#lark's cafe

[lesmisscraper]

The Atmosphere around Cosette and Marius during May, 1832. Volume 4, Book 8, Chapter 3.

Clips from <Il cuore di Cosette>.

#Les miserables #les mis #My Post #Cosette #The Lark #Marius #Lark and Booby #Rue Plumet #Jean Valjean #M. Leblanc #Father and daughter #Owl and Wren #Courfeyrac #The Center and the Bonapartist #Bahorel #Cafe Musain #Eponine #Rose in Misery #Love Triangle #Only Cosette's Father and Housemaid do not know... #The Brick #Il cuore di Cosette #Les Mis Letters

[augustinewrites]

“hey,” you murmur, shaking alhaitham’s shoulder. “you need to get up soon so we can–”

“i only run if i’m being chased.”  

you frown as he turns away from you. “but studies show that morning jogs–”

“i am well aware of what the studies say, and i am electing to ignore their findings.”

“well, i’m a doctor, and i’m telling you that running is good for you. it increases mental focus and productivity–” 

your gaze turns hopeful when he finally lifts his head from the pillow, uttering the words, “against medical advice.” 

“haitham,” you pout. “what’s the point of me finally staying the night if we can’t do fun things together in the morning?” 

“if running was what you had in mind, then this is going to be the first and last time you stay over.” 

you grumble something mean under your breath. alhaitham grumbles back, an i love you too, followed by a let me sleep, woman. it’s the weekend.

“fine,” you huff, crossing your arms over your chest. “then i’ll just go over to cyno’s place and see if he wants to join me. he’s probably a much better jogging partner than you anyway. he’s so fast that he once helped the traveler escape from the heart of a crumbling pyramid.”

you let that bit of information turn over in his mind, leaving the bedroom and grinning triumphantly when you hear him curse, the bed creaking as he gets up. 

satisfied, you turn into the bathroom–

–to find someone already in there, about to help themselves to the geothermal mud mask you’d gotten from inazuma. your shocked gaze meets his and—

you both scream. 

“who are you?” you question, grabbing a copy of sapiens, which would be an effective weapon if you intended to bore him to death. “what are you doing here?”

“me?” he asks incredulously. “i unfortunately live here, so who are you and what are you doing here?” 

“oh, good. you two have met.” 

you both whirl around to face him, hands on your hips. “haitham, who is this?”

the stranger makes an offended noise. “alhaitham, do be sure that your escort keeps the details of our living arrangement to themselves.” 

“escort?” you gasp, alhaitham plucking the book from your hand before you can throw it at this strange man. “i am a doctor!” 

the stranger looks you up and down. “so…alhaitham didn’t pay you to sleep with him?”

you each size the other up equally scrutinizing squints, the acting grand sage pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing tiredly. “this is my roommate, kaveh.”

wait, you’ve heard that name before. gossip about akademiya alumni spread like wildfire in sumeru. you snap your fingers, pointing at him. “oh! i know you. you’re that architect who went broke funding his own project.”

“not broke, per se,” he sniffs, turning away from you rather indignantly. i am temporarily prudent.”

you look to your boyfriend, who shakes his head slightly and mouths, don’t ask.

then he tells kaveh your name, that you work at the bimarstan, and that you’re seeing each other. 

anyone else would have simply take he’d said at face value, because the scribe didn’t dance around points or over-complicate his explanations. he wasn’t exactly one to joke, either. 

but the broke architect immediately doubles over, laughing so hard that his face is the shade of a zaytun peach. “now there’s a lark! you with a— with a—”

“a significant other? yes.”

his laughter quickly dies as alhaitham winds a possessive arm around your waist, looking between the two before meeting the scribe’s unflinchingly flat gaze. you watch as his prior amusement dropped from his face, only to be replaced by disbelief. 

kaveh drew a breath and pressed his hands together. “when you say those words, what do you mean by them? 

alhaitham expression was inscrutable as always, but the corners of his lips were curved upwards the slightest bit. “i could not have oversimplified it more. if you require more detail, perhaps we could discuss it over coffee at puspa cafe?”

“only if you’re paying,” he answered testily, to which the scribe rolls his eyes. 

“of course. if the matter of payment were up to you, we’d just be thieves.”

kaveh sent him a rude gesture— one completely unbefitting of someone so respected within the akademiya.

then alhaitham returned it. 

the blonde turns on his heel to leave with a huff, stomping through the house and slamming the door behind him. alhaitham moves quickly, locking it behind him.

“are we not going to join him?” you ask, watching curiously as your boyfriend saunters back toward the bedroom, a satisfied look on his face.

“nope. he left his keys here. so if you want to do something fun,” he nods his head toward the bedroom. “now would be the time. cyno and kaveh can wait.”

and, well, you can’t say no to that, can you?

#alhaitham x reader #genshin x reader #alhaitham x y/n #alhaitham fluff #genshin fluff

[inkdrinkerworld]

hi! welcome back!!! would be up to writing academic rivals to lovers with remus, where reader needs help with something and goes to him and he kinda lordes it over her head but in a teasing way??

hehe, thank you thank you!! i hope you enjoy

your bag is clutched to your chest to help steady your racing heart.

you hate asking for help. especially his help, but as much as it pains you he’s better at it than you are.

it shouldn’t confuse you so, the myths and the lore, but it does and when you spot remus typing away at his computer with his books open it makes you even more annoyed.

you sit noisily before him, and know his eyes are on yours as you make a point of taking out your books and laptop and setting them atop the table.

“can i help you, mischief?” he asks, a smile stuck in his voice as he watches you open to the chapter troubling you.

“i already told you to stop calling me that,” you say grumpily, and then turn your book around to face remus. “would you please explain this to me?”

the words are broken and hard to speak and when remus looks down at where your finger gestures and laughs, it makes you want to pack your things away and forget you ever asked.

you’re halfway to doing that, when he sets his palm on the back of your hand, “wait, i can help you.” he says but you look up with narrowed eyes.

“for what? you don’t do something for nothing.”

remus smiles, “you think that little of me, lark?” his nicknames causes wars between you and yourself- you love to hate them and hate that you love them, and remus knows.

you say nothing and remus laughs, “i’ll bite, i’ll help you for a price.”

“i’m not giving you the last of the toffees from the sweet shop. wait for their next shipment.”

“you never just listen do you, lark?” you sigh and lean back in your seat. “i’ll help you understand all the myth and lore, if you come have breakfast with me while i teach you.”

you weren’t expecting that. you’re about to argue when remus cuts you off,

“i know which cafe’s you like, so don’t even bother arguing and i just got back my car, so you won’t be driving in the wee hours when you do like studying.”

you’re shocked silent and then you sigh and nod. remus smiles and slides his phone over to you.

“put in your address, we’re starting tomorrow morning at 7.”

#remuslupin #remus lupin #remus lupin x black!reader #remus lupin x reader #remus lupin x you #remus lupin x yn #remus lupin imagine #remus lupin blurb #remus lupin fanfiction #remus lupin fluff

[macksartblock]

Projecting my own teen experiences onto the kiddads bc I’m out of the house rn and I think it’s funny

Terry: took a parenting class in 12th grade and on the first night of his culminative assignment he ended up crying, naked wrapped in a towel, on the bathroom floor after the robot baby interrupted him pre-shower.

Lark: left for school in the morning then walked around for two blocks before heading back home, after his parents went to work. Snuck in through his bedroom window on more than one occasion, when either parent stayed home. Did this for a week straight.

Sparrow: got clocked as aspec before he even realized while out at a cafe during lunch with Rebecca, but she told him she didn’t mind because she’s good with her hands and can just think about him??

Grant: while on a date w/ his high school boyfriend at the fair, his boyfriend’s mother tracked him down just to argue with him. Grant attempted to slip away to offer some privacy but his boyfriend kept an iron grip on his hand, so he spent the next several minutes awkwardly turned away from the argument.

Nick: during an orthodontist appointment, was recommended to install metal springs because he kept forgetting to wear his elastics. Without even discussing it, Jodie gave the okay for the springs but the smallest size available were too big - therefore not installed - and Nick refused to speak to Jodie for the rest of the day.

#dndads #dungeons and daddies #kiddads #terry jr stampler #lark oak garcia #sparrow oak garcia #grant wilson #nick close #nicky swift #nicholas foster #I still can’t believe he has three names #also I know Jodie would’ve been in hell during Nick’s teen years but I think he would’ve stopped by up top #I’d recently had the memory of myself frantically caring for a robo baby and thought #Terry would’ve taken a family studies/parenting elective in high school #and he would’ve crushed it 100% he’s got that fake baby book in a box in the attic #and it’s full of silly photos of the kiddads with their ‘‘nephew’’ #welcome home baby - bring your kids to work day - it’s real to me

[gothicwidowsworld]

Mayfair M.A

Y/N L/N’s loved when she got to sit in on and be a part of Screaming Meals, whilst having cameras in her face had become a necessary evil in her career Screaming Meals was less media duties and more fucking about and having a lark with her boyfriend and their tightknit group of friends without having to worry about a show, a race, an interview or anything else her career and Marcus’ threw at them. Yeah Nah G’day was the jewel in the Screaming Meals channel at least in Y/N’s eyes watching Marcus & James slip back into simple Kiwi boy’s sharing stories & laughs, the occasional sly dig thrown in. 

“I was just hanging around Mayfair the other day… I’m not flexing I’m just I was in Mayfair at a cafe with my girlfriend…” Marcus began already rolling his eyes at the face James was pulling at the mention of the infamous London location. “Was I there?” James asked quickly, the tall Kiwi forgetting to let the Driver finish his sentence. “Are you my girlfriend? Marcus asked sarcastically, raising a quizzical eyebrow in response. Resting back, relaxing more into the firm sofa Marcus continued his story “The cafe was reasonably empty, and I’ve sort of looked over to my left and uh… and I’ve seen someone. And I’m like she looks familiar. At this point Y/N’s given me a weird look, I’m like she looks really like Rihanna. Obviously, I didn’t say that to Y/N/N because you know I wasn’t looking at another girl but I’m also not stupid.” Snorting at his mates replay of his inner monologue James interrupted again “Debatable.” It was obviously in jest, but Marcus couldn’t help the offended look that filled his pale features. James and Marcus even Clém often poked fun at each other but they never meant any harm by it, it was just playground high jinks despite leaving school years ago. “So I’m like I’ll just get my phone, I check online um oh shit Rhianna is actually in London right now. And She’s realised that I’ve noticed it's her and there’s only like my table and her table” The Kiwi Driver explained moving his hands around to try to visually explain the distance between him and who he’d now confirmed as the famous Barbadian singer. “And she’s like basically from me to y/n away, she’s so close and I’m like oh my god.”

“Mate she’s gonna freak out when she sees this” James explained teasing the clearly excited Marcus, if there was one thing Marcus Armstrong was bad at other than singing it was hiding his emotions. It didn’t take a genius to work out when he was excited. From the way his soft golden hazel eyes would sparkle to the small twitches of his upper lip as he tried to bite back a growing grin. “I know” Marcus replied somewhat bashfully, an awkward laugh of disbelief tumbling from his pink lips. “When she watches this she’s gonna absolutely lose it. So I’ve realised it’s her and She can see in my eyes that I’ve just realised it’s Rhianna right. And she’s obviously said something to her mate who’s like right next to her and I believe that mate was A$AP Rocky. Quite a table next to us and uh so she’s mentioned something, and I’ve turned to my girlfriend and I’ve said, “Whatever you do don’t turn around.” Marcus trailed off mentally reliving the moment, his heart starting to race. 

“Obviously the first thing Y/N’s gonna do” James stated with a shrug of his shoulders, it was a known fact the y/h/c girl couldn’t be trusted in situations like this. It wasn’t her fault; it was just a reflex she struggled to control no matter how hard she tried. “No I’ve said “don’t turn around Babe do NOT turn around, but Rhianna is on the table behind us”. And of course, my sweet sweet girlfriend has turned around. Um and then suddenly it just struck me I was like actually now that I realise it this room is full of security guards… And they’re all looking at me because I’ve just said that WAY too loud, and Y/N/N’s turned around.” Marcus recounted, a small smile breaking onto his face as he locked eyes with the aforementioned girl behind the camera. “Kind of like Clément Novalak in a Drivers briefing” James chortled purposely ignoring the scoffing that came from his female long-time friend. 

“Exactly like Clément in the driver’s briefing… she’s going to hate that you’ve compared her to him..” the F2 Driver replied laughing at first before trailing off. It was a joke, a good joke even, but Y/N hated being compared to any Driver on the F2 grid or otherwise. Adjusting his headphones Marcus cleared his throat “And uh, my heart is like pounding, it’s like the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life seeing Rhianna, she’s looked me in the eyes and given me a look of disgust, something that I’m quite used to now.” 

“It was not a look of disgust!.” the y/h/c young woman called out softly, a giggle rippling from her chest, her heart warming at the sight of a slightly panicking Armstrong. At the same time James decided to add his thoughts. “Yeah, especially from women… or Y/N’s fans” James added knowing that over the past couple of months the young woman’s fanbase had grown, and with that so had some of jealousy targeted towards the New Zealander.  “Thanks man… And uuhh so I actually I felt so embarrassed for myself that i’d made her uncomfortable that I just thought I need to leave, Babe we need to leave. I just can’t believe I made her feel like this. Lets just get up and leave, I’m sorry I’ve ruined our date, but we just need to leave. So I’m like let’s go.  And then Y/N just looks at me like I’m insane and walked up to Rhianna and says “Hey Rhi how are you” like it was nothing!? Then they like hug and everything and then we just walk out, we just go. I’m still buzzing now like yeah.” 

“I can tell.” the taller Kiwi replied, “It is weird when you see like a full-blown celebrity in the wild.” James hummed a second later nodding his head slightly at his statement. “James, you see me all the time?!” Y/N hollered tilting her head slightly in confusion, some loose strands of y/h/c locks disturbing her view of the lighter haired man. “I said a celebrity!” James barked back in faux angst. “I’ll just go fuck myself then? No more concert tickets for you!” Y/N sassily retaliated losing the fighting urge to stick her tongue out at her boyfriends and unfortunately hers depending on how you looked at it close mate. 

“Hold on a minute! You can’t do that!” James exclaimed loudly, shooting forward quickly, almost yanking his headphones violently. Turning to face his co-host James frowned slightly “Can she do that?” James whispered obnoxiously a look of utter bewilderment casting over his face. All the insurance broker got in response was a half-hearted shrug.  

y/nl/n posted to their story

#gothicwidow #marcus armstrong imagines #marcus armstrong x reader #james harvey blair x platonic reader #screaming meals x reader #screaming meals imagines #f2 imagines #f2 x reader #marcus armstrong x singer reader #marcus armstrong x celebrity reader #formula two imagines #formula two x reader

[larksweetsong]

'Ello 'Ello, and welcome to Day one in the beau'iful city of Prague, on this - Paté's European Escapade!

