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inspector-montoya-fox · 8 days

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You know sometimes i like using my tumblr as like a brain rot bank? Like a time capsule for thoughts and opinion that cater to no one but everyone is welcome to enjoy and partake. And today i'll be doing just that because i have finally finished The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. If you've been following me for a while you know that this is lowkey monumental because (a) it means that i have officially played all Ace Attorney games, and (b) i have been struggling to finish these two games since their bundled release three years ago. So, i just wanted to share some general thoughts, some tier lists, and feel free to let me know what you think if you read what i have to say!

Ok so, my main takeaway from playing the two games is that... Dr Courtney Sithe is a bad bitch deserving of the same praise as Franziska, Lana Skye, Justine Courtney, Dee Vasquez and Calisto Yew. I genuinely love her so much. Miss Buttplug Hair got her PhD in being a girlboss and i'm so upset she was only in one case. For such a cool character with an amazing design, she was criminally underdeveloped. Same goes for my other fav, Rei Membani. Soon as it was mentioned that Professor Mikotoba and Judge Jigoku were on their way to the UK, i was one hundred percent sure she'd accompany them, and i was ultimately disappointed. To have her right next to Susato on the game's cover art and give her such an amazing takedown of Raiten Menimemo... and then just not have her be anywhere else was such a shame. I need more Dr Sithe and Rei !

The rest of the games' characters were a bit of a mixed bag with some obvious (and some unexpected) stand-outs. Here's my tier list:

Notes:

The biggest surprise that came when i was making this is how high i placed Herlock. I started off hating him so much and then he just suddenly grew on me so quickly, i hadn't even noticed. One of my favourites for sure.

I think we can all collectively agree that we have, at some point in our lives, embodied Pop Windibank... poor guy...

I don't know what Kazuma's deal is. He starts off as Ryunosuke's Mia Fey before um... just becoming a jerk? Why does he have beef with his best friend who was literally mourning him for almost a year? Can't lie though, the bitch looks hot in his white uniform.

Some of the jurors made a bigger impression than actual characters/ witnesses, just by having cool designs. Mainly the green lady, who rightfully earned her spot in the third tier after i found out she's supposed to be a reincarnation of the teacher from PLvsPW !

Eggert Benedict or whatever the fuck that rich breakdancing asshole is called, cannot be a final villain i'm sorry. Seriously, what were they thinking?

The two redheads are such a shameless rip-off of the Skulkins. Two ruffians taking the witness stand for the game's climax AGAIN !? And during the credits, they pose in their prison cell with "Gossip" in the middle the exact same way Eggert and the Skulkins did in the credits of Adventures, like no thank you.

I love how my overall bottom 3 are an annoying str*ight couple and a child.

If Stronghart wasn't in the second (very coveted) tier, he'd be in the bottom of 'like !' because he was ok. It's blatantly obvious he's the big bad from the second he's introduced but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Also, i need him and Damon Gant to have a fat titty bounce-off.

Moving on to criticisms, i can't help but feel like the fact that Shu Takumi decided to split his original script into two games only served to hurt the entire project. Because, for starters, each game has a different feel and the two don't match. Adventures is reminiscent of PLvsPW, Takumi's whimsical and eccentric love letter to the UK that hinges heavily on exposition. Resolve, on the other hand, is a bit of a mix between its predecessor and traditional Ace Attorney, its cases focusing more on driving the narrative to its conclusion rather than experimenting on the classic formula (as with the first game). It also echoes aspects of the first Investigations, bringing in diplomatic immunity, international relations, "tracking down and going against the head of the evil organisation" (the Reaper storyline is very similar to the Yatagarasu one). Personally the two vibes don't mesh, even when Resolve tries to latch onto Adventures with Memoirs of the Clouded Kokoro, for example.

Then, the pacing in both games is all over the place. Adventures is just so unreasonably and unashamedly long-winded and slow, it's the reason it took me literally three years to get into it. The game repeats the same lines of dialogue again and again until they're made painfully clear, subsequently making the player (or at least me) feel like an idiot who needs to read the same thing 13 times in order to get it. This, coupled with the fact that actual gameplay was almost nowhere to be seen and that progression in the courtroom almost always relied on not pointing out inconsistencies but pressing the witnesses adjacent to the one testifying, made the game such a slog to get through. And once the game started to pick up, it was over before i even knew it and in a very unceremonious fashion no less. In comparison, Resolve is very streamlined, albeit a bit too fast-paced. With the exception of Memoirs, which felt like shameless filler, it's clear that they wanted to waste zero time and crammed so much stuff into the episodes, to the point where it became difficult to keep track of everything going on. Because, keep in mind, the second game was tasked with tying up all the loose threads from the first one.

This leads to my final criticism regarding the split: inconsistencies and unresolved mysteries. I think it reads as careless writing when questions keep sprouting everywhere and their answers are reserved for the final two episodes of the second game. Even Unspeakable, a final case, introduces mysteries tied to the overarching narrative just for them to be shelved until Twisted Karma, leaving the player with a sense of dissatisfaction when the game ends. Not only is it frustrating to keep track of all the unsolved mysteries, a chore which good writing would not expect from the player, but it also has you questioning whether or not some of them will get answered at all. Why was the selection of jurors obviously rigged? Why did Van Zieks stop appearing in court five years prior? Where did he lose his gun in Twisted Karma? Why didn't Stronghart assassinate Madame Tusspells as well? Why is Kazuma fully exonerated after admitting to his involvement in the assassin exchange? I grouped the unresolved mysteries with inconsistencies as one problem because the latter is a result of the former. The majority of mysteries spills over from the first game to the second, giving way to different phrasing, details getting glossed over and the plot's consequences getting ignored. There's a very apparent shift in Gregson's character, for example, going from uncooperative and rigid in Adventures to more forgiving and helpful in Resolve, all the while his misconduct from Unspeakable is seemingly forgotten and met with zero ramifications. There's also the government's secret message about the assassin exchange Herlock deciphered at the end of the first game, which sets up the second game nicely but then doesn't get mentioned until the very last day in court. Like, come on now. It feels like Resolve continues Adventures' story without wanting to acknowledge it because, in the grand scheme of things, McGilded and Eggert Benedict seem to not matter at all. And then there's Memoirs, which... Inconsistency City, honestly. This episode's lack of impact on the overall story allowed it to be literally anything else. It's such a bizarre choice to have it be something which only achieves in taking away from the first Clouded Kokoro case! Like ok, i can get behind it being a case no one wanted to talk about so it didn't make the first game. I can turn a blind eye to the inconsistent character development and timeline, whatever. But it absolutely drives me nuts that, for an Ace Attorney game where the murders are explained in full detail, they couldn't stay consistent with the direction Olive Green was walking in. Hate. Loathe. Get it away from me.

That pretty much covers it in terms of complaints, because otherwise i enjoyed my playthrough quite a bit actually. I know i've just spent like 3 mega-sized paragraphs complaining but the games have great elements as well. The Deduction dances are easily the best thing about the gameplay, especially when you didn't see them coming. They were so much fun to play, very animated and cartoony with amazing banter, and effortlessly accelerated the investigation segments. Equally, i loved Judicial Findings. Undoubtedly my favourite part of the courtroom sections and a welcome change of pace. I tended to stall a lot because the jury's music fucks so hard. While on the topic of what i liked, Ryunosuke and Susato's chemistry rivals what Phoenix and Maya have going on. Susato leaving at the end of Adventures was a genuinely effective point in the plot, even though i knew she'd be back.

Now, let's take a closer look at the episodes. Here's my overall tier list of all Ace Attorney cases, the Great Ace Attorney ones being highlighted in yellow:

Notes:

Blossoming Attorney gobbled the rest of the girls right up (a court-only episode, no less). They gave us Susato gameplay, what more can you ask for? An amazing case. Gay Women in STEM !!

Return kinda strikes a nice balance between the different feels of the two games i mentioned before. You've got exposition and world-building with the whole Great Exhibition, turn of the century mad science thing, but also classic Ace Attorney with tracking down Drebber (very Matt Engarde's apartment) and Madame Tusspells as just some witness (very Lisa Basil). A very fun case right before the clusterfuck of mysteries ensues. Also, Dr Courtney Sithe !!!!! Girl you're such a star and you don't even know it spit in my mouth

Was tempted to put Unspeakable in the second tier but i think it's earned its high placement on its own merit and not because of personal bias. It's a great case. Maybe not for a final one, but it's still great. It tries its hardest to tie up some loose ends before the game ends and that's worth something.

Resolve of Ryunosuke is objectively better than Twisted because i could not give less of a fuck about the purple guy's headache and Espella Cantabella selling firecrackers, but they're both very much one single package. Extra points to Resolve of Ryunosuke though for having its villain sit at the judge's seat. That was neat.

The two Clouded Kokoros are giving stinky Bri ish culture with the whole apartment building background, like Ribena, bad teeth, rusty Union Jack, horseshit breath at the pub, you awrite luv? Slander, i'm sorry.

Slightly unrelated but when i was making this tier list it became so obvious that Investigations 2 is the crown jewel of the franchise. Like it has two cases in the top 5, how can you even argue against that?

Arriving to a conclusion, i'd say both games belong on the same level as Apollo Justice: a blend of good and bad. My experience playing the Ace Attorney franchise has followed this trend of attaching each game to a pivotal moment in my life. I finished the first game while i was still a soldier, Justice for All during my first year at university, Dual Destinies during Covid lockdown, Investigations while helping my parents set up their shop one summer. So i know i'll look back at playing The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles right after handing my dissertation very fondly. In other words, despite not quite sticking the landing, it's left a very pleasant aftertaste. Thank you for reading!

#Mael Stronghart you fat tittied bitch #ace attorney #the great ace attorney #tgaa #i wanted to say that the magician juror from Return of the Great Departed Soul is literally Satan from that Rick & Morty episode #but i don't know if i want to publicly announce that i used to watch that shit

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beloved-daydreams · 4 months

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"My name is whatever you decide" a read-through (together?)

So I've wanted to read this fic series for a while now since its main characters are Taryn and The Ghost (very underrated in the fandom imo) It is written by the lovely and talented @maingh0st and you can read it here.

I've already read the first chapter on my side before this but I gotta say:

I imagine Taryn kind of looking like a fierce angel here! 🫣 If Jude has the horns, then Taryn always has the halos of flowers and lights of course.

Chapter 2 and 3 reactions/comments under the cut 👇

Me rn: *feeling super dumb because I'm not sure I get it*

Ngl one of my first thoughts was "he must be saying Locke's estate looks hella ugly like his personality" but that might just be the Locke hater in my heart, he might also mean that Taryn deserves more?? Listen idk I'm probably misunderstanding what's going on here cause am dumb but we'll get through this together 🤝

This is making me sad. Taryn clearly gave so much of herself into this relationship while Locke just wanted to have dumb fun. This is horrendous. The girl had her loyalty tested by having to give up on her twin sister's favor, she redecorated his whole ugly-ass half-abandoned estate, she filled the closets with brand new clothes, made herself as fun and pleasant as she could, entertained his guests and probably even ate faerie fruit every evening to build resistance so she wouldn't 100% lose herself in his revels and this is all he gave her: the bare-minimum promise of marrying her, allowing her to live in his house and organize parties with him. Bro should go seek failure management.

Idk why but this phrasing is so cute to me. Like, Taryn saying "call your ghost" is so girly pop of her 💅

100% done on purpose, she had him in his pocket from the beginning. Like "haha whoopsie ☺️ please don't forget that I have power over you so you better be pleasant with me 🌸" The Ghost was quaking in his boots.

The ghost is being very curious 🧐 I see you. I wonder how Taryn would react if he actually asked these questions, though this seems like the type of shit he'd ask only years and years into a relationship with her, like they'll be sitting in front of the fireplace and suddenly out of nowhere "how did you kill Locke by the way?" "hmm I don't remember, I just kind of acted on impulse" The Ghost better not piss her off, ever. 😂

Didn't see this coming but it is an interesting direction to take! Also, already loving their banter 📝

So basically she's doing Locke's job, but way better 😤 Keep turning in your grave bozo. Hope Nicasia found his corpse in the sea and she lowkey fears/respects Taryn now.

I love how smart and resourceful Taryn is in this, like in my HEART I already knew she was but this portrayal of her is so nice and matches the canon imo.

(Will be continued in a reblog because I've reached tumblr's 10 images limit 🤨)

#the folk of the air #tfota #my name is whatever you decide #mniwyd #taryn duarte #the ghost #the cruel prince #elfhame #fanfic readthrough

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kikkiou887 · 4 months

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I have a terrible art block, and I have absolutely no idea when I'm getting rid of it, literally a minute ago (for the moment of writing ofc)I just drew something in 12 minutes as I was listening to some random vid which popped up by looking up "how to deal with art block" The last month was unbelievably hard

Tons of text and two "drawings" under the cut

There's also a good chance that the artblock will be gone in a week or so because every single time I decide to actually complain about something the problem evaporates, lowkey praying this will happen again

A really nice bonus:

Fem! Medic, entirely built on how I personally would design her, pretending to eat Archimedes. The funniest part is the way on a random day, in less than a week since my last drawing, I had this extremely vivid idea, I wrote it down and started working on it, it's been unfinished for a bit less than a month, only ≈two days ago could add some lineart to her clothes, the rest was drawn back in April

I'm planning to finish it as soon as I'm able to draw again, yet I'm only either forcing myself or drawing for 10 minutes and closing the app afterwards

Honestly, I have no idea how people who post art DO NOT ramble, it's my fav part of the post, sorry can't be dark and mysterious (｡-ω-)

Btw planning to start adding watermarks, not really for the art protection but for recognition, I sometimes find myself looking with sad eyes at a drawing I downloaded to my gallery off tumblr/twitter and they have no watermark whatsoever. Which means I'm probably never finding the author or spending an ungodly amount of time looking for it. That's the reason I decided it's time to start signing my art, too

#tf2 #tf2 medic #tf2 femmedic #tf2 fanart #team fortress 2 #tf2 posting #wip #sketch

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morgana-ren · 3 days

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Hello! Came here from ao3, I really love your fics and writing style.

