#but lines like ''we've run out of things to say. and we'll be happy any way'' and ''grabs my coat to walk away''

[vimbry]

"nanobots" the song is this deconstructed view of child development and parenthood where it's like, 'wow have you ever thought about how weird producing offspring is. like, it's weird, right! we make these little people and they quickly grow into their own individual personalities with their own lives and autonomy and I've lost all authority and there's so many and you've gotta be responsible for them all the time, what did I do !!!'

but as well as approaching it with this slightly overwhelmed perspective, there's a sort of affectionate optimism in there, too. that even tho the concept's intimidating, there's a sense of wonder in how humans develop and raising them and watching them grow up. hey this kid thing's fun actually, yeah I wish they'd leave me alone sometimes, but look at how cute and resilient they are look at what they can do. and then "replicant" is like jesus parenting a teenager is hard.

[goodnightmemes]

INTERSTELLAR (2014) SENTENCE STARTERS

❛ I thought you were the ghost. ❜

❛ You got to figure it out. I'm not always gonna be here to help you. ❜

❛ Well, I guess that answers the old "if I asked you to drive off a cliff" scenario. ❜

❛ It's like we've forgotten who we are. Explorers, pioneers, not caretakers. ❜

❛ You're the one who doesn't belong. Born 40 years too late, or 40 years too early. ❜

❛ We used to look up in the sky and wonder at our place in the stars. Now we just look down and worry about our place in the dirt. ❜

❛ You were good at something and you never got a chance to do anything with it. I'm sorry. ❜

❛ Don't make me take you down again. Sit down! ❜

❛ It's pretty clear you don't want any visitors. So why don't you just let us back up from your fence and we'll be on our way? Huh? ❜

❛ You're sitting in the best-kept secret in the world. Nobody stumbles in here. Nobody stumbles out. ❜

❛ I hesitate to term it supernatural, but it definitely wasn't scientific. ❜

❛ We'll find a way. We always have. ❜

❛ Okay, now you need to tell me what your plan is to save the world. ❜

❛ We're not meant to save the world. We're meant to leave it. ❜

❛ You're asking me to hang everything on an almost. ❜

❛ I'm asking you to trust me. ❜

❛ This world was never enough for you, was it? ❜

❛ Don't trust the right thing done for the wrong reason. ❜

❛ Mankind was born on Earth, it was never meant to die here. ❜

❛ We're just here to be memories for our kids. ❜

❛ Once you're a parent, you're the ghost of your children's future. ❜

❛ You have no idea when you're coming back. No idea at all! ❜

❛ Don't make me leave like this. Come on! Don't make me leave like this! ❜

❛ I love you. Forever. You hear me? I love you forever, and I'm coming back. ❜

❛ We're going to be spending a lot of time together. We should learn to talk. ❜

❛ Absolute honesty isn't always the most diplomatic, nor the safest form of communication with emotional beings. ❜

❛ We'll be waiting for you when you get back. A little older, a little wiser, but happy to see you. ❜

❛ You don't think nature can be evil? ❜

❛ Why are you whispering? They can't hear you. ❜

❛ This gets to me. This. Millimeters of aluminum, that's it, and then nothing out there for millions of miles won't kill us in seconds. ❜

❛ Everybody ready to say goodbye to our solar system? ❜

❛ You can't just think about your family. Now you have to think bigger. ❜

❛ I told you to leave me! Why didn't you? ❜

❛ One of us was thinking about the mission! ❜

❛ I was trying to do the right thing! ❜

❛ Oh, we are not prepared for this. ❜

❛ You eggheads have the survival skills of a Boy Scout troop. ❜

❛ Time is relative, okay? It can stretch and it can squeeze, but it can't run backwards, it just can't. ❜

❛ When you become a parent, one thing becomes really clear. And that is that you want to make sure your children feel safe. ❜

❛ I thought I was prepared. I knew the theory. Reality's different. ❜

❛ There's nothing here for us. ❜

❛ So it would be a real good time for you to come back. ❜

❛ I didn't mean to intrude. It's just that I've never seen you in here before. ❜

❛ I'm not afraid of death. I'm afraid of time. ❜

❛ Are you calling my life's work nonsense? ❜

❛ Love isn't something we invented. It's observable, powerful. It has to mean something. ❜

❛ Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space. Maybe we should trust that, even if we can't understand it yet. ❜

❛ I let you all down. ❜

❛ Pray you never learn just how good it can be to see another face. ❜

❛ I hadn't a lot of hope to begin with, but after so long, I had none. ❜

❛ I just want to know if you left me here to die. I just have to know. ❜

❛ There are some things that aren't meant to be known. ❜

❛ We can care deeply, selflessly about those we know, but that empathy rarely extends beyond our line of sight. ❜

❛ Panic won't help. We just have to keep working, same as ever. ❜

❛ Before you get all teary, remember that as a robot I have to do anything you say. ❜

❛ A machine doesn't improvise well because you can't program a fear of death. Our survival instinct is our single greatest source of inspiration. ❜

❛ When I left Earth, I thought I was prepared to die. ❜

❛ Nothing worked out the way it was supposed to. ❜

❛ You fucking coward. ❜

❛ Listen, if you're not going to go, let your family go. Just save your family. ❜

❛ Dad's not coming back. He never was coming back. ❜

❛ You're gonna save everybody? ❜

❛ He left us here to die. ❜

❛ Don't judge me. You were never tested like I was. Few men have been. ❜

❛ You're feeling it, aren't you? The survival instinct. That's what drove me. it's what drives all of us. ❜

❛ I'm sorry, I can't watch you go through this. I'm sorry. I thought I could, but I can't. ❜

❛ The only way humans have ever figured out of getting somewhere is to leave something behind. ❜

❛ No, don't go. Don't go, you idiot. ❜

❛ They didn't bring us here to change the past. ❜

❛ I don't care who describes it, there is no way for it to be exaggerated. It was that bad. ❜

❛ Is this really what it was like? ❜

❛ I don't care much for this pretending we're back where we started. I want to know where we are. Where we're going. ❜

❛ Nobody believed me. But I knew you'd come back. ❜

❛ No parent should have to watch their own child die. ❜

[loveforlandonorris]

🎤 Lando at the Drivers' Press Conference before the Japanese GP:

Interviewer Questions

Interviewer: Lando, coming to you, can we start by getting your thoughts on a few more years working with Oscar?

Lando: (Smiles) Yeah, first, I mean, congrats to him. I think any contract that allows you to be longer in Formula 1, I think, is a great thing, so… he's performed, he's done everything he's needed to, and probably, I think, exceeded most people's expectations from what's he's been able to achieve already this season.

He's pushed me a lot, it's not a nice thing, (smiles). It's not what I want, but, yeah, he's done a very good job, so congrats to him for another few years. And yeah, we've had a fun first half of the season, and it's a lot of progress, and I think, for him to be part of that progress and to hopefully continue that into next year, '25 and '26 for himself is gonna be, yeah, something to look forward to.

Interviewer: You say he's pushing you a lot, when you look at the whole grid, how strong is McLaren's driver line-up now?

Lando: (Smiles) The strongest.

Interviewer: And how strong is your car? You had the upgrades in Singapore, do you think that will translate here?

Lando: Yes… it's tough to say, I don't know (smiles). I wanna believe so, I think everything did what it was meant to do, and I think we definitely took some steps forward. I don't think that we're confident in saying we're as quick as Red Bull, I think Red Bull will probably be dominant this weekend.

But I think comparing us to Ferrari or Mercedes, Mercedes have been just a lot more consistent than what we have. We've still fluctuated quite a bit; on a good weekend, we can be very, very good, and maybe a little bit ahead like we've seen in Silverstone and things like that.

But, on the whole, Mercedes have probably been the second best car this season, but then Ferrari, and then us so far. So we're getting there, but it's still a very different circuit to Singapore with these upgrades, so there's still things for us to find out and analyse from Suzuka.

Interviewer: You say Red Bull are gonna bounce back, how sure can you be of that?

Lando: (Smiles) Pretty much a guarantee.

Journalist Questions

Question 1: Lando, a question for you. You said that any contract that allows you to extend in Formula 1 is a good thing. I know you've got another 2 years to run on your contract, but are you already talking to McLaren about plans beyond 2025? Because obviously there’s a lot of noise around your possible future and that you might be quite an important person in the driver market moving forward?

Yeah, there are always things every now and then. I would love to, I've always said I want to win with McLaren, and I think we're getting closer and closer to achieving that. And not just to win races, but win championships, both Driver and Constructor. I want to do it with McLaren, I'm very happy there. So if I was to spend 10 or 15 years there, I'm not going to ever say no, I think that's something I would look forward to.

But I’m very much just concentrated on this year, next year and '25. I think that’s two and a half years to try and progress and we'll see then. But things [come up] every now and then, but nothing more than that.

Question 2 (to any driver): Alex, picking up on your point about the immersion of speed around Suzuka, it's such an incredible circuit. When you look at the F1 calendar and tracks like this, how much do weekends and circuits here really remind you of why you became an F1 driver and the thrill and rush you enjoy while racing, as opposed to maybe more sanitized circuits?

Lando: I think quite a bit. Like Yuki mentioned and Alex, I think when you go to Singapore, it's still amazing to drive it in a Formula 1 car and probably still quicker than any other car you can go around Singapore in, but you don't feel the same speeds like you do here. You don't get that same feeling of what an F1 car is really capable of, because where it performs better than anything is high-speed corners. So yeah, I think a lot of it is about that.

Also, the room for error is pretty small; there's a lot of consequences as soon as you go off pretty much anywhere. I know some places have changed, and there's a lot more Tarmac run-off, like in the Spoon corner and things like that. Maybe Turn 1 as well, but it's not changed much over the years, which I think is one of the best things about it.

It's not just Tarmac everywhere, they’ve still got grass, you've got that bit of risk, that element of risk, which I think is always genuine, it always feels very natural and definitely adds to, say, a Qualifying lap, with how much risk you want to take. Especially through Turns 7 and 8, you're always a bit afraid of running too wide, things like that, because you know if you put a wheel half a metre too wide, it’s game over, so it's exciting.

It definitely brings a few more nerves while putting a lap together and driving. But, yeah, probably one of the ones I look forward to the most every season. I think a lot of drivers do, They said it was their favourite ones and probably up there with one of my favourites too. So yeah, you experienced what a Formula 1 Car is capable of, and just the whole experience of driving here is always a lot of fun.

Question 3 (for all drivers): Were you surprised that Max got away with reprimands for impeding last week instead of grid penalties? Do you have any concerns about consistency? Because Pierre got quite excited about it. He says he's going to bring it up with the FIA.

Lando: I don't want to say too much because I'll just create controversy. I think the blocking one on track was the one that should have been a penalty; he blocked someone, it’s not just down to the team. I know the team got the fine at the end of the day, but it should be down to the driver as well to look in his mirrors and see if someone else is behind. You’ve got nothing else to do the whole lap but look in your mirrors, and it seems like a lot of people struggle to do that.

But I think, yeah, it should just be harsher penalties for blocking people, because so many people do it, it ruins your lap, it ruins your Qualifying. It put Yuki out in Qualifying, and he was P1 in Q1, probably would have been P1 in Q3 if he went all the way, just no one seems to care enough.

It’s happened a lot this season, it's happened to me quite a few times, especially with certain teams. But it's also up to the driver to look in the mirror, like you've got nothing else to do but hit the recharge button and look in your mirror and people seem to struggle to be able to do that in Formula 1, it's just a surprise. But yeah, I'll probably block someone this weekend and make myself look stupid.

🧡 It's lovely to hear Lando's thoughts going into the Japanese GP, and that he feels he and Oscar are the strongest driver pairing on the grid 🥰

And I'm proud of him for calling out the FIA's leniency towards drivers who block others, it's so unfair that so many drivers are getting away with ruining other drivers' laps. I hope this won't be an issue for him in Suzuka, and that he has an amazing race weekend. Let's go, Lando 🔥

[rotisseries]

i have no idea what scriptgate is and im too scared to ask anyone else pls pls explain bestie

oh god. this is how I know you don't look at all my posts (which is fair) but basically. there's this website 8flix that has LOTS of tv and movie scripts, including some stranger things ones. so byler fandom LOVES analyzing the scripts, bc they include like stage directions, and characters inner thoughts and stuff sometimes, and we've gotten some nice wins out of that, ("will isn't looking at the cute girl, he's looking at mike" you will always be famous)

so midway through july the dear billy script was being given out to donors, and it had some interesting stuff in it, so everyone went nuts and wanted the rest of them, so it's then announced we'll be getting the papa script on august 1st, again, only to donors. cool.

And then, it gets pushed back, to august 5th, last friday, (I can't believe it's already been a week) so this guy (nick) is making cryptic tweets about 4 chimes eastern time or whatever, and we all pick up that the script will be getting emailed out at about 4 pm est, and he's also been interacting with bylers a lot specifically and hyping it up bc we make up like 95% of the donors, and it's already been decided that those who are paying will immediately screenshot the important bits and post them, so comes 4 o'clock, and we're all refreshing the byler tag like crazy, but it's not out immediately. and at first we're like, yeah ok, this guy has to send the emails, AND then people have to post screenshots, so we'll wait a bit.

but then it's been an hour.

and then two hours.

and then three.

next thing we know, comes the announcement that he's having technical difficulties, and it will be released on saturday instead. same time. so saturday comes.

and we wait.

and we wait.

nothing.

here comes the announcement that YET AGAIN technical difficulties, he's going to work through the night, it will be emailed out sometime on sunday, but to hold us over, he posts a screenshot of a snippet of the van scene, which is what we all REALLY wanted to see. (the man knows his audience)

it includes the line "his [will's] own words cut deeply to the core. I hate who I am" as you can expect. sends the fandom into an ABSOLUTE frenzy. then, at like 6 in the morning, the full script drops, we spend all of sunday analyzing it to hell and back. we're finally happy. moments of peace.

then comes monday.

the twitter account for the stranger things writer's room says, and I quote, "PSA: any "leaked" season 4 scripts or script pages are FAKE. Do not pay anyone for scripts as this is a SCAM" (they also say that they'll start posting official script snippets of whatever we want to see)

so now we're all really confused? they didn't explicitly mention 8flix, but what else could they be referring to? #bylerscript has been trending on twitter for days now. but why didn't they mention it sooner? why didn't they say anything about pursuing legal action? why did people get copyright strikes for posting the 8flix scripts online? and 8flix looked legit? it's been running for years, it has thousands of scripts, and it's considered a valid resource for multiple ivy league film courses.

people are sending nick death threats, the mi|evens are laughing at us saying they knew it was a scam the whole time, all social media is a hellfire.

nick claims and continues to claim that if the scripts are fake, he didn't know it and also must've gotten fucked over by his source, I believe him, but his and 8flix's reputation is ruined now.

come wednesday. stranger writers twitter account runs a Twitter poll asking what we want to see. among the options is the van scene, we all vote for it, even though we think it's likely that they'll edit it before showing it to us, if there's even any evidence in there, and that option wins, we are now waiting for them to post it.

