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nadiineross · 7 years ago

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Chlodine with kids!!!!!! Maybe Nadine’s little siblings I can imagine her having a huge family. Or Chloe having a secret son or daughter from her more wild days and Nadine not finding out for like years and being like !!!

imma do nadines family bc my thoughts on chlodine + kids are Complicated and also someone else wrote a fic abt chloe w/ a secret kid im waiting on an update !!! lots of e•mo•tions

this got rly long

Chloe Frazer is, without a doubt, an only child. Nadine had never assumed anything else and would’ve been very surprised if she learned otherwise, but as it stands, this is not the case.

Nadine, on the other hand, has four siblings. She’s the oldest, having the responsibility of inheriting Shoreline and bearing the brunt of her father’s expectations. He wasn’t a bad father, all things considered. Sure, he had his faults like everyone does, but he never neglected her nor did he seek to pressure Nadine into a future with Shoreline. That was all on her and, upon realizing this, he had only tried to push her into it further, to support her.

In the end, it didn’t really pan out, huh?

No one in her family blamed her for the loss of Shoreline. In fact, they had all tried to pitch in when Nadine had truly hit rock bottom and did their best to make her feel better. The incessant phone calls and hugging, she accepted. Their money? She did not.

Now, two years after the fact, she finds that she’s much happier, lighter, in her new career path and her family seems to agree.

“Nadine!” her brother, Junior, hollers the moment she steps through the door. “You look great!”

He’s the second child, only two years younger than her at 30, and the one she is the closest to because of it.

She barely manages a greeting before she’s engulfed in a tight bear hug. Quickly, another weight is wrapped around her back and one of her legs is ensnared by a pair of smaller arms. Like moths to a light, her family.

The compulsory family reunion in their old family home in South Africa is something Nadine secretly looks forward to, though she would never say that aloud, lest she wants to be razzed to death by her siblings.

After Junior comes Mia, who turned 29 only last week (Nadine had flowers delivered and mailed her a beautiful bracelet she’d found snooping through old Greek ruins), and finally Grace, 24.

As it turns out, it’s Grace that barreled into her first. Behind her, her mother fusses with her hair and around her leg is Junior’s 6-year-old son, Blessing.

“Ma,” Nadine croaks out around a mouthful of Grace’s hair. “Leave me alone, I’m going to the barber next week.”

Her mother does not leave her alone. “You don’t call for three weeks and this is the first thing you say to me?”

Grace lets go, snickering at Nadine’s apprehension. Nadine glares.

After Junior and Mia get their turns hugging her, she ducks away from her mother’s grabbing, muttering a quick “love you!”, and scoops Blessing up into her arms. He instantly shrieks with glee, trying to claw up her arms and settle on her shoulders.

Junior’s wife, Vivienne, a plump Filipina with enough wit to beat Grace in an argument, presses a brief kiss to Nadine’s cheek as she passes by.

“Don’t mess with Auntie’s hair, boy,” she says, sternly. “Grandma will make you do the dishes.”

Blessing giggles, clearly unaware of what’s going on. Nadine rolls her eyes. “All right, all right. Where’s Rose?”

“She’s at a friend’s birthday party. It’s a sleepover. Apparently turning 10 is a really, really big deal.”

“2 months until you have to throw that party for her,” Nadine says with a laugh.

“Ugh, don’t remind me.”

It’s then that Mia cuts in, only pausing to poke Blessing on the nose, and stands directly in front of Nadine just to annoy her. “Viv, I need pregnancy advice. Is it normal having to pee this much? I hate it. This is why I didn’t drink enough water when I was in high school.”

Well, that’s her cue. She elbows Mia sharply in the back before hurrying into the kitchen where her mother and Junior are to avoid retaliation.

They’re preparing to set the table, so she makes to hand Blessing off to Junior except he does an impressive job of wrapping himself around her back like a sloth on a branch. Junior bellows out a laugh.

“He likes you more than me.”

Nadine pulls a face. “Ma likes you more than me, so it evens out.”

Nadine’s mother thwacks her over the head. “I don’t play favourites.” Grace whisks by, picking up the plates as she does. Her mother follows after her with the rest of the plates. “Never mind, Grace is my favourite.”

Junior makes an indignant sound from the back of his throat.

“Can—Can you take a picture?” Nadine asks, gently removing Blessing’s entire hand from her face. “I’d like to show my— Chloe.”

“Sure,” Junior says, raising an eyebrow. “Your Chloe?”

“Shut up,” she huffs.

Blessing chooses this exact moment to sling himself over her shoulder, making her yelp and grab onto his arms to steady him. He laughs, waving his fists in the air like he has won something.

Chloe will love that picture.

“Eish, what are you feeding him?”

Junior tucks his phone away and grins a boyish grin. “Love.” Nadine wrinkles her nose. “Viv learned how to make some kind of pasta and he’s obsessed with it. We have leftovers still in our fridge.”

He stops disjointedly, in a way that makes it clear he expects a reaction from Nadine.

