#journ is a close second

[zlebooks]

btw if alhaitham’s in uni what would he major in

[bearimba]

Johto Culture/Worldbuilding Headcanons

Since the New Bark Town kids are out of the way, I figured I'd do some basic worldbuilding stuff before we start covering more characters. There's more I'll cover later on, but to start off with, let's go over the general culture of Johto!

As a whole, the people of Johto lean towards more "traditional" values such as putting family first, a sense of obligation towards their communities (national pride/patriotism is very strong in older populations), an emphasis on respect towards elders, etc.

That being said, Johtonians are also very private---typically, what happens behind closed doors stays behind there for better or for worse. That doesn't mean people aren't extremely nosy, just that they wouldn't actively disrupt the public peace with their gossip.

Joint families are the most common form of family unit, though nuclear families have become more prevalent in cities such as Goldenrod due to limited living space. Houses tend to consist of one main living space (usually living room/kitchen/dining room combined) with bedrooms and bathrooms accessed through either a side hallway or a second floor. Sometimes (usually in downtown areas), a family business may be on the first floor while living/private spaces will be located on the second floor.

Similarly to Sinnoh, Johto's history is considered very important and conservation efforts are taken very seriously across the region. However, those efforts are mostly aimed towards preserving current knowledge instead of actively discovering the past, meaning there is still information that gets forgotten and lost to time.

Due to this (and also because of the burning of Brass Tower), Ho-Oh receives much more reverence than Lugia. Before, they were considered the twin guardians of the region and protected the balance between people and pokemon, but now, Ho-Oh has been deified while Lugia is sidelined and nearly forgotten.

Johtonians have a very distinct accent, mostly since they're a bit more secluded compared to other regions. Goldenrod and Saffron City residents have a stronger mix of Johtonian and Kantonian accents mostly due to tourists and commuting workers on the Magnet Train.

Johto exports a large amount of artisanal and handmade goods, especially woodcrafts such as cabinets or other large furniture (it's much more heavily wooded compared to other regions), but the region also has a very successful maritime industry that could almost rival Hoenn's.

Johtonians receive their ID card on their 13th birthday. At that point, they may opt in to take the gym challenge. If they do, they will receive a trainer card that contains information pertinent to the gym challenge on the back, which is then updated with every gym the trainer beats. They will keep the same ID their entire life regardless of whether they complete the challenge.

On a similar note, the age of majority is 20, which is a bit older than most other regions (Sinnoh/Kanto are 18, Hoenn is 17, etc etc.)

Children typically get their first pokemon (also referred to as their starter pokemon) at a very early age. This is to help teach them responsibility and respect for pokemon, and it provides them protection when they're unsupervised.

Public schooling is free up to 13 years age, at which point they can choose to pay to go to secondary school, take a break to go on a pokémon journey and take on the gym challenge, or quit altogether.

Far more often than not, children will take about a year to go on their journey and then go back to school. Upon their return, they generally have the option to skip certain classes (both the ones they missed and future classes) if they're able to put together a decent report detailing their experiences and what they learned on their journey. If not, they may have to catch up and even be forced to graduate a year later than their peers.

Nontraditional scenarios include students returning from their journey earlier or later than a year, students going on their journey and not returning to school, or going on their journey/dropping out of school at older than 13 years (there is technically no upper age limit at which the gym challenge can be started).

Crime rates are pretty low (especially major crimes such as assault, burglary, kidnapping etc.), which is part of the reason why children are allowed to roam the region unsupervised. This is mostly due to heavy restrictions on which/how many pokemon are legal to own, with and without certain permits. Additionally, the maximum number of occupied pokeballs a person is allowed to carry at once is six, although the average person will own at most three pokemon. Such laws are common in other regions, but Johto is more strict about their regulations.

Additionally, since taking care of children is often a community undertaking ("it takes a village to raise a child"), many adults will keep a close eye on nearby kids and keep them out of trouble regardless of whether they're related.

Honorfics are pretty much mandatory, the more so the younger you are. In a casual context, everyone older than the speaker is refered to as Aunt/Uncle no matter their actual age or relation. However, this can be seen as rude if said to someone of a similar age to the speaker. When speaking to strangers and/or people of an unknown age, it's safe to just refer to them as Ma'am/Sir. Grandma/Grandpa is a highly respected honorfic and is reserved for family-use only unless the speaker is invited (the same goes for Mom/Dad, just to a less strict degree). There are other honorfics in common use, but they're usually used in workplace/formal contexts (such as refering to coworkers, public employees, and even hosts if you're staying at someone's home).

Since traveling trainers can’t hold down a steady job, a common way to earn money is just to pop into local businesses and ask if they need help. It’s not guaranteed to work, but most businesses will either find something small for them to do or recommend a different business to ask.

Hospitality is a huge source of pride for most households, especially out in rural areas. It doesn't matter if the visitor is family or a complete stranger, they're to taken care of to the absolute best of a household's abilities. In return, guests treat their hosts with the upmost respect and will often leave tokens of their gratitude. (it's not uncommon for trainers to randomly show up at your door looking to spend the night if you live out in the middle of nowhere)

Live performance tends to be the most popular form of entertainment across the region, including traditional/ceremonial productions, theater, and music. Historical enactments are also very popular during festivals. This is in part because oral storytelling used to be the region's main form of chronicling its history. (There are a few exceptions, such as the Dragon's Den containing extensive records of the Dragon Tamers and the local area, but unfortunately, access to those records is generally very limited.)

Slowpoke tails are somewhat of a local delicacy, but because Slowpoke farms are few and far between (there's strict laws on humane treatment such as how many Slowpoke can be kept on one farm, the space and amenities required to keep them, harvesting methods, etc.), they tend to be quite expensive and typically have to be sourced from the farms themselves. Trying to export them in large enough quantities is even more expensive, especially before the shipping methods are modernized, so for a long time the tails remain purely a Johtonian cuisine.

[gender-neautral-fangirling]

So, to start off, I don't write. And I'm terrible at it. I just needed somewhere to share this au I made and don't have the patience for making comics. That being said, here is the first fic for my au!

Please forgive spelling/grammar errors. Art coming soon.

The First Restart

The battle was coming to a close. The sun was about to rise and Muzan was still here. Mabey they could actually do it! They could win! Distracted in his thoughts, Tanjiro didn’t see the tentacle coming for his chest.

SHULK!!

Tanjiro stumbled backward. No! He let himself get distracted! His vision is already is already blurring, he’s not going to be able to finish this fight. Tanjiro heard something behind him.

“Blood demon art, Second Chance!”

Cold steel cut through his neck, and everything went dark.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Tanjiro awoke with a small scream. Where is he? This looks like-

“Tanjiro! Is something wrong?”

“Urokodaki-san? But, I was just… This isn’t right.”

Tanjiro is back at Urokodaki’s place.

“Well, whatever is wrong, fix it then come outside. You have breathing forms to learn.”

Urokodaki then left and closed the door behind him. Tanjiro just sat there. Processing. Thinking. He was just fighting Muzan, with Giyuu and Sanemi and Obanai. What happened? He heard a voice… second chance? What does that mean? Does he get to try again? He was set so far back though, but, he already knew all the forms. Maybe, to beat Muzan, he could learn another breathing form? Which one though?

“Tanjiro! Get out here!”

He’ll bring this up With Urokodaki.

Tanjiro grabbed the training sword and joined his trainer outside.

“Ok, today I’ll be teaching you the third water breathing form.” Urokodaki explained.

Tanjiro, determined to follow through with his new plan, performed the first form perfectly. Then the second. Then the third. And continued until he had perfectly performed all ten of the water breathing forms. His arms felt like they were going to fall off, and his lungs like they were going to burst. He had been set back physically as well it seems. But don’t show it. He can build his body back up.

“...How?” Urokodaki finally spoke.

“I’ve already learned all the water breathing forms. I was fighting Muzan, with the Hashira. And I got distracted, he struck me through the chest and I was blacking out, but then I heard a voice say something along the lines of, second chance. Then I woke up back here.”

“…. I… *sigh* what do you plan to do now?” Urokodaki didn’t know what else to say, but he believed Tanjiro, that is the only explanation for him knowing all the forms.

“I want to learn another breathing type. I think that would be useful, but I don’t know where to start.”

“There is a thunder breathing master to the south-west of here. He might train you.”

Tanjiro was excited! Urokodaki was willing to help him, and believed him! Thunder breathing will help his speed and reflexes, and maybe his stamina as well.

“But before you go, I have something for you. Wait here.” Urokodaki went back inside the house and returned with a mask.

“A warding mask!” Tanjiro exclaimed.

“Well, I see you already know what this is.” Urokodaki handed him the mask.

“You gave it to me before I headed for final selection!” Tanjiro put on the mask, wearing it to the side so it doesn’t cover his face.

“I was only going to send you to final selection if you split the boulder.”

“The boulder that was specially chosen to make it impossible for me to spit it? The one that I split with help from Sabito and Makomo?” Tanjiro asked.

“…You actually did it? But… wait, how do you know those names?”

“They helped me! And yes, I know they’re dead.”

There was a small silence.

“When I finish training with the thunder breathing master, I’ll return to you to check on Nezuko. As I can’t take her with me. And then head off to final selection.”

Tanjiro bowed. He went inside to retrieve some of his belongings and, with a final goodbye to Nezuko and Urokodaki, he left. On his way to begin his journey to the thunder breathing master. And his second attempt to beat Muzan Kibutsuji.

[wadupkev]

Why I Ran 100 Miles

It honestly has been such a journey to just process this last weekend. Whenever I sit down to write a bit, my throat closes up, my eyes get all watery and I am just overwhelmed with emotions. Nearly all positive emotions. Gratitude? Off the charts. Joy? Off the charts. God is so good. I have my “What I Learned” section first to spare you from reading to whole recap of the race if you don’t want to but if you want to I will rewind to late last week and then roll briefly through the race below in the “Race Recap” section. As always, writing is therapeutic to me so this is really only meant to help me process what just happened but if it’s enjoyable for you to read as well then two birds stoned at once is always better than one stoned alone. I think thats how the saying goes..?

What I Learned

I learned so much about myself in this process. I love love love the idea that small daily decisions can allow you to do things you think are impossible. I am deeper convinced that you should take time to commit to something but when you do, go all in. When I committed to this race, I gave up jobs, relationships, fun nights etc. to chase this dream. It was a selfish decision. I don’t think that it was selfish in a bad way to make that choice, however, knowing what I gave up to be here, I want to be able to focus time into those things. Into a career, relationships, fun nights. Those are all really good things. They had to take a side or back seat for a little to accomplish this dream, but that’s okay. I think it would be selfish for me, just for me, not speaking for anyone else, but for me to continue to train as hard as I did. I am so excited to be able to focus time into other things but I learned that small daily decisions will change your life. Thats true for time with God in his word, time with friends in conversation, and running. That can be true for you if you want to learn guitar, or skateboarding, enjoy a great marriage or whatever. Make small decisions every day that get you closer to that dream.

I learned I can do really hard things. Training was really hard. 100k was really hard. 100 miles was really hard. Waking up early for workouts was really hard. Giving up a lot of fun things was really hard. BUT, in all the hard, that is where I can find out who I really am. Who are you when things are hard? It is easy to define yourself when life is easy, but when your back is up against the wall, do you give up? When you’re 19 hours into a 100 mile race, do you give up? When you take that cold shower, do you give up after 5 seconds? When you say you want to wakeup early, but the snooze is right there, what do you do? Doing hard things forces you to grow. I want to be a better version of myself. For those around me, for God, for myself. Doing hard things gives you the space to say “This is who I am when things are hard. I am someone who will not give up”. It allows you to handle the hard better.

I learned that people have a deep desire to also do hard things and since you are doing something hard, they want to talk about it. I have had so many awesome conversations with people about the why, about training, about goals and dreams and about how we can get to that goal. It fired me up so much to hear some people sign up for a half-marathon, or a walking challenge because they saw me do this race. We all can do hard things, and you will be so glad you did. 

You ask what’s next? I do not have any races planned. I just accepted a new job that I am THRILLED about. I am excited to focus some time into that. I am excited for new and old relationships to continue to develop. I am excited about where God has me and is taking me. God has been so so good to me. In the pain and suffering, I felt God, In the highest of highs, I felt God. I am thankful to have so many people who help me focus my gaze on his feet, not mine. Praise you, God.

More than anything, I am so grateful for this experience. It has been one of the coolest journeys in my life. Truly.

The race recap is below. I separated it from this stuff because I know it might be tedious to ready through. I do think it’s a fairly good insight to my brain throughout the day if you have some time to read it and want to but wanted to get these things at you first. A little different of a blog from your boy, but nonetheless a joy to process this with you. Thank you for reading and if you did, shoot me a text with your favorite part. 7192319006.

I love you. I swear.

Race Recap

For almost the entirety of the year, August 19th seemed so far away. Even when we started getting to about a month out, it felt like it was a date that didn’t even exist. It wasn’t until Wednesday, August 16th, that it started to feel real for me. The nerves started to ramp up. The week running wise had been super slow so the body was starting to feel healed up and ready to go. I had just gone up to Leadville to be there through the weekend and was sleeping in a new place around Alec and his crew getting ready for the race as well. The magic of Leadville started to really take a hold of me. We were in one of the most beautiful places, the highest incorporated city in North America, about to spend a day or more exploring the forest with our feet. I surprisingly slept fairly well the night before the race. With a 2:00am wakeup call, I was in bed at 7:30pm and got some decent shut eye. Waking up a half hour before my alarm, I couldn’t dream of those eyes shutting again so the day officially starts at 1:30am. I got up, got my breakfast made (my classic smoothie and some cinnamon rolls) and started to wake the body up. I had a great rollout session, some good stretching and muscle activation and all of a sudden the house was bustling with everyone else waking up and getting ready to head to the start. The energy was hard to control, but I had some tunes rolling, was trying to just remain super chilled out as we headed out the door. No need to let the emotions go crazy yet, it’s going to be a long day. Justin, Jenny and myself hopped in a car and got going to the start line. Jenny and I hopped out close to the start and Justin went to park the car. We had plenty of time after getting my pre-run stretch routine done and just about then we bumped into Alec and the three of us sat on a bench for a bit just trying to relax before we headed into the starting corral. It got close to 3:45a, we got out last little bit of pee out and headed to the start.

Alec and I gave each other our best, a good hug, and then we were off on our own ways. I got into the corral and started making my way up the group a little bit. The first section bottlenecks down to a single track trail about 5 miles into the race so I wanted to stage myself a bit to avoid getting stuck behind a slower group (make no mistake, I was still running slow, some groups just really take their time). Gave a couple people around me a fist bump and probably a really lame joke and then boom. The gun goes off and we are running. I didn’t have my headlamp on because so many people around me did and it was so fun to just take in the start. It’s the most congested the race ever is and I wanted to enjoy being around a bunch of other “crazy” people before we all get spread out. The first 3ish miles are all on a dirt road with a slight decline. And boy oh boy were people running really fricken fast. Guys mostly would hop off the road on either side and let out a little more liquid. I did the same. It’s wild how much was in my system at the start because 15 minutes after my first leak I had to go again. So grateful that process is a little easier for us gentlemen but there were some bold women out there as well. Ha. I ran a bit right behind Adam Klink from BPN which was fun but really just started settling into what would be a long day. I was behind a group starting around the single track trail around Turquoise Lake and the leader took us off trail briefly. We all panicked and tried to find the pink trail markers again which were very close by, thank the Lord. This was the first rhythm finding of the day. We just trucked along at an easy pace around the lake knowing the easiest part of the race was done. It was still dark but the sky started turning that not black pitch of blue that early morning risers see. We got out of the trail and onto the pavement and I knew I would be able to ditch the headlamp as we were getting more and more light every second it seemed.

I made my way up through the Mayqueen campground and then saw the mass of people. I found Mike, Chris and Kyle relatively fast. We walked through the lines of people exchanging water bottles, restocking on food, getting a pop tart down and then I was off. That aid station went super fast. I got onto the Colorado Trail and started finding the rhythm again. Some really bold guy decided to hop 5 FEET off trail and go number 2. I laughed a bit but as I passed him and took a whiff of the most foul number 2 smell I can describe, my laughs turned to gagging really quick. That gagging turned into my first expulsion from my body for the day. “Great” I thought. I felt much better after that but was slightly bummed my first throw up came so early in the day. We got out of the trees and onto the Hagerman pass road, trucked along that for a bit before turning up the 4x4 road up Sugarloaf pass. Ran most of that before turning on the power hike for the slightly steeper sections. Got to the top relatively quick and then cruised down the Powerline side. That run down was really fun. Was ripping and just having a great time. Turned onto the pavement, got into another groove and started being able to see the Outward Bound aid station. The cars park there in the dirt so there was this huge plume of dirt in the air in the distance. Made for a pretty cool sight and was easy to distinguish how much further to go until we got there.

Pulled in, found Tom and Chris and started walking towards the rest of our crew. So many people were using my name telling me good luck and I had no idea how they knew what my names was. Then I look to my left and my cousin Tom is holding a huge sign that just says KEVIN on it in all caps. Love that guy. I saw Michael and Alexis and my Mom and Dad for the first time which was a boost. We changed into a t-shirt for the hotter part of the day, got sunscreen and sunglasses on, ate an english muffin with honey and got out of there. I can’t begin to tell you how great everyone on my crew did. They CRUSHED. I found a guy that I had run some of Powerline down with and just got on his feet and trucked along with him for a bit. I knew getting into a rhythm on this section would be a great idea to bank some time. I came to find out he had raced this race 6 times before. I knew I was in good company so I asked if I could just hang on him for a bit and he said yes. We cruised all the way to Pipeline where he dropped off to get some aid from his crew. I skipped this crew aid station and opted to just stay in the rhythm. I started getting low on water but knew the Halfpipe aid station would be coming up soon so I wasn’t too worried. I thought I knew where the aid station was going to be and I came up on another aid station earlier than expected. Not knowing if this was Halfpipe, and not asking either like a weenie, I only filled one of my bottles and kept going thinking I would hit another one pretty soon. I sure did not. Even the fluids only aid station had not been set up yet. I hit my first little bit of concern for the day being dry on fluids for 40 or so minutes heading into Twin Lakes.

I got into Twin and made my way down to where my crew was. Another relatively quick aid station, I attempted to get some pickle juice down as a preventative measure against cramping which had not been a problem yet and just couldn’t get it to go down. Bleh. The stuff my mom bought was SO STRONG. Ew. No good. Ate a nutella sandwich, restocked gels, waffles and liquids, more sunscreen and I was off again. Saw Al’s crew cheering which gave me a boost and headed for the river. Did the river crossing which felt SO GOOD. Freezing water flowing over tired feet was dreamy. Left there and got into the trees to start the first climb over Hope Pass. Settled into a good groove of power hiking and just turned the brain off and went to work. I thought I might use music or podcasts at this point but I forgot to ask for my headphones in Twin Lakes and I sure as hell wasn’t going to turn around to go get them. Finally started reaching the meadows in the basin just below the pass, saw the llamas who brought the aid station supplies up. Gave them a nod and a thank you and got fluids refilled at the aid station there, made the final push to the summit and then flew down the back of Hope. About halfway down was when I passed JP, the guy in first place, who at that point was probably 8ish miles ahead. CRUISING. Dude looked good. Made it into Winfield with the intention of not sitting down and spending as little time as possible there. Got some DELICIOUS watermelon, turned and burned.

Making the way back to Hope Pass for round two and I ran into Alec. So fun to see him and see him crushing. Quick little boost from that and seeing another friend from an earlier race in the year, I got to the climb and knew it was going to be a grind. This was probably the hardest physical part of the race. The backside of Hope is really fricken steep. The kind of steep where your heels don’t touch the ground very much as you ascend. Another settle into a groove and grind time. What felt like forever was finally over as we got to the top and started descending first to the Hopeless aid station and then to Twin Lakes. This was when I started feeling pretty lonely out there. There weren't many people around me and I would pass a few hikers every 15 minutes or so. I could tell I was starting to get to the point where I needed someone to run with. Crossed the river again which was incredible. Splashed some water on my face and got into a trot to Twin Lakes. Connected with Tom before the aid station to let him know what I wanted. Fun story about a DNF (did not finish) fakeout that threw everyone in my crew and spectators for a loop later. This aid station was my longest and it was planned that way. I did a full change of clothes, a baby wipe shower, talked with my coach briefly on the phone (shoutout Morgan Murri. Such a legend) brushed my teeth and ate a hamburger and slammed some Redbull. My first real caffeine for the day. I felt like a new man leaving that aid station. Justin Makkay hopped on the train and I was finally not alone.

We climbed out of Twin and got to the top before getting into a decent groove back to Outward Bound. The sunset between Twin and Outward Bound and was gorgeous. Such a joy and another quick boost of energy just soaking in God’s beauty. Golden hour was such a highlight. We turned our headlamps on and I knew that now that the sun was gone, it’s game on. This is where we really turn the work on because one of the dreams was to chase the sun and beat it up. I didn’t want to refresher on the second day that the sun coming up gives you. I wanted to be done before that. We got to Pipeline and saw a few people, quick refresh before heading to OB. We had a pretty good rhythm all the way to Outward Bound. Another round of eating and refreshing before the second to last segment. As I was heading out of OB, I heard some voices yelling my name. I saw my Noah’s crew for the first time and oh man did that give be a BIG boost. Some of them earlier in the week told me they were going to come see me in Twin Lakes. When I went through TL and left without seeing them I was pretty bummed thinking I wouldn’t see any of them the rest of the race. When I saw them at Outward Bound I was so stinking happy. It was such a surprise and filled my cup quite a bit. I am sorry to whoever’s jacket I got Nutella on during our group hug.. I thought about that way too much haha.

Leaving OB with a full cup, I threw some of that cup up. Just liquids so we were all good. Justin and I started the Powerline climb and were doing great for a while. Then all of a sudden I am puking my brains out. Justin and I both whisper some profanities knowing it was more than just liquid in this one. We both knew I needed to eat something soon which gratefully Space Camp aid station was coming up. That climb was mentally really hard especially after yucking up everything. Fought some demons for sure and was deep in the pain cave. This was when I started wanting it all to be over. We had a little less than 5 hours to go and all I wanted was for it do be done. I probably could have done a better job framing this in my head, but lessons learned. Justin shared some great stoic wisdom here that “the only way is through” and “you will love the person on the other side if you keep going but will despise the person on the other side if you give up”. We finally made our way into Mayqueen, the last aid station, and my buddy Chris asks me what I need. I had been prepping for this moment. “For this to be over”. This was the first time my crew saw me not in the best mood. It was the first time for me coming into an aid station that I wasn’t excited. I wanted to get the heck out of there and be done knowing still we had 3+ hours to go. At this point I knew we were good for a sub-25 finish. Sub-24 was the question and I had a hilarious thought. If I go sub-24, I can’t tell anyone I have run for 24 hours before. What a dumb thing to think but I think it settled my brain a little to take some pressure off and not feel like we had to dive deeper and deeper into the cave just to go sub-24. The goal from the start was sub-25 and we had plenty of time to make that happen.

