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shakespeareanwannabe · 4 months

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As You Wish, Chapter 13

Summary: When arriving at Camp Silver Star, Abby Floyd was anticipating a summer of adventure with an ocean separating her from the three people she loved most: her mom, her Uncle Bob and her Aunt Natasha. But after a run in with Charlie Seresin, an extremely familiar looking and irritating camper in a different cabin, her summer plans take a turn that neither girl ever could have expected.

Trigger Warnings: reader's children are described as being blond with green eyes because genetics are wild and Jake's genes are strong, reader is canonically Bob's sister (but biological relation is never discussed), reader goes by Buttercup and is tattooed, drinking, reference to divorce, kids doing sneaky things, references to pregnancy, swearing, references to the hospital, references to an accident

South Trail, Seresin Ranch, Clifton, Texas, Now

Charlie felt a chill run down her spine as their trail group walked steadily down the beaten dirt path. Dad was in the lead, as per usual, and Abby had beaten her in a game of rock, paper, scissors in order to come second. That left Charlie third, close enough to Savannah to hear every muttered complaint and snap of her camera as she took selfies.

“Jakey!!!” Savannah cried out as they emerged from the trees onto a lookout, the ledge watching over a field full of wildflowers. “We need to stop! I need photos of this for my followers!”

Charlie stifled a giggle as she saw her dad’s head slump forwards. This was the fifth time Savannah had whined about needed a photo opportunity since they had left the ranch, approximately five hours ago.

“Savannah, I—”

“This is the last one, I promise!” she squealed, clumsily pulling her horse to a stop and sliding down her side until her suede boots touched the ground. She practically threw her phone to Jake and went to stand on the edge of the cliff.

Jake grunted as he neatly dismounted and patted Firewall on the flank. “It has to be the last one or we won’t make it to the campground before nightfall.”

“Yeah, yeah, fine, whatever,” Savannah chirped as she struck pose after pose.

Charlie and Abby both dismounted and moved off the trail to stand in the shade of the trees.

“It would be mean to scare her and hope that she falls, right?” Charlie muttered under her breath.

“Charlie!” Abby let out a scandalized gasp. “She may be awful, but we can’t wish death upon her…though I would be lying if I said that the same thought hadn’t occurred to me as well.”

Charlie slumped against the tree, watching the horses drag their reins on the ground as they stood on the trail, waiting for their riders to be done. “She’s just…the worst.”

“I know. Why would Mum insist that she come with us instead?”

“She said that she wanted Savannah to have a chance to get to know us.”

Charlie smirked. “Alright then. Let’s let her get to know us. Then maybe she’ll wish she had never met us.”

“We’re not that awful,” Abby rolled her eyes.

“I know that, and you know that, but Savannah doesn’t know that. So, let’s make her think we’re the worst. Then she won’t want to marry Dad because it would mean having to spend time with us.”

Abby grinned, her eyes trained on a spot on the ground. “I think I know exactly how to start.”

Crouching to the ground, Abby scooped up a tiny chipmunk from where it was nestled in the roots of a tree.

“Hey buddy…” she whispered. “I bet you want to see what’s in our saddlebags.”

Charlie covered her mouth to muffle the sound of her giggles as they approached Angel.

“Do it now! Savannah’s got her back to us!”

Quiet as a mouse, Abby slid open the saddlebag and slipped the chipmunk inside. “And now we wait.”

Around noon, Buttercup wandered into the kitchen from the guest bedroom. She hadn’t been lying about having to work. Her deadline was rapidly approaching, and she had been struggling quite a bit with writer’s block, so she had taken advantage of the silence of the ranch house and the beauty of the view and spent the morning writing her heart out. Twenty pages later, and her groove had been interrupted by the grumble of her stomach. So, she saved her work and, slowly as to admire the pictures and paintings on the walls of her ex-husband’s home, she wandered out of her writing cave and into the kitchen, where she was faced with a sweaty Rooster.

“Oh…hey.”

He grunted at her as he dug through the fridge. “I’ll be out of your way in a minute.”

“Technically, I’m in your way, since this is your home so…don’t worry about it.” All she received in return was another grunt, and she sighed. “I know you’re mad at me. I know you were against our divorce since the beginning, I know you hated the custody arrangement, and I know you blame me for moving to a different continent, but Rooster…” she sniffled. “Thank you. Thank you for taking care of them for me, when I wasn’t here…when I wasn’t strong enough to do it myself.”

She watched as Rooster sighed, his head hanging between his shoulders before he slammed the fridge door shut and turned towards her.

“Listen, it isn’t your fault. You were sick. I remember my mom talking about how she got sick after havin’ me, and…and shit, Buttercup, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. And it didn’t help that we kept getting deployed. You were goin’ through it and none of us could see it. I know you fought like hell, and so does he. I just—”

“You know what its like to not have a dad around, so you wish things had been different for Abby. And you know what its like to not have a mom around, so you wish things had been different for Charlie. Right?”

He blinked at her. “Get your ass outta my head.”

She chuckled before the mood settled around them, still slightly somber.

“I should’ve been able to handle it,” she whispered, and Rooster sighed, leaning back against the fridge.

“Hangman should’ve been able to handle it too,” he shrugged. “I know I was pissed off at you for putting yourself first, and it wasn’t fair. I was more worried about how the divorce would affect the team dynamic, instead of worrying about how the divorce would affect you. But he screwed up too. He should’ve put you first, not the team. That’s how it’s supposed to be.” Buttercup blinked up at him and he shrugged. “I started going to therapy after a bar fight when Charlie was like 2. Court mandated, but it helped. I let a lot of shit go.”

“Good for you,” she smiled. “I am grateful that they had you and Javy to lean on, you know. I’m not just trying to get back on your good side.”

“I know,” he shrugged and turned his back to her. “What do you want for lunch? I could hear your stomach grumbling from my room.”

She grinned and sat at the counter. “I imagine asking you for a salad wouldn’t fly?”

He scoffed without turning his back. “We eat healthy in this house, but we don’t eat rabbit food. What do you really want for lunch?”

She giggled. “What about taco salad?”

He turned and pointed at her. “Now that’s a damn good idea.”

It couldn’t have gone better if they had trained the chipmunk themselves. They had remounted and strolled along the trail for another fifteen minutes before Savannah started pawing at the saddlebag, looking for her oversized, bright pink water bottle. She was able to pry open the clasp of the bag and stick her hand inside. And then it happened…

The chipmunk launched into action, racing up her arm before Savannah could even realize what was happening and landed on her shoulder. Savannah freaked out, screaming and shaking her arm to try to dislodge it. Sweet Angel picked up on her rider’s anxious movements and started trotting down the trail, shaking her head this way and that.

Charlie and Abby watched from the rear as the chipmunk disappeared under the hem of Savannah’s designer t-shirt, Savannah screaming as the rodent searched for an escape. Angel reared up and Savannah clung to her neck. Both girls turned their heads to hide their giggles as their dad scooped the reins out of Savannah’s hands and gently pulled Angel back to the ground, soothing her in a calm voice. The chipmunk finally found an escape through the arm of her flannel, and leapt from Angel’s back to a nearby tree.

“Oh my goodness, Savannah!” Abby called, urging her horse forward. “Are you alright?”

“That was crazy!” Charlie gasped, hiding her laughter behind her hand.

She glared suspiciously at them but said, “I’m fine. Thank you.”

Jake tied Angel’s reins to Firewall’s saddle and turned back to look at them. “We’re going to head to the campground now, okay, Charlie?”

Both girls gave him a thumbs up and he rolled his eyes. When he turned back to face forward, they leaned over and high-fived each other. Neither the chipmunk nor Angel had been hurt, but Savannah screams had been absolutely hilarious. Perhaps their dad suspected them (he knew enough about the great outdoors to know that a chipmunk wouldn’t just materialize inside a closed saddlebag), but perhaps their little prank had allowed their father to see a different side of Savannah.

Lunch with Rooster had been good. The taco salad he had whipped up had been absolutely delicious, the ground beef perfectly spiced, and the spinach base had been simple but brilliant. More than that though had been their conversation. He had filled her in on so much of Charlie’s life (and Jake’s life as well, since it was so tightly woven with Charlie’s). She had always known that Jake would be a brilliant father, but some of the stories that Rooster had shared with her had her torn between laughter and tears. The antics her husband and her youngest daughter had gotten up to were bittersweet to hear about. In her mind’s eye, she could see them happening. She could see Jake flying toddler Charlie over his head, could hear her phantom cries as he gathered her 8-year-old body in his arms and carried her to the car, her arm bent at a painful angle.

