#al: hey diane have you read -

[rosepompadour]

AL PACINO: Have you ever read Jack Kerouac’s On the Road? DIANE KEATON: Okay. You’re insane, number one. And insanely brilliant. Of course, I was in love with you. You couldn’t be more magical and entertaining and unique and all those things wrapped into one. But, no, I’ve never read On the Road. (x)

#al: hey diane have you read - #diane: I'LL HAVE YOUR CHILDREN I WANT YOUR PEOPLE TO BE MY PEOPLE YOU SMELL LIKE CINNAMON I'M DISROBING AS WE SPEAK #them. t h e m! #al pacino #diane keaton #real life romances #*

[sarahjkl82-blog]

Artistic Instinct Chapter Eight

Header thanks to the lovely @yespolkadotkitty

Summary: Marcus Pike and OC Anushka Pierce have been selected to work on a 5 eyes (Australia, Canada, NZ, the UK and US) intelligence team to track down art forgeries as a part of taking down an international white terrorism cell. Marcus is trying to escape his broken heart, Anushka is just trying to escape what the world expects of her.

Word count: 5,600

Warnings: Language as always, mentions of drinking, alcohol and drunkenness, mentions of sex OH AND HEARTBREAK

Pairing: Marcus Pike x reader (OC)

This comes with a MASSIVE THANK YOU to the lovely @yespolkadotkitty , who read, re-read, pointed out the constant flipping between tenses and gave me the confidence to try to write something. This is the first thing I have written since angsty poetry as a teenager. Apologies if it is shit!

The right person, the wrong time.

The right script, the wrong line.

The right poem, the wrong rhyme.

And a piece of you

That was never mine

K Towne Jr.

Chapter 8

The black topped streets of Lewisham radiate the day’s spring sunshine as if intent upon sending the heaven sent warmth back up through Marcus’ soles. The evening’s golden light creates a love song in his heart - one that morphs from the irritation and melancholy of the morning to a happier more uplifting tune.

When did that mood change? Oh yes, that embrace.

Nush.

Marcus hadn’t realised just how low his battery was for touch until you threw your arms around him. How much much he’d needed your body close to his again. Feeling your softness against him, inhaling your intoxicating scent. How he’d longed to kiss your forehead and stroke your hair in that cuddle. Remembering the pain of breaking that contact, plastering on a smile and kicking himself for it.

Constantly having to watch his need for your touch and tempering it within the normal parameters for a working relationship, Marcus has found himself reaching out for you- making excuses to touch you as you passed him, finding imaginary eyelashes on your face. Being around you felt like a breath that he was unable to release, continuously having to dampen down his natural instincts to hold and stroke you.

Kiss you.

Taste you.

Had he been back in the States, he would have said fuck it and asked you out, but that didn’t exactly go well last time. The pain of knowing exactly what he wants and it just being beyond the reach of his fingertips plagues Marcus daily with the dream of coming home to be loved, nurtured and protected and offer it in return. How do you ever allow yourself to become vulnerable to that risk of failure again? One thing he is certain of, is your current ignorance of the true level of his feelings. The kindness you show others - so much care for everyone around you, albeit through a thinly veiled layer of sarcasm and swearing- and the love your friends show for you, demonstrate that you would be nothing but clear if he was to reveal his true feelings.

Squeezing politely through the crowds, between the narrow shack-like stalls of the fairy-light illuminated market, Marcus heads towards the Highline where Andy had told each of you to meet him. Before he could start climbing the staircase up, a large hand grasps his upper arm, another patting the space between his shoulder blades. Marcus spins, slightly surprised by the touch, to be greeted by Andy’s grinning face.

“Looking good, Sir. Bit sharper than at lunch today,” Andy observes, giving Marcus’ leather jacket, Henley and indigo jeans a once over, “and before you complain, I am going to get you a beer because of the day you’ve had. You can do your management thing of buying the first round in a bit, and I won’t take no for an answer.”

With Andy’s face explicitly telling Marcus not to disagree with him, he nods, definitely needing that drink. As they head together towards the bar, they are both absorbed into the throng of a hundred voices holding loud conversations as they compete with the soundtrack from the decks. The crowd is a mixed bag of teenagers, students and families - the children chasing or trying to catch the sparkling spotlights as their parents reminisce over large gin and tonics about lie-ins and late nights not hunched over a crib.

Winding their way through the laughing and dancing bodies, they head in the direction of the alcohol to order some locally brewed ales, bumping into an already buzzing Kiritopa at almost the front of the queue. After a round of handshakes, back slaps and hearty laughs, they edge ever closer to their goal of amber nectar. Before their drinks are poured, Marcus’ eyes scan the market for the rest of the team when they are caught by a flash of colour. Bright turquoise stockings, a mustard corduroy pinafore, red and white striped T-shirt - oh, it isn’t you. Your wildly coloured legs bring so much colour to his day and they are the first thing he checks as he enters the office. Elbow nudges and a pint glass from Andy brings his attention back to the men in front of him for a quick cheers-ing of glasses before heading out of the melée.

The table on the Highline that Andy had reserved was utterly perfect. It afforded a bird’s eye view of the market - a true dream come true for any avid people watchers, whilst also allowing everyone to talk and be heard by each other with its one storey elevation from the thronging crowds. Andy and Kiritopa are animatedly talking with each other lounging amongst the piles of cushions and blankets on the pallet seating, while Marcus leans against the walkway, clutching his beer, staring off into the urban sprawl of concrete car parks and fried chicken restaurants but only looking for one face.

“Hey, what time do you call this...Whoa - Nush, is that makeup? On your face?” Andy’s eyes are utterly saucer-like in this discovery.

“Hush your mouth - she did it to me,” you jab your finger in Dian’s direction, pouting your lips at the indignation and as Andy goes to make another quip, you add- shoving some chips in his mouth, “Dirty masala fries- thought we’d need something to line our tummies this evening. Although equally, they’ll do a wonderful job of keeping some people’s mouths shut!”

“I think I did a great job- she looks stunning!” having put three portions on the table, Dian steps back to admire her handiwork as you pull a duck face pout at her.

She always looks beautiful.

“So, what’s on these fries?” Marcus asks as he desperately tries to avoid the other thoughts running through his head of how that pencil skirt runs along the curve that falls and rises from your waist to your hips beautifully or the horizontal stripes of your t-shirt - an outfit winning in its quest to distract.

As for that goddamn red lipstick…

It would leave a mark all around my-

“Ok, so they’re skinny French fries with spices shaken over them and a dollop of channa masala on top. Oh and that white shit is garlic mayo to dip them in,” you grin broadly as you pass him a portion - the picant vibrancy of the food telling stories of the fresh, bold flavours to come. Always being a believer in food being one of the ways that you can love a person, the mouthful of potatoes, spices and chickpeas envelops Marcus in an all encompassing hug. His belly sings with happiness with each mouthful he consumes, his tongue delightfully tingling from the chilli powder.

“Y’know Nush. Not had one of your curries for a while,” Andy not-so gently hints.

Marcus can’t help but raise his eyebrows, “Nush, you make curries? How many other hidden talents?”

“She also plays the piano and did ballet until she was fifteen,” Andy adds, ducking as you lob a cushion at him - your face reddened with a mixture of embarrassment and rage.

“Badly according to my mother,” you say, rolling your eyes as you shove another mouthful in, “Mine aren’t particularly elegant but they are edible. Well they are now anyway - there was one, a keema matar, that I made as a kid where I didn’t realise that chili develops over time. Put in roughly five tablespoons by the end. Could have been used for chemical warfare. Never lived it down but it got me out of cooking for a while.”

The table explodes in uproarious laughter, earning several odd looks from the patrons nearby.

“Well, I’m considering this an invitation to try one of your edible curries as you so eloquently call them,” Kiritopa rubs his belly in anticipation, chuckling at your modesty, “When can we get a date in the book?”

“I love a good curry, so count me in,” Dian chimes in as she pops the chickpeas like sweets into her mouth.

Marcus watches you shift uncomfortably in the spotlight of demands from your co-workers, “If I do this, I need a bigger space to work in as I can’t fit you all in my flat. I’ll need to borrow somewhere that can fit more bums.”

“Could use my apartment to cook and host, if you like?” Marcus proffers, secretly hopeful at trying some of your dishes and perhaps more than a little excited at the thought of spending some one on one time with you.

“Shall we do Sunday evening, if nothing turns up from work?” Kiritopa asks hopefully.

Marcus shrugs by way of confirmation, catching your gaze, drinking in the swirl of colours in your iris, to give you a nod.

With a sigh and a roll of the eyes, you exclaim, “Andy- what the fuck have you started? You’ve all grossly overestimated my skills, and now I am going in search of alcohol to dull my senses and make poor decisions,” you dramatically announce with a theatrical bow, “What can I get everyone?”

Seeing an opportunity open up, Marcus touches your arm as you go to leave, “It’s my round. Help me carry them?”

“Deal,” Marcus feels his heart grow as he sees your smile reach every corner of your face.

Before reaching the top of the stairs, Marcus moves himself around to walk in front of you. His body on an autopilot of manners. On reaching the bottom step, he reaches back - unthinkingly - to grab your hand so as not to lose you amongst the multitude drinking, eating and dancing the night away. The momentary panic that spread at the thought of you rejecting him recedes as your fingers thread between his.

Sending a warm smile at you over his shoulder, you follow in the wake of him quietly.

The people near the bar are flowing like rivers, never stopping for obstacles but twirling, swirling around them nevertheless Marcus guides you through, never letting go. The noise of the chatter and throb of the music surrounds you, not allowing for much verbal communication so he settles for small movements and gestures with the hand that is holding yours. When you finally arrive at the queue by the bar, that is when you can speak a bit more freely albeit in theatrical whispers in each other’s ears.

Marcus watches how the evening breeze kisses you, blowing the strands of your growing-out fringe into your face. How you gaze around and observe people whilst also managing to make him feel like he’s the only person there. The way your eyes crease into crescents when you laugh or smile and how much he wishes he could thank all those people jostling you into him. But like all moments with you, it ends too quickly as soon you’re both heading upriver against the current with your trays of drinks.

“Nush, I’ve always thought it was some kind of miracle that you never spill alcohol,” Andy teases you as you bring the drinks to their owners.

“Hah! I don’t waste the good stuff,” you mutter indignantly, “Although perhaps if we want to protect the office carpets, I should…”

“No,” Marcus mock-sternly interjects at the thought of you being drunk and the chaos that would bring, “No day drinking at work, Nush. I’d prefer the coffee stains.”

Your pout and subsequent upward glance through your eyelashes, makes Marcus turn towards the railings, hiding his thoughts in his beer.

Fuck, Nush.

If you only knew what you do to me.

“Hey Kiri, isn’t it? You playing in the tourney tomorrow?” a deep, cut glass accent calls out, cutting through the crowds surrounding them. Marcus turns towards where the sound is coming from and as he does, he catches a strange look cross your face.

“What the fuck are you doing here and how the fuck do you know Kiritopa?” The tone of your voice, narrowed eyes and furrowed brow makes Marcus turn back towards the group inquisitively.

“Nush! Haven’t seen you in a long time but you are looking amazing,” the voice is attached to a face, the kind that would stop anyone in their tracks, “can barely recognise you with makeup on- you should wear it more often.”

You breathlessly mutter, “Fuck off, that’s never going to happen.”

Good girl. Don’t put up with that BS. You’re better than that.

“I know Seb through rugby training,” then tilting his head quizzically, Kiritopa asks, “How do you know him?”

“Since school isn’t it, so what? Roughly twenty years? Through her brother, Adam as we played rugger together. Although, despite such a long time friendship, you wouldn’t let me in your knickers until more recently,” Seb shoots you a wink from over his beer.

The words burn through Marcus as he considers your connection with this man - his eyes narrowing, lips thinning. Loneliness echoing through his racing heart. He hadn’t considered you seeing anyone else- even for the briefest of dalliances but then not everyone is a serial long term monogamist.

Of course you’d have needs, you are an adult woman.

I just wish you’d explore them with me.

“Every now and then it’s nice to have an orgasm attached to a pulse that isn’t delivered by a battery,” you deliver, utterly deadpan.

Seb pretends to be mortally wounded by your words, playing dead into the chair next to yours, languidly flopping his limbs around. Oh, how Marcus would like to wipe that stupid smug smirk off his face!

For fuck’s sake, Pike. Why didn’t you sit next to her when you had the chance?

White knuckles wrapped around his nearly empty pint glass, Marcus silently watches as Seb desperately works to get your attention whilst you chat animatedly with Dian and Andy while Kiri downs the rest of his beer. He hasn’t noticed the pretty young woman with bouncing corkscrew curls observing him from amongst her friends on the next table along.

“Hey. You look like you could do with a drink, can I get you one?”

Abruptly removed from his poorly concealed glowering, Marcus raises his eyebrows in surprise at this question, pausing for some time before realising that it was aimed at him.

“Oh, look don’t worry. It was just a silly thought...” the beautifully tight curls go to withdraw from view and return to their friends.

“No, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought,” Marcus offers apologetically, “It’s been a day from hell. Let me get you a drink.”

“Wanted to talk to you as I was a bit concerned that you were about to break that glass with how tightly you were gripping it. Glass is an arse to get out of wounds so thought it better to save your hands before you come visit me in A&E,” she gently proposes, “There are better places to spend Friday nights!”

Welcoming the pretty distraction from his destructive thoughts, Marcus’ cheeks dimple as he nods, “I can imagine. Are you a doctor?”

“Yeah, for my sins,” she amusedly huffs, “And on a rare night out, so shall we go get that drink? I’m Kemi, by the way.”

✪✪✪✪✪

Oh, how you long to rip the makeup from your face! As a child, it had been a form of let’s pretend that turned into a mask to hide behind as a young adult as you experimented with finding your true self. Now, that you are established in your womanhood, you feel no need to add layers to your face other than when you are convinced it would be fun by a fast-becoming firm friend.

When Sebastian made a remark about how pretty you looked with the makeup, it made you want to run to the loo right then and there to claw it from your skin.

And what the ever loving fuck is he doing here? Fucking Sebastian of all fucking people, who you accidentally keep finding yourself fucking. You’d just come around to the idea that it might be ok to occasionally go out with people from work but when they meet people from your everyday life - your home life - that isn’t ok. Especially when that person is just a hate fuck. Great in bed but an odious human being as you can’t be that handsome and a decent person, it seems.

Unless you’re Marcus Fucking Pike.

Who is now grabbing a drink with an absolute goddess of a woman.

You couldn’t quite pinpoint why it had hurt so much when he’d walked off with her but there was such an ache deep in your tummy that could not be ignored. Between that and the appearance of fucking Sebastian, you just want to jump on the 178 home and throw on your jammies, curling up under the shit crocheted throw that you’d made during your leave - more holes than stitches. If it wasn’t for Dian, you would already be on your way there, demolishing something unhealthy from UberEats, glugging a wine or two.

Dian seems to pick up on your drop in mood and decides that it’s time for a trip to the tequila bar. With Andy’s husband now joining your rag-tag gang, you agree to chase some bitter hits of alcohol. As you wind your way among the dancers and drinkers, you see him standing by one of the upturned kegs, laughing at something she has said. You catch his eye, plaster on a smile and send him a wink in the hope that your wish for him to have fun seems genuine.

You sign to him whether he wants a drink but a small shake of his head tells you all you need to know before Dian tugs your hand back in the direction of the bar. Standing in front of the bartender, a moment of sadness washes over you until Kiri passes the salt, Seb licks your hand and the rest of the evening finally takes a softer tone after one, two, three.

The tequila in your tummy makes it hard to concentrate on what Dian and Kiri are chatting about while the three of you curl tipsily upon the comfy cushions as a large fluorescent pink, plastic sign declaring TREAT YO’SELF looms large over your heads. Excusing yourself to the loo, you walk past Marcus - steadfastly refusing any eye contact but ensuring he sees you. As you go to repeat the action on the return journey - not entirely sure as to why you feel the need to seek your boss’s attention - a hand goes to balance you as you walk down the final step.

