#Five Sisters Zoo

[thepastisalreadywritten]

By Brian Melley, AP News

13 January 2024

LONDON (AP) — An unlikely refugee from the war in Ukraine — a rare Asiatic black bear — arrived at his new home in Scotland on Friday and quickly took to a meal of cucumbers and watermelon.

The 12-year-old Yampil was named for a village in the Donetsk region where he was one of the few survivors found by Ukrainian troops in the remains of a bombed-out private zoo.

Yampil, who had previously been called Borya, was discovered by soldiers who recaptured the devastated city of Lyman during the Kharkiv counteroffensive in the fall of 2022, said Yegor Yakovlev of Save Wild, who was among the first of many people who led the bear to a new life.

The bear was found in a menagerie that had long been abandoned by its owners.

Almost all the other animals had died of hunger, thirst or were struck by bullets or shrapnel and some were eaten by Russian troops.

Yampil narrowly missed the same fate, suffering a concussion from a projectile that landed nearby.

“The bear miraculously survived,” said Yakovlev, also director of the White Rock Bear Shelter, where the bear recovered.

“Our fighters did not know what to do with him, so they started looking for rescue.”

What followed was an odyssey that your average bear rarely makes, as he was moved to Kyiv for veterinary care and rehab, then shipped to a zoo in Poland, then to an animal rescue in Belgium, where he spent the past seven months, before landing in the United Kingdom.

Brian Curran, owner of Five Sisters Zoo in West Calder, Scotland, said his heart broke when he learned of the plight of the threatened Asiatic black bear.

“He was in terrible condition; five more days and they wouldn’t have been able to save him,” Curran said. “We were just so amazed he was still alive and well.”

The bear was skinny but not malnourished when he was found, said Frederik Thoelen, a biologist at the Nature Help Center in Belgium.

He now is estimated to weigh a healthy 440 pounds (200 kilograms), Thoelen said.

The nature center in Belgium, which usually treats injured wildlife and returns them to their natural settings, has taken several animals rescued from the war in Ukraine, including a wolf, a caracal cat and four lions, though those animals had not experienced the ordeal Yampil endured.

It was remarkable how calm Yampil was when he arrived in Belgium, Thoelen said.

The bear was trained in the past two weeks to move from his enclosure to the crate that would transport him across Belgium to Calais, France, then across the English Channel on a ferry to Scotland.

Pastries from a local bakery were used for good measure to lure him Thursday into the cage, where he was sedated for the journey.

“We want to use the food that he likes most, and for most bears — and for people also — it’s sweet, unhealthy foods,” Thoelen said.

Thoelen had a sense of the bear’s weight as he drove the crate to the port.

“Every time when we had a red light or a traffic jam, when the bear moved a little bit, you could feel the van moving also,” he said.

“You could feel it was a heavy animal in the back of the car.”

Yampil arrived at the zoo about 15 miles (25 kilometers) west of Edinburgh and immediately made himself at home.

He feasted on cukes — said to be his favorite food — and melon, said Adam Welsh, who works at Five Sisters.

The Asiatic black bear is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species as vulnerable to extinction in the wild, where it can be found in central and southern Asia, Russia, and Japan.

It’s known for the distinctive white crescent patch on its chest that gives it the nickname moon bear. It can live for up to 30 years in zoos.

It’s not clear if the bear will go into hibernation. The winter has been warmer than usual but colder days are on the horizon.

The zoo has other bears, but Yampil is the only Asian bear and unique in other ways.

“We’ve had circus bears, for example, that have been rescued,” Welsh said.

“We’ve had bears rescued from places like roadside restaurants where they’ve been used as kind of roadside attractions and been kept in subpar conditions. But this is the first time that we’ve worked with an animal that’s been rescued from a war zone.”

Scottish zoo welcomes black bear which survived war in Ukraine

13 January 2024

🖤🐻🤎

#Asiatic black bear #Ukraine #Scotland #Yampil #Borya #Save Wild #White Rock Bear Shelter #Five Sisters Zoo #Nature Help Center #Belgium #Poland #International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species #moon bear #save animals #protect wildlife #threatened species #refugee bear #private zoo #Youtube

[this-must-be-the-feeling]

animals cuddling at the zoo. mental illness cured

#otters #lemurs #edinburgh #five sisters zoo #scotland #animals #cute

[incorrectsmashbrosquotes]

Idea for an animated kid's movie/comedy.

So there's this dinosaur park that's a thinly veiled Jurassic Park knock-off (call it Cretaceous Island), and it's a bit of a toy story situation, in that the dinosaurs can talk and communicate when the humans aren't looking, mostly at night.

The dinos don't really want to break out since they like their cushy zoo lives and five-star treatment from the staff, so they're willing to get oggled by a bunch of twelve year olds to keep the food coming.

Out main characters are a T-Rex, two raptor sisters, and a wise old triceratops. The raptors are bored with their lives and long for adventure, the triceratops is a wise-old mentor figure, and the T-Rex is lonely since the park won't engineer any other T-Rex's for safety reasons.

Through magical shenanigans they get sent back to the actual Cretaceous period.

Now these pampered genetically engineered dinos have to survive in the savage dinosaur era. To underscore the differences between them, the future dinos are animated as pretty standard cartoon dinosaurs, a la Land Before Time, while the dinosaurs from the past are animated to be as scientifically accurate as possible.

The dinos go through shenanigans, amke friends in the past, evade predators, and eventually make their way home through magic portal stuff, except for the T-Rex who elects to stay behind since he's fallen for a female T-Rex he met in the past. His friends are sad to leave him behind, but go to the present anyway.

Back in the present, the dinos think nothing has really changed, but they find that the exhibit in the visitor's center, previously a single roaring T-Rex skeleton, has been replaced with two T-Rex's, famous for being found fossilized together called "The Deadly Lovers", and its their friend and the mate he found in the past. It ends on the bittersweet note.

#incorrect super smash bros #not a quote #idea #thought #musing #writing #my writing #my idea #dinosaurs #dinosaur #t rex #T-rex #raptor #triceratops #paleontology #time travel #story #story idea

[aromanticbuck]

AITA for maiming my best friend?

I (32M) have known my best friend, E (32M), for about 6 years. We met through work when he started at my firehouse, and we kind of clicked by the end of our first shift. These are long stories, but I help him out with his son, C (13M), a lot, I take C to the zoo regularly, and we (C and I) got caught in the tsunami a few years ago when we went to the pier for the day. E has me in his will to take custody of C if anything happens to him. When I say he's my best friend, I mean he's like family, and we've been family for a while.

Last month, our team kind of borrowed an LAFD helicopter to save our captain and his wife when their cruise ship was capsized (yeah! that cruise ship!), so my future brother-in-law called an old buddy of his, T (45M), who's a helicopter pilot to fly us into a hurricane. T is super cool! He's a pilot, and he used to be at my firehouse before I got there, and he used to be in the army (like E!), and he likes karaoke and trivia and basketball and Star Wars.

E and T got really close after we did the helicopter rescue. T flew E to Vegas for a fight that he got ring-side tickets for (which meant T couldn't go out to get a beer with me, even though I think he wanted to). They went to a karaoke trivia night together. And when E was telling me about it, I kind of thought he was going to invite me, too, but he just asked me to babysit C for him that night instead. I love C, he's a great kid, but I was kind of sad I didn't get to spend time with my best friend.

When I was babysitting C, I saw E's day planner on the fridge. Underneath a take-out menu, there was something written in for this Thursday - "B.B.P.U. w/ T" - basketball pick up game with T (my sister made me explain it to her) - and it was CIRCLED - but it's this game that first responders have every other Thursday. E has asked me to go a few times, but I don't like basketball so I always say no.

Anyway, C kept talking about T all night while we ate dinner and played videogames. And T apparently lied to C about his favorite Star Wars movie to make C like him more??? Which should be illegal.

So I asked my BIL to go to the basketball game with me, and he kept asking why I suddenly like basketball (I don't like it, it's a stupid sport), all the way to the court. E teased me, too, but that's just what E does. But we played basketball against E and T and the rest of their team, and I wasn't doing too bad. And then E and T high fived a lot and were acting like they're best friends, even though E is my best friend, not T's, and I got frustrated.

I accidentally (?) knocked E over when he was going for a basket. My BIL said E sprained his ankle and was lucky I didn't break his leg when I knocked him down.

My sister says I was acting like a 14 year old girl, and I know she's kind of right. But it wasn't on purpose, I don't think.

AITA?

UPDATE: apparently I like guys???

UPDATE 2: a lot of the comments think I'm in love with E. no, he's just my best friend! T kissed me. we have a date on Saturday.

#evan buckley #evan buck buckley #buck buckley #eddie diaz #buddie #tommy kinard #kinkley #bucktommy #911 #911 on abc #911 fic #maddie buckley #chimney han #christopher diaz #7x04 was objectively funny and these are really fun to write #alex writes things

[greynatomy]

what did you call me?

katrina gorry x reader

wasn’t planning of making a second part, but people have been asking and gave me some ideas for it.

part 1 part 3

———

After everyone got showered and dressed, they all got back on the coach to the hotel they were staying in, minus you and Harper, taking the rental you rented.

You, Kat, Harper, Charli, and Kyra all went to your wife’s room, the rest of the team did their own thing. You got yourself comfortable on the lounge chair in the corner of the room while the others laid on the beds.

“Okay. First question. How did you guys meet?” Kyra was the first to speak.

“I went to Australia back in 2021 and almost knocked her down. She’s so tiny that I didn’t even see her.”

“Shut up. But she invited me to go with her to breakfast as an apology.”

“Ohmygod! It’s like a literal book meeting. Write a story on wattpad type of meeting. That’s so cute!”

“What’s a wattpad?”

“Okay! Second question. Charli your turn.”

“Who asked who in marriage?”

“Uh, she did.” Kat pointed to you. “It wasn’t extravagant or anything. It was a couple months after Harper was born and she made her wear a little onesie that said ‘Will you marry Mama’ on it. It was so cute.”

The questions kept being asked and Katrina answers them all. Meanwhile, you were falling asleep on the chair, the jet lag catching up to you.

Harper, getting tired herself, carefully slides herself down off the bed and waddling over to your sleeping form. Somehow finding a way to climb onto you on her own, She grabs the hem of your shirt and climbs inside, settling herself on your torso, instantly falling asleep, all while the three Matildas are still having their q&a session.

Charli was the first to notice Harper gone from the bed.

“Oh my. That is so adorable.”

Kyra and Katrina look towards the direction where Charli’s finger points, seeing you asleep with a lump under your shirt.

“I’ve got to take a picture.” Kyra pulls out her phone and snaps a photo.

“Harper loves to take naps like that. Y/N has done skin to skin with her ever since she was born and Harper loves it.”

“They’re quite the duo aren’t they?”

“Yeah. And It’s crazy how we met the day I found out I was pregnant with Harper too.”

“That’s so cute. They both came to you on the same day, and now they’re inseparable.”

In the following days, you stayed in Australia getting to know the team a lot more, getting especially close to Charli and Kyra. The team has a day off today and you really wanted to visit the Australia Zoo and invited Kyra and Charli along.

We’ve just made it to where the cheetahs are, Harper presses herself close to the glass. Kyra and Charli went off to get something to snack on and drink with Kat leaving me with Harper. Minutes later, the three come back with more than enough food and drinks giving your daughter some.

“Here you go, Mama.” Kyra is holding out a bottle of water to you, but you’re frozen. Not knowing what’s happening, she shakes the bottle in front of your face.

“What did you call me?”

“Oh. Uh.” Finally realizing what she said, Kyra stutters a bit. “It’s just you’re Harper’s mom, Harper’s my sister, and you’ve treated me like I was you kid too, like how Mini does and you’ve actually felt like another Mom to me.”

“Me too!” Charli cuts in.

“Aw, babe. Are you crying?”

“No, I have allergies.” You turn away, wiping you eyes.

“Family group hug!”

Your family of three just turned into a family of five and you wouldn’t have had it any other way.

