#the songs must flow otherwise i can't put them here

[aceofvase]

when you get this, list 5 songs you like to listen to, publish. then, send this to 10 of your favourite followers ♡ (no pressure on the second part)

Oh I love doing these. Let's see if I can make a mini playlist that still kinda flows despite a complete lack of genre consistency.

Also for some reason all the soundcloud links are only 30 seconds, but somehow only on the mobile app? Even the mobile site has the full song, I have no idea what that's about and I can't fix it

[19761107]

『Forever Young』 ~Courageous confession of love that influences life, so that you will not regret it even after 53 years~

It's too late to be sorry

In terms of genre, this work would be a love romance movie.

The main character of this work is very regretful because he lacked the courage to confess his love to his beloved.

You should have proposed to your darling.

Have you ever experienced that?

I don't think there are many people in life who fall in love, love, and can't stand it.

It's a very precious existence.

You are very happy just talking to her(him).

Even if you get dumped or break up, you don't think you'll blame that person.

A person who can say "thank you for the precious memories, the time we spent together was very happy".

I think that darlings like this are called irreplaceable people.

If you convey something with energy, the other party will return that energy regardless of the result.

You don't think you will ever have any regrets there.

It's for yourself.

Otherwise, we will be trapped in the past and will not be able to move forward.

Come on, let's have the courage to hit and break!

You can sing confession poems and songs!

Beloved lover Helen

Now let's get into the work.

The setting is 1939, America before World War II.

The main character, Daniel, works as a test pilot for the United States Air Force.

He has a childhood friend, Helen, whom he loves very much.

In the sepia-toned video, the two of them lie down in front of the fireplace and eat a plate of pizza together at Daniel's house.

Helen gently kisses Daniel as he falls asleep in his chair.

The Billie Holiday song in that room "The Very Thought of You" is flowing with a sweet tone.

Daniel holds Helen's mouth and spitefully prevents her from singing the song.

Daniel looks like a child when he is with Helen.

Daniel has a best friend, Harry, who is a military scientist.

At a picnic, a boy with ice cream keeps looking at Daniel.

Daniel is at a loss as to what to say.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"This kid keeps staring at me."

Helen:

"He likes you."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Helen says so and admonishes Daniel.

Daniel is not good at communicating with children.

He doesn't know what to say.

Later, Daniel will be in close contact with the child…

Harry then announces that his wife Blanche has a baby.

Later, this child will be a key person.

Daniel and Helen look at each other like, "We're next."

Helen smiles as if to tell him to propose soon.

Cafe of sadness in the rain

One rainy afternoon, Daniel meets Helen at their favorite cafe restaurant "JAKE’S DINER".

It is a stylish cafe restaurant in the shape of a train.

Daniel, who came first, is doing a rehearsal for the proposal.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"Look,it's 1939 already…"

"You usually get my thoughts before I do so you probably know what I'll say."

"Helen, will you marry me?"

ーーーーーーーーーー

Try a pattern that feels a little more casual.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"I've been thinking…"

ーーーーーーーーーー

Helen rushes over.

Helen spills salt, but she puts it on her neck.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Helen:

"Guess what?"

"Colliers wants the pictures."

Daniel:

"No kidding?"

Helen:

"But it's a rush thing."

"They need the pictures by Thursday."

"I must have them ready tomorrow."

"Which means I must get to work."

"I must go."

Daniel:

"Wait!"

Helen:

"What?"

Daniel:

"Want some pie?"

Helen:

"We just had pie."

Daniel:

"Not blueberry."

Helen:

"How can you be hungry?"

Daniel:

"I don't know."

"Isn't that the darndest thing?"

"(To the clerk) Some blueberry pie?"

"Want some?"

"(To the clerk) Just one."

ーーーーーーーーーー

There was silence for a while between the two.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Helen:

"What's going on?"

Daniel:

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, I just want you to sit here with me while I eat."

"I'll eat fast."

Helen:

"You're trying to break bad news to me,right?"

"You're testing a rocket?"

Daniel:

"Where do you cook this stuff up?"

"There's no rocket."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel just can't get the courage.

Helen gently presents a napkin to Daniel who eats in a hurry.

Helen also seems to be aware of Daniel's proposal and smiles at Daniel without courage.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Helen:

"I have to go"

Daniel:

"OK I know."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel didn't have the courage to propose.

Helen kisses Daniel and leaves the cafe.

With a disappointed look on his face, Daniel calls Harry from the café's pay phone to tell him that he couldn't propose to Helen.

At that time, the movement of the familiar sales clerk became flustered.

He tells Daniel, "You better go quickly. Miss Helen is in trouble…"

Surprisingly, Helen rushed out of the coffee shop and was hit by a truck on the road in front of the cafe.

Like an empty shell

Helen hits her head and never regains consciousness.

Every day Daniel stayed by Helen's bedside.

Time passed, and Helen remained unconscious for half a year.

Even the doctors seemed to have given up.

Daniel has become an empty shell and has been stuck at home.

His best friend Harry also goes to Daniel's house to comfort him.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Harry:

"After 2 weeks,they said she wouldn't wake up."

"That was 6 months ago."

Daniel:

"Doctor can be wrong."

"She said, ’I'll see you later’."

“She said ’I'll see you later’ and passed.”

"We used to play out by the lighthouse when we were kids."

"And she'd say we'd grow old together…"

"…in that great house down the road."

"I don't have one single memory without her."

"Nothing was real until she knew."

"She's a part of me"

ーーーーーーーーーー

There, Daniel learns about the cryosleep preservation experiment Harry is working on.

After hearing that there were no test subjects and after a few days of thinking, Daniel volunteered.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"I can't watch her die."

"I want to sleep for a year."

Harry:

"What do you say!"

Daniel:

"Well thought out"

"I've been in the service for 12 years."

"I'm healthy."

"I got no family,nowhere to go."

"I knows tests."

"I know experiments."

"It's my job."

"I'm perfect."

"You know that."

Harry:

"I don't even know if this thing'll work for a year."

Daniel:

"Let me do it, please."

"I can't think anymore."

"I can't."

"Until, she…"

"Until it's over."

Harry:

"Maybe the doctor made a mistake."

Daniel:

"If she gets better…"

"…wake me up."

ーーーーーーーーーー

As he falls asleep, a fun scene from their childhood with Daniel and Helan at the lighthouse will play in slow motion.

When Daniel finally wakes up

The experiment was supposed to last a year.

However, 53 years have passed and it is now 1992.

10-year-old Nat and Felix, who live near a military facility, are best friends and play together all the time.

There is a lot of humor in this work even in such a lonely mood.

Nat says to Felix, "When are you going to the dentist?"

Felix continues to suck only the sweet part of the pie.

In the next scene, Felix has stuffed teeth and can't speak.

Felix's brother Steven works in the Air Force and makes deliveries by car.

The two of them silently listen to their older brother, who continues to sing a strange song while screaming.

They were put in the back seat of the car he was driving and came to the military facility.

They are told to stay calm in the car, but the two ignore the order and explore the facility.

In a certain warehouse, the two find something that looks like a submarine and start playing submarines.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

"Roger. Temperature is one,two.three. Ready."

Felix:

"Activating the turbopower speed booster."

Nat:

"Prepare for radioactive energy."