As she strolled along the gravel path towards the dude cabins, she could practically see the phantom figures of her family as they lived and grew here. Knowing she had missed so much of Charlie’s life here, she regretted her decision to stay behind on the trail ride, but she hoped that Savannah would be able to make a better impression on her daughters than she had made on her.

“Honestly…” she muttered as she approached Cabin 1, where her brother and Natasha were staying. “What kind of woman doesn’t want to write her own wedding vows?” She sighed and climbed up the few stairs to the porch. “And what kind of sadistic bullshit is it to ask your future husband’s ex-wife to write the vows for you?”

She shook off the question as she knocked on the door. It had obviously been some sort of territorial claim from Savannah, trying to show Buttercup that he was hers now, but Buttercup had no doubt about that. She’d hurt Jake too badly for things to ever go back to the simple, fun, and loving way it had been before.

Natasha threw open the door and groaned. “Thank god it’s you.”

She chuckled and entered the cozy, modern cabin. “Who did you think it was?”

Natasha rolled her eyes and collapsed onto the comfy leather couch. “Javy. He keeps trying to come and talk to me.” Her friend shuddered dramatically.

Buttercup considered her carefully as she lowered onto the other side of the couch. “What’s the deal with you two? I thought Jake was the one you hated.”

Nat sighed and buried the scarred side of her face in the couch. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Buttercup took the pillow from behind her and whacked her friend with it. “C’mon! You’re acting like he killed your dog or something!”

Nat snatched the pillow and tossed it back at her. “Why’re you being so pushy, bitch?”

“Because you and Javy have been at each other’s throats since we got here, and I had to kick you out of dinner last night before either of you said or did something inappropriate in front of my children. And I hated doing that.”

Natasha let out a low whine as she tried to bury herself deeper in the couch. “Sorry…I promise I won’t call him a self-important bastard in front of your children.”

Buttercup barked a laugh and cuddled down into her seat. “But why would you call him that? It’s so weird! I honestly thought you two were into each other back in the day.” Natasha shifted so that her back was towards her friend, and Buttercup read it all in the tense line of her back. “Oh my god, you were into him!”

“Shut up…” Natasha grumbled. “He was into me too.”

“Were you two hooking up?”

Natasha rolled to look at her again. “Yeah. For a couple of months. Whenever we were both at Top Gun.”

Buttercup squealed and crawled across the couch so that she was right next to Natasha. “I knew it!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Natasha grumbled, pushing her off.

“So, what happened? Bad breakup? You act like you want to kill him.”

Natasha groaned. “No, it wasn’t a bad breakup. It wasn’t a real relationship.”

“Did he want it to be?”

Natasha buried her head in the pillow. “Yeah…he wanted to make it official after that last deployment. We fought about it a lot. I didn’t want to risk it because…” Natasha paused and looked guiltily over at her.

“Because?” Buttercup prompted gently, having a sneaking suspicion that she knew where this was going.

“Because I saw how messed up you were after the divorce,” Natasha admitted. “Our jobs are–were–risky enough without being in a relationship. And if our relationship fell apart the way yours and Jake’s did?” She sighed. “I told him no, but he wouldn’t let it go. Then there was the crash, and he came to visit me in the hospital and…” Natasha’s fingers clenched into fists. “He told me he would ‘take care of me’. That he felt like it was time to retire and that he would stay with me and that it would all be okay.”

“And that’s…bad?” Buttercup leaned back, confused. “He cared and wanted to help you? Why is that a bad thing?”

Natasha shuddered. “I couldn’t stand him looking at me with all that pity. And besides, why did he retire? He had the best job in the whole damn world and he willingly gave it up? Are you kidding me? They all gave it up! I mean, okay, Bob makes sense because he wanted to help you but why the hell would the rest of them give it up? Fucking idiots.”

Buttercup bit her lip. A decade of living with the other woman told her that trying to talk to Natasha when she was this fired up would be like trying to draw blood from a stone. So instead, she said, “Where is Bob, anyway?”

Natasha shrugged. “He got a phone call and went for a walk.”

“What is up with him and these phone calls?” Buttercup mused as she folded her legs beneath her.

“No clue. But what is with you deciding to stay back and let Cowgirl Barbie go on the trail ride with your girls and your man?”

Buttercup grumbled at her. “He’s not my man, and you know it.”

“Does he know that?”

Buttercup rolled her eyes. “Of course he does! He’s marrying Savannah, remember?”

Nat rolled her eyes and rolled off the couch before padding into the kitchen. “Of course I remember. That’s why I’m going to get wine. We’re going to need it.”

By the time they reached the campground, Abby was half convinced that Savannah had never been on a horse before. Even though she kept telling stories about her championship barrel racer back on her own ranch, poor Angel kept tossing her head at the confusing signals that her rider kept giving her. Charlie was fully confused. She’d done barrel racing before and the way Savannah was describing it, she knew she had never done it in her life. Her stories about shopping, drinking wine, and winning Miss Texas however, Charlie completely believed. No one could sound so excited about boring adult things if they hadn’t actually done them.

Luckily, they wouldn’t have to share a tent with her. That had been a stipulation of her joining them. Her own tent. Not even shared with their father, just her. Luckily, Jake had packed a hammock that he had already strung up between two sturdy trees for himself, leaving the other tent for his daughters.

All three Seresin’s watched Savannah as she primped in front of her cellphone camera, taking selfies of herself near the lake they were camping by. Jake shook his head with a sigh as he finished setting up her tent and stretched.

“What do we think about a dip in the lake before dinner?” he asked the girls, a wild grin on his face.

Both nodded eagerly and bolted into their tent to pull their swimsuits on.

“Did you bring it?” Charlie whispered, and Abby nodded, pulling out a packet from her backpack.

“Uncle Roo gave it to me and I tucked it away for safe keeping,” Abby replied. “You distract Dad, and I’ll make sure it reaches our target.”

“Deal.”

Both girls quickly changed and headed out of the tent.

“Dad!” Charlie called. Jake turned from where he was talking to Savannah, his hands soothingly rubbing her shoulders as she scowled at him. “Can you help me put sun block on my shoulders? Mom would kill me if I came back burned.”

Jake grinned. “She’d kill me first,” he called back, turning from Savannah and strolling over to Charlie.

Jake sufficiently distracted, Abby snuck into Savannah’s tent and ripped open her packet. She sprinkled the contents everywhere. In her sleeping bag, in her clothes, on her hairbrush, in her shoes, and definitely on the inside of her hat.

With a wicked grin, Abby crumpled up the evidence and crept back to her tent to hide it in her backpack. She emerged just in time for Jake to finish lathering her sister with sun block, the two of them turning to her.

“My turn?” she smiled at him sweetly.

“Yeah, baby, c’mere.”

Charlie turned to Savannah, who was still trying to find the just right angle for her selfie. “Will you be joining us in the water, Savannah?”

The petite blond couldn’t hide her sneer. “I think I’ll pass, sugar, but thanks.”

“Suit yourself,” Charlie shrugged. “You might want to get changed then. It’s going to start cooling off soon.”

Savannah smiled, the pull of her lips a touch too saccharine to be sincere, and said, “Thanks, honey. I’ll do that.”

As Savannah strutted into her tent, Jake joined his daughters and mussed their hair. “Last one in is a rotten egg!”

He took off running, his long legs eating up the ground as his daughters squealed and sprinted after him.

By the time they emerged from the chilly water, the sun was hanging low in the Texan sky and the air had adopted a slight nip that spoke of the coming autumn. Charlie and Abby raced to get dressed in their flannel pyjamas and their thick socks. As they pulled on their matching PJs, they heard Savannah whine and swapped grins.

“I HATE THE OUTDOORS!” she shrieked. “Everything hurts, I have bruises everywhere, my hair is so frizzy, and I must’ve been bitten a thousand times because I can’t. Stop. ITCHING!”

The girls could practically hear the frustrated look on their father’s face as he faced her. “I thought you said you’d been camping before?” he asked, his voice cool under pressure.

Savannah scoffed. “Yeah, in a cabin like civilized human beings. You know, electricity and indoor plumbing? And we never rode to the cabin! We drove there.”

“Who took care of that prize winning mare of yours while you were gone?”

“The staff, as usual,” she replied as though she were talking to a small child. “They do everything for her.”

The twins could feel the rising tension even from inside the shelter of their tent. “Even ride her?”

“Duh,” Savannah giggled. “Daddy paid top dollar for her because I wanted to try barrel racing, but I hate riding, so now she just has babies that we sell. Daddy lets me keep the profit since she’s mine and all. Two of her babies paid for my month-long trip to Paris.”

