#jack calls sam pa!!!

[p1x1e-sims]

Fall, 1939

  “Faster!” Maggie yelled. “Swing me ‘round faster!” 

  Benjamin sighed, looking to Sam for help. His friend shrugged and smiled, already busy with Peter on his shoulders. It wasn’t like he would be much help anyway, Maggie was ten now and full of more energy than a hummingbird. 

  Ben groaned. “Alright, kid, here we go, but this is the last time, I mean it.”

  Maggie laughed in victory. She was always laughing these days. The weather was nice, which meant she could be outside as much as she pleased, as long as she finished her chores, of course. School was still a drag, but she supposed it could have been worse. At least she got to see Joseph and Jack every day, and race them home after they were let out. Maggie even supposed her little brothers were becoming more tolerable. She found she didn’t mind too much when Peter followed her around, asking questions as she milked Betty and fed the chickens. 

  She didn’t know too much about life, but Maggie supposed it was all right. 

  “Again!” She yelled as Ben slowed down from his swinging. 

  “That’s enough, Maggie!” Her mother called from across the yard. “Let poor Benjamin rest a while.”

  Ben shot Gwendoline a look of thanks as he flipped the girl over his shoulder and set her on the ground. 

  The wild redhead huffed and went over to her twin. “Say, let’s go swimming in the pond, Ginny.”

  “No thanks. Miss Theresa said she’d help me with my cross stitch. I’ve been trying to get it right for weeks.” 

  Maggie huffed again and scrambled off to find a tree to climb. Ginny, meanwhile was perfectly content to sit in the shade with the ladies. 

  She didn’t mind climbing trees or swimming in ponds, of course. She was still a farm girl. But Ginny hated to dirty the skirt her mother had just ironed, or let her neat braids get all tangled and full of twigs. Sometimes she just liked to sit and observe. 

  Gwendoline used one hand to hoist up Charles, another to tap her daughter’s shoulder. “Ginny, dear, go and wrangle that chicken over by the tree line. I think Peg got loose again.”

  “Alright, Mama.” Ginny skipped over to the bushes, herding the old chicken back into her coop. As she walked back, she swore she could hear voices in the trees. They must have been coming from the path. 

  “Pa!” She called. “Are you expecting visitors?”

  “Huh?” Sam scratched his head. “None that I can recall.”

  Ginny walked a bit further, trying to see the strangers. Eventually they came into view, their voices carrying into the yard. 

  “Are you sure this is the place?”

  “Yes, I swear. We went here all the time as kids.”

  “Well, you had to ask that man in town for directions-”

  “It’s been a while, alright.”

  The Townsends and Zimmermans caught sight of the two wandering women as they walked into the yard. One tall and dark, wearing trousers instead of a dress. The other a bit shorter, looking around nervously. They bickered with one another, but affection in their voices was obvious. Sam could hardly believe his eyes. 

  “Eleanor?” He called out. “Leah?”

  The women’s heads perked up. They laughed and hurried on over to Sam and Benjamin. The men caught their cousins in a fierce hug. 

   Once they saw the women’s faces, they were sure it was them. Neither Sam nor Ben had seen either of the women in years. After Leah’s trip to Selvadora, she immediately began her work as an archeologist. Her adventures all over the world had left no time for trips back home, though they made for exciting letters. Eleanor had bounced from city to city, working on poems and novels and journals. Sam had read some of them, most of the poems were lovesick little sonnets that were obviously about Leah. A bit gushy, but he could appreciate the bittersweet sentiments of two lovers being separated. 

  Though it seemed they had finally found their way back to one another. 

  Sam pulled back from hug, grabbing his cousin by the shoulders. “You should have told us you were coming!”

  “Oh, I know, I’m so sorry,” Eleanor wrung her hands together. “It just happened so suddenly. I hadn’t planned on any of this until just a few weeks ago.”

  “It’s my fault, Sam.” Leah patted her old friend on the arm. “I only just returned from Europe last month. Once I found Ellie and the subject of our dearest cousins came up-” She smiled and nudged Ben. “We realized that you lot have been quite out of the loop lately.” 

  Gwen sighed. “You’re right about that. We only hear news when we go down to the village, and even then it’s old and insignificant. So tell us, dear, I’m dying for some gossip.” 

  Leah looked around, awkward all of a sudden. “Uh, Sam,” she pulled him to the side, talking in low tones. 

  “What’s wrong, it can’t be all that bad, right?” Sam gave his usual smile, trying to perk his friend up. But Leah wouldn’t budge. 

  “Sam, there’s a reason I left Europe so early. You might be secluded, but I’m sure you’re aware of what’s brewing overseas.”

  “Oh.” It all clicked in Sam’s mind. 

  He looked over to his family. Maggie was sitting on a tree branch, laughing as she dropped leaves on her sister’s head. Ginny hadn’t noticed yet, focused on her cross stitching. Peter was stomping around the mud barefoot, and Charles was clinging to Gwendoline’s leg. Lovely Gwendoline, who hadn’t ever known real hardship. Or heartache. 

  “We should go inside,” Sam called to the others. “Girls, stay out here and watch the little ones.”

  “What’s wrong, daddy?” Maggie called from her branch. 

  “Nothing you need to worry about, darling. You’ll be all right.”

Previous | Next

[mergingonthefreeway]

Greenpeace - Don't Stop from Samona Olanipekun on Vimeo.

This is no ordinary cover: Don’t Stop is a contemporary fable about being young in the world today. The song is a call to action for people worried about their future and the state of the planet, and a rallying cry for those who dream of a better tomorrow. Together we can stand up to the fossil fuel industry. Add your name now: act.gp/3qIN8o6

Production Company: Lammas Park @lammas_park_productions

Director - Samona Olanipekun @samona_o Exec Producers - Steve McQueen, Bona Orakwue @bonaclara7, Anna Smith Tenser @smithspanna Producer - George Telfer @gtelfs

Production Manager - Chanel Parkinson @chanellyonthetelly PA - Hannah Lockwood @hanlockwood Cast Coordinator - Beth Rubery @beth.rubery Production Runner - Tom Gimlette @tomgimlette

Researcher - Shireen Bahmanizad @shireen_bahmanizad Researcher - Conall O’Brien @conallobrien Bidding Producer - Nat Baring @natanatics Lammas Park Head of Operations - Nicholas Horne Lammas Park Production Assistant - Umashni Puvanendran

1st AD - Gabriel O’Donohue @_gabriel.odonohue_

Movement Director - Liara Barussi @liarabarussi Casting Director - Coralie Rose @coralie_blamo_rose

DOP - Annika Summerson @annisummerson Steadicam / Camera Op - Jonathan Tyler @jonotyler Focus Puller A Cam - Kate Mollins @kate__mo_ Focus Puller B Cam - Sam Ebrahim Riley @samrileyac Clapper / Loader - Sonia Rogriguez Camera Trainee - Lucas Murray Reynolds Grip - Warwick Drucker

Video Playback - Robbie Ross @rsvp.london DIT - Ben Grady @colour.grady Sound Recordist - Anthony Leung @anthonyleungsound

Gaffer - Salvador Lopez-Gomez @glofilmlighting Best Boy - Jamie Hitchens @jamiehitchens Desk Op - Noah Furrer Electricians - Charlie Lodge, Lee Madigan, Nathan Rubins Rigger - Steve Daly @steve_daly

Production Designer - Jade Adeyemi @adeyumyum Prop Buyer - Martha Howe @martha.howe, Matty Mancy @matty.mancey Led Art Assistant - Lea Otovic @leaotovic Art Dept Assistant - Isabelle Bryan, Nana-yaw Mensah @nyk_mensah, Lucia Barsegian @luciabarsegian, Daisy Alexander, Fenella Evans @fen.art_, Sofia Karavis @sofiakara

Construction by Cous De La @cousdela

SFX Supervisor - Neil Gawthrop SFX Technicians - Miguel Ferreira, Jonathan Long SFX by Machine Shop @machineshopsfx

Costume Designer - Verity May Lane @veritymaylane Costume Assistants - Amy Thompson @a_thompson, Johanna Yohannes, Ellie Rimmer @ellie_r1

Make Up Designer - Maya Man @mayamanartist Make Up Assistants - Chelsea Murphy @sculptedbychelsea, Nic Marilyn @nicmarilyn Hair Designer - Kreszend Sackey @kreszendsackey Hair Assistant - Viviane Melo @vivianemelomua

Medic - Verity Stacy

Editor - Jack Williams @__jackwilliams_ Edit House - The Assembly Rooms @the_assembly_rooms Edit Producer - Phoebe Armstrong-Beaver Sound Designer - Jack Sedgwick @snappajack Audio Post - King Lear @kinglearlondon Audio Producer - Suzy McGregor Colourist - George Kyriacou @georgekcolourist Post - Black Kite Studios @blackkitestudios VFX - Mark Stannard Colour Producer - Holly Tidwell @holly_tidwell, Jade Denne @jadedenne

Camera - Panavision @panavisionofficial Lighting - Panalux @panaluxworld Studio - Dukes Island Studios Insurance - Dan Woods at Media Insurance Brokers Accountancy - Robert Okonski & Emmanuel Lindsay at Clay GBP

Casting Assistants - Laura Meredith Additional Casting - Lauren Patterson @ Jukebox Collective Agency

CAST:

Speech Givers: Kyle Osbourne Lili Chin

Tomorrow’s Warriors: Kyle Osborne, Emily Tran, Cassius Cobbson, Shanise, David, Tami Lisa Smith

Waiters & Kitchen Staff Cameron Berryman, Izaebella Cresci, Christopher Mbaki, Jinessa Meggi, Ebony Aboagye, Oliver Manley, Kade Turner, Geddy Stringer

Party Guests: Graham Collier, Anja Kick, Philippa Casares, Noreen Goodwin, Benji Ming, Catherine Cornwall, Huma Mohyuddin, Ellie Madden, Albert Graver, Rainier Manzano, Ruby Gascoyne, Sharifa Butterfly, Haseeb ‘Chilly’ Hearn, Duran Abdullah, Mikael Rivieri, Patrick Gabco, Ellie Harlulow, Rogerio Ghesti, Katerina Bragin, Michael Ahfong, Kesiena Banye, Beverly Connel, Jeanette Maskell, Peter Wilkinson

and Featuring: Will Poulter, Fraser T Smith and Avelino

MUSIC

Written by: Christine McVie / Universal Music Publishing Group Produced by: Fraser T Smith / 70Hz Original Rap verses: Avelino Music Supervision and Consultancy: Ed Bailie and Seb Whyte / Leland Music Music Marketing: Olivia Hobbs and Clare Wright / Blackstar Agency Performed by: Future Utopia X Avelino X Tomorrow's Warriors With thanks to: House Gospel Choir, Benjamin Kwasi Burrell, Janine Irons, Fish Krish, Gabriel Starkey, Patricia Pascal

AGENCY

Creative Agency: Mother London Creative Director: James Sellick @jamessellickauthor Creative: Scott Anderson @scottanders44 Title Design: Ben McNaughton Head of Production: Anna Murray @annasedgwick Producers: Tommy Frankau @tommyfrankau, Nic Akinnibosun, Joseph Ogunmokun Epilogue: Written by Scroobius Pip in collaboration with Greenpeace, performed by Lilli Chin Special Featured Performance: Will Poulter

[isthespiceoflife]

One listen through of Jalen Ngonda's soaring n' piercing notes on "Come Around and Love Me" immediately call up legendary names such as Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye et al!

DC-based, by way of London and dropping his debut LP, Come Around And Love Me, his single of the same title is sure to lure you to catch these vocals live (tour dates below)!

Upcoming Tour Dates:

09/05 - Asheville, NC @ Grey /Eagle

09/06 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West

09/07 - Durham, NC @ Motorco

09/08 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern

09/11 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair

09/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ MilkBoy

09/14 - Baltimore, MD @ 8x10

09/15 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat

09/16 - New York, NY @ Racket

09/18 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe

09/19 - Detroit, MI @ El Club

09/21 - Evanston, IL @ SPACE

09/24 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line

09/27 - Denver, CO @ Globe Hall

09/28 - Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre

09/30 - Ft. Collins, CO @ The Armory

10/01 - Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room

10/03 - Boise, ID @ The Olympic

10/05 - Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou's

10/06 - Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre

10/07 - Portland, OR @ The Jack London Revue

10/09 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel

10/10 - Sacramento, CA @ Starlet Room

10/11 - San Luis Obispo, CA @ SLO Brew

10/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers

10/15 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah

10/16 - Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit

10/18 - Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Arts Collective 

10/19 - Austin, TX @ Empire Garage Control Room

10/20 - Houston, TX @ Axlerad

10/22 - Nashville, TN @ Basement East

11/01 - Glasgow, SCT @ King Tut’s

11/02 - Liverpool, UK @ Jimmy's

11/04 - Birmingham, UK @ O Institutes

11/06 - Bristol, UK @ Exchange

11/07 - London, UK @ Jazz Cafe

11/08 - Rotterdam, NL @ Bird

11/09 - Paris, FR @ Cafe De La Danse

[shortpplfedup]

Reveal your watch & Rewatch drama list

Tagged by @bengiyo the uncle to my fandom auntie.

RECENTLY FINISHED

KinnPorsche The Series La Forte Thoroughly enjoyable and did exactly what it said on the tin: 'dark mafia romance'. If I don't get a season 2 I might have to write my own.

Star Trek: Discovery season 4 Going back to the roots of Discovery as a science ship, and watching these nerds just excel, Trek crossing the galactic barrier as the new frontier, everything about Michael's friendship with the Federation President...simply outstanding, the best of Trek.

Star Trek: Picard season 2 The Q are easily my least favourite Trek concept, but combining them with the total overhaul of the Borg, a reexamination of Soong, and the deep dive into Picard's psyche worked gangbusters for me. And Q doing it all as a dying act of love for Picard resonated emotionally.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 Old school-style Trek at its very best. Hemmer going over that cliff to save them all from the Gorn made me WEEP. I'm ready for season 2 because I NEED an Ortegas episode.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 4 Miriam, Miriam, Miriam. Watching her self-sabotage because she's actually terrified of prime time was AMAZING. She's comfortable being the biggest fish in a series of small ponds but despite saying she wants the big leagues she blows every opportunity at them. Lenny calling her out was a long time coming. And Susie soaring as Miriam stagnates? Gold. Can't wait to see what happens next.

To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories I love watching what happens after the happily ever after because let's be real: most of these couples would struggle. We need more reminders in media that actually, love does NOT conquer all. Ji Woo and Seo Joon always had a reckoning coming, because Seo Joon thought if he could love Ji Woo hard enough that Ji Woo would feel it. In the end, Ji Woo had to work through his traumas on his own and come back to Seo Joon as a whole person, and hope that Seo Joon could forgive his trespasses. A beautiful meditation on how much of a struggle love can actually be.

Slow Horses Simply outstanding. Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott-Thomas put on a clinic, and the plot is delightful.

Quaranthings 2 The Besh/Che/Kulas poly situation is super fun, and I could listen to Rocky and Judah call each other akin all day, every day.

The Umbrella Academy season 3 One thing for sure is that this show always keeps it fresh. I could have done with about 99% less Allison angst this season though.

