#and the neck had like 75 stitches so like

[keanureevesisbae]

Your dog is eating my sandwich pt. 2

Sergeant Hank Voight x fem!reader

Summary: Bea the Bassett Hound listens very well to someone other than her initial owner.

Wordcount: 1k

Warnings: Some dog-dog violence.

masterlist // one chicago masterlist //

While Bea listened to you around 75 percent of the time, Hank Voight had a hundred percent success rate. He clicked his tongue, she’d come strutting his way. Bea never strayed, kept staring at him adoringly and turned into the biggest cuddling machine ever. 

You weren’t jealous, however it was kinda a hard pill to swallow, seeing your companion exchange you for the man you were so attracted to. Times spend with Hank was amazing and you adored being around him.

He wasn’t like any other man you’ve ever been around of. Never had a guy the approval of Bea, but Hank was different. 

To say you were falling for him, was an understatement, because you were so in love with him. You felt so seen, so understood when you were around him.

But you hadn’t told him, despite you meeting up every other day to walk Bea and then have a drink at either a cafe or your place. You felt like if you were to be honest, you’d overstep and ruin the bond you have now. 

And today was such day. You were waiting outside the precinct, Bea politely sitting next to your feet. She was lovely already, however she’s now much better well behaved, thanks to Hank. While he is kind, he’s also strict when necessary and the things Bea lacked due to your mediocre training skills, she now masters. 

Hank makes his way out of the precinct and Bea howls, as her tail is wagging. He smirks when he sees us. ‘Sweet angel,’ he says, ‘I missed you.’

She stands on her hind legs and he grabs her front paws, allowing her to lick his face. She howls some more. Usually it was a bit awkward to hear your dog howl like that, however now you only find it endearing.

‘Hey,’ he says to you, as he lets go of Bea’s paws. ‘Coffee?’

You nod. ‘Yeah, sure.’

It was routine for the two of you to just drink coffee and stroll around. For Hank it was good, because it was mundane and it helped him get his mind off of cases. For you it was great, because Bea got an excellent walk.

With a coffee to go in hand, the two of you are making your way through the dog park, watching Bea running around. 

Hank had offered you his arm and you gladly held it, feeling his strong arm through the material of his green leather jacket. 

‘Good day at work?’ you ask. 

‘Same old same old.’

Despite his plain answers, you really enjoy hanging around with him. It felt normal, it felt safe.

‘Bea, come here, girl,’ you yell.

She stretches out her neck and lazily jogs over to the two of you. However, there is a dog making his way over to your Bea. They are baring their teeth and it doesn’t look good. ‘Bea!’ you scream, however you totally freeze when you see the dog taking a hold of her. Bea whimpers in fear and pain.

The owner is no where to be found, but it’s Hank who rushes over to Bea, managing to pull the aggressive dog away. When your loyal canine is freed, you quickly run to her, seeing she only has one bite mark which probably needs stitches, but other than that, she appears unharmed. 

Hank on the other hand is not done yet. After he yanked the dog away from Bea, he lifts him from the ground by his harness. ‘Who the hell does this dog belong to?’ he says, his voice loud, but he’s not screaming just yet.

‘What the hell man, that’s my dog,’ some guy says.

‘And your dog bit my dog.’

The entire confrontation scares you a bit. The owner is someone you usually wouldn’t confront, but not Hank. He turns into the sergeant he is at work. But you know the kind person he is deep down. It’s a little frightening to see him like this, but you’re well aware he is only doing it to protect you and Bea.

‘Come on,’ he says, lifting Bea up in his arms. ‘You too,’ he tells you, as it’s clear your mind is still processing the fact Bea got bitten. His raspy voice pulls you out of the thoughts. ‘You with me?’

‘I’m with you,’ you say. ‘We should go to the vet.’

‘Yeah, okay,’ you say. ‘Let’s go to the vet.’

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚ ☁️ 

After a visit to the vet, the three of you are back at your place, Bea still a little bit shaken up, wearing a little romper to cover the stitch she has in her thigh. She’s very devoted to Hank, who doesn’t mind, as she’s curled up on his lap, her head against his chest as they are seated on the couch.

While she’s not totally herself, you feel on edge as well. Your neck is tight, just like your shoulders from the stress you experienced at the park. While Hank told you Bea is going to be alright and that he’ll always protect the hound, you had a hard time letting it go. But he told you he got it covered, the whole ordeal with the other dog and its owner.

It’s all under control according to him.

And you believed him.

‘C’mere,’ Hank says, holding out his arm. ‘I’ve got room for one more and you look like you need it.’

He is totally right about that. You plop next to him and he pulls you closer to his frame. ‘Thank you,’ you whisper, as you feel protected and secure.

‘Of course,’ he says. ‘You and Bea are my girls, I’ll always got you.’

My girls. Did you hear that correctly?

And then you feel it, his lips pressed on your forehead. When you look up, he was already looking at you. You want to say something, but you can’t. But who needs to say something, when an act can say a thousand words? 

He must’ve felt the same thing, because he leans down and pecks your lips. But that peck turns into a real and deep kiss. He places his hand on the back of your head, pulling you closer like you weren’t close enough already.

And then Bea starts to howl and it causes you to startle, followed by laughter. ‘Bea!’ you exclaim. ‘What the hell? You jealous?’ You scratch her behind her ears. ‘You gotta share now, baby. Hank isn’t all yours anymore.’

Hank chuckles, pressing one kiss on your cheek. ‘Bea, just know you and your lady boss are my number one girls.’ He leans forward and gives the hound a kiss on top of her head. ‘Forever and ever.’

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚ ☁️ 

Chicago PD taglist: @acdassenza // @wanniiieeee

#chicago pd #chicago pd fanfiction #chicago pd drabble #hank voight #hank voight drabble #hank voight fluff #hank voight x female reader #hank voight x reader #your dog is eating my sandwich

[thesimplyluxuriouslife]

342: 10 Items I Am Wearing This Fall For Timeless Style (and to stay warm and cozy)

Having what we need in our closet as each season changes into the next brings a peace of mind that when reached is often forgotten about as it frees us to engage fully and comfortably (and confidently) in our daily lives.

In my own life, it was this October when I had plans to go to the symphony that I relaxed knowing I had an outfit fitting for the autumnal weather that was timeless, yet comfortable and upon wearing it, eased my mind in quiet confidence knowing I was dressed well and respectfully for the event. It is this feeling that, as someone doesn't necessarily enjoy shopping, but finds pleasure it in when I find something that speaks to me and works with my lifestyle, motivates me when I look at my capsule wardrobe for each season and guides my decisions as I invest after considering the three qualifiers to nudge me to click purchase -high quality, fits my style and functions well.

Today I would like to share with you 10 items that I have or am purchasing this fall season as part of my capsule wardrobe that I wear with confidence knowing it supports the life I love living and enables me to feel confident that I look my best so I can forget what I am wearing and just be present.

~Note for readers: the audio version of this episode goes into detail on each of the points listed below, so be sure to tune in as well as read through today's post.

1. Oversized blazer/jacket

~Theory's wool-twill black blazer, belted

~Nili Lotan Beige Adeline corduroy-trimmed quilted coat

~Iris & Ink Gray Hope Mélange woven blazer (more colors)

~Joseph dark gray Jara Mélange wool-flannel blazer

2. Oversized Pullover Sweaters

~Banana Republic Luna Cashmere Sweater Polo (four colors)

~wool-blend, Banana Republic's Cavo Half-Zip Sweater (two colors)

~La Ligne Bastien Sweater, Stripes (multiple color options)

SHOP MORE PULLOVERS:

3. Chelsea boot or Bootie with a heel

~Stuart Weitzman Yuliana 60 mm Bootie (four colors)

~Stuart 75 mm Stretch Bootie (taupe, more colors)

~SHOP MORE:

4. Cashmere Gloves

~Theory's ribbed cashmere fold-back gloves (four colors)

5. Contour Down Coat for walking with the pups

~Lululemon's Down for It All Jacket (four colors, removable hood)

6. High-rise leggings with pockets

Lululemon's Align High-Rise Pant (three different lengths), with pockets (many colors)

7. Midi-length straight skirts with a high waist

~Reiss Dani button-up Slip Skirt

~Vince Crimped Wool Midi Skirt, Navy, use promo code 50OFF350 to save $50 when you purchase $350 or more

8. A scarf for warmth while walking or errands or travel

~Eric Bompard, cashmere voile scarf, many colors

9. A small wallet for stand-alone use or placing in my clutches and crossbody bags

~YSL Gaby, quilted small envelope wallet

10. Oversized v-neck and turtleneck sweaters with straight-leg high-waisted jeans

Joseph's black striped ribbed merino wool turtleneck sweater (on sale when place in bag)

~Agolde black Freya high-rise slim-leg stretch organic jeans (on sale when placed in cart)

~Joseph High Neck Luxe Cashmere Jumper in Mauve

~Frame high-rise straight-leg jeans

~Joseph Luxe Cardigan stitch high neck jumper, cobble stone

~Goldsign Morgan high-rise straight-leg jeans

~Johanna Ortiz Olive Swooning Wool-Blend Turtleneck Sweater

~Khaite Danielle High-rise straight-leg jeans

~Vince wool-cashmere blend sweater in Sand

Each of the items in today's list are merely an idea of inspiration as components in what creates the foundation for a fall wardrobe to fit my day-to-day schedule and events. Over the years my style hasn't changed tremendously, but what I have noticed it that is has been honed as I become more clear and thus become more confident to invest in high quality items that I will reach for again and again year after year. Whether going about my daily work, attending an event indoors or walking my dogs outside in the chillier weather, I feel comfortable in what I am wearing on a variety of levels. And I hope you do as well with the items you have in your closet for years to come.

Wishing you a stylish autumn season.

~Please note: TSLL is supported by you, readers who take the time to stop by (merci!), peruse and sometimes welcome into your life mentioned and recommended finds. Affiliate links are present in today’s post and may earn commissions for TSLL when you purchase. View TSLL’s full Privacy Policy here.

Petit Plaisir

~Gâteau au Yaourt Citron

~Annika, tv series on PBS Masterpiece Mystery

Tune in to the latest episode of The Simple Sophisticate podcast

#tsllpodcast thesimplesophisticate

[barker11wind]

hermes ostrich bag 14

Hermes　Birkin Bag 25　Fuschia Pink　Ostrich Leather-based　Silver Hardware We ship FedEx Ground or FedEx Express Saver, relying in your location, so that you'll receive the item no later than three days from when it was shipped. This item is in very good condition with very few indicators of regular use. Corners are clear with no signs of scuffing, but for one corner with some slight mild scuffing, however other 3 corners don't have any scuffs. Bag exhibits no important creasing, feels crisp to the contact, and resin is "glossy" clean with no bending, weathering or splitting. birkin ostrich bag Collecting Luxury just isn't affiliated with, nor a licensed boutique of the manufacturers we promote. By submitting this kind, you are agreeing to our assortment, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with our privateness policy as properly as to receiving e-mails from us. By clicking, you agree to receive automated texts and calls from PETA and settle for our phrases and situations. While ostriches can reside for greater than forty years, farmed ostriches are slaughtered when they are simply 1 12 months old. For your comfort, a search was performed utilizing the query hermes ostrich birkin bag. Whether it’s Ostrich, Crocodile or Lizard, it’s time to find the dupe assortment of Hermes Birkin Exotic Skin purses. Designed by Ben Denzer, the trio of luggage captures delicate details of the enduring accessories like the metallic buckles, straps, and handles. Hermes has posted footage of each bag separately with a caption reading ‘enjoy the detour as basic Hermès bags inspire artwork ok to eat. After being processed with chemical compounds to stop decay, ostrich skin is ready for sale. Dior often works with Ayers snakeskin, which shows barely smaller, diamond-shaped scales. It is equally fragile to python, however usually a bit lower in worth. Our Hermés Birkin baggage' blind stamps correspond 100 percent with the authentic order, thus making our luggage one hundred pc correct. A bag that comes straight from Hermes, nevertheless, is much harder to return by. The cause is that there’s only a restricted quantity of luggage which may be churned out yearly, and these are reserved for Hermès’ elite clientele. Exclusivity is among the many many explanation why the Hermès Birkin bag comes at such a hefty price tag. Ostrich and different exotic luggage will often be supplied to VIP’s solely. Hermes does not produce lots of black ostrich Tonal Stitching Rose Gold Hardware Black Chevre Lining Absolutely Gorgeous bag t... wikipedia hermes ostrich Hermes Miel Ostrich 32 cm Haut a Courroies- HAC Birkin Bag Pristine situation Considered the final word luxurious item the world over and hand stitched by skilled craftsmen, wait lists of... Ostrich Palladium tone hardware Leather lining Turn lock closure Made in France Date code current Handle drop 4.5" Measures 11.5" W x eight.75" H x 5.75" D Includes original Hermes clo... There aren’t many items for unisex if you’re looking for these accessories, as a lot of the options obtainable are for women and men. One of the preferred and recognised exotic skins is Ostrich leather. Originating in South Africa in the 1850s, it was found as a novel byproduct from the Ostriches farmed for their feathers & meat. Ostrich leather-based is characterised by its raised factors within the disguise that create little bumps, that are centered in the course of the pores and skin. This area is identified as the ‘Crown’ and is the place the animal’s neck meets its physique and is about one third of the whole pores and skin. Ostrich leather-based is comparatively uncommon, making it fascinating and thus expensive. Four of those on trial had been expert leatherworkers; the luggage were made utilizing Hermès stitching strategies. Leather offcuts, instruments, zips, and defective luggage that have been to be destroyed had been stolen from Hermès. Activists have held a demonstration exterior Hermès’ flagship retailer in central London to protest in opposition to the fashion brand’s use of ostrich leather-based to make handbags. The bag additionally comes in a wide selection of hides similar to calf leather, lizard, and ostrich. If you really take pleasure in dried fruits and want to keep them as part of an in any other case wholesome and balanced food plan, ensure to select brands with no sulfites and no added sugars, and restrict yourself to an affordable portion dimension. When you suppose about yogurt commercials, you might conjure up photographs of probiotics and wholesome digestion, or protein and strong muscles. And sugar-free choices aren't any better, because the Cleveland Clinic states that they will result in sugar cravings later within the day. Eggs are a nutritious meals that is additionally very cheap, with a dozen eggs averaging much less than$2 in 2021. Even organic, free-range eggs, which might reach $6 a dozen, still make a single egg cost a mean of 50 cents. PETA documented that ostriches are pressured into restraining gadgets, many slipping and falling whereas being violently handled, electrically shocked, and slaughtered by having their throats cut. There is not any justification for supporting such blatant cruelty. Please stop buying and promoting equipment produced from ostrich and different unique skins immediately. In addition to the possible counterfeits that each one well-known manufacturers are topic to, fake Hermès bags—including the Birkin bag—are alleged to have been made by a group together with seven former Hermès staff. Ten folks went on trial in June 2020, alleged to have made dozens of counterfeit bags that sold for tens of 1000's of euros each, for a complete profit of over €2 million. The crime was discovered by police investigating unrelated stolen products. The Birkin 25 saw a rise of 3%, while the Birkin 30 saw a rise of 2.65%. The value enhance for 2022 is predicted to be inside that range, too. Frustrated by the ordeal, Birkin started ranting that nice baggage had been by no means fairly sufficiently big to hold a quantity of issues, and that is when inspiration struck Dumas. The artisans of the dupe alternative polish the leather-based to create the identical matte or shiny end. This step makes the dupes look more like the original Hermès Crocodile Birkin. Back in 1983, Hermès revolutionized the leather-based items business by introducing the world to the rarity of the Birkin Handbag. Since then, this luxurious brand has designed and crafted beautiful collections of the unique Birkin which have tailored to the fashion forex of the time. On Farfetch, Hermes Birkin Bag costs range from $16,762 AUD for a pre-owned 2002 Birkin 35 tote with the price of a pre-owned 2014 Birkin 35 tote reaching $48,655 AUD. Luxury consignment store, The Real Real, retail the Birkin bag at a beginning price of roughly $9,383 AUD with crocodile iterations promoting for upwards of $50,000 AUD.

