#like seriously people who only speak english we're all missing out

[mackmp3]

also new Sigur Rós out today! (icelandic ambient post-rock band)

(my friend saw them live and said it felt like being underwater)

[gemsofgreece]

OK some things about Greece's Marina Satti results and we're done with this

JK I am not done with Marina I love her but we're done with the circus Marina was in, for another year

So, she is a perfectionist but I hope she will soon understand how much SHE SUCCEEDED. And it will look like a love delirium but no I am not being biased.

Marina Satti got 11th place. Missed Top 10 by one. She was basically killed by the juries.

In the televoting she won 8th place. So she was in the top 10 of all people's votes. She was also 8th in the votes from the Rest of the World, which is a big deal in my opinion.

I won't be mad at the juries because their voting overall made sense in many ways and we were aware that Zari was a not jury-friendly song in any way. It had zurna, it had rap, obviously juries don't go for this stuff. So, it's okay. We knew that.

BUT Marina Satti got 8th - 11th place:

By singing exclusively in the Greek language.

By singing in an entirely Balkan, eastern melody during a year that a lot of the Balkans and East Europe had withdrawn from the contest.

By kinda rapping / reggaetoning, which is generally hated in Eurovision.

By doing exactly her thing, despite knowing how much she would be fought by certain people.

By knowingly choosing the very risky song instead of a ballad and a typical dance song that she also had available as options.

By not trying to be "understood" and get sympathy votes.

By being given a tiny budget from the Greek delegation, much smaller than any previous years including to last year's NQ lame tycoon nephew entry. So GD gave a famous artist like Marina much less money than to those small unknown kids that had gone before her. WTF

By being hated for her song and her (genius) music video and a large percentage of the population writing in English and asking foreigners to not vote for her and blaming her for insulting Greece, Greek culture etc (HINT: No she did not insult it and a blog called gemsofgreece tells you that so relax) and insulting her, her morals, her family, her father's descent and her talent relentlessly for three months

By the unprecedented thing of the freaking SHOWBIZ of the country making openly insulting attacks against her and her song. Like, seriously, there were FAMOUS celebrities going on TV and calling her song "cat vomit", a fashion designer (before her dress choice lol) saying she should go to Eurovision naked because there's no other hope for her to get votes. I am serious. You might say, oh, she must have done something. NO. Guys, no. She has never said or done anything wrong to any celebrity in the country as far as I am aware. She was attacked by musicians, fashion designers, TV shows and honestly nobody knows why. It's a different thing to not like something than to get a polemic position openly as a celebrity against another famous person. This has never happened before, I don't remember anything like this. Celebrities shitting on another artist's effort out of nowhere, especially in advance. To put it simply, now that Marina will have to return to Greece (poor thing), she has good reasons to sue half the country.

By losing her father one month ago.

By getting pretty ill during the semi-final, losing her voice and being administrated medication every three hours.

By suffering chronically from severe anxiety, which is why she refused three prior propositions from the Greek delegation to represent the country.

Well, by receiving a new massive wave of hate from people from or supporting Israel and the Greek government controlled media and press, who all started a fierce campaign against her the last two days before the final. The reason was that she showed intentionally boredom / sleepiness during the time the Israeli contestant was speaking. Make of that what you will, I am only presenting the facts of how her placement was formed here. Many Jewish people wrote they had voted her in the semi but now they wouldn't. I believe because Israel is an eastern country, probably several people of Jewish descent voted for her and then all those votes were lost. It's no matter, I am just explaining that she would probably otherwise be 7th in the televoting, 10th overall. Here we analyze if Marina succeeded her goal, we don't nitpick for Eurovision's sake.

And as you see, she succeeded. With all the odds against her, with a LOT of people hating her and making her life harder and her effort impossible, with the loss of her father, she succeeded in her vision. Bring back Greek language, the eastern sound and having the world dance with it. Shoutout to Armenia who also succeeded in this and made top 10, the song was a little more conventional. Let's be real, Satti achieved all this with a VERY difficult song. The definition of a difficult song and in a little known language. Nothing else, just congratulations to her and I hope she realises all this and does not let her trademark anxiety and perfectionism get the better of her. Also, she really created an international fan community with this and I think there are good things coming for her in the future :)))))

PS1: Odds had her 8th-10th place but they underestimated the juries and the last day's hate she got. In general odds were not very successful this year.

PS2. No worries Greek and Cypriot televoting exchanged the 12 points again :D

PS3: to the ageist haters who wondered why she looks 20 though she is 38, kitties reach her age and you will be crying to look like her

PS4: Marina’s 8th place in televoting was the best placement since 2013, surpassing Amanda and Stefania with the English jury friendly songs 😃😃😃 Greek delegation take a bloody hint

[msfbgraves]

Daniel comes off as totally irresistible in your MobAU. I bet Terry was all “That little Italian Omega means nothing to me, I can get over this.” And then he fails to, spectacularly. Oops. Anyway, just how desperate was Terry to have his wedding night, lol? 

Desperate enough! In fact:

“You're being honeytrapped, you know that.” John crosses his arms, face set in a signature scowl.

He looks at him. “Do you have anything new to say?”

“It bears repeating.” He lifts his chin. “Terry, they're stalling. Only people who do that are weak. Do you want them to regroup first?”

“We can take 'em, John, but can we hold them?”

“The feck you take me for? Of course!”

He smiles. “Johnny. I don't have time to play dictator. I, we, we need to expand, and if I have to waste my people babysitting some resentful Italians, that's not ever gonna work. There's the Russians, Chinese, Arabs and they're hungry.”

John sniffs. “We could take Russians, or Chinese or half of feckin England if we stick to our ground.”

“Sure, and then, when we're depleted, some damned cartel boss is going to swoop in. Let them do that to the other ones first.”

John leans on his hand fixes him. “If this is about the Prima Donna -”

“It's a boy, John.”

“It's a goat for all I care. It's trouble, you eejit. How often have you seen him, once?” He scoffs. “Jesus, Terry. They're throwing kitties at you as we speak.”

He sighs. “Trying to buy their way in, they don't offer anything.”

“Oh, and he does?”

Christ, that smell. The ripeness of him. Health, too. He'd not lacked for anything. But those eyes were quick. The fire in them. And those lips...

John shakes his head. “Jesus, it's like fucking Troy.” He stands up. “You're getting killed tonight, you eejit, so I'm putting everyone on high alert. Again.”

Terry grins. “All I ask.”

“I will squeeze your Mandy for a payout, so,” John says. “That English bitch of hers can pay for the service.”

“I have no doubt,” Terry says. “You'll be King of the block, Johnny.”

But never more, and that is what he needs to find a way to prevent.

And this way is looking ever more appealing.

***

Sweet Mother of God, is he gorgeous.

And even more pissed off than last time.

“It's good to see you” gets him an: “Is it? Why?”

He touches his arm. “Come now, don't fish for compliments.” He leans over, whispers in his ear: “You know you're beautiful.”

The boy freezes for half a second. “And that's the most important thing?”

“It's all I know as yet.” He straightens up. “I was hoping we could change that.”

