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chdatz9000 · 2 years

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Day 3: Gardening

Salvation part 2

words: 1730

follow up to Salvation (not necessary to read beforehand.)

Summery: Korra takes Asami out on a date early in their relationship in hopes to discuss what has been plaguing her mind.

A few months later…

Korra took Asami on a date to a botanical garden just outside of the city. They walked closely side by side, brushing their hands together too many times to count. Korra wanted to prove to Asami that she was willing to go through the long haul with her. With Korra’s hasty profession of love a while back, she doubled down on her intent to express to Asami that it wasn’t a spur of the moment thing. Those three years apart only made it abundantly clear of how much she cares for Asami.

They walked through the garden, saw many of its colorful and dazzling sights. They casually strolled past an altar that had intricate decorative wooden pillars and arches, which were entwined with roses and other beautiful flowers. Past those she noticed a raised platform that was covered over top with white roses. Korra blushed furiously and hoped to any and all spirits hearing her thoughts that Asami didn’t take too much notice of it. Or that Asami didn’t just picture the two of them underneath the bed of raised flowers, in immaculate dresses, forever declaring their love for each other.

Korra’s heart fluttered, beating way too fast than she’d liked to. While trying so desperately hard to cling onto her self-control, she allowed herself to use one of her fingers to wrap around Asami’s finger. While that did fight the urge to lunge at Asami too enthusiastically with a kiss, it didn’t help her calm her heart and stomach.

Asami looked down at their wrapped fingers, not hands to her slight dismay, and smiled. Asami knew that Korra was being extremely mindful about showing her the vastness of her emotions, but she greatly appreciated the genuine attempt in going with Asami’s pace. Asami knew she would love Korra; she did picture them together a lot in those three years. But she left without saying a word. She stayed hidden, hell, she even came back under a fake name. It agonized Asami to no end that she tried to hide from her. Korra explained her actions, many times in fact, but it didn’t stop the thoughts of what if.

Asami turned her attention to Korra’s face where she saw her cheeks were burning red and eyes were focused on the ground slightly ahead of them. Asami couldn’t stop herself from smiling sweetly at Korra’s clearly flustered self.

Asami tugged her hand back a bit to get Korra’s attention. “Hey, you okay?”

“Ye-Yeah.” Korra had to stop herself from speaking more before all the thoughts in her mind blurted out of her mouth with no possible restraint.

Asami had picked up that Korra’s one-word answers were a somewhat defense mechanism for her. “Hey, it’s okay. Do you want to sit?” Asami asked caringly.

Korra nodded several times, perhaps too many times to her liking. Her blush somehow intensified more after realizing how enthusiastic it probably looked.

They stopped at a bench nearby and they sat down next to each other. Asami didn’t press or prod Korra on her demeanor or thoughts, she knew she would say something when she was ready. Korra never hid anything from her, her truths always came out, minus her intense feelings towards Asami. So Asami waited patiently for Korra to find her words, all while giving a sincere smile in hopes to encourage Korra for speaking what’s on her mind. And while it was probably not the smart move to the panic-ridden Korra, Asami slowly intertwined their fingers together and gave it a heartfelt squeeze.

The whole purpose of this date for Korra was to express her doubts about herself in regards to this hopefully blossoming relationship, but after seeing their ultimate potential, broke Korra in a way she wasn’t expecting. She had planted the seeds of this relationship in her mind so long ago, hoping that they would naturally sprout and grow feverishly, but the three years apart only brought drought. So she never really thought of their future in those years, and now all she wanted was to stay in the here and now to make sure she respected Asami’s heart. Now all she could be thinking about was of the promises they would give each other, of how she would stare lovingly into those spirit forsaken green, emerald eyes and say those two words that would change her life forever. But this was only their third or fourth date, how could she think of such things so early…but spirits how did it feel so right?

Korra groaned in her head as she tried to focus on the actual mission for today. She took a deep breath and turned her head to see the comforting smile that Asami has always given her and those same eyes that she wished she would devote her life to. Korra’s mind emptied at the sight and suddenly had the clarity to speak to her.

“Asami I…” doubts settled back in, but Korra pushed through it. She had to say this, for the sake of this relationship to work. “...I think I don’t deserve you.” Asami knew not to interrupt, there was always more, though the harshness of Korra’s thoughts were worrisome. “I was away for so long. I never took into consideration what you and our friends would feel. I just got up and left and couldn’t face the fact that I couldn't be the same person I used to be anymore. I wasn’t the version of myself that you and the guys knew anymore. I wanted to make sure I was perfect before coming back, especially to you. I…” Korra stopped herself, “Sorry…I’m rambling…I know we’ve already talked about this.” She couldn't help but give a guilty look. Asami said she understood, but deep-down Korra still had doubts.

“It’s okay. I'm listening.” Asami calmly reassured.

Korra nodded and continued, “So, that’s why I still think I don’t deserve this. I hurt you so bad, I ruined our friendship.” Korra gulped, “But…I don’t want to ruin this. I’m afraid that this...isn’t real. That maybe you’re in some honeymoon phase just because I’m back in your life all the sudden and your inhibitions are gone. I’m scared. I’m scared because…I want this to be real. I want this to be real so bad.” I need this to be real. “And so, at the risk of everything, I need to ask you…to ask yourself if this is what you truly want.” Korra stared intensely into Asami’s eyes, hoping to find any clue or hint of what Asami would say next, she was desperate to know.

Asami closed her eyes, not intending to scare Korra, and took a slow breath. She too also thought of this relationship in the past. Her building her garden was more meticulous in her mind. She bought the perfect plot of land and built a greenhouse around it. Bought all the top-grade soil and fertilizer. She got the most precise and intricate watering machine. All that was left was the person to bring the seeds to her. But that person disappeared without a trace, with no contact for three years. She was left to upkeep the empty greenhouse and its equipment without any indication that it would ever be in use.

Asami had already thought about what Korra had said before. There certainly was a possibility that her emotions took over rational thought. She let herself take another moment to run through her thoughts and came to the same realization as she did in the past. She opened her eyes to the sight of Korra’s practically pleading eyes. Asami smiled tenderly. She slightly repositioned her body so it faced Korra’s and used her free hand to cup Korra’s cheek, Korra immediately melted into it. Asami had no idea how Korra longed for this kind of intimate contact.

Korra let out a stuttered exhale as she closed her eyes. Spirits, she wanted this. So she took the moment to memorize Asami’s touch on her skin, which left her unprepared for what was happening next. A pair of soft lips connected with hers. She panicked and shot her eyes open and there Asami was, directly in front of her. Asami felt the panic and laughed to herself, but she made sure that their lips stayed connected as Korra erratically shifted in response.

Korra finally let herself relax into the kiss. She couldn't fully comprehend what her body was doing to her. Stomach in knots, heart beating, cheeks burning, mind empty and yet full of chaos at the same time. But what she could comprehend was how remarkable it felt. She let herself stay in this position, this special moment, to soak everything in. The anxieties and doubts she felt mere seconds before evaporated. Korra took a deep breath and slowly moved away from Asami’s lips and opened her eyes slowly. Her vision was as it was before, Asami staring softly into her eyes, her smile oh so beautiful.

“Does that answer your question?” Asami felt some slight teasing would be okay.

Korra feverishly nodded her head and Asami couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the genuine reaction.

Asami sighed and wanted to elaborate, “I have already thought about this and everything, Korra. Yes, what you did hurt, but all I can think about is how much this makes sense to me. I um…” Asami chuckled, “I have to admit, I don’t think I’ve ever cared about anyone more.” She let her statement sink into Korra’s heart as she stood up. “You don’t need to worry about this being real or if this is what I want. It is. I know it.” She extended her hand.

Korra stared at the hand in front of her, almost as if it was an illusion. She pondered if maybe this was all a dream. It didn’t take too long to push those thoughts aside as she recognized everything sensation she was feeling. This is real. She stood up quickly and went past the hand and went into Asami’s chest. She hugged her tightly around her waist and connected their foreheads.

“I’m glad.” Was all Korra could muster while she fought the urge to cry. She thought about how embarrassing it would be for her to cry happy tears in front of the person who she now knows cares about her as much as she does about her.

#korrasami #elemental fever challenge

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80sbrainmatter · 4 years

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Alright, I went out on a whim and wrote this, cause fuck it. Lowkey cringe to me. Features my oc: The Red Plague. Lol, what fuckin cringe.

A Troubling Smell

Riiiiip.

These goddamn, pieces of fucking paper.

Korra growled to herself as she crumbled up yet another fake-out, "Slenderman Page" that plagued her woods. The woods she promised the said faceless, bastard man that she'd look after after he gave her a home. A small cabin, surrounded by out of place snow that was only a mile away from the mansion the 'King' resided in. It wasn't enough for the woods to be called: "the Slender Forest" to ward off the humans that lived outside them, no; there was still many, too many, of them still trying to tread into these cursed woods. That's why she was given a cabin, a cabin in the woods. To help further protect the safety of their home and the woods the faceless man was so fond of...

And it would be a lot fuckin' easier if these damn kids would fucking knock it off with this fuckin' "Slender Challenge!" Korra growled deeply as she ripped another page off, leaving scratch marks in the bark as she did so.