Silent Witness season 25 The return of Sam Ryan! Jack and Nikki finally get it together! An overarching mystery! Another solid outing from one of the best shows on television anywhere in the world.

Russian Doll season 2 I was so excited but after watching I found myself wondering whether a season 2 was necessary.

CURRENTLY WATCHING

Yumi's Cells 2 Just plain fun. Yu Mi and Ba Bi's relationship has a completely different flavour from her relationship with Wung, and the cells remain as entertaining as ever.

Money Heist The trashy energy combined with the twisty plot leave me intrigued and ready for more.

REWATCHING

Love By Chance I mean...when am I not rewatching Love By Chance? AePete only though.

I Promised You the Moon Yes yes, you all hate it, I simply don't agree.

Gaya Sa Pelikula (Like In The Movies) I think I have to accept that we'll never get a season 2, so I'm mourning what could have been.

LOOKING FORWARD TO

Pa-Thirsty I never got into Pearl Next Door but I love Adrianna So so as soon as I can find this I'm watching it.

Gameboys 2 INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION WHEN IDEAFIRST?!

War of Y Looks like some good trash, sign me up.

The Midnight Trilogy (Dirty Laundry, Midnight Motel, Moonlight Chicken) Looks like they're all in pre-production and I could not be more excited.

P.S. I Hate You I love some good soapy bitches and a whole lotta mess.

Never Let Me Go Still trepidatious about whether Pond and Phuwin can sell it but the concept works for me.

The Eclipse Cautiously optimistic, because I think this might finally be Khaotung's breakout role, and I love First beyond measure after Not Me.

A slew of assorted kdramas I am extremely behind on my kdrama watching, I've pretty much missed everything good this year so far, first due to Bad Buddy brainrot and then KinnPorsche having me by the throat.

Derry Girls season 3 2 dumb blondes, a space cadet and the human equivalent of a heat-seeking missile growing up Catholic in Derry in the 90s. Their parents: equally ridiculous. Their school principal? An over-it nun. Seriously, you should watch this.

Young Royals 2 I'm ready to return to Hillerska.

Summerdaze Are we EVER getting this?

Tagging @elnotwoods, @suzukibeanes, @liyazaki and anybody else who wants to play.

[sunskate]

Ice Dance Programs 2023-24

Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto 🇯🇵JPN RD: Ghostbusters FD: Loving You (from Passion) Barbara Streisand & Patrick Wilson; Love Grows (from Final Fantasy VIII) Nobuo Uematsu (choreo: Romain Haguenauer)

Azusa Tanaka/Shingo Nishiyama 🇯🇵JPN FD: choreo Romain Haguenauer

Nadiia Bashynska/Peter Beaumont 🇨🇦CAN RD: INXS, Never Tear Us Apart; Duran Duran, Wild Boys

Miku Makita/Tyler Gunara 🇨🇦CAN FD: choreo by Matthew Gates

Alicia Fabbri/Paul Ayer 🇨🇦CAN RD: AC/DC, choreo Zach Donohue FD: Lewis Capaldi, Someone You Loved

Sandrine Gauthier/Quentin Thieren 🇨🇦CAN RD: Joan Jett, I Love Rock n Roll

Emma Goodstadt/Christian Bennett 🇨🇦CAN (Jrs) RD: B-52’s, Love Shack

Hannah Lim/Ye Quan 🇰🇷KOR RD: Prince, When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy FD: Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Emilea Zingas/Vadym Kolesnik 🇺🇸USA RD and FD choreo: Benoit Richaud

Emily Bratti/Ian Somerville 🇺🇸USA RD: Prince, When Doves Cry, Let’s Go Crazy FD: Celine Dion, Ne Me Quitte Pas choreo by Greg Zuerlein, Charlie White, Tanith White

Eva Pate/Logan Bye 🇺🇸USA RD: Bobby Brown, My Prerogative; Run-DMC (feat. Aerosmith) Walk This Way

Katarina Wolfkostin/Dimitry Tsarevski 🇺🇸USA RD: When in Rome, The Promise; Blondie, Call Me

Isabella Flores/Ivan Desyatov 🇺🇸USA RD: Prince, When Doves Cry; Def Leppard, Pour Some Sugar on Me, choreo Massimo Scali FD: West Side Story, choreo Kaitlyn Weaver

Angela Ling/Caleb Wein 🇺🇸USA RD: Aretha Franklin, Hold on I'm Coming

Raffaella Koncius/Alexey Shchepetov 🇺🇸USA RD: Stray Cats, Rock this Town, Stray Cat Strut

Klara Kowar/Thomas Schwappach 🇺🇸USA RD: INXS, Never Tear Us Apart, What You Need FD: James Bond

Leah Neset/Artem Markelov 🇺🇸USA (jrs) RD: Scorpions, Still Loving You; Joan Jett, Hate Myself for Loving You. choreo Kaitlyn Weaver FD: choreo Nikolai Morozov

Eliana Peal/Ethan Peal 🇺🇸USA (jrs) RD: Janet Jackson, What Have You Done For Me Lately, Rhythm Nation FD: Lord of the Rings

Jenna Hauer/Benjaming Starr 🇺🇸USA (jrs) RD: Tina Turner, Simply the Best (?)

Caroline Mullen/Brendan Mullen 🇺🇸USA (jrs) RD: Wham!, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go; George Michael, Father Figure (?)

Yahli Pederson/Jeffrey Chen 🇺🇸USA (jrs) RD: Queen, Kind of Magic; Queen w David Bowie, Under Pressure (?)

Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud 🇫🇷FRA FD: choreo Guillaume Cizeron

Holly Harris/Jason Chan 🇦🇺AUS RD: Madonna (Material Girl, Express Yourself?), choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil FD: choreo Marie-France Dubreuil

Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck 🇪🇸ESP RD: Blondie, Call Me, Rapture

Sofia Val/Asaf Kazimov 🇪🇸ESP RD: Top Gun

Jennifer Janse van Rensburg/Benjamin Steffan 🇩🇪GER RD: Beds are Burning, Midnight Oil; Don't Leave Me Now, Supertramp; Runaway, Bon Jovi FD: wild west theme choreo: Pasquale Camerlengo for both

Phebe Bekker/James Hernandez 🇬🇧GBR RD: Prince FD: Muse

Layla Karnes/Liam Carr 🇬🇧GBR RD: Sweet Dreams, medley, Eurhythmics FD: Hit the Road Jack, 2WEI

Shira Ichilov/Dmitriy Kravchenko 🇮🇱ISR RD: Get Down on It, Yesterday, It's Raining Men FD: ("to a singer from Montreal") choreo: Pasquale Camerlengo, Igor Shpilband

Mariia Nosovitskaya/Misha Nosovytskyi 🇮🇱ISR RD: FD: Gladiator choreo: Pasquale Camerlengo, Igor Shpilband

Elizabeth Tkachenko/Alexei Kiliakov 🇮🇱ISR RD: Yello, Oh Yeah, Desire, The Race FD: Incantation, Ojo Azules; Inca the Peruvian Ensemble, Danzante Vasija del Barro; Inti-IllMani, Sikuriadas choreo: Elena Novak, Jimmie Manners

Yuka Orihara/Juho Pirinen 🇫🇮 FIN RD: choreo Luca Lanotte FD: music from Chicago choreo Massimo Scali

Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus 🇮🇪IRL RD: Rick James, Super Freak, Give It To Me Baby, Mary Jane

Mariia Holubtsova/Kyryl Bielobrov 🇺🇦UKR RD: Bonnie Tyler, Holding Out For A Hero; Bonnie Tyler & Bryan Adams, Straight From the Heart; Bonnie Tyler & Desmond Child, If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man) FD: Joe Hisaishi, Merry Go Round of Life, Fragile Dream, A Walk in the Skies choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Pascal Denis, Sam Chouinard

Zoe Larson/Andrii Kapran 🇺🇦UKR RD: Pointer Sisters, I'm So Excited; Grover Washington/Bill Withers, Just the Two of Us; The Weather Girls, It's Raining Men (?)

Adrienne Carhart/Oleksandr Kolosovskyi 🇦🇿AZE RD: Billy Ocean, Caribbean Queen

Maria Kazakova & Georgy Reviya 🇬🇪GEO RD: Queen, A Kind of Magic, Save Me, I Want To Break Free, Need Your Loving Tonight FD: Schindler's List choreo by Matteo Zanni

Natalie Taschlerova & Filip Taschler 🇨🇿CZE RD: Janet Jackson, The Knowledge; James Mtume, Juicy Fruit; The Pointer Sisters, Serious Slammin' FD: Negramaro, Bluecobalto; Havasi, Terra Rosa; Giuliano Sangiorgi, Son Felice choreo by Matteo Zanni

[quoteoftheweekblog]

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 24/10/22 - TAYLOR SWIFT AND JACK ANTONOFF ‘I can still make the whole place shimmer’ (Swift and Antonoff, 2022).

Swift, T. and Antonoff, J. (2022) in AZLyrics ‘Bejeweled’. Available at: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/taylorswift/bejeweled.html (Accessed 23 October 2022). *****

https://images.app.goo.gl/SjUvDV3L6ZBaRSBJ7 GIF

*****

TAYLOR THE MAGNIFICENT’S ‘MIDNIGHTS’ HAS BEEN RELEASED (THE ‘SLEEPLESS NIGHTS’ ALBUM)

AFTER MASSIVE PUBLICITY AND EXCITEMENT

https://twitter.com/windermerepoets/status/1582354911463079936

*****

‘ “Best believe I’m still bejewelled/When I walk in the room/I can still make the whole place shimmer”, she asserts on “Bejeweled”. A moment of recognition, perhaps, to the place she now holds in musical history, but also a statement that could apply to “Midnights”. After a foray into a different sonic world, on Swift’s return to pure pop she still shimmers.’ (Mylrea, 2022).

REFERENCE

Mylrea, H. (2022) ‘Taylor Swift – “Midnights” review: a shimmering return to pure pop’, NME 21 October [Online]. Available at: https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/taylor-swift-midnights-review-3332805 (Accessed 23 October 2022).

*****

‘BEJEWELED’

https://href.li/?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzKSPRqFg9E

VIDEO

‘Familiarity breeds contempt Don’t put me in the basement When I want the penthouse of your heart’

*****

‘ANTI-HERO’ (THE SINGLE) - MY SON’S FAVOURITE

https://href.li/?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1kbLwvqugk

VIDEO

‘I should not be left to my own devices, they come with prices and vices, I end up in crisis’

…

‘SNOW ON THE BEACH’ (FEATURING LANA DEL RAY) - MY DAUGHTER’S FAVOURITE

https://href.li/?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycE7bUq3-2k

VIDEO

‘My smile is like I won a contest And to hide that would be so dishonest’

…

‘MAROON’ - SAM’S FAVOURITE

https://href.li/?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvHZjvIyqsk

VIDEO

‘The mark they saw on my collarbone the rust that grew between telephones the lips I used to call home’

…

‘VIGILANTE SHIT’ - MY FAVOURITE

https://href.li/?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoey4W_3bos

VIDEO

‘She don’t dress for friends Lately she’s been dressing for revenge’

…

HAIL TAYLOR

https://href.li/?https://images.app.goo.gl/eQqbJgpZRsnR3ngc8

GIF

…

‘The pop-megastar’s latest offering, Midnights, was released on Friday. Less than 24 hours later the music streaming giant announced online that the album had amassed the most streams in a single day in the platform’s history.’ (PA Media, 2022).

REFERENCE

PA Media (2022) ‘Taylor Swift’s new album breaks Spotify streaming record’, ‘The Guardian’ 22 October [Online]. Available at: https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/22/taylor-swifts-new-album-breaks-spotify-streaming-record (Accessed 23 October 2022).

*****

TAYLOR THE MAGNIFICENT SWIFT

https://quoteoftheweekblog.tumblr.com/post/667822802241536000/quote-of-the-week-151121-taylor-swift-and-liz

https://quoteoftheweekblog.tumblr.com/post/646359111060029440/quote-of-the-week-22322-taylor-swift-i-hit-my

https://quoteoftheweekblog.tumblr.com/post/634328210061017088/quote-of-the-week-91120-taylor-swift-and

https://quoteoftheweekblog.tumblr.com/post/633692716460621825/quote-of-the-week-21120-taylor-swift-they

https://quoteoftheweekblog.tumblr.com/post/627962180498866176/quote-of-the-week-31820-taylor-swift-and-jack

https://quoteoftheweekblog.tumblr.com/post/622247373731774464/quote-of-the-week-29620-taylor-swift-and-i

*****

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011 - 2022

11 EPIC YEARS

https://quoteoftheweekblog.tumblr.com/references

FROM THE ARCHIVE

https://quoteoftheweekblog.tumblr.com/post/667822802241536000/quote-of-the-week-151121-taylor-swift-and-liz

*****

[jotem]

Dünya müzik olarak hiçbir zaman 1960 -2000 arasındaki romantizmi yakalayamayacak...

O dönemlerin en sevdiğim şarkılarından bazılarını sizler için paylaşıyorum....Unuttuklarım olabilir...Lütfen siz de ekleyin..

Sevgiler..

Aydın İzbudak

Santa Esmeralda -Your My Everything

Black - Wonderful Life

Michael Fugain - Une Belle Historie

Jason Donovan - Sealed With A Kiss

Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You

Lionel Richie - Hello

Rockwell - Knife

Richard Marx - Right Here Waiting

Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You

Whitney Houston - I Have Nothing

Cat Stevens - Lady d'Arbanville

Elton John- Little Jeannie

Jermaine Jackson, Pia Zadora - When the Rain Begins to Fall.

The Eagles - Hotel California

King Crimson - Epitaph..

No Doubt - Don't Speak

Dalida, Alain Delon - Paroles, paroles

Oscar Harris - Alta Gracia...

Barbra Streisand -Woman In Love

Orson Welles - I Know What It Is To Be Young

Demis Roussos - Forever and Ever

Joe Dassin -Et si tu n'existais pas

Edith Piaf - Sous le ciel de paris

Tom Jones - Delilah

Engelbert Humperdinck -How I Love You

Shirley Bassey -. Where Do I Begin Love Story

Frank Sınatra -Myway

Frank Sınatra - Moon River

Diana Ross & Lionel Richie - Endless Love

Barbra Streisand - The Way We Were..

Jose Feliciano - Rain

Jose Feliciano - The Gypsy

Nelson Ned- Tudo Passara...

Dean Martin - Sway..

Kenny Rogers -Lady

Elvis Presley - Always On My Mind...

Elvis Presley -Can't Help Falling In Love..

Abba -Mamma Mia..

Berlin -Take My Breah Away ..

Wham -Careless Whisper..

Dire Straits -Money For Nothing..

Modern Talking -You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul

Culture Club -Do You Really Want to Hurt Me

Gazebo -I like Chopin

Sinead O’Connor -Nothing Compares

Billy Ocean -Suddenly

Chris de Burgh -Lady in red..

Phil Collins -Another Day in Paradise

Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart...

Irene Cara -Flashdance

Michael Sembello - Maniac

Roxette - It Must Have Been Love

Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin..

Sam Brown -Stop

Nat King Cole - Autumn Leaves

Nat King Cole - Unforgettable

The Platters - Smoke Get In Your Eyes

Adamo -Tombe la neige...

