#and now she somehow has to explain that to Vanessa oops

[chloesimaginationthings]

FNAF movie Vanessa wants to meet Glamrock Bonnie..

[ruzek-halstead]

pretty

part one

pairing: jay halstead x hailey upton

the whole one chicago gang is at molly's having a great time until will halstead corners jay about his relationship with hailey and advises him to quite literally take his girl home. (un)fortunately, hailey isn't interested in going back to her home.

“alright, so answer me this. hypothetically, if hailey was to go home with, oh, i don’t know, severide or something, would you be completely okay with that?”

part two || masterlist

warnings: swearing, fluffery

hailey never drinks this much. seriously. ever.

somehow, she gets caught up with the crowd at molly's and the shots start flowing. it doesn’t help that her drinking partners include kelly severide, adam ruzek and joe cruz, among the rest of the first responders that tag along.

she had made her way over with her own squad and mingled with the rest of their friends. currently she has her arm wrapped around severide’s waist, with his around her shoulders and they are screaming the lyrics to whatever song is currently playing. adam is grabbing everyone another round of tequila shots while kim is serenading hailey from across the booth. the rest of the first responder ladies are present too; vanessa, sylvie, emily, natalie and april sitting at their own booth enjoying the night. the majority of the guys are settled at the bar; jay, will, matt and kevin conversing over beers.

jay trusts hailey wholeheartedly and there’s no question about it. however, he can’t help but worry, considering he’s never seen her consume so much alcohol in such little time. especially because she has kept up with every single drink severide has had and he’s seen severide quite drunk before.

“jay, if you’re going to keep looking at her every five seconds, you may as well just go over there now,” will whispers, raising an eyebrow at his brother. he lowers his voice so the rest of his friends don’t hear (but honestly, will is convinced literally everyone but them knows those two are in love with each other).

jay instantly turns his attention to his brother, his cheeks pinking at getting caught. “i'm just keeping an eye,” he replies, sipping his beer.

“yeah, clearly,” will rolls his eyes. “so, are you two dating yet?”

jay sputters, easily choking on his drink. “what the hell are you talking about, man?”

will lifts an eyebrow at jay's immediate denial. “i mean, i have eyes, jay,” he explains, as if it’s obvious. “dude, you’re obviously in love with her.”

“have you been helping yourself to the hospital’s medicine cabinet?”

will furrows his brows. “are you asking if i’m on drugs?” jay looks at him expectantly. “you're clearly not very perceptive.”

“i do just fine, thanks,” jay rolls his eyes as he finishes the last of his beer. “hailey and i are just partners, that’s all, and you know that.”

“bullshit,” will says with a single smirk.

jay levels him with an incredulous stare; his brother can be such a pain in the ass sometimes. “we're partners, will; we see a lot of hard shit every day and we’re close. but that’s all it is.”

“alright, so answer me this,” will replies and jay rolls his eyes, literally debating just walking out right now. “just humour me,” he cuts him off. “hypothetically, if hailey was to go home with, oh, i don’t know, severide or something, would you be completely okay with that?”

instinctively, jay looks over at hailey again. she's still nestled close to severide, but it didn’t bother him until now.

“i would – i would be fine,” jay replies but flinches when he stumbles on his words. this is exactly what will is waiting for, like a vulture.

he finishes off his beer with a smirk, “my point is proven, and i'm finished here.”

jay's jaw clenches tight. he's annoyed with his brother and now he can’t stop looking at severide’s arm around hailey without wanting to rip it off.

will halstead, everyone.

“i'm heading home,” will digs into his pocket to drop some bills on the counter, winking at herrmann. “you should probably take your girl home though, make sure she gets into bed safely. you know, her own bed.”

jay glares at him. “you’re a dick and i hate you so much right now.”

“goodnight bro,” will laughs, completely unaffected by his younger brother’s words. he pats him on the shoulder and says, “love you.”

regardless of how annoying his brother is and how he knows exactly how to push his buttons, will is basically the only family he has left. which is why he replies with a quiet “love you too” before ordering a whiskey to counteract his brother’s words.

it feels as if it’s karaoke night at molly’s with the amount of singing currently taking place. it’s loud and terribly off-key but they’re all having a great time and he can’t help but chuckle when he hears adam attempt celine dion’s my heart will go on.

jay finds himself by himself at the bar, staring at his half empty glass. matt and kevin have gone to join the ladies in their booth, but jay doesn’t want to join them. if he’s being completely honest, the only person he wants to talk to is hailey, but she’s otherwise occupied. he's debating whether or not he should make his way home, when he feels a weight tumble into his side.

he nearly falls off his stool but catches himself with a foot on the floor and a hand on the bar.

“oops,” hailey giggles and jay looks over to see her clutching onto the bar for dear life.

it's odd to see her so clumsy and giggly since she is always so cool and collected. she very rarely lets down her walls, much like himself. and when she does, it’s because something big has prompted it and she needs to vent.

“you alright?” he raises an eyebrow as she attempts to hop onto the stool beside him. he opts to grabbing her arm and guiding her to ease the difficulties she’s having; she’s still giggling. “can we get a water please?” jay asks herrmann behind the bar and the firefighter sends him a smirk but obliges anyway.

hailey finally settles in her seat and swivels to face jay. her eyes are glazed over and she’s smiling goofily; honestly, it’s a sight he thought he’d never see. “i saw you all alone and thought you needed some company.”

“actually, i’m thinking of heading out soon,” he replies as he pushes the glass of iced water in her direction. she wrinkles her nose as it, but he pushes it further with a stern look.

hailey gives in and takes two large gulps. “i should too. i'm getting very sleepy,” she adds, her eyes dropping for dramatic effect.

or so jay thinks it’s for dramatic effect but then he genuinely thinks she’s sleeping at the bar. “hailey, wake up,” he chides, chuckling because he can’t help himself; she looks adorable. “come on, drink your water.”

hailey blindly reaches for the glass again but refuses to open her eyes. once again, he’s not surprised she doesn’t listen to his instructions. her arms rest against the bar and she moves to drop her head against it too. “alright,” he laughs, “do you want me to take you home?”

her eyes instantly pop back open and her blue eyes stare at him in adoration. “take me home, jay halstead.”

jay swallows roughly but drops a few bills on the counter and bids goodnight to herrmann.

hailey is up and out of her seat within seconds and a newfound source of energy. she bounds over to her group from earlier, yelling cheerful goodbyes as she runs into kim for a messy hug. jay follows her, standing behind and waiting for her like a dutiful partner (or so he convinces himself). she shares a hug with adam and jay tenses when she moves to say goodbye to severide (honestly, he was so dramatic).

but all hailey does is steal his shot glass and drain it, while severide laughs and ruffles her hair. and suddenly, jay feels like an idiot for the jealous thoughts that consumed him earlier because clearly, their relationship is barely anything more than sibling-like. with that, jay says a quick goodbye to his co-workers and friends and walks hailey out the door.

he tries, he really does. but as soon as he opens the door so she can exit ahead of him, he realizes she can hardly even walk, much less in a straight line. hailey's giggling as she stumbles into the brick wall, so jay gently grabs her arm to guide her in the direction of his truck. hailey takes full advantage of the closeness and snuggles up as close as she can.