[zoyaofthegardvn]

casual affections as a zoyalina fanfic request <3

Casual Affections

A/N: Thanks so much for your request, anon! So sorry I didn't get to it for a while. I hope this is alright! :)

Turning to look towards her wife, Zoya has to fight the smile threatening to overcome her face when she spots the unmistakable look of Alina Starkov zoning out. It's adorable, really. Her eyes are fixated on the centerpiece of the long council table. Her lips are in a straight line, absent is the shy smirk she usually adorns when it's just the two of them alone. Her eyebrows are furrowed slightly, and her chest rises and falls so slowly, she's likely to fall asleep.

Zoya feels the same way, bored to near tears with these weekly council meetings. Being the Queen of Ravka is fun, yes. But, it's also quite boring. She supposes she should be thankful for the boredom, though. It means there aren't any wars to be won, any backhanded proposals to consider, any disrupted trade routes, any grand disturbances. They discuss the same things nearly every week. Taxes, court promotions, public education, First Army and Second Army training, etc. etc.

As Queen Consort, Alina is expected to attend these meetings, too. Sometimes, Zoya lets her get away with skipping them. She'll claim she's got a lesson to teach at the school, or that she's got an important meeting to attend with the kitchen staff, of all people. She'll say she isn't feeling well, or that she needs to be there for the horses when they get their hooves cleaned or else they get nervous. Eventually, Zoya just had to resort in kissing her to shut her up. She'd pinch her butt, sharp and quick. While Alina would yelp and rub at the sore spot, Zoya would run away, laughing, shouting "You're going, my love!" But still, not as often, just every once and a while, Zoya would let Alina stay in bed, or stay at the school, or stay outside, in the forest. She'd bear almost anything in Alina's place if it made her wife happy.

Zoya sighs, knowing that as cute as she looks, others will eventually notice Alina is not paying any attention to them. She moves her left hand to rest on the top of Alina's thigh, admiring the way her wedding ring catches the light as it moves. The touch snaps Alina out of her trance, and she takes a deep breath in, shaking her head a bit to clear the fog.

She turns to look at her lover, her wife, her Queen. Zoya gives her a playful shake of the head, then squeezes her thigh, digging her nails in slightly. Alina jumps, and shoots a fierce look at Zoya. She leans in slightly before whispering, "That was mean, Z!"

Zoya can hardly contain her giggles. She whispers back, "As mean as you ignoring our council, little saint?"

Alina rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out, then turns back to face the table. They hadn't noticed the silence, everyone had stopped their chattering to observe the Ravkan Queens. From the other end of the table, Genya is shaking her head at the two of them.

Zoya clears her throat, and then she stands. "Well, my friends, I think we've not learned much more today than we did last week. Let us call an end to it, and maybe next week, we'll have things worthy of our precious time to discuss?"

At this, Alina stands quickly, her chair making a screeching sound as it gets pushed backwards. "I think what our Queen means is that, maybe we should not draw these things out unless absolutely necessary." She gives a polite, awkward laugh, trying to ease any tension. But their council is used to this by now, used to Zoya's impatience and Alina's ability to mediate any conflict.

Genya speaks next, "Yes, my Queens. Perhaps these meetings do get a bit tedious. We should work on keeping them... brief."

Zoya grasps Alina's hand in her own, rubbing her thumb along the back of her hand. "That's a wonderful idea, we'll see everyone later this evening, for dinner?" Everyone at the table nods, beginning to stand and pick up their paperwork.

Zoya gives a polite bow, then turns to leave the council room. Alina follows, their hands still intertwined. When they make it to the hallway, Alina scolds her, "You can be so bossy!"

Zoya smiles, she removes her hand from Alina's, instead choosing to wrap her arm around her beloved's waist. "Don't act like you don't like it, darling. You weren't complaining about my bossiness last night..."

Alina, never truly upset with her, throws her head back and laughs. The sound invades Zoya's heart, wrapping around it like a string, tightening her hold on her love and adoration even more than she thought possible.

"You are terrible sometimes, Zoya." She wraps her arm around Zoya too, then rests her head on her shoulder.

"I know, you're just so easy to rile up, and you know I like you riled up."

Again, that laugh fills the air. It bounces off the walls, it flutters out the open windows. It makes Zoya feel giddy and impossibly young.

"Should we retire to our room before we reconvene for supper? I think I would like to boss you around some more, you should be punished for your rudeness today, my Queen. Zoning out, it's very disrespectful, you know." Zoya doesn't even need to look at her wife to know she's likely redder than the keftas the Corporalki wear.

"Well, I suppose that would be alright..." Alina's voice has gotten deeper, quieter. It's Zoya's turn to laugh now. They continue down the long corridor, on the path that leads to their ornate bedroom. Two bodies intertwined the entire way there.

[lovefromyouryoungmom]

4/4/23

Sofia,

Your dad quit his job yesterday, he'd been there almost a decade. To be completely honest he shouldn't have, we don't have the money for it and rent is two days away. However we pulled everything from his 401k and it should be available soon, I just hope soon enough. I'm saying this in hopes that in the years to come we never find ourselves here again, but I want you to know where we come from. If your dad's new business works out and this leap of faith was the right move, I want you to know it terrified us both.

We've been trying to say when, more often. When things work out, not if. Things have no choice but to work out. When, because the universe doesn't like lying and therefore hopefully won't make liars of us. When, because your future depends on it.

We've been jokingly calling cleaning up after you go to bed "the night shift", but it's less of a joke and more just true. Obviously I expect nothing else, you're only a year and a half, you get to make all the mess in the world- your dad, however. I don't know what I expected, well I do but I don't know why I expected anything different. I hoped he'd quit and come home happy finally and we'd spend at least the first day afterwards together, but he spent all day gone just to go to sleep at 4:30pm while I did bedtime and bath and now the nightshift section of the night.

I hope that things are so different as you read this that what I'm saying is laughable, but sometimes I wonder if your dad was the wrong choice. I'm so grateful to him for you and for giving me the ability to be home with you this long, he's a wonderful dad and I'm sure still is, but as a partner, at least in this phase of life, it's complicated. He's just not right, he doesn't fit where we both hoped he would.

Alternatively though, sometimes I think it's just me, that I have higher hopes and expectations than I should. That the idea of a Disney prince is still lingering. And even farther still, he's a good friend. We laugh often and he tries hard to be the person I want him to be. Or maybe all the pain and mistakes we made because we're so young just put a crack in the middle of everything and I haven't given it enough time to heal yet.

I talk often and loudly about changing cycles and breaking generational curses, but maybe your grandparents believed they would too and even if it wasn't enough, maybe they still broke some curses and that's where I find myself as well. I parent better than my parents but my choice of partner followed that same line of bad partners. I don't mean any of this to slander your dad or twist him into a monster, but if we run from the man he used to be and you find those thorns in yourself later without knowing who he used to be, maybe you wouldn't tell us. Maybe you'd think we couldn't possibly understand when really the vines are there from our mistakes.

By the time you read these we'll have long since told you that your dad was an alcoholic, we'll have done our best to teach you about addiction and how heavily it runs on both sides of what made you possible. You'll know the things he did that he regrets and can't take back as a cautionary tale, but I also know you'll be too young to think of me as anything but a mom- I won't exist in the idea of how hard living the other end of those things was. None of this is for sympathy, I don't want you to hate your dad or hate me, but the other side of the cautionary tale of addiction is how much you hurt the people you love, and frequently, how that pain never goes away completely.

But maybe I feel differently in your time. I'm what now, 42? 43? Older? Tell me, my love, did I get wiser? Am I less incredibly dramatic? Did I do a good job being your mom? A secret from future to past, a whisper, a thought, was I the mom you needed? I have this foggy idea of you, criss cross on your bed reading these and rolling your eyes at how dramatic I was when I was younger. All those times I've probably called you dramatic, I'm sure a phone call or text to tell me I was really the dramatic one isn't far from your mind. I hope you do, I hope you call me and laugh at me and call me ridiculous and I hope I remember standing here, in our kitchen with soap on my hands, KNOWING damn well I am dramatic and knowing that you will be as well. I wonder how close the image in my head is to what's happening right now for you. Do you have someone with you? A partner? A friend? Are you loved and cared for and do you have someone to love and care for? Are you gay? Straight? Asexual?

It's nothing to you, the blink of an eye. But my god my way around is going to be quite long and also far too short all at once. I want to know you so badly. Do you have short hair? Long hair? Did it darken with time? What do you do? Are you in college or a career that you enjoy? Are you happy? I worry about you so much. All the time. Every second of every day and in every dream I have. I guarantee that even in your time you're still in every dream I have. You are so beautiful in yourself right now, I can't imagine how blindingly amazing you are reading this.

I love you so much. I hope you're happy, I hope me and your dad are happy.

I'll see you on the next page my love

[manygalaxiesinone]

Disgaea 7 DLC Episode: Sorcerous Stabber Orphen

Part 1: Magnus (Majik), the Sorcerer's Apprentice

Fuji: "Those rumors said that someone's carrying an infernal weapon around here."

Pirilika: "They also said the weapon was a sword though. We already have that founding sword weapon so I'm surprised you want to search for it."

Fuji: "It may not be a founding weapon, but it could still hold some value. If we can't use it ourselves, we can always sell it off."

Pirilika: "Of course you're only doing this for money."

Fuji: "Hey, I said "IF" we can't use it, Piriko."

-later...-

Short haired blonde guy: "Ugh... why am I always stuck with the heavy lifting?"

Long haired blonde girl: "Because you're always the one drawing the short stick, or always the one losing rock-paper-scissors. Maybe you'd catch a break if you were luckier, Magnus."

Magnus: "That's easy for you to say, Cleo. You almost never carry anything aside from Leki."

Cleo: "That's not true. I'm holding the Sword of Baltanders right now, aren't I? This thing isn't light."

Magnus: "Technically it's YOUR sword, so I wouldn't count it."

Cleo: "Oh so you're saying I should let you hold it after all?"

Magnus: "Nope! I'm good!"

Cleo: "Okay, there's one more spot I want to check out before we meet back with Orphen. Don't worry, it's not too far from here. Plus, I'm sure you'll like it too."

Magnus: "For once, I hope you're right."

Pirilika: "Excuse me."

Magnus & Cleo: "Hmm?"

Pirilika: "Sorry to bother you two, but I'm hoping you can help me out with something."

Cleo: "Of course! We'll be happy to help! What do you need?"

Magnus: "Speak for yourself, Cleo! I can't keep carrying all of this!"

Pirilika: "Don't worry, I'm not asking you to go anywhere. I just need to know if you've seen anyone carrying any infernal weapons around, that's all."

Cleo: "Infernal weapons...? Do you know what they are, Magnus?"

Magnus: "No, I don't have a clue. Maybe Master knows something about them."

Pirilika: "You don't know about them? Then what's that sword you're carrying?"

Cleo: "Oh this? It's just a cool sword my dad gave me. Nothing too special about it."

Magnus: "Y-Yeah, it's just her birthday gift."

Fuji: "Cut the crap, you two. I can tell just by looking that what you got there is no run of the mill sword. You won't mind us taking a look at it for a moment, will ya?"

Cleo: "Oh boy, this isn't good."

Magnus: "Cleo, go get Master. I'll hold him off."

Cleo: "No way, I'm not going to leave you here by yourse-"

Magnus: "Would you rather have Master yell at us for losing the sword?"

Cleo: "Ugh...fine! Just don't die on me, okay?" Runs off

Fuji: "Guess I'm cutting you down first. Hope you're ready."

Part 2: Cleo's Everlasting Light

Cleo: "Good news is, I think I lost them. Bad news, Orphen's nowhere to be found."

Leki: *whimper*

Cleo: "Don't worry, Leki. It's not the first time we've been in danger. I'm sure things will turn out okay! ...Though I'd be more confident if Orphen was here. Orphen! Where are you?!"

Fuji: "You know, it's a bad idea to shout when you're trying to run and hide. That's how you give away your position."

Leki: *growls at Fuji*

Cleo: "You! What have you done with Magnus?!"

Fuji: "Relax, the kid's not dead. Piriko's tending to his injuries, so he should be up and about again in a while."

Cleo: "He's alive... that's good."

Fuji: "Yeah, that doesn't mean you're safe. I still need that sword of yours, unless if you want to end up like him."

Leki: Leaps off of Cleo, ready to fight.

Cleo: "Leki... You're right. We don't need Orphen. Some creep like him won't stand a chance against us."

Fuji: "Suit yourselves then. By the way, just because you're a girl, doesn't mean I won't do my worst."

Part 3: Orphen, the Scion of Sorcery

Fuji: "Damn, that mutt's a lot tougher than he looks. Wait... is that a...?"

Cleo: "Way to go, Leki! We got him on the ropes! Now to finish him off."

Fuji: "Don't get too full of yourself." Quickly vanishes from their line of sight.

Cleo: "Huh?"

Fuji: "Gotcha!" Kicks Cleo down next to Leki. "That mutt of yours is a deep dragon, isn't he? They're powerful, but they can only attack what they can see. Move out of their line of sight and they're practically sitting ducks."

Cleo: "Owww..."

Fuji: "So, ready to give up that sword?"

Cleo: "...Leki, you need to get out of here."

Leki: "..."

Cleo: "Leki!"

