#strong & playful fl

[zhouyes]

our master-disciple relationship ends here.

love of the divine tree, 仙台有树. [ TRAILER ]

[callsigns-haze]

Little peep

Summary: The daggers keep begging so a little peep won't hurt....right?

Warning: Contains alcohol, cursing, teasing, mentions of labour, postpartum.

Word count: 2437 words

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x reader

English is not my first language so I apologies for mistakes

Could be read alone or as part 4 of the little life universe

Two weeks later, Jake was finally back home, the familiar comfort of his Texas house wrapping around him like a warm embrace. The night was quiet, and the soft hum of the baby monitor filled the room as he tiptoed out of Ellie’s nursery.

He had just finished changing her diaper and giving her a bottle, carefully laying her down in her crib. Ellie had drifted off to sleep almost immediately, her tiny hand curling around one of his fingers for a moment before she let go. Jake stood there for a minute longer, watching her sleep peacefully, his heart swelling with that deep, protective love he was still getting used to.

Once he was sure she was settled, he left the nursery door slightly ajar and made his way to the master bedroom. The day had been long, and he felt the exhaustion in his bones as he pulled off his shirt, kicked off his boots, and collapsed onto the bed. The cool sheets felt like heaven against his skin, and he let out a deep sigh, sinking into the mattress.

He barely had time to close his eyes when he heard soft footsteps padding into the room. He didn’t need to look up to know it was Y/N; he could always sense when she was near. The bed dipped as she climbed onto it, straddling his hips, her warmth immediately bringing a grin to his face.

“Finally got her down, huh?” Y/N’s voice was soft, teasing as she leaned forward, her hands resting on his chest.

Jake looked up at her, his grin widening as he met her eyes. “Yeah, she went out like a light after the bottle. Our little angel’s finally giving us a break.”

Y/N chuckled, running her fingers lightly down his chest, but before she could say anything else, Jake’s hands were on her thighs. He gripped her legs firmly, pushing them wide apart with ease, and the sudden movement made Y/N squirm. A surprised giggle escaped her lips as she tried to shift against him, but Jake’s grip was strong, effortlessly holding her in place.

“Jake!” she squealed, her voice a mix of laughter and mock annoyance. “Stop that, you know I can’t fight you when you do that!”

Jake’s grin turned playful as he lifted her slightly, his muscles flexing under her hands as he easily shifted her weight. “You forget how strong I am, darlin’,” he teased, his voice low and filled with that cocky confidence she knew so well.

Y/N gasped as he lifted her higher, practically bench-pressing her as if she weighed nothing. She slapped his chest playfully, trying to wriggle free, but her laughter only grew louder as he held her steady. “Jake Seresin, put me down!”

Jake laughed, his deep voice rumbling in his chest as he lifted her a little higher, watching her squirm and giggle. “Why? You seem pretty comfortable up there.”

Y/N’s breath came in soft gasps between her giggles as she tried to brace herself against his chest, her hands splayed out for balance. “I swear, you’re gonna throw me across the room one of these days!”

Jake’s smirk widened as he slowly lowered her back down, letting her settle on his hips again. “Nah, darlin’, I’d never let you go that far,” he said, his voice dropping into a more tender tone. His hands slid up her thighs, resting on her hips as he looked up at her with that same adoring look he always gave her. “But I do love seeing you squirm.”

Y/N’s cheeks flushed, her laughter subsiding as she leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. “You’re impossible,” she murmured, though the smile never left her face.

Jake’s hands moved to her waist, holding her close. “And you love me for it.”

She rolled her eyes, but her smile softened as she pressed a kiss to his lips. “Yeah, I do.”

Jake wrapped his strong arms around your waist, pulling you down flat onto his chest. Your head rested against his warm, bare skin as he tugged the blanket over the both of you, cocooning you in a cozy, intimate bubble. His heart beat steadily beneath your ear, the rhythm grounding you in the quiet of the night.

With a satisfied sigh, Jake shifted slightly under you, his hand tracing soft circles on your back as he spoke. “You know,” he murmured, his voice low and relaxed, “Coyote’s dying to see you again. Keeps bugging me about when he can meet Ellie, too.”

You lifted your head slightly, resting your chin on his chest as you looked up at him, amused. “Oh, is that so? He’s been waiting for the big introduction?”

Jake chuckled, his fingers brushing a loose strand of hair from your face. “You have no idea. Every time I see him, it’s the same thing—‘When do I get to see the little Seresin? You know she’s got all my charm, right?’” He rolled his eyes, though there was a fondness in his voice when he mentioned his best friend. “He thinks Ellie’s gonna be his honorary niece or something.”

You couldn’t help but smile at the thought. “He already sounds like the proud uncle.”

Jake’s lips curved into a grin as he looked down at you. “Oh, trust me, he’s already planning the first time he can spoil her rotten. But he’s mostly just dying to see you again. Says he misses your sass keeping me in check.”

You laughed softly, laying your cheek back down on his chest. “I guess I’ve been out of practice. You’ve been doing too good of a job keeping me distracted.”

Jake smirked, his hand sliding up and down your back, his touch gentle and soothing. “Well, can’t have that. I’m sure Coyote will remind you how much fun it is to keep me on my toes.”

You hummed softly, the warmth of his body and the comfort of being wrapped up together making your eyes feel heavy. “It’ll be nice to see him again, though. And introduce him to Ellie. I’m sure she’ll have him wrapped around her little finger in no time.”

Jake’s grin softened as he looked up at the ceiling, his hand still caressing your back. “Yeah, she will. Just like she’s already got me.”

You glanced up at him, catching the tender look in his eyes. “She really does, doesn’t she?”

Jake met your gaze, his expression softening even more. “Yeah,” he said quietly, his voice filled with a warmth that made your heart melt. “Both of you do.”

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of your breathing and the gentle rise and fall of Jake’s chest beneath you. The weight of the world outside seemed so far away, and in that moment, it was just the two of you—and Ellie, sleeping peacefully down the hall.

You smiled against his skin, feeling a deep sense of contentment wash over you. “Well, we’re not letting you go anytime soon.”

Jake chuckled softly, his arms tightening around you, holding you even closer. “Good,” he whispered, kissing the top of your head. “Because I’m exactly where I wanna be.”

---

A week later, Jake was back at the base, and Coyote was already on him the second they finished their morning briefing. As they made their way out of the hangar, Coyote nudged Jake with his elbow, a wide grin plastered on his face.

“Alright, man, come on,” Coyote started, his voice low but insistent. “I’ve been patient for long enough. Let me see some more pictures of my niece.”

Jake rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I showed you pictures last week, Javy. How much has she really changed in that time?”

Coyote shot him an incredulous look. “You’re kidding, right? Babies change every day, man. Now come on, don’t hold out on me.”

Jake glanced around the hangar, making sure none of the other Daggers were around. He didn’t mind showing Coyote pictures of Ellie, but the rest of the squad didn’t know anything yet, and he wasn’t ready to open that can of worms.

“Alright, fine,” Jake relented, pulling out his phone. “But make sure no one sees.”

Coyote leaned in close as Jake unlocked his phone, and with a quick swipe, the screen filled with pictures of Ellie. There she was, bundled up in a soft pink onesie, her little fist curled around one of Jake’s fingers. Another photo showed her fast asleep on Jake’s chest, and another captured her looking up with wide, curious eyes while Y/N held her.

Coyote’s grin widened as he flicked through the photos, his eyes lighting up with each new one. “Man, she’s adorable. She’s definitely got your eyes, but thank God she looks more like Y/N.”

Jake smirked, nudging him playfully. “Watch it, Javy. You’re lucky she likes you.”

Coyote chuckled, still scrolling through the photos. “I’m serious, though. Why don’t Y/N and the baby just move down here? It’s gotta be tough, you running back and forth all the time.”

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. He’d thought about that question a lot. “It’s complicated,” he said quietly. “Y/N’s got her whole life back in Texas—her writing, her family. We’ve talked about it, but she loves it there. I don’t want to push her.”

Coyote nodded, though a flicker of understanding passed through his eyes. “Yeah, I get it. But man, you know she’d love it here. And you’d get to see them every day instead of sneaking off for a couple of weeks whenever you can.”

Jake didn’t respond right away, his mind wandering to Y/N and Ellie, wondering if things could ever be that simple. But before he could dwell on it too much, he heard the familiar voices of the rest of the squad entering the hangar.

“Shit,” Jake muttered under his breath, quickly locking his phone and shoving it into his pocket just as Rooster, Phoenix, and the others walked in.

Rooster was the first to notice the sudden movement. “What are you hiding, Seresin?”

Jake flashed them a casual smile, leaning back against the wall. “Nothing you need to worry about, Bradshaw.”

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “Yeah, right. You’ve been acting all secretive lately. What’s going on?”

Jake kept his composure, shrugging it off. “Just trying to keep my personal life… personal. Not everything’s for show.”

Rooster smirked. “You? Keeping something to yourself? That’s a first.”

Jake shot him a look, his tone light but firm. “There’s a first time for everything.”

The squad didn’t press him any further, though the curiosity lingered in the air as they gathered their gear. Coyote caught Jake’s eye and gave him a knowing grin, keeping quiet about what he’d just seen. But Jake could feel the questions hanging in the air, and he knew it was only a matter of time before he’d have to share the truth with the rest of them. Just… not yet.

---

The next couple of days at the base were relentless. The Dagger Squad wasn’t letting up, not after Jake had locked his phone so quickly and dodged their questions the other day. It was like blood in the water, and now they were circling, each of them taking turns to try and get him to crack.

One afternoon, after they’d wrapped up a round of drills, the squad gathered around the break room table. Jake leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, hoping to project an air of disinterest, but Rooster wasn’t buying it. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, and fixed Jake with a knowing look.

“Come on, Seresin, we know you’re hiding something,” Rooster said, his voice teasing but insistent. “You’ve been acting weird for weeks. Just tell us.”

Phoenix, sitting across from Jake, chimed in, arms folded. “Yeah, you’ve been sneaking off to take phone calls, locking your phone like it’s got state secrets on it. What’s going on with you?”

Jake smirked, but he didn’t respond, keeping his eyes focused on the coffee mug in front of him.

Fanboy groaned dramatically, throwing his hands in the air. “Dude, you’ve got to tell us. We’re dying over here!”

Payback leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “You know what this feels like? It’s like when you’re watching a movie, and you’re halfway through, and then the power goes out. We need the rest of the story, Hangman.”

Bob, sitting quietly up until now, looked up with a curious expression. “Is this about a girl?”

That got everyone’s attention. All eyes immediately turned to Jake, the question hanging in the air. For a moment, there was silence, and then Jake raised an eyebrow, his trademark smirk slipping into place.

“Maybe,” he said nonchalantly.

The room erupted.

“Oh my God, it is a girl!” Phoenix exclaimed, her voice rising with excitement as she leaned forward, her eyes wide.

Rooster let out a low whistle, shaking his head with a grin. “Seresin’s got a secret girl? This is too good.”

