#foxes living in small family units makes me so happy

[aeondeug]

i love that red foxes can be polygynous or monogamous. apparently polyandry has been observed too? anyway i love this because it i think it is neat but also as foxes are my fursona i am happy that they aren't 100% always monogamous like many previously thought.

[lingering-42-long]

i love seeing cod furries!!!!!!! 🫶🐺✨️

So do I!!!! And just for you I made this post based off of what I think each of the COD characters fursonas would be. Let me know if I should do more characters!

And now to our list:

Price : Bear

 I can totally 100% see Price as a bear. A lot of people think bears are fat and lazy, but in reality there are a whole bunch of muscle that can haul ass and put you on the censorship. Grizzly bears are definitely aggressive and very protective especially the females over their cubs. While Price is no Female, he definitely takes great consideration on looking over his team. For this I dub him the bear.

Gaz : Chocolate Labrador Retriever

Gaz is loyal, strong, sweet, and always ready for when Duty calls! Like a Labrador retriever, they are always eager to please, very friendly, and hard-working. Chocolate labs are known for being incredibly family and friend oriented and this really fit his personality. 

Johnny “Soap”: Scottish Red Deer

This was surprisingly hard because I had three options I wanted to go with a rough collie, a jack Russell terrier, or a Scottish red deer. The Scottish red deer one. Deer may seem skittish on the outside but in reality they’re actually very fast, very skilled at dealing with tough situations, and very quick on their feet. I feel like his personality match that of a red deer because of not only a Scottish red deer being from his natural homeland, but they’re also incredibly rugged creatures and very strong. When push comes to shove, you do not want to be in their way when there is a male that is willing to protect his herd. I feel like soap is kind of like that. Once again, very protective of his team, loves the outdoors, and can be very obnoxious to those who don’t see his enthusiasm the same way *cough* Ghost *cough*.

Simon “Ghost” Riley: Skull dog

This was actually easy. Skull dogs, also known as Scullys, are highly misunderstood creatures. While they may appear aggressive and terrifying on the outside, this is usually a way to deter creatures from befriending them. They prefer the silence of their own selves over a large group. With that being said, they are very possessive and aggressive over their personal belongings, and yes that can include a group. Ghost represents this very well. Maybe at one point in life he was a normal dog, but through the pain and torture that he went through he changed into a Skully after suffering with so much.

König: German Shepard

Another obvious choice, but this one was actually surprisingly hard. I wanted to give him a dog that was also a little misunderstood, like he is, as well as a dog that had a great sense of personality and charm, that also made it lovable in a slightly aggressive way. I think the German Shepherd is a good fit for him. They are loyal, strong, built for the military life, and can make a great family dog with proper care. König is the same. Misunderstood as a aggressive creature, only to be believed to be good for clearing out a room, all he wants is to have A happy and fulfilled life.

Horangi: Tiger

Like his name states, he is a tiger. He’s earned his stripes in battle, and he isn’t afraid to fight. He has a sense of purpose now in his life after making bad decisions in his youth. A tiger is a great fit for him. Strong, agile, and bold hunters, a tiger learns from their mistakes in order to become a better hunter.

Phillip Graves: Treeing Walker

Coonhound

Coonhounds is a short word for a large category of dogs that specialize in hunting raccoons, a type of critter that likes to live in trees. They can also be used to hunt foxes or any other small game. Philip matches the hound, not only because the hound was created in the United States, but also because they are incredibly loyal and will obey any order without question. Philip may have been the bad guy in the story line but that doesn’t mean that he was the bad guy at heart. Back at home he was seen as the good ol’ boy and poster child for every want to be military kid.

Alejandro and Rudy: Xoloitzcuintle

Bold and fearless the Xolo was the dog used by the ancient Mayans to protect and be used as guard dogs. Highly sacred and prized for their strength,  these dogs served their masters well as well as becoming active family pets. Alejandro and Rudy our a perfect example of this amazing Mexican breed. determined and loyal mix in with the fierceness, they protect the people of their small town from Valeria and her goons.

Valeria: Coyote

When I think of a force to be reckoned with, I do think of a coyote. They are smart, cunning and very dangerous. Always working together in large packs with one being the bait, leading and drawing in their victims until the rest of the pack members around, and slowly kill the unsuspecting target. They are able to survive in any climates and are incredibly resourceful in almost every terrain. They are a pest that so many farmers and cityfolk alike hate. Valeria Fits as a coyote for her ability to evade Alejandro and his team as well as always seeming to do the worst amount of damage in the quickest amount of time without losing her low profile. like a coyote, she is skilled in handling herself in any area, always keeping minimum contact and yet seeming to make the biggest impact without revealing anything. She keeps her cards close and she knows the game well.

Kate Laswell: Rough Collie

no creature is a better guard dog than a rough collie! They are very good at keeping an eye on a large flock and are always making sure that nothing happens to them under their watchful eye. Just like a collie, Kate has dedicated her life to being the eye for the team. She’s also very good at giving information out and resourceful. 

General Shepherd: American Eagle

When most people hear the American eagle they think of freedom they think of power they think of strength and they think of United States of America. What a lot of people don’t realize is eagles are pretty mean and have been known to steal and harass other eagles. I feel like general Shepard matches this perfectly because of his title and position in charge but in reality he’s just a shady bird that had worked his way up through the cracks and crevices of a broken system and he knows it too.

[solohux]

happy 2021! i really hope we all have a better year this year but for now, here’s a list of my favourite kylo/hux fics that were published in 2020, ones that got me through days of lonliness and sadness to make me smile ✧

thank you fic writers of the kylux fandom! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

- keep in the dark (to stay out of the light) by howlingshame Modern AU. Smuggler Kylo Ren runs afoul of Armitage Hux, head of the First Order crime ring. Instead of killing him outright, Hux decides to keep him for his own instead. Kylo is none too thrilled with the situation, but Hux has plenty of patience. He wants Kylo to be his in every sense of the word, and they've got all the time in the world. [E, 247k words, warnings for violence, stockholm syndrome, sub kylo & dom hux]

- Please Remember I Love You by @bumblebae8 After murdering Snoke, Kylo Ren flees alongside Rey, returning to the Reistance and to his mother after ten years. They at once begin strategizing on how to take down the corrupt and evil First Order. [M, 65k words, no warnings, redeemed ben, skywalker family drama]

- Children of War by @starryartemis​ After a complicated diplomatic mission went awry, General Hux and Kylo Ren accidentally find themselves tasked with their most difficult mission: becoming parents. Despite their complex relationship, they both agree that raising an offspring will help bring glory to the First Order. Their original vision of a united family quickly falls apart as Hux and Ren cannot see eye to eye in what they want the future to hold. [E, 162k words, warnings for violence, kylux science babies, slow burn]

- I Should Live in Salt for Leaving You Behind by Asrael_Valtiri Of course, he’d betrayed Ren, to save the Order. To save himself and his people.To try to save Ren, in a way.Strange, Hux thought, closing his eyes against the glare of the overhead lighting. He pretended that the wetness escaping the corner of his eye was from the brightness. He failed.Stupid, he amended. Stupid, Armitage. [E, 65k words, no warnings, a TROS fix-it, kylo clones]

- Against All Odds by Kittens              Kylo really doesn't care for people, but he'll always help an animal in need. When he sees a dog covered in mud on a cold, rainy day, he can't help but try to help. What he didn't expect was for the dog to be a fox and the fox to be a man. [E, 49k words, warnings for violence, modern au, fox hux]

- Hadopelagic by DustOnBothSides [WIP] After a life of staying pharmaceutically heat-free, Hux has to allow his body to go through at least one natural cycle, lest there be consequences. He takes a shore leave and travels to a former omegan retreat, abandoned and all but forgotten after the fall of Old Republic. Ren, not knowing of Hux's predicament, decides to follow, suspecting treason. He finds something else instead. [E, 33k words, omega hux & alpha kylo]

- Sup From My Mouth by @atlinmerrick​ [Kylux Adjacent] Dolly Oblonskaya never precisely introduces her old friend to her children’s new tutor, no. She does put one lonely man in a room with the other again and again and again...and to her delight Konstantin Levin and Francisco Garupe take care of the rest. Or, this is the story of how an idealistic young Russian aristocrat helps heal a mourning young Jesuit priest, one very cold Moscow winter. [E, 58k words, no warnings, Fransisco Garupe/Konstantin Levin]

- Lighting the Fuse by hey_honey "What is going on?" Phasma asked when Hux returned from his meeting with Leia looking pale. He stared at her. "The Queen's son agreed to marry a First Order official on one condition," he said. "And?" Phasma encouraged. "That official has to be me," he said. [E, 30k words, no warnings, omega ben & alpha armitage, mpreg, ben is ruler of naboo]

- Across the Stars, I am Home by @venetumdrabbler [WIP] Before leaving to go undercover in the First Order, Armitage Hux had made promises. Keep an eye and report when able to the republic, and later the resistance. Keep tabs on the dark force user Snoke. And most important of all: Bring Ben Solo home. So far Hux had managed, or was managing, 2 out 3. Then there is an awakening. [M, 42k words, no warnings, jedi armitage au, slow burn]

- Pro Nobis Solum by CarelessHux (AraSigyrn)     Kylo Ren wakes after Starkiller.  Alone. [M, 8k words, no warnings, post tfa au, established relationship]

- sisyphus rolls his boulder to the top by yogurtgun     While trying to convince Rey to turn to the Dark on the Steadfast, Kylo feels Hux's presence in the Force disappear. [T, 6.7k words, warnings for violence, tros fix-it, temporary character death]

- i can make your dreams come by claquesous It feels like the small hours of the morning, the blurry in-between Hux calls early and Kylo calls late. “Can’t even make it through the night without a pillow to hump, can you?” Hux sneers. [E, 3k words, no warnings, somnophilia, sub kylo & dom hux]

- Knot Finished by Ki_Ken_Tai_Ichi  Kylo learns a bit more about Arkanis physiology through practical demonstrations. [E, 2k words, no warnings, hux is alien, top hux & bottom kylo]

- 90 Day Fiancé by @bostarsky​ & @sunnywritesstuff​ “Maybe that means you’ll be more inclined to choose me,” Hux hints, glancing over at a drone buzzing by with a sneaky look on his face. Perfect, he’ll create as much support for himself with the public as possible. "What I choose doesn’t matter,” he croons, making it sound as romantic as he possibly can to hide the true meaning of the words. [E, 38.5k words, no warnings, alpha hux & omega kylo, kylo amidala, creepy snoke]

- What if We Tried Again? by @penpenhooray​ Perhaps, but did Pryde bother to check if he was actually dead?Armitage Hux may be many things, but a fool was not one of them. So rather than stay with the First Order and watch it burn, Hux decides that faking his death would be preferable, leaving him free to tie up his one loose end. His ex-husband, Kylo Ren. But what happens when Ren...isn't quite Ren anymore, but just as "dead" as Hux? What happens if they face their feelings surrounding their failed marriage? What if they dared to try again? [T, 2.7k words, no warnings, tros fix-it, mpreg & miscarriage]

- Where Do You Go When You're Lonely? by @vadianna​ Fresh off a grueling undercover mission on an unpleasant Outer Rim planet, Kylo Ren wants to eat, drink, and sleep. Unfortunately, Hux is sitting at the only bar in the area. Thinking that Hux is there to brief him, Kylo soon realizes that Hux is off-duty, and has also never seen him without his helmet on.  Things escalate, and the two wind up finishing Kylo's mission together as they both get to know each other. [E, 29.3k words, no warnings, false identity, bottom kylo & top hux]

- Team Hux or Team Ren? by AdamJensens General Hux overhears a conversation between stormtroopers that opens his eyes to a competition between the troops of the First Order. He discovers his subordinates are not only loyal and devoted but also obsessed – Hux has fans. So does Kylo Ren, and there's a kind of war going on between the two groups calling themselves Team Hux and Team Ren. What Hux doesn't know yet is that there's a third group solely focused on shipping the two co–commanders. There's fanfiction, fanart and all kinds of crazy theories. Shipping, as Hux will soon discover, is a serious business. [E, 11.5k words, no warnings, crack treated seriously, mutual pining]

- Under Covers of Darkness by Camellia Cook (thekurosakiconundrum) Alpha twins Ben and Kylo have a somewhat unusual arrangement with their mate Hux: they're together, all three of them, and it's not strictly a Hux-in-the-middle situation. [E, 3.3k words, no warnings, threesome, sibling incest alpha ben & alpha kylo & omega hux]

- Share the Load by @emperorsvornskr​ Hux runs into Kylo while dealing with his unique Arkanan biology- and Kylo is dealing with some self confidence issues. It's a match tailor made for the both of them. [E, 6.1k words, no warnings, alien armitage hux, trans kylo, eggs]

- Safety in his arms by @redcole​ Kylo knows it's time to bond with Hux, he just wants to make sure that his intentions are clear. After all, it isn't often that an omega courts an alpha. [M, 3.2k words, no warnings, omega kylo & alpha hux, mpreg]

- Horny Hearts by @rattlesnake777​ [Kylux Adjacent] Techie has a new flatmate called Matt and all he can really think about is doing it with him... [E, 18.3k words, no warnings, Clan Techie/Matt The Radar Tech, modern au, misunderstandings]

- Collars and Kisses by koi_boi Kylo loves his little fox and has missed him dearly after a long mission away. Hux, not so much, or so Kylo thinks. Then he actually thinks for once and comes to A Realization™. They fuck, they cuddle, then they get soft and tender. Disgusting. [E, 3.4k, no warnings, fox hux, fluff & smut, dom kylo & sub hux]

- the chancellor's gift by @thethespacecoyote​ Supreme Leader Kylo Ren goes on a mission to retrieve something invaluable for his lightsaber-obsessed chancellor. However, his plans for presenting the treasure to Hux are unfortunately derailed when a group of insurgents kidnap the chancellor and hold him hostage, threatening both Hux's life, and the life of their unborn pup. It seems, even years into their reign, that there are still enemies foolish enough to try to take from Kylo what's his. [M, 5.3k words, warnings for violence, alpha kylo & omega hux, mpreg, protective kylo]

- Entrapped by @kyluxtrashpit​ While searching for a mysterious Force artifact for Snoke, a squadron of Stormtroopers goes missing. Kylo insists on going out alone then, certain he can find and face down whatever might have killed them and succeed in getting the artifact. The creature responsible, however, has other plans for him. [E, 3.4k words, rape/noncon, tentacle sex, protective hux]

- Your Chain Around My Neck by @bastila-s​ After the council meeting about the Sith fleet, Kylo asks Hux to stay behind and "prove" he isn't a spy. [E, 3.6k words, no warnings but dubcon tag, power dynamics, smut, dom kylo & sub hux]

- Regret by @abraxas-drake​ Kylo tries to get Hux to relax under the guise of a work discussion. When things go terribly wrong, Hux must rely on the new Supreme Leader to save his life. [E, 3.8k words, warnings for violence and threats of noncon, alpha kylo & omega hux, protective kylo, forced into heat]

- Invasion by sigo Hux was seated at the long durasteel table in the Steadfast’s largest conference room, Enric Pryde on his left and Mitaka presenting his findings to the group standing on his right, when he felt it: Ren’s hands on his chest, running hot down his skin below his uniform. [E, 2.9k words, no warnings, pwp, bottom hux & top kylo, force sex, semi-public sex]

- In His Grasp by @cosleia​ Kylo Ren doesn't understand why General Hux is shirking his duty over a simple injury. When he tries to find out, though, he learns more than he bargained for...about the general, and about himself. [M, 4.1k words, post-tlj, pining, hand-feeding]

- Heat Sink by @sparrows-trashcan​ Kylo Ren is an omega but so is General Hux. While Hux doesn't mind everyone knowing that his preference is limited to male omegas Kylo Ren is shamed to feel the same. Everything changes after the Starkiller incident: Kylo Ren is in heat and there is only one person on the Finalizer who could possibly help him... [E, 4.2k words, no warnings, omega hux & omega kylo, smut]

- Distraction by @kyluxtrashpit​ Kylo needs a distraction from his hopeless pining over his co-commander, who he's sure he can never have. So he turns to the Knights of Ren to keep his mind - and body - busy. When Hux walks in on the events, however, Kylo learns that perhaps his feelings aren't a lost cause after all. [E, 3.6k words, no warnings, kylo/knights of ren, group sex]

- Between the Stars by Kittens The Finalizer's medical team does not want to deal with Kylo Ren. When he ends up injured during a mission, it's up to Hux to take care of him. It's not exactly what Hux is good at, but for Kylo it means everything. [T, 3.9k words, no warnings, hurt/comfort, bathing]

- Switch Up, Love Eternal by @onewhositswiththeturtles​ When Ren damages consoles aboard the Finalizer during a tantrum, Hux summons him for some much-deserved discipline. Perhaps there would be some hope for Ren learning the error of his ways if he wasn't such a whore for punishment. [E, 3.4k words, no warnings, dom/sub switching, smut]

- Across the Stars (To Find You) by Lady_Faulkner While on a mission for Snoke, Kylo Ren gets kidnapped by pirates and it's up to General Hux to track him down and rescue him before he's sold on the black market. Along the way, Hux discovers that his feelings of hatred for Kylo Ren have been masking another emotion altogether. [E, 10.9k, no warnings, kidnapping, hurt kylo]

- Doom's Desire by @nerdherderette​ Hux never expected to find a jewel worthy of the Empire's crown in an Outer Rim desert wasteland. [E, 10.3k words, no warnings, canon au, gladiator fighter kylo, emperor hux]

- Empire Day Miracle by coldashes         Kylo just wants to relax, to be surrounded by people is to be surrounded by the Force. Except this is the First Order's Empire Day officer party and things never go as well as one would hope. [E, 4.4k words, no warnings, pwp, identity mistakes, pre-tfa]

- Reptile Husbandry by koi_boi Hux is an accomplished researcher who's having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad time in the field. He stumbles into a cave filled with secrets and one very large, very curious snake. Hux gets fucked in more ways than one. [E, 13.4k words, no warnings, modern/fantasy au, naga kylo & researcher hux, smut]

- Utapaun Christening by @mcducklet-blog​ Kylo Ren is determined to ensure that his children are the strongest creatures in the galaxy. Armitage Hux is willing to go along with it.Neither of them is ready for what that entails. [T, 6.6k words, no warnings, mpreg, knights of ren, peril]

- so it goes by @msbyjckals​ [WIP] Hux wakes to feel a pair of warm, calloused hands covering his. He doesn’t remember much, just the mission brief, the landing, and the cold. [M, 2.9k words, no warnings, starkiller rescue]

- Rumor Mill by @theweddingofthefoxes​ Everybody has their own suspicions about what Kylo Ren and General Hux get up to in private, but the truth is far more tender than anyone would guess. [G, 1.2k words, no warnings, fluff, cuddling]

- The One with the Eggs by sigo                 Hux turned on his heel, but hardly made it two steps before running straight into Kylo Ren. He knew his face betrayed his dismay. He didn’t have time for this. “I apologize, Ren, but I must be on my way.” Hux stepped to the side and Ren stepped in front of him again. Hux shivered as he felt another dropping sensation inside himself. This time the ‘drop’ completed its path — the inside of his pants was wet, cold gel trickling at a glacial pace down his thighs. Of course, that was nothing compared to what lay ahead. “Ren,” He said sharply. His voice was higher, raising in pitch the way it always did when he was panicked. “I am ill. Let me through.” Ren spoke through his ridiculous helmet, voice distorted. “We have a meeting.” [E, 4.8k, no warnings, alien hux, eggs, bottom kylo & top hux]

- Shadow Of Your Heart by @pangolinpirate​ & @redcole​ & @starkillersbae​ [WIP] After the fall of the empire Luke Skywalker fought a rising evil in the outer rim, a villain named Snoke who tormented his young nephew. With Snoke defeated, Leia sent her son to be trained as part of the new order of jedi, in the hopes that it would keep him safe. [E, 22.7k words, no warnings, omega kylo & alpha kylo, mpreg]