I just wanted to ask (and feel free to ignore if you dont want to answer) since you write a lot of dark content, have you ever gotten rude messages from people or pearl clutchers commenting on your fics?

I'd like to write darker fics but I'm lowkey worried about the reception to some ideas. Thats why I really admire authors like yourself who write with a great sense of attitude. Do you have any advice? Were you nervous when you first started posting dark fics?

Ooh! Interesting question! So sorry this turned into something SUPER long, but I actually have been exactly where you are right now!

So, funny story! When I first started writing fics fuckin' years ago, I desperately wanted to get into writing darkfic. Traditional, cutesy fics— while awesome for other folks— just did not do it for me at all. It was actually something I'd known and understood since childhood and always wanted to foray into. I never read vanilla stories, and I had genuine trouble writing them for a lack of passion or interest. It was something I was deeply interested in and had ambitions for.

It was actually Tomura Shigaraki that made me dust off the old keyboard and begin writing again, and that... Was a huge problem.

See, the MHA fandom was NOT as accepting as it is now back when I started writing— and I hesitate to call it accepting even now. Darkfic was heavily demonized and even fairly rare to come across. It was a fucking wasteland of nosy, pathetic busybodies who thought very highly of themselves and their opinions and dubbed themselves the saviors of the Internet and took it upon themselves to be horrific, vicious little cunts without a single modicum of self-awareness or shame. They got their jollies bending over backwards to antagonize authors who did anything they didn't like by ironically showcasing their own staggering ignorance of how the mind works and making it everyone else's problem in real life. They were very loud and pretentious about it, and unfortunately, some of them garnered quite a following of vulnerable, ignorant children who hung on their every word and command and were tricked into thinking these people had a single idea what the hell they were talking about.

Harassing real people over fictional characters. Using pop-psychology terms they didn't understand. Biased claims that had no basis in reality. Siccing followers on authors. Stalking and doxxing— you name it, they did it with malevolent, self-righteous glee. People getting death threats and doxxed was a very real problem that had some talented, lovely authors disappear from the Internet entirely and put people's actual lives in danger. Over words. On the Internet.

Darkfic authors were one of the groups that were harassed relentlessly. It was pretty rare to find someone brave enough to post it on AO3, leave alone Tumblr, and those that did were pretty much guaranteed harassment on one level or another, whether it was death threats or call-out posts day in and day out, or just cruel, mean-spirited anons. The pioneers of darkfic in that shithole of a fandom were braver than any US marine lmao.

Needless to say, I was petrified. The first fic I sat down and wrote for the fandom (Vermilion) was pretty harmless for the most part, although it dipped its toes in dark subject matter if you were particularly squeamish. If I had my way, it was going to be much, much darker. I wanted it to be darker desperately, but I was so terrified of the petulant, pathetic fandom mommies that literally made it their job to harass authors over fictional characters that I ended up policing myself over it.

The tipping point for me was making friends who with the few people who did have the balls to post it. Authors who were unbelievably talented and didn't give a fuck what some fandom-obsessed weirdo with a superiority complex had to say about it. They actually gave me the courage to be true to myself, and even then, holy fuck it was harrowing at first. I was shaking when I posted the first dark thing I ever wrote on here.

There was an outpour of support. People who loved the story and wanted more. Slowly, I totally overcame the fear with the mix of people in the community being kind and supportive, and simultaneously realizing how utterly pathetic and almost sad the puritanical pop-science fandom police were. Even now, I feel bad for them. No one healthy has that level of fascination and hatred with someone they don't know or something they don't understand that is ENTIRELY OPTIONAL to consume. It's genuinely sad and strange and is far more dangerous than reading about dubious topics in a fanfic.

Slowly, more people started to write darkfic and post it in defiance of these weirdos, and now it's fairly common! I can also say that thankfully, a lot of the weirdo, obsessive puritans have disappeared. I'm hoping they grew up and realized how absurd the whole thing was and are deeply ashamed of their past actions. You don't have to like or respect stories with dark topics, but talking out of your ass and making up reasons why the authors are bad people who deserve to be harassed and die is... Hilariously ironic.

Now, all that being said, I actually have never received hatemail. I was shocked. Hell, I still am, because some of my stories are genuinely heinous. I think I got someone's attempt at it once, but they were either drunk or a 3 year old, because it was literally incoherent. (And it was over the fact I hate Bakugo and not the content of my stories lmao Bakugo stans be wildin' sometimes.)

I think the closest thing I've gotten to a mean comment is someone commenting (incorrectly) that my German translation was off, and one that basically equated to "I love this story but anything more would be too extreme for me," which was very polite and not intended to be rude (although I wasn't quite sure what the point of the comment was lmao)

My best advice? Be yourself. Unabashedly and without fear. Write that dark content and post it with a smile. Your audience will find you, and you'll find so much love and support in the community eventually. Your fics are for you, and if others don't like it? They can act like an adult and not read something that upsets or offends them. Mean words suck, but there is nothing more liberating than spitting in the face of someone who tries to smother you and doing it anyway happily.

Most people who pearl-clutch and sling insults have a tenuous grasp on their own logic and are extremely entitled. I've found that more often than not, they're hateful, reactionary youngsters looking for an excuse to feel superior by pretending they have the moral high ground. They talk out of their ass about things they don't understand and all it does is make them look foolish. Like, they are literally factually, scientifically incorrect most of the time. They are the fanfic/literary equivalent of evangelical white moms having a panic over metal music being from the devil and DND turning their kids gay.

Fanfiction is just that: fiction.

Understanding yourself, your kinks and your own mind can also help immensely. You don't care much if some snotty anon calls you a degenerate if you understand why you write what you do and have no shame regarding it. Understanding the impact of fiction vs. reality, kink science, trauma coping, psychology, and other related topics (depending on what you write) can also help if you want to waste time trying to educate them.

Truthfully though? The funniest response to hate is either not responding at all (oh my God they hate that one) or responding with complete and total nonsense a la "your mom suck me good and hard thru my jorts."

These days? I don't worry about it at all. I write what I write and it brings me great catharsis and joy. I've made incredible friends and met talented people. I've improved my own skills and I have a "productive" hobby. Some folks don't like it? Cope and seethe and piss your pants and suck the liquid back out of the fabric and tell your mom my jorts are feeling a bit dry.

#morgana and friends #sorry this turned into a novel lmao #i just wrote and it ended up forever #honestly though its SO freeing to stop caring #like they're literally the equivalent of a nosy person on the train who thinks your outfit is inappropriate #i don't CARE about ur opinion on my work if it isnt positive lmao #life has been so good since i let go of the fear #you owe it to yourself to be true to yourself #write that fic baby!!!

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foxes-that-run · 10 months

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2016 Haylor Timeline

Timeline Tag, back to 2015.

1 January - Yachtgate with Kendall, OOTW video released with Haylor references galore, including HS on her wrist. 12 Jan - CH and TS seen for for last time till March.

6 January - Harry posted photo of rain on a window. On 6 January 2015 Taylor posted Clear Blue Water" which may have been the day they last broke up.

14 January - rather than dine alone with CH TS encourages 14 year old fan sit with them

16 January - taylor wears outfit and hair like Delicates making of a song to visit Jaime King

17 January - Taylor didn't acknowledge Calvin's birthday. Taylor is in New York

18 January - Tabloid gossip that Taylor is jealous of the yacht, she had been liking angsty Tumblr posts about Harry. Out of the Woods official release Taylor back in LA

20 January - Harry arrives at LAX. Also seen in LA 22 and 23rd.

21 January - Harry celebrates 22nd Birthday in London, early, with Nick Grimshaw, stylist spends the night in his house. Kendall flies LA to Paris…. if she and Harry were dating she would have flown a day early and been at his London birthday party??

23 January - Taylor releases New Romantics. Kendall and Harry at Jeff's birthday roast. Kendall is wearing a Big o' Fur (Pop tart??) and leaves alone.

24 January - Harry celebrates his 22nd birthday in LA, also early with Glenn (Jeff's wife) and presumably others.

26 January - 58th Grammys, Taylor performed Out of the Woods, Harry posted photo of woods.

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27 January - Harry signs with Jeff Azoff, also in LA. timeline

29 January - Taylor posted ““So how do you spend your time now that the tour is over?”” in Genius shirt with video with Meredith, I love it.

1 February - Harry unseen on birthday, tweets "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22."

2 February Harry looked fine AF in this Hawaiian shirt

11 February - Kanye releases Famous - it's snake time.

14 February - TN posts “you bring the James dean I’ll bring the red lip” Valentine’s Day. Harry at Clive Davis party

16 February - Taylor wins the Grammy Album of the Year for 1989. Calvin was at an after-party in a t-shirt. In Miss Americana (21 mins in) she says 'I remember thinking afterwards, Oh my god, that was all you wanted. You get to the mountaintop and you look around and Oh god, what now? I didn't have a partner I climbed it with, I didn't have anyone I could relate to, I had my mom, but I wondered shouldn't I have someone I could call right now? Harry in LA

20 February - Harry records 'Sweet Creature' in LA. In the Album show at the Troubadour (21:40) Harry introduced 'Sweet Creature' saying it was the first song written in the studio a couple of weeks after his birthday. He was photographed in the studio 20 February.

21-29 February - CH starts Ole, it references Harry and Hendall The video (screen shots in the top line above) is about a guy who neglects his GF, the lyrics of the song are about a girl who cheats on her BF but goes on trips. The lyrics include "lowkey" aka 'Loki' and refer to the trip they take 2 weeks later - so he worked on it more. Kanye releases Famous

26 February - Taylor out in LA

28 February - Taylor looks amazing at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party alone. Harry tweets 'you can shake an apple off a tree ' (Elvis Presley Stuck on You lyric)..... 0_0 and posted a colour photo to IG of a scrabble game thanking for voting for Brits. HS IG has been b&w since OOTW, but this was in screaming colour! ❤️

3 March - Harry tweets Norah Jones Come Away with me lyrics "The yellow grass grows knee high."

6 March - Harry seen buying groceries in Hampstead

7 March - CH and TS 1 anniversary TS thin and uncomfortable.

13 March - Harry in London, gets parking ticket.

13 - 15 March Taylor and Calvin Bikini photos in the Bahamas. A 5 hour flight, 3 nights, 4 swimsuits. Rumour they flew separately. Complete with swan inflatable for added shade. :/

15 March Harry back in LA at Cafe Habana Malibu

16 March - KK posts TS where’s the drop. Blind Calvin hooked up with someone. Harry in Beverly Hills, 24 at St Laurent

25 March - Taylor back in LA and Harry also back in LA same day, LA on the 6th, 11 April & 20 April (kid harpoons birthday).

3 April -Taylor and Calvin attended the iHeart Radio Awards, arrive separately. He looked bored, didn’t thank her. Made a face when Taylor thanked him, she didn’t every time. Calvin on his phone during her last acceptance speech. Rumors they are having trouble. Harry in LA he bought a fan’s family dinner the night before. Harry papped buying fuel in LA.

7 April - Taylor shopping at St Laurent, (which Harry had been wearing all the time) and looking like the Ready For It..? VM

8 April Blind Taylor and Calvin talk-fighting on paper walk. Harry seen shopping with Kid Harpoon and Kendall, “watch KUWK May 1

9 April Harry seen leaving Nobu Malibu

15 April -Coachella, black skinny jeans and Chelsea boots in top right of pool photo on Taylor’s instagram. Taylor at Coachella with bleached hair and a 'This Is What You Came For' jacket. CH performed. She also released that Drake Apple ad. KK there

16 April - Taylor vogue cover

22 April - Harry Tweet's "it's not the Ribbons in your Hair" Cars Just what I needed lyrics about not minding anything because a person is who they needed.

April 29 - this is what you came for:

28 April - Taylor is Bewjelled at Gigi Hadid's 21st birthday . Harry is not photographed there, but is also in L.A. the next day

29 April - This Is What You Came For is released. Taylor was an uncredited writer and has backing vocals. CH later throws shade about her not promo-ing it. Later blind that TIWYCF is about person Taylor cheating with. Calvin has an interview with Nick Grimshaw (!) in his house, where he says John Newman was there last week (Ole), talks about how John Newman has a great track coming, that the guide vocal (Taylor's) could not get better then he heard Rhianna's and it was much better:

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30 April - Taylor NY for Met Gala dinner, wearing Billy Joel shirt. Calvin goes on radio and (at 2:30) says Taylor is on a break, they haven't spoken about a collab.

In August the video has a similar hawaiian shirt but in red, he posts to his instagram photos of him wearing one like Harry's

They then marked this day - in 2017 Harry marks the anniversary of this by getting papped in that same shirt! hahahaha

In 2018 - Calvin Harris later tweets that he grew a beard to get a Grammy

October 2022 - High Infidelity released, it opens with 'lock broken, slur spoken' and includes 'Do you really want to know where I was April 29th? Do I really have to chart the constellations in his eyes?