Fuji: "Loyal to the end huh? That's interesting. Deep dragons don't usually have free will. I'm guessing it took a real liking to ya."

Orphen: "You don't know the half of it." Shoots a sword of light spell on Fuji's back.

Cleo: "Orphen!"

Fuji: "Ah! That was a cheap shot, you bastard!"

Orphen: "You're the one attacking a young girl and her pet, so ask me why should I care?"

Cleo: "That's right! You're in so much trouble now!"

Orphen: "Don't think you're in the clear Cleo. I seriously can't go a day without you and Magnus stirring up anything?"

Cleo: "Hey, he started it when he attacked us!"

Fuji: "Correction, I only started attacking when they took off with that sword she has."

Orphen: "You mean this sword?" Takes it from Cleo. "Sorry, but we can't have this in the wrong hands. You understand."

Fuji: "Oh I understand alright. I understand that you want to be cut down too!"

-after the battle...-

Fuji: "Heh, another dirty fighter. I'm starting to like you a little."

Orphen: "Where I'm from, I've been taught that survival is the most important thing in a fight."

Fuji: "And they're damn right! To hell with honor! Winning is all that matters!" (That being said, even though he fights like an assassin, he's been purposely ignoring my vitals. Seems he's just trying to knock me out as quick as possible and escape. This guy's pretty interesting.) "Let me ask you something? Just how valuable is that sword? You're fighting so hard for it and yet you're not even using it all that much."

Orphen: "Let's just say I need the Sword of Baltanders to help find someone."

Fuji: "Sword of Baltanders? That's what that thing is?"

Orphen: "You know about it?"

Fuji: "A little... it's a weapon created by dragons years ago that can shapeshift anything it cuts. I'm guessing someone toyed with that thing and turned into something horrible, right?"

Orphen: "Part of that's right..."

Fuji: "I see..." Puts away his weapon. "Alright, I'm done here."

Cleo: "What do you mean? Did we win?"

Fuji: "We heard rumors that someone was carrying an infernal weapon. Piriko and I need those to take down the shogunate. What you got there may be a good sword, but it's not what we're looking for."

Cleo: "Wait, you mean you was actually going to let us go if we just showed you the sword?!"

Fuji: "I did say we just wanted to look at it. You were the one who took off running."

Orphen: "And why are you going after this shogunate?"

Fuji: "Me? I'm just doing this to pay off a debt. Piriko's the one with the righteous mindset, trying to restore bushido and stop the corruption that's been going on in Hinomoto."

Orphen: "You don't say..."

Cleo: "Wait so, you're actually a good guy?"

Fuji: "Don't call me that! I just said I'm doing this for the money!"

Magnus: "Master!"

Pirilika: "Fuji!"

Orphen & Fuji: "Well, look who finally caught up."

Magnus: "Don't worry master, I'm here to he-"

Orphen: "Stand down, Magnus. We got things sorted out."

Pirilika: "Wait, you managed to talk things out... with Fuji?!"

Fuji: "What's with that reaction? I can be a good negotiator if I want to. Besides, their sword isn't too special anyway, so there's no point in fighting."

Pirilika: "If you say so..."

Fuji: "By the way, what are all of you doing in Hinomoto anyway?"

Orphen: "Believe it or not, we're actually on a bit of a search of our own and we came here to find some clues."

Pirilika: "Oh, you guys are investigating a mystery?! That's exciting!"

Cleo: "I know right?! Being able to explore a whole new world is way more fun than being stuck in school every day."

Fuji: "Exploring a Netherworld of all places really shouldn't be considered fun. Humans really are something else these days."

Pirilika: "In that case, why don't you come with us on our ship as we're exploring across Hinomoto? Think of it as an apology for attacking you earlier. And we can help each other out by looking for those clues and infernal weapons"

Cleo: "I don't know. The last time we went on a ship, we were stranded on some wacky island."

Pirilika: "You'll all be living in your own rooms and never have to worry about food. Plus I'll pay you a little for helping us out."

Cleo: "We're in!"

Magnus: "Finally, I can stop carrying around all this stuff on my own."

Orphen: "Even if I say "no" these two will take off on their own anyway."

Fuji: "It's the same for you, huh? I lost count of how many times we got sidetracked because of Piriko. Every time we get near a food shop, she dashes in to see if they have Hinomoto cuisine."

Orphen: "Cleo's just as bad. She makes us take detours the moment she finds out some event going on like a field of flowers is about to bloom after so many years."

Cleo: "Come on, it wasn't too far away of where we were going!"

Pirilika: "How come your allergies aren't kicking in?! You're totally empathizing with Orphen right now!"

Fuji: "Oh it is. It's just not as bad since I'm making fun of you."

Pirilika: "Seriously?!"

[slightlysuspect]

Downsizing

The bounty hunter Dirk Correia begins to question if working with Ahsoka is in his crew's best interest.

Dirk Correia

"Hey uh, Ahsoka, listen I was thinking maybe it's time for us to go our separate ways." I say.

"Oh?" She asks. "But every jobs ended so successfully."

"Well yea, but...me and the guys been thinking about it, and we just really don't need another guy." I'm unsure how she'll respond to this. She's never been particularly angry towards me before.

She just scoffs. "Whatever. When you need me you'll know where to find me." She turns to exit my crew's hideout. "Or maybe I'll turn up if I get bored." And then she's gone. We've worked a few jobs with her, and things just have a tendency to get really messy. I can handle traumatized. Can't put a crew together without trauma, but she's an unstable wildcard that you really can't control. I don't mess with the safety of my crew, and she operates a little too recklessly, and it puts the rest of us at risk. I mean we made a killing the last couple weeks she was here, but it's not worth it. Finally I can pay off a couple of debts, not that I would.

"Finally she's gone." Diego says.

"Oh please." Fuentes retorts. "If you had laser vision you would've burned a hole through her blouse." Couldn't've said it better myself. Diego's 16 and had his eyes transfixed on the girl any time he saw her.

"Yea I'm surprised you're so happy to see her gone." I say.

"Well she was stirring things up with my woman." He says.

"You stirred things up with your woman when you were staring down Ahsoka while she was here!" Fuentes says. Fuentes is Diego's 22 year old sister. So really they're both Fuentes, but only Fuentes goes by Fuentes, if that makes any sense.

"I am only a man sister." Diego retaliates.

She rolls her eyes and says, "What an awful excuse." Then goes to her room.

"Well I thought she was aight." Dawson says. Dawson is the muscle. He's a beefy, high energy dude, who's somehow always having a good time. He's late 20's like me.

"Didn't she almost kill you when you asked her how she was gonna pay her bar tab?" I ask. Dawson works a bar called Knox that Ahsoka randomly washed out at.

"But bruh she made us so many credits." Dawson says. "And it ain't like she didn't pay her tab." I've never really thought of Dawson as a great judge of character.

"So just checking all the boxes in Dawson's book huh?" He just cracks a big smirk.

"Ay you joke, but imma be dustin' fools in my new speeder." Dawson says. "Speakin' of I got somewhere to be." And Dawson runs off presumably to go buy an overpriced speeder.

"I guess we'll just spend our money until we're broke again." I say.

Millie laughs and says, "Didn't you buy all of Rodger's stock the other day?"

"Yea but that was for the job. Explosives are a necessity." I say.

"Oh so we needed 15 rocket launchers." Diego says.

"Shut it Diego." I say.

"Just let Dawson enjoy his credits Dirk." Millie says. "Personally I got a real nice shiny new rifle comin' in." Millie is a sharpshooter, and a bit of a gun nut. She's already got at least 25 rifles, but as the owner of 15 rocket launchers, I guess I'm not in a place to judge.

"It's not like we'll never make money ever again." Diego says to me. "And you're not even setting an example of financial responsibility."

"Yea you got me." I say. "Well if we're just gonna be broke in a week, I guess I'd better get us another job lined up."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

I'll get us a job later, for now a drink. I wonder if Dawson's working Knox tonight. As I enter, I see a familiar face I probably should've expected. Ahsoka is sitting at the bar, as she typically does, and I've typically been one to drink with her. Although maybe my liver isn't a fan of this particular activity. Nonetheless, It would be rude not to say hi. Just cause we're not working together anymore doesn't mean we can't be friends.

"Hey Ahsoka, can I buy you drink?" I ask her.

"Need me again already, Dirt?" She asks. I'm not sure if she knows my name or not.

"C'mon I don't want there to be any hard feelings. There's lots of guys to run with around here, I just don't think we're the crew for you."

She rolls her eyes and throws back her drink. "Whatever. You said you were gonna get me another one of these?"

"Babe you know your drinks are free here." Dawson says as he slides her another glass. I guess he is working tonight.

"And what about my drinks?" I ask him.

"That's why you got a tab." He says with a smile and a wink. He then turns all his attention to Ahsoka. "Listen Ahsoka I just got this new speeder, it's real fast. You tryna go for a ride?" Dawson has this intense eye contact that can prevent a woman from thinking rationally, but Ahsoka is completely immune to it.

"Why don't you go hit on some other hussy at the bar?" She retaliates.

Dawson just keeps grinning and says, "Ay don't act like I wasn't comin' for you first tho." Then proceeds to start chatting up a woman further along the bar. They say confidence is key I guess.

"So what're you gonna do now?" I ask Ahsoka.

"Oh probably just wait until someone comes along wanting something." She says.

"Well maybe you could pursue a personal interest. What do you want?" I ask. She's slow to answer. Just keeps staring transfixed at her robot arm that's severed at her right elbow.

"Justice."

Author's note

Our first look into the mind of an original character! This whole arc was a blast to create, and hopefully readers will enjoy the journey as we delve into the Star Wars universe from brand new perspectives.

[one-piecee]

#ONEPIECE1046

Chapter title: Raizo.

- I know a lot of people were disappointed when they saw the chapter title because they wanted more of Luffy's fight (and a lot of you don't like Raizo either) but personally, I am happy we got more of Raizo because of how important he was for both the minks and the Scabbards.

Anyways-

Okay, I usually don't talk much about the cover story but this one was super interesting (and some of them do end up being canon or part of the story so!!)

A lot of people are debating who these two could ranging from the more predictable Germa 66 or even Blackbeard pirates - I'll join the prediction line of saying they (kind of?) look like revolutionary? I mean their shoes are definitely not Germa - so my first guess was the blackbeard piraates but the long coats and the silhouette is just giving me revolutionary and i don't know why so don't ask... I guess we'll see.

We start the chapter off with some Kaido vs. Luffy battle continuing, and Zunisha even saying/thinking (addressing it to Joy Boy): This all seems like fate. I can't help but think we should put our faith in this boy.

AND WE ALSO GET THE ICONIC, NEVER AGING, NEVER BORING SAYING

I AM MONKEY D. LUFFY, I WILL-

And!! Oda legit told everyone who's talking about reincarnation and whatnot to shut up, everyone debating whether or not this is really Luffy, he is Luffy, and this is his awakening--

Kaido: "We call this an awakening. Your mind and body are finally able to harness the potential of your ability" --->

and this just leaves us questioning; when is Kaido's awakening coming? Because surely he has to do it now...

And we get some more exchanges of blows, and it's always interesting to see how Luffy can bend and control himself and his surroundings now with the awakening... bending himself like this, and even bending Kaido's body when he's punching him to give more effect to the punch

AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE whenever we get those "they got me - i got them moments" - We got Kaido saying that everyone's gonna burn to death in the inferno below and Luffy just says

"I left it all to them, I've got nothing to worry about."

AND AGAIN- I just want to repeat that I LOVE this fight, it's just a blend of serious, and really really goofy and I love every part of it

Like c'mon look at this

Anyways... so currently everything is on fire in Onigashima. Bepo and crew are complaining about the heat - and just can we just take a moment to discuss how they've done... nothing? like they're yelling for Law to come and save them but they've seriously done nothing and to me, at this point, if Bepo were to ever go Sulong and do something it's more of a "finally" than a "wow" moment. yeah. we'll see.

We've got a little bit more of all of the crew, Nami and Chopper are together, Robin and Brook still running, Usopp trying everything he can to stop the fire to save Kiku and Kinemon, and

Sanji with his cute little rat Chuuji

And Franky carrying passed out Zoro who needs urgent care from Chopper (😭😭😭😭😭😭)

ALSO!! We get shown Apoo and Ibi again, and remember we said they could be the samurai prisoners imprisoned with Yamato in the past? That theory still holds up, because why else show them this much...

The connection has to be coming...

And then we finally get to the man of the hour, Raizo!!

The fire is everywhere, no one can escape it and people are going crazy - that's when Oda gives Raizo the opportunity to save everybody on Onigashima, and repay the debt of everyone saving and protecting him -

He teams up with Jinbe to put an end to the fire - and because he has the Maki Maki fruit (scroll scroll) he has the ability to store things and what did he store? The water that Zunisha uses to wash it's back - So he uses Elephant Bath Restoration and paired with Jinbe's Ocean Current Should Throw they manage to send the water flooding everywhere to put out the fire.

Despite my Ninjutsu, I was unable to protect any of them. I can never make up for that failure, but I will never let myself be that helpless again!! Never!!

And now we know that the preparation undertaken in chapter 1041 that Raizo was speaking of has nothing to do with Denjiro, which leaves the question - where the hell is Denjiro?

PS. Can we also talk about how this means that Raizo has had water on hand for this long and refused to save himself from the fire during his fight? He's extremely strong, and extremely underappreciated.

We know Momonosuke still has to create flame clouds, so we're waiting on that, I still hold on the hopes and dreams that Zoro will get up and we'll get answers on whatever happens to the Grim Reaper-

We know Kaido is at his limit now, so predicting the fight will officially end in about 4-5 chapters- when will we get awakening though? Hm.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

WE GET THIS RANDOM PANEL OF LUFFY HOLDING ON TO A LIGHTNING BOLT? TO STRIKE KAIDO WITH???? HE IS SO COOL

And could this mean we could potentially get a Nami-Luffy Combo someday`?

With that said, break next week. This chapter was great, and I'll see you in two weeks for another cry-

[lipstickstainz]

true lies - s. r. (12/?)

