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lesbianlotties · 3 years

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Journeys end in lovers meeting - Sam/Deena - Fear Street x Bly Manor AU

Chapters: 3/10 Fandom: Fear Street Trilogy (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Samantha "Sam" Fraser/Deena Johnson, Sarah Fier/Hannah Miller (Fear Street), Christine "Ziggy" Berman/Nick Goode, Samantha "Sam" Fraser & Deena Johnson Characters: Samantha "Sam" Fraser (Fear Street), Deena Johnson, Kate Schmidt (Fear Street), Simon Kalivoda, Josh Johnson (Fear Street), Constance (Fear Street Part 3: 1666), Christine "Ziggy" Berman, Nick Goode (Fear Street), Alice (Fear Street Part 2: 1978), Sarah Fier (Fear Street), Hannah Miller (Fear Street), Solomon Goode (Fear Street) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, The Haunting of Bly Manor AU, Not Canon Compliant, Haunted Houses, Ghosts, Character Death, Minor Character Death, Canon Lesbian Relationship, First Meetings, Fluff and Angst, Eventual Smut, Happy Ending, Au Pair Sam, Gardener Deena, Housekeeper Kate, Cook Simon, Josh and Constance as troubled kids, Ziggy and Nick in an unhealthy relationship, minor Cindy/Alice, Martin cameos, special appearances of all the Shadyside killers as ghosts, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, The Rest Is Confetti Summary:The year is 1994. Samantha Fraser recently moved to Shadyside, and she desperately needs a job that will help her leave her troubled past behind. She starts working as au pair at Shadyside Manor, where she is not the only one tortured by ghosts. Grief, regrets, guilt, innocent victims, and an ancient curse. At the center of all of it... love.

Chapter 3:

“We have to call the police.”

“No.”

“Why not?!” Sam exclaimed, throwing her arms up. She couldn’t believe Kate and Deena would refuse to call the police when a potentially dangerous stranger was wandering around the house. The three women were standing in the foyer of the house, but she took one look at Josh and Constance in the living room, sitting by the fire. Josh had a towel wrapped around him and he was still shivering. Sam was aware she barely knew them, but she felt so protective of them already. What Sam heard next, startled her out of her thoughts.

“Because the police would take his side,” Deena explained.

“Wait… you know him?”

“His name is Nick Goode,” Kate explained. Her shoulders deflated and Sam suddenly understood why they had looked so disturbed by her description of the man she saw outside the window. “He used to work here at the manor. He is a Sunnyvaler with a fucked up interest in this property and… in Christine Berman. We don’t know what he did to her or what he stole or what of shit he got himself into but one day he just… disappeared. The police, of course, blamed us. Blamed her. And… well… Christine killed herself waiting for him to return.”

“I’m going to call Simon,” Deena blurted out. She turned her back on Sam and Kate and moved to the phone. Sam couldn’t help noticing her hands were shaking. “It’s best if we all stay here tonight.”

“It’s pouring rain outside,” Kate pointed out.

“He can hold a fucking umbrella!”

While Deena made the call, Sam was lost in thought. Her hands were still tightened into fists and she made the conscious move to lose them. “Is he dangerous?” she asked Kate.

“No,” the housekeeper shook her head softly, but her distaste was clear as day on her face. “He’s just an entitled asshole.”

“Then I’m going out.”

“Sam, don’t,” Deena said, putting down the phone.

“It’s not raining that much,” Sam insisted, putting on her denim jacket and grabbing the fire poker again. “I don’t even need an umbrella.”

Sam walked out of the house, throwing a smile over her shoulder, which froze Deena in the spot. At least, until Kate slapped her arm.

“Deena, you go too.”

“It’s raining!”

“I’m going to kick your ass,” Kate rolled her eyes, she wasn’t fooled by Deena’s protests. She was just helping her friend, making her feel she was blindly following the new au pair out in the middle of a storm because she was instructed to and not because her heart told her to. “I’ll take care of the little shits. Go!”

Deena took a deep breath and glanced back at her younger brother. Somedays, it felt like they couldn’t recognize each other, but she would die for him, she would do absolutely anything for his safety. So, the gardener grabbed her jacket, her keys, and left the house. Kate stood in the doorway for a moment, until she couldn’t see Sam’s blonde head anymore. She had a bad feeling about all of this. She had been having a bad feeling deep inside her that she couldn’t shake for anything in the world, but she tried her best to ignore it. She shook her head a little, passed her hand over the back of her neck, and stood straighter. Then she walked toward the kids, determined to get them to bed before any more trouble could find them.

In the foyer, the only person left was Ruby Lane. She was hiding among the shadows, but even if she took one step forward nobody would see her, nobody ever saw her. She still wore that familiar skirt, and her blouse, and she couldn’t get rid of the razor blade in her hand. The sharp edge glinted menacingly, but it wasn’t half as frightening as her face. She used to be so beautiful, and now her features were dimmed, they had softened, lost some of their definition, but her angry, disgusted frown was still firmly in place.

Once outside and under the rain, which thankfully had slowed down considerably, Sam felt her determination waver slightly. But her bravado was renewed when she heard someone, not an attacker, catch up with her.

“Hey, Sunnyvale! Wait up,” Deena called out, and jogged the rest of the way to Sam’s side.

They exchanged a long look, studying each other. Apparently, Deena took a detour to go pick a shotgun from her truck, and she was currently carrying it as if it were an everyday occurrence for her. But, she was also frowning at Sam.

“So, what was your plan here, huh? Go out in the middle of a storm, chase a creep, and tell him that if he doesn’t leave you’ll give him extra homework?”

Sam scoffed, turned around, and started walking away, assuming Deena would follow her, or not. She understood that a large part of her bravado upon seeing Deena was just her desire to prove people wrong about the assumptions they might make about her. She didn’t stop to dwell on it for long, afraid of what else she might realize, but Sam did notice that with one look at Deena, her posture, her expression, she could tell the gardener wasn’t in one of her sweet moods and, instead, she was going to be, well, a little bit of an asshole.

“This is hardly a storm, it’s just drizzling,” Sam eventually said, raising her voice to be heard through the roaring of the wind around them.

“Really? That’s the part you’re going to respond to?” Deena chuckled, and hurried up so she was walking beside Sam. “I didn’t take you for the confrontational type, Sunnyvale. That’s all.”

Sam stayed silent for a moment. She was suddenly reminded of the last time, or the first time maybe, that she stood up to someone. The time that she faced her fears and fought back against a force that had been terrorizing her for years. Then she thought about how badly that had turned out, and how she was still dealing with the consequences.

“Well,” Sam cleared her throat, “I’m trying something new, I guess.”

“Oh yeah? I’d say-”

“What?!” Sam snapped. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with Deena’s smug tone, and maddening smirk, and only mildly accurate remarks about Sam’s entire personality. Perhaps she should have considered the sharp-edged weapon in her hand when she turned around hastily to face the gardener.

Deena jerked her head back when she was met with the fire poker, but she was still smirking, much to Sam’s irritation. Deena slowly raised her hand and gently pushed the poker’s sharp end again from its previous aim at her face. “I’d say,” she repeated, “it looks good on you.”

For a second, all they did was stare at each other. Deena’s smirk softened into a genuine smile, whereas Sam’s frown only deepened, but she wasn’t as angry as she was perplexed. She tried parting her lips to say something, but nothing came. Eventually, it was Deena who broke the silence.

“Let’s go check the chapel,” Deena nodded her head toward the small building, and the two of them were on their way.

The two women arrived at the chapel just in time, because the rain was worsening again. Deena stood by one of the windows and grimaced. “It’s raining too much now, maybe we should wait it out here for a moment,” she suggested. Not that she seemed very happy about it. It was like every attempt she made to distance herself from the intriguing au pair completely backfired.

Sam was casually wandering around the place, taking in the details. It was a spot that had been skipped over during her tour of the house. “What are those candles for?” she asked.

“That’s all Kate,” Deena replied. “Shouldn’t leave them burning though. But she never listens.”

“Oh,” Sam mumbled and walked closer. She observed, a little mystified, the way Deena blew over the four candles, killing each of them.

“They’re for the dead,” Deena explained upon noticing Sam’s curiosity. “At least that’s what Kate says.”

“You don’t agree?” Sam wondered. She took a seat in one of the pews, and Deena followed her lead, sitting in the one in front of her, and turning her body so she could look Sam in the eye.

“They’re for the Bermans, I think,” Deena shrugged. “If we were to really light up candles for everyone we’ve lost, we’d run out of space in here.”

Sam hummed in understanding, and for a while, they were silent. Each of them was lost in their own memories about lost ones. Neither of them was aware of an additional presence in the chapel with them. Tommy Slater didn’t mind going unnoticed. He could barely see them anyway. He could only tighten his grip on the axe, rest his back against the wall, spend one more day, or month, or year, in the quiet corners of Shadyside manor.

Eventually, Sam broke the silence. “So,” she cleared her throat, “do you just casually carry a shotgun with you everywhere?”

Deena chuckled, and Sam couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. “It’s for rats,” Deena explained, “which includes Nick fucking Goode.” She made a pause, and because she liked the way Sam listened and smiled at her, Deena felt compelled to do something against it. “You don’t have to risk your life for… the kids, or the job, you know?” For us, Deena stopped herself from saying that.

“Don’t belittle me, Deena, please,” Sam said with a small frown.

“I’m not. I’m just trying,” to protect you? “to warn you, Sam.”

Sam pursed her lips and considered Deena’s words. The gardener was content seeing that Sam didn’t just immediately disregard what she was trying to say. “I dealt with enough shit in Sunnyvale,” Sam admitted quietly, but later added a smile. “Your haunted house doesn’t scare me, Deena.”

Her words ignited a bright smile to take over Deena’s face. The gardener, of course, immediately looked away, trying to get her expression in control. When she looked back at Sam, her smile was much smaller, but her eyes said it all. “What scares you then?” Deena asked.

“What scares you?” Sam said and squinted at her.

“Hey, I asked first!”

“Well, will you answer if I answer?”

Deena shook her head, but she was having trouble holding back her smile. Where did this adorably awkward school teacher come from? More accurately, how the hell did she end up in Shadyside manor out of all places, in Deena’s path, more precisely?

“Alright,” Deena relented, and leaned her head on her hand, ready to listen.

Sam smiled, and then took a deep breath, gathering her courage. “I suppose I’m scared of… hopelessness,” she said slowly. “I’m scared of giving up. Scared of having nothing worth fighting for anymore. Uh… does that make sense?”

The gardener blinked twice, trying to clear her mind. She hadn’t expected that answer. But it would have been foolish to expect an answer along the lines of heights or spiders. It was obvious that Sam Fraser was infinitely more complicated than she seemed at first sight. Deena had to use all her strength to keep herself from wishing to know more about the au pair.

“I don’t know if that’s more Sunnyvale or Shadyside of you, but yes, it makes sense,” Deena finally replied.

Sam beamed at her, and asked, “What about you?”

Deena had known her answer for many years, but she still put on a show about thinking about it. She really was thinking about it or, at least, about the right way to say it after what Sam just said. “I’m scared of hope,” she replied.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“I would never,” Deena shook her head. “I’m genuinely not very fond of everything that comes along with having too much hope. Broken promises, crushed expectations, being let down… letting people down. It’s best to save yourself from it all.”

Sam had been listening very seriously. When Deena met her eyes both of them had a little trouble breathing normally. The small chapel suddenly felt too crowded. Sam was beyond thankful that Deena had trusted her with her words, but she could tell in those sweet brown eyes that the gardener was growing uncomfortable. Before Deena could grow desperate enough to take back her words and her moment of vulnerability, Sam tried something. A tiny smile crept into her lips. “That sounds boring,” she said softly.

Deena raised a playful eyebrow at her. “It’s safe,” she said. She was relieved for the gently offered exit out of the heavy emotional place they had wandered into. “Don’t go making fun of me now. I still have a shotgun here, you know?”

Sam laughed wholeheartedly, and Deena easily joined her. The silence afterward was different, comfortable, and easy. Deena was leaning over the back of the seat, and Sam was leaning forward. That left them a little closer than they had expected. It became a little too easy to get lost in each other’s eyes. Those two pairs of eyes that were full of secrets and trying their hardest not to let anyone else see.

Then, very suddenly, the windows of the chapel were lit in bright light. Those were a car’s headlights. “Must be Simon,” Deena cleared her throat and jumped out of her seat. “We should go back.”

Sam nodded in silent agreement, and started following Deena out of the chapel. But halfway through she let out a quiet gasp. “Do you think I shouldn’t have left the kids in the first place?”

Deena fondly chuckled and gently pushed the anxious au pair out of the chapel. The two of them walked outside and closed the door behind them. The chapel was left completely empty.

The storm got worse, and this time it definitely didn’t show any signs of stopping soon. Luckily, everyone had made it back to the house. Constance and Josh had finally fallen asleep, not without a fight though. The adults were gathered in one of the rooms of the big house, seated close by the fire, drinking hot chocolate, and with blankets on their laps. Sam was finally warming up. She had put up her damp hair in a ponytail, and she was listening intently to her coworkers. The three of them were finally unveiling the tragic story behind Christine Berman’s death. Kate was the one to lead the story.

“After Cindy and her husband died, Christine had the reins of the entire property. Alice owned a chunk of it, but she’s never wanted to get personally involved with this place, I guess. The house can be scary but it’s still a big property with a lot of value. Christine and Alice decided to get someone to protect the place, you know, keep an eye on the property and the few of us living and working here. That’s when Nick Goode came into the picture. Supposedly, he was tired of the police department of Sunnyvale, and moved here in search of something different.”

“And there’s nothing more different to Sunnyvale than this shithole, isn’t it?” Deena joined in. Her jaw was tense and her eyes displayed a wave of anger in them that almost frightened Sam. “Nick and Christine started dating almost immediately and it wasn’t cute, let me tell you. They were obsessed with each other. It was a picture-perfect toxic relationship. He was so… controlling. It was almost scary. He decided everything they did, when, and how they did it. He had a say in everything she said, and wore, and did. It was fucking suffocating just to watch them from afar. She made him her everything, and when he was gone, well… she had nothing left.”