Fanboy practically bounced in his seat. “Come on, man, spill it! Who is she? How long’s it been going on? How come we haven’t met her?”

The questions came all at once, and the entire squad seemed to buzz with energy, practically on the edge of their seats, eager for details. Even Payback, who usually kept his cool, looked like he was about to press for more.

Jake raised his hands in mock surrender, cutting them off before the excitement got out of control. “Alright, alright, calm down,” he said, trying to keep his tone cool and collected, though a small part of him was amused by their reactions. “I’ve got more important shit to do than sit here and listen to you all squeal like a bunch of high schoolers.”

The squad groaned in unison, but Jake stood up from the table, grabbing his coffee mug as he made his way to the door.

Rooster leaned back, shaking his head. “Damn, Hangman, you’re killing us here.”

Phoenix crossed her arms, watching Jake with a smirk. “You’re not getting away that easy, Seresin. We’ll get it out of you eventually.”

Jake chuckled as he paused at the door, glancing back at them. “Good luck with that,” he said with a wink before walking out, leaving the rest of the squad behind, still buzzing with curiosity.

But as Jake made his way down the hallway, he knew it was only a matter of time before they figured it out—or before he’d have to come clean.

Let me know if you'd like to be tagged

[mheretoreadff]

Till death do us apart

Pt 1

PAIRING : Nishimura Riki x Female reader

SYNOPSIS : Nishimura Riki is the 2nd prince of Nishimura Dynasty. Zhang Y/n is the 7th princess of Zhang Dynasty. Both brothers Kazuo(1st prince) ans Riki (2nd prince) went to the neighboring country to form an alliance and trading. They are warmly welcomed by the neighboring king and made arrangements for them . Zhang Y/n the youngest, beauty with no doubt,playful yet gentle ,the cherished daughter of the king meets Riki near the water forest. They fall in love. But what happens when the king proposes a marriage between the 1st prince and the 7th princess to form strong bond among the two countries.

WARNING : Ancient AU. Kazuo has always been jealous of Riki not fully showing. Fluff, kiss, flirt, reader is playful, mentions of marriage. Niki is 23 and the reader is 20. Aged up Au

After meeting the king, they were both assigned to different guest palaces .

Riki went looking around in his assigned palace . It was indeed lavish and beautiful. We went by the pond surrounded by lilies and the fresh smell ,a calming sight in fact. Riki has not been a fan of staying indoors since childhood and so he got bored and went off outside for a tour. He rode his horse and went near a mountain forest.

Riki was taking a stroll in the forest when he heard the female voice near the waterfall. She was none other than princess Y/n. She didn't know him yet but he did. The first time he saw her was in the palace looking for her mother. The moment he saw her , he was struck by her beauty. Since then he had been crushing on her.

Y/n snapped when she heard another footstep. "Come outside you intruder!" She called out. "Hey-hey relax! I'm not an intruder. I just came for a stroll" Riki came out as he chuckled ,amazed at yoursudden accusation. "Hmph! Who wouldn't think like that if somebody snuck behind like an intruder!" Y/n replied in defense.

"Sorry Princess" Riki let out a small laugh. "Btw what is princess Y/n doing here?" Riki asks as he quirks an eyebrow. "I came for fresh air not that it's any of your business " She smiled a bit annoyed.

"Well I see- Princess Y/n!!!! Riki was cut off as he was about to say something. "Well I got to go mr. not an intruder" Y/n chimed getting ready to rush off. "Let's meet again here" Riki interrupted. "Tonight?" She retorted back. "Tonight." Riki smiled. "Name?" Y/n asked with her lips curving as she started to pace. "Riki" He shouted back. "See you then Riki- bye." Y/n said as she hurried off with a grin on her face.

Riki went back to the palace with a smirk on his face. Ah he couldn't wait for tonight to meet with the girl of his dreams.

Y/n would be lying if she didn't think that she found Riki attractive. The moment she saw him, she felt her heart beating so fast for the first time. ' Is this what love at first sight feels like' she thought. The romantic novels she read where the ML and the FL have eye contact for the 1st time and poof- they're both in love. Maybe she found her little prince charming.

"Miss you're spacing out a lot" her lady in waiting spoke. This was enough for her to snap out of her dreams. "Maybe I'm dreaming too much about my love life" Y/n sighed as she closed her book and waited for the sun to rest .

Y/n snuck out in the middle of the night to meet with Riki. When she arrived by the waterfall she saw Riki was already waiting for her. "I thought you'd not come" Riki says as he turns towards Y/n. "And why would that be" Y/n replied in a flirty manner.

"Idk maybe because princess is really playful". You could hear the smirk in his voice. "Maybe but why did you want to meet me?" Y/n said meeting her eyes with Riki. "Because I wanted to know more about you,Princess. And maybe I wanted to ask for permission " Riki speaks as he walks closer. "What permission? " Y/n asked not daring to break the eye contact.

"To court you" Riki says as his tall figure leans. You didn't realize how his face was barely an inch away. Your cheeks really red from the sudden confession . Part of you just wanted to kiss him. "May I?" Riki asks for permission.

"You may" as soon as the words left your mouth lips smashed on top of yours. You lean in more kissing him back. The kiss lasted longer than you thought it will. It was sweet yet passionate for both of you as your first time. Y/n broke the kiss gasping for breath. Riki turns his head getting shy.

"I-I have to go or my lady in waiting will find out" You sputter the words out. A small "oh" left his mouth as he realized it's really late . "Should I walk you back" Riki politely asks. "Noh! I mean- it's fine. I can go besides it's risky" Y/n said as she offered an apologic smile rejecting his offer.

Y/n suddenly came towars him and kissed his cheek. "I'll be on my way now, boyfriend " She winks and waves at him as she hurries off. Riki was still dumbstruck. 'Boyfriend ' he thought. A silly smile forming on his lips.

Riki had a dreamy lovesick smile on his way back. Still smiling remembering the encounter while laying in bed.

It became almost everyday they snuck out to meet with each other to spend time together. Rumors started spreading about Y/n having a relationship. Not long after the king came to have heard about it. He was worried about her lovely daughter having a bad reputation. So he decided it was time she gets married.

What could be more better than developing good relationship with your neighboring kingdom with marriage and saving from tarnishing your daughter's reputation. And the groom none other than the 1st prince as it was likely for him to be next king. It was like killing two prey with one stone. After that he made arrangements to propose in giving her hand to Kazuo .

Kazuo knew that Riki liked Y/n and he got more attracted to her after finding out about it. And the fact that the king planning with him to secretly marry off his daughter to him as the king knew Y/n would never give in.

The day of secretly wedding arrived . Y/n was told that her sister was getting married to the 1st prince. Y/n found it odd when the maids paid more attention to her dress almost looking like a bride herself but she shrugged it off.

Y/n was about to get up in the carriage when Riki came and stopped her and let her sister climb up instead. Riki got to know about the plan and he told Y/n about it. Y/n was angry yet dissapointed as she connected the dots and realized Riki was right. It was then they both decided to run off.

"WHAT!!?? WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY RAN!!!!!??" the king asks his guards razing with anger. Kazuo was really furious at his step brother. 'This time I won't let it slide for this humiliation '. Kazuo swore to himself. The king ordered to bring Riki and Y/n before his sight with any means.

Riki and Y/n ran and stayed at the bkrder district of the two kingdom. For now they were at peace.

Kazuo came back to his country and he purposefully poisoned the king to become the next king in life as his father only thought of Riki as his next heir to throne. It was not long before Kazuo became the king within a month. He portrayed Riki as a traitor and ordered to kill him at sight.

When Kazuo got the news that both Riki and Y/n were at the border district he sent his guards to eliminate them. The guards were loyal to Riki as he was the master of swords but they still had to obey the order.

Riki and Y/n were taking a stroll near the mountain river when the guards approached them with attack. Riki quickly dodged the attack fighting back. An intense battle began as he eliminated most of them . But they khew his weaknesses, Y/n. The last one aimed for Y/n striking his sword . Riki's back was Pearced with the sharp metal sword as he tried to protect Y/n from danger. "Why did you do it" Y/n shouted with eyes were breaming with tears as she hugged him closely. The last person left was the his friend, Haewon. Haewon threw his sword as he spoke "Run far away. I'll tell your brother you both fell off a cliff. I can do this much for you". Riki weakly nodded whispering thank you.

This much for part 1.

It's my first time on tumblr so please go off easy on me TT.

Tags:

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

the FL brainrot is really hitting hard today!! Anyways, imagine going out for a late night picnic with FL somewhere on top of one of liyue’s many mountains. After a while of sitting together in peaceful silence (not really since FL’s purring never really seems to stop whenever you’re around), you spot a few crystal flies resting on legacy. It really makes him seem prettier than he already is with the crystal flies’ glowing wings shining on FL reflective metal armour.

(also with how much content on your blog where FL is just basically loved by all animals make him seem more of a disney princess than abyssal monster)

-sleepy anon

don't worry anon, my brain is rotting 24 hours seven days a week!!!

since night is one of the best times to travel while avoiding being seen, you and Legacy take many late night walks around the mountains, often bringing along snacks to munch on when you get tired or hungry. you sit in the grass, admiring the distant lights of the city from the hilltops of nearby mountain ranges as Foul Legacy valiantly attempts to catch fireflies and crystalflies between his claws as quietly as possible. one lands lightly on your knee and there's a soft but firm tap as Legacy pounces, gently, watching the insect casually fly away with his crystalline eye narrowed. you simply laugh and ruffle his hair with a hand, listening to his quiet growls turn to strong, rumbling purrs as he happily rolls over in your lap and cranes his neck so you can scratch under his chin, occasionally giving your fingers a small playful nibble

a crystalfly flutters down, slowly dancing in the gentle breeze, and lands directly on Foul Legacy's forehead

his purrs freeze momentarily as he blinks, not daring to move a single muscle. the crystalfly sits on his crimson mask, its sparkle casting a soft glow over the plates, and after a moment another one flies down and perches itself on one of Legacy's horns. more and more join the longer he waits, and soon there are ten or so tiny, shiny friends scattered over his armor, Legacy's own wings shivering and twitching with his attempts to keep his delight silent. he lets out a joyful chirp, the sound sending all but a few crystalflies fluttering away, the ones that remain curling up in his hair and lilac fluff asleep. he trills softly, reaching up and carefully nudging one of the delicate creatures onto his claws before depositing it in your hands, matching your wide smile with a purr that comes straight from the heart

[missxpip]

A town called Prose is home to || Piper Whitley || who is a || twenty seven || year old, || cis woman ||. They work as || an English teacher at the local high school  || and live in || The Lakehouses ||. in Prose, they’re known as the || Brittany O’Grady || lookalike. || she/her || They were shocked and appalled by the recent news, because they were || Whitley’s estranged daughter from his first marriage.

Piper affectionately known as Pip by the close people in her life is the second oldest sibling of the Whitley family. Piper was born in Prose and and grew up with the expectations and drama that came with being the daughter of Professor Whitley. However, Piper is close to her mother, who’s side of the family own an Inn and her father was the renowned Professor known for his writing and teaching at the local university. Though as much as Piper didn’t always see eye to eye with her father, she had a has always had a love for reading and writing. She has always had a creative side and loved both reading and telling stories, a trait Piper has gained from Whitley. 

