#unfortunately I'm traveling back home tomorrow

[wombywoo]

The project is complete ✨🎇✨

beautiful boys and their beautiful dog 💖

some more details:

And more glamor shots:

Fig, my darling:

Bonus cuddle:

Bonus closed box:

and that's a wrap ✨

thanks for joining me on this latest crafting chronicle~

[landograndprix]

╰┈➤ ❝ desire • l.n c.l ❞ iii

part two - part four

➪ Charles hasn't paid much attention to you after your daughter was born but a certain Brit does.

➪ the attention is nice even if it's not from Charles.

➪ established relationship mom!reader x dad!Charles x lando

➪ let's add some spice ☺ again, thanks for the love, love reading your guys thoughts and talk about it 🥰 google translate is my bestest friend

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y/nusername

📍 Baku, Azerbaijan

liked by landonorris, noellepicard and 561,999 others

y/nusername day 'n night ☀️🌛

tagged: charles_leclerc, manon_roux

view all 1,672 comments

charliecharlie mother being back on the grid and serving cunt again made my day <3

leclerc_16 CHARLES POLE WHOOP WHOOOP 🤩

norrizz will you be at the race tomorrow?

↳ y/nusername yes ☺

charloslesainz I'm seeing a camera..vlogging, did lando influence you for a jpg account? 👀

noellepicard bring my baby girl back, I miss her

↳ y/nusername she's packing her bags as we speak, putting her on the first flight back

noellepicard will be waiting for her

y/ncharles they grow up so fast 😫

lestappen116 hoping for a charles win tomorrow!

carlandooo zoë being the cutest once again ❤️

julieeeexo girl you have to tell us mamma's how you manage traveling with a baby, already dreading my 4 hours flight in 1 months 😭

↳ y/nusername what do you think the camera is for babes? 👀

yukisan I'm not a mom but I'll be watching these videos religiously

landonorris upsetting

↳ y/nusername I will not put my daughter in mclaren merch

landonorris the betrayal is unreal

norry4 lando trying to make zoë a mclaren baby is such a lando thing to do 💀

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y/nusername

📍 Monte-Carlo, Monaco

liked by landonorris, noellepicard and 316,678 comments

y/nusername 🛀

view all 1,816 comments

charliecharlie MOM?!?!

bott_ass now THAT is a milf 👀

noellepicard oh my god, zoë her mom got it going on 🥵

↳ y/nusername so does her aunt 😍

noellepicard stop it, you're going to make me blush

leonardb Charles is one lucky man

norrizz mommy? no. mommy? sorry. mommy? no– 😫

stephan00 gaddamn I love milfs

tommyf Charles could you do us a favor and fumble this one and give us lads a chance?

↳ norry4 nah all these men in the comments have me crying tears lmfao

yukisan just saw a guy comment 'I'm 18 but real mature for my age' 💀

norry4 like did they not notice y/n being fine as hell on TV? 💀

yukisan she ain't showing so much skin during interviews though 😂

francisca.cgomes stunning 😍

↳ y/nusername you are 😍

manon_roux man I love milfs

↳ noellepicard we've been known babes, it's the hitting on every single mom you meet that gave it away

manon_roux imagine being attracted to men

noellepicard not by choice unfortunately

hamilt44n everyday I learn a bit more about this group of friends and they come out more unhinged everytime

robyn_diaz what a hottie 🔥

↳ landoscar babe are you blind, your man is hiding in the likes

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y/nusername

📍 Monte-Carlo, Monaco

liked by landonorris, francisca.cgomes and 324,567 likes

y/nusername the homebody club 🍼🍷

view all 1,672 comments

julieeeexo nothing better than being at home 🥰

norrizz you and me bestie, can I join the club?

leclerc_16 I'd love for you to give us some book recommendations because goddamn, that's the book collection of my dreams 😭

↳ carlito55 I second that and cooking videos!

ricric yeah why don't we make her a boring ass influencer mom? I mean she's well on her way, she's become so boring 💀

carlito55 why are you still here then if it bothers you so much..I rather be a boring loving mom than be like you 🤮

leclerc_16 sorry that your life is so miserable that you feel the need to drag others down.

manon_roux now that's a club I want to be at 🕺

↳ y/nusername we only serve the good milk, cold coffee and luke warm wines

landonorris turn up in the club 🍼

norry4 I am so confused lmfao, they really became besties huh?

lewisham I want you to adopt me like right now 😔

sainzcarlos her recent content is giving ✨ single mom ✨ not one mention of charles or anything..

↳ yukisan the season is not over yet, Charles is still racing..I'm sure they'll be spending plenty of time together during the winter break

arthuuuur fr and the fact that lando is in her comments and liking every single post isn't helping either 💀

charlesgirlies so you guys know when they are together or not? So you know when they call each other or not? pretty sure she mentioned 'facetiming daddy' in her last vlog but okay

landonorris still no papaya

↳ y/nusername thank god no ☺

robyn_diaz stop turning this cutie into a mclaren fan 😂

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y/nusername posted to their story

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y/nusername

📍 Monte-Carlo, Monaco

liked by landonorris, charles_leclerc and 419,782 others

y/nusername pjs kinda day 💤

view all 1,190 comments

charlesgirlies can I join, love me a pjs kinda day!

noellepicard okay but like..where was my invite? 😔

charliecharlie where'd you get your pjs from?

↳ leclerc_16 you should follow this account that steals y/n her outfits!

charles_leclerc ❤️

↳ hamilt44n oh look he's still alive

norry4 haven't seen you here in a while

y/nusername ❤️

sharl16 cuties 😍

bott_ass the best kind of days!

manon_roux matching with the babe again

↳ y/nusername always 🥰

charloslesainz just y/n and her mini me 🥰

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Everything taglist; @thomaslefteyebrow @hopefulinlove @smoothopz @honethatty12 @cixrosie @parkersmjs @ireadthensuetheauthors @celestialams @be-your-coffee-pot @heli991113 @kodzuvk @reality-is-a-con @80sloverry @bibissparkles @myescapefromthislife @lanando4 @elliegrey2803 @ravisinghs-wife @harrysdimple05 @minkyungseokie @pretty-little-bunny382728 @thatgirlthatreadswattpad @severewobblerlightdragon

Desire taglist; @fangirl-dot-com @sainzluvrr @writingworlds @chezmardybum @lewisvinga @xjval @fanficweasley @rockyhayzkid @aundercover @thecubanator2 @minchedchilli @crimeshowjunkie @alisoncasey21 @eeviepepi08 @shamelesspotatos @sleepybrokenmelle @leireggsworld @janeholt3 @iamahalicinationn @dessxoxsworld @kapsylia @22yuki @dark-night-sky-99 @sheslikeacurse @nerdreader @champagneproblems17 @norwayxo @sunny44

Lando taglist: @beatricemiruna @simp-for-fictional-people @landossainz @christianpulisic10 @bored-brunette2

[tokyo-daaaamn-ji-gang]

The short adventure's of Bonten's no4: airport anarchy

Bonten x f reader

Warnings: Slight manga spoilers, suggestive content, Kakucho deserving the world

Summary: Y/N is Bonten's first female member, she's their skilled and deadly No4. So why can't she just go home!? Seriously guys it was a long trip, stop messing around!

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Airport anarchy

"Thank you for flying with air Tokyo we hope you had a pleasant trip!"

Vaguely nodding at the flight attendant's you stretch your legs and prepare to leave the plane. Ah Tokyo, it's been a while. But working abroad and getting those international links for bonten was necessary. Not always easy but you got the job done and you know from your extensive phone calls and texts with the guys that Mikey was pleased with your work.

The guys. That was the other great thing about this trip, you got a bunch of time away from them! No crazy antics, no weird romances and definitely no conflicting feelings, a paradise. But unfortunately all good things must to come to an end and now you're back.

Yawning, you slowly shuffle through the airport, dodging and weaving through other tired travellers. You were offered a private plane for all your trips but preferred to stick with public first class for now, wanting a full break from all things bonten. And now you can't wait to just get to whatever car they sent to pick you up, get home and sleep. Dealing with seeing them again and all the work can wait for tomorrow. Glancing around you look for a driver with a sign but fail to find anything. You're about to call a taxi instead when you hear it, the worst thing you could possibly hear right now.

"Y/N WE'RE OVER HERE!!!!"

No.

No  no no no no no no. Please let that not be what you think that is. Not them, not now, don't let it be them. 

You walk faster, not turning around. Desperately trying to convince yourself that you're just tired of course they didn't come all the way out here to get you. They wouldn't do that.....right?

The next thing you know your arm is being grabbed and you're being pulled back into someone's tight embrace.

"We missed you so much".

"Ran stopping hogging her I want a turn!"

You find yourself being suddenly tugged into Rindou's grasp instead. Before Sanzu pulls you away into his waiting arms.

"Oh the fun we're going to have now you're back ♡".

Shivering lightly after hearing his words,  you don't expect to suddenly be pushed away from him. You stumble slightly before falling into Mikey's warm arms. He still smells the same, like taiyaki and treats and still hugs the same, tight and almost smothering, like he's afraid if he lets go he'll lose you. 

Nobody says anything for a few minutes, you just stand there being tightly hugged by Mikey as the three others watch. Mikey himself seems entirely unwilling to let you go, instead happy to just hold you close to him. 

"Hey Mikey....."

You trail off, not entirely sure what to say in this situation or what to do. You're about to try again when his voice interrupts your thoughts.

"You're home."

Humming, you reply "I'm home".

Maybe just maybe this isn't as bad as you previously thought, things might be different now or maybe you just imagined all the craziness from before. Things are finally looking up for you.

"What souvenirs did you bring me?"

"Huh!?"

Aaaand normal Mikey is back, nevermind those previous thoughts. Mentally panicking you wonder what to do, you didn't get any souvenirs! No one told you, you were supposed to do that! Nervously laughing it off you just reply that they're definitely in your suitcase, totally there and that you'll give them to him later.

Unfortunately for you, your boss is Sano Manjiro and when he says he wants something he gets it immediately. Mikey just stares at you and holds his hand out, clearly expecting you to hand over his souvenirs (that totally exist). You gulp, trying to figure out what to do here.

Meanwhile at the other end of the airport

"Are you sure this is the right way to her terminal?"

Koko complains for what feels like the 100th time as Takeomi firmly nods. Takeomi's been leading them in the completely wrong direction to the wrong end of the airport ever since they got here. Mochi follows along behind them dragging a gigantic banner he made saying "welcome back y/n". 

"Look i know where I'm going and this is definitely the correct way, just keep following me and we'll get to her in time to surprise her!"

"We better, i spent all of last night working on this banner, i hope she likes it".

Koko once again sighs, wondering why he had the bad luck to be stuck in the car with Takeomi driving. Surely Kakucho's car with all the others would've been the more efficient choice out of the two. He starts zoning out as they continue to walk through the crowded airport, instead choosing to think of you and how you'd look when he finally saw you again. Would you be happy to see him? Have you changed your look in any way while you've been gone? He can't wait to see you again. He won't admit it but he's been lonely without you. 

Mochi turns around, sensing something had changed and then shouts ahead to Takeomi when he realises they lost Koko. Takeomi groans but they both go back the way they had just came to find Koko just standing there, spacing out. 

"He's too slow, we'll never reach her in time. Even without the spacing out. Why did he choose to wear heels here!? Mochi, carry him"

"No way I'm carrying my banner, I'm not letting it go"

Takeomi pinches the bridge of his nose and groans again. Fuck it, if it means he can see you again faster then he'll just carry Koko himself. Throwing Koko over his shoulder and ignoring the man's complaints, they continue walking in the wrong direction throughout the airport with Mochi and his banner walking behind.

Back to the Mikey drama

You sit on an uncomfortable airport chair as you dig through your suitcase, looking for anything you could give to Mikey as a souvenir. Mikey sits next to you, just calmly watching and waiting as Sanzu, Rindou and Ran stand around the two of you, also eagerly waiting to see what you come up with.

You're starting to get desperate. A t shirt you bought for yourself? No way that would fit him. A pocket mirror? No he wouldn't be happy with that. Your hairbrush? No way. There really is nothing you can give him. You turn to Mikey, getting ready to start apologising. Instead he suddenly moves, impatiently going through your suitcase himself. He really wants his souvenir. You just watch him, unsure of what else to do.

Suddenly a grin appears on his face before it's quickly replaced with his usual neutral expression. 

"This is my souvenir"

You frown, trying to figure out what he's looking at. Mikey then happily pulls it out and holds it up for everyone to see. 

A pair of your panties. 

"Mikey!?"

He can't just take that right? That's definitely not a souvenir! And that's your favourite pair too! 

Mikey possessively holds them to his chest, repeating that they're his souvenir. He then quickly stuffs them into his pocket, completely claiming them as now belonging to him.

Damn. You're going to need to go shopping again after this.

"Heyyy y/n you brought souvenirs for us too right?" 

Ran grins down at you as Sanzu and Rindou waste no time in going through your suitcase and taking "souvenirs" of their own. There's not much you can do about it with Mikey watching but you still plan on taking revenge for this later.

Ran throws his arm around you, leaning in closer to quietly talk as the other's are preoccupied. 

"So why didn't you do the cute run and jump thing like they do in the movies huh?"

"What?"

You have no idea what Ran's going on about but whatever it is he seems lightly upset about it judging from the pout on his face.

"Come on you know it. The thing where once the lovers reunite one runs and jumps into the others arms and then gets spun around."

You look at Ran completely baffled, did he seriously want to do a movie trope with you? That's what's got him pouting? Because you didn't do it? 

"It's ok though because we can do it now"

"Huh?"

You suddenly find yourself being lifted from your seat, now being held by Ran. 

"Ran put me do-"

You don't get a chance to finish before he's spinning you around. All you can do is grip into his arms, hoping he doesn't accidentally drop you or fling you off somewhere. You're helpless as Ran happily spins you around, getting the reunion he'd been dreaming of. Ok....maybe it wasn't so bad. It was surprising at first and the fear element of being dropped is still there but in a way it is kind of fun. You don't even care when your shoe flies off and hits some guy in the head. Ran even manages to catch a glimpse of a small smile on your face before he puts you down. 

"See that wasn't so bad!"

"Never do that again".

You frown at him, trying to make your point clear but instead Ran just grins back at you, with that annoyingly charming smile. Well until Rindou practically shoves him out of the way.

"Hey did he make you sick? You feeling nauseous or something?"

Rindou sticks his hand out, feeling your forehead and then humming. He then shifts his posture slightly to look into your eyes. Staring at you deeply and making you gulp.

"Hey you're going all red, are you sure you're ok?"

Of course he doesn't seem to realise that he is the reason you're now turning red. You push him lightly to get some distance between the two of you before repeating that you're perfectly fine.

"Oh really? Hey we could check with this thermometer I found!"

Of course Sanzu picks that moment to join the conversation, proudly holding up the thermometer. You sigh and ask him where the hell he found that thing.

"Well me and Rindou got bored waiting for you to get off the plane so we went to the free bag carousel and took a bunch."

You stare at him completely baffled for a moment...

Free bag carousel? Surely he couldn't mean the baggage carousel? Surely they didn't just take a bunch of other people's stuff?

"Look these sunglasses are cool right?"

Sanzu and Rindou continue messing around with all the bags that you've only just noticed. 

Oh fuck.

You hurriedly tell the group that you all have to leave right now. You only just got back in the country, you're not going down for theft already. Urging them along, you grab Sanzu's wrist with one hand and are about to grab Rindou's with the other when Mikey snatches your hand instead, wanting to hold it. You sigh, fine it's not like you have time to argue this anyway. Hopefully Ran can make sure his brother moves along too. 

All five of you start speed walking towards the exit, just trying to get out of the airport before someone complains and security comes after you.