#ostrich birkin #birkin ostrich bag #hermes ostrich bag #hermes ostrich birkin #hermes kelly ostrich #hermes birkin ostrich bag #pink ostrich birkin bag #ostrich kelly bag #mini kelly ostrich #birkin 25 ostrich #kelly ostrich #replica hermes ostrich bag

[rivaiin]

i finally finished the colorwork sweater i was making and it has the wonkiest fit ever which is a real pity cause the design is really cool

#the pattern was a fucking mess like it had some very obvious mistakes but i didnt know how to fix them #without fucking up the colorwork cause it was the first time i didnt something like that #but like if youre telling me the neck ribbing is a 1x1 i need an even number of stitches it just works like that #and the neck had like 75 stitches so like #also the neck had no shaping whatsoever and like idk if thats the norm for yoke constructions but it just #sits weird on the neck obvoiusly cause its just a circle #also the goddamn cast on method the lady that made the pattern used looks amazing buts its not stretchy #and i can barely fit it over my shoulders #but then the body is very big and yeah #im gonna block it see if that fixes anything but i very much doubt it

[bibliophilea]

Just a Flesh Wound - Ch. 1

Happy Secret Santa, @littlebadger! Sorry for making you wait - I am a slow writer, and life has been hectic! I wish I could have given you the full phic tonight, but it was getting out of hand, so I decided to split it into chapters to do it justice! I hope you enjoy this first chapter! I promise I will finish and post the rest of the chapters as well! Happy New Year!

ao3 | ffn

>1< 2 3 4 5 6

Danny’s not doing so hot.

Tucker can see him wavering in the air when he glances up from his PDA, and he winces as Skulker gives Danny a nasty cut across the chest with his machete.

Sam shoots Skulker with an ectogun, giving Danny time to fly back and catch his breath. “Can you hurry it up, Tucker? I don’t think Danny’s going to last much longer!”

Tucker huffs, fingers aching with the speed at which he’s typing into his PDA. “I’m going as fast as I can! I think Technus or Plasmius upgraded the security on Skulker’s suit!”

“Yeah? Well go faster! Danny needs — Danny!”

With an explosion and a cry of pain and a shout of glee, Danny falls from the sky, crashing to the ground. Skulker’s diving after him — Tucker can hear the whir of his engines and his triumphant laughter — and Sam’s sprinting, shooting desperately at Skulker, but she’s too far away and they both know it — but Tucker can’t concentrate on that right now, he needs to break through this last firewall, reverse the polarity of the neutron flow, deploy the Trojan horse he’s so thankful he had the foresight to make beforehand, and—

“There!”

Tucker slams the enter key and watches with bated breath as the Trojan uploads itself into Skulker’s hardware. Danny’s put up a shield, but it won’t last against Skulker’s momentum, and they all know it.

50%

They’re both running now, Sam still shooting at Skulker, Tucker hoping the decreasing range will speed up the process. Skulker is 50 feet above Danny, but closing that distance quickly.

75%

Sam gets a shot in on Skulker, and then another. His flight destabilizes a little, but he’s still bearing down on Danny, 25 feet and closing in.

99%

Tucker hears the crack as Skulker’s machete makes contact with Danny’s shield.

100%.

Skulker’s suit freezes in place, the blade of the machete stopping inside the crater Danny created when he fell. Tucker runs as fast as he can, hoping he wasn’t too late, hoping he won’t find Danny with Skulker’s machete stabbed through his stomach or his head or—

Sam gets there first, and Tucker barely hears her breathe, “Oh, thank god.”

With a burst of energy, Tucker sprints the last 15 feet to stand by Sam at the edge of the crater. Panting, he bends over, catching his breath and taking in the state of his best friend.

Danny looks terrible. His body bears burns and scratches, bruises and cuts — marks that make something roil in Tucker’s gut. If he’d been a bit faster with his code, none of those marks would have to pepper his friend’s skin and face. The cut in his chest is still bleeding green — he and Sam will need to take care of that before Danny transforms back. But before that, they need to take care of Skulker.

Skulker looms over Danny. Only the fire that makes up his hair and beard move, flickering in the wind; the rest is frozen in the air. His face leers down at Danny; his hulking figure casts a shadow over him. But Danny isn’t looking at Skulker. His wide eyes are crossed, staring at the machete pressed to his neck.

“Holy shit, that was close!” Tucker gasps, staring at the point where the machete touches Danny’s neck.

“Yeah.” Danny’s voice cracks on the syllable. “No shit! Um, Tucker, could you…?”

Danny points to the machete, and Tucker’s eyes widen. “Oh yeah, let me just—”

He trails off, concentrating on typing the commands into his PDA. First lift the machete — no, not like that! More like — yeah, better. Then up, up and away from all of us.

Sam points a thermos to the sky, capturing the frozen Skulker in one fell swoop.

Good riddance.

Tucker tucks his PDA into his pocket and slides down into the crater, careful not to land on Danny. Sam follows, sliding next to Danny and pulling a first aid kit from her backpack. Danny tries to sit up, only to wince and hiss. Tucker helps him lay back down.

“Careful, dude, you don’t want to make that cut on your chest worse,” Tucker says.

Danny scoffs. “It’s just a flesh wound, it’ll heal.”

“Yeah, but that takes time, Danny,” Sam retorts. She pulls out gauze, alcohol wipes, and bandages, handing some of them to Tucker. “Skulker beat the hell out of you.”

Tucker pauses, and then sighs irritably, ripping open several alcohol wipes and making a face at the smell. “I should have pushed through Skulker’s security faster.” He carefully swabs at the cut on Danny’s bruised chest. It probably needs stitches. The thing in his gut squirms a bit more. “You didn’t have to get beat up like that.”

Danny’s hand grabs Tucker’s, and Sam’s hand follows after. Tucker looks up from his work to see Danny staring seriously at him. His toxic green eyes pierce Tucker’s, and Tucker finds he can’t look away.

“I’d be dead if it wasn’t for you, man. Don’t beat yourself up.”

Danny’s eyes move to Sam. “You too, Sam. You both saved my afterlife today.”

Sam smirks down at Danny. “Don’t I know it.” Then she looks up at Tucker. “But you’re the real MVP here, Tuck. Without you, Danny would have been toast.”

Tucker is at a loss for words. The thing in his stomach clenches, and he feels his eyes go blurry. He reaches up with a free arm and swipes at his eyes, shoving his glasses up onto his forehead before letting them fall back to his nose. The hands holding his other hand tighten, and he sighs heavily. If his throat catches, they don’t say anything.

After a moment, he gently pulls his hand away, reaching for the needle and thread.

“Let’s get you stitched up.”

#danny phantom #tucker foley #danny fenton #sam manson #dp fanfic #littlebadger #5 times #5 things #5+1 things #secret santa #skulker #tucker #phantom #sam #i hope you like this! #i'm sorry this is so late! #i promise to complete the story and do it justice! #happy new year! #my write #my work #not a q

[tcm]

The History of the Swimsuit By Constance Cherise

In 1907, Australian born competitive swimmer, women's advocate and world record breaker Annette Kellerman was arrested for indecent exposure on Revere Beach in Massachusetts. She wore a fitted bathing suit that exposed her arms, legs and neck. And although she was jailed, her audacious stance would prove to be a pivotal point in the evolution of freeing the female form. However, in order to understand why Kellerman's conduct was so scandalous, we have to review the past.

Hygiene in the 19th century was questionable to say the least and beach-going was not a typical activity. Known as “bathing costumes,” swimwear of the late 1800s were cumbersome, unflattering and uncomfortable. Victorian fashion, stocked with bustles, corsets and multiple layers of clothing, were phasing out as a result of increased intrigue to the newest social sporting activity, bicycling. In order to participate, women’s voluminous garments had to be stripped down to manageable practicality. Women, who now had the same access to this new freedom of transportation as men, wore bloomers, taking part in the sport and experiencing autonomy, which fed the blossoming suffragette movement.

Bathing costumes consisted of oversize dark-colored tops made of wool or flannel, bloomers or short pants, and stockings. Weights were sewn into the hemlines of the costume tops, to prevent floating once submerged. Bathing boots were generally worn as means of further concealment; however, they were also used pragmatically as protection against foreign debris underfoot.

The beginning of the 20th century ushered in the wasp-waist, pigeon-breasted “S” shape silhouette of the Edwardian era. As concern with hygienic health grew, the privileged class (compelled by the modern theory of saltwater’s healing capabilities) began to gravitate to the seaside. Naturally beach-going would work itself into the mainstream. The use of bathing machines became prevalent. Women would change into their bathing costumes inside of a horse-drawn (or at times manpower was used) wooden room that would transport them to the water, where a woman could then discretely bathe.

For the free-spirited revolutionist, Kellerman stitched hosiery onto her controversial one-piece bathing suit in order to arrive at a resolution with the court. This resulted in a number of women exchanging their ill-fitting costumes for increasingly comfortable bathing suits. Kellerman's story was depicted in the splashy MGM aqua-musical film, MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID (‘52) starring swimming mega-star, Esther Williams.

Before Kellerman's career was over, she starred on vaudeville, became an author and silent movie star, appearing in over eight films, and is credited as having the first nude scene in a feature-length film as seen in A DAUGHTER OF THE GODS ('16). Although she was the catalyst for measurable advancement, ironically, Kellerman was not an avid fan of the bikini. In a 1953 Boston Globe interview, she stated, “The Bikini bathing suit is a mistake. Only two women in a million can wear it. And it’s a very big mistake to try." As a parallel to the free-flowing jazz age of the 1920s and the flapper fashion of the era, more flesh was revealed as legs were shown to approximately the mid-thigh in the newer style bathing suits. Necklines lowered and arm holes became larger. Still, beachgoers had to contend with the “swimwear police” who measured skirt lengths in the interest of modesty.

The 1930s experienced The Great Depression. In an effort to offer a respite of escapism, Hollywood churned out opulent fantasy films, in which the clinging satin feminine line returned. The two main styles of swimsuits were the Dressmaker, a less fitted top with an A-line skirt, famously worn by Grace Kelly in HIGH SOCIETY (‘56), and the Maillot where the top half was a fitted swimsuit and the bottom half was basically boy shorts, as seen on Claudette Colbert in BLUEBEARD’S EIGHTH WIFE (‘38).

With the 1940s came WWII, The Good Neighbor policy, bolder prints and the birth of the pinup. It brought sweetheart necklines and ruched fabrics that were also reflective in swimwear. The two-piece bathing suit which showed the midriff (bottoms of which always covered the belly button) made its debut in the 1930s but came into prominence in the 1940s. The Andy Hardy series, with its bevy of young starlets, were ideal examples of ‘40s swimwear. Likely, the most famous bathing suit of the decade was undoubtedly Betty Grable’s iconic one-piece pin-up swimsuit. In 1946, French engineer Louis Réard would introduce the bikini. Wracked with scandal, Réard hired Micheline Bernardini, a burlesque performer and the only woman who would agree to model the shocking swimsuit in public.

The early 50s would see a variety of swimsuit styles including the Empire waist, princess and baby-doll swimsuits. The female curve was back with a vengeance as the ideal body style was that of the hourglass-shaped bombshell, reflected in fashion and prominently on screen with a series of the implausibly spectacular bacchanalia of Berkeley's aqua-musicals (in Technicolor no less), starring Esther Williams. The bikini continued to gain popularity through the 1960s (how could it not)? In America, production companies took full advantage of the pop song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie” by Brian Hyland, which upon its release in 1960 catapulted the sale of the bathing suit. In response, studios pumped out an onslaught of California teen beach party films. Annette Funicello, became the epitome of the 60s bikini teen idol, starring alongside Frankie Avalon in such films as BEACH BLANKET BINGO (‘65), BEACH PARTY (‘63) and BIKINI BEACH (‘64).

Beginning with Bohemia and ending with disco, the ‘70s saw an array of fashion styles, and the bathing suit was no exception. The Pill came into prominence and along with it, the new wave of soul surrendering euphoric dance music: disco. An authentic representation of ‘70s swimwear appeared in the film JAWS (‘75), as well as a myriad of television shows, including Fantasy Island, starring the sensual and suave classic film actor Ricardo Montalbán. Halters, tie fronts, keyhole cut-outs, backless, and of course Farah Fawcett's deep v-cut one-piece swimwear style of the 1970s seemed endless. Bright, brighter and the brightest colors dominated the excessive “Me Generation” of the 1980s aesthetic. A mashup of style, it wouldn't take too much effort for a keen eye to trace each of the prior decade’s influences. Thongs, which were introduced by Brazil during the ‘70s, and high cut, V-hips monopolized the decade, especially reflective in the music videos of the new, iconic cable television station MTV.

During the ‘90s, the high-cut waist and bikinis of the ‘80s remained, and glamorous designer swimsuits graced the runway. Tankinis came back into fashion as a nod to the ‘40s. Still, the red one-piece bathing suit, popularized by Pamela Anderson of the ‘90s television show Baywatch captured the decade. The 2000s (and beyond) brought mix-and-match suits and offered multiple choices of varying options including the Burkini. The rise of positive body image injected a necessary confidence boost to women who did not fit the stereotypical, force-fed, beauty standard.

#Swimsuits #bathing suits #bikini #fashion #history #mermaid #TCM #Turner Classic Movies #style #Constance Cherise #beach

[purkinje-effect]

The Anatomy of Melancholy, 75: Paper Weight

Table of Contents. Third Instar, Chapter  6. Go to previous. Go to next. TWs: Religion, joint issues, diet/appetite weirdness, brief transphobia adjacent anxiety, minor dehumanizing ghoul treatment. Uh. Not in that order. A slightly longer groundwork chapter, and continuing evidence that I am, in fact, criminally insane. [Updated 2021.07.12.]

“...[F]ixed in a sort of eternity at the heart of the crystal.” -- Orwell’s 1984

______________________________

‘Choly woke to Sticks gently stroking at his long dark shock-streaked hair. He could not discern the time of day without any light sneaking in around the edges of curtains, and recalled their inn room did not have windows. The ghoul drew his attention back to him with a drowsy smile.

“Ready to start the day?”

To resist the draw to curl up into Sticks, ‘Choly stretched out with a yawn, only to jerk his eyes open. He laid on his back for some time. In the night, one of his shoulders had separated and dragged his neck out of alignment.

“--I’m not ready, but let’s start anyway. Angel, be a dear and turn the lights on, please.“

The Mister Handy puffed to life again. Reignition of its pilot light cast dim outlines to the space. Unveiling the Burlington glass fixtures returned the room to unnatural illumination by that strange red-green light which ‘Choly disliked intuiting as gold. By the time Angel had completed the task, Sticks had thrown himself out of bed to dress.

‘Choly managed to sit up, and palpated at his errant joints, using the mindful pressure of his fingertips to coax things back into place. Not dislocating his fingers in the process required what little focus he could summon without coffee or his reinforced gloves, but he could barely move let alone think straight with the strumming stitches radiating through his arm and neck. He squirmed inside, knowing he couldn’t help but force Sticks to bear witness to the strangled hisses and cartilaginous pops.

Angel presented ‘Choly a can, which he accepted half-awake. He put on his glasses one-handed.

“A canister of fresh water to start your day, Sir? I’ve only got the one at present, if you’d like to split it. More is on the way.”

“Would you be able to open it...?”

“I have no sharp implements,” it apologized.

“Give me that.”

Sticks snatched it playfully and held it between his knees while he reattached his Pip-Boy and left hand. He hadn’t quite got to buttoning his shirt just yet. He slipped the glove off his mechanical prosthetic, and produced a sort of multitool from the armature of the region analogous to the metacarpal bones. As the ghoul made use of the folding implement, ‘Choly watched the hand’s exposed mechanical parts in motion, intimating tendons and ligaments, not always attached to something resembling a bone. A dull pop liberated the can’s lid. Sticks took a few swigs and handed it to ‘Choly helpfully, before hiding the tool again and slipping the glove back on. He moved on to finishing with his shirt so he could tie his bow-tie blind, humor to his breath.

‘Choly simply sat there and observed Sticks at length, nearly altogether forgetting gratitude or thirst. Words failed him. Sticks ran his right hand over his one surviving curl of hair. The blond ghoul noticed him staring and sat up straighter.