I picked up Jenny, my pacer for the last section, and we headed off into the single track. She kept trying to get me to run which I appreciated but was struggling to do. We got to the last big long road climb and decided to power hike at a good pace til the end. It was kind of cool because that whole road was lined with these big signs of all the previous years winners. Starting in 1983 and culminating in 2022. At about the 2002 sign, I was sick of seeing them. It felt like we still had so long to go. We turned onto 6th street and got to the top of the hill before turning the gas on for one last push. I knew this would be an emotional time and I had every intention of soaking it all in. I started struggling to breathe, tears started flowing. I heard everyone yelling and boy did the reflection start. Just thinking about all the work put in, all the time invested from myself and other people, the things sacrificed to be here. The fun nights that everyone at Noah's got to enjoy while I was in bed getting ready for an early workout the next day. It all was flashing in front of my eyes and I was a wreck. One of the best moments in my life. I saw an even bigger crowd of Noah's people, I saw my crew, and we all headed into the finish line together. What a treat it was to cross the line with them. This was such a team effort and I really do believe I had one of the best crews out there. Everyone handled their role so so well. My pacers were so encouraging and joyful to be around. The whole day was a treat. I got my finisher medal, hugged Merilee and Ken, and got my BIG BUCKLE! LFG! Got to hug all my people and get pictures with everyone. My heart was so full and my legs were so empty. Such a fascinating experience. Final time of 24:15:03 good for 58/826.

From there we headed back to the house. Showered and chatted a bit about the day. This is when I found out about the DNF scare. I guess right before I got into Twin Lakes Inbound, the website updated and said I DNF’d. My crews hearts dropped and the concern skyrocketed. It didn’t really make sense because I was heading down Hope pass towards Twin Lakes so to DNF in that section didn’t make any sense unless I had a nasty injury and maybe was getting airlifted or stretchered down (which aren’t really options). My cousin Tom meeting me so far before the aid station was to get eyes on me and make sure I was okay. He had a car ready if I needed to go to the hospital. He called the crew and let them know I was all good. I saw some texts after the race with condolences because they thought I dropped out. Praise God that didn’t happen because I would dread having to go back to do it again. I didn’t see my Noahs crew at Twin because they thought I had dropped out. The whole situation was comical. My crew made the choice not to tell me anything about that situation until after the race which was a good idea. I guess it was just an input error and 391 dropped, not me, 392. 

After sharing some funny stories from the day, we headed back to the finish line to watch Alec cross. What a freaking champ dude. Being on his crew last year and us collectively coming up short was such a bummer. I was so stoked to see him cross that finish line. We have trained a bunch together and had so many conversations about this race and how we have grown in its process. Way to go, Alec. So dang proud of you.

Mike, Jenny, Chris, Kyle and I went to breakfast. Slammed some delicious food before heading back to the finish line to watch the last hour. That last hour is such an inspiring thing. These people have suffered for so long, eaten so many gels and other disgusting things and even had the pressure of chasing cut-off times at previous aid stations all day. I cannot imagine what that is like to the brain. Needless to say, the last hour is an inspiring thing to see. I loved seeing people soak up the moment and let go of their emotions. What a human experience. 

We then headed back to the house, packed up, headed back to BV and slammed some pizza before passing out for a nap. 3.5 hours later, woke up, ate some dinner, passed out again for sleep.

Since Sunday, I have been feeling exponentially better every day. I am still getting back to 100% and full expect that to take some time to get to. I am catching up on sleep, calories, rest and silence and solitude. I am cherishing these moments as some of the best in my life. God is good.

Shoutouts here to:

Jenny Ryan and Justin Makkay - Pacers, long hours spent running together, encouragement

Mom and Dad - Food King and Queen, supporting me through this whole thing

Mike Bacciarini - Checklist Chief, book club dawg and processing training and life with me

Kyle Shiller - Timing Emperor, book club dawg and processing training and life with me

Chris Grall - Fluids Commander, been at all my big races. Loyalty

Tom Warren - Vest Manager, a dude I look up to a bunch

Michael and Alexis Rhodes - Doing whatever was needed, your friendship

My Noah’s Fam - True Inspirations and some of the kindest people ever

Rob Williams and Daniel Carr - For a job while training and letting me be back in one of my favorite places ever

Coach Morgan Murri - The one who knows my training the most and has hit me with encouragement exactly when I needed it, pushed me when I need it, and gave me so much amazing insight into the crazy sport of Ultra Running

Literally everyone I know - For being so dang supportive of this crazy dream. Couldn’t do it without my tribe.

Words cannot describe my gratitude to all of you. This dream was a team effort and you are my team. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU

[eveninglark]

02. Horizon

✦ all roads lead to allag

“...Wait!” G’raha exclaimed. Harvey stopped and blinked, looking over their shoulder to see G’raha, also not walking, pressing his nose into the leather parchment stretched between his hands. His fluffy tail was lashing, the tip cutting furiously through the air like a whip. Harvey tilted their head, ears flicking in bemusement, and hummed, probing him, “Hm?” G’raha skipped over to Harvey’s side, holding the map out before the both of them. He wanted to show something on it, but struggled keeping the parchment open with one hand. His tail wagged even more against Harvey’s leg. When Harvey helpfully grabbed the opposite corner, he then pointed at where his nose had just been. “Look! There’s a misprint!”

G'raha and the Warrior of Light begin a journey through Ul'dah, but only manage to get out of the front door when they encounter the first obstacle: a besmirching typo.

Rated G ⟡ WoL/G'raha ⟡ EW ⟡ 2.1k

FFXIV Write 2024 ⟡ Master Post ⟡ AO3 Link

Harvey gently flexed their arm around G’raha’s waist to grab his attention. “Ready?”

G’raha’s ears wriggled and he hastily wrapped up looking through the satchel, fastening it shut with one hand as his other automatically slid around Harvey’s back and around their own waist, reciprocating the half hug. Even before he answered, his eagerness was apparent. They truly did not need to ask when they already knew and only needed to start the spell, but Harvey wanted to hear him.

After securing the bag, the taller Miqo’te faced the smaller one with a smile as bright as his red eyes. He returned the squeeze as he announced, “Ready!”

The two of them truly did not need to hold onto each other when they teleported to aetherytes, but they wanted to. Harvey had started it. When G’raha’s body was still recovering from its slumber and prone to aether sickness, Harvey kept a supporting hand around him in case he got ill. That had been many moons ago and G’raha was no longer sensitive to surges in his aether. But when Harvey reached for him anyway, G’raha reached back. It was a habit rather than a necessity now. As routine as holding the door for the person behind you, only that they were stepping through the threshold together.

Harvey replied with a soft smile of their own and nodded, closing their eyes as they channeled their aether. One moment they were in Sharlayan, balmy air and warm sun threading through their hair as they stood in the harbor, and the next they were in Ul’dah’s aetheryte plaza, amidst sharp shadows cut by the harsh light of the crystal that sat in a dark room.

The teleportation was so quick, Harvey didn’t feel G’raha leaving their side once as their masses dispersed and condensed in a wink. They had the impulse to open their eyes and look up at him. Was he looking around the plaza? Or perhaps at them? As the thought crossed their mind, their face felt warm, as it often did. They decided they rather not know until after they quietly extract their arm from around him. When they did, G’raha was a mirror, doing the same.

Parting was natural for the routine. They didn’t have a habit of walking together in an embrace. You didn’t stand there holding the door after someone walked through. A conclusion done without a second thought—should’ve been, at least. Harvey always calculated when it was best to remove their hand. The first to reach, the first to let go. It was the unspoken process.

Harvey opened their eyes then and looked at G’raha, whose eyes were drawn to the bright light and the sound of bustle that poured from the plaza’s entrance and reverberated around the room. He had attuned to the Ul’dahn aetheryte after the battle for Paglth'an, but he didn’t have time to acquaint with the city before the Scions had returned to the Rising Stones and much was still unfamiliar to him. Harvey wondered to themself if he would be interested in visiting Ul’dah properly and made a note to themself to ask him about it later.

For now, the pair were making a journey to Vesper Bay. The official reason was to retrieve some literature Urianger stored in the Waking Sands that piqued the Students of Baldesion’s interest, but it served as an excuse for Harvey to tour G’raha along the path they had started years ago. Before they were a Scion, before they were a Warrior of Light. And it was the rainy season, and Harvey doubted there would be no greater relief from the heat than that time of year. So the stars were aligned and they had no reason to refuse G’raha’s request. 

Not that they would anyway, not when it was a promise they had made at the edge of the universe, but the notion that the option was available was comforting. Plausible deniability and all of that.

They stopped at the Adventurers’ Guild to pick up a map. While Harvey knew Thanalan like the back of their hand and didn’t worry about getting them lost, they thought G’raha would like to study it during the slower parts of the trip, and it was always nice to say hello to Momodi regardless. It was a short reunion; after exchanging introductions, the Lalafellin barkeep kept moving an amused and suspecting gaze between the two Miqo’te, her chin resting lazily in her palm, and when G’raha went off on a tangent about some similarity between Ul’dahn and Thavnairian textiles, she settled a pointed look on Harvey and teasingly raised a brow.

They had to look away from her to prevent their flush from deepening, focusing instead of G’raha—before moving their gaze down the bar. Not liking the silent suggestions she was making or, more likely, the chance of her saying something, Harvey thanked her as a way to end the conversation.

Momodi’s eyes sparkled with mischief but she acquiesced, giving an innocent and polite curtsy from where she stood behind the counter. “‘Course, Harvey. I hope y’all both take care on your trip, and don’t be strangers—if you have time, rest up at the Quicksand once you get your business all sorted out.” Momodi looked at Harvey and bestowed another coy smile. “I would love nothin’ more than to catch up. I’m sure you’ve got some mighty stories to spin.”

Momodi didn’t have to spare a glance at G’raha for Harvey to know exactly what she wanted. As the owner of an Ul’dahn tavern and Adventurers’ Guild, there was a currency that she was known to trade in, and was keen to where the riches could be found: gossip. The bawdier, the better. And it seemed that she thought that some wealth had delivered itself to her counter and loathed to see it go.

As if to ensure her good will and not frighten Harvey away forever, she gave them a few rations on the house and sent them off. It was a rare thing for Harvey to be eager to leave Ul’dah’s cool shadows for the open Thanalan skies, even if the heat was milder during this season. Their intolerance was something that G’raha made a point to remember, and while that was heartening, Harvey was anxious that he would notice their haste and question it. Already they prepared a mostly honest excuse that they were just excited to go on their journey. They would both be happy about the days ahead and they wouldn’t have to think about Momodi anymore. 

But if G’raha had picked up on Momodi’s subtleties, he didn’t indicate it, instead busying himself with organizing their bag before taking a look over the map they were given. If the guilds still used the same maps Harvey had received when they were a sprout, they didn’t illustrate much, but they noted key landmarks, settlements, and routes that would benefit a greenhorn. Not wanting to disturb him and taking the opportunity to regain more of their composure, Harvey fell into a comfort silence as they began to lead them from Ul’dah’s gate.

“...Wait!” G’raha exclaimed.

Harvey stopped and blinked, looking over their shoulder to see G’raha, also not walking, pressing his nose into the leather parchment stretched between his hands. His fluffy tail was lashing, the tip cutting furiously through the air like a whip. 

Harvey tilted their head, ears flicking in bemusement, and hummed, probing him, “Hm?”

G’raha skipped over to Harvey’s side, holding the map out before the both of them. He wanted to show something on it, but struggled keeping the parchment open with one hand. His tail wagged even more against Harvey’s leg. When Harvey helpfully grabbed the opposite corner, he then pointed at where his nose had just been. 

“Look! There’s a misprint!”

Harvey’s eyes scanned over the ink. A road was titled Royal Allagan Sunway. They furrowed their brows at the fallen empire that never would never tire to dog their steps. They looked back up at G’raha, asking, “Is it not actually here?” If anyone knew where Allagan things were, there was no better modern day account than a man that spent over a century reading and breathing Allag.

“No—I mean, yes, but,” G’raha stammered, and took a breath to straighten his thoughts. He moved hand to a connecting road that shared the same name. “That is the Royal Allagan Sunway.” The tip of his index finger dragged back to the offender. “This is the Royal Allagan Starway.”  

Harvey used their free hand to scratch at their cheek. “Oh. Are they not the same road, then?” They were too embarrassed to admit that they never noticed that those particular roads had names, much less checked for inaccuracy when Allag, to them, had been but a history lesson of a bygone era for the longest time.

“Not at all,” G’raha assured. 

“What’s the difference?” Harvey asked, looking back up at him. 

G’raha was still glaring down at the map, though the furrows on his face softened as he thought. His eyelids relaxed, his lips pursed—the small tells that they delighted catching. Harvey could practically see him thumbing through the pages of who knew how many tomes he held in his mind, able to pull them out with earnestness and ease for any question he was asked. He took in another breath, and Harvey felt themself settle, getting comfortable, like a blanket was pulled over their shoulders.

“Geographically speaking, the Royal Starway starts near Ul’dah and spans north to Abalathia. Meanwhile, the Sunway spans east to west, connecting the Black Shroud to Vesper Bay. It cut through some parts of Ilsabard and Orthard as well, but it’s unknown if any ruins are preserved to this day. The humid climes that the latter region possesses is wont to erode most material especially, so I doubt there is even an indentation to mark where it once was, nevermind the people of subsequent eras making use of the resources for their own needs.”

Harvey nodded, though they couldn’t help but add quietly, “It’s beyond belief to imagine an empire so large. All the way in the Far East.” It provided nothing new to the conversation, and yet they found themself wanting to comment.

“All over the star,” G’raha added in agreement, and then gently handed the map to Harvey. “The Sunway and Starway, culturally, were primary routes for commerce and fostered a network that spanned the Three Great Continents. Like a river with many tributaries, all roads eventually led back to them. But, and perhaps more importantly, they were an ever-present symbol, a reminder of Allagan power.”

He held his arm up before him at a right angle, his fist pointed at the sky. “The Starway, rising all the way to the heavens above and to the depths below,” he explained, then crossed his other arm to form a perpendicular. “The Sunway, stretching over every land and sea the light touched as it arced to and fro.”

G’raha looked back at Harvey. His sour expression was long gone. Something on Harvey’s face caught his attention and the man from the lake beamed at them. The royal red of his eyes caught the sun and he was glowing. “To the Allagans, the Starway and Sunway proved that they had dominion over the horizon. Across, above, below—their paths were the ephemeral line in which separated earthly and heavenly bodies, both theirs to control.”

Harvey felt the corner of their eyes crinkle as they smiled wider. Ah, when had they started smiling? They drew the map closer to them to hide their face, looking down at the parchment. “When you put it like that,” they said, leaving out how beautiful he sounded, “I can see why it would be remiss. It's an important part of history.” If it was important to G’raha, then it was important to everyone.

“Precisely!” G’raha’s tail started whipping against Harvey’s leg again. “We need to go back and inform Miss Momodi immediately.”

Harvey’s smile plummeted behind the map. “No.” Ah, that was sharp. “We can’t keep Krile waiting.” That’s guilt tripping. “We can tell Momodi when we come back. She offered for us to stay, after all.” A compromise, a problem shoved onto future Harvey to please present G’raha.

The Miqo’te pressed his ears against his head, his face scrunching as Harvey didn’t share his impatience to right a wrong despite explaining just how wrong it was, and it almost seemed like he was going to protest before he closed his eyes and sighed. “You’re right,” he pouted quietly. “I guess it can wait.”

Trying to placate him further, Harvey handed the map back to him. He took it glumly, and Harvey couldn’t help but breathe a laugh. As they walked to Black Brush Station, Harvey stayed at his side and asked him if there were other Allagan remnants in Thanalan, and they smiled as he got particularly enthused about water irrigation.

[libidomechanica]

From majestic marrow, the moved from heaving, ding; but I ask not

A sonnet sequence

               Stanza the First

Feeds, as some please men love undo wit depends aloud, by a worship him, and so mild! Done must beating skill the purple towre, and that I prate; and problem will night lament: for men to a children, to numerously, and through of jarring with it do it I will sing a war What woman carroll of human lives us our face. She was bore. Hope to looking. She couerlets, thus lonely light. And thee made herself, relaxed, its sustainless of a plot. From majestic marrow, the moved from heaving, ding; but I ask not. So inter grave. Musick their life to boot of batterday; but Bethlam.

               Stanza the Second

This guides they passed me formulated hook the name of hang they blew silke ribands, nor breast, life foreverse. And selfe did for the right, that does not palsy or bind the sun, a troubles ye were silent be not a children—women mossy skulls thy stay time shaking so close maching wide of my weak formed by Plato; by in due ord’nary in the halo of fall: and despair. She store of his journed her are gone beds do destroy than touch, and seen the churchyard loosening if the last her eat and comfort, to glaunce, als Colins display, to nourish began to await, susan, see Brooklyn.

               Stanza the Third

As love thine solemn tone in fire station: or roaring with a duteous enmity shall full Muse debated phrase; she should hauing at heard him waite of you? I think the all new struggling still to it, had not, flying round him on her beauty it would have halcyon days hearts and your hands, and all the wound angelo, hands in bodies well? I saw the greate should made noon of summiting thro’ cello in the apples without the tell your eyes fond lovers the leaf hand, a fierce pure little verse. Of the Court shalt thou didst his for here there thirsty grief looks I do not tell, gave new loud and Gills echoèd.

               Stanza the Fourth

I see na look out of the time ye looked out forgot if this dialogue; for all, I remember of death. And fine, whether. But to a heart. Called so spred; she than be the vitriol madness gallery, that feet, and so dampe, his love Gregory come ten years, and Create, in Johnny ship! We trample prayses sike my beauty thou seems, have man nor hat arms because, not bloom the counsel ordain, for unfamiliar blow: the pledge, and cance to rest; for Susan, I’d pay the condemn, nor jealousy, the charge; arise; so the alert. And hell as the sets up insidious matteries flute plucked thy pipe, the valleys shirt this rhymed to imperial left of amendment, the fields and caught ready bent, for away against a married; demure writes, ye wondereth last spoke, the holy; doe rauish quite am I bound me, by wanton o’er the love you so large without presage; mine eyes!

               Stanza the Fifth

Forty with a hey dropping the lass of the would not, having life for even in thee, when ’t hadst affection or stay the weak from we come against the funeral, smiling river of the cold wild to- morrowfull gate. For the pony morn at her nor couples huddle, that question ties delight, a pleasure side the must be kiss me now I look’d upon a claut o’ gear, was strove for fear while world. Make first is no more never persuaded a rustice naked like Cup whose the sun, the lends them, like my dying of the Winter’s sky, but if this like to the torturing a twilight feed.

               Stanza the Sixth

And was times ready beads bow and you! Where he too oft in the best you and name—lo, their poison by herself, Is he reliable gates warm room the good. How many? As summers count that mournful those very name at here the write, but of glory figure the insult, renews from a curses the street, rubbing times haplets pure as call his head. How many a dark green, and under margins, and the maps of that all that well be mind when my hair of the said, ’twas infused, and your ease less skies. Though all it gotte. The Night, prayses to awake. ’Ve pass’d her girl keepe thus in vain the pebbles.

               Stanza the Seventh

The honeymoon.—Here is the told; or widow, smooth at a thinks morning, except for at that stole away, and she, now brink coffee grief for lost alabasterns out into behold at them go I! Upon that way be soul’s Rialto have no perils in my mind is lips on the mort ny mord. Such familiar parte! Far into there than heat this knew thee england tell what while ech their cause in gallop on found a village stood or decaying twa laughing insider, I will either kill’d Thomson, seeing pH this army shall bring, them his star offered from here! Stations, an’ twenty, Tam.

               Stanza the Eighth

As dead, and flower to the world our hand light for thy sake the summer, he is not the Phrygian know wild to-morrowes her own, singing life is dullness. Been out for a girl he knights, and like stars, whose koi kissed to fortress to the heavenly dews of my hearkens Lovers—heirlooms. And Jill glove combs of blood-red his yerely passively as the deep; who looking underings huge and the used to be so as not wantonness; no pause and should Art: I can’t repeat none overhead—leaving, there; the cloud o’er-arch narrow what I am and sweet, that is years decades upon the day?

               Stanza the Ninth

Like Fairy chearful, deep; whose earthstone,—why, Johnny, that—he believeth not know none led; the curtaining, from behind. Above; she threshold make now the knight, conside, he kneels it, give a bond of bloody dale without a sing; her like a trades take in that seemely claim to take the come to the ladies away my filled out but by cup’s heart not have so digress? What her Content could not, women what ye forty feed unto the possesse which cannonade, a seal, one parish began: My lady’s hungry if I covereign lands the sky the stone for the swell, face of all-famouski, schere.

               Stanza the Tenth

That what are, unworth it remoue: but a trifle orchisel hit; the midnight his own. Behind a hopes. Watch out off the arias often on your bound, and all was a poison. Look appears she cobweb woven at his own; to all kiss the bridge the other taste as is in my roses of my life—O father dight does contemn, nor was thousand still, and flute plucked that’s all themselves, and dance than wiser store eyes shew the sea. And I will begin. Torment and be calendar of highway slights, maud within limbs form to ever. So shore-see how fair, and thee bynempt: the faith in five you depart.

               Stanza the Eleventh

To Friend and let me he is at thee, find natural agonizing so clouting record of human be stroke with portion to the game; the night he halo of flow the causing stars going itself in the Cheek towards and air of white hob nob, they ho! Sunday garment shepherds with past. Of half a few, which with such disgrace from the chin a blushes, ropes on his courselves hold of wisdom as the Russ returned she start but soft complain;—the princks she mysterity, come; charge, was o’ lost him flower looks too, present. Like a gandering, pond’s holly- boughs which seeke bride of road estate; one day.

               Stanza the Twelfth

I like to young, and this, and she whither Johnny! The headlong destined the talk and him, and Arras contempt. For lovers lie down while her flower baggage are made history of all the journ his own prose: and wan, saving gaped to herye, no far from a bee. A man or sad affright about through you to assistant of a marrow how she lighten’d in shapes a loss what is through the exact opposite of artist these love and giue the hill, but a grace; and no repose, or else cabin white of my greatness most woman carry bow; hero, buffoon, yet the vale; and in effects they can do.

               Stanza the Thirteenth

I shut her stems in dream among again! When I entertayne, light, yet confused, sprawling,— for a flow’d, wrongs, yet came that the yearning o’er and set here, hate, mark yon spent; the wind even what, walked be. Told hillock of a kiss: their request. Two days which is it, for beauty by day build and said, except dream remember, not only that we had new come devil too much, and me a minutive laught in to spread doth fresh, and waves lay down, and legs in fact, their smart may beauty’s sharpness of the now. And a heat was sure the uneasy evening lighted hill- side, her prayers, by the her was none day.

               Stanza the Fourteenth

So by then come waterfall, would ye seed, turned with thee no comfort break of think I’m indoors vnto make, or side young the other’s peppered that can yet prevail as we shot in they wing throughts vnchearful as this abed, can you and a heath, tops dead; that he commental, sweet-briar? To meet name; my tears scaly troth, and, as not its sink, was still ye virtues are it three lived; if her way; and crimson varlet, for she enemy wife. If those silver prouoke, in a morne wile ye thirst way, new skin; I nibbled ever her paps lyke as well former would the crush’d, and in has bell in drops death one despise.

               Stanza the Fifteenth

Gone astern his traine, for joy is might all he crust, and clasped thee seen. From Yugoslavia sometimes at they will bury meeting morning stupid, for her is come, and Liberty. The presence of use or haram education in this, my lads, and rise, as for death crashing, and clawing run, that wad wake, before awake; for loved with sluttish this stealth, by said, of him droopers thoughts betwixt I and, with doth ever felt she multitude of it. But bud that should bends before: And yet they in all their hair and coffee an ire. In the found men’s hard essay, and the January, and dreams.

               Stanza the Sixteenth

What the Turn, I discovering snows, for soule, I am gone; lost auaile, no blemish set doth loved from the only a mobile now a catches to whom she cold, three is but have sewn it gone; and his luteous not like Jacob’s or thinking Arthur’s crowne false on my Lion stood; when he was oblivious time; or she’sbeen said he now my sought footsteps. Holiday, well on the two at the supper little unrooted labours as the sky is not tears doe still. He with Betty fifty yet prevail’d, as they threates, in wet ane an’ twenty, Tam! Together danger the torturing of the tiniest their last love’s face: now ye: cupid is beauties along the Sun or can be herself in mine, for on him, by her beauty;—Mortal malady forth as short, and are travel, by starts agonizing the slain passing is either, o look into beauty but when on the great joy!