We started the day with a trip up to the castle on the tippy top of the hill overlooking the city.

We saw guards parading from the main gate for their first shift of the day (Lark said no, I couldn't try to tie their shoelaces together, even though I think it would be funny heh heh).

Then we toured the big cathedral, where I tried to start singin' a tune but got a few dirty looks, so I stopped. Not sure why they don't appreciate my dulcet tones...

We also saw the place were a bunch of guys were defenestrated - meaning they were chucked out a window. Should've tried growing wings heh. Although I hear some of the folks did survive - by falling into a pile of manure, a stinky salvation.

Finally we walked all the way down the big hill, across ol' mate Charlie's bridge, and to the old town square to see the astronomical clock's big midday show. I think Laudna would like the lil' skeleton that rings the bell.

We went to a cafe and an art gallery in the afternoon, so not many pictures from that, sorry.

Then it was home again, home again to the hotel for little ol' Paté. Tata til' tomorrow!

#paté de rolo #pate de rolo #Paté's European Escapade #Postcards from Paté #critical role #critrole

[introverted-imagineer]

Stages Of Silence

Danny Walter x reader

Premise: Reader has recently moved to Silver Falls after issues at their previous school. Reader suffers from a speech impediment, but that won't stop Danny Walter from trying to make a new friend ❤

Warnings: Swearing.

‘Mr and Mrs Y/L/N, if I understand the notes and transcript from Y/N’s previous school, and from what you’ve told me…Y/N hasn’t spoken in almost two years?’ I hated that…when people spoke as if I wasn’t in the room. My parents anxiously sat in Miss Jacob's office, my Dad anxiously clutching onto my Moms's hand. ‘Y/N has always suffered from a severe stutter, when we moved for my job it got worse which led to bullying, the doctor called it Selective mutism.’ My Dad looked at me, I gave him an approving nod. A small gesture of approval, but I know it reassured my parents, to know that I appreciated their help. 

‘So Y/N, academically your reports and transcripts are competent, your attendance…a little shaky’ she said, her hand rising from her desk giving that so-so gesture. I pressed my lips together tightly, an attempt at a slight smile, although an invisible smile at that. ‘I know this can be a topic of sensitivity, but for purposes so that we may better support you here at Silver Falls y/n we will need to know why your previous school dismissed you’ Her face searched all our faces, clearly feeling awkward about approaching the topic. Mom and Dad’s clutching hands and tense posture offering the poor guidance counsellor no comfort.  ‘Well…we know y/n’s attendance was shaky, but ultimately the school said they weren’t equipped to handle y/n’s…condition they called it’ Mom responded, leaning forward from the back of the chair and shifting herself unnecessarily. ‘Did you feel unsupported at your previous school?’ Miss Jacobs asked curiously. I shrugged my shoulders, raising them slowly as my lips tilted into a diagonal line. She pursed her lips as her eyes darted between my folder on her desk and back to me. ‘What about you Mr and Mrs Y/L/N, did you feel the school was unaccommodating or disengaging?’ She rested her fingertips on her keyboard, ready for any information they might present. ‘Actually, Miss Jacobs, y/n’s dismissal was a shock to us all, y/n had adequate grades as you can see…never got in any fights, and followed the rules for the most part, she’s an exceptional pianist, but we did notice a lack of responsiveness when we tried to address bullying allegations’ My Dads voice quickly retreating into himself as he spoke as I sunk slightly into my seat. Mom and Dad had always been the type of people who hated making a fuss about things, confrontation made us all feel awkward I suppose…

‘Well, y/n we’d be happy to accept you here at Silver Falls High’ Miss Jacobs said, standing from her desk with her hand outstretched. I slipped my hand into hers loosely, a tight-lip smile more directed at the floor than it was at her. I could hear my mom's loud sigh of relief, a breath of air she had held in the whole morning. Their hands stayed tightly clutched as Miss Jacobs walked us down the hallway towards the front entrance, a habit they had adopted since my stutter turned to silence. My chest felt heavy as they walked close, their shoulders pressed together and Miss Jacobs made polite conversation, her questions conveying the essence of community that washed over the small town of Silver Falls to us newbies. ‘Where have you moved to? Oh lovely, the Andersons always enjoyed living there, I’m sure you’ll find it just as homely as they did. If you want to meet some locals Lark After Dark, an event at our local cafe usually draws in most of our town. How old is your youngest? She must be attending Silver Falls Elementary I presume?’ Miss Jacobs had already established that she was a friendly person, but the entire town was more entwined than we had anticipated… I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread, a hefty weight on my chest, wouldn’t be long until everyone knew about the new family on the block with their poor mute child. 

‘Alright, Mr and Mrs y/l/n, thank you for coming in and speaking with me, and I’m confident that Silver Falls High will be the last transfer for y/n’ her gaze directed to me as she gave a confident smile. I looked back at her, making an effort to relax my shoulders as I nodded and smiled back. My parents relieved as they walked out of the school together. ‘Alright y/n, shall we?’ She smiled, her hand gesturing back down the hallway as I tentatively followed, taking one last look out the window as Mom and Dad drove away from Silver Falls High. 

‘Okay y/n, this is where I leave you I’m sorry, I have a meeting with another student, but this is your English class with Mr Choudry, here is your timetable’ she explained, pulling papers from her notebook piling them into my hands. She quickly glanced at her watch, her eyebrows raising in surprise as her relaxed demeanour turned to one of worry. ‘I’m sorry y/n it seems I’m already late, but feel free to come by my office after your class and I can spend a bit more time with you to go over things’ she knocked on the door, opening the door and popping her head in, giving a nod to the teacher as she pointed to a chair at the back of the room. I flicked my head back, my face tense, a tight feeling in my throat releasing a little squeak, seeking any solace only to find she was already 10 paces away from the classroom, back to the direction of her office. Shit. 

‘We’re just about to start’ the teacher smiled grabbing a stack of books from his desk as he passed the stack to the students at the front of the room, passing a copy back. I slumped slightly into my seat, trying to disappear as each pair of eyes looked at me as everyone passed their books back. It’s funny, how we don’t even need to say anything, and yet everyone in the room was already making their mind up about me as I did them. Nosy, curious…almost dumbfounded? From what Miss Jacobs said about Silver Falls, I had likely walked into a room where everyone had known everyone since elementary school; who was this stranger…infiltrator, fresh meat. I could feel my back digging into the back of the chair, picking at the cuticles of my already damaged nail bed. The last book smacked on the desk in front of me as the girl’s eyes flicked up and down my body, before abruptly turning back to the front of the class. William Shakespeare, I read as I glanced down at the old tattered book. 

‘Sorry I’m late Mr Choudry’ The door burst open, and everyone slightly jumped in their seats. A few faces smiled at the arrival of the stranger. ‘No worries Danny, we’re just about to begin’ I couldn’t tell if they were relaxed about attendance here…or if this Danny carried a certain charm that made people who possessed such a gift forgivable in any instance. He looked around the room, his eyes falling on me as I quickly whipped my head back to the book on my desk. Please don’t sit here, please don’t sit here I silently pleaded to myself. Unfortunately, the pleading in my head was interrupted by the scraping of the chair at the table next to fine. Fuck. ‘Oh Danny, I’m so sorry I wasn’t expecting to have this many people in my class this semester, you’ll have to share with our new student for today if that’s cool’ I could see him smiling and nodding at the teacher out my peripheral vision. I could feel the stinging at my fingers as I intensified the picking at my nails. I could feel his gaze glance down to my hands in my lap. He sat up in his chair, slightly pulling back as he pivoted in his chair toward me, holding a hand out. ‘Hey, I’m Danny’ he spoke confidently, a smile spreading wide across his face. I craned my neck slightly, looking at his hand as I gingerly raised my own slipping my slightly sweaty palm into his, returning his shake as he moved his hand with an assertive grip, clearly not worried about the sweat. I slipped my hand out of his, glancing at his face properly for the first time, facing my head back towards the front. ‘Sorry, I didn’t catch your name?’ He politely inquired, slightly dropping his head as he curiously tried to catch my gaze. 

‘Okay everyone attention to the front please’ Ah, a saving grace, as Mr Choudry interrupted Danny’s question. He slipped back into his seat properly, a slight smile on his face as he saw the book in front of us. Never had I ever seen anyone under the age of 50 excited at the prospect of reading Shakespeare. ‘Now as everyone will have noticed, we clearly have a new student with us today, hence the lack of books, sorry Danny’ The class chuckled, I however did not. He didn’t need to even finish his sentence before I could feel my eyes almost popping out of my head. My heartbeat, which had been surprisingly steady all morning, began to pump more ferociously. ‘Would you stand up and introduce yourself please’ He politely requested, gesturing his hand to the back of the room, giving everyone the excuse they needed to properly turn and stare. My breathing began to intensify, I could feel every crevice of my body begin to perspire. I could feel my hands begin to shake. ‘No need to be nervous’ Mr Choudry smiled, still expectantly waiting. I could sense Danny’s energy shift to one of concern as his eyebrows scrunched together, noticing the way the hairs on my arm stood to attention. ‘Cat got your tongue newbie?’ A girl at the front remarked, giggling to herself and her friend. ‘Erin’ Mr Choudry remarked in a strict sharp tone. Not again. I almost pleaded to myself as Erin and her friend silently tried to silence their chuckles. The chair let out an uncomfortable screeching noise as it grated across the floor. I stood up, throwing my backpack over my shoulder as I quickly tracked to the door, not even faltering as Mr Choudry exclaimed for me to wait. I wasn’t a fighter…I needed to fly. As the door creaked shut behind me, a voice carried, escaping the English room as I walked down the empty hallway. It was Danny, his words simple but fiercely sarcastic. ‘Nice one Erin’. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

‘So y/n how was your first day?’ Mom asked curiously as we sat amongst the boxes in the new house, picking at her homemade meatloaf. A food of comfort when Mom suspected the day needed a little more love. I nodded, smiling at her, her cheeks going slightly pink as her smile emitted across her face. I could see Dad out of the corner of my eye, raising his chin slightly, blowing out his mouth with equal comfort. I suppose it wasn’t entirely a lie…first day in Silver Falls maybe, but not school. Silver Falls proved to be an idyllic country town, with everyone waving and passing comments as they saw each other on the streets, greenery as far as the eye could see, animals in every pasture, an elegant stream that glistened all day as the sun shone down. 

‘I liked it, but I sorta miss my old school’ my sister innocently chimed in from the end of the table. I twirled the fork in my hand around the mashed potatoes on my plate, my stomach churning at her comment. I never wanted to move, I never wanted to take her away from her stability and routine. ‘Well did you make any friends?’ Dad asked her, trying to pick up the mood. But I could see him tense again as he watched my fork swirl aimlessly around the plate. ‘I met a girl named Parker, she was really nice’ she said, a small smile on her face as she pierced her fork through the green beans on her plate. I brought a small bite to my mouth. At least something good happened for her. ‘Honey, the movers called, it’s probably not going to be till Friday when they’ll get here, so your piano won’t be here for a few more days’ Dad said, the corner of his lip curling down slightly. Great, another letdown. I simply nodded, forcing a tight-lipped smile. ‘Maybe the school has one? Maybe there might be a club or something?’ Mom enthusiastically tried to offer. I knew it was more than just the piano though…make some friends, meet some people. But based on this morning…I already decided I didn’t want anything to do with them. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

The halls at Silver Falls High were bustling, chatter echoing throughout the hallways, lockers slamming, people tossing footballs to one another, guys in football jackets walking as a herd as girls trailed alongside them. I looked at the timetable Miss Jacobs had given me yesterday. Homeroom, 13B. I trailed down the hall, ignoring the whispers and chatter as people quietly retorted to each other ‘Who’s that?’ ‘Erin said they choked up and walked out of English’ ‘I think they are the newbies that moved onto Charm Street?’ People here really knew too much of one another’s business. Against the lockers, a large group of guys stood conversing with each other, I looked to find the eyes of girls and boys looking at them in slight admiration, carefully trying to keep their composure as they waited for the boys to finish their conversation. Something about meeting at the car after school. ‘Hey’ one of the voices called as I tried to merge my way past the group. I looked up as his tall frame stood there, a friendly smile on his face. The same beanie as yesterday, an almost identical plaid shirt. Danny from English. I gave a simple head nod, raising my eyebrows slightly in his direction. ‘Who’s the new chick?’ The blonde one emitted, his eyes looking me up and down as I managed to squeeze between the group and the people eagerly waiting to talk to them. ‘Don’t know their name yet’ Danny spoke, very much in a happy-go-lucky voice. Interesting that he didn’t seem to care about the events of yesterday…

The bell rang; a small groan of disappointment, particularly from the girls who stood around Danny and his group. The crowd quickly dispersed as groups flocked to their classrooms. I aimlessly walked down the hall until I stood across the hall from the door that read 13B. I glanced inside the window through the door, only to find a pair of eyes glaring back at me. Seriously, what was this girl’s problem? She sat on the desk, running her fingers seductively through the blonde boy’s hair, even though he seemed more interested in talking to Erin’s friend. A deep yawn emitted from the room, the blonde boy chuckling to himself as he gingerly pushed Erin’s hand away. ‘Dude, I love having my own room most of the night, but ya gotta stop staying up to watch movies all night’. ‘Lay off Cole’ Danny’s voice sarcastically remarked back. I looked up and down the corridor, luckily empty of teachers or other students. I slowly walked away from the classroom, and back down the hall. 

 Construction Zone  

Do Not Enter

A sign read on the door. I slowly pushed the door open, poking my head in to see a large vacant auditorium, a weak smell of dried paint and multiple discarded tools. I slipped inside the room, walking down the steps toward the stage. On the right-hand side, a slightly dusty, but gorgeous baby grand piano. The perfect refuge to pass the day. I could feel my cheeks pinch, a genuine smile. A feeling of relief washed over me for the first time since we moved to this town. I placed my backpack on the ground, approaching the stage. 

