#and she responded about the zine. but she didn’t respond in mid may

[dancedance-resolution]

looks like the tumblrinas are liking first kill so i’m going to start it tmrw!

[harrypotter-imaginess]

Etsy Store Here l Ko-Fi l Commission Info I Instagram I Zine

Part 1 Here! / Part 2 Here! / Part 3 Here!

A/N: I think two more parts and an epilogue :)

* If Draco’s being honest, he kind of saw it coming

* Honestly the fact that she had been so quiet when everything unfolded in Paris was very unlike her

* So he’s not at all surprised to see her in the mundane waiting area at his department

* A very frazzled receptionist who’s frantically telling an old war hero that even though she saved the world, she can’t see Mr.Malfoy without an appointment

* “It’s alright Saoirse, I’ll take it from here,” he tells the receptionist with a soft pat on the shoulder before turning his attention to his visitor

* “Hello Granger,” she only replies with a polite smile

* He really was afraid of this

* “what can I do for you?”

* And that’s how he found himself at a cafe around the corner sitting across from his old nemesis -

* And apparently also his old school crush-

* With two steaming cups of untouched tea in front of them

* He’s trying to keep calm, not showing that he’s internally freaking out

* It’s no sooner that the server is out of earshot that Granger leans over the table and says through gritted teeth

* “What are you playing at Malfoy?”

* And Draco, having learned one single thing living with his parents is that when someone is angry-

* You lie

* So he takes control of the moment, lifting the cup of tea to his lips and savoring his sip of tea before saying :

* “I have no idea what you mean”

* It only makes her angrier

* Well what did she think was going to happen?

* That she could just show up unannounced and interrogate him about his relationship

* He doesn’t need her to be hard on him, he’s hard enough on himself for the both of them

* “Honestly Draco, are you so self-involved that you have no consideration for what will happen to them once your family finds out you’re involved with a Muggle”

* He’s thought of nothing but that actually

* “You’ll be fine of course, you’re their son they’ll forgive you for it, call it a flight of youth but what about them? What about the years you’re stealing from them, their mind-“

* Mid tirade, Draco slips a hand into his suit pocket and pulls out a small velvet box

* Hermione stops talking when he sets it down in the middle of the table

* “I bought it the day after our first date”

* After that day, he knew there was no going back

* He couldn’t live a life without you, he couldn’t go back to the way things were anymore

* Hermione doesn’t say anything for a long time

* “Your parents-“she starts

* “Will disown me” Draco finishes and then after thinking about it for a second he adds:

* “Probably”

* “Draco-“ Hermione’ stone is sympathetic but he stops her right there

* “I know you think I’m the worst and daft to boot, and honestly I probably am, but don’t think for a second I haven’t considered all the angles for how this play’s out”

* They sit in silence, and to Draco’s surprise it’s not painful

* It’s just sad

* “You love them that much?” And for the first time, Hermione isn’t looking at him with a glare

* “With all my heart” he responds without a moments thought

* Because it’s true

* If being with you means his family will never speak to him again if it means he’ll have to give up his money if it means he’ll have to give up magic forever

* Then that’s okay

* He’ll give them all up with a smile on his face

* “They show up in my nightmares you know” Granger raises her eyebrow at that

* Ah, that came out wrong

* “Not like that-“

* He’s certainly not saying the person he loves is the root of his nightmares

* Every so often he’ll be back in school

* Kicking some first year while they’re down

* Telling Potter how pathetic he is because he doesn’t have parents

* Standing in front of the vanishing cabinet in the room of requirement, trying to mend it

* Standing in front of Dumbledore with his wand raised

* And he can see himself doing all of these terrible things, things that make him cringe and ashamed

* And then you show up

* A hand placed on his shoulder

* “You can choose kindness Draco”

* “You don’t have to hurt other people so they don’t notice that you’re hurting too”

* “Everything is okay”

* “I’m here now”

* And so, like things always are when you're around, the dream is bathed in warm gold light

* Draco extends his hand, helping the first year onto his feet

* He tells Potter: “sometimes I’m jealous you haven’t got any parents. Sometimes the things they want from me - it's like I can’t breathe”

* He breaks that vanishing cabinet

* And he lowers his wand and whispers “help me please, tell me what I have to do to escape this future”

* And it makes all the difference

* “They’re what saves me,” he says, completely unaware of the look in Hermione’s eyes

* Ron and Harry never saw it, but she did-

* It’s easy for the three of them to be good, they had people like Dumbledore and Arthur Weasley and Professor McGonagall to look up to, to look towards when they thought they may stray from their path

* But Draco never had anyone like that

* He had Snape, but that was a mess in and of itself

* And she’s ashamed to say that as smart as she is, she didn’t see it sooner

* Not until she saw him in that Parisian bakery

* She didn’t think he could look that kind in general, let alone to a Muggle

* But just because he’s better now because of you, doesn’t mean he should be better at the expense of you

* She’s happy for you

* “If you hurt them you won’t need to worry about your parents, I’ll murder you myself”

* Draco laughs

* That seems fair

* “I’m sorry,” and when she seems confused he adds:

* “For all the things I did in school, I regret all of them”

* An awkward expression crosses her face

* “I’m not asking for your forgiveness, I don’t deserve it, I just-“

* He just thought that she deserved one, even if it was after all these years

* “I just wanted to apologize”

* Not wanting to make her uncomfortable he moves to leave, standing up and ticking his chair in

* “Oh and one more thing,” he says before leaving.

* “Let Weasley and Potter know that the irony isn’t lost on me that I fell in love with a Muggle,” he says with a grin, and Hermione smiles back.

