love for granted. Because these sweet moments filled with happiness and true love, will easily be gone, in just a second.

Seven had been slightly dozing off until he heard the sound of shuffling footsteps walking towards the bathroom. Now that got him awake, he was watching their interactions to see if his boy Yoosung would 'actually go for it', of course he had to hack into his dorm room cams to get a full view. He smirked slightly as Emi closed the bathroom door behind her, 'now just what could you two be planning on doing in there?😏' Though, he couldn't see what was going on, a little bit of a con but hey. Shortly after he heard a thud and watched intently, pushing his glasses further up his nose, he was like :0 This would be perfect trolling material, he could just see the teasing now, ah. He waited patiently to hear more, just to confirm of course, but nothing more could be heard, not until they left the bathroom. Neither one looked much different, except the toothpaste on Yoosung's shirt. He heard snitbits of their conversation, "That actually hurt so baaaaad, like it was just my luck to stub my toe so hard against the sink." Yoosung grinned goofily, "Ya, it looked like it hurt, " she punched him playfully on the arm, "Hey! Stop laughing, for all you know my toe could be broken!"

Seven chuckled softly at their childish banter, 'I guess, they really didn't do anything then, ' He was just having those impure thoughts, the thud must've been from her stubbing her toe! (Bad thoughts for a 'holy child of Jesus') As they layed there, he chose to leave, leave those sweet, innocent, intimate moments to the two lovebirds. After logging off of the camera feed, he couldn't help but stare wistfully at the floor, he wanted to feel happy for them, but he was frowning a small bit, why not him? A small tear fell down his cheek.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This idea was actually too adorable, I just love it too much. The ending almost got me there, I was listening to nostalgic songs and it made me feel pretty down. But at the end I actually considered putting 'Just like Rika' or some mention of Rika, just to piss off the vast majority of the population. But he learned in the good ending, so kudos to his growth!

[seth-storm]

I Belong Up There...

(A random thing because I want to write but don’t know what to write so I’ll make this up as I go!)

Pairing: Royality

Patton had always wanted to fly. Ever since he was a child he could remember his dreams of flying. He read a book called “The Girl Who Could Fly” (by Victoria Forester) in Middle school and loved it so much that it sparked something in him. He used to lay on the floor of his bedroom and kick his little legs as fast as he could, hoping he would be able to lift off the ground. He had dreams where this technique worked and he would soar around his house and into other, extraordinary worlds. He would watch the birds up there and felt like that was his place. It was where he belonged. He became obsessed with the Tinkerbell movies and the Rainbow Fairy books. He loved the intricate talents of each fairy. They could fly and they all had an identity. They had something that made them special and unique. He wanted to fly just like the fairies in those stories. He wanted to fly in the sky that called for him and have a unique identity of his own.

As Patton grew up, he found out that liking Tinkerbell and children’s fairy books were frowned upon. Further frowned upon was his idea of not belonging. Other kids didn’t belong either. Some kids thought didn’t belong because they were odd. Some kids thought they didn’t belong because of their sexuality or gender. Patton made all those people feel loved anyway, and made them feel like they belonged. And when they would confide in Patton in the dark hours of the night that they didn’t belong, Patton would smile at them and tell them that they did belong. But Patton didn’t belong because he always felt the sky was calling him. He felt the overwhelming hope that if he could just figure out the secret, he could fly. He could soar with the birds. He could be unique. But he couldn’t say that. His dreams seemed childish. Silly, even.

As time went on, High School battered down Patton’s desire to fly. But he still had other absurd and unattainable wishes. Patton wished to have Heterochromia because he wanted people to think his eyes were pretty and focus less on his glasses. Patton also wanted to have synesthesia because he wanted to be different and be able to impress all his classmates when he said he could hear colors. But not all Patton’s wishes were big. Some were simple, but just as unattainable. Patton wanted to be a good singer to be able to impress his friends who could sing really well. Patton wanted to be tall so he could make lighthearted jokes about his short friends, instead of always being at the recieving end of such jokes. Patton wanted to be able to draw, and bring his creations to life on a page exactly the way he’d envisioned it. Most importantly, Patton wanted to be able to be different.

He didn’t remember his dreams of flying until one day in English. The teacher had asked the class what their craziest dream was. Patton had to think about it for a moment, since he’d had plenty of weird dreams. He’d had a dream of two monkeys chasing each other around an arena trying to wack each other with hammers one time. That one was pretty weird. But before he could raise his hand to respond that, another hand went up in the back row.

“Yes?” The teacher had asked, smiling at the student in the back. Patton didn’t look back, raising his hand patiently and waiting for his turn.

“My craziest dream is to be a star.” A dramatic voice came from the back of the room.

“A star? Like a movie star?” The teacher smiled. “That’s not too crazy coming from you, Mr. Alexander.”

“No, a literal star in the sky.” The same voice answered wistfully. “In my dream I’m one of the stars up in the sky. I’m not particularly different, or special, or unique, but people look up at me in wonder. Because I’m so far away and yet so close all in one. I’m so high up, ordinary, and beautiful that I make up part of something bigger than myself. I belong up there, Mrs. Talyn. In the sky.”

Patton’s head turned to the back of the room at the last part, curious. There he saw Roman Alexander, the brightest and prettiest boy in school. Roman met his eyes across the room and smiled. His eyes were blue, Patton noticed. Blue like the sky.

Suddenly all his dreams of flight came back to him. He remembered all those years he had felt so out of place on the ground, all that time practicing so he could fly in the sky, all that time desperately wanting to be noticed and different. Roman wanted to leave the ground too. But Roman didn’t want to be noticed or different. He just wanted to be part of a stunning galaxy.

“That was quite beautiful. Thank you.” Mrs Talyn said, smiling. “How about you, Mr. Baker?”

Patton startled in surprise, not realizing he had never put his hand down. He adjusted his glasses, unsure of what to say. He’d just been reminded of his grandest, craziest, most wonderful dream, but it almost directly contradicted the most popular boy in school’s ideal. Should he tell them? Would they laugh?

Patton took a deep breath, smiling. “My craziest dream is to fly. To fly without wings. To just be able to do it because I’d be able to and soar up with the birds. To be different. To be noticed. To finally feel like I belong somewhere instead of being discontent on the ground. To be closer to the beautiful stars but to never leave the green and blue wonders of the planet that I love. I—“ Patton realized he’d started rambling. Which was only to be expected, since he had thought this all his life but never told anyone. But he looked down at his desk regardless, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Talyn.”