“you’re going to have a hell of a hangover tomorrow,” jay murmurs quietly. he's opening the passenger door and helping her up into the vehicle. her foot slips on the outside step and jay hastily grabs her before she falls on the ground.

she's still laughing, and he hoists her into the truck and fastens her seatbelt; he isn’t taking any more chances. “impossible. i'm greek, we don’t get hangovers,” she replies as he’s stretched over her. he can smell the tequila on her breath and accidentally catches her gaze as he pulls back. her blue eyes are mesmerizing and they’re staring at him with such intensity, he forgets his purpose for a moment.

“somehow i don’t think that will be the case tomorrow,” he says quickly to distract himself from her captivating gaze. he closes the door and makes his way to the driver’s side and does everything he can to avoid looking at her. she doesn’t make it easy; she’s purposely staring right at his side profile.

his jaw is twitching; he knows it, but he can’t control it. “where are we going?” she asks suddenly.

“i'm dropping you off at your place?” jay answers in a questioning tone.

hailey instantly protests, her arms crossing and her lips pouting. “i don’t want to go home,” she says defiantly.

“hailey, you have to go home. we have to work in the morning, and you need to sleep off that hangover,” jay's voice is gentle, but hailey is not having it.

clearly, she isn’t getting more sober as time goes on and jay sighs. “jay, do not take me home – i don’t want to go.”

he humours her. “where do you expect me to take you then? it's one in the morning.”

a slow smile spreads across her features. “i want to go to your place.”

jay sputters for a moment but regains his composure quickly. “what? my apartment?”

“yeah,” she’s still giggling. “you have that really good scotch and i could really go for a glass right now.”

jay shakes his head but can’t help the amused smile; she’s been drinking tequila all night but now wants to switch and mix whiskey. he doesn’t think farther into it, doesn’t want to let his mind get distracted with hypotheticals. instead, he makes the rest of the short trip to his apartment and holds his hobbling partner all the way to his door.

she's an obliterated giggling mess and he doesn’t even find himself growing irritated.

hailey’s smart and she heads straight for the scotch, but he knows better. “not a chance in hell,” he quips as he swipes the bottle before she gets her hands on it. he holds it above his head where she definitely can’t reach and then places it on an even higher shelf.

“jay,” she whines with a frown and sways on her feet.

jay places a hand on her waist and shuffles her in the direction of his bedroom. “come on hailey, let’s get some sleep,” he’s practically begging. “we have to be up so early.”

upon hearing the pleading in his voice, hailey concedes and allows him to push her in the direction of his bedroom. she’s been in it before but never to spend the night. she’s honestly too drunk to think anything more of it. when she spots his bed, she dives face first and ignores his snickers.

jay is rummaging through his drawers and pulls out an old police academy long-sleeve (his biceps were much smaller at the time) and a pair of sweatpants for her to change into. when he turns around, she is already sitting up and waiting for him expectantly, so he throws the clothes at her face. her reflexes are understandably inebriated, just like the rest of her.

she’s laughing again. “thanks halstead!”

by the time he turns back to face her, her t-shirt is up over her head. they're both adults and professionals, so he doesn’t hastily turn away as if his eyes are burning. he’s mature and raises a single eyebrow in her direction.

hailey's smirking. “sorry,” she says but she’s the least bit apologetic. she’s attempting to take off her jeans now, but they get stuck around her ankles and her vision is swimming too much for her to focus. “jay,” she murmurs, “help.”

“this would probably be easier if you took off your shoes,” he replies as he unties her boots and sets them by his door. she saves him the embarrassment and tugs off the rest of her jeans. she takes the shirt he threw at her and pulls it over her head, reveling in the warmth. she loves how it smells like fabric softener but still smells like jay.

hailey takes one look at jay’s old sweatpants and throws them back at him. “i don’t wear pants to bed,” she wrinkles her nose in distaste  

jay mumbles something under his breath but folds and places the pair of sweats back into their rightful drawer. he's trying so hard to keep his shit together, but she is not making it easy. hailey wastes no more time and pulls back the covers to get comfortable underneath them. she pulls them up below her neck and watches jay as he moves about his room, with the brightest blue eyes. there’s something about seeing her like that, in his bed, so carefree, that he just can’t look at her without melting.

jay grabs an extra blanket from his closet and heads for the door. “i’ll bring you some water and advil before i turn in. but you should get some sleep, i'll wake you up in the morning.”

hailey’s eyes grow confused and her limbs stretch out from underneath the blankets to reach for him. “no, jay, where are you going?”

she’s clearly getting sleepy once again. “i'm sleeping on the couch tonight. i'll see you in the morning.”

he tries to leave again but hailey sputters and nearly rolls off the bed trying to stop him. he sighs and rushes forward to steady her. “jay, please don’t sleep on the couch,” hailey says quietly. her eyes are fluttering sleepily, and jay knows it’s only a matter of time before she’s out like a light. “i want you to sleep here.”

jay stares at her by can’t quite get a read on her. “okay,” he replies, just as quietly, “just let me go get—”

“no!” she clutches onto his arm. “just come to bed.”

jay plans on protesting again, because she’s drunk and she may not feel this way in the morning, but all his self-control is gone. “okay,” he agrees.

she lets go of his arm with a satisfied smile and she looks adorable. jay is quick to shed his clothing, losing his shirt and changing into sweats. he debates whether or not he should put on a clean shirt, because he wants hailey to be comfortable but finds it super uncomfortable for him. he reaches for one anyway, but hailey is quick to object. “no shirt,” she says, and he raises an eyebrow, “i know you don’t like to sleep with shirts.”

he concedes and finds himself crawling into his side of the bed after turning off the light. hailey is quick to gravitate towards him (she’s been waiting for him to get into bed for ages, or so it feels like it). she drapes an arm across his chest and tangles her bare legs with his and she snuggles her head close to his neck. the closeness is nice, and he exhales as he wraps an arm around her frame.

“this is nice,” hailey mumbles quietly, but jay hears her loud and clear from her positions close to his ear. “you have the perfect body to cuddle.”

jay can’t help but laugh. “uh, thank you?”