I could feel the goosebumps on my arms as I gently ran my fingers over the keys. While slightly dusty and with a few scratches here and there, it was otherwise relatively in perfect condition. C D E F G A B. The sound radiated, like an electric shock to my fingers, a spark radiating through my body. Familiarity, sanctuary, comfort. The room had clearly undergone some extensive renovations. The stage floor was polished to perfection, and the seats were not even indented yet, some electrical chords still yet to be tied up. The sound of the piano bench barely made a noise as I slipped myself onto the seat. I closed my eyes, breathing in through my nose, placing my hands on the keys. I began to play. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

The hours seemed to pass so quickly as I occasionally looked up to the clock on the wall, the sound of the piano seemingly not carrying outside the room. It was almost 2 o’clock, and no one had come into the auditorium all day. It was as if the notes were dancing around in my head, pops of silver, midnight blue, and purples dancing around as I lost myself in the music. Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Bach, Debussy…I didn’t stutter when it came to playing. Music spoke to the soul, an international language that didn’t require one to verbalise. It was my language. When my verbalisation began to deplete, music was something that comforted my family. It was a way of communication. If the music was lively, my sister would jump around the room, pulling my parents into the room to twirl her about. If times were stressful, a calming sonata to soothe the soul. When Mom or Dad had a particularly tough day at work, a familiar tune for them to sing along to lift their spirits. There was always an occasion for music. The last few days had been unusually quiet at home with my piano still to come. It felt like missing a part of my body. My piano was just an extension of me, and without it, I had been feeling incomplete. But even in this unfamiliar town, in this alien school with these strangers, the piano was a familiar friend. 

I glanced at the clock once more. Only 15 minutes remaining until the final bell and I could go home. ‘Play for you, not for anyone else’ Mrs Luella, my childhood piano teacher had said. One last piece to finish the day, to end on a high, to leave my fingertips satisfied until the next time that my soul could reconnect with the music. Clair de lune. A piece written about and for the soul itself. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach at the thought of the notes dancing around the room, the soul outside one’s own body, Debussy’s piece one in a million. 

A slow, gentle, delicate touch, a build of intensity, slow and steady, paced so beautifully. I could feel as each note emerged from the piano, a steady vibration as the piano shook against the stage floor. Slow tranquillity transpired, swirled in motions like a dry leaf dancing in the wind. As the intensity of the song, like a slowly building hurricane, the notes just become louder and more defined as the story builds. The bursts of colour in my head, dancing around in my brain, just sparking the right senses in my brain, almost like a feeling of ecstasy. And so slowly, yet so quickly, my fingers slowed, my touch more gentle, intensity turning to calmness…the songs end a perfect moment to let the last key ring. Utterly beguiling. 

My body jumped, my fingers still on the keys emitting an unflattering jumble of keys that were quite simply incompatible with one another. From the beautiful final ring of notes, a singular person’s claps cascaded across the room like a pouncing cat. My head shot to the seats to find none other than that familiar plaid-dressed boy sitting up in the back row, perfectly nuzzled into the seat as if he had been resting there for hours. I began to cough as saliva caught in my throat, the goosebumps on my arm no longer one of excitement but of pure shock. Danny stood quickly, profusely apologising as he swung his bag over his shoulder, racing down the stairs as he stepped onto the low stage, his hands out in surrender. I placed a hand out, a signal to stop as I grabbed my water bottle, chugging the unpleasant feeling away. 

‘Gosh, I’m really sorry I didn’t mean to scare you’ Danny pleaded. I simply nodded, my mouth full of water as I took a deep gulp. ‘You’re really good’ he said, almost breathless as he nervously shifted the beanie on his head. ‘Clair de lune?’ He posed as a question, even though his tone indicated that he already knew the answer. I stared at him, almost slightly shocked as he slowly waltzed over confidently to the piano, leaning on the other side as he smiled at me. I could feel my body tense, what did he want? ‘Yeah I’m a bit of a film buff myself, and Clair de Lune is probably one of the most amazing scores to just add that…’ he clicked his fingers, slightly looking up as if there were a lightbulb above his head. ‘That raw emotion it adds to a scene, really powerful on the audience ya know?’. I breathed in slowly, nodding slightly. I couldn’t say I knew what the impact meant in a movie sense…but I suppose if it made others feel the way I felt playing it, maybe there was some credit to his statement. 

*Bbbrrriiinnnggg* 

The final school bell chimed. I quickly rose from the piano stool, walking off the stage to grab my backpack, Danny’s footsteps trailing close behind. ‘Hey, the auditions from the school production are coming up soon, and as part of the drama club too we need talented musicians like you to help bring the magic alive so to speak’ he eagerly suggested. I turned my head slightly, shaking my head. I hated crowds, the only people I played for were my family, and sometimes that was overwhelming enough. I placed my hand on the door, only for Danny to interrupt with yet another statement. ‘Hey, look, is there a reason you won’t talk to me? Have I done something to offend you?’ I could hear him breathe aloud slightly, a slight frustration. I could feel his brain rattling away as he waited for a response. I turned around, facing him as he stood a few steps below me, a look of concern on his face as his eyes sought mine. ‘I don’t even know your name, you didn’t even come to class today’ he noted, a voice of confusion. But all I felt was defeat. A moment of tranquillity and peace ended with yet another frustrating reality of my silence. New school, new people, same situation. I dropped my eyes to the floor, turning quickly, and camouflaging into the crowded hallway, leaving Silver Falls High School, and a puzzled Danny. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

I sat at the table, eating cereal with my sister, the boxes around us slowly beginning to disappear as the items of our home began to slowly find their places in the new home. ‘Oh, y/n I almost forgot’ Mom said, halfway out the door in her scrubs ready for work. ‘Miss Jacobs called, she wants to see you first thing when you get to school okay’ she rushed, a smile on her face as she blew us kisses. ‘Love you guys, y/n please make sure your sister has her bag, I had to leave the hospital yesterday in the middle of my shift just to bring it to her’ she exhaustedly exclaimed as she walked out the door. My sister looked up, smiling at me with pieces of cinnamon toast crunch in her teeth. I smiled back, but inside my stomach felt like it was going to explode. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

I stood down the street from school, waiting to hear the sound of the bell ring before I went in. I didn’t want to accidentally bump into Danny again. I watched as a blue car sped down the road, pulling into the school, The Hives blasting from the stereo. The car parked, like a clown car, teenage boy after teenage boy climbed out. That familiar plaid shirt and beanie climbed out from the front passenger seat. People waving, a few flocking to the car…the boys walking into the school like a tiny parade. 

*Bbbrrriiinnnggg*

The bell chimed, and I slowly walked toward the school, only crossing the threshold when every student was inside. I quietly entered the school, pacing towards Miss Jacobs’ office, eager to get this meeting over with so I could return to the almost private sanctuary of the auditorium. I gently knocked on the door, almost hoping she wouldn’t hear it at all. ‘Y/N come in’. Shit. I cautiously walked into the room, scooting the chair back slightly away from her desk. Miss Jacobs finished her email, twirling in her chair slightly. Her body language said it all. All attention is on you y/n. 

‘Y/N fist of all, I want to formally apologise’ I raised my eyebrow, shocked by her opening statement. ‘I was so busy on Monday, and I forgot to issue an email to your teachers explaining your…well ya know’ Condition, mutism, selective mutism, silence. I’d heard it all before. ‘I am aware of the incident that happened in Mr Choudry’s English class, and it was preventable and I’m sorry that happened.’ It was almost shocking, a teacher apologising. Never had I received anything like this at my previous schools. ‘But please be rest assured, we discussed the practicalities and our requirements to support you at our staff meeting last night.’ Both my eyebrows raised this time…these people were willing to work with me? I could feel my toes curl into themselves, a wave of overwhelming shock washing over me as I gripped the armrest of the chair. ‘I also know that you haven’t been attending your classes the past day and a half, and we can’t let that continue, so if you’re willing to work with me, then I’m willing to work with you.’ She reached into her drawer, pulled out a sheet of paper and surfaced it on the desk in front of me. ‘First of all, it is a requirement that every Silver Falls High student is involved in at least one extra-curricular activity.’ I slowly began to pick at my fingers, looking at the list Miss Jacobs had presented me. Instinctively I shook my head, my eyes pleading as I looked at Miss Jacobs. She took in a breath, looking at another file she pulled from her drawer. ‘Your references from a Mrs Giovanna Luella, she has noted here that you are a very gifted piano player…we do have a piano in our school auditorium?’ Believe me, I know all too well I thought to myself, but the anxiety wasn’t going away. ‘Look, we have our school production coming up, and we need more students who can play percussion instruments. Technically that will make you part of the drama club as that is where you’ll need to be for meetings and practices.’ Fuucckk no no no I internally begged. ‘I already passed it with our drama teacher and he is in full agreement that you only need to participate as the pianist’. It was very clear the decision had been made for me. ‘We also need you to go to your classes y/n.’ A sympathetic smile came to her. ‘Our meeting on Monday with your parents, I could tell that they love you very much, and within that love, I also can see they are worried about you…so if you are willing to join the drama club, then I am willing to let it slide, and we can keep it between us.’ I stopped the picking, meeting her gaze. A compromise. I knew Mom and Dad were worried, but I had also seen how relieved they were even if it was a lie when I expressed that the first day had gone okay. That they were able to sit down at the end of the night, not having to discuss between them as yet school had called them again to talk about my attendance. If not for me, then for them. I looked at her once more, nodding my head in agreement. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

The day had passed slowly. Keep your head down, take notes, and nod occasionally and teachers will be satisfied. At lunch, I sat at the back of the empty auditorium eating my sandwich, headphones in until the bell rang. Finally the last class of the day, and it couldn’t come soon enough. I looked at my timetable, my heart slightly dropping into my stomach. 13B - English. I walked into the classroom, taking that same seat in the back corner, looking out the window as everyone else filed in. My daydreaming was interrupted by Mr Choudry slipping between the tables, and bending down in front of my table. ‘Y/N, I’m so sorry about the incident on Monday, I hadn’t been informed about your speech impediment’. I gave him a nod, I could genuinely see the sincerity. ‘Oh Danny, come sit’ Mr Choudry said, my eyes following his as Danny stood behind his chair, his lips awkwardly shifting as his gaze flickered between myself and Mr Choudry. ‘I can sit somewhere else, this sounds like a…private matter’ he said, looking around the classroom only to find every seat taken. I reached over, slowly pulling the chair next to me out from under the table, patting the seat, and inviting Danny to sit down. He smiled, sitting down as he flung his backpack underneath the desk. ‘Fresh start?’ Mr Choudry said, reaching his hand out. I slipped my hand into his, shaking his hand, and giving a curt nod. ‘Also welcome to the drama society’ he said. I looked curiously at him as he began to walk back to the front of the room. ‘Meetings are Thursdays after school, so we’ll see you tomorrow.’ Of course, he was the drama teacher too…

As Mr Choudry read passages of Shakespeare to the class, pulling apart the meaning of each sentence of ye old English literature, I couldn’t help but notice the way Danny focused so intensely on each word. He didn’t bother to scribble any notes down, he just seemed totally lost in the dialogue. His fingers shifted, reaching into his binder without even looking, his attention still focused on Mr Choudry. He plucked a single sheet of paper from the back of his binder, pulling it out slowly and silently, and slipping it on top of my notebook. I looked down to see a sheet of music. The notes already ringing in my ears as I read the paper. It didn’t seem very Shakespearean, nor classical…My eyes darted to the top of the page, reading the bold heading at the top of the page. 

‘Don’t Be Shy’ 

Cat Stevens

Sheet Music

Mr Choudry’s voice completely disappeared, the sounds of scribbling pens on paper gone, the presence of everyone else obsolete. I dropped my pen, grazing my fingers across the page. My heart fluttered. I tilted my head slightly, looking at Danny with my mouth slightly agape. I could feel my heart slightly pumping as Danny looked back at me, his lips curled into a smile. My lips doing the same. I looked back to my notebook, tearing a piece off the bottom of the page as the bell rang and the sounds of students chattering and chairs scraping began to sound again. I quickly scribbled on the paper as Danny reached for his bag. I slid the note in front of him, walking out of the classroom before he could respond. It read

My name is Y/N

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

When I arrived home, a glorious shine glared through the window. An even bigger smile washed over my face. My piano. I rushed inside, tossing my bag to the floor, walking into the living room, ignoring my Dad’s greeting or my sister’s attempt to play with me. I reached into my pocket, unfolding the new sheet of music and placing it on the music stand. The notes immediately cheerful, the music bouncing and echoing in the still largely unfurnished home, boxes still scattered everywhere. 

‘I like this one’ my sister exclaimed, skipping into the living room with her stuffed monkey, twirling around. ‘Come Daddy’ she squealed, running into the kitchen, grabbing his hand as she pulled him in to dance. The chorus hit and Dad picked her up, spinning her around as she squealed in delight. I barely noticed the front door open as Mom came into the room, her nursing scrubs still on as she delightfully asked ‘What’s going on?’ My Dad grabbed her hand, pulling her into a twirl as he lovingly took her workbag from her shoulder, placing it on the ground as my sister skipped around the piano. By the end of the song, Mom and Dad were slow dancing in a tight embrace, my sister delightfully flinging her monkey about the room. 

‘I’ve missed this’ Mom exclaimed, wrapping her arms around my shoulder, hugging me. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

As students pattered out of school, the busy corridors turned quiet as the day ended. I slowly walked to the auditorium door to find the Do Not Enter sign removed, and instead, a brass plaque that read ‘Silver Falls Auditorium’. I had spent lunch in Miss Jacobs office printing piles of sheet music Mr Choudry had requested. My private sanctuary is now open to all. I couldn’t help but feel my stomach drop slightly. I pushed the door open quietly hoping the room would be vacant. 

I stepped into the room, disappointed to find a row of students filling the front row. I quietly shut the door behind me, finding a seat in the back-row corner, waiting for the meeting to begin. I looked at the back of everyone’s heads, my heart pounding, my stomach in my throat as all the drama club members chatted in delight amongst one another. As my eyes scanned across the row, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. That familiar beanie, that bright smile, Danny sat smiling as he talked to his friends. His eyes wandered amongst the room, leaning forward slightly as he looked over the crowd. His eyebrows scrunched, only relaxing when he turned and saw me. He raised his hand, a friendly wave. I curled my lips up naturally, giving a small wave back. ‘Sorry I’m late everyone’ Mr Choudry announced as he entered the room, walking across the stage, a large stack of paper in his hands. He glanced around the room, taking a mental note of attendance as he smiled at everyone in the front row. It was only when he saw Danny’s head turn slightly that he followed Danny’s gaze, finding me at the back. ‘Alright guys settle in, we have a new member with us today, this is Y/N.’ He said, pointing to the back of the room, everyone shifting in their seats as they cast their eyes upon me. ‘Y/N will be our pianist, not an actor, y/n speaks through the music so just embrace the talent and let’s give y/n a welcoming round of applause’. A gentle clap carried across the room, thankfully everyone was too eager to begin the meeting to care so much. ‘Y/N if you could come down and take your place at the piano thank you very much’ he requested, as he walked toward each member of the group handing them a small booklet. 

‘This semester, we will be working on none other than William Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ which you will all be aware is this year’s school production.’ I slowly took my place behind the piano, grateful that the angle somewhat gave me some privacy from the rest of the room. 