Paul Young - Everytime You Go Away

Terry Jacks - Seasons In The Sun

Terry Jacks -If you go away

The Monkees - Daydream Believer..

Neil Sedaka – You Mean Everything To Me..

Sade - Smooth Operator..

Boney M. - Brown Girl in the Ring..

Sting - Shape of My Heart..

Sting - Desert Rose..

Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You ...

Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On..

Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love ..

The Bangles - Eternal Flame..

Beck - Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime..

Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine..

Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody

Casablanca - As Time Goes By..

Billie Holiday - Summertime..

Charles Aznavour - She...

Mario Lanza-Santa Lucia..

Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me By Now..

Simply Red - Holding Back The Years..

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - C'est La Vie..

Diana Ross - Do you know where you're going to

Loreena McKennitt Tango Evora..

Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is ..

The Beatles - Yesterday..

John Lennon - Woman.

John Lennon-Imagine..

Rolling Stones - Angie.

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here..

Status Quo - In The Army Now..

Silver Convention - Fly Robin Fly ..

Baccara Yes Sir, I Can Boogie ..

Patrick Hernandez - Born to Be Alive ..

Leif Garret - I was made for dancin...

Nada -Una chitarra e un'armonica..

NADA - El Corazón es un Gitano

Peppino di Capri - Melancolie..

Peppino di Capri - Roberta..

Riccardo Fogli - Storie di tutti i giorni..

Riccardo Fogli-Per Lucia..

Anne-Marie David - Tu Te Reconnaitras in..

Julio Iglesias - El Amor..

The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin..

Dean Martin - That's Amore...

Vittorio Paltrinieri - Portofino..

Christian Adam - Si Tu Savais Combien Je T'aime..

Jean Francois Maurice - Aranjuez Mon Amour...

Jean Francois Michael - Adieu Jolie Candy..

Jean- François Michael -Si L'amour Existe Encore..

Jean-François Michael - Je pense à toi ..

Jean Francois Michael- Coupable..

Sandy Posey - All hang up in your green eyes..

Morris Albert - Feelings ..

Alain Barrière & Noëlle Cordier - Tu t'en vas.

Sharif Dean ‎- Do You Love Me? ...

Lara Fabian - Je t'aime...

Mireille Mathieu- Pardonne moi ce caprice d'enfant...

Mireille Mathieu - C’est l’amour et la vie que je te dois..

Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale...

Aphrodite's Child - Rain and tears...

Scorpions - Maybe I Maybe You...

The Animals - House of the Rising Sun..

Deep Purple - Child In Time..

The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin..

Leonard Cohen -Dance Me to the End of Love..

Shocking Blue - Venus...

Tanita Tikaram - Twist In My Sobriety..

James Blunt - Goodbye My Lover...

Alain Delorme - Je rêve souvent d'une femme..

Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World..

Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg - Je T'aime...

Scott McKenzie -San Francisco...

Albert Hammond - It Never Rains In Southern California ...

Enrico Macias -Adieu Mon Pays..

Enrico Macias -Melisa..

The Platters-Only You...

Roberto Carlos - Lady Laura ..

Andy Williams - Love Is A Many Splendored Thing ..

Bob Dylan - One More Cup of Coffee ..

Sting - Englishman In New York..

Matt Monro - The Music Played...

Styx - Boat On The River...

Shirley Bassey -Yesterday when l was young..

George Michael - Careless Whisper..

Patrick Juvet - La musica ...

Charles Aznavour - Hier Encore ...

Mort Shuman - Sorrow...

Engelbert Humperdinck -Take my heart .....

Mort Shuman -Brooklyn by the sea...

Paul Anka -Papa......

Paul Anka - It's Time To Cry ...

Roxette - Listen To Your Heart...

Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love ..

Elton John - Sacrifice....

Ricky Shayne - Mamy Blue..

Dalida- O Sole Mio ...

Carpenters - Top of the World..

Matt Monro - All Of A Sudden...

David Alexandre Winter - Oh Lady Mary..(Samanyolu)

Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly...

Whitney Houston, & Mariah Carey - When You Believe..

Busta Rhymes, Mariah Carey - I Know What You Want...

Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender..

Iva Zanicchi - Io Ti Daro Di Piu..

Sol Raye - If we were free...

Michael Bolton - When a Man Loves a Woman..

Michael Bolton - How Am I Supposed To Live Without You..

Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart...

Joe Cocker - Ain't No Sunshine..

Joe Cocker - You are so beautiful..

Zager And Evans - In The Year 2525 ..

Chris Rea -The Blue Cafe..

Rare Bird - Sympathy...

The Moody Blues - Melancholy Man...

Christian Delagrange - Sans toi je suis seul..(Sessiz Gemi)...

Nat King Cole -Quizás, quizás, quizás...

Pierre Bachelet - Emmanuelle ..

Herve Vilard - Capri C'est Fini ...

Gilbert Becaud - Nathalie ..

Christophe - Aline ...

Daniel Gerard - Marylou...

Edith Piaf - La Vie En Rose...

Noir Désir - Le Vent Nous Portera..

Belle- Notre Dame De Paris...

Charles Aznavour - La Boheme...

Sylvie Vartan - La Maritza...

Sylvie Vartan - Nicolas...

Sylvie Vartan- Abracadabra...

Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang..

Joan Baez - Donna, Donna..

Enrico Macias - Solenzara..

Catherine Deneuve - Toi jamais...

Dalida - Le Temps des Fleurs...

Marie Laforet -Vien Vien...

Falco - Jeanny ..

Nicole - Ein bisschen Frieden...

Status Quo - In The Army Now..

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole -Somewhere Over the Rainbow....

Kool & The Gang - Fresh...

Kool & The Gang - Cherish...

Leo Sayer - More Than I Can Say..

Gipsy Kings - No Volvere..

Marc Antony - When I Dream At Night...

Sting - Fragile...

Gerry & The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone...

Pet Shop Boys - Go West...

Nana Mouskouri - Plaisir d'amour ...

Nana Mouskouri- Millisse Mou (senden başka)

Nana Mouskouri - Ave Maria ...

Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up..

A-ha - Take On Me..

Glenn Medeiros - Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You..

The Police - Every Breath You Take...

Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody...

Belinda Carlisle - Circle In The Sand ...

Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now....

Paula Abdul - Straight Up...

Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name..

Rick James - Super Freak...

USA For Africa - We Are The World ...

Kim Wilde - You Keep Me Hangin' On..

Kim Carnes- I'll Be There Where The Heart Is...

The Cars - Drive...

Taylor Dayne- Tell It To My Heart...

Willie Nelson - Just Breathe...

Willie Nelson - I'll Love You Till The Day I Die...

CC Catch - Cause You Are Young ..

Madonna - Like A Virgin...

Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do with It...

Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman...

Dawn - Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree...

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell -Ain't No Mountain High Enough..

Frankie Valli - Can't Take My Eyes Off You ....

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive....

Demis Roussos- Goodbye My Love Goodbye...

Al Bano & Romina Power - Felicita...

Rupert Holmes - Escape...

George Moustaki - Le Métèque..

Gary Moore- Still got the Blues..

Chris Rea ..The Blue Cafe...

Laid Back - Sunshine Reggae..

Blondie - Heart Of Glass...

Paula Abdul - Straight Up..

Leif Garrett - I was made for dancing ...

Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now ...

Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head...

Sade - Smooth Operator ...

Annie Lennox ...A Whiter Shade of Pale...

Dido - Thank You...

Guns N' Roses - November Rain...

The Cars - Drive ....

Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights ..

.Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes ..Up Where We Belong...

Oceo...Evora.....

Suzi Quatro - Can The Can...

Middle Of The Road - Soley soley...

Middle of the Road - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep ...

Neil Sedaka ..Oh Carol...

The Chordettes - Never on Sunday & Lollipop...

Connie Francis : Never On A Sunday...

Harry Nilsson - Without You...

Eric Clapton - Have you ever loved a woman...

Barry White - Never never gonna give you up..

Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love ..

Chicago - Hard To Say I'm Sorry...

Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) ...

Cliff Richard -Lessons In Love...

Ritchie Valens - We Belong Together...

Procol Harum...A Whiter Shade Of Pale...

Perry Como - And I Love You So...

Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over ...

Gérard Lenorman - Michèle...

Daniel Popovic - Julie...

Johnny Logan - Whats another year ...

Mina - Mi Mandi Rose...

Chicago - You're The Inspiration...

Pat Boone - Love Letters In The Sand...

Marino Marini - Marina..

Desireless - Voyage Voyage...

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun...

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord...

Bee Gees - Saved By The Bell...

Bee Gees - Massachusetts ...

Barbra Streisand -The Way We Were...

Kenny Loggins - Meet Me Half Way...

Esther Ofarim & Abi - Morning of my life ...

Esther Ofarim - El Condor Pasa ...

Gigliola Cinquetti -El Condor Pasa...

Sandie Shaw - Puppet On A String and Those Were The Days..

Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden...

Frankie Valli - Can't Take My Eyes Off You...

Casablanca - As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson...

Lulu - To Sir, With Love...

Donovan - Catch The Wind ...

Haddaway - What Is Love...

Helldorado - The Ballad Of Nora Lee..

Bobby Darin - Dream Lover...

Pat Boone -Speedy Gonzales...

Alain Barriere - Emporte Moi..

Alain Barrière - Tu...

Umberto Tozzi - Tu...

Michel Delpech - Pour un flirt...

Jeanette -Por qué te vas...

RIO BRAVO(1959) - John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson ve Walter Brennan...

Bee Gees - Massachusetts..

Kenny Rogers...LUCILLE...

Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now...

[yourbleedingh3art]

What triggers the experience of embarrassment? what normally triggers an emotion is a cognitive appraisal. cognitive appraisal - one kind of mental state (an emotion) is triggered by another kind (a belief)

Magda Arnold -“emotions arise from a (usually unconscious) assessment of the significance of an event.”

social evaluation model-(Sam Houston State University)/“what lies at the root of embarrassment is the anticipation of negative evaluation by others”

awkward-interaction or dramaturgic account-(University of Pennsylvania)/“embarrassment is likely to arise when a person anticipates a disruption of smooth social interaction and faces a situation without a clear sense of the social expectations governing behavior” “it is not that the person is worried about making a bad impression per se, but rather that they do not know what to do next”

three subtypes of embarrassing situations- faux-pas(ex:toilet paper on ur shoe,somebody calling it out)/center-of-attention(ex:someone ur w drawing attention to u by being loud)/sticky-situation(ex:owing someone money) embarrassment

different personality traits were correlated with different subtypes of embarrassment / “people who reported the greatest amount of embarrassment over one type of situation were not necessarily the ones who reported the greatest embarrassment over the other two types of situations”

EVOLUTIONARY PURPOSE of embarrassment:

The probable origins:

-humans evolved to live in groups, not alone -requires harmonizing different individuals' behaviors in a wide variety of ways -those who experienced and expressed distress over concerns with others' impressions of them were more likely to survive as reproductive members of the group than those who acted with disregard for others' opinions. Not caring about others' reactions might have led one to be ostracized or banished, perhaps even killed.

The functions of:

-an appeasement gesture to others by signaling that the violation was unintended and that it will not likely be repeated / -the intense dread of experiencing this emotion likely deters us from repeating whatever behaviors triggered the state “a social counterpart to physical pain” / motivates us to undo the social damage and restore the esteem of others

EMBARRASSMENT EXPERIMENT:

(Gun R. Semin, Free University Amsterdam+Anthony S. R. Manstead, Cardiff University)

-four versions of a video where a man accidentally knocks over a five-foot-high display of toilet paper in a grocery store. man then displays embarrassment (or not) and fixes the mess (or not)

-subjects watched video -> man who calmly rebuilt the display was judged the most "mature." However, the man was liked more when he showed embarrassment, regardless of whether he restacked the toilet paper rolls or simply walked away.

features of a situation that influence the effect that displays of embarrassment have on others: the severity of the misbehavior, whether the act harms the observer or some third party, and whether such behavior is perceived as an unusual occurrence or indicative of a more lasting personal defect

EMBARRASSMENT EXPERIMENT #2:

(Jack Levin and Arnold Arluke, Northeastern University)

-woman went to college classes to ask for volunteers for a research study. did so using three different styles: asking calmly without incident; dropping her papers, showing embarrassment but recovering; or dropping her papers, becoming so flustered and embarrassed that she ran out (leaving the teacher to hand out her forms).

-woman obtained the greatest number of volunteers when she displayed mild embarrassment rather than absolute calm or intense embarrassment

-my own conclusion to these two experiments: the people like u to show a little embarrassment. reminds them you’re human, like them, inspires empathy by nature of relatability…in the event one shows the right *amount* of embarrassment:a balance between too much and not enough.

-“embarrassment perceived as a temporary state triggers positive emotional responses, but when suggestive of a more enduring defect, promotes harsher judgments”

EMBARRASSMENT EXPERIMENT #3:

(Robert Apsler, Boston University)

-subjects were asked to perform a variety of embarrassing tasks (such as emulating a five-year-old throwing a temper tantrum). another subject watched through a two-way mirror

-afterward, the watcher asked the watched to help him out with a project that would require filling out questionnaires for 30 minutes per day

-subjects who had been embarrassed volunteered for an average of about 15 days, considerably longer than those who had not behaved in an embarrassing fashion (9 days)

-embarrassment motivates people to behave in a way that assures others of their prosocial intentions “even when the embarrassment was caused by actions for which they know they bore no true responsibility”

EMBARRASSMENT EXPERIMENT #4:

(Mark R. Leary, Duke University)

-subjects asked to perform a song (70s hit "Feelings," which strikes most people as “painfully saccharine”)

-after singing, subjects were assigned to one of three groups. group 1(public expression) immediately rated their embarrassment -> making it clear that the experimenter knew how embarrassed they had felt. group 2 (private expression) rated their embarrassment but did so privately, putting their questionnaires in a box. group 3 (no expression) had no opportunity to rate their emotion

-suggests that expressions of embarrassment may have a peculiarly cathartic effect

“Later in the experiment, subjects' lingering embarrassment was assessed. The embarrassment had dissipated for those who had been able to communicate their embarrassment using the rating system. In fact, they were now no more embarrassed than a control group who had not sang. However, there was no such relief for the group who had not had a chance to express their embarrassment; they continued to feel embarrassed.”

-> later I’ll connect this to type four, the artist enneagram personality type as described in the book I’m reading …. Like Why is art so cathartic? Almost in the same way embarrassment is. Expression provokes. provokes relief….