The door is in sight when you suddenly hear it.

"Hey you! Stop right there! Hey I'm talking to you!"

Not even glancing back, you all break into a sprint, running from security and the airport. 

"Where's the car!? Where's the car!?"

You frantically look around but can't see anything which looks like a typical bonten car. But with the security guys now right behind you all, you really don't have time for this. As you scramble around looking a shiny black car suddenly pulls up beside you all and you're suddenly being dragged into the car with the others.

"Hey y/n long time no see"

You breathe out a sigh of relief, it's just Takeomi driving, with Koko next to him and Mochi pulling everyone into the back with him.

Unfortunately theres definitely not enough seats so you end up stuck on Sanzu's lap. You try to ignore the wink he gives you. At least you're not Rindou who had to sit on his brother's lap.

Takeomi and Koko bicker for a second, something about Takeomi always being right with directions and "see i told you I'd get us to her". Before Mikey snaps at them to get going. Takeomi puts the car into gear and you all speed off, far away from the yelling security guards. Less then an hour back and you're already caught up in the chaos again. But at least you guys didn't forget anything.....

Bonus

Kakucho paces around the gift shop, eagerly looking for the right gift. It has to be perfect, something you'd adore and always think of him when looking at it. He'd already spent a long time looking at flowers, chocolates and stuffed animals before deciding against all of them. Kakucho was so caught up in his gift buying that he hadn't realised hours had already gone by. The sales people all watch him curiously as he continues picking up random items before shaking his head and putting them back. They wonder if he'll ever actually buy something. 

More time goes by before Kakucho finally lets out a triumphant shout. He found it. He settles on a bottle of perfume that he thinks you would like and makes his way to the check out.

As he leaves the store with a big grin on his face he fails to realise that you and the rest of bonten had already gone home ages ago, completely forgetting about him. 

Thanks for reading!!!!

Next chapter

[writing-in-the-impala]

Secret Smokes (Part 11)

Pairing: Teacher! Remus Lupin x Reader

Series Summary: When the reader bumps into the new DADA professor on the bridge in Hogwarts she begins to build a friendship with him all thanks to their shared feeling of not belonging and love for muggle cigarettes. Their friendship blooms while they both fight internal battles deciding what is wrong and what is right leading to a lot of fluff, angst, flirting and a rollercoaster of emotions.

Warnings: Swearing, smoking, drinking, teacher-student relationship, angst, jealousy, fluff, smut.

Word Count: 4495

A/N: Yes I did drop off the face of the earth for a bit but can I make it up to you with an extra long chapter?

 | SERIES MASTER LIST (All chapters) |

Previous Chapter, Part 11, Next Chapter

Your fight was the last time you saw Remus Lupin that week, the next lesson you had with Lupin was taken over by Snape, even your tutoring was now with McGonagall. Lupin returned on Friday evening, you saw him in the great hall during dinner, and that's when you received an owl from him which was rare during dinner. He didn't pay you any attention, so you decided to take the letter to the lake and read it by yourself so no one could interrupt you and he couldn't watch or analyse you open it. You sat down by the water and opened it.

"My dearest, Y/N,

Oh how I've fucked up, in life constantly but with you in more ways than one. I don't know how to express my words in person I've never been good at words when it came to the important things like people. This is version five of this letter.

I traveled home after Monday. I couldn't bare to look at that desk, I couldn't go to Sirius as his home will forever smell like the first time I kissed you. When I arrived I found your letters, they made me realise you left to protect us from ending up in this very situation, I thought it was from fear of getting told off for being home late but really you knew that Percy was looking for clues. Unfortunately his letter found me first and convinced me to push you away, that I was risking too much by risking your schooling, I don't care about my career, what's life if you only live for a job but I don't want to mess up your future. I take my job very seriously but life is  more important.

You were right when you said I'm scared of having something good, however you were wrong when you said you were convenient. You're far from it. I might be lonely but that's not why I'm drawn to you, I'm drawn to your wit, I'm drawn to your smile and I'm drawn to your world. If we could spend forever sitting on my sofa listening to music and talking I would die a happy man.

I don't know what my feelings for you are but they are strong and they scare me, you're much more important to me than anyone else I know and I fear to admit it. New Year's Eve I messed up, if we were ever going to kiss I wanted it to be after a date where I show you how you're meant to be loved and offer you the world not drunk on the steps of my best friends house.

I don't know how you feel about me and if I hurt you too much, if that's the case I am terribly sorry I wish I could make it right. If an inch of you still thinks I'm a decent man I have two offers for you.

A. If you want to remain friends and go back to last year's rules "no dear, no alcohol and no kissing" meet me tomorrow evening in my office for tea and tunes, or let me know in your own way

B: If you are up for an adventure my dear and willing to see what happens if we risk it and you still feel any attraction after my poor behaviour: Meet me tomorrow morning at 9am in Hogsmeade, next to the three broomsticks.

C: if you simply hate me like you said (at least 4 times using my full name I'm glad you don't know my middle name) all I ask is show up to my lessons, we can arrange another teacher to take over you 1-on-1 schooling but please show up. I promise to pretend I don't think you're the most amazing witch and woman I've ever met. Please don't let me ruin your exams or future.

Yours, Remus John Lupin.

P.S. To answer the question in your original letters from the 1st of January keep my sweater, it will simply be a painful memory if you choose C and I like the way it looks on you if you choose B ."

You felt a mixture of excitement and relief with his letter, it felt like everything has magically explained itself. Remus was an anxious writer with a tendency to sabotage his own happiness but he was trying. He was trying for you.

The next morning you woke up early to get ready to see Remus, you didn't know what to expect but you were excited. You arrived in Hogsmeade early knowing Remus as someone extremely punctual you were shocked to find Remus wasn't there. You waited until 9:05 but nothing, so you began to walk back at towards the castle. "Wait!" Remus said and you turned around to see him holding two cups of coffee, one of which had obviously slightly spilled on him. "It's with milk!" He said holding a coffee forward towards you.

"Thank you." You said grabbing it.

"I'm glad you came." He said softly.

"I'm glad you sent that letter." You replied. "You have coffee on your sweater." You pointed out reaching in your pocket for a tissue.

"I didn't think through apparating with two cups of coffee.' He admitted with a shy smile as you dabbed his jumper dry. "Thank you dear." He continued softly.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked.

"Where?"

"London, grab my hand and hold your coffee tight." He said reaching out a hand and you took hold of it and you appeared in Holborn, London.

"I thought that wasn't possible in Hogwarts." You admitted.

"That's why we met in Hogsmeade dear, sorry about being late, there was a queue." He admitted showing you the coffee.

"I thought you may have changed your mind." You admitted.

"I was scared you wouldn't come." He admitted.

"Liar you got two cups of coffee." You pointed out.

"I had a feeling you'd show up, now dear, see today as my way of apologising to you. I have a small plan but if you want to do anything just tell me." He said and at that moment you turned the corner to the British Museum. "Have you been here before?" He asked.

"Maybe once or twice as a kid."

"Okay but have you ever had a magic tour of this place?" He questioned and you shook your head. "Great." Remus led you into the British museum, he looked quite excited and more young now than ever. "Now not everyone knows that many treasures in this building are actually artefacts from great magicians."

"So they stole from wizards too?" You asked and Remus laughed.

"They sure did, now not many people know how some of these great people used magic to help muggles and how some of this stuff is either cursed or enchanted." Remus continued as you walked through the beautiful foyer.

"But I'm sure you do." You said teasing him and he nodded.

"I'm not just a pretty face, unlike you I spent a lot of time in libraries."

"Are you saying I don't study? I spend a lot of time in my professors office."

"You spend a lot of time listening to music and distracting me while I try to mark work, dear." He shot back and you laughed. "Now as I was saying, I may not be a rich man or have much to offer but I have a lot of knowledge."

"You should be a teacher." You said with a wink.

"You should be a comedian. Now enough talking watch this." He said and then one of the Egyptian statues moved and stood up.

"Holy shit, are you allowed to do that?" You asked looking around.

"Don't worry no one will notice." He said

"What was that?" You asked.

"It's a Pharos tomb guard, they're enchanted to stand when an attacker approaches, they have a lot of ancient magic in here."

"So why didn't they do that when they were removed from the tomb?" You asked as you and Remus continued to walk and look at the different statues.

"They did, they did for a very long time, however when dark wizards realised there's money in helping archaeologists they helped lift curses or limit enchanted objects. Those guards were stopped from being the soldiers they were, the only thing left is the command to stand when you summon them." Remus explained, you were impressed by his knowledge. You walked through  the ancient Egyptian part for another few minutes before Remus took hold of your hand and hurried you to the Ancient Greek part. "This bits my favourite, sorry is it okay if I do that?" He asked gesturing to your hand.

"It's encouraged." You blushed.

"Tell me when I cross a line Y/N, we still need to talk about us but first I want to hold my part of the deal, showing you who I actually am."

"And who are you profesor?"

"A lonely bookworm with a furry problem and a teaching job to pay the bills."

"Don't forget the cottage." You winked making him laugh.

"Now these are the Parthenon marbles, the Parthenon was being used as a base to store ammunition by the Ottomans and some idiot messed up and blew up the whole thing."

"Some idiot is that the technical term profesor?" You poked him in the arm and he rolled his eyes. You found him very attractive when he was more casually dressed, with his jacket drooped over his arms and a warm sweater on.

"It is now." He replied. "Long story short some guy named Lord Elgin went to Greece and asked the Ottomans can I have this? And they said sure and he took it, as lords usually do. It's missing a lot of parts as they're back where they belong but a small part of me feels lucky to have them here as they tell a story. You see if you come over here you'll see the Centaur." He led you over to the far wall. "He tells a story of the battle between Centaurs and Lapiths at the marriage feast of Peirithoos. And if you do this even with it's missing parts you get to watch it." He lifted his wand and the marble moved. It began plaything the story throughout the panels as if they were alive just like the paintings in Hogwarts. "And if you think that is cool look behind you." You turned around and the main sculptures were all moving, they were missing parts but they felt human.

"That's incredible, show me more." You expressed with a big smile and Remus couldn't help but smile back. "Come on." He said putting one arm around you while his other arm still had his jacket drooped over it. And like that, he led you through the museum holding your waist and making your heart flutter at his actions and brain amazed at the world of knowledge he was sharing with you.

It was one of the few times you saw Remus truly happy as he immersed himself in history. It was beautiful to see him care free not putting himself down, not talking about his condition just being himself. As you walked out the museum hours later he still had a hand around your waist. "Now dear what would you like to do?"

"Should we go get some food?"

"What a wonderful idea, there's a great pub not too far from here, only thing I need to get some cash out as I'm low on muggle money." He explained.

"I can pay."

"I'm sure you can but you won't I'm taking you out on a date it's my treat." He said as he rushed in front of you to the cash machine. "Okay" he said looking at it. "Okay, okay." He continued looking for where to insert his card. "Just a moment." He said after inserting it and just starring at all the options on the screen. "Merlin." He whispered quietly while pressing random buttons.

"You do know how to use it?" You asked suggestively.

"Of course I do." He said but he was obviously struggling.

"Here let me help you." You stood alongside him pressing the buttons for him. "How much do you want to withdraw?"

"£20?" He said hesitantly.

"£20?" You confirmed.

"£50."

"£50 are you sure?" You asked in disbelief.

"I'm not good with this, I haven't been in a muggle pub in forever I don't know the prices these days. I'm sorry, get however much you think it'll cost for us to have food. This is so embarrassing." He admitted.

"£50 it is, Remus the muggle world is my world it's okay to ask for help, I literally didn't know you could aparate in Hogsmeade." You calmed him while you finished the transaction.

"Yeah that was silly, everyone knows-"

"You don't know how to use a cash machine Remus!" You interrupted.

"I'll shut up. Now off to the pub, thank you for your help." He took your hand and lead the way. The pub was quite busy but you expected it as it was lunchtime on a Saturday. It was nice to sit opposite Remus having a meal, flirting, chatting and being yourselves. You didn't feel anxious like you did sometimes on dates, you felt like you were hanging out with a friend that you had a crush on, he would make you blush a lot with his words but he was also clumsy and stumbled a lot, something you never saw in him at Hogwarts. He ordered fish and chips and knocked over the sauces with his hand, when he went to pick them up, he hit his head on the edge of the table, you found it all cute and amusing but he was obviously embarrassed. "Am I making you slowly think I'm an idiot?" He asked after the incident and you simply replied with. "Only a little bit, makes you less intimidating."

"Am I intimidating?" He asked.

"Not at all." You said and he shook his head while laughing. After you ate you decided to take a walk along the river at first you began to talk about meaningless stuff like how you missed the Christmas lights or how Remus enjoyed the fact you can find oyster shells and old pipes on the rivers edge from the Victorian era. However the conversation changed when Remus asked. "What do you see us as?"

"I don't know." You admitted a bit of anxiety started to grow inside you.

"I don't know either, but I think we need to set some ground rules."

"What do you suggest?"

"Defining what's okay, like for example I think if either of us is developing strong feelings like love for the other we should cut it off as we don't want to hurt each other and with our current position we can't be in a relationship and be student and teacher." He said his eyes moving all over the place but avoiding you and he used his hands to emphasise what he was saying.

"How come?"

"Well for starters we can't do this all the time, if I was in love I would like to offer that person all my love, I would like to take them on dates, I would like to walk around and hold their hand, I would like to bring them to see my friends and so on... we can't do that, it will hurt to love someone but not be able to live in public, I don't want to risk the pain for either of us." He explained and you nodded.

"So what can we do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to continue to relax in your office with you." You began and he nodded. "I want to be able to kiss you, I want to be myself with you, I want to smoke on the bridge with you and when no one is watching I want to be held by you."

"And we can do that we can just not love each other, and give each other a relationship that's the line."

"So we can see other people?" You questioned him and he looked puzzled.

"I would prefer not, I can't stop you but I may not feel comfortable with sleeping with you if you're kissing other men." He admitted.

"I'd prefer if you weren't kissing anyone else either... Can we do this sometimes?"

"Of course dear, however not as much as either of us would like to, maybe once a month or every so often not to raise suspicions."

"But I can come see you in your office every night?"

"My door is always open for you dear."

"Can I sleep in your office?"

"Where on the desk?" He remarked in a snarky way.

"Is that where you want to fuck me?" You matched his energy y.

"Well it's not for sleeping." He winked and the grabbed your hand."Enough serious conversations, let's just live a little before we have to worry about rules. Today, exists in a world of its own, what do you want to do?" He asked with a cheery tone.

"I mean checking out that desk sounds fun but maybe before that we should enjoy London."

"I'm already enjoying it right here." Remus said stopping and pulling you in closer, putting his arms around your waist. "I think I like London." He said looking at your lips.

"Oh really." You stood on your toes to get closer to him and he leaned down and kissed you lightly.

"Alright let's go I have an idea." He said once again grabbing your hand and leading the way. You walked into a small cosy record shop. You both started looking through the shelves showing each other records you thought the other would life and either replying with a "yes" or "not my style" once the yes like became tall enough you walked over to the record played and started listening to them, there was only one pair of headphones so you had to share, bringing in your heads close as you listened to the music. "Oh listen to that trumpet." You said listening to a Chet Baker vinyl. "Do you like it?"  Remus asked and you nodded. "This is one of my favourite songs, the earnest vocals, I fall in love too terribly fast, for it to ever last..." you began to sing along to the song and Remus smiled warmly at you, he couldn't help but kiss you on the cheek. "Let's buy it." He said.

"What Remus it's quite expensive?"

