#today i rise anew | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

babydollmarauders · 7 months

Text

TIMELESS — JACK HUGHES

jack hughes x fem!reader

surprise song! part (and final part) of the Speak Now Fic List

summary: in which y/n writes she and Jack’s first dance song and it’s Jack’s first time hearing it

notes: Taylor doesn’t exist in this alternative universe, and you’ll understand why! (2.5k words)

“i want you to write our first dance song.”

when Jack had told me that just five months ago, i was at a loss for words.

i’m no pop star, by any means, and i’ve never desired to be one. i dabble in song writing as a way to release my anxiety and that’s it.

i’ve bounced lyrics off of Jack for as long as i can remember. we went from facetimes in high school, after practice, singing him verses i was unsure of, to sitting beside him in bed, my guitar in my hands as i tried to work out lyrics and having him put his two cents in.

he knew i never planned for anyone else to hear them. they were for he and i’s ears only. yet he still complimented my voice, my lyricism, the instrumentals i played out in the dead of night.

he told me i wrote like a poet. he called me the greatest storyteller who’s ever lived.

but the greatest compliment, and also the greatest challenge, he’s ever given me, was to write the song to which we’ll have our first dance as husband and wife. to write our love into the purest form of art.

it took me four months to write what our love felt like, into words. constant lyric changes, and multiple instances of scrapping a song altogether and starting anew. it took another month for me to get it all made in a rented studio. recorded and produced into the song it is now.

but as i took so long to perfect it to my liking, i took the greatest risk of my songwriting journey. i never once bounced lyrics off of Jack. i wrote only when he was on roadies, hiding my journal inside of an old blanket that sits on the high shelf in our closet when he was home.

i wanted this song to be a complete surprise once it was finished. i wanted him to only hear it once it was in its perfected form. and that would be today.

my leg bounces on the couch, my fingers playing with the fringed side of the decorative pillow that lies within my lap, as i wait for Jack to get home from practice.

my nerves are quickly rising, my anxiety getting the best of me. if he dislikes this song, then i only have one month to create an entirely new one.

i feel sick. like i could both pass out and lose my breakfast at any moment.

my head perks up as i hear the apartment door open, the un-hushed whispers of Jack and Luke reaching my ears, and when they step into the living room, the signature smile on Jack’s face brightens.

“hi, baby.” he grins, bounding forward to press a kiss to my forehead. “i didn’t think you would be awake already.”

“i got it.” i rush out, the monotonous small talk of the moment not appealing to me in the slightest.

“got what, doll?” Jack’s brows thread together in confusion, and i can hear Luke’s pots and pans clattering in the kitchen.

“the final demo of our first dance song.” my teeth sink into my bottom lip, watching realization settle over Jack’s face. “the producer sent it to me this morning.”

“that’s great, baby! why do you look like your gonna throw up?” he laughs, taking a seat beside me on the sofa.

“because i’m scared you’re gonna hate it.” i confess. “i spent so long on this one song, making it into something i’m proud of, but it all means nothing if you don’t think it’s good enough.”

“hey.” he coos softly, a gentle hand raising to cup my cheek. “i love everything you write. and i know that this song is gonna be no exception.”

his forehead rests against mine, my eyes fluttering shut as i take a deep breath.

“are you ready to hear it?” my words come out in a whisper and i can feel him nod against me.

“i’ve been ready since the day i asked you to write it.” i pull back to smile at my fiancé, heaving out a deep sigh.

“hey Luke?” he calls out, getting a distracted ‘yeah?’ in return. “you mind giving us a few minutes alone?”

“uhh-” Luke peeks through kitchen entryway. “‘in my room’ alone? or ‘leave the apartment’ alone?”

“in your room is fine.” i assure him gently and he nods.

i watch as he turns the stove off before walking to his room. as soon as his door shuts, Jack is turning to me with an excited smile.

“okay, let’s listen!” my hand shakes as i lean forward, clicking on my laptop that rests on the coffee table, pressing play on the file.

the first notes echo throughout the living room, the gentle guitar strums causing Jack’s eyes to crinkle as he smiles softly, bobbing his head, his eyes glued to the laptop screen.

“Down the block, there's an antique shop

And something in my head said, ‘Stop,’ so i walked in

On the counter was a cardboard box

And the sign said, ‘Photos: twenty-five cents each’

Black and white, saw a '30s bride

And two lovers laughin' on the porch of their first house

The kinda love that you only find once in a lifetime

The kind you don't put down”

he looks over at me, confusion written across his face, but his eyes still shining with joy.

“And that's when i called you and it's so hard to explain

But in those photos, i saw us instead

And, somehow, i know that you and i would've found each other

In another life, you still would've turned my head even if we'd met”

his eyes grow softer, my cheeks heating up.

sure, i’ve written love songs about Jack in the past, but this one was special. this one speaks a truer and deeper meaning than any of my past songs.

“On a crowded street in 1944

And you were headed off to fight in the war

You still would've been mine

We would have been timeless

I would've read your love letters every single night

And prayed to God you'd be comin' home all right”

his smile is gentler now, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he snakes his hand over to hold mine, and i know he’s thinking about the same thing as me.

remembering the time early on in his NHL career, when i confessed to him that every time he went on a roadie, i had so much worry that he would get hurt and i wouldn’t be there for him. when i admitted that, regardless of me not being a highly religious individual, i prayed before every game that he would come out okay. that he would come home in the same condition as he left.

“And you would've been fine

We would have been timeless

'Cause i believe that we were supposed to find this

So, even in a different life, you still would've been mine

We would've been timeless”

salty tears roll down my cheeks at the sight of his, gathering on my chin and dripping down onto our conjoined hands, gripped tightly together in my lap.

“I had to smile when it caught my eye

There was one of a teenage couple in the driveway

Holdin' hands on the way to a dance

And the date on the back said 1958

Which brought me back to the first time I saw you

Time stood still like somethin' in this old shop”

he pulls me closer, until i’m practically sitting on his lap, pressing his lips to my cheek, and i wonder if he’s thinking back on when we first met too. but what he doesn’t know is that i saw him first. i’d never told him that bit.

how i silently pined after him for months until we really met. it’s written in my vows though.

junior year, when i first saw him in the school hallway and it felt like everything around me had frozen.

he had been standing at his locker, laughing about something that Trevor had said. i heard the laugh first, and my entire body felt warm. but then i turned and caught sight of him, and it felt like time had stopped. my heartbeat had sped up, everything around me drowning out until all i could focus on was him.

“I thought about it as i started lookin' 'round

At these precious things that time forgot

That's when i came upon a book covered in cobwebs

Story of a romance torn apart by fate

Hundreds of years ago, they fell in love, like we did

And i'd die for you in the same way, if i first saw your face”

our foreheads press against each other, my thumb wiping away his tears.

“In the 1500s off in a foreign land

And i was forced to marry another man

You still would've been mine

We would have been timeless

I would've read your love letters every single night

And run away and left it all behind

You still would've been mine

We would've been timeless

'Cause i believe that we were supposed to find this

So, even in a different life, you still would've been mine

We would've been timeless”

his lips slot against mine, perfectly placed in harmonious synchrony, our fallen tears mingling together upon the meeting.

“Time breaks down your mind and body

Don't you let it touch your soul

It was like an age-old classic

The first time that you saw me

The story started when you said, ‘Hello’

In a crowded room a few short years ago

And sometimes there's no proof, you just know

You're always gonna be mine

We're gonna be-

I'm gonna love you when our hair is turnin' gray

We'll have a cardboard box of photos of the life we've made

And you'll say, ‘Oh my, we really were timeless’”

my thoughts drift back to the first time we really met.

it was on new year’s eve in our junior year. Cole was having a joint new years and birthday party.

*** DECEMBER 31ST, 2019 ***

Cole’s house is crowded. insanely so.

i didn’t originally plan to come. but Cole’s become a good friend of mine through our shared history class, and he’s been blowing up my phone all day, begging me all day to attend.

so now here i stand.

alone in the crowded living room of Cole Caufield’s billet residence, a red solo cup in my hand as i people watch.

i’m unsure of what to do. Cole currently sits on the couch with a few of his hockey friends from the US National Development Program, and i feel awkward going over there. but i don’t actually know anyone else here.

i tend to keep to myself more often than not, which results in the rest of my friends being fellow introverts that would never be at a party like this.

“y/n!” my eyes grow wide, my head snapping to find where the call of my name had originated from, and i’m slightly surprised to find Cole grinning over at me, his hand waving in the air and motioning me over.

my eyes flicker beside him to see Jack sat next to Alex, both paying no attention to anything going on around them.

with none of Jack’s attention on me, i figure it’s safe to go over and wish Cole a happy early birthday.

i push my shoulders back, standing up straighter, attempting to push my way through a horde of fellow high schoolers.

but my walk is a lot less confident once i witness Jack’s gaze drifts towards me. i stumble a little, crinkling my nose as a guy i share pre-calculus with bumps me in the back.

“hi Cole.” i force a smile on my surely red face, fidgeting under the gaze of all the boys, but especially anxious now that Jack’s attention is on me.

“hey! you came!” Cole rises from his seat, pulling me into a hug, recklessly causing my drink to slosh in its cup.

“well you were texting me all day. you wouldn’t take no for an answer.” i chuckle as he plops back down to the couch with a sigh.

“i couldn’t throw my birthday party and not have my favorite girl show up!” he shouts, my face heating up. “oh! guys, this is y/n! she’s my friend from history!”

the guys all mumble out distracted ‘hey’s, no longer paying any attention to me, more interested in their new conversations or, in Trevor’s case, trying to charm a girl.

except for Jack. his baby blues are still locked on me, the corners of his mouth pulled up in a small smile.

“hello.” it’s only one word, but my heart races in my chest. i’ve been pining after this exact boy from afar for months, and now he knows who i am. “i’m Jack.”

“hi Jack.” i shake his hand, his touch sending shivers down my body.

*** PRESENT ***

Jack’s hand rubs my thigh, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“We're gonna be timeless, timeless

You still would've been mine

We would've been

Even if we'd met on a crowded street in 1944

You still would've been mine

We would've been

Down the block, there's an antique shop

And somethin' in my head said, ‘Stop,’ so i walked in”

*** ONE MONTH LATER ***

my arms wrap around my now-husband’s neck, my hands toying with the hair at the nape of his neck.

our family and friends watch on from their seats, Ellen’s eyes catching mine, tears already threatening to pour over.

the first guitar chords stream out from the speakers as Jacks hand wrap around my waist, and we begin swaying around the dance floor.

Jack’s eyes gaze into mine, smiling as he whispers the lyrics back to me, relieving some of my anxiety from our guests hearing my song.

i grin back at him, craning my neck to press a kiss against his lips as the song nears its end.

i purposefully avoid looking anywhere near the crowd, laying my head on his chest as the song ends, the final chords strumming.

his heartbeat echoes in my ears, quickening as he presses a kiss against the top of my head.

his words are mumbled into my hair, his lips pressed to my scalp- “our love is timeless.”

