#i dun make you write long DAS YOU

[yourcarnevoreuspal]

Dun dun duh da!

I finally finished this.

It was supposed to be for xmas, then newyear but... Clearly you can see that failed.

I'm attempting to write vore differently, and better, but I don't think it's quite to my taste yet~

A short story in which my giant kobold Gohm comes across some of S/anta's Elves. Ah, also, Gohm is about 7'8" and the elves are around 4 ft.

Tw: unwilling prey, cruel? pred, implied fatal, minor fearplay?

Happy holidays~

Vore undercut!

  Peering through the dense brush, his chubby tail swaying behind him in excitement, Gohm eyes the movement of three short figures in the clearing. He's never seen creatures quite like these before, similar in appearance to humans, only much smaller and adorned in colorful outfits with little bells that jingle as they work. Gohm doesn't know what they're doing, especially this late at night in the cold, but his sensitive ears picked up the cheery ringing of their bells that lead him to the clearing. Though he hasn't been watching the elves for long, he's already made up his mind: a new creature means a new chance to try a new flavor.

    With his mind made up he begins his hunt, taking a prone position to crawl on his belly, the cold, wet snow soaking into his scales. It's difficult to sneak around when you're a creature large as he, not to mention his dark colors practically pointing arrows at him in the snow. Thankfully, it seems his prey can't see well at night, if the oil lantern hanging off their little sleigh is anything to go by. Or perhaps they're so absorbed in whatever it is they're doing that they really don't expect a big, blue kobold to suddenly pounce on them from out of the darkness. After all, who would dare attack christmas elves for fear of the naughty list?

   Leaping up from the cold ground, Gohm lands on two of his targets, pushing them to the snow with ease where they're pinned by his thick legs. Reaching over the tiny crate set up they seemed to be using as a table, he grabs hold of the third elf and yanks them across to sit in front of him. The elves are speaking to him, but he doesn't particularly care to listen, more interested in examining the one in his grasp. Sniffing at the strange attire, causing some of the bells to ring out softly, he's intrigued to find an array of sweet and pleasing scents covering this entity. 

    By now his tail is thumping wildly against one of the elves under him, and his mouth begins to water. He takes one last sniff at the elf's face before opening his maw wide to engulf their head, knocking their odd green hat to the ground in the process. Sweet, salty smooth flavors hit Gohm's tongue making him murmur in delight as he savors them. Biting down softly to keep his prey from escaping, he adjusts his grip to their legs, then shoves them further into his mouth, their head now resting at the entrance to his throat. He suckles on them a few times, enjoying their flavor until an impatient growl sounds from his waiting, hungry belly.

   Gohm swallows thickly, a single swallow bringing most of the little elf's torso into his esophagus, stretching his throat pleasantly. He hums as he licks at what's left in his mouth. Lifting his snout to face the sky, he swallows again, then once more, sending the rest of his first elf down to his waiting tummy, sighing contentedly. Grinning, he rubs his belly while the elf is slowly forced inside, enjoying the feeling of writhing prey on the way down. Being nearly twice the size of his prey, and accustomed to eating even larger, his stomach hasn't grown too noticeable aside from his prey's struggles.

   Speaking of struggles, Gohm turns his attention to the other two prey trapped by his legs who've been desperate to escape the entire time. One had almost wiggled their way out until he clamped his claws around their neck. Since he knew that little prey was secure, he went for the other one. Reaching for them, they put out their small hands in attempt to stop him, grasping on his fingers to keep his hand at bay. However, Gohm simply opts to grab them by their hands instead, pulling them up to their feet to stand in front of him.

    Since he's got them by the hands, Gohm decides he'll start from there, too. Bringing the small appendages up to his lips, he gently licks their fingers, pulling their arms into his mouth and closing it around them. Whilst his prey struggles to remove their arms, he slowly sucks them in. He wasn't intent on sniffing this prey, however with them this close to his snout he finds it's a similar smell with hints of cinnamon tickling his nose. The elf is frantic, desperately trying to pull away from him, but slowly they are drawn nearer until their face reaches his lips, upon which Gohm sticks out his pink tongue to give his prey a good lick before bringing them into his mouth.

    Running his tongue over the elf's chest, Gohm sucks on their flavor, pleased they taste of cinnamon too. It isn't too long before their torso is soaked and Gohm swallows. He pauses a moment to tease his prey, who's now halfway down his throat, poking at them from the outside. Cupping his three-fingered hand against his neck, he leisurely swallows a second time, sending the elf further to their doom. All but wriggling toes in his gullet, he takes a moment to relish the feeling of prey easing down to his belly as he gradually lifts his chin, letting gravity take over until… glk. The last swallow.

     Panting now, with two struggling preys extending his belly, Gohm can't help but to bask in it, drooling with pleasure. He almost forgets there's still one more little prey to devour. Almost- If it weren't for the prospect of having a third prey in there to struggle with them. Huffing, he turns his head back down to gaze at the pinned elf under the claws of his foot. He releases them, only to grab them once more by the neck, lifting them off the ground, above his head. Bringing his other hand over, he grabs hold of their legs, both to keep them from kicking and in support of the grasp on their neck to stop suffocation.

    They stare down at him, fear covering their expression, though only able to make a garbled noise as he grins at them before opening his maw wide, tongue lolling out with a puff of hot air. Gohm guides the elf's feet into his mouth, setting them at the entrance to his gullet and closing his teeth around their waist. His tongue slathers his prey's legs, finding this elf's taste to be softer and meatier, more appealing to his dragon-like appetite.

     Drool trailing down his chin, he jerks his head back, letting the prey attempt to stand and keep themself from sliding further. His tongue toys with their abdomen, lapping at their flavor until, inevitably, the prey can't hold on any further and they slip into his throat. Having the process started, Gohm has nothing to do but finish it, swallowing in small, steady increments. Gradually, the final prey disappears into his mouth, their hands, having been raised in the air, are all that's left on the outside. The back of the prey's head rests on his tongue and he can't help but to suck and lick the meat laying on his pallet. He's tempted to nibble at their fingers, but hasn't yet made up his mind whether he should keep these creatures as a new pet. Without a decision, he refrains from harming the poor critter, instead straightening his neck to let the rest of them softly sink down to be enveloped in his gullet. 

     Once the prey has piled into his gut, he turns his thoughts to the distended organ, running his hands over it, pushing down on his prey in their tight confinement, and wrapping his arms around it, all the while the preys inside fight to be released. Although these little snacks weren't the size of his more favorable prey, having three at once certainly makes up for it. Rolling onto his belly, he pushes them further, squishing them down to feel their every move. He nuzzles the top of his belly, tongue lolling out to lick at them still, even through the layers between.

    Purring with pleasure, Gohm hoists himself to his feet, still with one hand gently rubbing his stomach and aggravating his prey. Finally, he takes a closer look at what the elves were doing. A sleigh with a single deer to pull it. Many kinds of boxes rest in the back of the sleigh, piquing his interest. Gohm opts to take the sled with him, picking up the crate left outside the sleigh and dropping in, he walks to the head of the deer to lead it along by the reins. He guides the animal in the direction of home, where Gohm knows he can further enjoy his meal. Perhaps he'll only keep one of them and digest the rest, afterall, should he really pass up the chance on such delicious beings~? 

#male pred #unwilling prey #male vore #tw vore #fatal vore #willing pred #fatal v.ore #fatal v/ore #half size vore #multiple prey

[miss-ingno]

Got tagged by @elenothar and @buriedbybooks! Thank you both :D sorry it took me so long! Rules: List the LAST lines of the last ten (10) stories you published.  Look to see any patterns you notice yourself, and see if anyone else  notices any. Then tag some friends.

1) Special Occasion (Weilan, M for smut, fluff)

Shen Wei bit back the fond smile threatening to spill out and went about properly distracting Zhao Yunlan from his thoughts. 

2) Can’t Just Wait With Lives At Stake (pre-Weilan, T, Shen Xi lives canon divergence)

After all, it would be a shame to be unable to draw his attention to Zhao Yunlan's mouth. 

3) Taken A Turn (Li Qian & Zhu Hong, G, vampire AU)

The moment those eyes turned away from him, he fled the windowless room, into the dark of the night.

4) No Man Left Behind (bg Weilan, Zhao Yunlan & Ye Zun, T, YOHE canon divergence)

Surely Ye-zun will be up for any prank to be pulled on his brother, truly the only blessing to come from his trip to the past.

5) this is how the war is won (Kunwei, E for smut, a/b/o YOHE au, alpha!Kunlun, omega!Shen Wei, Plot with Porn, WIP)

With a small smile gracing his lips, Shen Wei nodded off.

6) Larger Than Life (Da Qing & Fu You, G)

It was always good to remind his human why he should feed Da Qing more dried fish.

7) Shen Wei, Accidental Lesbian Whisperer (Shen Wei & Cheng Xinyan, Shen Wei & Zhang Ruonan, Shen Wei & Li Qian, T for themes, canon compliant)

She couldn't disappoint him now.

8) Turn Up The Heat (Weilan, Lanzun, pre-Weilanzun, E for smut, modern a/b/o, omega!Ye Zun, alpha!Shen Wei, beta!Zhao Yunlan)

"Together," he echoed, and Zhao Yunlan fell into a dreamless sleep with a smile on his face.

9) In The Middle Of The Night (pre-Weilan, Shen Wei & Li Qian, M for violence, vampire AU, casefic)

From the roof, red eyes watched unblinkingly as the car drove off.

10) Dark Stars, Burning Hearts (Weilan, T, time travel fix-it, ep 20 onward)

And the whole future is ahead of them, problems and promises and all.

Tagging in @itskaysno @ganglylimbs @sorcererinslytherin @shadeofazmeinya @sailorbryant @kahnah23 @sasamelons @fornhaus @crystalinn if you’d like to!

Things I noticed about my endings:

I have a tendency to end with one character thinking about another

red eyes are apparently a Must if it’s vampire au xD

people falling asleep with a smile on their face

generally, I’d say I end on an optimistic note, unless it’s vampire au, in which case the ending is all about building the background plot tension and emphasizing the ~mystique lol

but yeah, definitely a strong tendency towards ending on a relationship note, one way or another. and an outlook towards the future, hinting at what is to come next (and that it’s gonna be Happy; unless, again, vampire au, where it makes sense to ramp up the dun dun DUN vibe)

also you can’t tell WIPs apart from actual endings, which makes sense too -- Lesbian Whisperer is one-shots packaged into one collection by theme, so each story is self-contained. And my goal for tihtwiw was to end on a happy enough note that readers won’t mind the time it takes me to update again (although I didn’t foresee the last chapter fighting me for so long, I knew it was gonna be a hard nut to crack and I was too busy irl to write while posting the first four)

#fic games #last lines game #thanks for taggin me both of you! #I may have misread 10 as 20 <.< #and thus been waiting to actually post enough fic in Guardian to do this lol #until I accidentally realized my mistake today

[darbiebot]

Daily Writing Challenge: Day 8- Wonder - Darlain

Lorelei struggled to keep up with her mother, they were both dressed for the weather, in enchanted woolen cloats and long underwear, and it was a tough train from the landing spot. She didn't complain much, but her body was tired, and her mother called up for a rest under an overhang of rock. They were in the cloud line, so there wasn't much to see, only the whipping wind and chill air.

"You doin alright, love? We're gettin close, I promise." Darlain offered her child some water, and some packaged jerky, which the child was happy to dig into.

On finishing her meal, Lorelei nodded in answer to her mother's query. "Yeah... doin ok, just what were you meaning to show me? This is a pretty rough climb, not like the 'iking I go on with Da."

Dar smirked, "Your father likes to stick closer to the ground, unless he's built a machine, lass. But there's all sorts o' wonders ya see as a gryphon rider, you'll see soon enough. Lets get too it before it gets much colder!"

The trudged onward along the trail, upward and onwards. Dun Murogh was a well traveled mountain, but there was plenty of snow making the trek difficult this time of year.

It was all worth it though, when she saw her child's face as the broke past the cloud line.

"Welcome tae the top o' the world, lass." she put her hand on her daughter's shoulder as the took in the brilliance of the night's sky, away from the lights and clouds... just the brilliance of the stars.

@daily-writing-challenge

#dwc2021 #day082021 #darbiebot.tumblr.com #darlain writings

[infinitegalahad]

HOW TO SAY I LOVE YOU (WITHOUT SAYING I LOVE YOU)

Summary: Everybody in Easy Company can see that Shifty is like a love-sick puppy with a cute truck driver. He loves her, but he's too shy to confess. Popeye, his best friend, can no longer stand to see it. Floyd Talbert is the man of the hour and knows how to get Shifty, who can barely say I love you", to say those three words without actually saying the words. The way to solve this pining? A classic carnival date.

Word-Count: 7.4k

Notes: Howdy y'all! Once again, I am back from the dead! School has been a little crazy lately. I'm still working on requests and opening up some prompts, but I have two essays that are due in a month and aka-my life is a mess but...writing. I hope you guys will forgive me for dying and take this tooth rotting fluff of Shifty and cheeky tab! Shifty basically has a phd in being adorable. It's pure fluff, not a single ounce of angst! Once again, fem reader. Also unbeta read, we die like idiots. Enjoy!

Taglist: @tvserie-s-world @easy-company-tradition @liebgotttme @50svibes (add yourself to my taglist)

“Oh, it’s hopeless!” Popeye sighed, his face landing into his hands. It had gone on for too long. At that point, it was sickening to watch Shifty. As much as Popeye loved him, he couldn’t stand to watch him attempt flirting, or whatever he was doing with his crush. Something had to be done, and the infamous playboy Floyd Talbert was the perfect person for the job.

Floyd had a smirk sprawled across his face as he looked behind Popeye, seeing the interaction blossom between Shifty and his crush. Shifty towered over them, shining his pearly whites and saying something inaudible, earning a sweet chuckle. His sun tanned cheeks turned tomato red as he rubbed his nape.

“I love Shifty, but that poor boy doesn’t even know he’s in love with her.” Floyd remarked. Being a serial dater, he knew how to charm people, with his dashing looks and personality. Floyd studied the Virginian, struggling to hide his obvious affections. His bright smiles, rosy cheeks, spotting them within the crowds-the boy was enamored with her.

Not only was Shifty in love, but so was y/n. Shifty and y/n were both quiet, and shy people. They were adored by the company as being the nicest people alive. You were a truck driver assigned to the company in Aldbourne. Being the only girl donned in pants, the men of easy company were both intimidated and intrigued with you. When you weren’t driving trucks, you were either subjected to Floyd’s advances or the mortar trio attempting to flex their muscles. Y/n eventually eased her way into the company, becoming “Easy’s girl”. Even though you felt welcomed, you didn’t really have a friend you could rely on.

That was until you met Shifty Powers. You met him by accidentally running into him with a box full of mountains. He, being the kind soul he was, offered to help you reorder the thousands of bullets. In exchange, you offered him a ride to a location he was running late to. He introduced himself by Darrell, insisting that you called him by his real name with a smile on his face. He was an undeniable gorogues with sun tanned skin, a smile to die for, and chocolate hair that was golden in the sun. Not only was he attractive on the outside, but within. You were convinced that Shifty could do no wrong whatsoever. Heck, you also believed that he was legally not allowed to curse.

Ever since that encounter, you and Shifty had begun to hang out more. The two of you would talk for hours on end, explore the town of Albourne, escape the bars and find a little bookshop or peaceful space to talk. It was soothing to sit next to Shifty and simply hear him breathe, talk, or smile. It always makes your bleak world a tad bit better. But you were convinced that Shifty wasn’t interested in you, he was too innocent. So you decided that the farthest you would be is friends. And yet, it didn’t sit well with you.

Floyd had noticed that y/n was in love herself. Whenever she was around Shifty, she’d become a mess as well, being clumsy and blushing red. She’d twist a strand of hair in her fingers every time Shifty looked at her, batted her long eyelashes, and looked in the distance to find Shifty, intent on his target, letting out a dreamt sigh.

Floyd was in love with y/n. After all, it was rare to find a female in a company full of men. However, Floyd was Shifty’s best friend, and he wanted what was best for both of them. Popeye could see this too and he was sick of seeing two people who didn’t even know what they were in love with each other.

Floyd, Chuck, and Popeye watched Shifty and you say something to each other. It was pouring outside. Attempting to find your rain jacket, it was nowhere in sight. Shifty, seeing your frustration, took off his jacket and gently put it on your shoulders. You turned around and tried taking it off, but Shifty insisted that you stay warm.

“My pa’ always made sure my ma’ would stay warm. It’s the best I can do,” He reassured.

“Oh Shifty, thank you. This is too kind. How can I repay you?” You offered, wrapping the jacket around your body.

He shook his head, smiling, “I don’t need a single thing from you, miss y/n.”

“Boy, the world truly doesn’t deserve someone like you.” You stated, standing on your tippy toes. “Let’s get out of here so I can sneak you a Hershey bar, or two. How does that sound?”

Shifty froze and looked side to side. It felt like the devil was tempting him. But he could never see y/n as a devil. She was a beautiful angel in his eyes.

“Well,” Shifty put a finger to his lips, “That does sound mighty fine, Miss y/n.”

You took his hand and dragged him to the door, your laughter echoing in the door. Shifty held the door open and let you exit first before closing the door, making your way to the supply room to eat chocolate.

Once Shifty was out of sight, Popeye turned back to Floyd. “I’ve tried to ask him, trust me. He won't say a dang word on it.” He explained, “He thinks miss y/n wouldn’t like a fellow like him. But I’m pretty sure she loves him.”

“You kidding?” Chuck added on, “She spoils him with free food, contraband, whatever. Anything he wants, he gets. She doesn’t do that to any of us.”

“Well, miss Y/n did give me hershey bar last week,” Floyd proudly smirked.

Chuck looked unashamed, “Yeah, because you were trying to convince her to go to the amusement park with her this weekend.”

The Boy from Kokomo playfully rolled his eyes, “Shifty’s not her only favorite.” For a second, he froze, a thought finally coming in his mind. “Wait...the amusement park…”

“She already said no to that one, and all the other dates,” Chuck said.

“I know that,” Floyd replied, rubbing his chin, “I got an idea. For Shifty and Miss y/n.”

Chuck and Popeye looked at eachother, and then Floyd. They could already see the idea forming, but it would take a lot of work.

