#shh... you've been blessed

[greennoobartist]

I don't think ill ever get over the fact that Blue tugs his hair behind his right ear. The rest keep the same as Four but Blue just went slay 💙

All art by jojo @/linkeduniverse ofc

[shouyuus]

I have a request based off of something that happened to me with my gf LMAO but if you could write a Vi and reader having ✨sesbian lex✨ and Vi suddenly gets a phone call. Instead of Stopping Vi covers reader’s mouth and answers the call, chatting normally as she continues to strap reader down and reader is struggling to stay quiet 👁️👁️ thanks pookie!

that's so hot pookie bless so glad u got to have that experience 👁️👁️

+18, mdni, carmech!vi bc i miss her wow

"n-ngh -- vi... r-right there --"

"yeah sweetness? like it when i fuck you right there?"

vi sounds a bit breathless, there's a light quirk to the side of her lips as she works her hips into yours, her strap hitting against a spot inside you that has your vision petering out at the edges. there's a heat curling in the base of your belly that makes your toes curl, your spine bend. you reach for her, sinking your fingers into her tightly corded forearms as she leans down to pin you back.

"fuck -- fuck -- you're so tight, pretty girl -- y'hear how wet you are for me?" she asks, even as you nod, a desperate bob of your head as she hoists your thigh over her hip to drill in all the deeper.

it's saturday afternoon, the air conditioner on full blast, the car garage empty for the heat. it'd been a slow kind of day, the kind where ennui tickles at the summer-stained corners of the imagination, threatening to set in. and when it does... well, there's only one thing for it --

"please, vi -- i'm gonna --"

she lets out a low groan, leaning down to suck a sloppy hickey against your shoulder. even though the pair of you have been together more than a year now, she's still as insatiable as when you'd just met her.

"that's it, c'mon princess -- cum for me, cum all over this strap like the good little girl you --"

the phone rings; her pace stutters.

you keen, squeezing your thighs around her hips, your heels digging into her back as she reaches for her cellphone and frowns down at the caller id. you shake your head vigorously, tugging at her arm.

"vi -- vi -- no don't --" you beg, because there's a dangerous smirk cresting her lips even as she presses a finger to them.

"shh... quiet princess, unless you want someone to hear," she murmurs, before swiping up and pressing the phone to her ear.

"heeeyyy silco, what's up? y'lookin for vander? he's out at a show in kansas -- oh yeah -- sure, we should still be good for dinner -- 7, at the bar, right?" vi rocks her hips down into yours and has to press her palm over your mouth to muffle your squeak.

"huh? no nothing -- just uh --" vi cocks an eyebrow down at you, swirling her hips, the feel of her strap dragging inside you nearly makes your eyes roll back. you clench down around her, biting down hard on your own lips to keep from making noise. she nods her approval before letting go of your mouth and straightening back up, resting her free hand on your hip to hold you still as she tugs back for a particularly hard thrust.

"-- doin' some maintenance work," she chuckles, "some of these screws are in a bit tight," she winks, pulling back and thrusting forward once more, "y'know how things get when they're not... worked out properly once in a while."

you squeeze your eyes shut, feeling the coil tighten inside you with every soft shallow thrust of her hips, the tip of the silicon strap nudging up against your g-spot till it's all you can do to keep from falling apart. you scrabble for her wrist, giving her a warning tug as she laughs at something silco says, glancing down at your with dark, blown-out eyes.

"yeah, i know, i know, you've always hated the shop talk -- kay, we'll see you at dinner -- yep, she'll be there too," vi says, before bidding her goodbyes and clicking off her phone. she sets it face down on the bedside table and before returning to the shape of you pinned beneath her.

"f-fuck vi... th-that's not --" you try to force out a coherent sentence, but vi only coos as she reaches down between you to flick playfully at your clit. immediately, your mouth falls open, and you jerk up against her. she laughs.

"mmm... i really do love it when you're tryna keep quiet for me princess..." she says, leaning down to brush her lips against yours. you yank her down for a kiss, fingers fisting in the choppy pink hair at the base of your skull. she groans into the kiss, fucking into you now with the kind of wild abandon you've come to know all too well.

within a minute, she has you shuddering apart, coming hard enough for the world to blink out for a few seconds, the air in your lungs to taste sweet and bitter all at once. she holds you down and chases her own climax, muttering the entire time about how hot you look, how much she loves it when you soak her strap like this. you keen as she collapses into you with a long breath, groaning into the sticky skin of your shoulder.

you run your fingers through her hair.

"really?" you ask, after a few steadying breaths, "a few tight screws?"

vi chuckles, pulling back with a lopsided shrug.

"what? wasn't exactly a lie."

"yeah? you really wanna compare our sex lives to car maintenance?"

vi pulls out and you crinkle your nose at the sudden loss of feeling. she leans down to press a kiss to the side of your knee before reaching for a napkin to wipe you down.

"'s not that different -- good, timely maintenance gets you a good, healthy, long run with your car," she says, tossing the napkin into a bin in the corner before offering you a mug of water. you take a sip before holding the mug up to her lips. she lets you tip some into her mouth, licking her lips as she works the harness off from around her hips.

"thanks princess," she says, leaning forward for a kiss. you watch her pull her tanktop back on, shimmying back into her boxer shorts.

"oh, you're good for dinner at silco's right? at 7?"

you cock an eyebrow, "you mean the dinner you already agreed to for me on the phone right now? while we were fucking?"

vi shoots you a cheeky smile.

"so... 7?"

you roll your eyes, tossing your underwear at her with a huff.

"get me a new pair of panties."

vi laughs, snatching your crumpled up underwear from the air and considers them for a brief second before pressing them into the back pocket of her cargo shorts.

"nah, think i like you without them."

[jajasmiinee]

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

DAD - MATT STURNIOLO

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

warnings : slight cursing, fluff, cringe, bad grammar

i've been fantasized this shit so i need to make a fanfic about it.

Matt became a dad and you became a mom. I don't have any specific age for Matt so, is your decision!

y/n

matt

chris

nick

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

You and Matt has been married for 2 years and of course, people including fans starts to questions about having a baby. And Matt replied with

"We do want a baby guys. It just not our time yet. I'm sure there's a right time for us to become a parents"

And you've been blessed. You're pregnant!

---- ☆

You're in the labor room, struggling to push the baby out. But with Matt hands in yours, that gave you some sort of power to push it until the end.

"God!" You whines in pain. Your body's covered in sweat, your gaze met Matt. Giving a force smile in such a pain.

"Shh shh, sweetheart.. You can do it! Go! Go! I'll always be here with you!" Matt supports you,giving a tight squeeze on the hand with a soft and bright smile on his face.

"Ma'am, i need you to give all your energy to this push, this might be the last push if you push hard enough" Says doctor who's delivering the baby. The baby's almost here!

"Yes! Go darling! I know you can! Yes go!" Matt spoke as he hears those words, excited that he could finally became a dad and gives you a relaxation after 1 hour and 30 minutes of pushing.

"Nghh!" You struggles but still managed to push the baby out completely, making you felt relief and calm.

---- ☆

You're on the hospital bed with wingstop on the table.

"Feeling good sweetheart?" Matt ask. Leading a honey chicken tenders to your mouth.

"Mhm!" You nod with a bright smile, munching on the food.

"Wow she look like a mix of us and y/n" Chris spoke, holding the baby in his arm.

"Stupid motherfucker. We're triplets! Of course she's gonna looks like you, me, Matt and y/n!" Nick rolls his eyes in annoyance.

"I wonder what's her eyes gonna look like.. Are they gonna be blue like us or brown like y/n eyes colour" Chris spoke in curiosity.

"Can you fucking shut the fuck up? Can't you see y/n's trying to rest?" Matt glares at Chris. Making Chris annoyed and looks at you with puppy eyes. Asking for mercy to persuade Matt.

"Shh hey it's okay i'm not that tired. Besides, Chris aren't that loud" You pat Matt biceps, Matt rolls his eyes. Realized that Chris has used his 'magic' on y/n.

---- ☆

"Nick, can you hold her for a second? I need to go to the bathroom real quick" Chris looks at Nick, you can clearly see that he needs to go to the bathroom just by his expression.

"Me? Holding a baby? Pfft! Fuck no!" Nick declined.

"Bro i need to take a fucking shit right now!" Chris shouted but not really loud.

"Ishh.." Matt took the baby off Chris arm. Walking over to Nick.

"Nick? Would you mind holding your first nephew? Please?" Matt ask softly. Knowing that Nick easily melt with soft be voices.

"Argh fine.." Nick put down his camera.

"There.." Matt slowly putting down the baby into Nick amrs. Making Nick stiffens. Not wanting to move a muscle so the baby won't wake up.

You giggles softly "Hehe Nick~! Don't worry! Just be careful and not really harsh. You can still move" You're entertained with the triplets here. Feels like home.

"Haha.. Sorry.. i'm kinda scared to hold a baby..." Nick says looking at you.

"I'm back!" Chris smiles after finished with his shit.

"Oh hi Chris" You wave.

Chris walk towards Nick and the baby. Knelt down and smiles at the baby.

"Oh i forgot to ask. What's her name?" Chris ask. Making a eye contact with Matt.

"Oh uhm" You hesitate to tell them so you look at Matt.

"Go on. Tell em" Matt smiles softly at you.

"Her name is Iris. Iris Pearl Sturniolo." You say proudly.

"And is there any special meaning behind it?" Nick ask, raising an eyebrow.

"For pearl, it means by, pearls are hard to find and expensive, so it means that she's very expensive and high value. While Iris it just y/n late grandma name, it suits well with Pearl and in my opinion, they're very beautiful name" Matt explain. Maybe the story behind it weren't any special for other people but for y/n and Matt, it's very special.

"Ooh. Cute story. I can't wait for her to grow up and i can tell her about the story behind her name" Nick smiles cutely at Iris. "You have a wonderful name y'know?" Chris whisper to Iris. Ignoring the fact that she's probably didn't hear anything.

"Oh i just realized. Didn't you mentioned those name before?" Nick looks at Matt.

"Haha. Yea. I've been thinking about Iris Pearl for a long time. And finally, i can put those name as my daughter" Matt smiles proudly.