Jake huffed a sigh. “And you didn’t tell me this because?”

“What does it matter?” she replied coyly, a branch cracking under her foot as she moved closer to him. “We have loads of other things in common, sugar.”

Charlie rolled her eyes at Abby before leaping out of their tent. “Dad! We’re starving! Can we get the fire going so we can eat?”

Jake nodded, his eyes still fixed on Savannah. “You two go collect some firewood, and I’ll get everything ready.”

“Savannah, you want to come?” Abby called sweetly.

Savannah grumbled, her hands scrabbling against her chest and stomach. “Why am I so damn itchy!” she shouted, stomping her foot.

Jake huffed and turned to her. “You’re probably having an allergic reaction to something. Go wash off in the lake while the girls are gone. Take the calamine lotion from in my bag and make sure you cover all your itchy areas. I’ll get you some of my clothes to wear.”

“An allergic reaction to what?” she seethed, glaring at the twins as though she knew it was their fault.

“I think Uncle Rooster might have changed our laundry detergent,” Charlie supplied, grinning at her. “Maybe that’s it.”

“Maybe…” Savannah snarled before stalking off, the sound of her complaining drowning out the twin’s peals of laughter.

Savannah complained that the hot dogs and smores they were eating weren’t on her diet plan for the wedding, but Jake promptly shut it all down by telling her they were her only choice. Grumpy and painted pink from the calamine lotion, she slowly munched on a hot dog, grimacing with every bite.

“Dad?”

Jake grinned at Abby and nodded. “What’s up, kiddo?”

“I know you’re supposed to tell us stories around the campfire…” Jake’s confirming nod gave her the courage to finish. “Could you tell us about your first date with Mom?”

Savannah’s eyes went wide, and she looked as if she was about to complain again, but Jake cut her a look and she quieted.

“Sure, darlin’. If that’s what you want to hear…” Jake grunted as he settled himself further into his chair, his daughters watching him from a log across the crackling fire. “Let’s see…”

The San Diego Zoo, almost 13 years ago

Jake’s palms were sweating, which was saying something. He was the only pilot of his generation who had not one, but two air to air confirmed kills under his belt. He was ice cold under pressure. Nothing made him flinch. But strolling amongst the different animal exhibits with Buttercup had his hands damp and gross, no matter how many times he wiped them on his jeans.

My god, how he had fallen for her. Her spark, her sass, that fire in her eyes that challenged him in all the right ways. She was brilliant. She was perfect. And he had to make sure she didn’t wise up and take her brother's advice. There was no denying that Bob Floyd still didn't like him very much, and who could blame him? He'd been a dick to everyone when they had all arrived at Top Gun for the Uranium Mission. Now, Jake was still a dick, but he wasn't 100% an asshole anymore. He needled his teammates, pushed them to be better, aggravated them until they were achieving their full potential. It's what he did. What he had always done, even as the captain and quarterback of the high school football team. His methods didn't earn him many friends, but they earned him a shitload of respect.

It had taken him three weeks to work up the courage to ask out Bob Floyd's little sister. Three weeks of hanging out with her at the Hard Deck, three weeks of getting his ass kicked by her at pool, three weeks of feeling like a fucking freshman again, drooling over the girl that was so out of his league.

It was Phoenix who had finally given him the push to ask her out. A gruff "She likes you too, dumbass, so don't miss your fucking chance" was all that he needed to ask her to go to the zoo of all places. He'd heard her mention it a couple of times and wanted to make their first date memorable, because he had a sneaky feeling that it was one he would be talking about for a while.

“Giraffes are this way, darlin’,” he chuckled as he gently tugged her arm down the correct path.

Buttercup squealed and swung their hands between them. “I freaking love giraffes!”

He shook his head playfully. “You’re such a weirdo.”

“What?” she pouted. “The hot aviator my brother has been bitching about for like a year takes me to the zoo to meet the giraffes and I’m not allowed to be excited about it?”

“No, you are,” he smiled, squeezing her hand. “It’s cute.”

“You just said it was weird,” she pointed out.

“Yeah, but a good weird. I like your weird.”

“I like your weird too.”

He blinked. “I’m not weird.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re the only person I know who can name every type of military jet. In order of the year they were made.”

“Lots of pilots can do that,” he blushed.

“No they can’t, and you know it.”

“Fine, whatever,” he teased. “The giraffes are here, you weirdo.”

She squealed again and tugged him along to the meeting area, where the tour guide was waiting for them.

The whole tour of the giraffe enclosure, Jake kept a close eye on Buttercup, who was drinking in all the information. She was incredible. The way her eyes lit up with excitement, the way she quietly squealed as the giraffes strolled over to look at her. It made a funny pit grow in his stomach. He could watch her facial expressions forever. It made him feel like a fucking superhero to know that he was the one who made her smile like that, that he had been the one to make this happen.

Finally, the tour guide led them up close to the giraffes, who were milling about the wide paddock.

“I’m going to fill their food buckets so that they’ll come closer, and you can say hi, okay?” she grinned at them and Jake pulled out his phone. He wanted to capture the smile on her face as she met her favourite animal for the first time. He wanted to be able to look down at that smile the next time he was out in the middle of the Atlantic and remember how good she had made him feel just by standing beside him.

Buttercup squealed softly as the giraffes came close, and Jake chuckled. "Excited?"

"I still can't believe you set this up," she murmured, glancing up at him with stars in her eyes. "This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me."

"You're welcome." His smile was almost shy as he watched her interact with the gentle giants. "Would you maybe want to grab dinner on the way back? I know a great place for Italian."

Her responding grin was just as bright as it was when she started feeding the giraffes, and Jake gulped. He knew in his heart that this was the start of something special.

As Charlie listened to the story, her misty eyes watched Savannah stomp away to her tent in a huff.

Morning broke, and with it, so did the silence.

Savannah shrieked and, based on the racket she was making, her tent was probably about to fall down too, if it hadn’t already.

Abby and Charlie shared a startled look and bolted from their tent. They hadn’t done anything. They figured having to listen to a romantic zoo proposal story had been enough torture for one night. But there Savannah was, screaming and shoving at her tent, which had seemingly collapsed on her.

“What the hell is going on here?” Jake shouted, his boots hitting the ground as he took in the sight. “Savannah, what is wrong with you?”

“They did this!” she screamed, a pink painted nail stabbing at Abby and Charlie. “I know they did!”

“Savannah—”

“No!” she shouted, whirling on him. “I know they put that chipmunk in my saddle bag. I know they put something itchy in my clothes. And I know that they made my tent fall down on top of me!”

Abby turned to her father. “We didn’t make the tent fall, Dad. I swear!”

“You see!” Savannah shrieked. “The little demon admits it!”

“Watch it!” Jake growled, stepping in front of Abby.

Charlie bent to look at the ground in front of Savannah’s collapsed tent. “There’s hoofprints here, Dad.” She followed the tracks over to where Angel stood, her reins dragging on the ground. A thin black fiber hung out of her mouth. The exact same colour as Savannah’s tent.

“You expect me to believe that a horse collapsed my tent?” Savannah seethed.

“It looks to be that way,” Jake replied icily. “Now, you owe my girls an apology.”

“An apology?” she laughed coldly. “You heard the little brat. She only denied collapsing my tent, which means she did the other things!” Savannah sneered at her. “I know you’re the British one. I can tell a fake accent a mile away. And let me tell you this. You showing up here was the worst day of my life. I never wanted to be a stepmother! I thought maybe I could handle one kid until I could convince you to send her to boarding school, but two? No one in their right mind would want to be a stepmother to two little brats!”

Jake stepped smoothly in between them, both Abby and Charlie huddled behind him as he faced his fiancée. “Who says I would’ve sent them to boarding school? They’re my girls.”

“I am your girl!” she shrieked. “ME! M.E.! And if you want to marry me, then you have to choose! Because I’m not playing second fiddle to two little she devils anymore! Got it?”

“Then…” Jake chuckled. “I choose them.”

“Excuse me?”

“T.H.E.M? Them. I choose my girls. Got it?”

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#jake seresin x reader #glen powell #as you wish fic #jake seresin #top gun maverick #parent trap au #top gun fanfiction #jake hangman seresin #jake hangman fic

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ghostowlattic · 2 days

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Rock Ledge Ranch

#myphoto

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dragonsflame117 · 5 months

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It’s almost ready! I just need the roof hide and the spyderrobotics tech for thermostat and humidity, then Lucius will be ready to move in!!

(Plus I need the humidity to drop, freshly made soil is a bit more wet than I intended)

Thanks to Toad Ranch and Universal Rocks for making the habitat and fake stone ledges.

