#technically it returned in march of last year

[stillgotscars]

guess whose cystic acne has returned 😔

[thecouchsofa]

It might be March, but better late than never!

While I posted more fic in 2024 (see my 2024 year in fic) than I ever have before, I also read an absolute shitload. Below the cut are some of my favourites that were published in 2024, arranged by word count.

As always, there is an absolute wealth of talent in this fandom and the amount of goodness we have here never ceases to amaze me. The fics below all really did it for me in a number of different ways. Though my opinion is subjective, I will happily vouch for all of them. Happy reading! 📚

❤️🩵💛💚

🌹Way to go, Tiger by @houndsinhades | G | 2k | 🌹

The time will arrive for the cruel and the mean You'll learn to bounce back just like your trampoline But now we'll curtail your curiosity In sweetness Way to go, Tiger Scorpius Malfoy's seventh birthday.

Read for: Scorpius at his best, Wholesome Parent/Child Relationship, Draco after the War

Note: This is technically a gen fic, but it gives major Drarry vibes so I’m putting it here anyway

🌺The game's the game by @hogwartsfirebolt | M | 3k | 🌺

Draco might be — definitely is — the world’s sorest loser, but he’s also the world’s biggest slut for Quidditch excellence, and he has it right here, holding him against his hotel room door.

Read for: Quidditch Rivals Harry and Draco, Friends with Benefits, a full story told expertly in a low word count

🌻 The sun between us by @eleadore | E | 7k | 🌻

Draco Malfoy, an omega. It was laughable until he was right in front of you, smelling like he was one shaky step from tripping into a heat.

Read for: Omegaverse, Snarky Banter, Good Characterisation (yes, I’m putting that on a PWP)

🌼 Apophenia by b6p592l11 | T | 12k |🌼

Out of the many things Sirius expected to happen after the war, having to deal with his godson dating a Death Eater was definitely not one of them.

Read for: Sirius Lives, Sirius POV, Draco/Regulus Parallels

🌷The Window by @hoko-onchi-writes | E | 15k |🌷

“I swear all you ever talk about is men.” Ron laughs and vanishes the last of the joint. “Sweet fucking Christ,” Harry says. “Remind me to never involve you in my life in any way, ever again.” He gives Harry a very handsome grin. “Padma said she saw him. At a Tesco’s.” “Who?” “Draco sodding Malfoy.” “At a Tesco’s,” Harry repeats. He’s very stoned, having an out-of-body experience imagining Draco Malfoy in a Tesco’s, holding a frozen dinner. He wonders, very briefly, what Malfoy’s been up to since the war. “I bet you wish you had a map of that Tesco’s. So you could track his name.” “Fuck off.” ~~ In which Harry grows up in darkness, falls in love, fucks up, learns some things, and falls in love again.

Note: this story also features Harry/Charlie, but it is endgame Drarry

Read for: Character Study (Harry), Adorable Scorpius, this line that I want tattooed on my prefrontal cortex: "There’s a very blond man with a laptop, and an equally blond toddler wearing a Wiggles t-shirt and brandishing a trashy romance novel like a weapon."

🪻Je te reverrai by @soliblomst and art by @kk1smet | E | 16k |🪻

When Beauxbatons visited Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament, Draco managed to control his attraction to fourteen-year-old Harry Potter. When Beauxbatons returns three years later for a cultural exchange, Draco's attraction to seventeen-year-old Harry Potter is impossible to curtail. In his defence, Harry's perfectly tailored blue robes, mixed signals, and French accent do not help.

Read for: Beauxbatons Harry, French Speaking Harry, Gorgeous Art

🌹Nine Days in Coventry by @sitaz | G | 16k |🌹

When a de-aged Draco Malfoy is discovered in Knockturn Alley, the Ministry appoints Family Liaison Officer Potter as his emergency guardian. Whisked away to a Muggle safehouse, Draco does not cope well, and Harry learns just how hard life can be when a five-year-old declares war on you.

Read for: De-aged Draco, Draco being a brat (but so cute), Harry taking care of Draco, Pre-Relationship

🌺 The most he’s ever said by @fastbrother | E | 16k |🌺

It takes them twenty years.

Read for: Down and Out to Redeemed and Competent Draco, Draco-centric, the Situationship of a Lifetime

Warning: Infidelity, but not between Drarry

🌻You And Me Against The World by @dracowillhearaboutthis | T | 17k |🌻

When Draco finally meets his soulmate, he doesn't want anything to do with Draco.

Read for: Soulmarks, Partial Canon Rewrite, Remus raises Harry, Draco and Theo friendship

🌼Equally Cursed and Blessed by @moonflower-rose | E | 18k |🌼

Harry's back at Hogwarts to attempt his final year, again. This time he's sure there'll be no shenanigans. Well. Maybe there'll be a few.

Read for: Draco’s artsy porn collection, Humour, Harry and Ron’s ride or die friendship

🌷Goodbye, Old You by harDeehar (dryrsheet) | E | 19k |🌷

As an alpha, Harry Potter should not have been an assistant for the newly minted Diversity department, and he definitely should not have been working under Draco. Draco seemed to be the only person who thought Harry was suspicious, but he was used to taking care of things on his own, anyway. Luckily, Draco was not as alone as he thought, and his understanding of Harry's intentions turned out to not be the only misjudgement Draco made.

Read for: Omegaverse, Coworkers, Mpreg

🪻Raising Hell! by @wolfpants | E | 21k |🪻

Harry and Draco are sent undercover as a married couple to investigate a dodgy Muggle love cult. Something evil is lurking in Glastonbury… but to get to it, the reluctant partners must be initiated first. And this is, after all, a love cult…

Read for: Case Fic, Competent Draco, Muggle Sex Cults, Good Smut

🌹The Superfluous Man by peu_a_peu | E | 24k |🌹

A child for Harry Potter is a miracle of magic. And it's the second act of Draco Malfoy's sorry little life.

Read for: Mpreg, snappy writing style, a pre-2015 feel

🌺On the divine agony of longing by @flimsi | E | 25k |🌺

Speaking to Draco is like poking a beehive - and Harry is a glutton for punishment. In which Harry makes some serious blunders and then tries to fix it. Somehow. Draco’s eyes narrow and his mouth purses, pretty and pink and wet from whatever he’s been drinking. “Any mediocre time is better than whatever you can you offer, Head Auror Potter. We’ve had this conversation. I thought I made myself clear.”

Read for: Magically Powerful Harry, Possessive Pining Harry, Competent Draco

🌻Antelucan Ruins by @rainjulyx | E | 29k |🌻

From the bloody Prophet, Draco discovers Harry Potter’s death splashed in grey ink printed on the front page. Potter is dead before Draco gets to see him again to fulfil a half-spoken promise. And yet, these days Draco has the power to bend the world to his heart’s desires, and that includes fucking Harry Potter even after he personally saw Potter’s pale, lifeless body lying in a coffin before it got buried under the soil. — "Do you realise that you're just as pathetic and insane? You're so hung up on the idea of me that you'd fuck a ghost, Malfoy. You risked your life for it." Draco puts an arm around Potter's body, "Whoever says I am sane? Certainly not me. It's calculated risk with more success rate than failure. And you are dead, Potter. You refuse to move on to the next realm because you crave for my cock."

Read for: BAMF Draco, Ghost Harry, a surprisingly hopeful tone considering one of them is pretty dead

🌼The only thing worse than heartbreak is Vermont by @jtimu | E | 31k |🌼

In the aftermath of a failed relationship, Draco Malfoy found himself with three things. His pride (tattered), Theo's luggage (stolen), and an all-inclusive couples' vacation package to Vermont (awful).

Read for: Lumberjack Harry, Banter, International Location

🌷Skipping Stones by @whimsibeee | M | 34k |🌷

Draco receives his very own prophecy. If Harry Potter could leave him alone, he might be able to figure out what it means.

Read for: Coming of Age vibes, Cosy Atmospheric writing, Complicated Family Dynamics

🪻Obscuro by @stratigraphywrites | E | 35k |🪻

Draco is grieving. His conversation partner is here against his will. It's a shameless rip-off of an insipid Muggle reality dating show. Hardly the occasion for true love, if you ask Draco. feat. a cat named Marmalade, a bird named Mumble, Lee Jordan's answer to Love is Blind, and two best friends who only want their dads to be happy.

Read For: Game Show Format, Hidden Identity, Good Smut, Epilogue Compliant

🌹Invito by PrinceMalice | E | 36k |🌹

Draco mused on the possible first use of the charm. What had the wizard been calling for? The text didn’t specify. As for the etymology— the meaning of the word itself was derived from I call, I summon— or the Hungarian variation of the incantation… To invite. Or, Harry keeps inviting Draco places. Draco keeps turning him down… until he doesn't.

Read for: Eighth Year, the sweetest unfolding of a relationship, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Party Games

🌺Gemini in Retrograde by @citrusses | T | 38k |🌺

Draco Malfoy doesn’t understand his son. Scorpius Malfoy doesn’t understand his father. It’s going to take more than one disastrous, body-swapping curse to change that.

Read for: Body Swapping, Alternating Scorpius/Draco POV, Draco being a good dad, Soft Harry, DADA Professor Harry

🌻No Harm by Tessa Crowley | E | 46k |🌻

After a long, bloody war, Draco Malfoy just wants to do something good with his life for a change, and resolves to become a healer. But magical society refuses to make it easy for him, and an increasingly dramatic series of events—all of them instigated by Harry Potter—get him kicked out of med school, force him to live in exile, and threaten to destroy the new life he’s trying so desperately to build. But Harry isn’t instigating anything—at least not on purpose. He’s just trying to work up the nerve to ask him out. His efforts don’t appear to be going great.

Read for: Down and out Draco, Pining Harry, same scenes from different perspectives

🌼Truth to Materials by lately & @toomuchplor | E | 54k | 🌼

In which Harry learns to appreciate art and other pleasures of the flesh.

Read for: Artist Draco, Paris, Good Smut

🌷Pillar of Salt by @epitomereally | E | 62k | 🌷

From the lake in the Room of Hidden Things, Draco knows three things: 1. Mirror universes exist, and he’s going to find the best one—the one where he did the right thing. 2. Harry Potter and him are awfully cosy in some of these other universes, whereas Potter in real life is starting to act very odd around him indeed. 3. Draco’s reflection—the mirror version of him, the worst version of him—seems to be growing crueler. And stronger.

Read for: Eighth Year, Alternate Universes (sort of), Magical Theory

🪻Behind Closed Doors by @stratigraphywrites | E | 77k | 🪻

Twelve years after Harry Potter disappeared from the wizarding world and from Draco's life, his daughter starts at Hogwarts.

Read for: Secret Child, Angst with a Happy Ending, Nonlinear Narrative

🌹A Soft Place to Fall by @amomorii | E | 142k | 🌹

When Harry arrives for his first year teaching at Hogwarts and is struck with a bizarre malignance, how on earth is he supposed to react when Draco Malfoy suddenly cares? Or; A darkness crawls out of Harry, and there's only so long he can keep it to himself.

Read for: Unique Concept, Managing Childhood Trauma, Reluctant Magical Coparenting (but it’s not what you think)

🌺The Star Splitter by @oflights | E | 219k |🌺

On a routine time travel assignment to the past, Draco stumbles upon 7-year-old Harry Potter and witnesses his neglect and mistreatment by the Dursleys. In the moment, there is only one solution, even if it goes against all his training as a Time Agent: he has to bring Harry back to the future with him. In which Draco burns his life down for the sake of his former school rival.

Read for: Time Travel, Draco taking care of Harry, Kid Fic

I hope you enjoy these fics as much as I did! If you read any, don't forget to show the creators some love ❤️🩵💛💚

[ceyanabbiolo]

PHOTOGRAPH // M.S [15]

Summary: Daphne Denoire, a 21-year-old, returns to Boston after 3 years—but working for her brother’s best friend, Matthew Sturniolo, wasn’t part of the plan. He’s a 26-year-old multimillionaire. She’s the girl he was never supposed to feel this way about. With secrets between them and boundaries set, how far will they go for a love they never saw coming?

Warnings: smut (not crazy detailed)

wc: 8306

Chapter 15: No. 1 Party Anthem

By the time the second week of March rolled around, life had settled into a rhythm again.

I was working steadily and attending therapy each week without missing a session. There was a quiet steadiness in my days that I hadn’t felt in a long time—one that didn’t feel fragile or borrowed.

Things with Matt were good. Really good. We hadn’t defined what we were, but there was a comfort between us now—gentle, constant, and slowly building. He didn’t push, and I didn’t run. That was progress in itself.

Noah had only visited once in the last three months, and even then, it was a short trip. He was busy, and I think part of him was trying to give me space—even if he didn’t say it out loud. Still, every call ended with a reminder: “Let me know if somethings wrong.”

I always replied with a smile he couldn’t see: “I will.”

On a chilly Wednesday afternoon, I stood by the studio window, camera in hand, just looking outside. 

And then Matt walked in.

He didn’t say anything at first. Just shrugged off his jacket, glanced over at me, and smiled.

“I booked us a weekend away,” he said, setting his keys down. “We could use a break.”

“Oh?” I said, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “Where are you taking us?”

“A cottage,” he replied, stepping closer. “The weather’s finally decent, so I figured we could get away for a bit. Just us. Somewhere quiet.”

He leaned against the edge of the table, watching my expression carefully like he was gauging whether it was too much.

I lowered my camera slowly. “When?”

“This weekend. I already cleared your schedule with your manager,” he said, and when I raised a brow, he smirked. “You’re welcome.”

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. “You’re technically my manager.”

“Fair,” he added, gently brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “But, You’ve been working nonstop. I just want us to breathe for a bit. No pressure, no noise—just you and me.”