“Whoa - steady, Nush,” you look up to see Marcus’ concerned face looking down at you.

“Hah! I’m ok. You having a good night?” You ask, your eyes searching his, “She’s truly stunning.”

“Yeah, um, were you guys doing shots?” he enquires, brow still furrowed.

“Yup. It's a really good tequila bar upstairs - should have joined us,” you jab him in the chest with an index finger, “So good that the world just looks like an impressionist painting. All swooshy and a little bit blurry.”

You watch Marcus scratching his neck, “Anyway, what on Earth are you doing here with me? Go get her, idiot.”

“Ah, here you are Bad Idea Puppy- thought you’d fallen asleep on the loo. Although that wouldn’t be the first time would it?” Sebastian brays, stepping between you and Marcus as he grabs your hand to lead you onto the dancefloor. Allowing yourself to be led away, you look back over your shoulder at him, mouthing go get her with a wink as if that would soften the pain that had appeared with her.

The music flows through you - the clearest way to communicate you have ever known- your body rolling and swaying with the sensuality of the music. Sebastian moves effortlessly around you thanks to his mother, who having had only sons, deciding that her youngest would get the dance lessons that she’d hoped the daughter she never had, would take. The two of you vent in movements all of what you could never be said between you or to anyone else aloud. As you twist together under the orange stained hazy night sky, you notice the goddess’ hand on Marcus’ face, stroking his cheek. The poisonous ache returns to your tummy and however your face contorts, causes Seb to pull you closer, cradling your head into his neck. You know how the night will end and the loneliness stings.

✪✪✪✪✪

His mouth bone dry, Marcus awakes fully dressed, on top of the comforter, with a cool bed surrounding him. Reaching for his phone, pulling the charging cable from it, he flicks through messages and emails trying to work out what had happened from when Kemi had left him in the bar to rejoin her friends. Her words still ring in his ears - you didn’t come alone tonight - when she had watched his eyes trace your path out of the market. How he’d initially thought about taking her up on her offer to help him forget, wanting to obliterate last night from his memory and lose himself in her eyes and lips. Her final words to him, cutting him to the core- she must be really special and if she is as special as you think she is, you fight for her.

Bloodshot eyes and deep creases stare back at him from the mirror. More grey. They say that age exchanges beauty for wisdom but they are the same mistakes he keeps repeating. A strangled gasp escapes him as he tries to regulate his breathing, lifting his chin trying to fill his lungs with more oxygen. His shoulders are racked by gut-wrenching sobs and like an overwhelmed dam, the tears spill in hot torrents down his cheeks. Marcus slides onto the floor, allowing the grief to pour forth.

His first marriage was too much, too soon, too young. An art historian and an artist in love with creating and observing beauty until the former decided to change tack after being recruited by the FBI. The long hours of training at Quantico, the subsequent hard days and irregular nights as he worked his way through the ranks of the Art Crime department, wrung the patience from his wife. Gradually growing further and further apart until all that was left were two strangers constantly at odds, her cutting comment about how she felt that he gave her only apathy - never coming to her when she needed help or affection. She hated him for the choices he made - feeling that his work was merely interacting with the meaningless. The law enforcer spent more time at work to hide from the inevitable ending until the artist found someone who appreciated her and the beauty she created.

As for Lisbon. Was she really ever his? Wasn’t he really just a footnote in the Patrick Jane story? The whirlwind romance that progressed and extinguished again at such a heart attack inducing pace, emphasised by that stupid-ass move to DC. Although, if it wasn’t for that move, he wouldn’t be here in London now. Oh yeah. That was out of the skillet and into the fire, Pike. Another excellent career move.

So much love to give and nowhere, no one to give it to. The lessons he has learnt and is still learning but oh, just to find that person with whom you can drop that mask and enjoy togetherness, warmth and serenity.

The side of the bath offers a solid cool support to Marcus as he sits there on the herringbone tiled floor, sobbing into his arms. There is only one voice he needs to hear right now. Grabbing a tissue from the side to noisily blow his nose into, he rubs the heels of his palms into his eyes before putting his glasses on. Phone in hand, he dials the number he knows better than his own name.

The familiar dial tone is like a lullaby in his ear, “Mamá?... Hey! How are you doing?... I’m sorry Mamá - I forgot about the time zone difference... I’m ok, just missing you… It’s just been a long week and... Yeah, London is awesome and I managed a trip to France this week which was incredible to be back there. So weird having so many different countries within such easy reach…Come visit me soon?... Thank you... I miss you… Te quiero mucho Mamá… I’ll ring you in a couple of days. Hasta luego.”

Hanging up, everything feels a bit more manageable and less painful- I wish I could bottle my Mamá’s voice. Hauling himself off the bathroom floor, he turns on the faucet to splash icy water on his face. Sniffing his t-shirt, realising the shower could wait - perhaps a good run to get the endorphins pumping would be his best move. Or perhaps a text to Nush to check what ingredients he’d need to have in for the curry tomorrow?

Stop it, Pike. You’re just fucking torturing yourself.

Opening a drawer, he pulls out basketball shorts, a clean t-shirt and a pair of sneaker socks to throw on, discarding last night’s clothes in a heap by the washing machine.

AirPods in and classic nineties dance anthems to pace himself to, he gives his quads and hamstrings a quick warm up by the front door before it is time to convert the emotional pain into miles.

One of the many things that Marcus loves about London is the constant greenery with every second corner a park or stretching heathland. Texas is so proud of its big sky country status and yet, there are parts of central London where you could lie down and not see anything but skies around you. It is truly hard not to fall in love with such a beautiful, historical and spacious city.

Pounding the pavements towards the park, his feet hit the concrete slabs softly, sending small shockwaves to his brain. Whilst Marcus knows that the power in his thighs could have him across the park in seconds, he savours each step. The precision in his movements is perfect as he takes lungful after lungful of the sunshine filled air. It feels like part of a meditation - a mindful prayer. Dodging around errant dogs and small, clumsy yet terrifyingly aggressive children on scooters, he winds his way through the avenues of trees until he comes across a small lake.

He pauses the thrumming music in his ears to just soak up the tranquility of the moment as he stretches out his limbs. The lake is the kindest of nature’s mirrors, never truly showing exactly what is above, but converting it to an image so beautifully smudgy. The weeping willow stroking its branches elegantly across the skin of the water, the clouds gliding silently above as a host of waterfowl paddle effortlessly through the cool, clear pool, all become a priceless Monet hanging in The National Gallery – all free for the looking. Sure, it is transient, changing by the day - unlike the fixed in a moment of time pieces by the grumpy old Frenchman - but that's what makes it all the more precious.

There’s a family by the water’s edge. Marcus can’t help but be amused by the toddler’s antics as they threaten to jump in and become irritated that they can’t, especially when they have their wellies on. Can’t fault that logic! The older child is gathering sticks to make a “campfire” with their dad - discarding most of their parent’s choices with withering looks and expressive rolls of the eyes. The dark-haired mom, whilst trying to reason with the toddler, is swaying with some sort of baby carrier tied around her - a tiny one clutched tightly to her chest. The infant is virtually invisible from the passes of material, only two tiny socks and its little woolly hat peeking free. A collie is also darting between and around them, rounding up his flock of sheep, taking his role as protector very seriously.

The scene makes Marcus smile as he stretches out his muscles. Whilst he can’t help but watch and yearn for something similar in his life, the mom looks up and over in his direction,

“Are you going to come over and say hi or just be a park weirdo that lurks in bushes pretending to stretch?” a familiar voice curtly teases.

Nush - what the fuck?

“Your face is a fucking picture! Take a breath - these are three of my five niblings - big one is Sophia, middle one that keeps threatening to swim in the pond is Alexa and this little dot is Oscar. As for that blundering idiot, this is Adam, my oldest brother- their dad,” gesturing towards your brother you giggle, creasing up in laughter at the sheer shock then relief on Marcus’ face, “Ads, this is Marcus, my new boss that I told you about.”

The male version of Nush outstretched his palm, offering a sympathetic look, “Hi Marcus, pleasure to put a face to a name. I’m so sorry that you have to put up with my cowbag-of-a-sister at work.”

Marcus can’t help but laugh at the friendly sniping between brother and sister, reminding him of his own teasing relationship with his sisters back home, “Hey! Your kids are beautiful. Oh, you must be Sebastian’s friend - who we saw at Model Market in Lewisham yesterday, Nush?” he questions.

“As much as Sebastian can have friends… Oh Nush, you didn’t, did you?” Adam’s face scrunches in disgust and judging in the way that only a sibling can do.

“No! Not this time,” Marcus loves the speed and vehemence to which you respond to your brother- and enjoys the sheer relief that is now guiltily coursing through his veins, “To give the man his dues, he won’t ever sleep with me when I’ve had too much to drink. Not that I was going to and not that it is any of your fucking business in the first place.” You add jabbing your brother in the softness of his tummy with every word you say.

“Nush, I was gonna text you this morning about tomorrow, if you’re still on to make the curries?” Marcus gently questions, willing you to agree.

“Hah! You’re trusting her to cook?” Adam laughs heartily at the suggestion, “I’m not sure that’s the best idea. Our mum still won��t let her near the chilli powder now.”

You growl at your brother, “I was a fucking kid at the time! And yes, I am more than happy to come and cook curries- what time suits you for me to come over? They do take a bit of time to make.”

Marcus struggles to hold back a snort of laughter, “Any time is good - and perhaps while they’re simmering, we can have some classic films on in the background?”

“Ah that sounds perfect,” your smile warming every inch of his skin.

“You sound perfect for her,” Marcus catches Adam muttering under his breath, his eyes widening at your brother’s comment.

“Shut your damn cakehole, twatface,” you slap your brother’s arm hard as you grind the words between your teeth, the two of you glaring with a mirror image of your eyebrows raised at each other.

“Um, I’d better continue my run before I cool down too much,” Marcus manages to spit out between the flushes of heat through his skin, “Great to meet you and your family, Adam. Nush, it’s lovely to see you and I’ll catch you tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow, Marcus,” you smile at him before turning back towards your niblings, who are working together to create a den using an old fallen branch.

“I saw you running earlier,” Adam adds, “You’ve got a really good gait - as a physio, it’s great to see someone not destroying their joints. Do you do anything to support your running through cross training?”

“Uh no, but that’s a good idea as I don’t want any injuries. What would you recommend?” Marcus asks, genuinely intrigued and flattered by your brother’s compliment of his running style.

“Speak to Nush - yoga is perfect for stretching your IT bands, which as a man they’re generally always tight and only get tighter with repetitive movements like running or cycling. She’s the yoga queen and will know of a local teacher who can help you,” Adam grins, nodding towards his sister.

“There’s so much I have yet to learn about her,” Marcus shakes his head as he sorts out his headphones.

“Yeah, good luck with that!” Adam laughs as he pats Marcus on the back, “Anyway, enjoy the rest of your run and hopefully see you again soon.”

As Marcus gradually picks up his pace away from you and your family, his heart that had felt so dark and lonely, now feels light and airy. The release valve in his chest is finally loosened and there is a little bubble of excitement in his belly that he allows to build at the thought of tomorrow. The thought of your presence in his apartment, doing something as domestic as cooking, is truly a salve for his soul.

Perhaps he can just make believe until it becomes a reality.

Tag list of glory: @astroboots @silverwolf319@sirowsky @leonieb @disgruntledspacedad @bison-writes @the-ginger-hedge-witch @danniburgh @sugarontherims @green-socks @tardisfangurl @absurdthirst @pedropascalito @mouthymandalorian @mrsparknuts @lunaserenade @zukoyonce @agirllovespancakes @yespolkadotkitty @theravenreads @lv7867 @songsformonkeys

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[androgynousblackbox]

Thoughts about the fifth season (spoilers)

