Tumgik
#came out a while ago and I was really set on the kirby but now I’m unsure 😔
holydramon · 2 years
Text
thinking about my splat OCs again now
6 notes · View notes
Note
AITA for not giving my brother my old gaming consoles?
So I (28m) love video games. Nintendo's handheld consoles in particular (I also own my parents old '98 computer and some of the PC games). They were a crucial part of my childhood and I strived to save every console and game that I could, and still keep them now for sentimental value and the sake of preserving them. My brother (30m) was never really into video games, but because we came from a lower class family, the gaming consoles and all subsequent games were typically gifted to "the whole family" and by extention, my brother, as he was the older child, but they all ended up becoming mine in the end, as I was the only one who would use them beyond the first week of owning them.
As we got older, my brother lost all interest in video games, so games started to get gifted to me directly, while the consoles remained "for the family". None of them were ever "officially" handed over to me, except for my father handing me his old grey Gameboy and going "here, you like this more than me" (that Gameboy and the Metroid game in it are my ultimate treasure). But again, I was the only one who cared about them, so everything I could beg my parents to not sell got added to my collection.
Now that we're all adults and my brother has kids and said kids are now old enough for video games (both are 6yo) they both have taken an interest. Which is awesome! I let my niece and nephew play on my Switch when they come over, and sometimes they watch me play games on my PC. They also have tablets that they play games on too, so there's no shortage of access, and my SIL is thinking about getting a Switch for at home (they love Kirby).
Just a month ago though, my brother randomly asked me for "his consoles back". When I asked why, he told me it was because he wanted to give them to his kids. When I asked which ones, he wanted them all. From the grey Gameboy up to the Gamecube.
I flat out told him no. First off, the Gamecube was sold in a yard sale after my parents "persuaded" me to let them sell it. The Gamecube I own now was gifted by a friend, so that one is 100% mine. My brother doesn't believe me on that. Second, none of these handheld consoles are being made anymore, they can be hard to find depending on where you are, and the price of the games for them are even higher. I love my niece and nephew, but they are little kids, and it would be devestating to see or hear that one of those old consoles got snapped in half or crushed. Also, again, these consoles are my entire childhood. These are the ones I held in my hands as a kid, and those games are the ones I had for years, and contained my save files on them. They mean way too much to me.
My brother got mad at me, claiming that I'm being selfish and that I can just "buy another one online" and that "they sit in a storage bin all the time", and got even angrier when I asked him why HE couldn't just buy them online. We apparently are on the same page that these consoles hold sentimental value to us, but I'm having a hard time seeing his side of it when he barely touched them.
He hasn't brought it up since, but apparently my brother's been complaining to our parents because my mother called me a few days ago to tell me that I am being selfish and to "just give him the games already". She hates seeing us fight and tends to pick the side of the kid that complains to her first, so IDK if I believe her. My dad doesn't care, and my SIL thinks spending the money on a Switch would be money better spent.
I do feel a little bad, I know I would be steaming mad if the roles were reversed, but I just do not see how he suddenly cares so much about these consoles all of a sudden, and I absolutely do not trust that he would make sure his kids are careful with them.
So, AITA? Am I being selfish? I already was thinking about letting my niece and nephew try out the old consoles when they're older and I get them all set up in a proper display case, I just do not want to lose ownership of these consoles. I already lost the Gamecube, Wii, and so many games (including PC games) to my parents "convicining me" to sell them. I don't want to lose any more.
What are these acronyms?
139 notes · View notes
ashtonlc3 · 1 year
Text
Severitus/Sevitus Fic Rec
Thought I’d share my own personal fic list that I’ve complied over time featuring Snape and Harry developing some kind of father-son relationship, all the way through either bio-dad, adoption, guardian or mentorship. All of these fics are COMPLETE because after OME leaving me on the world’s biggest cliff hanger and losing the fic for many months because I’m an idiot, I have serious WIP trust issues. They’re also usually really long because I love angsty, slow-burn fics.
I started taking in-depth notes while I read through fics a while ago so that I would NEVER lose a favourite fic again (the title of one of my favs is in Latin, so I never remember what it’s called). And also because I have a terrible memory so remembering what happened in each fic is quite difficult for me. Assuming I know how to count there should be over 16 fics listed here.
Tumblr media
I’ve also rated each fic out of 10 and added a couple of notes for each fic (I didn’t add any with a rating of 5 or lower cause these are meant to be recommendations not a reading log). I’ve put them in order of how much I liked them, 10 and 9s being my equivalent to an Outstanding, 8 and 7 an Exceeds Expectations and a 6 an Acceptable.
TW: As is usually the case with Severitus, ALL of these fics have some degree of child abuse in them, courtesy of the Dursleys, with various degrees of intensity.
Tumblr media
O Mine Enemy By Kirby Lane 10/10
You’ve probably already read this one because it is legendary in the Severitus genre and a staple for any fic list. In the event that you haven’t, you SHOULD read it ASAP. Starts summer of sixth year. 
TW addiction/substance abuse
Victus per Reproba Monumentum By firefly5151 9/10
For a long time I didn’t read anything that had Sev as Harry’s bio dad, it felt implausible, OOC and just was not as good as the guardian/mentor trope. That is until I read this fic, and now the bio-dad trope is my favourite. This fic is the Snape of Severitus, there are a LOT of flaws but I love it anyway. The plot is a bit questionable, it has manipulativeDumbledore (which I don’t like in fics) and Ron and Hermione pretty much forget Harry exists. BUT the emotional journey is amazing, and really angsty. Starts during summer of 6th year.
The Subterfuge By Murai-Sakura 9/10
This fic is on the newer side having been written in 2020. My first time reading this fic I had a few mixed feelings about it which made me reluctant to read it again despite really liking it. Reading it again for the second time I can’t understand what past Ash’s problem was because it was magnificent. Granted I remember it being darker than it actually is (it may have been due to me reading The Hunger Games in-between, who knows). I’m rambling, in short I think I liked this one a little more than A Year Like None Other. The plot is unique enough that the story doesn’t feel like your reading a rehash of every Severitus fic ever while still hitting the emotional points necessary for a satisfying fic. It’s definitely more mentor than father figure and is set during fifth year so watch out for Umbridge.
TW suicide attempt and graphic child abuse 
A Year Like None Other By aspeninthesunlight 9/10
Another classic whose reputation speaks for its-self, written before HBP came out and is also insanely long. I’ve actually never read the sequals either because one was enough for me and it’s in Draco’s pov. It also has the added bonus of brother bonding between Draco and Harry. Set during 6th year. 
TW self harm and graphic torture
Perception is Everything By Kendra James 8/10
This was one of the first few Severitus fics I ever read so it has a very special place in my heart despite the plot being a very standard Severitus setup. Set Christmas 6th year, Snape finds out about the Dursleys abuse when Harry gets sick over Christmas break.
You've forgotten who I am By CastlePheonix 8/10
I’ve only read this one once so I’m taking past Ash’s word for it. Set during 5th year, a what if Snape actually hit Harry with the jar after the Pensieve incident. Harry gets temporary amnesia and spends some time in Spinner’s End with Snape. 
TW addiction/substance abuse
Whelp & Whelp II - The Wrath of Snape By jharad17 7/10
The standard run down; the Dursleys are dicks, Sev finds out. This is pre-Hogwarts (7 years old) so you know Harry is going to be adorable and clingly. Vernon has Harry tied up in the yard like a dog.
Namesake Necklace By WiCeBa 7/10
This fic is a little more recent I think. Set summer before the start of 5th year, Harry and Dudley are de-aged. This ones quite the adventure and Sirius is still alive so you know there’s gonna be a fight over Harry.
What I Must Ask You To Do By VeraRose19 7/10
Set at the end of GOF and continues into 7th year. This story is not just a Severitus but also an exploration of the blossoming friendship between Severus and Sirius as they co-parent Harry together. The story is far fluffier than it is angsty and relies quite heavily on canon for plot whilst also taking out the adventure and death toll. It’s more a fluffy, canon, best case scenario than an angsty, slow-burn fic.
Emerald eyes By JadeSullivan 7/10
I cannot remember this one at all so once again I’m taking past Ash’s word for it. This is set during 2nd year and does feature corporal punishment.
Prisoners By Whitetail 7/10
Harry is de-aged to 4 and Sev has partial paralysis. So they stay at a little cottage by the sea. Hermione features quite heavily in this one, both her and Harry end up with Sev gaining guardianship of them.
To Recollect the Future By oliversnape  7/10
When Harry is hit with the killing curse in DH Harry and Sev are sent back to first yeah. Harry and Sev pretty much spend the whole fic Horcrux hunting, its a fun bonding experience.
In plain sight & Close to the Chest By waitingondaisies 7/10
This is always a fun one. Set during 6th year, Sev found out as a spy so Albus turns him into a 16 year old Gryffindor and gives him an embarrassing name. Seriously Albus, Alfonse “Eli” Hopkirk, really? 
Time Left Today By gzdacz 7/10
Sev and Harry are on the run after Quirrell is killed by an 11 year old. The road trip is quite fun although I don’t really like the ending too much though.
The Trouble with Polyjuice By LilyEvansDouble 6/10
2nd year. Features Snape as Harry’s biological father after the Polyjuice incident.
Summer of Bonding By Magica Draconia 6/10
This one is set after PS as the Dursley never pick Harry up from Kings Cross so Harry stays with Snape. Snape collects horse figurines in this one and is very heavily featured in this story. So its a bit too niche for my liking but otherwise still a good read.
And that’s all I got. I’ll probably come back to this list (yeah cause I forgot to put in tags) and add more fics as I read them. (When I add new fics I’ll reblog this post with a change log so you don't need to read through the list again to figure out what’s been changed.) My TBR is usually just as long so ... to forever be continued.
594 notes · View notes
krikeymate · 1 year
Note
So I've seen stuff where Sam sneaks off to the shrine alone after Gale's attack. But what if Tara snuck off instead? Like after Sam offers to give herself up maybe she tells Sam that she left her inhaler in Bailey's car or uses Danny showing up to slip away and then leaves to try to stop them herself. She calls Bailey to set up the trap at the shrine after leaving. Because we all know Sam ain't the only one that would do anything to protect her sister.
OH. GENIUS THOUGHT MY FRIEND.
Tara sneaks off and calls Bailey to set a trap. She isn't going to give Sam the chance to sacrifice herself, not after everything she's done.
Bailey can't believe his luck.
Ghostface sends Sam a video of Tara in the shrine, alone, with them waving a knife in front of the camera (like the Amber video, Ghostface is standing on the balcony looking down at her). The follow-up message says come alone or she dies. She tells the others she's gonna go find Tara, and makes her own escape. She sends Kirby a text as she stands outside the shrine: going to the shrine, my sister's in trouble, if you don't hear from me in half an hour, I might be dead. She turns off her phone.
Meanwhile, Tara is standing in front of Billy's case, thinking about how this all started, wondering how he and her mother - two of the worst people she knows - could have made something so wonderful as her sister. She hears a noise from somewhere behind her, but doesn't see anyone come in the entrance. Something feels wrong, she opens the case and takes Billy's knife.
She goes through the stage side entrance, quietly, to investigate. Bailey said he was on his way, but that was a while ago... surely he should be here by now? She feels like she might be on her own in her plan after all.
~
Sam enters the building, preparing herself for the worst. It's empty, it's quiet. She thinks about calling out to her sister, but she knows there's at least one Ghostface here already. She scans the display room, looking for any sign of movement. Finding none, she decides she should move on... then she spots a chain and a padlock resting on a nearby display case beside a familiar pink jacket.
She decides to lock the entrance, she doesn't want any more surprises showing up, and if no one can get in, no one can get out either. She knows what Tara came here to do, and she wasn't wrong, Sam can begrudgingly admit... she just wishes she hadn't tried to do it alone.
"Like you were planning?" says a familiar voice from somewhere over her right shoulder. "Shut up," she mumbles. She's so not in the mood for his commentary right now, or ever. "She's smart," the voice continues, "your clever little sister, trying to lure these fools into her trap... or maybe you're the fool falling into hers." Sam spins around, ready to confront the voice. But there's no one there, it's all in her head. Fuck, she wishes she'd kept her meds on her.
Sam turns and yanks open a side door.
~
Tara's finished tying a knot when her phone rings... it's an unknown number. She wants to ignore it, her thumb swipes to accept the call anyway as she gets back on her feet.
"Tara, Tara, Tara. Did you really think you could make a difference? That you could save your sister? Save yourself?"
"You have no idea what I'm capable of."
"Oh but I do, I've been watching you."
Tara's eyes flick to the camera in the corner of the room. Bailey said they could use them to their advantage, but it seems the Ghostfaces were one step ahead of them.
"It's you who has no idea what I'm capable of. Your sister is on her way, and I'm going to gut you while she watches. But first... I'm going to make you beg."
The caller hangs up as the door behind her opens. Tara spins around, knife slashing out. An arm collides with her hand, knocking her armed hand to the side as the figure steps into her trap. The figure is pulled upwards by their ankle. She can't believe that worked! I mean- wait, "Sam?"
Sam's unimpressed face rotates into view. "What the fuck, Tara?"
"Oh shit, give me a second." Tara cuts at the taut rope, releasing her sister from the snare trap.
"I can't believe you would do something like this," Sam begins, voice angry as she gets up from the floor. She's about to continue when her eyes are drawn to the rope and the makeshift pulley around the door frame, then back at her sister and the bloody knife she holds. "Did you make this?" she asks in disbelief.
Tara frowns, a slight pout to her expression, "it was supposed to be for Ghostface."
Sam shakes her head, she can praise her sister later, after she's scolded her for scaring the life out of her. "What were you thinking, coming here alone?"
"I just... every day you make the decision to protect me, I just wanted to protect you for a change." Tara makes it so hard for Sam to stay mad at her. She pulls her in for a hug. "You have no idea how scared I was," Sam confesses, "every time you're out of my sight I'm terrified that it might be forever, that the last time I saw you could be the last."
"You're never going to lose me, Sam. I promise." Tara's arms squeeze around her tight, and Sam closes her eyes for a moment, resting her head on her sister's.
When she opens them again, it's to a Ghostface stabbing her sister in the back.
41 notes · View notes
blazingstaro · 1 year
Text
DotS Update: March Edition!
Apologies for the lack of post activity lately! Came down sick with real bad allergies this past week (hay fever? Maybe a head cold? Not sure, can't afford to see a doctor), which followed a migraine that reeaaaally overstayed its welcome. Good news: no more light sensitivity, yay! Bad news: My head is more stuffed than a jalapeño popper, and just as deep-fried
I've had a post on DotS' Dark Meta Knight in drafts for a long while, so I've decided to post it for you all! Give you guys a little tasty something to chew on while I work on some more stuff! Not sure why I hadn't posted it sooner other than possibly just straight up forgetting XD Sorry about that!!
While I've been down from my sinuses going on strike, I continue to work on a lot of changes to my comic! I've been working on simplifying my style to ebb a little closer to how it was in the beginning, but more refined and streamlined. It'll still be real pretty (especially in important panels 👀), just easier for me to whip out. I realize I had burned myself out a year ago because I was putting too much detail into things that really didn't need it, and started falling back into my perfectionist habits.
Like hey, professional comics are stuffed with lazy and quick lines, and it still looks great, so why should I try to conform myself to printing out extremely high quality art every single page? I'm not trying to set a standard or prove anything, I'm just telling a story and sharing it omg
I started this comic for fun, and fun I shall have! It'll still look great for you guys, I won't be terribly lazy with it; I'll just have a more streamlined approach now, and will have predominantly cell shading rather than my signature soft-cell style ouo/
Behind the scenes, I've been playing around with some ideas revolving a certain character, and it's been giving me a lot of practice with comics, since it's been so long. Getting me back in the mind and grind of churning out page after page, sketch-wise, and helping me get back in touch with my root skills.
I'll be sure to share some examples here later, once I've done some full colored trials with this, see what you guys think!
I will probably no longer do colored text from here onward in my comic pages, mainly because it's a hassle to manage (it's pretty time consuming as well). However I'm pretty skilled at directing dialogue, so it should never be a question as to whom is speaking on any page. ouo7
On one final note, a certain official Kirby character has stolen my heart and wormed their way into among my top favorites, nevertheless stole a spot in my story AAAAAA (I understand the appeal now omg)
You guys might be able to guess, but I'll post a confession after this news blurb LOL
I can't stop drawing this funny lil' guy
This has consumed my life entirely and there's no signs of stopping
h e l p
2 notes · View notes
Butterflies Lay Upon Our Heirlooms Chapter 1
I thought uploading the chapters directly to tumblr as well would be a good idea, so more people can actually read them.. Full fic is under the cut because it is long
Dreamland hasn't been the same since the loss of its king and his loyal knight. Two years ago a terrible beast of a massive portion came to dreamland while its protector was watching over other worlds, a gruesome battle broke out because of its rage.
The knight was the first to meet his end, swiftly crushed to death as he tried in vain to protect his comrades. The king survived only to the end of the terrible fight, with nothing to heal him the injuries sustained was too much to come back from and soon died in the arms of his adopted son, his dying wishes for him to keep dreamland safe in his absence as its king. It was only after then, did Kirby return home from the stars, only to find two of his closest friends, whom he had seen as fathers each, had perished before he could even try to save them.
Bandee and Kirby hung clinged onto each other for a while after that day. Not talking, but having a mutual feeling of a pain that resided deep within their hearts and would not let up. Days, weeks, months had passed. It was a terrible time, it seemed as if the sun did not shine as brightly as before. But, life goes on and Dreamland needed a king, and the universe needed its best warrior. They could not forsake their duties to mourn forever.
Two years had passed since that day, yet Bandee still remembers it like yesterday. However there is no more time for painful memories. Today was the day the star allies would all be together in one place since before the deaths of Meta Knight and Dedede. He swore that it would be the best party anyone would have in years, something positive to remember in place of the grief that had consumed them.