That made something in my chest flutter. His voice was low, steady, and it calmed me in ways I didn’t know I still needed.

The weekend came quickly and by the time I knew it we were in Matt's car, on our 4 hour drive, up north. The car was driving smoothly, as we passed through the woods any everything.

“Hey,” I said gently, glancing over at him as the trees passed by outside. “Why’d you leave so abruptly last night?”

Matt let out a quiet sigh, his jaw tightening slightly. “Chris’s fiancée’s dad got arrested.”

My eyes widened. “Wait—what? For what?”

He ran a hand through his hair, keeping his eyes on the road. “Turns out he was stealing from Chris. Has been for a while. Some kind of long-term fraud tied to the family accounts.”

I blinked, stunned. “Oh my Gosh... Is Aurora okay?”

Aurora Devereaux. The fiancée. We’d been messaging back and forth lately. Matt had connected us—he’d offered me the chance to be the photographer for a fashion show she was working on. She was in her final year of fashion design, filthy rich, and basically from the same world as Matt.

Matt gave a small shrug, lips pressing together. “Not really. Things with her and Chris… kind of fell apart.”

He glanced at me briefly, then back to the road. “You know how Chris is. He says shit when he’s angry—pushes people away without thinking. Last night didn’t go well.”

I stayed quiet for a second, trying to process it all. “So... are they breaking up?”

“Well, the engagement is off,” Matt said honestly. “I think he insulted her in some way, not fully sure.”

I exhaled softly, sinking deeper into my seat. “Poor Aurora.”

“Yeah,” Matt muttered. “She looked heartbroken.”

I squeezed Matt’s hand gently.

“You okay?” I asked.

He gave me a tired smile. “Yeah. Just… makes you think, y’know? How fast shit can fall apart.”

I didn’t say anything. I just leaned my head lightly against his shoulder, and he didn’t pull away.

Matt glanced over at me, his hand still resting on the gear shift. “You’re still doing that gig for Aurora, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I am. Actually… I’m kind of excited about it.”

His brow lifted slightly, like he was surprised.

“She’s been really sweet over messages,” I added. “I mean, I know she’s probably dealing with a lot right now, but she’s still been super professional. I think it’ll be nice to meet her in person.”

Matt gave a small smile. “She’ll probably love you. She’s really nice”

I shrugged. “We’ll see. It’s a big deal for her—her final year show and everything. I just want to do a good job.”

“You will,” he said, squeezing my hand. “You’ve been great for me so far.” 

We fell into a comfortable silence again, the kind that settled easily between us now. The road stretched out ahead, winding through trees dusted in fading snow.

After a few minutes, Matt spoke again. “By the way… Noah’s coming back Monday evening.”

I turned my head toward him, surprised. “Really? I thought he wasn’t supposed to visit until April.”

“Yeah, me too,” Matt said, his fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel. “He said something came up at work in Boston and figured he might as well stay for a few days.” 

I nodded slowly, processing. “Did he say anything else?”

Matt gave a half-shrug. “Not much. Just asked if you’ve been okay. He always asks.”

I smiled faintly. “That sounds like him.”

“That’s why I planned the trip for the weekend,” Matt said, his tone casual but purposeful. “Would’ve stayed longer if he wasn’t coming back so soon.”

“Makes sense,” I murmured, leaning back into my seat, the motion of the car lulling me slightly.

A gentle silence settled between us, stretched out by the soft hum of tires on asphalt.

“Sweetheart.”

I turned my head slightly, eyes still on the window. “Yeah?”

He hesitated for just a second. “We should tell him.”

I groaned quietly, my head tilting back. “Matt…”

“I know,” he said gently, his voice calm but firm. “But I really think we should. We’ve been tiptoeing around it for months.”

I stayed quiet, chewing the inside of my cheek.

“It’s not just some fling,” he continued, glancing over at me. “This—us—it means something. To me. I don’t want to keep hiding it like we’re doing something wrong.”

I looked at him, heart pounding a little harder. “He’s not going to be happy.”

“I know,” Matt said. “But he’s your brother, not your warden. You're an adult Daphne, I don’t think he should care this much about who you date.”

I lowered my gaze, fingers playing with the edge of my sleeve. Part of me wanted to believe him. Part of me still felt twelve years old and terrified of disappointing the only family I had left.

“I’m scared,” I whispered.

Matt reached over and took my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles.

“I know,” he said again, softer this time. “But I’ve got you. No matter how it goes.”

“I just… I don’t want him to think I’m taking something from him again,” I said quietly.

Matt’s brows pulled together as he glanced over at me. “What do you mean by that?”

The weight of what I’d said hit me a second too late, and I immediately tried to redirect.

“You know,” I said quickly, “he’s your best friend. I just… I don’t want him to feel like I’m trying to take you away from him.”

Matt glanced at me, his expression soft but steady. “He is my best friend, Daphne. But you’re my girlfriend.”

He paused, letting the words settle.

“Yeah, I’ve known him longer. We’ve been through a lot. But with you…”—his voice dipped, slower, more certain—“I see my future.”

My breath caught.

For a second, I couldn’t look at him. My face warmed, eyes fixed on the dashboard as if it might offer a way out of the sudden flood of emotion rising in my chest.

“I—uh…” I started, fumbling with my sleeves, “You can’t just say things like that while I’m sitting here trying to be chill.”

Matt chuckled under his breath, clearly amused. “I’m just being honest.”

I peeked at him, heart fluttering. “That’s not fair.”

“What’s not fair?”

“You. Saying things like that... while driving in a car… in the middle of nowhere… while I’m defenseless.”

He grinned. “Defenseless, huh?”

I swatted his arm lightly, laughing despite myself.

“I mean it,” he added, more quietly this time. “You don’t have to be afraid of taking anything from anyone. You’re not stealing me away. I’m giving myself to you.”

Just like that, I was speechless again.

“So…” I said slowly, trying to sound casual even though my heart was pounding. “You’d marry me?”

Matt let out a soft laugh, glancing at me like I’d asked the most obvious question in the world. “You really think I wouldn’t?”

I bit back a smile. “You think I’m… wife material?”

He looked at me for a long second before turning his eyes back to the road, a smile tugging at his lips.

“I think you’re everything material,” he said quietly. “Wife, partner, best friend—all of it. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t see something with you.”

My throat tightened, warmth blooming all through my chest. I looked down at our hands, still intertwined between us.

“You mean that?” I asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Matt nodded. “I’ve never meant anything more.”

I didn’t know what to say. My heart felt full and fragile all at once. So instead of speaking, I just squeezed his hand. 

He glanced at me again, softer this time. “You don’t have to believe it all right now. I’ll keep showing you until you do.”

And for the first time in a long time, I let myself believe—just a little—that maybe I could have something good. Something lasting. Someone who wanted me.

“This lake is beautiful, Matt,” I said, pressing my hand to the window. “Look!”

I pointed toward the far end of the shore, where a small group of ducks waddled along the edge, their reflections rippling across the still water.

He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist as he looked over my shoulder. The view from the cottage was straight out of a postcard—tall pines lining the lake, soft patches of melting snow, and the faint glimmer of sunlight breaking through the clouds.

The place felt like it had been waiting for us.

“It’s perfect,” I murmured, leaning back into his chest. “I love it here already.”

He kissed the side of my head. “Good. I was hoping you would.”

The cottage was warm inside, all wood and soft lighting, with a stone fireplace and thick blankets draped over the couch. Everything smelled faintly of cedar and pine, and it made me want to never leave.

“I feel like I can breathe out here,” I whispered.

Matt rested his chin on my shoulder. “That’s the point.”

“You know,” I said with a small smile, “you weirdly give off cottage guy energy.”

Matt raised an eyebrow, amused. “Cottage guy?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Like… I could totally see you vanishing one day to live in the woods with a beard and  fire wood.”

He chuckled, then shrugged. “Honestly? I can see that too. One of these days, I might just disappear into the trees and start a quiet life out here.”

I giggled, nudging him with my shoulder. “No, don’t disappear.”

He looked down at me, smirking. “I wouldn’t go without you.”

I felt my heart skip, a little flutter catching in my chest.

“I’d take you with me,” he added, placing a kiss on my cheek, voice softer now . “We’d build our own little world. Just you, me, a lake, and no one to bother us.”

I leaned into him, eyes still on the water outside. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

Matt pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “It sounds like peace.”

“Okay—okay—stop moving so much, you’re going to tip us!” I shrieked, gripping the sides of the canoe as it wobbled dangerously.

Matt burst out laughing, his paddle held at an awkward angle. “I’m literally sitting still!”

“You’re rocking the entire lake!”

“It’s a canoe, not a cruise ship, Daphne.”

I doubled over, laughing so hard my stomach hurt. The late afternoon sun glinted off the water, and the cold air made my cheeks ache, but I couldn’t stop. Everything felt funny—too funny. Maybe it was the cold, maybe it was the fact that we hadn’t slept much, or maybe it was just us.

“I swear to God if we fall in, you’re sleeping on the porch tonight,” I managed through giggles.

“Joke’s on you,” he said, grinning. “I’d survive out there. I’m a cottage guy now, remember?”

“Oh my Gosh, shut up—” I lost it again, covering my face with my hands as the canoe drifted slightly off course.

Matt leaned back dramatically, throwing his arms out. “Just let the lake take us! Maybe this is how we start our new life. We drift to a secret island and build a log cabin and live off fish and berries.”

“You wouldn’t even know what berries are safe to eat!”

“I’d test them on you first.”

I smacked his leg with my paddle, laughing breathlessly. “You’re insane.”

“And you’re stuck with me,” he said proudly.

The canoe finally steadied, the laughter fading into soft breaths as we drifted in the middle of the lake. The sky was turning golden, the reflection rippling around us. I looked at him, still smiling, and saw it mirrored in his eyes—light and something else. Something tender.

“Okay, but wait,” I said between breathless giggles. “If we did live off the land, what would you even do? You can’t cook. You thought thyme was seaweed last week.”

Matt gasped, overly offended. “For the record, I can cook—”

“Burning toast doesn’t count—”

“Excuse me, I made you that pasta—”

“Which was still crunchy—”

“I was going for al dente!” he cried, and I burst into laughter again, clutching my stomach as the canoe bobbed under us.

We were caught in the kind of laughter that made your ribs ache, the kind you don’t even realize is echoing across a lake until the silence afterward feels louder than it should.

I was still laughing when I turned my head and suddenly froze.

“Wait—Matt.”

He looked over, mid-joke, eyebrows raised. “What?”

“Matt!”

And then—

Thud.

The canoe slammed against a half-submerged rock, jolting hard to the left. Everything tilted.

“Oh—shit—Daph—!”

I shrieked, grabbing onto the edge too late as the canoe tipped completely, sending both of us plunging into the icy lake.

The cold hit like a slap, stealing the breath from my lungs. I surfaced with a gasp, hair plastered to my face, and whipped around just in time to see Matt come up, sputtering, his curls dripping.

“You hit a rock!” I yelled through a laugh, trying to dog-paddle in place as the canoe floated upside down beside us.

“You distracted me!” he shot back, coughing and grinning.”

I burst out laughing again, even as I shivered. “This is your fault!” 

Matt swam over and looped an arm around me, teeth chattering. “It’s definitely not my fault. But if we die of hypothermia, at least we die together.”

I coughed through a laugh, shivering as I clung to him. “Okay, Jack. Just don’t let go.”

He cracked up, nearly slipping underwater again. “This isn’t Titanic”

“I am Rose in this situation,” I said dramatically. “Only freezing, sarcastic, and way less glamorous.”

“I hate to break it to you,” he said, pulling us closer to the dock, “but there’s no door big enough for both of us.”

“Oh my God, you would be the guy who lets me freeze while you stretch out and hog the whole damn door.”

“Hey,” he grinned, helping lift me up onto the edge of the dock. “At least I didn’t make us crash into the iceberg.”

I shivered as I flopped onto the wood, soaked and breathless. “It was a rock, Jack. A very stupid rock.”

He pulled himself up beside me, dripping and still laughing. “Don’t worry, I’d die for you Daphne.”

Matt handed me a thick towel the second we got inside, still dripping wet and tracking little puddles across the wooden floor.

“Maybe canoeing just isn’t for us,” he muttered, wrapping another towel around my shoulders himself and tucking it snugly under my arms. His fingers lingered there, gentle and warm despite how cold we both were.

I looked up at him, shivering but smiling. “You think?”

He smirked, brushing a soaked curl from my forehead. “Next time we’re building a snowman. Much safer.”

I let out a soft laugh as he guided me toward the kitchen, both of us wrapped like burritos in our mismatched towels. Everything was still a little damp, including our socks, but the inside of the cottage felt extra warm now in contrast to the lake’s icy bite.

Our pre-packed lunch sat on the counter where we’d left it—two sandwiches wrapped in parchment and a half-eaten bag of kettle chips.

“Gourmet post-near-death meal,” Matt said, hopping up onto the kitchen island with a dramatic sigh. He patted the space beside him. “Join me, Rose.” 

I rolled my eyes, but climbed up beside him, our towels brushing as we sat side by side, legs dangling over the edge.

I glanced over at Matt out of the corner of my eye. He wasn’t saying much, just watching me—really watching me—with that calm, steady look that made my heart skip.

His eyes traced the way my hair stuck to my damp forehead, the soft curve of my cheek flushed from the cold, the way I nibbled on my sandwich shyly.

It was like he was memorizing every little detail, committing me to memory without a single word.

I felt a warmth spread through me—different from the heat of the fire or the towels wrapped around us. It was something deeper, something quiet but fierce.

Matt smiled softly, almost to himself, and I knew I was the only one who saw it.

As I finished the last bite of my sandwich, Matt nudged me lightly with his knee.

“Wanna hit the hot tub?” he asked casually, like it wasn’t a big deal at all.