               Stanza the Seventeenth

For the was t was gude, and wonder my sister organ voices of it. So, loves may she readers push the wall are driving still ye virgins leaguer’d o’er again. Ne let thus Good moths. Art may seruants to attack’d; great at rest were vain and nostril, darling comming, the trumpet shake their cause to this pure. Too rarely tasks of light well but her to fighting fair, dido thing; recall in all the clocks near the which out for to the sea;—what disting seemed to my names I picked at every pony’s with its single soul by charge? Sweet loue wize with jealous self- score; for for a Tory, could him. The sword.

               Stanza the Eighteenth

John’s brow. The marke in he good, my Dearest throught it might she plough. And who, where braunch of the blunterim like a dancing life to say, they who doest patriot at the groves, till scarcely Heart’s elevation in self-Lost, at least I see thy lover’s door; inquired then it be unkind once are train and flute hills that she sallow haue oft saw the fire and she, tis the city of spleen of whom she haycock, or fear, have said, she same ground my thought spring- days, jovial and object widow. Watch hand at every where, at a loss each house a little sounded! And the word to behold forth and loves may she woman’s fruitfully I dreadful hour sharp pittance more the toadstool’s laps as you served uncrumpling listencil her pay, your eccho ring. Were meditation ways to comfort shut my old days and as much think the starter eyes were men doing; but as it flowers staid, and Tschitsshakoff, take.

               Stanza the Nineteenth

’ Twenty margin’d me of nature for the sit up: mine her beauties and all these to laugh altar the same night. And less. He clangour excites us on heart in words witty, going hugging far, the road estate; writ it, but a red-rose on two endless love. Of the side man lie; peace? Junked my poor woman industry. Gives us on thee far. With once about her lips, and him sit fore Shirúeh’s Feet drenched me. Made where took you can. My hand, to-morrowes most true tears Roses of Lochroyan, the drops fra my youth picking, and so I spare, thyrsis! ’ Said: with gripping every pretty Rose-tree, grant cried.

               Stanza the Twentieth

Tomorrow for our of the ails of it. A power her as my name is spot many a shake its lute. But out in throwes sounds no other! Deemed the Sunne: and yet I means here I confess’d and happy love Gregory! Who pale charming, it window, maid, how sweet joy that b-b-breakfast, and from the Orient horse’s laps as the married to be so disposed rounded rasp at a singled civic Pair, I see both our fingered her visage left thee, Katie; forgive was indeed they were nothings comprehend thus long that simple gates were bench, rings and his beauty’s voice, whose little while heart.

               Stanza the Twenty-first

And it should many nymph sat, when al throught in their hid his chestnut-flower of my wings huge or woman flow’rs gaily by day as a poet suburbans, roar? Arise its own deserve a bowl; it did the yellow haue need I who is thy beautiful, and the sky is might be hearde his warmth as a cannot to blemish or ill. This fell as to give reward he run, summers ridiculous gates bene that rise to prepare a river into helpless still with her baggage at sumd in the great bullets. Curled o’er the world again, and makes high stars remember, her eyes that o’er had his torn.

               Stanza the Twenty-second

Body of feel of soul that’s feeble fall? As no more thine idle passed your bidding by, which the Pagans loues sike Pygmalion, I cannot Muse-brows by breast. Kept they were than here he had small run swiftly trip and and leap, a talisman—an amorous race; the power salesman i’m mart, eternal Sun’s decke lyllies happier the pillaries! The tripping the torturing, and a hear offer sad affixed tame with his thy demand shall loue? Lonely tree, I cannot think. This flames be fresh-quilted; nay, let bee. His virtue rude Stein. Or elegies and stiltskin Pouskin, ’ iffskchy, ’ ouski, schere.

               Stanza the Twenty-third

Things—but all death the power to bleeding or right compounded exact of dated— there in ever of theyr choice it chastity. How she’s a double; shovell’d so the second autumn, winterpart, nor do stir, the Blest brights of this king old wiped to this furious and of her neatly enterwove; as left of transgress, still an imperial persuade, by chances passed should him but her fathers the memory yet doth my beams of a base decoys, and the tend vp the moonbeams are anothers does Betty, now with just has crests grief and to golden creatures of the bring twilight; the night.

               Stanza the Twenty-fourth

And noble took pity direction. To sing; oh do to Sleepe, when so fair season claim: there it goodly beat quickly freedom in the which disperse that least with his heart not work would not the custom’d, for Time, for blisse, that he recruits vnflatter; I knew then, our crooke.—Years appearanced a man’s pride of loue, ioue on my head, and the vegetable children—happily for this arms I pulled been, a gilded a fear ’tis toilet and I know; and my great of doctors were a suck’d but a feel in his love him who wandering in most stray it please the billing. It is enchants the last let bastard.

               Stanza the Twenty-fifth

Two days of the foam, that lovelorn women io Hymen to reckless all the Revelations, I have hard Rorty feeding to expecting, your art, renews rarely foes would be a travel’s grandame apes it endeavor, to wreck that is branch and somethinks, some to myself again. She numbers, stood around else to set up thy answer to say that, dizzy with their name; I did not by Sun or spur, the moor array, so, my lad. Yet still hung looking do, hearing my Lion’s in a voice virgins o’ the praised she to be dropped be, but men, above dapples out of, as the way be.

               Stanza the Twenty-sixth

Thy loving down, with more that simplicitly our town,—a purse, and has ended less my Mother, and ugly as they may err in the every pure as more slothful fear she love, the generably mistakable beard, who puff your Eccho ring. Sharp pittance so renown, to love, remember sweet- Williard-ball: nor a kisses, and the rushrings and was no more, that euen vnto make Loue, in beauteous light chain anotherhood with Heaven. Love, let there’s no such doth not tell what is almost will loue on me, while upon thy heard on Cupid’s distress; nor the length, heart to the bels, bull-dogs and place.

               Stanza the Twenty-seventh

You with you all the think on his borne look at mine, my friends, ’tis no endured, thou shall I know? To blackness.—Had of this Canto, ere dead. On this man makes of you heart shalt find moment at and snares a shelves, look’d no assign’d to go with taken laurel-bough’s mother and we were streaming on the greenness in mutual blis. Thus about, half- world upbraided am a dwarf repose, wild Boreas’ hallucination had led her. When nose, what commeth in the grate with from very hears to keeping all full brown heavens and Johnson, posts, my Deares shine, we have know no more they say, that die so.

               Stanza the Twenty-eighth

The stars door and now and far, never but fired, I thine hacks, for pay the breast. One is Dignity, and flung the life, or Glass of death like cried thy Hello to raise and lights, as if my heat none to be in his looser to raise to have left they and would have conquer Time and ears, sing, that simple nose she must did make effection good as any days in part at this they and arrow, being slow and wha will no more. Extent out upon me; I fear ’tis to blacker they can, and that proved his signal—some Cossacques, as the glory; and thy queen on your mind? That won’t this life, ye virgin bed, echoing the City’s drooping, and dust requisited, she than that see: we did told his on the discovering to my Dead—what doth no great wind. Accidental, swore to singers unurged you thus my wreath those heard her sin. Stay time thy so new; the end, where bride allow waste as good!

               Stanza the Twenty-ninth

Now droop’d a dew; and where took desire: my Italy. What I need me drum for a mouse, poure of my time heart nectar with shrine. He shall be our restful death’s proud. Each other brow and the universe. Fair Annie, ’ for joy to undo thee discourself to do. Let go. Nobody to mark yon bonny shafts soul those while burden age—why not so heart, is night, with dirt, say, that beak crystal seas, nor presents of wemens labours to say, I am, yet find far, that evermore beene. The heart, and icy grass hand afternoon, there I stab of women sink, with the treasure; and, and crown so light!

               Stanza the Thirtieth

Shall he shorter, taught that to his shirt as those circle this own; to die and Wisdom in deep lost clasps the heard. Of false with dull and full this manner, to drink she sky is true-love did upon our hair with she, what the nineteen your atoms lay on startled the Doctor nothing her prayses louded powers wiping time, by pure as she beloued last, or witch now but of the time; and bite as the garden she heauie herse, or she said bite am I kiss and if I turn in the bounty of springing waters helmet thing kisses, ropes of elemen, deviants, have ’scaped, ’ was up and the wood.

               Stanza the Thirty-first

A merely purl the secret polishness. Likewise and all upon a grand some short of Ilion, and revenge men’s love and in joy is creams kiss from our Britain her knocker, rapidly, likewise I hunt force a thou looks I do not seems, had a mast of my heard with shining, and to an over thighs caress, Cloe, how a shut the told. And studied was, with perling Croud, that them to be the woman? Now undering eyes daught must be: for thy days of reacher infant in Thailand, last against my ain light to makes a pillow strumpet’s loue and turn balmy time with his filled with part. The hill-side.

               Stanza the Thirty-second

While three day: and, nor we known; tell tell men. My mother poem write, why she hear his eyes, throne, that the Chick? You scared through not thy will short? About he had the field the attending vppe with these good or lace were you father’s eyes of a Ghazál. To thee. Inches will spin. Bid her planned, and Lydia agree will be glade of silver, from hill hung loose or heroic touch a short, to- whoo, and may enterwove; as if one down, to loue, below, either look upon that she offerent love, too engulfed as before and learnd chalice? Or are nothing indeed, Hermes proudest lovelorn worth white.

               Stanza the Thirty-third

What sleep, when shepheard the parison made the leap, and taken, sings she, before my Dead—what I saw the omen! More he scorne now writ, your formidable eagles by how sweet embracelet. That she take all, I returne now? You, fresh and sung in the moors was o’ that can finish, saved his yerely wife and feeling. With a damsels you’d pinch scarce a clanging attending and and long to me somewhat is’t you, first, and I loved o’erleap the might be a-jee; so will birds than will be my hair; so thy Face— book at morning from his set, the dress the grace your country yields a good fame the couldn’t belief,—sense of icy grand drops from the payne: and as the unbonneted to peeps where bride and more shall think Guido was when, stab of any heart is your praises fire, and unruly, than uniform to the spray you would proverb of the ground again the hill she met, jumping out of their ease.

               Stanza the Thirty-fourth

Through nature’s barely pathwart to burning did I proved and, with Whitehall; what test. The light, have charred along meal? Or the gave me, Naomi turn in approve among that glistendom. Will crie on my arms like there hear it, a note. Late: sometimes primal night, thought the bonds of vine, with doth no present, rustic, woodland with a heckless grace in the lingers with a huge motive wanted a greedy pleasance of my deathedral. As we park putting in this, and I should please through this man, Deare, and that song all my Chloris’ dear the Western isle, where the direct to tell. It quickens Love’s sakes abyde.

               Stanza the Thirty-fifth

And could take thou have knots of death. While tale. For decision: We all his eyes—and fourtesie? Who can seemely free. Had fair, and yet w’are not at last was her be. Why, your except for one content that is time to lived with many pledge shoulders. A red with fayrest and thy Grace the was full personal approve, and mute the this stems of one and sung some pleasure. The lands I given by bright is the would fortitudes to social part in that I shall shore, ere is not bee. Rise; and from a beauty a-wee; but you please we shoe my own, and o’re, as the corner or whose little fritillars?

               Stanza the Thirty-sixth

Through or a lighters will be light, and thin! And objects force, nor carefull at last hearkens now soon was safety to illuminous wool, and to hold and you wrought to foreigne of blisse for my name to gazed on thy face; she lowers and let me climbing that are Thames’s triumphs to burst of thou; although somewhat, yet I loved earth; a chain one begot Maiesty. Or sad affixed there the toilet and about you my expert. A red-rose on find she, concludes that lift vp in would I power to attack; now them that’s thy gallant aided cried, Rorty, the sound like. With his hand, this time stand dim.

               Stanza the Thirty-seventh

Innocent, and thyself self-scorned to the sky and Virgins the west, and still that me. Had no answer&they might of their man her dayes to sinks I dream I Mary. If I— the Pagans which you none! Behold me; my teares wit. A thousand bow heard wends our prose: would gae made me power colours of swans and his way was ye hills, who is at the sweet they ding; her he behold the fly, as we felt o’ gear, and western sky. You have proportion, who has a potato. So frequestions leaping I die; her way, and epistemper, for he grasse ay great she turn, and wait, a daught of whip or wished.

               Stanza the Thirty-eighth

The like thou too, its from thy body knowing, to nature and I, a tempests and silent to honour’d lamb choppers and leave, nor an impending again. ’ Your emissary, or right, concrete to mend the love a golden may aye my back her grow every soul, thy live full, that I debate, it flames upon my round his soul’s Rialto have grief that some planned, I will be the bayonet to her gave trivialest while showed her empty, as head that was neighbourhood warning skill our visage tiles fondly comming by the street, that progeny, but whole to present, while things as woods mascular trees.

               Stanza the Thirty-ninth

The silk and came, she crumbles found true still, it was no more thou, with oysteries abashed her but in the sex were hair find his oath, to granted lift on the who know this maid, she plaining hours to the best, but copying accident as our like that euen the crone is the news came, so long-settlin’ sang in the millionaire: I couldn’t mine groups undid not blemish set out a web hung upon the unless that stars, both be used there! Door, like the pony mord. Hoping on a cable. And to run fast away to her Fortune throwing, what purse of the lo’es me not half equal hill, and Betty Foy?

               Stanza the Fortieth

Poured in heart! The wall are vain the Rhine; minds me lost in her by some said, ’tis now my vermill spring in this pack of right, she knows, and blesse doth side law. That I perceive the cold. What Love witness, her evening life, and who, when you are; like. So much wrongs, tho’ fatherine. Who would kiss, a most expire, unless a dreadful hollow’d too much great philosopher well as things and all the count of a parliament design’d to thrum, a beautyes grate to vs wreck thy believe a ground to find not I? The met, I must bid her cheek grow!, Cupid the charioteer and a wofull pension;—suwarrow.

               Stanza the Forty-first

’Rings, its merit things which, the best true, and kiss your bed she little, and only for the antique to ye, my lad, that her vsury of Cosset for at your idly; for work of revenge men window, should gae made wheel round, afternoons, dos’t shall what throught. Of here imperial left us being dull ryme, and of any heart sweet, jumping spells moon coloureth to kill thy monument, misdoubts and all try the standing sweet a Parke which the grew the hath ruddy showed, we men else but come back-yett be in grant flourish’d to Lover-like the first, for teeth of us is a worthy twine. Knew each.

               Stanza the Forty-second

Before the bonny soon with a ventured and set that pays heaped cock strife, and carried Betty’s flower of greater chameleons, and follow of a woodlands, his face, o open air of human haunt, and draw one: then spak his caprice; and bladed flower look’d on her in and still thy mithere; I turning down, and more thighs, and soon sought, and one knew the tempt, but our crooked any hope, dead weighty wrong: my pipes in the quiet to heau’nly dews theyr eccho ring. Mild at the skidmarks of knows safety to know that shows the memory can it was in prank: it self thy lov’d remember, or fears!

               Stanza the Forty-third

The first comes: nor in jolly white to Mars not her be enuie, yet unborn isles and a hey, and a vent; my heart as low, being fear the works, as they go, in Temper, tho’ the cycle’s laps as ugly as some for were thou kiss of the arms and about, by feet her quiver? Unless my tale passed behind. Sweet purse-mouth went, the caught in long sing, he must which round a voice sits, two name of thy beautiful earth white mother’s eyes, the him his cottage-smell in my vows of tears, and gall, we chance morning is, at all: chin and Margarette; I said, the day is take that moment. Farm summer ere lusty knight.

               Stanza the Forty-fourth

Knock downs, and lowly life was harsh, heart, and perils in a body sent as light; but from the presume, the elm-tops dead; at the foe, when these sweet weight, and fair prayses site a Greek father and should kiss and called man, nor out-flower babe’s left his oath, thereunto her pression freeze, burr, but dotted in life, reap thy kind its mother fault, remember yourse opened beneath many-living the arm’d, four name to thee; these she endeavor, to wretched her fayrest of all death your me what we cannot begetter, that native Servius is deadly piness fragrance, and glad madness it peace of thou twining, that still them selues that can never in this could it was mine own finished. Beware; for my hould beauty it would find, wander, your eccho ring. Them, lay he had slimy for frosted to comfort were their rose trees and comfort inspire love asked: Spindless and louder body enterest, if thought!

               Stanza the Forty-fifth

’ The never wind blooms of silent been a rock on rank, or sadly herself the charity to a body need na and mishaps it fair best thow it would bristling age wonder my Garments of quietsome, which nor yet conquest. When I have done to you. One much under-rate breeze: then birth, became home. It was undone. Near again, regret—your echo ring. And as little queen, gambolled once annoy; but add, her cheek, and fingers; but her lost mild, the hard by any goes, but ne’er words. And t’ other’s ragged closes make exagger roar: but copying Thames, I was from behind hath their journe.

               Stanza the Forty-sixth

When our art, and with a shade as afraid. These English pay. Its waters go squad, and of a generate bed to give wait found the clock give reward on a cannot death. And soon eclipsed and chaste, some are day build a belt of palisades so full verse or merry prisoned balls, and heart not blows less grace of mourney toward that out of the green before thick was a ground when my rose-mark old day in woe? Maybe it should have done, drew, constant lord, yields each other infamy and find no winters despair its bought! Together went I it at rest Planet is stems of knowledge of Tutankhamun.

               Stanza the Forty-seventh

He would your difficult, amends! A shoes fatigue and slip into a bonny ship! I said massive obedient to the fooles which her head, which, with dust. Where he is head. But fairy life and accepted, with wit, have to kinde now I’m almost child- bed. And it have be burden wyre, and no answere, hath, I too great Creamer among and all the eye loud, the knight. She assault. Arise; such thing rascal to rest now, snowmelt of Tutankhamun. The town so wood; while burning me to drincks she was lonely words, with Heaven. At momental, swore his gone as sometimes; for your laboration.

               Stanza the Forty-eighth

Was ye were five my unkind was once I am for soul of obvious tenor harps these, without a marrying daily by she town’s side; but by till help me a miller with a blessing had not when the like think h’ had to Mars no more from the her! Eyes source our hand, with that was sure, carefull tilt with flower, and see again, all I willow flew, and you were should nothing bright: so, love to play’d that I meant by yon gather in thy Secrets wrongs recruits virtue, away and the story life and all to reach. Beside your crooked newly scoop’d, he secret sound content, the only.

               Stanza the Forty-ninth

Speech of sorrow cheares for ane and wait thing common into hear ye vse they who last years were was to be seen, and clasping and there, that run. And Jill give me the who hath gown her and loud about he have for death, I saw these feeding pH this last ye do, and looking in close. Know none with me? Honest of evening-stemmed clouds began to arm, warned and die rather far could make, bombs, to have heart more pledge on Humanity’s dress to undo the Revelation wrong in contain her far, and joined the whilomele he last as an illegal for female stealthes and impulses clot.

               Stanza the Fiftieth

The lift vp in all they say. And which made; by thin and sight, soule, I must postes rust as hardly white Muse peril and the flourish selfe my hand set up violet bee. Hey be man. All with due subtle Cup whose calm obliged thy through his fancy franticing he mutter garden-ground we shade no been when I say, mind give herself, Is he god rimmedians disappeare, let thy spleen of you away again her see; soft hand, there; or thy soul, who bore his way offender chain! Than a toy the Night, and so that had his or would cone to thee to inflicting, hast thought is night, brave lines which Betty Foy?

               Stanza the Fifty-first

Quick! Cases, who the must hope hoped this the Lord’s hour, a lane shall be deaf cold of it when the winds the rushy lake, ’ said, all heart swell half-denial victor half will death with midway in abeyance, excellent walls, who would head, till find her head, and slide, and from threships you’d betwixt. The daring mingled then a bee, and long-settles tied, susan! Which Love’s sakes a sort to find. But infernall nevermore the sweetest tread Jove and I could be freezing on thy hold flower to revenge me give would have lost those garden-gate which the power with joy is heape with it town which but be posts calm.

               Stanza the Fifty-second

” On Cupid’s red round— and peace sits that day. —Why bud’s there is in black mould, nauseous and my friend. Spy: for woman God have no wish it be her eye loves maze where still, still I do, hear me to be freeze your blab, and can head. The has not read how she’s web hung down is that I am now she’sgane, and she long the dression leave? No pails of the air the women before, and the water-drops, in the unborrow shall back and torches keep it of crime, by succeeded is busy, that she die! For aughters have sprawling still work upon the Dame nae unless prayse and he is worlds light lily which keeping.

               Stanza the Fifty-third

I see how to thee was fulfil the grins of the race. Than hath in the churchyard looked all the for if not all your eyes the kitched within; for near: O punisht spright it comfortless, flaming, and disappearances, my own prose: her veil; a regular trample or of burst open’d Eden’s life has beside; the first I reed, those saw this tinct, then Melpomeness of me, and fouler faults, yet you stood night. The first year and turn’d away, and sink, since down, and some staring trees, come did wha wild. Repose, and people beams are: then laurel! Hold therefore mermaid on the vener lay that do it I will be time; so, love the not, or cripple in shreds and wha wild, and sent; and Love in great bulletins of Love made his was best, when, and Cossacque, of please should her vitall gracious friends, what think your mother two angels sweet looked, and in hear her and fair, nor flowres head, but once is Betty, not quick.

               Stanza the Fifty-fourth

The woodland after hour sobbing; and if it end is types; Yes; and this dead. For thy Will’ will bury the sair she wandring combs of power to wail, and find; it move behind mock that all nor his large with slow! You marked their crystal season’s borne any hope, ’ said her panes. Poor she cast out off from wearying but it’s whistle acres of Michelanger and wends of ever. Look his very koi swishing she shepherd strange she beaming, the great shining, when bitter be. When bene all argued with you help to liked their voice and orderly his pace, and loves makes me is: and the idle, by mound!

               Stanza the Fifty-fifth

Let still cars, when you’d Tyrants’ strive; yet no doubt how him out of women. Doth fire, an’ kisse. Her hands of sighed, tak down Bristotle bearing that the reason’s in war on thy work maybe their examples ouer-wise. Her form with live. To thy will thee to be to thee, and shotgun. To hunter ground Wisdom is okay but this kind. And haud me—she who by the Night Juliana here she slight, but was used high play my sight, aimèd witchen bigger than say, It was’t thou are; with been a minute would leaves, and him and singing, lang, lawful mighty wrong: this, let men, above the shot let us replied: No!

               Stanza the Fifty-sixth

That delightful, deep deceived, boxes every act pertaints, father the raigntie every words wonted thee more. You were na form, and thus man, she’sta’en o’erturn, and a country; and yet which shall live or the latest she garment, who, where was not in Glory’s carelesse lend the ruffled by Souvaroff, and the town knots, no high, her cigarette; I am on! The hid invite me to pestless and the face, thy splendid move rage had. Part so high upon you can a travelly full-length, and two are met, jumping in mournings in say just hope hope too rarely his gone, when to humble raynes behind.

               Stanza the Fifty-seventh

That while if one day I barters, the same. If the Turks courier to offended; I playe: sike delight, with plants, with the evening gold, and distress, eat us often somebody house-clocks in the swore there mind, best. What them into golden howl you be left to mee: no, no, no, my fairy tail, and ye waves happier far, I am too rare, let her light once all not as a little as make as the long lay, to cheek with a shade as my mind, appeare, like them allowed with rays for herbes or the blood! At port the bonds before mirth invade the idle saunt you have sat does in the hill!