“What?”

“A pocket knife? That’s allowed?” He kept turning his neck, head held at deliberate angles, seeking that last tweak of alignment his cervical vertebrae wouldn’t yield him.

“See’s never asks me to show my hand,” he shrugged. “Half the time, they don’t even notice it’s not flesh.”

“This isn’t about your hand, and you know it.”

“Hey now. They’re fine with utensils. It’s got to be scarier than a butter knife to make them skittish. Really, though. Don’t mention it. It’d probably risk ‘em taking my whole hand, especially now that it’s wired into this thing.”

Sticks huffed a bit. Angel leapt to assist when his neckwear wouldn’t cooperate.

“Oh, do let me help you with that, Sir.”

“Thanks, chap. Hard to do without a mirror.”

“I brought in a hand mirror.” Unappeased, ‘Choly gestured to Angel for his hairbrush, which he set to using with his head dipped between his knees, desperate to couple the inversion of gravity with cadence of his brushing. Once he sat up again, he looked to Sticks. “Which, would it be all right if we brought in some things from the car? I figure that even if we get lucky today, we’ve paid for a week, so we may as well stay for a week. No sense in rushing things. Might miss something, if we do.”

Sticks tilted his head.

“I could warm to that. What all would you even need to bring in, though?”

“Little things,” he reassured a little too quickly. “Toiletries. Some spare clothes. Nothing too elaborate.”

“I don’t see why not.” He gripped his own knees. “Let’s knock that out. After, we can head to breakfast. Now. You want my help with your corset and stuff?”

‘Choly’s shoulders folded in as he worked at unbuttoning his shirt. His reservations came not from distrust but self-consciousness. Despite having partook in several kinds of sex acts with him already, he still preferred that the ghoul only see him naked from behind, if at all. But, he didn’t care to parse any selfishness or perversion in the offer: he wanted Sticks’s help. He’d be a hypocrite, anyway, to find fault in Sticks’s own enjoyment of the activity, when his very physiology provided the same passive delight for ‘Choly. He pulled the corset to him, and removed his shirt so he could hook the busks. Only then, holding it up against his front, did he relent to receiving help stringing the back. The more pieces Sticks helped him into, the more straightened out and held in place he felt. More clearly than usual, he craved the full-body orthotics set, in the expectation that with them he might feel normal again. Functional again. In any sense. In every.

He objected, mostly internally, that his brain would thrust heavy self-reflection on him so soon after waking. The idea of returning to bed enticed him again. No. Sooner than do so in the bathroom mirror, he pinned up a french twist blind and loose.

The two finished off the water before leaving the room.

They first stopped at the restrooms, where Angel waited just outside. ‘Choly flinched at the doorway, only to scold himself for even thinking he shouldn’t use the men’s room. He remained aware of others the entire time, relieved to go unnoticed and unremarkable. He insisted to himself that the night before had been a fluke.

Exiting the mall made ‘Choly wish he’d brought his visor inside. The garage’s luminosity wasn’t significantly greater than inside the mall, but the shift in hues to natural lighting pulsated in his right-sided cervical migraine. He didn’t think he’d gotten used to the limited color spectrum indoors so soon, yet here he was, nearly thinking seeing any color besides red, green, and gold signified he was seeing colors which didn’t exist. The intensity with which he saw cyan, magenta, and even white, he approximated to an aura migraine. The edges of his vision felt over-illuminated and blurry. If this sensitivity overload would take place every time he adjusted to and from Burlington glass lighting, he decided he would avoid going inside and out with any frequency for the remainder of their stay.

In the garage, mostly only the children paid any attention to the trio. So early in the morning, many inhabitants shared cinder block campfires to prepare community breakfast. On the way to Little Boy Blue, they passed through delectable aromas of sweet breads and pan seared meat.

Sticks opened the trunk for ‘Choly. Once he could tell ‘Choly intended to make use of Angel’s storage compartment to carry his things inside, he tossed in few of his own clothes too. He smirked at yet another of ‘Choly’s outdated behaviors:

“You packed like you’re on vacation.”

“A vacation with a purpose, perhaps. I’m grateful for it, though. It doesn’t seem this hotel has complimentary soaps.”

Sticks snickered.

“To broach a veritable elephant,” Angel stressed, “I must point out that while we may be booked for a week’s lodging here, you only have four Melancholia remaining, Mister Carey. In addition to our primary goal, we should stay on the lookout for toothpaste and mouthwash today. And we may no longer require them for first aid, but do recall that Stimpaks are the most important part of that recipe.”

Stimpaks. 'Choly paled at his oversight.

“Surely four of those things will get you through the week,” Sticks muttered. “You can’t swear off food now, with the biggest restaurant cluster in New England at the other end of the building.”

“...If I can help it.”

Sticks puffed up.

“Not if I can help it.”

The Mister Handy and chemist turned down the invitation to argument.

On their way back inside, ‘Choly saw Maury eating with a group of other settlers. He didn’t want to interrupt their meal, but he still waved. When See’s screened them, ‘Choly showed them Angel’s compartment again. Everything passed muster with security, albeit thoroughly rifled through. ‘Choly welcomed their return to the clear, dark uniformity of the mall interior’s red-green glow. They dropped off their things at the room, then went into the mall proper.

The Concourse seemed to only just be waking up by this hour. Most walked southward like them. Only half the stores looked open for business. ‘Choly looked to his Pip-Boy for the time. Just after nine. He accepted it and slouched as comfortably as he could atop Angel.

He figured most of the people headed to the food court were Laners, while the rest were probably visitors, or at least lived outside the mall. Along the way, he people-watched, eventually making a visual distinction between Laners and everyone else less by their routine and more through their attire. The fashion of mall denizens seemed to posit some commixture of Irish crochet, beaded silk, and embroidered tweed, bakelite and astrakhan, plus-fours and long trailing skirt hems, chemisettes and dickeys tethered with layers of scarves and shawls.

More people packed into the boisterous food court for breakfast than had for dinner. Even getting to the counter with the shortest line took patience, with hundreds seeking their first meals. Sticks ordered himself carrot pancakes, then turned to ‘Choly.

“Are you sure I can’t interest you in breakfast? With the lines like this, I’m not ordering twice.”

Fatigued lyric traced his reply as he patted at Angel’s storage compartment to retrieve his Billerica Golf Course mug with a smile:

“You can interest me in a cup of coffee.”

The ghoul impatiently resigned to a smaller order than he’d liked, and flashed his inn room key fob to net a discount. He requested a plate from Angel, and took it and ‘Choly’s mug to hold out for the server, who confirmed, yes maple syrup, black no sugar, before plating up as requested. Twenty-seven pulls lighter, Sticks let Angel locate their seat with its higher passive senses.

‘Choly sat with his coffee warming his gloved hands for some time, content to let the aromatic steam roll over his face while he watched Sticks dig in with knife and fork. Angel set a Melancholia bottle on the table. Eventually, Sticks’s bites slowed, and he stopped to finish chewing. He cut off a forkful and held it out with a cupped hand beneath, optimistic the craving spurred ‘Choly’s attention.

“The maple syrup makes up for it being carrot.”

‘Choly eyed it. Sooner than admit due impropriety, he let him stuff the bite in his mouth. He had expected the syrup and apple compote to provide all the sweetness, but the finely grated root vegetable mixed into the batter contributed both sweet and savory. Against his better judgment, to quash any question altogether, he mooched a second bite as well with interest.

“Don’t you like carrot?”

“...Blueberries aren’t in season,” Sticks eventually smiled. “Now, I’d happily split these with you... or are you actually happy with that damn silt flour smoothie?”

“I’m only happy with my Melancholia, in that it doesn’t upset my stomach.” He opened it with his reinforced gloves, and thought to himself, This batch isn’t even cherry. It’s mint. “If you want my full faculties, you’ll have me with Mentats, Melancholia, and a cup of black coffee.”

Brow raised, Sticks frowned into his plate as he scrutinized where to cut off his next bite.

“Far be it for me to come between you and your faculties.”

Angel used the dish station at the far end of the food court to rinse their plate, mug, and utensils. Then, they got to skimming stores.

Beginning just outside the Customs House, they poked around any open store which appeared to carry armor or apparel. ‘Choly went by cane for the most part, and tried not to let interesting garments distract him or his cash from his goal. He wasn’t about to spend anything until he knew the price tag on liberating the leather orthotics from whoever might have them. Neither their descriptions nor the product photos in the catalogue produced results.

In one shop, Sticks unhelpfully described the item to the clerk, who immediately pointed them to an array of girdles and brassieres. Beet red and speechless, ‘Choly had to nearly shove away the salesmanship, no matter the young man’s encouragement or respect. Sticks didn’t know whether to find ‘Choly’s reaction revealing or amusing.

They passed crossway between the main entrance and Sutter Grove, only for ‘Choly to stop cold. Like some strange airport reunion, a loud, excited group of Laners fawned over a black woman with a shoulder-length white bob--white all the more stark in contrast to the red-green golden mall-sea. When Sticks noticed ‘Choly had stopped, he backtracked, eyes on the woman sooner than him.

“You need me to help you up on Angel?”

“Such accolades. What do you suppose she means to them?”

“From the look of her, she must travel a lot. They probably just haven’t seen her in a real long time. It’s not important. They’re going to Burlington Glassworks. They won’t have what we’re here for. Now come on.”

Head askew, ‘Choly watched the gaggle drag the overwhelmed yet pleasant woman across the Concourse and to the lighting store.

“I... I want to go in there.”

“Didn’t think you were particularly religious, but whatever. We can take a break and play tourist or somethin’.”

‘Choly almost objected, but figured he’d understand if only he satisfied his curiosity. If he recalled anything from the time before he’d stepped foot in the United States, he knew with certainty he’d been raised to abhor religious observance. At least, outwardly...

Myriad strange shapes the luminescent space, but the motif repeated in the glass art filled with glowing golden red-green fluid, that the neck swirled and looped around the body, then somehow reentered it. Bulbs were hung by these loops from the ceiling, some in knotted strings, while most other bulbs rested in metal fixtures reminiscent of egg cups. If not for the artistic shapes and the hue of light they cast, ‘Choly and Sticks almost considered it like stepping into the lighting department of a hardware store.

“Hierosacristan Fresnel!” The group begged, both in English and what ‘Choly could only presume was French. “Hierosacristan, tell us of your orbit!”

The staff had abandoned their posts in fascination of their visitor. Some showered her with sunflowers. Here, ‘Choly could see the woman wore an ornately embroidered shawl, fur-lined metal armor, and an all-black bodysuit. The woman could only oblige her admirers with a humility strained smile. A dozen or so stone park benches furnished the deeper half of the store, in two neat rows facing the back wall. ‘Choly sat at the last bench to watch, transfixed. Begrudgingly, Sticks joined him, and Angel, behind them.

As she spoke, Fresnel’s deep, silvery voice alternated between English and French, limiting ‘Choly and Sticks’s full comprehension. Her audience seemed more captivated by anything she didn’t say in English.

When she told them, “Qu’Atom vous garde,” they mirrored it in kind. ‘Choly filled in any gaps in the language barrier with presumptions of what little he knew of Orthodoxy.

“Much of my year I have studied in Thomaston... XXXXXXXXXX I wandered the Nashua ruins a bit before coming to the Lane proper... XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX I come to greet the granite... I must travel West before I return to Five Sisters. To report my findings to Grand Mother Skwodovska. But, I savor a leisurely return. My discoveries dictate my orbit. XXXXXXXXXX I Winter at the Lane for the first time... XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX ”

At some point in her speech, she took notice of their visitors. She broke away from sermonizing for the dozen or so practically clutching for her attention, to approach. ‘Choly straightened, expecting her to scold him. But she bowed to Sticks with grace, and held his hand in both her own. The ghoul fell speechless when she smiled up at him.

“What a blessing, that one of Atom’s beloved attends us. I never get the chance to speak with any Undying.”

Sticks let her hold his gloved hand, too, and laid on his charm.

“I’m impressed at our timing. We happen to be at Ant Lane right when such a highly esteemed Child of Atom has popped in.”

Again struggling with humility, she withdrew to stand. Taken aback by the sight of Angel, she hemmed into her fist.

“Forgive my start from the robot. One of my past orbits took me to the Commonwealth, and since my visit to the Cambridge Polymer Labs, I haven’t much liked the company of Mister Handies.”

“Cambridge!” Angel blandished. “Such worldliness.”

She appreciated that it did not take exception with her.

“My brothers and sisters show our devotion in a commitment to travel.”

“Forgive my stupidity,” ‘Choly asked, voice cracking, “but what exactly is a hiero...?”

The intense, robust woman half-sat on the back of the next bench to form her reply. Up close, ‘Choly could make out her face tattoo, of many concentric rings, emanating outward from one eye. Sooner than wonder what it signified, he could only imagine how much it must have hurt. The white bob was a wig.

“You speak Keb? No?” She became more particular in her words. “Among the Children of Atom is an order of scribes, historians, cartographers. We are the Daughters of Radon. We hail from the Rock of Ages. We document and research Atom’s holiest substances, such that any of Atom’s children can safely trace a path and greet everything She has touched. The rank bestowed of Daughters of Radon is Sacristan, keeper of holy spaces. Hierosacristans are the Daughters’ Zealots.”

‘Choly strained to follow along, teetering between looking lost and unintentionally judgmental.

“What interest, then, in granite? I heard correctly, that you intend to greet it? It’s very pretty, but really, I want to understand what has you all so enchanted. Is there correlation between granite and these glass lights?”

Fresnel smiled broad and beaming, nearly sarcastic in a way.

“A visitor from the Commonwealth. I see. The answer is Atom’s touch. We concern ourselves not just with nuclear bodies, but with large sources of granite, marble, and limestone. Anyone could observe these structures, both man-made and still-buried, but it takes the devotion of Daughters to listen to their histories.” A sigh and slouch announced her travel weariness. She pointed above them, to the hanging glass. “Everything is a vessel. We carry our world-soul. Nuclear bodies carry the Holy Light of Atom. And certain stones can carry recorded memories of the worlds which formed this one through Division. The Daughters are committed to documenting these memories, so that the Children can celebrate everything from the past which went into the creation of the present.”

‘Choly fumbled as carefully as he could. It fascinated him, that it seemed more and more that religious devotion tied directly into the creation and maintenance of the increasingly supernatural glowing glass fixtures--let alone that it had anything to do with radioactive material.

No wonder they appreciate Sticks. “And you... listen to the granite here?”

Sticks poorly hid his annoyance with a shift in posture and a grunt.

“Most granite is quite loud. The granite here... whispers.” Fresnel admitted. “The Children often call this place The Quiet Granite. You’re very new, and so eager to learn of Atom’s Kingdom... Are you here to let in Her Holy Light?”

“Until I stepped foot in here, I had no idea this place was a church. I know it sounds stupid, but I wanted to come in to see the lights up close. I’m fascinated that a substance could sustain luminescence without external excitation.”

Though his admission dulled her enthusiasm, his verbiage still held her interest.

“I’m not directly involved in glassblowing, so I know very little of it. The Glow is most remarkable, n’est-ce pas? Even if you’re here merely to marvel at our blessed work, you can still take a piece with you. You should speak with my brothers and sisters here. If you’re more than a scholar or tourist, the local Confessor can direct you to our body of scripture as well. I’m far better suited to geography than sermons.” Fresnel’s attention warmed back to Sticks. “Be no stranger to our space...”

“Sticks.”

“Be no stranger, Sticks.” She smiled, mirthful. “You and your odd friend here are welcome here.”

Before the game of Twenty Questions could continue, Fresnel stood to pat Sticks’s hand... and the top of ‘Choly’s head. The chemist frowned as she excused herself.

“Fresnel spoke directly with you,” a devotee said, behind them. They looked over their shoulders at the nervous man. “Is there anything I can do for you, Undying?”

“It’s Sticks,” he repeated, quickly growing tired of it. “We’re sightseeing, you could call it. I think this fella wants a souvenir.”

The man looked ‘Choly over and nodded, motioning for them to follow him to the counter. He produced an egg-crate tray of walnut sized glass baubles, and picked them up to swirl them around in visual demonstration.