“really muscular,” her cold hands start roaming his upper chest and he tries not to go rigid.

instead, he chuckles nervously. “alright hailey, you’re drunk. it’s time to get some sleep.”

“yeah, i'm drunk,” she admits quietly, “but i think you’re really pretty and i should tell you that more often.”

jay is still laughing but the exhaustion is slowly starting to hit him. “thanks hails, i think you’re pretty too.”

“yeah, i know,” she mumbles, “i can see it in the way you look at me.”

jay should probably be surprised or caught off-guard or something. but he isn’t.

instead, he feels her lips press against his neck before he dozes off.

[lost-in-the-stars-for-eternity]

Information on cult au? What's everyone like? How's Henry there different then the other aus?

How's everyone like: Well it's a bit hard to explain exactly by some of them so I will explain short their backstories.

Vanessa/Vanny: She always did research on serial killers for school projects and it kinda stuck to her as a hobby. One day on Wikipedia she found vague information over a child serial killer named William Afton and after various searches she became interested in him.

And when she got the chance to actually meet him? She became obsessed with him, viewing him as a lover and would do anything for him.

So in a nutshell I would say that's she's like a obsessive researcher with poor taste in men.

Henry Emily (Aka the reason why this au exists in the first place):

After the FFPS fire he somehow didn't die and instead spended a year or two on a hospital bed, though his chance of survival dropped more when the days passed. However William learned about this from rumors and decided to "pay a visit". He had plans to use Henry for his evil schemes and after some remnant injections and memory whiping he got what he wanted.

In a nutshell: He's scared, nervous and confused and he also secretly wants to get rid of William and he's pretty much just a living doll you can use for anything you want. This also includes murder.

Malhare/William Afton: Well first of all I want to say that this William is much more different then Gremlin (Gremlin William is for my Blood on the Dancefloor au!) This one is calm, manipulative and a literal demon. (Also he's 6 feet tall). Anyway he and Malhare are tehnically the same person though they act different. But this has to do with William's own acting skills.

After escaping UCN he actually ended up becoming even more messed up then before and instead of wanting to be immortal he now wants to end the whole world leaving everything in blood.

In a nutshell: Calm, manupilative, crazy, please someone beat him up- and lowkey abuses Henry mentally.

Cherry (maybe won't be his actual name): Main protagonist. He's friendly and gets scared fast though he has questionable morals. (I probably will explain his backstory seperately this post is getting long oop-)

Luis: Same personality as in the AR game :P (I know, I know he doesn't have a personality much but I really don't want this post to be to long XD) after dead he's helping Cherry with his mission.

Old man consequences and Puppet are also in this au btw.

As for cultist Henry.

What makes him different from the other aus (I assume my own aus)

Blood on the dancefloor au: Well he didn't do much crimes aside from arson and he's actually more on the "softer" side considering how Botd Henry can be. (Yes I shortened "blood on the dancefloor" to "Botd")

Murder Madness: This is the fun part. This au is more based on canon and the lore thus Murder Madness Henry is this guy who only cares about stopping William. However

Cult au isn't actually a au. It's a continuation of the Murder Madness au which makes MM henry and cultist Henry the same person. But Cultist Henry has amnesia and somewhat trusts William.

[probably-not-star-lord]

Meet Cute (Wade Wilson x Reader)

A/N: So we’re just gonna go ahead and pretend Vanessa lowkey doesn't exist in the fic lmao

Request: Oof, if your still up for deadpool request. How about something where she was in similar circumstances as he was in in the first movie. It can be platonic if romance dosent work for the story. Also if you want it can be in headconnon thanks xxx

Request: About the deadpool request, yeah where they both have cancer (or another illness) and get taken to the mutant place where they meet and escape.

Summary: After being diagnosed with cancer, you’re sent to a facility that is designed to be a cure. Not only do you find a torturous way to get better, but also a man with an interesting charm.

Warnings: swearing, angst, fluff, Deadpool cause he counts as a warning

-

The day the doctor sat you down to tell you that you had late stage cancer was by far the worst in your life. Your friends and family weeped at the news, but tried their best to keep you healthy and happy in the remaining days you had left. Then, when a suspicious agent approached you on the street one day, you got your hopes up. Sure, the guy gave you the fucking creeps, but he guaranteed you’d get better. He also promised mutant abilities and what could go wrong with that? Everything sounded perfect!

Of course, everything was going wrong.

You had expected the day you found you had cancer to be the worst, but the day you were admitted into this facility with the promise of a cure is definitely number one on your list of shitty days. The cot they rolled you into your room on was dirty, uncomfortable, and made you feel restrained. You expected a cheerful hospital with bright walls and doctors with giant smiles, but instead this place was a living hell. Everything is filthy and dark, all the people are jerks, and you were informed you are going to be tortured until you get better.

Several days went by full of pain and suffering when the workers told you that you were close to being free of your cancer and unlocking your mutant ability. You wonder if it’s even worth it anymore with all of the bruises and cuts scattered all over your body. You felt sore, weak, and hopeless. By now you’d rather just go back to dying of cancer, surrounded by those you love.

“Ooh a room change!” a voice calls out in your room. You look up from your bed to find a man being rolled in on a cot by Ajax. Ajax is the asshole who met you when you first arrived here, alongside his companion Angel. They’re both complete dicks who find fun in hurting the poor people who get admitted here.

“Y/N,” he greets with a devilish smile. “You look like shit today.”

“Ajax,” you spit, glaring at him. “I would say you look like Dr. Doofenshmirtz today with that lab coat but I couldn’t disrespect him like that.”

“Wade!” the man on the cot yells with a cheery tone. How the fuck is he so happy here? Is he new? He sits up as much as he can and flashes you a grin and you suddenly become aware of the bruises and blood on his face. Wade looks like an absolute wreck but you somehow find him madly handsome. “Sorry, I thought we were yelling names,” he defends, pointing a finger at you. “Also, hot chick, that was a fucking amazing insult by the way.”

“Y/N, this is Wade Wilson, and he’ll being staying in this room with you until one of you moves onto the next progression of pain.”

Wade winks at you. “Thanks for putting me in the room with this sexy piece of ass and not that fucker who reeks. I think his name is Greg or whatever the fuck but he smells like shit,” he blabbers. “He kind of reminds me of you in that way, dish soap.”

You snicker at the nickname but quickly stifle your laughs when Ajax shoots you a glare. “Good luck sharing a room with him, Y/N. He’s the most annoying asshole you’ll ever meet,” he warns you before heading toward the door.

“No, that would be you,” you mumble, stopping Ajax in his tracks.