He blushes, look away, seemingly not a day older than fourteen. “And what if I don't want that?”

“Then you might miss out on some fun.” He winks at him. “C'mon. What do you have to lose?”

In fact, nobody can stay snippy on the subject of fun for very long, Terry knows that from experience, and soon enough they're knee deep into a discussion of Pop vs Swing. The boy is really into guitar, keeps talking about some fella called Reinhardt. It's refreshing, after all the Benny Goodman talk. But then he leans over, whispers in a conspiratorial tone: “But who I really like is Robert Johnson.”

Terry nearly spits out his wine. “Johnson?” he says, trying not to laugh. “Sweetheart. What do you have to be blue about?”

The hurt that flashes over his face makes Terry wants to kick himself. “I don't know,” the boy says, pulling back. “People not taking you seriously?”

“Daniele,” his mother interjects suddenly. “All this music talk – why don't you play us something?”

He frowns. “Ah, no, Ma...”

“Yes,” the Don says. “What a good idea. Daniele, get your instrument.”

There's a murmur of assent. And of course Terry wants to hear it, but he hates how the boy ducks together. “Why don't we all play something?” he says, looking at the rather grand piano in the adjacent room.

“My son is very good,” the Don says. “In fact, I'd say he sometimes even plays too much.”

Bastard. The utter bastard. Why put him on the spot like that? “Really, it'd be my pleasure,” Terry says, but the Don has fixed his son again. “Now, please, Daniele.”

Poor sweetheart, but there's little to be done. They all file into the other room as he slinks away to get a guitar.

But oh, baby knows his instrument. He can see the look of concentration that only comes from genuine enjoyment. Turn inside, Terry wants to whisper to him. Where it's you and the notes. Nothing else.

And when he seems poised to do just that:

“Mozart,” the Don says.

His head shoots up. “What?”

“It's all I've heard you play for days,” the Don says. “Mozart.”

“I'm not done with that one yet,” he says, turning pale. He looks to the room. “It's not written for guitar, I was transcribing it, please...”

The Don gives a thin smile. “Mozart.”

“Come on, Daniel!” that's the eldest. “We've all heard it!”

And now Terry can't help himself. “Do you mind?”

The boy seems to make a decision, by all accounts to get it the hell over with. He sits down, breathes in, and starts.

Oh, sweetheart. Sweetheart. It's Alla Turca, and those quick sixteenths are hard enough as it is on piano. (He should know, with old Dougal Andrews always urging him to play 'real music' until he finally relented and taught him this one, free of charge.) But those runs need supporting chords, and that's murderously difficult on solo guitar, so you're constantly stuck making compromises. It's not impossible, but it's hardly intuitive, and he sees the boy's brow furrow in pained concentration.

And then he stops.

Of course. Terry doesn't wait but walks over, opens the piano and continues the piece, hoping he's found the right key – by all accounts, he has – and nods at Daniel. The boy understands, plays the repetition as intended, but at least, with Terry on chords, he has his hands free to focus on the melody.

He sees him breathe out, relax.

Good boy.

He's even joking around with the tempi a little bit, little showoff, and draws out the end chord ridiculously long, until Terry sees the Don pull a face.

Serves him right.

“Thanks,” he mumbles and moves to put away his guitar, determinedly avoiding eye contact.

Well, he'll have to make him listen, then, won't he?

Terry puts his fingers back on the keys, can't help picturing what he'd like to do if those fingers were caressing someone's skin. And yet, he can't but well up a little; the last person he'd played this for was Mandy.

Oh, Danny Boy...

Not something often played in a room full of Italians, and he sees the uncle give him a hard look in the minute pause between phrases.

He plays all four verses, improvising as he goes. Then he closes the piano, looks back at the omega.

The boy gives him a half smile.

“I thought they played this at funerals?”

For one second, Terry's stunned.

This brat. Feckin Hell!

The Don nods at him. “Thank you, Daniele. Mr. Silver. Care to join me for a cigar?”

He looks back at the boy, who's had the decency to turn bright red.

Just you wait, little one.

Back in the Don's room, he smokes the cigar standing up. “I'm not going to spoil him.”

The Don's smile is thin lipped. “That's what I said to my wife.”

Terry grins. “I can't make out if he's brave or stupid at times.”

The Don lifts his chin. “He is very young.” He stands from behind the desk. “Do we have a deal?”

Terry straightens up as well. “I would never let him go,” he says. “Not for the whole world.”

“Don't worry,” the Don says. “I won't.” He nods. “I'll have my attorney send you the details. My wife Lucille will be in charge of the arrangements.” He walks past him, opens the door.

“Good night, son.”

[dracox-serdriel]

Wolf Pack

Warning: This post contains spoilers for all episodes of season 1 of Wolf Pack.

To skip this post without scrolling, strikethe "J" key on your keyboard!

So, after I finished watching 01x08 "Trophic Cascade", I keep reading articles and posts that claim that the arsonist was "revealed" in the episode. I saw so may articles claiming this that I rewatched it thinking I seriously missed something, but, no, I did not.

The arsonist was not revealed in the episode!

Never once did Ramsey admit to or imply that she started the fire. There was no flashblack showing that she started the fire. All that happened in this episode was that Malcolm - a character who we know can't be taken at his word - says that Ramsey did it.

That's it. One extremely suspect dude uttering an accusation. And who did he say it to? The wounded child he had just kidnapped from the hospital. A child he has plenty of reason to lie to - hell, anything he could do to drive a wedge here would be a win for him.

Yet... everybody is acting like Ramsey "revealed" to be the arsonist. Why? There was not a single element of this episode or the overall story that implicates her as the arsonist in any way.

Apparently, the plot being implied here goes like this:

Ramsey's husband (and possibly older son) are killed by the Hot Shot crew seventeen years ago during a horrible fire raging through the woods. Ramsey lashes out in revenge, killing all but Malcolm, who only survives because he flees. Because she was busy slaughtering people (and possibly also because her oldest son was killed), her baby twins were left alone in the woods. While the woods were on fire. Ok. And she kept leaving them there even afterward? And then Garrett found them.

Despite being a literal werewolf whose offspring (who are for sure in her pack) have supersenses, Ramsey fails to find her twin babies. Possibly because she fails to look? But there's no explainantion for this -- whether she assumed they were dead or simply couldn't use super-senses to find them -- we don't know. But apparently, she doesn't find the twins. For 17 years. Even though as an arson investigator she could've found them by pretty human means ('oh hey look a dude adopted two babies he found during that same fire I lost two babies in')

Ramsey's other son Baron is raised by her. I mean, if he is older than Harlan and Luna, it's not by much, and I have a sneaking suspicion that he's actually younger. But whatever the case is, he was clearly raised as a werewolf -- that is, he was both a wolf and a human -- he hasn't been living as a wolf in the woods for 17 years. (If he had, how would he speak English and so on?)

At some point during his teenage years, Ramsey and Baron become estranged to the point of where Baron runs off.

