#*waves the greenest of flags*

[c-h-i-m-es]

itadori yuuji

based on a dream i had oof and in honor of beginning of shibuya arc AND ITADORI BEING THE GREENEST GREEN FLAG EVER😭🫶🏻

"bye y/n, see ya' tomorrow." you wave your friend goodbye as you both have your houses opposite ways. it is already an hour after the final bell rang but you being a member of the student council, had to say back to go over the activities planned for the school festival with other members.

you turn away and walk away from the school gates as you make a mental note of some things you have to get from the department store before you actually go home.

"hey pretty girl, where are you going?" your heartbeat quickens when you find two men walking besides you. you think of ignoring them and fasten your walking pace. they laugh, "why are you trying to get away?"

it is the first time you're encountering creeps like this and you're too scared to think about what to do. one of the guy grabs your wrist, making you stop, "why don't we drop you home, yeah?"

you struggle of get your hand away from his grip. you close your eyes and let out a breath and open them again as you face the two old men in front of you. disgusting.

"i am actually with a friend. he should be getting here soon, so you can go your own ways." you thought that if you announce that you have a boy with you, they'd leave you alone but they just chuckle.

"oh yeah? you can just forget about him and come-" the man couldn't finish his sentence as you're joined by another person. all three pairs of eyes are on the new company you've got.

you let out a sigh of relief as you recognized the new person to be itadori yuuji, one of your classmates. he is looking at the two men with a stern expression on his face and he yanks the man's hands off of your wrist.

"itadori.." you mumble his name as he comes between you and the two men. "you don't have to trouble yourself, i am here so i'm gonna take her from here." he tightens his grip on the man's wrist, and him being physically strong, the man winces and pulls his hand away from itadori.

itadori grabs your wrist and starts walking away from them. you keep yourself close to him in case they do something again. thankfully the guys didn't bother again but still itadori holds your wrist, only letting go after getting quite away from the place where they were.

he stops and looks behind, letting out a breath when he sees no one behind you two, he lets go of your hand and cups your face, looking at you, "are you okay? did they hurt you?" he asked, worried if he was late.

you shake your head, "no. i am fine. thank you so much." you keep your hands on top of his own, "that.. was really scary." you close your eyes and take slow steady breaths, in and out.

you stay in the same position and when you finally open your eyes, you find itadori's face full of worry. you smile at him, "i'm fine now though. don't worry."

he gives you a little smile, "let me drop you home, okay?" you nod, no way you could say no to that cute face. luickly, you were already on pretty friendly terms with him so it wasn't awkward even when you had nothing really to say to him on the way back.

"what were you doing at this hour?" you ask, since he is still in his school uniform and he was coming from your school's direction before. " oh.." he chuckles and scratches the back of his head, "our club had a meeting. you know since the club doesn't do actual club like works, but it is fun to be around them."

you smile at him, "yeah i get it. hey i need to stop by the store to get some things. you can go."

"woah you're telling that as if you wanna get rid of me." you look at him and quickly shake you head, "no no that's not what i meant." you huff out a breath when you see him laugh at you, "so not funny you know."

"no it was funny.. sorry." he stops laughing and looks at you with a smile, "let me accompany you, yeah?" you start walking ahead, "yeah sure. whatever you wanna do."

#jjk x reader #itadori yuji x reader #itadori x reader #jjk imagines #jujutsu kaisen #when will it be my turn #jujustsu kaisen x reader #jjk fluff

[haykawas]

he hides it well behind a broad smile and silly jokes, but you don’t think you’ve ever met anyone who cares as much as satoru does.

you notice it in the little things. by the way he runs his fingers over your bare skin and soothes you when you feel stressed, always listening so intently when you need to rant. you notice it in the way he speaks fondly of his students after hours, praising their small accomplishments every chance he gets, asking your advice on where to take them out to dinner to reward them for their hard work, his eyes focused on you as he scribbles his ideas on a little post-it note. you notice it in the way he always seems to be a little wary when he tells you to ‘text him once you’re home’ yet again, while you laugh and wave him off with a “yes, dad!”.

it sometimes makes you laugh that people often think of him as some kind of red flag, even though he may be the greenest of you all. you know it’s not out of ill will, really, that he gives that impression because he’s loud, loves himself a little too much, and was a little too spoiled growing up.

but as you see him perched up on a tree, spying on megumi to make sure he gets home safely in the dark of night, you can’t help but snort.

yeah, you don’t think you’ll ever meet someone who cares as much as he does.

#he might be the sweetest #short blurb cuz i don't agree with the whole red flag satoru agenda #satoru gojo x reader #jujutsu kaisen #✿yas. writes!!!

[mythicamagic]

May I ask why you like Sukuna so much? Don't get me wrong, I love him too, he reminds me of Yang from Piofiore, but I thought you would be more attracted to Gojo or Geto? 🤭

Thank you for the excuse to yap, anon! Talking about my biases is one of my favourite things to do.

I guess my answer can be summed up with three points:

Sukuna is hot - I like his tattoos and his true form satisfies my monster romance cravings

Sukuna is charismatic

Intelligent villains make brain go brrr.

To elaborate, when JJK first came out I did simp a bit for Gojo because of his eyes and white hair. It wasn't really anything other than shallow - hey, he's pretty.

(I've never been a Geto girlie, I respect those who are, but I haven't felt anything toward him other than sympathy for his breakdown or apathy toward him becoming a cult leader type. He's aight.)

When Sukuna was first revealed I found him entertaining but wrote him off as purely insane. Fun to watch but nothing interesting. This changed in episode 4.

That episode showed his charisma tbh. An insane villain is only fun to watch passively, that or they become annoying. A truly personable villain is one that lives comfortably by enjoying what they want to do but also demonstrating intelligence and cunning. Guys like Sukuna and Yang are my favourite type of villain because they're so incredibly selfish they seek to assuage their boredom via entertainment. They thrive in violence that isn't targeted or hateful, just pure enjoyment. Putting aside the murder part- as someone who is incredibly meek and anxious irl, those characters appeal to me because they thrive unapologetically. Their ugliness is embraced and celebrated.

From a purely simping standpoint- Someone like Nanami is the greenest flag you've ever seen. That man would take care of you and love you. 10/10 you should marry, he's perfect. However, for someone like me, that perfection would make my imperfections feel worse.

Characters like Sukuna basically remove that because they're reveling in their own fun. I think to really enjoy them is to remove your own ego from the equation in a way- because these men will not cater to you emotionally. Yang is there for pleasure, Sukuna is there for entertainment, ect.

However in this way - you can kind of find vindication through them too. Liliana grew into herself more by becoming Yangs woman. She lost her freedom but gained it in other ways by experiencing sexual liberation and the darker aspects of the world- living in it and adapting. I figure life with Sukuna would be like that too in some AU where he wouldn’t automatically kill you.

I find Sukuna the most interesting character in JJK because he's centered and intelligent even as he revels in chaotic destruction. He's well read and has a history that gives him a tangible presence. He's strong but playful, cruel but absent of hatred for his opponents in a way that feels almost respectful even as they're fighting to the death (with the exception of Itadori).

A lot of what he is ticks my boxes. I expect Scar from Wuthering Waves will also scratch my itch for this type of villain too once we know more about him.

Er so yeah...take your pick anon haha. Simple answer: Sukuna is a cool villain, and I like to watch him have fun (not excusing anything he does but I trust your media literacy enough to understand that)

Complicated answer for simping: something, something, female empowerment fantasy through being allowed to be the worst version of yourself with a villain, thus achieving liberation from societal constraints.