#woso x reader #greynatomy #woso #woso imagines #woso imagine #katrina gorry x reader #katrina gorry

[ereardon]

Before I Knew [Jake Seresin x Reader] Chapter Two

A Jake Seresin unexpected pregnancy fic

Overview: On your first night after moving to San Diego to spend more time with your brother Bob, you unknowingly have a one night stand with his teammate Jake Seresin. For the first time in his whole life, Bob has a closely knit friend group and you’re desperate not to rock the boat. But an unexpected and unplanned pregnancy upends your world, forcing you and Jake closer together, against Bob’s wishes. What will happen when you find yourself actually falling for the father of your unborn child? 

Pairing: Jake Seresin x Reader; Bob Floyd x Sister!Reader 

Warnings: Pregnancy, cursing, eventual smut, alcohol

Chapter summary: Y/N tries to get her life together but finding a job proves to be difficult. So difficult that when Jake catches her in a weak spot at the Hard Deck the two reconnect behind closed doors; Y/N gets a massive surprise that threatens to change everything

Masterlist here; previous chapter here

You were late. 

Which was abnormal, because the only thing that was timely about you was the fact that you got your period on the same day every single month. It was the one thing you could count on in a world that was constantly in flux. 

This time, you were late. Three weeks late, to be exact. 

One Week Before

You weren’t sure what you had expected when you booked your flight to San Diego. The last time you and Bob had lived together you were just kids. Back then it had been fighting over the remote and who ate the last frozen waffle. 

Bob had always been quiet. Collected. He blended in with the background of things. Whereas you had preferred to be the center of attention, Bob was the wallflower. He carried your plastic pumpkin behind you while trick-or-treating and he was the one to help make scrapbooks for your high school graduation, taking a special weekend leave from the academy just for that. 

So it was surprising that almost every moment of Bob’s time was filled. If he wasn’t at North Island training, he was on a smaller mission, gone for a day or two at a time. Whenever he wasn’t flying, he was hanging out with the rest of the daggers. You often woke up and wandered out into the living room to find Bradley sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal, wearing the same clothes as the night before, smiling sheepishly about how he had crashed on the couch. 

“I’m sorry,” Bob said, his voice echoing on the phone as you filled a mug with coffee in the kitchen. “I won’t be home until late.” 

“You know when I moved here I thought we’d get to spend some time together,” you said. “Instead, I hear from you even less than when I was back home with mom.” 

“I’m sorry about that.” You could hear the jet engines roaring in the background. “This weekend. I promise, we can do something fun. The zoo?” 

You laughed. “I’m not five anymore, Bobby. You don’t have to plan a fun playdate for me. I just want to spend some quality time together.” 

“We will, I promise.” There was a pause. “Ducky, I gotta run, OK. I’ll see you when I get home.” The line went dead. You sighed, picking up your cup of coffee and walking into the living room. You needed to get a job. Pulling up your computer, you flicked over to the LinkedIn tab that was open. Back in Chattanooga, you had spent the year after college aimless. Bartending at night. Taking some classes and studying for the GMAT as you toyed with the idea of business school. But you weren’t really sure what you wanted to do. 

You still weren’t sure. That was the part that you had kept from Bob. He was the kind of person who needed a plan. An itinerary. He looked at menus before he even stepped foot in a restaurant. He refused to go somewhere if he didn’t know what the parking situation was. He was by the book. You were anything but. 

It was time you grew up a little. 

***

By the time Bob got home, the sound of the front door crashing open, you were in bed. Opening one eye, and then another, you waited for the soft footsteps of Bob entering the house. Instead, you heard a gaggle of voices, loud shushes and uncontrolled whispers. 

Cracking open the door, you peered down the hallway to where the light was on in the living room. “Bobby?” you called out, stepping onto the carpeted hallway. 

“Duck?” It was a slurred whisper. You frowned, rounding the corner into the living room to see Jake supporting Bob as he lowered him down onto the couch. 

You rushed over, eyes wide, not even realizing that the hem of your long shirt rode up as you kneeled down in front of the couch where Bob was laid horizontal, one arm hanging off and dragging on the cream carpet. You looked up at Jake accusatorial. “You got him drunk?” 

“It was Phoenix,” Jake said, hands in the air. “I swear. I’m just the DD.” 

You shook your head. “I’m getting him some water.” Bob started to sit up and you put one hand on his shoulder, shoving him down against the cushion. “Lie down.” 

“Bossy,” he groaned, fluttering his eyes closed. 

In the kitchen, you ran the tap, seething. Of course Jake had gotten Bob drunk. You barely knew him, but this just proved that you knew enough. His cockiness at the bar that first night had been charming. But you knew from your experience with men that cockiness never aged well. 

Jake entered the kitchen, one hand pressed against the doorframe. “Y/N.” 

You shook your head, pouring a glass of water. “You can leave.” 

“What if I came here to see you?” 

“Why the hell would you do that?” 

Jake inched closer. “Maybe I thought what we had the other night was pretty great.” 

“Weren’t you listening?” you asked, setting the cup down on the counter. “That’s never happening again. In fact, we promised to pretend it never happened. So in my mind, we met for the first time that day at the coffee shop when Bob invited me to meet his friends. That’s the story, Jake. Nothing else.” 

“You really think it’ll never happen again?” 

Jake was close, the warmth of his body practically heating you through your skin. You had to push away the memory of how his hands felt along your waist, in your hair, his lips on your throat. He was just a guy. There were plenty of other men you could sleep with or date who weren’t part of your brother’s friend group. You owed it to Bob not to get in the way any more than you already had. 

Even if Jake was standing in the kitchen looking at you like he wanted to consume you. Even if you felt your legs trembling at the thought of his tongue roaming over your core like it had that night. 

You straightened up and looked directly into Jake’s eyes, willing yourself to be difficult. Hard. “I don’t think so,” you whispered. “I know. Now if you don’t mind. I want to get this to Bobby before he pukes on the carpet like a cat.” 

You pushed past Jake, heart beating rapidly. A minute later, as you knelt down next to the couch, you heard the gentle clang of the door shutting closed, followed by a car engine roaring to life outside. 

Bob was asleep on the couch, glasses askew. You removed them, setting them on the nearby table along with the glass of water. Without thinking, you made your way to the window, peering out from behind the curtains. 

Jake was sitting in his truck in the driveway, lights on, but not moving. You pulled the drapes closed, shutting him out. 

***

You pressed your forehead against the steering wheel of Bob’s truck and groaned. This was your third interview that you had bombed in as many days. The first had been for a store manager of a women’s boutique on First Ave. The second had been for a barista job and the third for a bartending position on North Island. Bob had been pissed about that third one, but you needed money. 

“You have a degree,” Bob argued as you folded a pile of laundry on the floor of the living room. “From a good university. Put it to use, Y/N.” 

“Don’t you think I’m trying?” you asked, exasperated. “Nobody wants a fucking history major. It’s not like I’m going to go work for a Big Four or some land developer. These are the kinds of jobs that will hire me.” 

“You’re better than all of those,” Bob huffed, standing up and shaking his head. “I’ll find you something.” 

“You’re not responsible for me, Bobby,” you argued. “I can take care of myself.” 

“Can you?” 

His words clung in the air. Heavy, like fat raindrops. Those two words sucked all of the oxygen out of the room, out of your lungs. Just a black hole and you were falling. That’s all you seemed to do lately. Fall. Fail. Flail. 

And Bob knew it. 

***

“So you’re from Tennessee?” The guy you were talking to stepped in closer, one hand on the wooden bar behind you, practically boxing you in. But he was cute and when he smiled you felt like he was talking to only you. 

You nodded. “Moved here last month.” 

“So what do you do?” 

You hesitated. There was movement on your periphery and then Bob appeared on your right, face hard behind his wire frames. He took one look at Keith, the guy who had bought your last drink, and his lips practically disappeared into his face as they squeezed into such a tight line. “Fuck off,” Bob growled. Keith looked up, terrified. He spotted Bob’s uniform immediately. 

“Lieutenant Floyd,” Keith said, straightening. 

Bob stepped in closer. He wasn’t as tall as Bradley, or as built as Jake, but he carried a quiet presence that filled a room. It had run off more than one high school boyfriend. Keith looked like the next victim. “Leave,” Bob said and Keith grabbed his beer, scurrying away with nothing more than a grimace. 

You turned your gaze, hot, on Bob. “Seriously?” 

“A fucking ensign?” Bob asked. “No way. I didn’t bring you here so you could let some random Navy guy in your pants.” 

“You didn’t even want to bring me here!” you argued. Bob turned ashen. “I’m only here because you feel bad for me. Poor little Y/N. Has no life, no job, no aspirations. I’m your pathetic little sister. That’s all I’ll ever be to you, isn’t it?” 

“Ducky,” he said, face growing softer. “That’s not true.”

“What if it is?” you whispered, pushing yourself up and off of the bar. 

“Duck.” Bob’s hand shot out and you flung him off, eyes wide. 

Weaving around the bodies that crowded the bar, you skirted the edge of the room, headed for the bathroom. Inside, you put both hands on the sink, letting your head hang low. Just as the tears started to flow, the door opened and you spun around in shock. “Oh!” 

Jake stood in the doorway to the single bathroom. “Shit, sorry, the door wasn’t locked.” 

“It’s fine.” You turned back around, expecting him to leave. 

Instead, you heard the door shut softly, footsteps as Jake stepped near. “Are you OK?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” 

“Because you’re crying in a dirty bar bathroom.” 

You wheeled around. Before you could think, you flung your arms around Jake’s neck, pulling him in close, smashing your lips against his, tasting the beer on his tongue as he walked you back until your hips hit the sink basin, his fingertips tight along your sides. You gasped into his mouth, feeling his lips close around yours, the heat of his hips drilling you back against the counter, his massive muscular arms winding around you, holding you close, the pine scent of his cologne filling your nose as one of his hands threaded into the hair at the back of your head. 

Finally, you pulled back, lips puffy and wet, Jake’s green eyes wide, his mouth pink from kissing. His eyes roamed over your face before he stepped back, his hands falling from your waist. 

“Shit,” you whispered. “I shouldn’t have done that.” 

“No, you definitely should have done that.” Jake grinned. 

“I have to go,” you murmured, grabbing your purse, trying to skirt around him. 

Jake’s hand reached out, stopping you. “Hey,” he whispered. “It’s OK.” 

You turned to look at him, eyes filling back with tears. “Nothing is OK,” you replied quietly, one hand on the door, yanking it open. “In case you didn’t realize, Jake, I’m a mess.” 

You scrambled out the door and back into the boisterous bar before Jake could say anything else. 

***

“Ducky?” Bob’s voice on the other side of the bathroom door was soft. He must have been in the kitchen or living room. “I’m leaving!” 

“OK!” you called back, voice too sharp. 

There was a pause. And then, “I’ll see you later?” 

“Yeah!” 

The sound of the front door closing rang out and you sank to the ground, cold tile pressed against your bare feet and the backs of your legs. You could feel your heartbeat thundering in your chest. 

You looked down at the pregnancy test grasped between your clammy fingers. 

And the pink plus sign staring back at you. 

Please follow my library page @ereardonlibrary as that will largely serve as my tag list. Anyone I previous promised to tag is here:

@bobfloydsbabe @blue-aconite @wkndwlff @mamachasesmayhem @mandylove1000 @djs8891 @clancycucumber230 @rosiahills22 @buckysteveloki-me  @kmc1989 @gigisimsonmars @eloquentdreamer @mjisbby @shanimallina87 @seresinslady @seresinhangmanjake @blackwidownat2814 @yanna-banana @bbyvanessaa  @mrsjobarnes @midnightmagpiemama @ingoaliesitrust @rockbottomphilosophies-blog @iangiemae @joaquinwhorres @boiolay @sometimesanalice @spinning-away

#jake hangman fic #top gun fanfiction #jake seresin #top gun imagine #bob floyd fanfiction #jake hangman x you #hangman fanfiction #jake hangman imagine #bob floyd x female reader #robert bob floyd x reader #bob floyd x y/n #bob floyd x reader #jake seresin x y/n #jake seresin x you #jake seresin x reader #pregnancy #pregnancy fic #unexpected pregnancy #sister reader #natasha phoenix trace #bradley bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x reader #glen powell

[oneatlatime]

Lake Laogai

This Lake had better have Appa in it. With little water wings on.