Okay, so normally I would make these posts as neutral as possible because I want them to reach anyone who enjoys the show. Even if you are someone that really fucking hates incest ships you can read them and still have an idea of what I liked, what didn’t, etc, without me bringing up that element. You can disagree or agree without being reminded “oh, yeah, he is one of THOSE fans I don’t like” and that is totally fine by me. Curate your own online experience and all that. But this is season is quite literally about the relationship between Rick and Morty, so as a rickmorty shipper I just can’t separate that from what I enjoyed about it and thus I am going to be talking from that position during all of this. If that makes you uncomfortable, that is cool, I get it. You can skip this one if you want. Also, this is going to be a general big mess of thoughts and whatever because I have lots of them so, bear with me. -Some of the shippers I was with on a server will know this already, but from the very first episode I was sure we were going to have two major themes: 1. Rick is a flawed human being, not a god, not a ultra genius who is always destined to be on top of everything and knows how to get out of any situation. Just a man. And that is why he needs other people, which is somethig he had to accept and understand about himself, especially after the fourth season was all about dethroning him as the patriarch of the family and break away the illusions that Beth had about her own father. We have standed too long having Rick win on everything and coming out like a badass, so it’s time to kick him down a bit and let him lose. 2. Morty’s heart is always going to get fucked over, which is something that gets even more explored on the Planetina episode: he wants a place to belong with a person who doesn’t make him feel like the odd one out. Combine the two and my idea was: they want to assure us about their relationship on some kind of way, this is about them and what they feel regarding each other. Probably about why or how Rick became so jaded because why else include Rick freaking out about Mr Nimbus just mentioning Diane’s name and how much he changed, on a first episode no less, if this isn’t something we are setting up to see later. They explicitely brought someone from Rick’s past to talk about that past and make a point to tell us that changed Rick. -So, we have the two major player set up like this: on one hand, Morty aspires for that companionship but he is not willing to compromise his own moral for it, whatever he has left after starting to take on some Rick’s traits. He is desperate for that connection and if that means leaving Rick behind, so be it. Rick will still be there anyway. On othe other hand, Rick also wants that connection and companionship but it’s too disfunctional and can’t make it quite work because there is always a part of him that wants to keep distance. With the alien lady, evne with the crows, it’s all about escapism and pretend like everything is fine, it’s just fun and he doesn’t have to care because they are just having a good time together. He tried to do that too with BP by keeping away the info about his daughter, but he called his bluff because BP knew Rick too much to not see that comic. It’s rebound after rebound because he is missing the one person that can keep him in check, that truly knows what a piece of fucking shit he is and somehow still comes back to him. BP saw that, knew what was happening, and prefered to get the fuck away because he didn’t want to compromise his own values like that either. But Rick doesn’t have that problem with Morty. It truly is Rick and Morty one hundread years because, no matter how fucking bad it gets, they still choose one another. -Now, the way they keep building up this relationship, these connection, even regarding the rest of the family, to me is brilliant in restrospect because it perfectly illustrate how much they have changed from what they were before and what that means. Morty is more independent and less afraid, right, but that doesn’t make him more happier because he is still lonely and Rick is being reminded, over and over again, that he can’t be alone either. -Regarding the way Morty have behaved, I have seen some people being concerned about how Morty is becoming more independent and therefore not relying on Rick as much for anything, so it’s like what is the point of their relationship anymore. And like, to me it makes sense they show because they have already told us on past seasons that Morty has stopped viewing Rick with that wide eyed expression for a long time. He is learning from him and can defend himself, so why does he need Rick at al? The answer is because he loves him. You can read that as platonic or romantic or whatever, but for better or for worse Morty just loves Rick. You shouldn’t love people because you need them, or at least that is not a healthy basis for any relationship. I said this on another post: you cannot make anyone to be your center for your mental health like that, and I feel like they aware of this point, which I really fucking love because it would have been easy as fuck to write any pairing like that.  -If you stay for the “Behind of scenes” scenes, the writers talk about how this season is about building trust between Rick and Morty. So it starts with Morty going around cleaning up some of the messes Rick left behind without telling Rick and then fucking the portal gun because he doesn’t trust Rick to not “kill him” to finding out he did that, just like Rick in fact doesn’t trust Morty to not be doing unnecesary bullshit. So Morty, hurt because his suspicions were right, puts an ultimatum and Rick, being the petty fuck we all know him to be, takes it kind because of course he would. -What does Morty does immediately after this? Latch onto another sketchy as fuck older man whose name ends with Ick and hope that is the connection he craves, because after all “we are like brothers now.” So rebound for him, rebound for Rick, rebounds for the crows, rebounds for everyone. Yay. -I know it has been however many years have passed since this show started, and it was obvious for fucking everyone who watched it, but I do really like that they use the exact words for how their dynamic has been: unhealthy, toxic, abusive. Lack of trust, lack of boundaries, secrets. Just straight up calling it as it is. So they have both of them confronting that fact, being aware of it, and to top it all off, make Morty the only being now on their universe that knows everything about Rick, every single thing he has kept even from BP, like the true reason he joined to their guerilla group, and still makes the conscious choice to go after Rick even when, as far he was aware of at least, there was another option.  -So, okay, now what, might someone ask. We have put everything out there and we have talked about what is wrong about their relationship, does this mean we are doing the boring healthy bullshit now? Well, nope. Considering that Morty did went out of his way to guilt trip Rick into getting back and Rick admits point blank admits he get it, Morty refusing to demand things be different because he is just desperate... they are still and probably always going to be a condependent mess, but hey, a condependent mess that at least is kinda self aware about it and won’t pull the “I am going to break up with you on a whim” move again, hopefully. I do think and expect some things to change, but only as far their dynamic during adventures goes and regarding the rest of the family, with everyone being on the know that those two are an item neither of them can get in between. Rick is probably still going to want to keep some things in control, he is still not going to express his feelings to Morty directly and Morty is still going to be a little shit that will want for validation that won’t come his way. It’s a shithole house, but at leat it’s their home kind of thing, and personally, that is how I like it. -The “adventures as a metaphor for a relationship so this is not like a real break up” is real funny when you hear the writers literally calling it a break up and a relatonship. Also, the amount of times that they say “my partner”. Like, I am sorry, but how the fuck I am supposed to believe this wasn’t for the shippers, fucking how? Like even if you aren’t one, and you go “it’s a metaphor!! it’s not like an actual relationship, they are not saying they are together as a couple”, that is flimsy as fuck because we have determined already that Rick uses adventures as an extension for all his relationships. There is a intentional paralel between BP and Morty and how Rick treats the both of them, like he would do anything for them but still be kind of a lying piece of shit too, so it’s definitely canon on the sense -Omg, we had miniature cute Mortys who like crayons and also big hot adult Morty, fucking finally. I cannot fucking believe they wouldn’t know the blessing they were throwing to fandom with that one, they know what they are doing.  -Rick as a boy dressing on the same colors of Morty could have been a cute little detail, like aww, they are family, so they pass down those colors from one generation to another because family, but fuck all of that, let’s make it creepy and fucked up because why not. But it’s also interesting because if Ricks breeded Mortys and put those colors on them, isn’t that another way of saying “you are connected to us just as much as we are connected to you”? Because they didn’t had to chose those colors, but they did it because it meant something for them. On a very fucked up way, I think they might even feel themselves more fathers to Morty than even Beth, because many of them didn’t cared manipulating her in order to gain more Mortys even if they could just clone them easily. -”You all really are bred for forgiveness”... Not really, or else “Evil Morty” wouldn’t exist and Cop Rick, the good one, would have never been attacked by using the attachment of Ricks against him. But Morty had made his choice and that choice was Rick, and even then Rick cannot fucking believe it so he has to reduce it to his breeding. -So, the finite curve has been destroyed and almost all Ricks were killed, the ones that weren’t coincidentally fucking off to another place just when that happened. That means that now there is true infinite universe where Rick is not the smartest man on the universe, where Rick doesn’t even exist at all, so we may have adventures where other people where the smartest people on their universe and Rick could finally meet his equal or someone even worse.  -The final speech of Mr Poppybutthole is kinda the perfect ending to everything, because he is talking avoid being afraid of the people he loves finding the “true” self of him and not loving him anymore, but Morty did that and he still loves Rick and, listen, I have FEELINGS about it, okay.  -After exploring this, which was the true only canonical mistery of the whole series, while also dumping off the backstory of Rick so nobody has to theorize about it anymore, it feels like they going two routes: either we are dumping anything about serialized anything, at least for a while, and we are back to just silly adventures with asshole grandpa and traumatized kid, or... we are introducing another big baddie that we are going to drag to hell and back. Maybe Evil Jerry? That could be fun to explore on the show. My bet is on the second option because I think that is the kind of thing that Justin really enjoys doing and that is why it appears on Solar Opposites as well, with the whole Wall as a central points behind all the shenanigans of the aliens.  -The only misteries left are: the weird Rick that killed his family, if he wasn’t killed already on the Citadel, and Birdperson reunion with his daughter, for which he might ask Rick’s help in the future when he cools down or maybe Rick gets his daughter back for him on a ridiculous plan to make him return his calls, because that is something he is going to pull. The Jessica thing and her quest for becoming an actual character with her own thing going on. -This finale made rickmorty canon on all the ways it could without having them literally making out willingly, and after Naruto, I don’t think that is a line they are not willing to cross at some point in the future, even if it’s just a joke. They already did with the parasites. I honestly don’t even know how you can watch the show and think “fuck yeah, they hate those ships just as much as I do!”, because with the way the writers talk about it and literally this entire season being nothing but a building up for their relationship, I would have been turned if I didn’t ship it already.

#rickmorty #incest implied #andro is talking

[naralanis]

hey nara! first off, I absolutely adore your blog and your writing, Perhaps is on my comfort fics list that I pull out whenever I’m having a bad time. I also happen to be a fan of your pen instagram and I was wondering if you had any suggestions on some fountain pens for beginners? I recently bought a “Pilot MR Retro Pop” that I really enjoy but I think I’m ready to branch off a bit. Do you have any tips with practicing with fountain pens you’d be willing to share? As much as I try, my handwriting never looks as nice as I want it to with mine. No pressure to respond if not, just wanted to stop by and let you know how much I enjoy your content! Hope you have a pleasant rest of your day/night!

Oh goodness, you’re talking about fic AND fountain pens in the same ask? Stop, stop, I’m already married!

First off, thanks for reading; I’m so glad Perhaps is there for you when ya need it, it makes me really happy to hear. Seriously warms my heart!

As far as fountain pens go... ANON I HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT I AM SO SORRY THIS WILL BE SUCH A LONG RIDE so I’m going to put it under the cut sorry sorry sorry in this essay I will

Hooray for the Pilot MR (or Metro, here in the US), it’s an AMAZING little pen, and if you’re calling it the MR, chances are you got it with an international standard converter, you lucky, lucky duck. I’m happy you’re enjoying it, as far as beginner pens go, this one is an excellent choice.

When you say “branching out”, this can mean one of two things. It can mean you want to branch out to other brands but a similar price range, or that you’re ready for a ‘next level’ pen. I’ll try to cover both! (I’ll link some of these models to the Goulet Pens website, but feel free to look for them elsewhere--I just really like Goulet’s very thorough descriptions)

If you’re looking to explore other pen models in the MR’s price range, there’s a metric ton of  options! Sticking with Pilot, you can try the Explorer-- a completely different, more streamlined pen than the MR, but if you’re used to the nib on your pen, you have a better idea of what to expect with it. There’s also the Kakuno, which is cheaper, but very cute with its little smiley face nibs haha

Another Japanese pen you can try: the Platinum Plaisir. Aluminum body, but do remember that Platinum nibs generally give a little more feedback than Pilot’s, which are some of the smoothest Japanese-made nibs I’ve ever seen.

You can also try the Diplomat Magnum -- it’s a a great little pen, and I love mine. Keep in mind, it is very lightweight, especially compared to the MR’s metal body, but to me that makes it great for long writing sessions. The nib is completely different--it will write a little wider, a little wetter than the MR (and any other Japanese-made pen), but it’s slightly springy and awesome to write with. Plus, it has an ink window so you can keep track of your ink!

Other options in this price range: the Jinhao 8802 (Shell or Rosewood, and the most bang for your buck imo as far as cheap fountain pens go), the Jinhao x750 or x450 (these are heavier, but they look great!), the TWISBI GO (a teeny, amazing little pen with a spring-loaded piston filling mechanism), and a Kaweco Sport (another pocket-pen, German-made, so the nib will write a little wetter/wider generally) or the Perkeo.

Now, if you’d like to push your price range a little further (only a little! I promise not to break the bank!), you cannot go wrong with Lamy.I am a self-admitted Lamy fangirl, so I may be a little biased, buuuut... it is what it is, their pens are great, they’re easy to disassemble for cleaning (I go totally nuts over it and even disassemble the converters, which you absolutely don’t need to do), and their nibs are SO EASILY INTERCHANGEABLE!

You can pick up a Lamy Safari for fairly cheap nowadays (and ever cheaper look-alikes, which I will never endorse but also will not judge anyone for buying), and they come in so many colours (the O.G. 1980 colours were also just reissued!), they’re like my Pokemon because I want to catch ‘em all.

For a little more, you can get yourself a Lamy AL-Star--the same design of the Safari, but this time in aluminum, which makes it look super cool (but also prone to scratches if you’re the kind of person that puts your pen in your pocket with your keys... that’s... definitely not me...), so keep that in mind.

You can also pick yourself up a Lamy Logo, for a couple more bucks. A completely different design, but still great, particularly if you like slimmer pens.

The nibs on ALL the Lamy models (even the more expensive ones like the Studio or the Scala or even the Dialog) are interchangeable! Even the gold nib on the Dialog! The only exception is the Lamy 2000 (which is probably one of the best pens out there period, and certainly an amazing first-gold-nib pen).

The one thing that absolutely kills me about the cheaper Lamy pens is that, for the most part, none of them come with a converter--you have to buy it separately. Which is fine, it’s not super expensive, and it is widely available, but COME ON, LAMY, JUST GIMME.

If you’d like to try a cool-looking pen with a CRAZY ink capacity and a nifty piston-filling mechanism, look no further than the TWISBI ECO. I have one of these (green, obv), and I love it. Never tires me out, and I stg mine never. dries. out. I don’t know what witchcraft is involved, but it’s an amazing pen for long writing sessions.

Finally, if you’d like to try another Japanese-made pen that is a little more expensive than the Pilot MR or the Platinum Plaisir, there’s the Sailor Compass 1911. This is one of the cheapest Sailor pens I know of, and a good introduction to the brand. Keep in mind that, like Platinum, Sailor nibs will give more feedback than the Pilot you’re used to!

If you would like to push your budget even further, here are some options for fountain pens under $100 (I know, big jump, but it’s good to see what’s out there to you can compare!) from JetPens.

There are a million other brands out there that you can look at. Sheaffer makes great, very cheap and fun beginner pens (including a whole Star Wars Line! They’re adorable!). Hong Dian has a ton of pens that look sleek as hell (like the Forest Series) and they’re all like under 20 bucks. Kaco is another one that makes surprisingly good pens! Parker is also an option, with the Jotter, which is a classic-looking pen. There’s Conklin and Monteverde (which have a ton of fountain pens in a wide range of prices, but I’ve had bad luck with their nibs, so I would suggest you do some independent research on those!), as well as Noodler’s if you’d like to go crazy with some flex nibs! The fountain pen rabbit hole is bottomless. Welcome :D

As far as handwriting goes, I’m afraid I don’t have much more to say besides practice, practice, practice. I learned cursive as a child, but never got into calligraphy, really. Even today, I only just dabble, but whenever I see something I like, I usually just like to try and replicate it. Very often I’ll see a video on Instagram and go Oh my god, how the hell did they write that G, I’ve got to try that and then what follows is me going through page after page on a Rhodia pad trying to imitate them. I like janinescribbles and aidanbernal on Instagram, they’re like handwriting goals--check them out!

A lot of the time, we’re looking for more line variation to make our handwriting look prettier--that’s usually what you see in that fancy, old-timey Spencerian cursive, or even copperplate calligraphy. Unfortunately, you won’t get that with just a regular fountain pen, but there is good news!

There are a TON of different nibs out there. Stub nibs, fude nibs, flex nibs, obliques, cursive italic -- you can even get your pen ground by a professional nibmeister to fit your specifications. There are calligraphy pens (like the Lamy Joy) or pen sets (Kaweco has a Perkeo Calligraphy set, and I believe Sailor has one of their own as well). You can even check out the Pilot Parallel set -- the whole thing is like the price of a Lamy AL-Star, you just won’t do regular writing with it; it’s pretty specifically a calligraphy/lettering set. There are even flex pens in the market (though none of them are as flexy as those old, vintage gold nibs) like the Noodler’s Nib Creaper, Ahab, and Triple Tail or the Conklins with their Omniflex nib (which has been problematic in the past, but I’ve heard good things recently). It’s a whole other rabbit hole!

But honestly, don’t sweat the handwriting too much. Just write a few lines every day, try new things, and get lost for eternity on some Instagram tags!

I think this is a long enough post as it is, so I’ll stop there! SORRY. HOPE IT HELPS!

#ask naralanis and maybe she will deign to respond #anon #fountain pens #fountain pen network #fountain pen geeks #fic writing #cissamione #and all the weird things that overlap in this godforsaken blog

[newagesispage]

                                                                        MAY                 2021

The Rib Page

*****

George Takei is sweatin’ with the oldies. He stars in a fitness app for gay seniors, Bar Belles. It was his April Fool’s day joke.

*****

Fox will bring us Crime Scene Kitchen on May 26 with host Joel McHale.

*****

Joel Hodgson has launched a new kick starter to create a new independent season of MTS3K, The goal is $2mil.

*****

Bob Odenkirk will release: Comedy, comedy, comedy, drama: A Memoir on Jan. 18 2022

*****

Leslie Jones will host the 2021 MTV Awards.

*****

$3 mil was raised for Next for Autism with help from Conan, Kimmel, Charlize, Chris Rock, Jack Black and Sarah Silverman.

*****

Have ya noticed that Gayle King looks great in yellow.

*****

Some people are not too happy that Elon Musk will host SNL on May 8. Miley Cyrus is the musical guest.** Musk tweeted: Let’s find out just how live SNL really is. Cast member Bowen Yang tweeted back, : What the Fuck does this even mean?

*****

Oh Seth Meyers: Every time I see the sea captain on your show, I miss him so much!!

*****

There is a spotlight on Foxconn which made a big splash for Trump at the start of his presidency. The company has done a lot of nothing but still gets tax cuts. Homes were demolished, roads were widened to nowhere and money was spent. Wisconsinites are upset that this big business is just folly and a big glass orb.

*****

Mike Lindell is a kook but he did try to appear to be a good sport on Kimmel.

*****

When will weed be legal on a federal level? When will drug testing for employment be illegal? We hear so much about personal rights with the gun laws and vaccines and masks. What about the right to do what we want with our bodies when we are not at work. Think of the administrative costs that could be saved if we just removed drug testing. Our experience and work ethic should mean more that what we do with our free time. This is not a problem at all companies. There are places in this country where it is near impossible anywhere in your area to get hired without a drug screening. One joint on a random Saturday night could keep someone from a great opportunity. A person in pain who reaches for an edible might miss out on the job that saves their lives.

*****

NASA sent the first flight to another planet. The Mars flight made history with the 30 sec feat.

*****

What? The Menendez brothers are popular again? From the Ramsey case to the Manson murders or Bundy, it all comes back around again.

*****

The Lizzie Borden house just sold for $2mil to Lance Zaal of U. S. Ghost Adventures.

*****

Quarantine and so much television et al proves one thing, the pharmaceutical and insurance companies have way too much $.

*****

Trump told everyone to boycott Coke and is later seen drinking diet Coke.** Trump sent out a statement about how bad the Oscars are. They threw it right back in his face. ** Federal agents have searched Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment. It stems from the 2 year investigation into activities in Ukraine.

