#My PG Country Summer

[punkrockmixtapes]

Origami Angel - My PG County Summer

[marlenesluv]

✧.*Masterlist✧.*

Key:

♡ - fluff

☆ - smut

○ - angst

* - social media

:as time as gone on, i have started to write for a lot of different drivers, you can see below who those are. smut is a topic i am attempting to write. my goal is to be able to participate in a smutty event this christmas, so bear with me. when you request, pls tell me what type of fic (smau or one shot) and the driver (unless you want me to pick which is fine too):

(i write for: lando, charles, daniel and carlos mainly. i will also write for: pierre, max, lewis, george, and oscar per request. probably never alex albon tho: i love alex and lily, sry)

⋘ 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎... ⋙

Click Here to access my Book Lover Series❣️

➥ Lando Norris:

❒ smau:

moments *♡ (part 1) (part 2) (part 3)

part 1: landos posts on his jpg account while you guys are dating

part 2: in which you finally get a jpg account and post your boyfriend and friends

part 3: ?? its a surprise

book lover ♡: you’re a bookstagramer/booktuber and you love posting your books and your boyfriend (taylor swift lovers, same, this is for you)

book lover (part 2) ♡: this is part 2 to the smau above! more posts about books, but you posted a new video with the grid!

tokyo drift ♡: y/n is a formula drift driver, and her fans ship her with f1 driver lando norris.

❒ blurbs:

break ○: lando is on summer break with his gf, but can’t seem to stop training.

➥ Carlos Sainz:

❒ smau:

off the ice ♡: carlos meets his gf, an nhl analyst, and fans are overjoyed as y/n clicks with the grid

rule breaker ♡ (smau + dialogue): y/n leclerc has been dating carlos sainz, which her brother has one rule: to not date his teammate. what happens when she finally tells charles?

doesn’t come easy ♡: y/n is an upcoming scriptwriter for a future oscar winner, but fans don’t like her and her credit is ripped away when her film wins an oscar.

❒ blurbs:

➥ Charles Leclerc:

❒ smau:

hate doesn’t bother me ♡(rude fans): charles and y/n announce their relationship on summer vacation, but fans aren’t a fan of y/n, not that she cares.

welcome to the swamp ♡: cute posts between charles and his gators cheerleader girlfriend.

angel ♡: y/n is a victoria’s secret model dating arber xhekaj, but what happens when cheating scandals arise when she is found with charles leclerc?

nobody knows ♡: y/n is a hollywood actress from brazil, her home and love. but when she visits monaco, charles’ fans start to ship them. what they don’t know, is that their ship has already sailed.

star of the show ♡: y/n, cast member of teen wolf, starts dating charles leclerc, and fans love them together.

uni to paddock ♡: being a university student, reader isn’t able to go to a lot of her boyfriends races. but one day, she decides to go to a grand prix and shock fans.

country feels ♡: reader is a beloved country star, rumored to be dating the f1 driver, charles leclerc. what happens when someone accidentally reveals she has a boyfriend?

lovers to strangers to friends○♡: y/n and charles have been an iconic f1 paddock couple since 2019, but what happens when a rumor spreads about y/n cheating? (

❒ blurbs:

sick day ♡: you have to cancel your date with charles, but he has an idea.

➥ Daniel Ricciardo:

❒ smau:

keep it private *(suggestive content): daniel and his wife, y/n, post some non-pg things on their instagrams.

keep it private (part 2) *(suggestive content): just some more unhinged comments between you and daniel.

unexpected * ♡: daniel meets a dallas cowboy cheerleader and they become and unexpected couple to fans and friends.

paper rings ♡: reader has a job of drawing and reading, but her partime is posting her boyfriend. (just a cute little book smau lolz)

❒ blurbs:

➥ Max Verstappen:

❒ smau:

better kept secret *(mean fan comments): max meets y/n, who is a little younger, country, and both try to keep their relationship a secret until they snap, and drop a soft launch that fans are not happy about.

christmas is better with you ♡: nyc born reader takes her bf max, who isn’t a big christmas fan, to her home, new york, this christmas.

denial is a man’s bestfriend ♡: max and y/n are teammates, but they fall for each other, resulting in pressure from friends.

❒ blurbs:

➥ Oscar Piastri:

❒ smau:

home ♡: oscar and his gf go back to her home, paraná brazil, for summer break, posting a bit along the way.

softies ♡* (smau and fic blurbs) gn!reader: reader and oscar soft launch at the monaco gp, plus some cute oscar being supportive bf.

hard launches only ♡: oscar and his miliatary girfriend hard launch before the singapore grand prix.

teammates roommate… ♡: in which oscar falls for the roommate of lando and max. what happens when lando confront oscar about his little crush?

legos and laps ♡: oscar’s girlfriend is obsessed with legos! and of course he supports her addiction.

sly fox dumb bunny ♡:

❒ blurbs:

stress relief ☆ ♡: oscar’s qualifying doesn’t go as planned, but luckily he has you at home to help him destress.

➥ Pierre Gasly:

❒ smau:

appreciation ♡: pierre loves to post his successful gf, and she loves to post him just as much.

❒ blurbs:

➥ Ollie Bearman:

❒ smau:

going public ♡: reader is carlos sainz’s younger sister who has kept private for a while, but when she suddenly goes public on instagram, so does her relationship with ollie bearman.

➥ Logan Sargeant:

❒ smau:

bad decisions ♡: after logan’s chassis is given to alex, his girlfriend is determined to show him how much she loves him. (this got out of hand and lead to something i hope is cute?)

➥ Lewis Hamilton:

❒ smau:

i’d be blue without you ♡: lewis and his girlfriend always have a lined up schedule with his racing and her shows.

➥ Ballerina Series:

 ❒ This series follows Y/n Albon, Alex Albon’s younger sister, who is a ballerina. She loves posting her life and supporting her brother. But when her teammate quits, she’s left a little lonely. Luckily, Lando Norris is there to befriend her…..

❒ Here’s some little psa abt this series: this is a dialogue and smau fic. i know alex has other siblings but for the sake of this fic, he doesn’t lol. its just more to write. This is a gradual series that i will post on every once and a while, that way i can still post other fics.

part 1 : (posted on my main tumblr, oops)

part 2

part 3

[master-of-the-game]

Commissions in Summer Drop!

You know that there would be summer art sale and I decided to try to take some commissions along with other stuff. I’ve never done this before and feel like trying now.

How much slots do I open?

10. Here I will update how many free slots are still available.

Count: 10/10

Price?

100$ + shipping (the last time there were some accidents and problems with cheap shipping, so this time I plan to send the items as parcels and a via a priority shipping option)

What do you get?

For this money you get:

B\w graphic drawing on fine quality paper (material object, NOT a print of a digital one) A5 or any format smaller (A4 is possible if you need it but it will increase shipping cost) + high quality digital scan of it.

This drawing is made only once for you personally. They are NOT to be repeated as those from my blog, so you just get a unique graphic work.

Bunch of themed handmade stickers

Some other themed surprise stuff in package 😊

You may look at examples of drawings below

(examples are copies of drawings I’ve already made, your drawing will be unique)

What you can order?

Any StarTrek character (Mostly DS9 and those Cardassians from books I draw regularly, may be TNG, VOY or ENT) in mostly any situation/outfit/AU etc.

SFW (for this time), NO gore, body horror or same stuff.

There might be two or three characters on drawing (+30$ for each. Additional children (like cardassian babies), pets, animals, etc. go for free).

PG-13 is maximum because of law of sending country ☹ All is discussable, if you have any ideas you are welcome.

The most important part: Till when? When they will be sent? How do I order?

You may order till July 15 (or till there are open slots left)

The parcels will be sent soon after July 22.

You write me a DM. You order, we discuss, I confirm, create a drawing, send you a photo, pack it. Then you tell me your postal address and other coordinates, and few days before sending I give you card number to pay. Attention! You pay after the item is created and I learn the shipping cost! Then the item is sent and I give you a track number and send a scan of your drawing. Examples (copies)

[flowerwrites06]

lion and the fox ix — jjk

Plot: In a turbulent world of crime and intrigue, a fiery journalist makes an unlikely alliance with one of the country’s most notorious bosses.  Pairing(s): Mafia Boss!Jungkook x Journalist!OC (Name: Belle)  Rating: G | PG | M | R 18+ Type: Drabble | Oneshot | Two Parter | Series Word Count: 2.3k Genre: Mafia AU | Vintage (1940′s vibes) AU  Tags & Warnings: crime, violence, sexual content, forced prostitution, mentions of racist/xenophobic implications and culture, mild scenes of harassment, some misogynistic behaviour, mentions of war, heavy mentions of drug use, infidelity.  Authors Note: finally managed a proper update lmao hope you like this new one! Disclaimer: Please note that while some historical research has been done for this story, the MAJORITY of it has been altered in some way with creative liberties to match the themes and motifs of the plot.

Gaia’s guards dragged Jimin into the inner courtyard of her estate. The clouds hung heavy and grey above them. Amongst the gloominess, she wore a white dress and hat as if it was the height of a sunny summer yet her face looked like she entered a funeral.

Bruises peppered Jimin’s face, showing all the sign of how much he fought not to come to this place again. So it must’ve been torture to be around her. All the horrid things he must’ve thought in his mind while he touched her so softly. What a good little spy he was.

“Should we kill him, madam?” The guard asked.

“I’d have asked you do that if that were the plan.” Gaia waved her hand to send them away but the guards hesitated. Jimins’ hand were tied back but the man had talent in sneaking into places. Gaia’s own integrity was also questioned considering how much she believed him like a fool. “Are you worried he might kill me?” She stared down at him. “Well? Will you?”

Jimin stayed silent. Not glaring or calm but an irritating neutrality.

Gaia hummed and gestured for the guards to leave. This time, they did without hesitation.

“What do you want from me?” Jimin asked, voice parched and hoarse.

“Sorry, do you have somewhere to be?” Gaia asked mockingly as she sat down on the chair, crossing one leg over the other.

“No matter where I am, I am loyal to Seokjin.” Jimin spoke like a perfectly trained dog.

“I’m aware of how loyal you are to Seokjin.” Mockery laced Gaia’s tone. “It was my cunt you were using to do his bidding, remember?”

Jimin pursed his lips together. Still unreadable.

Gaia sighed, pushing down the stupid squeeze in her chest. A good little spy through and through. It was all for his precious master. “This isn’t to betray Seokjin or anything of the sort.”

He stared up at her, finally the neutral expression turned to something more curious. “What do you mean?”

“It’s regarding my father. “ Gaia brushed away the creases of her dress, gladdened that gloves covered hands to prevent them from trembling accidentally. “I need a job done.”

-

“You’re not using my son as bait,” Sunhee, one of Seokjin’s lovers and the mother of his secret child, glared at Jungkook with glossed eyes. She had long, black hair and deep brown eyes that were round almost similar to the shape of her lips.

Belle encouraged them to go back to Namjoon’s household personally for this meeting. But now as fog began to gather in the air and guards layered thickly out in the courtyard. The original dining meeting area was now enclosed with paper walls to shield out some of the cold air rushing through her clothes.

“If you want revenge on Seokjin, this is the way to get him to pay attention,” Jungkook argued after his second cup of makgeolli.