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader

Series Summary: Spencer is furious, when you rejoin the team after a year and after you left him, when he got arrested. Little does he know, that you leaving him was the only option to ever get him out of prison.

Chapter Summary: A collection of letters Spencer and you share while you're gone - and then you're gone forever. At least, that what he thinks.

Warnings: some fluff, angst, angst, angst, smoking, slight ptsd, grief and loss

Word Count: 2.2k

A/N: I'm sososososo sorry. please don't hate me. I love you. gif not mine.

Series Masterlist

previous part

Dearest little bear,

two months have passed since you had to leave, and not a day goes by that I don't think of you and wish you were here with me.

We are trying to do everything in our power to be able to bring you back home. But unfortunately, it seems to be taking longer than I would like.

I was told you were working on it as well. You are strong and smart and even though you can't be with me, I'm sure we can do it together.

Take care of yourself.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dearest Neruda,

I was very happy to receive your message. I always carry it with me, although I would rather be in your arms, but I can't.

I can't tell you where I am right now, but still I wish you were with me. It is warm and beautiful and I am sure you would like it here very much.

Except for these letters, I'm not allowed to talk to any of you, but I like talking to you best anyway. We've come this far. And we'll make it.

Thinking of you.

With love,

little bear

-

Dearest little bear,

It's been four months and with each passing second it becomes more unbearable. But a light is appearing at the end of the dark tunnel. We think we know who she is.

It won't be long before we can see each other again. And I can't wait to be able to hug you again. To be able to touch you. Or kiss you.

Not much longer. And then nothing can separate us.

Take care of yourself.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dearest Neruda,

It would have been too good to be with you again at last. But it still takes time.

I have found something that can help us, but for now, just know that I will do everything I can so that I can return home. Back to you. No matter what it costs.

Keep your eyes open. We're closer than you think.

I'm thinking of you.

With love,

little bear

-

Dearest little bear,

I was given time off to take a break. I was with my mother and she told me that a kind young lady had been here. She doesn't remember you, but she knows you are familiar and that she can trust you. As I do.

I am infinitely grateful. And I'm tired of waiting, but for you I do. For you, I do it all.

Take care of yourself.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dearest Neruda,

I can no longer grasp a clear thought, because whenever I close my eyes I see everything I have done in review. I can hardly sleep and the nightmares plague me.

I just hope that everything will end soon. It has already been a year since we saw each other. I can't promise you anything, but I hope you know that everything I had to do was for you. For us.

Thinking of you.

With love,

little bear

-

Dearest little bear,

it's been a few weeks since I've heard from you. I hope you are doing well.

We have found a trail that will take us further.And brings me a little closer to you. And that will bring you back home. I can't wait.

Take care of yourself.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dearest little bear,

It's been two months since you wrote to me.

Get back to me as soon as you can.

Take care of yourself.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dearest little bear,

Words cannot describe how much I miss you. Or how great the pain in my chest is.

I can't eat, I can't sleep. I can hardly breathe without you.

Thinking of you.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dearest little bear,

they hung your picture today. In the portrait you are smiling, proud to finally be part of the team. I can't look at it.

I was sent home, but everything there reminds me of you.

Thinking of you.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dearest little bear,

I keep your letters in a small box next to my bed. They are a part of you that I don't want to lose, even though I have already lost you. They are a part of you, just as you are a part of me.

Thinking of you.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dearest little bear,

I went to our bookstore and found a book of poems that you would like. I'll put it with your letters.

No book in the world could have prepared me for the grief I feel. The pain is too engaging for me to talk about it with anyone but you.

Thinking of you.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dear little bear,

it's been almost two years since we last saw each other. I don't remember what you sound like, or what you smell like. Why can't I remember that? Is it wrong of me not to think it's bad? It takes away my pain a little.

Thinking of you.

With love,

Neruda

-

Dear little bear,

A lot has happened in the two years we've been apart. Too much to ever be able to write down all the things. I just want you to know that this time was not easy for me. Not for any of us.

I put your letters away safely because you will always be important to me. But I have to let you go. And with this, I release you.

I love you. Forever.

With love,

Neruda

-

You pinch your leg to wake up. Your neck is wet with cold sweat and you have to blink several times to realize that you are in a cab. You run your hand through your hair as the driver looks at you curiously through the rearview mirror. He says nothing, which is why you glance out the window.

The drive from the airport to Quantico only takes an hour, but you still take the opportunity to close your eyes for a moment and doze a little. You haven't had a decent night's sleep in ages, you don't even know what a healthy portion of sleep feels like anymore, because you haven't had that luxury in the last two years.

As the car comes to a stop in front of the FBI building, you pay the driver and get out with your small bag. The building seems much bigger than you remember. You used to spend every day here, it had once been your home. But now you're not even sure you have a home anymore.

You take a deep breath and enter through the large doors, but are directly approached by a security guard.

"Miss? Are you visiting?", he asks suspiciously, extending his arm to keep you at a distance - something that wouldn't do him much good if you were actually trying to get past him.He eyes you up and down, which you can't blame him for. In your ripped jeans, dirty sneakers, and loose sweater, you don't look like someone who belongs here. By now, you don't either.

You look at him. "I'm here to see Unit Chief Prentiss", you reply coolly. You know he's just doing his job, but you're too impatient to let all this wash over you. You know Emily is already in the office. You know her too well not to. Why doesn't he just go get her? You just want to see your friend.

"Chief Prentiss?" He raises an eyebrow. "And what is your request?"

Your gaze is rock hard and your tone cold as ice. "Tell her Y/N Y/L/N is here to see her."

You wait outside the building, letting the morning sun warm your skin and the cigarette burn between your fingers before you put it to your lips and take a drag. Afterwards, you stub it out on a trash can. As you exhale the last bit of smoke, you turn around. And there she is.

Emily is standing at the door, and when you see her, you drop your bag and wrap her in your arms so tightly that you can't breathe. You cling to her, afraid that maybe this whole thing isn't as real as it feels, but you imperceptibly pinch your arm. And she is still with you.

"I thought - they said", she stammers, and it's the first time in your friendship that she's speechless. You hug her even tighter.

"I know", you answer softly, blinking away the tears that have formed in your eyes. The moment is too beautiful to cry. As you break away from each other, Emily wipes her own tears from her cheeks, but some have already landed on her blouse. There are dark stains now.

"I don't even know what to say", she says, smiling at you as you enter the building together. The guard gives you a look, but doesn't ask any questions as you walk past him toward the elevator. Inside, she pushes a button that takes you to the BAU floor. "I can hardly believe you're really here."

Neither can you.

The office is completely silent because no one is here yet except for you. Although nothing has changed, everything has changed because you are now someone else. It's been a long time since you've been here. Two years, but everything in this room is all too familiar to you. The coffee machine, the law books, the files. It feels like you've never been away. It's déjà vu all over again.

While Emily gets you both coffee, you sit down at the round table and wait for her. Your friend sets the cups down on the table before sitting down next to you. She smiles faintly. "How are you?"

You pucker your mouth. How are you? You haven't been asked that question in ages, and to be honest, you don't know how to answer it either. How could you possibly be?

When you don't answer Emily, she phrases her question differently. "What are you feeling right now?"

Your lips become a thin line. "I don't know. It feels like all of this," you point to the room, "isn't a part of me anymore. Nothing has changed, but it still feels foreign."

Emily nods. "You've been through a lot, I guess." She takes a sip of her coffee. "You're right, Y/N. Nothing has really changed here. But you're a different one now, aren't you?"

You open your mouth to answer her, but you don't know what either. Part of you feels at home here, but a bigger part of you knows your place is somewhere else. You just don't know where exactly.

"Do you want to see the others?", Emily asks. "I'm asking you because it's been a long time since you've seen them. And they think you're...you know. Are you ready for that?"

Are you ready for that? You haven't seen either of them in a long time, and it would probably be better not to see them for now, but to let Emily sort it out first. But the team is your family - the closest thing you have to a family. And you've missed them all terribly.

You nod and take a sip of your coffee as JJ and Rossi enter the room. When they see you, they glance uncertainly at Emily, as if they're not sure if it's just imagination, but she nods at them. And that's when all the dams break for JJ.

She pulls you from your chair and hugs you like the salvation of the world depends on it, and David has to pry her cramped arms from you so he can put his around you as well. They affirm to you how much they missed you and ask how you are, wanting to know what happened, but Tara and Penelope join them and that's when it gets too loud for you.

Penelope cries with joy and Tara also can't believe that you are standing in front of her. They besiege you and ask you questions to which you have no answers, so you just smile weakly at them. They definitely don't mean any harm, after all, you've just risen from the dead for them, but you've spent the last while in silence and are no longer used to this volume. So you turn away from them. They look anxiously after you as you sort of flee from them. You hope that this will make the headache go away.

Without paying much attention to where you're going, you find yourself facing the wall where the pictures of the deceased agents hang. And yours is hanging there, too. You don't know how long you've been standing in front of it - minutes? hours? -until a familiar voice snaps you out of your thoughts.

"Y/N?"

You turn around and there stands Spencer. His hair is a little shorter and he looks like he's seen a ghost. Well, he sort of has.

You want to throw yourself into his arms, kiss him, and never let him go. Seeing him knocks the air out of your lungs, which is why you can barely breathe. The two years without him had been hell on earth, but you got through them. For him.

For Spencer, who doesn't take his eyes off you as the blonde woman next to him, whose fingers are intertwined with his, looks at him and asks, "Honey, who's that?"

- tags -

@obsssedwithjustaboutanything // @ashwarren32 // @slytherinbth // @rexorangecouny // @candlemouse // @lexymoniqu // @m3sml // @username2002 // @calliecookie // @haylaansmi // @thehuntresswolf // @skyslowalking // @padsfirewhisky // @criminalminds4days // @criminallyoddsocks // @takeyourleap-of-faith // @vladsgirlxx // @justdianaz // @x2moonlight2x-blog // @countingthestarsinfinitely // @box-of-fandom-stuff // @sergeantbuckybarnes // @princesssmooshie // @sassiest-politician // @ littledm2000 // @a-broken-pact // @strawberry-tea // @sassy-hades // @danrad-rdj4ever // @takeyourleap-of-faith // @smell-my-twisted-shadows // @poeticsassandtrash // @wintrrrsoldier // @peaceluvnirvana // @jemimah-b99 // @lokislilslut // @advicefromnixxxx // @panicattheeverywherekid // @my-guilty-pleasures--of-life // @itsdars @pjmjams // @imagine-this-motherfucker // @sasbb23 // @fivedicksinatrenchcoat // @missyoumaybank // @blameitonthenight21 // @s-r-16 // @knee-coall // @hamlewis // @twodirtymindedgirls // @peoplejustcanthandlemywierdness // @imdefinitelyfloating // @crazyloca06 // @gardenroses1 // @saspencereid // @enchantedlove90 // @sizzlingclamturtlesludge // @moondustmemories // @bambi-is-my-name // @beg0neth0t420 // @william-shookespeare // @pancake2603 // @ayo-cowbelly // @herbstmelody // @frnks-stuff // @mimischaos // @lilxnvm // @archiveofadragon // @burnin-passion // @oddobsessionbutotay // @chaoticdreamsss // @ghostly-ginger // @knittingstudyblr // @gorbagreb // @biafbunny // @ayo-cowbelly // @ellyseveronica // @saspencereid // @takethee // @ethereal-stark // @shirayuki1204 // @spencerreidspp // @jesuswasnotawhiteman // @stinkykay // @exzidss // @ifuckinghatepinapples // @youhaveabadconnection // @kaseyjohnson04 // @vampiracontessa // @princesssmooshie // @gardenroses1 // @r0s3mm // @willyoulovemeinthemorning // @rrtxcmt // @softpeteparker // @littleiswhattheycallme // @hoeyadoingbitch // @emmariexx // @oops-all-ajs / @reidemandweep // @oliwisstephhh // @g0lden-cth // @measure-in-pain // @amesandpineapples // @spencerreidat3am //

[cherry-gemz]

Open Book: Part I

Summary: As the Assistant Librarian for a small town in Florida, you find yourself intrigued with an extraordinary little girl and her charming uncle. As each day goes by, you teach the girl about adventure and mystery with your love of books. Little do you know what's in store for you next.

Pairings: Y/N and Frank Adler

Rating: PG, all fluff

Word count: IDK, failed at the assignment 2k+ lol. So I split the fic.

Challenge Prompt: Write a story about someone trying to find the perfect birthday gift.

A/N: Happiest of birthdays dear @a-little-counter-esperanto. You are the bees knees and really a true gem! I'm so happy we've become friends - we have so many things in common it's cray. I'm wishing you all the love and happiness, sunshine! May you continue to have a fantastic birthday sleepover and enjoy being loved by all! Hope you enjoy the fic xx - Cherry

"Did you get the flowers?" Mary asked as she sat on the couch flipping through the tv.

Frank patted his chest and then his jeans in search of his keys.

"What?"

Mary kept changing the channels without a beat,"Frank. You're supposed to buy a girl flowers on the date."

Frank furrowed his brow, "Uh...no. Have you seen my keys? Really?"

Mary rolled her eyes, "She's not gonna kiss you goodnight."

He searched on the kitchen table and rummaged through old mail when a knock at the door interrupted his concentration. As he bee-lined to the door, Mary turned off the tv and hopped off the couch to grab her latest book she'd chiseled her way through for the week.

Frank swung the door open abruptly and started you as you stood at their doorstep.

"Hey! You made it, great!" Frank exclaimed. "Sorry, my head's a mess."

Mary now situated herself at the kitchen table and shouted over her shoulder, "It's because he hasn't been on a real date in over six months."

Frank turned red," What? No...I mean yes, but jeez, Mary. Remember we talked about how to read a room?"

He turned back to you, "Come in, come in. I'm just trying to find my keys."

You chuckled and nodded to the doorknob which held his set of keys and he smacked his forehead.

As you walked into the house, you noticed little knickknacks here and there on shelves. And books. Mountains of books everywhere. Piling on top of each other.

"Hi Mary," you smiled as she kept her back to you, nose deep in her book.

"Mary…" Frank scolded as he put his hands on his hips.

"Hi, Ms. Y/N."

You smiled as you approached her, "May I sit?"