"Stop fucking littering! First it was the shitty, "Save The Animals" propaganda that PETA kept leaving. Now, as soon as it turns fall, it's this damn challenge again! This town ain't gonna have much of a population if they keep on doin' this shit!" She ranted outloud, scaring nearby birds off, probably a bear too. She shoved the crumpled up pieces into her hooded-jacket pockets and stalked off further down the trail, towards the tiny, old construction sight that was left abandoned. For once, not caused by Slenderman or his kin. The city, maybe.

"Who's gonna notice a few missing rabbits anyways?" She grumbled.

The dusk breeze swayed strains of her deep red hair as she walked (more or so stomped,) kicking up sticks and leaves as she went. Her hostile mood was definitely radiating, sending whatever waited for her ahead, scampering off, not ready to face the demonic entity. As she spotted yet another, crudely made up page, laughter echoed throughout the trees. It made one of her elfish ears twitch.

Were they responsible for this? She questioned to herself bitterly. She didn't care if they were or if they weren't; they showed up at an unfortunate time and will deal with the repercussions made for who drew these.

Korra marched towards the group, their smells over taking her senses. It was too much for her, so much so that she had to stop and fan the air around her, coughing while doing so.

"If they weren't going to pay for the," a series of coughs cut her off, "drawings, they definently are paying for that smell. Holy fuck! What Smile dug up in my backyard smelled better than this."

Feeling a headache starting a form, Korra decided to teleport to them, wanting to get this over with already before her nose melted off.

Dramatic as always.

Appearing only a few feet from the group, the smell became stronger. She wasn't sure if she wanted to kill them. That smell could stick with her for a month! Her coughing got the groups attention. Through her watery eyes, she could make out three males and two females. The smell was coming from the guys.

Human boys and their fuckin' Axe Body Spray. She coughed to herself.

"You– you fucks! Are you responsible for these?" She asked, wiping one of her eyes as she pulled out one of the paper balls.

"Uh, that's just paper? Weirdo." One of the guys laughed, the others joining in. Korra groaned and blinked away oncoming tears.

"No, you fucking idiots! God, that smell! All of you! You smell like a NFL Football party!" She doubled over and coughed. "God, what did you do? Dump the cans on each other and fuck the night away? I've smelled corpses better than you. Oh God, it's in my lungs."

She stood up, her eyes looking like they've been through a terrible cry. The men seemed offended while the two girls laughed. Korra waved her hand in a dismissive way.

"God, I don't care. You're killing the trees with your odor. Just take these and beat it!" She threw the three balls at them, two of them hitting the middle guys chest.

"Who are you to tell us what to do... freakshow! You look like you shop at Hottopic." One of the girls sneered, clearly upset for whatever reason. Korra gave them a blank stare, as best as she could with burning eyes and the sniffles.

"What the fuck is a Hottopic?" She asked. She shook her head. "Never mind. Leave or die." She crossed her arms, trying to focus her vision.

"No, freak. What, are you one of "Slender's Proxies?" Are you here to protect the woods?" The same male from before asked in a very, whiny tone. Korra felt deeply offended, and this really was her job. Though, she wasn't a proxy. More like a human guard dog; she could admit that.

"Christ, I don't have time for this!" She yelled. "Your smells are overwhelming. Goodbye and let's never meet again!" It all happened to fast for the group to process it. A strange, dried up, red substance covered the ground below them and swallowed them whole. Korra has no idea where they go when she performs this move, nor does she care. The smell was gone.

...

"Fuck, I didn't find out if they were responsible."

#fanfiction #creepypasta #creepypasta x oc #oc #creepypasta oc #slenderverse #slenderman #pastaverse #creepypasta story #lowkey had fun writing it #edge lord Korra #my oc #Korra the Red Plague

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wishingforatypewriter · 3 years

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Dream of Home

Note: Sort of written for Baavira Day under the prompt "Regrets" (but also late and kind of off topic)

Kuvira had thought to keep her mind off politics, as that was where all her trouble had really started—in newspapers and history books and the speeches of others who had hoped to bring change. She'd tried to fill her days with poetry and novels instead, and twirl on her tiptoes beneath the domes like the figure in a music box. Mindless and obedient, as Su had always wanted. But even that crude imitation of peace hadn't lasted long.

It had become something of a pattern lately; they came for advice and in return brought letters, clothing, small fragments of her former life. It was usually Korra who sought her counsel—sometimes Wu, or the new leader of some fledgling state.

It was both of them this time, the king and the avatar, asking for her thoughts on the protests cropping up in Ba Sing Se after the returning nobles tried to cast low-income workers out of the city center and restore the rings. They’d never be able to do it, of course; Baatar saw to that when he drew up the plans for the city’s reconstruction. But there was no doubt the nobility would come up with some new and creative way to oppress the poor without a strong hand to stop them.

She heard them out, read the statement the little king's advisors prepared and tore through it with red ink.

"There," she said, sliding the document back across the table. "Now at least they won't throw cabbages at you."

"You really do have a way with words, gumdrop," Wu said as he looked over the edits.

"Words aren't enough. If you want real peace, you need to put the nobles in their place."

"Legally," Korra added quickly.

He groaned, slumping down in his chair and Kuvira exchanged a tired glance with the avatar. At the very least, she didn't have to fly home with him.

"Isn't that what the Dai Li are for?" he whined. "Hey, whatever happened to those guys, anyway?"

"Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to," Kuvira told him.

They picked her brain for about an hour—taxation, infrastructure, transportation—and then Korra drew a sheaf of letters out of her bag

"These were at your place in Ba Sing Se."

"Thanks."

Kuvira knew better than to open any in front of them. A handful of visits ago, Wu brought a garment box that had been waiting for her in an Upper Ring boutique—her wedding dress, finished at long last. It had been so unexpected, so soul-rending, that tears welled in her eyes at the sight of it. She would sooner scoop her eyes out of her skull than let something like that happen again.

That night, after they were long gone, Kuvira opened the letters in her room, one by one. A few messages from friends still in the capital—Shan, who she had served with on the metal guard, got engaged to one of Baatar’s university friends; Lian, who’d always had a soft spot for children, was sworn in as Minister of Education. Also, a note from a little girl at one of the bending schools she founded, and a request for an endorsement from an up and coming politician.

She had almost believed that she'd get through the stack mostly unscathed when she came across the inquiry—a wealthy buyer looking to purchase the city estate.

Kuvira still saw the house every time she closed her eyes—the gates that moved like elegant clockwork under the slightest push of her bending, the turtleduck pond in the shadow of a dance pavilion, the his and hers studies equidistant from the master suite. The idea of some other family living in the only home she'd ever loved stole the breath from her lungs. But then she remembered that it was no longer hers to sell or keep or yearn for through long nights under a starless platinum sky. From the original sketch of the design to the matter of buying land within the royal mile, it had always been Baatar's house.

The walk from her room to his stretched on for an eternity. She tried to give him space to heal from her, usually asking Huan to convey any messages she had, but this...this was too personal.

Baatar didn't look angry when he opened the door, just a bit surprised. A small step, but a step nonetheless. "Kuvira."

She handed him the letter, trying hard to keep the anguish off her face. “Korra brought this when she came by,” she explained as he read it over in the doorway. “Naturally, I won’t argue with whatever you decide to do.”

He looked at her and sighed. “You don’t have to worry. I’d never sell it.”

"Why would you assume I was worried?" Kuvira knew the question was ridiculous even as she asked it. During the days of the Empire, this man had been able to intuit her moods from the sound of pen strokes and micro-changes in her posture.

"The chandelier for one," he said, and sure enough there was a slight trembling in the silver fixture. Another person might have chalked it up to a breeze gone by, but he knew better.

"Damn it." The chandelier stilled as soon as she noticed, but Kuvira still wanted to kick herself for letting it happen.

"Come inside," he said, likely more out of habit than true intent. He’d never been able to leave her alone when she was feeling like that. It was a rare exception in her life, the way he always pulled her in where others pushed her away. But in the end, she’d managed to ruin that, too.

“You shouldn’t feel like you have to keep it for my sake,” she said, once the door was closed behind them.

“It isn’t just for your sake,” he said. “That house is the best thing I’ve ever designed, or it would be if not for—never mind.”

“What?” Kuvira asked.

He shook his head. “No, let’s not.”

“Baatar,” she said, slipping into a tone she hadn’t used since before Republic City.

“Alright, fine. I always hated that turtleduck pond.”

Kuvira’s eyes widened. “Really?” she asked, remembering their many mornings spent sitting beside it, discussing infrastructure plans over breakfast and feeding the ducklings. “Why?”

He groaned. “It completely clashes with the architectural style of the house, and it’s symptomatic of that tacky kind of Agniphilia that’s plagued Earth Kingdom design since before the Hundred Year War. Li Na always said I murdered the house by adding it on.”

Kuvira felt her ears grow hot as he explained. She liked to think that her tastes had grown sophisticated over time, that she’d completely removed herself from her mother’s fake antiques and costume jewelry. “Then why would you even include it in the design?”

“You always talked about it when we were kids. A house of your own with a big library and a dance studio and turtleducks in the backyard,” he said, shaking his head. “At the time I cared less about the aesthetics than making you happy.”