Matt has mentioned the name Iris Pearl a lot in his streams. Saying that he wishes he could have those name as his daughter. And that wish came true. In a very very wonderful way.

"Oh really? And you never told me about it?" You says looking at Matt.

"Am i supposed to?" Matt raised his eyebrow. A smirk appear on his face.

"Ish! Shut up and never talk to me again!" You pouts, furrowed your eyebrows. Looking away from Matt.

"Aawh sweetheart sorryyy" Matt chuckles, hugging you

"Hmph!" You're still pouting, ignoring him.

"You're cooked Matt. You know it's hard to persuade a girl right?" Chris say sarcastically with a grin on his face.

"Oh i know Matt can handle his girl perfectly Chris" Nick laugh.

"Of course i can!" Matt smirk

"Want some dessert darling?" Matt offer, looking at you and brushes your hair with his fingers.

"Dessert?! Really?!" Your eyes sparkles, a soft and bright form on your face.

"Yea. Want some?" Matt smiles at your move, he loves it when you acted like a child around him.

"Tiramisu cake?" You ask smiling.

"Whatever you want sweetheart" Matt took out his phone and order it quickly.

"Teeheee! Thank you!!" You kisses Matt cheeks

"Oh damn Matt. Teach me those technic" Chris laugh.

"Hey y/n. When's her next milk?" Nick ask. Referring about Iris food time.

"Thanks for reminding me Nick. It's about 5 minu-" Your words were cut off by Iris crying.

"Oof it looks like now.." Nick froze. Confused what to do.

"Shh shh.." Matt took Iris out of Nick arms, bouncing his arms up and down to calm Iris.

"Here's your mommy darling.." Matt mumbles, handing Iris to you

"Err.. I think we should go.." Chris got up and hold Nick hands

"It's okay i cover myself, no need to leave, unless you really want to" You say, covering yourself up with a towel. Well you don't want to flash anybody with your tities.

---- ☆

After a few minutes of feeding. You lay Iris on your shoulder as you pat her back. Wanting her to burp after some feeding.

"There there.." You mumble, hearing a couple burps coming out of Iris.

"You look so cute sweetheart" Matt smiles proudly, seeing his two queens beside him.

Matt kisses your forehead as Nick suddenly took a picture of the scene

"First family picture. Cute as fuck" Nick smiles cutely. Looking at the picture he took

"Hey! I'm not ready! Look! My hair is a mess!" You whines.

"That shows how much a good mom you're y/n. How well you take care for Matt and Iris life. A perfect wife and a perfect mother" Chris says, squeezes your shoulder.

"Oh" Your cheeks went red by the sudden words coming out of Chris lips.

"I know right. I can't believe you're the one who pushes the baby out"

"Women are damn strong"

---- ☆

Iris are wide awake now. She's in Chris arms.

"Ooh.. She has.. blue? Is it blue or gray?" Chris ask in confusion

"Maybe blue. Because she's still a baby so her vision aren't that clear yet. So her eye color might change when she's 1 year old and above." You says.

"Aren't clear yet soo..?" Chris wobble himself, laughing.

"She might think you're crazy motherfucker"

Chris stopped himself after seeing Iris raised her eyebrows and widen her eyes, looking at Chris.

"Damn. She has Matt attitude huh?" Nick laugh.

"Bro she's just 15 hours old! How dare she looks at me like that?" Chris pouts

"It just a normal facial expressions for baby" You laugh.

"But maybe when she's older. She will looks at you like that everytime Chris" Matt rolls his eyes in jokes.

"Look! She has freckles! She look like me.."

"Fun fact. Yall are triplets so you share the same DNA, so basically, yall are Iris father. Which means, if Chris or Nick has children one day, they're Iris half sister" You smiles. Saying some things you know.

"Oh. Okay no i don't have any children. Nu uh no way" Chris in denial.

"Oof that's crazy to think about.."

"I was about to say that she look nothing like Chris but alright.."

---- ☆

"I can't believe you're a father now Matt" Nick says with a proud facial expression towards Matt.

"Believe it" Matt smiles

---- ☆

Your dreams came true. Which is marrying Matt and having a baby with Matt. You felt so.. complete. Having the people who will always be by your side, who will supports you no matter what, who will protect you till death. That's literally completely fulfill your life.

And it felt like home ⁠♡

----------------------------- ☆ -----------------------------

[svgvru]

𝐊𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐈𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐄. You've often thought that Aphrodite had blessed her and turned her into the beautiful girl she is right now. And you're quite sure that if you had an altar, this would be the perfect offering of thanks to her.

"Shh, shh, it's okay," you coo. Kiara's voice is coming out in gasps, the woman writhing on your bed. Her plush thighs are wrapped around your arms, trembling like a leaf. A loud whimper leaves her glossed lips, "Shh, baby. Let me take care of you." Your words were soothing, although it didn't help with the immense amount of pleasure she felt. It was almost too much. Her pretty lashes are fluttering, mouth ajar, and tongue lolled as you work her open.

Two fingers are shoved inside of her ass, fingering and stretching her out, barely grazing her prostate.

The other hand is "soothingly" rubbing her hard cock, fingers managing the head.

Your lips curled in a smile as the amount of pre-cum leaking from your precious girl. "You ready, baby?" she hears you coo. You have to admit, you feel guilty, deriving her from orgasms...however, this sight was worth it. "Cum." Your fingers curl inside of her, nailing her prostate, your fingers squeezing the head of her cock in small increments. Her back arches, body trembling like an earthquake as she cums for the first time that night. Cum spurts on your hand and her chest, your girlfriend looking like an angel.

"Good girl," you coo. "Want more?" She nods furiously, whimpering like a dog. When she hears shuffling, she whines, knowing what's coming for her next. And by the look on your face your planning to be even more cruel.

You will make her forget about that ass Hakari.

SUBSCRIBERS: @sensivs — we'd been yappin about lack of kirara fics sooo here's a one-shot b4 i actually make a fic. also, admin note, i didn't put kirara on the taglist. therefore, if you've alr filled it out, just send me a message or smth if u wanna be tagged for kirara (and hakari) stuff.

[thesymphonytrue]

For the drabble prompt: “You’re bleeding all over my carpet.” 👀

"You're Bleeding all over my carpet"

Longer version—Read on AO3

(I got two of these prompts so there will be a part 2 full circle moment 😏)

Written for the Drabble challenge here

Pre-canon

Neal drug the limp FBI agent, Peter Burke, into his temporary flat in London. They’d gotten into a nasty chase and somehow, Peter had been shot in the crossfire by one of Neal’s accomplices.

“No guns!” Neal had insisted, but he was met with slimy grins and cocky chuckles as his fellow thieves rubbed their hands together, just eager for the prize (a lovely diamond necklace from a private residence).

And now, Peter was hurt, Peter may not survive if Neal couldn’t get proper bandages or medical personal here, fast. Neal grunted as he pulled the rest of Peter into the tiny living room and laid him gently onto the carpet. Blood oozed from the bullet wound in Peter’s chest, making Neal’s head swim.

“Damn it,” Neal muttered, kneeling next to the agent, heart hammering.

He pressed his hands against the wound, attempting to slow the bleeding, unsure what else do to. Neal shouldn’t care whether Peter Burke lived or died, it honestly would be a blessing to not have such an intelligent and fascinating agent on his tail constantly….

Or would it?

Neal studied Peter’s face, relaxed in unconsciousness, the way his arm rested on his chest, his breathing becoming less regular as the seconds ticked by. Neal’s heart clenched uncomfortably, against his will, seeing Peter’s life flickering like a candle in the wind.

The door slammed open and Mozzie entered, holding a black bag bearing a a medical red cross.

“Your savior has arriv—-” Mozzie stopped, aghast at the sight of Peter— “Is that a suit?!”

“I couldn’t just leave him there to—” Neal sputtered, pressing Peter’s chest harder, Peter’s blood staining his white hands.

Mozzie gasped dramatically.

“It’s THE suit!” Mozzie turned to leave.

“Moz!” Neal pleaded, embarrassed at how his heart was becoming pliable in Peter’s hands, but grateful that at least Peter wasn’t awake to witness it.

Mozzie eyed Neal, then Peter, and then scowled at Neal. He tossed the bag over.

“You’ll find bandages in there,” Mozzie sighed and looked at the flat one more time, “It's a shame, I liked London. We’ll have to return to New York now that the suit knows of our escapades abroad."

Peter lives in New York. Neal’s mind instantly fixated on this brilliant flame of hope despite the prospect of being on the run again.

He nodded at Mozzie, kept one hand on Peter’s chest, and used the other to fish bandages out of the bag.

“Neal, you have to stop this dance with the suit. The cat and mouse game has gone too far. Since when does the mouse help the cat?”

“Who says I’m the mouse?” Neal said quietly, bandaging Peter’s wounds with precision and ease.

Mozzie waved him off with a “humph” and left the flat. As if on cue, Peter’s eyes fluttered open and his face instantly winced in pain. He registered Neal in one glance and his brown eyes widened.

“Caffrey–”

“Shh, you’re bleeding all over my carpet and it’s an Ardabil from 1540,” Neal said hurriedly, masking his relief at Peter’s consciousness with an attempt at humor and art history.

Peter’s lips twitched, half smiling.

“You’d never put a wounded man on an Ardabil,” Peter narrowed his eyes, “And if you did…then…that’s one more—” Peter grunted in pain as Neal tied the bandage off— “crime I’ll bring you in for. There’s only one left and it’s in—”

Neal sat back on his heels, grinning at Peter, dark hair messily falling into his face.

“I just saved your life and you still want to arrest me?” Neal’s eyes glittered as he pressed a hand to his chest in faux hurt, “ Peter, now I’m the one wounded.”

Peter propped himself up on his elbows to get a better look at Neal.

“One good deed doesn’t undo the crimes you've committed,” he said, eyebrows raised and lips pursed.

Peter then met Neal’s eyes, a silent sparkling light passing between the two men, catching them both off guard and causing Neal to stand abruptly.

“See you around, Peter,” Neal said, heading for the door.

“Caffrey—” Peter called, then more quietly, “Neal.”