Mr Choudry experimented with the music as much as he did with his directing. The notes intertwined with the scenes, as Danny and the rest of the students took turns reading characters, emitting emotions from the pages in front of them, turning words into something living and breathing. Shakespeare, famous for the iambic pentameter, verses so soft and strong, rhythmic yet no rhyme, a heartbeat to each word. Mr Choudry would round to the piano, requesting notes and pieces that exerted feelings of power, sadness, love, and deception. It was a challenge…but a welcome one to a part of myself I had become too familiar with. Music to dialogue offering a new thought-provoking provocation. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as terrible as I expected… 

…After Drama Club…

The sky turned orange through the large glass windows. The drama students quickly, petered out as Mr Choudry dismissed the meeting, their scripts tightly within their clutches. I quietly packed the music in my backpack and walked across the stage. Danny stood his, back turned as he packed his backpack. I stopped in my tracks, my heartbeat slightly skipping. Should I just go? Should I tap his shoulder? Should I wait for him to leave first? Before I could decide, Danny turned around, his smile infectious as the corners of my own lips curled up slightly. ‘Hey, how did you find it?’ I shrugged, smiling as I tugged on my fingers nervously. Danny chuckled ‘Well you sounded great, seriously the music adds feeling to the scenes…makes it easier to get into it ya know?’ I held my hands out, gesturing to Danny, returning his question. ‘Yeah, I mean I’m really happy with the play for the production this year, and Mr Choudry I think is going to be a great mentor for the play being an English teacher too’. He opened the door as I followed him up the steps and out of the auditorium. ‘Anyway, I am glad you joined, you have added a touch of magic to it’ he said. I could feel my cheeks turn red, I stopped in my tracks, taken aback. Danny stopped, pointing to the door ‘You coming?’ He asked. I could feel my heart beating a little faster, a sudden feeling of urgency. I nervously shook my head, looking around, and pointing at the bathroom. He smiled, nodding. ‘Well, I’ll see you tomorrow y/n’. Y/N. It felt nice hearing Danny say that.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

As the semester went on, every week before the drama club meeting, the nerves and adrenaline in my stomach grew each week. I almost wanted to quit, to stop showing up altogether, but those few minutes after practice, when it was just Danny and I…it was like a drug. A hit, a sweet tenderness, a wash of excitement when Danny waited for me to pack my things, and walk out of the auditorium with me. It was an intoxicating, yet scary feeling. What was I expecting? I couldn’t tell, but the fear was beginning to outweigh the warmth. Don’t kid yourself y/n, you can’t even speak to him, he would never. The doubt was exhausting, but still, something in me made me keep going to the drama meets. 

Another afternoon the drama club meeting commenced, the auditions for the school production were upcoming, and more people joined. I sat in the corner on the piano stool, headphones in as students desperately asked Mr Choudry for notes, direction and advice. The more people, the busier the meetings became, the less need for music. I would glance up occasionally, looking as Danny sat, pure wonder on his face as he watched the scenes unravel before him, miming the script as his friends rehearsed on stage. It was an interesting sight to watch, to see someone so enamoured and swept up in the art of performance and acting. Truly studying the performance, took notes down on his script when Mr Choudry gave his critique on other students. I’d watch as Danny rehearsed Benedick’s lines, the music slowly dancing in my head, what would make this scene more dramatic? What would make these characters seem more scary? What would make Benedick seem more romantic?

I scrolled through my playlist, adding songs, piano pieces, and movie scores, slowly building the much ‘ado-about-nothing’ playlist, I hadn’t heard Mr Choudry dismiss the meeting. It was only when a shadow slightly blocked the light shining down on the piano that I finally looked up. Danny stood there, leaning on the piano, his familiar smile. I took my headphones out, smiling back as I began to collect my belongings. A wave of nerves washed over me, tingling rushing from my heart to my fingertips. ’I miss hearing you play’ he said as I rose from the piano stool. I could feel my cheeks begin to burn slightly, the corners of my lips pinching my cheeks. ‘y/n, I know it’s a bit late, but I was wondering if I could ask you to stand in while I rehearse lines? With so many brothers, a sister and my cousins, our house is a bit hectic to rehearse?’ He stood with his script, nervously looking to the ground as the paper slightly crumpled in his hand. ‘And I have the car, so I can drive you home after…’ I hadn’t seen a nervous side to Danny. I could feel my stomach churning, on the other hand, my heart felt a little bit fuller. I nodded, Danny, smiling in relief. ‘Okay, if you just stand here’ he said, walking to the middle of the stage. ‘I just want to rehearse some of these scenes with Benedick and Beatrice’ I swear, even beneath my thick sweater, it was obvious my chest was heavy as my breathing intensified. I slowly put down my backpack, cautiously walking to where Danny stood. He could clearly sense my nerves ‘Don’t worry, we won’t do the kiss scene or anything’ he laughed, flicking through his script. My heart cracked slightly, a feeling of despair…of course, someone like Danny Walter would never want to kiss someone like me…not even if it were pretend. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

For a moment, it felt like I wasn’t me, like I wasn’t that person with the stutter or that family that moved around a lot. The way Danny embodied Benedick was captivating, the way he moved across the stage, the way his arms gestured in ways to add liveliness to the scene. The way he created something from nothing. Danny had always been so chipper and nice, it was almost bewitching, the way he embraced the character so flawlessly. It was almost agonising when it ended, when Benedick and Beatrice went back to the page, and Danny and y/n came back. 

‘I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this y/n, having 5 brothers and a sister, as well as my cousins and Jackie at home, the only peace I get is at night when everyone is in bed and I have the TV all to myself’. No wonder he was always yawning during class, I looked at him, slightly embracing the wit of Beatrice, mimicking his constant yawning. He laughed nodding ‘Yeah I know, it’s a terrible habit but sometimes it’s the only solace.’ Boy, I knew that feeling all too well, when I played the piano it was almost as if I was someone else. He glanced down at his phone, the time 6:00 pm. ‘Hey, my house is pretty hectic around this time, I don’t know about you but I could use a bite to eat, do you wanna stop and get something on the way home?’ I wanted to tell my heart to stop, for my head to stop running away with the fairies. He’s not into you, he’s just being nice. I couldn’t even bring myself to call him a friend…I hadn’t had a friend in a long time. ‘y/n?’ He quipped. I nodded my head, looking at Danny to find my bag in his hand, his eyes looking into mine as he had bent down slightly. ‘The Lark, is that okay?’ I nodded in agreement, following Danny out of the auditorium to his car. 

The entire drive, Danny spoke of his favourite movies, always making sure to ask if I had seen certain films or if I liked them. He spoke of New York, his desire to go to Juilliard to pursue drama and his dream of being an actor. He spoke of growing up in Silver Falls, and how everyone knew everyone. ‘I have to say it’s nice to finally have a new friend’. I looked out the window, pulling at my fingers. I could feel my tear ducts beginning to well up…a friend. But a little piece of my heart felt slightly disappointed, but the overall feeling was overwhelming. A friend. 

The Lark was relatively busy on a Thursday night. As we walked in, a man behind the counter looked at us with a beaming smile, waving in our direction. I looked behind us, expecting to see someone else, but yet Danny was full of surprises. Danny was already waving back at the man behind the counter, gesturing with his hands to him, the man gesturing something back, and pointing to a table in the corner, a reserved sign on the tabletop. I looked at Danny, a stunned look on my face. ‘My brother Will’ he said, pointing nonchalantly as Will rounded the counter, walking to his brother and pulling him into an embrace. I couldn’t help but notice Will wore hearing aids. Will turned to me, Danny smiling ‘Will this is my friend y/n, y/n this is my older brother Will’. Will reached his hand out, I slipped my hand into his returning his shake. ‘Hi y/n, it’s so nice to finally meet you’ he said, his hands gesturing signs as fluently as the words came out of his mouth. Sign language. ‘Danny has told me so much about you, it’s nice to finally put a face to the name’ his hands dancing with each word. My cheeks pinched, my teeth gleaming as the smile spread across my face. 

Will walked us to the table in the corner, conversing with Danny about the play and the rest of their brothers at home. As we approached the table, Danny quickly rounded, carefully pulling the chair out for me, his brother smiling in approval as he gave his brother an approving wink. I untucked the hair from behind my ear, trying to hide the colour of my cheeks slightly. ‘Lucky you messaged me last night, would have been awkward to have turned my brother away, it’s so busy tonight’ Will said, placing the menus in front of us. Danny quickly looked to Will, signing something, his glare piercing as Will patted his shoulder walking back to the counter. ‘Sorry about him, siblings ya know?’ I nodded, I knew exactly what he meant. My own sister certainly had her moments. ‘You have siblings?’ He asked. I nodded, holding up a single finger. ‘Her name doesn’t happen to be y/s/n?’ He asked curiously. My eyebrows knotted together as I suspiciously met Danny’s gaze. I nodded. ‘My sister Parker has been talking about a new friend she’s made at school’. Goodness…this town really was tiny. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Danny’s conversation was as cozy and warm as the soup we ate. He talked about his family, the ranch he grew up on, the animals on his farm. It was a nice change, to listen to someone talk about stability, it was something foreign to me, having moved around so much. The way Danny talked about it, it seemed the Walter house was non-stop. No wonder he stayed up during the night to watch movies. In return, I showed him pictures of my own family, my little sister, and my beloved piano. By the time most of the crowd had cleared out from The Lark, it was as if no time had passed at all, I could have sat there all night listening to Danny talk about his dreams of Juilliard, his aspirations of being an actor. It was only when Will approached us, with four mugs and a coffee pot that I looked around to realise everyone had gone, the open sign switched to shut. Will pulled some chairs, and the other waitress sat down too. ‘Y/N, this is Haley, my fiancé.’ I nodded in hello as she did too. Will and Haley poured the coffee, diving into a conversation about their upcoming wedding, Will’s new job here at the cafe, and conversations about their siblings. Danny told them about the play, my piano playing, and the upcoming auditions on Monday. We laughed, we smiled, I listened. Will even opened up about growing up with a hearing impediment. I hadn’t felt so included by people outside my own house in a lifetime. ‘Hey, we should give y/n a sign name’ Haley chimed. I looked at her, my eyes softening. I felt taken aback, that these people who had scarcely met me were already willing to include me in such a precious way. I looked at Danny, his gaze looking back at me with pure heartfelt kindness. Danny lifted his hand, shifting from left to right, as he delicately placed his fingers on the table like a piano. At that moment, it was as if Danny Walter had played the keys of my heart. 

Only when I looked behind Danny and saw the clock did I realise the time. Danny sat up, clearly worried as my face turned from solum comfort to one of panic. He followed my gaze, looking at the clock. I quickly gathered my bag, the chair scraping across the floor as I stood up, realising I hadn’t texted Mom or Dad to let them know where I was. I grabbed my wallet out of my bag, my hands shaking as I dug out a $20 bill placing it on the table for the meal. Haley tried to protest, but I was already rushing out the door, Danny closely in tow. He rushed ahead, unlocking the car and opening the passenger door for me. I climbed in, already bringing up the GPS on my phone. Danny climbed in glancing at my phone as I showed him the map. ‘Don’t worry, I know where the old Anderson’s place is, I have a shortcut.’ This town was too tiny for its own good. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

When Danny pulled into the driveway, I was surprised to see my parents sitting so calmly, reading their books on the couch through the window. They didn’t even look up at the sound of Danny’s car pulling up. I took a deep breath, leaning back into the seat, unsure of what was happening. I almost expected to return home to a cop car in the driveway. I unzipped my backpack, digging into the bottom to find my phone. 1 text from Mom.

‘Will from the Lark Cafe called to let us know you were there. Enjoy x’

I showed Danny the text, slightly confused. He smiled ‘That’s Will…always thinking ahead, plus he used to hang out with the Andersons kids so I’m not surprised he still remembers the phone number’. I was beginning to get the impression that the Walters were the pillar of the Silver Falls community. I looked back to the window, my Mom giving a small wave as she got up from her spot on the couch, and walked toward the kitchen. I looked at Danny, smiling as I reached for the door handle. It was totally stiff, I jiggled the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. ‘Oh yeah, there’s a trick to it’ Danny said, taking off his seatbelt and sliding across the seat, reaching his arm across my body as he un-clicked the door. 

I glanced down, Danny’s gaze looking up at mine. He slowly rose, our eyes locked. Our faces were so close, I could feel his breath on my face. My eyes glanced down to his lips, his lips were slightly parted. I looked up, his eyes were on my lips. I moved forward slightly, the tip of my nose touching his, prompting him to move forward. Our noses slid, tucking into one another. 

*BANG*

Our foreheads banged against one another, I pulled back pressing my hand up against the throbbing pain. ‘Y/N’S HOME’ My sister shouted, her stuffed monkey in hand, her hair slightly dishevelled as she stood in her pyjamas at the living room window banging away. I quickly grabbed my bag, and getting out of the car, in pure embarrassment, I ran straight into the house. 

‘Hey, how was your evening?’ My Mom asked, her voice getting quieter as I walked down the hallway, straight to my bedroom. I leaned against the back of the door, sliding down to the ground, cradling my knees in my chest. I know I should be happy, and I was. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all too good to be true. That Danny was too good to be true. That it would all come crumbling down around me. That all things too good meant that something bad was coming. The only way to stop the bad thing from coming was to stop the happiness from becoming. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

I hadn’t been back at school since the last drama meet. On Monday morning as I approached school, Danny stood there across the road, his eyes searching until his eyes landed. His cheeks were pink, he was clearly waiting for me. It was all too overwhelming. It’s amazing how all the signs are there, and yet my brain could find all the reasons to not let it happen, to not let it be possible. The only way to protect myself, to protect him, was to ignore Danny Walter. 

Fear had always been something greater than happiness. Even when I felt happy, like that night at the Lark Cafe, it was the retrospect of it all that made it so frightening. The fantasy was becoming all too real, the feelings were overpowering. Danny Walter was destined for greatness, he would go to Juilliard, and he would meet someone equally as passionate, as dedicated and as confident as him. It wouldn’t have worked I repeated to myself over and over. But it didn’t ease the heartache. Sometimes silence was easier than facing words. 

I stared back at him for a moment. Contemplating crossing the road. But I couldn’t. I turned away, walking away from school, leaving Danny standing there. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Sunday Night

‘Y/N would you come here please?’ My Mom’s voice called from the kitchen. Mom and Dad stood at the kitchen island, another figure with them. The person turned around slowly to face me too. Shit. 