“I’ve known Shifty all my life. He’s too shy to ask a girl out,” Popeye acknowledged, “He’s too scared of being rejected.”

“I know that.” Floyd pointed his finger as he stood up and fixed his belt, “I’ve got a plan.”

“For once?”

“Yes-be quiet,” Floyd teased, “All those two need is a little push.”

-----------

Shifty looked up and down at the brightly colored paper and at y/n, who was loading up the back of a supply truck. His mouth hung open as his eyebrows rose in diseablief.

Floyd, Chuck, and Popeye stood all in front of him, waiting for an answer. Shifty shook his head and shoved the paper back in Floyd’s hands.

“Oh, I can’t do that. No way.” Shifty denied, his cheeks growing red.

Popeye let out a defeated sigh as Floyd clicked his mouth, walking up to Shifty. “Yes way! Have you not seen the way y/n looks at you?”

Shifty looked in the distance and then back at Floyd, “What? No! She looks at me like I look at you-like a friend. Besides, you’ve seen miss y/n,” Shifty’s gaze turned back to you as the butterflies fluttered in his stomach, “She made it clear ‘dat she ‘dun needa’ man, and I wanna respect ‘dat wish. ‘Sides, she wouldn’t be into a guy like me.”

Popeye shook his head, “God darn it Shift! You gotta realize dat your-”

“In love. L-O-V-E.” Floyd teased, budding shoulders with Shifty. “Based on the dames I’ve been with in Kokomo, I know how women work. She looks at you like a lovesick puppy. The two of you are meant for eachother.”

Shifty looked at Floyd, blinking his eyes like a child looking at a math equation. He still wasn’t understanding. “But...oh, leapin’ lizards! Miss y/n would be into a guy like you. You get all ‘da pretty ladies...how do you dewit?”

Upon hearing Shifty’s pleas for help, Floyd let out a chuckle and slapped Shifty’s shoulder, who looked like a lost lovesick puppy.

“Shifty, Shift, my dearest friend,” Floyd reassured, giving him a double pat, “That’s why I’m here. You’re getting the best advice from your best man.”

Chuck rolled his eyes, “Fan-fucking-tastic Shifty, you boosted his ego. This is going to be great.”

Floyd looked at an unassumed Chuck, giving him a pout. “Oh come now, Chuck! Look at him, he’s in love.”

“But you like Miss y/n! I don’t wanna steal her. I mean, I want someone who can treat her right,” Shifty said, resting his hands on his cheeks.

“Shifty, as your friend, I’m pretty sure everybody in easy company wants Miss y/n to accompany them at the bar for a dance or two.” Floyd explained, trying to encourage Shifty. “I know how much you love her, and I think it’s fair to give you a shot. The only way you’ll get what you want is by working for it.”

He saw Joe Toye walk by you. And even Joe Toye, one of the scariest people in the company, gave miss y/n a subtle nod. She smiled back and gave him a wave, a bandanna in your hair and dirt smudged on your cheek.

Just your mere presence made Shifty melt like an ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day. No matter what you were in, your uniform or covered in pig guts, you always found a way to be absolutely gorgeous. When Shifty had first bumped into you, he was convinced you were a fallen angel. You were too beautiful and bright in the rainy, gloomy Albourne. Yet there you were, always by his side with a smile on your face and story to tell.

Shifty let out a dreamy smile, a crooked smile on his face. “I wanna say I love her…” Shifty added on.``...without sayin’ I love her.”

The boy from Kokomo cracked his knuckles, “Well, don’t I just got the plan for you too. How does nice and slow sound?”

----------

“What are you doin? Stop pushin’ me! I can’t dewit!” Shifty whispered in a hush as Floyd and Popeye pushed him towards the truck where you were loading supplies for easy company.

“Boy, quit being afraid of anything. Take that leap of faith!” Floyd called out before pushing Shifty near the truck before he and Popeye hid for cover.

Shifty turned around to find them before he heard a familiar voice call his name.

“Shifty?”

The Virginian sharpshooter turned his shoulder and hid his hands behind his back, smiling with a piece of his golden chestnut hair falling on his forehead. “Miss y/n! Pleasure to see ‘yah. I hope I wasn’t interruptin’ anythin’ too important.”

“Shifty, you’re too sweet. I was just finishing the last load of K-bars…” You explained, lifting a large box and shoving it into the back of her full truck, unable to see. Finally, done after a long day. Wiping the sweat off of your forehead, you walked towards Shifty only to be greeted by a variety of poppies.

“ ‘ere, got ‘em for you. You said you like the color red…” Shifty blushed, looking to the side. Floyd and Popeye hid behind the side of the truck, giving him a thumbs up.

You took the flowers and examined them, a smile growing on your face. “Oh, these are so sweet! Thank you..” You put the flowers in the pocket of your overalls to retrieve a few hershey bars from the back of the truck, “I’ll getcha’ somethin-”

“Wait, miss y/n!” Shifty announced, following after you as he grabbed your soft hand, pulling you back. You tripped on your own feet, almost falling to the ground before Shifty catched you, his hand on the small of your back. The two of you stared at each other, cheeks both burning with desire.

Shifty coughed and lifted you up, neating your ruffled shirt and cap with your hair messily tucked into. “S-sorry, I…would like to ask you somethin’. Not chocolate, ma’am.”

You raised your eyebrows, insisting that he go forward with his response, his hand still in yours. He didn’t even notice, but you did. You could recognize his soft, tan skin from anywhere.

“Would you go to the amusement park with me? As my date?” Shifty blurted out like word vomit, “I mean, only if you want. If you don’t wanna go with somebody like me, then I understand.”

“Yes, of course I would!” You also blurted out, your face red like a tomato. You took your cap off and hid your face, embarrassed by yourself. Inhaling, you let out an exhale before pulling yourself together. “Shifty, I would love to go with you. I wasn’t even planning on going at all until you asked me.”

Shifty’s eyes sprinkled with happiness, like a child on Christmas morning. “Really? You wanna?” He squeezed your hand, realizing that he was still holding it.

You looked up at him with a warm smile, placing your dirty hand on top of his. “Yes, I would love to.”

Shifty looked speechless. The rumors were true; his smile was infectious. Perfect and bright like the sun of a warm summer day.

“Sufferin’ succotash!” He cried, “Miss y/n? Can I ask you one last thing?”

“Yes, Shifty?”

“Can I give you a hug?”

It was definitely not what you were expecting. But then again, you weren’t hesitant. Shifty could do no wrong-he simply seemed over the moon about asking you out. You were as well, but seeing Shifty’s excitement made you smile and accept it. He was too cute for his own food.

“Yes, you can.” You opened your arms only to have long hands pull you up and spin you around. It was a quick welcome as you spun around, heartfelt laughter escaping from you and Shifty. Shifty could do no wrong, whether that be at shooting or giving the best bear hugs. They were bear-like, but affectionate and protective. He trapped his arms around your waist as you held the back of his necks, your fingers tangled in his soft hair which shined in the sun. Shifty looked amazing no matter what, always glowing.

Babe threw the clown nose off of his face along with the roses Guarnere had picked out for him. Eugene was walking by, mortified to see Babe dressed (apparently) as a clown and a disappointed Guarnere. Not an unusual sight.

“Heffron,” Eugene walked towards a sad Babe, scanning his figure. “What are you doing…”

“I’m heartbroken! Look at them!” Babe mourned, pointing at you and Shifty in an embrace, happily giggling. “I was gonna ask miss y/n out and give her these roses. I dressed up like a clown since I thought we could both be clowns together.”

Eugene simply blinked, perplexed by Babe’s logic. All he could think of was the word Yikes. He would’ve most likely scared away y/n instead of winning her heart over. “Pardon?” He looked at Guarnere for answers, who simply shrugged at him.

“Don’t look at me like that. I tried, the kid wouldn’t listen. He’s a lovesick puppy with that damn dame.” Guarnere explained, crossing his arms as he looked at the happy couple.

The Cajun medic, along with Babe the sad clown and Guarnere, observed you and Shifty. A small smile crooked at his lips. He normally wasn’t one for gossip or dating, but he was happy for the two of you. Even someone as quiet as him didn’t deny the obvious chemistry between the two of you. It was like the two you were destined to be together. Humble, adored, and both beautiful in your own, respective rights.

“Yeah…” Eugene slowly bopped his head, “There sure like lovesick puppies…”

-----------

The Carnival brought light into the gloomy Alborunte with it’s bright rides, laughing children, and joyful ambience. Shifty could recall his childhood with Popeye. Every year, they’d have a carnival during the dog days of August. He loved the shooting games, winning thousands of plushies and eating candy with Popeye until he was sick. He was sure his Ma still had the plushies tucked away in the attic.

But instead of feeling overjoyed, he felt like he was walking on eggshells.

He waited at the entrance with Floyd, Popeye, and Chuck. Chuck kept looking down at his watch, keeping lookout for y/n as Floyd gave Shifty a final pep talk. They were all dressed in fresh uniforms with showers and fine cologne. It was a refreshing change, even if it was for one night.

“Remember, play it cool. You’re sweating’ like a damn dog!” Floyd said, fixing a stubborn curl into his cap.

“Oh, I don’t think I can do this. I mean, miss y/n deserves a real man. I mean she’s so…” Shifty rambled on before Popeye swatted him on the shoulder, gardening his attention to y/n in the crowd. You were far away but to Shifty, you were still recognizable. The girls in the crowd wore plain and monotone colored dresses but you wore a beautiful floral button up with sheer sleeves and ruffles, your makeup done. It was the first time Shifty had ever seen you without your flap cap and dirt on your face, and he wanted a better look.

“Beautiful…”

Floyd smirked and patted Shifty’s shoulders, letting out a dreamy sigh, “God damn it Shifty, you’re lucky I’m being nice to you. Hottie on the dot. Go get ‘em, tiger.”

Giving him a push on encouragement, Shifty’s friends eventually faded into the crowd. Gulping, he began to walk forward towards y/n, who stood in the crowd, waiting in the exact location Shifty told her to wait in. Catching him the corner of his eye, she smiled with her red lips and walked over.

“Shifty!” Y/n exclaimed with glee, looking at his clean uniform and quivering an eyebrow. “Thank goddess I found you…and you look handsome in your uniform.”

“Says the pretty lady talkin’,'' Shifty commented back as he looked down at your tinier form. Now that you were up close, he could admire every little detail from your rosy cheeks, red lipstick, manicured hands, and glimmer in your eyes from the fairy lights. “I mean, you always look very nice but tonight you look stunning’.”

“Oh quit being’ nice to me, Shifty.” You playfully swatted his shoulder, “Every guy’s in the company’s said that to me. Not half of them even acknowledged me before I got dressed up.”

Shifty, like a confused puppy, tilted his head. How could someone such as y/n, who he considered to be the prettiest lady he had ever seen.

“Whaddya mean? You always have been very pretty, ma’am.” Shifty acknowledged, his hands fiddling behind his back. He could feel his palms sweating, seeing the moon reflect onto your glowing skin. “You always look beautiful. It’s just tonight that you look even more beautiful than you usually do.”

You shook your head as you looked down, fiddling with the sides of your dress. Nobody had said those words to you in years. They were truly heartfelt and not some cheap way of getting into your pants. “I may not see it, but thank you Shifty.”

“Well, my ma’ has always told me that I’m one bad liar. I like to say it how it is,” Shifty insisted with a finger in your face, “and I’m saying that you are one hecka’ ova’ pretty gal.”

You smiled at Shifty, amazed by how cute he was. He didn’t even have to try, it was all natural. “Oh Shifty….” You looked down at your shoes, seeing your feet brush against his boots. Clearing your throat, you looked up to talk. ‘I…”

Before you could say a word, you could see Floyd Talbetr in the back. He noticed you talking to Shifty and upon seeing you, had a devilish smirk sprawn over his handsome face. You clicked your tongue, shaking your head. “Oh goodness, doesn’t he see I’m on a date?”

Shifty turned around and bit his lip. He gently grabbed your hand. It felt natural in the moment too, his larger work in your pretty manicured hand. “That son of a gun! I’m sorry ‘bout him, miss y/n. ‘Ere, let’s go. I’m sure he’ll find another lady, but not as pretty as you. I mean she would be very pretty, but not the miss y/n typa’ pretty.”

The two of you walked side by side, hands together. You looked at Shifty, raising an eyebrow. “Are you gonna keep callin’ me pretty the whole night?’

Shifty nodded his head like an enthusiastic child, “Like I said, if it’s true, is true.”

---------

Once the two of you escaped the infamous playboy, you and Shifty walked around the amusement park. The two of you had eventually let go of your hands since something had caught your eye, causing you to mindlessly wander. Shifty followed you like a puppy dog, whatever you wanted to do he wanted. Besides, anything with you was time well spent. Carnivals were something he always enjoyed with their bright lights and shiny attractions, especially with a pretty girl he was in love with. He forgot he was in a raging war whenever he looked at you; with your soft smile and calming words. Just for one night, Shifty could escape into his fantasy world with you, which to his surprise was the reality he was currently standing in.

You were full of life in the park, dragging Shifty to every ride, whether it be scary or for toddlers. The two of you first stopped at the Haunted House, which Shifty was terrified to go into. You were scared, but it was the rush of adrenaline driving you. Shifty wanted to impress you, so he held your hand hand for “safe precaution” and walked in front of you. It was adorable to see him jump back at the slightest scares and mumble under his breath an alternative curse word, such as “leapin’ lizards” or “great scott!”

As the two of you exited the haunted house, lost in conversation, the two of you had been jumpscared. Shifty jumped and grabbed your waist, pulling you in for protection. You felt his stomach on your back and his firm grasp on your waist. You looked up and Shifty, who immediately realized what he was doing. The two of you broke into laughter, a few snorts in the middle. Shifty slowly let go of your waist, wanting to hold on longer.

“Sorry miss y/n.” He apologized, bowing his head. “Jus’ got a lil’ scared in the moment. I don’t mean to be a coward.”

“A coward? Nonsense,” You smiled in reassurance and grabbed his hand, “Your no coward to me. Now come on! There’s more rides to go!”

Shifty was distracted by your beauty as you dragged him along. Once again, the two of you trekked around the park. He was lost in your gaze. How did a guy like him end up with a lady such as yourself? It was hard to deny the butterflies in his stomach. He had never dated in the past. Yes, he had crushes, but they never acknowledged his feelings. He’d do anything for his crushes whether to be holding their books, walking them back home, anything for them, yet he never had his feelings returned. He always felt like he was the second choice. But with you, it was different. You were truly his best friend, and he wanted you to know it, but he still had no idea how to say it.

The two of you decided to take a break and ordered a sugary milkshake to boost your energy for another hour of rides. The two of you sat at a small table in the back, watching the happy couples and children in the distance. The waiter had brought over a milkshake, interrupting your peaceful little silence. Shifty wasn’t even looking at the crowds, he was simply staring at you. His long legs brushed against yours until they finessed each other, making his cheeks go red.

He looked down and saw one milkshake with two heart shaped straws. You raised an eyebrow and fiddled with the straw.

“Odd,” You remarked, examining the milkshake, “ I thought we ordered two…”

Shifty raised his head to see Floyd Talbert in the back, a smirk as he winked, two girls leaning on his shoulders giggling. Was he following them this whole time? Wasn’t he too busy with those girls on his shoulders?”

Shifty tilted his head back down and muttered a curse under his breath, “That son ova’ mother trucker…”

“Shift?” You questioned. He looked up at you, to see that you were already taking a drink. “You okay?”

Shifty rubbed the back of his nape, “Yes ma’am. Ma’ apologies.” He looked at the milkshake and your manicured hands holding the cup down. “Hey! Leave a lil’ for both of us.”

You cutelty giggled, “I haven’t had one of these in a while! I can’t help it. After all,”

“Strawberry, it’s the best flavor,” Shifty had said, and you had followed along in his words. The two of your eyes met, both leaned in close to the milkshake. To cut out the awkarenedess, both of you let out chuckles. A small snort emerged from your mouth, in which you soon covered in.

“Sorry,” You mumbled, hand over your mouth. Your chuckles became faint, another snort escaping your mouth, “It’s not very ladylike.”

Shifty looked puzzled, “Whatcha’ mean? What’s not ladylike?”

“My laugh,” You answered, “I always snort. It’s horrible. Whenever I’d laugh, these girls in my school would make fun of it. I can’t really control it, sorry.”

“Why would they laugh at you?” Shifty looked saddened at your insecurity. You were perfect in his eyes. You truly couldn't do anything wrong. “I think your laugh is very pretty, miss y/n.”

“As sweet as you are, you don’t have to lie.”

Shifty scooted up towards you, his hand sliding onto yours. He had a small smile in his face, his thumb caressing the inner part of your hand. “Well, I am bein’ honest. I ain’t a good liar, you know ‘dat. I’m sure ‘dose girls were jealous of you. ‘sides…” Shifty looked down and back at you with his hazel orbs, “I like your laugh a lot, miss y/n. ‘S pretty, ‘jus like you.”

Oh god, It was happening. Whether it was his cuteness, his Virgianian accent, he was luring you in. You looked up at him as your cheeks grew rosy. The two of you sat there, hand on hand, sipping on a milkshake with the lights glowing in the back. You always had the tiniest crush on Shifty, but it had finally hit you like a bus that it wasn’t some tiny schoolgirl crush-but it was truly love.

You had told yourself over and over that the only reason he liked you was because he was nice to you. You were a cheery person, but deep inside, you had been hurt in the past. Always feeling you were the second choice, you shut yourself out from love. Especially in war. Sure, you were friendly towards the men, but you told yourself you wouldn’t grow close to them. If they died, it would be better. As cruel as it sounded, it was kinder to them are you. It was for the better, right?

That fateful day you bumped into Shifty Powers changed your aspect. You were officially stupid with love, sitting there at a bright carnival, hand in hand as you sipped on a milkshake. He was too kind for you and the world you lived in.

“You’re not gonna stop being nice to me, are you?”

“No ma’am.”

----------

After the milkshake incident, you had noticed you clung onto Shifty more. You were a little taken aback when he asked to hug you. Not that you didn’t enjoy it, you truly did, and it was something that infected your thoughts. Your cheeks would go red and you’d cover the lower part of your mouth. Whenever Shifty walked into the room, it felt like the sun was shining in the dreary Albourne. Just looking at him made your IQ drop to single digits.

And Floyd had caught onto it before you had even noticed.