- Clear From Far Away by @pizzzazlut​ “But most of all, curse Kylo bloody Ren for having a chest that sparked pure, unadulterated arousal that has Hux humping his pillow like a fucking virgin.” Or the one where Hux is just trying to get off but his Supreme Leader just won't leave him alone. [E, 1.8k words, no warnings but dubcon, pillow humping]

- Tripped Over A Mouse Droid by @milarca​ & @ranebowstitches​ Hux gets injured while working, and Kylo finds him in the medbay. Who knew mouse droids could be so dangerous? [G, 3k words, no warnings, hurt/comfort, alpha kylo & omega hux]

- with you by @msbyjckals​ “You know I love you, right?” Ren said. “Of course I know that, I’ve always had you; you’ve always been mine.” [T, 1k words, no warnings, sleepy cuddles, soft domestic fluff]

- Unexpected Avenues by @sinceyouaskedmeforataleof​ [WIP, Mitaka/Hux] No one wanted to take this particularly grisly task, but Dopheld is glad it fell to him when he realises that all is not as it seems. Can he make a new life on the run with his ex, now that everything he thought he knew has been turned upside down? [E, 84k words, omega hux & alpha kylo & alpha mitaka, mpreg, post-tros]

- Who Needs The Galaxy When There's You? by Mesmeret         Kylo is a simple, lonely smuggler with no one since his accident a decade ago. Or so he thought before his twelve year old daughter retrieves him to help out his long forgotten husband with a bothersome heat. [E, 7.7k words, no warnings, alpha kylo & omega hux, amnesia, smuggler kylo & mandalorian hux]

- By the Will of the Gods by @darktenshi17​ Armitage is chosen to be a sacrifice to his gods in return for his village's protection. It's not the gods who find him out in the woods. [E, 1.9k words, no warnings but dubcon, fantasy/medieval au,

- The Fall of Yesterday by @sinceyouaskedmeforataleof​  [WIP] Seven years after Exegol, a nameless sailor works a thankless job onboard an Arkanis pearl harvester and fails to forget all the things he has lost. When the ship arrives at a new port all he wants to do is find a place to sleep through his shore leave. He might find more than that. [E, 10k words, no warnings, tros fix-it, alpha kylo & omega hux]

- Special Delivery by DaisyChainz Hux orders a toy that's supposed to be 'discreetly packaged', but when his hot mailman brings it directly to his front door, he finds out it is definitely not. [E, 3.3k words, no warnings, modern au, smut]

- Most Wanted by @pizzzazlut​ When the most prolific serial killer the city of Arkanis has ever seen is finally arrested and awaiting trial, it takes two of the cities most respected lawyers to represent the culprit and the victims. The only problem is that Kylo Ren and Armitage Hux haven't interacted since law school and will now have to work against each other to win the career-building case of a lifetime. Or The one where Kylo and Hux are rival lawyers with too much history but an equal amount of hate for Snoke. [E, 12.6k words, warnings for violence, modern au, murders and blood]

- Devotion by @kyluxtrashpit​ The Emperor loves to hear about his devoted hound's successful missions, ideally in as much detail as possible. Kylo does not disappoint. [E, 1.9k, no warnings, smut, emperor hux & hound kylo]

- three's a crowd by @thethespacecoyote​ Ren Prime catches Ben sneaking a First Order cadet onboard, and decides an unorthodox kind of punishment is in order. [E, 1.4k words, no warnings, ren prime, smut, voyeurism]

- If we have each other (the world is ours to conquer) by                    thereisnocowboyemoji “You think, what, that I have feelings for her?” “Please, Ren, do not dare try to insult my intelligence.” [G, 1.3k, no warnings, married kylux, mpreg, jealousy]

- In the Vents by @kyluxtrashpit​ Hux returns from his shift to find the bottom half of Kylo sticking out of the heating vent. Kylo is stuck and Hux isn't one to let opportunities pass him by. [E, 2k words, no warnings, pwp]

- the monster in your bed by @thethespacecoyote​ In the dead of night, something terrifying and lascivious comes to a sleeping General Hux. [E, 2k words, no warnings, consensual noncon roleplay, sub hux & dom kylo]

- Old Hornington Rides Again by oorsprong “Don’t be vulgar.” Of course he remembered. The embarrassing nickname had somehow become part of the whole taboo. Sex in the conference room in the early hours; Hux naked but for his boots and his hat and taunting Kylo with dirty talk. Kylo worshiped his cock in those days, treated it with reverence. “I could do it again.” [E, 1.3k words, no warnings, smut, old married kylux]

- His Purpose by partialresonance When Hux hears Snoke's voice in his mind, he thinks it's a caffeine hallucination. Until the voice plants an insidious purpose that Hux has no choice but to fulfill. Thankfully, Kylo is there to save him. Little does he know that the sinister presence was targeting him all along. [M, 5.6k words, no warnings, suicide attempt, mind manipulation, love confessions]  

- Mariner’s Hollo by Eirean Whilst on a diplomatic mission, Kylo is invited to take part in the planet’s ancient ritual, and demands that the Grand Marshall accompany him. Said Grand Marshall is deeply unimpressed by the whole thing. [E, 9.7k words, no warnings, enemies to lovers, smut]

- Let It Happen by @pizzzazlut​ Armitage Hux re-analyzed all his life choices up to this point and could not come up with anything as careless as this. Or the one where Ren joins Kylo and Hux in bed because he doesn't like being left out. [E, 2k words, ren prime, threesome]

- Come On And Slam by @thediktatortot​ Hux and Kylo invite Ren Prime into their chambers and get more than they bargain for. [E, 1.9k words, no warnings, ren prime, threesome]

- A Passing Madness by moreless “It’s a gift,” says Ren simply, folding his large hands behind his back. His gaze moves between the lightsaber and Hux. “It used to belong to the Jedi traitor Mace Windu. It reminded me of you.” Two steps forward, one step back. Another step back. That's how their relationship works. Even now. [T, 1.9k words, no warnings, duel of the fates au, power dynamics]

- Our Impeccable Leadership by roseofgalaxies The Supreme Leader and his treacherous General have begun to collaborate with unexpected success. There's only one problem: Ren's stopped wearing a shirt. [E, 4.8k words, no warnings, lego holiday special, body worship]

- Giving In by Kyram (BrokenApril) Hux has a mission. Millions of lives are on the line, yet Ren's presence teases him. He's desperate to give in even if his job will become all the harder. [T, 2.2k words, no warnings, touch starvation, force sensitive hux]

- to lay your armor down by surrenderer Once in a while, the Supreme Leader likes to wear his Chancellor’s greatcoat around the Capitol building. [M, 661 words, no warnings, role reversal, force sensitive hux & force null kylo]

- Benefits of Force Sensitivity by Kittens After the surprising change in his relationship with Ren, Hux has a lot to think about. But they also have a mission to complete and that may have unintended consequences. [M, 4.3k words, no warnings, force sensitive hux, cuddling]

[ga-yuu]

~Kurama~Main Story Chapter 5~Part 2

Part 1

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*

*

------Part 4-----

Shigehira: "Yoshino-san!"

Pulling up the fabric of the tent, Shigehira-kun jumped inside with great energy.

Yoshino: "Shigehira-kun! ....Are you injured?"

Shigehira: "No."

The sight of the blood-stained figure was a bit of a shock, but it turned out to be someone else's blood.

Shigehira: "I'm here to inform you. Listen. A party of the enemy has set its course here. Take the wounded and move with the others."

(The enemy!?)

Yoshino: "Oh, okay, I'll get ready."

Shigehira: "I'll help you. I've already given instructions to my men."

I quickly put together my tools and left the tent with Shigehira-kun.

.............

Those who are lightly wounded are mounted, while those who cannot ride on their own are assisted by other soldiers.

They are placed in the middle of the squadron to avoid delays.

Yoshino: "Will you and your men join us? And what about Morinaga-san...."

Shigehira: "Morinaga-san cannot leave the front yet. For now, the Shogunate has the upper hand... I'll return to my post after I've escorted you."

Yoshino: "...Oh, okay. Take care of yourself."

(I'm worried, but I'll pray for your safety...)

Shigehira: "Same to you."

Shigehira-kun muttered seriously as he rode alongside me, his horse flying.

Shigehira: "Neither I nor Morinaga-san thought the war would get this bad. This battle is...."

..................

Kagetoki: "This war is clearly an aberration."

Yoritomo: ".................."

At the same time, in Kamakura, Yoritomo, who had received a report on the battle from Kagetoki, moved his eyebrows slightly.

Yoritomo: “You said that the information about the Shogunate and the rebels was leaked and mixed up at the same time.

Kagetoki: “Yes. It’s becoming a war of attrition, with both sides making a series of surprise attacks. Although the Shogunate had the advantage in numbers...We don’t like the fact that the damage has exceeded what we had envisaged as an outpost.”

Yoritomo: “Has there been an investigation into who is pulling the strings?”

Kagetoki: “I’ve got some nasty information about it.”

A glance alone signals ‘Go on’, and Kagetoki reels.

Kagetoki: “Private armies, secretly recruited by some noble families, are infiltrating the battlefield.”

Yoritomo: “Nobles?”

Kagetoki: “Yes. At least ostensibly, the families have no connection. It took a long time to get caught up in the network because they were hired separately in small numbers.”

Yoritomo looked over the report quickly, and his gaze sharpened.

Yoritomo: “I see. Even though it’s just a bunch of mooks, there’s still a good number of all together.”

Kagetoki: “It doesn’t look like an opponent who can use sophisticated tactics to manipulate the information of two armies to reduce each other’s strength... When you've assembled on a battlefield, you can’t be irrelevant.”

Yoritomo: “There is something fundamentally puzzling about the complicity of the nobles.”

Kagetoki: “Yes. The noble families mentioned in the report were probably just a bunch of birds clinging to a vanishing power. All I can see is that they are suddenly united. It feels contrived.”

Yoritomo: “If the rebels are on the back foot, there’s no way they’re working with the nobility.”

After a brief pause for thought, Yoritomo locked eyes with Kagetoki.

Yoritomo: “Find out if anyone high up in the court is involved. I will send word to Morinaga and Shigehira on the battlefield as soon as possible.”

Kagetoki: “Yes.”

................

(I’ve managed to resume treatment, but I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable with the idea of another surprise attack here.)

And yet, as I dealt with one wounded man after another, time goes by in a blink of an eye.

Injured soldier: “Did you get the latest news, Yoshino-san? It seems that the war will end soon.”

Yoshino: “Is that true!?”

A wounded soldier who was lying on the floor spoke happily and his voice became more lively.

Injured soldier: “The guy who just brought in the wounded said that the rebels are going to withdraw at last.”

(Thank god.....!)

Yoshino: “I hope as many soldiers as possible are safe....”

Injured soldier: “There are a number of soldiers who have been saved thanks to you, Yoshino-san. Like me.”

Yoshino: “Hehe, I’m honored.”

The faces of the other soldiers in the tent were brighter because they had seen a glimmer of hope.

When I sighed relief-----

???: “Excuse me.”

Yoshino: “.....? Yes.”

I heard someone calling from outside my tent and I went to look out, only to be greeted by----

Boy: “Hello, Yoshino.”

--------Part 5------

Boy: “Hello, Yoshino.”

Yoshino: “A kid?”

He greeted me in a rather mature voice and bowed gracefully.

(Why is a KID in such a place?)

(Maybe from the nearby town? But....)

But his high-quality clothes and beautiful face tell me a different story.

Yoshino: “Where are you from? and also how do you know my name?”

Boy: “I came from there.”

With a strangely calm smile, the boy points to the west.

Boy: “A very beautiful man told me your name too.”

I was a bit suspicious by his somewhat impersonal, age-inappropriate manner.

(But I can’t leave him alone like this.)

Yoshino: “Okay, this is a dangerous place, so stay close to my side. I’ll take you home later.”

(I have to tell everyone about this. I wonder where the guards have gone...)

Boy: “That’s very kind of you. I’ll be happy to stay with you. But sorry,....you’re coming with me.”

Yoshino: “Eh?”

----At that moment, I noticed a bracelet falling off from the little boy’s wrists.

And the next moment----

Man: “My name is Ibuki. Nice to meet you again, fox princess.”

(This person...)

His wavy golden hair and blue eyes showed that he was the same person as the child from earlier.

But more than that, I gasped at the two horns on his head.

Yoshino: “Oni....?”

Ibuki: “Correct.”

(Demon! What’s more, from what you just said you’re an enemy, aren’t you?)

As I stepped back, my thoughts wander.

(I can’t call for help from inside the tent. It would involve everyone.)

Yoshino: “What did you do to the guards?’

Ibuki: “It would be negligent of the watchman to let him fall after a little play.”

(I don’t know...how strong this demon, this Ibuki is.)

(Also he addressed me as fox princess, so he does know about my powers.)

Ibuki: “Now now, don’t think too much.”

(Ah)

He easily closes the distance between us by pulling me by the wrists.

Ibuki lightly supports my body, when I was about to fall out of balance.

Yoshino: “Let go! What’s your intention?”

Ibuki: “It’s a common story in folklore that a demon kidnaps a princess. I’d take you if I could, but I’m not really into that. So here’s the deal, if you resist, I will kill you and everyone else inside the tent.”

(........)

Ibuki: “What do you want? Decide for yourself.”

(You!)

Yoshino: “What’s your purpose....?”

Ibuki: “You’ll know it on the way. Now come. If someone gets suspicious that you’re not coming back and leaves the tent, then you’re out of options.”

(.....Looks like I’ve no other choice.)

Yoshino: “Fine. I’ll come with you.”

I killed my trembling voice as much as I could and stared at Ibuki.

Ibuki: “I like clever women. How about we flirt for a while...? But first, let’s get out of this bloody place.”

...........

Riding the horse that was tied to me, Ibuki carried me in front of him through the mountains of the battlefield.

Ibuki: “The Shogunate must be in full retreat by now, as the rebel army retreats. Are feeling lonely, fox princess, now that you’re left behind?”

Yoshino: “Nn....I’ll never tell you. Will you tell me where are we going?”

Ibuki: “You’ll know soon----Oh, look there he is.”

(Eh?)

Ibuki dismounted me and pointed to the full moon in the night sky.

No way----the next moment, something dark covers the moon.

(That’s!)

When I realized what was that dark thing was, I saw huge jet-black wings covering my vision.

Then something came down at a tremendous speed.