“You bosses are all the fucking same. You don’t treat children like people.” Sunhee seethed. Her round eyes burned with an anger that was too intimate for Belle to watch. Sunhee had been tricked into a good life. A home. Only to be hidden like a dirty secret.

Namjoon sighed. “You’re not selling this idea, Jeon.” He spoke in a smoother tone compared to their previous meeting. It seemed he was trying to balance Sunhee’s understandable anger.

“Your son won’t be in any real danger,” Belle said.

“How can you be sure?” Sunhee asked in a shaky tone.

“I promise you if any of them raise anything at your son, I will stand in the way of it. He will not get hurt.” Belle kept her gaze close to Sunhee. Yes, she wasn’t sure whether Jungkook will keep the boys safe but she was sure that she’ll take any injury if the situation arose.

“So there is going to be danger.” Sunhee shook her head.

Belle took a deep breath, glancing at both Namjoon and Jungkook. “There are a lot of bosses who will tell you pretty things so they can get what they want. You’re not the first person and you won’t be the last one,” she said as Sunhee’s expression began to soften. “But if we do the right things, we can ensure it happens less and less.” She tilted her head, still keeping her voice low as if it was just the two of them. “Do you want Seokjin to weaken?”

Her expression turned, a mix of sadness and anger. How familiar that felt. “I do.”

“Then you’ll need to work with us on this,” Belle said.

Sunhee took a deep breath. “You’ll be there with your guards?” She turned to Namjoon.

Namjoon nodded. “I give you my word.”

Sunhee pressed her shaking lips together. “Alright. But you stay close to them.” She stared at Belle specifically, her gaze so deep that it felt like she was looking into her very weaknesses.

Belle gave a small bow. “Of course.”

-

It had been years since Angel had woken up on Taehyung’s naked chest, warm and a gentle heartbeat soothing her back into reality. His fingers traced down her arm, making her hum in pleasure. Angel lifted her head and nudged her nose against his jawline as she shifted closer.

Taehyung kissed her forehead. “I missed you.”

Angel smiled, caressing his cheek and leaning in to give him a tender kiss on the lips. “You don’t have to anymore.” She saw the guards in suits patrolling the inner courtyard. They were good at keeping their eyes away but she knew they were keeping an eye on her. “They’ve been patrolling us for a while now.”

“Maybe they like what they see.” Taehyung smirked.

She slapped his chest playfully with a grin. Angel was glad to see him light-hearted again after seeing the sheer bloodlust that pulsed through him towards Seokjin. “I appreciate Belle’s help but it seems they’re not letting us go anytime soon.”

“Nothing goes without a price,” Taehyung said with a slight grim tone, dark eyes staring up at the ceiling which was painted in blossoms. “Especially not until this is all over.”

Angel hummed. “I suppose it’s not so bad.” She snuggled deeper into the soft cotton sheets. “Their beds are soft.”

Taehyung chuckled. “We can steal the mattress for our new house.”

-

Guilt choked her throughout the day as Yoongi gave updates on the extractions of the two boys, who were called Byungho, Sunhee’s son and Kaito, Akira’s son. It was done then. Jungkook kept himself silent, smoking and going about his day like he didn’t just have two children taken from their homes. Even Sunhee wasn’t completely allowed to meet her son to protect her own identity. But Belle didn’t want to leave them be. She opted to take a car to the safehouse where the two sons resided during the night.

In her hands were two boxes of warm cooked food and some toys. Guards teemed the safehouse, looking more like a prison than a home. The house itself was luxurious made from hardwood and decorated with roses but it was empty and cold. When she entered the house hallway, she heard noise from the dining room on the right.

It was traditional Japanese style with tatami mats and a floor table. Byungho and Kaito were playing together, games from school grounds and a childhood that still remained in them. Belle was comforted by the sight.

When they saw her though, they quickly stood up in fear.

Guilt fuelled Belle further. “I’m a friend, don’t worry.” She kept her voice calm and soft.

Belle placed the freshly cooked food and toys on the table. “Your mother sent this, Byungho. I’ve also brought toys.” She grinned at them.

“Why did my mother bring me here?” Byungho asked.

Belle sighed, sitting at the floor table as they opened their dinner boxes to eat. “Your mother loves you very much but your father is. . .not a good man. So she’s trying to make sure he never hurts either of you. Okay?”

The boys nodded.

Belle sat down with them as they ate happily. It still ached to see them here, used as bait. They didn’t deserve to be in a world like this.

“Did you want some, miss?” Kaito asked, his posture so much straighter and rigid. He was trained to be the next boss and Belle could see the lack of true childhood just by the way he sat and ate politely.

Belle shook her head and smiled. “It’s all for you.”

Kaito nodded, picking at the leftover food for a moment. He thought for a long time, blinking slowly. “Will I be bad like my father?” he asked.

Belle’s heart clenched. “No.” She shook her head. “No. I hope one day you will fight to have good lives. And don’t be enemies. It’s already a world full of cruelty.”

Byungho nodded immediately but Kaito stayed silent, mulling over the subject as if it weighed heavily on him but he wasn’t old enough to truly comprehend anything.

“This will all be over soon, I promise.” She smiled. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Belle,” Kaito said. A hint of a smile began to show on his face.

“Of course.” Belle stood to her feet. “I should get back.”

As she made way back into the hallway, a figure was already walking through the entrance door. Namjoon stared at her, confused as he had plastic bags full of snacks and things to eat. He looked more like a father coming home rather than a crime boss. “Oh. You brought dinner too?” He looked into the dining room.

“I did.” Belle intertwined her fingers together.

Namjoon tilted his head, eyes squinted. “Did Jungkook authorize that?”

“Jungkook doesn’t have to authorize everything,” Belle said, frustrated at the insinuation. Of course, he’d assume that she was Jungkook’s property or employee in some way. She allowed for that implication and now it was biting her back. Taking a deep breath, she bowed. “Sir.” She walked past him.

“Get home safe.”

-

Belle arrived back into Jungkook’s estate, keeping her footsteps to ensure no one was disturbed. But when she stepped into the bedroom, Jungkook sat on the bed. Very awake, still wearing his white work shirt with the sleeves rolled up, half-used cigarette in his hand and an angry expression across his face. The only light in the bedroom was a warm lamp next to his usual side of the bed.

“Where were you?” Jungkook’s voice was more hoarse than ever, dark brows furrowed. This wasn’t his first smoke today.

“Checking on the children,” Belle replied simply as she placed her purse on the vanity next to her.

“You don’t need to do that.”

Belle sighed in annoyance as she pulled her sweater from being tucked into her skirt. “They’re children and you gave them guards and a prison.”

“Acting moral again, aren’t we?” Jungkook’s voice dripped with bitter poison.

“We could’ve come up with something else.” Belle crossed her arms over her chest, stepping closer to him. “Something less cruel.”

“If I were cruel, I’d have killed one of them by now.” Jungkook waved his hand.

The ease of how he spoke those words made Belle’s stomach twist. “You don’t mean that.”

“Why not?” Jungkook leaned forward, glare piercing into her.

“Because you’re not that attached to power, you’re better than that.”

Jungkook scoffed with a cruel smile. “And you’re going to teach me about attachment? With your history?”

Belle pursed her lips together as her heart clenched. Any ounce of patience that built inside her for Jungkook crumbled into pieces right on her palms like broken glass. Hurt and anger spread through her, burning and aching every inch of her body. “You went downhill rather quickly.” Her teeth gritted. “I suppose you’ve already gotten to fuck me so it’s all out of your system now. All that effort and pretense.” She walked further away.

Jungkook tightened his jaw, sighing and getting to his feet. “I didn’t mean that.”

“Don’t piss out now, you’ve already said it.” Belle grabbed onto her bag. “Made a really nice show of it too.”

Jungkook grabbed onto the strap of her bag. “Stop that.” He pulled her close from the bag, pressing her body to his and gripping her chin, their noses nudged against each other. “You know how I feel about you.”

“Get the fuck away from me!” Belle pushed him back, yanking her purse from him. Her back hit the door. “Don’t manipulate me into forgiving you, I have every reason to stay away from you because this is what you do.” Her voice began to crack as the broken glass of her hopes cut through her skin. It was normal for Jungkook to be corrupt. To be bad for her. She knew it happened. But the fact it hurt. That was what angered her more than anything.

“You pretend you care and the slightest taste of more power changes you. I will not fall in line with you. Ever.” She seethed as her vision blurred. Tears formed in her eyes thickly. Now she was crying in front of Jungkook. She was crying in front of Jungkook. As if her mind was able to relax around him and be vulnerable around him like an idiot. Like a true fool. “Fuck.” She whispered to herself as she sniffled, looking away.

Silence thickened the air, heating it like lava. Jungkook pressed the cigarette into the ashtray. “It’s really late at night. Don’t leave.” His voice was terribly soft and Belle hated every minute of it.

She had her back pressed flush against the door, wanting nothing but to run back to her own home. But it wasn’t like before. Seokjin knew who she was, who Hoseok was. As much as it made her sick, Jungkook’s house was the safest place she could be. “I’m not sleeping here.”

“I’ll ask the servants to prepare you something,” Jungkook said.

“I’ll handle it,” she spoke through gritted teeth. “Just leave me alone.” Belle quickly wiped her cheek, walking through the door and slamming it behind her.  

@outrofenty | If you’d like to be added, please read the guide!

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[hetadoujinarchive]

List of Dj’s on This Page

[Btw I will block you if you look like a p/rn bot]

[Last updated mid June]

[Currently organized in this order: GerIta, SuFin, RoChu, FrUK, Other Ships, Non Ship]

GerIta/Hretaly:

A Day On The Planet (85 pgs; dark)

Becoming Friends (17 pgs; dark, gun; nudity but nothing shown)

Beginning's Tone/Hajimari no Onshoku (27 pgs; dark)

BMMB Winter Comiket Issue (5 pgs; cute)

Canal Grande (14 pgs; somber; censored nsfw)

Catharsis When The Country Awakes (74 pgs; dark)

Cherry Boy Blues (21 pgs; dark)

Diamante (multi-ship; 59 pgs; only the gerita one is sad)

Dream Draws A Dream (33 pgs; light drama; censored nsfw)

Eternita (32 pgs; neutral-somber)

Gift (25 pgs; light drama; censored nsfw)

Goodbye My Little Girl (53 pgs; dark)

Hiraite Musunde Isshuukan/Red Shoelaces (28 pgs; light)

I-Logik (32 pgs; light)

I Won’t Let You Call Me Gattino (32 pgs; comedy)

La Sposa de Adria (51 pgs; somber)

Lei Chi Sono Dolce pt 1 (59 pgs; bit dark)

Lei Chi Sono Dolce pt 2 (49 pgs; dark)

Lettera D’Amore (37 pgs; cute)

Life Is So Beautiful (30 pgs; dark, tw)

Little Sheep/Counting Sheep (44 pgs; dark)

Marriage Press Conference (34 pgs; comedy)

Messenger Of Happiness (39 pgs; bit somber)

Night Watch (48 pgs; dark; censored nsfw)

Oggi Sposi (19 pgs; comedy)

Passato Ed Ora (32 pgs; dark)

Passwort Sirup (14 pgs; dark)

Playing House/Futari Gokko (120 pgs; dark, war)

Siamo Felici (24 pgs; comedy)

Sweet Home (30 pgs; dark)

The Defeat Of A Certain Man (60 pgs; drama; censored nsfw)

The Windowsill That Loved Him (30 pgs; sweet)

What If (12 pgs; dark)

***

SuFin:

Ai Suru Hito (27; light)

Diamond, Diamond, Diamond (30; mostly light)

Good Night, Good Dreams (14; cute)

Happy School Days (14; cute)

Kemuri wa Doko e Iku no Kara/Where Does The Smoke Go (22; dark, smoking)

Oh Family (18; cute)

Pihatonttu (75; cute)

Second Stage (20; somber)

***

RoChu:

Bloom Of Flower (18; dark)

Da Small Town (39; light drama)

Drowned Prince/Oboreta Ou (24; neutral)

Eternal Happiness (28; light drama; censored nsfw)

Guo Jie/Border (28; somber/neutral)

Little Song Maker (15; comedy)

***

FrUK:

Deus Ex Machine (25; neutralish)

Diamante (multi-ship; 59; only the gerita part is sad) 

Drive Me Crazy (58; light drama; censored)

Fairy In My Mind (43; light; censored)

My Dearest, The British Empire (19; light)

Shiki/Fuyu (45, dark)

Yoru no Mori, Anata to Futari (37, darkish?)