Felix:

"Okay. How low are we?"

Nat:

"The needle says 65."

"47"

Felix:

"Ready to raise the periscope?"

Nat:

"Ready to raise periscope."

Felix:

"A leak! Emergency!"

Nat:

"What now?"

Felix:

"Tigheten the oxygen."

ーーーーーーーーーー

The two of them open the valve with momentum.

Then the door of the device opened and a frozen man came out from inside.

Nat is grabbed by the jacket he was wearing, but the two desperately escape.

Nat explains to her mother, Claire, how he lost the jacket, but she doesn't believe it.

On the other hand, Daniel, who wakes up from cryo somnia, is stunned by the surrounding environment after 53 years, dragging his legs that do not go as expected.

Daniel tried to explain this to military personnel, but they thought he was crazy and ignored him.

With the help of children

Daniel, thinking that he had no choice but to find Harry, looks for a collaborator.

Use the address on the jacket he grabbed as a clue to go to Nat's house.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"Are you Nat Cooper?"

Nat:

"It's the dead guy!"

Felix:

"The dead guy!"

"Help me!"

Daniel:

"I won't kill you."

"I'm not going to kill you,okay?"

"I just want to know how I got this jacket."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat and Felix are panicked and they both speak at the same time, and Daniel can't hear them.

This is interesting

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"All right!"

"You talk"

Nat:

"We went to the warehouse with Felix's brother,Steven."

"And we were playing there."

"And we saw a metal thing and thought it was a submarine."

"And we opened it up somehow and you were inside."

"Right?"

Felix:

"Right."

Daniel:

"There were no guards?"

"No doctors?"

Nat:

"No,sir."

"Just junk."

ーーーーーーーーーー

He cleared them of the misconception that he was a zombie.

And he taught them 53 years of history and technology.

World War II, answering machines, how to drink juice from paper cartons, etc.

Nat is surprised and delighted to know that Daniel is the pilot.

The three go to the library to investigate the events of the 53 years.

Nat's unrequited love

Then comes the girl Nat is in love with.

Nat is encouraged by Felix to speak up.

This scene is so humorous and funny that Nat tries to get the girl's attention.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

"I'm in the library on a Saturday."

"She'll think I'm a geek."

Felix:

"She's in here, too."

"Call her."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat goes to talk to the girl.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

"Hi, Alice, how are you?"

Alice:

"yes."

Nat:

"Hey Alice,…nice dress."

Alice:

"Thanks."

Nat:

"Looks like wallpaper."

ーーーーーーーーーー

The girl looks displeased, but he will follow her not like following her, saying, "I mean a good wallpaper."

Continuing on, he blundered.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

"Bitchin nail polish."

"Looks like blood."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Alice is no longer the opponent.

Nat cheerfully signals to Daniel that he'll be fine.

He's not okay at all…

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

"I had a huge bike accident."

Alice:

"Really?"

Nat:

"Thrashed my bike. Thrashed. Totally thrashed."

"I got a big cut too."

"Don't remove the scab"

Alice:

"It looks very painful."

Nat:

"thanks"

Alice:

"Well…I have to go."

"See you."

Nat:

"I'm a geek."

ーーーーーーーーーー

He shows her his Injured and scratched, painful wounds and does ridiculous things.

Daniel is watching the exchange, but it seems that he is not very interested.

It's painful to be alone…

Mother Claire and child Nat live together in a fatherless family.

Nat felt very lonely without his father.

As a result, Daniel gets along well with his mother, Claire.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Claire:

"You know…I'm told…that I listen exceptionally well."

"If you want to talk."

Daniel:

"You ever feel lost?"

Claire:

"I invented it."

"It's mine."

Daniel:

"My buddy was supposed to be here when I woke up."

"He used to live here…"

"…and I can't find him."

"I know that sounds desperate,but…"

"He's all I have left."

Claire:

"You could always go home."

Daniel:

"I lost someone close to me, that's why I left."

"That's why I haven't got any money or clothes or home."

"I just left and…"

"I didn't think about where I'd end up."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel gradually comes to know Nat's private life.

Nat asks Daniel to teach him how to steer.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

"Maybe tomorrow if you don't find your friend…"

"…you can teach me to fly."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Dejected, Daniel refuses, saying he doesn't have a flight jacket or a plane.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

"My father left when I was one."

"Thought you'd want to know."

Daniel:

"I don't think that's any of my business."

Nat:

"He hasn't talked to us since."

Daniel:

"Thanks"

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat looks sad.

Daniel suddenly stops by the coffee shop of his memories and sits down at the table where the two of them sat.

Then, pick up some salt and mimic Helen's gesture, sprinkle it around his neck, and gently close his eyes.

A classic café gently embraces the wounded Daniel.

Nat asks Daniel what he can do to get her to turn to him.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

"Can I ask you something?"

Daniel:

"Shoot"

Nat:

”Remember that girl in the library?”

”That girl in the library, Alice.”

"She's really cool."

"Plus she's really pretty."

Daniel:

"So what's your question?"

Nat:

"Felix says I should make her jealous, like his brother does with girls."

Daniel:

"Aren't you a little young to be…"

"Think about other stuff."

Nat:

"I'm 10!"

"I really like her."

Daniel:

"If I were you, I'd forget about her."

ーーーーーーーーーー

For Daniel, it's after losing Helen, so he doesn't want to think about love.

Daniel in the living room, Billie Holiday song "The Very Thought of You" find the album of

That song is filled with many memories with Helen.

While looking at the album, he remembered Helen, and the loneliness welled up.

Unaware of the situation, Claire plays the song.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"You don't have to put that on."

Claire:

"Nat's asleep."

CD player:

♫　The very thought of you and I forget to do

♫　The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do

♫　I'm living in a kind of daydream

♫　I'm happy as a queen

♫　And foolish though it may seem

♫　To me that's everything

♫　The mere idea of you, the longing here for you

♫　You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you

♫　I see your face in every flower

♫　Your eyes in stars above

♫　It's just the thought of you

♫　The very thought of you, my love

ーーーーーーーーーー

Unable to bear the pain, Daniel left the room and cried.

If Harry didn't get him out of the device, Helen is dead.

At that time, Daniel must have regretted that he should have confessed.

Man's Friendship

Realizing that he was wrong, Daniel wakes Nat up in the middle of the night.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

”Nat, wake up.”

"I was wrong"

"Before, about Alice."

”I told you to forget about it.”

Nat:

"What about her?"

Daniel:

"You know how you want to know how you want to know what you should do?"

"You must tell her"

Nat:

"What?"

Daniel:

"The next time you see her, the very next time…"

"when your heart pounds and you're nervous and…"

"You know what I mean?"

"Just let go."

Nat:

"What do you mean?"

Daniel:

"Let go. Tell her everything."

"Tell her how you feel."

"It's hard, but you must!"

Nat:

"How?"

Daniel:

"You know that stuff you told me."

"Tell that stuff to her."

"Open your heart."

"Sing to her!"

Nat:

"Sing?"

Daniel:

"Tell her everything."

"Sing to her. The sooner the better."

"Because…you might not get another chance."

"Forrow?"

"I just wanted to tell you I was wrong."

"I thought that you should know."