Mrs. Talyn smiled. “I thought that was lovely Patton, just lovely.” The bell rang. “I want you all to record your dreams for the next week, and we’ll be analyzing them for examples of figurative language afterwards as your semester project!”

Patton started to gather up his things, smiling happily to himself. He had done it. He had said something. He felt so good, it felt so wonderful to remember that dream. A little nostalgic and bittersweet, too, but still good.

“Hello.” A voice said from in front of him. Looking up, Patton saw Roman standing in front of him. “It was... Patton, right? Patton Baker?”

Patton nodded, smiling brightly. “Yep! That’s me! It’s a pleasure to meet you Roman!”

Roman smiled, looking at Patton’s eyes with his own. “I’d just like to thank you.”

“Thank me?” Patton asked, confused. “For what?”

“Every day when I would walk into this class, I would be tired and bored. It’s early in the morning and I usually stay up late because of homework on top of play rehearsal, and so I have to try hard not to fall asleep. One day, I walked in and saw you doodling a person flying in the stars on your assignment paper. It reminded me of when I was a little kid and I would study the constellations for hours until my parents made me go to bed. It reminded me of everyone always calling me the “Star” of the show, but my heart wanting to be a different kind of star. I wanted to be far away, distant, and loved because of my context, not my looks. Every day after that, I’d watch you draw people flying in the margins of your notebook. I even started to draw a few of my own. You reminded me of better times, and this class got less boring because I remembered the days when I would dream about my place in the sky. I know we both want to be in the sky for very different reasons Patton, but if we ever get there... make sure to come visit my star, ok?”

Patton stood there, bewildered. “O-Of course, Roman!” He smiled. “I promise I’ll come visit your star.”

Roman smiled and walked out of the room, seeming a bit embarrassed but very happy. Patton sat there for a moment, processing what had just happened.

“Mr. Baker, you’re going to be late to your next class.” Mrs. Talyn said, a smile on her face from watching the pure exchange between the high school Juniors.

Patton stood up quickly, a smile brighter than a star settling firmly on his face. “Thank you Mrs. Talyn! See you tomorrow!”

Patton grabbed his things and walked quickly down the hall, unable to shake the light, bubbly feeling inside of him. And if someone had looked at Patton walking down that tiled hallway, they would have seen a normal boy walking to his next class, feet planted firmly on the ground.

But if you asked Patton, he was a whole inch off the ground as he flew down that hallway, and he was perfectly content to never come back down.

(Ok so this turned WAY longer than I expected, also I don’t usually write Royality, but I think I like this!! Let me know what you think!)

Taglist: (You may request to be put on/taken off at any time!)

@stop-it-anxiety @littlewolf432 @winterrs-child @ms-top-hat @idunnosong @scared-ghosthunter @anxiousvirgil13 @i-love-wordassociation-games @remusownsmyuwus @thatweriddoodlingllama @emmillie @nutmegandgingersnaps

[inmyblindspot]

hey there! just a quick thank you for sharing all these sweet stories with us, they tend to make my day every once in a while 😍 and a little prompt if you’re up for it, of Jane and Kurt getting a date night out for the first time in some time with all their kids being adequately taken care of

A/N: thank you for your sweet note and the sweetprompt! So sorry it took me ages to finish it – and I went in a little bit of adifferent direction with it – but hope you like it! There’s a little referenceto one of my faves, one sweet love, in this one.

summary: jane, kurt and the kids spend their last night inthe apartment

series: what i never knew i always wanted

feels like home

“Bye bye window! Bye bye door!”

Jane laughed as she walked through the living room, holdingSam on her hip as he cheerfully waved goodbye to the room.

“Bye bye chair!” he called as they walked past it and shesmiled, nuzzling her nose against his cheek.

“The chair is coming with us, Sammy,” she said with a grinand he looked up at her with wide eyes.

“Really?!” he asked and she nodded, smiling as they roundedthe corner into the bathroom. “Yay!”

They were moving to their new house the next day. They hadspent the day packing up the last of their things, enlisting the kids’ helpwith packing up their toys and games and books.

Sam had then spent the rest of the afternoon and eveningsaying “bye bye!” to just about everything in the apartment, delightingwhenever there was something that Jane and Kurt told him was coming with themin the move.

Jane sat Sam down on the counter and handed him his FindingNemo toothbrush, squirting a bit of toothpaste onto the end. She laughed as hepopped the toothbrush into his mouth and promptly ate all of the toothpaste,just like he always did.

“Come on, Sammy,” she prompted, squirting a little more ontothe end. “You know the rules.”

He nodded and begrudgingly brushed his teeth, letting Jane takethe toothbrush to reach back for his back teeth. After they had rinsed out hismouth, he reached for the toothbrush and held it up in his little fist.

“Bye bye toothbrush!” he said happily and Jane laughed,tickling his side as she picked him up.

“Oh, the toothbrush is definitely coming with us,” she said,taking it from him and popping it into the little stand with Eden’s and Charlie’stoothbrushes. Sam sighed and snuggled into Jane’s chest as she carried him intothe hallway. They stopped in the doorway of Eden’s room, where she, Kurt andCharlie were playing with Oggie.

“How about a bedtime story in mommy and daddy’s bed?” Janesuggested, smiling as Eden and Charlie popped up in excitement, cheering andsquealing as they ran past her into the hall. Kurt laughed as Oggie ran afterthem and Sam squirmed in Jane’s arms until she put him down and he chased afterhis siblings.

“You know we’ll never get them out of there,” he said with agrin as he stood up and walked towards her. She laughed and shrugged hershoulders, hooking her hand through his as they walked into the hall.

“We’re going to be packing all night anyways,” she remindedhim and he nodded, following her into their bedroom, where the kids and Oggiehad already crawled up onto the bed and were waiting for them.

They all snuggled in together, with Kurt and Jane eachreading them a story, smiling as one by one the kids dozed off to sleep. Janeglanced down, her breath catching in her throat as she watched her threechildren sleep, all snuggled together. She glanced around the bedroom wistfullyand then back at Kurt, the two of them sharing a quiet smile overtop of the kids.

“End of an era, huh?” he said and she chuckled, nodding asshe bit her lip.