"That doesn't matter today dear." He said putting it back in the vinyl sleeve and taking it to the till. "Besides there's nothing more I want to do than lay in bed with you and listen to this here vinyl." He said while paying for the vinyl, he thanked the cashier a grumpy old man who didn't seem to care about your conversation. You continued to walk through London for a bit longer but it started to get colder and you both decided it was time to head home. "Okay, we need to aparate back separately as it may be busy with people at this time." He began. "You'll go first and I'll follow, I don't want to leave you alone back here, I'm sure you'll be okay but I don't want the stress." You nodded in reply. "Okay dear, once you are back it would be a good idea for you to go to your dorm or walk around somewhere far from my office, and in about thirty minutes from now come to my office and we can continue this evening." You nodded in reply and that's when he gave you a quick kiss on the lips. "I'll see you soon my dear." He said and you left. As you walked back to Hogwarts all the emotions rushed in, the excitement, the love you felt but shouldn't, the confusion from the conversation about not falling in love. You felt very overwhelmed but you also felt so many positive emotions that you couldn't wait to go visit Remus in his office. It was weird not being able to travel back with him after you were able to spent so long acting like a couple but it made sense you just wished it could be different. You walked back to your dorm room where Percy was sitting on the chair. "Hi Y/N." He said as he saw you coming in, you didn't reply. "Still giving me the silent treatment? You know I haven't done anything wrong all I wanted to do is spend time with my friend." He continued as you walked away.

"Our dear brother causing you trouble?" Fred asked as you walked past him.

"I'm going to hex him." You replied as your turned to the girls chambers.

"Be our guest." George said before you went into your chambers. It was good that Percy saw you, helps avoid his suspicions. You waited the thirty minutes before heading straight to Lupins office, just in case you checked if Percy followed you but he didn't so you were in the clear to go meet Remus. You walked through the corridors with a hint of excitement as you approached his office, you knocked on the door and Remus opened it almost immediately. "Hey you." He said with a smile letting you in and checking behind you if anyone was in the corridor, he closed the door and turned the lock before leading the way upstairs to his office where he also locked the door after you came in. "Hungry?" He asked as you sat down on the sofa.

"More peckish."

"Perfect, I have some cheeses here and some bread."

"How fancy." You pointed out looking at the small charcuterie board he prepared.

"Only the best for you." He said as he sat down beside you, a record he already had playing way playing in the background as you both sat their indulging into the different flavours. "Thank you for joining me today." Remus suddenly changed the subject.

"Thank you for showing me everything, and for the food and the vinyls, everything." You said a bit overwhelmed by his generosity.

"Come here." He gestured for you to come in closer, you lay on the sofa with your head on his crotch and he stroked your head lovingly, slowly playing with you hair. "I love how soft you hair is." He pointed out as he continued to stoke your hair. A few minutes later the vinyl playing finished and Remus gestured for you to sit up so he could change the music. "How about we try this one out dear." He said pulling out the new Chet Baker vinyl and your heart warmed. "Anything to drink? I've got a nice bottle of wine I've been thinking about opening."

"That sounds great."

"The music or the wine?" He clarified.

"Both."

"White or red dear?" He asked while opening a cabinet.

"What do you prefer? Maybe red?"

"Red it is." He pulled the bottle out and began to open it placing two glasses on the table in front of you and filling them up. "To wonderful day." He said raising his glass as he sat down. You rested your head against his shoulder as you sat in comfortable silence.

"You know moony, I prefer this when we're allowed to cuddle on the sofa and kiss sometimes." You broke the silence.

"Me too dear." He bought his hand up to your cheek and pecked your lips slightly before going back to the resting position. "I craved this every time you sat here and I sat at my desk aching to kiss you." He admitted. This was peace, you were in your safe place.

"Are you aching to kiss me now?" You asked quietly.

"Always." He whispered into your ear placing his glass down on the small table in front of you and then taking yours to do the same for you. He leaned in to kiss you, as the kiss depended you ended up laying on the sofa. He was above you his lips and your lips colliding as you both struggled to catch a breath. You felt him getting hard as he slowly moved his body up and down over you, you reached up for his shirt unbuttoning it and pushing it off his shoulders. "You're not wasting any time." He said between the kisses. His arms moved under your ass and he scooped you up in one movement so you were now straddling him, he pulled your shirt up and unclasped your bra as you began to grind on him making him harder and harder. He pulled away from your lips to suck on your nipples, the sensation made you moan in reply he grabbed your hair and pulled it down roughly making your head tilt back as he continued to worship your body. "Let's take this somewhere more comfortable." He said lifting you up and carrying you.

"You don't want to do it on your sofa?" You asked curiously.

"Oh I do, and my desk and every wall however today I will show you how you're meant to be loved not fucked." He said while pushing the door to his bedroom open and throwing you down on his bed. He unbuttoned your trousers and pulled them off along with your underwear, getting down on his knees and kissing your legs all the way up to your pussy. His hand reached up to your breasts where he started massaging them as his tongue flicked your clit making you moan. As he continued this movement with his tongue he moved his hand to slowly slip his fingers inside you pulling in and out while starting to alternate between sucking and licking. "Merlin you're either so wet or I'm drooling like a dog over how good you taste." He went straight back in and continued until you started begging for him as you felt yourself getting close. "Beg for me again." He growled as he moved to be just above you.

"Please." You barely whispered and he smashed his lips into yours, unbuckling his own trousers and taking them off while still keeping his lips on yours. You felt him thrust inside you leaving time for you to adjust, even though you remembered his size it shocked you how deep he filled you. "Are you okay dear?" He whispered checking in on you. "Mmhm." You confirm and he picked up the speed. He kissed you while going faster and started to slowly move his kisses down to your neck and breasts. You felt yourself get close as he ramped up the speed. "Cum for me dear, I want you to feel how good I make you feel." He said kissing his breath a bit. You couldn't hold it any longer and came which made him cum in you, you felt the warmth inside you as he slowed his pace and rested more of his body weight while moaning into your lips. He kissed you deeply once more before pulling out and laying down beside you. You were both panting as you lay there, Remus moved the covers and covered both of your bodies and kissed your forehead. "Good night dear." He whispered and you placed your head on his chest hugging him as his arm was around you. "Good night, Moony."

NEXT CHAPTER | More stuff I wrote

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[why-animals-do-the-thing]

this is a slight detour from your usual subject matter but i'm very curious about your experience renting a high-quality camera lens? how did you go about doing that and have you been pleased with how it worked out? (the changing of hands i mean, it's clear you're happy with the lens!)

i didn't know this was a Thing before and now i'm wondering if i might be able to try that myself!

Oh yeah, it's absolutely the best thing if you can't afford fancy lenses / want to try out new gear / just need something for a special occasion.

There are places you can rent online that will ship you gear, and depending on where you live you can often also rent from local camera stores. I've done both!

Right now my main practice is renting lenses from LensRentals, which is an online company that ships out of Tennessee. They've got pretty reasonable rental prices, and they don't charge a deposit - but you do sign a thing saying if you damage or lose it, they can charge you. You can also pay for insurance on the rentals against damage or loss which would mitigate a lot of that cost if something went wrong. I've heard a range of opinions about them, but I've pretty much always had a good experience with them and gotten stuff on time that worked correctly, and their customer service has been really responsive for me when we had some snafus with shipping stuff back lately. One thing they do that I really like is their system is set up with an option to ship directly to FedEx stores for you to pick up, which means I don't have to worry about a package containing pricey gear getting stolen or rained on.

LensRentals also is willing to let you buy their rental gear, which is what I'm hoping to do before I send the really nice huge telephoto lens I've been using back tomorrow. They'll take some of the price of your rental off the purchase cost - it isn't a ton, but it generally covers sales tax and maybe a little more. I like it as a way to purchase used gear because I can see the condition before I commit, and I've had it in my hands and gotten to use it a bunch. That's how I bought my first real digital camera like a decade ago, and where I got my current camera and starter lenses.

If you've got a local rental store, I absolutely encourage going through them! I've done that when traveling - there have been some times I wanted a specific piece of gear to test on a habitat - and it's worked out really well. Plus, supporting local businesses is always the right choice. They'll often all operate a little differently, but it's nice to know people IRL who can help you decide what gear to use or just nerd out with you. Sometimes local places will ask for some type of deposit to make sure you bring the gear back, and TBH if that's within your budget it's perfectly reasonable.

Unfortunately, the local rental place in my area charges a deposit to your credit card for the entire worth your rental until you bring it home, and my credit limit isn't high enough that I can float a hold for that (e.g. upwards of four thousand dollars for the two lenses I'm using lately) and still be able to, y'know, use my card, so I go with online rentals. It drives me up a wall! I'd really like to support local businesses and minimize shipping costs / carbon emissions.

If you think you'd like to rent some gear to try out, I recommend it! Just make sure you know what's compatible with your camera, you've got a safe way to transport and store the rental when you're not using it, and that you know the terms up front. It's been such a fun way to play around and see what I like and what works well for me.

[lovegalor333]

fresh start

part nine (chapter 25) previous part • my masterlist

word count: 2.8k

content warnings: none!

Lily

Paige and the team left early yesterday morning for their game at Minnesota today. Travelling for game days, unfortunately, wasn't part of my job so Kayla, Madison, Hannah, Kelsey and I were all lounging on the couch, each tucked under a blanket, excitedly waiting for tip off.

After agreeing to go home with Paige for Thanksgiving, it was decided that I would travel there after classes finished tomorrow and Paige would pick me up from the airport. After Thanksgiving, Paige had to fly directly to the Cayman Islands for a tournament so I'd be flying back to campus alone.

Now the season had started, I had to get used to Paige being away more often, I didn't like it but it was inevitable and it just means that the time we do spend together is even more special.

"Are you all packed for Minnesota, Lils?" Madison asks me from her place at the end of the couch.

"Pretty much, just need to add the last few bits but I'll do that before I leave in the morning." I tell my roommate.

"I can't believe you're going home with your girlfriend for Thanksgiving break! Who would have thought it?" Kelsey says from beside me, leaning her head on my shoulder, "Single Sisters was extremely short lived." She laughs referring to the pact we made when we first met.

"I know! It feels weird but also right at the same time." I say thinking about my relationship with Paige and how it was never my intention to have a girlfriend again so soon but life and love works in mysterious ways and I'm so glad it worked out like this.

The conversation faded out as the game between UConn and Minnesota started and all of our attention was fully focused on the TV as familiar faces in white jerseys moved about the court.

Kayla had kindly offered to drive me to the airport to catch my flight and we had just arrived.

"Thank you for dropping me, K." I say as she pulls into departures parking.

"No worries, have a safe flight and enjoy Minnesota." She smiles her signature smile and I hug her over the console before getting out of the car.

After leaving Kayla, I immediately put my headphones on and shuffle my playlist. Controversially, I really like airports. I would always arrive earlier than necessary to ensure I didn't need to rush. I enjoyed picking out snacks for the journey and most of all, I loved knowing that I could be in my own world, listening to music, staring out of the window for the entirety of the upcoming flight.

After passing through security and buying my favourite snacks, Jolly Ranchers and Gold Fish, I just sat and patiently waited at my gate for boarding to begin.

hi pretty girl

have a safe flight, cant wait to see you

love you

hi p

boarding is just about to start

ive missed you so much

see you soon, i love you

I smiled at the text conversation between Paige and me. I felt extremely grateful for how my life had done a complete one eighty spin from a few months ago. I was happy, I had a beautiful girlfriend who loved me without reservations, I had genuine friends that supported me, I had a job that I adored and I wanted to be alive and stay alive. If I could go back at tell past Lily that, I know for a fact, she'd call bullshit.

The flight was quick, less than three hours and once we were up in the air it felt like we began our descent almost immediately.

I had collected my luggage, it wasn't big as I was only here for a few days, and was making my way through arrivals where Paige said she would be waiting.

"Oh my god." I say under my breath as Paige finally comes into view. She's stood a few feet away from me, looking as beautiful as ever. Her hair is down, tucked behind both ears and from the slight wave in it, I can tell it's been recently washed and left to dry naturally. She's dressed casually, in a grey tracksuit and Air Max 95s but it's the huge bouquet of flowers in her hand that has my jaw on the floor.

It takes a moment for Paige to register that I'm walking towards her but when she does, her face breaks out into a big grin and she takes the few strides needed to close the gap between us.

"Hi babe." I say melting into my girlfriends hug, taking in her scent that I've been deprived of the last few days.

"Hi my pretty girl. How was the flight?" Paige asks with me still in her arms.

"Super quick but I'm tired." I respond. Admittedly I'd not slept well the past few days, sleeping alone, without Paige wasn't something I was used to, so her being gone definitely felt foreign.

"You can sleep in the car. Oh and these are for you, obviously." She says handing me the bunch of flowers. They were a mix of pink and white dahlias with the odd stem of leaves, they were beautiful.

One thing about Paige, she was the best flower giver. She knew the perfect time to get them and every bouquet I've received from her and has been filled with the most pretty flowers.

Paige took my bags and I carried the flowers as I followed her to her car. She opened the passenger door for me before loading my bags into her trunk. I reached into the back seats and carefully placed my flowers down.

"Here." Paige said getting into the driver's seat handing me a blanket. Her blanket. Her favourite blanket that she slept with every night in Connecticut.

"Thank you." I say covering myself over and resting my head on the window. The blanket smelt like Paige and even though she wasn't, it felt like she was hugging me, it was comforting.

One of Paiges hands rests on my leg as the other steered the car as we began driving to her family home. My eyes fluttered shut, feeling safe and content and most of all loved beyond belief.

Paige

Having Lily here in the house I grew up in felt natural as soon as we stepped inside. My heart warmed watching her interact with my family, especially Drew.

They were currently stood side by side at the kitchen counter, sleeves rolled up to their elbows as they took it in turns pouring in various ingredients and mixing together the cake batter.

I kept my distance and just observed as the two most important people in my life bonded and got to know each other.

"Paigey actually ruined Thanksgiving last year." My little brother tells Lily and she laughs.

"Really? What did she do?"

"She said she was going to make the best cake ever and nobody was allowed to help and I didn't eat any candy all day because she said her cake was so good." Drew reminisced on last year, "And then we tried it and it was actually the worse cake ever! I had to spit it in the trash."

"Hey, it's not my fault I confused the sugar with salt." I interject, poking my brother in the side causing him to giggle and in turn fling his arms up to protect himself,  but as he does a dollop of cake batter flies off the spoon and lands on Lilys face.

Once Drew realises what he's done he quickly apologises to Lily but I can't hold back my laughter.

"It's OK Drew, no harm done." Lily says with a sweet smile but when her eyes flick to me, she's glaring intensely. "Funny, Bueckers?" She asks raising her brows.

"Just a bit, yeah." I say still giggling.

"Oh OK, so you won't mind if I just," she dips her hand into the batter mixture and before I can register what she's about to do, she smears it across my cheek, "do that."

As quick as my giggles stop, Lilys and Drews start and I'm too busy focused on Lily to notice Drew also dipping his hand into the mixture before wiping in down my arm.

"Oh I get it. It's two against one." I say slightly offended my own brother would choose Lily over me but at the same time loving it because them having a good relationship means a whole lot to me.

"Drew, I think we should run." Lily says being able to read my facial expression perfectly and both of them set off running away from me but I grab the full bowl and go after them.

"I'm literally an athlete, I'm going to catch you guys." I say as I follow them.

Drew is running at full speed whilst screaming and dodging pieces of furniture so he doesn't trip and Lily isn't far behind him, also dodging furniture but laughing so much it's slowing her down.

I change my tatic and go back on myself knowing that Drew and Lily will walk or...run into me and I'm right.

"Ha! Got you!" I triumph as Drew unknowingly runs right into my path and I scoop him up with one swift movement and with my hand already covered in cake mix, I swipe it across his face.

"Lily, save me!" Drew shouts in my arms and he kicks and wriggles his body trying to get me to release him.