Piper was determined and full of life from a young age. She is confident, bubbly and she has always been creative. She would sit in the garden or around her family’s inn and read for hours, and scribble down ideas in her notebook that never left her side. Something that has followed her into her adulthood, she is always writing down words and phrases that pop into her head. When she was younger, writing gave her an escape from her home life. From the pressures she often felt about getting straight A’s in school, to the arguments between her parents which she pretended not to hear. 

Piper was born from her father’s second marriage, which even to his death was one of his longest relationships. Her half brother James is from Whitley’s brief first marriage and is 8 years older than Piper. James lived with them throughout her childhood. Piper was close to James growing up, he was older and she depended on him a lot. She missed him when he moved away but she respected his decision, and Piper later followed in his footsteps when she also left for college. She was upset when her dad cheated on her mom but part of her wasn’t surprised, it was like another story in his life. She distanced herself from him in her teens, often having disagreements and moved into the inn with her mom. 

Although she is pretty introverted by nature, she has always been bright and a little playful. Piper enjoyed school, even if she hated to admit it. But she thrived in the private schools that her dad sent her to. She loved the opportunities they gave her. She was artistic, passionate and smart. She won art competitions and writing competitions, tool part in school performances and applying for university was something she knew she wanted. The young woman was excited to explore the adult world and her talents. Her strong education and extracurriculars secured her an ivy place and moved to study English and creative writing at Yale. Although her dad had initially wanted her to stay at his university, he was not going to stop his daughter from that opportunity. 

Piper fully embraced university life. Although she’d always been a little reserved, the new city brought her out of her shell. New experiences and friends encouraged her to become more confident and she found herself editing for the college paper, singing at karaoke nights, trying new foods and drinks, and falling in love for the first time. She’s a kind and dorky young woman and she makes the most of everything that she does in her life.

After university, Piper had no intention of moving back home, she spent some time working for a paper as an intern while studying her postgrad degree at Yale. She found she enjoyed tutoring and eventually went on to do her teaching qualification. Though with the news of her father’s death last year, Piper knew she needed to return home. They’d had a lot of disagreements but he was her father. And even with all his flaws, his sudden death was a shock to her. With her degrees and experience, she secured a role as head of English and arts at the local high school. She is now 27 and she is trying her best to live her life in Prose once again, and she still wonders if her dad’s death is a story.

[carpetcleaningecopower]

Experience Family Fun at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center in Brandon FL

The Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center in Brandon FL is the perfect destination for families looking to combine fun with fitness. Whether you want to swim, play sports, or simply enjoy a day outside, this community hotspot has something for everyone. Designed to inspire active lifestyles, it offers a welcoming space where families can bond and spend quality time together.

Dive Into Aquatic Fun for All Ages

The aquatic offerings at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center are a highlight for many families. With multiple pools catering to swimmers of all skill levels, everyone from toddlers to adults can dive in and enjoy the water. Young children love the splash zones and playful water areas, while older kids and adults can focus on swim lessons, lap swimming, or honing competitive skills. Whether you're cooling off on a warm day or working on your swimming techniques, the aquatic options here ensure a fun and refreshing experience for every member of the family.

Sports Facilities for Endless Play

Beyond the pools, the center boasts a wide variety of sports facilities to keep everyone engaged. Tennis courts, basketball courts, and expansive fields for soccer or other games offer plenty of ways to stay active. Whether your family enjoys a friendly tennis match or wants to join a group fitness class, the center has options to suit all interests. With its diverse range of activities, it’s the ideal spot for a day of energetic play and fitness-focused fun.

Prioritize Health and Wellness

Supporting both physical and mental well-being, the center also offers numerous health and wellness programs. Families can participate in yoga, strength training, or even personal fitness coaching. Parents can focus on their own fitness goals while teaching their kids the importance of staying active and healthy. These wellness opportunities create a balanced approach to family health, encouraging an active lifestyle in a fun, supportive setting.

A Community Hub for Families

More than just a place to exercise, the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center serves as a community hub, bringing families and neighbors together. Throughout the year, the center hosts seasonal events, sports leagues, and swimming competitions that foster a strong sense of community. It’s a place where families not only stay active but also create lasting memories and friendships. With its blend of fitness, fun, and family connection, the center plays a vital role in the vibrant community life of Brandon FL.

[mypaleopetfl]

Reason To Buy Raw Pet Food In Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach Shores, FL

Having a puppy or dog at home promises hours of fun and companionship. It is the pet parent's responsibility to take care of its health. It is time to forget processed pet food that comes as a handy alternative. Taking a little time out for the beloved family dog is advisable. It may help to consult the vet before making any dietary changes. Considering the prospect of sourcing raw meat for dogs in Jupiter and Palm Beach Shores, FL, is important. After all, the dogs that evolved from wolves were accustomed to hunting and eating raw meat in the wilderness. True, the domesticated dog may be able to digest raw meat, but it needs to be of exemplary quality to be truly healthy.

One of the best ways to buy meat is to insist on USDA-approved raw meat. A pet food store in the vicinity with a long track record of providing high-quality pet food cuts. Alternatively, buy online. Such a move will result in a happy and healthy dog with no health issues. Some of the best reasons to opt for raw meat as food for the family dog or puppies are:-

· Digestible- Raw meat is digested naturally by a dog conditioned to do so for centuries. The high-quality protein with minimal carbs and no sugar makes it easy to digest. The dog will clean off the bowl in seconds, too. The stores that sell only top-quality raw meat will ensure that there are no additives, preservatives, or fillers to enhance the quantity and taste

· Glossy Skin & Coat- A healthy dog will have a smooth and glossy coat. The pet owner will not need to spend hours brushing it, either. The natural glow indicates good health. The pet's organs will absorb all essential nutrients from the raw meat without taxing the body. The results are apparent on the skin, which is smooth and blemish-free. There will be very few skin infections, with shedding being vastly reduced too.

· Less Allergies- The allergic reactions will become almost nonexistent once the dog consumes raw meat at least twice a week. With no additional pressure on the gut, intolerance will be reduced to zero. The immune system will become strong thanks to the nutrients available from raw meat. No itching, ear infections, or rashes will be seen in the pet again.

· Reduced Wastes- There will be less poop to scoop, and that comes as a relief to the entire family. Almost all components in the raw meat will be digested by the dog, leaving only a small amount of waste. Surprisingly, the poop will be hard and solid, making it much easier to scoop up and discard.

A pet lover can source fresh poultry and seafood as a part of raw pet food in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach Shores, FL. This ensures good health for all pets in the family, with all of them remaining active and playful.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

What an interesting old 1710 home in Germany that’s full of stories.  Beat Roemmel  renovated and furnished it with great care and respect.

He found the house for sale with his partner Beat Kormann.  The two immediately went to see it.  "The house wanted us," says Roemmel, "and the other interested parties probably simply didn't recognize the house's potential as we did."

A large cozy kitchen is on the 1st fl.  "Where the small, modest stove is, there will one day, if we can afford it, be a cozy country house stove," explains Beat Roemmel.

"The kitchen is a place where there is also a need for a little humor." Queen Elizabeth II waves from the soap dish, and there are cakes on the curtains.

When furnishing, it was important for the new owners to do justice to the spirit of the house. But space also had to be created for modern furniture, a little improvisation and, above all, for a lot of comfort.

One wall, namely the one on both sides of the chimney, is covered with a playful spring-like wallpaper that suggests the nearby garden.

Also on the ground floor is the dining room, which was furnished in warm colors and with a certain bourgeois-rural charm.

Strong ultramarine blue shines from the walls. Actually an atypical color for the entrance area. With the many gold-framed engravings, it is the perfectly chosen color.

A mezzanine converted into a very charming work area.

The room is long and narrow- The radiators are cleverly enclosed and also offer storage space for vases and pictures. Loving details: The small tassels on the keys.

"This room is still waiting for a real make-over," explains Roemmel, of the master.

Here Beat Roemmel chose a pattern from an eclectic trompe l'oeil collection.

A small powder room with more of the gold-framed prints, similar to the ones found in the hallway.

Glimpse into a sweet little feminine bedroom.

Lovely bold red and white guest room in the attic.

There is another living room on the upper floor. This shows a clever combination of modern and traditional elements. The color palette is daring but perfect. The walls are painted a soft moss green, the ceiling in a light honey tone.

https://www.mariannekohler.ch/portfolio/ein-haus-voller-geschichten/

[twelvegrimmyplace]

Harry’s House Track-by-Track Review

Overall thoughts: Before I get into each track I just wanted to say, after a few listens, I think this is his best album and I’ve really connected with it in a way I didn’t anticipate. It’s not flawless of course but what album is? Like Fine Line, the production is outrageously good. It’s so well crafted. The highs of Harry’s House aren’t necessarily higher than the highs of Fine Line, but where I think it excels over Fine Line is it feels like a much more cohesive album. I love FL, a lot, but this is a better album listen. 

I think this is going to be a rare instance where I don’t read reviews because I just have such a strong sense of how I feel about it already. My thoughts are very clearly defined. While I haven’t read any reviews, I have seen headlines/some music twitter reactions, and a common criticism with Harry is that his writing isn’t “deep”. I’d say this is true in that Harry is not, ya know, Lorde or Joanna Newsom or something. I just don’t necessarily think lyrics need to be ~deep~ for them to be good. I think his songwriting is really strong on this album (with a few exceptions I’ll get into). Not sure where I’m going with this. Just wanted to say that because it frustrates me that we think of lyrics in terms of deep or shallow, as if shallow or fun or meaningless lyrics can’t be good. 