She nodded in agreement and you pulled out a chair.

"I brought you something…" you say as you rummage through your canvas bag for your book on crabs. "Well, actually I was hoping you could help me...see…"

Frank smiled as he saw the two of you bonding. He caught himself admiring you more than he'd like to admit as he needed to head off to his date soon. He appreciated your assistance with babysitting Mary as the two of you first met at the local library. His date, Justine, was a waitress at the bar he would visit from time to time. While there was a chemistry between them, it was really just through vanity. With you, he had come to know you at a deeper level: the way you’d squint or furrow your brow when reviewing your clipboard. Or how adorable you’d look chewing on the cap of your pen when trying to finalize an email at your desk. He saw that you loved the color yellow, considering how many skirts and cardigans you’d paired together. And that you were a romantic at heart - the classics were your fave to read and how’d you get lost in historical facts when he had first asked you what your hobbies were. Seeing how a beautiful person you were, inside and out, he now regretted asking Justine out with you on his mind.

Mary's eyes scanned the books of quantum physics and mathematics. At first you thought perhaps she had another book instead, but as you watched her day in and day out, you were astounded at the tiny prodigy and her ability to ascertain such knowledge at her age. You'd correct the cataloging errors for the day and find her reading for enjoyment it seemed.

Then one day Frank arrived. Mary had always left on her own, but as if it were any old regular day, the handsome uncle came to retrieve his stellar niece. He had a warmness to him. His dark brown hair and beard complemented his face, one that was obvious in an overall attractiveness. And he was kind, he showed that by adopting his niece after her mother had passed away and truly nurturing her gifted talent. You learned he fixed boats for a living and lived not too far from the library. You smiled at the odd pair together, they somehow seemed to work however.

As you checked their books out, Mary tiptoed over the large walnut desk and glanced at you.

"You're pretty," she stated.

"Mary. What did we say?" Frank tsked, embarrassed, but didn't disagree with her observation.

"What? Frank, you told me that I need to state facts, rather than assumptions. And I am stating a fact that Ms. Y/LN is pretty. Do you think she's pretty, Frank?"

Frank coughed into his fist and blushed, you smirked, half wanting to know his answer, half laughing inside of how Mary was so blunt.

"Yes, Ms. Y/LN is very pretty," he replied and gazed at your eyes. He licked his lips and you had to turn away feeling flushed. You closed the last book and placed it in Mary's backpack.

"All set," you replied. "These are due on the 23rd."

Frank zipped up the backpack and slung it over his broad shoulder. "Thanks, we'll see you tomorrow."

"Oh?" You replied as Mary looked at you both attempting to assess the flirtation occuring before her eyes.

"Well, yeah, she loves it here, I mean. And we have a few other books to return."

"Yes, we'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Mary."

"Bye," Mary replied and skipped off.

Frank showed up every day after that. You found it endearing, but not wanting to read into something that wasn't there, you focused your attention on Mary. That only seemed to peak his interest further. While he had a knack for attracting women, his heart was never in it for the long haul since the minute they found out about Mary, they'd either run away from the possible responsibility, or Mary would run them off herself. But with you it was different. You were genuine and kind to Mary. Knowing quite well of her mathematical abilities, you would challenge her in other areas: art, zoology, history. You found that while she could read more college level books than any person you met in the small town, she still was a child wanting to learn about all other aspects of life. You'd sit together at a table: you, reviewing inventory spreadsheets for the latest book fair and her, immersed in some book that would put you to sleep at night.

"Frank, you should ask Ms. Y/LN out," Mary stated one day as the three of you sat at a table together. Frank practically choked and you shook your head, secretly wanting to say yes.

"Aw, Mary. Well, I bet Ms. Y/LN has guys lined up at her door every night."

"No, she doesn't," Mary replied as she turned a page of her book. Frank laughed and placed his hand on Mary's shoulder, pretending to shake her.

"Well, actually Ms. Y/LN…" he said as your heart skipped a beat.

"Y/N," you interrupted. "You can call me Y/N. I feel we're on a first name basis now considering you're here everyday."

“Y/N,” he smiled. His hair was more combed today. You had noticed that he seemed to be disheveled when you first met him, however either Mary’s tactics were rubbing off on him, or it was your pure imagination.

“Yes?” you piped. You haven't been regularly dating lately. There just weren’t many prospects these days. Not ones that could keep up with conversation, let alone intellect. So instead, you found yourself immersed with your favorite fictional characters in the sea of books you’d grown to know and love.

His brow furrowed, he seemed nervous and he picked at the edge of a book as he attempted to gather his thoughts.

“Do you have a favorite book?” Mary interrupted as Frank turned to her, but seemingly glad she saved him from embarrassment.

“Do I have a favorite book? Hmmm...” you thought and a childish smile appeared on your face. “I have many favorite books, Mary...The Velveteen Rabbit, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe…”

“Yeah, but what’s like your most favorite book?”

You extended your hand out to her and she willingly accepted. Frank perked up his interest as he watched the two of you scamper off into the fiction area. Curious, he stood up and decided to follow. The two of you giggled quietly as you made your way around the columns, your free hand lightly ghosting over the spines of the books. The subtle scent of paper and dust permeated Frank’s sense of smell. He was more of an outdoorsy person nowadays as he had left behind his scholarly days teaching in Boston. It’s where Mary learned most from, his appetite to keep learning, vernacular, and wit . You slowed down and perused a row until you found your favorite book.

“Aha!” you exclaim and hid the book behind your back as Mary jumped up and down with excitement. “Now, I’m not sure if this is something you’d be interested in, it’s more for ten year olds in my opinion. However, I know you’re a very mature young lady and I find that you’d quite enjoy the story if you give it a chance.”

Frank smiled, perplexed as to what book could possibly be your favorite. You pulled the book from behind and showed Mary.

“Little Women,” she stated. “By Louisa May Alcott.”

“Yes. It’s a beautiful story, really. About sisters and the trials they endure during the American Civil War. There’s friendship, love, and growth.”

Mary bunched her nose, you could tell she was on the fence about whether she’d enjoy a story about fictional sisters and yucky love stuff. You started to pull it away, however she grabbed it from your hands. You laughed and looked at Frank who leaned onto the columns and folded his arms.

“Seems someone is wanting to expand their horizons,” he chuckled.

“So it seems,” you smiled back as Mary skipped off to return to the table leaving the two of you behind.

“I’m more of a Lord of the Rings man myself.”

“Really?” you responded playfully. “The Hobbit included, right?”

“Of course,” he scoffed. “I think I actually just read that one to be honest, I just wanted to impress you. I spent my time reading Calvin and Hobbes more, probably how Mary learned my sarcasm.”

You laugh and touch his forearm as a reflex, but quickly realize and pull away. The spark that you felt when you connected was undeniable. You felt butterflies with him standing next to you and you hoped he hadn’t noticed your inability to remain calm.

“Y/N…” he started to say nervously. “Would it be alright if I called ya? Maybe we can get together sometime?”

“Oh, umm,” you replied, caught off guard. While you definitely had caught feelings for the handsome man, you never would have thought it’d be reciprocated. You stuttered, trying to gather your response.

Your hesitation threw him off, and he quickly replied, “I mean...like to sit for Mary or whatever. She really likes you.”

“Of course...yes,” you reply defeated in hopes that he would have asked you out. Instead of asking why he didn’t, you started to walk back to Mary. Frank scrunched his face in frustration in knowing he missed his shot with you and blurted out the most platonic question instead. He realized as well and quickly shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and followed your lead.

Frank watched as you comfortably plopped yourself next to Mary on the couch, dreading that he had to meet up with Justine. He’d much rather relax on the couch with you and the rugrat, enjoying some silly kids movie together.

You peered over the couch, “Is it okay if she has popcorn?”

“What? Yes,” Mary said flatly and jumped off the couch to the kitchen.

“Okay, miss. But not too much sugar. Bedtime is still at 9,” Frank replied as you shrugged your shoulders.

“It’s the weekend, Frank,” Mary called out from the kitchen.

“Yes, but-“

“Will you be late?” you asked.

He looked at you in surprise, “Um, no. Probably before ten?”

“Okay, have fun.”

“It’s Y/N’s birthday,” Mary replied, carrying two coke bottles and a bag of jelly beans.

You shook your head in regret of ever telling the child when your birthday was. She was so inquisitive that day, asking about all your favorites: food, animals, books, and now birthday.

“It’s your birthday?!” Frank asked.

“Yeah, no big deal.”

“How old are you?” Mary asked as she set the drinks on the coffee table and then remembered how Frank would scold her about leaving water rings. She grabbed the coasters and placed them under the bottles.

“Mary!” Frank detested and placed his hands on his hips.

“How old do you think I am?” You tease, waving off to Frank that it was okay.

“Older than Justine, that’s for sure. She said she was 24, but looks 34. But she acts like she's 12. She hasn't even read anything on quantum physics, she thought wave mechanics was something Frank was working on with a boat,” she said coolly and popped a few jelly beans into her mouth. She nestled herself back into the couch cushions and wiggled her feet.

“Mary Elizabeth!” Frank’s voice boomed as he entered the living room.

Mary leaned over to whisper to you, “Frank says I'm not supposed to correct older people. Nobody likes a smart-ass.”

“And a busy body,” he huffed.

You nodded and laughed quietly, entertained at his expense.

“Well I am 32,” you smiled and looked at your watch, “As of one hour ago as a matter of fact.”

“That’s good. You’re much more mature than Justine and a better fit for him. Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you.”

“Mary…that’s it. You’re on your last warning,” Frank bellowed. “Don’t make me let Y/N go home and then you’re stuck with me tonight.”

“What? No! Okay. I’m sorry,” she lamented and folded her arms.

Frank’s demeanor changed as he turned to you, “I hadn’t known it was your birthday. Don’t feel pressured to sit for her tonight if you have other plans.” Secretly he wanted to cancel on Justine and spend the night celebrating you instead.

“Oh it’s okay! It kind of appeared out of nowhere. I usually go back home and celebrate with friends and family, but my schedule didn’t permit it this year. Next year, perhaps.”

“What’s your favorite dessert?” Mary asked as she chewed on another handful of jelly beans.

“Red velvet cheesecake,” you smiled. “I have a sweet tooth.”

Frank couldn’t concentrate on his date with Justine. His mind was elsewhere. On you. Justine grazed her hand as they sat next to each other at the bar. He seemed unfazed by her gesture and looked at his watch, 9:14pm. Would it be too obvious if he cut the date short that he was into you? He coughed and took a swig of his beer.

“Do you wanna come back to my place?” She cooed and bit her lip in anticipation.

“What? Oh actually I was gonna head out. The sitter needed me home by 9:30,” he lied.

“Oh, sitter?”

“Yeah, Mary. Remember? My niece?”

“That’s right. How old is she again?”

“Seven,” He said, annoyed. He recalled they had met once before. The bartender approached them and handed Frank the receipt.

“Hey, do you have any desserts on the menu?”

Justine’s ears perked in curiosity of where he was going with asking about dessert.

The bartender grunted slightly and threw a mangled tri-fold menu and Frank grabbed it quickly.

“Buddy, ring me up for the red velvet cupcake.”

[natromanxoff]

Queen live at Forest National in Brussels, Belgium - August 24, 1984

Some parts of the Hammer To Fall promo video were filmed during this show - the camera was filming the audience reactions during TYMD, Radio Ga Ga and Hammer To Fall. On the next day 20 fans from the Dutch fan club were invited to come again to the filming of the promo video.

At the gig, the band asked the audience to return the following day for the shoot. However, most likely assuming it was all a joke, the vast majority stayed away; in fact only a dozen fans turned up. Undeterred, the shoot went ahead anyway, with the band's performance that day interspersed with footage shot the previous night.

(x)

This is the first show of The Works tour.

According to the July '89 issue of Record Collector, Queen ran through about 40 songs during rehearsals. This list of songs rehearsed that didn't end up in the setlist comes from someone who worked on the tour:

Great King Rat (longer version), Brighton Rock (full song), I'm In Love With My Car, Sweet Lady, White Man, We Will Rock You (fast), Play The Game, Need Your Loving Tonight, Put Out The Fire, Las Palabras de Amor, Life Is Real (both Freddie solo piano and Freddie/Brian acoustic duet versions)

The keyboardist for this tour (and also the '86 Magic tour) is session musician Spike Edney. He would also lend some vocals to many songs and play rhythm guitar in Hammer To Fall. He and Roger Taylor would form a band called "The Cross" in 1987 which spawned three albums, and he would return to Queen in the 21st century to play on the tours with Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert.

Spike was recruited in a very informal way by a Queen associate. He went to Munich for their first rehearsal in early August, wound up partying for most of the first night, and missed the first day's rehearsal. It later transpired that everyone else had. He recalls, "The next day, we all managed to get to it eventually, to the first rehearsal, and all the gear was set up. The stage was huge, and I thought "Oh well, here we go then" and we got to the first song , and what I'd forgotten was that they hadn't actually played together for two years. So they said, OK, let's try one of the new songs, I think it was Radio Ga Ga, and we started playing it, and course, I knew it, I'd been studying it for weeks. You know, 1,2,3,4 and we start and we get about a minute into the song and the whole thing collapses. And they all look at each other, you know, very sheepishly, and they say, "Anyone know how it goes?" and I say "well, actually, I know. I know how it goes" and they said "Ah". And so I started showing them the chords and everything and Fred looked at me and said "You don't know the words, do you?" and "Well, yeah I do actually" so then they all came round the piano and we spent the whole day just going through songs, and I thought, "I'm gonna be all right here, this'll be OK"!"

The show started very late, as the band were still doing soundcheck when they were supposed to go on. Apparently over the previous week there were few occasions when all four band members actually showed up for rehearsal. Many songs (likely those listed above) never made the setlist, and soundcheck was an extensive cramming session, particularly for the older material that they hadn't played in years.

Roger Taylor later reflected that this European tour was one of his favourites, and many fans cite the early Works setlist as their favourite ever played by the band. Three medleys are now played, two of which have revived many old songs: Killer Queen, Seven Seas Of Rhye, Keep Yourself Alive, Liar, Stone Cold Crazy and Great King Rat. Staying Power from Hot Space returns to the set, as does Sheer Heart Attack from News Of The World. Only half of Staying Power is played, and it runs into Dragon Attack, followed by an improvisation running into a more compact version of Now I'm Here compared to previous tours.