“We’re blessed to meet a Hierosacristan.” He poorly contained his delight. “I wonder if she would permit that I be in her caravan when her orbit carries her onward.”

“Where is she headed next?” ‘Choly asked, moreso making conversation than wishing to know.

“The standard path for all caravans from Ant Lane to Burlington is Route 89, straight through the mountains. But, she mentioned traveling West. The Daughters of Radon follow the orbit of their heart. She may intend another orbit yet uncharted. --Forgive my gushing. You’re interested in a prayer armillary?”

“How much are they?”

The potentially inappropriate question caught in ‘Choly’s throat.

“Fifty-one pulls.”

“You don’t happen to take cash, do you?”

“Certainly. Our caravans do trade with more than just Ant Lane.” The Child picked up the tray’s edge to look at a note on the side. “One hundred fifty dollars.”

So deep in, he didn’t feel like he could say no thank you and just walk away. Not that he wanted to walk away empty handed after such a bizarre interaction.

“Tell me more about them. What makes them glow?”

“There are two aspects to Burlington’s glass artistry. We’re beholden to conceal our craft, but it’s perfectly safe for all Atom’s Children, blessed with the Endurance to withstand Her Light or no.“

In the remark, ‘Choly stifled a shiver at the possibility that the entire mall might be a religious settlement.

“The craftsmanship is remarkable.” His voice cracked. “How long do they last?”

“Years, if they must. But these smallest vessels are intended ephemeral: We encourage that you use them to seal a prayer, then shatter it someplace consequential to disperse the good will into the universe.”

“Are they... still safe if broken?”

“They are not grenades. And to drink its contents would be ill advised, foremost on account of the broken glass.”

“I would never have considered the fluid potable,” ‘Choly lied, having had the thought gifted him. He shakily produced the requested cash, and the Child let him pick one of the egg-like baubles. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you?” His beseeching, bleary eyes suggested more than simple commerce. “Do you require any arrangements? Any accommodations of any kind?”

Sticks eyed the tray with near disappointment, and rocked a bauble around in its cup with one finger.

“...You said they were fifty-one?”

“Take one, gladly!”

Feigning pleasantry, he picked one for himself. It exasperated ‘Choly that Sticks had not attempted to influence the price tag on his trinket, but only his frigid shoulders said as much.

“Thank you. Get to take a piece of this place with me, then.”

“But of course!” The Child nod-bowed to them both. “Qu’Atom vous garde.”

They mirrored the nod, caught in the uncertainty of pronunciation, and the uncertainty of appropriateness that they repeat it back.

‘Choly held his prayer armillary at his chest as they exited the Glassworks. He had no intention of ever break it. The thought crossed him as he glanced down at it, that he could place it in Angel’s storage for use as a perpetual light source, like the light to a glove compartment.

“...Angel,” he asked it, spellbound by the strange, vaguely oily, fluoresceinesque fluid, “you’ve got French programming, haven’t you? That was French, yes? What was she saying?”

“I believe it’s French, Sir. At least, partly. If I’m to understand Miss Fresnel, these Children of Atom worship gamma radiation... as well as something they regard as ‘foreign.’ ”

“Cultists, basically.” Sticks snorted.

'Choly didn’t care whether the Children’s religious motivations made any rational, scientific sense. It still burned him, that they’d given Sticks his trinket for free. The ghoul handed him his with only a vague smirk.

“I, you didn’t want one, then?” He had only starry-eyed gratitude. “Are you sure?”

“Why would I? I let them give it to me so they’d knock it off and let us leave.” The ghoul blurted out an abrupt chuckle and slung an arm around ‘Choly’s shoulders, to grip him a little too forcefully. He kept his voice down, cracked lips inches from ‘Choly’s ear. “Don’t make me go back in there. I get enough of that from you.”

-------------------

A/N: I anglicized the maiden name of Polish-French Marie Skłodowska-Curie, in the expectation that oral tradition would follow phonetically. (I also wanted to differentiate the Grand Mother from both Mother Curie III and FO4′s Curie, while still nodding to the historical figure.)

A/N: I’ve thus far gone all my life not knowing it’s pronounced Freh-nel or Fray-nel. Even my science teachers all pronounced it Fresnel. Hm.

Go to Next »»»

#fallout #children of atom #fallout 4 #fallout fanfic #fo4 fanfic #sole survivor #ghoul oc #mister handy #melancholy #sticks #angel #child of atom #hierosacristan bernadette fresnel #the anatomy of melancholy

[hecate-herself]

Every single prompt I have written?

I think that this is every prompt that I’ve done so far, as of 28/03/2020

1.         “Come to bed with me?”  

2.         “Do you even still love me?”  

3.         “I think you’re bleeding…”    

4.         “Get off my foot!”

“Get your foot out from underneath my foot.”

5.         “Shh, it’s okay, you don’t need to cry.”

6.         “I can’t sleep.”    

7.         “Why did you lie to me?”

8.         “Don’t move, they hit your head really hard.”    

9.         “Have a good day.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

10.      “Do you want a bedtime story?”

11.      “Are you sure that you have enough blankets?”    

12.      “Get out. I am done with you.”    

13.      “That looks broken. You need a doctor.”

14.      “Oh, you can go to hell.”

“Stop threatening me with a good time.”    

15.      “[mama/papa]’s got you.”

16.      “I need a hug. Please?”

17.      “Isn’t it your bedtime?”

“Hypocrite.”

“Come to bed with me then.”

18.      “I love you, but please, shut up.”

19.      “Don’t touch me.”

20.      “I can’t stand the sight of you right now. Get away from me.”

21.      “I said that I never wanted to see you again. Why are you here?”

“I just wanted to help!”

22.      “Please… I am begging you, just open your eyes. Please. You can’t die.”

23.      “I’m not hurt.”

“You are actively bleeding.”

“Oh. So I am.”

24.      “Don’t pass out on me now, we’re nearly home.”

25.      “Isn’t this illegal?”

“Yes, but technically no.”

26.      “Penny for your thoughts?”

“If my thoughts are only worth a penny, I shall keep it to myself.”

27.      “Did you just stab me?”

28.      “…How on earth did you manage to get up there?”

29.      “Put the cookie down, eat your dinner first.”

30.      “I think I can feel them kicking!”

31.      “Are you asleep?”

“Not anymore.”        

32.      “What if I don’t get better? What if I am broken?”        

33.      “That is going to leave a really nasty scar.”          

34.      “Nothing could go wrong, you said. Well guess what? Everything has gone wrong!”    

35.      “Quick, I think the baby is coming!”

36.      “You made me breakfast in bed? What did you do this time?”

37.      “I trusted you.”        

38.      “I don’t… I don’t feel good.”            

39.      “Come any closer and I will hit you with this book. I swear to God!”

40.      “Where did you put your blankie this time.”

41.      “Can you check for monsters under the bed?”

42.      “You broke my heart.”        

43.      “Hey, are you alright?”

“Do I look alright to you?”  

44.      “That best not be the last of the milk… Oh you bastard.”          

45.      “One little shoe. Two little shoes. All ready to go out.”

46.      “It’s just a bad dream. I’ve got you, it’s okay.”        

47.      “I wish that I never had met you.”    

48.      “It’s so cold.”

“You need to hold on a bit longer, you are going to be fine. Just stay awake a little longer.”  

49.      “Roses are red, violets are blue- ow. Fuck you!”      

50.      “They have grown so much, it’s hard to believe how little they used to be.”

51.      “Have you stolen my shirt?”  

52.      “Stop lying to me!”    

53.      “I can’t breathe.”        

54.      “Okay, start from the beginning, you lost me right after you said that you punched someone.”

“That was the first thing that I said.”

55.      “I want another baby.”

56.      “I never want you to feel like you are alone.”            

57.      “You are the worst mistake I have ever made.”        

58.      “Where am I?”            

“Are you day drinking?”

“It’s apple juice, not whiskey.”        

59.      “Say goodbye to mama and papa, they’ll be back soon.”

60.      “Kiss me.”

61.      “You loved me!”

“Loved. Past tense.”        

62.      “Don’t go. Please. I can’t lose you.”        

63.      “Do you pinky promise?”

“What are you? Five?”    

64.      “Stomach bug?”

“No, morning sickness.”

65.      “I feel safe in your arms.”

66.      “Am I just a game to you?”          

67.      “I’ve got you, you are going to be okay.”            

68.      “Lunch?”

“It’s half seven. In the evening.”

“Dinner then?”    

69.      “It could be worse?”

“They got jam everywhere!”

70.      “I dreamed about you last night. I woke up happy.”

71.      “Stop pretending to care.”            

72.      “Please tell me that isn’t all your blood.”

73.      “What are you reading?”  

74.      “You really are your [mother/father]’s child.”

75.      “I was thinking, you, me, the bottle of wine in the kitchen and sitting in front of the fire. Thoughts?”

“Yes please.”

76.      “You hurt me!”          

77.      “You’re burning up.”

78.      “I don’t mean to alarm you, but the spider in the shower is frankly massive.”    

79.      “So… the baby is fine, I want you to know that first, they are absolutely fine.”

“What did you do?”

80.      “Thank you for looking after me.”

“For you I would do anything.”    

81.      “Wouldn’t you rather be with [him/her/them]?”

82.      “I think you need to see a doctor.”

83.      “You didn’t see anything.”

“Yes, I did. I saw all of it.”    

84.      “They won’t stop crying and, in a minute, I think I am going to start crying too.”

85.      “Are you wearing a new lip balm? It tastes really good.”            

86.      “You ripped my heart to pieces. Did it even hurt when you left?”  

87.      “It’s just a bit of blood. I’m fine.”  

88.      “I will make dinner if you don’t speak for the rest of the afternoon.”  

89.      “Stop wiggling! I need to get you changed!”

90.      “Do you have a reason to get out of bed today? Let’s just stay here as long as we can.”    

91.      “Did you ever love me, or was it just an act?”      

92.      “It’s just a nightmare. I’ve got you.”          

93.      “Can I adopt the stray cat out in the street?”

“Do you want fleas? Because that is how you get fleas.”          

94.      “You are perfect, my little [pet name].”

95.      “Stop smiling at me like that, I am trying to concentrate.”        

96.      “I feel like no one could ever love me.”    

97.      “Take a deep breath.”

“It hurts.”

“I know, but you have to breath.”  

98.      “Do we have any cookies in? No? I’m making cookies.”

99.      “Did you have a bad dream?”

“Uh huh.”

“Come on, get into bed with us, you can sleep in bed with us tonight.”

100.  “Can I kiss you?”      

101.  “Leave me alone. I don’t want to talk to anyone right now.”    

102.  “You’re going to be okay, just breath. Oh god… is that bone?”

103.  “What would you do if I said that I may have burnt the dinner?”            

104.  “Take a break. I’ll stay up with them, you need some sleep.”

105.  “Yes, you look great in my shirt. But I kind of need it back.”            

106.  “Go ahead, leave, I am not going to stop you.”  

107.  “That hit hard, are you okay?”      

108.  “The amount of alcohol I am going to need to forget this is going to kill me.”

109.  “How did you get pen that high up the wall?”

110.  “I am madly in love with you.”

“Why?”

“I don’t have a clue.”      

111.  “You’ll come crawling back to me.”

“Never.”  

112.  “Please breath, please… oh god.”  

113.  “I may have… mildly panicked?”

“You shot at me!”          

114.  “Please don’t vomit on me. Please don’t vomit on me. Please don’t… You vomited on me.”

115.  “Kiss me. Now.”        

116.  “Please don’t say that, I don’t think I can take it.”          

117.  “Did you get shot?”  

118.  “You drank my coffee? Why must you hurt me in this way?”          

119.  “How many coffees is that?”

“You try having a toddler who refuses to go to bed.”

120.  “May I have this dance?”    

121.  “Fuck off and fall off a cliff.”          

122.  “Don’t you dare die on me, you promised me!”  

123.  “What do you mean you aren’t interested in me, it’s me!”        

124.  “It’s your bedtime.”

“Can I have a story?”

“I just read you a story.”

“’nother story?”

125.  “Hold me, please?”  

126.  “I’d have stayed, if you had asked me to.”          

127.  “It hurts.”

“I know, it is going to be okay, I promise.”

“It burns, please… Make it stop.”  

128.  “Hungry?”

“Depends on if you are cooking or we are going out.”    

129.  “I just put them down for a nap. We probably have an hour of peace.”

130.  “Did you make me breakfast in bed? I think that I love you.”    

131.  “I’m sorry, but I didn’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice!”  

132.  “Your nose is bleeding.”      

133.  “No, I am not playing spin the bottle with you.”

“But it will be fun!”

“There are only two people here!”

134.  “Fuck.”

“Fuck!”

“No. Don’t repeat that. It’s a naughty word.”

“Fuck.”

135.  “Happy birthday!”    

136.  “After everything you put me through, you come here and ask for my help? How dare you!”          

137.  “Hey, you passed out, stay laying down for a bit longer.”          

138.  “Did you just get dragged through a bush, or are you always this messy?”

“I couldn’t find a comb.”

139.  “If the kid can nap, am I allowed to as well?”

140.  “Look up. Mistletoe.”          

141.  “Bite me.”      

142.  “How did I get here?”

“I had to carry you. You hit your head really hard.”        

143.  “How do you feel about killing spiders?”

“Where is it?”            

144.  “When mummy and daddy love each other very much…”

145.  “Don’t you just look absolutely stunning?”

“You are biased.”

“I am your partner, I am allowed to be.”

146.  “I hate you so much.”

“I know. I deserve it.”          

147.  “I’m calling the doctor.”

“I am fine.”

“You really aren’t.”  

148.  “Why are you on the floor? Did you fall?”

“Would you believe me if I said no?”        

149.  “Can you tidy your toys away please? Preferably before I break my neck tripping over a stuffed turtle.”

150.  “Did you sleep last night? At all?”

“God no, what do you take me for?”    

151.  “Get out!”

“Please let me explain.”

“Out!”  

152.  “it could be worse.”

“You aren’t the one bleeding.”

“Look, you are still alive. Stop whining.”  

153.  “Pass me that would you- no, no the other one. On your left. No… your other left.”

154.  “Hush little baby don’t say a word, mummy has a headache and your crying hurts.”

155.  “You and me, together. We’re unbeatable. We can go against all odds and come out on top.”

156.  “Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Well-“

“That was rhetorical.”    

157.  “Are you bleeding?”

“We don’t have time to deal with it. I’ll be fine.”

158.  “Is this heaven?”

“Well, judging by your presence here, hell.”

“Oh. So I am dead?”        

159.  “Is it wrong for me to wish that they never grow up and I can keep my baby forever?”

“I kind of want that too.”

160.  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I am just… speechless. You look beautiful.”        

161.  “Don’t touch me!”          

162.  “Walk it off.”

“I don’t know if I can walk.”      

163.  “Alright, which one of you idiots left your shoes out for me to trip over again?”  

164.  “Open wide. Come on, eat your dinner!”

“It probably tastes awful.”

“It doesn’t- okay. No, it is pretty bad.”

165.  “I’ve had nightmares. That was like a living hell.”

166.  “Did you sleep well?”

“Only because you were with me.”

167.  “Love me!”

“I love you. Now shut up and go to sleep.”

168.  “Don’t move. The spider is on your shoulder.”

169.  “How many stitches?”

“Eight. But I think I just ripped two of them out.”

170.  “Can I sleep in here? I don’t like the storm.”

“Scared of a little thunder?”

171.  “You’re dripping blood everywhere.”

“Sorry, is there a place you’d prefer I stand and bleed?”

“The bathroom. It’s easier to clean up.”

172.  “Let’s play a game.”

“Oh no, you are a cheat. I’m not playing against you.”

173.  “Bite me.”

“Have you ever said that and been bitten?”

“More times than I’d like to admit.”

174.  “Pour us a drink would you? It’s been a long day.”

“Whiskey, brandy, wine or water?”

“If you pour me a glass of water I may actually leave you.”

175.  “Get out the shower! You’ve been in there for hours!”

176.  “I’ll get the first aid kit.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re a liar. Sit down and let me patch you up.”

