#yes I am talking about Homestead

[greenflower21]

DAMN I genuinely love it when Star Trek episodes are Jewish trauma AND resilience coded

[kisses4kaia]

please i am on my knees begging for billy…you write him so well…

yes baby whatever you want—implication oral sex (f recieving) but no real smut i fear :((, very very very slight internalized misogyny (r is just jealous), billy being a cocky dick (the best kind)

billy was yours and that was that.

with that damn leash you kept on him, it was never questioned why billy never went home with any girls at the saloon after a game of poker, whether he won or lost. because as probable as it was the sun would come up the next day, it was just as likely it would be you he’d lay in bed next to, fucking you with just about as much passion as he would have exerted in a goddamn battlefield.

you never had to worry about him straying, because you knew you had him and nobody could ever replace what you give him in a lover, but that never meant his born reckless soul wasn’t going to push boundaries.

she had painted fingernails, corset cinched to the maximum degree of discomfort, and a flawless, straight-like-a-ruler, smile. she came from money and her name was something like margaret, or margaux—something french, probably. she was classy and beautiful and not billy’s type. you could have laughed when you saw her saunter over to billy’s barstool.

before looking at her, he paid her no mind, listening to her talk about how lonely he looked on a beautiful evening like this one, and how he doesn’t look like he belongs here. the same tired lines every girl used every time, and he probably would have shooed her away if his eyes hadn’t landed on the daggers you shot at her with your shattering gaze.

his smirk was quick to make itself known, letting his eyes run over her body as he straightened his posture. you couldn’t exactly hear what was being discussed over the conversation buzz swallowing the sound scape. you did, however, hear margaret/margaux laugh, so trained, so light and airy and feminine and infuriating. you didn’t grow up in a country house or paint your nails, the different appropriate kinds of laughters were never discerned in your taught etiquette.

nothing about you was light or airy or feminine and here billy was, flirting with those very things personified like you didn’t have him pleading with you to stop cumming less than 24 hours ago. you were probably steaming at the ears at this point.

abandoning the dull conversation surrounding the upcoming horse races with a friendly barkeep, you put one cowgirl boot in front of the other as you blaze over to billy. “come on, we’re leaving.” you say jaggedly, hardly sparing margaret/margaux a single glance.

“is this your friend?” she asks with a tone so sweet and pitchy it almost makes your eye twitch.

“yes.”

“no.”

the woman looked simply confused at your contrasting answers and quite politely excused herself as your eyes yielded a dangerous hail down onto him. he sighed, taking his time as he finished his drink—rising from his barstool, paying the barkeep, grabbing his hat and jacket—and finally walking out of the saloon with you.

as soon as the door shut to billy’s current homestead you shared, you stomped in silence to the bedroom. “where you going, baby?” he called out, not wincing, and pushing past the nearly slammed door after you. he enters to see you pacing, practically fuming.

“what’s wrong, darlin’?” he approached you and uncrossed your arms, looking down at you as if you were wounded. you hated these stares of him because it was so hearty and intense and all about you.

“you were practically sticking your dick in her! that lady, the one who obviously wanted you to take her out back,” you spit out all at once. your language was often crude, but it never made billy wince the way it made other men react. billy just smiled as though he pitied you, kissing the top of your head. you forced your arms to sides as he wrapped his around you. “you jealous?” he laughed after pulling you away from his chest and looking back down at you again.

you rolled your eyes, scoffing and tearing yourself out of his hold, walking away from him. your arms crossed in front of your chest. “i am not jealous, i am simply… perplexed.”

this seemed to amuse him. “uh huh. well, you don’t got anythin’ to worry about, baby. dontch’ya know i’m crazy about you?” his drawl drew you towards him again. his eyes were glimmering with honesty, soothing your jealousy slightly.

“you sure?” you said with a slight pout as billy pulls you in once more.

“need me to prove it to you?” the ask wasn’t posed so much as a question as a request as he sunk down slowly onto his knees in front of you. you laughed, nodding eagerly as you helped him unbutton your denim.

[fatefulfaerie]

Tears

“Link!” Penn exclaimed, wings outstretched in excitement. “What a great sense for news you have! Here I am chasing a new lead on the Princess and my partner appears before my eyes!”

Link hadn’t seen Penn since they finished chasing all the leads they had on the Princess’ whereabouts. It was at least a month since they went from stable to stable, Link almost believing the Yiga’s tricks and getting barely a wink of sleep until all twelve were dead ends. He was left just as lost as when he started until he found Impa and sunk himself into the mysterious geoglyphs that dotted the land. Link hadn’t yet found the courage to admit to anyone the truth about Zelda, so he pretended the best he could to be the eager, young reporter Penn knew him as.

“I’ve heard that Zelda has a homestead here in Hateno,” he continued. “Villagers tell me it’s across this bridge, but I’m afraid I’m at a standstill. You see, investigating her home for clues seems to go against my morals as a journalist. This may have to be a story we leave be.”

It was public knowledge that Princess Zelda lived in Hateno. That was no news story.

“What’s the lead?” Link asked. “Was she seen here recently? S-since her disappearance I mean.”

“It may be hearsay but rumors have been circulating that the Princess is married,” Penn said. “The villagers here have no idea what I’m talking about, so I’m thinking it’s no more than gossip. Traysi wanted me to check it out nonetheless. I’m thinking we at least find the may–”

Link averted his tear-filled gaze.

“Link, are you all right?”

“I…I’m fine,” he stammered. “Just…allergies.”

“Where,” he began weakly, but forced his voice to be stronger. “Where does the lead come from?”

“An old Zora at the Domain,” Penn answered. “He’s losing his memory but tends to spout some random things about his long life in an effort to keep a grasp on it. His niece heard him talking about marrying the Princess to someone, but he didn’t specify who. She was so excited about the prospect that she sent word to Traysi.”

Link looked notably nervous as he hugged his arms close.

“Don’t…don’t run the story,” he said in a hushed voice, no longer meeting Penn’s gaze at all. 

Penn looked confused.

“Link…what do you mean? Do you know something?”

“It just…it paints her in a bad light.”

“Link, I know you care about the princess’ public reputation. Your work at the paper honors that gleamingly. Your search for the absolute truth is inspiring to the whole team. You service our kingdom and our princess well.”

Link steadied his nerves with a deep breath and a slow blink of his eyes.

“It was me,” he admitted, quietly at first.

Penn blinked, shocked. He assumed he heard wrong.

“What?”

“It was me!” Link finally burst out pointing at himself. “All of it, everything. The mysterious hero who came out of nowhere and saved Hyrule from the calamity, me. I brought Zelda here and we built a life, and it was a good life. I married her because I loved her. We didn’t tell anyone because goddesses the Yiga were trailing her everywhere and everyone was looking at her to rebuild but I guess it doesn’t matter anymore because she’s gone, okay? She’s gone! That’s it, that’s your story. She’s a magic, floating dragon in the skies because I failed her again. She sacrificed herself for this kingdom and no one will ever know because there’s no proof! Nothing! No one else sees the dragons but me, so that’s what I have for you, absolutely nothing! I have nothing!”

Link panted and Penn stared. He blinked his eyes once, twice. Link expected him to call him crazy. Instead, he pointed his white-feathered wing at the house across the bridge.

“That’s your house?”

Link’s disbelief was shown in his face.

“Yes.”

Penn looked at the house for a moment, letting the breeze sift through his feathers.

“Link I think in a time like this Hyrule would quite like to hear a story like this about their Princess,” Penn said. “I don’t think your story paints her in a bad light in the slightest. In fact, it may be the heartwarming tale people need right now.”

Link’s gaze angled down and pondered the suggestion.

“And no, they won’t believe that she’s turned into a dragon,” Penn continued. “But they will believe as I do how much you loved her, and how she must have loved you.”

Link nodded.

“If you don’t mind I’d like to interview you,” Penn admitted. “In the house you built together. You’ll get final approval of the story I send to Traysi.”

Link looked up and over at the house. It felt like he hadn't been there in ages, like it was a lifetime ago that he went in scouring for clues, hoping she'd just be around the next corner. Waiting for her was like waiting for a sunrise that would never come.

“No, I don’t mind.”

[teecupangel]

Hellooo! Loving all the posts about spider Desmond 🕷️

I am curious though, one of the replies mentioned something about Ratohnhaketon also having spider babies and I would LOVE to see how all that would happen too

The Spider Desmond idea (mostly AltDes)

For Ratonhnhaké:ton’s part, there are two main ‘nests’ I can see Desmond being ‘reborn’ in as one of his great great (insert as many great as needed here) grandchildren.

One would be the Grand Temple but this would mean that Desmond would be stuck in the Grand Temple… unless there is a small hole in the Grand Temple that only him and his spider children could enter and exit from?

The second would be somewhere in the Homestead to give us an easy time for him and Ratonhnhaké:ton to meet. The mansion’s basement could be the location as the Brotherhood do care and ‘revere’ the spiders so they would believe having a nest of them in the basement of their headquarters would be an auspicious sign. An alternate would be the mine near the Homestead. This way, Ratonhnhaké:ton would only meet Desmond after he became an Assassin.

Regardless of which ‘origin’ you pick, the main idea is that Desmond meets Ratonhnhaké:ton and this is more of a case of friends to lovers trope.

The changes of the plot really depends on if you want Desmond to also be part of Edward’s life or not but, for this idea, we’ll go with Desmond not being able to stop the Kenway Family Drama and only being born after Ratonhnhaké:ton was born. This means that Haytham is still a Templar and canon is more or less in place.

For this one, Desmond becomes Ratonhnhaké:ton’s closest confidant, the one person in the Homestead who listens to him and believes in him wholeheartedly. Achilles’ tough love approach only serves to push Ratonhnhaké:ton to Desmond.

On Desmond’s side, he’s still grieving over Ezio and Altaïr but it’s not an encompassing grief that shackles him. He lives with the grief and focuses on the happy memories he had with them. He also takes any responsibilities Ratonhnhaké:ton had in the homestead whenever he’s away so he’s keeping busy. This gives him time to write to the Italian Brotherhood, just to check up on his descendants. They’re doing well and that lifts a weight over Desmond’s shoulders.

The homestead know of him but they know him as a sickly man, unable to leave his room with a bed covered by curtains that hides his body, leaving only shadows.

He’s kind though and do care for them.

They also hear the joy in his voice when he talks about Ratonhnhaké:ton and it didn’t take the homestead long to mistake their relationship as ‘they’re keeping it a secret because it’s dangerous to flaunt this kind of love’.

Of course, Achilles hears about it and just rolls his eyes. He doesn’t bother to correct anybody because, as far as he was concerned, yes, the two idiots were falling in love and doesn’t even know about it.

Ratonhnhaké:ton is always accompanied by 3 to 5 spiders who help him. They can understand him and Ratonhnhaké:ton learned enough of their sign language to understand them as well. They’re part of the spider nest that Desmond woke up in and followed Desmond outside because he was more or less their caretaker during the last few years Desmond was still in the nest.