That’s when it clicked for Sam that the anger in Deena’s eyes was much more complicated than that. It was grief. It was regret. In some way, Sam wouldn’t be surprised if Deena blamed herself for not intervening in some way to help the other woman. The next one to speak up was Simon. The poor man tried his best to keep up his usual spark, but it was pretty much impossible. He was fidgeting on his seat, running his hand through his hair repeatedly, and moving his eyes across the room to avoid letting anyone see the way they watered at the mention of Christine.

“He went missing, one day. Nick was a weird dude, if we’re being completely honest. He always acted weird with the rest of us, he was shifty and shit. He was weirdly obsessed with this house. There’s no way he wasn’t hiding some dark shit. And whatever that was, it came back to bite him in the ass. He had to run away. He just disappeared, like the cowardly rat he is. But… you know. Christine lost herself after that. The police didn’t help either. They were convinced she had killed him or something. They harassed her half the time, and she tortured herself waiting for that piece of shit the other half of the time. But she… she was our friend, you know?”

In the end, Simon was biting his nails, his eyes were distant, and he was shaking a little, not from the cold. Sam nodded slowly, she felt like she couldn’t really breathe easily, and she couldn’t imagine how the others were dealing with it all. Kate took her turn once more to finish the story.

“Constance found her. One damn foggy morning. Floating on the stupid lake. Then Deena found Constance.” There was a pause, and none of them could avoid glancing at Deena, but the gardener didn’t meet anybody’s eyes. When Kate continued talking, her voice wavered, and soon enough her eyes were tearing up beyond any attempt to hide it. “That kid really loved her aunt, you know? I mean, Constance adored Christine. Even more after her parents… And then motherfucking Nick Goode even stood in between them as much as he could. Some days I look at Constance and it’s like watching a younger version of Christine. She’s so much like her. It hurts. Because, in the end, Christine wasn’t a happy person anymore. We don’t want that for Constance, you know? She hasn’t been herself for a whole year. But since you arrived… she’s fighting with you all day long, running, protesting, yelling, and I just think… that’s our girl, she’s not gone. She’s still a little shit though.”

When she was done, Kate was wiping away tears, and trying to take deep breaths. But at the end of her story, she had laughed tearfully, talking about Constance. Deena and Simon had joined in. Soon enough they were sharing all kinds of stories about the young Berman girl. Kate had known her almost her entire life, when she started babysitting for her. Deena and Josh arrived just a couple of years later. Simon joined in last. He was hired after the Bermans died, but before Nick Goode showed up. Sam listened intently to their stories. Somehow, they managed to make her feel welcome, and like a part of that mismatched family they had formed in that objectively unlucky place. She appreciated it. And she also realized that she had stepped into a story that was infinitely more complicated than she could have ever expected.

Maybe it was the drinks that Kate and Simon brought out at one point during the night. but Sam was getting a little dizzy trying to understand the tangle of limbs that were the housekeeper and the cook. They fell asleep pretty much on top of each other and it didn’t look very comfortable, but it made Sam smile.

“Are they… a couple?” Sam asked Deena in a hushed tone.

The gardener chuckled and moved from her previous chair to sit beside Sam on the sofa. They were the only two people alive awake in that house. “God no,” she shook her head. “That embarrassing sight is completely platonic.” She made a pause, enjoyed Sam’s small laugh, and then decided to take a risk. “Why you ask?”

“Just, uh, curiosity,” Sam replied.

“I hope you weren’t too interested, Sunnyvale. I’d hate to break your heart letting you know Simon’s gay.”

Sam smiled and shook her head. “I wasn’t… I’m not… it’s not like that,” she stuttered.

“Okay,” Deena nodded. She kept her smirk controlled, and tried to convince herself she was only doing this to tease the other girl, with no ulterior move or secret interest in her answer. “If it helps… so is Kate.”

Sam was staring into Deena’s eyes when the meaning of her words registered. The panic in the au pair was instant, and it worsened when she took notice of how close Deena was, how intently they were looking at each other, and how heavy were the additional questions hanging in the air between them. “Oh,” Sam croaked out, and attempted to clear her throat. “So… um… you, uh… why do you think Nick Goode would come back now? After abandoning Christine before.”

At first, Deena was quiet. She bit her lip, doing what she could to hide how confused she was about the contradicting feelings of relief and disappointment at the change of subject. Then she relaxed, leaned back on the couch, and searched for an answer. “He probably doesn’t even know she’s dead. People like Nick Goode aren’t happy losing. They want to have it all. No exceptions. He isn’t content just walking away,” Deena said. She was surprised by the clear as day understanding she saw in Sam’s eyes.

“He can’t just let her go. He has to feel like he still owns her,” Sam added. She looked a little dazed for a moment, but she was brought back to the conversation at hand when she noticed Deena agreeing with a nod. “But… that feeling doesn’t come from a place of love, does it? It’s the opposite, really.”

Deena shifted uncomfortably on her seat. “Yeah,” she agreed softly. She couldn’t stop staring at Sam though, and she had a strong suspicion that she was in serious trouble when it came to the things the peculiar au pair could make her feel.

Not too long later, Sam and Deena parted ways and walked to their respective bedrooms, not without a significant amount of awkwardness hanging between them. Especially when Sam nearly crashed against Deena when the brunette stopped in front of her bedroom, because then Sam was a little too aware of standing right outside of Deena’s room. She failed to save the situation by walking away in a flurry of apologies and “goodnight”s, waving so enthusiastically and looking back so nervously that she did crash into a wall and had to dismiss Deena’s soft “Are you okay there, Sunnyvale?”

Finally, Sam made it to her bedroom, locked the door behind her, and shortly later collapsed in her bed. She was restless though, tossing and turning in bed while her mind ran wild. She couldn’t help but flash back to several moments throughout the day she had shared with Deena. She thought about Deena’s smile, and Deena’s frown. About Deena’s obvious defense mechanisms, and Deena begrudgingly letting down her guard in front of her. Deena walking with the shotgun gripped firmly in her hand, Deena draped comfortably over the couch, stealing glances at Sam and boldly refusing to look away when Sam caught her.

Eventually, even though she fought her hardest to restrain herself, Sam’s imagination got the best of her. There was that one moment with the two of them seated close together on the couch. So close that Sam could still remember the warmth of Deena’s arm next to hers. So close that Sam couldn’t stop herself from imagining what would have happened if she had leaned in just a little closer, and then just a little more…

Before picturing exactly what would have happened, Sam made the terrible mistake of rolling to her side again, just to find out she wasn’t alone in bed. She came face to face with a sight that wasn’t that unfamiliar to her, yet it was the most horrible thing she could have imagined. She screamed and scrambled backward in bed until she fell to the ground. She stayed there, eyes closed tightly and tears streaming down her cheeks. She had just seen him. He was right there. He wasn’t in the mirror, he was in her bed, in Shadyside, and it wasn’t fair. She had turned around in bed to see him there more than enough times before. She ran away to avoid precisely this and it didn’t even work. He was there, blinding eyes, a disgusted snarl of his lips, a furious frown, strong arms covered in blood, and the watch on his wrist broken beyond repair. Why was her mind doing this to her?

Sam rocked back and forth on the floor of the bedroom until her breathing calmed down enough. She tentatively raised her head to take a look at the bed, and then the rest of the room. She was alone, completely alone, permanently alone.

Life at Shadyside Manor was complicated enough. But, tragedy and threats aside, Sam’s job was the kid’s education. The next day, there was still a soft rain falling down over the property. They didn’t have another option but to spend the morning cooped up in the classroom, and apparently, it was taking its toll on the teenagers. Well, at least on one of them. Josh was quiet as usual. But Ziggy was in a particularly sour mood. Sam could understand kids trying to act way older than they were. She had worked with eight years old Sunnyvalers who were already looking forward to being CEOs of their parents’ companies. But Ziggy… she was a peculiar case.

“Sam, you’re giving me a headache. Just fucking call me Ziggy, okay?” the teenager complained.

“The headache is mutual, Ziggy,” Sam replied, leaning against the desk in front of the room. “Now, could you please just answer the question?”

“What’s the point?” Ziggy scoffed. “Look, it’s not the first time some emotionally fragile girl tries to teach me arithmetic.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter! This shit is useless in the real world.”

“You need an education, Ziggy, if you ever want to have a life.”

Ziggy chuckled darkly, with bitterness beyond her fifteen years. She slammed a hand on the table in front of her and jumped off her chair. “Fucking maths won’t give me my life back!”

“Ziggy!”

Sam was startled. It was Josh who had called out the girl’s name, and he sounded really angry and not like himself at all. He stood up from his seat and walked slowly toward Constance, who immediately sat down and was suddenly very quiet and still. He placed a hand on her shoulder and she pretty much shuddered at the contact. Sam thought that was really odd, considering she was usually the extroverted and lead troublemaker in their dynamic.

“I apologize for Ziggy’s behavior,” Josh addressed Sam with an odd and unfamiliar formal tone. “I think she needs a moment. We’re just tired of spending the entire day in the classroom. You know, with the storm last night and everything, we’re restless. You get it, don’t you, Samantha?”

Sam tried hard not to visibly frown at the way Josh talked to her. It rubbed her the wrong way. She glanced at the clock and noticed there would have been only about twenty minutes left of the class planned for the morning.

“If you don’t call me that again, we can call it a day for now,” She said.

“Thank you very much,” Josh replied with a grin she had never seen on him before. Well, except for the day when he gave her those roses that made Deena so furious.

As the two teenagers walked to the door of the classroom, Sam addressed the young girl once more. “I expect a better attitude tomorrow, Constance.” It was like the girl didn’t even hear her. “Constance?”

Constance was already on the other side of the door, but when Sam repeated her name she stopped in her tracks. She turned around hastily. “Huh?”

“Did you listen to me?”

“What? Oh. Um… Yeah…” Constance mumbled, looking more than a little confused, and then she walked away in the opposite direction from Josh.

That night, things were much better. The rain had finally stopped not too long ago. During dinner, Ziggy had suggested watching a scary movie with such childish excitement that nobody could have said no to her. Even Simon, not without some hesitation, agreed to stay at the manor one more night, trusting that his neighbor, Mr. McQueeny, was taking good care of his mother.

All of them were having a good time. Ziggy was having the time of her life making fun of the character’s poor decisions. Josh reacted badly to the jump scares, but he proudly announced himself as smartest in the room for predicting almost every single plot twist. Kate and Simon were in a constant argument, because she playfully insisted that her microwaved popcorn was much better than the creative array of snacks he had prepared for their evening.

Sam and Deena were on a different couch, fondly watching the others enjoy themselves. Deena was about to make fun of Sam, who looked almost as scared as the main character of the movie, running for her life. The gardener looked at the woman sitting beside her and she was pleasantly surprised to find Sam meeting her eyes. Sam didn’t look away from Deena, even as her hand moved swiftly to find Deena’s hand, which had been resting on the space between them. The movie and their friend’s fuss continued in the background, but for a moment, Sam and Deena felt like they were the only two people in the world.

Deena couldn’t keep up Sam’s stare. She had to look down at their intertwined hands, to make sure it was real. She gulped nervously and looked back up at Sam. “Are you okay?” she had to ask, dreading that maybe the au pair was just scared of the movie.

Sam smiled a little, and nodded. She squeezed Deena’s hand a little, softly rubbed her thumb over the gardener’s knuckles, and then she let go. She returned her hand to her lap, but she looked happy in a way that Deena hadn’t seen her before. “I actually love these movies,” Sam confessed.

Deena chuckled. Although her hand ached to reach out for Sam again, she understood. “You’re full of surprises, Sunnyvale.”

The two women relaxed, but it was short-lived. A moment later, a loud thunder rattled the entire property, and the lights went out. Apparently, the storm wasn’t done with them. All of them gasped, some of them screamed. The lights came back on, flickered menacingly, and went out again. Everyone scrambled off their seats, Ziggy tried to scare Kate, Simon went off looking for a flashlight, the phone started ringing and everything was a mess. Lightning bolts illuminated the room, only briefly. But, in the commotion, nobody paid any mind to Ryan Torres. He watched everything unfold from a corner of the room. He couldn’t understand everything that happened, he couldn’t make himself be a part of any of it. He glanced at the knife on his hand, and another strike of lightning reflected on it. Still, nobody else noticed.

The ringing of the phone was driving them crazy while trying to deal with the power outage. Deena couldn’t stand it anymore. She marched to the other room and yanked the phone from the wall. “What the fuck you want?” she snapped at the innocent person on the other line. Everyone had followed her lead and Simon was shining a flashlight in her direction when everyone noticed the way the gardener’s face completely changed from annoyance to shock and devastation. “It was your neighbor, Mr. McQueeny,” she was clearly addressing Simon. Her face said it all. “I’m so sorry, Simon.”

#sunday update!!#i hope you like it! please share!!#fear street #sameena #sam x deena #fear street fanfiction #sam fraser #deena johnson #my fic

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hannahbee12719 · 3 years

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Yellow!

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Nice doctors tell me I’m 5’ but I’m really 4’11”

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I have such a hard time picking favorites because I have a lot of love in my lil heart, but gun to my head, it’s a tie between Magic Shop - BTS and Morning Comes - Delta Rae

Favorite movie?

This is even harder to pick than a song 😩 I am a huge movie lover. I’m going to have to list of few of my top faves to give the gist of it: My Neighbor Totoro, The Princess Bride, Pride & Prejudice, Emperor’s New Groove, Mary Poppins, Singin’ in the Rain, High Anxiety (any Mel Brooks movie really), You’ve Got Mail, A Mighty Wind, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (JKR is a troll but these books and movies were my greatest escape as a child) , this list is getting so long help lol

Have you gotten into trouble with the law?

I have been pulled over a few times, but other than that, no. I’m a no-fun rule-follower who’s terrified of getting in trouble lol

What color socks are you wearing?

I’m not wearing any socks, but I have blue toe nail polish lol

Bath or shower?

Shower for getting clean. Soaking in a tub sounds really nice, but is not as nice in reality imo. I’m too short to lounge without drowning, and sitting straight up in a tub is not it when you’re over 5 years old 😅

Favorite type of music

I like lots and lots of types of music. I’m not into anything really heavy metal or country music in general. Other than that, it’s fair game for me.

How many pillows do you sleep with?