Kuvira closed her eyes slowly, feeling a dangerous warmth pooling beneath the lids. She wouldn’t. She would not. Spirits, what was wrong with her lately?

“Thank you,” she said, finally. “For not selling it. And everything else.”

She slipped out of the room before she lost her composure entirely, and when she fell asleep that night in a lonely bed within a city that knew no stars, she dreamed of home.

#baavira #kuvira #baatar jr #legend of korra #baavira day #baavira day 2021 #regrets

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sloth-space · 3 years

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Introducing some of my stuffies!!

These are my stuffies! (may edit to have photos later)

Hip-o! Full name Hip-o Hippopotamus! He's the most...worn...of my stuffies! He is a pink zoo-pet! Well, he used to be pink at least /j. He has a blankie inside him so he can be a pillow or a blankie!! I got him when I was 3 from my Grammie!

Roe! I got her recently!! She is a plague doctor!! She does very important work!! She is hug sized, so she's my fav to cuddle with when its bed time!

Panda and Bun Bun! I got them when I was an infant! Panda is a donut rattler and Bun Bun squeaks in you bounce him up and down! Bun Bun is has a red body with pink spots and white hands feet and head! Panda is a panda!

Mister Washington! He's a very handsome frog! He wears a blue suit coat and red pants!! I got him recently! He's named after Jason Funderberker the frog (from OTGW)

Usa-Chan! I just sewed him yesterday! Hes a pink rectangle with ears and a bow tie! He has two big button eyes and no mouth or nose (tho i may give him one later) and his ears have a pretty constalation pattern! He is named after Usa-Chan from OHSHC

Raggedy Anne! She's a Raggedy Anne I found in my neighbor's attic when I was younger! When I was small enough I used to wear her clothes!

Oogie! He is an Appa (A:TLA) stuffie! But I named him after Tenzin's air bison from Korra!

Teddy Brown-head and Teddy Pink-head! They are boyfriend and girlfriend! Teddy Brown-head is brown with a green ribbon around his neck and Teddy Pink-head is pink! I don't remember when I got them, but it's been a while.

Doctor Owl! He is an owl! His back is green fur! He is very old and wise and kind! If you rub his back on your boo-boo then it gets all better!! I've had him for a while too!

Derby! I got her from my girlfriend, Avery! She is a beanie-boo horse! She is small and pocket sized! Very good weight!! She is brown with a white diamond on her head!

Babe is a red bull! He is named after Babe the Blue Ox from Paul Bunyan stories! He is sooooo soft! I got him in 2nd grade!

Rosie is a white bunny with rose patterned accents on her ears and feet!! She is small and soft!! She had a sister named Pollyfill, but I lost her :(! But I'm sure Pollyfill is happy! And Rosie is amazing and perfect for carry round!!

#sloth brain #meet my stuffies #sfw agere #stuffies #stuffed animals #long

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kristallioness · 3 years

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2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019

*arrives a month late*... Happy 2021 to all of you, my dear followers! *raises a glass* It seems that my tendency to finish my artwork or personal posts on time has only gotten worse over time (I blame work *lol*). Oh well, better late than never, since there are things I would still like to take with me from this extraordinary year of 2020.

It is cringeworthy that I have two huge red X-s this year. But after I'd put these puzzle pieces together, I remembered far too well what was going on in my (work) life at the time, so it's completely understandable why I didn't have the time nor the energy to draw at all during those two months.

What were those typical statistics that I wrote about again to compare the years? *goes to read last year's post*.. Oh, right! In 2020, I managed to finish 3 full digital drawings (from the months of April, July and December) as well as work on several sketches. I wrote 28,154 words worth of fanfiction (oohh, that's a lot better than previous year), plus 3,126 words in English (I dare say I wrote an equal amount in Estonian) for the prompts I got during UYLD (making the total 31,280 words, which is quite impressive!).

I finished reading the 1st Kyoshi novel in the evening of the 20th and slightly past midnight on the 21st December (barely before the holidays, but I set this goal for myself and I did it!). Am already looking forward to starting with the 2nd part some time this year. Besides that, I ordered and received all the other new Avatar books that came out (3rd part of "Ruins of the Empire", "Katara and the Pirate's Silver", "Legacy of the Fire Nation") as well as BOTH Avatar series DVD sets (I still can't believe I found these on sale on some random online store in Estonia, but these are now among my most prized possessions!).

I finally started my Avatar rewatch last January, but merely got to the Ba Sing Se episodes in Book 2 (I need to continue with "The Earth King") and now it's been 5 YEARS since I last saw Korra. Reading through my journal personal posts from last year, I know far too well that it's not about rushing through it as fast as possible. Instead, I should enjoy the ride and continue watching the episodes when I'm well rested and in the right mood. That way I'll end up feeling much more at peace.

As for the entire year as a whole? I don't think anyone in this world of ours was prepared for the way this decade would begin - with an uncontrollable pandemic, the virus of which is randomly attacking and threatening to wipe out the weakest amongst us. If any of you (or even if you know someone who) have lost a loved one to this plague, there is not much else I can offer but my sincerest condolences! Me, my family, friends and colleagues seem to have managed to avoid catching it so far. *spits 3 x over her shoulder*

I had such high hopes for this year in so many ways. Event-wise I was looking forward to watching the Eurovision Song Contest in May (where Uku Suviste was supposed to represent Estonia for the 1st time ever after so many unfortunate failures to get selected as the winner of our local competition), the European Football Championships in June (asking my colleagues which countries they support, perhaps make fun bets / guesses with them to see whose team would win the matches), the Tokyo Olympic Games in July-August, the President of Estonia (Mrs. Kersti Kaljulaid) coming to visit my hometown to celebrate our Victory Day by taking part in the parade together with the Defence Forces (after 15 years *sigh*)...

I will always remember my last big event, which took place when life used to be "normal", so to say. It was the 102nd anniversary of Estonia on the 24th of February, when I took part of all the most important celebrations in Tallinn on our Independence Day, FULL-TIME (whenever I scroll through my Facebook timeline, I see the photos I uploaded of that day, my heart melts and I smile fondly). But the day after that.. utter hell broke loose. We had our first infected person in the country.

I will also remember the last day I went to work in "normal" conditions. Friday, the 13th of March (typically my lucky day-number combination): I missed the tram I wanted to get on in the morning, at work my team received great news that one of our colleague's family had grown bigger by a new tiny member the day before, we had our last team lunch together, we discussed the safety measures that we should take and joked about what might happen next week, I took the bus home instead of the tram (as the tram's route came from the airport and that place was considered to be more dangerous and with a higher risk of catching this virus).. It was another 2.5 weeks later by then (since the 25th of February) - Estonia (along with the rest of Europe) went into full lockdown.

The beginning was frightening and people were on edge, nobody really knew what to do nor what was gonna happen next. But in time, things began to shake into place and everybody developed a comfortable routine for remote work, including figuring out how to get everyday things done (such as grocery shopping). I found solace in taking photographs of various beautiful bird species, who began to fly around and serenaded me during spring, visiting the trees around my "nest" i.e. rented apartment (with a pair of them ACTUALLY building a nest in the chestnut tree right beside my window, thus turning me into a protective godmother of their chicks).

To be honest, I was awestruck by the positive / surprising aftermath of this lockdown: how the world / environment began to heal itself from the pollution that was normally caused by humans. I was taken aback by how dead silent our usually loud capital became in my neighbourhood (I could only hear trams passing by my house according to their schedules, practically no cars whatsoever, streets were empty of people.. absolute silence).

By May-June, things started to look up in Estonia (as well as the rest of Europe) and people were allowed to start travelling / moving around more freely. During my vacation in July, I managed to go to my last (open air) event (for the rest of the year) under these new "corona" conditions and ended up having a blast at the Open Farm Days in my home county for the first time.

Our country's shining moment came during the first week of September, when we hosted the first ever Rally Estonia of the World Rally Championship (WRC), where our very own Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja won. The event was so well organized and successful that nobody caught the virus nor did the spectators / participants spread it to others, which surely must've helped in ensuring us a spot in the WRC calendar for 2021 as well.

The remainder of the year was rather dull, with the exception of the US Presidential elections in November, when we were all holding our breaths that Joe Biden would win (congratulations, my American friends!). This eventually led to the painful downfall of THE WORST government the Republic of Estonia has ever had, and to the rise of our first female Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas (both happening in January 2021, I couldn't believe it all spiralled so soon, ha-ha!).

Anyways, during the last 4 months, work was very stressful and driving me nuts, so badly that when I eventually went on vacation before Christmas, I had a slight anxiety disorder that wouldn't let me relax for several days (luckily it went away just as quickly once I began to take it easy and managed to get some proper rest / sleep).

In hindsight, I kind of get this weird feeling as if I saw this whole thing coming, given how actively I was living my life throughout 2019. My final year of the 2010's was so full of important events and personal achievements. It's almost as if something mysterious inside was driving me, telling me to visit all the places and do all the things I wanted to do, cause I wouldn't have this sort of a chance again for a very long time.