“I like her,” Wade chuckles. Ajax rolls his eyes and exits the room. “See you next time you beat the shit of me with your mutant fuckery!” he shouts after him. He turns his attention to you once again, checking you out more thoroughly. Even if your face is coated with sweat and blood or dark in some areas due to the bruising, Wade still thinks you’re the most beautiful woman he's ever seen in his entire life.

“So...” you trail off, unsure of what to say.

“Well, this is the perfect meet cute isn’t it?” he snickers. “I feel like I’m in a Nicholas Sparks novel!”

“I guess so, huh? We’ll have quite the love story.“

“I bet we will,” he agrees with a kind smile.

The innocent flirting makes your heart race and you can feel your cheeks heating up. “Uh, how long have you been here?” you ask.

“A couple days, you?”

“It must be almost a month by now,” you sigh. “But I have no way of knowing for sure.”

“That really fucking sucks,” Wade responds. “I’m sorry, Y/N.”

“I’m sorry too, Wade.” You meet his eyes and give him a weak smile. He returns your smile, looking sympathetic and exhausted. Some part of you wants to take his pain away, make him feel better and help him get out of this hellhole. He looks like he’s been through a lot, and not just the days he’s spent here.

You and Wade share a room for quite some time, spending your days making fun of Ajax and Angel or sharing stories of times before you were brought here. Apparently his friends made the same efforts yours did when they found out he had cancer, making him eat and drink healthy stuff that tastes like shit. Overtime, you found yourself growing very fond of Wade, and the two of you both decided there is something there that would be worth giving a try if you ever escape. But, deep down, you know that is merely a dream.

Today has been a particularly shitty day. The workers have been hard on everyone, producing some extra pain out of all of you. You lay on your cot beside Wade’s, looking up at the dingy ceiling with tears in your eyes. “Wade?”

“Yeah?” he answers, voice meek and tired. He’s right where you are, hoping for something better and probably on the verge of death.

“Do you have a bucket list?” you ask. “Like what would you have wanted to do before you were taken here?”

Wade ponders for a moment before breaking a grin. “I’d want to get one last blowjob from my friend Weasel.”

You laugh loudly, being genuinely happy for the first time in a while. “What?”

“Oh, Weasel’s a bartender,” he explains. “Blowjob is the name of one his signature drinks that I force him to make.”

“Are they any good?”

“Blowjobs? Fuck yeah, I love a good blowjob.” You’re cracking up now, falling in love with Wade’s sense of humor. “What would you want to do?”

“Oh, I don’t know...” you mutter. “See my friends and family again? Watch my favorite movie? Have a good meal? You know, the usual bucket list shit.”

“That’s too generic!” Wade gasps. “You need something cool like...fucking Ryan Reynolds before you die.”

“That would be very, very nice.”

He scoffs. “Are you trying to make me jealous?”

“You suggested it!”

“Well, maybe I meant I wanted to fuck Ryan Reynolds!” he jokes, causing the two of you to laugh even harder. “That man is absolutely beautiful and could have me anyway he wants.”

In between your laughs, you manage to speak. “You look almost exactly like him!”

“Really?” he questions with a smirk. “Are you saying that I am so fucking attractive I could have you any way I wanted? Cause I certainly have some ideas...”

You shrug, meeting his smirk with your own. You watch each other laugh as you continue to joke around, but eventually the giggles fade and the room is filled with a sad silence. “Honestly...if I could leave here the first thing I would want to do is see you,” he states seriously. “Like really see you, not tied down and worn out. I want to be happy with you, like normal people are with each other.”

You smile, a tear falling down your cheek. “I’d want to be with you too...just like normal people.”

“I’d want to kiss you.”

“I’d like that...” you whisper, extending your hand toward his cot as far as you can reach. Wade reaches out as well, taking your hand in his. For a brief moment, everything seems like it’s going to be okay.

“Lovely,” Ajax asserts, waltzing into the room. “I don't know about anyone else, but I'm touched.”

You quickly pull your hand from Wade’s, wanting nothing more but to touch him again. “Don’t worry, asshole, we’re only kidding.”

“No, no. It's okay. I encourage distractions. Wouldn't want you giving up on us, now would we?”

“Hey, don't take any shit from him, Y/N,” Wade says, shooting you a wink. “How tough can he be? You know...with a name like Francis.”

“Francis?” you chuckle. He smiles at you, loving the way you laugh, but Ajax just looks furious. You don’t know what the fuck Wade is doing, but you’re hoping it’s something helpful and not something that will cause him to get killed.

“That's his legal name. He really did get Ajax from the dish soap! F, R, A, N, C, I, oops! I snabbed the dry-cleaning tag off your lab coat. FYI, I could probably get you the super hero discount.”

“You are so relentlessly annoying,” Francis grunts. Yeah, like you’re going to think of him as Ajax now that you know his name is fucking Francis.

“Thanks, never heard that before.”

“Why don't you do us all a favor and shut the fuck up?” Francis threatens. “Or I'll sew your pretty mouth shut.”

“Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you. See, here's the problem with round-the-clock torture,” Wade explains. “You can't really step it up from there.”

Francis smiles wildly, sending you an unsettling feeling. “I was actually here just to inform Y/N her cancer is cured, and that she unlocked her mutation... you know I find so much pleasure in that,” he says, strutting over to Wade’s cot. “But now I think I might have to prove to you that you’re wrong.”

Wade gulps as Francis grips his cot and rolls him out of the room. As he exits the doorway, his brown eyes find yours and you see nothing but fear. “Wade...” you mumble to yourself, clutching onto your restraints tightly in hopes they could break, but you know they won’t. Your heart breaks, knowing you’ll most likely never see him again, but then Francis reenters the room.

“Oh, you didn’t think I was just going to leave you out, did you?” he asks, pushing your cot out of the room as well. “I wouldn’t want you to miss the show.”

In the room you see Wade being strapped down in some sort of machine that looks like a clear tube. “What is that? What are you going to do to him?”

“Worried about your little boyfriend?” Francis laughs maniacally, walking over to stand beside Wade as he’s being secured. “If this doesn't unlock your mutation, well... Nothing will. Now, what we're going to do is lower the oxygen concentration in there to the exact point you feel like you're suffocating. If your brain waves slow, meaning you're about to pass out, then we'll turn up the O2. If your heart rate slows, meaning you're able to catch your breath, we'll turn it back down. And that's where we'll leave you...right there.”

Wade groans. “I thought you guys were dicks before.” You can tell he’s trying to keep his humor, despite being completely unaware of whatever is about to happen to him.