3 normal pillows and a husband pillow (like the husband style pillow that looks like the back of a chair, not my actual husband 😂) My bed is against a wall so I create a cozy little nest for myself lol.

Which position do you sleep in?

I start on my left side and sometimes end up on my right side or stomach.

What don’t you like when you’re sleeping?

Having the door open or having cold feet

What do you have for breakfast?

Typically, I have coffee and a Kind energy bar

Have you ever tried archery?

No, but I’d love to! Just for target practice/fun though. I could never be a hunter lol. I have tried ax throwing though! That was a ton of fun!

Favorite fruit

Cherries 🤤

Favorite swear word

“Fuck” simply because I use it most often

Do you have any scars?

I’d imagine that everyone has scars. I have many, but my most notable one is the one on my neck from surgery I had when I was two that makes it look like my throat was cut lol.

Are you a good liar?

Probably not lol. I’m a fairly emotive person so I feel like it’d be easy to tell.

What’s your personality type?

INFP-T - the Mediator, Type 9 Enneagram

What’s your favorite type of girl?

I feel like this question is geared towards people who are romantically attracted to women so I feel ill-equipped to answer it. When making friends, I’m generally drawn more to people who are friendly and like to laugh and/or with whom I can have an intelligent conversation.

Left or right handed?

Right handed

Favorite food?

I really enjoy a lot of food. My go-to comfort food is fried chicken so we’ll go with that.

Are you clean or messy?

I’m a messy person by nature, but I’m trying to be better about that 😅 I’d like to clarify that it’s clutter and not filth. I do clean but I can be disorganized.

Favorite foreign food?

Italian food is the first that comes to mind. Pasta and risotto and cheese is just so good 🤤 But I’ve also had really good French, Korean, and (more authentic) Chinese food that I have really, really enjoyed. I just love food lol.

How long does it take for you to get ready?

My daily routine takes 15 minutes (I shower at night). If I’m putting on a full face of make-up and doing my hair, an hour and a half lol.

Most used phrase?

Idk that I have one lol

Are you a good singer?

I would say I’m a decent singer. I had several vocal accomplishments in high school that I’m proud of, and I’ve been asked to sing solos here and there since then. I’m not highly trained or polished but I do love to sing.

Do you sing to yourself?

I put on full musicals in my car and in my shower 😂

Biggest fear?

Spiders and heights 😖

Do you like long or short hair?

On me, I like mid-length hair due to the gumdrop shape of my head and my inability to style long hair nicely lol. I wish I could pull off short hair though *sigh*

Are you into gossip?

I like being in the know, but I don’t like rumors or malicious gossip, nor do I spread anything people tell me in confidence.

Extrovert or introvert?

Friendly introvert. I’m anxious about starting conversations, but I can absolutely hold them once started. But I do need time alone to recharge after social situations.

Favorite school subject?

History! I loved it so much I got a whole degree in it lol.

What makes you nervous?

Being at a party where I don’t know anyone but the host who’s inevitably busy the whole time. That feeling of constantly being in the way in crowded areas. And phone calls lol. If you love me at all, please text me if that’s an option.

Who was your first real crush?

His name is Mike. We ended up dating for a little in 9th grade, but I was not in a good place. We did become friends again later in high school, and I think he’s a really sweet person.

How many piercings do you have?

5 - 2 in each earlobe and a helix in my right ear

How fast can you run?

Bless people who can run and love it. You won’t catch me running except when it’s down pouring and I don’t have an umbrella lol.

What makes you angry?

Cruelty, racism, phobia of any lgbtq+ people, mysogyny, anti-maskers, anti-vaxxers, purposefully selective thinking, injustice. Just don’t be a jerk.

Do you like your own name?

Yes ☺️

What are your weaknesses?

My fear of confrontation, apologizing when I shouldn’t, food lol

What are your strengths?

My big heart, my perseverance, and I’d like to think I’m good friend

What is the color of your bedspread?

White with peaches printed on it

Color of your room?

White

Tagging (only if you want to ☺️): @oenothera5, @teainthelibrary, @jikooknoona, @triviafics

#tag game #me

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nev3rfound · 5 years

Text

holding back nerves : t.o

brief summary: going on a first date with thor

word count: 1.8k requested: yes, by @meaganottiz02 - this was so cute to write thanks for the idea! warnings: none that i’m aware of. just lots of fluff

* requests are open if you have any ideas, feel free to drop ‘em in my inbox or message me. *

(ngl I really enjoyed writing this, and I hope you enjoy reading it!)

Fiddling with my nails I listen as Steve continues to change the channel, still not settling on a single show. “Come on, Steve.” I release a heavy sigh as I lift my head up, watching him furrow his eyebrows as he continues to click random buttons.

“I’m trying to find something I like.” He mumbles and I collapse back down into the sofa, letting the soft fabric swallow me in as I bring my legs up.

“Lady Y/n, are you bored?” Turning my head I smile as Thor walks over standing tall as always.

I shrug my shoulders as I swallow my nerves back once more. “I wouldn’t be if someone could pick a damn show to watch.” I remarked, glancing over to Steve who remains oblivious, stuck in his own world.

Hearing him move closer I feel the sofa dip behind me, just above my head. “Would you like to go see a show worth watching?” Thor speaks up and I tilt my head back, seeing him stood above me with a smile crossing his face.

“You, you wanna go out?” Stuttering my words I watch as he chuckles softly, resting his large hands either side of my shoulders.

Beside me, Steve finally picks a show and quietly plays it whilst clearly eavesdropping.

“I mean, if you’d like to.” Thor awaits my response and slowly I rise to my feet, brushing my jumper down before smiling back to him.

“Yeah,” I nod. “yeah, yeah why not.” Chuckling softly I brush my hair back behind my ear before jumping as he claps his hands together, laughter filling the room.

“It’s a date!” He calls out happily whilst Steve switches the subtitles on his show. “Say, tomorrow evening Lady Y/n?” Taking my hand in his Thor kisses it lightly, his eyes not leaving mine before he turns around with a spring in his step.

“Don’t think I’ve seen him that joyous since he did ‘Get Help’ with Sam last week.” Steve pipes up before he turns to face me. “You deserve a good time, Y/n.” He nudges me lightly before returning his focus back to his show, leaving me in my own thoughts as I realise what I’ve just agreed to.

“Holy shit, Steve.” I let out a short scoff, shaking my head in disbelief.

“Language.” He quickly pipes in, as per.

“I’m going on a date with an actual God.” I think aloud, laughing to myself in complete shock. “A God, Steve.” I stand up in front of the TV as Steve sighs heavily before placing the remote next to him.

“Best make the effort then, doll.” He remarks as he rises to his feet, heading out of the room. “I’m goin’ watch something in my room in peace.”

Tying the ribbon on my dress I brush my hands along the soft cotton, releasing my last minute nerves as I let out a shaky breath. “How’d I look?” Turning around I twirl in front of Sam and Bucky who just shrug their shoulders. “Thanks guys.” I mutter before picking up my bag and heading out of my room, leaving the two of them to bicker.

“Wow.” A voice calls out and I turn around, smiling as Tony struts down the corridor and whistles to me. “You heading out anywhere nice by any chance?” Tony raises an eyebrow and I shrug my shoulder.

“Possibly.” I sway my dress as I check my watch. He’ll be expecting me any minute.

“Have a good time. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” He yells as I rush down the corridor towards the lift.

As the lift descends I can see rain lining the windows as pedestrians shrug their coats higher whilst others seem more prepared for a cloudy evening in New York. “I knew I forgot something.” I mutter under my breath. An umbrella, one thing I should’ve brought.

The doors of the lift open onto the ground floor and slowly I step out, hearing my heels clicking against the marble flooring. “Lady Y/n, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful sight.” Lifting my head I can feel the butterflies in my stomach somersaulting as I meet his brown and blue eyes.

“I’m sure you have in all of your life,” My mind wanders to all of the planets he’s seen, how beautiful Asgard once was. “but I appreciate the compliment.” My smile rises as I walk closer towards him.

“Nothing can compare,” He mutters as I stand in front of him.

Tonight it’s as if he’s a normal guy in New York. He’s wearing a tux that is clearly too tight around his muscles and Axe nowhere in sight. “Did you bring an umbrella?” I ask as I turn my head to the side, looking out as the rain continues to pour.

“Oh, I’ll just get it.” He speaks up and holds his arm out, slowly waiting for it to be by his side.

A series of crashing sounds echo through the compound, followed by some swearing from Bucky whilst Thor just laughs under his breath. “I knew I should’ve just picked it up when I was upstairs.” He states and I hold back my laugh as it flies through the room and lands in his grip seconds later.

“I don’t think that is something I’ll ever tire of seeing.” I admit and he raises an eyebrow, making heat rise across my face.

“Well, Lady Y/n I think I’ll show you a few more things you’ll never tire of.” He remarks before holding his arm out for me to accept as we head out of the compound towards the car that is outside awaiting the two of us.

Our evening is spent full of laughter and shared stories of our lives before we knew one another. I sat and listened to Thor tell the tales of him and Loki growing up and the tricks he’d pull whilst he flung his dinner all over the place with his mannerisms as I dodged pieces of chicken to the best of my ability.

As we walk back towards the compound Thor keeps his umbrella up, covering both of us as I hold his hand, swinging it back and forth lightly. “I gotta say, I didn’t anticipate tonight being this much fun.” I speak up, feeling slightly giddy from the four glasses of wine during dinner that Thor insisted we have.

“How so?” He pipes up, glancing down as I’m unable to wipe a smile from my face.

“You’re much funnier when you’re not serious and all ‘Loki must be helped, oh no we must protect Loki or Loki is back, shits going down.’“ I try my best to impersonate him, only making Thor laugh harder and squeeze my hand.

Shaking his head he pauses, bringing me closer under the umbrella. “You truly are something else, Y/n.” He mutters softly, placing his hand on my cheek as it slips from my hand.

“I think you forgot something there,” I whisper as he lowers his face down toward mine.

“And what would that be?” His question ghosts my lips as I rise on my tiptoes.

“Lady Y/n to you, Thor.” I joke before closing the distance between us and wrap my hands around his neck.

With his lips against mine, I can hear him drop the umbrella, the electricity crackling between the two of us as he deepens the kiss.

Rain falls onto us, making the kiss saltier as I pull away, slightly breathless.

“I, erm,” Trying to swallow my breath Thor merely smiles, his arms resting on my waist as I remain on my tiptoes. “you dropped your umbrella.”

Thor shrugs his shoulders, “It doesn’t matter, I’m holding precious cargo.” He winks and we slowly remove each other from the close embrace and continue the short walk back to the compound, knowing a car was close by if needed.

Walking into the compound I can hear the drips of rain leaving a trail as we head towards the lift, knowing we’re on different levels Thor slips his jacket off, his shirt damp and clinging to his muscles.

“Like what you’re seeing, Y/n?” He asks and I roll my eyes. “I like what I see, only fair if it were reciprocated.”

I turn to face him and kiss him softly as the doors open, knowing it’s his floor. “I’ll see you in the morning,” Slipping away from him he smiles before exiting the lift, a few final words being heard before the metal doors separate us.

“Morning can’t come soon enough, Lady Y/n!”

The metal doors close, leaving me alone to process the entire evening and as I play it all back in my head I’m unable to wipe the smile from my face.

Hearing the small sound the doors open and I slip my heels off, walking and humming as I head towards my room, heels in one hand and the end of my damp dress in another.

Unlocking my door I slip inside, facing it as I chuckle to myself thinking morning cannot come soon enough.

“Good night?” Jumping I turn to see Tony and Steve perched on my bed.

“Fucking hell you scared me!” I yell as I drop my shoes, bringing my hand to my chest as I can feel it beating like there’s no tomorrow.

“Language.” Steve comments and I merely glare at him in response.

“What’re you doing in here?” I ask as I glance up to my clock. “It’s one in the morning guys.” I sigh as I collapse down on my chair, flinging my dress over it as I curl up in my blanket whilst the two of them study me closely.

“Well,” Tony asks and I look at him cluelessly, waiting for him to finish his sentence. “was it a good night? Cause based on the time I would say it must’ve been.” He smiles over to me as does Steve, the two of them acting like proud Dads.

“It was lovely, but I’m cold and damp and need a shower so if you don’t mind.” Rising to my feet I open my door, waiting for them to leave.

Steve rises to his feet first, never one to disobey a ladies orders whilst Tony can’t hide his growing smirk.

“Good night, Y/n.” Steve mutters as he keeps his head low, departing my room whilst Tony slowly struts out.

As he has his hand on the door he leans back, “You got a bit of lipstick on your chin, might wanna invest in a liquid lipstick next time you go making out with a God.” He states before closing the door behind him as his laughter echoes through the halls.

But for once, I don’t mind. I walk into my bathroom, looking at the lipstick smudged on my chin and how part of it is above my lip line. I smile at the sight, knowing Thor is wearing it proudly too.

Quickly I shower, warming my bones back up as the electricity running through my veins begins to shut down for the night without his touch and once I lie in bed I turn my light off.

Morning can’t come soon enough.

619 notes · View notes

crazyrandomfucker · 5 years

Text

Chapter 5: The bugs and the cats

Summary:

Everything that happens after the first battle against akumas, seems to be... fated. From standing out against bullies to starting patrol, our famous heroes will have so much to do from now on. Adrienne and Mari fall in love with Marin and Adrien, the boys begin a relationship where one looks out for the other since they don't completely trust each other, even if they feel like comrades when they are transformed. The girls develope a great friendship, in and out of the mask.

__________________________________

-In front of the school-

"So by the time we got there, it was all over. We're way bumped" complain the reporter twins. "Don't worry, you'll get your scoop eventually" comforts them Mari. "You're right. Next time: Ladybug, an exclusive interview" says Alya. "Ooohhh, sounds exciting" says Mari. "Even better, finding out who's behind Lordbug's mask" says Alen. "Uh-huh, I'd look at that one" agrees Marin.

As the four of them enter to school, a limo with two bodyguards, a secretary and two displeased teenager models parks in front of the building, letting the models look at the school while talking via videoconference with their father.