So Bandee got out of their bed, and got dressed. Carefully putting on their king's robes, which were way too big for the small waddle dee, their kimono and their crown. They could never look in the mirror and think this was right, because it wasn't. But nothing was right anymore. They put their beloved blue bandana over their mouth and headed out to make preparations for the party.
He had already planned everything meticulously the weeks beforehand, so he really only needed to worry about checking in with the other waddle dee's to make sure everything was perfect.
The waddle dees working in the kitchen were now taking a well deserved break, as behind them mounds of food lay deliciously on the tables behind them ready to be wheeled out into the party room. Bandee themself was never quite as food crazy as Kirby or Dedede, they could still admire the sheer amount of it needed to sustain their friends' appetites.
They gave the chiefs praise and made their way to the room in which the party would be taking place. The band (called the 'rockle dees') were setting up a stage,, they were handed a good playlist filled with songs their friends had recommended (that was heavily edited by Bandee, they did not know how anyone could like some of those songs requested).
The room was wide, big enough to hold (probably) hundreds of guests at a time- it was more like a ball room though to their knowledge there has never been one held here. This meant there'd be enough room for games and things of the sort.
As Bandee was thinking about things they could do during the party today, a jolly finger would tap their shoulder making them jump. It's alright though, the owner of said finger was Kirby after all! Always early to show and late to leave, not usually this early but he's been anticipating today since Bandee announced it.
"Kirby! You startled me!" They laughed, Kirby lifted his mask to reveal a great big smile, to emphasize excitement.
"Sorry Bandee- I just can't wait until everyone gets here- it will be SO much fun- ahhh I can't wait to see everyone again!!" He rambles on about how much he's excited, Bandee simply nodded along happily in agreement.
"I'm really excited too but the party won't start for another two hours- no this doesn't mean you can get a headstart on the food." They smirked, to which Kirby made a pouty face.
"Fineee, I won't. So what do we do while we wait for everyone to come?" Kirby asks.
"I've been checking in on the Dee's, making sure everything's in order.. We don't want a big mess happening after all!" The waddle dee was under a lot of stress lately and today was supposed to help with that. The day is still young and the party hasn't even started yet, don't be so negative Bandana! "Say Kirby, do you want to walk around the castle with me?"
Of course, Kirby takes the offer and the two begin taking a walk around the castle, it’s a nice peaceful walk that takes stress off of Bandee. They make conversation about the last planet Kirby visited, what kinds of people he met, his climactic final battle that was just childs play at this point, he goes on and on until a butterfly passes a window. Kirby is oddly silent now. Bandee wants to ask what’s wrong, but he can’t help but shake the feeling that he already knows.
Two hours passed in silence as the Waddle Dee’s set everything up, taking out all of the food while Kirby was distracted with Bandee. But soon enough the gates open and good old friends flood the castle doors, it seems like everyone who was invited came! Marx came in flying chased by Magolor, Taranza was following close behind Susie and the Mage Sisters, even Highness managed to come, Adeleine and Ribbon came in trying to avoid the chaos couple (Bandee was really excited to catch up with the two specifically, seems like years since they actually- wait). The animal friends, gooey (who now had a blade form!!), Daroach and the Squeak Squad came, Elfilin, King Fluff made it to- Bandee was going to embarrass Kirby today defiantly- and even shadow Kirby managed to come!
What a good day today would be! Kirby who stood behind him turned his cape into sparkling yellow star wings and flew to the guests, he seemed in better spirits now that everyone was here! Today would be great!
…. Is what optimistic people said. Bandee could basically smell the coming chaos and probable disaster. Keep your cool Bandana, you are the king. You got this.
12 notes · View notes
Text
yt script i wrote that i may or may not use.
Hey guys, I know I don't usually make videos like this but I personally wanted to get this out into the world due to the discourse around the two newest games Sonic Superstars and Super Mario Bros Wonder. I see a lot of unnecessary hatred towards Superstars, and I don't think it's justified. Before we get into the video, I want to explicitly state that I AM **NOT** HATING ON WONDER. I'm simply trying to show that Superstars is not as bad as it's made out to be. Also, disclaimer: sorry my voice may sound wonky, I'm sick right now. Anyways, let's get into the video.
Sonic Superstars came out 3 days ago as of writing this script, and Wonder released just today. Fans are set on the fact that Superstars is a scam when compared to Wonder. I don't personally agree with that. Many people are saying that Superstars is "Half-baked" and "unfinished". While I do agree that some aspects of the game have their pros and cons, I wouldn't go so far as to say the game is a scam. 
Some parts of the game really intrigued me, such as the special character acts and the usage of the medals earned in story mode, not to mention the fact that the all new character Trip the Sungazer has her own entire campaign. I love the implied dynamic of Amy and Trip, as they seem to be really good friends near the end of the story. The character gimmicks are also not that bad, with Amy having a double jump, Tails can fly as always, Knuckles being able to climb and glide, Sonic can dash right after a jump, and Trip can roll up and cling onto walls.
The game does indeed have it's downsides, too. The bosses really stay longer than they need to, with unnecessary invincibility windows. Sometimes the game can feel underwhelming, where all you need to do is hold right. 
One thing I think was a great idea but could be executed much better was the Chaos Emerald powers. None of them are inherently bad, however they're somewhat forgettable. I find myself dashing and flying through the levels without using the powers. Maybe they could've put a small tab in the bottom right hand corner of the emeralds you have, reminding you of thr powers you can use. The online versus mode could also definitely use some tweaking.
I don't see any issues with the colors or artstyle, and think it looks very cute and colorful and pops from the screen. What I will say is, as an avid Kirby fan, it reminds me a lot of Return to Dreamland Deluxe. Now, is that a good or bad thing? Well... you can take that how you will. 
The soundtrack is another thing that a lot of people think is absolute trash. The game has no lyrical soundtracks, instead being chock full of instrumentals. And I don't have a problem with that. However, a lot of people are basing their opinion of the game as a whole on this sole reason, saying that this was one of the worst things that could happen to a Sonic game. I believe, not naming names, there were... many WORSE games.
The final complaint that I run into the most is that the game isn't fast enough in any aspect, whether that be the loading time or the characters themselves. I agree with the fact that it can take a while to load when going from Act to Act. But the characters' speed is the same as any other classic Sonic game. And before everyone runs to the comments saying, "But Trip! You've never played a classic Sonic game!", me and my dad both play Sonic 2. And, at least to me, in these games you need to build up momentum, you don't have top speed from the get go. As is in Superstars.
Something to keep in mind as well is that there was clearly thought and care put into the game. We can see this as we run through Pinball Carnival Act 2 and run into Tails Doll, who was last seen in-game about 25 years ago. We also notice the little thing Sonic does, swinging over the rock in Bridge Island Act 1. 
While the game may be a little pricey, that's not necessarily the defining factor of "Is Superstars worth it or not?". I personally don't have the digital deluxe pack, as I pre-ordered Superstars and got it on day 1. So... maybe my opinion on this specific area of the game isn't too validated. That being said, maybe we should just move on.
Now to talk about Wonder. Wonder is a great game that released just three days after Superstars, being an instant hit with the fans. It's mainly being hyped for its new special abilities, such as the Bubble ability or the Elephant. I have yet to play this, but probably will the next time I see my girlfriend as she got the game today. The game is wonderful, no pun intended. I'm very intrigued by the Wonder Seeds, and adore that the game is non-linear. 
What I don't understand is why people are choosing sides, and most are choosing Wonder. Don't get me wrong, I have NOTHING against Mario. I was always a Nintendo kid, playing Mario Kart and... whichever game my dad had... from the time I was itty bitty. I used to spend hours on end playing Wii Sports, and have played a bunch of Kirby games. So in no way whatsoever am I showing bias towards Sega. 
But I think fans are taking it too far by saying quote "NintenDON'T scam their fans, Sega does." Nintendo has let people down countless times. Hell, us Kid Icarus fans are STILL starving for more content over here. I think it's unfair that what I'm hearing from other fans is that Sega is practically done for, and should just let the fans continue the Sonic series on their own. They say that Sega has grown to just be greedy... however, it's often Nintendo churning out the cash grabs. 
Since when was one better than the other? Both Sonic and Mario are absolute staples in the video game world. I don't think it's very fair to compare one to the other. But that's all I can really say, especially since I haven't entirely finished Superstars yet because I've been busy with school and testing season and a bunch of other things.
Anyways, thanks for watching! Maybe subscribe and stay a while? Stay fresh.
0 notes
bestiesenpai · 3 years
Text
skate rat choso
This is just a little drabble for skate rat Choso, I got inspo from a cute ass pic of him holding baby Itadori :) no content warnings for this, although I must say it might get cringe? I tried to be wholesome, so let's see how that worked out. Gender neutral readerrrr and idk if i need to say this but choso and reader are 18+ lol
It was finally the first warm sunny day of the season. Birds were chirping, sparse clouds dotted the sky and there wasn’t any pollen in the air to make Choso sneeze. It was the perfect day to go to the skate park.
“Got your helmet?” And of course he was going to bring his little brother Yuji along with him.
“Mhmm!” The excited six year old nodded, nearly falling over as he held up his little helmet covered in sparkly Kirby stickers. Heading out of the house, Yuji ran down the steps, leaving Choso behind to carry his bike and his own skateboard.
“Your backpack, don’t forget this!” Holding up the tiny bag, Choso shrugged his own bag on. Yuji’s didn’t have much in it besides a few bandaids and a bag of chips. Holding his arms up at the bottom of the steps, Yuji waited for Choso to put it on him.
“This is gonna be great!” As soon as he could, Yuji ran down the street with Choso taking longer strides behind him. The walk to the skate park wasn’t far, and they got there in no time to see a couple other people Choso’s age riding around.
“What do you want to do first, do you want to take off the training wheels right away?” Setting Yuji’s bike down, Choso dug in his back for the screwdriver he brought.
“Yeah!” Hopping on the bike, Yuji bounced up and down impatiently, already dreaming of how he was going to fly through the air on the bike. Tossing the now useless wheels to the side, Choso pressed his hand to Yuji’s back.
“I’m going to hold onto you for a little bit to make sure you don’t fall, okay?”
“I’m not a baby!” Yuji shouted, trying to shake off Choso’s hand.
“You’re my baby and I want you to be safe.” Gripping the back of his shirt, Choso stilled Yuji. “Now try to push off.”
Lifting his feet off the ground, Yuji let out a short yelp as he began to sway side to side. Nearly falling several times, he refused to give up and with an almost angry pout on his face he was able to push the pedals and get the wheels spinning forward.
“I’m doing it!” He gasped, looking down at his feet and the way he wasn’t falling over anymore.
“You’re doing great!” Choso jogged a bit behind him, ultimately letting go and watching Yuji ride around in a wide circle.
“Did you see me? Did you?” Coming to a shaky stop, Yuji leapt off his bike and grabbed onto Choso’s shirt, tugging on it.
“I did, you were awesome.” Scooping the young boy up, Choso gave him a big hug. Squirming out of his hold, Yuji picked up his bike again.
“Ride your skateboard with me!” Yuji didn’t wait for Choso to respond, already stumbling to a start on his bike. Tucking their things underneath a tree with a couple other people's belongings, Choso let his board clatter to the ground and stepped on it, pushing off and meeting up with Yuji in no time.
As they rode around, avoiding any big dips or curves, Choso let his eyes wander across the park. There were a fair few people here, a couple that he recognized doing tricks in the bowl and sitting on the sidelines. Later, when Yuji was tired from riding on his bike and he didn’t have to pay attention to him too much, Choso would do some tricks as well and see if he could do anything new.
“Look Yuji, another kid your age is here.” With a little mop of messy black hair, the scowling child had a tiny little skateboard in hand. His helmet was strapped to his backpack that no doubt carried all his protective gear as well.
“I know him, he’s a new kid! He just joined last month.” Stopping slowly, Yuji stared quite obviously at the other boy. “His name is Megumi.”
“Why don’t you go over and ask if he wants to ride around with you?” Choso pushed Yuji towards the boy, finding himself intrigued with the adult that was following him. Riding over to the Megumi, Yuji leaned forward on his handlebars.
“Megumi?” He called out and the boy turned, his eyes widening upon seeing Yuji and Choso. “D’ya wanna ride together?” Megumi was silent, his lips forming a tight line on his face. Glancing at Choso, Megumi scrambled behind the person with him.
“Sorry, he’s a little shy.” You answered, trying to tug him off your pant leg. Smoothing a hand on his back, you leaned down to Megumi. “Is this a boy from your school?” Megumi nodded silently. “Do you want to ride around with him? I bet he’d let you hold onto his handlebars to balance.”
Megumi mumbled something indistinguishable to Choso, but apparently you heard it and understood. There was a quick back and forth and a rushed promise that you’d stay close by, and then Megumi was slowly tiptoeing out from behind you.
“Okay.” Clutching his board to his chest, Megumi looked at Choso and his own board.
“How long have you been skateboarding?” Choso asked, smiling at him. Megumi held up a five and you giggled.
“He’s been doing it for five months now.” Answering for him, you unclip his helmet and plop it on his head. “Show him your board, baby.” Flexing his little fingers, Megumi turned it around, showcasing the underside of the board.
“Cool!” Yuji gasped, stepping closer and pointing at the large wolf painted across the bottom.
“Thanks.” Megumi whispered, smiling softly despite himself.
“You wanna see mine?” Bending down so both boys could see clearly, Choso flipped his over. The deck was horribly scraped and scratched from grinding on metal and concrete and so were the trucks, but you could still make out the dragon design that was once there.
“That’s really cool.” Running his hand along the bottom, Megumi’s eyes gleamed with wonder.
“I can teach you some skating stuff later if you want.” Standing up straight, Choso flicked his eyes over to you. He really wanted you to accept the offer, he wanted an excuse to try and talk to you.
“Y-yes please!” Bouncing on his toes, Megumi looked over at you. “Can he, (Y/N)?”
“Of course!” Giving him a big thumbs up, you fished out his pads from his little backpack. “You have to put your gear on first though.”
Megumi rushed to put his gear on and in no time he and Yuji were riding around the flat parts of the park, both wobbly and slightly unsteady on their feet. Choso sat next to you on a bench and watched them, letting the sounds of the other park goers fill the silence between you.
“I never introduced myself! I’m (Y/N)!” The abruptness of your voice surprised him, but Choso was glad you broke the silence first because he was too nervous to. Waving and smiling at him, you didn’t seem to notice the blush beginning to coat Choso’s cheeks. “I’m Megumi’s older sibling, we just moved to the area not too long ago.”
“Oh uhm yeah, Yuji said that Megumi was a new student.” Nodding dumbly, Choso smiled nervously.
“Yuji is your brother's name?”
“Mhmm! And I’m Choso.” He quickly tacked on, almost forgetting to tell you his own name.
“It’s nice to meet you, Choso. I hope our brothers get along well.” Taking a look over at the two of them, you smiled. “Well actually, I don’t think I have to worry about that.” Pointing over to them, you and Choso shared a soft laugh at watching Megumi and Yuji chase each other around, their wheels lying forgotten on the grass.
“I’m not surprised, Yuji is really outgoing.” Choso had to bite back the stupid grin he had wanting to bubble to the surface. His little brother's ability to make friends with anyone was unexpectedly starting to pay off. If Yuji could make a good bond with Megumi, Choso had no doubt he’d be seeing the two of you again.
“Have you been skating long, Choso?” Your hand skims the edge of the board resting on his lap.
“I started when I was Yuji’s age.” He could remember clearly the very first time he rode a skateboard and the first time he fell off it too. “Do you skate or anything, (Y/N)?”
“I could never!” Rubbing the back of your neck, you laugh, feeling embarrassment come over you at your next words. “I tried to ride Megumi’s little skateboard one time and fell right on my face!”
“Ouch, really?” Laughing a little as well, Choso fiddled with the wheels. “If you want, I can teach you too. It’s not that hard, you just have to balance a little and-”
“(Y/N)!” A sharp wail cut Choso off and you both looked over to where it came from. Clutching his knee, Megumi had tripped and fallen over a ramp. Walking over swiftly, it was a relief to see only a few drops of blood on Megumi’s knee.
“It’s okay, it’s just a little scrape.” Running your hands through his unruly hair, you pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Do you want a bandaid?”
“I have one!” Yuji shot up, running past Choso and grabbing his backpack. He had a handful of bandaids and laid them in Megumi’s lap. “I have spiderman and hello kitty!” Picking up a sparkly one with strawberries, he held it out to you. “This one’s my favorite!”
“Thanks.” Meguim’s voice wavered slightly and he sniffled a little, but he took the bandaid out of Yuji’s hand and gave it to you to put on him.
“Okay, you’re all better. Go play some more.” A few minutes later Megumi was back on his feet, making sure to stay away from the big structures sticking out of the ground. Sticking around a few seconds longer, you exhaled sharply and turned to Choso.
“So, what was that about teaching me how to skate?”
Choso had never been happier about his decision to come out to the park today. While he loved spending time with his little brother, more than anything else in the world, getting to know you was something that was beginning to rival it.
With his helmet slapped on your head, you looked adorably scared to step on his board. Choosing a corner where no one would skate by, you gripped a concrete column tightly and put a tentative foot on the board.
“I’m scared.” You whined, glancing up at Choso and then back down to your foot.
“Let go of that thing, put more of your weight on the board.” He beckoned you closer, holding out both hands for you to take. Pressing your foot more firmly, you slowly inched your way off the column.
“Oh shit!” Just as you were going to take your other foot off the ground, the board began to slide underneath you. Flailing your arms, you jumped off and a few feet away. “I almost died!”
“It’s okay!” Choso laughed at your dramatics, stopping the board before it could slide too far away. “Take my hand and step on again.”
“You better not let me fall!” Pointing threateningly at him, you took a deep breath and put your foot back on. Bypassing his hand, you gripped his shoulder tightly and shuffled both feet on.
“Bend your knees a little.” Choso’s hand was hovering near your waist. He wasn’t sure if he should grab it or not to help you balance, but you quickly made that decision for him by nearly falling as you leaned too far forward.
