#happy tree town nightlife

[splendontcore]

nutty's candy girlfriends from that episode: nightlife version because they are WAY VERY IMPORTANT for nutty's falldown

#happy tree friends #htf #happy tree town nightlife #poppy #gumi #choco #huhhh #just gonna say guys...writing their participation on nutty's story is....well i hate the fucker now #thats HOW bad he messed uo with them :/ #ooooh poppy is pop's youngest cousin!

[happytreetownnightlife]

#happy tree friends #htf #happy tree town: nightlife #nightfacts #cryptid catacombs #the mole

[linnorabeifong]

"I'll Be Waiting"

Summary: “Her eyes are a soft color. A delicate green like the expensive jade bracelets all the heiresses of the Earth Kingdom wear. He loved the sound those bracelets made as they rattled against each other and jingled softly. He decided then that he liked her too.”

Notes: What do y'all think ? I kind of wanted to write some cute teenage LinZolt and write about dancing because of my own background. Also how would you feel, about smutty chapters later ? What direction should I take this happy ending or sad ending ? Also I want to flesh out Ember Island, and establish it as having it's own unique culture and dialect. How do we feel about some French-speaking LinZolt ? (translations will be provided of course).

Critiques: Do y'all have constructive criticism ? I'm still developing my sense of style and I have no writing experience and have never taken a creative writing course in my life so I need all the help I can get.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51405040

Chapter 1:

Kenzo or as his friends liked to call him “Zolt '' was new to Little Caldera. Frankly, he never imagined himself living in such a nice area. Solidly middle class, with the best schools and entertainment to be found in Republic City. Unlike the other boroughs every shop, residence and school there had electricity. Located just on the cusp of old cranefish town, and just outside of downtown, it was a short walk from Yue Bay. The harbor brought in all sorts of business. Little Caldera had a special character to it, its own unique appeal. Spotless and crime free but with great nightlife. High end restaurants and cheap seafood were both in abundance. Contradictory. Perfect. Well, nearly perfect but Caldera’s flaws didn’t touch the likes of Zolt.

Through some stroke of luck his mother managed to find a job as a dance instructor. The position came with lodging right above the studio. It was a small space but more luxurious than either of them had known previously. Two closet-sized bedrooms, a kitchen that was more of a hallway and an entry way that just barely managed to fit a genkan, coat closet and an armchair. 

The apartment while small was by no stretch of the imagination shabby. It was well maintained despite its age. The walls were freshly painted and papered. The entryway in a rich cream, the kitchen was a sunny yellow, the bedrooms sported white and crimson wallpaper with a sun motif. They had real hardwood floors. The kitchen appliances were brand new, and for the first time in his life Zolt experienced the pleasure and convenience of an ice box. 

They even had their own private bathroom, which was surprisingly large compared to the other rooms. The toilet portion was walled off from the bathing area and the sink stood in between the two. The bath was wonderfully deep, made to be soaked in. To his surprise, the first night he spent in the apartment and drew himself a bath the water heater actually worked. He had discovered this when he reflexively heated up the water with his bending and nearly boiled himself like a dumpling.  At his previous home the promise to repair the heater was never actually met. Over the years he had taught himself to warm the water, a skill he no longer needed here.

Every day he discovered a new luxury. The apartment even had underfloor heating, his need for slippers was gone. Despite the lessons going on at all hours of the day and night below them and their close proximity to their neighbors it was surprisingly quiet. The thick walls muffled the sound.

The views were perfect. The windows were large and spilled in bright wonderful light, only obstructed by the glorious shade of the Sakura trees planted all over his neighborhood. From the kitchen he could take in the view of the perfectly manicured street in front of the studio. His bedroom had an especially nice view. Behind the studio there was the nicest apartment building he had ever seen. It was built in a u-shape around a huge courtyard, complete with a fountain, pool, turtleduck pond, rose garden and a playground. It stood five stories tall and was built in a traditional style. The countless balconies were all decorated with paper lanterns and fire lilies. The fire escapes would actually be handy in case of emergency, unlike the rusted ones he knew. He had never seen the Imperial Palace of the fire lord, but he imagined it to look just like this, elegant and overflowing with flowers. It was his newfound vision of paradise.

The end of summer was fast approaching, but he still needed something to fill the last of the golden weeks with. He ends up brushing up on his dancing skills, not that he needed to, he was a natural. His mother had made sure of that. Before he could walk, he could dance. Since toddlerhood he had studied every type there was, from the Fire Nation to the Water Tribes. He was well versed in traditional and contemporary forms. His technique was precise, he was fluid, a master of the countless skills each genre demanded. The head of the studio quickly figures this out and offers him a deal. He signs on as a student teacher, requiring him to be at the studio at least twice a week. In exchange he receives free lessons, and they’ll cover his private school tuition. His mother is overjoyed at the thought of sending him to “Avatar Roku High School” -the best in the city. She squeals in delight when he takes the offer. His summer was very quickly filled with rehearsals, costume fittings, lessons and performances.

He’d taught groups before but this is his first time teaching a private lesson. For the life of him he couldn’t remember her name. What did Asuka say it was ? It had an “r” in it somewhere. The girl is staring at her form in the mirror, warming up. He assesses her. She is a sleek little thing, like a cat strutting through an alleyway at night. Her skirt is red and has a slit making it easier to see her motion. Her tiny top matches it and reveals her abdomen. Judging by her curvy build and outfit she must be from Ember Island like him.  She’s practicing her fa’arapu. Tui and La, she has the speed down. She’s nearly perfect. He can easily fix this. 

He approaches her and introduces himself, he encourages her to continue warming up. After a while he comes up behind her. She stops, he places one hand on her stomach and the other on one of  her delicate shoulders. “You’ve got the motion, muscle control and the flexibility. You're just stiff and your posture is bad. You're tucking in your spine like this” he says demonstrating. “ and you’re hunching your shoulders, like you’re trying to make yourself smaller” he explains as he gently adjusts her position. There, now she’s perfect.  “Don’t do that, you’re a pretty girl. Have some confidence” he continued. He didn’t mean to say that last part out loud.  

He looks up into the mirror, taking in her face for the first time. She really is a pretty girl. Her cheeks are flushed pink, she is biting her lip. It is a cute nervous habit, it makes her lips even redder. 

He catches her gaze in the mirror.  Her eyes are a soft color. A delicate green like the expensive jade bracelets all the heiresses of the Earth Kingdom wear.  He loved the sound those bracelets made as they rattled against each other and jingled softly. He decided then that he liked her too.

#legend of korra #lin beifong #lightning bolt zolt #linzolt #ao3 #meet cute #dancing #francais #french language

[j-ferzino]

Zumvalor Erkinse, born to vampire mother and a human father.

Berolil Erkinse was travelling towards Silreach, from Aethes. For Silreach was full of opportunities to build something for oneself, the city of Silreach had to be rebuild but the trust in the kingdom and city had been heavily damaged. Aethes was some ways away from silreach and the journey was a perilous one. Berolil had been told not to travel in the night, he was to stay in the safety of the daylight, or hire someone to travel with him. Stubbornly he ignored all the warnings, he was but a infant when the kingdom was overrun by the undead and the unholy. Never having experienced any of the dangers he was a bit bold. He took the risk of travelling at night and by himself.

Walking off the path and at night he dramatically raised the dangers he was in. Sure he could handle a simple weapon but fighting was not in his artillery. The rustling end laughter echoed through the forest suddenly resonated as he stood in a small clearing with the crescent moon shining down on him, he stopped dead in his tracks. He drew his dagger from his belt and raised his torched to shed light on his surrounding. He shouted. "Who is there?!?" His voice boomed in the darkness, it was at that moment he noticed that the forest had gone quiet, the nightlife had fallen silent. As he heard branches shaking from the tree's, he twisted in place looking for where the voice came from."So far from the protective walls of the towns and villages" a female voice echoed through the trees. A blurred visage of a large woman with long black hair, chocolate skin, broad shoulders in his peripheral. Everytime as he looked where the woman stood all he saw was a empty space. "Who ever you are i have a blade, and i am not afraid to use it." Next thing he knew he was lifted off his feet, a hand to his throat. The air stopped flowing through his lungs, he struggled and thrashed trying to get free, he dropped the torch. But nothing seemed to work, he clutched the dagger that is in his hand, pulled it back and jammed it into the womans shoulder. The woman did not flinch as the blade sank into her flesh. Shocked and stunned Berolil tried both hands to get free, but nothing worked. The woman raised her hand and struck Berolil, causing him to lose consciousness.

When Berolil awoke he was in a cage of some sort, he sat in this cage in a dark room occupied by more cages, two days went by before he was visited. It was the same woman who had knocked him by

unconscious. The woman explained that she had taken him as her property and he was hers now. He tried to fight or argue back but she simply physically overpowered him or if he gazed at her to longl he would become enthralled by her, time and time again. Berolil soon discovered what she truly was, a creature of the night, a creature his parents had warned him for. This creature over time fed Berolil, but it would also feed on Berolil. At first Berolil tried to fight her off but to no avail. Over time others joined Berolil in this room of cages but they never stayed long, either dragged away or killed on the spot. But not Berolil, he was kept alive. He became her personal slave, concubine, drink fountain and punching bag.

A weeks went by before she came by again, enraged she dragged Berolil out of his cage and beat his weakened state to a bloody pulp. She screamed and cursing at him. Confused he asked what he had done wrong, she showed him her belly that had slightly grown. She commanded him that from now on he would take care of her needs. Her thralls and lower creatures we ordered not to harm berolil.

Months went by, eventually they delivered the child, she was not happy with it but did not want it killed, she reluctantly released Berolil back into the world. He was blind folded brought far away and send on his way. Berolil walked for days before being found by a group of people. The people helped, Berolil to safety after hearing his story. The location was far to the north, exhausted safe and hungry, when arriving. Berolil discovered he was brought to the scarlet sanctuary, guild of hunters that resides north of Silreach at the base of Gravelcroft Slopes. After being fed and taken care off. Berolil tells his story and tells them about the child. The hunter almost immediately move to kill the child but berolil protects the child with his life. Proclaiming that the child is his son, and he would die before he would let anyone hurt his defenseless child. The guild, was uneasy and had to converse, the meeting took some time but they came to a agreement to not kill the child, IF Berolil would stay and be trained so they can keep a eye on the both of them. He agreed.

Years went by, Berolil was trained he became a full fledged memver of the guild. Eventually he was send on missions and the child grew up into a healthy young man named Zumvalor, Berolil early discovered that his son needed to feed on blood like his mother, he has kept it a secret up until now and made sure that his son never fed in front of anyone. Zumvalor didn't understand at first, but over time he understood that he was different once his father explained his history. Zumalvalor wanted to join the guild, at first his father and the members said no. But Zumvalor would go behind his fathers back with his best friend, Naral Khuw and observe the training and replicate what they would do. The two quickly took to the hemocraft practice. When Berolil discovered their exploits and dabbling into the practices, his father at first forbade him from continuing but this did not stop Zumvalor and Naral from trying to become one of the guild. While practising with his friend in secrecy, Zumvalor lost control of his abilities and hunger, this caused him to attack Naral and nearly kill her. The guild sprung into action and nearly killed Zumvalor. His father finally understood that for Zumvalor to have more understanding of what he is, he needed to be guided and trained. And so the Lofted Guide brought Zumvalor forward and decided to take Zumvalor and his friend under his wing, that way he could have a close eye on the two. The two rose in rank and skill, until they were decent enough. The two graduated and were send on their first mission.

Where their journeys will send them is for now unknow but for this first mission they are send to Silreach where they will be told what their quest entails

[erablaise-blog]

A Cosmic Exchange

It was the trip of a lifetime yet all I could think of was how I wish I could have stayed home. I was not afraid – there was nothing to be afraid of. I sat on the bus with the clear knowledge that this trip would happen with no real contribution on my part besides having to be there. But I felt something that I could not describe – it was a cold, numb feeling of nothingness and not even the summer heat of the Italian countryside could make my soul feel warmth. There was a general feeling of happiness and excitement all over the bus. We were a group of teenagers anxious about going to a country none of us had ever been to. But all I could think of was a love I didn’t have before, a love I felt I have lost although it never was mine. Have you ever loved without having someone to love?