Again, Ramsey - despite being a literal werewolf - cannot find her missing son. Even though 100% of evidence clearly shows they are in the same pack (as Ramsey supposed "marks" both werewolf and human alike to protect them from Beast-Mode Were Baron -- essentially, claims them into the pack).

We're supposed to believe that Ramsey couldn't find Baron, so, naturally, she LIT THE FOREST AROUND HIM ON FIRE just to find him. She's also an arson investigator, so she would know full well that the two ignition points would all but ensure Baron would be lit on fire himself, turning him into BEAST MODE WERE -- which, incidentally, he can't be transformed back from WITHOUT a pack (presumably of more than two people).

None of that makes sense, particularly the idea that she started a fire to "smoke out" Baron before she secured an actual pack to save him from Beast Mode. Even if she was a horrible person/mother, the extreme danger of exposure with a Beast Mode Were on the loose would be more than enough reason for her to find literally any other way to locate Baron. INCLUDING HUMAN WAYS. Geeze.

Malcolm is a far better suspect. He has plenty of reason to hate werewolves. His son is near enough to adulthood for him to enact a plan of vengeancew... yes, it might lead to his own death, but his kid is old enough (at least in theory, this explains why he waited 17 years).

All that being said, I'm not sure it's actually Malcolm. The story (and even the filming/camera angles) all seem to indicate that the arsonist is actually Garrett.

In the first episode, Garrett makes a recording for Luna and Harlan when he believes he might not survive the fire. He tells Luna that things are going to change. He assures her that she's going to find her pack - something she's been desperately looking for. Seems a weird thing to impart as last words when you're assuming your kid will never see you alive again, doesn't it?

In a later episode, we then hear this ENTIRE recording played again, which is a very unusual move on part of the writers here if the recording was what it seemed to be on the surface in the first episode -- that is, a farewell/I love you message from a father to his kids. Why bother playing it again? There wasn't more recorded message to listen to... so the only real reason is that there's more than the surface-level meaning. In this way, playing that whole message again plays very strongly as an admission of guilt. Fold in the fact that the twins only get the recorder because Ramsey slips it to them covertly (rather than putting that recording into evidence where it really should be)... at the very least, that makes it wildly clear to me that Ramsey 100% suspects Garrett of starting the fire.

I'm not saying he is the arsonist - just that the story is making him out to be the obvious suspect. Why? Possibly to "smoke out" the werewolf his son saw many years ago in the woods, possibly even hoping that there was a whole pack hiding in that national forest.

As far as we know, Garrett doesn't know that Beast Mode Were is activated by fire. (I very much doubt that Malcolm said anything about it to him, and Malcolm is the only living person who could've said anything.) So, it's not such an insane idea that Garrett lit the forest on fire hoping to fid more werewolves. He maybe even made sure the fire was just as bad at it was seventeen years ago because, well, there are fires every year... but nary a werewolf has been seen since that fire seventeen years ago.

Why would Garrett wait seventeen years to do this? We haven't been given direct insight on this...that being said, the best bet is that he did it now because he only recently got some very bad news about his health---he's dying of something. And he's looked for - and failed to find - werewolves for the past 17 years. In short, he's desperate to find more werewolves to help his kids. I doubt he entrusted his werewolf search to his "backup plan" aka the other ranger who knows.

Malcolm is still a better suspect (revenge is always a good motive). But both Garrett and Malcom make 1000x more sense as the arsonist than Ramsey.

[bornitereads]

Hammered - Kevin Hearne

The Iron Druid Chronicles Book 3

Reread: Aug - Sep 2022

You know, I noticed doing the posts for this series that Hearne churned these three books out all in the same year. We'll probably not if I think about it. But they were all published in the same year. Makes me wonder if Hearne had them all written while looking for a publisher.

Anyways, the title for this book, Hammered, is so funny to me. Mostly because it's so on the nose. The whole plot of this book is about a revenge mission to Asgard to kill Thor (hence hammer references). There's a lot, a lot of old Norse mythology in here. Which is kind of interesting, but also, for me, not that interesting at all. I don't know what it is but I really don't feel any inspiration from Norse mythology. It's just there and I am not particularly inclined to pick it up. But people in the English speaking world seem, in general, to like it. Probably helped along by the Marvel Thor movies. A fact not missed by Hearne who at least mentions that the comic book Thor is a real version of Thor in this world. But on the other hand Hearne explicitly casts Thor as a the biggest douche to ever douche. Everyone hates him (possibly including the other Æsir).

This whole escapade goes down badly for the Asgardians. Not to say they didn't inflict losses on the other side, but man this shit fucked them up. There's a lot of implying that this will create problems when Ragnarok comes. Which I found interesting that the world end is the Norse one. Like doesn't every other mythology have a different apocalypse? So why is Ragnarok the big one? I don't know. Probably just for the drama haha. There is a lot of time spent on arrangements for fleeing and going into hiding for our main characters. Which is maybe interesting, but I can't remember if it works even.

The other thing I liked was the vampire lore for this world. Huge vampire slut here so I like to know about a world's vampires. I especially liked how only the brain and the heart looked alive/magical in magic vision and that the Druid thinks those are resurrection engines to heal almost anything, even the loss of one of the other centres. Food for thought I guess haha.

Something I didn't like at all, was there was a noticable amount of "hyuck hyuck masculinity." It made it painfully obvious the book was written by a straight man. I seriously didn't understand why modern "but we're men" toxic bullshit was something millennium old magical beings felt at all. But you can't escape the biases of the author I guess.

Info: Del Rey, 2011

[emma-nation]

The Devil In I - Bela x OC (Resident Evil Village AU)

“Step inside, see the Devil in I”

Summary: Aleena Novak is a 19 years old orphan who desired more than living in a village in the middle of nowhere. A talented artist with a big future ahead, she gets the scholarship of her dreams in United States. But everything changes when her twin brother, Auryk, steals an important artifact from Castle Dimitrescu.

In this adventure, Aleena will find way more than she expected.

“You’ll realize I’m not your Devil anymore”

Pairing: Bela Dimitrescu x OC

Genre: Between T and M (Trigger warning for violence, blood, abuse and eventual smut)

Tag List: @nydeiri

Notes: This is my first RES fic, so I'm sorry if I mess it up a bit. English is also not my main language, so a mistake or two may happen. I hope you enjoy it :)

Trigger Warning: Language, abuse, blood and violence.

Eastern Europe - July, 2009

"If he could learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?"

Mother closed the book, placing it on the bedside table between Auryk's bed and mine. Then, she lowered herself and kissed my forehead like she did every night. Her long, blonde hair tickled my face and left a trace of her sweet lavender fragrance in the air. I giggled.

"Good night, sweetheart," she spoke.

"Good night, momma."

"Cherish your last night as a six years old. Tomorrow you will become a..."

"Princess?!"

"A seven years old girl. The prettiest girl in the village."

"Pffft," Auryk let out a displeased grunt from his bed, covering his head with the pillow to avoid listening another word from the conversation.

"And you too," mother sat by his side on the bed and repeated her nightly ritual of kissing his forehead to wish him a good night too. "You'll become the most handsome and brave warrior in this village. Do you understand?"