***

Other Ships:

Fubin 2 (Gakuen PruHun; 20; light; censored)

Gap Moe (PruHun; 30; comedy)

Omoide Jenga (PruHun; 27; dark)

Always By Your Side (Giripan; 33; light drama)

Neko Netsu (Giripan; 22; dark, war)

Do You Remember Me? (RusPrus; 78; somber; censored)

My Name Is Your Night (RusPrus; 57; somber; censored)

Diamante (LietPol, RusAme, etc; 59; only the gerita part is sad)

Koi To Wa Donna Mono Kashira/What Is It Like To Be In Love? (AusHun; 18; light drama)

Million Lies (DenNor; 72; dark, violence)

The Nation And The Maiden (FraJoan; 33; dark)

***

Non-Ship:

A Happy Friendship Day (Hungary & Poland; 14; light)

Cradle Voice/Yurikago no Koe (Italy & Austria; 14; light)

Dreaming (Child America &Canada; 17; light)

Fubin 1 (Gakuen England, Japan; 14; comedy; censored nsfw)

Heart Ni Hyoutai (Russia; hints of LietBel and RusLiet; 14; somber; censored)

Hide, Hide, Hide! (Child America & Canada; 29; cute)

I Am Here, It Is A Very Wonderful Day/Sayonara Sankaku, Matakite Shikaku (Belarus; hints of LietBel; 47; dark)

Moon For You/Anata e no Tsuki (censored v) (Japan & China; 28; war)

Moon For You/Anata e no Tsuki (uncensored v) (Japan & China; 28; dark, blood, war)

My Dearest, The British Empire (tech FrUK bnr; 19; light)

Nihonchi (axis vs ame & uk; tech gerita & itapan bnr; 25; comedy)

Passwort Sirup (hints of hretaly/gerita; 14; dark)

Summer Apparition/Natsu no Mamono (axis; 14; somber yet wholesome)

The Golden Age of Sea and Sky (Turkey & Greece; 25; neutral)

There Is No End (nordics; 27; dark)

The Sound Of A Heart Falling/Shinzou No Orihiru No (Belarus & Russia; 17; dark, tw)

Tomato! Tomato! Tomato! (tech spamano bnr; 20; cute)

World Wide Love (main cast, mcdonald, miku, shinatty; 21; comedy)

[ayearofreadingitalylit]

Reflections on a Year of Reading Italian Literature

Books read this year: 

- The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano

- Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes (pgs 1 through 200)

From Reading these two books, I have learned quite a bit about the Italian Geography. Obviously, Italy is a very beautiful place to visit but it has so much more to offer than seen with the naked eye. For an example, in the book “The Solitude of Prime Numbers”, Alice was on a skiing trip with her father along the Italian mountains, and it was very cold. Not to mention she had a terrible skiing accident, she told her father she needed to use the restroom before going up the mountain but he didn’t listen. With this event happening, I have learned that Italy is not only a hot summer country, but can also be a scenic, and different place. I have learned that Italy has other sides to it like big mountains that then have snow. This is something new to hear. In the book “Under the Tuscan Sun”, Frances and Ed spend a summer traveling the Tuscan countryside, buying wines and touring old tombs. And in the winter time, they collect oil from their olive trees. I have learned that Italy is a very touristic country and is full of amazing things to do and see. It is known as a very romantic place to go with a partner and this tells us that because going along the countryside and buying wine is one of the most romantic things a couple can do. Isn’t it?

From Reading these two books, I have also learned a lot about Italy’s history. In the book “The Solitude of Prime Numbers”, Alice and Mattia are bestfriends and have a unexplainable connection with one another. The kind thats only one in a lifetime, if that. Towards the end of the book, Alice is having a very rough patch with her husband, Fabio, and She finds herself in her living room with Mattia kissing. In that moment, she realized that her feelings for Mattia were always real and weren’t just a fantasy in her head. I have learned that Italy’s history is connected to Romance. I know this because one of the cities in Italy is Venice. And Venice is classified as “The City of Love”. Italy has a long line of photographic views, beautiful sunsets, and full of color. Like Happiness. Something big and yet so beautiful. In the book “Under the Tuscan Sun”, a professor of creative writing, Frances, who takes her divorce settlement and buys an abandoned villa in Tuscany. She gets her now husband, Ed, to help her completely remodel the villa for their own little place together. I learned that Italy wasn’t always the modern place it is now. Rome was found at least 800,000 years ago and the history goes way back to BC. Which was then called Italy from the Roman Republic.

From Reading these two books, I lastly learned about The Italian Culture. Now in Present time, Italians are very big on family, tradition and loyalty. Back then, Italy didn’t have much culture. It was mostly known for their exotic foods and different language. In the book “The Solitude of Prime Numbers”, its about love and friendship. Alice and Mattia were friends since middle school and they were both twin flames. They were both lonely, broken and were there for each other. They are one anothers person, but more love over friendship. I learned that Italy’s culture is Love. Its what its known for, and its beautiful and extensive history. In the book “Under the Tuscan Sun”, Its about Frances who was hurt, starts a totally new life from scratch and finds a way to live again. I learned that Italy’s culture is also about finding yourself. I know this because this story is all about rebirth and transformation.

In all of my time of reading these two books, I have learned a lot of life lessons. In the book “The Solitude of Prime Numbers”,  I have learned to never let what you truly feel go unsaid. It may become too late and that can cause you to lose very big people apart of your life that are irreplaceable. In the book “Under the Tuscan Sun”, I have learned that you should never be scared to make something of yourself from nothing. Any one can accomplish anything they put their mind to and you just have to believe in yourself and not worry about what others may think of you.

Finally, In my time of reading these two books, they have taught me very big and important life lessons that are useful in this generation. Mostly, I have learned some things I didn’t know about myself. I have always had a difficult time liking to read since i was at a young age. It is easy for me to read a sentence or read a quote written on a wall, but a whole book?! Yeah I have always told myself that I hated reading. Its hard for me to stay focused and keep track of where I am in the book without losing myself. Everytime I would try and sit down to read the 10 pages a day, I always stopped at 2 or 3 and found myself on my phone for the rest of the night. I then tried to find things to help me stay focused and I came across something called Audible. Audible is a audiobook subscription that has many stories and books and you listen and follow along. This made me stay focused and not easily lose myself within the pages. That is all I learned about Italian Literature and also about myself.

Final Blog Word Count: 932

[angelasscribbles]

Home For Christmas

Series: American Girl

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Riley x Liam (past)

Rating: PG

Warnings for this chapter: Language, alcohol consumption by people under 21

Word Count: 4,080

A/N: This is a complete AU, my first one that takes them out of Cordonia and makes them normal, average people.

I have no idea what this is. I went to a Christmas party and people watched a group of college-aged kids interact and I shit you not, one was named Riley. Creativity was sparked and here we are.

Fair warning, this is only a Christmas story in so far as it's set over the Christmas break. This story isn't exactly happy, merry, bright or festive. It's a lil' angsty not gonna lie.

I know I am not the first person to write Riley and Liam as high school sweethearts. Notably, @bebepac has a very adorkable version of high schooler Liam Rys. This is simply my twist on that trope and hopefully doesn't step on anyone's toes.

@choicesholidays themes "So glad we found each other" and: "If we hurry, we can still save Christmas", very loosely.

My other stuff: Master List.

Liam checked his appearance one last time in the mirror of his childhood bedroom before bounding down the burgundy carpeted stairs two at a time and skidding to a stop at the bottom.

“Whoa, there!” His father laughed, “Where’s the fire?”

“Sorry! I’m just ready for the party!”

“Ok, son!” his father laughed as he made his way around him, “I’ll be in the kitchen helping your mother.”

The Rys house, nestled in an affluent suburb of Dallas, was draped in Christmas splendor. From the seven-foot tree in the foyer to the holly-adorned fireplace in the formal living room, the house was ready for the annual Rys Christmas party.

Held the week before Christmas, it was a four hour long come and go affair showcasing his mother Eleanor’s considerable baking skills.

“Every surface is covered in food.” She always told her guests, as they circulated through the kitchen, living, and dining rooms all spread lavishly with homemade goodies.

It was true. Every table and counter in the three rooms were covered in food, from freshly chopped fruits and veggies with dip, to baked goods like walnut fudge brownies, coconut rum balls, meringue Christmas trees, four types of fudge, peppermint bark, various assorted cookies, and her homemade Chex mix, a recipe passed on from her mother and affectionally called Texas trash.

There was a chocolate fountain that was always the hit of the party with the ten and under set.

But it wasn’t the food, or the decorations, that had Liam excited for the party.

It was the hope that his high school girlfriend might put in an appearance.

Liam joined his older brother and younger sister in the dining room that graced the front of the house. Guests had just started trickling in.

“Is Riley coming?” Leo asked.

“I…don’t know,” Liam answered honestly.

“Why the hell would she?” His sister Lena looked back and forth between them like they were stupid.

“Uh…because we’ve known her since she was in kindergarten and she always comes….” Leo answered.

“That was before our idiot brother broke her heart.”

“Hey!” Liam protested, “That’s not what happened!”

Lena leveled a skeptical stare at him as she asked, “Did you or did you not break up with her after graduation?”

“It was mutual!” he protested, “Because we were going to college on opposite sides of the country!” He was so tired of explaining his reasoning to everyone.

Their friends all seemed to think he was either an idiot or an asshole for breaking up with her at the beginning of the summer instead of the end.

But he had thought it was better to rip the Band-Aid off.

Long-distance relationships were difficult to maintain and he wanted them both to have options.

Especially Riley. He knew how much getting a scholarship to college meant to her. She was the first one in her family to go to college and she felt all the pressure that entailed.  

He had done it for her. 

“Have you talked to her since you both left for school?” Lena asked.

“No,” he admitted.

He had typed out, and deleted about a thousand text messages.

He had tried calling a couple of times.

She hadn’t answered.

The one time she had called back, he had been taking a test and missed the call.

She hadn’t left a message.

“Hey, she’s here!” Leo called over his shoulder from his spot near the window, next to the chocolate fountain.