* You walk out of the office to see Draco leaning against the building, a brown bag in hand

* He’s wearing that black on black suit

* God he looks yummy

* “Were you waiting for me?” You’re probably grinning when he leans down to greet you with a kiss, grabbing your hand with his free on

* Fingers intertwining as you walk down the street

* “I got finished early, thought I would surprise you with some of your favorite food,” he says the paper bag rustling in his hand

* “My place or yours,” you ask, and Draco gulps

* He puts on his best smile

* “Yours is probably best”

* He strips off his coat the moment he asks in, before helping you out of yours

* “You’re being so attentive today,” you say with a giggle while he tucks your hair behind your ear

* “Just missed you is all,” he says with a smile

* “Hard day at work?” You ask setting your keys down and you see Draco shrug

* “A little” a tiny reassuring smile curled onto his face

* “I’ll get us some wine,” you say “white or red?”

* “Surprise me”

* He takes a seat on your couch, leg bouncing

* It has to be now

* He has to do it now

* You come back with two glasses of rosé

* “I thought you said my options were white or red?” He says taking one of the glasses

* “And you said ‘surprise me’”

* He laughs, setting the glass down on a coaster

* “You know there’s no one else like you in the world, you’re an original piece” he’s teasing, but it’s not unkind

* You banter back:

* “Well I didn’t see you complaining about my originality last month when you proposed to me”

* He smiles at you

* And you know exactly what’s about to happen

* Before his hand dips into his pocket

* Before you see the velvety box, which creaks open to reveal a formidable diamond ring

* Before Draco says

* “That’s right, I love your originality, I love everything about you. And I want nothing more than to spend my entire life being surprised by you”

* “Will you marry me?”

* Yes

* Of course, it’s a yes

* How could it not be?

* You don’t realize you’re crying until Draco’s thumbs wipe away the tears on your cheeks

* Your mouth opens to tell him that you want nothing more than to surprise him for the rest of your life too, nothing more than to stay by his side

* When he stops you

* “Before you answer, there’s something you need to know, something I haven’t been 100% honest about”

* Draco averts his gaze and you feel anxiety gnaw at you

* What sort of terrible thing could it be?

* He looks straight into your eyes with those warm Grey orbs

* Gulps, and says:

* “I’m a wizard (Y/N)”

[skruffie]

It’s not the anniversary yet, but it IS National Siblings Day and I conveniently forget that this is even a thing until I go on Facebook or Twitter or something and remember. This year is a big milestone for my family because it is the 18th anniversary, which marks a passage of time from now to forever where she has been gone longer than she was alive.

I saw this thing on Facebook about grief, and it went something like grief is this hole, and you can try to fill the hole with whatever you can, but nothing fills it. It’s bottomless. It seems like your entire life gets sucked into it, but eventually as the years go on... the hole doesn’t get smaller. Your life gets bigger, and it grows around it. The hole is always there, but there’s more expanse around it as you move through each anniversary, each holiday, each milestone. It’s similar to describing grief as “it doesn’t get easier, you just get better at coping”.

(This is going to be very long and probably very sad because I talk at great length about her life and death)

I tried to write about a little bit about Nicole on Twitter today, but my initial post mentioned the word “cancer” which caught the attention of this fucking asshole that was advertising faith healing on his timeline. That dulled my grief a bit but it sure made me mad.

Trying to remember things.

We were seven years apart so we never really had a sibling rivalry or anything. I actually looked up to her so much--she was like a teenage rock star to my child self. She loved writing and wrote lots of poetry, got published in an independent zine by age nine, and through her adolescence was a bit of a grunge punk. She played piano and bass. She wore combat boots. Occasionally she dressed up with the full make-up and everything and called them her “pretty days”. She had a lock of hair in front of her face she kept in a small braid. She did blogging before the word “blog” even existed by maintaining an email list of friends and family, and she would email her updates directly to them. She coded her own websites and experimented with graphic design. She did photography. She’s why I love nail polish and tarot cards and Doc Martens--her own boots had navy blue laces with suns and moons on them. She had a huge, huge crush on Dave Navarro. She would buy hostess cupcakes for the kids at school who didn’t have food, and she kicked her own friends out of our house when they tried to bring alcohol to her party.

Nicole grew up with the brunt of our parents’ addictions before I came along. My mom (seen with baby Nicole in one of the photos above) and dad were only 19 when they had her and got married. When she was younger, they actually split up for a while and I think my great-grandma helped take care of her. My parents both went to rehab, got back together, and then had me, so... I was the baby that grew up in a sober house for a while at least. My parents still argued and it bothered me a lot when I got a bit older, so she’d come get me and take me to her room and bring chips and bean dip, and I’d have a safe place to cry.

...That’s a thought I just had right there. After she died, I didn’t really have that same kind of shield from my parents fighting (which was a lot worse after her death--a lot of couples who lose a child end up divorcing and my parents came close), which I think is probably what made the emotional neglect worse.

I don’t remember the exact progression of her cancer, but things started getting noticeable when she started developing night-blindness. I think at the time there were some doctors that didn’t believe she could be getting cancer so getting the insurance to cover tests and treatment was a fight every single time. A tumor started growing in her left arm, and the diagnosis was finally clear: rhabdomyosarcoma. She asked the doctors after her diagnosis if it was genetic, because even after that, she thought of me. (Thankfully, it isn’t. It was just a stupid, cruel twist of the universe.)

She got chemo, started to go into remission, and eventually it came back. Nicole then got a stem cell transplant when it was getting worse--more tumors, etc etc. I had met with a grief counselor at the hospital once or twice during this time period, even before we knew for sure it was terminal, because I was 10 going on 11 and needed someone to help me process and also like... kinda pay attention to me? Admitting that feels weird, but I was just a kid.

