#wooden sandals tho? maybe not

[episims]

Sara "Whatcha lurking here for, dude?"

Felix "Uh... dunno. I feel weird."

Sara "Seriously?? I won't forgive the universe if you miss my birthday!"

Felix "Chill, Sara. I'm not planning to! Just catching some fresh air."

Sara "Uh-huh."

Felix "I wouldn't miss your growth spurt, anyway. My neck's sore from looking down."

Sara "Blah, blah. Hardly my fault that you're something like two meters tall now!!"

Emil "-but when it's my birthday, I'll ask for a fish cake. To make sure that all my birthday fishes come true! Do you think your dad could make one...?"

[lokislastlove]

A Taste Of Devotion (Dark!Clark x Reader)

Summary: You discover a secret garden that changes your life forever.

Warning: Noncon/Dubcon, a bit of blood and death, smut, sex-pollen-ish?

Note: My contribution to @thanatosfic amazing Greek Mythology Challenge!!!! I LOVE a Greek Mythology. This got me so excited!! Thank you for all the effort you put into that list of prompts and inspiration. I chose the Minotaur myth, and mixed it up a bit with the god Dionysus and his cult of Maenads. First time trying to write Clark… tho I don’t feel like I really made it feel like him, maybe next time I’ll be better. Haha 😬

🌿

The warm sun shines through the fluffy white clouds, casting patches of shadows over the blooming green hills. Ripening grapes grow heavy on the weaving vines clutching row after row of trellises along either side of you. The only sound for miles are the twittering of birds and the crunch of the earth beneath your sandals.

You take in a deep breath through your nose, savoring the sweetness of the beautiful spring day as you tour the foreign vineyard. All doubts of traveling on your own are lost to the pleasant breeze as you let the beauty of nature soothe your overworked body and mind.

You may have chosen this stop for the wine tasting, but there is no denying the healing power of nature. The wine takes the edge off in the evenings and the food is delicious at all hours, but you hadn’t expected to enjoy the quiet morning walks through the grounds as much as you do.

Strolling up and down the rows, admiring and tasting the grapes, giggling at the animals who scurry at the sight of you. Such a simple pleasure, but one city life doesn’t offer.

At the end of the dusty path between the sprawling fields of grapes you come upon a tall crumbling brick wall, overgrown with ivy and weeds. Curious, you follow along the old bricks in search for some sign of what might be hidden beyond. After some time you find a small archway hung with a splintering wooden door, its hinges rusted and flaking.

You hesitate, climbing over a thorny bush so you can test it’s resistance. Balancing on your tip toes, you give the door a sharp push. The wood groans, hinges screeching, as it slowly creaks open. You retrieve your sandal from where it caught in a vine and set down the dark path, towering shrubs escorting you into some sort of secret garden. How could you possibly resist?

—

The sun sits high in the sky, hours since you found your way into this endless estate, each turn offering a new wonder to dazzle and lure you in. You didn’t mean to wander so deep, but you can’t help it for without fail each new enclave offers something enchanting and you just have to find out what comes next.

Courtyards of precisely trimmed shrubbery, your favorite being the animal themed collection with a roaring lion at its center. Another path takes you to a field of daffodils, glowing gold in the brilliant blaze of the sun. Around another corner an iron gate leads to a soft grassy lawn, spotted with cherry blossoms, ideal for a spring time picnic. You discover a gravel path where blushing pink roses climb white stone pillars that lead you to the most amazing sight yet.

A sparkling cerulean lake surrounded by towering trees and lush green grass has you frozen in awe. Just on the edge of the water, across the pond, stands a grand marble gazebo. Grecian-styled white columns circle a stone patio with a beautiful view of the water and blossoming bushes of various colors.

“Wow,” you breathe as you reach the shade of the painted dome ceiling.

The vivid colors depict a glorious celebration, women frolicking through nature with fistfuls of grapes and ivy crowns adorning their heads as they chase a flute playing satyr around a bull-headed man at the center. The image brings a smile to your face for a brief moment before you hear the blood-curdling scream of a woman from somewhere behind you.

You whip around, scanning the shady forest floor until you spot a girl scrambling back to her feet as she rushes toward you, weaving through the trees and fearfully checking over her shoulder. Your blood goes cold at her disheveled appearance, scratches along her face, dress torn and sliding down her muddied shoulders.

“Help!” she shrieks.

You don’t move, confusion and shock freezing you on the spot. She breaks through the trees and into the sun allowing you to see the alarming amount of blood staining the skirt of her dress.

“What? Oh my god, are you ok?” You fret, tentatively holding out your arms as she stumbles toward you.

Her bare feet slip on the polished step and you catch her before she can hit the sharp edge, “woah, are you hurt?”

She doesn’t answer, eyelids fluttering weakly as she sinks into your arms in relief. Her rapid breaths slowing slightly as she lays there. You tuck your sweater under her head as you try to search her for injuries.

“I’m gonna call for help,��� you promise as you reach for your phone in your pocket, but your fingers feel nothing but the barren patch of cloth.

Your stomach drops as you pat down your clothes with no success. You must have dropped it, but you can’t actually remember using it since you passed through the splintered door.

“Shit,” you curse and the battered girl coughs out a pained laugh.

“It’s no use,” she bemoans, shaking her head. “There’s no way out.”

“What?”

Her eyes open wide, mirroring your terror-filled gaze, “labyrinth.” Her voice is breathy and strained, as if simply uttering the word might summon some monstrous terror.

“Labyrinth? Like a maze?” You ask, brows furrowed.

Her twisted features soften as her breathing shutters and she lets out one last wheezy sigh. Her body stills, eyes dull as you hover over her in a panic, unsure of what to do. Your nerves seize in the silence, buzzing with a mixture of shock and grief, she looks so young, early twenties if you had to guess. But mostly you feel fear, the thought of what did this to her might find you as well.

The sharp snap of a twig echoes through the trees, breaking the silence and causing your heart to clench in fright. Your eyes dart around you as you get to your feet, ready to run at the first sign of danger.

“What’s this?” A sickly sweet voice sings.

A young girl, with an ivy crown and vines curling up her bare legs, steps out from behind a pillar only a few yards away. You swallow nervously at the way she grins in excitement. A few drops of scarlet drip down her cheeks and splatter on her dainty white sundress, its broken strap exposing her right breast. A perfect manifestation of the image hanging above you.

“I – I think she’s dead…” you stutter as you take a shaky step back.

“Mmm,” she tilts her head and smiles. “She was unworthy.”

“Unworthy,” you repeat, bewildered.

She giggles childishly and slowly turns her attention toward the forest, where you hear another snap and follow her gaze with a gasp. It take a minute for your brain to process what you are seeing. At first you think it’s a bear, standing tall and terrifying on his hind legs. But the horns give you pause and your eyes widen as you recognize the bull-shaped head sitting atop a startlingly large man’s body.