#speak now fic list #jack hughes #jack hughes x reader #jack hughes imagine #jack hughes fic #jack hughes blurb #nj devils #nhl fic #nhl imagine #faithlynn’s writings <3

442 notes · View notes

dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 9 months

Text

Young women are more likely to identify as liberal now than at any time in the past two decades, a trend that puts them squarely at odds with young men.

44% of young women counted themselves liberal in 2021, compared to 25% of young men, according to Gallup Poll data analyzed by the Survey Center on American Life. The gender gap is the largest recorded in 24 years of polling. The finding culminates years of rising liberalism among women ages 18 to 29, without any increase among their male peers.

Several societal forces have conspired to push young women to the left in recent years, including the #MeToo movement, former President Trump, rising LGBTQ identification and, most recently, abortion policy. Slower-cooking trends in marital status and educational attainment have also nudged the needle.

“I think there is a big generational shift that happened with Generation Z women who were really coming of age in the last five years,” said Kelsy Kretschmer, a sociologist at Oregon State University who studies gender politics.

The rift between young men and women may widen further. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a precedent that had protected abortion as a constitutional right for nearly half a century. The ruling has energized young women. New survey data, released this week, shows that 61% of young women consider abortion a critical issue, compared with 36% of all Americans.

“I would always choose a candidate that’s pro-abortion,” said Rose Merjos, 21, a government major at Wesleyan University in Connecticut who is an avowed liberal. “Almost everyone either knows someone who has had an abortion or has had one themselves. This is something everyone can relate to.”

The share of men who identify as liberal has held fairly steady for almost 25 years, according to annual Gallup surveys. Roughly one-quarter of men ages 18 to 29 term themselves liberal, year after year.

Meanwhile, among young women, liberalism has exploded. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, fewer than 30% of women identified as liberal. The liberal camp grew through the second term of former President George W. Bush. It expanded further during the tenure of former President Obama. It reached 39% in 2017 with the inauguration of Trump. In the last two years, liberalism surged anew.

“Young women today are much more liberal than young men,” Daniel Cox wrote in a June newsletter of the Survey Center on American Life, a project of the American Enterprise Institute. His work documents “a growing political rift” between young women and men.

Merjos attends a university long associated with both liberalism and activism. These days, though, she senses more of both among the women.

“In all of my government classes, there are probably two men out of 18 people,” she said. “ACLU [American Civil Liberties Union], that’s mostly women. I’m wondering if women are maybe just more inclined to be involved in the community, engaged in the community. And that liberalizes them.”

Ezra Meyer, 22, is a senior at the George Washington (GW) University who leads the College Republicans. He is a conservative on a campus that is overwhelmingly liberal and largely female. In conversations with classmates about politics, he treads lightly.

“My metric for deciding if I’m going to be friends with someone really does not come down to what their politics are,” he said. “It comes down to how tolerant they are.”

Meyer doesn’t know whether the men at GW skew more liberal or conservative than the women. But he has noticed a distinct trend among campus conservatives this fall.

“We’ve been doing a lot of recruiting of freshmen on campus,” he said. “And I would say, overwhelmingly, it has been male. The conservative females that do get involved, there’s fewer of them, but they tend to be way more passionate and way more involved.”

Several factors have liberalized the nation’s 20-something women. The most recent, and perhaps the most powerful, is #MeToo, an uprising against sexual assault, abuse and harassment that caught fire in 2017, empowering millions of women to come forward and seek justice.

The inauguration of Trump in the same year pushed more young women into the liberal column. The 45th president battled his own #MeToo allegations and proved uniquely unpopular among young, female voters. Polling in 2016 showed that only 25% of women ages 18 to 34 favored Trump, compared with 40% of same-aged men.

The rise of liberalism among young women has also marched apace with a dramatic increase in young people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. In a recent survey, 56% of young women reported exclusive attraction to men, while three-quarters of young men said they were solely attracted to women. Prior research suggests LGBTQ Americans of all ages trend toward liberalism.

Several longer-term trends have fed the liberalization of young women as well. One is marriage. The share of women ages 18-29 who are married has fallen by half in twenty years, from 31% in 2000 to 15% in 2021, according to the National Opinion Research Center.

The growing ranks of single, 20-something women feel a sense of “linked fate,” researchers say. They gravitate toward female friends in political views, whereas married women more often mirror the politics of their spouses.

“The correlation between women’s sense of linked fate and liberal political preferences suggests that the Democratic Party will benefit” from declining marriage rates among young women, Kretschmer and two co-authors wrote in a 2017 paper for the journal Political Research Quarterly. They noted that “women make up the majority of the population and vote at high rates.”

Women also outpace men in educational attainment, a trend that dates to the 1980s. The ratio of women to men in college enrollment now stands at roughly 60 to 40, and it continues to grow. Americans who complete college are more liberal than those who do not.

“Putting off marriage, going to college, entering the workforce, women are doing that at much higher rates than they used to,” said Marc Hetherington, a professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “And all of those things are going to make conservatism and the Republicans significantly less attractive to women.”

In 1998, the first year of data collected by Gallup in its Social Series surveys, 28% of young men and 29% of young women identified as liberal. The gender gap in liberalism grew steadily wider in the 2000s, wider still in the 2010s. The 2021 poll yielded a 19-point spread between young men and young women, the largest on record.

“I do have some male friends that are moderate,” said Luci Paczkowski, 20, a California liberal. “And it annoys the hell out of me.”

What bothers Paczkowski about her nonliberal friends is not their centrism but her suspicion that they “do not have any clue why they are moderate. They just do not want to pick a side and, therefore, they are apathetic.”

#us politics #news #the hill #2022 #liberals #liberalism #Democrats #polls #polling #Survey Center on American Life #Gallup Poll #conservatives #conservatism #republicans #graphs #data #National Opinion Research Center

363 notes · View notes

brabblesblog · 2 months

Text

𝕽𝖊𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗 𝖞𝖊 𝖓𝖔𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖒𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘.

Ch 4: My throne for her heart

A sequel to Whither is thy beloved gone? (AO3)

After the events of ‘Whither is thy beloved gone?’ Lord Astarion Ancuńin and his consort wife navigate their relationship anew. The ghosts of the past - his, hers, and theirs - threaten to unravel everything they’ve worked for.

A little intimacy in the heart of their dominion starts conversations that have been waiting far too long.

Now professionally edited by @midnight-musings-of-nyx

Originally beta'd by @leomonae and @kringle-c

Read on AO3.

Masterlist

Full photo on twitter.

Ban looked at her husband, at the way he tried to play his request off as something playful and not something he needed. She easily saw through it, however, to the ever-present fear in his eyes. The fear was usually muted but was now so close to the surface; doubt threatening to drag him down into its endless depths.

She felt it in his grip, tremulous and softer than was his wont, as if he was holding fine china instead of muscle and sinew - resisting the urge to hold on tightly. She saw it in his chest, rising and falling a little too fast and in his eyes, the gaze rather distant.

He looked like a man drowning, yet she saw his concern was only for her comfort.

Ban shifted a leg to straddle him fully - Astarion’s eyes widened a fraction, even as his smile widened and his arms pulled her closer. She settled right above his cock, grinding against him once; the answering gasp was enough to tell her she’d read him right.

Her dearest Astarion, king of her heart, light of her life, although she still couldn’t bring herself to tell him that. Gone were the days when she would fiercely revel in hurting him, those early months after the rite where they’d traded venomous barbs just as they’d traded favors. Even still, she sometimes found a small sense of satisfaction in doing it.

Like today.

The Vampire Ascendant wouldn’t - I know you’re still in there, prick!

A little harsh, she thought to herself. Maybe a lot harsh. The roiling anger had yet to fully abate, but she’d cooled down enough to acknowledge at least that much. She scanned his features, seeing nothing but heartache and fear and that ever-present doubt all wrapped up in a slightly drunken and playful exterior.

The light of her life. He deserves to know. But she just couldn’t, not yet. Someday. But not now. Later. Perhaps she could comfort him with a lesser truth, instead.

“I’m not … good.” It slipped from her lips, a small confession of her own. “I never have been.”

She recalled his own words, a distant memory, nearly forgotten: I'm not... good. Never was. But I do try, at least when it comes to you.

Seven thousand dead, after all; condemned without a second thought, for him. Had they not had the complication of his changed behavior… she doubted she’d ever have regretted it at all. The judgment from their former friends and allies, her own dreams of a quiet life pushed to the wayside. All for him. All for love.

A small snort escaped Astarion, a smile crinkling his eyes as he nodded in recognition of his own echoed words. His hands slipped upwards, searching for the lacing on the back of her dress. “I am aware,” he murmured, head tilting up to meet her in a light kiss. Ban could feel him smiling into it, seemingly amused despite his nervousness. “That has never been an issue.”

“Not even when I -”

“- hurt me?” Another kiss, this time on her cheek; he drew his legs closer together, allowing her to straddle him more comfortably. “Were we to lay out just how often we’ve torn each other’s hearts out, darling, I’m sure you’d find there would be nothing left to save.”

Uttered in a careless purr, certainly, but this was what he feared most.

His deft, quick, fingers undid the laces of her dress, fingertips ghosting over the skin of her back. She shivered at the contact, his warmer body temperature sometimes still disconcerting. She noticed it less and less as time passed, however the stress of the day had brought older, gentler, memories to the forefront.

All the memories of before, of those nights spent within the tent or under the stars - he’d been cold in all of them. Cold like stone, eyes warm like embers, heart slow and yet so full of untainted love.

Her hands pushed his jacket and shirt off his shoulders; a move she remembered doing all too often back in those days, and gods, she shouldn’t be thinking about the past right now…

Both armor and undershirt fell from his shoulders in one motion, the touch of cool skin pleasant against her calloused palms. Underneath her he sighed, rolling his eyes as she lightly touched the gash on his chest. “This isn’t healing well,” she said, tracing the wound with a finger.

“It’ll be fine in a day or two,” Astarion answered, looking at her with an amused expression. She was straddling him; it would be one of many precious nights where they would explore each other’s bodies without pushing him too much. As soon as the clothes were off, he had a hand between her legs, fingers brushing over her clit with a teasing lightness. “For now, I suggest you focus on… something else.”

She laughed, a joyous, uncomplicated thing with him. “Can’t really focus elsewhere when it’s staring me in the face, Astarion. It looks bad. You should be more worried.”

He fixed his eyes on her then, offered a warm smile in return. “I can worry later. Right now I can only see you.”

“Ban?”

She blinked as she heard that same voice, his voice, and locked eyes with him. Astarion had finished shrugging his jacket off, he was watching her with a guarded gaze.

He knew she’d been lost in memories, memories of the him he was before, but he tried to ignore it. His hands began to move back to her dress, intending to lift it off her.