-“once embarrassment is triggered, it is difficult to stop feeling uncomfortable until one behaves in the functionally appropriate manner”

THE LOOK OF EMBARRASSMENT:

(Dacher Keltner, University of California, Berkeley)

-carried out detailed analyses of the facial displays of embarrassment

-prototypical embarrassment expression: looking down, smiling, attempts to control or inhibit the smile (for example, by pressing the lips together), frequent shifts of gaze, particularly to the left

-why to the left? looking to the left is suggestive of right-hemisphere activation, right hemisphere is particularly involved in negative emotions associated with withdrawal behaviors

-common that people frequently touch their faces when embarrassed

-although smiling occurs during embarrassment, has a different appearance from that of amusement due to activation of different facial muscle groups / in embarrassment, the lips turn up but without the accompanying action of the crinkling of the eyes + gaze aversion occurs before the smile's apex offset whereas in humor, occurs after apex offset

A Little Detour On the “Smile of Humor”/amusement/Positive affect:

-involves the simultaneous activation of two muscle groups: the zygomatic major, pulls the corners of the mouth up + the orbicularis oculi, crinkles the skin around the eyes

-has been called the "Duchenne smile" after a French physician who in 1862 created a compendium of facial expressions

[shyshitter]

yea so i wrote a ficlet for this post bc i couldn’t stop thinking about it. also this really went off the rails bc it has been a phat second since ive written anything so enjoy i guess

Abigail likes Jack Kline. He’s quiet and sweet and doesn’t ask questions when she sometimes doesn’t bring lunch; he just subtly slides over his apple and chips with a smile. Sure, he’s a little odd sometimes (like how he talks like a thesaurus or says hi to everyone in the hallways) but she doesn’t believe he deserves the way the other kids make fun of him behind his back. They whisper about his mysterious and sudden appearance, how he’s been picked up after school by three different men, and his odd fascination with religion. He’s not like the other christian kids who are always trying to recruit kids for their church; he just--really likes Jesus and talks about Him like he knows Him personally. 

“My dad saved humanity,” he says constantly. “He’s died a few times but it’s never stuck. The most recent time was by nail but that was a misunderstanding.” 

So he’s an odd kid and Abby knows it but she just doesn’t care. Her friends have accepted this but even they are still confused by Jack’s odd behavior. Her friend Martha has history with him and talks about him all the time. 

“For the heritage project, he said his mother is dead and his father a son of God so he doesn’t have any ancestors to write about,” she says one day at lunch. “I think he thinks his biological father is Jesus Christ.”  

It takes a while but Abby finally works up the courage to ask him about it. Jack’s in the middle of a story about how his dad was healing someone when she interrupts him. 

“Do you think your dad is Jesus?” 

Jack frowns and tilts his head in confusion. “No Jesus is my cousin. My father hates him but my da doesn’t really care about him.”

Jack has two dads? 

“You have two dads?” she asks.

He pauses to think. “Technically I have four dads but my real father was killed by three of them because he was trying to take me to space.”

Abby’s head spins. “Your dads are murderers?” 

“No, they’re hunters.” 

“But you just said they killed your real father.” 

Jack frowns again. “Yeah but my real father was the devil.” 

Abby remembers a girl she met at camp who said the same thing about her dad. She later learned that the girl was taken by CPS and her father went to prison. Suddenly, images of Jack alone and scared in a group home flood her mind and she grabs his arm in alarm.

“Are you safe?” she asks desperately. 

He just smiles and pats her arm. “Of course; he’s dead now.” 

She shakes her head. “I mean are you safe with your dads now?” 

His eyes light up like they always do when he talks about his family. “Of course! My dad was prophesied to save humanity and has, my da is an angel, and my pa is the leader of an army of hunters so I’m in good hands.” 

By the time Abby’s processed this comment, Jack has already moved on to his favorite types of cars and the conversation is over. 

She forgets about Jack’s crazy family situation until Spring Formal. Abby and her friends are standing in line for the photo booth when she sees Jack across the gym with a beautiful girl on his arm, both of them talking to a giant man with floppy brown hair. Without explaining, she leaves her friends to walk over and gets a better look at the three of them. The girl has long curly blonde hair that bounces when she laughs but her eyes are sharp and harsh, constantly scanning the room as if looking for threats. The man is wearing a white button-down with blue jeans and just smiles warmly as Jack talks animatedly to him. The man spots her as she approaches and for a moment, the warmth in his eyes is replaced by cold suspicion but as soon as Jack notices her and smiles, the man relaxes. 

“Abby, this is my pa,” Jack says with a grin. 

Jack’s ‘pa’ offers a hand and Abby shakes it. “Sam,” he says politely. “Jack talks about you a lot.”  

“Yeah,” the girl cuts in. “I was wondering when I was gonna meet you.” Her eyes trail up and down Abby’s body distrustfully. “This punk never shuts up about you.” 

Jack just keeps smiling. “This is my sister Claire,” he introduces. “She’s in college!” 

Overwhelmed by the introductions, Abby just smiles and offers her hand to Claire as well. “It’s nice to meet you,” she says, relieved when Claire accepts the handshake. 

“Have you met Dean and Cas yet?” Claire asks. “You’re not officially accepted by the family until Dean okayes you.” 

Sam swats a scolding hand over Claire’s head. “Don’t scare her--my brother isn’t that bad.” He looks back at Abby with a smile. “Don’t let my niece worry you, Dean and Cas are gonna love you.” 

Trying to do mental gymnastics in her head, Abby attempts to figure out how Sam is both Jack’s dad and Claire’s uncle while Jack and Claire are siblings. Dean and Cas are the other two fathers who killed Jack’s real dad and apparently Dean is also Sam’s brother. 

She doesn’t finish her thought process before Jack is dragging Abby across the gym, leaving Sam and Claire. 

“Dad, da,” he calls out over the music. 

Abby tries to spot who responds to Jack’s call and notices two more giant men by the food table look up from their conversation. They’re even more intimidating than Sam and Claire. The taller man has broad shoulders and hard eyes like Claire and despite this being a formal dance, he’s wearing a green canvas jacket and jeans with holes in the knees. The shorter man is a tad more formal with his too-big suit and tan overcoat but he watches them approach with a blank face which is almost more threatening than the hostile look the other man has. 

“Da, dad, this is my friend Abby,” Jack says as soon as they’re in earshot. 

The taller man looks her up and down like Claire did earlier before nodding shortly. “Nice to finally put a face to the name,” he says gruffly. His voice is rough and low but not unkind so Abby relaxes slightly. 

The other man smiles and it suits him much more than the blank look did. “It’s lovely to meet you, Abigail,” he says and holy shit his voice is even lower and gravilier than the other guy’s. “Jack speaks very highly of you.” 

“Yeah, thanks to you he listens to shitty music,” the taller man gripes but Abby can tell it’s more teasing than genuinely upset. 

“Dean,” the other man scolds as he nudges him. “Megan Thee Stallion is not shitty music.” 

If the taller man is Dean, the other is Cas and as Abby watches them, she can see the resemblance between Dean and Sam in their sharp jaws and teasing smiles.  

She turns to Jack. “You listen to Megan Thee Stallion?”

Jack nods excitedly. “You were humming her songs in English and I liked it.”

Cas leans in to Abby. “I’ve been trying to get him to branch out from 70s rock for ages but he never wanted to disappoint Dean so thank you for helping him.” 

Abby nods, dazed. “Are you Jesus?” she blurts after failing to come up with a response. 

Dean barks out a loud laugh and doesn’t stop until Cas swats him. Once Dean settles, Cas turns back to Abby with an embarrassed smile. 

“That’s very flattering,” he says, “but no. I am simply Castiel. If anything, Dean shares more in common with the Messiah than I do.” 

Instead of elaborating, Dean just snorts and humbly shakes his head. “Babe, we’ve talked about this--” 

But before he can finish, Cha Cha Slide blasts through the speakers and the gym falls into pandemonium as all the students rush to the dance floor. Jack, confused but excited, grabs Abby’s hand and drags her over to join in, leaving Dean and Cas for the rest of the night. 

Abby doesn’t consider herself a selfish person but even she has never thought so much about another person’s life than Jack’s. Her confusion keeps her up and night and prevents her from being fully present whenever she talks to Jack. She’s tried talking to her friends about it but even they have moved on from the enigma that is Jack Kline. 

One month after the formal--after she met Jack’s family--she finally snaps. She’s at lunch with him in a cafe downtown and he’s telling her about how his brother Kevin is visiting from college and is teaching Jack how to talk to angels. 

“What the fuck is wrong with your family,” she interrupts. 

Jack stops talking and tilts his head in confusion. “What do you mean?” 

“You said you have four dads and one of them was murdered by the other three. Dean and Sam are brothers and Dean is with Cas. Claire is your sister but Sam is her uncle and your brother has a mom but none of you are related to her.” She takes a deep breath before continuing. “You keep saying your dads saved the world and that they’ve died and come back. You said one of your dads was an angel and now your brother is teaching you how to talk to angels? Are you lying or are you just plain crazy?” 

After the last sentence slips from her lips, she gasps and a cold dread fills her. Jack just stares, shocked at the outburst. 

“You think I’m crazy?” he asked softly. 

Abby feels a lump in her throat form. “No, no, no,” she babbles, “I didn’t mean that. I’m just confused that’s all.” 

Jack brightens. “That’s ok, life is confusing. Anyways, I tried shawarma for the first time yesterday--like in the superhero movie!”

Abby sighs and let’s Jack rant about shawarma, resigned to the fact that she’ll never get a straight answer from this confounding boy and his unnatural family. 

[sara-scribbles]

hiya! could i have a request where leona and his femso meets their future twin children lev and lavica (both names mean lion lol). maybe they meet the savanaclaw members?

Papa Leona

Fandom: Twisted Wonderland Leona Kingscholar/F!Reader Other Characters: Ruggie Bucchi, Jack Howl, Grim Word Count: 1,458 Note: I tweaked a bit where they meet Jack and Ruggie only. Hope you don't mind. Warnings: None

---------

Leona isn’t sure what woke him up at first. His mind is still fuzzy from sleep as he stares up at the glass dome of the botanical gardens. Ears twitching, he finally picks up on two distinct voices. There’s rustling as one of the brushes shake.

“Are you sure he’s here?” one voice asks.

“Yeah! Mama said he always napped in the garden. He should be around…here!”

Suddenly two faces pop up just in front of where Leona is lounging. He glares at the two kids as they stare at him wide eyed. He can already feel a headache coming on at the thought of being bothered by brats.

However the words out of one brat’s mouth almost stops his heart. “Papa!”

The two kids launch themselves at Leona. He chokes as one headbutts him in the stomach. “What the fuck!”

“Oooohhhh! Papa said a bad word!” the other brat says, eyes wide.

Pulling the kids off, Leona stands up so he can glower down at them. “Who are you brats!?”

“I’m Lev and this is my sister, Lavica,” the boy answers. He grins widely, revealing a missing front tooth.

The girl, Lavica, tugs at Leona’s tail causing him to growl and snatch it away. “Papa, where’s mama?”

“Like hell if I know. And stop calling me papa!” Glaring at the two, Leona decides to leave. He won’t be getting any sleep with two brats around.

However as he walks, they follow after him. “Papa, are you gonna show us around your school?”

“Papa, you're walking too fast! Can you carry me?”

“What’s that statue, papa?”

“Pa-”

Turning suddenly, he snarls, “Will you two stop following me and calling me papa?! Scram!” Lips wobble and eyes start becoming teary, and Leona panics. “Fuck! Don’t cry!!” He doesn’t know how to comfort children, but he definitely doesn’t like when they cry.

“P-papa’s so m-mean!” Lavica cries. Large tears fall from their faces as their wails echo in the open.

“Shit…!” He looks around frantically.

“Huh? Isn’t that Leona?” A familiar gruff voice catches his attention. Jack and Ruggie happen to come upon a strange sight. Two small children crying while Leona looks about to have a conniption.

“Man, Leona, I know you don’t like kids, but did ya have’ta make them cry? Shishishishi!” Ruggie is more amused than concerned at the sight.

Running his hands through his hair, he grumbles, “Shut up. These brats came out of nowhere and keep followin’ me.”

The boy sniffs as his tears lessen once he notices the two. “U-uncle Ruggie?”

The girl also brightens up. “Uncle Jack!?” Just as quickly as they started crying, they’re now hugging both boys.

“What the???” Jack doesn’t know if he should shake the kid clinging to his legs or not.

Ruggie isn’t in any better position as Lavica is wiping her snot-covered face on his shirt. “Hey! Not the shirt! Ugh…another wash…”

“Why are they calling us uncle?” Jack asks. He picks the boy up by the back of his shirt. The boy hangs in the air like a rag doll while smiling widely.

“Cause you’re our uncles!” the boy explains unhelpfully.

“Wow even now papa has uncle Ruggie doing his work,” Lavica comments, poking at the laundry bag the hyena is carrying.

“Papa?” Looking between the two kids and Leona, they start to piece the scene together.. 

Jack looks scandalized. “Y-you’re a dad?!”

“Shishishi! I didn’t know you had kids, Leona. Does (y/n) know?” Ruggie’s holding his stomach as the lion gives him a withering look.

“They ain’t mine, obviously!” He crosses his arms though he’s relieved they aren’t crying anymore.

“They kinda do look like you, now that I’m looking,” Jack comments as he observes the two, who are busy going through Ruggie’s other bag filled with snacks from Sam’s shop.

They both look almost like a smaller version of Leona except the eyes. They don’t have his vibrant greens, which Jack attributes to whoever their mom might be.

“(Y/N)? You mean mama? We wanna see mama!” Both kids are suddenly staring at Ruggie with starry eyes.

“Where’s mama?” the boy asks, grabbing onto the hem of Ruggie’s shirt.

“I g-guess we figured who the m-mom is…” Jack awkwardly scratches his head as Leona looks ready to pass out.

“Uhhh, Leona, I think they really want to see (y/n).” The children continue to cling to him, making it difficult to move.

They turn to Leona with large, pleading eyes. Eyes that he recognized as yours the moment he saw the brats, but hr tried to ignore it. “Please, papa! We wanna see mama too! Promise we’ll go home after.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighs. “Fine. We’ll go to Ramshackle to see the herbivore.” Anything to get these kids to leave.

It’s an entire affair getting them from the courtyard to the dorm. They have a tendency to wander off, and Leona has to wrangle them back. Ruggie tags along just to see what happens. Jack follows with some concern.

Thankfully, the front door is open, and they let themselves in. Grim is the first one they see, and the two kids immediately run over to him. “Uncle Grim!”

“Mwaaa!? Whose snot nosed kids are these?” the gray cat exclaims as they try to hug him. He’s unsuccessful in avoiding their hands and ends up being hugged by both.

“Apparently Leona and (y/n)’s kids.” Ruggie sets down his bundles. “Where is (y/n)?”

“(Y/N) has kids!?” His eyes widen and his voice goes up a few octaves.

“I have what?” You had heard the commotion and decided to check it out. However seeing Grim being squeezed by two children with lion ears while Ruggie, Jack and Leona watch is not what you expect.

Your boyfriend sighs. “These brats insist they’re our kids.”

Eyebrows flying up, you survey said kids. “Uhh… Really?”

Letting go of Grim, the two dash over and wrap their arms around your legs. “Mama! We wanted to see you and Papa when you were at NRC!”

“Yeah! So Lev had an idea to use the time artifact. But we gotta go back soon,” the girl explained, her little tail drooping a bit.

“Time artifact?” You glance over at the three beastmen, but they look as clueless as you. “R-right, well I guess you two should head back before you get into trouble.”

Pouting, they let you go before hugging Leona once more. “Bye papa!

“Bye uncle Jack, uncle Ruggie and uncle Grim!” Each gets one last hug before Lev pulls out a golden pocket watch. Holding hands he twists the dial and a bright gold light fills the room. Once the light vanishes, they’re gone.