Nat:

"Thanks"

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat's Courage

The next night, Nat went to her house, climbed a tree, and watched Alice through the window.he called

Alice opened the window.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Alice:

"Nat?"

Nat:

"It's me."

Alice:

"Why are you here?"

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

♫　You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

♫　You make me happy when skies are gray

♫　You’ll never know dear how much I love you

♫　Please don’t take my sunshine away

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat sang with all his heart.

It's You are My Sunshine.

Daniel told him to sing metaphorically, but Nat just sang it.

It is a very humorous and warm scene.

The girl's father came out from behind Alice.

Alice shyly hides her face.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Alice's father:

"Is this a prank?"

Nat:

"No, sir, this is very serious."

"I'm Nat Cooper, I love you little girl."

“Sorry to disturb you.”

"I'm Nat Cooper."

"I'm in love with your daughter."

"I see her in class every day and I just really like her a lot."

"And that's the truth."

Alice's father:

"Nat, go home."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat hung his head and tried to go home.

Looking back, she gave him a sweet smile.

Nat has recovered.

What should I do now….

One day, Daniel was about to leave Nat and Claire.

Nat presents Daniel with a cool flight jacket.

In Nat and Felix's hideout tree house, Daniel and Nat made a simple airplane cockpit and simulated flight together.

For Nat, he spent a time with Daniel that he couldn't spoil with his father.

Daniel's body begins to change.

Daniel begins to age rapidly.

Nat calls for help and Daniel is taken to the hospital.

The military was becoming aware of the cryo sleeper and Daniel's presence.

The army begins searching for Daniel.

On the other hand, Daniel who found Harry's house escapes from the hospital and heads for it.

It was Harry's daughter who was knocked out.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"Hello, I'm looking for a man named Harry Finley."

"He was a scientist."

"His wife's name was Blanche."

"He was from Chicago."

"Do you know him?"

Harry's daughter:

"That's my father."

Daniel:

"In he home?"

Harry's daughter:

"I'm sorry, but my father is dead."

"He lived here for a few months…but he died before I was born."

"You must mean another man."

Daniel:

"I was his best friend."

Harry's daughter:

"Daniel?"

ーーーーーーーーーー

For some reason, Harry's daughter knew about Daniel, whom she had never met.

Daniel finds a photo in Harry's belongings.

It was a picture of Helen with a little girl.

Daniel silently stares at the picture.

A notebook containing Harry's experiment records was also found.

On the last page of it, it said, "Impossible to stop aging."

Nat gently touched Daniel.

After freezing Daniel, Harry learns that the subject's aging cannot be stopped.

Daniel is told that Harry tried to rescue Daniel from the device, but Harry died in the fire.

Therefore, Daniel was not saved for 53 years.

Claire received Harry's research materials.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Claire:

"She's Helen?"

"Is that girl your daughter?"

Daniel:

"No, we're not married."

Harry's daughter:

"That girl was me when I was two."

Daniel:

"No way."

"She should have died in a car accident, before you were born."

Harry's daughter:

"Daniel! She's alive!"

"Her husband passed away seven years ago, and she lives in a house near the lighthouse in her hometown."

Daniel:

"No! Is Helen still alive!?"

ーーーーーーーーーー

There was a glimmer of hope in Daniel, who had been depressed by the knowledge that he could not stop aging.

Spread the wings and go to his lover

Daniel decides to go to Helen.

FBI pursuers have come to Harry's house.

Realizing that they can't escape by car, Daniel heads to the Air Force facility to get to Helen by plane.

Coincidentally, he escapes to the place where the old airplane air show is held, and succeeds in getting on the plane and taking off.

He heard a noise from the back seat.

It turned out that Nat had boarded the plane.

Nat imagines Daniel's father and gets on Daniel's plane because he doesn't want to leave and cares about Daniel's body.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Nat:

"You forgot your flight jacket, didn't you? I brought it for you."

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel was dumbfounded.

Before long, the lighthouse near Helen's house came into view.

Daniel was very old and unmanageable.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"That house!"

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel put Nut's hand on the control stick and entrusted the control.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"Gentry!"

"Increase back pressure."

Nat:

"Check, increase back pressure!"

"Don't die!"

Daniel:

"Turn right."

"Gear down."

Nat:

"Gear down!"

Daniel:

"Okay. Now we're going to land this together."

Nat:

"Okay,all right."

"120 miles an hour."

"Full Flaps!"

Nat:

"Check full flaps"

Daniel:

"Watch the horizon!"

Nat:

"Watching!"

"Daniel!"

"Watch the horizon! Watch the horizon! Oh,crap!"

Daniel:

"Hold it."

"Pull back!"

"Brakes!"

Nat:

"Stop!"

Daniel:

"Show off."

ーーーーーーーーーー

The plane the two of them was on somehow managed to land.

Reunion, the Time of Confession Beyond Time

The wind is very strong around here, and the old man's gray hair still flutters.

I want you to see this beautiful scenery by all means.

Daniel fearfully knocks on Helen's door.

They waited for a while, but no one came out.

Did Daniel pick up the scent from upwind?

When Daniel turned around, he found Helen carrying flowers that had already been picked.

The setting sun turns the area into sepia just like it used to be.

A few seagulls are floating on the wind.

Helen notices this too.

Daniel, who has become old, slowly approaches Helen as if dragging his feet.

With a tearful smile, Helen utters the words.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Helen:

"Daniel!"

Daniel:

"Yeah, it's me!"

ーーーーーーーーーー

What was Helen thinking during this time?

Helen spent her old age in the old house by the lighthouse where they vowed their future,when she was little.

As promised to Daniel.

After 53 years, Helen still remembers Daniel.

Nat is watching over them with tears in his eyes.

Daniel confesses to Helen without hesitation this time.

While remembering the days he regretted for a long time.

ーーーーーーーーーー

Daniel:

"So are you going to marry me?"

Helen:

"Yes!"

ーーーーーーーーーー

The two hugged each other, and eventually Nat snuggled up and it was a happy ending.

Daniel is talking like a continuation of the proposal he made that day 53 years ago.

What a joke over time!

A work that will make your heart feel refreshed

The trick of time has separated them.

If Daniel had the courage to confess that day…

If Daniel doesn't go into the cryo-sleep machine…

For Daniel, it's been half a year since he met Helen again, but for Helen, us, and the audience, 53 years have passed.

It's been a very precious and precious 53 years, but the moments that the two of them will spend from now on will be more and more irreplaceable and dense.

This work challenges us that love is more valuable than fifty-three years.

Forever Young is about the heart.

It teaches us that the body can change, but the mind can last forever.

It also teaches us the importance of a little courage.

And the kindness of the human connection between Daniel, Claire and Nat oozes out.

End credits ended with Billie Holiday singing.

It's a beautiful, happy ending that's typical of American movies.

If you watch this work, your heart will tremble more than my clumsy sentence.

Billie Holiday, nice.

Nat's "You're My Sunshine" is good.

Please watch that warm memory cafe restaurant once.

Landing at the lighthouse in the last scene.

Co-starring a beautiful flight of airplanes and seagulls.

Beautiful grandma Helen with picked flowers.

A playful and solid performance from Jamie Curtis as Claire.

It's a love story where everything blends nicely.