The day that I found out that the stem cell transplant didn’t work is probably almost worse than the day she died for me. They brought in a minister and we sang “Amazing Grace” and I watched her be baptized, and while she was being anointed, I kept asking everyone “Why is she being baptized? Why??? Why?! We’re Wiccan!!” Which was true. Nicole also underwent a Wiccaning around this time. Everyone was ignoring my questions, until finally it was time. She told me the stem cell transplant had not been successful and broke down crying, and I immediately understood what that meant, and I started screaming and crying. I started screaming to see the grief counselor, and I had to leave the hospital room to go with the counselor down to my favorite spot on the hospital campus.

Fuck. I hate Easter. I fucking hate Easter. It was around Easter time and this holiday plays a role in this awful memory of mine: at the hospital, some very kind person made little easter baskets for all the kids that were on the juvenile cancer ward, and I even got to get one even though I wasn’t a patient. I was starting to open mine but Nicole just looked at it. She said “Why do I get one? Why do I get one when I’m going to--” and probably started crying. I put my basket aside because the thrill of like... easter chocolate or whatever the fuck was gone. I don’t think I’ve been able to enjoy this holiday since.

Make A Wish was involved at some point, obviously. NIcole’s original wish was to meet Tori Amos, but her management team responded with “Uhhh, Tori doesn’t really do that” which was disappointing at first. (A few years later, a couple of Nicole’s friends saw T live in concert and met her at a meet and greet. They told her Nicole’s story and I guess she had no idea actually, so I believe it was a decision firmly on the management’s side.). The next wish had to be rushed, and Nicole realized that she wanted to go to prom. The actual senior prom for her high school was going to be too far out in advance with her surviving that long, so Make A Wish threw together a special prom just for her and about 150+ attendees.

The prom was held at Newport Harbor on a yacht. Rebecca Schoenkopf of Wonkette, known in 2001 as CommieGirl for the OC Weekly, met with Nicole once prior to this and attended as a prom guest to write about it. Naturally, Nicole was crowned prom queen and when she stood up to receive the crown, it was something magical. She had spent most of the evening in and out of sleep from being so ill and from the medications she was on.

When she was dying, she wanted to be at the hospital. I stayed at my grandparent’s house... probably for a couple days, I don’t actually remember how long it was, and my parents were there for her. I believe she died in the early hours of the morning on April 30th, two days short of her 18th birthday. I had a moment that morning that I consider a small blessing, which is that I found out she was gone before anyone had actually told me, and it gave me a brief reprise to just be by myself while I gathered up my will to go downstairs and face my parents. I had been in the process of going downstairs, and I saw my mom come out of the bathroom, and that was it. That was all I needed to see.

She had them write a letter as her own personal message to me. Two days later for her 18th birthday, my cousin sent us 18 lavender balloons. I don’t think we had her memorial until the 11th of May and I know this because it was the same day Douglas Adams--one of Nicole’s favorite authors--died. We joked that she took him with her. Nicole was cremated, and I do remember there was at least one funny moment that morning as we were getting out of the car. My mom handed me the wooden box that had Nicole’s cremains in it and said “Here, hold your sister for a sec.” We got a touch of that grave humor in my family.

One of the hardest things about this... hole of grief, is aging. My parents are in their mid 50s now, and I’m going to be 30 next year. I don’t have any other siblings to help take care of my parents. My mom rather flippantly says “Oh, put us in a nursing home”, but that just feels so bleak. I don’t have my sister with me to help with my wedding, to meet Zack or any of my friends, to talk to about our past and our future. She’s not here to kick ass and build amazing apps or tear down the patriarchy or be on the ground reporting the latest news break. There’s so many milestones I’ve already crossed without her but I am always going to miss her.

Bon swayr, ma souer.

[rayraywrites]

Title: Royalty comes from what you do

Fandom: Yuri on ice | Yuri!!! On Ice

Pairing: Yuuri Katsuki x Viktor Nikiforov 

Rating: General Audiences

Zine: @yoilitmag

Word Count: 2663

AO3

Summary:

Viktor, the soon-to-be Tsar of Russia. He was everything the people needed and wanted. With his coronation soon approaching, a long-time friend appeared once more in his chambers. Magic is something to be cherished is it not? And so is the right to rule - blessed by the spirits it is.

Clang!

Over and over the swords moved, their wielders dodging wild swings and parrying the targeted ones. Sweat flew off the men’s foreheads as they danced around each other, stabbing at every opening they found. An unorthodox style of fighting for it emphasized the swordsman’s ability to move, not to fight. Yet for the two men, who were much more adept at dancing and moving around then most, this style was the most effective.

With a final attack the older of the two managed to get his sword under his opponent’s chin, finally ending the duel that had begun as the sun had appeared but had now crept up to its rightful place at the top of the sky.

Bringing the sword back to his side, the swordsman began chuckling at the disgruntled look on his opponent’s face. Sheathing it carefully, he extended a hand to the now pouting man.

“Yura, your skills are incredible as a dual wielder. I’m not sure why you want to train that out of you when your skill itself is so hard to learn, let alone pick up as you did.” He ran a hand through his hair, pulling it out of its tight ponytail tail as he waited for Yuri’s response.

“Just teach me okay! I’m not answering any of your stupid questions Vitya.” Yuri ground out his words as he placed his sword back in his scabbard.

Sighing at his stubbornness, Viktor watched as Yuri’s hand seemed to be reaching for his second sword but retracted his hand as if burnt. Thinking carefully, Viktor tried to remember what had happened before Yuri had asked him to teach his style. If he remembered correctly, the only important event that he could conceive of, was the arrival of Lord Altin from his station in Ukraine.

Considering that Lord Altin had been known to find sword masters extremely impressive, Viktor was no longer surprised. Yuri’s techniques could save him in battle but would never be acknowledged by the court as anything but a prince’s boyhood fancies.

Still amused at what seemed to be a major crush on the younger‘s part, Viktor didn’t hear the maid calling for him till she had gotten quite close.