"You disobeyed me Adrienne and Adrien" says Gabriel, clearly disappointed. "Take a look at that school". "Yes father" say the twins. "You will never, I say never, go back here again" declares the man. "Father n-" begin the twins. "Without your bodyguards, that is. They will drop you off and pick you up every day. Nathalie has offered to organise your new schedules. You'll be continuing your music, dancing, fencing and Chinese classes and your photo shoots" "Thank you Nathalie, thank you father!" says Adrien excited and gets out of the car. "Thank you so much Nathalie!" says Adrienne as she hugs her father's assistant. "And of course, thank you father" says before getting out of the car.

-Marinette side-

As they enter, Marinette comes up with an idea.

"No, wait" says as she goes to the seat she's always been sitting until now and makes a hint for Alya to sit first.

The reporter gives her a smug grin and sits with her as Nino's smile brightens a bit.

"Uh, you’re in the wrong seats. Go on, get lost" says Chloe as she enters the classroom, making a cue for the girls to go ack to the seats Chloe put them on. "All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing" says Mari proudly. "And what is that supposed to mean?" asks the blonde. "It means that I'm not putting up with your crap anymore Chloe. And neither is anyone else in this classroom so take your attitude and go on, get lost!" says Mari as everyone laugh at Chloe. "Good job girl, I see you listened to my advice" says Alya, proud of her friend. "It's all thanks to you Alya" says Mari.

Adrien enters the class and salutes Nino and the girls, but Mari turns her head pissed.

"Dude, you want to make friends right? Well, go talk to Marinette, about the chewing gum" tells Nino to Adrien. "But what should I say?" "Just be yourself"

-Marin side-

They enter to the class and automatically take a seat where Marin had been sitting for years, as they previously had planned.

"What are you doing there bread head? Get lost" says Cleón as he enters. "I'm sitting on my place rich boy. All that's needed for evil to lose, is for good people to do stuff" says Marin. "The f*** is that supposed to mean?" ask the blond. "That I'm never putting up with your crap again. And neither will do anyone else around here, so get lost douchebag" replies Marin, making everyone laugh at Cleón. "You little sh-" begins Cleón. "Cleón, if you value our friendship you certainly won't do what you are about to do. And obviously you will never try to bully anyone here" says Adrienne, as she enters to the class. "But Adrienne-" "No buts. Also, the teacher's almost here, if you need an incentive to put down the war axe and take a seat NEXT to me" says the model girl as she sits down. "Damn, girl. I know I told you that if you wanted friends, Marin was the best to begin with, but with that, you'll have tons of friends in no time" says Nina. "Hey" says Marin. "Thanks for helping us out Adrienne, I hope we get along" says with a bright gentle smile. "No problem" says Adrienne, turning a bit red. "Aaaah, the angel charms work marvellous as always~" teases her Nina. "Oh, shut it girl or I'll might hug you to death" says Adrienne and both laugh.

After the lesson, they're told that they are getting a free hour, so they can go home an hour earlier. It's pouring outside and Adrienne just realizes that she forgot her umbrella at home. A gentle hand pokes her back and she turns to see Marin.

"You're going to catch a cold if you keep so close to the rain" says Marin. "Here, use my jacket, I leave nearby so I don't really need it" "Marin, I can't take this... It's yours. Besides, I need to tell you something. I lied to you." says Adrienne, feeling a bit guilty. "Are you perhaps talking about the oil incident? Because I know you didn't pour the oil, that's Cleón trade mark. Plus, Mylo told me everything and I pressed Nina a bit to tell me why you lied" "You're at the same time incredible and terrifying" says Adrienne. "I can't truly deny that" admits Marin. "But you're right, I was talking about the oil incident. I didn't expect you to forgive me this easily..." says Adrienne. "Well, I may hate Cleón entirely, but I know not everyone is like him. You've proven so far to be kind and gentle, why shouldn't I forgive you? There wasn't anything to forgive in the first place." "Thanks Marin" says the girl, turning redder by minute. "No problem Adrienne, see you tomorrow at school" says Marin leaving, but he turns back, pulls off his jacket, leaves it on Adrienne and dashes to his house. "First day at school and you've already managed to get a boyfriend huh?" says Plague. "Oh I wish I did Plague, but for now, I'm happy being his friend" says Adrienne holding Marin's jacket tight.

An old man with an umbrella observes the teenagers from a near coffee shop.

-Mari side-

After the lessons are finally over, Mari gets out as she read a message from his brother telling her that he's already at home. She realizes that is raining and stops before she gets wet because of the rain, hoping that it will stop soon enough. Adrien goes out after her and pulls out his umbrella, but when he sees Mari, he stops and turns to her

"Hey" tries Adrien, getting a pissed hmpf from her as she turns her head away.

He looks down and feels uneasy, wondering how could he ever explain to her what really happened, furthermore, how could he convince her that it truly wasn't his fault? He resigns and opens his umbrella, taking a few steps on the rain, just to stop.

"I just wanted you to know, that I was indeed trying to pull the chewing gum off from your seat. I swear" says Adrien, leaving Marinette with doubts. "I've never been to school before, I've never had real friends. It's all sort of... new to me".

He looks at her, that is starting to realize how wrong she had judged the poor guy, shrugs his shoulders and gives her his umbrella. Mari takes it shyly and keeps looking at him, as it was the first time she saw him, but then the umbrella closes on her and both teenagers share a gentle laugh.

"Well, see you tomorrow" says Adrien heading to the car that's waiting for him, leaving Mari gaping a bit. "Uh-huh. Se you toma- tomo-tomorrow!" stammers Mari. "Wow, why am I stammering?". "Hey! I think I might have an idea about that" says Tikki, teasing Mari a bit.

"First day at school and we already have two lovers" teases Plagg from Adrien's jacket pocket. "Whatever, she's just a friend Plagg" says the boy. "A friend..."

The boy gets in the car and leaves and Mari takes her things from the floor and precedes to head her home, without noticing the figures of an old Chinese man and two floating little figures watching them.

"Excellent choice master" says Wayzz. "I must say so too" says Weiss. "These two are made for each other, and the other two are so as well" replies the man, caressing his chin beard.

-At the Dupain-Cheng bakery-

Mari gets home quite excited and begins to cuddle her pillow as she downloads a few photos from Adrien's photo shoots. Her brother knocks her door and enters, realizing to late his mistake.

"Oh brother, I have so much to tell you" says a lovestruck Mari. "Uh oh, I don't like where this is going. Did you fall in love by chance?" asks Marin. "How did you know? Did the miraculous give you mind-reading powers?" says Mari. "No, but you have the word LOVE written all over your face. So c'mon, tell me who's the lucky guy". "Well, don't laugh, but it's Adrien Agreste" says shyly Marinette. "He's WHO?!" asks Marin bewildered. "Adrien Agreste. He's in my class. I thought he played me a prank this morning, but he's been trying to apologize all day, until I finally listened to him. He was actually-" "Trying to fix whatever prank Chloe did to you, didn't he?" "Marin, you're scaring me now. How do you know that?" says Mari, taking a few steps back. "Because something very similar happened to me, thought I didn't fall in love with Adrienne Agreste" explains Marin. "Oh, did Cleón put a chewing gum on your seat?" asks the girl. "No, he did pour oil over my seat thought, and she tried to clean it with her hanky, so I'm cleaning it before I return it to her" "Sounds like we both had a rough day, with the Bourgeoise and the akumas. Which reminds me, we have to meet with our partners at the Trocadero at midnight" reminds him the girl. "I can't wait for it! Our partners are so amazing! Did you see how badass and confident does Kitty when she’s fighting? She's so awesome" says Marin lovingly. "SO you were lecturing me for falling for a model, but you go and fall for a masked girl. For all we know, she could be different outside the mask" reprimands him Mari. "Oh, come on sis. You have met her and see her fight, you know she's wonderful. But I haven't met your so beloved charming prince yet and I don't know if I could ever trust him" says Marin. "For your information, he gave me his umbrella when he saw I didn't have one" defends herself the girl. "So what? I gave my jacket to Adrienne because she would catch a cold otherwise. It's called being a gentleman, but that doesn't means he's a good guy" "Oh, shut it brother, you say that because you haven't heard him apologising all day for something he didn't do!" says her. "Well, if you love him so much why don't you confess to him tomorrow morning?" dares her Marin. "Why don't you confess to Kitty if you love her that much?" defies him Mari. "She wouldn't fall for an ordinary guy like me, I know it's a one-sided love" "Well, the same happens to me, so you can't criticize me for it. Now, if you let me, I'm going to talk it with my pillow" says the girl, pushing her brother outside of her room.

-At the Agreste manor-

Adrien arrives to the manor and begins to scan his new schedule, noticing that he must go to his dancing lessons in about ten minutes. He rushes to get changed and dashes to the ballroom. After the lessons, his sister and him are allowed to do nothing else for the day, so they roam off to their rooms.

"How was your day sis? I made two friends today!" says Adrien excited to her sister's door. She opens and lets him enter. "No way, I made two friends too. Their names are Nina Lahiffe and Marin Dupain-Cheng" says the girl excited as well. "Really? My friends are Nino Lahiffe and Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Do you think they're related?" "Of course they are, you dummy. Out of curiosity, how's this Marinette girl? Is she cute?" asks Adrienne. "I don't know, most of the day she was mad at me, but I guess she is? Why the sudden interest?" "Nothing!" lies the girl as she turns as red as Lordbug jacket. "Does it perhaps have something to do with Marin?" asks Adrien, as he notices a boy's jacket on his sister. "Hey, whose is that jacket?" "Jacket? Which jacket? I don't have a jacket, I've never seen a jacket!" says nervously Adrienne. "No way, is from a guy isn't it? And you like him!" "Noooooo, I don't know what you're talking about bro" says sweating the girl. "Sis, I've clearly seen the jacket, and I know it's from a boy. Confess, who's your lucky guy?" The girl sighs as she resigns. "It's Marin's jacket. He gave it to me because he thought I'd get sick from waiting so close to the rain" says as she gently grabs the jacket. "Don't tell me gave you a hard time" says Adrien remembering his own experience. "He didn't. He was truly a gentle man to me and he even defend me on class from his friend's misjudgement. He's so kind and selfless" says lovestruck Adrienne. "Yeah sure, I'll believe that when I see it with my own eyes. He might be doing that just because who you are, it wouldn't be the first time". "He didn't know who I was when he defended me. When his friend tried to tell him, Marin told him that he didn't care who I was, that it was my first day and no one would like to be accused on their first day at school. I- I know he might just want to get close to me because I'm an Agreste, he wants to be a designer, but I can't decide with who I fall in love okay?" says Adrienne, beginning to cry because she feels as if she's just a trophy doll. "I'm sorry sis. I shouldn't have said that" says the boys as he hugs her.

-At the Trocadero-

It was near midnight when the cats landed on the Chaillot palace's rooftop and sit to wait their buggy partners. The cat girl was still a bit down because of her brother's word, but she tries her best to cheer up before their partners arrive. Then, almost at midnight, the bug heroes arrive, landing on the gardens as expected from a duo of bugs. They look around, searching for their partners, who see them first and race towards them, Kitty winning the race.

"Fancy meeting you here, my Lord, my Lady" says Chat doing a bow. "What can these stray cats do for you in such a beautiful night?" "Oh stop that Chaton, we're not here to play" says Ladybug with a gentle smile. "First of all, we want to apologize. We pushed you two onto a promise you didn't even agree" says Lordbug. "You don't have to worry about that my Lord, we cats will protect Paris with all our might, this is our home after all" says Chat. "Is Kitty okay with it thought? Also, are you alright? You two seem to be a bit down" says Ladybug, worried about her partner. "Yes, I'm fine. I was a bit lost in my thoughts, don't mind me" says Kitty. "If you say so, I'll believe you" says Ladybug with a gentle smile. "Now, let's talk about the hero stuff". "We've thought that we should go periodically on patrol at night. Since akumas can possess people because of their negative emotions, people who've been robbed and similar would be an easy target for akumas" explains Lordbug. "And aside from that, we've been thinking of splitting teams to fight against akumas when there's just an akuma. Having a rotating system to both patrol and fighting akumas would let us have rest" continues Ladybug. "The rotating system we thought of is very simple. Each of us will do patrol for two weeks and then switch with their twin. Furthermore, the weeks will be divided so each of us works a week with one twin and the next week with the other" finishes Lordbug. "Wow, I'm utterly impressed. My Lady, my Lord, you're geniuses! With this, not only will be able to work with everyone, but also, we'll get periodical rests an we'll be protecting Paris like superheroes do in comics!" says Chat excited. "Nerd down brother. I've got to admit thought, the patrolling system sounds appealing" says Kitty. "Then we just need to decide who will begin and who will follow. Since it's the first time, one of us will have patrol for a single week this time" says Ladybug. "I think Kitty should get the only week of patrol. Even if she says she's fine, she doesn't seems to be at her best" says Lordbug. "I agree with that" says Chat. "Then she'll have this week patrol, and if no one minds, I'll patrol with her" says the bug girl, without getting any complaints. "Well then, we'll begin patrolling". "Wait!" says Chat. "Wouldn't it be wise if we share our secret identities? We could have an advantage in some sticky situations and it would be easier for us to contact the others in case of a problem" "Chat, while I do agree with the points you've made, I don't think it wise to do so. First, revealing our identities could led us to a lot of problems in battle. Second, if one of us would be akumatised, our identities would be compromised and our friends and families would be in danger. And last but not least, if we knew our identities, it would be easy to have a slip and reveal ourselves to some civilians, putting again our loved ones in danger. I'm sorry chaton, but for now, we can't afford to reveal ourselves. Maybe one day, when Hawk Moth is defeated, we'll be able to, but not now" says Ladybug. "You've heard her brother, you'll have to wait a bit for putting your charms to work. For now, goodbye, we girls have a patrol to do!" says Kitty, before the girls leap away.

After the girls are no longer in sight, Chat Noir and Lordbug let out a big sigh and sit down.