Neal turned slowly, his piercing blue eyes boring into Peter.

“Thank you," Peter said softly, looking down at his bandaged chest.

Neal shrugged, shaking off the true sentiment that welled in his soul to hear Peter appreciate him and plastering on the mask of confidence and charm.

“You’d do the same for me,” Neal said confidently, flashing him a 100-watt smile.

Neal’s smile infected Peter, causing him to grant Neal his own lop-sided grin.

“Till next time, Peter,” Neal said and dashed out the door, knowing that if he let conversation go on any further, Neal would have stayed just to bask in Peter’s light, his goodness a little longer.

And Neal simply couldn’t have that.

Because Neal Caffrey wasn’t one who stayed put.

Neal Caffrey always ran.

But if he decided not to run…

Peter Burke would be the only person on earth who could convince Neal to stay.

[imjustabitodd]

Rises the moon

Yandere moon god ig (and gn reader as always)

Warnings: none I think

Word count: almost 1.5k

Insomnia. It's a thing you're rather familiar with, the nights where peaceful slumber evades you. It has been happening for what you think for years now. Constantly awake staring at your ceiling while the moonlight shines in your room.

Tonight was one of those.

Even after you've taken those gummies you were given by a co-worker, saying something that she made them herself or something, you're still here, the same situation as always.. even took her night shift for them because she wouldn't accept money.

"I should have not believed her.."

Taking a deep sigh you get up from your bed, putting on the slippers beside the bed and walk around for a bit. Turning on a movie for background noise, you've been through this charade enough times to know that just laying and hoping to fall asleep is useless. On the TV is some Hallmark Christmas movie, you really couldn't care less, but still you sat down and contemplated on what to do to pass the time for tonight...

"should I make something.. nah I already ate before laying in bed, work? Nope too boring.."

Minutes pass while you are thinking about what to do... Finally deciding to get a breath of fresh air you go to the balcony.. putting a blanket down then sitting on the floor. Watching the stars and the moon, the stars lighten up as if they sensed your appearance. But that's just your imagination, right?

....

You stayed there for god knows how long, it felt like hours while it most likely wasn't even thirty minutes. Just watching as nothing interesting happened, locals passing by beneath the balcony, some noticing you and giving you the moon gods blessings of sleep.

"may Noctis bless your night!"

It felt like the fifteenth time you've heard the saying. Noctis, the ever gentle god that the locals believed in. The one they claimed to have put the moon in the sky and bless you with pleasant nights of dreams or curse you with sleepless nights and nightmares of torture and carnage

"yours too.."

Then silence came, who would have thought there would be no one at 1am?

But as you kept watching the night sky and road down bellow you started to feel drowsy.. finally getting up from the floor and to the bed, forgetting to turn off the tv.

Laying down face first into the pillows, you swear you can cry from happiness from finally getting some sleep after weeks of only relying on hour long naps for a day.

...

Fucking hell. Just when you layed down to sleep the tiredness went away.. as if the moon was the only thing capable of making you drowsy. But you suck it up and keep laying there. Picking up your phone to text the group chat of your friends only to remember. There's no one for you to even talk to anymore, usually you'd talk to your friends at nights like these, knowing they suffered from similar problems but... you had no one, after the falling out you were left in the dust.

Putting the phone face first on the bedside table, feeling the tears well up again, the sting of loneliness never fully fading. Knowing the group you thought was friends with you, suddenly breaking and ditching you was heartbreaking .

Finally one spills over, then another and another. Rubbing your eyes, ridding them of the salty tears until they slightly stung, you felt mentally drained, and sleep finally came.

Feeling cold hands around your waist, a leg on top of your thigh, you look to see who it is, but the face is foggy, covered by long strands of white hair, this isn't your room. It looks too white and comfortable to be yours.

"I'm dreaming.. aren't I."

You realize, a dream of being cuddled in bed, huh you really were lonely... But who was the person holding you, you can't think of a single person you know to have white hair.

"shh... Don't think, my star"

Nor the voice, sounded too soft to be anyone you've known.. but it's just a dream, your brain must have just conjured up a guy. You lay your head back down, him moving the two of you so that your head is on his chest

It was the most peaceful sleep you had.. against a cold chest, hearing the heart thump and thump in a soothing rhythm, even though his body was freezing. You wake up feeling refreshed although missing the coldness of the body, maybe it was the gunmies.

Checking the clock it's.. early, 7am, and you actually got a somewhat healthy amount of sleep. You would have panicked if you weren't working the night shift today. Groggily getting up and going to the bathroom, doing the regular routine. Coming out refreshed for the first time in weeks.

Taking your phone off the bedside table, scrolling through any notification, picking up a book. Really you didn't know what to do, life has been duller after the loss of friends in your life. Merely reading through the pages, this one being a book one of them suggested and would gush about, a romance of sorts. Getting yourself invested in the fake world of laughter and love

...

You glance at the window, noticing the night sky up, when did it become night so fast? Checking the time, instantly slamming the book shut and leaving it on the nearest table, you're late. Like, late late. Quickly putting on and buttoning your uniform, running down the rows of stairs upon stairs. Getting in the car and going to the convenience store you work at, knowing you'd likely get scolded in the morning for being late.

Stepping into the store, it's the same as always, white walls, aisles of snacks and other stuff you don't pay attention to, still small and comforting. The only difference being the posters being finally changed. No longer the old, worn out ones where the ink is barely readable, you always wondered why they didn't change them. The new ones promoting moon themed snacks and pastries for the upcoming holiday. The day the moon god put the moon in the sky. You didn't know why it was still a holiday but hey, you weren't complaining, it did make your hours shorter.

No one came except the usuals and a strange dude wearing a robe you honestly thought were pajamas asking if you were favourited by the moon god, honestly the guy was probably on drugs, a business man clearly done with a nightshift who always came for the ice coffee, a blonde woman out for a nightly jog asking for the same brand of chocolate bar, a brunette who always bought a frozen pizza on Saturday and that was it for the night.

Clocking out you take your car keys out of your bag, getting into the comforting warmth of your car, a stark contrast to the cold wind outside. It was a short drive back to the apartment, you did look for a job close to home for a reason.

Having to climb up the rows of stairs because the elevator has been broken for the past week and the landlord being too much of a cheapskate to hire someone to fix it. Making it to your door, taking out your keys with your favourite character as a keychain. home sweet home, although.. some of your clothes on the floor were gone. You must have put them away and forgotten..

You don't question it, just took off your work clothes and put on your pajamas, a simple shirt and whichever pajama pants were closest. Taking more of the "homemade" gummies your co worker gave you and hoping you'd fall asleep, going to your bed and lifting the blankets, still cold but you know you'll quickly warm up..

..

Nothing.. you keep laying in the comforter while sleep avoids you. Eyes darting around the room mindlessly until you saw something move at the corner of your eye, moving your head there all you saw was a human shaped shadow, engulfed in darkness until it took a step forward

A man.. the same man that was in your dream last night. You tried to move but you felt suddenly paralyzed.

"my star, please, there is nothing to worry about. I'm here to help. I've seen you suffer for far too long"

He walked closer, until you were merely a foot apart and he laid down on you with all his weight. You got a better look at him than you did last night, his face was right in front of yours. Ashy skin, moles on his cheek you swear you could see them forming the big Dipper. The long white hair draping over the two of you like a curtain. Black eyes with a white pupil..

"hahh.. it's been decades, my star, I thought your soul officially turned to dust."

You wanted to scream at him, ask him what he meant by that but you felt awfully calm and tired to do so. Eyelids too heavy, as if they were attached to ten pound weights.

"that's it.. fall into the sleep you deserve. Don't worry about anything"

[blossyossyossy]

Hi.... If you don't mind me asking, can I ask, what are your top 10 favorite media (can be books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series/games/etc) and your top 5 favorite ships (can be canon or non canon) from any media ? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this questions before......

Hi! I would just like to start off by saying that I was not ignoring this ask, I was just waiting for a time to open up for me to write this long ass response!!

Top ten media:

The original Powerpuff Girls. Nothing will ever top this, not even Pokemon or Precure despite me posting about both far more often. The OG PPG is my favorite media of all time because, as corny as it sounds, I would not be who I am today without it. And plus, who doesn’t like to see three 5-year-old girls kick ass??

Pretty Cure. Yeah, yeah shocking for anyone who’s scrolled through my blog. Funnily enough, it used to be a trigger for me since I used to associate it with some people I’m no longer friends with, but once I coped with the situation, I was really enjoying myself!!! I think part of the reason why I love Precure so much is because it’s a comfort show for me at this point and because I’ve always been enamored by magical series but could never fully get into them. Except for Powerpuff Girls Z which I stand by my rating of 6/10. Oh, and I guess Sailor Moon since I’ve watched 3 of the hour-long movies that are on YouTube but I’ve never even watched a full episode of it. As for a specific Precure season, it would be Fresh Precure! It has Love Momozono (my favorite character of all time) in it, what’s not to love about that?

Danny Phantom. Another comfort show of mine. Danny himself is one of my favorite characters in general and the entire premise of the show is just so cool.

Pokemon. Yeah, yeah shocking for anyone who’s scrolled through my blog. If we ignore the Powerpuff Girls, then I would say that Pokemon has been the most influential piece of media for me. Like, PPG got me to the internet and into drawing but Pokemon got me long time online friends, enemies (lookin at you, homophobic pokemon fans), and improvement in terms of art. Plus, it’s the only series where I feel 100% comfortable writing fanfiction for. Maybe it’s because it was my longest (consistent) obsession, but I feel as though I can actually grasp the characters’ personalities. The animeverse’s characters’ personalities I mean.

Scott Pilgrim. Another comfort media. Did you know that I share a birthday with the Scott Pilgrim franchise down to the exact year? Too bad it took me until I was 18 to finally get into it but better late than never. I prefer the graphic novels, which I’ve read twice already. And since I got the 20th anniversary edition of them for free, that means it’s gonna be three times soon. But anyway, the Scott Pilgrim series unironically got me through some tough times, especially when it came to my nonexistent love life.