Lily's by our side seconds later, "Don't worry, I've got you!" She reassures and lunges for the bowl picking up the spoon and flicking it in my direction, sending mixture straight into my face.

"OK that's it!" I say adjusting Drew so he's over my shoulder and I run full speed at Lily.

She lets out a screech but she can't move fast enough so I manage to hook my free arm around her waist, "Now everyone say Paige is the best." I say gripping onto both of them.

"Paige is the best." They both mummble knowing they've been beaten.

"And Paige always wins, she never loses." I try my luck.

"OK, that's pushing it P." Lily says and she manages to wriggle out of my grasp so I place Drew down too.

"Truce?" Lily asks out stretching her hand, "Truce." I reply shaking her hand and then my brothers.

We salvage what's left of the cake batter and pour it into a tin before it goes into the oven to bake.

"OK, go clean yourself up buddy." I say to Drew and point him in the direction of the bathroom before Lily and I start to tidy the kitchen.

"He really likes you, you know?" I say to Lily as she washes dishes at the sink and I wipe down the surfaces.

"I love him." Lily says and my heart bursts, "Being an only child, I feel like I missed out on something. I wish I had siblings to have these moments with."

"You can have these moments with us. My family is your family, Lils." I say going over and standing behind her, I wrap my arms around her waist and rest my head on her shoulder, "Thank you, P. I love you." She says spinning around so we're face to face.

“I love you." I lean in and press a kiss to her lips, "Although, you're slightly sticky." I say as I pull away.

I pick up a cloth, "Come here." I motion for Lily to come over to the kitchen island, she does and I lift her up onto the counter.

I gently wipe away any left over batter residue on Lilys face and from my place inbetween her legs, I'm taken back to the night in my bathroom after the frat party.

I think about how much Lily and I have been through since then and how much my love for her has grown and I can only hope it continues that way.

"What are you thinking about beautiful?" Lily asks cupping my face with her hands.

"You. Me. Us. How much I love you and want you in my life forever."

"You've got me Paige. In everyway." She says pulling me closer and crashing her lips to mine. My hands instinctively rest on her thighs and slowly make their way up to her waist. I feel her groan into my mouth at my touch so I deepen the kiss, making it needier, sloppier. Lily's legs are around my waist and her hands are in my hair and it's a feeling I want to bottle and save for later because I know my little brother will be back in the room at any moment.

I reluctantly pull away, "Drew will be back any second." I say and right on cue the boy walks back into the kitchen.

He looks at Lily and me and the way we're positioned, Lily still perched on the counter top and me inbetween her legs, hands on her thighs and his head tilts to one side and I know he's about to say something.

"Paigey, are you going to marry Lily and have babies?" He asks full of innocence but Lily and I almost choke.

"We're still really young right now buddy." I try and answer as diplomatically as possible.

"What about when you're bigger, like mom and dad?" He continues to push the topic.

"Well, don't tell anyone," Drew nods rapidly in agreement as I speak, "but if Lily will have me, I'll happily put a ring on it and make her a mommy." I say cheekily squeezing Lilys thigh, earning a shove from her.

"Your sister is one of a kind, you know that Drew?" Lily ask jumping off the counter.

"Uh huh." Drew agrees and I smile as we all make our way into the living room to inevitably watch another cheesy holiday movie.

Lily

Paiges dad and stepmom had filled the table with the most delicious looking and smelling food I'd even seen. Thanksgiving dinner was not like this back home in Boston, in fact if my mom could avoid cooking all together, she would. I spent a lot of Thanksgivings at Emmas house and Christmases too, as a family we weren't very festive but the Bueckers were the complete opposite.

Paige was sat inbetween Drew and me with their parents opposite us, we each had a small glass of wine - Drew excluded and Paiges dad, Bob raised his glass, "It's tradition that we say something we're thankful for before dinner. Lily, as our guest, would you like to start?"

I look to Paige, slightly put on the spot but I don't know why because I know what I'm thankful for. It's easy, I don't even need to think about it. Paige sends me a small smile and a quick nod and I pick up my glass, "I'm thankful for my life right now and everyone in it. A few months ago things were very different and it was hard for me to see an end to that but going to Connecticut, changed everything. It saved my life. I wanted a fresh start and I got that. I'm thankful for all of the beautiful friends I've made, I'm thankful for the opportunities I get everyday to learn and grow and I'm especially thankful to be sat here. I'm thankful for being welcomed in your family and home as if I've always been a part of it. It truly means the world to me."

Under the table, Paiges hand squeezes my thigh in support and she leans over pressing a kiss to my cheek.

"I think that deserves a toast," Paiges stepmom says and everyone raises their glass of wine, even Drew picks up his juice, "to Lilys fresh start. May she continue to grow and blossom."

We all clink our glasses together and I have to fight back tears.

"And let it be known," Bob says, "anyone who makes my daughter as happy as you is always welcome in this family."

˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊✧˚ · .

[vanishingcherry]

Hey love your lando fics. Could you do one with 7 and 10 from fluff list.

PUPPY LOVE

pairings: lando norris x reader

authors note: thank you for requesting! sorry its kinda short. prompt 7 is "just kiss me, would you?" and prompt 10 is "we're not buying a dog" check out my prompt list

masterlist

๑ ⋆˚₊⋆────ʚ˚ɞ────⋆˚₊⋆ ๑

"We are not buying a dog."

"Oh come on, thats unfair. You know it's really mean of you to leave me alone for half the year and expect me to not get lonely."

You were sitting criss-crossed on the edge of your bed, watching Lando pack around 3 weeks worth of clothes into a suitcase. It was the Monday before the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first race of the season.

Unfortunately, you wouldn't be able to accompany Lando as much as you would have liked this year. Your study and work load had increased immensely, and you had to put majority of your energy into that, which meant you didn't have time to travel the world.

Lando was being very supportive, in everything but your quest to finally get a dog.

"Darling, you're the one who has to stay at home. I have no problem whatsoever with you coming with me." He smiles at your antics, watching as you lean back and fall against the mattress with a huff.

"But you know I can't."

He stands up from his place near the suitcase, sitting on the bed next to you. "I know, love." he replied sympathetically.

You sit up quickly, almost bashing heads with Lando who was leaning over you. "So you understand why we need a dog right?"

"My love, you know that if we get a dog, you're gonna fall in love with it and forget all about me." Lando says.

You laugh at his reasoning. "So you're against this because you're jealous?"

"I'm not jealous." he says pointedly. "I just know when I'm going to lose, and I am definitely going to lose against a puppy." The small smile he tries to hide lets you know that he's still joking.

"Oh baby I could never stop loving you. It just means that you'll have to share that love-"

"With a dog." he interrupts.

"Yes. And, if I'll only love you more if you say yes to getting a dog. So really nothing changes at all!"

Lando lets out a sigh, and you know that he was close to giving in.

"Please?"

"God, you're so annoying. I don't know how you always manage to convince me." he chuckles, lightly shaking his head with the realisation that he would do anything for you.

You grin, knowing you've won. "Just kiss me, would you?"

Now, Lando wasn't one to turn down such an invite. With lightening speed, he grabbed the sides of your face with his hands and pulled you in. The kiss was soft and your eyes fluttered close, hands moving to connect behind his neck.

You move away to catch your breath, excitedly planning the next steps with a slightly dazed Lando.

"We can go to the pet store tomorrow before your flight, yeah? I saw this really cute Goldendoodle the other day and I think he would be perfect!"

[angelsanarchy]

One Long Weekend: - Clyde/YN One-Shot Series CH 02

"Fuck does this mean you get to taser me?" "100 Percent."

FRIDAY 10:30PM

Y/n stood at the foot of the stage taking photos of the metal band currently occupying the stage. Luckily they brought a crowd of headbangers rather than full violent moshing or else the photo quality would suffer. Baby had promised a few hundred bucks for some promotional photos for the local venues and after the rent hike, she could use the extra cash.

Tonight had been different than most. Usually she was strictly business, bouncing from one venue to the next getting the photos taken and crawling into bed at 2AM just to have Baby blowing up her phone for the images before she's even had a chance to get real sleep. Tonight she finally got a chance to meet the shaggy haired, stoner who seemed to travel with one of the local bands. She had thought maybe he was blind at one point with how he stared blankly at her but one of the bartenders assured her that he was pretty harmless, if not a pain in the ass.

"Hey Y/N, you staying for the next couple of bands? We've got some new guys coming in." The bartender knew Baby and had kind of taken me under their wing while I was working these jobs. Bartenders and bouncers seemed to really enjoy her company.

"I might stay for a few. I don't have anymore pressing items on my agenda so I might as well." Y/n packed up her camera and sat on a stool for at least two more performers before bidding farewell to the bartender and heading towards whatever commotion that was trapped at the front door. The owner of the venue had been arguing with someone, cussing loudly at him and telling him that he was banned.

"Oh don't be such a soft dick! I promise not to jump off the tables...much." The voice is what caught her attention.

"Tony! Hey Tony!" Y/n yelled trying to get the attention of the bouncer.

"STAY THE FUCK OUT!" The club owner shoved Clyde out the door and throwing his hands up as he told off the band he traveled with. Johnny tried to plead his case while she squeezed past and saw Clyde on his hands and knees.

"I deserved that." Clyde was trying to peel himself off the pavement. He looked up and met her gaze with a stupid grin.

"That's my girlfriend." Clyde stumbled forward putting his hands on her shoulders.

"In your dreams kid." Tony scoffed.

"Where have you fucking been?" Clyde whispered.

"I didn't get the bat signal that I would need to be peeling you off the sidewalk. That's clearly my fault." Y/n put rested her hand on Clyde's.

"Oh come on Y/n! You aren't really with these guys are you?" Tony whined as the rest of the band shuffled out. They all looked a little dejected.

"Unfortunately Tony, I do. I'm going to need to cash in on that favor. Can you talk to Pete for me? See if you can get them back in to play a set? Even if it's just tomorrow?" Johnny looked at Clyde who's mouth hung open.

"I can give it a try but this is your only favor. No more freebies." Tony shook his head before shaking Johnny's hand.

"Wow um I love Clyde's stalkee. Thank you!" Johnny reached out and pulled y/n into a hug.

"No problem. Crowd is better on Saturday anyway. Just try and keep this one from getting me put on the banned list." Clyde put his hand on his heart.

"Johnny, I told you she wants to have my little deaf babies." Johnny laughed.

"You better make sure she isn't trying to make babies with anyone with both functioning ears first bud." The van pulled up and the band started loaded it up with their gear.

"You gonna be okay to get home?" Y/n asked seeing Clyde stumbling over to her again.

"What answer would get you to come with us?" Clyde tested.

"I mean I know your boyfriend...or girlfriend or they-friend is probably waiting up-" She cut Clyde off.

"I'm not seeing anyone actually but I should probably get home. This is the first night I'll make it to the motor-rail before it closes for the night." Clyde seemed amused.

"What? No! You can't take the train. Come hang out for a bit and then I can drive you home. It's the least I can do for helping the guys out." Clyde tossed his thumb back towards the van as they finished loading it up.

"Honestly I don't know that I trust you to drive me anywhere right now. You're a little loose on your feet." Clyde swayed a bit as he stood in front of her.

"Even more of a reason to come with. I will let you drive. I'm already deaf, do you really want me to be cripple too?" Clyde showed y/n the hearing aid fitted to his ear. She could smell the weed on him when he swayed towards her. She didn't have anywhere to be for the rest of the night and its not like anyone was waiting at home.

"Fuck it. Who am I to let you crash and burn on a perfectly good long weekend." Y/n held her hand out for the keys and Clyde bounced on his feet, handing the keys over.

"Every weekend is a long weekend if you try hard enough." Clyde hopped into the passenger seat.

"Some of us have weekday jobs, sweetheart." Y/n slammed the driver door shut and looked back at the band.

"Guys, this is my new wife Y/n. Y/n these are the guys. They're all stupid fuckers but they play killer music." Clyde introduced her to the band and they threw empty bottles and trash at his introduction.

"It's a pleasure. If one of you can give me a coherent address, I will get you all there in one piece." Y/h promised firing up the van.

"310 W. Utah. It's the really shitty brick apartments on the corner of Tracy Park and Violet Ridge." Clyde said sitting back in the seat. She knew where that was. It was actually about 45 minutes from her apartment if there wasn't any traffic.

Y/n started to pull away from the curb and immediately the horn started blaring.

"Did you fuckers rig my steering wheel again?" Clyde whined returning the trash that was thrown at him.

"Just try not to use the turn signals. These idiots think it's funny when they mess with the only guy who has a van big enough to transport their shit for free." Clyde gave them the finger before reaching across y/n and flipping the signal off.

"No turning signals. Got it. I'm sure the Vegas residence are accustom to it by now." Clyde laughed at the joke as she drove.

"Does your deafness have a great story worth teasing you over or were you born with it?" Y/n asked. Clyde seemed surprised she bothered asking.

"No it's not too recent but I definitely wasn't born with it. You'll have to dig a little deeper for that story though." Clyde smirked. Y/n rolled her eyes with a snort.

"Always a give and take with you." She remarked.

"Hey I can always tell you and waste your payback for saving my ass but then how would you get home?" Clyde teased.

"Oh I won't need a ride home but I already have plans for that payback so by all means, please keep that story in the cards." Y/n kept her eyes on the road and her hands on the wheel as Clyde sighed.

"Fuck, you're gonna taser me aren't you?" Clyde turned his body towards her and she nodded.

"Oh 100%." Y/n's response made Clyde run his hands down his face.

The guys in the back of the van started laughing and ribbing Clyde about being tasered and he swatted at them.

"How are you going to tase a deaf guy? Isn't that like kicking a kid in a wheelchair?" Clyde offered.

"Absolutely not. One is a dick move and the other is for amusement. Besides I wear a night guard when I sleep but you don't see me using it as a crutch." Y/n said confidently.

"Having straight teeth and being down an entire ear are hardly a fair comparison." Clyde was drawn to her sassy nature and quick to joke sense of humor. Even if she had plans to taser him.

"We've all got our baggage. You'll live." She looked over at Clyde and he caught her wink. Fuck was he in trouble.

[humanitys-strongest-bamf]

"get me a damned matcha" | Chapter 23: April II

{{ Chapter 22: March II | Chapter 24: May II }} Chapter Directory

publishing early because i'm out from 8am-10:30pm tomorrow and i'm not ready for it :|

if you wanna get tagged for updates, fill out this form here!

✧ pairing ➼ levi ackerman x fem!reader, college x coffee shop x roommates!au ✧ summary ➼ After you find yourself plagued with misfortune due to struggles in your personal and family life, you find yourself needing to move last minute. As a junior in undergrad with little money and little social support, you considered yourself lucky when you found a sublease that was close to campus and was relatively cheap. Unfortunately, it seemed that your roommate did not seem to be so excited regarding your presence. ✧ content/warnings ➼ fluff, fem!reader, afab!reader, smut (minors go away) ✧ word count ➼ ~6k

“You’re going to be in the middle of nowhere just to write for two weeks?” Levi asked with a clear hint of skepticism in his voice.

You nodded as you continued packing.

“I think it’ll be a nice change of pace compared to how chaotic it can get on campus.”

Levi blinked at you a few times without saying anything, maintaining that skeptical expression with the way that his eyebrow was slightly raised. He knew there was more. As wonderful as the alone time might have sounded, the inconvenience of having to travel so far and be in an area with little to no services seemed too much to be explained by getting a “nice change of pace”.

You noticed his silence and looked back at him.

“It’s also paid,” you reluctantly admitted.

“Ah,” he muttered, suddenly understanding. Getting to do your graduation project while being paid to hang out at forest reserve did sound appealing. “Still, two weeks?”