Later on, they become the unofficial nannies of Desmond and Ratonhnhaké:ton’s spider children.

All right, in terms of when their friendship turned to romance, you can take your pick.

My main suggestion would be after Ratonhnhaké:ton learned of Washington is the one behind the burning of his village and mistook Haytham’s actions as trying to manipulate him.

Ratonhnhaké:ton returns to the homestead and finds Desmond waiting for him with a smile as he says “Welcome home” and his rage turns to sorrow.

He holds Desmond as he tells him everything that happened and Desmond stayed by his side.

There is a moment when they look like they’re about to kiss but Desmond stopped him by pressing his hand over Ratonhnhaké:ton’s mouth gently.

Ratonhnhaké:ton was hurting right now and Desmond understands that it would be so easy to take comfort from someone who cares but Desmond doesn’t want Ratonhnhaké:ton to have any regrets. He tells him that he’ll stay by Ratonhnhaké:ton’s side for as long as he needs him but not like this.

If Ratonhnhaké:ton feels something for him that is deeper than one feels for a friend or a family then they would talk about it once Ratonhnhaké:ton is in a better ‘headspace’.

In the end, they do talk about it after a few days of Ratonhnhaké:ton just staying in the homestead and Ratonhnhaké:ton confessed that he didn’t know how he felt about Desmond until he thought about it these past few days. Before…

It just seemed so natural for him to act that way to Desmond.

Their relationship evolved so naturally that Ratonhnhaké:ton never questioned it.

From there, they make their relationship official although they start slow in terms of… the physical aspect of their relationship.

In this situation, their first children would probably be conceived the day before Ratonhnhaké:ton joins for the battle in Yorktown.

Among the children, Io:nhiòte would be the most in-tune with her spider half and is always seen playing with the other spider children. Their two older children would have varying degrees of ‘spiderness’. The oldest daughter would later become part of the Miles bloodline.

[morri-draws]

Gale x Reader - 'Some Time Alone, Together'

Summary:

You plan some time alone with Gale to finally relax and bathe after so long in the Shadowlands, and to make passionate love

Rating: Explicit

TAGS: porn no plot, self-conscious reader, passionate sex, nipple-licking, cunnilingus, vaginal fingering, blow-jobs

Words: 4,099 | Ao3

(Note: This is my first time writing smut so please go easy on me lol)

After weeks in the Shadowlands, the relief you feel when you finally arrive in the outskirts of Baldur’s Gate is immeasurable. Even with protection against the Shadow Curse, just being surrounded by it seemed to eat at you, leaving you feeling a sense of hopelessness, as if you’d never be able to leave. But at last, you’re out of that dark and dreadful place, the sun is shining, and you are so close to finally being able to have a bath.

Once you and your party arrive at Wyrm’s Crossing and make camp, you take a little trip by yourself while the others relax, to a famous pleasure house called Sharess’ Caress. However, you’re not going there to let off steam, but to arrange something for the next day for you and someone special.

Over your time travelling together, you and Gale have become close. In fact, one night during your time in the Shadowlands, he declared his love for you, and you confessed yours for him, before making love under the wizard’s conjured starry sky, a pocket of beauty in an otherwise perilous land.

You talk over your plans with the Mamzell of the establishment and pay her upfront, before heading back to camp, where you have some dinner before heading to bed.

~

The next morning after breakfast, you talk with each of your companions in camp, encouraging them to have a day for themselves to relax and do what they choose. Once you’ve spoken to everyone else, you make your way over to Gale and ask him to head out, just the two of you.

You walk together from your camp at the abandoned homestead in Rivington and over the bridge to Wyrm’s Crossing. When you turn off the path to enter Sharess’ Caress, Gale’s expression becomes unsure. You look to the Mamzell behind the bar, who nods with a smile and speaks discreetly to another employee, who then leaves the bar and heads upstairs. You pull Gale aside to a vacant corner.

“I know what you must be thinking,” You say. “But I promise, the only person I am here to be with is you,”

His shoulders relax slightly, showing some relief, but you can tell he’s still not entirely certain.

“Let’s head upstairs,” You give a reassuring smile and take his hand in yours, heading to the back of the bar area and turning left up the stairs.

You lead him through a passage and up another flight of stairs until you step out onto a balcony. To the left is a set of double doors, surrounded by intertwining vines, rich green leaves blanketing the walls.

You approach the door and knock. The door swings open almost immediately, revealing a beautiful wood elf, her skin almost the same shade as the vine leaves, her hair the colour of cherry blossoms. She is scantily clothed in green and black lingerie.

“The two lovers,” She greets you and Gale with a smile, her voice silky.

She steps aside so you may enter. You step onto the shiny marble floor of the antechamber, multi-coloured tiles forming a mandala pattern in the centre. At the far end of the room is a large rectangular bath framed by vines and ferns.

“Before I leave you to it,” The wood elf says. “Are you sure you do not wish me stay? I offer many services beyond the erotic,”

“Thank you, but no. It shall be just the two of us,”

You look to Gale for confirmation and he nods and clears his throat. “Yes, thank you for preparing the room,”

The elf smiles and steps out, gently closing the doors behind her. Gale looks about the room, taking in his surroundings.

“You’ve picked a pretty place,” He says. “Very atmospheric,”

“Gale,” You approach him, slipping your hands around his. “It might be a silly idea after all, I just thought… well we’ve been on the road so long. Self-care hasn’t exactly been a priority. I know you said you like my… musk… as you so eloquently put it, but I personally can’t wait to have a bath,”

Gale smiles and shakes his head. “Not one of my best lines of conversation,” He chuckles. “In my defence, you are one of the only people who makes me nervous and when I am nervous, I can say… less than intelligent things. I hope I didn’t offend you?”

“Well… I wasn’t really offended, just a bit… self-conscious, and being in the Shadowlands so long… well I wouldn’t want to touch any water there with a ten-foot pole. But now we’re here, in civilisation, no shadow curse… just me and you in a beautiful room with a very enticing bath,”

He glances over at the crystal-clear water. “It does look very inviting,” His voice softens, taking on the sultry tone you heard during your encounter under the moonlight.

The encounter where despite the act that was performed, the two of you remained almost completely clothed. But even though it was you who planned this moment here and now, you had put aside your anxieties leading up to it, hoping that when the time came, it would all melt away. But now Gale gazes at you, his eyes soft but wanting, the bath waiting for occupants.

“Shall we?” Gale quirks a brow, a hand hovering over one of the clasps on his robe.

You nod, and he undoes the first, second and third clasp, slipping off his outer robe so he’s in just his undershirt and trousers. He slips off his boots and socks, placing them beside the bath, along with his neatly folded robe, before facing you again. Seeing that you’re in the exact same position as you were before, all garments of clothing remaining on, he steps closer, his eyes searching yours.

“What’s wrong?”

You shake your head, embarrassed, turning from his gaze.

“If you’ve changed your mind, that’s perfectly alright,” Gale says softly. “We can take turns in the bath in privacy. Or not do this at all,”

You meet his gaze again. “I do want this. It’s just… I thought I’d be alright once I got here,”

“What do you mean, my love?”

“It’s just… well, you’ve never seen me without… not wearing…” You sigh. “You’ve never seen me nude,”

“To be fair, you’ve never seen me either,” He chuckles.

“I… I’m self-conscious,” You hang your head.

He takes your hands in his, eyes locked onto yours. “I hope you know that I love you… all of you,” You lets go of your hands to cup your face. “The whole package. But I understand, I do. So, we don’t need to do this today, alright?”

You close the gap between you, your mouth finding his. You melt into his soft lips, desire flooding through your body.

“But I want to,” You say as you pull back.

Gale smiles. “Alright, what if… I look away while you get undressed and… you get in the water first?”

You think it over for a moment and nod. “Okay,”

“And you’re sure this is what you want?”

“It is,”

Gale plants a kiss on your cheek and steps back, turning to climb the shallow steps up to the attached bedchamber. He stands facing away from you and begins to remove his shirt, so you turn away to attend to your own clothing. Untucking your shirt from your breeches, you pull it over your head and drop it on the floor next to you. You sit on the edge of the bath on the tiled ledge and slip off your boots and socks, before standing again to remove your pants. You glance up to the bedchamber where Gale has his back turned, now wearing only his drawers.

Focusing back on yourself, you remove your bra and undies, adding them to the pile of clothes, and step up on to the bath’s ledge, dipping your toes into the water. The temperature is perfect, so you step into the bath and lower yourself into the water, until only your head and the top of your shoulders remain unsubmerged. You quickly give your armpits and intimate places a quick scrub before calling out.

“Gale… I’m ready,”

You inspect a series of bottles placed on the edge of the bath, filled with various bath gels, shampoos and lotions, as Gale comes into your peripheral. Given that he didn’t watch you undress, you give him the same curtesy, only hearing him slip off his underwear before he steps into the bath. You feel a foolish now for not considering that he too might be nervous. Perhaps that’s why he kept his clothes on during your last encounter?

He lets out a low, satisfied groan as he lowers into the water and you look his way as his sits on the inner ledge of the bath. You edge closer to him until you’re sitting beside him, your arms brushing against each other’s. He turns his head, his eyes finding yours.

“How lucky I am,” He says with one of his smiles that you love so much.

He extends his arm, inviting you to cuddle up to him. You oblige, moving closer and resting your head against his shoulder. You gently trace the markings on his chest, the symbol appearing warped through the rippling water. You move your head up, intending to plant a kiss on his cheek, when you notice something.

“There’s dried blood in your hair,” You say.

He wrinkles his nose in disgust and dips his head under the water, running his hands through his hair, before resurfacing with a gasp.

“Is it gone?” He asks, water drops clinging to his lashes.

“How about we give it a proper clean to be certain?” You reach for one of the shampoo bottles.

Gale inspects the bottle in your hand. “I have that same shampoo at home,”

You smile. “Good. Imagine you’re at home then, without a care in the world,”

You open the bottle, pour some of the shampoo in the palm of your hand and reach for his hair.

“You don’t need to do that,” He says.

“Let me look after you,”

You beckon him closer and he gives in, turning his back to you. You begin to lather the shampoo through his hair, massaging his scalp with your fingers.

 “That feels… really good,” He sighs. “But I can’t imagine I’m at home, since I don’t get this there,”

“Well, maybe that’ll change,” You murmur in his ear.

