#gauge cluster

[cluster-b-culture-is]

Cluster b culture is being scared of getting into new relationships because people get upset when you tell them your diagnosis. How are we supposed to know if they're safe to tell unless we bring it up?

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[dungeons-and-dragon-age]

small update :d

[airaconnect]

Optimizing Fleet Efficiency: Instrument Cluster Integration in Assembly

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Winter's King 9

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon, cheating, violence, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You are a maid to the Duke of Debray, a lord of the Summer Kingdom. That is, until the king of Winter appears with his particular air of coldness. (Medieval AU)

Characters: Geralt of Rivia

Note: I can't explain why but damn I'm so tiredddd.

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.

I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖

As you approach the capital, you can’t help but poke your head up to admire the domes of the great castle and the high towers. The gates stand open as the party advances, in wait of their new liege and lord. You shield your eyes against the sun as you gaze at the silhouette of the mighty architecture. 

“May as well get a good gander,” Bryce says, “doubt the kitchens are any more glorious than the ones you know.” 

“Mm,” you retract your gaze and sigh, “suppose. But they will still be new to me.” 

“Not all that is new is wondrous,” he girds. “For as much as I’ve seen in this world, it is the familiar that keeps me sane.” 

You nod and let the cart rock you. Ahead of you, the horses tread over rocks and dirt, wagons bounce and creak, and some servants walk afoot to ease the cramps in their legs. You lean lazily on a chest and fold your hands in your lap. It will at least be nice to stay beneath a proper roof again. 

The streets of the city are crowded with faces. They do not holler for you but you can hear the raucous uproar ahead as the king and queen ride between the citizens. There are even more black and grey soldiers stationed along the roads, awaiting your arrival. 

As you wind up to the royal castle, the noise grows tantamount. At the walls of the grand structure, clusters of people threaten to crush the party between their writhing bodies. It takes some time after the king’s entrance for the luggage to make way into the courtyard. 

The carts depart around the back of the castle as the horses make way for the stables. You climb out as Bryce lurks around, dismounting Daisy with a grunt as he rubs his lower back. You glance over at him as the other servants quickly fall into work. 

“Maid,” he calls to you before you can follow suit, “no doubt the queen will need to wash away the road before she faces the hordes.” 

He beckons you forth with his gauntlet and you diligently near him. He hands off Daisy to a castle servant and carries on inside. You scurry beside him as he stops and gauges his surroundings. He is not versed with the corridors but he presses on unimpeded. 

You turn back a few times before you reach the great hall. It is crowded and chaotic. The soldier strides through without pause. You nearly grab onto him just to keep from being lost in the stirring of soldiers and servants, and the tittering lords and ladies in their colourful garb. 

Up the stairs and a few questions grunted to his comrades, Bryce takes you down to a set of chambers with yet another soldier before it. You’re let inside without question. You find Queen Jazlene before a steaming basin as another servant cleans her face. 

The queen scrunches up her nose and swats the lady servant, the maid still in the former king’s colours; burnt autumn orange and goldenrod yellow. 

“Watch my eyes, you moron,” Jazlene chides and jabs her nail into the maid’s ribs. 

“My lady, I didn’t mean--” 

“I am a queen, not a lady,” Jazlene hisses, “be gone before I have your teeth knocked out of that stupid mouth of yours.” 

The other maid wrings the cloth and steps back on her heel, chewing on an apology before she spins to flee. As she nears the door, she notices you and gives a panicked look. You reach to take the cloth from her before you go to the queen. 

“Your highness,” you greet her and dip the cloth back in the steaming water. “Would you like me to put ribbons in your hair?” 

“Mm, I suppose,” she tilts her face up and closes her eyes, “once the dirt is gone. By gods, I hate traveling.” 

You gently wipe along her hairline and trace the outline of her face. You delicately but intently clean away the errant dust and streaks. You drape the cloth over the brim of the basin and turn to the table. 

“And would you like your lips painted?” You intone. “Your highness, I do think your natural tones are beautiful.” 

As you peek back at her, her eyes open and she stares at you. Her nostrils compress as she inhales. She puts her head straight and looks at her reflection. 

“Do you think so?” She touches her cheeks. 

“Yes, I do, if you line your eyes, they might appear bigger but they are so lovely and dark already,” you compliment. 

She hums and tilts her head, turning her attention back on you, “it’s you.” 

You lower your head, “your highness?” 

“You’re always flitting around like some bird,” she sniffs, “suppose you are not so... agitating as the other. Yes, ribbons and some kohl. Then I will have one of the former queen’s gowns. They have delivered her wardrobe to me.” 

“Yes, your highness,” you say and go to work. 

You settle into your usual lull. The queen sips from her goblet as you twine ribbons with her curls, a halo around the crown of her head as coiling strands hang down to her back. She looks even more immaculate than you’ve seen her before. 

She calls for a dress and you bring her several options from those strewn across the large bed. She chooses the lavender and you help her into the light silk. You relace it to account for her lither figure, the former queen having some extra years in her hips. 

When she is dressed, she twirls before the mirror. She stops and sets her chin straight and glares at herself. She arches a brow coyly. 

“I cannot wait to see Lady Florence,” she scoffs, “she will choke when she realises I am her queen.” 

You linger by the wall, blending into the tapestry as she sighs and eyes the glass affectionately. She primps herself and spins again. 

“Well then, I must be overdue,” she goes to the door, “I must go to the king and show him I can be his queen.” 

You open the door for her and follow her out. The soldiers outside glance at her but do not move or speak. Bryce comes up beside you as you trail after Jazlene. She struts to the end of the corridor and is stopped by another guard at another door. 

“Do not think to stop me,” she spits, “I am the queen,” she flicks her fingers in his direction, “don’t be absurd.” 

The man lets her through as she tugs on the latch and his dull eyes stare past her. She hardly has the effect she thinks. People do not admire her so much as they tolerate her. 

She sweeps into the chamber as you wait outside. Bryce lets out a gritty breath and taps his fingers on his sword pommel. He chews more of the sweet leaves he loves so much. Jazlene emerges with a doe-like look. 

“Where is the king?” She exclaims. 

“He has gone to address the people,” the guard picks at his teeth. “He tired of waiting--” 

“Do not tell me about the king,” Jazlene snaps on the soldier, “ugh, let us find my husband. How can he think to face my people without me at his side?” 

She storms onward and you can only follow. She will no doubt need wine sooner than later, though you wish she might take more water or milk instead. Bryce keeps your pace slowed as he makes little haste. 

As she descends the steps, you can hear the king’s voice. The crowd is hushed, almost hypnotised as he speaks from atop a chair. Somehow, he is both overwhelming and unassuming. Jazlene shows as she sees him. The crowd does not move out of her way as they are rapt in his words. 

“...do not come as conquerer, but as liberator,” he declares, “I am not here to suppress but to unite. Our kingdoms, forged together as one, can attain glory. Peace. Joy. Our people needn’t suffer the droughts or frost rot without relief. By coming together, we will join summer and winter in harmony,” the king holds his sword, the tip on the armrest of the wooden chair, “to you lords who stayed loyal to Waleran, I do not seek retribution. You only did your duty and served the king you put an oath to. You had no part in his violations upon myself. I am aware you could not rein in your greedy master. You will keep what is yours, as by rights, but you will swear fealty to the new crown.” 

King Geralt looks around the hall, “I have spoken to the farmers and the peasants, I have seen the beauty of your lands. I wish not to ravage it but to build it. You will not have only from me writs and declarations, you will have fields sown, you will have harvests reaped, you will have coin in flow, and you will have full bellies.” 

He raises his great sword over his head. The large weapon could be held only by two-hands in anothers grasp but he lifts it effortlessly. 

“I saw how your king tucked tail when he saw me on the field. After you good lords followed him to battle and sacrificed your men and your blood. He could not stand and fight, but many of you did, many of you not here today. I will not let their souls be spent in vain,” he pauses and his golden eyes rove around the room. He points his sword suddenly towards you but not quite, at Jazlene, “I have taken a summer wife.” He curls his fingers to gesture her to him. People swivel to see her and clear the path to the king, “a winter’s king must have a summer’s queen, if our kingdoms our to rise anew.” 

Jazlene sways before she gets her footing. She moves forward, chin high as she lets a grin break out over her face. She looks this way and that, gloating as she goes to her husband. He steps down as she approaches and he takes her hand. He helps her up on the chair herself and she seems almost confused by the act. 

“Queen Jazlene of Debray,” King Geralt proclaims, “she will return with me to the Hinterlands to see that order is kept across our realm and perhaps, the next time I look upon you all, I will have an heir to present to you. A young prince to lead us into the sun ahead.” 

He raises Jazlene’s hand as she fawns. The crowd breaks out in racket, voices swelling to the rooves as you’re jostled against Bryce. The lords and ladies, servants and soldiers, throw up fists and hoot and holler. 

The king brings his sword up again, silence falling at the gleam of its silver blade, “but first, a feast!” 

The fervour is even louder as the hall explodes in glee. You hear it ripple out the doors into the crowd without and like an ocean, the tides carry through the courtyard and front gates, streaming into the city. Peace has come and old grudges cannot take the shine from the gift of a king’s mercy. 

⚔️

“Your highness, we heard of what happened on Stag’s River,” an earl, you think he said his name was Kelvan, “it was a brave stand. Admirable, even standing upon the other ridge.” 

“You were there?” King Geralt muses, “mm, how fortunate our paths did not cross.” 

“Indeed, your highness,” the earl agrees, “I must admit, I dreaded it.” 

“But here we are, alive, together, as allies. It is all I ever wanted.” 

“And we knew it. We knew it, my liege, for when you let our men march back at all, we saw your grace,” Kelvan smiles. 

“Yes, but I have only ever admired your lands, never had I wanted to ruin them,” the king assures as he looks over at his wife. 

“He is a brave and good king,” Queen Jazlene praises as she puts her hand over the king’s. 

Lord Kelvan’s lips ripple, “mm, yes, I have not seen your father yet. If I shan’t happen upon the Duke, you will send my regards.” 

There’s an edge that makes you uneasy. You see how Jazlene bobs her head, “so I shall.” 

She doesn’t seem to notice the tick of resent in the earl’s cheek. How odd it is that they are so fond of the invader and yet their own kith and kin, they cannot help but revile. You’ve heard the whispers swirling already. It was not King Geralt who betrayed these people but this snakish woman and her blood. 