Anyway I love it let’s get into the songs under the cut:

Music for a Sushi Restaurant: On my first listen I was so overwhelmed by how *much* was happening in the production, I had no idea how I felt about it as a song. On repeat listens, I think it’s SO fucking fun and I’m very into it. Also, unexpectedly to me, it has some of my favorite lyrics on the album. They immediately made me think of the movie Tampopo, which is a 80’s Japanese comedy that I sincerely hope Harry has seen because I think he’d love it. The playfulness of mixing attraction/desire with food/consumption just does it for me, fully charmed. I think it’s really successful in blending influences (immediately felt Prince obvs but also Paul Simon, even like a Huey Lewis element) to create something that’s a joy to listen to and not easy to pin down. I think it also works really well as the album opener - it introduces musical themes he’ll revisit throughout (walls of sound, horns, sex, nonsensical lyrics, 80s genre blending, etc.). 8.5/10

Late Night Talking: I mean, you know how I feel about this song. First, it has a perfect chorus: lyrically, melodically, instrumentation it’s just instantly classic. It’s one of those choruses where I can’t believe it hadn’t already been written. As I said earlier I love his vocal choices here. I  love singing along with it. It’s an easy groove that deceptively has a lot going on. I think that call and response of the chorus and post-chorus at the end brings it home perfectly. Just really satisfying songwriting and I hope radio loves it because it should. At first I thought I preferred the sound of the song with the live horns like at Coachella, but on repeat listens I think it was smart not to do that for the record. It keeps it from being a pastiche in the way a song like this could easily be. 10/10

Grapejuice: Harry in his Sideways era. Has a song ever felt so lived in? I like this one paired with As It Was because altho it sounds different this song is also deceptively sad. Everything is so pretty and melancholy. The vocals are perfectly placed in the mix; as if in the verses he’s already hazy drunk. This song is the best type of easy listening. It’s not boring at all but it goes down smooth as merlot. 9/10

As It Was: Great song we all know this. I think it was a great lead single now that I know what the album sounds like. One thing I really appreciate more after hearing everything is the use of the bells. Several of the songs on the album use heavy guitars and synths to create these explosions of sound and I think the bells are a cool, different approach to the same idea. The song needs something after the bridge switch-up and I like the choice even more now. 9/10

Daylight: I like how much this song lulls you into thinking it’s another easy listening, Grapejuice-type track and then it rocks your shit. The cacophony I mentioned earlier is so perfect here. I’m in love with the instrumentation. “Dip you in honey so I could be sticking to you” is one of my fave lines on the album. Don’t have a ton of deep thoughts for Daylight. I simply love the way this sounds.  9.5/10

Little Freak: Listen, I wouldn’t call this a complete skip because there are moments I like in it but it’s definitely my least fave on the album. It also doesn’t do itself any favors by being before Matilda. I like the chorus vocals and how the second chorus builds atmospherically. Unfortunately there’s more to dislike: I don’t like the sound of this acoustic guitar, the verses do nothing for me, and I don’t connect with it lyrically. The more stream of consciousness lyrics work better elsewhere on the album but not here. Also the use of “jezebel” and the yoga body line are no bueno, which is a shame because I think his writing is strong on the album and he writes with a lot of sensitivity in other songs. A miss! I can imagine liking a version of this song but not as it is. 3.5/10

Matilda: You know I was unsure going into this one after hearing Harry and Zane talk about it. I thought the sentiment was sweet but could easily see a song like this turning out trite. I fucking love this song. I think the songwriting is stunning. The guitar is so pretty and his voice is deeply felt. The bridge and last chorus elevate it even further. The instrumentation is so minimal but feels really full. And just personally I uh…feel this one quite a bit so yeah can’t rave about it enough. 10/10

Cinema: This song fucks. I feel like some people aren’t in the lyrics here (or think they’re crass because of the wet line?). I think it's extremely clever and just great songwriting here once again. Besides the obvious meaning (filmmaker/pop star, using pop as innuendo), there’s also the element of watching (‘I like it when you dance for me’, ‘getting yourself wet for me’) that plays into the cinema concept. It’s just really smart pop writing. Musically, no surprise I’m obsessed with it. It’s my sort of thing. Another perfect chorus. The ‘cinema’ screams mixed far back was another excellent choice production-wise and thematically. The outro is a fucking dream. 10/10

Daydreaming: One of the most unexpected tracks - Harry with a Quincy sample, who knew! Really like this one too. Great BVs. Harry’s voice is so light and then the power of those soulful belts and falsettos? Delicious. I like that it doesn’t overstay its welcome - just long enough. 8.5/10

Keep Driving: I was very lukewarm on this song for the first few listens but it’s really grown on me. In a fun turn of events, I connected with this song once I was, you guessed it, driving. Whereas I dislike the lyrics in Little Freak, this feels like a better version of that style. Another lived in feeling song (‘hash brown, egg yolk/I will always love you’ makes me feel so cozy in that soft voice). What really does it for me with this song is the chorus. I just love the way it sounds underneath his voice. I’m curious how I’ll view this one as time goes on. 8/10

Satellite: I think this is my favorite track on the album. This is a perfect pop song. It’s so fucking smart and the production is next level. The spaciness in the intro. The lyrical concept. His vocal choices are a highlight of the album and there’s no better example of that than here. The way he sings ‘spinning out waiting for ya, to pull me in’ captured me instantly. Then the way he switches to the falsetto to musically mimic the meaning of ‘I can see you’re lonely down there’? The ‘ooh ah ooh ah oohs’ in the background of the verses? Perfect. I can’t overstate how much I love the synths throughout this song. And then my favorite ‘wall of sound’ moment on the album brings it home. One of the best songs he’s ever made. 10/10 

Boyfriends: This song is funny because I think on paper I shouldn’t like it as much as I do. Unlike Matilda, the lyrics are on shakier ground. Like, if I hadn’t seen his interviews talking about this song would I assume there’s self awareness in these lyrics? I can’t un-know that so I listen to it believing the self awareness is there, which these lyrics definitely need to work I think. I believe it’s there in part because of when he wrote it. He wrote a lot of songs for FL with a whole lot of self loathing, and so I can believe it’s here too. But I can easily see if he didn’t successfully get that across in the song to other listeners. Fortunately for me, more than the lyrics (which are fine and her certainly delivers them), I just love the way this sounds. It’s right up my alley. 8.5/10

Love Of My Life: I’d say since my first listen I’m less taken with this one but I do like it. I wish it was a little longer, especially as a closer. Thematically it’s a good closer. I really like the lyrics, particularly in the second verse (I don't know you half as well as all my friends / I won't pretend that I've been doin' everything I can / To get to know your creases and your ends / Are they the same?). Very clever and rly emotionally connected to that part. Couldn’t help but think of Nick lol at me. I like the heavy production on it - keeps it from being too sentimental for its own good. Imagine if it was a straightforward piano ballad? I like that he didn’t go that way. It feels right for this album. 7.5/10

[snowstark]

— you’re my world. —

for @truckloadoffrogs | LINK TO AO3

for @buckybarnesbingo | Y2 - Kink: Wall Pinning

“I… oh, I get it now.” Sam tilted his head, perceptive as ever, goddammit. “All this flirting with my sister, that was just to get my attention, wasn’t it? I know it was. Say it.”

“That wasn’t—” Bucky croaked, but Sam wasn’t having it.

He huffed a low laugh, and bulldozed right through Bucky’s feeble pretense. “You like it when I pin you against the wall? Take away all that power you have, that strength that your arm gives you? Make you feel small, maybe?”

“Stop. Flirting. With my sister.”

“Sam, she’s a grown woman!”

Sam growled. He actually growled, what the fuck. “She’s still my sister.”

Bucky snorted. “Alright, fine, Christ. Sorry.” He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture. “We’re cool now, right? Didn’t mean anything by it.”

Sam eyed him for a few moments, then nodded. His shoulders drooped, like they had lost all the pent-up tension, and he reached out to clap Bucky on the back, hesitating for just a second before going for it. “Yeah, we’re… yeah, we’re cool.” His jaw flexed and he looked away for a split second, like he had more to say, but he didn’t; he just walked off, giving Bucky another pat before ducking into the boat.

Bucky stared after him, sucking the inside of his cheek thoughtfully.

Sam was weird.

Sam pissed him off. From the moment he’d refused to move his seat up in the car, he’d burned right through Bucky’s patience like a hot flame and gotten right on his nerves. Had toasted them to crumbs, in fact. He’d yapped on about that shit about Gandalf and the big three—as if Bucky wouldn’t have read the goddamn Hobbit! And now he was here, being all domestic about his boat, and Bucky was willingly helping him.

Sam was so fucking weird.

But… he still liked him.

He was… they were… it was complicated.

__________

“Hi, Sarah.” Bucky smiled and waved, hearing the waves slosh behind him—nice, he liked that; reminded him of when he and Stevie would go on walks by the bay—and she smiled, waving back. Bucky grinned, and she ducked into the house. She was real pretty. She was. He liked her.

Sarah was Steve’s ma’s name. That was kind of weird, he had to admit. But Bucky found that a lot of things were weird now. Like the internet. Mytube—no, youtube. Social media. Cellphones.

No wonder Steve had written things to discover in the book. It was there in his pocket now, too. It was small and old, but it felt like his whole damn world, because it had been Steve’s. All he had left of Steve were bits and pieces of objects that he could put together to find some sort of remembrance of him, so every part counted. A machine couldn’t run when it was missing a screw.

“So. Why did my sister just tell me you could stay the night again?” Sam plopped down next to him, and despite his words, Bucky could only see amusement on his face. “Oh, hold on, let me correct myself—why did my sister just say my handsome friend can stay the night?”

Bucky’s lips twitched before he could stop himself, and he had to cover his laugh with a cough at the mildly outraged look on his face. He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a charmer.”

“No.” Sam gave him a look, and Bucky tossed him an affronted one right back.

“That was rude.”

“No, I mean—” Sam huffed. “You are a charmer, okay? Whatever.”

Why did that make Bucky’s chest feel warm? Sam was so fucking weird.

“Doesn’t mean you have to be charming my sister.” Sam frowned at him.

Bucky gave him a mockingly sympathetic look. “Can’t help it. Charmers don’t choose who they charm.” He gave Sam a lopsided grin. “Just happens.”

“Okayyy. And now your ego is pissing me off.” Sam rolled his eyes.

“I don’t have an ego,” Bucky said defensively.

“Oh, baby, you do.” Sam let out a bark of laughter. “Please. Charmers always have an ego.” He gave Bucky a pat on the shoulder, a bit harder than necessary, Bucky thought, and strode off to break up the playful tussle his nephews had started with the shield.

Baby.

Sam called him baby.

Bucky let his left hand drift up to his shoulder, touching the spot Sam had clapped, just hard enough for him to really feel the ache. Shit, Sam was strong.

And weird.

Really, really fucking weird.

Baby.

Bucky shivered.

__________

See, Bucky’d thought it was a joke, had thought that Sam was joking when he’d said stop flirting with my sister. And that was why he’d kept doing it, because it was funny to rile Sam up, and that was what they did with each other, that was what Sam did to him.

So he didn’t quite understand why Sam was refusing to say a single word to him while they fiddled with the water pipes of the boat.

Or, well, he did understand, but he just— look, the situation was weird and complicated.

All he knew was that Bucky had flirted again with Sarah; she was a nice woman, her smile made him smile, and Sam was upset because he had spent the last couple of days telling Bucky not to. But the truth was, Bucky had thought it was a joke, even more so because he and Sarah had established—just by exchanging a very long look with each other, how strange was that?—that it wasn’t serious, that it was just them exchanging sweet manners, and he’d thought Sam was joking when he said stop.

Bucky had thought it was a joke, and now that he realized that it wasn’t, there was a familiar little ache in his heart, one that he didn’t like to discuss or delve into, one that he knew well because he constantly carried it around with him.

Guilt.

And the fact that Sam was giving him the cold shoulder was making it worse by the second.

“C’mon, Sam.” Bucky scowled to hide his hurt. “C’mon, jesus fuck. If I’d known you were gonna throw such a tantrum I wouldn’t have done it.”

No response, except for another flex of Sam’s jaw muscles.

“Christ,” Bucky muttered under his breath, chest tightening with frustration and anger and resentment and fear because shit, he didn’t have anyone else besides Sam now, he didn’t— he needed Sam, he wanted Sam, he— no.