It was a summer of heat and secret places, of churches one forgot the next day and of gardens I never forgot, a summer of self-discovery and tomatoes. So many tomatoes, they seemed to be lurking around each corner, waiting for me to stumble upon them. I learned to tolerate tomatoes that summer in a way I hadn’t before. I also learn about the joys of a cold glass of white wine and what it felt like to gaze onto the sea and how fast cigarettes burned down in the harsh, salty wind.

We wrote bad song lyrics about watermelons and pitching tents in total darkness, a skill I did not think I would ever need. We laughed and we wondered, we sweat and whined and complained and we wished upon a shooting star.

I am pretty sure we all found something that summer, in those short 10 days of adventures. That is what young people do after all, especially when they are wandering around, discovering new places. I know that young people are especially good at that – discovering things. It is not that hard to discover new things if you have not experienced many things, isn’t it? I am not sure what the others discovered. We never really talked about it. Sometimes, we mentioned it, years later, watching the sunset and drinking cheap wine by the fire, or while sitting at the edge of a forest and listening to the nightlife.

We were very good at discovering things. We discovered places to smoke where we would not be found. Empty, cracked up, and beaten basketball courts in the forest of a camp where we could play until it was too dark to see.

We discovered, that if you closed your eyes in the middle of a church and did not see all the pomp of religion, it felt quite peaceful.

We discovered, that even if you tried your hardest to see everything, there were still some things you missed, and only later when someone talked about it would you realise. And you wished you would have seen it when you were there. But the thing is, you saw it. You saw it, but you failed to notice it. And that is okay; sometimes we aren’t meant to notice things.

That summer I watched myself – or at least I did watch myself later, through the curious lenses of memory. I don’t remember a great many things but I remember trying to find a piece of my soul in every place visited and failing to notice the pieces of myself I left behind.

I lost part of myself between the streets of small hillside towns and between the flowers and fountains of places I cannot even recall.

But I found a piece of knowledge I haven’t had before the trip, a piece of knowledge I collected in all those places where I left something behind; a cosmic exchange if you will.

It is only years later that I realise the important lessons learned.

Cold wine on a hot day will make you tipsy.

Strangers giving you roses mean they expect payment.

Churches are beautiful, but I prefer the temples made out of trees.

You can fall in love without knowing and you do not need another person to do so.

You can fall in love with yourself, slowly, step by step, thought by thought, touch by touch, just as surely and gracefully as a butterfly lands on the petal of a rose. Or you can barge into the imaginary bedroom of your own soul and scream, “I have found you at last!” and make mad, passionate love to yourself in the full knowledge that your fingertips will never touch something as beautiful and mysterious as your own soul.

#era writes #writing #writeblr #writers on tumblr #young #finding yourself #nostalgia #italy #discoveries #self love #self discovery #lesbian #lgbtq

[integrisroofinghoustontx]

Fun Things to Do in Houston, Tx

Houston is a city that has something for everyone. Whether you're traveling here on business, looking to take an exciting day trip or weekend getaway with family-friendly attractions; Houston will not disappoint!

Houston is a city with so much to offer! You'll find nationally recognized dining, entertainment and nightlife. It's home of world-class attractions that are sure not only satisfy your curiosity but also fill up any free time you have in town - like oddball museums or iconic restaurants. And don't forget about lush parklands perfect for hiking when there isn’t anything else going on at tourist trap places like Six Flags Astro world Park.

1. Space Center Houston The Houston Space Center is an excellent place to visit if you want learn more about the stars and beyond. The museum has exhibits on board contemplate how we got here, what life might be like out in space (or under water), plus there are crafts from different cultures that have travelled across astronomical distances just for trade or exploration!

NASA’s Space Center Houston is a place where visitors can get an up-close look at some of the most iconic space artifacts in America. The museum has plenty more than just its exhibits, including SpaceX rocket launched by Elon Musk himself! There are also live shows and tours that will take you behind closed doors at Johnson Space Center while learning all about what it takes to be an astronaut."

2. National Museum of Funeral History

 The Museum of the Absurd is a collection that contains some truly unique items. From bullets used in murder trials to Lincoln's funeral train, this museum will leave you with an idea for how strange our world can be!

Taking a trip to the museum may not be one of your most upbeat days, but it's certainly engaging. The real must-see here is an enormous 1916 Packard graveyard bus - created for funeral processions and retired after just two short years in service because its weight caused too much trouble when trying carry coffins on San Francisco hills!

3. Chinatown

Houston's Chinatown is a must-see for any visitor to the city. With its fascinating combination of East Asian culture and delicious cuisine, this colourful neighbourhood will leave you wanting more!

There is a whole district in the city’s southwest where you can enjoy epicurean adventures. Sip on rich (and tempting) tastes while window-shopping at one of many bustling food markets, see what's available forDim sum later that afternoon or try some steaming vermicelli soup if it feels like your stomach needs more room--it will be worth every drop! Then take time out to peaceful stroll through Jade Buddha Temple's gardens before heading back home.

4. Montrose

Imagine a world where the people you meet online are real, and they live in this little corner of Austin. It's not just one city; it’s four square miles with neon lit tattoo parlors, tree covered bungalows-a pocket full eclectic culture that will leave your heart pumping!

Wherever you go in Montrose, there are always new things to see and do. After your walk along Westheimer Curve Street with its eclectic art galleries or perusing through vegan clothing at one of the offbeat boutiques on adjacent streets like a ghan khan drive; head over for some brunch at Kieu Ba (a Viet-Cajun restaurant).

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#roofer #roofing company #Houston

[gramgetssunburnt]

COSTA RICA

I left my apartment and went to Costa Rica for 5 days with 2 friends. Here are my impressions:

Gummy Bears Vs Roads:

In 11th grade, I took an economics class because I was trying to understand why my parents wouldn't give me the money to buy 3 new videos games a week at Gamestop. Although I never got that answer, I learned about allocation of resources. In Costa Rica, that resource is money. My two friends and I have a tradition after surfing where we reward ourselves with gummy bears if we catch anymore than 1 wave or if our calves don’t cramp in the ocean. To honor this ritual abroad, we stopped at the store right when we landed in Costa Rica to scope out the local gummies. Now, while not physically present at the local government allocation of resources meeting, I imagine after eating the gummies that there was some type of conscious decision to fast-track all of the country’s available funds to candy and let people figure out on their own how to get to their relatives house down the street with unpaved roads and 1 gas station every 650 miles. We got such a sugar high after each surf that we were too busy giggling on the bumpy car ride home to care. Look how happy we were.

HOUSEHOLD

We got settled into our air bnb.

After putting our gummies in the cabinet I found this.

Wasn’t sure. Nothing on the CDC website about coyotes, let alone how they respond to urine. Was the urine for something else? Predator ‘callers’. Who was it calling? I put some on and my friend walked in and told me I couldn't travel with him anymore. I had my answer.

WFH

The term “work from home’ has adopted many different meanings since someone ate a bat a few years ago. It started as a formal interpretation; to continue the usual morning routine, put on business casual attire head to toe, turn on your new videocamera you bought for your computer, and proceed to be as productive as you would be in office over the next 8 hours in your home office. 2 years later, “work from home” now means waking up 11 minutes after your meeting started on purpose, logging in with your camera off, then leaving your computer on your bed while you stretch your usual 18 minute morning routine to 49 minutes, return to your computer to address your absence by saying something like “sorry my 3 dogs had diarrhea!” when everyone surely knows you have 0 pets, and then telling your boss you’re taking your 16th of your 3 available mental health days and will not be reachable. And if you don’t go to that extreme, you’re probably somewhere in the middle like-so:

TAMARINDO:

We stayed in a relatively remote area. Not much around. Dirt roads, scattered small surf towns separated each by 15 minute car rides, stray dogs appearing between each town, cows appearing between the stray dogs, fallen tree branches between the cows. Tamarindo was the closest resemblance of a nightlife, a predictable 40 minute drive from our place, filled with bars that weren’t disimilar than a frat party you’d get talked into freshman year of college by your degenerate roommate where you’d be pretending you had a better time than you actually did on the following Monday when you’re talking to your ochem lab partner who you only pretend to like because he gets you good yields or doesn't care when you read ahead and see the mixture you’re supposed to end up with is red so you bring red gatorade powder and sneak it in the glass vial at your lab station so you can get out of class early (actually happened). Anyways, we went to Tamarindo 2 nights in a row to watch fire dancers, take bad tequila shots, and tell people we had more fun than we did on Monday.

AIRPORT DISASTER

18 hours before our international flight back to America, we were just informed (and by just informed, I mean we got an email 3 weeks ago that we didn’t read) that we needed a negative COVID test before boarding the flight in Costa Rica. For some background info, I had previously visited the Costa Rica section of the CDC website to figure out which malaria drugs I may have to take. Instead, I found a large red warning in caps saying that the entire country was at high risk for COVID infection. Mind you, we also just spent 2 night in a row not only going out at night to a bar, but spending the majority of our time either dancing or playing Jenga with complete strangers at a distance of let’s just say we didn’t need to pull out a meter stick. So naturally, we didn’t have the most peaceful drive to the airport for our pre-flight COVID rapid antigen test.

To backtrack, we were able to schedule a test at the airport, all we had to do was arrive 3 hours before our flight. Seemed simple. What would happen if we missed our appointment or have a positive test you ask? Just a light 7-10 day quarantine or “WHATEVER THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES”. Those were the literal words on the official statement. Jesus fuck. What happens if the government had a bad day? Or got cheated on? Or lost all of its money in a poker game earlier? Or decided it didn’t like red heads? Could just decide on 8 month quarantine. Who’s to say? Long covid. This isn’t America and you do not get your deserved 11 month trial like Mr. Johnny Depp.

The drive from our air bnb to the airport was 48 minutes. COVID appointment at 11 am. That’s a 10:12 departure or earlier. We go out to breakfast. It’s 9:45. We order food. It’s 9.48. We sit at a table. It’s 10:06. We go up to the employee who took our order and ask where our food is and she doesn't speak english. It’s 10:07. We go sit back down. We go back up to the same person and ask where our food is and we get the same response. It’s 10:10. We try to tell her we need whatever fraction of our order is ready now because we have a flight and the response we get is that she still does not speak or has learned any new English. It’s 10:11. We see an order on the server table and point to that and she gives it to us and its 2/3 of our order and we sprint to the car. It’s 10:12. The car ride went exactly how you imaged.

We get to the airport COVID test tent 1 minute before our appointment. We’re sweating so much it looks like we’ve already been infected with COVID. We get the thing shoved up our nose that they call a test. Results in 1 hour.

If you think you’ve been anxious waiting for a midterm score, or waiting for a response after asking someone out, waiting for a COVID test to result in a developing country which will determine if in 24 hours you will be watching HBO at home or if you will be trying to figure out where to buy clean milk for the next 7-10 days takes anxious to a whole new level. We sat at the airport restaurant for the next hour contemplating if this trip was even worth it in the first place. Here’s that moment:

Test results came back negative. We all hugged.

SUNBURNS

I saved this section for last. Not for any other reason but because it is a story I do not want to tell. Joseph Campbell said “the cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek”. The first surf session we had I was so excited that I only put sunscreen on my face and nothing else, reactively. I am so used to cold Norcal surfing with a wetsuit that I just dot my ears and sprint into the ocean. So that is also what I did in the 92 degree heat of Costa Rica. If the equator was a person it would have called me some name in Spanish and then thrown a Mai Tai at my face. The rest of the trip I had to wear a t shirt in the ocean like that weird guy at the pool party who you think is friends with your Uncle but aren’t really sure and then forget to ask anyone. I’ll leave you with a picture of a cow. If you’re one of the three of my friend’s Mom’s who reads this---thanks for reading and goodbye.