“Wine, girl, now,” Jazlene snaps as the early departs back to his seat. 

You stand against the wall, just behind the bench she shares with the king. You come forward with the jug reserved only for her, nearing between the shoulders of the royal couple. Before you can put the spout to brim, King Geralt’s hand catches the swollen belly of the ewer. 

“Perhaps you might have some more lamb before you indulge further, wife,” he girds. 

“It is a feast,” she slurs, “I am only celebrating. With you,” she touches his sleeve, “my king.” 

“I see that,” his voice is low but firm, “yet you are a queen and your subjects are watching.” 

“I can stomach my wine,” she sneers. 

He huffs and wraps his hand around the bottom of the handle, just below your grip. He wiggles it away from you and sets it on the other side of his plate. Jazlene lets out a childish gasp. 

“It is just wine,” she snivels. 

King Geralt runs his fingers along his collar, “we are having a good night,” he says as he peers out on the crowd, “please, let us not make a scene.” 

“I am not making a scene. I am the queen and I want more wine,” she insists. 

He faces forward completely. You stay as you are, trapped in their indecision. He blocks the jug with his elbow and she claps her hands on her lap and kicks her feet.  

“Perhaps you should have some of that wine,” she mutters, “it might make you kinder.” 

The king doesn’t reply and instead greets another lord; one who introduces himself as the Count of Bress. As they speak, Jazlene leans back on the bench and tugs your skirt. You look down at her. 

“Find more wine,” she growls, “and don’t be obvious about it.” 

“Your highness, but the king--” 

“I am your master, not him,” she snarls and nudges you harshly, “be away before I lose my patience.” 

You dip your head and notice how the king’s head turns towards his wife. You don’t look back as you critter off quickly into the shadows. You might be better to take your time and tell her you could not abscond any more wine. If you wait long enough, it might even slip her mind, as so often her desires fade into the next. 

[pwlanier]

Elegant 1900s Mexican Saddle by Lozano

Intricately detailed light brown 1900s Mexican Saddle with long saddle bags artfully designed with a scalloped border and adorned with a combination of deep floral carving; lavish two-tone pitiado (yucca fiber) with a Greek Key border design framing an embroidered grape-vine pattern with grape clusters cleverly fabricated from fine silver threads. Silver mountings include a figural repousse flat horn, maker stamped “E ROMAN / MEXICO”, repousse adornments on the fork, swell and gullet, plus heavy gauge slotted silver conchos and lavish stirrups. Highly detailed silver repousse stirrups. The cowhide seat cover was added many years ago but is not original to the rawhide seat and should be removable. Excellent overall condition including original cinch.

Old West Events

[2kmps]

bakugō always has to clean around you while you're watching your dramas.

notes; 0.5k, aged up! + husband!bakugō, bakugō domesticality at its finest

sometimes, the heart wrenching scenes from the dramas you liked to watch would bring his cleaning sprees to an unceremonious halt. they were really only shows you watched on your days off at the office; something to look forward to, you had told him on a few occasions.

your body would rouse under the sheets before dawn, unintentionally acclimated to the bullet train's earliest run, and migrate your way out of his embrace and into the living room.

he wasn't long after you with two mugs of coffee in his hands; one black, the other practiced and perfected over years, made only for you. the silence would be amicable while the newscasters rambled off whatever was on their screens, hammering as much unsavory news as they could into fifteen minute segments before clustering the screen with advertisements.

"you done?" bakugō took your mug on his way through, coffee lukewarm and still half-full; about typical for you. "I'm gonna vacuum. don't turn up the volume too much or you'll piss off the neighbors again."

"I'll just start stealing their packages." you slurred, caffeine still not quite at work while your fingers fussed with the packaging keeping a cinnamon roll from you. "how long do you think it'd take them to figure it out?"

"immediately." bakugō didn't have the energy to deal with your antics yet. he needed a few hours. "don't do stupid shit that'll get us kicked out."

you huffed. "spoilsport."

bakugō let you have the last word on this, turning his thoughts towards the chore list he visualized in his mind. by the time he was plugging the vacuum into the outlet and running it across the carpet, you were completely engrossed by whatever current drama suited your fancy.

subtitles played across the screen in bold black and white, keeping you engaged in the scene with a lovelorn protagonist internally monologuing even once the roar of the vacuum eclipsed her voice. you didn't stir from your trance, continuing to shovel snacks into your face while clinging to the curved armrest on the couch as bakugō lifted it off the floor with you still aboard the cushions.

this repeated on the other side: he hiked the couch at shoulder height, seeing the joints in your fingers bleed of color as you clung onto the edge, completely unperturbed by the entire thing. he spared a few glances towards the screen, still moving the vacuum as he gauged the scene with only context from the subtitles and how quickly the main actress dissolved into tears.

"did he turn her down or somethin'?" he asked, the room once again at normal volume, couch square on the floor.

you held up a bag of chips, shaking the bag a few times near his head. "he's apparently already engaged to an heiress and his parents refuse to approve of her because she's poor."

bakugō nodded sagely, taking a fistful of chips. "that sucks."

divider; @/anlian-aishang

reposted from my deleted blog, cardeneiv

[beplerblurbs]

matching hats s.r.

pairing: unistudent!ricky x gn seatmate!y/n

genre: fluff

w/c: 2.1k

warnings: intentional lowercase, reader is shorter than ricky(?), not proofread

prompt: your seatmate ricky. reminds of you of a cat. you like to crochet during lectures and end up making ricky a cat beanie!

you and the rest of the students scamble off the cramped bus rushing to get to your classes. there's been a traffic with freshmen moving in and parents wanting to make sure they're prepared and such.

it was a little annoying because you knew your lecture hall was filling up with every second the bus was trying to reach the university bus station through all the traffic.

eventually you reach your lecture hall along with a cluster of other students for your arts history class, not the most interesting thing on 9 am mondays...

you entered from the back of the classroom, you see the professor preparing her lesson way at the front and the back of many students as they murmur amongst themselves.

with about 90% of the seats already taken, you wouldn't be surprised if you had to sit on the stairs at this point. eyes wandering for an empty seat, blond head stood out with no one beside one of his seats.

walking down the steps to reach the mysterious guy "sorry, but is this seat taken?", oh... he's so cute

with styled bleach blond hair, thick eyebrows, curious eyes, slightly ajar lips and neck tattoo saying 'role model,' you were taken aback by his good looks.

"no, take a seat" a warm smile welcomed you to your seat before he went back to looking at his laptop to prep for class.

just as you get out your notebook, your professor starts the lecture.

"good morning class, hope the travel to class was great considering the beautiful weather today," ironic considering you're actual trip.

the professor goes through the basic course breakdown to help everyone gauge expectations. you're already writing down due dates in your notebook's calendar. the prof seems really chill and you appreciate that.

she switches her slideshow to a large text that says 'introduce yourself to your seat partner and tell them a fun fact'

"you guys see the screen... do it, i'll give you guys 2 minutes" the class giggles at her bluntness.

you put down your pen to focus on this mysterious guy. he's confident and relaxed, he avoids making the situation awkward and goes along with the professor's request.

"hi, i'm shen ricky. i'm an international student majoring in performance arts and... my fun fact is that my friends said i resemble a cat earlier today" he smiles to himself, seemingly unexpected fun fact he chose to share.

"oh? i dont see it exactly... nevermind, maybe i just need to know you more to see it hah."

you on the other hand can't seem to not be awkward, trying to smile through it "uhm anyways, i'm y/l/n y/n, and i'm a student under the entertainment management program and this is one of my electives. my fun fact is that i love to crochet, you'll probably see me do it in lecture at some point."

"ah!" you were startled by ricky's excitement, "crocheting sounds so fun, i need to learn it at some point." you turn slightly pink, seeing someone be so interested in your seemingly boring hobby.

ricky continues on, "i think that just means we have to be friends and sit in class together so you can teach me," suddenly, ricky's hand as his phone out with his new contact ready to be filled with your information.

"sure!... this isn't like flirting or anything right?" as much as you were attracted to ricky's looks, you always set boundaries for yourself for comfort. you wouldn't let some new blond guy mess that all up.

he scratched the back of his neck, "oh no, not at all, but i really apologise that I came off that way. i'm actually interested in crocheting though!" his genuine tone was enough for you to forgive him and give him your contact.

"okay class lets start with the first lesson," before you could even give him your phone to fill in his number, the professor quiet downed the class.

unknown number: hi it's ricky, boy from arts history.

you take a bite of your favourite late-night snack, gummy worms. you had started studying a bit and took a break to go to your closest convenience store.

y/n: hi! its y/n, why are you texting at this hour? lol

you change the contact name,

ricky: sorry are you busy? I just wanted to make sure you still wanted to sit next to me in class on wednesday, if not thats fine!!

you giggle to yourself, why does he text cute too...

y/n: oh no worries, i just got my daily dose of gummy worms haha

y/n: but yeah we can meet up before class and sit together! i'll make sure i'm early next time...

ricky: lol yeah maybe to get a good seat, i'm usually in the library an hour before class

ricky: just lmk and i'll wait for you

and with that the conversation ended just as you re-entered your apartment to get back to studying.

hes seems so sweet compared to his cold appearance.

getting up early wasn't your favourite activity, but ricky said he would be in the library at 8 am (like a crazy man) so you decided to give him some company and teach him how to crochet.

you come in the library with an iced coffee in hand and leftover gummy worms in the other. a distinct blond head and neck tattoo became proportionate as you closer. "how are you so awake at this hour?" you yawn sitting in the chair across from ricky's.

he laughs, "i try to eat a full meal, i don't know if gummies and coffee count as one," you disregard it, "yeah, yeah.”

you set down your food and pull out two small bundles of yarn and two crochet hooks. "one for you, one for me. which colour would you like?"

"green please!" (i miss rijeong) you slid the pale pastel green bundle to his side of the table, leaving you would the baby blue yarn.

an insightful and detailed lesson on crocheting and somehow ricky's chain fell apart 3 times. he was genuinely trying. you thought it would frustrate him but him seeing you giggle at his mistakes made ricky feel warm inside somehow.

you sighed and made ricky put down his hands from crocheting. "we should got go to class now, i'll teach you another time. take notes for me as a trade?" it was an offer ricky couldn't give up, in his head it gave himself a reason to talk to you even more.

ricky simply nodded and put the yarn and hook into his bag. you guys walked out of the library, heading to the library with 15 minutes to spare.

during class, you spent most of it crocheting while taking in the information and ricky took notes on his laptop. yet he was the one not really listening, he was focused on how endearing you looked simply crocheting and listening intently. you didn't notice that though.

you ended up making some cute hand rags that you needed for your kitchen. "thoughts?" you ask ricky while showing off your 30 minutes worth of time. his signature sweet smile arose "very stylish, you're so cool." his non-chalant remark made you blush and shyly put away your pieces as the professor had ended the lecture.

