#i had to include the queen draping dramatical on the floor

[gaemkyuu]

Of Kings & Queens (Part One)

Warnings: none!  A/N: Here’s the first part! This is mostly context to the story, with a sneak peak of Prince Charlie! I’ll upload a little more tomorrow! AU!Prince Charlie Gillespie x Fictional Character Disclaimer: This is a FICITONAL writing piece! In no way do I claim characters in this piece act this way in real life.

Masterlist *now taking requests ;)

Part 1/Part 2/Part 3/Part 4/Part 5/Part 6

Four Kingdoms stood strong.  North, East, South and West.  Four Royal Families would unite the land. The Blood of Gillespie would rule the cold North, bountiful with forestry and game. The Blood of Shada would rule the Eastern coast and land, mastering the stormy seas and its’ treasures. The Blood of Joyners would rule the hot Southern lands, gathering the resources for petrol that kept the Kingdoms running. The Blood of Lee would rule the golden coast of the Western lands, providing crops and livestock to feed the people. In each Kingdom, a Ruler to bring prosperity and peace to all its’ people.

Dawn was breaking and people were already moving busily about the Western Kingdom. As more people woke, the excitement in the air increased, for today was a special day. Festivities would start early in the day and go late into the night as the Western Kingdom celebrated the coming of age the Princess. Not only was it the Princess’ birthday, it also signified that the Princess was now officially on the Royal Market, searching for a partner to become King of the Western Kingdom. Tonight’s celebration at the castle would bring people from all over the nation, including the royal families from the Eastern, Southern, and Northern kingdoms. Farmers harvested and packed their crops and livestock, Bakers made fresh delights by the dozens, Florists put out their best and brightest flowers and the Merchants polished their wares. This special occasion would bring people from all over the Four Kingdoms to their stores in celebration and vacation. All the work that was being put into the celebration brought the citizens together and united them on this special day. 

Well... At least the citizens were excited...

The Princess was awoken by her best friend and handmaiden, much to her displeasure. She groaned and pulled the covers over her head as the curtains in her room were parted, trying to ignore the hustle and bustle going around her. She knew what day it was, and this made her want to stay in bed for much longer. She even debated not getting up at all. As her handmaiden made herself busy and gave directions to other servants that had entered her room, the princess pulled a pillow over her head, trying to make it clear that she had no intention of getting up. With a heavy sigh, her confidant gave the other servants orders and ushered them out before shutting the door softly behind them.

“Liv. I love you and you know how I feel about today, but I would really appreciate it if you would cooperate so we don’t have the queen on our butts this early” the princess groaned and her best friend pulled the covers off her body. She flinched at the bright sunlight streaming into her room.

“I’m not getting up today Sav. It’s not happening” Savannah shook her head and rolled her eyes at her friend. She knew that Olivia could be quite the drama queen, but today she needed her to cooperate so that she wouldn’t fall behind schedule. Savannah glanced at the clock, already knowing that the extra 15 minutes she allotted was now gone. 

“Liv, unless you want to bathe in a cold bath, you will get up or so help me I will dump ice water on you myself!” Olivia groaned and finally sat up looking at her best friend with disdain. “Listen, I know you don’t want to do Today. I get it. But you don’t need another reason to get on the nerves of the King and Queen today” Savannah’s voice sounded slightly distressed and Olivia felt a little guilty at her dramatization this morning.

Olivia and Savannah were best friends ever since she could remember. Savannah was the only friend she had growing up in the palace and was the only friend her parents let her have that wasn’t Royalty. Sure, there were the Duchesses and Countesses of the smaller lands in the Western Kingdom, but Olivia always found them snooty or rude. Savannah’s family had been helping the royal family for generations and they were integral parts of the inner workings of the palace. Naturally, when Savannah’s parents were busy at work Savannah would wander the halls until she found Olivia. The two were like sisters and the King and Queen appreciated the hard work her family put in to serving the Royal family. 

And while the Royal family paid them handsomely while providing them lodging, Olivia couldn’t help but feel a little guilty at times when the difference in their status showed. Olivia rarely wore the same dress twice, while Savannah had a very modest and small wardrobe. Olivia had a private instructor, while Savannah went to the school with other children. But Savannah never really cared and that’s what Olivia loved about her. She was a true and honest friend who Olivia felt safe confiding in.

“Sorry Sav. I didn’t mean to make this any harder on you than it already has been” Olivia offered her friend a smile, patting the spot beside her on the bed. “Think you can spend a few minutes off your feet? Debrief me on the day if you will?” Savannah greatly accepted the spot, giving her a knowing look and a big sigh.

“Well Princess-” Olivia glared at Savannah at the title. “You need to get into the baths and get clean so I can do your hair and make up before the lady the Queen hired arrives. There is no way I’m letting you face the neighbouring nations’ heirs with makeup and hair that I don’t approve of.” Olivia laughed at Savannah’s possessiveness.

“Do we know if the royal families are coming or just their heirs?” Olivia gave a stretch, preparing herself to start the day.

“To my knowledge, just the heirs... But I hear that Prince Charles is quite handsome!” Olivia rolled her eyes as Savannah winked at her. “What? I can’t help it! You hear the chitter chatter in the palace halls. They arrived yesterday and some of the other servants have already been gushing about him. He’s apparently really charming and great husband material” Savannah saw the look of defeat briefly cross her friend’s eyes, before covering it up with an annoyed sigh. “But enough of that. Let’s get you cleaned and dressed and ready to greet our guests.”

***

“Alright Liv, take a deep breath and hold it, I’m pulling up the zipper!” Olivia did as she was told, while Savannah pulled up the zipper to her dress. She was already dreading the fact that she would have to wear the elaborate garb for several hours. Although the light blue gown was absolutely stunning and represented her fashion sense too, she didn’t expect it to come in several pieces. After putting on two layers of skirt, she had a separate top that needed to be zipped up and a cape draped over her shoulders. She could already feel the weight of the material weighing her down a bit and she sighed at the fact that they hadn’t put on her jewelry yet. Savannah and her helpers busied themselves about putting on a bracelet here and a necklace there. Another girl was putting on her earrings while the other made small hems to her dress. Olivia felt like the dolls that her and Savannah played with as little girls.

“Voila! I’ve outdone myself!” Savannah exclaimed, admiring her bestfriend’s transformation, stepping away from her so that she could see herself in the mirror. As much as Olivia didn’t want to like this moment, she couldn’t stop the smile that graced her face. Her best friend had listened to her every request about her dress. Her mother insisted that her first dress be floor length, modest and a Queen Ann neckline. She requested that the dress be midnight blue with the lace accents to be gold. Her mother criticized her colour choice, saying that dark colours were for the evening, not the morning. Olivia argued that if she had no say in the dress at all, she would go naked, a response in which her mother glared angrily at her. However, as she looked at herself in the mirror, she realized that Savannah had taken her mother’s requests and her requests and blended them together. She had a high waisted, A-line skirt that held the princess look her mother wanted, but it wasn’t so big that Olivia felt like a pastry. The Queen Ann neckline was a dark blue mesh with gold lace accents that extended into long sleeves for her arms. Her bodice held very little decoration as the bottom of her dress held all the royal ornate details. The velvet floor length cape was held together by a golden broach.

As per tradition, Olivia wore her family jewels. The gold diamond festoon necklace sat proudly upon her collar and the gold and sapphire earrings were prominent but not over done. A small dainty gold bracelet sat on her wrist and her family ring decorated her right hand. Her hair was neatly pulled back into a loosened braided low bun with the occasional curl framing her face.

“You’ve done a fine job Savannah” the girls jumped at the voice of the Queen. Quickly turning around, Savannah curtsied to her majesty and Olivia followed with a smaller curtsy. “Savannah, could you please grab the tiara out of the case?”

“Yes, your majesty” Savannah hurried over to the velvet case on the vanity and presented it to the Queen. The small but simple gold tiara sparkled in the light of the room. As the Queen gently picked the tiara up, Olivia bowed, lowering her head, a gesture she was all too familiar with. Her mother placed her tiara upon her head and held her face in her hands. She kissed her daughter on the head, careful not to get any lipstick on her.

“The gods have been great to bless me with a daughter as beautiful as you.” Olivia smiled at her mom, not expecting the sudden emotional tenderness she displayed. “Happy Birthday my dearest. Promise me you’ll try to behave yourself today?” Olivia scoffed and rolled her eyes.

“I’ll try” her mother chuckled softly.

“Just like your father... All I ask is that you give today a chance to be great. You might be surprised at the unexpected events that may present themselves to you” Olivia could never see herself being as polished as her mother. She knew her mother had her best interest at heart, but Olivia couldn’t help but feel like her mother was forcing her to fit into traditional roles of the Kingdom. “If you’ll excuse me, I must be on my way to the throne room. I shall see you shortly Olivia. Savannah, please ensure that the Princess does not stall. I would hate to have her tardy for her grand entrance.”

“Yes your highness!” Savannah curtsied as her mother and the remaining servants exited, leaving the two of them in the room. “Ready to go my lady?”

“Savannah, you know you can drop the formalities around me.” Olivia stepped off the round fitting platform, Savannah catching her arm as Olivia stumbled for a moment, not used to wearing heels. “It makes me feel weird!”

“I know, but we are going to be around tons of people today and most of them would probably have my head if I called you by name in front of them. I’ll be at your side the entire time, but when others are around, you have to remember I’m your attendant” Olivia sighed in slight disappointment, but she knew her friend was right.

“How is it that you’re not the Princess and I am? You’d be way better at this than I am” Savannah giggled at her remarks and dusted her dress off before they opened the door. They knew that her royal guards were right behind it and that as soon as they exited the room, their dynamic had to change.

“Please, I can’t hide my feelings as easily as you. When I think someone is an idiot, it’s clear all over my face and I don’t even notice it!” they shared a laugh as they opened the door and officially started the day. 

But they didn’t expect to see a brown haired man zoom by them in hysterical laughter as a taller blonde man chased after him. 

“Charlie! Get back here with my crown!” and the two disappeared around the corner. Olivia blinked in shocked, trying to process whether the scene in front of her happened or not. As her and Savannah shared a look and shrugged their shoulders, they realized that today was going to indeed be very eventful.

tag list:  @ifilwtmfc

#charlie gillespie #charlie gillespie x reader #charlie gillespie fanfiction #charlie gillespie imagines #owen joyner #jeremy shada

[rosedavid]

A Day Off

I feel like, especially in the later seasons, we didn’t get to see as much of Gwen and Merlin’s friendship, so I decided to make a quick little oneshot about Merlin and Gwen still being besties even after Gwen becomes Queen. I hope you enjoy :)

Pairing: Merlin & Gwen Friendship

Word count: 1,303

...

“Merlin, Arthur’s giving you the day off,” Gwen declares, having just entered through the chamber doors. She looks regal and impressive standing in front of Merlin. Her stunning purple dress seems to float along the floorboards, curly hair framing her face perfectly.

Arthur, who sits at his desk pondering over some documents, stares at her with confusion.

“I am?” Arthur questions, pulling a face.

“He is?” Merlin repeats from his spot on the floor polishing Arthur’s armor.

Gwen tilts her head up. “Yes, you are, Arthur. I have important duties to attend to today, and I need Merlin’s assistance for the time being.”

“You know, there are much more competent servants around to help,” Arthur says, smirking at Merlin’s glowering expression.

“Merlin knows all the ins and outs of the castle the best. Besides, with how much you complain about him, wouldn’t you like to spend a few hours without him?”

This time, Merlin is the one smirking at Arthur.

“I mean, well…”

“Perfect!” Gwen smiles, gesturing for Merlin to follow her. Merlin stands up, momentarily forgetting about the armor sitting on his lap. It crashes to the ground, causing Arthur to flinch. Merlin sends him a sheepish smile, while Arthur glares daggers at his servant.

“I’ll come by to clean that up later, sire,” Merlin teases. “If you can stand my presence, that is.”

Arthur picks up an empty goblet as if to throw it but stops when Gwen gives him a stern look. He drops it back down on the table with a hollow thump, then runs his hand over his face.

“You better be back here tonight to attend to me, Merlin.”

“You can count on it, sire!”

With that, Merlin and Gwen head out, keeping up their normal pretenses until they get a ways down the hall. Then, the pair of them collapse into giggles.

“You were great!” Merlin compliments. “I can’t believe Arthur didn’t even question you.”

“Of course he didn’t. I’m the Queen. He knows better by now.”

They continue giggling for a few moments. Although Merlin knows that Gwen belongs as Queen of Camelot, he also misses servant Gwen sometimes. He misses the freedom they had to joke around with each other, to go to parties after hours with the other servants, and to tell stories of the latest gossip for hours on end. That’s why days like these are so important for them both. They established these days long ago after missing seeing each other terribly. It was Gwen’s idea, of course, and a brilliant one at that. They use these days to catch up with each other as friends, not as Queen and servant. It almost feels like old times again.

“Picnic today?” Merlin asks.

“Definitely,” Gwen confirms. “I had the kitchen prepare us a feast. I even got the cook to prepare your favorite tarts.”

“You are truly a blessing, Guinevere.”

“Well, I expect plenty of servant gossip in return. Is Claire still being fought over by her two suitors?”

“It’s three now.”

Gwen laughs, offering Merlin her arm. Merlin loops their arms together, grinning down at Gwen. No one questions them as they head out of Camelot to the edge of the forest. They go to a spot that Merlin discovered a while ago, perfectly hidden by looming trees and beautiful flowers. It’s a gorgeous day outside, the sun peeking out from behind the clouds for the first time in days. If it weren’t for Gwen, Merlin muses, he would be stuck inside right now tending to every whim of Arthur. Merlin hopes that the prat can get by without him for the day without getting too grumpy.

“And then, Lord Richard complained about how all servants come from filth,” Gwen continues, causing Merlin to snort. “You should have seen his face when I told him that I used to be a servant! It turned as red as a tomato. He couldn’t stutter out apologies fast enough.”

“And what did you say?” Merlin chortles, biting into another pastry.

“’Now Camelot knows what you truly think of their Queen.’”

“Amazing. I would have paid to see that. Where was Arthur during all of this?”

“The two of you were out on a hunt that afternoon to prepare for the feast.”

Merlin groans, “Oh, now I remember. It was about to pour rain that day, and I warned Arthur that there was a storm coming. As usual, he didn’t listen. An hour later, we were completely soaked through. Then, he had the audacity to get mad at me for not stopping him from going!”

“That’s Arthur for you,” Gwen chuckles. “I noticed he’s been in a throwing mood lately.”

“Ugh, I know! The other day, he threw a goblet at me that was full, then made me clean it up! Luckily, it didn’t’ come even close to hitting me.”

Gwen giggles, but then trails off into thought. Merlin nudges her shoulder to get her attention. She looks over at him, sun making a halo around her head. “What are you thinking about?”

“I just…” Gwen begins. “I miss this. Our friendship.”

“We’re still friends, Gwen,” Merlin promises, “but I know what you mean. It’s just not….”

“The same.”

“Exactly. But it’s okay, really. You make a wonderful Queen, Gwen, and I wouldn’t want to change that for the world, even if I do miss our antics as servants.”

Gwen hums. “Thank you, Merlin.”

“Besides, now that you’re Queen, we can get into a bunch of new types of antics, like shirking our duties to go on this picnic.”

“I’ll toast to that,” Gwen grins mischievously, before pulling an entire bottle of Camelot’s finest wine out of the picnic basket.

Merlin gasps in fake horror, “Guinevere, I cannot believe you! Stealing wine? I could never agree to this type of crime.”

Gwen drapes a hand over her forehead dramatically. “I know, I’m just horrid! What would the King do if he found out?”

“Nothing to you. He’d put me in the stocks for a few days, though!”

They take turns sipping from the wine bottle in silence for a bit, simply enjoying the calmness of the day and the subtle breeze brushing the plants.

Gwen suddenly speaks. “Arthur’s not really that bad to you, is he?”

“No, he’s not,” Merlin responds with honesty. “As much as I complain about him, which he rightly deserves by the way, he’s not that bad. In fact, I’d even go as far as to say I’ve grown a bit attached to the prat.”

Leaning in, the smell of wine on her breath, Gwen whispers, “Don’t tell him I said this, but I think he’s grown a bit attached to you, too.”

“Wait, did he mention something to you?! You have to tell me. I need some more good blackmail material on him in case he threatens me with mucking out the stables, again.”

“I don’t remember anything exactly,” Gwen says, “but I can tell. He smiles a lot around you. And he always seems sadder when you leave.”

“Are we talking about the same Arthur?”

Gwen swats at him playfully. “It’s true! You just have this ability to make people happy, including me. I don’t know what I would do without these days. The stress of it all gets to me sometimes, but you always make me feel at ease.”

Merlin blushes, “It’s nothing, really. You make me feel happy, too, Gwen. I’m so glad we’re still such good friends.”

Gwen smiles in agreement, taking the offered wine bottle again to take another sip.

“You’re looking like Lord Richard now,” Gwen jokes. “And you might be stuck like that permanently if we stay out in the sun drinking wine for too long. How about we go see what we can do to mess with Arthur?”

“You read my mind.”

#merlin bbc #merlin fanfic #gwen pendragon #merlin #bbc merlin #merlin fanfiction #gwen and merlin #fanfiction

[dise7se]

you can’t make a mistake (on these kind of ice skates)

by spideysforce

It begins like this: MJ and Ned show up to his and May’s apartment first thing in the morning, their incessant knocking on the front door with ushered whispers, “Peter!” followed by even more knocking. HIs heart is beating fast and he gets out of bed, whispering-shouting back at his friends to not wake Aunt May up.

Regrettably, they do wake Aunt May up at 7AM on her Saturday morning off after working 9 shifts in a row at the hospital. May still pulls Ned and MJ into the apartment, telling them she missed them, hugging them good morning and giving Peter the glare for not opening the door sooner. She may be allowing the squad to venture off on their own the winter break of their senior year, but she lays down the ground rules for their trip to the mountains outside of the city, streaked with frozen lakes they’ll venture out to skate in; She expects no blood, no blunt traumas, death, or ice all over the floor of the car. 

He felt like a little kid ten years ago, a couple of years living with Aunt May and Uncle Ben. He had recently become accustomed to living with them, they began their own traditions. After celebrating Hanukkah and when Peter got out of school for the new year, they would drive out to the mountains to sit in scenic view parking lots, an early morning radio playing exclusive MET players in winter leagues content from their practices. May would set up the trunk, and they’d all squeeze in with the door propped open, huddling close and watching the trees sway. It was breathtaking; Ben usually stood too close to rocky cliffs to capture the perfect photo, propping him up on his shoulders to get the higher angle he couldn’t score himself. The same excited feeling from the night before, the excitement and him not being able to sleep, his stomach does leaps while he watches his friends tow their bags in. It was a meteorshower visible in the night sky, digging his fingers into fresh dirt in the spring, the first snowfall of the season.

    “May, are you sure you can’t come with?” Peter asks once more, slouching and pouting his lips. He needs to raise the dramatics, she’s the best ice skater he knows. 