“I- let me,” she said, hoping to cover up that lapse in attention. She climbed off his lap, slipping out of her dress and underwear. Astarion froze for a moment, eyes following her every move; recovering quickly, he pushed off the rest of his clothing, kicking it away.

As Ban returned to his lap, Astarion let out a rough sigh; his hand wrapping around the swell of her ass. “You’re thinking,” he murmured, brow furrowing. He didn’t need to say what she was thinking about; they were both aware. “It’s been-”

“More than a year. I know.” She sighed. Nearly 15 months. She’d known him far longer as the Ascendant than she had before the ritual. Guilt bubbled in her stomach at this, guilt at still missing that version of him - as if he wasn’t the same man. She forcibly pushed the thought away, but not before mumbling a hurried “I’m sorry”.

Astarion looked away, then shrugged. “Forgiven, as always.” She could see the clench of his jaw and the hard gaze he was leveling at nothing in particular.

“It’s just… It hurts, and I wonder at times if… if he could have done this. If he could’ve gone behind my back, knowing I wasn’t ready for him to know that part of me. If he could’ve taken my choice away.” He opened his mouth but she pressed on before he could continue. “I know. He could have. You could have.”

He regarded her for a moment longer, then leaned forward, accepting her explanation. Hesitant lips met her own, the kiss unsure and almost frightened, his breath shaky.

“I would have told you of your family,” he whispered in between kisses, “eventually.”

Ban wasn’t sure how much of that was truth and how much was Astarion trying to convince himself. But for now, she found it sufficient.

“Not forgiven just yet,” she replied, her hand moving to rest over his heart, hips gently rolling against him. She was wet, despite her words; the sight of him lounging on his throne had always sent arousal shooting through her, without fail. She could feel his body responding to her proximity, his breath catching and his cock beginning to throb. A small, half-stifled groan escaped from his lips, seemingly equal parts want and frustration at her statement.

“You act like that’s a novel experience for me, darling,” Astarion quipped; he couldn’t completely hide the bitterness in his voice. The hand on her ass urged her to fully press against him; his cock twitched at the contact, head flushed and tip glistening. A small shiver went through him and she ran a hand soothingly through his curls, noting that despite the desire, there was tension in his movements.

The wetness of her cunt made him groan and he thrusted up gently, seeking friction and warmth. His length rubbed her clit, eyes flicking down to her breasts, as if he was admiring her body. She couldn’t exactly explain why, but it seemed off.

“Can we just-” He took a small pause as he considered what to say. The hand on Ban’s ass squeezed once, as if to remind himself that she was there and on top of him. “Just love me.”

Ban frowned, the tone and the words heightening her concern. She touched his cheek, guiding him to meet her gaze, and she realized she’d guessed right - he was hiding his face; the pain and fear there now impossible to conceal.

“Astarion.” These would be the most important words she’d utter today; angry or not, they needed to be said. “Listen carefully. I have, I do, and I will always love you.” She said it slowly, making sure each word was clear, hoping he’d understand.

The words seeped through him, soothing the wounds in his heart and Astarion found that he could manage a tiny smile. “Even after everything?” It came out teasingly, he hoped. His body, however, couldn’t fully hide his relief; his shoulders sagged and his breath let out in contentment. His hips rolled faster, rubbing against her core and earning him her low moan as he dragged against her clit. His free hand wrapped around the armrest, bracing himself a little better.

Ban chuckled, the sound made him melt. “I’ll still be upset in the morning, but in the end I’ll always choose you, choose us. We’ll get through it.” Stroking her thumb over his cheek, she slipped her other hand down to wrap around his length, causing his hips to jerk. A few strokes, just enough to ensure he was rock hard, and she lined herself up above him.

“Good enough,” he choked out. He shifts his legs, placing them closer together to better support her weight. There was still some trepidation and hurt - she still hasn’t forgiven me, what if she never will? bounced around his mind unbidden - but the latter half of her statement soothed him. She’d chosen him - him, who wasn’t enough, who’d always been someone’s plaything and never much more, something to be discarded once used, someone who’d become a monster in his quest for freedom. Him.

Running his tongue lightly up her neck, he was utterly lost in his love for her, every sense overtaken by her presence. He could feel her heat, taste her sweat, smell her want... He could see that she was in this moment with him, and he could hear how close she was - all he needed to do was push in. Astarion repositioned his feet, firmly planting them against the white marble floor; he held back for a few moments, cock throbbing, a reminder of just how easy it would be to bury himself in her and fuck.

That wasn’t what he wanted, however.

Say it again, darling? is what he planned to say, preferably in a low, purring tone.

“Say it again, please,” was what slipped out instead.

Her response was immediate, unhesitating. “I love you.” Another smile, another of those she saved only for him, and he finally watched her sink down and take him home.

Astarion’s eyes fell shut as he drank in the sensation of her all around him; tight, warm, wet - her. He’d fucked scores of people on this very same throne when she’d been gone. A procession of warm bodies, little more than cunts and cocks used to try to forget her, a tactic that had felt a little too close to his past to be comfortable; but he hadn’t had a choice, had he, when he’d needed something, anything, to forget-

He shook off the spiraling thoughts. But she’s here, now, he told himself. Here to stay, even when he’d upset her - although, he reminded himself, that is something he’d need to make amends for. But still. She’d stayed.

He opened his eyes, smiling despite himself. No fantasy he’d used back then could ever compare to the reality of this: Ban staring down at him as she began to move her hips, pleasuring them both. Of this sight, for him alone, of being the only one chosen to give her this, despite everything. He gripped her ass tighter, feeling the muscles shift with every move; he placed his other hand on her back to support her, fingers tracing gentle circles on the soft skin. Her weight pressed on him; not unpleasantly, but enough that his legs tensed to hold them both in place.

Astarion felt himself approaching his climax, perhaps a little too fast; not much surprise there. He’d spent the whole day anxious, worried she wouldn’t come home, and the relief of her being here and loving him affected him like nothing else. He considered just letting go, letting himself rut up into her, chasing his release, but thought better of it. Not yet.

He bit the inside of his cheek, enough for the pain to partially distract him from the mounting coil of desire in his core. “Wait,” he groaned as she lifted herself up and then sank back down again, the drag of her walls around him almost enough to push him over. “Let me- else I won’t last.”

She cocked her head at him, stilling for a second, then languidly rolled her hips in one smooth, teasing move. A low, desperate whine escaped him. “Then don’t, love. Let me make love to you, like you asked. Let me give you this.”

Gods. Who was he to refuse that? He nodded, a little too vigorously perhaps, eyes locked onto hers. She stroked his cheek again and he leaned into it, expression impossibly tender. “You need not do this, Ban,” he said, although his mind screamed yes, yes!

“I want to.”

Hearing nothing but absolute certainty there, Astarion finally allowed himself to relax back into the moment. He pressed her closer to him, wanting, needing more contact. His eyes roamed her face and he felt her hand rest on his chest, covering the heart that beat only for her, that beat because of her.

She rode him, utterly focused on bringing him to peak, her speed increasing just enough to build upon his pleasure, but not so much that he couldn’t relish every motion. He could feel every clench, that slick warm grip sending his mind reeling and his cock weeping deep inside her. A quick angling of her hips allowed her to sink him even deeper and he almost cried out. Each thrust now buried him to the hilt, and he fought the urge to let his eyes roll back into his head from the pleasure, wanting to see her. Her, his Ban, his consort, no, his wife, his beloved, his heart-

“That’s it,” she whispered encouragingly, one hand bracing on the armrest as she moved. “Come for me, love.”

He couldn’t help the whine that erupted from his lips as he came, fingers digging into Ban’s skin, holding on for dear life. He could feel her hips continuing to roll as he spilled inside her, vision going blurry as his whole being narrowed down into a pinpoint of white-hot pleasure. Astarion rode it out, hips jerking involuntarily and heart hammering against her palm.

Loved. He felt loved, a feeling that had admittedly been more common lately, but one he’d feared he’d lost in light of his deception. To know that it was still there even when things were turbulent was a reassuring comfort he had never known before.

To know that Ban wasn’t bolting at the first sign of trouble; to know he was loved and chosen still.

Perhaps he could eventually even believe he’s enough.

Ban watched Astarion come down from his high, breaths shallow as he finally released his grip on her ass. He sagged back against the throne, glassy eyes refocusing on her. He was as beautiful as ever, marble skin flushed and coated in a sheen of sweat. She could feel him softening inside her, and leaned forward to press a soft kiss to his lips. That’s plenty for today, she thought. She didn’t think she had it in her to finish herself off; she was tired and mentally exhausted, and didn’t want him to feel insecure if she couldn’t come. But she’d loved giving him this, and it was enough for her.

His kisses felt a lot more confident, Astarion meeting her with equal fervor. When he finally pulled away, his eyes were shining; his hand slipping down to rest on Ban’s inner thigh, waiting for her to say yes.

She looked down, considering it. She was achingly wet, the desire compounded by the fact that he was still inside her, but she also wasn’t sure she actually could - the day’s events had been rather taxing on her, and she was beginning to tire from being spread open and riding him.

As if noting her indecision, Astarion’s brow furrowed. “Tell me what you want, p-”

He winced, quickly clearing his throat. “Darling.”

Ban raised an eyebrow. She’d asked him, long ago, to stop calling her pet, and he had done so without complaint or misstep; today would have been the first. But she understood why he’d nearly slipped. After all, she’d invoked the Ascendant, then they’d ended up on the throne after an argument, and this request was one he’d often employed after he’d first ascended.

“Thank you,” she said, acknowledging his effort to correct himself. “I would like to try, but…”

I don’t want to not finish and complicate things. Disappoint you, make you doubt.

“Might be better for me to take care of it myself, lest it end up being unsuccessful.”

He thought, silent for a moment. “May I at least help?” Before he could stop himself, he pushed on. “I’m still me. Let me please you. The way I did back then.”

Let me please you. Another familiar phrase, one he used to say in the privacy of their tent. She couldn’t help but feel wistful at the memory, but there is a wave of guilt that accompanies it at the realization that it’s still on his mind; she too finds navigating their renewed relationship challenging at times.

“Look. You can, and I would love you to, but-”

Her words died in her mouth as Astarion’s fingers slipped higher, two of them finding her clit and flicking once.

Pitched low, his voice washed over her, a gust of wind reigniting the embers of her desire. “Darling,” he purred, the wry grin she knew so well back on his face, “do you really want to go? Or do you want to come?”

The line was both hilarious and effective; Ban stifled a small laugh. “Fine. I can try to come, if that’s agreeable with you.”

His answer was quick and effortless. “Of course, love.” He considered for a moment, head tilting, then gently nudged her off his lap. As she stood, he finally slipped out of her, the loss of contact sending a small pang of regret through them both.

“Now come back,” Astarion said, spreading his legs wide and sitting further back, giving her ample space between his parted legs. “Sit, with- yes, that.”

She settled back onto the throne, her back to his chest. Astarion drew her close, arms wrapping around her waist; he settled his head next to hers to look down at her body, his breath tickling her ear.