"same time friday?" ricky said standing up, backpack slung over one shoulder, "same time every lecture," you confidently spoke, smiling and quickly going to your next class.

you weren't even in rush, your next class was in 30 minutes. ricky stood still in the lecture hall smiling to himself.

every lecture you began making random pieces, eventually making a sweater, a scarf, mittens, cup holders, and the list goes on. some of these for you, and some for ricky.

you stopped going to your convenience store at night, you became accustomed to ricky getting you some gummy worms the next day. in return, you got him and yourself iced coffees for the day. suddenly being awake at 8 am wasn’t so tough

as well, everyday you and ricky were texting more, hanging out after classes, usually to cafes. ricky was able to make a progress and finish a small square, but the focus needed made him want to take a break from the hobby. he said he preferred watching you crochet anyways.

this is what friends do right? hang out, talk and laugh, share sentimental stories, get each other small gifts, hug tightly goodbye, holding hands...

your boundaries were loosening up. however, with how much you enjoyed ricky being with you, you didn't mind it.

you were tapping your coffee lid as a fidgeting habit, ricky doesn't even acknowledge it. there was a comfortable silence as he scrolled on his phone and you looked out the window with the warm sunlight yet the dead trees and snow in the plant beds. the winter made the outdoors almost unbearable as you hated the cold, but you felt warm next to ricky…

you turn your attention to ricky and his relaxed state, focusing on his screen. "hm." you made a noise that caught his attention, he rose his eyebrows as he shifted his focus to you. he put down his phone and rested his chin on his hand, elbow propping him up.

"what you thinking about?" not phased by his flirtatious antics at this point, you didn't move. "i guess you do look like a cat,” you poke one of his cheeks. now he was confused, "all of a sudden?"

"yeah! like you have big doe-y eyes and your cheekbones kinda resemble the follicle cheeks... you just need the ears and whiskers." you eye-smile at the thought of rickys 'intimidating' face with cute ears and drawn on whiskers.

rickys ears can't suppress his feelings anymore, they grow bright red and he turns away, looking outside to the bright outside. "whatever." you knew he liked it but you let it go.

"we should go to class now," ricky stands up with his bag over his shoulder, waiting for you to pack up and walk with him to class. you reply a quick 'okay' before you stand up.

ricky already has his hand out for you to hold. you intertwine fingers with him and walk to your guys' class.

sitting in class you had some pink yarn in hand but you can't think of making anything other than those cute cat beanies you've been seeing online. mainly because you really wanted to see ricky in one.

it was simple and quick to make so you made two, matching hats make such a cute pair.

ricky was still actively committed to the deal where he does notes while you crochet. you hid the two pieces in your bag when he was focused.

"yah, what'd you make this time, i didn't even notice you finished it early"

you both walk out of class early and felt a strong wind chill hit both of your faces. ricky hides his face in the scarf you made before in class. "its so cold still, are you cold?" you see ricky's breath in the air.

"well i think this will warm us up," you smile pulling out the hats from your side bag pocket.

he makes a little happy 'o' face, ready to cherish the next crocheted piece you made. "ouu, what is it? what is it?" his eagerness made you smile big, and ask him to close his eyes.

he closes them quickly, eager to see what it is. you snuggly put on his cute pink cat beanie on his head, and then your own. "okay! open!"

ricky is completely whipped for you seeing your adorable face and a cute cat hat. "you're so cute, what about me? what do i look like?" he quickly pulls out his phone to swipe to the camera app and see what he got.

"the same one dork, aren't matching hats cute?" you can't even hide your smile, the cold was helping you look like your bright red cheeks were appropriate for the weather.

ricky had slowly begun to recognise your soft, vulnerable side had been coming out when you were with him. you were truly comfortable around him and it made him melt inside.

you suddenly felt your face smushed up against ricky's chest, a warm hug. "thank you y/n. it is cute" his little giggle came out as a vibration against your ear. you were also melting.

you look up at him and everything felt perfect. "hey ricky?"

"hm?"

"i love you."

a moment of comfortable silence, with the warmth of his heart heating up yours, you knew what he felt too.

"i love you too, y/n"

author's note: this ended up being longer than i expected........ i hope u enjoy the ricky fluff </3pls send in requests!!!!

[skzvivie]

vivienne's birthday live !

"Annyeong stay!" Vivie waved at the camera, her smile brightly illuminating the screen. "Finally, it's my birthday!" she exclaimed, gesturing cheerfully towards the surrounding decorations. A cluster of Hello Kitty balloons and an ocean of pink dominated her surroundings. Massive letters spelling out 'Happy Birthday' in pale pink covered the wall.

"I'm so excited!" Vivie gushed, her excitement seeping through the screen. "I've been waiting for this day for a whole year!". As soon as the words escaped from her lips, the staff members behind the camera let out a chorus of laughter. "I just realized I sound really stupid" Her head drooping down in shame and embarrassment.

"SKZJIGI are laughing at me right now, on my birthday," she said, her voice barely audible over the sounds of laughing. "How could they?"

Eventually their laughter died down and vivie started to speak again. "Alright, let me explain," Vivie began, her voice exuding confidence. "So basically, since December is the last month of the year, it feels like your birthday is a long way away. That's because once December ends, a new year begins, and with it, another 12-month countdown begins."She paused momentarily, gauging her STAY's attention before continuing. "If anyone wants to argue with that, don't, because I've had this debate with Felix before and it lasted over 10 minutes. We didn't come to an agreement and he called me 'pabo', but I still believe I'm right." She nodded confidently, hoping her point got across.

"Alright, let's move on," she said, her voice much lighter than it was only moments before. She started scrolling through the comments.

" 'OOTD?' 하나까지 완전 우리답지 my favorite things (kitsch by ive), I'm sorry I had to sing it." Vivie stood up to give the camera a closer look at her outfit of the day. She was wearing a pair of dark blue denim jeans, which she paired with a pink long sleeved top and a white oversized hello kitty jacket layered on top. She styled her brown hair with a white hollow star-shaped claw clip, framing her face perfectly.

"Oh, and I also got my nails done," Vivie added, holding up her hands to the camera. She showed STAY her freshly done pink-charmed nails with a big smile on her face.

" ' when did you do them? ' literally this morning. "I was walking past this new nail salon, saw it looked really nice, and thought, 'what the heck, might as well go in!' The owners ended up being STAYs, which was super cool. And they did my nail design! So whoever you are, thank you so much, because they literally match my cake."

With that, she moved the beautifully iced Hello Kitty cake in front of the camera. "Speaking of cake..." she began, "This has to be the most cutest birthday cake I've ever had. I feel bad knowing it won't last!" Vivie set down the cake and leaned back in her chair, a satisfied look on her face as she admired the decorated cake. "I think it's about time we start singing," she said with a smile. "Three, two one go!" She took a deep breath, then began to sing.

"saeng-il chukha hamnida, saeng-il hamnida, sarang haneun choi vivie, saeng-il chukha hamnida (생일 축하합니다, 생일축하합니다, 사랑하는 최 비비, 생일축하합니다)!" With a big smile on her face, Vivie blew out the imaginary candles on her birthday cake and clapped joyfully for herself. She grabbed her foon / spork (iykyk) and raised it into the air before taking a bite out of the cake. She took a deep breath and sank her teeth into the frosting, savoring the sweet taste before taking another bite

"Wait, oh my gosh, it's so good," she said, her voice full of joy. With a big grin, she ducked under the table, pretending to change into formal attire. "Wait a minute, stay tuned," she said, pretending to change. "I can't talk about food looking like this!"

A moment later, she reappeared, complete with a pretend tie and a confident smile. "Hello STAY, it's food critic Choi," she said proudly, straightening her tie as if it were real. "I have to tell you, this cake is the perfect blend of sweet and moist, with a tiny hint of salt that really brings out the flavors. It's like tiny little dancers on your tongue," she said, gesturing for extra effect. "That is all for today, food critic Choi out." She threw a sloppy peace sign and ducked under the table again changing back to ordinary vivie.

After talking with STAY for some while, she decided to finally open the presents. "This one is from SKZJIGI." she announced as she pulled out a wrapped gift with a heart-shaped bow on the top out. She eagerly tore open the gift wrapping, revealing a small, soft, stuffed talking hamster. "Oh my Gosh, it's a talking hamster toy!" Vivie exclaimed, staring in awe at the tiny, cute toy resembling "I now have my very own han jisung toy!" She held the toy up to her mouth and said "Hello" to see if it would respond. "Hello," the toy repeated in a high-pitched, squeaky voice. "Woah, that's so cool!" She set the toy next to her cake as she eagerly reached for the next present.

"This one's a bit heavy, wow I need more muscles desperately." She lugged the gift onto the table and began to tear open the sparkly red wrapper. As the paper came off, Vivie let out a delighted screech as she revealed a pink and green unicorn-decorated claw machine filled with delicious sweets and chocolate. She couldn't contain her excitement and immediately began trying to win the snacks. She failed multiple times, but she still managed to grab a few snacks in her attempts.

Vivie carefully unwrapped the final present, eager to see what was inside. As she tore open the box, she was thrilled to see a pink bubble gun. With a big smile on her face, she quickly loaded the gun with some bubbles and aimed it at the air, pulling the trigger to release a stream of bubbles. The colorful bubbles flew through the air and popped, leaving Vivie giggling like the child she is.

She was smiling from ear to ear, completely overjoyed at her present. As she pulled the trigger and the bubbles rained down upon her, however, one of the bubbles accidentally landed in her eye. "OWW, MY EYE!" she yelled as she leaned back, rubbing her eye as tears began to stream down her cheeks. She turned to face the camera and her eye was bright red, causing her to look even more comical. Even with the pain, she couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

Vivie was trying to recover from the pain of the bubble hitting her eye, the door of the room suddenly swung open. To her surprise and embarrassment, Han walked in, giggling at her misfortune of getting a bubble in her eye. "Do you wanna know how it feels Jisung?" Vivie asked with a hint of mischievousness in her voice, and pulled the trigger as bubbles shot out of the gun and hit Han directly in the face. He let out a surprised hiss and ran away, still covered in bubbles, causing Vivie to break down into laughter

"STAY, I think I should go now. I've still got a busy day ahead of me." She smiled widely. "It's been a pleasure hanging out with you, but I need to get going. Let's see each other soon, annyeong!" She waved one more time before ending the live.