Background around the ledges made by me in my down time.

#lucius #ball python #banana ball python #banana royal python #reptile #royal python #pet snake #pet python #pet reptile #love my snek #toad ranch #new habitat #skull decor #custom background #diy habitat background #diy projects #shelves from universal rocks #universal rocks #artificial plants

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quirkle2 · 2 years

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I CARE AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANY HEADCANONS YOUVE GOT

WAILS,,,,, IF UR SURE ,, i do indeed have so many Thoughts

small warning for minor slime rancher 2 spoilers, mainly areas of the map, but also some new slimes !

at first i thought of wars and ledge having a ranch alone (slime rancher 2 conservatory) and the others having their own little ranches close by and they visit each other often ! but then i thought abt them all just living ranch au style in one place,,, i'm leanin more toward them all living together on one ranch now honestly

whatever the case, i think legend would love the far far range. i think all of them would, but legend fuckin loves exploring every little nook and cranny, wild and hyrule too, and i think they'd all go on little adventures and scout missions, searching for anything new, mapping out new places they find. legend would think all of the areas in both games r just so so fuckign Pretty

two of legend's favorite places to hang out is the big tree in the conservatory, and the big blue and pink tree in the middle of starlight strand. both trees r big and beautiful and twisting and i think he'd Love to climb up there and draw in his maps and sketchbooks, watchin the slimes bounce around

wars' favorite place to hang out is ember valley, atop any of the large rock pillars that loom over everything else. he uses his jetpack to get up there when he needs a couple hours to himself, brings a book or two with him, and simply lies in the grass on top and reads. his quiet places r usually slime-free as well—even though he loves slimes and thinks they're adorable, even a rancher gets tired and wants to be completely alone from time to time—so he typically picks someplace that's high and out of the way, where he can't hear any slimes or can't get attacked by tarr

wars' Other favorite spot is actually directly next to slimes, but it's wars' second favorite of the little guys—puddle slimes :) once again in ember valley, in that little pond down at the south end that pours waterfalls down to the pond below. that spot is So quiet and nice, and wars actually Loves the sounds puddle slimes make, and the sounds of the waterfalls r calming to him. sometimes he reads there and even falls asleep

wars likes taking pictures. legend likes drawing. sometimes they play a silly little game where legend hands him a landscape he drew and he has to try and find that spot on the far far range and take a picture of that exact place and perspective. in exchange, wars gives him pictures he's taken and legend gets to draw more landscapes with the pics as references

wars and wind have given all their bee drones nicknames. they have also decorated them w fashion pods and wars' favorite one is barry the bastard, who wears big circular glasses and sometimes glitches out and flies directly into walls (wars pets him and coos at him and fixes his trajectory like he is an actual being w feelings and not a robot made to finish tasks. he loves him very much)

^ i like to think there is a way to manually pilot the bee drones somehow (phone app,,,) and wars likes to annoy legend while he's sitting up in the tree drawing maps n shit. buzzes around him and presses the button that makes the bee flip and make funny little noises. legend hates him (legend loves him and thinks it's funny) (wars sometimes brings him snacks w the bee drones randomly . there's text that replaces the drone's face that says "snack break <3")

legend's favorite slime is the ringtail. he thinks it's cute and loves when their faces get all mischievous. what r they up to...............

wars' favorite is the flutter slime :) he thinks they're Beautiful, especially when sunlight shines through them and brightens their colors. he loves those things (they have a few flutter slimes flying around the conservatory purely because wars likes watching them fly and imabout to cry over that)

wind's favorite is the boom slime; he thinks they're funny. four really likes the batty slimes. sky adores the mosaics. time rly likes mochi's quicksilver slimes. hyrule likes the honey ones. twi adores tabby and hunter slimes, thinks they're cute and have done nothing wrong ever in their lives. wild likes the cotton slimes, and also the fire ones cuz he thinks they're cool

AND ALSO........ wars' scars in that drawing. >:) (warning from here on out for a bit of graphic injury, being eaten alive just a little bit, and generally just,, me yanking the innocence out of this game w my teeth)

i like to think of tarr slimes as Actually Really Dangerous and instead of just calmly vaccing them against ur nozzle and launching them into the sea, they're a lot more difficult to deal with in this world. firstly, they seem to be .... Meltier than other slimes, so i think vaccing them up against ur nozzle and them Staying Together is nearly impossible. they'd simply melt to the ground or Around ur vacpack and if everything goes right for them, they could just grab ur vacpack away and Eat You.

rly the only surefire way to get rid of them is to splash them w water, of course, but if u Don't have a water source ? ur,, in trouble

in sr2, it's a Lot more difficult to find water sources, mostly because the slime sea is no longer a viable source to vac up. and at some point, wars had run out of water in his reserve tank, had witnessed a tarr outbreak right next to him and Well .

they'd grabbed at him, at his face, at his arm and side, and started eating at his flesh. the only reason he got away was because legend had been just a field over, heard the screams, and had water in his reserve. legend definitely saved his life

tarr actually eats u alive in this world. it clings to skin and dissolves muscle and bone, and of course, the more it eats, the more it multiplies. tarr had been crawling and clinging to wars' skin all over his right side and if legend hadn't had a few splashes left in his tank, it would've simply continued and eaten him whole

the effects of tarr made him very sick for a long time (to the point where the others feared they'd still lose him), and it took months to get back on his feet and recovery fully. he still has scars along the parts where he was grabbed and dissolved, black and inky, and if the light shines on them just right, u can see an array of rainbowy colors, much like the tarr look

after that, time doesn't let them leave the ranch without a full water reserve in their vacpacks.

#qktalks #bluesmoth #slime rancher 2 spoilers #tw injury #injury tw #injury #tw illness #illness tw #illness #so sorry to needlessly dump whump onto this cute and cuddly game (no i'm not.)#and yes wars is Very scared of tarr now #they already had a buddy system in place before that for safety reasons—a partner to tell u not to chance that jump over that ravine #(time regrets giving them jetpacks . they all launch themselves across the slime sea w reckless abandon constantly)#but for a while after the incident wars sticks to his chosen buddy like glue and doesn't let them or Any slimes out of his sight #and they don't let him out of theirs rly . they were all terrified of losing him #ANYWAY I GOT . SEVERAL ASKS ABT THIS VGIYEAGVEAV #im so sorry i didn't answer them all i don't wanna be annoying and spam ur dash but i hope this suffices #i appreciate u all sm u have no idea #love talking about aus always i will always take an opportunity to ramble about them

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countrymusiclover · 2 years

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28 - A Cowboy Kinda Life

Part 29

Country Rancher

Tags @whateverthecostner @rosie-posie08 @kaycejdutton @kayceduttonn @kcloveswrestling @the-morning-star-falls @kaymudd @artoldfartsandunicornhearts @hcwthewestwaswcn

Tying my hair in a braid falling down my back, I tugged on the reins of my horse feeling the wind blowing through my hair. Closing my eyes I lean back on my horse sighing in relief at this feeling of being so free. I haven't felt such freedom since we were spending our time at the summer camp. This feeling I want to hold onto for as long as possible. Dismounting my horse the tent flap gets opened revealing my husband who gave me a small smile. "Hey baby, I woke up and you were gone."

"It's fine Kayce. I just went out for a morning ride." I replied, tucking hair behind my ear wrapping my arms around his neck.

He rested his hands on my hips tugging me closer to his chest, smirking playfully. I mirror his expression knowing it would only lead to something reckless in the cowboy way. "I wanna show you somethin' while the kids are still asleep on their saddles."

Climbing back on my horse I followed him through the treeline where we rode for a little ways finding a rock ledge that reveals a huge clearing of a beautiful open field of orange and yellow. Slowly dropping off my horse Kayce tugged me down to sit beside him. He wrapped his arms around my waist kissing the crown of my head. "This spot brings me back to our summer honeymoon...I think we're getting back to that darling."

"I'd have to disagree." I teased, lifting my head to glance up into his brown eyes.

He squeezes me lightly, nuzzling his nose against mine getting my smile to grow. "Is that so. Tell me Mrs. Dutton, what exactly am I missing?"

Gently pushing him onto his back on the ground I hold myself up with my hands on either side of him. "Well we didn't really have a honeymoon since your father called us. So I think we deserve a re-do. Because I love our children, but we have four little ones and they take a lot out of me." I sighed with my hair falling in front of my eyes.

Kayce reached up tucking it behind my ear chuckling up at me rolling us over so I was the one on my back. "Oh I think I can do a re-do right here. With the woman that I love laying in the most beautiful scenery on earth.." He leans down pressing his lips onto mine where I immediately kiss him back.