“Your highnesses.” She curtsied and began, “Prince Viktor, the royal court would like you to attend today’s mid-morning meeting so that they may plan your coronation.” She turned to face Yuri and began speaking, once again curtsying in greeting. “Prince Yuri, Lord Altin has requested your presence for a ride through the forest this afternoon.”

At their nods, she curtsied once more, this time much deeper, before leaving the two their thoughts. Viktor smiles to himself, glad to see that Yuri’s crush was returned - Lord Altin had originally decided to leave this afternoon back to Ukraine. Chuckling at his brother’s shocked, but not unhappy face, Viktor excused himself to head inside.

“Good luck with him Yuri.” The scowl he received sent him into a fit of laughter before he righted himself and walked inside. Viktor really did not like the advisors his regent had chosen, finding them old and set in their ways. It was frustrating considering how much the world was progressing now. Luckily with him finally assuming the throne, having turned 21 last month, Viktor was planning on slowly changing his advisors. Nodding politely at the guards who stood outside the room, he walked inside to see a familiar sight - his uncle and regent Yakov and his 3 advisors arguing about something. They had all been friends since his before his father had been the heir apparent.

With his fist at his heart, he bowed deeply at the men who had raised him. He might not have liked them, but they meant a lot to his uncle and father so he respected them. “Morning’s blessings Sire, you requested my presence?” Walking forward, he took his seat beside his uncle, nodding politely at the greetings he received from the royal advisors.

Clearing his throat uncomfortably, Regent Yakov took a moment to formulate his thoughts before he spoke. “Blessed morning Vitya, how was your duel with Yuri? Has he managed to beat you yet?”

As Viktor replied, he saw the annoyed looks on the advisors’ faces and knew his uncle had asked simply to mess with them. Smiling a little, he completed his response before waiting for the seneschal to tell him the reason for their meeting, as he had always been apt to do in past meetings.

And as expected he began, “Prince Viktor, with the coronation of your royal self to the throne, we have been planning the ceremony and require your input on certain aspects.” So it began, Viktor’s morning filled with discussions of clothing, and timing of the ceremony; who would be invited was critical as that would set the tone of his ruling, and even the order of the ceremony was important for it signified the strength of his rule.

Finally excusing himself from the men, Viktor found that he had no more appointments that day. With the court closed for coronation preparations, Viktor only had to work on his paperwork - responding to proposals, business and the like; and dealing with matters of the estate. Returning to his rooms to begin culling the pile of documents on his desk, he was surprised to see someone had been in the outer room of his chambers. The books had been opened and left as if someone had perused them to see what he’d been reading. The plants had been freshly watered and moved closer to the sun. With a start, Viktor realized that he’d left his royal signet in the room that morning and rushed over to make sure it was still there. With it, someone could gain the right to rule in his stead.

Relieved it was still on the tray in the room, Viktor glanced around, realizing that this wasn’t the work of the maids as the room itself still looked the same as it always had aside from the slight changes. With a silent huff, he walked into his inner rooms and paused when he saw that someone was asleep in his bed. Walking quietly towards it, he smiled, seeing familiar ears poking out from underneath the blanket, hands curled into fists on the pillow. Sitting down gently, Viktor reached over to run a hand through the dark hair, laughing softly when his hand was followed by the head for more caresses.

Slowly one of the eyes slid open, revealing stunning eyes that almost seemed to glow with flecks of light, making it seem that constellations were painted into the very recesses of his eyes. The blanket slid down to his shoulder, revealing more and more of his face. If Viktor leaned a bit closer, he could see the clothes he wore followed the consistent black and white theme he’d always worn, yet it almost felt ethereal, for the shirt was lined with stars and constellations, telling a story Viktor had heard numerous times before.

“Blessed morning, Yuuri. It has been a while, has it not?” He carded a hand through Yuuri’s hair, smiling to himself at the soft whine that the action elicited. The last time he had seen Yuuri, Viktor had been a child, barely allowed to complete his own responsibilities as the crown prince. Yuuri had come as a boy a few years younger then him, the ears and tail present then as it was now. That was the first time Viktor had sneaked out of the castle, skipping his lessons to learn to glide on the ice like his new friend told him about. He called it “skating” and said that one could dance on the ice with it.

Viktor had fallen in love then, when he watched Yuuri spin on the ice, jumping high off the ground with his arms tightly glued to his body. The seriousness on Yuuri’s face had instilled a deep respect for the art, for that was the only thing skating could be called. An art. Just like the feelings that had bubbled in Viktor’s chest as he watched Yuuri spin with his torso and one leg perfectly perpendicular to the ice.

Smiling at the sleepy man in his bed, Viktor slowly pulled him up, and out of it. “Yuuri, why are you here. You said that you would not come back again till there was a worthy royal on the throne.” Viktor had been hurt when he’d heard that as a boy, but with his uncle only being a regent, and Viktor too young at the time to assume his title, Yuuri had a point. But even now, there was no reason. Viktor would not be Tsar for another few weeks.

He watched as Yuuri rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes, knowing it was all an act for Yuuri never let his guard down but still indulged him in the humanizing act. Finally it seemed he was done, when he stood up from the bed, straightening the bizarre robes he always seemed to wear. They hugged his torso beautifully before coming to mid thigh, where a pair of siken pants continued the path to his ankles. The robes hugged him tightly up to his neck before flaring out down his hands. They were a dark black colour, almost shimmering with the constellation theme continuing their pattern. A brilliant white sash wrapped tightly around his waist, complementing the whites of his ears and tail.

When Viktor had first met Yuuri he’d been convinced that he was simply dreaming, but even then it had felt like a weak excuse. He’d never seen a tiger in real life, the paintings in his books were never this accurate, yet Viktor could almost count each individual hair on the ears, and the tail’s movements and dexterity was something even he couldn’t imagine.