"Guess we both got dumped by our own sisters" says Lordbug. "You're right my Lord. No offense, but I'd like to have spent a bit more time with the girls" "None taken, I'd like that too" says the bug. "Actually, now that I think about... My Lord, this mangy cat has something to ask you". "Shoot". "Is your sister dating someone?" asks Chat carefully. "She's not, though there's a guy she has a crush on" says Lordbug. "Do you fancy my sister Chat?" says the red clad hero, wiggling his eyebrows. Chat gulps. "Yes, I do. I don't care who's behind that mask, I love her. How could someone not love a girl who despite having insecurities, does her best and fights bravely with such grace as her?" "I see. I guess we're similar in some ways then" "What do you mean?" Lordbug tenses up a bit and turns red. "I guess I have to tell you, since you've been sincere with me. I've fallen in love with your sister Chat" "You've what?" says Chat a bit alarmed, but then he calms himself and faces Lordbug. "What do you like from her?" "Where to begin? She's brave and selfless. Unlike me, who was also uncertain when facing Stoneheart for the first time, she was so focused fighting them without doubts. And despite being so strong and graceful, she's doesn't brag about her. How could I not fall for someone like her?" "Heh, it's a relief to hear that. For a moment, I thought you knew our identity and were trying to use her. You see, we're quite famous people and she has been used by a gold digger before. That's why I don't quite accept anyone to woo her. But your feelings seem to be pure. I'd gladly accept you, but I have to warn you, she also has a crush on a boy in her class. I don't know him, but I fear she'll be hurt again". "You're telling me that you two are famous? Wow, now I can only think how modest you two are, I know of very few people who don't brag about themselves". "Thanks my Lord". "Hey Chat". "Yes?" "We both want to protect our sisters from harm, don't we?" "Duh, of course". "And we both like the other's sister". "I think so, I'm not in your mind". "How about we become comrades? Think about it. I know you'd take care of my sister, so why don't I help you win my sister's heart?" "And since I know I could trust you my sister, I'd be helping you to conquer her heart! Great idea my Lord!" says the overexcited alley cat. "From now on we'll be love comrades, fighting to protect our sisters" says Lordbug, raising his fist a bit. "And to conquer their hearts!" says Chat, bumping the fist of Lordbug and sealing their friendship. "Wow, I never thought I'd be saying all this" says Lordbug. "Not when everyone dear to me is going to suffer anyway" thinks to himself. "Neither did I! I've basically spent my whole life trapped at home, so I've never thought I would ever meet an amazing girl and even fall in love" "Chat, mon comrade, that's depressing to say out loud. And it may end up revealing your identity too, so just talk about it with me. I really don't have much identity trouble and you really seem to need someone to talk to. Thought my sister better not finds out or she's going to skin me alive and make a purse with my skin". "Thanks Lordbug" says Chat laughing a bit. "I'll also be here if you need something my Lord" says doing an overexaggerated bow. "Thanks, it will be a plus to have someone to talk to, because this mask does really makes me free of all civilians worry". "I know right?! My sister told me that it was also a responsibility, but the freedom you have because no one will tell you how to behave or what to do is incredible". "Well, for me is another type of freedom. You see, I've been suffering for quite the time because some people try to make my life insufferable. But this mask throws it all away, nobody knows who am I". "Wow, are you okay?" asks Chat a bit worried. "Not really and I don't know if I should really be telling you this, but I guess I kind off know it's right to tell you" "I know what you mean. I kind of felt the same and told you about my home life" "Well, guess we'll have one more thing to be comrades for right?" asks Lordbug. "Yes, aside from our sisters thought" "Yeah, aside from our si... Merd*!" exclaims Lordbug. "Our sisters! They'll be back any minute and they'll totally kill us if they find us here!" "Shoot you're right! See you in three weeks or less!" says Chat, already leaping away.

-Girls side-

The superheroines jump from roof to roof, silently thinking how can they break the awkward silence there's been between them since they started patrolling. They have already cleared most of Paris and their patrol is going to end soon without them even speaking if the girls don't hurry and find a chance to say something. A bit tired, they stop near their school. When Kitty sees the school, she smiles a bit. Ladybug notices that and smiles as she sees an opening to finally break the ice.

"You seem to like the school huh?" says Ladybug. "I do! I've been homeschooled forever until recently that I began to come here! It hasn't been so many days, but there's a lot of stuff that has happened" says Kitty. "Wait. You go to this school?" asks Ladybug surprised. "Kitty, that's giving hints of your civilian self". "Oh. I'm sorry, I got excited" says Kitty with her cat-ears down. "Well, I guess it's only fair if I've give you a hint too, don't you think?" says Ladybug, giving Kitty a gentle smile. "Really?" says Kitty, cheering up a bit and with sparkling eyes. "Yes. While we shouldn't do it, I don't think it will harm us if we keep it a secret from the boys. So, here's my hint: I also go to this school" "No way. We could be classmates! Well, I don't think so, I don't know any girl with black hair with a touch of midnight blue like you" says Kitty. "By the way, what shampoo do you use? Or perfume, because you smell like strawberries and cookies" "Oh, my shampoo is strawberry-scented, but I live near a bakery so maybe that's the cookies you smell. Wait, how did you even smell it?" asks Ladybug a bit confused. "I'm not sure how it works, but I've got night vision and most of my other senses have enhanced when I'm in costume. I can smell lots of things now and I can also hear lots of stuff. it's a bit strange to be honest" admits the cat girl. "So that's why I've been able to smell flowers and other weird odours. I think I've got this ladybug-like smelling system when on costume" "Pffffffttt, please, don't start eating flowers no matter how well they smell" says Kitty laughing really hard. "I will if you don't bring me any dead animals" replies the bug girl. "That sounds more like my brother" says Kitty giggling. "Definitely, I wouldn't be surprised if he started hissing at akumas or purring out of nowhere". "Hey, my Lady. Have you ever been in love?" asks Kitty suddenly. "Well, I- Ummm... Yes. I have a crush in fact" says Ladybug, blushing under the spotted mask. "I have one too. I realized lately and it's all so new for me. I don't even know how to act with him tomorrow". "Well, you see Kitty, I’m pretty sure that I can't even face him without blushing or at least, mumble incoherent stuff and I just melt down whenever he smiles" says Ladybug, lovestruck. "You have it really bad then. Thought I think I also have it bad. He gave me his jacket this afternoon so I wouldn't catch a cold and I almost melted down right where I was standing. He's just so sweet and kind to everyone, even to me and he barely knows me" says Kitty. "Yeah, we do have it really bad Kitty. but hey, at least we have each other no? Because certainly our brothers aren't much of help" says Ladybug in a kind of bittersweet tone. "Oh don't even get me started about that! My brother thinks he has to protect me from everything, even from my crush! And he hasn't even met him!" says an exasperated Kitty. "Mine too! He thinks that, because the only rich boy he knows is a jerk, my crush is also going to be a jerk. Well, he doesn't really thinks that, my brother has met his sister and says she's just a sweetheart, but he's wary of him nonetheless". "Well, since our brothers are just the classical overprotective siblings, why don't we forget about them and just chat about some civilian stuff. Without revealing anything of course?" says Kitty. "Kitty Noir, is that the way you're asking me to be your friend?" says Ladybug with a smug smile. "Well, yes. I don't have real experience in making friends, so you could say that" says Kitty ashamed. "Oh don't worry Kitty. I'd love to be your friend" says the bug girl with a bright gentle smile.

Minutes later, the girls decide to continue their patrol, this time talking to each other about anything that comes to their minds, sharing a couple of laughs. After a while, they finish their patrol returning to the Trocadero and sit for a bit before heading home. Ladybug looks at Kitty and sees her gold-like hair flowing with the air with a cheese-like moon behind her and sees why her brother is in love with her. She just seems to be a shiny combination of gold and black, with a side of emerald, as if she came straight from the best painting in the world. Meanwhile, Kitty Noire realizes why her brother is so in love with Ladybug. She sees the bug heroine looking at her, with her two sapphire-like eyes, with the Eiffel Tower shining majestously behind her midnight blue hair, as if she was a beautiful melody that came to life. The two of them begin to respect the other more, since they don't pride on their beauty. At last, the buggy heroine stands up and faces her partner.

"I think it's already time to leave Kitty. I've loved to patrol and talk with you, but there's school tomorrow and we need to rest" says Ladybug. "Well, but of course my Lady, we need our beauty sleep to impress the boys who have unfairly stolen our hearts" says Kitty joking. "I think I need that more than you do Kitty. Anyway, when and where do we meet tomorrow?" "What about ten o'clock at school?" "That works for me. So, see you tomorrow?" says Ladybug. "I hope so my Lady" says Kitty before she leaps away.

-At the front gate-

The designer twins manage to get early to school and they meet with the reporters before they enter the building.

"Hey Marin, hey Marinette. You're early today" says Alen. "Yeah, someone couldn't sleep and drag me along with her" says Marin, giving Marinette a blaming look. "I've already told you I'm sorry thousands of times!" says Mari. "What got you up so early girl?" asks Alya curiously with a big smug grin on her face. "I wonder what could that be" says Mari looking away. "Anyway, Alya and I were thinking of having lunch the four of us together and maybe bringing someone else along, since we're still new around here" says Alen saving Mari. "I'd love to" says Marinette. "We could invite Nino and Adrien" says Alya, making Marinette blush and Marin frown. "Even if he may or may not be a jerk, Adrien's new too". "Alya, he proved me yesterday he's not" says Mari quickly "Yeah, and we could invite Adrienne and Nina" says Alen. "So I can also tell Adrienne I'm sorry for yesterday's behaviour" "That's a good idea man, she may forgive you if you do that" says Marin. "That sounds like a plan to me" says Alya proudly. "We'll be seeing you later then" says Marin, as the part ways to their respective classrooms.

-Adrien side-

Adrien entered to the school excited about a new day, thinking what things they would be doing today and hoping to befriend more people, without even noticing that his sister had walked away to her classroom with her mind on cloud nine too. He enters to the classroom and see's Nino talking with Alya and Mari about something and his smile shines as he remembers the bluenette forgiving him the previous day.

"Hey Nino, hi girls" says Adrien with a bright smile. "Hey dude" says Nino turning to see his friend. "H-Hi Ad-d-d-drien" stutters Mari shyly. "Wow sunshine, keep your glowing beams down or you'll make us blind" says Alya joking as she turns to Mari. "You have truly forgiven him? I thought you didn't even like him and now you're even stuttering" whispers Alya. "Lots of things happened yesterday" says Mari. "Well, anyway it's your decision girl" says Alya. "Oh, b-by the way A-Adrien, I-I have your obrell- I mean umbrella" says Mari, bushing as she hands him his umbrella. "Tha-a-anks for le-lend it yesterday". "No problem Marinette, I'm glad you forgave me yesterday, you seem to be a great girl and I wouldn't want you to hate me" says Adrien. "So you did manage to talk to her huh?" says Nino. "Well, I'm glad the misunderstanding is clear". "Oh, by the way boys, would you like to come and have lunch with us at break? We were thinking to go and have lunch with our brothers, but you can come too. The more the merrier" says Alya. Adrien frowns a bit as he remembers that her sister is in love with Marinette's brother and smiles again quickly to cover it. "I would love that, thanks for inviting us girls" "Sure, it's been a time since I've seen the Angel" says Nino. "Nino, I've told you many times not to call him that. And don't even think of calling me Holy Mari again." says Mari. "Why do you call him Angel? Isn't his name Marin? Or at least, that’s what I think my sister told me" says Adrien confused. "Well, you see bro, this girl here and her brother are just the most kind and sweet students here" explains Nino. "Since they're always trying to be positive and helping everyone, even when the Bourgeoise and the Raincomprix have been making their lifes hell, so people began to call them Angel and Holy Mari". "Wow girl, I knew you're relationship with Chloe was bad, but not that bad" says Alya. "That's nothing compared to what my brother has to put up with every day. Cléon is way worse than his sister when dealing with someone and Sebastian is way ruder than Sabrina" says Mari.

The teacher enters to the classroom and they have to face the board, leaving the conversation on the air and leaving Adrien considering his friendship with the Bourgeoise twins.

-Adrienne side-

Adrienne enters the classroom and her smile brightens as she sees Marin talking with Alen and Nina. She still remembers how he gallantly gave his jacket to her the previous afternoon. Right now, he's just wearing his white T-shirt with a Chinese pink dragon on the right side and his scarlet fit trousers, but Adrienne still can see the dark grey jacket on him, despite that she has it at home. She sits next to Nina and turn towards them.

"Hello Nina, hello boys" says Adrienne. "Hi girl, about time you arrived" says Nina jokingly. "Hello Adrienne, how are you today?" asks gently Marin. "Fine thank you. Thanks for lending me your jacket yesterday, I'll try to return it and your handky as soon as I can" answers Adrienne with a subtle pink shade on her cheeks. "Hello Adrienne. About yesterday... I'm sorry I reacted that way, I didn't let you explain yourself and you didn't deserve it. Can this hopeless reporter ask for forgiveness?" apologizes Alen. "Don't worry Alen, I know you just were trying to defend Marin, I can understand it. And of course, I'll forgive you" says calmly Adrienne. "Thanks Adrienne. Hey, would you and Nina like to come with Marin and me at break and have lunch together along with our adorable sisters?" says Alen. "I'd like it, it's been so long since I've seen Mari. You should come too Adrienne, Marinette is such a sweet, kind and adorable girl, I'm sure you'll be her friend in no time!" says Nina. "I'd love to meet her! I heard about her from my brother Adrien and he also spoke highly about her" says Adrienne excited, without noticing the little frown Marin did as he heard the name Adrien. "I'm actually curious to see how she is like. I'm sure she's as gentle and nice as you Marin". "Well, I can't really deny that, she's loved by everyone who meets her, except for the Raincomprix and the Bourgeoise that is" says Marin proudly. "She even got the nickname of Holy Mari, but she doesn’t quite like to hear that, it's a bit rude for her". "She must be really something then" says Adrienne before the teacher enters and the class starts.

-At lunch break-

The teenagers meet at the hall and after making sure everyone had their packed lunch, they head to the park. When no one was looking, Adrien and Marin look at each other, a bit wary of the other. Meanwhile, Mari, Adrienne, Nina and Alya are talking about random stuff, getting really close to between them. Alen and Nino just follow them a bit close as they talk about videogames and occasionally ask something to Marin or Adrien, who tense up whenever they are asked anything. Finally, they get to the park and they sit down in two benches.