#sukuna #jjk #ryomen sukuna #asks #anon #yang piofiore

[hopeisgrey]

My Demon - 7/10

The announcement of My Demon literally created chaos among the k-drama fans. The Song Kang-Kim Youjung pairing was making everyone insane. The hype was unreal. But did My Demon live up to it? Well, the answer to that would be… yes or no (kissy if u read that in Na Bora’s voice). My Demon did have a very interesting plot line, good enough characters and it was successful in getting the audiences hooked with the first few episodes. The cinematography was the most talked about among the viewers and rightfully so. The wide shots of Jung Guwon’s (Song Kang) office, the underwater scene, the slow-mo shot of the waves forming a portal around Guwon and Dohee (Kim Youjung), the Dohee-about-to-fall-off-the-balcony scene and so on. Another thing that filled twitter was the fashion. And not only the female lead’s this time, but also the male leads. Guwon has secured his place among the very few male leads with impeccable fashion sense. When most male leads are shown in sophisticated suits, Guwon was rocking cropped jackets and scarfs. But then again, I don’t think most male leads are Song Kang.

Nevertheless, My Demon stands as an example that if you start with a bang, your ending should be a banger. This is where the drama failed. In the second half, it started to feel like the story line was being stretched. The cinematography and direction which was so good in the start had taken a back seat and love making montages were put in for the action that wasn’t happening. And by action, I mean just anything that would contribute to the plot. The plot was moving, but at a very slow pace. Sure, Guwon and Dohee make the best couple, the greenest flag couple, the entire amazon rainforest couple, but where is the drama? I wasn’t necessarily waiting for anything bad to happen, but for a time being literally nothing was happening. And I was mad about that. Until towards to the end, everything happened. The new trend of k-drama rom-coms only having 12 episodes, My Demon should’ve followed that. Because the more they stretched, the more Song Kang’s bad acting showed and also the writer’s inability to stitch it all together. I honestly loved Song Kang in Sweet Home, not that he had any more than 2 expressions 3 dialogues in it, but still. Jung Guwon is far more expressive, and Song Kang couldn’t do justice. He shines when the camera requires for him to be the slayest demon to walk this planet, but when it is time for the playful babygirl Guwon to get on stage, his acting feels like… acting. It’s not terrible, it’s just not the best. Also the entire past life plot is becoming more than obvious. The moment I saw Guwon dreaming of his past, I KNEW Guwon and Dohee probably died in the past life and one of them thinks it’s their fault and they will try to distance themselves from each other. You know which other drama did it? See You in My 19th Life and Destined with You and maybe more but I don’t remember. Like can we please move on? This is equivalent to the 2016 era dramas having the oh we’ve actually met in childhood and not forgotten each other since trope. But then again, they have given us the most iconic dramas, can’t the same about these though.

However, I loved the way they showed Jin Gayoung’s character coming full circle. She is probably the only one who started a certain way, learned her lessons, had character development and got her happy ending. So yeah, My Demon definitely isn’t the best drama for me. I am not going to put in on my re-watch list. But I will recommend it. It’s fun, and sweet, and great for fashion inspo!

Another thing I want to add is that My Demon is compared to Doom at Your Service a lot for having a similar concept, so I’ll just say that DAYS is a much better drama, for all aspects – storyline, acting, romance, comedy, THE FUCKING AWESOME THREESOME OF THE SECOND LEAD THRUPPLE, even the song (If Love Sight by TXT doesn’t play in my head when I look at my future partner, I’ll know they’re not the one). Except My Demon is going to take the trophy for best costume.

Ok that’s it now let me play Hyunsu’s “What should we do?” until Sweet Home S3 comes out hehe!

#kdrama #korean drama #my demon #my demon review #song kang #kim youjung #doom at your service #sweet home #kdrama review #kdrama recommendations #netfli #my january watchlist #my 2024 watchlist

[dramavixen]

Do you have any headcanons for Shangque and DFQC’s relationship? I’m so fascinated by why Shangque is so devoted to DFQC, even when he was emotionless and ruthless. Yes, DFQC saved him but Shangque really goes beyond the call of duty. And why did DFQC choose to save Shangque and make him his bodyguard? It could be bc he’s a dragon but iirc dragons aren’t endangered species. And DFQC didn’t think much of Shangque’s loyalty until Xunfeng’s attempted coup. What made them choose each other!

Oh, this is a fun question!!

SQ is a bit of a dummy, so that's what I'd consider the biggest contributor to their buddy-buddy relationship. Based on his lonely background, it makes sense that he'd cling to the first person who showed him compassion. That's probably also why he's almost foolishly loyal to DFQC. He's experienced firsthand that the guy is capable of understanding right from wrong, so regardless of the lack-of-emotions side of things, he believes that DFQC can be good.

Most importantly, DFQC doesn't lie. He may be hesitant to share what he considers to be weaknesses (e.g., the curse), but every word out of his mouth is the truth. To someone who's been lied to in his whole childhood, that's probably the greenest flag to have ever been waved in SQ's face.

DFQC also likely understands more about loyalty than he initially realizes. Even though he's a massive psychopath, he can tell who has his back and who doesn't. SQ, after several thousand years, doesn't exhibit any behavior indicating that he would be disloyal. That's more than enough to earn DFQC's tentative trust.

In my head, SQ is more of a secretary than anything else. If this were a modern-day office drama, DFQC being a CEO and SQ being the dude who chauffeurs him around and arranges all his meetings is too perfect of a picture. Everyone thinks secretary!SQ is so scary-looking and buff that he can and will beat you into the ground, and that's the real reason he's employed. But turns out that he's pretty harmless and CEO!DFQC himself is trained in ten different forms of martial arts.

I digress with the AU (admit it, we'd all watch it)...but my general headcanon is that they were BFFs and caused dumb problems together by accident all the time, and that's the real reason they became so close:

When DFQC ate food and couldn't tell if it tasted good or not (from the whole lack of emotions thing), he'd sometimes have SQ eat with him. SQ raved about the food, having never been treated to such delicacies in his life. Eventually, based on what dishes SQ cleared, the kitchen ended up only preparing what he liked eating for future meals. SQ, on the other hand, was so touched that DFQC fed him royal food which suited his tastes that he felt the need to return the favor. He dragged his boss out for little adventures outside the palace to search for food that DFQC enjoyed. It never happened, but at least SQ became a happier employee and DFQC got some daily walks in.

The kitchen once tried brewing a new kind of tea. SQ happened to be the one drinking it that day and was allergic to the leaves—nothing too serious, just a temporary rash. DFQC, thinking someone poisoned the tea to assassinate him, burned the kitchen down. SQ was incredibly moved by this supposed delivery of justice.

A palace servant once confessed to SQ. Not knowing what to do, SQ tattled on her to DFQC, who didn't understand what the hell he was going on about because who cares about love? But it perturbed SQ enough that, concerned over his right-hand man's work performance, DFQC transferred the servant to a different section of the palace...after telling her that he'd kill her if she tried pursuing her feelings further. This was when rumors that DFQC harbored secret affections for his assistant dragon got started.

SQ once caught some palace servants excitedly gossiping over his "special relationship" with DFQC. Still a naive dragon, he misunderstood and became obnoxiously proud about it, declaring his loyalty to DFQC with even more fervency. DFQC also knew of the rumors, but couldn't care less. But SQ did seem to be working harder, so he did nothing to stop them.

When DFQC was imprisoned, SQ tried to help stabilize the Moon Tribe with Xun Feng and the other officials. The chaos and decline of the empire that DFQC sustained utterly depressed SQ, who felt terribly incapable as everything fell apart around him. Everyone kept telling him that DFQC was gone for good and that the Moon Tribe was doomed, but he knew better. One day, DFQC would return to bring his people back to glory. Waiting for the return of the old days, SQ began his long wait for DFQC in hibernation.

Thinking a lot about this brotherhood now. And I do really want that AU.