[luminois]

ok omg prompt idea!! where do you think the boys would take someone they love on vacation? like a resort/city/diff countries!! and what would they do <3

idk if this makes sense but yeah

omg yes this is super cute bby thank you for requesting it 💞 and yes it totally makes sense!!

chan

i think chan would take you somewhere where it’s just the two of you (not the creepy kind ofc)

maybe a chalet in the mountains!!

you’d wake up and drink hot chocolate while enjoying the snowy view from a wall made of all windows

and chan is curled up around you, with his chin resting on your shoulders as you whisper to each other to not break the early morning magical atmosphere

then you’d go on hikes or just play around in the snow making snowmen and angels

or maybe you’d just stay in and do something fun inside the chalet, like playing games

imagine curling up in front of the fireplace with him in the evening

complete bliss

and sexy times are bound to happen, maybe in front of that same fireplace, being just the two of you in such a romantic place

minho

he feels like another nature vacation

probably a lake house, like a lovely house made of wood on a lakeshore

days spent having picnics on soft grass

he would probably attempt to fish and catch something to cook for dinner and i feel like he could even succeed

it’s just so blissful, with just the sounds of nature filling the silence

and it’s warm like early summer days

you’d probably spend the entire day in a swimsuit or soft shorts

you’d definitely find a cute little boat to lay on while minho takes you around the lake

who’s going to tell him you’re not actually looking at the beautiful trees around you but at his arms, courtesy of the sleeveless shirts he’s been wearing for the entire vacation?

changbin

somewhere super relaxing like a spa

just getting massages all day and eating fruits served on polished trays

trying out healthy smoothies that don’t taste that good but make you feel cleansed

yoga classes but for couples!!

you’d both most likely start laughing while trying to get into proper positions

doing each other’s facials instead of having the staff do it for you because it’s so cute

lounging around and feeling like royalty the entire time

he’d take you there after a very stressful couple of weeks so you can escape from both of your busy lives for a little while

or maybe for a special occasion like an anniversary!! in that case he would make sure you’re even more pampered than usual because he doesn’t mind spending money at all if it’s to make you feel good

hyunjin

definitely a city man, new york kinda style

getting settled in a cute apartment in the middle of the city that you’re probably only going to be in to sleep

wearing matching outfits and going around the city to take cute pictures of each other

trying out all the most popular food places and typical dishes because “that’s the most important part of traveling”

getting lost trying to follow what the gps says and just giving up and wandering the streets aimlessly because there’s something to see in every corner

visiting museums and taking aesthetic pictures with the art

totally taking advantage of the nightlife and going dancing in the most iconic clubs

going to sleep late and waking up early because you don’t want to waste any second of your vacation

once you’re back home, decorating your apartment with memories from your trip and sighing in content every time you think about it

... and already starting to plan the next one!!

jisung

a fun kind of vacation

WAIT- DISNEYLAND

definitely will insist on staying at the park’s hotel which is all disney themed, like every room is a different disney movie and it’s all so magical and fun

entire days spent around the park trying out every ride and watching the daily shows the actors perform

he would totally try to get as many autographs and pictures with the actors as he can

buying couple mickey mouse ears and taking the iconic picture in front of the castle where people always propose even if he’s not going to propose (or is he????)

eating all the most unusual disney themed dishes and also the most delicious ones from the movies that you’ve always wanted to try

waking up early to get in line before the park has even opened and staying until it closes and the staff has to convince you to get out

at the end of the vacation you’re exhausted but you haven’t felt that happy since you were kids and it’s now one of your favorite memories

felix

cottagecore vibes, like a cute little house in the middle of a flower meadow

laying in the grass and letting the sun warm you up while you read to him and his head rests on your lap

baking cakes and cookies and the whole house smelling like a bakery

afternoon naps on soft sheets that always feel freshly washed because the room is chilly

picking up fruits and berries and playing with the little bunnies living in the meadow

visiting the small town nearby and being greeted by gentle grandmas who insist that you two stay over for lunch

bike rides with the wind messing up your hair and making you laugh

doodling and playing games while sitting on the house’s porch

stargazing without any light pollution blocking the stars and wishing on falling stars that you’ll be together forever

seungmin

i feel like he would love to visit a european country, like italy or france

just being surrounded by beauty and art all day

finding a cute local cafe to have breakfast at every single morning

and a bakery to pick up lunch from as well as small family managed restaurants

visiting nationals parks and beautiful villas and taking aesthetic pictures with the sculptures in the lush royal gardens

going shopping and dressing up just to wander through the streets

being mistaken for a young couple on their honeymoon and being flustered while asking people to take pictures of you

going to watch operas or plays in theaters and getting lost in libraries

lowkey actually fantasizing about your honeymoon and thinking of ways to permanently move to the beautiful place you fell in love with, with the man you love

jeongin

he feels like another city man, but tokyo style

staying in an extremely modern hotel and feeling like you’re in a sci-fi dystopian movie

sleeping all day and being out all night

eating out for every single meal and basically stacking up food to bring back home

geeking together over how your favorite characters can be found in every corner

finding an arcade to play the most futuristic and complex videogames you can find

taking a day to explore the historic parts of the city and actually enjoying the culture for a while instead of just the city life

asking to take pictures of the best dressed people you find in the streets and then going shopping after you fall in love with a particular aesthetic

buying tech gadgets you’ve never seen before

#answered #request #sea 🌊 #stray kids #stray kids scenarios #skz #stray kids imagines #stray kids x reader #skz imagines #stray kids headcanons #stray kids reactions #bang chan #lee know #changbin #hyunjin #han #jisung #felix #seungmin #i.n #bang chan headcanons #lee know headcanons #changbin headcanons #hyunjin headcanons #han headcanons #jisung headcanons #felix headcanons #seungmin headcanons #i.n headcanons

[bi-aragorn]

Like a Duck to Water

2nd fic that i am belatedly posting for @resident-lambert-hoe ​

Rating: Teen

Tags: Fuckbuddies (not a central part in the first chapter but its relevant), Day At The Beach, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Mutually Unrequited, Bisexual Jaskier & Dandelion

Here on Ao3

More Jaskilion shenanigans below

The drive to the coast from their flat was a long one. Jaskier had known as much when he’d moved away from home, away from his family by the coast, but he knew the decision was the right one. Being away from them and their influence had done him a world of good, and he was flourishing. It had been especially good for his love life- finally being free to date who he chose, go out when he pleased without having to hide a part of himself away. Going out to clubs had been an exciting experience too- there weren’t any in his small hometown, and the only other ones nearby weren’t particularly appealing. So, naturally, as soon as he had been in a city, living alone and without any parents to have to sneak hookups past in the dead of night, Jaskier had taken to the city nightlife like a duck to water. That had been how he had met Dandelion in the first place- a tall, lithe man dancing in the middle of a crowd, enchanting smile, sparkling bright eyes- Jaskier had been defenseless against his charms. Not that he was lacking in that department himself, he knew that. Dandelion had certainly appreciated the bold way he had danced over to him and stared up at him through his fluttering eyelashes.

Jaskier chuckled to himself and kicked his foot up to rest on his chair, chin resting on his hand as he stared at the trees as they zoomed past them. He glanced across at his friend, at Dandelion’s long fingers tapping on the steering wheel, his eyes hidden behind those round sunglasses he loved so much, and Jaskier felt his heart leap in his chest. They had been friends since they met in that club, and occasionally fucked each other, ever since. And it was lovely, Jaskier couldn’t deny that, but he wanted something more. He wanted that spark of romance, he wanted to woo Dandelion, buy him flowers, serenade him- alright fine so he had already serenaded him, but that wasn’t the point! He wanted to be able to do all those things and have Dandelion know that it was because he loved him. He wanted to be able to fuck Dandelion and look him in his eyes, and tell him how beautiful he was, and for it to mean something. But the problem with all of that was that Dandelion didn't do romance. It was a hopeless line of thought, one which he usually saved for when he was several glasses deep into a bottle of wine and alone in the flat where he could cry about it without any questions. Jaskier felt the smile fading off his face, and sighed and looked back out the window.

He hadn't anticipated just how much he would miss the sea, how much its siren's call would drag him back. But here he was, making Dandelion drive him the 2 or so hours it would take them to get out of town and down to the coast. It would be worth it though, he was certain of it, just to get the taste of salt on his lips, the feel of the wind in his hair, against his face. Maybe he could even find someone he’d never have to see again in the pub to have a quick tumble with, get his mind off of Dandelion if only for a moment. Dandelion wouldn't mind, the charismatic bastard would probably find someone first, anyway. Jaskier chuckled- maybe Geralt hadn’t been wrong when he called them a “pair of hedonistic sluts” - which, admittedly, he had said after they'd both tried it on with him.

So, maybe Geralt had a point. But so what. Jaskier was happy , damn it- most of the time anyway- and he had Dandelion, and Geralt and Essi, and everything was fine. He didn't need anymore from anyone, and so what if Dandelion didn’t know the true depth of his feelings, it didn’t matter, he told himself firmly.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out, flicking open the message. It was from Essi, bless her heart. His smile fell though when he read her message:

Have you told him yet? :thinking_face:

He stared blankly down at his phone and began to nibble his bottom lip, wishing that he hadn't told his well meaning yet nosy best friend about his tragically unrequited crush on his flatmate.

He wasn't going to tell Dandelion, and there were a thousand reasons for that. Even if he thought that Dandelion could feel the same- which he couldn't- he didn't want to destroy what they already had. Not to mention both their names were on the rental agreement, and sorting that all out again sounded like a bloody nightmare…

He flicked his phone shut again and shoved it back in his pocket with more force than was probably required.

“Hmm?” he heard Dandelion enquire from the other side of the car. He chuckled nervously.

“Oh, uh, nothing, just Essi pestering me about that song,” he lied, hating how easily it slipped out. He turned to face the window, not wanting to look Dandelion in the eye. Couldn’t they just have a nice day out at the beach, was that really too much to ask?

“Not to be nosy, darling, but it didn’t look like nothing,” Dandelion said, fingers tapping on the wheel still. Of course he didn’t buy it, that would be too easy. Jaskier fidgeted nervously, tugging at the hem of his shorts. He licked his lips, and continued to stare out the window as he replied.

“Oh, it just frustrated me was all. Really, I’ll be fine in a minute,” he muttered, trying not to grimace at how awful the lie sounded. Luckily, Dandelion seemed to believe him this time.

The rest of the drive passed without any issue, which Jaskier supposed was a small bloody mercy. They arrived at the seafront in the early afternoon, and the second the car was parked, Jaskier bolted out the car and charged down towards the ocean.

“First one in the water wins!” he yelled, hopping along the sand as he pulled his trainers off.

“I have to pay for the parking! I’m wearing a silk shirt, for fuck’s sake!” Dandelion’s indignant squawk came floating through the wind and Jaskier giggled as he continued his half strip half sprint down towards the water’s edge. Jaskier pounded across the sand, dropping his stuff aimlessly as he went. His laughter grew louder as he felt the first cold splashes of water come across his toes as he ran into the sea, tumbling forwards and swimming out a little way. When he finally paused to look back, he noticed Dandelion wandering along the beach at a more sedate pace, evidently having left his belongings in the car- shit, why hadn’t he thought of that- and collecting Jaskier’s things. Jaskier splashed about and waited as the other man eventually, slowly, dipped one toe in and wrinkled his nose at the temperature. He hopped back and pouted over at Jaskier.

“It’s freezing!”

Jaskier only laughed, swimming closer to the shore.

“Come off it, you’ll be fine,” he said, and came up to stand next to Dandelion. Dandelion quirked a brow at him, clearly not convinced. Jaskier stepped closer. “Really, it’s not so bad, especially if you do it quickly,” he smiled, edging nearer still to Dandelion’s side. Still Dandelion didn’t move. “Come on, Dandy,” he whined. Dandelion shook his head.

“No, no I think I shall sit out here in the sun and wait for you to- hey!” Dandelion squealed as Jaskier dragged him by the hips and pulled him over into the waves. He came up a moment later, spluttering indignantly. Beside him, Jaskier could barely breathe for laughing, looking at Dandelion’s drenched hair and pouty face and the affronted look in his eyes.

“Priceless,” he wheezed, floating on his back with the sun warming his face.

#the witcher #witcher fic #shay's writing #jaskilion #jaskier #dandelion

[splendontcore]

i have a lot of spare time when i go back home....

#happy tree friends #htf #nutty #sniffles #toothy #giggles #cuddles #happy tree town nightlife #...yeah it seems it doesnt but it is!!!!!!!

[happytreetownnightlife]

As the sun dips below the horizon, Happy Tree Town undergoes a transformation. The streets buzz with the promise of adventure, and the air is charged with the energy of those who seek solace in the dark embrace of alternative subcultures.

Hi, this is Wanda Vixenova. I'm now in my way to meet one of this nightlife reunion points. Clubs aren't a new thing on this town, they are just as old as their inhabitants.