Kurama: “Why are you here? ---Shuten Doji, Ibuki.”

~~~~~~’I won’t call your name’ (Normal Story)~~~~~

Ibuki: “You’ll know soo----Oh, look there he is.”

(Eh?)

Ibuki dismounted me and pointed to the full moon in the night sky.

No way----the next moment, something dark covers the moon.

(That’s!)

When I realized what was that darkness, I saw huge jet-black wings covering my vision.

Then something came down at a tremendous speed.

Kurama: “Why are you here? ---Shuten Doji, Ibuki.”

(Kurama!?)

Ibuki: “What a coincidence, huh? Kurama.”

Kurama: “You’re the one who deliberately came close to me, releasing your spell so that I’d notice you.”

(They both know each other?....But...)

Ibuki: “Don’t be so angry. I’ve gone out my way to bring you a gift to mark our reunion.”

Kurama: “Gift?”

Ibuki holds me by the shoulders as if to show me. Then Kurama’s eyes turned to look at me.

Kurama: “For what reason do you have that little puss?”

Ibuki: “I seduced her politely and snatched her.”

(Even if he says this, Ibuki must have a reason to kidnap me.)

Kurama: “I have heard rumors that you have been in hiding for a long time....Why have you come to me now?”

Ibuki: “Because I want to play with you like I used to, of course. Have you forgotten how well I looked after you?”

Kurama: “.....I forgot.”

Kurama replies with a pause and clicks his tongue.

Ibuki: “Why are you so cold to me, Kurama? You were so much cuter when you were a kid. Do you remember that one time, when you lost to me in a match, I had you call me ‘Ibuki oni-sama’ all day?”

Kurama(menacing glare): “Die.”

Ibuki: “Whoa, rebellious, I see. It makes me smile and cry to see you pouting and clamoring.”

(Who the hell is Ibuki to treat that Kurama like a kid?)

Kurama: “I’m beginning to remember. It’s no use talking to you.”

(......!)

At the same time as Kurama’s voice crawls across the ground, a cloud of dust is instantly raised from the ground.

Ibuki: “Hahaha...”

(Ah)

There was an amused chuckle, and then a thump on my back.

Kurama: “..........!”

As I slumped to my knees on the ground, Kurama’s eye met mine.

Ibuki waved his hand to take advantage of this.

From somewhere a dense fog rolled in, obscuring his appearance.

Ibuki: “See you again, Kurama.”

Kurama: “Wait.”

(Nn....)

I can feel the sound of the tornado as it snatched me right in the face. My hair is curling up and I can’t keep my eyes open very well.

Kurama: “.........”

The noise and the wind stopped and I opened my eyes to find that the fog had lifted without a trace.

(Ibuki...disappeared.)

Yoshino: “......Kurama.”

Kurama, who stood silently in front of me, looked at me. 

The stinging air was the same as before, and my instincts told me that the slightest movement would kill me.

Kurama: “Where did you meet Ibuki?”

Yoshino: “....just a while ago. And he kidnapped without any reason. But who is he? And how is he related to you...?”

Kurama: “Our relation, huh?”

(Ah.)

In an instant, the hilt of the sword touched my shoulder, and I was pushed backward.

When I looked up stunned, I saw an unusual rage simmering in the depths of his cold eyes.

Kurama: “Don’t ask me whatever you want.”

Yoshino: “Don’t treat me like that.”

I endured my fear and returned the words.

Kurama: “You let that guy kidnap you easily and now you got thrown away like a bone to a dog......How do you call that? In fact, Ibuki had been  talking nonsense about you being a gift.”

(That’s...)

Kurama: “Well, since you failed to knock it back, I suppose it makes sense to break it.  The ‘gifts’ he always gives me make me sick.”

Yoshino: “What are you going to do....?”

Kurama: “I couldn’t do it last time. Now that you’re on the battlefield, you should be ready to die. Or else----”

There was a gurgling sound and an unnatural gust of wind emerged.

Kurama: “Will you try taking me down? Little puss.”

(.....! He’s coming after me!)

Kurama raises one hand, unconcerned about his black hair being disturbed by the wind.

A number of transparent whirlpools were created and poured down from above the head.

Yoshino: “Ngh.”

(----I can fight! Lend me the power of the nine-tail fox!)

I opened my eyes and raised the palm of one hand boldly.

At the same time, with my other hand, I grabbed the hilt of the sword that was on my shoulder and jumped up while bouncing off.

Kurama(surprised): “......”

(.....I’m strong now. I can cancel his mystical powers.)

The wind is losing its momentum around the outstretched palm.

Feeling this, I carefully distance myself from Kurama.

Kurama: “Ohh. Did you manage to use your powers from that distance without shying away?”

Yoshino:” I did say I’ll get stronger, didn’t I?”

The memory of the last time we parted lights up in my heat like a beacon.

------FLASHBACK-----

Yoshino: "No, I mean.....the next time I meet Kurama on the battlefield, I will be stronger than I am now."

Kurama: "What?"

Yoshino: "I felt bad about what Kurama said about me. But I also thought he was right. Thank you for making me aware that I am weak."

Kurama(surprised): "...................."

------FLASHBACK ENDS------

Kurama: “Do you think we’re in the same league after you ran around Kamakura killing the petty little demons?”

Yoshino: “At least, I made an effort.” (This is the reason! This is why I love her. Even if it's not that great, she at least proved herself that she’s not entirely useless, unlike some other MCs who want the male leads to save them. I’m proud of you, Yoshino.)

(.....It was never the end of the crisis.)

Kurama could easily take my life without using his other powers.

(But still, as long as I have a life, I’ll continue to resist until the end!)

Kurama: “Don’t be so tough, your legs are shaking.”

Yoshino: “....Really? Might be from excitement.”

Kurama: “......Heh.”

(Eh?)

A faint laugh, leaks from his thin lips.

The heavy tension in the air suddenly relaxed.

Yoshino: “Kurama....?”

Kurama: “So the chicken has finally come out of its egg. Very well. I’ll see you as a living thing. Breathe freely in my presence, speak the same language, and I’ll also allow you to move as long as you live.”

(That’s.....)

Yoshino: “You won’t kill me anymore...?”

Kurama: “Not for now. Rejoice, Yoshino. You’ve made my day.”

(Ah....my name.)

I was struck by surprise before relief when he declared that he would not kill me immediately.

Kurama: “Hey, why are you not answering?”

Kurama, who has carelessly closed the distance between us, lightly touches my cheek.

Yoshino: “I was just surprised. That was the first time, you called me by my name.”

(Also I’ve never seen him laugh so softly like that.)

Kurama: “A name is just a symbol. Whatever you call it, it means nothing.”

Yoshino: “.....You’re right.”

(That’s how Kurama thinks.)

Kurama: “But I don’t call the names of things that don’t deserve to live.”

(.....!)

Yoshino: “Does that mean...you acknowledge me now?”

Kurama(glares cutely): “Don’t get too carried away.”

Yoshino: “Sorry.”

I reflexively shrug my shoulders when I’m told off....

Kurama: “....What are you smirking about?”

Yoshino: “Eh?”

(Oh no, maybe my cheeks were unconsciously loose.)

(But why?)

I was surprisingly happy to be recognized by the enemy Kurama.

Kurama: “You don’t seem to be taking me seriously, despite me telling you not to get carried away.”

Yoshino: “No, it’s nothing like that.”

Kurama: “So, what are you going to do now?”

His red ferocious eyes approached me but I unintentionally looked away.

But then he holds my cheeks and forced me to look at him, leaving me no chance to escape.

Kurama: “You’re not quite what I expected. Tell me what you want. Maybe you’ll miraculously succeed in filling my boredom again.”

(I don’t have the confidence to respond to such an unreasonable request!)

When I was wondering what to ask, I sighed a little.

Yoshino: “....I was happy when you called me by my name.”

Kurama: “...........Is that what you want?”

Yoshino: “Mm.”

Kurama: “......I don’t why you liked it, but let’s try.”

(What..?)

His neat face approached...and his lips were brought near my ears.

Kurama: “Yoshino.”

My cheeks get hotter as I listen to his honey-like voice slowly pouring into my ears.

Kurama: “Answer me. Why do you like to be called by your name?”

Yoshino(blushing): “I don’t know...

Kurama: “Are you kidding me?”

Yoshino(blushing): “Ah.”

I let out a small moan, as he kissed my ear. The impact led to heat spreading all over my body.

Yoshino(blushing): “No....wait....Mm...”

In a hurry, I pushed Kurama’s chest back.

Yoshino(blushing): “I don’t think that’s the right thing to do!”

Kurama: “Why?”

Yoshino(blushing): “What do you mean ‘why’? You should be doing these sort of things only with the person you love.”

Kurama: “Unfortunately, I have no connection with the vulgar feelings of love and affection.”

Yoshino(blushing): “But I do.”

Kurama: “I don’t know about you, but know one thing.”

He forcibly draws my waist and my heart races as it sensed a bad premonition.

Kurama: “Yoshino, from this day on, you are my prisoner. So what’s wrong in treating you however I like?”

(I should be annoyed at his arrogant attitude.)

But looking at the happy Kurama like this, for some reason I can’t fight back.

Chapter 6

[fresafresitawrites]

paloma’s cards and water

my latest creative writing assignment! adding onto the next series of my vignettes! involving my oc andrew as the main boi. u can find them all here  this one is a lil long but my prof really liked it so im happy w it. rest is under the read more! id be so happy if anyone reads this slkajf inspired by tarot reading, my grandma, and that one chapter in the house on mango street w the tarot reader 

I was on the first floor of my building getting the mail when I heard my downstairs neighbor sweeping her entrance mat.

“Buenos días, m’hijito.” Her voice was like the strum of a guitar.

“Buenas, Señora Paloma.” I replied. I gave her a quick glance as I skimmed a letter about my academic probation from last semester.

She set the broom aside and looked up at me.

“Ah, so formal now that you’re older, and taller too. You’re always getting taller and taller.” I’m only five foot six, five foot eight when anyone asks. “I haven’t seen you too much lately.”

“Oh, disculpe.” I crammed the envelopes into my messenger bag. Most of them were junk anyway, like dollar store advertisements or auto companies offering me a car loan. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind, a lot going on with school and work and everything.” I closed the mailbox unit.

“Ay, perdón, Señor Ibarra,” she teased. Somewhere after I turned eighteen, I went from calling her Mama Lola to using formalities. “Do you have some time, actually? I need help with something, si puedes.”

I checked my phone. I had work in an hour. “Sí sí sí, yeah, whatdya need?” I cracked my knuckles. Usually, she just wanted me to move furniture or get something from the top shelf of her kitchen cabinets, like the blender she used during the summer to make watermelon juice. Her oldest son also bought her an iPad for Christmas three years ago when he visited from Buffalo, and I’ve memorized the passcode after troubleshooting it for her so many times.

Paloma waved me inside her one-bedroom apartment, two floors directly underneath my family’s. We lived in an old house with four floors that probably used to belong to one rich family in the nineteenth century but was now broken up into several apartments. Paloma’s door was the first one on the ground floor across from the staircase. Her apartment always smelled like dryer sheets, and the television was always on some Spanish talk show, and water was always boiling over the kitchen stove because she didn’t trust the pipes. The yellow walls were adorned with Mexican folk paintings, plastic floral garlands, and family photos attached with Scotch tape. In every corner there were figurines of Catholic saints.

A few years ago, I asked Paloma to watch Sofi and Eli for me. I had tickets to see The Strokes at Madison Square Garden and only that morning did I double check the date of the concert. My mom was at a student’s piano recital, and I agreed a week earlier to watch the girls that night.

I was carrying Eli in one arm and held Sofi’s hand with the other outside Paloma’s door. The girls were four at the time, so I just gave them each twenty bucks to never say anything.

“Hmm!” Paloma lifted her eyebrows and crossed her arms. “And you think your momma won’t find out?”

I thought about it. “Well, don’t tell her.”

Paloma laughed, squinting her dark eyes like a fox.

Thankfully, Ma’s train got delayed on the way home that night.

In Paloma’s kitchen, two Devil’s Ivy plants sat in the sink with their vines trailing over the edge, hesitating to touch the tile floor. On the left was the glass door to her own small patio, where a few stray cats lay across the concrete. Paloma pointed to her wooden breakfast table, leaving her broom aside, so I pulled out a chair.

She sat down across from me, laying a purple and gold silk cloth between us and placed two tea lights on each side.

“Oh, is this what you wanted me for?” I sat up, surprised. She tied her long, gray-brown hair into a bun.

Paloma has never tried to use her cards on me before. I was never interested in these things. Hemera was the one who came to visit often after her break-up during freshman year with this film studies major, Vladimir, who played the accordion and was originally from Portland. Hemera and Paloma would lean over the tarot cards, speaking low, like candleflames. I usually sat on the couch and watched Looney Tunes, since Boomerang was one of the only channels on Paloma’s television other than the news or Telemundo.

“How’s your friend?” Paloma asked as if she read my mind. “Is she your girlfriend yet? Or has she found someone?” She pulled out the deck of cards from her apron pocket and shuffled them.

            “Oh, no, she’s okay. She’s doing okay.” Hemera told me two weeks ago she was “focusing on herself” which meant she deleted Tinder and would reactivate it within the next week. “And nah, she’s like a sister to me. That’d be weird.”

            Paloma watched me. “You cold?”

            “What? No…” Well, now that she mentioned it… ‘Actually, yeah, kind of, maybe.” I zipped up my wool sweater. Was there a breeze?

            “Good.” She spread the cards out with her delicate hands. “That means the spirits are here.”

            “Uh, okay. Sure, Paloma. They are.” I tried not to sound too sarcastic.

            I closed my eyes and hovered my left hand over the fanned-out cards, mimicking how Hemera used to do it. I tapped three random cards and Paloma flipped them over.

            She read them out loud. “El ermitaño, la rueda de la fortuna, y la muetre.”

            The late February sun casted a soft glow over the kitchen like a dream.

            “Your past, present, and future cards.” Paloma’s tone shifted into something softer, as if her words descended from the clouds. “Ah, look at you. Always keeping to yourself, always, always. Like the old man here on the card… alone on the mountain, holding a lantern trying to illuminate his path.”

            I tilted my head.

            “Right now, you’re in a critical position. It’s a marvelous position to be in! See all the arrows on the wheel going in all directions? They can lead you anywhere. You just steer the wheel like the helm of a sailboat and go wherever the wind takes you. How exciting!”

             I leaned forward. I examined the card that depicted what looked like a large, gold coin covered in strange symbols and surrounded by hybrid animals and angel figures.

            “And here, look, don’t be afraid of this last one. Everyone’s always afraid of this card, but don’t take it too literal. This card means transformation, it means upheaval, it means purging, it means endings.

            I picked up the card, fixated on the small boy kneeling before the skeleton-knight riding a white horse. I put the card back down.

            “This sounds… vague.” I leaned back in my chair, half skeptical and half on edge from her reading, but I didn’t want her to know the last part. “I thought you’d tell me something terrible would happen, or something like who I’m going to marry or whatever. Not that I would believe it, but I’m just wondering why you wanted me here right now.”

            Paloma smiled and crossed her arms. She’d been expecting this reaction. “It’s not like that. It’s not a math test, like in school. There are no right or wrong answers here. I know you don’t like that. Frustrating, no?”

            “Yeah, a little.”

            “Half of the work is you. It’s like looking at art or reading poetry. You’re participating. You’re drawing your own conclusions.” She placed the deck back into her pocket. “You have to marinate on the words, m’hijo. Everything will reveal itself.”

            I took a deep breath, swung my bag over my shoulder, and checked my phone.

            I had work in five minutes.    

[powerosewaterpuff]

so i was having mary and john grayson feels bc i always do ofc, and i decided well if i can’t find any other fics and headcanonns? imma make them myself hehe soo enjoy ! (heads up tho, it’s a l o t hehe)

Mary Grayson

-cannot cook, she is absolutely a w f u l at it but oh my god she loves watching john cook. she even follows him around, writing in a little journal about all the different recipes and steps, bc she is d e t e r m i n d to be able to make something other then cereal

-she always lets dick attempt to braid her hair, and even though it might come out looking bumpy and uneven, she couldn’t care less bc the smile on her sons face is priceless

- loves the summer, basking in the sun on a wide beach is her ideal happy place, because the winter reminds her a little too much of memories she wishes she could suppress

-she always sticks her tongue out just a bit when she’s focused on something, john still blushes when he sees that

-isn’t an avid reader, but she could watch johns facial expressions as he rereads the same twist in his favourite novel for the rest of her life

-she has a small array of ear piercings, which include three piercings on each lobe and upper lobe (the first she had received when she was a baby, and it had been her grandmothers idea), then she has a helix hoop piercing on each ear with a little stud underneath the hoop of the right ear. (Dick loves them, and always had a habit of fiddling with them even as a baby.)

-her laugh could be described as, (as courtesy of john grayson), “the sound of wind chimes billowing against the breeze, and then she starts snortin—Hey! It’s the truth, what do you want me to lie, mary?”

-dick most definitely inherited her eyelashes, long, dark and curled. she also tends to argue that he got her humour too, but john adamantly defends his honour as, “the most hilarious human being to walk the earth, and dick most definitely got my sense of humour, e x c u s e you, mariam.”

-she is infinitely glad that her and john have a very equal parenting system, without one person needing to be the primary disciplinarian as they work as a united front. (except when john and dick come inside the trailer, dragging in mounds of dirt from a flimsy soccer game. then? shes usually the disciplinary one then, shooing them to go take a shower and telling them that they needed to make sure every i n c h of dirt is out of the trailer before she’s done her afternoon stretches.)

-she’s a very bold and opinionated person, but stubbornly independent with a strong moral system and a fierce temper. she isn’t accustomed to asking for help, and is always expecting to be disappointed or let down. she’s always waiting for the catch to come into play, with john though? it never did

-the second dick gives her his puppy dog eyes, it’s over. she’ll give up the cookies she’s hidden in the top shelf, she’ll give him the biggest hug, she’ll practically do anything, and mary thinks john is the exact same.

-her gut instincts are scarily right, to the point where her best friend, the magicians assistant, is convinced she’s a psychic of some sort.

- the day she met john, she had heard about a young circus boy about her age coming to live with his great aunt in her neighborhood, but hadn’t really paid it any mind.

-it wasn’t until one neighbourhood party, that she locked eyes with a pair of vibrant blue eyes with a deeply rooted fire within them. it gave her a shock of adrenaline, and excitement, the same thing she felt when she was about to go on stage as a ballerina or about to face the uneven bars as a gymnast. it wasn’t a nervous bout of a adrenaline, it was a calming rush, one that filled her bones with a thrill beyond all compare. (Little did she know, the second john had locked eyes with a pair of lively green eyes, he had found what he was looking for.)

- mary was a natural born contortionist, with a flexibility she acquired from years of ballet as well as gymnastics. learning how to work the trapeze was a whole other thing though, as it was a little odd to adjust at first. she loved johns freedom and wild nature while soaring through the air though, a lot more then she loved the rigidness of her own form. (john disagreed vehemently, the way mary moved was like she was one with the air and the air was one with her, and he admits that was she an incredibly quick learner.)

-will always watch cartoons with dick, whether it be The Simpsons one evening or Tom & Jeremy the next.

-johns singing is her favourite thing ever, she always begs him to sing her to sleep and some nights, when john feels a deep rooted knot tug at his chest, mary is sweetly singing, “here comes the sun,” by the beatles in his ear

-her and johns go to song to get dick to sleep is, “little bird, little bird,” by elizabeth mitchell. she always changes the last bird, a whip-poor-well, to a robin bird. it’s a little offbeat but she thinks dick likes it. (dick loves it.)

-has an unparalleled amount of energy, and is always bursting with exuberance, the only one who can really challenge her on that is dick. both of them are absolute adrenaline junkies.

-has an insatiable love for period dramas, it is her absolutely guilty pleasure and will be found watching tapes of her favourite show in the living room at like 3am

-she loves the smell of burning wood and loves sitting outside of summer nights, taking in the sounds of the cicadas and the cold breeze.

-she is absolutely exasperated with her sons ability to make friends with injured woodland animals, it was adorable and absolutely darling to an extent, but oh my god if she had to handle one more skunk with a broken leg or a fox with its leg stuck to a wooden post, she would consider barricading the circus.

-(she loves buying matching clothing for her family and her, but what she loves the most is dressing john and dick up to match, she has a whole box filled with those pictures, which would be perfect blackmail material once dick was in his teens.)

John Grayson

-is one of the most laid back human beings, he always has a lazy smile and gentle mischief twinkling in his eyes. (but fuck with his family and see what happens, he dares you.)

-his eyes are practically identical to dicks, in every shape, way and form. but dicks have an unstoppable light in them, that his just don’t have but he’s so happy they do.

-loves to overspray his cologne just to irritate mary, her scrunched up nose his absolutely adorable. (but he still couldn’t get why she didn’t like that cologne, it was fucking amazing)

-curses like an absolute sailor, and mary isn’t any better but she’s far better at censoring herself. john has had to slap a hand around his mouth a few times to avoid having to explain the word, “shit,” to dick.

-christmas is his favourite time of the year without a doubt, and loves to be curled up on his worn couch with a novel in hand in front for a fire.

-is an avid prankster, but if you confront him about it, he’ll give you a trademarked Grayson smile, and tilt his head to the side questioningly.

-his laugh is like (as courtesy of mary grayson), “a crash of waves, refreshing and loud with a distinct clarity, and then he starts to w h e e z—Hey! it’s the truth! I thought you were against lying, huh?”

-he’s ticklish, and his brother along with his wife and son take advantage of that way too much.

-dick is legit attached to this mans hip 24/7, like if you see john strolling around the circus there is a 94% chance that dick is either riding on his shoulders or settled comfortably on his hip.

-the day he met mary, he had felt a little out of place and stilted at this neighbourhood party. but he sucked it in bc anything was better then going back to his home, so he took a shaky breathe and tried to converse with his great aunts friends, until the music started and he locked eyes with a pair of lively green eyes, and he had found exactly what he was a looking for. a fleeting purpose that could so easily slip between his finger tips but the thrill to latch onto it was expanding in his chest. and he realized that if he didn’t march right on over there and talk to this girl, he would’ve lost something he didn’t even knew he could lose.

