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lani-heart · 5 days

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|| series masterlist || CHAPTER ONE -> PREVIEW ||

parings -> riki nishimura x reader genre -> non-idol au, school au, hyrbid au warnings -> n/a word count -> 1.1k

abstract -> he's perfect how he is... but can maybe change for her.

y/n’s perspective

“Niki, we always do this” I whined as he locked himself in the bathroom. I needed to get him ready for tonight’s party. If I didn’t have to go I wouldn’t… but with my family pushing me into choosing a major in business, they're making me befriend other kids from wealthy families.

“Please… I don’t want to go alone” I begged but he didn’t respond. It was running late and the driver would be here soon… so I might have to go alone today.

I gave up trying to convince him and did the final touches. Grabbing a jacket, fixing my makeup, and grabbing everything I needed.

When I left my room, I couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re gonna go with me?” I asked and he nodded. “I can’t let you go on your own” he muttered and I chuckled. “Besides, look at how forgetful you are,” he said as he pulled my hair roller off my bangs.

“Oh,” I said genuinely forgetting as he laughed at me.

“Do you–” “Yes, I have my tail ring on. I’m ready, now let's go before your dad starts calling”

Riki Nishimura was a stray hybrid I met when I was a kid. We were on a vacation trip to Japan when I saw him. I offered him some food I had on me and he took it from me to eat it like he was starved.

My parents were already wanting to get me a hybrid so I begged them to keep him. In which they reluctantly agreed. However, when we found out he wasn’t a normal black cat hybrid they agreed.

He was a panther hybrid, and so has been with me for years. We grew up together… However, my parents never liked how rowdy he was. Even now they tell me to get another hybrid, one that could join me in dinners, and parties, and one who is overall more well-behaved.

I wasn’t gonna let them replace him. He was my best friend, my number one confidant. Besides… who needs a fancy and well-behaved hybrid? Niki was way more fun!

niki’s perspective

It was the same old party they threw with the same kids as their rich human parents and new collectibles. They liked to collect new hybrids where they’d show them off and then throw them away… but not y/n.

Without her, I probably would still be on the street mistaken for an overgrown cat hybrid. It doesn’t mean I liked being gawked at and set a price on what they’d trade her for me. Of course, she’d never let them... I’ve seen how annoyed and angry she gets and it made me happy she cared so much.

I cared for her too… She was clumsy and an idiot so she needed someone to take care of her. So I'm here… at a stupid party filled with spoiled rich kids.

Not to say she isn't spoiled… she is. However, I never questioned that she loved me. She always makes that clear with everything she does for me.

“Oh! You’re y/n right?” I heard and I saw a girl behind us with what smelled like a bird hybrid. “Mmhm… have we met before?” she asked why I didn’t think so… I would’ve recognized her and her hybrid. “My name–” I didn’t care what she had to say… I just didn’t like how her hybrid kept on staring at me with those eyes of his. What was his problem?

I was cut off from my thoughts when suddenly the topic of discussion became me…

“He’s really pretty and exotic too! I just haven’t heard good things about him, you know?” she said and I had to refrain from growling at her. Who was she to talk right in front of my face about me? And to y/n?

“Jay here is well-behaved! He’s from America you know–” Is that supposed to make him impressive? Congrats bird you’re a pet! “–it's just a shame you know. I wanted a bunny or maybe a cat hybrid” she pouted and I could see his disappointed expression.

“Oh, Niki is really sweet but he’s solitary–” “You should invest in a social hybrid you know?” she cut her off to say. Rude… why would she need another hybrid when she has me?

“I like the way he is, he’s been with me since we were kids so there's no way I could ever replace him like that,” she said and I felt proud.

“I heard about how much you care for him. I guess rumors were true” she said and I knew she was amongst those who talked about why she couldn’t get a nicer and social hybrid who smiles and dotes on her. I do dote on her… and I’m only nice to her. Everyone else was pushing it.

“What is he if I can ask?” she said and y/n only sighed while looking up at me. “He’s a puma hybrid from Japan,” she answered. “Woah! I heard puma hybrids were rare! I thought he was just a cat… makes sense then for how tall he is.” she said as she got closer to me.

“Oh please don’t do that. You’ll make him uncomfortable.” y/n said as I went behind her.

“You should take him to the training you know. It's for the hybrids who need manners… they are opening classes in your university for hybrids'' she said… she stalked y/n to know what university she was in? She needs a life.

“Oh… I know of them. I think he is just fine the way he is” y/n said and she bowed. “If you’ll excuse us,” she said and we walked away from the pair. “She was a bitch” y/n muttered and I laughed. “Calm down, you have an act to uphold,” I said and she sighed. “y/n?” I said and she looked at me with her eyes filled with determination to answer to give me anything I asked for. “Why didn’t you tell me your uni is having hybrid classes?” I asked and she sighed.

“They're mainly about etiquette. She said how to take care of your owner… how to behave in a social setting, etc” and I nodded.

“I want to go,” I said and her eyes widened. “But you're perfect–” “No, I’m not… I caused you a lot of trouble. I heard your dad get mad again this morning. He didn’t want me here because of last time” I said and she shook her head.

“Yah! Don’t do that!” she scolded and I smiled softly.

“Please? You said you would give me anything I asked for. I want to be a better hybrid for you”

taglist -> @ilovecheese09 @gudkc

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f4irys4n · 11 months

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love drunk

jeong yunho x neutral!reader

tags gender neutral language. reader and yunho are best friends. reader going on a date with random oc. jealous yunho. oblivious reader. secret crushing. alcohol abuse. getting drunk. smoking weed. vomiting. drunk and high yunho. drunk confessions. reader taking care of yunho. fluff towards the end.

wc 1.9k

yunho couldn't stand it. hearing you bang on about your upcoming date, despite his oh so obvious attempts at flirting with you. but what hurt more was that it was with no one other than song fucking jiyun; some stupid kid that worked in a local cafe and that just so happened to have picked on yunho throughout his entire childhood.

you knew he hated jiyun, but you always insisted that the normie boy was sorry and had changed since the mishap last year. yunho never believed you though, always insisting that jiyun was precisely the same as he was before and that he was just trying to fool you, and everyone else.

jiyun had never given you a reason to dislike him recently, he'd been sweet and polite, even slightly flirty so it wasn't surprising when he asked you to meet him after his 6pm finish to go on a small coffee date. you could say anything but yet, you'd spend years pining over yunho for him to never even notice your feelings so what was the harm in putting yourself out there?

"why did you have to say yes to him?" yunho scoffs, looking through his sketchbook, quickly turning over the sketches of you.

"do we have to go over this again?" you ask him "i said yes because i think i like him," you continue "okay? end of discussions, and all other discussions about this topic."

"fine," he huffs, throwing his book to the side of him "i just don't get what you see in him," yunho mumbled "i just thought it'd be fun for us to go to that party together and get high, you know? but i guess not."

yunho grabbed his book and stormed out of your room, leaving you confused and baffled about his attitude towards you ever since he found out of whatever thing you and yunho had.

"hey jiyun," you smiled lightly, still unable to get yunho out of your mind. everything about him had been bugging you lately, he'd been so off, and it wasn't just because i was going out with the person he painted to be his so-called 'arch nemesis.' there was more going on but typical yunho, he refused to tell you anything.

"you look so pretty," jiyun smiled at you "you want your usual? i'll make it before i clock out for the day." you nod at his question, giving him a quiet 'please.'

"are you okay?" he asks, looking at you in worry. "you seem slightly preoccupied up here," jiyun adds, lightly tapping your head with his finger as you did. god, it must be prominent in your thoughts for it to be written all over your enough for jiyun to notice.

"it's yunho," you mumble "he's being off with me, and i'm not used to it... we've been best friends for years and he's never once been like this with me," you explain, opening up to jiyun about the longer haired boy despite their obvious past with each other.

"does he know about our date?"

"yeah..." you sigh, walking up to the counter as jiyun started prepping your drink.

"then there's your answer," jiyun smiled at you with a saddened expression. "he really doesn't like me and seeing you, his best friend, go out with me has probably struck a few nerves. it's understandable, i just wished he could learn to forgive me and then it wouldn't be awkward for you."

"yeah, that's probably it." "i just hate it, you know?"

whilst you were sulking about yunho and his current behaviour towards you; the boy was sat, chatting with mingi, a freshly lit blunt in his left hand.

"i just... they know i hate him," yunho whines. whenever he got a little too drunk or stoned he always acted like a baby; he got whiny, emotional and extremely stubborn with his thinking. it was something you, and all the nightshades had to quickly learn to get accustomed to because he truly was a sensitive soul already, never mind when he was intoxicated. "and it's so obvious i like them, they're so oblivious sometimes, why can't they notice? you all do."

mingi chuckled at the boys' complaints, thinking about how ironic what yunho was saying actually is. he was whining about how you never noticed yunho's feelings when yunho himself had never noticed yours despite how sickeningly noticeable it was to everyone else. you were both dumb in his eyes, both as oblivious as each other.

"dude.. you should just tell them," mingi says, taking a hit of his blunt. "you're both so dumb.. can you see how she likes you back?"

"obviously not if they're going a date with jiyun," yunho mutters, bottom lip sticking out.

"or maybe they're trying to put themselves out there in an attempt to get over you because they think you don't like them," mingi chuckled slightly because he knew that's exactly what it was; you'd told him yourself. "how do i get through your head that they're crushing on you so hard."

"keep thinking that, mingi," yunho waffled on, "but you're mistaken, i know you are. why would they like me anyway?" "what is there to like?"

"yunho, you really need to get your head out of your ass."

some time had passed and yunho still hadn't moved from the same place, sat sulking the entire time; the only thing that had changed was the beer bottle in one hand and the bud that was in the other.

his lack of attention towards the party was honestly worrying mingi so he decided to send you a text.

mingi: 'hey y/n! i know you're on a date, but yunho's really acting weird and i really don't think he'll phase out of it until you talk to him'

your phone lights up as you sit across the table from jiyun, and you shift your gaze to it, noticing it was a text from mingi. what could he possibly want? you thought he would be lights-out drunk with yunho at this party...

"sorry jiyun, let me just reply to this, it's mingi," you smile, quickly picking your phone to quickly see what the snake haired boy had to say.

mingi: 'he's really stuck on this jiyun thing.. but it's for a different reason than what you're thinking. he's been sat sulking all night, on the verge of tears over how you never notice him but you notice jiyun. please, whenever you can, come talk to him because there's so much he wants to say to you, he just never does.'

your eyes widen as you read the text. you really didn't know yunho was as stuck on this jiyun thing as much as you thought, but it must have hit him bad for him to be on the verge of tears.

"jiyun.. i.. i'm really sorry," you start off, pouting slightly, "but i've got to go," you continue, quickly collecting your stuff.. "it's yu-" "yunho," jiyun cuts you off with a smile. "yeah..." you sigh, feeling bad for ditching him.

"i'm not annoyed y/n, i understand," jiyun smiles "you're good for each other. go talk to him, he needs you."

"thank you, jiyun, thank you so much," you smile. "i enjoyed today.. i just-" "y/n, you need to go," jiyun chuckled, watching you leave the cafe quickly.

you quickly weaved and bended around the crowds of people before seeing mingi and enid.

"y/n!" mingi yells as he sees your figure in the corner of his eye. "i'm really sorry to text you on your date.. but yunho," ajax trailed off.

"it's no worries at all, mingi. where is he?" you ask softly.

"he went off to his room around 10 minutes ago, he looked like he was about to cry," mingi said, giving you a sad smile before you quickly made your way to yunho's room.

you knocked on his door quickly, knowing that he'd probably tripped over a good few things and hurt himself in his drunken state. but there was no reply.

"yunho?" you call out, knocking on the door again.

"y/n?" he asks, voice slurred out, "wait.. it can't be y/n, they're on a date with jiyun, they wouldn't be here for me."

"yunho, it's me," you chuckle, letting yourself in.

"what are you doing here?" he asks. yunho was lying on his bed, a bottle of beer in his hand and an exhausted expression on his face. the redness surrounding his eyes showed he'd either been crying or rubbing his eyes to stop himself from crying.

"mingi told me you were acting off," you admitted "he knows nobody can get you to talk like me," you continue, sitting on the space beside him.

"i just.. never mind," yunho sighs "it's nothing."

"please speak to me," you hum, budging closer to him. "mingi said you needed to tell me something, something that you can never find the time to say," you edge him on, hoping that'd help him figure out what to say.

"it's just.. promise this won't change anything?"

"it won't yunho."

"i like you," he blurts out "heck, i think i love you. and seeing you go on a date with another guy, especially jiyun, fucking hurts. i'm so obvious about the way i feel and you never seem to fucking notice me," yunho pouts, his voice almost sounding desperate, as if he was longing for you for some time. "i just wanted you to notice me.." he sighs, eyes welling up with tears, "i just wanted you to turn around to me one day and say you liked me back to, but you never did.."

everything he was saying took you back. you were utterly shocked. yunho liked you back? was he really obvious about his feelings and you had just never noticed it at all? but you'd always thought you were obvious about how you felt towards him... maybe you were both as oblivious as each other.

"yunho, i.." "and this is where you tell me that you don't like me back, that things could never work between us, that we're just friends," yunho interrupts, mind obviously frazzled from the drink, "that i'm just a stupid boy... with a stupid crush..." he rolls off, the sadness oozing in his voice.

"yunho, that's not-" "you don't even have to say it, y/n, i already know what you're going to say."

"yunho!" you yell, catching him off guard.

"what?" he asks, confused.

"i like you too," you smile, looking at him directly in the eyes.

"you.. you do?" yunho asks, eyes widening.

"yeah..."

"but.. but jiyun.." he mumbles.

"i went on the date with him because i thought you'd never like me back so i thought i'd put myself out there to see if i'd work out with anyone else," you say to him "me and tyler don't have anything, he told me to come here, to come and see you."

"so.. you like me?" he asks, giggling a little. the person he's had a crush on for years actually likes him back? for real?

"yes yunho, i like you," you say "now can please get you cleaned and covered up... you've got beer down your shirt and you're high as hell," you chuckle, giving him a small smile. "how does a coffee sound?"

yunho nods. "sounds perfect."