Yuuri eventually seemed to finish his fidgeting and smiled the languid smile that Viktor now associated with him when he was pleased about something. He fully embodied the saying, “the cat who caught the canary” in that moment. But even before his eyes, Yuuri’s smile shifted to the one that Viktor was more accustomed to - shy and a little unsure about everything. He was a little startled then, when Yuuri’s hand rose up to rest on his face. Freezing, Viktor watched silently as Yuuri stroked his cheek before smiling softly.

“Viktor, Prince Viktor Nikiforov. You are to be Tsar in 1 week.” Yuuri bowed, his arms straight at his side as continued speaking, “May the stars watch over your rule with all the beauty and longevity they hold. You are the one that this land needs, and my wishes are with you and your rule forevermore.”

Viktor reached out to grasp Yuuri’s shoulders and straighten him up, a confused look on his face, which only seemed to amuse Yuuri even more. But before he could ask for clarification, Yuuri was already walking out of the room.

“Come Viktor, I assume pond has sufficiently frozen over.” He didn’t wait for Viktor’s reply before immediately walking out. Viktor rushed afterwards, taking a moment to grab the ice skates before following.

But as they approached the ice, Viktor knew he needed to receive some answers. They both stepped onto the ice together, Viktor was as graceful as ever, but it didn’t even compare to the effortless beauty that poured from Yuuri. He skated literal circles around Viktor, gliding across the ice easily, before picking up speed into a jump.

Viktor simply watched in awe as he skated around the pond a bit, years of practice now finally coming to fruition with his ease on the ice. Closing his eyes he allowed himself to relax, enjoying the impromptu break from his responsibilities. With a laugh, Viktor picked up speed and did a simple jump, only barely managing to remain upright. The grin on his face was bright and happy, no stress visible any longer.

Behind him, he heard the sound of a voice being cleared and turned to see that Yuuri had stepped off the ice. In his hands was an object covered with a black and white cloth. Skating closer to Yuuri, he watched as Yuuri removed the cloth to reveal a breathtaking sword. It was thin and long, yet he could see that it was extremely sharp and made with high quality metal so it was undoubtedly very strong. But what took his breath was the intricate tiger that was carved into the blade. Baring its teeth, made it a truly ferocious look, but the stars that dotted the grip softened the look. Yuuri held the sword gently, looking at it with a fond look before gesturing for Viktor to take it.

“Viktor, this sword, is not one to be taken lightly. It has only been given to three previous leaders before you. To achieve it, you must be of pure heart, and your actions must have shown you as a truly compassionate one with the people’s best interests at heart. You have been all that and more since the day I met you - when you saved that poor girl from being executed for simply being hungry.” Yuuri’s hand didn’t let go of the sword even as Viktor reached for it, his face more serious then it had ever been before. “My respect for you has only grown since then, and I believe it’s time for you to have this.”

Taking the sword, Viktor was astounded to see that it was a perfect fit for his hand, the correct weight for his hand with the length perfectly matching as well. Yuuri answered his unspoken question before he could even voice his confusion.

“It adjusted to your body when my intentions of giving it to you became clear.” Yuuri smiled, this time a bit sadder as he looked down at the sword before looking back up at Viktor. “Did you ever figure out who I was Viktor? I know you researched me after the first time I came.”

“A byakko, correct? I only know a little, for very little information of the east has come to us.” Viktor smiled apologetically, hoping that Yuuri would tell him the truth. He was glad to see that he was correct when Yuuri nodded and smiled.

“You are correct in your assumption Viktor, I am the Byakko, or Bái Hǔ. Guardian of the West, and symbol of true peace and the right to rule.” Yuuri stepped back, a small smile on his face as he spoke, “I watched your family since your father was a boy, hoping to find one who would be worthy.”

Viktor was shocked to see a small tear roll down Yuuri’s face as his form began to become slowly incorporeal.

“Now that I found you, and given you my symbol, I can no longer remain. The sword will remain with you till the day you die, at which point it will return to me.” By now tears had begun streaming down Yuuri’s face, though he made no attempts to wipe them away. “Thus, I guess this is goodbye. For now.” The last words a whisper to himself.

Viktor was horrified to find that he too had begun to tear up at the thought of never seeing Yuuri, but before he could reach forward and try and stop Yuuri from disappearing, a brilliant white light shone obscuring his vision. When he could finally look again, he blinked in shock to see that all that remained of Yuuri was the ice skates that he’d worn before lying innocently on the ground.

“Yuuri,” he whispered sadly, his heartbroken at losing the spirit. But as he took hold of the sword tightly, and grabbed the ice skates, he realized something.

Yuuri had said “for now.” He would see him one day. At that thought, he smiled, before heading back inside to put both items safely away in his room, and then once more, protect his heart again.

[quietya]

September 2017’s #quietYA Picks

Hi all! So, YA Interrobang is on hiatus for the rest of the year and I already had a lot of obligations, so I kept forgetting to put this together for y’all without someone giving me a deadline. But I didn’t want to miss out on highlighting these books since September was a HUGE month for new releases (and so is October - that list will be coming out later this week) and I want to make sure y’all didn’t miss some epicness.

The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

Release date: September 1

When sixteen-year-old Ellie Baum accidentally time-travels via red balloon to 1988 East Berlin, she’s caught up in a conspiracy of history and magic. She meets members of an underground guild in East Berlin who use balloons and magic to help people escape over the Wall—but even to the balloon makers, Ellie’s time travel is a mystery. When it becomes clear that someone is using dark magic to change history, Ellie must risk everything—including her only way home—to stop the process.

Glow by Megan E. Bryant

Release date: September 1

When thrift-store aficionado Julie discovers a series of antique paintings with hidden glowing images that are only visible in the dark, she wants to learn more about the artist. In her search, she uncovers a century-old romance and the haunting true story of the Radium Girls, young women who used radioactive paint to make the world's first glow-in-the-dark products—and ultimately became radioactive themselves. As Julie’s obsession with the paintings mounts, truths about the Radium Girls—and her own complicated relationships—are revealed. But will she uncover the truth about the luminous paintings before putting herself and everyone she loves at risk?

Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary by Martha Brockenbrough

Release date: September 5

Discover the incredible true story behind the Tony Award-winning musical – Hamilton’s early years in the Caribbean; his involvement in the Revolutionary War; and his groundbreaking role in government, which still shapes American government today. Easy to follow, this gripping account of a founding father and American icon features illustrations, maps, timelines, infographics, and additional information ranging from Hamilton's own writings to facts about fashion, music, etiquette and custom of the times, including best historical insults and the etiquette of duels.

She, Myself, and I by Emma Young

Release date: September 5

Rosa—an eighteen-year-old from London—is quadriplegic. Her doting (if a bit stifling) parents and charming older brother are her entire world. But Rosa yearns for more; so when a doctor from Boston chooses her to be a candidate for a risky experimental surgery, she and her family move to Massachusetts in search of a miracle. Sylvia—a girl from a small town in New England—is brain-dead. Her parents have donated Sylvia’s body to Rosa’s cause. Rosa wakes up from surgery as the first successful brain transplant survivor—by all accounts, a medical anomaly. She should be ecstatic, but she can’t help wondering with increasing obsession who Sylvia was and what her life was like. Rosa’s fascination with her new body and her desire to understand Sylvia prompt a road trip based on discovery and a surprising new romance. But will Rosa be able to solve the dilemma of her identity? Who is she, in another girl’s body?

All About Mia by Lisa Williamson

Release date: September 12

"That girl is such a mess." "Why can't she be like her sisters?" Blah, blah, blah. That's all Mia Campbell-Richardson ever hears. From her parents, her teachers, and her never-do-wrong older sister, Grace. So what if she parties too hard and studies too little? Who cares if she tends to end up with the wrong guys or says the wrong things at the wrong times? She's still a good friend (except when she isn't). And she still knows the way things should go (except when they don't). When Grace comes home with shocking news, Mia hopes that it's finally Grace's turn to get into trouble. But instead it's Mia whose life spirals out of control.

Odd & True by Cat Winters

Release date: September 12

Trudchen grew up hearing Odette’s stories of their monster-slaying mother and a magician’s curse. But now that Tru’s older, she’s starting to wonder if her older sister’s tales were just comforting lies, especially because there’s nothing fantastic about her own life—permanently disabled and in constant pain from childhood polio. In 1909, after a two-year absence, Od reappears with a suitcase supposedly full of weapons and a promise to rescue Tru from the monsters on their way to attack her. But it’s Od who seems haunted by something. And when the sisters’ search for their mother leads them to a face-off with the Leeds Devil, a nightmarish beast that’s wreaking havoc in the Mid-Atlantic states, Tru discovers the peculiar possibility that she and her sister—despite their dark pasts and ordinary appearances—might, indeed, have magic after all.

Water in May by Ismee Amiel Williams

Release date: September 12

Fifteen-year-old Mari Pujols believes that the baby she’s carrying will finally mean she’ll have a family member who will love her deeply and won’t ever leave her—not like her mama, who took off when she was eight; or her papi, who’s in jail; or her abuela, who wants as little to do with her as possible. But when doctors discover a potentially fatal heart defect in the fetus, Mari faces choices she never could have imagined. Surrounded by her loyal girl crew, her off-and-on boyfriend, and a dedicated doctor, Mari navigates a decision that could emotionally cripple the bravest of women. But both Mari and the broken-hearted baby inside her are fighters; and it doesn’t take long to discover that this sick baby has the strength to heal an entire family.

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

Release date: September 12

Five girls. Three generations. One great American love story. You Bring the Distant Near explores sisterhood, first loves, friendship, and the inheritance of culture--for better or worse. Ranee, worried that her children are losing their Indian culture; Sonia, wrapped up in a forbidden biracial love affair; Tara, seeking the limelight to hide her true self; Shanti, desperately trying to make peace in the family; Anna, fighting to preserve Bengal tigers and her Bengali identity--award-winning author Mitali Perkins weaves together a sweeping story of five women at once intimately relatable and yet entirely new.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

Release date: September 19

Vivian Carter is fed up. Fed up with her small-town Texas high school that thinks the football team can do no wrong. Fed up with sexist dress codes and hallway harassment. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules. Viv’s mom was a punk rock Riot Grrrl in the ’90s, so now Viv takes a page from her mother’s past and creates a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She’s just blowing off steam, but other girls respond. Pretty soon Viv is forging friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, and she realizes that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution.

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

Release date: September 19

The year is 1818, the city is London, and our heroine, 16-year-old Annis Whitworth, has just learned that her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy. Annis always suspected that her father was a spy, so following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals that she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours: garments that can disguise the wearer completely. Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on. She’ll follow the clues her father left behind and discover what befell him. She’ll prove she can sew an impenetrable disguise. She’ll earn a living without stooping to become a—shudder—governess. It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it?

Speak Easy, Speak Love by McKelle George

Release date: September 19

After she gets kicked out of boarding school, seventeen-year-old Beatrice goes to her uncle’s estate on Long Island. But Hey Nonny Nonny is more than just a rundown old mansion. Beatrice’s cousin, Hero, runs a struggling speakeasy out of the basement—one that might not survive the summer. Along with Prince, a poor young man determined to prove his worth; his brother John, a dark and dangerous agent of the local mob; Benedick, a handsome trust-fund kid trying to become a writer; and Maggie, a beautiful and talented singer; Beatrice and Hero throw all their efforts into planning a massive party to save the speakeasy. Despite all their worries, the summer is beautiful, love is in the air, and Beatrice and Benedick are caught up in a romantic battle of wits that their friends might be quietly orchestrating in the background.