No. That wasn’t the path he was going to go down. He’d done it with Stevie, he’d done it with— with a billion of others, and he didn’t need to be focusing on whatever this was right now, he needed to be making amends and saving the world—with Sam.

Sam.

It always circled back to Sam fucking Wilson, right there in the corner of his brain, never leaving him alone, always lingering, always reminding him that he was always— always— alone.

He wasn’t… Sam wasn’t his.

And he needed to stop hoping for something that he would never fucking get. Wasn’t this proof enough? Sam refusing to look at him, not speaking to him, turning his head away just when Bucky tried to make eye contact so he could show that he was sorry, because his words were never enough? Wasn’t it proof enough that he was reaching for something he would never be able to grasp in his hand?

Sam didn’t need him. Not the way Bucky needed him. Sam wouldn’t understand, so he would— he would need to leave him alone. Let him be. It’d be fine. He’d just go to his apartment again, he’d be fine on the floor, with the dog tags clinking as he woke up from yet another nightmare, the TV flashing bright enough to make him twitch in his sleep, the bare, cold room, cold like ice, cold like the soldier, cold like loneliness.

It was always cold without Sam, he realized.

That created a lump in his throat that he couldn’t swallow, his spit felt like acid, burning a hole into his tongue, and he couldn’t— this wasn’t—

“Okay,” he said, and his voice came out more hoarsely than he’d wanted it to. He cleared his throat, forcing the lump down, feeling it move down to his stomach, and he tried again. “Okay. I’ll just—I’ll let you be.”

Sam twitched, reaching for the wrench to fix the pipe, but… silence.

Bucky took a step back, and still… nothing. He was shocked by how hollow he felt inside.

And when Sam pulled out his phone, like he wasn’t even fucking there, the hollowness in his chest filled, filled with anger, with frustration, with— with—

“Okay,” he repeated, muscles tensing enough to hurt. “Okay, I’m gonna go to Sarah and see if she needs a hand in the kitchen.” He turned, grimacing at the jab—no, bait—he’d thrown, knowing it was fucking stupid, and jesus, Steve definitely hadn’t taken all the stupid with him because here he was, and before he knew what was happening, there was a whirl of movement in the corner of his eye as Sam shot up from his seat and slammed him into the side of the boat.

It rocked precariously; it had been strong enough to rock the whole boat, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and it went straight to Bucky’s dick, even more so when he realized that Sam hadn’t just shoved him, he was holding him there, with his arm across Bucky’s chest, hard enough to make him wheeze like the 106 year old man he was, and— and Bucky—

Bucky moaned.

Sam held him there, looking taken aback not only by the noise that had left Bucky’s mouth but by the entire situation, and his eyes dropped to the tent in Bucky’s pants. “You—” He broke off, staring.

Bucky’s face flushed hotly at the dumbfounded expression on his face. Shit. This— shit, he should’ve— he’d miscalculated, he shouldn’t have—

“You like this,” Sam breathed, and Bucky couldn’t bear to look him in the eye.

“Sam—”

“No, no.” Sam pushed a finger onto his lips, making his heart skip a beat. “You like this. You like— you like me. You do. I can see it on your face, Buck.”

Bucky twitched and gritted out, “Don’t call me that.”

“I’ll call you whatever I want to,” Sam snapped, and Bucky’s mouth went dry. “Jesus fuck, Bucky. Look me in the eye and tell me you like this. You like it when I hold you down? When I make you tell me how much you like it?”

“I— no, that’s not—”

“Don’t lie to me.” Sam’s eyes flashed, stopping Bucky right in his tracks. “Don’t lie. You’ve done enough lying.” He stared at Bucky, eyes boring into his, and Bucky wet his lips nervously with his tongue, not missing the way Sam’s eyes flickered over the movement. “I… oh, I get it now.” Sam tilted his head, perceptive as ever, goddammit. “All this flirting with my sister, that was just to get my attention, wasn’t it? I know it was. Say it.”

“That wasn’t—” Bucky croaked, but Sam wasn’t having it.

He huffed a low laugh, and bulldozed right through Bucky’s feeble pretense. “You like it when I pin you against the wall? Take away all that power you have, that strength that your arm gives you? Make you feel small, maybe?”

Bucky stared back, breath hitching in his chest.

Sam tightened his hold. “Say it.”

Bucky groaned, his cock twitching. He couldn’t. He— that wasn’t— he was— Sam didn’t—

Sam… Sam wasn’t weird. He was hot.

He liked Sam.

The full extent of that realization hit him like a truck and he choked on his next breath. “Yes,” he gasped out, trembling, and Sam released him. He fell to the floor, breath still raspy and hitched in his chest.

Sam let him catch his breath, face expressionless, and then said, “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

In any other scenario, Bucky would’ve laughed at the potential that pun had, because holy fuck, his dick had never been so hard before. But right now, he was a cock-hungry tornado for one Mr. Sam Wilson, and Sam was going to fuck him into a new dimension, he already knew it.

“I—shit, Sam,” Bucky said intelligently, staring up at the man. Sam extended a hand and Bucky took it cautiously, letting him help him to his feet. “You still mad at me?”

Sam huffed and turned his head to the side, making Bucky’s heart sink a bit. There was a small pause between them, not necessarily awkward, just… there, and Bucky was ready to say something inevitably stupid when Sam beat him to it. “Nah. Nah, I’m not… I wasn’t mad.”

“Yeah, you were.” Bucky felt his lips twist into a bitter grimace, angry at himself. “Shouldn’ta done it. ‘s my fault.”

“Yeah, well.” Sam finally dragged his eyes back to him. “Not your fault you’re, well, you know.” He broke off awkwardly.

There was another silence between them and Bucky’s mind was beginning to go white with panic, because this wasn’t exactly how he’d planned this shit to go down, ever, and he stammered, “Um.”

“Um?” Sam stared back at him.

Bucky licked his lips again, and again, Sam’s gaze moved down to follow the movement. “Maybe we should—‘s too quiet. Maybe—”

“Maybe I like it quiet.”

“I—oh.” Bucky broke off, biting his lip.

Sam just stared, then broke into a wide grin that had Bucky both relaxing and tensing for whatever would come next. Then, just when Bucky was beginning to sweat through his shirt, Sam stepped closer, close enough to press him against the wall of the boat, and tilted his head when Bucky chewed at his lip nervously again. “Don’t do that,” he breathed, and Bucky obeyed instantly because Sam told him not to, “that’s mine to bite.”

That was the only warning he got before Sam pressed his lips to Bucky’s, kissing him soft and tender before Bucky let out a small moan. Almost as though the noise had jump-started something inside him, Sam growled, and the kiss quickly turned hard and wet and sloppy.

When they broke apart, Bucky’s chest was heaving, and he found himself following Sam without even realizing, only stopping when Sam laughed and pushed his hand against his chest, forcing his back to the wall again.

“You stay like that,” Sam told him, and Bucky was pleased to hear him sound a bit winded from the kiss. Good. He wasn’t the only one. “You stay where I put you.”

Bucky nodded eagerly, hard enough to give himself whiplash. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll stay,” he breathed.

“You stay,” Sam repeated, then pulled back from Bucky after one last lingering look to disappear, heading for the exit of the boat.

Bucky’s heart skipped a beat and for a millisecond, he wondered if Sam was leaving, if he’d seriously misread this situation, but there was no way that was the case, right? Sam had kissed him.

Bucky could still taste him.

Sam Wilson tasted like fucking candy.

He heard some rustling, and then a clink and a grunt, and he realized that Sam was locking the door down to the area of the boat they were in, and he swore under his breath.

Sam was serious, then.

Wetting his dry lips nervously, he let a hand fall down to the bulge in his pants, pressing the heel of his hand against his cock, letting out a deep, shaky breath that he hadn’t realized he’d been holding in.

His eyes fluttered shut and he bit his lip before releasing it, remembering that it wasn’t his to bite, it was Sam’s, and fuck, just the thought of that was so fucking heady that it made him dizzy.

“There.” Sam appeared, making Bucky jump. There was a glint in his eyes as he drew closer, then pulled Bucky’s hand away to pin it above his head without a moment of hesitation, the sheer demonstration of his strength going straight to Bucky’s cock, and he caged Bucky in his arms by planting his hands on the wall until everything, Bucky’s entire goddamn world, was full of one Sam goddamn Wilson. “Now we can get started.”

Read Part 2 Here!

[callsigns-haze]

Water Baby

Eris x Rhysand's Sister!Reader Summary: Eris and Y/N enjoy a perfect day by the lake, playing with Finna Chapter contains scenes of family bonding and lighthearted moments.

*Serves as a one-shot but can be read as memories fade or the sequel loves haze series

Eris couldn’t believe how fast time had flown by. One and a half years had passed in the blink of an eye. He watched his three-year-old son, Finna, splash around in the water, his little hands paddling energetically. Eris swam beside him, encouraging him with gentle words and guiding hands.

Finna had grown so much. His curly hair, it grew slightly darker in time with streaks of highlights, glistened in the sunlight, and his laughter echoed across the lake, pure and joyful. Eris couldn’t help but smile, his heart swelling with pride and love for his son.

On the shore, Y/N was sunbathing, her dark hair spread out like a fan on the towel beneath her. She had a serene expression on her face, the sunlight casting a warm glow on her skin. She turned her head slightly, watching Eris and Finna with a contented smile. This was the peace she had longed for, a moment of pure happiness with her family.

The past two years had been a journey of healing and growth. Y/N had been diligently visiting the healer, seeking updates about the damage in her uterus caused by the force field. The news had been a mix of hope and caution, but Y/N remained determined. She was strong, a fighter, and Eris admired her resilience.

In the meantime, Y/N had also started practicing with Finna, helping him learn to control his burgeoning powers. It was a slow and careful process, but Finna was a quick learner, and his powers, a blend of both his parents' abilities, showed remarkable potential. Eris often marvelled at the sight of Y/N guiding Finna, her patience and love evident in every gesture.

“Come on, Finna, kick your legs like this,” Eris encouraged, demonstrating the motion. Finna mimicked him, his little legs splashing water everywhere.

“Like this, Daddy?” Finna asked, his big eyes looking up at Eris.

“Exactly like that, buddy,” Eris said, his voice filled with pride. “You’re doing great.”

Finna’s laughter filled the air again, and Eris scooped him up, lifting him high above the water. Finna squealed in delight, his arms and legs flailing with joy.

“Higher, Daddy!” Finna exclaimed, and Eris obliged, lifting him even higher before gently lowering him back into the water.

Y/N watched them with a smile, her heart full. She shifted slightly, propping herself up on her elbows to get a better view. “You two look like you’re having fun,” she called out.

Eris turned to her, his smile widening. “We are! You should join us.”

Y/N laughed softly, shaking her head. “I think I’ll enjoy the sun for a bit longer. But you two go ahead.”

Eris laughed as he gently tossed Finna up in the air, catching him securely every time. The delighted squeals of his son echoed across the lake, filling the air with pure joy. Finna’s little arms flailed with excitement, and his bright eyes sparkled with happiness.