“Actually a month,” you corrected with a shrug, “but I couldn’t afford to go for that long, so I went for the two-week option instead.”

“Hmm,” Levi mumbled without really responding.

Two weeks was a long time. The last time you left, it was only for a week and it had prompted that huge fight that resulted in you storming out of the apartment and crashing on your friend’s living room couch instead of coming home.

While he was still annoyed at himself for getting as attached as he was to you, he internally made a promise to himself to at least put some effort into not immediately regressing back into being a dick the minute you left for your trip.

“Wanna come with?”

“What?” Levi asked abruptly, having not expected the question while he was deep in thought. It wasn’t a request that even crossed his mind.

“You said Erwin’s out of town for the month, right?” you asked as you vaguely remembered Levi complaining about being locked out of lab for a few weeks and being unable to do any real work. “So you can’t even really go into lab?”

Levi was still blankly staring at you, struggling to process your sudden request.

“I can bring one guest,” you explained. “You wanna come?”

His instinct was to say no. Spending two weeks in the middle of nowhere was not something his mind would jump to when he thought of things he wanted to do to relax, although being away from people did sound nice. Plus, the idea of getting to be by you for those two weeks sounded much more pleasurable than staying at the apartment on his own when he couldn’t even do any work.

“Might be nice to be away from others for two weeks,” you said as a small smile appeared on your face. “Just you and me.”

Levi scoffed.

“And be trapped with your insufferable ass for two weeks?”

You pouted and chucked a rolled up pair of socks at him from your bag.

An ever-so-subtle smirk appeared on Levi’s lips as he caught your socks and threw them back at you.

“If I must,” he mumbled with a feigned sigh of annoyance, but that small smirk on his face betrayed him, making his desire to simply be around you more than obvious.

~~~~~

The cabin was cozy, but was by no means small. When you had imagined spending two weeks in a “remote camping resort” that was quite literally in the middle of nowhere, you imagined staying in a small log cabin that had no internet and was running on minimal electricity. Instead, you ended up staying in a fairly large cabin with multiple kitchenettes, bedrooms, and bathrooms. If you had the money, you’d pay to vacation here, so you were astonished that you were getting paid to stay here and write. Granted, you had to fill out a lengthy application regarding your ability to write, publish, and sell your light novel, but considering the fact that you needed it just to graduate, getting the application processed was a piece of cake. 

The fact that you were able to stay here, as well as being able to bring a guest along, was an opportunity that you were immensely glad to have taken. It was indeed refreshing when compared to being trapped on a crowded college campus filled with students that were either stressed, drunk, or both.

There were three other applicants that you were sharing the cabin with. Some of them brought friends or significant others as their guests, so it ended up being more like five people that you were sharing the same building with, but with how big the cabin itself was, it essentially felt like you had it to yourself.

“You said they’re paying you to do this?” Levi asked skeptically as he began methodically unpacking your duffle bag.

You had originally thrown your bag onto the queen-sized bed, which immediately made him scrunch his nose up in disgust that you were bringing something that had clearly touched the floor onto the bed where you were supposed to be sleeping. He immediately took it off and placed it onto the pouf in front of the bed to begin unpacking it.

“Under the condition that we finish whatever it is we’re supposed to be writing and submit it,” you explained as you looked out the window, which showed a serene scenery into the forest that immediately brought you a sense of tranquility. “Since I have to turn in a light novel for my capstone project, all the pieces just kinda came together.”

As expected for Levi, everything was the textbook definition of organized by the time he finished unpacking. You had stopped to help, but then he got grouchy over how you placed something a tad too haphazardly, so you just raised your hands and walked off, letting him do his own thing instead of fighting it. Your toiletries were neatly placed into the bath, with your bathing supplies standing next to each other on the shelves in the shower-bath unit. Your computers were placed on the desk near the window, with your jackets hanging off the back of the armchair in front of the desk.

Content after getting unpacked and settled in, you flopped backwards onto the bed, the memory foam mattress being a refreshing sensation compared to the spring mattresses back at home. 

“You think the landlord would be mad if we switched up the beds?”

“What’s wrong with the ones we have?” Levi asked with a frown.

“Just not as comfy,” you said with a shrug, rolling over onto your side as Levi sat down next to you, leaning his back against the headboard.

You looked up and saw the slightly unsettled look on his face as he adjusted to staying in a new environment for a few days. It was a welcome change, but one he’d have to adjust to nonetheless. No matter how you put it, staying in a cabin in the woods was vastly different from staying in an apartment on a college campus.

Realizing that the two of you found yourselves out in the woods again together made your cheeks heat up ever-so-slightly, but it was enough for Levi to immediately notice once he looked back down at you.

“What?”

“Nothing,” you mumbled, awkwardly looking away in embarrassment. “Just remembering…”

“Remembering what?” he asked with a skeptical expression.

“...that our first time was in the forest…”

You shuffled around uncomfortably, feeling a mix of embarrassment and nostalgia upon pulling up the memory.

“That was in a tent, though,” Levi noted as he scooted towards you before pulling you in flush against him.

You let out a small squeak of surprise as he pulled you in, looking up and seeing that he was affectionately looking back down at you.

“We can consider this an upgrade,” he whispered as he pulled you in, gently pressing his lips against yours.

The kiss took you by surprise at first, but it was quickly returned as you parted your lips more, grazing your teeth against his bottom lip. Your hand grabbed at the collar of his shirt as you pulled yourself over him, straddling him, never separating your lips from his. You moaned into the kiss as your hand traveled down from the collar of his shirt and down his chest towards his waist.

However, any chance of you getting to feel his cock in you immediately disappeared once you heard an obnoxious ringing tone from your phone. It was your alarm, and it was saying that it was time for you to leave to go to the orientation meeting in the main dining area.

Frustrated, you groaned and buried your face in Levi’s chest without moving from your suggestive position. Even if you skipped, the moment had already been ruined. You had no choice but to save Levi’s “upgrade” offer for later, although you weren’t sure when that would be, given the busy day you had ahead of you.

You sighed and rolled off him with a grumpy look on your face.

“I’ll be back in twenty, I guess,” you grumbled as you haphazardly put your shoes on and made your way out the door, fixing your hair and t-shirt on your way out, hoping that any of your fellow housemates wouldn’t put two and two together on what was happening behind your bedroom door.

~~~~~

It was at that point in the spring where it was both no longer cold and yet to be warm. It meant that it was the perfect weather for you to throw on a thin jacket and sit outside. Given the fact that you were at a remote resort, you were able to find peace in the outdoors, with just you and Levi. 

The two of you currently sat on the edge of the pier that looked out into the lake. The sun hadn’t gone down yet, so you still had lighting, but it was approaching evening. The orange and pink hue reflected off the water. If you had a knack for painting, this would be the perfect scenery to try to replicate. The colors of the sky blended together with the reflections in the water, almost making it difficult to differentiate between the horizon and the water itself.

Your legs were dangling above the water, hanging off the edge of the pier, with Levi sitting criss-crossed next to you. You had a notebook and were plotting out one of the last chapters of your novel, choosing to write by hand instead of bringing your laptop to avoid even the slightest chance of dropping your somewhat expensive computer into the water. Levi sat next to you, quietly gliding his pencil over his sketchbook—the same one that he had received as a gift at the white elephant exchange in December. 

You sat in comfortable silence next to him as you both focused on your tasks at hand. Once you saw how intensely he was looking into his sketchbook, you glanced over at what it was that he was trying to draw. 

It was the scenery in front of you: the water in the lake, the way the sun was setting in the sky, and the way the forest was separating the horizon and the water line off in the distance.

“I didn’t know you could draw,” you mused, looking closely at how the different elements of the sketch were elegantly coming together.

“Never had the time to,” Levi mumbled as he glanced up at the lake momentarily before looking back down at his sketch.

Although he was weirded out by the idea of coming here with you at first, he ultimately knew that it was a good thing for him as well as you. It gave him a chance to be away from lab and the cafe and mentally reset. While having a routine was great for him, it had certainly become mundane and he found himself entering a mental fog of doing the same thing every day. Coming out and being forced to adjust was something that he desperately needed.

He looked down at his sketch. He had fully expected it to be nothing but chicken scratch and was pleasantly surprised to see that it actually somewhat looked like the scene he was trying to replicate. The last time that he drew was when he was around eight years old, so it felt like a lifetime ago. This was effectively his first time actually drawing.

“Used to draw sketches for-”

Levi paused for a second as he stumbled over his words, indicating that he was bringing up a slightly sensitive topic.

“Used to draw sketches for my mother when she was sick,” he said quietly as he looked down at his pencil, although he was vaguely able to tell that you had tilted your head to indicate that you were listening.

“Haven’t really touched it since,” he finished.

He had picked up the hobby at a really young age and he really did enjoy it at the time. However, given the chaos that led up to and followed his mother’s death, he could never bring himself to do it again. It was always a ‘save it for later’ thing, and ‘later’ just never came until now.

Despite the painful memories that were brought up from him branching out into a hobby he had long buried, he did draw some sense of comfort from it. He had coped with his grief through avoidance and bitterness as he grew up and it wasn’t until he was in his late-teens that he got a chance to properly process. Even after he fully processed, he still found himself salty without getting any real closure. Helping you come to terms with your own grief was slowly moving him in that direction. Things like celebrating his birthday or visiting his mother’s grave were still painful, but it was at least more bearable compared to before.

“Wanna draw cover art for my book?” you asked with a completely serious expression.

Levi snorted at you, finally looking up.

“If you want shitty 8-year-old-level drawings.”

“I think I’ll take my chances,” you said with a nonchalant shrug, glancing down at Levi’s sketch.

The only thought that crossed your mind was that he must have been a stupidly talented eight-year-old. The sketch already looked better than anything you would have been able to produce. This didn’t really come as a surprise to you, but part of you definitely hated how quick Levi was at picking things up, even if this was something that he used to do as a child.

You were joking about him drawing cover art for your book, but given how his initial sketch was already looking, you began seriously considering it, despite the fact that him having a knack for the art right off the bat irritated you beyond belief. 

~~~~~

Being out in the middle of nowhere at least made the insomnia more bearable.

Levi was able to get a view out the window that wasn’t just the parking lot in front of your apartment building. Instead, he was able to look out into the woods, the terrain being lit up by the full moon shining above you. The stars were more than visible, given how far away from the main city you were.

The fact that the scenery would have been pitch black if it weren’t for the moon made the view seem that much more serene. Levi took a deep breath as he sipped on some tea that he had made himself earlier once he knew that it was going to be one of those nights in which it was pointless to try to get any sleep.

You must have felt the same way. Levi glanced over towards the bed as soon as he heard you shuffling around. The corner of his lips slightly pulled up as he observed how you had the blanket bunched up as you wrapped your arms around it, while burying your face into the pillow. It was so strange to him that the person he was looking at now was the same annoying brat that came barging into his life nearly two years ago.

He sighed, going to rinse out his cup in the bathroom sink, not wanting to go back out into the kitchen area this late into the night. After placing the cup upside down to dry on a laid out hand towel, he went to change into a tank top and sweatpants to attempt to sleep. Even if he couldn’t sleep, at least he could rely on you to curl up next to him (and occasionally even on him) for snuggles.

After he crawled under the blanket, Levi gently wrapped his arm around your waist, nudging you towards him. He saw you shifting around to adjust for his presence.

“Still up?”

“Mhm,” you mumbled, scooting backwards so you could feel him on you. “Sometimes if I just lie still and shut my eyes, I can trick my body into thinking I’m asleep and then I’ll actually fall asleep.”

Levi responded with a scoff, clearly skeptical. 

“That’s bullshit.”

“Sometimes it works,” you grumbled with a pout, your bottom lip slightly poking out.

“Yeah?” he asked with a raised eyebrow even though your eyes were still closed. “Like when?”

You remained silent for a few seconds as you tried to come up with a clever answer.

“Not the point,” you eventually responded, admitting defeat.

Levi rolled his eyes, but pulled you closer against him so that he could bury his face in the crook of your neck.

Although he only intended to focus on the smell of your fruity shampoo that still lingered in your hair, he quickly noticed just how close you were to him, with your ass fully pressed up against his dick. He couldn’t tell if you were doing so on purpose or not, but it didn’t stop that tight feeling in his pants from forming. Levi let out a quiet sigh of frustration as he felt his boner growing. Given your close proximity, he was sure that you’d be able to feel it too.

“What?” you asked in a slightly mocking tone.

He couldn’t see with your back pressed up against him, but the mischievous smirk on your face gave away your intention of rubbing your ass on his dick to get him worked up.

“You know what you’re doing, you little shit,” he scolded, scowling at you.

“Aren’t we just cuddling?” you asked innocently.

Levi let out an exasperated sigh as he tightened his grip around you, with a quiet growl emanating from his throat as one hand traveled up to gently grip at your neck, while the other began traveling down to your waistline.

“What was that comment about this being an upgrade earlier?” he whispered directly into your ear, making it so that you were already feeling your body heating up.

His lips brushed up against your earlobe as he spoke before traveling down to your neck, planting gentle, but chilling kisses against your skin, sending shivers down your spine. 

You were already acutely aware of his growing erection, but you could now blatantly feel his hardening cock pressing up against your ass, prompting you to press yourself against him harder, letting out a small moan as you felt his fingers reach underneath your panties to gain access to your clit.

As soon as he began moving his fingers in circles around the small bundle of nerves, you gripped at his hand, with you now being the one that was groaning in frustration as you felt your arousal begin to leak out onto your panties. 

Feeling more than a little horny, you quickly turned around, pushing him onto his back as you crawled onto him and straddled him, roughly pressing your lips against his. Your hands were tightly gripping at his shoulders as you began grinding your crotch against his, getting increasingly frustrated with the cloth that was separating his cock from your cunt. 

Your tongue prodded against his lips, which slightly parted to grant you entrance, and you heard his breathing hasten as he reached down to pull his sweatpants down, allowing his cock to finally pop up directly under you. 

You immediately pulled your lips away from his, a string of spit connecting your lips to his as you impatiently reached down to move your panties to the side, which were already long soaked with your slick. You groaned as you felt the tip of his cock rubbing up against your folds, and essentially felt your pussy throbbing and begging for more.

A small whine escaped your lips as you reached your fingers down to line up his cock with your entrance so he could go in, your face flushed and eyes clouded over with lust.

However, before you could engulf his cock with your pussy, he shoo’d your hand away.

“Never were any good at being patient, were you?” he mumbled in an amused tone as he saw the frustrated look on your face. “Relax. ”

He put his hands around your face and pulled you into a kiss that started off gentle, but quickly grew heated as he firmly placed his hands on your waist, flipping you over so that he was looming over you.

You placed your hands around the sides of his neck, pulling yourself up to keep your lips connected with his, letting out a small moan as you felt his tongue find its way into your mouth, asserting its dominance over yours, further soaking your panties with your slick. Your hands then traveled down to his waistline and you reached underneath his tank top, running your hands over his abs up to his chest as you took off his tank top and threw it across the room to the side.

Once he finally pulled away, you were able to see that the full moon shining into the room made the normally gray hue of his eyes more like silver, mesmerizing you with his gaze, which was further exacerbated by the fact that you were always weak for the way that he looked at you.

Levi gently placed his hand on your shoulder and pushed you down back onto the bed so that you were laying down fully, with his other hand lifting the hem of your tank top. You slightly arched your back and held your arms up as he removed your tank top, your nipples quickly hardening from their sudden contact with the cold air.

His hand gently massaged one of your breasts, with your breath getting caught in your throat as he pinched your hardened nipple between his fingers. His other hand ghosted over your stomach as it traveled down towards your hips, and his index finger looped around the hem of your panties, gently pulling them down and off you. 

Both of his hands squeezed your ass as he moved back up to you, slightly lifting your hips as he lined up his leaking cock with your slit.

A quiet groan emanated from his throat as he slowly pushed his throbbing cock into your dripping cunt, his eyes rolling into the back of his head from the sensation.

“...Fuck, you’re perfect,” he muttered underneath his breath, having to pause for a split second to gather himself. 

Once he opened his eyes again, he leaned down, pulling you into another deep kiss as he began to rock his hips against yours, his cock getting completely coated with your slick as he moved in and out of you. His lips traveled from your lips down to your neck, drawing a quiet whine out of you when he began gently grazing his teeth against the sensitive flesh.

One of his hands tightly gripped at your hips, with the other traveling to your throbbing clit. Your entire body jerked as you felt him press down on the small bundle of nerves, tracing agonizingly slow circles around it as he pumped in and out of you at a steady pace.

His pacing was driving you nuts, with your whining getting louder with each following thrust, which only resulted in Levi sinking his teeth into the flesh of your neck, biting you as a warning to quiet down.

You bit down on your lip to try to muffle your moans as your hands clawed at his back, needing to hold onto something as you felt the heat build up in your lower belly. Your legs were shaking around him as he continued to plunge his cock repeatedly into your dripping cunt, causing you to arch your back off the bed, pressing your chest flush against his, your hand immediately going to cover your mouth to quiet yourself down as you felt your entire body clench up from your orgasm hitting you like a freight train. 

For those few seconds, all of your senses seemed to turn off, with the world becoming a blur around you, with the only point of focus being how Levi felt on you as he held you down and fucked you through your orgasm, his pacing of his thrusts and tracing patterns on your clit never changing, repeatedly causing your breath to get caught in your throat.

By the time you zoned back in, Levi had his face buried into your neck, with subtle whimpers escaping from his throat. His pacing began to ever-so-subtly pick up as his thrusts became sloppier and harder. One of his hands gripped at your shoulders and you heard him curse underneath his breath, sinking his teeth into your shoulder as a way to muffle his own moans as he filled you with his cum, thrusting into you slowly a few more times until your pussy milked him dry. 

He held himself above you for a while, panting as he mustered up the resolve to pull himself out of you, his cock more than sensitive after the intensity of his orgasm. Levi let out another small whimper as his breath got caught in his throat as he finally pulled out and rolled over to lay next to you, immediately pulling you in for a kiss afterwards.

“Well, this will definitely help me sleep,” you mumbled as you rested your head against his chest.

He planted a kiss on the top of your head, his arm wrapped around you as he traced his thumb back and forth on your shoulder.

You took comfort in the motion, which only added to the sense of warmth resonating through you from both feeling him around you and the post-sex euphoria. Less than five minutes passed before your breathing slowly began to change, with you taking in deeper, but slower breaths as you finally began to fall asleep.

Levi immediately noticed this and gently shook you to wake you back up.

“Let’s get you cleaned up first.”

It took you a second to respond, having been pulled out of your very brief slumber.

“...whose fault is that?” you mumbled with your eyes still closed.

You could practically feel him frowning at you—or glaring, you could easily imagine both. What you couldn’t predict was the slight tint of pink on his cheeks. He technically was the one that initiated it, although it could be argued that that was your intention all along. Levi brought attention to this.

“You’re the one that stuck your ass on my dick,” he grumbled.

“You’re the one that pulled my ass in,” you retorted.

A cheeky grin appeared on your face as you heard him tut in discontent.

“You’re so annoying,” he said with a sigh before he drew his arm back and got up from under you, which immediately prompted a pout to appear on your face as you quietly whined at the sudden lack of warmth.

By the time you got yourself to actually open your eyes to see what he was fumbling around for, you saw that he was grabbing fresh sets of towels and was likely planning on dragging you into the bathroom to get you to shower.

You watched as he prepped the bathroom, warming up the water in the bathtub. He was meticulous about setting up the bath, making sure the water was at the perfect temperature and that the bathtub was filled to just the right amount. It was unclear if he was planning on sitting in the tub with you, but you wouldn’t have minded either way.

You couldn’t deny that you were surprised at first that he was willing to just drop everything and spend two weeks with you in the middle of nowhere at some camping resort for you to technically do nothing other than write your light novel. You had fully prepared yourself to be on your own for these two weeks and then come home to a grumpy Levi—that was generally how he tended to react whenever you were gone. However, you certainly didn’t mind that he decided to end up tagging along. It made spending time at the resort less lonely, and although your concentration wasn’t entirely there since you were hanging out around him, it made the whole thing much more enjoyable, and that was enough for you.