Okay, these last five medias are lowkey ass-pulls but shh. Super Mario 64 DS. Yes, the DS version specifically. I still fuck with the n64 version, but I grew up with the DS version instead. Fun fact, SM64DS’s 20th anniversary is coming up soon (November 21st, 2024)!! Other than nostalgia, it’s just a fun time all around except for that godforsaken silver rabbit mission. I cannot stand that bitch. But it’s just easy for me to get sucked into the game without even knowing, which is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it’s one of the few medias where I can just lose myself in and a curse because it’s one of the few medias I can lose myself in.

Maximum Ride. Specifically the first book, The Angel Experiment but I have a soft spot for the series as a whole. The Angel Experiment is actually my favorite book of all time. I’ve read it at least four times as a child which doesn’t seem like a lot until you realize that it has upwards to 400 pages. The main character, the titular Maximum Ride, is a classic case of a badass motherfucker and I don’t mean that lightly. I adore how snappy and quick paced it is despite of how long it is. It’s probably due to the chapters being super short. Like, there’s at least a couple of chapters that don’t even fill an entire page. Maybe it’s because I had to read it in fifth grade, but it’s one of the few books that I return to time and time again. Not to say that other books that I’ve read are bad, I just prefer to consume more and more media rather than revisiting them.

Impractical Jokers. Very random choice, I know, but without them, I would not know what a chinchilla was probably until I got to college. For context, they had a crossover with another truTV show and somehow a chinchilla was involved in one of the pranks they were doing.

…Friday Night Funkin. I am cringe, but I am free. Banger music, I still don’t know why that was the rhythm game that drew me in despite me barely even using NewGrounds as a kid (FNF has that good ole NG humor for context).

 The Super Mario franchise! It has Princess Daisy in it, enough said.

Top five ships:

Amourshipping. My version of amourshipping is better than the majority’s amourshipping. Also, it was the reason why I really got into pokemon. Sure, I’d watch the Advance series before but Serena’s crush on Ash unironically got me hooked.

Jellowshipping. The girlfriends of all time!! They’re so sweet together I love them.

Kiribaku. They mesh well together, what can I say?

Lovesetsu / Setsulove. No, they’re not sisters. Don’t even think about bringing that discourse over here. Typical Setsulove fan here, adoring the fight they had in episode 23 and honestly episode 23 overall. It’s enemies to lovers, tragic yuri, (formerly) doomed yuri, opposites attract yuri, they were roommates yuri, and now long distance. Also, let’s be real, Love and Setsuna both associate each other with happiness. Moreso on Love’s part, but where else could Setsuna have gotten her title of the proof of happiness from, hmmmm?

Gray Ghost from Danny Phantom. They’re like setsulove but in reverse. Lovers to enemies and all that jazz I said earlier but minus the opposites attract because both of them are some stubborn ass teenagers. But even as enemies they bounce off each other so well. The push n pull of their dynamic is so intense cause the feelings were still there but…enemies🔥

Also, even if I had been asked these questions before, I'd still answer cause I love to talk about my interests!!

[sovonight]

just one bed | xan/radri, bg1

—✧✧—

[BG1, at an inn. Most of the party is waiting/resting in the common area; only Imoen has joined Radri in securing their rooms from the innkeeper, and Imoen lifts one of their obtained keys on a finger.]

Imoen: So, are we sharing again?

Radri: Actually, I was thinking…

Imoen, without skipping a beat: You wanna share with Xan?

Radri: Huh? How did—Wait, you—?

Imoen: You've been falling asleep holding hands together, sis, it's kinda hard not to notice. (Grins) You've had the hots for ol' grumpyrobes for a while now, right? Congrats!

Radri panics, clamping a hand over Imoen's mouth.

Radri: Shh, not so loud!

Imoen, muffled: But everyone already knows—

Radri, whisper-panicking: It's not what it looks like!

Imoen: …

Imoen, still muffled: Then what is it supposed to look like?

Radri, bringing her hands back close to her chest: …You know those… nightmares… I've been having? He's been helping me with them. That's what the handholding is for—it's just so that I can shelter in his mind.

Imoen, joking: Is that the excuse he came up with?

Radri, admonishing: Imoen! Please, not when—he could hear.

Imoen: …Okay. You only want to room with him to deal with your nightmares, and he's only helping you because he's just that upstanding and helpful of a fella. There's nothin' else going on here at all.

Radri: (sigh) Do you need to make fun of me?

Imoen: I'm not! I'm just making sure I have my facts straight.

Radri gives Imoen a skeptical look, and Imoen sobers, growing worried.

Imoen: …I didn't know the nightmares were this bad, Radri. You coulda told me…

Radri, managing to summon a quick smile: You don't need to worry about it, Imoen. It's no big deal.

Imoen: If you asked him for help, it is.

Radri blinks, then gives a tired smile.

Radri: Actually, he offered. I had never thought, to…

Radri: He's really kind, Imoen. And patient.

Imoen looks at her, then puts a hand on her shoulder with a small smile.

Imoen: Okay. If you're sayin' that, you have my blessing.

Radri: Bless—? (Realizing, annoyed) You've read too many love stories, I swear. Nothing's going to happen between us!

Imoen laughs as Radri shoos her and her blessing away.

—

Having said that, though, she still has to ask Xan if he wants to share a room. She gives keys to Jaheira & Khalid, Branwen, then stops before Xan. Xan holds his hand out for the last key out of habit, but Radri doesn't yet release it.

Radri: U-um, I…

Radri: I was hoping we could share a room, this time. (Branwen and the others shuffle away) To… continue to… share our reverie together.

Suddenly worried it might come across as her coercing him, since she's already handed out the other keys, she stammers—

Radri, bright red, staring down at the key clutched in her hand: Y-you can refuse. I know I've already imposed on you, so much! A-and—I don't know if your offer of help has expired, now that we're not camping outside—

Xan: It has not.

Radri peeks up at him—his expression is neutral, and slightly pink, but she doesn't have the presence of mind to process that—and Xan takes the key from her palm gently.

Xan: I will join you once I have memorized my spells.

Radri: Ah—well—I still have to write in my journal, too. Rather than force you to stay down here, we could go up… now… together?

A new wave of heat crosses her face, and Xan's gaze softens a little, but he shakes his head.

Xan: You can go ahead. You prefer to write alone, do you not? I will not distract you.

Radri: T-then… I'll see you.

She leaves, heading for the stairs, risking only one glance back to see Xan standing where she'd left him, gazing at the key.

—

Her journal entry is complete. Through writing, she's managed to bring her nerves down… and then comes the knock, which just spikes them back up again. Radri jumps up, rushing to the door, and cracks it open. Xan's gray eyes meet hers through the gap, and they stare at each other, until Xan nods towards the door.

Xan: Will you let me in?

Radri: Oh! Right. Yes.

She pulls the door open wide. Too wide. Xan comes in, with his bag over the shoulder, and she realizes she could've offered to bring it up for him, until she sees his spellbook peeking out of it, and remembers he would've needed it for his spells, so no she couldn't have brought it up for him, and—

Xan: Are you going to close the door?

Radri: Oh—yes.

She closes it. Too hard. It's loud, and she cringes, still facing the closed door, closing her eyes tight. There were no doors in the forest; no rooms, no confines with perceptions of intimacy. Her first night outside of Candlekeep, she thought she would never miss the outdoors, but here, she does; it is so much easier to find Xan by the dying fire, to lay her bedroll beside his, than to hand him a matching key that defines the space they will share and ask him to join her in it.

Xan: Are you alright?

His voice floats over her shoulder, from mere paces behind her.

Radri: Y-yes—why wouldn't I be?

She turns to face him, just to prove that she can still be normal, and her gaze is drawn to his—his eyes, in shadow, his figure edged in moonlight. His cloak is gone, and his traveling robes with it, leaving only the light layers he rests in.

She jerks her gaze away from him, feeling suddenly overwhelmed—and takes proper notice, at last, of the room. Outside, their bedrolls were placed side by side, so that they could take each other's hands with ease; but here, the beds are apart, and so set in the floor that they cannot be pushed together without making what would surely be a horrible, loud, drawn-out screech. They could use the beds as they are, and reach across the nightstand at the center to hold hands, but the distance is awkward and the edge of the wood would dig into their arms, and she would not be able to rest knowing she was at fault for his discomfort.

Her chest grows cold. She'd been so wound up about asking him, having him here, that she hadn't taken the time to survey the room beforehand. She's wasted his time; her request is not possible after all. But Xan takes one glance at her dilemma and says,

Xan: Choose a bed; I will set my bedroll on the floor beside it.

Radri: What? No! That's—I couldn't ask you to do that!

Xan: (shrugs) I am accustomed to cold, hard floors—they are an unfortunate reality for any traveller, and I have spent much more time on the road than you have.

(This has the opposite effect of reassuring Radri, and she just feels bad for him)

Radri: All the more reason for you to take the bed! I'll take the floor.

Xan: It would only make your reverie less restful, and you would regret it in the morning. If you will allow me…

He smooths a strength spell over his shoulders, and before she realizes it, he's picked her up in his arms.

Radri: Xa—Xan!

She can't help but clutch his shoulders, still so unused to the vulnerability of not standing on her own two feet, and he brings her towards the bed by the window.

Xan: I have a feeling…

He sets her down gently, her head perfectly aligned with the pillow. With a hand, he smooths her hair from her forehead, and gazes down at her with a small smile on his face.

Xan: …That you are so tired that you will not want to get back up.

Her nervousness had kept her amped up, but exhaustion is setting in now, and she can feel it in her leaden limbs, which have begun to find this inn's common, worn mattress to be the softest cloud they have ever rested upon. She doesn't want to stand again, but if she's tired, so is he—and though his amusement brightens his features, if she looks she can see the exhaustion behind them. She grips his sleeve.

Radri: …You should take the bed.

Xan, shaking his head, ready to refuse: I am resolved to—

Radri: We should share it. Shouldn't we?

Xan stills. Radri finds herself gazing up at him, her mind in that space between states of consciousness where her anxieties fail to sound. Her eyes are no longer on his features in order to gauge his reaction, but merely to observe: the blink; the slightly parted lips, mid-word; the light flush that touches his cheeks. She lets the weight of her arm pull his sleeve down, in turn pulling him to her— his hand meets the bed, his arm straight, braced against it.