“Really?” Liam felt his heart simultaneously rise and fall. He wiped his suddenly sweaty palms on his pants.

“Yeah, really, she just got out of Drake’s truck.”

“What?” Confusion pulled through Liam, “What are they doing together?”

“I don’t know,” Leo shrugged as he grabbed a brownie and covered it in chocolate.

Lena tilted her head to the side, “Have you talked to him since you left for college?”

“A couple of times…” the truth was that Liam had been busy with schoolwork and his own self-imposed heartbreak, so he hadn’t done the best job at keeping up with his childhood best friend.

“Have you asked him about his dating life?” Lena pressed.

Liam’s eyes widened at the implication, “You don’t think they’re together, do you?”

Leo shoved the entire brownie in his mouth as he looked out the window again, “They look pretty together to me.” He mumbled through a mouthful of brownie and chocolate sauce.

Liam leaned forward so he could see out the window.

Her body language screamed that she was nervous as she made her way up the sidewalk, side by side with Drake.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Liam said out loud, “They live next door to each other, he just gave her a ride!”

“Whatever you say, buddy!” Leo slapped him on the back hard enough to jolt him forward, “I saw Mr. and Mrs. Nevrakis come in a minute ago, I’m going to find Liv!”

“But-“

“I think you’re on your own with this, Li.” Lena told him, “you broke it, you fix it.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled as he followed his sister to the front door, “if it’s fixable.”

Lena threw herself on Riley the moment the door opened, “Riley!”

“Hey, Lena!” Riley’s face broke into a genuine smile as she returned the younger girl’s hug, “It’s good to see you!”

“I’ve missed you!” Lena said as she stepped back and pulled Riley through the door.

“What? No hug or I missed you for me?” Drake laughed.

Lena rolled her eyes, “I see you all the time!”

It was true. Drake had stayed in town after graduation and enrolled in the local community college. He was working on a certification in automotive technology. He was paying for it with his job at the local bowling alley, the same one he’d had since he was sixteen.

He was good with anything mechanical, including the pin setters. It made him invaluable to the owner.

In addition to bowling, the place had a video game arcade and laser tag, making it a popular afterschool and weekend hangout.

“Riley!” Eleanor Rys swept into the room, Constantine on her heels.

Greetings and hugs were exchanged between Riley and Liam’s parents as Liam slapped Drake’s opened palm, “Good to see you, bro.”

“You too! Can’t wait to hear all your college stories! Bet they’re wilder than mine!”

“Doubt it,” Liam scoffed, “I spend my weekends in the library studying!”

“Lame. But predictable. How are we friends?”

“You just got lucky I guess.”

Drake snorted, “Yeah, I’m the lucky one, okay!”

Liam’s parents went back to the other adults and Lena joined a group of teenagers on the other side of the room.

Riley hung back with Liam as Drake headed to the hot chocolate, “You want anything, Brooks?” He asked over his shoulder.

“I’m good!” she told him as she watched him walk away before turning to Liam with open arms, “Hey.”

“Hey yourself,” he replied as he pulled her into an embrace.

His body relaxed as he held her tight against him, the familiar scent of her washing over him and flooding his senses with memories.

“You look good,” she told him as she pulled away with a hesitant smile.

“You look great,” relief swept through him that she was there, standing in his living room, smiling at him.

“Liam! Riley!” a voice called out.

“Hey, Rashad,” Liam high-fived his friend and attempted to squash his irritation at the interruption.

Riley was cornered by several more of their former classmates, effectively ending their conversation, at least for the time being.

She gave him an apologetic glance as their friends came between them.

After about half an hour, Riley sidled over to Liam and said, “We should go hang out in the rec room and play pool like we used to.”

“Yes!” Liam agreed, then in a lower voice, “I’ll go sneak some of my dad’s beer!”

“Just like old times!” The smile she gave him filled his heart with hope.

Word passed quickly among their core group of friends and they all filtered upstairs to the rec room.

Several minutes later, Liam glanced up and down the hallway before darting into the room with his ill-gotten gains.

His good mood dampened a little when he spotted Riley in the corner with Drake. She was laughing at something he said, and he was standing far too close to her for Liam’s liking.

Not that he had any right to say anything about who she stood close to. But when they broke up, he had thought that one of two things would happen.

Either one or both of them would move on, eventually, or they would find their way back to each other, after college.

But in the event that one of them moved on, he had thought it would be later down the road, and with someone new, someone that they met at college, in another state.

Not less than six months later with his best friend, her lifelong next-door neighbor.

Riley spotted him over Drake’s shoulder and waved, “Did you get it?”

“Yeah,” he forced a smile as he produced the six-pack from under his shirt.

He didn’t miss the disappointment in Drake’s eyes when she stepped away from him and headed in his direction.

Liam sat the beer down on a table and handed them out.

“Thanks,” Rashad took the proffered beer with one hand and gestured toward the pool table with the other, “Are we going to play pool now or what?”

“Sure,” Liam replied, “If Riley wants to.”

“I’ll play!” Drake answered.

Liam ignored him and turned to Riley, “You and me against Drake and Rashad?” He asked as he handed her a pool cue, “Just like old times.”

“Just like old times.” She grinned at him.

“Or we could switch it up,” Drake interjected, “Riley and me against you and Rashad.”

“No,” Liam gave him a sharp look, “this is good!”

Rashad looked back and forth between them then at Riley, “What’s happening?”

“Nothing,” Drake shrugged as he turned to grab a pool stick, “just trying to shake things up a little.”

Rashad turned his attention back to Liam who also shrugged, “Things are fine the way they’ve always been.”

“Okay…”Rashad’s gaze slid to Riley who just shook her head.

“Let’s play!” Riley said.

“I’ll break,” Rashad decided to ignore whatever weirdness was going on with his friends.

An hour passed while other friends drifted in and out of the rec room. They played pool until Rashad had to leave.

“I’m going to get some of your mom’s famous punch!” Riley told Liam.

“How?” He demanded, “It’s alcoholic!”

“I’m going to have Leo get it for me,” she smirked.

“Oh yeah, that’ll work,” Liam chuckled.

He swore his siblings both liked Riley more than they liked him.

“Make sure the cup is full so we can share,” Drake called after her as she slipped out the door.

Liam found himself alone with Drake for the first time since last summer, “So…you and Riley…what’s that about?”

“What?” Drake looked at him in surprise, “What do you mean?”

“Come on, man. I’ve known you since we were five. Something is going on with you two.”

Drake shrugged, “I mean, we’ve hung out a few times.”

“A few times? Like when?”

“I don’t know,” Drake hedged, “last summer a little and then over Thanksgiving break.”

“She came home for Thanksgiving?”

“Yeah, said she was homesick.”

“Is she…having a hard time at school?” Liam asked with concern.

“Maybe you should ask her that,” Drake responded, “I don’t speak for her.”

“Right, of course, you’re right. Sorry. It’s just still…weird…”

“Why is it weird? I thought you two broke up amicably, by mutual agreement.” Drake leaned on his pool stick as he watched Liam’s face carefully as if the answer was important.

“We did but…I don’t know, we agreed to stay friends, but I swear she avoided me all summer after that!”

“Huh.”

“What’s huh mean?”

“Nothing, man!” Drake threw a hand up in the air, “just trying to figure things out.”

“What things?”

“Who brought it up first?”

“Brought what up?”

“The idea of breaking up. Who floated it out there?”

“I did.”

Drake nodded, “So you could go off to college free and unattached, I get it.”

“No, that’s…I mean, yes but… fuck, shit, I don’t know what I mean!” Liam threw his pool stick on the table and slumped into a nearby chair.

“So, what? You regret it now?”

“Yes!...No!...Maybe, okay?” Liam dropped his head into his hands.

“Okay…” Drake tossed his stick down as well and took the seat across from Liam, “But you did break up with her so if she started seeing someone else, someone you know…would you be mad about it?”

Liam’s head snapped up, “Someone like you?”

“I didn’t say that…”

“But it’s what you meant, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know, maybe. I’m just saying-“

“You can just tell me, Drake! We’ve told each other everything since grade school!” Liam snapped.

Drake looked up at the ceiling instead of directly at Liam as he responded, “I’m interested, okay?”

“Since when?”

“Since always! I dated her before you did if you remember.”

Liam’s mouth fell open, “Are you talking about those two weeks in seventh grade?”

“Yeah.”

“You were twelve!”

“So?”

“So, that’s not really dating!”

“I took her to the sock hop.”

“Your mom drove you both to the sock hop and Riley spent the whole night dancing with Maxwell Beaumont! Then she dumped you for him!”

Drake shrugged, “Like you said, we were twelve. I forgave her for that, and Max turned out to be gay so…”

“Drake, we’ve been best friends since first fucking grade and you have never expressed a romantic interest in her before!”

“I don’t tell you everything, Li.”

Liam stared at his best friend in disbelief, “I tell you everything!”

“You didn’t tell me why you broke up with Brooks.”

“Fuck. I guess I didn’t.”

Drake pulled in a deep breath, unwilling and unable to admit that he’d been in love with her since they were four, “Look, I’m sorry, Li. It’s not like I was keeping things from you. I mean, it was just a crush when we were kids, then in high school, she dated Rashad most of freshman year, and sophomore year I was with Kiara…then she was dating you. It just never seemed like there was anything to tell.”

“I guess.”

“You’re my best friend, Li, and I don’t want to lose that…but…”

Liam’s heart sank, “But?”

“But you did break up with her, she is single, and something did happen between us last summer! I’m sorry, I thought you two were over….”

“We were…I mean we are…I mean…shit… I don’t know what I mean!” He sighed in frustration. All the reasons they broke up in the first place were still valid.

But the thought of her with someone else, anyone else, but especially Drake, stung.

The door creaked open, and Riley came back in, “Got it!” She crowed triumphantly.

Liam shook his head, “I told you he likes you best, he would have never done that for me!”

“Well, I did promise to give him all the dirt on that guy Anton that Liv’s been seeing.”

“Can you deliver on that?” Drake asked.

“I’ll do my best!” she answered with a grin.

Liv and Riley were attending the same school. Riley was a freshman while Liv was a senior, but they still saw each other and ran in some of the same circles.

“You always do,” Liam replied as he stood, “can we talk for a minute?”

“Sure…”

“Privately, I mean,” He said with a pointed look at Drake, “in my room.”

Drake suppressed a sigh as he stood up, “I’m going to find some of those sugar cookies. I’ll be downstairs when you’re done.”

Liam retrieved the last beer from the shelf where he had hidden it behind the trivial pursuit game.

Riley trailed behind him to his room, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mouth went dry as she stepped through the door into his bedroom.

A room she hadn’t stepped foot in since the day he’d broken up with her six months prior.

She blinked rapidly several times to combat the tears that welled up in her eyes at the memory.

The familiar scent of his room rushed over her as she took a seat on the edge of his bed and sat her red solo cup on the nightstand.

She glanced surreptitiously around. Everything looked exactly the same. But nothing was the same anymore.

She clenched her fists tightly in her lap as she struggled to contain her jangled nerves.

Liam sat down next to her on the bed and turned his body to face her as he fidgeted with the unopened bottle in his hand, “Ah…Drake said you came home for Thanksgiving because you were homesick. Is everything okay at school?”

She considered her words carefully before finally replying, “It’s fine. It’s just a big change, you know?”