She frowns. “Okay?”

“Where’s Chloe?”

“Australia, with her mum. She flies in on Sunday.”

Junior hums and pushes a salt shaker with a single finger, looking too nonchalant to actually be nonchalant. “You and Chloe are welcome to come over for pasta, if you want and if you’re still around next weekend.”

Nadine, jaded from years of being the oldest sibling, is instantly wary, narrowing her eyes at him. “What’s the catch?”

“There is no catch.”

“Liar.”

Junior huffs, plucking Blessing out of her arms and setting him onto the island. “Seriously. No catch.”

“Okay,” she says slowly, cautiously, “We’ll come over for dinner next Friday?”

“Great! Show up at 6:00.” He claps his hands together. “Reheat the pasta and have a glass of wine, on me. Rose needs help with math homework and Blessing likes to watch Kim Possible, we have DVDs. Bedtimes at 8:30; Blessing usually passes out earlier. We’ll be back midnight at the latest.”

“You said there was no catch!”

“Does spending time with your beloved niece and nephew really count as a ‘catch’?” he asks, snooty, with air quotes to top it all off.

Nadine sighs. “Yes, but we’ll be there.”

She loves family reunions, really. Especially the fact that it’s only compulsory once a year, barring Hanukkah.

Chloe has met her siblings and her mother before. Not during the family reunion due to unfortunate timing, but on separate occasions over the year and a half they’ve been working together. She has never met Rose or Blessing.

Junior and Viv like her enough to have a group chat with her (one that Nadine has tried to join, but had been ruthlessly denied entry by her partner after a sharp cackle), so she’s not surprised that the first thing Chloe says to her after catapulting herself into Nadine’s arms at the airport is: “Heard I’m a babysitter. Try not to crush on me, china.”

Nadine had laughed into her neck at that, made a quip about how she smelled like an aeroplane.

Now, they’re on Junior’s porch, seeing the happy couple off on their date night.

“What are your intentions with Viv?” Chloe jokes, nudging Junior with a conspiratorial wink. Viv snorts.

“Curfew’s eleven,” Nadine calls after them.

“They grow up so fast.”

“Ja.” Nadine smiles then, leaning against the door so Chloe can pass through first. “Ready?”

“To eat good food, drink, and watch 2 kids for a couple of hours? Not that hard, is it?”

Nadine bends to take off her shoes, about to reply with something smart, but Blessing comes pounding down the hallway, blowing right past Chloe and taking an impressive leap onto Nadine’s back. He snakes his arms around her neck and wiggles his legs until she stands.

Nadine gives Chloe a look.

“All right, maybe I misjudged.” Chloe leans closer in, curious, face startlingly close to Nadine’s. “Hey, I’m Chloe. You’re Blessing, right?”

Blessing squints, puckers his lips, then gives one decisive nod, chin digging into Nadine’s shoulder. “This is Auntie.”

Chloe’s face dissolves into an endeared beam. “I know her!”

Nadine tries very hard not to flush out of pure adoration. She’s not sure if it works because Chloe doesn’t mention it.

“Where’s your sister, B?”

“Here,” Rose says, skidding down the hallway in her socks. “Who’re you?”

Chloe holds out a hand which Rose takes and shakes enthusiastically. “Chloe. I work with your Auntie.”

When she turns, Nadine furrows her eyebrows, hands tightening imperceptibly under Blessing’s legs. She tilts her head when Nadine brushes by, suddenly feeling bereft.

Before Nadine can disappear into a room, Chloe stops her with a hand on her stomach.

“Don’t tell, but I think she has a crush on me,” Chloe stage whispers to Rose. “I told her not to.”

Rose’s eyes grow wider. “Do you like her back?”

Chloe stands then, smiling at Nadine brilliantly. “I do.”

This time, Nadine’s certain she’s blushing and judging by how Chloe’s started to leer at her, she must look redder than usual.

Before Rose can ask any more questions, Nadine hikes Blessing higher up and moves towards the end of the hallway.

“C’mon, Rose. Let’s watch some TV while Chloe heats dinner up,” she says, jerking her head towards the kitchen door for Chloe. “Your dad said you need help with math?”

Rose lets out a very loud and long groan at that.

After Nadine is directed to the collection of Kim Possible DVDs and sets it up, she sends Rose off to grab her homework. Then, she pries Blessing away from his Barbies and props him against one hip.

Chloe’s humming a tune and opening random drawers when Nadine finds her in the kitchen. She’s got an apron hanging from her neck, even though she’s literally just popping something into the microwave and opening a bottle.

Blessing reaches for the counter, so she sets him down. “Chloe, I’m hungry!”

Chloe spins and catches Nadine’s eye briefly. “Yes, yes,” she says, “give me a minute, love. Impatience runs in the family, I guess.”

Nadine chuckles, crossing the distance and tugging the loose ends of the apron. “You’re one to talk.”

“Oh, hush.” She leans back a little, into Nadine’s warmth.