“Um… did that just happen?” you ask in confused disbelief.

“Yup. Looks like you and Leona get busy. Shishishishi!” While Ruggie has a good laugh, you glance over to a very quiet lion.

“Are you doing okay?” His face is completely blank. You’re worried that the encounter may have broken him.

“...” Rubbing his temples he shakes his head. “Those brats gave me a headache.” Grabbing your hand, he tugs you upstairs.

“Leona?” You follow.

“Hush, herbivore. I need a nap.” Chuckling, you allow him to drag you to your room. It seems the revelation sent a bit of a shock through Leona. Nothing a good nap can’t fix.

---------

Sometime in the future…

“Mama! Papa!”

Two small bodies jump on the bed, causing the other two occupants to rouse. “Lev? Lavica?” You roll over to meet the excited gaze of your kids. Leona grumbles something unintelligible but keeps his eyes closed. “What’s going on? It’s a bit early to be up.”

Holding open your arms, the two burrow into your embrace. “Nothing! We just missed you,” Lev says with a smile.

“Yeah! We missed you and papa.” Lavica nods before curling herself into a ball like her brother.

Smoothing down their wild hair, you gaze fondly at the two. “I miss you both all the time. Let’s sleep a bit more. Papa’s still tired.”

“Okay!” they chime in unison.

Much like their father, they fall asleep quickly. You’re dozing back to sleep when you feel Leona’s arms snake around your waist. “Did you put the watch back?” he asks, grumbling.

There’s a pause before they both answer together, “Yes, papa!”

He buries his face in your back with a sigh. “What watch?” you ask, curious now.

You can feel him smirking. He chuckles. “Nothin’ for you to worry about, herbivore.”

Before you can poke more into the topic, Leona’s asleep. Still tired from being woken up early, your brain’s not functioning enough to figure out at the moment. Lulled by the warmth of the bodies and the even breathing, you fall back asleep.

[twistedmusings]

Arabesque and Plie

A/N: I don't know why, as I crying trying to write my paper, I thought of my old ballet classes. There is such an intimacy in dancing a pas de deux with someone, especially with lifts, and such a tenderness when you see them communicate with just their faces...so I immediately put a twst spin on it. Warnings: Malleus and Leona trying to one up each other but failing because they are too focused on moving with you as one.

Malleus Draconia and Leona Kingscholar meet outside the gates of Ramshackle, only one of them being called out to meet you...how would they react when you ask them for some help?

----

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Malleus blinks as he looks at the dorm leader of Savannaclaw, the other glaring at him as they both met near the entrance of Ramshackle. Leona huffed and looked down at the package in Malleus’s hand.

“You brought a gift?”

“...I would think it is rather impolite to arrive at a dear friend’s house without a gift.”

Leona clicks his tongue as he pushes the gate open, forcing his way inside and refusing to look back at the dorm leader following him.

You really had gone and invited the lizard and not him? Where the hell did you get off? Here he was being decent enough to hand you the homework you had missed, after Vil forced him to do it, and you had gone and invited this cold blooded iguana to your place?

“Were you invited as well, Kingscholar?”

Wouldn’t he like to know.

“Mind your damn business, lizard, I’m just here on business.”

Malleus nods as he knocks on the door, both dorm leaders looking around as they heard music coming from...somewhere. Leona’s ears twitched as the door opened, the music getting somewhat louder as Grimm opened the door with an exhausted look and shaky paws.

“UGH! FINALLY.”

He floats over to Malleus as he points back at the entrance of Ramshackle.

“Please do something about them! My paws are hurting so much and I don’t think I can keep it up for much more!”

Blue eyes turn to Leona, Grimm tilting his head and looking at Leona up and down.

“...did you get los--”

“Just show me where the herbivore is.”

Leona spits out and makes his way into Ramshackle first, not looking back at the two as he looks around. He had never been in Ramshackle dorm but from what Jack told him it was simple and compact. His eyes had already spotted three great napping spots, which he would make use of the moment he handed you these damn papers, before he stepped into the foyer.

“Letting your pet open up the door for you now? Is the title of dorm leader getting to y--”

His teeth click as Leona shuts his mouth while his ears perked up at the growing intensity of the music in the room. Although, maybe that wasn’t the only reason they were up.

Eyes immediately went to your legs. .

The leg that was standing straight like an arrow seemed to not waver as the other extended itself out, one of your arms reaching outwards while you moved the other arm back so that your hand would press against your extended leg, the position imitating a sort of hunting bow as you held the position for as long as you could--

Leona jumped when you let out a breath, immediately dropping your position and spitting out a small ‘dammit’ into the air.

His surprise lasted only a moment as the mood was amazingly ruined by the two people he forgot were there, Malleus walking up behind him as Grimm took the snack filled box into the kitchen.

“Child of man.”

You turn around.

“Oh! Malleus! There you are! I need--”

Your eyes fall on the Savannaclaw dorm leader, tilting your head as he waits for his greeting.

“...do you need something from me, Leona-senpai?”

You little--

“Hah? Am I not allowed in your dorm? Only lizard boy over here can come over?”

“What? No! I’m just...surprised. You never really leave Savannaclaw that often, at least that is what Jack says.”

Leona tosses the papers on a nearby coffee table and lays himself out on your couch.

“He doesn’t know me as well as he thinks he does...tell him next time to mind his business.”

You roll your eyes before holding out your hand for Malleus to take, the other quickly taking it and following you to the middle of the room.

“Grim mentioned you performing some sort of physical task that left him exhausted.” He looks down at the way your hands fit together before smiling.

“Are you in need of magical assistance?”

“As much as I would like to take a raincheck on that, the only thing I need right is you, Tsunotarou.”

You jump as you hear Leona drop one of his shoes on the floor loudly, taking the other one off slowly and refusing to look your way.

“...me?”

The Diasmonia dorm leader squeezes your hand lightly as he feels an unlikely warmth in his chest at your words. He briefly wondered if he should speak about the sleepless night he had, his mind far too giddy about you inviting him over that he held himself back on the sun waiting to rise in favor of sleeping as much as he could so he could enjoy his day with you.

“Yes! I just need you to…”

You hum and put a finger to your chin, tapping it twice as you figured out the best way to explain what you wanted from him.

“You know, I think it would just be quicker to show you.”

You rush over to the phone Crowley had given you, tapping the screen as music started to play from the small speakers. Malleus remains rooted to his spot as you get on your tiptoes, the shoes you got from Sam yesterday greatly aiding you in keeping comfortable as you move your arms up and down while concentrating on the routine you had memorized over and over.

Lime green eyes widen as you extend yourself back, dropping down to touch the floor as your other leg goes up with your movements before reaching back as if being held by someone. He watches you hold the position for a few seconds before both of your feet drop gently as you move closer to him.

Your eyes open to reveal a sad look, both feet now on pointed toes as you reach out to him only to pull back gently and lean forward only a slight bit before moving back and going into a simple arabesque.

The music grew in intensity as two sets of eyes are on you now, watching you spin twice before you raised your arms along with the crescendo and your leg going up to try to match their height--

You hiss in pain as you drop the position immediately, Leona sitting up quickly as Malleus is at your side in an instant.

“Child of man--”

“Are you trying to stretch yourself out, herbivore?”

You sigh and stop the music, shaking one of your legs out to get rid of the cramps.

“Before coming here I used to do ballet in my free time. I thought that maybe they would have a ballet club on campus but Vargas said he has never heard of ballet before--so here I am trying to kill my boredom by dancing to one of my old routines and putting a new story to it.”

Both dorm leaders want to say something but find themselves rather lost.

Malleus recognizes this type of dance despite it being called a different name in the Valley of Thorns and Leona has only been around traditional Afterglow dances so what you just did impressed him more than he’d care to admit.

You pout.

“And I thought that I could maybe do a pas de deux by myself but--I’m not strong enough.”

Leona nods.

“So you needed someone to help you...is that it?”

“Exactly!” you grin and turn to look at Malleus,“You don’t mind right? It’s not like you have to do anything too complicated just...spin me when I tell you to and when the time comes for me to do that pose--”

You try to imitate it as best as possible.

“Just hold my leg up! All you need to do.”

Malleus had pretty much already made up his mind, nodding to your every word as you instruct him on where he should hold and for how long--

Only for him to frown as Leona grabs your wrist and pulls you away from him.

“If you needed someone to just hold you still, you could have used that raccoon over there.”

“THEY DID!”

Grim comes out of the kitchen with a plate full of snacks as he makes his way upstairs.

“My paws are shaking from trying to keep their entire leg up...I never asked for this type of exercise!”

You sigh.

“It wasn’t that bad, Grim!”

“YOU WEREN’T THE ONE ALMOST GETTING SQUASHED WHEN YOUR LEG CAME

DOWN!”

Grim goes upstairs.

“AND DON'T EXPECT TO GET ANY SNACKS.”

Leona tries to speak up but stops when Malleus puts a hand on your shoulder.

“You were only here to deliver some homework, correct?”

He tugs you back lightly.

“You should be getting back to your dorm, Kingscholar.”

The lion prince growls only to grab your wrist and pull you back.

“You don’t tell me what to do, Malleus. If I wanted to live here I would do so instantly.”

“Uh...no?”

They both turn to you, Malleus looking down with a kind smile as Leona glares at what you were going to say next.

“Shall we get started, child of man?”

“I can help you just as well as he can!”

“Sit down for now, Leona-senpai?”

Malleus can’t help the smile on his face as you lead him back to the center of the room. You had called for him after all, Kingscholar was just here because...well he didn’t know.

You start up the music again and begin the routine, Malleus smiling all the while you seem to glide effortlessly through movements that seemed far too complicated for him to put together. One moment you were crossing your legs and the other you were stretching out your leg while balancing yourself in one foot.

He readies his arm as you move on tip toes towards him, giving him a gentle smile before turning your back to him and going into an arabesque.

“Grab my waist Mal and...gently spin me around.”

The dorm leader does as he is told, meeting your eyes and chuckling when you make a face at him.

“You said there was a story to this, child of man?”

You start moving backward, one leg stretching out and remaining steady as his hand now moved to your lower back so he could support some of your weight.

“The original story is somewhat cliched...so I was thinking of making it a story about an adventurer who meets a lonely king. They don’t know they are a king because he purposefully keeps it from them--I’m going to learn forward, okay?”

His hands are on your waist as you glide down, touching the floor with your foot as your other foot goes straight up, coming back up elegantly as you explain the plot further.

“The adventurer and the king spend a lot of time together...yet the king feels like if he reveals his secret now the adventurer would run. So he keeps it hidden until an unfortunate incident--”

You hold out your hand for him as you stand on your tiptoes, Malleus taking it and giving it a gentle squeeze before watching you raise one of your legs up so that it is at the same height as his stomach.

“Yet when it is revealed he finds that the adventurer doesn’t care who he is. All they care about is the person who they care for the most...and that is the king.”

Were you trying to tease him? This story sounded far too familiar. If he were to pick a character to relate to it would certainly be the monarch. While Malleus certainly wasn’t scared to show you who he was, he just wanted the mystery to last a bit longer so you would stay at his side. If you had known he was the Malleus Draconia, would you act as light hearted as you are now? Or would you pull away and cower in fear?

The very thought made him anxious as you turned your back towards him again, your hands raising up as you got ready to go into your big arabesque position. You give Malleus a quick cue as you stretch yourself out, your leg rising up as far as it could--only to lay gently against Malleus’s hand as you let out a sigh of relief.

“...do you think the adventurer would stay with the King?”

“Huh?”

Malleus can see he caught you by surprise as he lets your leg go down slowly, setting you back into first position before you once again stand on your tiptoes and put your hand up so Malleus could spin you around twice. At this point, he was entirely focused on where your hands were going and how you were moving, picking up on each cue as he dared to look into your eyes.

“I know this is your story but if the adventurer were to leave...the King would be rather heartbroken. I am certain that he would prefer if the adventurer were to stay.”

He knows he would prefer it if you stayed. And if he ever dared to be so bold, he would prefer that you stayed by his side.

The music fades out after the last note, Malleus still holding your hand as you try to catch your breath.

Had he said too much? Did he perhaps make you uncomfortable? The story was from your imagination and he was just reading far too into it--

His eyes widen as your other hand rests on top of his, looking at you with surprise as you giggle and pull them close to your heart.

“If the King would have them...I’m sure the adventurer could find a new home with him.”

“If you want to help then...fine.”

Leona smirks as he watches you apologize to Malleus, the other visibly disappointed which already made him feel pretty great. He hadn’t even meant to stay here for too long and yet you had picked him for this little dance of yours. Suck it, lizard.

He turns to look at you, watching your eyes staring at him intently as he leads you to the center of the room.

“What is it?”

“...do you think you can lift me up?”

Oh you were being really funny, weren’t you? Of course he could lift you up. Out of all of the Magishift members and out of all the people in Savannaclaw, he was the strongest one. At this point you were just asking stupid questions.

“Try me.”

You nod as you pick a different song, starting it up as you start out in first position with your back turned to him. He watched as you bend your leg and bring it up to your thigh, slowly unbending it and lifting it up as it goes past your head. Eyebrows raised, he goes to support it but you stop him with a sound.

What? Wasn’t that what he was here for? He watches you glide into every move with great precision, turning towards him with one foot as the other is raised halfway. In his opinion, it made you look like a living doll.

He wasn’t sure why he liked that so much.

You walk back towards him slowly, your hands at your side with your palms facing outwards before you do a single turn and speak up.

“Grab me by the waist and just hold me. I’ll tell you when to spin.”

With great effort, you lift up your leg once again and stretch out while giving him the command to gently spin you. Leona nods as his hold on you changes, turning you around slowly and watching you bend down sideways.

His hold changes from one hand to one, wrapping his arm around your waist as his other hand starts to outstretch to support him better. You come back up and smile as he gives you a shit eating grin.

“Did you expect that?”

“I almost don’t want to give you the satisfaction of an answer.”

Leona takes great care to make sure that his hold on you is as light as it can be. If he was holding onto you for dear life, he was sure that your bones would immediately break. And with the way this dance was going, it seemed that you needed him to be as gentle as possible.

Already a tall order for him.

“So what’s the story of this dance?”

He takes a hold of your waist as you stretch yourself out, both hands going outwards as he brings you back in slowly.

“The original is a bit cliche but...maybe I should make it about an adventurer trying to find a lost prince--I’m going to need you to lift me up over your head.”

You glide to the right before jumping up, Leona giving you the extra boost you needed as you put one leg up and your arms stretching themselves out as they briefly rubbed against his ears.

“Maybe the adventurer hears a story of a missing prince who was never seen again after a quarrel with his country, yet the country needed the prince’s plans in order to succeed in battle. So they asked an adventurer to please seek him out.”

A prince, huh?

He gently guides you down but his hands never leave your waist as you instruct him to keep his hold a bit tight as you stretch yourself out towards the other dorm leader sitting on the couch but being greedily pulled back to Leona.

“Unbeknownst to them, the adventurer had already met the prince. They had stopped the prince’s rather tedious plans to take over some foreign land. The adventurer understood why they would want him back...but they didn’t know if he would accept.”