I think that it will be a work that will surely remain in your heart.

Thank you for reading this far.

See you in the next piece.

Good bye.

...The end.

[hermitblurbs]

Pygmalion AU: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 (here) / 5 / 6 / 7

Here’s how the festivals usually go. They start with games, with festival food and shows. You can wander the market, knit together flowers, and so much more along the many stalls of Aphrodisia. The only requirement is that at some point, you stop by one of the patron’s temples to thank the deity. Typically you’d break off from your group to do so, mainly to avoid distractions for the quiet few minutes you use to pray. There’s a steady flow of acquaintances and priests floating about, so you’ll never truly be alone in a temple.

Unless your name is Scar, apparently. He opens the temple door with his left hand to avoid irritating the opposite shoulder, and his footsteps echo along the empty, pristine floors. The temple is still gorgeous, with the walls covered in colorful depictions of Aphrodite’s creation, and the white dome looming above him covered with tiny doves. It’s just empty. Silence feels like a trap. But that’s ridiculous. No traps are possible in the holy temple of a god. At least he won’t think otherwise while he’s inside.

He approaches the symbol of Aphrodite, wanting to get this over with and laugh about how strange it was once he’s out of here. The centerpiece is a marble swan adorned with red roses. He didn’t carve it himself, but he can still appreciate the natural shape of it, and how the wings flare like it was frozen mid-takeoff. It makes him miss…

He keels in front of the altar and prays.

“Aren’t you happy?” Comes a called taunt like a song, and Scar just about jumps out of his boots with a yelp. He rolls onto his feet, stumbles over them, and ends back on his behind. The voice struck a chord of familiarity, but its distant because--

The pain in his shoulder ramps up from its dull ache all the way to a screaming, blinding agony faster than he can blink. He should check if it’s bleeding. He needs to check if it’s bleeding, because an injury to his arm could put him out of his work for forever.

But he doesn't, because someone has twisted time to match then and now. He's staring at the slope of cheekbones, careful crease of lips, and quiet, drooping eyes, all familiar enough to be burned into his mind.

He thinks he's going to be sick.

His--Grian's--the statue's color is still that same, pristine white of the one in his studio, but he--it blinks at him, a self-satisfied sneer on its face.

"What's with the face?" It leers, leaning forward to grab his chin in stone hands. He can't look away. It's eyes are a sickly pink, not the black he'd expect, or the distant comfort of colorless. "You should be ecstatic. Did my boy's arrow not work?"

He can't say anything. Fear holds his words. He's gone mad. He has to have. Too much moonlight, maybe. Obsession. Anything works.

Its eyes narrow.

"No, its poison courses through your veins. Go on, run home and let it run its course, artist." The nickname curls in the air, and far too many things click into place for Scar.

His statue is still safely tucked away in his studio. Aphrodite shifts the wings he designed, tilts the head he carved, though there's no wrinkles that form from twisting lips and narrowed eyes.

"Isn't this you? The sculptor in 'love' with his work. What you’re feeling, what I gave you, is proper love."

About two weeks ago. He was selling smaller carvings in the square. She must have passed by then.

"Isn’t love such a cruel mistress? You’re welcome," she says grandly, expectantly. Scar says nothing until he can carve his tongue to use from where it had gotten stuck. It takes a while with his thoughts all stalled in fear, but he can’t keep her waiting too long.

"Great Aphrodite," he gasps, scrabbling for any dregs of calm he has in him, "I have an offer."

[auriel187]

Falcon and The Winter Soldier (and The Tigress)

Word Count: 1467

Warnings: Language

Ships: Bucky Barnes x Black!Reader(eventually), Sam Wilson x Black!Reader (platonic)

A/N: If anyone doesn’t like the fact that the reader is black, go away.

"This depression," said Wanda, "it is as if there is a force pressing down on me. So, this music that goes with that flow, that surrenders to the pressure, that's just assisting the depression, not me. I need the artists who struggle against depression and discover ways to win, how to step out from under this invisible anvil and rediscover the forces that uplift the soul." Y/n reminisced of the red headed telepath’s word from the last time they spoke.

She had always loved the flowers and the birds, loved the sunlight and the clouds that drift by. She had always loved the way the leaves move in a breeze and that soft whispering sound they make, like nature loves to chatter too. Yet the tiredness that began a while ago remains like a veil over her skin, grey and cold. And as she watches the petals and the twigs that sway outside the window, there is only a creeping sorrow where there should be joy. It sits like November rain on her skin, enough to chill what was once warm inside. At any other time she would have called a friend, asked for the warmth she needed to ward it off, just a little is enough.

No longer. Now she just lets it come, drop by drop and she feels like it is an ocean falling upon me instead of rain - that the grief of years she carefully suspended has all condensed right above her head into a cloud large enough to block the sun. They say it can't rain forever, that there will come a time when it must cease, that the last drop will have fallen. Thing is, she just doesn't care. She will still be true to myself, still help others, but she planned to just stay here in the cold, comfortably numb.

“Steve represented the best in all of us. Courageous, righteous, hopeful. And he mastered posing stoically.” The audience let out a small chuckle as Sam spoke fondly about the man whose shield he was holding.

Y/n felt her stomach twist as she saw the senator nod his head at Sam’s words. She watched as the smile faded before he continued. The sounds of cameras shuttering filled the silence.

“The world has been forever changed,” Sam continued “a few months ago, billions of people reappeared after five years away, sending the world into turmoil. We need new heroes.” It made Y/n shudder. ‘New heroes’ like the old ones were replaceable. Heroes like Steve. Like Tony…

Like Nat.

Steve giving his shield to Sam was a message. ‘Sam, I trust you will do the right thing, ' was that statement. Sam giving his shield to the Steve Rogers exhibit is the right thing. At least in his eyes. He was right, the world needed new heroes.

“Ones suited for the times we’re in. Symbols… are nothing without the women and men that give them meaning.” Y/n grimaced, fiddling with the bracelet that clung to her wrist. Her painted black fingers ran over the word ‘котенок’ as she walked with burning tears that she blinked them away. “And this thing…” Sam chuckled, staring at the shield. I don’t know if there’s ever been a greater symbol, but it’s more about the man who propped it up, and he’s gone. So, today we honor Steve’s legacy. But also, we look to the future. So, thank you, Captain America, but this belongs to you.” The room burst into applause as he placed the shield in a cube shaped display case.

When Sam spotted Y/n in the crowd, he hopped off the stage and walked up to her. He had a small smile on his face as he pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m glad you made it.” He whispered into her dark curls.

“Of course I came, Sam. You know what you and Steve are to me.” She kept her voice steady and cold, not that Sam seemed to mind. He of all people knew what would happen if she got emotional. The label angry black woman wouldn’t even cover it, being what she was, she would be shot on sight without question.

“Are you doing alright? It’s been a while.” He pushed her shoulder lovingly as a small grin broke across her face. She tried to play it off like she was fine, but Sam knew better.

“I just miss them. I’ll get over it.” Y/n replied with a shrug, the pressed silk top hanging loosely off her starving frame.