The Victoria in My Head by Janelle Milanes

Release date: September 19

Victoria Cruz inhabits two worlds: In one, she is a rock star, thrashing the stage with her husky voice and purple-streaked hair. In the other, currently serving as her reality, Victoria is a shy teenager with overprotective Cuban parents, who sleepwalks through her life at the prestigious Evanston Academy. Unable to overcome the whole paralyzing-stage-fright thing, Victoria settles for living inside her fantasies, where nothing can go wrong and everything is set to her expertly crafted music playlists. But after a chance encounter with an unattainably gorgeous boy named Strand, whose band seeks a lead singer, Victoria is tempted to turn her fevered daydreams into reality. To do that, she must confront her insecurities and break away from the treadmill that is her life. Suddenly, Victoria is faced with the choice of staying on the path she’s always known and straying off-course to find love, adventure, and danger.

A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck

Release date: September 26

Fifteen-year-old Matt Wainwright is in turmoil. He can’t tell his lifelong best friend, Tabby, how he really feels about her; his promising basketball skills are being overshadowed by his attitude on the court, and the only place he feels normal is in English class, where he can express his inner thoughts in quirky poems and essays. Matt is desperately hoping that Tabby will reciprocate his feelings; but then Tabby starts dating Liam Branson, senior basketball star and all-around great guy. Losing Tabby to Branson is bad enough; but, as Matt soon discovers, he’s close to losing everything that matters most to him.

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Release date: September 26

Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin. But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.

[deckthehollss-blog1]

Email Advertising And Marketing Lesson (3 )