His skin is black and leathery, coated with thick patches of equally dark hair and his muscles ripple beneath as he steps into the sun. His hoofed feet shatter the twigs and fallen debris as he stalks closer and closer to you. He growls lowly, exhaling with a huff as he watches you tremble before him.

He stops before the stone steps and snorts softly, tilting his head as if assessing you, his large nostrils flaring as he smells you from afar. You take several steps back, your knees weak, ready to collapse at any moment.

“Oh,” the girl laughs as she twirls gracefully around one of the surrounding columns. “He likes you.”

Your eyes bounce between them, unsure of who you are more afraid of. The ‘Labyrinth’ comment suddenly clicks and you shudder as the realization settles over you, if the legends are real you were dead the moment you walked through that wooden door.

Without a thought you turn on your heal and sprint through the pillars and leap into the clear blue water. You dive deep and kick hard, urging yourself forward in an attempt to escape. You make it up to the surface and take a gulp of air, turning back as you paddle to see if they are following you.

You blink and sputter into the water as the Minotaur steps up to the edge, his companion dancing unbothered behind him. He slowly raises his arms and light seems to gather around him. You narrow your eyes, treading water as you stare in disbelief at the way the light is absorbed from the very air and his silhouette subtly shifts in the glare of the brilliant blaze.

The bullhead is gone, replaced with the head of the most jaw dropping man you’ve ever seen. His leathery hide restored to a flawless bronzed skin peppered with thick brown body hair to match his luscious curly locks. He squares his stubbled jaw and smirks at you down in the water, amused at the way you ogle every exposed inch of him.

“Oh look, a beautiful little water lily,” he taunts and flicks his wrists to point at you.

You panic as you hear a sudden splash and watch two thick vines along the shore disappear into the water. You barely have time to take a deep breath, your screams cut short when they wrap around your legs and drag you through the lake at a dizzying speed. You are pulled out of the water upside down, hanging loosely by your ankle as you cough, trying to expel the water invading your lungs. The vines hold you aloft, water dripping over the patio, while the man circles you like a vulture.

“Please! Please don’t kill me,” you beg, painfully aware of the still-warm dead girl not ten yards away.

“Kill you?” The woman trills in amusement, “where is the fun in that.”

“Mmm,” he hums in agreement, nodding silently.

“I don’t know if she’s worthy of you, Dionysus,” she advises, voice suddenly serious but still curious as she nears and runs her fingers down your legs.

“That’s what you said about the last one,” he muses, side eyeing her as she circles you.

“She was weak,” she scoffs, peeking at the body on the stairs.

“And the one before that?” he raises a pointed brow.

“She tried to kill you,” she argues.

He laughs loudly, flashing his swoon-worthy smile, “so did you, Ariadne.”

She looks down, shame coloring her olive skin as she bites back any further retort. You stare between them, completely confused and anxious, trying not to draw attention to yourself.

“I think I will judge this one alone,” he says as he steps closer, tilting his head as he studies you.

Adriadne’s mouth gapes in offense before her lips tighten into a thin line, “as you wish, master.”

“Bid one of the others to fetch us some wine as you go,” he waves his hand absently at her, eyes never leaving yours while she glares at you over his shoulder.

“Of course,” she says tersely and storms off into the trees.

There is a moment of silence as you hang there awkwardly, blood rushing to your head as you keep your hands pinned to your sides in an attempt to preserve some of your modesty. Your body shivers wildly, teeth chattering from the cool spring breeze and your wrecked nerves.

“Jealous still, after all these years. But she is loyal to me,” he explains as his fingers trace the collar of your shirt. “Hard to believe that she is the same woman who hired Theseus to kill me,” he chuckles fondly in memory.

“But… I thought Theseus did kill the Minotaur,” you reply, hoping to keep him amenable and talking.

He smirks, eyes sparkling with mischief, “I let him claim as much… and in exchange he ferried Ariadne away on his ship and left her on an island, stranded, as a gift to me.”

“What did you do to her?”

“I married her,” he shrugs. “She was beautiful and meant to be a queen, like her mother. So I made her queen of my harem, the Maenads.”

“Maenads?” you breathe, the title vaguely familiar.

His lip curls, as he circles you once more, “my fearless, formidable army of women who have given their lives in service to me. And in exchange I bless them with my presence.”

“Gee, what a trade,” you mutter without thinking.

He steps back in front of you and clicks his fingers. The vines break with a sharp snap and you drop, hitting your head painfully on the marble floor. You cower at his feet, his size even more intimidating from this new vulnerable position, waiting for the blow to fall for your disrespect.

“It is a gift only fit for those I prize most… which is rare these days.” He toes your chin, prodding you to look up at him. “And what about you, my little water lily… what would you offer your god?”

You gulp, his toe digging into the soft skin just above your throat. You know where he is trying to steer the conversation, you can feel it in the way he looks at you, so you try to stall for time, “w-why did she want to kill you?”

He sighs and releases your chin, crossing his arms over his protruding pectorals, “she was resistant to my affections after she saw what happened between her mother and I.” He pauses, but continues when he notices the look of confusion and mild disgust on your face.

“I seduced Minos’ wife, her mother,” he explains, “disguised as a bull, and Minos had the audacity to take revenge on my offspring. It died in that stone maze beneath their city. After that I ordered Minos to bring me mortal sacrifices each year. It was good sport for a while, and those who managed to impress me were welcomed into my harem where I gave them the chance to take vengeance on their oppressors.”

“So the whole Labyrinth was just a ruse… a way for you to build your cult following?” You snort in disbelief.

“Your naiveté is precious,” he sneers. “I’m hardly the first god to take advantage of their power. At least I don’t set out to inflict pain in all of my endeavors. In fact you might come to find that my desires can be quite beneficial to both of us.”

You flinch when he leans down, reaching out to cup your chin gently. His touch sends a warm tingle outward, spreading through your body and you find yourself getting to your feet at his wordless command, your eyes lost in his.

The soft slap of bare feet on stone and the clatter of a metal tray draws his attention away from you. You stand there mesmerized, the effect of that single touch lingering as he goes to collect a goblet of wine. He returns and offers it to you silently. You drag your eyes away from his modelesque features and glance down at the shimmering red wine.

You know it’s not your typical five dollar box wine by the way it sparkles when it catches the sunlight, clearly enhanced by some sort of magic. And yet your hand grips the cool metal without hesitation, your fingers brushing against his, making your breath hitch. Your muscles tense, mind screaming at you to toss it into the lake, but the edge of the cup meets your lips and the sinfully sweet concoction flows into your mouth despite your reticence.

“What’s going to happen to me?” You quiver as you hand the cup back.

He smiles and leans down, lips brushing against the shell of your ear, hot breath making you shiver with delight, “what would you like to happen to you?”