“Higher, Daddy! Higher!” Finna called out, his laughter infectious.

“Alright, one more time,” Eris said, his voice warm and playful. He lifted Finna high above his head, feeling the boy’s tiny hands gripping his shoulders tightly. With a careful toss, Finna soared into the air, the sunlight glinting off the droplets of water that sprayed around him.

Finna came down with a splash, laughing as Eris caught him securely in his strong arms. “That was so much fun!” Finna exclaimed, his cheeks rosy from the excitement and cool water.

“You’re a brave little guy,” Eris said, pride evident in his voice. He held Finna close, kissing the top of his wet head. “Now, let’s practice floating on your back again. Remember what Mommy showed you?”

Finna nodded, his expression serious as he focused on his father’s instructions. Eris gently lowered him onto his back, supporting him with his hands. Finna’s small body relaxed, and he floated on the surface of the water, his eyes wide with concentration.

“See? You’re doing great,” Eris encouraged. “Just keep your body still and trust the water to hold you up.”

Finna’s face lit up with pride as he floated effortlessly. “Look, Daddy! I’m doing it!”

Eris beamed, his heart swelling with love. “Yes, you are! I’m so proud of you, Finna.”

After a few more moments of floating, Finna decided he wanted to play some more. Eris let him splash around, his small hands creating waves that lapped against their legs. They played a game of pretending to be sea creatures, with Finna declaring himself a mighty dolphin and Eris a playful sea lion.

“Dolphin Finna, swim over here!” Eris called out, making exaggerated swimming motions.

Finna giggled, paddling over to Eris with his best dolphin impression. “I’m the fastest dolphin ever!”

“You sure are!” Eris agreed, capturing Finna in a gentle hug and spinning him around in the water. Finna’s laughter filled the air once again, and Eris couldn’t help but join in.

Eventually, Finna’s energy began to wane, and he looked towards the shore where Y/N was watching them with a loving smile. “Mommy, I want to go to Mommy!” Finna declared, his little legs kicking as he pointed towards Y/N.

Eris nodded, lifting Finna out of the water and carrying him towards the shore. Finna’s arms wrapped around his neck, his wet hair plastered to his forehead.

As they approached, Y/N stood up, holding a fluffy towel open and ready. “Come here, my little water baby,” she said, her voice full of affection.

Eris gently set Finna down, and the boy ran into Y/N’s arms, wrapping his small, wet body in the towel. Y/N enveloped him in the soft fabric, drying him off with tender care. “Did you have fun, sweetheart?”

Finna nodded enthusiastically, his eyes shining. “Yes, Mommy! Daddy and I played dolphin and sea lion! I floated, too!”

“You did? That’s wonderful!” Y/N said, her face beaming with pride. She planted kisses all over Finna’s face, making him giggle and squirm.

Eris watched them with a smile, his heart full. Y/N’s love for their son was palpable, and the sight of them together filled him with a profound sense of gratitude. He walked over, wrapping an arm around Y/N and kissing her temple.

“You two are my everything,” Eris said softly, his voice filled with emotion.

Y/N looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the same depth of feeling. “And you are ours,” she replied, leaning into his touch.

Request are open and active!

Tagging some:

@callsign-magnolia

@kmc1989

@hardballoonlove

@senawashere

@hookslove1592

@marvel-molly

@lucky7rosie

@daughterofthemoons-stuff

@lilah-asteria

@crossfandomslut

@pit-and-the-pen

@inky-sun

@the-sweet-psycho

@why4anne

@bunnyredgirl

@rcarbo1

@pandabiiissh

@adalia-jaycee

@swiftie-4-lifes-stuff

@minaethrym

[lcvebirds]

                                    ABOUT BRAYDEN ➡️

GENERAL DETAILS.

FULL NAME: brayden anthony wells NICKNAME(S): bray NAME MEANING: wise  AGE:  26 DATE OF BIRTH:  january 12, 1996 PLACE OF BIRTH: tampa, fl CURRENT LOCATION: tbd ETHNICITY: caucasian GENDER: cismale PRONOUNS: he/him SEXUAL ORIENTATION: bisexual ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: biromantic OCCUPATION: pro quarterback EDUCATION LEVEL:  high school diploma, AA degree LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: a private house 

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, ETC.

FACECLAIM: jacob elordi HAIR COLOR AND STYLE: brunette COMPLEXION: tanned EYE COLOR: hazel HEIGHT: 6″4 TATTOOS: an “s” on his hipbone PIERCINGS: n/a CLOTHING STYLE: joggers, t shirts DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: dimples, strong jawline SIGNATURE SCENT: versace cologne

HEALTH.

MENTAL DISORDER(S): n/a PHYSICAL DISORDER(S):  n/a ALLERGIES: n/a ADDICTIONS: n/a   DRUG USE: n/a ALCOHOL USE: socially

PERSONALITY.

LABEL(S): the athlete POSITIVE TRAITS: funny, playful, confident NEGATIVE TRAITS: cocky, closed off LIKES: sports, outdoors DISLIKES: laziness FEARS: losing his job HABITS: n/a GOALS AND AMBITIONS: to be a pro football coach ASTROLOGY: capricorn WEATHER: sunny and cool COLOR: blue MUSIC: 80s rock example van halen MOVIE: remember the titans BOOK: n/a SPORT: football BEVERAGE: gatorade  FOOD: hot wings ANIMAL: dogs SEASON: fall

FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC.

MOTHER: coraline wells FATHER:  jack wells BEST FRIEND: n/a EXES: n/a SIBLING(S): brandon  CHILDREN: n/a PET(S): buck (golden retriever)

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

I’m here to request for moth !! yes. I was wondering you could write headcanons or a scenario abt FL where the reader is kinda like diluc (well the darkhero part) , where the reader is Batman at night 👍🏼 and comes home very late, exhausted and beat up/bruised. angst to fluff !!

feel free to change it up or ignore !!

oooo i love this!!!! i made you determined and strong, not quite as angsty as Diluc. hope that's alright!!!!

~ * ~ The Millelith Retire at Midnight

Foul Legacy Childe x Reader Gender Neutral (no pronouns mentioned) Hurt/Comfort Warnings: Descriptions of blood and injuries, crying, pain, allusion to battle

~ * ~

If there’s one thing you’ve learned during your life in Teyvat, it’s that nighttime is dangerous. Monsters and beasts that crawl the earth and sea grow only more vicious when the sun sets, something every adult and child is aware of. When you were young, your parents always warned you about the dangers of staying out after dark, how a young one like you could be easily snatched up and away by vile things lurking in the night to be eaten or killed. Always, whenever you went out to play, their yells of caution would follow. “Be back before dusk! Don’t talk to strangers! Beware of sweet flowers! Always watch your back!” As a child, you thought some of their warnings were overkill. You never even left the Harbor when you ran around with your friends, how could you encounter any sweet flowers? But now, fully grown and with the weight of life’s knowledge on your shoulders, you understand that they were simply looking out for you. Perhaps in an overbearing manner, yes, but looking out for you all the same, for Teyvat is nothing but cruel to those who wander without their wits about them. This realization had accompanied the receiving of a jagged scar across your back, a taunting reminder of your previous naivety and innocence. You like to think it also taught you how to be strong, or at least the basics, and you had looked out upon the city of Liyue and all your friends and family with a new desire: a need to protect and defend the people and Harbor that you loved, or come to love; for the Millelith let their guard down at midnight, and with Rex Lapis’ death the monsters encroached ever closer. When you met Childe, you had been suspicious of him, as you were with everybody. But with his charm and your wit it was almost inevitable that the hostility would fade, and soon you would call yourself and him “friendly rivals”, to Childe’s endless amusement. Unbeknownst to you, his playful teasing and banter was no more than a mask to his inner turmoil, a truth he kept tightly locked away with a key of denial and distraction. The Harbinger was enchanted by you. Everything from your laughter to the way your eyes glittered when walking the city streets to your unwavering determination made his heart beat fast, his cold, bloodthirsty heart that he thought could only hold enough love for his family. At first he had refused to acknowledge it, chalking up his warming cheeks and fluttering pulse to simple comradery, eager to test your skills in battle. He couldn’t get attached- he was Tartaglia, the Eleventh Harbinger! He was here on a mission, to throw the nation into chaos, you included, and had no time for messy things such as emotions!