177.  “Mama.”

“Did they just… Was that their first word?

178.  "I’m going to the shops. Needs anything?”

“A will to live. And coffee.”

“A will to live sounds expensive. I’ve got a tenner.”

“Coffee and chocolate then. Close enough.”

179.  “Shit it’s on fire.”

“What did you do?!”

180.  “How’s the baby doing?”

“They won’t stop crawling underneath the bed.”

181.  “How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been stabbed.”

“Have… Have you been stabbed?”

“A little bit.”

182.  “Why are you in a tree?”

“Why aren’t you in a tree?”

“Are you stuck?”

183.  “Let’s get a pet.”

“There’s a spider in the kitchen. That’ll do.”

184.  “What time is it?”

“Way too early.”

185.  “Bed time.”

“I’m an adult.”

“An adult who has been up for nearly thirty six hours, go to bed. Before I drag you up there myself.”

186.  “Did you have a good dream?”

“Yeah, you were there.”

187.  “What did you do this time?”

“What makes you think I did something?”

“The black eye is a bit of a give away.”

188.  “I’m begging you. Please. Please. Just wake up. I need you to wake up. I can’t be without you. Wake up, please.”

189.  “What did you do to [her/him]? Tell me!”

190.  “I’m actually going to smack you in a minute.”

“Go for it.”

191.  “What are you doing?”

“Wasting time.”

192.  “You’re bleeding.”

“I know.”

193.  “This is going to really hurt.”

“I know, just do it.”

194.  “Let’s just get really drunk.”

“Bad day?”

“Bad doesn’t cover it. We have wine in, right?”

195.  “Tuck me into bed?”

“You are an adult.”

“So?”

196.  “Kiss me, please?”

“Nah.”

“Fine, I will kiss someone else.”

“No, don’t do that!”

197.  “Come to bed. I sleep better with you there.”

198.  “It would be better if you just forgot me.”

199.  “I don’t want to talk about it, just leave me alone.”

200.  “I love you.”

“But I don’t love you.”

201.  “Where did you get that scar from?

202.  “Hold still, I think it’s broken, I can set it, but this will really hurt.”

203.  “I haven’t slept in days. The nightmares won’t stop.”

204.  “Wake up, I think someone else is here.”

205.  “One drink, two drink, three drink, floor!”

206.  “How is the hangover?”

“You can great straight to hell, do not pass go, do not collect two hundred pounds.”

207.  “I love mummy.”

“What about me?”

“Just mummy.”

208.  “Your brat keeps kicking me in the kidney.”

“How come you say they’re mine whenever they are doing that?”

209.  “First day of school, are we excited?”

“No.”

210.  “Stay in bed a little longer. It is warm here.”

“Alright, five more minutes, then I have to get up.”          

211.  “I want to hate you, I really do. You repulse me. So why can’t I stay away from you?”              

212.  “Does it hurt here?”

“Everywhere hurts.”      

213.  “Are you cheating?”

“What makes you think that?”

“Because you cannot have three aces when I have two.”

214.  “They’re asleep. We finally have some time to… and you are already asleep.”

215.  “How do you always look so kissable?”    

216.  “How could you do it? To me?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t think sorry is going to fix this.”    

217.  “Oh god I think I am going to throw up.”

218.  “Cup of coffee?”

“God?”

“I… I don’t think I am.”  

219.  “Is… Is it mine?”

“Bastard, of course it’s yours!”

220.  “I just want to steal you away to somewhere private and have my wa- oh! I didn’t see you there.”

“I gathered.”      

221.  “I wish that I had never loved you.”        

222.  “I can’t stop the bleeding. Please, I need help.”

223.  “Ow shit!”

“Language.”

“Ow Merde!”

224.  “I go away for six months and I come home, and you have a baby.”

225.  “Will you be my Valentine?”

226.  “I got you a gift.”

“Why?”

“It’s Valentines day today?”

227.  “A candlelit dinner?”

“Anything for you my dear.”

228.  “Why are there roses all over the bed?”

“Valentines day?”

“You can tidy that mess up.”

229.  “I made dinner reservations.”

“So did I. Surprise?”

230.  “Supri- oh shit you’re not [insert character name].”

“Oh god! What the hell? Where are your clothes?”

231.  “There are flowers on the doorstep.”

“Who from?”

“I think that you have a secret admirer.”

232.  “I guess that you could say that I am a hopeless romantic.”

“I would have just stopped at hopeless.”

233.  “I love you.”

“I know. No, I’m just joking! I love you too!”

234.  “Happy Valentines day.”

“I didn’t think we would do anything for it.”

“I changed my mind, I wanted to treat you.”

235.  “You. Me. Quarantined for two weeks. Anything could happen.”

“Yeah. I may kill you. Or we may both get sick.”

236.  “You know, in thirteen years, we could get a quaranteen out of this.”  

“I think that I would rather just get sick. Thanks though.”

237.  “You have quite a high temperature.”

“Do… Does that mean you think I’m hot?”

“And you are clearly delirious.”

238.  “You are coughing an awful lot, you really should be in bed.”

239.  “We should do what they did in Edinburgh.”

“Which was?”

“Anyone who was sick got bricked into their homes and left to die.”

“Oh… No, we aren’t doing that.”

240.  “We are running out of milk.”

“God, I hate black coffee.”

“Maybe someone shouldn’t have got sick then?”

241.  “Is this necessary?”

“You sneezed. You get locked away.”

242.  “If you cough on me, I will end you.”

243.  “If this kills us, I am glad that I got to spend my last few days with you.”

“It’s a bloody cold.”

244.  “I wonder what the world will be like when we can go outside again.”

“It’s two weeks, not two decades.”

245.  “I made you some tea.”

“Thank you.”

“But I am not coming into your room, I’ll leave it out here.”

246.  “I made you some soup. Open your mouth, I just want to check your temperature first.”

247.  “I just want… chocolate.”

“We have three days left. Then you can eat so much chocolate that you are sick.”

“That is the plan.”

248.  “I have nothing to read.”

“What about those books on your bedside table?”

“I’ve been inside for ten days. I’ve finished them.”

249.  “I can’t believe that I want to be exercising right now. Anything that isn’t these same four walls for another week.”

250.  “I am so bored. I would do anything right now.”

“Anything?”

“Anything but you.”

251.  “How many rounds of snap have we played?”

“Um… Thirty-six. It’s not my fault you’re bad at any other card game.”

252.  “How long will we be inside for?”

“Fourteen days.”

“This isn’t enough coffee.”

253.  “I swear there is mistletoe everywhere.”

254.  “Close your eyes. I want to surprise you.”

“I hate surprises.”

“You’ll like this one.”

255.  “Mince pie?”

“Raisons disgust me.”

“I made them myself.”

“I suppose that it couldn’t hurt to try one.”

256.  “You are awful with wrapping paper.”

“I nearly gave up and just wrapped myself up instead.”

257.  “What are you doing?”

“Tying a ribbon around you.”

“Why?”

“You’re a gift.”

258.  “Do you think you can survive Christmas with my parents?”

“Can you?”

“We are going to need a lot of alcohol.”

259.  “I think it’s snowing.”

“I think I am not leaving the house today.”

260.  “We need hot chocolate, cream and marshmallows.”

261.  “We should go ice skating.”

“I don’t know how to skate.”

“That’s fine, I could do with a good laugh.”

262.  “You forgot to get them a present, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t realise that we were actually doing anything for Christmas!”

“A fool’s error.”

263.  “Do I get a kiss at midnight?”

“Depends.”

“On?”

“If I am still awake. And sober.”

264.  “I think that I am on the naughty list.”

“Oh yes, you definitely are.”

#Writing prompts #writing prompt list #prompt list #prompts #dialogue prompts #dialogue prompt #angst promp #angst prompts #fluff prompt #fluff prompts #baby prompt #baby prompts #child prompts #child prompt #pregnancy prompts #pregnancy prompt #romance prompts #romance prompt #christmas prompts #christmas prompt

[onegirlatelier]

Subconscious Shawl | July, 2020

A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. The doctor didn’t specify which type, but I knew it was a restrictive one. The exact name doesn’t matter.

Treatment for ED is not very accessible where I live, but I am incredibly grateful for the diagnosis as it feels so validating. Finally, someone else—my family—understood that I was ill. That I might be in need of help. That I am in a battle.

I am not going to write too much about it because I am still in the midst of it, and everything is blurred. An experience this personal may never be translated into words, though it will certainly affect the way I think and the way I create. To tell the story, I will simply have to rely on my subconscious, similar to what I have been trying hard to do—to relearn how to eat, to listen to that one true voice in my head, to trust that my body is smarter than our society’s beauty standards.

I’d been staring at the screen for the longest time, trying to write a story for this shawl, but I could not find it in me. So I decided to name the shawl Subconscious, and let the yarn carry the memory for me.

If you google images for ‘subconscious’, you will understand my choice of colours: they remind me of shores, icebergs, and precipices—the sublime landscapes described by Edmund Burke: ‘vast, empty, often dark and apparently infinite’ (in the words of Alain de Botton in his book The Art of Travel). Though I do not think of eating disorder nobler than me and worthy of respect, there is this similar feeling of awe and weakness.

 Pattern

Ewe York by Susanne Sommer. This is my first paid pattern, and it was very clear. It’s nice to let someone else do the calculations every now and then!

Yarn

White: Tukuwool Fingering, 75% Finnish wool, 25% Texel (EDIT: I checked the yarn composition), 2-ply, #01 Sake. 293m (80g).

Grey: Tukuwool Fingering, 100% Finnish wool, 2-ply, #09 Raku. 312m (78g).

Blue: Malabrigo Sock 100% merino,4-ply, #Cian. 354m (88g).

Tukuwool review:

Pro: non-superwash and rustic. I literally had to keep picking straw out of the yarn. It smells sheep-y too. It feels like a hardy yarn that can last for many years.

Con: very scratchy, especially in the knitting process. I tried wrapping it around my neck for a minute, and my neck felt itchy for an entire afternoon. It fluffed and softened a little after blocking, so I can only hope that it continues to soften.

I’d say that Tukuwool Fingering is an excellent choice for an outer garment, but I wouldn’t use on any next-to-skin garments.

Malabrigo review:

Pro: the yarn is so soft and smooth! It’s drapey but also springy, and it shapes very well. The colour is breathtaking—I can sit there for hours and just stare at it. Malabrigo produces superwash yarns responsibly so that is a plus too.

Con: just like any pure merino, it is likely to pill easily. The colour bled so much—I pre-washed and rinsed it for a few times before using the yarn, but the second I put the shawl into the basin, the blue started bleeding again and the dye kept seeping out throughout the rinses. It gave my white yarn a hint of sky blue. I will have to remember not to pair the shawl with any light-coloured clothes.

Modification

I followed the pattern exactly, though I did briefly consider adding a few rows to Section 1 as I was aiming for a large shawl. The edging is actually quite wide and the finished shawl ends up the perfect size.

Finished Measurements

160cm in width, 80cm in length. Brioche is very stretchy though, and it wraps around my shoulders very comfortably and definitely feels wider than 160cm. Or maybe it’s just that I have a tiny frame…

Wear and Tear

After washing and blocking, the Tukuwool yarn became a bit softer. However, it is still scratchy to some degree!

The Malabrigo sock yarn is holding up fine at the moment, but it continues bleeding as soon as it comes into contact with some water.

Further Considerations

I’m still not sure about pairing a rustic wool with a luxurious one—it looks fine now, but we’ll have to wait and see. I would love to try something in-between for decorative pieces, such as Eden Cottage Yarn Milburn 4-ply.

The i-cord binding is a bit too tight whilst the garter edge is a bit too loose, and you can see that especially from the bottom tip of the shawl. I underestimated my gauge for garter stitch—next time I would definitely knit tighter.

#Subconscious Shawl #Ewe York #knitting #knitblr #Malabrigo #Tukuwool #eating disoder recovery #stories

[segenassefa]

6: Brand Focus: Los Angeles Apparel

September – the season of changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes (those are nasty but if I speak…), and – usually – back to school shopping.

However, now that life has transitioned online, there is no reason to wear anything that is uncomfortable or at least two sizes oversized on a day-to-day basis. But – and don’t fight me on this - there is nothing more satifying than new and quality loungewear.

This is where Los Angeles Apparel comes in.

The brand formerly known as American Apparel rebranded as Los Angeles Apparel – the same basics brand, full of heavyweight cotton, styles ranging from classic to contemporary, and a wide range of colours, everything from neutrals to neon colours.

After bankrupting twice, American Apparel was purchased by Canadian manufacturer, Gildan, in 2017. Gildan went on to rebrand and remove the more notable points of the company’s marketing strategy – namely, the borderline pornographic advertising and sinfully high price range (some AA products can now be purchased on websites such as Wordans and Amazon).

Founder and Montreal native Dov Charney (who has his own demons, including accusations of sexual harassment and mismanagement of funds when he ran American Apparel in 2014*) then decided to take his ideas elsewhere, introducing Los Angeles Apparel.

Now operating out of a south Los Angeles warehouse, LAA poses itself as an ethical, basics, brand, paying workers between $15-$20 USD, as well as overtime pay and benefits, and varies from other fashion retailers in the amount of transparency to behind the scenes of their warehouse and in the production process – many of the brand’s Instagram stories include shots of models, posing outside and throughout the warehouse, and well as videos of various garment and production workers at their daily dyeing, stitching, and cutting tasks. Another plus of this brand is the composition of the garments, specifically their sweatshirts and sweatpants, tops, and bodysuits. Most places do not manufacture goods with 100% cotton - traditional brands either use a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester, or an 80/20 blend for goods in the heavyweight category. Using 100% cotton leads to a garment that looks even better with wear and tear, as well as prevents pilling, worn out elastic cuffs and hems, as well as less discolouration. Lastly, LAA is mostly devoid of branding – their clothing has no flashy logos or tags, no awkward stitching or excessive distressing, product styles, and unsavoury colour combinations – likely stemming from their roots as a wholesale blanks company. There is a bit of 90’s flavour to the styles shown on the website, included oversized sweats and t-shirts, lots and lots of pleats (pants, skirts, shorts, everything), as well as having more fresh-faced models, both men and women.

I’ve never personally been a huge American Apparel shopper – the original brand was not the most inclusive in terms of sizing as most of their items run on the smaller size (even to this day – their 2XL fits more like a very roomy XL) or were the dreaded “slim fit” (the ugliest cut of clothing to touch down on this face of the Earth, please don’t argue with me). However, since rebranding, Charney and the rest of the LAA team began to embrace more true-to-size and oversized fits. After rebuilding my wardrobe with quality basics, I can say about 80% of my wardrobe is from LAA – the pieces are good quality, minimal, and tasteful. Also, as a person who tries to be as ethical with my spending practices as possible and invest in quality clothing, I feel a bit better knowing the $40 t-shirt won’t be falling apart in the wash or after a few wears. For anyone who has considered dipping their toe into LAA or has been looking for other basics to add to their collection, here is a listed review of my favourite items from Los Angeles Apparel**.

HF09GD Unisex - Garment Dye 14oz. Heavy Fleece Hooded Pullover Sweatshirt

If I had the power to get rid of all of the hoodies in the world and replace them with only one, this would be it. This hoodie is thick as hell to the point where sometimes it feels like canvas, but not in an uncomfortable way. The colours are also super rich – my favourite one is Chocolate (one day we will talk about how brown is the supreme neutral for its ability to be and blend with both warm and cool tone colours, but I digress). Another interesting thing about these hoodies is that they don’t hold smell the way I’ve found polyester blends do and when washed, literally smell like an entirely new garment. This is also one of the products that I found is actually more of an oversized fit, and as with most cotton goods – stretch (but not unreasonably) with wear. It comes in a huge selection of colours as well and the sizing is fairly unisex, as both me and my boyfriend have worn this hoodie and have marveled at the quality. While it is an investment ($100 CAD per hoodie, about double that for the whole set), it is truly the hooded sweatshirt I’ve ever owned.