Skipping the commentary as usual.

The Previously On section suggests that a whole lot of plot threads are about to crash into each other. Strap in folks.

Lefty Sokka!

Beat up Sokka quota fulfilled by his sister's critique of his art skills. It's not like he had paper to practice with at the South Pole.

Sometimes I forget that Aang is 12, then he does something like attempt to rescue his pet from a nefarious city-wide conspiracy of silence with lost cat posters.

"Good tea is its own reward." That means no, he isn't paid enough.

Remember what I said in my last post about Iroh bringing too much attention to himself?

"senior executive assistant manager" someone on the writing team has worked retail I see. Nothing like meaningless promotions with no raise attached! It's right up there with employee pizza party.

I have to pause here and point something out. This whole scene with Iroh? This is an adult fantasy. I don't mean dirty, I mean this whole scene was put in specifically to appeal to the adults who got roped in to watching this kids' show by their children. A rich man walks through the door of your shitty retail job, immediately spots your natural greatness, and offers you a much better paying job with unlimited creative freedom and a better house to go with it? Find me a burnt out retail worker who hasn't conjured up this fantasy five times a shift.

And so the plots come crashing back together. This won't end badly.

"patience really pays off" I checked. He waited literally three seconds.

Shout out to Toph in the background playing catch with a ball she can't see. Casual flex of epic proportions.

Remind me never to go to Lake Laogai. Sounds like it's lousy with Ju Dees.

So the Ju Dees don't know about each other? Because she seems honestly confused. Does Ju Dee think she's the only Ju Dee? What happens if two Ju Dees run into each other in the street?

Posters are illegal but I haven't heard a peep about recarving a bunch of fields into a zoo.

This is maybe the second time Aang's blown up over Appa. Frankly he deserves more blow ups about the whole situation.

I don't think knocking down walls will help find Appa, but I applaud Toph's spirit.

They took out a whole wall and then exit by the door anyways. That's funny.

I really hate this guy, but I have to admit that he may be the first truly competent villain of the series.

'The Jasmine Dragon' also lets anyone with half a brain know that you're Fire Nation. Try the Jasmine Badgermole instead.

Zuko really can't catch a break, huh? He wasn't happy being a tea server, but at least he was resting. But every time he gets five minutes to himself, the main plot reappears to drag him back into the action, whether he wants to or not. Although he hasn't figured out that he doesn't want to be dragged back yet.

Every line of dialogue in this scene is a good point. Zuko's right, Iroh's right. The Zuko's right again, then Iroh's right again.

YES YES YES GET HIS ASS

That was satisfying!

I'm not understanding why Sokka is the voice of reason here. Is he incapable of holding a grudge? He's the one that had all the animosity with Jet to begin with. Shouldn't it be Aang who wants to hear him out?

Toph is a living lie detector now? I can't think of an example off the top of my head, but I'm sure that could have come in handy previously. Any other incredibly useful skills we should know about?

Jet is oddly defensive for someone who claims to know he did wrong.

Ever get so excited that your spine malfunctions?

Sokka just has a metre long map in his pocket. Good friend to have in a pinch.

Avatar first! Katara is rude to an old person!

I'm going to have fun with Toph's new ability.

Toph, you have never been more right. It is the worst city ever. You are really shining this episode.

I know this is a serious scene, but I need to point out that Jet's guyliner is on point.

This shot is jarringly out of place. I think it's because it both black and white, and live action. Those have to be real clouds.

So the Blue Spirit can talk after all. Careful, your Zuko is showing.

Wow Zuko is good at sewing. And fast too.

Sokka is having far too much fun with this whole 'prompt Jet's memory' thing. Maybe he does have a bit of a grudge after all.

Katara can reverse brainwashing now too? Everyone's levelling up this episode.

This scene with the planks is a very cool and disorienting visual.

Didn't have 'the gaang breaks into a brainwashing facility' on my ATLA bingo card.

Pretty.

OMIGOD IT'S AP- did Zuko just break the fourth wall?

Everyone always forgets to look up.

So this fight is going to be Toph v. all of the Dai Li while everyone else tries not to get in Toph's way.

That's a boat.

Toph could probably take all these guys out faster if she wasn't having to constantly break off to save everyone else from them.

The Dai Li prancing up walls is a really cool visual. It's very Ty Lee of them.

I love watching her work.

Why don't you let Long Feng escape? He's no longer threatening you, and you're down there to rescue Appa. Just let him go.

The security on Lake Laogai is a joke.

Big words from someone who also had no plan whatsoever at the North Pole.

Zuko knows that Iroh's right. He knows, and that's important. I don't think Iroh is saying anything that Zuko hasn't thought and then hurriedly pretended to have never thought about before. It's why he says 'stop it' rather than being completely confused as to what Iroh is referring to.

Poor Appa's like 'can you have a crisis of self after you free me please?'

'You've chosen your own demise." No. You chose it for him. That's some top tier deflection/victim blaming right there.

Longshot can talk!

That's one hell of a set up and pay off re: Toph's lie detecting abilities.

Poor Jet. A double tragedy: to be likeable only when you're brainwashed, and to dedicate your life to wiping out the Fire Nation yet being killed by the Earth Kingdom.

Hi Appa. It's about time buddy.

Shockingly in character for Appa's first actions to be to single handedly save the Gaang from a threat.

You skip that bastard like a stone.

Everyone go and listen to the sound Appa makes when he spits out Long Feng's shoe. It's delightful.

I am framing this.

And this too.

I can tell there's some shmymbolism here, but it's gone right over my head.

Final Thoughts

Appa is back. The Gaang has Appa back. I have Appa back. Ok. I can relax now. With any luck, this means we can leave Ba Sing Se.

This episode felt like City of Walls and Secrets, Part 2. I think it was a good decision to have a couple of episodes between the two, but I think there would be some tonal whiplash if you binged this section of season 2. Which wouldn't have been a problem for a show designed to air once a week, so it's a moot point.

So Zuko freed Appa from his chains, and presumably pointed him in the direction of a door or something. Or maybe not; Appa has a ridiculously hard head, he could have busted his way out. Either way, Zuko broke the chains. Thanks Zuko!

In season 1, Zuko finds the Avatar the world had lost. In season 2, Zuko finds the Sky Bison the Avatar had lost. So in season 3, Zuko will find something Appa has lost. I wonder what that will be?

Jet being killed by the Earth Kingdom is so deliciously ironic, and tragic, yet very in character for the Earth Kingdom's approach to this war. It's also literally this:

Smellerbee and Longshot have really gotten the short end of the stick over and over this season. They were the only ones to decide to stick with Jet. Presumably they were the only ones who believed that he had had a legitimate change of heart. And they were kind of wrong. They get to Ba Sing Se only for Jet to immediately backslide way past even where he was at his worst in Season 1. He completely discounts and dismisses their legitimate concerns for his methods and his overall health. Then Jet gets arrested and disappears for two (?) weeks. So what do they do now? Get jobs? Steal so they don't starve? Then suddenly Jet's back but he doesn't even remember them. Then suddenly Jet's dead. The whole point of coming to Ba Sing Se just died, in a way that shows very clearly that their desire to help with the war is not welcome at all in the city. So what now? Do they leave and try to fight in the war from outside the walls? Do they settle down and try to forget about the war? Things did spiral completely out of Jet's control once the Dai Li got involved, but you have to admit that he's left his only remaining friends up a creek.

Sokka had some good jokes but was oddly ok with this episode's events. Toph had some great lines and got to shine with a new skill that any writer with half a brain will bring back in future episodes. She felt like the audience substitute this episode, which is usually Sokka's role. Toph was episode MVP for sure. Poor Aang took a bit of a back seat this episode. Zuko finally hit the crisis point, and may well have made his first indisputably correct decision of the series. But, as previous episodes have gone out of their way to show me that Zuko being good always goes badly for Zuko, I'm sure freeing Appa will somehow come back to bite him.

Iroh's question of "who are you? And what do you want?" was Zuko's entire character arc this season. He took a shot at answering the "who are you?" portion in Zuko Alone, and sort of halfway got there before messing up at the end of the episode. As for the "what do you want?" Zuko will tell you (often and repeatedly) that he wants his honour back. But I think he just wants to go home. The thing is, I strongly suspect that the home Zuko wants to return to hasn't existed since his mother left, if it ever existed at all. Which means that while "who are you?" has an answer Zuko can work towards, "what do you want?" has an answer that is kind of impossible. So Zuko is going to have to learn to want something new.

RIP Jet. Your life was fucked to Hell long before you were old enough to try and salvage it. You'll probably be missed by more people than you strictly deserve. War sucks, amirite?

#atla #avatar: the last airbender #avatar the last airbender #lake laogai

[repulsiveliquidation]

I’ve Got You.

Leah Williamson x Lucy Bronze x Reader

Little! Lucy Bronze, Little! Leah Williamson. Caretaker/Dom! Reader. We visit the zoo and Lucy starts to slip. They get back to the hotel and Leah begins to slip too. Reader finds that a night in instead of heading out with the Lionesses as planned is in order. Reader is also Lotte’s sister! this is just fluff city, i didn't know what i was going for really so this just kinda happened lol

//

“They’re in here, Y/N. You can hear them giggling!” Kiera told you as you walked into the conference room the Lionesses were sitting in. Sarina had just given them the World Cup briefing; you said hi to all the girls who were filtering out of the room and had a quick word with Sarina. Leah and Lucy were giggling at the end of the table, clearly having just pranked Lotte as she scowled and became more and more frustrated with the pair. She saw you coming, a glint in her eyes and a smile sent your way. You reciprocated, smirking back at her with a knowing sibling look.

“This better not be what I think it is, girls.” You announce, the two of them standing straight and turning suddenly with slight guilt in their eyes. “What did I say about the pranks? Georgia nearly got hurt last time and I had to have a conversation with Sarina to promise to keep you in check hm?” You crossed your arms and tried to look and sound as stern as possible. Lotte saw through you, Leah and Lucy suddenly finding their shoes more interesting. “I’d like for you to apologize please, darlings. Properly.” You ask, sitting slightly on the table with a Cheshire grin on your face, giving the girls a taste of their own medicine.

“Sorry, Lotte.” Sang the two, Lotte walking out of the room with a grin on her face and a high-five for you.

“C’mere, my loves.” You ask and open your arms, both of them immediately rushing into your arms. You had just flown in, having taken time off from your own job to follow the Lionesses for their World Cup run. Leah whines a little, inhaling deeply while Lucy kisses you and snuggles into your side. You kiss both their foreheads, sighing softly. You sent them off last week, having had a little more work to do before taking such an extensive amount of time off. But it was worth it, these girls in your arms deserved it.

“I’ve got permission to have you both for the rest of the day, I thought we could go sightseeing, how’s that sound?” You ask as you hold their hands, both girls mindlessly following you. You had rented a car, finding that it would be easier to go to games and such. “Yes please!” Leah jumped with excitement, running towards the car as it locked and hopped in the front seat. “Hey, no fair! You got the front last time!” Lucy argued, frowning and huffing as she sat in the back. You chuckled and walked over, buckling her in and kissing her forehead. “I’ll let you sit in the front later, babygirl.”

You got into the driver’s seat, now having one happy girlfriend and a pouting one. “You didn’t buckle me in.” Leah said with a sad voice. “Girls who sit in the front without asking don’t get buckled in!” Lucy quipped, grinning from ear to ear. Leah’s bottom lip quivered, you leaned over and kissed her cheek before reaching around her and buckling her up. You started the car, now with two happy girlfriends again; you made your way to your first destination. Leah and Lucy still fought over the AUX cord, with a valuable lesson about sharing, they finally had a good playlist going. “Where are we going babe?” Lucy asked, looking around at all the pretty buildings here in New Zealand. Having lived here for a while when you were in college, you knew the area pretty well. Leah had fallen asleep, music turned down now. “It’s a surprise, angel.” You told her, reaching back to hold her hand for a while as you came closer to your destination.  