It was when Osial rose above the sea and threatened innocent citizens that he realized he never wanted you to go somewhere he couldn’t follow, especially not into the arms of death. That day was the first time you saw Childe cry, even if in relief at your wellbeing. You were mildly irritated when you found out he summoned an ancient deity, fearing for your friends’ safety more than your own, but couldn’t help but smile when he laid his heart, raw and longing, before you, and finally you were allowed to ask a simple question. “What took you so long?” That was months ago, and you’re no less in love with him than you were when he first smiled at you. Not a fake smile to charm anyone into forgetting he was a Fatuus- a bright, genuine smile, full of warmth and kindness. It was a bit lopsided, but you liked it that way. Through raging tides you’ve held onto one another. Your relationship is knit in secrecy- the people despise the Harbinger, after all, and he refused to let you tarnish your name for him. During his various missions to distant lands, you’ve stayed firm and strong, performing your own duties while awaiting his return. When you discovered his Abyssal curse, his monstrous other form, you held his hand tightly as he spilled his fears out to you. And when the curse had consumed him, transforming him into an otherworldly creature permanently, you had only lamented on how you wouldn’t be able to hug him as well as you used to. Childe’s transformation had, if anything, only increased your determination to keep your loved ones safe. While you’re certain he can defend himself, his bestial appearance could put him at odds with other people controlled only by fear. And you’d be damned if you’d let your beloved ex-Harbinger get hurt. So, every night, when Childe is nestled in either his nest of blankets or, more often, your bed, you hoist up your weapon and slip into the dark. The Millelith retire at midnight. So you wield your passion and love in their place. Some nights are easy, with few monsters to be slain. But others have scores of them, coming wave after wave towards the bridge that connects civilization to the wild whims of nature. It’s like they’re coordinating- they probably are coordinating. Coordination or no coordination, you’re not letting a single one cross that bridge. Tonight is one of those nights, with so many monsters you’re almost drowning in them. They can sense the absence of your archon and mount attack after attack, their weak constructs piling up on the ground as you counter their methods. Together they might be strong, but you’re stronger, and midnight turns to early morning in light of your victory. A victory not without its losses, your injured body reminds you as you struggle to stand. The sound of marching boots echoes distantly, and you hurry to sneak away into an alley as the Millelith take their morning posts, confusion lacing their tones as they spot the blood spatters and broken wood on the bridge. It’ll be another mystery for them, but another painful triumph for you, and you limp towards home with your weapon dragging behind you. Opening and closing the front door proves to be particularly difficult today, and when you finally manage to push the heavy wood shut you sink to the floor, wounds throbbing in time with your heart. You hear something moving upstairs, then claws clicking hastily on the hardwood floor, and you wince, knowing you’ve been gone too long. The sun hasn’t risen, that’s how early the hour is, so when you hear a panicked yelp all you see is Childe’s blue eye gleaming faintly in the gloom. Even so you can still pick out the deep worry and fear written across his face- for someone with a mask for his features, Childe can be very expressive. He whines, low and fretful, claws hovering over your wounds. He doesn’t know where to start- he doesn’t know where to start because he woke up and you were gone and he was so scared and worried and- Your hands carefully pull his face closer, and you place a gentle kiss on his forehead, shaking from the effort. Childe whimpers, but presses his head into the crook of your neck and inhales your scent. It’s marred by the metallic tang of blood, but it’s there nonetheless and soothes his nerves enough to slowly rise and lift you up into his arms. Your weapon clatters to the ground, forgotten, as Childe carries you up the stairs and to his room, filled with blankets and cushions, and gingerly sets you down onto the soft mass. You try for a smile, attempting to apologize for the inevitable staining, but he simply shakes his head and shushes you gently. It’s the same shush you do for him when he needs grounding. He slips through the doorway and vanishes for a moment, returning quickly with an armful of bandages and disinfectant. He’s seen you apply it and remembers, vaguely, when he had to do it for himself, small and squishy and human. His claws are poised with utmost care, delicately dabbing each of your bleeding cuts with disinfectant before wrapping them with gauze. Your blood stains the white cloth a brilliant red, and he tries not to flinch at the sight, the thought of you getting hurt. And you, you’re so patient for him, barely even wincing when he accidentally yanks the bandage too tight and giving him a reassuring smile in return for his cries of distress. Childe’s shoulders sag in relief when finally, finally you’re patched up, the only evidence of a fight being the white and red wrappings and darkening bruises on various parts of your body. You smile at him, again, so kind and bright, opening up your arms for him to fall into. “Thanks, you did a great job.” He leans into your touch with a strangled sob, careful to not put his whole weight on you as he pulls you into his own arms. The room fills with his hiccups and your comforting hums as a single question hangs in the air, one that you know he’s been wanting to ask ever since he found you crumpled in the hallway. “Why? Why do you do this? Why do you put yourself, all alone, through these battles?” A smile spreads across your face again, this time soft and silent, as you bury your face into his fluff. Because you love him. You love him, you love this city, you love your friends and family. You love them so much that you’d do anything to make sure they’re always safe, that he’s always safe and happy and healthy. Your desire to defend and protect your home and loved ones is born out of knowing that this world is dark and terrible to the weak, merciless to those who venture out of bounds. You’d rather your skin become scarred with cuts and gashes than see Childe hurt- see him hurt again. And Childe suddenly understands, knowing the warm swell of affection he feels when seeing his family and now you is very much the same, how he’d go to the ends of Teyvat to keep his little siblings’ innocence intact. He can’t do the same for you- you’ve already witnessed the atrocities of the world- but he can keep you safe, just like you keep the Harbor and him safe at night. Childe watches your hand wind into his fluff, gripping it as you snuggle sleepily against him. He traces a scar that runs up and across your knuckles with a single claw, using his other hand to fuss with your hair. The new flesh is soft and smooth under his finger, but undeniably from a wound healed long ago. Perhaps in the future, he’ll be able to bear the burden of the city’s scars alongside you.

[eubautista]

⟨ CIERRA RAMIREZ. CIS FEMALE. SHE/HER. ⟩ though the mist might prevent some from seeing it, ELENA BAUTISTA is actually a descendent of I R I S. it’s still a question of whether or not the TWENTY-ONE year old EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT MAJOR from MIAMI, USA has taken after their godly parent completely, but the demigod is still known to be quite OPTIMISTIC & NAIVE.

hey y’all! i’m rae ( she/her, 18, est ) and i’m excited to be here! check under the cut for more information about elena & like this/dm me if you’d like to plot. i highkey wasn’t expecting elena’s account to be posted until tuesday so i’ll be popping in & out tonight ♡

brief history

grew up in miami, fl. had a large extended family but only had her father in the home.

as a child, she was known for having a huge imagination. her dreams and daydreams were extremely vivid, and she often had a hard time separating them from reality. this caused the people around her to think she was super imaginative or even a liar at times.

elena got claimed at the age of twelve, a couple weeks after her illusions started being able to be seen by others. those were a strange couple of weeks, as she had no idea why or how people were starting to vaguely notice some of her daydreams as well. she was in the living room with her father, trying to show him some of her illusions, when iris appeared in the midst. elena was mesmerized and could hardly contain her excitement ( and confusion ) during this meeting.

after that, she attended camps every summer. she loved the fact that she could develop her powers without feeling like a freak or worrying for anyone’s safety, but she always missed home too much to try staying year-round.

her father tried to raise her as “normally” as possible, so she had a fairly basic teenaged experience despite everything. however, as her abilities became stronger, she realized it’d be safest for her and those around her if she continued her education at eonia.

personality

head in the clouds seems to be a phrase that perfectly describes elena, as her constant immersion in self-made illusions often contributes to a dream-like state. absent-minded and off-beat, she can seem a little clueless, which is one reason many mortals back home were shocked when they found out she had gotten into eonia university. another notable trait of elena’s is her optimism and faith in others, which often leads to naivety and allows her to be easily manipulated and taken advantage of. she is also pretty sociable and playful, often rambling about the things that excite her and offering her unwarranted opinions to whoever is nearby. despite her flaws, she is very sweet and has a genuine love and concern for others, often ready to look out for her loved ones.

abilities

virtuakinesis was the first power that elena started to develop. it started off as incredibly vivid dreams/daydreams until it reached the point where others could see them as well. growing up as an only child, she spent countless hours just playing around this power. this is her strongest power, and she is currently learning mist control. soon came photokinesis and rainbow manipulation, which started presenting themselves around the same time. while these powers aren’t as strong as her virtuakinesis and require much more concentration, she is still fairly decent at them. finally, she has slightly enhanced speed, but this is often overshadowed by her natural clumsiness. while many of these skills were naturally developed through her genuinely enjoying her powers, it wasn’t until middle school that she started attending demigod summer camps to further develop her skills.

wanted connections ( based on the grease soundtrack lol )

summer nights (g-rated): childhood camp crush/best friend. they met at camp one summer and immediately bonded. all good things must end, especially when it comes to middle school relationships, so they amicably parted ways at the end of the summer and lost touch.

hopelessly devoted to you / tears on my pillow: ex relationship. elena still isn't over this relationship. although they break her heart time and time again, she is still willing to do anything for them.

look at me, i'm sandra dee: frenemies. this person is the rizzo to elena's sandy, the jade to elena's tory. elena and this person are practically opposites. although elena may try to settle their differences and befriend this person from time to time, she usually ends up annoying them instead.

it's raining on prom night: this person found elena during a sad moment, and now elena always vents to and confides in this person, whether they want her to or not.

alone at a drive in: elena broke up with them or maybe hooked up with them at a party, but unlike them, she isn't interested in anything further.

those magic changes: they're just friends, but elena started seeing them in a new light after a special moment, which they seem to be oblivious to.

hound dog: to most people, elena is a sweet, semi-innocent girl, but not to this person. elena royally screwed this person over by hooking up with their significant other, so now their relationship is pretty rocky.

we go together: this is elena's person, her best friend. they could've met before eonia or became fast friends during freshman year, but now they're practically joined at the hip.

other connection ideas: camp friends, mentor/mentee, squad (PLS), and ofc i’d love to plot dynamics w all her half-siblingss

[tytangfei]

cdrama review: love of thousand years (2020)

aka the killing of three thousand crows. I will write a non-spoiler review first and then a spoiler review under the cut.

Headline: strong actors, production, with interesting story, but mediocre storytelling and missing key information

Love of thousand years (2020) is an 30-episode drama adaptation of the killing of three thousand crows by author shi si lang, featuring zheng yecheng and zhao lusi as main characters Fu Jiuyun and Qin Chuan, respectively. It is a xianxia romance about a princess who takes up revenge after the betrayal of an important official leads to an invasion from a neighboring kingdom--who is equipped with a demon army--and leads to the downfall of her kingdom. She hides her identity, taking on the face of her beloved maid, and goes to find the Spiritual Lamp that can rid of all demons in the world. This journey takes her to Qiangqu Mountain where immortals cultivate and where she meets Fu Jiuyun in person for the first time. Fu Jiuyun is a carefree and playful immortal who teases her plentiful and has his own reasons for bothering her...as their fates are tied together.

My rating: 8.5/10. 

Disclaimer: I started this drama without any prior knowledge of the book nor really reading the drama’s summary (since cdrama summaries are notoriously known for being inaccurate or too spoilery). I saw the bad reviews for it and kept my expectations low, which is why, I think, I was not too disappointed by this drama. I also watched this on the Youtube channel and the subtitles were good enough, although I learned too late that I could’ve been watching it on different sites with better subtitles...anyway.

I watched this drama because of zheng yecheng and zhao lusi but was surprised at the high production quality which can be seen from the physical locations, amount of extras and supporting characters, and the camerawork. Besides the revenge plot and my two favorite actors, I was drawn from the very first episode to the pretty cinematography and camerawork. The supporting cast, too, was good, especially Mao Fang Yuan as Er Meng (my absolute favorite supporting character) and Dai Yun Fan as Pang Yuan/crown prince. The OST was fine though the only memorable song for me was the opening theme. It also had funny moments too, which was nice. 

I am biased toward zheng yecheng but I truly think he can make any role work and he plays a seemingly carefree immortal just fine. He’s very versatile and able to switch from smiling to serious and heartbreaking. He is one of the highlights of this show. zhao lusi took me a moment to get used to because I had only seen her in the romance of tiger and rose, a historical romcom, and her character at first seemed almost carefree too--like she was falling back on that romcom type--but of course, how could she be? when zhao lusi conveyed the heavy emotions of a undercover princess, I was able to take her more seriously (this, though happened around I think ep5-6 for me). seeing her in this drama convinced me that she’ll be able to play a serious role in her upcoming main role in the drama the long ballad. I never had a problem with these two as the main characters nor their chemistry. I think their chemistry with their other co-stars from other productions is stronger, but them together in this drama works too. I think it’s because for me they are both kind of baby faces--both with cute type of faces--so it was a little hard for me to get into their dynamic at first, but they eventually got it to work. 

I think you’ll be able to still enjoy this drama if you are interested in these things:

zheng yecheng

zhao lusi

star-crossed lovers (in this case: mortal and immortal)

teasing and playful ML who is actually a dedicated and devoted lover

FL who dislikes & misunderstands the ML at first but grows to trust him

FL who carries a heavy burden of being a princess of a destroyed nation

revenge plots involving going undercover (the princess changes her face into someone else, so try not to get attached to the princess you see at the beginning!)

focus and development of secondary characters, mostly the second couple

I was hooked for the first 20 episodes or so. Where it got rocky for me was toward the last third of the drama (from around ep. 20-30), especially toward the last like 4 episodes where it felt like the drama was trying too hard to heighten the tragic notion that it didn’t feel organic and instead felt a bit frustrating. At one point, I literally fast-forward a sad/tragic/serious scene because I was like “okay, I get it, let’s move along please.” It was being too extra on the tragedy.