Xan: Radri… I…

Radri: I liked laying beside you, in the forest… tracing the patterns in the treetops, trying in vain to spot the stars through the gaps in the leaves. The only part I didn't like was how hard the ground was under my bedroll.

Xan looks as if the treetops and the stars are the furthest thing from his mind right now, but somehow, her words contained the assurance he needed; that frozen expression on his face softens.

Xan: There are no stars here, save for the ones caged by the lone window… but perhaps I can show them to you, still. Shall we walk in my memories again, tonight?

Radri hears the word "walk" and her lips quirk to the side, dissatisfied.

Xan: What is it?

Radri: (sigh) Nothing. Just come over here.

Xan pushes himself off the bed, escaping her loosened grasp on his sleeve, and for a moment she thinks this was all a ploy for him to just sleep on the ground like he'd suggested, but Xan walks around the bed to join her on the other side—to avoid having to crawl over her, she realizes. It's polite, but she wouldn't have minded if he'd done so. Imoen had crawled over her legs to join her, to read stories by borrowed light deep into the night, many times in Candlekeep…

Xan's hand slips into hers.

Xan, prompting: Radri?

Radri: Hm?

Xan: Shall we center my mind, or yours?

Radri: Yours. I want to see your promised stars.

Xan: You seemed rather unimpressed by them, just seconds earlier.

Radri: No, I was only thinking I'd rather have you carry me.

Xan: Carry you?

Radri: Instead of walking. "Walk in your memories…"

She smiles at her little joke, and she can't see the look on his face when her eyes have already fallen closed, but Xan squeezes her hand lightly.

Xan: Then I will. The world will move around us… you need only watch.

—

When Radri wakes, she's curled up on her side, against a warmth that bears Xan's scent. She nestles in closer, until her waking mind realizes that if it is Xan, then she should be keeping herself a modest distance away—

She opens her eyes in a panic. It's a pillow. Radri sighs in relief, then looks across the otherwise empty bed to realize two things: one, she is alone, and two, at some point during her reverie she had escaped her half of the bed, sprawling over to Xan's side. Now that she's well-rested, it occurs to her that intruding on Xan's personal space is a real threat now that she's not bound by the confines of her narrow blanket and bedroll. Had she sprawled across him, too? Is that why he left? She's ruined all of this in a single night, hasn't she?

Sighing, she rolls onto her back, letting her arm hang out over the edge of the bed—and in the corner of her eye, sees Xan, sitting quietly on the opposite bed. He looks up from a collection of items scattered across the blanket—spell components?—and meets her eye.

Radri: Oh.

Xan: Just in time. The others are awake, and we are still set to leave as planned, if you eat in the next ten minutes or so. Shall I bring you something from the kitchen?

Radri stares at him. He doesn't seem to hold any extra disgust for her, which is a relief, but she can't completely read the look on his face, either.

Xan, at her lack of response: Or do you need to rest an hour longer?

Radri, embarrassed, mumbling: …No… I'm…

Xan: I doubt your nightmares will visit you in such a short span of time, but I can watch over you, regardless.

Right. It's just another task for him—an obligation. Perhaps protecting her is just another aspect of his duties as a moonblade wielder. Although, in the back of her mind, she must admit she can't imagine Xan allowing just anyone into his memories, nor offering to fetch any other waylaid elf breakfast in bed… but she pushes those thoughts out of her mind before they can sow hope in her chest.

Radri: I didn't… bother you too much… did I?

She can't help but ask, and Xan pauses before delivering his answer.

Xan: ...Not particularly.

"Then why did you leave me?" is right on her tongue, but she can't say it—it's too petulant, too needy, especially when he has hardly "left her," merely moved across the room. She sits up, letting her loose hair fall into a curtain between her face and Xan's gaze.

Radri: It's just gruel, isn't it? In the kitchen.

Xan: It is, but there are dried blueberries to be added to it, if you wish.

Radri, sighs: They're already gone. Imoen polished them off yesterday—I didn't even get more than a handful.

Xan: Are you certain?

He holds up a small pouch, and she looks over at it: peeking out from the drawstring opening are dried blueberries.

Radri: Huh? But—how?

Imoen would've found them; Radri rarely bothers hiding anything with how nosy she is. Xan wears a slight, smug smile.

Xan: A wizard has his ways. Here.

Radri: You're… you're giving them to me?

Xan: You sound as though I am giving you water in the middle of a drought. Radri, it is only fruit.

Her face heats a little, but she quickly accepts the pouch before he has a chance to change his mind.

Radri: If it's "only fruit," I'm having all of it, then.

Xan, shrugs: Such was my intent.

Radri: ….

There's no winning against him, is there. Xan moves some of his organized spell components aside and stands, lifting the moonblade from its place beside the bed as he does so.

Xan: I will return with your breakfast.

And he's gone, before she can even form the words to stop him. He doesn't need to—she can get her own breakfast. But sometimes the cook is brash and impatient, and her request is drowned out by morning chatter and the clangs and clatters of the kitchen, and she forgoes even gruel in favor of whatever she has left in her pack…

Radri looks down at the small pouch of blueberries, and after a moment, lifts one to her lips. Perhaps this feeling in her chest is gratitude, too.

[miladydewintcr]

songfic tag game

A big thank you to @lottiesnotebook for tagging me!!! like a week ago shh I love making playlists, and music is usually my go-to method for getting In The Zone when I want to write! So this was both really fun, and really difficult to narrow down lmao

I'm going to tag @the-bear-and-his-sunbird @the-font-bandit and @broodwoof <3 (no pressure!!!)

I'm mostly a one-shot writer and I'm not about to subject you all to a song for every single one of those I've ever written. But I do have my multi-chapter Coralie Hawke duology already up, and then I'm working on two longer fics atm. So I'll just do those?

Rules: Pick a song to accompany each of your fics or as many as you like. This might be the fic's inspiration or just pure vibes that you'd like to share with readers. Tag as many people as fics you feature (or do as you please!)

And When I Was Shipwrecked, I Thought Of You / Get Away With It

So these are both named after Taylor Swift song lyrics (from Evermore & False God respectively). Taylor sneaks her way onto every playlist I make I s2g.

But I think this song captures The Vibe of the whole duology really well, and GAWI in particular! I really wanted to tell a story about a group of people who love each-other so very much, finally getting to be happy together. And if you've read it, you'll know that Coralie & Anders are still SICKENINGLY in love post-DAI (bless them). So this song v much fits in with all that imo!!

The Spy Who Loved Me

I was gonna be so strong and not put one of the (5!!) Taylor songs on this playlist, here. But Renegade. for Shepard?? Like come on.

In all seriousness though, this song really fits the relationship between my Shepard and Samantha in this fic. I'm exploring what a romance route might've looked like if Samantha had been in the series from ME1, and I think this really captures the falling apart and back together sort of vibe I'm aiming for with them. And being a safe harbour for each-other and letting each-other in is such a core part of their relationship anyway in canon, too.

The Unnamed Ghilandruil Fic

This is THEIR song, to me (at least rn). The playlist for this fic is growing really fast, but this was the very first song I added to it and gosh it reminds me of them :')

A lot of the lyrics are incredibly on the nose (that entire chorus oof). And if I can be a bit literal for a second here, they really do follow each-other to the graveyard, don't they? :) Because they're imprisoned together :)))) And Andruil dies there :)))))))))) Feeling so normal about the Evanuris potentially watching each-other slowly die one-by-one over the course of centuries, always, at all times

[einsteinsugly]

Friday, July 4, 1986. A Way Better Fourth of July.

*****

4:30 pm

Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, macaroni salad. American flags, Bruce Springsteen...

Hyde inevitably lowers his voice, to a jaded whisper. "The song doesn't mean what you think it means."

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary

Out by the gas fires of the refinery

I'm ten years old, burning down the road

Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go

Kitty, as sharp as a knife, anxiously nudges him. And Jackie swiftly follows suit, as they both hush the seeds of a quiet rebellion. "Shh."

Ignorance is bliss, as Red serves the main course. And Eric serves the macaroni salad.

"I made this, with my very own hands."

Kitty lovingly chuckles. "You used my recipe."

"Well..." Eric nervously laughs. "You got me there, Mom."

The two youngest, away from the gingham-clad picnic table, are happily gurgling in a large playpen. A quiet, raven-haired girl with big blue eyes, and a tiny, curious redhead. The eldest couple's grandbabies, by adoption and by blood.

The older two grandbabies, an olive-skinned boy and a sweet, adorable brunette with blue ribbons in her hair, are munching on small pieces of hot dog and are poking at macaroni salad with plastic forks.

The oldest grandbaby, a seven year old, is reluctantly in the midst of the adults. She feels like she's standing alone, though. The rest of the kids are literal babies, and she's just sort of...there.

But Betsy Kelso takes her duty as watcher very seriously. She even crafted a makeshift badge out of duct tape, just like her dad's.

Like her father, she is prone to hyperbole. "Kate's trying to eat a dandelion."

Eric and Donna nervously glance a few feet over, but are immediately relieved. Instead, Kate has simply picked a dandelion, and is turning it round, and round, and round...

Becca, a few months older and wiser, looks at her like she has two heads. "Gah."

"Aren't they adorable?" Kitty proudly gushes, hand firmly on her heart. "My grandbabies."

Red gruffly groans, but his old heart quietly melts. "You've said that a million times."

"It doesn't make it any less true, Red." Becca is now anxiously crawling around, leaving Kate at a wobbly standstill. "Look, she's exploring."

"She's the one that you need to watch," Red cautions, turning to Jackie and Hyde, "She'll eat the damn...darn dandelions."

Betsy, the fervent watcher, proudly sounds the alarm. "Pop said a bad word!"

Kelso chuckles, as the word "dumbass" is at the tip of Red's tongue. "Get used to it, Bets."

*****

5:00 pm

Dinner is officially over, but the American flags are still fluttering in the breeze. And Bruce Springsteen is still blasting.

Glory days

Well, they'll pass you by, glory days

In the wink of a young girl's eye, glory days

Glory days

Meanwhile, Red and Kitty are proudly perched in lawn chairs, happily clinking their glasses together.