Many people who attended shows on this tour recall Queen having a very heavy sound, especially on songs like Liar and Stone Cold Crazy. By 1984 they had gained a reputation as being one of the best live rock acts in the business.

Six songs from The Works are performed each night, and the introduction tape is from the album track "Machines". After the heavy G chords are heard on the tape twice, the band walk on stage in the darkness to play the chords the third time, which leads into the brand new "Tear It Up". This is yet another effective opening to a Queen show, something they would perfect time and time again.

I Want To Break Free is performed each night in 1984-85 as the first encore, with Freddie coming on stage sporting a pair of huge plastic breasts under a pink shirt. Part way through the song, he would remove the breasts and twirl them around for a while before finally throwing them into the audience. Some souvenir! As a result of this gag, Another One Bites The Dust has been moved from the encore to be earlier in the set.

This tour showcases an incredible lighting rig and an overall setup mimics the movie Metropolis, from which scenes were used for the promo video of Radio Ga Ga last year. The huge wheels behind the stage (modelled after the ones on The Works album cover) rotate at mostly random times - usually because they are turned manually by various crew members such as Roger's tech Chris "Crystal" Taylor whenever they have a free moment (Freddie Mercury's assistant Peter Freestone told the tale in 2021):

“Yeah, I mean Rio was… amazing. The feeling from that crowd… you know, something like 350,000 people. Oh, you can’t beat that. And when you’re flying in a helicopter over that crowd, it was stunning. But the thing is, I know this sounds really, really stupid but [laughs]… one thing I will always, always remember from that tour was, remember, in the back of the stage you had these wheels that turned every now and then, not constantly but just every now and then. That was because there was… the guy looking after Roger’s drums and me who actually turned those wheels. And there was no set cue or anything that, “Oh, it has to start on this bar, on this song.” No, it was when he wasn’t doing anything and I wasn’t doing anything, we’d say “Ok, let’s go and do it.” And we turned the wheels for a couple of minutes and then left them alone. He had then to do something for Roger and I would just sit there like I always did. And then you’d go back and you’d turn the wheels, like a hamster. We were like hamsters…”

However, a crew member who worked on the tour recalls otherwise: "I do know local crew members were used on the UK shows and certainly (a number of) European gigs. The other thing is that Radio Ga Ga had a set piece with the cogs and lighting, using low ambient lighting and strobes to emphasise mechanical motion of the cogs during the instrumental break. Would Roger Taylor be happy with no one covering him/his kit during a show? Possibly Peter Freestone is remembering production rehearsals when any spare bodies might have been asked to operate the cogs?"

During vocal improvisations on this tour, Freddie would often include bits of "Foolin' Around" and "Living On My Own" from his pending first solo album, which he had been working on during this period.

Freddie now plays a Telecaster for Crazy Little Thing Called Love. It would remain like this through the Magic tour.

The band no longer bring a gong with them on the road. Roger now does a cymbal roll at the end of Bohemian Rhapsody.

A fan recalls hearing the band running through Tear It Up whilst queuing up to enter the venue.

Freddie's voice is in superb shape for this show, but it will quickly weaken as the tour progresses. As incredible as Freddie Mercury was, he certainly did not take care of his voice at times, especially in the mid-80s. After a couple years of heavy smoking, Freddie's voice now sounds a lot deeper and raspier overall.

Before It's A Hard Life, Freddie says, "I think tonight we're gonna do songs from just about every album that we've ever made. You heard some very early stuff from the first album. Right now I think we're gonna do something very new, and we'll see what you think of it."

Freddie does a vocal exchange with the audience before Staying Power, singing "Get Down Make Love" and "Gimme Some Lovin" a few times. The band would improvise bits of the latter a couple times in 1986.

This is the only show on the entire Works tour where Roger plays regular acoustic drums on Another One Bites The Dust (before which Freddie teases the audience with a bit of Mustapha). For the rest of the tour, he'd play electronic drums. He'd also integrate the electronic drum kit into a few other songs, like at the beginning of Hammer To Fall, where one might argue that his sounds don't appropriately complement the guitar to create the intense, heavy sound.

The band sound very tight on this opening night of the tour, with the only exception being the rough transition from Stone Cold Crazy to Great King Rat. The keyboard and guitar solos are integrated together for the first few shows of the tour, during which Brian plays a few bits from Machines. Spike Edney uses his vocoder (a Roland VP-330) for the "machines" and "back to humans" lines heard throughout the tour during this spot (he would use his vocoder for the "radio" lines in Radio Ga Ga as well). After this segment, Brian then gets a few minutes to play on his own as usual.

Parts of the promo video for Hammer To Fall were filmed during this show. Claims from some (even official) sources state that Freddie invited the audience back for (what would actually be "additional") filming the following day aren't true. Here is all that Freddie had to say before the song: "This next song we're gonna use in our next video. So everybody just go mad and maybe later you'll see one of you guys inside the video one day. Oh, just go crazy, take your clothes off. It's called Hammer To Fall." After the song, he simply says, "Good night, you guys!" as that was the last song of the set.

Here is a fan's recollection: "On the night of the gig, there was a camera mounted on an arm that would swing over the front rows of the audience during a few songs. These audience shots were taken during Tie Your Mother Down, Radio Ga Ga, and Hammer To Fall itself. I guess they also had a camera up in the box at the back of the hall [as there are a few shots of both the audience and the band]. I don't remember any cameras onstage during the gig - just the one mounted on the arm."

The Dutch fan club invited only about twenty of its members to attend the video shoot the next day. They were instructed by a roadie to sit quietly on a chair and not to move or approach the band members. After a few hours, Brian came over and had a chat with them, checking to see if they were enjoying themselves and if they were hungry. He then promptly ordered them some take-out!

A minute of Tie Your Mother Down from this show was later broadcast on the Belgian TV station "RTBF" (x) (x). An audience-shot video allegedly exists as well, containing five songs.

After years of speculation, the existence of more footage from this show was proven when bits of it were included in the promo video for Let Me In Your Heart Again in 2014. About 30 seconds of Somebody To Love (largely crowd shots) were seen. There is, however, no accompanying audio. (x)

The first photo is from the autumn 1984 Queen fan club magazine. Brian is seen with a watchful eye over the proceedings. Tour manager Gerry Stickells and his wife are also in the shot.

Pics 2 through 6 were submitted by Alessio Rizzitelli, and the seventh pic was taken by Dave Matkin.

(x)

[thatdeaniegirlsworld]

Return Of The Champ-Roman Reigns

Plot Summary: Roman and Y/N have always continuously flirted with words, and their eyes but never pursued anything. When she returns at the summerslam in Las Vegas for the Smackdown Women's championship....everything changes.

Y/N's P.O.V

The crowd was euphoric as you made your 18 month return from your double ACL injuries. Becky Lynch was the current champion, and the two of you have a short match, and you walk out as champion. The whole crowd chanting your name, and you couldn't stop smiling.

The one person you were nervous to see was Roman. It had been a long time since you had seen him, and you barely got by with his random texts and phone calls. Seeing him would be a different story.

"How bad is it?" Roman asks as he walks into the trainers room.

"It's both knees. Freak accident. I'm going to be out for a while." You look up at him with tears falling down your face. "That's at least a year. What the fuck am I going to do Roman?"

He sits down on the edge of the bed, and takes your hands in his. "You know what you're going to do? You're going to have successful surgeries, heal, and then work to get both of those knees stronger than they were before."

"This is what I get for carrying the women's division on my back. Buckled under the pressure." You tell him, and he smirks at you.

"There she is. That's my girl." He tells you, and stands back up. The silence is deafening between the two of you because you know you won't see him for a long time. "Y/N...I"

"Don't." You shake your head. He sighs, and doesn't say anything else. "I'll see you when I come back, alright?"

He nods, and bends down to press a kiss to the top of your head. "At least text me about the surgery? I need to make sure you're okay."

"Of course." You tell him, and he moves some of your hair behind your ear. "I promise."

"Good." He says, and looks at you once more before leaving the room.

As soon as you make your way to the back you are met with many people congratulating you and hugging you. As you make your way down the line you look up and see Roman's stature, and your breath hitches in your throat. He was dressed in his normal black cargo pants, and his merch shirt. No jimmy or Jey with him, but Paul was.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite champ. Back at it again." He says with a smirk, his eyes going up and down your body. "Knees look like they work again."

You giggle, and look him over. "Wouldn't you like to know." You tease him, and he bites down on his lip.

"Congratulations, and welcome back." He says, and opens his arms for you. As soon as they wrapped around you, you felt safe like you always did in his arms. "I missed you, baby girl." He whispers in your ear, and you hug him tighter.

He pulls away from you, and you can't help but stare at him. "You staying for the rest of the night?" He asks you, and you nod.

"Couldn't miss my favorite champ in action either." You say with a wink, and walk off before he can say anything else.

"Are you nervous?" Roman asks me as you were about to go back for surgery.

"I'll only admit this to you, but yes. I'm terrified." You confess to him. He stares into your eyes, and looks around for anyone that may be looking at them. He gently presses his lips to yours.

"You've got this baby girl. I'll be here when you get out." He tells you, and kisses your forehead.

Roman finally makes his way backstage after the show, and you slowly make your way to his locker room. When he walks inside, he's alone. He looks up at you, and smiles. "Still not used to you being around here again."

"Well, I could always leave. Some people are wanting to buy me a drink anyway." You tease him, and stand up from his couch to stride your way to the door when he cuts you off in front of the door.

"If you think I'm letting you out of my sight after 18 months, you have another thing coming." He says, and you can basically feel the heat radiating off his sweaty, post match body.

"Sounds very stalker-ish, Reigns." You tell him, a smirk on his face as you look down at his chest.

"I don't see you running away." He says, and pushes your hair behind your ear. "You never did run away. Ever."

"I didn't want to." You tell him, looking into his eyes. "Roman, I-" He cuts you off with his lips on yours. His hands hold your face, and rest your hands on his back.

A knock on the door makes him pull away from you. It was Paul. "Sir, Brock and I need you for a few minutes please."

"I'm in the middle of something." He says, sounding irritated. "Can this wait until at least monday?"

"Yeah, we'll call you." Brock tells him, and they leave. He shuts the door again, and turns to face you once more.

"Sorry about that." He says, and walks over to where you had walked.

"It's okay. I know how it is." You tell him, and he smiles at you. "So, did you have any big plans tonight?"

"Not anymore." He says with a smirk. "Do you?"

"I wasn't lying when I said some people wanted to buy me a drink. You want to come with us?"

"I'd love to. As long as I get to sit next to you." He says with a smirk. "Just need to shower real quick. Wait for me?"

"You do stink." You tell him, and he rolls his eyes at you. "I'm kidding! Yes, I'll wait out here."

"Be out in a few." He says, stepping to you to peck your lips. He walks away, and you can't help but to smile at yourself.

******************************************

It was a small gathering, and you liked it that way. Roman was making it no secret that you two had something going on with the way that he kept touching you all night. Whether it was a hand on the knee or him whispering in your ear, he was all over you.

The group included Seth, Becky, Rhea, Nia, Sasha, Charlotte, and The Usos. Everyone was sitting around the table chatting with one another, and you could feel Becky's eyes on you. She was the only one who really knew about your deep feelings for Roman.

You look over at her, and give her a smile. She smiles back knowingly while Seth and Roman were in a conversation of their own. You lay your head down on Roman's shoulder, and he turns to press a quick kiss the top of it before turning his attention back to Seth.

"You look happy." Becky mouths to you, and you smile, giving her a quick nod.

"Tired baby girl?" Roman asks you, and you nod. "Come on, I'll take you home." He says, and you lift your head off of him to stand up. "Everyone say goodnight to the champ."

After you say goodbye to everyone, Roman follows you out of the building and begins to drive away. You could tell he was nervous by the way he was fidgeting, and drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. "Roman?" You ask him, and he turns to look at you. "Everything okay?"

"I uh, wanted to ask you if maybe you wanted to stay the night with me?" He asks you, and you smile at her nervous he is. "You don't have to. I've just missed you, and we can watch a movie or something."

"That sounds nice." You tell him, and he smiles at you. "I do need to stop by my apartment though. Need to pack a bag."

"Sure." He says, and nods at you. "Pack whatever you need. You can stay as long as you want."

"Don't tell me that." You joke. "I may never want to leave."

He just smirks, and focuses on the road.

************************************************************************

You were nervous to be alone with Roman for this long knowing all of those built up emotions would be let loose the moment he were to look or touch you a certain way. Once you got to his house, you jumped in the shower, and put on a pair of shorts, and one of his favorite shirts he had bought you month's back.

He had changed into a pair of black basketball shorts, and of course, no shirt, and was laying on the bed waiting for you. His attention was currently on his phone until he felt the bed dip. You roll over onto your side, and he wraps his arms around you after turning the light off.

"I'm so happy you're back, baby girl." He whispers in your ear, his hand running through your hair. "You have no idea."

"This is the first time we've seen each other since I went home after surgery." You tell him, and he just continues to press kisses all over your shoulder.

"You don't know how many times I considered leaving just to come be with you. But, you would have just told me to get my ass back to work."

"Yes I would have. You're having the run of your life right now. I'm proud of you."

You roll over to bury your face in his chest, and he turns the TV off. Your heart was beating so loud, you could have sworn he heard it.

He pulls the comforter up over the both of you, and it's silent for a moment. You've always felt safe around Roman. You've had so many bad relationships though that you felt like any move you made with him you would screw up.

You scratch lightly at his lower back, and bring one of your legs up to slide in between the two of his. He moves your hair behind your ear, and you move your head back to look at him. "I don't want to lose you." You tell him, and sniffle.

"Why would you lose me, baby girl?" He asks, his voice soft. "I'm right here. I always have been."

"I know." You tell him, and he wipes your tears off your face. "You make me safe, and that terrifies me."

He runs his thumbs over your cheek bones, and you relax into his chest. "There's no secret how I feel about you, Y/N. I'll wait until you're comfortable. I'd never force you into anything."