*****

X-VP Pence is said to have pressured the Navy to reinstate former Mo. Gov. Eric Greitens. Greitens was accused of tying up, blindfolding, taking explicit photos of and blackmailing a woman.

*****

There is a crisis in schools with the lack of civics and history being taught.

*****

Hulk Hogan was hit with a chorus of Boo’s at his latest event.

*****

The latest sexual harassment news: Matt Gaetz  is being looked into for sex with a minor and sex trafficking.  Bill Barr opened the investigation.** Tom Reed has been accused of sexual misconduct by former lobbyist, Nicolette Davis.** Marilyn Manson has been sued by Game of Thrones, Esme Bianco for sexual abuse.

*****

What is going on with Bank of America? I am hearing from multiple people that often they do not get their statement in the mail. Is this a bad Postal service? Is this bad business practice? How many late fees had to be paid because of this? Not everybody wants to pay their bills online.

*****

Jack Hanna has revealed that he has dementia.

*****

Tiny Tim : King for a day is a new doc I must see. The film contains footage shot from Warhol’s Factory. There are excerpts from Tim’s diary read by Weird Al Yankovic and the story of how Tiny’s friend, Bob Dylan wanted to make a film with him.

*****

Lindsay Lohan’s Father, Michael has been charged with 5 counts patient brokering and 1 count of attempted patient brokering. This is an apparent scam of steering addicts into rehab for cash.

*****

Aaron Sorkin and Paulina Porizkova are dating. Pete Davidson and Phoebe Dynevor are dating.

*****

JB Smoove has a new podcast brought to you by TeamCoco.

*****

Hey.. People working on the new Law and Order: Organized Crime….. TOO MUCH MELONI!!

*****

*****

Zach Avery, actor, was arrested for his participation in a $690 mil Ponzi scheme.

*****

President Biden has restored aid to the Palestinians.

*****

MLB put up a wall in Georgia but the Masters stayed.

*****

Hank Azaria has brought Brockmire to a new podcast.

*****

Tommy Chong isn’t allowed on FB because of his weed posts but they allow an imposter to use his name to sell weed.

Pennsylvania is trying to push thru 14 voter suppression bills.

*****

Joe Manchin. Ugh!!** Marjorie Taylor- Greene has let go of her America First caucus.** Ted Cruz has allegedly used $154, 000 of his campaign funds to buy up copies of his book to boost sales. This is an old trick but still illegal.

*****

For the first time, The Carter Center became involved in a U.S. election. They published videos and live webcasts as well as deploying observers across Georgia.

*****

Most health programs in Uganda, Nigeria and Ethiopia have resumed after Covid.** Tom Vilsack from the Dept. of Agriculture has announced the USDA will provide assistance to 30 million kids.** It is sad to me that we have to entice people to vaccinate. Football games, Church’s and shot for shot in bars?? Really? Saving the lives of others should be enough. WTF?

*****

Alec Baldwin, Alec Mapa and Kelsey Grammer are shopping around a new comedy that ABC decided to pass on.

*****

Chauvin was found guilty.

*****

Days alert: C’mon Ben, calm the fuck down! Don’t prove how out of control you are like everybody thinks. ** Xander is so funny right now.** How many people will Kristen be and how many times can one person melt down?? **Bring Carrie back!! **Jackee’ seemed a bit nervous in the beginning but she is fitting right in. More!

*****

The SAG awards came and went. With the Trial of the Chicago 7 winning best ensemble, Michael Keaton is the first person to be in 3 best casts for SAG’s.** Other winners include Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Daniel Kaluuta, Youn Yuh-Jung, Mark Ruffalo, Anya Taylor- Joy, Jason Bateman, Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek and The Crown.

*****

The Oscars were held on April 25. It was a bit of a yawner and why would a show set themselves up for an awkward end?? There was a commercial from P&G right before the broadcast that stated, “ Widen the screen so we can widen our view.” Nice sentiment.  Mank had so many noms and only 2 wins. People looking their best to me were Leslie Odom Jr., Glenn Close, Riz Ahmed, LaKeith Stanfield, Colman Domingo, John Batiste, Mia Neal, Questlove (gold crocs and a mask!), Desmond Roe, Travon Free, Trish Summerville, Marlee Matlin, The Lucas Brothers, Andra Day, Carey Mulligan, Amanda Seyfried, Nicolette Robinson, Regina King and Margot Robbie. Laura Dern looked like Big Bird, there were just too many feathers. Tiara Thomas had feathers but they looked great.  Angela Bassett had some power sleeves and Tyer Perry looked like a little boy.  Hooray for Emerald Fennell for her win for original screenplay but not sure about the dress. And Viola Davis?? Dana Murray?? Ashley Fox?? Hmm?? Winners seemed to have trouble getting to the stage. They often refused the steps or the walkway and sort of climbed up the side. I did love the intimate setting and it did remind me of the old clips of years before. Sound of metal and Ma Rainey both won. Tyler Perry and for the first time, an organization, the motion picture and television fund, took home the humanitarian award. I was thrilled to see My Octopus Teacher win for Doc. I loved Crip Camp too, that was a hard category.  The acting winners went in all directions.  Many critics complained that the films were real downers . Nomadland won best picture. Michael Moore put it best I think. Of the films this year, he said, “They force you to look backward with 2021 eyes.”

*****

Why the Fuck do we need a militarized police force?

*****

R.I.P. victims of the multiple mass shootings, victims of police shootings, the crush in Israel, Cosette Brown, Midwin Charles, DMX, Paul Ritter, Ethel Gabriel, G. Gordon Liddy, Buddy Peppenschmidt,  Prince Philip, Anne Beatts, Diane Adler, Vartan Gregorian, Monte Hellman, Jim Steinman, Michael Collins, Michael wolf Snyder, Johnny Crawford, Eli Broad and Walter Mondale.

[har-rison-s]

you've silenced the great richie tozier!

request: I love your writings! You said you will write for all of the losers? Would you write a Richie x reader where the reader is an even bigger trash mouth and he’s like oh thats super hot?

A/N: Bonsoir, ladies and gents. Saturday, 19:45. Starting a little earlier, yay. Really wanna finish this tonight. I've watched 3 horror movies today, jesus christ. + Now I'm home alone. Now it's Sunday, haha. My eyes are tired from crying (I watched Chapter Two again and cried everything out). But I wanna finish this, I hope I do. Yah, lol, I didn't even live up to my own expectations. It's Tuesday and I really hope I actually finish and post this tonight. Happy reading!

warnings: strong language, horrible jokes cause I'm no comedian in all actuality.

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gif credit goes to owner, which isn't me!

“Beats spending it inside your mother.” Richie's exclaims and raises a hand for Stanley to high-five, but the boy brings it down. Last day of school, the boys have emptied their school bags of their contents, and are currently sharing their summer plans.

“Oh, it's Y/N.” Eddie announces, he sees the girl coming towards him and his friends. “Hi, Y/N.” Eddie waves at her and Y/N waves back.

“Hey, virgins.” She greets them with a big smile. The boys respond with quiet “hellos”, and they expect Richie to respond with something in his style of conversation, but there's just a small “hello” from him, too. Bill shows his surprise, looking at Richie with raised eyebrows. Y/N senses the strange silence between the four and scratches the back of her head out of pure nerves. “Why are we all so stiff? Playing manikins?”

“Yeah, haven't heard of the new play? The plot is set in a clothing store.” Richie says, his tongue back to work. Y/N narrows her eyes at the boy.

“And I assume you'll be playing the guy who gets a wardrobe makeover?” She raises an eyebrow, and eyes Richie up and down. His friends laugh, and for the first time in his life, Richie doesn't have anything to say. Even his friends notice. “So, what are you guys doing today? Last day of school!” Y/N wiggles her eyebrows with a grin on her lips.

“W-we have thuh-the Bar-Barrens.” Bill informs her. “Y-You wanna come al-along?”

“Sure. I've got nothing else to do, anyway.” Y/N shrugs.

“You're so sweet.” Richie says sarcastically.

“No sweeter than your dad's tongue.” She shoots right back, which earns laughter from the other three boys. Richie's quite frozen on the spot from her quick response. He adjusts his glasses. There's many things to say, but none of them cross Richie's mind. And he hates to be losing at a conversation of this sort.

The group of five start to head towards their bikes, though Henry Bowers and his friends are unfortunately in the group's way. First Bowers pushes Richie into Stanley, which causes both boys to fall down. Y/N immediately runs over to them and helps the boys to get back up on their feet.

Once they're up again, Richie and Stan both thank her for it. One boy is more flustered than the other, looking at her with deep red cheeks. Confidently, and without shame, Y/N faces Henry Bowers and shows him her clearly pissed off expression. But the bully isn't looking at her yet. “Hey, Bowers!” She calls out to him. Eddie, Richie, Stan and Bill look to her in a contained panic, and the Bowers gang, all four of them, turn their attention to Y/N, and the main bully sees the angry expression on her face. But it doesn't intimidate him in the slightest. “The fact that you're a dick doesn't make yours bigger.”

“Are you crazy?!” Eddie hisses to her, but Y/N pays no mind to the boy. Eddie's clearly in worry about her further well-being. Henry Bowers starts approaching her, and she stands bravely between her friends, not intimidated. And even though she's not afraid of the bully, she knows she should have kept her mouth shut. Just like Richie, this curse of always spitting out jokes and insults, will get her literally killed one day.

“Your summer will be hell.” Bowers growls. “You'll wish you were never born, you slag.” He tells her.

Y/N still looks at the bully, her slight anger rising more and more in his eyes, and feels a tugging at her skirt. It's Bill, signalling for her that it's time to go, but she doesn't notice him yet. “At least I'm not a failure like you.” She shoots right back at Bowers.

“Fuck!” Richie curses and they have to grab Y/N and make her leave with them a bit forcefully. The only way she could survive now is just to run. She and the boys head in a quick pace to their bikes, they're running as fast as they can, the Bowers gang right behind them. Though it's a little hard for Henry to run when his legs are like wooden sticks.

Though Richie is scared to death to actually get caught by Bowers and for Y/N to have the same destiny, he's very impressed by her. She's just like him, but—wait, could that be possible?—a bigger trashtalker than Richie. Could that really be possible?

He's also a bit jealous of her, but mostly he finds this increased, female-version-of-him Y/N quite… attractive. And not just because she speaks the way he does and because their personalities are basically the same, but also because she's pretty. She's very pretty. Though he feels like her personality bests her looks (No offense, Y/N's face, he thinks). She's magnetic.

“Fuck, I forgot my bike.” Y/N realises a big detail.

“You can ride with me.” Eddie proposes, and Y/N nods. They try to get on their bikes as fast as they can, with Bowers right around the corner.

“Be careful, Eddie, she might give you cooties.” Richie says, already on his bike and waiting for his friends to get started.

“You've already got all of them.” Y/N responds before Eddie can, and the boys laugh, despite their situation.

Y/N gets on the back of Eddie's bike, and off they all go. Bill leads his friends the shortest way to the Barrens, they pedal behind him as fast as they can. Y/N hears Bowers yelling profanities after them, threats that he will find them and make this summer their last.

But the girl only laughs at his threats and yells, and that takes Richie's attention once again. He adjusts his glasses and grins at the girl. She's completely untouched by Bowers and what comes with the name, the fear of him is chained to his last name like a dog to a fence. She's reckless, and she's funny. She's got a strong spirit. And Richie digs that. He hasn't met a girl like her before.

At least one that hangs out with him and his friends, and is, on the inside, a good person. Y/N looks over at Richie. “What are you looking at, Tozier?” She asks. “Glasses don't work? I'm not Diane Lane, sorry, sweetheart.”

The other boys laugh, but Richie's reaction is lesser. There's only a smile on his lips. “You wish.” He says to her, and Y/N sticks out her tongue at him.

“You wish you were Matt Dillon, Tozier.” She says, and looks at the road in front of her, and Eddie's hair that gets in the way of this view.

Richie hangs onto her words, and doesn't want to admit the truth in them. He does wish so, Dillon's the biggest heartthrob of this decade. There isn't a boy who doesn't wish to be in his shoes, with his looks and his charm. Cause all the girls dig Matt Dillon.

“You like him?” Richie asks her, and Y/N turns her head back at him. She raises an eyebrow once again.

“What's it to you?” She asks. Richie pretends like he's thinking, thinking deeply. His hand on his chin and a far-away look in his eyes.

“Say, what would you do if I woke up tomorrow and I would be Matt Dillon? Look like him, talk like him.” Richie proposes an idea. “What's your action?” He raises an eyebrow and grins suggestively.

“You'd be in Hollywood, which is a thousand miles away, so… I wouldn't really be able to do anything.” Y/N says, shrugging.

“Take a left!” Bill yells from the front, and Eddie speeds in front of an appalled Richie. The glassed boy only stares after Y/N on the back of Eddie's bike. She's got a big grin on her face, and she even laughs at Richie. Once again, she's made him lose his voice.

“Ha-ha! I'm in front of you!” Eddie brags to Richie. The boy's always been the fastest, but not now. He can't even think of being at the very front of his friend group. It doesn't even seem to matter now, doesn't seem like the most important thing.

What does though, is how to out-smart this girl. But looks like she's always a step--no, correction--a joke ahead of Richie. She's out-sassed him, and Richie is blown away. No one's ever done that before. And a girl? Most girls these days can't even look guys in the eye without fainting or blushing red like tomatoes. But Y/N's different. And Richie can't deny that he finds her hot, and her snapping back and out-smarting him.

Through the time the Losers and Y/N spent together on the last day of school, most of it was spent listening to Y/N and Richie going back and forth with jokes, too-corny-to-be-used-properly pick-up lines and pop-culture references. Though Y/N mostly beat him down, winning the unofficial contest. And she left Richie with his mind blank and mouth hanging open quite often. Bill, Eddie and Stanley had laughed at their friend. They were thankful to have found someone who makes the all-powerful Richie Tozier stutter and actually doubt his superiority in the comedy business.

He became quite fascinated with her, and he couldn't even hide his blush when she spoke to him. Though he did try to hide it, she still saw the pink tint coloring his squishy cheeks. And she had laughed, but to herself. She didn't want to embarrass the boy more than she already had. But it did make her feel a little powerful to be able to do so.

“Oh, no, now I get it.” She had said, and Richie had looked at her. For some reason, he thought she'd have a genuine statement to make. “You're auditioning for the red dress in the play.” She had concluded, and left Richie with his voice stuck in his throat.

“With a pale skin like yours, you'll do great as the white one!” He'd soon replied, which earned him a splash of Derry sewer water on his legs. The boy had only laughed and looked at the magnetic girl with wondering, wide eyes.

“I'll do great as a vampire.” Y/N had responded, and made a face that was supposed to mock the mentioned creature.

“And live off other people's blood? Disgusting, but enticing.” Richie makes an i'm-thinking face.

“I think blood is much more valuable than relying on them to always laugh at your jokes.” Y/N had admitted, and that earned her a splash of grey water on her legs. She'd squealed, but with a smile, and given an even bigger splash back to Richie. He'd gasped, almost covered in the liquid head to toe, and looked at Y/N.

“You're dead!” He'd screamed and pin-pointed the moment all hell broke loose. More specifically, he broke the hell right onto Y/N. An intense water duel had begun then, which no one except Richie and Y/N took part in, finding the activity more disgusting and unnecessary than standing by and watching would ever be.