Words and thoughts evaporate as his lips meet the sensitive skin of your neck. It’s like a tickle set ablaze, your eyes roll and your breath quivers as a wave a pleasure shoots down your body. With just a single kiss he is able to surrender you powerless, needy and yearning for more. You’ve never felt anything so blissfully enticing, and it makes you wonder what else he could do.

“Again,” is all you manage, using most of your focus to remain standing.

“And what are you willing to give for it, little lily?” He whispers against your jaw and you swallow thickly at the wicked depth of his voice.

“Anything, please,” you plead breathily.

“A promising start…” he chuckles and steps back, drawing a whimper from you at the loss of his body heat. “Undress. Slowly.”

Heart fluttering, beating rapidly as a rush of hormones flood your veins, but your hand moves steady and sure. You lift the hem of your shirt, tossing it aside and soaking in his enjoyment, the glimmer in his eye with each new reveal gives you a surge of confidence. His smile widens as he watches you, low hums of pleasure reverberate around the gazebo until you are down to nothing, just like him.

Emboldened by the heat in his eyes and the way his cock grows at the sight of you, you bite your lip and push your breasts together, the need to be touched overwhelming you. You’ve never felt this audacious. And although your body bends to his will, inwardly you note the rush that comes with this lack of self doubt, always held back by your insecurities in the past.

“I still sense some fight in you,” he smirks and with a flourish of his hand a stone seat appears behind him.

He sits on the veined white marble while you stare on, entranced by his magic and the crawling vines wrapping themselves along the surface of the throne. He picks a plump purple grape from a vine on the arm and pops it in his mouth as he lets his thick thighs fall open on the wide seat.

“Show me what you’d do, if you let go completely. Forget about modesty, restraint or fear. I want you as wild and untamed as the flowers in this garden, little lily.”

Your mouth hangs open, salivating at the depravity of his words and his brazen posturing, draping lazily over the seat, exposing every flawless inch of himself. Your only thought is how you’d love to crawl into that lap and use this god until you are completely satisfied. You lick your lips and take a demure step forward.

“Do it,” he commands gently, fanning the fire raging within you.

You feel like you’re about to burst as you reach the chair, standing between his open thighs as you greedily admire every muscle and chiseled curve. Throwing all care to the wind you climb onto his lap, moaning already at the feel of his hot firm thighs beneath yours. Your knees hug his hips as you lets your hands explore his torso.

Fingers dancing over his abs and up his chest, feeling the curly chest hair tickle your fingers as you give a quick squeeze to his pectorals. He chuckles but doesn’t move, curious to see the way you slowly lose control, drawing you out of your timorous nature.

“That’s it. Use me. Show me your fire,” he urges.

You suddenly grab his face and pull his lips to yours. They are soft and pliant, the faint taste of grape still there, feeding your fervor. You feel your control slipping, almost entirely gone now, so unlike the you you’ve known your whole life. Or is this the real you? Just a you without fear.

“Fuck,” you groan as you pull back, your cunt leaking all over his lap as your hips move back and forth, slit dragging along his rigid cock.

“More,” he growls and you sneer at him.

You grab his cock and squeeze the tip playfully as you guide it to your entrance. You suck in one last breath as you slowly slide onto him. You whimper as he fills you so completely, the pain slightly outweighing the pleasure of the stretch. With a feral determination you sink onto him completely, his tip nestled so deep you can practically feel it in your stomach. Deeper than anything you’ve ever experienced.

“It’s too much,” you grimace and try to pull away, but his hands latch to your hips and keep you still.

You gasp at the sudden movement and the way his eyes glow dangerously, a warning. He holds your hips and lifts you up slowly, the corner of his mouth curving at the way you whimper and hiss.

“Such a delicate little flower,” he mocks as he forces you back down and you cry out. “You will learn to appreciate the duality of my sensuality, both the pain and the pleasure.”

You cling to his massive shoulders, your hands unable to cover the full width of his flexing muscles. Biting your lip you try to relax into his touch, the fire still burns within you, craving more despite the sharp stabbing in your core. But the longer you go, the more the pleasure prevails, rising like a warm tide within you until your hips begin to ride it gracefully.

“It is often the most beautiful flowers that are the most deadly… and that is what I will make of you. A woman without fear, knowing she is more formidable than any who might challenge her. I will unleash your chaos.”

Your hips swivel, no longer needing his guidance as you use him to your hearts content. Loud moaning and grunts fill the air as you grind yourself against him, clit pressing deliciously against his hard pelvic muscles as his voice fuels your passion until you explode. You press your chest to his, letting the glow of your orgasm wash over you as you melt into him, boneless and twitching.

“Yes my little water lily, you will join my Maenads, devote your life to me and do my bidding without question. Together we will bring about a new age of revelry.”

He pets your head, cradling you against his chest as you feel your old life slip away, submitting to his power, knowing you will never be the same again.

Tags: @darkficsyouneveraskedfor @caffiend-queen @queenoftheworldisdead @threeminutesoflife @buttercupfangirl @needleandhammer @thiskindahotkindamusic @lokiswildheartcantbebroken

[choupichoups]

Press F (Instagram/College AU) Epilogue

Lucas swears he’s the absolute master of undetected stalking. Or: Eliott is instagram famous and Lucas is the disaster gay who accidentally likes his post.

Okay so this is the end end, thank you again for reading!!

Lucas turns over, free arm carelessly swiping up the empty space beside him. Warm fingers drum a loose tune over cold sheets, long unoccupied despite the fact that it’s only nine in the morning. So Eliott did manage to drag his ass up for his photoshoot despite all the pouting and complaining from last night.

With a jaw cracking yawn, he pushes himself off their giant, comfy bed, landing on the floor with a soft thump. He conjures up whatever self restraint he’s gathered over the years to keep from nose diving back into the warm sheets. Eliott had left the curtains drawn over the windows, leaving their room bathed in burnt orange light, the air conditioning humming soft whirs of cool air. It’s the perfect recipe for a morning spent lounging in bed doing nothing.

But alas, he pulls his big boy pants up and drags his feet to the bathroom to follow his boyfriend’s itinerary for the day.  

srodulv We’ll be at the west beach behind the big cliff i showed you yesterday Whenever your highness deems it fit to join us Lol nvm we’re inside a cave now Aaand we moved Right at the path when you head down Can’t miss me and my handsome face on a plank

lucallemant why is ur face on a plank less texting more posing

srodulv Being the breadwinnner in this relationship is really a thankless job huh

lucallemant where’s the bread tho???

srodulv THANKLESS

“Lucas, hey!” 

He stumbles past the pathetic lumps of sand from where he and Eliott had attempted a friendly little sand castle competition a few days ago, clumsy on his feet as he holds himself back from rushing towards them. 