- playing guitar had always been a little bit of a therapeutic thing, because even though he tried to be practicing their act every single minute of his day, there were times where he needed to sit under a tree with his son curled in his lap, his leather jacket draped on him. the love of his life and the afterlife curled up next to him, with his blistered fingers from dealing with ropes all day strumming the guitar.

-the biggest elvis presley, beatles and rat pack fan in the world. he also loves louis armstrong as well as nat king cole. (he grew up with this music as his first big introduction to north american music as well as culture.)

-open communication and emotions are a big thing for him, he never wants anything to be misinterpreted and he tries his hardest to make sure neither him nor mary ever go to sleep angry with one another. they argue a decent amount, bc they both have wild tempers (johns is a flame that’s difficult to light but once it does he’ll have a vicious tongue of a temper, and mary’s is a quick lighter that can be easily put out but for the time that it burns holy shit she’s scary,) but they always work things out by talking to one another at the dinner table.

-this man lives and breathes sarcasm, to the point where people never really know if he’s being sarcastic or not (mary does, and it annoys him to no end.)

-always playing with his hair, or he’s playing with mary’s or dick’s. it’s become a little of a nervous habit for him, but also a way to relax.

-was always insecure about how short and scrawny he was as a kid, even now once he’s filled into pure muscle and but still a little short compared to others. however, he uses his body to his advtange though, he can easily be the strong man of the act, and can easily balance both dick and mary with one hand. he’s immensely proud of that, and shows it off as much as he can.

-just to annoy mary, he’ll slowly lift his son up and they’ll give the exact same puppy dog eyes and pout. mary will legit do anything they want (he wasn’t ready for mary to come in one day, blinking her beautiful green eyes and pouting, with dick settled on her hip doing the exact same thing as they ask for chocolate pancakes one morning. it’s fair to say he sprinted out of bed and straight to the kitchen.)

-despises hunting for sport and guns, his father owned an array of hunting guns that were always proudly polished and hung on the walls of their trailer. john fucking hated it, and was about to blow a fuse when one of the circus members decided to take dick on a hunting trip without asking. (he held dick close that night as he cried bc he didn’t understand why they had shot the deer when it looked so happy.)

-is the absolutle biggest crybaby when it comes to Heidi (the book) and has rewatched Kiki’s Delivery Service with dick like 30 times? he cries every time ( “mARY SHES SO SAD OH MY GOD AND SHE DOESNT UNDERSTAND J I J I ANYMOREEEE.”) (“sEE GRANDFATHER DOES CARE AND THE SYMBOLISM MARY THE SYMBOLISM.”)

-loves looking up at the stars, and liked to memorize their names as well as patterns as a kid. he was overjoyed to share this with dick, as they lay down on the roof of their circus caravan, point out constellations and tell their stories (dick would always perch himself on the tallest skyscraper in gotham, on a clear summer evening, just to get a one glance at the stars at again before the smog rolls in. he swears he saw cassiopeia once, but maybe he was just wishing he did. )

-is equally stressed by dick’s unprecedented love of making friends with the most random things, is also stressed because his son is this tiny kid who keeps getting himself stuck in bushes then runs home, covered in thorns but still has the biggest smile. john is usually on first aid duty, and he just knows that his kid would run into the sun exploding with a bright smile plastered on his face.

[platedgolds]

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐎.

hi,   friends   !   i’m   admin   fox   (   23.   she/they.   brt.   )   and   i’m   so   excited   to   get   this   going   !   it’s   been   a   wild   journey   to   make   this   group   happen   but   everyone   seems   so   nice   and   all   of   your   muses   are   so   interesting   it’s   def   all   worth   it   !   this   is   romeo   dubois,   my   himbo   baby   and   all   around   hot   mess.   if   you’d   like   to   plot   with   him,   please   feel   free   to   message   me   on   discord   at   pedro pascal stan blog#9349   or   send   me   your   discord   @   and   i’ll   message   you   there   !

*                     SEBASTIAN   STAN   +   CIS   MALE   +   HE/HIM   ——   have   you   seen   ROMEO   DUBOIS   around?   they’re   a   THIRTY-SIX   year   old   PHYSICAL   EDUCATION   TEACHER   known   around   town   as   the   LOOSE   CANON.   not   only   are   they   broke   af,   but   they’ve   been   in   town   for   SIX   YEARS.   they’re   LOYAL   +   LAID-BACK,   as   well   as   CHILDISH   +   UNHINGED,   but   what   else   would   you   expect   from   an   ARIES?   low-hanging   grey   sweatpants.   back   muscles.   a   beer   bottled   tucked   on   the   back   pocket   of   a   pair   of   jeans.

𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘.

romeo   was   born   in   eldora   to   two   very   absent   parents;   they   were   one   of   the   few   middle   class   families   in   town,   with   his   mother   always   traveling   for   work   and   his   father   at   home,   drowning   himself   in   alcohol.   from   an   early   age,   romeo   was   left   to   his   own   devices;   he   was   the   one   who   raised   his   brother   even   though   he   was   still   just   a   child   himself   when   cain   was   born,   with   no   skill   or   mental   capacity   to   take   care   of   himself   let   alone   an   infant. 

his   parents’   marriage   was   in   shambles;   the   whole   town   often   spoke   about   how   unfaithful   mrs.   dubois   was,   and   how   her   husband   only   stood   by   her   side   because   of   the   money   she   made.   romeo   was   too   young   to   understand   what   ‘cheating’   meant   when   the   rumors   first   started,   but   he   still   got   into   plenty   of   fights   by   the   time   he   entered   his   teens   and   the   infamy   of   his   mother’s   choices   were   echoed   throughout   high   school   bleachers

it   didn’t   take   long   before   people   started   recognizing   romeo   as   one   of   the   trouble   makers   in   town;   his   anger   against   his   parents   and   the   horrible   situation   they   forced   upon   him   made   its   way   out   of   his   chest   with   the   blink   of   an   eye,   lashing   out   at   everyone   and   anyone   he   could.   in   the   height   of   his   teenagehood,   romeo   knew   the   name   of   every   single   cop   in   eldora’s   precinct.   he   got   into   so   many   fights   it   was   hard   to   see   romeo   without   a   bruise   on   his   face,   got   drunk   and   wrecked   his   car   more   times   than   anyone   could   ever   count,   and   he   even   spent   a   few   nights   in   a   cell   after   a   particular   incident   involving   the   break   in   of   several   homes   around   town.   still,   people   pitied   the   kid,   and   many   would   leave   him   off   the   hook   no   matter   what   kind   of   bad   trouble   he   got   into.

despite   his   bad   manners   and   constant   anger,   romeo   excelled   in   sports.   more   specifically   ice   hockey,   which   he   had   to   take   a   bus   three   towns   over   to   be   able   to   practice   every   week;   he   loved   the   freedom   of   the   skates,   and   he   was   large   and   violent   enough   to   be   unstoppable   in   the   rink.   his   prowess   caught   the   eye   of   many,   and   by   the   time   romeo   was   legal   to   drink   he   was   shoved   in   an   airplane   and   taken   to   canada   where   he   could   practice   and   properly   excel   in   his   craft.

by   the   age   of   twenty-three,   romeo   was   back   in   the   united   states   playing   for   the   jersey   devils,   a   team   he   wasn’t   too   proud   of,   but   it   paid   the   bills   and   it   brought   him   the   notoriety   he   felt   like   he   truly   deserved.

by   the   age   of   twenty-seven,   romeo   dubois   was   captain   of   the   chicago   blackhawks   and   making   more   money   than   he   could   ever   know   what   to   do   with   it.   twenty-seven   was   also   the   year   he   got   married   to   the   victoria’s   secret   angel   he’d   met   just   eight   months   prior;   anyone   that   has   ever   met   romeo   will   say   he   peaked   in   his   late   20s,   though   he   would   say   they   were   the   most   miserable   years   he’s   ever   had.

it   all   came   crumbling   down   on   his   29th   birthday,   when   romeo   was   arrested   in   chicago   for   a   car   accident   that   nearly   took   the   life   of   a   young   mother;   he   had   two   male   escorts   and   over   a   pound   of   cocaine   in   his   car,   and   even   though   his   lawyers   managed   to   bribe   his   way   into   a   short   six   months   prison   sentence,   the   media   wasn’t   so   kind.   romeo   lost   his   job,   lost   his   reputation   and   managed   to   lose   every   single   penny   he   had   once   his   wife   divorced   him.

once   romeo   was   out   of   jail,   he   had   no   place   to   go   other   than   eldora.   he’s   been   back   into   town   for   six   years,   working   as   a   p.e.   teacher   at   the   local   high   school   solely   because   the   principal   was   a   family   friend   that   pulled   many   strings   to   get   him   the   position.   he   currently   lives   in   the   dingy   motel   in   the   outskirts   of   town,   spending   most   of   his   time   drunk   and   high---   and   for   a   man   who   swore   he’d   never   be   like   his   father,   romeo’s   had   never   been   more   wrong. 

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄.

literal   himbo.   that’s   it,   that’s   his   personality.   hot   &   stupid,   absolutely   joey   tribbiani   kinda   guy--   you   know,   if   joey   was   an   asshole   and   not   the   absolute   sweetheart   he   is.

v   selfish,   will   do   whatever   it   takes   to   make   sure   he   comes   out   on   top   of   every   situation.   still,   if   he   thinks   someone   is   worthy   of   his   loyalty,   he’ll   stick   by   them   no   matter   what.

big   liar.   seriously.   has   no   qualms   about   making   shit   up   on   the   spot   so   that   his   narrative   is   the   one   being   told;   damn   good   actor,   too.

big   hoe   (   it   runs   in   the   family,   the   bad   tongues   would   say.   ),   will   sleep   with   anyone   as   long   as   they’re   paying   attention   to   him   for   long   enough.

he   was   in   the   closet   his   entire   career,   and   now   that   he’s   been   shoved   out   of   it   romeo   has   no   intention   of   going   back---   calls   himself   gay   as   hell   way   too   much   for   someone   who’s   actually   bi.

6′3,   broad   shoulders   and   still   with   an   athletic   build   even   if   he   doesn’t   play   anymore;   romeo’s   far   too   shallow   to   let   himself   go,   even   if   working   out   nowadays   kills   a   little   bit   of   his   soul   every   time.

covered   in   tattoos,   with   a   well   trimmed   beard   and   hair   styled   perfectly   so   that   it   looks   messy   enough;   romeo   has   the   ‘i   look   like   i   just   woke   up   and   yet   it   took   me   three   hours   to   get   ready’   nonchalant   look   down   to   the   t.

𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒.

a   party   friend   ---   romeo’s   only   likable   when   he’s   drunk;   thankfully,   that   seems   to   be   the   case   most   of   the   time.   this   person   only   comes   around   when   they   want   to   get   drunk   or   high,   and   of   course   romeo’s   always   ready   to   take   it   up   a   notch.

a   best   friend   ---   they   are   always   on   each   other’s   corner;      this   is   someone   that   sees   romeo   for   who   he   really   is   instead   of   the   bad   guy   façade   he   wears,   and   loves   him   despite   his   flaws;   maybe   they   even   lived   together   for   a   while   when   romeo   first   came   back   into   town?   could   be   a   childhood   friendship   or   something   new.

a   protege   ---   for   one   reason   or   another,   romeo   has   deemed   this   person   worthy   of   caring   for   and   protecting   with   his   life.   like   a   momma   bear,   except   you’re   not   a   bear   cub   and   he   certainly   doesn’t   know   how   to   care   for   anyone.   could   be   funny   if   this   was   clearly   someone   that   doesn’t   need   protecting.

a   one   night   stand   ---   like   a   said,   big   hoe.   maybe   romeo   and   this   person   that   a   night   together   (   or   more   than   one   )   and   he   simply   never   called   back   ?   probably   doesn’t   even   remember   about   it,   acts   as   if   it   never   happened;   could   be   fun   if   they   had   been   friends   beforehand.

an   ex   ---   they   were   pretty   serious   at   one   point,   maybe   even   lived   together   ?   and   then   romeo   fucked   things   up;   it   was   definitely   a   self-sabotaging   thing,   where   he   felt   like   he   was   too   close   to   happiness   and   subconsciously   couldn’t   allow   himself   such   a   thing.   maybe   he   cheated,   or   maybe   he   started   picking   fights   for   every   single   small   thing,   or   hell,   maybe   he   even   started   ghosting   them   and   spending   the   nights   away   from   home.   whatever   he   needed   to   do   to   get   them   to   break   up   with   him.

a   hate   fuck   ---   they   hate   each   other,   but   they   can’t   keep   their   clothes   on   around   each   other   either;   every   argument   ends   up   in   heated   sex,   and   at   this   point   they   aren’t   sure   if   they’re   fighting   because   they   can’t   stand   the   other,   or   if   they’re   doing   it   because   they   know   where   it’ll   end. 

a   fan   ---   someone   that   knew   him   from   his   time   as   a   hockey   player   !   romeo   def   feels   very   uncomfortable   around   them,   a   constant   reminder   of   the   good   life   he’s   lost.

friends   of   all   kinds   ---   romeo’s   a   social   butterfly   on   his   good   days,   so   give   him   all   sorts   of   friends   !   co-workers,   old   friends,   some   new.   anything   !

[heatherjeff]

2020 Book List

It has been ages since I have written and, like everyone else, there seems to be a bit more unstructured time in my everyday life. It makes perfect sense the impetus for a return to blogging is books, reading is fundamental! 

My friend, KDaddy, annually shares the list of books he’s read. The first time I noticed his list I was thrilled, took notes, commented on how happy I was, and proceeded to read many of his recommendations. When it became clear 2020 was going to be a little different books became an even bigger part of my days as well as an escape from the grind of the news and the pandemic.

When KDaddy tagged me with his book list this year, it occurred to me I have a little platform where I can post my own year in review. Books are the best and reading has served me well my whole life, 2020 was no exception.

First, a few facts. This year I read 35 books, for comparison I read 24 in 2019. That makes me happy especially since there are not a million things about 2020 to invoke a sense of accomplishment. I have long kept a book journal since my title and author memory is similar to a sieve. At the start of the pandemic everyone in my house was gifted a kindle, I was not a fan of the plan, paper books are my love language. As this time has worn on, the kindle has proven to be a brilliant and magical purchase. Libby is a completely modern wonder and the next time I am in NYC I will, for sure, treat myself to a library card from that library system.

With no further ado let’s talk books.

Definitely Read:

The Nightingale: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

Two sisters reacted to the unfolding atrocities of WWII in very different ways. Both were fierce, suffered in ways unimaginable to most of us, and illustrated the many ways women are impacted by a war. Such a powerful read.

The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman

Great read based on a true story about a teenager who became pregnant. Her family forced her to give up her baby and it was placed in a mental institution for the sole reason the child was an “orphan”. Many more plot twists follow, this was a gem of a book.  

Women in Sunlight: A Novel by Frances Mayes

This book kicked off as total cliche and morphed into complete life goals. Three older women, all single for a variety of reasons, strike up a friendship and move to a Tuscan Villa. I want to be them someday in Italy living with the locals.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

YA This came highly recommended from my youngest. It opened his eyes to the world in a huge way and he was very committed to sharing this story with all of us. William is a complete force of nature and against (truly) all odds changes the trajectory or his family, his village, and his life with ingenuity and desire. Love this book so much.

Little Fire’s Everywhere: A Novel by Celeste Ng

Heard so much about this book and completely loved it all. So. Many. Plot. Twists.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

YA read from my kid, a MUST read. This book was chilling on a 1,000 different levels. Race, police profiling, education, culture- Nic Stone packed it all in and it opened my heart and sparked some good conversations in our home.

Girl, Woman, Other: A Novel by Bernardine Evaristo

This thoughtfully constructed book was a gift from another reader friend and is one of my favorite reads of the year. It shares multiple first person layered viewpoints from British women who span every part of society. Great read.

Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Let’s be clear, I love Ann Patchett. Love. Whenever she authors a new novel I am jazzed and the Dutch House is no exception. The house becomes an actual character in the story and has everything to do with the brokenness of family who moves into it.

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight

Unpopular opinion, I am not a fan of Nike. I am a tremendous fan of Phil Knight’s innovation and hustle. Phil is a visionary and expert storyteller.

The Tatowist of Auschwitz: A Novel by Heather Morris

The novel is based on interviews with Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who used his position of relative privilege to positively impact the lives of as many fellow prisoners as possible. I had to read this book fast since it impacted my sleep, which it should. Incredible read.

American Dirt: A Novel by Jeanine Cummins

Ooofff, this book is hard to read. I started and stopped because I could not sleep and opted to read it during daylight hours only. It is seriously terrifying in a million ways. It is about a family who has to flee from Alcopulcio to the United States due to extreme violence from the local and very well connected drug cartel. This book is a testament to the grit of illegal immigrants and an eye opening read about the terror they face.

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

True story of Bryan Stevenson’s quest to navigate the criminal justice system in the rural south where he aims to help the most disadvantaged in the system. Timely, eye opening, and full of action items we all need to help with for the betterment of our society.

City of Girls: A Novel by Elizabeth Gilbert

Books by Elizabeth Gilbert are some of my favorites and I was concerned when I started this book, it was a struggle. It came together and I ended up loving it. A story about NYC in the 1940’s centered around a girl/woman who is sent to live with her aunt at her playhouse full of showgirls. It was such an unrelatable read, it transported me to a time I have never really considered and it was a trip worth taking.

Totally Enjoyable:

True Colors by Kristen Hannah

Reads like YA fiction and I loved it. It’s about a ranch family, their horses, land, siblings, their live father and deceased mother. It is not deep and is a fun read.

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

This book was intense, fun, & slightly scary. A “hen party” in a, literal glass house, becomes the scene of a murder.

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin

This is a fun read about two best friends who become doctors together and then the plot thickens. Can’t say more, it is complicated.

Freud’s Mistress by Karen Mack

This was my last library loan before the pandemic. It is a fascinating read based loosely on the dynamics of Freud’s family, drugs, affairs that feel a bit like incest, a huge male ego, this should not sound familiar in any way!

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

YA, loaner from my kid (which came to my nightstand highly recommended). This is a sweet, sweet love story of two teenagers who have very different backgrounds and lots of big feelings. The whole book takes place over the course of one day.

It All Comes Back to You by Beth Duke

This was a surprise hit and it sucked me in. The story is about a nurse in a retirement community who befriends a resident who lived a big life.

The Queen’s Fortune: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire by Allison Pataki

I admit, I am a fan of royalty, it is so intriguing and this book was completely spellbinding. The story is based on Napoleon's France and it was messy.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

NF This book is amazing. A poor black woman has cancer cells removed from her body, these rapidly reproducing cells become known as HeLa cells and change the trajectory of modern medicine. There are so many consequences from this seemiling small discovery and the impact to the medical world and to Henrietta’s family are far reaching.

The Woman in the Window: A Novel by A.J. Finn

Read this in one day at the beach, I was sucked into this story of Anna Fox and her salacious neighborhood drama.

The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin

I know I liked this book and made a note about the “pause” taken over the summer when the kids in the family basically ran wild. That’s all I’ve got.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

There was a ton of hype around this book and it is well deserved. Glennon tells it like it is and, like it or not, she has a lot of points that hit. I read this on my kindle and think I would have liked reading the physical book more.

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

Short stories from Ann Patchett? Yes, 100% yes. The story of her relationship with Lucy, of Truth and Beauty: A Friendship, was wonderful as was the explanation of her book store in Nashville.

After You: A Novel (Me Before You Trilogy) by Jojo Moyes

I have zero idea that Me Before You was a trilogy! It is a total candy read, you are not going to learn much about your soul or the universe, but it is fun and better than TV. And yes, I will read the third book in the trilogy because candy is good! 

The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano

Also a trilogy, another happy surprise. This book is fun, another candy read, and so appealing. When I was a kid I wanted to have a restaurant so this story made my heart happy. It is a bit too clean, a bit cliche, and an enjoyable read.

Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This novel will transport you to a land of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I read this was loosely based on the story of Fleetwood Mac, true or false, this book captures a moment in history and reads a lot like a play and is completely enjoyable.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

This is the book written before Little Fires Everywhere, similar deal-  family strife/mystery, kind of riveting with lots of twists. Solid read.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb

NF, look at a therapist who finds herself in need of therapy. It is kind of a russian doll type of read with layers, upon layers, hidden within each other.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

YA, another loaner from my kid. Such a great book about a kid who wants to be a chef and express herself through her cooking. She is a teen mother living with her abuela, it is a heartwarming book and I love the main character’s spirit.

Sidenote: schools around here are closed for the duration yet students can reserve library books and go to the local library of your choice where their school librarians greet them, warmly, in the parking lot for a drive by pick-up. It is a wonderful and much appreciated service being offered to our kids.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