Permanent tag-list:  @gabiatthedisco @v0idbella@inlovewithmiddleagedcelebs @works-of-fanfiction @destiel-stucky4ever-loki-queen @stfxlou @ur-gunna-h8-ths @betweenloveandfire @but-legendsneverdie @deardeacy @thewinchesterchronicles @mavieesttriste16@mrsmazzello @benhardyseyes @langdonzvoid @intrrverted @the-freak-cassie-131 @eddie-spaghetti-boi @radiantrichie​ @terratori812 @urban-dreams​

#richie tozier #richie tozier request #richie tozier requests #richie tozier x reader #richie tozier imagine #richie tozier imagines #the losers club imagine #the losers club imagines #the losers club x reader #har-rison-s writes #har-rison-s writings #har-rison-s work

[alpacinothirst]

Time Traveler Imagine Prt 2

1973

It had been two weeks since I had traveled to 1973. In those two weeks, I had interviewed at least fifty people. Almost all of them were government related. I had asked them all their thoughts on President Richard Nixon. Most of the public figures all spoke poorly of him. I knew that this mission was going to be a bust if there wasn’t anyone willing to back Nixon up. 

I decided to speak with Agent Moretti, seeing if he could point me into the direction I needed. “Who should I talk to? No one wants anything to do with him this late in the game,” I sighed into the phone. 

“I was just thinking about that... Maybe we could get some celebrities to talk on TV. That’s why we need you in Hollywood,” Moretti replied in a matter of fact tone. 

“Like who? Who am I going to get in with? No one wants to speak to Kelly Davis.” 

“We’ve got just the person...” He fell silent. 

“Who?” I asked impatiently. 

“Women of the 21st century really don’t know what courtesy is, huh?” Moretti sneered into the phone. “Al Pacino, biggest guy in Hollywood next to his costar... What’s his name? The guy who plays the Godfather... Well whatever,” Moretti dismissed the topic. “Pacino hasn’t spoken on politics. Maybe you could get him to say something good about Nixon.” 

“So how’re you going to set up a meeting with a high class, movie star?” 

“You don’t think the FBI didn’t rub elbows with Hollywood?” Moretti laughed. 

“I just didn’t think we could ask for an interview like this.” 

“You’ll see what kinda strings we can pull. Especially with communication to your time. The guys there have so many ideas. It’s uncanny. But lemme call you back in like an hour and a half. I gotta set up this meeting.” He hung up and I hung the phone the receiver. I felt disheartened still. 

I decided to go through the responses from my interviews. Moretti had asked someone to type out the transcripts per my request. It helped having the words in front of me, it made it easier to make sense of everything. 

As I skimmed through the pages, I noticed a trend in the responses. Every official had said the same thing about the break in: Nixon’s aides had the burglars’ names in their phone books. I knew that this was just propaganda written in by the media during this time period. 

I sighed, throwing the papers down. I was feeling hopeless and my mind was spiraling. 

I was sent on this mission to keep Richard Nixon in office and to be re-elected. That was my job. My head director had told me that it would change the media, that it would reshape how it reacted to political rhetoric and stop the disgusting mudslinging going on. This was supposed to help the ever growing rift in our nation. 

Before coming here, I had done my research on Watergate and the government in the 1970′s. Everyone was trying to get over Vietnam. Women’s rights were being questioned. If you could name one of the most controversial points in history for the American government and women, this would be it. The trust in the government was basically ruined with this scandal added to the mess of politics already. It devastated how people saw their country. 

I knew that was what I was here to fix. But with all of that bouncing around in my head, I couldn’t remember why I thought this was a good idea. All of these people were doing their jobs, putting into practice checks and balances. 

The phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. I was getting a headache from all of this nonsense. “Hey, Jacklyn, this is Jane. I phoned to tell you that you’ll be meeting with Al Pacino Thursday at 10:30 am sharp. Do you have pen and paper for the address?” She asked. 

“Yeah, I’m ready for it,” I said, copying down the address. It was a small hotel on the East side of LA. 

“Please be careful when interviewing him. Lots of people are going to see this interview. And the entire FBI is going to be watching. From your time and mine.” 

“Thanks, Jane,” I said, hanging up the phone. 

~

On Thursday morning, I woke up and put on a pair of red slacks and a white button up. By 10 am I was out the door and on the bus. The bus dropped me off two blocks from the hotel.  

Once in the hotel, I walked up to the secretary, holding my press badge in my hand. “Conference room is third door on your left,” she pointed down a blue carpeted hall. 

In the conference room I was met with the camera crew and Jane. “Hey Kelly,” she smiled at me. “Here are your questions,” Jane handed me a stack of note cards. Flipping through them I noticed the phrasing was off. 

“This one just says��“Is President Nixon a good president?” What is that? He’s not going to answer that,” I scowled at the cards. 

“If you don’t ask those questions, I think Moretti will throw a fit.” 

“I already wrote my own.” I showed her my small stack of notes. “It’s going to ease him into the subject.” Jane shook her head, insisting I use the cards. I sighed, finally just taking the cards. She took that as an agreement to use the cards because she thanked me afterwards. “What happens if I don’t use them?” 

“Moretti just told me to make you use them.” I sighed, sitting in my seat. It was 10:35 am. Al Pacino was still nowhere to be seen.

“Where is he?” I asked impatiently as the clock hit 10:50. And as if it was his cue, the door opened and revealed the man of the hour. “Hi there, Mr. Pacino.” 

“Hi. You’re Miss Davis, correct?” He asked, shaking my hand. 

“Yes! Have a seat.” Al Pacino sat cross legged from me, a coffee in his hand. He had a blue sweater on, it almost engulfing his entire torso. 

“Sorry I’m so late, got a late start this morning,” Al smiled at me. 

“You’re fine! How’re you doing this morning?” 

“Doing alright. And how about yourself?” 

“Fine,” I smiled at him, pulling my questions out. I saw Jane eye me, but I ignored her. She was not going to make a huge scene in front of these people. 

“So are we ready?” I asked the camera man. He gave me a thumbs up and pressed a few buttons. “Are you ready?” I asked. Al gave me a small smile again, nodding. I introduced him to the camera and spoke about his work. “So you’ve gained quite a lot of fame over the past year... How has fame changed your life?” 

Al sighed heavily before speaking,”I think the only thing it’s changed is my wallet and how many people know my name... But even with that, I am not sure too many people know who I am.” 

I nodded. “Have you ever been recognized in public before?” 

“Once when I was out for coffee by myself. The only other times I am really noticed is when I’m with my old costars.” I asked him more questions about his career, trying to make a smooth transition into politics. 

I was planning on transitioning into politics after my ‘what do you in your free time question’, but he didn’t answer my question. He asked me,”What do you do in your free time, Miss Davis?” 

“Oh well, it’s not that interesting,” I blushed. 

“Everyone does something.” 

“I like to read horror novels...” I said half halfheartedly. He nodded, resting his face in his hand, staring at me.

“For some reason, I don’t believe you,” he smiled, tilting his head. I felt my face grow red again. “And I think you’re giving yourself away,” Al laughed lightly. “Tell me what you do in your free time?” He wouldn’t know about half the things I liked to do. Everything I loved and knew was in the 21st Century. 

“Well, Mr. Pacino... I was hoping we could get back on track with the interview, if you don’t mind...” I tried to be polite. Al was holding back a smile as he nodded at me, asking for the next question. “I was going to ask you to comment on America’s current political scandal.” 

“You want my opinion about Nixon, huh?” He eyed me, shaking his head slightly. 

“If you wouldn’t mind...” 

“I think he’s an idiot for all the break in garbage.” I sighed, knowing that this was not going to go over well with Moretti.  “He tried to extort American money for himself.” 

“I think most people can agree on that,” I said, trying to seem neutral. 

“What do you think about the president?” He asked. 

“Uh... I don’t really get into politics much.” 

“My agent never told me where this interview was going to be published... Is it the anti-Nixon campaign? You can stick my face on that.” I laughed lightly, earning another smile from Al. 

After a few more questions, Jane slipped me a note. It told me to end the interview and so I did. I thanked Al for his time and shook his hand. Once the cameras were off, Jane stomped out of the room. She slammed the door on her way out. 

“Did she get offended by my Nixon spew?” Al asked, standing up and stretching. 

“I don’t think so. I think she’s mad because I didn’t use the questions she gave me.” 

“Well, I like it when the questions are original anyway...” He handed me my purse. “I was thinking... Maybe we could grab a cup of coffee... If you’re not busy?” He asked. 

“I mean sure... As long as we don’t get mobbed by your crazy fans...” I joked. He laughed in return, opening the door for me on the way out. We walked past Jane. “Hey I’m grabbing some coffee. Do you want anything?” I asked. 

“No. You need to be back here in 15 minutes so Moretti can speak to you,” Jane answered harshly, walking away from us. 

“She’s a real treat, huh,” Al said. “Who is she anyway? Your boss?” 

“Basically, yeah. She just gets mad when things don’t go her way.” 

“I couldn’t work with someone like that,” he replied. 

“You’ve never worked with anyone who was stubborn?” 

“Well, I have. A director or two... But most of the time, they just let me go ahead. Maybe I’m the stubborn one no one can work with,” Al laughed, making me giggle. “So what’s your name?” 

“Kelly, Kelly Davis.” 

“You’re in the media biz... How’s that?” 

“Well, it’s a little weird. Some days I have so much to do that I could pull my hair out and other days, no one will answer my calls.” 

“Hmm... Well, I could fix that... Wanna interview Diane Keaton?” He asked. I laughed at him, not realizing he was serious. “Come on, don’t laugh. I can get you an interview with Diane tomorrow night probably.” 

“Oh Al, it’s alright. I think I’m not going to be interviewing anybody for a long time. Especially after this...” 

“Your boss didn’t like your questions that much, huh... Is there anything I can do to help?” Al asked, stopping in front of a small coffee shop. 

“I don’t think so... But thank you,” I smiled at him. Al opened the door for me again and walked us up to the register. 

“What do you want? Drinks on me.” 

“Oh no... It’s alright. I can get my own-” 

“I insist... I’ll take an espresso and whatever she’s having,” Al said to the cashier. 

“I’ll take one, too,” I said. “Al, you really don’t have to.” 

“Please... Let me pay for one drink. You can pay for the next,” he winked at me. Al paid, leading me to a booth by the window afterwards. “So tell me about yourself? Where are you from?” 

“I’m from Nevada...” 

“Ah... You don’t strike me as a Nevada person.” 

“What kind of person do I seem to be?” I asked, playing with the napkin dispenser. 

“Someone who’s reserved... But a very strong silent type.” Al smirked at me. Our drinks came, stopping the conversation. “Did I get it right?” 

“Would a reserved person tell you if you got it right or wrong?” I chided. 

“You’re good...” He laughed, sipping his coffee. I asked him where he was from. “Good old New York City... Every been there?” 

“Once when I was younger. I went there for a school trip.” 

“Well, I call that place home usually.” 

“That’s nice... Do you live in LA part time?” I asked. 

“Only when I’m working in New York and vice versa the other way around.” The conversation died a bit. But I tried to fill it with questions about his movies. “I’m actually working on a movie coming out in December... It’s called Serpico.” 

“Tell me all about it!” 

“It’s about a cop trying to uncover all the other dirty cops... Based on a true story, ya know?” 

“Like Dog Day Afternoon?” 

“What is that?” Al asked, taking another drink. I sighed, mentally face palming. That movie wasn’t going to come out for another few years. 

“Sorry, it’s a small picture about a bank robbery in the 30′s. It’s not too big.” Al nodded, seeming to buy my story. I had almost freaked out. Slip ups like that were what got people thrown in mental asylums in these times. There were plenty of horror stories about people being thrown away in the loony bin because they slipped up about events or things during a mission. 

#alpacino #al #pacino #thegodfather #godfather #dogdayafternoon #serpico #70s #70s aesthetic #aestheitc #fanfiction #time #travel #timetravel #imagine #classic #cottagecore #goth #fbi #crime #truecrime

[lygerastia]

serpent of envy (Diane)

Summary: Just Diane and her little female admirer discovering their feelings for each other.

Warnings: none. 

Chapters: 1 [completed]

Words: 2,542

READ IT ON AO3.

**

“Hey, [name]?” the giantess lifts her head from the ground in order to stare at the person splayed onto her chest, right between her comfortable breasts. It was warm there—and Diane's female friend, [name], liked that place because she could hear her soft heartbeats. It gave her a sense of serenity and peace and love and comfort and...everything.

One thing, though: don't tell Diane that!

It was [name's] biggest secret (and she could understand why Meliodas was constantly 'playing' with Elizabeth). And Diane never has to know that. She was very oblivious as it is. Diane only thought of [name] as her friend, despite her wanting to enjoy a lot more precious moments with her before...

...before things got too complicated.

“Mmmhhhm…?” [name] murmurs sleepily, having been interrupted from her dream-like state. She wasn’t entirely asleep, being too hot and bothered by being this close to the giantess to possibly do that. It was just Diane's steady heartbeats that did the trick and lured her to somnolence. As long as Diane did not mind her sitting like this, she was fine.

And Diane should never know [name]'s true feelings and intentions. I mean, wasn’t she in love with the sin’s leader? At least that’s what she kept on saying.

So [name] had zero chances.

“I want to ask you something,” the brown-haired girl continues, waiting for her friend to look at her while she was talking.

They were chilling in a meadow, away from the bar and the others. It was almost time to go to bed, but [name] wanted for this moment to never end. They could just enjoy each other’s presence in peace, without others interrupting them. They could talk about anything. They could listen to the calming sounds of nature around them, to the murmur of the water, to the chanting of the birds and to the steady breathing of each other. They were both glad to take a break from all the fight and all the serious stuff happening around. And the only place they could relax was in each other’s company. In each other’s arms.

At least that was what [name] wished to believe.

“Are you listening to me, [name]?” Diane asks again and gently nudges [name]’s head with her index finger. The human girl moans once again and stirs awake, opening her eyes and meeting up with Diane’s vibrant purple ones. She gasps, her face coloring from the eye contact. She always remained breathless by the intensity of her eyes, especially when they were focused only on her. Rare were the instances when that happened, but those moments were precious. [name] felt her pulse quickening and had in mind to look away—but she kept her ground, curious.

“Wh-What is it, Diane?” [name] gulped, feeling her throat dry all of a sudden. Diane's lips looked so kissable. She desperately wished she could lunge and touch them—but it was inappropriate. No way she would ruin their relationship so easily, through a simple kiss. [name] had to control herself. “What did you want to ask me?” she added to divert her naughty thoughts away.

Diane’s lips turned upwards into a large smile, her eyes sparkling with glee and sunshine. God, her chubby cheeks were adorable. [name] wanted to pinch them.

“Do you love me?”

“Of course I—“ but [name]’s words die in her throat as soon as her mind processed the sin’s question. “HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?!” she can’t help but exhale, her voice cracking at the end in surprise. She lifts her body on her arms, two round saucers staring at Diane’s beautiful expression.

Was Diane serious? She couldn’t be. What was with this question? “I—“ [name] was at a loss. But the twin-tailed girl looked with so expectantly at her that…how could she not answer?

She had to say something.

I love you. I love you so fucking much, Diane. I really—I really do! Please, kiss me and—

“[name]? Are you alright? You’ve been spacing out for a while.” Diane looks worried and it breaks [name]'s heart to see her like this. No one ever wants to see Diane distressed. Diane deserved to smile—that’s the only feeling that really suited her. “And you’re incredibly red,” the girl continued, coming closer to the other female’s face, “you got a fever? We can ask Merlin for—“

“N-No-No-No!” [name] shook her head in rapid motions until she brought herself into a kneeling position. “I’m—I’m ok, seriously!” she clears her throat and steadies her breaths before the moment of truth. She opens her eyes and tries her best not to stutter the three little words as she says in her most confident tone “I lo-love you too, Diane. Of course!”

The giantess’s cheeks color in an instant and a wide beautiful smile settles onto her face at the sound of the words. She exhales out nervously—has she been worried all this time about this? That was weird; wasn’t Diane supposed to know this? They were close friends and hugged a lot (in human form) and stayed late in the night to gossip with their hands intertwined and it was so warm and adorable...

How could Diane not know this or see the way [name] constantly looks at her? Silly Diane.