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natsaffection · 1 year

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this is probably a weird request/idea, but i thought like a small prompt related to the series where nat says verbally she loves y/n for the first time and y/n reacts to that, or like little headcanons of their "firsts" like, first ily, first idk crying if that makes sense? 🤍

A/N: FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE NO WEIRD REQUESTS OR IDEAS!!! THEY ARE ALL GREAT, and I’m thankful for everyone who will take their time to send one. <3

So, thank you to this wonderful ano Person to send it, I hope you like it :)) I made a mix of story and headcanons for youu.

‎

‎Warnings: None

‎

Natasha says “I love you.” for the first time:

(I didn’t even realized she had never said it to you)

‎

It was late in the evening, and you were currently still alone in the house, as Natasha was on her way from work. Months passed after your life changed drastically. You are engaged, after all?!

So it was time to start making plans. However, you shied away from doing that in front of Natasha, not knowing what she would think of the whole thing. You got to know her as a withdrawn person. Not with you, but around others.

You've been sitting in front of your IPad for hours looking for inspiration for your wedding, your dress, the dressing code, that you didn't even realize Natasha was already back until you feel her arms around you,

"Hello, my future..." You are startled and almost out of reflex throw the IPad all over the living room, "Nat! Don't scare me like that!" Natasha was anything but Stupid, thus she knew immediately that you had something to hide. "What did you do?"

"N-Nothing!" You try to crawl to the Ipad to turn it off, however Natasha was faster and snatches it away from you, "You have one more chance to tell me before I look at it myself." You didn't want to. You don't want her to see the plans! Not because you're afraid she won't like it after all, but rather that you want it to be a surprise as well....

"Don't do it, please..NO!-" She pretends to lift it and had to laugh at your reaction, "Y/n what's so bad you have to hide it from me, hm? Talk to me."

She puts it aside as she trusts you more than others. She knew it wouldn't be bad. You sigh out as she puts it on the table and sits down with you.

"Well..What uh.." You nervously play with your engagement ring..Natasha watched and put a hand over it, "Stop that..Now shoot."

You know she won't stop until you tell her, "Iwaslookingatweddingspictures.." You mumble too fast again and Natasha has to laugh, "Y/n, I didn't understand a thing."

"I was looking at wedding pictures!" You snap back, ready for a discussion. But Natasha continued to look at you gently, "So what's the big deal?" You were about to start saying your prepared sentences until they caught in your throat, "Huh?"

"What, huh? What's the big deal?" She laughs and gets up to take off her jacket. You stand up with her and walk after her. "So you don't mind?" She hung up the jacket and stopped, "Why on earth would I mind?" You look down,

"Well..I-I thought you wouldn't like..parties, I mean."

She comes up to you and looks at you again, "Parties? Y/n that's anything but a cheap party..This is going to be the most important and best day for me, okay? Just because I get to spend the day with you and no one else..." You look up at her pouting, "So it wouldn't be a problem for you if more than one person came? Roses will be standing everywhere? And-"

"I wouldn't care if the pastor stood in front of us in an angel costume. I love you, and I'm going to put that in writing that day, no matter what." Your eyes widen. It's the first time she's really used those three words. You know she loves you, she shows it every time, but she hasn't said it yet, "What's wrong?" She asks, "You.. said you love me..."

"Y/n what's wrong with you today?" she laughed, "Well, you've never said it! Which is definitely not a prejudice, I'm-" she interrupted you as she kissed you, "I love you, I love you and...I love you." She slaps you all over until you had enough and laughed it off.

From that day on, Natasha said this to you every other time she saw you. Whether in a meeting, watching a movie, and so on. She and you didn't even notice that much that you didn't say that to each other every third time, because your presence was already saying enough.

‎

When you come home crying for the first time:

‎

Your eyes felt heavy. You came from a stressful day at work. You did nothing wrong, on the contrary, you brought a huge success to the company. You were so damn proud of yourself that you started crying right away, and your colleagues who were celebrating you, were not helping at all.

The day was perfect, but also exhausting because of the thing. So you came home and were immediately ready for bed and Natasha's arms. You came in and at that moment, Natasha came out of the kitchen, "There she is, how-" She stopped moving, and her happy face changed to a worried one, "Have you been crying? What happened?" She came at you like a gazelle, and you were so damn emotional about it that you started crying again, which alarmed Natasha even more.

She looked confused and immediately angry at the person who brought you home, thinking something had happened to you, "Hey, hey, Y/n are you okay?! Did anyone hurt you? Talk to me..." Fuck, you need to calm down or Natasha will run amok, "N-No-everything is fine-"

"Everything's fine?! You're crying!" Now a quiet giggle came out, "I made the biggest sale of the month today." You look at her with red eyes and could see the confused looks, "What?"

You explain the situation to her and slowly it all made sense to Natasha too. "God, I thought I did something wrong! Or worse, someone did something to you!" You had to hide your laughter in your hands, "I'm sorry..." You had to laugh so hard, that Natasha thought you were going to start crying again. She was so damn overwhelmed with the situation. "Baby, please stop, okay? I'd rather see you cry differently, but not like this..." She wipes your tears away with her finger, and you got a little flustered with the statement, "I think that can be arranged...”

‎

Your first birthday:

‎

Natasha was discreetly excited that day.

She canceled all her appointments that day to spend with you.

Weeks before, she innocently asked for things you've always wanted to do and booked them in the same second.

You, on the other hand, were relaxed. You thought you were going to have a relaxing day or evening...with something cooked and that was it. You didn't want any gifts from her, you already had her.

But Natasha? Well..your whole living room was filled with gifts.

She had made it her mission to get them. In the past, she would have sent someone, but for you? She'll do anything.

On your day itself, you wake up to Natasha already sitting next to you with homemade breakfast, "Happy Birthday, Detka."

You were so surprised and excited at the same time that you almost throw the tray from Natasha's hand.

Your first gift from her was that you didn't have to go to work today. You protested, but Natasha, as always, didn't let up.

Afterward, you made it a relaxing morning, and she led you into the living room, where your chin dropped.

Balloons floated everywhere, your name showed up big in letters, and little boxes were packed everywhere.

Natasha could melt here and now over your reactions

‎

First family meeting:

‎

You were scared, you were nervous, you wanted to disappear.

But Natasha was always by your side

She knew you were insecure about your age difference and afraid of your parents' reaction.

But they reacted fantastically. Your dad got along with Natasha right away as they both have the same mindset about business, and your mom was just happy that you found such a nice and sweeping person.

And then you dropped the bombshell.

“We're engaged."

The faces were divine, and your mom even had tears in her eyes

They were the first to raise their hand for wedding planning

‎

First time picking up Natasha from work:

‎

You were excited when Natasha left for work, knowing you'd be picking her up today

Exactly. She knew nothing about it

You count the hours and your hands started sweating as you set off.

Before that, you let Natasha's driver know and sent him home.

So you stood in your garage and chose the most eye-catching car. A red Ford Mustang

At the Company, the unfriendly receptionist at Natasha's door wouldn't let you in, of course.

“I'm pretty sure Ms. Romanoff doesn't have time for you right now."

Oh how you wanted to see her reaction.

So you stuffed yourself confidently and walked through Natasha's door.

The woman yelled out, and as you walked through the door, she practically fell after you,

“M-Ms Romanoff, I tried to hold her back, b-but that piece of-"

“Y/n?" Natasha saw you, got up from her table and walked over to you to kiss you

You could see the woman from earlier understand that she made a big mistake when she looked at the two of you and saw your engagement rings on each other fingers.

“Oh, god, th-that- I'm sorry ms-"

“Get out."

You were practically met with a gust of wind.

Natasha was so surprised and delighted that she left all her work and went home with you.

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#natasha x reader #natasha romanoff #natasha romanov x reader #nat x reader #dom!natasha x reader #natasha #natasha romonova #the avengers

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oflights · 11 months

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oh have I missed the chance for prompts??? I hope not. Ummmm let’s see. How about your choice of the lads going to one of the below places:

* sushi conveyor belt restaurant

* way overpriced boozy brunch

* garden seating at a pub, on a hot summer night

so, as we've already discussed, i low-key want to do ALL of these and as such have screenshotted this to return to some of them. but this one is, in a roundabout way, garden seating at a pub on a hot summer (june) night. in new york! finally!

it's also 2.3k word again (just fuck my life, honestly) and it's getting back together fic. i'm sorry. this is who i am. i hope you like it!!

It’s a beautiful night, the stickiness of the summer day having faded a bit with the sun, just gone down an hour or so ago. There are lovely, multicolored paper lanterns filled with magical light strung up above, crisscrossing the width of the garden area, scattering it in purposeful rainbow. The low, cheerful din of glasses clinking against the wooden tables and excited chatter washes over the space.

There is a nice breeze, one Draco has been told means he should be grateful this is late June in New York and not August, where breezes flee. It’s still hot, unexpectedly so; he is very aware of wearing long sleeves and concedes his agent was probably right about that. He just didn’t want—people here like to ask about his tattoo when back home they know better, or worse, really. He doesn’t want to talk about that.

He finishes his drink trying not to even think about it, drumming his fingers against his own wooden table and shaking his head when a waitress asks him if he wants a refill. Carlo, his agent, gives him an unimpressed look and says, “If we’re going to wait to start, you might as well have another drink to calm your nerves.”

“I’m not nervous,” Draco says automatically, and Carlo snorts.

“Sure. Look, if that’s the case, we might as well—”

“Just a few more minutes; they’ll be here,” Draco cuts in quickly, and now Carlo sighs.

“A few more minutes, all right. But if we wait any longer the people who want to be here will actually just leave, and then we’ll have booked all this for nothing.”

Draco nods distractedly, already looking away and glancing out over the other tables without trying to be too obvious about it or catch anyone’s eye. He still has to nod at people—people he can’t really believe exist, people excited to see him read to them, people who have read his book with their actual eyes and liked it and bought it and maybe told their friends to buy it. They have it with them, holding it in their hands. It’s startling every time he thinks about it. It still seems like a trick, like someone is going to jump out from somewhere and say “Got you!”

This is the first reading he’s doing in person, ever. He’d done a successful launch party in London, had done something of a press round, even—terrifying, the whole time, even as it all went well. He’d read from his book on the wireless, he’d chatted with a few people who walked up to him in Diagon Alley, bewilderingly, happily. He likes to talk about his book.

But now Draco’s half a world away from all that, because apparently his book is selling really well in the States, better even than back home, and the international affiliate of his publisher wanted him to do a book tour to support the second printing, which means conferences and events and more press and—

And a reading, to strangers, in a beautiful garden area behind a large, apparently historic pub in the magical area nestled between the West Village and Greenwich Village. The sounds and lights of the city around them are muffled, muted, like the world has narrowed down only to this.

It’s a long way to go, for him and for all of the people Draco had rather desperately invited—all of his friends, who had had to break their promises to come one by one as family and job issues waylaid them.

Even his extended friends, the kind he only sees at rare and rarer pub nights every few months or at weddings or funerals or—he’d given out invitations to them, too, had offered to arrange Portkeys and stays in New York even once the book tour takes him elsewhere.

A few had said they’d try to come, but as the people he’s closer to had cancelled—Pansy, histrionically heartbroken about it, Blaise playing it so cool it was clear he truly was upset, Greg and Millie and Daphne and Theo and all of them full of regrets and work and kids and things that Draco didn’t have to keep him from doing something mad like traveling around the world for a stupid little book—Draco had resigned himself to the fact that they wouldn’t come either. Why would Hermione Granger or Neville Longbottom go out of their way for someone they see once every few months now, ever since—when the people he sees at least twice a week on average couldn’t make it?

Draco had even invited—he was desperate—and he knew he wouldn’t come because they were over, of course, any obligation to come to things like this had ceased when all that had ended, so there was no way—but just in case—

He'd told himself that was all okay because his parents had promised. They don’t understand any of it, of course—Father thinks it’s a silly hobby gone a bit too far, and perhaps it had started that way, a diversion from the drudgery of managing the Malfoy estate, but now it’s all this, it’s Draco’s life that he doesn’t get—but they had said they’d be here to support him. They have no jobs, he is their family, they can arrange international Portkeys in their sleep—there’s no reason for them not to come. He’s certain they’ll be here.

Draco cranes his neck, searching the tables for any telltale blond hair he’s missed, eyes flicking to the back entrance to the pub where he’s sure they’ll emerge at any moment. Maybe they missed their Portkey and had to reschedule. Maybe there was a delay at the terminal. Maybe they decided to sleep off the time difference at their hotel and didn’t set a wakeup Floo. Maybe—

“Draco,” Carlo says, very gentle, but not patient. “We’ve got to start. I’m sorry, but I don’t think they’re coming.”

Draco shakes his head, even as the truth of that settles in the pit of his stomach like a sinking stone. He swallows past a lump in his throat, wishing he did have a new drink so his hands could be damp with cool condensation instead of clammy, anxious sweat.

He is not nervous. “You can do this,” Carlo tells him. “Just keep an eye on me; I’m here.” Draco likes talking about his book. He likes being around people, chatting with them—it’s just reading, his own words, he practically knows them by heart, they’re etched into his skin far deeper than the Mark, scratched over his heart—

But he really, really wanted his parents to come. He truly thought they would.

“All right,” Draco says finally, still shaking his head but forcing himself to come to terms. He talks himself into it as he stands up, rationalizing—it was definitely the time difference. They’re napping; Mother will wake up horrified, and they’ll get late drinks and perhaps midnight room service and laugh about it later.

That’s how he gets himself to the edge of the garden under the brightest lights, standing at a Levitating podium that settles to the ground once he reaches it. It’s hotter here, under the lights; he wants to rip his sleeves off and use them to dab at his sweaty temples. He has to take deep breaths.