You plant a soft kiss on the curve between his neck and shoulder and continue to work the shampoo into his hair, the floral scent absolutely divine. Once his hair is completely covered, you dip your own head underwater for a moment before getting more shampoo from the bottle, rubbing it through your hair. Once you’ve done that, you return your attention to Gale, brushing your fingers down the back of his neck and along his shoulders. You sit up on your knees to reach around him, placing a hand along his jawline and gently turning his face toward you, planting a gentle kiss on his already parted lips. He opens his eyes, his gaze flicking down to your now exposed chest. He turns his body to face you, snaking one hand up to your neck, his fingers lightly brushing on the sensitive skin there as he brings his face closer, nuzzling into the other side of your neck. At first, he kisses you softly, then hungrily, his teeth nipping at your skin. He plants a kiss on your collarbone and continues down, leaving a trail of kisses until his lips find your nipple. He strokes it with his tongue, your nipple hardening instantly. His lips enclose around it and suck it lightly. A quiet moan escapes you as arousal shoots through you and your body goes slack for a moment, your knee slipping off the side of the step’s edge. You plunge into the water, your vision blurring, bubbles coming out of your nose. Two arms wrap around you, pulling you upwards. You gasp as your face breaks the surface, and come face to face with Gale, his brow creased with concern.

“Are you alright?” He asks, wet hair clinging to his face.

You chuckle. “I’m fine Gale, I just slipped,”

He lets go of you, moving back a step. His gaze moves downward and you realise that your body is exposed, the water only covering your legs.

“You are exquisite,” Gale says in barely more than a whisper.

Embarrassed, you move to cover yourself, but Gale takes your hands in his.

“You do not need to hide from me, my love. My desire for you is stronger than it has ever been. I don’t know who or what made you feel self-conscious about the way you look, but whoever could balk at the beauty in front of me is a fool indeed,”

You wrap your arms around him, pulling his wet body into yours, skin slick against each other, his hardness pressed against your leg.

“Shall we take this to the bedchamber?” He murmurs in your ear, voice rich with lust.

“Yes please,”

Gale slips an arm around your back and hooks the other behind your knees, picking you up. He carries you to the edge of the bath and steps out carefully, kissing your forehead as he brings you up the steps and to the bed in the next room. He places you down gently on one side of the bed and kneels in front of you, your thighs encasing him. His lips crash into yours, his kiss hungry, his tongue exploring your mouth. You slide a hand up to his jaw, a thumb stroking along his beard, while your other hand rakes through his wet hair. He moans softly into your mouth, the sound sending hotness to your lower regions, slick pooling between your folds.

He sucks your lower lip before pulling away, his own lips pink and glistening. His eyes are dark, brown irises almost completely eclipsed by his dilated pupils. He places a hand on your shoulder, pushing you back firmly but carefully, until your body’s reclined, weight resting on your elbows. He cups one of your breasts between his thumb and index finger, taking your nipple in his mouth, his tongue swirling around the hardened bud as he gently squeezes. He does the same to the other side, a string of spit stretching from his mouth as he pulls away. He trails kisses down your belly until he reaches the crevice where your torso and legs meet. His lips brush against the sensitive skin, causing your legs to twitch. The corners of his lips upturn in a satisfied smile as he progresses down, closer and closer to your folds, until you feel his hot breath against where you want him most. His head dips, tongue finding its mark, flicking across your clit. You let out a small whimper, and he grasps your thighs, pulling you closer to the edge of the mattress. He strokes his fingers across your inner thighs while his tongue laps at your clit. He trails a finger up your thigh until it hovers around your entrance. He edges closer, his finger dancing around the edge of your entrance, before he plunges inside easily, your slick easing passage. He gets a feel for you with the single digit, his tongue still working you, before adding a second finger. You moan as your back arches and you lift your head to look at Gale, his wet hair hanging in front of his face in dark tendrils. As if he can feel your gaze, he looks up, his dark eyes boring into yours. Your core throbs, yearning for him, more of him, all of him.

“I want you,” You say breathily.

He pulls his mouth away, beard flecked with slick and spit. “Then you shall have me,”

He stands, his hard cock coming into view for a moment before he leans down to give you a wet kiss. He climbs on the bed, as if to be on top of you but you place your hands on his arms and guide him into a laying position. You pose yourself next to him in a semi-reclined position, your head level with his hips, and extend an arm, massaging his upper thigh before curling your fingers around his cock and moving your hand up the length, his skin hot and smooth in your fingers, Gale letting out a quiet sigh as your hand glides up and down. Your core throbs, begging for him, but you resist, wanting Gale to be completely prepared for you.

Dipping your head down, you lick along the sensitive spot on the underside of his cock. You move your tongue around his tip, before taking his cock in your mouth, his hot, slick skin sliding along your lips. You do this a few more times, letting the spit spill from your mouth, completely coating him, before pulling back, inspecting his now glistening length.

Pulling yourself up, you swing a leg over him, his body between your thighs, and reach for his cock underneath you, gently angling it up and lowering yourself onto him until his cock is nestled between your folds. You thrust your hips forward, his length sliding along your swollen clit, shuddering at the sensation. You pull back and thrust forward again, your breath hitching in your throat. Gale grasps your thighs, holding them tight. You tilt your head back and sigh as you bring your hands up to your breasts and play with your nipples between your thumb and index finger. Your hips move faster as you grind against his cock, your arousal flaring. Moving your hands down, you lean forward, cupping Gale’s face, your noses touching.

“Do you want me?” You ask breathily.

“More than anything,” He pants.

You reach down between your legs again and grasp his cock, slick with your saliva and juices, and line it up with your entrance. You allow just the tip inside at first, Gale looking between your legs then up to your face, his eyes wild, and you hold his gaze as you lower yourself onto him, until he’s fully sheathed inside of you, filling you, exactly where you want him, and now he’s there you want to unravel him completely. You rock your hips back until only the very tip of his cock remains inside you, before coming forward again and repeating the movement, hearing a wet popping sound each time the rim of his tip exits and plunges back inside you. His hands snake up to your breasts, massaging them with his thumbs. You lean forward until your breasts almost touch his face, and he takes one in his mouth, sucking and licking.

He pulls back, putting his hands down on the bed beside him to push himself up and scooting back against the bed’s headboard, his length pulling out of you with the movement.

“Are you alright?” You ask.

“Oh, yes,” He says. “I just want to be as close to you as possible,”

He extends a hand to you, inviting you back to him. You take his hand in yours and climb on top of him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and lining up his cock with your entrance again. It slips in easily, your core slick with arousal, and you begin to thrust slowly, your face right next to his, his breath tickling against your ear. He holds you close, his arms wrapped around your back.

“Gale,” You breathe.

“Hmm,’ He responds, moving his hips in rhythm with you.

“I love you,” You whisper. “I love you more than anyone or anything I’ve ever loved before, more than words can describe,”

His entire body shudders, but he says nothing. You pull your face back to inspect his. His eyes glisten with tears.

“Gale?” You become still, panicked.

His shining eyes meet yours and he smiles, the purest smile you’ve seen from him yet.

“You truly mean that, don’t you?” He asks.

“Gale,” You stroke his cheek. “You know I don’t say things I don’t mean,” You smile.

He strokes your cheek with his thumb, eyes wide and full of adoration. “Who would think to be glad of being kidnapped by mindflayers, to be infected with their parasite… but without all that, I never would have met you. I never would have felt a love so pure, I can’t… for once words fail me. I think it would be easier to show you, if I may?”

You nod and he presses his forehead to yours, the parasite in his mind nudging against your own. You open yourself to him, your mind suddenly flooded with emotion as images flash before you. You see through Gale’s eyes, moments you shared together, of you speaking to one another, travelling together, him seeing you taking the lead, making decisions, important decisions, hard decisions. You see yourself sitting at camp, eating by the fire, talking to your companions, laughing, and in your heart, Gale’s heart, you feel such warmth, such admiration. Your mind reels with Gale’s questions and doubts and hopes and finally… acceptance. Acceptance that you love him, that you don’t want anything from him in return but his love. There’s no ulterior motive, no manipulation, just… you.

Your minds disconnect and you’re met with Gale’s eyes, searching yours, yours which are brimming with tears, but not with sadness, but –

“Joy,” Gale whispers. “Is what I feel when you tell me you love me,”

He presses his lips to yours, his hands resting on your thighs as he moves in you again and a gasp escapes you, pleasure flooding through you, the feelings more heightened than before since your heart and mind are full of Gale’s love for you and yours for him. You rake your fingers through his wet hair, your lips still connected, your hips rocking with him. He moves a hand down and finds your clit with his thumb, rubbing small circles on your swollen bud. Your lips break apart for a moment as you shudder at his touch, before crashing together again, his tongue finding yours. Your hips buck as arousal builds, his thumb working you, your breaths becoming short and sharp. You can feel it climbing higher, your crescendo nearing, closer and closer. Your mouth breaks away from his with a moan.

“Gale,” Is all you manage to say, your voice weak.

He wraps his other arm around your back, pulling your body as close as possible, his length reaching further inside you, your breaths becoming faster. He guides your hips with one arm while the other still works you, your thrusts desperate, harder, faster, the promise of your crescendo nearing, flooding through your body until –

A ragged moan escapes as pure ecstasy floods through you, your core quaking and pulsing around Gale’s cock, still inside you. He removes his thumb from your clit and wraps that arm around you as well, holding you tight as your body quivers, your face nestled into his neck. You stay like that until the pulses slow to a near stop and Gale flips you around, your positions now reversed, and kneels in front of you, positioning your thighs on top of his and against his waist. You reach your arms back behind your head and grab the headboard tight as he enters you again, his hands bracing your waist, your breasts bouncing with each of his thrusts. Waterdrops from his wet hair run down his bare chest, leaving shining streaks over the Orb’s mark. His breathing is ragged, his moans audible between the slapping of his hips against your thighs. His moans become louder as he moves inside you faster and faster, his fingers digging into the flesh of your thighs, until he draws back, his cock sliding out of you just in time before he comes, shooting onto your chest, his warm seed coating your breasts and stomach.

He reaches over to the bedside table, grabs a cloth and begins to gently wipe his mess from you.

“Sorry, I should have asked first,” He says.

You let go of the headboard and sit up, taking the cloth from him.

“That’s quite alright,” You smirk, finishing the job.

He lies back on the bed with a contented sigh. You put the cloth aside and lie next to him, resting your head on his shoulder, a hand on his chest.

“I suppose we should bathe again after that,” He chuckles.

“Not yet,” You reply. “Let’s stay here for a while,”

[simplepotatofarmer]

hi, i'm loyal (they/them)!

i'm an adult, an anarchist and hardcore union supporter, and i have two kids and a bunch of chickens. i post pictures of my chickens and talk about my kids' sometimes. i have no dni; i find them pointless, just be kind and curate your experience. <3

this is primarily a lore blog! i rarely, if ever, post about the cc's and if i do, it's generally cc!techno.

i'm a writer, mostly rivals duo centric fanfic! i love c!techno, c!dream, and i think doomsday was right and based and that the syndicate has never done anything wrong, ever, and in fact were always correct. also, c!emerald duo deserves the entire world.

on this blog you'll find:

🐝 technoblade content as well as rivals duo posts! 🐝 posts about my chickens! and general chicken posting 🐝 lots of art! if you're an artist, especially for techno or dream, literally feel free to send me your art to reblog! i try very hard to reblog as much as i can! 🐝 my meta/writing posts! mostly about techno but i also touch on overall themes and c!dream as well. 🐝 occasional posts about anarchism or anti-capitalism

as far as characters other than techno, i'm really fond of dream, phil, niki, ponk, badboyhalo, antfrost, awesamdude, captain puffy, sylvee, gia, skeppy, and bigb! i also really like mr. goodtimeswithscar!