Feeling his warm breaths ghost over her, she shivered. The sensation was so like before, and yet so different. The pale hand gliding up to cup a breast paused, and a soft kiss was pressed against her cheek.

“Tell me,” he whispered, “what you want. Where, faster, slower - everything.”

She couldn’t help the groan that escaped her at his words, watching his other hand slowly trace a path from her chest down to her belly. There was a soft press of lips against her temple, a light brush of fingers against her nipple that made her jerk. She noted, though, the tone of his voice - that silky-smooth purring was too perfect, and sighed. “I will, if you’ll relax.”

Astarion took a deep, rather shaky, breath; she felt his chest expanding against her back. “I… I can,” he said, the hand on her belly tracing gentle circles. “The offer remains, however. Anything you want, and it is yours…”

A small nod, and she leaned back against him, settling against the crook of his neck. “Touch me.”

The moment he did wasn’t electric, but soothing, satisfying that gnawing need growing in her core. His fingers moved in light, careful movements, not teasing but rather drawing out her pleasure. “That isn’t quite enough instruction, Ban. A little more would be highly appreciated,” he rumbled from behind her.

“A little faster, and…” She paused, unsure how to say it.

Her lack of experience had always been an ever-present thing, and letting herself fully go was a challenge. She’d come close during their adventures, but that ability had felt lost since their relationship had deteriorated after the rite. Ordering him around was one thing; letting him know clearly and honestly what she desired from him was far more challenging.

“Harder?” he offered. “I know precisely what to do, but I would so love to hear it from you.”

She whimpered, torn, and instead she grabbed his hand, leading it to her entrance.

“Ah,” Astarion nipped her ear, a gentle scrape of fangs that made her buck as his fingers traced around her opening. “So wet for me, so needy, and yet you won’t say it.”

The hand on her waist pulled her tighter to him, encouraging her to rest against him, letting her feel every rise and fall of his chest. He wasn’t leaning against the back of the chair, instead he held them both upright, without effort. The fingers skating across her entrance finally slipped inside in one smooth move; a moan escaped her.

“There,” he cooed, eyes fixed on his hand. “I adore the way you look with my fingers inside you. Positively divine." He kept his fingers still for a moment, smirking when she tried to cant her hips and fuck herself on them.

“Tut, tut,” he chided. “I won’t move unless you tell me precisely what to do. Since you have provided no commands…”

“Just fuck me, gods, Astarion,” she hissed out, desperation winning out over embarrassment.

That elicited a small laugh, and he began pumping his fingers in and out.

Ban bucked at the sensation, hips lifting up to chase his fingers, her own hands gripping his thighs for purchase; the evidence of her desire and the remnants of his release visible with every pass. Astarion felt his cock begin to stir again, and was unable to prevent the low groan that escaped him. It did seem to affect her, however; she clenched around his fingers at the sound.

That she wants him, was aroused by the simple sound of him groaning, brought a lazy satisfaction to him; he began to languidly rut against her ass, fingers still thrusting in and out of her.

It didn’t escape his notice that she was starting to willingly talk about what she wanted, even if he had to coax it out. More often than not, she’d skirt it and let him decide, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing: he knew the way she wanted everything, centuries of being attuned to people’s desires making her an easy study. However, hearing her say it was entirely different, a gesture of openness that he very much preferred. He quietly congratulated himself for this attempt today, though; it seemed like being drunk had given him just enough courage to try again without worrying about being rejected.

She wants me, needs me, whether it be my voice or my cock or even just my fingers. Not just that, even my laughter, and the way I banter at her over meals, and just… me, really. She’s even willing to open up and tell me what she desires, now - and maybe I am enough?

He will be enough, he swore. In every way she wanted him to be.

“You’re doing so well, love,” he purred, “but I’m certain there’s at least one more thing you’d like to ask of me.” He let his thumb graze over her clit, and was rewarded with the sensation of nails digging into the meat of his thighs.

“Yes, that,” she murmured, as if embarrassed.

“That… what?” he asked, the perfect picture of mock innocence; he lifted his thumb away.

“I want you to touch my clit,” Ban finally managed to say, the words dragged through her lips.

“There we go,” Astarion growled into her ear approvingly, pitching his voice low and rough. “My very good girl.”

He thought that was enough pushing her for now; finally allowing his thumb to press against her clit, stroking it a little to the-

“That side, yes,” she breathed, and he was amused by the sudden forwardness, a sudden wave of affection flooding him. The lazy way he’d been rutting into her hadn’t intensified; he had no intention of going further, but it felt nice, all the same. He rested his head on her shoulder as he finally let her have what she wanted, fingers driving into her faster, curling just the way she liked, his thumb alternating between lazy circles and stroking the side she prefers.

“I… I didn’t stumble onto the contract.” It slipped out of her mouth, and Astarion froze, the hand still cupping her breast tightening slightly. “I waited until you were asleep, and searched for it.”

He barely had to fight back the urge to call her out for her hypocrisy, to say something he wouldn’t mean in a day or so. He wasn’t daft, and this information didn’t surprise him at all. Instead he leaned forward to mouth at her neck.

“I won’t say I’m not…”

Upset? Piqued? Astarion weighed his words. His fingers resumed sliding in and out of her, although a little more absently. “Well, I’m not too pleased, I suppose. But it matters little.”

I love you too much to hold it against you.

The kiss on her neck turned into a light nip, fangs playfully grazing against her skin. “There,” he murmured. “Your punishment.”

Ban laughed, the sound cut off when he purposely thumbed her clit faster in response. “You could do better than that, Astarion,” she challenged, a hand snaking up to gently grab a fistful of his silver curls, and he couldn’t help the way his cock throbbed at her insolent, playful tone and the feel of his hair being tugged.

He resumed thrusting against her ass, each roll of his hips sending a dull sense of pleasure through him. He doubted he’d come again, but didn’t mind; his focus was on her. His fingers worked, fucking her harder, making sure to graze her spot with every pass, thumb rubbing her clit at precisely the angle he knew she liked best. He felt sweat beading both their bodies, wondered for a moment if they’d ruined the upholstery, then decided they could always have it redone.

“Would you like me to bite?” he asked, mouth still poised over her neck. “You need only ask, my love.” He phrased it as sweetly as he could, but the rutting against her only increased in fervency, a hint of his own excitement at the prospect of tasting her again.

He swore he could taste her every day and still not get used to it - nothing else came close. Astarion felt her clench around his fingers, the tightness intensifying. He responded accordingly, stroking her clit more firmly, fingers curling as they worked in and out of her core. Perfect, he thought. He figured if he timed it right, he could bring her over the edge as he sank his fangs in.

“Make it hurt,” she growled at him, baring her neck. The words sent a bolt of pure lust straight through him, his hips grinding against her in response. For a moment he considered flipping her around and burying himself in her, into that delectable heat, just pounding into her again and again without a second thought, drinking her blood, cock sheathed to the hilt-

No. You’ve already had your fill, he told himself. The love and trust she was showing him was more than enough.

Instead he bared his fangs, jaw widening, and sank them in. Hard, as requested, but precise - he knew not to cause too much pain.

The surge of blood into his mouth made him moan, his hips involuntarily thrusting harder, but he kept most of his attention on her - on the way she gasped and jerked in his arms, the way her hand tightened in his hair, the way her cunt clamped down on his fingers as she finally came, the surge of wetness that told him he’d done his job well.

He drank; not a lot, nowhere near the amount he used to, when he’d needed it for sustenance. And he held her close, too, taking her through her orgasm; rubbing, thrusting, squeezing, sucking. Once her body’s movements subsided to mere shivers, he licked over the pinprick wounds; swallowing down his last mouthful with a pang of regret.

Ban sagged against him, hand falling away from his hair as she nuzzled into his neck. He looked down at her, taken by the sight. His own hips stilled, burgeoning lust abating, replaced by a fierce, unbridled affection for the woman sprawled against him.

A small kiss on her cheek was all he managed; no words seemed sufficient for the sheer joy of the moment. He was aware it was partially relief - relief that she hadn’t taken his transgression as something to leave him over - but most of his joy was due to simple, blind, devotion.

Ban shifted against him. “Well that must’ve sobered you up some,” she teased, and he barked out a laugh in response.

“Positively,” he admitted. “Shall we clean up and go to bed, then, darling?”

Inwardly, he was just pleased to have her back. She stood, and he followed. He swayed, belatedly, realizing he might still be a little tipsy.

A loud laugh erupted from his dearest, his wife, his Ban, and her arms wrapped around him to help support him. They were both naked; he flapped a hand at her when she hesitated, looking over at their discarded clothing.

“Let the servants deal with it tomorrow. What do we even pay them for, if not to pick up after us?”

She snorted, unabashed, and he grinned at the sound. It was getting easier for her to open up around him, and he cherished every little sign of it. “Fine. Let’s go, you lush.”

He let her guide him without protest, leaning on her. There would be more discussions to be had over the issue of her family, certainly, but for now? He was loved. He was happy.

If you would like to see more of these two and their story, consider reading my other entries in the series "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there."

Taglist: @tavamarie @ayselluna @enterthedreams @coltaire @qiific3 @misscrissfemmefatale @vixstarria @eatyourheartoutmylove @linllewellyn @battisonsgf @micropoe10 @thegoodwitchs-blog @akirahime @velcyrptr @i-cant-get-into-my-other-account @babblebrain-blog @asterordinary @last-but-not-the-least @artist4theworld @gracemisconduct @decadentcoffeewizard @rootin-tootin-n-kind @pursuitseternal @youngtacobanana @krispeenuggiez @girlygmer-blog @cheezits4lyfe @vinegarjello @the0ldmann @wisteriaofthegraves @girlygmer-blog @midnight-musings-of-nyx @toni-winchester

98 notes · View notes

izvmimi · 1 year

Text

cw: angst. third person pov reader.

“You’re awful, you know that, right?”

Izuku usually smiles when she says this to him, as she has so many times before, because it’s usually in jest, accompanied by a cheeky smile, perhaps also by her elbowing him in the ribs. He’d shift and bump her back, making sure to reach an arm out to catch her if she stumbled. It was always excessive, but he’d never let her fall.

At least not in his sight.

Today is different. Today, instead, Izuku says nothing, and her whispered accusation goes unanswered. Her voice is soft, but the gravity of her words feels like an insurmountable weight on her shoulders, perhaps enough to shatter her bones.

She swallows but with a throat so dry it feels like sandpaper. It occurs to her for a moment that she doesn’t remember her last meal or the last time she drank anything, and yet this unloading of her feelings is far more important than filling her stomach.

“You could have left me alone,” she finally chokes out.

He could have, and he should have. Yes, there was a time that she wanted him more than anything else on this earth, and perhaps that is true even now, but what did that bring her? A pain that she would wish on no one, something that she wouldn’t have imagined was within the realm of human experience, something intangible but so unbearably real.

He should have left her alone.