ᰍ̠ . . . a/n ━━━ happy birthday to me 🥳🎊 can u tell i can't write😃😃 psalm 22:10 ━━━ ‭from birth I was cast on you; from my mother's womb you have been my God. God loves you 💋

✉️ . . . taglist! ━━━ @mynameisnotlaura @alixnsuperstxr send an ask to be added!

©skzvivie all rights reserved. do not copy or repost

[usafphantom2]

"One moonless night, while flying a routine training mission over the Pacific, I wondered what the sky would look like from 84,000 feet if the cockpit lighting were dark.

While heading home on a straight course, I slowly turned down all of the lighting, reducing the glare and revealing the night sky. Within seconds, I turned the lights back up, fearful that the jet would know and somehow punish me. But my desire to see the sky overruled my caution, I dimmed the lighting again.

To my amazement, I saw a bright light outside my window. As my eyes adjusted to the view, I realized that the brilliance was the broad expanse of the Milky Way, now a gleaming stripe across the sky. Where dark spaces in the sky had usually existed, there were now dense clusters of sparkling stars Shooting stars flashed across the canvas every few seconds. It was like a fireworks display with no sound. I knew I had to get my eyes back on the instruments, and reluctantly I brought my attention back inside.

To my surprise, with the cockpit lighting still off, I could see every gauge, lit by starlight. In the plane's mirrors, I could see the eerie shine of my gold spacesuit incandescently illuminated in a celestial glow. I stole one last glance out the window. Despite our speed, we seemed still before the heavens, humbled in the radiance of a much greater power.

For those few moments, I felt a part of something far more significant than anything we were doing in the plane. The sharp sound of Walt's voice on the radio brought me back to the tasks at hand as I prepared for our descent."

Brian Shul -

Sadly, Brian Shul passed away May 2023, after speaking at a full house engagement about the SR 71. He’s certainly had a beautiful way with words. Linda Sheffield.

@Haburats71 via X

[ay0nha]

Sugar For the Trail | Tommy Miller

(obsessed with this gif, I couldn’t help but use it again)

SUMMARY: Each experience was different; they ranged and fluctuated, but it was a business, one you were good at creating a show for. You fulfilled fantasies; it required creativity and asked for the patience of a saint. However, this felt different. 

PAIRING: cowboy!Tommy Miller x brothel worker!f!reader (western au)

WORD COUNT: 2.3K

WARNINGS: SMUT (18+), little plot alotta porn, mentions of guns, etc.

A/N: Thank YOU so much for this request. My god, was this what my brain needed. I wrote this SO fast so mind the errors and if it seems rushed. Now, let’s all all remember SEX WORK IS WORK. As always, MANY thanks to @from-the-clouds​ YOU are the best. Enjoy!

No kissing.

No marking.

No refunds.

The sign had painted lettering tainted by the dust the men carried in. Its movement screeched with every spurred boot that stepped past the swinging doors. The rules lived in the same grey area of the world occupied. If there was no one to enforce them, respect was rarely given.

You watched the oils separate in the tepid water of your bath, floating away in bubbled clusters. The small ritual of the water helped your shift. It was a moment of peace before the unpredictability of the night. The bar was open even when it wasn’t; the men shouted and gambled, but it felt quieter than normal, still.

You could make out the slow yet agonizing clock ticks; you could feel your allotted time disappearing. The metronome rhythm drove you crazy. The sound followed you even as you sunk deep under the water. Yet, the water rippled, announcing someone’s presence as it carried the vibrations of their interruption.  

Reemerging confirmed that privacy was unknown in the establishment, especially as your closest confidant threw you a scoff. “Drowning yourself already?”

You pushed yourself out of the wooden basin. “Don’t be bleak, Charlotte.”

“There’s new company tonight.” She wrapped a towel around you tightly, wiping at the water droplets that met at your chin. “Some of the girls think he’s wanted, an outlaw.” The newer girls always gossiped while the more seasoned spun exaggerated tales. “Doc said he’s a sharpshooter that can spot bounty from a mile away.”

“He can’t be both.”

“Doesn’t matter; he’s the best there is. I can feel it.”  

“Every man claims to be the best.” Your eyes rolled, tying a delicate robe around your waist. His status hadn’t mattered to you, knowing he’d be a forgotten whisper by the morning. “Who’s he with tonight?”

“Doc wants you to meet him…” Charlotte hid her envy as she pinched your cheeks. She always commented you needed more color.  “...Says you’re the only one who won’t fall in love.”

—--

He hovered close to the door after firmly shutting it behind him. The dark-brimmed hat covered his face, but you noted the curls underneath. He moved slowly as if fatigue would take him at any moment. Like every client, he counted the pay and moved to get comfortable.

“Mind if I?” His drawl deepened when his eyes met yours, gesturing to his hat. The candlelight flickered over his features, allowing you to take in his appearance. They were right, he was handsome.

“Please,” You encouraged him. It wasn’t until he went for his jacket that you helped pull it from his broad shoulders.  “Will I get a name?”

“Tommy.”

“Charmed.” You blew out a handful of candles near you, leaving the lit ones as a trail to the bed before sitting on it. “You coming from far, Tommy?”

He hummed. The healing marks below his eye were the only thing he carried for the past few weeks.  “I have further to go.”

“Well, I’m glad you stopped for the night.”

Tommy could tell the polite exchange was rehearsed. It was supposed to gauge him and ease him into flirtations. You wondered what got him here of all places, but that question was put aside as you watched him move to his gun belt and holster.

“You sure you want to do that?”

His lip twitched, revealing a cheeky side that had been so far suppressed. “You planning on shootin’ me?”

“Some of the men down there say you play dirty.” You repeated their complaints. Tommy stalked towards you, spreading your legs open with his own. You reached for his waist, feeling for his muscles, but instead, you felt a familiar outline. He had tucked the cards there when the game started to reflect his loss. “They’ll kill you if they find those.”

“You gonna tell on me?” Something settled deep within your stomach when you felt his breath fanning your lips. You chased his lips slightly, just for him to tease you, as he pulled back,  “Hmm?”

On the busier nights, you wore elaborate things and trailed your fingers along the nape of the necks of the men downstairs, whispering filthy promises to get them to leave their company. Tonight was slow. There was always commotion, but now everyone's voices were hushed to hear about the cowboy dressed in black. The very one that tantalizingly pulled at your robe.  

Tommy traced the curves of your body with his hand, going over the dip and rise of your waist and hip. It was a delicate dance to see how your skin reacted. The lace you wore was bought with borrowed money. You prayed Tommy wasn’t the type to pull until it ripped. But you didn’t care as his fingertips grazed everywhere, bringing each nerve ending to life.

His eyes locked with yours as he sank to his knees before you. The fabric was pulled slowly, falling to your ankles just to end in his back pocket. Settling himself between your legs, Tommy splayed his hands wide on the insides of your thighs, pushing them out and exposing you in the most vulnerable way possible to him. His lips trailed closer to your core, touch warm when he went to devour.

“What are you doing?” The sensation was easy to get distracted by, but your eyes snapped open. Between your legs, he felt welcomed; your words betrayed you.  “We don’t offer those services here.”

“What am I supposed to do if I can’t kiss you?”

Tommy’s pupils were blown, and his voice desperately held back lust. There were always considerate men to help balance the opposite. It was always the young ones, the innocent ones. On the off-chance, the widower just wanted to be held. But there had never been this. Your thoughts lagged, inhibiting your words. Tender touches were unheard of without conditions attached.

“I’ll pay double.”

Another grey area, one you’d never participated in. Yet, you desired the touch. The establishment was ruthless with their pay, entirely arbitrary and stolen half the time. The rates were based on looks and desirability. The rules were designed to be broken, but rarely in your favor like this.

“Okay.” Your nod was eager.

Staring at you, Tommy lowered his head and licked along your slit. His mouth was everywhere, his tongue dipping and gliding as he consumed you. At your bud, he gave you the softest kiss. A few more kisses and you were mewling. Your back arched, and he knew he wanted to hear more of those pretty little sounds from you.

“That’s it.” Tommy praised you. His tongue worked you so well, with an ease that came only from a great extent of knowledge. “Keep makin’ those noises for me.”

He needed this. His journey required him to exert so much of himself, but he could never be selfish like this. Your body, your warmth, held a kindness he could never have for longer than a night. He made a sound of satisfaction as he glided his tongue over you, his hand releasing your thigh to stretch you further.

Tommy freed a hand, giving attention to where his tongue had left bare—first one, then two. Moaning quietly, your hands sunk into his curls and gripped at the root, earning a groan from him that vibrated through you.

“Oh, god–” Your moan was genuine as you couldn’t keep it in. You graced him with what he wanted. You sighed his name in the same pattern he set for you. “—Tommy.”

The sound of his name slipping out of your mouth like that, all salacious and full of yearning, made his cock harden and his pride sore.

“Tell me what you need.”

“Don’t stop.”

The feeling of his touch soothed you. How long he spent working you over, you had no idea.  Your peak was already approaching before you could consider faking anything. Each experience was different; they ranged and fluctuated, but it was a business, one you were good at creating a show for. You fulfilled fantasies; it required creativity and asked for the patience of a saint. However, this felt different.

Your chest raised towards the bed’s canopy, and you pushed your hips further into his face. With a purposeful suck on your clit, your body tensed and snapped. Tommy’s hand dug into your thigh as he continued pumping his fingers and inhaling your clit to prolong your orgasm.

You felt the harsh rise and fall of your chest, thinking the reason Tommy pulled such an authentic reaction from you was from the long work days. You deserved this, you thought. He relaxed your body in a way that nothing but a completely fresh start would.

Tommy stood, his lips shining with you in the candlelight as he finally undressed. You eyed him hungrily in your dazed state, watching his shirt flutter to the floor, followed by his bottoms. Your faltering breaths filled the otherwise quiet room. Settling between your legs once more, he hovered above you. You could only hold his dark gaze briefly before your eyes drift downwards.

You needed to feel him just as much as he needed your touch. You followed the dark trail of his navel to feel his heavy cock in your palm, giving an experimental stroke from base to tip. You repeated the action, trailing your thumb along the vein you felt on the underside.