#asks #anonymous #clj #love between fairy and devil #i got a little carried away but i enjoyed this question too much to not

[harurio]

japanese bls continuing their streak of greenest flags to ever wave with kazuhito!!! 'i'm serious about you, natsukawa' got me weak in the knees i swear

#kare no iru seikatsu #natsukawa if you don't wife that man up I WILL

[ammonti]

HELLO ive never met you in my life and i rarely see ur posts but my dearest friend in the world is friends with you and if that isnt the greenest flag one can wave then i dont know what is :]

thank youuuu CC:

[pedros-immaculate-vibes]

one day I’ll play as Astarion, and understand even more of his lore, and have him end up with the greenest flag to ever wave.

but today is not that day

[odysseywritings]

Lomana: *flutters eyes, comes closer*

Haven: What is this? Are you in pain?

Lomana: I'm flirting, genius. I want to kiss you.

Haven: W- On the lips?

#my ocs #my characters #haven #lomana #neurodiverse character #the man needs the greenest flag waving

[ashyblondwaves]

For smutty one liners prompts, 10 or 13?

Hello! Sorry this took two months to get to, but look at me. I am here! This is the last smutty one liner prompt that I have, so let’s celebrate me doing my thing and getting through them. I’ve had so much fun! There are plenty more prompts in my inbox to write that may or may not be smutty, but this here is the last of the one liners. 

Title: Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Sentence: “Jealousy seems to be a great motivator for you.”

Rating: Explicit

Citi Field was immaculate; the grass was the greenest that Vision had ever seen, cut on angles in a criss-cross pattern and sprawling out to the bleachers. It looked so much bigger in person.

Neither Wanda nor Vision were big baseball fans initially. They started by leaving games on for background noise which turned into suddenly watching intently, cheering on the home team as Vision explained the rules of baseball for Wanda while she nursed the twins. Somehow, they'd actually become fans.

When Tony presented them with the tickets and the offer to take care of Tommy and Billy, they jumped at the chance. They hadn't been out together since the twins were born 6 months prior and they really needed some time alone together.

Their tickets - naturally - were incredible. Front row on the third base side, right by the Mets' dugout. The players were out on the field warming up and preparing the evening's game.

"Look!" Wanda whispered, pulling on Vision's shirt. "It's Francisco Lindor!"

The Mets' new shortstop was Wanda's favorite. She said she admired his drive and tenacity and his skills at the game were something special. The way he always was able to stop a ball from going into the outfield was almost magical. Something she could appreciate.

It was almost as if Lindor heard Wanda call his name. He stood up from his stretch position and looked toward the stands as Wanda waved a small wave and bounced where she stood.

Vision looked over at Wanda. Her behavior was uncharacteristic. He knew that Lindor was her favorite, but he wasn't expecting her to be... absolutely giddy about seeing him. Something bubbled inside him, a deep gnawing feeling like a sprocket had come loose and floated around inside him. It was like nothing he'd ever felt before growing hotter as he watched his wife flag down the fit baseball star and grab for the hat Vision had bought her for him to autograph.

The initial interaction was innocent enough. A fan asking for an autograph of someone she admired, but soon it turned to chatting and laughing and Wanda flipping her hair as she smiled at the handsome baseball player.

It was then that Vision decided that he didn't like this man talking to his wife. Not one bit.

As Lindor handed the signed hat back and walked away, Wanda was still smiling, watching as his strong legs took him back to the field to warm up. It seemed that everyone but Vision was smiling.

"What was that?" Vision asked, his voice unusually low.

"I was meeting a player," Wanda said innocently, tapping the brim of the Mets cap on Vision's head. "We should have gotten yours signed too."

Something in Vision snapped again. Something deep in his system was malfunctioning, he thought. He grabbed Wanda by the hand, pulling her up the stairs and closer to the concession stands.

"You were flirting with him," Vision said, placing his hands on his hips. "And he was flirting back."

He wasn't yelling, but the accusatory tone in his voice conveyed his anger perfectly.

"I was meeting a player," Wanda repeated through gritted teeth. "And how dare you accuse me of anything else!"

Wanda stormed off, Vision not far behind. They weaved through fans and around concession stands until Wanda flung the women's bathroom door open and rushed inside. Vision stayed on her heels, not letting the bathroom get in his way when suddenly a stall door was in his face. He heard the lock click and laughed to himself.

"A lock won't help," Vision said, phasing through the stall to see Wanda standing there, arms crossed, her eyebrows furrowed in anger. "I didn't like seeing you talking to another man like that."

"Like what?" Wanda whispered angrily. "I wanted an autograph!"

"And you thought it was reasonable to flirt to get it?" Vision asked, stepping even closer to Wanda. "You're mine!"

Wanda froze, her eyes looking Vision up and down. As if she didn't recognize the man standing in front of her. And judging by the way her eyes darkened and her shoulders drooped as she heaved out a deep breath, she liked it.

He'd never spoken to her that way before, but it was too late to try and take it back. And part of him didn't want to, anyway.

Instead, he pressed Wanda against the bathroom stall, his hands roaming her body frantically. Like he needed to commit her to memory before she ran off with a handsome baseball player and left him alone once and for all.

Competent hands slide up Wanda's body, taking a breast in each hand and squeezing just hard enough to get a reaction from her. She squeaked out a high pitched moan, puffing her chest to press her breasts into Vision's kneading hands and then he snatched them away, leaving Wanda empty and aching.

Wanda then returned the motions, running her hands up and down Vision's chest and under the hem of his shirt to touch his skin in a frantic momentum, trying to get him to respond to her advances. He simply looked at her, not letting on whether or not he was enjoying himself.

Without breaking eye contact, Vision's hand settled between Wanda's thighs, the thickness of her jeans making him unable to feel anything but how warm her core already was. He wanted to feel how wet she was for him. To have evidence that she was enjoying what he was doing to her.

"Clothes off," Vision commanded, phasing out of his own clothes. His cock was already hard, bouncing with each breath he took as Wanda continued to stare at this virtual stranger in front of her. "Phase out."

She was slow to obey, choosing instead to tilt her head at Vision and look his body up and down.

"No," she whispered, crossing her arms over her chest. "You acted like a fool back there. And if you're going to fuck me in here, I want you to do it as yourself."

Vision knew exactly what she wanted. He sighed at her defiance but knew that if it was going to get her to phase out of her clothes, he would do it. His body glowed gold as his human disguise disappeared and was replaced with red skin and vibranium. He gave her a look that seemed to say "Is this better?"

With nothing more than a proud smile, Wanda phased out of her clothes as Vision drank her in. Soft skin, breasts full for nursing, the tuft of hair between her legs. Vision needed to feel her wetness. His hand moved back between her legs as two fingers slid between her folds. She was wet, alright. Vision collected it on his fingers and then brought the glistening digits to his mouth, tasting his wife's unique tang. And that's when he let out his first moan, he could never hide that, though he didn't have much to compare it to, he loved how she tasted.

He teased her with his fingers, sliding them in and out of her as she hitched her leg up and started to rock her hips, driving herself down onto his fingers. When that slight color rose to her cheeks, it told him she was close to coming and he snatched his hand away, tasting her again as she whimpered her disapproval.

Then, Vision came barreling back toward her, picking her up with ease and hastily placing her on his cock, sheathing himself inside her in a single motion.

"You're mine," he repeated, lifting Wanda up and down on his cock. The sound of skin slapping echoing in the stall. While all the talking should've drowned out most of their noises, they still had to be quick. Anyone could have seen Vision enter the woman's room and gone to fetch security.

"Mine," he repeated.

Wanda threw her head back, arms wrapped around Vision's neck as a moan escaped from low in her throat signaling that she'd given into Vision's possessive act as his cock moved in and out of her at a rapid pace.

"Claim me then," Wanda challenged as Vision lifted her off his cock for just moment. "Make me yours."

Vision moved forward until Wanda's back hit the stall and he trapped her there with his body, snaking his hand back between her legs and sweeping through her wet folds again, this time to find her clit. One swipe with his thumb and Wanda was calling his name.

"Vis," she moaned, "Keep going."