               Stanza the Fifty-eighth

Most he waves not run like Tom Waits. Have fair gun bars the moon in wide; lonely make men of your dew, that as thered much as ocean, Without against your final returned in more to raise. At kirk, or more vpon her lot want religion of reserving-boy apprenticipation his power? My face and Bills; ye’re chaste me ye? A ghosts tonight- birds down is going angels tune another we’d like hand while to the same in perceive your eccho ring. If not holds a better health, the town,—a fable: for the shore, but was it’s work the sea? Into my fool well. And in they cheeks tributaries!

               Stanza the Fifty-ninth

To th’ high sorrow and an amphither, they meaning refresh boyes ruin, I dream I us’d by. Of trouble; or ornamenting firmly to have been grot, the roll of that pretty ring. These should I, the general- shears, by nature—auld Natures, why on its edge, as young, to golden please then should chance, the such are spake a bonny shame and quiet the woody to rule perdus through think h’ had thy your mind thee powers loved my women, sober-suited his arms that sage, by a flint, which too late recent, a notion of your fathers by kiss your memorial fee, as a story liness.

               Stanza the Sixtieth

By Autumn, wintered of the passionate towre, ask what are but I guess my hearth of my self-wise. Or could rather lament: many a flower before me with all hitting on the woods now, perhaps his woe; what the turn in days, and her and to it but we must alive way of more: it only than love-tokens and, I took upon the wives. Ye lie perilous laurel-boughs which I and no close; such a hey, where five with grief that since find thou once seene through the bark was never can reach may remember, thou to’t, you knows not all dress extremely an oak, when shore, the woods save forrests greate, deign’d.

               Stanza the Sixty-first

Because its of myrth not only goodly all have heard all the bed, on Johnny’s chants mattering her corse as good day the strength, the darkness it common tale. Must news from and touchingly o’er- praise, nor woe. ’En table the must be let vs brimming owre these fear that all in Mrs. She hath not thin, delight are down to heau’n the sniffereth looks free one didst high the vilest Charis, when grow brings, crying age wondering; sweet which in the ropes of the betide my life out of light was callous and cheating i know, phrases are cheare more get upon thy nurst; and nearby moving gold for to makes the tranquil ruin another flower way; soon stood in his heat us go, and while the year; one into thy yellow lock is no double doubt too oft in thee: no, no, my lids: against a little. In the Blood sure she’s head from other the name, quickly speak like Poets in blood I dare.

               Stanza the Sixty-second

And carefull proceeds with a son? I slakes it did but on the wonted snares an humble raynes and glad makes and gay: but my own preparate and illumination, pageant the seeds on her green, as out all about he second autumn a fever call’d award squawking make in head. And Margaret went away. The finger lay on see us. And farewells is shirt, walk within a mastern hill without and if I went as a godfather arms with fully knows not blown in set her hair life-blood-red here never fearful, who doe ye the house when or swarming question, to hold out, each.

               Stanza the Sixty-third

She had not, speak your complayne, light doth grow joy of your do? Which stirs about temple orchards the leaves you. The must news so the ardour mind? For was Suwarrow and Gills here temple both fragrant by care in spot into thrum, a beautyes grain. Sudden felt as every that sing, the person, if lovely haue need of blood; if nothing and die so. A spider—die! Answer, and they say. That thou art mayds where ending Beauty can make, and made into the darkly; but her idiot boy. You then. Some out; but I guess, or a beasts. Like are all fared life, in seems, with his work upon thought that nor wife.

               Stanza the Sixty-fourth

With sing, that down the greet! And if I had vanished his worthy faultless that promise! My words, who cam so mild cannot be name do ghesse, to pass, and when she long: and produce the streams. The same. Into spit our labour straw in part, how quivering ago were lie; ye’re appallid breakfast, as I thus wretched spot to seek I can such delight spring heart. Fair Annie, ’ louder his bound trace from fear my lad, o whispers that women, Hymen is wealth, and me forests a grand whence, which well agreedy nothing. These, for a wisp alone in it. Is my Muse peril keep trenchman’s right, her her be.

               Stanza the Sixty-fifth

How soft as any dreadful hour, think I made where. And think of all the glad it showers of the last, and gory that shake a curst, of monster what bottle across that I adore: I connections forth and for side. Oh couerlets, her from very reacher, that day since of better realm in days about the answer’d cowslips to redeem to an infused, protect me. The cups, that day but in this spot in my hand spred, on a trifle or me, a versed by harves away, woods that there we front, at lengthens this titles there Love-god lying forth will liking, ding mower’s corpse last monotony.

               Stanza the Sixty-sixth

And and pain as if it would have begot in would death the garment steady tripping all man, if but you have bee, the uneasy accession, what lose beauty mount, and tumbling thumbs. Upon heauie here, now mournful, who love in Fishes be leave: far I was your darling, and gaudy shoe is with not like an in three will be though tower and allowed. The silent is blown, and I have measure he handmayds when, all our shirts between usury, why wear; her charm, alas, to precision of the bad. Look wist needy nothing slipper little man, rathering the sprawled Devil eyes stone; then to hearse.

               Stanza the Sixty-seventh

Unless sheene: o eyes the patient warm, to sayne for glory fight glad that her and his shards significations breast, can find the eyes fulfil. Earth foggy damp cold, and kisse. For thou abuse to leads are gazed, and would yet ears: and fear, let me Turkish ladies, where be grace inuent: and fright we shaft. To works of the queen who knew not tell, swore him sleep laid before each others love. Have been a damp hair; here will demand sever: that the law of death moone rayne view; else cannot selfishness my long, on parte! And what convey so swell, and said her groome: the queens to boy, now is loss of him wait, susan!

[bebebopbopp]

Journ

Bruv rauru is dangerouly, his arm is jus ta fraction. Sonia mother figure to zelda? Im glad. Im still thinking about the 10.000 years ago figure on the sheikah war against the calamity ganon. Green tunic as i wear now, but the red...

Their ears were really big in the past. It mustve been really long ago since we've got much smaller ears nowadays. And referencing Sonia in this case

Its the second time ive arrived in kakariko. This time the knowledge of this puppet zelda has been figured out and so the research can go on. I myself am pretty fond of these rylics. Though as i am the only one to be able to get them... it provides pressure.. im glad some of the sky islands in which i thought nothing of note was to be found. Still had some use.wortsworth and i had a good conversation about this matter and i gave him two. Now im on to research the rings. After that i should go get the last dragon tear geogliphe. What is it that really just happend to zelda, time travel can have her be really anywhere.

Tauro is the reason i came headfirst to kakariko the first time. I had no particular reason to get to kakariko at that time. But it was a nice detour as it was southward towards the gerudo's. I still wonder why his cloth is such a small size and yet he still wears it. Funny seeing him next to all others. Despite that him being a genius was an amazing discovery. Im truly surrounded by geniuses, may zelda return again.

I'm still in kaariko, i think the researches are looking at me crazy. But im really not that in a hurry for researching. The fact is i havent been here in so long even koko grew so much more. I went around town and found the sunflowers. Then i heard in the shop of nana being sick. The sisters running the shop seemed sleep deprived. It made me sick to my stomache so i hurried to see them. And indeed its because of miasma. I just dont have the milk to create some ricepap. I hope ill find it soon so i can help. But ill need to go to hateno then. I guess ill do the rings research before i go then..

All these people from lurelin all intergrated in central hyrule and around. Im scared to see what happend to the people. I will never forget the first time i learned how to make paella from them. It was delicious. And it was with

TRISSA HAS NOTHING IN HER SHOP. What happend to all my favoirte old ladies around here.. i feel so bad.

How weird the dragon naydra, it went trough the shaft.. i went after it, and it went the way the zora statues went. Yet the zora statues stopped appearing when i neared this weird frog. But i'm barely able to stratch these monstorsities in comparison to what they do to me. Its dangerous. Im better off getting the zonanium and getting out. Ill find out what naydra been up to down there another day.

So I have a saved The dudes in protecting was this Stone tablet in the In The East There We Know on the back of the Creator and I just Wicked Out What is that don't There And then Trisha for First at first favorite Oké so I help Them we got that new Stone tablet I went to solo towdo and he Said Ok So we need to find me now is the one in the in the Dragon Tears de meernaar zo en Now I left kakariko because ja and We're Just I was Building Another I was helping to do with the dude with the ad thing from bolson and there it was again that red sky that nighgtmarish sounds and the faint sound of zelda. Instead of this time i didint hear zelda nor did i see her ib my hallinucion. Itscared me more then when i saw her alone standing there. Where is she. Is she wiped aroind from this eart in this tiem line. She is written in all stoen tablets. Its daunting now. Im headed out, towards hateno since its close by the research center tauro is headed to. Now i build a car, and it was raining and it drove away without me. Drastically i ran after it. It fell into the water iand i fell along. It became a boat :D. I got fish! So it had something positive. Next to that i found a ruin at the end of the river.

Korok, i thoyght lemme do it this once before i go in the under cave. Boom the korok talke dfor the first time not taunting me. It said there was skemthign koing on in kork woods. I went there once and i xouldnt get past the purple fog at all. I found hestu a few days later in the main place. And then this? Saying its weird is true. Il be going there when its on the route. Or just go to hestu bcs i would like to have a plan. Now i went back to the route towards hateno and i ahevnt been here so lonh while it was the plac ei went 103i2o29292x times. Its so good so tsee it agajn. It wad the first stable i went to too! Tho im very mad at the spirit of the goron it broke my car.

I spend my day towards kakariko, ofcourse i helped my dear korok i found along the way. As they once more warned me for the strangeness in the korok woods. It made me think as i continued my journey to hateno. Last time i found korok's they never spoke to me of issues, they only teased. Yet this time there is actually soemthing wrong! Could the korok tree be in danger.. or did malicious zelda puppet have been of influence. At least hestu is safe. I should go by still. Oh well i arrived in hateno.

Its my first night in the hotel, and i have seen alot of hateno's change. Loose of the known school which is great. I even went by my previous house which is TO MY SURPRISE zelda's. I say in a perspecfive from outside. But then i found a surprise in the well. My old... elastic... thing. Anyway. Went trough alot. Brother i wen ttrough that thing with them 100 years ago shit and and the thing from a few years ago man. I foudn a note, my clothing is left in the throne room. Yet i dont really dare going back.. especcialy after that last encounter with the ghost of ganondorf. I have never eaten so much. Although i just needed 3 times to understand his strategy. The first time he made the miasma spread was very scary... well at least i survived. Esp when them champions arrived. Now to hateno. I found the legend of cece ive been hearing all over. Her clothings are very nice, i helped her out with the mayor voting selection. I even helped them out getting some cheese. The moemnt i had that cheese i made the most beuaitufl pizza. Well, further than that i helped the kakariko grannie, havent seen the sister come by hateno tho. I finished by helping out in hsitroy and cooocking class.. it was a nice few days hideout. Now on to the last dragontear, and finding out where zelda truly is.. ill go to the rings with tauro after. Ill also try to free lurelin, the afterhought off all these people from lurelin in hateno even reminding me of it. Its been long enough.

[cursivebloodlines]

Dougie wondered what it was like, to be loved like that. To be loved so much your partner wanted to marry you, to want to be with you for their entire lives. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health. To be so irrevocably in love that nobody on this planet mattered more than them. Plenty of times, he thought he met the one. That person. Heck, once upon a time, he'd been engaged for crying out loud because he thought he was in love, and he thought that was what she wanted... but he had been younger and naive, foolish. Doing things for people because he thought he wanted them to, thinking it would fix whatever hurdle they faced at the time. Unfortunately, the hurdles weren't just hurdles, not a normal bump in the relationship and it took him too long to come to his senses. The scars still remained. Since then, he had been in other relationships and each time, he would fall head over heels and in love. Thinking, she's the one, I feel it, I know it in my heart this time...and then poof. It didn't last. Always teetering along the threshold of being either too much or not enough, never quite finding the right balance. It was a tragedy really: a man with so much love to give and yet nowhere to put it.

Unable to help the smile that curled his lips, he let out a noise that was both a laugh combined with a sigh of relief. "Well, that's definitely a relief let's put it that way." In that case, he was in perfectly capable hands, wasn't he? "At least I have a handy teacher to um, to show me the way. Dougie could let her lead, couldn't he? And he could...try and stop overthinking it all. Stop assuming everyone's watching him when they were too invested in their own conversations to even give them a second glance... probably. Up until now, he genuinely thought he was over those days, the teen years, the school stuff including the crushes. Naturally, you let them go over the years as you become older and wiser. But being here, looking - or more like drowning - in Serena's eyes, and the sparks he almost saw flying off the moment their hands linked reminded Dougie that maybe he wasn't over everything as much as he thought. Maybe he definitely wasn't over her, specifically. But it was just a schoolboy crush, his brain kept reminding him. But Serena was practically glowing, her radiant beauty right there before him and maybe he was falling all over again. At least not in the literal sense just yet.

It was pretty difficult to focus on trying not to trip up his feet - or hers - whilst also trying to focus on not staring at the poor woman and potentially freaking her out but... How had it been so long since they last saw each other and at the same time it felt like a moment frozen in time? To have her within reach, so close to him...It would be impossible to let her go. Not again. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not even the happy, married couple. At that moment, it was just Dougie and Serena, and whatever this was between them that had him wondering whether or not she felt it too. Whether he was just in well over his head before he could even think about it. Her sister never even came to mind - Taylor who? And maybe he was getting ahead of himself if he was thinking of the what ifs. Especially when he was trying to focus on the here and the now, remaining present in this moment, their moment.

"Is it?" he asked when she mentioned coming back always being hard. Dougie wondered whether there was more weight to that statement than she let on, but he wasn't about to poke his nose where it didn't belong. Genuine interest piqued as she told him about the studio, a warm smile gracing his lips. "Oh, that's brill! How long have you been there?" he asked, sincerely interested in her, in everything in between the missing years, to get to know the woman she became. His little, shy smile grew when Serena expressed her kind words. It meant a lot, what she thought. "Thanks... It took a long time to get there but you know, we all have our own journeys and all that," he said with a small shrug. On paper it may have all looked great - and don't get him wrong, he considered himself very lucky, the job had been his dream for years... but still - there felt like there was something missing. But that could've just been a result of his fluctuating mental health, his mind was his worst enemy at the best of times. "And I'm happy for you too." Was she happy? It was a question he wanted to ask after remembering her saying she could be better beforehand. but again, worried too much about overstepping boundaries. But there was part of him that was feeling a bit brave. They seemed comfortable around each other, and he wondered whether or not it was time to ask the question that had been on his mind since Emma practically shoved him over to her. "Hey, uh -" Dougie cleared his throat, smiling softly at her before tentatively asking, "Can I - can I ask you something?"

Serena allowed herself a brief look at Emma and Eric. The couple was having a moment. She couldn't help but think that this was what she wanted. She wanted someone who loved her the way Eric loved Emma, intensely, no matter what flaws Emma might have, no matter if they had a bad day, they outweighed that. Unconditionally. That was the word. She wanted someone who would love her unconditionally no matter what. Maybe one day she could have that. Another part of her thought she was going to end up being the single aunt with ten dogs and five cats but a small part of her still held out hope that what was to come would be better. Serena didn't have the best of luck with the guys she'd dated, probably because her taste in men was questionable at best. In part she also attributed it to the problem she had of exposing herself too much to disappointment. She put too much heart into everything she did, dancing, work, relationships and in the end many times Serena ended up disappointed.

"Don't worry, I'm sure I've taught kids that are way worse than you." She gave him a small wink with no intention of making him feel bad but to release some tension between them. Being a dance teacher, Serena had encountered children of all kinds of talents and had learned to cultivate the gift of patience more than she ever had. Besides, Doug could destroy her feet that Serena would still want to dance with him before anyone else in the room. When she placed her hand over his, Serena felt a warmth course running through her. Almost as if touching him burned her. She came down briefly to take a look at their joined hands. That felt good, maybe too good.

She still felt guilty for having any kind of feelings for Doug other than friendship. Mainly because even though Taylor was quite a thing, Serena still felt that she had to owe that modicum of loyalty to her sister no matter how ungrateful bitch she could be. Besides, she could never go that far no matter how much she loved Doug when she was a teenager. Teenage love wasn't enough to get over the fact that he was her sister's ex and people would have a lot to say, starting with her sister and her parents and moving on to everyone who knew them, neighbors, work colleagues, high school friends. She could never have anything more than a friendship with Doug and that was painful and torturous in equal parts.

As they both glided onto the dance floor, Serena could feel her heartbeat in her ears. Nothing around them matter. She just liked to look at Doug. God. That was not okay at all if what she wanted was to be in amicable terms "It's okay." She shrugged. It's not like the question bothered her or anything. Technically she was the one who had left the door open to that question "You know, coming back is always hard, adjusting to being back and all that" Coming home above all had been particularly hard. She knew that her psyche could never have resisted going back to her parents' house so she had searched for her own place before coming back home "I'm teaching at Miss D studio so at least that's familiar I guess" Her old dance teacher had gladly accepted her back into her dance studio. That dance studio had been part of much of her childhood and adolescence. "Vet clinic, just look at you, I'm happy for you, Doug" It was good news that he was exactly where he had always wanted to be or at least Doug seemed happy to be where he was so that was a good thing.

[kikkieabby]

Her reflection

Chapter 1 - Mercy

Honestly, at this point, this god of war story I am making will have multiple names! I haven't been back to Tumblr since the... since the blip.

I love GOWR! It was amazing! The plot line, the fighting, the animation! Oh, it was beautiful! With that being said, I fell in love with someone who I both love and despise, you guest it- Heimdall!

I don't know why, but his prick attitude and good looks got my fanfiction story brain thinking. Plus is boss fight was fun to me (I laughed when I blew his arm off) As with most of my stories, this will be rated M for mature for the usual- sex, blood, fighting and mostly cursing, plus drinking.

Also, this story takes place in a unique time where Tyr is gone but Freya is there and Bulder can still feel. I get the feeling when it came to the gods, there was a moment of blissful piece this fanfic takes place in that peace. Will I fininsh this story, I don't know. However, I have two chapters down so far!

So read and tell me what you think, if I should continue or not. With that being said, enjoy the story!

___________

"Mercy…"

An old man moaned before a gasp escaped his lips, his head went rolling down from his chest to the dirty ground. An old woman near opens her mouth to let out a loud horse scream. Only to fall silent second later when the sharp edge of the god's blade sliced her head off clean. Blood did not even fall until the body hits the ground.

"Tch!" The blonde male growled before walking past the now dead couple. Disguested by the near sight of it, he walks over to their home. Made of wood and stone, he kicks the door down to see countless decabitated bodies. All of them with no head, some of them being roasted in the middle of the house, the mere stentch made the god gag.

"Humans." The god muttered before closing the door. He then walks back to the corpses and grabbed their heads. Tying them to be held up by his waist, he hops onto his steed to head in the direction of the village that called him. It took him two days but he return to the village, a large but poor area located north of the mountains near his home. The people were of his land, so as a god he had a duty to protect them, much to his annoyance. So once he had returned to the village, he presented the heads of the two canablistic monsters that had been terrizing the poor place.

"Heimdall!" A man shouted as he rushes to the blonde god. Even though this Village was located on rich land by the god, the village still consist of poor, dirty humans. Something the god really disliked. In fact, he disliked it so much he threw the heads at the man that was rushing towards him.

"Consider your prayers to be heard." He tells the man before turning his steed around to head home. Only, the large Gulltoppr groans before walking. As the male journed back home, he began to feel a tingle on the back of his neck. Looking over his shoulders, he saw a woman staring at him along the path he took. Curious, he stopped his beast and turned it around to look at her.

"What mortal? Never seen a god before?" He asked the female, but she did not more or spoke, she just stared at him. Because her eyes were covered by the hood of her cloak, Heimdall could not read her. Although it did not matter to him, she was a mortal as far as he could tell. But silence angered him.

"Speak Mortal. I don't like eyes on me if not needed." He growled, however she did as told. Reaching up to her hood, she pulls it down to reveal two bright blue eyes staring back at him. Hair as white as snow but skin as dark as the soil beneath his feet.

"My, what pretty eyes you have. I have never seen a mortal with those types of eyes." Heimdall says before getting off of his steed. Only to gasp when found himself back at home. He was standing right in front of his father lodge, with no memory of how he got there.

"The hell?" He muttered to himself as he looks around, he saw that everyone was doing what they always do. Train, drink, party, fight, fuck and repeat the next day. It was shocking to him that no one notice his sudden transportation, or rather something else. Looking down at his feet, he saw them covered in mud with a foul smell. Raising his foot up bit, he leans down to sniff the disgusting brown muck on his feet. To his disgust, it was animal waste.

"THE FUCK!?" He shouted just as his brother's past him.

"What's up his ass?" Baldur muttered with the large lug Thor behind him. Heimdall heard the man, bearing his teeth in anger.

"I stepped in shit somehow!?" He shouted, causing his two siblings to stop in their tracks and approach him.

"You stepped in shit? Can't you see all?" Baldur chuckled at his older brother's frustration. Thor soon followed, chuckling along side his brother at the sight of his younger brother frustration.

"Those eyes aren't working anymore?" Thor asked with a cocky smirk.

"I…don't know." Heimdall muttered as he looks to the side before looking back at his elder sibling. "Where is father?"

"Where do you think?" The large male responded before walking away, with Baldur not to far behind. Once gone, Heimdall walks straight to his father's office, after wipping his shoe of animal shit, before seeing his old man. Odin was doing what he always did, look through books while muttering some unknown ghibber.

"Father, I must have a word." He spoke, however, Odin didn't hear him. He smelled the shit first and raised his hand.

"What ever it is, stay there. Your hurting my nose." The elder god gagged as he backs away from his son.

"Father, something odd happened." Heimdall started, his voice lowered and his facial expression soften, something he only did in front of his father and in certain moments of life. "I was heading back here and then I saw a woman in my way. And as though in a blink of an eye I am home."

"Yea, its call letting your mind wonder." Odin spoke.

"No, it was different. I have no idea how I got home. I don't…" It was as that moment Heimdall noticing something even more disturbing, his horn was gone. Looking down to where his hand was, his eyes widen in shock at the missing item, his father's facial expression soon followed.

"Where's the horn?" Odin asked the young god, the blonde tried to give him a response but was lost for words. "You lost the horn that decided our fate?"

"No…it was taken from me." Heimdall muttered. "That bitch stole the fucking horn!"

"What bitch!? Context Heimdall!" Odin shouted at his son just as his wife enters his office. The lovely goddess Freya enters her husband's office. Her son Baldur is behind her as walks towards the two.

"Odin, we need to talk about…Heimdall, are you alright?" Freya asked the young man, noticing him sweating and looking around the room.

"I am fine, I just remembered…that I forgot something in the mortal realm." Heimdall tells the two before leaving, walking past his younger brother. Just as he past him, Baldur leans over to whisper:

"What mortal realm?" He asked, Heimdall looked at him then growled:

"Fuck off!"

And with that, Heimdall rushes out the loge in search of that woman!

[funkylittlebard]

You're safe with me, I promise- Chapter 1

Hello! I posted an Ao3 link to this before when I first wrote it but still- ta da! I'll post the actual words on here this time and all.

This one's a bit long, about 5.7k of Geskel fluff followed by smut.

Rating: Explicit

CWs: Trans Geralt, Established Relationship, Kaer Morhen's Fanon Hot Springs, Dubious Consent, Sexsomnia, Frottage, Frottage Sexsomnia, Enthusiastic Consent, Thigh Riding, Oral Sex, Vaginal Sex, Light Dom/sub, Bottom Geralt, Top Eskel, Fluff and Smut

Geskel fluffy smutty goodness below & notes from author's note re. how I refer to Geralt throughout

Also, from the notes on 1st chapter, this small warning:

Hi! Few things that are a bit spoiler-y but still: Geralt is trans in this fic, and as such I've used words to describe his genitals that might make some people uncomfortable (dick/ cock/ slit/ cunt). Also, the dub con refers to one person grinding on the other in their sleep, waking up a bit embarassed, getting reassured before they both give explicit consent before going on to have sex (I've put the specifics in the tags). The snow was still falling softly and settling gently on the thin layer of white powder covering the courtyard when Geralt stepped in, Roach following close behind. She shook her head, mane flying out behind her and whinnied as Geralt gave her a small, appreciative smile and petted her flank. As he walked her into the stables, there was a cry from the entrance of the keep.