Miss Jacobs’ sat at the table with my parents, a folder containing my attendance records in front of her. ‘You haven’t been at school all week?’ My Dad stated more than asked, his voice slightly raised as my Mom sat with her fingers tightly interlaced. I shook my head. ‘You’ve been sneaking off with that boy who dropped you home that night after Thursday’s drama meet?’ Dad questioned. My eyes widened. I shook my head, looking straight into his eyes with a pleading look. ‘Danny Walter?’ Miss Jacobs questioned. I looked at her, a look of pure confusion on my face. ‘Danny actually came by my office on Friday, he asked after you’. My Mom and Dad looked at each other in surprise. ‘Mr and Mrs y/l/n, I can assure you that y/n has been the only student absent from school this week consistently, I know that y/n has had issues at past schools with attendance. But before this, y/n’s attendance has been extremely satisfactory.’ My mom reached across the table, interlacing her fingers with dads. ‘Y/N I know you’ve had issues with bullying at your past schools, but you seemed to be doing so well at Silver Falls, is there anyone or anything we need to address?’ I shook my head solemnly. The truth was, Silver Falls had been all too good. ‘You’re a great student y/n, your grades have been satisfactory, you’ve made an excellent addition to the drama club as a pianist, you’ve got a friend who clearly cares about you…what are we missing?’ Miss Jacobs asked. It was only when she mentioned a friend who cares did the tears started to fall. I got up from the table, running to the solitude of my room…

*knock knock knock*

I wiped my eyes, turning over as my Mom slowly opened the door. She closed it behind her, shuffling under the bed's covers with me, as she lovingly brought me into her embrace. ‘Am I right in thinking this friend of yours is a bit special?’ She asked, her cheek leaning on the top of my head. My throat squeaked involuntarily as I cried a bit harder. ‘Oh, sweetheart, did he hurt you?’ I shook my head against her chest. ‘Did you hurt him?’ She whispered. I took in a deep breath, wanting to shake my head, but I knew that would be a lie. I nodded my head slowly. ‘Did you want to hurt his feelings?’ I shook my head. She let out a big sigh, her heartbeat calming down as she began to understand the situation. Many times in the past, conversations like this were always due to bullying, unsupportive school environments…ones that had resulted in moving schools, sometimes towns. I could tell she was relieved, but I certainly was not. ‘Sweetheart, some choices are scary, but sometimes they are worth making…’

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

My mom’s words rang through my head. Sometimes choices are scary, but sometimes they are worth making. I walked into homeroom quickly, I wasn’t going to allow the fear to take control. I opened the door slipping into the classroom. I took a deep breath, looking around the room to find Danny Walter was not there. I looked around, only to find a similar pair of eyes on me. Cole’s gaze was hard as a rock, yet narrow with suspicion. He looked me up and down, slightly rolling his eyes as he pursed his lips and turned his attention back to the girls fighting for his attention. 

Deep breath. Sometimes choices are scary, but sometimes they are worth making. I walked straight up to Cole, tapping him on the shoulder. He turned around slowly, making it very clear he didn’t have any interest in engaging with me. Danny I signed, his sign name similar to the movement of a director’s clapperboard. He shifted his head to the other side, pursing his lips again. ‘Why do you care?’ He asked, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Erin and Olivia’s glares also fixated on me. I could feel my insides quivering. ‘Don’t let the fear take over, don’t let the fear take over’ I repeated in my head. I signed his name again. Danny. He sat up, leaning back into his chair, crossing his arms. ‘Someone he cared about hurt him, and he didn’t feel like coming in today.’ It was like a heavy weight had dropped on my chest like someone was playing all the bad keys in my head. ‘Probably because of you, he didn’t get the part in the play either’ Olivia remarked in a snarky voice. Danny and Erin both turned around, glaring at Olivia as she looked back at them slightly confused. My heart cracked again…how did he not get the part of Benedick? By the time Cole had started his next sentence, I was already out of the room. 

I ran down the hallway, my shoes skidding beneath me as I halted outside the auditorium door. The audition results were listed on the bulletin board. It was true, that Danny had not gotten the role of Benedick. I began to pick at my fingers. I looked up and down the empty hallway. I could go back to class…or I could make this right. 

I need to make this right.  

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

I was breathless by the time I got to the Lark. The place was empty, everyone likely at school and work, the morning rush past as the tables were littered with empty mugs and dirty plates. I looked through the window, Haley was busy collecting plates from the tables. Luckily, she was alone. I slowly opened the door, the bell ringing. ‘y/n?’ Haley asked, clearly confused as I should be at school. ‘Are you okay? Danny came in practically like every day last week asking if you had been in.’ I stood there, my mouth dropping slightly, the picking at my nail beds increasing. ‘You okay?’ She asked again, putting the plates in her hand down as she walked toward me, gently placing her hands on my wrists, and pulling my hands apart. She looked down at my fingers. ‘Will used to chew his nails when things got overwhelming, I’d notice that sort of stress anywhere’ she sympathetically noted, brushing her thumbs back and forth over my skin. I could feel my eyes begin to tear slightly. I shakily reached into my pocket, bringing up the GPS app, and giving it to Haley. She looked at me, confused. Danny I signed. ‘He’s not at school?’ She asked curiously. I shook my head, my eyes pleading as I signed again. Danny. I didn’t know what it was about Haley…it just felt like she understood. She took my phone, typing on the screen before giving it back. ‘The Walter’s ranch isn’t far, but their driveway is rather long, do you have a car?’ She asked, her eyebrows knotted together in concern. I shook my head, but I didn’t care. I quickly gripped onto her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, before tapping Go on the GPS, heading back out the door, toward Walter’s farm. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

*Knock, knock*

I tentatively stepped back from the door. Looking around cautiously, I gripped the envelope in my hand, likely crushing the contents inside. I could feel my heart beating so loudly in my ears, I didn’t hear the door click open. ‘Y/N?’ I looked up. It was the first time I had seen Danny without his beanie on, his hair slightly scruffy. His face seemed one of relief as I looked at him. But the relief turned to one of hurt, the corners of his eyes slightly dropping. I lifted the envelope, holding it out…but he only stared. ‘What do you want?’ He asked, his voice clearly tired. I shook the envelope, begging him to take it. He stared at it, finally cautiously taking it. He opened it, reading the contents of the page intently. ‘This is a Juilliard application?’ He asked confused, crumpling the page tightly in his hand. I pointed to the top of the page. ‘You wrote my name on this?’ He asked again. I nodded, reaching into my pocket and handing him a pen. He looked at the application, his eyes glancing over the contents. ‘I didn’t get the part’ he said, trying to hand the pages back. I looked at him, shrugging my shoulders, as if to say ‘So what’. I held the pen out, taking a step forward, pleading with him to take it. ‘I Didn’t Get The Part.’ He stated. I took another step forward, still holding the pen out. ‘I don’t know why you even care’ he said, beginning to rip the pages in half right in front of me. ‘You knew I was waiting for you on Monday, you saw me and you just walked away’ tearing another page. ‘You stopped showing up to school, you didn’t show up to the drama meet, you even just left the car without even looking back after we almost…’ another rip. 

‘I….I thought you liked me back’ he whispered, his head dropping to the ground as he dropped the torn pieces of paper on the ground. I took a deep breath, my throat catching, the pen dropping as my arm dropped back to my side like a floppy noodle. I could feel a single tear slowly shed down my cheek, the salty taste wetting my lip. ‘Besides, Juilliard won’t accept students who can’t even get a lead role in a crappy high school production, so quite honestly, Fuck your application.’ 

My sadness quickly turned to confusion as I finally looked back up from the torn pieces of paper back to Danny’s face. Confusion turning to anger. How could he think so little of himself? How could he not see how hard he’s worked? How could someone as passionate as him turn so sour and discouraged so quickly? How could he just give up?

I don’t know what came over me. I placed my hands on his chest, slightly pushing him back. He looked at me shocked. Again, I pushed my hands against his chest, the tears blurring my eyes. I dropped to my knees in front of him, falling onto the porch as I began to cry. ‘This was all my fault, this was all fault, this was all my fault’ I repeated in my head. I could feel my heartbeat rising fast, it felt like the blood had drained to my feet. I padded my hands around, my hands shaking as I tried to pick up the pieces of the mess I had caused. I felt a hand gently slip into mine. I looked up to find Danny kneeling on the ground in front of me. His eyes slightly teary as he looked at me. I could feel the ringing in my ears, a feeling of anger, frustration, and sadness was an exhausting feeling all at once. I had finally made a friend, and I blew it. I had finally met someone who didn’t seem deterred by my speech impediment, and I blew it. But what hurt the most, was that my actions, the hurt I had caused, had truly made someone just give up. I was used to disappointing people, myself, and my family. Disappointment had always been a constant, but to choose failure and defeat was to let it win. Even in all our moving, in all my silence, in all the changes, we were determined to never let the failure win. But in this moment, in Danny Walter, it seemed like it finally had. It felt like my brain was going to burst, like every inch of my body was pressing against my soul, like everything needed to get out. 

‘….Y….yy….y…ou….h..h…h…aaa…a..ve….a….v….o…..o..oic…e….u…u…u…use….i….t’ 

His mouth dropped, a tear falling down his own cheek. I didn’t wait for his response, I didn’t wait for the shock, the adrenaline was too powerful. 

I pulled myself from the patio, dragged myself down the stairs, and walked away. 

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

I wasn’t technically breaking the rules. I was at school…I just wasn’t in class. It had been two days and I had secluded myself to the solitude of the auditorium. I didn’t have the energy or the confidence to risk facing Danny Walter again. I had ruined it all…all because I was too scared to take a chance. Up until Danny, avoiding my problems, and risking too many good things happening had always seemed to work out. But this time, it was even more scary…like something was still to come. I couldn’t avoid Danny Walter forever, but maybe if I avoided him just enough things would be okay. 

My eyes were too dry to cry anymore, my chest felt sore, and the cuticles from my nails were all picked off. I spent the day flicking through the folder of music Mr Choudry had me print off. If I just kept playing, time would pass faster. Isolation was something I had become accustomed to. But it felt different this time, the thought that down the hall, in another classroom, the person whose company I still couldn’t help but desire, that if I hadn’t ruined it, I didn’t have to settle for isolation anymore…something I never thought would happen. 

I slipped another page off the music stand, the last piece of crumpled sheet music in the pile. My heart dropped. 

‘Don’t Be Shy’ 

Cat Stevens

Sheet Music

I stared at the sheet, it was as if all the happy notes had fallen off the page. Like the song was scrambled, like the lyrics, the words had lost all meaning behind them. I lifted my hands, gently bringing the fallboard down over the keys, leaning on it, my head resting on my arms. I closed my eyes, exhausted by it all, silently begging for the day to be over. 

‘Damn, I’ve sat through the entire show waiting for this song.’ I slightly jumped as that familiar voice sounded behind me. I sat up slowly, refusing to turn around, convincing myself it was all in my head. But I couldn’t deny his presence as the stage beneath me slowly vibrated as he stepped forward slowly from the stage wing. I turned around slightly, his figure standing underneath the stage light, his frame glowing like an apparition. 

He walked forward, cautiously sitting down on the piano stool. His body brushed against mine, our thighs pressed against one another. I could feel his body slightly shake as he reached into his backpack, pulling out a sheet of paper and placing it on the music stand. What had been twenty pieces of ripped paper on his porch two days ago sat in front of me, every piece taped together again. It was as if all my natural instincts had suddenly stopped working…I didn’t blink, I didn’t move, I didn’t breathe. I simply stared at the tattered page, inspecting every crevice where he had so carefully tried to fit every fraction, every rip, every wobbly bit back together. Not only that, his scruffy handwriting had filled out every section of the application. 

So gently, his arm reached up, his fingers gently slipped the hair on the side of my face, blocking my view of him, tucking it sweetly behind my ear. ‘There’s nothing I can say y/n, other than I’m sorry’ his voice slightly faltered. I turned to him, shaking my head. This was my opportunity, I needed to say it, no matter how hard it was. ‘…..I….I….I’m..mm….s..s..sor…r…r…y….D….a….nn…y…’ I said, a single tear slipping down my cheek. Danny’s warm hands cupped my cheeks. He smirked gently, pulling my face to his, our foreheads resting against one another. His thumb gently rubbed over the single tear on my cheek. I couldn’t help but close my eyes, smiling at the sensation of his skin touching mine. He gently pulled away, his lips brushing, pressing a gentle kiss on the spot where he had just wiped the tear away. 

He leaned his forehead back against mine, our faces an inch closer, like that night in the car, our noses pressed into one another’s, like a puzzle that fit perfectly. His palms still cupped my cheeks sweetly. “Tell me for which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?” Danny whispered. I couldn’t help but giggle. Benedick truly engrained in his soul. I gently brought my hands up, sliding them up Danny’s arms, nervously wrapping my hands around the back of his neck. 

Our lips finally touched. It was like a gentle electric shock. Our mouths fit together so perfectly. His lips were tender and soft, his hands on my cheek guiding me. I couldn’t help but feel a little grateful he didn’t have to pretend to be Benedick for anyone else. I smiled into the kiss, prompting him to slip his tongue gently, brushing against mine. One of his hands slipped down, tracing gently over my throat, moving to my shoulder, down to my hip pulling me slightly closer, our chests pressed against one another. It felt like a film, like when Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh finally kiss at the end of Much Ado About Nothing when everyone cheers and claps. His hand trailed along my thigh, gripping at it and bringing it over his lap so swiftly. I gripped onto him for life, his arms wrapping around me as the kiss deepened. 

‘Oi, Romeo!’ Our lips jumped apart, but our hold on each other was still tight. Cole stood at the top of the auditorium. I slipped my face into Danny’s neck, my cheeks red as Danny turned slightly, facing his brother. ‘Miss Jacobs is heading this way, we gotta get to class.’ I looked up, my eyes peeping over Danny’s shoulder. Cole stood there, a large smile on his face, clearly trying to stifle a laugh at the scene he caught his brother in. ‘Bring Juliet with you’ he said, laughing as he turned around, poking his head out the door. I looked at Danny, our cheeks pink. He quickly looked to his brother again, swiftly stealing one last kiss. 

As we stood, collecting our backpacks, Danny stood. ‘Oh, I almost forgot’ he said, reaching into his bag, taking out a piece of paper, and handing it to me with a beaming smile. I took the paper cautiously, looking at the paper. ‘Juilliard Music Program Application’ was written across the top. His scribbly handwriting had already written my name on the top of the page. I looked up, his hand already outstretched like a gentleman. I slipped my hand into his and walked out of the auditorium together. 

#my life with the walter boys #danny walter #cole walter #shakespeare #much ado about nothing #walter boys

[mackeydoodledoo]

The Florals: Chapter 7

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x (Fem MC)Reader

Summary: You and your best friends are one of the most popular local bands. After a gig you meet the bartender, who has caught your eye and interest.