1 May - Taylor has dinner at Anna Wintour's house with Tom Hiddleston and James Corden!

2 May - Taylor at met gala, TS meets Joe, Hiddleswift starts.

5 May - Erskine Records,

7 May - Harry, back in London, cuts off his hair - farewell LHH. 'Only a few songs' were recorded for his Debut before Dunkirk. Taylor posts photo of herself at Met Gala with "we never go out of style"

17 May - Harry’s friend Matt Irving’s funeral.

May - 1D purchased its f to j shares back off the band and they sold director titles, each was paid £14m. They still receive royalties. Harry stopped using his twitter, PR tweets since

20 May - Taylor and Calvin seen together for the last time in a carpark. Blind that implies Calvin did something “I give the "relationship" another week […] what happened last night is going to open a whole bunch of boxes.”

22 May - Calvin in car accident, Taylor doesn’t go to hospital. Blinds implying drugs involved, but police report says no drugs and Calvin a passenger. He has a cut to the face in an SUV, other car a beetle with teenagers with pelvic features, the other car hit CHs

23 May - July Harry shoots Dunkirk, in France on radio he said he just slept when not filming and did not make music.

2 June - CH and TS breakup confirmed on Twitter

13 June - Taylor rents house in Cornelia Street

14 June - Taylor first seen with Tom Hiddleston. Article on Taylor staged photos

16 June - tabloid gossip that Calvin Harris sent a music exec a dick pick was break up reason

23 June - both Harry and Taylor are in London. Calvin admits Taylor controlled break up media

2 July - Harry signed a solo contract for $80m, with Columbia

4 July - the last 4th July party, (until 1989-esk gathering in 2023) with I heart TS hiddleswift exploits. Harry was in London.

13 July - taylorswiftisoverparty hashtag trending CH was messy as hell on Twitter, TMZ reports taylor wrote TWYCF, the notes are now corrected. Joe in London

17 July - Kim K posts that she has a recording of Snake convo. Harry was quick to provide supportive comments.

21 July - Kendall posts "tea time" with photo Taylor later copies in LAWYMMD video. Also likes anti-swift posts.

8 August - Taylor performs at oil heir Mike Hess's 30th birthday in the Hamptons and grinds on him, no Tom Hiddleston.

21 August - Daisy Lowe posts a person in a Harry styles tshirt to IG

24 August - Hiddleswift officially over, Tom has talked to media. Taylor wears this yellow outfit in New York which Calvin copied in the ole video.

25 August - Harry seen in LA, first time he has been seen for 16 days. Wears a similar shirt to Ole. End of Dunkirk shooting.

29 August - Taylor Lover Journal "this summer is the apocalypse" Nashville. Taylor still in NY. Rumour Harry saw her in NY.

30 August - Taylor not at VMAs due to Jury Duty

2 September - Kendall and Harry at Nobu in LA, Dunkirk wraps. Harry not seen for another 15 days after.

3 September - Harry buys LA House. He listed it for sale in May 2017 and in 2019 sold it at a loss.

5 September - Harry has dinner with Kendall then disappears. Could have been when he first went to Jamaica.

9 September - Taylor front row Gigi's fashion show

19 September - Taylor writes a lot of reputation. Taylor flies to NY and attends Max Martin & Shellback studio. (The Swift Life video) Works on Gorgeous, I Did Something Bad, Delicate & King Of My Heart. Joe in London at Burberry show.

22 September - Hendall over, Harry hasn't been seen for 15 days.

25 September - Harry posts 3 white squares to IG

28 September - Taylor was with Cara Delevingne and Joe was in London.

29 September Harry’s another man mix tape with HS1 inspiration/ clues and Haylor love songs. Capital FM runs an article "DJs Are Just As Baller As Multi-Millionaire Rappers & Here's The Proof" and use a photo of Calvin copying Harry's St Laurent shirt!

4 October - Joe Alwyn in London, last seen 2 weeks earlier also in London. First time they are actually in same place since May. Lover Journal 3 January says they had been dating 3 months so that lines up. Their anniversary was never 28 September.

6 October - Harry in London, last seen 5 September in LA, next seen 3 November in LA.

13 October - Taylor and Joe attend Kings of Leon show. In this video, Joe enters The Bowery with another blonde at (0:43) Taylor enters at 1:24. Joe in NY for 'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk' Premiere and press conferences

15 October - Rumour that Harry was seen at the airport in Jamaica. He stayed there for 2 months writing HS1. (the funny thing about that is that the rumor was true and the 'insider' tumblr said it wasn't.) At 30 mins into Harry Styles: Behind the Album Harry says they had had a week in a 'total hole.' "I can't write songs" he said in the first time in a long time I had actually done something and then came back to the studio and wrote Carolina, which was the last song on the album. He's wearing the same blue hawaiian St Laurent Shirt while recording it.

20 October - Big Little Town releases "Better Man" written for Red.

21 October - Someday is released. "Someday maybe when we're old and gray, We could be in love once more. Till then I won't give my love away, Darling, I'm forever only yours".

22 October - Taylor plays a very Haylor setlist at US Grand Prix and also performs TIWYCF

October - November Harry records his debut in Jamaica. He meets Mitch - see behind the album.This photo from Jan 2017 in an LA studio. Worse version of Famous leaked.

24 October - Taylor at Drakes Birthday with a golden tattoo (dress) with Karlie Kloss

31 October - Taylor posts photos of Halloween party where she wore deadpool costume. Harry unseen, last seen on 6th in London

1 November - Taylor reveals she wrote Better Man in a post, it goes to #1

3 November - Harry seen back in LA at Kendall birthday and concert next day. Joe in Taipei Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk.

5 November - Harry seen at Meghan Trainor's surprise party

8 November - Karlie and Taylor at Lorde's birthday, this is the last time she is seen hanging out with KK. On 8 November Trump elected, KKs husband is connected.

November - To Zane Lowe (48 mins) Taylor said about Evermore

"There was a sort of a double meaning to the months that are mentioned and the feelings that are mentioned one of the meanings is that we were I wrote this song and these lyrics when we were coming up to the election and I didn't know what was going to happen. So almost I was almost preparing for the worst to happen and trying to see some sort of glimmer at the at the at the end of the tunnel. The last verse you know the song is it goes through walking through the forest barefoot in the middle of winter or standing on a balcony and letting the icy wind just hit you and you're catching your death. Then in the last verse the person goes inside and finally is warm and finally is safe. It's about the process of finding hope again but it also reflected back to an experience that I had that was pretty life altering when I went through like a bunch of bad stuff in 2016 in like July, November all those times were just sort of taking it day by day to get through trying to find some trying to find a glimmer of hope all of that so I was coming from both of those perspectives"

9 November - Joe in Hong Kong for Billy Lynn's Long Halftime walk premiere

11 November - Taylor goes to Joe's movie screening, he's not named in press about it.

19 November - Reputation magazine "how do you feel about having a song written about you" photo

25 November - Harry seen in LA, then not seen again till 30th.

26 November - Taylor thanksgiving in RI, Lily D, Lily A, and Todrick. Karlie not invited, Joe not pictured. Lily D posts on her snapchat that her uber driver (Taylor) is “so pretty.” Harry MIA

5 - 30 November - Harry in LA.

30 November - Harry got coffee in LA

3 December - Harry arriving at Heathrow in London

7, 8 20th December - Harry in London

10 December - "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" released with Zayn, there are HS looking figures and outfits like the 2015 VS show

26 November - Taylor thanksgiving in RI, Lily D, Lily A, and Todrick. Karlie not invited, Joe not pictured. Lily D posts on her snapchat that her uber driver (Taylor) is “so pretty.” Harry MIA

5 - 30 November - Harry in LA.

30 November - Harry got coffee in LA

3 December - Harry arriving at Heathrow in London

7, 8 20th December - Harry in London

10 December - "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" released with Zayn, there are HS looking figures and outfits like the 2015 VS show

13 December - Taylor has party in London house she rented in Frognall, near Hampstead which is in the Reputation book. Karlie Kloss posts a throwback photo of Taylor for her birthday, years later stories emerge that they had a falling out over Karlie throwing a party at Taylor’s NY apartment which TS refers to in LAWYMMD.

28 December - there is an unconfirmed sighting of Harry and Taylor (Lover journal indicates Taylor in London. Harry seen in London (the next day) and soon after Taylor gave Austin a record signed by a friend of Harry's

31 December - Photos of Taylor and Joe getting ready thought to be taken this day. Later only 7 photos leak in 2020. Harry in Holmes Chapel on NYE

Continue in 2017

#haylor #Youtube #haylor timeline #april 29 #taylor swift #2017

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borisbubbles · 4 months

Text

Eurovision 2024: #21

21. AUSTRALIA Electric Fields - "One Milkali" 27th place

youtube

Decade Ranking: 74/153 [Above wrs, below TBA]

We're on a gravitron as it tangles through them billions, illions of arseholes and angels. 💋 -- Michael Ross.

I'll open by pointing out that Zach's dress reminds me of those sail-backed tetrapods all mammals have descended from:

BorisBubbles.tumblr.com satisfying your autism AND paleontology fixes since 2017.

On other news, I'm happy to report I've never bought into the "Electric Fields Are Shock Qualifiers" hype. They had a song nobody cared about upon release, to represent a country nobody particularly wants in Eurovision. I'm AMAZED they almost floated into the semi over Serbia.

My personal feelings on the song are quite mixed, mostly because I always recognised "One Milkali" as both a televote flop and a missed opportunity. I always love when countries inject their music traditions into the entries they send to Eurovision, but in "Australia's "One Milkali'"'s case it was a fairly sloppy fusion. The soundtrack opens via Nokia ringtone before it explodes into a digital fart and segues into a generic, catchy EDM track that is in a constant state of competition with it's own background didgeridoo.

On top of that comes a libretto that, using a lot of confusing metaphors and dated pop culture references that border on nonsense, express a utopian vision of Universal Kinship that most people know to be factually untrue. None of us value life equally. I know SOME people find that offensive because they delude themselves into thinking they're good people, so allow me to demonstrate;

IMAGINE your least favourite famous person in the world; a politician or businessman or musician or actor, or writer of certain wizarding novels. Someone you strongly dislike and don't necessarily want dead, but say you'd would be very pleased if this person had chosen to be an accountant over their actual profession, obsessing over NUMBERS rather than their current trade. Now compare THAT person to your favourite people in the world: your parents,siblings, other halves, friends, pets, children (lol this is tumblr - exactly three of you will spawn offspring, the rest of you will grow old with two cats named after fictional characters such as "Khaleesi" and "Deban Aderemi".) You cannot put this person on the same level as them. You will not value this person's life AS much as you value your loved-one's lives, and that's perfectly normal human behaviour. We hold different standards for different people. Anyone who does not is a walking red flag.

With this in mind, you just know that One Milkali would be a hard sell because not many people connect with its intentions, especially now that Eurovision has made a shift towards Tory-ness (💀). It's naive, utopean and out of touch for those that get it and very confusing to those who do not.

I'm making it sound like I dislike Australia, but I actually really like the studio cut (it's better when you don't look). The studio version... well doesn't slap but at least swats? It was a sanitised, tranquilized version of "2000 and Whatever", which I LOVED, and I gave 1M(1B) a few loopings. I, like many people that remembered Electric Fields fondly, and was hoping they would die for Raiven for a live outsell.

Unfortunately, the live of "One Milkali" was not an outsell. If anything it undersold? It was lowkey a tranwreck?

Like, when your top moment of the performance is THE COLOUR PROJECTION AT THE START

(this bit actually ate! pity it happens literally within the opening seconds.)

and the second best moment is a literal ijbol moment when the didgeridoo player (this man is a LIVING DEITY btw) PLAYS HIS INSTRUMENT LIVE RIGHT INTO ZACHARIAAHA'S MIC, DROWINING HIM OUT.

IT'S RAININ' LO- :didge noises:

AND THEN HE HITS HIM WITH IT ON THE HEAD 😂😂😂

Yeah, a few choices were made which were a tad off. The worst one is allowing Michael Ross to vocalize because the man does NOT HAVE A GOOD VOICE. You have three backs, let them sing his bits. Not doing that is the second worst decision. The third worst is poorly mixing those backs in with a very strained Zachariaaha? Also, why are they strutting on the stage like models on a catwalk? Did Aisel have a few on sale from her X My Heart era?

The staging did a few things right - it was colourful, used the space well and had good camerawork. It got the basics right, at least.

It was a sloppy execusion of a clumsily composed song, but, I still enjoyed it overall. "One Milkali" is naive and utopean as fuck, and embraced that vibe and I appreciate that. The Yankunytjatjara bits are great and synergize well with the English. The song was an adequate representation of aborigine culture, hampered mostly by the fact that it didn't go hard enough when it needed to.

It ranks this high because putting it lower makes no sense to me. Unlike Poland, the vocals were acceptable, and the staging was linear and clear. Unlike Moldova, they had a song and a vision and displayed creativity? Unlike Azer and Iceland, Australia managed to fill the stage with some semblance of life and momentum. It still had flaws, but they were easy enough to accept. It makes sense that Aus were the highest NQ in the first semi, as they are on this ranking.

But lmao @ allowing any SF1 NQ to enter my top 20.

THE RANKING.