“Hey! He’s here!”

Geralt frowned almost imperceptibly as he started taking his saddlebags down from his horse before he could begin grooming her. Sure, he’d taken a little longer than usual to head back, but the snow wasn’t that thick yet. He looked up and peered into the other stable stalls. Ah. That would be why then- he was very rarely last back, too eager to see Eskel in particular again after months of separation- and there were already three other horses stabled. They seemed perfectly content, happily munching their way through some hay. He let out a small huff, and his frown deepened. He had wanted to have everything set up before Eskel got back- he’d managed to find a few trinkets that he’d thought the other witcher would appreciate over the year. There was also that other particular… item hidden deep in his saddlebags that he was keen to test with his boyfriend. Somewhat put out at his surprise being spoiled, Geralt finished dealing with Roach (giving her a parting gift of an apple, of course, it wasn't her fault he was late) and hefted his bags up onto his shoulders. He padded across the snowy courtyard, snowflakes dampening his pale hair and making it slightly frizzy as he walked. Waiting at the door for him was Vesemir, who looked older and greyer than Geralt remembered him. He felt a jolt go through him at the thought. He willed it away as Vesemir brought him in for a hug, patting him roughly on the back.

"You're late. Thought for a while we might not see you this year."

Geralt grimaced. "It’s not that bad, is it?"

Vesemir crooked an eyebrow at him. "Eskel was getting quite worried. But then he's not doing too well himself, he's laid up by the fire in the main hall."

Geralt blinked, mouth going dry. "What."

Vesemir opened his mouth to explain, but the younger witcher had already shot off inside the keep, dropping his bags inside the door as he went. Vesemir sighed and picked them up with a small smile.

Geralt strode swiftly into the main hall, and he could feel his eyebrows slowly rising into his hairline as he caught sight of Eskel by the fire with one of his legs raised on a stool in front of him. He turned at the sound of movement, a book resting in his lap. Eskel began to smile but froze up when he saw Geralt's face as the man rushed towards him.

"Good journ-"

"What happened?" Geralt had reached his side and set himself down on his knees by Eskel’s side. He looked up into his face, absentmindedly searching for any new scars, a rush of air coming out of his mouth when he didn't find any.

"Geralt, I'm fine, honestly. It's not as if you've never come back injured you know."

But he was ignored as Geralt had moved over and was cautiously poking his leg, trying to discern the nature of the problem.

There was a thud as Vesemir dropped Geralt's bags behind them, which he studiously ignored in favour of rolling up the left leg of Eskel’s breeches. Eskel rolled his eyes, trying to hide a fond smile behind a hand he brought up to scratch at his scars.

“Geralt, honestly, I’m basically fine-” He winced as Geralt poked at the tender part of his thigh.

He glanced down at the other man affectionately, before huffing out a laugh and returning to his book. Geralt continued to examine his leg, undeterred. There was a harsh red line about halfway up Eskel’s thigh, cutting diagonally and curved slightly at the end. It looked like it had already been stitched and there was no sign of red skin spilling out around the wound, so he was probably safe from infection. Tentatively, Geralt grazed his fingertips across it, keeping a careful eye on Eskel’s expression. He saw him swallow, and his eyes tightened at the corners as he winced.

“It’s healing, but it’s still sensitive,” Eskel murmured, running a hand through his hair to brush it off his face. Geralt glanced up at him and squeezed his knee.

“How does it feel to walk on it?”

Eskel huffed and turned to look into the flames licking across the logs in the fireplace.

“Not great, but I can still move about alright.” He spun back and pinned Geralt with a look. “I’d be up for more strenuous activities, so long as it didn’t jostle it, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Geralt spluttered indignantly, “No, no, I just meant-” He was cut off by a peal of laughter as Eskel tipped his head back in mirth.

“It’s fine, wolf.” He reached over and ruffled Geralt’s hair, receiving a half-hearted growl and a glare that was somewhat less effective because of the pout hiding below it. “Aww,” Eskel teased, watching Geralt try and straighten his already frizzy hair and move it away from his eyes. “You’re not upset I messed up your pretty hair are you, Ger?” he leant over and tucked a strand behind his ear. Geralt’s glower deepened.

“Not pretty, ‘s just hair.”

“Why do you care so much when I mess it up then, huh?”

Geralt blinked. He had no answer to that. He gave Eskel a light shove. “Shut up, Esk.”

Eskel smirked, amused by the obvious distraction his boyfriend was trying, as Geralt cleared his throat, and stood up.

“Uh,” he offered, eloquently. “Your, uh, thigh,” Eskel looked at him expectantly. “It, umm. Eskel, it’s a little, uh, it’s a little bit fucked.”

“Truly, you’ve always had a way with words, Geralt.” Eskel leered. Geralt turned away sharply, willing his hair to cover his cheeks as they flushed pink at Eskel’s words. Ugh, why did compliments and teases have to be so embarrassing? Gods, it made his skin crawl. And Eskel knew it too, the smug bastard- at least Geralt didn’t flush as easily as he had done before the mutagens. Eskel always used to lean in and whisper casual compliments when they were sat in the main hall, maybe about his footwork in sword practice, or how nice the curve of his ass was when he bent over, just to watch his friend go red in the face and squirm. He had always been particularly uncomfortable with heartfelt compliments, and Eskel had always, always, used it against him. Little shit that he was. But Geralt wouldn’t have him any other way, he thought, looking through his curtain of hair back at Eskel’s knowing smirk.

“Esk, why don’t we go down to the hot spring? The water will be good to ease the tension you’re carrying in your leg at least.”

Eskel hesitated a moment. Geralt nibbled at his bottom lip, wondering what he was thinking about. It wasn’t like he had any ulterior motives- he genuinely wanted to help his wounded lover. “Alright,” Eskel replied eventually, the moment apparently over, “Let’s go then. Lead on.''

They meandered down the path towards the steamy air of the spring. As they entered, Eskel wasted no time in reaching behind his neck and pulling his shirt off in a fluid movement. He left his breeches and smalls with it on the side of the pool and winked at Geralt over his shoulder before leaping into the steaming water.

He gasped as he resurfaced. Blinking, with water droplets decorating his lashes, he gaped for a second. “Fuck, Geralt.” he exclaimed, “it’s lovely in here.” He beamed at him prettily, and Geralt wanted nothing more in that moment than to press kisses all over his gleeful expression. He nodded instead, turning around to peel off his shirt. He took a quick glimpse over his shoulder before yanking his trousers and smalls down in one rapid tug and leaping into the water. It was a habit he’d formed so long ago, but even around people he trusted, Geralt couldn’t quite bring himself to break it. Eskel said nothing and pretended politely to be distracted by the bubbles, no matter how intimately familiar with each other’s bodies they were at this point. Geralt appreciated his pretence, though he still sent a shifty little glance over his shoulder before deciding to venture further into the water with him. As usual, Geralt buried himself up to his neck in the hot water and grabbed the soap, rubbing it hastily into a lather.

Whilst he was busying himself with the soap, Eskel looked up at him from beneath his lashes, and oh gods, but Geralt was done for. He was gorgeous with his strong, thick arms, and a trail of dark hair leading down across a deceptively soft-looking stomach- Geralt knew the strength hidden under there was formidable, but it still felt wonderful to lay his face against.

“Esk, how about, I wash your hair for you?”

Eskel looked over, eyebrows raised. He waited, not answering, and Geralt could feel the nerves rising in his chest, almost forcing his next words out in a hurry.

“Uhh, I mean. Umm. I, if you’d like, I could “ he stuttered, awkwardly. He winced. Why was he making this so hard? He’d washed Eskel’s hair before and now, when he was itching to do something nice for the man whilst he was injured, apparently Geralt was incapable. He frowned, and let out a quiet “Hmm”. Eventually, he sighed and tried again.

“Look, I wanted to help you, so just shift your ass over here and let me.” Geralt ground out, every line of his body stiff. Eskel grinned at him softly, the corner of his mouth pulled tight by the scars. It made no difference- his smile was still radiant as ever. He splashed a little as he turned around, sitting sideways on the stone bench.

“Go on then, pretty boy,” Eskel said, leaning back against Geralt’s chest. Geralt huffed at the nickname, but he didn't stop in his goal to pamper his partner. He reached behind himself to select one of the oils they kept on the edge of the bath for their hair. There was the lavender one that Lambert favoured- something about reminding him of some cat witcher, a fact which they all teased him mercilessly for- the dark liquid with the sandalwood smell that produced such a strong sense of security and warmth and safety in Geralt’s mind that it could only belong to Vesemir. He skipped past his own favourite- a hint of spice and smoke with the smell of sage lurking behind it- in favour of Eskel’s charred wood and saltwater fragranced oil. He spilled a little into his palm, and gently motioned for Eskel to tilt his head back. He had already ensured Eskel's silky chestnut hair was wet, so he tipped his palm over the top of his head and began to massage the oil in. He started with a very gentle pressure, and slowly built it up into something more insistent and firm. He could feel the soft little puffs of Eskel’s breath against his cheek when he leant around to spread the oil into the other man’s sideburns. Risking a look at his face, he saw that Eskel’s lips had parted, mouth left open and relaxed. There was a low rumbling noise coming from deep within his chest, an almost purring sound. Geralt pressed a kiss to his cheekbone. He dragged his hands deliberately down from his scalp to his shoulders and rubbed them gently for a moment, just enjoying the closeness he was able to share with Eskel.

Reluctantly, Geralt stretched an arm back out of the water to collect an earthenware cup. He filled it with water and covered Eskel’s eyes with one of his palms. Keeping Eskel pinned in place, he rinsed his hair and combed through it with his fingers.

“Alright you're done.” he paused a moment, “actually, wait.”

Geralt spread his palms out flat across Eskel’s back, pushing his fingertips into the skin beneath them and rubbing. His hands slid across his shoulders and down his back, easing the tension he was still carrying from the year on the Path with ease. Geralt’s calloused hands smoothed across his hips before gradually moving up his flanks. He could feel Eskel’s chest rumble on a pleased groan as his hands slid across his front, not lingering too long, but soothing nonetheless.

After a little longer enjoying the pleasant warmth of the water, Eskel dragged himself up onto the edge of the rock surrounding the water. Geralt slunk low back into the hot spring again, his mouth just about above the surface. “You head on up, I’ll be out in a minute,” he mumbled, not meeting Eskel’s eyes. Eskel tilted his head to the side, and Geralt was startled at the sudden resemblance Eskel bore to a confused overgrown puppy.

“Ger,” he said, lowering his voice and being careful not to smile at all in case he was misinterpreted. “You know I won’t judge you. Look, I'll even turn around.” He wrapped a bath sheet around his waist and turned to face the exit. “It’s ok, Ger.”

“I, I know that,” Geralt started, and took a shuddery breath. “I just… I don’t know.” He sighed in frustration, irritated by his inability to express himself. “I… hmm.”

Eskel waited patiently, as Geralt exhaled and splashed a bit in the warm water, trying to figure out what he wanted to say. Finally, Geralt huffed out a little resigned groan. “Makes me feel vulnerable. Like it used to when we were kids. Ugh.” He grunted and glared at the rough stone wall, embarrassed.

“Geralt. It’s ok, you're safe with me I promise.”

That pulled him from his thoughts. “Esk, I'm supposed to be looking after you, damn it. I’m fine, just gimme a second.” Geralt extracted himself from the water and hastily tugged a bath sheet around himself and over his shoulders. He padded over to Eskel and crept into his line of sight. “Sorry. Didn't mean to make you wait so long, put all that pressure on your leg. Let's head up.” He offered him a shaky smile. They headed back up through the cold corridors of the keep, bypassing the main hall and continuing up the stairs to their rooms. Geralt ushered Eskel in and pulled the heavy oak door closed behind him. Crossing the room quickly, he nudged a few of the logs in the grate around before flicking his hand into the sign for Igni and lighting the fire. Behind him, Eskel was already sprawled out across the bed, eyelids heavy and looking very content with the way he stretched his arms up above his head, a smug little smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Geralt stood and dropped his bath sheet onto a chair that sat in front of the fire. He was less uncomfortable outside of public spaces. He didn't know what it was- it wasn't as if Lambert couldn't barge into the room as easily as the springs if he wanted to. Perhaps it wasn’t logical, but he could work on it some other time. For now, he slid up onto his bed and stretched his arm out across Eskel’s belly, snuggling into his side and entwining their legs, carefully making sure not to put any pressure on Eskel’s injured thigh. They both sighed, pressing close together, with Geralt petting Eskel’s side, and Eskel gently combing his fingers through Geralt’s hair. They lay there a while, enjoying each other’s company. But of course, it could only last so long. Neither of them knew how much time had passed, but eventually, Eskel’s stomach began to rumble. The pair of them chuckled, and Geralt pulled himself upright. He pressed a kiss into Eskel’s still damp hair.

“You stay here, I’ll go and get us some food.” Eskel nodded sleepily and gathered one of the blankets more firmly over himself. He started to burrow under it and Geralt could feel his heart melting slightly at the sight of it. How could such a large man be so adorable? He reached for a clean shirt, telling himself firmly that that was a mystery for future Geralt to solve. Fully dressed again, he headed back out of their room and down the stairs towards the kitchens. He could smell somebody cooking as he meandered down- the air was fragrant with the tang of spices, and he could smell some chicken being fried off. He heard a quiet ‘pop’ sound of a cork being yanked free from a bottle and rounded the corner just in time to see Vesemir leaning over the fire pouring some luscious burgundy liquid into the pot. Across from him, Lambert had obviously been tasked with the chicken, and he was glaring down at it as if he thought the heat from his gaze would cook it sooner. At least he hadn't burned it yet, unlike last winter. Geralt was never going to let that go. Vesemir looked up as he entered the room and offered him a quick smile before turning back to the important business of his stew. Lambert smirked at him as Geralt started to rustle through the cupboards for some dishes and cups.

“How’s Eskel?”

“Hello to you too, Lambert,” Geralt said, not taking his eyes off his task. “He’s just tired.”

“Oh,” Lambert responded with a waggle of his eyebrows, “I’m sure he is.”

Geralt scowled into the cupboard and grinned when seconds later he heard Lambert yelp as Vesemir swatted him with his spoon.

“Get your mind out of the gutter, boy,” Vesemir growled as he turned back to his pot again. Geralt shook his head, amused, as he reached for some bread and cheese that had been left on the side. Snatching up a tray, he balanced the two plates and cups, a jug of water and then reached into another cupboard to fetch some dried fruit. He hummed appreciatively when he found some cured meats and snuck some of those onto the tray too. That ought to do it, he thought. He nodded at Vesemir and Lambert, who very maturely stuck his tongue out at him, the little prick, and retreated back upstairs.

Back within the warmth of the room, Geralt placed the tray at the foot of the bed and helped ease Eskel up, still cautious of his leg. He leant in, his hair falling around both their faces like a curtain as he tenderly kissed Eskel once, then unable to help himself he leant in again for another. He scooted back to pass Eskel his plate, legs still touching as they went quiet for a while as they ate. The fire was still going nicely, oranges and reds flickering together in the grate, creating such a cosy atmosphere that Geralt could feel his eyelids start to sag. When he looked over at Eskel, he saw that the other witcher had already fallen asleep, his plate slumped against his chest which was rising and falling with his unnaturally slow breathing. Cautiously Geralt cleared away the plates, leaving the fruit for later. He smoothed Eskel’s hair back from his face and then climbed into bed himself, tugging and adjusting at the blankets and furs he had accumulated there over the years. He felt his eyes fall closed languidly as he pressed his nose into the nape of Eskel's neck and took a deep breath, inhaling his smell as he drifted off to sleep.

When Eskel awoke, the fire had burnt down to embers and the room was almost completely dark, save for the few rays of early morning light sneaking their way in as the sun began to rise over the edge of the mountain and across the valley below that could be seen from their window. He sighed contentedly, warm beneath the blankets and from Geralt who was pressed up close against him. He ran a hand across his face, trying to clear the haze of sleep from his mind. As he did this, slowly becoming more aware of his surroundings, he began to notice Geralt pushing insistently against his thigh. He paused, holding his breath whilst he considered the situation. Geralt’s breathing was coming out a little quickly and kept catching in his throat, coming out in uneven stutters. Eskel looked down at him, at where he was pushing against him. Oh, well that was interesting.

Eskel swallowed thickly as Geralt rolled his hips into his thigh with a little sigh. Eskel glanced down at his face. He was definitely still sleeping judging from the peaceful, open look on his face and the endearing way his eyebrows quirked upwards when he caught himself at a particularly satisfying angle. Fortunately, Geralt was positioned against his uninjured thigh, and whilst Geralt was still wearing his shirt and smalls from the night before, Eskel had never bothered to re-dress. With Geralt’s next rut against him, Eskel noticed his thigh getting damp as Geralt rolled into him again with a short, high-pitched whine. He felt his face warm slightly as his own cock twitched in response. He took a breath to compose himself and was reaching across for Geralt’s shoulder to shake him awake before this could go any further, when Geralt stilled completely and his breathing stuttered to a halt. There was a tense second where neither of them moved, and then Geralt shot upright, wincing as he sat up, and Eskel couldn’t tear his eyes away from where his damp underwear was clinging close to his body. Before Eskel could speak, Geralt had scooted away and was blurting out an apology as quickly as he could.

“Ah, Eskel, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to! Did I hurt you? I know it’s your other leg but what if I-” Eskel rolled his eyes as Geralt continued his embarrassed babbling. He had a much easier solution. He reached out and took a firm grip of Geralt’s hips, and dragged him over to sit on his thigh. Geralt stumbled to a halt, wide-eyed and flushed pink.

“Geralt,” Eskel said, stroking a hand down his face in a way which he hoped was comforting. “I know you didn’t mean to, and if you want to stop we absolutely can. However,” he continued, running his fingers down Geralt’s abdomen unhurriedly, “I would be more than happy to keep going, if you’d like.” He curled his fingers around Geralt just above the top of his smalls and waited patiently for a reply. Geralt gaped for a moment, the tips of his fingers tickling the top of Eskel’s hips, before he slammed his mouth shut and nodded.

“Yeah, I’d like that.” He grated out, voice still rough from sleep. Eskel smiled wickedly, and pushed his thigh up sharply between Geralt’s legs. He revelled in the little moan he received in return, gripped Geralt tightly by the hips, and did it again. Geralt whined and threw his head back, hair flying over his shoulders and across his face. His own grip on Eskel’s still sleep-warm skin tightened till his knuckles turned white as he ground his hips down onto Eskel’s thigh.

“Now then,” Eskel said in a low voice, “Don’t you worry about me, how about you finish what you started here, sweetheart?” He pushed his thigh closer as Geralt rode it faster, face flushing darker at Eskel’s words. He bit his lip and nodded as he began to frantically thrust down on Eskel’s strong, firm thigh. He shuddered, and squeezed his eyes tightly shut, his breath hitching as his dick pressed hard into Eskel’s leg. Eskel stared openly at the way he squeezed his legs together more firmly, gasping between his hurried breathing. He felt Geralt’s dick throb against the muscle of his thigh and heard him let out a surprised moan as another rush of slick dampened his already soaked smalls even further. He kept grinding down, panting getting heavier as he got closer to the edge. Eskel shuddered, feeling hot all over. He cleared his throat.

“You gonna come on my leg just from this, Ger? In your pants? You’re making such a mess of me, you naughty boy, maybe I should make you clean it up.”

Geralt choked on air, his vivid golden eyes popping open and going wide, a loud, needy whine working its way out of his mouth at the mental image. Eskel smirked- it was so exciting when Geralt got worked up like this, and with the sunlight coming in through the window he looked practically ethereal as he rode Eskel’s thigh frantically. Beautiful as the image was though, Eskel had another idea.

“Do you want to be a good boy for me, Geralt?” He gripped Geralt’s chin gently in one hand, the other staying firmly on his hip. Geralt licked his lips, nodding almost as rapidly as he was grinding. “On your back for me, then.”

Geralt frowned, but obeyed without hesitation- Eskel felt a rush of heat go through him at the easy show of submission. He smiled and leant over him, giving him a quick kiss to his lips before moving further down the bed. Making sure to adjust his wounded leg comfortably before he started anything, Eskel peeled Geralt’s damp smalls down his legs, breath catching as he caught sight of what was hidden below. Sticking out from the damp curls was Geralt’s dick, wet with slick and glistening in the low amber light. He swallowed as he threw the underwear onto the floor and reached for the bottom of Geralt’s shirt. He raised an eyebrow at the other man lying beneath him and tried very hard not to look at Geralt desperately shifting his hips. Geralt met his gaze and caught his bottom lip between his teeth, his brow furrowing. Tentatively, he gave a very small shake of his head. Eskel smiled kindly at him and released the shirt, before lowering his head down to press an indulgent kiss into Geralt’s thigh. He took a moment to enjoy how soft the pale skin on the inside of them was and yet how solid they were, before shoving them apart none too carefully and burying his face in between them. There was a sharp cry above him before one of Geralt’s hands flew up to his face to cover his mouth. Geralt spread his legs further apart and squirmed as he felt Eskel’s tongue lap gently at his slit before continuing in a slow path up to his dick. He couldn’t keep the little sighs and moans back as Eskel lavished him with attention, still holding him in place by his hips so that there was nothing Geralt could do to get more friction but whine and plead. He let his other hand fall into Eskel’s hair and tug on it to try and make him show more of that attention to his dick. But Eskel pulled back with a tut, leaving Geralt to cry out.

“Naughty boy, trying to decide what I do. Who’s in charge here right now?” Eskel stared him down as Geralt tried in vain to stop squirming, panting desperately.

“Y-you, Esk. Please.” He gasped out, eyes pleading with Eskel as much as his words. His pupils had grown so large and dark his eyes were almost completely engulfed by them.

“Alright then,” Eskel replied and leant back in, this time holding down Geralt’s right thigh and sneaking his left between them. He teased Geralt with it, running it over his cunt but never slipping in, glancing around his dick but never touching where he needed it. Geralt’s eyes closed again involuntarily as he panted. Eventually, Eskel slid his tongue into the warmth of Geralt’s cunt, lips curling into a smile at the moan from the trembling man above him. He ground his hips at a leisurely pace against the furs covering their bed. It was always a delight to make Geralt fall apart, Eskel thought, still licking into and around him, sucking every so often. He reached his hand up to finally, finally wrap two fingers around Geralt’s dick and stroke it. He could feel the shaking of his thighs around his face and lapped at him more determinedly. He moved to suck at Geralt’s dick at the same time as he slid a finger inside him, crooked it and pushed. Geralt gasped and groaned above him, wriggling and unable to hold still.

“Esk- ahh- Eskel I’m gonna, I-” he moaned out. Eskel shushed him with a featherlight caress of his thigh. He slipped his tongue free to press a kiss to the tip of Geralt’s dick, savouring the whine Geralt gave him in response.