🌻 i don't like drama! please don't involve me in it, bring me up in it or tag me in it, thank you <3 🌻 like/reblog spamming is perfectly okay! i actually love seeing it. 🌻 if you need anything tagged, please let me know! 🌻 my ask is always open for questions, whether about characters, aus, or anything else! 🌻 i have no interest in engaging with discourse or cc negative, at all. neither am i going to list out which cc's i don't like or support. that sort of thing makes me feel weird. 🌻 if i have you blocked, it's because i don't have time for pettiness, cruelty, or unkindness.

check out my au primer posts! [x] [x] [x] [x]

-> loyal's scrapbook <-

a list of my favorite posts beneath the cut! + more info

💛 technoblade & dehumanization 💛 kindness vs. niceness in the dsmp 💛 technoblade & kindness vs. niceness 💛 violence is the only universal language 💛 yes, the syndicate are friends you just don't watch them 💛 why justice on the dream smp fails 💛 dsmp & the ones who walk away from omelas 💛 dream's healing from the pov of a child abuse victim 💛 doomsday trio headcanons 💛 technoblade & minimization 💛cc!techno positivity 💛 c!dream and the laydown sacrifice 💛 phil, techno & friendship 💛 yes techno has questioned himself here's the clips 💛 a breakdown of the doomsday speeches 💛 on prison and minecraft 💛 why dream being redeemed makes sense 💛 favorite techno headcanons

tagging system:

#loyal talks about stuff and things: general original text posts, often including posts about the dsmp and charancters

#the loyal homestead flock: chicken pictures and updates!

#loyal answers things: answered asks

*banners (except for header) made by @/call-me-apple

[rosacarolina]

I've read your pinned post and wanted to say something, as a white girl but also a South European: the "homestead" term is historically bounded to white supremacy, yes, but only in those countries of the Western world that actively participated in colonialism and built their economic fortune on slavery. I'm a contemporary history graduate and I can assure you NOT ALL OF WESTERN WHITE COUNTRIES WERE INVOLVED IN COLONIALISM. Go ask a Hungarian, a Moldovian, an Albanian if their grandparents were white suprematists because they owned a homestead and they will laugh. Also, some European peoples were themselves victims of colonialism. So please please please when you all talk about specific historic issues consider learning how to divide nowadays political discourse from actual historic work. "Fancy" political discourse has most of the time nothing to do with serious historic researches (at least, in European universities; I cannot speak for the level of academia in the US...).

I am also a history graduate student at a european university, but thank you for this ask anyway. I don't disagree with your general point-- that colonialism is not a strictly racial divide with white people being the colonizing party and all non white people the colonized. Like that's definitely true. When speaking about the term homestead, i am discussing it as a white supremacist dogwhistle, not saying that anyone who grows their own food is a racist. i would expect that the words agrarian subsistence farmers in hungary, moldova and albania used to describe their homes and their lifestyles would not be "homestead" because it is, an english word.

Consider also that this is a tumblr aesthetic blog and not a historical research conference, where the focus of discussion is, in fact the "fancy" (whatever that means in this context) political discourse which pervades the space and has pervaded it historically.

I'm sure as a student of contemporary history you would understand the historical connections between colonialism, white supremacy, and "blood and soil" rhetoric which used the visuals and languages of pastoralism. this is what i am referring to when i say that homestead is used as a dogwhistle.

also, the idea that a country or a people being subjects of colonialism means they cannot also, at the same or another time, be the perpetrators (or beneficiaries) of it is laughable. i would say that yes, EVERY western white country was involved in colonialism, to varying degrees, at the same time that some are/were subjects of it.

my apologies if this response was disorganized; but i found your assertion that political discourse (which i take from context here to be discussions of the current effects and manifestations of colonialism) not only is but should be largely divorced from serious historical study to be misguided at best. In fact I find it difficult to think of an example wherein the discussions are unrelated.

[izar-tarazed]

Something that has made Izar happy in the Shadow Realm:

"They do have stars here!"

She had already resigned herself to never finding out with that seemingly eternally clouded sky above the Gravesite Plain. But this night, there are no clouds, and she can sit and marvel with her telescope, filled with joy at the sight of something familiar in the night sky.

_____

some random OOC thoughts on my progress so far:

I didn't get to play as much as I would have liked this weekend but still was able to do quite some exploring on that first map.

I love what I've seen so far, and also in the painful way because of all the details reminding us that these are lands charred by war. Exploring Belurat in particular felt intense. With all those burned shadows wandering the streets, the settlement somehow still felt inhabited and less of a ghost town than Sellia or even Leyndell. Passing through that one homestead with its kitchen and its private altar somehow made me feel like I was really getting a glimpse into what might have been everyday life in a remote time before.

I know everybody is talking about the Miquella storyline (and yes I'm aware of some spoilers but won't comment on that stuff until I've seen it in game). But I'm currently way more invested with what Marika and her people did and keep doing to the Shadow Realm, who the Hornsent are and how they lived before the war. (How political power structures such as the Golden Order come to be and are maintained, and at what cost; which tales are told and which ones aren't and who gets to decide that in the first place are in general questions I find worth exploring so I'm glad the game seems to be doing that.)

Sneaking into Castle Ensis was fun! Hoped to confuse Moonrythill by confronting her in Carian Knight armor but she was unfazed. (But I love that bit of lore we get that she was "a friend to the trolls who served the royal family". Please Moonrythill, Izar would have loved to get to know you better!)

I went into the DLC at level 184 or something and felt a little bad about it but wow, am I glad now. The bosses do hit hard and are challenging, I haven't taken down a single story boss so far; it feels extremely challenging but doable and I'm having fun in the fights I've tried so far.

(I've come across that knight in the Western Mausoleum, the Dancing Lion, Rellana and the Ghostflame Dragon so far, and another dragon in a cave that was fairly easy to shred with the trusty Shard Spiral.)

Can't wait to see more from the NPCs I've met and talked to so far and see what their deal is!

In terms of storytelling and headcanon stuff, Izar doesn't care too much about the whole "find Miquella" thing right now, she's intrigued as much as she'd be by any good treasure hunt. But she's way more shaken by the realization that there is an entire realm hidden away here with a cruel war being waged on it on Marika's or the Erdtree's behest apparently. (And she is about to burden herself with the question of how she can possibly fix this, even though Ensha is warning her not to.)

[hungee-boy]

propaganda:

fag and tranny

romani 💙❤️💚

shi'a muslim

marxist

has a bipan boyfriend

autumn palette + brown eyes

i own chickens (favorite breed: brahma)

i have a huge rack

i hate every private owner of exotic wild animals on a personal level (NOT sanctuaries and zoos, im talking about like those russian cunts on tiktok with an entire adult leopard in their house)

anti-propaganda:

white american

the first person i ever voted for was biden (2020, liberals owe me BIG)

got into homesteading in 2020 and it will control my life forever

watches hasan piker

quick to anger

nicotine addiction since i was a teenager (dont fucking smoke im not joking)

loves bioware games

procrastinates always, this post is a procrastination actually

wants to learn multiple languages but never does

lives in texas and is not conversant in spanish

spends too much time on nextdoor

eldest daughter with a martyr complex

[theresattrpgforthat]

hi there! do you have any recommendations for what to check out in the TTRPGS for trans rights Florida bundle? there's so many of them I don't know where to start

THEME: Mint’s Faves from the Florida Trans Rights Bundle

Damn, you beat me to the punch! I’m very excited to talk about these recommendations, hold onto your hats!

Disclaimer: Yes, I am aware that both Wanderhome and Thirsty Sword Lesbians are good games. I agree with you, they are good games and you should play them. I figured I’d shed a light on some games that are not the two games that are consistently brought up every single time someone mentions this bundle. If you haven't yet bought the Florida Trans Rights bundle, you can buy it here!

Eco-Mofos, by David Blandy.

ECO-MOFOS!! is a mid-future ecopunk ruin-delving survival game, as player characters (PCs or Punks) seek a safe homestead to start a new community, Weirdhope not Grimdark.

Around two hundred years ago, everything went to shit. The wealthy, who created this mess, fucked off to Mars while the lucky ones hid in vast underground bunkers. We were left to fend for ourselves on the surface, eeking out an existence in the broken world they left behind, searching for remnants of a past world to help us survive, searching for a place to call home.

Play a group of misfits who have found each other in the wastes and ruins of the fallen world. The past is just a hazy legend, the story scattered over thousands of usb sticks and servers, but the future is there to be written.

Blandy has niche ideas that slap, including Lost Eons, Lunar Echos and this game. Eco Mofos is designed to run off of the same rules as games like Into the Odd and Cairn, two rules-light OSR systems that get you to the table fast and force players to think creatively. There’s an Adventure Template also available for folks who want to make their own adventures, and a game jam that’s going on right now as well, so you’re really primed for a maelstrom of content if you get into this game!

18XX Dreams, by Deep Light Games.

THE DREAM REALM WELCOMES YOU: This land has always been here, visited by some, forgotten by many. Something changed. An increasing number of people have been waking with fantastical ideas and feelings. Now, dreams are becoming more solid: books, paintings, scores… 

The barrier is thinner. Some are trapped here, some search for what they can’t reach elsewhere, some just roam, exploring and helping others. What meaning is hidden in your dreams?

DREAMS is a 24XX microgame. See more at jasontocci.itch.io/2400 or make your own using the SRD. 

This is a quick game, only 4 pages long, and is deeply surreal. Each 24XX game uses the same basic rules - roll a d6 for most things, with bigger and smaller dice for skills and hindrances - but the creators of these games usually find one or two special rules to make the game unique. This one includes Emotions that can feed into player Traumas, changing the worlds the characters travel through and affecting a character’s arc. There’s also steps for creating maps, which are common in OSR games, although less common in 24XX (which is odd, considering it was birthed from OSR). 

My favourite thing about these 24XX games is the roll tables provided for the GMs, giving quick ideas for plots and encounters, making this game runnable with little to no prep.

A Diner at the End, by Bammax Games.

You find yourself seated at a table among a group of people you have never met before, in a place that feels…familiar. You have never been here, and yet the atmosphere is comforting, disarming. It feels a bit like home.