“Choso!”
“I got you!” Saving you from certain death, Choso hugged you close to him, putting his foot in front of the wheels to stop it from sliding back and forth. Your fingers were clutching his t-shirt tightly, leaving deep wrinkles in the fabric.
“I don’t think I can do this.” Shaking your head, you forced yourself to stand up straight.
“You haven’t even pushed off yet.” Keeping his hand on your back, Choso let you squeeze the life out of his other hand.
“I don’t know if I want to, you saw me almost die just now.”
“Emphasis on almost.” He chuckled when you swatted at his chest. “Just try it once and then you can say you did it.”
“If I break a leg my mom will be pissed.”
“Don’t break a leg then and you’ll be fine.”
“Shut up.” Giggling at his comment, you squared your shoulders and looked forward. “Okay, I’m going.”
Choso talked you through pushing off, telling you where to put your foot and how to balance on the board while you pressed against the ground. He pulled you along as well, trying to help build up enough speed.
“You’re doing it!” He shouted, trying to let go of you as you started to cruise. You laughed loudly and breathlessly, heart pounding in your ears and legs shaking terribly as you fought to control your body.
“I-I am!” Letting go of Choso’s hand, you slid up to grip his arm. The tiny breaks in the cement were nothing, barely making a dent as you rode over them. What did make a dent, however, was when Choso fully stepped away from you right as the wheels met resistance on a big crack in the ground.
Luckily there was grass in front of you that you could fall into, and you did so with a loud shout accompanying it. With your hands outstretched to break your fall, your knees met the dirt hard and the whole ordeal knocked the wind out of you.
“You okay?” Choso was hunched over you, eyes wide as he knelt down beside you. Taking a moment to roll over and catch your breath, you sat up on your elbow only to be knocked down by Megumi tumbling into you.
“(Y/N)!” Wrapping his arms around your neck, he smooshed his cheek against yours. “You fell!” Nodding at the obvious statement, you wheezed as he squeezed you a bit harder. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, baby.” Blinking hard as you tried to reorientate yourself, you saw Yuji with his bandaids out.
“Do you need one?” Holding up a large yellow one, he looked you over with the seriousness of a doctor.
“No Yuji, I’m good, not bleeding anywhere.” Patting Megumi’s back, you sat up straighter and eventually made your way back on your feet. “But I think I’m good for now on learning how to skateboard.” Brushing the dirt off your clothes, you glared at the crack you had tripped over.
“That’s fair.” Choso nodded, taking his helmet back from you.
“Don’t get hurt again.” Megumi chided, patting the parts of your body he could reach.
“Promise I won’t.” Hooking your pinky with his, you shook your hands together.”
“Hey Megumi, do you want to skateboard with me?” The question from Choso made Megumi immediately turn away from you, forgetting all about his fallen sibling and nodding so hard he almost fell over.
“Yes!” Megumi ran to grab his things, rushing to put his gear back on and meet Choso at a small ramp. You and Yuji trailed behind, choosing another ramp close by to play with. Yuji had gotten more familiar with his bike, only needing help stopping and staying balanced at times.
“(Y/N), do you and Megumi live close to the park?” He asked, doing circles around you.
“Mhmm, we do.”
“We live close too!” Yuji gasped, taking a second to look at you before going back to his task. “We come all the time, you should come too. And bring Megumi.”
“I have a feeling we’ll be coming by a lot.” You snorted, looking up to see Megumi going down a tiny ramp with Choso right beside him. Megumi was utterly enamored with the older man, completely focused on what he was saying and doing.
Hours passed of the four of you playing together in the park. Megumi showed off his ability to go down a ramp without falling many times, and he and Yuji raced on their respective wheels from one end of the park to the other. You also ate lunch together, Choso chatting you up when he could and ignoring the tingle of nervousness at the back of his mind.
“Ice cream!” As the sun began to set and the clouds were dyed a pastel orange, the shout from another kid alerted Yuji and Megumi, and the distinctive melody of the ice cream man flowed through the air.
“Choso!”
“(Y/N)!” Both boys gasped, looking between you with wide, hopeful eyes.
“I’ll buy.” Choso already had his wallet out and was getting up from the spot in the grass you’d chosen to take up residence in.
“Are you su-”
“Yay!” Jumping up as well, Yuji and Megumi ran to get in line for ice cream.
“Be back in a sec.” Choso didn’t give you the chance to argue about who would pay, already walking over to join them. In just a few minutes time, they were back with big smiles on their faces.
“Look, we got the same one!” Yuji announced to you, holding up the spongebob ice cream he and Megumi both got. “It’s got gum for eyes.”
“Here, we got you one too.” Choso handed you a frozen treat, munching on his own. “Megumi said you liked ice cream sandwiches.”
“You didn’t have to.” Taking a bite, a delightful shiver went up your spine as the treat came in contact with your teeth.
“I wanted to.” He shrugged, eating his ice cream quickly and crumpling up the wrapper. Choso was itching to skate a bit, try some new tricks and potentially show off to you, and now was a good time: there weren’t as many people left at the skatepark, most tired out from a full day and going home.
“I’m gonna skate around a bit.” He announced after gathering up the courage. Picking his board up, Choso made a point to put his helmet on. He wanted to set a good example for Yuji and Megumi and cracking his skull open on the concrete wasn’t the way to achieve that.
“You guys have to watch! Choso is really good at skateboarding!” Yuji was the best wingman Choso could ask for and he didn’t even have to tell him to do anything. Moving closer to the bowl, as you sat down on a bench, both Yuji and Megumi cuddled into your sides.
Choso started off slow, cruising and going over smooth inclines. He’d done many dangerous stunts before in front of a lot of different people, but having you here was making him a bit timid and as he did a kickflip he could only hope you found it exciting.
He refused to look at you as he did a few tricks, grinding down a handrail and popping his board up. A few times he fell or stumbled off and an embarrassed blush overtook his face, contrary to how he would normally brush off any mistakes he made.
“Choso go down there!” Yuji shouted, pointing at the large bowl encompassing the middle of the park.
“Okay!” He yelled back, riding over to it and dropping in with no hesitation. There wasn’t anyone else in with him, so he had full range to do whatever he wanted. Going as fast as he could, his shirt clung to his body from the force of the wind passing by.
“Woah!” Megumi shouted, lurching forward to see Choso carving across a curve and popping up, flipping his board in the air a few times before landing back down and skating away. “(Y/N) did you see that?!”
“I did.” As impressed as you were by the trick, Megumi was ten times that. Every single move, Megumi was inch further and further off the bench until he was right at the edge of the bowl and bouncing up and down in excitement.
“C’mere.” Hopping out, Choso lifted Megumi under his armpits and put him on the board. Setting his feet around Megumi, Choso dropped back in, holding the boy around his waist as they pumped up and over curves. Megumi let out happy squeals as they rode up ramps and along the railing of the bowl.
After both Yuji and Megumi had a chance to ride in the bowl with Choso, they were properly exhausted. Flopping onto you once more, they were almost too tired to watch Choso finish his run.
When it was time to leave, Choso was pleasantly surprised to learn that you lived in the same direction as him, getting the chance to walk you home.
“So uh, what’d you think?” He asked as you headed out of the park, Yuji half asleep in his arms. “Of my skating.”
“It was really cool.” You flashed him a smile, your own little brother walking slowly next to you. “And I know Megumi loved it too.”
“Awesome.” Letting out a quick sigh of relief, Choso rushed out his next words. “I should give you my number so our brothers can hang out again.”
“Totally! Yuji was saying earlier that he wanted me to bring Megumi back to the park.” Choso would seriously have to thank Yuji later. He quickly got your number, already trying to cook up a reason to text you that wasn’t related to his brother.
“You live here?” Coming upon your house, Choso’s brows rose. “We live just down the street, at the end of the block.” It makes sense now why there were moving vans here just a few weeks ago.
“Guess that makes us neighbors, huh?” Ruffling Megumi’s hair, you gestured to Choso. “Say goodbye, baby.”
“Bye Choso, bye Yuji.” Megumi waved, already shuffling toward the front door. Yuji barely waved back, snuggling closer into Choso’s shoulder.
“I’ll text you later, okay? Maybe we can get frozen yogurt or something?” You said, beginning to slide your feet across the pavement after Megumi. Choso was probably just projecting his own emotions but he could have sworn you looked a little nervous asking.
“That’d be awesome.” A light blush dusted his cheeks and he nodded like a fool. “I’m free whenever.”
“See you later.” Giving one last final wave, you closed the door behind you, leaving Choso on the sidewalk. Turning abruptly, he walked down to his house, keeping his head down to avoid anyone seeing the large, uninhibited smile on his cheeks. He was really happy he went to the park today.
190 notes · View notes
lokiondisneyplus · 3 years
Text
[This interview contains spoilers for Loki episode five.]
If you thought Richard E. Grant and Tom Hiddleston had a passing resemblance during Loki‘s fifth episode, “Journey Into Mystery,” then you weren’t alone. In fact, the two actors have talked about their shared “physiognomy” for years, so much so that a running joke was created about them playing father and son, someday. And then, at the beginning of 2020, the gag was up as Grant received the official offer to play Classic Loki on the Hiddleston-led Loki. Since Grant missed Hiddleston’s renowned “Loki lecture” prior to production, he received his own private crash course later on in production.
“[Tom Hiddleston] was very articulate and passionate about all of that, as he’s a walking Lokipedia,” Grant tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So that was very, very useful, but to be honest, I was so anxious and nervous about my first day of work that I probably only took in about 5 percent of what he was saying to me. But by the same token, I was entering his universe, and I was hoping that I wasn’t going to let him, or the fans of this character, down.”
When Grant was first offered the job, he immediately began to envision his Classic Loki costume since he assumed it would include a muscle suit a la Jack Kirby’s rendition of the character. But once he arrived to the Loki set in Atlanta, he discovered that his own physicality would be utilized instead, much to his chagrin.
“What I was so looking forward to with Loki was finally having a muscle suit, having been born without any,” Grant says with a laugh. “I thought, ‘Oh great! I’m going to look like the Jack Kirby drawings and costume design, which was so faithful to that.’ But when I got to Atlanta, they said, ‘No, you don’t have a muscle suit. You’re just as yourself, a stick insect.’ So I was very disappointed. I thought I was letting the character and the viewers down by not having muscles underneath it. I wish that I had gone into a year’s worth of training and weight-gain powder to look like that, but I don’t think I could’ve possibly achieved that. So I was hoping I’d have the rubberized version of it, but I was denied that pleasure.”
In a recent conversation with THR, Grant also discusses Classic Loki’s ultimate sacrifice and what the character was thinking as he laughed en route to his death.
You’ve said that you and Tom Hiddleston have wanted to work together for years. When did this desire first come about?
More than anything, it came about because we recognized that we have a similar physiognomy, and somebody joked to us, “You could play father and son!” So I suppose it has always been in the back of mind. And then I saw Tom at the Toronto [International] Film Festival a couple years ago, and he said, “We really have to do something together! Father and son — or something!” But I thought it was highly unlikely because his career had gone so far up into the stratosphere. And then, at the beginning of last year, I got an offer to play Classic/Old Loki, and I thought, “Oh right, this is what we talked about and now it’s come to pass.” So that’s how it happened.
And in terms of the script, what was your first impression of Classic Loki’s full-fledged arc?
The backstory — where he describes himself as the God of Outcasts rather than the God of Mischief — was very compelling. So you understand where and why he’s been out of the loop for so long. He was so desperate to have some kind of contact that he was willing to reveal himself to the TVA, and later, by offering himself up to Asgard and Alioth, he’s willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the possibility of somebody else finding love. Because the ending was so catastrophic and mayhem-filled, as he laughs in the face of his own immolation, I thought that was a great beginning, middle and end in just one episode. It’s as much as you could ever hope for from a guest role. So it was really exciting to do and very satisfying.
As he was laughing in the face of the beast, what was on his mind?
Even as you’re going down, you still have the power, grace and sheer chutzpah to go, “I will laugh in your face even though I know that you’re about to eat me alive.” That’s a great adage to life. (Laughs.) I love that.
Since Tom has played Loki for many years, he’s become the world’s foremost authority on the character, so much so that he delivers actual lectures on him.
He is! He’s Lokipedia.
Was there enough time for him to give you a crash course on the character?
He did one of those prior to the first episode; they’d already shot four episodes by the time I got there. So he came and saw me after I had just gotten my costume and makeup done. He said, “I’m going to give you a brief outline and some background information on what you’re dealing with.” So he was very articulate and passionate about all of that, as he’s a walking Lokipedia. So that was very, very useful, but to be honest, I was so anxious and nervous about my first day of work that I probably only took in about 5 percent of what he was saying to me. But by the same token, I was entering his universe, and I was hoping that I wasn’t going to let him, or the fans of this character, down.
Classic Loki was very frustrated by the fact that betrayal is synonymous with the Loki archetype. So he did something about it and sacrificed his life to help Loki and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino). While you touched on the ultimate sacrifice already, what did you make of his decision to go against type?
It was very smart of [Tom Kauffman], the writer, to have hit on that. I was the oldest person on the unit, as well as the oldest person on the crew and the cast. When you’re in the twilight zone as I am now at 64, there is a sense that you’re handing over the baton in the relay race of life. So it seemed like the most human, vulnerable and honorable thing to do, and I got that completely. It was fitting — even for an old Classic Loki. But unlike in my life, you can always come back in Loki-land. (Laughs.)
Between Allegiant General Pryde in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Classic Loki, were these two of your favorite costume fittings to date?
Yes, and it was pretty amazing to have that great, explosive ending to that Star Wars character. But what I was so looking forward to with Loki was finally having a muscle suit, having been born without any. (Laughs.) I thought, “Oh great! I’m going to look like the Jack Kirby drawings and costume design, which was so faithful to that.” But when I got to Atlanta, they said, “No, you don’t have a muscle suit. You’re just as yourself, a stick insect.” So I was very disappointed. I thought I was letting the character and the viewers down by not having muscles underneath it. I wish that I had gone into a year’s worth of training and weight-gain powder to look like that, but I don’t think I could’ve possibly achieved that. So I was hoping I’d have the rubberized version of it, but I was denied that pleasure. (Laughs.)
On big-budget projects in particular, actors don’t always get the chance to work opposite another actor/character in any given scene. So now that you can talk about The Rise of Skywalker, did you and Ian McDiarmid actually get to be in the same room during Pryde’s hologram scene with Emperor Palpatine?
No, I never met Ian on it at all.
Between Jack Hock (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Withnail (Withnail and I), who would enjoy Loki’s company the most? Who’d make for a more ideal companion?
Wow. I think Jack Hock because he was so gregarious and wanted to be friends with everybody. Whereas Withnail was so staggeringly selfish that I think even he would have outdone Loki in the ego department.
38 notes · View notes
twh-news · 3 years
Text
‘Loki’ Star Richard E. Grant on Tom Hiddleston’s Crash Course and Being Denied a Muscle Suit
[This interview contains spoilers for Loki episode five.]
If you thought Richard E. Grant and Tom Hiddleston had a passing resemblance during Loki‘s fifth episode, “Journey Into Mystery,” then you weren’t alone. In fact, the two actors have talked about their shared “physiognomy” for years, so much so that a running joke was created about them playing father and son, someday. And then, at the beginning of 2020, the gag was up as Grant received the official offer to play Classic Loki on the Hiddleston-led Loki. Since Grant missed Hiddleston’s renowned “Loki lecture” prior to production, he received his own private crash course later on in production.
“[Tom Hiddleston] was very articulate and passionate about all of that, as he’s a walking Lokipedia,” Grant tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So that was very, very useful, but to be honest, I was so anxious and nervous about my first day of work that I probably only took in about 5 percent of what he was saying to me. But by the same token, I was entering his universe, and I was hoping that I wasn’t going to let him, or the fans of this character, down.”
When Grant was first offered the job, he immediately began to envision his Classic Loki costume since he assumed it would include a muscle suit a la Jack Kirby’s rendition of the character. But once he arrived to the Loki set in Atlanta, he discovered that his own physicality would be utilized instead, much to his chagrin.
“What I was so looking forward to with Loki was finally having a muscle suit, having been born without any,” Grant says with a laugh. “I thought, ‘Oh great! I’m going to look like the Jack Kirby drawings and costume design, which was so faithful to that.’ But when I got to Atlanta, they said, ‘No, you don’t have a muscle suit. You’re just as yourself, a stick insect.’ So I was very disappointed. I thought I was letting the character and the viewers down by not having muscles underneath it. I wish that I had gone into a year’s worth of training and weight-gain powder to look like that, but I don’t think I could’ve possibly achieved that. So I was hoping I’d have the rubberized version of it, but I was denied that pleasure.”
In a recent conversation with THR, Grant also discusses Classic Loki’s ultimate sacrifice and what the character was thinking as he laughed en route to his death.
You’ve said that you and Tom Hiddleston have wanted to work together for years. When did this desire first come about?
More than anything, it came about because we recognized that we have a similar physiognomy, and somebody joked to us, “You could play father and son!” So I suppose it has always been in the back of mind. And then I saw Tom at the Toronto [International] Film Festival a couple years ago, and he said, “We really have to do something together! Father and son — or something!” But I thought it was highly unlikely because his career had gone so far up into the stratosphere. And then, at the beginning of last year, I got an offer to play Classic/Old Loki, and I thought, “Oh right, this is what we talked about and now it’s come to pass.” So that’s how it happened.
And in terms of the script, what was your first impression of Classic Loki’s full-fledged arc?
The backstory — where he describes himself as the God of Outcasts rather than the God of Mischief — was very compelling. So you understand where and why he’s been out of the loop for so long. He was so desperate to have some kind of contact that he was willing to reveal himself to the TVA, and later, by offering himself up to Asgard and Alioth, he’s willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the possibility of somebody else finding love. Because the ending was so catastrophic and mayhem-filled, as he laughs in the face of his own immolation, I thought that was a great beginning, middle and end in just one episode. It’s as much as you could ever hope for from a guest role. So it was really exciting to do and very satisfying.