The aging blonde smiles. "You know, I bought that Lee Greenwood cassette."

"God Bless the USA" is a bit corny, even for a proud veteran like him. "I can write a better song than that."

"I'd like to see you try," Kitty lovingly challenges, "I think it's profound. 'And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.'"

"I'd list all the wars." Far from a creative soul, Red concocts a simple list. "Revolutionary, 1812, Mexican-American, Civil..."

She shakes her head. "That doesn't sound like a good song."

"Lee Greenwood isn't even a damn veteran," He gruffly declares, "He's like Eric."

Kitty spies, with her little eye, an adorable little diversion. Hyde and Eric are lying in the playpen, with Hyde propelling a happily squealing Becca in the air, and with Kate lying on Eric's chest.

Then, in a split second, she's back to ground zero. The uncomfortable trenches. "There haven't been any wars for him to fight."

"You know he wouldn't join."

"Well, he'd join the most important ones," Kitty amply defends, before reluctantly acquiscing, "You know he's lippy about 'Nam."

"Don't remind me." He briefly diverts, as Eric compares Becca to the Millennium Falcon. Then, he shakes his head in disdain. "He thinks the Star Wars program is a disgrace to Star Wars."

Kitty sighs, but while happily kicking the can down the road. A tiny pebble, beneath her shoe. "He still hasn't gotten over that Luke and Leia thing."

Red's foot anxiously taps to the rhythm. "Don't remind me."

*****

5:30 pm

He doesn't know why the hell he put in that damn Lee Greenwood cassette.

If tomorrow all the things were gone

I worked for all my life

And I had to start again

With just my children and my wife

Hyde is muttering something rebellious. Eric is nervously shaking his foot to the rhythm. Laurie is...who the hell knows where.

But at least his two sons are there. He doesn't agree with a lot of their politics, or like a lot of their music, but they're good men.

They surmounted the odds. Hyde isn't dead, roaming in a motorcycle gang, or in prison. Eric is still lippy, and still loves Star Wars, but he doesn't let it define his life. He tries to be the hero of the South Side of Chicago, in his own, weird way.

And because of them, their granddaughters are proudly perched on their laps. He has Becca, and Kitty has Kate. Kitty Jr, of course.

All the while, Becca is sleeping in his arms, as the former basement dwellers lovingly coo.

And predictably, so is Kitty. "You think you're Oscar the grouch, but you're not."

He can't help but smile. "I guess my life isn't garbage, huh?"

In turn, she lovingly kisses him on the cheek. "I'd say it's pretty damn good."

*****

If you want to join the random date generator game, click here!

[gasleak-girlboss]

! An audio recording is attached.

[A high pitched woman's scream is heard, followed by frantic footsteps approaching.]

D-Diamonds alive, boy, you done scared the distortion outta me! Good to see you still kickin'... Chansey, I dunno what it is you did, but that must've been a downright miracle.

Chaaaan...

Can ya see me, lil' guy? Say somethin' if'n ya can.

...mrgh.

No worries if ya can't. You've been out for a while. Someone saw ya out cold through the window.

...

Oh- your glasses. There ya go. A handsome lil' one, you are. My name's Belle, I'm a nurse here. Now, would you be okay with answerin' a couple questions for me? Don't worry, they'll be real easy-like. Just wanna make sure your head's still on straight. Bein' out that long can leave ya all discombobulated when ya come to.

[There's a gentle noise of sheets rustling.]

Bless. Okay, so...Can you tell me your name?

...

...No? Well, how about...how old are ya? Look about my son's age. You can show it on your fingers if that works better for ya.

...

Still no...What about your parents? Do you...

......

...oh. I'm, I'm real sorry, bud.

...mmh.

Hey, sugar. It'll be okay. You're back with us now. C'mere.

[Further rustling of sheets. A young boy's voice makes a small, hoarse squeak.]

Shhh, shh. We'll do everything we can to get you back in shape, don't you worry.

...mfine.

You'll be just fine, right. Fit as a fiddle. Now, I just need to go check on one or two things with the other docs, okay? You gonna be okay for a few minutes while I do that?

...

That's a good boy. Be strong for me, alright? I'll be right back. Just stay in bed for now, we don't want you falling over on us, ya hear?

...mm.

You're a sweet kid, lil guy. I'll be just a minute. And if you need anything at all, press that button over yonder and I'll come runnin'.

[The recording ends there.]

[yazzydream]

JJK Playlists: Yuji | Geto | Toji | Gojo

Tired As Hell (Itadori Yuji Playlist)

Somehow Yuji's playlist ended up hurting my heart, but maybe that's just because I know the context. Manga SPOILERS ahead.

→ [Spotify Link]

1. Heart ni Hi wo Tsukete ("Light a Fire in Your Heart") - 9mm Parabellum Bullet

Chosen by Gege Akutami. Oof, sounds like being trapped with Sukuna.

So light it aflame, light my heart aflame, so this'll never disappear again. Burn the loneliness, burn the secrets, won't they turn to ash, won't they turn to ash, see? You and I are stuck to each other, bound tightly together, we just simply can't be alone. You and I are stuck to each other, lying to each other, two tongues tangling up, deeper into the night.

2. Remember the Name - Fort Minor

First and foremost, Yuji is a kickass shonen protag.

This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill Fifteen percent concentrated power of will Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain And a hundred percent reason to remember the name

3. Cursed - Codeko

Always feeling like I'm different Is there a cure for my condition, can't find one Cause I'm cursed Yeah I'm cursed [...]

///

I've learned to laugh at myself, But I'm getting tired as hell, I'm bad at asking for help, even when I need it Every day, it goes the same, Feels like, I can't catch a break I'll try again tomorrow

4. lies - Sion

Getting a mix of Sukuna toying with Yuji even while Yuji is just. suffering.

Tell me a lie I can believe 'Cause everything you say right now seems like gibberish to me (la, la)

///

Are you afraid that I would harm you if you tell me you would leave Na-na-na oh, leave, na-na-na Tell me a lie for my relief Could you stop being ruthless stepping right onto my deepest points?

5. Bring Me to Life x Just the Two of Us - The Gregory Brothers

A mashup that gives Evanescence a nice upbeat fluttery feeling. (Mashup is not available on Spotify so it's pure angst on the Spotify playlist.)

(Wake me up) wake me up inside (I can't wake up) wake me up inside (Save me) call my name and save me from the dark (Wake me up) bid my blood to run (I can't wake up) before I come undone (Save me) save me from the nothing I've become

6. Itadori - roseboi

7. New Invention (feat. Tessa Violet) - IDKHOW

Kenjaku made Yuji after all.

The girl is like an architect And I am just a new invention I am just a new invention I am just a new invention You've got to choose between your faces Feels like you're running out of holy places And now the room is getting quiet (shh) Oh, what a shame Nobody taught you how to read and riot Oh, bless my soul I'm losing control

8. bury a friend - Billie Eilish

Shibuya arc இ௰இ

Step on the glass, staple your tongue (Ahh) Bury a friend, try to wake up (Ahh-ha) Cannibal class, killin' the son (Ahh) Bury a friend, I wanna end me I wanna end me I wanna, I wanna, I wanna end me I wanna, I wanna, I wanna– What do you want from me? Why don't you run from me? What are you wondering? What do you know? Why aren't you scared of me? Why do you care for me? When we all fall asleep, where do we go?

9. Strawberry Fields Forever - Jim Sturgess

When Yuji regains consciousness after Sukuna wrecked Shibuya.

Let me take you down 'Cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields Nothing is real And nothing to get hung about Strawberry Fields forever

10. Happy Endings (feat. iann dior and UPSAHL) - Mike Shinoda

Did Yuji's grandpa put a curse on him? Why'd he get a hero complex? ┗( T﹏T )┛

Hey, at least in my mind I'm feelin' like I'm the hero that saves me There, I hold my head high Get everything right Delusional maybe If I'm pretending, why not write happy endings? Where I'm better than we both know I could be, oh Still, at least in my mind I'm feelin' like I'm the hero that saves me

11. overwhelmed - Royal & the Serpent

I say this playlist came out more angsty than I expected. It's all because of Yuji's subtle self-loathing post-Shibuya I've been picking at here.

I get overwhelmed so easily My anxiety creeps inside of me Makes it hard to breathe What's come over me? Feels like I'm somebody else

12. Would Look Perfect (feat. Rxseboy) - Powfu

Yuji, prone to loneliness. Despite Yuji being Yuji, a warm extrovert, ride or die friend, he doesn't appear to have really fit in back home?

See you with your friend group, lonely like I always am Gave a silent wave but, I don't think you noticed it Thinkin' of what happened as I continue my walk I grew up in this town, but somehow I'm feelin' lost Wishin' I was cool, why does everybody fit in?

13. XO Tour Lif3 - Lil Uzi Vert

All my friends are dead, push me to the edge All my friends are dead, yuh, push me to the edge All my friends are dead, yuh, all my friends are dead, yuh

14. Fight Again - Chica, Hiroaki Tsutsumi

JJK season 1 OST

15. Occult Phenomenon - Paranom, Aztech, Hiroaki Tsutsumi

JJK season 1 OST

16. Your Battle Is My Battle - Chica, Hiroaki Tsutsumi

JJK season 1 OST

17. Learn The Lesson - Kasper, Aztech, Hiroaki Tsutsumi

JJK season 1 OST

18. Kimi wa Dekinai Ko ("You're a Useless Child") - Kikuo

Yuji to himself.

You are a useless, useless useless child The most useless child in the whole world

///

La la la Monster, ghost, invisible human A vase, an urinal, being truant With a dry mouth, under your breath You utter slander Let's listen to the monotone squeal Yet months and days pass and pass You're a child with not enough time nor brains Now it's too late, you're mentally retarded You cute child, good child, you belong to me

19. Boys Will Be Bugs - Cavetown

Back before he realized he was just a cog, Yuji was the typical teenage boy.