Also, there were some plot moves toward the second half of the drama that I felt were either resolved too conveniently or were not logical. Some of the characterization too seemed to stop developing as we got near the end to the point where some conclusions of problems didn’t feel earned. Thus, the mediocre storytelling. It started great and then stopped short of the finish line, and so, the story itself and the characters suffered toward the end. But, it does end happy. Well, ambiguously happy. Is it a good ending? Debatable. Is it happy for our characters? Yes. 

The confusion stemmed, I believe, from diverging from the original novel, where some key information was missing (or changed--maybe due to c*nsorsh*p?) for the drama. For example, in the drama’s description on MyDramaList says “A story about a forbidden romance that has weathered ten lifetimes and endured a thousand years of waiting.” I would disagree with this because that pertains more to the novel and not the drama. The drama did not make the weight of Fu Jiuyun’s interest in the princess heavy enough for the audience to truly understand.  Thus, it comes across as pure curiosity, which isn’t as strong as a reason to suddenly change everything for one person. 

Final non-spoiler thoughts: suspend your disbelief when the story starts to get a bit illogical. if you like the actors zheng yecheng and zhao lusi, I think you’ll still enjoy the story and witness some heartbreaking scenes and beautiful cinematography. but if you’re someone who needs an ending to be completely clear-cut about how it ends, then you’ll have a bit of trouble with this ending. Small note: the production had to us AI to generate a face for a minor character’s face--apparently the actress had done something really bad and so they didn’t want to use her face anymore, but couldn’t re-shoot, so they used AI. It will look really bad, fyi. 

if you want to understand more about the ending and/or seek out the deeper reasons for Fu Jiuyun’s love for her, you can check it out at this soompi forum where translations have been provided for the epilogue, containing Fu Jiuyun’s POV, as well as the actual happy ending in the book.

Cut below are my thoughts with spoilers--mostly about where I think the drama could’ve done better.

This drama had the potential to be a really great drama and for me it was a memorable one with some really heartbreaking, well-directed, well-acted scenes. However, I think it suffered from a few things. 

First, the confusing ending: In the drama, it’s happy that they reunite and we know that THAT part is real, but the big questions are whether the world she’s in is from a reversal of time or from being reborn. there are hints to indicate that she might’ve been reborn, but she still has her same name, so the line is blur. It’s deliberately ambiguous, but personally, this was unnecessary considering that the book already provided a way to the happy ending. Instead, the drama made it intentionally heavy and then fused it with this ambiguity. 

Second, Fu Jiuyun’s love and motivations being dummied down: in the drama, fu jiuyun’s “waiting” is from looking at the painting with the girl--something that confounds him and intrigues him--and then realizing that the girl is alive, now, in the human world. his interest in her then seems to be her connection and similarity to the girl in the painting. thus, he becomes curious about her and ultimately saves her from inevitable death, changing her fate. it comes across as almost on a whim that fu jiuyun does this and also comes across as fu jiuyun as the only one changing her fate--also comes across as fu jiuyun doing her a favor. 

in the book, it is a much deeper reason; fu jiuyun inadvertently affects her fate due to his observation of her ten lifetimes and him giving her the two paintings. again, you can read the thread from soompi forum to get his POV which helps so much in understanding his motivations. but here’s my quick summary:

in the book, fu jiuyun has been watching her for ten lifetimes--not because of love, but of curiosity and pity. watching her first death in the snow field in the red dress, fu jiuyun felt something--for the first time in his very long life. he kept tabs on her reincarnations but knew he shouldn’t interfere as it would go against heaven’s will and bring consequences, so even though each of her reincarnation went through bad things and died early, he didn’t do anything but only observed. each time, he felt something but didn’t act on it--until her lifetime as YanYan, the princess. He never met her face-to-face but gave her brother the music score and painting where YanYan took up his challenge. he thought, “so arrogant, and so confident.” he was peeved and amused. he was also warned to not bother her as it would bring ill fate and he was confused about how only observing would bring such ill fate...

when he saw her dance at the banquet, he realized that his very long life was for this moment--for her. he had met his true love and he wanted her. but, it turns out that because she had suffered for so many lifetimes, in this lifetime as Yanyan, she would have great fate--get married, live long, cultivate to be an immortal with her partner zuo zichen. fu jiuyun was sad about this but ultimately decided that as long as she could be happy, then he would be happy too. he would not make any demands because he only wanted her to be happy and have a good life at last. unfortunately, her fate was altered for two reasons: 1) the national advisor (in the drama: the old villain dude in cohorts with the crown prince) from Tianyuan Kingdom went against heavens and changed the fate of  Tianyuan’s crown prince. Thus, they had demon armies sooner and destroyed YanYan’s country sooner. and 2) fu jiuyun’s paintings fell into the hands of the traitor minister, who gifted it to the Mountain Lord who sealed zuo zichen’s memories away. So, Yanyan’s love was robbed from her--thanks to fu jiuyun’s item.

fu jiuyun realized that his ‘bet’ with Yanyan had a part in this (although he wasn’t the direct cause of her changed fate). it was ill fate. he regretted not taking Yanyan away sooner. And so, he promised himself:

He is not afraid of anything. He is not a saint. He gave way once and will never do it a second time.

If she is still alive, if he can still find her, he will hold on tight and never let go. Let her eyes truly see him and look at him.

If she can laugh again, then there is absolutely no problem even if he has to do everything he does not want to do, and give everything he cannot give.

Ill fate? What about that? He will disturb her and give her a better life. That is his own ill fate, and it has nothing to do with her so he alone will bear all the consequences.

Spirits have very strong hearts, and are not afraid of pressure and waiting.

He really wasn't afraid of anything. While he is alive, he vowed to pamper and indulge her.

(translations from soompi forums by forum member  Adidaem)

And so! This makes so much more sense to me on why fu jiuyun was so insistent about her focusing on being happy!!! and how he became entangled! If only more of this could’ve been incorporated into the story, it would’ve made SO much more sense.

third, the drag of the second couple: I actually liked them and their progress and development, but at one point, I was like MY G AW D, you two just need to be fucking honest with each other and tell your damn true feelings. toward the end, there was a lot of back-and-forth misunderstandings and insecurities that I wanted to tear my hair out.

fourth, the weakened female lead: qin chuan didn’t do as much fighting as I thought she should’ve, considering that she’s trained for this. there were a couple scenes that she looked cool in, but she didn’t really fight? she did one trick? and then was stopped by the villains. she should’ve been more powerful by now, but wasn’t. in the drama, when she shows up to help fight the dragon king? she did ONE thing and then was immediately attacked, needing to be saved by fu jiuyun. That was just ????????? 

fifth, the actress for the original princess was too good!: they really gave her such awesome scenes (like the snowfield one with the drums) and think I can just forget about her??? It really took a lot of adjusting. I think if that very first scene wasn’t THAT powerful and didn’t show her face, I might’ve been able to let go sooner lol.

sixth, er meng/ting yuan you glorious bastard: I love him so much and I like his actual origin story although it also feels like it came out of nowhere toward the end. again, probably could’ve been hinted earlier.

here are reasons why I wished I knew how the full novel went, because, in the drama, these are the plot points that I felt weakened the story:

bringing back zichen’s father because, all this time, it was a ~demon~ who pretended to be the father. I don’t know, I felt like this was just...it felt like everything that had happened between qin chuan and zichen is now wiped away because zichen’s real father was actually alive. like, the heavy weight that they both carried was pointless this whole time because, gotcha! it was a demon this whole time!! and then zichen’s father taking on the role of being a leader for the country...I was just...like. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. was this necessary? idk, I feel a bit deceived. Like, maybe if it were implied to the audience so that the audience knew but was just waiting for the characters to know, I think I might’ve felt better.

xuanzhu as the final sacrifice: at this rate, I could barely keep up with understanding how the lamp works, but having xuanzhu be the one to sacrifice herself felt...blindsided. I liked that the drama tried to build up to it, but, in the end, it kind or robbed qin chuan. Toward the end of the drama, it really felt like qin chuan was just doing a lot of crying and regretting again and couldn’t really DO anything. she was literally knocked out during xuanzhu’s death speech and actual death. I was just !!????? at least be AWAKE when your cousin sister saves your life and sacrifices herself!!!!!!!!!

My final thoughts: I did enjoy this world, these characters, this story. The actors were solid. There are some memorable scenes that I will remember for a long time. I just wished they stuck to the original novel a little closer so that the depth could’ve been conveyed. 

Okay, I’m going to end this long delirious review now.

[mypaleopetfl]

Importance of Buying Fresh Food For Pets in Coral Springs and Fort Lauderdale, FL

A pet at home is a valuable addition to the family. Scampering up or sedating an adult dog can be playful, loving, and emotionally attached to the pet parents! Feeding them properly is essential, as caring for a sick dog in the family is likely overwhelming and sorrowful. No worries! It helps to connect with an experienced vet right after bringing the dog into the home. Asking for advice about nutritional food is another must-do that cannot be avoided under any pretext. The benefits of feeding healthy dog food in Fort Lauderdale and Coral Springs, FL, is a given as well. ​ Sure, it is not always easy to find the healthiest food packed with nutrition at the local pet food store. Moreover, feeding processed food containing suspect components would be foolhardy. The best way to ensure nutrition and healthy life for the beloved pet is to source the right food items individually. Some of the food that has proved to be beneficial for a pet dog include the following:- Bone Broth It is the responsibility of the pet owner to buy healthy bones and simmer them for a long time, along with apple cider vinegar. This results in the breaking down of the nutrients that are easily absorbed by the dog. The advantages that become apparent in the pet include:- l Improved digestion with no leaky gut syndrome observed l Detoxification of the liver l Reduced risk of inflammation l Reduction of joint pain l Strong muscles, bones, and ligaments l Boost the immunity system l Better skin health l Improved brain function Raw Goat Milk Milk that is directly sourced from a goat and fed to the et can be hugely beneficial for its health. It is much better than providing cow milk to a dog that may be lactose intolerant. The gains of being fed with raw got milk are as follows:- · Low risks of allergic reactions · Easy to digest · Higher MCT levels · Contains vitamin C, selenium, and zinc Omega-3 Oils Adding small-sized oily fish to the dog’s bowl during meal times is a good idea. The omega-3-rich item is beneficial for human health and dog health in much the same way, namely: · Improved brain health · Supports joint function · Anti-inflammatory · Aid kidney function · Improved heart health · Ensures blemish-free skin and promotes eye health Kelp This natural material is excellent for dog health as it contains loads of trace minerals that are beneficial for the body. The seaweed is known to improve the following functions making the family dog remain in the pink of health:- · Thyroid functions · Metabolic functions · Nervous functions · Digestive functions · Immune functions It is a good idea to forgo kibble altogether. Having fresh food for pets in Coral Springs and Fort Lauderdale, FL, delivered can enable one to find an easy source of nutrition for the beloved pet. The USDA-approved meats and organic products go a long way in meeting health necessities