Liam nodded. His eyes locked on the label he was pulling at on the beer bottle, “Yeah. I do.”

They sat in awkward silence for a moment then Riley asked, “Why did we break up?”

Liam nearly dropped the bottle, as his head jerked up, his eyes wide with astonishment, “What? I thought we agreed it was for the best!”

“I mean…it was your idea,” Riley replied slowly, “What was I going to say once you brought it up? No?”

Liam’s world spun, “I thought….I thought it was what you wanted! Are you telling me I was wrong?”

“Yeah. But once you brought it up, I thought it was what you wanted so….”

“But…you kept talking about how hard long-distance relationships were…did I misread that?”

“I kept bringing that up because I was stressed out and worried about what was going to happen to us, Liam! I wanted reassurance, not to break up!”

“Wow. Okay, so I totally misread that! I am…a fucking idiot, just like my sister said…”

He drew in a deep breath, working up the courage to tell her it was a mistake and he wanted her back.

Long distance was hard, but not impossible. They could do it.

He wanted to do it.

“I don’t know, Liam. Maybe you were right.”

“What?” Disappointment surged through him, “What do you mean?”

“I mean…college is a lot; you were right about that. And we’re not just in different states, we’re on opposite coasts!”

“Yeah, but we have technology! We can text, talk, facetime, all of it! Maybe I could fly out to you one weekend a month or something.”

“Until you need to study for a test on Monday, or want to go out with your new friends. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be doing? Exploring, growing, learning about ourselves?”

Liam felt like he’d been slapped. They were the exact words he’d used to break up with her.

“Yes, but-“

“I don’t want you to start to resent me, Liam. Flying across the country once a month? Missing out on parties and study groups and all those new experiences you told me we were both going to have? And what if you meet someone new at Princeton? I don’t want to be broken up with for someone else. It’s better this way. Our friendship stays intact.” She nodded as she spoke, as if reassuring herself of the facts.

“Sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought.”

“I have,” She assured him, “I was pretty fucked up when you dumped me but-“

“I didn’t dump you, Riley!” He protested, “I thought it was mutual! I thought-“

She reached for his hand, smiling through the tears that suddenly pooled in the corners of her eyes and trickled down her cheeks, “I know that now. And that actually makes me feel so much better about everything!”

“Is that why you avoided me all summer?”

“Yeah, I was pretty hurt but I didn’t want to give you the satisfaction of knowing it.”

“Satisfaction?” He shook his head vigorously, “Riley, I’m man enough to admit that I cried myself to sleep every night for the first two weeks!”

“Really?” She sniffled as she wiped an arm across her face.

“Really…” He scooted closer and pulled her into an embrace, “I’m so fucking sorry. I never meant to hurt you!”

“It’s okay,” she assured him as she buried her face in his chest.

It felt so comforting to be wrapped in his arms.

But college was all about pushing out of her comfort zone. Liam had been right about that.

She pulled away and wiped at her eyes, “Oh my God, it feels so good to be able to talk to you again!”

“Same!” He laughed, “I’ve missed you so fucking much!”

“Me too! I’m used to sharing everything with you!”

“Just to make sure I’m clear this time… you don’t want to get back together?”

The tears flooded her eyes again, “Part of me really does, Liam, but part of me knows you were right about all the reasons we broke up in the first place.”

“To focus on our schoolwork and make new friends?”

“It’s not just that…I have some…things I need to figure out.”

“Things like Drake Walker?” He worked hard to keep his voice even as he watched her face for her reaction.

She cut her eyes sideways at him, “Maybe, but it’s not just that either. It’s…everything.”

“You know I’m here if you ever want to talk. About anything.”

She smiled softly, “I miss our talks.”

“Me too,” he admitted, “I want us to be friends, Riley. Like we were before we dated. I mean, if we’re not going to be together, can we at least go back to being friends? I regret the distance that’s between us now. I don’t want to go back to Princeton and spend another semester not talking to you!”

“That would actually make me really happy,” She gave him a brilliant smile.

Liam hadn’t wanted to break up with her…it changed everything… and nothing.

She couldn’t turn off her feelings for Liam, but she also couldn’t take back what had happened with Drake or the feelings that had unlocked within her.

She needed time, and space, to process everything.

Liam’s phone dinged. He pulled it out and scanned the text, then looked up at Riley, “Drake wants to know if we want to meet out on the roof.”

Riley’s face lit up, “Hell fucking yeah! Talk about just like old times!”

Five minutes later the three of them climbed out of a second-story window and dropped onto the roof of the first-floor kitchen.

They climbed up the peaked roof of the living room and clambered up onto the roof of the second story.

The sound of barely suppressed giggles and quiet shushing noises drifted across the sharp stillness of the night as the lifelong friends made their way to the spot where three gables came together, giving them a place to sit as well as hiding them from the view of anyone on the ground.

Riley shivered inside her jacket as she lowered herself into sitting on the cold shingles, Liam on one side of her, Drake on the other.

Both boys scooted closer to her, and she relaxed into the shared body heat.

They all three tipped their heads back to watch the stars twinkle in the night sky hoping to catch a glimpse of some meteors from the annual Ursid shower as they streaked towards the earth, just like they’d done every year since they were twelve.

She was acutely aware of each of them as they pressed close against her on either side.

They were both intrinsic parts of the fabric of her life and always had been.

She hadn’t lost Liam; their relationship had just changed.

Her relationship with Drake had changed too, but she wasn’t sure exactly how. All the reasons she couldn’t be with Liam also applied to Drake.

There was an entire world out there waiting for them to explore and conquer.

They couldn’t set sail together, but maybe they could be a homeport for each other.  

“Hey,” she said softly, “Let’s agree that no matter what else is going on in our lives, we’re going to be right here doing this exact thing next Christmas.”

“Agreed,” Drake answered quickly.

Liam smiled in the darkness as his hand found hers and squeezed gently, “It’s a date.”

[raybeanschildrenslit]

Drifting Home - Movie/ Film

Drifting Home 2022 - PG - 1h 59m (Movie/ Film)

Released in 2022 and available through streaming service, Drifting Home is an anime style movie following two childhood friends who reunite in their tweens in an abandoned housing complex they used to live in. Accompanied by their friends, each group explores the complex until they all come together and soon find out that the complex they are in is now adrift in a vast ocean. As their summer comes to an end, these friends must confront their emotions and the past to come together and find a way back to their world.

When I first got into this film, I knew it involved an abandoned complex and aesthetics I am a massive fan of while also showing off amazing animation skills by the team behind it. In trying to expand my watching habits and fall in love with anime again, I worked my way through this film and was astonished at its depth. I knew there was going to be some drama given the age of the characters as well as the circumstances they have been dealt but the past/ memories that we confront with them in combination with the events now occurring in this flooded world… I was pleasantly surprised by the adventure I had and look forward to continuing to explore animated films from other countries.

I think this film could make an excellent addition to a collection that features films for middle grade or rising patrons but could also add to the growing popularity of Japanese and Anime film and culture. While this may not be a special release for a popular anime, it is a strong stand alone film and could hold its own with the right audience. However, this film is only available through streaming so we would have to make sure that we talk up and make accessible our services that overlap with streaming platforms; through online vendors or Library of Things items. A way this film or those like it could be integrated into library activities is definitely in the realm of an anime club or watch club. At a library I work at, here and there we do anime afternoons in the teen space with snacks and shows/ movies that are of the genre. This seems like a great way to acknowledge and appreciate the adoration had for the art form and provide hard working students/ individuals with a chance to relax and enjoy themselves and maybe make some new friends along the way.

-Ray 02/11/2024

Yamamoto, K., Mori, H., & Sakamoto, M. (n.d.). Drifting Home. Japan; Netflix. Retrieved 2024,.

[cherrysoulth]

In The City - Chapter 3: Dark Secrets

🏢 What are you hiding? 🏢

💕Pairing: Jimin x Reader

✏️Genre/au: Non-Canon, Action, Smut, Sci-fi, Supernatural world AU

✏️Rating: PG 18+, explicit

📝Wordcount: 3270

⚠️Chapter warnings: explicit smut

<<<𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 2 | 𝕸𝖆𝖎𝖓 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙 | 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 3>>>

Dawn breaks in the horizon with candy-pink notes that bring your mood to a bust. With your face over your arm at the edge of the window - without poking out- the last days of summer seem to have come too fast.

“Do you think we should do a last round before heading home?” says Jimin, gently, as he eyes the incognito car behind his. 

“I think that would be great,” you say, drawing an imaginary heart in the sky. 

“Who is that for?” he says, making you move to look at him, although it doesn't seem as if he has turned your way. 

“Summer. I’ll miss it.”

“Ahh, me too. It was nice to have a week for us and go visit Rome, though.” He then puts a hand on your leg and turns a second to wink. “A practice for our honeymoon.”

“For that,” you say, pulling his hand away from its ascending trip. “We should get married. And I see no ring in this finger, Sir.GropyHands.” you tell him and he starts giggling. 

“I have been thinking about it,” he says, getting shy all the sudden. 

“Oh, I didn't mean-”

“No. Even if you did it would be right. I-” he stops for a second and makes a turn, steering the wheel in the next lane. “I acknowledge that we have dated for a really long time and it's probably due.” 

He then turns in the direction of the Haeundae Beach. 

“Jimin…” you say with concern. 

“No, listen. I just wanted to make sure that I could have the means to settle down. A career and the skills to maintain it before I could take that step.” 

The last turn is to take a parking spot with views at the first line of the beach but your eyes are glued to him as he finally stops the engine. 

“My parents have now known you for quite a while and I’d dare to say they see in you the daughter they didn't have.” He takes your hand in his. “I promise you, that by the time I take you here again, to my hometown, you will have a pretty ring on this finger.” he adds, rubbing the empty spot. “In the meanwhile, hold the thoughts that even if there hasn't been a ring on it, I have always had it clear that you are the one.” 

With that, he leans forward and kisses your lips gently before deepening the kiss in that way that makes you feel the connection between your two beings. 

Then the buzz of your phone interrupts your moment.

“I should…” but before you finish the sentence he is nodding and you take the call, stepping out of the car, under the attentive eyes of the two bodyguards parked in the spot behind you.

“Miss Urey,” a voice you know well, pronounced at the other side of the line. 

“Yes.”

“We are sending a taxi to your location,” instructs the voice. “A folder will be waiting for you in the back seat.” says the voice before hanging the phone and drains the colour out from your face. 

The lie you have to tell starts its way from your brain to the muscle inside your mouth as you open the door and enter the car to tell Jimin that you will have to leave for a bit.

Jimin has never really questioned these sudden calls for duty. You told him from the beginning that you were taking side deals so old posh ladies would feel safe going shopping with their pomeranians and you would be adding up to your savings with it.

This time however, feels different. 

He would never ask you to not go. With how cutthroat workspots are in this country, having two good ones is a privilege and he knows that. But it’s evident it bothers him that work cuts short the nice moment you were living.

The only thing you can do is promise him that you will be there as soon as you are done and resume where you left off which he responds to with a gentle smile and a kiss but no shift of energy.

As you sit on your spot in the taxi, accompanied by him, his eyes land on the brown envelope laying at the other side. He says nothing before planting a kiss on your cheek and saying goodbye.

Inside the car, as it moves, you open the folder, ignored completely by the driver who is most likely in the business conducted by the secret society you are part of and who has sent him your way.