"I'm tired of thinking about this. It's all I thought about while I was gone. I was afraid you had found someone." You confess, and he let's out a chuckle. "What's funny?"

"You have no idea just how much you mean to me. Do you?" He asks, and you shake your head. "Let's just say, Seth is probably sick of hearing me talk about you."

You smile at him, and he kisses your forehead. "You're obsessed." You joke with him, and he looks in your eyes.

"Absolutely I am." He says, with all seriousness. He then leans forward, and connects your lips together. His soft lips move against yours, and with no interruptions this time, you pull him closer to you.

His hand holds the back of your neck as he kisses you harder. His free hand slides down to grab a hold of your hip. There was no going back now, and you knew that.

You pull away to catch your breath, and rest your forehead against his. "Was that too much?" He asks, and you shake your head. He takes that as invitation to press his lips back to yours, and this time his tongue glides across your bottom lip. You open your lips, and his tongue smashes against yours.

His hand moves from your hip to your leg, and you gasp at the movement. He pulls away, and you move your head to the side hoping that he gets the hint. He does when his mouth then trails down to your jaw, and then down to your neck.

He moves himself to in between your legs, and you let him. As you've wanted this for months. "So beautiful." He mumbles against your skin. You smile, and he notices it when he picks his head back up to kiss your lips once more.

You look into his eyes, and grab his hands as he stays kneeled in between your legs. "What is it baby?" He asks you when the tears fill your eyes.

"I love you, Roman." You finally confess to him. You were nervous for his reaction until he smiles the biggest you've ever seen him smile.

"Oh baby girl. I love you, too. So much. Let me show you." He says, and pushes your shirt up until your breasts were exposed. You sit up to discard of the shirt all together.

You watch as his eyes darken even more, and he looks into your eyes, maintaining eye contact as his lips close around your nipple. You bring your right hand down into his hair, and he squeezes his eyes shut when you tug on it a little bit.

He kisses across your chest until he does the same thing to your left nipple, and you bite down on your lip as you watch him. You begin to squirm beneath him, and he uses his own weight to pin your hips to the bed.

"Roman, please." You beg him, and he smirks against your skin. He picks his head up to press his lips to yours again. You lock your legs around his waist, and try to buck your hips up to feel some kind of friction.

"So needy for me, aren't you?" He teases you, and you whine beneath him. "What is it you always call me when you talk to the girls?" Your face fills up with heat. "I believe you say that I'm a Samoan sex God. Hmm?"

"Shut up, and do something." You try to argue. He grabs your arms from around his neck, and he pins them down to the bed.

"How about you be a good girl for me? I'll take good care of you. I promise." He says, and then finally grinds down onto you. You choke out a moan, and he smirks down at you. "Now, tell daddy how you want it."

"I just need to feel you, please. I need all of you." You beg him, and he pulls himself away from you to pull off his basketball shorts, and his boxers. His erection slapping against his stomach, and your eyes widen at the size of him.

"Still want it?" He asks you, and you nod. He slides your shorts, and panties off of you. He spreads you open, and spits down onto you, rubbing it all over you.

He crawls back onto the bed. He glides his cock up, and down your folds before sliding himself all the way in. "And here I thought the tribal chief didn't do missionary." You tease him, and he chuckles before pulling out and slamming into you.

"I said every single night. Plus, you're pretty to look at." He says with a smirk, and places one of your legs over his shoulder. "Now, shut up, and take this cock like you've been dying to do."

His free hand reaches up to grab onto your left breath while his other one had a hold on your hip, using it as leverage to thrust in and out of you.

You grab his hand that's on your breast, and slide it up to wrap around your throat. A devilish smirk is plastered on his face, and he removes your leg from his shoulder.

He scoots you up, and exchanges hisbleft hand for his right on your throat. He picks up his speed once more. His cock driving into your pussy in all the right ways. "Mine." He growls, and all you hear is skin slapping skin. "Been mine, haven't you baby girl?"

"Yes daddy." You confirm, and his teeth sink into his bottom lip. "Always been yours."

"Fuck." He groans, and pushes his cock deeper into you. "Give me your hand." He says, and you give it to him. He places it at the bottom of your stomach.

"Oh my god....is that?"

"Yeah. That's my cock filling you to the brim." He confirms, and your eyes roll to the back of your head.

"You're so deep." You moan, and he grabs your hand, sliding his hand inside of yours. You bring your hand down to rub your clit, and he removes yours from your throat.

"Talk to me. Tell me how good you feel." He begs, and drops his weight a little. His hands grip your thighs, and you know there will be bruises there, but you didn't care.

"So fucking good. Please don't stop." You beg him, and pull him down by his neck to press your lips to his. He dips his tongue back inside your mouth, and your legs begin to shake. He slows down, savoring every last second of you.

"I love you so fucking much." He says against your lips. You push him over so that now you were on top.

"Couldn't let you have all the fun, chief." You tell him, and begin to grind down onto him. You lean back, and he squeezes your breasts before you begin to bounce up and down on top of him.

His hand comes down hard on your ass, and you gasp before moaning. Your legs were just about done for. Roman notices this and pulls you down so your chests meet, and he thrusts into you from below.

He rolls you back over onto your back, and slides his hands underneath your arms to hold your head. "Cum for me, baby girl. I want to feel you."

"I'm so close, daddy." You whimper, and he picks his pace back up. "Fuck, I'm gunna cum." You grab onto his hair, and pull until you release, and you hold onto him.

"Holy fuck. You squirted." He says, and you cover your face.

"Come on daddy, cum inside me."

"Yeah?" He asks breathless, and you nod. "Okay baby girl." He says, and grabs your jaw to open your mouth to spit in it before making you swallow.

His thrusts slow down, and you drag your nails down his back. You watch his face contort in pleasure as he release himself into you. Moaning your name before collapsing on top of you.

"We should have done that months ago." You joke, and he laughs before lifting his head up to look at you.

"You were worth the wait." He says before pecking your lips. "I'm definitely not letting you out of my sight now."

"You better not. With being my boyfriend and all now." Yoy tease him, hoping he realizes what you just said.

"Boyfriend hmm?" He asks with a smile. "I like the sound of that almost as much as I like the sound of you being my girlfriend."

You smile at him, and he kisses you again before pulling out. "Now, you lay right there and I'll go get a bath ready."

"Okay." You tell him with a smile. He walks back over to you and kisses you sweetly.

"I love you."

"And I love you." You tell him before watching him walk away.

Tags: @omg-im-such-a-masochist

@galens-mistress

@drewmcintyrekoccsrocbwdgfan

@wickedsunfire

@wwechristina87

@banksxsasha

I have a drew mcintyre one in the works! I've missed you guys!!!

[blushinggray]

Free! The Final Stroke screeching/reaction (spoilers)

AHHHHH I JUST WATCHED THE FINAL STROKE MOVIE TODAY IN THEATERS ON PREMIER DAY AND IT WAS LAKSJDFOAIFJWOEI to summarize it all, it was Very Gay, which was to be expected but they DID NOT have to get so freaking extra with it 😩😩😩

much screaming and many spoilers ahead

FIRST OF ALL, KIRISHIMA NATSUYA: HE WAS SO FUCKING HANDSOME DAFKJOIEFJOSIDJF. SO HANDSOME. SO HANDSOME AND STUPID AND OVERLY FRIENDLY AS WE LOVE HIM TO BE ALKDSJFOAIEW.

he was in the film for a total of maybe 5 minutes altogether, which was kind of a lot bc the film kind of was just putting all the characters back in for the sake of putting them in imo? for the fans, lol. so everyone could see their faves. and in these five minutes that he appeared, our mans:

bragged about his little brother he's so proud of

got laughed at by nao for being natsuya (aka dumb and straightforward) as usual

trained with sousuke (he was hanging out in the same pool with him, nao, and makoto to train and aid in sousuke's rehab training)

got a call from ikuya after the international swimming competition in sydney!!!! in that same cafe he's always at!!!! and he was with nao at the time he got the call. casual and cool as always, being the cool big brother or whatever. he ended the call with a curt, "you got it. see you. don't catch a cold."

HE WAS HANGING OUT AT CAFE MARON WHILE THEY WAITED FOR THE SYDNEY COMPETITORS TO COME BACK TO JAPAN. HE WAS BEHIND THE COUNTER WITH ASAHI (WHO WAS HOLDING BABY TSUKIMI IN A CARRIER ON HIS CHEST!!!!!) AND HE THREW HIS ARM AROUND ASAHI AND WAS GETTING SO CLOSE LIKE ALKSDJFAOIEJAOEI. I have absolutely no clue what he was saying at the time bc i was too busy freaking out and trying to hold in the sounds bc the theater was so quiet. but his GODDAMN FACE. HE WAS SMIRKING. SO HANDSOME 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩

and of fucking course, they were all out together at a restaurant when the sydney competitors came back, and he was like, "wth no one else is drinking alcohol tonight?" and nao was like "ofc not haha" AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

HE FUCKING FALLS ASLEEP AT THE TABLE AFTER DRINKING AND EVERYONE IS SURROUNDING HIM AND PATTING HIM LIKE "dude..." and ikuya is sitting there like, omg can't believe this mess is my brother....

i thought that just might be his last scene in the film but then we show back up to the kirishima household and natsuya is eating some sort of luxury holiday(?) bento and ikuya is like "aren't you gonna save any for me?" and natsuya's like "of course not. this is for me, you gotta wait until next year xD" and then ikuya just fucking SNATCHES up several different foods and stuffs his face with all of them and natsuya starts arguing with him over them laskjdfoawiefjao where was this brotherly affection all this time?????

and then cut to a few seconds later, natsuya's bumming in his room on the floor like in s3 when ikuya comes in and tells him about his new future goals and alskdjfaoei brothers sharing their ambitions together 😩😩 WHAT IS GOING ON. EVERYONE GETS ALONG SO WELL NOW???

NEXT: we'll go back to the beginning i guess lmfao but they're preparing for some sort of university festival

we start off with an easily misunderstandable shoujo-style situation where asahi is talking to ikuya like, "i know it's your first time... you don't have to be nervous. i know you can do it." and ikuya's like "no! i can't 😣" like the tsun he is backed up against the wall. and then it turns out they're trying to make a mille feuille cake.... but everything he's made so far looked like crepes

and for some damn reason, KISUMI comes outta nowhere into the kitchen and is like "ooooh what's this? a mille feuille cake? although they all look kinda like crepes haha ^^" and then ikuya RUNS THE FUCK OUT OF THE KITCHEN, yelling, "i told you i couldn't do it!!!" like the fucking tsun he is... and asahi is yelling at kisumi like "why did you just say that!!!" and starts rubbing his knuckles into kisumi's head and kisumi's just laughing like, "oh did i do that hehe"

and for some reason... seijuurou is working at the booth in his speedo and swim team jacket. i mean i'm not complaining but sir.... PLS TAKE MY MONEY AND GIVE ME YOUR FAT OCTOPUS BALLS. (he literally started a batter mixing competition with hoshikawa inside the booth, like what are they even doing in the same booth???)

then rin and sousuke show up to ikuya, asahi, and hiyori(?)'s booth, and they're offering them the crepes and then they get into a conversation about smth that leads into them showing the embarrassing photos they have of each other?????? like ikuya has a pic of rin in his maid costume for some reason??? (tho it isn't shown) and rin shows an embarrassing pic of ikuya he has in his phone that he got from natsuya???????????? and then ikuya starts chasing after rin yelling at him to delete it lasdkjfoaei

and then haru is off to the side selling ugly ass bird mascots again lmfao. bc ofc he is. love that weirdo

BUT THE REAL KICKER HERE IS KINJOU!!!!!!!!!!!

APPARENTLY, HIS VILLAIN BACKSTORY COMES FROM HIS CHILDHOOD CRUSH (/exaggerated) ON HIYORI ALSKDJFOAIE WHAAAT. apparently he was that annoying kid in the playground who would go up to hiyori and bother him bc he wanted a friend. bb hiyori was literally like "why are you even talking to me so much?" in his sandbox. and bb kinjou is like, "well there's gotta be smth you like, right? what is it?" and hiyori's like "well i feel kinda happy when i'm swimming... :)" as images of ikuya flash into his mind, that gay ass

BUT KINJOU'S GAY ASS EYES START SPARKLING TOO AND THEN HE'S LIKE "I GOTTA LEARN WHAT THE BIG DEAL ABOUT SWIMMING IS" and he runs home, begs his brother to take him to the pool. but next time he brings his swimming stuff with him to the playground, hiyori isn't there anymore and apparently he left for america at that time (or smth). so poor baby basically got ghosted

but hiyori still knows him when they're older!!!! kinjou shows up when they're throwing out the trash after the uni festival and calls out to hiyori to taught him (which is where that bullying preview scene came from i guess) and alkfjeoiaejoaifj omfg it's like that estranged childhood friends (sorta) trope but it'll never go kinjou's way bc hiyori is and will always be in love with ikuya 😔

kinjou would make such a good yandere tho!!!! he has a feral expression on a few times throughout the movie, and during a race he gets super competitive mid-race and... ngl he was kinda sexy 😳 i'm actually kind of surprised by how taken i was with him in this movie. doesn't help that he's unfairly handsome and his hair looks fucking amazing. i MAY OR MAY NOT be exploring this man in the future..................

i also found the ending with haru pretty interesting!!!! it kind of hints at neurodivergence? smth along the lines of disassociation or multiple personalities? (guess 50% off was kinda right on that end lmfao).

he gets obsessed with beating albert wahlander, which is the most fired up i've ever seen him (to the point of almost hurting himself) and then the shadow or whatever effect albert has on haru kind of just overtakes him and pushes haru out of his own body in a way... it doesn't make sense to describe it this way, i know, but haru is literally watching himself say hurtful things to his friends while being overtaken by this... albert obsessed persona?

it's so interesting to see haru being the one obsessing over someone instead of the other way around for once!!! at the end of the movie (after all the credits) haru says the same thing he once said at the beginning of season 1? about how "at age 5, you're a prodigy. at age 15, you're a genius. at age 20(?), you're average." and this is def gonna be explored/concluded in the second part of the final stroke movie so i'm excited for that!!!! april 2022 come at me!!!!

there were SOOOOO many other things going on, plot wise and fanservice wise, and ofc kyoto animation was fucking TOP TIER SHIT. all the water effects... there was a shot where haru was looking at his reflection in the water and they make a drop fall and spread and shake his reflection in the waves and it was lafkjsefoiaeja fucking glorious. the soundtrack was lovely too. there was a RADWIMPS-esque beginning song and a sexy ass electric guitar buildup for kinjou (which may or may not be contributing to my growing obsession with him...)