This must be the main reason why I am thankful for 2020 for going the way it did. Sure, I'm disappointed that a lot of events were cancelled, that so many people have had to leave this world so soon due to this unpredictable disease.. But I think there are so many lessons to take from what came out of all of this. I believe the world needed some sort of a restart or break, given in what direction we were headed (politically, economically, environmentally, socially etc.). I'm just sorry it's had to come with such a high price of innocent lives.

I have even higher hopes for 2021, given how amazingly January has already passed for me and my country, and what is to come in my hometown in February. Let's take the lessons learned from 2020 with us and keep on heading back towards the "normal" lifestyle we used to know. Except this time, let's improve our ways, put all the hatred behind us, be more considerate, keep a distance, stay safe, but still try to make the world a better place for everyone. Thank you so much for reading, for remaining by my side, and for your support and love throughout the years, my friends! I hope to see you all alive and healthy at the end of the white metal ox year of 2021! *virtual hugs*

#personal #shards of Kristal

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wild-pineapple-butt · 4 years

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8 people I’d like to know better

(I think I’ve done this before!! but I can’t find it, so here we go!)

ALIAS/NAME: Rishi

BIRTHDAY: December 1st

ZODIAC SIGN: Sagittarius

HEIGHT: 5′2″ or 157.5 cm for our non-American folks

HOBBIES: Writing, reading, traveling, cooking, baking. Is eating a hobby?

FAVORITE COLOR: Purple

FAVORITE BOOK: No way I can choose just one.

LAST SONG: Face Down by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

LAST FILM/SHOW: The Legend of Korra

INSPIRATION: The amazing writers who continue to RP on Tumblr despite its “improvements” and “updates” that plague us all. I was on Tumblr before I started RPing and I came across some amazing bleach RP blogs (that unfortunately don’t exist anymore) and that prompted me to make this Renji blog in early 2017. I wanted to breathe new life into him as a character, and express him in ways you don’t really see in canon. Hopefully I do him justice ^^

STORY BEHIND URL: Pretty self explanatory isn’t it? I wanted a URL that captured the essence of Renji and gotta say - wild pineapple butt is just... the epitome of his character? Not to make him the butt of the joke. hahahaha. Okay I’ll stop.

Tagged by: @toomanydamnmuses

Tagging: Whoever is reading this, you lovely person.

#ooc #dash games #about the mun #rishi ramblings #thank you for the tag ^^

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escapekissed · 4 years

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“Hey Asami. I was kind of jerk to you at first. Just want to say sorry for that. You weren’t what I expected you to be at all.” @nvenes [ korra & asami ]

Poor little rich girl. Too pretty and smart for her own good. Too perfect to have any friends. You can have all the boyfriends you want---but they always leave. They come for the painted red lips, the carefully coiffed curls, sometimes, the money, but you never mind, as long as someone is actually interested in you for a change. But they always leave, petty, jealous, and intimidated just like every girl you’ve ever tried to make friends with. Or worse---they find someone more relatable, more down-to-Earth---whatever that means---and they cheat. You’re never mad. How can you be? You have everything you could ever want. If anything, you just feel sorry for the girl. You know you could have been friends, if she gave you a chance. You think you could be a really good friend, a really great friend---maybe even a best friend----if anyone ever gave you a chance. You try to keep up with your ex-boyfriends, become friends with the other girls... but third-wheeling is hard, and you’re as busy as you are lonely, and you become a burden on their happiness just like they are a burden on yours. It happens every time, but you fall into this pattern like clockwork. You are perfectly engineered---and a specialized machine for only one purpose, does only that.

Asami’s struck by Korra’s admission---and more than that, her apology---like a lightning rod on a hot tin roof. It burns her cheeks and sends elecrticity down her spine, striking a crimson blush, and she looks away softly, immaculate eyebrows shooting up as one hand reaches up to touch her own warm skin. Korra’s hair now abandoned---beautiful, soft and smooth, it rivals Asami’s own, though not necessarily as well-taken care of. (Korra doesn’t have the luxury of the excessive, expensive, extensive self-care Asami has become accustomed to. Asami can spend at least an hour a day getting ready just to go to bed. Insomnia plagues her, so she doesn’t mind. She pictures Korra, spending so many more hours a day hot and sweaty with training, hard, physical labor that leaves her calloused and bruised but alive. She probably sleeps like a baby all through the night, wakes up well-rested for another day of being stronger and braver than anyone Asami’s ever met. Will Asami get to watch Korra sleep tonight? The jealousy, hyperactivity, and temper melted away. She probably looks like some kind of angel. Connected to the spirit world, Asami guesses that’s sort of what an Avatar is.)

“It’s okay,” Asami says, gently. Her voice is a coo, her eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine mirth. She’s so used to being judged---the fact that someone would confront her honestly about it with kindness instead of harsh words and scorn is something of a relief. She tries so hard to be what everyone seems to want her to be---only for that something to be something they hate. (Asami doesn’t think she could stand it if Korra hated her. Her heart beats faster at the thought, with anxiety or affection, she doesn’t know.)

“You know---I’ve never had a lot of friends. I feel... very lucky that you gave me a chance.” Her words are carefully chosen. She doesn’t want Korra to pity her. But she wants to be understood. She reaches out her hand, carefully places it on top of Korra’s, not to hold, but just to show to anyone at all that she’s there. (Alive.) “Thank you, for that.”

#nves #ch: poor little rich girl | asami #rp: poor little rich girl | asami #fandom: earth water fire air ; i strike the sky and leave it bare | avatar #thank u for the starter!

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thelegendofkuzon · 5 years

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The Legend of Kuzon Chapter 9

Chapter 9: To the South Pole

(Disclaimer!)

We were on the boat sailing for the Southern Water Tribe.

"So once we get there, we'll set up a perimeter, wait for Tokuga, and then catch him by surprise," I said again.

"Correct," Korra said.

Kuzon was looking out into the sky.

Anana looked at him.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I just…. Sometimes I wonder what my brother and parents think of me and what I'm doing now."

"I'm sure they'd be really proud of you," Korra said, "I know I am. You came a long way."

Kuzon smiled.

Kuzon turned to Korra.

"I wrote a song about you earlier…. Well I'm working on it anyway."

"Really?"

"Yeah it goes like this," he said grabbing an old guitar.

He started playing some chords and begun to sing.

Now and all the time,

You are always on my mind

I don't know what I'd do if you weren't by my side

I'd lose my mind, most of the time

Don't wanna say goodbye

You're the sunshine of my life

You don't know how it feels deep inside to know

That I am yours, and you are mine.

He stopped playing and looked to a smile on Korra's face.

"Can't wait to hear when its finished," she said.

Mako, Bolin, and Lin were infiltrating a spot where Tokuga made his way to.

"In position," she said.

Her team got into position.

"Don't move until I give the signal," she said to the other squad.

Inside, Tokuga had one of the gamblers pinned down.

"Did you honestly think I was dead? Oh no, I'm still alive and better than ever."

The others were looking with fear.

"My mind is also sharper and clearer than ever. One might say I had an awakening."

Lin and her squad were getting closer to Tokuga.

She used her senses to see who was in the room.

"What do you see chief?" Bolin asked.

"At least a dozen in the lower level. Its time to move."

"There's dozens of weapons from Kuvira's failed attack, the Father Eagle, and many more just waiting to be used. Once we have it, we can claim as much turf as we desire!"

The men started to look less intimidated.

"When I'm done, everyone, even the almighty avatar will bow before me."

Lin busted down the door and her squad was ready to fight.

"Freeze!"

Mako sensed it was a trap hearing ticking.

"Oh shit! Everybody MOVE!"

They all escaped before the building exploded, but Mako busted his arm.

"Are you alright?"

"More or less. Sorry chief, I thought we were onto something."

"Don't blame yourself Mako, Tokuga was a step ahead of us."

"I suggest we look around and see what could be of use here," Bolin said.

"Well said. We should start with Kelim."

"Why him?"

"It seems like he's in league with Tokuga, and if that's the case then catching him is our best bet."

Tokuga was continuing his speech.

"Only together can we claim what is ours."

They all joined him as well as the man he was choking.

"Good."

He turned to someone wearing some kind of plasma armor.

"While we deal with Republic City, I'll need you to do something important for me; It seems these 'knights of cydonia' are heading for a spirit portal. Can you snuff them out and put them out of our hair."

"Consider it done," said the stranger.

"I expect no less from you."

Korra was looking at the moon.

Kuzon was heading to the back.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"Well I figured you would want some space while you slept," he said "so I was gonna go inside."

"Do you not sleep with girls?"

"Well I've never done it before, but also it wouldn't be polite for me to assume it. Unless we get married or something."

Korra chuckled.

"So is there some kind of law that says you can't sleep with me unless we're married?"

"Well, if you want I can sleep with you."

"Its totally up to you Kuzon."

"Yeah I can sleep next to you."

He snuggled next to Korra.

The rest of us were grinning.

Kuzon didn't care, as he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Back in Republic City, Zoe was working on some schematics for a 2.0 version of Kuzon's armor.

"Maybe a patch of red streaks will complete it."

She then sent the blueprints to Asami.

Varrick and Zhu Li were helping homeless people.

Surprisingly President Raiko was helping out.

"I'm surprised that he's assisting us with all of this," Varrick remarked, "But at least we're getting a lot done!"