#eurovision #eurovision song contest #borisbubbles #esc #Eurovision 2024 #ESC 2024 #Malmö 2024 #Australia #Electric Fields #One Milkali #Youtube

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chetchad · 3 months

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hiiiii <3

i just wanted to pop in and say: how tf are you getting platinum in re7????? i couldn't finish the game (had to get my friend to play while i watched) bc i'm a baby and kept screaming and turning the console off w/o saving!! i'm a fake fan .... i'm in awe of you

also, i love your chris thingies on your pinned post!!!!!!!! i <3 chris so much

also, i have never seen anyone care about brad??? i feel like i should apologize for making him ooc and homophobic in a recent fic !! i love people who like more obscure characters bc it means you've played more than like one game (and, moreover, have played a game... legit convinced some people in fandom have not.... no offense to them... not trying to bring discourse)

i have such a love/hate relationship w/leon lol i like him but he's not my fave RE character so it's like lowkey sad that ppl only care about him :(((

i actually got the platinum trophy for re7 just a couple of days ago <3 it was pretty easy once I memorized where the antique coins were and got the magnum as soon as I got to the yard. And once I beat it on madhouse and got infinite ammo, it was even easier. Also, the x-ray glasses and circular saw helped a lot <3

I'm just sick of Leon because he's overrated and I see fics about him everytime I go on Tumblr or ao3. Like, it's never just Chris fics, it's always Chris and leon.

Also, it's brad on my pinned post, not chris :3 (they were both brunet twig-boys in stars, easy mix up <3)

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alfhildr-the-word-weaver · 8 months

Text

So! I've been working on the My Home(TM) kitchen in Design Home, and I've got it juuuuust about perfect (or as much as it can be within the limited options of design home), but I keep going back and forth on which rug I want. And then I thought, why not ask tumblr? So, behold:

Option 1:

I've always wanted a yellow kitchen, but there was no option to make the walls yellow in design home, so a nice bright yellow rug seems like a good compromise. However, my yellow/multicolor floral accent chair doesn't shine as well against this background.

Option 2:

The blue complements the rest of the kitchen well and gives my table and chairs a solid background to pop against. However, I worry it makes the room too dark and the color palette too cool for my goal of a bright, sunshiney kitchen.

Option 3:

Purple is my favorite color (quelle surprise if you know me at all, lol) and it's a good inbetween tone-wise I think. However, I worry the pattern of this rug is a touch busy.

If you pick the fourth one, you're legally obligated to tell me what rug you're thinking of. Also legal disclaimer that I am not bound by the results of this poll and I'll probably make up my mind on my own eventually, but I'm curious to see how things shake out, and also I lowkey wanted to show off my home designing.

Yeah I'm a gamer (*spends hours playing a home design game on my phone*)

#Design Home #my home kitchen #specifically it's the #main home kitchen #polls #vote now!#you can critique other elements of my design if you want I guess but at this point I'm not changing it most likely #I'm really pretty happy with this but none of the rugs feel quite perfect #mobile gaming #interior design #I could almost call this art or something but I don't want to spam too many tags ;)#I do think I've got a certain composition going though #but yeah opinions welcome! (be nice) (or the laser cats will get you) (I am not legally responsible for the actions of the laser cats)#lol #color theory #hehe #but I do have kind of a purple/blue/yellow palette going‚ which isn't a proper triadic palette technically but I dig it #I do love design home... I might be a little too into it but it's fun #the hgtv kid to wish I owned a house pipeline. oof lol #anyways look at my pretty kitchen. love my pretty kitchen with me #even in the tags i ramble

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stormblessed95 · 1 year

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I can imagine that when JK drops his album, it will be scrutinized to bits and used to define his sexuality. Some will likely listen to it just so they can prove their point (or disprove others). Because it’s JK. I am not opposed to analyzing music but on why it’s being analyzed. I mean, I listen to BTS and the analysis of their songs make me enjoy their songs more. But if it will JUST be scrutinized to prove his sexuality, well then..

JK may put in something there for himself and his so, likely, maybe, but some need to get a grip (your recent anons) and enjoy the music first. We won’t have his spontaneous lives and impromptu concerts, no new music drops with promo once he enters ms. So all the energy hopefully goes to supporting his music.

Really hats off to you (and some others) for mustering the energy to respond to these anons when I myself just can’t help but roll my eyes once these pop up.

Listen, I Made a post per song for FACE. I was on a tumblr break for D-Day but I lowkey still want to go back and make posts for those songs too. And then I probably will make posts about JKs music when it drops too!! Ill love it and will show my appreciation I'm sure! But you know, after I finish just listening and loving and appreciating it fully. I've ALWAYS been here first and foremost for BTSs music. Their solos albums have been delivering for me too. Sonically, I'm loving this era. I can't wait till we get more from them! Everything they touch turns to gold!

And don't worry about me. I'm just here vibing. I'm good. 🥰🥰🥰

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cheesybadgers · 2 years

Text

Narcos Fic: Old Habits Die Hard (Chap. 17)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23, Chapter 24

Read on AO3

Masterlist

Pairing: Javier Peña x Horacio Carrillo

Words: 9,448

Summary: Whilst Javier and Horacio try to come to terms with civilian life and their pasts, their anniversary brings some surprises. Meanwhile, Christmas celebrations arrive on the ranch.

Warnings: 18+ ONLY. Grief and parental loss, PTSD symptoms, religious themes and symbolism, period-typical prejudices, hurt/comfort (with the emphasis very much on the comfort), extreme fluff and mild angst, brief allusions to canon-typical violence, oral sex, other brief sexual references, smoking, swearing, drinking.

Notes: Well, I was determined to get this posted before Christmas (you'll see why once you've read it) and I've managed it with a few days to spare, hurrah!

Just to reassure people, this isn't the end just yet! I'm hoping to get stuck into chapter 18 when I have some time off work over Christmas/New Year, but obviously it won't be ready to post until January now.

Thank you as always to those still reading and commenting, feel free to drop me a message on Tumblr or AO3 if you want to chat about any of it 😊 Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I wish you all a relaxing and peaceful end to 2022 ❤️

I’ve also added to my OHDH trivia post to cover this chapter if anyone is interested.

Whilst obviously I do not own Narcos or its characters, please do not copy, re-post, or plagiarize this fic in any capacity on this or other platforms. If you wish to create any fan works inspired by it, please provide a credit or send me a message if in doubt.

Chapter 17: Siempre Tuyo

15th December 1989. That was the date that changed everything. A date that, whilst they were keen to commemorate, preferred to keep lowkey. It was bad enough they were facing a barnful of locals the following evening for the start of Las Posadas. The ranch was the chosen venue for the first night of festivities, and after counting himself out last year, Chucho couldn’t refuse.

Most attendees would be too swept up in the celebrations and keeping an eye on the children to deeply ponder the nature of their relationship. But they had to prepare for some questions being thrown their way. It was inevitable by this point, especially given how long Horacio had been around.

He kept out of the spotlight as much as possible, but most of the ranch staff knew him, and he had dealt with several contractors and delivery drivers. He had accompanied Chucho into town on more than one occasion and visited neighbouring ranches. No one had ever said anything to his face, but he wasn’t naïve enough to think there was no gossiping in private.

And Javier wasn’t in the mood to have to explain himself to folk who would no doubt cast the same judgement-disguised-as-pity looks they gave him in the aftermath of Lorraine.

But all of that could wait until tomorrow. Tonight was theirs and theirs alone.

In the days preceding their anniversary, they had both been overly keen to help Chucho with chores. Horacio with the breakfast rounds and Javier accompanying his Pops into town, ensuring they were off and away before the other was up and dressed. Suspicions were high, but neither could confront the other because that would blow their own cover.

When the 15th came around, Horacio simply informed Javier they were going out for the evening, and he was driving. Despite Javier’s narrowed eyes and crinkled brow, he didn’t ask any questions. Not even if Horacio had ever driven on gringo roads before – given his past training over here, Javier suspected he had – or if he knew where he was going.

The sun dipped beneath the rust-red horizon as Horacio navigated the bustling highway with the ease of someone who had been doing it his whole life. Not that his proficiency surprised Javier in the slightest. Headlights glared as the dusk haze faded fast, the road ahead offering possibilities that stretched far beyond their evening plans.

Eventually, they exited the highway and pulled up in front of a familiar building.

Horacio cut the engine and peered at Javier through the shadows with growing anticipation, hoping he hadn’t missed the mark. "When you said you hadn’t been for years, I thought maybe it was the right time to come back. But if it’s too much, we can go somewhere else.”

The red and green neon lights from the Desde La Frontera sign above them illuminated the spark of affection that had ignited across Javier's pupils. It spread to his throat and chest as Horacio’s gesture sunk in, overriding the twinge in his gut that came with the territory of unexpected detours down memory lane. “No. I love it. Thank you.”

The urge to lean in for a kiss was overwhelming. But several other cars were parked around them, and they couldn’t be sure if they were visible under the partial cover of darkness. So, Javier settled for squeezing Horacio’s hand instead. "And I’m starving."

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The décor inside was styled like a typical American diner with a twist. The checkerboard vinyl flooring was offset against the rainbow of red, orange, and green booths. Brightly coloured artwork of Mexican landscapes and trinkets covered the walls on one side, with framed film posters from both sides of the border on the other. A jukebox stood in one corner, a Christmas tree in the opposite with paper lanterns, fairy lights and nativity garlands strung across the ceiling.

It was just as Javier remembered, give or take the odd replacement from wear and tear over the years. He expected his stomach to be in knots from being confronted so directly by the past. But the tempting aromas from the kitchen and the presence of Horacio a couple of steps behind tapered it.

They were seated in a corner booth away from the chatter of larger parties getting into the festive spirit and a couple of families with overexcitable children.

From Javier’s vantage point, he could see out across the restaurant. On the one hand, it was reassuring not to have his back to the room, but on the other, he found it difficult to concentrate on the laminated menu in front of him. The clatter of cutlery on crockery and the shrill scream of a hungry toddler pierced his ears and put his senses on high alert. Without meaning to, he scanned the restaurant, unsure what he was even looking for.

A camera flash dazzled his eyes for a second, triggering a wave of panic until he realised it was the adjacent Christmas party having a group photo taken and not in fact someone sent to spy on them.

He lingered on a young boy sitting with his Mamá and Papá on the other side of the restaurant. The boy was about 9 or 10 and was devouring a sundae that came up to his forehead.

Memories from Colombia and Javier’s childhood blurred together in a rush. Was that the same booth he had his photo taken at? He couldn’t remember. The boy in the diner was of a similar age to the kid he confronted on the rooftops and was only a few years younger than Fernando Duque’s son. The strawberry sauce oozing down the side of the sundae glass darkened until it was the shade of dried blood caking the bodies in the trunk of Duque’s car.

Javier was unaware he had been staring into space for the last few minutes. But a gentle calling of his name brought him around. He must have looked blankly at Horacio as he felt the weight of a knee against his under the table and the lingering warmth of a hand resting on it. Words failed him, but he slid his hand to meet the one on his leg, grateful for the lifeline Horacio had thrown him when he was floundering.

"Can I take your order?" asked a bright, cheerful voice to the side of them. And with that, the weight and warmth were gone, but at least Javier was no longer drowning.

The waitress jotted down their order: a platter of nachos, taquitos, empanadas and quesadillas to share, and brought over drinks.

Javier took a sip of his beer to stave off the dark thoughts that still rippled under the surface and threatened to emerge at the most unexpected moments.

Horacio didn’t want to make a big deal out of whatever just happened because he could guess the reason behind it, even if he didn’t know the specifics. He was no stranger to the flashbacks, the dreams, the disjointed snapshots, and the zoning out. He had a year on Javier of civilian life dealing with them, after all. So, he slid his foot forwards until it met Javier’s boot, subtly rubbing up to his ankle and back down again.

Javier’s gaze was trained on Horacio’s, answering the unspoken question that hung between them by lifting his foot and reciprocating with the same grounding gesture of comfort.

The mood lifted once plates of sizzling hot food were placed in front of them, and they quickly tucked in.

“I can see why you like it here so much; this is all delicious," Horacio said between enthusiastic mouthfuls.

“I told you. It wasn’t just birthdays we came here. Pretty much any celebration was a good excuse to make a trip. Anything that wasn’t the ranch felt like an adventure.”

“I was the same visiting relatives outside of Medellín. A few hours in the car felt like another country away. Especially in the mountains.”

“Is that where your family lives now?”

“Well, I’ve got extended family all over the place, but Alejandra’s family and my Mamá are in Manizales. It’s about 5 hours south of Medellín.”

“Never got round to visiting in all my time over there.”

Horacio searched Javier’s face for a second until Javier looked directly at him. “Subtle.”

Javier’s eyes widened as though he had been falsely accused. “What?! I was just making conversation.”

“You’ve always been a terrible liar.”

“Says you! I knew you and Pops were up to something.”

“Could say the same about you two.” Horacio didn’t want to pry too much, assuming all would become clear. But he couldn’t resist letting Javier know he was on to him.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Although the faux-innocence Javier attempted was betrayed by the upturn of his lips.

Whilst they cleared the rest of their plates and ordered tres leches cake – and some of the famous buñuelos in preparation for Las Posadas – Horacio’s thoughts turned to Colombia.

It had been so long since he had spoken to his family, let alone seen them. Too long, in fact. And deep down, he knew he would have to tell them about Javier eventually. But unlike Chucho, Horacio found it hard to imagine them having even the slightest inkling. Turning up in Manizales without forewarning or details of who exactly Javier was to Horacio wouldn’t go down well. But the alternative made it difficult to swallow his cake, and he didn’t want to ruin the evening. So, he pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind for the time being.

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

Since Horacio had taken the lead by arranging and paying for dinner, Javier offered to drive them home. The road was quieter now, only rare sets of headlights reflecting through the window and illuminating their linked hands resting on Horacio’s thigh. Every so often, one man would glance across at the other with anticipation of whatever Javier had planned, trying and failing to hide the smirks tugging at their mouths.