~~~~~

The fire provided some warmth, but it was a small bonfire, so you ended up still feeling the chilliness of the air around you now that the sun was starting to go down. The approaching darkness made the gentle, dancing orange flames seem that much brighter. It occasionally hurt to look at when it was freshly rekindled, but was a pretty sight once the fire settled down.

You, Levi, and the rest of the people at the resort had decided to spend your last night having a bonfire while making some smores and generally chatting about the experience. Most said that being around nature helped them focus, appreciating the time away from the hustle of modern society. You were all sitting by the bonfire, which was close to the resort, but isolated enough that it gave you a new environment to be in.

After about 30-45 minutes of chatting, people began heading back inside, preferring the warmth of the large cabin to the dark outdoors that was growing more chilly with every passing minute. After lingering behind a little, you began to get up as well.

Levi had his hand on your thigh, and he squeezed a bit as he felt you begin to get up, indicating that he wanted you to stay seated. You looked over at him.

“Stay with me for a bit.”

A small blush crept onto your cheeks as you shuffled in your seat again, moving closer to him.

“Thought I was annoying,” you mused with a raised eyebrow. 

“You are,” he said with a shrug, the corner of his lips subtly raising into a small smile.

“Well,” you said with a huff of feigned frustration, “if I’m annoying, then you’re insufferable.”

A cocky grin appeared on your face as you saw Levi roll his eyes before sighing. The banter that had formerly caused you so much grief was now something you appreciated and occasionally needed to be around. It was a staple of your relationship with him and you wouldn’t trade it for anything.

You watched the flames reflect off his silver eyes for a while, mesmerized by them as you usually were. Eventually, you noticed some of the leftover s’mores materials on the picnic table behind him that some of the others conveniently forgot to take back to the cabin. You stood up and approached it, grabbing one of the skewers.

���Want one?” you asked, looking over your shoulder back towards Levi.

“And have all that sugar right before bed?” he responded skeptically. “Fuck no.”

You snorted at his comment as you stabbed the marshmallow.

“Whatever you say, buzzkill,” you mumbled as you held the marshmallow over the fire, turning it until it completely caught on fire so the outside would char. The thought of the flakey texture of the outside and the chewy texture on the inside was already enough to get your mouth watering.

However, the world seemed like it didn’t want you to enjoy your marshmallow because as soon as you lifted the skewer, the marshmallow immediately decided it had been charred for too long and slid off the skewer, falling directly into the fire.

You stood over the fire, holding the now empty skewer without moving, desperately trying to hide the disappointment from appearing on your face. You could already imagine the smug and subtly amused look in Levi’s eyes and didn’t want to turn around to face him.

You sighed as you heard him step up next to you, taking the skewer from your hand.

“Can’t even toast a god damn marshmallow?” he asked in an amused tone as he stabbed into another fresh marshmallow.

You stuck your tongue out at him before grumbling something underneath your breath about it apparently being harder than it looks.

“Keep that up and I’ll eat it myself instead of making this stupid sugar sandwich for you,” he scolded, frowning at you, although his tone indicated his lack of true irritation at your antics.

“Thought you didn’t want all that sugar before bed?”

You called him out on his empty threat by referring to his previous comment, which only resulted in a barely audible grunt from him.

Sitting down on the bench that you had previously occupied before you got fixated, you watched as he meticulously broke apart both the chocolate and the cracker in half after what seemed like perfectly charring the marshmallow that was making your mouth water the more that you were staring at it. He put together the sandwich and then handed it over to you. 

Your assumption that he had charred the marshmallow perfectly was correct, which further pissed you off regarding Levi’s apparent ability to do everything perfectly. You knew that wasn’t necessarily true—with the primary example being his inability to grasp modern technology—but it certainly felt like it when he cooked it to the perfect texture immediately after yours tragically dropped into the bonfire. You smiled as you bit into it, with the texture of the melted marshmallow’s insides being silky smooth mixed in with the slight crackle of the burnt outer shell. That, plus the crunch of the cracker and sturdiness of the chocolate, made any potential worries nowhere to be found as you momentarily indulged in the sugary snack. You were enjoying it so much that you weren’t aware that the melted chocolate was leaving its mark on your lips.

“Tch,” Levi tutted as he sat down next to you. “How filthy can you get?”

He sighed as he brought his hand up to your cheek, using his thumb to rub off the chocolate on your lips. 

Even after the chocolate was gone, his thumb hovered over your lips and you became increasingly aware of the skin-to-skin contact. His gaze slowly lowered from your eyes, down to your lips, and then back up to your eyes, the creases underneath his eyes becoming more faint as his gaze softened. The flickering of the flames reflecting off his eyes died down as the fire dimmed, but that didn’t make his eyes and gaze seem any less mesmerizing. 

His hand that was gently cupping your cheek became slightly more firm as he pulled you towards him, gently planting his lips on you, moving them against yours in a gentle kiss, the darkness protecting you from any prying eyes.

“You went from calling me filthy to kissing me,” you whispered after he pulled back slightly, although your lips were still brushing up against each other. “I’m confused.”

“Shut up before I change my mind,” he grumbled, pulling you back into another kiss before you could think of a clever response, tasting the sweetness of the smores lingering on your lips—maybe a sugary snack before bed wasn’t so bad after all.

#: @levisbrat25 @gothgril69 @sckerman @berrijam @notgoodforlife @meowjaa @averysmolbear @roseofdarknessblog @bejewelledd @hhighkey @ayame236 @sad-darksoul @velouria17 @kamyru @l1zk4 @layenacreates @lamees004 @whoami-72 @highgoon69 @chaotic-on-main @levishotgf @nube55 @chosos-mascara @heichoucleanfreak @svftackerman @v4mp-wife @moonchild-angel @astri-ackerman @auriuswolve @noctemys @you-always-made-me-blush @raginginferno267 @sugurusdiscordmoderator @jennamelinda12 @noodlejitsu @nalu-trashytrash

[aroacepotatoo]

fics finally out people!!! (Took my dumbass long enough)

Really happy to finally released this, it took way to long… (tumblr version below btw :3)

the flame and the flower

Chapter 1: falling into the field

"what?" Tango questioned, "Are you serious?!"

"Unfortunately..." Zed sighed.

"You've gotta be kiddinggg!" he whined, "You can't be out of redstone at a time like this!"

"Look I'm sorry Tango, but that's just the reality. I can't leave my shop to get more until tomorrow, so your just gonna have to wait."

Tango wanted to pout about it, but at this point he knew it'd get him no where. He sighed, "Oh geez, what am i meant to do now? The project I'm working on is almost finish and seeing it just sit there till tomorrow is gonna drive me crazy!"

"wellll, if your really that desperate, then i might have a solution for you." Zed said.

Tango's face lit up, "Really?"

"Mhm! There's a cave nearby here to the right that's quite small." he started, "It's not the cave i go to, but it does have a lot of materials last time i checked, and there was a surprising amount of redstone too, especially considering it doesn't go to deepslate."

"what does any of that have to do with my situation?"

Zed handed Tango an iron pickaxe, "what I'm saying is that, if your really in desperate need of redstone, then you can go there! Last time i checked, nobody else has even touched the place!"

Tango smiled at his best friend, "Oh my gosh, thank you so much Zed! I don't think you realize how helpful this is!"

Zed smiled back at him, "No problem!" he said, "Have fun with whatever your working on!"

"I will!" and with that, Tango walked off along with Torchy. Thankfully, Zed's shop was close to the edge of town, so he didn't have to try and avoid people. when he made it to the edge, before stepping on the grass, he instinctively flinched, suddenly fearing that he'd cause a forest fire by accident. He tried to push that fear aside though, but no matter how much he did, he still didn't exactly feel comfortable touching the grass, so he just opted to float to the cave instead. Torchy seemed to notice too, but he didn't make a comment on it.

As he started traveling through the forest, he quickly started regretting not asking Zed for more clear directions, because he was kind of confused. He admitedly wasn't too familiar with the forest, despite the fact that he'd lived next to it basically his entire life, so he didn't exactly know where he was going. Zed said that it was nearby to the left, but that's pretty vague all things considered. Oh void, he's lost, isn't he?! Oh who is he kidding, he's totally lost! He'd pasted by the same tree about ten times at this point, he has no idea where he's going and he doesn't even know how he got here!!

Tango started to panic a bit, fidgeting with his hands to try and calm his nerves. His tail flicking back and forth quite quickly, kicking up the loose grass on the ground. He doesn't really know what to do, his mind is just a blur of worry as he started thinking of every possible terrible outcome of this. Getting mauled by a bear, falling into a pit and starving to death, drowning in a river, getting attacked by wild animals, getting murdered and no one hearing him scream! There was thousands of ideas, and while a good third of them were quite unlikely, he couldn't help but overthink things.

He sat down next to the big tree and took a deep breath, "Oh void, what am i gonna do now..." he softly said to himself, "I have no idea where i am, let alone where home is..." he face planted into his knees and dramatically sighed. Torchy tried to comfort him by lightly patting his shoulder.

"Do you have any ideas Torch?" Tango asked him.

Torchy sheepishly shook his head no. Tango sighed, "I thought so." he stood up again, "wellll, i have no idea where we're going, but i guess we should keep on going?" he looked at his wisp for some form of reassurance. He nodded and hesitantly, they continued to travel into the forest. He was being quite cautious with every step, constantly look at his surroundings. But he wasn't paying much attention to the floor and suddenly--

Tango tripped and fell down a hill. Thankfully, it wasn't too big of a fall so he didn't get to hurt, there was just some scraps and bruises on his arms and knees. Torchy was also fine too, he can float after all and seem more concerned about Tango more than anything, asking him if he was ok.

"Yeah, I'm fine Torchy!" he insisted, "The fall wasn't that bad."

when Tango finally bothered to look up, he was surprised to find himself in...a flower field? Or, it seemed to something like that anyway. The place was covered head to toe with flowers, almost every kind under the sun to the point that it didn't seem natural. There was petals falling in the sky too. In the center of the field was this little mountain with what seemed to be a front of a house in the middle with a platform. There was also what appeared to be a lower level of house at the bottom of the mountain, there was another door and an outdoor storage area from what he could see. Close to him was a pond that look so clear he's pretty sure he could see his reflection. To be honest, the entire scene looked straight out of a fantasy novel. And Tango couldn't help but admire the place before standing up and dusting himself off.

And out of the corner of his eye, on top of the platform, stood a figure that seemed to have wings. He couldn't see it well from this far away, and when he turned to squint at the figure, it was gone. whatever it was, they must've left or something. Maybe they live here, or maybe it was stealing from the house? Either way, its none of his business and he's more concerned about getting home then being nosy. He started walking forward, trying to find some form of stairwell or path that could maybe lead him closer to home. He starts to wonder who even lives there though, i mean, there's got to be someone, right? This place doesn't really seem abandoned, sure there's vines everywhere, but it seemed liked someone still lived there. There was smoke coming out of the chimney of the house and he could see the lights on in there too. There has to be someone, righ--

"Hi!"

Tango shrieked and fell backwards. A canary stood before him when he looked up, offering they're hand, "Oh my void, I'm so sorry, are you ok?"

He was confused, but he took their hand never-the-less, "Y-yeah, I'm a-alright."

"Sorry for making you fall...again..."