A Diner at the End is a collaborative, improvisational storytelling game that invites at least two players to share the experiences, dreams, and regrets of characters whose time has been spent. Players take on the personas of people across space and time, using a standard deck of playing cards as a means to guide their characters' conversations and reflections.

This game celebrates the lives we lead—in all of their joys and sorrows—and challenges players to find contentment in the limited time afforded to us all.

Getting this game as part of the bundle doesn’t just get you the game, it also gets you the Menu Print version, which can be really handy as it provides you with character ideas. The game itself uses a deck of cards to prompt players to recall their memories prior to their death, holding onto a card that may be the last memory they carry with them onwards. This game has the potential to be deeply emotional, and yet the entire game fits on one page. 

To Care is to Cairn, by Kai Medina.

Our town is changing. 

We are left with artifacts that hold us to the past. They seem to betray history by breaking, altering, and growing beyond a generation. This is not a betrayal. We do not expect the past to hold such power over the present, and we forget that the present accounts for history just the same. Rubbish will always forge itself into a monument, and we will always be a part of that.

To Care is to Cairn is a world-building tabletop roleplaying game that carries players through a civilization of their making, from a bird's eye view of once everyday objects. Artifacts will become part of a tapestry to a community's developing history, using real world archaeological influence. This 40 page game can be played as its own one-off session, or as a tool to add complexity to approaching established campaigns.

This game is inspired by The Quiet Year, which I also adore. It is perfect for combining with a longer campaign - if you want to create your own world for Thirsty Sword Lesbians, this would be an excellent way to do it! You’ll track a number of events and brainstorm how they affect artifacts over the course of time using a deck of cards.

Also… you can play this game as a precursor to my game Mischief by Moonlight, a game about artifacts trapped in museums, and the small gods that inhabit them. 

Bump in the Dark, by jexjthomas.

It's 1994 in the region of the fictional Ontonagon Peninsula known as "Iron Country," a belt of mining towns barely clinging to life. These towns are surrounded on all sides by the Sylvan Wilds, a forest known for old-growth pines and strange happenings. All of Iron Country seems to be teeming with the supernatural, a fact those in power would like to conceal.

You are a hunter, and you’ve promised to keep regular people safe from the horrors in the darkness. Will you stand strong with your found family and community or will you sacrifice yourself to spare the ones you love? Will you be lost trying to find solace wherever you can?

Thrilling, gritty, and utterly human, Bump in the Dark is a tabletop roleplaying game about a group of people who’ve dedicated their lives to hunting and dealing with monsters. There are gruesome attacks, tense investigations, nasty cryptids, nefarious factions, powerful demons, action-packed showdowns, and regular folk caught in the middle.

I’m a little bit feral about Forged in the Dark games, I love how focused they are and how they can cycle between moments of intense action and downtime periods where characters can explore more personal storylines. What makes this even better is the inspiration it takes from the Redacted Materials system of External Containment Bureau, in that the players will use clues to help figure out what exactly they’re up against.

I also fucking love monster games. 

Games in this bundle that I’ve recommended in the past

Visigoths vs. Mall Goths, by Lucian Khan.

Europa Base, by a grumpy little critter.

No Sacrifice Without Blood, by hyphenartist.

Gubat Banwa by makapatag.

[the-chosen-fanfiction]

John (the Apostle) | We'll Meet Again | Romantic

Dialogue prompt: “We need to talk.”

Requested: Yes

Your husband John tells you that Jesus has sent him out to heal the sick and cast out demons, but your plea to stay sparks worry in his heart, especially when you reveal otherwise joyous news.

Ever since Jesus spoke the words that He was sending out His followers two by two, John’s thoughts have started to run all over the place. 

“Are you saying we could die?” he had queried after Jesus revealed the danger they could find themselves in, and even though John knew that it wasn’t the best question to calm his nerves, for Jesus told the group that they would one day know the meaning of what it means to give one’s life for their faith, He had assured them that this trip would not come to that.

It still wasn’t much of a comfort to John, however, and he could vividly imagine the way your face would drop and the dejected glimmer that would grow inside your (e/c) eyes once he would bring you the news that he had to go.

You had always been so supportive of him, and your parents-in-law were there to keep an eye on you. Luckily, Zebedee and Salomé found no issue in taking you into their home for a while just so that you wouldn’t be as lonely. It didn’t ease his feeling of immense guilt, though. 

After everyone has scattered and found their respective partner – John himself would complete the ministry trip to Joppa together with Thomas – John can’t help but turn to his Master, Who is already looking at him with a pondering yet friendly look on His face, as if He knows what the question will be already.

“Rabbi,” John begins after clearing his throat, “I’ve… I’ve got my concerns.”

“About (Y/n).” Jesus replies, causing the younger Son of Thunder to nod in acknowledgement. 

“I’m-I’m not too keen on leaving my wife here on her own. I know she’ll have my parents, and Eden, and I know that nothing bad will happen to her, but still. I’m frightened that something will happen to me, and I-I-I know that you said that this trip will not come to that, b-but still, what kind of husband would I be if–”

“Calm down, John.” Jesus cuts him off, putting a hand on his shoulder to squeeze it gently. “I am certain she will understand. Why don’t you ask Simon how he deals with these worries, hm? Following Me is not always easy, for any of you. But sometimes we need to spread Truth no matter what and whom we leave at home.”

John sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. “I apologise, Rabbi, and I need to emphasise that it is not because I don’t trust Your word. But how can I… How can I possibly break (Y/n)’s heart that way?”

Jesus lets out a hum and smiles slightly. “You won’t, John. No matter where you’ll go, you’re bound to her and she to you. As husband and wife, you’ll always be connected.”

Swallowing thickly, John stands and dusts his hands down his tunic. “I… I know, Rabbi, I’m just… I need some time to think about how I’ll bring the news.”

“If I may do a suggestion, beloved John,” Jesus muses, “Keep it short and straight to the point. I know for a fact that (Y/n) herself has something to tell you as well.”

John narrows his eyes. “How do You… Of course you do, but… What are You talking about?”

Shrugging, Jesus grins and brings his clay cup to his lips to drink the remainder of His water, not giving away anything. With growing nerves coiling inside his gut, John puts his sandals back on, tells the people who are still in Eden and Simon’s house shalom and heads outside. 

The sounds of market fill his ears as John slowly heads over to your homestead near the house of his parents. He wonders if you’re still out purchasing food, if you’ve started on dinner yet or if you’re currently patching up the holes inside his tunic. A pit of guilt forms in his heart. He has barely returned after weeks on the road. The last time he had the opportunity to properly spend time with you was at least four months ago and he has to leave again?

With heavy steps, he opens the door to your shared house and kisses his fingertips before touching the mezuzah hanging on the frame before quickly washing his feet. The sound of your gentle humming streaming from the kitchen adjacent to the hallway makes him inexplicably upset, tears springing to his eyes. 

When he stands on the threshold, taking in your beautiful form as you happily chop up a few pickled onions, he clears his throat. A little startled, you look up at him, a large smile spreading itself over your features once you realise it is your husband who is disturbing the preparation for dinner, and you wipe your hands on your apron before walking towards him, giving him a soft kiss. “Hello darling,” you quip, “It’s good to see you. I’ve got these wonderful eggs at market so we can enjoy them with breakfast tomor—”

“We need to talk.” The moments the words leave his lips, John regrets them instantly upon the coldness thereof. Your brow knits together into a frown as your smile drops. 

“Ah… Of course, let’s sit,” you say, gesturing to your dining table, and the pair of you sink down on the pillows that are on the floor. 

John puts his hand on the table and reaches over to grab yours, patting it softly. He brings it to his mouth to kiss the back of it, sighing deeply as he tries to find the right words. Your eyes search his face for a sign of whatever might be bothering him, but when you find none, you gulp. “John, what is going on? You’re scaring me.”

“Love, Jesus is sending us out.” 

You narrow your eyes. “Where to? And when?”

“I’m going with Thomas, and I think it’s best that you don’t know where we’ll be going. You’d only get concerned.”

Blinking rapidly, you shake your head. “You’re only making me worry more by being so secretive about it. What are you going to do?”

John squeezes your fingers. “We are going out to spread Jesus’ words amongst the Jews around the country… South-west, to be more precise, to Joppa. He says that it is not sustainable for Him to be the only one spreading the news of God’s Kingdom.”

“Where will Jesus be going, then?” you inquire, “Can’t He come with you, too?”

Your husband sighs. “Jesus will be visiting Nazareth in the meantime.”

When you fall silent, John feels his stomach drop. “Love, Jesus promised us that we will be fine. Nothing bad will happen to us.”

“Yet!” you whimper, “John, I’ve barely seen you in the past months! I miss you.” You cup his cheek and rub your thumb through his beard. “I… I long to spend more time with you.”

Leaning into your touch, John closes his eyes, enjoying the warmth of your palm on his face. “My love, we will be back before you know it, and I’m sure that we will get a break afterwards. I promise that I’ll be there for you, then.”

Your bottom lip trembles when John opens his eyes again, watching you with such gentleness that emotion nearly overwhelms you. 

“Everything is just so uncertain these days,” you admit, “I know that Jesus is our Messiah and that nothing will ever be the same because of Him, but still, It scares me so much.”

John takes your other hand in his, too, and looks at you pleadingly. “My parents will protect you, you don’t need to worry about your safet—”

“I’m pregnant, John.”

His eyes widen and he feels his cheeks grow hot. 

“What?”

You sniffle, a few tears rolling down your face. You quickly wipe them away. “I found out a few weeks after you left the last time.” With a watery smile, you scoot closer to him. “You’re going to be a father.”

A sound of disbelief leaves his lungs and he grins widely, embracing you immediately. You giggle, dragging a hand through his thick hair, and you hold him for a while as he tightens his grip, nose buried into your shoulder. “Love, that is… Wow! After trying for so long! Praise Adonai!”

Laughing, you nod firmly. “Yes,” you breathe, “I went to synagogue the moment I found out to make an offering.”

John pulls away from the hug and catches your gaze, hands on your upper arms. “I will ask Jesus if our trip can be shorter, I’ll–”

You shake your head, smiling softly. “No, John. There is no need for that. I trust that He knows what is best for you. It is always going to be difficult to be apart, but we know that it is for a good cause. You need to leave behind a lot to follow the Messiah, and sometimes, that includes me as well as your safety. But I know that it is worth it.”

With a sigh, John pulls you into another hug. “I know,” he murmurs, “It is worth it. I trust our Master and I know that God will be with me wherever I go. But it doesn’t make it any less difficult. Especially now that you’re pregnant, I wish I could be there for you, to help you out wherever I can.” His hands find your stomach and rest there for a while, even though no swell is visible yet. “I can’t believe it… We are going to have a baby?!”

Another giggle falls from your lips and he leans in to kiss you softly, both uncertainty and happiness swirling through his mind. He chooses to focus on the latter, and on you, as he tells you that he loves you in between gentle pecks. 