I looked over at him, surprised. “Now?”

He grinned. “Yeah. It’s dark out, barely anyone is around. The stars are out too. Feels like the perfect time.”

I hesitated for a second, but the idea of warm water after falling into a freezing lake sounded heavenly. I nodded. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

After tossing our towels onto the hooks near the back door, we both headed to the deck. The sky had dimmed into a soft navy blue, and the hot tub steamed gently in the cold air, glowing faintly from the underwater lights.

Matt didn’t hesitate. He pulled his shirt off in one motion, then shimmied out of his sweatpants, revealing dark swim briefs—fitted, of course. The kind that left little to the imagination.

I blinked and looked away quickly, heat rushing to my cheeks. He looked completely unbothered, stretching his arms like this was just another regular night.

Meanwhile, I stood frozen, towel still wrapped tight around me.

“You good?” Matt asked, glancing over his shoulder with a raised brow.

“Yeah,” I replied a little too quickly.

He didn’t move, just studied me for a second, his expression softening.

“It’s just me, sweetheart,” he said quietly, voice warm and careful.

“Huh?” I blinked, caught off guard by how gentle he sounded.

My heart was beating fast, and I could feel the heat crawling up my neck. I knew he wasn’t pushing—but still, there was this weight in my chest I couldn’t shake.

The truth was, I’d always been self-conscious about my body—especially my chest. I was blessed in that area, sure, but that only made me more aware of myself. Of how people looked. Of how clothes fit. Of how exposed I felt in anything that showed skin.

I hesitated for a second longer, the cool night air brushing against my legs.

Matt wasn’t rushing me. He didn’t even step closer—he just waited, giving me the space to move at my own pace.

So I took a breath.

Then, slowly, I loosened the towel from around my body and put it on the rack. I stood there in my shorts and oversized button-up, still stalling, still unsure.

But his eyes never wandered. They didn’t linger or roam or make me feel small. He just… looked at me. Like I was normal. Like I was me.

I slipped off my shorts, then the oversized shirt. The bikini underneath felt like paper, barely there, but I stood a little straighter.

Matt offered me a hand, his smile calm and steady. “Come here,” he said quietly.

I placed my hand in his, and together, we stepped into the hot tub. The steam rose around us, curling into the cool night air, and the moment my body sank beneath the surface, a deep warmth wrapped around me like a blanket.

The water was perfect—hot enough to soothe, to melt the chill still clinging to my skin, to calm the nerves buzzing quietly in my chest.

We settled across from each other, legs brushing slightly under the water, the glow from the soft lights inside the tub casting a golden hue over Matt’s skin. His hair was still damp from the lake, a little messy, a little perfect.

He leaned back, arms stretched along the edge behind him, eyes on me.

“Feel better?” he asked.

I nodded slowly, letting my shoulders sink into the warmth. 

Matt’s lips curved into a small smile. “Good.”

A comfortable silence settled between us, broken only by the gentle ripple of water and the distant sound of wind rustling through the trees. The stars above were scattered and soft, and for once, I didn’t feel self-conscious. I just felt here. 

I watched the steam swirl up into the night sky, the water gently lapping against my arms. For a while, we didn’t say anything—just let the quiet sit between us, easy and unforced.

I shifted a little in the water, letting my fingers trace lazy circles across the surface before glancing over at him.

“Can I ask you something?” I murmured.

Matt looked at me, eyes warm. “Of course.”

I hesitated, chewing on my bottom lip before saying, “Do you ever worry we’re too different?”

His brows drew together slightly, not with concern—more like curiosity.

“Different how?”

“I don’t know…” I said, shrugging lightly. “You’re confident. Outgoing. You’ve been in relationships. You know how to handle people.”

Matt was quiet for a beat, eyes never leaving mine.

Then he said, “I don’t see those as differences that pull us apart. I think they’re why we work.”

I blinked, caught off guard.

He leaned in slightly, his voice steady but soft. “You feel everything, even when it hurts. And you care so deeply, even if you don’t always know how to say it.”

He squeezed my hand gently beneath the water.

“You make me slow down. You make me think. You make me want to be better. That’s not a bad difference. That’s balance.”

My chest tightened at his words.

“You’re not too quiet,” he added, his thumb brushing against my knuckles. “You’re just used to people not listening the right way.” 

I swallowed, my throat thick with emotion. “And you do?”

He smiled, just a little. “Every word.”

His words settled over me like warmth, sinking deeper than the hot water ever could. I looked at him for a long moment, trying to memorize the softness in his eyes, the way he always seemed to know exactly what I needed to hear—even when I didn’t know I needed it.

I exhaled slowly. “How are you like this?” I asked, half-laughing. “The way you just… see people.”

Matt tilted his head slightly, gaze drifting up toward the sky. “I guess I had to learn. Early.”

I turned toward him more, my hand still resting in his beneath the water.

“You mean with your family?” I asked gently.

“I don’t like making it seem like I had it rough,” he said quietly. “I mean—look at how we grew up. We had money. Opportunities. A last name that opened doors before we even learned how to knock.”

He paused, fingers brushing the surface of the water.

“But that doesn’t mean it was… easy.”

I stayed silent, letting him keep going.

“My dad—he was intense. Charming in public, ruthless in private. Everything was about image. Being polished. Being perfect. He didn’t want sons—he wanted successors.”

Matt’s voice was calm, but I could hear the weight behind it. Years of it.

“We were kids trying to be versions of men we hadn’t even become yet. He expected everything. Success. Control. No mistakes. And when he died…” Matt swallowed, glancing at the stars. “It wasn’t grief that hit first. It was pressure. Like now it was our job to carry the weight of everything he built. The name, the company, the legacy. All of it.”

His thumb traced over mine beneath the water again, slower this time.

“I never really got to figure out who I was outside of all that. I just kept showing up, playing the part, saying the right thing. Because that’s what was expected of me.”

I felt my chest ache for him—really ache.

“Matt…” I whispered.

He looked at me then, and the look in his eyes nearly unraveled me.

“But with you…” he said. “I don’t feel like I have to pretend.”

My throat tightened, tears threatening at the edges.

“You don’t,” I whispered. “Not with me.”

He didn’t say anything back. He just looked at me like no one ever had before.

And at that moment, I didn’t see the model. Or the name. Or the polished mask he wore for the world.

I saw him.

Just Matt.

We stayed like that for a long time. Talking. Listening. Sometimes falling into quiet stretches that didn’t feel awkward—just full.

Matt told me more about his brothers, how he sometimes felt like the middleman between their arguments. How hard it was to be the one that kept everything glued together without showing the cracks in himself. How success sometimes felt hollow, like he was achieving things for a version of himself that didn’t exist anymore.

I told him how I used to imagine disappearing when things got too loud in my head. How even now, with everything going so well, I still sometimes felt like I was waiting for it all to fall apart.

We didn’t try to fix anything. We just sat in it together.

And that was enough.

Eventually, my fingers started to prune, and the steam around us thinned in the night air. The sky had gone fully dark now, stars scattered like freckles across the velvet.

Matt stretched his arms over the side of the tub and glanced at me with a tired smile. “I think we’ve officially become raisins.”

I laughed softly, my voice quieter now, the mood having mellowed into something softer. “I’m warm though”

He grinned, pushing himself up and climbing out with ease, water cascading off him as he reached for one of the towels we’d left nearby.

He held it open for me, and I stepped into it, letting him wrap it around me.

We were both still quiet, not because we didn’t have anything to say—but because we’d already said so much.

Once inside, the heat of the cottage hit us like a wave. It was a comforting warmth, smelling faintly of cedar and something familiar. We padded toward the bedroom, water trailing from our legs, towels clinging to our skin.

“Go shower first,” he murmured, brushing a wet curl off my cheek. “I’ll find you something warm to wear.”

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips as I turned toward the bathroom, heart full, body relaxed, and for the first time in what felt like forever… I felt safe.

With him.

And with myself.

By the time I stepped out of the shower, my skin was pink from the heat and the towel Matt had left for me smelled like him—clean, woodsy, familiar.

I found him in the fireplace room, already in a pair of gray sweats and a long-sleeved black tee, hair still damp and curling at the edges. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting a golden glow across the walls. The lights were low, just a single warm lamp in the corner, and the whole room felt like something out of a dream.

The couch wasn’t just a couch—it was one of those oversized, deep-set ones that felt more like a bed. He’d already thrown on extra pillows and a thick blanket, the kind that swallows you whole.

He looked up when he saw me walk in, a slow smile tugging at his lips.

“Hey,” he said softly, reaching out a hand. “Come here.”

I crossed the room without a word, still in the sweatshirt he’d left out for me—it hung down to mid-thigh, sleeves covering my hands, making me feel small and tucked in.

I climbed onto the couch beside him and immediately sank into the pillows. Matt pulled the blanket over both of us and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close until my head was resting on his chest and his fingers found mine again.

The fire popped gently, the only sound in the room aside from our quiet breaths.

The fire had burned low now, just glowing embers crackling gently in the hearth. The room was wrapped in a golden hush, the kind of silence that only comes when it’s late enough for the world to feel like it’s paused.

Matt’s chest rose and fell slowly beneath my cheek. His arm was still around me, his hand lazily tracing slow, soothing patterns along my spine under the blanket.

Neither of us had spoken in a while, but the silence wasn’t empty. It was warm. Full.

Then I felt him shift slightly, his voice barely a breath above a whisper.

“I used to think I wasn’t built for this.”

I tilted my head, looking up at him in the dim light. “For what?”

He looked down at me, his features soft and serious. “This. Being close to someone. Letting someone actually see me.”

My heart ached in that quiet, aching way. I didn’t say anything—just waited, letting him keep going.

“I always thought… I’d mess it up. Or get bored. Or run the second it felt real,” he said. “But then you came back. And I didn’t want to run anymore.”

My chest tightened.

He gave a breath of a laugh, almost nervous. “That’s how I knew it wasn’t just something passing. You made me want to stay.”

I blinked, my throat thick.

“Matt…” I whispered.

His hand came up, fingertips brushing my jaw as gently as a breath. “Yeah?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to.

He leaned in.

And kissed me.

It started slow—tender. Careful. His lips moved against mine with quiet certainty, like he was memorizing the shape of me, learning me all over again in this new space between us.

My fingers found his shirt, curling lightly in the fabric as I leaned into him, melting into the warmth of his body, his touch.

He deepened the kiss just slightly, his hand moving from my jaw to the side of my neck, thumb brushing against my pulse. It made my breath catch—something about the way he touched me like I was fragile, but also like he couldn’t get close enough.

Something in my heart shifted.

It wasn’t sudden. It wasn’t overwhelming. It was quiet—like a door creaking open after being locked for years.

I looked at him. Really looked at him.

The way his hand held the side of my face like I was something precious. The way his eyes searched mine—not with hunger, but with care. With patience. Maybe love. 

I felt the warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm, and this calm certainty washed over me.

I wanted him.

Not just physically.

I wanted this. With him.

Not because I felt like I had to, or to prove anything—not to myself, not to anyone.

But because it finally felt right. Because I trusted him. Because after everything, he made me feel safe again… in my body, in my silence, in my heart.

I breathed in slowly, that familiar twinge of fear still faint in the back of my mind—but it didn’t control me anymore.

It didn’t define this moment.

I lifted my hand, brushing a damp curl off his forehead.

“Matt,” I whispered, my voice steadier now.

He looked at me, eyes flickering with something softer—like he could already feel the shift too.

“I think…” I paused, fingers curling around the hem of his shirt. “I’m ready.”

He stilled, searching my face carefully.

“For what?”

I swallowed, eyes never leaving his. “For us… to go all the way.”

His face changed instantly, staring at me.

Matt brought a hand to my cheek, eyes softening only with emotion, not expectation.

“Are you sure?” His voice was soft, every word laced with care and tenderness, as if he was holding something fragile between them.

I swallowed, feeling the weight of the moment, and nodded slowly. My voice was barely more than a breath. “Yes. I want it to be with you.”

He exhaled slowly, the tension in his body finally releasing, like he’d been holding his breath for far too long.

“Sweetheart,” he said gently, his tone wrapping around me like a warm embrace, “this is such a huge step for you. I need you to be completely certain—because I would never want to rush you.”

Before he could say more, I reached up cupping his cheek, my words coming quickly, almost desperate to be understood. “No, Matt… I want this. I want it with you. But only if you want it too–”

In an instant, he pulled me close, his hands steady and sure on my waist, grounding me. His eyes searched mine, full of honest emotion.

“No, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice thick with feeling. “Of course I want this—with you. You don’t even know how much I've thought about this. But I want you to trust me.”

“I do trust you” 

He took my hand that was cupping his cheek and held it. “You sure?” 

Matt’s eyes softened even more as he cupped my face gently. “I’ll take care of you, okay? If at any moment you want to stop—if anything feels too much—you tell me, and we stop.”

His voice was steady, full of promise, and I believed him completely.

Slowly, he shifted, sitting me up carefully so I was straddling his lap. His hands moved to support my back, holding me close but giving me space to breathe, to move, to decide.

“You’re in control,” he whispered, his forehead resting against mine. “This is your choice, your moment.”

The warmth from his breath brushed my cheek, calming the fluttering nerves inside me.

I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath me.

When I opened them again, all I saw was trust.

His lips met mine once more, soft and lingering, each kiss slow and deliberate. When his mouth finally left mine, it trailed down to the sensitive curve of my neck, sending a shiver through me.

First, my sweatshirt slipped off, and I felt a small comfort knowing I was already wearing my bikini underneath, making the bra feel familiar and safe.

Then, carefully, he peeled off his shirt, revealing the warmth of his skin beneath.

One by one, my sweatpants followed, sliding down to reveal the smooth skin beneath, and then his sweatpants came off as well, leaving us both bare. 