"Yep, I used to hang out with ma' fellow boys at Anarchey Alley 'til I meet the girl who made me mo' a stay-in-home person. Good memories fo' sho' "

"Studio 31, baby! Funky rollers, bright colours and smokin' hot baes! Oh, by the way, what are you up tonight, g-"

"Oh, I was a bookworm back in the day, but it seems that they had a lotta night fun!"

However, the place we are gonna be its quite recent! Today, our focus is on Cryptid Catacombs, a haven for those who find beauty in the macabre, and solace in the mysterious.

Amidst the cobblestone-like walls and flickering candlelights, these night dwellers have found a special dark place to share their passion for misfit synth music, slam poetry and really fancy clothing.

With just 3 years of existing, Cryptid Catacombs have positioned itself as one of the must-go places on thr night scene.

And who's better to tell us about it than the owner and their fellow crew themselves?

#happy tree friends #htf #happy tree town: nightlife #cryptid catacombs #january 2024 #handy #petunia #the mole #mime #wonder wanda #lumpy #disco bear #pop #cub

[keichanz]

More Than

so i was listening to the song More Than My Hometown by Morgan Wallen which is now my new obsession and i shit you not, the ending to this little drab popped into my brain so fast i knew i had to write it down. thus, this angsty little blurb was born. 

now as i was writing, i realized that it was giving off sooo many One Last Ride vibes, written by the ever so talented @lemonlushff​​, that i decided to tweak this so it could tuck somewhere into the story itself as a sort of unofficially official glimpse of their breakup. i’m happy to report that it has Lemon’s official seal of approval and she loved it! 

so now i’m gonna share it with all you fine folks and i hope you enjoy it too! :) and since it is in the OLR universe, there will be angst hahahaa. 

so this is for you Lemon, my sweet and sour friend~ ❤️ 

one last thing--i highly recommend either having the song above playing while you read this, or at least listen to it beforehand. yes, it’s a country song, but it really is so good and the lyrics - which i’ve italicized and bolded - seem to reflect Inuyasha’s thoughts perfectly, which is why i thought it fit so well with OLR’s theme. 

....shit okay one last last thing: i swear to fuck that the ending jumped out of a scene from a goddamn western harlequin romance novel with its level of cliche and drama and yes i am entirely proud of that fact ;ljadfilajflkahjsfue

She stood beside the bed, feeling empty, cold, hollow as she stared down at the pillows and blankets. It was still unmade, the sheets twisted, messy from her hasty retreat just that morning. Tears burned her eyes as she remembered why; the argument, the begging, the screaming. The heartbreak.

Her heart twinged and Kagome gasped, closing her eyes as she brought up a hand to cover her mouth. Was this…was this really it? Were they really going to leave things like this, unresolved and painful between them? God, she didn’t want to. She wanted to run outside, run through the night to his house, throw open the front door and beg him to—

Her bedroom door crashed open and Kagome gasped, whirling around with wide, liquid eyes, heart in her throat. Golden eyes, furious, hard, bore into her own and suddenly a heat suffused her body, chasing away the previous chill, and her stomach swooped as he shut the door and stalked toward her.

Her breath left her in a stuttered exhale, body trembling, coming alive from the heat in his gaze.

“Inuy—”

“Shut up,” he growled, grabbing her waist, hauling her in tight against him. His lips fell over hers, swallowing her gaps, the crush of his mouth hard, unforgiving, punishing.

Hands – frantic, desperate – removed clothing, touching, grabbing, caressing. They fell on the bed in tangle of limbs, skin against skin, heart against heart, flushed, needy, desperate. Growls, moans, whispered pleas echoed throughout the darkness of the room as they rocked together, moving in a dance as old as time. Fingers grasping sweat slicked skin, hearts thundering wildly and then perfectly syncing in a moment of euphoric completion. A stuttered breath, a gasp of a name; then silence.

Tears trekked down her flushed face as she was gathered against a hard chest, as familiar arms wrapped around her stated body and held her as she cried.

Girl, our mamas are best friends and so are we The whole town's rooting for us like the home team Most likely to settle down Plant a few roots real deep and let 'em grow

Kagome stood in front of the full-length mirror and ran a brush through her still damp hair, the yellow and blue sundress she wore complimenting the blue of her eyes. Blue eyes that were dull as they stared at her reflection, but didn’t really see it.

Which was just as well. She didn’t know why she picked this dress to wear, but had felt compelled to wear it anyway, even if looking at it made the vice on her heart tighten even more.

A gentle knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts and she blinked. Kagome turned her head in time to watch her mother crack open the door and poke her head inside, her smile kind, but her eyes sad. The older woman took in her daughter and her smile faded, but she didn’t comment as she stepped inside.

“Souta brought the car around,” she said softly. “And the keys are in it. Do you need help with your bags?”

“No,” Kagome answered and looked at her reflection again. “I packed most of them in the car last night. I just have my carry-on left.”

Mama nodded but said nothing as gazed at her daughter. Her heart ached at the pain she saw reflected in those dear features, in the eyes were that identical to her late husband’s—Kagome’s father.

“Kagome…” she started, but then sighed as those sad, sad eyes turned toward her once again. Mama shook her head. “Are you going to say goodbye?”

Kagome’s breath hitched. She didn’t need to ask who she was talking about. She swallowed past the lump in her throat and tried to ignore the butterflies that took flight in her belly.

“I…I’m going to try,” she whispered and god help her, but she couldn’t stop the tears from welling in her eyes. “But Mama, I don’t…he probably doesn’t want to see…”

Her throat tightened and she pressed her lips tightly together to stifle the sob that welled up. Immediately arms, warm and familiar, surrounded her. Kagome buried her face in her mother’s shoulder as the tears spilled from her eyes.

“I’ll talk to Izayoi,” Mama murmured and kissed her daughter’s head, her heart aching for her little girl as she felt her own eyes getting hot with the threat of tears. “If anyone can talk some sense into that boy, it’s his mother.”

Kagome sniffled and nodded, grateful that her mother would help her in this endeavor. It was unlikely he’d want to see her, but she had to at least try…

Closing her eyes as her mother rubbed her back and smoothed her hair, Kagome clung to her mother and let herself remember, the memories flashing before her mind’s eye and then fading away just as quickly, only to be replaced by another one, fresher, more precious, more painful than the one before.

But we can't stop this real world from spinnin' us Your bright lights called, I don't blame you for pickin' up Your big dream bags are all packed up and ready to go But I just need you to know

“Shhh! Quit laughing or they’ll hear us!”

Another badly stifled giggle echoed in the night as he drew her into the darkness of the trees, toward their secret spot they’d found years ago. One hand held a six pack while the other held tight to her hand, fingers laced, and he couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face before an exhilarated chuckle of his own burst from his lips.

Darkness gave way to the orange glow of a fire, the soft crackling of wood breaking the stillness of the night.

“Why is this so good?”

“Because we’re seventeen.”

“If we get caught, I’m blaming you.”

“Shut up and maybe we won’t be.”

“Hey, this was your idea—”

The rest of the words were stolen in a kiss, a hand coming up to cradle her jaw as a ragged sigh whispered against her lips. He tasted like beer and spearmint gum. She smiled. A strange combination, but it was him, and she loved it.

--

“You should have seen it, Inuyasha,” Kagome gushed a year later, sitting on her bed as she excitedly gushed about her time in LA to her best friend. “The sunset was absolutely gorgeous, like nothing you’ve ever seen before! God, I wish you were there with me. I just know you’d love it.”

Inuyasha smiled and reached forward to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I doubt I can love anything more than you.”

Blue eyes widened as a flush spread across her cheeks; her breath hitched, lips forming his name and eyes drifting closed as he leaned forward and took her mouth in a warm, lazy kiss.

--

“Would you ever wanna go?”

“Go where?” Fingers racked through dark hair and her sigh was blissful, a soft melody in his ears.

“California.”

“…You mean like…visit?”

“Well, maybe longer than a visit…like an extended trip, or something…lots of opportunities out that way…”

A brief pause before the fingers continued. “No. …Do you?”

“Mmm…dunno. Maybe after graduation? I had so much fun last time, but…”

“But what?”

A pause. Then, “Nothing. Kiss me.”

A husky chuckle before a pair of lips covered her own and any thoughts about the Golden State far, far from her mind as she returned his kiss.

That I love you more than a California sunset More than a beer when you ain't twenty-one yet More than a Sunday morning Lord Turnin' some poor lost souls 'round, Hallelujah bound

“Ewww, get that away from me!”

“C’mon Kagome, it’s just a worm! It ain’t gonna bite ya!”

“Eeee! Inuyasha, don’t you dare—!”

Laughter as he chased her around with a baited hook, the sound of water splashing as bare feet waded into the lake.

“Wait, I think I got something!”

The crank of a fishing rod as he reeled it in, the water splashing as whatever was caught struggled against the pull. Grunting, muttered curses, and soft giggling before with a splash the bass burst from the water, dangling from the hook.

“You got it!”

“Damn, ain’t nothing more satisfying than that feeling when the bass hits the hook!”

“I can think of one thing…”

Soft lips, warm and smiling, pressed against his own and Inuyasha abruptly decided that yeah, this was definitely better.

--

“California?”

“Yeah! Can’t you just imagine it, Inuyasha? The lights, the nightlife, the ocean, and no more snow! You always complain about the snow.”

“Yeah, but…Kagome, I don’t know…”

“Just think about it, okay? I’m not asking for you to decide right now. But this is something I’ve thought about for a while now, Inuyasha, and I just…I want to experience it with you. Please?”

A pause, and then heavy sigh. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”

A brilliant smile, soft lips pressing to his cheek in a warm kiss. “You know I love you, right?”

“…I know, Kagome. Me, too.”

--

“I can’t believe you’re reading that crap.”

“It’s not crap, it’s romantic. You could probably learn something or two from these books, you uncultured dog.”

“Uncultured? Really?”

“Besides, I like it when the guy gets the girl at the end. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.”

“I can make you feel all warm and fuzzy, too.”

Her gasp was cut off as lips pressed against her neck and hands slipped beneath her shirt to roam across soft skin. The book fell from her fingers to dive into silver hair, eyes closing as her head fell back with a breathy sigh.

--

“Yes.”

The blood was rushing so loudly in his ears he barely heard her and the thundering of his heart against his chest was so forceful, it was a wonder it didn’t leap out into her waiting hands. 

“Y-yes?” he echoed, voice naught but a disbelieving rasp as he stared at her with wide, shocked - and cautiously hopeful - golden eyes.

A half-sob, half-laugh burst from her lips and her eyes were bright from more than just the unshed tears brimming the beautiful depths.  Lips trembled as she smiled, hand trembling even more as she held it out before her.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, Inuyasha, I’ll marry you. I—”

What she felt next wasn’t the cool metal of his grandmother’s ring as it found a new home on her finger, but instead the warmth of her beloved’s hand as it wrapped around hers and yanked her forward into his arms. They tumbled to the ground, laughing, crying, exchanging endless kisses and promises of forever as the ring, forgotten on the ground but still nestled within the velvet box, glittered merrily in the warm glow of the fire.

Yeah, I love you more than the feeling when the bass hits a hook When the guy gets the girl at the end of the book But, baby, this might be the last time I get to lay you down 'Cause I can't love you more than my hometown

“Come with me.”

Silence; thick, stony. Cold.

Desperation made her voice high, the words falling from her lips fast. “Inuyasha, please, come back with me—we’d have such an amazing time together, learning, living and—you can enroll in my school, Inuyasha! It’s not too late, there are so many programs to choose from, and I just think you can do so much more with your life than—”

“Than what, Kagome?” The words were snapped, harsh, biting as he whirled around to peg her with a hard stare. “Than taking on the valued responsibility of the ranch that’s been in my family for fucking generations? Than building our fucking house? You know, the one we'll live in after we’re married? I can’t do that, Kagome. I won’t.”

“But that’s just it, Inuyasha, you have no room to grow here! You’re stifled by the responsibility you feel to take over the ranch when leaving could relieve you of that burden! The world is so big, Yash, and there’s so much more beyond this little town, so if you would just trust me—”

“You’re asking me to drop and leave everything I know behind, Kagome!” His voice was loud, thunderous in his anger, his frustration, his pain. “This my home, our home, and you just want me to leave like it don’t even matter! Like the fucking life I’m trying to build for us don’t even matter!”