“Start of a new one,” she said, leaning down and pressing agentle kiss to each of the kids’ cheeks. “Come on, let’s get packing,” she saidas she gingerly slid off the bed, careful not to wake any of the kids.

They had packed most of their things but still had a fairbit of their everyday items from the kitchen and living room to get to, thingsthey couldn’t pack while they and the kids were still using them. They workedaway for about two hours, pausing once in a while to reminisce as they cameacross a nostalgic item or memory.

Kurt was just sealing up a box when they heard the jingle ofOggie’s collar from the hallway. They turned to see him rounding the cornerbefore he trotted past them towards the door.

“Really, Oggie?” Kurt asked, letting out a bit of a groan asOggie sat down by the door and looked at him expectantly. He’d taken Oggie outfor his regular evening walk and it was unusual for him to need to go out againbefore morning.

Jane chuckled and smiled at Kurt as he walked over towardsthe door, pulling on his jacket.

“He must want one more walk around the old neighborhood,”she said with a grin and Kurt rolled his eyes as he hooked on Oggie’s leash.

“He’ll get another one in the morning,” he grumbled as heopened the door. “Be back in a few minutes.”

Kurt took Oggie around the block, pausing every so often ashe stopped to sniff at a bush or a tree or a fire hydrant. It took a couple ofextra blocks before Oggie finally did his business and they made their way backto the apartment.

He was surprised as they walked in to see a bottle of wineand two glasses on the coffee table, with a few candles lit there and on thecounter. He glanced over to the kitchen, where Jane was standing, holding a box.

“What’s this?” he asked with a smile, nodding towards thetable. She smiled as she walked around the counter, watching as he unhookedOggie’s leash and took off his jacket. Oggie promptly trotted back towardstheir bedroom, rejoining the kids and hopefully settling in for the night.

“Thought we could afford to take a little break…for onelast date night here,” she said, taking his hand and pulling him towards thecouch.

She sat down on the floor in front of it, patting the spotbeside her and smiling as he sat down, hooking his arm around her shoulder.

“What’s in the box?” he murmured, nodding towards the oneshe had set down on the coffee table.

“Well, I was trying to recreate our first date here,” shesaid, referring back to their second night together, where they’d sat in thisexact spot, sharing a pizza and a bottle of wine. “But it’s a little late forpizza, so thought this would do…”

She opened the box and he leaned over to peer in, laughingas he saw a pint of coffee ice cream and two spoons. He leaned over and kissedher, his lips lingering against hers as he pulled her closer.

“A perfect date night,” he murmured and she grinned, pullingback and reaching into the box.

She leaned against him as they shared their ice cream andsipped their wine, quietly looking around the place that they had called home togetherfor ten years, and he for even longer before that.

Up until this moment, they had mostly avoided getting tooemotional about leaving. The practical side of them knew it was time to go,their family had long outgrown this apartment. And even their more emotionalside were okay with it too, knowing that the most important thing about thisplace was their family – all of whom would be going to their new house,together.

But in this quiet moment, with their three children andpuppy asleep in the next room, and surrounded by boxes and boxes and boxes ofthe things they had all accumulated over the years, it suddenly felt verybittersweet to be leaving the only place they had ever lived together.

“You know,” Kurt said quietly, pausing as Jane tilted herhead back to look at him. “When I first moved in here, I thought I’d alwayslive here on my own…”

“Your forever bachelor pad?” Jane teased and he chuckled,shrugging his shoulders.

“Something like that,” he murmured, pausing to look aroundthe room. “Not because it was what I wanted…it wasn’t…but because I couldn’timagine being here any other way…”

Jane rested her chin on his shoulder, pressing a kiss to hisjaw and then to his lips as he turned towards her. He rested his foreheadagainst hers as they pulled apart, letting out a deep breath.

“You made this place a home for me,” he whispered, reachingup and brushing his thumb against her cheek. “You, our kids…Oggie,” he addedand she laughed, a tear escaping from the corner of her eye and falling ontoher cheek. “You are my home, wherever we go.”

Jane nodded and took a deep breath of her own, kissing himonce more before she rested her head on his shoulder and looked out at the roomas he rested his cheek on the top of her head.

“That night…when we sat here, eating pizza and you told meyou wanted a lifetime of chances at a first date with me…” she said with agrin and Kurt chuckled, threading his fingers through hers.

“I still haven’t topped that one, have I?” he teased and shelaughed, shaking her head.

“You top it all the time, with this incredible life that wehave,” she said quietly, leaning back to look up at him. “But I will neverforget that moment, that feeling you gave me…like I had finally found where Iwas supposed to be…who I was supposed to be,” she added quietly.

He smiled and leaned down, kissing her softly, just like hehad in that moment, the moment where they had both finally found their home.

[the-queen-of-the-light]

Sanvers "Your Satan" ! I love your writing btw, I was hoping you'd come back soon!!

19. “You’re Satan” (Note: Pretend that the Jeremiah plotline never happened, and he just died)

“Maggie?” Alex whispered, prodding softly at the cocoon of blankets on the bed. “Mags, wake up.”

The only response was a quiet grumbling and slight shifting from the fluffy mound. Alex dug her fingers into the comforter, poking more firmly at Maggie’s side. When the sleeping woman only wiggled further from her touch, Alex sighed and used her last resort. She slipped her icy fingers past plush material and dark locks to settle against the warm skin of Maggie’s neck.

The woman bolted upright, gasping as she gathered the blankets more firmly around herself to ward off the chill. “What the fuck? Babe, what time is it?” Maggie asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Taking in the sleep-disheveled tangles nearly consuming Maggie’s head and the grumpy scowl on her face, Alex couldn’t help but smile. It felt right to see her wife like this, sitting in her old bed, cocooned in one of her old comforters, surrounded by the old surf posters and science awards filling her childhood bedroom. It felt like home. She gently moved a couple strands from Maggie’s face, saying, “it’s a little after 3:30 in the morning.”

“Ughhh, you’re Satan,” Maggie grumbled and flopped back onto the mattress, rolling away from Alex to the other side.

Alex rolled her eyes in mild exasperation, having already anticipated her wife’s usual reluctance to leaving bed. “Mags, come on.”

When Maggie didn’t respond, Alex poked at the blanket lump that she assumed was Maggie’s butt. “Don’t go back to sleep. Please?”