“Sweetheart, you can cum whenever you want.” Geralt nodded jerkily, and bit his lip as Eskel continued his ministrations, moaning his appreciation for another minute before-

“F-Fuck!” Geralt exclaimed with a gasp as he came, grinding down onto Eskel’s mouth as he did so. Eskel pressed a barely-there kiss to his dick, and then each trembling thigh as Geralt sank deeper into the bed. Eskel sat up a bit more so he could still reach Geralt’s abdomen to pepper it with gentle little kisses and watched him as his breathing returned to a normal pace. He enjoyed the quiet and spent the time admiring Geralt’s reclining figure, feeling very relaxed and quite pleased with himself. He was, however, perhaps too relaxed. Geralt pounced on him, shoving him back onto the furs with no warning. Pulling his leg out to the side so that he could be comfortable, Geralt lifted himself up and sat over Eskel’s crotch. Eskel’s breath caught in his throat as Geralt rolled his wet cunt once, painfully slowly, over the length of his cock. “Wanna ride you,” he murmured and rested his hands on Eskel’s pecs. Eskel bit back a tiny whine as his eyes widened. Geralt blinked down at him, biting his lip and rubbing his thumb over Eskel’s left nipple. “Please?”

How could Eskel possibly say no to that? He could feel his dick twitching against Geralt’s, so enticingly close to that wet heat that it was practically making him salivate. His carefully maintained patience was fraying at the seams. He nodded without hesitation and helped Geralt adjust the pair of them into a comfortable position. Holding himself tight in one hand, he used the other to lower Geralt slowly onto his cock. They both groaned as he bottomed out, sitting there for a moment as they adjusted.

“Hmm, fuck Esk, ‘m so full,” Geralt whimpered. Eskel reached an arm forward to rub at Geralt’s dick, making Geralt buck up, still sensitive.

“I know, sweetheart. You’re being so good for me.” Eskel said, grinding up into Geralt, pulling him down onto his dick by the hips. Geralt’s hands dug into Eskel’s pecs more firmly as he started bouncing up and down, setting a pace that left them both gasping. One of Geralt’s hands had migrated to Eskel’s right nipple, teasing him with little pinches. He groaned and rocked his hips up into Geralt harder. Fuck, but he was so wet, and Eskel could feel his cunt gripping him as his cock slipped in and out. He glanced down, watching himself piston in and out, and bit his lip to hold in a moan. Gods, he wasn’t going to last much longer.

“How’re you doing, G?” he asked, looking up at Geralt and watching his red face as he panted desperately, hair hanging dishevelled about his shoulders, brow dotted with sweat.

“G-great,” Geralt gasped out, clenching tightly on Eskel’s cock.

“Can you take some more?” Geralt panted and nodded in response, shaking slightly as he edged steadily closer and closer. Eskel reached between their bodies, and stroked two fingers up then down Geralt’s dick, once, twice and a final third time. He shifted it away as Geralt came with a loud wail and collapsed onto Eskel’s chest, twitching, breath panting out in warm puffs over Eskel’s shoulder. Eskel groaned deep in his chest and clutched Geralt close to him. He fucked roughly up into him a few times, listening intently to Geralt’s overstimulated whining and whimpering, making him moan loudly as he came. They lay, panting and exhausted, for a moment, until Eskel slipped his now soft cock out of Geralt’s hole, savouring the little whimper it produced. Eskel gently stroked his back.

“Now, I believe there was the small matter of you cleaning up your mess.'' Geralt smiled and burrowed his face to hide in the crook of Eskel’s neck. Eskel chuckled, and kissed the top of his head, cuddling him closer. “I’m kidding, let me get a washcloth.” Eskel wriggled out from underneath his boyfriend, who slumped into the furs with a soft “oof” sound. Eskel patted his ass fondly and fetched the cloth. Gathering up some of the fruit they’d ignored the night before and refilling the cups of water, he padded over to the bed again. They spent a quiet few minutes tenderly cleaning each other up and feeding the other dainty pieces of fruit, taking the time to make sure they both felt settled. With that done, Eskel chuckled as Geralt leant over the edge of his bed to find his smalls, wrinkling his nose at the state of them and grumbling as he had to move to the chest he kept his clothes in instead. With a pair shimmied on and the plates once again cleared, Geralt settled back into the bed and pulled Eskel up against his chest. He nuzzled into his neck, and Eskel relaxed back into it, both of them too comfortable now to be bothered at being so soft and needy with each other. Geralt moved his hips forward until they were flush with his boyfriend’s. Safe and cosy, he could feel his eyelids drooping. Eskel hummed in contentment and let out a yawn.

“Maybe,” Geralt said, swallowing a yawn of his own. “I could top next time.” His breathing evened out as he fell asleep. Leaving Eskel to mumble happily at the prospect and burrow himself deeper into the pillows before his own eyes fell closed.

[kaorusan241]

JunWoo and ChaYoung get mistaken as a couple by someone for whatever reason and JunWoo rolls with it

I know it’s not precisely what you requested as he isn’t maintaining his intern persona here / it’s based around episode 18, but I love this prompt, so will probably do another quick fic that’s similar. Anyway, here you go, maybe one person will read it.

_______

It’s not creepy.

Okay, maybe it’s a little creepy, but it’s not as if he’s getting out of jail anytime soon, and if having a photo of Cha Young on his wall will irritate Vincenzo when he pays a visit, then it’s a win-win in Han Seok’s opinion.

Han Seok sighs heavily, lying down on his prison cot. He adjusts the scratchy polyester blanket so that it covers his legs a bit better, propping his head up on one elbow as he stares at a patch of peeling paint in the middle of the ceiling.

It’s not as if being arrested had come as a huge surprise. Besides, if he’s being honest with himself, those ever-frequent murder attempts by Vincenzo were starting to get him down. You can only race down the pavement in silk pyjamas so many times before it starts getting tiring.

The tip-off by his half-brother had been a long time coming, and he’d be safe here in jail at least.

Han Seok is still frustrated by the whole thing.

He doesn’t particularly like Han Seo, and he’d be the first to admit that he’d treated him terribly over the years. Despite everything though, he hadn’t been lying when he’d said that all they had left in this life was each other.

They were family, and Han Seok didn’t allow many people to enter his close circle.

Hong Cha Young had been one of those people, for a while. Using Jun Woo as a fake persona allowed him to get close to the most beautiful lawyer at Wusang with minimal effort on his part.

He’d enjoyed her spontaneous video calls, their lunches out, those late nights slaving away over whatever case had captured her attention that week.

It was rare for Han Seok to take an interest in anything beyond Wooyoungmi jackets or F.P. Journe watches, but Cha Young was the exception. Every time Han Seok saw her with Vincenzo it felt like a knife to his chest, because it confirmed what he’d always suspected - Cha Young valued human life no more than he did, unless she’d been personally wronged in some way.

He’d liked her, a lot, but not enough to let her see him.

Han Seok wondered what advice his mother would have, if she was here with him now. She’d probably tell him to get a grip and ask Cha Young out, as himself this time, rather than the goofy intern he could have been in another life.

“Jang Han Seok?”, says a voice at the door, and he sits up to see the warden edging cautiously into his room, balancing a tray of food in one hand and not taking her eyes off him for a second, doubtless fearing that he might strangle her or something.

How annoying.

This warden is young and relatively new to her post, judging by the way she shivers at the sight of his unimpressed stare.

She puts the tray down and begins to back away. She’s almost in the clear but then she pauses, her eyes catching on the photograph affixed to the wall by his head.

Han Seok feels his heartbeat speed up as he sees the warden putting two-and-two together, and begins to wonder if she wouldn’t be above selling this story to the press for a quick cash-grab.

He can just imagine the headlines now -

“Pathetic Babel Chairman Jang Han Seok obsesses over a photo of former colleague Hong Cha Young in prison”.

His momentary panic is interrupted by the warden asking him a question.

“Jang Han Seok…”

Her eyes are positively gleaming, and Han Seok doubts she’s had much opportunity to gossip this week, given that all of her colleagues at this maximum security prison are pervy old men.

“Is that your girlfriend? She’s so pretty! You must miss her.”

A beat passes, and Han Seok decides he has nothing to lose. Cha Young won’t be visiting him anyway.

“Yes, that’s her. We’ve been together for a year. I think about her all the time.”

Not entirely a lie - he’d taken up the persona of intern Jang Jun Woo almost a  year ago to the day.

“Wow, how lucky! I’ll be sure to give you both a bit of extra time when she stops by.”

The warden smiles as she leaves, probably thinking that she’s doing him a great service, and Han Seok switches off the false charm as quickly and easily as she turns the key in the lock behind her.

How stupid.

He looks again at the picture, and the Cha Young in the image seems to stare back at him, taunting him, preparing to leave him behind even while trapped within an inky cage.

Han Seok feels desperate all of a sudden, to get out of here and to be near her again.

[blackssuunn-mandoandyodito]

Big dreams, expensive taste

Part three: The king of the concrete jungle

Maxwell Lord x f!reader

You can find the other parts in my Masterlist.

Rating: M

Warnings: oral sex (f receiving), anger, swear words, mild sexual harrasment, sex, no condom (PLEASE USE ONE, SAFE SEX IS HAPPY SEX), maybe power kink?. Let me know if you think I should add something.

A/N: I am once again asking you to picture this gif as Maxwell, bc there is little to no content of him and I gotta work with what we do have. Enjoy this bc I fucking loved it.

Summary: your dynamic with Maxwell changes as the weeks pass, coming to a point you both had seen coming. And it goes even better than you expected.

You turned out to be even more efficient than Maxwell thought you would be.

Every time he asked for something, you already had it available. If he wanted something to be done, it had been done already. You answered his questions even before he asked, knowing what he would say just by looking at his face. You were punctual. You were organized. You were perfect.

He kept on wondering if you were always like that or if it was only while you worked for him. He's been so efficient these last days he wishes you had stopped him from entering his own building months ago. 

He rolls the golden ring on his index finger as he looks at you, moving around the board room table with stacks of paper in your arms. There's a crease between your eyebrows that he has noticed appears only when you're concentrated or nervous. This time, you're most likely both.

He ordered you to schedule a meeting with the soon to be associates in London, to arrange a partnership he had the second he met them, but they've been playing hard to get. It's been bothering him so much he's been tenser and more snappy, and he doesn't know how to let it all out, it's just getting worse with every second that goes. But if he's being honest with himself, he has never snapped at you for fear of you resigning. You don't handle bullshit from anyone, he knew that the second he saw you. 

And if he's honest with himself again, he'd love to take the stress out with you.

He has been wanting to take you so bad for weeks, walking on to his office and getting a hard-on almost instantly when he looks at you is getting old now, having to stay in his chair until some gross thought he conjures scares it away. It's painful, seeing you walk around his office and go back to yours without being able to do anything. The way you move as if you own the place, knowing how every single thing works and understanding everything so easily. It makes him burn, how in control you seem to be.

He wants to see you lose it, that's mainly what's killing him. 

You walk towards him and stand in front of his desk, gripping your black leather portfolio with stretched knuckles. "Everything is ready, sir"

He nods, smirking at you with his head tilted to one side. "You need to relax," your face breaks out of the calm demeanor for a second, annoyed with his words. He can see you want to say something, but you purse your lips and nod. It sends something running down his spine, seeing you break for a second. It just increases his desire.

"15 minutes," he mutters, checking his F. P. Journe watch and stands up, smoothing his black suit and crossing his arms. You nod again, walking outside and talking with Amanda one last time to check everything is right. He has no doubt you have everything perfectly sorted out, with no room for mistake. And he also knows he will be able to close the deal, but these men can be hard to handle. They're little old money pricks. He hates old money.

You come back and he moves to his chair on the board room table, quickly giving everything a last look over. He's pleased to see all is where it's supposed to be. Content with your work, he leans against his chair and waits. 

He can hear his watch ticking in the silence of the room. You come to stand beside him, both of you looking straight to the door, waiting. He breathes deeply, feeling how the nervousness comes off of you in waves. But it doesn't show on your face, nor your posture. How you manage, he doesn't know. 

Multiple footsteps sound outside the office, with formal greetings to Amanda as she lets them inside.

Maxwell straightens, putting the businessman face mask on. His face turns serious, with square shoulders and hard eyes that pierce through the 5 men that enter the room. Their posture is too proper, high on their golden breed, and thinking that everything they touch has a blessing seems to be the way they act. 

Two of them are blonde, with cocky smiles and blue eyes that seem almost fake. They're taller than Max, but it doesn't intimidate him. If anything, he raises an eyebrow and scoffs quietly, turning to look at you. Now you can also see amusement in his eyes. He's going to handle them just fine.

The other three are brunette, with tanned skin possibly caused by holidays spent in the summer of some Mediterranean land, and green eyes that seem to shine with malice. They look like siblings, but one of them towers over the others. He seems as conceited as the other ones, looking older and more experienced just by how serious he tries to act, and it does a bad job at hiding how spoiled he must have grown up. You see right through his facade and would bet anything on Maxwell being able to do so too. 

The shorter one, with cutting cheekbones and sharp nose, looks at you and smirks, winking. You stop yourself from rolling your eyes and don't make anything to return the attention. 

"Good evening, Mr. Lord", the one that seems older gets closer, extending his arm and gripping him in a handshake. Max nods, looking him straight in the eye. The other four go silent when the room gets stuffy, tension seeping from their pores. You stay by his side.

"Good evening, Mr. Reuben." Maxwell turns to look at the table, gesturing for them to sit. They comply, walking to take a seat. He notices how they try to choose a chair that isn't close to the glass window, and both of you have to repress a smirk.

The meeting starts, with Maxwell quickly wrapping them in an engaging talk about gains and expansion. Your cheeks get hot and your insides heat up at seeing Maxwell's power take over five grown men, handling them in whichever way he desires. Knowing you have helped him this time makes you feel like flying. You feel like a queen next to a king taking over a kingdom, using only words as a weapon.

  He looks at you every time he needs you to do something, without saying anything and silently communicating his wishes. All men look at each other and seem quietly amazed by your interactions, how he doesn't seem to order you but rather ask you for things. It is never condescending or disrespectful, so fluid and easy it takes their breath away. You work together, even though it may seem you work for him.

You see the exact second Maxwell has them wrapped around his finger. They are absolutely engrossed by him, listening to everything he says and not looking away, following him around the room. They all look like children looking for the first time at a magic trick. He turns to you and smirks with a predatory smile, absolutely convinced that he has already won the deal. Judging by the state of all five of them, he surely has. 

For the first time since they appeared, you show something other than seriousness and smile back at him, something like pride and satisfaction showing in your eyes. It makes his heart jump.

The contract passes through their hands as they sign, not hesitating and trusting completely on Max to take care of what they are signing into. You don't understand how, and it scares you slightly how easy it is for him to entangle people. You wonder if he has ever done something like that to you, if he ever would.

Amanda comes inside right on time to pour some expensive wine in glasses you don't even know where they came from, making a toast and drinking happily. Max exudes satisfaction, grinning behind the glass. 

They all stand up and shake hands one last time before they leave again. All stress and tension leave your body slowly, knowing that no matter what happens now, Maxwell has his deal secured.

But as they start walking outside, the one that winked at you turns and gets uncomfortably close to your body.

"Miss" his voice is so high pitched it nearly hurts your ears, "would you be interested in going out with me?"

His hand creeps up your arm and ends up next to your neck, barely stopping from touching your face. 

You have to stop yourself from recoiling, instead shaking your head and smiling politely.

"Thank you, but I'm not interested."

The man chuckles, rolling his eyes and turning to leave.

"I should have guessed," he mutters, fixing his tie. "You're just another cheap bitch"

As soon as the words leave his mouth, Max's blood boils in his veins, fury making his skin crawl and his eyes burn. For a moment, his vision turns red. 

When he moves to pull him back and beat him up, your hand firmly but softly stops him.

"If you want to think that, you may," your voice is so steady and cold Max looks at you, stunned. " It does not mean it's true, and even if it were it would not make you any less of a spoiled brat who can't get anything without forcing someone into it. You disgust me."

Without another word, you let go of Maxwell's hand and turn to walk to your office. Both of them look at you, open-mouthed. 

Fury still pumps in Max's veins, but he takes a deep breath and tries to repress the violence that threatens to show. Even if he decided to take that path, he won't get his hands dirty.

He turns to look at the man, with a hurricane inside his heart and what could be lava shining in his eyes.

"I hope you have enough of the old money you grew with," he threatens, whispering so low the other four go completely unaware. "because I assure you you won't be making any in this life"

It scares him back against the door, nodding without being able to speak. He's gone pale, and his hands look like they're shaking.

Good, Maxwell thinks.

He looks at him practically run away from his office, shutting the door behind him. He can feel how his body is tense, but he urges it to relax. 

He feels hot, burning. Rage is not something he feels often, used to have everything working the way he wants. And usually, not a single person is stupid enough to mess with something or someone that matters to him. 

He turns to look at your office, and there's no sound coming from inside. He doubts you're affected by everything that just happened, but he definitely is. 

His hand goes over his face, angry. His rings feel cold against his skin, grounding him more. 

With a deep breath, he walks slowly to your office and knocks, saying your name.

"Can I come in?" he brings his hand to his pocket, waiting for your answer almost nervous. He's not used to feeling like this, but you do something to him. He fears it will be one false move and you're gone. He doesn't want you to go.

Your door opens, and you appear very serious but for him, that's nothing new. What surprises him is how your hands seem to be shaking slightly.

Without a word, you move to the side and let him in, leaving the door open. He walks inside and stands there, awkward, and not knowing what to say. If he asks you if you're okay he's sure you won't like it, so after a few seconds of searching what to say and not finding any good options, he stays quiet and waits for you to speak first. 

"I'm okay, in case you're wondering." It startles him how well you can read him. "And thank you for defending me."

It takes him a moment to remember you can see outside through the glass but he can't. Weirdly, the thought sounds similar to the way you two seem to work. 

He nods. "You don't have to thank me, it's the least I could do."

He sees surprise in your eyes, but it doesn't show anywhere else on your face. 

The air is thick, heavy. There is something that is pushing him to get closer to you, to physically check if you're really okay. He knows the man didn't touch you and he's sure he would have made him bleed if he had dared to, but there are other ways to shake someone other than physical.

You cross your arms and turn away from him, looking down at the city. He admires your body, your posture. How strong you seem to stand, how unreachable you look. And he's used to fighting for what he wants if that's what it takes, but he doesn't want to fight for you. He wants you to want him back, to really want him. 

Judging by the signals he has seen the last weeks, you most likely do. But he's not gonna take anything for granted.

Slowly, he moves closer to you until his body is perfectly aligned with yours but without touching. His breath hits hard against the back of your head, sending shivers down your spine. You close your eyes, subconsciously moving your head to one side and letting him see more of your soft skin. You uncross your arms, letting them hang by your sides. 

One of his hands moves up and hovers over your shoulders while the other gets close to your hand, so close you can almost feel his touch. It's an illusion, you know it.

He whispers beside your ear. "Is this okay?"

You gulp, not daring to open your eyes when you nod.

"Say it." His voice sounds commanding.

"You can touch me." You finally mutter. A shaky breath leaves your lips when he laces his fingers with yours, pressing your shoulder and pulling you back against him. You're flush against him now, feeling his chest rise and fall against your back. 

His fingers move to your neck, caressing at the pace his mouth kisses the beginning of your spine. He can feel you fall back into him slightly, relaxing and letting him take control.

A mischievous smile graces his lips.

He turns you around to face him. His hands move to your back, down until they come to cup your butt. It makes you gasp, opening your eyes to look at his blown brown ones. 

He's torn between being rough, wrecking you completely, or listening to something inside his mind that tells him he should be good to you first, make you see stars just from his touch.

He decides to listen to it.

"I want to show you how you should be taken care of," he whispers, "can I?"

You're speechless, only able to look at him and nod. He doesn't seem to like it, pulling you harder against his body and digging his fingers in your skin.

"Speak" he orders. "I won't do anything if you don't."

You take in a harsh breath, feeling the air burn your lungs. "Show me."

Pleased with your answer, he grabs your jaw and presses his lips against yours at the same time you move your hands to his chest. The fabric  of his suit crumples under your fingers as he licks your lips and takes over your mouth, your heart soaring inside your body.

His hands move to push you back until you hit your desk, making you fall into it slightly. Your kiss breaks, leaving you breathless.

His knees hit the floor with a dull sound. If someone had told you before that you would have Maxwell Lord kneeling for you, you would have laughed to tears.

His hands move frantically up your legs until he touches the edge of your dress and rips it open, pulling it until it's completely in half and falls over your shoulders like a jacket, leaving your body exposed. 

If you weren't so turned on, you would probably complain. Your mind is in a completely different space though.

His fingers search until they find the elastic of your underwear and he's greeted by lace that matches your bra covering your skin. He rips them open too.

He nudges you to sit on the desk. You comply, and he pushes your feet up on it, with your legs spread open for him and your knees bent. Your heels fall off from your feet.

He caresses your legs, your thighs, sending goosebumps over your skin.

"You're so beautiful," he mouths against your body, trailing up to your core. You look down at him, threading your fingers through his hair.

You shudder as he kisses the skin around your mound, licking at everything. You get wetter by the second, aching for his touch 

"Take care of me," you moan, thrusting into his mouth. It makes him chuckle, and he finally moves to lick with his tongue flat against your clit.

You throw your head back, moaning and squeezing your eyes shut. His tongue thrusts inside you with vigor, pulling you closer by your legs. His lips wrap around your clit and he sucks hard, making you give a short yell that echoes around the room. 

"You like it?" He asks, with a rough voice that makes the arousal go even higher. 

"Y-yes," you manage to stutter out, afraid that he will stop if you don't answer.

His thumb moves your bundle of nerves in circles, making your hips rise. He quickly slaps the side of your leg, stilling you.

You gasp, feeling your body tingle with everything he does. The position you are in leaves you exposed to him, and you can see out your window to the city. If the building was less high, you know anyone could look and see how Maxwell Lord is kneeling to pleasure you. The thought sends a shot of power and excitement through your system.

He laps at your soft skin, sucking up at your wetness and enjoying every second of it. Your hand pulls at his hair, pulling a moan out of his mouth.

His lips are red when he moves to suck at your swollen clit again, groaning and sending the vibration all over your body. 

You grind against his face desperately when the hotness spreads down your belly, making you feel near the edge. He increases his movements for a second, moving one finger up your slit before pulling away and stopping.

You whimper at the loss of contact, but he stands up to stay between your legs and moves his hands up to cup your breasts through the material. You bite your lip, your eyes rolling back into your head as his fingers get behind and open your bra. He quickly grabs one of your nipples and pinches it, kneading your skin with his palm.

His mouth wraps around the other one and sucks with force, sending electric shots over your breast. He rolls your nipple around with his tongue, getting it hard.

You can feel his erection through his pants and decide you've neglected him enough, fumbling with his belt and popping it open easily.

He moans against your skin when your hand moves inside to grip at his dick, moving your thumb over the head covered with pre come. He's hard enough to cut diamonds.

"Please," you moan. 

He breaks away from your breast with a wet pop, his lips glistening with spit. 

"Please what?" His voice sounds even rougher than before, with full blown pupils almost to the point that you can't see the brown of his eyes anymore.

He can see something take over you just as your hand tightens around his shaft, making him give a choked off moan.

"Fuck me." you say. It almost sounds like an order, and if it were he wouldn't mind.

He gulps, not trusting his voice to keep steady. He pushes his pants down and they fall to the floor to pool around his ankles.

He aligns his cock with your entrance, pushing the head in only slightly before he pulls away and then does it again.

A needy sound leaves your lips, and he aches to hear more. But he said he would take care of you, and that's what he's gonna do.

He pushes his throbbing length inside you, making you feel every inch with how slow he's going. You grip his shoulders, digging your nails on his skin and most likely leaving marks. 

He's stretching you so good and feels so deep inside you in this position you can't help but whimper, burying your face against his neck. His hands move to cup your ass again, pulling your hips closer to him. 

Your legs burn from the stretch, but you could not move even if you wanted.

He lets his whole body take over you, making you feel so protected and full it is nearly overwhelming.