“Sorry, baby. It’s my day off, and you three deserve your own fun little trip.” She fastens his puffy jacket on, zipping it up to the top, yet never snagging his chin. He groans once he catches MJ hiding a laugh behind her hand. 

“You two are next,” May smiles in a knowing way, “don’t you think I’m going to let my kids go outside in the freezing cold with their jackets unzipped.”

“Of course, Aunt May,” Ned replies with his manners by the Leeds family never failing, standing happily besides Peter and chewing on his morning bagel. MJ sips on her coffee, grabbing Peter’s blue and white snowflake-knitted hat with a pom pom on the top. 

“Please, no, MJ,” Peter complains, shaking his head to dodge the hat in her hand, May turning her gaze to Ned and huffing about kids, when Ned shrugs in agreement. “Seriously, you’re messing up my hair that I work so hard to naturally stay this luscious and wavy.”

“You know who you sound like?” 

May turns to Peter to give him a very pointed look with a raised eyebrow, and he knows exactly where this is going. “Just like Tony. Always worrying about the hair, the sunglasses, how muscular you look in the Spidey suit.”

“May,” Peter shrieks, his face turning scarlet red while the room erupts into laughter from his friends who are totally betraying him right now. “That was one time in front of the mirror! Don’t get me wrong, I am very muscular in the suit, but you can’t just--”

“Can you just finish putting your hat on and get out of here already, go take your film photos for your photography project,” May presses a kiss to his forehead, gasping and taking a step once she realizes she needs to stay on the tip of her toes to reach him. 

“Yes, May,” he says mildly, “ice skating, photos, and back home. No shenanigans.”

With that, she ushers the three of them to the door, reminding them no web fluid experiments in the middle of the woods, skating where they aren’t allowed, or no fighting unsolicited sea monsters, or any monsters at all  like last summer. She exhales, her shoulders slumping and she’s giving him the same look that Happy and Tony give him before their spontaneous lectures, notorious anecdotes included. She says more ‘love you’s, sending them on their way.

---

MJ, Peter, and Ned drive May’s 1989 Revolvo outside of the city, taking the open highway to the mountains about an hour out. Peter took the driver’s seat, Ned in the front, and MJ opting to sit in the back with all their skating equipment. The car is full of laughter, music, and chattering in their ears on the drive to the lake, in true Peter Parker ADHD style, MJ and Ned Facetiming Flash and Betty, asking them to meet them on their hike.

The first thing he notices that gives him butterflies is MJ rolling the window down the second they reach the George Washington bridge, letting her curly hair- that usually smells like coconut oil and shea butter- sweep through the wind. His stomach flutters, watching her through the rearview mirror with a wide grin splat across his face, a laughter probably bubbling in her chest like his and Ned’s are full of. 

As if his big, doey heart eyes aren’t big enough, he finds Uncle Ben’s old film camera he gifted to Peter secure around her neck, snapping photos across the moving bridge. Of the sky, of him, of Ned, the car besides them on the right that honks angrily at them. He hastily laughs, asking her to get back inside the car before her face freezes.

Why is his heart beating so fast? Why is he beaming so hard at his best friend beside him, pretending to reprimand his best friend in the back of the car?

Once they’re outside of the city, Ned passes a stick of gum to each of them the moment their ears pop from the change in pressure. They argued the entire way about their school advisors, not really knowing what to do next on their way to college. They all remind him of himself in their own way, and he’s starting to miss them already. MJ wants to study law and criminology, with a forensic biology minor. After Ned graduates he wants to study computer engineering, and Peter wishes he was so sure of himself like they were.

He doesn’t offer much.

It’s fine, because his friends have been helping him figure it out, hence them pushing him to apply to this photography scholarship and contest. Every time he dares to bring up a double major in STEM and photography, his advisors laugh in his face and shut him down. They make it nearly impossible to talk, but his friends are there for him and remind him he can go at his own pace, reminding him he has his alter-ego to worry about.

Peter pulls the car off into a dirt road, surprised he even knows how to drive as a Queens dweller. They follow a path, Ned gripping onto his door handle. “Oh, G-d, Peter. Be careful! Look, there’s a squirrel!”

“Ned,” he gulps, Michelle smirking at their cowardice from the backseat of the car.

“Come on, it’s just dirt,” she suggests, and quirks her brow from an idea. Once the car is silent besides the lowered music, she jumps out and yells in Ned’s ear to watch out.

He jumps, yelling, “that isn’t cool!” and throws something back at her while Peter finds a spot on the side of the mountain. He slams on the brakes to shut them up, their petulant arguing coming to an end once they see the scenic rest stop.

As promised, his friends let him push them around and guide them like cattle to get the perfect shots. He crouches across the parking lot away from them, hearing their hushed whispers and laughters about how ridiculous he looks. “It’s for the aesthetic, okay!”

He opts for the colored film, replacing the entire roll of 50 they used just on the drive here. He shuts the back of the film camera, reeling the film roll until it catches, and finds the perfect shot of his friends whispering and slowly becomes entranced by the actual scenic view. He captures the sky from a new perspective, blocking out all of his surroundings.

He shows his friends the sky, he shows them the car headlights shining on their hearts, and the sun shining on their faces. He captures the muddled sunshine through Michelle’s curls, a blush forming on her face from the camera being too close along with Peter holding it.

His heart skips a beat every time he photographs Michelle, finding a new beautiful thing about her to be lovestruck over.

He takes portraits of the both of his best friends, planning on printing all of these photos 100 times to hang them in his room, to give to them, and to place all over the photography critique and display wall. He sat on the cold gravel road and his friends had to dust him off. His photos look how he feels swinging off of buildings at night, finding one billboard sign, like outside of Matt’s apartment that illuminates the entire block in oversaturated neons. There weren’t iron bars and concrete filling the frame like his photos from the city, it was green trees with branches draping above them, brushing across their faces, a palette of turquoise, grays, and greens.

Peter brought color into the achromatic, washed out world.

There was a photograph he knew he was going to print to become poster-sized, the subject blown up huge because he wanted to reach out into the photo itself, not yet developed. He imagines his hands in the chemical infested waters, bleach and fixer pouring down his hands. 

Ned and MJ both hang their abdomens off of the large metal railing, rockfall barriers they wrap around, the mountains blurred horizontally in the back. MJ’s hair carefully drapes over the edge of the railing, blowing in the wind. Ned stares past him, suspended in air right behind Michelle. The bars are set impossibly straight, but MJ and Ned’s body destroy the thirds in a beautiful, alluring way. Their arms dared to swing over the edge of the mountainside, throwing them into the flesh if the barred metal wasn’t holding them. Too close to the edge, too close to the sky.

“I got it,” he pants, unbelievably bashed at the one click of the shutter. The focal point is always set to 50mm and an aperture of 1.8. 

It was like chemistry, physics, it was Murphy’s Law; Whatever can happen in his film roll, will happen. 

He lowers the camera down from his face, MJ and Ned already out of there poses, he finds them smiling at him.

---

As promised in an unsaid way, MJ, Ned, and Peter cling onto each other to get the hang of skating. They each hurt themselves at least once quickly leaning over to lace their own skates leaning out of the car, parking nearby the lake and hiking across the icy-snow to get to the icy lake. The area is empty, and the mountains hover above them through the trees, sending a chill their way.

Not before long after testing the ice themselves and deeming it safe by the signs, they’re gliding along the icy lake and pulling each other down in each desperate tug to stay upright.

Ned points out, “I thought you were good at ice-skating! You’re Spider-Man!”

“Exactly!” he shrieks back, his left leg gliding in front of him causing him to flail his arms to find balance. “I web-swing! I don’t ice skate for a reason.”

Peter clears his throat, gliding over to MJ who watches Ned with a relaxed smile while he skates around the perimeter. Out of the three of them, he picks skating up the quickest, naturally fleeting over the ice with precision. “It’s not nice to hover, you know.”

He whips his head to the side to look at her, his ADHD brain reminding him it’s a joke and she’s messing with him before he falls into his own spiral of self-doubt. He smiles at her, her beige puffy coat covering her chin and she smiles into the enclosed space, looking up at him. Her hands are in her pocket, and he reaches playfully to warm his own hands up in the jacket.

“Uh, so--” he clears his throat, “it’s so cold out, right? I mean, the temperature is around freezing and we spent an hour in the mountains--”

“Yep, cold.”

“I had a lot of fun, like, I know we’re best friends and all and I’d do anything for you guys, but what you both did-- I got the perfect shot. I really did it,” he talks lamely, wondering how he still stumbles over his words around his crush he kissed in Europe. “You know, I’m probably just.. I think I’ll go take more pictures? I’ve never felt so alive and nostalgic taking pictures, and like Uncle Ben used to tell me-- Okay, I can’t take you looking at me like this.”

Amused, MJ smiles with his face too close to hers while they share body heat, hitching her shoulders. “You know I can hear your inner monologue, right?”

“It’s just-- you know, we’re hanging out. It’s not totally lame with me ruining it, we can forget this happened..”

She leans forward, leaning her forehead to his. “Do we have a reason not to?”

Right, yeah. They can do this, he thinks.

The feelings between them are confusing, and even though they’ve kissed, that was probably just a spur-of-the-moment thing, right? He did save her life and their friends, they were scared. And holding hands? That’s what all friends do-- 

His brain almost can’t process this all at once, and he thinks his cheeks can’t redden even more despite the cold and he’s sure she can see the tip of his ears burning pink-- 

He scrambles, nearly reeling back in the ice when she plants a kiss on his cheek. Her grin is huge, and she gently takes his hands out of her pockets and skates away, his heart rate struggles and he thinks this is how he’ll faint. From tachycardia. 

Ned’s voice fills overhead, and he grabs his camera from the side of the frozen lake to join them again. Persistent chills run down his spine, the misty freeze coming from the ground. They let Peter stand in the middle, lacing their hands together to skate in a chain, disastrously. It was at this moment the teenagers truly regretted not taking skating in Central Park seriously until last year, their skills unabashedly catastrophic, giving it up after they realized they can celebrate winter break inside, baking for everyone in the apartment building. 

The three of them realized Peter has his web-shooters equipped to their wrists when Ned clung onto him, nearly slipping and he tugged him up, and in their laughter released a web that shot into the snow across the lake. They stoof, starstruck, and could anyone blame them and their impulsivity? And so, what had started as simple skating to shoot film, documenting their lives beyond a surface-level way.

Ned retreats back to the sidelines, sitting a few feet away in the car on the side after skating for nearly an hour. The three of them pant in exhaustion, massaging their own limbs and stretching. Michelle attempted a jump on the ice while he went to go check on Ned, screeching and landing in an almost-split. 

He decided to keep quiet about the slight buzz that begins forming at the back of his head, crediting it to nearly slipping every five seconds on the ice. 

“Come take a break with me, I’m about to eat one of our many junk-food snacks until we can get lunch,” Ned offers after, he thinks he noticed the concern on his face from the haywire senses and doesn’t want to alert Michelle. He must suspect the way he starts shivering, too, so he sits in the passenger seat that faces the lake, besides Ned.

Ned looks at Peter, and he simply smiles back because he doesn’t want to worry his best friend. He chucks off his gloves, cleaning the camera from where it sat in ice and says he’ll be right back to take pictures in the smaller icy lake away from them.

He drags himself along the snow, taking big steps to account for the heavy skates on his feet towards the tiny icy lake besides them. He sees Ned and MJ gesture to each other, Michelle nodding her head towards him in concern, who makes eye contact with him and crosses her arms and makes a shivering motion in question. He shakes his head, sending a thumbs-up that he’s okay.

He’s reached the other side of the lake, taking pictures of Michelle skating from another angle in a snow covered patch. He shivers, the incessant cold gripping him. He feels it - a hitch, but it isn’t a shiver from the cold. He’s immediately retreating back when he hears a crunch, a kr, gripping his camera a bit tighter before throwing it to the side and he turns frantically, trying to locate the alert from his legs--

Closing his eyes, he listens to the noise of small ice particles separating, deciding where the safest spot to jump to is, letting his sense direct him somewhere else. He knew he was away from the mini lake, the frozen pond for this reason. It’s technically off the lake, but there must be a small terrain of water and he stumbles around the ice.

His skates are heavy on his aching feet, the snow seeping in from the sides that’s a few inches high, his heart racing in pure adrenaline. “MJ. Get off the ice now. Get off.”

“Peter, what--”

The glaze, icy surfaces are cracking beneath him, atoms shaking. His senses won’t stop screaming at him frantically, not guiding him except for up, and it might be too late to send his web-shooters above him, the shooters in the car with his gloves. He doesn’t have enough time to warn them to grab his web shooters for him before he’s crashing into the ground, through ice and water.

He suspends in the water, the cold engulfing his entire body, it’s unlike any cold he’s felt before, even after being trapped in snow after a fight with Mysterio. It’s unthinkable, striking his entire body. He blindly panics, pitch black in his vision and his throat burns raw as he screams. 

Get up, get up, get up-- swim, swim-- 

His body is being carved out by millions of pinpricks, the cold seeping into his body and chilling his bones and the shock gouges his brain. The skates cause him to be less buoyant, his heavy legs scraping ice and getting stuck with each desperate kick and flutter to get to the surface.

He watches the bubbles rise up in the water from his mouth, screaming he can’t hear himself underwater. He didn’t have the chance to suck in a breath, his exhalation running out and twisting and tearing at his lungs. Each cell screams breathe--

He can’t hear anymore. 

Loud ringing replaces his senses, he reaches blindly upwards and his heart rattles in his chest. The freezing temperature below the ice seizes his body. He jackknifes upwards, realizing his movement is clumsy and unreflexive.

His left skate becomes stuck in a chunk of ice, and he’s back in Europe for a moment. Heat blindly covers his face, the sensation all lost. Behind his closed eyes, a hot summer heat casts over him, but he’s being burned from Mysterio sending fire his way. He’s on Titan again, cells ripping to shreds again.

He lets himself succumb to the drowsiness, reaching up once last time to feel around as the opening of the ice flees. Even if he did make it out, his lungs feel too full in his chest, he’d need to get rid of all the liquid from his lungs fast, hoping he doesn’t asphyxiate.

He thinks he sees shadows dancing above him in the water, he’s hopeful his friends would dare reach inside for him, but it wouldn’t be fair for him. He’s drifting, he slowly diminishes away and he’s so far away from them, a dizzying sunlight blinding him and allowing him to close his eyes once more. His brain shuts off, and his senses stop screaming and allow him to let go - the panic leaves him.

He thinks he’s dreaming when he feels a hand in his, another grabbing his wrist. This can’t be right, he’s about to fall asleep into the world of unconsciousness. He’s too weak to fight the tug upwards, seeing stars all in front of him. A black canvas streaked with colors, twinkling in the night sky. He thinks he hits the air again, but he can’t take a breath in so it must not be real. He feels his body being tossed down onto the ground like a ragdoll, dragging through the snow that feels hot, lava on his skin. Is he eulogizing himself, a cynical last vision that he truly did live?

His vision comes back, he thinks, unable to cough and his legs feel ready to burst inside his body. He’s turned to his side, snowflakes falling from the sky. He thinks he can see very single snowflake in front of him, dancing for him, he thinks behind the ringing he can hear shouting, wake up! 

He wants to listen to each voice, millions of seconds passing between each frantic shout. He.. he must be allowed to close his eyes.. He wants to be taken back to the lake after succumbing to rest. He falls, stars accompanying him.

---

MJ’s boots begin to slip on the edge of the ice, bits of icicles falling into the water where Peter thrashes. “Shit, shit, shit,” she cries out, perching herself safely to grab onto his hand in the water with Ned searching frantically for his web-shooters and anything else they can use to pull Peter out of the water with.

After a minute, she’s dragging him out of the water with newfound strength, watching his blue body retreat from the water and she screams out, sobbing now. She won’t give up. She won’t give up on him, Aunt May, or on them.

“Hang off, babe, I’ve got you,” she says, looking down at him as he desperately tries to gasp for air. She begins chest compressions, unable to think. She never thought she’d be fast on the spot for an emergency, but she thinks she screams at Ned to call 911, forgetting he’s still on the line with them.

Once she gets a pulse, she and Ned carry Peter to the car. They frantically cover his body in every coat and blanket they find, thanking G-d May has spares in the trunk in case of an emergency. She shrugs her coat off, leaving her sweater on. She springs herself into the backseat, Ned doing the same in the front with the heat already blasting. She’s frantically explaining to whoever is on the other end of the phone, voice breaking as she begs for help. “He’s- he’s breathing on his own now, but he’s blinking at us. What do I do--”

A few minutes pass, she’s not sure how she hasn’t passed out yet. May’s murmuring in her ear through the phone, that Tony is talking to Ned while he drives and that he’s going to talk to her next. She’s pretty sure she agrees, but she’s curled up around Peter, his body on her lap. She gives him warmth, listening to Tony spew medical terminology at her and how to treat hypothermia. 

“You’re gonna be okay. I promise. You can’t die on us,” she whispers into the air, the car engine roaring.

--

Once Peter returns, he wonders if he’s dead when he’s conscious again. His brain registers warmth and lumps beneath him. He blearily opens his eyes, the action too much, his head is in someone’s lap. They run their hands gently through his cold hair. He feels hands around his socked-feet, and he furrows his brows in confusion. He begins to shift a little, feeling a gentle pressure on his arm and leg. There’s warmth all around his body, which is heavy but safe, it's as safe as May’s arms, Ben’s arms during a thunderstorm that shook the building, Tony’s arms after Titan. He closes his eyes, moaning and he’s ready to drift--

“Peter Benjamin Parker,” May sighs above him.

His first thought is to gasp for air, coughing and feeling his lungs clattering in his chest, his sternum erupting in pain. It feels like a hacksaw to his sternum when he breathes. 

He whimpers quietly, hearing soft shushing above him. It’s a different sound from the constant headache of the ringing, but he hears the familiar whirr of the refrigerator and picks up four familiar heartbeats. His heart feels surmounted by grief, over the sea, left far away.

He blinks his eyes open past tears, recognizing the bookcase in front of him in the living room of the apartment, with a warm body at his feet on the couch. He’s in May’s lap, “Peter, hey,” May says softly, grounding him by placing a hand on his back. “You’re okay. I’m right here.”

She places her chin to his hair, sighing, and he sags into her arms. He thinks his feet are in Tony’s lap, his foot catching his side.

“Oh, kiddo,” Tony soothes, squeezing his foot gently. 

“MJ? Ned?” He rasps out, no voice there and he turns frantically.

“Don’t worry, baby,” May says softly, he almost didn’t catch it. “MJ’s asleep in the chair besides Tony, Ned’s asleep in the other. We’re all crashing from adrenaline.

His head pounds at his movements, his arms feel sluggish, but he pushes himself off of May to find his friends, safe. “Oh-- fuck. Thank, G-d.”

“Language,” May admonishes kindly, settling him further into the couch comfortably by shifting pillows. “How are you feeling?”

Noticing hers and Tony’s eyes on him, searching, both their phones to the side of them and the window allowing pink and purple streaks inside, painting the furniture and the gold illustrating each facial feature of theirs. His friends sleep in the shadows, covered in soft blankets.He switches gazes between them. Tony moves him gently, wrapping his blankets tightly around him.