Tumblr media
As he was laughing in the face of the beast, what was on his mind?
Even as you’re going down, you still have the power, grace and sheer chutzpah to go, “I will laugh in your face even though I know that you’re about to eat me alive.” That’s a great adage to life. (Laughs.) I love that.
Since Tom has played Loki for many years, he’s become the world’s foremost authority on the character, so much so that he delivers actual lectures on him.
He is! He’s Lokipedia.
Was there enough time for him to give you a crash course on the character?
He did one of those prior to the first episode; they’d already shot four episodes by the time I got there. So he came and saw me after I had just gotten my costume and makeup done. He said, “I’m going to give you a brief outline and some background information on what you’re dealing with.” So he was very articulate and passionate about all of that, as he’s a walking Lokipedia. So that was very, very useful, but to be honest, I was so anxious and nervous about my first day of work that I probably only took in about 5 percent of what he was saying to me. But by the same token, I was entering his universe, and I was hoping that I wasn’t going to let him, or the fans of this character, down.
Tumblr media
Classic Loki was very frustrated by the fact that betrayal is synonymous with the Loki archetype. So he did something about it and sacrificed his life to help Loki and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino). While you touched on the ultimate sacrifice already, what did you make of his decision to go against type?
It was very smart of [Tom Kauffman], the writer, to have hit on that. I was the oldest person on the unit, as well as the oldest person on the crew and the cast. When you’re in the twilight zone as I am now at 64, there is a sense that you’re handing over the baton in the relay race of life. So it seemed like the most human, vulnerable and honorable thing to do, and I got that completely. It was fitting — even for an old Classic Loki. But unlike in my life, you can always come back in Loki-land. (Laughs.)
Tumblr media
Between Allegiant General Pryde in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Classic Loki, were these two of your favorite costume fittings to date?
Yes, and it was pretty amazing to have that great, explosive ending to that Star Wars character. But what I was so looking forward to with Loki was finally having a muscle suit, having been born without any. (Laughs.) I thought, “Oh great! I’m going to look like the Jack Kirby drawings and costume design, which was so faithful to that.” But when I got to Atlanta, they said, “No, you don’t have a muscle suit. You’re just as yourself, a stick insect.” So I was very disappointed. I thought I was letting the character and the viewers down by not having muscles underneath it. I wish that I had gone into a year’s worth of training and weight-gain powder to look like that, but I don’t think I could’ve possibly achieved that. So I was hoping I’d have the rubberized version of it, but I was denied that pleasure. (Laughs.)
On big-budget projects in particular, actors don’t always get the chance to work opposite another actor/character in any given scene. So now that you can talk about The Rise of Skywalker, did you and Ian McDiarmid actually get to be in the same room during Pryde’s hologram scene with Emperor Palpatine?
No, I never met Ian on it at all.
Between Jack Hock (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Withnail (Withnail and I), who would enjoy Loki’s company the most? Who’d make for a more ideal companion?
Wow. I think Jack Hock because he was so gregarious and wanted to be friends with everybody. Whereas Withnail was so staggeringly selfish that I think even he would have outdone Loki in the ego department.
30 notes · View notes
Text
Tumblr media
It was morning. Factory Dedede was closed once a week. When it was, President Dedede would not come out of bed until after noon, but today was different. President Dedede got up early and got ready in preparation for another day of gear searching.
"I wonder if I should go to the eastern district today. I wish I could find even one clue." He put on his hat and a rucksack with a magnifying glass and map in it. Just as he was about to head out, someone knocked on the back door. A loud voice was heard.
"Morning! Good morning, President Dedede!"
"Who is it? Noisy. The factory is closed." President Dedede frowned and opened the door. There stood a small person wearing a large hood and holding a trunk.
"Hm? I’ve seen you before ... " he tilted his head and tried to recall.
"Good morning! I’m Magolor, I sell medicine."
"Oh, that's right." Once, in the past, Dedede ate too much ramen and gave himself a stomachache. Magolor’s medicine helped him cope with the severe pain. "I don’t need medicine. It doesn't hurt anywhere," said President Dedede, however, Magolor clung to the door when he tried to close it.
"I didn't come to sell medicine. I came to tell you a big story." 
"A big story ...? "
"It's about the gears." 
President Dedede’s eyes widened. "Eh? You’re also looking for the gears?" 
"Uh-huh! I know where they are." 
"What!?"
"However, I can’t get them by myself. I’m looking for a partner."
"A partner ... " 
"President Dedede, be my partner!"
President Dedede looked down at Magolor. He didn’t understand why Magolor would rush in so early in the morning, on a holiday, no less, to suddenly ask him to partner up. The usual President Dedede would yell, "Don't be silly!" and turn him away, but the story was different when it came to the gears. He was a little lost, but nonetheless ... 
" ... Come inside. Let's hear more details," he said in a small voice.
"Uh-huh!" Magolor set his trunk down in the middle of the room and sat down on it. President Dedede pulled up a chair and sat down facing him.
"You’re talking about the gears of the ancient machine found in the diamond mine, right?"
"Yup, but my motivation is the prize those gears grant." 
"You said you know where the gears are? Why do you know that?" 
"I just happen to know by chance." Magolor deflected the question and continued. "I want to give you a hint. I want you to find the gears, President Dedede. The prize money, let’s split it in half."
"Hmm ..." He didn't know what Magolor was thinking, but the story didn’t sound bad. President Dedede nodded. "Alright. If you really know where the gears are, I'll be your partner." 
"Wow, thank you! With this, the prize money will be ours!" Magolor was in high spirits.
"So, where are the gears?" Dedede asked.
"One of them is at the clock tower."
"The clock tower? The tall tower in the west district?" 
"Uh-huh. The gear is sealed at the clock tower's precipice."
"Why is that ...? "
"In the old days, it was one of the magic guild’s towers, according to the research I did."
"The magic guild? But there are no wizards in this town." 
"A long time ago, there were lots, and the guild tower was the perfect place to seal the magical gear, however, the magic tower fell into shambles as time passed. After that, the clock tower was built, and the gear was forgotten by everyone."
"But, the guard. The guard should know every corner of the clock tower. Why haven't they found the gear, after all this time?"  
"The sealed gear cannot see it with the naked eye." 
"Naked eye ...? What do you mean?" 
"Magical eye drops are necessary to see it." Magolor opened his trunk and took out a small bottle.
"So, if you use these, the gear will be visible? Then, it’ll be easy to find ... No, wait." President Dedede folded his arms and thought for a moment. "Before that, we need to think about how to enter the clock tower. The guard watching the entrance—those that have no business there will not be allowed to enter."
"Even if you can’t get in through the entrance, there are other ways," Magolor whispered mischievously. "You just have to be able to fly."
"Fly? You, you’re a bad guy, Magolor. But where should we break in?" 
"From above."
"Above?" 
"You have an airplane, right, President Dedede? Use that to fly above the tower."
"Hmph ... I see." He laughed. "You intended to do that from the beginning." 
" ... Eh?"
"I guess you needed an airplane, so you came up with the idea of making me your partner?" President Dedede saw right through Magolor’s plan. Magolor was in dismay. 
"Such ... Such cleverness ... " 
"Heh, anger isn’t good, but there are others who have airplanes." President Dedede cleared his throat and said, "For example, you must’ve heard of Kirby ... " 
"Kirby? No no no, Kirby, not at all! This is news to me!" Magolor shook his head exaggeratedly.
"Huh, that's right," Dedede smirked. "His maneuvering skill is also quite good." 
"Kirby pales in comparison to your skills, President Dedede! I wouldn’t have preferred to have anyone else but you as my partner!"
President Dedede smiled wide. For the president, it was the greatest compliment to be told he was better than Kirby.
"You have eyes! That's why you’re my partner." 
"Wow! Thank you, President Dedede!"
"Then, let's go."
He led Magolor to the backyard where the Great King Dedede XIX was stowed. The plane carrying the two headed for the clock tower.
President Dedede sat in the cockpit, while in the back seat, which was usually used as storage, was Magolor with a parachute. The plan was for Magolor to jump from the plane and invade the tower from above when the plane approached, however, President Dedede looked uneasy.
"You really want to split the prize money? You won’t cheat me and take the gear?" 
"No way! I'm not a coward."
"Hm ... Alright, I believe you," he said, but President Dedede’s anxiety persisted. "Hey, give me the magic eye drops." 
"Eh? But I’m the one retrieving the gear ... " 
"The gear—you said it’s on the outside of the tower, right? If it's sealed outside, I need to be able to see it."
"Ooh ... You’re right," Magolor nodded. He used the eye drops first before handing the vial over to President Dedede, who then used the remaining amount. Dedede fluttered his eyes.
"Nothing has changed, but ... "
"The eye drops only react to magical objects ... Ah!" Magolor suddenly shouted. President Dedede jolted. 
"What’s wrong!?" 
"The gear! I’ve spotted the gear!" 
"What!? You’ve found it already!?" 
"Look, look! Over there!" Magolor pointed to the highest point of the tower. It was the face of the huge clock. President Dedede could also see the glittering gear as he leaned out of the plane.
"Ohhhhhh!? Is that it right next to the three!?"
"There’s no mistake! Hooray! It’s the magical gear!" 
"I didn’t expect we’d find it so easily! Go, Magolor!"
"Uh-huh!" Magolor spread both hands and bravely jumped out of the plane. The parachute opened and he landed gently on the lower part of the clock face, around the six. 
"Alright, good! Take the gear, Magolor!" President Dedede shouted.
Magolor stretched his back and reached out, but he couldn't reach it. President Dedede raised his voice as he flew overhead.
"What are you doing!? Jump! Jump! You can do it, Magolor!" Magolor jumped. When it proved to be no good, he grabbed the hands of the clock, stepped on the numbers, and began to climb.
"Way to go, Magolor! You’re almost there! Keep at it! Keep at it!" President Dedede cheered aloud. Magolor desperately reached out towards the gear. He climbed up and jumped. The tip of his hand finally grazed it and the seal melted off.
Tumblr media
"Alright! Now, just grab it ...! " President Dedede shouted. At that moment, the gear slipped through Magolor's hand and fell.
"Wahhh! You fool—!" What are you doing—!?" he screamed.
Dedede’s bloodshot eyes tracked the gear as it flipped and spun on its way to the bottom. The Fugo Railway that connected various parts of the Town of Wind ran right next to the tower. A steam train approached on it, spewing black smoke. The gear slammed onto its roof.  
"T-the— The gear—!" The train, unaware of President Dedede’s feelings, whistled carefreely.
"WHOOOO——!"
"Noisy train! Shut up!" If this went on, the gear would be carried far, far away. President Dedede couldn't stand still. Without thinking about the rest, too absorbed in the moment, he jumped off the plane.
......
Without a parachute.
Magolor screamed from atop the clock tower. "Uwaaaaaaa! President Dedede——!" 
President Dedede flew through the air with both hands and legs spread out, and landed on the train stomach-first.
"VROOOO——!"
His round stomach acted like a cushion. President Dedede bounced and landed, uninjured. The glittering gear rolled right in front of him. He breathed in roughly.
"Ohhhhhhhhhh—! Finally, I got it! The prize is, ah—!" The locomotive whistled loudly and applied its brakes just as President Dedede grabbed the gear.
"EEEEEE——!!"
The Great King DDD XIX dove sharply into the square next to the clock tower after losing its pilot. The train came to a sudden stop. President Dedede, who clung to the roof, was blown away into the muddy river flowing beside the track. 
"EEEERK——!"
"President Dedede—! President, are you alright!?" Magolor ran. He called out to President Dedede floating in the river.
"Oh, no way! Look, Magolor! I have it!" President Dedede spat out water and shouted. He pushed one hand out of the water with a radiant expression. In that hand, he firmly grasped the magical gear. It shone brightly. Magolor clapped.
"Ah! As expected of President Dedede, the greatest hero in Diamond Town!" 
"Hmph, no wonder! It’s a piece of cake if you call me!"
He swam swiftly to Magolor onshore. "Here we go, I’ve got the gear. Let's deliver it to Mr. Fugo immediately and get the prize money!" President Dedede yelled while dripping wet.
"Uh, President Dedede," Magolor said apologetically. "I forgot to tell you something crazy ... "
" ... What?"
"There are two more gears to be located."
" ... What?"
"We can’t get the prize money with only one. Two more, let’s keep going. Let’s find them!"
"W ... wh ... at ……..? " President Dedede’s vision went black.  
"WHOOOO——!"
Again, with a big splash, President Dedede fell into the river.
< Previous | Table of Contents | Next >
69 notes · View notes
prettyboyjackhughes · 3 years
Text
-Little Crosby- |D. Cozens| [Part 5]
Part 5 is here! This part was so much fun to write and I can’t wait to see what you guys think! @prettyboycozens​ and I had so many ideas for this part and it was so much fun to write them! Enjoy!
“You-You came!” I stutter as he pulls away, finally catching my breath.
“You really think I would miss one of my girl’s biggest days?” He asks, his arms still wrapped around my waist, keeping me pressed against him.
“Hi Dylan.” Carter says, gently squeezing his arm as she walks past. He nods, glancing back at me.
“She’s doing okay? After everything?” Dylan asks, looking down at me as I rest my head against his chest. I nod, taking a deep breath to regain my composure.
“Glad to have you here. We would’ve missed you today.” Dad says, walking up and squeezing Dylan’s shoulder. Dad’s finally started to really warm up to the idea of Dylan being around. And while he hasn’t really been “around”, Dad and him have actually started texting and talking when I’m on the phone with Dylan every night. Usually I get Dylan for the majority of the night but Dad usually steals him from me for at least an hour. They talk hockey and all their boring guy stuff that I choose to not listen to.
“I’m glad I got to be here for my girl’s special day. But Avs, I wish I could stay longer. I have to be back tomorrow morning.” With that, my heart falls a little.
“So you’re only here for the night?” I ask, looking up at Dylan. He nods, leaning down to drop a kiss on my forehead. Dad ushers the rest of our family away and leaves Dylan and I to talk.
“I really need to spend some time with my girl though, so what do you say about heading home?” And head home we did. From the time we got home at 2:30 that afternoon to 5:30 in the morning when Dylan had to leave for the airport, I was attached to him. It was the shortest 15 hours of my life and I didn’t want it to end.
“Baby, I gotta get up.” Dylan whispers, gently pushing my hair out of my face. I sigh, realizing that my time with my boyfriend is coming to an end.
“I hate this just as much as you do. But it’s only a little longer. Just a couple more weeks.” Dylan says, letting me cuddle into his chest.
“Can you just hold me a little longer? I need something to hold me over till the draft.” He nods, his arms wrapping around me and lacing our fingers together. The next time Dylan and I would be together would be in June for the draft, a little over a month away. I had been away from him for longer before but getting him back, even for a little bit, would make me miss him more.
“You know you can call me, text me, anything, whenever. I’ll always answer. Well unless I’m busy but I’ll always make time for you, Sweetheart.” I nod, looking up at him. He smiles and kisses the tip of my nose.
“You’re beautiful.” Then he kisses my cheek.
“You’re smart.” He kisses my forehead.
“I’m in love with you.” And then, his lips ghost over mine.
“And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He whispers against my lips. His hand cups my cheek and he kisses me. It’s soft, gentle and loving.
“You make me not want to leave.” He whispers against my lips. I sit up and look at him, admiring him lying there in my bed.
“I like seeing you lying in my bed.” I whisper, tracing my finger down his chest. He smirks as I trace the outline of his abs.
“I like lying in your bed. Especially when you’re there with me. But, on that note, I need to get going. My flight leaves in 2 hours.” He says, punctuating his sentence by kissing me. Again, I sigh and he untangles his body from mine. As I sit up in bed and pull my knees into my chest, he starts moving around the room and gathering up the few things he brought with him.
“Hey I’m leaving this here. I want it back when I pick you up from the airport in June. It’ll be like I’m there with you at night.” Dylan says, holding up one of his Lethbridge Hurricanes sweatshirts. I lay my head on my arms and watch him, smiling.
“We’re gonna be okay, Kid. It’s gonna be alright.” He says, bending down to look at me.
“Ava Grace, I love you.” He says, kissing me again. I run my hand through his hair before he stands up and gets his bag.
“I love you too, Dyl. See you in June.” I say, finally climbing out of bed and hugging him. He lifts me off the ground and I wrap my legs around his waist. After savoring having him close one last time before he leaves for the airport, he sets me down on the ground and kisses me one more time.
“The month is gonna fly by. Before you know it, I’ll get to kiss you again.” And those words were what kept me going for the whole month we were apart. Plus too many facetime calls and text messages. And finally, after way too long, I collided with Dylan in the middle of the airport.
“God, you guys must’ve missed each other or something.” Kirby says, from behind him. Carter coughs and Kirby’s eyes meet her’s. Dylan and I watch the exchange, his arm resting around my waist.
“Uh, hi...Carter.” Kirby says, looking at her. Neither Dylan or I had thought about the fact that Kirby and Carter hadn’t seen each other since they broke up. But I don’t go anywhere without Carter anymore and Kirby is being drafted too so we were bound to see him.
“Hey.” She says, running her hand through her hair and avoiding his eyes.
“So...Where’s the sweatshirt?” Dylan asks, looking down at me as we walk out of the airport, my duffel bag in Dylan’s hand.
“The sweatshirt is in the bag, and it doesn’t smell like you anymore so please fix that.” I say, looking up at him. He smiles and leans down to kiss my temple.
“I missed you, Baby.” He says, pulling me into his side as we head to the car. Even with the awkwardness of Carter and Kirby, it’s still the 4 of us. We’ve spent the last 2 years together and I was beyond thankful that what had happened between Kirby and Carter hadn’t changed our friendship.