AHHHH!!!! it was so good and everyone was so cute and handsome and gay and funny. we literally see every single character we've met before in some way, shape, or form lmfao. i might just go back to the theater and watch it again on one of the upcoming holidays this week.... SO GOOD. SO GOOD.

I LOVE ALL THESE GAY SWIMMING BOYS SO MUCH 😩😩😩

[stargazer-sims]

5 - Félix and Davian make some plans

Félix: You don't think Chloë is right, do you? Is it a ridiculous idea, for us to have a baby?

Davian: I think Chloë underestimates us. I think she thinks we're just a couple of party animals who aren't capable of doing anything adult.

Félix: I'd say we're exceptional at doing adult things. We just proved that, didn't we?

Davian: Naughty man like you? Obviously, adult things are your specialty, but I mean grown-up stuff. I'm pretty sure Chloë sees us like immature teenagers or something. Like we can't manage our own lives.

Félix: How does she imagine we've gotten this far in our careers and our relationship if we can't manage our lives?

Davian: I guess you'd have to ask her that question. To answer yours, though, I don't think she's right. We can definitely have a kid, and it'd be way better if it's actually ours, too. Like, biologically. I wouldn't like to adopt.

Félix: Why not?

Davian: You're not really carrying on your family line if you adopt, are you?

Félix: I suppose not. And that's important to you?

Davian: Isn't it important to you?

Félix: I hadn't given it much thought, to be honest. My parents would be pleased to have a grandchild, though. I doubt Sophie is even the slightest bit interested in giving them any, and Olivier is still too young to consider it, but there's nothing preventing me.

Davian: So, it's going to be you?

Félix: Well, it can't be you. What about your public image?

Davian: I didn't mean that.

Félix: Of course you meant it, and you're not wrong. Besides, I have group health insurance from the university, and if I can't work for some medical reason, I'm not going to lose my job. If you can't work...

Davian: If I don't work, I don't get any money at all. But, at least I'm on your health insurance plan.

Félix: Do you want to be the one to do it? To... I don't even know what to call this. Carry it?

Davian: Honestly? Not really.

Félix: Then, that makes me the logical choice by default.

Davian: Are you gonna be okay with that? Having a whole other person in there?

Félix: Are you going to be okay with it? I doubt I'll be particularly attractive with a bump.

Davian: You're never not beautiful, mon amoureux. You'll still be attractive with a bump.

Félix: Even when it's out to here, and my wardrobe will be nothing but oversized t-shirts and ugly sweatpants?

Davian: I’m sure you’ll still be able to wear your dresses and some of your other stuff, but if not, we can probably find you some cute sweatpants.

Félix: It’s not funny, Davian. I really need to know this. I won't be happy if you don't want to look at me the way you're looking at me now.

Davian: I'm always going to look at you like this. Your sweet face and your hot body might've been the first things I noticed, but I didn't fall in love with your body. I fell in love with you. I'm looking at you.

Félix: Promise?

Davian: Promise.

Félix: You also have to promise you're not going to run off and leave me while I'm in such a delicate condition.

Davian: Do you think I'd want to miss a moment of that? We're gonna make a human. That's not something you skip out on.

Félix: Technically, the Sixamish doctors are going to make a human from our genetic material.

Davian: Yeah, but you're gonna grow it.

Félix: Do you think it will hurt?

Davian: Maybe a little bit, but the good news is that you won't have to go through labour and birth like a woman would. That would freakin' hurt, and I wouldn't want that for you. Plus, I don't think I could handle seeing you in that much pain, either.

Félix: It all seems very clean and scientific, doesn't it? The clinic's information website made it seem straightforward enough.

Davian: Yeah.

Félix: My biggest worry is the surgery at the end. I'll have a scar on my belly after that.

Davian: Unavoidable, but look what the trade-off is going to be. We'll have our adorable baby to love and spoil. Just imagine playing with her and dressing her up and showing her off to everyone.

Félix: And all the things we can teach… her? You’re hoping for a girl?

Davian: Is that weird?

Félix: Not at all, but we’ll have to be prepared for a girl or a boy.

Davian: At some point before they’re born, I think we can find out.

Félix: The anticipation will be exciting.

Davian:The whole thing’s gonna be an adventure. Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about the scar, if I were you. Every time I see it, I'll remember how brave you are.

Félix: You think I'm brave?

Davian: Hell, yeah. How many other guys do you know that'd agree to this?

Félix: Not many, I expect. You're probably right about the scar as well. Perhaps it won't be as bad as I imagine, and we will have our baby to show for it, after all.

Davian: Exactly, and every time I see it, I'm going to kiss it and remind you how awesome you are. Just like this...

Félix: Oh! Davian, you know I'm ticklish there!

Davian: Mmm... I do. Why else would I kiss your sexy belly? I like hearing you laugh.

Félix: You're awful.

Davian: You want me to stop?

Félix: Yes! But, no... no, I don't. I want you to kiss me anywhere and everywhere.

Davian: Whatever you want, future daddy.

Félix: Daddy. That sounds quite important. I like it.

Davian: Should we call the number on the website tomorrow, and make an appointment for a consultation?

Félix: If we're really serious about this, yes, we should.

Davian: Are you really serious about it?

Félix: Yes. Are you?

Davian: Yeah.

Félix: Then, we'll call in the morning.

Davian: Do you want to go to the clinic closest to here, or do you feel like taking a road trip to the original one in Oasis Springs?

Félix: Ooh... now that you’ve given me a choice, I would love to take a road trip to Oasis Springs with you. I've had fantasies about staying in roadside motels in the desert with you. It'd be a long trip, though, and I suspect they'd just refer us back here in the end.

Davian: Yeah. It'd make sense if they referred us back to the clinic here, but wouldn't you like to see where this miracle of alien science all started?

Félix: I would, actually.

Davian: So... Oasis Springs, then?

Félix: Yes. Let's see if we can arrange an appointment in Oasis Springs. It'd be good if we could begin this before I go back to Selvadorada in August.

Davian: I didn't realize you were leaving again.

Félix: Only for a month. I’ll be back in time for the start of the fall semester. I'm returning to the same excavation site as before, in Belomisia. I’m certain I'd already mentioned it.

Davian: Are you going to be able to travel if you're, you know...

Félix: Growing our baby? I don't see why not. It'll be early enough in the process that it shouldn’t interfere.

Davian: Maybe I should come with you.

Félix: I'd love it if you would. You can document it for your followers. They seem to have enjoyed watching your channel the other times you've been to Selvadorada.

Davian: Especially that first time, when I came back married to the world's hottest archaeologist.

Félix: I like the sound of 'world's hottest archaeologist' even better than 'future daddy'.

Davian: I shouldn't be surprised, should I?

Félix: Certainly not.

Davian: If you like that, I've got some other descriptions for you that you might enjoy.

Félix: By all means, mon coeur, please do tell me. Don't keep me waiting another minute.

[butteraway]

when time runs out | iii

⋆ summary:  A young girl has fallen deeply ill with an unknown disease in her, so with all her free time spent in an empty hospital room, she spends it online playing video games. That's until she meets her cousins friends, one spiking her interest with his extremely vulgare language.

pairing: bakugou katsuki x reader

word count: 1.4k

warnings: none

authors note: I just wanna say thank you for the support on the recent chapters!! I think I'll also be able to post another chapter today to look out for that heheh

Y/N didn't know how long she had been up for, nor how long she had been looking at the white, bland wall in front of her, but one thing she knew was that she felt uncomfortable. For all her time that she had spent in the hospital, she never really paid much attention to her room, almost always on her console and computer.

Of course she did online classes every now and then, but that was just another distraction for her, if she was being honest. A distraction that would make her forget of her situation. It didn't make her feel at home, though living in a hospital wasn't very homey either. Y/N could only sigh as she slowly got up from her bed, stretching to loosen her tense muscles.

Popping her neck, she thought about her bedroom back at home, remembering how safe she felt then. Her soft bed, the stuffed animals that were given to her, the colorful walls-

An idea flashed into Y/N's head as she stopped scratching her cheek in thought. Grinning, she quickly walked towards the little microphone that sat in the corner of her room. Turning it on, she spoke into it.

"Hello? Doctor Receen? You there buddy?" She waited for a moment until she heard the cheerful voice of her doctor speak. "Hello Y/N! How are you today?"

Y/N grinned as she watched the once mirrors turn into windows, giving her access to see the doctor. She waved at him.

"Haha, I'm fine, just fine! I actually just wanna ask you something." Y/N chuckled nervously as Doctor Receen raised an eyebrow in question.

"And that would be?" Y/N shifted to fully face the window, smiling timidly as she shifted her weight on her left leg.

"I was just wondering..." Her voice trailed off, hesitant about what she wanted to ask. Playing with her fingers, she looked up and saw Doctor Receen giving her a smile, urging her to continue.

"I was wondering if I could p-paint my room? Cuz, like it's a little um, not roomy here? I just want to feel more at h-home, y'know? Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, it doesn't sound safe. Sorry, p-please forget what I said, it's nothing-" Right as she was about to put down the mic, she heard laughing fill up her room, eyes wide as she looked towards the man as he wiped his eyes.

"Y/N, you don't have to be nervous around me. We've known each other for almost 2 years." Y/N vigorously nodded her head as Receen chuckled at this.

"And about painting your room-" Y/N waited in anticipation of what he was going to say as he looked to be thinking about the question. He smiled as he looked back at the excited girl.

"I don't see any problem with it." The girl jumped as she cheered with happiness, making Doctor Receen laugh at her reaction.

"Though, we will have to run some tests on the paints so it might take a day or so to get you your things. But we'll just give you the equipment to get ready for your paint job." Y/N hadn't felt so much happiness in a while, besides that night she played with those guys online. And her strawberry cheesecake. She thanked the doctor and jumped around in her room quickly turning on the TV to put some music on.

Walking away from the girl's room, Doctor Receen headed towards his office, a grim expression on his face.

Doctor Receen rubbed his tired eyes, rolling the bottle that held the product of intense research done for the sick girl in her room. His eyes stared blankly at the open space in his office, thinking of how he should explain to the young girl's parents that his team and him had found a temporary way to let their daughter out into the world. A lot to take in, if you ask him.

He sighed, gently placing down the bottle of pills on his desk and reaching for his phone. He faltered though, unsure if the parents would even allow them to let her take the pills. He dialed their phone number though, waiting patiently as the line rang.

"Hello Doctor Receen? Has something happened?" Y/N's mother’s voice rang through the phone, urgently asking the dreaded question she didn't want the answer to.

"Good evening, Mrs. L/N. I hope you and your husband are doing well." Doctor Receen calmly greeted. Have to ease them in before breaking the news. The woman chuckled nervously, unsure where the conversation was heading.

"We're both doing well, thank you." The doctor hummed and slowly inhaled before letting it out. She heard this and a shiver went down her spine, only thinking the worst of what he was going to say.

"I am pleased to inform you that my team and I had finally found a way Y/N could go outside." There was a short silence, Doctor Receen running a hand through his black hair.

"What?" There was a tremble that came from the other line, not believing what he had just told her. Her baby could finally get out of that hospital and she'll be able to hold like she used too? That was impossible.

"H-how is that possible? Are you sure the way you found will work? How do you know if it works if you never tried it? Have you already? Oh my God please don't say you're lying!" Her frantic cries were heard loudly in Receen's ear, causing him to slightly move away from the phone. As he told the mother to calm down, he continued.

"Indeed we found a way for her to see the outside world. And as for knowing it works, we had specialists come and help us with the pills, meaning that there is a 97 percent chance they will work. That three percent is highly unlikely though, so you mustn't worry." M/N wasn't sure about what the doctor had said, but decided to trust him since after all, he had helped them so much already.

"Though, unfortunately, you know very well how much time she has left." A deafening silence sat in the air, making it seem as if time itself had stopped. The atmosphere was grave, almost depressing.

"I know." Her voice was so soft, so quiet, he almost didn't hear what she said if it weren't for the silence in the room. It hurt him to know how long Y/N had left until she...

"That is why I am asking for permission to allow Y/N to take the pills whenever she would like to go outside. There are only 15 pills since we had reached our deadline, but-" Receen was cut off by M/N, her voice shaking.

"How long do the pills last?"

"10 hours." M/N sighed in relief, a tear slipping out of her eye. It had taken a long time to finally create something so complicated and for it to last so long. She was overjoyed and extremely thankful.

"Thank you so much Doctor Receen. Thank you so much, Hiroki and I are forever in your debt." M/N sobbed, clutching her phone as the tears fell at a rapid pace. Doctor Receen smiled as she tried to hold back her choked sobs. He was happy for the family.

"Please Mrs. L/N, it's been such a pleasure helping your family. I could only hope we could've done more, but I hope you shall rest slightly more peacefully. But are we going to be able to allow Y/N to take the pills?" M/N vigorously nodded her head, forgetting that Receen couldn't see her.

"Oh! Yes, of course! But-" M/N paused, her thoughts getting doubtful. "Are there any bad side effects to taking the pills?" Receen was silent for a few seconds, pushing up his skewed glasses.

"She might be slightly dizzy when she first takes the pills and when the effects wear off. She also might be a little weak because of all the medicine in the pills, but besides that, nothing that we don’t know of." M/N let out a sigh of relief, a small smile stretching across her face.

"Thank you so much, Doctor. I can never be able to repay you for everything you've done for all of us." After a quick goodbye, Receen let out a sigh, rubbing his eyes again. Receen grinned, picking up the bottle and inspecting the pills inside.

"She took that in better than I expected. That's cool." Receen put the bottle in the pocket of his coat, and began walking away from his office, a slight skip in his steps.