You tell him that you are going to move forward and that when you do he should immediately lift you up. It is surprising that he follows your every move so effortlessly, but maybe he was just that in tune with what you were doing. It’s the first time he has held someone so closely without trying to cause them physical harm. Besides, it was amazing to see you remain composed and relaxed as he lifted you up into the air only to watch you hold your pose.

“So? Did the adventurer get to the prince?”

He turns your waist clockwise fast, making you spin around in four circles before stopping you as you lean forward and raise your leg up, the movements getting a bit faster as his hands went from looking at the back of your head to your waist.

“They did...but the prince told them that he just wanted to stay where he was now. How it wouldn’t be worth it to go back home after all the shameful things he has done.”

Leona can almost feel your determination as you pull away from him. Why would you pick a prince out of all people? And one of an outcast nonetheless. Were you still trying to call him out for his past mistakes? Was that all he was to you? The dorm leader who had tried to cheat his way to victory?”

You smile and hold out your hand, Leona raising his slowly and taking your as you raise your leg up.

“But the adventurer wouldn’t leave it there. They know what the prince is capable of...all they need to do is make sure that he sees it as well.”

A quick glide downwards as he picks you right up, setting you down on two feet before you resume your position on your tiptoes.

“The adventurer tells the prince that there are plenty of things that only he can do that nobody else can. Even if the crown wasn’t his, he would still hold great power over the decisions of his kingdom. One didn’t need to wear a crown to have great power.”

You turn your back towards him and start getting ready to go into your great arabesque position--!

Only to stop when Leona stands in front of you and goes down on one knee, staring at you in the eyes while you raise your leg up and instead of fully stretching yourself back...you merely lean down and rest your hands on his shoulders.

He may be lazy but he knows symbolism when he sees one. If you were to be the adventurer and he was the prince, he imagined himself staring up at you as you spoke words of comfort to him and him alone. The bastard in the story must be pretty lucky to have someone like the adventurer believe in them…

The music fades out slowly as you go back into first position, Leona scratching the back of his head with a bored look while you pick up your phone and stop the music altogether.

“First Vil and now you, everyone is making me work today.”

Leona can’t look at you in the face, not after he pulled that cliche sort of move. One moment of weakness and he was putting himself in the shoes and feeling jealous of a character that didn't even exist! When did he get so pathetic?

He mumbles a quick goodbye and heads out, deciding that he needed to nap for the rest of the day after that embarrassing moment--

“Leona-senpai!”

The dorm leader stops in his tracks, turning around with an annoyed look only for it to melt away as you trot over to him and smile.

“Mind if I call you in case I need your help again?”

Damn you. Damn you, damn you, damn you you made him so weak--

He leans close and grins before flicking your forehead.

“If you reward me properly then...maybe.”

[they-bite]

Things that Happen in the EPverse

I already sorta teased this (even though I never planned on making it public) so why not. Posted with absolutely no proof-reading, and some of these are definitely going to be outdated.

* Danny makes himself a cup of coffee (he never drinks coffee) and pours it directly into his eyes

* One episode’s rescue mission to save Danny is propelled entirely by Tucker going feral from campaign & ghost-fighting stress

* Someone (Sam probably) claws a piece of cake right out of the center

* “Don’t ruin it” is a recurring phrase between Vlad & Danny

* “Name’s Stu.” “Short for Stupid?”

* “DES-PA-CITO THAT HURT”

* “That’s not a __!” *pulls out a bigger version* “Now THIS is a ___!” being Skulker’s catchphrase

* Nightmare/whatever of Danny’s is an infinite run through the portal

* “Come quietly and I’ll let you choose what parts you keep”

* Maddie had never heard of anyone in the family cooking dinner, washing dishes, dusting, vacuuming. They just got done, as if the ghost haunting the toaster decided it had time to kill between shooting Pop-Tarts into the ceiling.

* Danny getting a toy lightsaber, his opponent mocking him, then he swings around & breaks the guy’s jaw on the plastic blade

* Crackers/Whiteys/Honkys as a mascot rival for the Ravens

* Article that reads “cat fired from local ___”

* “Yeah. If the Robb Report mentions something was built for an “unnamed buyer”, it’s usually Vlad Masters.”

* “Ironic”

* Black clouds/green sky or vice versa with eclipse

* “Well I’m painting my nails, so I can’t go anyway. No—ope. See? It’s on” then when they’re dragged out they claw the doorframe and leave nail-polish claw marks.

* Vlad @ Sam when she’s bitching him out: “Which one are you again?”

* “Ball is life”, bonus points if its in reference to a ball as in a dance

* Urban legend conflates the Dairy King and Plasmius so ppl think the founder of the Dairy King chain is a vampire who kills people with a touch

* (After a sick burn) “Ah-HO! Donate your body to research for STUPID PERSON DISEASE!”

* Vlad to Danny: “I think you were born in a rendering plant.” Danny: “Actually I was a lab accident”

* Or some other sex joke about Danny being a lab accident

* Damon or Helena repeatedly saying “I’m so proud of you, your generation’s gonna do such great things” until Valerie fires back with “if the things we do are so great why don’t you help us?”

* Danny when Maddie and Jack pitch going to Wisconsin: “It’d be nice to sleep somewhere that doesn’t smell like formaldehyde.”

* Quid quid latine dictum sit, altum videtur — anything said in latin sounds profound

* Vlad on considering Danny his son: “What would you call someone if the entirehuman race were reduced to you and them? Certainly not a stranger.”

* Danny noticing three sets of red eyes in a tree and recognizing them as the vultures. As he walks away a fourth set of eyes— Vlad’s— opens, following him

* “Don’t expect to get me to hate my dad with a stupid fishing trip.” “Oh no, I imagine Jack will do that for me.”

* “Little Orphant Annie” prescribed to Danny by a villain (Ghostwriter probably)

* “Not even the bowels of Hell will hide you”

* Danny’s closet doors are mirrors

* Grocery store that just says “Rotor” in big red neon on the front

* Maddie and Vlad dated for most of college till Maddie started dating Jack, which was when Vlad decided to get even

* Dash: “We— You still remember that? I was just a kid—“ Danny: “Do not talk to me about being ‘just a kid’.”

* (In response to Dash suggesting something) Valerie: “Are you wack? Are you stupid?” Tucker/Danny/someone: “It’s PERFECT”

* Sentient human body cross-section

* Faces in rock formations

* Jack pulls off his gloves to touch Danny’s cheek

* “Made a mutilated sound”

* Maddie has a deep emotional talk with Danny about how she wouldn’t trade her family for anything (Vlad) and then Jack starts acting super-gay for Vlad at the expense of his family

* “It (something cosmically important) isn’t your business.” “But—“ “No. Go back home to your friends.”

* THOSE ARENT TREES.

* This town will change you.

[the-drakeboys]

Wait for Me

Summary: You were just two people who’d spent six months watching each other from afar… Both working on base, passing one another, sending smiles and smirks as if no one else could see them. 

But now, as he prepares to be deployed on his first mission, you and Private Jack Mitchell finally fall into each other, entirely unready for how connected you’d truly feel once you did.

Pairing: Pvt. Jack Mitchell x Reader

Word Count: 1,951

Warnings: None really for this one…. Fluffy, a TINY BIT nsfw… just one soldier bein’ attracted to another. :3 

A/N: Hey, guys! So… this’ll be a momentary departure from my Sam work…! This’ll be tagged as ‘not uncharted’ and ‘cod: aw’ if you’d like to blacklist it. I just sort of love Jack, he’s wonderful. The game didn’t have nearly enough of him (forever salty @ Sledgehammer Games…) but what we did get of him was genuinely wonderful. Please let me know what you think -- thank you so much for reading!

If you’d like to read my other works, here’re my Uncharted Masterlist and Supernatural Masterlist!

---

The first time Jack touched your skin, it was like a spark went off beneath the surface, setting you both on fire. Languid dragging of lips over your shoulder and hands pulling your body up against his. His bodyweight laid down into you, his arms holding him just up above you. His eyes searing your soul as they looked down into yours, watching your face as he slowly rolled against you. The way his lips captured yours, sealing your gasp away. 

You were just two people... two people who’d spent six months watching one another from afar. Wanting each other. Sending smiles, and smirks, and coy winks across rooms and open fields. 

You hustled down the sidewalk, the bustling noise of an active military base surrounding you. The shouts of drill sergeants, the roar of planes, the insistent yammering of voices over the PA system as names were called to offices, and instructions and reminders were disseminated to every soldier on the base. 

But you’d been there long enough to know them all by heart; so you ignored them and pressed on toward the on-base hospital where you worked.

“I don’t know, but I’ve been told—!” The sounds of a platoon marching past in a jog met your ears as you came around the corner. A large group of men dressed in their fatigues was coming up past the hospital, and you wouldn’t have given them a second glance if it weren’t for the eyes of one of them catching you off guard. 

He was covered in sweat and clearly in pain from hours of PT, but in the middle of the 40-some-odd men, he was somehow unavoidable. His gaze was glued to you the moment you turned the corner, his brows knitted in thought at first. But as they approached you, their sergeant still yelling the rhymes at them to keep them moving, his thoughtful, exhausted expression melted into a charming smile. 

You couldn’t help but smile back as he passed you, your pace slowing just a tad. You tried your best not to look back at him, but failed when you heard his sergeant yell, “Mitchell!”

The voice made you turn your head, and you felt a giggle bubble up your throat as you realized he’d looked back to watch you walk away — and broken his cadence in the process. He was commanded to drop and do 20 for slowing the men up, and yet he was smiling as he did.

You had to force yourself into the hospital... the smile on your face refusing to dissipate for the rest of the day.

“Please...” Words whispered into his ear as he burrowed himself into your neck, your fingers clutching his bicep and jaw falling open and body writhing beneath his with every move he made. 

His teeth sinking into your skin stole your breath away, and all you could think about were the words, hold still. 

“Shit—!” he hissed, teeth clenching together and brows furrowed. “Goddamnit—“

“Would you hold still?” you demanded, shaking your head and dabbing the alcohol at the cut on his head. He rolled his eyes and glared across the room at his best friend, with whom he’d stumbled into your dorm just ten minutes before. The two of them had gotten a little too drunk off the base, and you were almost asleep when their fists first rapped on the door. They were lucky the woman who’d been dormed up with you had just been transferred to a base down south. 

“Told you I’d kick your ass,” the exhausted boy behind you grinned as he wiped at the blood dripping from his nose. 

“Shut up, Irons,” Jack grumbled, “You got lucky.”

“You love me, Mitchell, don’t deny it.” The words had Jack shifting to get up, nearly causing you to stab him with the tweezers you were using to pull gravel from the cut. 

“Hey!” you snapped quietly, shoving him down into the mattress by his shoulder, “Both of you, shut up! I have five hours to sleep, you jackasses.” 

“Sorry, Private,” Will said from behind you; you could feel the look on his face and just breathed slowly out, holding Jack’s cheeks in your palms.

“You should be,” you muttered, looking down at Jack’s cut. “Now you — hold. still.” 

Jack was suddenly quiet, his eyes watching you as you softly tended to the wound. As you pulled the pieces of gravel from his skin, the slight pinch here and there causing him to wince, you’d gently tap his cheek and promise him you were nearly done. He’d swallow quietly and bite his lip through it, listening to your words. Trusting you. 

And he held still.

As you gently set the bandaid down over his cut, you chanced a glance down into his eyes, your own hand still cupping his cheek. 

And you held your breath. “All done,” you whispered. Jack was holding you in place with that look, making your heart race. 

“Irons, you’re up next,” you mumbled, clearing your throat and stepping back from Jack. 

“Jesus, finally,” Will huffed; but your eyes were still on his best friend as he sat down beside him on the empty bed across from your own. Stuck in a moment you couldn’t break free from. Stuck with him there.

And you fell into each other, skin covered in a thin sheen of sweat, fingernails dragging up the outsides of your thighs, head pushing back into the pillows. Sounds echoing through the small room, darkness enveloping your bodies, sensations you’d never felt overwhelming you from head to toe. There was a connection between you that you couldn’t understand, something deep and powerful and tangible. He touched you and you could breathe again... he held you and you gasped his name. And you were consuming him, his every thought dedicated to you, to how you looked beneath him, to how his name sounded rolling off the tip of your tongue, to your smile and your laugh and the way your eyes glinted in the sun. 

But time was never quite on your side.

“Private y/l/n,” Doc Aarons, the surgeon you’d been working with for three years, spoke up from beside you, “You taken your lunch yet?” 

You glanced up from the supplies you were inventorying, in a daze as you murmured, “Not yet, sir.”

He nodded as he pored over his latest med journal, not looking up. “Go ahead and do that now. Thinking I might send you on exam rounds later.” 

“Copy that,” you replied, setting your clipboard down and eyeing the bag of sealed scalpels you’d been counting. 

You were opening the door and stepping outside before you saw him; Jack, smiling at you from just down the hall. 

You glanced back at Doc Aarons and raised a brow, wondering if he’d seen Jack step past the room. He remained involved in his journal, never looking up to acknowledge your silent question.

“Hi...” you grinned as you turned back to Jack, curiosity in your voice and hands on your hips. “Can I help you, soldier?”

He was warm as he walked slowly toward you. “Well, y/n, you tell me.” 

Your arms were crossed, and you felt your cheeks tinting pink at the way he refused to pull his gaze from yours. 

“I’m listening,” you murmured.

He stopped just a foot in front of you, nerves buzzing under the surface as he looked down at you. The look in your eyes had his heart threatening to pound from his chest. 

“See, I’m... deploying in the morning. Big mission, lots of us goin’ out.” He cleared his throat, and you were fighting to keep your smirk back. “And I was thinkin’ it’d sure be a shame if I didn’t get to take you out before I left.” 

His words pulled the smile right back out onto your lips. “Is that so?” 

He chuckled and ducked his head, feeling the way you teased him set his nerves alight. 

“Well, good... I think it would be, too.” 

He looked up, and god, how it felt to see him look at you that way. 

“Sounds good, Private,” he murmured softly, leaning forward to press a chaste kiss to your cheek. 

And it wasn’t until he walked away, disappearing around the corner as your fingers rested on the spot on your cheek his lips had touched... that you realized you’d been standing in front of the large window of Doc Aaron’s office the whole time. Your head snapped to the left, and he flicked his journal up in front of his face just in time, his own smirk in full effect behind its flimsy pages.

You blushed and scurried down the hall, still feeling Jack’s kiss on your cheek right where he’d left it.

It was deep in the night, only an hour left before he had to get up and get moving to make his briefing call. You both laid in the quiet, tangled up in each other, motel sheets wrapped around your limbs. There was nothing like the way it felt to be in his arms… to feel him hold you tightly against him. You fit together like puzzle pieces.

He smiled lazily up at you, biting his lip and reaching up to brush your cheek with his thumb. “You gonna miss me?” he smirked up at you, murmuring his words.

You grinned down at him, both your palms pressed to his bare chest. “How could I miss you?” you lied, “I barely know you...” He gave a laugh that sent butterflies fluttering through your stomach, the coy look in your eye nearly being betrayed by the warmth he made you feel. 