"D-don't worry about it, I'm o-ok!" Tango insisted. It was at this point he actually took a good look at the avian. They had golden wings that faded into black at the tips, frizzy blonde hair with flowers in it that was tied into a messy bun, an off white sweater that sagged slightly off of their shoulder and these jean shorts that had different patches of fabric sewn onto the it as if to patch up holes. They were covered in a couple of scar and some dirt, the scar that stood out to Tango being one on the upper left side of their chest that kind of looked like a star, and they had these crystal blue eyes that looked like the colour of the ocean.

"...S-so, w-what's your n-name?" Tango awkwardly asked.

"Huh?" they questioned, until something clicked in their head, "Oh, OH, RIGHT! Sorry i forgot, my name's Jimmy! Nice to meet you!" he offered his hand out again.

Tango has admittedly always hated hand-shakes, and even though it kind of seemed impolite, he didn't shake his hand and just responded, "N-nice to meet you too! Name's Tango."

Jimmy seem a little confused as to why he didn't shake his hand, but he didn't question it, "Say, how did you end up here? Not many people ever really, y'know...v-visit me." he seemed a bit embarrassed to admit the last part of his sentence, his face lightly blushing.

"Oh, y-you see i-i was going into the forest to find a cave my friend told me about, and as you saw i uhhhh...k-kind of tripped and f-fell..."

"Oh, i see. Are you lost?" Jimmy asked.

Tango was embarrassed to admit it, but he really was lost, and maybe this guy can help him, "I-i...a-am lost. L-like, i don't e-even know where h-home is kind of l-lost."

"I figured." Jimmy seemed to have an idea before he spoke, "Say, do you...want to clean yourself up in my house?" he asked.

Tango was entirely confused, "H-huh?"

Jimmy seemed to catch how odd his offer sounded, his face flushing red as he was visibly flustered, "I-i m-mean, y-your c-covered in di-dirt f-from the f-fall, s-so i-i j-just t-thought yo-you'd want t-to c-clean y-yourself u-up i-is a-all!" he awkwardly chuckled.

"O-oh, i s-see." he was going to answer, but he suddenly had a question, "w-wait, d-do you l-live here?"

"Yeah!" Jimmy smiled, "I've lived here for years in fact! It's nice being connected to nature but it is quite...isolating..."

"Isolating?"

"Y-yeah, i d-don't r-really...h-have many f-friends." he admitted, "I mean i have my siblings, and i love them! B-but, they d-don't visit often, so most of the time i basically just have my cats."

"You have cats?"

"Yeah!" Jimmy nodded, "They're both taking a nap in my nest right now, but their wonderful! I love them with all my heart, but outside of them, i don't really have anybody that i see often. It is kind of my fault though, even if the curse isn't..."

"You're cursed?" Tango asked.

"Unfortunately..." Jimmy sighed, "Look just, let me show you." he picked up a red flower from the ground, hesitating for a second as if he felt bad about what he was about to do. He touched the flower regardless though, and suddenly, the flower started to wither and die and after less than a minute, it was fully dead. It looked pale, basically gray, and the silence during the entire moment made it feel so...eerie.

Jimmy tried to act cool but the guilt was paint all over his face, "...T-t-tada." he said, seemingly trying to lighten the mood, a shaky smile on his face that was lopsided.

Tango couldn't help but be a bit horrified by what he just witnessed, but considering Jimmy said earlier that this was a 'curse', and he knows better than anyone how it feels to have dangerous magic that's hard to control, he doesn't wanna make the poor guy feel bad about it. "O-oh, t-that's...c-cool!" it wasn't intentional, but he felt himself slightly back up a bit.

Jimmy took notice to that, "Oh d-don't worry! I-it c-can't hurt p-people as far a-as i k-know!" he reassured.

That bit of information sort of calmed Tango's nerves, but he couldn't help but notice the perfect opportunity to make a joke. And sure, while it might not be the most appropriate time to say it, he wanted to lighten the mood a bit and maybe calm Jimmy's own nerves, as he seemed nervous and even scared himself, "As far as you know?" he questioned, smiling so as to make it as clear as possible that he was joking.

Jimmy giggled, "well what do you expect me to do? Go ahead test it out on people!?"

"I don't know." Tango shrugged, "But as an inventor with wild magic myself, i feel like it'd be fun to experiment with that. Y'know, just to figure out what it's capable of."

"Y'know despite my curiosity, i don't think i wanna know what you've done with your magic when you say things like that."

"I would say the same thing about you but you seem wayyyyy to sweet to ever hurt anybody sunshine."

"A-- Hey! I could hurt somebody if i wanted to!" Jimmy huffed, he acted offended but by his smile he seemed more amused than anything, "I just...don't want to is all. But i could take like...five people and kill them if i really wanted to!"

Tango didn't exactly get it, but he couldn't help but smile at how Jimmy had perked up. And his positive and welcoming energy was just so...infectious.

"But anyways, do you need directions?" Jimmy asked.

"Uhhhh yeah, do you know where Hermonica is from here?"

"Yeah!" he pointed to a path to the left, "Follow that path and take a left when you see a beehive and you should get there!"

"Thanks!" Tango picked up his pickaxe from the ground, "Oh, and do you happen to know where any caves nearby might be?"

"You mean the one you were looking for before you fell into my house?"

Tango got kind of embarrassed that he mentioned that again, his face lightly blushing, "Y-yeah, that..."

Jimmy giggled, "well, if its the one i think you're talking about, if you take a right at the beehive instead, you should find it!"

"Great, thanks a bunch for the help!" Tango smiled.

"Oh no problem, good luck on your adventures!"

"You too!" Tango started walking towards the path.

"Oh, and Tango?" Jimmy started.

He turned around, "Hm?"

Jimmy seemed to suddenly get a bit shy and flustered, but he tried to keep his cool, "I-if y-y-you...e-ever w-wanna c-come and v-visit, i-I'd l-love to b-be...f-friends."

Tango was caught off guard by the offer, his face flushing red, "R-really?"

"Y-yeah! Y-you seem l-like a c-cool p-person, a-and I'm k-kind of l-l-lonely i-if I'm b-being h-honest s-so...i-I'd love t-the c-company." he had this goofy smile on his blushing face. He was fidgeting with his sweater sleeves seemingly to sink some form of nerves.

Tango couldn't help but smile back at him, he looked off to the side and tucked a piece of his hair behind his ear, "I-I'll...consider it."

Jimmy smiled and waved at him, and with that, he walked off on a path. He starting thinking to himself as he was walking, and he had a lot of question. who was that guy? How the hell did he get the curse? How long has he had the curse?! why does he live in the forest? How long has he lived there? There was a bunch of questions in his mind, and while some were pretty tedious and easy to answer, he was really curious. It's not everyday that you meet a mysterious avian in the forest that's apparently very lonely and has cats and a curse. But out of all off the question he had in his head, there was one specific one he had to himself;

was he going to come back?

And admittedly, despite the fact that Jimmy was a complete stranger, he genuinely wasn't sure.

[sarah-sandwich-writes]

For the WIP ask game: I want to know about ALL of them alsjdhjskalaalsjfhsk HOWEVER

Specifically I want to know about what you have planned for Your Mom Freaked Out bc I have no idea what could possibly come next but I'm here for it!

<3 - @fieldsofview

@fieldsofview WELL, I mean, Harley still needs to meet Ben, right? What better way than accidental time travel 🤠

I’ve shared excerpts here and here and now here! (you'll want to start with the linked two though if you want them in chronological order)

“Where can I…?” He gestures to his filthy clothes.

“Pitch ‘em. May’s taking you shopping tomorrow.”

Harley’s legs grow roots. “I don’t want you guys to spend money on me. I— Food is one thing, but—,”

Ben rises to his feet, picking up a movie case as he stands. “One pair of jeans, three shirts, a bag of underwear, a bag of socks, and a pair of shoes. We already discussed it. The matter is closed.” His stern expression turns sympathetic. “And if this turns into a long-term situation—,”

“It won’t.” He hasn’t let himself think about staying. About getting a job, about settling somewhere more permanent than the Parkers’ couch. Giving up. He doesn’t know how he’s going to get back, but he will. He just needs a minute to think without his unmet biological needs hogging the stage. Unfortunately, now that he’s clean and fed, his sleepless night is demanding to be repaired next. He nods at the movie case. “What’s that?”

Ben shows him the front of the case and Darth Vader stares back at him. “It’s called a VHS tape. It’s short for Video Home System and we store moving pictures and sound on them called movies—,”

“No— I know what movies are.” He checks over his shoulder, then whispers. “I’m not from that far in the future, but I can’t watch that with you.”

Ben turns offended. “Why not?”

Because Peter needs to watch it with him first. Maybe it’s silly, but he knows they haven’t shared that formative moment yet and if he sits down with Ben and watches Star Wars with him then he might inadvertently steal it from him. Somehow. Okay, it’s definitely fully dumb, but anything can happen right? Better safe than sorry.

“What else is there? Ghostbusters? Uh, Alien?”

“Now you’re insulting me. What year do you think you’re in? ‘84? ‘85?”

Harley glances sharply at Peter’s door but it’s still closed. “Keep it down. You pick then. Anything but Star Wars.”

“What’s wrong with Star Wars?” He narrows his eyes. “Are you a Trekkie?”

He takes back every time he thought Peter and May were just alike. Peter is a Parker through and through.

“I’m going to walk these out to the dumpster and when I get back, either you’ll have something queued up or I’m going to pass out on your couch and you’ll have to deal with my lifeless body in your living room for the rest of the afternoon.”

Ben shouts the pass code to the building at his back as he steps into the hall. As he trudges down the stairs, he wonders what he ever did to deserve being made the Parker wrangler wherever he goes.

[genericpuff]

Hey everyone, just a heads up: LORE | REKINDLED is still getting a new update tomorrow night, BUT there will be no streaming. Unfortunately there's been a death in the family that happened very suddenly, which means I have to travel back to PEI again for a few days, so I'll be away from my PC. The plan is to go home tomorrow afternoon after work and come back Monday afternoon. It's gonna be an emotional time so don't mind me if I'm slow to get back to asks or replies or DM's, thank you all for your patience and support 🙏❤️

We'll return to streaming next Saturday! This might throw a wrench in next Saturday's update as I won't be able to work on Rekindled over the weekend, but we'll see. Until then, we'll see you next Saturday for streaming ❤️

[kowaindar0u]

"Dear Diary" ask! 6 and 13 for Yuichi ;3c (@zantedeschia-praesul)

[ DEAR  DIARY          .    .    . ]

06.     entry made discussing travel they’ve done or hope to do.

[dated December 29, 2019]

This was so stupid. Why did I think this would be helpful? How did "I need to get out of the house" turn into "I need to get out of the city?" I don't even BELIEVE the first one most of the time.

I didn't plan anything specific to do. Maybe that's part of the issue. I get too stressed out just thinking about it-- and then, of course, I just remember that I'm here alone, and then I just... feel pathetic. Even in a city known for such friendly people, I can't bring myself to go out, be among them, and enjoy any of it. I tried to psyche myself up to go to a cafe or something, just to say that I did, but instead I worked myself into a panic attack. I ordered in and ate in my hotel room. I did eventually go for a walk, but it was cold as hell and pretty late, so... I came back before I got too far.

I know I took off a week from work, but... I think the past two days is just proof that I truly should just stay home. I'm getting on the first train from Osaka back to Kamakura tomorrow. I know I'll be more comfortable once I'm home, but I hate that. I can't do anything without getting so stressed out, and none of it is even that deep. Maybe someday I'll be able to just. Go sit down somewhere and eat a fucking plate of crepes!!!!! But until then... at least there's delivery, huh.

13.     entry made featuring mention of (sender’s) muse. (Saseki)

[dated the first night of Saseki's arrival to Nagame honmaru]

Today was so exciting. I was so nervous about the visit from Saseki-san all these weeks leading up to today, but as is usually the case, I was worrying for nothing. This other saniwa is so friendly, and I think I could learn a lot from him. I'm not sure how long he's been doing this. But... I feel like he's got a lot of experience, especially compared to me-- Not to mention the touken danshi he brought with him seem to have gotten much stronger than their counterparts of mine are right now (thankfully they all seem to be getting along quite well, though perhaps I should expect as much with them being so similar to each other). Given Nagame's first year, I can only imagine what all Saseki and his men might have been through in all this time. Still, even with all he must know, he feels very down-to-earth and trustworthy. I think... we will become friends, if I'm going to be optimistic. We had a good time at the welcome party, and he and his men didn't seem to mind our rain too much. Speaking of the party, I ate a lot and it was quite lively, so... I think I'm going to bed. Good night. P.S.-- Saseki-san is a painter, too! I hope he will show me some of his work while he is here.

13.     entry made featuring mention of (sender’s) muse. (Nagasone)

[dated the day before our current thread :3c]

I write this as I hide under every blanket I have in my room. I think I'm gonna cry. What do I do? Oh.. what do I do??? All of my touken danshi are irreplaceable, such rays of joy, so dear to me, and I love them so much. That much will never stop being true.

But... There is ... It's Nagasone. What do I do?! I don't know what this is. It's more than a crush. I know what that's like. But this... Oh, I don't know...

Is it bad of me to have assigned him as my attendant the last few days? I mean-- I trust him completely, both in his capacity as attendant, and just... in general, which... I appreciate so, so much... But that's... that's not all. I just... I've just wanted to see him more, and be near him, even though every time we lock eyes or he touches me I feel like dying but... in the best way possible. Which in some ways is unfortunate because his sweet, attentive self always seems to pick up on when I'm stressing and then he takes my hands and I swear to all that is holy that I just short circuit and black out for a few seconds.

Even so, I... find myself not wanting to be away from him. I want to keep him close, for me, but also... I want to be there for him, too. It's a little awkward when he's my attendant, but I just can't help it, I... I want to do anything I can for him. I don't know what, and he practically never asks for anything. I wish he would ask, or I wish I was as intuitive as him so I could just... know what he wanted, and do it for him. Anything. Even something as simple as bringing him a treat from the kitchen, or brushing his hair, or...

My god. I sound insane. I don't know why I feel the need to justify this to you, my own journal, but. I promise It's not anything uncouth. I just... Journal, what do I do? It's clear to me that he cares for me very much. But I don't know if it's... the same. Even if I had the guts to bring it up to him, I think with my position...It's best if I don't put it forward. It hurts, but... For now, at least... I think I will just... try and sleep. And probably hug that body pillow that Sayo gave me. Don't you dare tell a soul, Journal.

[ilykazashi]

crown of thorns: chapter one

desc: fantasy story featuring my own ocs. 2.1k words.

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a/n: this is the first chapter in a new series of mine, crown of thorns!! i'm very happy to have this finished and i pray to find a constant rhythm to continue writing and posting!! i might edit this post a few times, since this isn't beta read :') hope you all enjoy!

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tw: descriptions of blood and injury, cussing, and physical violence

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The rain fell heavily that night, soaking everything in Huosea City: skyscrapers, city-goers, plants, and one unfortunate young woman— me, Tanaka Ayaka, a newcomer to the city. The night was stormy, yet the air smelled like the familiar rain of the countryside far away. The urban cityscape was colder and wetter than it usually was, even in the rainy season of the year. Skyscrapers stood tall against the busy people of the city, people who traveled from one place to another with the utmost urgency.

I sigh, opening up a simple black umbrella. Rain pitter-patters on the umbrella, a sound that would usually be comforting to me if my apartment wasn’t another ten minutes from here. The bright lights of billboards shine down on the puddles of the wet streets. I had studied at the library later than I usually did to prepare for the upcoming finals that my school seemed determined to pile onto every student there. Wiping the fat raindrops off of it, I check the time. 11:38. Great— it was almost midnight and I wasn’t even close to feeling ready for tomorrow. 