Izuku still doesn’t answer, but she can imagine him, in a world where he had made a better decision for them and not just for him and his dreams and the world, saying something to the effect of -

Wouldn’t you have been lonely?

He would have been right then, and yet she is still lonely now despite this best efforts, and this version of loneliness is amplified a hundredfold.

Is it more tragic to have known warmth before being thrust into the cold anew?

“... Or just loved someone else.”

Someone different, someone strong enough to understand him the way he is.

She can practically hear his voice, even though he’s not speaking.

There’s no one else I want, sweetheart.

She clenches her teeth.

“You selfish bastard.”

But he’s not. He’s far from selfish. The 1% of him that knew selfishness was just the one that was willing to wound her. Everything else that comprised him - the selflessness, the kindness, the determination that practically dripped from his skin was so real, real enough to have led to this very moment.

“I hate you so much.”

She shouldn’t lie to the dead.

But she’d spent enough time pretending to be strong from ceremony to ceremony, controlling her tears and her breathing the entire time. How mournful is she allowed to be? He died a Hero, and that’s all he had wanted.

To be immortalized as the greatest one who ever lived.

She’s not allowed to hold that against him, is she? There’s a gentle titration of anger, of sadness, of bereavement, of righteousness required to be a perfect widow.

A Hero’s widow. A Hero herself.

“You should have been all the way selfless. You half-assed it.”

Her voice is harsher now and bile rises in her throat. There’s nothing close to vomit in, only his burial urn, set on the shelf, taunting her in its cruel beauty. It doesn’t even have all of him. Even in death, she never had all of him.

Her hands shake at her sides.

“How dare you love me?”

Dead bodies can’t defend themselves and regardless, there will never be an answer good enough for her.

Tears cloud her vision and she sinks, bringing the ashes with her, cradling the urn in her lap as she weeps. He was always the one to hold her when she cried, and now it’s the other way around. How ironic it is, for such a large presence to be reduced to a small vase, no larger than a baby.

“I wasn’t finished loving you back.”

#izuku x reader #izuku midoriya x reader #deku x reader #izuku angst #cw: angst #daydreams: bnha #thoughts: izuku #mimi's notes

433 notes · View notes

real-fire-emblem-takes · 2 months

Note

Rise from a thousand years ago.

Shaking off a hazy dream.

Meet the flower who cares for everyone.

The rising force of blackened steel.

Fighting in the desert sand.

Meet the snow that sweeps across the field.

The light and dark restore our skies tonight,

heal our wounds and learn from yesterday.

You calling out their names.

Crossing paths again.

Twelve are coming through.

Bright stars from another place, do you remember me?

Memories of red and blue

Reigniting you.

Bare your fangs and roar.

Free us all forever more here and now.

Emblem Engage!

Bonds of fire connect us.

Love provides, protects us.

Like the heroes from the pages.

Like the stories of the ages.

Bonds of hope unite us.

Shining on to guide us.

Skies above embrace the beauty.

The time is now for you and me.

Love has led us to a new today.

Scars of pain can only fade away.

Healing winds are blowing through.

Knight of shadows cast reminding us

Of heroes seen in dreams of past again.

Advise us with wise counsel and acumen.

Seven are slumbering.

Flames are flickering.

In this ruined world.

A promise to uphold, will you remember me?

Under the shrouded moon,

Silver gleams anew.

Clouds are soaring high.

Summon winds across the sky, heed our call!

Emblem Eternal...

Bonds of love, embolden

When the Emblems have woken.

Like our faces in the mirror,

Twin reflections growing clearer.

Bonds of light to lead us.

A new dawn to greet us.

Dragonstone as red as ruby.

You and I for all eternity.

Fighting beside you is the greatest honor I've ever known.

Standing together so we never have to battle alone,

As we did that day of reckoning.

You calling out their names.

Crossing paths again.

Twelve are coming through.

Bright stars from another place, do you remember me?

Memories of red and blue

Reigniting you

Bare your fangs and roar

Free us all forever more, here and now.

Emblem Engage!

Bonds of fire connect us.

Love provides, protects us.

Like the wisdom of the sages.

Like the emblems of the ages.

Bonds of hope unite us.

Shining on to guide us.

Skies beyond embrace the beauty.

The time is now for you and me.

Woven in to all our memories,

The Fire Emblem burns eternally.

This is the best FE Main Theme. Argue with the wall

#long post #fe #fire emblem #engage #fire emblem engage #fe17 #fe engage

53 notes · View notes

george-the-good · 4 months

Text

King George VI - Christmas Message (1943)

Once again, from our home in England, the Queen and I send our Christmas greetings and good wishes to each one of you, all the world over. Some of you may hear me on board your ships, in your aircraft, or as you wait for battle in the jungles of the Pacific Islands or on the Italian peaks. Some of you may listen to me as you rest from your work, or as you lie sick or wounded in hospital. To many of you, my words will come as you sit in the quiet of your homes. But, wherever you may be, today of all days in the year, your thoughts will be in distant places and your hearts with those you love. I hope that my words, spoken to them and to you, may be the bond that joins us all in one company for a few moments on this Christmas Day.

With this thought in my mind, I wish to all who are on service good luck and a stout heart; to those who wait for them to return, proud memories and high hopes to keep you strong; to all children, here and in the lands beyond the seas, a day of real happiness.

I send these words of Christmas greeting to all of you who dwell within the family of the British Commonwealth and Empire. I know you would wish me to send a message of hope to our gallant allies who fight with us, and to all who, in the loneliness of exile or the horror of invasion, look forward to our coming victory.

In this year almost passed, many things have happened, under God’s providence, to make us thankful for His mercies. The generous strength of the United States of America, the tremendous deeds of Russia, the endurance of China under her long ordeal, the fighting spirit of France re-born, and the flower of the manhood and womanhood of many lands that share the burdens of our forward march - all these have played their part in the brightening of our fortunes on sea, on land, and in the air.

Since I last spoke to you many things have changed. But the spirit of our people has not changed. As we were not downcast by defeat, we are not unduly exalted by victory. While we have bright visions of the future we have no easy dreams of the days that lie close at hand. We know that much hard working and hard fighting, and perhaps harder working and harder fighting than ever before, are necessary for victory. We shall not rest from our task until it is nobly ended. Meanwhile, within these islands, we have tried to be worthy of our fathers; we have tried to carry into the dawn the steadfastness and courage vouchsafed to us when we stood alone in the darkness.

This is not the time for a chronicle of our progress. But there is one landmark in the sombre, world-embracing battlefield which I hope and I trust may endure. Wherever their duty has called our men and women, they have gained new friends and come to know old friends better. They have learnt to share the burdens, and to read the hearts, of their neighbours; they have laid the foundations of new friendships between nations, and strengthened old ones formed long ago. As a result, there is springing up in every country fresh hope that out of comradeship in sacrifice shall come power to restore, and power to build anew.

I saw proof of this when I visited North Africa in the summer. I saw many thousands of men of the United Nations, united in action, in heart and mind and purpose. The only rivalry between them was in the service of a great cause; their only aim was the defeat of a common enemy.

In the same spirit of unity, men of diverse races have come together in the council chamber and round the conference-table: some to meet the stern, immediate demands of war itself; others to heal the wounds that war deals to all humanity - to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, mend the broken, and succour the poor. So, as we see the clouds breaking on this Christmas Day, we should take comfort from our faith that out of desolation shall rise a new hope, and out of strife be born a new brotherhood.

From this ancient and beloved festival that we are keeping, sacred as it is to home and all that home means, we can draw strength to face the future of a world riven by a tempest such as it has never yet endured. In the words of a Scottish writer of our day: ‘No experience can be too strange and no task too formidable, if a man can link it up with what he knows and loves.’¹

---

1. From Memory Hold-the-Door, by John Buchan (Lord Tweedsmuir)

#King George VI #British Royal Family #1943 #1940s #WWII

35 notes · View notes

icarus-on-air · 1 month

Text

The Tragedy Of John Doe: a Da Capo Aria

(ao3, also under cut)

" A Da Capo Aria is a musical structure composed of three sections: the first could be a standalone piece with full accompaniment. The second contrasts with the first in style, musical key, and mood, often with only piano accompaniment. The third is a repeat of the first section, hence "da capo" or begin from the start. This section often has embellishments from the singer."

The first section is John's process of moving from the entity to John Doe, gaining humanity. (eps 1-20)

The second section is after 20, when he's in the dark world. It's an aria, a solo. The piano accompaniment is the memory/idea of Arthur persisting with John throughout.

The third section is a repeat of the first, with embellishments. Or, him learning how to function with humanity, but it's different because once upon a time he HAD that sense of humanity. So it's more remembering who he wants to be than learning anew. (eps 24-intermezzo)

start

Rise from the ashes, oh phoenix of gold

Remember your virtue from stories untold

Hold close your dear friend here for he's all you've got

But keep in your sins, friend, else all is for naught

You've stolen his eyes now his heart mirrors yours

Longing for sweetness yet gilded and cold

Trust comes in a poem, a promise, a song

He has deadly hope now but oh not for long

You're hastur's heart, yes? won't let you forget

Bring him, my king, up to the pulpit

Puppeted pleasantries shall end in strife

"I'll never forget you" he breathes as the knife

Cuts at his heartstrings with few simple words

"Goodbye" you whisper, the trigger now pulled.

aria

Awoken in darkness

Cold, cruel, constricting

My lungs that now expand with

Each beat of my heart as it remembers

Your (our) pulse under my (our) fingertips

A steady tempo to my new-old symphony turned refrain

Am i hastur's heart or yours? I yearn for the latter

But under threat of infinity, i'm once again the first.

da capo

Rise from the ashes, canary of gold

Remember your virtue from stories untold

Hold close your dear friend here for he's all you've got

But keep in your sins, friend, else all is for naught

You've stolen his eyes back, his heart mirrors yours

Longing for sweetness yet guilted and cold

Trust comes in a poem, a promise, a song

He has deadly faith now but oh not for long

You're hastur's heart, yes? it lets you forget

Bring him, "my king", up to the pulpit

Puppeted pleasantries shall end in strife

"I can't forget you" he breathes as the knife

Cuts at his heartstrings with few simple words

"Do it." you whisper, the trigger now pulled.

[basically kayne refers to his Offer in intermezzo as a Da Capo al Coda, and because i'm a sucker for musical symbolism in this podcast i started looking through the musical terms wikipedia page. in a cathedral. as one does. then the brainworm hit yadda yadda and here we are today. (yeah this is a musical thing but im not a composer just a shitty notes app poet)]

#malevolent #malevolent podcast #john doe malevolent #malevolent intermezzo #malevolent fic #poetry?

19 notes · View notes

jacob-adler · 10 months

Text

June 28, 2023, 04:00AM

Four o'clock every morning is a special time for me. My family and friends have always found it too early, and I don't blame them. It is. It is so very early. Even I find it hard to pry myself out of bed sometimes, especially when I have Kaia, so beautiful and so serene, sound asleep right next to me. But she understands. Like my twin sister, Kiera, Kaia has come to understand my need to be out here at four o'clock in the morning.