The Auckland Zoo was something that the girls had been buzzing about for weeks when they were called up for the World Cup. (let us dream that Lee was called eh?) You parked and got out, Lucy carefully waking Leah sweetly. It made you smile, snapping a quick picture of the two of them together. It made your heart swell seeing them together, these two girls becoming the centre of your world over the years you’ve been together. Leah held a tough exterior, the captain’s armband for team and country a huge responsibility that she took very seriously. She enjoyed that when she was with you, she could let herself go and that she could be the unapologetic girl she was. Lucy was also someone who held herself to high standards and while long distance with her was hard, she wouldn’t want anyone but Leah and you by her side.

Leah was wide awake by the time you went in and got tickets, holding hands with Lucy as she poked her head in the gift shop. “We’ll get you both something when you leave okay? Can I trust my girls to be on their best behaviors?” They both nodded, already running in and pointing at all the animals. Nothing made you happier than seeing them enjoy themselves be normal people with no responsibilities on their shoulders; you were more than willing to carry it for them if it meant that you got to see their big smiles and hear their cute giggles.

“Y/N, look at the kangaroo!” “Luce, the Koala is so soft!” “Woah, can we feed it?” Leah clearly had a better time than Lucy did, the girl quiet and enjoyed the whole trip holding your hand and walking slowly with you while Leah bounced off the walls; the nap clearly having given her superpowers. While she looked at the birds, you checked in on Lucy. “Are you okay, babygirl? What’s wrong?” Her eyes look a little glossy and she’s biting her lip. You cup her cheek and give her a knowing kiss. She’s teetering on slipping and it won’t be long till she does. “Are we slipping, my love? Is that it?” She nods, leaning into you. “I can hold out for a little while, baby.” She tells you quietly after a while, Leah forgetting the birds and instead focused on Lucy.

You decide to leave before she slips even further, making a quick pit stop at the gift shop for a Koala for Leah and a Kangaroo for Lucy. They insist you get a Lion for yourself, which you do, and you head back to their hotel. Lucy, as promised is in the front seat, and Leah is in backseat singing along to the radio. You reach back for her hand like you did with Lucy earlier, making her smile even wider than you thought possible.

Lucy had fully slipped by the time you had gotten back to the hotel, thankfully being able to carry her into the room get her comfortable. You texted Alessia and told her that the three of you would be missing dinner, telling her that Lucy had slipped and that Leah was not far behind. The whole team knew, always keeping an eye on the two of them when they could, having your number on speed dial for when they needed you. She was feeling a much littler than usual, already whining and wanting uppies. You had thankfully packed their essentials, grabbing Lucy’s pajamas and bubble bath toys and setting them in the bathroom. Leah helped for a minute before she found her new koala Jeff way more interesting. You were just about to grab Lucy and give her a bath when you heard a wail. Your head shot up and Lucy was startled, both of you looking at a now sobbing Leah. She had slipped too. You sort of knew she would, she had texted you this morning that she had felt the urge and had hoped that when you got here you would help.    

“Leah, what’s wrong my love?” You cooed, picking her up into your arms. You sat beside Lucy, who was busy sucking her thumb. “mama ‘nore me.” Leah said, hiccupping through her words. “I’m sorry babe I didn’t mean to. Lucy needed me more than you baby, I thought you were alright by yourself and I’m sorry. Can my sweet girl forgive me with a kiss?” you ask her softly, she hides her face in your chest and nods, head lifting to give you a wet kiss. “Thank you my darling. Now, how about we get you both showered and in bed hm? We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”  

Once bathed and dressed in warm clothing (both were in your hoodies, insisting that their pajamas just weren’t the same), you tucked them in and left them to watch some tv while you sorted yourself out. Taking a shower and completing your nightly routine in record time, you climbed into bed wearing one of Lucy’s training shirts and laid in the middle of the big bed they were sharing for the tournament. They immediately cuddled into your sides, Leah’s eyes drooping already and Lucy’s focused on Bluey playing on the telly. You kissed their foreheads and rubbed their backs as they slowly fell asleep. Leah pressed a kiss to the underside of your jaw and Lucy whispered “tank you mama,” before drifting off to sleep with the two girls whom she felt the safest with.

Morning came and the girls were back to their big selves. Leah felt much more relaxed and Lucy’s head was clearer. You joined them for team breakfast, joining in in a little prank that Georgia had orchestrated to get Lotte. Lotte sat there in disbelief that you would turn on her that way, laughing so hard you were crying and clutching your stomach. She only punched you playfully (that’s a lie, it was hard) and walked away laughing, mumbling something about being betrayed by her own family.

#woso imagine #woso soccer #arsenal wfc x reader #barca femeni #lionesses #leahwilliamson x reader #leah williamson imagine #leah williamson #lucy bronze #lucy bronze x reader #lucy bronze imagine

[carolmunson]

baby, as if (the flashbacks)

the flashbacks: part one. baby as if: masterlist (read with caution.) i looked at that poll and i said 'absolutley not, you'll take what i give you.' jk, but i realized it'll just be easier for me if i take this a few chunks at a time, so i give you the beginning of 'the flashbacks'. here, you'll see eight, six, and five and a half years ago. a little entry way into how reader and (not so) f!boy eddie met and started getting involved. tw: 18+, oral (f recieving), not much in terms of tws for this entry, discussions of drugs and drug dealing -- otherwise pretty fluffy. our timeframe setting starts out in 2007-ish. (take all actual year timelines with a grain of salt, i just like incorporating the early aughts into shit.) but here we go, i give you the beginning of baby as if: the flashbacks.

8 Years Ago You didn't really know each other when he started working at the shop. Your dad had mentioned 'my daughter' in passing, but you didn't go to Hawkins High or middle, you went to the highschool in the next town over using your aunts address because it was a better school. Your parents didn't want you to end up stuck like them, but you'd already beaten them by not getting pregnant at nineteen. He knew you went to college in Fort Wayne to study English -- he thought that was stupid since you spoke English already. Why would you have to spend all that money to study it? That didn't make sense to him.

He did know your little brother, Beau, often found small and sugar high at the end of a long day at kindergarten being dropped at the shop by your mom so she could take more clients at night in the salon. Eddie would take the morning shift on cars and then the afternoon shift as a baby sitter until the shop closed at 5:30. He'd take that time to teach him how to read -- but only the best books. He started with the Hobbit and went from there.

On one particular hot summer night, your mom didn't come by to drop off your brother which made sense since it was the summertime -- but he still heard the pitter patter of his light up sneakers against the concrete floor.

"Beau, don't run please!"

He hadn't heard that voice before, it wasn't nearly as nicotine soaked as your mom's or your aunt's. Eddie feels the slam of a tiny skull against his mid thigh and looks down to see Beau looking up at him with his big baby eyes.

"Hi," Beau says -- breathless in the way little kids are when they run or take a big gulp of water. He reaches up at him with his arms over his head, "I didn't wanna go home yet so I asked sissy if she could take me here after camp."

"Sissy?" Eddie asks with a quirk of his brow, hoisting him up onto his hip, "You're gettin' big dude, I don't know if I can keep pickin' you up."

"My sissy," he says, pointing over to the office your dad normally spent the afternoons in, but there you were right outside of it. Summer sun soaked, shorts tight over your thighs, run down sneakers and an old weathered sweatshirt completed your look. Eddie gulped at the sight of you but you were too preoccupied with your phone to pay attention.

"Mumma, can you tell Eddie about the dragon I saw at the zoo?" Beau asked, shimmying down Eddie's body to get back down on the floor to run to you.

"Okay kid, is she your sister or is she your mom?" Eddie asked, trying to hide confusion and surprised. You look up at him with a gaze that immediately makes him feel stupid, but intruiged.

"Ew, no, I'm definitely his sister," you answer while snapping your phone closed, hand falling onto Beau's head, "Can you guess which one of us was the mistake?"

Your playful grin makes him laugh, "Sorry, he called you mom so -- I just didn't know."

"Don't worry -- it's sorta like when you accidentally call your teacher 'mom' when you're a kid. He just gets confused," you shrug and introduce yourself before asking, "What's your name?"

"I'm Eddie. I uh --"

"Oh! You watch Beau when he's out of school!" you interrupt, "He talks about you all the time."

"You're not telling him about the dragon, sissy," Beau whines and squirms, "I seen a dragon today."

"You saw a dragon today, B," Eddie corrects, "I saw, not I seen."

"Still seen one," Beau crosses and uncrosses his arms with a dramatic eye roll, already bored with the conversation enough to scurry over to another co-worker.

"He saw a bearded dragon lizard at the zoo today," you smile.

"I swear he's five going on fifteen with all that attitude," Eddie says with an exasperated sigh through puffed out cheeks, "Gives me a run for my money..."

You laugh a little out of your nose and flip your phone open, he's stunned at how fast you text. Your thumbs flying over the keyboard of your Sidekick iD. All he had was some Nokia burner from Rick and an iPod he stole at the gym.

"Uh, your dad's in there, by the way. Like, you can just go in," he says. His coverall feels too hot and scratchy, noticibly concious of how much is pools around his sinewy frame. He doesn't look like a man the way the other guys who work here do, he doesn't really feel like one either. Too soft. Too gentle. Even when he was lugging around tires and getting into fights at The Hideout.

"He's on the phone," you scrunch your nose while you point at the door, keys in your hand jingling. He thinks about what you'd do if he reached forward and tapped his finger on it. If he traced down the bridge gently. You look so touchable.

"How come I've never seen you around before? I've been here like, almost a year," he says, running the rag that was over his shoulder through his hands to occupy himself.

"I'm not around a lot, normally in Fort Wayne 'cause I go to school there. I stay with a friend and work at the school over the summer to make some money," you explain, "Trying to save up for my own place."

"Oh, cool," he nods, swallowing the disappointment in his tone. Of course you don't want to stick around this shit hole town. You have better things to do. You're literally in college.

"What's your SN? I'll add you to my buddy list and tell you all the weird shit Beau says this weekend," you giggle.

"What's an SN?" Eddie asks, throat running dry. Is this some kind of joke? Are you trying to make fun of him or something? "SN? Your screen name?" you reply, cocking your head when he still doesn't know what you mean, "Like your AIM screen name?"

"Oh!" he says, embarrassment continuing to creep up on him, "Like, on the computer? We um -- I don't have one at home so I never really signed up for it."

"Oh," you say softly, nodding, "Um, well like, what's your number then? Gotta keep up with Beau's replacement older sibling."

He internally gags when you refer to him as your replacement. Did you already put him in that catergory? The friendzone? That's what they called it at the comic book store when they had their D&D nights and just talked about girls.

"Here," you say, handing the phone out to him with the 'New Contact' page up. He takes it, albiet shakily, unsure if Rick would want him to be giving out his number to just anyone -- but you're so cute and girls never ask for his number. Not even after they hook up with him in his van outside of the bar. Rick would understand.

"Thanks, it's saved under Eddie M," he replies sheepishly, "In case you know any other Eddies."

"I don't," you smile, "But I'll keep the M."

The door to the office opens and your dad appears, tired and disheveled but glad to see you.

"Hey kid, where's the gremlin?" he asks you gruffly.

"I don't know, probably doing something illegal," you shrug, but the pitter patter of light up sneakers on concrete starts up again across the garage.

"Let's go, buddy," he says while Beau leaps up into his arms.

"That was a big jump dude. What, are you half spider monkey or something?" Eddie teases.

"We saw them at the zoo, today!" he calls out, before turning to his dad, "And I also saw a dragon."

"That's very cool, you'll have to draw me a picture when we get home," he says with a nod before putting his attention on Eddie.

"I'm gonna head out, but are you good to lock up here with Mark?"

"Yeah, for sure," Eddie nods. A smile spreads across his lips, maybe you'll think he's important or something, "It was um...it was nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too," you say softly while you head toward the door with your dad. He tries not to look, but there's something about the way your cut off shorts hug your ass that has heat rushing to his cheeks.

You turn back as the door is about to close behind you and grin, "I was the mistake, by the way. I'll shoot you a text after nine!"

You do text him after nine.

'heyyy. how r u? :)'

No one ever really asks.

Six Years Ago

He didn't mean to fall for you, but how could he not? Your weekly to bi-weekly phone calls during your senior year of college were all he looked forward to. Outside of pay day and parties at Rick's. And D&D campaigns. And shows at The Hideout. You were up there, you were top ten. He swore it. 