Without warning, Vision pushed his cock back into Wanda and started to push into her vigorously, his fingers toying with her clit in time with his thrusts. He could tell she was close. That pink to her cheeks, the way she held her breath and closed her eyes. He sped up his movements, and felt Wanda clench around him as her body tensed and she shook above him.

Her voice quivered as she murmured, "I'm yours."

Wanda's words just encouraged him further. The jealousy coursed through his body and he slammed into Wanda, his pelvis hitting her sensitive clit. She yelped, echoing a little louder than usual. He dropped his head to Wanda's neck and took her soft skin between his lips and sucked hard, knowing he'd leave a mark. Wanting to leave a mark.

Wanda's body was spent but Vision wasn't done. He continued to drive into her until his own orgasm hit and he was coming inside her, emptying every last ounce of himself into her before pulling his soft cock out and letting her down.

"There," Vision said, breathlessly, phasing back into his clothes and human form "You can keep some of me with you through the game."

As Wanda phased back into her clothes she spoke, still gasping for air while being a little off balance.

"Jealousy seems to be a great motivator for you."

#scarletvision #scarletvision fanfic #wandavision #wandavision fanfic #wanda x vision #wanda maximoff #the vision #wanda and vision #fanfiction #marvel #marvel fanfiction #smutty one liner prompts #scarletvision drabbles

[smilepal]

6, 21, 36, 49 for the cp ask game :3

Character asks for @billlybutcher 🖤

6.) Which of the four elements would you associate with them?

Definitely fire--can be feisty, and hot-headed/destructive, but also a warm person (with a good heart--not that they'd ever admit it.)

21.) Do they have any favorite spots around NC?

He has several—one being Viktor’s clinic. Vik was one of the first people who Hiro went to for help after he left the Claws, and he’s without a doubt the reason Hiro is still alive. He’s also one of the first people he trusts—and manages to build a solid friendship with. There’s a lot of admiration there—he’s the one who taught Hiro to box, and provided him with a lot of his cyberware, and the two have spent many quiet evenings enjoying a beer and a boxing match together. (It’s also where he met Jackie, as well.) The clinic feels like a second home, and sometimes he’ll even watch it and give Vik a break.

Hiro also loves the temple in North Oaks. He’s never been particularly religious but it’s really quiet most of the time, and one of the greenest spots in Night City, and sometimes it’s nice to get away for a bit. He also loves the Coyote—good drinks, and very little bullshit. (The cute bartender doesn’t hurt~).

36.) Who is their biggest enemy?

He has more than a few. He's made lots of them, both from his time in the Claws and after, but they remain one of his main sources of conflict. He did not leave on good terms--seemed determined to burn as many bridges with them as possible. It also doesn't help that he stole a particularly loathed bosses bike on the way out, and continues to ride it, rather than sell it. He's aware that he's practically waving a red flag at them, but he's always been rather reckless, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. He usually tries to slide under the radar with the gangs, not take sides too drastically, but he makes an exception for the Claws.

49.) Name three of your characters biggest turn-ons.

-Marks/Biting/Control

-Collars/Breathplay/Being tied up/Shibari

-Degradation/Humiliation

Thanks for asking! Had fun with these :3

#ask game #character asks #hiro oda #oc: hiro oda #cyberpunk ocs #vaguely nsft under cut #viktor vektor #tyger claws #jackie welles #coyote cojo #vik's clinic #north oaks #he's the epitome of 'I'm small and angry FIGHT ME'

[greatdaysoutuk]

Where must you experience with your dog in the North East?

Northumberland is home to some must visit spots for dog-lovers, and we have collated a short list of cafes, restaurants and listed manor houses to relax and enjoy some quality time with loved ones and furry friends, for the perfect staycation or days out.

The North East also has a lot to offer in terms of nature, and the region has an award-winning array of natural landscapes which celebrate this…

Hog’s Head Inn

If you’re looking for a dog friendly hotel in Alnwick, this traditional spot was recently a silver award winner in the North East England Tourism Awards.

Both the pub and restaurant of this hotel is appropriately named after Hogsmeade from Harry Potter. It is the perfect place to reside whilst you explore everything the town has to offer, including the nearby Alnwick Castle Gardens or the town square. With 53 spacious en-suite bedrooms couples, families and well- behaved pooches to explore England’s most northern National Park.

The Kingslodge Inn

This spot has a really rustic cottage feel to it, complete with foliage decorating the exterior walls. This Durham bed and breakfast is still very much within the confines of the flaneur-esque sleepy streets of the city centre with plenty of Durham restaurants and pubs to enjoy.

The semi-concealed retreat allows dogs and their owners to saunter back and enjoy a night’s rest after a day of exploring the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Durham Cathedral and Castle. Serving up homely but restaurant standard pub grub, with an impressive selection of local ales and wines for the connoisseurs out there.

Beamish

Beamish offers a unique historical experience and it is a firm favourite with North East natives, plus it is the perfect place to discover how life was before we all relied on mobile phones! You and your dog can stroll through one of Britain’s most visited open “living museums”, finding out about the rich history of the area and its surroundings. A fictional yet functioning town, with a pub, sweet shop and bakery amongst others, visitors and their pets can experience first-hand what life was like in the North East over a hundred years ago.

The Tyne Bar

This quayside pub is a focal point on the Ouseburn valley and it has been since it opened in the 90’s, revolutionising the cultural atmosphere of the area. With an impressive selection of beers, local ales and spirits, it’s a great place to sit amongst the laid-back atmosphere and watch the sunset over the river with their free live music events on a Friday blasting out from under the bridge.

Seaton Lane Inn

This spot makes a perfect base for exploring County Durham and Seaham, nestled a short distance away from Lord Byron’s Walk and only five minutes in a car from the coast. It boasts some seriously impressive food credentials, including the Inn’s famous Sunday dinners which can be enjoyed in their recently refurbished quirky, bohemian interior. It’s known as one of the best places to eat in Seaham!

Wylam Brewery

There is a lot of hype surrounding Wylam Brewery, home to a range of interesting ales and a variety of events such as ‘Battle of the Burger’ and ‘Celebration of Disco’. Don’t let its name put you off – it isn’t the loud, pungent brewery you’re probably thinking of. The eye-catching dome-topped Grand Hall lets streams of natural light shine down onto the many ale taps Wylam is locally known for, such as the infamous Jakehead IPA. Your dog will enjoy the vast grounds, and you can take your pick from numerous street food vans parked up on the grounds.

The Battlesteads

This building was originally a farmstead, and it has been around or centuries., it was recently converted into a Northumbrian Inn, with a secret garden and conservatory for the sunnier months. Flying the flag for the greenest hotel in Northumberland, being the first hotel to install a carbon neutral heating system. Nestled in the sleepy village of Wark, this is a great location to explore the surrounding Hadrian’s Wall area.

Riley’s fish shack

This venue has really soared in both popularity and quality in recent years, and Riley’s Fish Shack is a must-visit if you want to sample some street-food inspired fish dishes. The shack is busy all year round, even in winter, with the help of blankets and heaters, with a canopy sheltering from the rain. As soon as you venture down the steps from the main road, the mouth-watering smell of seared sea food grilled in the wood-fire oven will entice you in.

Eshott Hall

Northumberland won UK Holiday Destination of the Year in 2017, and rightly so: since then, more tourists have spent time uncovering its underrated natural beauty. Eshott Hall fits neatly within the themes of nature and heritage, concealed behind trees and claimed by ivy. The manor house has maintained its Grade II Listed status with its professionalism and grandeur hospitality, where dog owners can bring along their furry loved ones to meander the grounds.

Barter Books

Book worms rejoice! A roaring fire in the winter, a homely café churning out all the seasonal goods from paninis to the nations favourite sausage and mash, as well as a perpetual pot of coffee brewing in the foyer. Dog’s can wander freely between the aisles curiously sniffing the pungent aromas from the first editions of the 19th century onwards, whilst their owners debate which of Hemingway’s poems was his best.