I'm a dumb teen boy I eat sticks and rocks and mud I don't care about the government And I really need a hug I feel stupid (stupid), ugly (ugly) Pretend it doesn't bother me I'm not very strong, but I'll fuck you up if you're mean to bugs

///

Just turned 14 And I think this year I'm gonna be mean Just turned 14 And I think I know everything Just turned 14 And I think this year I'm gonna be mean Just turned 14 And I think the world revolves around me Don't mess with me, I'm a big boy now, and I'm very scary I punch my walls, stay out at night, and I do karate

20. Two Face - Jack Daniels

A little more literal with Sukuna.

Lately, I've been talking with a ghost He tells me all the places I should go He makes me paint my face so that I know That I'm not the only person in my soul He tells me that a monster lives inside And when it gets too angry I should hide 'Cause if I were to try to pick a fight I would barely stand a chance and I'd die

21. Nosedive - BoyWithUke

I was thinking of Nanami at first, but the vibe was more from a young adult. Well, Yuji's bound to have picked up some things from him.

We're all grown up, we're all so lost Nothin' has prepped us for this life It's like we don't know why Nosediving from the high

22. idtwcbf (friends) - BoyWithUke

Regrets on Megumi, what happened, etc. There's also an asura/mythological vibe I'm digging.

I just wanna stop, had enough, out of love and out of luck I don't wanna give a fuck about my feels, dulls enough Emotionally uninvested, resting for the day to come Try my hardest not to run away from everything I've done But I'm looking back, ignoring facts I see two moon, but walk six paths Inside my head, I'm going mad for you (Oh, oh)

23. A Better Son/Daughter - Rilo Kiley

Yuji, his feelings, and his mom.

Sometimes in the morning, I am petrified and can't move Awake, but cannot open my eyes And the weight is crushing down on my lungs, I know I can't breathe And hope someone will save me this time And your mother's still calling you insane and high Swearing it's different this time And you tell her to give in to the demons that possess her And that God never blessed her insides Then you hang up the phone and feel badly for upsetting things Crawl back into bed to dream of a time When your heart was open wide, and you loved things just because Like the sick and the dying

24. Hope - XXXTENTACION

Tired but hopeful.

Said I wanna die, yuh No, I'm not alright, yuh I might start a riot I'm so fuckin' tired, yuh So what's up? What you say? Feelin' good, I'm feelin' great Tired of the fuckin' hate Stackin' cheese all on my plate So outside of my misery, I think I'll find A way of envisioning a better life For the rest of us, the rest of us There's hope for the rest of us, the rest of us

25. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift

Wasn't sure to include this. Honestly, you can't forget that even after all the misery Yuji goes through, in the end he pushes through with his unrelenting ability to shake it off.

But I keep cruisin' Can't stop, won't stop groovin' It's like I got this music in my mind Sayin' it's gonna be alright

26. Stressed Out - Twenty One Pilots

Ugh, that scene where the first-year trio is just hanging out and Nobara spills coffee on Gojo's shirt-- then the hard cut to Nobara dead is devastating EVERY TIME.

Wish we could turn back time

To the good old days

When our mama sang us to sleep

But now we're stressed out (oh)

27. SAD (Clap Your Hands) - Young Rising Sons

Continuing on a more upbeat tune. Todo coming to Yuji's help in Shibuya.

If you're sad and you know it And you don't want to show it Clap your hands If you are sad, that's okay You can clap it all away Just clap your hands Come clap your hands We're all a little sad

28. mercy - KING MALA

Aaand back to the self-hatred. Because things just got worse post-Shibuya.

I've been getting so tired Starting so many fires I always find a way to burn Now I'm begging for mercy From everyone that I've wronged I've done more harm than I thought

///

I'm begging mercy Is there any good inside of me?

29. Antarctica - $uicideboy$

With blood and whatever Drag you outside, let you rot in the weather I don't think I can explain any better I'm $carecrow the Terror I live for the lesser, my birth was an error I am the lord of loneliness I'll hold my breath, just spoke with death He said he hopes for the best Told him I'm roping my neck Then I woke up choking from the hole in my chest

30. It's Alright - Mother Mother

It's hard to pick out just a few sections of the song, so really the whole thing is just... perfect for Yuji. I can imagine the scene post Higuruma vs. Yuji trial.

It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay You're not a monster, just a human And you made a few mistakes It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay You're not gruesome, just human And you made a few mistakes It's alright Ooh, it's okay Ooh, it's alright, oh Goddamn I throw a brick right through the window My life ignored the signals I'm high and drunk on ego, can't see straight So I just feel my way around and I'm touching and I'm grabbing Everything I can't be havin' I am broken down in shame

31. Kaibutsu ("Monster") - YOASOBI

Wanting to be stronger and not succumbing to darker feelings.

Over and over again, I sink my teeth Into my weak self Because in this world riddled with mistakes I want to make sure you can smile I don't want to lose anyone anymore And that's why I want to get stronger, even stronger So that I can stay myself I just want to protect you - and that's why I'm running, running, running So that I can overcome the "me" inside myself

32. Kaikai Kitan - Eve

The very first JJK OP. Yuji-coded.

Can't you see I'm a mess? This is the current, pathetic me Just a dead corpse that achieved nothing, go on and ridicule me Yet I quit just running away from everything before my eyes Repeatedly depicting the fantasy in my mind Go to the far side of your imagination Exorcise the darkness, exorcise the darkness Once the veil of darkness descends, that's our cue After the tit-for-tat, leave all the circular battle front line And such nonsense away Don't stop yet, it hasn't ended yet To search more keenly than anyone else for the truth bred in the streets Now only imagine my future being cursed with a curse Running and falling I'll embrace this pain that won't disappear The world is quietly waiting For this moment

33. Itsuka Dokoka de (Someday, Somewhere) - KUCHIRORO

Second song chosen by Akutami. Long, winding, and whimsical. Not available on Spotify.

[writingsofwesteros]

Stev notices that during a meeting Tywin's eyes keep straying to her breasts constantly. She is keeping her cool, managing to get some coin to actual causes and some more sound ideas on how to keep rioting at bay while also making sure people are safe and not scared.

"My love?" She asks him as his eyes seem to have froze on her breasts.

Tywin clears his throat. "I was making sure this did not become too noticable" he says bringing a hand to cup her breast, thumb stroking a wet spot on her dress. Poor thing was lactating so much with their twin girls still feeding.

Looking down she blushes leaning back on her chair. "I need to see the babies" she says tentatively starting to rise from her spot, going to kiss tywin goodbye only to Be pulled into his lap.

"you're so full" he rumbles cupping her breast again. "So lush and precious" he continues

"tywin, I am already aching" she says breathlessly when he starts kissing her neck.

"then let me help, the girls aren't just reliant on you for nourishment anymore, they can wait"

"I cannot!"

"shhshh" he tuts, hand sinking under her collar, gently popping out her breasts, careful to not hurt her, he starts massaging them, soon milk his running down his fingers.

"you're making a mess", she whimpers leaning her head against his with one of her hands bunching her dress between her legs to relieve pressure.

"I haven't had the time to cherish My lady lately have I?" He asks ignoring her. "Let me help your aches now" his lips attatching to her breast.

Tongue teasing her nipple while he occasionally takes a hard suckle, careful to leave some for their daughters after all but taking just enough to get Stev ache free and orgasmic with his teasing touches.

Her whole body shaking with pleasure and relief she starts rubbing herself against his hard on. "Someone could walk in" she mutters a lewd moan following as he takes another suckle.

"they wouldn't dare to Look at what is mine. And If they did, they would grow so envious they would drop dead by the second"

"st-stop jesting" her hips moving stronger now as he moves onto her other breast. "A-ah"

"shh shh"he says before returning to his task of relieving her, one of his big hands going under her hem to push her underthings aside. Pulling at her he lets her nipple free with a pop, opening his own breeches

"You've Been leaking here too"

Nuzzling against his temple, breasts still free and round she answers him. "Your voice makes my body sing"

In a moment of tenderness tywin checks. "Do you need preparation?"

"I am plenty prepared, My love"

Sinking into her he pulls her so close in his crammed chair, It is clumsy but she rides him so good,

"lift me on The table, please, tywin, fuck me on The table like you used to"

ALL OF THIS !!!

The hottest thing ever, poor stev just so sensitive and full. Bless her !!

[containatrocity]

The Angle.

October finds his in.

Absinthe sighs, leaning his head back against the wall of the confessional booth. He's almost about to call it a day, head home- with the few usual sinners thinking acknowledging their wandering eyes and greed might suddenly let them free of this place- not realizing all they're doing is keeping themselves and Absinthe in the chapel, a prison of faith in a prison of the metaphysical.

They wonder, for a moment, if it's worth all of this, fingers running polished blue sandstone beads slowly. That moment is enough time for the other half of the booth to fill again- someone large, clinking metal against metal. It's not the biting scent of smoke meeting his nose that tells him who this is- but the clinging scent of copper- blood and fur. October shuts the door behind him.

"Bless me father, for I have sinned. My last confession was..." He laughs. The sound of a lighter clicking open as he sparks the end of a cigarette. "Mm, Longer ago than you've been alive, father."

"That's quite alright... Forgiveness is for all who seek it." Absinthe responds- willing his voice not to shake- smoke slips through the slats, hazy and dreamlike. October's voice rumbles in response.

"I've got a lot of dirt on my soul, Father, weight I've carried a long, long time." It doesn't sound genuine, his cadence makes Sin's skin crawl. "I don't know if I've got the strength to let it go."

"We can... certainly try."

"I killed a man. It was in self-defense, you know- I was but a boy, He was so much bigger than me. I shot him, right between the eyes. Watched him tip over dead into the floor beside me." Breathing is difficult, under smoke, under the weight of words beside him.

"Well-"

"But that's something god forgives, right Father? He forgave your transgressions, so I- why, I could be borderline holy too, right?" He cuts Absinthe off, shifts in the booth beside him, there's a faint glint of metal- a knife, turned in skillful hands. "God forgave you, time and again for the blood on your hands. And God sent you a savior, oh, he sent us all a savior. That Raziel fellow... All his fancy ideas... salvation."