“You know the funniest part of all this?” Francis quizzes. “You still think we're making you a super hero. You, a dishonorable discharge hook deep in hookers? You're nothing. Our secret, mate, is that this workshop doesn't make super heroes. We make super slaves. We're gonna fit you with a control collar and auction you off to the highest bidder. Who knows what they'll have you do...terrorizing citizens, putting down freedom fighters, maybe just mow the occasional lawn.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Wade seethes.

“You're never going home after this.” You cringe at the way Francis speaks, knowing something terrible is coming for Wade, who looks terrified. “Now there’s a brave face,” Francis reveals. He starts to close the machine, but Wade stops him.

“Wait, wait,” he commands. “Seriously, you actually have something in your teeth now.” Usually, you’d laugh at his jokes and admire the way he’s remaining lighthearted. But right now you’re far too worried about Wade to feel anything other than pure terror.

“Enjoy your weekend.” Francis slams the machine shut and saunters over to the controls.

“Weekend?” he asks. “Back up, weekend?”

“What the fuck are you going to do to him?” you shriek, but there is no answer. Instead, Francis starts the machine and sends a chilling grin to the two of you before leaving the room. You watch as Wade struggles to breathe, trying to get as much oxygen into his lungs as he can. You hate to see him like this so you scream and cry, fighting against your restraints in hopes that one of these workers will have the heart to save Wade. Your vision gets blurry as your eyes fill with tears, hearing Wade gasp and knowing there is nothing you can do to protect him from the hell he is enduring.

Soon, night falls, and a whole day passes until night consumes you once again. It’s been impossible for you to fall asleep with Wade struggling right beside you. You’ve spent your time sobbing quietly or closing your eyes trying to not watch. But, the exhaustion becomes you, and your eyes start to flutter shut as a few remaining tears fall out of them. You’re barely asleep when you hear Wade scream and your gaze instantly falls on him in the tank. You watch in horror as his skin transforms, covering itself in scars slowly as they make their up to his face, changing the way he looks forever. You’re unable to sleep again that night.

The next morning, Francis enters the room and turns off the machine. Wade sucks in as much air as he can, regaining a steady breathing pattern. “Wade!” you cry, but he’s too angry to answer.

“Fucking hell,” Francis announces, looking Wade over. “Looks like someone lost his shot at homecoming king.”

“What have you done to me?” he bellows furiously.

“I've merely raised your stress levels high enough to trigger a mutation.”

“You sadistic fuck!”

“I've cured you, Wade. Now your mutated cells can heal anything. It's attacking your cancer as fast as it can form. You know, I've seen some of the side effects before...I could cure them. But where's the fun in that? Now I'm gonna shut you in again Wade. Not because I need to, but because I want to,” he conveys, looking to Angel so he can command her. “Ah, well, go ahead.”

You are at a loss for words. The idea of Wade being shut in that machine again, crying for help that will never come, shatters your heart to pieces. You don’t want to be here anymore, you never wanted to be here, but now it seems impossible to stay. Angel fiddles with Wade’s straps as you fight against your own, praying your mutant abilities can somehow bust you out. The workers ignore your suffering and continue to focus on Wade. “You smell like shit,” Angel insults. Wade head butts her but you notice something peculiar in the way he does it. When she backs up, the match that usually hangs from her mouth is missing. “Mother fucker-”

“Hey, hey, hey! It's alright! It's alright. I think we owe him that, yeah? Take off. Go on, off you go,” Francis sends Angel from the room. “Quick question...what's my name?” Wade doesn’t reply, meeting your gaze with sad eyes. You know exactly what he’s planning.

“Wade...no...” you whisper, but no one hears you. He nods to you, hoping you’ll understand. What if it kills him? But, what if it works? So, you do understand, but you don't know if you want him to do it. Francis, however, doesn't understand at all.

“Didn’t think so,” he states, shutting the machine and turning it on once again.

After he leaves, Wade reveals the match he was hiding in his mouth. You shudder as you watch him light it and chuck it towards the oxygen vent. The two of you stare into each other’s eyes smiling, knowing what’s about to come. Within seconds, the facility explodes as fire erupts everywhere around you. To your surprise, you don’t feel as much pain as you thought you would, and all of your wounds heal almost as soon as they are made.

You break free from your restraints as they burn, and run off into the flames in search of Wade. You sprint right into a large body, and are relieved to find who it is. “Wade!” you yell in delight, wrapping your arms around him for the first time. He returns the embrace, holding you as tight as possible, but when you pull away he still looks miserable.

“You definitely don’t feel the same way you did before,” he mumbles.

You furrow your eyebrows in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Now that I look like...like this. You can’t still-”

You roll your eyes and swing your arms around his neck, pulling him down so he's inches away from your face. “Don’t be ridiculous, Wade.” You smirk up at him and quickly smash your lips on his. He’s stunned by your boldness but gives into the kiss easily, loving the way you still care for him despite everything.

He pulls away from the kiss slowly and presses his forehead against yours. The two of you smile brightly and genuinely for the first time in a very long time. “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” he says, pressing another soft kiss to your lips. Wade envelops your hand in his as you look out into the distance, ready for whatever is going to hit you guys next.

So, hand in hand, you and the soon-to-be Deadpool run away together from the  fucked up mutant factory. But, in some twisted way, you’re grateful for the facility, as it lead you to the love of your life.

A/N: Yikes that was long as fuck but I really liked how this came out so I hope that’s cool with y’all lmao

[highqueen]

Hi!! Can you recommend your favorite accounts about Narnia?

Hey there! I have loads of favorite Narnia blogs (in fact I think basically all Narnia blogs are amazing) so it’s really hard to decide on just a few blogs to share with you. I’ve decided to talk about the blogs I’ve had the honor of getting to know/really admire, but know that I love all the Narnia blogs that I’m following! (And also there are so many blogs I love that I’m probably forgetting to mention but I can’t remember them right now oops.)

@lucypcvensie​ ➤ Not only is Eysha’s blog full of wonderful Narnia content, she’s such a sweet and caring person. She’s super fun to talk to and is a great encourager. I love the edits she makes, especially her moodboards, and the posts she reblogs often make their way to my queue.

@nylonsandlipstick​ @tumnusses​ @spookysusan​  ➤ I’ve put these three people together because I consider them the “Golden Trio” of the Tumblr Narnia fandom. Nina, Isa, and Lala all make beautiful edits and gifs and have so much skill in making such pretty things! They’re all nice and friendly people and are really good at explaining their own opinions in a polite yet firm way.

@rhindons​ ➤ Niki has so many wonderful Narnia gifs and she also does this really creative Narnia cooking project that I haven’t seen anyone do before. She also posts some cute and funny non-Narnia content, but no matter what she posts, I enjoy seeing it on my dash!