Once back at the guesthouse and behind closed doors, Javier wasted no time pulling Horacio against him. They hadn't been out in public together in forever, becoming accustomed to the freedom and privacy offered by the ranch. So, he had earnt this after sitting opposite Horacio all evening without being able to touch him beyond hidden and brief contact beneath the table.

Breathless, they pulled apart once Javier had satisfied his craving. "I need you to wait in the bedroom."

“Someone’s eager.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Javier all but growled. “I promise it won’t be for long.”

Horacio did as he was told for once and waited patiently in the bedroom with the door closed. After a few minutes of nondescript movement and the odd thud, he was ushered back out again.

As he walked into the living area, a soft glow replaced the bright lights of the guesthouse. A glow Horacio instantly recognised from last Christmas.

A sea of candles flickered and swayed, and the fire in the hearth was now lit, the sweet aroma of mesquite drifting through the air. The crooning voice of Elvis sounded from the record player that had suddenly appeared on a side table.

Javier stood in the middle of the room, traces of a nervous smile twitching at the corner of his lips.

Horacio took several steps forwards until they met in front of the fireplace with an uncharacteristic boyish shyness. “Someone’s been busy.”

“You’re not the only one capable of making secret plans, y’know.”

“So I see.”

The choice of music wasn’t missed by Horacio, and whilst it was early days and baby steps, between this and the diner, it was as though he had been handed a key to a stubborn lock. It wasn’t impossible, but the right know-how was needed to make any progress.

Javier retreated to pick up a wrapped parcel from the table where the record player sat. The rectangular object was covered in rustic brown paper and tied with matching string. Understated from the outside, but no doubt with hidden depths beneath the surface.

“Happy Anniversary,” Javier said as he offered the parcel to Horacio.

Horacio held the gift with a curious expression, looking up at Javier as though asking him what it was, even though opening it himself would be easier.

Eventually, he tore off the paper to reveal a book. Upon closer inspection, Horacio saw that it was an anthology of Spanish poetry, which included works from Federico García Lorca, Pablo Neruda, Octavio Paz, and Gabriela Mistral.

“Open it.”

Horacio turned over the cover, stopping in his tracks at the first page when he found what he was looking for.

Para Horacio. Mi amor, mi vida, mi hogar. Siempre tuyo, Javier.

(For Horacio. My love, my life, my home. Yours always, Javier.)

As the pieces slotted together, Horacio couldn't do anything but stare at the scrawled handwriting that seemed to resemble Chucho’s more than ever. “Javier, I – I don’t know what to say.” He stumbled over his words, his heart seemingly in his mouth, chest and abdomen all at once as he fought back a familiar sting behind his eyes.

Javier studied Horacio for a second, contemplating the flash of recognition that had followed the initial surprise. And then it came to him. “Pop showed you Mamá's book, didn’t he?”

“Not exactly. He told me about it in passing, but I, er, might've found it by accident.”

“You just accidentally snooped around my bedroom, huh?” Javier’s eyebrow was raised in mock judgement.

Horacio’s hand met the stubble of Javier’s cheek where a thumb brushed over his moustache. “I missed you.”

Not that Javier was remotely mad, but a line like that was enough for him to forgive Horacio anything.

The book was placed back on the table with care before Javier pulled Horacio flush against his chest. “So, did you accidentally find anything else whilst I was gone?” His bristles teased at Horacio’s neck, scattering kisses as he went.

“Hmm, maybe a few things.”

“I see.” Javier’s hands slipped past Horacio’s waist until they dipped into the back pockets of Horacio’s jeans and made a home there. “You can borrow it, by the way.”

“Borrow what?”

“Giovanni’s Room.” Javier whispered the book’s name into Horacio’s ear as though it was a secret only they knew. “What’s mine is yours, remember.”

Horacio pulled back from Javier slightly, confusion creasing his brow. He thought about asking the hows and the whys but changed his mind because it didn’t matter when he was seen and understood so perfectly. When they both knew exactly who and what they were.

Their heads rested on each other's shoulders as the song changed on the record player, the switch in tempo causing almost imperceptible movement between them.

Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin

If I can't help falling in love with you?

Almost of their own accord, their feet shuffled on the wooden flooring, subtle enough that they could still claim plausible deniability if they wanted to.

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling, so it goes

Some things are meant to be

But they didn’t. Instead, they leaned into it, taking advantage of the intimate knowledge they already shared of how they moved as one. They shook off any lingering self-consciousness, the shuffle becoming a more pronounced slow sway from side to side as the melody soared and the words spurred them on.

Take my hand

Take my whole life, too

For I can't help falling in love with you

A look of acknowledgement passed between them, their hands intertwined and the silver cross pressed against their chests. No further words were necessary as Javier led Horacio to their bed, the past a comforting presence this time rather than a melancholic ache.

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The next day was the start of Las Posadas. The local ranches and farms played host each night of the celebrations once the procession through the town was complete, and tonight was Chucho’s turn.

Whilst Javier and Horacio could easily have spent the day in bed, carrying on where they left off the previous night, Chucho had other plans. They were on tamale-making duty again and put up multiple sets of lights across the ranch and in the largest of the barns; the location of the posada.

Keeping busy at least distracted them from the waves of nausea bubbling in the pits of their stomachs when they thought about the social aspect of the evening ahead.

Whilst Horacio finished securing the last set of lights to the rafters, the barn door clicked open.

“So, how did it go? Did you find the place okay?”

Horacio climbed down the last few rungs of the ladder he’d been perched on and turned to face Chucho, who was carrying dismantled parts of a nativity scene under his arms. "He loved it. And the drive went without a hitch. Thank you for the directions, by the way.”

Chucho acknowledged Horacio with a brief bob of the head. “Glad I could help. I thought it’d be good for him. He’s been running from the past for too long. Never did anyone any good.” He gave Horacio a pointed look coupled with a hint of a smile.

“Javier was worried going to Madrid would still be running away.”

Chucho added several figurines and a manger to the half-constructed nativity scene taking shape in one corner of the barn before giving his full attention to Horacio again.

“He always thought the solution to his problems started and ended with getting out of this place. But he’s changed. You’ve changed. You’ve changed each other. And I think you’re ready for whatever’s out there. Including tonight, which I know won’t be easy. So, you can move to as many cities or countries as you like, but if you hold on to what matters, you’ll never be running away.”

Once again, Horacio was floored by Chucho’s ability to always say exactly what he needed to hear. So, he pushed his luck one more time. “Do you think I’m running away from telling my family about Javier?”

“Only you can answer that, Mijo. But the fact you’re asking the question in the first place is a promising sign.”

As Horacio nodded, two things occurred to him at once: the answer to his own question and the fact it was the first time Chucho had called him Mijo. And it oddly made him want to pick up the phone and dial Alejandra’s number immediately. But he didn't; he couldn't. Not yet.

“Thank you, Chucho. For everything you’ve done for me. And for Javier.” Horacio’s words felt feeble and inadequate compared to those offered to him in the last few minutes, let alone over the past year. “And I suppose I should thank you for the book too.”

“The book?”

“The poetry book. From Javier. I figured you had something to do with it.”

Chucho was silent for a long moment until a warm smile spread over his face. “I think perhaps I did, in a roundabout way.”

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As they showered and dressed on the cusp of dusk, Horacio made sure to choose one of his polo shirts this time, just in case. Meanwhile, Javier threw on the red plaid shirt that Horacio had practically made his own. The top few buttons were undone, leaving the cross on full display, not that anyone but them knew its significance. Yet, it somehow still felt like an act of rebellion when later that evening, they would watch people attack a piñata in a bid to chase away the seven deadly sins.

Horacio gave himself a final once-over in the mirror, arms encasing him from behind.

“It’s not too late to find you a shepherd’s outfit, y’know. Or an angel,” Javier said as he nestled against Horacio’s back, eyes meeting through their reflection.

“I think we both know I’m no angel.”

“Thank fuck for that,” Javier mumbled against Horacio’s neck, an abundance of memories making it difficult not to get carried away. He could feel Horacio’s tension at his fingertips, but sex probably wasn’t going to do much to quell that right now. “Are you ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

“It’ll be okay. And hey, we’ve been through worse.” Whilst that was undeniably true, Javier’s words were as much to reassure himself as Horacio.

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The procession was led by a young Mary and Joseph carrying candles, the route from the front gate, across the courtyard to the barn lit by a pathway of lanterns. Strings of white lights adorned the buildings, fences and a real Christmas tree, transforming the ranch into the enchanting night sky that hung above it. A melodic chorus struck up amongst the crowd requesting lodgings as the tradition goes. And in Horacio’s eyes, no one was more fitting to play the welcoming innkeeper than Chucho.

An impressive spread of food was, of course, laid on for the weary travellers. Tables were blanketed in plates, trays, and bowls full of tamales, pozole, pambazos, vibrant salads and glazed ham. The savoury food was accompanied by churros, buñuelos – including the ones from Desde La Frontera – ponche navideño, Café de Olla and champurrado.

As the food and drink flowed, a group who had brought their own instruments struck up a festive sing-along.

In between the music, several people shook Javier's hand or brought over a drink he hadn’t asked for. He smiled, laughed, and said all the right things. But he was longing for a moment of peace with Horacio in a quiet corner. However, no such luck.

“Javier Peña, well, I’ll be damned.”

Javier had his back to the room but turned around once he heard his name, confident he recognised the voice behind it. “Oh, erm, hey, Mia. Long time, no see.” Fuck, his hunch was right.

“Yes, and we all know whose fault that is, don’t we, Jav?”

Horacio watched the exchange silently from his spot leant against the barn wall, already tensing at her forced smile and the jarring way she said Javier’s nickname.

Mia was dressed similarly to Javier, except with heeled boots and a more fitted shirt. Her auburn hair flowed down her back in neat waves, and her almond-shaped nails were far too clean and well-kept for someone who supposedly lived on a ranch full-time. Not that Javier could talk when it came to avoiding manual labour.

“How’ve you been?”

“Good, actually. We all have. Did you know Lorraine married a stockbroker? Randy. Their kids are gorgeous. They’ve got a huge place in Dallas now. It’s got a pool and everythin’.” The gloat in Mia’s tone was evident, deliberate even. Like she had bided her time all these years until she saw Javier again, just waiting for the opportunity to brag on behalf of her friend.

“Yeah, I heard.” Javier nodded for far longer than was necessary, gripping his glass as he raised it to his mouth. “Good for her.” In his defence, he meant it. It was good for her. Better than anything the version of him who jilted her on their wedding day had to offer, that was for sure.

“How ‘bout you? Anyone manage to pin you down yet?”

The warming ponche navideño tickled the back of Javier’s throat, and the only way to avoid a coughing fit was to throw back more. “I’m not married if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Can’t say I’m surprised. No offence.” Except they both knew full offence was absolutely intended. “Aren’t you gonna introduce us?” Mia’s attention fell on Horacio, and there was something feline in how her emerald eyes looked him up and down.

“Mia, Horacio. Horacio, Mia. Mia is Luca Domínguez’s wife. And Horacio is erm – he’s a…friend from Colombia. We worked together over there.” Javier could barely look at Horacio, waves of shame rolling over him, even though this was the story they had agreed upon beforehand.

Mia was still eyeing Horacio like he was an item on the buffet table, Javier already long forgotten. “Ahh, so you’re Chucho’s mysterious ranch hand I’ve heard so much about. Howdy, Horacio.” She held out her palm and attempted to repeat his name the same way Javier had said it, but her Texan drawl couldn’t be disguised.

It took all of Horacio’s strength to smile back and accept Mia’s hand, a sense of unease building now that he knew he was already on her radar. “Nice to meet you. And nothing bad, I hope.”

“On the contrary. According to Luca, you’ve made quite the impression.”

The Domínguez family were ranchers a few miles east of the Peñas. Chucho had a good rapport with Luca’s parents, Manuel and Carmen. But it was no surprise to hear that gossip had spread, especially as both ranches often shared casual workers and contractors.

“Tell me, how does a police officer end up this far outta his remit yet still so in his element?” Mia asked.

“I guess I’ve always liked a challenge.”

“A challenge bigger than hunting down Pablo Escobar? You must really love ranch life to give all of that up.” Mia’s gaze drifted in Javier’s direction when she spoke of ranch life. Although Javier quickly averted it by sipping more of his drink.

“What can I say? Taking a bullet makes a man re-evaluate his priorities.”

“Bless your heart, a bullet?! No wonder you ran away!”

Mia’s hand ironically found its way to the very shoulder said bullet ripped a hole through, the uninvited contact and her last sentence making Horacio flinch.

Javier was on the verge of intervening, but Mia wasn’t finished yet. “You must have a very understanding wife to uproot your life here. Is she around somewhere?”

“Er, no, I don’t have one.”

“Ahh yes, that’s right. I heard you’re not the marrying kind, either. Such a waste.” There was underlying aggression to her words despite the saccharine delivery of them. And before Horacio could react, Mia waved enthusiastically at someone on the other side of the room. “If y’all excuse me. Nice to meet you, Horacio. See you around, Jav.” And with that, she was gone in the same whirlwind fashion she had arrived in.

That was one of several awkward conversations throughout the evening, often due to undeserved declarations of heroism and expressions of sympathy over Judy Moncada's interview. But the loaded looks Javier had been expecting could still be found if he glanced in certain corners, and the effect of rubbing salt in still-raw wounds was the same regardless.

Horacio was also attracting a different kind of attention with admiring glances being thrown his way. The interest mostly came from the few single women in attendance who weren't up to speed on small-town gossip. But there was a young male ranch hand whose Javier’s sympathies lay with the most.