Wrapping my arms and legs around him he puts his weight down on me deepening the kiss. One of my hands reaches up, knocking his black cowboy hat off his head threading my fingers into his brown curls. When I tugged on them he released a moan making me break the kiss for a split second. "Slow down cowboy. We've got time..."

"I don't want to wait Y/n. We have to live everyday to the fullest." He said in a raspy voice pressing his lips onto mine making me moan, twisting my fingers into his curls. We got so caught up in one another that we almost didn't hear the sound of another horse coming our way.

"Mom, Dad?" Bree's voice filled the air making us break away seeing her holding her younger sister on her horse staring at us slightly confused and embarrassed. "Are you two...you know?" She punched a fist into the air, blushing.

Kayce doesn't dare look me in the eye while I attempted to sit up pulling leaves out of my hair blushing myself. Everytime I look at my daughter I still see her as the eleven year old who wanted to play ranch with her grandfather and stuff her face with warm briscets. "Um - maybe. What do you need, honey?"

"Grandpa said to come find you. It's time to herd the cattle." She replied, clicking her tongue signaling her horse to go on its way back to the others.

Kayce flopped down on his black beside me running a hand down his face chuckling at me softly. Turning my head in his direction I hold myself up by my right elbow shaking my head at him. "Sometimes I wish she didn't grow up and just kept playing with ponies."

"Hey, look at it this way. She clearly knows what we were about to do. So you might not have to have the talk." He threw his hand in the air until I playfully shoved him hearing him start laughing at me.

We got back on our horses and everything actually went pretty well in regards to herding the cattle. John said he actually didn't think the whole thing would go as fast as it did. Carter, Bree and Tate were all settled up under the same tree for the night. Dallas and Elsa were running around playing roping with each other. "Got ya sissy!" He cheered making his sister trip falling on her knees getting some mud on her clothes.

"Eat dirt." She threw some dirt in his direction, sticking her tongue out. Dallas dropped his rope tackling her further into the dirt playfully wrestling with her.

Glancing over my shoulder I tilted my head up. I warned them before they both started whining over who was right. "Hey, you two. Cut it out or I'll make you go to bed early tonight!"

"Fine momma." Elsa smiled, shoving him off.

Dallas crossed his arms over his chest pushing hair out of his face. "She started it."

"He tripped me!" She started.

Dallas fought back, rising on his toes trying to be taller than her. "Tattle tail!"

Kayce came over crossing his arms over his chest glaring towards the twins backing me up. "Listen to your mother. There will be no fighting on this trip." The twins finally stopped running over to go hang out with Lioyd who wanted to show them something about his horse.

Removing my hat I leaned my back against the tree seeing the sun starting to set off in the distance of the mountains. Laying my hat on my lap Kayce wrapped his arms around me after pulling out a blanket we brought. One for the kids and the other for us to share. Turning over to face him I laid my head in the crook of his neck hearing him whisper in my ear. "I love you, Y/n. I always will. I just want you to know that in case I don't say it enough."

"I love you too Kayc, always have and always will." I mumbled under my sleepy breath snuggling into his cuddly embrace.

The next morning I didn't get woken up easily instead Kayce was shaking me awake mumbling something about a cowboy dead. Rubbing my eyes I quickly got to my feet following the direction he was leading me to find his father sitting beside the older cowboy named Emmett who had joined us on the journey. The branding was happening today and I had to bet his wife would be there. "Oh my gosh. John I, how did this happen?" Dropping down on a knee before the two cowboys Kayce and I both removed our hats in the process.

"He cuddled up on his saddle with that blanket. And we laid underneath the stars..." He took a long pause for a breath staring into my eyes. "He never opened his eyes when I came to wake him up...I couldn't have imagined a better way to go."

Wiping some tears away I watched Kayce climb back on his horse and put his head back on his head, eyeing his father. "Best way to go for a cowboy."

"Best way for anyone to go." I replied climbing back on my horse with everyone riding back to the ranch. Once we got back John immediately rushed to Emmett's wife right as I saw the camera crew focusing on them. "Oh no they don't!"

I attempted to run forward and scold them for filming such a sad moment but Kayce snagged my wrist holding me back with a warning glance. "We don't need to get involved. If they make it turn bad my dad will take care of it. Let's get something to eat." Nodding in agreement I watched John embrace the crying woman in a tight hug

Once we had gotten something to eat Kayce took the kids to get them some food too since they were busy playing a few minutes ago. Walking through the crowd of people I noticed Ryan leaning against the fence post then he climbed to sit on it to get a better view of the Abby girl who was performing on stage. "She's got you bad huh Ryan?"

"Huh - what are you talking about?" He turned his head in my direction , blushing a little.

I started laughing a little at him climbing up and sitting beside him on the fence watching everyone dancing to her song. "I've since that look on Kayce when he stares at me sometimes. The look that says you want them so bad you're just not sure you can manage it."

"The only thing I can't manage right now is...how am I supposed to get that girl on the dance floor when she's the one on stage?" He slumped his shoulders as Walker came our direction.

Jumping from the post he tipped his hat to me smiling. "Y/n, what can I do for you?"

"Actually it's for Ryan." I pointed my index finger towards the stage showing him Abby.

He nodded simply moving through the crowd before I offered my hand to Ryan. "Come on, cowboy. I'll lead you to her." He placed his hands in mine. Our hands intertwined with his other hand on my waist spinning us through the crowd.

My hair flies around as we kicked up some dust dancing in the crowd of people until I felt someone tap my shoulder. "You mind if I get a turn?" Abbu asked seeing that Walker was now on stage playing.

"It would be rude if I said no. Have fun you two." I tipped my hat at the pair moving through the crowd. Leaning my back into the fence post I scanned the crowd smiling at an event like this. Twirling my wedding ring on my finger I knew my mother in law would have loved this.

Foosteps broke through the crowd before I heard someone clear their throat making me focus my attention on my father in law. "Care for a dance, Y/n?"

'Oh John. Normally I wouldn't ask this but why aren't you asking Summer?" I smiled tucking hair behind my ear gently.

He extended his hand and I placed my hand in his letting my father in law lead me out onto the dance floor. "I asked her and she said no. So I thought I should ask my daughter in law. Plus your husband is over there dancing."

"Oh that's adorable." I chuckled following the direction towards the barn seeing him twirling Elsa and Dallas each underneath his arm.

John twirled me out and back into his chest intertwining our hands together. I always pictured him as being a good father in law and he hasn't let me down yet. "I am glad I can still lead a girl to the dance floor but I'll let someone else cut in."

"I enjoyed our time, John." I smiled feeling familiar arms wrapping around my waist from behind. John tipped his black hat to us before I spun around in those arms seeing my husband. Kayce intertwined my right hand while my other hand rests on his shoulder. He put one hand on my waist while we simply swayed side to side with Abby softly sang a song. Breaking a good end to the cowboy weekend.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

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ladyelainehilfur · 2 years

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Weaktober Day 6: Swan

Jimmy’s hands were going to turn pruney at this rate. He’d been in the water for over thirty minutes, wallowing in the shallow end, caught up in his thoughts. It was seven o’clock, almost dusk. Uncle Jin would’ve started calling out the ranch hands to look for him, but Jimmy had already told him not to wait up and have dinner without him. His uncle didn’t protest, but Jimmy still felt bad.

He just needed time to think. The lake at the edge of the property was always deserted, so it ended up becoming his go-to area when he craved silence and solidarity. At that time of day, he could hear the frogs getting back on their BS, and the birds in the tree finally simmering down. The swishing sound of the fish in the water was a constant but Jimmy minded that less. It was still sunny out but he hid under the shade of the large rock that hovered over a corner of the lake.

He dragged himself out of the water and enjoyed the cool wind hitting the wet surface of his skin. He shook out his hair, and started making his way back up to the top of the rock. It wasn’t steep but there were many areas where the rock wasn’t as smooth and he had to avoid scraping his legs as he’d done multiple times since discovering the lake.

At the pinnacle of it, he stood next to the only other person he’d let into his private expanse. Lily was also wearing a bathing suit, but she had no intention of swimming.

“You don’t have to leave unless you want to,” she said, gazing out over the lake. Lily wasn’t the sort to sit around and waste time. She was there to help him make up his mind.

“I can’t just leave Uncle to do all this by himself,” he said, rubbing his face with his hands. “He’s going to retire really soon and if I’m not here to take care of the ranch, I need to choose one of the ranch hands to do it.” He laughed morosely. “Dude, you should see the fights at the stakeholder meetings. It’s like the presidential election or something.”