Draco looks out over the crowd, their eager faces, and tries to focus on Carlo—but his face is too soft, too close to pity. He tries to look at nothing instead, knows soon he’ll be reading anyway so it doesn’t matter, he doesn’t have to look at the fact that his parents aren’t here. But first he has to talk a little, introduce himself, thank people for coming, all of these people who don’t even know him, didn’t raise him, still showed up because they liked his work that much when his parents haven’t even read—

“Hello,” Draco makes himself say, a small huff of a laugh, as charming a grin as he can muster. For a moment, that’s all he can muster; his throat is tightening, his sleeves feel like they’re getting smaller. He doesn’t think it’s possible to be strangled at your wrists, but perhaps they’re cutting off the circulation there, constricting his blood flow enough to explain why breathing is so treacherous. “I—I’m so glad you’re all here. I’m so glad that I’m here.”

More words, successful. Words are his thing, Draco reminds himself. He can do this. ��And I’m—I’m grateful, really. Impossibly so. It’s really—this month, in this place, and I’m barely starting to understand how much it means to everyone because all I’ve known, all I’ve put into this book, is what it means to me—what it means to be like us, or so I assume, in what feels like a very small world, and—” He breaks off, making slightly panicked eye contact with Carlo—who taps the rainbow pin on his lapel and gives him a thumbs up, encouraging, he can do this.

Draco manages to open his mouth again, but all that emerges is a puff of slightly distressed air. And that’s when movement from the back entrance distracts him thoroughly, gratefully, another place to fix his gaze—which widens, steals more breath.

Rushing through the doorway, knocking into a slotted wooden chair and swearing, is Harry. He’s got Draco’s book wedged under his armpit, he’s whispering apologies to people he bumps into; he drags a chair out from a table with a bunch of strangers, apologizing to them and then hurriedly turning to face Draco with a slightly sweaty, flustered face.

Harry grins when Draco catches his eye. His glasses reflect the rainbow lights a little, and he looks a mess in the loveliest, most familiar way. He’s practically vibrating in his seat, excited, maybe nervous, too, and he’s—here. He’d gotten the invitation Draco sent in desperation, the note he’d scrawled I’m sure you’re busy with work, and I know we don’t really see much of each other anymore, and it’s a long way to go, but if you want to, if you have any interest, it would mean a lot be nice of you and nice to see you—and he’d Portkeyed halfway across the world and he’s here, somehow, bewilderingly, happily.

And suddenly all of Draco’s words are right there, easy, ready to be plucked up and tossed out with every confidence at where they’ll land. It’s a familiar feeling, a specific kind of confidence he’d thought entirely out of reach once he and Harry broke up and descended into the awkward, not-quite friends they’ve been since. Harry is here, and he cares for him, at least enough to show up for him, and Draco can do this because Harry clearly believes he can. It must not have even been a question in his mind, for him to come all this way.

“I’m so grateful we’re all here together,” Draco says. He touches his own pin, looks around, keeps talking. “Being together like this in a small world—it makes it feel much bigger.”

He goes on; he reads. He chokes himself a little but only for good reasons, looking up and seeing people listening, their eyes shining, laughing at the best of moments. He looks into Harry’s eyes, grins back at him, softens it when he catches Harry swiping his fingers behind his glasses as subtly as possible.

After, Draco gets another drink and sits at various tables, signing books, chatting happily. He gravitates towards Harry, who has his own drink and seems to be waiting, but when they near each other Harry whispers, “No, you can keep—I’ll wait for you, Draco, it’s all right.”

“Thank you,” Draco whispers back, hoping Harry knows how much he means it.

And there’s every opportunity to tell him as the crowd thins and the pub staff comes out to start stacking chairs and taking down the lights. Carlo leaves after hugging Draco and telling him how brilliant he’d been, telling him to get excited about doing this again two nights from now in Boston. And then there’s Harry, here, waiting.

“I’m sorry I was late,” Harry says once Draco joins him in the only other unstacked chair. The lights are all gone now, the pub staff telling them they can hang out while they finish closing up inside, the only light streaming from that backdoor. “And that I didn’t, um, tell you I was coming. I was just so—I’d heard about it, of course, but I didn’t know if you’d want me here really, I thought maybe you were just—”

“I wanted you here,” Draco says, realizing he was desperate but not in just the way he’d imagined. “I—I am so happy you came.”

“Me too,” Harry says, and then he laughs a little. “Even though I can barely see you.” He taps his wand a few times and shoots brilliantly bright, multicolored sparks out of it; they rise up to form a glowing, rainbow swirl of light above them, like all the lanterns have cracked open and spilled above them.

It’s beautiful, and Harry looks beautiful beneath it, the colors splayed across his skin as he puts his wand down, reaches out, and takes Draco’s hands. “Better,” Harry says, and then: “I’m so fucking proud of you, Draco.”

Relief, rushing and sweets, hits Draco so fast that it’s all he can feel for a moment. Gone is the disappointment, nerves, dread—all of it falls away. He can do this, he thinks; he did it.

“Do you want to—I mean, you came all this way, and this place is closing but I’m sure there are others we could—maybe food? And we could—I’d love to just—” His words are gone again but now it’s because it feels like there’s too many, that there’s so much he wants to say to Harry and it’s all got to come out quickly because “—and I’m going to Boston very soon, I’m sorry, but maybe—”

“Never been to Boston,” Harry says, smiling so fondly. He squeezes Draco’s hands.

#drarry #drarry fic #oflights #oknowkiss #asks #my fic #fic prompts #why am i like this!!!#this just spiraled #i could probably write 20k more of it tbh #also: happy pride!!!#this is the most pride fill yet :')

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anincompletelist · 6 months

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rwrb fic recs round two! :D

HELLO! I was going to wait a bit longer before doing another rec, but I've read some phenomenal works lately and I wanted to share!

as always, if you feel inclined to share your own recs or even self-promote, please do! also, please remember to be kind and give back when possible by sharing fics, commenting, leaving kudos, or reaching out to the author to let them know that you enjoyed! happy early thanksgiving and all ;)

thank you again to these authors, as well as anyone who makes content for this lovely little corner of the internet. your work and art continues to get me through the persistently dark days, and I am eternally grateful to get to be privy to your talent and labors of love!

I hope you're all doing well, and happy reading! <3

in no particular order --

I Knew You Were Trouble When You Walked In | doeyedgirlyevil | E | 42k | WIP

There he stood. Frozen. In the presence of a man who Henry was willing to swear before Queen and country, under pain of death, was the single most beautiful person on the face of the planet, and possibly several galaxies beyond. A man who possessed the kind of magnetic pull that could persuade Henry to believe in a Catholic God. A man Henry needed to get at least 800 kilometres away from before he caused an international scandal in a tea room at Kensington Palace. - Henry has a new equerry. And he's too hot for Henry's fragile, gay heart to handle. (AKA the Alex as Henry's equerry AU that I'm sure someone asked for)

Mr. Party Hardy | @inexplicablymine | T+ | 7k

Delicate isn’t the kind of word that would describe Alex Claremont-Díaz, not in this world or any other. He is fiery passion and loud excited exhaltations on whatever subject has currently caught his fancy. He is explosive lacrosse plays, the effusive energy he’s told he radiates. Nobody has ever treated him like he is something delicate, soft. Someone who needs a “Caution: Handle with Care” sign. He didn’t realize he needed that kind of care so badly. But Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor does that and then some. A look into what college parties look like for Mr. Party Hardy B.H. (before Henry) and A.H. (after Henry)

the clementine thing | anonymous | 6k | T+

And, really, it doesn’t matter whether or not Alex explains it to Liam and the rest of his friends. They’ve never really discussed it between themselves through the years. Slowly, Alex had gone from asking Would you please peel this for me? to Please? to silently extending the citrus without any comment at all, just a soft smile. It’s one of the things that make them Alex-and-Henry; the silent conversations and the contentment in each other’s company. Now, as Alex starts to flourish through his position on the lacrosse team, his slew of AP classes, and his role in student government, getting him to slow down at all is a feat. The only way that Henry can do it, guaranteed, is by one of those innocuous little fruits. There’s nothing Alex can’t do—surely, he could peel a fucking orange if he felt so inclined—but Henry delights in being able to do this for him. (Five times Henry shares a clementine with Alex, and one time Alex returns the favor)

they're gonna watch me disappear into the sun | @raysletters | 18k | M

Alex and Henry have been living together for four months already, and they couldn't be happier.

It all crumbles down when one morning, Henry is rushed to the hospital.

get him alone | @congee4lunch | 103k | E

Alex looks at him, like Henry’s a speck of dirt on his pristine chinos. “Why would June send you to check up on me?” “Because I’m her best friend and you’re her brother?” “I always said she has bad taste.” “Well,” Henry smiles. It feels as placid on his face as it probably looks. “I would say the same thing, but family doesn’t account for one’s taste, unfortunately.”

(in which henry fox is june’s childhood best friend and alex claremont-diaz is june’s younger brother. as the years pass, they tolerate each other at best and are downright destructive at worst. until they begin falling into each other's beds.)

the beagle, the ghost, and the wardrobe | @dumbpeachjuice | 11k | M

Henry’s new flat comes with one unexpected feature: it’s already inhabited. But not by a human. By a ghost.

that's all for now! I want to do another one of these very soon once the halloween, huh fics have been revealed! until then! happy reading! :D

-- anincompletelist / sarah

#my fic recs #fic recs #rwrb fics #red white and royal blue fic #red white and royal blue fanfiction #alex and henry #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #red white and royal blue #rwrb #firstprince

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chalametluvrz · 9 months

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love drunk

eddie munson x neutral!reader

tags gender neutral language. reader and eddie are best friends. boarding school!au. reader going on a date with random oc. jealous eddie. oblivious reader. secret crushing. alcohol abuse. getting drunk. smoking weed. vomiting. drunk and high eddie. drunk confessions. reader taking care of eddie. fluff towards the end.

wc 1.9k

eddie couldn't stand it. hearing you bang on about your upcoming date, despite his oh so obvious attempts at flirting with you. but what hurt more was that it was with no one other than joe fucking sanchez; some stupid kid that worked in a local cafe and that just so happened to have picked on eddie throughout his entire childhood.

you knew he hated joe, but you always insisted that the arrogant boy was sorry and had changed since the mishap last year. eddie never believed you though, always insisting that joe was precisely the same as he was before and that he was just trying to fool you, and everyone else.

joe had never given you a reason to dislike him recently, he'd been sweet and polite, even slightly flirty so it wasn't surprising when he asked you to meet him after his 6pm finish to go on a small coffee date. you could say anything but yet, you'd spend years pining over eddie for him to never even notice your feelings so what was the harm in putting yourself out there?

"why did you have to say yes to him?" eddie scoffs, looking through his sketchbook, quickly turning over the sketches of you.

"do we have to go over this again?" you ask him "i said yes because i think i like him," you continue "okay? end of discussions, and all other discussions about this topic."

"fine," he huffs, throwing his book to the side of him "i just don't get what you see in him," eddie mumbled "i just thought it'd be fun for us to go to that party together and get high, you know? but i guess not."

eddie grabbed his book and stormed out of your room, leaving you confused and baffled about his attitude towards you ever since he found out of whatever thing you and eddie had.

"hey joe," you smiled lightly, still unable to get eddie out of your mind. everything about him had been bugging you lately, he'd been so off, and it wasn't just because i was going out with the person he painted to be his so-called 'arch nemesis.' there was more going on but typical eddie, he refused to tell you anything.

"you look so pretty," joe smiled at you "you want your usual? i'll make it before i clock out for the day." you nod at his question, giving him a quiet 'please.'

"are you okay?" he asks, looking at you in worry. "you seem slightly preoccupied up here," joe adds, lightly tapping your head with his finger as you did. god, it must be prominent in your thoughts for it to be written all over your enough for jiyun to notice.

"it's eddie," you mumble "he's being off with me, and i'm not used to it... we've been best friends for years and he's never once been like this with me," you explain, opening up to joe about the longer haired boy despite their obvious past with each other.

"does he know about our date?"

"yeah..." you sigh, walking up to the counter as joe started prepping your drink.

"then there's your answer," joe smiled at you with a saddened expression. "he really doesn't like me and seeing you, his best friend, go out with me has probably struck a few nerves. it's understandable, i just wished he could learn to forgive me and then it wouldn't be awkward for you."

"yeah, that's probably it." "i just hate it, you know?"

whilst you were sulking about joe and his current behaviour towards you; the boy was sat, chatting with steve, a freshly lit blunt in his left hand.

"i just... they know i hate him," eddie whines. whenever he got a little too drunk or stoned he always acted like a baby; he got whiny, emotional and extremely stubborn with his thinking. it was something you, and all the nightshades had to quickly learn to get accustomed to because he truly was a sensitive soul already, never mind when he was intoxicated. "and it's so obvious i like them, they're so oblivious sometimes, why can't they notice? you all do."

steve chuckled at the boys' complaints, thinking about how ironic what eddie was saying actually is. he was whining about how you never noticed eddie's feelings when eddie himself had never noticed yours despite how sickeningly noticeable it was to everyone else. you were both dumb in his eyes, both as oblivious as each other.

"dude.. you should just tell them," steve says, taking a hit of his blunt. "you're both so dumb.. can you see how she likes you back?"

"obviously not if they're going a date with joe," eddie mutters, bottom lip sticking out.

"or maybe they're trying to put themselves out there in an attempt to get over you because they think you don't like them," steve chuckled slightly because he knew that's exactly what it was; you'd told him yourself. "how do i get through your head that they're crushing on you so hard."

"keep thinking that, mingi," e wafddiefled on, "but you're mistaken, i know you are. why would they like me anyway?" "what is there to like?"

"eddie, you really need to get your head out of your ass."

some time had passed and eddie still hadn't moved from the same place, sat sulking the entire time; the only thing that had changed was the beer bottle in one hand and the bud that was in the other.

his lack of attention towards the party was honestly worrying steve so he decided to send you a text.

steve: 'hey y/n! i know you're on a date, but eddie's really acting weird and i really don't think he'll phase out of it until you talk to him'

your phone lights up as you sit across the table from joe, and you shift your gaze to it, noticing it was a text from steve. what could he possibly want? you thought he would be lights-out drunk with yunho at this party...