This book is ridiculous, it had a strong start, went sideways but was fun and overall enjoyable. The premise is nine people descend upon an exclusive health retreat. The woman who is in change morphs from motivating to overlord, obviously.

No Thank You:

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

YA read, loaner from my daughter. I did not like this one bit, it made sucide seem so glam. Glad I read it and am always happy when my kids share books with me and I will always hate stories of kids’ suffering.

There There: A Novel by Tommy Orange

This book was hard to follow, had too many characters, and there was a very dark thread that I did not enjoy.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

This book hit me at the wrong time this year. The dystopian nature felt a little too close to home. I know it is a work for the ages but it was all ouch.

Wow, that felt good to reflect on and process. I have never really looked for threads in my own reading and knew a few things already but like seeing the balance of candy books and hard, timely topics. All in all I feel great about my 2020 reading list and hope there are titles that interest or resonate with you too. Here is to libraries reopening someday in the near future so we can browse the shelves with abandon.

[another-sonic-blog]

Stages: Maybe Jealous

Stages: Intimate Friends: Pt.6 : Maybe Jealous (Chapter 19)

Pairing: ShadAmy

3K

Previous: https://another-sonic-blog.tumblr.com/post/611417758901714944/stages-what-is-it

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It was three in the afternoon and Rouge wasn't content when someone came knocking in her apartment's door. It was one of her few days off and being a bat in modern-day society was difficult. She had to go against her primal instincts of sleeping during the day so she could keep her job. So whenever she had a day off, she made sure to sleep thoroughly.

The knocking became stronger and if Rouge didn't know better, she could tell by the knocking who it was.

A very impatient black and red hedgehog.

A half-asleep Rouge walked slowly to her door, knowing well that the black one couldn't get any angrier. She opened the door and Shadow stormed in.

"Where is Amy?" Shadow asked as he looked around her apartment. Strangely enough, Amy's scent wasn't predominant as before.

"I've been fine, thank you," Rouge said sarcastically. She rubbed her eyes as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight coming from her windows.

"I little have not time to be nice," Shadow said again, he began to panic when he didn't see the pink in the agent's apartment. "Where is Amy?"

"Then, you must never have the time to be nice," Rouge replied. "She's not here. She went on a field trip with Sonic, they should be back tomorrow night."

"What? Where did they go?"

"I don't know, Amy didn't tell me because apparently, Sonic wanted to surprise her."

Rouged watched Shadow sigh heavily as he placed his right hand on his forehead. Showing his frustration.

"She doesn't answer her phone." Shadow hissed at of anger.

"Sonic won't either ... They don't want to be bothered, so they turned off all of their communication devices." Rouged looked over at his teammate. She knew that there was something he wasn't telling her. "Now tell me, what is going on?"

Shadow didn't want Rouge to be involved with the stupidity he was about to make. However, he did realize that her help might be needed.

That and that he trusted Rouge with her decisions.

Shadow sat down on the Rouge's sofa and with a stern look, he began to tell her the story.

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"You can't arrest her! You have no proof-"

   The Commander stood up from his seat and walked towards Shadow. From his desk, he grabbed a file and opened it.

"In your report, you wrote, "I found the Resistance burnt down, nothing was left of it." The Commander said and looked up to Shadow. "That is proof that Amy wanted to burn down all proof of her doings to prevent us from arresting her."

"That doesn't make any sense!" said Shadow.

"It doesn't? Our Team of Investigations say that no one was inside the building when the accident occurred. Of the 7 agents there ... Don't you think that's too much of a coincidence?"

"That is-"    

   The Commander interrupted Shadow again.

"The investigation team also found the remainings of a plant, 'Silent Princess," The Commander added. "And according to your report ... this is the flower who helped Tails the Fox wake up from his sleep in Twinkle Star Village."

   There was a heavy silence in the room. The Commander knew that Shadow wasn't still fully convinced. His eyes still show determination and in one last hope to get him he said,

"Isn't the video of her putting up the bombs enough prove already?"

   Shadow didn't know what it was but his mind and heart just couldn't accept it. So many people have betrayed him and he was scared that Amy might be one of those too. Shadow tried to put his feelings aside but he just couldn't. His mind went to Amy. If Shadow was sure of one thing, it was her.

Well ... to hell with everything.

"I don't know know if Amy is guilty or not ... but I do know that Amy loved that place and she wouldn't do anything against it," Shadow said. "My apologies commander ... I do enjoy my job but between this job and Amy ... I chose Amy."

   The Commander wasn't scared of Shadow. However, he was concerned about the decisions the black hedgehog was willing to take. The Commander had many years working and never, not even in the human world, had he met someone like Shadow. He had never chosen a side in this job and now that he was going it, it spoke volumes about him and the subject at hand.

Shadow was the best agent he had and his determination had sparked something in the Commander's previous ideology.

Doubt.

Shadow was smart and he wouldn't throw it everything he has worked for unless he was 100% sure of his decision.

"You have three days to leave the United Republic. If you don't, we will hunt you along Amy Rose." The Commander said, "I have three days until I report of this situation back to Earth. They will most likely ask me to send a squad after you ... or even more, considering you don't have a very good reputation with humans and you are betraying G.U.N."

The first time G.U.N appeared in Mobian land, many protested. The civilians thought that G.U.N.'s agency was a way to keep an eye on the Mobians on behalf of the humans. It wasn't at all a lie, in the beginning, G.U.N consisted of human agents only but seeing the constant protests, the humans decided to remove the humans and replace them with Mobians.

   Of course, one human person stayed at G.U.N and that was the Top Commander. That calmed down the protests and all of them subside down the moment Shadow the Hedgehog, Rouge, and Omega joined the agency.

"Why are you doing this?" Shadow asked. He was baffled. He had respect for his Commander but going against what was expected of him surprised him.

"In all of my years working for G.U.N. I had never met someone like you." The Commander said. "Our relationship it's only based on work but even so ... Your determination makes me doubt ... maybe Amy Rose is innocent."

This time Shadow knew that he wasn't speaking to the Commander. He was talking to the person underneath the suit.

"And I have a feeling I should believe you, and I have survived many times by just following that."

A few seconds passed and for a moment Shadow didn't want to leave. He knew that after this day, he was probably never going to see him again. But he prayed to Chaos that one day their paths may interview again.

"You have three days agent, leave." The Commander said. "You will be facing G.U.N.'s wrath and the world will be against you."

"Then, I will fight like I always have," Shadow replied, smiling at his commander knowing this was goodbye.

"Shadow ... take care."

Shadow left his office. Content and nervous at the same time. Content because for the first time in all of his years working for G.U.N., the Commander called him by his name. No 'Agent Shadow' or just 'Agent.' And nervous because Shadow didn't know what the future awaited for him.

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The winds softly caressed Amy's hair as the strings of it danced beautifully. Sonic had never thought of settling down but he knew he could slow down once in a while for the pink hedgehog.

The grass surrounded them along with the sunflowers. It was a sunny day but the wind was cold and it made up for the heat. Sonic and Amy were in their backs, watching clouds above them.  

Sonic took Amy to one of his favorite places on Mobius, it was kinda a secret spot for him. Not a lot of tourists came and it is peaceful and quiet.

Sonic loved the idea of traveling the world and saving folks but he knew Amy was one who wanted to settle down. Have a family and such.

"Amy, if we were to get married now, would you say yes?" Sonic asked and Amy was caught by surprise. It was random considering that they were in complete silence a few moments ago.

But still, she answered.

"Now? I don't know ..." Amy said. She had been honest with Sonic from the beginning. That at the moment, she still had strong feelings for Shadow. "But my older self would have said yes without thinking."

Amy chuckled, a bit hurt but he accepted the answer.

"It's just ... you know, I love to be as free as the wind ... I don't imagine comfortably myself living in a house when I know there are people out there who might need me." Sonic said. "So ... I am guessing we can never be truthfully together, uh? Even if we wanted."

"Sonic, I'll make something clear." Amy turned her head to look at the blue one and this caught his attention as well. "I don't want to change anything about you. I love how you live freely. I don't want to take that away from you. Even if we were to get married, I will still be willing to give you your freedom."

Sonic eyes sparkled and he felt his heart beat faster. "So ... Would you have been happy by just staying at the house and taking care of the children? Waiting for me to arrive home?"

"Absolutely," Amy replied, their eyes interview and there shared a lovely moment. However, Amy knew that she needed to pop Sonic's bubble. She didn't him to have any hopes for that happening at least now. "But that was old me ... and now well ... I am not sure what I want and well you know ... I-"

"You still love Shadow, I know that." Sonic's voice had a bit of jealousy to it. Amy knew it was normal. After all, he was dating a girl who was still in love with someone else. "If you don't mind me asking ... what do you see in him?"

Amy knew that Sonic was serious about his question and to give him some peace of mind, she replied. "He is just ... incredibly kind and sweet."

"Hey, I am kind and sweet too!"

Amy smiled and let out a small giggle. "Yes you are but it comes to you naturally... but Shadow ... He was a hard time expressing how he feels or showing any emotion at all. Even if he fails miserably at it ... he still tries. He tries his hardest to be good and do good."

Amy noticed that Sonic was quiet as a signal for her to continue.

"Believe me, if a year ago you have said that I would fall in love with Shadow the hedgehog, I would probably laugh y lungs out." Amy continued, "But he showed me other sides of himself and along the way ... I just fell for that. It wasn't a moment like when you saved me from Metal Sonic ... It was gradually, in stages even and in one of those ... I fell in love with him."

A few seconds passed and Amy felt Sonic softly place a hand on her cheek, he brought her closer to him and he kissed her on the lips.

They stayed close to each other's faces and Sonic whispered. "It makes time but there's a possibility ... I can make you fall in love with me gradually and one day, you may just realize that you love me."

A sense of guilt overtook Amy. He had been nothing but sweet to her and caring. Yes, he had been absent for a long time but it was Sonic. He liked to travel around for a long time and most important of all, he was single back then.

Now he was dating Amy and he was slowing down for her.

And Amy had to acknowledge ... that the gesture made her heart beat faster than usual.

Amy cuddle in Sonic's arms, she heard his beating heartbeat that matched hers. "I really wish for that moment to come soon."

.

If Shadow couldn't pint point the moment he fell in love with Amy. He had realized he loved her a few days ago but he knew he had feelings for her even before then. Did he love at first sight? Most likely not. It was in stages, gradually. Like a plant, it slowly grew. During a year, Amy and he had provided with light, water, and other resources for it to grow. And the small plant had grown into a beautiful flower.

"So, your plan is to run away to the Acorn Kingdom. That's on the other side of the world. How are you planning to get there?" Rouge asked. They were still at her apartment, talking over the matter.

"I am going to buy a small plane or helicopter from the yellow box. I should take all of my money out of the bank before G.U.N cancels all of my accounts." Shadow replied.

"And will you be accepted in the Acorn Kingdom?"

"Yes, I spoke with Princess Sally and she owns me a favor. She plans to hide us for some time."

"And then what?" Rouge asked again.

"We will plan everything as we go," Shadow said. "But to be honest, I don't even know where to start looking. Is this an old enemy? And if so, who? Who has a grudge against Amy?"

Rouge stood up from the sofa, walking from side to side, thinking about the different possibilities. "Maybe it's not against Amy ... but you."

Shadow raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"In your Star Festival's report, you said that in the drainage bunker, there were imagines and videos of you and Amy during our Twinkle Star Village mission." Rouge added, "They have been watching you two ... maybe they notice how close you are to her and they want to take advantage of that."

Shadow looked away, was he so obvious? "We are not that close."

Rouge rolled her eyes at him, she knew he was lying but this was over the top. "Can you just men up and say you like the girl? It ain't that hard."

"I don't like her," Shadow lied again. At least this time he knew he was lying. He just didn't want Rouge to tease him about it.

"Now I know why Amy is with Sonic," Rouge added. "He wasn't afraid of talking about his feelings for her and he got the girl."

Rouge had never seen Shadow snap his head so fast before. His expression changed and Rouge was confused by his sudden change.

"Wait ... you didn't know they were together?"

"Together as?"

"Together ... as boyfriend and girlfriend."

Shadow knew this feeling. He had felt before when he used to date Maria and she would show up with a different guy every night. However, there was a difference. The first one, Maria was technically his and he couldn't focus on this feeling because he was concentrated more on the fact that she cheated. Secondly, Amy wasn't even his girlfriend ... yet. He had barely realized his feelings for her and he had already lost to his blue rival nonetheless.

Shadow gave it a thought again. Sonic and Amy were Chaos knows were and alone. They could be hugging, kissing, holding hands, sleeping together, being intimate together.

He knew this feeling too well. He thought he had forgotten about it but no ... it was there and it overtook him. He let out a growl and he held his hands so tight that even with the globes on, he knew his knuckles were white from the pressure.

"I need to finish somethings," Shadow said as he stood up from the sofa. "I'll be back tomorrow night if Amy comes back early contact me as soon as you can."

Rouge watched the black hedgehog opening the door of her apartment to get out. However, she stopped him.

"Are you angry?" Rouge asked, a certain hint of worry in her voice.

"Angry? No," Shadow gave Rouge one last look before exiting her apartment.

"... maybe jealous."

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A/N: First, I want to apologize for the grammar errors and all that. I will be fixing the mistakes soon, I just wanted to publish this chapter as soon as I could.

I had finished writing the final two chapters of 'Stages' yesterday. However, as I read over them, I realized that I didn't like them.

I was putting too much information, conjunctions, and subplots that it was just too much. As some people may know, 'Stages' was originally a series of one-shots stories that concentrated on the development of Amy and Shadow's relationship. It was as simple as that but as people wanted to read more, I found myself writing this story without a plot. Because originally this story wasn't meant to have a plot. It wasn't meant to have any deep meaning nor to be a long story.

With that said, I enjoyed very much writing the first chapters, but I guess I let myself get influenced and wrote a story of 20 chapters that was meant to only be 10 chapters.

There is a lot of inconsistency, I didn't like how I literally build up the villain of the story in the last five chapters and I believe that it's all due to that as well as that my writing is not good to the point I can create a good building of a villain within a few chapters.

Now those two chapters are there, they may never be read. I guess I would publish them later on Wattpad as 'Alternative Ending."

The next chapter, it the FINAL chapter. It will most likely come out this week and after that, I will start working on the story prompts request. Thank you, everyone, who has been with me on this journey and hopefully will continue to read other of my works.

Next: Soon

[maaaddiexo]

Chapter Seven | Peter Pevensie

[Red Series Book One: Roses]

Synopsis: With World War Two ravaging the world, no one is safe and no one is happy.

Despite their protests, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie are evacuated from London and sent to live in the English countryside with an old professor. Scared and unhappy, only the youngest Pevensie child remains optimistic and ends up sharing her hope with her siblings in the form of a wardrobe that takes them to Narnia, a different world where they are the only form of hope to bring an end to an evil witch's reign of terror.

Rosemary Bennett has no more hope left in her heart. Her brother and father are off fighting for their country, the former having gone missing months ago, and her mother ignores her, preferring the company of a bottle over her own daughter. Giving up seems the only logical plan of action. But when it finally comes to carrying it out, she's transported to a different world, with talking animals and a prophecy that doesn't involve her. Unsure as to why she is there, she must navigate a new world and ponder the possibility that maybe - just maybe - she doesn't actually want to die.

*Warning: this book deals with depression and suicide. Though mental illness isn't what this story revolves around, the act of suicide and depressive thoughts are intertwined with the plot and act as 'backseat drivers' to the novel.

[Chapter Eight] [Series Masterlist] [Masterlist]

When the wolves finally found the other end of the tunnel and were able to move the barrel, they only found a small fox in the village clearing.

"Greeting, gents," said the fox, swiping his tail against the ground to cover human tracks. The wolves paid no mind to the act, circling him. "Lost something, have we?"

"Don't patronize me," Maugrim spat. "I know where your allegiance lies. We're looking for some humans. Three of them."

"Humans," the fox laughed, trying to hide his nerves. "In Narnia? I don't think so." The beavers and humans watched the scene from above, hidden in the bare branches of the trees. From her spot, Rosemary's shoulders sank in some sort of relief. Her presence in Narnia was still unknown - at least to the White Witch - and she considered that a win. "But that's a valuable bit of information, don't you think?"

A wolf jumped forward, clamping its teeth down on the fox's back, eliciting a yelp from the creature. Peter had to cover Lucy's mouth with his hand and Rosemary felt herself tense. This creature was only trying to help them and like Lucy's friend, he would pay for it.

"Your reward is your life," Maurgrim growled, ignoring the fox's heavy pants and whines. "It's not much, but still. Where are the fugitives?"

The fox's head dropped and he sighed, panting in pain. "North. They went north."

Maugrim lifted his head, commanding his troop. "Smell them out!"

As a unit, the wolves left and the fox is thrown aside carelessly. The moment everyone was sure the wolves were gone, Rosemary quickly climbed down the tree, letting herself drop the last few feet.

Dropping to her knees by the fox, she turned him over, inspecting his wounds. "Are you okay?"

"It'll heal," the fox panted. "They don't know about you."

"I suppose since I'm not part of the prophecy, they don't care about me," Rosemary theorized as she balled up some snow and placed it on the bite mark. "This should help numb the pain."

"Thank you."

"Thank you for not selling us out." Both Rosemary and the fox chuckled softly.

The others clambered down the tree slowly, Peter catching Lucy as she dropped from the last branch. The Pevensies gathered some wood and worked on getting fire going. Mrs. Beaver offered to help clean up the bite mark while her husband stood to go look at his friend who was now frozen in time.

"How did this happen?" Beaver asked. It sounded more like he was asking himself - like how he could have let it happen - but the fox still answered him.

"They were helping Tumnus escape from the Witch. She got here before I did- ow." The fox grunted as Mrs. Beaver cleaned his wounds and Rosemary held him down. "Could you please loosen your grip."

"Sorry, you're quite squirmy," Rosemary muttered.

"Are you alright?" Lucy asked softly.

"Well, I wish I could say their bark was worse than their bite - ow - but that would be a lie. Ow!"

"Stop squirming and it'll hurt less," Rosemary answered gruffly. "I said quit squirming."

"I swear, you're worse than Beaver on bath day," Mrs. Beaver muttered and her husband shivered.

"Worst day of the year." Lucy and Susan giggled at the anguish in his voice.

"Thank you for your kindness," the fox stood up on shaky legs. "But I'm afraid that's all the cure I have time for."

"You're leaving?"

The fox smiled sadly, bowing at the Pevensies. "It has been a pleasure, my Queens and King, and an honour, Miss Rosemary, but time is short and Aslan himself has asked me to gather more troops."

"You've seen Aslan?" "What's he like?" The Beavers spoke over each other, gasping.

Rosemary turned to the fox, eager to hear his response. Mrs. Beaver had told her tales about the Lion, but she wanted to hear it from someone who'd actually met the only being in Narnia who could send her back home.

"Like everything we've ever heard and more. And I'm sure you'll meet him soon. You'll be glad to have him by your side in the battle against the Witch."

"But we're not planning on fighting any witch," Susan replied. No matter how many times they said they didn't want to fight, it always seemed to go in one ear and out the other of whomever they told.

Confused, the fox turned to Peter. "But surely, King Peter, the prophecy."

"We can't go to war without you," Beaver added. "You're the key to winning this thing."

Peter rubbed his arms, self-conscious of all the attention on him. What a king he would make, acting so nervous and all. He didn't like all the pressure on him, but that was the responsibility he seemed to bear, both here in Narnia as King and back in England as the oldest sibling. Peter looked over to Susan, though he already knew where she stood, and then he remembered promising his father that he would take care of his family while his father was away. "We just want our brother back."

Rosemary could sympathize with the Pevensies. Both Edmund and Daniel were missing, somewhere behind enemy lines. But unlike the Pevensies, there was nothing Rosemary could do to get her brother back.

•

Rosemary tossed and turned all night, both out of fear of the wolves coming back and the worry plaguing her mind. She finally fell asleep just before the sun began to rise and was being shaken awake by Lucy only a few hours later.

"Let's get moving," Beaver announced enthusiastically. "We've still got a long way to go."

After shaking off the snow clinging to her coat, Rosemary took up the back of the pack and let herself get lost in her thoughts. How much time would pass in England while she was here in Narnia? When she goes back to England - if she ever gets back - would she die instantly? Mrs. Beaver said that any longer in the river and Rosemary would've died.

She should've just let me die because then I wouldn't be here. In this mess.

But immediately, Rosemary retracted her thought. Everybody kept on mentioning going to battle with the White Witch, and she and the Pevensies could sympathize with them because back in their world, everybody was at war and it was horrible. Rosemary shuddered at the thought of war going on for one hundred years. Rosemary wanted to die, she was still sure of that, so she decided that she would rather die fighting for the freedom of a country than drowning like a coward. So lost in thought, it took Susan nudging Rosemary to catch her attention.