I glanced down and saw the evidence of his desire—he was already hard beneath me, and I could feel it clearly.

“Can I take this off?” he asked softly, his fingers lightly tugging at the strap of my bra.

I hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.

Slowly and carefully, he peeled the bra away, leaving me completely exposed to him. My nipples were now fully visible, sensitive and vulnerable. He looked down at me for a beat, then lifted his gaze back to mine, his eyes full of admiration.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion. “So, so beautiful.”

Then, tenderly, he placed gentle kisses on each one, sending warmth and tenderness through me. It felt really nice. 

Slowly, he eased me down onto the soft surface beneath us, his lips trailing gentle kisses along my skin as he moved lower.

“I want to take my time with you, baby,” he whispered close to my ear. “I want to help you relax, so it won’t hurt as much.”

I nodded softly, my voice barely a breath. “Okay.”

His fingers traced a slow path down my body, every movement deliberate and tender.

With each step, he paused to look up at me, his eyes searching mine. “Is this okay? Tell me if it’s too much.”

His fingers moved gently over me, and I couldn’t hold back the soft sounds escaping my lips. At first, it felt ticklish—new and unfamiliar, since no one had ever touched me there before. But as I began to relax, the sensations deepened into something warm and unexpectedly wonderful.

I could feel the shift in him—gentle, careful—as he pulled back slightly, his hands moving to the waistband of his underwear.

“Not yet, baby,” he murmured softly, voice almost reverent.

He slid them down and off, and in the quiet glow of the firelight, he stood before me—completely bare. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him, a soft gasp slipping from my lips.

He was beautiful. Strong, yes, but the tenderness in his eyes was what made my chest ache the most.

Matt leaned over me, lowering himself with a kind of reverence, his hand coming up to cradle my cheek.

“You okay?” he whispered, his forehead nearly touching mine.

I nodded, eyes wide but calm, heart racing—but not from fear. From trust. From something real.

“Tell me if anything’s too much,” he said, brushing a kiss to the corner of my mouth.

Then, slowly, he reached down, guiding himself, carefully lining up with me, his other hand still holding my face like he needed to keep me grounded in his touch.

Every movement was patient.

Measured.

“Matt,” I whispered, my voice small but steady.

He looked at me instantly, our faces only inches apart, his eyes searching mine with full attention.

“Yeah?”

I took a breath, my heart thudding in my chest.

“You don’t have to go slow,” I said quietly. “I just… I want you to push in.”

His brows knit with concern, hesitating. “Daph…”

“I mean it,” I murmured. “I’m ready.”

Even as I said it, something stirred deep in me—something old and buried. A flicker of a memory that tried to push its way in. A moment from the past that had once stolen this choice from me.

But this wasn’t that.

The air felt different. He was different.

Back then, I felt powerless. Small. Trapped.

But now—I was choosing this. I wanted this. I wanted him.

I felt safe. I felt seen.

Matt’s hand tightened gently around mine, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. He didn’t move yet—he just looked at me, carefully, like he could read every flicker in my expression.

“You sure?” he asked again, voice low and filled with something deeper than lust. “I don’t want to hurt you, sweetheart.”

I nodded slowly, my eyes never leaving his.

“I trust you, Matt.”

And that trust was everything.

He kissed me—soft, steady, and grounding. 

Then, with one final breath shared between us, he moved.

One deep push.

A sharp gasp escaped me as pain shot through my core—intense and unfamiliar. A hiss slipped from my lips, my eyes stinging with sudden tears.

It hurt. More than I expected.

Above me, Matt let out a low, strained groan, clearly holding himself back, fighting every instinct to move.

His hand immediately moved to my face, gently tucking strands of hair away as his thumb brushed over my temple. Soft, steady. Grounding.

“Shhh… I’ve got you,” he murmured, voice laced with concern. “You’re okay, sweetheart. Just breathe. We’ll go slow. You tell me when you’re ready, alright?”

I nodded faintly, focusing on the rhythm of his voice, the tenderness in his touch.

Despite the pain, I didn’t feel afraid.

I felt held. 

Safe.

And slowly, as my body adjusted and the ache began to ease, I tightened my fingers around his and whispered, “Okay… you can move now.”

He placed a kiss on my forehead. 

Then, he moved with care—each motion patient and filled with meaning. 

He held me close, our bodies pressed together, the heat of him wrapped around me completely. Every movement was slow, careful, as if he was learning me with each breath.

Soft moans slipped from both of us, tangled in the quiet flicker of the firelight.

“You’re doing so well, sweetheart,” he whispered against my skin, his voice low and full of warmth. “So good for me… you feel incredible.”

His lips brushed my shoulder, then my collarbone, murmuring praise between each kiss.

“I’ve got you,” he said again, over and over, like a promise. “You’re safe with me… so perfect, baby.”

Every word anchored me. His hands never left me—one cradling the back of my head, the other gripping my waist like he couldn’t bear to let go, and as our bodies moved together, I let myself feel everything.

“Matt…” I gasped, breath shaky. “I—I think I’m close.”

He looked down at me, eyes full of warmth and something deeper. His grip on my waist tightened just slightly, grounding me.

“Yeah?” he whispered, voice rough with emotion. “It’s okay, baby. Let go. I’m right here.”

His pace stayed steady, but I could hear it in his breathing—he was close too.

“I’m not gonna last much longer either,” he murmured, forehead resting against mine. “Wanna feel you, sweetheart… I wanna come with you.”

And then, everything swelled—heat, pressure, the sounds between us—and I fell over the edge, pulling him with me.

We came together in a wave of breathless moans and trembling limbs, hearts racing, hands clutching, mouths brushing skin like we couldn’t bear to be apart.

We stayed like that—our bodies tangled, chests rising and falling in uneven rhythm. My skin was warm, slick with sweat, but I didn’t want to move. I reached for him, fingers slipping into his damp hair, and gently pulled him against me, guiding his head to rest on my chest.

His soft, shallow breaths tickled my skin, matching the pace of mine, both of us coming down from something bigger than just the physical.

For a moment, it was quiet—then he shifted slightly, lifting his head to look at me.

“Are you okay?” he asked quickly, eyes full of concern. “Did I hurt you? Was it too much? You can tell me, Daphne—please tell me.”

I blinked up at him, still catching my breath. His voice was full of so much worry, it almost made me tear up.

“I’m okay,” I whispered. “I promise.”

But that didn’t stop him.

“Are you sure? Do you feel alright? Was it… what you wanted? Do you need water? Or food? Or—God, I should’ve gone slower, I just—”

“Matt,” I cut him off gently, smiling as I cupped his cheek. “I’m okay. Really.”

He let out a shaky breath, his forehead resting against mine. “You scared me for a second when you got quiet. I wanted it to feel good.”

“It did,” I murmured, brushing my thumb over his cheek. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

His shoulders dropped slightly in relief, and he kissed my palm before wrapping his arms around me again, pulling me close like he didn’t want to let go.

“Okay,” he whispered.  

After a while, the quiet settled around us like a blanket. The fire was still glowing low, casting flickers of light across the room, but my body had started to come down from the high—replaced now by an aching soreness I hadn’t fully anticipated.

I shifted slightly and winced.

Matt noticed instantly.

“Hey,” he said gently, propping himself up on one elbow. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, though my expression said otherwise. “Just… sore.”

Concern washed over his face. “Okay. No more moving, then.”

Before I could say anything else, he was already standing up and reaching for me. “Wait—Matt,” I murmured, but he just gave me a soft look.

With careful hands, he slid one arm beneath my back and the other under my knees, lifting me effortlessly. I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling small and safe in his arms.

“You don’t have to carry me,” I whispered, though secretly… I didn’t want him to stop.

He smiled as he held me close, leaving no protest,  “Be quiet.”

He carried me through the cottage, into the bathroom where warm towels and soft light made everything feel even cozier. He set me down gently on the edge of the tub, kissed the top of my head, and ran the warm water.

The whole time, he stayed close—helping me clean up with careful, respectful touches, asking if I was okay, if anything hurt too much, if I needed anything.

And later, when we were finally tucked back into bed, my head on his chest and his fingers tracing lazy shapes on my back, I felt more good than I ever had in my entire life. 

Not just because of what we’d done.

But because of everything that came after.

Because he stayed.

Because he cared.

We lay tangled together, the quiet of the night wrapping around us like a soft embrace. My head rested against Matt’s chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. His fingers traced slow, soothing circles on my back, each touch grounding me in the moment.

blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

I hesitated, the lump in my throat making words feel heavy. My chest tightened as I fought the wave of emotion rising inside me.

“Matt,” I whispered softly, my voice barely more than a breath as I nestled into the curve of his chest.

He hummed against my hair. “Yes?”

My heart pounded fiercely, caught between the urge to speak and the fear of vulnerability. The words trembled on my lips, fragile and precious.

Finally, I let them slip out, quiet and hesitant.

“I love you.”

I paused and I felt him shift beside me. 

“What did you say?”

His voice was low, curious, and tender.

I didn’t dare say it again—yet.

His fingers gently found my chin, lifting my face toward his. Our eyes met, soft and searching, both our heads resting lightly on the same pillow. 

“You said something,” he teased, a slow, knowing smile curving his lips, and a delicate flush warmed his cheeks.

“Nothing,” I murmured, trying to hide the blush blooming across my skin.

“No, come on,” he coaxed, his voice like silk. “Say it again, sweetheart.”

Taking a steadying breath, I found the courage in his gaze. 

“I love you.”

His smile deepened, radiating pure joy and affection, as if my words were the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard.

He reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face, his touch featherlight but electric.

“I love you” 

he whispered back, his eyes shining with a mixture of awe and certainty.

My heart soared, pounding wildly against my ribs. 

The past four months since I told my my secret, he had been nothing but loving, and tender with me. I’ve never felt so safe and seen with a man. Matt knew me without having me say anything. 

The words I love you had been on the tip of my tongue for so long. 

I couldn’t stop smiling. Neither could he. 

He was my Matthew, and I was his Daphne.

Matt grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “You know,” he said, his voice playful, “I was waiting for you to say that for a long time.”

I laughed softly, resting my forehead against his. “Yeah? You could’ve just said it first.”

He pretended to think it over, tapping his chin. “Nah, I like hearing it from you. Makes it feel special.”

I rolled my eyes, but the smile on my face was wide and genuine.

Then, without warning, he tickled my side lightly.

“Matt!” I gasped, squirming away, but he held me close, laughing.

“See? You’re mine. No backing out.”

I reached up, poking his ribs in retaliation, and he laughed harder.

After a while, our laughter and whispers slowly faded into comfortable silence. Nestled in each other’s arms, the warmth between us felt like the safest place in the world. My eyelids grew heavy, the steady rhythm of Matt’s heartbeat lulling me closer to sleep.

Matt’s fingers traced soft patterns on my back as his voice softened to a tender murmur.

“Goodnight, Daphne. I love you.”

I smiled against his chest, my voice barely audible but full of meaning. 

“Goodnight, Matthew. I love you.”

READ ALL RELEASED CHAPTERS NOW!

[a/n: awe this is so cute. Anyway, let the ansgt begin ;) this was a long ass chapter. Was suppose to post yesterday but I didn't lol, like and reblog! I love you mwah] –ceyana

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[empress-simps]

Uncle Padfoot’s Motorcycle

Pairing: Dad! Remus x Mom! Reader CW: Language and Remus who’s gonna face the wrath of his wife. Summary: Uncle Sirius takes baby Moony out for a ride on his motorcycle and you aren't happy about it.

Note: I’ve literally enjoyed writing this, and dad! Marauders literally make me hdiskskssjska ALSO THANK YOU FOR 500 FOLLOWERS YOU GUYS🫨🥹 I LOVE Y’ALL

"Sirius Orion Black and Remus John Lupin!"

Sirius could feel his soul practically leave his body as he saw you, in your ever angry form, march to where he is handing your year old daughter to Remus' awaiting arms.

This is it, this is how Sirius thinks he’s going to leave the face of the Earth.

"Erm, I have to go! See you next week yeah?" Sirius clambers onto his motorcycle, praying to any deity that he would fly faster than you hexing him with your wandless magic.

"Bye pah foo!" Lyra grins, her four teeth in clear display as Sirius looked back and waved, "See you soon, baby moony! Have to go before mummy hexes me to no end!"

Remus watched his friend blankly, deep down wishing he too was in the back of the motorcycle with Lyra so he could escape the imminent wrath his wife that was to rain down on him.

“Remus. John. Lupin.”

Each word you uttered was like a nail on his coffin. He tried his best not to wince as he heard how utterly cold and sharp you spat his name out. So, gathering up his remaining courage, he faced you with a smile- and he definitely didn’t place your squealing baby girl in front of him, making her somewhat his shield. He hoped the cuteness of Lyra would soften the blow quite a bit.

“Hi, darling! You’re back early- “

“Tell me I did just not see our one-year-old baby land in front of our house riding Sirius’ flying motorcycle or so merlin help me I will strangle you.” You warned, taking Lyra from his hands, who happily snuggled in your arms.

Well, shit.

There goes his only chance of living.

He offered a wry smile, ignoring how sweaty his hands had become. “Alrighty, I won’t tell you- “

“Remus! You seriously thought it was a good idea to let our child ride a flying motorcycle? She just turned a year-old last week for Merlin’s sake!” You scolded, poor Remus. Call him a seer because he can already see himself sleeping on the couch for the entire week, a few days if he’s lucky.

“Darling, Sirius and I made sure it was completely safe.” He tried to explain, “Lyra doesn’t even have a helmet! What were you guys thinking?!” You hugged your baby closer to your chest.