He knew when you came home for winter break last year, helping your parents bring Beau to swimming lessons and indoor soccer. It started with small, yearning, glances when your daddy would invite him home for dinner, or you'd drop off lunch for the guys. Soft little flicks of brown eyes from under envious full lashes to watch you watching him, leaning over his work bench to ask him a question for your dad. Watching you live your life in your family’s small house while he ate brisket and showed Beau how to do shading in his coloring books. He nearly died when you grabbed his hand in the kitchen, manicured nails dancing over the new burnished silver jewelry on his fingers and asked, ‘Are these new rings? Where’d you get them?’ 

He'd survey you while you helped your brother with his math homework when your mom was busy with her fourth haircut that night -- your aunt who wouldn't pay her and your dad too burnt out to do anything but drink in front of the TV in his recliner. 

"Oh, no, that's not right," Eddie pipes up gently. You looked up at the sound of his words, sitting across the kitchen table while you stood over your brother's shoulder. 

Eddie blushes, scrunching into his shoulders, "Sorry, sorry, it's just, you're a little off -- when you're converting ounces to pounds you--" 

"I don't need you to teach him about grams, ounces, and pounds, Munson," you say softly, a little giggle escaping your chest. He flushes deeper than before, "I think he's a little young for that." Everyone knew what Eddie did on the side, it didn’t take much to find out what he always had hidden away in his beat up backpack. Your daddy said that it taught him good entrepreneurial skills and as long as he wasn’t getting into trouble or selling to kids, he was fine to work at the shop until the cops came knocking – and they never did. 

"Sorry, I just -- Just because it says 5 doesn't mean it's a half pound. 5 ounces isn't a half pound, it's like a 'gotcha' question," he explains. Your brother's eyes are glued to Eddie, his cool rings and long hair, his leather jacket, the soft stubble on his chin. Eddie was the coolest guy your brother had ever met, so if it meant he had to learn weight conversion from a drug dealer, then so be it. He'd listen to him before he’d listen to you. 

"How many ounces are in a pound, bud?" he asks. 

"Sixteen," your brother replies. 

"What's half of sixteen?" 

"Eight." 

"You're so sharp, dude," Ed encourages, "You should skip second grade, for real."

"So even though it says point five, it's actually eight ounces? Not five ounces?" your brother asks, pencil tracing over the question on his work sheet. 

"Exactly," Eddie grins, "See, you get it." 

He meets your eyes for your approval and when you nod, running a hand over your little brother's head comfortingly, he has to hide the giddiness on his face in his hands. 

"How come Eddie's good at math and you're not?" your brother asks. You laugh, Eddie's snort comes out from behind his hands, dancing through his silver rings. 

"I haven't taken a math class in a while, Eddie does math every day," you say, like a kindergarten teacher trying to explain bomb drills. 

"How come?" 

"Oh, um," you look at Eddie, his flushed cheeks and boyish smile, "He's just -- Eddie's really smart."

You stayed out in Fort Wayne for six months after graduation until your mom got let go at the salon. 'Making room for new talent', they'd said. She'd developed joint pain, recurring carpal tunnel -- she couldn't do as much as she used to. So, like every good first born, you moved back home to help out -- taking whatever job you could find. At first it felt bad to be back in your childhood bedroom, forced back into the mundanity of the world around you. The embarrassment of running into people you knew at the mall or getting gas. But at least one thing was fine, you got to see Eddie -- and he was kind of exciting. Way more exciting than your job at the diner you picked up back in May. It worked out fine, you guess. You'd have mornings off some days to take Beau to school and to soccer, or baseball, or whatever sport he was into that season. Your mom would do hair in the kitchen for the older ladies -- roller sets, perms, colors. She could take her time with them, they had no rush. Then you'd leave for the diner when Beau came home and your mama would take more clients in the evening. Your daddy would be home at five thirty to take on the heat. 

Things were easier on your parents when Eddie started coming around to keep Beau occupied. The second grader had a lot of energy, even after sports practice or game days. Eddie's personality matched his in intensity -- always finding new ways to keep him engaged in his homework, in his reading, in the way he navigated the world. Beau was at a fourth grade reading level by the end of the school year and whipping through math like he was born to know it. Your daddy started taking Eddie to boxing matches and monster truck shows with Beau. Your daddy started to forget you were there, too. 

Except when Eddie’s big brown eyes started to linger a little too long at you one night when you were at work.

“Munson, I’m old. I’m not stupid,” your dad’s voice grumbles like a bad engine when he talks, “You wanna ask my daughter on a date, don’t you?” 

Eddie sputters into his orange soda, smattering it onto Beau who throws into a fit of giggles. 

“Uh – what?” he gasps, “Sir, I – excuse me?” 

“I see how you’ve been lookin’ at her since you saw her two summers ago,” he shakes his head, coughing a cigarette cough into his fist, “You’ve got the most love sick eyes I’ve ever seen.” 

Eddie can’t help the blush that grows in his cheeks, “Sir, I dunno about that.”  “Everyone knows you have a huge crush on sissy, Ed,” Beau says matter of factly, taking a big gulp of his chocolate milk. Ed reaches for the cup as he goes for a second gulp and eases it out of his hands. “Slow down, kid,” he huffs, “And gross, dude. Girls have cooties.” 

“Sissy has her cooties shot,” Beau shrugged, “She told me when I said there’s no way you liked her, ‘cause girls have cooties.” “Did sissy ask if I told you I liked her?” Eddie asks with a smile. Beau smirks and giggles, tiny teeth shining back at his dad – he’s a troublemaker but he’s no good at keeping secrets. Your dad smirks into his coffee mug, too.

“Did she ask you if I liked her?” Eddie’s heart pounds in his chest when your dad nods at his question. 

“Did um – did she say if she liked me?” he stammers out. He pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth to squeeze out any remaining moisture as he saw you walk out of the kitchen to one of your tables. Two regulars, construction guys -- Bryan and Charlie, always come in at the same time and always tip big cause they think you're pretty. Eddie hates that he hates when you talk about them -- you aren't his, it shouldn't make him so upset. He smiles to himself for a minute when you press a hand to your lower back, scrunching your face in pain. He can tell it’s because you always pop your hip to one side when you take an order. 

“She might’ve mentioned something,” your dad shrugs, “But I asked you a question, kid.” 

The sticky heat from outside flows in through the door and into his chest, “Am I allowed to ask her on a date?” 

“She’s twenny-two, she can do what she wants,” he laughs, “Just don’t have her coming home in a cop car and you got my blessing.” 

“I promise I won’t have her come home in a cop car,” he breathes out. His excitement outweighs his embarrassment when you come over to the table. To him, your diner dress fits you just right. To you and your dad, you wished it was a little looser. He swallows hard when you plop your hands on the linoleum and lean forward on your palms. Your manicured nails click on the plastic when you drum them a few times, the pen in your hand shines.

“Anything else I can get you boys?” you ask with a smile. 

“I think we’re heading out, pum’kin,” your dad’s jagged grin shines through his eyes while Beau crawls over Eddie to get out of the booth, “Gotta take this rugrat to the movies for his friend’s birthday party.” 

“But um,” your dad chuckles while he stands up, stretching a bit before adjusting his biker vest, “I think Ed’s gonna stick around. Said he had somethin’ to ask you.” 

Five and ½ Years Ago Money flows when he makes it. Your first date was to the movies, nervous hand holds on your knee – uncertain arm around your shoulder. He smelled like Suave body wash and cigarettes. Your second to some restaurant out of town, he stumbled over his drink order and yours but it made you giggle in a way that made him giggle too. He wore a ‘nice’ shirt that Wayne let him borrow but he shifted in it all night – rolling up the sleeves and opening up the collar. Some chicken scratch tattoos on his forearms. He kissed you in the van with warm full lips and smiled all the way home. But as the months went on and Rick started giving him bigger plays, bigger bricks to move – two years in the trenches had his seeing stacks he had only dreamed of before. You got to reap the benefits. A pair of earrings, nicer dinners, paying for your manicures every now and again. New tattoos on his arms, on his chest, littered in them – good ones too, he’d go out to Ohio for them. He’d work his shifts at the garage with your dad and then on some nights and weekends do his business. Your daddy still looked the other way, if the cops weren’t knocking then it didn’t matter. Eddie was making you happy, he was making everyone happy, so there wasn’t any reason for him to worry. You spent your shifts at the diner thinking about when he’d come pick you up. Thinking about when he’d come in during your opening shifts and flirt with you while he had a cup of coffee – sometimes in his coveralls, sometimes in his clothes from the night before. He smelled good, new colognes – he got a couple. You liked the one he wore on date nights and loved the one he wore during the day. Got some silver chains to match his rings – subtle upgrades. He’d started to fill out some – making more money, eating more, more muscle, more cash, more confidence – still yours. Still lovesick. ‘The most lovesick eyes I’ve ever seen.’  

His hair tickled your thighs while he had you splayed out on the mattress in Rick’s guest room, the ‘welcome to the weekend’ party still raging down stairs as the night begins to approach the early hours of the morning. Perks of living on the outskirts of town – no neighbors to call the cops to tell you to shut the fuck up. The thud of the music makes the walls vibrate, putting you in a steady trance in the dark. The joints you were passed earlier had made their claim, body languid and floaty — he could have you just how he wants you. 

“Fuck, you taste so good,” he whispers into the crease of your thigh while his hands push your knees apart further. His tongue is his best feature, and he knows it now. Easily his strongest muscle with the way it’s started to get him in and out of anything. Sweet charm turned as silver as his rings as he got more and more successful, more and more of Rick’s approval. His tongue lies flat in slow intentional drags between your legs, spit pooling out in its wake. He likes to take his time here to build you up, your soft ‘hm’s encouraging him to keep his pace.

“It’s nice like that, huh?” he asks gently, pressing a kiss to your clit, “Using my tongue on you?”

“Yeah,” you breathe out, eyes closed and sleepy. His head pokes up from between your legs when he notices your body reacting less and less to his mouth. Your sounds get progressively quieter, losing enthusiasm.

“Hey, you okay?” he asks, crawling up over you. 

“Mhm,” you respond, eyes still shut. 

“You fallin’ asleep on me?” he laughs, thumb coming up to run over the side of your head, “You little lightweight.” 

Your lips stretch into a smile, the weight of your high pressing you further into the mattress. Each time you take a breath you feel yourself falling further and further away, it’s almost scary until it's not – because he’s there. You feel the pad of his index finger run down the bridge of your nose and slide over your bottom lip. He quietly eases off the bed, grabbing your panties and jeans from the floor to put them back on with the finesse of a person who’s had to redress their passed out friends many times before. You’re almost out like a light when he drapes the throw blanket over your legs, adjusting it to slouch messily over your shoulders. You barely feel the kiss he leaves on your forehead. 

“I love you,” he whispers, before heading back down stairs for a drink. You wake up to the music still blaring downstairs, mouth dry and disoriented – realizing that what woke you up is the sound of the door opening. 

“Hey sleepy, didn’t mean to wake you,” Eddie whispers, wincing a bit as the music gets louder. He closes the door with his hip, clicking on the overhead light making you both squint, “Well, technically I did, but I didn’t mean to wake you up like this. I brought you some food, baby.” Heat rushes to your face at the name. Baby. No one had ever called you that before. Not other hookups or boyfriends - always ‘babe’, never ‘baby’. Always ‘babe’, never ‘angel’, never ‘sweetheart’, never ‘my girl’. Eddie called you every sweet name he could think of. “Thank you,” you smile, eyes falling on the ringed hand cradling a paper plate with two slices of pizza, dripping in grease. The other held a can of Pepsi that he watched your eyes fall on for a brief moment.

“They didn’t have Coke, m’sorry,” he scrunches his nose, leaning in to give you a kiss while he places the plate and can on the side table, clicking on the lamp. 