“That’s why I’m asking you to come with me!” Tears, hot, salty ran unchecked down her face, blue eyes big and pleading and flashing with undisguised panic. “I want to be with you, Inuyasha, I do, but I need you to understand—!”

“Then be with me here, dammit!” A note of desperation, amber eyes pleading, frantic, angry.

A choked sob, a muffled whimper. “I can’t…”

An anguished sound, a shattered cry, and then a door slamming shut, loud, devastating, final.

--

The words slammed into him harder than any blow he’d ever received, the shock greater than hitting the unforgiving ground after falling off a horse, and the pain far, far worse than he ever could have imagined.

Fuck, it would have hurt less if she’d just outright slapped him in the face.

She wouldn’t look at him, her gaze focused on the ground, dark hair hiding her expression. He swallowed once, twice; his mouth felt like a desert, his tongue heavy, thick, useless. His throat worked but no sound came out. Ice replaced the blood in his veins, freezing his lungs, making it hard to breathe.

“Wh…what did you s…” He shook his head, swayed on his feet as he blinked hard. He couldn't have heard her right. She couldn't have just told him—

“…I cheated on you. Inuyasha, I—”

He didn’t hear the rest of what she said. His legs abruptly gave out and he stumbled back, sitting down hard onto the fallen log behind him. The log he’d proposed to her on. The log they’d kissed on—

He shook his head again, a frown pulling his brows down low over his eyes as he tried to register the words spilling from her mouth a mile a minute. Two days…two days ago. That—that didn’t make any sense. He couldn’t—he couldn’t smell anything, couldn’t detect any sort of incriminating evidence that suggested she’d been unfaithful. 

Amber eyes lifted, flashing with tentative hope. She’d been drunk—she didn’t remember, so maybe if he told her—

The sight of his grandmother’s ring, nestled in the middle of her palm, might as well have been his heart because it sure as sure shit felt like she’d just ripped it out of his chest. His stomach clenched, the breath seized in his lungs, and a curious numbness spread throughout his entire body. The realization hit him even harder than the pain had, and that in and of itself would have brought him to his knees had he not already been sitting. 

Honeyed eyes, agonized, pleading, lifted to her face. Again she would not meet his gaze, eyes closed against the tears that spilled down her cheeks. He suddenly tasted salt and with a start he realized he was crying too, the tears warm as they streaked down his pale face but he gave them no mind. 

“K…Kagome…” It was the only thing he could get through a throat tight from anguish. A plea, a prayer, a question all in one as he stared at her, heedless of the tears that continued to fall. 

Her eyes squeezed shut and she shook her head; a clenched sob broke from her lips as she reached forward, grabbed his hand, closed his fingers around the ring, giving it back, giving back his heart that she no longer wanted. Pain, sharp and intense, pierced through him and he gasped, unable to do a damned thing as she backed away from him, arms folded around herself.

“I’m sorry,” she rasped, shaking her head, over and over, backing away. “I just…I can’t…”

A sob, borne of a sorrow so deep, of regret and fear and pain so sharp it felt it in the very marrow of his bones, broke free of her lips right before she whirled around and dashed away, through the night, through the trees, away from the fire, away from him.

Inuyasha could do nothing but sit there, his rejected grandmother’s ring clutched in his fist and his vision blurry from hot tears as he watched her run. Curious, that instead of the crushing pain he expected to feel in his chest, there was a hollow ache that resonated, like an echo of a mournful howl for the one who had just run away with his heart.

What hurt more than the pain of watching her go, however, and more than the diamond cutting into his palm, was the jarring realization that the woman he loved more than his own life would rather fabricate a lie of infidelity than be with him. 

And because he loved her more than his own happiness…he’d let her. 

I ain't the runaway kind, I can't change that My heart's stuck in these streets like the train tracks City sky ain't the same black Ain't that a map dot shame, man, to think that

Sitting on his bed, freshly showered and donned in simple jeans and a t-shirt, Inuyasha’s head was bowed between his shoulders and his arms were propped on his knees. His hands, clenched into tight fists, gradually relaxed and a breath he hadn’t’ even realized he’d been holding rushed from his lungs, escaping his mouth in a harsh exhale that did absolutely nothing to absolve the torment wreaking his mind.

As the last vestiges of the memory faded away, far more painful than all the ones before, he opened his eyes and stared down at the hardwood floor, scuffed and scratched and worn. He frowned, his chest feeling tight, his stomach in knots, his muscles tensing and relaxing with a restless energy that was hard to ignore. He wanted to punch something, to run, to fight, fight for her to stay, fight for them.

But he remained where he was, hands flexing, jaw clenched, eyes shut tight against the pain that was determined to bring him to his knees. God, why, why did she have to—

Gentle rapping on the door before it was cracked open. He didn’t look up but he didn’t need to; he knew why she was here. The ache in his chest intensified, sharped, traveled up to knot in his throat and make it harder to breathe.

She didn’t say anything at first, simply stared. Then, “…She wants to see you.”

Inuyasha turned his head, looked out the window.

A pause. Then a sigh, resigned, sad. “Asako called. Before she showed up at the door, I mean. Asked me to talk to you. Said I would, but didn’t make any promises.” Pause. “You already know how I feel about her doing this, but…you should at least say goodbye. You’ll regret it if you don’t. You know you will.”

A tightening of his jaw and a deep furrowing of his brow was her response.

“…I’m sorry, my love.”

The door closed with a soft click.

A minute passed. Two. Three.

Inuyasha exploded to his feet, grabbed the lamp on the nightstand, and hurled it against the wall with a roar that was equal parts rage, frustration, and deep, intense anguish that reverberated throughout the entire house; echoing, thunderous, shattering.

Deafening silence followed his outburst; he sank to his knees and wept.

I love you more than a California sunset More than a beer when you ain't twenty-one yet More than a Sunday morning Lord Turnin' some poor lost souls around, Hallelujah bound Yeah, I love you more than the feeling when the bass hits a hook When the guy gets the girl at the end of the book But, baby, this might be the last time I get to lay you down Cause I can't love you more than my hometown

It was impossible not to hear it. As the color drained from Kagome’s face and her heart clenched in her chest, Izayoi stared at her with eyes hardened from the ache she was feeling for her son, the sorrow she felt at his heartbreak twisted into bitter, resentful anger at the woman standing before her.

Kagome closed her eyes, bit her lip to stifle the sob that welled in her throat, sucked in a shaky breath meant to harden her resolve. It didn’t and she fought not to fall apart on the front porch, locking knees that threatened to give out on her.

“Go,” Izayoi muttered in a voice like flint and ignored the younger woman’s flinch. “You’ve done enough damage here. And I’m not talking about whatever he just destroyed.”

Hot tears pricked the back of her eyes. Her throat tightened, preventing any words, protests, to spill from her mouth. She stared at the older woman with wide eyes, someone who she, for the longest time, had looked upon as a second mother, someone to confide in, to trust.

She found none of the warmth that she was used to seeing. No fondness, no compassion, no understanding. Coldness spread through Kagome’s veins, turning her blood to ice, knotting in her stomach, heavy, uncomfortable.

Izayoi stared back, cold, unforgiving, unregretful.

“I’m sorry,” Kagome whispered.

The older woman pressed her lips into a thin line and looked away, arms tight across her chest.

Rejected, heartbroken, Kagome turned, her feet feeling heavy as they carried her back to her car. The tears ran unchecked down her face now, streaming down pale cheeks. She tasted salt and she got in the vehicle, closed the door. Her body felt like it was on autopilot as she revved the engine and started down the long dirt driveway.

It wasn’t until she had gone halfway that she broke down, great, gasping sobs erupting from her throat. Her vision was blurry from the unending tears and her knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so hard. Without even realizing it her foot had slipped from the accelerator and she was merely coasting now, too distraught, too tormented to think about anything else but the pain ravaging her heart. Unbidden one last memory, the most recent, flashed before her mind’s eye, twisting the knife keeper, crushing her, killing her…

“Don’t do this.”

He froze at the softly uttered words, spoken in a tone so raw with pain that it trembled. He swallowed hard and turned his head just the slightest bit, but said nothing.

Silence. Thick, tense, deafening.

Then he tightened his jaw, hardened his eyes, and continued putting his boots on.

A choked sob, the rustle of cloth. “Inuyasha, please—”

“I’m sorry.”

He stood up from the side of the bed and refused to look at her as he collected his jacket, still sitting in a heap on the floor from where it was hastily thrown the night before.

A stuttered breath, followed by the salty scent of tears. His lips drew into a tight line and his hands fisted tightly at his sides as he forced himself to head toward the door. But, goddamn him, he paused right in front of it, hand on the knob, jaw clenched so hard it ached.

“Please,” she begged and the word was a raspy plea, vision blurry from tears. “If you would just—we can talk about this—”

“I love you, Kagome,” Inuyasha said and he heard her sharp intake of breath, but he didn’t turn around. He swallowed once, twice, and closed his eyes as he opened his mouth and forced the words past a throat tight with emotion.

“Inu—”

“But I can’t…love you more than this. I just…I can’t.”

Another sob, a hitched breath, and his chest ached. He bowed his head.

“See you around, Kagome,” he whispered and left, his footsteps fading down the hallway and down the stairs until the slam of the front door echoed in the dark house.

Kagome dropped her face into her hands and wept.

The front door burst open and Inuyasha was desperation personified as he rushed past his alarmed mother, sprinting as fast as he could toward the barn that held the horses. Not even a full minute later a white blur sped from the barn and bolted through the open gate of the pasture, following the car that was leaving with his love, his soul, his very heart.

Standing on the porch, Izayoi pressed a hand to her heart while the other covered her mouth, muffling the sob that burst from her lips as teary eyes watched her son chase after the woman who broke his heart.

'Cause I love you more than a California sunset I love you more in a twenty-dollar sundress Hate that loaded down car you got your keys in Girl, but I hate even more that you're leavin'

Urging his mount to go faster, harder, the thundering of her hooves against the ground rivaled that of the thundering of his heart in his chest. Hands gripping the coarse hair of her mane, Inuyasha grit his teeth against the harsh wind, his eyes wild, desperate and bright with unshed tears as he kicked the mare’s flanks to go faster, dammit, faster!

The distance between them was closing, the rumble of the engine, of gravel crunching beneath tires becoming louder until he was riding alongside her, along the fence that enclosed the front pasture. His hands fisted his mount’s mane in a while-knuckled grip as he leaned over her neck, legs tight to her sides.

He turned his head and wild, despairing golden eyes collided with wide, tear-filled blue.

Kagome’s heart lurched in her chest, making her gasp as goosebumps erupted on her skin. She sobbed, shaking her head, mouthing his name and forcing her eyes to look straight ahead. What—what was he doing?! Why?! God, he was making this even harder than it already was, taking her heart and stomping on it, cruel, cold, conniving.

But it made sense, didn’t it.

She had broken his heart, and now he was doing the same to her.

'Cause I love you more than the feeling when the bass hits a hook When the guy gets the girl at the end of the book But that ain't you and me so I guess I'll see you around 'Cause I can't love you more than my hometown

Inuyasha didn’t let up, not even when she looked away, gritting his teeth, kicking his mount to keep up when she accelerated. She was crying, and although he couldn’t hear her, he could see the way she shook, shoulders jerking, chest heaving, face wet from her tears and fuck she was wearing the sundress—

The end of the drive was in sight. Kagome slowed down, so did he, but she didn’t stop as she once again turned her head and caught his gaze. Inuyasha was already staring at her, heart in his eyes, a silent plea falling from his lips, willing her to hear….

“Don’t go.”

A sob, raw, choked, anguished.

“I’m sorry.”

Without even realizing, he let up on his mount, the mare slowing to a trot, a walk, and then stood still, recovering from the hard gallop. Golden eyes, awash with ears, watched the car reach the end of the drive and turn, driving away, going, going, getting smaller, fading.

Gone.

Something inside Inuyasha shattered and he didn’t think it could ever, ever be repaired.

Love you more than my hometown Love you more than my hometown Love you more, baby, love you more

#more than #inukag #inuyasha #inukag fanfiction #inuyasha fanfiction #One Last Ride #keizfanfiction #oneshot

[dragonrajafanfiction]

Tokyo Love Story (Part 5) The Truth of Black Swan

The following Scene takes elements and themes from the novel scenes and game quests surrounding Akira and Kogure Sakurai and weaves them into the MCs journey in a way that is meaningful. This scene does not appear in the Novel or the Game.