Chapter Warnings: Depressed Wanda

A/n: This chapter will focus more on Wanda, it’ll be better this time :)

Chapter Key: Italic = Thoughts, [Words] = Song lyrics, ~~Words~~ = Phone call/voicemail, “Bold/Italic” = Thought but out loud, +*+ = Time Skip

Chapter Theme: Can’t Get out of Bed - Crimson Apple | That’s So Us - Allie X

--------------------------------------------------------------------

*Wanda’s POV* You wake up to the bright sunlight rays. When you check the clock, you realize that you were late for work... Again...

[I can’t get out of bed] [Tangled in sheets, life; it wears me down]

You pick up your phone to see a couple of missed calls from Oliver and your boss. 

~~Hey Wands... You doing okay?... Just making sure...~~

~~Wanda I don't know where the hell you’ve been but you’ve been no-calling and no-showing. You're. Fired.~~

Wait.. What?... I’m sure I got approved to take time off... Right?...

You repeat the message and sure enough, you were fired from your grocery store job.

Honestly... Finally, that was a shit job anyway...

The realization hits...

“Shit... Vision is not going to like it...” You groan at yourself

[I can’t get out of bed] [Trust me I’ve tried, I just need some time] [It’s happy in my head} [Trapped in large tracts of a tattered mind]

You search through your notifications, hoping there could possibly be one from Strelitzia... But, you also didn’t expect one. How would she forgive you?... You felt guilty about ghosting her. Since then, you were fighting the urge to simply reach out to her, out of fear of hurting her more. So you waited...

And waited...

And waited...

For her to text you...

Nothing...

The way she genuinely cared for you; took the time out of your own time to make extra time for her especially when you had other plans that you would often be late to because you were helping Wanda, when you took care of her injured leg when you, her, Poppy, and Lark went to an abandoned place adventure. The kiss you and her shared the night she abruptly left your car didn’t leave her mind either. That was her first kiss with a woman.

Did it always feel like that?... Soft, gentle? Slow?... 

You were pulled out of your thoughts when she hears the bedroom door opening.

"Wanda," Vision says, nearly surprised, "I thought you went off to work already."

"Called in," Wanda says, lying to him that she got fired, "I thought you went to work?"

"Forgot something here," He says, "Are you feeling alright?"

He comes to sit next to her at the edge of the bed.

"I... I don't know..." Wanda says, rubbing her temples, "One point I feel okay to take on the day and then the next I want to be in bed all day..."

"Hey hey calm down Wanda, everything will be alright," Vision attempts to calm you down, "I've noticed that you've been stressed lately. Why don't I treat you out today?"

"What about work?" You ask

"The album release party is tonight, Whatever it is I have can wait until tomorrow," Vision says, "I just need to pick up a couple of spare audio equipment."

Oh... He finally decides to attempt to make extra time for me?...

“Take your time getting ready,” He says, I’ll make you some coffee.”

He stands from the bed and exits the bedroom, heading into the kitchen.

[Drink some water] [Take another pill] [You’ll feel better]  [Trust me you will]

You reluctantly force herself out of bed as you go to freshen yourself up. 

+*+

Vision takes you to the cafe he took you to on your first date with him and if you were going to be honest, you actually enjoyed it...

“Feel any better?” He asks

“Sort of,” You sigh

“What can I do?” He asks

[You don’t understand] [This is just the way that I am]

“I don’t know Vis,” You sigh again, “I just... Wanna be okay for the release party tonight.”

“Speaking of...” He begins, “I have the dress picked out for you. We just have to go and pick it up after this.”

Oh... I wanted to wear dress pants...

“You don’t look too happy about it Wanda,” Vision points out

“Oh, I’m thrilled!” You lie, adding a smile to top it

“Then what’s the matter?” He asks, holding your hand

“Vis, I told you, it’s just been a rough few weeks...” You sigh

“I just want to better understand the situation,” He says

“It’s fine, let’s go pick up my dress and go home,” You sigh

You get up from your seat, exiting the coffee shop

+*+

You sit at your vanity, applying your makeup as Vision was adjusting his tie along the stand-up mirror on the other side of the room. 

“Are you almost ready Wanda?” Vision asks, finishing his tie

He looks at you through his mirror, looking at you. You nod as you turn away from the mirror, beginning to put them u=on tunic you see Vision kneeling down.

“Here, let me,” He says

You watch unenthusiastically as he puts on your shoes. You could tell how much effort and precision he’s putting into the knots of the laces in your shoes.

“You don’t have to be that precise Vis,” You sigh, your eyes rolling in annoyance 

“It’s no big deal Wanda,” He says,” You deserve it.”

Since when did he care about what I deserve?

You felt your phone go off. You open it and sadly for you it wasn’t a text. Sadder that it was a reminder of Strelitzia’s birthday and Annual Halloween show they put on.

“What is it Wanda?” Vision asks, looking up at you

“Nothing Vis,” You say, discarding the reminder notification

He stands as he adjusts his suit and tie, “Ready?”

You nod. He holds out his arm, for you to take... You reluctantly take it as you stand from the seat.

+*+

You were barely paying attention to Vision when the city scape was passing you by as you were both heading to Vision’s workplace for the album drop party. However, en route to the studio, you passed Banks Theatre...

“Strelitzia!”

“That girl?” Vision sighs in annoyance, “Forget about her. She was only using you.”

She never used me at all...

You try to watch Strelitzia and her bandmates begin entering the venue; greeting the people who showed up. 

*Strelitzia’s POV* “Wanda!” You shout

“Dude what?” Lark comes up to you

You look over your shoulder but immediately try to spot the car you could have sworn Wanda was in. But, it was too late, you couldn’t see the car anymore. 

“Sorry, it was nothing,” You fully turn to them

“We gotta go in,” Rose comes up to the both of you

Before you followed Rose and Lark into the theatre you look out to the direction of Wanda’s car once more before following suit.

*Wanda’s POV* You were overwhelmed by the amount of applause that had corrupted your eardrums as soon as you and Vision entered the room.

“Congratulations Vision!” One of his coworkers immediately comes up to him, “I’m sure she’s excited!”

“What?” Your head shoots up to Vision

“Oh, you didn’t tell her yet?” His coworker goes wide-eyed

“Don’t worry about that Wanda,” Vision chuckles it off, “Just something from awhile ago.”

You nod, but still on edge about his coworker just told you. Well, technically him...

[Drink some water] [Take another pill] [You’ll feel better] [Trust me you will]

As the party went on, you were trying to keep yourself to a corner as you could barely cling onto the will to get through the rest of the evening, especially the party.

“Wanda would you come with me for a minute?” Vision asks 

He holds his hand out for you to take. Knowing eyes were upon you, you take it out of spite. He then leads you to the center of the floor, beginning to get everyone's attention.

“Wanda Maximoff, from day one, I knew there was always something special about you,” Vision begins 

Oh... This again...

“I know it’s been a rough couple of months for you and myself,” He continues

What did you have to go through that would be worse than what I went through?...

“But, I know for sure that no matter what happens, we can overcome it together, for the rest of our lives,” He finishes

Oh... 

“Wanda Maximoff, will you marry me?” He finally breaks the question

You look up and around Vision’s coworkers... Phones out, smiles across their faces.

How could he do this without talking to me about it first?...

The thought of Strelitzia came to your mind... 

“But... I love Strelitzia....”

"What?" Vision asks

Oh shit...

You could have sworn that you were keeping your thoughts to yourself. Turns out you just mumbled it to an entire crowd of Vision's coworkers.

"Wanda?..." Vision asks, "What do you mean you're in love with that Strelit-... That firey haired girl?"

"Her name is Strelitzia Bates, Vision," You correct him

"But you've only known her for a couple of months," He states

"Thats true, but she's been there for me in more ways you haven't these last couple of years," You finally confess

The both of you could hear the crowd change their expression as mumbles and side conversations hit; phones still recording.

"You always put your music before me," You begin spewing everything, "Strelitzia is also in music, but she always made time. Scratch that, she makes extra time, risking herself being late. Just to make sure I'm where I need to be. I’m done... I’m done Vision... Being your second choice.”

You begin storming out of the party. 

“Also, I’m done being controlled on what I can and can’t like!” You lastly add, “I’m done being your little housewife!”

Almost instantly Vision breaks into a run after you. You quickly hail a cab and get in once a cab pulls over for you.

“Where to miss?” The cab driver asks

“Banks Theatre,” You say, “Step on it please.”

The cab drives off before Vision could catch up to you to try and persuade you into staying. He watches in despair as he watches you drive away like a runaway bride. 

You pay the cab fee and make your way into the theatre; music blaring from the front door. You walk into the main floor; how different the setting was compared to the end of summer: A decently sized crowd in the front row, people seated at either the high tables all around or at the bar. You stick around the outer side as you slowly make your way towards the stage from the outer parts of the theatre.

The room echoes when the song Strelitzia’s band was performing ends.

*Strelitzia’s POV* “We’re gonna dial this back a bit,” You begin speaking

You get up from your drum set as Pine begins walking back: switching places as the singer/drummer. 

“This goes out to someone I shared this song with,’ You begin, “For context, I didn’t write this, it was almost 3am and this person and I were jamming to this song on the way home from a concert... I don’t know if you’re out there... But... This is for you...”

Lark begins playing a high-pitched keyboard sound as Poppy begins strumming chord on her acoustic.

Why did this sound so familiar to Wanda?

[Can't do crowds, not our scene we get anxiety] [That’s so you] [That’s so me] [That’s so us]

Wands shoots her head up to you as you continue singing.

“I’m here Strel...” Wanda whispers to herself as she unconsciously inches towards the stage

[Seen each other cry] [You make me not wanna die]

[What I like about you baby] [Is how you annoy me daily] [But you still fucking amaze me] [That’s so us, That’s so us]

Wanda hums with you as you sing the chorus, unconsciously getting even closer to the stage.

you look out to the crowd and notice someone making their way towards the front of the stage. 

Oh, someone wants to get a better view.

You get up from the seat you were sitting on and people begin moving when they realized that you were going to hop off stage. However,  finally having the spot light off you, you were able to distinguish the person trying to get a front row spot. However, turns out that person was trying to get your attention and yours alone. 

Wanda?...

Just as she stops mere inches away she leans into the microphone.

[When I’m sick] [When I’m sad] [You always bring me back] [When you’re wild] [When you’re mad] [I’m your girl]

You couldn’t help but smile. She really turned up after all...

[Shit gets real] [Good and bad] [But we cry] [’Til we laugh] [Through the pain] [Through the fads] [That’s so Us]

The both of you were able to harmonize on the fly throughout the rest of the song: standing where you two stood, aside from the stage lights, a sole audience spotlight on the both of you.

“You came back,” You say, eyes nearly filled with tears

“Happy Birthday Strelitzia,” Wanda says, smiling

As your bandmates play the outro to That’s so Us, Wanda finally felt the confidence to coil her arms around your waistline. You lean down to meet her lips halfway. 

Chapter 8

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda x reader #wanda maximoff #Elizabeth Olsen #female reader #scarlet witch x fem!reader #scarlet witch #marvel

[larkstjames]

OPEN STARTER: OUTSIDE OF 'BODY WORSHIP'

❝ oh, motherfucker... ❞ lark glares as she takes in the busted mirror on her motorbike. shattered in several places, it'll be at least a few hundred to have replaced. suffice to say, she's pissed and bruising for a fight. clenching her jaw, lark twists her head this way and that, but no one catches her eye guiltily. her gaze narrows. ❝ hey, you! ❞ she glances about the slow-moving street, searching for onlookers who might have spied the asshole who did this to her bike. across the road, at an outdoor cafe, she marches up to the closest table. ❝ hey. sorry, to interrupt. did you see who hit my bike over there? ❞

#open ( cap at 4 maybe ) #★ : starters #★ : threads #briar ridge starter

[samseabxrn]

hi bestie i have QUESTIONS!! congrats on a great year for writing ❤️ and also a great year because i got to meet you ❤️

1. favorite fic you wrote this year

3. favorite line/scene you wrote this year

23. fics you wanted to write but didn’t

Howdy Rowan and thank you!! I'm so happy we met 🫂 You’re def a big reason I kept creating this year!

1. favorite fic you wrote this year This is tough but I think… and it’s peaceful in the deep. I’m proud of it because I planned it more than most fics I write lol, and I am really happy with the end result. I think a lot of times i kind of miss the mark with what I originally intended… I do like that because I like seeing what results and what people take away from it. But with this fic, I told the story I originally intended to tell, and I was really proud of that focus.

23. fics you wanted to write but didn’t I went trawling in the trenches for this lol, I forget a lot of ideas when I move on from them. I had a Mass Effect longfic I started that went through all the games, and I ended up doing the same thing as I did for DA, using it as a springboard… I think I also had some Bollywood fics I never finished, and two separate DA modern AU/romcom-type things that lost steam. (One was supposed to be an exchange fic inspired by Four Weddings and a Funeral, but I couldn't get it to work in time) I also had a western AU for DA that fizzled out, so that’s fun.

3. favorite line/scene you wrote this year From the care and feeding of lovebirds… I think I’ve posted this before, but I really like the vibes lol:

Simran puts a disc into the player—Madonna, The Cranberries, The Goo Goo Dolls, she’s squirreling them away with a little part of each paycheck.

Maybe once a week, she’ll put on one of her old tapes, something swing, or one of her father’s songs—she listens to them for only half a minute or so before she has to switch them off, and only when she’s alone, only when she can put the hurt away for later. She can never seem to hide these things from Raj. She only has one tape from her father, and it's been in the box long enough it's beginning to gather the lightest layer of dust.

Raj comes through the door just as the soft chords of “Linger” filter into the air, dripping water into the entryway. She can imagine him standing on the mat, beads of water on his coat catching the hallway light as he slips out of his shoes, and it’s all a poem: the rolling thunder underscoring the music, the fat drops rolling down the leaves and pouring from their waxy surfaces—

—right onto her face, and she opens her eyes to find Raj grinning down at her, his dimples on full display as a trickle of water disappears down her blouse.

“Chi—“ she scolds him as she pushes his head away, “I’ll have to clean all that up—“

“I’ll mop it,” he promises, folding one hand over hers where it still rests on his face. He presses his cheek to hers and she can smell his cologne, shivers at the cold dampness of his chest pressing into her back as she lets her eyes fall shut again.

“Come here,” she gently urges, tugging at his hand until he circles the sofa and sits next to her, and then until he lies down with her, both of them hopelessly wet now and bringing the upholstery down with them.

“How was it?”

“It was good,” she whispers, enjoying the soft puffs of his breath on her skin. “I liked the passage they picked.” She came home straight after the exam, the rain discouraging her from any larks to a cafe or the library.

“I was going to stop by the bakery on the way home, but this is an even sweeter surprise,” he says in a syrupy voice. She scoffs even while her chest flushes with warmth.