What Jimin doesn’t know is that you have never accompanied a single old rich woman to do anything and that what holds you away from him this time is just what has always done.

The folder shows you the details of the subject you are meant to take care of. This time, like others, the job is simple: use your special sight to see who is whispering in his ear to commit the atrocities he is accountable for and get rid of them. The police will take him in after you have taken care of the master who is pulling the strings.

You let the folder slide from your fingers and then close your eyes, remembering what brought you to this point and the hundred lies you have told your soulmate. 

Born with eyes that could see what others couldn’t, you tried to ignore it as soon as you were conscious of how unusual your behaviour was to neurotypicals. One thing you understood really quickly was that you were not supposed to see the face behind the human mask that the seeds of hell had. 

Such as in the times, where you got inside a crowded train or a busy street, and they would stare at you intently to scare you. Nor did the grey wings, opening from a very selfless firefighter who surprisingly had come out of a building eaten by flames on your way home, scare you. People would talk about those things as fantasy, as the made-up stories from movies, and nothing more.

So you looked away. Over and over. Until you could no longer see them. 

The sudden atrocity of a man going berserk and killing his family was just one of those things that happened sometimes. Attacks on the street by people who everyone had seen as good up until that moment. The incredible fast action of a policeman saving a full room of hostages. A woman giving her kidney to a complete stranger to save their life. Those were just things that happened–“the balance of life” for everyone else- how the world works. 

One afternoon when you came back from school, you left your friend in front of her house, just a couple of blocks away from yours. A man was standing next to a streetlight, smoking a cigarette. He wore a suit; that's probably what caught your attention. He looked really neat, really posh. He didn't match the normal office man visual, and that's probably what stuck with you. You didn't even look at him in the face. You wish you had.  

As you walked, you felt eyes on you, but he didn't follow, and you didn't dare to look. Right as you were taking the corner to your street, a man running grabbed you with a knife to your throat and took you to another street. He tried scaring you into giving him your wallet, which you did. But his greed was not satisfied with that, and looking at you up and down, he closed the distance in that dark hallway. Without a word, he stabbed you in the stomach, or so he thought. 

He had pierced one of your ovaries, and it had to be removed upon arrival at the hospital. But that wasn't the biggest problem.

A neighbour had seen the events happen from the window of their bathroom and called the emergency services before coming from his house screaming for help. He had tried to apply pressure to the wound with his shirt, to no use. The blood still flowed from the wound, soaking the clothing in a way that was horrifying to him. Before the ambulance arrived, you were dead for a whole minute. 

Dying, however, felt like hours. It was like time slowed and suddenly came to a halt. You saw your grandma extend her hand and a lot of light, how she walked you through a dazzling path where you couldn't distinguish anything. She spoke to you in silence and with even more love than you had perceived from her when she had been alive. Before everything rushed back into place, you remember fluttering your lashes and then falling into a dreamless sleep. It was during your recovery that you realised what you had seen as a child was indeed real. A nurse who patrolled the ward extended her wings as she gave good news to a patient, and you saw the relief in their face. 

Jimin thinks you had cysts when you were younger, and that's the reason for a single oophorectomy; that’s what you told him. Nothing else. He doesn't need to know the truth. Or so you have always thought. 

Now you question whether you should tell him. Will he understand that you were protecting him? Will he understand you had a blood-sealed pact to keep quiet unless someone is in danger? Will he still love you after knowing how much of your life is made up? Seeing how tense he was earlier, maybe he won’t. 

Grasping the immensity of these issues turns some people insane to the point they lose themselves. You decide you won’t risk it. Not unless he finds himself facing that reality by himself. 

There’s a van and a normal-looking car in the deserted park where the taxi drops you. As you enter the van, you are greeted by Exa and Hak-Kun with a set of clothes and a wig on a bag. 

“Long time no see,” she says, gesturing for Hak-Kun to step out of the vehicle and when he does, you start pulling off your t-shirt. 

“I didn’t choose to fall in love,” you joke and she smiles at you. Then you look at the clothes before taking more of what you wear off.

“I can only imagine how difficult it must be to have to keep this from him,” she says, looking at the screens attached to the structure of the van. She looks sad and you know she probably thinks it’s better than losing a partner the way she did. 

The tragic night in which Lloyd died, almost six years ago, you were happily celebrating Christmas with your parents and hadn’t been working in the society long enough to know all the hunters that were under its wing. But Lloyd's death was big news all across the country and even out of it, and you found yourself driven by your parents to the funeral the day before the new year poked in. 

He had been smashed on and on by an invisible force when they were trying to exorcise a demon-soldier out of a young man’s body. He had broken almost every bone in his body and had internal bleeding so severe he had been dead before the blows stopped. 

The casket was closed during the ceremony and his parents and Exa were unconsolable.

“It is. But I also think it’s for the best. My parents still struggle with it and it wasn’t new to them,” you respond, putting on the wig carefully and spraying cologne to mask your scent to any being who may recognise you by it. “Ok. Done.”

“I’ll see you at work on Wednesday,” comments Exa, and you respond with a nod before you jump out of the ban. 

“May you be seated in this carriage, Milady,” says Haku with a bow, opening the back door of the car you will be taking on the mission. 

Always teams of at least two during research. At least four in confrontation. Never alone. 

“Kh, cut it off.” 

There's a certain dread that has your back better than your teammate. The city center is so full of people going about their summer day, that walking with Haku as your black-wigged fake-boyfriend makes you feelless safe than being alone. 

Cambions, half-breeds of demon and human, are smart and will never call attention upon themselves by attacking directly. They whisper in the air aiming for any weakness a human has and exploit it to condemn their soul, so it later can be harvested by hell when that person dies. 

Nephilims, on the other hand, are born of humans and angels. They try to counteract the influence of cambions by whispering in the moment that a person may make a decision. These whispers cause regret, second thoughts, and a call to self-awareness, and allow the soul to make a decision that will keep it safe, keep their destiny going towards Heaven.

If you have to pick a side, you’ll say that you are for the latter but things don't always work out that way. 

Since the free will that was provided to humans is unbreakable for any of these creatures, there's only so much the good side can do to counteract the dark and venomous influence of evil. 

Their lack of active involvement irritates you and so, you don't exactly love Nephilims either. 

Here, however, in the crowd you have to be so aware of everything that your whole body is in distress. You don't show it, but everything is under your scrutiny. 

You meet up after lunch with Jimin in Magnate, his dad’s café to have some tea and pastries as dessert.

He sits at a table in the furthest corner with a stern face that you haven't seen on him for a long time.

“How was work?” he asks, without changing his expression. 

“Boring,” you tell him, with a small smile. “I thank the fact that your mom was home and I could take a shower because this last bit of heat has done me dirty.”

He chuckles at the comment and looks at you more tenderly. 

It is true that you went to his parents’ house because you can't really lie about something like that and also that you were sweating profusely. But it wasn't just the heat.

The anxiety of feeling the perfume wear off as you sweated, still looking for the man and therefore the near entity, wasn't boring. Making it through further streets to the darker spot of the city, wasn't either, but gave you time to reapply. 

The good thing about half-breeds was that they normally work alone so it only took a while for you to find the criminal, in his frequented area, and the ugly putrid-faced bastard acting as a customer at the money-laundering restaurant. 

Hakun was supposed to take a picture of you and capture them both, as if two tourists had lost their way and found the old buildings fascinating. But you couldn’t resist the urge to grab the sanctified pocket-sized bible in your bag and hit him across the face and multiple spots of his body as you saw him walk near the subject with his eyes fixed. He was doing the so-called “whisper” and you couldn't just wait for backup. 

The few criminals occupying the restaurant and the criminal got alarmed the moment that smoke started coming out from the places where the religious sacrament had hit him. She then took the enochian knuckleduster and started hitting it as Hakun called for backup. 

The element of surprise had been your best weapon.

Now, the thing was barely able to defend itself against you and Hakun’s combos. Less even, when Hakun took out of the back of his trousers the most effective replica of the cross-handgun Constantine used to destroy the great threat that Baltazar was, and blew out the part of it that was most human: the brain. 

Just as Constantine described in his second book, the thing was still able to speak, paralysed and disintegrating as it was and you could see the confusion in its expression before stepping on his face to end the job. 

“Let’s go for that bastard,” you told Hakun. But he stopped you.

“He isn’t going anywhere,” he spoke and rubbed his face, “the way Reign knows you… You could have fucked this up, you fucking brat.” He was so disappointed and angry he walked out of the restaurant and lit a fire with shaky hands.

“I’m sorry, I-” 

“Not right now, Reyna,” he said, taking a step forward then turning around. “It’s shit like that that gets us killed. Do you have nothing to worry about?” he added, raising his brows with a little shake of his head. “What about us? What about your family? Your boyfriend even? What the fuck where you thinking!?” The more his brain processes, the angrier he gets and the more he speaks, the more you realise he is right. 

“All that training and discipline you have. The responsibility you always show, blown just like that.” He takes a drag and lets it out before chuckling humourlessly. “I know this is a tough case… Who was going to be named The XXI Reaper for his methods and victims but once we and the police have them there is no chance for them to harm anyone again and you know it.” 

He speaks fast but the way the place is filled by the sound of a patrol car makes it all make even more sense than the words alone.

“If you have a death wish, or even if you are just tired of the fucking job and want to play houses with your boyfriend, do us all a fucking favour and step out,” he added as he got near you and past you throwing the cigarette to the floor. The words he had just let out in the air burned in you just like what he was smoking and you stomped on the item as you walked out of the place and called a taxi to get to Jimin’s parents’ house. 

Needless to say, the taxi driver looked at you like a three-headed dragon when you took off your wig and started washing the perfume away with an odourless wipe. 

“I don’t believe you,” Jimin says, and you can tell he has let out a bit too much seriousness for what he had intended. But you can now tell he is troubled or at least concerned. “I mean. It can’t be that boring… you even get folders.” At those last words, his smile is all but gone and you know he has caught on to the lie.

“I can’t talk about it, Jimin,” you tell him, reaching for his hand but this time he pulls away, sitting back. 

“Secrets?” He looks disappointed, upset and he is being even more emotional than you would expect of him on this matter. 

“What do you think this is, Jimin?” you ask him trying to get to the bottom of it, since you know he didn’t ask you to meet in a semi-public place to cause a scene or have any kind of argument. 

The way he puts his elbows on the table and covers his face tells you his mind is racing and he is trying to control the rareness of an outburst, so you wait.

He rubs a hand over his face before crossing his fingers in front of himself but he still doesn’t look at you and you know better than to push him. 

“There was a moment during that call that I thought you were cheating on me,” he admits. 

You can’t avoid gasping. 

“I know that was stupid of me to think,” he admits. “But it felt like you were lying to me and I could only guess so much. That or your jobs not being the kind you were talking about.” He rubs his face again. “I decided to have you followed. In fact, I even thought you could be selling me.” You pale at that. “I know it was stupid of me and I apologise for both those thoughts. I feel guilty up to this day for it and I will understand if you are mad at me for that. There was so much going on with the fandoms and the rumours that I felt I wasn’t safe anywhere.”  

You give a confused nod, surprised at how slowly you are processing it. But this comes from Jimin after all. 