"sorry joe, let me just reply to this, it's steve," you smile, quickly picking your phone to quickly see what the snake haired boy had to say.

steve: 'he's really stuck on this joe thing.. but it's for a different reason than what you're thinking. he's been sat sulking all night, on the verge of tears over how you never notice him but you notice joe. please, whenever you can, come talk to him because there's so much he wants to say to you, he just never does.'

your eyes widen as you read the text. you really didn't know eddie was as stuck on this joe thing as much as you thought, but it must have hit him bad for him to be on the verge of tears.

"joe.. i.. i'm really sorry," you start off, pouting slightly, "but i've got to go," you continue, quickly collecting your stuff.. "it's ed-" "eddie," joe cuts you off with a smile. "yeah..." you sigh, feeling bad for ditching him.

"i'm not annoyed y/n, i understand," joe smiles "you're good for each other. go talk to him, he needs you."

"thank you, joe, thank you so much," you smile. "i enjoyed today.. i just-" "y/n, you need to go," joe chuckled, watching you leave the cafe quickly.

you quickly weaved and bended around the crowds of people before seeing steve and robin.

"y/n!" steve yells as he sees your figure in the corner of his eye. "i'm really sorry to text you on your date.. but eddie," steve trailed off.

"it's no worries at all, eddie. where is he?" you ask softly.

"he went off to his room around 10 minutes ago, he looked like he was about to cry," steve said, giving you a sad smile before you quickly made your way to eddie's room.

you knocked on his door quickly, knowing that he'd probably tripped over a good few things and hurt himself in his drunken state. but there was no reply.

"eddie?" you call out, knocking on the door again.

"y/n?" he asks, voice slurred out, "wait.. it can't be y/n, they're on a date with joe, they wouldn't be here for me."

"eddie, it's me," you chuckle, letting yourself in.

"what are you doing here?" he asks. eddie was lying on his bed, a bottle of beer in his hand and an exhausted expression on his face. the redness surrounding his eyes showed he'd either been crying or rubbing his eyes to stop himself from crying.

"steve told me you were acting off," you admitted "he knows nobody can get you to talk like me," you continue, sitting on the space beside him.

"i just.. never mind," eddie sighs "it's nothing."

"please speak to me," you hum, budging closer to him. "steve said you needed to tell me something, something that you can never find the time to say," you edge him on, hoping that'd help him figure out what to say.

"it's just.. promise this won't change anything?"

"it won't eddie."

"i like you," he blurts out "heck, i think i love you. and seeing you go on a date with another guy, especially joe, fucking hurts. i'm so obvious about the way i feel and you never seem to fucking notice me," eddie pouts, his voice almost sounding desperate, as if he was longing for you for some time. "i just wanted you to notice me.." he sighs, eyes welling up with tears, "i just wanted you to turn around to me one day and say you liked me back to, but you never did.."

everything he was saying took you back. you were utterly shocked. eddie liked you back? was he really obvious about his feelings and you had just never noticed it at all? but you'd always thought you were obvious about how you felt towards him... maybe you were both as oblivious as each other.

"eddie, i.." "and this is where you tell me that you don't like me back, that things could never work between us, that we're just friends," eddie interrupts, mind obviously frazzled from the drink, "that i'm just a stupid boy... with a stupid crush..." he rolls off, the sadness oozing in his voice.

"eddie, that's not-" "you don't even have to say it, y/n, i already know what you're going to say."

"eddie!" you yell, catching him off guard.

"what?" he asks, confused.

"i like you too," you smile, looking at him directly in the eyes.

"you.. you do?" eddie asks, eyes widening.

"yeah..."

"but.. but joe.." he mumbles.

"i went on the date with him because i thought you'd never like me back so i thought i'd put myself out there to see if i'd work out with anyone else," you say to him "me and joe don't have anything, he told me to come here, to come and see you."

"so.. you like me?" he asks, giggling a little. the person he's had a crush on for years actually likes him back? for real?

"yes eddie, i like you," you say "now can please get you cleaned and covered up... you've got beer down your shirt and you're high as hell," you chuckle, giving him a small smile. "how does a coffee sound?"

eddie nods. "sounds perfect."

#eddie munson #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson scenario #eddie munson angst #eddie munson fluff #eddie stranger things #eddie munson stranger things #stranger things imagine #stranger things scenario #stranger things angst #stranger things fluff

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dearfuturehusbandblog · 9 months

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Today's The Day Ok, A Day. Today is "A" Day.

Dear Future Husband,

I haven't discussed this at all, but my cousin is getting married today. He's Reform. And she's... well, she thinks she's Jewish....

They met on a Jewish dating app (which I was shocked to hear because I didn't think religion really meant anything to him at all ever) before she converted. So... as a non-Jew... she was on a Jewish dating app. I didn't realize that was an option.

She grew up kind of in the middle of nowhere with no Jews around and yet something inside of her said she needed to be Jewish, so she set off on her own path to Judaism and although she was like a year away from actually converting, she was seeking a Jewish guy to marry.

I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Well, sof sof, they dated, they fell in love, she converted reform (which seems relatively meaningless to me, but ok), they got legally married a while ago and moved in together, but the party and "religious" wedding is today.

Unfortunately, he's technically a cohen, so even if she did convert properly, he still wouldn't be allowed to marry her. But I don't think any of that matters to either of them, so... yeah.

It's fun when you try so hard to do things right and follow the Torah and life keeps smacking you down, all the while, those who couldn't care less are out there living happy lives.

Half my family (I'm talking about the religious ones here) are pissed and up in arms about us supporting an intermarriage, the other half is just kind of like 'you can't live anyone's lives for them, nothing we say will make a difference, we're going for shalom bayis with the family, just leave it at that.'

I'm somewhere in between.

But it's my mom's family and she hates dealing with her family because she's always been the odd man out amongst them all and she feels like they're constantly critical of her life. None of that is untrue, but when she's stressed out, everything goes to hell.

As if I didn't already have enough problems with her, she's been amping herself up about this wedding and it's driving me to drink. Well, if I could drink.

Someone texted her last week "pictures are at 4" or whatever and although we all had a discussion that we wouldn't be there until later because BigSis has to work, MotherLivelyHeart refused to respond with that information. So all of Shabbos she was stressing herself and us out with "they're always so mad when I'm late and now we're going to be late" and I was like "if you had told them a week ago when they messaged about it, you wouldn't have to stress about tomorrow because they'd already know it was a pre-set thing and not that we're just running late or trying to avoid pictures."

But of course she couldn't hear it. Because she's her. And it's just exhausting.

I still have no idea what I'm wearing, so I should probably figure that out...

What does one wear to a religious ceremony of an irreligious family? Most of my wardrobe looks like it walked out of the 2004 winter collection for Haute Topic, if that were a thing. I have a few florals, but most of them are white and apparently that's a huge no-no for most weddings, even though the florals are quite prominent and the white is just a background, but whatever.

I also dread being in pictures, so this is going to be fun.

I have these first two and then a lace dress similar to the third that's kind of a brighter teal shade:

So, those are options. But it's supposed to be like 100 degrees and all three need skirts underneath as well as shells, so that's a lot of layers for hot weather. I also have to make sure the shell that matches the dresses is clean...

I probably should have done this a week+ ago, but I kept hoping I'd get sick or something and just wouldn't have to go.

I also have to deal with my hair (which I absolutely hate) and my makeup, which I'm just not in the mood for. And then the wedding location is like two hours away, so it's like half a day of driving and prep for a wedding that probably won't even have any kosher food for us and I doubt we'll be there for more than just the ceremony.

Isn't family just so fun!?

On a brighter note, the a/c was finally replaced on Friday. I meant to do an update last week but got sidetracked and that draft is now moot. But anywho, they came on Monday and the replacement part for the replacement part didn't work either because apparently the unit had some kind of short in it and it was causing all the compressors to fail. So they told us on Thursday that they'd be here Friday with a whole new unit. And chasdei Hashem, so far it's working!

On the downside, this of course means that MotherLivelyHeart and BigSis have it set really low and the entire apartment is now an icebox, because I have no say in how much it's run despite me being the one who pays the electric bill. Because even when things go right they suck.

Anywho, I'm off to raid my own closet and see what's actually summer appropriate and wearable to this sham of a religious wedding that I have no choice but to attend for shalom bayis. Fun.

-LivelyHeart

-----------

Update:

I can't find my layering skirt for the first two dresses. The only ones I can find are black or bright white. Yikes. And I found another floral dress that's all pretty and roses but I don't have a shell the right color to go with it, which is probably why I have yet to wear it anywhere....

Undone by my own lack of proper planning. Is anyone really that surprised? It's also 8am and I haven't gone to sleep yet, so.... yeah, today's gonna' suck.

Update 2, after the wedding:

I ended up going with the first dress. It was technically long enough to wear without a layering skirt but I still wore a black pencil skirt underneath, just in case my knees were visible when I sat. Although the only sitting was during the ceremony and the chairs were so close together my knees wouldn't have been visible to anyone anyway. But, better safe than sorry! I sat in the little bit of shade that existed in the seating, so I hit homeostasis pretty quickly and despite wearing so many layers, I didn't sweat all that much in the almost 100° F weather, chasdei Hashem.

#jumblr #frumblr #shidduch #frum #jewish dating #orthodox #shadchanim #shidduchim #jewish #shadchan #dating #shidduch dating #i am the shidduch crisis

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screechthemighty · 1 year

Text

Did I really finish this fic this fast? Me @ me WHO ARE YOU

Anyways thank you guys for all the support with this fic!! I'm so glad everyone has enjoyed it. I've got more God of War coming (including one that touches on events in this fic) so there's that to look forward to! Until then, here's the final chapter of "the balance of life is in the ripe and ruin"! If you missed the first two parts, you can check the tag “fic: the balance of life is in the ripe and ruin” on my blog OR you can check out the AO3 link in a reblog!

the balance of life is in the ripe and ruin: part 3/3

content warnings: discussions of OCD; grief due to family loss; major spoilers for ragnarok. also, this fic contains a few references to an older fic of mine, "bittersweet", but you can understand this fic without having read that one.

Spring returned. To say that everyone was relieved would be an understatement. Half a dozen parties were thrown just to celebrate the flowers blooming. Sindri was sure the mid-spring celebrations were going to be massive. He hadn’t decided if he’d be attending, but it was probably a good sign that he was considering it.

It was definitely a good sign that he was strong enough to go through Brok’s things. He wasn’t sure if he’d find what he was looking for, but it was strangely liberating to try. The grief was still there, but it was livable. It wouldn’t stay livable forever, but Sindri intended to take advantage for as long as he could.

Someone knocked on the front door before opening it. Sindri glanced up. “Oh, hey, Kratos,” he said. “Nothing broken today, I hope?”

“Nothing of mine.” Kratos stepped inside. “Are you well?”

“Oh, yeah, I’m okay, just…” Sindri glanced down at the objects he’d already unearthed. “...it’s a long shot, but I was going to see if Brok had written down the recipe for that, uh, ‘brew’ of his. He’d probably want me to keep inflicting it on the world, you know?”

“Hmm.” Kratos was quiet for a moment. It was the kind of quiet that usually preceded him saying something shockingly profound, but today…

“Atreus is back.”

Those three words felt like ice water being dumped down his shirt. “He…he’s okay?”

Krtatos nodded. “He asked about you. I told him you were well, but I did not make any promises.” His voice stayed neutral, but Sindri still got the feeling he was wary. “Do you wish to speak to him?”

Sindri did and he didn’t. He wanted the rift mended, but he didn’t want to see the pain in Atreus’s eyes and remember that he’d caused it. Or worse, he didn’t want the anger he’d felt that day to come back. Maybe It hadn’t really gone away. Maybe it had just been hiding. What if…

No. No more what ifs. You won’t know until you talk to him.

He’d been doing a lot of things he that scared him lately. What was one more?

“Yeah,” Sindri said. “Yeah, I do.”

That wound couldn’t stay open forever.

Sindri could still remember the moment he found out Faye had died. He remembered the way Atreus’s features became suddenly, painfully familiar when he said Faye was his mother. He looked so much like her, especially in the eyes. It was almost like seeing her ghost sometimes.

Does it hurt? That he looks so much like her?

He couldn’t remember when he’d had that conversation with Kratos. It was during one of the less productive days as they sat outside. He remembered feeling guilty for asking, but desperately needing to know. He was stuck in the memories of that day again. He kept fixating on how everything had hurt so much more when it was coming from the almost-ghost of someone he’d…

Yes, Kratos, I guess I was a little in love with your wife.

Faye never would have hurt him like that. He’d just assumed that Atreus never would. Then Brok died. Then every mishap and mistake between him and Atreus had become kindling on the fire. In hindsight, it felt like he’d lost two people that way. His brother for the second, more permanent time. Faye for a second time, in spirit, because he could no longer view Atreus as an extension of her.

But how did that work, when he still had her eyes?

Kratos had shaken his head. Only when he uses her words to win an argument. He’d actually smiled then, a sight that had not grown less strange even as it became more common. He is like her, yes, but…he is my son. That is all he has to be.

The conversation kept running through Sindri’s head as he stood in front of the gateway to the Wildwoods.

Brok’s death had cleared a lot of the glamor away from their friendship. Sindri was still afraid of the pain, the anger, the grief coming back, but more than that, he was scared of the unknown. What was left, now that those ties to Faye had been burned away? Am I going to recognize who I see out there?

Sindri took a deep breath and stepped through.

It was quiet, except for the soft crunching of footsteps. A figure paced back and forth in front of the house. There was a split second where Sindri didn’t recognize him, but when he did…

“...did you grow more?”

Atreus froze.

He had grown more, though it was hard to tell how much without Kratos for a point of comparison. He was wearing different clothes, too, with unfamiliar embroidery–probably something he picked up during his travels, and now the only thing he had left that fit. Sindri could still see elements of his old clothes, though. Same furs, same red and gold cloth around his waist. His hair was still mostly shaved, but had gotten longer in the middle. And his eyes…

They weren’t Faye’s eyes anymore.