Size: XL, Colour: Chocolate, Price: $100 CAD

3380GD - Heavy 2x1 Rib Crop Tank

As our beautiful friend who was floating around Twitter not too long ago said, “Get into eeeeet!”. And she was absolutely right. This tank top is made for the people who want to get into the w*fe-beater/undershirt-as-a-shirt trend but don’t particularly enjoy the length or thinness of those traditional tops. This cropped tank is a racerback, but not to the point where it is completely unwearable without a bra, provided you have a convertible bra. This top is also 5% elastane as opposed to polyester (for those who are curious, elastane is a member of the Lycra and Spandex family, so the stretch in this top will also provide some shaping benefits). While it does only come in two colours for the time being, I’m one of those people who owns everything in my closet in both black and white, so this was perfect for me. Another thing to note, all my BBWs, this top does not roll up or require too much adjusting throughout the day, and sits just above the belly button for a cropped look without making you look like Roger the Alien (you know what I’m talking about….). This tank top is relatively affordable, considering the wearability, and the ribbing isn’t too noticeable so if you wanted a nice cropped but semi conservative top, this just might be it.

Size: L, Colour: Black, Price: $30 CAD

1215GD - Heavy Jersey Garment Dye Casual Pants

Ok, you know when you want to wear sweatpants, but you also realize that maybe the occasion is not appropriate, or you just need a little bit of pizzazz without all of the frump? This is these pants. When I first read the reviews, I was skeptical, but after realizing all I own are jeans and sweatpants, I copped a pair. I wore these in 75-degree weather, walked a good three or four miles, and was comfortable all day. Plus, unlike most traditional womenswear pants, these pockets are DEEP. Like Mariana Trench deep, which I love because one thing about me – I’m going to use a damn pocket. I would say to avoid these if you aren’t into the straight leg look because with a t-shirt, they do give very public-school art teacher vibes, but they also come in a huge range of colours. A lot of people complain about the elastic band for a lot of their products (too tight), but personally I prefer that – it provides a longer wear time before you have to wash (since it takes longer for the garment to stretch out) and keeps everything cute and covered. These pants are also a nice alternative to jeans, and even come in the couple shades of blue to mimic the idea of dark/light wash. The price is a little obscene for some casual pants, but I think you’re someone who usually wears pants from Urban Planet, H&M, or even Zara, these will be a nice upgrade, sure to last a very, very long time.

Size: L, Colour: Black, Price: $52 CAD

1406GD - Long Sleeve Garment Dye Mockneck T-Shirt

Another one of my favourite things about LAA is the fact that a lot of their products are unisex (while not explicitly labelled as such, you will see a lot of the same items in both the men and women tabs on their website). I love a good long sleeve shirt, but my proportions were never too forgiving to pull it off without looking like a 1960’s ghost, or like I had gotten dressed in the tent section of Home Depot. This top is more of a boxy fit, but the bottom is cropped enough to make it hit just above the thighs for a nice, slouchy look. The colours in these are also super nice, veering more towards neutrals and pastels. This shirt looks good with bike shorts and tucked into jeans, and (the best part) the white is not see-through at all, which was one of my biggest complaints when buying shirts from brands like Hanes, Gildan, Fruit of the Loom, and Keya. The neckline is a lot higher than most traditional crew necks, but I’m a fan. Plus, I feel like it looks a lot better when you layer jewelry over it. If you’re springing to get a basic colour, I’d say it’s totally worth it, at $41 a pop, considering that it’ll last damn near forever.

Size: XL, Colour: White, Price: $52 CAD

B128CF - Long Sleeve Crossfront Bodysuit

The bodysuit that started it all. Y’all. The number of compliments I get whenever I wear this top is insane, not to mention of all the bodysuits I have purchased from this brand, this one is the most flattering, the most versatile, and the most forgiving, in terms of sizing. The cross-front bodysuit is a happy medium for people who want to get into the criss-cross top look without the hassle of strings and shit like that. Not to mention, many bodysuits in this style tend to be ribbed – and not the good kind of ribbing either *retches*. I own this bodysuit in both a medium and a large, and my advice would be to size down, especially if you’re planning on wearing it without a bra (not much of a choice considering this bodysuit has a deep, deep, V neck) and will definitely add to the effortless look of the whole ensemble. This bodysuit can be dressed up and dressed down, but my favourite way to wear this is with some slouchy ass sweatpants, white sneakers (preferably a little beat up) and a small shoulder bag – ad square or transparent sunglasses for some big 90s energy, like you just left a Bikram yoga class or something. The colours on this could be better – aside from the white, black, and flesh toned colour, I really don’t see a purpose for the coral or blue shade, but I may be biased considering I do avoid bright colours like that. Now, it may seem a little overpriced for what it is, but I promise you – in my years of bodysuit research, the only brand that’s coming close to this, especially for larger chested laydeez, is Capezio, and that’s literally dancewear. Like, industrial ass dancewear. Regardless, this bodysuit is top 2 and it’s not 2.

Size: M, Colour: White, Price: $49 CAD

BD12 - Bull Denim Oversized Bag

If I had to give a name to my aesthetic – particularly when it comes to accessories – I’d say I’m somewhere in between “Bag Lady” by Erykah Badu and first year art student in the Midwest working part time at a dusty bookstore. This bag is more of the latter. For reference on size, it’s about as big, laid flat, as my large Telfar, but when on, doesn’t have the same structure, thus keeping it from looking like a burlap sack (or keeping you from looking like Santa on December 24th). The material is bull denim, which is similar in texture and style to regular denim, however, dyed to give it a rich and uniform colour. Also this bag comes in literally all of the ROYGBIV colours, plus black and white, and in a variety of styles and closures (they have one with a zipper for people who are diligent about things like that, as well as a more standard tote size and shape). This bag is perfect for literally everything – I like it when I go grocery shopping, or even getting from A to B when I have to carry a million things. Another bonus is the construction of the strap is thick without being comical, meaning that you won’t have those nasty lines in your shoulder after a long day, and you won’t have to worry about a strap busting and embarrazzzzing you (Nella Rose voice) when you’re out. In terms of pricing, you could get a little pleather number from H&M for the same price, but if you don’t take yourself seriously, then just say that (kidding!). as someone who loves the look of a good canvas tote, without wanting to look too much like a crunchy granola kinda person, this bag is lowkey one of my favourites (sorry, Mr. Clemens!).

Size: OS, Colour: Navy, Price: $58

Notes:

*= We do not condone predatory behaviour from anyone, but it is important to highlight that just because you love something doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Part of being a responsible consumer is also knowing about who you purchase from, not just what and how things are made. I am aware of this and am taking accountability for not knowing this information sooner.

**= All of these opinions are my own and not sponsored. Product codes will be listed in the title, and sizing, colour purchased, as well as CAD pricing will be listed at the end of each review.

#cms cashmoneysegs #blog post 5 #los angeles apparel #laa #aa #american apparel #brand

[virtuallytakenby]

Hmm, odd numbers babe!!

Thanks for asking hun :D 

1: Full name

Hmm, I’m not ready to answer that just yet. You can call me Pari though :) 

3: 3 Fears

Dying before I do anything meaningful in life/dying too young, insects and losing loved ones. 

5: 4 turns on

Eye contact, good personality, voice (like Raleigh Carrera’s, haha), neck kisses. 

7: My best friend

I have 3 best friends who know different things about me lol. I’m too scared to trust one person entirely. Plus these three don’t talk to each other since they’re not close or even in the same country. 

9: My best first date

I’ve never had a date despite being in a relationship for 2 years. We were both in boarding school. 

11: What do I miss

I miss living with my roomies in boarding school. It was a strict school but we had fun breaking rules and not getting caught. Like sneaking in junk food from outside, etc. 

13: Favourite color

Blue and Green

15: Favourite quote

“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” — Lilo & Stitch 

17: Favourite food

Veg Enchiladas from this restaurant near my apartment. 

19: What am I listening to right now

Flames by Zayn and R3HAB

21: Shoe size

6

23: Hair color

A mix of dark and light brown (natural) 

25: Ever done a prank call?

YES

27: Meaning behind my URL

It means exactly what it says. Virtually taken by [so many fictional characters] ;)

29: Favourite song

Icarus Falls album by Zayn. I can’t choose one! 

31: How I feel right now

Sleepy.

33: My current relationship status

Single (been single for almost 3 years)

35: Favourite holiday

Songkran Holiday in Thailand. It’s like a water festival.  

37: Tattoos and piercing I want

I want a tattoo of Stitch with the Ohana quote. A few more probably but not sure what (I have no tattoos at the moment). I already have 6 ear piercings (4 in the right ear and 2 in the left) so I want an industrial piercing in my left one day. 

39: Do I and my last ex hate each other?

I used to hate him. I think he probably did too cause I broke up with him. But he apologized to me a couple months back after asking what went wrong. I forgave him, but I still don’t like him. The hatred is gone though. I’m pretty sure he doesn't hate me. 

41: Have I ever kissed the last person you texted?

Nope. 

43: How long does it take me to get ready in the morning?

30 to 40 mins tops (includes shower and shampooing, getting dressed, light make up, packing my bag for uni). 

45: Where am I right now?

In my room. 

47: Do I like my music loud or at a reasonable level?

I like it loud when I want to drown everyone out. Which is most of the time. 

49: Am I excited for anything?

I don’t know. It’s more like excited/nervous about my future. 

51: How often do I wear a fake smile?

Too often. 

53: What if the last person I kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me?

I’d probably turn away or something. Not because it’d hurt me, but because I don’t want to be staring at them.

55: What is something I disliked about today?

Crappy singing (by my sister)

57: What do I think about most?

My senior thesis for college. My senior year is still 9 months away but I’m already thinking that I’ll direct a short film for my thesis. 

59: Do I have any strange phobias?

I don’t think so? I’m afraid of swimming in a water body with fishes (I’d prefer the swimming pool). So I’m not exactly scared of fishes per se, it’s more like scared of swimming with the fishes. 

61: What was the last lie I told?

That I had a subway sandwich when I actually had McDonald’s fries with cheese dip. 

63: Do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens?

I don’t believe in ghosts. Maybe aliens but gosh I need a solid sign that they exist. 

65: Do I believe in luck?

Sometimes. 

67: What was the last book I’ve read?

Supernova by Marissa Meyers. 

69: Do I have any nicknames?

I do. A lot of people can’t pronounce my real name so I have many variations of my name. 

71: Do I spend money or save it?

I save it usually. But I do spend on food. 

73: Is there anything pink in 10 feet from me?

Yep. 

75: What was I doing last night at 12 AM?

Watching YOU season 2 

77: What’s a song that always makes me happy when I hear it?

I honestly have no idea. 

79: What would I want to be written on my tombstone?

I’ll probably be burned and my ashes scattered. 

81: My top 5 blogs on Tumblr

I’m new so I don’t know a lot of people. But here are the ones I scroll through @dailydoseofchoices @oneemofungirl @kayden-vescovi @meindraws

83: Do I have any relatives in jail?

Nope. 

85: What would be a question I’d be afraid, to tell the truth on?

Hmm, I don’t know. I’d be afraid of my family finding out that I even had a boyfriend. 

87: Had sex?

Nope. Glad I didn’t with my ex (not that we could in boarding school anyway. It was hard enough to make out). He’s asked me towards the end of our two-year relationship and I said no. 

89: Gotten pregnant?

Nope, still a virgin. And I doubt Jane the virgin scenario would happen to me. 

91: Kissed a boy?

Yep. 

93: Have I ever kissed somebody in the rain?

Nope. 

95: Left the house without my wallet?

Yes, once. I freaked out. 

97: Had sex in public?

Still a virgin. 

99: Smoked weed?

Nah. I stay far faaaaar away from it. 

101: Smoked cigarettes?

Never. Nor do I want to try. 

103: Am I a vegetarian/vegan?

Yes, I’m vegetarian. It’s a choice. My dad eats non-veg, but I never acquired a taste for it. I do eat eggs though. 

105: Been underweight?

No. 

107: Been on the computer for 5 hours straight?

Yes! 

109: Been outside my home country?

Yes. I’ve been to Singapore, Hong Kong, and a few places in the U.S. And I live in Thailand. 

111: Been to a professional sports game?

I went to a tennis match in the 8th or 9th grade. 

113: Cut myself?

Accidentally? Many time. I’m clumsy AF. Purposely? Once. 

115: Been on an airplane?

Many times! 

117: What concerts have I been to?

Sadly, none.

119: Learned another language?

I can speak 3 languages fluently, including English (which is my 3rd language) and I know basic Thai. I used to be fluent in Thai as a kid but I forgot most of it in boarding school. 

121: Lost my virginity before I was 18?

Still a vIrGin. 

123: Dyed my hair?

I’ve highlighted it gold before. Just a few stripes. 

125: Rode in an ambulance?

Nope.

127: Met someone famous?

Once, yes. I don’t remember who. I was an 8-year-old kid or something. 

129: Peed outside?

As a kid, yep.

131: Helped with charity?

I’ve been to old age homes to give away some supplies and money. 

133: Broken a mirror?

Cracked it a little. Not on purpose. 

135: How many kids do I want and what will be their names?

2 to 3? I’m not sure of the names yet. 

137: Do I like my handwriting?

Nah, it’s messy AF. It also keeps changing LOL. 

139: Favourite Tv Show?

The 100, Orphan Black, Full house, Fuller House, Arrowverse shows, etc. SO MANY.  

141: Play any musical instrument?

I can play a little bit of the following (I learned in school but never kept up with it): recorder, keyboard, violin, xylophone, harmonium, sitar. 

143: Favourite pizza topping?

CHEEEEEEESE. 

145: Am I afraid of heights?

Nope. 

147: Have I ever tried my hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end?

A lot of times. 

149: What my greatest achievements are

It’s yet to come. 

151: What I’d do if I won in a lottery

pay off loans, pay for tuition, save whatever’s left for emergencies. 

153: My closest Tumblr friend

@dailydoseofchoices

155: Any question you’d like?

I don’t know haha. 

[gnomebud]

odds bitch 🔪🐓

1. how tall are you?

5’2 3/4” i am Small

3. what is your favorite part of your body?

hmm!! i like my arms a lot!

5. are you more outgoing or shy?

shy all the way lol

7. are you tol or smol?

smollllllllll

9. weird habit?

oh i have Many and i do not want to share oop

11. do you sing in the shower?

yes so much!! all the time!!! it’s literally all i do

13. are/were you a theater kid?

i have a lot of musicals i like but i am not a theater kid per se !! our drama program at school was very poorly run and now basically doesn’t exist bc one of the teachers got arrested and the other got fired 🤪

15. do you think musicals are cheesy?

yes but i love ‘em

17. favorite cards against humanity card?

“getting really worried about global warning for a few seconds”

19. behind the camera or in front of it?

i like taking pictures but i can be very insecure abt photos being taken of me oof

21. meaning behind your name?

my name is nell and i like otamotones

23. who’s your closest tumblr friend?

@gromvillage and @diapensia and @faegoblin !!!!

25. have you ever taken narcotics?

hell nope aaaa

27. have you ever gotten caught sneaking out or doing anything bad?

not as far as i can remember!

29. describe your passion without mentioning it.

i’m too small and terrified to have a concrete goal or passion in life sorry

31. give us one thing about you that know one knows.

uhhhhhh i wanted to shave all of my hair off like seven times today

33. what is your biggest fear?

something coming out of the dark. also shootings.

35. what is the best decision you’ve made in your life so far?

dropping out of the ib program lmao fuck that

37. something you fantasize about.

holding @faegoblin’s hand and cuddling with them and drinking hot chocolate

39. what was the last thing that made you laugh?

my friends talking about the dick museum in iceland!

41. who do you feel most comfortable talking to about anything?

@faegoblin or @gromvillage or @idiot-worshipper

43. are you starting to realize anything?

what a terrifyingly ominous question. what am i meant to be realizing? is this about these asks? idk, right now i’m realizing that my feet are hot under the covers

45. i’ll only date you if you... (fill in the blank)

are @faegoblin

47. describe the person you’re in love with/have a crush on in great detail.