Tommy’s forehead dropped onto yours, his breathing deep. A flick of your eyes upwards showed you that his were closed, his jaw clenched tight. The sight sent tingles through you. With a tightened grip, you stroked him again, thumbing at his leaking head.

Panting, Tommy’s words blended together, “W-won’t last if you do that, sweetheart.”

The statement exhilarated you. Many men had a quick release; it was the only thing their drunken desires could allow them. Yet, the cowboy in your arms wanted nothing more but to stretch his time with you, every touch entirely at your disposal.  

Tommy let you pump him a few more times before he twisted you in his arms, encouraging your ass to perk in the air and legs spread beneath him. Grasping himself in one hand, he slowly pushed into you.

Gradually, he pulled his length out of you before pushing it back in at the same pace. You felt so full. It felt so good.

“Say that again.” Tommy all but growled, reacting to something you hadn’t realized left your mouth.

“You feel so g-good.”  Your teeth snagged your bottom lip as he moved in and out of you. You’re warm and tight—so tight, around him, and it has him on the brink of madness.

You gasped at the sensation as Tommy set a measured pace, slowly dragging his hard length out of you before slowly pushing it back in, ensuring you felt everything. The slow pull out, the perfect roll of his hips back in— the fullness was divine. He was ingraining every inch, every moment of this—him, into your memory.

You turned your head, so your lips are against his ear. “Tommy, I need you–” You purred again at the shell of his ear. “Faster.”

“Your eyes,” Tommy commanded in a tone so low you felt the rumble of it against you. ”Let me see your eyes.”

Something was clawing at your stomach, and you couldn’t deny the request. You tilted your head back to meet his gaze. With him behind you, the look on your face made him even harder as he put a little more power behind his next thrust, watching as it makes you moan again.

“Oh fuck.” You gasped, feeling the coil within you tightening again. He gave another deep thrust, the force pushing you slightly up the bed.  

“Takin’ me so well…” He soothed, sneaking a hand down to your clit. The cool touch caused you to thrust back, and Tommy groaned, pushing back deeply, his speed increasing. “I’m going to be dreamin’ ‘bout you for days.”

Every roll of his hips made you dizzier, pushing you higher every time the head of his cock dragged inside you against that one spot, and all you can do is moan through bitten lips. You weren’t usually this soft-spoken, but you were terrified of what you would confess.

Tommy was savoring the feeling of your cunt clenching around him as he fucked you, the saltiness on your neck as he sucked on your skin, and the bouncy flesh of your ass as his fingertips dug into you. You whimpered, the sensations building within you. You’re so close; you’re right there.

Combined with his circling finger and deep thrusts, you fall apart, breathing out Tommy’s name as stars erupted behind your eyes; a pleasure so intense your eyes rolled back, making your whole body tighten and relax repeatedly as you whine for Tommy as you swam in ecstasy.

“You're beautiful." He knew the position he had put you in already tested your generosity. But Tommy was fearless with his admission.

You could feel him twitch in you; all you wanted was for Tommy to fill you so completely that you’d feel him for days. But, pulling out of your pulsing heat, Tommy spilled over your back with a wrecked moan.

Tommy dropped onto you, his arm bending to take most of his weight so he doesn’t crush you entirely. His forehead fell between your shoulder blades, your heaving breaths matching as you return to yourselves, unprepared to face the shared mistake.

[mayhem-neverending]

The Big Bad Wolf

Part XV

Word Count: 2,995

Warnings: canon violence

Note: Happy Valentine's day! :) I couldn't work today, so I pumped this ol' thing out.

The press of your soft lips lingered against Obito’s skin. It was welcomed at first, and it should have left him on cloud nine for hours afterward, but his mind could never let him soar so high. 

His mind only steered his thoughts to the last kiss he had received before your’s. A flash of red, a bright smile; his memory was of Kushina pressing a kiss to the apple of his cheek. She was congratulating him for making chunin. She stepped backward into the waiting embrace of Minato-Sensei, and the two of them proudly grinned down at his little eleven-year old self. 

He remembered the sense of pride and accomplishment filling his chest. He remembered the feeling of warmth and belonging as he looked up at their happy faces. That feeling was washed away by the swirling image of Kushina screaming in pain and horror as he extracted the Nine Tails from her stomach.

He tried to push it away, to escape the haunting image and chase those smiling faces, but all he could see was her tired, vulnerable state. She opened her mouth in his vision, and his ears rang with the sound of her pained screams. 

A wave of nausea washed over him. Her screaming reverberated in his eardrums as he stumbled to the side of the path and fell to his knees. His guilt manifested itself in sudden, violent heaving. 

“Obito?” Your alarmed voice barely reached his hunched over form. 

Everything he had just eaten came up, burning his throat with every heave. He could hardly get a breath in; almost didn’t register your hand delicately coming to rest on his upper back as you silently supported him from behind. Your concern only made his guilt worsen, and his gasping for air intensified. He wanted to push you away, but all he could do was empty his stomach onto the frozen ground in front of him.

…

He refused to speak after that incident. He only wiped himself off with shaking hands and continued walking like nothing had happened. It wasn’t like he could explain himself to you; he was sure your look of horror would have matched his memory of Kushina’s. 

You took the lead, periodically checking behind you to gauge his emotions. For a long while, silent tears streamed down his reddened cheeks. Eventually, though, the tears ended and he was only left with puffy red eyes.

You walked well into the night, silent except for the sound of your footsteps on the rocky path. It wasn’t snowy here, between the tall, rolling hills, so you kicked bits of gravel along the way just to fill the air with something other than your companion’s quietude.

His refusal to speak bothered you almost as much as his tears. It left your mind to run itself in circles. He wasn’t necessarily acting coldly, but he was withdrawn. What bothered you most is that you didn’t have a clue what happened, and couldn’t pinpoint an exact moment where something went wrong.

Under the light provided by the crescent moon, you spotted a cluster of trees. It was a small wooded area, but it would provide more cover that the long grasses for the night. You veered off the path and found a spot in the trees where a sliver of moonlight illuminated the ground between the branches. It was just enough to be workable, and you used it to start setting up the tent. 

“Fire?” Obito croaked in his unused voice.

“Not tonight,”

You allowed him to help you raise the tent and stake the corners into the ground. You crawled in with both of your packs as he was finishing with the last one. You set your things up exactly how they had been the previous night, not allowing Obito the chance to distance himself further from you. 

He entered and zipped up the tent flap behind him, turning to eye the conjoined sleeping bags dubiously. He was slow to approach as you crawled into it, a few words on the tip of his tongue, all of which refused to make it past his lips. 

He slipped in beside you after shedding his outer layers, still lost in thought. He was only returned to the present by your gentle touch against his shoulder preventing him from turning onto his side to face away from you. 

“Hey,” you said softly, the tone tickling his ears. 

He met your worried eyes fully with his tired red ones. You brought your hand up to cup the scarred side of his handsome face, your thumb resting beneath his puffy eye. You brushed your thumb across his skin and he gulped, averting his eyes from the intensity behind your gaze. He didn’t know why he was letting you treat him so delicately when he vehemently felt he didn’t deserve it.

“Did I do something wrong?” You made yourself sound small, knowing that if he was faced with how upset you were, you were more likely to get a real answer from him.

“No,” his abrupt tone cut through the still air of the tent.

A low sigh escaped his lips. “You didn’t do anything wrong, it’s just.. Me,”

Your brows furrowed and you swiped your thumb soothingly across his cheekbone, his weight resting in your palm. “Why are you so upset with yourself?”

His eyelids fluttered shut and he inhaled deeply. He willed himself to stay calm and not let another tear escape, if he had any left, at your tender treatment. Instead of choosing the real reason his mind had been plagued the last few hours, he led with what his first concern had been. 

“I… scared you, earlier,” he admitted defeatedly.

You blinked in surprise. The movement of your thumb momentarily ceased and you considered him with your bottom lip tucked between your teeth. Hesitantly, you replied, “You did,”

“But, that doesn’t mean I’m afraid of you, if that’s what you’re concerned about,”

He placed his hand over your wrist, and the silver chain suppressing his chakra peeked out beneath his long-sleeve. He studied for a moment and vice versa. You weren’t dumb, you were well aware that was only a fragment of the problem. If it had been the main issue, he would have been upset before the two of you dug into your lunches. You guessed that he had some thought that made him spiral, and that was the real issue at hand. 

“You’re too trusting,” he said in a scolding manner. 

“Is that so?”

He let out a short, self-deprecating laugh. “I could easily hurt you, y’know?”

You traced down the bridge of his nose with the thumb that had been stroking his cheek. And, with your heart beating irregularly, boldly swiped it across his bottom lip. You watched him shiver as his eyes bore into yours. You traced upwards again, along one of his scars before resting once again beneath his eye. 

“You would never purposefully hurt me, Obito,”

Your trust and unwavering faith in him were clear as crystal in your even tone; leaving no room for argument. It cut him right through his core and left a ringing in his ears. 

“How do you know?” He asked shakily. 

“Because, the Obito I know doesn’t have it in him to,”

You looked at him squarely, your voice low and full of conviction. “The version of you that was capable of cruelty exists as no more than a memory, now,”

Obito could only let his jaw slacken, openly staring at you as he tried to process your words, his heart thundering in his chest. You watched as miniscule expression changes flickered across his face. After a while, he gently pulled your hand from his face and placed it next to your side. 

“Thank you,”

He laid on his back and you mirrored his movements. Your shoulders touched beneath the covers and the two of you stared at the roof of the tent. Eventually, you grabbed your flashlight and flicked it off. 

“Get some rest. You’ll need your energy for tomorrow,”

He hummed, and you prayed into the darkness that he would follow your direction.

…

You guiltily woke him between bouts of soft snoring before the sun had even had a chance to rise the next morning. You were too restless to wait any longer, and wanted to make it not long after the sun rose. 

Obito groggily got himself up and was little help with deconstructing the tent. Evan as you started back on the trail he lagged behind, which was impressive considering how much longer his legs were than yours. It took a full half hour for him to wake up enough to keep pace with you.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” you teased when he finally fell into step beside you.

“Morning,” he grumbled.

“You know, while you were sleeping I was thinking…” you trailed off.

He glanced down at you. “About?”

“Well, I was wondering if you were going to let your clan die with you,” you mused quietly.

Obito stopped in his tracks. “What?”

“You’re the last one. Are you going to let the clan die out?” You continued walking, knowing he would catch up shortly.