The two days leading up to the draft were spent wandering around Vancouver, just Carter and I since the boys had interviews and meetings with important NHL people. But every night, Dylan came back to the hotel and me. We spent the nights watching movies, eating room service and cuddling. Carter and Kirby avoided each other at least the first day but then Kirby asked her to get coffee with him one morning and now I know they’re at least on talking terms.  
As I roll over in the bed Dylan and I have shared for the last two nights, I get hit with the realization that today would decide Dylan and I’s future.
It was draft day, probably the biggest day of his life. He was hiding how nervous he was really well, all things considered. We knew he would get picked pretty high, hopefully within the first 10 picks but we had no idea when or where he would go. But before all the fun and excitement could begin, he and I were going to lunch with his parents and brothers. This would be my first time meeting his family in person, instead of just over the phone or on facetime. I was a little nervous but Dylan said they all loved me already. Carter had disappeared around 11 last night and wasn’t in her room, which was connected to our’s, when I woke up to check at 4 in the morning. She and Kirby had seen each other for the first time in months two days ago, and I almost wonder if she ended up in Kirby’s bed last night. I shrug off the blankets and get out of bed. I still needed to shower and get ready before we met up with Dylan’s family.
“Come back!” I hear Dylan whine from the other side of the bed as I walk towards the bathroom.
“I have to get ready. We can cuddle later.” I say as I twist my hair up and clip it back out of my face.
“But I wanna cuddle now.” He complains, tossing a pillow in my general direction. I shake my head and disappear back into the bathroom. As I finish getting ready to get in the shower, I hear him finally get out of bed and start moving around. Suddenly, right as I’m about to get in the shower, the door flies open.
“You didn’t kiss me good morning.” He says, crossing his arms and looking down at me. I clutch the towel I have wrapped around me a little tighter and rise up on my tiptoes to kiss him. As I pull away, I roll my eyes and nudge him back out of the bathroom.
“Get ready while I’m in the shower please?” I call as I drop my towel on the counter and step into the shower.
“Okay miss bossy!” Dylan yells back, earning himself a smirk and another eye roll.
“You’re lucky you’re cute!” He calls as I turn the water on. I shake my head and focus on showering.
It’s fun being with Dylan. This is the longest we’ve spent together since graduation in May and I’m enjoying every minute of my time with him before the chaos that will be when we head to Buffalo. We’ve also been talking about our future together a lot lately. And I really love the idea of a future with him. Living with him in the summers, finishing school and becoming a nurse, getting married one day in the future, having kids. It sounds like heaven and the future I want more than anything. I want it all with Dylan. As I think about what that future will hopefully be like, Carter bursts into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.
“Ava!” She says, pushing herself up onto the counter.
“Hi? Where were you last night?” I ask as I rinse the shampoo out of my hair.
“I may have ended up running into Kirby in the hallway…” I raise my eyebrow, opening the curtain a little to stick my head out and look at her. From the grin covering her face, I assume things went well.
“So you slept in his room?” I ask, returning to my shower.
“Well, there wasn’t much sleeping…” She says, giggling. I groan and shut the shower off.
“Carter Marie, hand me my towel. I don’t wanna hear the details of your night adventures with Kirby.” I say, sticking my hand out of the shower. She laughs, hands it to me and starts to ramble on about his mouth and fingers. I pretend to gag as I wrap the towel around my body.
“Please for the love of God stop!” I shout, rushing out of the bathroom and away from her. Dylan looks up from where he’s sitting on our bed and raises an eyebrow.
“Do I even want to know?” He asks as Carter follows me out of the bathroom. She smirks and shakes her head.
“You two are going to lunch before the draft right?” Carter asks, flopping onto the bed behind Dylan as I dig through my suitcase for the black skirt and white long sleeve shirt that’s open in the back I packed to wear to lunch. Dylan was just wearing ripped jeans and a black t-shirt, keeping it casual since it’s just his family.
“Yeah. We’ll be out till like 1:30ish and then come back here and start getting ready then and leave around 3ish to go to the arena.” Dylan answers. Carter nods, watching me attempt to get dressed without flashing her and Dylan.
“So we have to be ready by 2:45?” I ask, checking my outfit in the mirror. As I’m heading back into the bathroom to start doing my makeup and hair, there’s a knock on our door. As I start blow drying my hair, Kirby walks past and waves. The 3 of them spend the next 45 minutes hanging out while I get ready.
“Stop freaking out Ava. They’re gonna like you.” Kirby says as he and Carter walk with us down to the lobby of the hotel.
“You’ve already met all of them over the phone. What’s different now?” Carter asks, leaning against Kirby as we stand by the door. Dylan’s arm is around my waist and he seems to be thinking about something.
“Go have fun you two! Ava, you’ll be fine!” Carter calls as we head out to Dylan’s car.
“You seem so calm today. I’m the one freaking out. Or are you super nervous and just hiding it?” I ask as he opens the passenger side door for me.
“I honestly haven’t thought about it a lot today. I know I’m going 1st round and that’s all I care about. Plus you’re here, with me and honestly, that’s all I care about.” He says, smiling and leaning over to kiss me softly. My hand cups his cheek and as he pulls away, he smiles.
“I love you. But I’m still freaking out.” He rolls his eyes and starts the car. We’re going to a restaurant in downtown Vancouver, some place that Jack’s older brother recommended. It’s about a 20 minute drive from the hotel and Dylan’s hand doesn’t leave mine. We’re going through another phase where we have to constantly be touching each other. For me, it’s mostly just reassuring me that he’s actually there with me and it’s not all just my imagination. He just enjoys the fact that he can put his hands in places and get me to blush. Last night, while we were watching some show he had picked off of Netflix, he had stolen a kiss but just as quickly as he had pulled away, things heated back up. I ended up straddling him, my fingers in his hair and his hands resting dangerously close to my ass. I was willing to keep going with him but he stopped, looked at me and sighed.
“I want the first time with you to be perfect. You deserve it. But I wouldn’t mind making out with you a little more.” I smiled and leaned in to kiss him again, the show on Netflix long forgotten.
“Ava and Dylan are here!” Luke yells, running towards the two of us as Dylan and I climb out of the car at the restaurant. He immediately hugs Dylan and then turns to me.
“She’s hot.” Luke says, looking over at Dylan. Dylan shoves his brother and smirks.
“I know she’s hot. She’s my girlfriend.” Dylan says as he takes my hand.
“Hi Mom, Dad. What’s up Connor?” Dylan says, hugging his parents and then dabbing his brother up.
“Hello Ava, nice to finally meet you in person!” Dylan’s mom says, reaching out and hugging me.
“Hi Mrs. Cozens! It’s so nice to finally meet you!” She pulls back and looks at me.
“Sweetheart, you can call me Sue. You’re practically family anyways.” I smile and look back at Dylan who is grinning. I slide back over to his side and look up at him.
“I seriously love you so much.” He says, kissing the top of my head and following his parents into the restaurant. His brothers bombard me with questions the whole time, making sure my face does not fade from bright red. Dylan just laughs, occasionally defending me every once in a while. His parents are absolutely amazing and the sweetest people.
“You know, Ava, I’m a really good hugger. And cuddler.” Luke says, crossing his arms and looking over at me. Dylan coughs, choking on the drink of water he had just taken.
“Oh are you? Better than Dylan?” He nods, a smirk growing on his face. Dylan’s two little brothers look alike and both look like him. They’re obviously close and love each other a lot. Both of the younger boys look up to Dylan a lot, that’s obvious from some of the things they’ve said tonight while talking about the draft.
“I’m much better than Dylan. Plus I’ve got the muscles. Dyl doesn’t have that.” I laugh and smile, patting Dylan’s thigh.
“I might have to leave you for Luke, Honey.” Dylan pretends to be sad and everyone laughs. The rest of the time is spent laughing, joking and just getting to know each other. I love being with their family.
“See? I told you you had nothing to worry about.” Dylan says after we part ways with his family for the next few hours. It’s time to head back to the hotel to get ready for the draft and honestly, I’m getting more and more nervous for Dylan. He seems perfectly calm, cool and collected; just like he always is. Carter meets the two of us back at the hotel and helps me get ready. She picked out a navy blue wrap around dress with a lower cut in the front, and black heels. She manages to get my hair to hold curls for longer than 30 seconds and works her magic on my face.
“I swear, you’re a magician.” I say, glancing in the mirror as she stands behind me, smiling.
“No, you’re just that pretty.” She says, hugging my shoulders. Kirby, Dylan, Carter and I are all riding the NHL charter bus to the arena, since the boys both are being featured in some welcome to the NHL thing. Dylan keeps me by his side at all times, even during all the interviews and important things before the draft. But eventually, he gets pulled away and Carter swoops in to wander around with me.
“I know I’ve told you at least 10 times but you look hot.” Carter says, nudging me as we walk into the arena.
“Only because you’re my personal stylist.” I laugh, linking my arm through her’s. She flips her hair and we both laugh.
“Hey Ava, Carter.” Jack says, nodding at both of us as we walk past.
“Okay I know I’ve said this at least 10 times but he’s hot too. My God.” Carter whispers, watching Jack walk away. I roll my eyes and laugh. About 20 minutes later, Dylan and Kirby find us and take us to our seats for the night. Everything seems like a blur after that. The first 6 picks come and go and Dylan is still sitting next to me. His knee is shaking and I press my hand to it, causing him to freeze and look at me.
“You’re okay, Honey.” And as he looks at me, the definition of love in his eyes, the Sabres logo goes up on the screen.          
“To announce our 7th overall pick, please welcome to the stage 1st overall pick in the 2005 draft and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby.” The Sabres’ GM announces. Dylan looks over at me, a confused look covering his face. Both his parents and his brother are whispering back and forth. The whole arena is buzzing, trying to figure out why Sidney Crosby, a Penguin, is announcing the Sabres’ draft pick.
“With the 7th overall pick, the Buffalo Sabres select from the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Dylan Cozens.” Dad says, smiling and stepping away from the podium. Dylan stands up, a huge grin across his face and pulls me in for a hug.
“Did you know about this?” He asks as he hugs me. I shake my head and bite back the urge to cry. As he hugs his parents, Dad happens to look up to where we’re sitting. I wave and blow him a kiss. I had no idea about him announcing Dylan’s draft pick but it makes me smile so hard. Dad really has accepted Dylan as part of our family and I know he loves the idea of Dylan and I having a future together.
“Did you know your dad was announcing Dylan’s pick?” Carter asks me, dragging Kirby behind her as we meet up after the draft.
“No! I didn’t even know Dad was coming up here!” I say, looking behind me as Dylan’s arms encircle my waist.
“Your dad is looking for you.” He says before kissing my cheek. I turn in his arms and slide my hands around his neck, pulling him down to kiss me.
“Congratulations, Baby.” I whisper, kissing him again. He still has a goofy grin plastered on his face as my dad suddenly appears next to us.
“Daddy! Why didn’t you tell me you were announcing his pick?” I ask, hugging him and then looking up at him.
“It was supposed to be a surprise. Congratulations, Dylan. You’re going to do great things in Buffalo.” Dad says, surprisingly hugging Dylan. I try to hide my surprise and cover my mouth. Dylan steps away from Dad and grins.
“Thank you, Sir. It means a lot, hearing you announce me being picked.” Dad smiles and then gets pulled away to either do an interview or talk to some important person. Dylan returns to me and I attach myself to his side.
“I’m proud of you.” I say, looking up at him. He smiles and traces circles on my back. Carter and Kirby are off, talking to Kirby’s parents. Kirby keeps glancing down at Carter who is talking animatedly to his mom and has this lovestruck grin on his face.
“Hey, I’m getting tired and I’m done with everything for the night. Ready to head back to the hotel? Our bed is calling my name.” Dylan says, pushing my hair behind my ear as he strokes my cheek. I nod, leaning into his hand. He interlaces our fingers and leads me out of the crowded room. The walk out to our car is short and the drive to the hotel only a few minutes but it feels like an eternity. Dylan and I have been around people all day and I’m ready for it to just be the two of us. He opens the passenger door for me, helping me out. He immediately pulls me to his side and we head into the hotel. Dylan’s hand rests dangerously low as we walk back into the hotel lobby. People keep coming up and congratulating him, which makes his smile grow every time. I’m so proud of him and I love seeing him this happy. But as his hands settled on my hips, tracing lazy circles, as we waited for the elevator, I start to think. The elevator doors open and he tugs me into the elevator, keeping me pressed up against him. He starts to kiss the side of my neck as I smile, thankful there’s no one else in the elevator but us. Carter and Kirby had disappeared not long after the draft ended, Dad had said hi to us then got on a flight to my grandparents. Dylan’s family had gone out to dinner with Kirby’s family so we had no responsibility and didn’t have to be anywhere.
“Did I tell you how good you looked tonight?” He whispers, his voice making me shiver.
“Y-You did.” I stutter, giving away what he was doing to me. As the elevator dings, meaning we arrived at our floor, he leaves me, leaning out the door to make sure no one is in the hallway. He then scoops me up and carries me to our door, only stopping to unlock the door. Dylan drops me on the bed and hovers over me, his biceps flexing as he holds himself up.
“Hi.” He says, smiling at me.
“Hi bub.” Our eyes lock and his flick down to my lips. He bites his and I sit up on my elbows and kiss him. His hands come up and cup my cheeks, deepening the kiss. I pull away, his hands still on my face and I smile.
“I wondered if you were feeling how I feel.” He says, stroking my cheek. I lay back down on the bed and he hovers above me.
“So is this how we’re celebrating?” I ask, looking up at him innocently.  He looks up through his eye lashes, making sure the door to Carter’s room is shut, and then back down at me and nods. I pull my feet up under me as he steps back and shrugs off his jacket, loosening his tie and tossing it to the floor, then starting to unbutton his shirt. I watch him, untying the tie on my dress and letting it slowly fall off my body, keeping direct eye contact the whole time. Dylan smirks as he unbuckles his belt and unzips his pants.
“You’re beautiful.” He whispers, moving towards me tilting my chin up to kiss me. He pulls away slowly and sits down on the bed next to me and I climb onto his lap. I wrap my legs around his waist and tilt his chin up to look at me. He kisses me and then slowly, I lay him down on the bed.  His hands are on my hips, holding me close to him. I sit there, straddling him as his lips trail up and down my stomach. I grind my hips slowly against his as he moves us up the bed, one hand pressed into my back, keeping me on top of him, until he’s resting against the wall behind the bed. My hands, which had been pressed into his chest, are now pinned to the sides by his hips. His arms, strong and skillful on the ice, and his fingers, just the same, are even better in bed. He uses them to hold my hands down while he leaves marks in places only we can see. His name escapes my lips and my head falls back. Everything blurs as his hands explore more and soon, the few remaining clothes are scattered around the room and we’re both breathing hard. As I lay there, listening to his heartbeat and held close to his chest, the world seemed to stop. But not in the way you would think. It felt like everything fell away, that all that mattered was being here, with Dylan.
“I love you, you know that right?” I asked, looking up at him. His face is covered in a peaceful smile, a few strands of my hair twisted between his fingers.
“I know you love me. And you know what? I love you.” I smile, burying my face in his neck and closing my eyes.
“I’ve never doubted it.”
Tumblr media
Tag list:
@theblushinglittle
@2manytabsopen
@nhlboyshavemyhart88
@kirbyy-dach
47 notes · View notes
trillian-anders · 4 years
Text
3,643 miles
pairing: bucky barnes x reader
warnings: tooth rotting fluff, smut (& exhibitionism), wee bit of angst
word count: 9.1k
description: established relationship; you’d met in college, both education majors. you really love bucky barnes, and nearing your five year anniversary when he proposes you go on a coast-to-coast road trip on summer vacation. you seem skeptical and unsure, but he assures you it’s worth it. 
Tumblr media
New York City, New York – Mile 0
You hadn’t been serious. Not entirely anyway. Months ago, when you said to Bucky, half asleep, “We should go on a road trip, just you and me.” You remember his raspy voice in reply,
“Oh yeah?” His fingers slowly trailing down your bare spine as you slipped off into sleep.
“Yeah.”
It was something you’d almost forgotten all about until he brought it up five months later.
“Hey, do you think we should rent a car or just take mine?” You were chewing on a pen cap, going over the essays you needed to grade by Monday, a glass of wine by your side. He was sitting across from you, laptop open and a notebook full of different scribbles.
“For what?” You ask, taking a sip of your wine.
“Our road trip.” Like you’d forgotten, like it was something you’d already decided on. You shake your head, confused.
“What road trip?” His brow furrows.
“You said you wanted to go on a road trip.”
“When?” He was silent for a moment, staring at you like you had two heads.
“Christmas… when we were going to bed, you said you wanted to go on a road trip.” He explains simply, “Just the two of us.” You shake your head again.
“I was drunk on Christmas.” As if it explains it away, “We don’t really have the funds to take a road trip across the country, how long would that even take?” Typing a few things into your search bar you sigh, “Two to three months?”
“They went like everywhere,” He defends, “We are just going straight across.”
“I don’t know Bucky…” You sat back in your chair, crossing your arms.
“I’ve been doing the math.” He comes to your side of the table squatting down at your side, “We have more than twice of what we would need in savings, we still have enough to put down on a house next summer.” A kiss to your hand and some puppy dog eyes. “And we will be back in time for Steve’s wedding.” A kiss to your wrist, “C’mon baby, we’re still young, and pretty soon we won’t have time to do stuff like this. We never get to do anything this adventurous, come on.” You sigh, he’s right.
For the last five years you two had been together you were both working full-time jobs and in college. When school ended and you both got jobs you stayed in the shitty studio apartment you’d gotten when you first moved in together on the cheap to save every penny you could towards getting a nice house in the suburbs, something you both desperately wanted whenever the subject of marriage and kids rolled about. Which seemed to be more common lately, more so with both of your parents than with each other.
“You’re not getting any younger.” From both your Mom and his. His younger sister was just starting college and nowhere near continuing the Barnes bloodline, so his Mom was especially needy with you as far as wanting grandchildren. Something you and Bucky had briefly talked about but hadn’t made any real serious strides towards having. Your implant was good for another couple years and it wasn’t a real concern.