“Morning, Jo,” he greets the photographer first before raising both eyebrows at Eliott, who does, in fact, look perfectly handsome lounging on his plank. As if the sand isn’t digging into the skin of his elbows. As if the sun isn’t beating directly over their heads. Ugh, an abomination. 

“Oh hi, Eliott, good morning Eliott!” Eliott says in a mockingly high pitched tone when Lucas fails to say anything else. “How are you doing, Eliott?” he continues in that same annoying voice, prompting Lucas to kick up some sand his way. “I missed you, boyfriend, you’re working so hard, my dear!”

“Ew, shut up.” Lucas laughs, moving to sit beside Eliott when Jo pauses his snapping to adjust some settings on his camera. Despite all the teasing, however, Lucas presses a kiss to his boyfriend’s cheek and throws both legs over one of Eliott’s thighs, hands instinctively searching to intertwine their fingers. “Morning,” he murmurs into the space between their lips, chest fluttering when Eliott brushes their noses together, whipped as the first time. 

“Good sleep?” Eliott mutters back, smile melting sweeter when Lucas drops his head on his shoulder with a nod. “We’re almost done here and then we have the rest of the week to ourselves, okay?” 

“Okay.” Lucas plays with their tangled hands, fingers stroking light across the back of Eliott’s palms. He almost forgets what they’re actually talking about had it not been for the loud click of a camera shutter coming from his right. 

Jo is looking down at his camera when Lucas finally forces himself away from the very optimal cuddle he and Eliott had going on. “You sure you don’t wanna do a joint photoshoot, Lucas?” Jo turns the camera around to show him the photo he’d just taken. “You guys look really good together, it’d be a hit!” 

Yeah, no. Lucas snorts, “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”

Jo tuts, “Don’t be like that, this one looks good.”

“Lucky shot, trust me. My face does weird things in front of cameras most of the time,” he prattles out excuses, eyes narrowing when Eliott remains silent as he watches the exchange, laughter clear in his eyes. “Anyway, I’ll be taking a walk while you boys do your thing, alright, don’t have too much fun, drink water often, and I’ll see you,” he clicks his tongue, points to where Eliott is seated, eyes locked on Lucas ever since he arrived, “later. Bye!” 

And he runs off before Jo could convince him to join the shoot. Lucas really isn’t about that life, the amount of followers he’s garnered only from the fact that he’s dating Eliott is already stressing him out as it is. He can’t imagine what a legitimate photoshoot together would do. 

Making his way towards the beach, Lucas slips off his sandals and walks along the path where the waves hit the sand, relishing in the ticklish feel of sand shifting underneath his feet at every pull. His toes curl into the soft surface, wiggling at the cool touch of clear waters before the waves pull back into the ocean. 

It’s nice out here. Lucas had been mighty skeptical when Eliott had mentioned it off-handedly during the giant final party of the school year. Granted, both of them had been pretty drunk at that point and Lucas wasn’t sure whether he was hearing things or if Eliott had really just asked him to go on a two week vacation in South Africa. Like Lucas doesn’t only have two whole dollars in his savings account. 

It’s free, Eliott had cleared up once sober, chuckling at the dubious look on Lucas’ face. My friend wants a shoot there and he’s letting us stay at their private condo as payment. 

Wow, bourgeoisie, and then Lucas proceeded to forget about it in the midst of tear inducing exams.

He digs out his phone and snaps a photo of the sun hitting the ocean’s surface with a pretty gleam. His mom would appreciate the view, maybe it would encourage her to take her own vacation somewhere too. She deserves a few weeks away from the city— maybe a trip with her friends would be nice, maybe with that nice guy she’s trying to pass off as just her friend whenever Lucas visits would be good too. 

Lucas digs his heels in the sand and turns to face the ocean, rolling his sweatpants up to his calves as he steps deeper into the water. 

Eliott’s graduated. He’d done a placement at a studio during his final year and they refused to get rid of him (Lucas can relate), add to that Eliott’s side film projects and this whole internet famous slash instagram model thing and Eliott’s suddenly found himself a lot more occupied that initially expected. 

Lucas has quite a bit of catching up to do. Fuck, he’s not even employed anywhere. He’d left his job at the cafe during that unsavoury mess a year prior and his workload from school picked up at an abhorrent pace. The only reason he’s functioning as a semi normal human being right now is because Eliott has made it his mission to stop him from eating any more of Yann’s cheese bread and his mother has been helping him with rent. 

He stomps his feet into the water, pouting as it earns him a very unsatisfying splash. And then his feet are suddenly off the ground, legs flailing on instinct as he’s grabbed from behind by an obnoxious, giggling giant— 

“Eliott!” he screeches, two seconds before he’s unceremoniously dumped deeper into the water. Sputtering, he stands back up with as much dignity as he can gather and jumps onto Eliott’s back with a holler of curses, trying to keep his own head above water when Eliott’s knees buckle under the attack, laughter helpless as he clutches onto Lucas in their half-hearted tussle. 

They roll around half in and half out the waves, laughter unbridled like giddy little children on a high. Careful steps on the sand turn to careless treading in the deeper waters, drenched clothes stuck on warm skin and playful fingers threaded in ocean darkened locks. Lucas breathes out a chuckle in the tiny space between them, foreheads aligning perfectly when he hauls himself up, arms wrapped tightly around Eliott’s shoulders for balance. This close, Eliott’s smile is more radiant than the sun reflecting diamonds in the water and Lucas can’t look away, not when the oncoming wave roars closer, not when Eliott whispers something reverent that steals the breath right out of his lungs. 

"Eliott,” Lucas starts, blinking salt water off of his eyelashes. “Eliott, I—”

And then the waves claim them with an unmerciful smack, the force of it brings the two boys back to shore and they resurface with a sputter, their moment chased away by a newly triggered round of laughter.

“Oh shit.” Lucas squints as something dawns on him. “Fuck, Eliott!” He removes his soaked shirt and uses it to smack Eliott’s arm. 

“Ow! What?” 

“My shoes! I dropped them!”

“Oh. Oh, crap. I’ll buy— hey stop— stop that! I’ll buy you new ones at the market!”

The evening market is absolutely bustling with tourists. It seems like everyone had the same idea of whiling away the heat at the beach and whiling away at the shops once the sun starts to set. 

“Lucas, come here! Look.” 

Lucas follows the direction where Eliott’s voice is coming from, finding his boyfriend laden with all kinds of trinkets around the neck, around both wrists, and around most of his fingers. He’s such a fool. Lucas loves him so much.

“Please don’t tell me you’re gonna buy all of that.”

Eliott allows himself an offended look before remembering his excitement. “Course not, but look at this!” He stretches a hand and shows Lucas a handmade, wooden carving of a woman sitting on a piano bench with a dog beside her. “Wouldn’t this be perfect for your mom?” 

Did Lucas say he loves him already?