[cracks knuckles] ok so their name is alphie and they have dyed hair and a very cute face and glasses and i want to smooch their nose. they are super talented and crafty and can do all sorts of cool stuff like woodburning and cross stitching and pixel art !!! they have a very sweet voice and also constantly sound like they’re up to mischief, which they generally are. they love their family a lot and have very sweet cats and i love them so much :’)

49. first thing you notice in a person?

smile, i think!

51. been rejected by a crush?

that would have involved telling people my feelings when i had them, so no

53. would you have sex with the last person you text messaged?

bro that was my grandma 💀

55. did you hang out with the person you like recently?

we literally live 600 miles apart 😔

59. does the person you have feelings for right now know that you do?

yes because i message them like 753848384 times a day abt how much i want to hold their hand

61. do you want to get married?

yes !!!!!!!!!!!

63. three things that turn you on.

we are NOT getting this personal on a thursday evening no sir

65. favorite term of endearment?

honey or babe or (my) love or my flower ;—;

67. intimidating people or kind people?

kind?

69. do you tend to like more masculine, feminine, or androgynous people?

i’m demi as fuck

71. who was the first person you came out to?

one of my friends in middle school over the fucking spotify messaging feature that they used to have

73. is your crush wlw?

neither of us are women!

75. write a short love poem to your crush/yourself?

again, too personal for a thursday evening

77. is there something that happened in your past that you hate talking about?

i vent a lot over texts but i also hate doing it in real life because that involves talking out loud !

79. are you a forgiving person?

depends

81. fall asleep in their arms or rub their back until they fall asleep in yours?

both but mostly the latter :’)

83. hugs or kisses?

both but mostly hugs!

85. tummy kisses or thigh kisses?

we can have both,

87. play with their hair or stroke their tummy?

play with their hair :’’)

89. hugs around the neck or hugs around the waist?

around the waist!

91. when you like someone do you blush or do you get butterflies in your stomach?

i blush like a motherfucking tomato

93. how old were you when you realized you were queer?

uhhh, seventh grade so about 12 or 13 i think?

95. do you have a favorite queer ship? is it canon?

beaujester and it’s HALF CANON BABEYYY

97. when was the last time someone made your heart flutter?

when @faegoblin literally said “honeymoon?” to me about a fucking dick museum

#ily bitch #long post #asks

[xicarusisfallingx]

Random part of a fic I started ages ago

She just smiled at them as she activated a shield with the assistance of Fi blocking them as she ran to fight Ganondorf. As she ran she could hear them yelling and banging on the shield to get her to come back and let them help her, but she knew that as this was her Hyrule she had to be it's heroine not them. She heard Twilight yelling at her "Come back, Cub! You don't have to do this by yourself.", which was shortly followed by Time yelling "You don't need to do this alone, Pup!" They all knew that she was strong enough to do this, but they were all worried for her and they felt that they needed the reassurance that she was going to be fine during this.

When she arrived at the place where Ganondorf was she looked back to see the worry written on all of the Links' faces as they knew what he was like and what she was up against. "Oi, Ganondork you're meant to be fighting me not admiring the walls!", she mocked. Ganondorf drew his black sword from it's sheath and swung it towards her as she backflipped away from it whilst drawing her master sword and shield from her back. "So, child you think that you are a match in skill for me or did Hylia mess up this time", he snarled at her. "Well, last time I checked you were the mess up and I am more than a match for you, if not better than you because I have been taught by all of the past heroes and they have all defeated you no matter how long or what it took and I will do the same!" She leapt into the air and struck him in the face with her shield giving her time to slice him with the sword. The battle continued with various clashes of swords with armour and shields. Panting, she shouted" Is that the best you can do?", but then Ganondorf disappeared and appeared directly in front of her forcing his sword straight through her left lung and through her back. She gasped in shock and pain as she spat out blood, which dribbled down her chin and on to her green tunic. Frantic banging could be heard behind her as the Links were using all of their force to get through the shield, but she knew their attempts would be in vain because she and Fi had agreed not to open the shield until either she or Ganondorf were dead. As Ganondorf started to pull his sword out of her bloodied body she grasped on to the handle and backflipped away yanking the handle out of his grasp. "So, what are you going to do now that you haven't got a sword Ganondorf", she sneered with a bloody smirk upon her face. As he stood there, she decided, as she didn't think she would last the rest of the battle without help, to connect with Fi telepathically 'Young mistress, I don't think that me taking over you in your current injured state would be beneficial for you, but it would have a 50% chance of killing Ganondorf permanently. But, there is also a 75% chance that you will die. ', Fi chimed. 'I'm sorry Fi, but I'll take that risk because the fate of Hyrule rests on this battle, so please do it and tell the Links that I love them and that they were like a family to me if I don't make it. Thank you for being with me and helping me Fi I couldn't have asked for a better companion.' Fi took over her body, which made her eyes glow crimson like the blood that was dripping from her chin. She drew the sword from out of her lung as she strode towards Ganondorf. Holding two swords with her shield on her back she pounced forward on to Ganondorf, but he just merely batted her away as she slammed into the wall. Slowly picking her up by her neck he started to tighten his grip making her cough up more blood and her vision started to go fuzzy with black spots appearing in her green eyes. Lifting up her two swords whilst he was preoccupied, she swiftly pushed them down into his neck above his armour killing him instantly, dropping her to the ground.

'Young mistress, I have to go now, but I have released the shield on the Links because you need help because you have a survival rate of 35%'. The crimson in her eyes faded as she heard the sound of multiple feet running in her direction. Grasping on to the wall behind her she painfully lifted herself up as blood dripped from both her chest and her mouth as she winced in agony. "Cub! Don't get up.", she heard Twi warn her as she felt an arm grab her from behind. "Hang in their, Pup. Hyrule can wait a bit longer to find out that he's dead.", she heard Sky say to reassure her as she gasped for breath as she started to cough up more blood. She soon found out that the arm that was behind her was Legend's as she turned her head slightly to see who it was. Smiling slightly as blood trickled from the corner of her chin, she quietly asked "Did I do well? Are you impressed?", Legend turned to her with a smile and his eyes beginning to water, "You did more than well, Kid, and yes you did impress us so much. It's an honour for all of us to have taught you. Just no goodbyes today, OK." Wind then piped in with a sad look on his face, "You're not saying goodbye today, not while we're around! We won't let you go!" and at this her green eyes started watering because she was scared and how those words meant so much to her. Hyrule passed Four a healing potion, which he grabbed as he gently tilted her jaw open and her head back as he poured it into her mouth as Wild and Time started to try and stitch up the wound. "Wild, can you heal other people with Mipha's grace", he quickly asked, which was shortly replied to with "I don't know, but anything is worth a shot." He closed his eyes as he put his hand on the wound as it started to glow blue and a ghostly spirit of Mipha appeared, he opens his eyes again and asks "Mipha please can you help us save our friend as she has been fatally wounded whilst fighting and killing Ganondorf" and she quietly replied with a small smile "So, she did it all by herself the poor girl of course I will help you." As she starts to feel her wounds closing up, she thanks Wild and Mipha in her head and her green eyes start to close causing Time to say "Stay with us, Pup, no goodbyes yet", but as much as she tried to keep them open she couldn't, so she let them close.

A while later, she woke up to blinding light and she heard a gentle sigh from next to her. As she blinked to adjust to the light, she saw Time sitting next to her with a relieved smile gracing his lips, "You gave us quite the scare there, Pup. But I think the others will be happy to know that you're awake", he chuckled a bit. "So, what actually happened after I passed out and can I get up and make sure everyone else knows I'm awake?" "Well you have been out for about 36 hours and we decided that it would be best if we came back to Lon Lon Ranch, so Sky brought you here on his Loftwing because it was the quickest way to get you here. Malon already knows what happened and we've both said that you can stay here whilst you are healing because even though Wild managed to get some help from Mipha you've still got a fair bit of healing to do. And, yes, you can go and see the others."" Thank you, Time, I'm very grateful that you and Malon are letting me stay here.", she carefully got up off the bed and gave him a large hug with a smile on her face. She slowly walked out of the room she was in as she admired the ranch. Spotting Hyrule, she quietly crept up behind him and gave him a hug and he jumped a bit before he turned around and returned the hug, "It's nice to see you awake again!", he smiled. "It's nice to be back and alive, which is all thanks to you guys!", she replied. She looked around at the other Links with joy clearly written on her face. "GROUP HUG!" was suddenly yelled by Wind, who jumped into the hug laughing, whilst everyone else joined in as well with the hug whilst also chuckling at the youngest's antics.

> I wrote this ages before I had my idea for an oc and I didn't continue it because I couldn't think what was meant to go before it.

The heroine has been travelling with the Links and through that time she has learnt bits from them as they have from her. Twi and Time ended up somehow calling her by the same nicknames as they have given to Wild because they see her as the almost the same as him and they couldn't think of anything else to call her, so yeah.

#linked universe

[randomoranges]

Teddy Bear

sometimes you gotta write a thing from your head instead of writing for asks. or something.

Teddy Bear

 Étienne liked to believe that he was a pretty good boyfriend, all things considered. He genuinely cared for his own boyfriend, he did his best to be attentive and caring, and he made sure to invest in the relationship. Therefore, when he called Edward earlier today and Edward told him that he wasn’t feeling very well and thought he was coming down with something, Étienne decided to be a good boyfriend and swing by the drugstore to get some cough syrup and lozenges for him. He even decided to make the trip worthwhile for himself and fill up on his own prescriptions that he was running low on. He was being a practical, functioning adult and he should get a damn prize for it, if he said so himself.

Étienne went down the cough syrup aisle and perused the shelves looking for the syrup Edward always used and scanned the shelves twice, before he found the correct item. He took the bigger bottle, in case, found the lozenges and grabbed an extra bag to be safe and he was ready to head down towards the prescription counter to pick up his own meds and pay for everything, when he found himself face-to-face with the discounted-left-over-Valentine’s Day merchandise. Now, he and Edward didn’t really do Valentine’s Day – or, at the very least, they said they didn’t and if he was being honest, they did – but, in both their defence, they did it their own way and liked to call it anything but Valentine’s Day. Because they were special (weird) that way.

They both agreed that Valentine’s Day was too hectic and commercial and that going out on February 14 was more hellish than anything else. Therefore, over the years, they had devised their own variation of the holiday, where somewhere around the month of February, they would go out on a Nice Date, they each ended up giving the other a Nice Present, there were oftentimes Flowers and they both avoided mentioning Valentine’s Day like it was the plague. However, on actual Valentine’s Day, they did spend the evening together at home, where they made a nice dinner together and washed it down with a nicer than usual bottle of wine and there was usually dessert. It was perfect and it worked for them.

Étienne’s intent wasn’t to get anything, but he found himself staring at a teddy bear holding a box of chocolates and he paused to look at it. Ever since Edward had unfortunately found out that Étienne’s mother had always called him Teddy as a nickname, Edward had made it his lifelong, gleeful, mission to use the nickname for Étienne, much to his chagrin. Edward thought it was the cutest most endearing thing ever, whereas Étienne failed to agree with that. But Edward kept using it. And if Étienne was being really honest with himself (and no one else) he had to admit that the nickname was growing on him. Slowly. Very slowly. Extremely slowly. And he was never, ever telling Edward. Because there would be no end to him.

Étienne took the bear down from its shelf and inspected it further. It was a very cute teddy bear with warm eyes and a kind smile. It had a nice green bow around its neck and its back paws had little green hearts stitched in. The box of chocolates was even Edward’s favourite and it was 75% off. Étienne couldn’t not get it for his boyfriend. Plus, it was the last one and Étienne didn’t have it in his heart to leave this teddy bear all alone by itself on the shelf. And, if anything, Edward would love it – probably (he hoped) and he would get a kick out of it (probably).

Therefore, Étienne walked over to the counter, paid for his medication, the cough syrup, the lozenges and the teddy bear and then returned home to be a good boyfriend and warm up some soup for Edward.

By the time Edward made it home, he looked and sounded terrible and Étienne ordered him to take a nice bath while he set up and plated the soup. Edward barely protested, not having enough energy for it, and did as he was told. Étienne placed the teddy bear at Edward’s seat and when his boyfriend joined him in the kitchen, Étienne brought out the steaming bowl of soup and pretended nothing was up.

“Curly, what is this?” Edward asked as he picked up the bear and brought it close to his face as if he wanted to inspect it.

Étienne sat beside him on the other chair and smiled, “I think they call those presents,” Edward rolled his eyes at him, making Étienne laugh.

“No kidding. I know it’s a gift – but why?” He sat and pushed back the soup for a moment, looking to see if there was a card of sorts. When he didn’t find any, he removed the box of chocolates from the teddy’s arms, “Oh! My favourite!”

“He was all alone on his shelf and super discounted. Figured you’d get a kick out of it.”

Edward grinned, as if his brain was finally catching up with everything and he looked utterly pleased with himself, “He’s a Teddy bear – oh my God – and you’re Teddy!” He laughed and maybe, just a little, Étienne was already regretting getting it, “This is the best! I love it! It even has a green bow and green hearts – green like your eyes!” Étienne flushed, because, he had thought the same stupid thing earlier, and he was pretty convinced that the cough syrup had made Edward loopy, “He’s my personal Teddy – for when my real Teddy isn’t with me,” Edward declared, giving the teddy bear’s nose a peck. Étienne was convinced, then and there, that he was slowly going loopy himself, for there was no reason why he should find this so endearing. And yet he did. And yet here he was, endeared.

Love was definitely making him loopy.

(He didn’t care.)

“Alright, alright, come on, eat the soup while it’s still warm and then bed – you look exhausted.” Edward pouted, but he placed the teddy bear back on the table beside him and pulled the bowl towards him.

Edward ended up eating most of the soup, much to Étienne’s relief, and once he was done, Étienne ordered him to brush his teeth, take his meds and head off to bed, while he cleared up the dishes – Edward didn’t even have the energy to protest and by the time his head hit the pillow, he was already half asleep.

Étienne joined him moments later and laughed, shaking his head, when he found Edward curled up around the teddy bear, “Should I be jealous?” He asked, slipping under the covers. Edward turned over and snuggled up to Étienne – teddy and all – and let out a small, content sigh – before he bolted away, “Why are you here?”

“I… live here? This is also my bed?” Edward rolled his eyes at Étienne’s comment and stopped him from getting comfortable, “But I’m sick. Shouldn’t you take the couch? I don’t want you to get sick as well.”

Étienne disregarded the comment and manhandled Edward until he was settled back on his chest, “Let’s be real, Ed, whatever bug you have has been around for a few days now, probably, and we share the same space, the same bed, the same air and I kissed you this morning and we had sex last night – I’m very much exposed to what you have – so, why sleep on a couch when I can sleep here and watch over you, if you need anything?” Edward fell quiet at that, and Étienne was convinced Edward had fallen asleep, until he felt him shift.

“Teddy’ll keep me safe,” Edward slurred, and Étienne wasn’t sure if Edward was referring to the bear or himself, but when he asked, his answer was a soft snore. If anything, he would keep Edward safe. Étienne chuckled to himself and shut off the lights, before settling in for the night himself.

---

After the accident, when Edward was finally able to return to work, he was surprised to find a stuffed bear in his office. It had a green bow and stitched hearts on its back paws, with warm eyes and a kind smile. It seemed well loved and something about the bear seemed familiar and comforting, “Hello, old friend,” Edward said to it; the bear remained quiet and Edward wondered how he had gotten this bear – a friend? A lover? An ex lover? A pity gift to himself? “You wouldn’t happen to have a name, would you?” Edward slowly sat at his desk and brought the bear closer, inspecting it – he spotted a few careful stitches behind an ear and near an arm, but there was no nametag, “Well, I suppose I’ll give you a new name… but you’ll have to forgive me, I’m not feeling very creative. Is Teddy alright?”

Teddy remained quiet and said nothing, but Edward didn’t need him to, his presence was sufficient.

#pc: montreal #pc: edmonton #Edward Murphy #étienne maisonneuve #au #this coulda been non au #it couuuuld ish be non au #it could also not be from That Au #cough amnesia au #og intent was amnesia au tho lamao lets be real #also can you tell what my fav format is was lamao #amnesia au #pre amnesia au #bonus content #ish #idk #chais pas

[ofxcintra]

Diary Entry #74:Vampire Attack (Story Part One)

//Now I am going to bed. Here's my story part

Ever believe in tales about things? Just me? Huh, that's odd. I know when I was walking home one morning after a long graveyard shift at the museum, I was attacked by a vampire. I thought it was a cutpurse, but it wasn't. I carried a dagger in my boot and fought back. He bares fangs at me and I realized it was a vampire! An actual vampire!