“Do you want me here waiting for you every day?” she teases.

“As nice as it would be to be greeted by the moon herself every night,” and he brushes a kiss across her cheek as she laughs, “Never. I’d never want to take you from school like that. From your life.”

“You’re my life, too.”

“Not like that,” he says, his voice so fond that she feels she could do anything right now and he’d not have a word against her. “Do you want to order in for dinner?” And he’s off to the latest banal concern, and she’ll never quite get used to how he sees the world, flipping through matters of such gravity and the smallest things like flicking on a switch.

“It’s not Friday.” Can we afford it, will we be good enough to cook Friday instead—

“We can swing it,” he says. “You like Indian?”

She tosses her pillow at his head.

#thank you bestie!! #i can't believe it's been a year #my writing

[frickinsleepdeprived]

WIP Update

I'm currently eating my third bowl of captain crunch berries, drinking a cafe latte monster, hitting my vape, and listening to Seether as I write this lol

I just wanted to give you all an update on what's to come, and what to expect. I'm not sure when these will be done, however, I am holding myself to a strict deadline for one of them.

What to expect:

Ride or Die (Motorcycle Club! Sanemi x Fem! Reader): Part one will be posted hopefully by the start of the new year. I've been working on this one for the longest (even having my sibling @bnuuybee-writes help me storyboard). I'm holding myself to have part one done by new years day 2024 and start part 2 either the same day or a week after part 1 is posted.

Agua y Sombra (Giyuu x Fem! Reader): Unfortunately, I have decided to discontinue Agua y Sombra. It wasn't getting a lot of attention and honestly, the plot was so all over the place that it was hard for me to keep up with it myself. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that I won't write something similar to a storyline like that. (It'll just be more thought out and waayyyy different than Agua y Sombra.)

A few drabbles/imagines/headcanons of various characters

What's to come:

Kind Eyes, Cold Gaze (Obanai x Fem! Reader, Dark Academia AU)

Defeatist, Optimist (Kyojuro x Fem! Reader, Zombie Apocalypse AU)

The Lark, the Swallow (Tengen x Fem! Reader, Musician AU)

The Lost Hashira (Giyuu x Fem Shadow Breather! Reader)

Waltzing with Evil (Muzan x Fem Demon! Reader)

Thats about it for whats to come, and what to expect. Make sure to keep an eye out for part one of Ride or Die!

#abby rambles #abby's WIPs #demon slayer #kny #kimetsu no yaiba #demon slayer headcanons #kny headcanons #kimetsu no yaiba headcanons #demon slayer x reader #demon slayer x y/n #demon slayer x you

[cookinguptales]

Finding Salome, or why the Met probably never wants me to come back

So I decided kind of on a lark to go to the Met yesterday (despite already being fairly tired and achy) and it was largely to go see the Japanese religious art currently on rotation, but then I remembered Salome.

Now, my What We Do In The Shadows pals will recognize Henri Regnault's Salome as the painting that was used for the basis of the Nadja painting in the show.

I'd seen photos of the painting before, but WWDITS was admittedly what got me to pay real attention to it. But... I mean, it's a beautiful painting. The fabric work is just genuinely exquisite, and I've really come to love it.

So when I'm told that one of the big galleries is closed for renovations so I'll have to go through European Paintings to get to the Asian art wing, I'm like excellent, I'll go visit Nadja.

I am cheerful at this point. I am making friends with all the docents, who are happy to point this overgrown toddler with a pink sparkly cane to where she wants to go.

(I.. had just come from brunch at the Barbie Cafe and had my overnight backpack and was giving big First Day At School vibes.)

But then I get to the European paintings and I am confused. Okay, I get why there's the giant line of people. The Karl Lagerfeld thing or whatever. But why are all these galleries on the other side roped off? They're all listed as open online.

I meander my way through the area, enjoying the art and getting increasingly nervous as I realize a lot of galleries are roped off, and it doesn't look like it's for temporary clean-up or something. And then I get to the back and!!! heartbreak!!!

hopes!!! dashed!!

Being real with you guys, I have very shitty vision and I know that doesn't look that far, but I could barely see it.

(-13 glasses prescription gang rise up)

So... I immediately start asking for help. First I ask the nearest security guard. "Why ropes??? Where Salome?????" I said, but like. Nicely and politely and more eloquently than that.

HE DIDN'T KNOW. He said he wasn't sure, but maybe there wasn't enough security to man all the galleries and the Karl Lagerfeld exhibit.

(KARL LAGERFELD, I thought, DEAD AS FUCK AND STILL RUINING THE FAT GIRLIES' LIVES.)

He told me that he wasn't sure what was going on, but that I should go find his supervisor, who was wearing a gray suit. I did look for this supervisor, but couldn't find him. But I start asking around. A few other security guards. Two different docents.

The second docent feels bad for me because at this point I am just like ;o; salomeeee

She tells me I can sit down in her seat (thank you ma'am) and she'll ask around. She comes back, though, and tells me that she still doesn't know and I should go down to the info desk on the first floor.

(She also tells me that maybe I can tell my teacher what happened and I'll be okay. "Teacher?" I ask. "For school," she said, assuming that this was all for some assignment. Then she pauses, and hazards. "Or maybe a professor?" "Oh no, this isn't for school; I just really want to see the painting," I said, and silently added, and also I am 33. I realize at this point that I actually do look like an infant today lmao.)

So... I go down to the info desk. I ask one person. She does not know what I'm talking about. Literally all like... 6-7 people I have asked at this point have been like "idk?? it's supposed to be open??"

She gets a different info desk guy. He's like, well, I guess security roped it off. (??? yes I know that part, I'm asking why and if it'll get UNroped at some point.) And I am like. Sir. I have come all this way to see this painting. (This is not actually the case but it was definitely starting to feel that way.) Sir. No, I cannot come back in a few days. I am going back to California. (Not.... strictly untrue, if misleading.)

He says, somewhat kindly, that once he went all the way to the UK to see a painting and it wasn't on display, so he knows it sucks. So I bring up the the website. I show him that it says that Salome is indeed on display.

He says, I'll make some calls. So he goes away and comes back and tells me that he spoke to security ("the gray suit man..." I think) and it has indeed been roped off for the whole day and can I come back tomorrow? "no," I say, in a lot of pain and genuinely near tears at this point, "I go home in a few hours."

(This man thinks, oh, to California. I am actually going home to Philadelphia, but I am indeed flying to California in a few days to live with my parents like I do every summer while it's too hot for me to safely live on the east coast. Chronic illness life, etc.)

So... the guy pulls a ticket voucher out of his coat. He gives me a ticket for free admission that does not expire. "This is all I can do," he says.

I take the ticket.

I am so depressed at this point. I did not come here only to see Salome, but I really wanted to see her. And now I desperately wanted to see her. It just felt so unfair, somehow, to rope off all these paintings that people could have come from all over the world to see just so dead-ass Karl Lagerfeld could soak up all the security. Like... you just charged me $30 admission to this museum! The fact that you couldn't hire enough security to start with feels like a sham! Isn't this exact shit the kind of stuff the Met Gala is supposed to pay for in the first place? Isn't it supposed to fundraise to put together these exhibits and fund the Costume Institute? They raised $17 million last year! Can they not afford their own fucking security?

I digress.

So I trudge back up through the European paintings hall to go see the Asian art on the second floor. I glare at the Karl Lagerfeld line. I decide to go for one more far-away look at Salome.

So I go. And I look. And there, on the far side of the gallery, I notice movement by the other door.

I see someone get on the elevator.

And I'd known there was an elevator back there, but I kind of assumed it was inaccessible to the general public now. But the person who got on the elevator looked like they were probably a tourist. Like me!!

So I look at my map and see that there's another way to the particular room Salome is in, and it's through... I shit you not, the Iran/Ottoman wing.

(lmao)

I immediately rush off to find Nadja through The Nandor Wing and it's actually a very lovely part of the museum that a lot of people skip but I was in no mind to be normal about it.

But I find my way through the wing, moving admittedly a lot more slowly at this point, and -- SUCCESS.

I still cannot get into the room, but I can get a hell of a lot closer. Especially if I just kinda. Lean over the ropes a little.

This isn't as crowded a part of the museum, being honest, and not many people come by as I'm marveling at Salome.

(Look, I've been trying to see this painting for over an hour. I'm going to take my time with it.)

I do at one point hear a guy behind me say, "Oh, can we not go in here?"

"NO," I say. "They won't let anyone in. I've asked like five times."

It's said like a joke, and it's also untrue. I have asked a lot more than five times.

I turn to laugh with this guy and make room for him to come up to the ropes and see in and then I see him

behind us

A MAN IN A GRAY SUIT.

I see the badge on him and I know exactly who he is. He is waiting to get on the elevator and he is looking at me with recognition and exhaustion in his eyes.

I realize then that he has just seen me hanging half of my entire fucking body over the ropes so I could get a better picture.

I look at him. He looks at me.

He gets on the elevator.

I go back to taking selfies with Salome.

Look at this pleased with herself bitch. lmao

FORREAL THO, wwdits fan or not you should go look at that painting if you ever have the chance. It is SO shiny and it really does look like she's wearing golden clothing. It's so pretty, I looked at that skirt for ages.

Anyway, after this I eventually went to the Asian art wing, only to find that I'd been given incorrect information and there wasn't an accessible route on this floor at all.

I never had to enter European Paintings to start with. :')

#don't worry I was careful not to get too close to that other painting on the wall #I was Salome-mad not careless lmao #I did get to go see the asian art btw #limited Japanese collection tbh but worth seeing #there is ONE elevator that will get you into the asian art wing #and it's tucked away over by the temple of dendur #so my ex-egyptologist ass kind of fell down the rabbit hole there but oh well #the rest of the asian art wing was really lovely too I loved seeing the Jain temple in particular #wwdits #the metropolitan museum of art

[theretirementstory]

Greetings from my hospital bed in Troyes. The weather is cloudy with 18c here at the moment but we are due 30c today. Not that I will benefit from it, well only as the sun pours through the window, but no outside air for me, apart from opening the window the short distance allowed on the lock.

My week was thrown into disarray when, as I was preparing to go to the Maison de Sante to pick up the transport voucher for the consultation at the hospital that afternoon, I received a call from the hospital saying consultation had been cancelled and for me to be admitted on Thursday not Wednesday as everything was arranged for! I took off to the Maison de Sante, said I didn’t need the transport voucher for that day but the one for Wednesday needed amending to Thursday. I then went to the taxi office to cancel one booking and change the other, blimey what a going on…… my stress levels were at an all time high!

My neighbour across the way, brought me a big bag of gorgeous tomatoes, I thought I would freeze them whole but ended up making tomato sauce to freeze. Monique came to see me on Tuesday bearing, more tomatoes! So even more sauce to be made. Anie called round on Wednesday, fortunately her gifts were more vine peaches,which I skinned and froze. I will be tasting summer in the autumn and winter months 😊.

Then before I knew it, it was Thursday and I was heading to the hospital for my 4 weeks in there. One bag was full of food, to keep me going if I was unable to eat what is served up. So far, I have managed to eat quite a bit from my food tray, I think that is because I eat my own food for breakfast and I always have something to nibble on if I get peckish between meals. My treatment started on Friday, on Monday I will be moved into “the sterile room” and one nurse has told me I will have a tough ten days but after that it is all about recuperating. The side effects of the treatment don’t sound great let’s just hope I don’t have them all.

“The Daddy” went to get his beard trimmed on Saturday and also had his hair shaved off. I will be losing my hair and we are going to be two “baldies” together. I know his will grow back a whole lot quicker than mine. Interestingly, seeing him like that, he seems to have my Dad’s shaped face and my maternal grandads nose (strange how you notice these things).

“The Trainee Solicitor” has had a busy 4 days at work and this morning was up with the larks for a ride out to a Helmsley a “ market town” in North Yorkshire, as a change from the usual Saturday jobs. “The Psychology Graduate” went with him and they seemed to have a good time although the place is pretty pricey. Looking in the Estate Agents window made them realise that it would take a lot of ££££££ to own a house there!

Thé hibiscus syriacus, pictured above, was almost disposed of a few weeks ago. I noticed it growing and thought I would pull it out, unfortunately it was well rooted and I couldn’t be bothered to go into the garage for the secateurs. Imagine my surprise, on Thursday morning, when I saw this beautiful flower on the plant.

So to the music that means a lot to me, this week it’s back to 1979 for both songs. There are so many from that year that I loved but the first one was a classic in the house when my sons were young and stayed up late . “Hersham Boys” by Sham 69 the second one is “Every Day Hurts” by Sad Cafe.

I have gone back through my photos and can’t believe it is almost three years since I visited Reims. I loved being in the city, loved the hotel I stayed in, which was so central to this buzzing area and I had promised myself that I would visit again. Well maybe in 2024.

Now as I won’t be having many adventures for the next 4 weeks (hopefully) as I am in hospital having my treatment, it may be that I don’t post a blog. Who knows though what I may get up to and wish to share with you.

#hospital #photography #troyes #barsuraube #nature #70’s music #reims

[inkdrinkerworld]

omg please please please more of cocky academic rivals w remus i lived for that blurb i wanna know what their like 3rd or 4th session is like

part 2 to this

your alarm is blaring through the dorm room and you groan.

it’s the second week of remus tutoring you, and though you love early mornings, this morning is just hard.

the rain is beating gently against your window as you sit up, knuckling at your eyes as you hit stop.

you go through the motions of getting ready, settling for a long black skirt and a yellow vest and a cardigan.

you and remus had come to a sort of middle ground slash partnership that was kind of nice.

kind of, because you refused to give remus any more credit than you already were and because if you did, you’d spiral to a place that you need to keep yourself out of where remus is concerned.

‘i’m here, lark,’ if he carries on with these nicknames you’re not going to last

he looks pretty his car just waiting for you, he looks the part of tortured artist as you open the door and find him in a brown turtleneck and dark corduroys.

“morning remus,” you say softly, setting your bag at your feet as you put on your seatbelt.

“hello mischief, do you want to go by the cafe all morning or down by the sea?” he reverses while waiting for your answer, but you’re a little distracted by how he looks while he reverses.

if remus notices your eyes on him, he doesn’t call you out on it.

“if the rain carries on maybe we should stay in the cafe,” you say and remus nods, but he had checked the weather before you got in.

he goes out and orders your breakfasts to go and takes you down to the sea, where the sun is bright and hot and the sand is dry.

“c’mon, we’re learning about the gods of the sea, it’s fitting we at least sit close by the water.” he says, holding the bags of your breakfast and opening your door.

as you sit and listen to remus rant about the gods as you eat your breakfast you realise quickly that you can’t stop your brain from spiraling to that place where you and remus do this without the books.

it’s like remus can read your mind, because he pauses his explanation and leans forward, slightly into your space.