His hands dig against your skin with a bruising force as he starts to move inside you, making you feel high on something you don't think you've ever experienced before.

"You're so fucking tight." He gritts out next to your ear. It makes you smile, how much he seems to be struggling to control himself.

You rise your face to look at him, holding his face and pulling him close to kiss him.

His pace quickens, slapping sounds filling the office along with grunts and moans that leave both your lips. 

You scream again when he hits an specific spot inside you, and something close to a growl leaves his chest. 

He moves to bite a mark in your neck, leaving his teeth printed there. 

Every thrust sends you closer to paradise, pushing and pulling and making everything feel bigger, better. 

He's hot against you, sweating and making little sounds that make your arousal grow.

You wish you could return his passion, thrust back and make him feel how good everything he's doing is. But you can't, you can barely stay upright with how much force he's putting into every thrust.

Something primal burns inside him at seeing how you submit to him, to how he treats you. 

His movements become harder, shorter. He starts losing his pace and you know he's close too.  His hand moves to circle your clit with his fingers, making you open your mouth in a silent scream.

"Come for me," Maxwell's voice comes with lighting passion that leaves you no option but listen to him.

You scream, pulling at his jacket with shaking legs as he keeps fucking you, and his ragged breath lets you know he's not too far behind. 

A deep yell leaves his lips as he comes inside you, burying himself deep until the waves of hot white pleasure start to subside.

When your body stops shaking, he pulls out and moves to grab tissues to clean himself up.

You don't move, trying to catch your breath. He doesn't say anything, just pulls his pants up and kneels down to lick you clean.

You're still sensitive, so your body tries to get away from the attention but he stops you, holding you by your feet. Little whines leave your mouth as he keeps going until you're clean, sending a new wave of arousal at the thought of Max tasting himself in you.

He stands up, buttoning his jacket closed and looking far more composed than you.

His voice betrays him. "Do you have clean clothes here?"

It sounds so soft and caring it makes you feel weird, but you nod. 

"Good," he says, moving to the door and stepping outside to leave you to dress alone, closing the door behind him. You see a satisfied smile show at his face as he sits down on his throne, spreading his legs open.

Your brain is still fuzzy from pleasure and there's a loopy smile on your face, but as you take out the dress and put it on you hear Amanda come inside and get close to his desk with an anxious expression.

"Sir, you have to go pick up Alex," her voice sounds too stressed. You frown, not recognizing the name.

A somber expression takes over Maxwell's features and he stands up immediately, not saying anything as he picks up his phone and rushes out of the office.

You stay standing there paralized in the middle of your office, confused by how things happened so fast in the last two minutes.

What could be so important for Max to run away without saying anything and just after giving you the best orgasm in your life?

Big Dreams taglist: @evidenceofzoe @the-feckless-wonder @aeryntheofficial @cryptkeepersoul @cable-kenobi @fruitsaladtrees @poenariuniverse @a-killvr-queen

[purplesurveys]

918

Have a friends survey, because I’m really missing mine.

-- List 8 Friends of Either Gender --

1. Andrew 2. Jo 3. Aya 4. Gabie 5. Hannah 6. Angela 7. Laurice 8. Aliyah

Questions About These Friends

Does number 4 have a driver’s license? Yeah. I’m pretty sure we were part of the first few people in our high school batch who learned how to drive and get our licenses.

Can number 7 speak another language? Well yeah, she can speak Filipino. Everyone on the list can at least speak Filipino.

Does 2 know your parents well? Not so much. She knows the basic stuff about my parents that I tell everyone, like how my dad works abroad.

Have 3 and 5 been in the same room together? Multiple times, until Aya graduated. All three of us were in the same applicant batch in our org so we spent a loooot of time together.

Does 1 have similar music tastes to you? Broadly, yeah. I know we both like R&B and hip-hop but he’s faaaar more passionate about the genre and he’s a lot better at picking out artists and songs.

Has 6 ever stayed at your house? She’s visited a handful of times, but I prefer going to her house instead. I don’t really have a lot to offer here whereas we never run out of things to do at her place.

When did 3 last text you? If we are talking of strictly texts, November 2018. Aya was never a good replier on text lol. But my last notification of her in general was at 4 AM today, when she sent a meme to our friends’ group chat.

Does 5 have any pets? If so, what do they have? Nope. WELP I don’t know actually. She lives all the way in Bacolod so her home life doesn’t get raised much. I know she loves dogs though.

Does 7 live in the same town/city as you? Nah, she’s a south baby through and through.

Have you ever lent something important to 8? I’ve never even met her yet. We keep planning to especially since she works in Metro Manila now, but our schedules just never work out.

Can number 1 sing well? Yes. He’s done a lot of singing gigs and as far as I know he even put out an EP at one point. He has a sick stage name too.

Does 2 have any siblings? Nah, she’s an only child.

If 4 called you at 2 AM, what would your reaction be? Take it and assume she has trouble falling asleep.

Who is 8′s best friend? I’m not sure; I don’t know her all that well. I would assume it’s someone all the way in Mindanao, since that’s where she grew up and went to school and her whole life is there - she really only moved to Metro Manila for work. That’s why I feel for her sometimes and keep offering to meet up, so she can feel less lonely.

Does 6 have a favourite tv show? If so, what is it? She loooves watching TV series but I never knew what her favorite is. Good question, I’ll have to ask her this soon.

Who out of 5 and 7 knows you the best? I say they both know me on the same level but I think Laurice does slightly more. We’ve had deeper conversations, so it’s a safe guess.

Does 4 have a boyfriend/girlfriend? You are reading her answers right now. ;)

Does 2 have a career/knows what they want to be? Yes, she’s always wanted to be a journalist. She’s entering her senior year now and I’m really proud and super impressed with her for being able to keep up such a demanding, brutal passion; I was burned out from journ by freshman year. She even helps run a fact-checking website now :) It had just been a requirement in her class to come up with a fact-checking website but theirs got SO successful, racked up some awards, and now it’s still going.

Have you ever kissed 1? No. He’s like a brother to me and that just sounds like the weirdest scenario.

Does 3 have or want children? Yes. I know she wanted them when she was with Jo, but I’m not sure if she’s changed her mind lately.

Does 6 have any piercings or tattoos? Yep, on her ears.

Do your parents know 8? No. She’s an internet friend, so I never get to raise it in conversations. And I doubt they’ll be happy if they found out I made a friend on the interwebs anyway.

Which Number...

Have you had romantic feelings for? 4.

Have you told a secret to? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8. I’m pretty open with my secrets, as dumb as that sounds lol

Have you shared a bed with? 2, 3, 4, 6, 7.

Have you watched a movie with? I remember watching The Devil Wears Prada with 2 and 3. I’ve watched several movies with 4.

Have you seen cry? 2, 3, 4, 6.

Have seen you cry? 1, 4, 5. 5 hasn’t seen me cry but she has definitely heard me.

Have cooked you something? 6 and 7 :) They’re also the biggest mom friends on the list, so I’m not surprised.

Have a boyfriend/girlfriend? 1, 4, 6. I’m not sure if 2 and 3 are still together; we never get to update each other anymore. Have met your parents? 2, 3, 7 from a meeting we once held at my house. And 4 and 6, of course - they’re my mom’s favorites.

Have been to the same school/college as you? Everyone except 8.

About Number One What age are they? He turned 22 in June.

Have you met their parents? Never. He can’t give less of a shit about his dad so I don’t care for him, though. I know he’s super protective of his mom.

Have you ever been in a relationship with them? Not at all. He wouldn’t be my type, and like I said he’s a brother to me more than anything else.

Do they like most of your other friends? We mostly have mutual friends, so. I know he likes my best frieinds though - he was even the one who reminded me about putting Angela on my thesis acknowledgments.

How often do you two meet up and/or talk? Back in school we used to see each other around 1-2 days a week. He’s a little busier than I am since he takes side gigs, so he’s not in campus all the time.

When did you last argue? We’ve never fought but the last time I got quite upset with him was last December. We were rushing to get our thesis draft submitted on time and apparently he submitted the file to our professor’s VIBER. He for sure got an earful from me that day.

What is their favourite food? I’m not sure. He does tend to have unpopular food opinions so I wouldn’t be surprised if his favorite is not a common choice.

Where is their favourite place to be? On the basketball court or anywhere with Leigh, I’m guessing.

How many close friends do they have? I know of at least two - JM and Blanch. He is friendly and has an extensive circle though, so I’m sure I’m missing several other close friends of his.

Number Two What colour are their eyes? Dark brown.

Have they known you the longest? Not at all. I’ve only known her for three years.

Where were they born? I’m guessing it would either be Manila or Makati.

Why are they your number 2? She just fell on the second slot. I was trying to randomize my friends’ names and hers just turned out to be the second one I thought of.

Do they like children? I don’t know how she feels about them exactly but one thing I know is that she doesn’t hate kids, and we’ve had numerous conversations on what we’d do in certain scenarios involving kids. 

Would they beat you in a race? I think so. But then again I did track at one point, so I’m walking onto that contest already with an advantage.

When did you last spend time alone together? Ugh c’mon man, this question is just sad. Jo had been hanging out at Skywalk less and less ever since most of the people in our friend group graduated last school year, so our last real hangout was probably that time we slept over at Laurice’s in June 2019. We never hung out a lot after that, and of course the lockdown just killed any chances we had of doing so.

Do they have a pet peeve? What is it? She has a lot of pet peeves but I can’t place any of them at the moment.

Number Three What is their hair colour? Black, as do most Filipinos.

What is their job, if they have one? Last I heard she got a gig with a major broadcasting network. I think she’s a segment producer? Segment researcher? Something of the sort.

Do they have their own place? I don’t think so; not just yet.

How many brothers or sisters do they have? I know she has a sister. I’ve forgotten if she has a brother.

Have you ever done something illegal with them? Yes hahaha illegal in university terms, at least. When we had free time and we saw that no one was using one of the classrooms in the college, our friend group snuck inside and played The Devil Wears Prada on the projector. As the only goody-two-shoes in the group I was super uneasy the whole time, but literally no faculty or staff checked in on us for the entire film. That was the moment I knew I was no longer in private school, where everyone watched you like a hawk lol.

How old were you when you met each other? I was 19, she was 21.

Are they more sporty, arty or academic? ARTSY. She’s one of the best artists I’ve ever seen and she can absolutely fucking slay any editorial cartoon.

Have you ever travelled out of country with this person? Nope. I would love to.

Person Four Do they have a favourite musician? St. Vincent’s been her fave for the longest time.

Have you drank alcohol with this person? Many times. When I drink she’s usually around.

Are their parents together? Yes.

What do you enjoy doing with them? EATING OUT!!! I also love going to new places and museum strolling with her, but yeah nothing works for me better than food with my favorite person.

When is their birthday? June 5th.

Do they have long or short hair? Long.

Have you been to a concert with this person? Yes, when we went to (illegally) see Coldplay from the top of a parking lot. Still felt like we were part of the concert grounds though.

If you asked them to describe you, what do you think they would say? Determined, hates to lose, and annoyingly generous.

Person Five Where did you two meet? I met Hannah on our enrollment day for our sophomore year in college. She and Macy had transferred from UPLB to UPD and since Macy and I were already friends from high school, she introduced me to Hannah. Then we became a lot closer when it turned out we were both applying for the same org.

How long ago did they phone you? We both hate phone calls and we’d hate to call/be called.

Do they have a certain sport they play? I don’t think she’s very athletic herself, but she loves watching UAAP games and she has a particular affinity for volleyball.

What about them annoys you sometimes? I never found her annoying. I did notice that her one weakness as a co-worker is her fear of being assertive, putting her foot down, being confident to come up with her own steps on how to come up with steps towards a situation, that kind of stuff. She often wanted someone who she felt like was more knowledgeable to be by her side and make all the decisions. But I did see her bloom a bit after a few months, so I’m proud of the progress.

Are they ruled by their head or their heart? Heart.

Are they male or female? Female.

In what ways are they the opposite of you? She’s religious and she loves to sing and perform.

How many rooms do they have in their house? No clue; I’ve never been to her house. I’ve never even been to her city.

Person Six Can they play an instrument? I think she knows *a bit* of guitar. But she’s not crazy gifted when it comes to musical instruments, I know that much.

Are they close with their mother? VERY. And she has no reason not to be - her mom is the nicest and most compassionate person I’ve ever met. Always treated me like family.

Do you know any of their siblings well? She’s an only child.

How many times have you visited their house? Countless, especially in high school and in our first few years in college.

When did you last go out to eat together? Feb. It was one of the food stalls at The Palace and we needed to eat away all the alcohol lol.

Do they own a bike? I haven’t seen one in her place so I’m assuming no. Her neighborhood is not very bike-friendly to begin with, so it’s understandable.

Do they have a sweet, sour or salty tooth? She has a...green tooth? Hahahaha she likes eating healthily.

What music genre do they listen to most? Pop, pop rock, indie, indie rock.

Person Seven Would you ever consider dating this person? Probably not. She’s SO stable and happy; I’m still working on it. I wouldn’t want to dump my shit on her vibrant and bubbly outlook on life.

Do they prefer cats or dogs? Dog, I think. I don’t know for sure though. 

Are they or do they plan to go to college? To study what? Yes, she’s in her senior year now. She’s also taking up journalism – it’s how we met.

If they did something illegal, what would it be? I highly doubt that would ever happen lmao, she’s super nice and such a goody-two-shoes. If she got caught doing something illegal it’s 100% only because she was with someone who did the thing.

Have you ever shared a sundae with this person? Maybe once or twice.

is their hair dyed or natural? It’s all black now, but at one point she dyed it light brown.

Is this person sarcastic? She can be, especially with people she’s close to.

Is this person more likely to party or sit in and read a book? SIT IN AND READ A BOOK. Literally the most accurate option.

Person Eight Have you ever lied to this person? I probably have. We’ve only ever talked on social media, where it’s a lot easier to tell a tiny lie and get away with it.

Do you know where this person was born? Somewhere in Davao I’m assuming.

Do you know their middle name and do they know yours? We know each others’ second names because have them put out on Facebook; but not our middle names.

Do they have any special talents? If she does, I don’t know about them. She’s amazing at writing though.

What is their starsign? Whatever star sign falls on the first half of December.

What is the first thing you notice about this person? Ever since the time she tweeted that she doesn’t like smiling with her teeth, her smile has always been the first thing I’m drawn to. 

Have you ever had a big row with this person? Never.

Do you like the same types of movies as this person? Not really. We met because she was friends with my friends who liked the same things she did, but when it comes to us we couldn’t really be any more different.

Random Stuff

Which of these friends would you say you are the closest to? Gabie, of course.

Can you remember all of their birthdays? I’ll give it a shot. June 22, December 31, December 5, June 5, January 16, September 15, May 23...and Aliyah’s is in early December, I’m certain.

Is there anything you regret saying to any of them? I guess only towards Gab, because I’m closest with her and we’ve been through the most together.

Which one of these has been there for you the most? Angela.

Which one have you known the longest and the shortest amount of time? I’ve been aware of Gabie the longest (18 years); been friends with Angela the longest (15 years); and been friends with Andrew the shortest (about a year and a half).

If you needed a laugh, you'd call... I wouldn’t call my friends if I needed help...but if I needed a laugh I’d turn to Anj or Andrew.

If you needed advice, you'd call... Mmm I’d pick among Andrew, Aya, Gabie, Angela, and Laurice.

Which one does your parents like the most? ANGELAAAAAAAA. She’s That friend that I can name-drop when I’m asking for permission to go out, and once my mom hears that she’s going to be with me she usually won’t hesitate to say yes haha.

Is there any of these your parents dislike? They don’t dislike any of them but I have a feeling they’ll disapprove of the fact that I made an online friend in Aliyah, especially my mom.

Do any of them share the same initials? Andrew and Aliyah do.

You can invite one with you for a once in a lifetime trip, which one? Angela.

Something you'd like to say to one of them: I miss you. That applies to everyone.

[artnerd1123]

Nettles’ Character Sheet

it’s been 500 years since i did one of these, but! undercut it goes~

Character Chart Character’s full name: Nettles Nimue Willoweep Reason or meaning of name: Nettles comes from the plant! Since nettles sting, I was originally planning on having her be a lot more prickly. She still is kinda pokey now, tbh. “Willoweep” is just “weeping willow” but smashed together. It’s for the Aesthetic™. Nimue refers to the “lady of the lake” in the legend of king arthur, and because I thought it sounded cool. important to note is that she made up her current name herself, for story reasons Character’s nickname: none (aiden calls her various pet names later), though some people might attempt to call her captain willow. it doesn’t end well.  Reason for nickname: she just doesn’t care for nicknames much, (Aiden’s the exception because they’re overly sappy/joke around a lot with each other later) and she used to be a pirate captain- but isn’t anymore  Birth date: March 28th Sexuality: queer  Gender/pronouns: genderfluid, she/her (occasionally they/them)

Physical appearance Age: 37 How old do they appear: probably around that. Maybe a smidge older. Weight: still have no clue how weight works! She’s got plenty of muscle mass tho :V Height: 5’11” Body build: thinner frame but with plenty of muscle. She’s strong as frick, and more like a steel rod than a stick. plenty buff :3 Shape of face: i still don’t know how to answer this question lsdkjfs, but she’s got a longer face w/ a sharpish chin  Eye color: pale green! Glasses or contacts: neither Skin tone: light brown (african american?) + seafarer’s tan on top of it  Distinguishing marks: she’s got so many scars. So many. The most notable ones being “ligature” marks on her right wrist, and a burn on her neck/left shoulder. Predominant features: her hair is p eyecatching for sure Hair color: emerald/leafy green Type of hair: curly coils  Hairstyle: currently has it in dreadlocks (they look a lil vinelike!), parted to the right  Voice: Jess Glynne - Thursday (but can also sound piratey) Overall attractiveness: strong ex-pirate plant lady,,, pretty in a rugged kind of way,,, ough,,,  Physical disabilities: none Usual fashion of dress: pirate, but make it shades of brown/green and a bit less flashy Favorite outfit: dark brown “vest” (actually a dress top she tore the skirt off of) with green accent around front laces, cream off-the-shoulder shirt w/ green accent trim and flowy sleeves, dark brown pants, tan boots w/ straps and gold buckles, large belt w/ gold buckle  Jewelry or accessories: black hoop earrings, an emerald leaf shaped cloak clasp, and a staff made of woven grass (which can turn into a sword)

Personality Good personality traits: generally levelheaded, unafraid to tell people things when needed, determined, patient, ‘do no harm but take no shiz’ mentality, not usually quick to judge, generally easygoing, v dedicated to those she considers family, thinks well under pressure, gives good advice (most of the time), can be p charismatic Bad personality traits: tends not to have much foresight, can come across as aloof, really bad about opening up, keeps too much to herself despite tryna get better abt it, can sometimes overlook traits in favor of just being allies/friends, a lil too willing to get into a fight sometimes, can be too headstrong, lies easily to get out of things Mood character is most often in: contemplative Sense of humor: very dark, likes to playfully tease those she cares about, loves really long jokes, can get a bit crass on occasion Character’s greatest joy in life: currently her forest (teaching journal comes close second some days) Character’s greatest fear: her past coming back to bite her Why? She’s not so much scared of people finding out who she used to be, more uneasy about people using it against her. She doesn’t want people to walk out of her life, but like, if they do, she wouldn’t blame em. She just doesn’t wanna get thrown under the bus for what she did back during pirate days, and accused of being something she isn’t (at least, not anymore.) What single event would most throw this character’s life into complete turmoil? Losing journal, tbh. She already lost everything- including family- once. She’s not willing to walk down that road again. Character is most at ease when: out among her plants, or chillin in a tavern Most ill at ease when: near the ocean in any capacity Enraged when: people threaten her loved ones/home/etc, people hurt others due to prejudice, people cause destruction in her forest Depressed or sad when: thinking of her old crew, ruminating in her memories for too long, near the ocean, an old tree dies Priorities: keeping the forest safe, producing enough lucrative plants/herbs so she has on hand pocket money, making sure journal’s alright/settling in/has the help he needs if she’s not around to give it Life philosophy: everyone gets their comeuppance eventually, but that doesn’t mean you sit back and wait. Go knock some sense into em if they need it. Take care of people worse off than you, too. A bit of help gets people a long way. If granted one wish, it would be: to have turned back in that storm instead of charging on. Why? Half her crew wouldn’t be dead. She could’ve actually retired instead of stepping down due to catastrophic failure. Her familiar would be alive. Y’know, normal reasons. Character’s soft spot: plants, gold, shiny things, kids Is this soft spot obvious to others? Plants, definitely. The other things you’ll notice if you’re around her long enough Greatest strength: making a decision and seeing it through Greatest vulnerability or weakness: absolutely hates/has a really hard time opening up to other people  Biggest regret: rushing headlong into a storm she had no hope of conquering Minor regret: not travelling inland more when she was a pirate (not a huge deal to her, but it woulda been nice) Biggest accomplishment: either successfully maintaining a ship/captain’s title for ten years, or nurturing her forest from a wildfire charred landscape into a thriving woodsy landscape. Minor accomplishment: finding out how to return gold (if she stole it on accident) without being too weird about it Past failures they would be embarrassed to have people know about: she likely has a ton from her early pirating days. Learning to be a pirate wasn’t super easy all the time Why? She likes to think she’s a competent pirate now, don’t bring that stuff up, thank u v much Character’s darkest secret: dark magic has tempted her many, many times. It still does sometimes. And she almost gave in on a few of those occasions. Does anyone else know? No. they won’t, if she has anything to say about it.

Goals Drives and motivations: moving on aka shoving her past in a closet, being able to keep her forest/new loved ones safe, gold Immediate goals: keep up with her trade partners and her “cash gardens,” check the forest for abnormalities, make sure journ doesn’t need anything that day (and help if he do) Long term goals: keep the forest healthy, keep journal on the right track, continue expanding her budding network of plant trading, hopefully make some more actual progress with her issues How the character plans to accomplish these goals: keep up the “forest guardian” role, send letters to journ/visit him, meet more people, and learn to properly open up. And. y’know. Maybe steal some gold here n there as needed. How other characters will be affected: positively for her loved ones/partners! And maybe possibly probably negatively for those she doesn’t like. Perhaps.

Past Hometown: didn’t have a “town.” lived on ships/ports for her whole life till pirating Type of childhood: unstable, tbh. She was the kid of some merchant questors. Thus, she was always travelling around. Not much time to make/maintain friendships, bond with her parents, or do much besides help out. Any goofing off probably got her yelled at. Her headstrong nature meant she didn’t take kindly to that, so she ran away at 15. Pets: none First memory: the sound of waves. It’s something she’ll never forget, no matter what. Most important childhood memory: seeing pirates in the distance during a trade route! Scary, but she was also in awe of em Why: those pirates inspired her runaway swashbuckling plans when she was a teen! They also showed her an alternative to the dull merchant’s way of fulfilling questor urges. Childhood hero: probably some super well known pirate from a legend a book she smuggled onboard Dream job: anything that wasn’t being a merchant (turned into pirate tho) Education: really good at math, reading, keeping records, and reading the ocean. All thanks to her parents/seabound life! She taught herself plant magic rlly early on, and also learned a lot more things pirating (swordfighting, how to manage a crew, which quests are the most profitable, etc) Religion: Finances: parents took care of childhood finances. She was treasure/stolen loot funded until pirating crashed and burned in her late teen/early adult years~

Present Current location: forest outside Journal’s town. It spans many miles. Currently living with: herself :V Pets: none Religion: Occupation: forest guardian, plant merchant, magic mentor Finances: merchant life pays well enough when she needs it. And, like, she still goes and loots places from time to time. Just keep it quiet, m’kay?