Grief made people do crazy things. In Y/n’s case the loss of three of the four most important people in her life made eating relatively hard. Especially when the three she lost would still be here if they hadn’t gone back to save the one she lost. Her loss stared her in the face every time she saw her one, and now only, closest friend. “Y/n, I think we both know that’s not true, otherwise you’d be over it. I know it’s hard. I can’t imagine the pain you’re going through but you can always talk to me.” To which she nodded. “Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.” He said quietly, backing away slowly, leaving Y/n alone. Y/n took a look around the room but found nothing left to keep her there, so she left, heading to the only place that felt like some semblance of home.

Standing in the building that reminded her of everyone she loved and lost, Tony Stark’s name, Steve’s punching bags, the room painted a deep scarlet with a mirrored wall. Y/n walked deeper into the room, peeling off her heels replacing them with ballet shoes before calling out, “Hey, F.R.I.D.A.Y, Can you play my ‘Family Playlist’ please?” She asked, beaming at no one in particular when ‘Back In Black’ began playing over the speakers. Her thoughts were running a mile a minute as she danced on par as the music changed from song, after song, after song.

You pay for everything one way or another. If you are lazy you will pay with the pain of failure. If you love to eat and indulge you will pay with the price of your health and self esteem. Yet if you love ballet, if you wish to fly as if God had remembered to sew on your angel wings, you will pay in the pain of training, in daily dedication, sweat and struggle. If you love someone, you have to sit and watch them in pain, suffer in ungodly ways…die. Those who try to save the world are always the ones that die to save it. In this life, what are you paying for and how? The cost-benefit see-saw is always there. Y/n learned from an early age that her emotions were a thing to suppress, and so when the ballet teacher asked for them they came forwards as an untapped fountain and took all by surprise. They called this her gift. She called it her release. The only thing that kept her from lashing out.

“You just keep dancing,” her teacher said, watching as she spun with excellent pursition. “You don’t stop until the burning in your body is too much.” Y/n was at that point but she pushed through it. She didn’t stop until the playlist ended and just as she made her way to the ‘Red Room’, her Red Room, she found her way home. Clicking the TV on to fill the silence her heart dropped when she heard it.

“-Unrest, in the wake of recent events, has left us vulnerable. Everyday Americans feel it. While we love heroes who put their lives on the line to defend Earth, we also need a hero to defend this country. We need a real person who embodies America’s greatest values. We need someone to inspire us again, someone who can be a symbol for all of us. So, on behalf of the Department of Defense and our Commander-in-Chief, it is with great honor that we announce here today that the United States of America has a new hero.”

She was physically quaking with unbottled rage. Her eyes were trained on the TV as a man, a white man, came into view on the screen waving it around like it was a fucking trophy to flaunt. She unconsciously walked up to her flatscreen and waited. She wanted to hear them say it. She wanted to see if they had the balls to say it.

“Join me in welcoming your new Captain America.” She punched the TV with the force that caused her knuckles to bleed. Right in the face of the man carrying Steve’s shield. Sam’s rightful shield!

[iammarylastar]

9. FAREWELL

"So, you're leaving without saying goodbye?"

She said, her voice like a ghost.

Shit.

Cal leaned his hand on the door frame, his forehead followed and he closed his eyes. He could feel Jess trembling behind his back, he could foresee her face soaked in tears, her sobs stuck in her chest.

Shit.

Leaving her was the hardest thing he had ever done, he doubted he could gather the strength to walk out the door, but now she was awake, crying, he knew it would be impossible.

Yet, he had to.

"Chris?" She begged.

He had planned everything, every little detail, like he already had, to break Oyster out.

He got all his stuff ready: a car fueled up, the maps with all the secondary roads highlighted, 4 different options to cross the Canadian border. His backpack, enough military rations to survive for 2 weeks, in case he'd have to ditch the car and cover the distance by foot. A compass. An extra pair of trekking shoes, just in case. Water. Lighter. Headlamp. Emergency kit. US dollars. Canadian dollars.

No phone. 

No pics, not even one of Jessica. He wouldn't risk to get caught and have her involved. Beside it would be too painful to look at her beautiful face. Dealing with her memory would be hard enough.

But he had no choice. More than 3 years he hadn't see his brother. 3 fucking long years he hadn't heard his voice. Teddy, his little brother, the reason he had kept living after their mom died, the one he had fought for. And kept fighting for.

He'd all planned in his head, playing every scenario again and again at night, all those sleepless nights, Jess cuddled against his chest. Looking blankly at the ceiling, on the hunt for what could happen, what could turn wrong, and come what may: keep walking.

Until he reaches Lac-Sainte-Marie, Quebec, 260 miles from here. Until he meets his brother again.

"Chris!" She yelped, like she was drowning.

For a millisecond, he thought he could just give up: forget his little ass of a brother, forget his oath to his mother, forget his responsibilities, drop on his knees and beg Jess to marry him, give her 3 kids, get a pet and live happily ever after. Why not? He deserved a little of happiness, didn't he?

"What is happening?" she whispered, her voice torn by sobs, like stabs in his back.

What the fuck was happening, good question. He was happening. That fucking deceiving Cal was freaking out and ruining everything again. Like it was meant to be.

Like he was meant to screw up every chance of happiness.

"I have to see him. Jess, he got back in touch with me. Those postcards. There must be a reason." He said under his breath, not daring to glance at her.

"Chris, you're still in probation! A single step out of the State and you're in parole violation! You're going to get caught and thrown into jail again!" She knew this argument wouldn't work with him, but she was a lawyer, well almost, she had to plead for her case.

"I know..." Chris whispered. The next words would be excruciating to pronounce.

"That's why I won't come back..."

"Noooo!" She totally broke down.

As he listened to her heart shattering into pieces, taking his own heart down, he couldn't help thinking about time.

It took her days to tame his fears, weeks to heal him for his trauma, months to forge deep, trustful ties between their hearts.

Ties they both thought were unbreakable.

And as it took a heartbeat to fall in love with her, he'd been quick to break her heart.

Now he was running out of time. With her. For Oyster. Fuck.

"At least wait for your probation period to be over! You'll be a free man and you could go wherever you want!" She begged.

Like he didn't know. Like he hadn't spent the last days counting how many days it would take to be reunited. Like he hadn't thought of it from top to bottom. Like he hadn't been obsessed and torn about that fucking choice he had to make.

"Three more years! Jess, I can't leave him alone for 3 more fucking years! He needs me!" He let his anger flow out of his chest.

"What about me????" She thundered, gripping her nightie where her heart ached, then pointing a furious index finger out.

"He's not a kid anymore! He made his choice! You don't owe him anything anymore! When are you going to start thinking about yourself? About us?"

Touché.

Cal wavered at her words. The more she spoke, the more his determination weakened. He had no choice but cling to his same old song.

"I'm his legal guardian, I promised mom I'd take care of him. I can't break my oath. Not again..."

It would have been easier if Chris was the selfish type. But he didn't choose Marine corps and law enforcement by mistake. He was a man of principle, loyal, honest, trustful. A man with Semper Fidelis inked in his flesh forever.

"Chris!!" Jess was burning with rage and desperation. She was fed up with his sempiternal lame excuses.

She would have slapped his face full force if she could have moved, again and again until he got it, but violence never fixed anything, she was dead certain of this.

Chris’ childhood to adulthood, his former job in the Marine corps, his time in jail, his whole damn life had been nothing but violence, he deserved better from her.