Instead of holding Shifty’s hand, the two of you walked arm and arm, chatting the night away. The two of you exchanged stories of your childhood, home, and how you ended up where you were. He truly was an angel with a bright smile. He wasn’t like other guys you had met who bragged about themselves. Whenever you would compliment him, he’d deny it with his cheeks all red from embarrassment.

“You’re the best shot I’ve ever seen!” You announced, in disbelief. You had seen him practice a few times, and he would hit every target with grace. “You make it look easy.”

“I’m not a good shot,” Shifty doubted, “But Pa was a good shot. The best shot I’ve ever seen. I think you’d like Pa a lot.”

As the two of you walked in the crowd, you noticed a shooting booth in the corner of your eye. It was a classic paladone duck shooting game. You smirked and pulled his arm to the side, “Well, prove it then.”

Shifty let out a sigh and stood straight, saluting like you like you were Sobel, but much less intimidating. “Yes ma’am.”

You saw him stand there, his fingers curled around the trigger and the butt resting against his shoulder. He took a breath and exhaled, and let the bullets blue. Every duck fell to the ground within a matter of seconds. A minute later, Shifty returned with a large stuffed animal and a smile on his face. He handed it to you. It was a tiny, stuffed bear with button airs.

“For you.” He commented, “I wish they had bigger ones. But I can get you more, if you want.”

You looked at the plusive. You felt juvenile, but it was Shifty. Besides, the two of you weren’t in the army in the moment; you were two lovesick puppies, running around a carnival without a care in the world.

“No, this is...perfect.” You held it close to your chest, “I’ll name him Popeye, a good luck charm.”

Shifty had taken you to every booth he could find, effortlessly shot the gates, and won you more stuffed animals. Whenever he’d give you one, you’d smile like a child on christmas. He loved to see you happy, so he kept doing it more and more. In his mind, it repeated like a broken record, “for y/n”. Wherever you went, Shifty went. Whatever you wanted, Shifty wanted. He was truly a lovesick puppy.

After Shifty’s a thousandth win, both of you walked side by side, arms full of plushies. Each of them were named after members of your company. A racoon named Luz, a black cat named Roe, a cub bear named Liebgott, a fox named Babe, a rabbit named Dick, and so many more. You held up a medium sized shark and nudged Shifty’s shoulder.

“Alright, this one?”

Shifty put some thought into it, “Webster. Doesn’t he like sharks?”

You let out a dry chuckle, “Yeah, he won’t shut up about it.”

The two of you giggled until hitting the next booth and running into a familiar playboy and his newest addition bound to be one night stands. Floyd noticed you and Shifty arrived. He crossed his arms and walked over, faking a cough.

“Look at what we have here,” Floyd scanned you and Shifty, the both of you with wide eyes and stuffed animals overflowing in your hands, “Y’know Shift, I’m proud of you. The whole company hates you for it, you lucky son of a gun.”

Shifty softened his eyebrows, “Wait, they hate me? What did I do wrong?”

Seeing Floyd’s cruel teasing, you interrupted the two. “Floyd, don’t be so cruel,” You put a reassuring hand on Shifty’s shoulder, “Don’t listen to him, he’s just being himself.”

Floyd did a fake pout, “Oh, come on hon. All due respects, but Shifty hit the jackpot before me. After all, he doesn’t miss.”

Shifty and you both went as red as tomatoes, looking sideways. Floyd’s armcandy giggled at his comment and playfully slapped him in the chest. He reassured his sweetheart and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her away.

After Floyd had disappeared to do god knows what, Shifty still looked perplexed and concerned. His thoughts were once again racing. Not about the company disliking him, but Floyd’s comment. Even though he and Floyd were best friends, the two of them were different. He was a playboy in the spotlight, and Shifty was in the back, always tagging along. Growing up, Shifty considered himself to have a loving family. He saw the way his pa treated his ma; giving her his coat, bringing her presents, and treating her like she was a queen. Shifty had never been with a lady before, and he considered you his first real one. Twenty years of age and this was his first rendezvous with a girl, he couldn’t believe it. And he wanted to make sure you were loved and not some jackpot, trying to be won like a competition.

“Miss y/n?” Shifty asked, gaining your attention. He cleared this throat, “I just wanted to tell you that I don’t think of you in ‘dat way.”

“In the Floyd way? That’s alotta’ guys, Shifty.”

“Well, I don’t want you to think I’m doin’ this because of him. Since you’re a very pretty lady, a lot of guys wanted to ask you, and be there arm candy. I just wanted to letcha know now that you're not some kinda prize to be won. I hope to god I ain’t makin’ you feel ‘that way.” Shifty exhaled, letting all his words come out like word vomit. They came out so quickie that he didn’t even know what he was saying.

“Shifty, I know you. You’re a sweetheart,” You kindly affirmed, “Any dame would be lucky to get a guy like you. This has been such a wonderful night, so thank you for that.” The two of you were close to each other, your hands hovering against his chest. His uniform looked perfect on him, you didn’t want to mess it up. Your fingers sucked in as they laid at your side, resisting the temptations that were filling your mind. “But, I do have one request.”

“Anything for you, ma’am.” He vowed, letting you take the floor.

“Teach me how to shoot.”

Shifty look behind you at the booth, a shooting gallery, and then back at you. It was an odd request for sure, especially considering the tender moment the two of you shared. “Like here, right now?” He coaxed. Out of the people, him? He was flattered. No lady had ever asked him something such as that.

You nodded, shrugging your shoulders, insisting, “You are the best shot in the world, after all.”

“Alrighty, if you insist.” Shifty grabbed the small of your back as the two of you walked to the booth. Once you were given the prop gun, you placed the butt on your shoulder and closed an eye, the other looking out of the iron sight. Shifty got right behind you, his chest against your back. He leaned on your shoulder and moved your hand to the trigger and bottom while getting a sniff of your perfume. He never missed, but being around you was definitely a distraction.

“Don’t aim for what you're shooting’, aim’ for where you shootin’,” He instructed, your eyes focused on the moving targets. Shifty hadn’t realized he had put a hand on your waits to turn you over slightly. It wasn’t like you minded his gentle touch.

The moving target came up, and with Shifty’s hand upon yours, you pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the middle of the target, slamming to the ground. However, the two of you didn’t stop. Every target that came, you shot and didn’t miss once. While you were focused on the red targets falling to the ground, you could also feel Shifty’s breath on you and his firm grasp on your hips. His fingers were on top of yours and the trigger. Whenever you were to get a target, he’d mutter “ ‘atta girl…” or “aim a lil’ higher, darlin’.” It made you lose focus, making you thankful that Shifty was right by your side. You lowered the gun, his hands still resting on your hips. When the clerk had announced you had won, you shook it off and walked over to claim your one hundredth stuffed animal. Shifty had a pout as you walked away. He truly enjoyed being close to you.

“Hey,” You called, a smile on your face, “Thank you. I’d like to do that again.”

“Shooting’ again?”

“Of course. I’d like to learn how to do it.”

“Oh miss y/n, I’d love to help, but I ain’t a good shot.”

“Stop denying it,” You affirmed, holding his hands in yours, bringing them to your chest. You looked up at him, the fairy lights glimmering in your eyes, “That you’re a bad shot and not a gentleman and that I deserve to be with someone who can treat me right. You are an amazing shot. This night has been amazing. You are someone who can treat me right. I…” Freezing on your words, the butterflies in your stomach crippled you. You knew what you wanted to say, but how could you word it into a coherent sentence. His hands scrunched in your chest as you still held them close, like a child with a stuffed animal.

“Well, stop denying’ you're not pretty'. Because I think you're the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen,” Shifty confessed as he moved closer to your tinier form, “Not only on the outside, but inside. You're kind, always putting others before yourself. You also sneak the company Hershey bars, even though they don’t need them. You're so interesting to talk to, you can just...light up a whole room when you walk inside of it,” Shifty’s cheeks were burning like a fire as he pulled you close to his body, both of your breaths heavy. “I...oh gosh darn it…”

You looked over to the side and turned back to Shifty, “Ferries Wheel.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go. It’s the last ride of the night before they shut the park.” You exclaimed. Maybe the two of you needed a private place to talk. I love you, it was three simple words. You couldn’t say it and he couldn’t say it. Maybe it would work, maybe it would be a disaster. You had nothing to lose at

this point.

Shifty and you both walked over, seeing that there was no line for the ride. It was late at night. You only had an hour left on your night pass, and you wanted to make sure you used the most of it. What if always lingered in your mind. You knew not to get close to the men in the company, it was for the better. But now, with Shifty holding your hand, it was undeniable.

The two of you boarded onto the small cart, still hand in hand. No words were spoken between you two. You looked at the bright lights, which were getting smaller as you moved upwards. You could feel Shifty’s gaze burn into you. Although the two of you

“Miss y/n?” He broke the silence.

“Yes, Shifty?” You said, turning to look into his Hazel eyes. He smiled and shook his head, using one of his hands to cup the hand he was holding.

“I don’t know how to say this but, I want to be honest with you since we only got a little bit of time to do so. I remember when I first met you and I was speechless, and I still am. I’ve had feelings for you for a long time now but tonight...made me realize them more. It made me realize what a foot I am for not knowing’ sooner. But now, I know. I gotta say it. Miss Y/n, I love you.” Shifty declared, “more than anything in the world. If you don’t like me, ‘dat’s okay. But I can’t hide it anymore. I wanna help you learn how to shoot, I wanna go on more dates with you, I wanna be around you every single day.”

It had finally hit you. You looked at Shifty and chuckled, “You said it. I love you too. I couldn’t find the words for it...but now, I have. I love you, Darrell. ”

You moved to Shifty’s side of the cart and leaned on his shoulder, nuzzling into it as Shifty wrapped an arm around you, pulling you close to his body.

“Have you always loved me?” Shifty questioned, his fingers trailing against your bare arms.

You nodded your head, playing with his fingers. “Since day one. You?”

“Since I first looked at you,” Shifty confessed, “Floyd and Popeye always teased me ‘bout it. I didn’t have the courage to say it before, but they…”

“Helped you. I guess you're not the only one here,” You sighed, just knowing that Floyd had something to do with this. Of course, it made sense for the playboy to make a matchmaker. “I told Luz by accident and you know Luz. Floyd had overheard our conversation and had to include himself. He helped me get a dress and prepare for this all. So yeah, I guess we both liked each other...but we didn’t know it.”

“Well, know we do it. We both love each other,” Shifty said into your hair.

“Yeah…” You looked at the night sky, the stars and moon sparkling. “I like that a lot.”

The cart had stopped on top of the ride. In that moment, you felt on top of the world. Shifty had you in his arms, the temperature wa sprague, the sky was beautiful. It was all coming together now-but there was one missing detail.

Shifty’s arm pulled you in closer before he asked gently, “May I kiss you, miss y/n?”

That was it, the one missing detail. A kiss to wrap up the perfect moment. You turned your body towards him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders. “Yes, you can Shifty. You can do it as many times as you like.”

“Yes Ma’am,” He chuckled like a child. Wrapping his arms on your waist, your lips collided with each other. Your heart began to pound as you felt a desire run from your heart, to my chest, and down toward my inner thighs.

Shifty touched your neck, and the hair as it was moved away nearly gave me the chills. His hands went from the sides of your head and down to your neck, out to your shoulders and down to your hands. He grabbed your hands gently yet firm. You felt safe, he spoke no words. Your heart is about to beat out of your chest as you shut your eyes and took a deep breath out.

Shift kissed my shoulder, and ran his lips on my skin towards my ear, but didn't quite make it that far. It doesn't hurt, it only makes me want more.

Shifty turns you around, and we are facing each other. He stares into my eyes and smiles. Shifty’s two hands grab your left hand as he places your open palm on his heart, and he holds it there. His eyes exude love, protection, security, safety, patience, and respect. You smile and he lets go of your hands, with one hand he runs his fingers through your hair and gently guides your face closer to his, eventually leaning me in to rest my head on his chest.

His other arm wraps around me, and you hope he never lets go.

And in that moment, the world was still. It was you and Shifty, on top of the world.

#shifty powers #shifty powers x reader #shifty powers imagine #band of brothers #band of brothers x reader #band of brothers imagine #we all need a little shifty in the world

[imagineclaireandjamie]

Mod Lenny, I keep re-reading part 4 of The High Road and the Low Road hopeful for part 5. Is it coming soon? Thanks for writing!

The High Road and the Low Road - Part Five

After learning the truth from Claire, a furious Brianna runs to Craig na Dun to prove her mother’s crazy only to fall through the stones herself.

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four

****************************************************

Young Ian looked smug about something. Jamie knew that was rarely a good sign. Having sufficiently scolded his nephew – who hadn’t even bothered to lie or twist the truth about having absconded from Lallybroch without his parents’ knowledge – Jamit turned his attention to the lass Young Ian had brought with him. 

She looked petrified, poor thing. Who was she and what had Young Ian told her as he brought her here? Why had he brought her here? No doubt part of her open-mouthed fear had to do with the yelling Jamie had just done in front of her. 

“Apologies, lass,” Jamie said, bowing his head in her direction. “I ought not to have carried on so in front of ye. I’m Alexander malcolm and–”

“I already told her that’s no yer name, Uncle,” Young Ian confessed. 

“Iffrin,” Jamie muttered under his breath. 

The lass continued to watch him carefully. I unnerved him, her gaze. There was something familiar about her… He must know some of her people – her father or a sibling perhaps.

“Ian says yer name is Brianna?” The name felt awkward in his mouth.

“Brianna,” she confirmed but with a different emphasis, a different accent. Her voice was quiet and unsteady. 

“I met her on the road from Lallybroch,” Young Ian explained. “She was lost and I told her I’d help her find her way to Inverness on my way back. I told her ye’d be fine wi’ her stayin’ wi’ us as I couldna leave her to fend for herself.”

Jamie kept his face controlled, motionless as he fought the urge to wring his nephew’s neck. His rented rooms were small and cramped and he felt no guilt making Young Ian sleep on the floor when he ran away like this – just part of his punishment really. But he couldn’t let the lass sleep so rough. What had possessed the lad to make such an offer?

“Ye’re lost then?” Jamie asked, turning to Brianna, hoping her plight would help to calm and refocus him.

But she only nodded, still too nervous or frightened to speak.

“Well, Ian’s right – I’ll no turn ye away do ye need a safe place, but it’s no the lap of luxury.” 

All he got was another nod.

Jamie sighed and reached past the shrinking girl to take Young Ian by the shoulder and pull him toward the back of the shop. “A word,” he demanded. 

“Where did ys find the lass?” he asked under his breath, his eyes drifting to watch her as she relaxed a little and began to look around the shop.

“It was near the fairy hill,” Young Ian explained quietly. “Craig na Dun.”

A chill went up Jamie’s spine at the mention of that dreaded place. Perhaps the lass – like Claire – had been ripped from all that she knew and was truly lost the way Young Ian said… Had she confided in his nephew? Would she need more help than the lad kent to offer?

“And ye say she’s on her way back to Inverness?” Jamie raised an eyebrow at Young Ian who tried his best to look insulted.

“Tha’s where she asked to be taken,” he explained.

“And so she will be,” Jamie nodded. “Because I’m going to see here there with ye.” (With a stop at the stones if it pleased the lass.) “Then I’m takin’ ye all the way home to Lallybroch.”

Young Ian’s face fell at the prospect.

“But Da’s likely on his way to fetch me as it is and ye cannae afford to take the time away,” the lad objected. “Really, it would help you and them back home more did ye convince Da to let me stay here and work wi’ ye.”

“I’m no interested in an apprentice as doesna do as he’s told,” Jamie countered. “Stop runnin’ away, help yer mam and da for a year wi’out complaint and then we’ll see if ye’re a fair prospect for me to take on. Now, we’ll leave tomorrow if I can manage the arrangements this afternoon. Day after if it takes longer to settle. And whatever this costs me in business, ye’ll be makin’ up to me should I desire to hire ye in future.” Jamie pointed a finger at an increasingly dejected Young Ian before turning to the lass to tell her the plan. 

She was standing Looking over the copy of Pamela from the shelf of popular titles he stocked for patrons to examine. And she was. There was an amazement and reverence to how she held the book, a care to how she turned the pages, a curiosity as she ran her finger over the seams and spine.

“Ye can read then, lass,” he said, unintentionally startling her. 

The book fell to the counter as she pressed a hand to her chest and muttered, “Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ.”

Jamie had been reaching for the book as he saw it falling but was lucky to grab the counter and brace himself as he felt the world shift beneath his feet.

“Uncle Jamie?!” Young Ian cried, dashing over to the man’s side. “Are ye alright?” He looked to Brianna, confused.

But her full attention was on Jamie and she looked frozen and maybe a little terrified.

Jamie brushed off Young Ian’s hand as he got his feet back under him, his own gaze fixed on Brianna, looking her over more closely. The familiarity he’d felt before… how had he misplaced it? She looked like the portrait of his mother still gracing the walls of Lallybroch. He’d always found something irresistible about the way Claire carried herself – not the self-assured confidence of a vain and beautiful woman used to being flattered (though Claire had certainly been the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen), but the confident bearing of a woman who knew and was sure of herself.

Despite the uncertainty and hesitation in her eyes, Brianna stood taller, rising to meet and hold his confused and hungry attention. It was something he’d seen Claire do a hundred times.

“Ye ken who I am?” Jamie croaked, then swallowed hard against the swelling in his throat. His hands felt clammy and shook as he tried to wipe them surreptitiously on his breeks. “Are… are you who I think you are?” he whispered.

“Are you Jamie Fraser?” Brianna asked, her eyes darting briefly – accusingly – to Young Ian. “Your nephew never did tell me your real name.”

“I am,” Jamie nodded. “And ye’re my… Claire – she… she told ye then? She sent ye?”

“She told me,” Brianna confirmed quietly. “She also told me you were dead.”

“Then she is yer daughter,” Young Ian piped up, victory rising in his voice. “I kent ye must be, soon as ye said yer mam’s name was Claire and that she was English. Ye’re the spit of Uncle Jamie and everyone at Lallybroch kens the stories–”

“Ian,” Jamie interrupted sharply. “Go see to the back.”

“See to what in the back?”

“Just go.”

“Ah… right. I’ll leave ye two to get acquainted,” Young Ian rambled, color rising in his cheeks and a smug expression blooming on his face. He disappeared from the room, though, and Jamie finally looked away from Brianna long enough to move to the front door and lock it against further disruption. 