I stabbed it in the heart and he died instantly. I checked the body and he turned to ashes after that. When I got back to the house, the family I stayed with were getting ready to go about their day.

Alisse: Ciri? What happened to you?!

She walked over and noticed I had blood stains on my clothes. Damned vampires. She helped me get my uniform into the wash and I sat in the hot water for a bath. Then afterward, I was taken to the doctor to get fixed up. They asked why and Alisse had to make up that someone cut me or tried to when I was walking home. I had stitches put on me and I was taken back home to rest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Diary Entry #75: Mother of All Vampires

After resting for four hours, I woke up and changed clothes but took it easy. But I was driven to work this time. As I spent time at my shift, I heard shuffling from one exhibit when I was walking around. There stood a woman in there. Didn't look like one of our own. I shined the flashlight on her.

"Excuse me, Miss? I'm terribly sorry but the museum is closed for the day."

She turned around and had eyes red like blood. I took a step back. Not another one. She slowly approached me while I stood there holding my gun.

Woman: You seem afraid. And you're the one who killed my child.

"Who are you? And what do you want??"

She smirked at me and I saw she had fangs also. My green eyes grew wide as I still pointed my gun at her.

Woman: Why, I'm the mother of all vampires. Lilith is my name. And you're a witch hunter of a sort.

"I'm a Witcheress. My name is Ciri. What do you want from me?"

Lilith: What do I want? Pity, always asking me these things. I come to get your head and blood.

I saw her draw out a blade which had a golden tint to it. I had my sword with me this time also and placed my gun away and drew my blade from my back. She looked at me amused in a way and glared at me with her cold stare.

Lilith: You killed my son. And I will always avenge my children.

"Then die with him!"

I lunges at her with my sword and slammed it at her, but she dodged it. Then she tried to stab me with her blade and I clashed it with my own. We fought for a while until we both were bleeding. She looked at me with hunger in her eyes.

Lilith: Your blood calls to me, mortal.

"Who said I was?"

I swing my blade at her but she vanished in front of me and appeared behind me then sunk her teeth into my neck. I pushed her off me and she fell down. I felt pain sting a little as I fell to the ground.

Lilith: Be happy, witcheress, I granted you a gift.

I stared at her as I was writhing in pain in the floor. I felt myself shake as I felt changes happening. My blood. My blood is tainted and I needed to cure myself immediately.

I always carried a remedy, but it was at home. I felt ill. I excused myself to go home and take care of this. Lilith disappeared and went off into the darkness of the night. While the effects happened, I grabbed the potion which was a remedy and I downed it. I laid in bed as I was in pain. Danielle came in my room and sat there with me. She didn't leave my side.

By morning, I felt the the changes still and sun light burned me. It was torture. I needed a cure and fast! I needed ingredients for it. And it requires vampire blood. My blood didn't count. Alisse checked on me and when Danielle told her I was ill, she wanted to speak to me in private and closed the door.

Alisse: Ciri, what the hell is going on?

That's the first time I heard her swear. Usually she doesn't.

"I was attacked by the mother of all vampires, Alisse. I'm going through her effects. I need to get ingredients but it'll have to wait til nightfall. It's a matter of time before I succumb to the changes."

Alisse: We can help. I can help. What do you need?

I handed her a list with one crossed off. She went to a special shop for them and brought it home. I was already using them to make a potion. It should help me some.

I drank it finally and laid down as I started shaking again. Writhing on the bed and Alisse held me down. She sat by me until I fell into a deep sleep.

Diary Entry #77: The Cure Fails

I woke up from a slumber and I go to look in the mirror. My reflection was fading. I wondered why the remedy didn't work. Why didn't it work?!! I fell to the ground and started crying. Usually I'm not afraid, but this time I was.

I went down stairs and saw a note from Alisse. She and her family had gone to the movies and left me money to order food for the evening. They had called my work already letting them know I couldn't come in due to being sick. Not sure if having case of vampirism is counted as that.

I had pizza and ate it all. But then I felt it. Hunger for something else. No, I can't give in to it!

I needed air. So I left a text on their phones letting them know I went for a walk. I could feel it from everyone around me. Heart beats. Blood pumping in their veins. I kept walking ignoring their blood calling me.

As I went up to a shop that had what I needed, I could feel Lilith's presence approaching. I was falling under her influence slowly. No, I must resist it! As I was grabbing everything for a cure, the woman gave me everything I needed. She even made one bottle for me. I drank it carefully and whole. She said she was a vampire hunter and that she knew I was fighting off effects.

She said it takes a few days to get rid of the infliction. So the waiting game begins.

#ciri #drabble #story #cirilla fiona elen riannon #au #alternate universe

[lunaofthevalley]

Steadfast Tin Soldier |||

Bucky Barnes x Reader

The third and finally part is finally here. Thank you to everyone who has taken their time to read this little mini series. It was an idea I came up with on a whim and I wasn't sure I even wanted to post it but I'm glad I did. So without further a do, enjoy 🦄

Note: if you want to be added to my permanent tag list comment down below, and if you want to request something don't be afraid to send an inbox. And if you're a Peter Parker fan keep your eyes peeled for my upcoming Peter story based slightly of the little mermaid.

It had been about a week since the party and things were drastically different. No one has seen or heard from Bucky ever since he walked out of the party and while Y/N hated to admit it, she was overcome with worry about what had happened to him. It wasn't the first time he had done something of the sort. After something happened that he found incredibly stressful he'd disappear for a couple of days and when he came back it was as if nothing had ever happened. But this time he'd been gone for longer than usual.

Y/N was currently sat in her room, in front of her vanity playing with her hair. She stared at herself in the mirror and she as been doing so frequently for the past week. Bucky had called her beautiful shortly before abandoning her, but if she was being honest, she hadn't felt that way ever since the party. She knew her beauty had nothing to do with Bucky leaving her there, but that's how she felt for some reason. Like she wasn't good enough.

She was taken aback when she heard a knock on her door. No one ever came down to her quarters, except Natasha and Wanda, who at that point just walked right into the room with out knocking. Y/N stood up and walked to the door. She expected many things to be on the other side but not what was actually there.

In front of her was a bruised and bloodied Bucky who looked as if he could fall dead in a matter of seconds. His clothing was ripped and his long locks were tangled and greasy. His usually shiny metal arm had dirt between its ridges and it looked opaque. His eyes which were usually a bright blue looked grey and sad. He opened his mouth to say something but you cut him off.

"Go to the bathroom and get undressed." She ordered.

Bucky was taken aback, "Excuse me?"

"Go to the bathroom and get undressed." Y/N repeated, "I suppose you're here to talk, well we'll talk when you no longer look like walking death."

"Y/N...I-"

"Into the shower now Barnes!"

Bucky gave her one last look before walking past her and into the bathroom. Y/N waited until she heard the door close before releasing the breath she had been holding. She quickly composed herself before darting out of her room and towards Bucky's. She wanted to get him a clean change of clothes so that he wouldn't have to wear those ripped, dirty ones after he left the shower. She also passed by the lab and grabbed one of the first aid kits and a couple of more things she considered she would need for patching up Bucky.

She returned to her room moments before Bucky left the shower. He stepped out only covered in a towel from the waist down. Y/N was sure she would lose her composure right there and then. His toned chest was glistening with the small water droplets that fell from his damp hair, gliding down it, outlining his abs more than ever. His metal arm looked shiny again, and while he was now free of the dried blood, Y/N could make out cuts all over his face, arms, chest and stomach.

She gestured with her head to the change of clothes she had left on her bed. He didn't say anything as he grabbed them and went back into the bathroom to change. After a couple of minutes he emerged again.

Y/N was sat on the bed, her chin resting on her hand, which rested on her knee. She looked up at Bucky through her eyelashes and gave him a once over all over again. "What the hell happened to you Bucky? You've been missing for a week!"

Bucky looked down in shame, feeling bad for not telling her where he had gone. "Fury had a mission for me. It was supposed to be a quick in and out, but took more time than what we thought. I left the morning after the party. Only Steve and Tony knew where I was."

She pursed her lips and slowly nodded her head, "Well what kind of mission was it that left you looking like that?"

"It was to stop some rogue HYDRA agents, it was a small group. No more than ten. It was an easy mission Y/N. I look worse than what it actually was. Most of the blood wasn't mine." Bucky explained.

"You're covered in cuts!"

"They're just small scratches Doll."

Y/n stood up from the bed and went over to her desk to retrieve the first aid kit. She then gestured for Bucky to sit down on the bed, which he did without argument. She approached him and set the stuff down beside him before turning to him again. "Take your shirt off."

"What?"

"I said take your shi-"

"I heard what you said, I'm old, not deaf." Bucky remarked, "I just put the shirt on, why do I need to take it off?"

"I need to make sure you have no deep cuts that need stitching."

Bucky let out an earthy chuckle, "I already told you I'm fine Doll."

"It's protocol Barnes."

"Oh so we're on last name basis now, huh?"

"Just take off your damn shirt Bucky!"

"Okay, okay." He then took of his shirt and in that moment its as if all the air left Y/N's body. It wasn't the first time she'd seen him shirtless, she had recently just seen him in only a towel, and it also wasn't the first time she revised him after a mission. But something about this time felt different.

It was happening in her room and not in the lab, and the unspoken matters between them made the atmosphere tense. As Y/N took to cleaning some of Bucky's cuts, he looked up at her. Her face was scrunched up in concentration, her E/C eyes were focused on what she was doing, her lips pursed, which made it look like she was pouting. Some strands of her H/C H/T hair fell on her face, which was slightly highlighted by the suns light coming in through the windows, giving her and the room an aura of gold. A few more minutes of silence passes before Bucky grabbed her hand and spoke up.

"I owe you an apology." He started. Y/N made no sound and only looked at him with wide eyes, "What I did to you is something no man should ever do, and I regretted my decision to do so the moment I walked out the door, but I was too ashamed to go back. Truth is I became overwhelmed with everything. You looking perfect, the ambient, the team and their stupid plan...just everything became too much and I needed to get out of there. I know I should've explained but I couldn't.

"Truth is Doll, I've been head over heels for you since the moment I saw you, and then I met you and got to know you and I just kept falling deeper into a pit I knew I wouldn't be able to escape. You're everything I've wanted in a woman. You were literally the Ballerina to my Tin Soldier.

"But you deserve better than me. I'll never be the Bucky I was 75 years ago, and I'm no longer the Winter soldier. I'm now just the shell of James Buchanan Barnes, trying to figure out how I fit into the world now and coping with what I had to put up with during my time in HYDRA. I have severe PTSD, I have nightmares and crazy impulses...and you Doll, deserve so much better than that, so much better than me. So I'm sorry."

Bucky let go of her hand and looked down in embarrassment. Y/N was shocked, to say the least. Bucky had just poured his heart out to her without hesitating. She could no longer help to be mad at him, how could she after that. She slowly crouched until she was looking slightly up at him. She reached out a hand and placed it on his cheek, his metal hand coming up instantly to gently wrap his fingers around her wrist as she slowly caressed his warm cheek.

"You know, I've been head over heels for you too. Ever since that day we met. Just one look at you and I knew you were different. Not in the bad way, but in the best way possible. I have never once looked at you and thought about you as a broken, tortured man. To me you have always been, and always will be just Bucky. Never the winter soldier, never Captain Americas best friend. Only Bucky.

"And what you're saying about me deserving someone better is bullshit, pardon my French but that's what it is. You do not get to decide who I do and don't deserve in my life, I decide that myself, and I want you in my life. But more importantly Bucky, you deserve this, you deserve me in your life, and I may sound like a hypocrite telling you you deserve me while also telling you, you don't decide who I deserve, but it's the truth. You deserve someone who will be there for you, who will put up with you PTSD, someone who will look at you like the most precious thing there is, and god Bucky I really hope you let me be that someone for you."

It was now Bucky who was shocked. He saw some tears trickle down Y/N's face and he felt the same on his. Both of the were overcome with emotion, everything that had been pent up for a week and from months before was now coming to light. Bucky knew he didn't have the words to reply, and even if he did he didn't know how to say them. So instead of replying verbally he thought he'd show her what he felt physically.

He leaned down and grabbed her by her waist as if she weighed nothing and brought her to his lap, pulled her as close as possible and then slowly but passionately connected their lips. She didn't protest at all. Her hand with which she had been caressing his cheek remained there while her other found itself wrapped around his broad shoulders. Their kiss started of slow, allowing them to set a pace and get used to the feel of each other's lips, but as time passed the kiss got deeper, faster, needier, and they never separated until the need of air became greater than the need of each other's lips.

Their foreheads rested on one another's, Bucky brought up a hand to caress her neck while both her hands played with the soft curls at the back of his head. They stared into each other's eyes while regaining their breath and composure.

"I love you," Bucky spoke up breaking the looming silence, "I know it might be too soon to say it, but it's how I feel."

Y/n leaned in and gave him a small, slow peck. She moved back but just a small amount so that her lips would ghost over his when she talked, "I love you too, so damn much Bucky, you have no idea."

"I think I have a slight clue Doll." He smiled.

Both of them remained embraced for a little while after that, finally knowing how it felt and not wanting to lose the sensation it gave them both. Neither of them had ever before felt as comfortable as they did then.

"Say...you still kind of owe me a dance." Y/N remarked a little later.

Bucky looked down at her, "Is that so?"

Y/N untangled herself from Bucky and stood up, offering him a hand which he gladly took as he stood up as well. Y/N led him to a part of her room that would give them enough space to dance. They positioned themselves almost identically to how they had been the other night, only this time, Y/N rested her head on Bucky's bare chest, right above his steady beating heart.

"Hey Doll...we don't have any music."

"F.R.I.D.A.Y" Y/N spoke up and not a second later an old song from the 40's started playing. Bucky hummed in contempt, recognizing the song and started to sway you both gently from side to side.

"You know....I guess fairytales sometimes do come true." Bucky said.

Y/N looked up at him, "Why do you say that?"

"In the story, the Steadfast Tin Soldier has to leave his ballerina due to...unfortunate circumstances...and after going through a long and hard journey he comes back to her. And well...I came back to you Doll, it might not have been a long and hard journey, more of a week long, average mission but you get the point."

She let out a small giggle which moved him to his core, "I suppose you're right. You know I find it funny how many parallels you seem to have with the story. It's a tad bit comical really."

"Well I guess stories have more influence in our lives than we think. And the Steadfast Tin Soldier isn't that bad a story to have parallels with."

"If you say so," she replied, "just don't get eaten by a fish, don't see how that would work out."

Bucky laughed, "Don't worry, that won't happen."

And so they danced on until day turned to night, they remained in each other's arms until the late hours of the night. Now that they had each other they didn't ever want to let go, never wanting to live without that feeling anymore. The Tin Soldier had been reunited with his ballerina, and there was no evil Jack-In-the-Box trying to separate them.

In the fairytale, the Soldier and the ballerina perish in a fire together, the flames making them melt into a single, perfect Tin heart. But Bucky and Y/N only melted into each other, coming as close to the other as much as they could. Their hearts were sure to become one after that day , neither of them being able to deny their feelings for the other anymore. And it was a beautiful thing.

The story of the Steadfast Tin Soldier and his Ballerina.

...

"Hey Bucky, what was it you said earlier about the teams stupid plan?"

"You don't want to know Doll."

TSTS TAGS: @hadesgirl1015 @holycoldcoffee @pookiepookie8 @fangeekkk @evilzinblr @miss-kraziii @wizards-magic-and-witches @white-wolf-buckaroo

#bucky fanfic #bucky barnes x reader #bucky imagine #bucky barnes #bucky fluff #bucky fic #bucky x you #sebastian stan #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan imagine #avengers masterlist #avengers #avengers imagines #mcu #marvel imagine #marvel #the steadfast tin soldier #steadfast tin soldier #lunawrites