Lily laughed and beckoned for him to sit next to her on the ledge of the rock, which he did. “Have you heard that phrase about swans?” she asked.

“No,” he murmured.

She hummed. “Even though you pretend like everything is fine on the top side, you’re swimming as hard as you can underneath. I don’t think even your uncle realizes how much work you’re putting into making the ownership transfer as easy as possible.”

“I’m not trying to advertise it,” he said.

She nodded. “I know. But I’m proud of you. You’re doing amazing, sweetie.”

Jimmy snorted and she grinned back, reaching over to run her fingers through his bangs. His heart decided to be stupid and skip a beat, so he quickly leaned over to kiss her on the corner of her mouth. Her subsequent smile was so brilliant that Jimmy had to stand up so she couldn’t see the flush rising on his face.

“One more dive before we head back?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Jimmy replied, clearing his throat. He stepped off the edge and flew through the air before slicing through the water, leaving nothing on the surface but ripples and unanswered questions.

#weaktober #weaktober day 6 #weak hero #webtoon

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artboomboom · 6 months

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This is part 4 of my trip to Moab last May. Part of my favorite trips of 2023 series. Delicate Arch is one of the main tourist draws in Arches National Park. The parking lot at the Delicate Arch Trailhead, although large, fills up quickly on most days. The trail to Delicate Arch is 3 miles (4.8 kilometer) round trip with an elevation change of 480 feet (146 meters). The trail is well defined for the first 1/2 mile, then does a steep incline over open rock. There is a narrow ledge for the last 200 yards (183 meter) before reaching the arch. Delicate Arch is formed of Entrada Sandstone. The original sandstone fin was gradually worn away by weathering and erosion, leaving the arch. Other arches in the park were formed the same way but, due to placement and less dramatic shape, are not as famous. This isn’t an easy hike, as it contains a significant climb up a steep, slick, rock slope. I hiked the upper view and climbed all over some smooth giant rocks to get a good shot of it but then thought about going all the way on the 3 mile hike from Wolf Ranch, which at a center point gets steep. I got to that point and realized that by the time I came back down it was going to be dark, so I turned around. But I got a lot of photos from the upper view.tThis batch also includes a shot of the Petroglyphs near Wolf Ranch. More Petroglyphs next week from Potash.

#mikecressy #artists on tumblr #photographer #photography #moab #moab utah #petroglyphs #wolf ranch #potash #delicate arch #entrada sandstone #arches national park #trail #vacation #trip

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kokorowoutsu · 9 months

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-- RP: @night-gladion-and-their-ghosts

night-gladion-and-their-ghosts:

Night gripped the Heal Ball and gave a firm nod. He whipped his head towards the Heatran. Night rushed across a ledge and got closer. "Luke! By my side!" The Lucario hopped away and joined beside Night. "On my signal, Aura Sphere." Night locked eyes and tossed the Heal Ball, Luke shooting an Aura Sphere. Both hit their mark, and the Heatran was sucked into the Heal Ball, landing on a bit of rock, it shook and rocked.

Stepping closer to the edge just behind the barrier, Ashe watched as the Heal Ball hit the ground. Once, twice, three times... click. Breathing a sigh of relief, it was Nova who skated over to the Heal Ball, picking it up gently with her blades. Making noises confirming it was safe, Lucky brought down each barrier before Nova joined them up on the cliffside above using Phantom Force to do so.

Extinguishing her flames, she handed the Heal Ball to Night, making a hollow-like noise as if to confirm he should take it.

"I'd look after it at the ranch but it'd put me, Lucky, and Mom at risk. That Heal Ball should take care of any wounds it has so just... get it somewhere safe, yeah?"

Ashe had a feeling Morgan would be coming home soon for the holidays. If a steel-type showed up, while Ashe nearly died, it would likely cause more havoc to Morgan then with Ashe.

#nightgladionandtheirghosts #ashe ;; ic

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highplanes456 · 1 year

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2023 Home Appraisal Costs Average Cost Of House Appraisal & Fees

We’ll help you understand the influence of a low appraisal and focus on your options if your personal home or the home you’re shopping for receives a low appraisal. We’ll also cover scenarios that happen when an appraisal is out there in low, and provide ideas for buyers land value appraisal and sellers to navigate this case. Either way, the appraisal process is amongst the final hurdles you’ll encounter on your approach to closing, whether you're buying a new residence or refinancing your house loan.

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The Texas Constitution and Tax Code provide that sure kinds of farm and ranch land be appraised primarily based on the land's capability to provide agricultural products (productivity value) as a substitute of at market value. Land house owners can apply for special appraisal based mostly on the property's productivity value. The land's capacity to provide agricultural or timber products appraisal land determines the productivity value, which is usually decrease than market value. Land used to manage wildlife may also qualify for particular use appraisal. “For example, lakefront properties are almost always complex, and a consumer ought to anticipate to pay more for this sort of valuation than that of a home in a subdivision,” explains Massey.

All of these variables could be decided when a property survey is completed. If there might be appreciable conservation land or the property is in a flood zone, the land could be valued decrease. A property with rolling hills and tons of rock and ledge will be more difficult to construct on and appraise lower.

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nonbinary-nature-lover-jeri · 2 years

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Enchanting New Mexico - Trees growing on the cliff ledges and edges beside Echo Amphitheater in Rio Arriba County, NM The whole area is filled with amazing, colorful cliffs and rock formations, Abiquiu Lake/Reservoir and behind that Cerro Pedernal. Nestled amidst all this is Ghost Ranch where artist Georgia O’Keefe was inspired to paint. #EchoAmphitheater #RockFormations #ColorfulCliffs #ColourfullCliffs #MutiHuedCliffs #NewMexivo #GhostRanch #CarsonNationalForest #NewMexicoTrue #LandOfEnchantment (at Echo Amphitheater) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClKCG2uPDYt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#echoamphitheater #rockformations #colorfulcliffs #colourfullcliffs #mutihuedcliffs #newmexivo #ghostranch #carsonnationalforest #newmexicotrue #landofenchantment

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sonatanotwo · 3 years

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Reconnecting

Bro wrote me this years ago... I still love it so much. I wrote this kinda based off it... including my attempt at matching the style a bit... though I am awful at present tense, so uh yeah. I never posted it, but came across it again recently and realized it was perfect with Day 3′s theme, SO. Here it is. lol There’s some headcanons here Bro and I have toyed with too... like the Academy... which is located in Colorado Springs (where I lived for awhile XD)... which is just a little over an hour drive south of Denver. :Db There’s a lot more about this headcanon’d time I’d like to write one of these days. XDa ANYHOO...

It hasn't been since Christmas that Virgil's spoken to his brother. It's not really surprising as they haven't really spoken a whole lot over the past few years. Once almost inseparable, it now feels a bit like there’s a chasm between them.

It seemed like life had conspired to draw them apart ever since Scott had been accepted into the Air Force Academy. The last years of high school weren't the same without Scott being there. His brother called him every day at first, but days became weeks and weeks stretched to months. He came to hear more about how his brother was doing secondhand. Scott was busy. Scott was top of his class. Scott wasn't coming home for the summer. He never heard these things from Scott.

Then Virgil went to the Denver School of Advanced Technology.

He saw Scott a few times then, but couldn’t forget the first visit when he'd first been settling in. It had been then that he'd realized that the something that had always existed between them felt like it was missing. Perhaps it was one of those things that became lost when childhood came to an end or maybe the time apart had something to do with it. He hadn’t been sure, but either way he mourned it’s absence. He buried himself in his studies, concentrating on graduating and his plans for the future.

Now here he is, in Dad's jet with Scott at the controls, flying them home. All of Virgil's belongings from Denver packed in the hold, because he’s moving back home. He's a mechanical engineer now and will soon be a member of International Rescue. He's excited to finally begin to learn to fly the ship he'd long ago told their dad he’d pilot one day, but that’s not what's on his mind as he sits in the cockpit.

He'd been surprised it was Scott waiting to take him home instead of their Dad. The reunion had been happy at first, but now an uncomfortable silence had dropped over the cockpit. Attempts at conversing just feel awkward. It’s all so wrong. It had never been like this before.

Here he is finally having to face what he couldn't years before. Soon they’re meant to be partners, going into dangerous situations together to rescue those in need. How can they pull that off? They feel so disconnected from each other. It barely even feels like they’re best friends anymore, at least to him. Virgil isn’t sure if Scott has felt it too. Could it be just him who feels this way? He can’t bring himself to broach the topic, deciding instead to hope it just needs time.