She turns after a beat, corners of her mouth tipped up, and catches Nadine’s mouth in a kiss. It’s nice, for about two seconds, then Blessing starts drawing out an “eww” and smacking his palms on the table.

Chloe pulls away, eyes still half-lidded. “I was gonna say they were adorable, but…”

Nadine huffs a laugh and narrows her eyes at Blessing. “What are you complaining about?”

“Rose does that when mama kisses daddy,” he says matter-of-factly.

“Hm,” she says, “keep doing that, champ.”

Chloe barks out a laugh, lightly slapping Nadine’s arm. Nadine grabs her wrists, kissing her chastely before pulling away completely.

“The forks are behind you.”

“Thanks,” Chloe says, not moving and hauling her back in. Nadine looks unimpressed.

Blessing groans again.

“What does the apron say, soldier?” KISS THE COOK. That’s probably Junior’s. She grimaces at it with great disdain. “So?”

In response, Nadine untangles herself from Chloe and places Blessing into his usual spot at her hip.

“Ah, figures.”

Rose is waiting in the living room when they all return, pasta in hand; one bowl each for the kids and a big plate for Chloe and Nadine to share. Fewer dishes to do this way. Plus, Nadine only has one hand to spare, the other keeping Blessing from wriggling onto the floor.

After setting the bowls down, Chloe presses play on the first episode and puts the volume lower so Rose can concentrate.

Poised over the couch, Nadine cranes her neck to watch Blessing tuck his face into her back, holding on stubbornly.

”Off! Off, off, off.” After a moment, he grabs tighter onto her shoulders. “No?”

Blessing shakes his head. “No.”

“You asked for it.” She grabs onto his legs for safety and starts to hop in place—once, twice, three times. Blessing squeals in her ear. On the fourth time, she drops into a squat, so that his legs are on the couch and scrapes him off her back. “Time for dinner, B.”

He pouts, eyes wide. “Aw, boo.” It takes her a hot second to resist that. Atrocious.

She pushes the lime green bowl and matching plastic fork into his hands. “If you want to grow taller than your sister, you gotta eat up.”

When she looks over to Chloe, she’s on the floor next to Rose with her homework out on the coffee table some ways away from the couch. She’s watching Nadine, jaw cupped in her palm, with a soft look.

Nadine, self-conscious, looks away and scoots closer to Rose’s other side. “What?”

“Nothing,” Chloe says after a beat, bending closer to look at Rose’s paper. Almost immediately after, she touches Rose’s hand before she can write something down and quietly points out her mistake.

They get through two episodes in relative peace before Blessing decides that he’s done with his dinner and bonks the bottom of the bowl lightly on Nadine’s head. Chloe stifles a laugh at Nadine’s exaggerated outrage.

She takes the bowl from Blessing, towering over him as he giggles madly into a pillow.

“This is my shield,” he declares.

Nadine crosses her arms. “That’s not fair. I don’t have a sword.”

“Victory!”

Chloe doesn’t try hiding her delight this time.

It’s only another Kim Possible episode later that Blessing calms down enough to sit still on the couch. Nadine scrapes his leftovers onto their shared plate.

Rose has picked her entire bowl clean and has been sipping at a glass of milk Chloe had gotten for her when Nadine had been busy entertaining Blessing. When Nadine offers her a second serving, she just shakes her head, brows furrowed at the question on her paper.

Finally, she turns her attention to Chloe who is, funnily enough, engrossed with the Kim Possible episode playing.

She jerks her head up when Nadine places her hand on her back, startled.

“Go eat on the couch, I’ll watch Rose.” She promptly shoves the plate into Chloe’s hands and plops down onto the ground, leaving no room for argument.

“Last one,” Rose says, tapping her pencil on the table.

Nadine leans over her arm to look at the paper. “Do you need any help?”

“Nope,” she replies, popping the p. She scribbles something down, then crosses it out. “Auntie?”

“Ja?”

“I think Chloe likes you,” she whispers, glancing back at Chloe who’s using Blessing’s head as an armrest while he squirms under her, mouth open in his best attempt at a roar.

Nadine tries not to smile, turning back to Rose. She fails. “You mean like-like?”

Rose puts her pencil down and scowls at her. “I’m not 8. I can say love.”

“You’re 9.”

Rose scoffs, pointedly going back to her homework.

Nadine feels nervous all of a sudden, and bizarrely, embarrassed. She’s 32, Chloe 35, and they have yet to say the L-word. Not that she can presume to know how Chloe feels, but she knows how she feels.

They’ve been officially together just over a year now. The months before it, they had spent sleeping with each other sporadically when they met up for a job. Back then, Nadine knew how she felt too. Her feelings hadn’t been quite as deep as they were now — maybe fondness. She felt that whatever they had, if they both allowed it, would last and for a very long time.

A year, they’ve lasted so far. She knows all the little things now. Chloe’s morning routine, her weird figures of speech, which side she sleeps on. She knows the important things and the unimportant things that Nadine cherishes equally to the former.