“Okay,” You agreed, “We should probably take your car to save some money.” A rental for even a month would be way too much. Bucky grinned, kissing you, again and again.
“It’s going to be so fun.” A kiss. “Really is.” Another kiss. His hand slipping to palm at your breast.
“Bucky I have to grade these essays.” He shrugs.
“Grade ‘em tomorrow.” A tweak of your nipple, his mouth sinking down to your neck, a well-practiced weak spot that never failed to make you shiver.
“Bucky.” You whined, fingers coming to grip his shoulders.
“C’mon baby.” You were weak for it. Played right into his hands and he knew it. You were such a sucker.
The last day of classes came faster than you thought, the morning after, bright and early you were getting ready to hit the road. Bucky had let you over plan a little if only to satisfy yourself and solidify the fact that you wanted to go on this trip. Almost 4,000 miles. The road ahead of your seemed daunting but he liked to remind you,
“We have all summer; we don’t need to rush.” Which means if you need to stop for the night, then you needed to stop for the night, but the goal was to drive as close to each major destination as you could before looking for a room at a nearby hotel or motel. Whatever seemed more convenient. You’d packed one large suitcase between the two of you and a bag of snacks and drinks for the times where you couldn’t reach a gas station or got uncontrollably snacky and bored.
“Please don’t forget to water our plants.” You begged the blond. Steve seemed a little done with it.
“I won’t forget to water the plants.” He was going to forget, he was beautiful, but endlessly forgetful. You sigh, stepping into his open arms and hugging him. “You guys be careful, if you run into any trouble just give me a call.”
“We’re going to be fine.” Bucky took his friend into a hug after you released him, “We’ll let you know when we get to DC.” The first stop on the trip.
“Have fun! Try not to kill each other!” You roll your eyes, slipping into the passenger seat and plugging your phone in, getting the GPS set up. Bucky slipped into the driver’s seat, grasping your hand and laying a kiss on your palm.
“You ready baby?” You smile excitedly,
“Yeah, I’m ready.” Your little notebook in your lap. A polaroid camera for the aesthetic. A picture developing on your lap that you’d gotten Steve to take of the two of you in front of the car before leaving. The first stretch wasn’t very long. Just about four hours with mild traffic, but you knew with it would be closer to six, but once you were out of the North East the roads would open up at least for a little while.
You hit traffic trying to get out of the city almost immediately which is why you liked Bucky driving. Driving in the city was always stressful and you rarely ever had to do it, you’d never gotten that NYC aggression and seeing as he learned how to drive on these streets you let him take the first leg. You’d switch with him most likely somewhere in New Jersey, probably before you hit Delaware.
“Aren’t you excited?” He asks you. You had to admit, seeing him so giddy and excited about something further enforced the excitement you had been feeling about this trip. You’d never been anywhere further than the North East, once you broke free of DC you’d be in uncharted territory and it did excite you.
“Of course, I am.” You smiled at him, he leaned over the center console to kiss you, a loving sweet kiss interrupted by a loud honk from the man behind you, the light was green.
Washington, DC – Mile 233
“Okay, smile.” Bucky snapped a picture of you standing in front of the National Mall, the Washington Monument tall in the background. The day stayed bright and sunny. With the plan of hitting a museum before dinner, the two of you arrived around lunch time, stopping to grab some food before parking the car and walking around on foot.
You’d snapped a couple pictures of him on your phone while he’d been talking to his Mother during lunch, which you scrolled through while you walked to the next destination. The Smithsonian. The Natural History museum that had currently been doing an exhibit on the late Stan Lee. Something Bucky was excited about.
Copies of old prints. Videos of Stan Lee himself, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko. A bunch of first editions in plexiglass containers. His favorite, however, was the character his parents named him after. A life replica of the suit he wears in the comics on display. You took a couple pictures of him with it, sending them onto the group chat you had with him and his family.
His hand was in yours walking through more exhibits, both of you aimlessly walking up to different displays and stopped at the little gift shop for Bucky to look at some exclusive merch they had for the Stan Lee exhibit, including a paperback book about Stan Lee and a large exhibit book with detailed explanations about everything you’d just seen.
“Did you want to drive tonight?” Bucky asked while you were grabbing coffee, “Or do you want to find a room?” You playfully shove him, he playfully shoves you back.
Later your back would find the soft hotel mattress, giggling and a little drunk from the multiple drinks had at dinner. The hum of his lips against yours, fingers plucking on your strings, gentle moans and a hand pressed against the headboard as it smacks against the wall in a steady rhythm.
It was nice. This vacation was nice. And much needed after wrangling teenagers all day.
“I love you so much.” You moan against his mouth, the grind of his hips against yours making your eyes roll in the back of your head. His fingers laced in yours.
You knew that you and Bucky had a good relationship. It’s always been stable and nice and good. You love him and you know he loves you. You’ve never had to question that. Your last relationship, seemed like so long ago now, wasn’t that great. Time never made for each other, a great lack of communication, just being young adults and drinking too much at parties and screaming at each other in the car.
When you met Bucky it was an instant attraction. He was charming, sweet. He’d brought you snacks in the library and helped you study for your history exams. Currently, he was still slowly working towards his Doctorate, wanting to eventually teach at the college you’d both attended. But back then you’d moved in together almost instantly. Not just because the relationship came so easily, but because of finances as well.
Money was a little less tight when someone was sharing the bills with you.
Yeah, you had your arguments. Someone leaves their dishes next to the sink instead of in it. Someone keeps putting off taking out the trash. Someone doesn’t make the bed in the morning. Someone leaves their dirty socks next to the hamper than inside it. But they were small things. Things you could both try to do better. And you have.
Another thing all together was the sex.
You were never someone who said the sex had to be good right away. It takes time to learn someone’s body and really figure out what someone likes and what they don’t like. And while the sex has definitely improved over the years, he knew how to make you cum in less than two minutes and was very proud of that fact, your first sexual experience with each other had his head under your skirt in a dark corner of the school library like you were a Victorian royal canoodling with a servant.
You were red about it for days, thinking about how hard you came on his tongue almost caught by another student looking for records for their thesis. The grin on his face for a week afterward as he enjoyed the hastily decided exhibitionism.
It grew from there.
Bucky loved the fear of getting caught, it was one of his favorite things. You couldn’t even really remember everywhere the two of you had sex of some kind. And when you’d had your second pregnancy scare you decided to get the little implant you still have now.
“I love you so fucking much.” That grind. You loved it and he knew it. He would have your knees hooked over his arms, resting in his elbows, he would be deep, brushing your cervix and grinding his hips against yours, pubic bone grinding on your clit. Your nerve endings on fire. “So fucking wet.” Around him. You could feel his cock throb inside of you and you knew how badly he wanted to move, but he wanted you to beg him for it more.
And you would.
Always.
Your leg was over his thigh at breakfast. Sitting at the bar top of the little diner. “So I think today will just be driving.” Over a piece of toast, “I think it’s like… 10 or 11 hours.” So you’d probably get there just in time to get some sleep. He nods, taking a bite out of his omelet, his thumb brushing your thigh. You were scrolling through your phone. His fingers playing with the hem of your shorts.
“Do you want to drive first?” He asks, “Or do you want me to?”
 Nashville, TN – Mile 890
The road to Nashville cut through the mountains. Music blasting and windows down, you snapped pictures as Bucky traversed the winding roads that were mostly empty aside from shipment trucks and the occasional other car also travelling to some unknown destination. It was gorgeous out there.
“Could you imagine living out here?” You asked him as you spot a cabin mixed in among the trees on the side of the mountain not too far in the distance. He had his sunglasses on, his hair a little grown out and longer than he usually kept it was whipping around his face.
“Absolutely not.” He laughed. The city boy, through and through, you’d really struggled over deciding where you’d like to buy a house when the two of you decided to actually start saving. He wanted to buy an apartment first, but then a debate of what would be more realistic, what would give them enough living space for what they would be paying. There was a period of time where all you looked at were the pretty brownstones you knew you couldn’t afford, but once the two of you reeled it in and really looked you decided to move closer to where Bucky would be working as a professor.
“It’s bad enough you have me moving to New Jersey.” He laughs. But it was all a jest, he wanted to work for Rutgers in New Brunswick. It was where both of you went to college, after all.
“We should go camping.” You take a picture as you cross a bridge, capturing the rippling mountain water.
“You would hate camping.” He shakes his head, “You went to summer camp for a week in fifth grade and told me it was the worst experience of your life.” You sit back in your seat glaring at him.
“Maybe it would be different now that I’m an adult,” You offer, “And the only reason why it was horrible in the first place is because night one the girls said the cabin was haunted and then I just couldn’t sleep for the rest of the week.” Those little bitches. Bucky full belly laughs, the haunting of the girl was also on top of you getting a UTI and seeing a family of bears roam about outside one day so you couldn’t go outside.
“We are not going camping.” You huff but don’t answer because you know he was right; you’d hate camping.
“I don’t even remember the last time we had McDonald’s.” You say while dipping three fries into your small dipping cup of sauce.
“After finals.” It wasn’t as good as you remember it being, but you’d also gotten a salad to split as well. Not being able to quite justify eating strictly burgers and fries. Bucky’s memory was a steel trap, unlike his blond best friend. Bucky could easily recall events, almost in striking detail which really sucks when you promised to go do something and wanted to act like you forgot, he could tell you exactly when you said it.
Like drunk on Christmas when you say you should take a road trip, although this wasn’t a half bad idea.
“You got a 20-piece nugget.” He continues, “You ranted for the entire night about how they only gave you three sauces for 20 nuggets.” A history major who had great memory recall. Tests were very easy for him. The bastard. You used to be so jealous.
“Sounds like something I would do.” You laugh.
Nashville was dark when you’d arrived. Downtown thriving with noise and pedestrians as you drove around, tired, while Bucky looked at local hotels. You’d found a decent one for cheap not too far from where you’d been driving and as soon as that hotel room door shut you slipped into bed. Waking slightly when Bucky slipped into bed behind you, pulling you into his chest. The little wet strands of his hair tickling your cheek as he pressed a kiss there, falling back under.
The Parthenon. A life size replica of the one in Greece. A polaroid or two there. Nashville was gorgeous. Aside from the main city were little outlying towns with walkable shopping and a ton of little restaurants and local coffee shops.
You take a sip of your iced coffee, giving Bucky an odd look as he looks at a wall of cowboy boots. “You’re not buying those.” He turns and gives you a playful glare. “Babe, they’re $300, no. You would never wear them.”
“Maybe I’m going to make them a staple of my closet.” He shrugs, “That’s what that girl you watch says right, make something a staple and work your other clothes around it?”
“She doesn’t mean $300 cowboy boots.” You laugh. “You’re never going to wear those.”
“I could though.”
“But you won’t.”
You’d gone and enjoyed the city, hit a couple breweries and had bar food before doing a little tour of the Grand Ole Opry and walked around the Opry Mills Mall before grabbing dinner. The restaurant had line dancing and pretty decent barbecue. But the one drink they had, some sort of peach and whiskey, went down a little too smooth. And poor Bucky who hadn’t drank quite as much, was propping you up on his shoulder as you stumble down the street back to your hotel.
“We should go to an actual bar,” You whine. “I’m not tired.” You stumble, his arm wrapping around your waist a little tighter.
“You are tired,” He laughs, “Your bedtime was two hours ago.” You stick your tongue out at him but try to keep step. You’re sure he slowed down from his usual long strides for you.
“We are on vacation,” Another whine, “We can stay out late.”
“Baby everything is closing,” He tries to reason, “It’s 2 am.” You gaze around the area you’re in. Stragglers, barely anyone around. It was a weeknight after all.
“But I don’t wanna go back to the room.” He gives you a look, stopping in the street and backing you up against the wall, capturing your mouth against his, his hips grinding against yours. “Bucky…” A whine against his mouth.
“You don’t want to go back to the room right?” It was a darker corner, the streetlight not quite reaching. His fingers unbuttoned your shorts, slipping his fingers into your panties to stroke at your clit. A moan muffled into his mouth. You could feel how hard he was on your thigh. Your mind frazzled and swimming in alcohol still, hand gripping his wrist as his fingers prod your opening, thumb continuing to move in tight practiced circles on your clit. Your legs were trembling as his face pulled away from yours. His forehead resting against yours, eyes connected. “You’re gonna cum for me, aren’t you baby?”
Fuck. “Yes.” A whine for a different reason this time, his fingers entering you and immediately stroking your g-spot. Your thighs clamping around his hand as you cum, your loud moan muffled by him capturing your mouth. He worked you through your aftershocks before pulling you tightly into his body, massaging the back of your neck, licking your taste off his fingers.
“C’mon baby,” He kisses you again, “Let’s go to bed.”
New Orleans, LA – Mile 1,422
Your head was pounding, eyes closed with a water bottle pressed to your skull. The music soft in the background while Bucky, bless him, offered to take the first leg of the driving. The eight-hour drive that you were sure would take about nine. He was an angel running into the gas station while you pumped the gas to grab you water and medicine for your headache. While not at all laughing about how you fell flat on your ass into the hotel room and begging him to kiss what was now a bruise on your hip and left ass cheek.
“I can’t believe I drank that much.” You groan, taking a sip of your water.
“I can’t believe you drank that much.” Humor in his voice. The asshole. You napped for the first hour or two, before Bucky began to get antsy. Shifting in his seat, trying to stretch his legs out.
“I can drive.” You mumble, coming out of your nap. “I just need my sunglasses.” His hands tightened on the wheel,
“I could probably go another hour or so.” He says. You roll your eyes,
“Next gas station, we’ll switch.” A sip from your water bottle, “You’re obviously uncomfortable.”  He grumbles under his breath, but does it anyway, stepping from the car somewhere in Alabama. He stretches and you swear you could hear a couple pops in his spine. After grabbing a couple snacks and some coffee from the gas station you were back on your way, feeling a little more alive than you had previously.
The music a little louder, Bucky pulled out the book he’d gotten at the Smithsonian, the windows cracked. You made it back on the road and towards your destination still 7 hours long.
When you’d been planning this road trip Bucky decided to make a bunch of playlists on his phone, each supposedly for a different kind of mood, but they all sounded quite the same to you. All but one which was just labeled ‘XXX’ and had such hits as ‘Pony’ by Ginuwine and ‘Sex with Me’ by Rihanna. Which is strange because you’d never had a sex playlist normally, but suddenly he thinks you need one to play on speaker on his phone next to the bed in hotel rooms.
The one he had playing originally was something mellow, without lyrics. Thoughtful to your raging hangover, but you needed something to focus on. Something you could sing, badly to, but sing to keep yourself from going crazy on a stretch of highway you felt like you’d been on forever. Which you kind of were. It was one straight highway for the entire 533 miles it would take to get you from Nashville to New Orleans. That little pitstop just dipping you off the exit and then putting your right back on.
It was brain numbing honestly and you tried to go as long as possible before switching back. Bucky had fallen asleep sometime an hour or so after you started driving, book folded over his thumb and seat tilted back.
You felt bad. You kept him up so late last night and then he’d let you sleep in while he got ready. Bringing you breakfast and coffee and waking you up slowly. You thought back to him in the hotel room, the soft kisses and whispers. He’d gotten you in the shower with the bribe of giving you a massage after, which he did. You glance at him in the rearview, his arm thrown over his eyes. You could go a little longer.
The first thing the two of you did getting into New Orleans was stop for a drive thru daiquiri before finding what hotel you’d be staying in for the night.
Bags down you sip on the strawberry liquor slush, sinking into the sheets of the hotel room. “Take it easy.” Bucky laughs, stealing it from you and taking a sip. “Don’t want a repeat of last night.” You stick your tongue out at him and he leans over and kisses you, your fingers moving to tug on his belt loop, pulling him over to the bed. Sitting up you continue to kiss him, beginning to palm him through his jeans.
“Thank you for taking care of me.” Mumbled against his lips as you begin to work on his belt. “I really appreciate it.” Looking up at him through your lashes as you free him from his briefs. His breath catches as your cool tongue licks the tip, mouth stained red. Wide and flat against his head. Tapping it on your tongue before circling around the tip and sucking it into your mouth, his fingers twisting in your hair, not pushing but just holding.
You drip spit down on his cock, using your hand to spread it down his length before sucking him back in your mouth, beginning to bob your head to meet your stroking hand. Your other hand moving below to fondle his balls.
You watch his head fall back, a gasp as his fingers tighten in your hair. You feel the spongey tip of him brush the back of your throat, holding yourself there for a moment before pulling off and stroking him root to tip. He bent over meeting your mouth, kiss passionate and lusty. When you part you sink your mouth back onto him, moaning.
His hips gently thrust into your face, you know he’s getting close, his breaths coming out in short pants, the barely there thrust of his hips when he’s craving more friction you oblige to, speeding up your movements and you gently tug on his balls.
“Fuck, I’m gonna cum baby.” His head tossing back and a groan as he begins to empty himself into your mouth. You work him through his aftershocks, his hips giving one true thrust right at the end before you swallow. His mouth meeting yours in a satisfied hum.
You went to the French Quarter for dinner. A place with a live jazz band and good food. The atmosphere unmatched. The French Quarter was much less of a drunken mess than Bourbon Street itself, that beast to be tackled a different night. You had a little bit of a pregame with those daquiri slushes before dinner. Buzzed and comfortably riding it throughout. You’d sipped on a rum and coke while listening to the jazz. Just enjoying the night. Tired from driving but satiated from the food. Your hand rubbing your belly you were so full.
“I love you.” His fingers twisting in the stray hairs that fell from your clip. You smile at him, leaning over and pressing a kiss to his lips.
“I love you too.”
You stayed mostly sober while he drank on Bourbon Street. You let him sing horrible karaoke at Cat’s Meow and drug him away from his forced politeness with about six other woman and at least five men. And you let him lean on you and babble while you waited for the uber back to your hotel.
“You’re so fuckin—hiccup—pretty.” Wet on your ear, slobbering and you laugh. “Like so fuckin pretty.” His mouth sloppy on your cheek.