“Why not?” Maggie asked, peeking back over her shoulder and regretting it instantly when she saw the deadly pout playing across Alex’s face.

“Because I have something to show you.”

There was a little sparkle in Alex’s eyes, and Maggie already knew she was going to do whatever her wife asked of her. That didn’t stop her from sulking. “And it couldn’t have waited until morning?”

Alex snorted softly and, with a teasing smile, replied, “Well, technically, since it’s after midnight, it’s already morning so—”

“Alex.” Maggie huffed, grumpily.

Alex’s smile just broadened. “No, it can’t wait until morning. In fact,” she paused, glancing over Maggie’s head at the digital clock on the bedstand, “if we don’t get up now, we won’t be able to see it, at all.”

Maggie waited a moment, playfully glaring at Alex, before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. “Alright, alright. I’m getting up … it’s against my will, but I’m getting up.” She caught Alex’s shoulders bouncing with silent laughter, and a sleepy grin spread unbidden across her lips.

After a nice full body stretch, Maggie pulled her comforter tightly around her shoulders and asked around a yawn, “where are we going anyways?”

“The roof,” Alex said, nodding to one of the massive windows stretching across the far wall. Alex’s smile was absolutely dazzling. It made Maggie feel like she was missing something, but she let herself be dragged out onto a small stretch of roof where a quilt was spread out over the shingles.

Turning to look up at her wife in confusion, Maggie asked, “What are we doing out here?”

Alex’s smile was still just as blinding. “Just wait.”

Maggie, ever the impatient woman, pouted as she plopped down onto the quilt. A cool breeze blew in off the ocean sweeping her bed-head gently around her face. She snuggled into her blanket, glad for its warmth against the crisp night air.

A knee gently nudged Maggie’s shoulder, and she glanced up to see a pitiful-looking Alex with her arms wrapped around her tank top-clad torso. “Can you un-burrito yourself and share?”

“Nope!” Maggie replied with a devilish grin. “Not my fault you didn’t plan ahead.”

Alex’s features, again, dropped into a pout, and a shiver wracked her frame in a way that Maggie could have sworn was a little too theatrical. Pitiful, her wife looked pitiful, but she wasn’t going to cave.

… Except she absolutely was, but not because she was a pushover. Nope, Maggie would never admit to that. It was simply because Alex was just too damn cute. The little crinkling of her nose. The gentle flutter of her lashes. The soft downward pull of her lips. More than three seconds and Maggie was a goner. For the second time in less than five minutes, she caved to that pout.

She reluctantly unbundled, shivering when, for the briefest moment, the cool ocean air settled around her. Then warmth returned as Alex snuggled in behind her, wrapping her body around Maggie and the duvet around them both. The pair shifted around, getting comfortable under the night sky. Alex leaned against the wall at her back and pulled Maggie more tightly to her, to settle against her chest. Maggie reveled in the comfort of her wife’s arms and threaded their fingers together while Alex’s free hand traced delicate patterns across her stomach.

For a few minutes, they sat in comfortable silence, listening to the crashing waves in the distance. Soothed by the rise-and-fall of Alex’s chest at her back and the feel of Alex’s skin against her own, Maggie could feel her eyelids drooping again, but her descent back into the realm of dreams was halted by whispered words, ghosting over her cheek.

“Do you see that row of three stars?” Alex asked, reaching out of their warm cocoon to point out the pinpricks of light twinkling in the southern sky. Maggie nodded, taking in the vast sparkling expanse before her. The dancing lights were so much more numerous than the handful of glimmers within National City’s limits. Seeing them reflected back on the surface of the ocean was almost nostalgic, reminding Maggie of the fields back in Blue Springs, filled with what felt like infinite fireflies flitting around beneath the endless night sky.

Alex pulled her from her reverie, saying, “That’s Orion … or well, his belt. But the rest of him is up there, too.” She chuckled breathily, tightening her arms further around Maggie. “He’s my favorite, you know? A huntsman and a hero, forever immortalized …. He—” Alex’s voice cracked slightly, and broke off. Sighing wistfully, Alex fiddled with the wedding band on Maggie’s finger and dropped her head forward to rest it against the crook of Maggie’s neck.

“My dad used to bring me out here to look at the stars … to tell me stories about them. Orion was the first.”

It was a simple statement, but Maggie could feel the undercurrent of something … something different from the usual sadness and longing that filled Alex’s heart when she remembered her father. With the slightly rough, hitched breaths spilling across Maggie’s shoulder, Maggie wanted nothing more than to pull her wife into arms, but she knew that wasn’t what Alex needed. She wanted—needed—to say something more, so Maggie stroked her thumb over an anxiously fidgeting hand and waited.

“After he was … gone, I didn't— I couldn't— it hurt. Everything hurt. I-I couldn’t come out here anymore. I didn’t want to share this with anyone else. It was his and my thing, you know?”

Maggie’s soft, understanding nod against the side of her head urged Alex to continue. Her whispered voice came again, “It … it hurt less after a while. I still missed him, but it didn’t feel like …” She hesitated and huffed out a breath, unable to put words to that pressing, overwhelming feeling of loss that had filled her chest, her head, her very being; but Maggie knew. Maggie understood. She squeezed Alex’s hand, and Alex squeezed back.

Talking about him, even after all these years was so unfathomably difficult. At every mention, Alex could feel the ghost of that icy knife—that first he’s gone—twisting in her heart. Lifting her head from Maggie’s shoulder, she sighed and stared out at the stars for a little while, dragging Maggie more deeply into her hold. The way Maggie cuddled back into her made her feel like some of the stars had escaped the sky and found a new home in her chest. The warmth, while not removing them completely, was enough to melt some of the jagged edges that had lived within her for far too long. Keeping her eyes on Orion, Alex continued, “Even then, it still …it didn’t feel right, bringing anyone else out here, sharing our thing with someone new … but you make me want to share it, again.”

Maggie tilted her head towards her, and Alex could see a watery smile that matched her own. She reached a hand out of their blanket bundle to brush across Maggie’s dimpled cheek.

“He would have loved you so much, Maggie. All—” Alex had to pause, her breath catching in her throat as silent tears started to fall. “All he ever wanted me to be was h-happy, and you make me unbelievably so.” Her whispered words were reverent, a prayer and a promise. “When I’m with you, I-I’m warm and safe and home. I haven’t felt that in a long time, not since he stopped being able to bring me out here for hot chocolate and stories from the stars.”