Because Javier recognised the way the doe-eyed 20-something kid was enthralled by Horacio whilst deep in conversation about ranch business. It reminded him of the early days in Colombia when they were little more than reserved co-workers discussing raid tactics. He would find himself mesmerised by Horacio lighting up, torn between watching his thumb flicking over the ignition and how the cigarette nestled between his lips. If Horacio noticed, he didn’t show it.

Javier was supposed to be catching up with his old friend, John, the best man from the wedding that never was. John also married the daughter of a neighbouring rancher because that was just how things went around here. If you stuck about long enough, you were paired off with someone you went to school with or grew up with. It was why Javier had to get out of the suffocating forcefield. And it should have come as no surprise it was necessary to go all the way to Colombia to find someone he wanted to settle down with.

Whilst John regaled a much-told anecdote from their high school days, Javier’s attention was elsewhere. Specifically on Horacio and the attractive brunette woman who was bolder than all the other interested parties.

She was trying her best moves on him, laughing, playing with her hair, leaning closer to him when he was talking, touching his arm. It dawned on Javier that once upon a time, that would have been him she was talking to, and he no doubt would have snuck off with her to his bedroom at the first chance he got.

For a second, he wondered if she was proposing the same thing to Horacio. Not that he had any doubts about Horacio’s reaction to such a question. But it gave him a strange thrill to know that the most sought-after man in the room was guaranteed to be going to bed with him once the festivities were over. And every night after that.

At a suitable gap in conversation, Javier excused himself, catching Horacio’s eye long enough for him to do the same with his new admirer. Javier’s head gestured towards the barn door before he left the party unnoticed, Horacio trailing a safe distance behind.

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Javier let himself into the locked farmhouse, where the dogs were fast asleep across the sofas. They briefly stirred and wagged their tails in greeting both at Javier and when Horacio arrived a few minutes later.

“What are we—?”

“Lock the door.”

Horacio knew that look anywhere and didn’t hesitate.

No sooner had the lock turned than Javier was upon Horacio, fingers already pawing at clothes and belts as Javier guided them towards his old bedroom.

Javier closed the door by pinning Horacio up against it, mouthing at his neck and unzipping his jeans.

“What’s brought this on?” Horacio gasped as Javier began palming him through his underwear.

Javier’s free hand didn’t so much as cup Horacio’s jaw but grasped it; firmly but not roughly. “D’you have any idea how fucking good you look?”

Horacio couldn’t speak for a moment; his sole response was to nuzzle his cheek against Javier’s hand and kiss whichever part he could reach. “Says you, parading around like that.” Of course, Horacio was alluding to the distinct lack of buttons fastened on Javier’s – or was it his or theirs now? – shirt.

“I wasn’t the one being eye-fucked from every angle just now. What was her name again?”

“Who?”

“The knockout woman coming on to you.”

“Cristina?”

“First name terms…so she was your type as well, then?”

Horacio wasn’t entirely sure where this was going, so decided to play it safe and dodge the question. “Were you jealous of her or me?”

Whilst, of course, he knew the answer, Javier was drunk on lust rather than alcohol, and teasing was the more fun option. “You could’ve asked her to join us.”

“Very funny.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about doing that?” Javier stopped short of confessing he had thought about Horacio on multiple occasions when he disappeared off to Gabriela or Vanessa. Not in place of them, but in addition. However, that had only ever been a fantasy; one that he was happy to keep that way.

“Didn’t say that.” Several times before they were together, Horacio had imagined being invited to experience the best of both worlds with Javier at one of his favourite brothels. And if he was honest with himself, there was even the odd guilty fantasy of Javier joining him and Juliana. “But that’s a different question than wanting to do it for real. I don’t want to share you with anyone, Javier. You’re all mine.”

Javier’s pupils dilated and darkened with a wolfish hunger. “Say it again.”

“I said, you’re mine. And I’m yours.”

Javier was practically panting by the time their mouths crashed together. Not that Horacio was telling him something he didn’t already know or believe, but hearing it out loud was dizzying.

Once they broke apart, he guided Horacio to sit on the edge of his bed and sunk to his knees. Memories of them kneeling in prayer flashed through his mind as he peeled jeans and underwear down Horacio’s legs in one go.

Horacio’s cock stood proud already, their verbal exchange an aphrodisiac for both, apparently.

“Beautiful,” Javier whispered, kissing along Horacio’s length, featherlight to begin with but deepening further until the head was enveloped.

Horacio’s hands landed in Javier’s hair, raking and stroking through the thick strands. He leaned back, his lip cushioned between his teeth on the verge of drawing blood and his eyes screwed shut in ecstasy. The significance of this happening in Javier’s old bedroom wasn't lost on him. On Javier’s old bed, surrounded by the items and keepsakes locked away for so long. And on the day after Horacio received his own keepsake, a token of everything they meant to each other.

A groan escaped Javier’s throat as he felt the pull of Horacio’s fingers. He swirled his tongue in rhythmic circles, imagining doing this for an hour or more, just holding the hot throb in his mouth. He didn’t have that kind of restraint or patience today, though, preferring to suck greedily, encouraged by the strengthening grip on his scalp.

Horacio's legs trembled harder now, his hips reflexively lifting off the mattress to meet Javier’s mouth, shallow thrusts to start off with.

He was vaguely aware of a belt and zipper unfastening before he looked down at Javier taking himself in hand right there on the floor of his childhood bedroom, where past met present and future head-on.

The tell-tale jerking sensation and Javier’s moans made Horacio hiss through his teeth and buck his hips with more force. Slow and deep motions that mimicked the way they liked to fuck.

Javier’s jaw was relaxed enough to take Horacio to the back of his throat, his nose pressing against dark, wiry curls as Horacio guided him up and down.

The sight of Javier on his knees for him again, albeit in a different context this time, nearly made Horacio come on the spot. There was a profound vulnerability and act of trust to it, especially in this room of all rooms. In the middle of a fraught evening of unwanted attention where they would be run out of town if everyone knew what they were up to right now.

Javier could sense when Horacio was on the cusp just from the way his breath stuttered and his fingers clenched into fists amidst Javier’s hair.

Right on cue, Horacio’s abdomen spasmed, sending shockwaves in all directions as he emptied himself down Javier’s throat with a strangled growl.

Javier took everything he was given, swallowing Horacio’s release as he tugged on his own cock. The taste on his tongue and the vibrations of Horacio’s shaking thighs were enough to push him over the edge. After a few extra strokes, he came over his hand and stomach with a winded grunt.

He remained breathless on his knees whilst recovering, his head flopping into Horacio’s lap like a purring cat as Horacio’s fingers sailed through his hair.

Eventually, Horacio helped Javier up from the floor and onto the bed. They lay tangled up in varying stages of undress, waiting for their pulses to calm and the indiscreet flush from their cheeks to dissipate.

“Fuck, I love doing that with you.”

Horacio’s shoulders shook, the only energy he could muster. “Likewise, funnily enough. But shouldn't we be getting back soon?”

“We should. Although, I don’t think a piñata is gonna save us after that.”

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Upon returning to the barn, they switched their glasses of ponche for hot cups of champurrado. The crowd were in the process of gathering around the seven-point piñata star hanging from the wooden beams above. A line of giddy children high on sugar and festive spirit queued up to be blindfolded, ready to take their shot with a stick decorated as brightly as the piñata itself.

With each successful hit and chant of Dale Dale Dale, candy, fruits, and peanuts rained down and caused an uproar of cheers to break out around the barn. With each miss, there was a murmur of disappointment, then a cheer. And so the cycle repeated.

Now they were soaking up the atmosphere – and were more relaxed – Javier and Horacio were as caught up in the excitement as everyone else for the first few hits. But conversations from earlier in the evening rang loudly in Horacio’s ears, and even the rowdy crowd of a posada couldn’t drown them out.

Maybe it was a combination of too much ponche and the extreme highs and lows he had experienced in the last few hours. But he suddenly felt like the ground was moving. Or was it him? Was he spinning around in circles, or was it the piñata?

The crowd noise filtered out, leaving the repetitive thwacking of the stick against the hard shell. Each impact seemed louder than the last until it could just as easily have been a blunt weapon – or a booted foot – bludgeoning into soft flesh.

It wasn’t him delivering the blows, but he was watching, unconcerned. With a cigarette between his lips, he observed his men kicking the life out of the limp body sprawled across the concrete floor. It could have been Gustavo, or any number of sicarios now he thought about it. He might not have delivered those blows, but he had inflicted equal damage with a blade or a bullet, and nothing would erase his sins.

“Hey, you okay? Horacio?”

Horacio closed his eyes tightly and shook his head before he was back in the room once more. “Sorry, what?”

“Are you alright? Your hand’s shaking.”

Horacio looked down to see his right hand clenching around his drink to attempt to quell the tremble. “Erm…yeah, I think I just need some fresh air.”

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Whilst the crowds were still preoccupied, Javier and Horacio took their cups of champurrado outside to the fire pit.

The wooden seating was abandoned in favour of the barn. And fireworks were to follow in the lower fields away from the stables, out of courtesy to the livestock.

Making the most of the peace and quiet, they sat on the floor in the shadow of the fluttering flames, Javier’s back against a chair with Horacio cradled between his legs.

“Does that happen often?”

“Sometimes, but not for a while. I guess it’s just been a stressful day.”

“No kidding.”

“Well, not all of it.” Horacio nuzzled back against Javier’s shoulder as he corrected himself.

“Glad I could provide some temporary relief, at least.” Javier buried himself against Horacio’s proffered neck, lightening the mood for a second as his moustache swept back and forth.

But stressful was an understatement. Between their encounter with Mia, the crowds, and relaying tales from Colombia to people, who only wanted gory details they couldn’t give even if they wanted to, it was no wonder Horacio snapped.

“The first time I heard the ranch hands firing shots to scare off coyotes, I was back in the ambush. I could hear the glass being shot out again. Could even taste the fumes from the explosion for a second. And my right arm went numb. But…it does get easier.”

“When?” An unmistakable crack could be heard in Javier’s voice that betrayed the question’s surface-level simplicity.

“I don’t think there’s a timeframe for it. Some days are better than others. Sometimes you think you’re fine until suddenly you’re not.”

“It was the strawberry sauce,” Javier said abruptly. “Of all fucking things.” He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. “At the diner, I mean. A kid was eating ice cream. But all I saw was blood.”

“I’m sorry if I jumped the gun last night. Maybe it was too much too soon.”

“Hey, no. It wasn’t. I should’ve gone back years ago. So, thank you. It was still a perfect evening.” He tilted Horacio’s face towards him, their lips meeting delicately. “I guess I’m just gonna have to learn to deal with the other stuff.”

“It’s early days, Javier. You need to give yourself time.” Another butterfly kiss, this time instigated by Horacio. “We both do.”

And that was the one thing they finally had. Time. To try to heal, to come to terms with what they had and hadn’t done. To accept their mistakes, their flaws, and their pasts. To close that chapter once and for all so they could open a new one together. To live at last rather than merely survive.

They retreated to the safety of the guesthouse once the fire pit simmered down to its last embers, Luna, Sol and Leo joining them, glad of the company after being kept away from the action all night.

The fireworks could be heard faintly in the distance, noticed more by the humans than the dogs. In other circumstances, it would have been too easy to confuse the bangs for bullets and bombs. Sounds they had heard enough of for a lifetime. But in the here and now, they took refuge in the darkness of their bedroom, Horacio’s chest moulded to Javier’s back and their legs entwined. Their hands joined over Javier’s stomach, fingers clutching their cross and seeking comfort in each other once more as they drifted off to sleep.

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Christmas was a quieter affair once the other ranches and farms began hosting their posadas. Javier and Horacio made appearances at some of the nearest ones; however, they kept themselves to themselves for most of the holiday season. After dipping their toes in more sociable waters, they still preferred to be alone, the drain of small talk and prying questions too much at this stage.

The exceptions were phone calls to and from Miami and Medellín, with the Murphys and Trujillo providing festive greetings and updates from their respective homes. Connie had insisted on sending a food hamper, mainly for Chucho’s benefit, given the kitchen was his domain. But Javier made sure to thank her on his dad's behalf.

He also learned that Steve hadn’t been back to work yet and was enjoying being a man of leisure until the New Year, a fact that had Connie asking to come with them to Madrid instead. Meanwhile, Steve took great delight in spilling the beans about Trujillo’s new girlfriend. And Trujillo dodged all subsequent questions, declaring Steve a dead man walking.

It was those connections they needed for the time being. They were easy, safe and familiar and came with a mutual understanding of what they had all been through.

On Christmas Eve, Chucho attended his usual Midnight Mass whilst Javier and Horacio spent the night in front of the fire, surrounded by three dozing dogs. A modestly decorated tree stood in the corner of the room, its warm white lights and the fresh scent of pine making the place feel more homely. They hadn’t bothered with one last year; the timing wasn’t right with everything up in the air. But this year, whilst neither was exactly gifted with creative flare, they didn’t take the shared domesticity for granted.

They had been sat in comfortable silence for a while, their bellies full of food from Chucho’s earlier feast, and their minds quiet. Elvis’ Christmas album played lowly on the turntable whilst Horacio’s legs lay across Javier’s lap. Candles flickered on the mantlepiece as Javier sipped whiskey from his glass in between stroking Horacio’s calves. Although it wasn’t enough to distract Horacio from the book balanced between his fingers.

Without anything else to do, Javier watched Horacio read, studying his features, trying but failing to gauge his reaction to whichever poem he was currently engrossed in. Whatever his thoughts were on the subject matter, the novelty of seeing Horacio so absorbed yet relaxed like this hadn’t worn off, and Javier was captivated.