"I hope so. Good night, mom."

"Good night, buddy."

Mother left the room, leaving us both in the dark. However, we couldn't sleep. Not because we were thrilled about our incoming birthday party as any regular child, but because we knew our lives were about to change. Seven years old was the age every child from our village was introduced to the truth and started being trained to fight the evil that haunted our lands. Auryk and I spent minutes, or maybe hours, in silence, staring at the ceiling.

"Leena?" He was the first one to speak. "Do you believe a spell can broken? I mean, like a curse?"

"I don't know, Ryk," I answered, feeling my thoughts starting to drift away. "Maybe we're doomed after all. Or... we could learn how to love the beasts."

The birthday parties always happened during the daytime, rules of the village. We could no longer be outside after 6 PM. Mother got help from the other women to prepare the treats and organize the decorations. Auryk was disguised as a pirate and I... I was Belle, from the Beauty and the Beast.

"So, what do you think you will be getting this year?" My best friend Elena asked while we were playing with our dolls. She was about two years older than us.

"I don't know," I shrugged. Being a merchant, my father always returned home with the most unusual gifts: a magical music box, a voodoo doll that had a life on its own or a fragrance that chased away the monsters - and everybody else too. "A new book. I'm hoping for a new book."

It was only by the end of the party Adrian Novak made his entrance. That was the mystery about him. Nobody knew when he would show up, or if he would show up at all. He still had that same annoying smirk on his face. The corner of his mouth holding a cigarette. The months away made his beard grow longer, as well as his dark hair. In the sunlight, the scar above his eye was even more visible.

"Auryk," he shouted, "come here, son. I've got something for ya."

My twin brother, who had been climbing trees with his friends stop frozen in spot for a second. I couldn't tell if he hated or feared that man. Maybe both. He slowly followed father's command, approaching him cautiously.

"Hi, dad."

"Happy birthday, son," father ruffled his dark straight hair with his strong and calloused hand. "It's about time you grow up."

He handed my brother a large package. From our experience, we knew exactly what it was, a shotgun.

"T-Thank you, dad."

"I'll be spending some time at home. Tomorrow we'll start practicing."

Auryk consented. He shot me a quick glance. From our twin bond I could tell my brother was far from happy. When he blew his candles that afternoon, he didn't wish for a weapon. We wished to be a normal child.

"What did you get, Leena?" He asked once we were locked in the safety of our bedroom.

"Pencils and a drawing book. Dad thinks I'm talented."

Not really. Adrian Novak would never allow his daughter to hold a shotgun. That was, according to him, 'a man thing'.

"Good, at least one of us got what they wanted. Happy birthday, sister."

"Happy birthday, brother."

4 Years Later - October, 2013

It wasn't easy to be the weakest of the twins. Although he was born first, Auryk was the tinniest. The one who was always getting sick or getting injured. The one who couldn't hit a single fucking target when he had the alcoholic breath of his father on his neck.

He aimed for a crow, sitting still on a fence. How hard could it be? Even the eldest man from the village could do any better than that.

BANG! He shot again. And missed.

"Again?!" Adrian angered, shoving him hard on the shoulder. "What the hell is your problem, kid?"

"I don't know, okay? This gun... it's heavy!"

"Heavy? And why do you think we've been exercising for all these years, huh?! We do not live in Disneyland, Auryk. We need to fight monsters, abominations. Someday I won't be home and you need to be prepared to protect our people. Do you understand?"

Tears started forming in the corners of the boy's blue eyes. He couldn't cry. Not in front of him. Crying was a sign of weakness and he couldn't be weak. Not right now. Auryk started to think about all the things he could be doing. He thought about the ocean, as he had seen on TV and books. He could feel the warmness of the sun on his skin. The sand between his toes. His mom and sister were also there, of course - they'd carry them with him everywhere. And he would study Math and Physics. There would be no guns, no monsters, no blood, only numbers, only formulas, only theories. He smiled. He no longer felt like crying.

"I'm sorry, dad," kindness was always the answer, his mother said. "But this isn't for me, you know? I don't like it. I... Remember that boarding school my teacher mentioned? I thought maybe I..."

His words were interrupted by a hard slap on his face. Auryk could taste a small amount of blood coming out from his lower lip.

"So that's what you want? To become one of those little fancy fags? Maybe you're not my son after all."

Adrian started walking away, leaving his son alone, sitting on the floor.

"I AM!" Auryk yelled, enraged. "I am your son."

"Then prove it."

"You shouldn't take so hard on him," Savannah poured her husband a cup of tea. "He's just a boy."

"He's eleven years old, for god's sake," the husband punched the table strong enough to make it shake. "He needs to man up a bit. You should stop spoiling him."

As I left my bedroom I found my brother sitting on the stairs. He didn't have to be so close to listen to the conversation between our parents, father's voice was loud enough to echo through every wall of our small and cozy home.

I sat down by his side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"Maybe you should do it, Leena. You'd do it better, I know."

"I'm not so sure. Remember when I tried to shoot a scarecrow and almost shot that old witch?"

"Come on, you aimed on purpose! I know."

Auryk finally let out a small laugh at the memory.

"You're good at everything, Leena," he spoke fondly. "You're an extrovert, you're everybody's friend, you can cook, you can draw and paint... you're a true artist. I'm a mistake."

"You're not a mistake, Ryk," I pulled my brother closer, resting my cheek against the side of his face. "We're only at the wrong place and you know it."

Going back to our bedroom, we pulled from the drawers the postcards our grandma Louise sent us from San Diego. Mom had been born in California and lived there her entire life, until she met father during one of his trips. God knows what made her fall in love with that man. Adventure? Danger? I expected better from myself when I turned eighteen. Otherwise, I'd never want to fall in love. Love could be my ruin, just like my mom's.

"Leena..." Auryk held the postcard tightly, "do you think... if he died... do you think mom would take us to nana's home?"

"I don't know, Ryk," I didn't want to think of my father's possible death. But I also dreamed of a better life. "Maybe."

"What the hell?" Father's voice in the kitchen made me jump in fear. I knew that tone. I grew up used to that. Something was wrong in the village. We had to hide.

"To the basement, now!" He emerged at the bedroom, holding a rifle. "Lycans were seen surrounding the area."

We barely had any time to react, mom came and dragged us both to the basement. Father left, carrying his arsenal of weapons as usual. There were other hunters in the village but we always knew how badly it could end. Somebody could always get seriously hurt. Or worse.

The basement had been carefully prepared for that kind of situation years before. It had a big bed, two armchairs, a heating source, some stored food and a shelf. Mom sighed and forced a smile.

"So," she walked to the shelf, "what is it going to be today?"

"Frankenstein," Auryk suggested. My brother loved mystery and horror. As if his life hadn't enough of it.

"Romeo and Juliet," I spoke. There was something about forbidden romance that always caught my interest.

"Okay. I... I'm gonna say a prayer and you two can read the books you picked by yourselves. What do you think?"

"Great!"