Zhu li chuckled.

"I'll bet Wenyan was trying to steal the credit from you just so he could spite you," Kya said, "That bum just won't learn his lesson."

"It seems like he just wants to help people when it benefits him. As for me, I help whether it benefits me or not."

"And that's why you're the best. Nobody 'does the thing' like you."

Zhu-Li stretched her arms.

"Maybe massaging my troubles away will get my mind clear of things," she said.

"Perhaps so," Varrick said agreeing.

He looked at Zhu-Li who looked as if she was ready to massage somebody.

"Darling, I think its my turn to give you a massage this time. You'll feel better in no time."

Varrick begun massaging her shoulders.

"Honey, if you don't mind me asking…"

"Yes?"

"What do you think of the idea of me running for president?"

"I… LOVE IT!" He said.

"You really think so?" Asked Zhu-Li.

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"Well Kuzon, and his friends encouraged me to run but…. Part of me is scared of losing to him. If that happened I couldn't handle it."

"Nonsense."

"At the same time, the problems plaguing this city could be my problems as well," Zhu-Li said standing up, "I don't think I could handle that either."

"Zhu-Lu you're being supported by millions of people who love and value you, including me. If you really want this, then I don't think Raiko stands a chance."

Zhu-Li stood up encouraged.

"You're right, I'm in!"

"Excellent, this calls for celebration!" He said lifting her up.

"Dear can you put me down?"

Asami was working on the blueprints that Zoe gave her.

"Kuzon is gonna love this," she said.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Its open," she said.

The man in the plasma suit entered the room.

"May I help you?"

"Yes actually you can."

He closed the door locking it.

"From my understanding you've operated with Zhu-Li attempting to turn the world on Zhu-Li's side and ruining Raiko's campaign."

As he came closer to Asami a sudden spark appeared in his hands.

"And I'm afraid this is something I can no longer tolerate."

He grabbed Asami by the tie.

"And if you know what's good for you, you'll cease what you're doing, immediately. I'd hate to do harm to such a beautiful woman"

Asami was unphased by his threat.

She cut her tie to get free

"Flattery won't get you anywhere. You can threaten me all you want Wenyan, but I'm not gonna stop helping Zhu-Li."

"Well, this would've been over quickly, but I guess I'll need to get my hands dirty."

He charged up plasma then forced her back and she hit the wall.

She tried getting to her glove but the man stepped on it.

"I don't think you'll be needing this where you're going."

"Who are you?" Asami asked weakly.

"You can call me…. Plasma Monger."

Tokuga's men carried Asami to the blimp.

Mako, and Bolin were already on board as well as Kelim.

"Excellent work, however, we still need to deal with Knuckle Joe and his gang of rodents."

"One step ahead of you, as I have already sent somebody to go after them. He's a vicious cold blooded fighter. And I do mean 'cold'."

A man with blue skin was riding a motorcycle coming after us.

#kuzon tao #legend of kuzon #the legend of kuzon #the legend of korra #smash bros #kirby nintendo #FFEU Phase 3 #fan fiction extended universe #korra x kuzon #avatar korra #saria #Asami Sato #mako x asami #tokuga #korra turf wars #korra AU #korra

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80sbrainmatter · 4 years

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Fuck it, Korra headcanons. Not like anyone gonna see this anyways. Sorry it's lowkey shit

Isn't sure if she's a demon or an alien.

Was taken to Area 51 and stayed there for about 3 years.

Favorite color is blue despite red being her main color.

Has no idea how old she actually is, but going by human standards, she's about 20.

Does not like being touched by anyone she doesn't trust and/or like.

Doesn't even liked being touched by her friends tbh

But someone doesn't listen Ben

Angry™

Despite how long she has known Slender and has respect for him, and actually likes him, she still calls him: (the) Faceless Bastard (Man)

Lowkey OP as fuck, but we don't talk about that

Highkey might be a loner

It's hard to say if she likes animals or not.

Stole Ben's 3DS and played fetch with Smile using it after one too many times of him messing with her and her games. She never told him it was her and no one else knows she did it. Just her and the dog.

She felt bad about when he seemed like he was gonna cry but she rather die than admit that.

Lowkey-highkey, she's a worse asshole than Jeff sometimes.

Only (other) person/entity she got along with right off the bat is The Puppeteer because they both share a similar power.

She is Ace. No no don't touch me there

She has never given much thought on relationships

Does not care for smoking, but wouldn't body you if you did around her (at least, outside of the woods.) She will curb stomp you though if she catches you smoking in these woods, I'm not joking.

"Cigarettes can cause a forest fire, DO YOU WANT A FOREST FIRE!? THAT'S HOW PLANTS AND ANIMALS DIE."

Ngl, might've been an environmentalist in a past life, but can't be too sure because she isn't afraid to pick up a fuck tree and yeet it at you or go out hunting for animals during her Blood Lust season.

Actually... pretty sure she's just adamant about keeping those woods in particular safe...

Cannibal... wait.. can demons/aliens be cannibals?

Character Creation

Based her powers off of Alex Mercer and James Heller's from Prototype.

Slightly a recycled character because she started out as a Bnha villain OC

Still is...

Also based some of her powers of off Carnage

She started out by being a symbiote oc before a Bnha villain actually..

Idk how I came up with "Red Plague" for her name...

Oh well, that's all I have right now, I got a headache.

#creepypasta x oc #creepypasta #oc #creepypasta oc #creepypasta hc #creepypasta headcanon #creepypasta headcanons #my oc #slenderverse #pastaverse

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larissel · 5 years

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Day 3: FEAR/Years

Fandom: Legend of Korra

Ship: Baavira

Words: 662

Summary: There is no fear that’s greater than seeing the person you love hurt.

[AO3]

Kuvira huffed loudly with annoyance written on her face before letting out a pained grunt when she leaned back against her seat too roughly. She crossed her arms together, throwing one leg over the other before she immediately started to shake her foot impatiently. “You’re an idiot.” She suddenly said to Baatar’s still form.

“Why in the would you that for?” she asked, glaring at him as if she’s waiting for him to say something, but obviously he was unable to respond; however, that didn’t stop her from releasing out another huff. “I hope you know that I’m angry and that this should serve you as a lesson for making a careless move.” She said her body shifted, no longer looking at him as she pouted.

Several seconds haven’t even went by, Kuvira was already sighing heavily before turning to face Baatar’s unconscious form once more. A worried look was quick to replace her initial annoyance. “I didn’t mean to say what I said, I’m just so worried.” She reached out and took one of his hands into hers.

“And scared,” she added, biting down on her bottom lip. “On the contrary that I am a woman without fears, I have a lot of them.” She confessed, squeezing his hand tightly. Like many others, she was once naïve to how this world functions until she witnessed what death have laid waste on the streets of Ba Sing Se.

“But you knew that already.” These nightmares of hers have always plagued her mind ever since she was a little girl, but it mostly stopped since she and Baatar began sharing a bed together, chasing the demons out of her head. “How I often dreamed about my parents abandoning me...people I care about leaving my side…” She began to trail off for a moment, releasing a shuddering breath.

“None of that compares seeing you hurt, the thought of you…dying is what scares me the most,” she said before leaning down to press her lips against his gently, but to her great surprise, he was kissing her back. It didn’t take long for her to realize what was happening, her face flushing red when she pulled away.

“You—how long have you been awake?!”

“Since you walked in here,” Baatar laugh, slowly sitting up from his bed with a soft groan.

Kuvira’s eyes were blazing at this point before she slapped him hard on the chest in which he responded with a pained cry. She could only shake her head, unamused by what he sees as a joke. He should count himself as fortunate that he made it out with minor injuries from the surprised attacks; the bandits have all been captured and shall suffer the consequences later—once her body stops aching.

“You should be lucky enough that the worst injury you have is a big bump on your head,” she scolded, it’s obvious that the metalbender found no humor in his little prank.

“I didn’t mean to worry you, but when you started talking I got curious, I couldn’t help it and—I’m sorry.” A soft sigh left Baatar’s lips, guilt radiating off from him.

“For a man who’s intelligent, you can be very stupid too.” She shook her head, a smile twitching its way to her face. “You’re lucky that I love you and I’m glad you’re okay.” She said before she kissed him again.

“Does that mean I’m forgiven?” Baatar asked, dazed after her lips pulled away from his.

“Yes, you are,” she said, smirking. “By the way, next time, let me do all the fighting, okay?” She could see how red his face became at her comment. While it was admittedly nice to see him in action, there’s no joy to see him take a nasty hit and a terrible fall, face first on the ground.

‘Can’t believe I’m marrying a dork,’ she thought to herself with a smile. What better way to end a proposal than a surprise ambushed?

#baavira #baaviraweek2018 #kuvira #baatar jr #legend of korra #my writing

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cedarmoons · 6 years

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@4biddenleeches sorry not sorry i did this to ur kids

His fingers are warm on the back of her neck, and his touch lingers. She watches his reflection in the mirror as he leans forward, tilting his head and pressing a kiss to the exposed skin of her throat, fingers curling over the tops of her arms. The heart-shaped emerald dangles over her sternum, catching the light.