Maggie turned in Alex’s arms. She could see the starlight dancing on Alex’s tearstained cheeks and feel Alex’s breath tickling over her own equally tear-dampened face. A bittersweet smile spread across Alex’s lips as she leaned her forehead against Maggie’s and said, “I like to think he would have been able to see that.”

Soft calloused fingers traced gently over cheeks, smoothing away tears, while they sat there, simply breathing each other in. “Thank you,” Maggie whispered and turned her head to place a kiss on Alex’s palm. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”

“I love you,” Alex replied, simply, like it was the answer to everything, and maybe it was.

“I love you, too,” Maggie murmured, pressing soft kisses against Alex’s cheeks, nose, and finally—finally—her lips. She was about to lose herself in the warm feeling of home until lights started flashing across her closed eyelids.

Alex pulled back, grinning. “Oh hey, it’s starting!”

“Wha—” Maggie began to ask as she turned around, but the words died on her lips. Streaking a burning trail across the sky was the start of a meteor shower. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered in awe.

“So are you,” Alex said, nuzzling the side of Maggie’s neck.

“Sap.” Maggie snickered at Alex’s affronted scoff.

“Only with you.”

Maggie playfully swatted the arm still firmly wrapped around her middle under the blanket and peeked over her shoulder, nearly melting at the warm smile stretching across her wife’s face. Maybe getting forcibly removed from bed at an ungodly hour wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened this morning. As Alex leaned forward and captured Maggie’s lips in a slow, deep kiss that left her breathless, Maggie decided, no, this was definitely better than sleep.

 Drabble Prompt Challenge: Feel free to send more prompts my way!

Darling Anon, thank you so much! You are too sweet! The short update on why I’ve been gone is basically college has been kicking my ass, but I’m trying to get back into the swing of things! I hope you enjoyed this

[myaekingheart]

93. Permission

               It was so strange to think his time in this place was limited. Kakashi had never thought much of his apartment—it didn’t seem overly important—but now that he was leaving, his perspective had shifted into something all too nostalgic. He stood in the center of that tiny studio and drank in all of the strange, ethereal memories, some of which he had never expected to cling to in the first place. Simple things like one morning when the sun was especially bright or having accidentally dropped a pen behind his desk only to retrieve it now, months later. At first, he wasn’t sure what it was about this that was making him so emotional but then he thought of her and how her presence changed this place. As he began organizing the rest of his things into boxes, he’d find little reminders of her scattered here and there: a stray hair tie, a bok she had left behind, the chakra plant she had given him. And then there was the most pressing piece of all: that engagement ring.

               Kakashi propped open the box to inspect it, ensuring it was still in as good a condition as when he first received it. He studied the iridescence of the mounted pearl in the sunlight and his heart swelled. He had waited so long. Their future was right before them now, just waiting for them to embrace it. How much longer could he stand to procrastinate? He wasn’t sure but the one thing he did know was that he was ready. He was ready to kneel down before her and ask her to spend the rest of her life with him. To become his wife.

               He would have to tread carefully, however. Once they had moved in together, it would be significantly harder to hide his plans. As anxious as he was, Kakashi truly did not want to rush this. A proposal was a big deal, it wasn’t something just done on a whim. He needed to ensure the moment would be special. Rei deserved nothing less. As such, this would require careful preparation, perfect timing, and above all else a sense of decorum. Kakashi respected tradition, as did Rei’s family. He hated to think of Rei as anyone’s property but he knew that if he was going to do ths right, he would have to ask for permission. It was a daunting task for sure. Kakashi looked to the ring once more for added strength before snapping the box shut and sliding it into his pouch. He sucked in a deep breath before he stepped outside and made his way to Kaminoki.

               The little bell above the door chimed as he slipped inside, Hana standing at the register checking out an elderly man who had nearly wiped the shelf of manuals clean. “My wife always took care of the technical things” the old man explained. “Since she passed on, everything in the house has started to break and I don’t know how to fix it!”

               “I’m so sorry for your loss” Hana said softly, reaching a comforting hand out across the counter. Her eyes, however, were glancing to Kakashi as he waved at her quietly and slowly approached. He was not about to interrupt or rush the conversation, though his anxiety was certainly mounting.

               The old man seemed completely oblivious to the new customer. He simply shook his head and laughed a bittersweet little laugh. “I think she’s haunting me” he replied. “She knows I can’t fix things for shit and so she’s going around in the afterlife breaking things on purpose just to give me a hard time.”

               Hana smiled politely. “Well at least you can take solace in knowing she’s still with you” she said.

               Nodding wistfully, Kakashi caught the old man tearing up for a moment before suddenly becoming hyperaware of his surroundings. He glanced back, slightly startled, before nodding to Kakashi and saying quietly, “You youngsters shouldn’t take your youth for granted.” He gathered his books and prepared to leave but not without some parting words to the copy ninja. Placing a hand on his forearm, the old man looked Kakashi in the eyes and said, “If you’ve got a girl, love her like you’re never going to see her again, you understand? Treat her like she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you. Because one day all that’ll be left of her is her ghost knocking over vases and fucking with the cogs of your alarm clock.” He glanced over his shoulder, thanked Hana for her help, and then disappeared down the street leaving Kaminoki in a strange, ethereal afterglow. How ironic the way his words segued into the exact matter at hand. Kakashi cleared his throat and shuffled forward.

               “I wasn’t expecting to see you here this early, Kakashi” Hana greeted politely. She shuffled though the paperwork on the counter, reorganizing the week’s roster of purchases. She seemed mildly frazzled as if Kakashi’s unannounced presence left her anxious abou why he was there. “Can I help you find anything?” she asked.

               Kakashi shook his head. “Actually, I was wondering if you had a minute to talk about something” he replied. Hana met his gaze slowly, her curiosity piquing. “It’s kind of important” Kakashi added. His voice wavered ever so slightly, indicating that something was clearly amiss. Hana was not sure she had the strength to deal with this, whatever it was. The morning crowd outside began to thicken.

               Her hesitancy was obvious as she skirted around the counter and approached the door, flipping the open sign to closed. Yuruganai would be frustrated but this was far more important. Morning sales were never that crucial, anyway. “I can only give you half an hour” Hana said apologetically. There was a slight tremor in her hands, a softness to her voice.