The Salt House Kitchen

The Salt House Kitchen is a reflective mirror of the beach it sits opposite, and its namesake is inspired by the area’s rich history. The beach that it overlooks is where locals used to extract salt from the sea water and dissolve it in salt kitchens. Its canine enthusiasm is so prominent that they’ve even conjured up a menu just for dogs, so their pleading eyes and whimpers will not be in vain. Their outdoor area is designated solely for dogs, so best to bring a jacket in the colder months, as the open sea air can get quite nippy!

The Commissioners Quay Inn

You simply can’t miss this building, the Commissioners Quay Inn is the centerpiece of Blyth’s historic quayside functions as an impressive pub, restaurant and bed and breakfast that sits snugly on Blyth’s historic quay area. With beautiful views of the marina and out towards the sea, you can wake up to the sound of the morning waves from your own personal balcony. If you’re looking to explore the town of Blyth, the Inn allows easy access to all local shops and pubs, despite itself being on the edge of the town’s perimeter.

#dog walks #explore #uk #Great Days Out #Adventure

[brooklynislandgirl]

Six crows gold

Talking Crows || - Selectively Accepting-

SIX CROWS GOLD: I’ll write our muse having grown old together (either as friends or a couple).

The air is thick with salt and seaweed and the gulls are making their hunger known in almost mournful cries. It’s late autumn and the sunchasers and college kids have gone back to school or back to their jobs. They’ll dream of sunscreen flavoured sunrises and they’ll feed themselves on memories until summer comes around again. But that means the wet sand is smooth, it’s trackless after the sweep of the tide.

He stands a respectful distance from the waterline. It’s been decades since he’s been below the turbulent waves, a hundred and fifty pounds of gear on his back, feeling the surface tension pushing him downDowndown.A smile pulls at the scarred side of his face, still robbed of its sight so that he can’t quite judge the distance between him and the small figure in the surf. It’s been a long time since the silk flag of her hair waving in the breeze has been dark as newly turned soil and the morning sun seems to have turned it an antique silver. Tawny skin has darkened to something like tea but isn’t as lined as it ought to be, and her limbs after all these years are still as graceful as they had been when she was young.

And she’s still dancing. Much slower now, the stories she tells through every gesture are different, but she’s still beautiful. Enough that it takes his breath away and has him shuffling forward.

The smile she gives him is sweet but something is missing in it. And it reminds him that Riley’s been gone years before. Baz too. House is still around somewhere, with an army of grand children at his feet and they recently got a post card from Paris, where Jay and AJ have decided to settle down. Its the cafes and the art, he’s sure of it.

She doesn’t make him come chase her into the surf though he’s half tempted. It isn’t the shifting sands that make her limp more pronounced than it normally is and he knows she’s feeling the same aches and pangs he is.

He secures an arm around her and brushes the top of her head with the briefest touch of his lips. “Ye wan’ ta go ta Leo’s?”She puts a hand in the back pocket of his jeans. “Yeah, I’d li’dat.” 

Her eyes are bright and alive and the greenest things he’s ever seen.Some things are bound to change as you get older.But if you’re a special kind of lucky, they don’t.

#whosxafraid #Wave over Wave|Seal Luka O'Rian #Sea over Bow|Luka and Beth #Travelling Soldier|Letters From Home AU #Aloha'aina|Hawai'i

[theculling77]

I been across a hundred times and made my presence high,

And still remember clearly signs, "No Irish Need Apply".

You could have done without me boys, without me ancient face,

But America the beautiful would be a different place.

Now some will say the greenest grass is on the other crest,

And some will wave their nation's flag and claim to be the best,

But home is where you hang your hat, the truth is safe and sound

In the devil wind and secrets in my Connemara Ground

[dont-feed-the-fantasy-writer]

Tavern Tales

A one shot story with my original characters off to find trouble at a tavern. Inspired by @zombierose3 and the usual madness we concoct at 5 in the morning.

Ella and Callum stood outside the worn and shabby building with its dirty windows, and equally shabby and sad looking chickens scratching in the dirt out front.

Ella wrinkled her nose. “You cannot tell me people actually drink here?”

Callum grinned. “I will have you know that the One-eyed Badger is a fine tavern and the chef makes the most interesting stews in all the kingdoms.”

Ella looked horrified. “That’s the name of this--this place?” She looked at Callum closely. “What do you mean interesting?”

“They are renowned for their flavor and ingredients.”

“What exactly does that mean?”

“Let us just go inside and you can find out.” Callum grabbed her hand and all but dragged her inside.

“If I get some kind of disease or go blind, I will never forgive you!” She hissed.

Callum laughed. “You’ll be fine.” He paused for a moment as something seemed to come to mind. “Just don’t have the tavern special or the Pig Surprise.”

Ella stared at him, slack-jawed. Callum closed her jaw with his free hand.

“Cheer up, Ella, you may not even remember tonight.”

“That is not a comforting thought!”

Callum lead her over to a rickety table with even shabbier looking stools. Ella sat up straight on her stool, keeping her hands in her lap.

“Why do I let you talk me into these situations?”

“Because you love adventure and excitement and--”

“Getting the plague?” She smiled sweetly.

“Quiet.” He flagged down a bar maid who was carrying a large tray with drinks. “Two ales, no extra.”

“Keep ya shirt on, love. I’ll get to ya when I’ll done with this miserable lot.”

The lot she referred to was in the far corner and consisted of a large group of men that Ella assumed were pirates by their dress. They were the loudest in the entire tavern and made loud jeers and cheers to the bar maid. She took it turn and served their drinks. When one tried to take liberties, she turned and punched him in the face. The pirate, the largest and baldest, was knocked out cold. The rest of the crew roared with laughter and left him slumped on the floor.

Ella had taken all this in with wide eyes. She turned to Callum who was watching the scene with amusement. He turned to look over at Ella.

“You don’t mess with the ladies here.”

“I see that.”

The bar maid returned and plonked down two ales in front of them. The large wooden mugs seemed surprisingly clean and the ale seemed safe enough.

Callum picked his up and held it out toward Ella. “Cheers!”

Ella grabbed hers and clunked her mug against his. “Cheers!”

Callum took a large drink, ale dripping down his chin.

Ella said a silent prayer and grimacing, took a sip. She blinked in surprise.

“It’s good!” She said in awe.

Callum set his mug down. “Of course it’s good! The One-eyed Badger may not be known for it’s atmosphere or it’s food but it is known for it’s ale.”

“I see.” Ella took a bigger drink this time. “It is a little sweet. I cannot call to mind what it tastes like.”

“They are crafty devils. They brew all sorts of ales.”

Suddenly several shouts were heard.

“We want Sonya!” A group of men were seated close to a platform.

“Sonya got herself a man and got married!” The bar maid yelled.

This was met with a chorus of boos and shouts.

“Who’s Sonya?” Ella asked.

“She was a bar maid. She used to sing to entertain the patrons here. She was just as much of a spit fire as ol’ Bess there.” Callum indicated the loud bar maid who had served them. “She had flaming red hair, rosy cheeks, the greenest eyes--” He stopped when he saw Ella looking at him closely. “I--I only saw her twice. She was a nice girl, lovely voice.”

“I’m sure she is.” Ella shook her head and took another drink.

As the men got louder a young woman stepped onto the platform. She was wearing a hooded cloak and all you could see of her were her large blue eyes and pale skin. The din slowly died down.

From somewhere a flute and mandolin began to play.

The girl began to sing. 

I’ll be your sweetheart

I’ll be true to you

I’ll be your one and only

My heart belongs to you

My love for you is truer

Truer than man can say

But my lust for you

Burns brighter

Brighter than the day

Ella blinked in surprise. “That took a turn.”

The singer pulled off her cloak and revealed a white dress decorated with pink ribbons and long dark hair that ran down her back in curls.

“That is a very interesting choice in costume.”