“That’s okay, this is fine,” you smile, he smiles back while clicking the big light back off. He crawls onto the bed next to you, the warmth of him enveloping you in his scent, his body heat, his essence. Things moved fast since your first date. You’d never felt loved like this, you’d never been kissed how he kissed you. It’s like he wrote the schematics for your body and kept them a secret until the day you let him touch you in the back of his van. The day you let him take you in your bedroom when your parents went to watch Beau’s baseball game. Even his stare made you flustered. Eddie would say the same about you. Gareth and Jeff would label it as lovedrunk, Rick said he was more addicted to being with you than he was to making him money. Sandra at the diner said he’s obsessed. Obsessed with you. It had a nice ring to it. 

“Thank you again,” you nod, cracking open the can of Pepsi that soothes your dry mouth instantly. 

“Anything for you,” he smiles while his hand reaches to yours, pressing a kiss to your knuckles.

“I heard what you said, by the way,” you smirk, “When you left the room.” 

His face somehow blanches and fumes red like sweet cherries at the same time, “You weren’t supposed to.” 

“Didn’t want me to know that you love me?” you tease, shoulder bumping him with a laugh. He doesn’t laugh back, he just looks at you with soft eyes – big and brown, begging. 

“Is that stupid?” he asks softly, disappointment weighing heavy on his tongue. 

“No! No! It’s not stupid,” you quickly assure, “No, I um –” You smile down into the can of Pepsi, manicured nails on your opposite hand drumming on the aluminum. “I love you, too,” you whisper, “I was nervous that maybe it was too soon. I didn’t like…I didn’t wanna scare you.” “Scared by my girl saying she loves me? Nah,” he shakes his head, teeth gleaming in a smile that hurts his cheeks, “That’s the best shit I’ve heard all year.” “Why don’t you eat first,” he starts huskily, taking your Pepsi can and placing it on the side table. The cologne on his skin had mixed pleasantly with tobacco, enveloping you in sandalwood, fruit, and smoke. His lips were plush as he pressed first against the corner of your mouth and then the other, holding his index finger in the center of yours. He nuzzled your nose gently before easing himself into a deep kiss, index finger tracing down your cheek. “As I was saying,” he starts again, a light giggle floating out of his chest and escaping pink cheeks, “Why don’t you eat first and then maybe we can go to mine and I’ll show you how much I love you.” “What about Wayne?” you ask, looking at his distorted face with your foreheads so close together. He steals a quick kiss from you again, another on your cheek. “Wayne’s staying close to the plant to do a morning shift, so he won’t be home until tomorrow night,” he grins, “We can play house all day tomorrow.” 

“You’re stupid,” you laugh, leaning back to take the pizza off the side table to take a bite. “What? You don’t wanna be my baby all day?” he gets on his knees on the mattress to lean into you, lips finding their way to your cheek and jaw. You squirm under his touch, a feather light gasp coming out of your mouth when he nips at the spot at the top of your neck. “What’s got you so flustered, hm?” he teases into your ear, his ringed hand trailing up your thigh. Your hand covers his and he stops his journey, pulling back a little. “Nothing bad, s’just – I really like it when you call me baby,” you hide your face with one hand, “I don’t think I’ve said that before. It’s just really nice.”  “Baby,” he pours out like warm syrup, it sounds so natural in his nicotine soaked voice. He pulls your hand away, smattering slow soft kisses across your cheeks. Mumbling between each one, “Baby, baby, baby.”

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #dark!eddie munson #dark!eddie munson x reader #eddie munson smut #eddie munson fan fiction #dark!eddie munson x you #modern!eddie #modern!eddie munsn #baby as if

[romanpaulov]

Today, June 6, Mia's five celebrate their first birthdays! Yep, these little fluffs turned 1 years old! Hooray!🎉

We all watched together how the grew up and became more and more manulish, learnt how to put paws on a tail, played snow balls, came through their first winter and really fluffgrew! Snezhinka (Снежинка) even became a social-media star and a mascot of New Year Capital of Russia!

All five fluffs - four brothers and their sister - are still living in Novosibirsk zoo. Guys still don't have names because the zoo has a plan to give them away to other zoos.

The most intriguing questions — who is their father? We still don't have a solid answer to this question, but you have to know that Mia has dates with three manuls that spring — Zelenogorsk (Зеленогорск), George (Жорик) and Earl (Эрл) 💞

Happy first birthday lovely fluffs! We wish you to be the most happiest manuls on Earth and live long!💫

1 and 2 — Snezhinka, 3, 4 and 5 — manul-boys.

#manul #pallas cat #cat #манул #manul cat #pallascat #furryfriends #furrycat #wildcats #wildanimals

[bovineblogger]

i cannot say anything abt this blog that others have not already said. it’s wonderful. the five out of five for every single cow. the way you type. the genuine excitement. it makes everything seem brighter and more fun. just a five out of five blog :-)

first cow to come to mind upon seeing this blog: cow from disco zoo for ios

youre the sweetest oh my gosh thank you so much!!!! waaaahhh im so glad people enjoy the blog..

disco zoo... my gosh... i remember sitting on the couch and playing disco zoo with my little sister when i was a kid!!! i love my sister so much n i seriously seriously treasure that time in my life... thank you disco zoo.

shes all grown up now and having a baby really soon, isnt that so wild???????? shes still like ten in my head...

... im actually really emotional rn ejtjgkektkdktkekenwnf five stars for the cow very good cow...

#sorry this isnt a proper review im. waaaah #disco zoo #animals #cow #cows #silly #video games

[diazsdimples]

Writing Patterns!

Rules: list the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!

Tagged by @exhuastedpigeon @wikiangela @cal-daisies-and-briars @rainbow-nerdss @tizniz @puppyboybuckley @spotsandsocks @thekristen999 @hippolotamus and @aroeddiediaz thank you loves!

Starting from most to least recent.

You've got me whipped (Explicit, 10.8k)

It had only been a matter of time, Eddie reflects, before Buck did something really stupid. He’s heard all about the days of Buck 1.0, where Buck was very much act first, think later, and Hen had given him a thorough retelling of how Buck had scaled a crane after Eddie had been shot, imminent sniper threat be damned, but this is the first time he’s seen Buck go completely, well, Buck, and put himself into an insane amount of danger.

In a drought I'll give you water (Explicit, 8.2k)

Eddie’s hanging out the washing when he notices it. Just for the record, it’s not like he regularly inspects Buck’s underwear, thank you very much, but he’d felt something tacky on the inside of the flimsy fabric when he’d been about to peg it up, and had investigated like any sane person would do.

Kilty Pleasures (Explicit, 8k)

When Eddie had suggested that he and Buck attend a Scottish festival he’d seen advertised, he hadn’t really expected Buck to take him up on the offer, much less turn up at home two days later with two kilts and a shit eating grin.

With you I'm home (Teen, 20.6k) - WIP

“Daddy.” “Hmmm, go t’ sleep, Aid.” “Daddy, up!” “Five more minutes.” “Up now, Daddy!”

Play me like a fiddle (Explicit, 34k) MY BELOVED MUSICIAN FIC

Eddie Diaz likes to think he is a strong man. Physically and mentally.

Buck's Baby (By Accident) (General, 119k)

Buck had just gotten off a long 24-hour shift and was finally relaxing on his couch, beer in hand and TV set to a station that showed crappy reality shows. The shift had been taxing, with the alarm going off all night for various medical calls and then a five-alarm fire that had taken a few hours to get under control. Bobby’s dinner had cheered him up a little and had gotten him through the drive home, but he’d been relieved to finally pull up in the parking lot of his apartment building. Buck had the next 3 days off and planned to spend those days doing as little as possible. He’d organised to meet Eddie and Christopher at the zoo the next day, but the meeting had been organised for late enough in the afternoon that he could sleep in. Hen was going on a brief holiday with Karen for their anniversary and Chimney had made it clear that he and Maddie were not to be disturbed as they were trying for a baby and apparently Maddie was in her fertile time. Buck screwed up his nose as he remembered how thrilled his brother-in-law had seemed at the idea of a weekend of sex with his sister. It was not something he needed to think of right now.

Fucking Finally (Finally Fucking) (Explicit, 3.9k)

The car ride to the hotel felt much longer than it was, mostly because Eddie was fighting the urge to shove his hands down Buck’s pants that second. It was clear Buck was fighting similar urges as he fidgeted in the passenger seat, glancing over at Eddie and biting his lip every so often. When they pulled into the parking lot, Eddie quickly grabbed an overnight back he’d stashed in the back seat.

Burning with Need (Explicit, 3.8k)

The hot July sun was beating down on Buck’s bare back as him and Eddie hiked through Franklin Canyon Park, enjoying one of the few days off that aligned for them. It was a weekday, so Christopher was at school and, being bored and childless, the two men had decided that a hike was exactly the right activity to pass the time. They’d driven through Beverly Hills to get to the bottom of the trails, wistfully staring at the lavish homes and comparing notes on what they’d buy for their family if they had that much money. Eddie, it seemed, went for the more understated homes, generally single story with a large backyard, whereas Buck was of the mind of the more rooms the better, picking out large sprawling mansions that Eddie claimed would be an absolute nightmare to clean.

In sickness and in health (General, 3.7k)

When Eddie woke up with a pounding headache and a nose full of snot, he knew he was fucked. He wasn’t generally one to get sick, something he put down to his immune system constantly getting small doses of exposure to viruses between his job and parenting an elementary-school aged child, but when he did fall ill, he fell hard. He blearily creaked open an eyelid, squinting as the morning light filled his room, and fumbled with his phone to switch off his alarm. Flopping against his pillows, Eddie let out a load groan which quickly transformed into a hacking cough. Deep down he knew there was no way he was going to manage to get to work that day but he pulled back the covers and pushed himself off the bed regardless. He barely got two steps before the room spun sickeningly and he had to grasp his dresser to keep himself upright. With a sigh, Eddie accepted defeat and dragged himself back to bed, pulling up Bobby’s number as he settled back against the pillows, wiping his nose with the back of his hand as he did so.

Your Hands on my Body (Explicit, 1.9k)

Buck stood under the cold blast of the shower in Eddie’s bathroom, willing his erection to subside. It was the first morning in 3 weeks of staying with his friend that he’d woken up with morning wood, all because of a dream he’d had about Eddie. Buck wasn’t usually one to have sexy dreams about his friends and this one had him unusually hot and bothered. He could feel his heartbeat pulsing in his groin as his erection jutted proudly out from his body. When he first got into the shower, Buck had had full intentions of drowning himself with cold water and willing his erection away, but it looked as though that wasn’t going to happen. It almost seemed that the more he tried to ignore it, the harder he got. He tried firmly to not think of Eddie but all he could see in his mind’s eye was Eddie in the ocean, water dripping from his torso, his swimming trucks delicately cradling his package in a way that made Buck’s mouth water.

My writing style has changed SO MUCH. I have 2 eras, the before Buck's Baby era and the after Buck's Baby era and I really learned how to 1. be more concise and 2. where the enter button on my keyboard was adkjhashkdj. Recently I've been going for short starting sentences it seems.

Tagging some mutuals if you want to do it!

@theotherbuckley @daffi-990 @watchyourbuck @disasterbuckdiaz @bucksbackwardcap @fortheloveofbuddie @jesuisici33 @steadfastsaturnsrings @wildlife4life @evanbegins @slightlyobsessedwitheverything @spagheddiediaz @kitteneddiediaz @elvensorceress @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @smilingbuckley @actuallyitsellie @epicbuddieficrecs @sunflowerdiaiz

#if it's not clear I hate everything I wrote before BB(BA) lmao #I'm in my smut era #musician fic was a turning point for me #writing patterns #james writes #buddie fic

[swiftieblyth]

Troublesome Twin

Part 4- Ideas

Warning list-

hunger games warning, abusive family, mother died in childbirth with the twins, Arachne, Coriolanus Snow, Dr. Gaul, violence, and murder.

I think that’s all, let me know if there’s more!

Word count- 1,062

Y/N held Coryo’s hand as they  walked into their chattering class, trying to ignore the glare from her sister, as they went to their seats.

“Your little excursion was in violation of about five different Academy rules, Mr. Snow, Miss. Crane.” Dean explained. “Chief amongst them, endangering a Capital student.”

“What? Who?” Coryo asked.

“Your little pet, Coryo,” Arachne let out.