They have lasted and strengthened, taking Nadine’s feelings lightyears past simple fondness. She wonders sometimes, considering the trajectory, if she can find the words to describe it if her feelings stretched past love. For now, that word will do.

She loves Chloe, this she has known for months. Chloe certainly likes her in a way that extends past the shallow.

She drags a hand down her forehead. It’s one thing to think it, another to confront it head-on, but Nadine Ross has never been a coward. Cautious, yes, but not cowardly.

She puts her chin on the table, watching the top of Rose’s pencil wave in the air as she writes.

“I like Chloe too,” Nadine says, voice low because if Chloe overheard, she would never hear the end of it.

Rose finishes what she’s written with a flourish, then copies Nadine, putting her chin on the table. “Only like?”

“More than,” Nadine replies, pausing to gather her courage. Then, scandalously: “Love.”

“Ooh, Auntie,” Rose teases, mocking, in a whiny tone that you’d expect from a pre-teen boy sneering “cooties!”

“I thought you were mature,” says Nadine, reaching out to poke Rose’s cheek.

Rose turns her nose up. “I’m only 9.”

Nadine laughs. Rose is so obviously Junior and Viv’s child, she can’t help the sudden urge to hug her.

She gets away with swinging Rose into the air and carrying her over her shoulder, running twice around the room as she laughs and lets Nadine do this without complaint. Afterwards, they collapse onto the couch where Chloe’s got Blessing in her lap, the both of them watching the screen intently.

Rose gets comfortable, settled between Chloe and Nadine, while Nadine tries to sneak pictures of them all together.

She gets away with two before Chloe cuts away from Ron Stoppable in his tree house and looks directly at the camera. She gives Nadine a winning grin, tightening her arms around Blessing’s middle.

By 8:30, Blessing’s dozing off on Chloe’s sternum, snoring lightly. Similarly, Rose is nodding off against Nadine’s arm.

Sharing a look, they both get up, carrying a Ross in their arms. Nadine shushes Rose when she jolts awake, instinctively rocking on the balls of her feet in an attempt to get Rose to fall back asleep.

They go up the stairs to another hallway, Nadine leading Chloe to a door that has the letter R painted on it in baby blue. She sets Rose down in her bed, pulling the blanket over her shoulders and turning the A/C off in case it gets colder at night.

“The night light,” Chloe whispers. Nadine flips it on before ushering Chloe out, towards the door with B painted in mauve.

Chloe does the motions: tucking Blessing in, checking the A/C, and finding the night light.

Nadine leans against the doorframe, waiting for her to finish with the curtains. It’s weird, seeing Chloe like this. Not in a bad way, no. Nadine finds that she can watch Chloe do this for hours, fascinated.

There’s a warmth blossoming in her chest, the kind she feels when she’s come home for the first time in a while for Hanukkah and her family is gathered around the room, closer together because it’s cold outside.

Nadine is not entirely sure what she’s supposed to do with this.

In the end, Chloe finishes up and interrupts her introspection, shooing her away so she can close the door. As is natural by now, Chloe grabs her hand and gives it a pull towards the stairs. Nadine grips back before she can drop her hand away.

They don’t speak until they’re back in the living room, Kim Possible still playing on low volume. They won’t leave until Junior and Viv get back, in case the kids wake up again.

Out of nowhere, Chloe makes a thoughtful noise after easing onto the couch with a sigh.

Nadine examines her face, eyebrows hiking up when Chloe’s eyes flick to meet hers and discovers that they are arrestingly determined.

She uses her free hand to pull Nadine in for a languid kiss. It’s fairly innocent for them, so Nadine’s unsurprised when Chloe settles back into the couch after they part, focused on the TV.

“Liefie,” she says, waiting for Chloe to look over. “I think I like the babysitter.”

Chloe chuckles, pressing into Nadine’s side. “That’s convenient. I think I like the babysitter, too.”

It’s quiet then. Nadine’s content like this.

They get through three and a half episodes of Kim Possible before Chloe makes a really undignified noise at something that happens on screen and Nadine has to hide a laugh behind a cough. Chloe catches it and scowls at her.

“Hey now, Ross, that wasn’t—”

“Calm down, I won’t tell anyone that you’re a die hard Kim Possible fan.”

Chloe harrumphs, sprawling onto Nadine more so that she’s half on top of her.

Nadine winds her arm around Chloe’s waist and turns so her nose brushes Chloe’s cheek.

“Liefie,” she says again.

“Mhm,” Chloe replies distractedly.

“I love you.”

Chloe stiffens, and in quick succession, relaxes, tenses, and relaxes again.

She turns her head, swaying back so she can see Nadine’s face properly. Then, she smiles, eyes wrinkled at the corners and all, and says, “I love you too.”

Nadine can’t help but kiss her. This one is longer, more earnest.

And Chloe pulls away, sucking in a breath. “We should pick this up when we go back to the apartment.”