“Yeah,” he says softly, squeezing the hand holding the figurine before letting go and looking around the stalls himself. He’s done a bit of shopping for their friends already (he’s not actually going to get them only rocks and sand, thank you very much), all he needs now is for some help getting things for Eliott’s parents. “Hey, do you think you dad will like—” He turns around, holding up a trinket, only to find Eliott already off to the stalls on the far right. Oh well, at least he looks like he’s in the process of returning everything he’s got draped all over him. 

They don’t take very long to run into each other again once they’ve done their rounds, and Eliott beams like they haven’t seen each other in days, grabbing Lucas by the wrist with an enthusiastic, “All good to go?” And even if he wasn’t, Lucas would’ve followed him either way. 

Speaking of, they’re not headed to where they parked their rental car.

“Where are we going?” Lucas asks, sneaking a glance around them to see if he can pinpoint familiar places. They haven’t done much exploring for the past week, preferring to laze around the beach area whenever Eliott wasn’t busy with photoshoots, but he imagines Eliott has been around more than him if Jo wanted some changes in scenery. 

And because Eliott is Eliott, he doesn’t utter a word until they’ve passed a small bridge that leads to what looks like a dead end of shrubbery. 

But Lucas knows better by now.

They squeeze through the thick shrubs, pushing branches and leaves aside until they reach a wide clearing. “Tada...” Eliott whispers, as if the sound of his normal volume would disrupt the scene. 

And what a scene it was. A quaint circular area with boulders piled about, a large, ancient tree with drooping arms perfectly frames the view as if planted there years ago to fulfill this present purpose. The waves crash softly against the rocks, forcing pale, wet sand to shift with uneven dips. Over the horizon, blinding in its beauty, perches a moon so clear and bright Lucas would be hard pressed to believe it’s real if he weren’t standing right here.

“Holy shit,” he mumbles, shaking excess leaves off his feet as he makes his way forward, entranced. “Holy shit,” he repeats with feeling.

“Yup, holy shit.” Eliott breathes out his laughter, shoulders shrugging up in that endearing way of his. “Thought you’d appreciate this.”

Lucas makes his way to the edge where water and sand meet, bending to pick up a shiny stone reflecting moonlight off its surface. He hears Eliott coming up behind him but doesn’t expect the hand that steals the stone from his grip and Lucas huffs, indulging in his boyfriend’s amusement for a few minutes and jumping up to try and steal it back from Eliott’s raised fist.

“Eli, come on, give it.” He tries for another jump, but Eliott brings his hands behind his back, putting the stone out of sight. “Eliott!” Lucas whines, shaking the plastic bag of trinkets he’s got hanging around one wrist. Eliott has the gall to laugh at his suffering. “Give it.” Lucas holds out his free hand, tapping his feet on the sandy ground. “Now.” 

Eliott raises an eyebrow in turn, smile adorable despite its mischief as he holds out both hands in closed fists. “Okay, choose a hand then.” 

Lucas’ groan is long suffering. 

But unfortunately, undeniably fond.

“What is this now?” Lucas eyes him suspiciously, trying to figure out what Eliott has up in his sleeve this time. 

“What’s what?” Eliott tries for innocent.

“Did you learn some kind of magic trick, is that it?” Lucas grins, looking between the two hands in front of him.

“I don’t know, did I?” Eliott’s eye crinkles when he smiles. It’s infuriating.

“Omygod, you’re literally impossible. This better be a good trick, Demaury.” He slaps a hand over Eliott’s left fist, digging in between his fingers to try and pry them open. Eliott gives in too easily, lifting his fingers open without a struggle, so Lucas expects it to turn up empty.

Except.

Except—

“Is this good enough for you?” His voice is a whisper, quiet enough to get carried away by a strong wind. 

Lucas stares at the hand, mouth gaping dumbly. “That’s a ring.” He hears a chuckle, and then Eliott’s other hand is opening to reveal a matching pair. “That’s two rings,” he says, a necessary and intelligent contribution. 

“I know you’re nervous about what’s going to happen.” Eliott starts, “with my graduation, and work, and all that stuff.” 

“I’m not—”

“Lucas, please, you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Lucas shuts his mouth, looks down at the rings again as if they hold the answers to all his doubts. And maybe, maybe they do. Hold them. Some of them, at least. 

“Nobody likes change, you know. I hate it too.” Eliott steps closer, putting both rings inside one hand and using his free hand to grip one of Lucas’. “But for every change that happens there are still constants.” He places one of the rings inside Lucas’ palm. “And you have a lot of that, whether you believe it or not.” With both hands now free, Eliott takes the ring he kept for himself and drops it around his pinky finger. “But if there’s anything I want you to always believe, it’s that I will be your constant, Lucas Lallemant.” 

“Constant?” Lucas chokes, eyes stinging from the force of the tears he’s holding back. God, he’s such a cry baby and Eliott knows it too, the bastard. “Like, always? Like—” Forever. But that’s a scary word. “Whatever happened to minute by minute?” He laughs weakly, hand gripping the ring tight in his hold. 

Eliott leans down to press a kiss atop Lucas’ closed fist. “Okay, what if I tell you that here, in this exact spot, a minute lasts forever?” Because of course Eliott isn’t afraid of forever. Maybe Lucas will learn to be brave too. 

Absently, Lucas mimics Eliott’s earlier movements, sliding the ring around his pinky and staring at it in wonder. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen himself wear a ring in his whole life. It’s a little loose on him but he’ll deal with that later, now’s not the time to worry about tiny details. “That’s absurd.” 

“You’re absurd.”

“No you.” And Lucas launches himself up and into a hard kiss, putting all the brimming feelings he’s too stupefied to vocalize at this moment. “Buying promise rings,” he murmurs in between kisses. “When did you even— you sneaky bastard.” He pulls at Eliott’s shirt, dragging him down as he sags back on his heels. Eliott’s hands are warm cups over his cheeks, touch so soft, ever so gentle in everything he does. Lucas is shifting to fling his arms around Eliott’s shoulders to try and bring them even closer to each other when he feels the newly appointed metal on his finger fly right off his finger and into... well... into the unknown. 

He pulls away so fast he gives both of them whiplash. 

Fuck. “Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Fuck! 

Eliott is understandably confused. “Uh. What’s wrong?” 

“My ring!” Lucas screeches, throwing his bag of souvenirs over onto dry land before attempting to dive headfirst into the water. Eliott stops him just in time, dragging a protesting Lucas far, far away from the ocean. “But Eliott! My ring!! Your ring?! My— ring!” 

And Eliott is laughing. “It’s okay, Lu.”

“It’s not!” He takes fistfuls of Eliott’s shirt and shakes his boyfriend because in what world is it okay to lose a ring given to you two seconds ago? “I just had it and then it’s gone!” 