She breathed in and out slowly to calm her nerves down and regain control of her thoughts.

Give him what he needs, that's the only way...

"You're strong Chris. You're a good man! Why can't you see it?"

Cal shook his head, tears threatening again behind his lids.

"I failed. I failed to keep my mom alive. I failed to protect my brother. To serve my country... To make you happy. I don't deserve you..."

"When are you going to stop punishing yourself for things, you're not responsible for? Jesus, your mom died, who's to blame? Not you! You struggled to provide for your brother though you were barely an adult, Chris, you did your best! Oyster made some bad choices, his choices, he fucked up but it was not your fault!"

Gone his sweetheart of a girlfriend, he was facing a new, fierce, unstoppable soldier ready for anything for her love.

Anything. Maybe, even ready to throw everything away for him.

Cal slowly extended his hand to a trembling Jess. This gesture was a dangerous step back, he had promised himself not to touch her, not to smell her nor to get too close. No way he could leave this place without her if their hands were linked.

Jess nearly jumped forward to take it, intertwined her fingers so tightly with his, their knuckles turned white. She closed her other hand over their clasped ones, then pulled them against her cheek, nuzzling against the slightest piece of his skin she could.

The contact of her skin against his made him jolt. His plea slipped through his lips before his brain realized their impact.

"Come with me. I hate to put that on you but... Jess, come with me. I don't want to lose you..."

His words were like slaps in her face. Her jaw dropped down and the look she threw at him slapped him back.

Shit.

She thought she had won. She thought he had heard her words. She thought he would stay. Why would he have offered his hand otherwise?

"Wh..? But... Cal, what are you doing?"

"Come with me Jessica. Let's start a new life in Canada. I love you. I love you!"

His turn to wrap his hand around hers and pull her closer, so his gaze pierced hers, his taut body hovering over her. This could fix everything.

Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!!

Jessica froze in shock, her pupils widened. She would have left all she had behind to follow him. The solution was easy: just go with him!

Just go with him, and become an outlaw. Say goodbye to your family, your career, your dreams, your life. On the run forever with the man she loved. With no future but hiding and lying.

"And you saved your first 'I love you' for the day you leave me..." Jess whispered under her breath, defeated. He killed her hope the second before, and kept doing an excellent job to trample on her heart.

Her whole body slumped down; Cal had to tighten his grip on her hands to get her upright.

Her pale complexion and her trembling voice made her look like a ghost.

"No. I can't. You can't... do that. You can't drag me into a runaway and make me a fugitive. I... I'm... My family is here, my career is here, my life is here... with you!

If you really love me, STAY!"

Chris wobbled, his knees weak under him. She was right, he knew it. He was wrong, doing all wrong, as he always had done. Jessica saw her chance in his hesitation, and played her last card. Faithfulness, Chris' obsession.

"That's not what you promised me. Chris, you promised me..." she burst into tears again, clinging onto him like he was a lifeline. Their love was like the Titanic, they thought it beautiful and in submersible, but it was irremediably sinking in the middle of nowhere and will end up broken shipwreck.

Hold on Rose, you have a chance.

Sorry Jack, you're screwed.

Shit.

He promised her, that day he talked his heart out, in the wee hours of a beautiful day, lying in bed, slowly brushing her delicate face with his fingertips. That day he told her about his plans for the future, their future. Openly daydreaming of his will to marry her, build her a house, have kids with her, three he said, if she agreed. Plus, a dog. One day, he promised, when she would graduate and he would have a better job.

He solemnly promised her to make her happy, happy ever after.

"You deserve to be happy, Chris. We've been so happy together. For fuck sake, why couldn't we just be happy?"

Because happiness is not meant for me.

"Jess, I miss him so much... I have no choice."

"There's always a choice... Let me help!" She begged a last time, squeezing his hands even tightly.

Chris closed his eyes, his sigh shaky through his tight throat. Just do it. Say it.

Now.

"No. Not this time... Let me go, Jess, please..." Chris grudgingly untied their fingers but Jess kept gripping at him, his wrists, his arms, his hoodie. He patiently unhooked each of her attempt, gently but firmly holding her wrists together.

It was so hard, Jesus, to see her face, desperate and drowned in tears, to hear a plea, to hurt her so deeply. But it had to be done. Like ripping off a band-aid. Just do it.

"No, no, no, no, Chris, please, nooo!" She begged, she would have given anything, everything to have him think, find another way, change his fucking mind. To have him stay. Choose her.

All her expectations vanished when Cal took her hands in his large palms, bent to kiss them but just leant his forehead on them, shaken by both their sobs and cries. He knew he couldn't leave if his lips touched her skin again. She knew it too.

Slowly, too slowly, he extended his arms until her fists laid on her chest, her fingers writhing in pain, and stepped back. Unable to look a last time in her eyes, Cal turned his heels and grabbed the doorknob.

"What if I'm pregnant?"

He froze, like punched in his guts.

"What?" His world collapsed. He had all the scenarios figured out, even the worst, but not this one.

He had made love to her earlier that night, knowing it'd be the last time. He made it last long, savoring each second with her, kissing each piece of her body, learning each of her curves by heart with his fingertips. He made it sensual, passionate, beautiful. He had given her all, all of him.

He had laid on his back for hours, his love cuddled on his side, her arms around his chest, like to keep him from running away. Like she felt it.

He had stayed like this forever, staring at the ceiling, listening to her deep breathing, feeling her, smelling her, until he was drunk from her.

"I said, what if I'm pregnant." She stated again, interrupting his thoughts.

"Are you?" He blankly asked.

She might be. From tonight.

She could be. They've been careless for a couple of weeks, their desire so strong they skipped to put a condom on. They both silently agreed, since they had a talk about it: they wanted to spend their lives together and grow a family, one day or another...

Jess had tried the pill, but it hadn't fit her. She tried 3 different brands but every time something went wrong. Cal hated seeing her with cramps or moody and IUD was a big no no due to her young age, so he decided to take the responsibility of the birth control, and simply pulled out at the right time.

Which was, according to Jess, like a firework without the final. Several times, half of the time in fact, she trapped Cal between her legs so he came inside of her. She found it so sexy and powerful.

Sexy but likely give rise to a baby.

Their baby. His.

"You won't stay for me. Would you stay for your child?"

Bitch. She knew how push his button, where it hurt the most. Given what he was doing to her, it was fair.

His guts twisted painfully and nausea invaded his throat at the thought. His deepest nightmare resurfaced: a kid with no father to take care of them, ruffle their hair, tickle them until they're breathless from laughing, play football with them, hug them tight when they're scared or sad. A kid with no dad to love them. A kid like he'd been, grown up before his childhood even had started.

A missing father. That was what he would become if he left now. The worst of the worst. A man he promised himself to never be. Fucking never hurt someone like he'd been hurt.

He unsuccessfully was trying to clear his mind from sadness and anger to redo his math and remember when was her last period. Calculate the odds of a pregnancy. Rate his chance to stay.

Zero.

He sucked. He wasn’t worth anything.

Maybe living was the best he could do to save this child from himself. He was no better father than his own, unable to make a good decision.

Chris dropped his head, his hands tightened in fists, his eyes closed in a frown. He stopped breathing for a long time, until he made his decision.