I’ll hold you to my breast

And stroke your back so broad

I’ll rain on you kisses sweet

As you call me name aloud

The young woman demonstrated her passion by shaking her ample breasts at the men who seemed to completely enraptured.

Ella looked over at Callum who was staring in surprise. Ella smacked his arm.

Callum jumped and turned to her. “I had no idea this was going to happen! I swear!” He actually looked both confused and slightly embarrassed.

Ella shook her head. “Only you.No wonder you got your reputation for being a --”

Callum clamped a hand over her mouth. “Not a word.”

She glared and he released his grip.

“We are supposed to be here without anyone knowing who we really are.”

“Fine. Enjoy your drink and the performance.”

Callum sighed and took a drink but he kept his eyes away from the girl.

“No, thank you, I want to live to see tomorrow.”

Ella snickered and took a drink. She turned her attention back to the sing who seemed to be wrapping up.

Our breath entwined

Your skin to mine

You’ll desire me like no other before

I’ll whisper your name

But my lust can’t be tamed 

For I cannot give you more

The young woman pulled at her dress to reveal an even smaller dress beneath. It was also white and really only seemed to cover her torso and barely anything else.

The man were cheering and waving their mugs and yelling out marriage proposals and other offers.

Ella looked over at Callum who was staring into his mug.

“Why am I cursed?” He mumbled. “She is never going to let me live this down.”

Ella laughed. “I do believe only this could happen to you.”

Callum covered his eyes with his hands. “You better not say anything to my brother.”

“What will you do to buy my silence?”

“I could kiss you.”

That stopped Ella cold. “Are you--did you just--?” Ella stared at him.

Callum laughed. “Is that a no?”

Ella’s cheeks turned red. “Shut up!”

Bess came over and refilled their mugs. “That Meg. She is going to make me a lot of coin.”

Ella looked at Bess. “How so?”

“I found her on her way to make her vows of chastity. Poor girl wants to be a singer but she has her heart set on being pure and all.”

“Beg pardon?” Ella said.

“Oh, yes, Meg is twenty and has no desire to actually know a man but she really wants to be a singer and have men falling all over themselves at her feet. She chose her own song and clothes and everything.”

“That is certainly a unique choice.” Ella drank more of her ale.

“It is but it is going to make me rich.” Bess grinned and walked away.

“I have never heard of this in all my life.” Ella looked over at Callum who seemed equally as puzzled.

“It’s fascinating what people choose to do.” Callum drank his ale and risked a look over at Meg,

Over on the stage Meg was smiling sweetly and accepting the praise from her en rapt audience. Some of the men were starting to fight.

“I think that’s our sign to leave.” Callum stood up, placed some coins on the table and waited for Ella to rise. She stood and they left the tavern.

Once outside, Ella shook her head. “That was certainly an educating experience.”

“Ella, I am so sorry. I had no idea that was going to happen. I feel so awkward about this.”

Ella turned to Callum. “You should stop talking now.”

“I was just trying to apologize.”

“I know but I think I’ll take my payment now.”

“Payment?”

Ella grinned. “Yes, so pay up.” Ella grabbed Callum’s tunic and pulled him to her, kissing his lips. She let go and stepped back. “Now, you’ve bought my silence.” She smiled and turned to walk down the road.

Callum blinked in surprise. “I think I need to bring her to taverns more often.” He suddenly realized she was walking away without him and hurried to catch up.

“You are full of surprises, Ella.” He said as he walked along side her.

“I know.”

#fantasy #writing #otp #my otp #tavern tales #my ocs

[mattmurdocksgirl]

As Time Goes By

Summary:  Steve Rogers and Molly Davidson meet at the opening of a VA Hospital in New Jersey, where he is there to give a speech and pose for photos, and she is there with her 1930's dance troupe to entertain.  When they keep running into each other, Steve is interested, but Molly isn't so sure.  

Notes:  This is just a short story that came about after a conversation with @heaven-bound-angel It's mostly a fluff filled little tale of possible romance.  It takes place in the MCU a year after the events of Winter Soldier, and not long before Age of Ultron, because even super soldiers searching for their best friend and fighting HYDRA sometimes need a break.

 Steve Rogers looked around the large Atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building in the heart of Washington D.C. and guessed there had to be seating for at least a thousand people, if not more.  There were stars and stripes being projected on the ceiling, and American flags, the flags of each branch of the military and the POW/MIA flag, spread around the room.  A large blue velvet curtain decorated the stage where he would speak later that evening.

“Could you please stand at the podium, Captain Rogers?  We just want to do a quick mic and lighting check, then we’re through for now.”  The gentleman in charge motioned toward the clear podium on the left side of the stage, and Steve obliged.  “Alright, so the Swing Dance group finishes their performance, and you are introduced.  Feel free to just recite some of your speech so that we can test the volume of your microphone.

“Sure.  No problem.”  Steve cleared his throat.  “Thank you.  Thank you for inviting me here to our Nation’s Capital on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, to celebrate and support the brave men and women who put on a uniform and defend our country every day.”  He stopped and looked over to the man, who waved his hand in a circle for him to continue, while listening intently to the communication device in his ear.  Steve went on.  “The good work that both the United Service Organization and the Disabled American Veterans do is important to those in service overseas and here at home, as well as those returning, quite possibly to a new reality due to injuries sustained in the field.  Thank you to every single one of you that has donated tonight to each of these fine charities.” 

“That’s great, we got it.  Thank you,” the man said.  “That’s pretty much all we need until tonight. Would you like me to get you transportation back to the hotel?”

“Oh, no thanks.  I think I’d like to walk.”

“Okay, but if you need anything, please give me a call.  I’ll have a car at the hotel by 5:30 to pick you up.” 

Although the Marriott that he was staying at was within easy walking distance, Steve didn’t argue with that.  Making the walk as Steve Rogers was one thing, but doing it in full Captain America gear would be a nightmare.  He headed toward the exit in the back of the room when the door opened and the dance group began pouring in.  He stopped to allow them to pass, and was surprised when he recognized one of their members. 

“Captain,” she said with a curt nod of her head toward him.

“Ms. Davidson,” he replied, as she passed.  She turned around and gave him a big smile before continuing along toward the front of the room with her partner.  Steve meant to head on to the exit, but found himself hanging around the back of the room to watch the dance practice, or more specifically, to watch her.

Steve met Molly Davidson for the first time a little over year ago, just about two months after SHIELD fell.  It was a busy time for him, with the on-going search for Bucky and the Avenger’s trying to track down Loki’s scepter, but Steve still made time to attend events to support the military whenever he could.  He felt like it was part of the job, even if they did all start to blur together after a while. 

That changed when he attended a dedication ceremony and dinner for a new VA hospital that was opening in New Jersey.  Part of the entertainment for the evening was a Dance group based in New York that performed dances from the 1930’s and 40’s.  The moment he laid eyes on Molly, he was intrigued.  She was certainly beautiful, with jet black hair and the greenest eyes that he’d ever seen, but what caught his attention was her smile, which could light up an entire room.  She seemed to be so full of life when she danced that it was hard for him to take his eyes off of her.  After the performance, he managed to get an introduction, and she had been every bit as sweet as he expected, but she turned him down flat when he suggested they get dinner sometime.

Over the past year, her group was apparently just as much in demand as he was, and they met on a few more occasions at events.  She always seemed pleased to see him, and they always talked comfortably, but she would change the subject immediately if he hinted at seeing her outside of these events, and he never seemed to find the time or the nerve to try to contact her. 

He’d learned a lot about her when they talked, though.  She was 28 years old, and born and raised in Queens, where she owned a dance studio, even though she had a degree in Accounting from Empire State University.  Dance had always been her first love, and when the owner decided to sell the studio where she grew up dancing, her parents helped her buy it and still helped with day to day operations.  She liked Rocky Road ice cream, Crime/Mystery novels, and joined the Dance group, because she loved Swing dancing, as well as the vintage costumes

The group practiced for close to a half hour, mostly blocking where each couple would dance, before they finally called it quits.  Steve suddenly hoped that the fact that he was waiting for her didn’t come off as too stalkerish. 