“I’m relieved!” Diane coos, closing her eyes. “I was worried that you didn’t. Sometimes I feel as if you’re avoiding me so I got worried that I did something wrong…”

[name] shook her head again vehemently, putting on a serious expression. “No! I am not mad at you, I was just—“ she takes a sharp intake of air. She just did not want to fall for Diane more—she was already knee-deep into this unrequited love. “—just tired, I needed some time on my own.  Nothing personal. I’m sorry for making you think about me, but there’s nothing to worry about.”

“I’m glad.”

If you only knew…

“[name], let’s take a bath! I saw a splendid hidden lake that we can visit and use! It’ll be fun!”

Diane excitedly ran towards the [h/c] haired girl, who was casually chatting with a drunk Ban. The Boar’s Hat was full again, merry laughter and drunken yells filling the ears of everyone around. Everyone was working, except for Diane—it was her night off.

You interrupted your conversation with Fox’s Sin of Greed (who only seemed glad about it, drinking his ale in peace) and turned to stare at the bouncy twin-tailed girl. You tried not to let your eyes wander over her curvy figure. She looked so darn cute in her human size and that uniform. It was a welcome change—one that made your heart skip a beat.

You did your best to keep your composure. “Uhh, I’m not really in the mood, Diane, I’m tired—“ you tried to avoid being naked with her somewhere in a secluded place, although you did use to bathe together. Since, most of the time, your feelings were mistaken for strong friendship. Even if it was at the expense of breaking her heart, you’d rather not see her that way anymore. Besides, her feelings for the giantess grew lately, mostly because Diane suddenly started to show her a lot more affection. The hugs, the touches started to increase, giving [name]’s imagination trouble. She had no idea what changed. And she was unsure if she was enjoying this development or not. It gave her hopes that there could be something more in these touches.

It was wrong to get her hopes up. It was a nasty feeling; but she indulged in those touches anyway, wanting to keep Diane close.

A small comfort.

“Awww,” the giantess pouts, taking [name]’s hand in hers, using her strength to pull her up from the chair. “You need to relax, [name]! Come on, it’s really pretty!” She kept on blabbering as she dragged [name] with her. The other girl couldn’t do much to resist Diane’s force, her heart already torn between the two decisions.

In the end, she spent too much time thinking, and the two girls are already running down the hill. Before she knows it, they’re laughing in the dark, calming forest, trying not to trip around fallen branches. Diane’s palms radiate warmth and [name]’s drawn toward it, completely bought into this game.

“We’re here!” Diane declares and you can’t help but gasp in awe. It was a small pond, not entirely a lake. It was surrounded by tall trees with bushy crowns, letting scarce rays of moonlight through the leaves, scintillating in the still surface of the water. The place felt private—and that’s what [name] wanted. He did not need peeping toms to peek at their bodies. Thousands of fireflies danced across the pond, in the air, giving the whole darkness around an emerald glow. All felt as if it as depicted from a fantasy story. They were already part of a fantastic adventure story. But [name] was glad that she was here with her, to share this special moment. It was as if they entered a hidden area where no one could find them.

Oh, the possibilities...

“You like it?” the Sin asks, stepping into [name]’s view. Her eyes stared into Diane’s purple ones.

“…Yeah.”

“Then let’s get it!” Diane chirps and lets go of [name]’s hand. She starts to strip without shame, shedding off the skirt, moving her hips left and right tentatively. [name] watches with interest, her eyes examining every little feature. Her curves, her long legs and how she naughtily did not wear any underwear underneath that skirt. [name] knew about that, but it still amazed how far she would go to catch Meliodas’s attention. It made her jealous. Still, she admired her beautifully crafted bottom until her gaze was attracted by the way Diane’s fingers unbuttoned her shirt, so meticulously. It was a splendid sight, half of her body coated in shadows—intimate. [name] gulps, her own fingers slowly taking off her own clothes. She was too distracted to care. If it were for her, she wouldn’t mind remaining clothed just to admire Diane’s body. She sheds the last layer, exposing her bare back.

[name] bites her lip to the point of bleeding—her heart lurched in her chest, squeezing with pain. She was so unlucky. She was head over heels with Diane and yet she had zero chances in conquering her. It was hopeless. Diane would never love her. Being near her was harmful—maybe she should just run away and forget about it. She couldn’t take this anymore. She wanted to get away and fall in love with someone else. But—was that really possible?

“[name]? You coming?” Diane’s face is illuminated by the moon rays, her smile glinting. [name]’s heart skips a beat and drops her shirt at her feet, staring at Diane. With her hair laid down, she was a sight to see. Her cheeks heated up, but she kept on watching, responding with a ‘You go first.’ Diane shrugged, ‘Suit yourself’, and simply jumped into the pond with a splash.

Diane resurfaces and stands in all her glory, pushing her hair out of her vision. Her skin had an ethereal glow, drops of water running down her body.

[name] licks her lips, frozen. Diane turns towards her, eyes shining. “Are you coming?” she repeats, kind of confused by her dazed expression.

The girl nods, but her body wasn’t moving. She just watches, feeling butterflies in her stomach.

“[name]? Are you sure you’re ok? You’re spacing out. Maybe we should go…” she added, worriedly.

“No, seriously, I’m fine…” Despite being rather cold, [name]’s body feels warm. “I’ll…come.” With slow steps, she enters the water gradually, getting used to the temperature. Diane giggles at that and swims away, in the middle of the pond. [name] takes a deep breath and dips into the water, gently swimming over to Diane.

“Isn’t it wonderful, [name]?” Diane laughs, spreading out her arms.

“…Yes, you are.” [name] let it slip out, but she doesn’t avert her gaze. She keeps on staring.

“Wh-What was that? You think I’m…” Diane gulps, getting all red. “Wonderful?”

It was in this moment when [name] realizes what she had said and turns her head away, muttering a ‘Nevermind’. She turns on her back, floating away and closing her eyes to keep the embarrassment away. She can’t believe she just said that out loud. What will Diane think about all this? She had been stupid. She wants to get away, to float into the abyss and forget this ever happened.

But two hands stop on her shoulders. She doesn’t dare to open her eyes, though she’s tempted. But she fucked up and it’ll only make Diane question her true intentions.

“[name],” Diane’s voice whispers. “Do you seriously think that?”

“Diane…” [name] pleads, opening her eyes. She’s struck by her beauty once again, but she has to focus here. “I do, but—“

“He he…I’m happy you said that!” She feels Diane’s hands cupping her face and, in a second, she leans over and captures [name]’s lips into a cute and short kiss.

“Huh…?” the girl lets out as soon as Diane interrupts the kiss, dumbfounded. She blinks—but Diane is still there. This was not a dream. Oh no.

“Wh-Wh-What was that for?!” she struggles to stand up, almost drowning herself in her haste. She stands a few feet away from Diane, who is more confused than anything.

The giantess cocks her head to the side. “I wanted to kiss you, that’s all.”

“WH-Why?! We’re not even together, we’re just—friends!” It hurt to say that word, but she had no choice.

Diane pouts “Friends? But I thought you loved me.” And now she’s slightly disappointed.

“I-I do, but-but-but I thought you said that as friends, not as—“ [name] gulps. “L-L-Lovers.”

The brown haired girl steps closer. Her thoughts were in disarray—what the hell was going on here?! Diane grabs her arms gently.

“I thought it was clear!” Diane slightly giggles at your red face. “I don’t say this to everyone.”

[name] looks downwards, shameful. “I thought you liked Meliodas…”

“Ah, captain?” Diane shrugs. “I guess I did. But then I found you! We are always together so I thought it was obvious that we liked each other.”

“Y-You knew that I liked you?” she lifts up her head, eyes teary.

“No, but I figured it out when we had that love talk!” Diane smiled brightly. “Did you change your mind?”

“N-No, but…”

“Then it’s all good! I’m so happy we cleared this out!” Before [name] could react, Diane brings her into a long kiss.

This time, [name] greedily responds, tasting Diane’s lips, the one she so desired. When they part slowly, [name]’s crying, much to Diane’s distress.

“Hey! [name], don’t cry! Why are you crying?”

“I’m just so happy…?” she wipes her tears away, grinning like a madwoman. “I love you, Diane. I thought I did not have any chance…”

“Silly!” Diane presses herself against her body, encasing the petite woman in a hug. [name] responds, hugging her tightly.

They remain embraced, naked in the dark, as the fireflies dance around them.

All feels warm and gentle.

–

[masterlist]

#Diane #nanatsu no taizai #serpent sin of envy #Nanatsu no taizai Diane x Reader

[lfthinkerwrites]

Prompt: PI Eddie struggling with trying to not go back to being a villain maybe?

For the first time that Edward can remember at least, he has a stable routine. Wake up. Shower. Shave. Choose his ensemble for the day. Go to the office. Read his messages. See his clients. Take his anxiety medication. Get to work taking pictures of people having affairs. Take his Zoloft. Go back to his office. Type up his reports. Talk to Oswald, or Selina, or Nina and Deirdre depending on their schedules. See Penelope on Fridays, when her schedule allows and ignore the ever-growing urges because that won’t end well. (Diane, Selina, Jonathan, it never ends well.) Go home. Eat. Take his aspirin on days when the glasses aren’t enough to keep the migraines at bay. Go to bed. Wake up. Rinse and repeat, over and over and over-

It’s a routine. It’s his routine. It’s stable. It’s predictable. 

It’s boring.

Boredom is dangerous.

He doesn’t have the lows of spending time in an obsessive spiral, scribbling out plans and riddles and counter-plans until he looks up and realizes that it’s been three days since he’s eaten or slept and he’s about to collapse, but he also doesn’t have the highs of pulling off a heist, or engaging the Dark Knight in the Great Game, there is no Great Game anymore, only this stifling routine.

He looks at himself in the mirror some days and doesn’t recognize the respectable, almost normal man he’s become. 

Wasn’t there once a time he’d have rather rot in Arkham than become conventional?

It feels more and more, as time goes by and this new stability smothers him, drowns him, makes him want to claw out of his own skin because this just doesn’t feel right, that there is a hole in him where the riddles used to be, and nothing, not Oswald, not Selina, not Penelope, not even the matter with Sharp and Strange can fill it. Maybe, he thinks one night as he climbs exactly fifty steps up the stairs to his apartment, that perhaps when that case is concluded, he’ll go back to who he used to be, to see if the hole could be filled. It’s a conversation he’d had with himself before, but something about tonight makes him determined. Yes. Yes. After Sharp, after Strange, he’ll return, he’ll show everyone, he’ll be back and nothing and no one will talk down to him, or put him on drugs, or reject him or force him to feel things he’s terrified to feel ever again-

He goes to unlock the door only to find it already open. He opens the door to find the culprit sitting on his couch with her feet up on the coffee table, drinking ginger ale and watching his TV. She looks up and gives him a jaunty wave. “Hey, Pops.”

Edward shakes his head and shuts the door behind him. “Get your feet off my coffee table,” he scolds. “Were you raised in a cage?”

Ellen rolls her eyes but does as she’s told, then puts her drink down on a coaster and makes a monkey gesture. “Ooga booga booga! Ellen hungry! Ellen want eat!”

It’s Edward’s turn to roll his eyes. “What, you haven’t had your fill going through my pantry again?”

“All you’ve got are crackers and those organic low sodium rice cakes! How am I supposed to eat that?”

“Ellen, one day you’re not going to have the metabolism of a teenager anymore and when that day comes, you’ll wish you ate more organic low sodium rice cakes.” He is hungry too though, and it’s been too long since he’s spent an evening with his irascible daughter. He gestures towards the door. “Come on. Let’s go to the store and pick up some things.”

Ellen’s eyes light up. “Pasta?”

Edward smiles a bit, the first genuine smile he’s had all day. “Why not? I can teach you how I make it if you want.”

“Yeah!” Ellen springs up from the couch, turning the TV off and grabbing her coat. Edward opens the door back up and the father and daughter head off.

Edward doesn’t think about riddles or relapses for the rest of the night.

#PI verse #edward nigma #riddler's daughter #eddie has very bad days #but ellen has a way of helping with that whether she knows it or not

[deszdemona]

ok. so i just finished Diane Keaton’s Then Again. and for every sentence she wrote to describe Al and her relationship with Al.... man, the heartbreak is just real. 

#AND BRUTAL #i can't listen to all i have to do is dream without feeling so blue for those two idiots likeeeee #i've read so many things like this in fiction but HEY THIS ONE IS AS REAL AS YOU AND ME #smh #diane keaton #al pacino

[winterhelps]

Hey !! I thought about this masterlist a couple days ago, when I realised that I usually pick American or British faceclaims to my RP's characters. I'm trying to change that so I started to look for celebrities in other countries and I decided to share them with you!  

❥ ❛ — under the ❝ read more ❞  you will find a Masterlist with #137 faceclaims divided by nationalities !! They all have resources, hope you all enjoy. If you found this helpful please like or reblog !!

I'm not putting south korean actors/singers because I'm planning to do a masterlist of korean fcs only.

Argentina

Bérénice Bejo (41 — she's also french)

Lali Esposito (25)

Julie Gonzalo (36)

Martina Stoessel (20)

Australia

Adelaide Kane (27) 

Cate Blanchett (48)

Chris Hemsworth (34)

Claire Holt (29)

Hugh Jackman (48)

Indiana Evans (27)

Liam Hemsworth (27)

Lucy Fry (25)

Margot Robbie (27)

Mia Wasikowska (27)

Nathaniel Buzolic (34)

Nicole Kidman (50)

Phoebe Tonkin (28)

Rebel Wilson (37)

Rose Byrne (38)

Ruby Rose (31)

Teresa Palmer (31)

Brasil 

Adriana Lima (36)

Alessandra Ambrosio (36)

Bruna Marquezine (22)

Caio Castro (28)

Camila Queiroz (24)

Chay Suede (25)

Cíntia Dicker (30)

Francisco Lachowski (26)

Isabelle Drummond (23) 

Isis Valverde (30)

Lais Ribeiro (26)

Marina Ruy Barbosa (22)

Morena Baccarin (38)

Neymar Jr (25)

Vini Uehara (27)

Canada 

Alexander Ludwig (25)

Avril Lavigne (33)

Ellen Page (30)

François Arnaud (32)

Jessica Lucas (32)

Justin Bieber (23)

Katheryn Winnick (39)

Laura Vandervoort (33)

Meghan Ory (35)

Rachel McAdams (38)

Rachelle Lefèvre (38)

Ryan Gosling (36)

Sandra Oh (46)

Shawn Mendes (19) 

Shay Mitchell (30)

Stana Katic (39)

Stephen Amell (36)

Tatiana Maslany (32)

Cuba

Ana de Armas (29)

Anabelle Acosta (30)

Bella Thorne (19 — cuban descendant)

Cameron Diaz (45 — cuban descendant)

Camila Cabello (20)

Denmark 

Nina Agdal (25)

Josephine Skriver (24)

France

Adèle Exarchopoulos (23)

Audrey Tautou (41)

Clémence Poésy (34)

Élodie Yung  (36)

Eva Green (37)

Gaia Weiss (26)

Gaspard Ulliel (32)

Léa Seydoux (32)

Marion Cotillard (42) 

Mélanie Laurent (34) 

Germany 

Diane Kruger (42)

Max Riemelt (33)

Michael Fassbender (40)

Q'orianka Kilcher (27)

India

Aditya Roy Kapur (30)

Aishwarya Rai (43)

Alia Bhatt (24)

Karen David (37/38)

Kriti Sanon (27)

Priyanka Chopra (35) 

Shahid Kapoor (36)

Sidharth Malhotra (32)

Taapsee Pannu (30)

Tina Desai (30)

Varun Dhawan (30)

Japan

Asami Zdrenka (22)

Rila Fukushima (28)

Rinko Kikuchi (36)

Tao Okamoto (32)

Mexico

Alfonso Herrera (34)

Anahí (34)

Daniela Bobadilla (24)

Diego Boneta (26)