When they lit up with excitement, Sindri saw someone else entirely: the young boy who’d come racing to the shop with an armful of scavenged materials and a thousand stories tumbling out of him. Who’d vanished for months (Kratos’s idea, as it turned out) before showing back up, tripping over his now longer legs, excitedly yelling, Sin, you’ve gotta see this - !

Maybe the year had finally let Atreus fully grow into his own skin. Maybe Sindri’s heart was finally letting go of old ghosts. Maybe it was both things. It didn’t matter.

All he saw was Atreus.

“...hi,” Atreus said, his excitement starting to fade into fear.

“Hi,” Sindri said.

Atreus’s eyes darted around, as if searching Sindri’s face for danger. “Do you, uh…” He gestured clumsily behind him. Someone had set up a bench outside. “Sit…?”

“Sure. Yeah.” It probably wouldn’t make this easier, but standing didn’t feel right, either.

Sindri took the bench; Atreus sat on the ground a safe distance away, cross-legged and tense. “I’m sorry I missed the funeral,” he said.

“Don’t be,” Sindri said immediately. “It’s…you know, with how things were…”

“You wouldn’t have wanted me there.”

Cutting right to the chase, then. He really could be like his father sometimes. “Probably not,” Sindri admitted. “But I do want you here now. I mean it. What happened wasn’t your fault. I know what I said, but…I was angry, and I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

The yard fell silent. Atreus stared down at his shaking hands. “It wasn’t your fault either, you know,” he said quietly.

…fuck.

Sindri hadn’t even realized he was holding back tears until then. He wasn’t full on ugly sobbing, at least. “Yeah,” he managed, the word coming out in a strained croak. “I…almost believe that.” He wiped the tears away. “I’m getting there.”

Atreus moved a little closer, but still kept some distance. “You weren’t entirely wrong,” he said. “I wasn’t always a good friend. But…I promise I never meant to hurt you or take advantage of anything.” He met Sindri’s eyes. His voice didn’t tremble, even though his hands still did. “I’m sorry for what I did. And I promise I’ll be better. I swear.”

He looked so much more mature, but…he was still the same kid who’d come barreling into Sindri’s life four years ago.

He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed that kid.

“I forgive you,” Sindri said, less because it had to be said and more because it had to be heard. “And I promise I’ll do better, too.”

He didn’t hesitate to get off the bench and hold his arms out, which said a lot about where his head was at. Atreus looked surprised, but he didn’t hesitate very long. He’d gotten so tall that he basically engulfed Sindri without trying to. For once, Sindri didn’t mind. “I forgive you,” Atreus said, his voice thick with tears. And it was so good to hear. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Tre.”

Atreus laughed. “That still sounds weird.”

“You’re right, it does.” Something finally fit as they pulled away from the hug; not just the wound starting to heal, but a realization of what was missing. The last piece he needed to finish the floors.

“Hey, I know you just got back, but there is…one thing you can maybe help me with?”

Atreus nodded. “Yeah. Of course. Name it.”

“It’s kind of a weird one.”

“So’s dragging you around Midgard looking for hidden prophecies.”

“Good point.” It still felt weird to say aloud, but he pushed through. He was getting good at that. “I’ve been…doing some remodeling…”

In the end, it was him, Kratos, and Atreus.

He could have invited Lúnda, but after how things went at Ragnarök, it seemed better that it was just the three of them.

The work went quickly with three sets of hands. Soon, the floor was finished–almost too soon. It felt like the task should have been more monumental. Harder.

But he guessed the pain wasn’t entirely absent.

Kratos had taken off the Draupnir spear ring. He turned it over and over in his hands. “Brok followed me into Helheim,” he said quietly, “when Atreus was ill. I would not have been able to leave without his help. And when I asked him to bless this…” He held the ring tightly in one hand. “May this weapon strike true. May it be wielded with wisdom. May it be put down when its job is done.” Kratos nodded, his voice growing softer. “A blessing worth having.”

Sindri hadn’t heard about that, but in a strange way, that sounded exactly like his brother.

“...he named his pack beast Fucking Gratitude,” Atreus said suddenly. “He…” His voice broke. It was hard to tell if he was laughing or crying. “He called her Fucking Gratitude and he ate her later.”

Yeah, that sounded like Brok, too.

Sindri cracked too, first one disbelieving snort, then actual laughter as Atreus started laughing. Sindri soon wasn’t sure if he was laughing or crying, either, but the feeling wasn’t…painful. Not as painful as he’d expected.

At some point, they calmed down. Atreus had to lean against his father; the redness in his eyes said he’d definitely been crying, but he was smiling, too. Sindri figured he probably looked the same. The pain and blessing of memory.

Something else slid into place. Another right time realization.

“Hey, uhm.” Sindri wiped the tears from his eyes. “Kratos knows about some of this, but…I went to the Lake of Souls after Brok died. And I…I saw Faye.”

Atreus’s head shot up. Kratos straightened up, which was a pretty extreme reaction coming from him. “You’re certain?” Kratos said.

“Yeah.” I’d know her anywhere, he thought, but that felt like a weird thing to say to her husband, so Sindri pressed on. “She wanted me to tell you that she loves you and she’s proud of you. She’s so proud of you both.”

It was quiet again. Sindri expected more tears, but strangely, there weren’t. Atreus tucked his knees up to his chest, looking both more vulnerable and soothed. Kratos smiled, and for once it didn’t look so strange.

For a second, SIndri could’ve sworn there were five people in the room. Those left behind, and the two they carried with them.

Never far away, just like Faye had said.

He moved back into the house full time a few weeks later.

He kept Brok’s hammer in its place and sat with the memories. The pain that came with them was only an ache now. Livable. The culmination of love.

One day, he crossed where the spot used to be and didn’t think twice about it.

One day, he knew he’d never think about it again.

#god of war #god of war sindri #fic: the balance of life is in the ripe and ruin

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ramblings-of-a-mad-cat · 1 year

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one of the dataminers thinks that this is the split between ban and don’t ban merula from the circle based on the dialogue bubbles that show up during the activity.

ban: talbott, ben, andre, tonks, charlie, corey, george (and probably fred too)

don’t ban: ismelda, beatrice, chiara, liz, barnaby diego, and jae

With how late to the party I am, this is long past the point of datamines, so I don't even really need to tag it as such. (You know it's odd to think about but one day that Tag will be totally retired. Kind of surreal, actually.)

I'm getting distracted. This should be fun, let me just go through these characters one at a time. Starting with those who voted to keep Merula -

Ismelda and Beatrice are two characters that I'll discuss more in separate Asks (and I already have) but in general, I fully understand and support their choosing to vote in Merula's favor. It's a risk, to be sure, but frankly it's kind of a risk either way.

Chiara is no surprise, and bless her heart for being exactly the sort of caring, merciful person I know she is. Oh Chiara, you rock, never change Moonlight Bae, never change. In all seriousness, Chiara is exactly the sort of person who would give second chances, overlook betrayal, and offer the benefit of the doubt. We all know why.

Likewise, I expected nothing less from Liz and I respect her all the more for it. Let me give a self-indulgent example. I once wrote a scene where the Circle of Khanna was discussing a rogue Lethifold that had attacked Luca, and Liz argued that it was simply trying to feed itself. Because that's her. That's who she is. She's empathetic and understands the perspective of other creatures. Including wild, ornery Merulas.

Jae is fairly straightforward. He's had dealings with the shadier folk in the Wizarding World, in Knockturn Alley and such. I'd reckon he's much more likely to give Merula a second chance for that reason. He knows how it feels to skirt close to that line, and if anyone could tell the difference between the morally gray and the truly wicked, Jae could. Merula's no Dark Witch, not really, and I bet Jae can tell.

Diego is no surprise either. He's one of the only people in The Circle who genuinely thought of Merula as a friend. Unless they included some dialogue indicating that he felt horribly betrayed by this, having Diego vote any other way would have been downright odd.

Finally, Barnaby. He's treated simply enough by the writers, but this is still the right move for him, it's in his character. Merula was his friend once, and in general, he's an open hearted and forgiving person. While he's not as gullible as he used to be, I can definitely see him choosing to spare Merula rather than cast her out.

As for those who voted to ban her?

As far as banning goes, Corey is no surprise. This is personal for them and Merula is the reason they came within an inch of death. (I mean, for all they know, right?) They endured a traumatic experience with R because of her, so fair enough.

Charlie and the Weasleys in general are kind of whatever. Not to be dismissive of them, but they're only here for obligation and fanservice. (Apart from Bill.) This story isn't about them. And being blood traitors who detest Slytherin, The Dark Arts, and betrayal in general, this is no surprise.

Now Talbott, that is interesting. I would have half expected him to appear in the former list. Like Chiara, he has his own experiences and reasons for having a unique perspective on lawbreaking. However, he's also got history with Merula. True, his TLSQs are optional, but I think we can still treat them as canon in this instance. Either Talbott spared Merula once before, and she just blew that second chance, or, he already chose not to trust her once before, and is making the same choice again. Either way, it does work.

Andre. Hmm. Not much to say about this one. He's had such little interaction with Merula at all, to a large extent. I'm sure at least a few of these character's votes were influenced by the writers needing this vote to result in a tie, and though it's a bit cynical, I expect Andre was one of the people who could have gone either way for that reason.

Ben. I've talked about this at length before (and likely will again) but our poor boy is spiraling right now. MC and Merula have been the only people he's trusted at all since the night Rowan died, and now he has reason to believe he can't trust either of them. That puts the fate of The Circle entirely in his own hands. The other members of the chain of command are no longer to be trusted. MC at the very least, cannot be impartial about R, and Merula? She's a damn traitor. Of course he wants her out.

Now, of all the votes, Tonks is the one who truly surprised me, and disappointed me at the same time. Because Merula was hoodwinked into an impossible situation, and it's all the work of her wicked aunt, a Dark Witch. I kind of feel like maybe, just maybe, Tonks should be able to sympathize here? The parallels between Verucca and Bellatrix feel like a fairly obvious comparison to make here, but Tonks seems to go in the opposite direction. It's as though she's thinking "I have an evil aunt as well, and I never joined her cult, so there's no excuse for Merula doing the same in her circumstances." Which is a valid take, the problem is just that the situations are completely different. Tonks had people to protect her and raise her right. Merula was at Verucca's mercy.

Most of these votes make sense. There are a few shockers, but by in large, I'm just reacting as a biased Merula stan.

#Merula Snyde #HPHM Spoilers #The Circle of Khanna #HPHM R #Ben Copper #Talbott Winger #Chiara Lobosca #Nymphadora Tonks #Charlie Weasley #Corey Hayden #Andre Egwu #Diego Caplan #Beatrice Haywood #Ismelda Murk #Liz Tuttle #Jae Kim #Barnaby Lee

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mavisartstuff · 2 years

Text

Someone asked about it, so here's some context! I'm gonna split the hcs about the au into characters and story so it'd be a bit easier -

Billy

Billy in this au is in college. He's there there so he could be an actor! Now technically you probably don't need a degree to become one, but he really just kinda said fuck it and went to get one anyway.

He did it end up starting it a bit late due to some family issues.

He still makes fun of Romeo and Juliet. So far that he still goes "I should've been Juliet!" Bet you could hear some of the sorority girls roll their eyes at his rant about the movie. He rants about it anytime you mention it to the man

Jess do be his bestie even though he makes fun of her accent- He usually gets told off by Barb since he for some reason has one like a British professor

He can weirdly mimick anything he hears perfectly. Claude? He's got you. Anyone in the sorority house? Yep. He can do that. Which is why everyone in the house thinks he has a promising career up ahead of him

Claude only hangs around Billy. No one knows why. That's why he's termed as the "cat king". Also because he'd come back with cat fur all over his sweater

He's tired asf but still fabulous

He's also basically friends with everyone in the sorority house due to just being really social. Though he does have those days where he's just like "go away :(". This mainly happens when he's stressed or just not feeling it that day

He's actually pretty smart since he'll just start analyzing anything he randomly takes In interest in. The girls usually ask for help or just borrow a note sheet he might've written notes on. Though sometimes it's not helpful since 1. It could be about anything and 2. He absolutely hates it if you go through his stuff. So you'd have to ask him for one

Maarten (or our moaner in this case)

Now this man is tall. Very tall. No one knows how he's managed to walk around and about In the attic. If you include his flip outs as well. But man he's pretty stealthy

How did a Dutch man get all the way in Canada on his own? No one knows

He's obviously pretty paranoid. Just even the thought of being spotted makes him freak out a bit

His calls are just like the original Billy's. But he will up the anti If he so ever feels like you're not effected by It. He'll even alter It a bit if you tell him that you're a guy

Instead of his past being like Billy's however, his is more so has violence. Which is where the line "You violent little shit!" comes from.

Has stolen Claude away for a bit. Usually whenever he feels cold. Otherwise he let's Claude go if the fella wants out of the attic

has a lot of bandages due to accidentally hurting himself up in that attic. Smashing glass, falling asleep on the floor on his arm, anything.

He tends to sing a lot. He only does it when he's the only one at the house of course

unlike Billy, he will respond If you start questioning a bit. As in he gets worse

Story (giving everyone a lil tidbit!) Tw for cussing and Maarten overall being deranged- If you've heard the Billy phone calls you'd know what I mean

-The party had been pretty boring for Billy. Of course it was fun discussing stuff with everyone, but once the girls started bringing up their boyfriend's.. He just got pretty bored. He sat on the couch with Claude in his lap. Claude was vibrating. Of course he was just happy to get attention. Billy on the other hand had been zoning out. He wanted to go up to his room. But if he did he'd certainly be asked about It In the morning. He sighed. He hoped something eventful would happen. Or for the party to just end already. But to his surprise, It's like his prayer for something eventful had been answered. Not in the way he thought though.

The phone rang. Billy's brain perked at the ringing. Someone calling this late? Who could it be? He carefully removed king Claude from his lap and got up. He walked up to the table holding that phone. He answered the phone in his usual happy voice. "Helloo?" Oh, the insanity that phone call was. It started out with noises. Random noises. Laughter. Pig oinks. The girls had gathered around at that point. Finally, the man on the other end had finally said something at least understandable to hear. "Let me lick It, lick it! Let me lick your pretty piggy cunt" Followed by laughter and repeating of what he'd just said previously. Billy just laughed a bit. "I mean.. I'd be down if you go for guys" Billy said jokingly. The horror in the girls eyes when Billy said that. Billy was used to these prank calls. Hell, he's watched past friends make them. That was his usual response to said call. Everyone hoped the man on the other end would stop. But.. He didn't. "Oh? You want my juicy cock anyway? Or do you want me to beat you senseless?"