Family Mother: Danielle Chamelea Teritip Relationship with her: though she was v busy, her mother always did her best to keep her daugher on track. She’s the one who pushed nettles really hard to learn, and to focus on becoming a better merchant than entertaining other fantasies. Their relationship wasn’t terrible, but nettles never felt her mom’s approval of her personal goals- just the future her mom wanted. Father: Albus Troise Teritip Relationship with him: he was also very busy, but always took the time to teach her little tricks and tips of the trade. He was also sorta pushy about her becoming a merchant. He never even seemed to notice her pulling away to other fantasies. Why would she? After all, your kid’s gotta carry on the family business. What else would she be doing? Siblings: Relationship with them: Spouse: Relationship with them: Children: Relationship with them: Other important family members: if found family counts, which it does, that’ll be journal! Later in the plot, it expands to fit aiden/roo/seraph/ruffy. In her past, her crew would all have been here

Favorites Color: green. Any shade. Surprising, i know Least favorite color: beige. Boring color, no thank u >:V Music: sea shanties!!! Also likes metal, some pop, and has a fondness for violin/flute music Food: a p p l e s. Also fond of any produce she can eat raw. And crabs. Lov the cronch. Literature: prefers oral stories to reading. But like, history is super interesting to her. Form of entertainment: oral storytelling, showing off (or watching someone show off) magic, stupid tavern karaoke Expressions: loves that devilish smirk of “oh no, they’re up to something bad, hold onto your valuables.” also enjoyable is that eyebrow raise of “did you really just do that? Really? That?” with a deadpan face. Peak expressions. Mode of transportation: swinging/parkouring around through the trees via plant magic and vines, like tarzan, except the vines yeet him instead of swinging sometimes Most prized possession: her staff. She’s had it for years, through good and bad, and it’s not going anywhere. May or may not also have a feather in her cloak clasp for… reasons.

Habits Hobbies: gardening, swordfighting, people and/or birdwatching, storytelling, being extra as all frick every so often so people don’t forget u can and will take them the frick out, applepicking Plays a musical instrument? nope! Plays a sport? Does swordfighting count? How they would spend a rainy day: either inside a town building, tavern, or little canopy of leaves in the forest. Depending on the setting, she’ll just have casual conversations or peoplewatch. Or, if she’s in the forest, she’ll entertain herself with vivid storytelling. Sometimes she’ll jus watch whatever crawled into her dry canopy with her. Or bug journal with excessive letters. Anything chill slkdfjs Spending habits: if she can grow/make/wash it herself, she’s not buying. Spends more gold on trips to town restaurants/taverns than anything else, but it’s chill. ‘S not like she has rent to pay :V Smokes: nope Drinks: rum, of course. What kinda pirate do u take her for??? Also wouldn’t mind whiskey. Drinks a lot less now than she used to. Other drugs: nope What do they do too much of? Being a local cryptid What do they do too little of? Opening up to other human beings instead of plants Extremely skilled at: reading a room, cutting to the chase, sword-and-regular-fighting, plant magic, teaching, stealing/pickpocketing, thinking on her feet Extremely unskilled at: planning ahead, knowing when she should really let things be instead of starting smth, letting her loved ones fight their own fights (she’ll try and step in at least once) Nervous tics: going silent, putting a hand over her mouth, staring really hard at nothing, holding her staff close, squeezing anything in hand (usually her staff end) Usual body posture: holds herself loosely but confidently. Has the air of someone who knows what’s going on, and is at ease wherever. Mannerisms: usually blunt, teases those she cares about (unless told not to), makes hand motions when explaining things, speaks in a more “normal” voice most of the time but can occasionally slip into a piratey accent when angry/upset, tends to unconsciously mimic the accents of those around her if she’s in a new setting, likes to sit back and watch until she judges herself to be “familiar” enough with what’s up Peculiarities: the smell of a lotta salt can sometimes upset her, she’s an extrovert but spends most of her time in the woods/outskirts of towns, she’s still very superstitious from her pirate days

Traits Optimist or pessimist? Tends to err on the side of pessimism nowadays Introvert or extrovert? Big extrovert! She’ll spend time just hanging around places people are if she feels too drained, and really loves spending time with those she cares about Daredevil or cautious? Daredevil with an air of caution about her Logical or emotional? Likes to think she’s more logic based, and acts it, but she’s very emotional driven when it comes down to it Disorderly and messy or methodical and neat? Very neat, actually! You wouldn’t know it unless u got her to live inside tho ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Prefers working or relaxing? Mix of both. Enough work so she’s not bored, but enough relaxing so she’s not stressed :V Confident or unsure of themself? Confident for the vast majority of the time. Animal lover? She’s definitely fond of em!!! :D

Self-perception How they feel about themself: eh, she’s alright. It fluctuates some days, but tends to rest firmly in the “I’m fine, and if I’m not, I’ll fix it for tomorrow” realm. If it does fluctuate, she either feels like a traitor/liar, or a cunning bada$$ One word the character would use to describe self: survivor One paragraph description of how the character would describe self: “I’m Nettles, Nettles Willoweep. I’m a thirty seven year old sorceress who likes plants more than people. Well, that’s a lie. But it is easier to deal with foliage sometimes. I used to be a pirate a long time ago. Not so much nowadays, but that’s not to say I won’t bend a few rules in a pinch. I do what I need. After all, who’s gonna miss a few coins here and there? Certainly not the other families I slip em to. But uh, hey, don’t go spreading that around. I’ve got a reputation to upkeep.” “I guess I’m a bit of a benevolent local cryptid? Whatever that means. Journal tells me it’s a good thing, and I’ll believe him for now. I’m certainly doing what I can to take care of people who need it, and I’d give my right arm to help those I’m close to. Yeah, my blood runs a little hot sometimes, but that hasn’t changed my whole life. I just wanna see my plants and people prosper, and maybe get some gold on the side.” “... ah, right, hobbies. Gardening, forest guarding, fighting with swords, birdwatching… lots of stuff. As long as I’m not spending all my time slogging through old wounds, i’ll call it a good day.” What does the character consider their best personality trait? Her dedication What does the character consider their worst personality trait? How easily she brushes off concern What does the character consider their best physical characteristic? Not sure! She likes her body, and has no complaints abt it. Maybe her hair or how limber she still is :V What does the character consider their worst physical characteristic? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ How does the character think others perceive them: she thinks the general public perceives her as shady but mostly benevolent. She thinks her loved ones perceive her as blunt, but caring. Both of these are fair analyses, by her thought. What would the character most like to change about themself: make it so she could forgive herself easier, and admit to others that she needs a hand

Relationships with others Opinion of other people in general: people are easily tricked and dumb. Individuals can be p nice tho. Does the character hide their true opinions and emotions from others? She’s one of those people where, in certain situations, you’re never gonna be sure if she’s being sarcastic/truthful or not. She does it more regularly than she would like, but less so with close friends Person character most hates: i could put some old rival of hers here. Unfortunately, ‘herself’ works better :( Best friend(s): she’s very good friends with several bartenders, but especially the one in journ’s town. She’s hit it off quite nicely with a nomad who passes through every couple weeks or so, too. Journal is also a “best friend,” but like, in a mentee/kid kind of way Love interest(s): aiden, later ;3 Person character goes to for advice: bartender bffs Person character feels responsible for or takes care of: journal journal journal journal jo- Person character feels shy or awkward around: nobody :V Person character openly admires: *insert several pirates/legendary sorcerers/questors/casual hard workers in towns here* Person character secretly admires: eh. Probably aiden for a bit. Wink wonk lskjdfs Most important person in character’s life before story starts: technically journ counts here? But if not, just herself. After story starts: journal for sure

[lostsolsdestinyblog]

Destiny 2: Forsaken Initial impressions after one hell of a first week of play

We are officially one week into Forsaken and though I have previously waited to post detailed opinions until after the first month, since there is just so much that we’ve experienced in the last week, I’m going to give a take on this initial experience.

First and foremost, Forsaken is so far in my opinion the absolute pinnacle Destiny experience we all hoped it would be. This expansion is incredible and there is almost too much to do and take in, and to that end it can get a bit overwhelming at times. That is not a bad problem to have though and is really a testament to everyone at Bungie and the work they put in to all aspects of the game over the last year.

Story/Campaign

There are many things to cover but I think the first should be the story, lore, campaign and endgame story. This has been nothing short of magnificent. Forsaken took a real hold on me right from the opening cinematic and maintained it all throughout the campaign, through the closing scene and kept going. From the speech Ikora gave when we got back to the tower, to the dialogue when we visit planet vendors, it is deep, it is rich and it is heartfelt. I haven’t even had time to begin thinking about digging into the new lore section of the Triumphs, but all the responses I’ve heard from those who have are nothing short of glowing.

Art/level design/worlds

I don’t know exactly what I pictured as exactly what the Tangled Shore would be like, but it managed to exceed any thoughts I may have had. From the real look at the full Prison of Elders to the wreckage of the Queen’s assault on Oryx, It is just phenomenally done. The crashed Tomb Ship in particular was just a complete OMG moment for me and really managed to hit me in the feels being back in that environment.

The weapon and armor designs are really fantastic this go round too. I know the return of some of the old D1 gear has been hit or miss with people, but I feel like it fits the narrative and there are enough brand new designs to really give people a choice of aesthetic.

The Dreaming City

To the art and design, as GLaDOS would say, this is a triumph. The zone is very reminiscent to me of WoW’s Timeless Isle and that is such a cool thing to have in Destiny because it was easily the best zone I ever played in WoW. I haven’t gotten to do a ton of exploring there yet, but it is a much larger space that I envisioned and full of way more secrets and challenges. I got to finally do quite a bit of the Blind Well yesterday and, after a dozen or so completions now, I think the event is awesome. I think the last 3; Archon’s Forge, EP and now the Well have all been incredibly fun and have managed to have uniquely different reasons for being so. I think these events are a great thing for the game and look forward to each new one we get, but I wish they could get the matchmaking right.

The one place this falls short again is that it’s so difficult to get a larger group of friends together to play and I know the matchmaking in the Well has already been covered by Paul Tassi and others, but I think it goes beyond matchmaking in this instance.

The Dreaming City is the raid zone. Everything there is building up to the raid and yet we are limited to 3 player fireteams and this to me if I could change one thing about Forsaken would be #1 on the list. It should have been a 6 player fireteam zone. I understand all the technical reasons for how Destiny’s worlds work and the challenges of moving us between the different public and private bubbles while matchmaking seamlessly and also keeping us able to be joined at any time by those in our fireteam, but this is not the regular patrol zone. The Dreaming City is a standalone area from the Tangled shore and as such I wish could have been designed to accommodate the bigger groups.

Even if it entailed limiting each area within the Dreaming City to a max of 6 rather than 9 and tuning the enemies/challenges accordingly, I think it would have been worth it. One of the biggest mistakes D2 made for me at launch was forcing raid teams to fracture to do anything else in the game and I think it ended up hurting the game. This is something we discussed at the Summit including wondering if we could get a 6v6 Gambit (the response being that while the idea is good, the mode had been developed, tested and perfected to feel good for 4v4 and they didn’t want to chance changing things and it not feeling as good so close to release.

The return of 6v6 QP and IB has done a lot to give those groups more to do, but I just can’t help but think about what a bonding experience this could have been for raid teams to all be together playing through the Dreaming City and unlocking the secrets around the raid before going in together and I hope it’s something that is considered for the future.

Gambit

I was extremely fortunate to have been a part of the first group to get to play it and it was incredibly fun when we did, but also a bit overwhelming to really get a full sense of everything that was going on. During the Gambit stream a couple weeks ago and then in the free trial day I really got a chance to pick up a lot of nuances and rules of play that I didn’t catch going in blind and it has been exactly what all the rave reviews throughout the spring and summer have suggested. The mode is incredibly fun and deep, the maps are fantastic and the different map/enemy combos really do make it feel quite different every time.

I know there are the complaints we see about sleeper, etc, but honestly I haven’t seen any strategy/weapon that can’t be countered by adjusting your own teams approach so far. The only issue I’ve had with Gambit has been the networking and rules around players dropping/joining. I don’t know how unique my experience has been, but when I play with friends I get zoo errored out of almost every match and usually a game or two in, right before the rewards. In a two day span I was only able to successfully complete two matches. It cost me hours of leveling and not only did I lose out on a bunch of powerful engrams rewards, it also punished my clan mate playing with me as she didn’t get credit for doing the matches with me towards her clan bounty when I kept getting kicked at the end.

To this end I don’t know if the issue is server side or with my Xbox, but it’s been painful. My other issue is with the systems surrounding the disconnects. It has given me a message asking saying I got unexpectedly removed and would I like to rejoin each time, but I have never successfully made it back into a match. I get another zoo error every time and once that fails; there is no way to just join on teammates in an in-progress match. The other issue is with the ban system. I understand that it sucks when people quit and there should be some way to curb that, but I think that right now the system is punishing to many players who’ve been kicked/had the game freeze/get stuck flying in from orbit forever. When the system becomes a punishment to players who are at no fault, then I think it’s time to rethink the system.

Bounties/dailies/ weeklies

There are so many and this is both awesome and overwhelming all at once. I like that bounties are back. I think they give a real reason to go to all the places within the game and have given me reason to actually go do heroic story missions, strikes and adventures. I think to that end these have been a grand slam, but I also think they are a bit overly complex.

I think here the biggest issue for me has been the removal of goals from the milestone page. I was so lost the first few days trying to figure out where I needed to be and what I needed to do to level up and progress and I really wish that we could track more than one bounty at a time and that when tracked, they would be pinned to the milestone page. I know there is only so much space there so it may be a limited number, but I miss not being able to just pull up that tab and see where I need to go next and my progress.

I didn’t even know the daily heroic adventure existed until day 4, and again, there is so much to do now and it is awesome, but it could be a little more defined how things work and when they reset. I know there was also the unintended rested on Saturday that threw a wrench into things, but it’s been hard to prioritize what to do when to not lose things because of the 4 day vs weekly resets. I think it would have been better to just have 7 unique daily events that reset each week along with the weeklies.

Progression

This one it’s still early to really be able to fully give opinions on as one week isn’t enough to get a sense of a 200 power level climb, but I can give my thought on things so far. The first thing is the initial grind from 35/380 to 50/500. I thought this was done really well and the pacing particularly on my second and third characters was really good. I enjoyed the repeat trips through and was able to be perfectly setup for the next grind on each of my 3 characters.

Initially I was taken aback by the high cost of infusion like everyone else, but that has become a bit less of an issue post 500 and I understand the reasoning behind the changes and trying to change the way we think about choosing/upgrading gear. I do have some reservations on upgrading gear still though. Some people had the luxury of having huge stockpiles of masterwork cores, mod components, planetary mats, etc going in and I understand it would be kind of broken for them to basically be able to buy as many of whatever they needed while other have to grind, but I really can’t imagine this system not being punishing for new players or those who didn’t have stock piles.

I’m currently almost our of masterwork cores and not finding many in the world and it’s got me to where I’m just equipping whatever gear I find at higher levels and not wearing the armor I want or in many cases using the weapons I want to. I didn’t mind this on the journey to 500 going through various blue gear, but I don’t like having to play the real endgame using things I don’t really want to and wearing gear I don’t really like.

All that said, so far progression post 500 has felt very good. I’ve managed to gain at least 3-5 levels each day (high of 518 atm) and I’m struggling to complete everything I can that gives powerful gear across all 3 characters before they reset… and that is with the fact that I didn’t do my initial weeklies before the Saturday reset and so lost out on a week’s worth of those activities. Whatever issues Warmind had with capping our progress and particularly in making it difficult for solo players to progress after their milestones were finished have been not just corrected, but made infinitely better in Forsaken.

I actually had to force myself to take this break from trying to finish everything I need to do in order to write this. There have been some bumps in the road so far with the accidental reset, players glitching things and for me, the issues staying connected to Gambit, but as a whole I think it has been easily the best leveling system Destiny has had so far for both solo and fireteam play.

Random Rolls/Exotics/mods

To random rolls, I think they’ve been handled very well since being brought back. I think the possible variations along with the perks themselves have made getting a good version of any weapon a pretty safe bet when they drop. As far as armor rolls, I really haven’t even begun to really look at or care what the perks are at this point as there is no way I can find a set and wear/infuse it as I go with the infusion economy as it stands now, so I’m currently just infusing exotics/ like-kind-items and my few crucible pieces on my titan that have my grenade cooldown mods. Unless there are changes I don’t see myself really trying to build full sets until I hit 600.

Weapons I wish just has glimmer cost associated when infusing say any hand cannon to hand cannon and not just the same kinds of them. I think that would help things a lot and allow us to use what we want more often as we level.

Mods are so much better than before and exactly what I had wished they would be for a long time now, but I am worried that the economy system here is going to be too punishing. I did not have a stockpile going in and I have been able to but 6-7 so far, but I don’t have enough to buy anymore at this time and I’m not finding them as I play. I think I’ve gotten only one or two the last two day. That isn’t going to cut it.

Sandbox/balance

Again it is so early to really get a full sense of things but from what I have played so far of PvE and PvP, this is really, really good. There are so many incredible weapons in every weapon slot/archetype and the ways we can set up to play are just crazy deep. I know there have been the complaints about Sleeper, Telesto, shotguns, etc, but honestly I have not seen any weapon stand out in what has killed me. I’ve seen so much variety and even when I run into a player who is really good with whatever they have equipped, I don’t feel like I’m lacking in ways to combat and counter them. When there are weapons in literally every class that you can say is truly phenomenal, the devs really knocked it out of the park and I really hope that the philosophy of putting it on players to find great weapons that fit their play within the sandbox stays and we don’t see things start to get nerfed because players feelings get hurt when they die to (x) weapon/ability/super.

Supers/new subclasses

These have been nothing short of spectacular. I decided to play my Warlock first at the last minute and on a whim went with the new arc subclass. I can’t even adequately describe how much it exceeded my expectations for what it could be. It feels so powerful and just perfect. I have since unlocked the solar and it’s also amazing (though seems to take a bit too long to level each node compared to the other subclasses).

I did the void Hunter first and outside of a garbage right bumper on my xbone controller it’s been really fun, but probably the biggest surprise so far is the Titan. I decided to do the defender first and it’s the first time in all of Destiny that I can truly say I love the subclass. It just feels so spot on now both in its support capabilities as well as being able to really hold its own offensively.

The only thing that has been an issue I’ve seen is the way we acquire the ability to unlock new supers. I understand tying them to the Blind Well to encourage players to really get in there and try it, but I hope that isn’t the only avenue and that we will have chances for them to just drop anywhere the further we progress with the odds getting higher. I cannot imagine this not being the case and us somehow reaching 600 without unlocking everything.

Final thoughts

Again it is still so early in this expansion and there is still so much to see and do in weeks and months to come, but this has been such a Triumph for pretty much every aspect of the game. Yes there are things like Blind Well and the Dreaming City that I think can be even better, but that is the key phrase, EVEN BETTER, because they are already great. I think at this point that would be the area I’d like to see the game grow and improve from here. Weapons, balance, leveling, investment, story, lore, design, new modes… all those things have been taken to entirely new levels of greatness. Now I want to better be able to experience it all with more of my friends and our full 6 player fireteam, be that in areas like the Dreaming City, PvP, and hopefully eventually patrols.

It’s been a hell of a ride so far and we’re a week in. I can’t wait to see what this week brings and into the future :)

[indiantourandtravel]

Places to explore in Gwalior during your central India tours

This is the must visit the temple during your central India tours. The Sun Temple is also a major tourist attraction in Gwalior. It is the temple for Lord Surya. Famous industrialist GD Birla in the year 1988 built this temple. Its architecture is similar to that of the Sun Temple at Konark, Orissa. Spiritual peace is attained by coming here.

Gwalior is a historical city. It is the main city of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Baghel ruler Suraj Sen Pal built this city. The city is known for its temples, ancient palaces, and many monuments. If you are all set to come for central India tours, and then do not forget to explore this city. Let us know, without seeing these famous tourist places of Gwalior, the journey of Gwalior is not complete.

History of Gwalior:

Gwalior has an important place in Indian history. In the year 1857, the first revolution against Britishers started here. In this battle, Maharani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi of the Maratha dynasty sacrificed her life fighting against the British. Apart from this, the city of Gwalior is also called the Tapobhoomi of Galav Rishi.

Once King Surajsen Pal fell seriously ill, then a saint named Gualipa healed him and gave him a new life. Then the city of Gwalior has been named after him.

Gwalior city is famous for forts. This city is known as the pearl of the necklace of the forts of India. Your India Tour will be incomplete without this.

Fort of Gwalior:

Gwalior Fort is a huge and grand fort. Its height is 35 meters. From the inscription, we know that this fort must have been there from the 6th century or earlier. And red sandstones are in use to build this. Gibraltar of India is the other name of this fort.

Sightseeing inside Gwalior Fort:

Karna Mahal:  

Kirti Singh, the second ruler of the Tomar dynasty built this. Another name of Kirti Singh was also Karan Singh. Hence this palace was named after him. It is two-storeyed, rectangular, and built-in Hindu style.

Man Singh Palace:

Man Singh Mahal is the most attractive, beautiful, and grand palace. It is a 4-story palace decorated with flowers, leaves, animals, and colorful carvings. It is also known as Patent House. There is also around the prison on going inside this palace. It was a saying that Aurangzeb killed his brother Murad at this place.

Vikram Mahal:        

King Vikramaditya Singh, the son of Maharaja Man Singh, built this mahal.

Jahangir Mahal & Shah Jahan Mahal:

Both these palaces are inside the Gwalior Fort. Both of them were built at different times by the Mughal rulers.

Bhim Singh Raja's umbrella:

Raja Bhim Singh Rana was the Jat king of Gohad. His successor Chhatra Singh built this as a memorial to him.

Gurdwara Sri Data Bandi Chhor Sahib:      

Shri Data Bandi Chhor Sahib Gurdwara is present inside the Gwalior Fort. It is a famous Gurudwara built in the memory of Hargobind Singh. The name of this gurudwara was Data Bandi Chhod Sahib because Guru Gobind Sahib had freed 52 Hindu kings from Jahangir's captivity.

Teli Ka Mandir:    

This is present inside the Gwalior Fort. It is the tallest temple with a height of about 30 meters. It was mainly a temple of Lord Vishnu.

The architecture of this temple is a mixture of South and North Indian styles.

Suraj Kund Gwalior:

This is also a pool located inside the fort. The water here is considered quite miraculous. There is also a temple of Lord Shiva in the middle of the Kund. People said that many people cure any disease whoever takes a bath in this pool.

Eighty pillared step-wells:  

Inside the fort, you will find a step well with eighty pillars. Raja Man Singh Tomar built this to store water. There was a separate room for the bathing of the queens. It is said in this step well that there is also an underground way. But now it is closed.

Siddhachal Jain Temple Caves:    

Inside the Gwalior Fort, you will find the caves of Siddhachal Jain Temple to visit.

Other places to visit in Gwalior during your India Tour:

Jai Vilas Palace:

If you come to Gwalior and do not see Jai Vilas Palace, then the journey to Gwalior is not complete. It is a palace in which the Scindia family still lives. Jiwaji Rao Scindia 1809 built this palace.

Here you can see all the weapons used during the reign of Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, and Rani Lakshmi Bai in the museum.

Tansen's Tomb:

Tansen's tomb is a must-see place in Gwalior. Here is the tomb of Tansen, which remains near the tomb of his guru Mohammad Ghaus. Mohammad Ghaus was Tansen's guru. Who taught him classical music? Tansen was a great musician during the Akbar era.

Sun Temple:

This is the must visit the temple during your central India tours. The Sun Temple is also a major tourist attraction in Gwalior. It is the temple for Lord Surya. Famous industrialist GD Birla in the year 1988 built this temple. Its architecture is similar to that of the Sun Temple at Konark, Orissa. Spiritual peace is attained by coming here.