“Of all the ballrooms, in all the towns, in all the world, he walks into mine,” she flashed that lovely smile at him.

“Technically, I think I was here first.”

“You got that reference, though, right?  Casablanca?”

“Of course.  It came out in the early 40’s, and they brought it over for the troops to see.  We were pretty busy fighting Nazi’s, but even we took a break every once in a while.  It was one of Bucky’s,” he stopped and took a deep breath.  “One of my best friend’s favorites.   He used to quote it all the time.”

“I figured that you probably had.  Anyway, I heard you were speaking tonight while we were checking in to the Marriott, and was hoping I’d get to see you.  The staff is very excited to have you there.”

“It’s a nice hotel.  Were you headed back there now?  I was actually about to go grab some lunch and maybe take a walk over to the World War II Memorial.  I’d love some company.  That is, if your free?”

She considered him for a long moment, and he was certain that she was about to turn him down again, but she managed to surprise him.  “Sure, why not?  I have a few hours before I have to start getting ready and it’s pretty nice for September in D.C.”

“Really?  Great.  There’s a food court here in the building.  Maybe we could get something and eat it by the Washington Monument.”

They made their way to the crowded food court and decided on Wraps to go.  She tried to argue when he insisted on paying, but gave in when he wouldn’t budge.  They made their way the few blocks it took to get to the monument. 

It was an unusually cool day for Washington in September, which brought the crowds out.  Steve pulled his hat down further over his face hoping that no one would recognize him, and he could spend time with Molly in peace.  He was pretty sure that was one of the reasons that she wasn’t too keen to accept his offer of a date.  At every event, they were usually interrupted by other guests who wanted their picture taken with Captain America, and she would usually wander off when it happened. 

They found an unoccupied section of the small wall that lined the path, and sat down to eat their lunch.  “So how do you like D.C.?”  She asked him, as he handed her wrap to her.

“Oh, I used to live here.  I moved back to New York in April last year.”

“I didn’t know that.  What made you move?”

“Well, I kind of crashed three Helicarriers down in the middle of the Potomac River and destroyed the company I worked for, so, yeah,” he chuckled.

“Geez.  Of course!  Sorry about that.  I wasn’t thinking.”

“No need to be sorry.  SHIELD got what it deserved, and I prefer New York anyway.  It’s been a good trip back though.”

“Well, at least no one is trying to kill you this time,” she teased him.  “Yet.”

“I’d like to keep it that way, thank you.  So what about you?  How do you like D.C.?”

“Eh.  I’m a Queens girl through and through.  It’s almost too quiet here, and everything is so white.”

“That’s true, I guess.  There are a lot of white buildings.”

“Memorials too,” she waved her hand up at the massive pointy white monument looming over them.  “Well, except for the Vietnam Memorial.  It’s the only black memorial in all of D.C.  My dad likes to point that out every time he comes down here.  He says it’s fitting.”

“Is your dad a vet?”

“Yep.  Two tours in Vietnam right at the end of the war.”

“I think I’m thankful that I was frozen for that one.”

Molly shrugged, “Yeah, you probably should be.”

“By the way, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you dressed for your own time period.  We always seem to meet when you’re dressed up in mine.”  It was true.  The dance group dressed the part for their performances, looking like they all just walked out of the 1930s or 40s just like him, but for practice today, she had on leggings and an Empire State University t-shirt. 

“This is your time period too, Steve.  At least it is now.”

“I suppose, but you look very pretty dressed for either time period.  You’d have been pretty popular back when I was a kid.”

She tried to play off the blush that was creeping across her cheeks by rolling her eyes and looking away.  “From what I’ve seen over there at the National History Museum, you look pretty good in both as well.”

“You’ve actually seen that display?”

“Of course.  My dad is a history buff and dragged us down here as soon as it opened. 

“I was a skinny, sickly little punk kid from Brooklyn.”

“Yeah, the Brooklyn thing is pretty terrible, but I guess not everyone can be from Queens,” she teased him. 

“Uh huh.  Brooklyn beats Queens any day.”

“You wish,” she laughed.  “Still, Brooklyn or not, my dad would probably lose his mind if he ever met you.  My mom too.”

“Hmmm.  I’d be happy to meet your parents, Molly.  It was customary to meet the parents before you went on a date back in my time.  Not that I was actually going on any dates back then.  Of course, that means you’d have to agree to go on one with me.”  He couldn’t resist bringing the subject up again.

“I didn’t say you should meet them, just that they’d probably fawn all over you if you ever did.”

“Am I ever going to be able to convince you to go out with me?”

“We’ll always have Paris,” she mused.  “Or, well, Washington D.C.”  She crumbled up the paper her wrap had been in, and shoved it back in the bag.  “Let’s head over to the World War II Memorial.  We should probably be heading back to the hotel soon.”

Once again, she’d managed to change the subject.  This time Steve wasn’t quite ready to let it go, but he did for the time being.  If she was shy of the attention he got, showing her that people often left him alone when he wasn’t dressed as Captain America seemed like the best course of action.

“So are you all staying around for the dancing tonight, or leaving when you’re done?”  At other events, if there was going to be dancing, the group often stayed to dance and get people out on the floor.  That always gave him more time to talk with her between dances.

“We’re staying.  I don’t guess I’ll have your name in my dance card though, will I?”

“I’m not really much of a dancer,” he shrugged.  It was true.  He’d never asked her to dance, even though he thought she might have hinted at it a few times.

“Just like I’m not really one for hanging around when you are schmoozing, I guess.”

He started to argue the fact that schmoozing was part of his job at these events, but he knew she’d argue back that dancing was hers.  Instead, he changed the subject to the construction of the memorial, and let the matter drop.

They toured the memorial without a single person recognizing him, and they were almost back to the hotel when Steve broached the subject again.  “So, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’ve managed to be out in public for a couple of hours and no one even gave me a second glance.”

“Oh, I saw more than a few ladies giving you a second glance, but I don’t think it was because you’re Captain America.  I suspect it has more to do with how hot you are.”  She cupped her hand over her mouth immediately and he could see a deep red creeping across her cheeks.  Steve was more pleased than he’d probably ever admit about that little slip of the tongue.

“At least they left us alone, right?  Maybe we could give dinner a try when we’re back in New York?”

“I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised.  I guess I’m used to always seeing you in the suit, when everyone wants to meet you.  I really do enjoy spending time with you, Steve, but you’re a lot to deal with, and I don’t just mean the whole beefcake thing you’ve got going on.  I mean, you’re Captain America.  You fight bad guys and aliens.”

“If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die.” He replied with a grin. 

Molly didn’t miss the Casablanca reference.  “Well, what of it? It'll be out of its misery,” she said, replying with the next line.  “That was a good one.”

“Glad you liked it.”  They had reached the hotel, and he held the door open for her.  “So is that a yes?”

She gave him that beautiful smile that he loved.  “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if we……”

“Oh my word!  It’s Captain America!”  An older woman squealed as they entered the busy lobby of the hotel.  “I can’t believe it!  John, come quick and bring the camera!   You don’t mind posing for just one picture, do you?  The folks back home will never believe me if I don’t have proof!”

Before he could even answer, the woman was standing next to him and a flash was going off.  More people in the lobby realized what was going on and were descending on him quickly.  Soon he was surrounded by people wanting pictures or autographs. 

He glanced around for Molly, and found her being crowded to the back of the group as more people began gathering around him.  When he finally made eye contact with her, she shrugged in the direction of the crowd, waved goodbye, and turned toward the elevator.

Steve thought about trying to find her once he got away from the crowd, but he hadn’t thought to find her room number, and realized how odd it might look to go to the front desk and ask them for it.  Instead, he went back to his room, flipped through the TV for a little while, and finally got ready for the fundraiser.