Mom kneeled down by the bed's side, holding a crucifix. I could join her if I wanted to, but I'd rather watch in silence. I grabbed my book, sitting on one of the armchairs and pretending to pay attention, while I tried to distract myself from the fact my father could be the Lycans' next prey. Or all of us, if they managed to break into our house.

"Leena?" I woke up hours later with my mom shaking me. "Leena?! Where's Auryk? Where's your brother, Leena?"

I had no idea. I had fallen asleep and apparently, so did mom. She checked for the basement's door, it had been locked from outside.

"No..." she tried to force it open. "No! I can't be..."

All Auryk had to do was to successfully kill and take a Lycan's carcass as a trophy to his father, right? That was what that old douchebag wanted him to do, to prove his courage, his manhood. We had his shotgun, a binoculars and a knife, that should be enough, but first, he needed a good plan.

Looking down to his hands, he had the most perfect idea. Without thinking twice, he sliced a cut through his palm, letting some blood pour on the ground. Then, he found a tall tree. He climbed it and observed. The smell of blood his trail left behind should be enough to attract a creature.

"Come on... come on..."

From a distance, Auryk could hear the sound of destruction and death. There was a battle going on somewhere nearby. Once again Lycans should have found a family or a group of hunters.

And then, he could hear it. The heavy footsteps, the screeching sounds, the sniffing. The mutant creature was only a few meters away from the tree. He aimed, but it was still too distant. He needed to move to a closer branch.

It all happened in one second. He was almost there, reaching for the spot he had picked, but his weight was too much for the tree's branch. In a blink of an eye, he was lying on the ground. His vision was blurred. His head hurt intensely, as well as his arm. It was broken for sure. He possibly had a concussion too. He tried to stand up and run but his legs wouldn't follow his commands. The Lycan was coming straight at him.

"AURYK!" His mother screamed behind him. "NO!"

Time seemed to freeze in that fraction of second. How did she manage to escape the basement? How could she have found him?

But without hesitation, Savannah threw herself on top of her son, protecting him from the jaws and claws of the monster. Auryk couldn't see much, but he could smell it. He could feel it. Blood. There was blood everywhere. He couldn't tell who it belonged to, he or his mom's.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A fast sequence of shots suggested the hunters had found them. The creature stopped moving, stopped howling. It was finally dead.

"M-Mom... it's dead. We... We're safe."

She didn't answer. Instead, he heard another familiar voice.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" It was from his father. "Savannah! Savannah!"

"D-Dad..." Auryk tried to speak, but the words got lost along the way. "I... I..."

Adrian lifted him by his jacket, holding him inches above the ground.

"YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED YOUR MOM, YOUR STUPID BASTARD!"

"I..." tears streamed down the boy's face, his injured brain trying to process what had just happened. "I'm sorry.'

After he was thrown back to the ground, he was hit with a hard kick on his stomach. He turned his head around to notice a small figure hiding behind a tree, watching the whole scene in pure horror.

"L-Leena..." he muttered.

"This is all your fault, Auryk. You're a disgrace to this family."

And then, he passed out. Rumors said he was unconscious for days or maybe weeks. When he woke up, he wished everything had been a nightmare.

Present Days - July, 2021

Nobody mourned Adrian Novak when he died. Not his children. Not his village mates. No human being would ever feel any sympathy for a man who abused and blamed his eleven years old son for his mother's death. It had been two years since Adrian left this world and I couldn't feel any more free.

"Hey," I left another message on my brother's voicemail, "in case you've forgotten it's our birthday today. I'd like to have my twin home, you know? Call me when you get this message."

It was useless, I knew. Auryk would only pick up his phone when he wanted to. Or when he was too drunk. God knew where that guy would be at that time, probably waking up at some girl's bed or getting some rest from... working.

After grabbing myself a cup of coffee, I checked the door's mat. Bills, bills, newspaper and... California Institute Of Arts? I remember having an argument with Auryk about this matter at some point. He wanted me to fill the application and send them my portfolio. I insisted we had no money, not even to pay for the tuition. I won - I always win every argument by the way.

"Your damn son of a..." I placed the envelope on the kitchen's table. I was a coward, I confess. However, I didn't know which pain was worse - to be sure I wasn't good enough or to be sure I was, indeed, but I'd never have money to leave that hellhole. Anyways, I decided to leave it alone. I had more important things to do.

My morning routine: to go to the middle of the woods and do some training. My father used to say fighting wasn't a girl thing, but I was no regular girl. And never in this life I'd allow someone to tell me what to do.

After running, climbing and doing a set of push-ups, it was time for combat training. Travelers from abroad taught me some different set of moves, I'd like to think I created my own fighting style. I was also very good with knifes, daggers or any kinds of short blades, they were useful during a close distance combat. My shooting was a work in progress, once or twice I'd miss the center of my handmade targets.

Then, like everyday, I'd go back home, shower and follow to my shift at the village's pub.

"Hiya, Leena," Gustav greeted me when I arrived. "I heard today is a special day... the day a little girl..."

"NO!" I stopped him. Gustav was my best friend. We had known each other since we were children and somehow, he liked to make my birthday a special - and embarrassing - event.

He placed a handmade fairytale-like book on the table. There were some edited pictures, mixed with some messed up drawings about my birth and childhood. He called it 'The Princess Who Carried The Light'.

"God, you're soooo stupid..." I rolled my eyes and moaned, before wrapping him into a very tight hug. "I love you, you know that?"

"I know. You'd probably marry me, if you weren't into girls."

We laughed together, as Olga, our boss emerged from the kitchen, bringing a cake with nineteen candles.

"Here's to another year," the older woman opened a wrinkled smile, "make a wish, my darling."

I fell pensive for a moment, besides having my twin brother back home, safe and sound, what else could I wish for? California, that scholarship, a new life... that's for sure.

"I wish for... a new life, a new adventure," I pronounced aloud while blowing the candles.

"Careful," a male voice spoke behind me, "words have power, little sister. You may get what you want."

"Ryk!"

I jumped straight to my brother's arms. I could swear that in only a few weeks he had gotten a little bit taller, and stronger too.

"I wouldn't miss my own birthday, right?" He smirked. "So, where's the cake? Please, chocolate... tell me it's chocolate."

"Your silly boy," Olga spread some icing on his nose. "Of course it's chocolate, as you love. And with cherries too."

Auryk responded with a satisfied smile. Olga and her husband, Kristoff, were those responsible for taking care of him after the Lycan attack, years ago. They sort of adopted him like one of their biological children.

"Oh!" The woman exclaimed taking a closer look at Ryk's forearm. He had gotten a tattoo. I hadn't been informed of those news either. Apparently, my brother had more secrets than I could even start to imagine. "This is... new. It seems like my kids are really growing up."

"And only now you noticed that, Olga?" Gustav joked.

Olga shook her head, grinning at herself and returned to the kitchen. The customers were starting to fill the pub. I stared at Ryk again, wondering what other secrets my brother could be keeping.

"So, what does that mean?" I pointed to his newly gotten tattoo, a strange and ancient symbol it seemed.

"Protection from the evil. This is what we need the most in our lives, especially in a place like this. What reminds me -" we turned around, taking a small box from the pocket of his jacket. "Your gift."