“if you want something mischief, you can ask me for it. especially if it’s a kiss.”

remus smirks when you duck your face and push his back and stutter to say, “just, just carry on explaining remus.”

#remuslupin #remus lupin x reader #remus lupin x black!reader #remus lupin x you #remus lupin x yn #remus lupin imagine #remus lupin blurb #remus lupin fluff #remus lupin fanfiction #remus lupin

[empress-of-hugs]

This Family is Kenough for me

A small group of former teammates - under the direction of one current one - lies in wait to surprise the ladies in pink. Barbie pink.

Read on AO3

2K Criminal Minds fic. No warnings, just fluff. Story under the cut.

He'd bought a new suit just for the occasion. Hotch couldn't imagine he'd ever have another reason to wear a dusty pink suit, but it would be worth it just for the lark. He'd spent the last few weeks preparing and was definitely planning on going all out. He was just bummed he hadn't been able to find a brighter pink suit. 

The women were meeting up at a nearby cafe, planning on having a drink or two before heading to the movie theater. So obviously they were meeting about half a block away and fifteen minutes early so they could surprise them. As Hotch walked up, he suppressed a smile. “Hey,” he said, muffling his laughter behind a practiced neutral expression. 

Morgan turned around wearing white pants and a bright pink t-shirt. As he turned, Hotch realized there was even a brightly colored and glittering decal on the front of it. It was one of those that said ‘this Barbie is’ only the picture was of Savannah and the caption said ‘this Barbie is working a triple shift’. Hotch couldn’t manage to hold back a surprised and amused snigger. 

“What?” Morgan chuckled. “She wanted to be here too.” 

Hotch shook his head a little in delight and spread his arms. Morgan easily leaned in for a quick hug. “How’s Hank?” Hotch asked and his smile widened when Morgan positively lit up. 

“He’s great. Oh! He joined the little league team, you wanna see?” He didn’t wait for an answer, already whipping out his phone like the proud dad he was. 

Hotch happily obliged him. In fact, the pair were so engrossed in the pictures that they didn’t notice they had company until someone slapped the two of them on the shoulders and pushed his head in between theirs. 

“Rossi!” Morgan immediately turned, throwing an arm around his old friend for just a moment before quickly pulling back. Rossi grinned, taking hold of his lapels as he straightened his back. 

“Do you like it?” 

Hotch looked over the pink, glittery abomination that doubled as Rossi’s suit jacket. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Morgan trying to shake the glitter off his hand. Hotch chuckled. “I know they’re gonna love it. Housekeeping? Maybe not so much.” 

“Oh, shush,” Rossi waved away his words. “I’ll have you know this was a custom order.” 

Hotch nodded. “I believe you. I had trouble finding this, even.” He gestured to his own, painfully out-done, dusty pink suit.

Rossi narrowed his eyes for a moment. “All you need is some glitter.” 

Hotch was about to protest when from behind him came an almost forgotten voice. “Good thing I’m here, then!” 

He turned on his heels and smiled at Kate Callahan. Next to her walked a young woman he didn’t recognize, wearing an almost exact replica of the dress from the promo poster that had been haunting him for weeks now. Frowning, he moved to extend a hand, but the young woman darted past and gave him a firm hug instead. When she pulled back, she studied his face for a moment. “You don’t remember me, do you? Kate said you might not…” She stepped back, holding out her hand for Hotch to grab. “Meg Callahan, pleased to meet you again.” 

His jaw almost dropped as the memory resurfaced. The stunning young woman before him was the same girl he’d known as a young teenager. Now that he thought about it, he could still see some of that girl in her now, despite the gaudy pink and gold makeup and the tediously styled hair. Hotch smiled as he shook her hand, then stepped aside so both Morgan and Rossi could greet her too. Callahan gave him a warm hug. “I’m sorry, I’d promised her we’d go see it together,” she said softly, but Hotch shook his head. 

“The more, the merrier. And Garcia is going to love having you both here.” 

Callahan shot him an excited grin. “I can’t wait! So, who else is coming?” 

“That’s it,” Rossi said, sounding just a little bit dejected. “Reid said he couldn’t make it.” 

“Oh…” Callahan took a deep breath. “We’ll have to make do without him, then. But first…” She looked over Hotch’s suit with a sneaky look on her face. “Are you planning on wearing that suit again?” 

He looked down at the dusty pink. “You mean you think I could? I don’t even wear suits anymore…” 

There was a short, stunned silence before Meg took over. “Alright. So how would you feel about us sprucing that up a bit for ya? We have some time, still.” 

Hotch watched as the young woman pulled a handful of small bottles out of her bag. Glitter glue. He held back a roaring laugh and humbly took off his jacket. The ladies immediately went to work, decorating the lapels with curly trails of pink and silver glitter. They then took and decorated his tie, and even his pants didn’t escape their attention – though he was allowed to keep those on, at least. Rossi’s jeans received a little bead of glitter down the seams and so did Morgan’s before the team decided they were done. 

"Well then," Rossi said as he admired his newly-gilded jeans. "They should be on their second margarita by now, we best get going. 

"Alright," Morgan said with a chuckle, "but no one is getting in my car with this much glitter on their clothes. He looked over at Callahan, whose attire looked like it came straight out of the Barbie Ball Gown collection. Bedazzled and beglittered chiffon ruffles and all. 

"Hey now," she said with a smile. "I'll have you know that Meg designed and made this for me."

"Did you show her your old Barbie collection and tell her you wanted to look like that?" Rossi joked. 

Meg beamed at him. “Close. She said if you or Hotch gagged she’d buy me a new car.”

“And then you both showed up in pink.” Callahan laughed.

“Well what else were we gonna do?” Rossi asked her in mock exasperation. “It’s Barbie. They ran the world out of pink paint, you know.” 

Morgan raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?” 

“Apparently so,” Hotch replied. “But if we’re not driving, we should probably get to walking. Like Morgan, I’d rather keep my car free of glitter. It’s a rental.” 

“So if it wasn’t…?” Callahan joked as they moved down the sidewalk. 

“I probably wouldn’t care,” Hotch said with a smile. “You do look… interesting, I have to say.” 

“I know, right? It’s nightmare fuel.” She puffed up a bit of the chiffon and the sparkles caught the light of the nearby street lamp. 

Hotch just nodded, unsure how to respond to that. “So how’ve you been?” he asked instead. 

“Pretty great, actually. I have two kids at home, plus Meg at college – she got a full scholarship to Cornell. I’m so proud of her. Where is Jack going?” 

“He… hasn’t really figured it out yet,” Hotch said with a smile. “He’s taking a gap year – he’s off backpacking in Australia with a few friends.” 

“Oh, you must be so worried about him!” Callahan exclaimed and Hotch nodded just barely. 

“I tried to talk him out of it, but –” 

“Hey guys! Wait up!” The voice came from behind them, and they all turned around to see. Had their ears deceived them? Was their imagination playing with them? 

No. 

A few yards behind them, ungracefully running to catch up to them, was Spencer Reid. His polyester suit was shiny and pink. His light pink shirt was ruffled. His tie was a mess of pink glitter. Even his Allstars were pink and bedazzled. The sight was so distracting that for a moment, Hotch didn’t even register the woman Reid pulled along behind him. As they came to a panting stop before the small group, he noticed her dress first; understated in comparison to their own, gaudy get-ups, but still very much on theme. It was blue, in sharp contrast with all the pink, but looked like it had been stolen off the set of the movie somehow. When she finally looked up, Hotch felt his heart skip a beat. 

Morgan was the first to recover. “Elle!” he yelled, before enveloping her in a warm bear hug. Hotch hugged her next, after which he introduced her to the rest of the group. Rossi was polite, but it seemed the stories he’d heard about Agent Greenaway made him cautious around her. Callahan and Meg had no such obstacles to overcome. They complimented each other’s dresses and ooh’d and aah’d about the details of each dress. 

Rossi smirked. “Come on, ladies. We have another reunion to attend.” 

Hotch smiled mildly, though he felt the nerves flutter in his stomach; It had been so long since he’d seen any of them. The group hurried down the sidewalk. Hotch had ended up next to Reid, and he was happy to see the younger man doing so well. “I like your shoes,” Hotch remarked dryly, raising one eyebrow as he inspected them.

“Thanks! I was up all night decorating them. I love your suit, too.”

Hotch looked down for a moment. “It was rather boring before the Callahans pulled out the glitter glue.” 

“They brought it with them? Awesome! I saw earlier that I’d missed a spot.” Reid pulled up one leg and hopped along as he pointed out a small speck of unglittered, white canvas on his shoe.

Hotch chuckled. “I don’t think anyone’s going to notice that.” 

“But I’ll know,” Reid protested, causing Hotch to laugh. 

“Quiet down!” Rossi called from the front of the group. “We’re almost there. I think I can see Penelope.” 

Looking up, Hotch thought it would be hard to miss her. Garcia’s dress was – as expected – very pink. As she moved, the color changed in the light, going from light pink to a deep, rich color that matched perfectly with her lipstick and the streaks of dyed hair. She was standing in front of the window, all but shielding the others from view, but Hotch could still make out Lewis, wearing a classically styled green dress. It followed the curve of her body until just above her knees, where light green chiffon poofed out. The same happened at her shoulders, where weightless chiffon bloomed around her upper arms. Hotch smiled. 

As they got closer, he realized both Lewis and Garcia were wearing small hats, Lewis’ hat was dark green, with a cloud of light green chiffon while Garcia’s hat was hot pink and had a few feathers that brushed the side of her face. Behind them, he now saw JJ, wearing a simple but flattering soft pink dress with a white belt. Prentiss was standing next to her, wearing a white-and-blue pantsuit with a striped scarf around her neck. Hotch felt his heart ache as he watched them laugh; he’d missed them all so much. 

They agreed to wait out here when they noticed the women inside were just about to leave. Lining up just across the narrow street, Hotch found himself flanked by Morgan on one side and Elle on the other. She gave him a slightly nervous look, which Hotch answered with a warm smile. There was no point in dragging up the past. Not tonight. “You’ve been doing alright?” he asked her quietly as they waited. 

“Yeah. Fine, really. I, uh, I found something else to do.”

Hotch nodded. “So have I.” 

“Yeah. Reid told me.” She hesitated for a moment before glancing up at him. “We’re good?” 

He nodded again. “We’re good.” 

“They’re coming!” Rossi whisper-shouted, and everyone instinctively straightened up. 

Across the street, the door opened. Lewis wasn’t looking their way as she exited, holding the door for the others. For a moment, Hotch wasn’t sure they were going to notice them and a nervous shiver crept up his spine. 

But then Prentiss glanced in their direction. She paused. Looked again. “Oh my god, you guys!” She called out, motioning for the others to follow her lead as she hurried across the street. 

Soon, Hotch felt JJ’s warm arms around him, followed by Prentiss’ arms, then Garcia’s – followed by a warm handshake from Lewis. He smiled. 

Hotch took a deep breath as he looked around. They were starting to head out now, to the small movie theater a little way down the street. Rossi informed them that he’d booked a private room for their group, and was answered by a few cheers. Hotch was walking between Reid and Prentiss. In front of him were Rossi and Morgan. Behind him, Callahan, Meg, and Garcia were catching up. Hotch closed his eyes for a moment. He was home.

#Fanfic #ao3fic #ao3 link #ao3 fanfic #fanfiction #Criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds #The team watches Barbie #fluff #sfw #friendship #found family #Aaron Hotchner #Derek Morgan #David Rossi #Kata Callahan #Meg Calahan #Spencer Reid #Elle Greenaway #penelope garcia #tara lewis #jennifer jj jareau #emily prentiss

[lunarrosespirits]

Meet Ty the Floral Rabbit Shifter [Mod Lilac]

Name: Ty

Species: Floral Rabbit Shifter

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Pronouns: He/Him or They/Them

Sexuality: Panromantic, Pansexual

Alignment: Light/Good

Personality: Ty is a flirt, and very upbeat and happy. He’s quick with a joke, is really smart, and loves talking about food!  An artist at heart, loves photography, drawing, painting, flower pressing, and using natural materials, paints and dyes. Likes self help books.

Description:  In human form, Ty is about 5’7”, with dark hair that is wavy on top, with shorter/shaved sides. He’s got dark brown eyes, and slightly tanned skin. He usually wears button down shirts that are tucked into black slacks, with a black belt, and business shoes so that he’s always office ready during the work week. His right ear has a birthmark, which also shows up as a brown spot in bun form.

Likes to wear tunics, and natural materials like linen, but dislikes wool. Very into fashion and likes to wear nearly anything that is comfy and functional. 

In rabbit form he is a black rabbit, with purple lilac flowers that sprout from his fur. 

Likes: Food (Korean especially), shopping, flirting, visiting markets, hanging out with friends, getting to explore different areas, baking, coffee, boba, reading, libraries, nature, the beach. 

Dislikes: Rude people, anti-LGBT folks, oppression of minority groups, “pick me” type people.

Hobbies: Shopping, trying new foods, hanging out with friends in cafes and other fun spots. 

Closest spirit friends: Bryn the Mountain Troll, Dannie the Cat Shifter, Lark the Water Lily River Spirit

Magic: Solar, Earth, Floral and Herbology magics

Communication: Prefers tarot, telepathy, astral 1:1, would like to try to communicate via flower language

Companionship: Would like to spend a decent amount of time with his companion. Would prefer to stay earth-side when he’s not at work, and just hang around in your physical space, even if you two aren’t “doing anything.”  He would like a vessel! 

Favorite Colors: Lilac, purple,

Favorite Song: Honey Lavender by ieuan

Bonding activities: Strawberry picking, playing around with photography - everything from phone photos to polaroids, arts and crafts, walk together in nature, listen to new music, learn new facts together, cooking, and picnics, platonic dates Price: $45 Update: 11/15/2022 With a message from Ty (copied and pasted from our Discord) "hey babes! I wanted to briefly bring up a little change Lilac and I have decided on. Instead of my flat adoption fee of $45 which you see at my tumblr bio link that's pinned (which will be updated soon). We've decided that I'd prefer a donation to the Native American Rights Fund (https://narf.org/) in ANY amount. So, instead of sending Lilac the $45 via ko-fi, if you'd like to be considered to be my companion - which you should, I'm great lol - then you'd send in your app, and then message Lilac your donation receipt. Also, I'm not a single pringle anymore , so my companionship will be strictly platonic. Love you all, stay sexy."

#lunar rose spirits #lunar rose spirit services #spirit adoption #spirit companion #spirit adoption shop #spirit conjurer #available spirit #spirit shop #companion #ty the floral rabbit shifter #mod lilac #lunar rose mod lilac