Billy felt himself go cold. "E-Excuse me?" Billy asked nervously. It's been awhile since he's had to deal with... Threats. The look of horror just grew on the rest of the girls faces. "Yeah! So you want me to? Huh? You filthy fuck?!" The man on the other end asked ever so tauntingly. Barb rolled her eye's and took the phone. "How about you go somewhere else for whatever the fuck you're on about" She hissed. His taunting didn't stop. "How about you suck-" Before then, Barb had interrupted him. "Oh go stick your dick in an electrical outlet and see If that gives you a charge" The girls laughed a bit at that. Billy giggled quietly. But he still had a nervous smile on his face. There was a short silence on the other end. "I'm going to kill you" The man on the other end said before hanging up. The way he said that was.. Frightening. So.. Normal. Before that the man had been speaking in different voices. Barb at that point just put it back. Of course as usual, an argument had started after a few bickering. With Claire leaving the room to get packed In the end. Billy at that point nervously sat on the couch.

Jess took note of It. She leaned down a bit. "You should probably head to bed.. You look tired. Especially after hearing that" She whispered. "Thank you.." Billy thanked before getting up. He started heading up the stairs. Of course, Claude noticed and followed. Billy started thinking. He remembered talking to a man about his missing brother. Could that be him?.. It was impossible. The guy he was told about disappeared at the age of fourteen. All the way In the Netherlands mind you. He just couldn't think that he'd somehow get all the way here. As he thought this he'd finally made it to his room. He let Claude in before closing his door. He walked over to the bed and laid down. Claude jumped on his chest immediately. Billy was used to that. He sat there. Creaking came from the ceiling above him. He started getting nervous again. Only to reinsure himself that the attic was old.. No one could get up there without being caught. He still couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched though....

#tw suggestive #(for the writing; Marten says some shit)#sorry if the writing seems rushed-#typing on a tablet is kinda a pain #mavis writes #oc maarten #billy posting #billy lenz #black christmas 1974 #black christmas #swap au #uhh what to name this au #Oh wait #phone dial au

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tomionefinds · 2 years

Note

what’s your dream fic? not looking for a rec but just what boxes would tick all your tomione fantasies.

for me, i like academic rivals, jealousy, banter, tom to be slightly evil but not a full killer, hermione to be a bit meaner than canon, and a good ensemble

Hey Anon,

Well this definitely going to be a lot. Sorry, and just remember, you asked for this! Honestly what I'm looking for in a fic really depends on my mood at the time.

I am a sucker for academic rivalries, nerdy discussions between the two, great banter, possessive Toms, jealousy from either party, angst (esp from Tom being his own worst enemy and fucking shit up through his actions), Tom underestimating Hermione, Hermione putting Tom in his place, Tom catching feels, Tom in denial, horcrux!Toms, naive Tom/experienced Hermiones (battle worn Hermione are tops), muggleAUs, medieval AUs, time travel, student/teacher, classmates, step-siblings, met: as adults (my current mood), historical settings, time jumping shennanigans, sci-fi, action, duels (OMG fucking badass duels are a weakness of mine), Grindelwald as a common enemy (or Dumbledore I'm not picky), correspondence/pen pals. As you can see almost everything and anything, and then some probably that I've not had the fortune to read yet.

Essentially, I'm all over that fucking Tomione bingo card in what I want to read and what most people could come up with. I will say lately I've been on a magical world kick, so I've not read as many muggleAUs lately. At this point its easier for me to say what I don't read rather than what I do and will if time and life will allow.

I tend to like a very wide range of Toms. He can be extremely evil, like so dark I'm upset with him and myself for still loving him. Because I do love to read a dark and disturbing Tom from time to time, one that almost makes me question my ship. I will read and enjoy snake-faced Tom or pretty boy Tom; I'm long past seeing them as separate entities at this point. However, I'm not limited to only liking dark Toms. I love setups in a reverse scenario where his deeds/misbehavior can be seen as slightly good or somewhat redemptive. I am okay with redemption stories, because as a person who grew up with fairytales; I do like a HEA. I like to keep things mixed up, which is why I love the variety to this ship. I am not too much of a fan of overly fluffly stuff; I prefer Tom have a bit of edge. He can simp but I don't want him too mushy.

As for Hermione, I do love when she's a bit of a bossy swot. Confident and self-assured is my favorite type of Hermione. I like BAMF Hermione's a lot. I admittedly can do a range for her, but my least favorite Hermiones are when she is a doormat in a fic. She has to have some spine and self-respect; if she's too mild-mannered or takes too much of Tom's bs without putting up some manner of fight or defiance, that really kind of pushes it too far out into ooc for me to enjoy. Admittedly, I am not usually into pureblood Hermione, since I love the complication and complexity her blood status brings with her being a muggleborn as her back story.

Also I'm a bit of a monogamous shipper. I'm a jealous, possessive person irl, so it's hard for me to have people I ship be super open and sharing. It's something I'm trying to work on, but it's probably main reason I mostly read this ship only. It's a fault I know, but I'm working on branching out. I have sort of gotten to the level of being okay with triads.

Anyways, sorry to anyone who read all this, I got bored. This shouldn't really even be on Tomione Finds. My apologies. This should be on my personal blog, as I don't know how we'd get the whole of all the admins to try to contribute here when we're all on so infrequently as it stands already. Just a reminder, this is just one person's preference and doesn't represent the whole of the team or any sort of guide as to what anyone else should read. Everyone is entitled to their own likes/dislikes and opinions on their reads, I'm merely answering the ask, way too late at night. -JD

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bopinion · 2 years

Text

2022 / 31

Aperçu of the Week:

"How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?"

(Sting / Russians)

Bad News of the Week:

Nuclear Weapons. For decades, the epitome of terror. Even though it's often sold as a deterrent. As someone who grew up in Central Europe in the 70s and 80s of the last century, I know what I'm talking about. In childhood, I had to learn how to behave in the event of a nuclear attack. And in my youth I took to the streets against nuclear weapons - but "Petting instead of Pershing" did not really reflect the seriousness of the situation. And then the iron curtain fell. The "cold war" was over. But unfortunately not the end of the nuclear arms race.

Today marks the 77th anniversary of the terrible destruction of Hiroshima. It was the first and penultimate time in human history that an atomic bomb was actually used. With devastating consequences - for hundreds of thousands and for decades. Have we all lost this from our memory? Just because it wasn't reported on social media at the time, but only in the newsreels? That can't be true. That has to be not true. Because current history teaches us that there is still a problem. A fundamental one.

In the week that is coming to an end, the meeting on the "Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons" began in New York - as it does every five years. Unfortunately, lately rather a content-empty shell. For nothing new is to be heard from the five official nuclear powers - USA, Russia, China, France and Great Britain. The USA and Russia are modernizing their arsenals and accusing each other of violating control mechanisms. China is basically keeping its cards close to its chest. France and Britain are clinging to this dubious show of strength, as they do in the UN Security Council, in order not to lose even more geopolitical importance.

And then there are India and Pakistan as de facto nuclear powers, which are suspicious of each other - there, too, the "thanks" go to the United Kingdom. And Israel, which wants to use them to assert itself against perceived Arab superiority. Iran would like to have nuclear weapons, but is probably not yet ready. North Korea could already be further than it lets one sleep calmly. And when was the last time anything was heard from South Africa? Most recently, Russia actually seemed to be discussing the use of "strategic mini-nukes" in Ukraine - of all places, the country where the consequences of the Chernobyl meltdown are still being felt.

UN Secretary General António Guterres is once again living up to his role as chief moral prosecutor, saying the world is in a "time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War." And only one misunderstanding or miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation. Only the final destruction of all nuclear weapons would be a safe way out for humanity. After all, all the theories about deterrence, nuclear sharing, and balance of terror barely conceal what this Pandora's box really is: a gun powder keg. And we're all sitting on it.

Good News of the Week:

With ever new, mostly specious arguments, Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia had held up the Biden administration's climate protection and welfare package. Officially, the last word was that he wanted to curb avoidable spending in times of inflation. In truth, however, he fears only for his own wealth, which is based on coal production. His power in the Joe vs. Joe game is simply based on the fact that without his vote there would be no Democratic majority in the Senate, which has otherwise rarely been so clearly divided according to party.

But now Manchin has abandoned his opposition in negotiations with majority leader Chuck Schumer. This has cleared the way for a package - albeit a much slimmed-down one - that includes $369 billion over the next ten years for investments in climate protection and energy security. Financed by closing tax loopholes for large corporations. So it makes twofold sense. And finally a success for this so far richly bruised presidency.

"Build back better," then, could also apply to Joe Biden's historically low approval ratings. Perhaps the upswing - if it comes - will come just in time for the midterm elections in November. And Republicans may not succeed in winning a majority in both chambers of Congress that would pave the way for Trumpism to win the 2024 presidential election - whether with the original or Ron DeSantis.

Personal happy moment of the week:

As a freelancer, I always have a hard time taking vacation. Because what I don't do, doesn't get done. And doesn't get any better. And doesn't bring any money. That's why it's always hard for me to switch off when I’m not working. These days I'm trying something different during the six-week summer vacations: I'll work three days a week as normal and then take a four-day weekend. My plan is that nothing will be left undone for more than 48 hours. And I could therefore manage to clear my head. Right now is the first of these long weekends. It doesn't quite work yet, but all beginnings are difficult. But I am on a good way. And that feels good.

I couldn't care less...

...that Russia's judiciary sees itself as independent jurisprudence. First, Ukrainian militias are labeled as terrorists in order to be able to significantly increase their sentences. A joke - but it's probably about demoralizing Ukrainian troops. Then US basketball player Brittney Griner is sentenced to nine years in prison for importing drugs. This means waping cartridges and 5 grams of cannabis oil that was prescribed to her by her sports doctor as a painkiller. A joke - but it's probably about making an example against the class enemy. And about leverage for a prisoner exchange. Jurisprudence? A Joke.

As I write this...

...the Voyager 1 spacecraft has already traveled 23.4 billion kilometers since 1977. And it's still sending signals. But these are recently only an incomprehensible gibberish, which NASA cannot explain. I can. Because I have seen the movie "Contact" by Robert Zemeckis with Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey. On the other hand - as the saying goes: the proof that there is intelligent life in the universe is that no contact has been made with us.

Post Scriptum:

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has visited Taiwan. As #3 in the U.S. political system, it was the highest-ranking visit in 25 years. Which was not officially on behalf of the government. And explicitly does not change the "One-China" stance of the US. So it was a pure PR action full of flowery words like "We stand by the side of every free people" or "It is important to show our solidarity." Beijing's announced reaction began immediately: sanctions against Pelosi personally as well as the freezing of virtually all bilateral discussion formats, including on climate, maritime security or transnational crime.

But above all, a gigantic military maneuver - with real ammunition, cyber attacks, violation of airspace, etc. Experts see it as an exercise to cut off Taiwan's sea lanes. Be it in an invasion to finally reunite the motherland or "just" to cut off trade, the country's economic lifeline. Combined with export restrictions from China itself, this would make the Western world feel its dependence on Far Eastern manufacturing. Again. Globalization and multilateralism only work if everyone goes along. Xi Jinping is currently being shown by Vladimir Putin how to put the "free world" in a bind. Let's see how far his hubris reaches.

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zero-insignificance · 1 month

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DND Recap: Bob is a Circus

Cast includes: Rose the DM, Alfie (yours truly), Truk, and Patrick

This is the recap of recaps a la the ember island players.

We open at the circus where Pennywise the dancing clown appears.

The party is immediately on edge.

Alfie has a fireball ready.

Pennywise turns into Mary Poppins. Alfie: Oh shit! Mary how you been? Mary Poppins: Oh, Alfie! Are you here for the show? Patrick: What show? Mary Poppins: We have a play of your story so far! Alfie: Does that include the before times cuz I'm not ready to relive that. Mary Poppins: No just the adventures of your current party. Come on you're the guests of honor! Truk: Last time I was the guest of honor my parents died. Alfie: Last time I was a guest of honor I died.

Everyone is slowly drawing their weapons because we are all highly suspicious.

We had a civil conversation with an Elder Brain, yet we are all suspicious of Mary Poppins.

Patrick summons Brick and asks what's happening and Brick is like "That's just Mary Poppins. You'll be fine. I won't let anything happen to you."

Mary Poppins: *Vanishes Alfie's weapons* No weapons allowed. Alfie: I am a weapon. Mary: Is that so? *Snaps fingers* Rose: Your mind goes quiet. She has made you neurotypical. Alfie: NO. BAD POPPINS. That violates SO MANY BOUNDARIES. *undoes it with a snap of his fingers* Do that again and I will incinerate you. Mary: Do you want to see the show? Alfie: I just have one question. *teleports right in front of Mary Poppins* Do you do proper maintenance on your equipment? Mary: What? Alfie: *stares directly into Mary's eyes with a dark expression on his face* Do you or do you not do proper maintenance on your equipment. Mary: *concerned* Yes, we do. Alfie: *returns back to his sunshine and rainbows disposition* Wonderful! *teleports back to where he was* I don't see why not.

The flaps of the tent part and we see darkness. Pure darkness. The party members present have dark vision and Alfie is immune to magical darkness, yet it persists. Alfie pulls out the same glowing rock that he threw into the tub and tosses it at the darkness, and it bounces off.

Rose: It's a vantablack wall. Patrick: *pokes the wall with a stick* Rose: It rips away. It's actually a vantablack paper wall. Mary Poppins: Damn we can't fool you guys.