He just doesn’t know what to do or say the whole rest of the trip home. Things feel a little easier once they arrive, but their dad, unsurprisingly, seems to catch on pretty quickly that something isn't right. Virgil notices the way he watches them. They've been home only a few days before he suddenly has them pack up and sends them off to the family ranch for training — just the two of them.

Their first exercise set out for them has them not in the training rooms, but outside, scaling one of the large rock formations not far from the ranch. 'No talking,' is the one rule their dad has imposed. Once that wouldn’t have been a problem at all, but that's not the case now; he’s barely able to read his brother.

Virgil’s now absolutely certain their Dad knows as he pauses his ascent, trying to interpret the slightly worried look Scott’s throwing down at him. He can’t work out what Scott’s worried about.

They’re using new gear Brains sent with them to test. Virgil's been pretty impressed with the multifunction version of the grapple gun Scott's making use of several yards above him — at least he is until unexpectedly the pack releases from the tool, sending Scott falling backwards with an unusually startled cry.

Their panicked gazes meet for the briefest second and Virgil knows Scott needs him. Virgil doesn’t think, he just moves, reaching out and grabbing for his brother's wrist as he falls past. With no chance to brace at all, growing shoulder muscles are put to the test as they're wrenched from the sudden weight of his falling big brother.

Suspended by Virgil’s own grapple line, they simply breathe for a moment, trying to recover from the scare. It's Scott who breaks the rule of silence first.

"So... what do you say we pause this exercise?"

"Agreed," Virgil responds eagerly.

Finding Scott a purchase, he's able to climb down a short ways to a wide ledge and Virgil soon joins him, sitting down beside each other, both still shaken.

"I'll pull the grapple apart when we get back," Virgil offers, worried since it's not often something Brains creates has a flaw.

"Good plan," Scott agrees distractedly, blue eyes locking with his suddenly. "Virgil..."

Virgil raises a questioning eyebrow, but doesn’t get a chance to respond. A hand hooks around his neck and Scott closes the distance between them, forehead pressing against his.

The last time Scott did this — when his brother left for the academy so long ago — is what first comes to mind. Then all the feelings and words come like a rush. The flood of relief, gratitude, trust and love. 'You saved me,’ ‘You’re amazing,’ and 'Thank you.'

He hasn't felt their bond like this in so long; suddenly it feels stronger than ever. Overwhelmed in the best of ways, tears form in Virgil's eyes. 'Anytime,' he replies, echoing his brother's feelings with much the same.

Scott pulls away only long enough to briefly get a look at him before closing the gap once more, this time to draw him into a tight hug that Virgil returns just as tightly. Tucking his face into his brother's shoulder, he feels for a moment like a boy again, finding comfort and safety in his brother's arms.

"I've missed you, Scotty," he admits out loud, knowing Scott can feel just how much, just as he can now sense how much Scott has been missing him. It’s like the door that had closed between them has been thrown wide open. He hopes it never closes again.

"Me too, Virg."

They sit on the ledge a little longer before mutually agreeing their done and head back to the ranch. Sitting on the porch side by side after dinner to watch the stars appear in the darkening sky, Scott makes the executive decision that they're going to head home in the morning.

They're already halfway home when they finally contact their Dad to let him know they're on their way home. At first he doesn't seem very happy with them, but as they try to explain, there's a change in his expression as he watches them talk — he knows and Virgil can see he’s relieved.

Taking over the controls for a while to give Scott a break, a silence falls between them, but this time it could not be more comfortable. While they still have a lot of catching up to do, every one of Virgil's doubts are gone. He has his best friend back and something feels complete in a way it hasn't in a long time. They aren't back at the island yet, but now he really feels like he's home.

#Earth&Sky2021 #Thunderbirds Are Go #Thunderbirds #Scott Tracy #Virgil Tracy #Earth and Sky #Big Brotp #~Virgil Mun Writings

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eztilsolar · 3 years

Text

Wings of Fire x Camp Cretaceous post! All of the tribes chosen were based on personality

Darius

Nightwing because of his level-headedness and brilliance

In the same situation with Moonwatcher where he has visions but he can't trigger them and they only come in glimpses

No mind reading

Father died to the old Nightwing Kingdom's ashy air

Dino necklace is instead a moon-wired one

He took the moss bed in their cave at Jade Mountain

Will tell whoever's willing to listen about the tales of Darkstalker and the Sandwing Succession, making them more horrific for better engagement

Proper dragon name: Yasha

Sammy

Mudwing because of her strength, friendly energy, and love of family

Willing to do anything for her family and add members to it

One of the animal herders but her father sent her off to school so she would be able to teach her younger siblings

Reports back to her Queen and sibs regularly

Has a flower tucked between the curve of her horn and ear

Sleeps in a small pool of mud in their dorm

Hangs out at the Great Hall and Prey Center so she can make more friends

Proper dragon name: Coypu

She'll eagerly tell her clawmates about her sibs and animal ranch, even if they aren't willing to listen

Yasmina

Icewing

I think this speaks for itself but Icewings tend to be more closed off and unexpressive while having those rare emotional moments and that fits Yas pretty well!

One of the best hunters in the Ice Kingdom

As fast as an average Skywing, maybe a bit faster depending on the day

In the the second circle rank

Wears a necklace that represents this, two connected circles on a thick, strong wire

Her paintings are displayed in the art cave

Spends a lot of time in the library with Starflight

If she's not doing that, she's training with some Skywings

An professional artist in her spare time

Sleeps on a rug that's on the ground (reminds her of home)

Proper dragon name: Violas

These were more difficult to figure out…

Ben

Silkwing!

Seen as useless but he's used to it, pushed around because of the Silkwing's previous lower class to the Hivewings, who push him around (including his clawmate)

His wings aren't grown in yet so he thinks of himself as a set back while all his other friends can fly (however, he became very agile so he could keep up with his winglets and not let his lack of wings push him back)

Has a thin layer of fuzzy fur that's very warm and soft

Volunteers at Winter's Scavenger Sanctuary after classes

Often visits the library, reading everything he can about self-defense and what plants are edible or not

Met Stonemover while mapping out the school

Sleeps in the hammock in their cave

You can decide if Bumpy is a sloth or scavenger

Proper dragon name: Ctenucha

Somehow ended up with the nickname Ben despite his name sounding more like "Ten"

Kenji

Sandwing

They're known to attractive so that helped

Trust issues

Probably grew up with one of his parents being in a high position in the kingdom so he's still rich and egotistical

Uses his strength as a threat but almost never acts upon it

Wears lots of jewelry (piercings mostly and two horn rings)

Almost no hunting experience but somehow knows how to fight?

Visits the music cave regularly

Sleeps on a pillowed, rock ledge (the pillows added by him)

Proper dragon name: Komodo

Brooklyn

Sky/Rainwing hybrid

It gives her that hype energy and stubborn nature

Only some parts of her body can change colors, she can breathe small amounts of fire, and has big wings

Born in the Sky kingdom and lived there for majority of her life but would occasionally go see her baba in the rainforest

Writes down all of her discoveries in letters and sends them to her parents

Sleeps on the rock ledge

Sneaks around the school to try and figure out everyone's secrets, she stalks the headmasters and teachers a lot for this

Also investigates Stonemover but can never find him (he actively ignores her)

Proper dragon name: Flamelily

They have three other clawmates because each winglet has to have one dragon from each tribe. A Hivewing named Arachnid, a Seawing named Seashell, and a Leafwing named Baobab. I haven't figured out their personalities yet (minus Seashell, she's based off an old friend's OC) because they're OCs I made just for this AU. Their winglet is called the Fossil Winglet, inspired by the show for this one.

I might draw all of their headshots simply because I'm bored and want something to work on other than school work.

#wings of fire #camp cretaceous #I made another AU #got back into wings of fire #I can't add the 'read more' thing #the fossil winglet #Moon Rising #maybe I'll make a post for the OCs to flesh them out when I figure them out

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the-awkward-outlaw · 4 years

Note

Reader to Arthur while he and Micah are in the middle of a shootout against the O'Driscolls during their first stage robbery mission. She appears from her hiding after following him and calls out him then yelled, “ I want to protect you. ” at him.

For once, this one is short and sweet, but I’m really happy with how it ended. Enjoy!

Read on AO3

Masterlist

“Oh how I’d like to put a bullet in your head,” you think as you stare through your binoculars. You see Arthur’s small figure, sitting on his horse on a ledge overlooking Big Valley. Next to him is Micah. Arthur’s a better person than you in that he tolerates Micah just long enough to do a job.

You haven’t trusted Micah since the beginning. Despite the fact that you’ve only been with the gang about a year, when Dutch brought Micah in about six months back, you instantly got bad feelings about him. Of course his behavior does nothing to contradict your suspicions. You’re sure he’s up to something, or plotting something that can only spell bad news.