It is an hour past dawn; the children are still asleep; they are ready to leave.

“I think you’re worrying too much,” Asra says, smirking against the curve of her shoulder. His eyes are lepidolite purple in the faded light, holding her gaze in the mirror. Ziah makes a face, then opens her jewelry box and puts on three rings of malachite, moonstone, and amethyst. Asra reaches around her, taking hold of the strip of black velvet that serves as a choker, clasping it around her neck as well.

“I am still not certain this is the best idea,” she says, taking an amethyst pendant in hand and turning around. Asra doesn’t move as she drapes it over his head. “We are asking Aredhel and Julian to watch nine children between the ages of ten and nineteen for two weeks. Alone. That is...”

Asra’s smirk is wide and shameless. “I think they’ll do a great job. In fact, I think they’d be insulted by your lack of faith in them.”

Ziah rolls her eyes. He kisses the knuckles of her left hand, the pressure of his mouth mothwing-light, and turns away, picking up their scarves. She winds hers around her shoulders as he does the same.

“Did you pack an extra pair of your glasses?” she asks.

Asra nods, looking down at his mostly-packed bag and pushing his spectacles back up his nose. “Do you have extra ointment for your hand?”

“Mhm.”

Downstairs, six new heartbeats. Julian’s laughter, Aredhel’s dry response to something Katya had said. Ziah puts her hand on Asra’s back, then reaches out to help him close their bags. “They are here,” she tells him, and downstairs someone knocks.

Asra grins, then kisses her cheek. “Great. I’ll let them in.”

He takes the bags with him, leaving Ziah alone in their new bedroom—now fully unpacked, and cluttered with trinkets and items and reminders of days past, gathered over the years spent together. (Nearly twenty, she thinks, and smiles: nearly twenty years she has had with him, and she would not trade a moment of it for the world.) She had tucked the packing list under the jewelry box, and a list for Aredhel under Muriel’s carving of a wyrm, and a general grocery list tucked between the dresser’s mirror and its elaborately carved frame.

She checks the packing list, makes sure every item has been crossed off, then grabs the lists for Aredhel and leaves the bedroom. The kitchen is down the hall, on the other end of the house: once a leisure room, refashioned into the kitchen to accommodate the shop and study downstairs on the ground floor. It had taken several days to build it all.

Ziah waters some of Lizbet’s plants—the ones that had not been able to fit in her half of the attic, and the ones that she’d deemed hardy enough to not require her care in her room—and leaves the grocery list, along with a bag of coins, on the countertop, making sure to scribble Aredhel and Julian’s name in large lettering at the bottom.

When she goes downstairs, Katya is halfway up them, bouncing on her feet, her familiar close behind her. Katya stumbles to a stop, grinning up at Ziah, then cheerfully says “Morning Ziah!” and lunges forward, wrapping her arms around her middle. Ziah laughs and pats her shoulder.

“Korra isn’t up yet,” she says.

“I know!” Katya says, cheerfully, and continues on her way to the attic.

Dmitri and his familiar have already disappeared into the study, and Asra is speaking with Aredhel and Julian. Asra looks toward the stairs and his words trail off, a small smile curling the corners of his mouth. “There she is,” he says, holding out his hand to her. “Everything good to go?”

Ziah nods, closes the distance between them and takes his hand, squeezing it, before turning to Aredhel and Julian. “Thank you both so much for this,” she says. “I know it is much to ask.”

“It isn’t!” Julian assures her, grinning. He looks healthy, well rested: she is glad to see it. His grin fades, slightly, replaced with more serious reassurance. “We’re glad to do this, honestly. I think you two deserve a little vacation. Aransia is beautiful this time of year.”

“Don’t you worry about the kids,” Aredhel says. “We can handle them.”

“Speaking of,” Ziah says, pulling out her third and final list. She glances at Asra, who smiles, and looks back to Aredhel and Julian. “Some notes for you both. Yosef is allergic to nuts—of any kind. We have vials of potion that counteract the allergy just in case anything happens, there’s one in the kitchen, first overhead counter to the left of the sink, in a blue basket, the cabinet doors are glass so you can’t miss it. There’s another one in Yosef’s room. He knows where both of these are, and so do the other children.

“Second, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Evander goes to the palace for tutoring. A carriage will come pick him up and bring him home, so you won’t have to worry about that. Yosef may want to go with him, because he likes the library—and please, if Dmitri would like to go as well, he is more than welcome—but Kylan will definitely go with him to see Portia.”

“See Portia?” Aredhel repeats, brow wrinkling. “Why...?”

“He told us he’s in love with her,” Asra says.

“He’s—what?” Julian sputters, laughing.

“He is eleven, and we’ve already told her of his crush,” Ziah asks. “He doesn’t know that she knows.”

“She thinks it’s cute,” Asra adds. “And you know what, he’s weeded her garden for her several times, when we can’t even get him to make his bed, so I think he’s serious, for now.”

“Anyway,” Ziah says. “Moving on. Kamala and Indira’s birthday was two weeks ago, and Navra and Nasmira gave them instruments as presents, a sitar and a hang drum. Kamala is determined to learn them both. If she’s in a bad mood and blames you for it, she will play one of them in front of your bedroom.” She looks up, eyes widening in horror. “We forgot the extra mattresses.”

“Mizi,” Asra says. “Evander has a bunk bed, and you know Dmitri will be sleeping in the study. They’ll be fine.”

She exhales, hard. “Right.” Upstairs, Korra is arguing with Lizbet, and Katya is laughing. Upstairs, Indira is humming as they brush their teeth. Outside, she can hear the neigh of horses as Nadia’s carriage arrives to pick them up. She looks back to Aredhel. “One last thing—”

“Ziah,” Aredhel says, smiling, “if it’s on the list, we’ll read it. Promise.”

“If the kids say I approved something and it’s not on this list,” Ziah rushes out, “they are lying, don’t believe them. Lizbet is not allowed to paint her room whatever color she wants, no matter if all of them say Asra and I allowed it.”

“United front?” Julian asks, grinning. “Smart.”

“If there’s an emergency,” Asra says, “Korra and Lizbet know how to message us. We’ll get it if we’re near water. If that fails, find Faust. She’s in the forest, usually around Muriel’s hut. She can let me know if anything happens.”

They both nod. Aredhel smiles. “We’ll be fine,” she insists, and draws Ziah into a hug, one Ziah returns, closing her eyes and enjoying her warmth. When Aredhel pulls away, she says, “And if worst comes to worst, we can always ask Portia or Muriel to help out. You two focus on enjoying yourselves, okay?”

Julian glances out the window and sees Nadia’s carriage roll to a stop. His eye widens. “Darling,” he says, facing Aredhel, “how about you and I go upstairs and say hi to the others, hm?”

Nadia knocks just as Aredhel and Julian disappear upstairs. They are not on bad terms with Nadia—she had pardoned them for their murder of the Count, and publicly thanked them for their assistance with ending the second red plague—but things are... awkward, still.

Asra opens the door, beaming. Nadia steps inside, dressed for travel, her hair in a long braid that drapes over her shoulder. “Good morning,” she tells them both, warmly. The coachman collects their bags and brings them out to the carriage. Nadia closes the door behind him and smiles at them both, her gaze lingering on the emerald Ziah is wearing. “Asra—happy birthday. I trust you received the shipment of books I sent here?”

“Yep,” Asra says. “Dmitri’s already finished one by now, probably.”

“I can hear you,” Dmitri calls from the study. Asra laughs.

“Am I wrong?” he asks, and Dmitri doesn’t reply.

Nadia smiles warmly and, after kissing both Asra and Ziah on the cheek, she goes into the study to speak with Dmitri herself. Asra sighs once she’s gone, intertwining his fingers with Ziah’s. “I am,” he whispers, “so ready for this vacation.”

Ziah laughs. “That’s what happens when we adopt four children under thirteen in two months, Asra.”

Asra’s smile widens. “Worth it, though.”

Upstairs, Korra asks Julian where Ziah is, and Julian tells her the truth—she’s still downstairs, you can catch her if you hurry.

Oh. Oh, that cannot be good.

“MOM! WAIT!” Korra shouts, right on time. Ziah winces. “LIZBET TURNED HONEY GREEN!”

“Nadia,” Asra calls, “that’s our cue, time to go!” He raises his voice. “We’re leaving, Korra, sorry! Talk to Julian or Aredhel!”

Nadia appears almost immediately, and Ziah can hear Korra and Honey both sprinting through the house, Honey’s yowls loud enough and strong enough that she can hear the distress in his voice. Nadia opens the door, laughing, and Asra laughs with her as he gets all three of them out the door.

Ziah sees Honey at the top of the staircase, meowing pitifully—a black tomcat turned lime-green from head to the tip of his fluffy tail. Asra reaches around her and shuts the door just as Honey decides to run down the stairs. Ziah turns around and Asra bursts into laughter, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close.

“You,” she accuses playfully, “are entirely too pleased about this.”

“What’s not to be pleased about?” he teases. “I’m going on vacation with two beautiful women, our kids will be safe and taken care of for two weeks, and Aredhel’s finally repaying all those favors she owes me. This is the best birthday present I could ask for.”