“Is Claire… How is she?” Jamie asked, still too unsure what to make of the grown daughter standing before him. 

“Well, she’s probably worried and pissed at me,” Brianna said with a wary sigh. “My trip here wasn’t exactly planned – I mean, not just to Edinburgh but to seventeen-whatever year this is.”

“1766,” Jamie informed her. “It’s been twenty years since I bid yer mother farewell… I’ve thought of her – of both of ye – and prayed for ye every day since then.”

His voice was quiet and sad, broken and earnest. It tugged at Brianna’s chest in an unexpected way. She’d heard that sorrowful longing before. 

It had been in her mother’s voice when she’d told Brianna about Jamie – about losing him. 

She took a step closer to him and reached out to rest her hand on his arm. He stilled beneath her touch like an animal spooked and debating whether to flee or play dead. The thought helped put her own trepidation into perspective. He was just as intimidated by her as she was by him – perhaps more.

Brianna reached for what they had in common and found further comfort in speaking about her mother. 

“I’m pretty sure she thought about you and prayed for you a lot too,” she told him. “I didn’t know about you for a long time growing up, but since she told me… there are a lot of things about her and about her and Daddy that make more sense now.”

“Frank,” Jamie replied with a tamed disgust that gave Brianna pause. “Did he treat ye well? Both of ye?”

“Always,” she said confidently before flashes of doubt flickered in her now-untrusted memory. “At least… I know he loved me and never treated me… I don’t even know. I never doubted him or questioned that he – and I always though he and Mama were happy. Now… now I wish I’d listened to her more when she was telling me the whole story and that I hadn’t – well, let’s just say I could’ve handled the news about you better.” She flushed, remembering her behavior.

For the first time the air of sorrow and longing lifted and she noticed curiosity creep into Jamie’s face.

“Aye, I can imagine it must’ve come as a shock to ye,” he assured her, his tone slightly cautious. “I didna ken what to make of it myself when she first told me the truth of where she was from. Didna matter much to me either – I was already too far gone for her. But she didna seem to care o’er much for my askin’ her was she a witch.”

Brianna stifled a laugh as the mental image of her mother first as the Wicked Witch of the West popped into her head before it transformed into Claire as Glinda floating in her giant bubble. Traveling by bubble was far more appealing than the thought of touching those stones again.

“I may have called her a few colorful things,” Brianna confessed. “I don’t think ‘witch’ was one of them, though. No, I was thinking more about the poker I hurled through the window,” she added in a quieter voice.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise and then she laughed. The surprise faded to an amused and prideful smile.

“Well… that might be a bit of the Fraser temper,” Jamie told her with a knowing nod, then leaned conspiratorially forward. “Though yer mam did throw a bit of crockery now and again – usually at my head.”

It was Brianna’s turn to mirror his surprised and impressed expression. This time they both laughed, drawing Young Ian from the back room.

“Ye’re no laughin’ at me, are ye?”

****************************************************

Ian had secured them lodgings for the night. They would reach Edinburgh the next day by his reckoning and he assured Claire that it was highly likely that Brianna and Young Ian had already reached the safety of Jamie and the printshop.

“Ye’ve heard it from at least three folks as have seen them making their way,” he reminded her as they ate from a tray in their meagre room. She would (reluctantly) take the bed while Ian and Roger made do on the floor with the pillows and blankets she insisted they take from the bed. 

“Aye, Claire,” Roger chimed in, “she’s no alone and that’s the key thing. She’s safe and we’ll find her.”

“I don’t doubt that,” she asserted, though with less conviction than she hoped to convey. “It’s just… if I’d known he was alive and that they’d be meeting one another… It’s not how I would’ve wanted them to meet is all. For them to be blindsided by it–”

“I doubt Ian managed to keep it secret from her, did he truly ken who she was,” Ian speculated. “He’s the Mackenzie knack for plotting mischief, but no the knack for carrying it out well. More like to muck it up, that one,” he finished with a laugh. 

He rose to carry away the empty tray over Claire and Roger’s objections. 

Left alone, Roger still kept his voice low as he asked Claire, “Have ye thought what ye mean to say to Jamie when ye see him? What it means now ye ken he’s alive?”

Claire face told him what he already suspected – she’d been thinking of little else.

“Ye said it gets worse each time ye try to pass through the stones, aye? And ye werena sure ye’d even survive a trip back… Maybe… maybe it’s because yer place is here with Jamie,” he suggested.

“And where would that leave Brianna?” Claire challenged. “She’s still not over losing Frank and everything she’s ever known has just been pulled out from under her. What kind of mother would I be if I abandoned her now too?”

“Maybe ye won’t have to choose,” Roger replied, hope and resignation warring within him. “Maybe she’ll want to say.”

“I doubt that very much.”

Roger looked at Claire until he caught her attention completely.

“She didna just pass through the stones and run straight back,” he reminded her. “Brianna chose to come to Edinburgh. And she’ll have met a father she didna ken she had. You didna think to stay until ye met Jamie. She might surprise ye.”

“I’ve lived longer with both Brianna and the pull of life on either side of those stones,” Claire pointed out. 

“And? What do ye think will come of it?”

“Heartbreak. Maybe not at first, but eventually. And the bit before the heartbreak has to be enough to help you survive it all.”

“Well,” Roger nodded and smiled. “I’ve heard ye tell plenty of yer time here before ye went back, so I think it’s a safe bet to say it will be.”

#fittergirl #the high road and the low road au #;mod lenny #featuring: brianna #featuring: young ian #featuring: ian #featuring: roger

[sunritual]

Robots don’t need to be sentient to destroy us.

Navy mock neck long sleeves big orange and little white stripe on tube cage sides

A veritcal line stretch waistband

Cross cross and straps back

Square high neck

Scarlet polka dots around can light blue text and beach image as front

Blue stroke red inside square, blue triangle rainbow with eye and funky font

Y either know a particular topic or not , but it’s hard to pin down intelligence on one category

Cream background , ice cream pink script name kinda bev hills hotel script looking ish

Move your mouth in a differ way

Supersonic vibrating butt cleaner

Half magenta half red violet a blue teacup in the center with white floral frills thick serif font

Pink background am orange flower in a vase white present ribbon n red as a table

An app that familiarizes people with science - through experimental learning ― hands on experiences that make it seem less top down and authoritarian , and more like a set of steps that we take, things that anyone can do to get closer with nature and the world

A social media philosophy app - teaches what others said and gives people a chance to express their views , postulate, argue, etc gadfly? How would be avoid a shit show, how can we make social media more humanitarian. how can we care about people while also expressing deeply held ideas , how can we encourage users to examine their deeply held ideas without alienating them. How can we discourage hatred and abuse and groupthink with design? How do we slow people down and encourage them to recognize the human behind the screen. Street epistemology? Socratic dialogue?

Socrates - asking questions. Breaking it down to bits. Deeply understanding their argument. Asking about different possibilities and circumstances. Take vast assumptions and show scenarios that make go against them.

Build fact checking into apps

Narrative self vs experiential

Walks you through steps of the sciefitifc method and encourages you to explain how you feel each step actually helped you- then walks you through a scientist doing the same for their reasarch

Republicans only want to be free in the specific ways that benefit corporations

Are Christians more willing to support the death pen early because they already believe in the cruel and overstepping punishment of hell?

Where did the idea come from that you need to remain impartial when trying to persuade

The idea that there is someone in a similar but different dwelling, hearing similar but different sounds and feeling similar but different feelings is wild

We synthesize sets of traits, and particular actions in a super biased culturally constructed way

With the way we see things as humans- we categorize things into groups that aren’t really reaaal ― paratheletic groups

I just want the people and jobs that benefit society

Connection to nietzsches Dionysian art and eckheart tolle/Taoism

No matter your personality, there is probably a part of the world that you would fit in with naturally.

An ordinary girl is selected as one of the representatives of earth in the first meeting of various alien species after one advanced planet discovered and United 10. Confused as to why she was chosen, she goes on her journey meeting

Wha ba Bada da da da da dada he’s a wha ba ba dadada as a matter of fact it’s not my fault if you came up here thinking that you would win

Wanting to break boundaries and rules for the sake those who are hurt by the rules

You are imagining the best case scenario of the life you want to have and experience Ming the reality of the life you so have.

Yes her drips cosmetics line to students i. Class

Chez it people can goldfish people

Your personality flows where a system needs it to go to maintain balance

Ah you fucking saw a tik Tok about that didn’t you

Coincidence and intention are two sides of a tapestry, my lord. You may find one more agreeable to look at, but you cannot say one is true and the other is false.””

Clay busts with abstract art and philosophical musings (throws up)

Do a sketch a day

What if someone ran for president as an impression of a famous person

Full stemmed flowers, wiggly text creeping behind

Balloons of various sizes and cooors holding people and things

Kelly green cream hot pink black

Green outline one pink air brush cream background black marks

Emdr applebees , bat mitzvah toasts Amitals bat mitzvah , Fiona - i like her better just kidding ,

We tend to learn words by synonyms and not definitions

A bully who takes a kids lunch money everyday all through out high school and secretly puts it in a Roth IRA and presents it to them at graduation

Set up drum set

When it comes to something we have no knowledge of or evidence or proof being certain is the most illogical thing you can be

Getting a degree in philosophy is the not going to college of going to college

It ain’t what they call you it’s what you answer to

You don’t just get to jump from bright moment to bright moment - part of the job is the frustrating ones and the climb to get to be actually good. It’s gonna be bad in the beginning but it’s a measure of how dedicated you are to your craft. Frustration is the process.

You have to decide whit shit sandwjicj you prefer - everything is gonna suck some of the time but if you pick your dream you’ll have those bright moments and at least that shit sammie will be worth it - the bad parts of job you have no interest in don’t add up to anything. If you love what you do you will accept the downsides.

People are like tape. Going through the world collecting bits and pieces of things but none of those things are really them . We can identi ft with them and create with them but we can also escape from them.

I wonder what all these people think about being alive

Curiosity makes everything play. It invites exploration. It makes me see opportunities everywhere makes everything new

Bias to action. Try things. Get your hands dirty, fail Fortean and find what works. Remaining nimble and constantly rethinking

Reframe the problem. Step back, re-examine the problem, examine biases and be open to new solutions

Clay matches clay fire

The differences and similarities between us

Looking back, historical events seem bound to happen, but a few small events could’ve stopped them. Thinking diffently.

“They became revolutionaries despite themselves”

Artists way workbook design

I’m at Eton having to walk around to quell the feeling of being so exited about the future and my possibilities and so sure of success and beauty and magic and love and adventure. I’m going to make beautiful pictures I’m going. To tear down the status quo I’m going g to make people feel like they have on antigravity. I’m so a part of it i made it. I’m a muse I’m it omg I’m so exited - listening to John Denver

Joy is just a thing that he was raised on love is just a way to live and die.

The only thing that made Abe Lincoln Abe Lincoln (tm) was doing what Abe Lincoln (tm) did. The actions that he took made him a hero in history. There was nothing i ate in him that made his great, his actions did. Whatever help inate qualities may have gave him in terms of doing the actions that made him what he was could be negated by pma and doing the damn work to get yourself to where you need to be. Believing it so makes you inclined to take the actions that improve your skills and get to to the point where you can do the things it takes to be who you want to be.

Little vases

I feel like we’ve become addicted to finding things wrong with what people say. Silence the critic. It’s fine. Most people have the best intentions. It’s not that serious. The group you are offended for likely aren’t mad anyway. There is way more you can do - they don’t care about picking the right term

I wanted a very simple menu that could maximize customization options in The shortest amount of time possible for a very fast paced food truck. The system allows the customers to design their own grilled cheese sandwich but ideally would save time by not requiring each guest to decide which cheese and which bread from a long line of choices.

I feel I’m so afraid of being dunning Krueger that i tell myself i am terrible at everything no matter what i actually think about my abilities. You can just say your a beginner you don’t have to say you suck. Plus thinking you suck doesn’t make you any better, honestly worse. You don’t have to rate your abilities just focus on the future, make sure your doing baby steps and make sure they are the right baby steps

Chives ward off insects

Loving thebsunlightttttyt!!

I don’t think music is really something that needs to be critiqued for me ― it’s more about feeling it’s about magic and truth and light or darkness. Getting whatever needs to be out out. it all serves a purpose and is for an audience , if your not in that audience then there’s no need to comment

I have to is weird backwards idea that it’s Nobel to be like you know what I’m not good at this imma bow out. But that is so wrong you have to struggle through it. Pike how i feel like my thoughts are more concise then my writing. There’s no glory in not trying to improve that. You have to awkawardly write until you can beautifully write.

[gallickingun]

reality-is-often-disappointing x denki || gallickingun matchups

@reality-is-often-disappointing : I, have shamelessly came here on note for a first tier matchup. MHA, my hobbies are a wild variety that includes mainly singing -as i have an ' amazing' alto voice- writing, drawing -in pencil mainly but also acrylics on canvas- I'm good at cooking -better thank baku if I do say so myself- reading fanfics obv, fangirling/gushing over hot guys with the girls yk? my dress code is ultimate modesty as i dont like showing skin, yet it's classy chic, very picky while shopping yes. my favorite colors are blank and vintage pink. aesthetic is more cutsie unicorn colors -my rooms main colors- but i actually only ever like wearing black. i do know how to swim but cant because *da-dun* i have dry eyes/also wear glasses. my favorite food is dark chocolate w/ those bits of cherries or oranges. as a first date i'm open to anything from a movie in or out, to walks on the beach or even just the arcade. i'm a she/her, and currently feeling like i'm going for a guy as a match triggers: only degradation or backtalking, it makes me anxious, a paranoid mess and i'll most definitely end up crying without even noticing. 165cm or 5'5 dark natural black hair (the 80s lion cut up to collarbone & a fringe) eye color, theyre black/brown when in sunlight. im white with a med and warmish olive undertones, natrually rosy cheeks -holy dark circles- full brows and what i've been called as "doll-like-eyes" or "cat-eyes" since theyre big and long naturally curled lashes. My birthday is on 31st of october, scorpio, INFP personality to cut short for you! I'm a child-free spirited but also am like-mature at maximum effort. I either sleep 3 or 16 hours there is no inbetween (once slept for 24 hrs but I'm not going to talk about how that freaked everyone out) I've been singing since I was three or since I've remembered. Secretly wanted to go on those x-factor shows but bleh, no. Fame is not really for me. Anywho, love you! Have fun with this and drink water! 🎵

Thank you so much for sending in the request for this! You’re such a gem, I really appreciate every time I get the pleasure of interacting with you, darling 🧡

― Denki would love the fact that you sing! He thinks you have a beautiful voice, and even if you’re across the house, if he hears you start to pick up a tune, he’ll join in! ― I think the two of you would pull all nighters together some nights, and other days sleep until you’ve passed the whole weekend by without doing much of anything. Denki can stay up until the sunrise, or he can sleep until noon, whatever you want to do! ― He loves your free spirit, it makes it easy to take you on adventures and experience the world with you. 

⁂ Denki will randomly offer to pick you up from work, and the two of you will drive a couple of hours to the countryside or the beach - windows down, music blaring, singing until your throats are numb - and you’ll spend a night or a weekend away from the world, just wrapped up in each other. 

⁂ He’s a horrible cook, absolutely terrible. Kaminari loves that you cook dinner most nights, because not only does he get to eat your delicious food, he also gets to praise the heck out of you for preparing a wonderful meal. He really adores it when you make too much and he gets to take the leftovers to work the next day. Of course he brags about you to all of the other heroes, and he really loves the note you leave on top of the tupperware. 

⁂ Even if the two of you aren’t actively together, you’ll still stay up late. Sometimes you watch Kaminari while he plays video games, laying on the couch with your legs over his lap while he mashes the controller buttons and speaks to whoever is on the other side of the headset. In between each match or round, he’ll slip the headphones off his ears and run his palm along your calf, massaging your leg, “Whatcha doin’, babe?” And he’ll listen to you drone on about whatever YouTube video you were watching, whatever thing you’re reading, or whatever social media event has gotten your attention. 

⁂ He learns how to harmonize in order to compliment your voice better. He shows it off one night when you’re singing along while cooking dinner - Denki sidles up behind you, arms around your waist, and starts to harmonize in your ear along with the song you’ve been captivated by for the last few weeks. You feel warm at the sound of his voice, and even more so due to the effort he’s put in to prove to you that your interests are his interests. And boy, is he interested in you. 

⁂ Kaminari will be down to try all kinds of fruit chocolates with you - you guys even play a roulette style game where you have to guess what kind of fruit is hidden within the chocolate. You win, mostly, because Denki just wants to stuff his face with sugar so fast that he doesn’t recognize the fruit chunks. But he still plays and is in awe of you getting every single one right because you never fail to amaze him. 

Denki slips in through the doorway, sliding off his shoes in favor of his house slippers as quietly as possible. He notices that the television is still flickering on and off, images bouncing off the glass of the window panes scattered throughout the living room walls. A chuckle parts his lips when he sees you curled up in one of his old hero merch designs - a hoodie that is too large for you, so big that it would seem it has swallowed you whole. Your legs are curled into your chest and your head rests on the arm of the couch, gentle snores making your nostrils shudder.

He tries to pick you up, slipping his arms carefully beneath your frame. But somehow you stir, your eyes peeling open lazily as you smack your lips, slowly sinking away from the realm of slumber. A gentle smile tugs on your lips and you frame his face with your hands, “Another late night?”

“Duty calls,” his voice does not sound as excited as it once did to get those midnight rings from the agency. Now, he just aches to be at home with you at the decent hours of the night, where he can hold you and fall asleep with you and remember why he fell in love with you all over again, every time he gets the faintest of whiffs of your perfume or your shampoo. 

“Dinner is in the oven,” you are murmuring, your head lolling against his chest as he settles you into his hold, “I waited for you to start the next season.”

Kaminari is laughing, but the sound of it sobers you up and you grab him by the collar of his jacket with the one arm that is listening to you tell it how to move, the other pinned between your bodies, “H-Hey, don’t laugh at me! I waited for you to start it, now we’re gonna start it.”

Somehow you’re settled back into the couch, hands desperate for him as you search his torso for somewhere to find purchase. Kaminari leans down and kisses your forehead and then the tip of your nose, his lips hovering just above the bow of your mouth as he whispers, “Whatever you want, honey.”