“You, and Miss. Crane, Mr. Snow.” Dean called. “I’m moving for the Gamemakers to disqualify you both as mentors immediately.”

“You said we had to get out tributes to perform, not that we had to stay away,” Coryo retorted.

“I’ll add insubordination as well.”

“Holding her hand, Coryo,” Arachne cut in. “Introducing her to people, you make it look as if you and Y/N are one and the same as those animals. Although, Y/N might be.”

“Don’t,” Y/N whispered, holding Coryo back. 

“Coriolanus didn’t show those people anything they didn't already know.” Sejanus called.

“I don’t need your help, Sejanus.”

“That the tributes are human beings.” Y/N cut in. “Just like us. That’s why nobody wants to watch the games. It’s because people know deep down that winning a war 10 years ago doesn’t justify starving people’s children, taking away their freedoms, their rights.” Y/N was cut off with a laugh.

“Snow and Crane fell down in the cage…” Dr. Gaul taunted, walking in with a smile on her face. “It fell down in the cage but it landed…”

“On stage,” Coryo and Y/N let out at the same time.

“You’re both good at games. Maybe one day, you’ll both be a Gamemaker, like me.”

“If the Games continue at all.”

“Oh, they’ll continue. With performances like young Mr. Snow’s and Miss. Crane’s in the zoo. And I came here to ask your star mentors a question. “What are the Hunger Games for?”

“To punish the districts for their uprising, to commemorate the end of the war.” Coryo explained.

“To get revenge on the lives the capital lost,” Y/N cut in. 

“‘Commemorate the…’” Dr. Gaul started. “Dull. Dull. Dull. Punishment can take many different forms. Why not drop bombs, cancel food shipments, stage executions? Why Games?”

“Shouldn’t we be asking ourselves whether or not they’re right in the first place?” Sejanus cut in.

“You have a problem with my games?” Dr. Gaul asked.

“Some of those kids were two years old when the war ended. The oldest of them were only eight.”

“Sejanus?” Y/N warned in a whisper, glaring at him to stop.

“The Capital is supposed to be everyone’s government now,” Sejanus continued, ignoring Y/N. “It is supposed to protect all of us. I don’t see how making children fight each other to death is protecting anyone.”

“That sort of sympathy might interfere with your mentoring assignment.” Dr. Gaul stated.

“Perhaps the Capital students are ill-suited to be mentoring tributes.” the Dean cut in. “Perhaps the game's time has passed.”

“Dean Highbottom is wrong. My classmates too.” Coryo let out, making everyone look at him.

“Coryo?” Y/N whispered, clutching onto his hand. “What are you doing?”

“Trust me,” he whispered back, putting his free hand on hers. “Maybe Sejanus is onto something here. Maybe we should be viewing those tributes as human beings. I mean, you saw those kids in the zoo, they just… they just wanted to know Lucy Gray. If we need people to watch, we should be letting them get closer to the tributes before the Games.”

“To make the stakes personal.” Y/N chimed in, understanding where her boyfriend is coming from. “Who will watch the games if they care what happens to the tributes?”

“Everyone,” Coryo answered. “If they thought the tribute they cared about had a chance at winning. People need someone to root for.”

“And someone to root against.” Y/N finished. “We need them to invest.”

“And if we bend a few Capital laws,” Coryo cut back in. “We could even have them place bets. Look I, we know that Lucy Gray may not win in the arena, but if we give her a chance, I would bet the Plinth Prize that she can win people’s attention.”

“I’d like you two to write a proposal of these thoughts tonight, Mr. Snow, Miss. Crane.” Dr. Gaul smiled.

“Wait!” Clemmie called, standing up. “You mean you might actually use these ideas?”

“If it’ll help the ratings, why not?”

“Coriolanus and I are class partners, Dr. Gaul.” Clemmie stated. “We do all of our assignments together.”

“It’ll be an interesting test.” Dr. Gaul laughed.

Y/N and Coryo got their lunch, and went to sit. They found a table with three seats and sat on the side with two. Y/N started to eat when she noticed that Coryo was wrapping his up.

“Coryo,” Y/N let out. “Let me be the one to give them my food. Please.”

“Darling, you need to eat. Especially since you didn’t eat anything last night or this morning.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Love, you and I both know that’s not true. You need to eat, don’t think I didn’t notice you leaning on me more for support on the way here, or how pale your face is. Love, I’m not going to let you skip three meals in a row.”

“But Coryo-“

“No, let me do this, love, you eat.”

Y/N went to protest but was stopped by someone walking to the seat across from them.

“You trying to fatten that poor girl up so you can finally  start taking bets?” Sejanus asked, sitting down.

“You think they’ll give those kids a scrap if we don’t give them a reason to?” Coryo asked, while Y/N rested her head on his shoulder, taking small little nibbles at her food. “How do you think tribute will have a chance if he can’t eat?”

“He was my classmate. Back in 2.” Sejanus started. 

“It’s not your fault it’s him,” Y/N breathed.

“See, I know. I’m so blameless, I’m choking on it. My father bought him for me, you know, at the Reaping, just so he could show me that I could never go back to 2. But being Capital is gonna kill me.”

“So do something about it,” Coryo let out, wrapping an arm around Y/N.

“Quite the rebel.”

“Oh yeah. I’m bad news.” Coryo let out.

#tom blyth fluff #tom blyth fanfiction #tom blyth imagine #tom blyth x reader #tom blyth x you #tom blyth #tom blyth x fem!reader #corio snow #coriolanus fanfiction #coriolanus imagine #coriolanus snow fanfic #coriolanus snow #coriolanus snow fanfiction #coriolanus snow fluff #coriolanus snow imagine #coriolanus snow x reader #coriolanus snow x wife #coriolanus snow x you #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus x you #corionalus snow #coryo #coryo snow #coryo x reader #young coriolanus snow #president snow #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #tbosas #tbosas fanfiction #coryolanus snow

[deathmetalunicorn1]

Headcanons for if Jack, Heracles, Hlokk, Buddha, and the reader are abducted by aliens and made to perform and do tricks and kept in enclosures similar to episode 21 of Buzz lightyear of starcommand “It’s a zoo out there” the difference is that the aliens also want to study the mating process,habits,rituals, whatever you call it between the ror boys and reader. They also try to get the ror boys to mate with reader to make more humans for the zoo.

https://youtu.be/sG1PVgHtkvQ

-It had happened so fast, you were enjoying sweets with your friends, Jack, Hlokk, Buddha, and Hercules, the next thing you knew, you were waking up in an unknown location, aliens looking down into the enclosure, like you were the animal in a zoo.

-You were the first one awake and you scrambled over to Buddha, shaking him awake, tears in your eyes as you were rather freaked out.

-Soon everyone was awake, and Hercules tried to speak up to the aliens, “Where are we?” they just seemed to squeal and cheer, hearing him communicate with them.

-Hlokk was pouting, hugging you, resting her head on your breasts, “We’re not animals!” Jack was unsure of what to make of the situation, able to assume that you were all in a zoo, an alien zoo.

-You were all wearing different clothes, similar to short chitons, Hercules in dark blue, Jack in dark green, Buddha in dark red, Hlokk in pale pink and you in a pale purple.

-Your garments were nothing new for Hercules, as he was used to this type of clothing, but for the rest of you, it was a little embarrassing to be showing so much skin, mainly for Jack, who felt it improper as a gentleman, while Hlokk was lamenting that it was too plain, and you were feeling a little shy, as your felt a bit shorter than the men, showing more of your legs and the sides of your chest.

-When the aliens left for the day, an intercom spoke to the five of you, telling you all that you needed to be livelier for the crowds, as some were complaining you all were a bit boring.

-The men were quick to defend themselves, claiming that you all weren’t animals and demanded to be released and taken back to Valhalla.

-Hlokk couldn’t even call her sisters to tell them where she was, with hopes of being rescued.

-You plotted, when you were commanded to be asleep by whoever it was that kidnapped you, on how to escape, Jack and Buddha were a bit more realistic, as you needed to find out where you were first, which did make sense.

-You spent a week there, taking turns being in the spotlight, doing what your captors wanting, you and Hlokk were the main ones, playing with each other, splashing in the shallow lake, while the men took turns exploring the perimeter of the enclosure, looking for any way out.

-Your captors were unaware of the plotting going on with the five of you, but you were unaware they were plotting themselves.

-When the crowds left, the intercom came on and spoke, “We are curious about how your kind reproduces. We’ve looked at research material we have gathered, and we want to study this.”

-Bright red faces all around as you and Hlokk sputtered with embarrassment before Hercules and Buddha put themselves in front of you two and Jack appeared behind you, ready to defend you both.

-The voice came back on, “We have no interest in studying Pink, as she isn’t sexually mature, we only want Violet.” Those were your code names, based on the color of chiton.

-Hercules glared darkly, punching his fists together, “You’re not taking Y/N!” the voice was silent for a moment before a thick red smoke appeared and Jack told you and Hlokk to run, as it was a knockout gas, but without avail.

-You woke up in a similar enclosure, a small pond, a large tree in the center, grass, and an area with blankets and pillows, just like the previous one, but you were alone.

-You ran around, frantic, trying to find a way out, not liking that you were alone as you were quickly in tears, collapsing to your knees and holding the sides of your head, crying loudly and the voice came overhead, “Violet please calm down, you are safe!” you glared hard up at the speaker but didn’t respond, as that gave you an idea.

-Elsewhere, the others all woke up in the original enclosure, minus you and they were all quickly in an uproar as well.

-Their researchers were panicking, they knew that you all were a social pack, but they never imagined that removing one of them would cause such a reaction.

-There were trying to decide which of the males to bring over to the breeding enclosure to be with you, but with this new revelation they needed to make the decision quickly.

-The intercom then spoke to your friends, “Only Red, approach the wall, we will take you to Violet.” The others were quick to argue, demanding to know if you were okay, but Buddha did as he was told and went over to the wall where a doorway opened, revealing the other enclosure, where you were, collapsed on the pillows, sobbing into them.

-He ran for you and the doors closed behind him, “Y/N!” you turned, gasping in shock to see Buddha and he slid to his knees as you sat up, the two of you embracing tightly as he was quick to try to calm you down.

-He hunched over your body, hugging you close as you sniffled, trying to calm down before you whispered, “I have an idea, I don’t know if it will work, but we need to try.”

-The researchers monitored you closely as Buddha piled the blankets up into like a nest, picking you up and putting you there, still weeping, curling up as if you were in pain.

-Buddha ‘patrolled’ the enclosure, looking for ‘threats’ which the researchers liked, but after you refused to eat, almost like you were sick, ignoring Buddha’s attempts to feed you, they worried more and more about your health as you seemed to be declining.

-Jack was able to listen to Buddha through the wall, telling them all of your plan, which they didn’t like, but it was a chance, and agreed to go along with it.

-You were dizzy and so hungry by the third day of no food, Buddha was actually worried for you, but if this worked, you would all be free, unaware of a looming rescue plan already underway.

-The researchers were pressured into doing something after guests of the zoo complained that you looked sick, demanding to know why they weren’t doing anything, causing a commotion that you hadn’t planned on.

-Buddha went back to the other enclosure where he was plowed down by Hlokk who demanded to know how you were and she was quickly in tears, her part of the plan, getting upset that you were not doing good.

-You played your part, getting taken back into a research area, like a doctor’s office, wrapped in a large blanket and you felt monitors being places at random places, monitoring you as the scientists and researchers were trying to figure out what had happened and why you weren’t eating.

-You weren’t sedated, their first mistake, as they thought you were too weak to do anything, and you were mostly still, keeping quiet, observing everything carefully, looking like you were dazed.

-Some scientists suggested force feeding you, which you didn’t like the idea of, but some came to your rescue, claiming it could do more damage than it was worth.

-A blaring alarm sounded through the zoo, making you flinch in fear, and everyone began to panic as a raid began as the warriors and gods of Valhalla came to the rescue.

-Many aliens were freaking out and panicking, as they hadn’t realized you were so advanced and so protective of your own.

-Your friends were rescued first and as the researchers left you in the lab, you made your own escape, leaping off the table and removing the monitors before you ran, trying to get to someone you knew.