"Oh, sorry. Lost in thought."

"I can see that," Susan mused. "Mrs. Beaver says you got here a little bit before we did, but how exactly did you get here?"

Rosemary sighed internally. Ironic timing. Did she tell them the truth? She decided a half-truth was best. She had no reason to tell Susan Pevensie something that would only result in pity and questions directed at her. "I came in through the river that the beavers' dam is built on. What about you?"

"A wardrobe. We're staying with this professor out in the countryside while the war continues and that's where Lucy found Narnia. We broke a window and were hiding in it when we fell through to Narnia."

Rosemary could tell the Pevensie children were from England, but didn't know where and had never found the right time to ask.

"Where are you from? In England, I mean."

"Finchley. What about you?"

"Brighton. I live on a farm."

Susan laughed. "That would explain the trousers. Lucy asked me why she can't wear trousers when you can and I had no idea how to answer her."

Rosemary smiled, looking up ahead as the youngest Pevensie held onto Peter's hand, looking around the forest in wonder. The height difference made her smile, reminding her of Daniel. She felt her smile drop. "Do you have family fighting in the war?"

Susan nodded. "Our father. That's why Peter is a bit grumpy - he's had to become the man of the house and he's only fifteen. I don't think he really knows what he's doing but has too much pride to ask. Do you?"

"My brother and father. Although, I'm not so sure about my brother, Daniel." Rosemary felt tears well up in her eyes. "He...he's missing."

Even though it was Rosemary who chose the topic, Susan still felt bad for asking. Not knowing what to say, but knowing that nothing she did say could help Rosemary, she gently touched her arm and continued walking with the girl in silence, hearing Lucy's voice carry through the woods.

[Chapter Eight] [Series Masterlist] [Masterlist]

[pernatius]

Lost in Space Part 2: Ch 1

Summary: After returning to Earth, an unnamed Space Explorer must face the consequences of going past Quadrant 5.

Attempting to write 10k words for part 2 by the end of the week. 

Part 1:

Ch 1

Ch 2

Ch 3

Ch 4

Ch 5

____________________

I sigh. I watch my breath move away and disappear before my eyes. I shiver, but instead of hugging myself to keep in what little warmth I have, I look down at my shaky hands. I imagine my blood dripping down my fingertips. I then lay them down, hoping to paint the cold floor beneath me. I know full well it’s all in my head, but I try to anyway. I try until I can feel the skin underneath my nails tear. When that happens, I grip either shoulder. This isn’t because I now know it’s best to keep warm. I did so because of how trapped and lonely I feel. 

My eyes move up towards the wall I’m leaning against. I imagine a window and the rich blue sky waiting on the other side. I then go on to imagine how long I’ve spent here. By this point, I could’ve already stayed here for days, weeks, or even months. Time has lost its touch on me. The walls haven’t changed. No cobwebs or even a speck of dust has touched them. Even the door right across from me doesn’t have a sliver of time’s touch. Its knob hasn’t moved an inch since I got here. Even the air vent above lacks any indication of how long I’ve been here. There’s no sound coming from them, especially no voices. It strengthens the lack of hope, though. It causes my head to lower. 

Because of this, I scoff. I scoffed at how lucky I was back then. At least back at the Tauvoxes’ ship, I felt alive. Even if it was fear it’s better than feeling dead. 

Light touched me. It blinded me. I tried covering my eyes with my hand, but with his hand wrapping itself and clutching my wrist it became impossible. 

He led me. I walked by his side and took note of the many doors that stretched from both ends of the hallway. They’re all closed, which meant many others are facing the same torment I had just been released from. I imagine the hundred or so helpless others sitting at the very edges of their rooms with their heads down. Most hug themselves to keep warm or what little hope they had left. Some just lean against the wall, hoping for death to take them away from the mind-numbing torture. Sure, maybe some deserved to be here. Maybe they broke out of the limits of humanity, but no one deserved this. No one deserved the drain. Whatever they had done to get themselves here it couldn’t have been enough to forget they’re human too. They have families. They have friends. Maybe a pet at home like a dog. Maybe that dog used to wait at their front door until they got home from work. Maybe that dog now has their head down and is whimpering because they were promised a walk too long ago. Whatever the case they have memories. They have lives, or at least they had lives before being sent here. True monsters could be on the other side of those doors, but it’s not like they wanted to be one. Life just forces people to become one. I might not be called a monster to most, but it doesn’t matter what most think because in their eyes they see me as one. In his eyes especially. 

He sat right across from me and just like with The Director shades covered his eyes. They showed me the helplessness sketched on my face. “It doesn’t take much to realize you aren’t handcuffed. You can try to run out of here. Hell, you can try to sock my nose. However, if you’re smart you wouldn’t do something so rash. We attached a chip on the back of your neck not too long after your court case. So, if you try to do anything other than answer me you will be electrocuted.”

“Does it matter? Whether or not I answer I’ll just be sent back into that room to be left to myself. To be tortured.”

“Rightfully so. You had disobeyed direct orders, caused the death of your entire crew, and nearly brought all of humanity into another war. Thank God for that band of Space Pirates…”

His words faded from my hearing. Instead of sitting in the interrogation room, I’ve bent down in the middle of a farmers market. Underneath a small rock, a flower sways before my eyes. My hand pushes the rock away, grabs the flower, and plucks it out of the ground. I then ran over to my mother. Well, it was more like scrambling to her as I tried not to trip because at that time my shoes were somehow always untied. Once I’m next to her, I tug her baggy pants. When that doesn’t get her attention, I call out her name. Still, her attention is directed towards the woman running the little shop. They’re laughing as the owner places my mother’s purchased fruits and vegetables into a bag. Because I was just another selfish child, I kicked my mother. This gets her attention, but not the type I wanted. She turns and lowers her head as the owner is talking to another customer. My mother mouths, “When we get home-”

“Here’s your bag,” the owner interrupted her with a soft voice. 

With that, my mother’s demeanor shifted right back into its lighthearted self. She smiles and says her thanks, but that’s the end of that side of her. Once we get home she scolds me. With the flower crushed in my hand, I can feel my throat tighten. I’m crying in front of her as she points her finger and shouts at me. She could’ve scolded me for at least another hour, but a phone call cuts her off mid-sentence. 

I threw the flower down and continued to cry into my pillow. I don’t know how long I cried. Maybe a few seconds. It could’ve been five minutes. An hour possibly, or maybe even two. How long it was doesn’t matter. I calmed down eventually. Well, the crying portion of my emotions ended. From being a tearful mess I then turned to frustration. “You’re always making me cry. I wish something made you cry for once, mom,” I shouted.

It wouldn’t take long for me to regret that statement because what had come next was an explosion. My childhood home was swallowed up in a blaze of fire. I tried looking for my mom, but I was too late. A piece of the roof punctured right through her, but she was still alive. Her body twitched and I saw tears in her eyes. I wanted to help her. I tried to, but I was too weak. So, I ran. I pushed past some crops and ran until I slipped and fell in some mud. 

As I tried wiping off the mud from my face, I cried. I cried until I saw something appearing in the mud, it reflected something. It reflected something unworldly. Looking up, I see a spaceship. 

The trudging soon began. My shoes were covered in mud, grass, and sewage. They smelled and were on the verge of breaking apart. I’ve worn the same clothes for days. We’ve been trudging for days. Blisters sat underneath my feet. Scars scattered throughout my ankles and some even managed to get to my shoulders and chest. The others and I haven’t eaten much. Our rations ended a week ago, so we’ve been surviving on whatever we’re able to find whether that means killing a fox or going dumpster diving. 

It was supposed to end about a month ago, but the hideout was found out. The people that made it there first were either killed by the blast or, if they managed to escape before it hit, became their prisoners. 

“Go west? Are you insane,” our group leader questioned. 

She stood in front of him. She’s about my age, two years older. Her name is Ashley. I, of course, didn’t know it at the time, but she would become the one I risked everything for about two decades later. “Can’t you see they already know we’re heading south?”

We’re all young. Most of the group barely hit puberty. He was the oldest, so it was only natural for us to make him the leader. However, other than me he was the most stubborn. “Even if they do, what other choice do we have? Five hideouts have been discovered in the past month. If we go back west we’ll be shot down as soon as we step foot there, or worse we’ll become their prisoners. Let’s say you’re right. At least south we have some cover.”

“They’ve been hitting in one unit. There’s no way they’d split up in two separate directions.”

“And you know this how?”

“I’ve been watching them from afar. I haven’t seen any of them-”

“Wait. You’ve been splitting up from the group,” he yelled. 

“Yes,” she muttered under her breath. 

He steps closer to her and lifts her by her collar. Because of the huge height difference, her feet are seen dangling. She begins to cry. The others either just watch or look away. “You’ve been sneaking off from the group? For how long?”

Her crying causes my heart to drop and fists to shake. I wanted to do something, but I was just too scared. He was older, taller, and way stronger. 

“I-I don’t know...a few weeks?” The last word in her answer is spoken with a squeak. 

“You could’ve been caught for these past few weeks,” his grip tightens on her collar, “You could’ve given away our location these past few weeks.”

“I’m sorry,” she whimpered. 

Seeing him move his hand into his pocket, I already knew what he was planning to do. So, I didn’t waste any more time. I buried down my fear towards him and instead replaced it with the fear of that knife making it into her chest.

“Stop.” It was my turn to get in front of him. I looked at him with begging eyes, but he ignored me. He pulled the blade back and swung. 

He cried out and let her go. I caught her before she hit the ground. As she and along with the rest of the group tried to process what just happened, I grabbed her hand and led her away from there. The last thing I see of them is them trying to help him pull the branch out of his ankle. 

For months we all struggled. For months it was all about survival. It was about becoming a hunter rather than the hunted. It felt like years, but the years I’ve spent with her felt like hours. She made me happy the first time in a while. It’s the type of genuine happiness that causes your cheeks to cramp from all the laughing. I hadn’t felt that happy since before my father’s death. She was my first in just about everything. She was my lover. We’ve been together for basically my whole life. Until everything crumbled down. It crumbled because of me. 

“And you did it all for her,” he broke me out of my memories. 

“Yes,” I said confidently. 

“One life isn’t worth the lives of millions.”

My eyebrows furrowed. One twitched. The space between them scrunched up. “What are you trying to say?”

“What do you think I’m trying to say?”

“You think I would let her die? You think I would just sit back on my ass and let my wife die?”

“You were the one that caused her predicament. It’s only deserved you-” 

Before he can finish I punch his nose. He stumbles out of his chair and clutches his now crooked nose. Blood dripped out of the site, but I didn’t get to savor his pain for long because the consequences he described earlier began. An electric shock hit me. It went up and down my spine, causing me to stumble out of my chair as well. 

Knees bent and shaking, I cry. I cry for it to stop. It does, but I still feel it. It’s over, but I still feel my spine burning and head pounding. So, I fall to the floor and try to dig my nails in it. I watch my tears splash onto it as well. 

He moves in front of me. He bends down so that my eyes can meet with his shades. “Was it worth it?”

[slushyseals]

https://sportsmascots.fandom.com/wiki/Lou_Seal_(San_Francisco_Giants)

Lou Seal is the official mascot of the San Francisco Giants. "Born" on July 25, 1996, Luigi Francisco Seal has been a regular part of the Giants baseball home games and events around San Francisco, and the United States. The name is a play on the name "Lucille." The Giants held a contest in which fans submitted name ideas. Six people submitted the name "Lou Seal" and they were all invited to a game that season to watch from a luxury box. All of them got to meet the newly named Lou Seal and one of these lucky fans was randomly chosen to throw out the first pitch at that game. The name also refers to the San Francisco Seals, the baseball club that was a mainstay of the Pacific Coast League from 1903 until 1957. Although the mascot's name is a bit ambiguous, Lou Seal is indeed "officially" male (and the person inside the costume is a man). In 2008, Forbes named Lou Seal the best mascot in sports.

The character has had 1,150 consecutive home-game appearances, and is one of the four subjects followed in the second season of the Hulu series Behind the Mask.

He even has PARENTS! (Pictured above in the second row)

The Interview

Full Name: Luigi Francisco Seal

Position: Left Out (Team Mascot) Born: July 25, 1996 Bats: Right flipper Throws: Right flipper Height: Taller than the average seal Weight: He could use a diet Hair: Battleship grey

CAREER Like a fish out of water, Lou's flip-flopping mystique and crazy sense of humor contribute high-powered enthusiasm to Felipe's roster. Known for his "Let's see what I can get away with next" philosophy, Lou has accomplished many daring feats ... 25 attempts of unsuccessfully kicking the umpire in the seat of his pants ... actually stole home plate five times ... 19 headstands behind home plate ... placed 2.5 banana peels in the path of the opposing team ... Five-time champion of "Act Crazy Behind The Fox Newscaster Without Getting Caught!" ... has given 2,562 nuggies, polished 843 bald heads, directed more than 12 major name pregame music bands ... won the 1998 Easter Seal Mascot Baseball Game as a member of S.J. Sharkie's Heroes ... caught 13 "fowl" balls with his mouth.

GIANT IN THE COMMUNITY Participates in visiting hospitals, youth organization and civic groups throughout Northern California and San Francisco.

PERSONAL Graduated from Pier 39 Flipper Academy, majoring in Beach Ball Balancing and Shark Avoidance ... started own crab-leg restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf, where he invented Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl ... won the San Francisco Tuna Eating Contest flippers-down from 1997-98 ... once grew his whiskers so long, he was mistaken for an octopus ... someday aspires to be a special guest on "Baywatch."

HOW OBTAINED Spotted by Dusty Baker at Pier 39. Turned down offers from other teams to sign with the Giants.

INTERESTS Enjoys going to the movies, eating dinner (lots of it), dancing (all the time), swimming, playing baseball and many other sports, and likes to watch ESPN when at home.

Q: Hey, Lou Seal. Everyone has been wondering where you are from. LOU SEAL: I was born on the Farallon Islands just west of the Golden Gate Bridge and I grew up right here in San Francisco. Currently I live under the Lefty O'Doul Bridge in the China Basin district of San Francisco. I love this spot since I'm swimming distance from the team's home, Oracle Park. Being so close gives me more time to do what I do best - root for the greatest team of all time: the Giants!

Q: Do you come from a large family? LOU SEAL: Yeah, I come from a very large family. Us seals mature pretty quickly so I have a lot of relatives that I've never met -- until I became the Giants' team mascot! Now I have uncles, aunts, cousins and nephews coming out of the woodwork asking me for tickets and stuff.

Q: Are your parents proud of you? LOU SEAL: My parents are extremely proud of me! I am the first one in my family to earn a paycheck that isn't paid in smelt or other small fish. My family is so happy the new ballpark has opened up. Now they can watch me perform from the Bay.

The ballpark is pretty high-tech. I have suggested to the Giants to put some underwater television monitors below the waterfront so my folks can watch me on television.

Q: Sounds like you have quite a sweet tooth! LOU SEAL: Yes I do! Yet I always make sure I brush my teeth three times a day. My whiskers make great dental floss!

Q: How did you become such a huge Giants fan? LOU SEAL: I'm a San Francisco native and the Giants are in my blood! My dad was a big-time Giants fan and so was my grandpa! How can anyone not be a Giants fan!?! We've had so many great players over the last 40 years like Mays, McCovey, Marichal and Bonds -- you just gotta love the Giants!

I love cheering with the fans and helping to keep our team morale up and positive!

Q: Sounds like your family has quite a baseball history. LOU SEAL: Oh yeah! Because of my great-grandfather, the original San Francisco minor league baseball team was named the San Francisco Seals. As Grandpa told it, the original owner was walking along Pier 23 trying to think of a name for his team. A burst of wind came and blew his cap off his head and into the Bay. My great-grandfather retrieved it with his nose and gave it back to the man. From that moment on, they were called the San Francisco Seals!

At least that's what my grandpa tells me. It may be just a marine legend.

Q: So you must love your job. LOU SEAL: It is a dream job! I love cheering with the fans and helping to keep our team up and positive! It is no small coincidence that we have done so well since my first year on the job. It was not just Brian Sabean who helped turn this team around, the Big Lou had something to do with it too, you know.

Q: Besides going to baseball games, what else do you enjoy doing? LOU SEAL: I love making public appearances. It is great getting out and meeting Giants fans. I enjoy going to community and charity events, schools, birthday parties. I especially love attending corporate get-togethers.

I've done some appearances at some of the Dugout stores. It was great fun. When I'm not at a game or making an appearance, you might find me relaxing at Pier 39, chasing mermaids or fishin' for mackerel.

Q: What is your advice to kids on how they should enjoy a Giants game? LOU SEAL: They should wear a Giants cap, bring their glove to the game and root, root, root for the Giants! And don't be afraid to join Lou in the conga line!

(https://www.mlb.com/giants/fans/mascot)

Follow Lou Seal @LouSeal01

Lou Seal's Profile

[min-inu]

Hypnotic | y.kh

Genre: Horror (I guess); suggestive

Word count: 5296

Information: wendigo!Kihyun, female reader

Warnings: Mentions of blood and graphic depictions of other things that could be disturbing; a way of writing that is too descriptive (is that even a warning?)

wendigo: a mythological man-eating creature or evil spirit from the folklore of United States and Canada; a monster with some characteristics of a human. It's connected to acts of murder, insatiable greed and cannibalism.

 Happy Birthday to my one and only amazing “mom”, @raibebe​ who I love very much. 💖 I wrote this for her, since her bias is Kihyun and I wanted to write something. 

To my precious mom: I know it’s not a surprise, but I’ll keep calling it that. I hope you like it, even though it’s too long and descriptive. Please enjoy it and have an amazing rest of your birthday, even though I posted this pretty late. I wish you all the best things in the world, because you totally deserve them!

_____________________________________

You took your suitcase to the hut that you were going to stay in for this weekend and you started looking around as soon as you went inside and closed the door. The walls were made of wood, which made you feel somewhat comfortable. In front of you there was a big white sofa and a fireplace. There were also bookshelves, on which the owner has left some books and magazines. You were definitely not going to be bored here – after all the stress from the university, all you needed was exactly the cozy atmosphere that this house was offering, in order to get some rest. It was difficult to convince your family, though – they wanted to come with you, stating it was dangerous for a young girl to stay in a hut alone in the woods. But you assured them you were no longer a kid and you should be respected and trusted enough to at least take a short vacation on your own. Sometimes people really drained you and left you with no energy. That’s why you believed the best way for you to relax was to go on a trip – alone. Aside from that, it wasn’t as if you were outside of the country: you were in a small peaceful and safe village, close to your hometown. It was only half an hour drive, it passed almost without you noticing. You didn’t believe there was any reason for your family to be so worried, especially when you certainly weren’t.

You sighed, sitting on the comfortable sofa and took your phone out of the pocket of your winter coat. You checked the time - it was 2 pm, which was the perfect time to go out for a walk and get to know the village a little bit. You weren’t afraid you were going to get lost – you were actually pretty good at remembering paths. The only problem was the weather, because it was freezing cold outside. It was already winter, so low temperatures weren’t something surprising for this time of the year, but bad weather definitely wasn’t your favorite. You looked through the window to see it was snowing outside. The leafless trees were covered by thick layers of white snow which you found to be absolutely beautiful. You grabbed your phone, even though you knew there wasn’t any wifi connection or even mobile signal. You just felt safer when you had your phone with you. It wasn’t really a good weapon, if an unknown villager suddenly attacked you (just the thought of it made you laugh a bit, because your family really believed this was possible), but it made you feel calm, so this was a good enough reason.

You went out of the house, locking the door, then you started walking. It was quiet and you found this to be relaxing. You could barely hear your own humming, while you were walking near a lake. You stopped to look at it – it was frozen, but it was still beautiful; or maybe that was exactly the reason for its beauty. After you finished admiring the frozen lake, you resumed your walking. Before coming here, while you still had wifi, you looked up some information about the village – even though strangely there wasn’t that much. Maybe the mystery was what made the place attractive to you. You got the folded map out of your coat’s pocket as you unfolded it to read where the local shop was. You wanted to do some shopping – you needed to eat something after all. According to the map you had to go through the forest to get to the shop. That made no sense to you. “Why do I have to do that?” you asked yourself. Was that the only route possible? After all, your own hunger motivated you to keep going and find that shop, if there was one. You started walking, trying to remember the paths you walked on, for you to be able to come back. It seemed difficult, but you were sure that if you paid enough attention, you would be able to memorize it. As you were walking, you stumbled across a branch and you almost fell down, but you succeeded to keep your balance. What you saw in front of you, however, made you freeze in place in terror. You were quite sure it was a corpse. You prayed it wasn’t what it looked like – but as you took one small step forward hesitantly, your suspicions were confirmed. But it wasn’t animal’s corpse, even though that would be terrifying enough – it was human’s. You started shaking in fear. “This can’t be real. This is a nightmare”, you kept telling to yourself. But it seemed real. It seemed horribly real and it was. You could see the body and its skin which was not whole – it looked as if it was torn apart. But who, or what, could chew a person’s skin to that extent? Human teeth definitely couldn’t do that, even if cannibals existed. Just thinking about that, you felt you were shivering in fear. The face of the dead person also looked pale and lifeless, just like the rest of the bloody body. You even saw body parts that were slightly detached from the body.