"So," says Alya. "don't you find funny that we're all twins, that all twins are one boy and one girl and that we individually befriended the twin of the person our own twin befriended? Talking about coincidence here". "Well, when you say it like that, I guess you're right girl, it's a bit strange, but since it's not impossible I don't really pay it much attention" says Nina. "Also, it'd be funnier if we liked each others’ twins. Like, if Mari like Adrien and Adrienne liked Marin, that would be hilarious" "Yeah, hahaha, so funny" say Adrienne and Marinette, laughing nervously, which makes Nina and Alya turn their heads to the girls, who look each other in confusion. "No way" says Alya. "That's it, it's clear that I'm a seer, everybody kneel before my powers" jokes Nina. "Marinette? Do you mind if we go to grab a snack?" says Adrienne. "I- Umm..." says Mari, before she looks at the smug grins Nina and Alya have. "Yes, sue, let's go right now!" says and leaves with the model girl. "Hey dude, any ideas what are the ladies talking about?" says Nino from the bench in front of where the girls are eating. "I have no clue man" says Adrien. "Probably superhero stuff. My sister just talks about that later" says Alen. "Well, mine just talks about fashion, but I doubt they're talking about that" says Marin. "Yes, because talking about fashion with a model wouldn't be the best thing to do" says Adrien. "Unless the other one is aspiring to be a designer" replies Marin. "Mari wants to be a designer?" asks Adrien genuinely surprised. "Yeah dud, you should see her designs. She's really good at it. But Marin's designs are pretty neat too" says Nino. "You design?" says Adrien incredibly surprised. "Well yes, we both designs. We kind of hope we both get a good scholarship and after college, we plan to build our own company" says Marin. "And who's your favourite designer?" says Adrien suspicious. "It's Gabriel Agreste, we both really love his designs. Thought, there are lots of others we really like too" says Marin. "What a great thing that now you know his daughter and his son, doesn't it?” asks sarcastically Adrien. "I couldn't care less about that. I'm not a playboy, nor a gold digger. I want to have success for things I've done and not thanks to someone else. Moreover, I don't care who your father is, I just care that no one hurts me or my sister" says Marin, silently challenging Adrien to reply. "Chill dudes, you're not secret rivals or anything, are you?" interrupts them Alen, who's tired of listening them argue. "No we aren't, we're just exchanging thoughts about our dear sisters, aren't we?" says Marin. "Of course" says Adrien.

-With Mari and Adrienne-

"So, you like Marin?" says Marinette. "Yes. And you like Adrien?" says Adrienne. "Yes" answers Mari. "What do you like about my brother?" asks Adrienne having doubts. "Well, I still have to know him better and for now I guess I just have a silly crush, but I fell for him after he spent the whole day trying to apologise for something he hadn't even done. He also lent me his umbrella because I didn't have one" says Mari. "So that's why he didn't have one yesterday. Won't you ask me why do I like Marin?" "Well, I'm a bit curious to be honest. But you wouldn't be the first one who likes Marin, and I can kind of guess already, since he told me about you yesterday" admits Mari. "He talked about me?" says Adrienne excited. "Only for a bit. but he mostly used his actions to show me that Adrien was just being a gentleman yesterday, which I already knew, but I couldn’t help but falling for him". "Heh, you really like him. I'm so glad. Sorry for doubting you, but since we're famous and that, we're always rejecting obsessed fans and gold diggers" "Oh, no. don't worry Adrienne. I understand that, I really do. But, were you just giving me your approval?" says Mari. "Oh- I- Ummm... Yeah, I guess I was" says Adrienne embarrassed. Mari laughs genuinely and pats Adrienne's back. "Don't worry, I give you mine too. You're just so sweet and kind, I know you won't try to hurt my brother" "I would never dare to". "I know, but still. My brother has always been kind of a martyr, suffering all by himself and fearing to love or care about someone, because he doesn't want them to get hurt" says Mari. "Nina told me that to... I really should break up my friendship with the Bourgeoise, they did so many horrible things to him...And to you too" says Adrienne looking down. "Hey, cheer up, it's not your fault. I know you knew nothing about it until recently." cheers her Mari with a kind smile. "Heh, you really are sweet and kind Mari" says Adrienne. "I'm not really. I'm just your average clumsy girl" says Marinette nervously. "No, you're more than that. Maybe I don't know you, but my gut tells me you're an amazing girl. If only that idiotic brother of mine realized that too" "Don't be so harsh on him, he has only seen me angry and shy" says Mari. "My brother on the other hand... I just hope he finds a way to conquer his fears and looks at you". "Sound like we both have it hard" says Adrienne. "Yeah, it seems hard for us". "Well, at least we now have each other no?" says the model smiling. "Adrienne, what are friends for?" says Mari hugging a perplexed Adrienne. "I... I'm glad to be your friend Mari" says Adrienne, hugging Marinette tight.

The girls return laughing a bit later, after rubbing of a strange feeling od deja-vú, just to see how their brothers are competing against each other and the rest betting on them. The girls face palm and go to scold their respective idiotic brother, but Alen shouts "Scatter!!" and everybody leaves running to all directions, including said idotic brothers who race the other to school. The girls win the race and scolded them quite loudly but the bell rings, saving the boys, and everyone goes to their respective classroom, making it on time before their teachers begin the lessons.

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#miraculous ladybug #miraculous fanfic #miraculous au #Twins!Au #sorry for the delay

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grailacademy · 5 years

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Welcome To Grail Academy - Chapter Nineteen: Cry Baby

“Papa, are we done yet?” A little girl with blond hair done up in pigtails with a pair of sparkly green scrunchies inquired, her arms out at 90 degree angles from her sides, standing on a little pedestal. Surrounded by a wall of mirrors and coat hangers, an old woman in a checkered smock and a pin cushion on her wrist knelt beside the girl, wrapping a yellow measuring tape around the child’s waist. Under the measuring tape was a polkadot dress, green and white with lace trim around the edge. “Patience. This dinner has to be perfect if we’re going to gain the Viridian account. No complaining.” A man stood by the curtained door to the room, rubbing his chin in his olive suit. His hair was the same as the girl’s, pulled back in an elegant ponytail. The seamstress tacked a pin into the back of the dress and made a quick series of stitches. Then she bit the thread and tied a knot, and patted the girl on the shoulder. The girl did an excited twirl in front of the mirror before she jumped off the stand and ran out of the room past her father. “Esmerelda, be careful!” He yelled at her, but once he turned around, she was already in her mother’s arms. The woman’s greying hair blended in with the black and grey ears on top of her head. The two of them giggled, and the man folded his arms. “Rose just fixed your dress, I don’t want to see any more scuffs or holes in it. Am I clear?” The little girl looked down at her shiny black shoes solemnly, nodding.

“Yes, papa.”

“Oh, Ardan, relax.” The woman turned her daughter around and stood up. “She’ll be careful!”

“That’s what she said the first time she ripped it.” He grumbled.

Esmerelda never enjoyed when her parents talked about her in the third person, like she wasn’t in the room. But she kept quiet until her father walked away towards his office in the magnificent shining mansion that the three of them called their home. When she looked up from her shoes, she was facing a dark shadow of a creature. The muzzle of the beowolf reached forward, revealing its glowing red eyes. Esmerelda folded her coat neatly and placed it on the floor of the dock. Kismet wasn’t lying when he said the beacons were guarded. Brandishing her sleek claws, she rushed into a sprint towards the beast.

Nico swam for a boey he saw bopping on the horizon. The sun was beginning to set, turning the sky a shade of orange and pink that reflected on the water of the lake that he paddled across. As he got closer, he could see that the boey was tied to a small wooden pole stuck on the side of a marshy island. The edges of it surrounded by weeds and cattails, Nico’s arm was taken hold of and he was pulled on shore. The sand stuck to the back of his clothes when he sat up, but he was relieved to see Iris had helped him on land. “Thanks!”, he chirped. The girl was still extremely on edge, but she nodded with a smile. After five minutes, the two of them had roamed around the perimeter of the island, searching for a beacon and passing the time with conversation.

“So, you and Bernard, huh?” Nico was drawing doodles in the sand with his bow staff.

“Me and….who?” Iris raised a brow at his question, she was rummaging in a bushel of fern leaves, tapping the ground in hopes that she would hit something metal.

“Bernie! You guys are dating, right? Weren’t you two going to Prom together?”

“....Bernard! Yes, he was taking me to Prom. I was really nervous to go alone, it was my first school dance.” She laughed nervously, “But we’re not….haha, we’re not a thing.”

“....Huh.” Nico smiled for a moment.

Iris’s cheeks turned pink, which was a regular occurance for her when she and Nico talked. She was easily flustered. As she stammered on about her relationship status, Nico gently tapped her shoulder. “Hey, uh….Iris?” He was trying to get her attention to turn to the three giant ursa he was staring at, a few yards away. “We got company.”

“I told you this would happen, Hollyanne!”

“It’s not my fault they didn’t want to buy! They weren’t interested, it couldn’t be helped.”

“It could be helped! The whole point of you coming to the dinner was to HELP!”

“I’m sorry!” The yelling of her parents was muffled on the other side of her bedroom door. Esmerelda didn’t like hearing them fight, she always ended up blaming herself for their altercations. Her worries temporarily subsided when her mother came into the bedroom and kissed her goodnight, but when the door closed and she was left alone with her thoughts, she was back to thinking about what she could have done wrong. Laying there in the canopy bed, she clutched her stuffed bunny rabbit close to her.

With a harsh jerk of her arm, Esmerelda dug her palms into the chin and nose of the beowolf as it lunged at her, mouth agape. Prying it’s jaws apart while it gnashed at her, she had a clear view of its sharp teeth, slimy tongue, and the back of its throat where the uvula waggled when it roared in her face. Looking down the metaphorical barrel of the gun reminded her not to space out during a fight, and she snapped into action as a few drops of spittle slicked onto her cheek. She grunted and flipped around, throwing herself under the belly of the monster. Sliding across the dock, her claws slashed deep along its stomach and it let out a pained howl. She sprung to her feet and inspected her handiwork. She had carved the beowolf from its stomach like a pig gutted for the roast, she was proud of herself. Its carcass slowly deteriorated, and Esmerelda walked back to her coat, which had dried off by now. Her victory was, however, short lived, as she saw Rowan scrambling out of the water onto the dock once she pulled the fur on. He gave her a sly smile and held his scroll up to the beacon. The technology recognized his ID before Esmerelda could stop him, and the flaps opened up to release a beam of red light into the dim sky.

“That’s cheating!” She yelled and pointed a clawed finger at him.

“No rules against letting someone else do the work for you.” Rowan smirked, and wiggled his fingers at her sarcastically. She wanted to stay and fight HIM for the searchlight, but she knew there were only so many left. Huffing, she turned and ran to search for another one.

A pained death rattle erupted from one of the creatures as Nico ripped the spikes of his bat out of its skull. Iris pressed both feet onto the belly of the other grimm, tugging with all her might to try and dislodge the giant battle axe from its neck. Her blade was stuck in there deep, it was like pulling teeth. From behind, the final Ursa bounded towards them and slammed its giant paw onto Nico’s chest, trapping him on the ground and roaring. The wind was completely knocked out of the boy, and he wheezed loudly as he tried to hold the grimm’s claws away from him. “Oof--not the face, not the face!” As he writhed around in the sand, Iris shouted from behind. “Hold on, Nico!” She pulled her weapon out of the monster’s carcass finally, and flipped the locking mechanism on its shell. All at once, a purple electric guitar with a metal side unfolded in her hands, and she plucked a string to make sure it was working. “Time to bring the noise.”

In a dramatic sweeping motion, Iris strummed all the chords on her guitar, the metal wires vibrating as she send out a wave of noise to disrupt the ursa’s senses. Even the pebbles and blades of grass shook with the force of her music. The monster whimpered and lifted its paw up to scratch at its ear, giving Nico a window to free himself. He jumped up and cracked the monster across the back with his bat when it turned in the direction of the song. The chords still echoed loudly when Iris rushed the other side and transformed her weapon into a long battle axe, slicing their prey on one of its front legs. It lowered itself halfway to the ground in an attempt to relieve the pressure on its wounds, almost bowing its head down as if it were accepting the execution. Nico looked over the ursa’s back and cheered for Iris, “Dude, that is so metal!” Iris became flushed again, and she smiled nervously. “Oh, uh. Thanks!” In unison, the two of them raised their weapons high over their heads and crushed the beast onto the ground, obliterating the cleaved corpse. After they caught their breath and recovered from the battle, Nico and Iris gave each other a small high-five. The moment their hands clapped together, the small pitter patter of rain drops hitting water sounded.

Esmerelda felt a drop of water splash on her head. As she trekked from one dock to another, she held her hand out to the sky to feel the cold wet land in her palm. The sound of rain bouncing against umbrella fabric was all she could think about.

Esmerelda and her father stood under two separate black umbrellas, Ardan reading the text on the block of stone in front of him again and again as the funeral guests dispersed. Esmerelda could only bare to look at the white lilies wrapped neatly in a bouquet on top of it. Somewhere in her mind, Esmerelda knew that if she read the words, it would mean she was really gone. Forever. “Papa….is mama happy, Wherever she is?” The little girl wrung her hands around the handle of the umbrella and looked up at her father, but he was already walking away, headed towards the black limousine parked on the pathway next to the tombstone. She felt like crying. She wanted to cry, so bad. But her eyes were dry. She tried to force the tears out, but it was as if they were frozen icicles. Turning away, she slowly followed her father into the car.

Nico waved goodbye to Iris, watching as she was lifted up into the airship once it reached the purple stream of light glowing from the beacon they had found. She waved back timidly and turned around to sit next to her partner, Rowan. The vehicle rose off the ground and chopped away. On his own, Nico strolled to the edge of the island on the dock, and narrowed his eyes. It could have been the light playing tricks on him, but it looked like there was some kind of tall structure mounted on the edge of a hilly landmass, on the other side of the lake. Looks like he would have to go for another swim.