“I’m not the last one, Sasuke is alive, too,” he replied in a low tone when he returned to your side.

You raised a brow and then chuckled. “Considering he and Naruto are getting married next year, I’d say he doesn’t really count,”

“He and.. What? Since when? I mean, we all saw it comin’ but..”

“A couple months after the war. Naruto didn’t tell you?”

“No, not at all,” he replied grumpily.

“Huh, the kid is shouting about his love constantly, that really surprises me,”

Obito didn’t respond. You glanced over and caught a hint of a pout on his lips. 

“So, you didn’t answer my question,”

He grunted. “Whether I want to or not doesn’t matter. Who’s going to willingly have my children?” 

“You’d be surprised,” you pressed on. “I mean, your genetic ability is impressive. I’m sure plenty of people would be more than happy to get a slice of that,”

He scoffed. “I think you’re forgetting something,”

“What?”

“I would have to.. Y’know… impregnate someone,” He winced at his own wording.

You giggled. “Y’make a little bit of unprotected sex sound like a bad thing. Has it really been that long for you?” You asked, genuinely curious.

“That long?”

“Since you had sex,”

Obito’s walking turned oddly stiff and he refused to meet your gaze when you looked over at him. He answered you under his breath so you couldn’t hear it.

“Huh?” You inched closer to hear him better.

He cleared his throat. “I haven’t,”

You looked at him with obvious shock. “You haven’t had sex?”

He shot you a glare and shook his head in confirmation. He turned his vision firmly to the gravel beneath his feet. You certainly weren’t expecting that. He was a powerful, handsome man; if you had entertained the idea of sleeping with him, other people certainly had to. 

You remained quiet as you considered his words. Maybe he was asexual? Or was he saving himself for marriage? It had to be a purposeful avoidance on his part, that you were sure of. You thought of your own sexual life as a side note, and landed on the idea that maybe you should have waited for marriage, too, if that was his case.

“You think I’m a loser,” Obito stated. 

You whipped your head around to look at his side profile. “No, not at all. Well, I think you’re a loser for other reasons -” You grinned and saw the corner of his lip twitch up. “I was just wondering.. How?”

He huffed out a dramatic sigh. “Between living in a cave, impersonating someone else for all of my interactions with other people, wearing a mask, and losing my first love, and acting out Madara’s evil plan, I just didn’t have the time or want,”

You hummed. “Yeah, that’ll keep you tied up, for sure,”

You actually hated the little niggling in the back of your mind that was excitement and intrigue. You hadn’t considered yourself someone with a corruption kink, but the image your mind conjured would certainly be considered something along those lines. You set that aside and made note of the part about lost love, which you remembered as somethin Kakashi had told you about. 

“I’m not judging you for it, just so you know,”

He opened his mouth and closed it, opting to drop the conversation while you were giving him an out. A comfortable silence fell over the two of you as you continued on through the darkness.

…

At about an hour or two outside of your destination, the weak winter sun began its ascent in the sky. The severity of the situation resettled onto your shoulders in increments equal to the path of the rising sun. The town of Bacial came into view shortly after the first rays of light dusted the long, tan, dormant grasses of the surrounding hills. It was bigger than you remembered, the buildings rising higher in the sky and more than one main road now visible leading out of the town. Hina’s aunt lived in the more rural, southern outskirts, where you two were coming in from, and you hoped there hadn’t been significant changes to the street or population in that area. 

A strange sense of relief and apprehension mingled in your gut, causing hot and cold flashes across your body and sweat to spring up under your arms. Your pace increased. 

You and Obito made small talk now that you were closer so that you were distracted from the increasing pressure you felt on your shoulders. The town loomed larger and time slowed so that seconds felt like minutes, and the rest of your walk was torturously slow right up until you were at the outskirts of town. You tried to appear calm and collected as you attempted recalling exactly how to get to the house. You wracked your brain for memories of what it looked like, and could only come up with a red roof and the first two numbers on the house: twelve. 

You reached out and took Obito’s hand, just as you had when you reached the last town. You told him what you remembered and the two of you were on the search. 

You led him down a few vaguely familiar streets, trying not to seem too lost. You recalled when you and Hina were just little girls, and you had been forced to memorize the street names because Hina kept getting the two of you lost, and kids that were late coming home for dinner didn’t get to have dessert. You smiled at the memory. 

Instinctively, you turned right at the next intersection, and at the end of the street you spotted a small yellow house with a red roof. It took every bit of self restraint you had not to break into a sprint. 

As you continued, Obito made sure to hold you back when your pace started to get a little too quick. Rationally, you wanted to thank him, but emotionally, well, you didn’t have very kind words for him. Only when you had approached the short front gate did he let go of you. 

It was only waist-height, so you easily hopped it and ran through the overgrown grass to the front door, only briefly checking to see that the house number matched your memory. You banged your fist against the door, much more frantically than you had wanted to sound. It opened a moment later to a confused graying woman who you recognized despite the many years that had worn down her features.

“Aunt Daina, so good to see you! Do you remember me?”

A crashing noise sounded from somewhere in the house, and a very pregnant Hina came waddling as fast as she could to the door. She cried, “Y/n!”

She nearly pushed her aunt down coming over to hug you. You embraced her awkwardly, trying your best not to squish her belly. Aunt Daina watched the whole interaction with confusion. You let go of Hina and gently pushed her back into the house so that you and Obito could shut the door behind you. 

Hina clung to your arm. With wide eyes and a trembling voice, she said, “Thank the heavens you’re here,”

Tears fell from her already bloodshot eyes. Deep purple hung beneath them, and as you took a closer look, you realized she likely hadn’t slept or showered since you had spoken to her over the phone. Her long black hair hung in a ratty mess down her back and around her face, like she had been twisting and pulling it without stopping. 

You shushed her. “It’s okay, I’m here now. Just like I promised you,”

You two embraced once more, and you heard her aunt start asking Obito who you were, while treating him like a long time friend and patting his back. In Hina’s ear, you asked, “Have you showered?”

She shook her head. “Okay, we need to do that now. I can’t have you traveling and looking like this. It’ll look like we kidnapped you or something,”

She nodded and you led her to the bathroom. You helped her undress and step over the lip of the tub. “Do you have your things packed?”

“Yes, two bags. They’re in the living room, next to the couch,” She sniffled.

You sighed out in relief. “Perfect,”

You shut the shower curtain. “I’m going to-”

“Don’t leave! Please, can you just sit on the toilet and talk to me? I don’t want to be alone,” She begged, poking her head out of the shower..

Your heart could have snapped in two at the way her usually happy green eyes looked wild with desperation. With a soothing voice, you said, “Of course, I’ll stay,”

Part XVI

Tag List: @mostlyunsure, @humongousdreamlandbear, @ichaichahatake, @mandy-yeager, @detectivestucks

[airaconnect]

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[expiredmannequin]

SHIPS, DYNAMICS & MY HEADCANONS PT.1

I'm posting this scared style since I know it's my own interpretation and all ,, I'm just super nervous to share out of fear people will beat me with a stick for my own opinions.

I'm being brave!!!!! Here's the first one: jirkdake

Text On The Images

Top Image:

Ship 1 → Jake & Dirk

Jake: “ HaHa! Good ole Strider! ”

Dirk: “ Shut up. ”

Dirk's Image:

Dirk Strider

- He/Him

- Unlabled, Agender Male, Ace-Spec

- 12mm Gauges

- Ocular Albinism; 20/70 Vision → Grew out of his eyes shaking → Prescribed sunglasses

- Autistic

- Cluster-B; Histrionic & Borderline Personality Disorder

Jake's Image:

Jake English

- He/They

- Nonbinary Masc, Achillean, DemiAroAce

- Cluster-C; OCD

→ Tan (outdoorsy)

→ chops!!!

→ overbite

I also decidee to take some creative liberty and move the skull imagery Jake usually has on hist shirt onto a belt buckle!

Just because I thought it'd be silly and that it weirdly would fit if he was just a belt collector in a silly way.

Anyways ,, I hope you guys (maybe) enjoyed this!!! I'm posting this super scared style trying to put my own ideas out there 😞!!!

I interperet characters several different ways though so this is just..one of hundreds of ways that I interperet just these two alone!!!!!!

I hope to try and do more like this soon <3!!!!!! But for now my back hurts like HELL so I'm gonna go rest up ^_^!

*BTW calling it jirkdake is a little joke ig I decided to incorporate in all of a sudden because I'm so exhausted I accidentally typed their names wrong T_T

~ EXP

[cherrieswinerosmarythyme]

i love reading the end of the second life of Bree Tanner just for the perspective, i mean, do you realize the power that jasper emanate????

"And then another vampire with yellow eyes joined us. As soon as I saw him, any sense of security I had felt with those strangers vanished.

He was blond, like the first one, but taller and leaner. His skin was completely covered in scars, more clustered around the neck and jaw area. Some of the small marks on his arm were recent, but the rest weren't from today's skirmish. He had been in more fights than I could imagine, and had never lost. His honey-colored eyes gleamed, and his stance exuded the barely contained violence of a furious lion.

The moment he saw me, he crouched to pounce.

'Jasper!' Carlisle warned him.

Jasper straightened a bit and fixed his overly wide eyes on Carlisle.

'What's going on here?'

'She doesn't want to fight, he has surrendered.' The scarred vampire frowned, and I felt a sudden, unexpected wave of frustration despite having no idea what was frustrating me."

"Jasper, I think we need to take a risk," Carlisle said slowly. "We are not the Volturi. We follow their rules, but we don't dispose of others' lives lightly. We'll explain ourselves." "They could think we've created our own newborns to defend ourselves." "But we haven't. And even if we had, no indiscretion has occurred here, only in Seattle. There's no law against creating vampires as long as you control them." "It's too dangerous." Carlisle touched Jasper on the shoulder to gauge his reaction. "Jasper, we can't kill this girl." Jasper scowled at the kind-eyed man, and suddenly, I felt myself getting angry. He wasn't going to harm the amiable vampire or the woman he loved, that was certain. He sighed, and I knew everything was fine. My anger dissipated. "I don't like this," he said, but he was calmer now. "At least let me take charge of her. You two don't know how to handle someone who's been out of control for so long." "Of course, Jasper," the woman conceded. "But be gentle." Jasper rolled his eyes.