He’s guessing May removed some of his soaking clothes, exchanging his clothes and he notices the fresh white cotton t-shirt on his body, smelling of fresh fabric softener. 

“Kid, you’re going to give me an aneurysm one of these days. Or, better yet, you’re going to burst my arteries yourself.” He fixed Peter with a pointed look, sighing. “I mean, you’re almost in college. I shouldn’t still be doing this.”

Everything he says comes off lightheartedly, but every word is laced with concern. He desperately wants to get argue back, but he knows today is his fault. He ignored his senses, and he doesn’t have a good enough excuse. Would he have been able to save his friends if it happened to them?

Like Tony can sense exactly what he’s thinking, he continues to assure him. “You’re hypothermic. You were blue, Pete, but your dislocated knee mixed in isn’t the worst you’ve done..”

He sighs, looking away from Tony and opting to listen to the kettle in the kitchen, May shifting his head off of her lap and into the couch cushion to it off and stares at Tony’s phone on the table.

“It was stupid, I know. I’m so sorry, everyone,” he finally says, none of the words being announced like he wants, his throat tender and unhealed, lifting his head off the pillow and moans in pain. He’s able to sit up, leaning heavily against a pillow with his elbow propping him up. He ignores the piercing pain in his ribs. ”I checked the water. I-- I wasn’t thinking, I guess.”

Tony sounded as frantic as he did back when he first yelled at him after the nearly-disastrous ferry incident. “That’s part of the problem. You are thinking, kid. You’d never do this willfully. You always jump the gun, which is something also great about you.. It can also be a great flaw.”

“Did they get hurt?” he whispers, turning back to the two teens on the smaller one-person couches.

“Nobody except for you, kiddo,” May reassures him, walking back in with a steaming mug in her hands. He takes this moment to redirect his gaze to his arm when he grabs it, his stiff elbow poked with a needle. “IV, baby. Needed to warm you up with warm saline.”

She sighs, sitting on the glass coffee table in front of him and not bothering to move the newspaper. “We’re worried, Peter. I can’t protect you like I need to, want to.” 

He collapses back down into the pillow, oblivious to May and Tony’s secret communication with each other. May, nodding for Tony to sit beside her and in front of Peter. It probably isn’t comfortable for him, but he looks over to May for answers. She furrows her brows, her mouth set in a line.

He almost smiles, seeing the two of them in front of him again when he’s not dying. The relief quickly turns to worry when he remembers what happened, guilt refusing to subside. He’s huddled in the couch, like a cold, rejected dog, signs of frostbite all over him. It’s his own fault - he didn’t listen to his sense. The dark, insidious fear of death looms over his head once more, he really scared his friends today. And himself.

Murphy’s Law comes back to his head, an anxiety swirling in his stomach. It’s an ugly, black hurricane feeling, especially seeing the dejection and defeat written on both their faces. 

“I--” he can’t manage, but the two of them see hesitation flicker across his face, voice too quiet and broken. “I’m just- I messed up. T’ny ta-taught me so much, I didn’t listen--” he cuts himself off, his voice unrecognizable, eyes widening in surprise, a realization.

“It was all my f’ult. I sc’red them, badly.” Pressing himself deeper into the corner of the pillow, tears overflow his eyes, hot streaks across his face he doesn’t expect. A shiver racks through him, not from the cold.

Tony leans over closer to him, his breath warm even through the blankets and on his exposed arm, his own hand hovering above him in hesitation, the inhibition set across his face. His mentor takes a deep breath in, gently grabbing the back of the couch and placing a kiss to the top of his head. He must’ve really fucked up today, he thinks.

He watches the fear streak across Tony’s eyes, too familiar to Titan. Peter feels deeply rooted in the couch, frozen solid from his core. He doesn’t know what the end of the story is, fear ebbing away, and he really looks at Peter face on. “I’m sorry.”

Peter feels frustrated again, just like the morning when half the world that died was brought back, feeling alone. 

He lets his tears take over him, letting May hold him on the couch, feeling too weak to do anything else. She ends up pulling Peter into her lap again, rubbing circles on her shoulder and letting her own tears escape from her eyes, some falling onto his white t-shirt. He trembles under her, Tony reaching over to squeeze his hand, the arm with an IV. He soothes small circles with his thumb, drawing patterns on his skin and turns to May with owlishly wide eyes.

“It’s alright, kiddo,” Tony whispers. “We’ve got you. May’s got you. Your friends are right here. You’re right here.”

It takes some time, but eventually Peter falls asleep like that, May and Tony’s vice-like grip never once loosening on him.

#peter parker #may parker #tony stark #ned leeds #michelle jones #spider-man #iron dad #irondad #5.4k #my fics #medical inaccuracies #i drowned peter #as a treat #hurt/comfort #found family #mcu #marvel #mcu fics #ffhedit #spideychelle

[stealingpotatoes]

Bedtime Story

AO3 link

summary: Emily decides that it’s her turn to tell Corvo & Jessamine a bedtime story. The characters in said story seem... a little familiar.

(notes: Hi! Gonna start posting my fics on Tumblr bc I uh- can. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this! Edit: whoops forgot to add formatting to it)

--

“Can you tell me a story? Pleeeaase?” Emily begged her mother and Corvo, gripping her blue bedsheets that she was tucked into. The seven-year-old was wearing her frilly white nightgown and an incredibly cute expression that neither of them could say no to. 

“One story” Jessamine smiled, sitting on Emily’s bedside. 

Emily grinned and turned to Corvo, who was standing about a step away from her bed, “Could you tell me the story of how you won the Blade Verbena?”

Corvo folded his arms and tilted his head, “Again? I told you that last night.”

Emily nodded enthusiastically.

“Why don’t you pick something different, my little cygnet?” Jessamine suggested.

Emily pouted, then scrunched up her face, deep in thought for a few moments. She perked up, “I’ll tell  you  a bedtime story.”

“Uh-” Jessamine started- “Why don’t I--”

“No. I’m telling you a bedtime story,” Emily sat up in bed. “You have to sit down,” Emily glanced between Jessamine and the floor. 

“It can’t last too long though, you do need to go to sleep soon,” Jessamine warned. 

“Yes, yes,” Emily nodded, “Now sit down!” she pointed to the floor. 

Corvo smiled and huffed at Emily’s order to Jessamine. The two of them shared a glance, silently saying  “well I suppose we have to”,  before moving to sit down on the floor next to each other. 

Emily lifted her bedsheets up and sat cross-legged, facing her ‘audience’. She paused for a moment, then exaggeratedly cleared her throat, “Once upon a time there was a knight, a queen, and a princess. They all lived in the kingdom of… uhh- Bunwall.”

“Bunwall?” Jessamine asked.

“Bunwall,” Emily replied, nodding with the utmost seriousness.

Corvo and Jessamine shared another amused look.  

“Now let me tell the story!” Emily exclaimed.

The Knight, Queen and Princess lived in their tall castle in Bunwall. It was a grand stone castle, with many grand parapets.

The Queen was holding a banquet for something that merited a banquet in its honour. The Grand Banquet Hall was filled with music and dancing and everything was jolly.  Everything except the Princess, that is. She was not having a good time, because banquets and balls were, in her opinion, absolutely terrible and incredibly boring. She would much rather have been doing literally anything else. But no, she was sitting here, bored out of her mind. 

Suddenly, a mighty roar shook the castle!  The merry music stopped. Everyone halted and tensed up at the noise, and a sickening silence fell upon the room. 

An enormous green dragon smashed through the windows, scattering glass everywhere and leaving a huge dragon-shaped hole in the wall!

“Oh my, a dragon?” Jessamine put her hand over her chest. 

“Yes! A DRAGON!” Emily threw her arms in the air. 

Everyone screamed and ran to flee or hide as the Dragon breathed its fiery breath into the air. the Dragon was monstrous. It stood almost as tall as the high ceiling, with massive, sharp, scaly wings spread out wide. Its fierce eyes looked as if a fire burned behind them. 

“Roar! I’m here to destroy Bunwall!” the Dragon boomed.

The Knight unsheathed his sword and spun it in his hand, “Not if I have anything to say about it!”

The Knight certainly did have something to say about it; he dashed forward with his sword and struck the Dragon on its chest, avoiding the beast’s attacks. But the Dragon didn’t seem all that fazed by the hit, and the sword did little against the Dragon’s thick scales. The Knight fought on nonetheless.

The Dragon, as unfazed as it was, fought back as strong as ever. The Knight dodged many of the Dragon’s attacks. Alas, the Knight was fast, but he wasn’t fast enough, and the Dragon was too powerful! the Dragon swung its mighty tail and smacked the Knight into the wall. 

Everyone gasped at the sight of the noble Knight defeated.

“Princess! You must save us!” the Queen cried. 

The Princess pulled out her sword and—

“Woah- where’d the Princess get a sword?” Corvo interrupted. 

“She had it the whole time! Um… The Knight gave it to her for her birthday...” Emily said, “Now stop interrupting!”

Corvo put his hands up in a mock-surrender.

The Princess pulled out her sword that she had the whole time and also got from the Knight for her birthday and ran at the Dragon, yelling a war cry. She struck and she dodged with grace and precision that the Kingdom had never seen before. the Dragon tried to hit her with its blazing firebreath and sharp tail, but she artfully flipped out of the way of its attacks. 

The Princess’ hits, like the Knights’, didn’t seem as if they were doing much to injure the Dragon. But they did seem to be tiring it out.

“Princess! It’s working!” the Queen shouted to her daughter.

The Princess continued to fight the Dragon with unbelievable skill and prowess. None of the Dragon’s attacks were even getting close to hitting her! 

“Roar! How are you so… awesome?” the Dragon asked, breathless and amazed. 

“I just am,” the Princess replied, her short hair flowing in the wind. 

the Dragon regarded the Princess in awe for a few moments before speaking, “I… I didn’t really want to destroy Bunwall… I actually really wanted a hug. But no-one would give me one.”

The Princess considered his words for a moment. “I will give you a hug,” she said, sounding as regal as her mother, the Queen, “But first you have to say sorry to the Knight.”

the Dragon turned to the Knight, who was slowly getting up from the floor, “Sorry, the Knight.”

the Dragon looked back to the Princess, and she gave him a satisfactory nod. He lowered his large and scaly dragon head towards the Princess and she gave him a big hug.

“Aww,” Jessamine smiled softly.

“I said stop interrupting!” Emily exclaimed, “I’m not done yet!”

“Yeah, stop interrupting,” Corvo smirked, looking at Jessamine.

Emily shot a grumpy look at the both of them before continuing. 

The room erupted in applause at the Princess’ heroics. Everyone, including the Knight and Queen, was amazed at her skill and how she saved Bunwall. 

After the banquet-ball, the Queen formally knighted her daughter, and the Princess got an incredibly nice suit of armour and another sword. She and the Dragon, an amazing team of best friends, went on to protect Bunwall better than anyone had before. 

And the Knight and the Queen kissed and got married!

“-the end,” Emily said. She looked between Corvo and Jessamine expectantly.

Jessamine was confused for a moment before she realised what Emily was expecting. “ Emily, ” she chided.

“And the Knight and the Queen kissed! Come on!” 

Corvo and Jessamine gave Emily almost identical  ‘really?’  looks.

“I won’t go to bed unless you kiss!” Emily said firmly.

“Emily,”   Corvo and Jessamine said in unison, flatly. 

Emily pouted and dramatically dropped her shoulders.

“That’s enough storytelling for tonight,” Jessamine smiled, standing up, “It’s bedtime.”

Corvo pushed himself to his feet too, “It was a very good story.”

Emily grinned, “If you put me to bed tomorrow, I’ll tell you PART TWO!” 

“We’ll try our best to,” Jessamine said genuinely.

Corvo smiled in agreement. 

“Part two’s even better than part one!” Emily said excitedly with a dramatic hand motion.

“Oh?” Corvo tilted his head slightly.

“But I can’t tell you what happens because it’s a secret,” Emily whispered.

Corvo nodded understandingly.

“Actually- I can tell you the story now!” Emily beamed. 

“No, you can’t, because it’s time to go to sleep,” Jessamine folded her arms and smiled. 

“Yeah- bedtime,” Corvo agreed.

Emily sighed. She reached her arms out, and Corvo moved forward and leant down to give her a hug, as he always did. “Goodnight Em,” Corvo said.

“Goodnight Corvo,” Emily yawned as Corvo pulled away from the hug. She flopped onto her side and awkwardly moved her crossed legs so they were flat out too. Then she lifted her legs up so she could tuck herself in under her sheets.

Jessamine pulled Emily’s blankets up a little and leant down to kiss her cheek, “Sleep well,”

“Mm. Goodnight,” Emily wiped the kiss off her cheek, like she did every time someone kissed her, and settled into her blankets. 

-

“She’s going to figure it out soon,” Jessamine said, as Corvo shut the door to the Empress’ apartments behind them. 

“Going to? I think she already has,” Corvo huffed.

Jessamine stopped for a moment, not quite looking at anything, “It  is cute,” 

Corvo stayed silent, prompting Jessamine to explain what she meant. 

“That Emily thinks she can make us kiss with a story” Jessamine smiled, “And how badly she wants us to get together,” she looked at Corvo. 

“Mm,” Corvo hummed in agreement, “She’s about… eleven years too late though.”

Jessamine laughed a little. The two of them settled into a comfortable silence for a few moments. 

Jessamine made to walk off, but Corvo caught her hand and pulled her towards him almost as if they were dancing. He wrapped his arms around Jessamine’s waist, pulling her closer to him, “Y’know, the Knight never did get that kiss from the Queen…”

Jessamine draped her arms around Corvo’s shoulders. She tilted her head and smiled playfully, “No, no, I think they did kiss at the end.”

“I don’t remember that part,” Corvo furrowed his brow, smirking, “You’ll have to remind me of what happened.” 

“I suppose I will,” Jessamine laughed slightly, looking into Corvo’s eyes. Then she moved a hand to Corvo’s face and went on her tip-toes. Corvo leant down to bridge the gap between them, and they kissed, softly and slowly. 

“Is that better?” Jessamine asked with a raised eyebrow, voice barely above a whisper. 

Corvo smiled, and Jessamine couldn’t help herself from smiling too. “I love you,” Jessamine said, her voice still quiet, as if speaking too loudly might ruin the moment. 

“I love you too,” Corvo replied. 

#corvojess #emily kaldwin #jessamine kaldwin #corvo attano #dishonored #potes wrotes #hope everyone's having an incredible day!

[nsfwviolets]

hello everyone !! my name is ally & i hail from the est timezone. i really should be studying for my exam tomorrow or at least trying to get some rest but here i am !! i don’t think anything has really changed about vi but everything you need to know about her is under the cut !! & like always, please like this post so i could bother you for plots !!

❛ new york’s very own violet lennox was spotted on broadway street in jimmy choo thigh high boots. your resemblance to taylor hill is unreal. according to tmz, you just had your twenty-third birthday bash. while living in new york, you’ve been labeled as being avaricious, but also enticing. i guess being a gemini explains that. three things that would paint a better picture of you would be elongated limbs tangled in pink silk sheets, the lingering smell of yves saint laurent mon paris, & oversized faux fur coats draping sun kissed shoulders  ( cisfemale & she/her ) + ( ally, 21, she/her, est )

basics ;;

full name:  violet ( soft & sweet ) faith ( unquestioning belief and complete trust in god ) lennox ( northern irish / scottish last name ).

nicknames: vi, v.

age: twenty-three.

birthday: 18 june 1996.

zodiac: gemini.

gender: cisfemale.

pronouns: she / her / hers.

sexual orientation: bisexual.

nationality: american.

hometown: aspen, colorado.

parents: diane galindo ( brooke shields ) & richard lennox ( rob lowe ).

siblings: older sister.

pet(s): one year old miniature labradoodle named tate.

religion: roman catholic.

height: 5′10.

occupation: victoria’s secret angel / instagram model / socialite.

positive traits: honest, loyal, passionate, responsible, authentic, affectionate, reliable, kindhearted, & courageous.

negative traits: loud, manipulative, stubborn, materialistic, selfish, abrasive, hypocritical, insecure, & dramatic.

hobbies: shopping, audrey hepburn movie marathons, traveling, being the center of attention, photography, spontaneous dance parties, working out, massages, doodling, pilates, online shopping, & journaling.

habits: interrupting someone mid sentence, excessive hair tucking, shoulder rolling, lip biting, & impatiently tapping her heels or acrylic nails when she is at a loss for words & or annoyed.

labels: the vixen & the babydoll.

aesthetics: silk dresses, lip gloss, the deafening sound of designer heels making contact with marble floors, lipstick stained coffee mugs, matte nail polish, glitter, diamonds, snow days, satin sheets, impulsive shopping sprees, romantic comedy binge watches, ocean waves, lolita, bright lights, day drinking, champagne for breakfast, iced matcha, lingerie as outerwear, yves saint laurent mon paris perfume sprayed on the nape of her neck & her decolletage, lavender oil, acrylic nails, snow blanketing trees, hardwood mahogany floors, hgtv reruns, vintage chanel, pretty in pink, rose gold accents, bubble baths after a long day, half naked pictures, & rose water.

style inspo: taylor hill, kylie jenner, candice swanepoel, josephine skriver, kendall jenner, blair waldorf, & cher horowitz. here are just a few examples of her wardrobe !! ( x x x x x ) muse inspo: brooke davis ( one tree hill ), cher horowitz ( clueless ), blair waldorf ( gossip girl ), gabrielle solis ( desperate housewives ), lydia martin ( teen wolf ), fallon carrington ( dynasty ), sadie saxton ( awkward ), lauren cooper ( faking it ), mini mcguinness ( skins ), holly golightly ( breakfast at tiffany’s ), maddy perez ( euphoria ), brooke maddox ( scream ), samantha jones ( sex & the city ), tahani al jamil ( the good place ), jackie burkhart ( that ‘70s show ), naomi clark ( 90210 ), cece parekh ( new girl ), cassie howard ( euphoria ), madison montgomery ( american horror story ), jenna maroney ( 30 rock ), kelly kapoor ( the office ), elle woods ( legally blonde ), rachel green ( friends ), paris hilton, & mona-lisa saperstein ( parks & recreation ).

background ;;

violet faith lennox is diane galindo’s & richard lennox’s youngest child. born three weeks early on 18 june 1996 at aspen valley hospital in aspen, colorado. the very moment they held their daughter ( who they lovingly referred to as a ‘ blessing ‘ ) in their open arms, they knew that their family was finally complete.

her mother ( diane ) is her parents’ pride & joy. as the eldest daughter of wealthy wall street executives, she has done nothing but make her family proud her entire life. growing up, her dream in life was to help her father’s business but her career quickly changed course when she decided to pursue a career in medicine. the new york native eventually ended up going to harvard medical school in boston, massachusetts where she would end up meeting her future husband. to this day, dr. galindo is one of the most recognizable names in medicine & is world renowned for her work as a reproductive endocrinologist ( fertility specialist ).