Bernard was a bit lost, grasping at straws when he navigated the terrain of the island he had landed on. It seemed….larger than the others. Easier to lose yourself on. He knelt down and examined a set of animal tracks. Too big to be a rabbit or a dog, probably a beowolf roving for scraps. He only counted the one set of tracks, so he felt confident. He could handle one measly grimm, even in his sleep. He could hear gunshots ring out over the rain, too far away to be on the island. The other students were running into trouble of their own. Looking up into the lavender sky, he saw the handful of multicolored beacons shining their lights. The airship hovered over the lake, leisurely making its way to each checkpoint to pick up the hunters waiting at their rescue lights. He was running out of time. He started to jog through the underbrush, zipping past the half-evaporated body of an already-defeated beowolf, ducking under tree branches and hopping over roots sprouting out of the dirt.

Esmerelda was almost knocked to the ground when she lost her footing, something big and heavy colliding with her back. She opened her mouth to berade whoever it was about personal space, but she quickly closed it as she turned around to see Bernard standing there, just as disoriented as she was. The awkward silence between them hung in the air, they hadn’t talked much since their fight in the training hall. “....There aren’t many beacons left. We have to hurry”, Bernard said, apparently inviting Esmerelda to join him on the journey. It wasn’t long before they found a clearing on the island, by the open shoreline. Beau was pacing back and forth across the island, holding her scroll out in front of her and low to the ground like it was a metal detector. Vert gazed at her odd performance of determination, commenting “You know that’s not going to work, right?”

“It’s worth a shot!” She quipped back. Nico was wading in the water, hiking his knees up to get out of the lake faster. Bernard and Esmerelda entered the scene with confused looks on their faces. Were they the only ones who hadn’t found beacons yet? Esmerelda called out, “Maybe you should check in there”, and pointed towards the tall figure of the lighthouse, nestled on a hill that connected to the shore. The light was currently off, making their dark environment much more eery with their only way to see coming from the slowly setting sun. “....Ohhh….” Beau cooed, following Esmerelda’s finger to the monument. “Yeah, that makes way more sense.”

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hoodiehan · 7 years

Text

Thunderstorms - Han Jisung Imagine

Synopsis: You are deathly afraid of thunderstorms and Jisung knows just how to calm you down.

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: JisungxReader

Word Count: 2495

The morning news forecast had predicted for a thunderstorm to happen later on in the evening which led you to have an entire day preparing for it and led to an entire anxiety-filled day. You hated thunderstorms; if you were to have a list of things you hated, thunderstorms would be at the top of it (and trust that the list would be long too).

The fact that you lived alone also didn't help to appease your situation at all either - this meant that you would have to brave the storm alone. It was times like these where you regretted your decision to move all the way across the world to Korea for work. But, the morning forecast also did say that tomorrow would be a sunny day, so all you had to do was get through the night.

Stepping into your house after a long day of work, the first crack of lightning struck and boy did you jump. It had already started to drizzle as you made your way home, but you still weren't mentally prepared for the night that was to come.

You were absolutely dreading everything that was about to happen.

After changing into a long shirt and some comfortable leggings, you sat down on your couch and turned on your tv in an attempt to block out any sound of nature. But when another roll of thunder came with a strike of lighting that caused your lights to flicker, you couldn't help but squeal in surprise and fear, and bury your head into your pillow. This was absolutely terrifying; you had never experienced a thunderstorm this loud or frightening before, and if it continued on like this, then you were sure to pack your bags and move back to California where you'd be a little safer from the storms than in Korea.

However, you came to the conclusion that sitting around to wait out the storm wasn't going to help alleviate any stress. Getting up from your spot on the couch, you wandered over to the kitchen to prepare a meal only to open your fridge and realize that the only thing you had in it was a single leaf of lettuce. Why a single leaf? Why not an entire head of lettuce? You don't even eat lettuce though, how did this get in here? Sighing exasperatedly, you decided that you'd have to go one night without food.

Shutting your fridge, you headed back to the living room when a knock sounded from the front door. Who came to your house? Why would someone even be walking about in this storm? But you weren't an idiot; you had watched too many horror movies to know that this type of scenario only ended in one of two ways. The first scenario: an axe murderer coming for you in the midst of this storm. Or the second scenario: your house has now become haunted and a ghost is coming after you.

Peeping through peephole that had been installed into your door, you saw a hooded figure standing in front of your door with his head down as the rain pounded against his back. Grabbing an umbrella to use as a cautionary weapon, you yielded your weapon and yelled out, "Go away! No one is home right now!"

The hooded figure audibly sighed (loudly, at that too) and looked up. "Y/N, you're so stupid. You say that no one is home, yet you're the one yelling out? Come on, open up the door. It's cold out here."

Apparently, there was a third unforeseen scenario where your boyfriend Jisung would actually be the one to come to your house, and not an axe murderer. Letting out a quiet, "Oh" you quickly put down your weapon and opened the door to let Jisung into the house while spewing out apologies for making him wait in the pouring rain.

"What are you doing here?" You asked as Jisung stood in the doorway, water droplets falling from his chin and from the edge of his snapback.

"The news said that there would be a thunderstorm. You're scared of thunder and all that, so I'm here to protect you!" Jisung exclaimed proudly causing your heart to flutter and your stomach to have butterflies. The fact that he would come all the way from across town to take care of you made you blush and feel inexplicably happy.

"Oh, you're all wet," you said taking in his appearance.

"Yeah, that's because you made me stand outside in the rain for too long," Jisung smirked, teasing you.

"Well excuse me for being scared," you replied back.

"Scared of what? The thunderstorm or scared of the fact that you probably thought that I was a serial killer based on all of the horror movies you watch?" Jisung questioned, matching your tone of sassiness. You pouted as he was correct; you were scared of both, and Jisung obviously knew that too based on the smile that was on his face.

"Wipe that cheeky smile off your face, it's not appreciated in this house," you grumbled feeling defeated because of all the shade that Jisung had just thrown at you.

"Well fine, if you don't want me here, then I can just gladly take this box of fried chicken back to the dorms to share with Minho-" Jisung said beginning to open the front door again, when you grabbed his wet sleeve to tug him backwards as soon as you heard him utter the words "fried" and "chicken".

"Fried chicken, you say? You're welcome to stay here as long as you want!" You exclaimed grinning happily at the mention of food.

"Really? Is that all that will get you to be happy? Your mom was right when she said that the way to your heart was through your stomach," Jisung laughed, shaking his head and gently placing the bag of food on the floor.

"Yes she was," You said grinning at the memories of the first time he met your family. "Anyways, you're soaking wet. Do you want me to get you clothes?"

"Yes please," Jisung said while peeling off his jacket and throwing his wet cap onto the coat rack next to the door. You nodded and hastily made your way upstairs to your bedroom to retrieve some spare pairs of sweats that Jisung left at your house due to him staying the night a lot. Going back downstairs, you handed him the sweats and sent him off to the bathroom as you began to set up the food and blankets for the two of you.

When Jisung came out dressed in warm clothes, while running a towel through his wet hair, your heart couldn't help but flip again when you saw him. Your heart always flipped whenever you saw him. Looking up, his eyes caught yours and he gave you a little, shy smile. It took everything in you not to throw yourself backwards onto the couch and squeal because of how cute Jisung was. Oh goodness, the things that the boy does to you.

The two of you sat down on the couch and began to dig in when another crack of thunder sounded causing you to jump closer to Jisung. Automatically, Jisung wrapped his arms around you and began to rub your back soothingly all the while mumbling words of comfort into your ear. When the thunder passed, you slowly looked up at Jisung who simply smiled at you and quickly placed a small kiss on your lips while still holding onto you. He wouldn't let go of you until you let go first; he wanted to hold you until you were okay.

Your eyes fluttered shut when Jisung softly kissed you - a smile fell upon your lips when he pulled away. Jisung's presence simply comforted you, but the way he held you made you want to scream out to the world about how much you loved him.

After sitting enveloped in Jisung's arms for a couple of minutes just smiling and staring into each other's eyes, the both of you finally untangled yourselves as your stomach rumbled loudly causing Jisung to burst out into laughter. Turning back around to face the food, you bit your lip and blushed as Jisung continued to chuckle alongside you. The only sound filling the room was his precious laughter and the pattering of the rain falling against the roof of your home.

Looking back at Jisung, you saw him still peering at you with a smile on his face. Watching you, he reached down to pick up a piece of food and hold it out to you waiting for you to eat it. Your nose scrunched up at Jisung's attempt to feed you; your heart couldn't stop beating rapidly. Everything that Jisung did made your heart race and your mind go fuzzy.

You timidly reached down and bit the piece of food while Jisung licked the remnants of the sauce off his fingertips and returned back to eating his own food. How could he be so casual about all of this when your own cheeks burned red every time you were around him. Sitting in this silence, you were pretty sure that he could hear your heart beating fast.

The two of you spent the next couple of minutes simply enjoying the food and each other's presence, when all of a sudden a strike of lightning hit, causing all of the lights in your house to flicker and shut off. You squealed and jumped into Jisung's arms again as you shook and trembled from the power outage. Burying your head into his warm chest, Jisung softly tried to comfort you saying that it was going to be okay and that he was there for you.

Jisung sighed, "How unfortunate. I don't suppose you have any candles lying around your house, do you?"

You slowly nodded your head, your forehead still resting against his body. "It's in the bathroom," you said. Jisung tried to stand up when he realized that you were still sitting in his lap. Jisung giggled a little before saying, "Babe... you sort of have to get up so I can get the candles."

You shook your head as you had gotten comfortable sitting in his lap. "I don't want to get up," you mumbled, your voice a little muffled as you spoke into his body.

"You don't want lights?" Jisung asked gently running his hands through your hair trying to calm you down even more. You shook your head once again.

"They're too far away," you said.

"Well I want lights. It's very dark in here, and I'm afraid of the dark."

"No you're not. You sleep with Changbin at the dorms."

"That means nothing. Changbin isn't even dark, no matter what he says. He sleeps with a stuffie for crying out loud."

"Hm."

"Baaaabe," Jisung whined pulling you even closer. "It's too dark."

"Carry me then," you responded back.

"Okay," Jisung grabbed you and began to place you onto his back.

"Wait I was kidding-"

"It's too late, you're already on my back. Let's go get some candles!" Jisung shouted as piggybacked you all the way to the bathroom, all the while you were laughing your head off at his silliness. Even as Jisung bent down to get the candles and matches from the bottom drawer, he still held onto you and wouldn't let you get down.

When you returned back to the living room, you were still wrapped around Jisung as he lit the candles. When he lit the last candle and placed it on the floor, he looked behind at you held up the burning match to you.

"Make a wish!"

"But that's not a candle though?" You questioned.

"It could be if you just thought about it like that," Jisung replied with a very serious expression on his face. You shrugged and closed your eyes and blew out the match while making a wish.

"What did you wish for?" Jisung asked smiling widely.

"I can't tell you! If I tell you, then the wish won't come true!" You cried out.

"Oh please, we both know that, that wasn't an actual candle, therefore the wish didn't have any meaning," Jisung said laughing at your shocked expression.

"You're so cute," Jisung said suddenly nuzzling his nose against yours in an Eskimo kiss. You were beginning to lose count with how many times you had smiled tonight. Jisung set you back down on the couch and sat down in his place next to you. "I guess we'll have to finish dinner by candlelight then. The power doesn't seem like it'll come back on any time soon, especially not in this storm."

You nodded and the two of you continued to eat. It was silent until Jisung finished eating before you and began to aimlessly ramble about random topics. You sat back as you listened to Jisung speak lovingly about his music, Jeongin, his hyungs, and about whatever happened in his day. The thunder had begun to quiet down as the night went on. Music from one of your phones was being played quietly in the background, and Jisung had laid down, placing his head in your lap. You softly ran your hands through his hair, lightly playing with his soft, black hair before moving to his hands to fiddle with his fingertips. Jisung gently took your hand and entwined them with his as he softly smiled up at you, his eyes beginning to flutter shut.

The soft sounds of the instruments from La Vie en Rose played on as the candle lights Jisung's face, illuminating all his beautiful features. Jisung's breathing slowed down as he fell asleep in your lap, but you stayed up a little longer to think and just live in the moment. Taking your hand that wasn't holding Jisung's, you traced the outline of his lips, his nose, and other facial features then went back to playing with hair. When a yawn overcame you, you finally placed your hand off to the side and closed your eyes letting sleep come. The candles died out one by one sometime in the middle of the night as the two of you slept, and so did music when the phone ran out of battery.

A/N: Jisung is fast approaching the number 1 spot on my bias list (Felix on my bias list is about to get wreecked). Also, I seriously don't know how to write proper endings. But like yeah. This ending made me really soft because like :')))) I love the idea of Jisung falling asleep while holding your hand AHHH so cute

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!

Thank you!

-Maddy 💕

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thenarcolepticone · 7 years

Text

The Inflection Point

by TheNarcolepticOne

(AO3) (FF.net)

Summary: Cinderella!AU. Alfred is an expert of numbers. He lives a life of eternal counting and he doesn’t quite know when the day will come when those numbers will finally flow to his favor, flipping away from a thousand and one negatives to an exponential positive. And what’s math without a little magic? USUK

A/N: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FRIEND @ixbranna16!!! (or @ixiethepixiewrites)

I hope this present like, doesn’t suck–

We both wrote a story about this concept but I didn’t have the balls to post it until today so OOPS.

Anyway, I hope you guys also have a good time reading this… ehe…

Alfred F. Jones never left home without two very important things: a pen (typically one including a name with whichever event had decided to hand them out for free), and a handheld spiral notepad. It’s been a constant habit of his since the first day that his stepmother discovered that the child could read and cheat the grocery list by adding extra foods at the end of it. It’s only after that event had Alfred carried paper and pen with him to every place he visited. He was an oddball of a kid who loved adding numbers and calculating almost everything that he could see. If Alfred could kiss numbers themselves, he would.

He counted the worth of everything his stepmother ‘granted’ him so that he knew exactly how much of a ‘financial liability’ he was to her (Alfred still didn’t know the costs yet; she hadn’t even ever sent him back to school). He counted how many steps it took to get to the top and the bottom of the house, and how many seconds it took to get to those endpoints.

Alfred especially counted all the money he had saved up from then on until he became 19.

He had a severe minimum wage count of about almost two measly coins a day for about nineteen years. Two cents per day, in a year, would have been $7.30 and by now he had an approximate $138.70; not counting the leap years. Alfred recalled himself grinning from ear to ear earlier that day, excited now to finally reach his goal to pay for the expensive suit he had been eyeing only recently.