               “That’s fine” Kakashi reassured. “I don’t plan to take up much of your time.” Hana nodded once, then motioned for him to follow her up the stairs. There was no reason to conduct private business in a public space, even if it was temporarily restricted. She always said that books were like people—they listened when you spoke and hoarded your secrets. Kakashi never knew what she meant by that but wasn’t about to infringe on her superstitions. He needed to be as agreeable as possible right now.

                Yuruganai was hunched over his desk crunching numbers, biting his lip in concentration. His office was a suffocating concoction of strict organization crammed into what was once Rei’s bedroom. Some of her childhood furniture still remained—a bookshelf now cramped with financial binders, a row of stuffed animals collecting dust on the windowsill. It all felt so strange to see such a childish place outfitted with maturity, like a stack of 7-year olds in a trench coat binging bribes.

               Hana hated to disrupt her husband like this but the further they ascened, the higher her anxiety hiked before reaching a fever pitch at the top of the stairs. She had considered Kakashi something of an authority on their daughter’s wellbeing ever since she had joined the ANBU. His mutual presence was really the only thing that kept her sane. The unfortunate side effect was expecting the worst in strange situations such as this. Hana cleared her thoat once, twice, three times before Yuruganai finally looked up. “We have a guest” she said, motioning toward Kakashi. “And he says he has something important he’d like to speak with us about.” Her wringing her hands only emphasized her painfully forced smile.

               Yuruganai frowned, glancing from his wife to Kakashi and back over the top of his glasses. He really didn’t have time for this. His only reason for reconsideration was his wife’s palpable paranoia. With that in mind, he supposed he had no other choice. Sighing, Yuruganai laboriously rose from his seat and flung his pen across the desk. “Make it quick” he grumbled, walking past them into the living room. Hana and Kakashi exchanged uncertain glances before following closely behind.

               Hana seated herself beside her husband on the couch, rigid with tension. “So, Kakashi, what exactly is all of this about?” she asked. A stream of worst case scenarios flickered through her head. “Is something the matter? Is there something wrong with Rei?”

               “No, that’s not it at all!” he frantically assured. He had never intended to make them worry, though it was obvious to him how he had. This was starting off terribly. He searched their faces for a hint of empathy, hoping he had not failed irrevocably yet.

               “Then what’s the problem?” Yuruganai spat. “We don’t have all day.”

               “Yuri, dear, the numbers can wait” Hana whispered. She rested a gentle hand on his forearm in hopes of halting his departure. “Kakashi, please, you’re scaring us. What is all of this about?”

               The panic in her face, and the growing frustration on Yuruganai’s, served as a grave reminder that Kakashi was running out of time. His throat felt tight and his hands were going numb and a part of him wanted to run away and never look back but he could not let fear get the best of him. If he wanted this—really, truly wanted this—he would have to face the situation head-on. It was the only way. And besides: if he couldn’t handle a simple request, then how did he ever expect to make it through the rest of life’s challenges with Rei by his side? To be an admirable husband, and eventually father? And especially a decent son-in-law? Kakashi swallowed back his fear, sucked in a sharp breath, and seated himself in the nearby armchair. He leaned forward, a sign of his determined intent, and then began his spiel.

               “I’m sorry for worrying you” he began. “Nothing is wrong—actually, it’s quite the opposite. I need to speak with you about Rei. I…I care about your daughter. More than words can ever say. I know things haven’t always been perfect but I made a promise to protect her and I fully intend to keep that promise for as long as I live.” Yuruganai leaned his head back and rolled his eyes, but his disgust only fueled Kakashi further. “I’ll admit” he continued, “for a long time I held such dark thoughts about life and the future but when I’m with her, she makes me excited. She makes me feel like my life is worth living and I hope I do the same for her. I really can’t imagine my life without her. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted—smart, funny, passionate, even wonderfully weird. She—”

               Growing impatient, Yuruganai groaned and swatted the air. “If all you’re going to do is sit here and sing your praises, I don’t need to hear anymore of it” he snapped. “I have work to do.” Kakash could feel himself slowly unravelling as Yuruganai shifted impatiently. He searched the old man’s face for even a morsel of compassion but found none. Kakashi’s heart sped up. His stomach churned. It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

               “Mr. Natsuki, please” he begged. “Just give me one more minute of your time.” He needed to make this right. He needed to act fast. The timer was nearing zero.

               “And why should I?” Yuruganai asked, his tone edging into mocking territory now. “Why should I waste my time when you’re saying nothing of substance?”

               “Because I’m in love with your daughter, sir” Kakashi replied, voice stern and powerful. His words dripped with ingenuity.

               Yuruganai scoffed, unimpressed. “You can sit here and tell us how much you love her all day, but it’s nothing but white noise” he replied. Hana yelped his name and clutched her hands to her chest. Yuruganai shot his wife a sharp glare as if warning her not to get involved. Kakashi almost felt bad for her, stuck in the middle of things like this. She appeared so meek and helpless. Yuruganai rose from his seat and she was powerless to stop him. “Now if you’d excuse me…”

               As he turned to walk away, Kakash could feel himself lose it completely. The whole world seemed to shift into slow motion as he reached out to grip Yuruganai’s wrist. His hands felt clammy and unsure but he didn’t care. Yuruganai paused and turned to glare at his guest, and in that moment nothing felt real anymore. The words bubbled up into Kakashi’s mouth and burned the back of his throat until he felt like he was going to be sick, and there was a ringing in his ears, and his heart wouldn’t slow down, and the sun was too bright, and everything was just too much and my god, make it stop— “I would like permission to marry  your daughter!”

               The words spilled out automatically, blurted in desperation. The entire room fell silent and as scared as Kakashi was for the response, a wave of relief washed over him for having finally released it in the first place. The pressure in the pit of his chest began to relieve. His grip on Yuruganai’s wrist loosened as he stared blankly into Kakashi’s eyes. A long stretch of stillness passed and Kakashi began to wonder if this was genjutsu or something else. He could the feel the unnvering electricity pulsing through the air, between their bodies, the warning sign that something irrevocable was about to happen.

               And then the silence broke. Hana clasped her hands over her mouth and whimpered, tears blurring her vision. Yuruganai snapped from his daze, blinking as he tried to comprehend the current situation.