her father on the other hand ( richard ) was born to an influential family in los angeles, california. from an early age, he was exposed to the spotlight due to the fact that his own father was governor of california & hoped to become president one day. however, things seemed to go off course the day the former governor was caught in his own cheating scandal all while being married to a former pageant queen. scandal erupted when the politician not only cheated on his stunning wife with a young secretary but when his mistress announced to the world that she was pregnant. the entire news circuit covered this affair for months & the governor resigned from his position when news broke that he urged his mistress to get an abortion.

following the scandal, the family fell out of the public spotlight. they spent years trying to repaint their public image after it was tarnished for nothing but selfish desire. approximately ten years later, the family made news again but this time about their newly found faith in god joining the long list of religious right wing politicians. richard’s father felt as if the only way to redeem himself was to devote himself to god. after years of distancing themselves from the catholic church, the family dove right back in which became the start of their fundamental catholic values that ruled every aspect of their lives.

as the only son in the family, richard’s parents had high expectations for him. however, he seemed to have different plans for himself that didn’t involve making his family proud or practicing what they preached. as an undergraduate student at yale, his interests were far & few between. his days only seemed to consist of sleeping with random women & binge drinking to his heart’s content. he knew that he didn’t have to be an astounding student because he had a giant trust fund waiting for him at home. but after a drunk driving accident that resulted in a 40 year old woman’s hospitalization & his own arrest, richard knew he had to clean up his act.

he eventually followed his family’s lead & became an ultra religious catholic. he even managed to boost up his grades & get an academic scholarship to harvard law school where he met diane. diane didn’t come from a strong religious background. in fact, she liked to tell people that she only believed in science & didn’t have faith or trust in a superior figure. but when she met a young richard lennox, her entire world was turned upside down. she let him into her life, converted to catholicism, & the two got married after three years of dating. flash forward to 1992. the married couple is moving to aspen, colorado for diane’s new job at an upscale hospital. they even received a generous check from richard’s parents to buy a mansion in the mountains !!

life for the couple in colorado was serene. they eventually welcomed their first child into the world ( a daughter ) & a few months later, their families moved to help them raise their children. both diane & richard always wanted a big family due to their catholic faith. they both agreed they would stop after 6 kids, however, their minds were quickly changed when she became pregnant with violet.

her pregnancy was extremely difficult to say the least. between being on bed rest for months & frequent hospitalizations, she didn’t know if she could do this again. on top of her own health issues, she also had problems with her unborn child. there was even a night where they thought they would lose violet after diane experienced unexplainable bleeding & her fellow colleagues at the hospital couldn’t detect a heartbeat.

luckily, they were able to find a heartbeat after 6 minutes of deafening silence & hushed prayers for a miracle. after that night, they knew that their daughter was a blessing which is why they agreed to give her the middle name faith which symbolizes their unrequited devotion to god.

eventually, violet was born !! she was born three weeks early & spent a week in the icu but overall she was healthy. she was a bit underweight but she was miraculously healthy. but after everything the family had been through, they decided that violet would be their last child.

as a child, violet did every thing her parents had asked of her. their faith played a large role in her upbringing which is why she spent every sunday inside of church.

by the time she was 8 years old, her family decided to move to new york city due to the fact that her mom received a prestigious job on the upper east side. at the age of 8, violet was already a competitive gymnast who’s likes included spending time with her family, competing, & going to school. even then she knew she could do everything she loved in another state which is why she didn’t put up much of a fight when she was told that they would be moving across the country.

moving from snowy open colorado to the upper east side of manhattan was definitely a culture shock for violet even at an early age. nonetheless, she eventually got used to new york city life & to this day she doesn’t think she would survive a week in colorado.

even after she moved to a new part of the country, violet remained devoted to gymnastics & her family. she had dreams of one day going to the olympics for gymnastics & everyone who knew her saw her potential. she even competed in world events & became a household name !! although, her parents often emphasized that school & religion come first which is why they made her & her sister attend a private catholic school all the way through high school.

in high school, she was a classic goody two shoes church girl. she was a strong student who received perfect grades in order to please her parents. for the longest time, she didn’t have time for anything other than school & sports but that changed by the time she was 16.

despite attending an all girls school, violet met her first boyfriend through one of her mutual friends. & like all stereotypical teen romances, it was love at first site. she was so infatuated with him that she was willing to put everything in her life on the back burner in order to focus on him.

& by the time she was 18, she received numerous academic & sports scholarships to prestigious colleges. however, violet decided to take a gap year in order to spend more time with her boyfriend of two years. she knew that she would eventually go to college but she wanted to make some time for herself first. her parents weren’t exactly happy about her decision due to the fact that she has big shoes to fill but they eventually came around the idea & were even happy for their daughter & her wholesome catholic boyfriend.

during her gap year, they spent an entire year traveling the world. they went to bali, greece, peru, brazil, iceland, dubai, thailand, argentina, & morocco. throughout the course of the year, violet documented her travel on her instagram & other social media platforms which is when she started gaining a lot of followers who wanted to watch her travel the world with the love of her life. before her influx of instagram followers, not a lot of people outside the world of gymnastics knew who she was. people of course knew who her parents were ( a famous doctor & lawyer ) but the world did not really know who exactly violet lennox was.

by the end of her gap year violet already had over 1 million followers on instagram !! & she was already getting paid doing what she loves which is travel the world. & since all of this happened during her year off, violet ended up telling her parents that she didn’t want to go to college which damaged their relationship as a result.

since her parents were so unsupportive of her decision to not go to college & ultimately quit gymnastics, violet ended up moving out of her house & moved in with her boyfriend at only the age of 19. & because her parents were completely unsupportive of her decision not to attend college, they cut her off financially & she was forced to make a living for herself. by this point, her career as a social media influencer was booming so she was already making a lot of money just through promoting detox teas, teeth whitening kits, etc.

it may seem as if life for violet was perfect by this point despite her falling out with her parents. however, that was not the case. even though she fooled the entire world by thinking that she had a perfect relationship, her boyfriend was incredibly abusive towards her & had been ever since the two started dating. although he was never physically abusive, he was mentally, emotionally, & verbally abusive. for years violet made excuses for him & blamed herself for their problems which only made her feel more miserable than she already was. this was her first real relationship & she genuinely thought that they were destined to be together even though she was severely unhappy.

he would constantly cheat, manipulate her, make fun of her appearance & insecurities, & wouldn’t let her do anything without his permission. the two were together for three years & there even was a time where violet became pregnant but quickly had an abortion without him knowing as soon as she found out. just three months after living together, she finally found the courage to break up with him. although it wasn’t easy at first, she’s thankful that she finally got out of a dangerous relationship. she also understands the dangers of social media better than anyone else because she fooled the world into thinking that she was in a happy loving relationship when that was far from the truth.

when violet told the world about their breakup ( most likely in an instagram live or an instagram story ) she ended up losing millions of followers. the majority of her followers only followed her to watch her travel the world with her boyfriend so once they found out that they were no longer together ; they didn’t see the point in following her anymore.

for an entire year following her breakup, violet began to spiral out of control. she started using drugs, alcohol, & partying as coping mechanisms in order to help her move on & forget about everything she had endured. that of course didn’t work but that didn’t stop her from partying every single night of the week & ending up in a stranger’s bed. eventually, she even leaked her own sex tape & naked pictures to the press in hopes that the press coverage would help make up for the millions of followers she lost on instagram.

& as she expected, the world would not stop talking about her sex tape for months. she gained the most followers she has ever done & eventually she got real modeling jobs as a result of her popularity. she hasn’t exactly told the world that she was the one who leaked the 20 minute video but everyone in their immediate circle knows she did it & also knows that she has other videos lying around for ‘ emergency ’ situations.

however, her parents cut off all contact with her following her scandal & it is still something that cuts deep two years later. she tells herself & everyone around her that she doesn’t need a family but everyone knows that’s a lie. it’s just a lie she keeps on telling herself to feel better about herself.

violet managed to clean up her act & went from being a social media influencer to an actual model. many people don’t respect her name due to her troubling past with her sex tape & being an instagram model but that doesn’t seem to stop her. she has been featured in the love advent calendar, the victoria’s secret fashion show, & many fashion weeks since then.

she became the youngest victoria’s secret angel at the age of 20 !!

she is also the youngest global ambassador for lancôme & ralph lauren !!

although she has become more of an actual model rather an instagram model, she still stays loyal to her social media platforms which is why she has over 100 million followers.

she lives a happy life after being so unhappy for so long but she still seeks her parents approval even though they have no contact with her.

personality ;;

for someone who is incredibly smart, she pretends to be dumb sometimes. she doesn’t think that guys like smart girls so she dumbs herself down. but she could also be a ditz at times ( unintentionally ).

she likes to think of herself as approachable but she also knows that she can be intimidating. nonetheless, she tries to be nice to everyone who comes her way unless they say the wrong thing to her & then she switches on her mean girl switch that comes far too easy for her.

even though violet is a lot to deal with, she is a nice person !! although she does have a flair for the dramatics & denies being dramatic all the time. she also likes to think of herself as a ‘ good girl ’ even though she is far from one. she loves sex & isn’t afraid to shy away from that but she still tells people that she’s good or an angel because it makes herself feel better about herself.

she also goes to confession 1-2 times a week to pray for her sins in order to get into heaven. she thinks with the amount of adultery she commits on a daily basis she needs to pray for her sins otherwise she won’t go to heaven & she thinks she looks way better in white than in red.

if you do her wrong, she will go out of her way to make your life a living hell. she is incredibly protective over the people in her life so she will do just about anything for them including berating people. revenge might as well be her last name !!

she may be loud and unnecessary at times but she is kind hearted and does mean well. even if she does have a bad way of showing it at times.

miscellaneous ;;

since she comes from a strict traditional upbringing, she was taught that being anything other than straight is wrong. so when violet first started experimenting with girls & even developed feelings for one, she told herself that she was going to hell. this is one of the reasons why she has not come out of the closet or has even come to terms with her sexuality. she denies all past same sex encounters & relationships which isn’t healthy. but since her parents disowned her following her sex tape, she knows that they would hate her more than they already do. if they ever found out that their daughter was anything but straight they would lose their minds & she’s still hoping that one day they could repair their relationship. apparently being bisexual is worse than having a sex tape !!

when she was a competitive gymnast for the united states national team, she was often put on strict diets in order to keep up. as a result of the strict dieting & unrealistic body images, violet developed bulimia as early as 12 years old. so when she quit gymnastics after deciding not to attend college, she was happy. she loved the sport but hated the pressure. even to this day, the sport isn’t actually sure what happened to her because she was an olympic hopeful. they all thought that she could have been the next gold medalist but she values her own mental health & sanity over a couple of medals. & even though she sought help for her eating disorder that reared ugly heads at times, she did slip up a lot while she was with her boyfriend who would make fun of her appearance. even now she isn’t 100% but she is better than she has ever been.

is extremely flirty & alluring.

violet also believes that the world revolves around her. many people may find her confidence to be annoying or superficial but she takes pride in it because it took her so long to learn how to love herself after being with her first boyfriend.

speaking of relationships, she’s terrible at them. she often runs away when things become too serious, manipulates the people she’s with, or breaks up with them for no reason. her logic is that she wants to hurt someone before they have the chance to hurt her. she still has yet to understand that the rest of the world isn’t like her ex but her past still haunts her every time she catches feelings.

she likes to tell people that monogamy isn’t the life for her which is why she prefers casual sex. she is also a proud sugar baby & has many sugar daddies !! most of them are old & married but she is a sucker for anyone who buys her nice things.

also has an instagram account for her dog !!

her most used emojis in her phone are the halo, the suggestive face, & the pink glitter heart.

she’s a gemini which means that she is expressive, quick-witted, sociable, and affectionate.

her favorite tv show is gossip girl.

her favorite movie is the notebook.

has a passion for photography but hasn’t explored it seriously. she understands that she makes a living off of being another pretty face but she also wants to explore other aspects of her career like photography & maybe even acting.

she often considers going to college or even going back to gymnastics a lot but she not made up her mind yet. she is happy right now as a model but she does miss aspects of her old life.as an instagram model, she is like kendall jenner or gigi hadid. in other words, she has a large following & people book her for photo shoots & fashion shows in order to boost their own notoriety because it looks better on their part. her walk is average at best but she does have a beautiful face. people hate instagram models working in the real modeling business as it is so they despise an instagram model with a sex tape !!

she lives in a townhouse in chelsea that has been featured in architectural digest twice. her home is filled with hardwood floors, marble, gold accents, & constantly smells like lavender.

the last concert she went to was lana del rey.

the last song she listened to was everybody loves you by charlotte lawrence.

the last show she binge watched was you.

the last movie that made her cry was tangled.

loves wellness shots after dogpound workouts.

gets daily massages by her french masseuse.

all & all, she is a mess but she loves the people in her life !!

here’s her pinterest board if you want to take a look !! i also have a wc page here that will most likely be updated over the weekend. & my discord is علياء#4067

#wealthyhq:intro #emotional abuse tw #eating disoder tw #abortion tw #hi #i def missed a lot #but kjhalsdf #love me anyway

[anxiouslyfred]

I Hoped They Weren’t

carrying on from this Prequel fic Beautiful Fears 

This is for the prompt that ‘Wherever you have scars your soulmate gets flowered tattoos’. Patton has always been very concerned about his soulmate. @the-princey-pie

Ship: Royality, Anxsleep (mentioned), Loceit (implied since Deceit does not appear in this fic) also Platonic Prinxiety and Platonic Locicality

Triggers: Self harm talk, Injuries, Bad descriptions of concussion (I have no clue if any of its accurate)

Patton loved and hated his arms. Of course he loves being covered in flowers on his skin but understand why he had them would always upset him.

It meant whomever his soulmate in had scars lining their arms, and everyone, friends, family, and strangers alike, insisted that meant they were self harming. That could be too much for even the sunniest of people to bear on some days and he could only hope his smile hid that well.

His mentor in college was the first person who disagreed with that conclusion. Patton had had a bad day on their first meeting in the library and mentioned it in a mutter. He hadn’t expected Logan to pull first one, then the other arm towards him inspecting the flowers carefully before shaking his head. “Self harm is not at all likely, in my opinion. There’s no coherent direction for the flowers to go and they are rather randomly distributed which from my understanding of instances of self harm flowers in the past is not how they appear. There is still a possibility if your soulmate only does it when they are already extremely distressed and not fully able to prevent the shaking of their hands but the more plausible explanation is that they’ve been in an accident of some sort, or possibly multiple given their number. Might we turn to the subject we are actually meeting to study now?”

That eased some of Patton’s worries, enough that they did carry on studying and made a weekly arrangement to do so, but not all of them. If the scars weren’t self inflicted then his soulmate seemed to be gaining more from accidents or danger regularly, especially in the summer. At least the worst concern he’d held for years had reduced though. 

/\/\/\/\/\

Virgil could only growl as he once again dragged Roman back from walking in front of a car. “Princey, getting yourself killed is not going to help in finding your soulmate!”

It was always the same. If people had short sleeved tops on then his friend would focus on checking everyone's arms out instead of anything around him, like busy roads, or cyclists coming towards them.

“But what if I miss him, My Dearest Nightmare? How could I cope if I missed my soulmate?” Having an athletic drama queen draped over him wasn’t much better but it was just another thing Virgil was used to happening daily and wishing it wouldn’t.

“Then you can bemoan your lonely future to me for the millionth time.” He suggested with a snicker. “Are you really sure you got me out course you liked me and not cause you wanted visible scars?”

There probably would have been more success in Roman’s leap away in offence if they weren’t still beside a road with a bus coming. Instead as Roman moved, Virgil yanked him back, sending them both down onto the sidewalk knocking a passer by down with them.

“The betrayal. You won’t even let me bemoan your doubt of how much I care without throwing me to the ground.” Roman cried out, his words growing quieter as he rolled and tried to sit up before laying back at the rush of dizziness instead. He still hadn’t realised anyone else had been included in their fall and thought Virgil would check on him straight away.

Logan was confused as he heard the words, turning around to gather the books that had been knocked from his hands as well as assess what had happened. “It rather appears your acquaintance saved your life instead of anything else, but thank you for removing your form from my books.” He responded, gathering them as Virgil scrambled up and started fretting over Patton.

“I am so freaking sorry. I put too much force in pulling him back. Are you hurt? Can I help you up?” words spilt from his lips as he check the stranger was okay though still on the floor, only falling silent as an arm was held up and he recognised the pattern of flowers even while helping the man to stand.

Patton had forgiven easily and brushed his clothes off once he was up with a smile. “I’m fine, no harm, no foul. Thanks for helping me up. I’m Patton.” He said, holding out his hand again, this time for a handshake.

Virgil blinked, arms moving on automatic as he stuttered, “Roman’s flowers.” He only vaguely realised there was no reaction from his friends as his eyes traced over the shape of scars he knew so well.

“Is that your name?” Patton asked, not quite sure what the new person was reacting too even when he mutely pointed to the ground.

Roman had heard what his friend said, but the ground still felt like a stormy sea and his head was starting to throb. “Roman is down here. That’s Virgil.” He called instead of moving at all.

That’s when worry started to override Virgil’s reaction and sarcasm came out. “Did ya hit your head too hard Princey? Your soulmate is stood right here and you’re blinking at the clouds.”

“I’ll get right to the romancing when the world stops spinning and my head throbs a little lighter.You should be some sort of fighter” Roman snapped out his rhyme but only half of it was heard.

Patton interrupted with “How do you know he’s my soulmate?”

Virgil ignored him, dropping to his knees and pulling his phone out while checking his head gently with his free hand. “Do we need hospital or just Emile? What’s your pain level since I can’t see any blood or cuts?”

The college students stared at the drastic change in the hoodie clad man. In just a few minutes they’d seen him go from frantic apologising, stunned frozen and now overly concerned parent was the only way they could describe how he was acting. 

Virgil meanwhile had pulled his hoodie off to put under Roman’s head while waiting for his call to get answered. “Hey - No time to flirt, I need your brother- Save me the drama, Remy, Roman’s hurt.- He hit his head - just put Emile on already!”

Logan joined him kneeling wanting to help. “I know a little first aid from a course last semester, if I might help.” He got both boys attention with taps to their shoulders.

“Just give me pain killers and comfort. A prince can fight on with a bump to his head.” Roman insisted.

Logan frowned, having seen Virgil’s nod before that. “Moving somewhere more comfortable might be ideal, but not before determining if too much movement might exacerbate your injuries.”

“Please let him check you Roman.” Virgil cut off whatever his friend was about to say, seeing the pout before hearing the right voice on the phone. “Emmy, Roman’s hurt- I think it could be concussion- He almost leapt in front of a bus. In yanking him back we and another guy fell to the ground. He hit his head. -He’s barely reacted to the fact I think we also just met his soulmate in the dude we knocked over -Said the world’s spinning and his heads throbbing”

As the only one still standing,Patton felt like a bit of a loose end. One minute they were heading back to his dorm to practise some writing techniques and the next there’s a concerned emo definitely not dressed for the heat insisting his friend is Patton’s soulmate and then fussing over them because of an injury. In short he felt completely lost on what he should be reacting to or doing, let alone how to help.