Ziah laughs, shaking her head, and follows Nadia to the carriage. She settles beside Nadia, leaning over and resting her head atop Nadia’s shoulder, closing her eyes when Nadia begins to stroke her hair. Asra sits across from them, and wordlessly Ziah gives him her scarf so he may use both their scarves as a pillow.

“Aredhel and Julian are both admirable parents,” Nadia assures her, as the carriage jolts and moves. “Dmitri and Katya are both darling children. I am certain they can handle anything your children throw their way.”

Asra snorts, then giggles, cheeks dimpling as he laughs so hard he uses Ziah’s scarf to muffle himself. Nadia arches an eyebrow, silent, and he shakes his head. Once he’s calmed a little, he lowers the scarf and grins at them.

“She’s right,” he says, snickering again. His delight in this situation should not amuse Ziah so much, but he is always endearing. She only shakes her head at him, hiding her smile in Nadia’s shoulder. Asra shrugs, grinning. “Hey, you know what? What could go wrong?”

Ziah checks up on them once, with a bowl of seawater in her lap. It is dark and warm in Aransa, humid; they have been here for five days. She sits on their rented manse’s balcony, overlooking the sea. The two halves of her heart are fast asleep inside, wrapped around each other. Asra will reach out for her in his sleep soon and realize she is missing, but for now she has enough time to check on the children.

Korra is the one who answers her call, Mango perched on her shoulder, bobbing her head in time with the distant strumming of Kamala’s sitar.

“Hey Mom!” Korra greets, cheerfully, and Ziah swallows.

“Hello, love. How are things in Vesuvia? Are you all being on your best behavior for Aredhel and Julian?”

“Oh, just—just great,” Korra assures her, her eyes flicking up to something out of Ziah’s view. “Everything’s peachy. Mango-y, if you will. Really.”

“You’re so cute,” Mango says, lifting golden-orange wings with emerald remiges. She bobs her head again. “You’re so cute.”

“Thank you, Mango,” Ziah says, dutifully. Mango flaps her wings. In the background, Lizbet says hey is that Mom?

“Go away Lizbet!” Korra says, nose scrunching. “Mom doesn’t wanna talk to you because she knows you’re a filthy snitch—”

Something crashes in the background. Someone shouts Honey! — Ziah thinks it sounds like Aredhel, but the voice is muffled and cracks mid-syllable, she cannot be certain.

Regardless, the shout makes Korra turn her head, presumably looking down the hall toward wherever Honey had knocked something off the table or shelf. Presumably while maintaining eye contact with whoever was telling him to stop pushing the delicate item in question.

“Uh-oh,” Korra says.

Mango lifts her wings, beak clicking twice before she finally says, very clearly in her odd parrot voice, “Well, fuck.”

Ziah’s mouth drops open. “Korra, did—”

“Lizbet taught her that,” Korra says, quickly. “Love ya Mom gottagobye!”

The bowl of water goes dark, and Ziah is left staring at her own reflection in disbelief. A moment later, it lights up again, and when Ziah touches its surface Lizbet is smiling up at her with a gap-tooth grin, winding a strand of golden hair sheened in blue around her finger.

“So,” she says, gleefully, “in the five days that you’ve been gone, Korra set Kylan on fire—”

“—it was an accident!” Korra shouts. “Lizbet, shut up!”

Lizbet ignores her and beams up at Ziah, giggling with the kind of delight that only comes at expense of one’s siblings. “Cookie ate a bunch of grass and threw it all up on the study carpet, Aredhel and Julian took us to the park but Katya and Korra wandered off and got lost and we all spent hours looking for them—”

“LIZBET’S SNITCHING!” Korra bellows, out of sight. Her pronouncement is immediately followed by a faint but ringing chorus of disapproval. She cannot hear what the other children are saying, but it makes someone say there will be no killing! which is never good.

“Also Aredhel and Julian lost Dmitri,” Lizbet says, laughing. “But he was in the study the whole time, they checked the entire house like twice! Also I don’t know who thought this was be a good idea but at some point we tied all our sheets together to see if the wisteria really is strong enough to climb down—”

“You did what?” Ziah asks.

“It wasn’t me!” Lizbet protests.

“Yeah it was!” Indira replies.

“Dinner’s ready!” Julian calls. “Come and get your pasta!”

“One sec!” Lizbet cries. “I’m talking to Mom!”

Indira’s face appears in the water, half-shoving Lizbet out of the way. “It was her idea to tie Yosef in the sheets, and lower him out the attic window,” they supply, matter-of-factly. Lizbet screeches, and Indira has to shout over her to be heard: “But don’t worry, he’s fine now! Also tell Dama Lizbet’s the one who taught Mango how to swear!”

“She taught Mango how to what?” Asra asks from the doorway. He strides over, leaning over Ziah’s shoulder, staring down at Indira and Lizbet. “Lizbet. You did what?”

Lizbet laughs, a little hysterically. “Dinnertime Dama loveyagottago!”

The water goes dark, and Asra and Ziah are left staring at their own reflections. After a moment, Asra purses his lips and sits beside her on the patio sofa. Ziah listens to his heartbeat, and Nadia’s, and the rush of the waves on the beach below. She takes several moments to process the chaos she has just witnessed and lifts her head, meeting Asra’s gaze in the darkness.

“We should go back,” she says.

“Pfft,” Asra replies. “Nah. They’ve got it under control.”

Ziah blinks at him. “How much of that did you overhear?”

“Just the Mango part.” He reaches out and presses his palm against her back, rubbing in slow circles. She exhales and leans against him, closing her eyes and turning her head, nose nuzzling his throat. Asra kisses the crown of her head. “Again, I’m sure they’ve got everything under control.”

Despite the confidence in his voice, his shameless grin betrays him.

Evander is their eldest, at sixteen—Korra and Lizbet were both fourteen, Indira and Kamala both twelve, Yosef and Kylan both ten. Cookie was the only familiar who behaved: Honey was more interested in destroying things and dropping half-eaten small animals on tables and beds and pillows, and Mango never, ever stopped talking. When you told her to quiet down, she only spoke louder.

And that was not considering Katya and Dmitri and their familiars.

Too late, she realizes the true magnitude of what they have asked of Aredhel and Julian.

“I don’t think they’ll ever offer to babysit our children again,” she says, faintly. “In fact, I don’t think they’ll want anything to do with us ever again.”

Asra laughs for several long moments, smiling against the curve of her shoulder. When his fit of amusement has passed, he kisses her jaw. “I think you’re being a little dramatic, Mizi.” After a moment, he sighs, resting his cheek on her shoulder, arms wrapping around her. “Come back to bed? We miss you.”

Ziah sighs again, then nods, standing up and dumping her bowl of water over the balcony’s guardrail. Nadia stirs when Ziah climbs back into bed, but she settles when Ziah kisses her brow, half-smiling in her sleep.

With Asra and Nadia flanking her, both of them entwined with her—arms and legs and sheets tangled between them—Ziah takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, letting herself focus only on the two halves of her heart, and not Aredhel and Julian, undoubtedly at their wit’s end, half a continent away.

They come home later than expected. Nadia’s negotiations with Aransia for investment in and trade treaties with Vesuvia had not fallen through, but they had stalled, and Nadia had not been able to leave until two and a half weeks into their vacation. When Ziah had told Aredhel, Asra by her side, Aredhel had smiled—tightly, thinly, an expression that had not looked like a smile at all and more like a grimace—and told them to enjoy their vacation.

“Also, Asra,” she’d said, “we’re even.”

“Deal,” Asra had agreed.

Which means it has been over three weeks when the carriage finally comes to a stop in front of their new home, the sky painted rosy with predawn light. Asra is still sleeping across from them, but at Nadia’s gentle touch he rouses, blinking and looking bleary-eyed at them both.

“Home?” he whispers. Ziah nods, helping him sit up. She gives him his glasses and he smiles at her before putting them on.

“Thank you for the vacation, Nadia,” she tells her, kissing the inside of her palm and then her wrist. “I had a beautiful time.”

Nadia smiles and draws her into a proper kiss. “Visit me soon,” she says, a playful light dancing in her scarlet eyes. “If the damage control does not take up too much of your time.”

Ziah laughs, and Nadia’s smile widens. Asra kisses her goodbye as well, and then helps Ziah out of the carriage. The coachman retrieves their bags from the top of the carriage, then takes his place at the head of the carriage, snapping the reins. Ziah and Asra stand in front of the house, waving and watching, until Nadia’s carriage is gone and they are left alone in the silence.

Asra turns to her. “How bad do you think it is?” he asks, wrapping an arm around her waist. She shakes her head slightly, leaning down to kiss him, enjoying what little peace they have left.

“We shall find out momentarily,” she says, taking his hand in hers and threading their fingers together. Together, they open the door and step inside.

The house is quiet. Dmitri is curled up on one of the sofas in the study, a blanket pillaged from someone’s closet draped over him. Several books, all of them open and all of them bookmarked, are within an arm’s length of the sofa. He is the only one in the study, so they go upstairs.

Aredhel and Julian are at the kitchen table. Julian’s head is tucked into the crook of one arm, the other arm resting limply across the table, bare, tattooed hand limply holding a mug of what must be coffee. Aredhel is also leaning over, not quite as visibly exhausted as Julian, her hand stroking over his hair and the other resting on the table.