“Shh, it’s okay.” Eliott smiles down at him, shaking his head as he removes his own ring from his pinky and slides it onto Lucas’ ring finger. It’s a much better fit this time, but—

“But this is yours,” Lucas insists, “you’ve gotta have one too.”

“Oh, I do?” Eliott raises a teasing eyebrow.

“Of fucking course, that’s the point of a promise ring you dolt.” Wait no. “I’m the dolt. I can’t believe I lost my ring!”

Eliott’s giggles ring clear in the night. “Lucas, it’s okay, really, we’re here for a few more days, we can buy a new one before we leave, hm? Let’s go back now, I think you need some sleep.”

“I don’t need to sleep, I need to find my ring!!” 

[despair-ninja-everything-agency]

Ninjago: Ongeki Hibiki - an idea of Kamen Rider X Ninjago

Ever since I came back to the Kamen Rider series, one particular Rider-Ninjago match up has been stuck on me for a while. Believe it or not, it's between Kamen Rider Hibiki and Cole's dad, Lou. There's a reason why I gave his surname (and by extention Cole) as Hibiki.

While I haven't watch the entirety of Kamen Rider Hibiki (or Kamen Rider in general, really) save for some YouTube clips, I at least have the general gist of the plot and how the staff changes affect the second half of the season.

But enough of that, let's get to the proposed story of Lou as Hibiki.

Overview and Brief History

Back in 20... what? 10? 12? It was when Gaim was the latest Kamen Rider on air. There's really not much premise since it was still in a "casting agency" phase, meaning I still playing matching up without much story put on thought.

Lou is no different. I assigned him to be Hibiki simply for the latter's theme in music. He's in a team consisting of Dr. Julien as Kabuto and Ed Walker as Den-O, both of which doesn't have valid reasons to be matched up with like Lou did other than it sounds cool on paper. You could argue that Ed is Den-O because Den-O is one of if not the quirkiest Heisei Phase 1 Rider and Ed is that quirky while Kabuto has technological emphasis in which Dr. Julien is related to but these kinda stretching it.

Come this year. 2020.

Lou's Story as Hibiki

The idea is that, since it's confirmed that Onis exist in Ninjago's World, there's supposedly a small Oni tribe known as the Ongeki tribe, famous for their usage of music in battle. This again split into 4 clans. The clan of Ibuki which specialized in wind instruments, the Zanki clan specialized in string instruments, an unnamed clan which specialized in keyboard instruments, and the Hibiki clan which specialized in percussion instruments. They are separate from the usual Onis of Ninjago's Continuity in that they rather left out of the never ending war between Onis and Dragons, only come out to the battlefield whenever necessary. However, this in turn causes friction with the other Onis, the latter deeming them to be cowards. It resulted in a genocide against the Ongeki tribe, with only one (or a few, maybe) survivor.

Lou (original name unknown) was an Oni from the Hibiki clan. He specifically mastered in taiko drums, in leu with the original Hibiki. Not much known about his past except he was a trained warrior. While skilled, he's considered to be one of the lowest ranking warrior. On the day of the genocide, he managed to escape to the realm which would become Ninjago with the help of another Oni, which may or may not be Mistaké.

As an Oni, his form is closer to that of the Oni of Kamen Rider Hibiki, in particular Hibiki himself, rather that the Oni of Ninjago. Once settled in Ninjago, he changed into a form that we now know as Lou. As a disguised human, he often changing identities and jobs. But each jobs he had were always have to do with music, something he felt reminding him of his home.

This might be forced but let's talk of how Lou transforms into his Oni form using a device rather than at will like most of Ninjago's Oni. Cuz I like the Henshin Onsa :P

Lou, back then know with a different name that suspiciously similar to the OG Hibiki (Hitoshi Hidaka) down to the alletrative name, was involved with helping the First Spinjitzu Master fending off the Oni forces sent to capture him. However, since he's weaker than the FSM, he's captured quickly by the Oni. Believing that having his powers would be an obstacle to them, the Oni forces decided to seal away his Oni powers and form, rendering him a normal man. They didn't manage to do the same to Mistaké tho, as they're driven away from Ninjago.

It is at this time that the FSM offered to help him tapping into his Oni powers, which led to the creation of the Henshin Onsa, a tuning-fork shaped transformation device. It lets him to access his Oni powers and ability yet not enough to return him to his Oni form. He only finally able to turn into his Oni form again after a tougher training, and even then he still need to use the Onsa for it.

Due to the extended lifespan of an Oni, Lou had lived long enough to know the history of Ninjago itself in the making. However, he only known as what he is now when he met with The Elemental Master of Earth. They both fell in love quite fast and not even the revelation of Lou's true identity hindered their love for one another. This led to their marriage and later the birth of Cole.

Cole was unaware of his heritage as an Oni as Lou tried his best not talk about his other activity, often disguised it as something related to his current occupation as the Royal Blacksmith. Speaking of Royal Blacksmith, he established it with three other people not long after Cole's birth.

Now for something related to his injury, that is his broken foot. See, while he presented it as some insignificant accident, in reality he was injured while fighting against a giant creature similar to the Makamou of KR Hibiki. In his defense, it did happened during a big party in which he's invited to.

General Appearance as Hibiki

While his Oni form is that of OG Hibiki's, Lou's transformed or powered state is usually signified with his suit turning into a simple purple colored hakama with brown ropes fastening a golden Oni face similar to the early Ninja gi where the Oni face is replaced with elemental symblos. His footwear is a pair of wooden sandals and a pair of white socks. A red taiko drumstick known as Ongekibou usually appears on his back in a crossing manner fastened by the ropes.

Rider AU vs Symphogear AU vs A Canon Divergance

Here's the deal. I have two or three idea for Lou as Hibiki.

The first one is a Canon Divergance, in which I have elaborated above. His relationship with Cole is still strained, even more so once Cole found out that Lou isn't what he appears to be. But it does work around later on.

The second is the Rider AU. While the whole Ongeki tribe thing still exist, its demise is instead causes by a group known as Shocker (the OG Kamen Rider's enemy). The circumstance of his transformation is different as well. In here, Lou was almost got killed and went missing, leading to the then teenager Cole to go after Shocker in revenge. This leads to him nearly dying, only surviving thanks to Dr. Julien turning him into a cyborg and become Ninjago's equivalent of Kamen Rider Black. Lou returns to his only family after recovering from his wound.

The last is Symphogear AU. His circumstance is that he's an early expermentation of Symphogear's prototype, utilizing the power of music (specifically taiko music) as opposed to the more well known song. In appearance, he is also different to his successor in that he wears a hakama instead of armors. Of course, his son Cole become the next Symphogear wielder who utilize the power of Gungnir relic. Lou's relic is left unknown.