He zoned out while Virgil was trying to explain and do as whomever he’d called was telling him to. Logan thought they should get his possible soulmate somewhere more comfortable and it would be clear on his arms if they are soulmates. Patton’s dorm was only a few minutes away so now he had a way to help and confirm if what he’s been told was right.

Logan was checking Roman’s head again while Virgil was asking orienting and comprehension questions so neither entirely focused when Patton joined them in front of him, taking hold of Roman’s arms who gripped back immediately. “Let’s all go to my dorm. I have a first aid kit there which has to be more use than anything we’ve got on us.” Pulling Roman up had two concerned friends chasing after him.

“Patton, that could have been dangerous.” Logan scolded, while backing off from a possible scuffle as both he and Virgil went to help support him.

“Great, Mr Romantic is apparently soulmates with Mr Impulsive.” Virgil groused “Emile, Roman’s up and we’re being taking to his soulmates dorm for his first aid kit.- he was getting the answers right though and never fell unconscious so that’s good, right?”As he asked Virgil got under Roman’s arm so the pair wasn’t swaying anymore. “Sure. I’ll call once we’re there.”

While getting his balance supporting the woozy Roman, Patton checked the arm he was pulling over his shoulder. “We really are soulmates.” He murmured, only to squeak as more weight was leant onto him and the arm tightened.

“We are, my love, and I’ll save you from anything that plagues your life.” Roman still felt like the earth was wobbling but he could understand a cute boy pulling an arm around him and talking of soulmates in any condition.

Virgil immediately adjusted Roman so they could equally support him and rolled his eyes. “Now he reacts. Save him when you’re not injured, Prince Ditz.”

“It would be best if I led the way. Patton, will you pass me your keys so I can let us all in?” Logan surmised, pausing while the trio found a stable way to walk together.

/\/\/\/\

The few minutes to reach Patton’s dorm had seemed like an eternity to Virgil but had been enlightening to Patton over just who his new soulmate and new friend were. While Roman was still fairly disoriented, he was declaring love and trying to act out various Disney songs, only being pulled back into balance and told to shut up by Virgil.

Honestly Patton was wary of the caustic man who groused and complained over Roman’s dramatics anytime he wasn’t fretting about him more than a mother hen would her chicks.

“Are we laying him down, or just making him sit?” Virgil asked as soon as the trio worked their way into Patton’s dormitory, looking to Logan for advise as they stood in front of the bed.

“Sitting up is likely better since letting him sleep with a probable concussion is dangerous.” Logan suggested but hesitated before carrying on. “However if the friend you called earlier is a Doctor they might be the better person to ask.”

Virgil nodded, helping Roman down who immediately cuddled into Patton’s side. “Will do, but first what is your name?”

“Logan, it’s good to meet you, regardless of the unfortunate circumstances.” Logan simply nodded, eyes focused on the injured man, mentally comparing symptoms to the knowledge he had of concussions. He also found the first aid kit to hand Roman two painkillers with a glass of water.

Virgil nodded, turning his attention back to the phone. “Yes Remy,- I know- Careful, or I will add Emile’s number to my phone again and call him first. - Do you really want me to throw out your coffee?- Thank you, finally.”

He fell silent, frowning towards where Roman had begun crooning over the flowers on Patton’s arms. “He’s still out of it but definitely more energetic since being pulled up. - I did the rest of the questions while walking when I could. He could answer most of them and Disney-fied the rest - Of course I’m making him rest!- Laying down or sitting up?- We’re coming to you guys on the way back - Hot chocolate or milkshake? - I know Rem’s order. See you.”

Putting his phone away, Virgil sighed and worked through his breathing techniques, the afternoon was way too much for his anxiety now he had the chance to calm down. “I guess leaving you cuddling is fine, but Emile says you need to stay sitting and can’t sleep for at least 9 hours.

It was gratifying to Logan to see that Virgil knew how to calm his breathing since it had been close to hyperventilating since the fall first happened although Roman’s injuries were everyone’s priority then. Still a distraction might also help, he reasoned before asking aloud, “You seem extremely close to each other. Have you known each other for long?”

“Went to school together, and became friends after he pulled me from a car crash. Have you known Patton for long?” Virgil replied, uncertain over what to make of the situation now.

“Only for a few months. Was that the incident that caused most of his scars? Patton was rather concerned over what scars his flowers related to when we first met.” At the mention Logan’s hand rose to the tattoos over his face. He’d only just stopped the reaction when meeting Patton but after the events of the last hour and this conversation the worries of not being believed if he met his soulmate were rising again. He’d hidden the burn scars under perfect tattoos to look like his skin, but they could never hide the flowers that balanced them.

Virgil snorted after a moment, recognising the odd reaction but deciding to ignore it. “Yeah, he reached through a smashed window to get me out. I got scars on my leg instead. What was Patton worried about?”

“Many people see flowers on arms and immediately think they’re done by self harm. Patton was convinced of that being the only possible reason as well from the multitudes who told him so. He claims I assuaged those worries when I reasoned the other possibilities for him.” The explanation had Patton shrinking back a little, ashamed of his worries after hearing the real story behind them.

Roman didn’t need anymore reaction than that to start comforting. “No My Love, My Dearest heart. I could never cause such distress and pain and I can only apologise a million times over that it has even been a thought in your mind.” He began crooning, pulling Patton closer while Virgil seemed to be somewhere between horrified and understanding.

He didn’t want to focus on it and cause more upset on an already emotional roller-coaster of an afternoon though, so he made the first quip he could come up with, “Yeah and now you know Patton perhaps you can pay attention to what’s around you on summer days instead of everyone’s arms.”

“I’d have preferred if you span me into his arms not thrown us to the floor, Dark Knight.” Roman countered, leaning back against the wall and pulling Patton so he was curled up in his lap and could carry on whispering reassurances. The wooziness was beginning to let up now as the painkillers started to work and he couldn’t wait to get to know his soulmate.

“Sure, I’ll do that as soon as I won’t drop you. How about we watch a film or something instead?” Virgil rolled his eyes, looking around the room for something they might be able to do.

“OH! A Disney film, cause all my dreams are coming true.” Patton trilled at the suggestion, peering up at a now preening Roman.

Virgil was jumping up predicting Roman’s reaction before he could do more than tighten his hold on Patton and move to stand. “You’re resting, not dancing Princey, Sit!” Virgil snapped, pushing him back down, remembering all too clearly what happened if Roman was complimented similarly in the past.Seeing Patton’s concern in the flurry of motion he did relent and smile saying “But you’re right that Disney will keep him awake and probably singing along.”

Logan turned to fetch his laptop out at the decision being made. “Which film shall we watch? I have a number of them saved for my siblings at home.”

“The Little Mermaid, since I’m finally part of your world.” Roman nuzzled into Patton’s hair, ignoring the simultaneous eye-rolls he received.

#royality #platonic logicality #platonic prinxiety #roman sanders #patton sanders #logan sanders #virgil sanders

[darkmindsthinktwistedthoughts]

Echo pt2

@kthomas325

Warning: This is a little dark. There is blood, death, Strong Language and yeah ... please read with caution. **Still not sure what direction this is taking so I should add a warning for Author with no plot **

Masterlist

---

Echo part 2

The castle was always active at the start of a new day but it seemed to be particularly lively right now. Servants darted from chambers and rooms fetching and carrying as orders were barked at them from the 9 siblings and their Mother.

Today was the audience with the crown. Dignitaries, as well as members of the general populace, were gathering to seek out solutions to issues from the highest authority in the land. This was part of being a ruling power here but it did seem that the Queen and her offspring took matters a little too far in the direction of dramatic flair.

Main gates were temporarily closed allowing the castle to be set up for the expected crowds that were already milling around outside the castle walls in the streets below. Fresh flowers arrangements were placed on the white stone staircase that lead up the incline to the castle proper. Rooms around the lower level were also locked and sectioned off so that no one could venture further into the building without proper clearance. Light flooded the corridors providing a kind of natural carpet effect on the floor and the Throne room was pristine in all its grandeur.  

Twelve thrones set in a crescent moon shape were at the very top of the chamber. The white stone of the building gleamed thanks in large part to the massive lead lined windows that stood majestically behind the thrones. The light from the twin suns reflected through the multiple diamond shapes casting shimmering shards of incandescent light into the room. There was no doubt it was a room designed for ultimate effect and the Queen knew how to use that to her advantage.

After the hoard of visitors had settled into place and taken position in their queue, the large doors at the side of the Throne room opened and the siblings entered in pair formation. Each was elegantly dressed and shone like a priceless gemstone. In the shadow of one of the large supporting columns of the room a thin razor-sharp smile spread over one man’s lips as he watched the “performance”. It was the only word that could be used for this. The Queen viewed this land as her stage and everyone in it, including her offspring, as mere players on it.

Drones. The thought passed through his mind easily as he watched the royal formation move. Every hair on their head, every accessory, every piece of clothing had been chosen for them by the Queen. Their movements were trained, their words were not even their own as much as they would protest against it the truth was simple.

The eldest child entered with his mother on his arm. The Queen standing straight and tall her age masked easily by the glamour she held. Her flowing blonde hair cascaded down her back and her form-fitted dress moved like ocean waves as she glided towards her seat. The empty chair to either side of her stood as markers to a tale that had slipped into the history books. Beautifully crafted Pawns. I applaud you, dear Queen, you did well. As if she could hear his thoughts her eyes settled on his. Those piercing cold blue eyes that could cut like ice would freeze a lesser man, but not him. He simply stood and maintained his gaze the smile on his face almost mocking.

---

“You took on a case without clearing it with me first?”

The door to her chief coordinator's office barely closed before they rounded on her.

“I’ve told you many times already I cannot always clear these things with you two or three weeks in advance.” She sat straight in the guest chair unflinching as the older man who was like a father to her in a lot of ways sighed and slumped his shoulders.

“That is not the point Kid and you know it. You have just moved and the case is out of your jurisdiction.” He pinched the bridge of his nose where his glasses usually sat. Probably thinking that this choice to wear his contacts today was maybe not the best plan given that headaches made the lenses uncomfortable.

“Most cases are out of my jurisdiction. It has never stopped you from letting me take them on before.” If it had been someone else, she would have been just as indignant as she protested the restriction on her work.

There was nothing except basic formalities that required her attention right now. All Ops had been grounded and placed on downtime which provided her with more than enough time to sit around twiddling her thumbs and being bored. Last time this happened she took on a case that saw her flying to Africa to check a water source for a rare bacterium that should not have been present in freshwater. That wasn’t just out of her jurisdiction it was out of the same god damn continent. She couldn’t understand why her boss was choosing now to be an obstruction on a case.

“Look pick a case any other case. Just not this one.” The sound of his begging pathetically was a far cry from the man she knew. She leaned back in her chair and levelled a defiant glare at him.

“Col you are being unbelievably stubborn and pushy on this which isn’t like you at all. I’m not going to do anything until you say what you are really wanting too and don’t go trying to candy coat it. I’m not a kid.” Her blue eyes that were normally clear had turned thunderous and dark. He knew from past experience that when things felt wrong and she wasn’t getting straight answers it could only ever end badly, for the other guy. He certainly did not wish to join the ranks of the fallen.

“Look. Your father and I go way back right?”

“Right” She nodded firmly. Colin had been one of the first other adult males in her life outside of family members to visit their house. He had helped with schooling and relocations so many times it was hard to think of a time when he wasn’t in her life.

“Wrong.”

“What?”

“Wrong. Look Kid the first time I met your dad it was about three decades ago and he looked like he had survived falling into a mincer at a slaughterhouse. I found him at the side of the road and you were wrapped up in his arms.” Col’s words were blunt and direct. There were no detectable traces of anything that could be considered a lie which made the bombshell he just dropped on her even harder to process.

“How is that even possible? All the years I’ve known you and what? You lied to me the whole time?”

“Only about how far back I’ve known your dad. He is a good man and dammit if I didn’t feel terrible for him.”

“Why?”

“That is something he would be able to tell you, not me. I told you he was injured. He looked like he had come from a renaissance or medieval fair or something, you both did. He was babbling about not letting them have you and how he didn’t have a wife anymore.” Col chose this time to get up and walk to the false shelf on his bookcase. Tapping it so it popped open revealing a bottle of scotch and some glasses. She had known he kept it there but she hardly ever saw him drinking at the office. He poured some amber coloured liquid into two glasses and handed her one as he went back to his own seat. It burned in her throat as she took a sip of it but she felt the muscles in her body begin to relax a little with the alcoholic lubrication.

“I don’t get what any of that has to do with the case.”

“Because for a couple of weeks during that time. We found things.” He looked over at her making sure she was still alright to continue. “Things like large animals, deer, bears all dead. All fresh and all drained of their blood. Some hikers too.” He downed his drink in one go as if the memory of the events was still with him. It wouldn’t be uncommon; you see it a lot in stressful or unusual cases where you have pushed your mind and body to get on with the job at hand you end up with like a remnant of the memories you suppress. Like an echo coming back to you time and time again, some echoes were worse than others.

Her mind went back to the case reports. Mountain rescue and rangers all reported finding campsites abandoned and later finding the inhabitants dead. The things Col was bringing up matched with what she had already found but they didn’t explain the connection to her and her father or why nothing had been said to her before.

“Why didn’t you say anything about this to me sooner?”

“Told ya. It wasn’t my story to tell. And that body thing was an old case that never came up again.” It was clear from his one that even with a feeling of guilt he was going to stay tight-lipped on this.

“What happened with it?” Asking this she followed Col’s lead and drained her glass. The sudden volume of the fluid travelling down her throat caused that familiar burn you got from strong alcohol to tingle in the back of her nose and she suppressed a cough.

“Shelved. Never caught the ones responsible or found out how they pulled it off. But it only went on for a few weeks and then stopped completely.” Col didn’t sound satisfied. She knew him he hated unfinished work, but back then he would have been a rookie. Nothing you can do if a higher-ups decides to shut down an investigation.

“Right.” She put the glass down on his desk with a hollow clink sound and got up to go. Her hand was on the office door when he called out from behind.

“What you gonna do?”

“You said so yourself. Not your story to tell. So, I’m going to go ask the guy whose story it is.”

One thing she learnt was butting heads with a stubborn person when you are also a stubborn person gets you nowhere and to be honest right now, she was in no mood to fight a wall. She wanted answers. The files she received from the Met were back in her office she would grab those. But most important task now was going to find the person whole tale it was to tell and getting him to talk.

---

The Queen elegantly draped herself in her private chambers near her vanity table. The room was a perfect image of what one might be tempted to call excess. Every surface was highly polished and inlaid with crushed crystals making it look rather like the centre of a geode. The audience with the crown was over and she sighed lightly before catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror and grinned.

It had all gone according to plan. The masses were happy and she had been praised for her beauty, kindness and intelligence so many times she was walking on cloud nine. If it was possible to survive on adoration she felt like she could be immortal right now. Naturally however even in this realm that was not something that could be done. Immortality was the stuff of fantasy. But prolonged life? sustained beauty? You could have all of that. It came at a cost if you were willing to pay, and she was just mad enough to do it.

A knock on the door announced the arrival of two figures. Both were dressed similarly in loose clothing bound over with strips of fabric to pull it tight to their forms. This was the typical uniform for scouts. Nothing more than required and everything designed for complete freedom of movement and cover.

“What did you find?” She didn’t bother with greetings. Observing the two visitors like a cat would a mouse.

“The rift is strong, and it holds. We can go back.” The taller one explained with a complete lack of emotion or detail. She was pleased to see this, emotions wasted time and made for weak soldiers.

“Good. Bring me what I desire.” She waved her hand and turned back to her reflection.

“One other thing My Queen.”

“What?” She moved her eyes in the mirror staring through it at the second scout who had spoken.

“The rift from what we can tell didn’t naturally tear.”

She felt her breath catch in her throat at this piece of information. Naturally forming rifts were rare and took generations to form and become stable. A non-natural rift would mean someone with the power to tear at the fabric of time had created it. Someone as powerful as she was, possibly even more powerful. Her blood ran hot as she picked up a clear crystal turning it over in her hand until it changed to citrine. The glittering yellow like a shard of trapped sunlight glowed from within and she tossed it towards the scouts who caught it nimbly.

“When you go back take this. I want to know what happens to it.”

“As you wish.”

The two scouts briskly left the Queen’s chamber. They had their orders and it never paid to keep her highness waiting. Once they were a safe distance away, a shadow in the corridor rippled a pale outline of a figure moved in the opposite direction. Long fingers pulled the edge of their cloak up higher, turning its hood over their head.

---

[madd-devil]

The Dimensions War

Chapter Two: The Godly Wedding 

Warning: Fight

 Author Note: I’m sorry everything is so quick in this chapter omg. As usual sorry for any mistake and feedbacks appreciated! Thank you ^^

Johnathan was observing every guest who walked in the gigantic room to assure that nobody was an enemy. He looked to his right and saw his reflection in a big mirror. He smiled. He was so proud of his polished gold and black armour, a tiger head on the torso.

“Good evening, Johnathan.” A voice suddenly said.

The young man returned back to himself and turned to face the person who has talked to him. He immediately dropped on the floor, bowing.

“Hello, your highness.”

It was a woman who was standing in front of him. A beautiful yet hard one. She had brown hairs flowing on her shoulders, her form was draped in a elegant gold dress. A blue and green peacock necklace was tied around her neck. Without any doubt, it was Hera, the goddess of wedding, who was standing here, near him. The woman smiled at him.

“You can stand up now, great warrior.”

He did as he was told. Hera was taller than him and he glanced at her. He always had a tiny crush on the older goddess but he knew she will never break her vows (unlike her husband…) to be with him. And he will never break his promise too. He had swear to be loyal to the Devil, until his death.

“Is the groom and the bride ready?” She asked gently, some goddesses were walking toward them.

“I do believe so, your highness.” He replied. “Do you want me to check on them?”

“Yes, please.”

The young man nodded and walked toward a door which was hidden behind a red drape. Before he had gone, he had heard the goddesses chuckling at him. He sighed, they knew and she probably does so. He opened the door, seeing the four Horsemen and Angela, talking.

“Uhm, excuse me?” He said.

“What is it, Johnathan?” Ethan asked.

“The goddesses are asking if they are ready.”

“They are. Tell them they will soon appear.” Angela told him.

“You’re… gorgeous.”

Felix was sitting in a silver armchair with green cushions, staring at his love, who was indeed, the prettiest girl he has never seen before. She was wearing a light grey princess dress with laces and a long veil with moons and stars laced in. Her hair was styled in a French braid. Her black and silver crown was on her head and she looked as beautiful and fearless as ever.

“I could say the same about you.” She smiled, kissing him. “You, in a suit?” She joked.

“Oh, you would have preferred my military uniform?” He grinned, playing her game.

Before she could answer, Ethan entered the room, without any warning, like usual.

“The goddesses are ready for the ceremony, you guys better come out.” He said.