A feeling of hopelessness settles within me. I had spent all this time and money trying to get into this university which made my mental health feel like it was slipping more and more every week I attended. Was this really what my family had helped me to do? If I didn’t pass these tests, these finals, I would be done for. Everything I had worked so hard for would be gone and I would be forced to go back home, to face my shame knowing that I had used all my family could give me and couldn’t even repay it. I should have been able to help them— no, I should be able to help them. This feeling, this shame, is not something so easily escapable. 

The looks I imagine would cross my parents’s faces are things I never want to see. To think that I had wasted the little money that they had is an extremely disconcerting thought for me. I attempt a few deep breaths, but the anxiety resides within me. Cold rain slides down my cheeks. I look up and reposition my umbrella even though I’m already dripping wet. I’m stewing in my thoughts and shame until I feel a light tap on my shoulder. I turn around and my gaze meets that of a guy around my age. He has the familiar dark hair, wide eyes, and spattering of freckles of the student I sit next to. It takes me an embarrassing moment until I realize that he is in fact, my classmate. 

“Don’t you sit next to me in Historical Studies? You’re Ryou, right?” I looked at him and realized that he was about to say something to me before I cut him off. “Oh, I’m sorry. Were you about to say something?”

He smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. I noticed you were walking back to the dorms. It’s so dark out here, I figured you could use some company.”

I nod and thank him. We walk and talk together, lost in conversation. I got to know him better, so eventually I mindlessly placed my trust in him to lead me in the right direction.

What a mistake that was.

I somehow came to my senses after an extensive debate with Ryou over which of our classes is easier. Looking around my surroundings, I realize that the dorm building is nowhere in sight. Where am I?

“Are we lost?” The question falls out of my mouth, sounding scared and timid. Ryou shakes his head. 

He turns to face me. “You’re right where I need you.” A sharp glint of steel cuts through the darkness of the alley. My understanding of the situation finally came. I’ve been tricked.

Ryou thrusts the knife at my head and I dodge, somehow, but my umbrella suffers a gash through the top. I step backward, almost falling into a rotten dumpster. The stench is awful, coming from a heap of black trash bags. I gag a bit at the sight. A second knife is pulled from the pocket of his rainjacket. Ryou extends his arm towards my neck, gripping the knife in his hand. I’m so done for. What a terrible way to go out, killed and maybe thrown into a stinky dumpster full of who-knows-what. I close my eyes and prepare for a slash in the next, but it never comes. I open my eyes to see Ryou holding the blade to my throat, his eyes full of what looks like… desperation. He speaks, trying to hide his cracking voice.

“Ayaka, I’m sorry— you don’t understand how badly I need this.” His voice shakes. “How badly I need you.” 

My eyes widen at the statement. I’m of average looks, pretty to some, but no stunner. There are hundreds of other girls at my university, hell, in the class Ryou and I have together.

“Why me?” My voice shakes at the threat of a polished blade against it.

“I can tell there’s something… special about you. Not in how you look, but deep down.” His hand moves to my face, cupping my cheek. When Ryou speaks, his voice isn’t like anything I’ve heard from him. It’s quiet yet crazed, talking to me like I’m some sort of lab experiment. “Have you ever heard of abilities?” 

“Abilities? Like what a person can accomplish?”

“No. Not like that. Like a magical power. People who can wield it are very rare… very rare indeed. And I suspect that you have an ability yourself.”

I look at him, not hiding my expression of confusion. “And you think I’m one of them? Why does that matter?”

Ryou speaks in a voice that is somehow more hushed. “Do you not know what I am, Ayaka? I am first and foremost a scientist. Assuming you are an ability user, you have a bodily system superior to mine and every other average human’s. And people like me are very interested in that sort of thing. Your organs, your body parts would sell. How about that, hm?”

My response comes without much of a thought. Not that it ever needed one. “No. No, I am not selling my organs or my body parts for research, no matter how much it helps.”

Ryou’s gaze does not falter. “Please. Please reconsider.”

“No. I will not.”

His eyes narrow, a cold gaze crossing his face. “Then I suppose I’ll make do with your dead body.” He swipes at me and I dodge, dropping my umbrella. A fight in the rain, great. Ryou attempts a punch to my gut. I step back, missing by a hair as his fist grazes my stomach. He tries to knock me down by swiping at my feet. I retaliate with what I believe to be a weak punch to the face, but it sends him crashing into the wall. His face is bruised and covered in blood, his nose shattered and arm broken from the impact. Surely I didn’t hit him that hard. I look at my fist which feels like it's coursing with energy. I doubt that I’ve ever hit anything quite as hard as I did then. Was that what an ability felt like? My attention flips back to Ryou. He grimaces, shakily standing up and clutching his shoulder. His once-clean face is ruined by bruises, blood, and a disgusting look of contempt.

“You bitch. I’ll get you for that. I’ll get you now!” Ryou screams hoarsely at me. Rage fills his eyes as his hand flies towards a small pistol in a murderous rage. He points the weapon at me and I hear the familiar click! as it’s aimed right at my forehead. Ryou’s finger rests on the trigger, ready to shoot, until something stops him— the clicking of heels against the street of the alley. It comes from the shadows, a corner that no one bothered to look. A strange sound ensues, the unsheathing of a blade; but it wasn’t the sound of any familiar edge. It was long and drawn out, like a sword unsheathed. Before I had time to uselessly contemplate it any further, the sword, or more specifically a katana, lit the dark alley. The metal glowed a warning shade of red, electricity crackling up to the hilt like some sort of taser-sword combo. Who the hell would use that, and how did it light up like that? Was this woman an ability user?

My answer becomes clear as the wielder’s face is lit in red, revealing to be a dangerous-looking woman. The lightning illuminates her lanky silhouette and strange attire that resembles the armor of the House of Cobra where the Emperor lives. The woman looks older and definitely taller than me, maybe in her thirties, and battle-hardened. A faded yet visible scar runs from the bottom of her left eye down to the collar of her long coat. What a strange person, I think to myself before my thoughts dissipate when she thrusts the sparking sword at Ryou’s head. His eyes widen and he yelps, barely dodging the blade as it passes by his shoulder. The woman’s dark eyes narrow, clearly unhappy with his survival. 

“Leave her be,” Her voice is harsher and raspier than I expected, but the urgency is clearly there despite her haughty and cold expression. Ryou foolishly lunges towards the woman, hoping to land a punch, but is met with failure as she dodges easily. A look of annoyance yet confusion crosses his face.

“How did you—” His query is interrupted by the woman’s swift grab of his dirtied shirt. With a strange amount of ease, she throws him back to the wall. I watch from the other side with a mix of fascination and fear that I’ve never felt before. This woman was handling Ryou like a sack of potatoes. A few punches and dodges ensue until Ryou takes advantage of the woman’s position, using an opening to grab and unsheath her sword, slashing her face. The woman’s face does not lose its grace as she takes him by the arm, throwing him down to the hard, concrete ground and most likely breaking a fair amount of his bones. Ryou’s eyes roll to the back of his head as he spits out a mouthful of blood from the impact, cursing under his breath as the same sword he attempted to steal was pointed right at his throat. 

“Ryou Watanabe. You have committed multiple crimes worthy of imprisonment and possibly even death, which include but are not limited to multiple counts of murder, fraud, assault, breaking and entering, embezzlement, and theft. Do you accept these charges?” She spoke as if she was justice herself. “If you accept, you will be taken to trial in front of the House of Viper. If you deny, you will be taken there forcibly after questioning with my colleagues and I of the Red Moon Syndicate.” Ryou’s face paled at that last statement, one that I don’t understand. 

“Fuck. You’re from the Syndicate? I thought you were just some try-hard police officer!” Ryou sounded more scared than ever. “Just who the hell are you?”

“Aikawa Kazashi. Future leader of the Syndicate, noblewoman, and if you slip up, your executioner as well. So, do you accept or deny your charges?”

“I deny.”

One swift kick to the head and Ryou was out cold, leaving me with whoever this Kazashi woman was. My legs shake as I try to stand up and step away from the situation, but not before she speaks to me. Chains and metal clink as she walks closer to where I stand.

“And who are you?” Kazashi looks down at me with her arms crossed, practically oozing hostility. Despite her fight with Ryou, she barely has a scratch or bruise on her. This woman was unreal. I don’t wish to be executed, so I maintain an air of dignity in my response.

“Tanaka Ayaka. I’m a university student.” My gaze flits to her sword, which is sheathed and not electrified anymore. I bring up the question that had been burning in my mind since I saw her. “Who are you?”

Her voice does not falter in her next words. “I am a killer.”

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any notes are appreaciated!! copyright: floptr3eaa 2024

[thefinalwitness]

adderall kicked in and i'm thinking about ocs and npc alts, so here's a big ramblepost about what a lot of them are doing leading into dawntrail :)

l'aiha kh

one of four warriors of light petitioned by wuk lamat to assist her in the rite of succession in her home of tural, l'aiha accepts for two reasons: the first, and more prominent, being a genuine interest in culture, history and research. tural being largely a mystery to those of the three great continents, l'aiha suspects there will be a ton to learn and appreciate, and she even believes her research here can aid her in her ongoing studies of astronomy, space travel, and the source's reflections.

the second reason is, ever since the tail end of 6.0, her original, pre-amnesia identity of j'nhala eiha has been spreading rapidly. old sharlayan is a little obsessed with her less as l'aiha, and more as the prodigal, once-disgraced-and-now-redeemed j'nhala. the problem is, l'aiha doesn't identify with or want to be j'nhala, and in her own mind, j'nhala is a different person entirely. this increasing pressure to be someone she's not has taken its toll on l'aiha, and it's exacerbated an even longer standing problem: "the warrior of light" and "l'aiha kh" don't have much in common either. the former is merely a projection of what l'aiha believes people need to keep hoping for and working toward a better tomorrow.

the truth is, l'aiha is tired, and her voice has been long lost in the expectations of others. while wuk lamat knows she's a warrior of light, most of tural won't even know or care what that is—and even if they do, they will regard her as a stranger, an outsider and an unknown. there is no preestablished identity, other than the nebulous idea that she's heralded elsewhere. l'aiha believes this will be the chance she needs to refind herself, and perhaps even find the courage to return home with that sense of self at the forefront.

j'lhana eiha

a secretary at the rostra and recent addition to the students of baldesion, lhana is the younger sister of l'aiha, a fact the two of them only realized at the tail end of 6.0. with sharlayan's recent rejoining of larger communities and the relaxing of its once stringent border restrictions, lhana has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of her big sister and finally explore the world in all its richness.

an attempt was made once in her younger days, when lhana stowed away on a ship outbound of old sharlayan. unfortunately, shortly after the crew discovered her and contacted the mainland to retrieve her, the ship was struck down in a freak storm. j'lhana survived only by the quick thinking of her mentor, a summoner named mala, who sent her leviathan-egi to rescue the girl from the sea.

yet lhana wasn't out of the woods (or waves) yet. severely hurt after nearly drowning, mala saw no other recourse but to infuse lhana's aether with that of leviathan-egi, successfully transferring mala's bond with the eorzean primal to lhana. granted a slew of aquatic powers, including the ability to breathe underwater, lhana survived the ordeal—and her studies took an unexpected turn into summoning, now that she possessed leviathan-egi. while she's still a better sage than a summoner, lhana is slowly learning how to work together with leviathan-egi, especially now that she's leaving sharlayan for real.

over the course of the endwalker patches, l'aiha and j'lhana have come to an understanding that l'aiha does not remember lhana, nor is she the sister lhana remembers. even so, both of them are of equal agreement that they wish to rekindle that bond, and so for lhana's first adventure away from home, she travels with l'aiha to tural.

minfilia, meteion and io

after relinquishing her hold on ryne, minfilia at last passed into the lifestream, and was ferried by hydaelyn back to the source where she could slowly fade from her life in peace. at least, that was the plan, but something yet burned in minfilia's chest—a sense of impending darkness. she could hear the endsinger's song of oblivion, once muffled as if minfilia were deep underwater, but soon, it became too clear to ignore.

pleading with hydaelyn, minfilia was given new life, albeit changed forever. much of her aether had already dissolved into the lifestream, and so these missing pieces of her body were filled with blue crystal. but minfilia warde lived again, this time in her own albeit changed body, no longer haunting an innocent girl.

among the things she's done to aid her friends since her resurrection was take in the ancient familiars of the world unsundered, meteion and atlas. since then, the two have followed minfilia as she set about rebuilding the path of the twelve, renamed the path of venat, with the new and old purpose of guiding and supporting those newly awakened to the echo, in places like thavnair and garlemald.

now, joined by meteion and atlas, who calls themself io, minfilia sets her sights on tural. could this place have also been impacted by the final days? and what might they know about the echo that minfilia does not? meteion and io, too, crave to learn about etheirys as it is today. the chance of mutual sharing and growth drives the antecedent and her friends forward.

valensia eir reidus

the great grandniece of empress rinae yae galvus—who, like her husband solus, turned out to be yet another ascian usurper—valensia carries some renown among her fellow garleans as "the last of the royal bloodline", despite having only the thinnest link to emperor varis thanks to her ascian-possessed great grandaunt. it was this renown that allowed valensia to steer the garleans toward cooperation with the nations come to aid them.

but valensia harbors more than a few ugly secrets herself. while it's now believed to have been misinformation that valensia died during the civil unrest in garlemald, this is in fact true. she was then resurrected and possessed by the very same usurper that once possessed her great grandaunt, the ascian known as esmerales. for reasons unclear to valensia, esmerales later forfeited her control, and valensia was left alive and in control of herself, albeit with a new unwelcome guest: esmerales' avatar and dead lover, scathach.

both valensia and scathach desire to live, and despite their deeply antagonistic relationship, they tolerate one another as a means to this end. valensia hides her reaper abilities from everyone else, especially garleans; as the practice of reaping is credited to empress rinae, a known ascian sockpuppet in the modern era, valensia fears she will be turned on if the truth of her powers comes to light.

but what does that have to do with tural? well, what neither valensia or scathach fully understand is, shortly after releasing valensia, esmerales was rejoined to her sister-soul shard, l'aiha. scathach having learned of this when l'aiha returned to garlemald to help with the invasion of voidsent, seeks to reunite with esmerales in tural—and she's dragging valensia along for the ride.

unable to fully deny the voidsent avatar without having her own soul ripped to shreds, valensia finds an unlikely pair willing to let her tag along with them to tural: thancred and urianger.

[saints-who-never-existed]

bamboo, edelweiss, aloe vera!

Bamboo - Do you change into a different outfit when you get home?

I've answered this one already and the answer is yes, absolutely!

The second I'm in the door the bra comes off and I let me sweet chariots swing low! ;)

Edelweiss - How’d you think of your url/username? What’s it associated with to you?

It's from W. H. Auden:

Animal femurs/ Ascribed to saints who never/ Existed, are still/ More holy than portraits/ Of conquerors, who/ Unfortunately, did.

I took it from this wonderful video, which re-terraformed my fuckin' brain back when I was first getting into the Terror fandom and becoming interested in all things Franklin.

To me, it speaks very poignantly to the human cost of the Expedition.

We can't excuse away the evils of colonialism - the 'conquering' as it were - or forget the huge role that it plays in both the factual and fictional Franklin narrative.

But that's not to say that we can't also reflect on that human cost, the 'animal femurs', the lives of the very real people caught up within that same narrative.

Aloe vera - What’s something (mundane) you really want to experience in life?

Right now, I just want to travel again!

Through a variety of factors - Covid, money, work, school, life getting in the way in general - I haven't been for a proper holiday abroad in six years now.

I'm flying home tomorrow for a week and after that, I'm going to finally renew my passport (which is a whopping two years out of date already) and make some plans for the new year. :)