I took the black velvet box from his hands, it contained a golden necklace with a magenta gemstone as pendant. My blue eyes drowned themselves in the stone. It had a mysterious glow. Something hypnotizing. Something magical.

"Whoa..." was everything my mouth could pronounce. "And I bought you an Astronomy book."

Auryk stood up from his chair and went behind me, taking the necklace from my hands to wear it around my neck himself.

"This is supposed to protect you from any supernatural and inhumane beings. I won't lose you to them, Aleena. Not like I lost mom."

"Ryk, I... I can't even thank you enough."

"You don't have to. Just... stay alive."

First, I was overflowing with happiness. It either had to do with the fact my brother was home, alcohol, or both. Also, Olga should thank me. Most of the costumers of the day only stopped by the bar because of me. They absolutely loved me and knowing it was my birthday, they had to come and see me. A few of them even gave me some extra tips or a small gift, which was even greater.

"Okay, party girl..." Auryk helped me to get inside of the house as I tripped over the door mat. "Time to go to bed now. Don't you think?"

"Come on, Ryk! Have some spirit! You're home, Olga gave me the day off tomorrow, I earned some money..."

"You told Mrs. Hansen you secretly had a crush on her daughter during Middle School, you danced on top of a table, you're gonna get a hangover..."

"Party pooper!"

I threw myself at the couch. Auryk stood in front of me with arms crossed, looking like a father about to give his child a lecture.

"What?!" I yelled. "It's not like you've never been drunk before. Remember when you stole Adrian's..." I started to laugh, remembering the episode.

"When you were going to tell me about this, Leena?" He showed me the envelope. The Art Institute envelope. The one I had been struggling to open.

"Oh! I forgot. My bad, I didn't open it myself yet. I probably didn't get in anyways."

"You did."

I did?

"It's not like we have money to pay for my tuition. Also, how are we supposed to move to California, Ryk? I work at a pub and you..."

"I've gotten more than enough for that. You know that getting out of this place has always been the plan, since we were children. Leena, I've done some big jobs those last few months. I have the money to grant us a comfortable life in California."

"Smuggling, Ryk!" I raised my voice, saying aloud the information that was supposed to be a secret or not. "You've been stealing to grant us this life."

My brother stared at me in silence. I couldn't tell if he felt offended or embarrassed about my words.

"I'm getting out of here, whatever it takes," he ran a hand through his dark hair. "And you are coming with me. In two weeks, we move to United States for your enrollment."

"But..."

What I was trying to protest against? Leaving the village and starting a new life with my brother was everything I always dreamed.

"Look, I promise you," Auryk placed both of his firm hands on my shoulders, "once we settle down, no more smuggling."

"Okay," I sighed. "We leave in two weeks then."

There was a loud knock on the door. Being drunk as I was, I figured out I should have forgotten my purse at the pub. Or it could be a neighbor with some very stupid emergency.

Auryk opened the door and there was a strange looking man standing there. We wore sunglasses and a hat, behind his back he was carrying a giant hammer. According to the rumors and stories I heard from my parents, that was one of the Lords of The Four Houses, Karl Heisenberg.

"Auryk Novak?" He asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Come with me, kid. You've gotten yourself in big trouble."

[the-green-dot]

🐣🐨🦔🐢🐄🐸🐧🦭

DID YOU LIKE MY COUNTDOWN!? That was fun! I had fun. That was actually more fun than I thought it would be! There were too many good posts to name. It was very fun reading all your comments and theories.  Though side note: animal anon has no problem with people joining her BUT it must be animals and it must not mess with my countdown. No statues! Animal anon does animals, not statues. Side side note: can someone settle the debate of if that emoji is a hedgehog or a porcupine? Because I have no idea. Side note side note side note: sorry if you got multiple asks in a day...my system isn't perfected yet so sometimes I send two (or three) because I forgot I sent one and didn't want to accidently miss anyone (also sorry if i did miss you, still perfecting the system, no one has been animal anon blacklisted, i promise!)

Anyway, GUESS WHAT TODAY IS!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 It's been one year since I started animal anon! How exciting is that?! Phew, what a year we've had together! I mean what better way to start this second year than some chaos since that's how animal anon started to begin with! I will admit, it was slightly stressful coming up with something to meet the occasion of this event. I hope the countdown and this post live up to it. No, I'm not going to reveal myself just yet.. maybe that will be for year 2...😏😏. BUT I will give you some fun facts about me! So let's see; first, I'm from the Midwest (so not Canadian, but close so I do have a slight accent), but I currently live in the TriState area. Second, I am a MASSIVE theater nerd. No, seriously I have been to 21 shows since Broadway reopened in September and I'm actually going to my 22nd tonight. I don't know if this makes that fact better or worse, but I've really only been to about 12 different show because out of those 22, 10 of those are one specific show. Third, I am fluent in German and English. Though, I suck at writing in German, I never learned how to, so don't ask me to do that please. Fourth, my favorite color is red, so you can guess my favorite Taylor album (and coincidently also the show I've been to see 10 times on Broadway...). Fifth, I love to talk A LOT if you couldn't tell by the essays I send yall. And lastly, I can also confirm I am not Taylor...but I will say that I do share something very important with her... tell me your guesses down below as to what very important thing you think Taylor and I have in common, and I'll send some extra animals to whomever I see gets it right first!

So contuining on with my dissertation here, this week I have been trying to figure out a prompt to live up to this occasion. As I already mentioned, my system isn't perfect! And I've been thinking a lot about community lately and how that's been lacking for so many because of Covid. So what I want yall to do is if you get this dissertation of mine, please send a message, post, anon, whatever you want to at least 1 other blog (though you can do more), telling them something you like about them and giving them an animal emoji! That way we can keep spreading the love all day long to as many as possible! 🥰

As always, you are all brilliant, kind, worthy, beautiful and as this past week has shown, hilarious and unique human beings. No seriously, some of your posts had me kneeling over in laughter. If you would so like, you can tag #animalanon so I and everyone can read all your lovely posts! IM STARTING EARLY TODAY SO WE CAN PARTY ALL DAY LONG BECAUSE I LOVE YALL SO MUCH 🎊 🦥🦁🐯

HI ANIMAL ANON!!! im so happy!!! lets celebrate!!! thank you for so much fun. kinda disappointed we're not getting speak now tv soon, but ig it'll be okay!!! i have literally zero clue who you could be. im also from the midwest! not super close to canada, i live in lower michigan. again, thank you for SO much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i was enchanted to meet you, animal anon <3

[softiecaro]

MISTLETOE

Summary: Where Y/N is part of the Shawn Mendes tour staff. Everyone’s in Miami, where the last show was before Christmas, but something ruins the plans of everyone who wants to spend the holidays with their families. Camila's mother invites them all to spend Christmas at her house and they accept. Shawn and the others start a plan to reunite Connor and Y / N.

Warnings: English is not my native language so I apologize if there are mistakes.

A/N: I know, I know it's been almost a month since Christmas HAHAHAHA, but I had this in my drafts and for some reason I never posted it. 

Remember, the requests are open!