-When you made it to the main area, where everyone was, heading back to the ship, you were on an upper deck, and you quickly moved to find a way out.

-You heard the scientists yell out your name and you turned, eyes going wide before you looked back down off the upper deck, “Loki!!”

-The god in question whirled around, hearing you and he instantly paled as he flew up, catching you as you had leapt from the deck, shocking everyone.

-Loki caught you easily and you held him tightly as he flew back to the ship and you all were quickly heading off, heading home, after Zeus gave the zoo a warning to not take anyone else from your world.

-Hlokk was sobbing into your arms as you held her, Hercules holding the both of you, as you ate, finally getting some food.

-You each gave a statement on what had happened to you in the zoo. Loki thought it was hysterical that they wanted you to show how humans mated, until he learned it was to be viewed publicly, which was rather embarrassing.

-Brunnhilde searched for the five of you after a while, after you all ate, and she couldn’t help but smile, seeing the five of your sleeping in a large bed together, curled up around each other, like you have been doing.

-You all were closer than ever now.

#record of ragnarok #ror x reader #ror jack the ripper #ror buddha #ror heracles #ror hlokk

[funishment-time]

Love these headcannons I want five more

Question 17

YAY

17. List five headcanons for your favorite characters!

Peko loves furries and fursuits, and after a bit of bashfulness is completely Unashamed of this. she is the type of person who is not really a Furry herself but a big fan and adjacent to the fandom. she would happily accompany any fursuiting friend to a convention to spot them (in exchange for getting to give them headpats) but perhaps would be a little Overzealous in ensuring no one tries to mess with them while they're suiting

Junko actually loves animals. i know this is a very "petting the dog" kind of thing and i'm very much against Defanging DR characters, but also i don't think we ever see her or her peeps hurt a real animal. in-universe, no one notices until years later that while she destroyed Swaths of humanity, she left critters untouched, and rogue Monokuma bots still seem to be feeding zoo creatures, strays, and orphaned pets. further, Gundham was actually one of her Favorite remnants, if she could be said to feel any emotion like that; it's why his execution is more honorable than many others

additionally, Junko had set-ups for all the Executions we don't see as listed in extra DR materials like the artbooks. this does in fact mean that the Future Foundation had to go in and save a bunch of sharks meant for Hina from the Hope's Peak basement. said sharks are in pretty good condition, actually. Junko loved those fucking sharks

Kyoko and Hina take care of Celestia's pet cat post-DR3. he is exactly like Celeste in every way, down to laziness and demands of gyoza, and even requires a Place at the table during Survivor Family Games of Yahtzee. notably, however, he doesn't play; he paws at players when they're about to make a shitty move. Hina wonders if perhaps he taught Celestia all she knows

in any nice non-despair AU, Kotoko's best (older) friend becomes Sakura, who makes good on her Summer Camp promise to protect her in various ways. Sakura may hate the title ogre but she allows Kotoko to lovingly call her Monster Girl or Big Sis Monster, and even comes to enjoy it

BONUS: two misc Engineering Trio headcanons. one, Miu actually is not rude to Chihiro because that makes him cry and she gets uncomfortable when her words actually have An Effect. she is gruff and exasperated but never Rude. two, Kazuichi sees Miu as something like a Disney Channel older sister, mean in the most Immature Ways but ultimately family, and this is their relationship for all of time.

#danganronpa #sakura ogami #kotoko utsugi #chihiro fujisaki #miu iruma #kazuichi soda #kyoko kirigiri #celestia ludenberg #peko pekoyama #junko enoshima #aoi asahina

[munson-blurbs]

dear slim, I wrote you but you still ain’t callin,

Req:

reader is the oldest of many siblings and is in college, eventually drops out of college to help more. readers single parent (can be mom or dad) relies heavily on reader to do things for the younger siblings, pick them up for school, make supper etc. any entertainment for the kids is purely on the readers dime but it all goes unnoticed. She finally decides to do something for herself and is scrutinized by her parent for not being there. Eddie comforts her during all of this and helps in anyway he can. Telling her she is worth more than just being a rely on for her parent.

Stan.

@trashmouth-richie 🫥💕

Here it is, bb <3 I hope you like it!

Warnings: absent parent, some language

WC: 1.6k

Thank you to @firefly-graphics for the phoenix dividers!

--

You didn't realize that the day could already feel long at 7:30 AM until you had to raise your younger siblings.

"Let's go! Up and at 'em!" You try to sound chipper as you rouse your 10-year-old sister and 8-year-old brother. "Time for school, you little gremlins!"

Annie squints at you, grimacing at your wake-up call. "Five more minutes," she grumbles, pulling the covers to her chin.

"You said that five minutes ago," you remind her, exasperated. "C'mon, I can't be late for work again or Keith is gonna fire me."

Your sister begrudgingly obeys, and you breathe a sigh of relief before battling the demon that is your little brother. "Wake up, Nicky," you call out, only to be met by a pillow chucked at your head. It narrowly misses your glasses, and you march over to him angrily.

"Get. Up," you hiss, wrenching the blankets off of the pajama-clad boy, "or I will loudly announce to your class that you're late because you wet the bed." The threat works, with Nicky dressed and downstairs in a flash.

Your mom is in the kitchen, talking to Nicky while running around to gather her wallet and keys.

"Ask your sister to make you pancakes," she's saying absently. "I'm sure she won't mind."

You clear your throat. "Actually, today's menu includes cereal or...cereal," you report. There's no time for anything beyond that, anyway.

"But I...want...pancakes!" Nicky cries, stomping his feet on the tile floor.

Your mom rolls her eyes as Annie strolls in. "Oh, and don't forget to pick them up from school today."

"Got it," you reply tersely, pouring some Cheerios into a bowl despite Nicky's wailing protests. She's out the door before you can say anything else.

After school drop-off, which somehow happens on time, you drive yourself to work. Pulling on your ugly Family Video vest, you make your way into the store.

Wednesdays are the worst because you're stuck with Keith for the day. Steve has off today, and Robin doesn't come in until you leave, which means your shift will drag.

"Morning," you mutter. Keith unsurprisingly doesn't even respond. He barely says a word to you until an hour into the day.

"Oh, I need you to cover the first half of Robin's shift," he tells you casually. "She called in sick and Steve can't make it in until 4."

You shake your head. "Sorry, Keith," you say, though you're not the least bit apologetic. "I pick up my siblings from school, remember?"

Your manager gives a little laugh. "Okay, well, how about this," he leans in closer to you with a sneer. "You cover the shift, or you never work another day here again."

"But...I need this job." Your mouth goes dry, and you feel your palms moisten with sweat. Everything the kids needed beyond food, clothes, and shelter--whatever your mom was legally obligated to provide--fell on you. You'd just spent a third of your last paycheck sending Annie on a field trip to the zoo.

Keith just shrugs, heading into the break room to snag a bag of chips from the vending machine.

Fuck. You can't lose your job, but you also can't afford after-school childcare. Your chest tightens, making you feel like you're breathing through a coffee stirrer. Blinking back tears, you run through your options: you can leave work and hope that Keith is in a forgiving mood, you can use the extra cash you make to pay for the childcare, or you could beg your mom to pick up Annie and Nicky. The fact that you'd have to plead with her to take care of her own kids leaves a sour note in your stomach.

"Hey, Y/N!" a familiar voice pulls you away from your thoughts. You glance up to see your best friend, Eddie Munson, burst through the doors. "Sorry it's a little late, but could you waive the--whoa, what's wrong, sweetheart?"

You can't hold back anymore, and the dam bursts. Tears stream down your face and plop onto your shoulders. "It's t-too much," you sob. "I can't k-keep running myself ragged like this." You explain your problem through heaving breaths, Eddie rubbing your back comfortingly.

"Why don't I pick up the little rug rats?" he asks gently. "I can stay with them until you get home."

You shake your head. "No, I couldn't ask you to do that, Eds," you murmur.

"You're not," he replies with a laugh. "Technically, I'm asking you."

You offer him a wry smile. "Are you sure? I don't wanna put you out."

"Positive," Eddie says. "Let me do this for you, okay?"

"Okay," you agree hesitantly. "Pick-up's at 2:30; if you get there later than 2:45, they'll charge for after-school care."

Eddie contorts his face, making you giggle. "Jeez, really? Don't worry, I'll be there at 2:30 sharp." He gives a little salute, and you roll your eyes playfully.

"I owe you," you promise him, taking the VHS from his ringed fingers. You feel a spark of electricity as your hands touch.

"Nah," he smiles, "just waive that late fee for me, will ya?"

After your extended shift, you trudge through the front door. Dinner tonight will probably be something from a can, and as much as you can barely stomach the thought of Spaghetti-os or Chef Boyardee, you're too exhausted for anything more strenuous.

The scent of burgers and fries wafts past your nose. When you walk into the kitchen, you see Eddie sitting at the table with Annie and Nicky. Your siblings have kids' meals, and Eddie's chowing down on a bacon cheeseburger. The three of them are laughing so hard you'll worry they'll choke.

"Y/N!" Eddie calls out excitedly. "You're home!"

"Yup!" You muster up a tired smile. "You're relieved of your babysitting duties, sir."

Nicky speaks up from his seat. "Eddie was just telling us about how he broke his leg trying to crowd surf at one of his concerts." The mention of the story sends him into another fit of giggles.

"I remember that," you say. "What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't," Eddie responds, shaking his frizzy mane. He looks over at the grease-soaked bag on the table. "Oh, here--this one's for you." He pulls out a burger and a side of curly fries. "I specifically asked for curly, because those are your favorite."

Your heart melts at the kind gesture. "Thank you," you murmur. "How much did it cost?" you ask, reaching into your bag for your wallet.

"Um...seven million dollars," Eddie replies cheekily.

"I'm serious!"

"So am I!" But he can't help but chuckle. "I'm tellin' ya, this inflation thing is out of control."

You shelve your response, too tired to argue with him now. Instead, you turn to your siblings. "Did you two finish your homework?" Their silence answers for them. "Go to it; let me know if you need any help." They scamper into the living room, leaving you and Eddie alone.

"You're free to get home, if you want," you mutter, taking a bite of your burger. It's the best thing you've ever tasted. "Or you can stay. I don't wanna keep you..."

"Do you even know how amazing you are?" he blurts out without thinking. "I never met someone who did so much for other people."

"I mean," you stammer, "I-I kinda have to." You gesture to the living room. "My mom doesn't take care of them like she should."

"But that's the thing," Eddie insists. "You shouldn't have to. You shouldn't have had to drop out of college to pick up extra shifts at work so you can pay for their stuff. You shouldn't have to be at your mom's beck and call for free childcare. You shouldn't have to constantly pick up the pieces when she makes mistake after mistake."

You gaze at the ground, unable to meet his big brown eyes. "I guess I just want to be the big sister I wish I had when I was their age," you admit. "I wish there was someone looking out for me the way I do for them."

"I'll take care of you," Eddie says softly. "That's all I've ever wanted, if you'll let me."

"It's not just me, though," you tell him. "It's me and Annie and Nicky. At least until they're old enough to take care of themselves."

"Okay, so then I'll take care of the three of you." He says it without any hesitation, like he's been waiting for you to ask. "I can help out with pick-ups, and dinners, maybe throw together a PB&J sandwich for their lunches..."

"Why?" you utter suddenly. "Why would you do that for me...for us?"

Eddie rests a hand on your thigh. "Because I love you," he confesses. "and it breaks my heart watching you give so much of yourself to others and not getting the same in return."

You're stuck on his initial statement. "You...love me?" you squeak out. Surely he just means as a friend, right?

He nods. "Love you so much; always have, always will." And he leans into you, his plush lips meeting yours for a soft kiss. The hand not on your thigh reaches up to cup your cheek. "Was...was that okay?"

You nod breathlessly. "It was more than okay, Eddie. And...I love you, too." It feels so good to say, and even better when his face splits into a grin.

"Really?"

"Mhm," you say, your smile matching his. "Always have, always will."

--

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie x reader #eddie x you #eddie stranger things #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x f!reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson stranger things #stranger things #eddie munson fanfic #stranger things fanfic #fanfic #fluff #requests