Please Enjoy

You’re riding in the passenger side of Chance’s Audi R8, the city lights flashing across the pale makeup on your face. Caesar might have turned up his nose at the car, but you found it very stylish and unpretentious. It was a sports car you could drive to work. You stare out the window at the many people walking down the streets. Tokyo’s nightlife was just as vibrant as the daytime. Only, instead of being locked in the offices for work, people spilled into the streets to visit karaoke bars and eat street food. There were also plenty of couples holding hands and laughing. Girls in skirts and women in tight dresses walking with friends. Men in sports jackets and a few in suits and ties. The people your age were casual in t-shirts and jeans.

When you imagined going to the big city, it was something like this. Having lots of friends, going out on the town, enjoying food and walking under lights.

Chance’s phone vibrated. “Yes, she’s with me, we’re on our way to the safe spot, notify me of the all clear.”

His expression was grim and he spoke like a soldier reporting to his commander. You’d only seen him as a carefree guy but now he was acting as a member of the Devil Clan, a Yakuza organization. Looking up at this, you notice that he’s no less muscled than Caesar, but he was a bit more wiry and lithe.

“We’ll give it a couple of hours to let things calm down before taking you back.” He said, stuffing the phone in his pocket.

“Thanks,” you say. “I have a question.”

“Shoot.”

“Did Izanami really love Izanagi?” You rest your head against the window.

“That’s a matter of philosophical debate, even among White King Descendents. Her motives were selfish. She fooled him and lied to him. But when he betrayed her, no one can deny her emotional reaction had to be rooted in some genuine attachment.” He maneuvered the car as he spoke, keeping his eyes on the road. “The common consensus is, for dragons, love is never the goal. It’s a means to an end. Once that end is fulfilled, love fades or dies completely. If the object of the dragon’s love refuses to cooperate with the end goal, that love can quickly turn to hatred. Humans pursue love for the sake of it. But Dragons do not. The emotions are real, but they’re not the goal.”

“That seems manipulative.” You say.

“It can be. Keep in mind that Izanagi wasn’t exactly the best example of human love either. Bottom line, it’s not good for humans and dragons to fall in love. They both will end up hurt somehow. But it does happen.”

He keeps driving until the city spires flatten to more residential spaces. You pull into a small park with rolling terraformed hills and tiled roof shelters. Chance killed the lights on his car and opened the door, getting out with a briefcase. “We can hide out here for a while.”

At the center of the park is a large dark lake. The stars couldn’t be seen over the lights of the city and the moon was shrouded by dense clouds. He leads you by the hand through a pea gravel path. You could feel your cheeks grow warm. The idea of running away to hide from the world with a man was depicted in TV shows you watched and in magazines you read, but now it was happening to you.

“It’s going to rain tonight, so let's stay under the shelter until we get the all clear.” He said.

He settled you down on a bench and sat next to you. He was handsome, with his red hair in his ponytail and his green eyes in the dark. He took a deep breath and let it out. “Now comes the hard part.” He opened the briefcase and took out a thin yellow folder.

“Ruri Kazama wanted me to give this to you.”

You accept the folder and open it. Much to your shock, you immediately recognize the title. Black Swan Harbor Initiative! 

“You’re from Siberia right?” He looks at you. Those eyes glittered like jewels.

“Where did you get this?” You ask, anxiously flipping through the pages. There were photos of Black Swan Bay, just as you remembered it. There were even photos of orphans that you remembered, ghosts of the past. Vera, Khorkina, Anton… you pause. A knife of pain piercing your heart.

Renata’s picture stared at you, smiling from the yellowing paper, her eyes sparkled too, even in black and white.

“Ruri Kazama had it. I don’t know what it all means or where he got it from.” He reaches over and flips the pages back to the beginning. “He wants you to understand your situation. The reason why Black Swan Harbor was created. Black Swan Bay was like a dragon graveyard. Even though Cassell holds a lot of ancient artifacts, Black Swan Bay had the actual specimens for direct study of the creatures. You were created there as part of a study on making perfect, super hybrids.”

“What?” You whisper.

“I’m only telling you what I read. None of this makes sense to me either. You’re an 18 year old girl from 20 years ago. I…” He shook his head. “It must have to do with your bloodline, that you can rest so long and retain your youth. Anyway, because you’re not perfect, you will eventually become a deadpool. You’re a ghost. There’s no changing this.” 

He flipped over a page in the folder leading to Anton’s file. “This is from one of the research papers. The average lifespan of the Black Swan Bay children is 20 years before they lose their grip on humanity. This orphan was eliminated because he’d reached the end of his life.”

You stare blankly at the page. You remembered Dr. Herzog tested hybrid children thoroughly and then, around age 20, some were selected to go to school in Moscow. Back then, you had excitedly chatted with Z about how one year you might be selected. But instead of feeling excited for you, he led you to a lab. There, you saw Anton, who had been selected to go to the capital, sitting in a wheelchair. Despite his power to stop a bullet, he couldn’t stand.

Dr. Herzog was like your father. So your mind rejected his words when he said that going to Moscow was a lie. And when he shot and killed Anton, it was something your mind couldn’t fully process. This all happened 20 years ago but for you it was only a few weeks ago, and you realized you still couldn’t process it. It was like a missing puzzle piece, floating on the side table, waiting for its place in the picture. And now it snapped into place. 

Anton wasn’t ever going to Moscow. None of you were. Khorkina, Vera, Renata… You were all going to die by euthanasia. As deadpool.

Chance reached over and massaged your shoulder silently. You closed your eyes. No wonder Ruri Kazama told you that you were a perishing flower. No wonder he sang that happiness was fleeting. Ruri Kazama knew that you were going to turn into Deadpool. That you were going to die.

“So I only have a year and a half left?” You ask after a moment.

“I’m afraid that’s the maximum. You might have even less. I’m sorry.” Chance says. He drops his hand in his lap.

You take a deep breath, absorbing this terrible blow in still silence. “Thank you for telling me. I will show this to Caesar.” You close the folder and sigh again. Your hands are pinching each other hard to stem your roiling emotions.

Chance marvels at your reaction. “You’re a really strong woman. A lot of people would scream and cry in denial at this news.”

“I’m strong because my friends are strong.” You look out over the water, expressionless. The reflection of the moon peeked from its cloudy veil. It rippled but when it stilled, you could see the shadow of the moon, shaped like a rabbit. You weren’t sure what you could do to stop this eventual demise. Caesar promised he wouldn’t let you die. No… it wasn’t a promise, he just wouldn’t let it happen.

“Hm.” He chuckled, elbowing you. “Do I still have a chance to get a star-heart ticket?” He was attempting to lighten the mood.

You allow yourself the distraction. “Maybe.” You smirk and swing your legs under the bench. The wind was starting to blow, bringing the smell of rain, pulling leaves and cherry blossoms down from the trees to land on the water and make little ripples. The gusts disturbed the glassy water. It wasn’t the time for cherry blossoms, but odd weather had caused them to bloom twice this year. “Let me ask you something to test you. Do you seek death?”

Chance gave it some thought. “It’s not a matter of seeking it. I know it's coming. I just try not to think about the future. Live my life one day at a time, appreciate every moment.”

You nod and your eyebrows lift. It was a good answer. “I’ll ask you something else. Given the circumstances, if you knew you had to give up your life so I could live, would you do it?”

He laughed. “In a heartbeat!”

You turn to him and frown.

“What? Don't tell me you don’t like that answer. What do you expect me to say? It’s an honor for a man to give up his life for a lovely woman.” The stiff breeze had teased some hair out of your comb. He brushes your hair  from your face and tucks it behind your ear. The wind stirs the flowers in your hair while he watched you.

You shake your head. “Well, in that case, you’re not getting a star heart ticket.” You cross your arms and look away

“Oh come on, you’ve gotta be kidding me.” He leaned forward, trying to catch your gaze when you turned away from him. “What am I supposed to do? Just let you die? Look at you! You’re beautiful and smart and … and… you’re so strong!” Chance was shaking his head in confusion. “If that’s not the right thing to do, please tell me the answer.”

You turn to him again, your eyes blazing. “And you’re not beautiful and resourceful and strong? Why is my life, somehow, worth more than yours?”

Chance’s good humor suddenly fades and he lowers his eyes, damping his mood like a lantern lowering its wick. He turned back to face the lake, looking down on the ground, but his mind was somewhere far away. When he speaks again, it’s with a lump in his throat. He swallows hard. “You have people. I don’t have anyone any more.”

You knew that look. You had that look. It was the look of someone who had nothing else to lose, so why not give up his life for you? You reach out and put your hand over his and look him in the eye, even as the fires of grief ignite in your chest.

“The Hydra came for my family last week. We all lived in the same apartment block, but we’d never done anything. We were just an extended family buying out condos and dealing in real estate. But they were merciless. All my brothers and their wives were killed and f…” His voice caught and his eyes sparkled with tears. “My five nieces and nephews were taken prisoner.”

“Prisoner?”

“Yes!” His voice turned hoarse in distress. “Back in World War II, Hydra had these black prisons to lock up unstable hybrids. When the government found out about them, they ordered them closed. But twenty years ago, they started operating them again. If you resist and fight, they kill you. If you give yourself up… they lock you away in those prisons forever. I had been working when the raid happened. When I turned the corner on my way home, the whole apartment block was on fire! There was nothing I could do, so I ran away. That’s how I ended up at Club Takamagahara. That’s where Ruri Kazama found me.”

He turns back to you, his green eyes as dark as an endless forest. “It’s either death or prison and then death for me. So if I can make my death mean you get to go free and shine under the sun like you did tonight… I will absolutely take that.”

Your heartaches in sympathy. You scoot closer to him and rest your head on his shoulder and he wraps his strong arm around you and holds you close. “You’re not going to accept my next words, Chance. Because I didn’t want to accept them either. But I will say them because they’re the truth. Chance… you have to live.”

He let out a single bitter laugh, but he turned away and blinked away tears. “Didn’t you listen? Life isn’t in the cards.”

“You think it isn’t. I didn’t think so either.” You reach up and turn his face back to you. The tears wet your fingertips and sink into our nails. You’re willing him to listen but you understand that it might just be too difficult to accept. “But… you will be shocked at how long you can live if you really try.”

“What? Really try? Are you saying my whole family didn’t try hard enough?” His voice breaks with grief and anger.

“That’s not what I’m saying. If death comes then it does, but what I’m saying is, you shouldn't just… give up your life. Not for me. Not for anyone. Make death fight you for it.” You whisper. Your throat hurts. Your eyes burned..

“And then if I don't give up my life for you… what will happen to you?” Tears were slipping down his face and he trembled against you.

“I will fight too.” You reach out and twine your fingers in his hair. “We will both fight death.” You look up at him, determination filling your dark eyes, defying reality. You knew he probably thought you were a fool, that you were just fantasizing that you could both fight the fate you were given, hit the ball out of the park, and live happily ever after. “What’s the point of love if you both don’t make it out? If Izanami taught me anything, it’s better to end up in the Yomi-No-Kuni together.”

He sighed softly and he leaned forward until your noses touched, your faces wrapped in night shadow. “You already gave me permission.” He whispered.

“I know…” You rise up to meet him halfway. This kiss was nothing like Z’s. Z took you like something that belonged to him. In this case, your kiss was a gift, a bow to tie your words in an oath upon his heart. 

Chance was overcome. He rested his head against your neck, crying. He held you so tightly your ribs resisted against his arms to breathe. You held him like that until his sobs subsided. But you were in no hurry to part, instead you leaned against each other, watching the wind play against the water until your emotions calmed. Every few minutes, he would sigh deeply and kiss your cheek.

In the distance, thunder rolled. Chance’s phone buzzed. He reached down and looked down at it. “That's all clear. Let’s go.” He gave you one more kiss. “Here, you keep this.” He tucked the folder into your dress. “Thank you. I..” He paused for a moment and then just stood up.

He doesn’t remove his hand from yours as you make your way back to the car, but as you’re turning the corner on the path to the parking lot, he yanks you back! “Damn it!” He hisses.