"It's a joke?" Cez asks for the third time on the phone while he keeps an irritated scowl on his face. "Ok, if there is nothing else to do ... ok, thanks, bye"

After a while, he cuts the phone and watches us all before speaking. "Ok guys, this is not easy to say."

"What happen?" Connor asks concerned.

"Our flight was canceled due to bad weather in I don't know where and apparently there is no airline that can take us home in time for Christmas"

"Are you serious?"

"Do you think I'd be kidding about something like that, Sylvie? They said that the flights will be available again in 5 days. ”Everyone sighs in surrender.

"I am very sorry for what happened, I know that everyone wanted to spend Christmas with their families" Sinu, Camila's mother begins to say "But you are all welcome to spend these holidays here, with us" She says referring to Camila, Alejandro, Sofía, Shawn and her.

"That's very nice of you Sinu, but do you think you can feed all of us tomorrow night?" She laughs in response to Cez.

"Of course. Anyway, there are 5 more people, it is nothing, you don’t worry "

It was Cez, Brian, Sylvie, Connor and Y/N who missed their flight, since the rest of the staff had taken flights to different parts that same day, but earlier.

"Then I suppose we will spend this Christmas at the Cabello’s house." Cez ends.

"It will be fun." Y/N says  looking at Camila with a smile.

"Yes, it will be." 

...

At one point in the afternoon, they were all in the living room, except Camila's father who was taking a nap, Y / N who was taking a shower and Connor who was on the phone with his mother.

"So what’s the plan?" Sylvie asks.

"I don't know, but we have to make those two take the first step tonight, or I don't know what I'll do with my life, they stress me out." Brian says exaggeratedly, referring to Y/N and Connor

"I think I have an idea," Sinu exclaims as she leaves the kitchen.

"What? Mom-" Only a few minutes later she comes back with something hidden behind her back "What are you bringing there?” With a bright and proud smile on her face, she shows us a little mistletoe.

"Oh my god, you’re brilliant." Sylvie claps.

...

"So the plan is, at some point in the night, both are under that" Camila ends.

"And finally they will kiss, for goodness sake!" Brian exclaims with his arms in the air.

"Who will kiss?" Connor enters the kitchen suddenly causing us all to panic.

"Nothing, little boy" Brian exclaims quickly while Sinu with a quick movement hides the object that only seconds before had our full attention. "How is your mother? How did she react to the news that her little boy won't be spending christmas at home? " Brian walks over to him and puts one arm around her shoulders, patting her while he ruffles her hair with his other hand.

"Don't call me little boy"

"Hey Tiny, don't get mad, we just play," Shawn says with a laugh as he tightens his grip on Camila's shoulder next to him, who laughs anyway. Connor just rolls his eyes and walks away from Brian.

“What do you all have with giving me such strange nicknames? I don’t like it, at all."

"I don't think any of those are better than the Lemon one, I think it's very original" Y/N he comes down the stairs laughing, his hair wet from the shower she had taken.

"Oh darling, go dry your hair, you can catch a cold." Sinu tells the girl. "Camila, go show him the hair dryer." Camila nods as she gets up from the side of her boyfriend, letting her arm fall on the couch.

Shawn watches Connor and sees him off guard glaring at Y/N coming up the stairs. He sighs and sits next to him.

"Hey, what's up?“

“"Nothing, could you explain to me for the last time why the nickname lemon?”

...

The night of Christmas Eve had already arrived. They were all at the table having dinner while laughing and talking about any topic.

"Can I have the wine, please?" Sylvie exclaims.

Y/ N directs her hand to the wine at the same time as Connor does, making her hands touch.

Y/N thinks everything has been really weird between her and Connor lately. When she met him over a year ago on Shawn's tour, he created a trust in her that she had never felt with anyone. They immediately started talking and became very close. Everyone thought there was something between them, many times their friends teased them about looking like a couple, but they both denied it all those times.

But lately something had changed. Y/N was a friend of touch, she liked to hug her friends in general, and Connor was no exception to her. But lately those touches of best friends that used to be given day to day began to bother her. It made her feel weird. Every time she was near him, she felt butterflies in her stomach.

Lately, Connor was feeling the same.

"Oh my God, can you stop now?" An excited Brian interrupts their thoughts. He takes the bottle of wine and hands it to Sylvie across the table.

"What do you mean? Y/N question, indifferent.

"What do I mean? I mean… ”Brian makes a strange gesture with his hands. "That. That you two do"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Connor says nervously as he takes a sip from his glass.

...

"It is time."

"Will they really do this?" Cez asks laughing.

"Yeah, what makes you think we wouldn't?" Shawn asks.

“I don't know, I thought they were joking. I think both are old enough to make their own decisions and take the first step, they are not little kids "

"They're not little kids, but they're stupid." Sylvie slaps Brian on the shoulder after her comment.

"Besides, we're just giving them a little nudge." Says Sofía, Camila's sister.

"It's just a mistletoe, what if they don't want to kiss, anyway?"

"They must do it, it's a tradition, it's the rules" Sinu tells her husband as she begins to hang the mistletoe on the door that divides the kitchen and the living room. She then she walks into the kitchen with Sofia.

"And you support this Sinu, it can't be." Alejandro tells him, following his wife to the kitchen.

"She is part of us, yes." Camila says proudly.

"Where are they now?" Shawn asks Camila.

"Outside"

"What if they already took the first step?" Cez asks half disinterested.

"I don’t think so". 

"Ok, I'm going to go upstairs, I don't want to see this show" Cez exclaims as he climbs the stairs.

Y / N POV

Connor and I are sitting in the backyard of Camila's house. He rests his head on my legs while I tangle my fingers in his hair.

"You know what? I've been thinking about something lately. " He says as he puts his hand on mine while I continue stroking his hair.

"What’s it?"

"I don't know, it's something that happens when we're together." He responds as he sits up, pulling away from my touch.

"What do you mean?" Is he he is feeling the same as me?

"I've felt a little ... weird"

"Oh ..."

"But not weird in a bad way, if not that ..."

"I think I know what you're talking about." I shyly say without looking at him.

"Seriously?"

"If I…"

"Connor! Can you come here and help me with something ?!" Sylvie's call interrupts me.

Connor and I look toward the house. The boy gets up first, offering his hand to help me up. We both walked inside the house.

"I think the tree star is a bit crooked, can you help me straighten it?" Sylvie says as she climbs on a chair right next to the tree to reach for the object.

"And why couldn't they help you?" Connor says with a frown pointing to the rest of our friends.

"They don't have the same sense of righteousness that you have."

"Sense of righteousness? What the hell are you talking about? "

"Just, just get at the door and let me know when it's right." Connor snorts as he heads for the door, reluctantly. "There’s good?"

"Yes Sylvie, it’s perfectly straight"

Are you sure?" She asks as she moves the object.

"No! Why did you move it? Now is completely leaning to the left "

"And now?"

“It's totally to the right, are you kidding me?

"Come on Connor, do your part a bit."

"Y/N, can you come help me?" I turn to Connor and stands next to him looking at the Christmas tree.