“Self-control? For once?” Nadine says against her jaw.

“I want to watch my favourite show: Kim Possible,” Chloe replies, voice light with mirth. “You’re just here for the commercial breaks.”

“It’s a DVD.”

Chloe blindly pats her face, mhms absentmindedly, and accepts a kiss to her cheek.

Nadine loves her for it.

#chlodine #chlodinefics #yall wanna validate me w some comments? i read all ur tags lmao #anyway! SHUT_UPPPPPPPP.jpg i LOVE them . me writing this: god i wish i died #anyway i hav that chloe on death bed prompt to get to but its 12am so maybe tomorrow #anonymous #ask

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kingcullywully · 7 years ago

Text

Always the Hero

You were always the hero.

Doing adventurous and dangerous quests to the most simplest and menial tasks. From traveling to a realm filled with spirits in different shapes and beings alike to finding an amulet for a citizen’s one love.

Always acting for others, always wanting to please and to calm. Never relaxing, never sleeping, always tired and wanting to act the sloth and just lay in your bed all day.

Yet always filled with energy, wanting to find new ruins or quests to do. Always fighting, adrenaline singing in your veins, eyes wide and lips curved in a rare grin when you find something new and unknown, thinking in your mind on why you would want to rest when there is so much more to explore.

You were Dovahkiin, the Dragonborn.

The Honoured Thane of all Skyrim, Harbinger of the Companions, Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold, Listener and Leader of the Dark Brotherhood, Guild-Master of the Thieves Guild, Member of the Bards College, Beloved Apprentice of the Greybeards, Vampire Lord of the Volkihar Clan, Savior of Solstheim, The Victorious Conqueror of Solitude, Peacemaker, Stormblade, Champion of the Nine Divines and Champion of some Daedric Princes, Dragon Priest Slayer, Honorary Member of the Moth Priests, Dwemer Expert, Bounty and Treasure Hunter, Master of the Thu'um, and Vanquisher of the World-Eater Alduin.

So many titles, so many burdens upon your shoulders. Everyone looks to you with hope or fear in their gazes, because of how much power you bear and the many ways you can use it. The responsibilities were endless, always stressed, always tense, always trying to stay two steps ahead of the enemy;whether real or in your mind.

Always rescuing. Yet always killing. Always giving. Yet always stealing. Always finding friends. Yet always being betrayed. A constant cycle, a cycle that has long been in the spectrum of different shades of grey. No longer are actions and choices black and white. Some days you find yourself choosing a light grey, always soothing for your heart that is always being cracked. Always warm.

Other days your choices are too dark, too dirty. Your silence was the strongest those days, for you were screaming in your mind at this madness. Surely you will become mad! The thought of joining Sheogorath in his realm scared you those days. But then you calmed yourself, remembering how the Daedric Prince was, and how you couldn’t help but smile when you were temporarily in his realm for that quest. The Prince was odd and certainly mad, but he was fun and interesting. With this, the darkness soon washes away, but it never gets rid of the stain in your mind and heart.

All these actions, all these choices, all these titles and groups that were yours for you were their trusted and valuable leader.

And yet, at the end of the day, you were just (Y/N). Friends with your once superiors now followers. Even friends with at least two Daedric Princes and friends of dragons. That’s all you wished to be, yet you were so much more.

So much more then you wanted. You never wanted this, never wanted to be the fated hero and savior of the world like something out of a story or legend.

But you were. You’re a hero. A legend.

The day you defeated Alduin you knew Sovngarde would be where you would rest once you die, if not Alduin, then surely all the other tasks you have accomplished. Regardless of race, you knew this.

You’re so much. Yet you did not want to be such.

The day came where you had enough of Skyrim. Where you already explored every ruin, every cave, every rune for a new Shout, every village, every city, every island, every possible realm you can enter, and even every crevice no matter how small.

You were here for so long, surely you would miss your now and only home? The place that held so many comrades, young and old, from Khajit to Nord, mortal or immortal, would you leave them?

Your answer that was before just long and hesistant consideration is now a strong yes in your mind.

You wish to see something new. Not the same land filled with so much sadness and pain, yet happy times and victory. You seek new adventures that would make your blood sing, for it has been long since a quest made you feel such. For menial tasks always made your eyes dead, gait sluggish for you were bored. The gratitude though from the person who asked, made you feel better. The reward of money was now just a plus, a plus that you are growing to believe is unneeded for there is not much of anything you wish to buy in this land. Not anymore.

So you went to the best port of Skyrim, which is in the coast of Solitude. Thankfully the Dainty Sload was still there, for it was the ship you have chosen to carry you in this unique adventure. You climbed aboard, familiarizing yourself once more about the vessel that used to be home of the Corsairs. You knew how to control a ship, and you are sure you will be able to handle it by yourself. Once you were ready, you gazed at Skyrim for one final time. As well as Tamriel.

You do not want to be in this country, believing the other provinces would just be filled with nothing but the same like Skyrim. You want something completely new, completely strange.