"I'm sorry." He muttered, grabbing the doorknob.

That was it. She couldn't go, he couldn't stay. I guess that's just the way the story goes.

Such a waste.

Chris pushed the door open, wiped his tears with his sleeve and walked out, without a last glance at her.

[babywarg]

A drpepperony proposal/wedding please? im thinking if you go with the wedding that would be more symbolic since u legally can't have 3 but it would be cute to see them exchanging their own vows and ring/other jewelry privately with their closest friends and family and 'making it official' ofc stephen would get overwhelmed by the love from his partners and his new family 💖

Hi, anon! I’m sorry this didn’t turn out to be a traditional serious “official” ceremony, with friends and family and vows, etc…but I still hope you enjoy reading!

I have no idea how to describe wedding dresses, feel free to come up with your own design 😆 Feel free to think up the music they used for the dance, too, because otherwise the whole montage plays out in my head to this song.

[obnoxious note, 8/24/2019: NOT ACCEPTING NEW PROMPTS AT THE MOMENT. Thank you for understanding 💕]

Let’s Get Married

Tony had wanted to go to Vegas.

Pepper had no specific ideas, but made it clear she thought Vegas was a shitty idea.

As the two of them argued, Stephen realized it was best that he decide for the three of them. But when they were all relatively mellow and fuzzy from what Tony simply called “alien juice,” Stephen included, getting one’s thoughts together wasn’t easy.

(Tony’s fault: he’d been wanting to celebrate their third year of being together as a trio. “Three’s our lucky number, right?” And he really, really wanted to do it with alcohol.

(Stephen, being the doctor, and Pepper, being the most sensible of them all, put their feet down and told him alcohol was off the table.

(Still, Tony insisted on having something. So it was up to Stephen to get creative. And bum some “alien juice” off an absolutely-legal-you-can’t-prove-it’s-not apothecary he met in another dimension.

(It was a liquid that mimicked the effects of alcohol - including, at times, memory loss the morning after - but did not damage the human liver or caused hangovers.

(Stephen had to get creative more than once that night, it seemed...)

Fortunately, one side effect of the liquid they’d imbibed was a freer mental state, so he was able to access the necessary information from his mind palace without trouble.

There was a dimension where there were no fauna at all - only flora, of different hues and shapes.

Some of the plant life took on the form and behaviors of animals; there would be butterflies made of translucent leaves. Birds made of tiny flowerheads that fluttered in the perpetual breeze.

And there was color. So much color. It was always daytime in that dimension, and soft light always shone, casting rainbows as shadows and making everything shimmer.

There was a large cavern the size of a concert hall. Instead of a roof, what it had was a long, wide tunnel opening up to ground level, lined with vines and a magnificent, pleasantly fragrant assortment of living flowers.

For a while now, Stephen had been planning to take Pepper and Tony there.

It was the perfect place for a wedding.

***

“Oh, Stephen,” Pepper gasped, “this is beautiful.”

While Pepper was busy taking in the new environment, Tony glared at his boyfriend. “And you never took us here before why?”

“I was saving it,” Stephen huffed. “For a special occasion or something, Iunno.” He was still rather tipsy. Though, he liked to tell himself, not as tipsy as the other two.

“This occasion is plenty special, isn’t it?” Tony argued. “So can you, like…magic up some nice clothes for us? I suddenly feel a little underdressed, with my jeans and my Hello Kitty shirt.”

They were a bit underdressed, Stephen acknowledged. They were all in casual wear, for a simple night out on the town, armed with a formidable supply of “alien juice” and the intent to have fun.

Getting married was a spur of the moment thing. And they were laughing as they all agreed to it, so Stephen wasn’t all that sure they were serious.

But damned if he wasn’t going to milk this moment for all it had.

“Okay, okay.” He cleared his throat. Made a few hand motions that he knew to be a bit overdramatic…

And in the blink of an eye, Tony was in a posh, classic tuxedo. So was Stephen.

The latter’s outfit was just a little flashier, with the Cloak of Levitation hanging down the back of his shoulders, disguised as a red cape (it had been disguised as a red scarf earlier that evening. Stylish either way).

But Pepper…Pepper was in something that made her look like a dream.

It was a proper white wedding dress, sans the traditional veil. It seemed to be made of diamonds and lace, but on closer inspection was made of satin petals and frozen dew: a perfect blend with the delicate scenery.

Stephen was fascinated. He hadn’t had a specific kind of dress in mind, but he figured his altered mental state had something to do with how it turned out.

That is, some part of him must have always wanted to see Pepper dressed like this.

Pepper could hardly believe it, herself. She turned this way and that, admiring how smoothly the dress flowed around and against her.

“Look at this!” she cried, when she’d caught her breath. “I’m fricking gorgeous!”

“Yes, you fricking are,” Tony immediately agreed, stepping up to her and taking her by the hand.

Beaming, she held out her other hand to Stephen, who took it without hesitation.

“So, we getting married now?” she asked.

Stephen tipsily stammered, “I forgot to ask what demoni–dinom–dinimation–”

“The fastest,” Tony snapped. “C’mon, can’t keep the nuptial bed waiting!”

Stephen had to laugh at that first. Then he took Tony’s hand so the three of them formed a circle.

He closed his eyes. Their hands started to glow. When he opened his eyes again the glow disappeared, and there were simple gold bands on their left ring fingers.

Tony and Pepper held their hands up to the light, marveling at how the low light struck off the magic metal and seemed to make it glow.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Tony exclaimed. He turned to Stephen, then to Pepper. “I do, I do, now we’re married, let’s go home.”

“Wait,” Pepper interrupted. “Can’t we stay here just a little bit longer? I really like this place.”

“We should at least stick around for a bridal dance,” Stephen suggested. “If you guys are up for that.”

Tony grinned. He really wasn’t as eager to go home as he had been saying, and Stephen could tell the romantic setting was getting under his skin, too.

“Fine,” he declared, “one dance. Each. Cue the Iron Maiden, if you please.”

Stephen grunted. Indeed. He had other music in mind.

From nowhere, the sound of string instruments drifted in, echoed softly in the cavern. It seemed to disturb some of the butterflies and birds that nested in the vines; they fluttered about listlessly.

Tony laid his hands on Pepper’s waist. Pepper threw her arms around his neck.

And they danced.

So lost in each other’s eyes they were, that they didn’t notice until several steps in: they had been dancing upwards.

Rising up the tunnel that ended in a majestic view of the sapphire sky.

Soon, buoyed up by the Cloak, Stephen joined them in the air, a self-satisfied twinkle in his eyes. Tony gently broke away from Pepper and grabbed him by the waist, pulled him close.

“My beautiful madman,” he said softly.

They managed to waltz a few steps, then Tony leaned up for a kiss, and Stephen promptly melted into it.

After a while he felt Pepper’s hands on his own, where they lay on Tony’s shoulders. At this signal, Tony pulled away, and Stephen drifted into Pepper’s arms.

They laughed, they fell into thoughtful silences, they kissed, they changed partners, they somehow managed to find a way to dance together, all three at once, and they kissed even more. Song after song after song played, with the flowers they were surrounded with swaying in the endless wind, and sunlight making everything around them shine.

***

Floating in a glimmering cavern, holding both his loved ones close, Stephen had never been more in love than he was then.