@sheisthehighqueen​ ➤ Though Lydia’s been pretty busy these past few months, I definitely recommend following her blog! She somehow can find the time to make some really gorgeous Narnia/PJO crossover edits. Honestly all her edits are beautiful.

@scarletgalaxy​ ➤ Jas’ blog is amazing. She makes all types of Narnia content, from edits to gifts to crossovers, all of which are beautiful and well crafted. Her blog also includes a few other fandoms, but the main one is Narnia. Jas is a great person to talk to and she explains things very well.

@highqueenlucy​ ➤ Mainly Narnia, but involving a few other fandoms, Clarice’s blog and edits are stunning. She has some really beautiful gifsets that look like they took forever to make. She’s a wonderful person, always friendly and patient.

@pensivethejust​ ➤ Lloyd has a roleplay blog where his muse is Edmund Pevensie. Not only are his posts interesting to read, he’s a great person to interact with. Besides the roleplaying, he reblogs lots of Narnia content. When I feel the need to reblog some Edmund stuff, Lloyd’s blog is one of the first ones I go to.

@queeensusan​ ➤ Priscilla is a blessing to the Narnia fandom. Her gifsets are beautiful, especially the coloring, and I am constantly in awe whenever she posts new content. I haven’t really talked to her myself, but she seems like a really good person!

@istillliveinnarnia​ ➤ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Jessie is so creative and talented. She’s the only person I know who does cosplay, and has come up with cool crossovers I’ve never thought of before. Her Narnia edits are really pretty and should be liked and reblogged all the time!

@fyeahnarnians​ ➤ Reblogging various Narnia content including icons, gifs, text posts, and more, Mo’s blog is full of amazing posts. I often find edits or other Narnia things that I haven’t seen before. Her edits are gorgeous!

@bythelamppost​ ➤ This Narnia sideblog is very lovely. Polly reblogs great content that I love seeing on my dashboard. She also brings up really good points and ideas in discussions relating to Narnia (and other topics) and states them in a respectful way, even if she disagrees with people.

@coravis​ ➤ Aimee owns a beautiful blog, from the theme to the edits. She creates pretty typography edits, black and white edits, and beautiful moodboards. It’s always great to see her posts on my dash.

@jillpcle​ ➤ Molly’s blog is gorgeous and is definitely worth following. She posts a little of other fandoms  too, but no matter what is posted, it’s very beautiful. Her Narnia gifsets are beautiful and all the gifs are so pretty, I can’t imagine the time it takes to make everything.

@cairparavel ➤ No matter what Caspian posts, may it be edits, gifs, or personal text posts, I love seeing them on my dash. Cas is funny and kind and it’s great following this blog!

@passeurdaurore ➤ This blog seems to somehow make and post lots of beautiful gifsets and edits constantly. Wenn seems like a lovely person and I hope to talk to her in the future!

@queensusan ➤ One of many talents, Wind not only makes edits, she also writes. Her posts are always welcome on my dash and I often add her edits to my queue because they’re all so pretty!

@digorykirke ➤ Meredith’s blog is amazing and reblogs lots of fantastic Narnia content. She seems so nice and encouraging. Her gifsets are all really cool and creative, I especially love the TV tropes series that she did.

@edmundblake ➤ Vanessa is so talented, she makes tons stunning black and white gifs and graphics. She reblogs lots of Narnia content that all look really nice. She definitely is someone to follow!

@dailynarnia ➤ A super amazing Narnia blog run by multiple people, this blog reblogs amazing Narnia content multiple times a day. They’re from all different people so it’s a great place to look for other Narnia blogs to follow!

@caspiandefensenet @pevensienet @ladiesofnarnia @narniaincolor ➤ I’m totally not recommending these because I’m part of some of them. I know these blogs are networks but they’re all really amazing. Not only do they post really nice content, the members are all really talented and can make beautiful edits. Follow all of them!

[roodiaries]

The Return to Asia: Singapore Stories, Big India & A Nepali Christmas

Embarking on my first trip outside of Australia since arriving on the island-continent in February 2016 was something I'd looked forward to and planned for months while farming in South Australia (scroll down to previous blog for more info). A voyage into the unknown Indian subcontinent was an exciting and unexpected opportunity to see places I'd wanted to visit for a long time. On the one hand, it seemed a little absurd to be travelling 10,000km away (more than halfway home in fact) when I could easily see great places closer to Oz. But on the other hand, my ex-colleagues and friends from Loja, Rene and Soledad, were doing a tour of Southeast & South Asia, and the most interesting part of their trip took them through India and Nepal. So why not? I'd saved enough money and hadn't seen them for ages, so 6 flights over 17 days were soon booked and I was ready for the adventures with the Ecuadorians to begin!

I drove down to Adelaide with Renmark chums, Sam, Eisen & Yumena, for a rather formal - but nonetheless interesting - tour of the Cooper's Brewery: I was impressed that the current owners of South Australia's most famous beer are the descendants of the original 19th century brewer, Thomas Cooper (also a Yorkshireman!) I finally fled South Australia by night-flight to Sydney and spent a few days there sorting myself out while staying with Mark in his trendy Rozelle neighbourhood. Though his controlling housemate Vanessa took me for a stranger and demanded I leave when she found me laptopping downstairs one morning!

The first part of the trip was a long-awaited stopover return to Singapore, five years after I was there studying on exchange at the National University of Singapore. That was my first time living abroad and the source of a great many adventures in SG and eight other countries in Southeast Asia in 2011-12 – it's a shame I wasn't writing a blog then: it would have documented the ups and downs of several hapless bumblers traipsing around the region, full of legendary shaggy dog stories concerning daylight (wallet) robberies, Full Moon hospitalisations, back-room blackjack scams, rabid dog chases, giant bee attacks, volcanic dust storms, monkey madness, the ping pong mafiosas, asthmatic scuba and much worse. It was the quintessential Year Abroad and can never be topped. Singapore was the hub of this action, where I lived for 9 months and made many friends who I now consider some of my best pals. It's certainly one of my favourite cities and I was buzzing to be back!