“Ethan, when the wedding is over, we will need to talk about this little thing of yours, you know, entering rooms without knocking.” Naomie seriously replied, a bit of anger in her eyes.

The boy shrugged.

“Yeah, sure but right now everyone is waiting for you two to come out.”

Naomie took the arm of Felix and linked it with her own. She stared at him: he looked so nervous and he was shaking lightly.

“I’m not anxious.” He finally said.

She scoffed.

“Of course you are not.”

“I’m just marrying you and officially becoming a God, how can I be nervous about that?”

“They are going to love you.” She murmured, leaning slightly on him, to reassure him. “Both the deities and the people who will worship you. Who will worship us.”

He looked down at her and kissed her. Johnathan appeared suddenly and stopped in his tracks, seeing the two gods kissing each other. He gave a discreet couch, to make his presence known. The two broke apart and glanced at him.

“If you are ready…”

And they both were.

Walking slowly in the middle of the aisle, the Tigers standing and raising their swords as they pass. They reached the end of the aisle and kneeled down, in front of all goddesses of the marriage, Hera in head. She looked at the two young gods then raised her head to watch at the assembly.

“Today we are celebrating the union of two new deities, the goddess of death and god of nature.”

She glared suddenly at the groom and bride.

“Are you two ready for the ritual?”

They nodded. Isis stepped in, a golden ribbon in her hands. She handed it to Hera. She took it and tied it around their wrists.

“From now on, your souls are bonded. You are nothing without the other. You two complete each other. Swear that you will never cheat, never leave, never hide, never kill your love.” Hera sternly said.

“I swear.” The young couple promised, looking at each other.

The ribbon gleamed softly for a few seconds, linking the two souls forever. Isis removed it with a small smile. Now, Odin appeared, a heavy crown in his hands. Hera stepped aside and watched as the god put the black and green crown on the young man’s head.

“From now on, you are a god. You are now one of us. Welcome to the Assembly!” He yelled, making the floor and walls shook.

Felix observed the people who were dancing in the middle of the room. Naomie was talking with a few friends while he was left with his own thoughts. What if he wasn’t strong enough? What if he wasn’t up for this new task? What if he disappointed everyone, including his wife?

“Hey Felix!”

The boy frowned and turned to see Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon, walking toward him, beaming.

“Congratulation on your wedding, mate!” The demi god said.

“Thank you, Percy.”

The smile on the boy’s face faded.

“Is something wrong?” He asked. “Are you alright?”

“I just don’t feel like I should be a god… You know, it’s too much responsibilities, I never done something like that in the past. I don’t know how to do it.”

“There is always a start for everything. I think you are going to be a great god.” Percy told him, with his biggest grin.

Felix nodded and smiled faintly at him, feeling a little better. Soon, Naomie appeared at his side and took his hand. Percy left to go dancing with Annabeth.

“I didn’t want to listen but I heard what you told Percy.” She whispered.

He closed his eyes and gulped. She kissed him.

“I promise you, you’re going to be great at this. We just need to work on your self confidence and I know exactly how to do it…”

The young god blushed suddenly and the other one started laughing. She hugged him close.

“I love you Felix…”

“I love you too…”

Suddenly, the two doors of the large room opened, revealing enormous and hideous human-like creatures. They started to kill the guests and people started screaming and running everywhere, to escape from them. Naomie glanced at the gods and goddesses who were as clueless as she was. Some of the monsters ran toward the godly couple.

“What are they?!” Felix yelled, making his long sword appeared with his magic.

“I don’t know!” She replied, her scythe in hand, ready to kill and defend her lover.

Johnathan saw them and the creatures who were going to hurt them. He started running toward them, the rest of the Tigers behind him.

“Protect the king and queen!” He shouted raising his sword to kill one beast and another one.

Artemis and Apollo appeared at the sides of the young gods, Athena was off to kill with Ares and Thor as well as the demi gods and Chiron. The other guests who knew how to fight were fighting too and Michael shot some of the beasts with his paralyser gun, Sonny beside him. The three other Horsemen were trying to help and defend the guests who couldn’t fight back.

“They are Titans!” Artemis said in a panicked voice.

“Titans? As in…?” Naomie asked, killing some monsters with a wave of magic of her scythe.

“No, not them!” Zeus shouted. “The Titans were, I mean, are the dogs of Evrelata, a woman who was jealous of the gods for their powers so she created them.” The Greek god told her. “She also had other monsters but I thought she was imprisoned on a planet…”

“Not anymore, Zeus…”

A woman walked down the aisle, dressed in a pink suit, with a vest and a pencil skirt and white high heels. She had blue eyes and straight long brown hair with a little nose. She honestly looked like a “good” person, who will do good deeds and not like someone who is jealous of the gods and their powers. The woman strolled toward the young gods and stopped when all the other gods and goddesses formed a circle to protect them. She smiled kindly at them.

“Oh you two looks so adorable together!”

Felix cringed at her tone of voice. She reminded him somehow of Pan… Naomie growled at her. How could this woman be so calm? She just crashed her wedding!

“It’s such a shame you two will be separated for the moment…” She sighed dramatically.

Before they could ask what she meant by that, a portal opened and two Titans grabbed Felix by the ankles thanks to their tails. Felix yelped as he was pulled on the floor. The boy tried to escape, shot them with his magic, impaled them with his sword. Even the gods tried to stop the two Titans but nothing could stop them. When Naomie tried to grab Felix, Evrelata shot her with a small blaster. Felix screamed as he was dragged into the portal which closed quickly after he disappeared into it. The devil yelled in pain and agony as she clenched her injured shoulder, the Horsemen next to her.

“What have you done?!” Tom inquired.

“Nothing dear. I just wanted to see how the new and insecure god will do, back in his dimension.” She said innocently.

“His dimension? You mean you sent him back to his original world?!” Sonny yelled. “You can’t do that! It’s against the laws of the Assembly and of Hells!”

“Except that I am not part of the Assembly nor Hells, my dear friend.” She grinned. “And I just wanted to warn you that I am back. And I’m going to destroy all your pitiful worlds, to show to your worshippers how their gods really are.” She darkly added.

“Why are you doing this?” Angela weakly asked, healing her sister.

“I have my reasons, little angel. With this, I wish you a happy wedding celebration, dear Devil.”

The woman climbed on the back of one of the Titans and they flew, destroying the ceiling and crushing the wedding.

#maladaptive daydreaming #actually madd #madd #paraportal #madd writing #madd writting #my shit #paras #actuallymadd #parame #ask #talk #story #maladaptive daydreaming disorder #dimensions #gods #aesthetic #paramoodboard #question #para moodboard #paras moodboard #writing #parascom

[egarotss]

A Transatlantic Crossing With the Queen Mary 2 - Part 1

Driving up to the Port of Southampton's Mayflower Terminal and getting first look at the white-and-dark hulled Queen Mary 2, the biggest, longest, tallest, heaviest, and most costly boat at any point assembled, evoked impressive energy and wonderment. Docked to port at a 50-degree, 54.25' north scope and 001-degree, 25.70' west longitude and confronting a 116.4-degree compass heading, the 17-decked leviathan, with a 1,132-foot length and 148-foot width, included a gross load of 151,400 tons and overshadowed the structures with its overhang lined façade, obscuring it with its 236.2-foot stature. Its draft expanded 33.10 feet underneath the water line. The drifting city, complete with its staterooms, eateries, shopping arcades, libraries, theaters, and planetariums, would connect, in six days, the European and North American landmasses, the comparable in hours to the term of the ethereal intersection by 747-400, itself then the world's biggest business aircraft. However, the maritime intersection would yield mutual respect, refinement, restoration, enthusiastic fix, and return to the more slow, yet more rich period of steam transport travel-an excursion, I would before long discover, would prompt a quest for the oceanic history of the past which had made the innovation of the present.

Not at all like the multiplication of present day voyage ships with their nearly lower speeds and more prominent volume, square-calculation bodies, the Queen Mary 2 had been planned as a cutting edge replacement to the 35-year-old Queen Elizabeth 2 and, in that capacity, would have to bring to the table that very all year, traveler conveying abilities, predominately in the harsh North Atlantic, with a plan which forfeited income creating volume and lower development expenses of the customary journey transport for the necessary wellbeing, speed, and solidness of the sea liner. Resultantly, it highlighted a similar angular body setup normal for the long queue of its Cunard archetypes, built of thicker steel which conveyed a 40-percent more prominent expense than those of regular journey ships. Planned by Stephen Payne, whose motivations for the bow had come from the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the brake divider from the Normandie, it was the principal fourfold screw North Atlantic sea liner since the France of 1962. Payne himself, a maritime designer brought up in London, had been associated with the Carnival Holiday, Carnival Fantasy, and Rotterdam VI activities. The last mentioned, joining a changed Staten dam frame, had highlighted a less "square shaped" body shape than the customary journey transport, however had still been extensively eliminated a full liner plan.

Planned for the essential Southampton-New York course, it consolidated dimensional limitations directed by the United States port, including a pipe tallness which cleared the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge by just ten feet and a general length which surpassed the 1,100-foot dock of the Port of New York by 34 feet.

Built by Alstom Chanters de l'Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France, which had additionally assembled the Normandie, and assigned structure G32 by the shipyard, it had been the main Cunard liner at any point built outside of the United Kingdom and, as Concorde, the world's quickest and up until recently just supersonic aircraft, turned into the subsequent British-French cooperative transportation project expected for overseas assistance, in spite of the fact that through boundlessly unique, if not inverse, modes.

Its inside offered unrivaled space and solace. Of the 17 decks, the initial four were intended for hardware, stockpiling, and the 1,254-in number group; 13 were for the 2,620 travelers; and eight contained overhang staterooms. Eminent components incorporated a Grand Lobby, the Royal Court Theater, the Illuminations Theater and Planetarium, the Connections Internet Center, the Queen's Ballroom, a Winter Garden, nine significant cafés, 11 bars and parlors, a 8,000-volume library and book shop, an Oxford University address program, exhibitions by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, five pools, sports settings, a Canyon Ranch Spa, a structure of shops, and a discotheque. These arrangements would comprise my "home" for the following six days.

Emblematically reflected by its more modest QE2 archetype berthed an extensive separation from its bow at the Queen Elizabeth 2 Terminal, the Queen Mary 2 addressed a two-overlay net weight increment over its prior age partner and, without a doubt, followed its ancestry back to a long way of Cunard vessels which had crossed a 165-year time frame. I by one way or another detected that the unavoidable intersection would not exclusively be an excursion of distance, however a return on schedule.

Tenderly vibrating at its spine, the behemoth along the side isolated itself underneath from its billet beneath the metallic cloudy at 1810, nearby time.

Not at all like the traditional motor propeller shaft innovation of more established age sends, the Queen Mary 2 was fueled rather by four rearward, frame underside-mounted Rolls Royce Mermaid electric-engine cases, each weighing 260 tons and containing four fixed-pitch, 9,900-pound, hardened steel sharp edges, and all things considered delivering 115,328 torque. The forward, detachable pair was fixed and given forward and toward the back impetus, while the rearward, inboard pair included 360-degree azimuth capacity and gave both drive and controlling, hindering the requirement for the rudder. The trend setting innovation framework diminished both intricacy and weight and expanded inner body volume by wiping out the customary motor design's related gear.

Three Rolls Royce variable-pitch, cross over propeller bow engines, altogether creating 15,000 strength, given port and starboard bow House Moving Services From Ireland To UK ability at velocities of up to five bunches. At eight bunches, when their adequacy had been surpassed, they were covered by 90-degree pivoting, liquid powerful entryways.

Driven by double water-sprout shooting towing boats, the behemoth ocean liner started its blundering development down the bowl. Keeping a 11.5-tie forward speed in the Solvent, it initiated its starboard abandon 140 degrees at Cal shots Reach at 1907, ready for the comparable move at Brambles.

Packed into dim, the sun projected its shining orange streaks outward through the slender, unhampered strip on the western skyline. Expecting a 220-degree heading through the Thorn Channel, the Queen Mary 2 started its starboard go to adjust the Isle of Wight.

The main supper on board the exquisite, oceanic designing victory had been served in the 1,351-seat, three-story-high, double level Britannia Restaurant which had included a terrific, clearing flight of stairs, section upholds, and a vaulted, illuminated, stained discriminatory constraint and was suggestive of and motivated by the fantastic lounge area salons of the twentieth century French liners, for example, the Ile-de-France, the L'Atlantique, and the Normandie. The actual supper, served on Wedgwood bone china and in Waterford precious stone, had included white zinfandel wine; cream of blended mushroom soup with parmesan bread garnishes; dry rolls and margarine; oak leaf and Boston salad with shaved carrots and sherry vinaigrette dressing; rack of pork with wild mushroom ragout, truffle pureed potatoes, morel sauce, and sauerkraut; warm apple strudel with cognac sauce; and espresso.

The slim line of orange lights illustrating the coast followed itself behind the harsh. Keeping a 27-tie speed and a 250-degree heading, the stone consistent, 151,000-ton designing mass utilized the dark channel and started its extraordinary circle course, from Bishop's Rock in the Scilly Isles. Ahead lay the limitless Atlantic-and the way manufactured by all of Cunard's past transoceanic liners. Tomorrow, I would start following the recorded one.

Day Two:

First light welcomed the extended liner as a passage of indistinct, damp dim. Encased between the bleak cloud arch above and the naval force ocean record beneath, which spat intermittent white covers, the dark and-red piped vessel infiltrated the dampness immersed morning, the downpour discharging sky and the twirling, eddying ocean converging into consistent, wind-stormy, transport besieged douse.

Any undesired development, notwithstanding, was rapidly, and undetectably, hosed by the two sets of 15.63-square-meter Brown Bros/Rolls Royce balance stabilizers which were constrained by gyroscopic vertical reference instruments and stretched out the extent that 15 feet from the frame to check transport roll.

Diving into 348-meter-profound waters 98 nautical miles off of Ireland around early afternoon, the Queen Mary 2 had navigated 418 miles since its takeoff from Southampton yesterday.

Current climate involved discontinuous, light downpour with a clockwise development toward the west, anticipated to drop to drive 4. The current power 5, new breeze out of the south, combined with a 11.2-degree Celsius air temperature, conveyed a 994-millibar pressure. The ocean, with a moderate 4 state, kept a 10-degree Celsius temperature.

Evening tea, held in the Queen's Room, had been a British custom and a wonderful irregularity among lunch and supper served on each Cunard crossing, the last close to home one of which had been the 2002 eastward excursion on the Queen Elizabeth 2. The Queen's Room itself, the biggest assembly hall adrift, highlighted a curved roof, twin gem crystal fixtures, a velvet blue and gold drape over the symphony stage, a 1,225-square-foot dance floor, a live harpist, and little, round tables seating up to 562. The present show included egg, ham and cheddar, cucumber, tomato, hamburger, and fish finger-sandwiches, scones with thickened cream and jam, and strawberry cream tarts.

Evening tea adrift could follow its ancestry back about 165 years. Einstein's hypothesis of relativity by one way or another appeared to apply. Suspended between mainland, landmass, and populace, the boat appeared to be gotten inside a void, a captured twist in which history appeared to be caught and in which the vessel reconnected with its past, as it by and by replayed it, a partition from the present ashore and a way to deal with its past on the ocean. For more information visit our website http://ireland-direct.com/

#Long Distance Moving Companies In Ireland #House Movers From Ireland To Uk #House Moving Services From Ireland To Uk

[preservationandruin]

Oathbringer Liveblog: Part Two. Chapters 33-37

Sorry for the delay, gang! Life has been busy and I haven’t had time to keep up my reading and liveblogging at the same pace. But! I should be able to get at least some out now. 

Shallan gets a lecture, Dalinar has a conversation, Kaladin chats with his men about their lives and also starts training them; we have a Dalinar flashback, and a Rock POV. 

Just at the beginning, we have actually-accurate drawings of Urithiru, ,and the letter that will be this chapter’s epigraphs is addressed to Cephandrius, who--I believe--is Hoid. Whoever’s writing it calls him “Dearest Cephandrius,” which is either someone being sarcastic or someone who likes Hoid much more than most other characters who know him. 

Anyway, Shallan is reacting to the fact that Jasnah is alive. She also refers to what she did as “grope an eldritch spren,” which is pretty hilarious. 

Jasnah claimed to always look at things from a logical perspective, but she had a flair for the dramatic to rival any storyteller. 

That’s because she’s a Kholin and, as we all know, drama runs in their bloodline like blue and purple eyes and Alethi dark hair. And again, every time Shallan looks at Jasnah is a Relatable Bisexual Mood: 

Storms. She was perfect. A curvaceous figure, tan Alethi skin, light violet eyes, and not a hint of aberrant color to her jet-black hair. Making Jasnah Kholin as beautiful as she was brilliant was one of the most unfair things the Almighty had ever done. 

SAME, Shallan. And of course, Jasnah sees this return as a teaching moment. Jasnah also tells Shallan that fabrials are, essentially, made by imprisoning spren. Also, when Shallan starts sarcastically talking back to her Jasnah smiles. I think she missed her over-inquisitive sarcastic ward. And Jasnah has run into Kaladin, once--kinda sad we missed that encounter. Shallan also is heartened, kind of, by the fact that Jasnah too has no idea what she’s doing. 

The letter mentions that the writer, among other things, notices Hoid’s “many intrusions into my land.” That’s interesting--implies whoever wrote this is some sort of ruler over an area. A Shard, or just a king of some sort? Hard to say. 

Anyway, over to Dalinar. He’s having his meeting with Queen Fah in the storm. He’s showing her the Knights Radiant saving people--the vision with the family that Dalinar got in the first book. Also,  a rare moment of philosophy from the Stormfather as Dalinar asks about the place of endless white stone where they talk: 

I IMAGINED IT, the Stormfather said more softly,  as if he were admitting something embarrassing. ALL THINGS HAVE A SOUL. A VASE, A WALL, A CHAIR. AND WHEN A VASE IS BROKEN, IT MIGHT DIE IN THE PHYSICAL REALM, BUT FOR A TIME ITS SOUL REMEMBERS WHAT IT WAS. SO ALL THINGS DIE TWICE. ITS FINAL DEATH IS WHEN MEN FORGET IT WAS A VASE, AND THINK ONLY OF THE PIECES. I IMAGINE THE VASE FLOATING AWAY THEN, ITS FORM DISSOLVING INTO NOTHINGNESS. 

This has some interesting larger implications, too. Much as the cognitive form of the vase sticks around when its broken...the Stormfather is almost the same thing in regards to Honor, you know? A Cognitive Shadow. Is one of the things keeping the Stormfather “alive” the fact that people think of him as the Almighty? 

Anyway, Dalinar has taken the place of one of the radiants, the female one in amber shardplate. He isn’t in Shardplate, though, and is wondering about the differences between Radiant Shardplate and Normal Shardplate. So am I, to be honest. Anyway, he’s trying to fish for information about it, but Stormy dissuades him. 

“How,” Dalinar whispered to the Stormfather. “How do we get the armor?”  Speak the Words. “Which words?”  You will know or you will not.  Great. 