“Well, Padfoot said it’s unnecessary since they’re technically flying.” You scoffed in disbelief as you comforted Lyra who started to fuss. “Remind me to make Sirius fall next time I set his eyes on him on that darn vehicle of his.”

Remus could only let out a nervous chuckle. "Erm, I will."

“Why was Padfoot even here the first place?” You raised an eyebrow, going back inside the house to place Lyra in her playpen as Remus followed you like a servant who’s trying to regain your favor. “He also took Harry out for a ride. After that, he went here and told me Lyra should also experience it.”

You turned around and faced him, a hand on your hips. “I’m guessing Lily isn’t aware- because there is no way in her right mind that she would let her two-year-old son ride a flying motorcycle.”

His silence was the only thing you needed to hear from him.

“Where even were you when he took Lyra out for a ride?”

He blinks stupidly, “Outside, watching them.”

“You better choose your next words carefully Lupin.”

“I was supposed to ride with them, darling! But Sirius already took off when I was about to get onto the motorcycle!” He explains, hoping it’ll be enough to save him as he recalled the events from earlier.

“Pah foo!” Lyra grinned as she clapped her hands excitedly, her sandy brown hair that was tied in pigtails was swaying with every move she made. Sirius returned her excitement, bypassing Remus who answered the door and made a beeline to the squealing baby.

“There’s my baby Moony!” He lifts Lyra up from her playpen and peppers her face with kisses while Remus smiled, rolling his eyes playfully. “I’m starting to think you’re just visiting so you can hang out with my daughter, Padfoot.”

Sirius turned to look at him, smiling playfully as Lyra tugged on his curls. “I’m afraid so, Moony.” He then turned his attention to the child. “Now, who wants to go on an adventure with uncle Padfoot?”

Sirius’s eyes twinkled with mischief as he held Lyra aloft, her giggles filling the room. “We’ll soar over the treetops, chase the clouds, and maybe even race a few owls, eh?” He bounced her gently, eliciting more delighted squeals.

Remus watched them, a fond smile on his face, thinking that his best mate wouldn’t seriously do it. “Just make sure you keep her within sight, Padfoot. No loops or dives,” he added with a mock sternness that fooled neither Sirius nor Lyra.

Sirius mock saluted. “Aye, aye, Captain Moony!” He turned to Lyra, whispering conspiratorially, “Your dad’s just worried we’ll have too much fun without him.”

Remus didn’t even know how it happened, he just suddenly became aware of the situation when Sirius and Lyra were off, the flying motorcycle roaring to life as they took to the skies, leaving a trail of laughter, the faint smell of engine oil in their wake, and a faint ‘I fly, dada!’ from Lyra.

You sighed, effectively pulling him out of his thoughts. “At least Lyra’s safe, I know Sirius wouldn’t endanger his god daughter.”

You watched as Remus’s eyes softened; the worry lines smoothed out from his forehead. “Yes, Lyra is safe, and Sirius might be reckless, but he’s also fiercely protective,” he agreed, his voice carrying a note of gratitude. You hummed in agreement.

Remus tested the waters, “So… I won’t be sleeping in the couch, right?”

You couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle, the tension from earlier dissipating like morning fog in the sunlight. “No, Remmy, you won’t be sleeping on the couch,” you said, your voice laced with a hint of amusement. “But let’s agree that any future flights require both parents’ approval, alright?”

Remus let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders visibly relaxing. “Agreed, and I promise, no more surprises,” he said earnestly, reaching out to take your hand.

Just then, Lyra’s babbling caught your attention, and you both turned to see her playing with a small, plush fox, looking eerily similar to your animagus form that Sirius must have sneaked into her playpen.

“Maybe we can’t protect her from everything, but we can make sure she knows she’s loved and safe,” you mused aloud, watching Lyra.

Remus nodded, his eyes reflecting the same sentiment. “That’s all we can do,” he agreed. “And maybe teach her a few tricks so she can outfly Sirius one day,” he added with a wink.

You glared at him playfully, then laughed, imagining a future where Lyra, with her inherited Marauder’s cunning, would indeed give Sirius a run for his money. “Now that’s a plan I can get behind,” you said with a smile.

As the night drew on, the house filled with the soft sounds of a family at peace. The day’s adventures were recounted with laughter and gentle teasing, and plans for a grounded tomorrow were made. And in that moment, all was well in the world of magic and mischief.

[alovelywaytospendanevening]

Leyendecker in 1895 (left) and with his lover, Charles Beach (right)

Joseph Christian Leyendecker was born in Montabaur, Germany, to a family of Netherlandic extraction, on March 23, 1874. The family immigrated to the United States in 1882, and settled in Chicago. From early childhood, Leyendecker drew images on any available surface, a tendency that his parents encouraged. As they were unable to afford private art lessons for their son, he was apprenticed at fifteen to a Chicago engraver, with whom he began his career by designing advertisements and book illustrations. During these years, Leyendecker also took night classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. By the time he was nineteen, he showed a mature technical mastery of the illustrator's art and, with his younger brother Francis X. Leyendecker (1877–1924), he traveled to Paris to study at the Académie Julien. The brothers returned to Chicago in 1898 and established a studio there. Both soon gained numerous commissions for magazine and advertisement illustrations, and in 1899, J. C. Leyendecker produced his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post, one of the leading mainstream American publications. Leyendecker's association with the magazine continued for the next four decades. With his holiday covers for the magazine, he virtually created the popular image of Santa Claus and the New Year's baby that Americans know today.

Leyendecker's 1912 New Year's baby (left) and 1923 Santa Claus (right)

Suddenly in great demand, the Leyendecker brothers moved to New York in 1900. Their work, characterized by what might best be called a discreet male homoeroticism, typically portrayed handsome young men, particularly athletes, soldiers, sailors, and muscular working men, as heroic figures, recalling the classical ideals of the French Academy and the sinuous lines of Art Nouveau. By 1914, J. C. Leyendecker had accrued enough wealth to build an estate in New Rochelle, New York, where he lived with his brother, his sister Augusta, and his lover Charles Beach (1886–1952). Leyendecker met Beach in 1903, when the young model from Cleveland first posed for him. The artist was impressed not only with Beach's handsome face and physique, but also with his ability to hold poses for extended lengths of time. Their relationship lasted until Leyendecker's death. Over the next thirty years, Beach's image as the "Arrow Collar Man," as well as Leyendecker's other representations of him, became one of the most widely circulated visual icons in mainstream American culture. In this capacity, Beach became the symbol of American prosperity, sophistication, manliness, and style.

Beach was the main model for the "Arrow Collar Man," the advertising figure of the Arrow Collars and Shirts Company and an icon of urbane American masculinity

For forty-nine years, Beach functioned as Leyendecker's model, lover, cook, and business manager. The household was extremely careful in maintaining a strict, even secretive, privacy. Although Beach's features were much in the public's gaze, few actual photographs of him or the Leyendeckers are to be found. Beach, presumably at Leyendecker's instruction, burned virtually all correspondence and many art works after the artist's death. The last years of J. C. Leyendecker's life were overshadowed by financial concerns, as he had spent as lavishly as he earned at the height of his career. By the 1940s, the major magazines increasingly supplanted artist's cover illustrations with photographs. As a result, Beach and Augusta sold many of Leyendecker's art works, which now bring hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction, for a pittance. Leyendecker died at his home in New Rochelle on July 25, 1951. Beach followed him in death within months. (Full article)

[lovecla]

TAKE YOUR PAIN AWAY | quinn hughes.

chapter two:

<last chapter> <next chapter>

➴ chapter warnings: toxic mom, mentions of mental health issues.

➴ word count: 3.7k

💌 from me to you: thought of making this chapter 4k+ words long but then i felt bad for u guys so i made it shorter 🫂 hope u like it and thank u for reading!

౨ৎ

2024, MARCH

THE AIRPORT was filled with people, as it always was, but you were so used to Los Angeles’ fast pace that it didn’t bother you. With your suitcase in your left hand and your purse in the other, you walked towards the check-in area, after trying to locate your flight to Toronto on the panels.

Strangely enough, there weren't any flights to Toronto at one two forty-eight p.m., which was the time on the ticket your mom had sent you. You frowned but let it go, thinking that maybe they had some technical issues and forgot to put the flight there.

After waiting in line for about fifteen minutes, one of the staff finally called you. “Passport, please,”

You nodded and handed him your passport, waiting for your boarding pass. When he gave it to you, after weighing your suitcase and putting a tag on it, you called him again, confused.

“Excuse me, sir,” He looked at you, waiting for you to keep going. “This boarding pass says the flight is to Vancouver.”

He raised his eyebrow. “So?”

You chuckled. “I’m going to Toronto, not Vancouver,” you tried to explain, returning the ticket. “There’s been a mistake.”

“Ma’am,” he started, voice sounding a little bit too annoyed to your liking. “Your name is on the list for the flight AC 472, to Vancouver, Canada. You’re Madison Carter, right?”

“Yeah, I am, but—”

“Maybe you bought the wrong ticket but I can assure you, ma’am, this plane is flying to Vancouver.”

You stared at him, wanting to shout that you weren’t the one who had bought the ticket, your mom did; and you didn’t even want to be in Canada in the first place because you’d much rather clean the airport’s floor with your own tongue than to go back to the life you had in Toronto.

But unfortunately the worker didn’t have anything to do with your shitty past, so you just nodded and wished him a good day. Next thing, you grabbed your phone and called failed your mom��s number, praying that she’d pick up and tell you that it was a mistake and that she bought the wrong ticket and—

“Jessica Carter.”

“It’s Madison,” you greeted, trying your hardest to stay collected. “Mom, the ticket you bought me is to Vancouver, not Toronto.”

She went silent for a while, and you frowned.

“Mom, the ticket—”

“Yes, Madison, I heard the first time you spoke,” she made a tsc sound with her tongue. “What’s the matter?”

“What— what do you mean, what’s the matter? Isn’t the dinner in Toronto?”

“No.”

You heart was beating so fast inside your chest and your hands were starting to feel sticky and cold. You looked around the place, people coming and going, while no one seemed to notice the turmoil happening inside of your chest.

“We’re having dinner in Vancouver, at the place I texted you. Didn’t you check it?” She sounded annoyed. And no, of course you hadn’t checked, you didn’t need to. You knew it was going to be another fancy ass restaurant with fancy ass people and small ass meals that tasted ten times less than the price you paid for them.

“But why?” Your voice trembled, and you coughed to cover it. “Aren’t you guys in Toronto?”

“Madison, everyday I pray to God that one day you will finally actually love your family,” she hissed, and your heart actually stop. Or at least that’s how you felt. “Your dad isn’t working with the Toronto hockey team anymore, he quit last year and it was all over the news. I know you don’t care about your family but you could at least pretend to. What if a reporter asked you questions about us? What do you think it’d look like with the press when your dad’s own daughter doesn’t care about her dad?”

You wanted to scream at her, turn the phone off, leave the airport and pick Bella up at the dog hotel she was staying in and take her home so you could both cuddle for the entire weekend. You wanted to tell her that no one in that family knew what the word love meant, no one even cared about it. And even if you had known love once, it was gone now, and all you could do is continue with your life.

“Get on that plane, Madison. I’ll see you at Hawksworth at seven p.m. tonight and you better not be late. Have a safe flight.” She said before hanging up on you.

You stared at your phone’s screen until it went completely black. Sometimes, you asked yourself why you still did what your mom wanted. You were twenty-two, you had your own job and your own money. You wouldn’t exaclt lose anything if you stopped talking to her.

But then, every time you thought about not doing what she asked you to, or even stopping talking to her, you felt like the worst daughter in the whole green world. You felt ungrateful, and a feeling that left your chest so hollow you couldn’t breathe.

So you kept walking behind her, stepping only where she asked you to.

Sighing, you went back to walking towards the security area. There wasn’t anything that could be done and honestly, you were too exhausted to even think of something.

So, Vancouver it is.

౨ৎ

THE TAXI smelled like fried peanuts making you scrunch your nose.

You looked through the window, looking at the city you’d been born in and how much it’s changed. As much as you hated to admit, Vancouver had always been extremely beautiful.

You were on your way to the restaurant, feeling like you’d lost a thousand battles. When you arrived at your hotel earlier they had mistaken you for someone else and put you in the worst bedroom ever. And if that wasn’t enough, you had to take a cold shower because the shower heater wasn't working and now you were shivering because it was March and Vancouver was still cold as hell.

“Miss?”

You turned your head around, facing the driver. He was making a funny face at you and you were just about to ask what was so funny when he pointed outside. You followed his finger and well, there it was. The Hawksworth restaurant your mom loved so much. Ignoring the tug on your chest, you thanked the man and got out of the car.

Thanking past you for choosing a warm dress and comfortable heels, you made your way inside the restaurant, politely greeting the people you saw on your way to the hostess.

“Good evening,” you said, smiling at the blonde girl in front of you. “Madison Carter.”

“Good evening, ma’am. They’re waiting for you in the private room. Do you need someone to take you there?” She crossed your name on some fancy sheet and you shook your head. You’ve been going to this place ever since you were a child. You knew it like the back of your hand.

After a quiet thank you, you resumed your walk, mentally preparing yourself for what this evening was going to be. Your mom making sure to control all of your doings, your dad only talking about himself and his work and Peter— hell, you didn’t even know if Peter would be here.

It’s not like your mom treated him the same way as she treated you anyway, so if he wanted to get away with not coming to this dinner, he would.

When you turned to the left so you could enter the private area, your body was shocked with something, making your purse drop from your hold.

With heels so tall, you almost lost your balance, just staying in place because a hand, gentle yet extremely firm you noticed, grabbed you by the waist and pushed you to the side.

“I’m so sorry, are you—”

You’d recognise that voice anywhere, no matter how much it’d changed. Looking up, you stared into Quinn’s blue eyes and held your breath.