Matchups Original Post | Ko-Fi | Patreon | Commissions | AO3 | Writing Tag

Please check HERE to see if I’ve done your matchup already. Remember, I will also post your matchup with the tag: “#emoji-matchup”, using your emoji in place of the word, so if you can remember your emoji, you can search my blog for that tag to see if I have completed it already!

#kaminari denki #bnha #mha #my hero academia #bnha matchup #mha matchup #kaminari matchup #kaminari denki matchup #morgan does matchups #reality-is-often-disappointing #🎵 matchup

[wickymicky]

wickymicky’s Top Ten Kpop Songs of 2020

4: Everglow - La Di Da

Retro concepts are hit or miss with me. I don’t have nostalgia for 80s music, for instance, because I was born in 1996 lol. And yet, as soon as the instrumental in this song got going and those synth hits came in right after the first line, I knew I was gonna love this. This song isn’t just a retro concept… its genre isn’t just “80s throwback”... it’s a genre called synthwave or neo retro wave or other names like that. It’s a relatively recent genre that, yes, is obviously based on 80s nostalgia, but is a new thing all its own. It’s based on the sound of action movies and science fiction movies from the 80s, but if you really look at stuff from that era, there wasn’t anything that quite sounds the same as synthwave from the 2010s. It has a lot in common with vaporwave in this way. Vaporwave is clearly retro inspired, but there wasn’t anything like vaporwave back then, lol. It’s a modern reimagining of retro aesthetics.

So like, as soon as it got going, as soon as I saw the visual aesthetic, I knew exactly what was happening and I was 100% on board. As far as I know, there weren’t any other kpop songs in this style, though Twice dabbled with some synthwave aesthetics and sounds for I Can’t Stop Me which came out around a month after this song (and that’s almost certainly a coincidence, I’m sure JYP picks these songs wayyyy in advance and it was probably chosen even before La Di Da came out), but La Di Da commits to this aesthetic and genre way harder than that song does. The thing that struck me the most on the day La Di Da came out, and still makes me lose my mind when I listen to the song now, is how authentic it is. Synthwave has had some mainstream acceptance and some songs in this vein have been released by some big artists recently I think, but for the most part it’s been kind of a niche underground genre. I first discovered it by stumbling on hour-long youtube videos that were “compilations” or “mixes” of various synthwave/retrowave songs or soundscapes found on soundcloud and sites like that. This song is a pretty hard commitment to a style of music that really does come just from the internet, and I think it’s amazing that the songwriters paid tribute to it in such a prominent way.

With that out of the way, let me talk about the song itself lol. Fuck, what a good chorus. I do have my complaints with it, but they’re relatively minor. First of all, though the line distribution in this song is marginally better than their previous title track, the chorus is still sung the exact same way all three times it plays in the song. Sihyeon begins it, Mia sings the second part, and that’s it. They’re great at it, but I would have appreciated a little more variety, at least for the second chorus, to break things up in the middle of the song. Also, I just think the word “haters” is pretty silly, there’s no way to say “I don’t care about haters” without sounding like you do really care about the haters. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be saying it lol. Anytime anyone’s like “Got no time for haters” I’m just like “wow the haters must really get to you, huh?” But anyway, they didn’t write that line, they’re just singing it, it’s not a huge deal lol, it’s fine. The chorus is undeniably really really good, it’s so good that I got over my eye-roll about the “got no time for haters” line pretty fast and I sing along with it every single time now haha. Damn, it’s so catchy. With so many choruses in kpop songs being drops lately, having a chorus sung this powerfully and prominently is like a religious experience lol, it’s fantastic. I love the verses too, I think they flow really well and really complement the synthwave aesthetic well, something about it all coming together just *works* for me. All the little synth additions throughout the song are so authentic too, it just makes me so happy. That synth solo right after the second chorus is perfect.

This song kind of snuck up on me. I like Everglow, I’ve been into them since their debut. I liked Adios, but I wasn’t as happy with the direction it went in. Dun Dun was pretty similar to Adios, and although I like it better than Adios, I still wished that they would do something like Bon Bon Chocolat again, and I could feel myself losing interest in the group as they went more and more down a road that didn’t excite me as much. Their style of girl crush in those two songs is cool, but isn’t something I come back to over and over. It’s a little too… idk… beefy, lol. Too ostentatious. Too built around the drop and saying cool lines as if they’re just catchphrases, and not as much around just being a catchy song that I find new reasons to love every time I listen. By the 10th listen, I pretty much got all of what those two songs had to offer. I do like them, and I listened to them both a lot when they each came out, but they haven’t stayed with me the way you hope a song does. 

So when La Di Da was announced, I didn’t expect much. I expected another song that I would listen to on repeat for a week or so and then move on to something else. And tbh, I was fine with that. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s like candy or junk food lol. Not everything has to be monumental and become my favorite song instantly, some things can just be something fun to listen to for a little bit. There’s value in that. And I mean, a song that is junk food to me, that I listen to for a bit and then move on, could be someone else’s favorite stuff, and the stuff that is junk food to them might be my favorite stuff, so I’m not saying that Adios and Dun Dun are objectively uninteresting, I’m being very subjective with this lol. Just speaking for myself here. In any case, yeah, I didn’t have a ton of expectations for La Di Da. 

So like, when it came out and I listened to it for the first time, I was absolutely floored. Nobody told me it was gonna be that good lol, I was not prepared at all. Cignature, Fromis 9, and CLC also released comebacks in September, and I had high hopes for all those. I thought for sure that the Cignature or Fromis 9 comeback would be my favorite song of the month, but I ended up listening to La Di Da like twice as many times as any of those other ones haha. I wasn’t even intending to! I wasn’t streaming it and forcing myself to listen to it over and over! I just couldn’t stop. I didn’t think it would be in my top 10 either, because Everglow, while being a group that I like, aren’t one of my ult groups or anything like that. But I can’t deny it. This song is so damn good lol. Here it is, at 4th place. Incredible. Completely reinvigorated my hype for Everglow too. Can’t wait to see what they do next, and I hope Yiren and Sihyeon get well soon

links to the rest of the list: 10 - Fiesta (Izone) 9 - Crossroads (GFriend) 8 - Assa (Cignature) 7 - Boca (Dreamcatcher) 6 - Kick It (NCT 127) 5 - Cool (Weki Meki) 4 - La Di Da (Everglow) 3 - Mago (GFriend) 2 - Tag Me (Weeekly) 1 - Scream (Dreamcatcher)

#2020 list #everglow #la di da #ladida #if they do put yena in this group after izone disbands... i could see her really flexing her stuff in this song #but thats neither here nor there

[okayish-omens]

Eddies in a box

or Flowers in a Box but it’s cyberpunk. anyway here u go

Chapter 1 – The Beginning

autors note: okay just so you know i dont like this game. well sorta, but not really. but my older sister really like it though so i'm writing it for her as a present for her birthday. :) i hope that she likes it!

dedcated to my sister, haley :)

-okay beginning now-

Vee walks into the flat megabuildign 10. he is wearing a scarf and has squinty eyes. then he sees johnny sitting on the chair in the flat. the flat is pretty and has many BDs in it.

"hollo johnny" he says

"hello Vee" jonnhy says but bitchily.

"what are you on your period of something?" said ve also bitchily (but Johnny can sound way more bitchy because Koala Reeves plays him)

"you should knows i'm not a girl after you spend all night sucking my dick ;)" said johnny (johnny has the hots for v even if he has squinty eyes)

(i bet johnny has a squinty eyes fetish)

"what?' said ve e because he was smoking and not paying attention.

"oh nothing i guess that was a dream" said jonnhy sadly

"oh cool" said vee (hes kind a dumbazz lol) "anyways i came back from the store because rogue says we have a new case"

"oh really?" johnny said. He got up and walked over to eve. "Wow that's cool :)"

"We should go" said vee. "rouge will be wondering where we're going"

-some time later-

The crime scene was very bloody. It was at a muesum. everyone was there. even Takemura (everyones a bitch in this game and so is takemura). Takemura walked over to veee and there was some black chick by him (she kinda looks like the girl from being human, lol i love that show you sould watch it)

"Hi freak-v” Takemura said. (hes a jerk but he gets alot of dick he's like a pimp lol)

"why don't you go fuck a dinosaur taekmura" said Eev. 'jerk and also your cheating on your Wife."

"WHAT" said tkaemura (even though he's pimp hes still lame :)) and then he run off (but he didn't fuck a dinosaur like frea-v said)

(i know i'm not that good but the story isn't that bad :D please review)

Then Rouge came by and that made stuff more interesting. (i like her shes cool).

"Hi vee" she said. "how is this case going"

"Good" said V. "I think I know the killer"

"wow vee you're so hot" Said Jhonny.

"what?" said v.

"I mean smart" said johnyn.

"i know right?" Ve says

"can you just tell me who the killer is?"

V looked down at the body and narrowed his already squnty eyes. then some white words (it happens in the game guys don't flame me) appeared in front of him.

"the killer is takemuar;" said Vee e. "because he is a douche".

"Ok arrest him guys" said Rgoue. "Thanks vea for your help".

"no problem," said V.

"cool"

then they took away takemura, but someone was watching from the shadows. Someone who would want revenge.

-authors note: please r and r! i'll write more i have a great twist coming up :)-

Chapter 2 - The Skull

autors note: FCK H8TRS ! but for that 1 person who liked my fic thnx you 3 ! ! keep reviewin guyz! :)

-2 days earler-

takemura stempted through the doorway of the door. in side was a bunch of creepy stuff like spider web and a fish tank with deadly fish and a hammer head shark in it. and so was adam smasher.

(i hate yorinobu i like to call him Adam MASHER :))

Tkaemura sat down at the tabel across from smasher. "hello" he said.

"hello takemura why are u here" said smaher

"well yor i was wonderi ng if uo could fix somthing for me." said Taekmura. (get it cause in the game they say 'adam can u fix it for me? :O)

"wat?" said smaser

"well u see in the future this guy caled V-" said takemura

"oh i know him hes tawsome" said smashr

"ikr anyways he arrests me in the da future so i ned you to kill him." said taekmura

"how do u know the futre" masher saided

"well you see" said takemura

-FLASHBCAK-

Takemura is in the megabuild10 wen he touches Vees skull (not his REAL skull under his ksin lol his UNREAL 1 on the s helf)

then he (dun dun dun)… COULD SEE THE FURTE

-flashnack over-

"cool faslback" said smsher

"i know right"

"you no takemura you're really pimpin (well it's true real the first chatper of my sotry) so I think i will kill him for you"

"thnx then" said takemura.

"your welcome" said smashre

-back at the flat in the presnt time-

"i wonder what adam is doing now" sid vee

"yea me to," said johnny wisfuly "last time we saw him was at the hq. remember it blew up becasue u shot the bomb then the elevator began to explode. Yorinoub jumped away on his mototcyle-copter and smasher fired up his lazers into the smoke and climed up them. i pushed you in too the water beloe and (can you guys tell im trying to add more desription to make it god :)) saved us botg. then rouge came in and saved us. we never saw adma agan after that night.'

"yea johnyn …. i know i was there." Veee said.

johnyn did not like smasher much he liked to call him MASHRE haha (like me) because vee obvously liked him better. vee was a smart man who neded someone to kepe him intrestd johnny was simply a borin rockstar terrorist. he wold nevre me as good as adam..

he looked over at the skull which lay on the shelf… … . . and had an idea.

(okay guys do u like it? i added some more long bits and i tried to make it good and post some good scifi stuff in it :) :) :) please REA DAND REVIEW

Chapter 3 – The Kill

athorus note: thnx for all the revews guyz! I really aprciate it :) btw I found some bold font on my compter so now I;m going too bold some fstuff to mke it more dramatic ::)

-presetn time-

Vee and johnny were having dinner at a resuatrant. Mama welles was theyre (it's funny because JACKIe and yea) and they were eatin g gphagetti because thats what italina people eat (or maybe mama welles is spans hi cant remember) and she brouhgt over some candles and it was nice BUT THEN

a guy with a gun crahsede through the widow and shot vee dead and he fell to the floro dead and johnny said "OH NO" and held him in his arms

a single tear dripped donw his check add it was sad. every one of the cnadels in the restuarnt was blone out. it was sad.

"WHO" said johnyn. "WILL SOLVE THE CASE OF VEES MURDOR IF HES DEDA"

it was a sad day.

-back at the flat-

johnyn was stiging theye sad when all of a sudden the dore opend. in came a fmalr face- it was (dun dun dun) VEE.

"WOW SAID JOHNNY" "your mback!"

"i know" said eev "wait wat do yu o mean"

"you died"

"no i didnt" said v

"WHAT"

"yea i didnt why do u say i did."

"because you did!"

"hmmmph" said veee

"okay" said jhonny and then he went aoutside

then he saw misty (who is uhso tarot reder) and she said johnny i need "to talk to you"

"oka" he said

mitsy said "look eve died"

"yeah i know :(" sdia johnny

"but hers here"

"yea i know" said johnny

"see what happned is when vee touched the skull he sthins he saw the futue but realy his future self was swraped with his past self so his ptas self died and his futre self lived"

"oh" said johnny. "okay"

"lok smashre is trying to kill vee's fture slef you have to help him"

johnny thought about what would happen if vee wa s a striper "I DEDUCE THAT UOU ARE SEXY" he said

"what" said mistey

"nothing okat bye" said johnny going back

futurev was there and he said "hi johnny"

"hi Veea"

-1 day later-

"okay hi" said takemura "you said you killed him but hes skill alive"

"i know" said smashr. "because he touched the skull too"

"oh no"

"yes. which means that your past self has been aresttd and is in hail right now"

"good" said tkaemura

"no not good"

"i mean tnot good " said takemura

"godo said" adam "anways we need to kill the other vea too okay"

"okay" wait no

"pahy me"

"okay i'm a pimp so i have lot of mony"

"colz"

-1 day earlier-

vee touhec d the skull

-1 day later, at the flat-

John y touched the skull. (dun dun dun) (dun dun dan)

autors note: thnxs for reviwing guzy! keep it up 3! :):)

#pers #cyberpunk 2077 #johnny silverhand #v #goro takemura #adam smasher #fanfiction #fanfic #cd projekt red #art #flowers in a box

[bensakindofmagic]

Chapter Sixteen

A/N: yo yo waddup it’s ya boi, back again. i'm home for christmas now so instead of writing my dissertation i'm writing fan fiction. what the fuck is new. enjoy the sexy times in this one -- BECAUSE I CANT DEAL WITH BEN IN THAT FUCKING SCENE

Warnings: SMUT (unprotected sex, oral, a wee bit o’ fem dom?? ) 18+ ONLY!, swearing

w/c: 3.3k+

Chapter Sixteen  

Dun dun dun, duh duh duh da da dun. 

That iconic bass line filled the amps and pulsed through the studio like a heartbeat, feeding you all with life. The thrill was palpable, the sense of satisfaction. Another One Bites the Dust had long been one of your favourite Queen songs, and finally seeing it performed by the boys was a thrill. They way they gelled, the way they fed off each other, made you proud beyond words. They riffed and experimented, all playing live, and they truly felt like a real band. Your chest tightened with pride, but the tension coursing through your body was caused by something else. You watched Ben closely, a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, head bobbing to the beat, and you couldn’t quite comprehend how good he looked. Muscles clenched tightly under his shirtsleeves, eyes squinting sexily, his whole body was oozing sensuality and rhythm. A few glistening beads of sweat on his forehead caught the light. You ached to straddle him where he sat and ride him, right there, no thought or care for who was watching. The apex of your thighs pulsed with your desire. You scrutinised his every move, hungry for him, and Ben knew it. A few times he had looked over at you and smirked, plump lips curled into a devilish grin. Every so often he would clench, making his arms and chest strain against his shirt and you shifted where you stood, pushing your thighs together, desperate for some kind of pressure. He winked and smiled and you melted. 

The shoot seemed to take a lifetime to complete that day, and though you revelled in watching Ben, watching all of them, you were desperate to get him to yourself. 

The moment that final “cut” was called, you sauntered off to an empty room — small, an office with just a desk and a chair — in the hope that Ben would follow. No sooner had you closed the door than he opened it again and you spun on your heel to face him. He licked his lips, confident, commanding, but little he knew of the fire that had been ignited in your belly. He tried you engulf you in his arms but instead you pushed him backwards, palms against his shoulders, until his back thudded against the door. The way his eyes widened and his lips parted in shock said all you needed to know. You grinned, biting your lips, before thrusting your mouth onto his and kissing him fiercely, all your pent up tension and frustration laced on your tongue like poison. You surreptitiously locked the door (grateful that it had a lock at all), and with the other hand explored the nape of his neck, the curve of his jaw. Your fingers wound their way into the long hair that rested just above his shoulders. It felt alien to you, the long hair, even though you had seen him in the wig many times before. You pulled away and took moment to stare at him, to drink him in; he oozed Roger. You licked your lips. 

“I don’t know who you think you are, Benjamin, looking that sexy in front of everyone,” you purred, pressing your hips firmly to his and rolling them languorously, “getting me all riled up.” 

He only let out a shuddering breath in response as your fingertips trailed down his sides and under his shirt. You dragged your nails along the delicate skin of his stomach and deftly unbuttoned his jeans. His bulge was growing firmer by the second. As your hand ventured into his boxers you leaned up onto your tiptoes to whisper, “Do you know how fucking wet I am?” 

You placed a sloppy kiss on his neck before sucking on his earlobe, pulling it between your teeth, and he gulped. All the while you were dragging your hand along his shaft, massaging him into readiness for you. You took one of his hands that had been resting heavily on your hip and guided it down into your jeans, beneath your underwear, and into the folds of your pussy. Your prolonged arousal had left you dripping and sensitive, so when he dragged his fingers across your clit you shuddered, lips hanging open in silent evidence of your pleasure. You pulled his hand from your heat and placed his fingers into your mouth, sucking on them, diligently licking your wetness from each one. As his hand dropped, his finger dragging over your bottom lip, you met his gaze and saw fierce arousal, lust encoded in the deep green of his eyes. A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of your mouth. Slowly, you sank to your knees and pulled the waistband of his trousers and boxers down, allowing his cock to spring free. With another look at Ben you held the base in your fist and took the tip gently into your mouth. You held it there for a moment before releasing it and licking where you lips had been, leaving no part of the head unattended. It tasted salty on your tongue. Again you enveloped it in your mouth, this time as much as you could take until the tip pressed against your throat and you stifled a gag. Leisurely you dragged your mouth up and down, up and down, while Ben groaned above you. You heard a dull thud as his head fell against the door. You established a rhythm, taking him as deeply as you could, gradually speeding up until your jaw ached and tears pricked at your eyes. Ben’s moans grew stronger, more frequent, and just as he announced that he was about to cum you released him, sucking at the string of saliva that still connected your lips to his cock. He whined and trembled as you stood. You kissed him, deeply, allowing him to taste his precum on your tongue; you could feel his body collapsing into yours. 