You want something unknown.

For even though you deny it, you are an adventurer, therefore a hero. Always excited at new lands, new people, and new quests. It’s just you did not enjoy how others looked at you afterwords. Their awefilled gazes, with hope shining in their pupils as they asked for more favors always expecting for you to succeed because you are the legend, the Dragonborn.

Your gaze was sad as you looked at Solitude, the only city that will see you off. If you had a choice, you would rather see off Whiterun. But alas, Whiterun is near no ocean nor rivers that will eventually lead to one. You gazed at the architecture, your well trained and farseeing eyes taking everything in. You turned, quickly.

Not wanting your mind to think of the prisoners of the Civil War under the Blue Palace, nor of Viarmo the Headmaster of the Bard’s College, or the children who enjoyed playing tag and hide and seek with you.

You prepared the sails to distract yourself from your memories, when your ear twitched.

“Wait!”

Your eyes widened, recognizing the voice, and turned. There was your friend, Serana staring at you with those yellow orange eyes of hers with confused betrayal underneath her pulled up hood to protect her from the sun as she stood at the wooden pier. You stared, not expecting her to be here. You told her to go back home and stay at her castle. Why is she here? That is what you asked, and it caused her fists to clench.

“Why am I here?! You’re leaving! You were going to leave and just leave me here alone. How could you do that?!” The vampire’s voice cracked, eyes filled with tears refused to fall. It made your cracked heart break a little more.

“You weren’t going to be alone, Garen is there as well as the others even though their company can be rather sour—“

She interrupted with a fierce glare and snarl.

“You know that is not what I meant! And at this point, I know you more then I know them. You are my only family left (Y/N). The only one I can fully trust and not use me, who truly cares for me.” You knew she was talking about her mother, Valerica who put Serana to sleep for thousands of years without explaining. The statement only made your brows furrow with emotion. “But then you left me. I know you, how you are. Just like you know me and how I hate being alone. You…” the woman looked down to the ground, pausing, there was a pained silence between the two of you. When she looked up, you tried to not jump off the ship and hug her tight.

“You…you were going to leave me. And never come back.”

She was crying. And your will of leaving this land wavered for a moment.

Only for the littlest of moments.

“You know there is nothing left for me to do here. You say you know me, then you know why I’m doing this.”

‘To escape. To learn. For freedom. For adventure. To forget.’

You continued.

“Skyrim…I have done what I could here. And with what I did with Alduin, I have done enough for Tamriel as well. There’s more to this world then this country, I know there is.” You turned your eyes to the sea, (e/c) eyes distant. Mind in a whirl on just how much different other places are from Tamriel. “I wish to leave this place.” You turned your head back, noticing that Serana was quickly climbing up to the ship. You rose your brow with a disapproving frown.

“What are you doing?” She looked at you with blazing orange eyes, pausing on her movement up the rope ladder on the side of the ship.

“I’m coming with you.”

“No. You are not. It’s too dangerous—“

“And it isn’t dangerous for you?!” She was now on the ship, getting close to your body with her finger waving at your chest. “You think just cause you’ve done all these things that you cannot die? You don’t even know much about the other continents of this world. Of Akavir, Thras, Pyandonea, and Atmora. As well as the destroyed Yokuda and Aldmeris. I can take care of myself, and we have plenty of Bloodcursed Elven Arrows if things become too much. Do you not have faith in my capabilities?”

You do. She’s quite a fighter. It’s just what you seek is something even more outrageous then Serana believes.

“Don’t misunderstand Serana. I know how strong you are, it’s just…I wish for the unknown, my friend. This world, it’s grand isn’t it?” You began walking around, motioning your hands to your sides, your voice slowly getting more animated. “So much mystery, so many places lost as well as races like the Dwemer and Snow Elves who sadly became Falmer. The majority of races came to Tamriel from somewhere else, somewhere beyond. And we don’t even know where some of these lands are! Or if there’s more areas then we think with their own inhabitants!” You looked at her, eyes sparkling with an excited grin. Serana was gazing at you oddly, for seeing you so cheerful about subjects or other these days did not happen often. Her eyes then slowly widened in realization.

“You want to discover a new continent…go to Aldmeris or Yokuda?!” At your silence, lips staying in a smile, she grabbed your shoulders. “That is madness, who knows how long we will be out in the sea with no food and constantly in the sun with no water? Or if we even land somewhere? The inhabitants might be dangerous or more bloodthirsty then my father.” You held back your tongue that you are just as dangerous or even more so with how much you’ve accomplished. As well as say that you may have a touch of madness. “There’s so much risk in this, you really think you cannot die?”

You paused, tilting your head as you gazed at your close female friend that was once the daughter of Harkon. You thought on her words.

Can you die? You’ve been so close numerous times, but that was during your early days of your arrival to Skyrim. You remember the fear, the confusion of this new region and the number of dragons and people wanting your head. It’s been a long time though, you’ve matured and very much experienced with all sorts of enemies.