This whole affair might have been done on a whim. For the rush. For the pure joy of living in the moment.

The after-effects of the “alien juice” were harmless, but upredictable. In the morning, one or two or all three of them might wake up in their shared bed wondering why they had rings on, what the heck happened the night prior.

But Stephen didn’t care. And he was quite sure Tony and Pepper didn’t, either. They would keep the rings. Cherish whatever memories would remain of the evening.

And maybe someday, they would come back to this place, with friends and family to witness a more formal event.

This was, as far as Stephen was concerned, a long time coming…

And definitely a much better idea than Vegas.

[fitmydaydream]

Chaos & Beauty

Prompt: Y/N and Shawn have been distant lately and try to mend the ongoing situation into a good one.

Word count : 1.4k

A/N: Hello people! This is my first ever shot on imagines. I debated a lot with myself whether to publish it or not because I'm an amateur but decided anyway to post it although it is trash lmao. I'm glad you stumbled upon this and read this so thanks a lot. Feel free to tell me what you think about it. I would love to hear your opinions ♥️

Y/N was standing on the shore of the Navagio beach, probably one of the most beautiful beaches around the world, after a trip she and her boyfriend has planned after months of chaos and promotions which were a consequence of Shawn releasing a new album.

Y/N was standing with her feet partially dipped in the cool water washing her feet every now and then and winds gushing against her face making her feel a lot calmer than the previous months. She stood there with her eyes closed while thoughts of Shawn and her having a hard time kept running in the back of her mind. Her eyebrows drew in and she frowned a bit.

Shawn watched the love of her life standing with her shoulders slumped, eyes closed and a slight frown on her face.

Nothing has been easier for him too. While he was months away from Y/N , always upto something regarding his album, he always feared that he might be losing her a little due to the lack of communication between them. He didn't get to tell her how beautiful she looked in her morning gown everyday. He didn't get to hear the giggles which echoed through his ears when he would throw a poorly humoured joke at her and soothed him inside out. Most of all, he didn't get to tell his lady love how much he loved her with every bit of his soul and how badly he craved her touch everyday.

He let out a deep sigh and started taking steps towards Y/N. Five years into the relationship and Y/N still used to smell him somehow even before she saw him.

She feels Shawn approaching her and humming Still The One. Her heart flutters on the image of Shawn singing this very song when they locked eyes for the very first time in Brafen's Cafeteria 7 years down the lane of some beautiful memories.

A pair of strong arms is stretched behind her, engulfing her from behind while Shawn lets his chin rest on her forehead. Shawn lets himself place a sweet kiss on Y/N's hair as he breathes the same tropical fruity smell from her hair and lets his hands draw circles on her tummy underneath her shirt. His touch tingles her. He lights on fire. After all the spark was still there.

Both stand there taking in every emotion and beauty of the moment with him still humming the song. It has been quite a long time since they experienced such an intimate moment.

Suddenly low sniffles start to leave from Y/N's mouth. Shawn was quick to react. He gently turns Y/N around and places his hands on Y/N's cheeks, pulling her closer. More tears start to well up in her eyes and she blinks away the tears from her eyes by looking the other way.

"Baby what's wrong? Look me in the eye baby please." Shawn stutters.

"It's nothing." Y/N replies fighting back tears and putting up a fake smile.

But of course it was too late because they both knew what was wrong. Shawn's eyes too begin to water saying "This is my fault isn't it Y/N?".

Y/N suddenly comes into action when he cries even harder and holds his face in between her tiny hands and cooes "Shhh baby shhh. It isn't your fault. It's just we're having some bad days isn't it? It's gonna go, love. I'm sure" and looks him in the eye, her voice breaking with every word.

Shawn takes her hand in his and places kisses all over it whispering sorry after every kiss. "Y/N baby, I know I've messed up. I've messed up big time. You don't need to defend me this time because I know this is my fault. I neglected you for so many days. I went on days and fuck even weeks! What was I even thinking Y/N!" His voice is low but angry like he's annoyed with himself.

"No it isn't your fault because Shawn I too have to realise that this is not a fairytale! This is not a fucking fairytale where you have to be there for me all the time, telling me you love me. I'm not a princess Shawn. We are grown ups for fuck's sake! You have a passion that you need to follow and I have to support that. So don't worry we'll work this through and I - I - I'll be fine Shawn" her voice croaks at the end.

Shawn is amused of the fact that she's not angry but is sad which only breaks his heart more as she has already accepted the things he was thinking about altering and making it right all over again. Shawn sees through her. He sees a broken soul who once used to be happy.

"No Y/N this is where you are wrong my love " he says with softly running his hands over her cheeks and through her hair.

"I don't know about the fairytale part but you sure are my princess baby. You're the love of my life. I want to tell you how beautiful you are every second until I annoy the shit out of you!" He owns a slight chuckle from her. His heart skips a beat at the sight of this.

"I want to be able to hold you in my arms whenever you're feeling lonely and sad. Whenever you're insecure about any thing I want to tell you that you're my world baby and I don't need anything else other than you in my sight. I love you. I love you. I love you so much Y/N. Fuck I can even tell you that a million times and still not be satisfied. My love for you has no bounds Y/N. I want to be there for you every fucking time but seems like I've been a shitty boyfriend in the past months and I hate whenever I think the cause of your disappointment is me."

"You were never shitty okay and stop swearing so much" she says smiling lightly.

"God! Stop defending me Y/N." he says with a bit of defeat in his tone.

"No Shawn. It's high time that I understand your profession too. God knows how do you carry yourself throughout your hectic schedule everyday. I can't imagine how tired you must always get at the end of the day. I just want you to be happy. I was just scared about losing you Shawn that's it because I don't want to come between you and your passion. I- I'm sorry baby" Y/N says holding herself strong, not letting the fresh tears flow down because that'll only make Shawn feel more distressed.

"No stop that Y/N. You, my dear love, have been with me at every stage of my life and you're my motivation to get through the day Y/N. You're the beauty and the best thing about the relationship we share honey. If anyone that should be sorry here that person should be me because I hate myself right now for letting you feel that you're not my first priority because YOU ARE Y/N! You're my sunshine. My knight in shining armour. I've been so observant of your flaws Y/N that I'm fucking ready to judge others. I'll fight everyone who tells you otherwise and I promise you to not leaving you hanging anymore. I love you until my very last breath baby. I'm gonna tell you how beautiful you are, remind you why I love you because there are probably more than thousands reasons why I'm crazy in love with you and wanna let you know all about it before I take my last breath and what I'm upto everyday. When I sleep, when I eat, when I poo-"

"Shawn stop it you filthy and cheesy dork!" she says laughing. This sound was all he wanted to fill up his ears with.

"But I'm your idiot right?"

"Right dumbass"

"Hey don't call me that!"

"Okay I won't call you DUMBASS which for the record you are but it's okay" she says teasingly.

"I hate you" says Shawn with a pout playing on his lips.

"Oh c'mon you love me!" she says hitting Shawn's chest playfully.

"You bet your ass I do." Shawn giggles and places his lips on hers and kisses her passionately which was long due both whispering I love yous and sweet nothings in between. And after all the trip hasn't been that bad as they both imagined it to be.  🌸

xx

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