Email Advertising and marketing LessonI moved into a brand-new workplace recently as well as was unpacking when I recognized I was fading quick and needed a caffeine fix. Appears my Starbucks coffee device had obtained shed with the movers. I panicked." residential doors Weatherford OK what?" I believed. I had never gone a full afternoon without a latte. I understood something would certainly happen if I didn't get one, and it would possibly be the example that would create my specialist, so skipping my caffeine solution was not an alternative. I currently had two pages of issues we were covering. I guess the unboxing would certainly need to be placed on hold.I established my Starbucks radar on full sharp and also complied with the route of laid-back organisation clothes. Indeed, 2 blocks later I located a Starbucks on the edge. As I drew open the door, a little gent whisked in under my arm. And that is exactly how I fulfilled Mr. Pibs.Mr. Pibs had actually been coming to that certain Starbucks considering that it opened up. Every mid-day regarding the very same time as my existing 'mind fade,' he also needed a solution. We got our coffees as well as made our means to the comfortable chairs.Mr. Pibs told me he remained in wholesale animal products and also had his own manufacturing facility. He launched 25 years ago with a small shop in his garage and currently leased a 200,000 square foot center and also used over fifty employees. We drank our coffees as well as chatted regarding company. I asked him exactly how he marketed his products to prospective retail outlets."We have a subscriber-based newsletter," he claimed. "About 2500 quality family pet stores throughout the United States."I was impressed! 2500 leads does not seem like much but these stores had asked to be gotten in touch with. The shops were real, prospective customers looking for product. "So do you keep in touch month-to-month or do you find seasonal jobs much better?" I delicately asked."Regular monthly!" Mr. Pibs said loudly in horror. "That would be $50,000 of postage a year! No, we send our full color sales brochure on a yearly basis, costs us about $4000 in mailing charges. I draw a couple of girls off the setting up line and also get them licking stamps as well as stuffing envelopes. We've been doing our advertising similar to this given that the second year we started. Certain is fantastic that printing is a whole lot cheaper nowadays. Conserves us a bundle!"I gagged on the foam in my cup and also really felt an acquainted feeling come over me. Prior to I knew it I was standing and swing my arms around my head in big circles."Mr.Pibs, are you ridiculous?" I chewed out the top of my lungs, and started to tirade, arms swing. "What marketing cave did you simply creep out of? Why not put your brochure online? Why not make use of a normal Email Advertising campaign to communicate with the family pet stores regularly? Are you anti-technology? Why are on planet are you sending out all that stuff by mail?." And also then I realized I rarely understood this man as well as was essentially informing him he was a buffoon. But I didn't have time to compose myself because at that very minute, when I was in mid-sentence of my Email Marketing tirade, in walked my grandmother.Crap! I had actually forgotten Grammy was going to satisfy me at my new workplace! She promptly identified me as well as made a beeline in my direction. As she got closer I discovered she had a very strange looking hat on her head. It was all bumpy and sort of appeared like a bag. I observed an acquainted looking tag: Victoria's Secret.Since when did Victoria's Secret make hats?But I did not have time to ask, I had to make Grandmother believe we were expected to meet at the Starbucks and I likewise had to make up quick with Mr. Pibs before my brand-new close friend assumed I was a lunatic.I looked to Mr.Pibs, as well as discovered he was frozen, mouth hanging open in shock at my Email Advertising, arm swing, soapbox speech.Grandma got hold of the uninhabited seat next to Mr. Pibs and plunked herself down, scooching her behind, frantically trying to get it past the arm rests.Mr. Pibs defrosted and also whispered in scary, "That females has a set of underclothing-- on her head."And also indeed my Grandma did without a doubt have a set of Victoria's Secret undergarments on her head, hiding a mass of curlers.I gasped."Child," my granny said, "I have actually been looking almost everywhere for you!" Noticing Mr. Pibs, as well as not aware he and I had been having a discussion, Grandma looked a little alarmed at my little frozen pal. Not a surprise; the lack of color in his face was tough to miss. "Tiny man," she said, "You look ill, is the coffee as well solid for your tiny tummy?""Granny," I spoke gradually, transforming toward Mr. Pibs. "This is my brand-new pal, Mr. Pibs." : "Mr. Pibs, I apologize for my Email Advertising tirade, this is my Grammy. We had a coffee day this afternoon."My grandmother extended her hand in a motion of welcome. Mr.Pibs rested still, looking at my grandma's hair curler cover."Woman, why is there underclothing on your head?""Oh this?" she claimed, as she whipped off the over-stretched skivvies, discovering a selection of pink and white curlers. "These are old and also all extended of form from too many years on the rear. This pair functions wonderful to keeps my curlers in position. I upgraded to organic cotton underclothing years ago."As well as with that said we, or instead Grandma and also Mr. Pibs, laughed as well as talked away the afternoon. Those two hit it off so well I located myself a little bored. Simply as well, I could not obtain Mr. Pibs"advertising and marketing method' out of my mind. Well, at the very least the United States post office would certainly not go out of company anytime soon with Mr. Pibs around. I rested there enjoying those two laugh it up, as well as drank my head in shock at my granny's Victoria's Secret curling iron coverer. Mr. Pibs' advertising and marketing strategy was a whole lot like those underclothing. Old, unfit, and all drooped out.I fulfilled Mr. Pibs once again for coffee (without the interruption of Grammy as well as her head gitch) as well as stated to him that any type of company that was not energetic online as well as making use of Email Advertising and marketing may wish to retire. He concurred that his whole method must be placed in a remainder residence. It was type of challenging explaining all that Email Advertising and marketing things to Mr.Pibs; he was an actual Email Advertising and marketing newbie.I battled for a little bit with examples as well as realized the photo of those droopy undergarments on my Grandma's head was a best location to begin. I kept selecting the gonch theme and also Mr. Pibs gradually began to recognize the difference in each sort of Email Advertising method. We talked Email Advertising and marketing method and exactly how a cabinet filled with a variety of undergarments styles was genuinely the most effective alternative for complete marketing support.If you are having a difficult time explaining Email Marketing to your antique boss or your customers, feel totally free to try out several of these. They worked with Mr. Pibs so I make certain they will certainly help you.Broadcast Messages are like Bands: These little numbers function excellent at introducing, "Hey take a look at me, look at all the things I need to use ... today!" You do wish to exercise some restraint, nevertheless. Much like you do not wish to be using a thong everyday, neither would you send a broadcast message everyday.Auto-Responders are like Complete Figured Female's Petty Pants: If you are not up on full-figured minor pants, they look extra like a pair of long tight shorts. Large figured women use minor trousers to stop the upper legs from rubbing with each other. In a similar way, auto-responders protect against the chafing away of your time and sources because of answering the same questions over and over as well as over. Female's minor pants make all numbers, regardless of dimension, resemble a million bucks. Auto-Responders make you look like a hero with prompt practical feedbacks despite if it is simply you running the program or a whole office packed with customer care reps.Regularly Delivered E-Newsletters are like 100% Cotton Briefs: For routine wear you can't defeat a set of 100% cotton briefs and also for client retention you can't beat a consistently delivered e-newsletter. Every person prefers a various cut of brief relying on the amount of desired coverage, and it's no different in the e-mail world. Every business has a various idea of what their normal e-zine will cover and also what type of promo it will offer their products and services.Mr. Pibs and also I still meet at the Starbucks once a week or so for our mid-day caffeine repair. His firm has actually truly taken off because he got on board with Email Advertising. I assume he will probably be moving right into a bigger warehouse in the New Year just to stay up to date with orders. He also released a new line of product (using e-mail, certainly)to commemorate - Pudgy Young puppy Petty Pants.And the notorious curler cover? We did not understand it till later on that day however Grandma's droopy underwear got left on the table at Starbucks together with a calling card I had actually taken out throughout my Email Advertising tirade. I question that discovered the saggy gonch? Would certainly I ever before discover? Would the discoverer of those skivvies come to be a future client? I'll maintain you uploaded if anything materializes.And me? My Starbucks coffee machine surfaced after 3 months of circumnavigating the western states yet I still locate my method down the block most afternoons. I have actually likewise been reworking my own regular email advertising project due to my decision to try a reduced cut short for routine wear. Revealing more product details is confirming to be very reliable. My conversion price suggests my customers are actually valuing the enhanced direct exposure I'm providing my products as well as services.Is your advertising and marketing technique a little sagged, over stretched and broken? Attempt Email Advertising and marketing on for dimension. It can be found in all type of cuts as well as designs assured to enhance your lower line. I observed a familiar looking label: Victoria's Secret.Since when did Victoria's Secret make hats?But I did not have time to ask, I had to make Granny assume we were intended to satisfy at the Starbucks and I also had to make up quick with Mr. Pibs before my brand-new good friend assumed I was a lunatic.I transformed to Mr.Pibs, as well as noticed he was frozen, mouth hanging open in shock at my Email Advertising and marketing, arm waving, soapbox speech.Grandma ordered the vacant seat next to Mr. Pibs and plunked herself down, scooching her behind, seriously attempting to obtain it past the arm rests.Mr. Old, out of form, as well as all drooped out.I met Mr. Pibs once more for coffee (without the distraction of Grammy as well as her head gitch) and also stated to him that any business that was not energetic online and also using Email Marketing could desire to retire. It was kind of difficult clarifying all that Email Advertising things to Mr.Pibs; he was an actual Email Advertising newbie.I had a hard time for a bit with examples as well as recognized the picture of those droopy underclothing on my Granny's head was an ideal area to begin. I kept going with the gonch theme and also Mr. Pibs gradually started to comprehend the difference in each type of Email Marketing technique. We talked Email Advertising method and also just how a drawer full of a variety of underwear designs was absolutely the finest alternative for total advertising and marketing support.If you are having a challenging time discussing Email Advertising and marketing to your antique employer or your customers, feel totally free to attempt on some of these.