               “What did you just say…?” he snarled, instigating.

               Kakashi released his grip and straightened his back. Now that he had said it once and overcame the initial fear of it, he was inundated with an overwhelming internal strength. He was asking for her hand in marriage and he had every right to do so. He loved her, goddammit, and he was willing to fight for that love with whatever it took. Confidently, he repeated, “I would like permission to marry your daughter.”

               Yuruganai blinked and, after a beat of silence, began to laugh. “You want to marry my daughter?” he asked. “You’re really asking me if you can marry my daughter? Unbelievable!”

               “Yuri!” Hana exclaimed, her voice cracking. “Yuri, dear, this is a good thing! Our baby…our little Rei…a bride…!” She could hardly contain her emotion. The tears streamed down her face now, her entire body racked with hysterically happy sobs. To think, their daughter was finally going to fulfill the destiny she was always meant to embrace. This was their reassurance, their one comfort in the world. Rei would get married, devote herself to the family, and put away those silly, dangerous shinobi dreams once and for all. Hana would no longer have to cry herself to sleep every night worrying that her daughter would face the same cruel fate as Naru. No, she would finally be safe. This was truly blessed news.

               “No” Yuruganai insisted, descending into absolute fury. “No, you don’t get it. You think you can come into my home and ask to take away my daughter? After she’s already given away so much of herself? To you of all people?”

               Hana sniffled and gripped her husband’s arm desperately. “Yuri, stop this!” she cried. “Kakashi has loved her for so long! I wouldn’t trust her to anyone else! Honestly! He knows her so well, Yuri, and he loves her so much. Please, just give him the blessing! Let him marry her and we can finally end this nightmare once and for all!”

               “This nightmare?” Yuruganai laughed incredulously. “You think she can just mary her way out of this? Absolutely not! She spent her entire life busting her ass to become a ninja, she is not allowed to quit now! This is what she wanted and so this is where she stays! She can only have one or the other?”

               Kakashi was drowning in the chaos of this entire interaction. The world around him was crumbling. How could he have possibly imagined this to go well? He felt stupid for being so naïve, for having such childish hopes. “Mr. Natsuki” he begged, though he could tell he was losing momentum. “I’m not going to force Rei out of her career if that’s what you’re insinuating. I am fully committed to supporting her dreams—”

               “Where was this support twenty years ago, then?” Yuruganai interrupted. “Where was this support when she came home in tears because you told her to give up? When she’d end up bloody and bruised from pushing herself just so she could earn your approval? After all those years, how the hell do you think I will ever trust you with her? Hmm? How the hell do you expect me to believe you’ll take care of her? What are you going to do when you two fight, hmm? Are you going to rip her eye out, too? Or ignore her for ten years? Tell her she’s not good enough? Rip her heart out with that lightning of yours?” Kakashi clenched his fists at his sides, wincing. “You say you’ve changed but that’s a damn lie, Kakashi. Nobody ever changes. And you sit here and think you can ask me for permission to marry her, as if I don’t already know the way you’ll treat her for the rest of your life if I—”

               “Yuruganai” a stern voice barked from the doorway. The whole room went silent except for the steady tapping of an old wooden cane. And then there, like a glowing savior out of the darkness, came Grandma Teiko. The look on her face read fury.

               Kakashi watched as Grandma Teiko hobbled into the room, lips taut and eyes narrowed. She rested a hand on Hana’s shoulder, a gesture of comfort, an invitation to sit back and take a much needed breath. Hana graciously obliged. And then Teiko reached Yuruganai, glaring up at him, and smacked him hard wih her cane.

               “Stop attacking the boy” she insisted. Yuruganai opened his mouth to protest but Teiko threatened to hit him yet again. Like a defiant child, he huffed and pouted and fell back onto the couch. When the old woman turned to Kakashi, her gaze was filled with nothing but kindness. She took the Copy Ninja’s hand, held it tightly within her own, and smiled. “So, Kakashi” she said softly. “I heard you want to marry Rei. Is that right?” Kakashi swallowed and nodded slowly. He suddenly felt as if he was seven again, newly abandoned by his suicidal father and caught in a rare moment of vulnerability. Teiko looked upon him the same way she had for thirty years now. There was never a hint of malice. She never expected anything of him that he was not equipped to provide. She squeezed his hand gently as she said, “I always knew this day would come. Ever since you and Rei first met, I knew you loved her. You were so young back then but still, so determined. You said you would be her ninja, remember? And protect her? It does my old heart good to know how true that still is.”

               Kakashi bowed his head and for a moment, even thought he might cry. An ache grew in the very center of his chest, something nostalgic and hungry and intense. Grandma Teiko always had a way of washing away the grime of the world, creating a shield of empathy in its place. He refused to let himself break down, however. He refused to show such weakness in front of her parents but that pressure within his throat, the lingering sob, still remained. All he could manage to croak was a single, hoarse sentence: “I love her more than anything.”

               “I know you do” Grandma Teiko replied, patting his hand. Her eyes sparkled and in that moment, she was magic. Like the fairy godmother summoned by an innate yearning, prepared to wave a wand and ensure that dreams came true. And that was just what she did. As she guided Kakashi lower to plant a kiss upon his masked cheek, she murmured, “And that is why I give you my blessing.”

               And there it was: the one sentence Kakashi had been so desperate to hear. A laugh of happy disbelief broke past his lips as he pressed his hand to his forehead, gripped his headband where it overed his secondhand eye. Everything suddenly seemed so much brighter.

               “You can’t do that!” Yuruganai protested. “I am the man of the house, I make the decisions, and my answer is no.”

               Teiko frowned and swatted at the air. “Don’t be so pretentious” she said. Then, huffing, she added, “Though I do suppose it’s unfair to count my opinion as the only one with any real weight—despite how true it is. The only way to make this truly fair is to approach things diplomatically. Let’s have a vote then. I say yes. Hana, dear?”

               Hana forced a shaky smile onto her lips, trying to compose herself. Nodding, she replied, “My answer is yes.”

               Teiko then turned to Yuruganai with a smug grin. “That’s two for yes. I already know your answer is no, but it doesn’t really matter. You’re outnumbered, Yuri, and I know that’s language that you can, in fact, understand.” Yuruganai gritted his teeth, glaring back at his mother, but knew he couldn’t get away with saying anything. She hobbled over to him and patted him hard on the back, adding, “Besides, don’t you want your daughter to be happy? Then let her be happy! And don’t be such a stick in the mud or else no one is going to like you very much.”