There was a long pause, his eyes staring up into yours. He was gathering words... trying to find them. And finally... with a swallow, his hand moved to your wrist, bringing your palm up to his lips where he pressed a single, soft kiss. 

“Wait for me, then...” He stared up at you, meaning every word. His lips soft against your skin. “Let me take you on a second date.” 

His words hit you hard, and you bit your lip to contain the smile spreading over your lips. Cupping his cheek, without another moment of thought, you muttered, “I’m not goin’ anywhere, soldier.”

Just four short hours later, you stood outside the med building, one hand shielding your eyes from the sun, as you waited and watched for his plane. Something sunk into your stomach, a dread. Worry. You were a soldier yourself, one who’d been aching to go into combat someday if they’d ever let you — but somehow even then, there was something nagging at you. Something bothering you about watching him go.

And you felt it settle into your bones as your eyes finally caught the first of the planes taking off. You watched him deploy out on that mission, and your heart was relentless in your chest. He and his fellow marines - he and his best friend, Will - were off for Korea, off to enter combat for the first time.

You felt something ache inside you. It was all you could do not to let tears well up in your eyes as you watched him go.

You barely knew anything about him... you didn’t know if he’d ever broken any bones, or if he had siblings, or who his favorite comic book hero was. You’d hardly gotten to know him yet... but feeling that sudden, violent pull inside of you, begging you to run blindly after that plane as it lifted off the tarmac — that was the most terrifying feeling you’d ever known. 

--

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[weirdestbooks]

Secret States Chapter 1

A Normal Beginning

America's POV I rubbed my eyes as I began waking up. I had finally gotten enough free time, without my insomnia keeping me up, so I was able to get an hour of sleep. That's not a lot, but way more than I normally gets.

"I can't believe I actually slept." I muttered to myself as I pulled myself out of bed, holding my chest where pains remained due to COVID and the capital riot. I looked around my room, which was pretty empty. I had a desk that was covered in paperwork, along with my laptop. Next to it was a printer. The desk and printer sat between two bookshelves, which were filled with books, non-fiction and fiction alike.

There was a couch next to the bookshelves, underneath a window that looked outside.My bed was opposite of my desk. It was plain, with blue covers and red sheets. I had a bedside table with a lamp, and a picture of me with my kids.

Unlike what most other countries thought of him, I could be and was mature. I love my kids, all sixty-two of them. My states and territories, along with DC, NASA, NATO, Liberia, Palau, Marshall Islands and Micronesia. I even considered Philippines and Cuba to be family, even though I wasn't sure they, especially Cuba, returned those feelings. I would tell them, but I didn't want to make things awkward between us.

I got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror, seeing my Stars and Stripes, along with my black eyes. My black eyes were very odd. No other country had them, only the organizations, although I wasn't technically a country myself. The United States of America was called the Union for a reason.

I didn't always have my black eyes though. They looked like any other country's eyes until the large waves of immigrants that changed America from having one culture, to having so many, I can't claim a nationwide culture.

Even though both my father, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union are also technically unions as well, they didn't have the black eyes I do, which lead me to believe black eyes were a sign of having no or many cultures, as opposed to a main one.

This theory was only further cemented when New York developed black eyes as well. Although, he was pretty sure Soviet had one black eye, which was the reason for his eyepatch.

I got myself ready for another day of mind numbingly boring meetings with the rest of the world. I hated how other countries always liked blaming me for things or just making fun of me. I know my country had done horrible things and I hate myself for being unable to stop the government from doing them, but the other countries didn't need to bring it up.

At least my family stood up for me, along with my friends, like Germany and Japan, although how Japan could be friends with me after what I did to her mother was a question I could never find the answer to.

I shook the pessimistic thoughts out of my head, muttering "No pienses así América. Estas tratando de compesarlo. Deja de culparte cuando las cosas van mal." (Don't think that way America. You're trying to make up for it. Stop blaming yourself when things go wrong.)

I opened the door to my room, before almost being barreled down by American Samoa and Hawaii. American Samoa and Hawaii were dressed very similarly, with t-shirts and shorts, although Hawaii wore a lei. Hawaii's flag had a Union Jack in the upper left hand corner, with blue, red and white stripes. American Samoa's flag was dark blue, with a white triangle that had a red outline coming from the right corners. In the triangle was a bald eagle holding a war club and a fly whisk.

"Faʻamalie Tama.  O aʻu ma Hawaii sa na o le taumafai lava e faʻatumu le isi vaega o atumotu o le Pasefika e faʻamalosi ai atumotu Caribbean." (Sorry Dad. Me and Hawaii were just trying to get the rest of the Pacific islands to prank the Caribbean islands.) American Samoa said. Due to not having an official language, I was able to understand and speak all languages spoken within my borders. This wasn't a small amount, with approximately 350 languages spoken in the US. I loved this however, as it allowed my children, especially my adopted ones to speak their first language, or just whatever one they preferred.

"Mai hopohopo makuakāne, e hōʻoia wau ʻaʻole e ʻeha kekahi!" (Don't worry father, i'll make sure no one gets hurt!) Hawaii stated as she grabbed American Samoa by the arm pulling her brother towards Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands room. I smiled at my kid's antics as he walked towards the stairs. As I walked downstairs I bumped into another person, causing them to drop their papers.

"Sorry D." I said as I helped the district gather up her papers. The District of Columbia, or Washington DC, was wearing a pencil skirt with a button up dress shirt. Her flag was white, with two red lines though the center and three red stars at the top.

"It's okay Dad." She responded, smiling, "I'm glad you finally got some sleep though. You know I can help you if you get overwhelmed. I am the capital after all."

"You do enough as it is. You're also up early. Are you heading to the capitol building to try and convince Congress to grant you statehood?" I questioned, handing DC back her papers which consisted of plans on how they could redraw the capital to allow for Washington DC to become a state.

"Yeah. I'm upset that Trump prevented it from happening, but hopefully with a new president I can get closer to achieving statehood. I'm going to head out now. Vermont's making breakfast. Love you Dad, goodbye!" DC said as she walked out the front door.

"Love you too" I responded before sticking my head in the kitchen.

"Bonjour Vermont" I said as I looked at the nation-turned state. Vermont was wearing a green and blue plaid shirt along with jeans and worn out boots. His flag was blue with a coat of arms in it, the central image being a pine tree.

"Bonjour Papa" Vermont said as he took another couple of pancakes off the griddle. "Je prépare des crêpes pour tout le monde, alors ne vous inquiétez pas pour la cuisine.  C'est une journée de repos pour vous." (I'm making pancakes for everyone, so don't worry about cooking. It is a rest day for you.).

"Merci Vermont." I said as I walked into the dining room, being met with the faces of NATO, New York and Delaware.

"Hey guys. Did you get any sleep York?" I asked them as I sat down.

"Like your one to talk Dad. And I did." New York said as he sipped a pot of coffee. New York was wearing a suit and had a blue flag with his coat of arms on it.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure York gets some sleep before he collapses." Delaware said. Delaware was dressed in a shirt and jeans. His flag was a colonial blue, with a yellow sideways triangle with his coat of arms on it. The flag also showed the date he ratified the Constitution, December 7, 1787.

"I was founded by twelve countries, why's this the family that I have to be a part of?" NATO asked. NATO was wearing a suit, as he also had to participate in meetings with other countries. His flag was blue with a compass rose, with four lines coming out of the four cardinal directions.

"Really?"

"Come on NATO, you know you love us."

I laughed at my kids' protests to NATO's comment as Vermont came out with the pancakes.

"Foods ready. Where's everyone else?" Vermont asked and he put a plates of pancakes on the table.

"Sleeping." Delaware said.

"Del, we're Americans, we don't sleep for this long." Vermont said, crossing his arms.

"The South are messing around in the backyard, but surprisingly, the West is still asleep. I think the Midwest is doing something with the crops. The four corners are doing something. NASA on the phone with Navajo talking about names for that Mars mission he has." NATO said as he began to eat his pancakes.

"How do you know what everyone's doing?" New York asked.

"I don't. I have no idea what the territories, Mid-Atlantic's, Hawaii or Alaska are doing." NATO responded.

"Sam and Hawaii are trying to convince the Pacific islands to help them prank the Caribbean islands." I said, thinking back to the conversation I  had with the two islands earlier that morning.

"Are the former territories going to be involved?" Delaware asked.

"That I don't know. I'll let you know if any of them tell me something about it" I said. As I said that, an alarm on my phone went off.

"Time to go?" NATO asked.

"Yep. Del, you and the Thirteen are in charge, along with Vermont. Alaska has been having nightmares again, so help him with that if you need to." I said as I got up from the table.

"Got it." New York said as he took another large sip of his coffee.

"Á bientôt!" (See you soon) Vermont said.

————————————————————————

Canada's POV (BTW, I am not describing the flags of any countries that are well known, only the states because they aren't as well known) I sat down next to my brother Australia as I walked into the meeting room.

"Hey, have you seen Ame recently?" I asked Australia.

"No, but 2020 was crazy for everyone, he's probably just dealing with COVID stuff. UN did cancel all in-person meetings in 2020 because of COVID. Thank god for the vaccine." Australia said, rubbing a hand on a burn scar.

"Mes fils!" (My sons!) I heard my mother announce from behind me. I looked over to see my father, UK; my younger brother, New Zealand; my uncle, Ireland; and my mother, France.

"Bonjour Maman. Comment ça va?" (Hello Mom. How are you?) I said. Maman smiled.

"Très bien. Avez-vous vu Ame?" (Very good. Have you seen Ame?) She asked.

"Non." Canada replied.

"What are you talking about? I heard Ame's name, but I don't know French." New Zealand cut in.

"Sorry Kiwi." Maman said.

"I heard my name. Are we talking about me?" I heard America's voice from behind me.

"Ame!" Australia said. I turned around to see my brother, who had his hands in his pockets. He had his sunglasses on and had a slight smile on his face.

"Hello America." Père said.

"What up Pops? How's everyone been?" America asked, sitting down next to Australia.

"COVID's been tough. I'm glad for the vaccine though." Père answered as he and Maman sat down.

"Thank god for the vaccine is definitely on everyone's mind." Maman said. UN then walked into the room followed by NATO, ASEAN, EU and AU.

"Hello everyone. I am hoping to continue our meetings for now, but if there are any complications involving COVID we will head back to online meetings." UN stated. "We will begin with the countries most affected by COVID. First up will be the United States of America, followed by the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of India."

————————————————————————

The meeting was incredibly boring, just everyone talking about their cases and vaccinations, the same thing we've been doing since COVID started. After the meeting, I walked out with my family as they discussed random topics.

"Man I wish Uncle Scotland, Uncle England, Uncle Wales and Uncle North could attend these meetings. Then we could really have a family reunion." New Zealand said.

"Your Uncles would make a mess out of the meeting. Nothing would get done." Père stated.

"So we should definitely let them come. It would make it more fun!" America said.

"Yeah Britain, let our brothers come. They would definitely add spice to the boring meetings." Uncle Ireland said, draping an arm around Père's shoulders. America and Uncle Ireland always loved joking around trying to get a rise out of Père. I think it stems from their independence, but they are still close regardless.

"We should try and get together, we are vaccinated and we can wear masks if anyone gets truly worried about it." Australia suggested.

"Let's. I need to see someone other than myself. Maybe tomorrow?" I asked. Everyone gave nods of agreement, aside from America.

"America?" Maman asked, questioning his lack of a decision. America bit his lip.

"I'll have to check, but I'm pretty sure I'll be able to." He said, but still seemed conflicted. I was worried about my brother. He had a lot of COVID cases and seemed to be a lot more tired than usual. But if something bad was happening, surely America would tell someone.

"America, can I speak to you alone?" A voice behind us asked. I turned around to see a country with a flag very similar to America's, but instead of the fifty stars there was one big one.

"Sure thing Liberia. I'll be right back, guys" America said, walking over to Liberia.

"I didn't know Liberia and America were friends." Père commented.

"Ame's friends with everyone." Australia said. He then paused and continued, "Well not with North Korea or Iran or Russia-Okay maybe he's not friends with everyone, but he has a lot of friends."

[daydreamingintheimpalax]

Four No’s and a Yes.

Prompt: Write about someone who gets proposed to five times on Christmas Eve.

Warnings: None, cuteness, fluff i guess lol

Dean x Reader (Childhood friends)

Chritsmas Eve 2016.

The Y/L/N’s house was decorated to the T, Mrs. Y/L/N always went all out for Christmas and to say Dean loved it was an understatement. Dean had grown up next door to y/n and her family all his life, every Christmas was spent with his best friend and her family, their families took turns every year on which family would host the big Christmas dinner. It was Christmas eve, this year, Y/n’s family was hosting Christmas Eve and Day. 

He watched as you sat down across from him, the same way you did every year, this time your boyfriend of almost a year sitting next to you. Dean frowned but for the most part accepted him and tried to make Carl as welcome as possible. 

It’s not that he disliked the guys she dated, he just never thought they were good enough for his best friend, it had nothing to do with the fact he’d been inlove wih you almost all his life, despite what Sam and his parents had to say about it. 

The meal conversations began, Dean smiled as he watched Sam’s wife wipe a smudge of food off his brothers face before then placing a small peck on his cheek. He was imsensely happy for his little brother, he had tried to find love himself but despite all the girls that came and went, none were ever good enough to bring home to Mary and John, none ever compared to, well, you. 

“So Dee, any news about that girl you took out last week? She seemed nice.” You ask, shoving a fork of ham into your mouth, he chuckles watching before he replies, “uh no, didn’t pan out, first date and she was already naming our kids.” He shakes his head, cringing. Y/N makes a funny grossed out face, “Yikes, stage 5 clinger”, Dean smirks, “Exactly, not my style, sweetheart.”

“Sweetheart?” Carl pipes up, raising an eyebrow at Dean. Right, Carl hated when Dean called you by a pet name, sucks for him doesn’t it. Dean shrugs, y/n reassures him its just for fun, that they’ve been friends forever and Dean’s the only other man allowed to call her that. Carl doesn’t seem happy but strugs it off. 

It’s almost 9 Pm when Carl speaks, he stands up from the tables, everyone having had a few rounds of wine by now and 50 conversations going on at once. He clears his troat, tapping his champagne glass with his fork, everyone stops, their attention on him. 

“Well, this has been an amazing night, y/n your family is incredible, i’m so happy to have shared this holiday with you all, but tonight, i want to share another moment with you guys, i know how important family is to y/n and i want to make sure i do this right.” He pauses, grabbing y/n’s hand and pulling her up, Dean can see the look on her face, shes shocked and confused, not sure what the hell Carl thinks he’s doing. 

He pulls something out of his pocket, Dean lets out a soft groan before taking a huge chug of his beer, Sam pats his back, a silent signal asking if he’s okay. He shrugs it off. 

“Y/n, i know we haven’t been together as long as other people, but my love for you has no limits, we are a perfect match and you’re a perfect part of me, you make me better, i love you so much, and i don’t want to waste anymore time,” 

He gets down on one knee, Dean watches, slightly angrily as y/n gasps, she slightly looks at Dean and he can see the panicked look on her face, she’s not ready for this, he’s ambushed her. 

“Y/n Y/l/n, would you do me the honor of being my wife, my partner in crime, my forever.” Dean rolls his eyes, his mother swatting his arm and giving him a disapproving look. Y/n stays silent, looking around as everyone watches her, Then, she bolts. 