"Hey, you," Jasper said to me, again with bitterness. "Come with us. Don't make a wrong move or I'll end you." I felt anger rising again when he glared at me, and a small part of me wanted to roar back at him and show my teeth, but I had a feeling that was exactly the excuse he was looking for. Jasper paused as if he had just thought of something. "Close your eyes," he ordered me. I hesitated. Had he decided to kill me after all? "Do it!" I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes. I felt twice as defenseless as before. "Follow the sound of my voice and don't open your eyes. Open them, and you're in trouble, got it?" I nodded and wondered what it was he didn't want me to see. I felt some relief that he cared about protecting a secret. There was no reason to do so if he intended to kill me outright. "This way." I walked slowly behind him, careful not to give him any excuses.

"He led me closer and closer to the muffled crackling of the flames, so close that I could feel the smoke caressing my skin. I was aware that he could have killed me at any moment, but the proximity of the fire still made me nervous. "Sit here. Eyes closed."

The ground was warm from the sun and the fire. I stayed very still and tried to concentrate on appearing harmless, but I felt his piercing gaze on me, and it unsettled me."

"My eyelids flickered, but Jasper growled furiously at me, and I shut them tightly. I hadn't seen anything except the dense, lavender-colored smoke."

"Without any prior warning sound, something touched me and pressed firmly on both sides of my head. I panicked, opening my eyes and jerking my head upward in an attempt to break free from the hold, only to find Jasper's warning gaze inches from my face. "Enough," he said sharply, pushing me back down to the ground. I could only hear him, and I realized it was his hands forcefully pressing my head, completely covering my ears. "Close your eyes," he ordered me again, probably at a normal volume, but to me, it was nothing more than a whisper."

"Jasper removed his hands from my ears. 'You better open your eyes,' he said from a few steps away. The way he said it scared me. I quickly scanned around for the danger hinted at in his voice. My entire field of vision was obstructed by dark smoke. Jasper was frowning close to me. He clenched his teeth and watched me with an almost... terrified expression. Not as if he was afraid of me, but as if he was frightened because of me. I remembered what he had said earlier about me putting them in danger with something called the Volturi. I wondered who these Volturi could be. I couldn't imagine anything that this dangerous, scarred vampire could fear."

"Jasper hissed angrily at me and shoved me again, forcing me back to the ground from my crouching position."

i mean, fuck me jazz.

[meow-77-art]

gauge cluster!!!!!!!!!!!

[afternoonsociety]

*ೃ༄ The Sound of Two Different Hearts - Part Five - Neteyam x Human!Fem!Reader

Thank you so much to all of you who are liking and reblogging my story. And also many many thanks for the nice comments. That warms my heart that so many people like this story. All this encourages me to keep writing! 💙

warnings: fluff, the metkayinas being not amused by Y/N, aonung and friends being mean, Lo‘ak now being the „cockblock“ for Neteyam

word count: 4.2k

synopsis: Jake has to fight to get his family accepted by the metkayina and is successful in the end but his eldest son is having a little trouble settling in.

— Part One — Part Two — Part Three — Part Four — Part Five

other websites: ao3 // wattpad

Neteyam was already waiting with his family at the High Camp for Y/N's return, who also appeared a few minutes later with her bag. He smiled at her and took her things from her to put them on his Ikran.

He then took her by the hand and helped her onto the Ikran. He sat down behind her and asked if everything was okay and if she was sitting properly. After everyone was ready the Sully family plus Y/N set off for a long journey to a new place.

It was a very long flight and sometimes Y/N couldn't help but nod off slightly. At one point she tipped forward for a brief moment until she quickly woke up and sat up straight again. Nete startled for a brief moment when he saw Y/N tilt forward and quickly reached around her waist with his big arms to pull her tightly against him. Y/N became a little flustered by his gesture and tried to distract herself by looking into the far distance in front of her.

But the distraction didn't last long, as Neteyam continued to make sure she didn't slip off his Ikran due to the headwind and protectively placed his hand on her thigh. Y/N turned her gaze to her right leg, where his warm hand rested, and placed hers over his.

She looked over her shoulder and saw Neteyam looking at her with his big amber eyes. She smiled briefly and then nestled her back against his torso.

The view was stunning. She and the Sully children were amazed as the forest - which was their home - grew thinner and thinner, slowly revealing different new terrains. They made several stops in between so the Ikrans wouldn't be too exhausted and they could grab a snack.

During a night flight it suddenly became very fresh and Y/N started to shiver from the cold of the wind. Neteyam also saw goosebumps forming on her again and remembered that one night in the clearing she had mentioned that people would get goosebumps when they were cold. Unconscious to Y/N, Nete took his poncho and tucked the large head hole over her body so she could get some of its warmth and the harsh wind wouldn't bother her further. Y/N, who was half asleep, didn't even notice what was happening, she just grabbed the fabric with her hands and pulled it closer to her to snuggle into it.

The journey was not easy for all of them, they had to endure a variety of weather conditions the closer they got to the open sea, but after a total of three days the family finally arrived in Awa'atlu.

The closer they got to the village, the more Metkayina became aware of them. A shell horn was heard in the distance to announce the arrival of the strangers, and the inhabitants came closer to the shore with their boats and their sea creatures, as they wanted to examine the family more closely.

As the Sully's circled the village to find the perfect landing spot, a cluster of Na'vi formed around them. Some with a confused look on their faces, others with tense expressions as they could not gauge what they would want from them. After landing, all the family members got off their Ikrans and Neteyam helped Y/N get down as well, putting both hands under her armpits and carrying her down in one motion.

He stayed close to her, not knowing himself how the Metkayina would react to a single human. Even though Y/N would not be a danger on her own, he knew that most of the clans of Pandora were not very fond of humans.

Jake led the family closer to the Metkayina and asked his wife Neytiri to leave her bow with her Ikran for safety. He raised his hands upward and Nete followed with the same gesture to show them that they would come in peace.

Y/N saw the other Na'vi for the first time from a close distance and saw that they looked very different from her Omatikaya friends. Instead of a rich blue, they were turquoise in color and their markings looked different as well. In addition, some had dark tattoos in different patterns adorning their faces and bodies. They had wider forearms and narrower but muscular shoulders and their tails were also wider, without a fluffy tip, they looked more like a tail fin. It wasn’t hard to miss that these were reef Na'vi that had adapted to their environment over the centuries.

As they now stood in the middle surrounded by the different looking Na'vi, two boys, probably the same age as Neteyam and Lo'ak came out of the crowd to survey them. Since Jake had said earlier that they should be nice to them, the two Sully boys greeted the others in a formal manner. They took their half-closed hands to their foreheads and then moved them in a downward arc away from their bodies. The other two boys just laughed at their gesture and started making fun of the family's appearance. They pointed their fingers at their tails and said, "Look at their tails, so tiny!"

Nete bent his head down and looked at the white sand, while Lo'ak rolled his eyes in annoyance. But then the two Metkayina noticed Y/N next to Neteyam. Their facial expressions changed from now on when they saw the human girl and both contorted their faces, visibly upset by her presence.

Y/N also formally greeted them with the hand gesture, but they only made fun of her attempt and snickered into their hands. They stared at her more closely and began to circle her.

Nete's gaze shot to the side, watching them how they treated his friend. He couldn't do much about it either though, he didn't want to upset his father again right away. But when the Metkayina boys took a strand of Y/N's hair in their hand, pulled on it, and Y/N let out a pained groan, Neteyam grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the action, away from the curious grabbers.

But now that Y/N was standing in the middle of the commotion, all the onlookers took notice of her too. There were shouts, who called her a "demon" or even hissing could be heard. Y/N became nervous and more anxious. She wondered if it was really the right decision to come along. Her eyes turned from person to person and she quickly realized that she was not welcomed. The two boys started fooling around again. "How are they supposed to swim?" "What are they doing with a demon here? I didn't know they were so ugly from up close!" A young woman who had just come out of the water quickly walked between them and slapped their hands away when they wouldn't stop pointing their fingers at her. She too looked at Y/N, but with a different look. She seemed curious and not repulsed by her.

Only moments later, the Olo'eyktan of the clan also approached them on a huge flying fish with a spear in his hand and his mate close on his heels. The whole family greeted the leader together this time and his wife came closer.

"I see you, Ronal" Jake greeted her one more time. She did not return this, however, and Tonowari began to speak. "Why do you come to us?" His gaze now drifted to the human Y/N, "And why did you bring one of the Sky People with you?" Jake ignored the last question for now and replied with, "We seek uturu," gesturing with raised arms at his family standing behind him.

Tonowari looked at the family with a pitiful look. "We are reef people, you are forest people" Ronal, the Tsahík walked with slow steps around the Sully's and looked closely at each one. She grabbed Neytiri's tail, which the Omatikaya woman did not like at all. She then appraised Tuk and took her arm. "Their arms are thin" Tuk then quickly withdrew her arm and clung to her mother's leg. "Their tails are weak. They will be slow in the water"

She then stood directly in front of Kiri and took both of her hands in hers. "These children have five fingers. They are no real Na'vi!"

Kiri was visibly irritated by her remark and angrily replied, "Yes we are!" Ronal continued to walk through the Sully family and held up Lo'ak's hand. "The have demon blood," Ronal exclaimed and gasping could be heard. Jake tried to de-escalate the situation and showed her his hand, which was also adorned by five fingers. Neytiri interfered and mentioned Jake's title. "My husband was Toruk Makto" This didn't help either because Ronal now spotted Y/N who was still standing anxiously next to Neteyam. She didn't look Y/N in the eye and only gave her a snarl "Why did you bring her?" No one really knew how to answer, but Jake finally took the initiative. "This is Y/N, she is a family member of ours. She doesn't have parents anymore and we take care of her"

"We can't grant her uturu. She is not a Na'vi. It seems that Eywa has turned her back to you" Ronal replied and turned to Jake "Please let her stay here with us. She poses no danger and she can be useful. She quickly learned the ways of the Omatikaya and was also well tolerated by them" The Tsahík just shook her head "She could lure more humans here and betray us" Jake tried one more time. "Without her my children wouldn't be alive Ronal, Tonowari. She betrayed and killed her own people to save them. She also saved my wife's life" During the last sentence he nudged his mate Neytiri so she could confirm his statement. She didn't really want to acknowledge that Y/N had saved her life in the forest, since after years she still only tolerated her and didn't accept her in the family as her husband did. With a long sigh she said: "Yes, the human child saved my life. She had shot a soldier with her bow, who otherwise would have discovered me." Her children were quite surprised, since they were never told what had happened before their rescue in the forest.