Alfie: *grabs Bob's hand* You're coming with. Bob: Of course, I am. I couldn't possibly miss a play discussing my greatness. Alfie: Well, no turning anyone into hot dogs or anything like that when you inevitably hate the way you're portrayed in this production. Patrick: *enters the tent* Bob: *groans* fine I won't turn anyone into hot dogs. Alfie: And no murder. Bob: *groans* Fine. Paul: *slowly sneaking up behind bob* Alfie: Paul don't. Bob: Actually I have something for your... pet. Alfie: *confused* really? Bob: *hands Alfie a pokeball* Alfie: Oh. *tosses the pokeball at Paul* Cool! Oh now I need to get you a gift. Bob: You really don't have to. Alfie: Nope too late, trust me you'll love it. *snaps his fingers* Open it when you feel like it. Bob: If I don't Azathoth with probably kill me. Truk: *straps the giant teddy bear onto his back and enters the tent* Alfie: *starts dragging Bob into the tent* Bob: You don't have to do this. Alfie: Then move your legs. Bob: Damn. You're sassy today. Alfie: Bob, we came here for relaxation. I am anything but relaxed. My fuse is extraordinarily short right now.

As Patrick enters the tent, he thinks he sees Alfie already sitting in the stands. "You got a seat really quick." "What are you even talking about?" And Patrick turns around and sees Alfie standing next to Bob. There is a regular chicken in the stands. Patrick: Oh no. Which one is the real Alfie? Alfie: Really? Me: Alfie isn't even a chicken. He's a white bird with draconic ancestry which manifests in red feathers in the same spot as a chicken's comb and waddle. Chicken: buk buk buk. Alfie: I'm not even a chicken. Patrick: That's what a chicken would say. Bob purely to be a menace: That is what a chicken would say. Alfie: *face palms* Bob stop it. Bob: *smirks*

Alfie proves who he is by snaping his fingers and summoning a rubber duck, then turning it into a teddy bear, and dematerializes it. "Believe me now?" Truk: *turns towards Bob and slowly draws his great sword* Alfie: *stands between Bob and Truk* No. Bad Truk. No stab. Bob: *unhinges his jaw and eats the chicken* Patrick: *eats a memory marble*

Patrick's eyes glaze over as a scene plays out in his mind and on his skin. He's in a camp that isn't in the fey wilds. A tent opens you see blood. So much blood. Each tent is filled with blood.

Patrick goes to sit down, and Alfie asks if he's okay. Patrick flinched but doesn't respond. So, Alfie gives him a hug to help ground him. "It's okay. You're okay. Whatever it is you are here not there."

Truk: Do you want to hug the bear? Patrick nods and Truk takes the bear on his back and hands it to Patrick. Patrick shrinks down sinks into the bear.

We all sit down, and the play is about to begin. Bob pulls out a script and says that he is narrating the play. "They pay you for that?" "Yeah. 500 gold per hour." "You get health insurance?" "Yes. I can finally get my ribs looked at."

Bob has been in constant pain for the last two days but has finally taken Alfie's advice to take it easy since he collapsed in Finkelberg. He has been taking seven pain killers a day with baja blast.

And so the play starts.

We open up with our heroes having just slain a green dragon.

Alfie: It was a red dragon.

We open up with our heroes having just slain a red dragon. After this heroic feat they traveled to the town of Dinkleberg to stock up on supplies

Alfie's actor is a goblin with a fake beak on his nose. Mark's actor looks like Mark and has the best costume. Truk's actor is a full orc. Patrick's actor is an old white man in a tutu and a ratty rainbow wig. Quinn doesn't even have an actor. It's just a cardboard cutout. Bob's actor is in neon green. Bob is not happy when he sees it.

The production quality is horrible. The acting is worse.

Alfie's actor: Oh boy look at THIS! A sign to a town! Let us go there! Mark's actor: That sounds like a top-notch idea. Truk's actor: It is I, orc of brick. Wow. Alfie: What the fuck? Truk: What is this? Patrick: *pointing at his actor* who is that? Patrick's actor: It is I the twink. *climbs into a tree*

The party walk into Dinkleberg and see a gnome who hates philly cheesesteak.

Mark's actor: You insult me. *crushes the gnome* Alfie actor: Gee whillikers there is jam everYwHERE!

And so our heroes do the shopping and Mark scams a guy out of a very expensive bottle of wyvern whiskey.

Alfie: Yeah, he got for really cheap. Only 200 gold.

Across the bar the sexy handsome man Bob sees him and thinks

Bob's actor: Yes, this man here will definitely lead me to the chicken I desire. Bob: NEON GREEN?! Alfie: *gags at this* What the fuck, Bob? Bob: I didn't write this! Alfie: I resend my earlier statement. You can kill whoever wrote this. Bob: Oh, I will. Truk's actor: BIRD FRIEND. I am the hunger. Make brisket. Alfie's actor: Sure thing, friendo!

The next day they go to leave and as they leave, they walk into DINKLEBERG AGAIN. TURNS OUT THERE WAS A HYDRA. THE HYDRA THAT DOESN'T EXIST. FAKE HYDRA. IT EMERGES AND BODIES SHOWER EVERYWHERE.

The actors start throwing shitty puppets into the crowd. They clearly blew most of the budget on Mark's costume.

Our heroes fight the hydra heroically and the gorgeous sexy handsome man Bob makes a deal with the bird. The hydra is dead.

Alfie: *looks at the script* it doesn't even say that in the script! Bob: I have to stroke my ego somehow. Patrick: Bow chicka wow wow! Alfie: *snorts* Bob: That would be funny if I wasn't aro ace. Alfie: I'm on that spectrum and it's still funny.

Truk is asleep and snoring. Patrick starts looking around for an exit. "Where's the exit?" Alfie goes to point where we entered, and nothing is there. It's pitch black. "I knew it. This was a bad idea." Patrick pounces on one of the actors and frantically questions about the existence of the exit and is forced to shut up via concentrated silence.

And so, they travel to Finkelberg where they must open portal.

"Whoever wrote this needs Grammarly." "What's a Grammarly?" "Is it a kind of graham cracker?"

The handsome man Bob tell them to find Brian Bob's ex. They friend Brian and-

Bob: Wait you didn't kill him? Alfie: Nope. Bob: But what about the tentacle you gave me? Alfie: He willingly gave that up for some brains. You never said we had to kill him. Bob: That I didn't. He was a terrible boyfriend though. He said my name in public. Alfie: That wasn't an excuse to turn him into an elder brain. Bob: *growls* If it weren't for your grandfather, I would kill you right here right now. Alfie: Good luck with that. I can't even die. Bob: *quietly seething* You know what? You take the script. I need a break anyways. *shoves the script into Alfie's hands* Alfie: *takes the script* Who even wrote this? *flips to the cover* Hank co-wrote this? Hank: *from Alfie's bag of holding* Don't trash my handywork! Alfie: I'm so sorry Hank but this is not your calling... Bob: You stole Hank?! WHY?? Alfie: *shrugs* Shiny sparkly swirly orb. How could I resist?

"READ THE SCRIPT DAMMIT." And Alfie starts reading the script.

And so Bob shows them to the museum and tells them to kill the unicorns of Equestria.

Alfie's actor: I don't wanna kill them! I'm a pacifist sometimes! And then Gorg shows up in the play cuz they managed to bribe Kratos into letting him be in the play. "Sorry, Gorg was late. Traffic." he says as he bowls over several actors.

And so they hop into the painting Mario 64 style?

Spike's actor who is an actual child: Hi welcome to Equestria! Gorg: *golf clubs the child with a plastic hammer* The harness that the child is wearing snaps under the strain and the kid is rocketed into the air. And guy in the corner cups his hands around his mouth and goes "Home run!"

Twilight' Actor: Hello, my name is Princess Twilight Sparkle. I will be your friend! Alfie's Actor: Wowee, it's lovely to meet you! Can we do a grave robbing? Twilight's Actor: Sure! Bob: ^looking at Alfie* You desecrated their graves? Alfie: I left flowers to say sorry... Bob: At least you didn't defile their corpses. Alfie: Mhm. Gorg: *sees Rarity's actor and drags her off stage killing her* Fluttershy's actor: *has an actual panic attack* Patrick's player: They duct taped her head back on. Rose: WITH THE POWER OF FLEX TAPE, WE CAN REATTATCH A HEAD! Me: NOW THAT'S A LOT OF DAMAGE! Mark's actor: I have consumed the pony blood. I crave flesh. *gets down on all fours* I am now pony. Alfie's Actor: Wowee, hi Pinkie! Pinkie Pie's Actor: I have just met you and I love you! Would you like a cupcake? *eats cupcake* oh no I am choking to the deaths. Alfie's actor: oh no! Mark's actor: I will consume the flesh *bites into a very strategically placed cupcake* I CRAVE BLOOD. *on the other side of the stage*

Gorg: I will cut your hair- oops *pours a bucket of yellow water over Granny Smith's actor* Granny Smith's actor: I didn't know you were gonna give me a shampoo and rinse! A cardboard cutout of Discord descends from the rafters and a voice says, "No. I undo this." One of the two ropes holding up the cutout snaps.

Truk: *startles himself awake* Huh? What did I miss? Rose: The granny smith haircut sequence. Truk's player: The what? Rose: Gorg peed on Granny Smith's head and hocked a loogie in her hair. Applejack's Actor: Hello, I wish for a haircut! Gorg: *chops off the stuffed head* Applejack's actor: Oh no I've been slain! *splatters ketchup everywhere* Oh there's so much blood it's everywhere! *Dramatically falls to the ground* Patrick's player: Damn you really gave us the Blood blood BLOOD and death. Patrick's actor: *falls out of the tree and doesn't move* Patrick: Is he okay?

Mark's actor: Where is Twilight? I wish to give her a hug. Twilight's actor: Here I am, I would love a hug! Mark's actor: *gives her a light hug* Twilight's actor: BLEH! *goes limp* Mark's actor: I CRAVE DEATH

And so Mark committed a horrible mass murder until Discord showed up.

Bob: Give me back the script. You aren't even mentioning me! Alfie: You show up on the next page. Cardboard Discord: You killed my son's future stepmother. I sober you up. Now we must fight. Bob: What? Alfie: Discord caught feelings for Fluttershy. Bob: Oh. Alfie: I told him when he should ask her out. Bob: That's good. He can be so oblivious. I should call my father. He would hate this. Discord Discord Discord. Discord: What is it- oh gods what is this? Alfie: A bad play. How are things going in Equestria? Discord: Fine mostly. Goodbye.

Only by going to Hell could Fluttershy be saved.

Marks actor is charging at the cardboard cutout of discord and the last rope holding the cutout snaps and falls to the ground.

Bob's Actor: Oh no here is purple smoke? Whatever shall you do? Gnome actor: *starts laughing* Mark: I still crave blood. Bob's actor: Hang on I have a new friend for you! Bob's actor is pulled up into the rafters and brings back down a halfling dressed in pink. Miss Houdini's actor: Hi mah name is Miss Houdini you're my new friend!

And then the Hydra returns and turns Fluttershy into it!

Miss Houdini: Oh no! The Flutterhydra doesn't move, and Miss Houdini's actress pulls on a cord and one head falls on her. Alfie: That's not what happened! She imploded AFTER the rewind. Hank: You can't blame me! I was in the sack taking a nap.

Will Smith actor: Aw shoot its rewind time.

At this point Bob and Alfie are taking turns reading from the script.

The very next day they go off to kill some mushrooms.

Truk's actor takes a bat to a paper mâché mushroom and a cloud of sparkles erupt from it.

And suddenly Starscourge Rahdan shows up and our heroes have to fight him.

Zeus is there and looks very scared and confused and Alfie contains the urge to lunge at him.

The Rahdan puppet explodes in a burst of confetti.

The End

The lights come on and Gorg ascends to the sky "Bye Gorg! See you around..."

Patrick: Can someone check on him? *pointing to his actor* Alfie: *goes up to Patrick's actor and pokes him with a stick* You good? Patrick's Actor: I'm fine. Alfie: You are covered in blood. Patrick's actor: It's ketchup. Alfie: *magics the ketchup away* Patrick's actor: aww. that was my dinner. Alfie: *magics the ketchup back* Patrick's actor: Thank you kindly! You look a lot like our actor Alfie! Alfie: That's because I am Alfie. Patrick's actor: Holy shit can I have your autograph? Alfie: I don't do autographs. I can give you a stamp? Patrick's actor: Stamp my forehead. Alfie: *stamps the guy on the forehead*

Bob: So, would you like to see more of the shows? Alfie: Bobathy, that was one of the worst experiences in my life here. Bob: There's one where they shoot people out of cannons. Alfie: You have my attention. Bob: We could fire you out of a cannon at Zeus especially since you have gravity powers. Alfie: I am fireproof... Alright, let's do it. Rose: You are fired at Zeus. Alfie stops himself an inch in front of Zeus's face.

Alfie: Hi! Zeus: *goes white and screams before teleporting away* Patrick: Zeus Zeus Zeus. Zeus: *reappears and does a verbal key smash* Alfie: Hello Zeus. I trust you're treating Hera well. Zeus: *sweating* Of course! Alfie: hmmm you better be, cuz I'll know. *slowly traces a talon over Zeus's heart* Now you have something I wanted that I wouldn't mind having right now. Zeus: *shaking* Please... Can't we let bygones be bygones? Alfie: Sure... We could let bygones be bygones. But that's not happening. Zeus: Please I'll do anything... Patrick: RELEASE THAT BOY YOU KIDNAPPED. Alfie: *grips onto Zeus's shoulders* he had a family, you horny prick. Zeus: OKAY, OKAY, I'LL LET HIM GO. Alfie: *slowly releases his grip on Zeus* Good... Good... You can leave. Tell Hera we'll have to reschedule our next session. Zeus: *shakily* Ok.

As Alfie pulls out a bottle of hand sanitizer it is at this point that it starts to sink in for Bob just how terrifying Alfie can be.

This small fluffy bird made the king of the Greek pantheon rethink his life choices and struck fear into the fibers of his soul.

It's honestly very impressive.

"Now you should probably get back into Finkelberg. I don't know how you're going to do that when the portal is 3000 feet in the air."

Alfie just stretches out his wings in response.