“Wow,” Asra says.

The only movement, from either of them, is Aredhel’s gaze sliding from some vague point at the back of Julian’s head to Asra and Ziah, standing at the top of the stairs. Out of the corner of her eye, Asra is trying very hard to suppress his grin. Ziah gives him a look and he clears his throat, expression smoothing over. But she sees the shine of mischief in his eyes.

Ziah lets go of Asra’s hand and walks forward into the kitchen, gently reaching out and touching Julian’s back. He sighs at the touch but doesn’t move. She moves on to Aredhel, putting one hand on her shoulder.

“How was the trip?” Aredhel asks, voice polite but strained.

Before Ziah can answer, something pale and off-color catches her eye. She looks up and frowns at splotches of beige yellow that had not been there before.

“Is that...” she starts.

“Pancake batter,” Aredhel supplies, dully. Her voice is hoarse. There are bruises under her eyes from lack of sleep.

“It’s all right,” Ziah says. Asra leaves the kitchen, taking their bags down the hall to drop them off in their bedroom. She hears Cookie’s slobbery breaths as he wakes up and realizes she and Asra are home. The door to Yosef and Kylan’s room squeals open. Cookie trots down the hall, panting, tail wagging, and greets her with a single sniff.

“Okay,” Ziah says, quietly. “You two go home.”

Julian lifts his head. His eyes are red-rimmed, irritated, and he has not shaved in several days. He blinks at her, and Aredhel doesn’t move. Ziah sinks into the chair beside them. “You two go home,” she repeats. Cookie puts his head in her lap, and when she lowers her hand to pet him, he licks at her fingers. “Go home and rest. Eat. Enjoy each other’s company. Katya and Dima can stay with us all day. And then tonight, if you like, you are both more than welcome to come back for dinner. If not, Asra or I will walk them both home.”

Julian and Aredhel stare at her, both too exhausted to speak.

“You’re the best, Ziah,” Aredhel finally says. Ziah smiles.

“Go,” she gently encourages, standing up and picking up Julian’s coffee mug. It is half-empty, gone cold. She gets Julian’s overcoat and Aredhel’s cloak, and escorts them both to the door. “Dinner will be at sunset,” she tells them. “I understand if you do not come back by then.”

They both nod, and Ziah waits until they are out of sight before shutting the door. She turns around and sees Asra coming down the stairs, his traveling hat still on his head, red scarf still wound about his shoulders. She meets him at the foot of the stairs and takes off his hat, resting it on the knob of the staircase newel.

She drapes her arms over his shoulders, kissing him gently, smiling at the hitch in his breath. Nearly twenty years they have spent together: her world has narrowed down to him, and Nadia, and the seven children they have taken in. Twenty years ago she had not imagined any of this for herself, and now...

She would not trade a moment of it for anything.

“I love you,” she tells him, smiling.

“I love you, too,” he says, kissing her again. When they break apart, he takes her hand and pulls her to the center of the room, taking her once again into his arms.

Asra starts to hum a tune they’d heard at an Aransi celebration—Asra had been the one most eager to dance, drawing Nadia and Ziah in with him in turns, and the tune of this song had stuck with him for the rest of the trip. His hands rest on her waist, curving around to the small of her back, and slowly they start to dance. They sway in place until Asra draws her into a slow kompa, stepping forward and then backwards, their rhythm guided only by his humming.

He grins, cheeks dimpling, and keeps humming, spinning her and then being spun by her in turn. They come together, hips slowly rocking on the beat, and he turns his head to press his nose against her cheek, hands sliding up her back and then back down to her hips. She touches him everywhere, hands running over his shoulders, curving over the back of his neck to feel the soft hairs there, brushing his cheeks. Not once does his humming falter; not once does the music stop.

They dance until Cookie wakes Yosef up, and the whole house realizes they have returned.

#this is it... my masterpiece #i have peaked #fic #ziah #the arcana #kidfic rp verse

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empirelead-a · 6 years

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Take the opportunity to write a short ramble/drabble about something you want to write about.

mun meme || accepting((I know this is what you weren’t probably expecting, but I couldn’t help myself so this drabble turned into a fic. Just to inform you, this would take place before Book 4 and way before Kuvira became an asshole a different person.

It was strange when Kuvira’s eyes fluttered open, rousingup from her slumber to be met with a peaceful silence. Normally, one of theguards would’ve barged into her room without the decency to knock; there’s evenan embarrassing incident where she lacked some clothing. She expected a youngguard to be stand on the end of her bed, informing her about another accidentor an emergency where her presence was in need.

An odd change for once, but it wasn’t unwelcoming either.Days like these were exactly like days back at Zaofu where she often did verylittle as a guard captain and had more time to herself than actually making adifference. She couldn’t help it but to wonder about the others who remainedbehind, staying loyal to that old bat; Kuvira hoped Suyin would see howmuch she had accomplished without her help, how much of an impact she made inmatter of months than the impact the older woman made in years.

‘Enough.’Kuvira pushed those troubling thoughts off from her mind, standing up from herbed and took a few steps towards the window she parted the curtains opened. Asmile came upon her features where her suspicion has been correct. It was quietand peaceful, seeing others working together to rebuild what their people havelost. And she was beginning to notice each and every day more and more peopleare joining her cause, following her lead as they all unite their countrytogether as one.

After she got ready for the day, she stepped out of theroom and into the tiny living area where she was greeted by Baatar who lookedup at her from the newspaper he has been reading with a smile, one of which shereturned. “Why didn’t you wake me up? It’s nearly ten in the morning.”

“You looked too peaceful and you have been working hard,I didn’t want to disturb you,” Baatar answered, sipping his cup of coffeebefore setting it back down.

“Well, next time just please wake me up on an appropriatetime,” Kuvira sighed, taking a seat now across from him and picked up the cupof tea he left for her. “What are you reading?” She asked when she took noticehow immersed he is with whatever he’s reading, grimacing when she took a sip ofher now cold cup of tea.

“I think you should read it for yourself…” he said,handing her the papers.

Without saying a word and after setting her cup down, she took thenewspaper into her hands and read:

THE SIEGE OF OMASHU

Afterthe passing of our beloved King Bumi, the Great City of Omashu was taken overby the tyrannical bloody rule of King Qiang who was personally chosen by QueenHou-Ting when our former king doesn’t have a predecessor or an offspring of hisown to rule after him. It has always been rumored those two have beenconspiring together, stealing from the people but all investigations endedabruptly; no more attempts have been made. Over the years, the people continuedon to suffer under his iron fist ruling and the population began to dwindle dueto the king’s unjust punishments just as banishment or execution. Many otherswhose families have been here for generations have left, but those who weren’tso fortunate remained.

Astime went on, our people became bitter and hopeless when former Avatar Aangfailed to oversee this madness that has been plaguing our city before hispassing. Hope remained to be lost when Avatar Korra fell from battle and becamegravely injured as madness finally overtook our great and proud country whenthe Red Lotus assassinated the queen.

Daysturned into weeks and nothing much was done while the world leaders arguedamongst themselves, but then, all hope wasn’t lost when an unknown captain fromZaofu came—

“Why are you reading this?” ‘Unknown? I have a name.’ Kuvira said with a low grunt, looking up at him with araised brow. Though, she didn’t mind hearing stories about her successes and bringing the monarchy down, butthis article was starting to sound like a terrible drama play and that isn’tsomething she would want her accomplishments to turn into.

“Keep reading,” Baatar instructed her, leaning backagainst his seat as he smirked over the rim of his mug.

A sigh left Kuvira’s lips before she looked back down atthe article, skimming through them swiftly before she found herself pausing fora long moment, taken aback at what she read before peering in close just tomake sure what she read wasn’t all in her head. “The Great Uniter?” She utteredout, looking up at Baatar then pointed at herself.

“Is that supposed to be me?”

“Yup.”

“Huh…”

A certain look overcame Kuvira’s features, her browsbegan to furrow together as always whenever she had to ponder on aboutsomething deep. Which Baatar took her expression as a bad thing when he frown,placing a hand on her shoulder to shake her out from her reverie.

“You don’t like it?” he frowned. “I can help youissue a statement to tell them to stop.”

Her eyes were on him for a moment before a smile crept uponto her face, laughing softly as she shook her head. “It’s not that, I’m justthinking. That’s all.”

“Care to elaborate?” He found himself smiling as well,taking a hold of her hand where he placed a gentle kiss upon her knuckles.

“I never thought I would make it this far,” she started, squeezinghis hand tightly. “That I have made an impact on people’s lives and that I’m making a difference, bettering out people’s lives.” Her eyes were brightening up at the prospect, sitting upstraighter as if everything she had done so far were finally hitting her.

“I am Kuvira and I’m for the people,” she proclaimed,standing up to her feet now and forced Baatar to stand along with her who wastrying not to laugh at her grandiose speech where she spoke as if she’s in aroom full of audiences, “if this is the people’s will, then that’s who Ishall be—The Great Uniter.”

#kuvira #baatar jr #baavira #legend of korra #my writing #✖┊unknown soldier┊anonymous #✉┊your letter has been received┊ answered #ask

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