[bloojayoolie]

Be Like, Bless Up, and Bruh: My sister's gentle giant German Shepherd wears a bow tie everywhere because it makes people less intimidated and afraid of him. @DrSmashlove Reddit u/tricksy_trixie Say Bruh shout to u pretty a$$ ladies with resting bish face (RBF) bruv I fux with y’all. I fux witchu ladies the long way bruv y’all sexy. I’m talking and u just eyeing me. Scrutinizing me. U feel me? Am I making her mad? Is she disagreeing with me? What is she thinking? I need that. That element of risk. Like u might could reach across the table and break a bottle over my head bruv. That sh!t dangerous to me that’s sexy lol. Scowl at me. U feel me? HANGRY - even tho u just bodied four tacos, a bowl of guac, and a large horchata 😩. I fux with that. And women with RBF do well in business! That’s why women get successful and ppl be like “wow Susan is a bish” NO SHE AINT! SHE JUST GOT SKRONG RBF! “David if you don’t start being reasonable imma stab this pen into your neck. How you gon explain that to ya kids? You could have given us $17,000 more per month for this amazing software but nah. You wanted to die on your sword. Well David, act like a bish you gon DIE LIKE A BISH.” I mean I still remember tryina explain to my mama why my sister crying and my mama already got the chancleta IN HER HAND - RAISED - maybe EEN a wooden spoon in the other - just preparing for that cosmic two-tiered simultaneous SHLAP - SHMACK - CRACK of the spoon handle to end my existence u feel me? “Wow smash what a childhood that explains why you’re like this no wonder.” Ok first of all ...... YES ASF 😂. Y’all could judge my mama all u want to but u can’t have 1-on-1 convo’s with all ya chirren once u have more than three like after that u gotta be efficient and the flip flop - wooden spoon is efficient ASF. All I’m saying is at the end of the day I love my mama and perhaps RBF remind me of her Resting Boutta Whup Dat A$$ Face all I’m saying is for u ladies who are like “MY FRIENDS ALL SAY I HAVE THE WORST RBF LIKE HOW DO I GET RID OF THIS”...don’t 😍😂. As Tupac said, “You are appreciated ☺️”. Now none of u extra-a$$ ladies who follow me DM me talmbout “can I ride the Peepington while slapping u with a sandal and breaking wooden spoons on u zaddy ☺️” I told u I ain’t into being dominated! (Nah but DM me tho if u gon do it 🤤🤫) BLESS UP 😍😂😂😂

[bananagator]

i had a dream about a “new season of FLCL” where Shiki from Garden of Sinners was childhood friends with Ta-kun and then he mysteriously vanished.  years passed and then...

a gang showed up to a decidedly more dystopian future city that was both traditional small town and massive skyscrapers.  they had high-heel wooden sandals, black leather jackets, delinquent hairdos... and they wanted to take over the town.  “something” allowed them to seize power by its absence.  Shiki by now was an adult, and also wasn’t going to let them take over, but the gang had a trump card: a mysterious tall swordsman who was missing half his face from like the bridge of the nose up.  like where the rest of his face SHOULD have been was just the faint edges of shadow and then just NOTHING.

Shiki prepares to automatically face him.  then she wonders for a split second why he almost seems familiar and then suddenly her eyes go wide as there’s a rapid-fire of images.  child!Shiki, Ta-kun (also a kid), Shiki’s scared face as flames go up and calling out to Ta-kun.  She snaps back to the present and tries to shake it thinking ‘no there’s no way that can be Ta-kun....’ but it was definitely implied to be adult!Ta-kun.  She briefly clashes with him, winds up on the ground but is saved by the eccentric townspeople.

There was an army of white furry animals.... possibly bunnies, but like.  if bunnies were fighters and also built.  theyremindedmeofmonsterranchersmonsterstbh.  there were drums, a young possibly black woman (can’t remember) shouting to charge, tho i think most of the reinforcements were women of varying ages.  The delinquents decide to retreat and think about killing Shiki but ‘decide to let her live for now’ as they all kind of flee and step over where she’s lying on the ground.

And at one point it was like i was watching this on TV where my mom was on the end of the couch, like she was falling asleep.  Then there was a new episode which transitions back into the action.  which.... Haruka is trolling the owner of a business company, or at the very least the man who lives in this skyscraper.  there are these two massive ropes leading up and blue light.  she’s ringing both bells to try and trick him to come down and answer the door, and at first he doesn’t fall for it bcuz he probably thinks its a prank?? but then she scales up a little ways to ring a third, much smaller rope that’s by a window. 

eventually the irritable old man comes down, and he seems triumphant that she’s not at the front where the giant ropes are, and then it cuts to her sneaking through the window and she’s modified the ropes so that they’re longer by using her own rope to duct tape it.  and she’s carefully, ever so carefully so the bell doesn’t go off, pulling it in the opposite direction so the duct tape job is out of view of the window, and then she grins mischievously before slipping away right as he’s coming back into view on the stairs.  why she needed to infiltrate is never made clear.

but then there’s a little bit of Avatar the Last Airbender action going on.  I think it was Korra, but Aang (when he was a kid) is also there.  maybe they’re either both there or the dream alternates between the two Avatars.  something is threatening to destroy the town.  apparently they realize the future is that the town-turned-city is fated to be destroyed and time has already reset but the attempt to save it fails. There’s a massive door behind which a spirit resides.  The only way to open the door is bending spheres called “shadow keys” through the holes in the door in a specific way (even tho the door was solid).

Aang was definitely the one who, after being initially rejected from the idea of using the shadow keys to awaken the ancient shadow spirit says “NO!! I won’t let the city be destroyed or lose my friends!!” there must have been a reason why it was not considered a good idea to use the shadow keys to let out the shadow spirit under normal circumstances, but it wasn’t dangerous per se, but it offered them its wisdom and could potentially manipulate time.

Korra uses her avatar state and then i think we see adult!Aang bending the shadow keys through.  The spirit reverts the city that’s in flames....

Then it cuts to something totally different.  and apparently my mom was making a joke (we’re no longer in the TV room of my house) about some famous Japanese actor (don’t know if it’s a real actor or not) and how he’s not actually that popular and the ‘audience’ laughs including some host type of person bcuz i guess the joke was self-deprecating ‘we actually only watch this guy bcuz nothing else was on.”  The rest of the dream was weird nonsense about launching couples in crazy ways as a game challenge.

[ad7000]

18th transcriptions

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5  I want to have a look what you can see because the Scot’s side, that’s Scotland over there, the Scot’s side is brightening up a bit. So coming back from Morrisons you get a beautiful view, briefly, but you get a beautiful view over the lake district, right from the northern lakes you can actually see the beginning of the lake district when it comes out of what used to be the ocean. It’s quite good. But from there you can see,it’ll give you an idea of where we’re going. We can’t go anywhere from Swineside, there’s no through road. It stops in the bloody mountain, like, it stops in Great Lingy at the back of High Pike. 