“You’re going to have a hell of a hangover tomorrow.” And it would be your turn to take care of him.
That day had been really nice, a little rainy but you’d gotten beignets and coffee at Café Du Monde and bought a pack of the beignet mix and coffee cup to bring home. You’d seen the Madame LaLaurie house which you were sure you’d be talking to Peggy about later, you’d walked around Jackson Square in the light drizzle and even made your way to walk around Audubon Park. You’d been surprised when Bucky said he wanted to go drink on Bourbon Street seeing as you’d been up for a while, but you obliged and now you were rubbing his back as he told you he was nauseous, his arms wrapped around the toilet bowl.
“I don’t feel good.” He blubbers.
“I know baby.” The tile was cold, hard, and uncomfortable. He gagged. And you sigh, wondering if you should just help him throw up so he would feel better. But he finally vomited. You got him cleaned up, helped him brush his teeth. Fed him some water and helped him out of his clothes. His arms wrapped around your waist as he sat on the edge of the bed. Mumbling words you couldn’t understand as you tried to pull his shirt off. His pants long discarded.
“C’mon baby.” You tug on the shirt stuck in his armpits. His arms weakly lift from your body, letting you lift the shirt off him and laying him under the covers. His fingers twisting in your shirt, “I’ll be right back.” In the bathroom you quickly wipe up the toilet, flushing the extra mess and grabbed the trash can, bringing it out to his side of the bed and resting it on the floor near his head, his arm hanging off the bed and already snoring.
The next day when you were eating breakfast, he drank heartily on a Bloody Mary, trying to get the hair of the dog and feel more alive.
“I can’t believe you let me drink that much.” A groan over fried green tomatoes. You roll your eyes,
“I didn’t… the guys buying you shots when my back was turned did.” It was a laugh really, how Bucky wouldn’t realize someone was flirting with him. So out of touch from being in a relationship, Bucky had been quite the charmer when you first met but had a really hard time noticing when someone else was flirting altogether. A marvel, but it’s true.
“But they were so nice.” He reasoned making you laugh.
“They really were.”
San Antonio, TX – Mile 1,965
Another 543 miles, which 541 were spent on the same road. Honestly it was probably the worst part. Driving in mostly a straight line for hours with long stretches of road in between each stop. But that’s how this part of the country was. It was hotter down here for sure, or maybe just because you were getting deeper into summer.
San Antionio was sweltering, you could feel your shirt sticking to your back as you took in the air conditioning of the hotel lobby you were currently in. The electronic keycard slipped across the counter to Bucky while you waited a step behind before shifting your bag back on and following him to the elevator.
The hotel was a lot like every other hotel, but the only thing you were really worried about now was the shower. Bags dropped and the small toiletry case in hand you slipped into the shower, letting the water run a little cold to cool you off before turning it a little higher to be more comfortable. You can hear Bucky enter the bathroom, the shower curtain being pulled back as he entered behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and dragging you back into his body. Just holding you for a minute.
“Are you okay?” He asked. Pressing a kiss to your cheek.
“Yeah, I think I just need some alone time.” You hadn’t talked much during the drive from New Orleans to San Antonio. You were used to getting time apart from each other. Not that you didn’t like spending time with him, but sometimes you just wanted to be alone and right now you were getting that itch. He hums, his arms tightening for a moment more before pressing a kiss to the crown of your head.
“After the shower, why don’t you take a nap before dinner, hmm?” He reached over grabbing the soap, “I’ll go grab us dinner and bring it back,” beginning to wash, “We can eat in the room tonight, sleep in tomorrow?”
“That would be nice.” You’d finished your shower, slipped into comfortable clothes and flipped through the local channels on the tv, finding something for background noise as Bucky left the room.
You would get like this sometimes.
Bucky was always a little more adventurous. Back in college you probably wouldn’t have done half the things you did if it weren’t for him. He was far more outgoing; he had more friends. He was always dragging you out of first your dorm, and then your shared apartment. He didn’t need the alone time like you did and at first he was a little hurt by it.
Like you didn’t want to spend time with him, and it wasn’t that. You just needed a little bit of time to yourself to just be on your own and decompress a little. But he kind of knew when you needed it now. When you got a little quiet. When you needed a little space. And he found himself enjoying the time that you spend apart. You were sure he was enjoying his little walk,
“I get to kind of quiet myself a little bit.” He told you, “I always feel like I’m going all the time.” There were often times where you’d spend time together in the same room just not talking, a comfortable silence as you watched tv and he graded papers or just laying in bed reading next to each other. You felt like you didn’t deserve him sometimes.
He always catered to your social anxiety and your stress and you try to do the most you can for him, but there’s always that fear of it not being enough. Like maybe you’d wake up one day and he’d decide that it just wasn’t a good fit anymore.
What would you even do then?
A quick nap, only thirty minutes or so. Then you lay there a little bit, listening to the tv ramble on some sitcom you didn’t recognize. You hear Bucky come in, a paper bag of food in his arms, your eyes meet his and he smiles.
You didn’t deserve him.
“I found this food truck,” He sets down the two glass bottles of soda on the little table in the room. “The guy who runs it, his family used to own a restaurant here in San Antonio, but they were shoved out of business by this fucking corporate bastard who wanted the space for fucking condominiums, kept raising his fucking rent until he couldn’t afford it anymore.” A kiss to your lips, “How was your nap?”
“That’s terrible.” Your hand on his back as you sit at the table, him across from you. “It was good, I think I needed that.” He starts laying out the food. Tacos, empanadas, a little container of radish and limes. Extra cilantro. Little sauce cups of spicy salsa. A hot container of grilled peppers and cactus. A small container of extra rice. “This looks really good, thank you.”
He brings your hand up to his lips, kissing it. “Are you okay?” He asked, biting into the empanada sprinkled with queso fresco. You nod, massaging his arm before digging into the tacos.
“Yeah baby, I’m okay.”
You had to see the Alamo, obviously. The big limestone building that was pivotal in the Texas Revolution and was now a history museum. But you were more excited for the river walk. Not far from your hotel a bunch of small restaurants and shops, very touristy and brightly lit, but beautiful on the San Antonio River. Tomorrow would be the Japanese Tea Garden and the Natural Bridge Caverns, but you always liked a relatively easy day right after travelling.
You found yourself really looking at him for the first time in a long time. The little wrinkles by his eyes when he smiles that weren’t there five years ago. How often he licked his lips. How often he caught you looking at him. You were sure you looked lovesick. You found yourself resting your head on his shoulder a lot. Your hand in his as you walked around, the steady motion of his thumb moving across your hand a soothing balm for your growing anxiety.
“What’s going on?” He’d ask you later. “You’ve been really affectionate today.” His hands around your waist in the elevator heading up to the hotel room.
“I just love you, that’s all.” His hands moving to cup your face, thumbs brushing your cheeks.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” You meet his kiss, humming against his lips. The elevator doors ding and you walk to your room,
“I just want to sleep.” You hear him sigh behind you as you begin to get changed.
“No, what’s wrong?” Sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at you as you changed into your sleep shorts and tank top. His hand reaching out to yours and dragging you into his lap, your legs on either side of his, you wrapped your arms around his neck. “C’mon baby talk to me.” You felt silly.
“I just… feel like I don’t deserve you.” A laugh in his chest that made you feel dumb.
“I’m sorry baby,” His arms squeezing you a little tighter, “I didn’t mean to laugh.” His fingers tracing your spine. “I feel like I don’t deserve you sometimes, you’re always so patient with me. You pack my lunch for me every day.” He laughs, “You do cute things like bring me coffee when I’m studying or make me those amazing chocolate peanut butter cookies during finals. You know I love you,” He pulled back, your face coming from resting on his shoulder, his hand coming up to cup your jaw, brushing his thumb across your bottom lip. “I think we both like to take care of each other, there’s nothing wrong with that baby, you always take care of me so I try really hard to take care of you.”
“How are you so perfect?” A hum as you meet his lips, soft and sweet.
“How are you so perfect?” He falls back against the bed, dragging you down with him, his hand still rubbing your back. You softly kiss him and close your eyes, finding comfort in laying on his chest. “I think this trip was a really good idea.”
Four Corners Monument – Mile 2,936
“How could you have not checked that we were low on gas?” You were trying to not be angry. You were really trying not to be angry, but when there’s desert on either side of you it’s kind of hard not to be. It was sweltering and no gas also meant no AC.
“I checked our gas at the last stop,” Bucky was in the same boat, hands on his hips, “I think— “he sighs, “Maybe the gas gauge is broken.” You groan in frustration, stepping away from the car and pulling out your phone.
“Can you get a signal?” To call his AAA. A moment or two of him on the phone, before he hung up and turned to you.
“They said about two hours.” You huff, sitting down in the passenger seat, door open and arms crossed. You’d woken up extra early to make this 15-hour drive. You kicked at the hard ground with the sole of your sneaker, trying to calm down while Bucky paced a little.
“I knew we should have rented a car.” You glare at him from your seat.
“If you wanted to rent a car why would you ask me if we should take your car or not?” He didn’t answer. “Don’t blame me for this.” A sigh,
“I’m blaming myself.” A kick to his tire, “I’ve had this car for ten years now, we shouldn’t have taken it.” You worry your bottom lip, checking the time on your phone.
“If you knew we shouldn’t have taken it, why did we?” You didn’t mean for this to turn into an argument. But it somehow turned into a screaming match on the abandoned stretch of road. Not even over important things, things so insignificant like how he’d been taking his shoes off in the car and the stink of that or how you smacked your gum out of boredom. The heat leading the two of you to just explode for no good reason.
Two long strides, that is what was between the two of you. That’s all it took for him to grab you tightly and crush you against his chest, mashing your lips together. You moan into his mouth, fingers tangling in his hair for a harsh tug. Your back hit the side of the car, his fingers fumbling with the button of your shorts, tugging them open and roughly dipping his fingers into the wet heat between your thighs. Two fingers circling your opening before slipping inside and stroking your walls, thumb rapid on your clit.
Your hands fumble with his belt, your legs already shaking as you stroke his length, hot and hard in your hand. He removes his fingers from your now aching sex, “I need you so bad.” Shorts and panties shifted down on your hips, stuck on your knees, he turns you around pressing you to the car, feet kicking your legs open and you could feel his tip prod your entrance.
With one thrust he was home, his hips slapping against yours furiously, your hand drifting own between your thighs to strum on your clit, the pleasure growing. His hand rips yours away, replacing it with his.
“God you’re so fucking good.” Hot on you ear, “So fucking good baby.” That stretch and burn of him, on top of the practiced fingers on your clit brought you over almost immediately. A moan ripping from your lungs, as your clit became overbearingly sensitive. Your hand met his between your legs, trying to stop the steady motions, but he wouldn’t. His other hand left your hip and wrapped around your throat, dragging your back to his chest. “You’re gonna cum for me again.”
You were a mess, whining as two of his fingers slipped into your mouth and pressing down on your tongue, eyes rolling back in your head as you felt yourself gush around his cock. His hips giving a half a dozen sloppy thrusts before he moaned into your neck, emptying himself inside you. You catch your breath against him before your mind unscrambles and you realize that you’ve got cum dripping down your thighs in the middle of the desert.
“I think we needed that.” He pressed a soft kiss to your cheek before wiping his cum off your thighs with a tissue, bundling it up and tossing it into the plastic bag you’d been using for trash and tying it.
You snort, buttoning your shorts, “Always the romantic.” He grins, taking a sip out of a water bottle before passing it to you.
“It’s warm.” He warns. You scrunch your nose, taking a sip of the warm water, sweat dripping down your back.
“How much longer?” He checks his phone and looks at you with a defeated expression.
“An hour.” You had to change your shorts.
“This is it?” Just a pavilion, one on each side of the square and the little circular concrete stepping area and a large plaque on the ground. He’s laughing, the stress of everything that just happened ending in this.
“You can be in four states at once.” You shrug.
Grand Canyon Village, AZ – Mile 3,165
It was busy and a little crowded at the Grand Canyon. Which was kind of to be expected. A lot of people taking pictures with their families and couples taking pictures much like you’d been planning to. But the view.
It took your breath away.
You’d seen different environments on this trip that before you’d never been exposed to. The North East was heavily wooded, and everything was tightly packed together. Having lived in New Jersey and then NYC it was very much the same. You marveled at the mountains on your way to Nashville and when you first hit actual desert you pulled the car over to take a real look. The swamps and muggy weather in New Orleans you hadn’t gotten enough time to explore, but the first time seeing Spanish Moss was unreal.
But this was something else entirely.
Bucky caged you in against the metal gate keeping you from getting to the edge, his chest to your back and rested his head on your shoulder. “This is incredible.” He agreed.
You snapped a picture on your polaroid.
And probably about a dozen pictures of the two of you together. A nice couple from Idaho even took a picture on his phone and one on the polaroid and in return you took their picture and gifted them a polaroid of themselves.
You’d left around dinner time. Ordering in and spending the night in the room after shoving your laundry in the hotel laundry room.
“We’re only eight hours away.” You grin. “Eight more hours until we are at the Pacific.” It feels unreal that you’re almost to the opposite end of the country, but whenever you pulled up the map on your phone that’s where it showed you.
Driving had been getting a little more difficult the closer you got to your destination. You were just itching to just get there already and you were not excited for the drive tomorrow. You hadn’t touched the bed yet, still covered in a thin layer of dust, you could feel it between your toes, but the hunger led you towards eating the sandwich and salad combo from the shop the two of you ordered from before getting into the actual shower.
You sigh, fingers tangled in Bucky’s hair. His mouth attached to your clit in a gentle suck. One hand drifting up to play with your nipple, rolling it between his fingers. Your hips grind against his face. “Fuck, I’m gonna cum.” Almost, almost. His hand was fisting his cock the heat of it making your toes curl, cumming on his tongue. A few more quick tugs had him spilling over the tile. The best thing about hotel bathrooms was the water never went cold. Still hot and steamy as he pressed a kiss to your hip before standing. You bury your face in his neck, wrapping your arms around him as he pulled you close.
A soft rock side to side under the stream.
God you fucking love him.
Driving was honestly a hassle. You couldn’t go more than two hours without wanting to switch or stop, which as you grew closer and closer to California you began to see more houses and more people on the road around you.
His hand on your thigh as you finally crossed the California border, feeling a little more positive about finally getting to the end of the road before having to turn around.
Anaheim, CA – Mile 3,643
You read about California traffic, but it was unreal in person. The car hadn’t moved in a good five minutes you’re sure. How is this even possible? The gridlock because you’d taken an extra hour at lunch and gotten to California around rush hour.
“That was a mistake.” You sigh, rubbing your eyes. “We should have just hit a drive thru.” He rubbed your thigh affectionately.
“Doesn’t matter now,” He laughs, “We’ll get there.” You know he’s right, but you still feel a little string of irritation with yourself for not just pushing through a little more. “Are you excited?” He’s grinning, a squeeze on your leg.
“I’m very excited.” And you were. There was so much you wanted to see in California. And you both specifically set aside money to spend a day or two at Disneyland having gone to Disney World with both of your families before. Your Mom being a little obsessed, you were going to have to bring her back something for sure.
You had to get In-N-Out. That was a given. You’d almost stopped for it back in Tuscon but reasoned that you had to wait until California. “This is so good.” Bucky picked up some fries you had to order ‘animal-style’ just because it was an option. And it was so good.
“This was worth it.” Over a mouth of burger. Bucky nods,
“So worth it.”
Your toes dipped into the ocean. A hot and beautiful day. Bucky sat back a couple feet laid out on a blanket. You look back on him, propped up on his elbow, smiling at you. The water was warm, and it was unreal that it wasn’t actually green. At the Jersey shore the water is green from all the algae. But not here. It was actually blue.
His arms wrap around your waist, walking you both deeper into the water. The waves rocking gently over your bodies. The sun hot on your skin.
“This was so worth it.” Your legs around his waist in the water, his finger’s toying with your swimsuit bottoms. “Don’t.” Stern. It makes him laugh.
“Don’t what?” Fingers brushing on your labia through your swim bottoms.
“Bucky…” A harder press directly against your clit. Your eyes looking on the shore. “Stop.” Dragging yourself away from him you made him laugh harder, treading water to get back onto the sand, tossing a playful glare over your shoulder. “Pervert.”
A polaroid of the gate, Disneyland.
“The castle is small.” He says. Main Street similar to Disney World itself, but the castle was noticeably smaller than Cinderella’s castle in Orlando. But it was just as magical and just as expensive. You split a hand dipped corn dog and ate dole whip in the afternoon between rides.
It was a fun, but tiring day and left you both a little sunburnt on your nose and cheeks. You’d slept in the next day, barely able to pull yourself out of bed and your legs were sore from walking about ten miles yesterday. You UberEats breakfast to the room, well… lunch. And watched the weather forecast while trying to decide what to do that day, settling down on going to the Santa Monica pier seeing as the day was already half gone.
Bucky began acting a little strange halfway through your stay in California. He seemed anxious and more fidgety than usual. But every time you asked him about it, he shrugged it off as having too much caffeine or just being really excited to be going to go see the Hollywood sign or stopping by the Cecil Hotel, “Just to see it.”
It wasn’t until the night before you were going to start making your way back did you discover the reason why.
Sitting on the trunk of his car, facing the ocean. The food truck where you’d just had fish tacos and chips with guac off to your right, the only real light as you watched the sun set. He offered to go to the other food truck nearby and grab some ice cream. Homemade stuff boasted by the chalkboard sign on the side of the truck.
With his return and the comfortable quiet that came with watching the sun set over the ocean, you feel him shift to your side, fumbling with something before slipping off the trunk, his back to you.
“Bucky?” You watched him take a deep breath and turn, in his hand was a ring box.
Bucky had thought about proposing a million times.
Every time you’d bring him coffee at the library. Every time you’d turn down the bed before the two of you went to sleep. He’d almost proposed Christmas, but you’d wanted to drink so he held off.