Anyway, he meets up with Queen Feh, and they start talking. She points out that it sounds like bullshit that the Almighty would pick Dalinar--”a tyrant and a murderer”--to lead the knights Radiant,  and it hits Dalinar pretty personally because, well, it’s right. 

“Maybe all the good men are dead, so all you have is me!” 

Anyway, Feh is pleased that Dalinar is honestly shouting at her, rather than being tactful and diplomatic. Also, she points out that the vision--which the Stormfather has paused--is really creepy. And Dalinar realizes--the way he was acting, the way he was eerily calm over the spanreed--it made him seem like he was in league with the Voidbringers. 

Dalinar also points out that he learned one important thing--he learned that if he talks to Feh by being himself, she listens more easily. 

Bridge Four, now! Have I mentioned I love Bridge Four. Sigzil was having that nightmare where you’re about to take important tests but you forgot how to read. Lopen is using the fact that Kaladin is back--and, thus, that they’re squires again--to walk upside down on the ceiling. Lopen also uses the nickname “hooch” to refer to Sigzil but refuses to explain what it means. 

Sigzil also reveals that he didn’t pass the important tests, got himself into trouble, and Hoid ended up rescuing him. That’s an interesting note. And then somehow he ended up a slave on Sadeas’ least lucky bridge crew. 

Sigzil found Kaladin doing morning push-ups on the stone floor. His blue jacket was draped over a chair.  “Sir,” Sigzil said.  “Hey, Sig,” Kaladin said, grunting as he continued doing push-ups. “Are the men up and mustered”“  “Up, yes,” Sigzil said. “When I left them, they seemed bordering on a food fight, and only half were in uniform. 

Have I mentioned I love Bridge Four. 

“And then there’s the matter of Drehy...”  “What matter?”  “Well, he’s been courting a man, you see...”  Kaladin threw on his coat, chuckling. “I did know about that one. You only now noticed?”  Sigzil nodded.  “It’s Dru he’s been seeing, still? From the district quartermaster’s offices?” 

Listen, this segment means a lot to me. it’s just...it’s very important to me that one of the guys in Bridge four is seeing another guy, and everyone’s cool with that, and Kaladin is invested enough in his mens’ happiness to know who the guy is and where he works. It might be stupid to be tearing up about this, but if that’s stupid, well, I’m stupid. 

I’m just so tired of worlds where people like me just don’t exist that any one where they do is deeply moving. 

Also Sigzil drops a cryptic reference to “you know what Teft’s gotten into” which knowing Teft could be, well, literally anything. Anyway, as they keep going Lyn joins them, mentioning that the “unusual request” Kaladin wanted has been filled, and Kal says he’s been noticing that she’s been trying to work with Bridge Four. He asks her to join--she’s hype--and then she realizes that he means as a scribe and just wilts.

LET! LYN! FIGHT!

Sigzil finds himself wanting to punch Kaladin, just a little. And literally repeats Kaladin’s same speech about trying to understand what people actually want out of life back to him and Kal is suitably abashed. And he has gotten his hands on a massive amount of gems, so they can practice being Radiants. 

Blackthorn Flashback! 24 years ago. Evi sometimes has Vasheresque idiomatic translation problems: “the life will be as white as a sun at night!” 

Anyway, Evi is pregnant with Adolin! She and Dalinar are watching the flamespren--she sees it as playing, Dalinar as sparring, and Evi points out that she knows how much Dalinar lived for fighting, and she doesn’t like it. And Dalinar at the very least knows he doesn’t deserve her--good, at least he’s got that straight. Evi is amazing and Dalinar, at this point? A train wreck. He’s still in love with Navani, and notes that he and Navani and Gavilar stayed up talking together--Navani was so interested in what she was doing, but Gavilar ignored her. 

None of these marriages are going great, it seems. And Evi mentions that if you want to change who you are you have to go “petition the One in the Valley.” the Nightwatcher. She seems to refer to her as an aspect of the masculine Almighty, but it suggests that the “Almighty” worshipped in Iri and Rira might be Cultivation. Anyway, Gavilar has shown up. 

Apparently, Rathelas, where Dalinar won Oathbringer, is demanding the Blade back, because he “never won it in a fair contest” and the heir returned. 

...Dalinar couldn’t bring himself to kill the child, could he. He took the Blade but left the boy alive. The Thrill vanished when confronted with a crying child. 

Interesting. I remember how, in Mistborn, being confronted with someone--usually someone young--pleading for their life or, more often, the life of someone else broke Ruin’s influence. Anyway, Evi is so proud that Dalinar spared the baby boy--he gave him to his mother and told her to hide him. 

This. This makes me so happy. Dalinar didn’t kill a child. I mean, he was still a butcher and murderer. But there was a line, there. And Dalinar is happy that, just in this moment, Evi sees him as a hero. 

Over to Bridge Four, again! And an alarming note in the letter: 

You mustn’t worry yourself about Rayse. It is a pity about Aona and Skai, but they were foolish--violating our pact from the very beginning. 

a) Aona and Skai literally died and you’re saying it’s just a “pity” that Rayse murdered them? Wow, asshole b) our pact. Implying that this person is a Shard or something on a similar level of power. 

Anyway, we’re over to Numuhukumakiaki’aialunamor, better known as Rock. Turns out his Horneater nickname is Lunamor. He is making stew back out on the Shattered Plains, and is surprised to realize that he kind of missed them. Renarin is working the Oathgate nearby. They’re training along with some others, including five female scouts. 

Let! Them! Fight!

Anyway, Teft has been gone for a while--he didn’t come back last night. That’s not great. Huio, one of the cousins, is helping Teft cook--he makes a chance to the drinks, Rock is SCANDALIZED, but...it turns out delicious. Bridge Four is pioneering fusion cuisine here. Lopen has accidentally stuck himself to the ground entirely. 

“Just part of the plan, gon!” Lopen called back. “If I am to become a delicate cloud upon the sky, I must first convince the ground that I am not abandoning her. Like a worried lover, sure, she must be comforted and reassured that I will return following my dramatic and regal ascent into the sky.”  “You’re not a king, Lopen,” Drehy said. “We’ve been over this.” 

We’ve been over this. How many times do I have to say I love Bridge Four before the words come anywhere close to conveying my affection for them? It is a mystery.

Kaladin: Rock, do you think you use the term “airsick lowlander” too much Rock: [looks over to where Lopen is STILL stuck with stormlight to the ground, sweet-talking it] Rock: No. 

Rock also invites them all to come visit the Horneater peaks. Anyway, Elhokar has shown up. Kaladin has agreed to reclaim Alethkar and the capital with Elhokar, provided he has a few more weeks to train. Also, Rock finds the old bridge itself--the Bridge of Bridge four. Rock also points out that while he was a soldier once, he always--always--loved being a cook. 

He closed his eyes, kneading and humming his mother’s song to a beat he could almost, barely, just faintly hear. 

Your friendly reminder that Horneaters have Listener blood; seems like some of them, at least, haven’t lost the Rhythms. And when Renarin approaches, Rock yells over to ask him to help with the bread. Interestingly, though, Rock can’t see Glys. Perhaps...he’s just really shy? 

“That one, he will never hold spear again. He will not fly, but he  is Bridge Four. I am forbidden to fight, but I am Bridge Four. And you, you might have fancy title and different powers.” He leaned forward. “But I know Bridge Four. And you, Renarin Kholin, are Bridge Four.” 

And that gets Renarin talking--talking about how everyone always wanted him to be an ardent, because look, he was smart, and look, he was so bright--but he knew that what they were really saying was “wow, you’re not as strong as Adolin” and “wow, it would be great for the line of succession if the sickly one couldn’t inherit.” 

“When you say these things, you are almost not bitter!” Lunamor said. “Ha! Much practice must have been required.”  “A lifetime.” 

HUG RENARIN KHOLIN 2K17

Renarin says he feels like the oddest of them--Rock points to Rlain, Renarin startles and says he’s not sure if Rlain counts (just like Renarin isn’t sure he himself “counts” as Bridge Four) and Rock says, yeah. That’s what everyone tells him. So Renarin goes and sits with Rlain. 

Rock notes that one of his ancestors apparently met an Unmade, but doesn’t elaborate. That’s alarming. And we also get to see all the little ways Rock makes Bridge Four keep working--calming people down, listening, getting them to teach him things when they’re not confident. 

And then Rock sees a group of “strong gods” like Sylphrena gathered around a tall spren woman with long hair, watching the training squires. It’s the most he’s seen, anywhere. Anyway, Syl comes over to talk to him--she mentions that the woman, the large one, is Phendorana, some sort of leader who called her out for searching out Kaladin. 

Apparently, the other honorspren are seeing whether or not anyone in Bridge Four are worthy of being full Radiants. Rock walks back, and sees Hobber--the one whose legs were paralyzed by Szeth--trying desperately to draw out Stormlight from a sphere. 

And he can feel his toes again! Everyone tows all of their gemstones over. 

And then they find a raided caravan--but one of the Voidbringers who did it was brought down. By an unkalaki arrow. 

Lunamor looked to the right, where someone had piled up furniture in a heat, almost like a fortification. A head poked over the top, a stout woman with a round face and a deep red braid. She stood up tall and raised a bow toward Lunamor. Other faces peeked out from behind the furniture. Two youths, a boy and a girl both around sixteen. Younger faces from there. Six in total.  Lunamor dashed toward them and found himself blubbering, tears streaming down his cheeks as he crawled up the outside of their improvised fortification.  His family, at long last, had arrived at the Shattered Plains. 

ROCK’S! FAMILY!

IM SO HAPPY FOR HIM HE DESERVES THIS SO MUCH!!! His wife is Song (Tuaka’li’na’calmi’nor); the twins are Gift and Cord; the next son is also Rock (a different,  smaller kind); the third son is Star, the second daughter Kuma’tiki--a kind of shell not present in the lowlands--and the last daughter is also Song-- “Beautiful Song.” She’s only four--she doesn’t remember him. 

And Renarin,  with healing, managed to save several people’s lives. We also get that something is very wrong with the Peaks. Also, Rock notes that he’s been lying to some of the other men. For example--he’s not really a chef, according to their order of inheritance, it sounds like. It seems like all of his older brothers are dead, which would make him a leader. 

And Bridge Four does one last, final run with their bridge. They won’t need it, anymore--they’ll be flying. 

#oathbringer spoilers #stormlight archive liveblog #FUCK YEAH BRIDGE FOUR #dalinar voice: unite them #let lyn fight

[newstechreviews]

As expected, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira brought everything to their historic Super Bowl 2020 Halftime Show on Sunday evening at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. It was a rollicking, festive show that highlighted both performers’ extensive back catalogues of hits, super-charged by guest appearances from fellow Latin artists Bad Bunny and J Balvin. But they also made sure to nod at the importance and political potential of the moment, showcasing support for Puerto Rico and recognizing the immigration crisis with their set pieces. Here were the biggest moments of the Super Bowl LIV halftime show, which was ultimately a high-energy, sparkling celebration of dance and Latin pop. (Even Lady Gaga agrees.)

Shakira puts on a powerhouse show

Getty Images—2020 Getty ImagesShakira performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

Shakira kicked things off, dressed in glittering red with a veritable army of female dancers at her command. She ran through her biggest songs, including “She Wolf,” “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie.” She whipped out her notorious belly-dancing skills, played a searing guitar (Shakira was a rock star before she went pop) and crowd-surfed her way through a mosh pit. There was a horn section and a salsa dance break. And when she closed out with “Hips Don’t Lie” and the famous “No fightin'” intro to that song, the crowd went wild. (Also notable: her playfulness with the camera, including a meme-worthy moment.)

Bad Bunny brings the heat

Getty Images—2020 Getty ImagesColombian singer Shakira and Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

In a surprise appearance, Shakira brought out Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny for an energetic cover of Cardi B’s 2018 hit “I Like It” halfway through her set. (Bad Bunny is one of the original featured artists on that song, delivering a verse in Spanish.) They also sang Shakira’s Spanish-language hit “Chantaje” together, with Bunny filling in for Colombian singer Maluma.

Jennifer Lopez continues the party — and takes to the pole

Getty Images—2020 Getty ImagesJennifer Lopez performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

The Halftime Show transitioned directly over to Lopez for a rousing set that she kicked off with her classic song “Jenny from the Block,” surrounded by a cadre of dancers, decked out in black leather and dancing exuberantly. But the highlight came after Lopez made a costume change to a sparkling body suit and sang “Waiting for Tonight” while pole dancing, putting to excellent use the skills she honed while filming for Hustlers. Lopez cycled through songs including “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” and “On the Floor” before ceding the stage to her daughter and a chorus of girls to start off “Let’s Get Loud.”

J Balvin comes in for “Mi Gente”

AFP via Getty ImagesUS singer Jennifer Lopez and Colombian singer J Balvin perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on February 2, 2020.

Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin showed up for a cameo in Lopez’s set with his hit song “Mi Gente.” Mi Gente had featured Beyoncé in a 2017 remix; this time, Lopez accompanied the Latin music superstar. The message of “Mi Gente” is one of Latin unity, making it an especially apt choice for the Super Bowl set.

Lopez’s daughter shines

Lopez’s 11-year-old daughter Emme got her time to shine as well — and to prove she follows in her mom’s footsteps — coming out to sing with a chorus of girls for a sweet rendition of the Lopez classic “Let’s Get Loud;” the camera also panned over to Shakira during the song, who was playing the drums.

#JLo brought her daughter out. That's cute 💜💙💜 #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/ETsYRSKJpB

— TwinFangirl 💜 Still Learning (@twin_fangirl) February 3, 2020

Puerto Rico gets a spotlight from Lopez

AFP via Getty ImagesUS singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on February 2, 2020.

For “Let’s Get Loud,” Lopez appeared draped in a giant flag coat — one side featuring the red, white and blue of Puerto Rico, and the other the red, white and blue of the U.S. It was a poignant — and pointed — show of support to the territory, which was recently hit by a damaging earthquake.

A statement on immigration injustice adds gravity

In a marked gesture of solidarity toward the Latin community and those impacted by anti-immigration policies, the set design featured glowing cages housing child performers. To drive the point home, they sang a snippet of “Born in the U.S.A.”

Props to Jlo, Shakira and/or the choreographer for the necessary statement with Latino children in cages singing""Born in the USA". #SuperBowl #SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/gyQDsmXo3l

— Tom Moore (@tom_moore_104) February 3, 2020

While #SuperBowl halftime shows aren't exactly known for being hotbeds of political activism, I'm giving JLo and Shakira 💯 for the kids in cages/"Born in the USA"-Puerto Rico flag shade.

— Roopika Risam (@roopikarisam) February 3, 2020

A “Waka Waka” finale with Cheer

Shakira threw it back to her 2010 World Cup song “Waka Waka” for their joint finale, which also featured some exuberant cheerleading-style basket tosses. (Fans of Netflix’s latest hit documentary series Cheer will have been reminded of the athletic feats seen on that show, as the Halftime Show dancers were thrown up into the air for the dramatic finish.) Lopez and Shakira closed out their set with impressive synchronized shimmies, the ultimate power move.

Sweet Jesus.#SBLIV pic.twitter.com/MEzK66nUxd

— Allan Bell (@AllanBell247) February 3, 2020

Together, the duo made history

Lopez and Shakira were the first Latin artists to co-headline America’s most-watched annual event, and the first pair of female artists to share top billing. (Gloria Estefan was part of the 1992 and 1999 halftime shows, and sent her support for Lopez and Shakira, both of whom she has written songs for.)

El mejor regalo de cumpleaños ha sido sentir el apoyo de todos mis fans y el más increíble y ético equipo de trabajo que una artista puede desear. Hemos escalado el Kilimanjaro y los latinos hemos hecho historia esta noche. No lo hubiéramos logrado sin ustedes!! pic.twitter.com/LDsBffgRCV

— Shakira (@shakira) February 3, 2020

“I think it’s a very important moment for our community, for the Latino community in this country,” Lopez said of the moment ahead of Sunday night at a press conference.

“The Super Bowl is a very American event, as American as it can get. It will also be a reminder of the heritage of this country, which is one of diversity, and that’s what we will be celebrating on Sunday,” added Shakira, who is celebrating her 43rd birthday Sunday.

Just hours before the performance, Lopez emphasized the significance of their performance in an Instagram post that featured them hugging. “So excited to share the stage with you tonight @Shakira! ✨💕✨ Let’s show the world what two little Latin girls can do. #LetsGetLoud #GirlPower #SuperBowlLIV #SBLIV”

View this post on Instagram

So excited to share the stage with you tonight @Shakira! ✨💕✨ Let’s show the world what two little Latin girls can do. #LetsGetLoud #GirlPower #SuperBowlLIV #SBLIV

A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on Feb 2, 2020 at 11:45am PST

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our Latin Queens, @jlo & @shakira who did a MAGNIFICENT job representing & entertaining for the superbowl54miami halftime show! #latinpride #thatshowitsdone ##killerdancemoves… https://t.co/hNpGJR8MS1

— Gloria Estefan (@GloriaEstefan) February 3, 2020

They followed Maroon 5 in 2019, a show dogged by controversy surrounding the NFL due to the status of Colin Kaepernick. This year, however, Lopez and Shakira were brought on following the announcement of a partnership between the NFL and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, and were welcomed for the Miami event.

Super Bowl LIV saw the San Francisco 49ers facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL’s annual showdown.

#Blogger

[itsfinancethings]

As expected, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira brought everything to their historic Super Bowl 2020 Halftime Show on Sunday evening at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. It was a rollicking, festive show that highlighted both performers’ extensive back catalogues of hits, super-charged by guest appearances from fellow Latin artists Bad Bunny and J Balvin. But they also made sure to nod at the importance and political potential of the moment, showcasing support for Puerto Rico and recognizing the immigration crisis with their set pieces. Here were the biggest moments of the Super Bowl LIV halftime show, which was ultimately a high-energy, sparkling celebration of dance and Latin pop. (Even Lady Gaga agrees.)

Shakira puts on a powerhouse show

Getty Images—2020 Getty ImagesShakira performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

Shakira kicked things off, dressed in glittering red with a veritable army of female dancers at her command. She ran through her biggest songs, including “She Wolf,” “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie.” She whipped out her notorious belly-dancing skills, played a searing guitar (Shakira was a rock star before she went pop) and crowd-surfed her way through a mosh pit. There was a horn section and a salsa dance break. And when she closed out with “Hips Don’t Lie” and the famous “No fightin'” intro to that song, the crowd went wild. (Also notable: her playfulness with the camera, including a meme-worthy moment.)

Bad Bunny brings the heat

Getty Images—2020 Getty ImagesColombian singer Shakira and Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

In a surprise appearance, Shakira brought out Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny for an energetic cover of Cardi B’s 2018 hit “I Like It” halfway through her set. (Bad Bunny is one of the original featured artists on that song, delivering a verse in Spanish.) They also sang Shakira’s Spanish-language hit “Chantaje” together, with Bunny filling in for Colombian singer Maluma.