I met up with one of the few Singaporeans I still keep in touch with, JD, who picked me up from the airport. The overwhelming humidity left me feeling suffocated and exhilarated in equal measure, and for the next four days it would be back to the body-punishing air-con-too-cold/outside-too-hot routine. I hung out with JD (who bought me lunch every single day: legend!) and another friend, Caryn, and I was able to experience once again the exquisite rooftop bars and incredible food. Seriously, I'd missed the hawkers! And I rarely give such high priority to food during a travelling experience: Singapore is a special case because it has it all. There's no getting bored with their array of cuisines, both local and from around Asia. I spent my time catching up with a couple of people over dinner and checking out a few sights that hadn't been around when I'd last been here (they build things incredibly quickly in SG: mostly because the mainly-Indian/Bangladeshi workers are made to labour relentlessly, part of the darker underbelly of a city that glimmers innocently on the surface). These sites included the Gardens by the Bay complex, which is a set of greenhouse domes, pathways, ponds and canopy walks, cementing Singapore's moniker as the 'Garden City'. I soaked in the views and gazed up at the ostentatiously luxurious Marina Bay Sands Hotel (the one that looks like a giant boat balanced on three towers), recalling the time when Kev, Mark, Scottish Kev and I sneaked up there somehow and chugged numerous tins in a state of embarrassingly British-hooligan rowdiness to disturb the genteel revelry of the upper echelons of international society. Much of the rest of the trip was a nostalgia tour of sites I used to hang out at: Clementi Mall where we'd sink large cheap Tiger beers on week nights till late; 'The Bridge' at Clarke Quay where students, locals, tourists, businessmen and everything in between mixed together in a cacophony of merriment; the utterly fake but still-enjoyable Sentosa Island with its cargo ships and oily sea; and of course, the university itself where I revisited classic food stalls, took the free shuttle bus round the tropical campus and felt like an old soul (I wanted to say to someone “you should have seen how it was in my day...”). It was genuinely emotional to be back here, but also a bit sad without the characters who made the experience what it was.

After a few hours' transit in Kuala Lumpur (the Airport King of Transfers), I glided 4000km north-west to the much cooler climes of Delhi, at the heart of the Indian subcontinent. It was with Malaysian airline, Malindo Air, certainly the best of the airlines I flew on during this trip, though my mind was preoccupied by thoughts of how to find my hostel in Delhi, and whether I would be overwhelmed by pushy taxi drivers upon arrival and give in to the pressures of culture shock when swapping the relative calmness of the developed world for the more haphazard ambience of the developing. In fact, it was a gentle introduction to a city with a metro population of about 22 million as I passed unnoticed in the dark through rows and rows of stationary three-wheeled tuk-tuks (or ‘auto rickshaws’ as they’re supposed to be called in India) and along the brightly lit and incredibly busy Qutab Road in Paharganj district. Something I already knew in theory but which became apparent in reality was the sheer diversity of stuff going on to bombard the senses, especially the eyes. Animals wandered willy-nilly along alleys and main roads: not just dogs and cats, but goats, rats, chicken, pigs and cows (which are of course holy to Hindus so unfortunately nobody shoves them out of the way). Countless ramshackle stalls sold spices, curries, chai tea and a million other exotic fares I had absolutely no comprehension of. People just wandered the street, some sitting around chatting, others lying under a bridge ready for another night on the street. Rickshaws and motorbikes weaved and squeezed in and out of the crowds, beeping their horns constantly as a customary announcement for people to shift their arse: I've never been anywhere with so much beeping; it's unbelievable.

I found my hostel – Zostel on Arakashan Road – without too much trouble, due to good signage. One thing that makes India more accessible than many countries is its use of English as a widespread second-language: most people in the cities speak it to a decent level, and others to a basic level, while road and shop signs are usually in both Hindi (the national language) and English too. It's clearly a positive effect of British involvement for 200 years: first via the East India Company's more stand-offish economic rule, and from 1858-1947 as full-on Empire rule. Though you would certainly have to mention some of the brutal things the British did here as well (e.g. the Amritsar Massacre in 1919; response to the Bengal Famine in 1943). I remember one Indian girl in a university class I did about her country's history ask me: “how does it feel to know what your ancestors have done?” I really didn't know what to say to that.

I only had one full day in Delhi, and made the most of it with a taxi tour to see some of the main sites here and in the British-built Indian capital of New Delhi, in practice a mini-city within the city of Delhi. Here, the traffic was less and the tree-lined boulevards spoke to a distinctly colonial era, adorned with pretty fountains and majestic buildings. One of these was the museum and former home of PM Indira Gandhi, India's first and only female leader (and no relation to Mahatma Gandhi), with a great collection of photos and artifacts on display. Outside was a boardwalk with a piece missing and a placard that stated it was the place where Indira was gunned down by her own guards in 1984, as a victim of the very religious communalism she had tried to fight her whole career. The exact same thing happened in 1991 to her son Rajiv, who was also PM. Three notable Gandhis assassinated in modern Indian history!

We saw the hugely impressive Qutb Minar, a treasure bestowed upon the city by the first Muslim ruler to conquer northern India in the 12th century (Qutab-ud-din Aibak from central Asia). Also there is the millennia-old Iron Pillar of Delhi, which my guide explained has non-rust qualities unfathomable even to modern-day scientists. I took a peek inside the Lotus Temple at dusk, a strangely captivating Baha'ist place of worship, open to all faiths as a site of reflection and peace. The Baha'is believe in respect for nature and the unity of all people under one God, irrespective of religion, race and nationality. It's hugely idealistic but logical and forward-thinking, and from my experience a very tolerant group, numbering some 5 million followers worldwide.

I met up with Ecuador chums Rene and Soledad at last and we spoke in Spanish almost the whole time, as I wanted to practice: it was strange speaking it in India, because I would often distractedly turn to a local and address them in this continentally inaccurate tongue - “disculpe señor, don- oops!” Not that I was very good – I fumbled through subjunctives and reflexive pronouns like a true amateur. ¡Qué bestia! I was also at the wrong end of most of the trip banter, accused of being 'cold and complaining too much,' like a proper Englishman and the antithesis of the passionate Latino personality. And for only saying “hello” in a casual manner when I saw them for the first time, rather than exploding with enthusiasm and darting over to adorn them with plentiful hugs and kisses. So I had to tone down the negative comments for the sake of the group morale: “Wow, isn't this wonderful, I just love the fact that this great big greedy fat pig is rolling around in shit so much, it's amazing!” It was all in good fun though, and sarcasm/complaining is a way of adding spice and good craic sometimes: things are boring if they're always rosy and dandy (I think this is more of a British/Irish thing?)

We travelled by train southwest to Rajasthan state, a name evoking romantic images of a distant desert land where the Maharajas live in fairytale palaces. Our destination was Jaipur, the famed 'Pink City' and state capital. We stayed in the lovely Vinayak Guesthouse with helpful staff and a rooftop restaurant playing Indian melodies to set the mood. In and around town, there was plenty to see, including the vast sandstone/marble Amber Fort where the local Maharajas ruled before Jaipur itself was founded in the 18th century by Jai Singh II. The dastardly monkeys were also a factor here, scaring us when they tried to grab our stuff! The Hawa Mahal is another strange archictectural marvel in the centre of town: an eye-catching facade built simply so the women of the court could watch events through secret windows unseen by the men of society. 