Eiza Gonzalez (27)

Eréndira Ibarra (32)

Lupita Nyong'o (34 — she's also kenyan)

Salma Hayek (51)

Sara Ramírez (42)

Netherlands

Doutzen Kroes (32) 

Lotte Verbeek (35) 

Luca Hollestelle (21)

Romee Strijd (22)

Vajèn van den Bosch (19)

Norway

Herman Tømmeraas (20)

Josefine Frida Pettersen (21)

Tarjei Sandvik Moe (18)

Thomas Hayes (20)

Ulrikke Falch (21)

Russia 

Irina Shayk (31)

Margarita Levieva (37)  

Svetlana Khodchenkova (34)

South Africa

Candice Swanepoel (28)Charlize Theron (42)Lesley-Ann Brandt (35) Sasha Pieterse (21)

Spain

Blanca Suárez (28)

Ivana Baquero (23)

Mario Casas (31)

Miguel Ángel Silvestre (35)

Penélope Cruz (43)

Sweden

Alexander Skarsgård (41)

Alicia Vikander (29)

Bill Skarsgård (27)

Elsa Hosk (28)

Gustaf Skarsgård (36)

Malin Akerman (39)

Noomi Rapace (37)

Rebecca Ferguson (33)

Tove Lo (29)

Zara Larsson (19)

Ukraine 

Alina Kovalenko (25)

Mila Kunis (34) 

Other Countries

Elena Satine (28 — Georgia)

Gal Gadot (32 — Israel)

Lana Condor (20 — Vietnam)

Yasmine Al Massri (38 — Lebanon)

#rph #masterlist #fc help #fc masterlist #a masterlist #rpc #rph br

[kingteeshops]

Hei Hei Rooster Not Today Peckers shirt

Friends of Diane von Furstenberg Hei Hei Rooster Not Today Peckers shirt . closed out the weekend in style, toasting the unofficial beginning of summer and the newly opened Statue of Liberty Museum. The festivities took place on Liberty Island, which was closed to the public yesterday evening Hei Hei Rooster Not Today Peckers shirt, hoodie, sweater, longsleeve and ladies t-shirt

Classic Ladies

Hoodie

LongSleeve

Sweatshirt

Unisex Giving friends of the designer unprecedented access to Lady Liberty—a monument von Furstenberg has championed through her philanthropic endeavors by raising an astounding $100 million for the museum Hei Hei Rooster Not Today Peckers shirt . Fran Lebowitz, Steven Kolb, and Anh Duong were just a handful of the guests who turned out to celebrate. “To me, it’s incredibly moving,” said Lebowitz of the monument and the occasion to celebrate with von Furstenberg. The festivities began with a private ferry ride to the island from lower Manhattan. Once docked on Liberty Island, guests enjoyed the waterfront views; some took advantage of the rare chance to embark on a 377-step (or 20-story) climb to the apex of Lady Liberty’s crown. Others took the chance to relax on the sundeck of the Statue of Liberty Museum and catch up with the designer. She’s had a packed agenda as of late: the museum fêted its grand opening just two weeks ago, and tonight, she will partake in the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards—her last event as chair of the council. Regrouped and refreshed with Paloma cocktails and rosé, the crowd then headed indoors for an intimate tour of the Statue of Liberty Museum. Von Furstenberg called special attention to the glittering stars adorning the museum’s entrance; created by Duong, von Furstenberg secured $2 million donations per star to support building efforts. Park rangers then directed the group through an immersive and touching exhibition on the statue’s history. “Being who you are, I think that’s what the Statue of Liberty really stands for,” said CFDA president and CEO Steven Kolb. “I’m just glad to be here and have one more night with Diane before her chairmanship concludes, and in this special, wonderful place.” After the tour, the group sat down for an al fresco, picnic-style dinner on the terrace of the island’s Crown Cafe. As most of the guests took their seats to settle in for the meal, von Furstenberg visited each table to greet and thank the attendees. You Can See More Product: https://kingteeshops.com/product-category/trending/ Read the full article

[tshirtfashiontrend]

Hei Hei Rooster Not Today Peckers shirt

Friends of Diane von Furstenberg Hei Hei Rooster Not Today Peckers shirt . closed out the weekend in style, toasting the unofficial beginning of summer and the newly opened Statue of Liberty Museum. The festivities took place on Liberty Island, which was closed to the public yesterday evening Hei Hei Rooster Not Today Peckers shirt, hoodie, sweater, longsleeve and ladies t-shirt

Classic Ladies

Hoodie

LongSleeve

Sweatshirt

Unisex Giving friends of the designer unprecedented access to Lady Liberty—a monument von Furstenberg has championed through her philanthropic endeavors by raising an astounding $100 million for the museum Hei Hei Rooster Not Today Peckers shirt . Fran Lebowitz, Steven Kolb, and Anh Duong were just a handful of the guests who turned out to celebrate. “To me, it’s incredibly moving,” said Lebowitz of the monument and the occasion to celebrate with von Furstenberg. The festivities began with a private ferry ride to the island from lower Manhattan. Once docked on Liberty Island, guests enjoyed the waterfront views; some took advantage of the rare chance to embark on a 377-step (or 20-story) climb to the apex of Lady Liberty’s crown. Others took the chance to relax on the sundeck of the Statue of Liberty Museum and catch up with the designer. She’s had a packed agenda as of late: the museum fêted its grand opening just two weeks ago, and tonight, she will partake in the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards—her last event as chair of the council. Regrouped and refreshed with Paloma cocktails and rosé, the crowd then headed indoors for an intimate tour of the Statue of Liberty Museum. Von Furstenberg called special attention to the glittering stars adorning the museum’s entrance; created by Duong, von Furstenberg secured $2 million donations per star to support building efforts. Park rangers then directed the group through an immersive and touching exhibition on the statue’s history. “Being who you are, I think that’s what the Statue of Liberty really stands for,” said CFDA president and CEO Steven Kolb. “I’m just glad to be here and have one more night with Diane before her chairmanship concludes, and in this special, wonderful place.��� After the tour, the group sat down for an al fresco, picnic-style dinner on the terrace of the island’s Crown Cafe. As most of the guests took their seats to settle in for the meal, von Furstenberg visited each table to greet and thank the attendees. You Can See More Product: https://kingteeshops.com/product-category/trending/ Read the full article

[morrpriestess]

A Story

So, here’s a very long channeling of sorts!

Sometimes, one can travel dimensions through art and imagery. Entering the dream realm in order to heal or repair. To fix some truths and to just observe. Let it be.

Really I just wanted something different :)

Here’s a little visit. A journey through my subconscious. It’s quite long. But this is pretty much what I do. To be honest. I doubt there’s anybody who’ll read this. But if you do, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have...

I was there, just laying under the sun and shadows in a petit hammock. A desert, a beach. I don’t know at this point honestly. So dry and so serene, yet in my mind it is so fresh; vibrant waters and blue waves.

Am I the only one to see it? Does anybody else see it?

Until now it’s only me. And it is perhaps after all, only because it is me, and I haven’t asked anyone yet. Who’s fault is that? No one’s. Just me and the sea…

Just the sea and me, didn’t you mean?

Well, no. Maybe. Hey, at least they rime together!

True… love you!

Me too!

And from afar I can see my mother and Di, they’re picking up algae to eat and to cook. But well, I don’t know if they see it. For all I know, those could be plants and such. I don’t think they see it. They just stare at it with a serious classical ‘resting bitch face.’ who am I to judge though, mine probably looks like that too.

So still. 

And yet behind me, I see my two cousins, I & D, fighting with swords in front of St and Ro, each quietly rooting for their respective sons. An amicable match. And suddenly think... I’m lucky I’m a girl…

Let’s go see the fight! I go and stand up, I’m bored and even so yet, I have the option to return, so I’ll gladly take it once again later, to keep seeing the beautiful, floating vast blue, neon sea. This time at night. I get excited just thinking about it!

I’m glad I’ve become more cheerful...

Anyways, back to the friendly fight, just clashing swords. Hermione’s watching and she doesn’t care, she rolls her eyes playfully and goes away. Ale is watching from afar with some really cool sunglasses, pretty much just taking care of us, not listening though. My father is far from here and suddenly approaches me. He tells me that I should fight. And so, as many times before, I chose to humor him. I’m no good at this! I blush, but even so among my shy nature, I manage to look secure, to look confident or at the very least rescuable. Laughing, and making some jokes here and there, making a silly remark about how I’ll win without a doubt.

One laughs while the other feels the need to tell me how wrong I was in a very indignated way, but even so, I feel respect from both of them… hmm, funny. I thought that they underestimated me, or just didn’t take me seriously?

Who am I to them and to the men in my family?

As I grab my sword, as I get handed one I see the crystals within it. It is green, emerald green, I blow at it, and it appears to have encrusted lilac gems. Platinum black, green, lilac. Then crystalline. I still wonder…

Do they see it?

One’s sword is bright, baby blue with some lilac, holographic-like highlights, and the other one is more modest, wooden, with sharp metal, silver edges. Stylish and holy in another level.

And doesn’t that make you feel selfish? Show-offy?

Bad?

I believe that the only selfish in me is you judging me. Am I not enough for me?

I’m just what I need, and I’ve always been. And if you don’t see that, if you don’t feel that, then probably the one who’s being selfish is you. Why not be sufficient with yourself. Instead of wanting me to be, what you’ve never been?

Let me love me.

Let me need me.

Let me love you.

And let me be needed as well as need.

I’m a child and I’m old. Both of them need more than an adult does in the physical world. And that’s okay, that’s fine. Adults need help on the other side. And that’s fine.

I feel oddly proud… vibrant baby blue, wooden with sharp edges. I then remembered that I’m the eldest of us all. Behind me, I can feel and see, both Se & So, a bit far away in a wheel swing. Just healing each other’s wounds and making each other laugh. Kids. I’m glad. Se is among the girls and I’m among the guys. Interesting. Funny! I smile. It fills me with joy and energy! Though grandpa is at the beach, just looking at the sky, trying to feel his legs until falling asleep.

And while I’m distracted and dazed, both cousins try to take me out first. The swords go right through me as if I were a ghost. Suddenly they don’t see me, perhaps taking this a little bit too seriously. I laugh whole-heartedly. With an amicable insult and cocky, playful bravado I pretend to attack. Both feeling very paranoid as I sing and dance. They both know that the true battle is about to start.

And so, as expected, one lashes out to hit me and I dodge laughing, then again screaming. I tell him: let's take I out first. And he surprisingly believes me! I push him and attempt to take his sword.

St protests at the injustice and Ro laughs at it. My dad nods negative…

And I don’t care.

I feel free. My ‘victim’ pushes me back and tries to hit me more intensely. He’s angry but he’s making an effort to have fun. Which means that he’s going to win for my own safety probably.

The other one stabs him in the back and gets stabbed right back. And funnily enough, I win!

Or, well, I guess I did win. In a rather strange way. But hey, once a winner, always a winner!

As everyone else just boos and complains, leaves to do something else, perhaps and hopefully more productive, my cousins just stare at me and hate me for a little while. While I shrug at them and commence to walk away, I won't admit it, but maybe a little bit hurt. No one back there said something nice or good about what I did or how I ‘won’, I was the only one making the jokes! How unfair!

… But then again, how sad! Can’t anyone be children and play?

Suddenly both of my cousins hug me and thank me. For what? I don’t know. I smile as they make some acknowledging, temperamental comments. And while they may sound hateful…

“You… you sneaky bitch!”

“YOU ALWAYS DO THAT GODDAMMIT, YOU!”

“Shut up Michelle, why are you laughing? What are you laughing at?”

They’re still hugging me warmly and fondly.

They’re just mad about something else.

They all are probably…

They see grandma and they stand by her in order to depart together a little bit later. She says hi to me, I say hi back. She gives me a kiss and then says she’s sorry, and that she’s trying, with that playful voice of hers and a sheepish smile. I tell her, no worries, I love her.

She then laughs and tells me that she keeps being happy because of me. Even if we don’t talk much, even if we don’t see each other much. She says that she relates to me and that I gave her faith to live with. And that’s she’s sorry for not being capable of admitting it. The same goes for my other grandma.

I say no worries.

No worries!

I understand…

Mom and Di keep searching through the algae and their vines, I approach them after my cousins' departure with K.

They said it was all okay. All while inspecting the vine’s red, tiny, bean-like fruits as I say that they should try them. Soon though, they told me they could not see them.

“Well, then taste them!”

We have other senses, after all... 

They grab the bean, without knowing they had it. I told them once again to taste it.

“Yuck! It’s too bitter!”

“Oh god, no! How horrible!”

Yeah, I understand. Just taste it, I’m sure you’ll take a liking to it eventually. It goes great with other platters! And their juice is sweet and intense. Like life. I guess it is what it is. Or maybe they just haven’t tasted enough berries and they miss their home.

I’ve been missing me as well. In real life, where’s my optimism? That grasp in reality?

Then it came, it is pretty easy actually…

It is there when I’m not there. When I’m too busy being myself to care.

Oh, I see!

Great!

Se is right! Life IS amazing!

I smile at my mom and my dear sister, who probably hates me as much as I hate her. I don’t!

She also gives me a hug, a Pisces one. Warm water and fresh movement. A union. Maybe mother doesn’t notice, but we both understand what we’re here for together within each other. A team along with other sister. A team of three. Forever together as that, sisters.

Three

Mom, you’re very lucky. As three is a holy number, a trinity is in to save. Animals, people and life. Death, limbo & life. And none of us are those. We just understand each other as those archetypes do so as well.

But I think you knew that as well, didn’t you? We all know everything and yet nothing.

Mom, I think that it is important for you to notice this.

We all notice this and at the same time not…

This is me not talking, but me just being. No words, no materials. Just manifestation, mom.

You’re lucky, mom. You’re blessed.

And thanks to that, we’re blessed as well.

Hermione suddenly appears and greets us, Diane and I, with a laugh and a hug.

Ever seen the card of the Three of Wands? Three of Cups? Three of Swords? Three of pentacles?

She then tells us that she’s been waiting for us to guide her to a nearby island. A bunny island. We say goodbye to you with a huge smile, a hug, and a kiss. As you try to decipher the mysteries of it all. Your don, your gift. Your life… ever heard about Atlantis?

Violins and guitars?

Okay, okay, I’ll let you be. Let go see something funny!

Be not scared! Be content and be curious!

Be you mom! Love you mom!

Love you a lot!

As I love my sisters & myself.

My father too, as well as my cousins who say hi to me from apart.

As I love the rain and it’s tears.

As I love the earth and how it receives me without doubt and with honor and duty.

The earth also tells you that it loves you too!

And that perhaps you haven’t noticed yet or at least lately. So she’ll wait for you as long as you have to. She’s old, and it’s not it’s first rodeo!

How funny is that?

Kind of like Mother Aughra from The Dark Crystal!

This is also for everyone, who has any doubts.

Just enjoy it!

Just enjoy it

Then I sit here once again, In Ale’s living room. Watching everybody with their own stuff and same old customs. Oh well, perhaps someday we’ll all see and make-up with each other. Because sometimes saying sorry wholeheartedly, even when we don’t know what we’re sorry for is all it takes, to be free and move on. With love for each other, and as a team.

…

Night comes, mom is better, dad is better. They’re both walking among the beach, telling each other stories from their respective worlds, as my sisters and So make an improvised party around the wood fire I and D made (both pretty irritable, but they’re just angry. Though D finally gives up and hugs So and Se. Playing with my sisters and talking to them.) Around them, My uncles and aunts reunite, laughing and joking along the sky. Grandma retiring for the night, though hilariously shouting grandpa’s name.

“You better not be sleeping at the beach again!”

“I’m here, I’m here! Let’s go to sleep then. Gosh!”

They both bid me a goodnight kiss.

“Well, I guess there’s nothing missing.”