Dean chases after her to see if she’s okay. 

Carl was never seen again after that night.

Christmas Eve 2017

Christmas was different this year, Their parents had decided they wanted a break from cooking, so they had booked a cruise for vacation, not telling any of their kids until last minute. 

Sam and Jess had decided to have Christmas with her family now that they were expecting their first child. Sam was over the moon at the chance to be a dad, he was going to be an amazing one. 

Dean checks the tickets, finding the seats and throwing the jackets over them, y/n heads towards him, sitting next to him in her own seat and she hands him his beer and the hotdogs she grabbed. Dean was lucky he booked last minute tickets to the wrestling match, not surprised that even on Christmas eve, the stadium was booked solid. 

They enjoy the fights, they’re small local fights, no big names, but they both enjoy it, laughing and enjoying their time together as best friends, it’s been a while. Since she started dating Max four months ago, he barely sees her, he’s insecure, especially when Dean’s around, probably because Dean’s twice his size in height and muscle, but that’s not his problem. Max starts fights with y/n anytime they hang out, so for her sake, he keeps his distance, waiting for her to call him for a hangout instead. 

An hour in and it’s break time, they sit and chat, and before they know it, a voice is speaking over the PA system. “Sorry to interupt everyone, but since we are on a break, it seems like the perfect time to do this. Y/n Y/l/N, if you wouldn’t mind looking up at the jumbotron, we have a message for you from Max.” 

Y/n’s eyes go wide, she looks at Dean curiously and he shrugs, just as confused. She looks at the screen, Max’s smiling face on the screen as he’s handed the microphone. 

“Y/n, i know this is random and out of the blue, but you make me really happy, i know you’re not big on attention and big romantic gestures, but i wanted to do something memorable, so, i was hoping you’d be down for being my wife, will you Marry me?” he speaks, Dean almost can’t believe it, what was with these losers, she deserved to be proposed to, but not so soon and definitely not on the spot, she hated grand gestures that drew attention to her. Y/n barely knew what she wanted to do with her life, let alone to settle down. 

Y/N starts breathing heavy, tears forming as she starts to panic at the whole stadium now staring at her and waiting for her answer, and just like that, yet again, she tries to run but Dean stops her, suggesting they go outside and talk to Max privately before she has a complete anxiety attack.

Another douchebag he never sees again. 

Christmas Eve 2018

Another year, another Christmas Eve, y/n is sitting on Deans couch, the two of them got stuck at the airport due to a snow storm and aren’t making it home for Christmas. They had driven back to Dean’s place and she decided to crash with him, She’d just broken up with her recent douchebag boyfriend and wasn’t in happy spirits. She lies on his couch, sniffling as she watches her favoirte Christmas movie, which is currently everything on the hallmark channel. 

Dean sits next to her, her feet in his lap as he messages her feet, warming them up from the cold. 

“Am i ever going to find the right guy? i mean, at this point it’s become a pattern, every fucking Christmas i end up single and alone, i should just give up finding the perfect guy.” She shrugs, wiping away a stray tear.

Dean sighs, “First off, you’re not alone, you have me. Second, you pick crappy guys, you have shitty ass taste. Give it time, sweetheart, the perfect guy for you is out there, and you’ll find him, you’re just looking in the wrong places.” Dean assures her and she gives him a dry chuckle.

“Oh yea, well if you ever come across prince charming, send him my way.” She rolls her eyes and he laughs. He hates seeing her upset. 

Theyre at the local skating rink when it happens, he finally got her to stop crying enough to take her out and here comes Jack, Jake, Joke, whatever the fuck his name was holding a bouquet of roses and a ring box, smiling widely at her, this jackass really thinks a ring will fix everything he’s done to her. What a damn clown. 

Y/n stops abrutly, eyeing him up and down, she’s definitely angry still. 

“That better not be what the fuck i think it is.” She snaps, tossing the roses in the trash. “Y/n, i know i fucked up, but you’re worth more than-” He’s cut off by the sound of her hand meeting his cheek. 

“NO!” She shouts, a few people now stopping to watch. “You have some NERVE showing up here, after cheating on me and for what? to propose? ARE YOU FUCKING DRUNK? In what fucking small minded universe that you live in do you think proposing to me is going to fix what you broke? No, i will not marry you. Go to hell, Jeff.” She stomps off, as good as she can in skates. 

Jeff, that’s his fucking name. He looks over at me and i shrug. “You fucked that up on your own man, you don’t deserve her.” Dean walks away.

She never mentions Jeff again.

Christmas Eve 2019

Their families get together again, Dean’s family hosts this year, y/n and he had flown home early this year to help with the food and decorations, y/n had run into one of her exes, a guy she dated back in highschool, He’d ran in Sam’s circle of friends, one of his old football buddies. They had gone on a date to catch up, ending up at the local bar with some old highschool friends.

Sam sits next to him, downing his own beer. “Man, why don’t you just tell her you’re her prince charming, watching her get with and dump all these idiots is getting tiring. Even mom and dad know you two belong together.” Sam chuckles, letting out a burp, he’s clearly borderlining between drunk and tipsy. Dean sighs, he’s going to have to call Jessica soon. 

“If i was her soulmate, she’d have noticed by now. I’m not going to make that choice for her. If it’s meant to be, she’ll realize it on her own, not because i forced her to like me.” He shrugs and Sam laughs, “You’re both so stupid.” Sam huffs and shakes his head. 

Before Sam can continue pestering him about his failure to woo Y/n, they hear a commotion, they turn to see Eric covered in beer, calling y/n a bitch and some other not nice words. 

Dean gets protective, not even a split second before he’s standing next to her, shoving Eric away from her. “Easy man, get away from her.” He yells and Eric huffs, throwing his arms in the air, “Whatever, you’re a waste of time, can’t believe i ever dated you, i forgot what it was like being with you.” He snarls before stepping outside, no doubt to light up another blunt. 

Dean frowns, “What happened?” he asks and you laugh. “He proposed, said he missed me and regretted ever breaking things off, said he finally realized i was the one that got away.” She airquotes before she sips her beer, huffing, “Turns out, that’s his game, he was hoping if i said yes i’d be over the moon and jump into bed with him again. Ugh, i hate men.” she grunts before walking out, Dean slaps a few bills on her table before going after her, a semi drunk Sam at his side. 

Chritmas Eve 2020

Christmas Eve dinner is a hit. Changing things up, Dean and Y/n had decided to host this year, flying their families out to vancouver. It’s cold and snowy, but makes Christmas actually feel like Christmas, unlike the warm sunny holiday in california, they love it there, but this year, with the snow, it actually feels like a real Christmas. 

They sit out on the back deck, taking a break from the family game night and friendly comeptition and yelling going on inside. Their families are nuts, but it always makes for a great time. 

Dean’s sure he’s ready, she hasn’t dated anyone since the last proposal, and he’s insane, he’s sure of it, he’s sure just like the others, he’ll be turned down, and he’s willing to make an utter fool of himself, but it’s time, he’s waited long enough, he needs her to know, he needs to tell her, he’ll never be able to truly move on and get over her if he doesn’t at least get an answer on wether she feels the same. 

“How long do you think that bingo game is going to last?” She asks, chuckling and she watches their families fight over who had bingo first. 

“Marry me.” He blurts it out without even realizing it. That’s not how he wanted that whole thing to go, he had planned it out, but plans go out the window when you spend time obsessing on things being perfect.

“What?” She’s stunned, but she hasn’t run away yet, and she’s not hyperventilating, that’s a good sign. He begins to babble like a damn idiot.

“I don’t have a ring, or a proper set up like a jumbotron or some shit, and this isn’t even how i planned on this day going, i’m not perfect, and i have my flaws, hell i’m so fucked up i’d be insane to think i even deserve even half your love, but i’m crazy about you, and i have been since 5th grade, when you gave me my first valentines card because no one in class gave me one and then kissed my cheek and told me you’d always be my valentine. I guess, what i’m trying to say is i may not be your prince charming, but you’ve always been my girl, i’ve never chosen anyone but you, and i realize, i don’t ever want anyone, except you.” He finally takes a breath, too scared to make eye contact, and he sighs.

“I know this is stupid and random and you can totally say no or run away if th-” 

“Yes.” She stuns him, completely silencing his rant.

He finally meets her eyes, “What?” He asks, sure as shit he heard her wrong. 

“Yes, Winchester, i’ll marry you.” She says, this time clear as day. 

He huffs out a laugh, “ Wait, seriously?” he asks, stunned and still thinking she has to be fucking with him.

She shrugs and smiles, “Yeah, I’ve known you all my life, you were always my prince charming, my perfect match, i was just waiting for you to figure it out.” She laughs. Dean’s eyes roam her face, for the first time, seeing how perfect she really is for him. 

“I literally could have been with you this entire time?” he raises and eyebrow and she shrugs, smiling. He shakes his head, not believing his own stupidity before he takes full advatnge, leaning in and finally claiming what’s been his this entire time. 

Safe to say, that was the last proposal she ever recieved. 

[orionares]

BTHB: Brain Damage

BTHB: Brain Damage

A/N: Takes place after "To Live and Die in Mexico."

A/N2: Bingo again! I'm calling that a backwards 7. =]

@badthingshappenbingo​

----------------

His memory is in pieces- fragments of the trauma of his childhood, his possible broken engagement and flames bursting from twisted metal toss and turn around his mind. Marty Deeks curls on his right side under the thin, hospital blanket into a fetal position. Everything is so damn bright, his battered body throbs and nothing in his mind makes sense.

He and Kensi are no longer engaged.

No-he reproposed to her earlier and they’re back together. Right?

This is a hospital in Los Angeles. Or Mexico. Or Cabos?

The concussion also brings a level of hypersensitivity that can’t hold a candle to even his worse of hangovers. Every sound- every passing footstep, every pen clicks, passing of charts, laughter, innocent chatter- seems to rattle against his skull.

A pair of footsteps enters the room, stopping where he assumes to be inches from the left side of the bed. Deeks winces as the room visitor takes one step back and exactly three towards the foot of the bed. He’s about to scream when the steps start again, moving exactly four steps back and then six to a spot directly in front of where he lays.

“Hey…how are you feeling?” the faintly familiar voice asks softly. The female voice, even though exasperated by his concussion, brings warmth and love that honestly terrifies him.

He knows her- hell, he has to. He knows of his Kensi, his absolute everything- the dark-haired woman smiling down at him with a growing belly but he can’t remember her voice.

“Deeks, I need you to open your eyes.”

Deeks- that’s his name. That he knows. He squints in the direction of the voice to see a dark-haired woman standing in dark blue scrubs. She’s battered with a few cuts but looks down at him with the same love and warmth from his fragmented memory.

Is this his Kensi?

"Do you remember me?"

He inhales slowly to gather his thoughts- everything is so goddamn loud, and he loves the woman in front of her that he’s not 100% sure to be his wife.

Or was it fiancé?

Deeks’ words come out in an incomprehensible jumble. “Th-pa-ca...no...no...hep."

 The brunette shushes him softly and reaches out to run the back of her hand against his cheek. "It's ok,” she whispers, “It's ok...do remember anything from the last time we talked?"

His mind flashes images-Heat beating against his skin, sand against his back, remnants of a church. What happened to the baby?

“It’s Kensi, Baby,” she leans down and kisses his forehead. The gesture sends a chill down his spine. How can something so nice be so terrifying?

“You’ve had two concussions from our last case,” Kensi explains. The dark circles around her eyes hint heavily at her lack of sleep. “We’re waiting for the results of an MRI to explain your memory loss and trouble speaking. Is any of that familiar?”

Deeks furrows his brow in deep concentration on producing a coherent sentence. Instead, "How...shpwn..no, no,...ti-ti-m," spills out from his lips. The mismatched brown eyes blink blankly before realization dawns over her, “ Time? Are you talking- are you asking how long you’ve been here?”

Deeks shakes his head and weakly raises a finger and motions a circle. Kensi cocks her head slightly and guesses, "A circle? I don’t- Doctor Colton!”

Kensi darts out of his eyeline and begins speaking in hushed voices with another individual somewhere near the door. His mind has shifted from painful hypersensitivity to noise back to erratic, fragmented thoughts.

What had he been trying to ask her?

Wait, her- who’s she again?

He’s suddenly incredibly warm even in the cool room. Kensi and the doctor’s conversation becomes muted in the background as the lights in the room begins to dim. The detective tries to move his head towards the voices but freezes, paralyzed by what his mind shows him.

Standing in the corner of the room directly in his eyeline is him. Except this can't be him- the mirror image is ghostly pale with blood dripping freely from his forehead. Soulless and empty like an apparition.

It can't be real.

He looks dead.

He tries to scream, plead for his injured mind to stop playing the visual nightmare but instead he hears erratic beeping, screams and then darkness.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------

"Callen gets discharged today."

No answer.

"Kensi?"

No answer.

Sam Hanna glances over to Kensi, who’s resting against the wall and watching her sleeping fiancée through the room window. He’s watched her for the last hour keeping vigil while occasionally wavering on her feet from fatigue. "The doctors are optimistic. Look, it’ll take time for Deeks to wake," Sam reminds her as he had numerous times earlier in the ten hours since Deeks had crashed and collapsed.

"The doctors being optimistic mean nothing to me while he’s unconscious. His blood pressure dropped off the face of the Earth, Sam," Kensi croaks. She shudders at the memory of machines flashing and blaring as her fiancée eyes had fluttered closed. “He had aphasia before and then-“

“Stop.” Sam holds up a hand to prevent her from spiraling. With Nell confirming Hidoko’s death and Callen still in the hospital, he has to be the strong one for the group. "Walk me through the doctor's notes again."

"The expressive aphasia and the memory loss  are something that the doctors want to observe over the next few days. They called it transient meaning hopefully everything subsides once his brain settles," Kensi repeats dully. "Wait and see."

"Deeks is a stubborn, chatty fighter, “Sam says with hope in his voice. "Whatever happens, you’ll both work through it.”

“But what I’m not enough? “Her question comes out in choked sob. In the split second between the erratic beeps from the heart monitor and Deeks’ eyes fluttering closed, she had seen pure terror clear in his eyes.

Was he afraid of her?

“What if-“ the dam breaks and her words stumble out in sobs,” We got into a fight before the case and that nearly broke us! What if I can’t help Deeks through his speech ? What if he never remembers me? I tried to help Jack and-“

Sam closes the space between them to pull her close into a tight as manageable in his healing state as possible. Kendo melts into his arms and begins to openly cry, letting go of over a week of built fear, anger and heartbreak. “You love him, right?”

“O-of course.”

“Then you don’t focus on the what if’s,” Sam continues, “You focus on the love you share and that your strength in each other will help you get through whatever happens when he wakes up.”

Sam feels her trembling begin to settle in the hug. Kensi forces out to breaths and stares down at Deeks’ sleeping form.

He’s breathing and right in front of her. He jumped on a plan, even without a job, on a suicide mission to back her up. Even in the depths of hell, Marty Deeks hasn’t ever left her.

As she continues to calm, Kensi takes the elder agent’s words to heart. I’m not going anywhere, baby. All in.