“Worse part. I was told by the investigator that you were definitely not cheating nor selling me. But he had discovered something that was best left alone. I asked for more details,” he  pauses. “He told me I was safer not knowing. That I should just keep on going with my life as if nothing happened and not dig deeper. That you were safe to have around. Wanna know what? I did.” he says. “I buried that in the back of my mind, but..”

“But…” 

“Today… You lied and you fucking sucked at it. I think it was probably because of what I said to you. That indeed it has such an effect on you that you lowered your defences with me about something you shouldn’t have. Likely.” he rubs his face. “I saw the folder and I suddenly got so concerned.” He takes a deep breath. “Are you ‘intelligence’ or something like that?”

Your eyes widen. ‘Oh my god…’ 

🏢 Who are you? 🏢

I hope you enjoyed this first chapter! Let me know your thoughts and reblog if you liked it. 😊 See you!

I want to thank @lunarelle1013 the beta of this work 💜

Taglist @lemarkjun

© 2021-2024 Cherry Soulth, all rights reserved. reposting/modifying of any kind, translations, unsanctioned adaptations are not allowed.

[flurrys-creativity]

02.21pm

Pairing: Wonwoo (Seventeen) x GN!Reader; Genre: Fluff, Roadtrip AU; Rating: sfw, pg-13; Warnings: Wonwoo should focus on the road; Wordcount: 250

Summary: Every summer Wonwoo took you on roadtrips across the country. And every summer it became harder for him to focus on the road instead of you.

A soft melody played from the radio while Wonwoo drove through the streets. The air conditioner blew fresh air into the car, playing with a few of his hair strands.

You leaned back into your seat with your eyes closed. 

Wonwoo glanced over to you, smiling gently upon seeing your relaxed form. “Tired?” He asked in his deep voice, focusing back on the road. 

“Maybe?”

“It’s the middle of the day though”, Wonwoo laughed and looked back at you.

“So? There are others that are tired at any time. Maybe you could change the radio to something upbeat?” You opened your eyes and sat up, turning slightly in your seat to look at Wonwoo’s side profile.

“If that wakes you up, be my guest.”

You grinned brightly and leaned forward to change the radio channel, switching it around several times until you found something you liked. You immediately bounced in your seat, laughing and humming along to the melody.

Wonwoo turned his head and looked at you more often now, smiling too when he saw your wide grin. He snorted when you started to dance along to the song, moving your arms and legs as much as you could in the small space.

“Drop it like hot, hot, hot”, you sang and moved your hands over your body, smirking towards Wonwoo.

He coughed momentarily and looked back at the road, his grip on the steering wheel tighter than before.

“Uh, juicy, juicy”, you giggled and leaned back into the seat.

© all rights reserved

Taglist: @xavi-in-kpopland

[yourkeeperoftherunners]

Fam

Plot: Your exchange student “brother” from Australia is graduating. Unbeknownst to him, you and your mom have planned to surprise him after his ceremony. It may have been an unexpected meeting, but he considered you family after bonding with you.

Characters: High School Graduate!Felix (SKZ) x Former Exchange Student Host Family!Reader (female), including mentions of other SKZ members.

Rating: PG-13

Notes: Years ago on my birthday, I posted this drabble and it was my first Stray Kids writing ever. While I had a sequel kicking around in my head for some time, I never could get the details together with proper planning and time. My birthday gift to everyone who supported or visited this account.

Many thanks to @xiubaek-13 for answering all of my questions regarding graduation in the Australian high school system!

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

“Talking to a secret girlfriend?”

Felix jerked his head up from his phone and looked over his shoulder to see that his sister Olivia trying to read his screen. He shook his head and pointed to the name at the top of the chat. The younger sister peered at the screen and sighed when she saw it was you, AKA the girl who was part of the host family when he went overseas for an exchange program in high school.

“She’s not my secret girlfriend,” Felix said, “She’s kinda like another sister from another country.”

“But you already have two sisters!” Olivia joked, pretending to look hurt. “Does Mum know?”

Before he could respond, the pair were interrupted by their parents, who were calling them to dinner. Olivia headed for the kitchen and Felix quickly shut his phone off and left it on his nightstand.

After he met you when you came home from college one weekend, it had been awkward at first, as you had not been warned about your mom taking in an exchange student while your brother was in Australia. Eventually, both of you found common ground in music and bonded over shared interests during the course of his exchange program. You weren’t always around, due to college, but you had started to stop home to visit your mom and him more often until his last day in your country. Now he was about to graduate from high school and you were finished with college and working a job in a radio station.

“Y/N, thanks for filling in for Jacob,” your manager said as he stopped you in the hallway. “If you’d like, we can slot you in for mixing on some of our newer programs.”

“Thanks,” you responded. “I’m definitely interested. Oh, before I forget, did you see my e-mail about vacation?”

He pulled out his work phone and checked the e-mails for the information. His thumb pressed your e-mail and he nodded as he looked up. “Yeah that’s fine with me. Jacob said he’s starting to feel better and we should have enough people to cover for you. Where you going?”

“Australia,” you shared.

“Funny, I always wanted to go,” your manager mused. “Don’t forget a jacket - it ain’t summer there – they get winter now. Real confusing from what I’ve heard.”

You gave a mock salute and walked to your desk to retrieve your bag. You pulled out your car keys and checked your phone for missed messages.

Mom

Hi honey, are you bringing your shampoo in your checked bag? I couldn’t remember if you said you were or if you were relying on the travel sized bottles. Sent 15:31 PM

Y/N

Hi mom, yes I’m checking my shampoo – we can share so you don’t have to waste room in your suitcase. Also packing the same lotion you use. Sent 19:07 PM

Do you need me to pick anything else up on the way home? Sent 19:07 PM

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

“So who’s coming?”

“Mum, Dad, my sisters,” Felix mused as he ticked off the names of people coming to the graduation. “Nana and Granddad said they can’t make it, but that’s okay.”

“I really wish I could make it,” Chan sighed as he moved the phone to his other ear. “I’m really sorry about my schedule – work said I had it off, but then they tell me someone’s got an emergency and I have to cover.”

Felix shook his head and insisted it was fine. “It’s just high school, no big deal.”

“But didn’t you get, like, honors too or something?”

“It’s not a big deal,” Felix replied. “We can hang afterwards.”

“Auntie and Uncle taking you for dinner? Where you guys going?” Chan asked.

“Umm not sure actually,” Felix confessed. “They said it was a surprise, but that I’ll really like it.”

Chan paused and he crinkled his brows after hearing his cousin’s reply. Surprise dinner? To him that was a little odd – come to think of it, he couldn’t recall the last time his aunt and uncle pulled off some kind of surprise before. Not that they were bad at keeping surprises or something, but he didn’t think surprising people or their own kids was their style.

“Did we lose connection?” Felix asked.

Chan quickly apologized and explained he spaced out for a moment. “I’m sure it will be fun, wherever they planned dinner I mean. Hey, I’ll let you go – I need to work on a sample for Binnie. He’s trying to work on something for a deadline and wanted my help.”

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

“You have the address right?”

You waved your phone around and with your free hand, you retrieved a physical print-out of the directions from your bag. “I know how you are about using my phone and the possibility of a bad signal or something, so I killed a tree and brought the directions on a printout.”

Mom relaxed when she heard your response and followed you to the rental car area to pick up the car. “It’s a shame we can’t attend the actual ceremony, but rules are rules. I heard that extended family were limited as well!”

“Think about it Mom,” you said as you searched for the shuttle to the rental car office. “If every student invited their whole extended family, they would run out of viewing room for the event. It’s not like back home where they sometimes rent a bigger venue to do the ceremony.” You found the stop for the rental car shuttle and waited near the attendant’s post for the next one to arrive.

Mom put her bag down next to yours and she checked her watch for the time. “We should have enough time to stop at the hotel, freshen up, and then get to dinner. Oh that reminds me, I need to text your father and brother about where to find the meals I left them.”

“Maybe tell them to open a window in case they burn the food,” you joked.

“Your brother did try to improve his cooking,” your mom reminded you. “His exchange mother told me she had him in the kitchen every night for dinner.”

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

“I gotta admit, that was kinda boring,” Han confessed once the ceremony ended. He loosened his tie and looked over at Felix who was trying to find his family. “Doing anything afterwards?”

“Dinner,” Felix replied. “You?”

“Probably gonna eat at home and work on some tracks I’ve had in my drafts,” Han confessed. “Dad’s working late and Mom didn’t want to go out without him, so I said we can skip the fancy dinner.” He watched as Felix looked around for his family and nudged him. “You know they’re not here, right? I’m talking about your exchange student family, not your real one.”

“I didn’t think they could make it,” Felix confessed. “Y/N’s got a job and her mom’s got the brother back. Y/N’s dad travels a lot for work too, so yeah. I really didn’t see him all the time when I stayed with them.”

“Ah but I’m sure they’re happy for you,” Han added. “Hey, take pics of your food – I wanna live vicariously through you while I eat cold pizza at home.”

“Why not order fresh?”

“Don’t wanna toss the leftovers – it’s Domino’s!” Han protested.

Felix rolled his eyes and bid his friend goodbye as he pushed his way through the sea of students trying to find their parents and family. He spotted Olivia and made a beeline for the seating area where they were.

“Dad’s getting the car so we can just go to the restaurant,” Olivia explained. “Don’t ask me for spoilers – I don’t know and Rachel doesn’t either. We’re all in the dark about where we’re going for dinner.”

“Wonder what the big secret is with this place,” Felix murmured.

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

“Felix was that Han next to you at the ceremony?”

“Um yeah Mum, he’s not doing anything tonight,” Felix explained. “Said his parents weren’t able to make plans, but he’s okay with it I guess.”

“Aww I wish we had known – he could have joined us,” Mrs. Lee sighed.

“I’m not sure they would have accommodated the last minute change to the reservation though,” Mr. Lee reminded his wife. “Hey, I’ll let you out here and I’ll go park. It should be under my name.”

Felix followed his sisters out of the car and Mrs. Lee headed to the entrance to check in. He held the door open for his sisters and a couple leaving the restaurant, then entered the restaurant. The place didn’t look familiar and the name didn’t ring a bell. He tried to recall if any of his friends talked about any hot restaurants they wanted to try some day, but gave up when none came to mind.

“Yes we can seat you now and when your husband gets here, we can direct him to your table,” the host explained. He picked up some menus and and asked the family to follow him. “Some of your party already checked in.”

What?

Felix frowned when he heard that comment and he hurried to follow the host. That couldn’t be right. His grandparents, aunts, and uncles couldn’t come today and even Cousin Chan wasn’t available. (Unless the latter lied and brought their mutual friend Changbin as a surprise.)

The host rounded the corner and stepped to the side while using his free arm to gesture to the table in front of him. Felix stopped short once he rounded the corner and he blinked when he saw who was sitting at the reserved table.

Your mom stood up from her seat and smiled warmly at Felix, before greeting Mrs. Lee and thanking her for the invitation. You pushed yourself out of your chair and started to make your way around the table, but were crushed by Felix running to give you a big hug.

“I thought you were working,” Felix half-whispered.

“Got time off and Mom had some travel points to use,” you explained. “Your mom invited us but wanted to make it a big surprise.”

Olivia nudged Rachel and shook her head. “Told you he replaced us.”

“What?!” Felix sputtered. “I did not!”