“Sit down,” you commanded, gesturing towards the chair, voice soft but in absolute control. You forced the hint of nervousness out of your voice. You had been in the driver’s seat before, but never like this. Still, you were too frustrated and too horny to back down.

He did as he was told and you followed, standing before him, surveying him. With deliberate movements you undressed yourself, first pulling off your shirt, then your jeans, leaving you in nothing but your underwear. You moved to straddle his lap and pulled his shirt over his head. Fingers traced along his chest, muscles tightening under your touch, making his skin ripple like waves in a pond. He sighed. Again you took his cock in your hand and he twitched. 

“Not yet, baby,” you breathed lustfully. “You cum when I tell you to, okay?” 

He nodded obediently, his eyes quickly shifting to your breasts where they sat, plump, beneath a lacy bra. 

“Do you want to touch them?” you intoned, cocking your head, all innocence. Again, he nodded but you tutted in response. “I need to hear you say it, big boy.”

“Yes please,” he rasped. 

“Good boy, go ahead.” 

His hands moved to cup your breasts while you unclasped your bra and threw it off to the side. He massaged them so gently, before taking one of your nipples into his mouth. Your eyes fluttered closed as you breathed and locked your fists into his hair. He serviced the other too, then left a deep purple hickey in the valley between your breasts. You tucked your hand under his chin, angling it so he was forced to look at you. 

“Tell me what you want,” you purred. 

“Ride me, please.” His voice was weak, desperate.

You nodded, holding your weight to position yourself above him. Pulling your panties out of the way you rubbed yourself, spreading your wetness and readying yourself. You took hold of his cock and paused, looking directly into his eyes, “You have to promise not to cum yet, okay?” 

“I promise.” 

You lined him up and sat down onto him; he sucked in a breath through his teeth. You rocked against him, agonisingly slowly, letting your pelvis press hard against his. You held his jaw, forcing him to watch your face, while you watched the place where your bodies became one. Your breathing shallowed, heart rate increased, you wanted to cum, but didn’t want Ben to. You stilled, revelling in the delicious fullness of him inside you, delighting in the whine that emanated from Ben, and you rubbed your clit firmly. Soon your fingers weren’t enough: you craved his mouth. 

“I want you to eat my pussy, baby, will you do that for me?” 

When he nodded eagerly you stood up and backed onto the desk, sitting on the edge, legs spread, exposed. He pushed off his trousers and boxer that had pooled around his thighs, then got on his knees before you and his tongue soon found your slit. You sighed in relief at the warmth of his mouth. With his arm wrapped around your thigh he kissed and sucked and licked, playing with you like a kitten with a ball of wool. Your chest heaved as you panted, you moaned and whimpered as he devoured you. 

“Oh baby, you’re so good at that.” 

With your fist in his hair you pulled him away and he stood between your legs. You held him close, hands gripping his bum, and licked his bottom lip, cleaning your arousal off of it. You asserted, dripping eroticism, “Fuck me.” 

He moved to enter you but you stopped him with a hand on his chest. You stood and turned, then bent over to display yourself to him. Ben licked his lips, ran his fingers briefly up and down your slit, before gripping your hips and thrusting into you firmly. His pace was rapid from the start, only becoming more frantic as he got closer to the edge. Your breasts pounded into the desk with every thrust.

“Harder,” you ordered, and he obliged. With one of his large hands around your thigh he pulled your knee up to rest on the desk, allowing him greater access and pounded you harder than before, reaching a place so deep inside you that you had to bite your lip to stop yourself from screaming out. 

“Fuck, Y/N, I’m close… I need to… can I cum, please? Fuck, please please-” 

“Not yet,” you said absolutely steadfastly, despite the way his pleading made the knot in your stomach tighten. Your fingers found your clit and rubbed furiously, aching for the sweet release that you had craved all day. 

“Keep going Benny, fuck. Just hold on. Just bit longer, I’m so close.”

Ben groaned with the strain of it, his whole body clenched, desperate, but still he fucked you and soon your legs started to quiver. You felt your orgasm creeping into your stomach, tension giving way to release, and your body collapsed against the desk as you came, moaning and panting and sweating and swearing. The walls of your pussy clenched around Ben again and again, only milking him ever closer.

He begged, “Please, Y/N, please, I can’t hold it…”

You moved to stand, so Ben pulled out of you, taking his cock in his hand and pumping rapidly as you got to your knees in front of him. 

“Okay, baby, let go, cum for me,” and you opened your mouth, allowing your tongue to rest over your bottom lip, waiting for his load. Within seconds he was shooting strings of sticky sweet cum into your mouth and over your cheeks. His face was clenched, eyes tight shut, and a moan rattled deep in his chest. You swallowed, collecting the rest of it on your finger and licking it off as Ben watched you in awe. 

“Christ, Y/N, you’re incredible.”

You stood and wrapped your arms around his shoulders, placing a firm kiss on his lips. 

“It’s all for you, I guess you bring out the best in me,” you smiled. “Now come on, we better get dressed, people will be wondering where you’ve got to.” 

You quickly pulled your clothes back and, and no sooner had you done up the last button of your shirt did you hear footsteps down the corridor. You unlocked the door and stepped out to see none other than Josh making his way towards you. He stopped in his tracks, jaw practically on the floor, as his eyes darted between you and Ben. Your clothes were crumped, your hair dishevelled, and the distinct smell of sex followed you.

“You two! You two are fucking?”

“Shit,” you cursed. 

“Come on mate, have some respect,” Ben stepped in, always wanting to defend you. 

“I can’t believe it,” Josh proclaimed. “She told me she wouldn’t date me ‘cause she “doesn’t fool around with colleagues”, and lo and behold, I find it’s ‘cause she’s fucking the actors! Sleeping your way to the top are you?” 

You felt more than saw Ben’s shoulders tense and him take a step forward. You slipped your hand in his and held him beside you before he did something stupid. “Leave it Ben, he’s not worth it.”

“Not worth it, is it? You think I’m not worthy of you? Well I think you’re a fucking whore, love.” 

Ben fumed and made towards Josh but before he could do any damage you strode in front of him, marched straight up to Josh, and slapped him across the face.

“How dare you?” you snarled, “How dare you speak to me like that and how dare you insinuate that I am using Ben? I just so happens that I am in a loving relationship with him. You on the other hand, you I turned down because I thought you were a smarmy, egotistical arsehole. If you ever say another word to me that isn’t strictly professional I will report you for harassment in the workplace.” 

You stormed past you and Ben followed close behind, glaring at Josh as he passed him like a tiger staring down its prey. 

You and Ben did not go home together that evening — you wanted to call Savannah to vent to her — but when you met at work the next morning he greeted you with a warm smile and a hug. 

“You okay?” 

You nodded against his cheat, “Yeah, I’m still a bit pissed off but fine.” 

“Me too. If I see that git today I’m going to have to try seriously hard not to punch him in the face.”

You pulled back to look at him, “I think the chances of bumping into him are pretty high, given that you’re working on the same set.”

“I know, that’s what I’m worried about.” 

Your light chuckle was interrupted by the voice of your producer, Graham, as he strode towards you, “Ben, Y/N…” You detached from each other, nervous. Graham didn’t often come to set, so when he was there it was a big deal. “Can I have a word with you both?”

Graham had found a quiet room with a couple of sofas. He sat on one with you and Ben on the other, leaving a conspicuous gap between you. Graham sipped thirstily at his coffee, “You know, I’ve been working on film sets for years but I’ve never been able to get used to the early mornings.” 

You laughed nervously through your nose. You hadn’t sat down, face-to-face with Graham since you’d been hired. 

“Listen, I wanted to talk to you both because word has reached me that there might be something going on between you, and while there isn’t actually anything wrong with that, there are some people who are unhappy about it and I need to know if it’s something that’s going to cause any issues.”

You held your head in your hands, your whole body deflating. This was exactly what you had been trying so hard to avoid.

“That fucking prick,” Ben muttered beneath his breath. 

It didn’t go unnoticed, “Excuse me?” 

Ben shifted in his seat but sat up a little taller, “Josh reported us to you, didn’t he? If there’s anyone going to be causing problems it’s him. The things he said to Y/N were despicable.”

“Well that is certainly something I’ll want to address but let’s take things one at a time, shall we?”

 You lifted your head and sighed, “What do you need to know, sir?”

“First and foremost, I need to know if this is going to compromise the shoot. Workplace romances are not forbidden and certainly not uncommon, but when they happen across levels of the hierarchy they tend to cause problems. One party tends to, shall we say, expect things from the other. It can get ugly.”

“I’m not expecting anything from Ben,” you defended, somewhat indignant, “and I’m not going to blackmail him, if that’s what you’re insinuating.” 

Graham responded, “I’m not saying you are, and I certainly wouldn’t expect it from you Y/N, but it wouldn’t be the first time it had happened.”

“Well it won’t happen with us.” You could feel Ben’s eyes on you. 

“I apologise if this is uncomfortable for you, but as I’ve had a complaint about your behaviour I have to take this seriously,” Graham said, entirely diplomatic. 

“Christ, what is there to complain about? Josh is just jealous because he had a crush on Y/N and he’s bitter that she rejected him. You should be more worried about his behaviour.” 

“Well, what he told me would make your behaviour equally unprofessional — having sex on set, during working hours? We don’t pay you to sneak off for a quickie in a quiet corner.” 

You seemed to shrink in your seat, feeling thoroughly humiliated; you hadn’t been admonished like that since school. But worse, you started to panic, chest constricting and breathing shallowing, in fear for your job. You had tried to be so careful, even risking your heart and happiness to avoid the very thing that was happening, and it all came crumbling down because you saw Ben in one sexy costume and you snapped. 

“Sir, I’m—” you began but Ben interrupted you.

“It’s not just sex, if that’s what you think.” He sidled closer to you, pulling one of your hands into his lap and taking it in both of his, “We’re in a relationship, hell, I’m in love with her.” 

Time seemed to stand still. Suddenly the tightness in your chest, the panic in your bloodstream, was caused by something else entirely. 

He’s in love with me.

That was the first time he had said it and it terrified you. It was the first time you’d heard those words since Matteo and all you could think about was how you had lost yourself in him when he said it. Granted, you and Ben had been together nearly three months and truly, you’d never felt about anyone the way you did about him — you adored him, you pictured yourself building a life with him, growing old with him — but love? Love is a strong word. It didn’t feel like you’d been through anything hard enough yet to warrant calling it love. How could it be love when it was so easy? 

“Is this the case, Y/N?” 

You had been staring. Startled, you replied, “We started dating in October. It’ll be three months soon.”

“Look, there’s only two weeks left of filming and we’ve got enough drama as it is. I’m willing to let this go and say no more about it.”

You felt the tension in your shoulders abate, “I’d be very grateful for that.”

“However,” Graham continued, “I cannot guarantee that this hasn’t got out. I’m fairly certain Josh has been talking to more people than just me. I’ll talk to him but you’ll have to handle everyone else.”

Ben grinned, “That’s no problem. Thank you Graham.” 

taglist: @anikatcmh @queen-turtle-boiii @orchideax​ @rogerspoison @my5secondsofneverland @mrsmazzello @ixchel-9275​ @radiob-l-a-hblah​ @devin-marie​ @rogmeddows​ @mercurycrowley​ @spaghetittiesbcimgay​ @valeriecarolinaw​ @saint-hardy​ @caborhapch​ @stephanie-everlasting @coldmuffinpartycloud​ @drowse13​ @shhhs3cret​ @blind-melon-taylor​ @ohsososophisticatedd​ @malfoybaby​ @littlepanda-love​ @leezie​ @shesakillerquueennn​ @borhapgrande​ @stfxlou​ @vangogh-groupie​ @dep-thx​ 

#kind of magic series #ben hardy #ben hardy x female reader #ben hardy imagine #ben hardy fanfic #ben hardy smut #ben hardy x reader #bohemian rhapsody #bohemian rhapsody fan fiction #borhap #queen #roger taylor #another one bites the dust #aobtd #smut

[tabdabble]

Trade with Secrets-of-Everfree on DA, who wanted a Capricorn design!

More on them under the cut: 

Prompt: "I'd love it if you could design a Zodiac of Capricorn for Grimoire and I. You can go totally nuts with it, make it creepy anyway you please. All I ask is to have the Zodiac sign displayed along their body somewhere. Kind of like how Tidal wave has it along her face while Prancer's has it on his horn~"

in case you can't read my writing: Broken horn, Horns are very smooth, Dun line down center of body, Catfish whiskers, No top front teeth, Long tongue, Fur like a seal- not shaggy or fluffy.

I decided to make a legit capricorn :D As I looked at capricorn traits I found that there was a lot of stubbornness, responsible, determined, hard worker, dependable, etc. So I kinda thought a cool idea would just be a capricorn that has sort of fallen from grace. I chose a catfish as the lower half because I feel like this character has sort of resorted to settling for the lowest effort, let themself go, etc. It might have happened when their horn was broken, maybe? So yeah, this would be a slimy type of character that needs to be coerced to do ANYTHING. No insult or dare or anything could make him do anything, (maybe not even their own wants and needs). I imagine they're weirdly powerful, and have magic to glean sustenance without eating (kinda like a catfish), so they don't really have any reason to move around, and would probably just get fat, not exert energy and lose the fat, get fat, etc.

#capricorn #creature design #trades #tabdabble #dabtabble #my art

[hinatashoyo-desu]

Monday, April 27, 2018; 04:44am

Hi! Ngayong lang ako ulit nakapagsulat dito. Yung maayos. Hahahaha! I just want to say na I miss you, my journal. My only true friend. Alam mo ma bakit ako bumalik? Sorry ah ngayon lang kita na-update. Marami lang talaga nangyari sakin these past years na di kita nakakausap. So eto magkukwento na ko.

Naaalala mo pa ba yung huling entry ko dito? Na-in love ako kay Rom diba? Yung bestfriend ko dati! I hope you remember. After non kasi I was so devastated. I felt like I lost everything. Even yung pagmamahal ko sa sarili ko nakalimutan ko na. Di ko alam kung sino ba talaga ako that time. Ano ba talaga purpose ko ganon. Years have passed. Maraming naka-fling and shit just to make myself satisfied, temporarily. Sama ko no? Sorry. I became the person (a demon I guess) that I hated the most. Hirap. After ko gawin yung mga bagay na ayaw kong gawin, I feel so empty pa rin. I got really lost. Immersed in darkness.

Until, I met this young lady here, on tumblr. That's 2017 na when I got a chance to know her. Joanne yung name niya. She' kind and sweet. Pero alam mo ba, hindi dapat ako magko-commit to her? I just realized na siya yung magiging partner na hindi naibigay sakin ni Lord thru kay Rom. Ang pangit nga ng first meetup namin eh. Sobrang pangit. And it's all my fault, friend. I'm so sorry. I did tell you naman na I became the person I hated the most and I'm not proud of it. But things changed after our meetup. That very moment when I felt her hug, so tight to the point na ayaw pa niyang umuwi, I wept. I felt my emptiness after that hug. Yung pagod at bigat ng nararamdaman ko, pinaramdam niya sakin yon. She made me realized something that even I can't put it into words. I felt love once again. The love that I was longing for.

So yun nga, nasundan yung pagkikita namin then we consider it na kami na nga. Student pa siya nito. Graduating na siya ng BSHM (Hospitality Management. Pinalit sa HRM) Nagpakilala na ko sa family niya and same goes sa side ko. I introduced her to my nanay and pamangkins. Saka kapatids. Sa side naman niya, I really made an impact. As in, nanligaw ako! Every time na pupunta ako sa kanila, (btw, she lives in Bulacan and I'm from Cavite so... Yeah. I am reverting back to normal.) I always cook for them. Agahan, tanghalian, hapunan. Name it. I'll cook it for them. Nahihiya pa nga sakin yung mama at papa niya kasi bakit ako daw pinagluluto niya. I insisted to cook for them kasi sabi ko masaya ako na pinagluluto ko sila. Saka minsan lang ako makapunta sa kanila kaya sinusulit ko na.

Then dumating na yung big day niya. MAMARTSA NA SIYA!!! KUKUNIN NA NIYA DIPLOMA NIYA!! Nagpaalam ako kay nanay kasi madaling araw ako aalis non sa bahay kasi nga sa Bulacan punta ko. Sinabi ko na aattend ako ng graduation ceremony ni Joanne. Saka pangako ko sa kanya yon na every breakthrough na magkakaron siya, nandoon palagi ako sa tabi niya, sumusuporta. Tapos yun na nga, nakapunta ako and nasamahan ko siya sa important date sa buhay niya! Saya! Sobrang saya ko that time kasi yung dating pinapangarap kong gawin sa partner ko, nagagawa ko na paunti-unti. Para akong nananaginip ng tuloy-tuloy. Pero syempre, we're in this reality na hindi sa lahat ng oras, masaya. Hindi araw-araw pasko, kaibigan. We had our struggles, arguments, fights, sleepless nights kasi minsan magdamag kaming magkaaway. Not so good. But we learned our lessons in every trials. We kept each other for almost 2 years. Yes, my friend. 2 years lang ang tinagal namin.