My checklist is done, I guess. If not I suppose dad will take care of it. Though perhaps with a more harsh, mandatory, fist. But well, I guess it’s what it is, he’s just angry.

And I say that I love you. As I finally, happy, arrive at my little, petit hammock to see the night’s beautiful stars, the night’s beautiful lights, the beach.

Fresh breeze.

I breathe.

Falling asleep, interested and excited, for the new day and the new night.       

                                                                                                                                                                    - With love, for my family.

#dream #dream visit #realm #realms #family #withlove #readings #paid report reading #article #dreamtravel

[weeklyhumorist]

If the National Parks Responded to Real One-Star Reviews

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Diane F. from Mesa, AZ; review of Glacier: Worse trip I had. Yellowstone is so much better. This is just a lot of burnt areas and mountains. Very long uneventful day. Would really consider telling someone else to go spend 30. 

  Dear Diane: Thanks for your review and breathtaking typos. Those burnt out areas are because YOU HUMAN MOTHER FUCKERS LIKE TO SET SHIT ON FIRE. We don’t want to be bald like your husband, Al. We want to be lush like the earth was before you humans overpopulated it.

  P.S. We told Yellowstone what you said about us and they said you’re no longer welcome there. The next time you pull up to their gate, there’ll be a big sign that reads: “DIANE F. FROM MESA HATES MOUNTAINS AND IS CHEAP.” Yellowstone said they’ll have a pasta pass from Olive Garden waiting for you in exchange for never stepping foot in a national park again. 

  Alexa R. from Buffalo, NY; review of Badlands: I didn’t see what the big deal was. We drove a million years to see some semi impressive rock formations? And there were RATTLESNAKES everywhere? Dumb. You lose cell service because you’re in Nowhere USA. The only thing bad about these lands is entire experience. Waste of time. Thank god I was drunk in the backseat for the majority of the trip. 

  Dear Alexa: Thanks for noticing the large amount of rattlesnakes on our land. We purposely rounded up every rattlesnake we could find and released them in the Badlands to scare off visitors—particularly ones from Buffalo. We’ve found that people from NY become confused and frightened when west of the Mississippi River and we do our best to eliminate these weak humans from the planet. Sadly, it looks like you survived. Dumb.   

  Penny M. from San Francisco, CA; review of Yosemite: Absolutely LOVE Yosemite …BUT a new policy has just been put in place, if you don’t have your ID with you, even if you’re a grandparent, you will not be served a glass of wine, no exceptions!!! This is beyond ridiculous and incredibly awkward, if we all complain, policies can be changed. 

  Dear Penny: We’re sorry you weren’t able to get wasted around your grandkids at our park. We know how disappointing it is to be sober while traveling with 6 little shitheads who are pissed off their cell phones don’t work even though they’re standing next to a natural wonder. Believe us—if we were human and not public land for people to enjoy—we would get wasted because of your grandkids too.  

  Jorbi P. from Somerville, MA; review of Grand Canyon: Whoopity do, Grand Canyon. You are a giant hole in the ground. You don’t have roller coasters or dippin’ dots. Jeeesh. Can you say “overrated?”

  Dear Jorbi: Thanks for your review. If our 1,900-mile canyon is not adventurous enough for you, please, let us dangle your snively ass over the South Rim while you piss your pants and yell out for your mama. (Speaking of your mom, she called us and told us you’re a giant hole too.) BTW–Dippin’ Dots are for children who enjoy eating packing peanuts.

  Mike J. from Lexington, KY; review of Great Smoky Mountains: Don’t waste your time spending money to go to any place around or in these mountains between May and August. It rains and he severe thunderstorms everyday and almost all of the day. At least at a beach it rains for 20 minutes and stops. This place is beautiful, but not a great trip due to crappy weather that plagues the area. Won’t be back ever again.

  Dear Mike: We appreciate the review and will take into consideration THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE FUCKING WEATHER. Hey, why can’t any of you spell or use proper grammar? We are land—physical land with zero education or even a brain—and we can write better than you humans. Enjoy being basic at the beach with your basic family and basic 2,000-calorie frozen margaritas and diarrhea seafood buffets.

Kahil G. form Bethesda, MD; review of Yellowstone: The problem with Yellowstone is that it’s dull. Yellowstone is on a caldera. A caldera is a volcano that blew up and left a crater. The dirt from this is of poor quality. The only tree that grows is this ugly thing called a lone pine. No flowers to speak of grow here. The last thing is once you see water come out of the ground once your good. 

  Dear Kahil: We’re sorry our 2 million-year-old land is not exciting. You know we can explode at any time and wipe out the majority of America, right? Also, we have over 55 flowers and seven trees, and none of them are called a lone pine, dude. Where the hell did you even get that from? We’re starting to think you’re making shit up. Geysers that shoot water 100 feet in the air don’t impress you, Kahil? What does impress you? And don’t tell us Starbucks and hotel rooms with TVs because we’ve heard that shit before. If we had a fucking dime for every time a human said they missed their Starbucks and TVs, we wouldn’t have to ask you fuckers for $30 at the gate because your RVs and cigarettes and 10 children named Madison and Chad destroy our land. 

  Steve D. from Las Vegas, NV; review of Zion: Been here 3 times and it’s the last. What a joke. I had to pull over 3 times on my bike to let the Californians get to work on time. What’s the hurry? To get to the next crowded view point? Can’t get to the Red lodge to get ice cream unless you have a red sticker or ride the trolley. WAY over rated. My guess is the people that love this place never get out much. 

  Dear Steve: We’re sorry you won’t be visiting us anymore. Just kidding. We don’t give a shit. Can we ask you something? Why is that none of you can construct a goddamn sentence? And why is that you all love ice cream so much? And what Californians are you referring to? There are no Californians commuting to work through Zion National Park in Utah, Steve. Funny thing: The people who enjoy our park DO get out. They’re hiking and talking with fellow travelers and not bitching about imaginary Californians or lack of access to ice cream. If you’re looking for less crowds and more ice cream, check out the Dairy Queen off rt. 9.

    If the National Parks Responded to Real One-Star Reviews was originally published on Weekly Humorist

[derieri]

Ever Have I? Never.

Several someones told me to write NnT fic, so I went ahead and wrote some NnT fic. There is a significant shortage of pre-exile Holy Knight Seven Deadly Sins (a.k.a. pre-pie era) in canon and in fandom; here’s my minor contribution toward fixing that.

“Uh-huh, like you’ve ever done anything valuable.”

“And which one of you two has any incredible accomplishments to their name? Don’t tell me the old fart over there is king of the fairy tale clubhouse or something ♪.”

“Don’t aim your underhanded snark at Diane just because she’s right, Ban.”

“Hey Kiiing, I’ve told you where to stuff it before, haaven’t I?”

Meliodas sighed internally. And externally, too.

King, Grizzly’s Sin of Sloth, and Ban, Fox’s Sin of Greed, glared at one another viciously from their positions nose-to-nose with one another. King’s fat and stubbly face was scrunched into a scowl and flushed with irritation. By contrast, Ban seemed perfectly calm with a sardonic leer spread across his lips. Standing over them but bent in half to make sure Ban heard her insults was Diane, the 30-foot-tall Serpent’s Sin of Envy. And then, sitting further down the table silently watching the whole thing, sat their Captain: Dragon’s Sin of Wrath, Meliodas.

“You need to be leashed or something so you’ll sit and stay where you damn well belong.”

“Hey, Diane, careful what you say to me. If you go too far I’ll haaave to respond, and if I do that, King here might just exploooode.”

Another evening, another barb-tongued, hot-headed, spite-filled verbal sparring match.

That was to be expected, of course: their group included some drastically different personalities who were bound to butt heads. Still, if they were supposed to be a team, he couldn’t let them continue like this indefinitely.

“Okay you three, knock it off.”

Meliodas pressed his hands into each of their shoulders and shoved them apart. Ban resisted the push, and neither of them went so far as to wipe the scowl from his face or tone down the glaring. Still, once the pair were separated, they didn’t try to close the space between again.

Satisfied with that much, Meliodas swiveled on his heel to walk away. He came back what seemed like only a moment later, arms filled with beer steins. Without a word, but with plenty of dramatized enthusiasm, he dumped all seven of them on the table in between Ban and King. This at last broke the heated staring contest between the two of them as they both looked down at their captain in confusion.

“Booze?” King mused absently.

Diane was more precise. “Meliodas? What are all these for?”

Somehow Meliodas had already left again and acquired a full keg. He hefted its weight easily, encumbered only by the sheer size of the thing relative to his youth-sized body – it was about as big as he was! He peeked around the side to answer Diane’s question, wide-eyed and smiling just a bit.

“Oh! It’s pretty simple, really. Most of the time you guys are fighting, it’s probably because we don’t know anything about each other. That’s my fault – I should have done this a lot sooner.” He situated the barrel at one end of the long table as he continued to speak, chipper and apparently oblivious to the confusion of his comrades. “So, we’re gonna play a drinking game.”

“A drinking game?” came a voice from the door. Meliodas turned his head toward the speaker with a grin.

“Merlin! Perfect timing. Can you get Gowther and Escanor up here for a little while? We need all Seven Deadly Sins here for this.”

One of the sorceress’ eyebrows lifted, as did the corresponding corner of her mouth. It was a terribly condescending expression – and the one she wore most often. The smug little smile released into a soft peal of laughter, and she folded her arms.

“Sure, ‘Captain’. Give us a couple of minutes.”

 In no time at all, all seven of the Seven Deadly Sins were assembled around the long table. Diane and Gowther – their two members of abnormally large sizes – sat side-by-side at the end where there were no seats. The giantess looked decidedly uncomfortable sitting next to Gowther despite having scooted as far away from him as she could without leaving the table. Meliodas finished filling the last mug with ale just as Ban finally got impatient.

“Alright Cap’n, enough fooling arouuund. What exactly is this game we’re supposed to be playing?”

“I’m glad you asked! We’re going to play Never Have I Ever. You guys heard of it?” The question was met by a chorus of shrugs, shaken heads, and expressions of confusion.

“It is a conversation game wherein each participant says ‘Never have I ever,’ and then states something they have done in the past,” Merlin explained. Meliodas fell silent and sat back, deferring to the sorceress’ description. “Anyone else who has also done the action in question takes a drink. One those who drank asks the next question, and so on.”

“Exactly. So maybe I’d say something like ‘Never have I ever gotten a tattoo’, and all you guys would have to drink.” He snickered slightly.

Gowther raised a hand.

“I see. I believe I understand the structure of the game now. May I have a turn?” Meliodas gestured wordlessly in assent. After a brief pause, Gowther went on. “Never have I ever initiated or otherwise caused the demise of another sentient being.”

Five other cups left their positions on the table.

“That’s a little dark just to start wiiiith,” Ban muttered into his stein. The glint of white tooth bared by his smirk as he tipped the ale back, however, gave away the insincerity of his grumbling.

He took a quick swallow – when the cup came down, he was grinning outright, practically on the edge of laughter. “Alright, my turn. Never have I ever gotten too drunk to walk.”

The source of his amusement quickly became apparent as Diane wrinkled her nose and hmphed disdainfully. That alone made the Fox’s Sin chuckle – his smile just about split is face open when King shot him a dirty glare and drank again. From the corner of his eye, Meliodas noted Escanor taking a second drink as well.

King shot back quickly, throwing Ban a smug, pointed look. “Never have I ever… sacrificed myself for the greater good.”

Although the Captain and Merlin drank theirs in unison, Ban merely stared straight back at King with a lazy smile plastered over his features. He didn’t make any move to pick up his ale.

“Faaaancy ♪.”

Meliodas stole a glance at Merlin mid-sip – by coincidence, she happened to be looking back at just that moment. Their eye contact didn’t last for more than an instant before Meliodas turned his gaze away. Yet so much was communicated.

Merlin chuckled softly when she set her drink back on to the table. She didn’t let go of it to tip her head back and speak.

“Never have I ever sacrificed someone else for a greater good.”

The prickle of half-friendly teasing in the atmosphere suddenly evaporated at her proposal. There was a moment of stillness. Meliodas let it lie for a few heartbeats. Just as he opened his mouth to tell Merlin to go again, King abruptly picked up his stein. Only the sound of his hurried swallow broke the silence, and by the time he lowered the cup back down to the table, almost every eye was focused on the liquid left in their own mugs. Diane shifted awkwardly. Even Gowther read the mood and maintained a contemplative silence.

Escanor cleared his throat gently, breaking the extended pause. “Ne- Never have I ever gone more than a day without food to eat.” His voice was soft and hesitant, but it did the trick. All six other Sins drank. Merlin, with another chuckle to herself at whatever was passing through her mind.

“Never have I ever been in love,” Diane asked.

With a twinge of discomfort, Meliodas realized that her amethyst eyes were fixed directly on him. He forced a small smile past the twinge of guilt – and the sudden crush of a couple other emotions he wasn’t interested in dealing with – and drank deep.

Every reaction was different. King’s fleshy face colored, while Ban’s fell into an expression that could only be described as closed. Escanor curled in on himself bashfully as he raised his drink to his mouth.

Merlin pursed her lips in what Meliodas supposed was a bit of irritation but went ahead and drank nonetheless.

“Gowther, have you never found yourself in love before?” Escanor sounded… well, he honestly sounded a little bit distraught on his comrade’s behalf. Meliodas only now realized that he hadn’t seen Gowther move an inch in response to the prompt. Huh. “Have you never felt that fluttering heart in your chest rustle like a set of young birds learning to fly, or known sweet ambrosia of affection hurrying to leap from the tongue?”

“I do not believe so.” His response from within the massive armor was mechanical, as ever. “The sensations you describe are foreign to me – if they characterize the feeling of ‘love’ then I cannot say that I have experienced this emotion.”

“Ah, that is a genuine pity. Love counts itself securely among, if not at the peak of the richest sentiments that can be impressed upon a human heart. Although the poets may try, they can never manage to capture the true essence of love in its full breadth and passion, least of all my own lackluster attempts to describe it. It is truly a wonder to emote in such—”

Meliodas tuned Escanor out temporarily as his attention fell on Merlin once again. While everyone else was absorbed in the Lion Sin’s soliloquy, or else fully invested in ignoring it, their resident sorceress was looking at Gowther.

The way she did it brought Meliodas up short; was that pity he glimpsed on her face?

Merlin wasn’t the only one. In fact, aside from Escanor and Gowther, no one was taking the prompt very well.

Diane had stopped looking at Meliodas and retreated into shyness, inspecting the floor between her thighs from inside parallel walls of hair. The fact that she was so massive made it all the more clear how hard she was trying to be small. King seemed pleasantly dazed by the idea of romance, but Meliodas did not overlook how his body was filled with tension and strain, or the suppressed tremble in his mouth as he struggled to remain impassive.

And Ban… Ban seemed wont to turn into an emotional black hole. Something dark and crazed and brooding fell like a veil over his features. It was a look that Meliodas was not unfamiliar with – the look of a man who’d had a very deep part of him unwillingly sloughed away, and who was too consumed by grief to give a damn if the universe decided to take a little more.

Maybe team bonding wasn’t the best idea, after all.

He couldn’t do this. Meliodas had no intention of this leading him to deal with the sharp-edged questions and consuming, destructive emotions that any mention of love or romance dredged from his hearts. Not today.

Time for a redirect.

“Never have I ever cross-dressed!”

“What?!?!”

“Meliodas!”

“DAAMN, CAP’N ♪!”

“Of course you have.”

That did the trick.

 Meliodas never had to confront the specter of a goddess that haunted him for the rest of the night. Good. He wanted to avoid it. If he could just take care of the tiny silver Princess he’d carried out of Danafor, if he could just focus on what he had to do right now… If he could avoid processing, he always would.

#I literally wrote this in the last two hours and am posting it right now before I regret it #nanatsu no taizai #my fanfiction #fic: ever have i never #meliodas #ban #king #diane #merlin #gowther #The Seven Deadly Sins #Seven Deadly Sins #fanfiction