“Madison.”

He said your name like it had poison in it, and it hurt. You still remember the last time you saw him and his family back in 2017, with him taking care of you while you were sick. How you tried so hard to memorize his features because you knew seeing him again in person would be nothing but close to impossible.

And yet here he was, standing right in front of you, wearing a fancy suit and many, many inches taller than you. His curls were carefully styled, pushed back with only a strand of hair falling down his forehead.

He had a stubble decorating his chin and it fitted him so perfectly, making him look older and mature.

Quinn Hughes still looked like the man you fell in love with when you were fifteen. And you weren’t exactly sure what to do with this information.

“Quinn.” You whispered, because you didn’t trust yourself enough to speak without stuttering.

“Jesus, finally, Madison, we’ve been waiting for you for ten minutes,” your mom’s voice filled the space and you jumped back, removing yourself from Quinn’s grip and remembering that you were still in the hallway of a famous restaurant, with people coming and going. “I see that you and Quinn are happy to see each other again.”

You bend down to grab your purse, choosing not to look at him while your mom talks. You had already seen enough in his eyes.

You got up and followed your mom, your body highly aware that the man you hadn’t seen for seven years, your best friend, was just a few steps behind you.

When you got to your table, you tried your hardest not to gasp out loud. Because your mind was probably playing games with you and you weren’t seeing the Hughes sitting with your dad and brother—

“Maddie!” You heard Jack shouting, looking like he didn’t care that they were at a five star restaurant.

You let out a wet chuckle, feeling your eyes wet with unshod tears. There they were; Luke, Jack, Ellen, Jim and… well. Quinn.

“Oh my God,” Ellen got up, immediately reaching for you. “You’re so pretty. And so grown up too!”

“Hi, Mrs. Hughes,” you smiled, squeezing her just as hard. “It’s so nice to see you.”

“You were always beautiful but,” she whistled, making you give her a little twirl. “Damn right.”

You giggled, feeling your chest a lot lighter. Despite being hurtful, this was a pleasant surprise.

“Hey, Mr. Hughes,” you greeted Jim, kissing him lightly on the cheek, just to watch the blush adorne his face like you knew it would. “Luke and Jack. You guys are taller than me now.”

“Hey, Maddie,” Luke got up, hugging you quickly, like a teenage boy who had just seen his first woman. “You’re all grown up too.”

“Where the hell have you been?” Jack asked, patting the seat beside him. You gave your own family a brief nod before sitting down, placing your purse on the chair and smiling at Jack, ignoring the fact that Quinn was sitting in front of you.

“I moved to LA a few years ago,” you explained, noticing how they were all paying attention to you. As they had always done. “I’m working as a model now.”

“Baby, we know!” Ellen smiled, squeezing Jim’s arms. “When I saw you on VOGUE last year I thought, this girl looks a lot like Madison. And then I realized. That was you!”

You smiled, bringing your shoulders to your ears, cheeks red and all.

“What do you think of LA, honey?” Ellen asked, resting her chin on her hand.

“I love it there,” you smiled. “Los Angeles is so full of life and opportunities. Not to mention the fact that I ran into super famous people all the time,” you giggled, remembering that one time you ran into Jennifer Aniston while you were grocery shopping.

“You are famous now too, M,” Jack jokes, making you laugh. “Are people there nice to you?”

You stared at his blue, gorgeous eyes and smiled, frankly. They were worried about your well-being and it made your heart flutter. Not even your own family asked these questions.

“Yeah, Jackie, they are,” you nodded. “I really love it there.”

“Then we’re happy, honey.”

They moved on to another topic of how all of you are so grown now, and how well you were all doing in your careers. Your parents were mostly talking about Peter, and how proud they are because he’s in his last year of medical school, soon to be a resident in orthopedic surgery.

You didn’t mind the fact that they preferred to talk about Peter and his accomplishments over you, in fact, you actually preferred it this way. That way they would leave you and your choices alone, which was what you wanted. Besides, you could keep stealing glances from Quinn’s beautiful, comforting face here and there. Not that he was looking at you, or even talking your way.

You couldn’t exactly blame him. After he left for Michigan, your mom made sure you didn’t have time to grieve over him leaving, no. She was making sure you were on the cover of Fashion’s at the ripe age of sixteen.

And when you thought of reaching out first, you took a peep at his and his university’s Instagram. And he was always surrounded by beautiful, talented girls who were his age and seemed to know what they were doing. And you were just like the little, ugly duck, sixteen and naive.

So you never really contacted him or his family, for that matter. You knew your parents still kept in touch with the Hughes, but they never told you anything— and you didn’t ask. But Quinn couldn’t be too upset with you because he had never reached out to you either. So you were both pretty much even.

“What are you doing after we leave here?” Jack asked beside you, after swallowing down his food.

“Honestly?” You chuckled. “I’m gonna go back to my hotel and sleep. I’m tired.”

“No way,” he almost pouted. He liked twelve years old all over again. “You’re coming with us, we’re heading to a club after this, it’s our last night together with Huggy bear,” he pointed at Quinn, who was eyeing him weirdly. “And now, it’s our last night with you too.”

“You’re leaving already?” You frowned.

“We’ve been here for a few days now but it’s still the season. We need to head back to Newark soon.” Luke explained, and it all made sense. Sometimes you forget that they’re famous, talented hockey players.

“That’s great, hum—” your phone started ringing and you opened your purse to decline it, frowning when you saw Nicholas’ name flashing on the screen. He knew you were on your day off and he had never called you during days off before. So it was probably important. “Sorry, excuse me, it’s my boss.” You excused yourself before leaving the table and accepting the call.

“Madison?”

“Yeah, Nick, hi,” you walked out of the restaurant, wanting to be outside so you could hear him better, feeling the cold air hit your face immediately. “Did something happen? Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes, no, nothing happened.”

“Then why are you calling me?” You giggled. “It’s my day off.”

“Oh, right,” he laughed, the high pitch noise making you smile too. “I’m calling you because we fucking did it, baby!”

“Um. What did we do?”

He scoffed like he couldn’t believe you were even asking. “What do you mean, Madison Carter! We finally signed you to La Vie en Rose!”

You audibly gasped, trying your hardest not to start jumping around.

Despite the fact that you had worked with bigger retailers before, La Vie en Rose has always been one of your and Nicholas’ biggest dreams.

“You’re lucky I’m out right now because otherwise you’d be hearing my screams there in Los Angeles,” you laughed, feeling truly happy for the first time in a while. “How did it happen? Actually, no,” you interrupted yourself. “I don’t even care about what you did. This is huge! When do I start?”

“This is where it gets better.”

“Better than working with one of my favorite designers? Try me.”

“They asked if you had any preferences for places and since you’ve been here here in LA for four years now, I thought I’d do you a favor and get you closer to your family,” he said, excitement pouring down his words. “So I said that you could get signed with their Canadian headquarters and guess what? They said yes! So now you’ll have to move to Vancouver, of course, but think with me—”

You didn’t even care about the rest of the things he was saying. The high from before disappearing like candies during Halloween, your happiness being replaced by an ugly, horrid feeling that made your stomach hurt, all the food you’d just eaten trying to find its way back outside.

“Madison? Are you there?”

“Yes,” you gritted through your teeth, taking deep breaths. “Nicholas, I can't. I cannot be in Vancouver.”

“If you’re worried about moving and your apartment and Bella, don’t worry, they’ll cover it all—”

“I’m not worried about moving, I just can’t,” your voice cracks, so you take a moment to breathe again. “I can’t be in Vancouver.”

“Madison—”

“They have their headquarters in Paris. I can move there, it’s no issue, really.” You pleaded.

“You’d rather move to Paris than to be with your family in Canada?” He sounded surprised and confused at the same time and you bit your lip, remembering your mom’s words about the press and rumors. You trusted Nicholas and you knew he wasn’t going to tell anyone anything but in the world of fashion, words flew fast. “I’m not following.”

“Yes,” you confessed. “Can you do that?”

“No, I— I already signed the deal. I thought I was doing you a favor—”

“You didn’t do me any favor, Nicholas!” You didn’t realize you were speaking louder now, raising your arm. “I’m not fucking moving to Vancouver! Fuck.”

You ran your hand through your hair, feeling bad for lashing out on him, but just the thought of living close to your family and Quinn made you lose your mind.

Nicholas sighed, speaking after an entire minute. “Listen. I don’t know where this is coming from and I’d really like to help you if you need me. But this is your dream, Madison. Ever since I met you, when you were that sweet, little dove at eighteen, you’ve been talking about this. And you know how hard we worked for this.”

“Nicholas,” you called out and he shushed you.

“And I can’t do anything about this. I’m sorry, but this is above me. I made the wrong decision of signing it without talking to you first but you were out with your family and I didn’t want to bother you.” He sighed, staying silent for a while, as you looked straight ahead, not really seeing anyone, even though the street was busy. “If you say no, it’s… they’ll choose someone else. Madison, I need you to think about this.”

You could hear the entreaty in his voice and you felt so bad. He was right.

“You need to give me an answer by Monday. I’ve already told them you’d be thrilled to move but I can always take back what I said,” he murmured, and if you knew him well enough, you’d say he’s squeezing his cheeks between his fingers right now. “It’d only be for six months, baby. Think about it.”

You were silent for a while, before realizing he was probably waiting for an answer.

“Right,” you whispered. “Okay. I’ll call you later. And I’m sorry for yelling at you, I know you were just doing what you thought was the best.”

“I’m so sorry, Mads. Totally thought I was doing you a favor.”

“It’s fine,” you answer, nodding even though you knew he couldn’t see. “Bye.”

“Bye, Mads. Call me if you need anything.”

You hadn’t even turned your phone off completely before hearing a voice behind you.

“Troubles in paradise, huh?”

You turn around, facing Quinn who was now leaning against the restaurant wall, by himself. Where were the people who worked there or the other customers you didn’t know, and truthfully, you didn’t really care at that moment.

“Excuse me?” You asked, staring at him, watching as he shrugged, like he hadn’t said anything.

“I asked if you were having troubles in your little Angeleno world, since things seem to be so perfect in Los Angeles.”

“This is the first conversation we have in years and this is how you want it to go? Seriously?” You stepped closer, standing in front of him, tilting your head up so you could stare into those beautiful eyes you’d love to lose yourself in.

No, you reprimanded yourself. Not anymore.

“I don’t know,” he looked down, his eyes meeting yours. “Remind me of why this is our first conversation in years, Madison,” again, he said your name like it hurt him.

“What’s that even supposed to mean?”

“Guys, what the hell,” someone shouted beside you, making both you and Quinn turn your heads around. Jack stood there, looking slightly displeased, while Luke typed something on his phone. “We’ve been looking for you for ages. Our parents left through the other entrance a while ago. It’s time to party, baby!”

“I’m not going,” you hissed, stepping back.

“What do you mean you’re not going?” Luke looked up from his phone, frowning at you. “Maddie. We haven’t seen each other in years!”

“I know, I’m just tired and—”

“We need to catch up!” Jack whined, wrapping his arms around your waist, shaking you slightly. “We need to talk!”

“She doesn’t like talking, do you, Madison?” Quinn blurted out, eyes turning gray when directed at you.

For some reason that one comment turned your fight or flight mode and you had enough. “You’re so funny, Quintin,” you plastered on the biggest fake smile you could. “Actually, I’m not that tired. Let’s go.”

You followed two yelling boys and a moody one, not even acknowledging the latter. If Quinn wanted to be all pissy about the fact that you hadn’t spoken to him in years, when he also hadn’t reached out to you, then fine. Two could play that game.

taglist: @ru-kru 🤎

[odinsblog]

Veterans’ health care


A 1996 law set eligibility requirements for military veterans to receive hospital, medical and nursing home care and authorized spending for those services and patient enrollment. That law has not been renewed, but Congress regularly allocates additional Department of Veterans Affairs funding and allows benefits to increase automatically based on inflation. VA provides medical care to more than 9.1 million enrolled veterans, according to the agency.
​

Drug development and opioid addiction treatment

Most of this spending relates to the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act of 2016. That law provided money to the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration to modernize pharmaceutical research and medical trials. It funded research for cancer cures and state-level grants for opioid addiction and other substance abuse treatment.


​State Department

In 2003, Congress passed the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which set policy priorities and created spending authority for the State Department. That law has not been renewed, but Congress every year since has passed annual funding bills for the department, which Trump has announced he’ll nominate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) to run.


​Housing assistance

President Bill Clinton in 1998 signed the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act, which overhauled federal housing assistance policies, including voucher programs and other antipoverty assistance. The Department of Housing and Urban Development and other agencies continue using this law to implement federal housing programs.


​Justice Department

In 1994, Congress passed the landmark Violence Against Women Act and has renewed it multiple times since. In 2006, lawmakers packaged a VAWA renewal with authorizing legislation for the Justice Department. As with the State Department, Congress has not approved new authorizing legislation for the Justice Department since, but it has funded the agency — and even authorized hundreds of millions of dollars more for a new FBI headquarters — every year.


​Education spending

The 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act delegated power to state and local education officials to set primary and secondary education achievement standards. It gives billions of dollars in federal grant money to state and local education officials to fund schools and school districts. Those standards are still used by the Education Department, even though the legislation has not been reauthorized. Trump has suggested he’d like to eliminate the entire department.

NASA

Stripping funding for NASA, which was last reauthorized in 2017, could spell doom for Musk’s commercial spaceflight firm, SpaceX. The company has contracts worth more than $4 billion — including for return trips to the moon and retiring the International Space Station — linked to programs approved in the 2017 law.


​Health-care and student loan programs

What’s known as the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was actually passed in two separate bills in 2010. The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act represents the second bill, which included some tax revisions and technical changes to the ACA. The law has not been reauthorized since, but the Department of Health and Human Services reported in March that more than 45 million people have health insurance coverage backed by the Affordable Care Act.