“I’m just his host family pen pal I guess,” you responded with a shrug. “Believe me, he talked a lot about both of you and how much he missed you. Wish I could have said the same for my brother, but yeah.”

Your mom threw you a cross look and you sighed as you mumbled that your brother was okay. “I’ll pretend I care about the little gremlin,” you sighed. You looked over at Felix’s sisters and added that they were lucky to have him as a brother.

The pair exchanged a look and Rachel pretended to look thoughtful. “Well come to mention it, we were thinking of trading him in–”

“Hey!” Felix protested.

“We’re only kidding Lix,” Olivia reassured him. “Come on, let’s order – I’m hungry.”

Felix took a seat next to you and cupped his hand under his chin. “So what’s new since I left?”

[sabiekay]

The Season

Author: @sabiekay

Pairing: Nobility! Seokjin x Lady's Maid! Reader

Rating: PG - PG13 (for a couple of choice words)

Genre: Romance, Nobility AU, Strangers to Lovers, Modern Alternate World

Trigger Warnings: class disparity, rigid patriarchal society roles and gender roles, a few bad words toward the climax of the story

Word Count: 31K

Summary: The Season is a time old tradition for the nobility and richest elite of both Erharan and your home country of Auteris to gather their social circles for elaborate parties and celebrations during the summer months. But for you, your role is to make sure the bubbly debutante, Miss Amelia Montison, looks her absolute best in her first Season as an eligible marriage candidate. As a lady’s maid, you shouldn’t to ask more - your life is only supposed to revolve around hers. But a chance encounter has you reevaluating your position, and you start to realize what potential your life could have if you start living for yourself.

Author's Note: This story will deal with rigid societal and patriarchal gender roles, along with a couple choice words toward the climax of the story. Classism and tradition will also will be a running theme throughout the story, so keep all of that in mind as you read. I was inspired by the rules and regulations surrounding how nobility and "commoners" were supposed to be treated and act around each other, especially around the Victorian era. However, this story takes place in the equivalent of our modern 2020s world, but in a different universe.

Read Here!!: https://archiveofourown.org/works/43059849

IT'S HERE! Finally here! Thank you all for your patience as I finally release my longest story to date (in both word count and write time), and thank you so much for reading!

[kanatanabramovic]

☑ 143. I want you to clean up. by kanatan Abramovic Via Flickr: 2023 06 02 Blog...~ le soleil ~ See the blog for more details ♥ ٩( ᐛ )و Thanks so much for your time !! Thank you for always having lots of Fav ♥ Thank you to all my friends who love to watch and take snaps !! ♥ love it ♥♥♥ [ - Outfit - ] ☑ Kinky Event ( April round ) Hair: [^.^Ayashi^.^] Liania hair-Exclusive pack Collar: [^.^Ayashi^.^] Liania collar (Exclusive pack) Pose: [piXit] Harito - Portraits Pose Pack Glasses: ::SnowWhite:: Glasses sio Rings: Kibitz - Keria's rings - silver Nails: e.marie // Mix&Match Coffin - Show Some Love Mauve Top: TETRA - Bella Top (Taupe) (ebody) Shorts: mellowcute-crystal shorts-fatpack [ - Makeup - ] ☑ Reborn event ( April round ) Freckles: (Enfer Sombre*) Body Details Collection {Reborn} Skin: (Enfer Sombre*) Lexy skin {LeL EvoX} ➥(Enfer Sombre*) LeLutka EvoX Skin - Cream - Lexy Eyes: {S0NG} Blinded Eyes - V2 Lip: .e l e i. - Ruby (Lipgloss) / EVOX [ - Decoration - ] ☑ Equal10 ( April round ) Bedroom: -DRD- Country Breeze Bedroom - Collection PG DRD - Country Breeze Bedroom - Basket DRD - Country Breeze Bedroom - bed (PG) DRD - Country Breeze Bedroom - Footboard table DRD - Country Breeze Bedroom - Lamp DRD - Country Breeze Bedroom - Mandala DRD - Country Breeze Bedroom - Rug ☑ Farmer's Market Frame: DISORDERLY. / Monstera Summer / Frame / Gold Table: DISORDERLY. / Monstera Summer / Side Table / Gold Panel: DISORDERLY. / Monstera Summer / Panel / Gold House: Scarlet Creative Ines Retreat House, Patio and Gazebo Monstera: Mithral * Monstera Deliciosa (Pack B) Speaker: Mithral * Hoya Lacunosa Laos Speaker (Dark Wood) Curtains: Pitaya - Farm Curtains Curtains: cinphul // animated curtains [fat pack] Hanging: {vespertine} - hanging kokedama / asparagus. Suitcase: Atelier Burgundy . Closet Clutter White Clothes: BLACK NEST / Hohto Messy Clothes - Light Clothes: +Half-Deer+ Lingerie Clutter [Nude Set] Towel: +Half-Deer+ Beach Towel Clutter [FATPACK]

[thegreenersideofit]

Kerala – God’s own country

Kerala was always on my wish list of places to be visited. I was in awe of Kerala, this place also called God’s own country. In the summer of 2015, finally the trip materialised. We had the flight and the package arranged almost 4 months before. So when the date to fly to Cochin was here, we were all very excited. Soon we touched the south Indian land of kerala.

 Kerala is a very beautiful country in itself…. It has the best of India in terms of weather and ecology… It’s like this very beautiful and intelligent girl with all her moods…

As we came out of the domestic terminal at Cochin International Airport, there was a hint of light rain. It was April 25th then and I knew this would be a very good summer. Our driver Ashokan was waiting for us and soon we were on our way to Alleppey. The distance of 84 kms was easily covered as we were quiet tired after having started at 4am to catch the flight and hence slept through most of the journey…the final halt came at Cosy Regency which had rooms and houseboats under the name. We were going to spend a day on the houseboat… After being allotted the houseboat, we were transported to it. A new journey was about to begin… Exploring new waters!!!!

We had a cosy houseboat with three staff to assist n cook for us during the stay. At night, all houseboats are stationary… As the sun rose over the horizon next day, we had a breathtaking view of all houseboats bathing in the sun rays….. We soon got over the freshness of the morning and were served idlis with sambhar n chutney and thereafter started for our last hour over the magnificent backwaters. Ashokan was waiting outside with the car to take us to Thekkady- another long journey by road

At Thekkady we stayed at Holiday Vista… Thekkady was home to Periyar Wildlife sanctuary, Deepa spice world, Elephant junction, Kadathanandan Kalari Center…I enjoyed best my trip to Aishwarya spice world as I relived my gardening experiences in the spice garden. We purchased a lot of spices to carry home. 

Soon we were on the road again and headed to Munnar… Munnar is a hill station. We stayed at Hotel T & U. Once settled in, my kid was surprised to find no fans nor A/C in the hotel. Soon he felt the chilling cold as the clock struck 4 and realised the reason for their absence. For food, we went to Hotel Saravanna Bhavan for some lip smacking south Indian delicacies. Highlights of our Munnar stay was Mattupetty dam, Attukal waterfalls and dreamland fun park. We skipped the rest as we had the option to stay back in Munnar or travel to Cochin as there was going to be a transport strike the next day and we would have to stay put where ever we are… Our tour manager suggested that we move out to Cochin… And so we hit the roads again leaving behind the Munnar legacy… Carrying with us memories of a summer like never before.

On touching Cochin we were reminded of the development taking place around. So far, we were in the midst of nature which provided us with everything we needed and much more. We checked in at PGS Vedanta. The next day was going to be a break as there would be no transport except KSRTC buses and private vehicles. We learn that this kind of strike keeps happening at least once a few months…but this was an All India transport strike. Our driver returned to Munnar to his family after dropping us to Vedanta as tourist cabs were not going to ply. 

We woke up next to the Kochi metro-in-progress. That’s the location of the hotel ; After an awesome breakfast we left for a walk to check out the area. It had everything one would need. Also the Ernakulum station was round the corner. The station lane was a flourishing area with shops and banks and other good stay options. We returned to the hotel feeling good about our DISCOVERIES in KOCHI. We relaxed till 4 after which we again started on foot towards M G ROAD for further discveries and soon we chanced upon a rickshaw fellow who said it was OK to ply now and he would take us to THE LULU INTERNATIONAL MALL. And yo, we were there in 20 flat minutes. 

LULU is the biggest mall in India. A visit to LULU showed us that people were not ready to give in to the bandh. After a proper survey of the biggest mall, we waited to be picked up by the same rick guy who drove us here… End of day one at Cochin. 

Day 2 @Cochin, Ashokan was back from Munnar and drove us to the folklore museum which carried the history of Kerala dance forms and all the ware used in the dances and much more. We moved on to Dutch Palace and the Jewish synagogue – both a great experience for Reyansh.

Day 3 @ Cochin, we visited Wonderla. An amazing entertainment zone with a mix of deadly adult rides, kids rides and family ones too. We finally got our place on the flying boat after a wait of 25 mins… We were offered another ride by the kind boat attendant without waiting in another queue but we refused as one was enough to last us couple of years till we got back !!! The highlight was the musical wave pool where the waves were accompanied by  traditional south Indian music dished out by a group of 8 to 10 men. Wonderla was truly wonderful. 

So, it was time to pack our bags and fly back to Mumbai the next day. We bid our Adieu to Cochin and Kerala and huddled home with all kinds of chips from Allepy, souvenirs from Periyar, spices, tea from Munnar and lot of other stuff but mainly with memories spent at a place which was a mini India in itself. Amazingly untouched, technologically advanced yet retaining its heritage and culture….

[chorusfm]

Origami Angel – “My PG Country Summer”

Origami Angel have released the new song “My PG Country Summer.” --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/origami-angel-my-pg-country-summer/

[adampenaflor]

Week 4 Blog

NEW BOOK

Adam Penaflor

Pages Read: 20-60

Word Count: 335

Summary (100)

Honduras, a country near the equator, is the complete opposite of our climate. During our summer months Honduras has winter but thier winter is just complete rainfall. While during our winter Honduras has its hottest weather. Honduras is mostly rural; the only place that is urban is the capital which is Tegucigalpa, but the rest of the country is made up of mountains and farms. In the mountains you can find all sorts of animals from monkeys, jaguars, and exotic creatures like iguanas. You can also find all sorts of plants, the National flower is an orchid called Brassavola digbiana.

Critical Analysis (130)

Many countries have started from the bottom and built from the ground up to become the nation it is. Even though not being the most perfect country, it has finally become its own ruining nation at its own term. The author says that,”Young nations are like an ugly cocoon, it is ugly but give it time to become a butterfly.” (Honduras the Enchantment of the World pg.56) The author uses a great simile that compares young nations like Honduras to a cocoon that becomes a beautiful butterfly. Honduras was once ruled by Spain after the war so once they gained independence they were a struggling young country. Honduras has been developing to become the nation it is right now just like a cocoon developing into a beautiful butterfly. 

Personal Response (105)

I have been to Honduras multiple times but I have never seen any of these animals. I obviously saw chickens, cows, and pigs but I never saw monkeys or like the exotic creatures. I have been in both areas of the country, the capital and where most of my family resides in the rural area. I went to Honduras recently in July and I was there when it was Honduras winter so almost everyday I was there it was raining. While in Everett we were having one of our hottest days, so it’s ironic that during our summer I was having a winter in Honduras.