Jaipur is a major market haven, and the stalls selling clothes at very cheap prices abounded on every street and alley. Rene certainly got his money's worth, bartering frantically with one old guy for about 20 minutes to get a dozen scarves while the whole street came to watch! I particularly enjoyed the salesmen chat given in one shop: “do you exercise? You look like a Maharaja with that beard. You're a good size, not too tall.” All my insecurities put to bed in one very charm-ridden compliment session when perusing the shop, though unfortunately this was a much pricier one and smooth talking wasn't enough. In a more modest stall, I bought a single Indian-looking shirt, and the seller insisted on showing me a picture he said he'd had taken with 'Wolverine' in his other shop; I went with him and there was indeed a picture of Hugh Jackman... looking stressed and trying to escape the public attention, surrounded by bodyguards (I bet he wished he really did have claws)!

I'd had a great deal of trouble trying to book trains around India: simply signing up for the IRCTC website is a mission in itself involving mind-bogglingly complicated levels of email codes, proof of identity and fake Indian mobile numbers, and had had to book two of the three train journeys with a travel agent for an extra charge (feeling exasperated after weeks of trying online). For the one from Jaipur to Agra, however, I hadn't been able to book, so we ended up in the second-worst class. We were also a bit nervous because we'd been told by an Aussie couple in the guesthouse that their train had been delayed... by 17 hours! Our train was thankfully on time, but seeing hordes of people pile into the carriages nearby was a dread-inducing sight, and I imagined we'd probably end up having to stand in the toilet for 4 hours. Actually, we found seats and had a fun experience with the locals, drinking plenty of sweet chai tea (for 10 rupees each – equivalent of 20 cents), which all of us came to love. There was even space for Niña Soledad's enormous suitcase too!

So the third and final point on the Golden Triangle was Agra, another Mughal-built city. But whereas Delhi and Jaipur's interesting monuments and atmosphere went a long way to overcome the cumbersome cluster-fuckery of street life, Agra was a total shit-hole redeemed only by the Taj Mahal (which is a pretty decent redeeming feature to have in your city to be fair). We actually stayed at the place Karl Pilkington stayed at on An Idiot Abroad (he storms out because of the smell and the 'ensuite shed'), but they'd clearly improved it since then. We saw this amazing Wonder of the World from across the Yamuna River at sunset, before arriving at the South Gate at 5am the next day. We queued with our new friends from the hostel for over an hour waiting for them to open the bloody gates, and pretty much missed the sunrise, shivering in the early morning fog, hungry and tired. The bucket-loads of tourists almost ruined it for me: the ridiculous rituals of needing to have every possible picture of every possible pose with every possible family member left me seething: I wanted to slap them repeatedly across the face and run off with their camera. See with your eyes, not with your lenses! Not that my friends were much better to be honest... I never used to be this intolerant of tourist habits: I think it was the tiredness and me getting older and more cynical, plus I'm being a bit of a hypocrite because I took some pics too. Anyway, after the photos were all taken and ready to become people's next Facebook Profile Picture, we spent hours exploring the Taj itself and admire its pure white marmoreal exterior and impressively detailed austere interior (it is a tomb after all, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in the 17th century). A classic Indian site, and a worldwide icon deserving of its revered status.

Next stop was Nepal, the 'Roof of the World' and a wonderful travel destination as it turned out. Flying in with the snow-capped Himalayan skyline to the north was an awe-inspiring site. We spent a few days in bustling capital Kathmandu and nearby historic city of Bhaktapur (richly decorated UNESCO World Heritage Site and former capital of the region), and two days in chilled second-city Pokhara to the west. I found Nepal to be much more relaxing and less pressured than India: locals didn't seem to stare as much; they didn't push you to buy things; less bartering; there was much less traffic too. A hike we did along a ridge above Pokhara at sunrise was the main highlight for me: the sun revealing the mighty peaks of Machapuchare (6997m), Annapurna I (8091m) and Dhaulagiri (8167m), some of the world’s tallest mountains. We walked about 10km between the villages of Sarangkot and Naudanda, past quiet farmsteads and small sloping allotments, taking in the ridiculous views both above and below us. It would have been cool to do a proper Himalayan trek, but due to money, time and (above all) general fitness, it wasn't possible this time around.

It was pretty bizarre being in Nepal for Christmas, but the locals celebrated with New Year-style parties and the cool temperature and tasty roast turkey dinner helped make it feel a bit more Christmassy! I was in great company but still felt a longing to be in Durham with my family, only able to speak with them over a WhatsApp call for about 5 minutes because of the dodgy connection. Rene and Sole left for Burma, and I spent the evening of Christmas Day in a hippie hostel called Fireflies. It wouldn't be somewhere I'd normally choose, but I felt a need to connect with people seeing as it was Christmas Day. I bumped into Georgia, the California girl I'd met at Delhi Airport when we were both late for our flight, and met a lot of other friendly international people for another meal, good conversation and some beers. On my last day in Nepal, I ventured to the hilltop Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath), an ancient and holy Buddhist site centred around a golden stupa with the eyes of Buddha gazing down at you from each side. As with a lot of structures in Kathmandu and elsewhere, it was severely damaged by the 2015 earthquake: the city is still punctuated by piles of rubble and wooden beams propping up historic buildings. But the Nepalese people have made tremendous efforts of rebuilding and maintaining their incredible architectural treasures.

My last stop was almost 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur, again in transit. I spent the fourth night of my life at this airport (mad considering I've never lived here), curled up on some carpet somewhere, too tired to care and using my trusted Osprey bag as a pillow. Then I went to explore the malls of KL (and saw the new Star Wars, which was bloody fantastic), and took the opportunity to nip to Putrajaya, located between KL proper and the airport. Putrajaya is its own Federal Territory (like KL), was only built in 1995 and contains most of the government offices, despite KL still being the Malaysian capital. I told the taxi driver to take me “somewhere good” because I didn't have a clue about the layout of the city or what it contained; laying this responsibility of my entertainment upon a stranger was almost too much for the poor man, but he dropped me off in the sweaty heat at Putra Square beside the PM's house and the pretty pink Putra Mosque, overlooking Putra Lake (they're not very inventive with the names of stuff here!) It was a pleasant day's excursion but I was ready for a long uncomfortable Air Asia flight back to Sydney to celebrate New Year and continue my life in Australia. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I'd missed my new 'home' country. But it had been one hell of a trip.

Thanks for reading, I’ll post soon about the new life in Sydney (sticking to Australia next time),

Oliver

(see below for photos!)