Arthur, your best friend and boyfriend (though you’ve been hiding it from the others), told you he was going to help Micah pull a job as a way to make it up to Dutch for him getting thrown in the Strawberry jail. You volunteered to help, you like doing jobs with Arthur. You make a good team, he’s said so himself. However, Arthur had a bad feeling about this job too and asked you to stay in camp, not wanting to risk you getting hurt. He knows you can handle yourself just fine, you’ve done plenty of risky jobs before. But he doesn’t like the way Micah talks about and to you, so he didn’t want to give him a chance to do something with you being outside of camp.

When Arthur left to go do the job, you waited until he was out of sight and then mounted up, following him. Sneaking after him was a lot harder than you thought as you believed he’d make a straight line to where Micah was waiting. Instead, he seemed to get distracted by just about everything. He stopped and hunted a bit, then he fished for a few minutes. On the border of West Elizabeth and New Hanover, he ran into a woman whose horse had died and she asked him for a ride to Valentine. Arthur being Arthur, he did just that. On his way back to West Elizabeth, he spotted a small cabin and he went to investigate it. It’d been hours since he left, how much extra crap was he going to do? You know he detests Micah, but this is a little much.

Finally, Arthur made his way to Micah’s little camp. You waited for them to leave and were about to follow them until something caught your attention near Micah’s tent. After dismounting, you picked it up. It was a newspaper clipping, stating a $20,000 reward for Dutch Van der Linde. You wondered what Micah’s doing with this. Why would he need this? Maybe he plans on giving it to Dutch to warn him or maybe so Dutch can brag, but Dutch is already aware of the price on his head. No, that can’t be it. You came up with the nasty idea that Micah has something planned and has no intention of mentioning it to Dutch.

You stuffed the clipping into your satchel and followed Arthur’s trail. That’s where you’re at now, watching them from your distant spot. You figured out pretty quickly that they were waiting for a stagecoach, that can be the only reason why they’re hiding in that particular spot.

You only have to wait a short bit before, on the trail below the pair, a stage rolls along. The tiny figures leave their elevated spot and dash down the mountainside, advancing towards the stage. You watch them for a moment and then follow, keeping enough distance between you and Arthur as to not be seen, but close enough that if things go south, you can intervene.

They chase the stage a short ways, finally killing the driver and the four riders accompanying it. You stop in a copse of trees, close enough to listen. Arthur and Micah haggle for a moment. Arthur wants to check the stage to see if they can just carry the loot back and leave the coach. Micah argues that the gang could use another stage. This strikes you as odd. The last thing a gang needs is to have a bank stage right in the middle of camp, especially when this robbery is reported. That would be asking for trouble. Micah is definitely up to something, but Arthur agrees in the end and they get on and drive off.

You follow them south towards the Dakota River. You have to keep a fair distance now so as not to be seen. This means you can’t hear what they’re saying either. As the river comes into view, you see men from the other side scrambling about, scurrying behind trees and rocks. Their behavior screams that they’re setting up an ambush.

Before you can run to the stage and warn Arthur and Micah, the ground beneath the stage explodes as they enter the water, sending the entire thing up. The stage splashed down hard in the river, its wheels still spinning up in the air. You quickly dismount your horse and hide behind a large rock and you watch as Arthur and Micah do the same.

Swarms of O’Driscolls run out from their hiding places, shooting at the two men. You haven’t been noticed by any of them, but you help take out the O’Driscolls. You can hear Micah and Arthur shouting at one another but can’t understand what they’re saying.

Finally, after moments of gunfire, so many of the O’Driscolls have dropped that the few still standing turn tail and run. You let out your breath and mount up on your horse, forgetting that you aren’t supposed to be here. Arthur specifically said he didn’t want you to come.

“Y/N?” he says when he sees you approaching. He and Micah are standing at the back of the upturned stage, debating on how to crack open the back.

“Arthur, everything okay? Are you hurt?”

“Glad to see you care so much for my safety, Y/N,” Micah says.

“Shut up, Micah,” Arthur snaps. He turns back to you, his eyes hard and his brow furrowed. “Y/N, what are you doing here? I said you weren’t coming!”

You dismount your horse again and stand at the very edge of the river, the water barely touching your boots.

“I know, but… I had to make sure you were safe.”

“Oh Morgan,” Micah says in a simpering tone. “That’s so sweet. You’re girl was scared and thought you might need to hold your hand.”

“I said shut up, Micah!” Arthur turns around and yells, making Micah laugh.

“You always was one for the girls,” he retorts. “Now how about you two argue later and let’s get this loot out of here before the law shows up. Either of you got a lock pick?”

As he’s shuffling through his pockets, you just whip out your pistol and shoot the lock. The door swings open, showing a smaller box with another lock. Micah chuckles and he and Arthur drag it out and bring it to dry land. Arthur bends down, smashes the lock and opens the box, showing two stacks of bills.

“Pretty good take,” he says. He’s just about to hand you your share when Micah steps in.

“She shouldn’t get any, Morgan. She wasn’t part of the job.”

“For your information, I shot several O’Driscolls, you sack of shit. Any one of them could have killed you.”

“You weren’t invited!”

“So what? I still did the work. Now if you don’t wanna pay me, then that’s fine. But fair is fair, so maybe I’ll have a little word with Dutch about what I found in your little camp.”

Micah pales a bit. “What did you find? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t. But choice is yours, Micah. Pay me my share and you buy my silence.”

He grumbles and turns away as Arthur hands you the money, his eyes questioning. Micah mounts his horse.

“Have fun with your girl, Morgan. Just hope she doesn’t dangle anything over your head too.”

“Yeah well I ain’t the one tryin’ to cheat her out of what she’s earned, Micah. Now get outta here.”

When Micah’s gone, he turns back to you. “Now explain to me again why you’re here, Y/N? I told ya I didn’t want ya havin’ a part of this.”

“I know,” you say, your stomach clenching, butterflies fluttering inside it. “But… I had a bad feeling. Like something was going to go wrong. Turns out I was right. And I… I just wanted to protect you.”

He blinks quickly. “Protect me?” he says slowly. “I don’t… Y/N, I don’t need protectin’. I can handle myself just fine.”

“I know you can, I’m not trying to say you can’t. But don’t you ever get bad feelings about Micah?”

You pull out the news article you found and show it to Arthur, explaining where it was. He reads it quickly, his brows crinkling.

“Why would he have this?” he asks.

“Exactly my question. I think there’s a lot about Micah that we don’t know and he ain’t willing to share.”

Arthur sighs and hands you the article back. “Maybe I’ll talk with Dutch, though he seems very taken with him. Good shot, by the way.” He motions to the river of dead men.

You smile up at him. “I learned from the best.”

He grins back and reaches over, taking your hand in his. The two of you walk over to your horses and mount up, riding off before the law shows up. As you canter along beside him, you pass by a ranch and a thought comes to mind.

“Arthur, have you collected that debt for Downes yet?”

He shakes his head. “Not yet. Was gonna do it on my way back from this thing with Micah but…” He leaves it there. He doesn’t like collecting debts in front of you because he doesn’t like the person he has to be to do the job.

“Well, would it be possible for you to get the money some other way? I’ve been having bad feelings about him too.” You tell Arthur how you’ve seen the man in Valentine, coughing and spitting blood. You also know how Arthur usually has to get physical with debtors.

“I’ll be fine, sweetheart. He ain’t gonna be a problem.”

“Please, Arthur. I know you hate doing it, so just drop it.”

Arthur slows his horse down to a walk so he can throw you a dark look. “I already promised Strauss I’d get him money.”

God, he can be so damn stubborn! You sigh and reach into your satchel, pulling out the money you made from this job. “Here. This enough to cover the debt?”

Arthur’s brow furrows again. “Darlin’, that ain’t how it works-”

You cut him off. “I don’t care! I said I was trying to protect you back there and it still applies! That man was horribly sick. Besides, Strauss won’t question where this money came from, he didn’t even know I was doing a job. I don’t mind giving up $30 for peace of mind.”

Arthur gives an irritated huff, but he takes your money. “Fine, have it your way.”

You feel a weight lift from your chest. “Thank you, Arthur.”

You go back to camp with him, having no idea how you’ve just saved his life, but also blissfully unaware of how much pain, sorrow and heartbreak is yet to fall onto the entire gang. At this moment, your future seems bright and full of opportunity and possibilities, especially when it comes to the man by your side.

#rdr2 fanfic #red dead fanfic #arthur morgan #arthur morgan x female reader #awkward asks

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