"What do you want, Roulette-"

"Shhh, shh! This is confidential, Father! Shame on you!" Absinthe winces- a violent strike against the thick wood of the confessional- scratching sounds following. "Shh. You're here to absolve me of my sins. But I know more about your little... connection to Raz than you think, hm? Something in you needs something in him, like light needs darkness, good needs evil- god needs the devil. I'd have called it love, if I thought either of you were capable of it.... Can ya love, Father?"

Absinthe's chest tightens- the screech of metal on wood grating his ears. "Mr. Roulette I need you to-"

"No, No, you can't- you don't, you won't let yourself. But there's a tell. You a gambling man, Father?"

"N...No."

"I am, you know. Everyone has a tell. Even the ones bred like dogs to hide it. Raz gets his dander up, when you come up. And oh, don't you do the same? And you play your little cat and mouse, do your song and dance at the commune, forcing us all into your little quartile." The giant adjusts. "You two really should just fuck like you used to and get it out of the way. Mutually assured destruction in the bedroom instead of at the barrel's end."

"How do you-"

"Know? I'm smarter than any of you bother giving me credit for. A big, brutish thing with a tendency to listen. And I know people, through and through. The tension.... delicious." Absinthe grits his teeth, hand shifting to the door handle of the confessional as more smoke drifts in, hazy and blue. "And now, Father you assign me a penance."

"October."

"Mm, what's that? Oh, a few hail Marys, and to put myself down like a hound dog? That's what you want to suggest, isn't it, Father Capone?"

"I want you to leave." His voice comes out more firmly. October laughs. the sound is cruel, like a hyena tossed a meal- bone chimes in the wind. Absinthe knows evil, he has exorcised demons since he could comprehend scripture.

October is something else entirely, a laughing curr a thin, wooden wall away.

And then he's gone. Silence- the sound of the church doors closing.

He sits, in silence for a moment- shifts to move out of his half of the confessional- to read what the brute had carved in.

Grasping tentacles, and words, in italian.

"Abbracciate i Nuovi Dei."

"Amen." Comes the hiss from behind him, October leaning over his shoulder- wild eyed and grinning. "You have a good afternoon, Father. I'll see you at home..."

And then he's gone for real- Absinthe unsure of what's come to pass-

a crawling fear that he may have let something important become known in the haze of discomfort nesting in his stomach, all the same.

[primordialpeacock]

AshClan (Moon 0 - Part 2)

Palewillow stared at the stone walls, blinking tears out of her eyes, trying to control her breathing. 

“What just happened to me?”

“Hrm?” 

Dung. She'd said that out loud. 

“What'd you say?” The dark tabby tom next to her blinked awake as he rolled to face her. “Palewillow! What happened?” 

“Shh!” She shushed him like she had in his adolescence and looked around to make sure he hadn't woken up their clanmates. “I'm okay, Shaderise, I'm okay, I just… I’m…” 

He looked even more concerned. 

“I… I need to talk to Falconstar,” She pawed the tears off her muzzle and stood to leave, Shaderise moving to follow her before she stopped him with her tail. “I'm fine, go back to sleep.” 

He pushed her fluffy tail aside. “Falconstar? Palewillow, please, what's going on?” 

Palewillow looked him in his golden eyes and promised, “As soon as I find out, I'll let you know,” And with that she slipped out of the cavern and into the large cave that SlateClan and SloeClan shared. Just as she began padding towards the chamber across from her, Falconstar emerged with a serious look on her face. That look had continuously unnerved Palewillow for the past couple weeks. Falconstar had always been the most bold and immodest cat Palewillow had ever met, so seeing the leader so stern kept leaving her with a sense of dread. 

“Palewillow, come with me,” Falconstar commanded before heading out of the cave.

Palewillow followed. As the two stepped out into the night air, the SloeClan warrior on guard gave them a questioning look.

“At ease, Whitebriar,” Falconstar teased as she stepped past him. 

He nodded to his leader and gave Palewillow a hard stare before continuing his duties. She followed Falconstar until the older molly settled down on a hollow log, beckoning with her tail for Palewillow to join. Instead she stood on the ground in front of Falconstar, looking up at her and stating

“You were in my dream.”

“And you were in mine.” 

“The willow was me, I get that. And the falcon was supposed to be you?”

“Perceptive.”

Palewillow forced her fur to lie flat. Falconstar's moments of seriousness were always brief. “Falconstar I don't understand what I saw! Just tell me!”

Falconstar's smirk quickly shifted into an almost soothing grin. “This was your first vision?”

Hearing it said out loud made the reality of it all feel so much heavier in Palewillow's head. “...it was.”

“Don't be ashamed. Many deputies don't get sent messages from StarClan until they're leaders. And you've only been deputy for, what, six moons now?”

“Five.”

“Five.” 

Deputy. Palewillow still didn't feel like she was. Before the fire, when the Twolegs began making their destructive way through the forest, SlateClan's deputy Adderstone met her end in the jaws of a coyote. Palewillow never understood why Quailstar chose her to follow in the pawsteps of someone as wonderful as Adderstone. Palewillow felt so unprepared, and Shaderise had only just earned his name. But Quailstar said he saw something in her. Something she still had yet to see.  

“Palewillow?” 

“Yes?”

“Do you want to become the leader of SlateClan?”

“Of course.”

“I'm sorry, let me rephrase. Are you ready to be the leader of SlateClan?”

It took Palewillow a long moment to respond even though she knew the answer, “...I'm not.”

Falconstar regarded the deputy for a moment before continuing, “I believe StarClan has shown us how to save our Clans.” 

Palewillow waited for Falconstar to say the answer before the deputy realized the leader was waiting for Palewillow herself to say it. She swallowed her frustration and sat down, wrapping her trail around her legs as she stared up at the starry sky. A willow tree. A falcon. The burned forest suddenly filled with beautiful sounds of life. 

Palewillow met Falconstar's eyes and stated, “StarClan wants us to unite.” 

Falconstar nodded. “You have no leader, I have no deputy. You cannot receive your nine lives, and StarClan bless my clanmates but none of them are eligible to be deputy. But StarClan clearly believes that you and I can bring our Clans back from the brink of extinction. Together.” 

Palewillow sat silently regarding the old molly.

“Think about it, Palewillow. You said yourself that you are not ready to lead your Clan. You could become my deputy and one day when my time comes you can lead as a cat with proper experience. And there are pressing matters we cannot face on our own. There are hardly any of us left. Our Clans alone do not have the claw power to defend territories. A war is coming, the other Clans will fight over this unknown land and the only chance we have is to unite and face our enemies as one.” 

Palewillow stared at Falconstar.

“I understand this goes against everything you and I were raised to believe, but if StarClan is saying to-”

“I'm not disagreeing with you, Falconstar,” Palewillow cut the SloeClan leader off. “I just…” Palewillow took a long breath and rose to her paws, leaping onto the log and sitting next to Falconstar. 

The deputy asked, “How are we going to convince the others?” 

[johnny-kobayakawa-television2015]

Thomas and Friends: Sodor Online Journeys (Story 17): Trouble in The Shed

The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt sat in his office listening to the noise outside. The Passengers were angry. The Stationmaster knocked and came in. "There's trouble in the shed, Sir. Henry is sulking. There's no train, and the passengers are saying this is a bad railway." "Indeed." said the Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt. "We cannot allow that!"

He found Gordon, James and Henry looking very cross. "Come along, Henry. It's time your train is ready." "Henry's not going." said Gordon. "We won't shunt like common/little tank engines. That's Thomas's Job. We're important tender engines. you fetch our coaches, and we will pull them. Tender engines don't shunt!" "Oh indeed!" said the Fat Controller. "We'll see about that. Engines on my railway do as they are told."/"We'll see about that." said Sir Topham Hatt. "No engine on my railway is too important for small jobs." and he hurried away to find Edward. "The Yard has never been the same since Thomas left to run his Branch Line." he thought sadly.

Edward was shunting in the yard. "Leave those trucks/freight cars please, Edward." said the Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt. "I want you to push coaches for me in the yard." "Thank you, Sir. That will be a nice change." "That's a good engine. Off you go then. " So Edward found the coaches for the three engines, and that day the trains ran as usual.

But the next morning, Edward looked unhappy. Gordon came clanking past hissing rudely at him. "Bless me!" said the Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt. "What a noise!" "They all hiss at me, Sir." answered Edward. "Why?" "Because they say "Tender Engines Don't Shunt", and last night they say that I have black/grey wheels. I haven't, have I, Sir?" "No, Edward. You have nice blue ones, and I am proud of you. Tender Engines do shunt, but all the same you'd be happier on your own branch line like Thomas's. In fact, we need a tank engine here."

He went to a workshop, and they showed him all sort of tank engines. Then he saw a smart little green engine with four wheels. "That's the one." he thought. "If I choose you, will you work hard for me?" "Oh, Sir! Yes, Sir!" "That's a good engine. I'll call you Percy. "Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir!" said Percy, as the Fat Controller/Sir Topham brought him to the Yard.

"Edward." he called. "This is Percy. Will you show him everything?" Percy soon learnt what he had to do, and they had a happy afternoon. Then Henry came by hissing as usual. "Watch this. Wheesh!" went Percy. "Yikes!" Henry jumped, and ran back to the shed. "How beautifully you wheeshed him." laughed Edward. "Even though I can't wheesh like that." "Oh," said Percy. "That's nothing. You should hear them in the Workshop. You have to wheesh loudly to make yourself heard."

Next Morning, Thomas arrived. "The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt sent me here. I expect he wants help." he said importanly to Edward. "Shh! Shh! Here he comes." replied Edward. "Well done, Thomas. You've been quick. Listen, Henry, Gordon and James are sulking because they say that they won't like common/little tank engines, so I have shut them up, and I want you two to run the line for a while." "Common/Little Tank Engines indeed!" snorted Thomas. "We'll show them." "And Percy will help too." "Oh, Sir! Yes, Sir. Please, Sir!" peeped Percy.

Edward and Thomas worked on the Main Line, greeting each other as they pass by. Percy puffed along the Branch Line. Thomas was anxious about Annie and Clarabel, but both Driver and Guard/Conductor promise to take care of them.

There were fewer trains, but the passengers didn't mind. They knew that the three other engines were having a lesson. Gordon, James and Henry were cold, lonely, and miserable. They wished now they hadn't been so silly.

Story End