So, can you die?

“…I don’t know. I do know that this is possible and there’s more to this world then three continents. And,” you grinned slightly, “risks make things fun.”

You stunned Serana into silence, whether from how you aren’t sure if you can die or how you seem to want to find out if you can with this adventure. You thought the danger would make her walk away and leave this ship. And she did walk away. Only towards the main sail and prepare it. You sighed, seeing that she’s determined to follow although you disapprove and are positive you will only worry for her.

But a part of your shattered heart grew warm that you will have someone here with you in this journey. Even though you are positive the woman will complain about the environment till your ears will fall off. What can you say? People who were stubborn and determined always captured your respect and interest, especially if they look at you sadly and ask for favors.

You were always the hero. Always wanting to please and to soothe.

When you made sure there were enough supplies for the both of you, whether food that was salted or items to help purify water as well as good and your precious weapons, the both of you were off.

You did not look back, even when Serana made a comment as she looked at the now faraway city of Solitude.

“Skyrim always was beautiful and had amazing weather…I’m going to miss it.”

‘Me too.’

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jennyincostarica · 5 years ago

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Day 9

We woke up and hopped on a shuttle with our driver, Javier. He spoke only Spanish and he talked for the ENTIRE RIDE. Although, we liked listening to him and were pleasantly surprised that we understood just about everything he said.

We started our day with a guide named Alex who taught us all about how sugar, coffee, and chocolate are made. We learned so much and it was incredibly interesting. The key takeaways are that real light brown sugar is the best, medium roast coffee is the best, and freshly made chocolate is unbelievable. It turns out that when coffee is roasted it loses its essential oils, which includes caffeine. So light coffee retains almost all the caffeine, and espresso is over-roasted, burnt beans that lose a lot of caffeine and other oils. Medium is coffee is the Costa Rican people’s preferred roast because it has the perfect balance of bitterness, acidity, and sweetness. He made us some pour over medium roast coffee and let us enjoy it with some light brown sugar.

Next we got to make chocolate, Auntie Liz’s favorite. The beans are taken out of the fruit and roasted on the stove top for a few minutes. Then, they put them through a grinder to make a chocolate paste. We took the cocoa paste and mixed it with as much milk and brown sugar and we wanted and had our own little cups of melty chocolate. It. Was. Amazing.

Afterwards we went over to the animal sanctuary to see the sloth feeding. Unsurprisingly, the sloths didn’t even budge when their food was pushed right into their faces. I pulled an Auntie Liz and ended up chatting with one of the sanctuary employees, Maynor, instead of looking at the animals. He challenged me to speak Spanish and taught me some correct pronunciation and words that are easily confused if said the wrong way, like frio and fria or carro and caro. We talked about each other’s different cultures a lot. I wasn’t surprised to find out that Costa Rican people aren’t just nice to tourists and truly are friendly, pleasant people.

We were standing next to the spider monkeys and Maynor told me about how many monkey species choose the strongest male in the group as the alpha. However, spider monkeys always choose the smartest female. She was rattling the cage and yelling at me because she didn’t like me talking to Maynor and was getting protective.

He took us over to the butterfly, or mariposa, garden and taught us all about different kinds of butterflies and moths. He also showed us a scorpion with about 100 tiny little babies on her back (ewww) and we also also saw some cockroaches (also ewww). I was hoping to see a tarantula, but unfortunately it has just died a few days prior.

After the butterfly garden I was feeling like fainting from the heat, but had to make a quick stop to see the big cats. We saw jaguars, pumas, and ocelots—all beautiful animals.

Out of pure desperation, I bought a nice cold $6 seltzer, and it was worth it. When we got back to the hotel we got into the water (and got some drinks) as fast as we could.

We had some Asian food for dinner and watched a little bit of a dance show that was going on where Bob fell asleep at the table in about 5 minutes. Tomorrow is my last day so we plan to go out on a catarmaran for some snorkeling and a sunset cruise.

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years ago

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Pioneering ‘diaries’ reveal the secret lives of animals – BBC News

Image copyright Swansea University Image caption The investigates have checked more than 1,000 “animals ”

How do you tell if an elephant is having a good day? Or spy on the nocturnal squid-catching skills of the albatross?

This week at the British Science Festival, Prof Rory Wilson of Swansea University has been exposing the secrets of the animal kingdom, including penguin diving practices, albatross hunting methodology and the emotional states of elephants.

“The problem with swine is we often want to know happens about them that they don’t want to tell us or that aren’t easy to find out. The only practice to do it is to employ something on[ the animal] that will accompany it, ” Prof Wilson said.

Leaving the bustling centre of the celebration, which has taken over the Swansea campus all week, I was shown into the nerve centre of Prof Wilson’s animal surveillance running. The area is governed by a huge, 2m-by-3m screen displaying all sorts graphs that wouldn’t seem amiss in a Nasa control room.

Addressing a army of columnists, Prof Wilson said his work was all made possible by a small electronic chip his squad developed specific to stalk swine in their private hours.