When Horacio next turned a page, he looked up, catching Javier in the act. “What?”

“Nothing,” Javier said with a coy smile. “I’m just glad you seem to like the book.”

“I do. Very much.”

“Any favourites?”

“A few.”

“Read them to me.” The demure tone from moments ago gave way to conviction, the flames from the fire dancing in the dark of Javier’s irises. Not a demand, but a request Horacio would find hard to refuse.

And, of course, he didn’t. With Javier’s head now resting in his lap, Horacio read aloud in his native tongue. The book was held in one hand whilst the other glided through Javier’s hair with soothing touches. As the clock on the wall ticked past midnight, they had not only ushered in Christmas Day together but a new tradition born out of an old one. A tradition passed from generation to generation, the people and the words different, yet the sentiment the same.

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December faded into January, the festive celebrations ending with Día de los Reyes Magos and plenty of Rosca de Reyes.

Over the last fortnight, they finalised their plans for Madrid. Javier, somewhat reluctantly, agreed to Chucho’s proposal to take his share of the ranch money, and Horacio’s claim for compensation was authorised as part of his resignation deal. It gave them the financial freedom to regroup for a while, so they weren’t diving headfirst into new jobs and would have the time to settle into their new apartment.

Horacio took advantage of his Consulate contacts to get in touch with the letting agents who handled his move. It was a bigger apartment in the same building they would be renting this time.

As far as the CNP was concerned, Horacio had moved to Manizales to be with his family. He was sure there must be rumours circulating in the upper echelons with whom he didn’t command the same loyalty as on the ground. But he was equally confident his superiors would be relieved to see the back of him once and for all this time.

Even so, Horacio found himself looking down at a stowaway bottle-green shirt that must have been shoved into his bag in haste when they made a getaway from Carlos Holguín.

He traced his fingers over the embroidered patches, starting with the letters of his surname, continuing up the sleeve to meet his Colonel insignia and across to the CNP emblem. His lapel pins had been rescued from the bloodied, torn shirt he wore on the night of the ambush. They now sat in an envelope on the nightstand alongside his broken watch. He collected up the shirt, and the envelope, laying them at the bottom of the suitcase spread out across the bed. Already relics of the past, even if he couldn’t bring himself to part with them.

Javier had abandoned his packing in favour of chewing his thumb and staring out the window. He was quiet over breakfast and distant in the shower, even when he was buried to the hilt inside Horacio and had him pressed against the tiles.

Now, however, Horacio crossed the room to the window, slipping his arms around Javier from behind. “Hey, you still in there?”

Javier was startled out of his daze but quickly relaxed against the solid warmth of Horacio’s chest. “Er yeah, sorry. Just about.”

Horacio's lips ghosted from the nape of Javier’s neck down to the nook of his shoulder as a thumb stroked over the softness of his stomach. “Everything okay?”

“Hmm yeah. It’s just…it’s Mom’s birthday today. I know I should’ve said something earlier, sorry.”

Horacio hushed softly against Javier’s ear. “You’ve got nothing to apologise for. Your father mentioned it was coming up soon.”

“We’ve never done much for it. Pops goes to the cemetery, but he does that anyway. And I never really saw the point in thinking about how old she would’ve been.”

“Me neither with Papá. It always reminded me of everything he missed out on. All the milestones in our lives he wasn’t around for.”

“Exactly. But this year, I dunno…” Javier trailed off, losing confidence in his thought process mid-sentence.

Horacio’s fingers slotted through Javier’s, allowing Horacio to bring Javier closer to him as his nose nuzzled in encouragement.

“I think there’s something I need to do before we leave.”

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

As Javier pushed the stiff iron gate open, his feet trailed through a pile of damp, shrivelled leaves left over from the fall. It had been early autumn when his Mamá passed. Somehow, she had clung on throughout the sticky heat of the summer, adamant she was going to be around to see the leaves changing colour one last time.

Even though Javier hadn’t been here for more years than he was ashamed to admit, he hadn’t forgotten where she was laid to rest. The grave was in immaculate condition, unsurprisingly. Fresh flowers had recently been left, and any trace of weathering had been polished away from the headstone.

He tentatively reached out to run his fingers over the embossed lettering of her name. Mariana Rosa Peña. “Feliz cumpleaños, Mamá,” he whispered. “Sorry I left it so long.”

He couldn’t explain the compulsion to come here. It wasn't as though it was the first time he was leaving Laredo. Nor was it that he would never be coming back. But it had gnawed at him for the last few weeks like something was missing or forgotten. Horacio had helped him remember, though. Gradually, bit by bit, gesture by gesture, conversation by conversation.

Memories unravelled that had been locked away for too long. The happier ones that often hurt too much to dwell on when Javier was already in a dark place, like the trips that they made every spring to Fiesta San Antonio. He loved watching the vibrant floats pass by at the parades whilst stuffing his face with gorditas and paletas or cracking cascarones over his cousins' heads.

He reached into the pocket of his leather jacket, pulling out the poetry book from his bedroom shelves. It was funny; he had never been an avid reader of poetry, although he admired those who could express themselves so freely with words, even if he often couldn’t do it himself. But in more recent years, the dedication in the opening pages compelled him to keep it as proof of what existed between his parents. And apparently, as inspiration, even if he didn’t realise it until now.

As he flicked through the pages, recognising some poem titles from days gone by, a shadow moved across the gravestone, and a pair of feet crunched along the gravel path.

“Well, this is a nice surprise.”

Javier didn't need to turn around to greet the voice he had known all his life. “Better late than never, right?”

“That’s what she used to say.”

“I remember.”

“I’m sure she appreciates you being here, Mijo. And so do I.”

“Just felt like I needed to come here before we leave.”

“She always wanted to visit Madrid, but we never got round to it. Too busy with the ranch…and then you. I think she always knew you were a sensitive kid. And she understood you better than I did for a long time.”

“You don’t do too badly these days.”

“I got there in the end with a good teacher.”

“I don’t think I’d have come here if it weren’t for Horacio.” He paused, finally shifting to face his dad. “And I don’t think he’d have encouraged me without you. So, thanks for the nudge, Pops.”

Chucho nodded despite not deeming the praise necessary in the circumstances. “All we ever wanted was for you to be happy, Javi. And same for Horacio now too.”

“I wish she could’ve met him.”

“I don’t think she’d have let him leave the ranch.”

Javier couldn’t help but chuckle at that thought. “No, and you’d be out of a job.”

They were both laughing now and somehow knew Mariana was, too, wherever she was.

Javier glanced at the book in his hands, pangs of guilt settling on his chest for hiding it away all this time. “I imagine you’ve been looking for this. Sorry, I meant to give it back.”

“Keep it for the plane journey.”

“What?”

“I told you, she always wanted to see Madrid. Take her with you. She knows where I’ll be waiting.”

As he drew Chucho in for a hug, it hit Javier that the past, present and future weren’t supposed to be kept separate; they were interconnected and a delicate balancing act. And after so long in flux, maybe, just maybe, Madrid was his and Horacio’s opportunity for some kind of equilibrium.

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

Since Javier’s first night back in Laredo, he and Horacio made a habit of parking the truck in the lower field. Sometimes Chucho had given them chores, or sometimes they would take a picnic and then doze in the sun with the dogs pottering around them. And sometimes, the sight of Horacio in his ranch attire was once again too much for Javier. Today was one of those days.

It was also their last day in Texas, their flight to Madrid booked for early the next morning, and they were making the most of the peace and quiet of the countryside.

This time they were in the front passenger seat, Javier’s thighs straddling Horacio’s lap. Javier was naked from the waist down, whilst Horacio’s jeans were merely shrugged over his legs.

Horacio had briefly got his way and donated his Stetson to Javier, fulfilling a fantasy he wasn’t even aware he harboured.

But it wasn’t long before Javier tossed it back on Horacio’s head. “Keep it on.”

“Only if you keep doing that.” Horacio’s fingernails dug into Javier’s ass, his pelvis jerking up as Javier ground his hips at just the right pace and angle.

A gasped laugh shuddered through Javier as Horacio manoeuvred him up and down. “Well, they do say, save a horse, ride a cowboy.”

“I’m not a cowboy.”

“Coulda fooled me.” That remark earned him a deeper thrust and a swat to the ass.

It was over too soon, and they got dressed and returned to the back of the truck. A cigarette passed between them as the dogs emerged from their usual sleeping spots under the shade of a nearby mesquite tree.

All three dogs seemed to sense the impending change in the air and had followed them around for the last few days, particularly Luna. She stuck to Horacio like glue at the best of times and became increasingly confused at the sight of half-packed suitcases back at the guesthouse.

As he scratched her ears, it brought a lump to Horacio’s throat to picture the moment he would have to say goodbye. Knowing he would need to remind her and himself that it was only a temporary separation.

The truck looked out across the bank of the Rio Grande where a daily stream of trafficking boats sailed to and fro. Escobar may be no more, but the drug trade was still booming right under their noses.

“My first assignment out of the Academy was a task force searching for Kiki Camarena in Guadalajara. All these years later…it never stops. Same bullshit game, just different players.”

“Did you spend much time in Mexico?”

“Some. When I was a kid. I’ve got family there – Tía Inés, Tío Matías and my cousins. We used to visit in the summer. The older I got, the more they saw me as a gringo, though. And maybe they were right. Maybe I lost sight of my roots somewhere down the line. Thought I could play the big fucking American hero.” Javier scoffed at his past delusions of grandeur and at the misguided notion heroes existed in any of this.

“I think we all lost sight somewhere down the line.”

“Yeah.” Javier closed the gap between them, cupping Horacio’s cheek and brushing his lips over the bridge of Horacio’s nose and forehead. “I don’t regret going, though. I don’t regret us.”

Horacio’s long lashes fluttered like wings against Javier’s face as he closed his eyes. His hands slid up from the stubble of Javier’s jaw to the nape of his neck and into a mass of thick hair. “No more regrets. To new beginnings instead.”

“To new beginnings.”

As the low late afternoon sun created a mirage over the choppy waters, they drove back to the farmhouse in preparation for Chucho's farewell feast. And perhaps an old film or two with sleeping dogs for company.

They were under no illusions about the road ahead. Or the demons that lay lurking in the shadows of their minds, a hangover from the last several years. But for the first time in too long, there was hope. They were both finally standing still at the same time and ready to just be. Ready for anything that life threw at them because they would face it together. Ready for a new year and a fresh start.

#Narcos fic #Narcos #Javier Peña #Horacio Carrillo #Carrillo #Javier Peña x Horacio Carrillo #Pedro Pascal #Maurice Compte #Narcos fanfic #Narcos fanfiction #Narcos fan fic #My Fan Fic #My Narcos Fic

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dnangelic · 10 months

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i just wanted to send some positive words your way and let you know that i absolutely adore the way you write both dark and daisuke. it's clear you put a lot of thought and love into both of them, and your posts have always brought a smile to my face. i'll never forget the shock i felt when your blog popped up in my recommended and, i was on call with my boyfriend at the time, he hears me go 'NO WAY, ARE YOU SERIOUS?' before i slapped the follow button LOL d.n.angel holds a special part of my early teenage years and your blog brings the warmth and nostalgia i felt all those years ago. i almost feel like that 14 year old again, giddy over a silly anime and kicking my feet with excitement every time i see your posts c: thank you for being such a joyous presence on my dash

YOOOO YOU FOUND ME FROM TUMBLR RECCS???? that's so funny... i always thought that thing was useless but i've been proven so wrong LMAO. I'M REAL THOUGH. I'M SO REAL!!! *DOES A JIG* I'M SO GLAD MY BLOG CAN MAKE YOU FEEL THAT WAY TOO 😭🤧PLEASE IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. dnangel is such a weird series because it feels like everyone's at least -SEEN- or heard of it at least once but then it's still weirdly niche?? like there's not really anything for it esp anymore and nobody talks about it esp now that it's finally finished (manga-wise) after 30 some years but it's still like. most popular/easily recognized niche series ik off the top of my head JJGJKFKJ TYSM FOR UR COMPLIMENTS OVER MY PORTRAYAL TOO!!!

making this blog was such a good exercise in my own growth because going back to it sugisaki had such BANGER themes that i didn't even notice or totally grasp at first when i myself was in middleschool, so i feel like i'm lowkey compensating and paying proper attention to everybody now that i have. well. better critical thinking skills and media literacy DFKJKJGKJKJ even going back i was kind of surprised how it dealt with such dark topics like grief and death and the consequences of Playing God or sins and cycles when like.......... it's also a silly little dramatic rom-com about middleschoolers and immortals but it still never leaves you feeling hopeless or lonely, which as also sugisaki's intention with the series!! it's so nice!! i really wanted to be able to emulate the overall messages of her characters and loving art esp since it ends up so meta for us writers. i'm just happy to write!! doesn't have to be perfect or even exact, since i do take a tiny bit of creative/hc liberty with my own inspos and portrayals for dai n dark! but i'm always having sm fun interacting with everybody, AND I RLLY APPRECIATE U TOO!!! 🙇🙇

i'll probably be around for a looooong time bc dai n dark r just as much treasured and influential for me (i was also one of those 14 yr olds, i have embarrassing dnangel merch on top of piles of manga laying around, im certifIED REAL FAN /J) but it makes me so happy my posts bring u joy. im glad bc i know i can post/talk ooc a lot before i get the time to actually properly sit down and Write but that's just how it is for a lot of us kjgkjgfb anyways, thank u again!! things like this rlly help my confidence since actually at the start i had no idea if i could do like... a protagonist (daisuke)/'popular' (to me. dark/dnangel is popular and legendary and overwhelming in the eyes of the tumblr populace to Me-) chara any justice, but im put at ease any time i get such warm feedback like this!!! 💐💐💐FOR YOU! u get even more flowers this time straight from me!!! go buy urself a treat for being so nice!!!