When you brought up this road trip he started thinking about it, really. And decided that he would do it sometime during this trip.
He kept trying to figure out when he wanted to do it. That night of amazing sex in DC. The night you were babbling and drunk in Nashville. Maybe when he looked at you in that jazz club, your face lit up by the stage lights in New Orleans. He’d almost proposed in San Antonio when you were sweet and needy.  
He thought about it during your argument heading towards the Four Corners Monument but changed his mind. And at the Grand Canyon there were just too many people around. But here it was just the two of you, your car farther away from the crowd gathered by the food trucks. You’d just watched the sun set over the ocean. He knew it was now, he had to do it.
He wanted to do it.
“I had a whole thing… planned out.” He stumbles over his words, “I’ve thought about this every day for years now, I think. And I just… you’re the love of my life. You’re the only person I want to spend it with, and I know we haven’t talked a lot about getting married and I’m ruining this, but… This trip has really confirmed everything I already knew that I felt and I don’t think there’s any better time to ask…
Will you marry me?”
The ring felt strange on your finger but was easily ignored as your fingers tangled in Bucky’s hair. The windows in the car were cracked to keep them from steaming up, a practice well versed by both of your exhibitionist tendencies. The goal was to make it back to the hotel, but this abandoned stretch of highway would do just fine.
On his lap in the backseat you grind your hips against his, aching for it. Fingers fumbling with the buttons on his shorts and feeling his hands squeeze your bare ass while you work them down past his knees. A hover to adjust before sinking down.
Wet but not completely prepared, the stretch and burn a little intense. His mouth moving passionately against yours as one hand slipped between you and starting carefully stroking your clit. Your hands meet the head rest, using it as leverage to raise and lower yourself on his dick. His hips slip down on the seat a little to help you, thrusting up to meet your hips.
“I’m not gonna last,” He moans against your mouth. You start to gush around him, whimpering as you grow closer and closer to release. His hand that had been on your waist coming to tangle in your hair and tug, those practiced fingers of his between your legs finally bringing you over. He was quick to follow. Panting as you remain in his lap, feeling him soften, his arms wrapping around you and pulling you in tightly to his chest. Soft and loving,
“This was a really good idea.”
671 notes · View notes
bluetomorrows · 2 years
Text
How Spotify and transitioning saved my taste in music
Tumblr media
oTell me if you've met someone like this before:
Their taste in music mostly consists of video game and anime soundtracks, maybe a couple of old random songs like Bohemian Rhapsody sprinkled in but that's about it. They also think modern music is complete shit. And they refuse to listen to rap (Obviously).
Well, that annoying fun sponge was me a couple years ago. Yep, my favourite albums were Sonic Adventure 2, Jet Set Radio, Kirby's Return to Dream Land, and Undertale.
I thought modern music was terrible and anyone who liked it was stupid, and I was like this for a long time. I'd open up YouTube and listen to Sonic music, maybe the odd David Bowie song, really not much else.
And then something happened. Due to a series of events that I've already described in a YT video so won't repeat, I got really into Pink Floyd. I wanted to listen to their albums while playing video games but I did not want to pull up full albums on YouTube, and free Spotify forces you to listen to ads and shuffle and such instead of just listening to the album as intended. So I caved and got Spotify Premium.
And well, I used it. I wanted to get my money's worth so I used it a lot. And well at first I did just listen to Pink Floyd, they have 15 albums after all, a lot to go through. But you have to listen to something else eventually, and I think 2 things led to that
1. Spotify's actually quite good recommendation system: It knows your tastes really well, actually got me to listen to more than video game OSTs
2. Accepting my femininity: It's basically a fact that most men (at least straight ones) refuse to listen to music by women, the gender disparity is a lot more even among women though. Before I came out I desperately did not want to seem feminine, and therefore avoided music by women. Now that I was out I could see music in a new light. I embraced the feminine part of myself and opened up my horizons to many great female artists
Anyways, it feels REALLY good when you get out of your bubble. I'm still trying to get out of my no rap bubble. I haven't been a cringey person who hates the genre in a long time I just hadn't listened to any. I listened to some Kanye West albums recently, really enjoyed them!
Anyways if you're wondering my favourite artists are
-Pink Floyd
-Lucius
-Phoebe Bridgers
-Car Seat Headrest
-Kate Bush
-Have A Nice Life
-Taylor Swift
-Gorillaz
-Ladytron
-Chromatics
-Diet Cig
3 notes · View notes
bowensbyrams · 3 years
Note
Anything cute and fluffy with Bowen Byram
Bo+fuffly = perfect fit
I wrote this in a context of no covid and Bo being with the Avs for a while.
fluffiness under the cut!
You and Bowen have been dating for a almost a year already. It all started during his rookie year with the Avs when he was trying to chose a drink for a local coffee shop you worked during your junior year of college. You suggested a drink, he loved it and went back everyday he was in the city until he finally asked for your number.
Now he’s about to start his second season as a Avalanche player and you’re gonna be separated during your one year anniversary due to a road trip, so you decide to do something special for your boyfriend. The thing is: Bowen also decided to do the same and have been planning it for weeks. Without telling you.
“He’ll be at practice all afternoon so I’ll just go to his apartment and prepare everything for when he comes back. He’s already expecting me to go there tonight so I guess a little surprise won’t be bad, right? It’ll be the best date night ever” you tell your best friend and can hear her laugh over the phone.
“You two are wayyy too sweet for me” she says and your smile grows even more.
“Okay now I gotta go so I can grab the food and prep everything”
“Call me when you get home, I wanna know everything!”
“If I get home” you answer and your best friend growls before turning the call off.
You check your purse looking for everything you need. Wine, phone, wallet with money to buy your favourite meal from the restaurant he took you on your first date. Check, check, check.
You grab your keys and leave your apartment feeling your heart beat faster. This is how you’ve felt about Bowen ever since the first time he walked into the coffee shop and you can’t believe how lucky you are that he’s yours.
Bo feels exactly the same when he’s walking around his apartment trying to fix everything up before you arrive. He told you he had practice until 7pm but it ended two hours ago and he came straight home with EJ and Cale, who he convinced to help him out.
EJ is in the living room setting up the table (he’s incredibly good at that and credits Gabe for making him do this too many times for his surprises for Mel) and Cale is helping Bowen put the lights up.
“Bro, you must love her a lot to do all this” Cale says while he finishes putting the last one up.
“Yeah, I do. She’s it for me, y’know? Y/N is the best girl I’ve ever dated” Bo says with a smile and EJ growls.
“You two are disgusting” the older complains but the toothless smile on his face says otherwise.
“You’re just jealous that you’re getting old and is still single while the rookie has a girlfriend” Cale snaps back jokingly making EJ roll his eyes and Bowen laugh.
“Ok, I think we got everything” your boyfriend says and the boys nod “Thanks, guys. It looks perfect”
“Yeah, no problem. But you own me one now” EJ answers as he and Cale walk to the door.
When his teammates leave, Bowen looks around contemplating his work. I mean, it wasn’t all him but it was his idea so it counts.
He heads to the bathroom to take a proper shower while he waits for the right time to order the food you two had on your first date. It’s a night he wants to remember forever.
Ten minutes into Bowen’s shower, you quietly enter the apartment carrying the takeout bags. You didn’t noticed the lights, the table and the couch all settle up as you go straight to the kitchen to prepare everything. You put the bags on the counter and check your watch. He’ll be back in thirty so you have time.
As you step out of the kitchen, you notice it. And freezes. Shit, did you and Bowen set a date night and you forgot? No, you’re sure you didn’t. You checked his agenda before you planned all this. You’re absorbing everything and trying to understand when your boyfriend walks in and stares at you with his eyes wide open.
He’s dressed in a nice blue dress shirt and navy blue pants. His hair is wet and pulled back, his golden locks perfectly arranged. But he’s panicking and you can tell.
“What... What are you doing here?” Bowen asks and his voice tone is as shocked as his expression.
“I came to make a surprise but apparently you decided to do the same” you answer and he snaps his face, giggling.
“Why didn’t you say something?” your boyfriend asks as he walks towards you.
“Hello? It was a surprise, dummy. If I said something, you’d know” you roll your eyes and he stops in front of you, his blue eyes reflecting the little lights around the apartment “You look really nice”
“You do too, babe” Bowen looks down at your and smiles “Will you ever let me surprise you without ruining it?”
You laugh remembering the last time he tried to surprise you and failed miserably.
“It’s not my fault that you’re really bad at keeping secrets, Byram. You were literally texting Kirby about my birthday gift while cuddling me!”
“I thought you were sleeping!” he says loudly and you two laugh at his dumbness.
“If it makes you feel better, I am surprised” you say softly as you take in the environment “It looks beautiful, Bo”
“Yeah. It does” your boyfriend says but he’s actually looking at you.
He always knew how lucky he was to be your boyfriend but this little moments hit him like a cupid arrow.
“I love you, you know that right?” Bowen says and your smile makes his heart beat faster.
“Yeah. I do” you pull him for a kiss before resting your forehead on his “I love you too, silly”
45 notes · View notes
laurenhufflepuff2 · 3 years
Text
A list of fandoms I'm in (in no particular order, will probably be updated regularly. Some fandoms are more intense and some are more casual. Depending on the fandom, I could go on and on about fandom topics for HOURS. Let's get into it!)
Harry Potter, Disney, Marvel, DC comics, Miraculous Ladybug, Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Legend of Korra, Star Wars, Literature, Winx Club, Nintendo, Minecraft, Little Witch Academia, Voltron, Coraline
Details:
Harry Potter- I got into Harry Potter in 7th grade and now I am the resident expert in my family and in my friend group. I read all the books, watched all the movies (notably the British version), and I've seen the Fantastic Beasts films as well. I've also read Tales of Beedle the Bard (the Warlock's Hairy Heart was traumatizing) along with the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them textbook (plus an updated edition). I also read The Cursed Child script and while I mean no hate to anyone that liked it, I hated what it did to the canon. I am in Hufflepuff with some Ravenclaw tendencies (I took the Pottermore quiz 3 times, 2 out of 3 I got Hufflepuff, the other time was Ravenclaw). I had a pottermore account and I was so upset when it got converted to the Wizarding World page. I cosplayed Hermione in 7th grade complete with British accent and even monologued as her for a talent show (classmates and teachers would recognize me as the Hermione girl all the way through high school). I was obsessed and I still love it even if J.K. Rowling has gone off the deep end on Twitter... yeah... my favorite character is Hermione but I also relate to Luna
Disney- there's so much that goes into the Disney part of my fandom list. I'm excluding Marvel and Star Wars from this part as they were originally separate entities before Disney got the rights to them. I have seen almost every animated Disney film ever and often use random movie quotes in conversation. My favorite villain is Maleficent, my favorite princess is Ariel (followed by Belle, Rapunzel, and Anna). I relate to so many of the characters. I'm not sure who my favorite Pixar character is though (I love Violet, Sadness, Dory, and Piper (from the short)). My favorite Disney fairy is Fawn. My favorite characters overall are Ariel and Stitch. Disney is definitely on the list as one of my biggest obsessions. My favorite movies are Lilo and Stitch, the Little Mermaid, Inside Out, Alice in Wonderland (original), and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Marvel- I mostly get my Marvel exposure through the MCU, other movies, and animated TV shows. I have difficulty reading graphic novels so most of my comic book knowledge comes from friends, posts, or wikis. My favorite characters are Spider-Man, Captain America, Peggy Carter, and Scarlet Witch. I also like Gwenpool, Deadpool, Spider-Gwen/ Ghost-Spider, Venom, Squirrel Girl, Daredevil, Mantis, Gamora, Black Widow, Iron Man, Thor, Loki, Bucky, Black Panther, and most MCU characters. Out of the X-men I really like Professor X, Wolverine, Mystique, Magneto, Nightcrawler, and Quicksilver (either version- MCU or Fox).
DC- this was the franchise I was more familiar with growing up but again, graphic novels aren't easy for me to read so most of my knowledge comes from information pages about the comics or from tv/movies. My earliest experience with DC came from the 60s Batman series, with Catwoman and Robin being my favorites. I also watched the Wonder Woman series from the 70s and a handful of CW shows, my favorite of which being the Flash and Arrow. I also managed to watch all 5 seasons of the Teen Titans Cartoon Network series from 2003. With that being said, my favorite characters are Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Flash, Batman, Nightwing/Robin (Dick Grayson), Green Arrow, Starfire, Raven, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Alfred. I also like most of the bat family, and when it comes to CW I LOVE Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost and Cisco.
Miraculous- this is one of my guilty fandoms but since this is Tumblr I'm not too worried about it. I love Marinette and I relate to her on an astoundingly deep level (minus the stalking and obsession with potential lovers, that's creepy). If I had a miraculous, I'd probably want the Ladybug one, but the Cat miraculous, fox miraculous, and snake miraculous are good too. My favorite character is Marinette/Ladybug.
Atla/Tlok- I jumped on the avatar bandwagon just when it was starting to get popular, so I managed to get through the series before the memes took over everything. Same with Tlok, although i couldn't completely avoid the spoilers for that when i started it. I've been wanting to get into the comics because of the short story comics I've read, they seem easier to read than superhero comics. My favorite characters are Aang, Katara, Ty Lee, Iroh, Korra, Jinora, Asami, Suki, Appa, Momo, Naga, and Pabu. I also like Sokka, Mai, Zuko, Lin, Kuvira, Varrick, Zhu Lee, and Azula. I feel really sorry for her and while I understand that a redemption arc would undermine the importance of her corruption arc, I still wish she could have one. I would love to be a waterbender or an airbender... maybe a waterbender raised in the air nation? Obviously, being the avatar itself would be awesome. The show has taught me a lot of great lessons and put a lot of stuff into perspective for me.
Star Wars- oh boy, talking about this one is dangerous. I've seen firsthand the horrors of the Star Wars fandom but then again no one will probably see this anyway so... I've seen all the movies and I remember watching the clone wars series with my brother when I was younger but we fell wayyy behind and it's taking us forever to get back into it. I've also seen the Mandalorian and quite enjoyed it. I like the prequels unironically, in fact, the prequels are some of my favorite movies. I especially like how they switched from lightsabers being heavy weapons to light weapons that can be used for all kinds of tricks that make for epic battles like the ones we see in Revenge of the Sith. The sequels were fun to watch but when I would analyze them along side their predecessors, I came to the conclusion that, for me, they were good to watch but did not do anything good for the rest of the franchise. My favorite characters are prequels/clone wars Obi Wan and Anakin, Padme, Ashoka, Leia, R2D2, BB-8, R4-P17, the Mandalorian (Din Djarin), and Grogu. If I had a lightsaber I'd want it to be blue, but when I was little I got a purple one like Mace Windu because it was closer to pink and I was into pink at the time. I still have that lightsaber and none of my friends have a purple one so it's one of my flexes. I feel like I wouldn't make a good jedi because of attachments being forbidden, so I'd probably become a grey jedi.
Literature- this is a broad term I use to cover all the random books and stories I liked reading and have studied. So we have Shakespeare (Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet), The Great Gatsby (bored while reading, loved to analyze), Grendel (HATED reading, loved to analyze, Grendel really needed a hug and a friend), The Crucible, Fahrenheit 451, Dark Life (+ the sequel Riptide, both are by Kat Falls good reads, sci-fi and kind of dystopian), The Once and Future King
Winx Club- I think the show is trashy but I still love watching it. I haven't been able to get through season 6 though and I hated what they did with season 8 and Fate: the Winx Saga. My favorite character is Bloom along with Stella and Flora. I prefer rai to nick. My favorite transformations are magic winx, enchantix, and harmonix. My favorite member of the Trix is Icy followed by Darcy. My favorite Pixies are Chatta and Lockette.
Nintendo- mainly Pokémon above all else, followed by Animal Crossing. I have also played (mostly as player 2 or just never beat or watched my brother play) mario games, legend of zelda, pikmin, and kirby. Games I haven't played but I just liked the characters/the lore and probably learned about through Super Smash Bros. are Fire Emblem (Lucina mostly), Metroid (Samus and baby metroid), and Kid Icarus. Pokémon is where I'm most knowledgeable but you'll most likely beat me in battle. I am however great at MarioKart and I always destroy my friends at it. Terrible at fighting games though.
Minecraft- I like playing this casually. Sure, I'll play for hours and hours on end for months, but I prefer to stay exclusively in peaceful when playing Survival mode and I don't make anything too ambitious in Creative mode. I like to write, so sometimes I'll make a rough layout of the settings of my stories in different worlds. I prefer interior design and decorating when building, and when in survival mode I focus more on mining and gathering while my brother works on ambitious building projects. I just bring him the raw materials and furnish the interior when he finishes the outside.
Little Witch Academia- this takes up a smaller portion of my fandom list because there were only 2 seasons and a couple movies and I watched the whole series years ago, but I still enjoy it. At one point I wanted to cosplay Akko, and I loved the nod at Twilight through the Nightfall series. And I especially liked the twist that Shiny Chariot was Ursula, which I suspected for some time. The blend between magic and technology was fun to see, but I was so sad that the series ended RIGHT when Akko finally showed signs of magic proficiency. Also, Shiny Chariot being the reason Akko couldn't do magic was heartbreaking.
Voltron- this takes up a much smaller portion of my fandom list mainly because I haven't even finished it. I know hardly anything about Transformers aside from the Bumblebee movie so to me I just watch it for fun. It reminds me of power rangers, star wars, and star trek, and then there's just a transformer insert. But I don't know anything about Transformers so maybe the show is more rooted in canon than I think.
Coraline- I am in a love-hate relationship with Coraline. I have watched the movie several times, I've read the book, I've watched hours of theories and analyses on youtube, I've watched behind the scenes videos by Laika, and I even wrote a script for a fan film parody. I am amazed at how original the story is and how impressive the stop motion animation is but I also have recurring nightmares from it and it scares me/creeps me out to the max. If anyone asks what my scariness limit is, it's definitely Coraline.
16 notes · View notes