There’s many, many little places. There's Brough church by burgh by sand, and down there by kirkbride there;s a bird of prey center down there, that’s where Micheal lives down there. And the next one is brough by Sands. Brough by Sands is where Edward the first died on the march. He was contemplating- well, nobody  knows really what he was contemplating, whether he was contemplating to have another go at the Scots or not i don’t know, I honestly don’t know. But he died there anyway, he wasn’t that old, he was only in his 60′s, he died in there anyway, he laid in state in brough church. And brough church was, it was originally it was just a tower, then they built the church actually on it, but the tower is very well fortified. nobody else would have got in its got a big iron gate at the bottom, a man can only pass through it sideways, and there’s room for a man on either side and a spear or a lance or something, and anyone who came through got run through like. This is the river Eden here, and that bridge that i showed you yesterday when it flooded, it was just up there on the picture, but when the river floods all this here, to these banks, the whole thing is just a massive, one thing of water. Even if we’re going to the cheese factory we’ll have a walk up here to the woods, there’s an old part and a new part. The ditches, the boundary ditches were dug by dutch engineers in about 1750, something like that, some of the oak trees are very old, but during its time it sunk, its become very boggy and not good for trees, no good at all for trees. They're growing deformed, they're getting a bit knotted an gnarled, it is all a bit ancient primeval, 1600′s i would think, maybe 1500′s. Rockcliffe is where our seaside is, and that you can see over there is Scotland. Further up is the chiviots, this... it’s difficult see if you can see them, it;s difficult to see where the pennines finish and the chiviots begin. 

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7

This is greenbelt land here which was ‘never ever’ going to be built on. So that’s where we’re going, caldbeck. It goes up fairly steep. Just down there is perellis rubber factory where they make the tyres. Actually, for the amount of water that’s been down, the top of swineside, we’ll get as far as we can go, grainscale beck runs into the river caldew and there’s a great big loch... there’s a big deep loch... on the top, if that’s so grainscale beck is the way on our side, there’s two ways off, there’s white water rapids down the other side, and granscale beck down the other side. They're the only two points that will drain that loch. So there should be a fair bit of...

This used to be, this is the caldew along here, you can actually walk the other side here and down the other side of it as well. I used to take shadow down the other side but here it’s too close to the road, he’ll be on bloody the road before i know, and Toby, they’ll be on the road but on the other side they don’t. They need to cross the river. There’s a but mere through there, it’s only very shallow but its a good salmon river.

this is a quarry that i used to have here, that i used to be the engineer for it. now then, you can see now where, wait a minute. Okay, right, thats the brucklebank area over there, thats the sandale one over there, but up the middle, right running up the middle is the solway. Over the other side, thats scotland. Not that you can see it very well, but it is. But you can see here where the subduction pushed it up, because that is the seabed there, see it all flat and what not? that is all seabed, and indeed all this was under the sea obviously it’s limestone. Do you see the river we came over yesterday, the river esk? Well the river esk is the end, that supplies the solway, like the river severn comes down into the bristol channel, the solway is fed by the esk. It’s obviously tidal down but that’s where it started. There’s not much here, but it’s the center of the north fells mountain rescue.

Ah! ah yes, ponies. And while they are here, they’re wild. Don’t let them get their heads in. Now then, these ponies, have you noticed that they’re built more... they’re half way between a pony and a cart horse? Right, i told you that, back there, on the tramway there was a proper built road, it wasn’t a track or anything, it was a proper built, cobbled road that years ago was a tramway, it had railway lines on it that pulled trucks loaded with ore, and these were the horses that used to pull it, of these breed. Obviously not the same bloody ponies, but of this breed. Cart horses were too big, and the fell pony was bred specially for that job, and it goes back to the Elizabethan times if not before. Queen Elizabeth's men dug in this area, in the fells it was very very rich with ore, mainly copper, lead and tin. But there was some gold, and there was quite a bit of silver, the silver came up with the lead. Now then, there was also something else that came up and it looked like rock, so they threw it away and it ended up with the spoils. They were mining with milesteel tools, not iron tools, very very soft, not really... more for sandstone than limestone. And they used to have what they called the jumper, one man held it and another man belted it with a hammer, and eventually they knocked a hole into the rock. They then put another one in which was like a half moon shape, and a round one, and they pushed the half moon shaped one into the hole, and when they hammered the round one in it put pressure on it and what not and split the rock. This was of course before gunpowder, before the gunpowder mines. What the call the old mans mines, the old peoples mines, or the old mans mines, you can tell them because they were coffin shaped, there’s flat on top, they go out and then they go round. They didn’t take, it was hard bloody work, they didn’t take more rock out than they needed to so they just took it out the shape of the man so they could get in there like. The mines that you can see up here, the ones that are arched or straight sided those are the gunpowder mines, where it didn’t really matter like, they just put gunpowder in and blew the bloody things out like. But they still used the horses for bringing the ore down because little of it was smelted up here. Now then, the copper that came from here was very very high grade, and most of it went to the royal navy. Have you heard of the term copper bottomed? Well,copper bottomed they refer to investments and shares and they say ‘oh, they’re copper bottomed’, the copper bottomed came from Nelson’s day and before, when the tourlidoworm wrecked ships, and the barnicles and they had tho roll them over and cerine them and scrape all the bloody barnacles off because it slowed them down. They started covering them with copper sheets, and the sheets were only about a foot square, but they nailed copper plates to the wood and that stopped the tournadoworms. It couldnt bite through them, it couldnt chow through them, and it also stopped thebarnacles becuase for some reason or another, there was something in the copper that stopped the barnacles, the barnacles didn’t want, they didnt like it. So that’s wher ethe copper that came out of here went, most of it went to the royal navy. Even if you have a look now at voctory, she’s still got her copper plates on.  And each copper plate has, i guess W, or CH, or something on it and a number and the CH would stand for Swansea... sorry, SW for Swansea, Ch for chattam, and the number of where they... the letters were the dockyard and the plate had a number, and thats where it was fitted. But in the end, in the wooden ships, the whole of the royal navy had copper bottom ships, and this is where they were so much faster. on the sea, becuase they didnt have anythhing dragging them back, like, they didnt have barnicles or anything. Tornadoworms used to eat right through the bloody planking on it and what not and cuase leaks, and the bosens mate use to havea room full of pegs, liek woodenpegs,and most of them were made of willow and when they got a leak from a worm hole they used to push the peg in it, and then of course the willow used to swell. But they are fell ponies. Shall we push on? 

What they threw away out of the mines, it was a rock called wolfram. Wolfram is the ore for tungsten carbide. So they were actually throwing away the stuff, had they known what to do with it, that would... and that’s why the spoil heaps up, right up at the top are chucked about all over the place, they’re not in heaps anymore, because during the last war they went through and took all the wolfram. I mention that because the last of the wolfram mines are closed.

So.... waterfalls 100 yards. 

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