She left me. Why? Napagod siya. Bakit? Gawa ko. There's this tendency of mine na kapag comfortable na ako sa tao, sumosobra. Nakakampante masyado. And again, I'm very sorry for that. Nasa huli talaga ang pagsisisi. And admit ko rin sa'yo, kahit masaya kami sa isa't isa, I was tempted. And yes, I gave in. I cheated on her. Sorry. Sobrang sorry. Galit na galit ako sa mga kapwa ko lalaki na nagagawang manloko ng partner nila pero tignan mo, pati pala ako ganon. And yes, nagalit ako sa sarili ko. At that very moment, unti-unti na kong nagka-crumble. I'm shaking. My feelings, thoughts, and everything that I hold so dear, they started to fall. Little by little, I can't grasp them anymore. In short, naging burden na ko sa kanya. We started long fights to the point na wala talagang pansinan. She became my strength when I was so weak. But this time, she's the one now who's taking it away. Bakit? Kasi nga napapagod na siya. And I can't blame her for doing the same mistake as I did. It's my karma. But shit! Really! SO MUCH SHIT!! I cried so hard when I found out na she also cheated on me. Well, it's my karma as I said. Unti-unting naglaho lahat ng tiwala at pagmamahal namin. Until such time, she chose to give up. She chose to let me go. I can't blame her. It's all my fucking fault. Sinubukan ko pang isalba ang kakaunting meron pa kami pero ayaw na niya. Sumuko na siya. Tapos na ang laban. That time, I wore a mask and sunglasses after ko sumakas ng bus pa-Manila. It's like I'm hiding from someone but kung alam lang nila, I'm hiding my pain from them. The pain that lingers long enough to question my own worth. The tears that are telling me na I lost the fight. We both lost it. And again, it's all my fault. She ended it April 2019. (Yes friend, this time last year nangyari yon.)

Di ko na mabilang kung ilang gabi akong walang tulog non. Mga gabing pupunta ako sa shop para maglaro. Para makalimot. Pero every time that I open our past conversations, I felt so much pain to the point na wala na ulit akong maramdaman. Bumalik ulit ako sa bagay kung pano niya ko nakilala nung una. Grabe no? The displacement is still, zero. Walang progress.

Months have passed and I got my job in the resort na mina-manage ng pinsan ng tropa ko. Barista ako sa cafe don. After ko tanggapin yung job offer sakin, naaalala ko yung conversation namin na pagkasweldo ko sa unang sahuran namen, ililibre ko siya. As in lahat ng gusto niya sa isang araw, ako bahala! Pangako na namin yon sa isa't isa that time. Kaso wala. It's all too late.

Dati kasi walang-wala talaga ako non. Para lang makapunta ako sa kanila minsan, siya na nagpapadala that time para lang makapag-kita kami. Hindi ko siya mahindian kasi una, siya yung may gusto at iniinsist niya talagang pumunta ako. Nakakahiya namang tanggihan sa punto pa lang na yon. Pangalawa, gusto ko rin siyang makita. Saka hangga't may pagkakataon, pupunta talaga ako sa kanila. I wanted to create memories for us to cherish whenever opportunities present themselves. Sabihin mo nang oportunista ako pero sa kaso kasi namin, LDR kami. Mahirap na setup pero ginawan namin ng paraan.

Balik tayo sa timeline na may work na ko.

I immersed myself sa work para makalimot. Effective. Naggo-grow ako. Nagkakaron ako ng ideas professionally and syempre sa character ko. Unti-unti kong nagagawa yung passion ko to serve other people through food and beverage. And syempre, best quality service! Meeting new people, creating new relationships, and also getting a chance to get ideas na binabayaran ka pa after. Galing no? Sana proud ka sakin. Isipin mo naka-1 year na ko sa work!!! Yieee!!

Pero dumating din yung time na napapagod ako. Yung tinatanong ko na sarili ko kung kaya ko pa ba. Kung gusto ko pa ba. Ito ba talaga yung para sa akin? Lagi kong tanong yan when I got from series of mistakes sa work. Nakakalungkot. Minsan mararamdaman mo na kahit di nila sabihin, gusto ka na nilang tanggalin sa work mo. Lately ko na lang din na-confirm yung pakiramdam na yon nung nag-away yung mga boss ko. (Oo mga boss. 3 boss ko don: Mag-asawa tas yung isa asawa nung president nung resort. About sa business yung pinag-awayan so no worries. Hindi ito telenovela.)

My boss always talk to me na kaya ko naman daw basta ayusin ko lang daw ginagawa ko. I'm trying naman eh but it's so hard. Ewan ko. Siguro kasi di pa talaga ako ready for some serious kind of work kasi nga sobrang broken ako when I said yes to this job. Mali yung intention ko nung umoo ako. And again, I'm sorry. It's all my fault.

So yan. Yan yung mga nangyari sakin for the past years na wala akong entry dito. Sorry ulit ah? Sorry talaga. Pero wait, there's more!!! Namiss kita eh kaya susulitin ko na to. Baka matagalan na ulit bago kita makausap.

You know why I got the urge to write here? Because first, I watched "The Hows of Us". Tangina. Ang sakit. Lahat ng kinwento ko sa'yong pain and memories na sobrang saya, lahat yon bumalik nung pinanuod ko yung movie. Si Joanne kasi is very similar kay George. Yung sobrang supportive to the point na napagod na rin siya. Tangina! And syempre, na-realize ko ako pala si Primo! The one who values pride more than any other. Pagkakaiba lang namin? Siya kasi napapansin niya na napapagod na partner niya. Ako? Late ko na narealize when we broke up. Sobrang basura ko.

Lastly, someone reminded me to write. Yes! SOMEONE REMINDED ME TO FUCKING WRITE! Hindi naman niya sinabi verbally pero she made me realize something. Meron pala akong journal dito. Thank her, my friend! Hahaha! Dahil sa kanya, meron ulit akong entry dito!

I met her here, sa tumblr. Her blog show itself sa suggestions ng mga bloggers na pwede i-follow. Maganda siya. Got glasses, looks smart and kind tas mahinhin. I backread her blog. Mali ako dun da mahinhin. May pagka-tarantado rin pala. HAHAHAHA! Pero what I really admire about her is that, yung character kasi niya is so intact! She got a past that's so dark but she faced it, anyway. Tangina bro! Yung respeto ko sa kanya biglang sumipa pataas hahaha! PAAAWER! I followed her after that and syempre dahil hopeless romantic ako pero ayoko na maging torpe, I messaged her here. We got our talks. Di ako nagkamali sa first impression ko sa kanya na she's smart. Dude! She really, is smart! And damn! She's beautiful inside and out. Sobrang nakaka-melt gago! I told her na yun nga, I got a crush on her already and I'm always admiring her. Ayoko na kasi itago minsan yung mga ganon kasi baka pagsisihan ko pa, and syempre, she deserves to hear and feel such admiration kasi diba? Why not? Hahaha!

I asked her her facebook and she gave it naman so I added her. Gulat ako kasi tangina may mutual kami?! AND TROPA KO PA SA DATI KONG SCHOOL?! So tinanong ko siya kung san niya nakilala yung mga yon. Sabi niya di niya alam kasi basta na nga lang daw siya nag-aaccept dati (dati pa naman yon. Maingat na siya ngayon) kaya ayun.

Tas yon we had our conversations everyday. Ako naman yung nagchachat lagi. Ewan ko feeling ko nga nakukulitan na yon sakin eh. Pero you know what, simula nung magkaron kami ng deep talk, di na ko sure kung admiration na lang ba yon. When I'm talking to her kasi tas she responds, I feel peace. I feel so light. LIPAD AKO TWENG! Hahahaha joke! Kidding aside, she makes me love myself again. She makes me believe na I can be more of just who I am today. She encourages me to be better though di ko alam kung alam ba niya na ganon. Lately kasi, I'm having my anxieties kicking in my head kasi nga quarantine. Minsan pag kinakausap ko siya, she always tells me kung ano-ano nanaman daw iniisip ko. Alam ko naman! Hahaha! Ang hirap lang kasi labanan yung sarili pag ganon. Sana nagegets mo ko. Tas yon, I hope she understands me. Tas lagi ko sinasabi sa kanya na gusto ko siya ma-meet and makilala personally and since nalaman ko favorite type of pasta niya, I told her na I'll cook for her para matikman niya (favorite ko din kasi yujlng favorite niya so... Ehe) and syempre gusto ko din ma-meet yung family niya. Especially, yung lolo and lola niya. I just want to thank them for raising a person like her kasi tangina! SOBRANG DALANG NA NG TAONG GANON SA MUNDO NGAYON! And yon she really is an epitome of true beauty, I tell you!

I always tell her na yun nga sa halos araw-araw na nagkakausap kami, unti-unti kong nagugustuhan personality niya. Tho tamad siya magreply (w/c is a triggering part sa anxiety ko kasi baka ayaw na niya ko kausap ganon kasi nga ang kulit at ang daldal ko to the point na nonsense na yung sinasabi ko), she always reminds me na she's always there for me to listen and be a friend. Wala. Dun ako lalong tinamaan sa kanya. Gago! Nung nabasa ko yung message niyang yon, sabihin mo nang weak ako pero bro, naluha ako. She made me feel my worth. Na worthy ako kausap. Worthy ako magkwento kasi makikinig siya. Bro worthy daw ako kasi kahit papano, nag-iinvest siya ng time makipag-usap sakin. Tangina! Wala! Talo ako! Di ko na pwedeng lokohin sarili ko boy! Gusto ko siya! Kaya lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya na after this ECQ season, I'm going to find a way to meet her personally and cook for her. She deserves it, anyway. This time, I'll make it right. I'll do it the right way. Kahit sabihin mong makaluma dud, liligawan ko siya in a traditional way. She deserves it, really! (Saka laking lolo at lola siya so diba?) She made me realize na it's not too late to start anew. The sun sets but it rises again. Hays. Sana talaga! Sana! Sana mabigyan niya ko ng chance na makilala siya. Sana mabigyan niya rin ako ng chance na iparamdam sa kanya yung mga kaya kong ibigay. Huhu. Sana talaga!

So yon. Yun muna. Sulit no?! Feeling ko pag may nakabasa na nitong entry ko, maraming mag-a-unfollow saken HAHAHA! Sana di siya kasama don. 😢 So pano? Sa susunod na taon na lang ulit?! LOLjk. Will update you after nitong ECQ. Salamat sa pagiging journal ko. Wag ka mawawala ha? See you next time!!

PS: Nakalimutan kong ipakilala pala sa'yo. She's my "Happy pill".

#onlinejournal #personalpost

[sailynthesayaad]

The Beginning (Pt.1)

Music: Here Enjoy another part series brought by myself. After writing the first part series explaining how Sai’lyn came into her more powerful self, i wanted to dig deeper and go to the very roots of where she came from, what she was and how she came to be. I hope you all enjoy!

Sitting on the dock, legs swinging over the edge, tail tucked in under her to use as a seat as it flicked back and forth with her legs. Hands pressing in down onto the boards of the dock, leaning back as keen eyes watched the waves of the waters lap in towards the island of her home. Sail often waited in this manner when her parents went out to sea. This time they had left with the Matriarc, as many other pairs had done the same. It was that time of the year. This time however, her parents and the Matriarc didn't come back, it had been almost a week since the rest had returned with their newborn babes. Mast gave into a heavy sigh, walking in over to stand by her sister, kneeling down by her side, placing a hand to her shoulder. "Sail, we hav' ta go see da council." A small nod from the younger of the pair before she turns on to bring herself to stand up. Toes stretching out a bit as she touches down on the boards, hand reaching to pinch the hem of her sisters shirt between thumb and finger as was habit to stick in close and follow along.

Sail and Masts parents were an odd pair. Their father was a rather weak swimmer and weak person in a general sense, but he had a keen and sharp mind. Their mother was his opposite, strong and capable, but not very bright, with a heart of pure gold. The Martriarc was a good fill in. As their mother was often busy and away being a defender over their village, and as their father never seemed to want to have anything to do with his children. As he was often more focused on his work as a jewel-crafter. Their Matriarc raised the pair, he was kind, fair and strict. Their parents didn't get along well, but the pair were matched and so it was done. Out of the two, Sail was at least a bit closer to her father, she was a bit of a weak swimmer herself and she had fun playing with the pearls he used in his work and enjoyed helping him, she was rather good at curling and twisting the wire needed. Mast on the other hand got along better with their mother, well it seemed she hated their father otherwise. The two would often butt heads and their Mother would try to calm them down. Mast and their mother would go on to train and practice, it was nearing time for Mast to leave the home after all. Sail and Mast, even with Sail being closer to their father, got along very well. Mast was often protecting and looking after Sail, and Sail stuck to her sister like a barnacle.

Their father wasn't native to their island. For the first twenty years of an Chalurins life, they live with their family. Learning, growing, watching. After that, they spend five years with nothing but a dagger in the ocean to find their purpose and prove they will survive. It's a rite of passage. During this they will either return home with purpose, die, or find a new island. If they find a new island, they are allowed to live there and their rite is passed regardless of how long they were at sea. If they have a desired profession, it is given. A mate is also paired with them, judging by their own abilities, the council will vote for whom is best suited. Their father was thus thought very lucky, as it is very rare to find new comers or have anyone find another island. He was only out in the sea for a few months they say. Thus he was asked to make trinkets and jewelry as everyone thought him to be lucky and wished for his luck to be spread to others.

Matriarcs are often voted by the council and paired off as well. The council is made up of elders and those who seem to be able to see into the future, calling themselves seers. One is said to be born every halting. Matriarcs are often people who; can not mate, have no mate, their mate passed away, who do not wish to be paired, or there was simply no pairing available. They are usually people who love children and wish to be the ones to raise them, this is not always the case but it is not rare for one to merely wish to support the paired couple. Many of the warriors often forgo pairing to be such so they can help defend pairs nests if they are not of a better fighting form. Some Matriarcs did not have to help defend the nest, they could stay at home if there was already children on the land, which in such times the children would often pair into larger groups to be taken care of by those left behind.

The Halting, as they call it, is an event where the island stops to rest every four years for three months. During that time pairs with their Matriarcs will ascend down into the sea. If they are lucky, the island will be adjusted in a fashion so caves have formed. Otherwise they must dive deep to the oceans floor, where the female will lay her eggs and her pair will expel onto them. Within the three months the group of three will guard and protect the eggs from predators. The ocean is a hostile and crowded world. The Chalurin were the only known species to walk out of the ocean and live atop the great A'Lur, the walkers of the oceans floor. Most times then not, a family would return with one egg or none at all. It also wasn't rare for whole pairs to die at sea, but more times than not a Matriarc was present to watch over the children left behind.

"Mast, Sail, we are so sorry for your loss. We also apologize for the wait, we had hoped maybe your parents would return but the great A'Lur is already on the move and we can't deny the reports that they were taken-"

"Take'?! They weren' take'! They were killed! Dun try ta be soft on us affer all dis time!" Mast cut off the elder of the councils group, causing them to be startled, it even surprising Sail as she looked up to her sister.

The council exchanged looks, "Er..right, yes. Well at this time we are aware you, Mast, will be leaving for your rite in just under four years and as Sail is also only at the age of twelve, the pair of you need a Matiarc. Sadly, we have none available at this time. We sent word to the Council on the southern side of the island, they have some Matriarcs that can be paired with the two of you for the reminder. It will take you three days to reach it, someone will be waiting for you at the towns mouth to help you along the way when you leave."

"No! We don' need ta go! We hav' friends and our 'ome is here!" Mast protested which seemed to make the council laugh.

"No, no. You both are too young, this is not the way. If you are not ready by tomorrow we will have someone come get you. For now, there is the...other matter to attend to. As is of our ways, you shall both receive your marks as orphans."

Mast pulled Sail in behind herself, "No! Leave Sail ou' of tha', she doesn' need it. Ah tol' ya, Ah can take care o' us!"

Looking up to her sister, Sail would move to take her hand slightly. "Mast, ya can'. We go' ta follow wit the council."

Despite what Sail said, sounding strong in the best way she could, she cried all the way back home. Mast had to carry her, the pair were in so much pain. Not just from the weight of realizing they were now fully alone, but the branding was something fierce. If children ever become orphaned, in the rare case, they are seared with a brand and deemed unlucky and weak blooded. It is seared just above the left temple. The pain was something Sail nor Mast had ever felt before. Sail would never forget the smell of her own burning flesh, the pressure pressed to her head, the way the others held her down as she screamed out in agony. The gripping to her wrists, the push to her back, how her head was forced in place by a leather strap. It was humiliating, torturous and above all excruciatingly painful. Even afterwards, her skin itched and sizzled. Feeling something dig and scratch at her head for days. The healing process wasn't any better.

Once they were home, Mast tried her best to help ease the pain. Making a paste for the pair of them, but neither of them were well versed in such things and it was time for them to get their things ready for their move to the larger section of the island. Leaving from the waters edge and heading into the middle of the great A'Lurs back.

#ic writing #history #sayaad #world of warcraft inspired #my oc #original writing #ic story

[otheroutlandertales]

This story is a little different than what we usually write. We're starting a new series based on the time-traveling premise in Audrey Niffenegger's book The Time Traveler's Wife and we'll be expanding the story with various Outlander characters. This first installment features Jamie and a time-traveling Claire. 

The Time Traveler’s Family

by @abbydebeaupreposts

Strange the things you remember, the people, the places, the moments in time burned into the heart forever. Jamie Fraser has lived a life different from other men, for most men don’t have wives and children with temporal displacement disorder.

Part One: Chapter 1 - Lallybroch 1729

Jamie is 8, Claire is 27

The first time it happens after Craigh Na Dun, Claire is terrified. A bone-deep fear she hasn’t felt since she was five years old-- not since the very start of her temporal dissonance disorder. Since becoming a nurse, she has thought of her condition in clinical terms-- it makes her feel less of an oddity-- but no better prepared now than she was 22 years ago.

Her uncle Lamb had unceremoniously dropped her off at the boarding school he’d selected, handed her suitcase to the Matron, a starchy woman with an imposing bosom and shoes so well polished Claire could see the lights reflected in the tops of the toes. Then he’d patted her back and driven away. She’d followed the Matron to the long ward of beds that would be her new home. Claire didn’t want to live in this place with its screaming girls and unsmiling faces. She wanted her Daddy to rock her to sleep in the special chair by the fire, to feel her Mummy brush a kiss on her forehead and say “Night, night bug!” But they were gone and in that moment, her only thought was her own wish to be gone, too.

Claire’s next coherent thought was that it had all been a dream, a terrible awful dream. For here she was back in her bed, snug as a bug in a rug. She sighed deeply, only vaguely noticing that she was dressed in the same outfit she had been wearing in her nightmare about the boarding school. But Claire was too tired to slip on her nightie. As she rolled over she saw her own head on the pillow right next to her. She smiled thinking this was still part of her strange dream, closed her eyes and fell asleep again.