#*･ﾟ⊰ ANSWERED. ⊱#*･ﾟ⊰ 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒. ⊱ ✦ › OUT.#deadn30n #LOVE AND PEACE ON PLANET EARTH!!!!!!

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stepswowdsen · 2 months

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【Magi】 JuAli x Unfriendly Hater by Meddmia: Rambles 🖤❤️💛

HI GUESS WHO FOUND THE PERFECT JUALI SONG 🖤❤️💛

IT FITS THEM PERFECTLY RIGHT DOWN TO THE LYRICS VIBES AND EXPRESSIONS RAHHHHH

OVER THE MOON ABOUT THIS

I HAVE AMAZING SONG PICKS

Unfriendly Hater (ft. Hatsune Miku & KAFU)

Ok so I was like "Think Sen you can find more JuAli core songs"

I FOUND THE PERFECT SONG

Unfriendly Hater by Meddmia (ft. Hatsune Miku & KAFU)

youtube

I'll show the original MV here.

Unfriendly Hater Fan-cover by abboii (ft. Kagamine Len & Fukase)

youtube

My favourite fan-cover! I think this one fits them perfectly

Unfriendly Hater English Translation by KEL! (With Edits by Violet)

Sen's Ships x Vocaloid & J-Pop Songs

I'll be adding this to my song list for LimGuda, IdaTatsu, XanLena, JuAli, and KuroEne~

My previous Tumblr post:

I made a post about my song picks for my fave ships recently here!

Lyrics

Intro Rambles

I found the cute lighthearted rivalry/competitive song I wanted~~ I also like how there's hints of warmth and companionship throughout the MV that fits them well too

MY BELOVED JUALI WAHHHHHH

Y'ALL I JUST REMEMBERED THE PERFECT JUALI SONG

HOW DID I FORGET ABOUT UNFRIENDLY HATER

PERFECT JUALI CORE SONG

Omfg I want to do a JuAli fan-MV with Unfriendly Hater one day. SO BADLY.

OH MY GOD HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE TO WATCH THE MV IF YOU’RE CURIOUS... LIKE YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED HOW WELL IT FITS.

IT'S PERFECT FOR THEM ACTUALLY RAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Might do a few crossover doodles soon for now

If I was making an MV with them, I wouldn't put it in a modern AU though, I would put it in canon-verse.

This time I'll tag this cuz I do ramble about JuAli and my ideas for them under the cut.

My rambles will be under the cut!

...

GOD THE CHARACTERS' EXPRESSIONS IN THE MV MATCH THEIR EXPRESSION RANGES TOO, HELLO???

This is basically how their canon interactions go! /lh

Even the black haired character's expressions in the MV matches Judar's expression range. Also the pink haired character matches Alibaba's expression range too

Ofc modern AUs are still fun to do on the side but I prefer working with canon-verse AU settings.

Omfg modern AU Judar would totally be a delinquent kid tho

...

I also love Dyalexa's Unfriendly Hater fan-MV with Ruikasa (ProSeka). I'm Polysho 🥰💞 I ship all members of WxS (Wonderlands x Showtime) with each other. Really strong lining style and super fluid MVs. Dyalexa's fan MVs are so well made.

youtube

I was going through my playlist. I love this fan-cover of Unfriendly Hater (ft. Kagamine Len & Fukase) by abboii. Their voices sound so good together. Len and Fukase duets rule. The Yellow and Red themed Vocaloids work well for them

I prefer the fan-covers over the original. The OG is good too, but I think Fukase and Len's voices are much stronger here and have more grit, and fits the tone of the song more. Love the tuning and mixing in this. Great job to abboii

...

F: Oh my god I’m crying why do the MV charas lowkey kinda look like them as well 😭Just change the hair and colours a bit lmao

Me: Right with the black haired spikes and the pink haired charas’ softer round hairstyle???

IT HONESTLY HELPED SOLIDIFY THE JUALI MV THAT I IMAGINED IN MY HEAD BECAUSE OF THAT TOO

Yeah like the black haired chracter fits Judar’s carefree and smug arrogant uncaring personality. And Alibaba totally fits as the more patient character who gets fed up with his antics and chides him for it

...

A: Wooma art 🤤

Me: WOOMA's art style is so expressive omfg

WOOMA is really good at drawing sharp eyes and expressions. Love the way WOOMA draws eyes and teeth. They're so striking and feral looking

JuAli x Unfriendly Hater: Rambles

In terms of how I’d depict this with JuAli

Since I’m not depicting it in a modern AU, I would make the scene with the black haired delinquent running in the hall way instead a scene where Judar flies around on his staff and then, when he lands and gets off his staff, he just carelessly steps on the flowers in the Kou Empire’s gardens (in the same place where Kougyoku and Alibaba would spend time together making flower crowns and tend to the flowers), and Alibaba chides him for stepping on Kougyoku’s flowers

And Judar just sticks his tongue out at him.

Judar: BLEHHH~ (>:P)

Also so interesting as well cuz in the fan-cover, OP makes Fukase (red) sing the black-haired delinquent’s parts, and makes Len (yellow) sing the pink-haired “diligent, earnest” yakuza’s parts

Alibaba is very patient but increasingly gets fed up with Judar’s selfish stuck up personality

Judar lets out an exasperated sigh at Alibaba for chiding/scolding him

Judar: This guy is so persistent, it’s annoying!

In the 1st chorus where the two characters both try to get a leg up on each other, I would depict Judar teasing/poking fun at Alibaba for their height difference and pulling on his ahoge (hair cowlick), like pulling on weeds.

Like I would draw it very similar to the Magi omake where Judar rests his head on Alibaba’s hair while pulling on his hair spike (cowlick). SO CUTE…

Pre-2nd chorus, Alibaba fusses over Judar’s clothes (perhaps Judar’s hanfu is loosely tied so it’s slipping off his shoulders/skin and Alibaba gets flustered. And maybe also the ties around the wrap around skirt are loosely done as well)

Alibaba: Can’t you fix your clothes so that you don’t go walking around like that???

Judar: You didn't have any problems with it before~ Is a certain someone actually getting embarrassed at showing a bit of skin? PFFT—

Alibaba: Shut it!!!

Also I would still draw them in my HC designs where Judar wears traditional Chinese clothing and Alibaba has tan skin and wears traditional Arabic clothing

THIS IS SO WHDHSHSDHSH

JUDAR BEING SO CLOSE AND RESTING HIS FACE ON ALIBABA’S HAIR WHILE PULLING ON HIS HAIR SPIKE IS SO CUTE LMAO. HE HAS NO SENSE OF PERSONAL SPACE WHATSOEVER… WHAT ARE YOU SO CLOSE FOR?

After the 2nd chorus, in the segment where it shows the two characters being childhood friends, I think I would depict a scene of their first meeting, then transition to their meeting on the Dark Continent with Judar and haniwa (clay doll) Alibaba.

Magi: Ch. 45

Magi: Ch. 266

And then pre-3rd chorus, the black haired delinquent character calls the other one "Your highness" sarcastically which honestly fits so well with the two of them.

Pre-3rd chorus, I imagined a scene where Alibaba is so occupied with chasing after Judar that he also accidentally steps on Kougyoku’s flowers, and Judar laughs at him and teases him for breaking his own “rules” and doing the exact same thing that he was scolding him for.

Also I just realized that pre-1st chorus, the pink haired character goes like, "Wait wait, hold on, listen to me! I’m telling you to stop flouting discipline!"

And then pre-3rd chorus, the black haired character repeats the same line, "Wait wait, hold on, listen to me! Have you blown your top or something?"

Repeating the same line -> Remembers his words from before and uses it teasingly

Judar laughing and snickering at Alibaba teasingly is so cute...

And Alibaba chases after Judar in good fun. Teehee 🥰💞

This song is so cute cuz despite the bickering it still shows the characters having a sense of warmth and companionship, with them smiling as they argue, which I think fits them well...

Magi: Volume 20 - JuAli Omake

For context:

Me: HAVE Y'ALL SEEN THIS LIKE WDHSHDSH

(Not my photos)

I'd have to go look at the JP scans later for the full image

WAIT THIS VOL. 20 JUALI OMAKE IS SO CUTE WAHHHH

C: Dysfunctional husbands

Me: MY JUALI CRUMBS

Also Sinbad at the end lmfao 😭

I always headcanoned that Judar would play with Alibaba's hair spike tbh... I imagined he'd have fun twirling it but him pulling on it totally makes sense for him too

C: And now. It is canon.

Ahh I see!

Me: Also Judar this mf has no idea of the concept of personal space

This guy has no idea what personal space is

HE'S SO CLOSE FOR NO REASON SKKSKSKK

HE’S LITERALLY LYING HIS HEAD ON HIS HAIR

C: HE IS A CAT

Hakuryu literally giving handling instructions of Judar

C: HHHH

R: Yunan 😭

Me: GHHGHGH YUNAN'S DIALOGUE CRYING

Me: Judar using Alibaba as a shield crying lmaoooo

And him pulling on his hair spike like pulling on weeds 😭

And him probably lifting it higher intentionally. THIS GUY

Judar going like “I have to get the idiot?” KSKSKSKSK

C: HHHH

C: All of this valid

The entire crew seems to get along great and have such fun interactions tbh lol

Me: Also yeah! They're all very fun and endearing and cute

Me: Actually, in the JP version, it seems more like he's saying that getting the “idiot king” (バカ殿, baka tono) would've been good, referring to Sinbad.

(Fixed up the TL, first one is more liberal and second is more literal)

Judar: It would've been better if I got the idiot king—

Judar: Getting the idiot king would’ve been good—

ジュダル：ばかとのがいいーーっ

(Judaru: Baka tono ga ii——)

C: OMG YEAH. DYSFUNCTIONAL HUSBANDS...

Me: Judar pulling on Alibaba's hair spike is just like pulling weeds out of the grass :)

Threateningly (/lh) but most likely playfully!

C: LMAO

Me: LMFAO YEAH JUDAR IS A CAT.

Hakuryuu literally giving Alibaba instructions on how to handle Judar 😭

C: Cat care sheet

Me: JuAli crumbs... Judar what are you so close for!

C: He just latches onto him

Me:

Judar: (—> Not sorry in the slightest)

C: YEAH LOL

Me: LMAOOO YEAH. Cat cot up in your personal space with no sense of the idea of personal space

(Magi: Ch. 266)

Me: I remember I was scrolling the JuAli tag on Twt and I saw a JP fan who talked about how they liked that "JuAli are so incompatible (in terms of their personalities) that they're drawn to each other."

Though, I feel like that's more HoroRen (SK) than JuAli. Cuz I think they're very compatible with each other. Rather than that, I see it more like… That they’re prone to clash, but their personalities mesh very well together.

As Lumen said, I love this panel sm cuz it’s always AliHaku, and Aladdin and Judar, who are put against each other in terms of the narrative, but Ch. 266’s panel shows that JuAli and Aladdin and Hakuryuu are the true opposites in terms of their personalities and motives/goals/ideals.

And I agree! That’s what's what causes them (JuAli) to clash sm, but also draws them to each other (re: Judar's inner curiosity towards Alibaba on the Dark Continent)

I also really love this panel cuz it shows that Judar recognizes that Alibaba has qualities that draw others to him, but just can't seem to understand why. Jaqui said that shows an inner curiosity and desire to know more. Which I agree with.

Me: Sinbad at the end help 😭😂

R: I'm Sinbad

Me: Also I'm confused af because Lumen said there are volume omakes at the end but I haven't seen them at all for the fan-TL on MD (MangaDex)

C: Valid!!

C: Cursed! Could be the MangaDex ones are scanned from the magazine releases of invidual chapters?

Me: I think MD has the EN fan-TL (magazine release) while Bato has the official TL by Viz (volume versions) that includes the omakes

Yeah I think the omakes are additional supplement papers (which are usually released with volumes)

C: CURSED

Me: I think people on Tunglr compiled them though, so most of them are fan-translated. So they're at least easy to find, but HHH.

I forgot who translated this one though… I swear I saved it off Tumblr?

Iirc @/youdontknowthings and @/arashidono fan-translated most Magi omakes. But I'll have to check again and read them all after

C: Aaaa I seee

...

Me: Ok so I just tried looking for the Magi: Vol. 20 - Nininbaori Tournament Omake and it's not in Vol. 20's extras??? Like I just checked right now.

So it must've come as an exclusive paper with Shounen Sunday Shop's Vol. 20 release in physical stores in Japan

DAWGGG WHY WASN'T IT INCLUDED IN THE VOLUME VERSION??? NOW I HAVE TO HUNT FOR IT MYSELF SO THAT I CAN GET MY HANDS ON IT

Ok let's see what I can do about this... I want that JuAli in HD and not in super low quality, so I just searched secondhand stores reselling it and bought it rn.

I'm waiting for it to get confirmed so it can get sent to me. Hope I can get my hands on it 🙏

I really want to get it so that I can scan it in HD. If it's JuAli related I MUST have my hands on it.

I've already collected a bunch of JuAli's old doujinshi from EA/JP creators back then.

#magi #magi: the labyrinth of magic #judar #alibaba #alibaba saluja #judar x alibaba #juali #aliju #alibaba x judar #judaali #judali #judar magi #judal magi #judal #sen's rambles #vocaloid parody #vocaloid crossover

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