               Kakashi couldn’t help but laugh. God bless Grandma Teiko, this sweet old woman. He took her hands in his, overflowing with gratitude, and thanked her. “You have no idea how much this means to me” he whispered.

               “Oh, I have some idea” Grandma Teiko winked. She cupped Kakashi’s cheek warmly and added, “Now go off and give that girl a ring. I’m sure she’ll be just thrilled. This is the way it was always meant to be, I’m sure of it, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.”

               Overcome with emotion, Kakashi wrapped Grandma Teiko in his arms as a parting gift. Hana couldn’t help but leap in to join them. And then he was off.

               The journey home felt unimaginable. Kakashi patted his pouch, the engagement ring tucked neatly inside, and his heart surged. The morning certainly did not go as he had planned, or even as he had hoped, but all that mattered now was that he had gotten the answer he was looking for. Or at least from Grandma Teiko. His interactions with Yuruganai still left him slightly unresolved. There was so much to consider. This was not just a singular isolated incident but the foundation for a new chapter in their lives. Would Yuruganai ever truly accept him as a son-in-law? The sting of rejection hurt but, much like a sunburn, would surely fade with time. And even better was the sweet relief of the aloe: Grandma Teiko’s approval. He trusted her wholly and respected her opinion above all else. It was impossible not to take her words to heart. The old woman had settled it. He was going to ask Rei to marry him, formally and officially. Now it was just a matter of finding the perfect moment.

[jessicakmatt]

Staff Picks: 8 LANDR Distribution Artists We Loved in August

Staff Picks: 8 LANDR Distribution Artists We Loved in August: via LANDR Blog

Thousands of artists trust LANDR Distribution to get their tracks on streaming platforms worldwide. But did you know we listen to every single submission? In this series, we highlight some of the incredible musical talent that comes through our distribution community.

In this inaugural edition of Staff Picks we’ve selected a handful of artists we loved this month from a variety of genres and locales.

You’ll find everything from Kenyan ambient field recording collages, underground Brooklyn hip-hop, to Irish new wave.

It’s a handpicked collection of up-and-coming independent artists made with love by our staff.

1. NewDad – Cry

Irish alt-rockers NewDad bring a bouncy nostalgic take on 90s alt-pop with their latest single “Cry”.

The shimmering guitars and dreamy synth pads couple nicely with vocalist Julie Dawson’s wistful lyrics and low-key delivery.

It’s the perfect anthem for the dog days of summer as the days shorten, summer romances mature and the fall semester looms.

Sounds like: The Cure, Cocteau Twins

2. Amparo – Amelia

Next up is “Amelia” from ambient guitar producer Amparo.

Originally from Arizona, Amparo relocated to Gothenburg Sweden where she works and creates music.

“Amelia” uses minimalism and ambiance to create a rainy day vibe. The bright guitars in her track create that feeling you get when the sun peeks through the clouds after a big storm.

The instrumental track is a comforting and meditative piece that ambient guitar lovers should check out.

Sounds like: Beach Fossils, The Album Leaf

3. 8BIT WIZRD – Nice Reflexes!

8BIT WIZRD is a Denton, Texas-based shoegaze lo-fi bedroom pop project.

“Nice Reflexes!” is the standout track from their new album Wake Up.

The track oscillates nicely between a chugging band with sprawling electric guitars and intimate, up-close lyrics sung over acoustic guitar.

I recommend this track for a sunset drive home from the beach.

Sounds like: Destroyer, Of Montreal

4. Stickz Greenz – Relax

Brooklyn-based rapper Stickz Greenz recently came out with his new track “Relax”.

Stickz leans nicely into both modern trap aesthetics while using some pretty old school drum samples.

His bouncy vocals evoke the sound Atlanta trap, similar in vein to Migos or Travis Scott.

Sounds like: Migos, Travis Scott

5. KMRU – Continual

KMRU is the project of Nairobi-based Joseph Kamaru.

His track “Continual” is a meditative soundscape that collages field recordings of birds and train stations with droning strings, clicking percussion samples and some glitchy high-end.

Somber yet relaxing, it evokes the feeling of waiting for a train to arrive on a hot summer day. Except maybe this train is arriving from an alien spaceport.

Sounds like: Tim Hecker, Oneohtrix Point Never

6. Rachel Fannan – Princess of Swords

“Princess of Swords” is the latest release from Rachel Fannan’s solo project of the same name.

The track starts with a crunchy post-rock tinged guitar build-up that drops into a tasty indie-rock anthem crescendoing into an uplifting string arrangement towards the end.

It’s a stand out release for the indie veteran who’s worked with Sleepy Sun, Pussy Riot and Black Mountain.

Sounds like: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Broken Social Scene

7. Urbanation – “Joyride”

Urbanation is the project of Bay Area-based singer-songwriter Bianca Ocampo.

“Joyride” is the project’s most recent single. It’s a nostalgic and low-key song with bedroom musings about coming of age and learning about love.

Check out this lo-fi indie-folk track that’s meant rainy evenings and wistfully staring out the window.

Sounds like: Phoebe Bridgers, Grouper

8. Barney Bones – Bad Luck/Keep Your Mind

“Bad Luck/Keep Your Mind” is the new bop from California-based Barney Bones.

The single is a shapeshifting medley that starts with a hard-hitting trap verse that suddenly shifts into an emotional breakdown with phasing guitars and pitched down vocals.

Reminiscent of Frank Ocean’s “Nights” or “White Ferrari” for its distinct sections and emotionally charged moments, this bittersweet song will remind you of the bright lights and dark streets of a night out on the town.

Sounds like: Frank Ocean, Roddy Ricch

We love the LANDR community

There’s so much incredible music that passes through our community every single day, that’s why we want to share and amplify the independent creators that come through our doors.

We’re privileged to help artists create music from start to finish–whether it’s finding the perfect sample, getting a pro-quality master or releasing a track for the world to hear.

Thank you for being a part of the LANDR community!

  The post Staff Picks: 8 LANDR Distribution Artists We Loved in August appeared first on LANDR Blog.

from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/staff-picks-august/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from Steve Hart https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/627364836842553344