Most mornings, it's just me. Me and the sun and the waves, still all too sleepy, but happy to be here.

It calms me. It's a time I set aside for myself. A time to breathe in the clean, fresh air. A time to discard any negativity I may have been carrying from the day before. A time to collect my thoughts. A time to reflect. A time to start anew. Typically, I'd be out surfing, getting a taste of the waves to come. But today is different.

Today, I sit here on the surfboard Kiera has gifted me from our most recent birthday, just watching the sun slowly rise from beyond the horizon, the ocean gently lulling me back and forth as if it knows I needed calming.

See, today is my sister's wedding day, and honestly, I couldn't be happier. My heart feels so full knowing that Kay is finally going to marry the love of her life, and she'll live the life she's always wanted, the life that I've always wanted for her. Knowing my sister, she deserves nothing short of her dream come true. But as I sit here, I wonder if I'd ever get to where she is. Not out of jealousy, no. But out of hope. Back in the home I now share with my beautiful girlfriend, I'm not blind to my blessings. Kaia is as beautiful as she is kind. And God, I've never been so enthralled by such beauty in my life, nor have I ever been more at peace with another soul that is not my family's. I love her. She knows I love her. But I want to give her more. More of my time, more of my love, more of me. But can I? How can I? How do I? How do I know if I'm doing it right? Or if it's enough? How can I be sure that one day it's not all just going to come crashing down? It's strange to think about, especially for someone who skydives almost every day for the sheer thrill of it. But it's moments like these that terrify me; it's hours before I get to watch my sister, the one person I've walked through my whole life with, go a separate way. Will I be strong enough to follow? Will I be enough?

#[ jay adler || journal 01 ]

55 notes · View notes

ging333rgesus-v-uphurglingelwiwi · 7 months

Text

Gege could STILL make the Gojo situation great...

Gege finds themselves in such a high stakes crossroad, bc without justifying Gojo's unceremonious passing, i can confidently say that it would've been one of the biggest fumbles of a manga character — possibly of all time. Gojo is one of the biggest characters today, even while having been shelved for a sizeable amount of the manga.

Like EYE was worried S2 was gonna ruin JJK for me, but if Gege fumbles this, they would've ruined it all on their own.

To save things, the first path is to bring Gojo back, dependent upon it being well crafted and predicated on established lore, and he's born anew in a frail, depowered body, getting to rise again like Suguru did, but with the question: are you Gojo bc you're the strongest or the strongest cause you're Gojo — at the forefront of his now shattered mind and sense of self, paralleling Geto's own demise and rebirth in a body no longer defined by his old conceptualization of self, a body no longer HIS own — and perhaps we get to see the new gen rising up together to make up for Gojo's lack of PHYSICAL strength, but as he sees them he's revitalized and offers the mentality and tactics needed to defeat a Sukuna, TRULY separating himself from the notion of individual power as one's only value.

Or Gojo truly demonstrates WHY he's above heaven and earth and reforms in a blaze of glory, akin to a phoenix, but with the appropriate grandiosity needed to pull it off. Maybe at the end of the fight to let the other characters shine, perhaps utilizing Megumi, or Megumi getting the strength he needs to overpower Sukuna through seeing his sensei lose, plus some plans from Gojo's preestablished failsafe.

Otherwise JJK truly fumbled one of the goats of this gen, all without blinking an eye.

#jjk spoilers #jujutsu kaisen manga #jjk meta #gojo satoru #kenjaku #megumi fushiguro #sugusato #geto suguru #above heaven and earth — i am the honored one #jujutsu kaisen #geto #satoru #jujutsu gojo #jjk gojo #JUSTICE FOR GOJO!

47 notes · View notes

vg-music-i-like · 3 months

Text

Emblem Engage! (Full) // Fire Emblem Engage

Happy 1st anniversary to Fire Emblem Engage!

Lyrics:

Rise from a thousand years ago Shaking off a hazy dream

Meet the flower who cares for everyone The rising force of blackened steel Fighting in the desert sand

Meet the snow that sweeps across the fields The light and dark restore our skies Tonight, heal the wounds and learn from yesterday

You calling out their names Crossing paths again Twelve are coming through Bless us from another place Do you remember me?

Memories of red and blue Reignite in you Bare your fangs and all Free yourself forever more Here and now

(Emblem, engage!)

Bonds of fire connect us Love provides, protects us Like the heroes from the pages Like the stories of the ages

Bonds of hope unite us Shining on, to guide us Skies above embrace the beauty The time is now for you and me

Though it led us to a new today Scars of pain can only fade away Healing winds are blowing through

Night of shadows cast reminding us Of heroes seen of dreams of past again Advise us with wise council and acumen

Seven are slumbering Flames are flickering, in this ruined world A promise to uphold Will you remember me?

Under the shrouded moon, silver gleams anew, clouds are soaring high Summon words across the sky Heed our call!

(Emblem eternal)

Bonds of love emboldened, when the emblems have woken But the faces in the mirror, twin reflections growig clearer

Bonds of light to lead us A new dawn to greet us Dragonstone as red as ruby You and I for all eternity

Fighting beside you is the greatest honor I've ever known Standing together so we never have to battle alone As we did that day of reckoning

You calling out their names Crossing paths again Twelve are coming through Bless us from another place Do you remember me?

Memories of red and blue Reignite in you Bare your fangs and all Free yourself forever more Here and now

(Emblem, ENGAGE!)

Bonds of fire connect us Love provides, protects us Like the wisdom of the sages Like the emblems of the ages

Bonds of hope unite us Shining on to guide us Skies beyond embrace the beauty The time is now for you and me

Woven into all our memories The fire emblem burns eternally

#I couldn't find who the ENG singer is so if you know please lmk!#fire emblem #fire emblem engage #fe17 #soundtrack #ost #nintendo #intelligent systems #switch #2023 #dlc

16 notes · View notes

cosmicdumpling · 1 year

Text

for as long as the sun rises » park seonghwa

SYNOPSIS: Year after year, you and Seonghwa come back to the place where you first met each other. Today happens to be that time of the year, and Seonghwa decides to switch your normal routine up by making a proposal that's rather... binding.

PAIRING: seonghwa x gn!reader

GENRE: romance/fluff, suggestive, slice of life

THEME/S: established relationship, boyfriend!Seonghwa, very cheesy romance, domesticity (sort of?), travel romance

⚠️ WARNINGS: profanities, a brief makeout session, alcohol (wine)

WORD COUNT: 3.2k

➺ MAIN MASTERLIST

Like any other tourist, Park Seonghwa was after the picturesque view of the cliff-top town.

It just so happened that the moment he was adjusting his camera’s focus, you stood in front of him, the side of your face occupying his lens; windswept hair tucked beneath your fingers while you used your other hand to type away on your phone. He didn’t miss the furrow of your brows, the way your bottom lip was caught under your front teeth, the creases on your forehead imitating an obvious look of worry.

And before he could say anything else, wanting to ask if you were alright, you already took notice of the stunned tourist on your left, making you mumble a quick apology with wide eyes. Not wanting to miss the chance, Seonghwa flashed you a smile– a really mesmerizing one— and told you with a laugh that it’s okay.

That encounter was supposed to be one kept as a fleeting memory in some mere tourists’ minds, but it seemed as though fate had its own plans.

The town of Oia is popularly known for its scenic sunsets. Everybody recommended going for a lazy afternoon stroll and finding a ‘sunset spot’ as early as one can, as it gets extremely busy in the late afternoon.

But the thing was, you weren’t exactly a fan of huge crowds, nor were you really obsessed with seeing the sunset of high repute. If anything, you wanted to see how the sun rises.

For some reason, sunrises bring a huge spark of hope within you, and you’ve always made it a routine to walk outside, stand there in silence, and contemplate on how you can start anew and make life more confounding for you.

But on that one summer morning, you weren’t alone on the balcony like you were back in the city. You climbed up the crumbly cliff past the cave-like hotels, and far to your right stood the only person alongside you who chose to watch the sun rise. It takes you one (and a half) glance to realize that he’s the tourist with a cute cat-eye smile from the day before— cup of coffee on one hand, camera on the other… and a very charming smile.

All it took was for Seonghwa to lower his camera, flash you a grin and laugh, for you to know that, that very vacation will be nothing like you’ve ever experienced before.

And guess what, that cute tourist happens to be holding your hand in his hand at the very moment, five years after that fateful encounter— numbing fingers entwined with yours as you lazily walk, empty popsicle sticks in your free hands.

The 3 AM breeze feels chilly against your skin, but the gentle rub that Seonghwa places on the back of your palm makes you feel warm in a lot of ways. Swiftly, he pulls your entwined hands up, bringing your hand to his lips as he presses a chaste kiss onto it.

“That’s weird, you don’t want to grab some wine,” You mumble with a grin, kicking a pebble as you walk. “We’ve been doing that for years.”

The man chuckles, though it’s short enough to let you know that it doesn’t appear as a surprise to him, and that he’s rather aware of what he’s doing. It’s his first time refusing to grab a tipple at Santo’s Winery, which is a shocker because it’s the very thing you’d never miss aside from sunrises.

Chucking your empty popsicle sticks onto a nearby bin, he turns to wink at you. “I’ll need to keep my sober state if you don’t want us to drown in the middle of the sea.”

Promptly, you raise a brow in question, cocking your head as he wiggles his eyebrows at you.

“What are we going to do in the middle of the sea?” You ask, looking around though there’s not much to see in the dim of the middle of the night. “I mean, at this hour?”

The doubt in your voice almost pleads for him to not be thinking about swimming as early as three in the morning— it’s awfully chilly for that. But it doesn’t seem to be much of a problem to your boyfriend, for he only shrugs, turning his head to look up ahead at the horizon.

It’s only by then when you realize that after half an hour of what you thought was mindless wandering, he brought you to the docks, where most boats are tucked safely in the corners for the rest of the night, resting for tomorrow morning’s bookings.

Most, because one yacht decorated with fairy lights suddenly comes sailing in to stop in front of the wooden platform, and you’re pretty sure it’s not just drifting afloat all by itself.

Seonghwa lets go of your hand for the first time this evening, standing on the edge of the dock before turning his back against the broad of the horizon.

“Sail around Santorini.” He grins proudly, his smile so beautiful it’s enough to make you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

“Hwa, you—” you stutter as you walk towards him, gaze traveling past him to take a brief glance at the sailing yacht. “How did you—”

“Babe, we’ve been coming and going for five years,” He chuckles right before turning his body slightly to face the vehicle. “Making friends doesn’t sound really impossible.”

With this, a familiar middle-aged, blonde-haired man comes peeking out from the cockpit, removing his hat and waving at you.

“Ya sou, y/n!” He greets, giving you a wide grin, and your hand flies up to cover your mouth in glee.