The car was surrounded by men in black trench coats armed with swords and powerful guns. The way out of the park was blocked by a huge van. The park was so small, it would only take a minute to penetrate the entire space and there was nowhere to hide. Chance urgently whispers. “Quick! Let’s go to the other side!” 

How could they have found you? Kaguya?

There was no way to hurry and stay silent. The pea gravel made too much noise. If you stepped off the path the surrounding vegetation rustled against your clothing. You can only use your method of stepping in his foot prints to hide your own sound and it was hard in your ornate gown. Your heart was screaming with adrenaline as you started to hear voices behind you. In the back of the park, behind the trees and fountains, there was a high eight foot stone wall that enclosed it from the rest of the neighborhood. You hurry to it.

“I’ll lift you over the wall!” He said. “If you jump, you can make it over!”

“No, I’m not leaving you. We need to find a way out together.” You say, planting your feet.

“You’re serious? There’s no way! We can’t fight all those guys!” He hissed.

More voices are coming. You must have been heard! Bright beaming flashlights are sweeping the park. The men from Hydra are bounding up the hill behind you! The group fanned out. One member was sweeping up against the wall you were next to and heading straight for you. More voices are coming from the opposite direction up the path ahead of you. Apparently, the Hydra following you had alerted more men on the other side of the park who were coming around the other side to encircle you and cut off your escape.

Chance pulled you along the wall and together you crawled carefully against it, staying away from the ones approaching from behind and getting to the other side of this dragnet. As you came close to those approaching from the front, you noticed that there was no one sweeping the wall! If you could sneak past through this gap, you could make it past them!

You hurry through the gap and crouch still. The Hydra were only a few feet from you. You could see the shine of their leather shoes and hear them talking, but you couldn’t understand their Japanese. One of them laughed.  All they had to do was sweep their flashlights to their right to find you. You both hold your breath even though you felt breathless from running and staying low to the ground. You tremble there until their shoes turn away. Their footsteps finally started to fade, but you couldn’t wait for them to fade completely. 

“There’s a backgate this way.” Chance whispered as quietly as he could.

You could see it. It was covered in vines and looked like a maintenance entrance. It didn’t look locked but even if it was, it was less than four feet high  and you can both make it over. Your heart beams with hope. He returns your smile. You couldn’t wait to tell Caesar. He was right. His justice was right. You don't have to leave friends behind.

A sudden sharp hiss and a burst of wind rushes by your head! A silver projectile blade cut through the air and embedded itself into Chance's calf! Chance gasped and howled in agony! He fell to the ground, clutching his leg. You scurry towards the gate and dive behind a statue of a praying Buddha.

Chance is writhing on the ground, and moving away from something looming in the dark. Someone is approaching him as he scoots frantically away, begging. “No… No!  No! Please!”

Out of the shadows steps a young dark haired man. His silver-blue long sword glowed in the dark like a shattered piece of moonlight. His trenchcoat caught the air and it waved like the hem of the Grim Reaper’s cloak. He stood over Chance like a towering god, gazing at him with frigid black eyes.

Chisei Gen!

#Dragon Raja

[dragonofdojima]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRYU-CHAN! // Still accepting!

@trvehearted​ said: "I've prepared something for you, Kiryu-san." A soft smile glowed from the woman's face, before leading him down the path. As they walked down the empty, night road together, she kept close to him, hands latched onto one another. Upon arriving, they would see a cherry blossom tree, & in her hand a small, wrapped box. Opening it, he would discover a small charm in the shape of a petal. "Just like the cherry blossoms....I hope a new era will blossom where peace knows no bounds. Happy birthday."

   Somewhere, a voice calls, in the depths of my heart    May I always be dreaming, the dreams that move my heart

   ... IT WAS ALL THAT HE COULD HAVE ASKED FOR, if he was to be perfectly honest. For in a life as fleeting as this one, it was moments like these where he had since begun clinging STEADFAST upon all that he would cherish. For gone were those overly fantastical dreams made by the naive teen he had been during yesteryear. And in its place-- an almost pathetic plead to the heavens themselves-- for a quiet life but filled with simple joys themselves. Especially as the years themselves would continue to fly by, especially when knowing that he himself-- wasn’t getting any younger. 

   And being reminded time and time again that so much (And so many) have already slipped past these calloused fingers themselves, perhaps one would understand this selfish need of his in not wanting to relinquish his hold over this small piece of serenity. To still have her here by his side, even after all these years. And share these almost... knowing gazes between one another, each time they would meet beneath the pale moon itself, almost every night.

   And to be lightly teased by the children themselves, before all that would eventually remain were giggly coos and jubilant grins. As they watched their caretaker greet and stand for a moment with this beautiful woman at Morning Glory’s gate front. 

   With Haruka herself so easily taking upon the role of the BIG SISTER as she always had (And how much she herself had grown, over these few short years), when it came to the rest of the orphans. It would however coax a quirk of a thick brow (And a soft giggle on Tamayo’s part), whenever the young girl would playfully remind him not to return home too late that night (Even if it was his special day and all). Eventually however, so would she wish the man one final “Happy Birthday, Uncle Kaz.” Before commencing in shooing the other orphans back inside for bedtime. 

   Finally allowing these two their moment together, as all that were simply exchanged with soft smiles, and a chuckle beneath his breath then.

     As I bid farewell my heart stops, in tenderness I feel      My silent empty body begins to listen to what is real

   There was a comfortable silence between them as they walked together that night down their usual little route. As Kiryu would hold her hand in his, whilst the other rested itself within his pocket and beneath the hem of his jacket. Though, it wasn’t long before Tamayo would begin leading him down a different path, causing the man to gaze curiously after her as he simply followed along. The street that they would now enter surprisingly empty, even with how quiet and small Okinawa’s nightlife already tended to be...

   Something he didn’t necessarily mind, especially once they would stand before a beautiful sakura tree itself. With the softly lit street lamps and the moon itself casting an almost ethereal glow upon it... and upon her.

   Her features would appear all the more serene if not angelic then, as the fluttering sakura petals would form a GLORIOLE around her very form. As she would then hold out her gift to him, quiet eagerness seen within violet eyes themselves, as he slowly began to open it and see what was contained within the box itself.

   “Thank you... Tamayo-san.” He would breathe out eventually, his response as mere as it always tended to be. Those dark eyes of his however conveying so much more than what could ever be voiced aloud then. As they would then cast themselves back up to the other’s features, while he took her hands back into his own. Leaning forward just enough that their foreheads would brush, as that small smile of longing would make itself known once more, “To have you here with me is... all I could ever wish for. For to be with you, is to be at peace.”

   Before his lips would finally meet with her own.

   Somewhere a voice calls in the depths of my heart    keep dreaming your dreams, don't ever let them part   

   And so would he stir from his slumber, before bleary eyes themselves would meet with nothing but the bleak darkness of his own room. A shaky exhale escaping past parted lips themselves, as he would listen in for moment for any sort of sound beyond this almost abrupt silence. So harshly torn away once more by the strangely welcoming sounds of what should have been an unfamiliar town-- if not world. As the sound of crickets and the bubbling brook nearby would eventually begin to return to him. For what should have been a peaceful silence had only further unsettled the man and his pounding heart, no matter how many of these peculiar dreams would to plague him.

   Of these dreams where she would still be there by his side, where she would still be in the same world as him. Where he hadn’t lost her during that one fateful night. As all he could remember her by was that final smile she had given him, before she would disappear into the winds themselves...

   Peace was finally here, now that Muzan had finally been defeated. 

   So would he tell himself again and again, as the Dragon Hashira would carry on in aiding others. As they would begin rebuilding this world of theirs together, just as she would have wanted them all to. It was certainly a lonelier world without her, but one to which they have finally achieved, just as they had both dreamed.

   “... thank you.”

#堂島 Asks の龍 #堂島 Kimetsu no Yaiba Verse の龍 #trvehearted #堂島 KIRYU KAZUMA & TAMAYO ;; My SPIRIT to be taught of YOU with WEST WINDS blowing ❤️ の龍 #堂島 trvehearted ;; Muse ;; TAMAYO の龍 #(WAAAAILS!!!) #// death mention

[aprils-arcadia]

By the River

Member: Shownu Genre: Fluff Word Count: 1,9k Summary: You watch the sunrise from your favorite place in your hometown, when you are suddenly interrupted by a handsome stranger. 

She was sitting on the little concrete slope near the river. Once it was probably used to let boats into the water, but that had stopped even before she was born. Now it was just one of the nicest places to sit and think. With the river to her right and the embankment to her left she was surrounded by trees in this little nook.  

She used to come here quite often when she still lived nearby with her parents but by now she had moved into the city and the visits to her parents were less frequent than she was comfortable with. Work had taken up way too much of her life and driving home with public transport had always been a hassle. So over time the visits got rarer and rarer, making her miss this place and her parents even more. No matter where she went she always treasured this little fleck of earth in the town she grew up in and spent so many happy years of her childhood. Whenever she came back a smile always adorned her face no matter if it was snowing, bright sunshine, or raining like it just had a second ago.   

It had been a nice summer shower, washing away the dust and the dry heat. Unfortunately it was over before it even really began. Her clothes had already dried within the last few minutes but the remaining raindrops on the embankment still glistened in the now returned sun. 

This wasn’t a famous tourist spot or a hotspot of the local youth, no this was her secret spot. The spot she spent so many hours as a kid, talking to her friends or just being alone with her thoughts. In this little niche beside the river she had her privacy. If she wanted to cry nobody would notice and if she laughed nobody would care. 

It had been the right choice to take the week off, to get away from work and to spend her little vacation here, right where she would always belong. The week housesitting for her parents brought back so many memories, memories that were still ever present in the house itself, be it the old photobooks in her dad’s office or the big framed picture depicting all her family members, her uncles, her cousins and she herself: A young girl forced to wear a dress to look pretty but her hair the usual unkempt mess. She was sitting next to her mom and desperately tried to hide a patched-up finger behind her back but the white bandages still shone brightly next to her dark blue dress.

She stretched her arms into the air and a yawn escaped her mouth. It had been worth getting up at 5 a.m., seeing the sun rise over the horizon, colouring the sky in a bright orange was a sight that was worth every minute of lost sleep. She probably should go back to get ready for the day but not yet, instead she rolled her jacket into a little pillow and layed down on the hard concrete, the tiny stones hurting her back a little but not enough to make her want to leave. She closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. The earthy smell of petrichor and the fresh scent of the river filled her lungs and she smiled to herself. 

She truly loved this place. 

The sound of the steady waves lapping on to the shore whenever a boat went past, the screeching of the lone seagull that had made its way down south and the rustling of the wind in the leaves around her lulled her into a comfortable nothingness.

Her reverie was interrupted by an unfamiliar smell and the sound of the dry grass being crunched under someone’s feet. Lazily she opened her eyes only to look up at a young man around her age. 

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake you.” He took a step back. “I'd better leave". 

"No worries." She sat up and turned around to look at him properly. He was wearing a pair of black running shorts and a black sleeveless top. His hair was disheveled and still wet either from the rain or from the sweat that was also running down his arms making them shimmer in the morning sun. “I wasn't really sleeping and I should probably leave soon anyway."

"I didn't mean to drive you away. It's not like I own the place." He shrugged his shoulders and smiled shyly. 

"True" she giggled. He looked kind and trusting. His eyes radiated a calm and warm aura that made her feel instantly comfortable around him. "Do you wanna sit down?"

"Yeah, if you wouldn't mind." He ran his fingers through his dark brown hair, so that it no longer stuck to his forehead but now lay in strands. 

She scooted over and gestured at him to sit down. "Not at all. There’s plenty of room for the both of us." 

He sat down next to her, adjusting a bit so that their shoulders would be far enough apart.

"I'm sorry that this is gonna sound like one of those cheesy pick up lines but do you come here often?" A sweet laugh left her mouth, as warm as the summer sun. "Cheesy doesn't necessarily mean bad, I mean that one's a classic.” 

"No,” He corrected quickly “I just meant that I've never seen you around here." 

"I used to live here when I was younger,” She brushed off the sand from her calves and unfolded her little jacket pillow. “Now I'm just housesitting. What about you?" She looked into his eyes as if it was the most natural thing, somehow awkwardness never crossed her mind.