This chip contains accelerometers, magnetometers, pres, temperature and light-headed sensors – offering an unprecedented sentiment of an animal’s life.

The tag, Prof Wilson showed, virtually does exactly what our smartphones or fitness monitors do, incessantly tracking and entering the wearer’s berth and movements.

“This is a novel written by an animal. It’s very exciting to be the first person to open that novel.”

Media captionWatch the movement of a whale shark – as logged by a “daily diary” tag( video courtesy of Swansea University)

So far the group at Swansea has recounted the well-being of more than 1000 swine and 100 different species including penguins, cheetahs, sloths, albatrosses, elephants, cormorants and leopards.

“Our current understanding of animal behaviour is biased by which is something we perceive swine be given an opportunity to, and what we visualize them doing, ” said Prof Wilson, alluding to a world of hidden action.

“Elephant closes are big-hearted fat goons of jelly on the beach, but grow beautiful ballerinas in the sea.”

Flight of the condor

Dr Mark Holton developed the data-logging chip. He showed me the team’s original “daily diary”, please explain how it was created to way the flight path and vigor expending of condors.

This earlier chip was about five times larger than the present form, which Dr Holton has shrunk to just 27 mm across and 4mm dense – and weighing 1.2 g.

“I love the challenge within this work, but with this original chip I pushed it right to the limit, ” he said.

“I merely actually accomplished[ the tags] at 18:30 the nighttime before health researchers were hovering out to made them on the birds.”

Image copyright Swansea University Image caption The recently completed “daily diary” motif( lower left) weighs exactly 1.2 g

The tags on the condors employed technology normally found on the nose of a plane to bar the flight velocity of these chicks.

The data the group got back showed for the first time that the condors would regularly run instantly up into the sky, at staggering rapidities of 47km/ h( 29 mph ).

Penguin parade

Prof Wilson said the whole initiative was a team effort. His group consists of professors, postdocs and students, who spend months trawling through all the data collected by the tags.

Displaying results from a tag on a penguin in Argentina, he said the penguin was a personal favourite; he still analyses these birds’ data himself.

Looking at the enormous screen in Prof Wilson’s lab and zooming in on regions of the tag plans, we could see the penguin’s individual gradations and flipper outdoes.

Image copyright Swansea University Image caption The penguins are a personal favourite for Prof Wilson

A change in movement and a drop in temperature pinpoints the exact moment of a dive into the sea.

Several kilometres of float afterward, an blowup of crusade on the diagram marked the cleanup practices of the penguin, showing how it would roll in the sea scratching one flipper then the other.

Further observation discovered its diving tradition and chase operations; the penguin would glide to the surface, but unexpectedly dart back down with heading flows signifying a catch.

Dazzling dance

The group regularly has moments of “Errrr, what’s be the case? ” Prof Wilson said, where they are left scratching their heads.

“The most surprising circumstance that we have discovered was from wandering albatrosses.”

The general consensus, he sustained, used to be that these birds would move huge distances to learn and dine dead squid, since such large-scale fowls would be unable to catch squid alive.

“We determined that the walk albatross would swim at night in crazy cliques for periods from 40 seconds up to seven hours, continuously, and then they’d suddenly be eating.”

Image copyright Swansea University Image caption The tags to be submitted to light previously unknown hunting techniques of the stray albatross

Confused by this previously unobserved action, different groups eventually discovered that the fowls were in fact enticing the squid to their destiny.

“What we think they’re doing is, when it is very dark in parts of the ocean, they’re swimming to foment bioluminescent plankton, causing a luminous brighten. The squid, allured like a moth to a ignite, will then swim to the light and get ingested, ” Prof Wilson said.

“That’s something that’s really cool. It’s one of those minutes where you’re flipping through the book and start: What ?! “

Emotional elephants

The sensors within the tag are so accurate they can easily detect behaviours that humans might not discover – even offering insights into some animals’ emotional state.

Think of the practice we humen go. If someone is happy, it is able to manifest in our physical practice – it is often said that they “have a spring in their step”.

To observe if this sort of phenomenon likewise occurs in swine, Prof Wilson’s unit analysed the ambling action of elephants in a zoo.

They realised that an elephant wander towards something it liked, such as a mud soap or fodder, would walk in a particular channel. When that same elephant though was made to go away from the thing it liked, by a reigning matriarch, it would walk in a different style.

Image copyright Swansea University Image caption Tags like the one on this leopard’s collar can expose otherwise veiled behaviours

Prof Wilson said he hopes to use the principle with wild elephants in Africa, which are likely exhibit stress including with regard to sites due to previous meetings with war zones.

“The consequences of this for understanding animal commonwealth, and stress, are immense.

“The endgame for me is predicting animal practice. It would be lovely to say, that penguin is going to turn left down there, stop and remain for 12 instants and then jump in the water.

“How well you can predict the behavior of animals and animal motion is dependent on how well you are familiar with the rules by which they’re working.”