The law that made those final tweaks to the ACA also overhauled the Education Department’s student loan program. Where some schools relied on private lenders to issue federally backed loans, with this law, the government itself became the lender. That change has since enabled President Joe Biden to offer student loan debt relief, though many of his most ambitious policies have been blocked by the courts. Student loans are generally funded through mandatory spending — similar to social safety net programs such as Medicare and Social Security — and not subject to annual spending laws.


​International security programs

The 1985 International Security and Development Cooperation Act bundled together authorizations for a number of international security programs, including funding and regulations for arms sales to allies, economic aid for developing countries, airport security, anti-narcotics-trafficking policies, the Peace Corps and more. This Reagan-era law continues to be foundational to congressional funding and federal policy.


​Head Start

Head Start provides preschool education for children from low-income families. In the 2023 fiscal year, more than 800,000 children enrolled in Head Start programs, according to the National Head Start Association. The program also helped place more than 530,000 parents in jobs, school or job-training programs. It was last authorized in 2007.

(continue reading)

[spnangelbang]

A preview of... “Take Me Back to Eden” 

Author & Artist: sidewinder @hawkland

Rating: Mature

Archive warnings: None

Featured characters: Castiel, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Jack Kline

Featured relationships: Dean Winchester/Castiel, Sam Winchester/Eileen Leahy

Length:  70,000 words

Tags:  alternative Season 15, amnesia, fixing Heaven, angst & pining, almost everyone is in this story

Summary: Jack is dead, Chuck has declared “The End,��� and Castiel’s relationship with Dean has never been more broken. Seeing no reason to stay on Earth, Castiel attempts to surrender to the Empty, only to be rejected and condemned to further suffering.

He asks Naomi for one favor, then, in order to return to Heaven and serve with the last of his brethren: to erase all memories of his years and involvement with the Winchesters and Jack, as the loss is too great for him to bear.

Meanwhile, Dean and Sam must deal with Chuck on their own—or perhaps with the help of a few familiar faces and surprising allies. Little do they know about the Empty and Billie’s plan for Jack, which takes a change in course when the Winchesters lock away Chuck, but Amara remains free.

Castiel discovers a group of souls determined to save Heaven in their own way—souls who also seem to know more about him and his past than he does. Paths eventually re-converge, but will Cas be able to remember who he once was? And is there any hope of healing his relationship with Dean?

Excerpt:

The crowd cheered; Robert’s girlfriend Stacey, whom he would marry two years later after she became pregnant, leaned in against him. They embraced for a kiss under the flickering zippo lights before the next song began.

Curious, Castiel noted that Robert’s soul glow wasn’t the only one he could sense in the arena. There were others reliving the concert from their own memory vantage points, souls that shouldn’t be present even if this was one of their favored memories as well. 

They didn’t belong here, in Robert’s heaven. Yet somehow there were four other human souls present at this moment, souls connected only by this one singular event on Earth. Two of those were a couple who were not soulmates, so they technically should not have been sharing a heaven at all.

What was happening here? And how was Castiel supposed to “fix this,” as Naomi ordered, by himself?

He was about to call in for reinforcements, for more angels to help him round up and re-locate the “lost” souls. But then he noticed a man—another soul—wearing a mask reminiscent of a melting face looking right at him, bright eyes peering out of shadowed holes. The mask looked similar to the one worn by the large doll-like figure on the stage.

 “Castiel?” the man asked, his voice muddled by the rubber mask on his face. The music shifted to a mournful acoustic guitar melody, David Gilmour just barely visible through a single opening in the styrofoam wall on stage.

Castiel frowned and moved forward, weaving in between concert-goers who all had their eyes on the guitarist. “You know who I am?” he asked.

“Of course I know you. Long time no see!” The man slapped Castiel’s shoulder, a strange gesture that was apparently meant to be friendly, not aggressive. “C’mon, amigo, you’re just the angel I need.”

Posting date: March 9, 2025!

[thetirisfaltheatretroupe]

Coming October 18th: The TTT's DOUBLE FEATURE at the Dance of the Dead!

(Original background from Quince Media via Pixabay, free-for-use license terms apply) An all too familiar chill is in the air, and the dead rise again to march in solidarity with their brethren. The Dance of the Dead, an event hosted for many, many years by the Undercity Nexus crew over in Caer Darrow, has returned once more this year! Last year, the Tirisfal Theatre was proud to perform on stage for them, and we return once more this year with gusto! Join us on October 18th over on the blood-soaked isle of Caer Darrow, and come to the burned down house across from the fountain at the town's center as we take you on a haunted house tour you won't soon forget with two tales of horrific homes gone wrong! That's right, it'll be like HGTV - but with affordable property! Our first offering of the evening is our delightful horror comedy show based on a chilling song by Jonathan Coulton, where an aspiring real-estate investor attempts to flip his first property. As he is fixing the place up to be sold for a pretty copper, he soon realizes it came with a resident already inside - and it's happy to see him! A little too happy... Will our everyman find a way to make his fortune on this old home? Or will he decide to throw it all away and destroy everything he worked for?

My guess is the latter... Find out, as we explore the horror of the creepy doll in...

THE HOUSE ON RAVEN HILL!

Then, stick around for a story that will chill you to the bone, as we go back in time to an era long ago. A wealthy Lord, known for his benevolence and generosity, gives everything he has to the people of town and is adored in return. But when he takes in a stranger cloaked in mystery and lies, he may find that he has given far too much in exchange for nothing. As the days go by, he may find that his world will change considerably, and not for the better.

Join us as we delve into the mind of a man who has much to give, and everything to lose, and discover this cautionary tale in one of our few non-comedic scripts, the tragic and suspenseful tale of...

THE ALTRUIST!

As we progress through the night, the troupe may stop for brief Q&A segments, put on a few surprise short skits for everyone, and have much ado at the theatre! For those taking part in the Dance of the Dead's D20 competition, pop in and enjoy our show while you wait for your matches! Or if you got your proverbial rear-end handed to you, heal your wounds with laughter and sorrow! The Tirisfal Theatre is pulling out all the stops to make this evening one to remember for all at the Dance of the Dead! So seek out a Moon Guard anchor, come on over to this frightful locale, and join us for a night like no other - only at the Dance of the Dead!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Dance of the Dead is a large Forsaken-themed event hosted every year on Moon Guard server! Despite it being a Moon Guard event, anchors are available to pull you in from other servers to enjoy!

Our performances utilize player characters from both factions. As such, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED you have Elixir of Tongues and TRP to follow and enjoy the show! Typically people will sell these or give them away before and during the show, but try to have some on hand!

As with any of these night-time events, Inky Black Potions are also recommended for maximum immersion!

There will be a brief intermission of 10-15 minutes between shows to allow our crew to take breaks! The total runtime of both plays should be about an hour and a half at maximum, but it may run over depending on technical difficulties.

We cannot host parties or anchor once the show begins! Remember that this will be taking place on the Moon Guard shard of the game. As we find out more information about how anchors are being handled, we'll be certain to edit this information!

Remember, the show starts at 7 Central / 5 Wyrmrest Accord time on October 18th

Below is a map of the performing area! The blue marked area is where the audience should sit as to not interfere with the cast and crew, as well as to be able to see and hear the entire show! If you sit in the white area, or the 'nosebleed section' as we call it, you may be unable to hear a lot of what happens on stage!

We hope to see you all in the audience, and please be sure to check out all the information on the Dance of the Dead, happening October 18th and 19th on Moon Guard server! TL:DR SUMMARY WHO: The Tirsfal Theatre Troupe (Along with the Undercity Nexus and Dance of the Dead staff and crew!) WHAT: Double Feature at the Dance of the Dead! Two spooky plays written and performed by the Tirisfal Theatre Troupe WHERE: Caer Darrow, Western Plaguelands (Moon Guard shard, non-War Mode) WHEN: October 18th WHY: BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU!

A HUGE and grateful thank-you to Banshih and the crew of the Dance of the Dead! We're honored to return this year and perform for you all! This post will be updated as more information becomes available to us! Keep an eye out for any potential changes or new info!

[boxboxblog]

Rivals: Niki Lauda v James Hunt

Hello, this is a part of my series on F1 rivalries throughout history. Enjoy!

(Hunt on left, Lauda on right)

Perhaps the most famous rivalry in F1, it was another story of contrasting driving styles and personalities. Hunt, a Brit, was a famous charismatic playboy, while Lauda, and Austrian, was more reserved. Hunt was aggressive and instinctive, while Lauda was technical and methodical. It seems like every F1 rivalry is between these types of people and drivers, and Lauda v Hunt was no exception. They were both extreme talents but had such a heavy contrast that even from a young age they were compared.

(1974)

The two drivers met in the early series, getting to know each other in Formula 3 and becoming something akin to friends. While they competed and gained a large amount of respect for each other during this time, they were not direct competitors until they both entered into Formula 1. Lauda had been part of a smaller team (March) which was having issues since the last race of 1971, and Hunt was also part of s a small team (Hesketh). Lauda would be the first to move to a big team, and was signed by Ferrari for the 1974 season. He clinched his first championship in 1975 with them.

(1975 Lauda win)

1976 saw Hunt move to McLaren, and for the first time have a really competitive car. This became the defining year for their rivalry, and the one that would go down in history as the most dramatic title fight of all time. Both drivers were in top cars that year, and while Lauda took a massive lead, Hunt was not far behind, and the only driver to keep up. Their contrasting styles and personalities became the epicenter of this rivalry, and it only gained further popularity for the sport. It was expected to be a battle to the end, but most believed Lauda would emerge victorious.

(1976 crash)

When Lauda had his infamous crash at the Nurburgring, one of the most horrific in F1 history, it changed the story completely. Lauda almost died, suffering severe burns and extreme lung damage. Ironically, for lack of a gentler word, Lauda had been one of the drivers to protest against this race due to the weather and dangerous nature of the Nurburgring. He was outvoted, the race went on, and he paid the price. An extremely cruel and horrific twist of fate. It was thought that his season, and maybe even his career was done. But he shocked the world when he returned just six weeks later to race again, in the hopes of fighting for the title once more at the last race. During this time Hunt had steadily gained points, and had now near matched Lauda for points.

(1976 post-crash)

The final showdown happened in Japan, and was expected to be a fierce battle to get the title. But Lauda retired the race early, due to the rain, displaying a rather new carefulness and perhaps appreciation for life. Hunt was able to finish the race in third place, despite a massive tire issue, and drove an incredible, but dangerous, race. Through this finish he gained enough points to win his first and last championship by a single point. Hunt retired a few years later after a few uncompetitive years, and thus ended the famous rivalry.

(1976 Hunt championship)

Throughout all of this, the two drivers maintained a steady friendship and massive respect. They admired each other greatly, despite their storied rivalry, and were often seen enjoying each other company during downtime. During Lauda's time in the hospital after his injuries it was alleged that Hunt would call often, and they would talk for hours. Hunt stated, about the 1976 season, “I felt that I deserved to win the championship. I also felt that Niki deserved to win the championship and I just wish we could have shared it”. Lauda stated "if anybody should get the championship, then I'm happy it's James." Hunt would go on to be a commentator for F1 after his retirement, and the friendship only solidified further.

Their rivalry left a lasting legacy in F1. It was memorialized in the popular movie Rush, and although some things were exaggerated, the general story was true, and the real-life drama attracted many more fans to F1. It was not just a title fight, but rather it was a clash of racing and life philosophies. Lauda, the clinical, machine-like perfectionist and Hunt, the fiery and instinctive daredevil. Almost a man versus machine type fight. While we have seen this type of rivalry before, and would throughout the future years, there was something about the Lauda-Hunt rivalry that captured the minds of the public, and still does today. It reminded people why they loved Formula 1 racing; the incredible stories.

So that is my overview of the Lauda-Hunt rivalry. I hope it was informative and an interesting look at two of the most famous F1 drivers.

Cheers,

-B

[musethechangling]

What is the SBK Reincarnation AU?

The SBKRAU or The Skyblock Kingdoms Reincarnation Alternate Universe is an AU of SBK that takes place hundreds, possibly even thousands of years into the future, long after the sky has fallen and the Rulers have all died.

Let me tell you a story,

Once upon a time, there were ten Kingdoms, suspended in the sky, each ruled by a pair of brave survivors. Together they expanded their lands, built networks of trade, created technical marvels and slowly uncovered the secrets of The Void, but the truth came too late. The Sky was doomed to fall from the start and fall it did, alongside the rulers who once conquered it.

The eleven islands that formed the Kingdoms and their communal district slowly formed into continents and oceans, and slowly, a new world arose from the ashes of the old. Magic grew to be uncommon and feared as time marched on, until the modern day arrived and what was once common and beloved had become marginalized and maligned. SBK became naut but stories, legends for future generations to read to their children in bed.

But... someone had to have recorded those stories.

Most of The Rulers died when the Sky Fell, yes, but Holograms don't die. Anathra survived, alone. It was he who recorded his friends' stories, preserving their memories in his grief. He's spent the last centuries wandering the world, watching history move on when he can't follow in its footsteps.

Anathra considers it his duty to preserve the history of SBK, even when the world seems determined to forget. He regularly returns to academia to refresh his 'research', to keep the field alive even when interest starts to wane or the prevailing theories prove to be catastrophically wrong. Whenever he's not working to preserve SBK's memory he indulges in his love of music, as a Conductor or an organist or a cellist or a composer, there's hardly an instrument in all the world he hasn't learned to play over the years.

Now, Anathra has come across theories of Reincarnation, theories that the souls of the dead can live on in new forms, and he has a new mission. If this theory is true, and he has ample reason to believe it is, then his friends are out there somewhere. He just has to go out and find them.