Knowing that you have seen more than enough, you did the only thing which you could think of – run back to the hut. “I’m taking all my stuff right now and I’m going home. I don’t want to be here anymore”, you thought, but you were trying to run so desperately in the thick snow that you stumbled again and you fell down, feeling more hopeless than ever. “But… if I leave this early, my family isn’t going to let me go anywhere alone in the future. Seeing me so scared would make them think that I can’t be alone”. You wanted to prove them wrong and even though it was dangerous, you were willing to do it. You were not a person who was giving up easily – even if there was an obstacle, you always found a way to cope with everything. This time was not going to be an exception, so you got up from the cold ground and you continued walking until you got to the hut. When you were there, you locked the door as you sat to think of the possible reasons why the body looked like that. It seemed as if sharp teeth have ripped the skin apart. The image was still way too vivid in your mind, it was as if you have taken a picture of the body and now you couldn’t delete it. And you wanted to, because now you were sure you were not getting any sleep tonight. “Maybe it was a wolf”, you tried explaining the body’s condition. “Or some other animal”. Whatever this creature was, you only knew one thing for sure – you didn’t want it to approach you ever.

Hours have passed and now it was dark outside. It was late evening and you were starting to feel sleepy. You still haven’t eaten anything and you had a stomachache due to this fact. You tried to ignore it and just go to sleep, but it just wouldn’t stop growling. You took a blanket and you wrapped yourself in it, laying on the big bed in the bedroom. The light in the room was left on purposefully, in efforts for you not to feel that scared, but honestly it didn’t help much. You laid on the bed, trying to forget the image, but it wouldn’t go away, no matter how much you have tried to chase it out of your brain. Finally, you succeeded to fall asleep after a long time.

 * * *

 You woke up from rather peculiar noises coming from the outside. You took your phone to look at the time – only one hour and a half have passed since you went to bed. You succeeded to have a nightmare during the time you were asleep and it made you even more afraid to wake up in the real life. You couldn’t stop wondering why there was a corpse in the woods. Wasn’t there any police? Or any villagers who wanted to do something about it? And why haven’t you met at least one person during your stay here? That’s it – you had to find some evidence of people living here. You had go and see what the source of the strange noises was that made you unable to sleep. You got up from the bed and you took your winter jacket – actually you didn’t bring any pajamas, so you were still dressed in your jeans and sweater. You hoped the strange noises came from animals – bears, wolves, foxes. Even though you were scared of them, you were even more terrified of the creatures you had nightmares about. You put your boots on as you slowly got closer to the door. You were still hesitant about your plan to find and eventually confront the mysterious source of the strange noises, but there was not many things you could do. The other option was to stay asleep all night, hearing the noises and going crazier with every minute. You actually thought that there was a chance it was all in your head – you wanted to go and see for yourself that there was nothing to be afraid of. Or was there?

You walked out of the hut, feeling cold air slightly caress your skin even through the thick layer of clothes you were wearing. You put your hands in the pockets of your winter jacket, but only seconds after you took them out, deciding that hands were going to be useful if you were going to fight someone or something. Then you realized you didn’t have any weapon so you were quite embarrassed to go back to the hut and grab a knife from the kitchen just in case. When you went outside again, you started seriously questioning your sanity. Going out of the comfortable hut in the middle of the night to go fight some probably non-existent monsters? You felt as if you were out of your mind. But that didn’t stop you from walking – you actually heard the noise again and you saw a flickering light in the distance, which encouraged you. You felt quite excited – but your main feeling was still fear. You continued following the light, then you suddenly lost it again. Were there any people? This light really looked as if it could be coming from a flashlight. As you started walking deeper into the dark forest while you held your phone in one of your hands to use its flashlight and a knife in the other, you lost sight of the light again. Just then the flashlight of your phone landed on something rather terrifying. You were so shocked that you stumbled, while trying to take a few steps back, and fell on the thick snow, letting out a loud gasp, which attracted the creature’s attention. You also dropped your phone in the snow, but it landed in a way you could still see the light coming from it. You noticed the creature’s claws, sharp row of teeth, perfect for ripping skin apart – speaking of that, it was exactly what the creature was doing. You saw another corpse, but this one looked even worse than the previous one you saw earlier. The creature in front of it looked insatiable. No matter how much flesh it devoured, it just couldn’t get enough. There was a lot of blood, body parts that were partially bitten off and you could even see human organs such as heart, lungs and kidneys that were still in its place. What was that creature and why did it seem it only ate flesh? Even this was already scary enough.

“Oh, darling,” the creature said, wiping blood from his mouth. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”

And in the next moment, in front of you stood a man. No sharp teeth, no claws, no inhumanly skinny body: it was a handsome man instead.

You were trembling, while you were feeling the coldness of the snow against your skin. Various thoughts were present in your head, but none of it was related to believing what was happening to you was real. You felt as if you were the main character in a horror movie; your second theory was that this was all a nightmare and you would wake up very soon. But why weren’t you waking up?

The man quickly put some clothes on that were obviously off during his transformation as he came closer to you. In response, you tried to move back, while you were still lying in the snow. You tried to take your knife, but as you reached for it, you felt another hand suddenly take it, resulting in the knife cutting through your own hand. You let out a silent whimper as you saw there was already blood. The man simply took your hand as if it was the most normal thing to do and he slowly licked the blood of it, savoring every drop.

“Only your blood tastes this good… I wonder what the rest of you tastes like?”

You couldn’t help but think of inappropriate thoughts and you felt your cheeks reddening in result. “What’s wrong with me? How could I be sexualizing a monster in my head?”.  It was actually a simple task when the so-called monster was this attractive. You still didn’t understand what was happening, but his voice sounded somehow foreign to your ears. It was only natural that you get a little bit aroused, despite what you just saw. The feeling was like hearing a foreigner speaking your native language – the man in front of you had such an interesting accent and his voice was enough to make you addicted. When you looked into his captivating eyes, you got even more convinced about that. There was definitely something special in him.

“W-what are you?” you succeeded to ask as you were shivering from the cold and from all the fear that you felt that was holding your heart and causing you a pain there. You did not break eye contact with the man who didn’t look very human-like only a minute ago. But now he did and you couldn’t get enough of his perfect features.

“I can be your worst nightmare or your most beautiful dream. It’s only a matter of perception, love,” he took a deep breath as he continued speaking. “When you saw my other face just a minute ago, you didn’t seem to like it. Now look at yourself – your face getting redder with every word I say, as you’re swooning over me. I guess I just proved my theory to you.”

And he was right – as he was talking to you right now, you felt more relaxed. You almost forgot that he was a horrible creature just minutes ago – this man had a duality you never have imagined. He held his hand in front of your face for you to take it, but you did not do it. Instead you kept sitting on the snow, waiting for him to move back, so that you could stand up.

“Come on. I’m not going to hurt you. I just had dinner. Besides, I’m actually on a diet recently.”

If this was not real life, you could have laughed, hearing that last part. But you didn’t do it, because this was as real as it seemed. Suddenly, you heard your stomach growling. You pressed both your hands there in efforts to make it stop, but it didn’t.

“I may have eaten my dinner, but I see someone else didn’t,” the man giggled, which also sent shivers down your spine.

How could he have such a husky, yet angelic voice? You have never heard something as beautiful before. Even though he was just speaking his voice sounded like a song. Especially with his exotic pronunciation – this man may be terrifying, but he was even more intriguing. You found yourself staring at his eyes that shined bright like diamonds. You couldn’t exactly describe their color – it was a mixture of mostly black with some interesting highlights.

“What are you?” you repeated your question, this time saying it louder and more confidently, as you stood up.

You realized you were the same height as him, but that didn’t surprise you – you were quite tall yourself, so he definitely looked tall enough as he was standing in front of you just seconds ago. He had good body proportions, an attractive face and clean hair which surprised you. Monsters were supposed to look scary. But why was he so handsome?

“I’m called a wendigo. We are actually pretty rare,” he chuckled. “Not that I’m bragging, but I’m sure you have never seen somebody like me.”

You definitely haven’t seen someone nearly as attractive as him and that was a fact.

“Wait, a wendigo? Like those evil spirits that possess a human body and turn the person into a cannibal?” you asked with surprise. “So this is not your real body?”

“Consider me impressed. You definitely know a lot about my species, but you obviously know nothing about me. My case is a little bit different. I was born in this body, with this so-called evil spirit living in my mind. The first time I felt it was when I was a kid – I ate quite a lot of food so I was pretty chubby back then. No matter how much food I ate, it was never enough. This is until I felt a real craving for human flesh, thus, I tried tasting it and it turned me into a monster. Surprise.”

You were beyond disgusted when you heard that this attractive young man was born this way. How was it even possible? Was it something you inherited from your biological parents? Being a wendigo? That was impossible, right? Whatever this crazy illogical nightmare was, you wanted it to end soon.

“When I started satisfying my hunger with human flesh, I realized I never needed any real human food to begin with, so I lost weight. I still love food, though. Like, have you ever tried chicken burrito? It’s so delicious. I’m hungry now.”

This man definitely seemed to love talking about food and even joking about it. But the fact that now you knew what kind of creature he was still freaked you out.

“Let’s go,” he said, taking your hand, but you let go.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” you said, keeping your hands close to your body.

“I want to go and eat chicken burrito,” he pouted, looking almost innocent.

“Go by yourself and please leave me alone,” you said with trembling voice.

You started walking back to your hut but he quickly stopped you.

“I thought we already talked about this. I’m not going to eat you. I’m on a diet, so I only eat one person’s flesh a day.”

It was strange hearing him talk about this so casually. You felt as if it was all one big joke by the way he was acting. But you knew what you saw and he knew what he did. He was not nearly as innocent as he looked right now.

“Aside from that, you’re way too pretty. It’s my first time seeing such a beautiful human. I could never destroy such a masterpiece. Come and have dinner with me,” he said that sentence more as a fact than a request which was clear even in his tone. He was not asking you for permission: he already knew you were going to submit to him anyway.

The way every word was rolling off his tongue and the flavor his specific tone added to his voice was making him totally irresistible. Hearing this man talk could easily be your new lullaby. He sounded so persuasive without even trying. How could you say “no” when basically only one look into his magnificent eyes was enough to make you go weak at the knees? And him calling you a masterpiece – nobody has ever called you something like that. It seemed that he really meant it, so you were willing to trust him. He gave you no other option. Even though you were scared to death, you couldn’t help but trust him completely – you shivered because of that thought, mixed with fear and sweet desire to do something wrong. At this moment, you didn’t know if you wanted to pack your things, go home and never come back, or to stay here forever.

“Do you have a car?” he suddenly broke the silence and you nodded. “Great, where is it?”

“I don’t know. Somewhere outside of the forest?” you answered unsurely.

He sighed as you two continued walking in the same direction you came from and after a couple of minutes walking you succeeded to find your car.

“Is it your car?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Yes, it is,” you said, as you unlocked the car and you went to the driver’s seat, but before you get in, the man stopped you.

You couldn’t believe you were going to have dinner with a stranger who was also not exactly human. Was there even a way this could get any more twisted than it already was?

“Give me the keys,” he said, grabbing them from your hand.

You were taken aback by his sudden movement as his hand touched yours. Another thing that surprised you was his bluntness. You shook your head in clear disapproval.

“There’s no way I’m letting a stranger, who is not even a person, drive my car.”

“Please, don’t discriminate,” he pouted. “Hi, I’m Kihyun. Done, I’m not a stranger to you anymore. You know my name and I’m also a human right now. I don’t think you have more excuses now, missy.”

You couldn’t believe he was making everything sound so casual. He seemed like an easy-going person, so now it was completely impossible to feel threatened by him in any way. The scariest thing right now seemed to be his sassy answers to everything you said. You were not sure you could endure that for too long, before snapping.

“Ki-Hyun,” you said almost breathlessly, as you listened to how the name sounded. It was beautiful just like the man next to you,

Before you even know it, he was already in the driver’s sit, getting ready to turn the engine on.

“Get on,” he said, looking at you invitingly.

You didn’t really have a choice, since the magical sparkle in his eyes was drawing you into accepting his invitation, so you just went to the front passenger seat next to him and got on the car as you both took off. It was pointless to try to avoid this dangerous attraction.

 * * *

 As he was driving to God knows where, you remembered to ask him a question which may or may not be sarcastic, but you really wanted to know the answer no matter what.

“Do wendigos even know how to drive?” you asked mockingly.

You knew he was a person, when he wasn’t in his wendigo form and he had just the normal human abilities like every other person.

“Don’t tease me or you’re going to regret it. I’m still hungry, you know.”

“You said you wanted a burrito, not a human. And what happened to your diet and your promise? You said you won’t hurt me. After all, I’m too pretty to be the person who satisfies your hunger. It was your words, not mine,” you decided to quote his words. You were starting to feel really comfortable in his company and you had mixed feelings about that.

“I have to admit that’s right, sweetheart. But I didn’t promise anything. I could change my mind any time,” he answered. He was not going to let you insult him like this.

“No, you can’t,” you stated confidently.

“And why is that?” he raised his eyebrows in clear confusion.

“Because I’m so pretty right now and I don’t plan on becoming less pretty any time soon. That’s why you can’t hurt me.”

“Are all humans that annoying, or is it just you?” he asked in astonishment.

“Are all wendigos that self-centered or is it your own fault?”

You seemed to always have a proper comeback to everything and that really irritated Kihyun. He wanted to be the winner even verbally, without having to use his special powers to convince you. He sighed, while keeping his eyes on the road. What was still unknown to you was the fact that you were starting to get under his skin too but there was no way he could let it show that soon.

Around less than 20 minutes later, you got in front of a diner, which had neon lights, used for text signs. Kihyun and you got off the car and you walked in. The interior surprised you even more – it looked like the typical American movie cliché. Not that you minded it though; the creature you were with right now could make any place and any activity feel like something exciting.

You sat on the sofas which were opposite one another, with a table between them, as the waiter came and left menus for you two.

“So… What do you want to eat? It’s my treat,” Kihyun mentioned and you quirked your eybrows.

“You can’t be serious! Wendigos have money?!” you acted surprised just to irritate him and he really tried hard to act as if it wasn’t getting to him.

But you could make him feel anything you wanted: whether it was sadness or happiness. If only you had known that, you definitely would have used it to your advantage.

“Then I guess I’ll pay only for myself. Thank you for saving me money,” Kihyun answered with clear irritation in his voice.

“But I want free food,” you pouted, trying to think of a way to convince him to change his mind.

“And I want to be respected.”

“I respect you. I really, really respect you,” you said, looking him in the eyes.

It was a bad choice, though. Every time you looked at those eyes you got lost in them. They were capable of making you lose every type of game or sassy remarks exchange you and Kihyun had. You couldn’t fight it anymore. You just couldn’t stay away from him. Even if you tried, you always found yourself back at the start; it was a meaningless attempt to run away from your real feelings. He was holding you captive using his exotic charm and now you weren’t sure you wanted to escape anymore.

When the waiter came to take your orders, you cleared your throat, as you averted your gaze, so that you were no longer staring into Kihyun and you got ready to speak, but you were cut off.

“… And french fries with a strawberry milkshake for the lady.”

The waiter wrote down this bizarre combination of food and drink as he gave both Kihyun and you a confused look, before getting back to work.

“Who drinks strawberry milkshake while eating french fries?” you looked at him with no less confusion than the waiter.

“Definitely looks like your style.” He locked eyes with you, making you unable to look away.

You were literally connected to his eyes by invisible but very strong strings that you could not detach from yourself. That didn’t stop you from looking for a way, though.

“I’ve noticed that you like some very unusual things.”

By the confidence in his voice and by his knowing look, you could tell he definitely knew what kind of an impact he had on you. And the unusual thing he meant was him. Stating that you liked unusual things was just a code for saying you liked him and he was quite aware of this fact.

“But don’t worry. I like people who enjoy unusual things,” he said with a small smile, while he tried to make his voice sound even huskier.

But he didn’t need to do that, since even if he was not trying, his voice was already husky enough to drive you completely crazy. Did he mean he liked you? You were unsure of what his real purpose was, but you still liked what he was doing to you.

After your food and drinks were served, you just had diner in silence. He tried to look at you a couple of times, but you were desperately avoiding his gaze.

“When I go home, I have to leave all the wendigo stuff here and forget everything that happened”, you thought as you took a sip from your strawberry milkshake.

Actually french fries and strawberry milkshake were really a nice combination for you, just as Kuhyun predicted. No matter what he said earlier, he still payed for your food too. When you went back to the village, he parked your car at the same place where you were earlier. You took your phone to look at the time: it was 4:30 am and you were surprised. You suddenly remembered everything that happened tonight. This seemed like such a long time in your mind, but it was actually only a couple of hours? How could you get scared, fall in love with a supernatural creature and eat dinner in that small amount of time? As you both got off the car, you finally let him look you in the eyes.

“Is this how we part ways?” he asked, sounding just as desperate to meet you again, as you were about meeting him.

He tried to hide that through fake coughing, but he couldn’t deceive you; you already knew his real feelings, even though when you first met him, you weren’t sure he was capable of feeling anything.

“We… We don’t have to,” you said with a shaking voice.

Why couldn’t you let him go, when that was the most reasonable thing to do?

“No, you know what? I really have to go. I can’t do that, Kihyun… I just… Goodbye,” you whispered, looking at his hypnotic eyes, trying to remember them.

They made you fall into a trance that you didn’t want to exit. When you finally succeeded to look away, you turned and you started walking to your hut. Your eyes were shining because of the tears that were starting to form in then, but you couldn’t let this stop you in any way. As you started walking even faster, you felt someone grabbing your wrist, making you turn to look at them. You knew it was Kihyun, yet you were still surprised. You opened your mouth to protest, but he made you stop by pressing his lips to yours in a long kiss that you didn’t want to ever end. When he took a step back from your body, you found yourself missing his warm lips that were making you forget all about the cold winter. Without saying anything more, you took his hand and you started walking to your hut. When you got there, you connected your lips to his again, but this time it was a heated kiss, the type that left you breathless and wanting more.

You felt his fingertips caress your skin, making you shiver under his dangerous but addicting touch. The feeling was indescribable, even though his body was usually cold, his touch somehow made you burn. Instead of making you cold, it made you feel warm – hot even. You buried your fingers in his dark hair, trying to keep him close enough to you. You knew this was wrong, but he had you under his spell. He was a sin you couldn’t get enough of.

[featheredglasspen]

Review: A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman is an anthology retelling of East and South Asian mythology through various female voices. Review under the cut.

Rating:  ★ ★ ★ 1/2

The description of this is a little short, but that’s because, like I said, it’s an anthropology. Anthology means that there are several stories inside this small one.  This is definitely one of the better YA short story collections I have read. As with all anthologies, some stories are much stronger than others, but I enjoyed far more than I disliked. Plus, it was just so great to see the exploration of mythologies we don’t often see in the mainstream. And, honestly, it's just so refreshing to see fantasy stories outside of the vaguely-Medieval Euro-centric books we've come to expect. There's a whole world of fascinating history and culture out there - it's time to explore it! My average rating over the fifteen stories was 3.7. Now I will rate each one and discuss my thoughts on them. This is going to be a long one so buckle up!

Forbidden Fruit by Roshani Chokshi - 5 stars