“Despite the fact that you have to leave,” you whisper, a little breathless as your cheeks are warm and pink, “I don’t think I have ever been happier before.” 

“Me neither,” John confesses. “Oh, I can’t wait to tell the others… You are going to be such a good eema, my love.”

“And our child is going to have the best abba in the world.”

John smiles, pulling you into his lap before connecting his mouth to yours again, the both of you enjoying the moment before the inevitable hour of his departure comes, but until then, you will bask in this delightful milestone within your marriage.

[novankenn]

Steadfast, Immovable (3)

The girls were terribly shaken once everything had quieted down. The walk back through the dark, away from the inferno Jaune has started, not helping their emotional state, and even now, they were still jumpy. Outside, Jaune continued to walk in a circle about the small homestead, compacting the ground into a shallow ditch. Tai held the girls in a group hug, as Qrow spoke to Ozpin.

“What happened Qrow?”

“Yang and Juniper decided they needed to find Summer. They bundled up Ruby, and talked Saphron in joining them.” Qrow looked over his shoulder, taking in the sight of Tai still holding the sobbing girls, before returning his attention to the video call with Ozpin. “They went out in the forest alone and unarmed. I noticed they were gone, and found their note. I was almost too late, Oz.”

“But they’re okay?”

“More or less, though I think Tai and I are going to be on nightmare duty for a couple of years.” Qrow took a swig from his flask, trying to calm his shaken resolve. “I’ve never seen such a pack on Patch. Not with the number of huntsmen and huntresses we have. One that size shouldn’t have been possible.”

“How?”

“Jaune.” was Qrow’s one word answer.

“He reanimated?”

“Reanimated, powered up, whatever. All I know is Tai, and I were barely treading water out there, and he just arrived. I thought he was a monster before, but seeing him in action… the Fire department have yet to contain the inferno he started. But without him…”

“So after 4 years sitting dormant, he’s active again.”

“Yeah, well I don’t think Tai is entirely impressed with the garage missing half its walls, or the fact he’s right now wearing a trench around the house, due to his patrol. But yes, without him just showing up…”

“Is there anything you or Tai need?”

“We need Summer found. These girls need their mom back.”

“I have Glynda checking out several leads as I am talking to you.”

“And I need Bart to drop by and check out Jaune. He went toe to toe with an Alpha, and his… he needs some work.”

“I’ll see what his schedule is like, and when he could leave for Patch.” Ozpin responded. “Is there something else, Qrow?”

“Things just feel wrong. There should have been no reason for a pack that large… It was almost like Patch was being targeted.”

“Yes, that is concerning. Very concerning.”

“I know it’s been four years, but have you found any clues as to why Ansel was wiped from the map?”

“Aside from the technology we discovered, I can see no reason why she would have taken such drastic action.”

“Couldn’t be the tech? I ran some of that stuff… It’s well beyond anything anyone has been able to develop, including Atlas.”

“That could be it, but I have nothing concrete to support that theory.”

“I need some answers, Oz.”

“As do I.”

“No, you don’t seem to understand.”

“What don’t I understand?”

“If I was a betting man… if the girls hadn’t run into that pack… it would have attacked us here at the house.”

“I see.”

/== Table of Contents ==/

[universe-in-the-void-in-the-cube]

Of Pigs and Potatoes (An Hetalia Fic)

She poked it. Poked it hard. She even tried pushing the large pig out of the potato patch. Robin was just as frustrated as Mr. Lyman Cutlar who owned the land the tubers grew. He was a settler of the Washington Territories. He had this same pig come into his garden time and time again to eat the various vegetables that grew there. He was fed up and started to ask for help and he… got help.

In the form of a small child.

The child was no more than 4 physically, but what little did most people knew that this little girl was the personification of the Washington Territories. This young, delightful little girl was now trying to push and shove a pig that was twice her size out of the garden to no avail, with Lyman watching as he took out his hunting rifle and started putting bullets in it.

“HE AIN’T MOVING MR. CUTLAR!!!” Robin shouted as she kept trying to get the pig to move.

Chuckling a little, Lyman then said as he walked up to her. “Well Robin it looks like we have no choice but to kill the thing.”

Robin was shocked at first, but understood why the killing had to be done. “He will keep coming to eat your garden vegetables if you don’t. Mr. Griffin needs to stop letting his pigs run about. He owes you a lot for all the damage and the loss of food that the piggy ate.”

Lyman nodded, “True, true. Well… might as well get it done and over with.”

Robin walked up to Lyman and tugged on his paint leg.

“Yes, Robin, what is it?”

Pointing to the riffle, “Can I shoot it? Please?”

Lyman looked at her in shock, but then he did think about it. She was a personification and stronger than she looked. “Well… alright, but I will help you aim and we will shoot it together. Okay?”

“Thank you, Mr. Cutlar!” Robin said as the elder man helped Robin hold and aim the riffle.

When it was time to pull the trigger, he asked, “Ready?”

“Yes sir.”

“Alright, on the count of three. One. Two. Three!”

Soon, with Lyman’s help, Robin shot the rifle and the pig fell. Looking at each other, Robin and Lyman walked up to the pig and saw it was a good clean shot. Picking up the pig, Lyman walked to his wagon and put the pig in the back and Robin got in the front seat to wait for him.

A short time later, Lyman had the horses hitched to the wagon as he and Robin drove to Mr. Griffin’s homestead. While this was happening the personification of England, Arthur Kirkland, was inspecting Griffin and his sheep ranch which Griffin ran for the Hudson Bay Company. The Brit was impressed with the ranch and the Irishman’s work.

Looking around, Arthur noticed Lyman and Robin driving up to them, “Well Charles, it looks like you got company.”

“Indeed.” Charles’ said as they walked up to the road to meet with Lyman.

Stopping the wagon and hopping down, Lyman started talking to Charles. While England sensed that the little girl in the wagon was like him. Robin sensed it too and before the two could even say anything, Charles and Lyman started arguing.

“I offered you $10 for the pig as well as the pig itself to apologize for shooting it, but that won’t do it for ya!” Snapped Lyman who was trying to be considerate to his neighbor.

Charles snapped back, “No, you owe me more than $10! I figure that you owe me $100 for killing my pig and giving my damn pig back!”

“I ain’t gonna pay that much for a damn pig that you left wondering about! Let alone having the pig!”

“Oh yes you are!”

“It was eating my potatoes!”

“Well, it is up to you to keep your potatoes out of my pig!”

“Fine. I ain’t gonna pay a damn thing and I am keeping the meat!” Lyman said as he got on the wagon and started driving off. “Come on Robin, it looks like were having pork for dinner tonight!”

“YEA! PIGGY!!!” Robin shouted happily as Lyman drove the wagon around and started to leave going back on the road home.

Charles Griffin on the other hand wasn’t having it. “COME BACK HERE CUTLAR! GIVE ME MY MONEY NOW AND MY DEAD PIG!!! THIEF!!!”

As Lyman drove faster down the road, Robin turned around and suck her tongue out and shouted back, “MR. GRIFFIN YOU ARE A BIG, MEAN POO-POO HEAD!”

Charles was furious, turning to Arthur, he asked, “I want that man Lyman Cutlar arrested for destruction of property and theft!”

Arthur agreed to Charles’ request and shortly left the Irishman to go back to the British fort and request that Cutlar get arrested.

So, it began. The Pig War. It was a crazy situation on San Juan Island as Captain George Pickett and 66 American soldiers of the 9th Infantry Regiment had landed on the island on the USS Massachusetts to prevent the British Navy from invading. It started out with 3 British ships in the command of Captain Geoffrey Hornby, then 2 more British ships making it 5 in total. This escalated slowly for 14+ years, till the Brits left and the US troupes a couple years later. Thanks to help of the German Emperor Wilhelm the First as arbitrator.

Robin was in her best dress and was bored as Arthur, Alfred, Matthew, Ludwig and Gilbert was trying to hash things out. With Robin on occasion being rude and obnoxious to the Brit the whole time. Which only made Arthur more annoyed.

“America! Will you do something about Washington! A young girl shouldn’t be acting like an unruly animal during a peace agreement!” Arthur said with his typical British snobbery which Alfred and Gilbert both hated.

“You tried to invade her land England, if I was her age and had someone invade me, I would be annoyed at that person too.” Gilbert said as he patted Robin’s head as Gilbird landed on Robin shoulder and nuzzled her cheek, which the young American girl enjoyed.

“I happen to agree with Prussia my man. Besides Robin shot it and she ate it. So, you were not entitled to it.” Alfred said chuckling, “Isn’t that right Washington?”

“Yep!” Robin said proudly and turned to Arthur with the snarkiest and most arrogant look a young 5-year-old could give an adult, “And it was a yummy piggy too.”

“You, you arrogant little…” Arthur said to the child till Ludwig stopped him. “Germany I…”

Sighing, Ludwig looked at Robin then back at Arthur, “Don’t. You don’t need to escalate this silly situation even further that it has been.”

“Uh… you’re right Germany. You are so right.” Arthur said trying to retrain he composer for a little while.

When the paperwork was signed and the treaty successfully signed. Arthur looked at the girl as she and Alfred started to leave. But before she passed through the door’s threshold she looked back at Arthur and said with a sadistic smile on her face.

“Yummy piggy.”

The End

[simsdeogloria]

15 questions for 15 mutuals

15 questions for 15 mutuals

I was tagged by @mainlyjustthesims and @wanderingsimsfinds

Are you named after anyone? Yes, my name is a twist on a famous actor and my middle name is after my grandfather. 

When was the last time you cried? Probably recently, I’m a pretty emotional person and think sometimes a good cry is helpful. But I’ve been feeling better lately and I’m grateful for that!

Do you have kids? Yes, one amazing little boy! And I hope to have more 

Do you use sarcasm a lot? No, years ago I was told my sarcasm burned and after that I stopped all together. I don’t want to be the kind of person who makes others feel bad or insecure. I prefer that people always come away feeling better after talking with me.

What sports do you play/have you played? Ballet and soccer, but when soccer got to competitive I quit and became a music girl. I definitely prefer that!

What’s the first thing you notice about other people? Their energy. I get a pretty good sense of if someone is happy, calm, irritated, strong willed, etc. I pretty much always try to have happy energy and brighten others days. 

Scary movies or happy endings? Always happy endings! I am an absolute chicken and never watch scare movies. Ever. 

Any special talents? Not really? I’m a pretty good organizer lol. Does that count? 

Where were you born? California, USA

What are your hobbies? Simming, Stardew Valley, Reading, Embroidery, being outside, learning more about cc making. 

Do you have any pets? Not currently but we want to get a golden retriever soon. 

How tall are you?  5'2

Fave subject in school?  History and English! Loooove history though. 

Dream job? Ummmm, homesteading and having my own hobby farm. Sign me up for having some Jersey cows, chickens, and baking sour dough bread. 