Jake pleaded. "Please let us stay here. We and Y/N can help you and will quickly learn your ways. You won't even realize that we are forest people or humans."

The atmosphere changed as Ronal now faced Neytiri. You could almost cut the air with a knife. They maintained intense eye contact as Ronal wanted to know if she was speaking the truth. Neytiri continued to look into Ronal's bright blue eyes and began to hiss. Showing her fangs, the Tsahìk didn't put up with it either and hissed back. Jake once again intervened and apologized for Neytiri's behavior. Y/N also sensed the tense mood and desperately searched for Neteyam's hand with her own without taking her eyes off of what was happening. "Do not apologize for me," Neytiri said, perplexed by her mate's statement. "The journey was long and she is exhausted" He tried everything to smooth the waters. Tonowari, who like Jake didn't want a fight between the women, now spoke to his clan "Toruk Makto is a great war leader, but we are not at war. If he says that the human is loyal to them, then it will be so"

"I just wanna keep everyone safe. Please.", pleaded Jake once more.

The clan leader and the Tsahík discussed in silence. Tonowari showed his wife with his eyes that Jake was speaking the truth and they had to help them.

She was still not convinced - she trusted her husband, but humans couldn't be trusted after the last war. In the end, however, she gave in to her mate and it was decided.

The Sully's and Y/N would be allowed to stay. "It has been decided. Toruk Makto, his family and their human will stay with us. Treat them as our own. They will be like babies taking their first breath" Jake and the family were more than relieved that they were allowed to stay after all. Y/N was also happy for the family and for herself that they showed faith in her and she would do anything not to disappoint them. She looked up at her friend Nete and gave him a bright smile. "We did it, Nete" she said. And he, too, was happy that he could still continue to spend his time with her.

Tonowari once again admonished Jake, "Don't be useless."

He nodded his head that he understood his words and thanked him one more time. "What do we say?" he asked Tuk, who was now standing next to him. "Thank you"

"My daughter Tsireya and my son Aonung will show your children and the human what to do", added the Olo'eyktan.

The boy who had earlier made fun of the Omatikaya's appearance turned out to be the chief's son and he replied to his father in horror, obviously not satisfied with the situation of having to help them, "Father why do I have to-" He interrupted his son before he could continue. "It has been decided!" and pointed his finger in his face. The girl defending them earlier and looking curiously at Y/N was Tsireya his daughter, making her way to the Sully children and Y/N to show them where they would live now. "Come with me!" she said in a friendly bright voice and everyone started to follow her.

Tsireya led the group to an empty marui where the family was allowed to live for the foreseeable future. The village of the Metkayina was realtively large and between the trees were the various marui of the inhabitants, which were laboriously woven around the century-old roots of the mangroves. They were beautifully interwoven with different patterns that resembled those of the Omatikaya in a way. The paths that connected the village were also woven and braided and gave in a little with each step, so it was easy to hop on them. Tuk quickly found this out as well and jumped after her family full of anticipation. Y/N also hopped along the path a few times before quickly running after the other Na'vi so she wouldn't lose them.

Y/N looked into the water that was visible underneath the path and saw all sorts of colorful coral and small glittering fish unbothered swimming around in swarms. She was amazed. She knew the lakes and rivers of the rainforest, but this was even more beautiful.

A short time later they arrived at their new home and Tsireya welcomed them once more and said that they should rest a little. Tomorrow would be the first day for their training. The proper breathing technique.

Jake was the first to enter the marui and said: "This looks good. You can make a home here" and put both of his hands on his hips and turned to his family.

Neytiri was still not convinced by the whole thing, especially with the encounter with Ronal earlier. She dropped the rug she was carrying the whole time with a groan and sat down. The Sully children and Y/N began to make themselves at home, arguing among themselves about who would sleep where. Tuk also fought fiercely to get a place between Neteyam and Y/N, but as she sat down on her bed, she realized what it would mean to live here, to have to find new friends, and that she would have to learn everything all over again. She slowly began to get home sick and tears began to gather in her eyes. The others were busy with themselves at first and Y/N was the first to notice the soft whimpering from the corner. When she realized it was Tuktirey, she immediately ran to her side and started comforting her. "I want to go home," she cried into Y/N's shoulder. It took some time until she calmed down and her mother explained to her again why they are here now. And in doing so, she promised her that when calm returned, they would visit their grandmother. After the small incident they continued to sort their things and when they were finished, Jake came to the decision that tonight there shouldn't happen much more except dinner, since the last flight was very exhausting for all of them.

They were still eating together as a family alone this evening before they would integrate and eat together with the Metkayina over the next few days. When the meal was over, everyone was kind of busy with themselves. Lo'ak wanted to be alone, Kiri didn't really feel like socializing either since the first encounter with the residents and her didn't really go well, Tuk had already fallen asleep and Jake was trying to cheer up his mate without any success.

Since Y/N wasn't ready to go to sleep yet, she wanted to go to Neteyam, but when she looked up from her tablet, she noticed that he wasn't with the others at all. She poked her head out of the entrance to the hut, but didn't see him anywhere there either. "Does anyone know where Nete is? I'll go look for him," Y/N said anxiously. Lo'ak was the only one who noticed her and answered only with a bored `mmh`.

She went in search of him and first looked at the woven paths to see if he might have gone there. However, he wasn't to be found there either. Shortly before she decided to give up her search she looked into the horizon at the water. Her gaze then slid to a moving figure sitting on the beach. She had to really squint her eyes to be able to place the person, but when she noticed that this person had a dark blue skin color, she knew that it was not a Metkayina, but Neteyam. Y/N took a quick look at how to get to him and then started jogging.

On the beach Neteyam sat alone and watched the sea and the sky with its many stars and planets. He needed to find a clear thought and since everyone was busy with themselves anyway, he finally decided to take a walk and then got stuck at the beach. He hadn't really expected visitors, but when Y/N sat down next to him, he wasn't really surprised. No matter where he would go or hide, Y/N always found him everywhere.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as she made herself comfortable next to him.

"I need to clear my head. A lot has happened in the last few days, you know."

"Do you want to talk about it" Nete just shrugged in response.

"Just let me know when you're ready. Okay?" He looked over at her for a moment, nodded his head, and then turned back to the water. There was silence between the two for some time until `Teyam decided to tell her what was on his mind after all.

"Everything just feels pointless now, Y/N."

"What do you mean?" she replied to him with furrowed eyebrows.

"Well everything. At least my life," Neteyam had a queasy feeling in his stomach as he continued, "I'd rather be home right now, fighting to make sure we all have a safe home. But on the other hand, you guys are most important to me and letting you go away alone wouldn't have been an option for me either."

"Oh Nete, I think we would all rather be home now. I wish I could be with Norm right now too, or at least have Spider with me. But this, right now, is just the best solution for everyone."

"I understand that, too. But the thing that bothers me the most is that Dad had to give up his title and I've been trying to follow in his footsteps all this time for nothing. All the training I had to go through for nothing. I will never become the Olo'eyktan of the Omatikaya."

Y/N already understood what he was getting at.

"I was always judged more strictly than the others. I always gave more than one could for everything, because it was simply expected of me and to make Dad proud. And now, now we're sitting with another clan where we're treated like babies and are at the very bottom of the ladder. It all just seems so pointless to me."

The young human woman tried to be understanding and helped him understand that it wasn't all useless.

"There may be a different Olo'eyktan now, but you were prepared for life differently than the other warriors. Through your father, you have gained more knowledge than the others and may even be ahead of them in some things. Maybe without all that training you wouldn't be the way you are now. Maybe you would have become like Lo'ak and one of his kind is already enough in the family. Someone has to have all the brain cells with them," she tried to make him understand, nudging him with her body. "Even if you don't lead a clan, I know you'll be a great family leader. The way you're already taking care of Tuk and the others, you might just become the Olo'eyktan of your own family."

There was a quiet between the two of them and they continued to look at the night sky together. Neteyam thought about what she had told him, she was somehow right, but it still bothered him. He also thought about what she said last, that he will be a great father and a great family leader. He began to wonder if Y/N and he would have a future together that involved children. Would such a thing even work? A human and a Na'vi. Eywa would surely have an answer and maybe he would just have to wait to find out. Even if not, he would still be happy with her.

The silence was broken by Y/N as she started talking about the 'what ifs'.

"You know sometimes I think about what my life would have been like if my birth parents were still here," she spoke with her head pointed at the water. "What would have happened if my father hadn't died in the war? What would have happened if my mother hadn't left me behind when she returned to Earth? I wonder if she's happy now. I wonder if she thinks about me, or if she already has another family now and I've been forgotten?" she continued, looking in the direction where Earth would be. "That's the kind of thing that keeps me up at night. You're not alone with so many thoughts"

"I didn't realize you were so troubled by it. Of course it's your family, but you never talk to me about it. You can always talk to me about such things, I hope you know that," Neteyam said in a calm voice.

"I know Nete, I can talk to you about anything. I've kind of come to terms with the way things are now. But sometimes the idea does pop into my head. But I'll put it this way, if my parents were still here now, I might never have met Norm, Max or Mary. Spider wouldn't be like a brother to me now and I probably never would have met you guys either. I might never have met you."

Neteyam smiled at her statement and thought to himself that she probably did like him more than she wanted to admit.

"No matter how my life would have turned out or how much I wish my real family back, I would never trade my current life for it if it meant I couldn't spend any more time with you and your siblings"

No matter how life would still go, it was probably fate or Eywa herself that the lives of both are like this now. One would only have to make the best of it. No matter what was to come, Y/N promised him that she would always stand by his side if he ever got stuck.

Thereupon she grabbed his hand that was lying in the sand next to her body and squeezed his four fingers tightly to strengthen her promise once again. Nete was sure now would be the best moment to tell her about his feelings towards her. "You know Y/N you really mean a lot to me and I have a feeling that-" he began but then a call came from the background in her direction. It was Lo'ak, who in the meantime had started to worry about where his brother and Y/N could have gone. "Y/N! Have you found Neteyam yet? If so you should come home! It's getting late!"

"Yes I found him! Just a minute!" she called back and she turned back to Nete. "Sorry, what were you about to say?" she asked him, but the mood was now already disturbed another time by a family member and he decided again to tell Y/N another time. "Oh, wasn't that important. Let's go home."

Y/N was actually already curious about what he had to say to her, but she just shoulder shrugged and mumbled a small 'okay' before they headed off to her marui.

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