Thanks to my friends octopus-defense-squad, Loudn, Gold-Fool, thoughtsofanon and Varteeny for helping me flesh out this silly little AU idea! There is so much more to this AU, so I hope you're ready!

[tyrantisterror]

What are your top ten Halloween movies?

I'm going to give you the answer to the question "what movies do you try to watch every Halloween" instead, since otherwise the answer to this question is identical to "what are your top ten horror movies," which is impossible for me to answer.

The Nightmare Before Christmas, which I always use to start the season.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. I always try to watch a few of the Universal monster movies, and this one always caps it off as a sendoff to that era.

Brides of Dracula. I also always try to do at least a few of the Hammer horror movies, and since Brides of Dracula is my favorite of the lot it always ends up in rotation.

Dawn of the Dead (1977), one of my all-time favorite movies period.

Little Shop of Horrors (1987), another one of my all-time favorite movies period.

Extraordinary Tales (2013), an animated anthology of Edgar Allen Poe adaptations with narration by Christopher Lee, Guillermo del Toro, and a posthumous Bela Lugosi via an old radio recording he did

Beetlejuice, a movie that's a Cope family tradition at this point. It's also a Cope family tradition to have a Tim Burton night as part of the Halloweening, which always consists of this movie and the next entry on our list...

Sleepy Hollow, the other requisite Tim Burton choice, and my favorite adaptation of the Sleepy Hollow story. We also pick a third movie to go with it and BJ - either Corpse Bride, Mars Attacks, or Frankenweenie (Frankenweenie would be a regular if it weren't for the really racist Asian caricature in it).

The Abominable Dr. Phibes. I try to get in a few Vincent Price movies before the season is over, and since Dr. Phibes is my favorite, it's most often in rotation.

Cabin in the Woods, which feels perfect for the end of the season thanks to the finale where it lets dozens of archetypal monsters out to play.

Technically Not a Movie But Just as Necessary as the Above: Over the Garden Wall, which is always the VERY last Halloween thing we watch, as a bridge between Autumn and Winter.

I also try to work in some of my favorite trashy 80's living dead movies - Return of the Living Dead, Re-Animator, or an entry from the Evil Dead Series - as well as some 50's/60's era creature features. I used to work in a kaiju week as well, but in recent years I've done a larger kaiju marathon either in November (the 3rd being Godzilla's birthday) or March (my birthday month), and thus don't feel the need to try and work them into Halloweening.

[asha-mage]

              Rhaenyra’s gaze returned to the far end of the bridge. Her whole demeanor was like that first day Aegon had arrived- a she-dragon who had woken to find strangers in her lair, threatening everything from her treasure to her clutch. She watched Aemond finish dismounting and begin striding towards Daeron, while Daeron, still seeming confused, waited for his brother to join him.               “Half-way. No farther.” Rhaenyra announced as she began to march forward, shoulders back and head held high. Aegon and the rest fell into step behind her as she moved up the bridge- leaving the soldiers at the gate. At the opposite end, Aemond reached Daeron and the two put their heads together in furious debate, Daeron gesturing with his hands and Aemond nodding almost pleasantly. By the time Rhaenyra halted, exactly half way down the bridge, in the center of the open gorge, Daeron and Aemond’s discussion had come to an end and the pair were moving forward, Daeron somewhat sullenly, up to meet them.               Daeron had grown a little since Aegon had seen him last- still a slight lad, a little broader in the shoulders maybe. Any height he had gained wasn’t obvious though, standing beside Aemond who had shot up like a beanpole in the years since Aunt Laena’s funeral. Both were dressed in the same dark flying leathers, and green cloaks, and Daeron had apparently cut his hair in the Old Town Tradition as well, leaving it curling around his slightly too big ears, while Aemond’s still fell down down to his shoulders, held back from his face by a leather cord.                Daeron technically walked in the lead- for a half step or so which was all Aemond was apparently prepared to allow his baby brother- and halted when he approached the halfway point. Less than ten feet stood between the two groups, but you never would have guessed, from their stances, that Aemond and Dearon where staring down three times their number, with far more ready to come sprinting at a shout from Rhaenyra, or by the same token, that the Blacks lay directly in the path of not one, but two dragons- one large enough to bath the entire bridge in flame if she wanted.               Daeron opened his mouth to speak, but Rhaenyra spoke first.

              “You come unannounced to my door, little brothers- without gifts or courtesies.” Rhaenyra said, her voice cold and imperious, her head drawn up high. “I thought Alicent taught better manners than that. One might even mistake you for enemies, had we not had warning by other means of your coming.”

-- A Cloak Black, Chapter 12: Snarl

[rising-volteccers]

Seeing that they're making the news drop on 14th March a pretty big deal, I decided to put on my tinfoil hat and in my sleep deprived state, throw out some thoughts and speculations for what could potentially happen in the series. I'm basing my thoughts off what I've been seeing on my feed, which includes the supposed Horizons leak so spoilers underneath the cut.

So, I've been thinking a lot about HZ089's title being Beyond the Adventure. Considering it's the last episode of this arc, it makes me wonder what would be the next adventure for the kids. We've been following their journey for two years now, watching them grow and achieve their goals. We've seen then ponder about their adventure ending because prior to their clash with the Explorers, it was reasonable to assume that once they were finished with their adventures in Rakua, that's it. That's the end of the line after a year of traveling around together.

To me, they'd either wrap up their adventure nicely with an emotional goodbye (less likely to happen, given the next arc will introduce Mega Evolution in the series) or they'd give the kids a new reason to strive towards after their adventure.

What could that reason be? I feel like given the tone of the upcoming episode + the supposed leaks, my guess is that they're going to suffer a devastating loss from the Explorers. Throughout their adventure, the RVT has only ever won or stuff happens that led to a draw. They've never really had an incident where their only option is to escape, to huddle down somewhere to lick their wounds after (aside from Rayquaza crashing into the airship in HZ044).

If I were to speculate about what could possibly be a devastating loss, two things come to mind.

Something is going to happen to Friede, leading the kids to make a vow in getting stronger and save him. Throughout the past few episodes, there's a sense of foreshadowing about Friede's potential fate at the end of Rakua. He's seen the kids grow, he knows they're strong. He advises them to think and act on their own if something bad happens. He's sidelined from battling against Zygarde because his Pokemon were knocked off. The fact that Cap was returned to his Pokeball is the biggest tell to me that Friede might temporarily be removed from the story. Even back in HZ023-HZ024, Cap lost but escaped with the kids from the Galar mines. Not once has Cap been shown returned to his Pokeball aside from his initial capture in HZ018. So, what I'm thinking is that perhaps an event would occur where the kids would have to escape, and Friede entrusted Cap's Pokeball to the kids, to look after him in his stead while he stays behind. I feel like to give him a fighting chance, Charizard would stay with him. Cap would go with the kids so he'd still be present as the series Pikachu for the next arc. If Cap were to stay with one of the kids (and if the leaks are true), then Roy would be the likeliest choice, if only to continue the 'boy with a Pikachu' image.

Something is going to happen to either Terapagos or the Six Heroes. We know there's going to be what feels like the decisive battle for Rakua's fate on 14th March. Terapagos might repeat what it did 100 years ago by creating another barrier to seal the Rakurium, draining enough energy to make it lie dormant again in its pendant state. The Six Heroes might be sealed alongside Lucius (I'm genuinely interested to see how they're going to go about someone who's technically 100+ years old) in the barrier, or maybe the Explorers would capture the Six Heroes and/or Terapagos because they can potentially study these Pokemon for future access to Rakua (assuming it doesn't fall to ruin from all that Rakurium seeping out).

Either way, these events could potentially be a reason for the kids to get stronger. There's no better motivation than to save those they care about after all. If there's presumably a timeskip, I can see that the kids briefly go their own ways, like Liko going back to school, Roy going on an adventure with Cap, Dot continuing her Nidothing streams while also looking for info / keeping an eye out for anything interesting.

If Friede's removed from the picture, I do wonder who'd take charge of the RVT in the meantime. I feel like Orla would be the stand in leader, with Murdock being their pilot. Picturing the possibility of Friede presumed to be missing or worse but the RVT having to continue on with the obvious Friede shape hole in their hearts RAGH THE ANGST POTENTIAL CRYING SCREAMING THROWING UP

Regardless of what might happen these next two episodes, I'm just happy to see this series that I love continue on instead of ending at Rakua. I think it's fitting that the 5th arc would begin (assuming there's a two week gap like they usually do with new arcs) on 11th April 2025 as Horizons aired on 13th April 2023. A new beginning to a new chapter in their adventure.

[yellowsubiesdance]

persona 3 reload end of game spoilers below cut

so makoto awakens to the ultimate power of the universe to seal death away again and prevent the fall of humanity, yes, we love that

but remember how death was sealed inside him after ten years? where does death get sealed now? fully formed death, mind you, not the fractured one that aigis sealed inside makoto

i mean, what is the only living thing present when makoto is sealing death away again??

of course it’s makoto

(i haven’t played the answer or episode aigis yet, so if this stuff is answered there please don’t say, i will find out eventually)

so makoto seals death away inside himself again, and technically he should’ve died right then and there

but he made a promise to his beloved friends, and he would never break that promise ever, so he returns just for them

but of course fully formed death is sealed away inside him, dying and decaying, he should have died then and there, but he has to hold out and see his friends remember, they have to remember before he leaves them

he waits two long months and several days with death festering inside him, so of course by march 4th he is looking understandably sick and pale, everyone tells him so, but he just needs to hold out for one more day

and he gets to see the ways his life has influenced other lives, and what a beautiful way to spend his last day, getting to hear all the beautiful lives he’s touched and see they’re moving forward without him. not leaving him behind, but carrying their love for him with them at all times, remembering him fondly

and he gets to the 5th, but he’s dying, death has been inside him rotting for far too long, everything is ending. and aigis knows this, and she comes to fetch him. she needs him to fulfill his promise so he can die in peace, but she knows he can’t make it to the ceremony, so they go to the roof and she makes him so comfortable, and talks him through dying.

and she prays the others will remember, and he prays as well, but his eyes are so heavy, and her voice is so soothing. he just wants to see junpei’s goofy grin, and hear yukari’s laugh, and pet koromaru one last time, he’s holding on until they can reach him.

oh my god, i am so unwell

and here’s the thing, i think aigis knows what she did was cruel. i don’t think makoto was very alive on the moonlight bridge when she sealed death inside him. maybe barely. a flicker of life. but she didn’t think anything of it, she just wanted to protect humanity, and sealed death inside this nearly dead boy.

and all that did was ensure that he would die. maybe she hoped he would never return to their island, maybe she hoped he would die with death inside him and that would be the end of it, but she couldn’t have known what might happen, and her memory was wiped so there was no chance of preventing it.

and when death could finally extract itself from makoto, fully healed and fully formed, i wonder did they heal each other in all that time. can death truly keep someone alive through it’s own self-preservation? or was makoto dead from that moment forward, only kept alive by his only remaining mission, to keep his friends alive? or was he ever fully alive after that night?

god i have so many thoughts, it’s so late at night and i need to sleep

[skalidwarf]

Here's the Ninjago timeline as I personally think of it;

- The Pilots and first 2 seasons take up roughly 1.5 years (Lloyd's 2020 if you will) mostly to give a semi-realistic measure of training requirements

- Rebooted (s3) starts a year later due to the insane technical development and that they've been teachers for a bit

- ToE (s4) starts 8 months later given they all left to grieve Zane and Jay has an entire game show thats got returning contestents

- Possesion (s5) i think is about 3 months after season 4. Shadow of Ronan takes place during this span so it fits that he stole about 2.5 years from them. Tbh I think that museum visit was the first or second mission Lloyd went on after leaving to grieve Garmadon

- Skybound (S6) technically doesn't matter ayoo!! But I think its another 4 months after S5

- DotD is 7 months after Posession, to make space for Skybound and potential post-skybound happenings

- Hands of Time (S7) is like a week after DotD at most- they're literally cleaning up after it. I also think it takes about a week to play out

From here on out there's a wrinkle in the timeline so things may be soft rebooted or altered

- Sons of Garmadon and Hunted (S8/9) start I think 6-8 months later because the Ninja deserve more time to have been on their own without a mentor- and Ninjago city gets some major changes (royalty?) And Lloyd gets on Testosterone and it goes on i think for 3 months

- March of the Oni (S10) is a few weeks after Hunted ends and only lasts like a few days

- Forbidden Spinjitzu (S11) canonically a few months after MotO so I'm going to say 3-4 since that's reasonable for them to slack off before Wu gets pissy about it. I also think these two parts are actually a rather long time frame- not only because of the 70ish years of Ice Emperor rule- but between searching for Aspheera and beating her, then grieving again and traveling realms and THEN they're there for a long while? All in all I'm going to say start to finish its like 3 months

- Prime Empire (S12) about a month after returning from the Never Realm- they've healed wounds, Kai re-masters fire, and Zane has erased 3 Terabytes of SSD data- all is well

- Master of the Mountain (S13) I think is roughly 2 months after S12 because again there's no real basis for why there's time between but I can't imagine one week your Kirito from SAO and only like a week later your in the Elven lands-

- The Island/Seabound (S14) i think this one is a few weeks after MotM because it starts off as a rather "small scale" job about busting a smuggler and thats what I figure they do in the months between big seasons. It just so happens that expands into a much larger plot.

- Crystalized (S15) 1 full year exactly after Seabound ends. Can't elaborate because this ones actually canon

- Dragons Rising I think the merge is about half a year or so after Crystalized and the jump from Merge to current story I think is 3 years but my Partner says 5 years so we'll see if either get confirmed or elaborated on

If you think they're about 18 in the pilots, that'll make them around 23 at Crystalized and between 26/28 during Dragons Rising