Eye color? Brown

Thank you for tagging me @mainlyjustthesims and @wanderingsimsfinds! I tag @twinsimming @desiree-uk @zoeoe-sims @phoebejaysims @misspats3 @olomayasims @martassimsbookcc @nectar-cellar @rachel-homeanddesign-sims @charliesimss @deniisu-sims @mspoodle1 @rollo-rolls @sunshinepixels @mystery-pixels and anyone else who wants to play! 

[yesyourstalker]

Ikkan: Are you sure you don't want me to come back home?

Neta: please don't....I'm sorry. Please don't leave your vacation because of me. I'm really sorry I didn't mean to worry you

Ikkan: .mmk

Neta: I'm sorry

Ikkan:don't apologize babe it'll be ok

Neta: *yawn* I know I just...I just needed to vent

Ikkan:I just want you to get some rest. Call me in the morning ok?

Neta: alright. I love you.

Ikkan: I love you too.

Neta: I didn't mean to worry you.. I really don't want you to come back. I don't want your trip to be ruined because of me.

Ikkan: noooo no don't say that babe

Neta: I really feel like I am though. I shouldn't have called you. I just feel like I'm being........ too much because-

Ikkan:because you're not.

Neta:..........

Ikkan: we'll talk about it in the morning

Neta: it'll actually be after 12:00

Ikkan afternoon yeah we're in different time zones I forgot

Neta: it's ok....*sniff*

Ikkan: I love you

Neta: I love you too............*yawn*...

Ikkan...babe get some sleep.

Neta: hmm ...............................hm hey......

Gai:..... I'm sorry.... I just thought you should know I didn't expect you to get this upset

Neta: dad ......*sigh*..... thank you for telling me.....*sigh*....... I just need to process this..... I'll see you.... I will call you when I'm ready to talk.

Gai: alright..... have a good night

Neta: yeah. Have a good night............. fucking hell ........

_______________________________________________

Merv: ikkan help set the table

Ikkan: ok...

Merv: Noji help me bring out the food. We're having tuna steak and scallop octatoes and gravy.

Ikkan: you really went all out Dad

Merv: yeh well we have guests over they should have a nice meal for the first night.

Noji: only the first..hehehe

Merv: dinner is ready!!

Cirrina: I'm coming!

Warabie: smells good

Shimi: hmm.....*eating*....wow it's not that bad... it's

Merv: fresh?... yes we have a farm to table house hold. Almost everything on your plates comes from my farm or from the locals farm or ranch. It's all prepared by hand. We are a homestead family and community we give to our neighbors and they give back to us. The bread that we are serving now came from the bakery, we gave them wheat and they gave us bread in return. Eventually you'll learn the way of the community and learn how to harvest, grow and take care of the livestock.

Cirrina: do we get to see the manatees now?

Ikkan: not yet Cici eat your dinner

Cirrina: damn....

Ikkan:hehehe... Be patient

Cirrina: hehehe.....did you call dad?

Ikkan: yes.... he's... he's doing ok

Cirrina: alright...

Ikkan: he doesn't want you to worry.

Merv: alright everyone time to head in. Tomorrow we start working.... Ikkan, Noji help me with the dishes

Noji: on it. Good night Cirrina I see you tomorrow.

Cirrina: night! Hehe.

_______________________________________________

Mahi:......*sleeping*.........*sleeping*......hm.....*Yawn* morning....uhhh... What time is it?

Mizole: it's 7:45

Mahi: haaaaa...*Stretch*.... I'm going to get some free coffee, see if Toguni is up. You want something?

Mizole: nah.,...

Mahi: do you want anything?

Mizole: nah ......

Mahi: come on...get up

Mizole: mmmmmmm

Mahi: cooommmme oooonnnn... let's go..

Mizole: mmmmm....no....stop...you smell...

Mahi: so do you. it's 95 outside and we're sleeping beside a bunch of strangers....get up let's get some coffee and see the line for the community showers.... come on..... mizole get up...(Kick)

Mizole: UGH... FINE!.. I gotta go to the bathroom anyway. If I see ichiya I'm kicking his ass!! Embarrass me in front of everyone. He can't let shit go

Mahi: *sigh*.

Mizole: what?

Mahi:... nothing.....

Mizole:....babe

Mahi: *huff* it's just you spent most of the day yesterday fighting with your ex. If it wasn't fighting it was constant complaining. I thought this was going to be a fun thing we could do but If you had fun this year we could go every year but... Like a tradition we do every summer

Mizole: hey listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be such an asshole and I'm having fun actually......... [kiss] we're going to have fun today. I'm not going to complain. I'm not going to bitch and I'm not going to fight with ichiya. I'm just going to ignore him... Today's going to be about us k ?

Mahi: .....alright...[kiss].... Let me get some coffee....... morning Toguni....you sleep well?

Toguni: *yawn*.... yeah...the bus has pretty good air conditioning.... what you want?

Mahi: I'll just take two iced coffees with milk and two pumps of vanilla....

Toguni: it's going to be a wait we ton of others to fill

Mahi: we can wait

Mizole: I can't. I'm heading to the porta potty... Maybe take a quick shower.....

Mahi: *siff*...ugh.....I'm gonna go change I'll be right back.

_______________________________________________

Merv: warabie. Son get up it's morning time put on your pants and boots and head downstairs for coffee and a corn muffin. Let's go!

Warabie: what?.......... it's only 5 30 in the morning

Merv: and it's a very beautiful morning. Now get up and wake up your father too

Warabie: *huuuuuuu*....The sun's not even up

Ikkan:....*eating*....*sip*....morning

Warabie: you're already up

Ikkan: yeah I came back up here just to get my work boots...*eating*... here you can borrow my old ones. They're a little big....*sip*... Head downstairs for the coffee gets cold

Warabie:.............*sigh*

Ikkan: morning sweetie, have some milk.

Cirrina:...hmmmm...morning........*sip*....hmmmm taste different.

Ikkan: That's because it didn't come from the grocery store...

Noji: yep, it came straight from Patty. No preservatives, no additives, non-homogenized and freshly pasteurized milk.

Ikkan: morning guys... Coffee still hot muffins freshly baked

Shimi:...hmmmm....*sip*........

Warabie: so what do you want us to do today?

Merv: well we have to harvest all of our crops to make room for a new crop.... but let's do our regular chores first. Ikkan load the manatees up and drive them to Mr Graves field to graze, take Cirrina with you.

Ikkan: alright

Merv: I need you to go to let the krill out for and collect their eggs and clean the coop, warabie you can help him

Noji: on it ! Let's go warabie!

Warabie:... Do we at least get gloves?

Merv: Shimi you're going to help me clean the barns and collect manure and replace the feed

Shimi: what!...uhh..let me just call my wife. I uh.... I'm.... worried about her...... I'll be right back..................pick up pick up pick up

Oshi: *sigh* righhhht there......[POP]..*moan*...

Masseuse: you have a lot of tension in your shoulders and upper back ma'am

Oshi: That's what happens when you raise eight kids...... Nine counting my husband....*sigh*....... that's nice ....hm? .......hm.. let it go to voicemail......

Shimi: oshi!

Oshi voice mail: sorry I can't answer the phone right now. Please leave a message at the deep

Shimi: damn it oshi!.............*huff*..........

Merv: here's your boots and gloves.... also I would change into something more..... work orientated... wouldn't want you to rip your pants.

_______________________________________________

Neta: *typing*........*typing*.....

Naomi:um....uhhh.... neta...... The store is closed um... Everything is organized and clean. We just need to put the money away....... We need your help to do it.....

Neta: right...... right I'll be there.......*sigh*......

Antho:.............

Neta:...*counting under breath*. ........*sigh*....

Antho: You're quiet today... usually you're loud and annoying

Neta: just a lot on my mind I guess.......... life is really hitting me hard right now ...*huuuu*

Naomi:........oh.... I'm sorry

Neta: I'll be fine tho.... I don't need you guys to be concerned.......... But I do appreciate it though. Thank Naomi and you too Annnnnthooooo you're sweet!heheheh

Antho: (swat)...stop ..

Naomi: hehehehe

Antho: I'm headed to the food court Naomi you want to get some cold wontons before we leave

Naomi: ok ...bye Neta

Neta: see ya kids............ I could go for some room temperature Pizza............

_______________________________________________

Mahi: alright... coffee time. Tonugi! Where's my coffee?

Tonugi: here's your two coffees and a salmon and eggs breakfast sandwich

Mahi: Sweet! I thought coffee was just free

Tonugi: No coffee is free. You have to pay for the food but you get it free. That guy actually paid for it I think he knows you

Spyke: (waving)

Mahi: * gasp*....you.... you can keep the sandwich I don't want it.....I-I have to go ..

Tonugi: but-

Mahi: I need to leave.....*huff*.... I... I'm going to the porta potties.......ugh..... DON'T tell him where I'm going. Lie or something

Tonugi: yeah... yeah...yeah... No problem

Mahi: thanks....*huff*...

Spyke: wait! Hold up! I just want to!....damn lost them... Did they tell you where they were going?

Tonugi: uhhhhhhh.... No I have no idea. I think they were going back to their... Van... they parked their van in the trailer park spots down over there past the food stalls and the showers they're going to be in slot OV All the way in the back

Spyke: All the way over there? Ehhhh I'll catch up with them later maybe.

Tonugi: alright....*sigh*.. .

Stefan: morning tonugi....*yawn*.....oh! Salmon and eggs.. I'll take that thank you very much...*eating*....hmmm just like mother used to make...

Mizole: The bathrooms were surprisingly clean....hey Mahi..*oof*... What happened to the coffee?

Mahi: I dropped them....

Mizole: oh .. well you can just go back and get -

Mahi: I don't feel like going back there right now. We can do it later

Mizole: hey... are you okay?

Mahi: I'm fine ....... let's just go to the stage I think Trip tank is going playing let's find a good spot.

Mizole: sure. Are you sure you're okay?

Mahi: yeah... I'm fine...

Mizole:[looking around].....…....…………………………………

Spyke:………………………………………………

Mizole: [grimacing]............Come on. Let's go. It's a day just for us. Remember?

_______________________________________________

Cirrina: how many manatees do you have?

Ikkan: we have eight of them. We're about to have 10... Luna and honeydew are going to have their calves soon

Cirrina:awwww they're going to be moms. That's sweet..

Ikkan: you want to feed one?

Cirrina: yes!! Yes..

Ikkan: * whistle whistle*...*kiss kiss* come here Luna!....*whistle*.......ok so just hold the squid plant and let her eat

Cirrina: *gasp* she eating it!!.....ugh.....ewwww!

Ikkan: aww she's giving you kisses..

Cirrina: give me another squidplant............ So what did dad say when you called him?

Ikkan:................ your father is doing just fine. He's just a little stressed out with work and wedding planning.