He found her later, toward the end of the night, just coming off the dance floor with a much older gentleman.  Steve guessed he was somewhere in his late 80’s or early 90’s, but he still moved pretty well when he was dancing with her to the slow song that had been playing. 

“Captain,” she grinned when she saw him approaching.  “Excellent speech.  I was inspired.”

“Thank you.  Your performance was flawless, as usual,” he returned the compliment. 

“Sorry, I’m being rude.  This is Mr. Richardson.”  Molly indicated the man next to her.  “U.S. Marine.  He enlisted on his 18th birthday in 1944.  He was just telling me about his experiences at the Battle of Okinawa.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Captain.” The older man held out his hand and Steve shook it.

“No, the honor is mine.  I never made it over to the Pacific theater and I was in the ice by Okinawa, but from what I’ve read that was one heck of a battle.”

“It was.  I was barely 19, hadn’t been in many battles, and it turned out to be my last, but it was as bloody as they come.  Japan was so desperate that they were sending 12-14-year-olds out to fight us.”

“Oh that’s awful,” Molly responded.

“It wasn’t fun, that’s for sure.  Anyway, thank you so much for the dance, Miss.  It’s been quite a while since I’ve waltzed with anyone.  Not since my Jane passed away ten years ago.”

“Well, I was honored to be your partner.” She gave a small curtsy to him.

“Thank you, but I’m sure dancing with someone a bit younger would be more fun.”  He indicated Steve.

“Oh, I don’t actually dance,” he replied quickly.  “Never really learned.”

Mr. Richardson looked surprised.  “Well, I think it’s time you learned, Captain.  Thanks again for the dance.” He turned and walked away, leaving them alone on the side of the dance floor.

“Is that true?  About not knowing how to dance?  Is that the reason you’ve never asked?”

Steve shrugged.  “You’ve seen what I looked like before the serum.  Not a lot of gals were looking to dance with me.  Then, I was a little busy with the Nazi’s.”

“What about all those girls on the USO tours?  I’m sure they were very anxious to dance with you.”

Steve felt a blush creeping across his cheeks.  “Dancing wasn’t usually what they wanted to do with me.”

“I’ll bet,” she chuckled.

“So why did you leave earlier, in the hotel?”

“You mean when you were being mobbed?  Honestly, I didn’t know what else to do.”

“It really doesn’t happen that often, you know.  You see me in this suit and people tend to notice me, obviously, but I do usually get left alone back in New York, like you know, for dinner?”

“You don’t give up, do you?”  She knew the smile on her face betrayed any actual annoyance at his persistence. 

“Did you know that I visited 10 different recruitment centers before I ended up in the Army?  I was willing to keep going, too.”

“I’m not the least bit surprised,” she grinned at him.  “Did you know that dancing is one of my favorite things to do on dates?  Night clubs, Supper clubs, the living room of my apartment.  I’m not picky.  I don’t even care of my date is particularly good at it, as long as their willing to try.  I also happen to be a pretty good teacher.”

“Interesting,” he looked out at the dance floor, but seemed to think better of it.  “I was going to head out.  Would you like a ride back to the hotel?”

“Sure,” she shrugged, barely able to hide her disappointment.  They gathered their things, said their goodbyes and got stopped five times for pictures on the way to the door.  Each time, he expected her to leave, but instead she patiently stood off to the side and waited. 

When the car dropped them off at the hotel, he walked her to her room.  “Thank you for waiting for me as we were leaving.”

“Well,” she grinned.  “You were kind of my ride.”

“I appreciate you not wandering off, so I didn’t have to wonder if you got back safely.”

“This is my room, so now you know.”  She looked between him and the door to her hotel room.  “So I took a step toward something that makes me uncomfortable, maybe next time we run into each other, you should do the same.”

“Maybe you’re right,” he nodded.

“I should probably be going.  It’s getting late and I don’t want to be those obnoxious people talking in the hallway and keeping everyone awake.”

“I'd bet they're asleep in New York. I'd bet they're asleep all over America.”

She covered her mouth with her hand to mute her laughter.  “You couldn’t resist one more Casablanca reference, could you?”

“Here’s looking at you, kid,” he replied with a wink.  He opened the door for her and waited until he heard the clicking of the deadbolt before heading back to his own room.

Molly’s last class of the night was done, so she grabbed her schedule book and sat down on the floor in the empty dance studio to go over tomorrow’s schedule.  As she reviewed it, there was a sound from the hallway.  Turning toward the door, she found her mom standing there with a big grin on her face.

“Hey mom, you leaving for the night?”

“Well, I was, but it appears you have a visitor.”

She wasn’t expecting anybody, but she stood up and smoothed out the black wrap around skirt that she was wearing over her dance outfit.  “Who is it?”

Steve Rogers appeared behind her mom and Molly’s eyes went as wide as saucers.  “Hi there,” he said as her mother moved aside to let him enter the room.  ‘I’m here to inquire about dance lessons?  I didn’t really have much time to learn how to dance in the 30’s and 40’s, but I’ve always wanted to, and I heard this was a great place for it.”

She could barely contain her laughter, and certainly couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face.  She took a deep breath and managed to give him her very best ‘all-business’ look.  “I’m sorry, we’re actually closed right now.  If you’d like to stop by tomorrow or call the studio, I can see who might be available for lessons.”

“Molly Louise Davidson, do you know who this is?”  Her mother had her hands on her hips and was looking absolutely scandalized. 

“I do, Mom.  His name is Steve, and he is a very persistent man,” she replied, not looking away from him. 

“Something I’ve been accused of my entire life.”  He wasn’t taking his eyes off of her either, and that alone made her giggle somewhat nervously. 

“You know,” Molly’s mother seemed to realize that there was far more going on than she understood.  “I’m going to head out for the night.  Your father will be waiting for me.  It was very nice to meet you, Captain Rogers.” 

“Yes, ma’am,” he responded, turning to tip his head toward her politely.  “It was a pleasure to meet you as well.”

“I’ll just lock up after myself.”  Before she left, her mother gave her a thumbs up behind Steve’s back, and that just sent Molly into another peal of nervous laughter.

“Dance lessons, huh?”  She managed to say when she got control of herself.

“Well, recently someone suggested that it was time for me to get off my butt and learn to dance, so here I am.  I think it’s important to have a really good teacher, and I hear you’re the best.”

“Oh I wouldn’t go that far.  I’m close though,” she winked at him, before tinkering with the sound system and putting in a new CD.  “Private dance lessons are about 45 minutes to an hour long, and very expensive.  Lucky for you, we are offering free lessons to soldiers who were frozen for at least 70 years.”  She held her hand out to him, and walked him to the middle of the floor when he took it. 

“Does that include dinner afterward by any chance?”

She looked him over slowly.  “Do you like Italian?  There is a great Italian hole in the wall three shops down.”

“To be clear, that would be a date, right?”

“Yes.  I guess so.  I mean, you did meet my mother.  Besides, I think my mom might actually try to ground me if I didn’t offer to make sure you got fed,” she giggled.   “First a lesson, though.”  She grabbed his free hand and placed it on her hip, getting them in position.

“Was that cannon fire, or is it my heart pounding?” he teased her.

“Are we back to the Casablanca quotes?  Well, I guess we’ll start with the Slow Fox Trot then.  Play it again, Sam!”  Pushing a button on the remote, the first strains of As Time Goes By began to play.

“You know, Rick never actually says that.  He tells Sam to ‘Play it.’  Ilsa says, ‘Play it once, Sam,’ but that is about as close as anyone gets to it.”

“I did know that.  It’s one of the most misquoted movie lines in history, I think.  I kind of like it, though.”

“Maybe we could watch Casablanca together on our second date, and just so you know, my living room might be big enough for dancing.”

“Second date, huh?  That could be fun, but let’s start with this dance first, what do you think?” 

“Molly, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” he replied, as he pulled her just a little bit closer.

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