"How do I keep forgetting you have wings?"

Patrick: I'm going to use a cannon to get out of here. Alfie and Bob get out the popcorn and Truk climbs into the nap sack. Patrick misses the portal hitting an invisible ceiling and splats into a puddle and falls back down. He tries again adjusting the cannon's aim and on the third attempt he just dies and respawns in the inn thinking it was just a dream.

Alfie: Bob, do you want a lift? Bob: No thanks. Alfie: Oh yeah, I forget you can fly. See you around!

And Alfie flies up into the portal leaving a trail of embers in his wake.

He appears in the tavern and Patrick loudly proclaims how weird of a dream that was.

"It wasn't a dream."

#dnd #dungeons and dumbasses #dungeons and dragons

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manyothermusingsofmine · 5 months

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Eternity || Drabble

Fandom: Baldur's Gate 3 Wordcount: 2334 Warnings: discussions of mortality

Summary: It's not always the best choice to ask a wizard for advice, but when it comes to matters of emotions.. well, who else to ask for help but a friend? AN: I don't think I've ever loved the first line of my own fic as much as I love this one

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"Tara! No! That's a messenger bird!"

He should've known the silence in his office spelled bad news, but the book he had been reading had been way too enthralling to put down. However, Gale had no choice to interfere when his ears picked up the cacophonic, indignant squawking of a very upset raven. He found the bird with a little holder tied to its leg, angrily pecking at the snout of his beloved cat before the black bird noticed him and quickly fluttered up to his shoulder, letting out one more annoyed squawk at the feline.

Tara just looked at Gale, almost rolled her eyes, and daintily wandered off to go groom her front paws as if she hadn’t just been using them to pin the bird down. Gale sighed, before looking at the bird upon his shoulder that was quietly preening some feathers.

"My apologies for her behavior," Gale said politely, before retrieving the parchment from the holder. He rolled it open, calmly reading the elegant writing the scroll contained.

Dearest Gale,

When this reaches you, I am already on my way to Waterdeep. I should reach your abode soon enough, and don't worry about me. If Astarion trusts me to find my way to the surface, you can trust me to find my way to a wizard's tower.

There is something that has been haunting my mind, something I desperately need the advice of a good friend on. And in truth, I feel like you would be the only one of our friends and allies who will actually understand me on this matter. However, it is not something I'm comfortable enough with to send over scripture.

Pardon the raven; I couldn't find a messenger pigeon that quickly, so I spoke with this one to send it to you.

I will see you soon.

Forever your friend,

Willow.

“Hah,” Gale muttered with a light click of his tongue, politely and apologetically dismissing the raven as sending any reply back wasn’t going to be useful if Willow was already on the roads. A problem she only seemed to want his advice on; now what could that possibly be? Guess the only thing to do was to wait and see when she arrived. He made the mental note to himself to really listen to the issue, and advise her however he could. She deserved at least that much.

It was a couple of weeks later that she arrived to the city of Waterdeep, hopping off the cart of a kind merchant who had given her a lift for the last couple of dozen miles. The tiefling shook out the long tresses of her hair, looking to her shadow for a moment and up at the sky to determine the place of the sun.

It was somewhere after noon, but not late enough yet for the sun to start its daily descend. Willow figured that meant Gale was probably still teaching, maybe about to wrap up for the day. She decided the best course of action was to find his home. She thought of what Shadowheart had said at their first meet up at Withers’ call, that Waterdeep was home to the biggest temple of Selûne. Surely, someone in there could point her to where her friend now resided.

“Gale!”

She arrived at his home just as he opened the door to it, her tiefling tail wagging on its own accord as she couldn’t contain how happy she was to see him. Within the blink of an eye she had gone up to him, pulling him into a hug that he returned with a small laugh.

“Hello, Willow. I was wondering if I should be sending out a search party for you soon.” “I missed- hey!” she laughed, lightly pushing against his shoulder in mock offense.

“I missed you too, and I’m serious! The roads here aren’t easy, so a week longer and I would have send the guards around here to go looking for you. Because you’re my friend, and because I would rather not have to explain to Astarion that I lost his favorite person in the world.”

“Fair enough,” Willow said, slightly rolling her eyes

“Well, what are you standing there for? Come in! You must be hungry.”

“Starving.”

So, in order to fix that problem first, they had dinner together; a dinner filled with laughter and reminiscing lasting until the sun finally disappeared behind the horizon and the crescent moon started to rear its head. It was at that point that the two old friends simply shared a drink, with Tara comfortably laying in Willow’s lap. Gale looked at his friend, figuring that now was as good a time as any to bring up the letter.

“So.. I did get your letter, you know. I did have to save your messenger friend from the lady of the house, currently in your lap, but..”

Oof, he could almost sense how the mood immediately dropped. Willow looked at him for a second, before taking another sip from her wine. She held the glass in both her hands, as if she was looking for moral support from it. He could see the light frown that crept on her face, and how her gaze saddened.

“… What’s on your mind, Willow?” he asked, his voice soft and supportive, “what’s wrong?”

She kept her eyes on the red liquid in her glass, lightly swirling it as Tara quietly dropped off her lap and went to do her own thing. Willow tried to force a smile back on her face, but dropped it as soon as she knew it wasn’t reaching her eyes- and thus, not fooling Gale.

“You’re a well-studied man, Gale,” she started, her voice soft and tinged with emotion, “so.. tell me, what is the lifespan of my kin?”

Hm. He thought about it for a little bit; going through his vast array of book knowledge in his mind. Tieflings weren’t exactly the most well documented or studied race of Faerun, but he did recall reading some books that described their average life if it wasn’t cut prematurely short due to outside forces.

“From what I recall, ninety to a hundred and sixty years, give or take. Why?”

She looked at him for a long while, very slowly and deliberately tilting her glass far enough his way that he saw the deep red liquid inside without spilling anything over the edge. She then pulled it up half way, hesitating for a moment, before downing the rest in one easy gulp and setting it aside herself on a nearby table.

Oh.

The combination of the red liquid and the almost desperate look she had given him made something click in Gale’s mind. He remembered how a year or so ago, she had told him at a get together that while she loved the fortress she had made her home, with Astarion, she felt it was hard to relate to-

Vampire spawn. Immortal vampire spawn.

She pushed her hair out of her face, momentarily looking up at the ceiling and blinking away the slight burning sensation in her eyes, before turning back to Gale and once again trying to force a smile- it still wasn’t working.

“Ridiculous, isn’t it? I know he is not going to be alone, he has his own kin, I know he’ll be fine, but..”

Silence, as Gale moved position to sit way closer to his friend while she looked at the ground, placing a gentle, comforting hand on her arm as she started to tremble, and yet, laugh. It wasn’t joyous laughter, though; it was fueled by anxiety and fear.

“I’m thirty seven, Gale. If I make it to ninety, if I make it to hundred sixty, if I make it to longer than that- Gods, it’s such a long time, isn’t it, but…”

“But it’s not forever,” Gale finished her sentence in a soft voice, pulling her into a hug as doing so broke her resolve. She clutched onto him, desperately, while pressing her face into his shoulder and letting the building anxiety pour out of her. He just held her, not caring that her tears were turning the fabric of his robe into a much darker shade of blue.

“I’m sorry,” she whimpered into his shoulder, to which he only blinked.

“For what?”

“For taking your chance at immortality away, as well.”

“I- what?”

He lightly pushed her back, studying her face before moving to wipe away her tears with his thumbs in a purely platonic matter. He cared about her, hated to see her upset- and had no idea what she was talking about, currently.

“The crown,” she managed to bring out between sobs, “you heeded my advice on bringing back the crown to Mystra. If you had kept it, reforged it- you could’ve been a god, Gale. An immortal God. But I condemned you to a mortal life, as I did myself- Gods, I could’ve let Astarion ascend, he could’ve made me a-“

“Willow. Stop.”

He had to put a stop to how she was spiraling out of control. Gale figured somethings never changed; and in the case of his friend, what would never change was that she would always find a way to second guess the choices she had made. Never again plagued by a tadpole, her mind would however always be plagued by ‘what if’s and ‘if only’s

She just looked at him, flaming green eyes set in dark sclera’s that shimmered with tears.

“I’ll never be able to cure him,” she whispered, voice slightly hoarse from her upset, “even if I did somehow find a way to let him enjoy the warmth of the sun again, that doesn’t- that doesn’t fix my problem. I’m mortal. One way or another, my time with him is limited, and when I leave… He’ll be alone again. Surrounded by peers, sure, but losing someone he loves… unless…”

“Unless what?” Gale asked, lightly frowning as he doubted he liked where this was going. ‘Unless’ rarely meant anything good.

“Unless I find a true vampire, and ask them to inflict the condition he has upon me.”

Gale could almost feel his heart drop at that statement, while he hated the voice in the back of his head that whispered that she absolutely had a point. Turning into a vampire spawn herself would be the way to secure that she would remain with Astarion forever, instead of just for the rest of her days. But, that also meant she risked falling under the control of someone the likes of Cazador. He shuddered at the thought.

His brown eyes flicked up when he felt her looking at him, meeting her green eyes. Well, he now sure understood why she hadn’t been comfortable to put this in a written message. Not only did she risk it being read by Astarion or one of the other spawns, but if someone else had intercepted the message and realised someone residing in the Underdark was considering becoming a vampire spawn herself.. well, it was just asking for all kinds of trouble. And he was suddenly frightfully aware that she had turned to him for advice, like he had done to her a few years back right after the defeat of the brain; when she had told him to return the crown to Mystra.

She would absolutely heed his advice, like he had heeded hers back then.

He thought. He pondered. Gale’s hands slowly set themselves on the Tiefling’s shoulders, holding her steady as he seemed to stare directly at her neck. He wasn’t, not particularly, he was just completely sunken away in his thoughts. He had to be careful about this and really consider what his advice could be taken as. And then, a rather important question popped up in his mind.

“Have you told Astarion about any of this?”

Willow blinked for a moment, before quickly looking off to the side. Ah, clearly she hadn’t.

“I- He knows I’m here-“

“Willow.”

“No. I haven’t..”

He nodded once, before moving his hands to grab a hold of both of hers. If that was the case, if she hadn’t told Astarion about how she was feeling or what she was considering, then he finally knew what advice to give her.

“You should.”

“But-“

“Willow, listen to me, and listen to me carefully. He loves you. The last thing Astarion would want is for you to run off on your own accord to find some vampire lord to turn you into.. well, the same thing he is; while running the risk that once you’re turned, they’re not letting you go.

I’m not going to tell you which decision to make. I’m not going to sit here and say that you should wholeheartedly and merrily accept your mortality, I’m not going to act like your idea is immediately doomed to fail when it isn’t, necessarily. But I am also not going to let you run off into the arms of some vampire lord only to have them never release you from their grip. So, what I am going to say- my true advice to you? Go home. Talk to him. Tell him what you fear, tell him the solution you’ve considered, and ask him for his advice and help.”

She looked at him, clearly thinking about what he said as her eyes slowly turned to Tara, who calmly sat down by her feet. They then flicked back to Gale. His gaze softened when he realised she was seriously taking his words into careful consideration, and her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.

“Gale?’

“Hmm?”

“Thank you. Also.. do you mind if I stay here for a few days, before I return home?”

He gave her a soft smile, grateful that she at least agreed to return home at some point; for he knew exactly where home was to her. And that was at least a step in the direction to take.

“You can stay as long as you like, my friend.”

#drifting writes things

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kimtaegis · 5 months

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my brother came here with his girlfriend and his mother-in-law and they all asked me to go with them when they leave, to spend two days in a house with pool and they would also get out at night to explore some places etc etc... they already know how antisocial i am, so they jokingly said "we came for you, there's no discussion, we decided this for you, let's go"

gosh, it's so hard saying no :( but i really didn't want to go... and i know i sound like a fool when i say this, but with jungkook's last live around the corner.. i really don't wanna lose it. i already didn't want to go before in any way, this is a plus, but i can't go and say that this is also a reason for me to stay home, people don't understand, right? i don't feel comfortable or relaxed with my family, they don't even know my real personality or my real tastes... i also wouldn't even want to go to a pool because i hate it, i don't like showing my body anymore

but why can't people just accept "i'm not going because i don't want to"? my sister-in-law said it was okay, but she also said "why are you like this?" :/

i know i hurt people when i do those things, but i'd rather do that than going without will, so i'd be hurting myself instead... anyway, to not make things worse, i said that i'd go in january instead (spoiler: i'd rather never go, but...)

I can feel for you so, so much 😕 I’ve found myself in similar situations before, and most of the time you either end up feeling uncomfortable because you had to force yourself or the other party will be disappointed… it’s a super difficult situation which requires so much communication, empathy and compromise from both sides. they want to be with you because they care about and love you, and think that they’re doing something nice by taking you out of your ‘zone’ for a while. you yourself could see this as a little, very temporary getaway, a new memory that most likely won’t turn out as bad as you expect, and you would also make them happy if you go with them. however, though, they can’t make decisions for you, and if they love you, they should also respect your wishes and needs. plus, while stepping out of your comfort zone can be good, you shouldn’t pressure yourself to do so, but do it at your own will. I won’t deny that sometimes a little kick in the butt is needed to take a step in a new direction, but if it makes you as anxious as you sounded to me, then you’re simply not ready for that just now. I think what’s super important is to explain to them that you not wanting to go has nothing to do with them directly; I think that’s very likely the first conclusion many would jump to (why do they not want to spend time with me/us specifically). if you feel comfortable, tell them what the actual issue is – you needing to be somewhere where you feel safe right now, you not wanting to miss out on something that’s important to you these days, you not feeling particularly confident lately. I can only talk from my own experience, but being honest has always been the best solution in these situations for me. maybe then it’s easier for them to understand, or at least respect “why you are like this” (it’s fucking horrible that she said that to you, I’m sorry). all these sides can kind of coexist which make these dilemmas even harder. I can’t even tell what I would do if I was you /: it depends on so many factors…

by now you’re probably on the trip, or not… I’m sorry I replied so late. I’m thinking of you and hope that however everything turned out, it was alright.

#anon #annie’s mail #long post

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