Cirrina: he sounded upset on the phone.... I couldn't hear what he was saying. Why did you offer to go home early? we just got here.

Ikkan:.........*sigh*...... I'll tell you tonight...... your father doesn't want you to be concerned. He wants you to enjoy this trip okay...

Cirrina: alright........... So how long are they going to be grazing

Ikkan: we usually let them stay here for 8 hours Mr Graves is going to keep an eye on them.. let's head back home and get the tractor ready

Mr Graves: hold up! I got a couple ice chests for you.... Manatee chops, prawn steaks.. krill Patties. we also got a great haul last week so we have some whale fillets freshly cut and some Lobsters dogs for you. As a thanks for the fresh produce

Ikkan: thanks Mr. Graves really appreciate it.

Mr. Graves: hhmm..

Ikkan: let's go home and see how warabie's holding up

Noji: we're almost done!

Warabie: how many eggs do these things lay? We've been doing this for hours

Noji: It's not even 7am yet... Look how many eggs you've collected? That's a lot. You're doing a good job considering this is your first time doing this

Warabie: there we're done! So can we go back to bed?

Noji: now we just need to replace all of the dirty hay and replace it with new hay which should take 45 minutes...

Warabie: UHHHHH

Noji: warabie.... This doesn't seem fun or worth it right now, but you'll soon realize that this work is actually really rewarding

Warabie:....pfft....yeah right

_______________________________________________

Neta: *eating*.....*sigh*..........

[knock knock]

Neta: *eating*...hey baja... What brings you here?

Baja: My apartment's empty

Neta: ha! So is mine

Baja: I saw you at the food court and I was going to say something but you really didn't seem like yourself

Neta: hmmm...*eating*... You want some pizza?

Baja: ok...sooo how's everything going?

Neta: It's fine. My dad came to visit today

Baja: That's nice to have family over

Neta: *eating*........ Yeah......... he's dying heheh

Baja: uh...oh.....neta. ....neta I'm.... I'm really sorry

Neta: yeah cold water disease..... He found it on his arm. He didn't go to the doctor it got worse and started to spread and now it's in his ink sack and they can't do anything sooooo..... Yeah...*sniff*... that's great.......

Baja: do you want to talk about it? I mean I lost my father I don't know if have any good advice but I'm welcome to hear-

Neta: I don't even understand why I'm so upset. It is not like he was there for me or he was a good father or a good person. It's like.....like I shouldn't be this upset. I guess I'm just more angry and frustrated than upset because you could afford treatment now. Why didn't you get treatment like this isn't like my mom. ... She died of the same thing. We couldn't afford to go to the doctor... but now you can!! Why didn't you!!

Baja: well..

Neta: *crying* It's like why the fuck are you even coming to me now? *Sniff*. You had plenty of time to form a relationship with me and try to rekindle something but you didn't. *Crying*...now that you're dying you're going to try to do it? Why!!? So? If it doesn't work out you can just escape responsibility!!?....*crying*... I fucking hate him!!!... I don't want him to die................. not Anymore.....*crying*.....

Baja:...................

Neta: *crying*.......... I'm sorry I shouldn't have dumped that on you.........

Baja: oh it's ok.... I overshare a lot too

Neta:...... Hehehee.....*sigh*....*eating*....ugh........ This pizza is gross

Baja: yeah....hehehe.......... You want me to stay over?

Neta: what?

Baja: My apartment is super quiet like scary quiet. Can I sleep over maybe give you some company

Neta: ............................yeah....*sniff*.......yeah....*sniff*.....fuck it I'm going to order a real pizza..... Get some blankets, pillows............here pick a movie, any movie............. Take my old pajama pants.

Baja: alright a day just for us!

Neta: hell yeah!......... hello.....hi baby!!..... Are you having fun on the farm?..... yeah...... I'm fine sweetie......... yeah....*sigh*.... So how's ikkan and warabie.....HE FELL?!!! Hahahahahaha!!!! I'm sorry, I'm sorry that's not funny, that's not funny. Tell him I said sorry hehehehehehehe hahahaha!...ok...ok....oh alright bye sweetie.. Tell ikkan I said hi.. and I'll call him tonight

Mahi has been secretly filming the shows and sending them to @fish-at-fish-fish-resort and antho

Tonugi, Stefan and Pacifica are the cleanest mother fuckers at that music festival Everyone else is sweaty and stinky @conkreetmonkey

[kindheart525]

After a long day of working and learning, it was a relief to finally return to the little farmhouse where Limestone and her sisters grew up. It was small and humble but it was home—even more so with all the new history the mare had learned about the land.

“Ma, I’m home.”

Limestone said in the same gruff tone as if she had come in from another workday.

“The young’uns ain’t causin’ ya too much trouble, are they?”

Applejack quipped more lightheartedly.

“No, the day hath stayed free of trouble.”

Cloudy Quartz pointed towards the window.

“See yonder, for they frolic in the fields.”

The elder mare was doing anything but frolicking herself, sitting back in her old rocking chair with a blanket in her lap.

“Me, I am resting, but I do pay great mind to them. How was thine morning, my daughter?”

“It was fine, we were just at the Mayor’s office. Doing business.”

Limestone explained with little detail, but her mother’s eyes widened in recognition.

“The mayor, thou sayest? Thy Aunt Morganite was Ponyville’s mayor last I knew. Pray thee, do tell, is she still?”

“Yes, yes she is.”

Her daughter affirmed.

“It was…nice catching up with her. It’s been awhile.”

“Yea, it hath been so.” 

Cloudy nodded somberly.

“Thy father wished to see his sister more indeed. She taketh the Pie spirit beyond our humble homestead, to help other souls in need. But almost nary did she return.”

“Really?”

Limestone raised her eyebrows in mild surprise.

“I always thought he was disappointed in her for leaving the family. He didn’t exactly return her enthusiasm when she did come over.”

“Oh, nay.”

Cloudy said with a slight chuckle in her voice.

“Not at all. Thy father was nary good at showing how he felt. ‘Thy visage is as sturdy as a stone,’ I used to say unto him.”

“Well, you shoulda been there with us an’ the Mayor today! She told us some mighty interestin’ stuff ‘bout Lime’s Pa an’ the whole Pie family. A whole lot that just might help us with Mounty.”

Cloudy’s look of surprise and Limestone’s hesitation immediately told Applejack that the two of the, hadn’t really talked about what had been going on with the colt.

“Uh—I mean…”

“What is thy trouble with young Mountain Peak?”

Limestone had always been a Papa’s filly through and through, but she had just as much respect for her mother. Anyone else she would have ordered to mind their own business, but she couldn’t be so harsh to her Ma.

“He’s just working through some stuff. We’re working on it, though. You don’t need to worry about it, Ma.”

She placed a hoof on her slightly hunched back almost like she was consoling a confused old lady, ignoring the look from her wife that told her she was avoiding the subject.

Not that Cloudy would let her.

“Thou say I shan’t worry myself, but Mountain Peak is mine own grandfoal.”

The elder mare shrugged her off, turning to look her straight in the eye.

“And thou art my daughter. Rest thy weary bones, sit down.”

She gestured to the floor next to her.

“And tell me the truth, so Gaia help me.”

Right on command, Limestone’s behind dropped down to the old rug below. She was a proud mare except when she was under the orders of the ponies who raised her; she wouldn’t dare disappoint either of them.

But Cloudy didn’t look disappointed as she softly traced a hoof along her cheek down to her chin, lifting it up until she was looking at her. Instead, she looked worried.

“I’m really trying to keep this farm together, Ma. With Pa gone and you getting older, we need all hooves on deck more than ever. But Mountain…ugh, I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but he’s always talking back to me. Trying to change how we do things around here.”

Limestone explained in a mix of frustration and pleading, hoping that her mother would be sympathetic and take her side…even if she wasn’t quite as sure of herself.

“He says Pa would have wanted him to do this. But I don’t think so. He told me to keep the Pie legacy alive, which means keeping things running just as he did. We don’t need all these fancy machines running things like his work didn’t matter! Like he didn’t matter.”

A pang of longing shot through her, just for a second.

“But everypony else is agreeing with Mountain. Like AJ—“

She looked over to her wife, who now knelt across from her.

“And even Aunt Morganite. What did he really want for this farm? I don’t know.”

“Wherefore didst thou not speak to me?”

Cloudy asked.

“Thou knowest, I am his wife. I delivered his last will and testament.”

Limestone held her tongue in shame, thinking of how hurt her mother must have been. She was still the matriarch in all the ways that really mattered, in Lime’s eyes. Why didn’t she talk to her?

“Well, what did he want us to do?”

Her mother lifted her hat—her father’s hat—from her head and set it gently on the ground, reaching back up to stroke her mane.

“Certainly he didn’t want for thee to work thyself to death. My dear, thou hath hardly taken a moment’s rest since we bade him farewell. Thou art so weary.”

“Yer Ma’s right.”

Applejack reached over to hold Limestone’s hoof, offering a bit of honesty herself.

“It seems ta me that Mounty sees it too. His lil’ contraptions are s’posed to help ya not run yerself ragged.”

A warm smile spread across Cloudy’s face.

“Thy colt hath always cared greatly for his family. Conceiving of grand ideas thy father could never have brought to this world in our time, as much as he would have liked. Not seldom did my dear Igneous lament the long hours it took to carry boulders across the fields, when there was other work to be done. He said Mountain Peak would be a fine heir to the farm, after thee.”

“That was what Pa wanted? He liked all those ideas, he wanted things to change? Oh Gaia…and I treated Mountain so horribly.”

Lime’s voice grew thin and quiet.

“Pa must be so disappointed in me.”

“No, my dear. Never!”

The elderly mare cried out like she was hurt that her daughter could think this way.

“I hath seen mine husband through his darkest sorrows and brightest days. From the day his mother passed on to the joyous moments he met his grandfoals. In all these moons, nothing has been more clear than his eternal love for his family.”

Cloudy’s face softened with a loving nostalgia.

“Verily, shortly before his passing, he looked to me and said, ‘my love, I dearly hope our daughters know how proud I am of them.’ Each day before and thereafter. Thou and thy sisters art his greatest pride and joy. And mine as well.”

“We know how that feels.”

Applejack added, speaking to her mother-in-law but looking at her wife.

“We’ve got our own lil’ prides and joys ourselves. Right sugarcube?”

But Limestone didn’t answer. She couldn’t. It had finally, suddenly hit her how utterly ignorant she’d been of her Pa’s wishes, how she’d twisted his legacy for her own pride and ended up hurting the one she was supposed to love the way her father had loved her…even if she didn’t know it until after he was gone. There was nothing she could say for herself.

She swallowed the unfamiliar lump in her throat and forced out a response.

“Yes. I…I need to go for a walk.”

With this, Limestone hoisted herself up, knowing there was somepony she owed an apology to.

~~~~~~~~~~

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