"Move it to the left ... to the right ... a little more to the left again ..."

"There is!" Connor exclaims, raising his arms.

"Perfect, thanks guys. Now could you see if the object above you is straight?"

I look up laughing after the spectacle of straightening the star on the Christmas tree.

A small mistletoe hung over our heads and my breath caught in my throat.

"Did you really plan this?" Connor asks, glancing at me.

"Completely." Brian admits shamelessly.

"Go ahead, pretend we weren't here"

He turns in my direction and I look at him, having to tilt my head up since he’s taller than me.

"Hey"

"Hey" I barely reply. Does he really want to kiss me? Because I do.

"If I want to," he said, as if he could read my mind. "Do you want? ... Would you like us to kiss? I mean, if you don't want to, you really are not obliged, really the mistletoe is nothing more than a stupid tradition, I will understand you completely if you don't want to kiss me-

Quickly I stand on the balls of my feet and cup her cheeks with both hands to bring her lips closer to me. Her lips are warm against mine, the kiss full of emotion and a little shyness. His hands land quietly on my hips, pulling me toward him so I can wrap his arms around your back. His lips move against mine delicately.

"At last! I can't believe it. ”Brian's voice interrupts our moment.

"Did you have to ruin his moment so soon?" Sylvie reprimands him.

"After such a long time ..." Shawn says.

“You have no right to say that. Camila and you took a hundred times longer than them."

[whats-the-story-tc]

17th of March, 2020

"The One with the Messages Upon Messages"

Sit down for this. Grab some refreshments. It's gonna get real.

It was 8 AM in the morning when I checked the platform mentioned in my previous post and saw that our class chat was the only empty one. (Well, okay, it's technically a chat for both classes in our year but whatever.) So, it's empty, right? After about five minutes of persuading myself to be brave, I sent the following messages:

S: "...and this is the only empty one left. 🦗🦗"

S: "We officially start [classes] tomorrow, right?"

It didn't take a minute for me to get a response that made my heart stop.

V: "Yes. 🙂"

I completely freaked out, let me tell you. I was not prepared to see that name and profile picture flash up, especially not that soon.

S: "Nice. Until then, I'll learn how to use this platform somehow. 😅"

Bookworm Friend (BWF in texts): "Me too, I think. 😁"

V: "Won't be much of a secret 🙂"

V: "If you'll want to use the video, you'll need a webcamera/your phone's camera and a headset/phone."

S: "I'll manage that, thank you. And I'll find an acceptable backdrop somehow. 😂"

[A/N: When V said you, she was only talking to me. In our native tongue, the singular you, which she was using there, differs from plural you.]

I was ecstatic! 8 AM of Day 0 and we'd already had a conversation. Things simply couldn't get any better than that...

Yeah. I guess I didn't know what was gonna go down yet.

It was about 11:40 AM-ish when I got a Google Classroom notif which made me stop cleaning in my room. There she was, Miss V mode activated, with one bloody long message. Even here, we had to share a course with the other class. Fantastic. I was just about to complain into my diary when a message notification from The Platform That Shall Not Be Named flashed up, sent by someone with a Very familiar profile picture. But only upon opening it, after screaming about it profusely, did I realise that it wasn't sent into the class chat.

V sent me a DM.

V: "Would you please tell [Curly Friend] to give me a valid e-mail address, because I can't send him the classroom code.."

I was bloody losing it. She could've chosen anyone from his class (WE AIN'T EVEN CLASSMATES) or who's friends with him, but no. For whatever reason she might have had for it, V approached me. She wanted my help. And I was honestly incredibly honoured that she did.

S: Sure!

And I immediately slid on over into Curly Friend's DMs to tell him about it. Okay, it was moreso me screaming at him to message her before I die from a cardiac arrest. His response? "Ok calm yo gay ass". Lmao. Nobody's ever told me that before but it was long overdue. And as I was speaking to him, I got another message.

V: "thank you 🙂"

I really need to make a "Thank you!" counter. I'm still entirely sure it's what we say to each other most often.

V: "but you can invite him here, too"

S: "To the English server? I just need to send him the code for that, right? 😅"

V: "yes, i think he'll know what to do"

S: "He definitely will. I'll send it right away."

And then, all was silent for until about an hour, when the folks from the other class started getting active in the chat. And with them, so did V, chatting as eagerly as I've never heard or seen her before. Of course. Classic introvert. Put her behind a screen and she'll thrive. When some guys tried to convince her to give us unlimited time for the upcoming test, she even sent a selfie (A FUCKING SELFIE) where she's with her cat, saying "The kitty tells me not to listen to you." YOU DON'T GET IT THAT IS THE CUTEST SHIT EVER.

Then things went apeshit. From my idiot of a cousin using informal pronouns with V to invite her to a video call (she was chill about it though, just told him not to do it with a smiley) and people cursing casually in the general chatroom meant for everyone in the server, to the other class boys adding some guys who haven't gone to my school for about 3 years now and have nothing to do with V. Things started turning into an animal farm instead of a server and me and my friends were outrageously bored. It took them some convincing, but the result was this DM:

S: "Miss, I know, saving space and we're covering the same thing and stuff, but... can't we separate the two classes instead? Just here, on [The Platform That Shall Not Be Named]. Some of us are starting to go mad."

My friends' circle kept on fuming and I waited. The response arrived in some 10 minutes.

V: "Well, we could."

S: "If it's no trouble for you, Miss, we'd be thankful 😅"

And thus, the woman of so many of my dreams stepped into action, changing from dorky, fun, lower-case-and-emojis V to serious, determined, pristine grammar Miss V seemingly in the blink of an eye. She created two separate chats. Of course, it was not an easy or a fast process, inspiring messages like "put me back into [my class] bitch", that made my blood boil. She threw one of the additional boys out and demanded the other's name. "Those, who won't disclose their real names will be kicked out. Sorry." After he made up some silly ass fake name, V just wrote: "I don't have a student like that, ban." And as we all reacted to it with hysterical laughter in the form of emojis, V just writes: "That's that." AN. ICON. Go home, everybody. V wins.

The next minute, in our fresh, new class chat for only my class this time, the following message arrives:

V: "Dear [Class], I separated the two bunches, because they couldn't behave."

The six thank you–messages that followed (one of them mine) is pretty telling. And V was pretty fucking mad. Before I texted her about it, she was completely silent, but now, she was agitated. Her later message to a girl looking for the class chats writes: "Everyone can only see their own [class], because SOME PEOPLE started trolling the others."

That evening I had homeroom over The Platform That Shall Not Be Named, as my homeroom teacher finally learned how to use it since yesterday's Messenger call, when she mentioned asking V, who was sitting next to her during the faculty meetings all day, to teach her. I would've paid good money to see that, to be honest.

See, guys? This is why I'm so in love with who V is. She's a lovable little dork, yeah, but she's so much more. Always right there when you need her, whatever for, and takes it incredibly seriously until the very second the deed is done. I couldn't be more thankful for having her in my life.

~ S ♡

[Every story I share here, no matter how specific I get with my wording, depicts actual events from my own life.]