“Nico!” You gasp, smiling widely at his presence. “I missed you!”

“I missed you too, my friend!” He chuckles, giving you and Seonghwa a wink. “Now let’s get the two of you sailin’!”

Nico is one of Santorini’s many friendly locals who have grown closer to you and Seonghwa over time. He’s the same person who drove the boat you and Seonghwa toured in together when you were both ignorant of each other’s presence and identity, and he’s the same person who has witnessed your yearly visits together.

With an enamored grin, you take Seonghwa’s hand giddily and chuckle. You couldn’t even find the right words to tell him how you feel, though the smile on your face is enough to tell him that you’re over the moon about his surprise.

“You don’t have to worry ‘bout the wine, babe, you know I’ll never miss the wine.” He says, free hand ruffling your hair. “I’ve got them on board.”

Seonghwa finally pulls you to the yacht, hopping in first before carefully leading you to come down. Clumsily, you end up bumping into his chest, though you both laugh it off because he catches you, anyway.

He always does.

After having a quick chat with Nico, Seonghwa brings you to the deck, where your eyes widen upon seeing a comfortable, plush, u-shaped sofa with vintage cushion throws above it; lit candles and glasses of wine on the built-in table in the middle. Catching your reaction, Seonghwa hums and sits on the sofa, then taps the space beside him for you to slip into.

“So… you’re telling me that I’ve got a hot boyfriend, who’s spending time with me in Santorini, who prepared some wine, some early breakfast, and on a yacht too?”

You gawk, turning your head to look at Seonghwa with an impressed gaze, though he merely throws his arm behind you on the backrest of the sofa, hand squeezing your shoulder as he keeps you pressed to his chest. “Wow, I must’ve saved the world in my past life.”

“You forgot something,” He mumbles, eyes boring into yours as a lop-sided grin ever so slightly appears on his lips. “You get a sweet kiss on a yacht too.”

“Mmhm? I don’t think I—” Seonghwa cuts you off with just a little lean, pressing his lips against yours in the subtlest way possible.

You smile into the kiss, returning his kisses happily while your hand starts to find its way to cup his jaw. It’s his turn to smile, lips stretching briefly before he goes back to kissing you, deeper this time, his lips beginning to feel harsher against yours as he pulls you closer to him by placing his hand on the small of your back.

Little by little, you feel his hand loosening around your back though it goes lower, and you chuckle just when you feel him bite your bottom lip, hand quickly taking a hold of his before it could go somewhere else, and you intertwine your fingers with his instead.

“God, keep your hands to yourself, Hwa. We’re on a yacht.” You laugh after seeing his narrowed eyes, and you try to make it up to him by placing a kiss on the back of his palm.

He gives you a do-i-look-like-i-care-look (that he most probably learned from Hongjoong), unmoving from his spot, as if he’d made his mind up of wanting to do something about the tension. Even though you would never give in to him anyway— at least not in this yacht— you play along.

You raise a brow, “What if it topples down?”

“You mean what if we’re the reason there will be huge waves early in the morni—”

“You little shit—” You cut him off before he could finish, a chuckle gracing the end of your sentence when you see him laugh as well. “Nico’s just in the cockpit, you better behave.”

You mumble, free hand coming up to gently poke the tip of his nose and squish his cheek before placing a quick kiss on his forehead. Then, you situate yourself back in between his arms as you both stare at the brightening horizon in front of you. Releasing a contented sigh, you start to drift off to reminisce your memories, though you feel Seonghwa’s loving gaze on the side of your face.

A few seconds of silence pass, then you speak up in a gentle voice.

“Do you remember the day when we first decided to go around Santorini together after making friends with each other on the Balcony that one sunrise? I think I fell in love with you exactly on that day.”

Seonghwa snorts, fiddling with your fingers with a fond smile, reminiscing the memory. “After what, seeing my washboard abs?”

“Mmh, I must admit, I kind of began crushing on you after seeing those abs,” You grimace, narrowing your eyes while glancing back and forth his clothed torso and handsome face playfully. “But… I’m also not kidding when I say that I began to fall for you after spending just one day with you. You’re that loveable, Hwa. You’re just… amazing, really, in lots of ways. At that time, I felt like you’ll be so good as a lover, and that you would be so great to love. And you know what? I was right after all.”

You pause, smiling up at him with an obviously lovestruck look on your face. “Loving you and getting loved by you is one of the finest things in life others can only wish to have.”

Seonghwa feels like he wants to kiss you again, but he’s too busy repeating your words inside his head that he couldn’t help but just feel abashed for a moment. Oftentimes, he’s the one who takes good care of his friends and family, so when he hears these sort of words from you, he feels like he wants to curl into a ball and cry.

Oh to love, and to be loved even more.

“And during our last days on vacation when we told each other to come on the same day every year just to meet, for the sake of being sappy?” Your voice cuts through his thoughts, and after a few seconds of processing your words, Seonghwa snorts— the distant memory coming off as hilarious now that he thinks of it.

“That was such a ‘before sunrise’ wannabe!”

“I know! But whose idea was it?” You tease, nudging him playfully for his sappiness. He looks up at you, shrugging with no remorse, although there’s a faint blush on his cheeks.

“But we made it happen anyway, didn’t we?”

“For just one time!” You laugh, throwing your head back, and Seonghwa’s shoulders jerk when he holds his laugh back in. “Your impatient ass literally couldn’t stand it after that second yearly sappy meeting of ours. Months after that and I find you knocking on my door in my hometown.”

He shakes his head, and although his cheeks and ears are burning crimson now, he feels rather proud of himself.

“What can I say? I really love you and the uncertainty of you not being snatched by another person nearer to you was killing me.” Seonghwa tilts his head cockily. “At least we’re coming back to Santorini every year together, not just having some kind of yearly meetups.”

“I know,” You say, letting go of his hand to reach over for the nicely-filled glasses of wine, taking one for yourself and handing him the other. “And for once I have to thank your temper and impatience because if you didn’t look for me and come to me on your own accord, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Cheers to Seonghwa’s temper.” He playfully says, and believe it or not, you actually toast to it. Your glasses clink and you take a sip, side-eyeing each other as contented smiles appear on your lips.

“This is new.” You mumble immediately after gulping the liquid down. “I like it.”

“It is,” He says, swirling the liquid around the glass that confines it. “Thought I’d switch it up a bit to make it even more special.”

With a snort, you lower your chin, faking a pout as you look at him.

“You know I’d take anything you give, even if it’s doing nothing but falling asleep on our floaties in the sea under the terrible heat of the noon sun and then getting a bad burn.” He laughs at your sneaky reference to today’s earlier events. “So I don’t understand what’s all this for.”

“For you.” He says, looking at you from the brim of his glass as he downs his remaining wine, right before setting the glass down onto the table. “But now that you’ve mentioned the burns, are you okay now?”

You shake your head along with a dismissive wave. “Yeah, don’t worry.”

“I’ve got some—” He pauses and shifts on his seat, reaching behind the sofa to grab a little basket. “Some aloe gel here somewhere.”

He finally sees the aloevera gel he’s looking so badly for, hastily opening the lid and squeezing some onto his palm, right before slightly moving the cloth on your shoulder to gently rub the cool gel onto the sunburns.

“Thanks, love.” You say, staring at him quietly as he focuses on his self-proclaimed task. As he finishes, he places a quick peck on your forehead before returning the aloe vera bottle from its previous place

“The sun’s starting to rise,” You gasp, setting your wineglass down to rush to the deck’s front railing. Seonghwa gives Nico a nod, and they both smile at each other, your grip tightening against the metal rails as the yacht slightly moves closer to the horizon as if it has an end.

“Oh so we’re going to be a titanic wannabe now, too.” Seonghwa mumbles from behind when you extend your arms sideward, feeling the cool air blow against your skin. He wraps his arms around you, resting his chin on top of your shoulder.

“It’s so beautiful…” You breathe, taking in the scenery in front of you.

“Sunrises signify new beginnings, don’t they?” He mumbles, eyes looking up ahead, a sly grin on his lips.

“Mmhm,” You place your arms limp atop his and rub circles on his skin.

It’s silent for a while— just the waves crashing, the birds cawing, and the low rumble of the yacht’s engine. The sky is painted with oranges and yellows, the warmth of the heat of the sun slowly creeping onto your skin.

But Seonghwa begins steadying his breathing, and before you know it, he’s pressing his chin onto the shell of your ear.

“Do you want to. . .” he trails off, and you feel his heartbeat getting quicker by the second against his chest that’s pressed against your back.

“Start a new beginning with me?”

Before you could ask further for what he means, his fingers come into view, a circle perfectly encapsulating the round of the sun as it rises— only, that above the circle is the sunrise ruby that you perfectly recognize.

You gasp, abruptly turning in his arms. He removes his arms around you and backs away a little, staring at the ring in his hand before looking back up at you.

“I’ve always thought of what to tell you when this day comes, but even after so long, I’ve come up with nothing at all.” He says, free hand coming up to bashfully scratch his nape.

“And y/n, I may sound dumb, or cheesy, or maybe both, but I just know that for as long as the sun rises, I promise you that I will be here to love you and be with you in every step of the way.”

He inhales a deep breath, and the shakiness as he does so makes tears pool at the corners of your eyes.

“For as long as the sun rises, I want to be your best friend, your soulmate, your lover, and your family. Every day, when the sun shines, I want to wake up and see you by my side. I want to love you, be there for you and with you until the end of time, until my day sets and I heave my very last breath.” He says, biting on his bottom lip as his eyes turn shimmery, lips quivering as he sighs with a smile.

“Will you…” He gulps, and it’s as if everything is in slow motion when he gets down on one knee, the sun siding with him as the orange hues that fill the sky shines before him. “Will you watch every single sunrise with me until the sunset of our lives, y/n?”

Finally, the tears come running down your cheeks as you look at the love of your life.

The one you’ll spend your whole life with, be happy and sad with, cry and laugh with.

The one who will watch all the sunrises with you until the sunsets of your lives.

“Yes, Hwa,” You give him a huge smile and nod. “I’ll marry you.”

Seonghwa finally releases the breath he’s holding and bursts into a fit of tears— though he tries his best to slip the ring on your finger and stand to pull you into a sweet kiss without shaking like a feather.

You feel it all— the rays of the sun on the side of your face, your fiancé's lips on yours, the warmth of his body, the tears on his cheeks. And you will continue to— over and over again each and every day for as long as the sun rises— and you wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

KIA'S NOTE: this is a repost from my old acc! i want to know what you think, lmk through my asks or through the tags! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

#seonghwa fluff #ateez fluff #seonghwa ateez fluff #seonghwa imagines #ateez imagines #seonghwa ateez imagines #seonghwa scenarios #ateez scenarios #ateez seonghwa scenarios #seonghwa suggestive #park seonghwa #ateez #fluff #seonghwa x reader #seonghwa x reader imagines #seonghwa x reader fluff

138 notes · View notes

george228732 · 7 months

Text

Fylass Through the Looking Glass - Chapter Seven - Begin Anew

Fylass woke up in cold sweat, with their heart beating out of their chest, and their memories being clogged in the fog of the moment, only to realize that the place they were in wasn’t Wonderland anymore, but the real world; more specifically, the same room Fylass slept the last rainy night, on Lucid and Buddy’s Castle; the sun was rising, leaving a nice morning to spend, and the outskirts were filled with small puddles, sunken into the grass.