She was startled awake when the door of her room sprung open. She rolled out of the bed onto the thin strip of floor between the window and the bed frame. Claire looked back at the bed and saw that she hadn’t imagined it, there really was another Claire. She heard her Grandmere crying and noted the shocked expression on bed-Claire’s face, all of it felt far too familiar. Claire started screaming as if she could forestall her grandmother’s words. Yet, she knew them by heart.

“There’s been an accident, Julia and Henry are dead.”

The next thing she knew, Claire was back in the long ward, prostrate on the floor and unable to stop crying. She threw up all over Matron’s shiny shoes but even that didn’t end her hysteria. It only ended when Lamb came to get her and promised she can come stay with him.

Over the years, Claire has adapted to her rare condition. In fact, when she fell through the stones at Craigh Na Dun, she believed that it was just another time jump into her past.

Well, it certainly was that. Except this time, she didn’t just go back to her past, but The Past. A whole new century, as a matter of fact. But Claire was used to living in the impossible. The answers would come, as they always did, in time.

She’d spent two days riding now, in the company of these highlanders, and mile after mile, she kept waiting to snap back into her own time, certain at any moment she would awaken on the floor of Mrs Baird’s B & B, feeling nauseous, hungry and trying frantically to think up an excuse that Frank might accept.

Frank. Her heart squeezed when she thought of him and how frantic he would be. They’d married so quickly and spent so little time together during their marriage thus far, that it had never come up. She’d jumped a couple of times when with him, that was true, but in both cases she’d been missing from her own time only a few minutes. It had been easy to manage a plausible excuse on her return-- a bathroom visit, a forgotten item that had to be attended to in another room.

From previous jumps, Claire learned that time didn’t always move in a linear pattern in her present and past. Sometimes she’d discover that no matter how long she’d been in her past, upon her return to the present only five or ten minutes had elapsed. Other times, she’d come home to find the mail piled up for days.

Claire usually jumped to a familiar place-- her house, school, an archeological dig she’d been on with Uncle Lamb a few years ago.  On very rare occasions, Claire might find herself hundreds of miles away from anything recognizable. Up until the stones, those jumps were the scariest ones. For she knew no one, sometimes didn’t speak the language, had to be quick on her feet. She had three choices: blend in, flee or hide.  

There was no rhyme or reason to when, where or for how long she’d need to endure until she could make her way back to her own life in the present. She’d never jumped so far in the past, though and, in any case, Claire had no way to judge whether time was moving the same in Frank’s world. She had always known that at some point she’d jump and be gone for long enough that there would be a reckoning. Claire was quite certain that this time, her absence had not gone unnoticed.

Claire tries in vain to remember where she’s been and what she has just been doing before coming to this meadow. Ah, she remembers. She’d just finished tending to Jamie MacTavish’s shoulder. She’d been sitting in his lap and crying about her husband who was, most certainly, not alive. The feel of Jamie’s hands coming around her body, stroking her back, soft Gaelic words whispered in her ear. The smell of wet wool fading from his rapidly drying kilt and her burning cheeks as their eyes met in the firelight. The smirk on his lips as she’d leapt to her feet at the realization of a growing hardness underneath her. He told her to get some rest and closed the heavy door behind him. She’d seen the cot in the corner, thinking to take Jamie’s advice when the dizziness pulled at her. Thank God! She’d thought as the candles of Mrs. Fitz’s spare room faded from her vision, she would be home, back to Frank and the 20th Century in no time.

But she’d come to in this meadow instead, lying on all fours, retching in the dirt. She is wearing her torn, mud-splattered white dress, she can see, looking down her body. Her sturdy walking shoes that mark her, more than the dress, as an outsider...a sassenach.

She always arrives when she jumps wearing what she had on the second before she goes. That gives her trouble occasionally. Like when she was wearing trousers, a new fashion for women in the UK borne of necessity in the war for certain tasks, and jumped back to her own childhood where even little girls still wore petticoats under skirts, or worse, when she is taking a bath and makes a jump arriving in her birthday suit. That only happened once, though.

Yet, despite the clothing she instinctively knows she isn’t in Inverness. That her choice of dress will become problematic shortly. For it is too quiet in this meadow, and the air smells crisp and clean in a way it never does in her time. Claire needs water and food and something appropriate to cover herself in.

“Are ye well, mistress?”

Claire’s head snaps to her left and she sees a young boy, bright red hair and cat-like blue eyes. The eyes are familiar.

“No, no I’m not.” She manages, trying her best to place the face.

“Do ye need help, shall I call for my Da?” His face is full of freckles and concern.

“Uhmm, perhaps not just yet,” she says with more strength.

“Yer English!” It sounds like an accusation.

“I am,” she admits, smiling at his shocked expression.

“How come ye to be here, if I might ask?”

“Jamie! Jamie, lad did ye get the milk?”

Claire hears a voice ringing with the authority of a mother, but it’s far too high pitched in register to actually belong to one. She looks at the boy once more and places him immediately.

“Are you Jamie MacTavish?” Claire asks, happy to know at least this much.

“Nay, mistress, I’ve not heard of any by that name. I am Jamie Fraser, well, James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser, to be precise. At your service.” The boy executes a very impressive formal bow. Claire stares at him once more. Those eyes she’d know anywhere, having spent the better part of the last two days glued to the man on horseback and staring back over her shoulder at him as they talked for hours and hours to pass the time on the ride.

“Jamie, ye wee gomerel!” The voice again.

“Coming Janet!” he shouts back, then gives the woman a sad smile. “My sister,” he tells her. “Ever since Mam died she’s been bossing me sunup to sundown.” There is something in his tone, a catch that makes her realize his grief is still fresh

“I am sorry for your loss,” Claire tells him. “My mother died when I was just a bit younger than you.”

Jamie doesn’t know what to say to that and his ears start to go pink.

“Do ye hide in the barn, lass, I’ll find you a blanket and you’ll be hungry?” He guesses and at that, her stomach growls which makes him laugh.

Claire is now positive that James of the many names Fraser is indeed her Jamie MacTavish, for he has the exact same glint of humor in those cat eyes, the same ready grin and charm. Jamie waits until Claire is kneeling upright before he turns to go. He makes it five feet before he spins back around on his heels and faces her again

“Oh, but mistress, here I’ve gone and introduced myself to ye but yer still a stranger to me. I dinna even ken yer name.

“Jamie!” His sister’s voice is much closer now.

“Hurry, Jamie!” Claire implores, hoping not to get caught for she hasn’t even been in this century-long enough to know what year it is, let alone had time to concoct a plausible excuse for her being there.

“Yer name!” he insists, with what she will only later come to recognize as Fraser stubbornness.

“You can call me Sassenach,” she tells him, “I’ll fill you in when you come back to the barn with food and a blanket.” She sighs in relief when that satisfies him enough to run back and cut his sister off before she can spot the woman hiding in the high grass behind the barn. Too late, Claire realizes she should have asked Jamie what year it was. Claire turns to head to the barn, not more than twenty feet away, when she feels light-headed. She doesn’t fight it, hoping that she’ll wake in Inverness in 1945.

Claire is jolted back to consciousness by the unmistakable voice of Mrs. Fitz.

“Up, up! The MacKenzie will be wanting a word wi’ ye. There is no time to waste!”

She recoils as Mrs. Fitz flings the bed coverings aside, flooding the room with daylight. Claire groans and falls back against the pillows as realization dawns. She is back at Leoch and lost in time.

#outlander fanfiction #otheroutlandertales #mod abby #pair: Jamie x Claire #ch: Jamie #ch: Claire #canon AU #catergory: mf #time traveler's family #oot #*

[finn-nelson-for-the-win]

The Good Life: Chapter 2

Hello, my lovelies! I’m really pleased to see that y’all seemed to like the initial chapter of this story and I’m really liking the way that this story is coming along as I’m writing it. It may take a little while for this story to get to the real fun stuff, but I promise that once we get a lot of the basic plot laid down in the first few chapters, this story will be a lot of fun to read, so please be patient.

Need to get caught up on the first chapter? The Good Life: Ch1

If you want to be added (or removed) from the tags list for this story, just feel free to let me know!

@pink-royaute @believethaticanandiwill @milllott @likeashootingstarfades @i-dream-of-emus

 The Good Life: Chapter 2

After adding another few songs to the queue on the digital jukebox next to the bar, Rae walked back to the table in the pub where the rest of her mates were sitting and arguing over something that had been said while she had stepped away from the table. “Ugh, I’m gonna be sick,” Archie scoffed as he turned away from the sight of Izzy and Chop kissing across the table from him, “please save me from this saliva-filled make out fest unfolding right in front of me!” “Oh Archie, let them have their fun! It’s just a little harmless kissing,” Rae replied with a chuckle as she took her seat at the end of the table next to Chloe. “Perhaps, but when you’re single and have no one to kiss it’s easy to feel left out of the fun.” Archie replied, receiving a chorus of agreement and reassurances from the rest of the table. Their conversations resumed as they continued drinking and catching up on what had been going on in their lives since the last time the gang all met up at the pub last month. “Oh yeah! I’ve been meaning to ask ya, Rae, how is the apartment search going?” Chloe asked when there was a lull in the conversation. “You’re looking for a new apartment? Is there something wrong with your current one?” Izzy asked in concern. “Yeah I’ve been looking for a new place to live since January. My current place is just too expensive and the location isn’t great for work and Uni, so I’m trying to find something closer.” “How’s it going then?” “Not great. For the area I’m looking at, the cost of a studio or one-bedroom are as much or more expensive than what I’m paying now. If I want to pay less money for the area I want to live in, I’ll need to find a roommate. I’ve been looking online and asking coworkers if them or their friends needed a roommate or anything, but I just don’t wanna get stuck living with some complete rando that I’ve never met, ya know?” Rae sighed and took a long sip of her drink before setting it back on the table. “Yeah, that makes sense,” Izzy replied.

“Do you need to find a roommate? What if you were able to find a place just for you where you could afford the rent?” Archie suggested.

“I suppose that would be an option, but I dunno...I’ve lived on my own for almost a year now and it has its benefits, but I don’t think I want to keep living all alone. It’s probably not good for me,” Rae added with a humorless chuckle.

“What do ya mean it’s not good for you?” Izzy asked quietly.

“So, what do you think you’re gonna end up doing?” Chloe asked a bit louder, leaving Izzy’s question to remain unanswered.

“My current lease ends in a bit over a month, so at this point I might end up just going with one of the few people I’ve met with already that seems halfway decent to be my roommate, since I don’t have much time left to be picky. I just wish that I knew someone that was looking for a roommate so it would take all of the weirdness of living with strangers away.” Rae said defeatedly as she gulped down the remainder of her drink.

A few seconds of silence passed between Rae and the rest of the gang, no one really knowing what to say, until the sound of a throat clearing distracted everyone from the dull roar of the other pub patrons around them. “I could be your roommate,” Finn said with a shrug as he reached forward to grab his pint off the table and take a drink. “You what?” Rae asked in surprise. “I said I could be your roommate, Rae. If you’d wanna have me as a roommate that is.” “I didn’t know you were looking to move out of your Da’s house, Finn!” Chop said.

“Yeah, where did that come from?” Archie added.

“I’ve been thinking about moving out and getting my own place for a while now, which is why I’ve been taking extra shifts at work, but I didn’t know when the right time was.”

“But why now, specifically? And how come I’ve never heard you mention anything about it until now? The last time I heard you say anything about moving out was when we were still in college and you were trying to prove that you could be independent and not rely on your da all the time,” Archie replied with an accusatory edge to his voice.

“Does it really matter how long I’ve been considering moving out? I didn’t mention anything because I haven’t really been looking for any specific places and I wanted to decide if I should live alone or with a roommate or a few roommates,” Finn replied defensively but he couldn’t stay upset for long before a smirk spread across his lips, “I’m sorry I didn’t ask ‘Uncle Archie’ permission to move out on my own.”

Everyone groaned at the mention of Archie’s old nickname for himself but the tension that had been present before had thoroughly dissipated. “Back to what we were talking about before...Would you wanna live with Finn, babes?” Chloe asked with her eyebrows raised in question.

“I don’t know...maybe? I’d prefer living with someone I know and I don’t have much time to find other people,” Rae turned her attention towards Finn more directly, “I think we get along well enough that we might actually make pretty decent roommates, don’t ya think?”

“I think so, yeah.”

“Okay, cool...well then, I guess I found myself a new roommate!”

The gang cheered and Finn gave Rae a small smile across the table, but Chloe sat beside Rae with her arms crossed and looking between her best mate and her best mate’s soon-to-be roommate with a look of uncertainty tinged with concern.

“That calls for a celebratory drink, don’t ya agree? I’ll go order us all another round!” Chop replied as he clapped Finn on the back and shot Rae a wink before walking away from the table to place their drink order.

When the gang had grown tired of the pub, they all decided to walk downtown to one of the few chip shops that would still be open this late at night. Archie stood at the door holding it open for the gang to walk into the chip shop, but Rae was stopped just as she approached the door.

“Hey, Rae! Can we chat out here for a minute? Just the two of us?” Chloe asked by placing a hand on Rae’s shoulder to gently pull her away from the rest of the gang.

“Uh sure,” Rae replied with a shrug as she walked back to stand beside Chloe.

“What did you wanna talk about, Chlo?”

“What the fuck just happened back there, babes?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well as of about an hour ago you were still struggling to find a roommate and now you’re planning to share an apartment with Finn?”

“Yeah, I guess so! It’s crazy how well that worked out, huh?”

“No kidding! It seems like it all worked out a little too well, if you ask me.”

“Oh, come on, Chloe!”

“No, Rae, I’m serious! Why is it that none of us have ever heard Finn mention moving out of his da’s house until tonight? Archie had a really good point. Why did he choose now of all times to move out?”

“I think you’re both reading way too much into all of this. I mean, what kind of ulterior motives could Finn have for asking to be my roommate?” Rae looked over and saw Chloe was about to speak but she waved a dismissive hand to stop her, “on second thought, I don’t wanna know.”

“I’m just looking out for you Rae.”

“I know, and I’m thankful for you trying to protect me, but I think you’re worried needlessly. It’s not like Finn is a total stranger. He’s been part of the gang since long before I joined and he and I are fairly decent mates. Even if we didn’t get along so well at first, we’ve gotten to know each other over the years and we get on really well now. I feel like of my possible roommates, he’s my best option.”

“I hope you’re right, Rae.”

“I have no idea what to expect from living with Finn or how this will all work, but I’m sort of okay with that. I’m looking forward to some much-needed change in my life!”

“Just know that I’ll always be just a call or text away if you need me. And I expect to be informed of any and all apartment decisions the two of you make during this whole process!”

“As if there was ever any question that I’d do that!” Rae replied with a roll of her eyes, “now come on! I’ve been craving some greasy fried food all week and there’s a plate of chips calling my name inside there!”

Chloe and Rae chuckled and shared a quick hug before the pair walked into the chippy and joined the rest of the gang at the table they were sitting at as they waited for the food they ordered to be prepared.

A/N: I’m fairly certain that exactly nobody was surprised to find out that Finn volunteered to be Rae’s roommate because if you all are anything like me, we’re all thirsty bitches and just love any type of scenario that puts Finn/Rae in the same settings hahaha. Both Chloe and Archie seem a bit unsure about Finn and Rae living together...do you think they know something that we don’t????

DUN DUN DUUUUNNNNN (sorry, I have a bit of a flair for the dramatic lol) Rest assured, this story will have a bunch of fun twists and turns based on some real life events, so hopefully this story won’t become too cliche.

I’m not sure if anyone noticed, but I’ve decided to start posting all of my writing on my AO3 account as well, since who knows how long Tumblr will stay afloat and I’ve used that site before and quite liked it. I’ll still be posting here on Tumblr, of course, but my goal is to at least have all my writing backed up on AO3 at some point just to be safe!

Anyways...until next time: Stay awesome, my friends! :)

#mmfd #my mad fat diary #mmfd fanfic #my mad fat diary fanfiction #my writing #finn-nelson-for-the-win #The Good Life #the good life: ch2

[a-lesbian-goth]

Answer 21 and Tag 21

I was tagged by @bumblebeesneedlovetoo I haven’t been tagged in something like this since like 2016!! Thanks! 

1. Zodiac Sign: Libra

2. Nicknames: Eve 

3. Height: 5’4.5″

4. Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw 

5. The Last Thing I Googled: Something for my now 11 page English paper :/ 

6. Favorite Musicians: Ghost, Rammstein, Metallica, Marilyn Manson, MCR (cringe culture is a scam and dead fight me in the Denny’s parking lot binch), SOAD, Heilung, Witching Hour, Tracktor Bowling, and Suspiria. (These all make me sound like a poser wow I promise I’m not). 

7. Song Stuck In My Head: If You Save Yourself Tonight by MCR 

8. Following Now: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

9. Followers: 826 

10. Do I Get Asks?: Never but I want think they’re pretty neat 

11. Amount of?: What? Band t-shirts? Eyeshadows? SO’s (ha)? 

12. Lucky Number(s): 2, 222, 1111, 333, 555 (gotta love those angel numbers)

13. What I’m Wearing: A Metallica King Nothing t-shirt, some yoga pants cause I ran out of clothes and am doing laundry as we speak, and a black Black Craft Cult jean jacket without sleeves. (It has a cool little grim reaper on the back holding a coffee mug it’s lit). 

14. Dream Job(s): Writer and or forensic pathologist.

15. Dream Trip: Just the North Shore of MA (especially Salem) for like a week.

16. Favorite Food: Pierogi.

17. Instruments: The beginning of Phantom of the Opera on the piano and that’s it. Just the dun, dun dun dun da dun part. 

18. Languages: Other than English, Spanish! 

19. Favorite Song: Right now it’s probably Snake Pit Poetry by Einar Selvik 

20. Random Fact: I’m almost done with the first draft of my first novel! I’ve been writing it for around four-ish years now and think about my characters all the time so it’s gonna be bittersweet when I actually do get the first draft done.  

21. Aesthetic: Looking into the woods at night while you’re passenger in a car on a long drive. The beach and ocean, especially at night or sunset, where it feels like the universe is ambivalent. Neon signs in the dark. Cemeteries at all times, especially ones predating 1900.  Ivy and underbrush growing on random things, especially brick buildings. Crows and other “dark” creatures, vampires, werewolves, the whole nine yards. Just goth stuff, and punk variations of those goth things.  

This is probably why I don’t get tagged in stuff lol  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#¯\_(ツ)_/¯