"I've discovered this place on one of my morning runs.” He leaned forward to tighten the knot on his bright blue sneakers. "And now I always stop by here each morning when I'm done."

"Commendable" 

"If you say so.” He smiled at her, his face losing all its rough features instantly. “I just really like this place.” His gaze wandered over to the water that was slowly receding only to be pushed back onto the shore. "It's nice to just sit, watch the waves and just be for a second."

"I agree.” she said. “Nobody really bothers you, well normally at least." She scrunched up her nose and they both laughed.   

“Yeah, sorry about that.” he apologized, still smiling brightly.

“Soo…” she leaned back examining his broad back and shoulders trying to read the letters that were printed on his shirt. “Sho-”

“-Shownu.” he finished. 

“So, what brings you to this neck of the woods, Shownu? I mean there isn't really anything here.” Her hometown had always been a place for old people, sure they had an elementary school but that was about it. The local businesses were slowly moving to the city and apart from one big company, a few bakers and supermarkets it was pretty much just a residential area. No nightlife, on the contrary even, this neck of the woods still clung to their night and sunday rest rules so tightly that loud music after 10 p.m. could easily be answered by the old lady two houses over calling the police on you. The cinema in the nearest town had gone bankrupt and you had to drive half an hour by bus to even get to a decent clothing store. It was no wonder that everyone moved to the city when they finally got the chance.  

"Well, I got seconded here a few months back. I work over there.” He pointed to the big building visible on the horizon on the other side of the river. “I found a nice flat on this side so I just took it. The ferry isn’t that bad of a commute”

“I loved to ride the ferry as a kid.” She said enthusiastically, remembering all the times she went over to the other side to go to the beach or to walk around with her friends and their dogs.  

“Well it gets old rather quickly I can tell you. But the water and the fresh air is a nice wake up on an early morning.” He leaned back steading himself on his hands. 

“And how do you like it here so far?” she asked, playing around with the little blade of grass she had plucked to her right. 

“To be honest, in the beginning it was quite the change. I grew up in a big city and was always so used to the bustle on the streets and the huge amount of people. This is the complete opposite. I mean I once went a day without seeing another human soul on the streets. It had quite the apocalyptic vibe.” He laughed. 

“It probably just meant that the local football team was playing.” She shrugged. Those had been the best days, when almost everyone was out and no one roamed the streets anymore. As a child she used those days to play badminton in the streets with her brother or go for a walk without ever meeting anyone. It was a nice change of pace each time. 

“That makes sense. Anyway it’s actually really nice to live here.”

“Why is that? I mean I know my reason but I’d like to hear yours.” The blade of grass in her hand was now a tiny ball of knots. She put it down beside her and gave it a little flick, watching it roll down the concrete and into the water. 

“I think it’s quite idyllic. When I lived in the city everything seemed so cold, distant and impersonal. In comparison this place feels unbelievably warm. This is probably gonna sound stupid but it feels loved”

She didn’t answer. Instead she just looked at his profile, at the kindness in his eyes and let his words slowly sink in. This place feels loved. To hear someone else say this made her incredibly happy. 

“Sorry that was a bit weird.” he said sitting back up, looking at her. 

“No, not at all.” She let her head sink between her knees looking out onto the shoreline and the line of grasses which gently swayed in the wind.

“I’m really telling you everything here, huh” he chuckled a little shyly and rubbed the back of his head. 

“Sure seemed that way.” she smiled. 

“Must be this place, makes it way too easy to open up to a complete stranger. Well now you owe me one. What brought you back here?”

“Since we are already on the sappy side of things I can just hop onto the train.” She took a deep breath and sighed “I miss this place. It makes life seem so simple and easy. I can forget about work and the stress of the city when I come here.” She smiled, more to herself that to anybody and her eyes were clouded with nostalgia. “In the end it’s home, simple as that.” 

Without warning a loud ringing tone interrupted their conversation. “Oh sh*t.” Shownu got up, quickly turning off the alarm on his phone. “I’m sorry to just leave like this.”

“Nah it’s fine. Wouldn’t want you to be late for work. I better get going as well.” She got up and wrapped her jacket around her hips.

“Hope to see you again soon” he said and sprinted off. 

Me too, she thought. Maybe just now she found another reason to come back here more often. 

#mx #monstax #fanfiction #monstax fanfiction #shownu #son hyun-woo #shownu fluff #shownu x reader #aprils fanfiction #aprils arcadia

[puertovallartalimousine]

Vacation in Puerto Vallarta - Top Ten Reasons

1. Climate

Warm during the winter and humid in the summer, Puerto Vallarta Limousine Vallarta has the perfect location on the map; just below the desert, but not too much as to make the tropical heat unbearable. In fact it is right on the 20° North Latitude below the Tropic of Cancer, that's right same as Hawaii. Puerto Vallarta combines the lushness of the jungle with the beauty of the Sierra Madre Mountains and the wonder of the Pacific Ocean. The ocean breeze and the fresh mountain air combine with the unrivaled sunny days Mexico is known for, to create the best weather in the world. It is no wonder why Puerto Vallarta has become a favorite vacation spot. Vallarta boasts three hundred sunny days a year, some of those being hot summer days that then get a refreshing rain. If you are ever in Puerto Vallarta anytime from the beginning of November through to the end of May you will find yourself in a paradise hard to leave behind.

2. Great value for your money

While it is a commonly known fact that the peso is worth less than the dollar, be it US or Canadian, you never truly appreciate it quite as much as when you vacation in Mexico. Being on vacations and knowing that your hard earned money can buy you twice as much fun as it could back home is simply refreshing. And for those lucky enough to be permanent vacationers whose retirement dollars allow them a life equal or better to what they had back home when they still worked, it is simply incredible. Getting more for less is good on anyone's book, but when talking real estate this is simply great. One can get a beautiful home for the price of a New York studio. On top of that, Puerto Vallarta has a large array of first class real estate developments, from stunning penthouses, state of the art smart homes on the beach to rustic homes on the mountain side, many built with Americans and Canadians in mind so just make your choice and become one of those people on vacations for life.

3. Stunning beaches

Nothing new for Mexican destinations, but Puerto Vallarta has a great story to tell. In 1964 American film director John Huston, chose Mismaloya beach in Puerto Vallarta, as the location for his film The Night of the Iguana, starring Richard Burton and Ava Gardner. Huston also brought in, his soon-to-be-wife Elizabeth Taylor, putting Puerto Vallarta in the international spotlight and making its beaches world famous. But Mismaloya is only one of a plethora of enchanting beaches that offer something for all walks of life. Whether you're an adrenaline junkie looking to do some kite surfing or simply someone that likes to lay by the water being tended to, Puerto Vallarta has the right beach for you. Many of those beaches have been certified by the Mexican Government for their cleanliness and beauty. By the north end of the Bay you can find fine sand beaches that extend for kilometers. On the other end you find small island coves only accessible by water. Imagine taking your loved one by water taxi to a private beach cove and spending a romantic afternoon. Puerto Vallarta's beaches are waiting for you to come and lay by their waves.

4. Amazing mountains

This is what puts Puerto Vallarta in a completely different league from other vacation destinations. It is not the typical Mexican resort destination with exquisite beaches and luxury hotels, I mean, it does have those things, but the Sierra Madre Mountains and their tropical forests with lush jungle vegetation, give the town a completely different atmosphere, far away from the "just beach and nothing else to do" kind of destination. The beauty of this vacation destination spawns from the fact that the bay is nestled in the Sierra Madre Mountains. They surround the bay like a mother's bosom protecting it and offering magnificent views. There is nothing that compares to watching the sun rise in the mountains every day and set in the Pacific Ocean. During the summer season the rains make the surrounding mountains glow an emerald green that is difficult to explain by mere words. A hike up the mountain trails will take you to a time long before when mankind was one with nature and you to will feel its beckoning. The vegetation and the bird calls combine to the mystic feel of being surrounded by mountains.

5. Mexican Culture

You just can't get bored with it. The mixture of indigenous traditions with Spaniard customs has produced an amazingly rich culture, an explosion of color, spirituality, flavors, images and sounds that will never stop impressing you. Slowly discovering the little idiosyncrasies of this beautiful culture is one of the best rewards for visiting Puerto Vallarta and once you start to understand Mexican culture, you will only want to learn more. But don't look only for the exotic side of it, the "Día de Muertos" or the religious pilgrimages, for instance, even when those celebrations are actually quite impressive, there are is much more to discover on the day-to.day life of Mexico. You might travel for the beaches and just to have some relaxing vacations, but if you are open to it, Mexican Culture will surprise you.

6. The people

You have to travel a lot in order to be qualified to compare people and cultures. Well, I have done it, and I can tell you that, there are no warmer people in the world. Mexicans always smile, they always say "please" and "thank you", they will kiss and hug you, so be prepared; they will touch you all the time, they are a happy people and they like to show it. You will have a lot of fun around them, they will make you feel at home, you just have to let go and learn from their laid-back and unpretentious attitude towards life. This way to understand life, where people work to live and not live to work, might be arguable, but for a place like Puerto Vallarta, where people travel to forget for a while about the problems of daily life, it's just perfect.

7. Things to do

There is almost everything to do, except maybe those boring winter games that include snow and cold, Puerto Vallarta offers to visitors a formidable variety of activities. Eco-tours, golf (7 courses), ATV's, scuba diving, canopy, whale-watching, swimming with dolphins or sea lions, a theater, museums, plenty of art galleries, gourmet restaurants, festivals (film, food, wine), surfing, botanical gardens, old towns to visit, a zoo, lots of discotheques and nightclubs, and much, much more. I am telling you, this place is worth the trip. Whether your dream vacation consists of lounging by the beach or zipping from tree top to tree top Vallarta has it. If you want to enjoy a five star gourmet dinner or just have tacos at a stand, this is the right place to come. The culture scene the little coffe shops in old town add to the incredible allure of this great city. Many visitors come because the large array of Puerto Vallarta tours and activities.

8. Accessibility from USA and Canada

Accessibility is not to be forgotten when planning a vacation. There are some other incredible corners in the world, but somehow they are always plenty of flight hours to Puerto Vallarta. Many cities in the US and Canada have direct flights to Puerto Vallarta, making it so easy and cheap to come down there, that it makes it even harder to invent excuses for not spending a week or maybe just a weekend in such a beautiful place. Puerto Vallarta is just a three hours flight from Los Angeles, and that is all it takes to feel like you are in a complete different world, the mountains, the rivers and the ocean make their presence felt at every corner, but you won't miss civilization a bit, as luxury hotels have everything in place to make you feel at home. On top of that the ongoing commercial relationships provided by NAFTA allow for crossing of people and goods without mayor hassles.

9. Services

This point is mentioned quite a lot by the large expat community in Puerto Vallarta (nearly 50,000 and growing). One of the biggest fears of those moving abroad USA and Canada is that they might not get the same quality services at the places they move to. But that's just not the case with Puerto Vallarta, as the city has defined its identity as a perfect place for retirees and developed the proper infrastructure to please them. You will find excellent medical services, a big focus on security, a diversity of financial businesses and all kinds of information and technology services, such as high-speed internet, digital cable TV and everything to help you avoid missing home while you are on vacations in Mexico.

10. The nightlife

Especially on Spring Break, but not limited to it. The "Malecon", a beautiful boardwalk by the beach, has been called "Puerto Vallarta's Bourbon Street" because it has club after club open all night long. World famous club brands as Hard Rock Café, Señor Frog's or La Bodeguita del Medio (where Hemingway used to go in Havana), compete with local clubs such as Mandala, Zoo or Punto V, to see who throws the best party in town. There is the world famous "Foam Party" at Collage every Tuesday and many salsa discos to feel the Latin vibe. Puerto Vallarta also has its own share of electronic festivals with some of the best DJs in the world, playing outdoors till dawn, with people dancing and jumping in the sand just a few steps away from the ocean.

Luis Dominguez is the editor of Enjoy Magazine - the best Puerto Vallarta vacation travel guide [http://www.enjoy-magazine.com] where you will find all you need to know about this gem of the Mexican Pacific. Enjoy Tours - Puerto Vallarta Tours and Activities [http://www.enjoy-magazine.com/en/vallarta-travel-tours] provides a full array of leisure options, from adrenaline high activities like canopy and atv, to eco-tours like whale watching and swimming with dolphins.

#Puerto Vallarta Limousine