The kid’s fingers were trembling as they breathed in and out to calm themself down, and then, they saw the Club Brooch on their sweater, and thanks to that, they remembered why they placed it in in the first place. Their mood went from scaredness, to low frustration, as they looked at the drawer next to the bed they were on, noticing the box the brooch should be in.

"...Sigh." They placed it on the box and closed it shut.

They left the bed, opening the door with their ESP as they grabbed their bag they brought with them, and used the hallways in front of them to get to the main room to see the people that took them in for the last day as a way to make them feel better, and sure enough, Fylass saw Lucid right at the end of it.

"Oh, kid! Good Morning! Are you… feeling well?"

"...I had a nightmare, but besides that, I am okay." Fylass chuckled slightly, trying to act as normal as possible.

"Oh dear, I am sorry to hear that…"

"I-It’s alright, I am fine now…" The kid tried to walk away. "So… Thank you and such, but I gotta leave."

Lucid was quite surprised to hear that. "I actually was doing waffles! Can you stay for a little so you can get them too? It’ll be worth it, I swear!"

Fylass was thinking about it, and even then, they didn’t want to be rude to say no; they accepted. "...Sure."

Lucid seemed happy and they left the hallway to get to the kitchen, as Fylass redirected themself to the dining room this time to receive that breakfast with regret, as their mind tried to recollect itself with their experiences in Wonderland.

"...What am I doing? That wasn’t real, what’s the problem with me? If I want to get better and have a normal life, I shouldn’t keep going there…"

They were about to open the door to their destination, but they were interrupted by the bird that bit them on the arm to not let them out last night, now standing on the kid’s feathery head.

"So… Good morning!" She snickered. "Are you doing well, today?"

"...I think."

"...Geez… Sorry to hear that, dude." Fylass had the feeling that she was being sincere about that statement she just made; normally, she wouldn’t be like that, always being mischievous and snarky, but it seemed that she couldn’t help but feel bad about such a young soul, going through so much torment.

"D-Don’t worry, it’ll be fine, I swear."

"Alllriiighty then. I heard that Buddy and Lucid are making waffles and some chocolate milk due to how cold the day is outside, so uh, feel free to hang out with us for a little more before leaving, would you?"

"That’s the plan." Fylass chuckled weakly. "Hey, uh… thanks, for worrying about me and such."

"I mean, that’s the least I could do! You are very appreciated by Lucid and Buddy, and you are nice to fellow Master Crowns, ironically enough, so yeah, you deserve some care, kid!"

"...I guess… Haha." Fylass opened the door, and went towards the dining room.

It looked pretty much the same as last night, but with a cold wind oozing through the cold windows; last night, the rain was making the entire environment feel like it was winter already, although, autumn days were starting to happen, after a nice summer full of joy, but also, Fylass’ blown swan song started right at the end of it. Quite ironic.

The kid silently went towards a chair that seemed perfect for them, and flied towards it with their odd looking wings to sit down. Soon enough, someone entered the same room as well, this one being Buddy, with that crown over his head, having a tray with some glasses of chocolate milk.

"Oh, good morning kid. Are you feeling well?"

"Yeah, I think so… What about you?"

"I slept nicely, although I am not sure if you did too." Buddy had a soft spot for the kid ever since the beginning; none were in very nice situations back then, but Fylass was kind to no end; they were with him in whatever situation, along with Shard, and other friends, and so, he really wanted to make the kid happy.

"Don’t worry, I feel better than last night, so I just wanted to say thank you."

"You don’t need to thank me. It’s the least me and Lucid could do for you. Your kindness needs to be repaid, for sure."

"...Yeah…" Fylass wasn’t so sure about that statement, and it showed.

Lucid came to the same room, with Crowny nearby, the former with a tray of waffles being held by his hands.

"Those look pretty, for sure, thank you, Lucid."

"Aw, thanks!" Lucid left the tray on the table, and placed the plates around the seats, giving one to Fylass, along with a glass of chocolate milk to warm their heart and mind, although they only started eating after everyone was ready to eat.

Fylass ate as gently as they could, nicely contrasted to Crowny’s feral way of eating, but even if it still faintly felt like eating sand, the taste felt as if they were on a place that they really could call home; not the convent they were forced to be in as if it was a cult, or an empty home that couldn’t feel any more stale and lonely.

They were happy, even if it was miniscule, that sense of faint happiness was starting to appear.

Fylass’ plate and glass were emptied quite quickly, still feeling regretful, but that regret felt fuzzy. They looked at the rest, which had their plates and glasses already emptied out, seemingly enjoying themselves at the scene.

"Well… Thank you, guys, but I have to leave. My house needs some care, and I need to check on my crops and garden; the rain was pretty strong last night, so I fear for the safety of my stuff, hehe…"

"Oh, that’s no problem, but could you wait a little, please?" Buddy left the room, and Fylass had no other choice than to wait a little, and when he came back, the kid noticed that Buddy now had a purple scarf on hand.

"Here, have this. We were going to give this off to Crowny, but it always fell off her tiny body, so I thought that you might give it better use, and considering that it is autumn, it couldn’t be more convenient."

Fylass looked at the scarf, not having any words to spell, but begrudgingly, they took it and wore it right after.

"It does look great on you, kid!" Lucid said with joy.

"...Thank you… Are you really sure I can keep this, though?"

"Buddy nor I could use it, due to how small it is, so it’s only fitting that we give it to someone that could use it perfectly."

"...I swear that I’ll keep it with me as long as I am capable of. Thank you so much." Fylass went towards the main room to open the door, not before waving goodbye to the people that took them in, which waved goodbye after they did, just hoping for their happiness.

With their ESP, they opened the great main door, and left for their home, walking through the cold, grassy fields, trying their best to avoid the water puddles through their way there. The path was lonely, due to how cold the weather was, with no Waddle Dee or inhabitant of Dreamland present around Fylass’ point of view. They just thought that they would see no one down their way home, but that thought quickly faded when they saw their house in the distance, but it felt off, too pristine, compared to the wild rain of last night.

They ran towards it to check it out more deeply, only to realize that there were people around the house, which seemed to take care of it; looking further, Fylass realized they were their siblings, Selene, Dolly, TK, and Ades.

"Guys? W-What are you doing here?"

"Oh, hi Fylass! We were just taking care of your house while you were gone!" Selene was happy to see Fylass well, and their siblings seemingly were pretty happy as well, with Dolly hugging them afterwards.

"Hi there, best friend! Your flowers are so pretty, so Dolly decided to take care of them with Ades himself!" She said, giggling like an innocent kid.

"I am quite surprised that you were able to grow all of these things around your house; you always seemed packed with surprises, and your crops and flowers are even more proof of that!" Ades had some first on his hands; he seemingly was having some fun with the garden Fylass had made for themself.

"Yeah, and the inside of your house is also extremely nice! It all feels so pretty and nostalgic, although quite lonely. Either way, you really know how to decorate, don’t you?" TK said afterwards, with an expression of calm, but humor in his vocal tone.

"...You guys were taking care of my house while I was gone?" Fylass looked at their home again. "Wow… I don’t know what to say… Thank you."

"Aw, no problem! It’s the least you deserve, for being a great person!"

"...Why are you guys being so kind to me, all of a sudden?" Deep down, Fylass knew the answer, but they didn’t want to hear it.

"Well… You deserve some nice moments, and considering how you feel, we would like to compensate you for all the things you’ve done for us! From the moments you made cookies for all of us, or those moments where you decided to talk with us about some problems!

"...I appreciate the kindness, but you didn’t need to do all of that…"

"Yes, we did! Besides, we had fun doing this, for you, and for us!"

Fylass was speechless, for sure, but they hugged their siblings with all of their strength, as they tried to hide their tears of gratitude; they didn’t know why they were feeling this emotional, but they were happy for sure.

"A-Ah… Thank you, guys. Let me get into the house and leave this backpack here, I’ll serve you some sea, if you like." Fylass entered the house, and did as such, noticing how pretty the house was, seemingly being decorated even further by their siblings and other friends.

They moved to the kitchen, pulled out some teacups and started to make some tea; afterwards, they opened the fridge to get some cheesecake, as they heard the rest entering the house. Fylass realized that there was little to nothing on the fridge, leaving things like candies and such as the only things left.

"Bummer…" They took the candies, which were small chocolates, and afterwards, they took the recently made tea and poured it in the teacups next to them, and left towards the living room to give them to their invitees.

"Here. I was going to give you guys some cheesecake, but I have barely anything in my fridge, haha…" They laughed a little, and gave the teacups and chocolate pieces to them.

"Oh, that’s alright! Don't worry about it." Selene said with compassion in her tone.

"Thanks for understanding. I might need to get some groceries, though, and I think I have enough money to cover my necessities, hehe."

"Wait, you are a kid… Where do you get your money?"

"Oh! I just sell my flowers and crops to get it. It’s kinda hard, but not impossible!" They noticed the faces of surprise when Fylass said that.

"...So, what you are saying is that you work as well?"

"Yeah… Don’t worry, though! I am fine, and I can do these quite easily."

"...How long have you been doing this, though?"

"Well, ever since I lived on my own, like a year ago."

"..." Everyone went silent. How could this be? Fylass has been living on Popstar for one year or so, and ever since the beginning, they had to resort to live on their own and work alone, and no one realized? Even with that though, they always gave out food to them, as if it didn’t care. Did Fylass even eat?

"...Guys?"

"H-Hey, what if we go out shopping for groceries a couple of hours later? I would like to get some things, and considering that you are in need of buying stuff, I see this as a win-win." Ades said, even though the true reason for it was by pure concern for the kid’s wellbeing. The rest seemingly knew what Ades was doing, so they came up with excuses to go out shopping too.

"Oh, sure. I don’t mind!" Fylass, though, seemingly was unaware of their plan, much to the rest’s belief.

"Well, in that case, we will get going." Everyone left the teacups on the floor right next to the couch they were on.

"That’s alright. See you in a couple of hours, then!" Fylass said, as the others waved goodbye towards Fylass, and left the house, as the kid decided to use the bathroom.

"...Wow… I never thought Fylass was that vulnerable…"

"We need to spend more time with them. I didn’t think that Fylass needed to be that independent from day one, and considering what they’ve gone through…"

"...We need to make them happy.

-------

@lostsoulau-ask

@loaflovesdoodling

@ilikesillythingswooo

@moon-mage

@that-fanperson-meg

#fylass through the looking glass #fylass in wonderland

31 notes · View notes