Jennifer Lopez continues the party — and takes to the pole

Getty Images—2020 Getty ImagesJennifer Lopez performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

The Halftime Show transitioned directly over to Lopez for a rousing set that she kicked off with her classic song “Jenny from the Block,” surrounded by a cadre of dancers, decked out in black leather and dancing exuberantly. But the highlight came after Lopez made a costume change to a sparkling body suit and sang “Waiting for Tonight” while pole dancing, putting to excellent use the skills she honed while filming for Hustlers. Lopez cycled through songs including “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” and “On the Floor” before ceding the stage to her daughter and a chorus of girls to start off “Let’s Get Loud.”

J Balvin comes in for “Mi Gente”

AFP via Getty ImagesUS singer Jennifer Lopez and Colombian singer J Balvin perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on February 2, 2020.

Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin showed up for a cameo in Lopez’s set with his hit song “Mi Gente.” Mi Gente had featured Beyoncé in a 2017 remix; this time, Lopez accompanied the Latin music superstar. The message of “Mi Gente” is one of Latin unity, making it an especially apt choice for the Super Bowl set.

Lopez’s daughter shines

Lopez’s 11-year-old daughter Emme got her time to shine as well — and to prove she follows in her mom’s footsteps — coming out to sing with a chorus of girls for a sweet rendition of the Lopez classic “Let’s Get Loud;” the camera also panned over to Shakira during the song, who was playing the drums.

#JLo brought her daughter out. That's cute 💜💙💜 #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/ETsYRSKJpB

— TwinFangirl 💜 Still Learning (@twin_fangirl) February 3, 2020

Puerto Rico gets a spotlight from Lopez

AFP via Getty ImagesUS singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on February 2, 2020.

For “Let’s Get Loud,” Lopez appeared draped in a giant flag coat — one side featuring the red, white and blue of Puerto Rico, and the other the red, white and blue of the U.S. It was a poignant — and pointed — show of support to the territory, which was recently hit by a damaging earthquake.

A statement on immigration injustice adds gravity

In a marked gesture of solidarity toward the Latin community and those impacted by anti-immigration policies, the set design featured glowing cages housing child performers. To drive the point home, they sang a snippet of “Born in the U.S.A.”

Props to Jlo, Shakira and/or the choreographer for the necessary statement with Latino children in cages singing""Born in the USA". #SuperBowl #SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/gyQDsmXo3l

— Tom Moore (@tom_moore_104) February 3, 2020

While #SuperBowl halftime shows aren't exactly known for being hotbeds of political activism, I'm giving JLo and Shakira 💯 for the kids in cages/"Born in the USA"-Puerto Rico flag shade.

— Roopika Risam (@roopikarisam) February 3, 2020

A “Waka Waka” finale with Cheer

Shakira threw it back to her 2010 World Cup song “Waka Waka” for their joint finale, which also featured some exuberant cheerleading-style basket tosses. (Fans of Netflix’s latest hit documentary series Cheer will have been reminded of the athletic feats seen on that show, as the Halftime Show dancers were thrown up into the air for the dramatic finish.) Lopez and Shakira closed out their set with impressive synchronized shimmies, the ultimate power move.

Sweet Jesus.#SBLIV pic.twitter.com/MEzK66nUxd

— Allan Bell (@AllanBell247) February 3, 2020

Together, the duo made history

Lopez and Shakira were the first Latin artists to co-headline America’s most-watched annual event, and the first pair of female artists to share top billing. (Gloria Estefan was part of the 1992 and 1999 halftime shows, and sent her support for Lopez and Shakira, both of whom she has written songs for.)

El mejor regalo de cumpleaños ha sido sentir el apoyo de todos mis fans y el más increíble y ético equipo de trabajo que una artista puede desear. Hemos escalado el Kilimanjaro y los latinos hemos hecho historia esta noche. No lo hubiéramos logrado sin ustedes!! pic.twitter.com/LDsBffgRCV

— Shakira (@shakira) February 3, 2020

“I think it’s a very important moment for our community, for the Latino community in this country,” Lopez said of the moment ahead of Sunday night at a press conference.

“The Super Bowl is a very American event, as American as it can get. It will also be a reminder of the heritage of this country, which is one of diversity, and that’s what we will be celebrating on Sunday,” added Shakira, who is celebrating her 43rd birthday Sunday.

Just hours before the performance, Lopez emphasized the significance of their performance in an Instagram post that featured them hugging. “So excited to share the stage with you tonight @Shakira! ✨💕✨ Let’s show the world what two little Latin girls can do. #LetsGetLoud #GirlPower #SuperBowlLIV #SBLIV”

View this post on Instagram

So excited to share the stage with you tonight @Shakira! ✨💕✨ Let’s show the world what two little Latin girls can do. #LetsGetLoud #GirlPower #SuperBowlLIV #SBLIV

A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on Feb 2, 2020 at 11:45am PST

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our Latin Queens, @jlo & @shakira who did a MAGNIFICENT job representing & entertaining for the superbowl54miami halftime show! #latinpride #thatshowitsdone ##killerdancemoves… https://t.co/hNpGJR8MS1

— Gloria Estefan (@GloriaEstefan) February 3, 2020

They followed Maroon 5 in 2019, a show dogged by controversy surrounding the NFL due to the status of Colin Kaepernick. This year, however, Lopez and Shakira were brought on following the announcement of a partnership between the NFL and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, and were welcomed for the Miami event.

Super Bowl LIV saw the San Francisco 49ers facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL’s annual showdown.

#IFTTT #Blogger

[rolenejaffe]

The Old City

Peace  Love  and Gratitude  Day 11 - Saturday July 22nd, 2017

Nobody has answered my question about sleeping like a baby so I'll just say that I slept like a baby last night. I woke up late and went on a two hour historical walking tour of the city. These are all the facts that I managed to jot down while she was talking us to during it.

14 million visitors this year and 4 million people live here.

3 cruise ships dock equaling 3,800 people pop visit Dubrovnik for the day.

The city walls were built 5 centuries ago.

From the 14th to 19th century Croatia has prospered.

City walls were to keep the enemies out. The enemy was the Venations.

The walls were 6 meters high.

Croatia Creed 'Liberty is not sold for all the gold in the world.'

They have the strongest navy in Europe.

It was a republic before Napoleon and after Napoleon it didn't exist.

In 1667 it had the largest earthquake.

The Onboard River is 30 meters long. It's the shortest river in the world.

They have a great production of local wine.

55 Jews still live in Dubrovnik.

Sephardic Jews came from Spain and Portugal and settled in Croatia.

Only one Jewish Museum has survived.

There is a Jewish Street.

There are two shops selling art, Judiaca and souvenirs.

Yugoslavia means land of Southern Slaves. They speak South Slavic language.

In 1979 the UNESCO started protecting the old town.

200 bombs were dropped on old city, so much for UNESCO protection.

The old city had to be rebuilt.

Croatia is 26 years old as a democracy.

30,000 people lived in the old city before the war.

Now about 5,000 live permanently and the rest are all air bnb for tourism.

University and schooling are free.

If you fail a year at University you have to pay for yourself.

There is 1 Serbian Orthodox church.

There is 1 Mosque.

The movie Star Wars was filmed in the old city.

They are currently filming the show Game of Thrones.

Green Market Square is a local produce market open from to 7 am to 1 pm every day.

Jesuit Church built the first school high in the old City. It's still rated the best school in Croatia.

Public co educational school and primarily to high school.

They have to learn 7 languages.

There are 25 pupils per class.

No special requirements to get in except you will have to study very hard.

Buza Hole is a great pub and you can swimming.

Politicians are instructed when they take office, "Forget about private things and think of public things."

The life expectancy is about 75 years old.

Saint Blaise patron saint saved them from a veneration invasion.

There are many statutes of him always holding Dubrovnik in his hand.

There are 2 harbors; the Old harbor and New harbor.

I had the most fabulous day! I got out of bed at 9am and went on a two hour city historical walk which was very informative, as you can see from all the points above. Then went out for coffee.

Now I was ready to visit the Synagogue and Jewish Museam.

Today,  the old Sephardi Synagogue can  be found in the street called "Žudioska ulica"  ("Žudio" in Dubrovnik speech - Jew - Jewish Street). The  street connects directly to the Placa street (Stradun) and looks like any  other street in Dubrovnik. In ghetto times, the alley was closed at the top.  At the lower end, near the sign Zudioska ulica ghetto access was controlled  by a gate it is now gone.

The  synagogue is located in a three-storied baroque stone building to the left of  the street entrance. High windows, ogee-arched at the second level, cut the  undistinguished and essentially unchanged stone facade. The Dubrovnik  synagogue is the second oldest synagogue in Europe, second only to the old  synagogue in Prague. It is also said to be the oldest Sephardic synagogue is  use in the world.

A  narrow flight of stairs leads directly to a place where entrance tickets to  the museum sell for a token fee. The walls hold old photos and documents,  including a list of the earthquake victims of 1667, a picture of the Western  Wall in Jerusalem, and many more items related to the Jewish history in  Dubrovnik.

More  steps lead up to the sanctuary. A dominant bearing partition, pierced by  three wide arches, divides the room and the oversize bimah into front and  back areas. Between 1652 and 1670, the synagogue was redecorated in Baroque  style. To replace the women's seating, formerly in a row at the rear, a  raised gallery was added at the south wall by incorporating a room from the  third floor of the adjacent building. A decorative latticework separates it  from the prayer room below. Men sat on high-backed benches along the north  and south walls. The synagogue is not big and the size was probably adequate  for Dubrovnik's Jewish community, whose numbers between the 16th and the 20th  century never exceeded the 260 affiliated persons in 1830.

A  tasteful white satin parokhet (curtain) covers the inlaid doors of the  exquisite Baroque aron kodesh (Ark). The Ark holds several Torah scrolls, one  of which may have originated in Spain before the 1492 expulsions. In  Sephardic fashion, chains carry bronze Florentine memorial lamps containing  glass oil cups in front of the Ark. Heavy maroon velvet drapes form a  dramatic baldachin above the Ark and deck the windows.

The  most important work of art held at the Synagogue is a 13th century Moorish  carpet presumably brought from Spain during the expulsion. With floral design  it glows with contrasting colors against the dark silk background. Legend  claims that it was a gift from Queen Isabella to her Jewish doctor when he  was forced to leave Spain. Another valuable possession of the Synagogue is  the Torah, which is said to be from the 13th or 14th century. It was brought  from Spain after the expulsion.

I'm obsessed with my feet and it was definitely time for a pedicure, so off I went I now have little purple toes and I feel great!

I went to the harbor and caught a boat to Laxton Island, it was peaceful.

It was not very attractive but it was quiet. They have hundreds of rabbits and peacocks and a wonderful little beach called the 'Dead Sea.' It's so full of salt that you can actually float in it. I spent 4 hours lying in the sun and swimming and just chilling. I loved every minute of it.

I caught the last ferry back to Dubrovnik at 8pm. I then went out for dinner to an amazing family owned restaurant called Lady PoPulation. I got lost getting there so it took me an hour to find the place but when I got there they told me they weren't letting any more people in. Eventually they left me in and I shared a table with the most charming young couple, Aaron and Megan. It was so refreshing to be with them. They are both commercial lawyers in England and we just giggled and laughed and shared stories. I really appreciated spending the evening with them.

The restaurant is right at the top of the old city so it's quite a walk all the way down to where I'm staying. There are lots of stairs and lots of little avenues. I enjoyed watching everybody having their dinner. I came across a nightclub and everyone was dancing outside, so I joined them for about half an hour, which that was fun. I was so proud of myself for finding my way home and plopped into bed feeling full, loved and then realized that Sunday is my last day in Croatia. I am excited, grateful and very blessed.

#peacelovegratitude #shabbychicbackpacker #shabbychictwinkletoes #herewego #traveler #lovetotravel #luckylife #journey #newpath #adventureawaits #newbeginnings #love #newcareer #newcountry #blogger #followme #networkeofnote #samedressdifferentrdays #simplelifeonedress #obsessedwithmyfeet #missforkbestfriend #number7ontheenneagram #goingbacktotheprecioushomeisetup #havingalexanderinthesamecity

[itsfinancethings]

February 02, 2020 at 10:18PM

As expected, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira brought everything to their historic Super Bowl 2020 Halftime Show on Sunday evening at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. It was a rollicking, festive show that highlighted both performers’ extensive back catalogues of hits, super-charged by guest appearances from fellow Latin artists Bad Bunny and J Balvin. But they also made sure to nod at the importance and political potential of the moment, showcasing support for Puerto Rico and recognizing the immigration crisis with their set pieces. Here were the biggest moments of the Super Bowl LIV halftime show, which was ultimately a high-energy, sparkling celebration of dance and Latin pop. (Even Lady Gaga agrees.)

Shakira puts on a powerhouse show

Getty Images—2020 Getty ImagesShakira performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

Shakira kicked things off, dressed in glittering red with a veritable army of female dancers at her command. She ran through her biggest songs, including “She Wolf,” “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie.” She whipped out her notorious belly-dancing skills, played a searing guitar (Shakira was a rock star before she went pop) and crowd-surfed her way through a mosh pit. There was a horn section and a salsa dance break. And when she closed out with “Hips Don’t Lie” and the famous “No fightin'” intro to that song, the crowd went wild. (Also notable: her playfulness with the camera, including a meme-worthy moment.)

Bad Bunny brings the heat

Getty Images—2020 Getty ImagesColombian singer Shakira and Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

In a surprise appearance, Shakira brought out Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny for an energetic cover of Cardi B’s 2018 hit “I Like It” halfway through her set. (Bad Bunny is one of the original featured artists on that song, delivering a verse in Spanish.) They also sang Shakira’s Spanish-language hit “Chantaje” together, with Bunny filling in for Colombian singer Maluma.

Jennifer Lopez continues the party — and takes to the pole

Getty Images—2020 Getty ImagesJennifer Lopez performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

The Halftime Show transitioned directly over to Lopez for a rousing set that she kicked off with her classic song “Jenny from the Block,” surrounded by a cadre of dancers, decked out in black leather and dancing exuberantly. But the highlight came after Lopez made a costume change to a sparkling body suit and sang “Waiting for Tonight” while pole dancing, putting to excellent use the skills she honed while filming for Hustlers. Lopez cycled through songs including “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” and “On the Floor” before ceding the stage to her daughter and a chorus of girls to start off “Let’s Get Loud.”

J Balvin comes in for “Mi Gente”

AFP via Getty ImagesUS singer Jennifer Lopez and Colombian singer J Balvin perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on February 2, 2020.

Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin showed up for a cameo in Lopez’s set with his hit song “Mi Gente.” Mi Gente had featured Beyoncé in a 2017 remix; this time, Lopez accompanied the Latin music superstar. The message of “Mi Gente” is one of Latin unity, making it an especially apt choice for the Super Bowl set.

Lopez’s daughter shines

Lopez’s 11-year-old daughter Emme got her time to shine as well — and to prove she follows in her mom’s footsteps — coming out to sing with a chorus of girls for a sweet rendition of the Lopez classic “Let’s Get Loud;” the camera also panned over to Shakira during the song, who was playing the drums.

#JLo brought her daughter out. That's cute 💜💙💜 #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/ETsYRSKJpB

— TwinFangirl 💜 Still Learning (@twin_fangirl) February 3, 2020

Puerto Rico gets a spotlight from Lopez

AFP via Getty ImagesUS singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on February 2, 2020.

For “Let’s Get Loud,” Lopez appeared draped in a giant flag coat — one side featuring the red, white and blue of Puerto Rico, and the other the red, white and blue of the U.S. It was a poignant — and pointed — show of support to the territory, which was recently hit by a damaging earthquake.

A statement on immigration injustice adds gravity

In a marked gesture of solidarity toward the Latin community and those impacted by anti-immigration policies, the set design featured glowing cages housing child performers. To drive the point home, they sang a snippet of “Born in the U.S.A.”

Props to Jlo, Shakira and/or the choreographer for the necessary statement with Latino children in cages singing""Born in the USA". #SuperBowl #SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/gyQDsmXo3l

— Tom Moore (@tom_moore_104) February 3, 2020

While #SuperBowl halftime shows aren't exactly known for being hotbeds of political activism, I'm giving JLo and Shakira 💯 for the kids in cages/"Born in the USA"-Puerto Rico flag shade.

— Roopika Risam (@roopikarisam) February 3, 2020

A “Waka Waka” finale with Cheer

Shakira threw it back to her 2010 World Cup song “Waka Waka” for their joint finale, which also featured some exuberant cheerleading-style basket tosses. (Fans of Netflix’s latest hit documentary series Cheer will have been reminded of the athletic feats seen on that show, as the Halftime Show dancers were thrown up into the air for the dramatic finish.) Lopez and Shakira closed out their set with impressive synchronized shimmies, the ultimate power move.

Sweet Jesus.#SBLIV pic.twitter.com/MEzK66nUxd

— Allan Bell (@AllanBell247) February 3, 2020

Together, the duo made history

Lopez and Shakira were the first Latin artists to co-headline America’s most-watched annual event, and the first pair of female artists to share top billing. (Gloria Estefan was part of the 1992 and 1999 halftime shows, and sent her support for Lopez and Shakira, both of whom she has written songs for.)

El mejor regalo de cumpleaños ha sido sentir el apoyo de todos mis fans y el más increíble y ético equipo de trabajo que una artista puede desear. Hemos escalado el Kilimanjaro y los latinos hemos hecho historia esta noche. No lo hubiéramos logrado sin ustedes!! pic.twitter.com/LDsBffgRCV

— Shakira (@shakira) February 3, 2020

“I think it’s a very important moment for our community, for the Latino community in this country,” Lopez said of the moment ahead of Sunday night at a press conference.

“The Super Bowl is a very American event, as American as it can get. It will also be a reminder of the heritage of this country, which is one of diversity, and that’s what we will be celebrating on Sunday,” added Shakira, who is celebrating her 43rd birthday Sunday.

Just hours before the performance, Lopez emphasized the significance of their performance in an Instagram post that featured them hugging. “So excited to share the stage with you tonight @Shakira! ✨💕✨ Let’s show the world what two little Latin girls can do. #LetsGetLoud #GirlPower #SuperBowlLIV #SBLIV”

View this post on Instagram

So excited to share the stage with you tonight @Shakira! ✨💕✨ Let’s show the world what two little Latin girls can do. #LetsGetLoud #GirlPower #SuperBowlLIV #SBLIV

A post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on Feb 2, 2020 at 11:45am PST

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to our Latin Queens, @jlo & @shakira who did a MAGNIFICENT job representing & entertaining for the superbowl54miami halftime show! #latinpride #thatshowitsdone ##killerdancemoves… https://t.co/hNpGJR8MS1

— Gloria Estefan (@GloriaEstefan) February 3, 2020

They followed Maroon 5 in 2019, a show dogged by controversy surrounding the NFL due to the status of Colin Kaepernick. This year, however, Lopez and Shakira were brought on following the announcement of a partnership between the NFL and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, and were welcomed for the Miami event.

Super Bowl LIV saw the San Francisco 49ers facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL’s annual showdown.

#IFTTT #Blogger