The collection gets off to a bang with this gorgeous Filipino fairy tale and love story. I didn't love Chokshi's first novel The Star-Touched Queen, but I have to say that her flowery, poetic writing works MUCH better in a short story. It's lush and vivid, raising goosebumps along my arms at its end. A goddess falls in love with a human man - oh, what could possibly go wrong?

Olivia’s Table by Alyssa Wong - 4 stars

This was a little strange, but in the best possible way. Wong takes on the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival in her story. A young girl who has lost her beloved mother makes it her duty to feed crowds of ghosts. It's a tale about grief, told in sweet, subtle interactions. There is something so wonderful and sad about this uniting of the living and the dead through food.

Steel Skin by Lori M. Lee - 3.5 stars

If I was rating the ending alone, this would probably get five stars. It's a science-fiction story with androids, but also about grief and the loss of a loved one. There's the familial aspect: the narrator's relationship with her father hasn't been the same since her mother died; and also a mystery aspect: she teams up with a friend to uncover the truth behind the androids that were recalled. For the most part, I glided through the story, kinda enjoying it but not really loving it like the previous two. And then the ending happened. Perfection.

Still Star-Crossed by Sona Charaipotra - 2 stars

It's a shame about this one because it took some interesting steps but stopped very abruptly and strangely. I turned the page and was shocked to discover that it was over! It's a Punjabi folktale retelling and the author's explanation for the story was really interesting, but I didn’t think her intentions came across at all. The main guy was pretty creepy, too.

The Counting of Vermillion Beads by Aliette De Bodard - 4 stars

Like a lot of these stories, this one was quite weird. Though I found myself really liking it. I also found myself doing some reading into the Vietnamese story of Tam and Cam, which starts like something of a Cinderella tale, in which a jealous sister envies the other's beauty and it leads to tragedy. Here, Bodard rewrites it with a more positive spin, showing the power of sibling love above all else.

The Land of the Morning Calm by E. C. Myers - 5 stars

Aww. This was one seriously emotional, beautiful story about loss and gaming. As gaming is such an important part of Korean culture, it was great to see it explored here. And while I usually find video game-centred stories too light and silly, Myers did a fantastic job of showing how a game can be really important for someone. It can be a much-needed escape, a creativity outlet, or a doorway to an unending universe. I liked this story so much because it took something I don't usually love and did something new and deeply moving with it.

The Smile by Aisha Saeed - 4 stars

Well, I always like a good feminist fairytale! And I LOVE what Saeed did with this one. She takes a tragic love story and rewrites it to give a king's courtesan choice, freedom and agency. It's a gorgeously-written South Asian addition, and somehow both happy and sad. Happy, because it is about a woman finally getting to make her own choices and understanding what love really is. But sad, because much must be given up for the sake of freedom.

Girls Who Twirl and Other Dangers by Preeti Chhibber - 3 stars

This was okay. I enjoyed the alternating between Hindu myths and a modern-day celebration of Navaratri, a holiday I had never heard of before. But, though educational, I didn't feel as much of a spark with this one as I did with the others. It was light, but fairly bland. It seemed a little too long, too.

Nothing into All by Renée Ahdieh - 4 stars

I really enjoyed this one! It's a retelling of the Korean folktale Goblin Treasure and I loved what the author did with it. A girl makes a trade for goblin magic so she can achieve her dream of going away to music school, but her brother becomes angry that she isn't using the magic to make gold that could benefit the family. It's a tale about siblings, forgiveness, the decisions we make and how bad actions can be hiding a good person.

Spear Carrier by Rahul Kanakia - 2 stars

Too long and emotionless for my tastes. I felt like this story was droning on and on in parts, and I neither learned something new from it, nor experienced an emotional response to it. The protagonist goes on and on about wanting to be a hero, and about life and death, and I just took so little away from reading it.

Code of Honor by Melissa de la Cruz - 2 stars

There was a definite slip right around this later middle part of the book. My two least favourite stories were lumped together here. Melissa de la Cruz's work seemed to be a companion to her Blue Bloods series, which I have not read and don't particularly have any interest in. This story was about Filipino aswangs - vampire witches - and contained a lot of gore and gruesomeness, but not a lot of emotion. A potentially interesting concept that left me feeling cold.

Bullet, Butterfly by Elsie Chapman - 4 stars

Gorgeous. Chapman retells the Chinese tale of the Butterfly Lovers - a "tragic tale of two young lovers kept apart by familial duty". Set during a war, this reimagining sees a boy posing as a girl and falling in love with another girl called Zhu. The author breathes new life into a very old concept - that of forbidden love and being torn between duty and what your heart truly wants. Beautifully-written with a touching ending.

Daughter of the Sun by Shveta Thakrar - 4 stars

Inspired by two stories from The Mahabharata, this is a powerful feminist tale about sticking to your guns and putting your true passion first. Always. I loved reading about the two stories this was based on - about “Savitri and Satyavan” and “Ganga and Shantanu”. The theme of a smart woman cleverly tricking a god or demon or jinni seems to come up a lot in South Asian folktales and I must confess: I like it.

The Crimson Cloak by Cindy Pon - 5 stars

Oh, I loved this! I'm not sure why but I sometimes love it when the narrator speaks directly to the reader with a conspiratorial wink (You can never out wait a goddess, Dear Reader. I have all the time in the world.). In this, Pon retells “The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl”, which is itself a wonderful folktale, but here becomes even more so. It's very romantic, definitely a love story, but it's a good one. The author gives a voice to the mostly silent weaver girl in this version, allowing her to tell the story from her perspective. 

Eyes like Candlelight by Julie Kagawa - 4 stars

I wonder if this story has anything to do with Kagawa's upcoming novel Shadow of The Fox because it is also about foxes (well, kitsunes, to be precise). Takeo, the protagonist in this story, is an extremely likable hero and we get pulled along for an adventure with one of Japan's most loved mythical creatures: kitsunes. Typically, human/fox shapeshifters. It's also a little creepy, too. Kagawa captures the eerie small-town setting perfectly and, let's not lie, there's something deeply unsettling about never knowing whether a human is really a human or something else.

Overall, this was a stunning anthology. I would really love to see more fantasy short story collections exploring mythologies around the world with own voices authors. If you like fantasy and you like short stories, I highly recommend these.

Until next time.

[dreamingwithbts]

New Family - Chapter 7

Genre: Poly!AU; Hybrid!AU; Fluff; Angst

Pairing: Hybrid BTS x Female! Reader; Human!Reader, Wolf!Namjoon, Alpaca!Seokjin, Black Panther!Yoongi, Red Fox!Jhope, Corgi Dog!Jimin, Tiger!Taehyung, Bunny!Jungkook.

Summary: After receiving a promotion at work Y/N realizes that she has more free time so she decides to use this time usefully and ends up volunteering in an organization that rescues abused hybrids. What she doesn't know is that this will completely change her life!

*********************❤***********************

Hoseok looks at us with no expression, slowly rising, walks in front of us and says.

"No..... no......I.....no....." he says then he runs pass the door leaving me to cry in the middle of the living room while Yoongi goes to the room wanting to be alone. "A united family undone because of me!" I tell to nobody. Hours passed and I continued on the floor looking at the wall with no more tears to cry until I felt Yoongi join me and hug me. "Everything's going to be all right." he says. "But what if something happens to him out there and if he never comes home?" I say sobbing. Yoongi doesn't say anything and once again we're sitting there his head in mine waiting for something.

Yoongi and I jumped to our feet when we heard the house door opening. Hoseok carefully enters, stopping once more in front of us. "I'm sorry...... I also like you both..... I didn't know what to do or what to feel….. I didn't know...... I just ran…... sorry…... if the offer is still standing…... "Hoseok says crying. "Oh Hobi! Of course it is! We love you!" I say. Yoongi and I hugged him tightly when I felt Hoseok give me and Yoongi a little kiss on the lips. "Once again the family is united." I think.

We all yawned at the same time and started laughing. "I think we'd better go to bed." I tell them. And we all went to our respective ones until minutes after I got into bed, I felt two pairs of arms around me making me smile and we slept all night together.

The next day I waited to wake up in the middle of them, but opening my eyes I realize that I'm completely alone. Confused I get up and start to go to the kitchen where I hear them talking softly. "...... mine started today and yours?" "Tomorrow most likely.....". Even more confused I go into the kitchen and say. "What are you talking about?" "NOTHING!" they yell suspiciously. And I narrow my eyes at them making them get up and walk away doing their things making me more suspicious.

While eating I decided to research about hybrids maybe I can find out what they were talking about until I came up with an article called 'Hybrid Heat' and I started to read…...as I choked on food when I realized what it was. Hoseok and Yoongi came running when they heard what happened, Yoongi tries to calm me down and help while Hoseok fetches me a glass of water.

"What the hell happened to you woman?!" Yoongi asks. "I DISCOVERED WHAT YOU TWO SPEAKING! EXPLAIN!" I scream at him showing the article. I wasn't angry but rather shocked and surprised and confused. Hoseok looked at me in shock, opening and closing his mouth several times. Yoongi sighs. "So heat is ......" he begins to explain everything "Basically we have to mate with somebody. Have our release."Yoongi finish the explanation. I look at them without expression making the hybrids look down. "Okay….. I don't care about this! Is normal for your kind! It's okay to me. But why you guys didn't tell me?"I say making them surprised. " We thought that it could make you uncomfortable. " Hoseok says," Oh Hobi, Yoongs! There is nothing that makes me think bad of you or uncomfortable! If there's any problem, tell me! "I tell them," Is there anything we can do with this or ...? "" Well there are pills that relieve us or you also you know do it..... "Yoongi says.

Blushing I look at them and I can see the lust in their eyes. They try not to make me uncomfortable but I know what they want to do, I take in their hands and lead them, confused, to the bedroom. After realizing what I wanted ... we did it you know ....

The days after what happened pass slow and with embarrassing moments ....

Flashback:

* I was passing the bathroom when it open and from there a very naked Yoongi comes out. "YOONGI! COVER YOURSELF WITH A TOWEL!" I scream embarrassed trying not to look at something that stands out, a lot. "Why? It's nothing you haven't seen before." Yoongi smugly responds with a smirk on the face passing right by me slightly touching. And I stand there shocked thinking about the things we've done.

On the way to the kitchen after taking a certain hybrid of the head I see an Hoseok lying on the couch watching television only in boxers...... noting something quite big in a certain place .... "HOSEOK! WHY ARE YOU LIKE THAT ?!" I scream at him. "Oh, it's hot today!" he says innocently without evidence of going to dress. And I quickly go to my room to get away from these too sexy hybrids. *

Flashback ends.

Friday's come and I'm leaving quite late from work today. And as always  at this point it starts to rain like in the movies and I can almost feel Hoseok sitting in front of the door worried while Yoongi lies on the sofa looking at the ceiling. Sighing I continue on my way home. "I really need a car."

Until something came against me causing me to fall. "Mam, I'm so sorry!" a voice says in despair helping me to get up. "It's alright! Do not be....worry....." I begin to say until I looked at the person or in this case a hybrid. With small injuries and rather dirty. "Mam, please help my friend he's really injured and I font know what I can do anymore! I can't help him!" the hybrid says almost crying. And I notice that he was quite desperate I thought what it would be like if it were my hybrids so I told him to point the way and he lead me just thanked me all the way there.

The hybrid took me to an aley and I could see another hybrid sitting on the floor almost screaming in pain. "Oh my God!" I say running to him. I don't know how to help so I decided to take them home out of this rain. "Help me raise him, I'll take you guys to my house. It's the only thing I can do now." I say making the hybrid nod and help me. "We're going to have to walk but it's close ok?" I ask the wounded hybrid making him nod and with the help of the other we start walking home. "You…... smell..... like..... others ..... hybrids..." says the wounded hybrid. "Oh! I have my two hybrids at home! Don't worry! They are friendly, one is kind of lazy and the other is a ball of energy!" I say making the two hybrids laugh a bit.

As soon as we arrive at the door this opens revealing Yoongi, realizing the gravity of the situation replaces me and takes the injured hybrid to the couch. "Hoseok can you get first aid please?" I ask him making him nod and go get it. We both went to the other three hybrids were. "I don't know how to treat wounds." I tell the truth. "It's okay. I can take it from here." said the hybrid who asked me for help.

While he was treating his companion, Yoongi and Hoseok came to me. "What the hell happened Y/N?" Yoongi asks. "I don't know! I was on my way home when one of them asked me for help and when I saw the other wounded I thought of you. What if it was you two on their place? So I brought them here!" I respond sincerely. Yoongi looks softly at me after I said that graving my hand while Hoseok hugs me and I smile at them. "Hoseok can you prepare both your room for them?" I ask. "And what about us?" "You can sleep with me." Agreeing Hoseok goes to prepare the room.

"You can stay in my hybrids room." "We don't want to intrude more." the hybrid said. And to my surprise Yoongi replied. "You are not intruding, I know how it is, you are safe here with us and especially with her." Relieved the hybrid accepted the room. "Do you want to eat or do you want to rest now?" I ask. "If you don't mind we'd rather go to sleep." Agreeing Yoongi helps the wounded hybrid without hesitation as I pick up the other hybrid's hand surprising him.

After they lay down we say good night until I was surprised once again this time by Hoseok. "If you need anything do not hesitate to ask!" he said, showing his famous smile.

The three of us already lay in my bed with Yoongi asleep by my side I say quietly to Hoseok. "Sorry I didn't warn you, I know this may be bringing bad memories….. but I couldn't leave them there." "Y/N, you did nothing wrong. I'm happy that you can and want to help them. Don't worry. Me and Yoongi, we thank you for protecting our species and we will always be on your side." Hoseok says. " Thank you Hobi. "I say petting his ears making him cuddle even more to me falling asleep. " I didn't even asked they're names." I think falling asleep in the middle of my hybrids again.

Note: Hi! It's me again! New hybrids! Who do you think it is? Comment what you think! You guys think I should continue writing? Hope you liked it! 🙈💜💜😊

[shelbiegiles11]

Opinion Series

To the Lone wolves:

What makes being alone so much better than being with others? Maybe it’s the way you can process your thoughts, or the noise control you have. Maybe it’s the fact that you don’t have to deal with anybody else crap, but I’m here to help you see what good can come from being with others. I’m here to show you that you can be yourself, and accomplish your goals, but that being with people may help you accomplish those goals sooner, and can make the experience much more enjoyable and productive in any manner.  I used to live off a quote from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Every day before I would go into dance my team would have to quote this together and says, “The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. Optimal experience is thus something that we make happen.” You are so independent and strong. You push yourself and that amazes me, but I believe we can only push ourselves so far. We hit a point where we think we have become the person we want, but what I’ve learned from this quote and from being on the team that I was on is that others can push me further. Those around me can push me to try harder, and honestly, peer pressure if a real thing and it will affect you. You will push yourself more if you have people around you. Mark Smith did an experiment on rats. He drugged them, and no, I am not comparing you to a drugged rat, but hear me out. Rats who were alone with cocaine always stayed on cocaine, but when the rats had others in their cage who weren't addicted to the cocaine they were able to stay away from the drug for the whole experiment. People not only push us in the right direction, but they invite us to do better and to be better. We can play off examples of others, and try to act or do what the people we like do. Without other people, there would be no drive to continue with our goals and dreams. There's one last thing I'd like to tell you before I leave you alone again, and that's loneliness. I watched a video on Youtube the other day by Kurzgesagt. This video was on the effects of loneliness on the human body. The video talked about how you age quicker, Alzheimers grows faster, and your immune system weakens when you're alone. When you're alone you become more defensive and can see danger hostilities everywhere. You could see your friend and immediately think that you were in danger. It doesn't matter if you CAN be social, or if you HAVE a lot of friends on social media. The fact of the matter is that we live in what is supposed to be the MOST "connective time" for this generation. A time where we can see what everyone is doing anywhere, but the personal connections we make with people every day are the connections that draw us out of loneliness, and bring us to our normal selves. I want you to feel happy, motivated, and like you belong. So if you have to be alone that's fine, but I really do suggest that you make new friends, and be as social as ever for your own personal benefit. 

To the CEO at Sodalicious: 

A company of soda, and customer service. You may think that you run the place, but the fact of the matter is that Sodalicious could not run without the regional managers, managers, shift leads, or even mixologists. Not only can it not run without us, the employees, but your employees must work well together to get the job done and be in good hands. The drama and fighting that goes on between coworkers is not good for your shops because employees aren’t going to be able to provide the best service for the customers if the employees are worried about who’s in the right and who’s in the wrong for how many pumps to put in a soda! Emily Moore wrote a paper called “How to Look Out For Yourself While Still Being a Team Player” and she talks all about this situation. Her main point was on Collaboration. She says, "collaboration well done can build a company vs. collaboration that is broken can eventually lead to a company breaking down." If we don't all have the same goal, and we aren't listening to the same person this company will fail. You must make sure these employees, these managers, your regional managers, and you all have the same goal! Meetings with managers and employees make those two groups on the same level of knowledge, but to fully have a company goal is what will create progress. There are individuals in each shop who work harder than the other employees and they aren't getting recognized for what they do. This causes disagreements and arguments in a shop. This is a reason why rewards for hard work well in companies like yours. One thing that can help your employees learn to work harder is to understand, “‘pull your own weight,’ and the young oarsman does just that when he finds out that the boat goes better when he does.” The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown, has this quote. When your employees really work and do their specific job in a company correctly they learn that the company will function better when they function. Just like a boat will go in the wrong direction when people row incorrectly, a company will decline if the employees do not know what way to row. Quality directions and goals being set into play will help your company build customer ratings as efficiency increases in your shops. The same thing would happen in the health care field. Cynthia Armstrong the author of "Nursing and Healthcare partnership building for sustained Team Results" says that." Without a clear view of what role a person plays the necessity for each person is not met. When we have certain roles that are clear and know that is when progress is made, and yet each individual can contribute and feel included. Without teams companies could not function but, different perspectives are valued and encouraged." Your employees need to feel needed, and sometimes just showing up for a shift is not enough. Implementing specific roles so that your employees can feel like they are needed for their task will create a more efficient work environment and can improve your company. Overall if all your employees work together, but also have a goal for the team and themselves as individuals I can see your company rising.

To my siblings:

Life’s crazy, and so is our family, but as a family, we have to work together to get things done. Whether it’s cleaning the kitchen, or if it’s being financially stable, we all must help each other. We grew up together, and that made us strong. We were raised to be our own person, and that made us unique and ourselves! Of course, Mom always has a plan for us on who she wants us to be, but the reality of it all is that we have to choose who we want to be. I read something from a motivational speaker the other day and in his book "Master Your Time, Master Your Life" he says, "The time you spend with other people, and the way you spent it determines perhaps 85 percent of your happiness, success, or failure in life.” We'be spent basically our whole childhoods together! So what are we doing together to make that time to make that 85% of our chances the better portion? Together we must work to be a better unit, to support each other and push each other to reach our true potential. We were all placed in this family for a reason. In our childhood, there was the book "Chrysanthemum" by Kevin Henkes. The story was about a mouse named Chrysanthemum who had such a unique name. When people in her class made fun of her name her parents and teacher were able to help her rebuild her confidence. She was different, she had the name of a flower, but in the end, through other support, she learned to love herself. As a family, we need to have that support for each other. As a family we have to able to feel that we can trust each other, of course, we were taught to find help when it is needed, but to ask for advice one must trust the person. This is where reliance on each other plays into our family. When taking the advice asked or we have to accept the fact that the information we receive may not be what we want to hear. Fox News held a broadcast on "The Crisis of Individualism" which talked about today's society where it's hard to speak our minds and state our opinions without being ridiculed by others. "Last week, in Russian Georgia, a priest-led mob of 20000 attacked a small gay rights march, injuring at least 14 gay rights activists." Even if they thought they were being God's tools or thought it wouldn't affect anyone because it was in "God's name" doesn't mean it didn't have an effect. These people were having their march in peace to show what they believed, but because it was potentially "wrong in someone Else's mind." In the home, we must be able to speak our minds, and feel like we can do so freely. Together we can make our family bond stronger by listening, communicating, and managing our time with one another wisely. If we do these things we will be able to not only stay strong and connected personally, but we will be able to help each other grow.