Each year, his small little town would host a gala that would always be organized right smack dab in the middle of summer. It was a rumored occasion that stated that a man could find his true love there waiting for him, yet Alfred already knew how many failed dates his stepmother had ended up having. The answer: 13 and counting.

This never stopped Alfred from being as determined as he was. The idea of marriage was a glorious thing; one that could mean finally making something of himself other than just being lumped at home counting bubbles he popped while washing the dishes. The gala… it meant freedom in some aspect. Something that could break him out of his slavery to the woman he called ‘caretaker’.

And so the story begins right as Alfred enters into the clothing store, feeling his heartbeat drop several beats per minute upon seeing the horrid effects of how inflation had ruined his chances of being able to attend.

“Sir,” he addresses the clerk with a voice crack that made Alfred actually cringe with embarrassment within those few seconds. “Wasn’t this suit about $138.70 with the tax? Exact?”

“Aye, it was. But it’s the best thing I own in this store. Times are tough, kid. Either you put more pennies in that jar for an extra $10 or no deal.”

Alfred sighs. But all hope hadn’t lost itself in that moment. His eyes sparkle to the display only next to it, something much more flamboyant. Much more statement worthy. And totally $138.70.

“I’ll take that one, please.”

In the end, the situation didn’t quite add up to its estimated potential.

Alfred had only now gotten himself home with the floofy material still half pouring out of his hands. Glitter filled every crevice on the floor, and perhaps even through the cobwebs just behind the shelves. His expression, however, reads nothing less than excited, and he didn’t care to be bothered about cleaning it later if it meant he himself was going to have the chance to get ready for his first ever gala. He could finally set aside time for the ‘True Love’ part of his life.

But it was an expectation that was met with a metaphorical ax to the heart when Alfred’s stepmother comes home and drops her umbrella at the front door.

“…where in the hell did you get that?” she exclaims immediately, eyes straight to the outfit in his arms as if she was even surprised that he was holding it in the first place.

“I bought it with my own money, ma’am,” Alfred reasons, though he crosses his fingers from under the fabric. It’s an itchy kind, but it’s his money’s worth. “At the store. Isn’t it pretty? They wouldn’t let me buy the suit since it was expensive, but this was the next best–”

The statement is never finished and Alfred feels the fabrics of the silk slip through his fingers, mildly scratching his skin. It is being snatched away by a pudgy, scarlet-faced old woman; it’s the new image of a thief. Alfred tugs the fabric back, feeling his heart tug as hard as how he was pulling.

“That’s mine.”

She doesn’t relent her decision, tugging it back. Alfred doesn’t let go.

“Everything in this household belongs to me, ” she insists anyway, and Alfred practically yanks it out of her greedy hands. There wasn’t supposed to be an alternative option to the ‘happily ever after’. It was supposed to be his own story, and yet unsuccessfully, the tale becomes a broken reality when the fabric tears itself into two pieces.

Alfred inhales sharply, just as his stepmother quickly snatches the remains. She goes over to the dumbstruck hero, punching him straight in the jaw with contained irritation.

“I’m not being escorted to the gala with you, much less you wearing a dress.”

It’s a blur of hazy thoughts after, and Alfred ignores that his glasses had been knocked off his face. He says nothing, leaving the house instantly into the cold, yet welcoming rain. It’s a choice he decides to settle with, and the wetness masks his leaking tears.

The next instance Alfred finds himself, he’s retreated into the rusted walls of a weathered gazebo; a stage set in the middle of the gardens only as a means for impressing the neighbors. It was hardly ever used to do anything than be a decorative space, but it was his safe zone. His second room.

How he made it out there, in the mist of rain and visual haze, he wasn’t sure himself. Alfred just chooses to sit in the center, sniffling quietly as he feels his heart finally sink lower than his stomach. He’s dripping, with his head hung low and water dripping off his hair like it would a willow tree’s leaves. Alfred sits, hugging his knees. It’s only now that he finds it a stupid idea to have run out without any kind of warm clothing. He’s only wearing a tank top and knee-length shorts; the perfect attire for someone working the fields. Alfred sighs, with breath collecting into the air as he hugs his knees inward. He wonders briefly if true love would wait another 19 years. Adding the numbers, he’d be 38; probably hitting a midlife crisis and forever starving. Entirely unattractive.

He wipes his eyes, exhausted and tired before he feels a hand plop right on his shoulder.

Alfred jolts instantly, imaging that his stepmother might not have had enough pleasure with the previous encounter. Out of instinct, he swings his fist in the direction he felt the threat appear from, only regretting it immediately after when he hears the curse words of a much lower voice; a young man’s instead of a shrill old woman’s.

“…that was… entirely unnecessary. ”

The voice had an odd nasal intonation to it and Alfred had only just turned around, scraping his brain for replies but still unsure of how to approach the apology. It becomes more difficult to even try when he notices that not only was he dealing with a total stranger, but was, in fact, dealing with someone who had a gigantic pair of translucent butterfly wings probably twice his height.

And a nose dripping with newly drawn blood. Alfred winces and tries to hold off his interrogating questions.

“…hey man. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. Honest.” “I’m sure you didn’t,” the winged man sounds as if he were mocking him anyway. Alfred didn’t feel the any less guilty. “I wouldn’t have been summoned to help someone if they didn’t need it. Though, I think they forgot to include the part where you’re also ‘violent’.”

Alfred bites his lip. He finally gets one good look at him after hearing him speak, and his eyes went to finally settle on his appearance. As best he could, anyway. He still lacks glasses.

It’s the eyebrows that catch him first, furrowed and large. They were accompanied by a pair of pure green eyes staring him down and a hand covering the lower half of his face from the incident. Alfred can’t quite see the details of anything more than this. His eyes squint, but he gives up trying. He makes a move to speak, but his foot brushes against something solid and he looks down.

It’s a stick with a bright star at the end of it, shining so brightly that it almost hurts to look at.

“I’ll take that.”

The other scoops it up out of his vision with his free hand, and Alfred blinks as the man makes a swirling motion with it, eventually bopping Alfred’s head with the star point.

“Ow! What the…??” Alfred complains, but he opens his eyes again, only to realize the world decided to correct itself. The fields of trees were without doubles this time, and he feels his face with his hands. He can see the world clearly with no need for the specs. Blinking blearily, Alfred looks back again to the wand holder. He gets a glance quick enough to see that the fairy man also performed the same odd ritual on himself, waving his wand around. And he removes his hand away from his face without much mess. His nose didn’t look broken anymore. When he is finished with the action, he meets eyes with Alfred that flared with unimaginable annoyance. It’s then that Alfred notices the dusting of freckles on his nose; light and fairly obvious. And the anger was more pronounced in his expression. Perhaps not the same as his stepmother, but enough to probably not want to test his patience.

Alfred didn’t know if he should be terrified, but evidently, his inner questions were eventually answered by the way the other seems to soften his expression, extending a hand to him. It was forced, and he looked like he was trying his best to avoid blowing up with verbal abuse. “It’s a bit…late for an introduction now. But my name is Arthur. I’m your assigned Fairy Godfather.”

Alfred rubs his nose. As abstract as the concept was, he couldn’t help but make the comment.

“That…explains the wings.”

“I beg your pardon?” Alfred quickly takes ‘Arthur’s’ outstretched hand, trying to brush off his own rudeness. “Alfred F. Jones. I’m uh. I’m sorry for hitting your face like that. Don’t get to see a whole lot of new people around here, and they normally aren’t the good kind of people anyway.”

Arthur’s lip twitches. “I’m aware.”

Alfred gives a bit of an uneasy smile, then releases the hand grip before then rubbing his eyes several times. To make sure he wasn’t dreaming, of course.

“So uh. Fairy Godfather.”

“In the flesh,” Arthur says this with some aura of higher authority, giving a curt bow. One that Alfred chooses to ignore. He’s had enough of high and mighty. Alfred just tilts his head only a fraction as a response before replying.

“You’re a lot shorter than I imagined.”

“And for a pure soul, you’re a bit of a brute as well.”

The comment is unwarranted but Alfred can’t help but laugh as he says it, figuring perhaps this was a much better topic to shift to than being overly self-reflective like earlier.

“You’re also a little crude to be a Fairy Godfather. Sure I’m talking to the right guy?”

Arthur the fairy just rolls his eyes. “And cheeky too. Wow.”

“Touché.”

Despite the negative comments, Alfred couldn’t help but finally calm down. He figured perhaps he deserved this kind of treatment since he was the one who technically hit him without warning in the first place. He sighs after, then just rubbing the back of his neck. ‘Arthur’ also did fix his eyes too. A double favor that he clearly didn’t have to do.

“Anyway,” Alfred says. “What’s a Fairy Godfather doing in a place like this? Are you supposed to grant wishes or something?”

Arthur only crosses his arms and exhales sharply. Maybe this question was part of Arthur’s F.A.Q.

“I’m here because I’m supposed to give second chances,” the fairy replies, wiping the rest of the crusting blood off his nose. It was an answer that at least didn’t sound like he was trying to provoke him anymore. Which was good. “Apparently you want to go to the gala. And I’m supposed to make sure that happens, so here I am. I just hope you make reasonable requests.”

Alfred furrows his brows. “Wait so. You’re gonna help me get to the gala and find my soulmate?”

The fairy man looks jostled at that assumption. “Well. Perhaps not that far along. But hopefully, yes.”

“But wouldn’t that mean you’re more of a cupid kinda guy more than a fairy?”

Arthur snorts. “It would appear so.”

“But I’m not even dressed for it!” Alfred complains. “My outfit…”

It’s then Arthur’s turn to laugh, though it came out more as a chuckle. “You mean the dress?”

Alfred pouts. “Hey. There’s nothing wrong with dresses. It’s what I could afford.”

Arthur just rolls his eyes again, but he’s smiling as he does so. He twirls his wrist in a circular motion as he holds the wand. And Alfred looks down when he notices light radiating off his body, widening his eyes when he recognizes the exact tuxedo that he had wanted to buy in the store only hours ago.

“Holy hell.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Alfred felt his smile return to him, and it was the kind that bubbled up to the surface enough to make his eyes water. He looks happily at Arthur, making an expression that was almost ruined by tears. Arthur then seemed to look away briefly.

“…please don’t cry on me. I’d rather not use the excess magic for laundry maintenance.”

“Thank you so much, Arthur. You’re like, the best Fairy Godfather ever.”

Alfred catches Arthur off guard, and he pulls him into a tight embrace. Enough to squeeze all his feelings in a single motion, but not too much that he didn’t make Arthur gasping for breath. Arthur’s cheeks flush, but he tries to maintain a stable expression.

“…I already said you’re welcome. Now can you…let go?”

Alfred opens his arms, and Arthur practically stumbles out of balance. But he gains his composure again, brushing himself off as he adjusts his stance. Alfred keeps his gaze downward at the tuxedo. He doesn’t even ask about the transportation, but it’s clear that even if he didn’t ask, it would still be provided for. And he looks up at Arthur without any fail of his smile wavering. “You want to come?” “Wait, wait. What?” Arthur sputters, but Alfred offers his hand, giving a bright grin. “You know, you can’t just arrive at a party by yourself. You need a date/ And I’m thinking maybe since I can’t pay y’back for this suit in a few years–”

“Alfred, you don’t even have to pay me back for this. And inviting me is the most ludicrous thing anyone has ever suggested to me.”

“But does that mean yes then?”

Arthur sighed loudly. “Well,”

“You’re a fairy of chances, aren’t you? Why don’t you stick around? I kinda need a date, you know. And it’s the last chance I’m gonna get before I get married.”

Arthur then feels himself chuckle again. “Twisting my words already. Alright. But only since you asked.”

#usuk fanfiction #usuk #my fanfiction #hetalia #based off a discord prompt #I actually wish that person came back #they did so many good things for this fandom but they left because they're into other things #:(

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floresgavriil-blog · 5 years

Photo

This is the best travel packing list to make sure your next trip. It’s pretty tough to nail down one packing list for any type of trip so we’ll share all of your basic needs on a trip and then share a few destination specific packing lists.

After years on the road filled with tons of successes and failures, I hope we can shed some light on how to pack for a trip.

Travel Packing List

This is such a broad subject because no trip is the same, but if you follow the right guidance you’ll be able to pack for any trip or destination without a problem. To make it easiest we break down the key accessories you don’t want to leave at home.

A lot of people allow the task of packing to stress them out, but the idea here is to remove some of that stress. With the best travel essentials, clothes, and a quality piece of luggage you’ll be prepared for your next trip whether it’s to The Maldives, Peru, Italy, Bali, Tanzania, or Iceland.

Travel Packing List Table of Contents:

Travel Packing Checklist

Luggage

Travel Backpack

Hiking Backpack

Carry On Suitcase

Suitcase

Duffel Bag

Daypack

Camera Backpack

Luggage Accessories

Packing Cubes

Toiletry Bag

Makeup Bag

Shoe Bag

First Aid (not always necessary)

Laundry bag

Clothes

Underwear

Sports Bra

Socks

Performance T-shirts

Technical Shirt

Sweater

Down Jacket

Shell Jacket

Chinos

Hiking Pants

Outdoor Shorts

Swimsuit

Cover-up/Sun Dress

Sun Dress

Athletic Gear

Buff Headband

Belt

Shoes

Leather boots

Sneakers

Hiking/athletic shoes

Black Flats

Dress shoes

Sandals/flip-flops

Toiletries

Prescribed Medications

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Deodorant

Eco-Friendly Toiletries

Dopp Kit

Dental floss

Brush/comb

Contact lenses/solution

Shaving supplies

Feminine-hygiene products

Nail file/clippers

Birth control

Tweezers

Sunscreen

Electronics

Travel Adapter

Camera

Portable Charger

Kindle Paperwhite

Headphones

Laptop

Accessories

Water Bottle

Sunglasses

Sports Watch

Hand sanitizer

Insect repellent

Umbrella

Collapsible totes

Essentials

Passport

Keys

Wallet

Boarding Passes (Printed or Confirmed)

Travel Insurance (Printed)

Luggage For Travel

The right piece of luggage is the first step in creating a good travel packing list. You need a quality piece of luggage that fits your travel style of destination. For young backpackers that could be a backpack or for a business traveler the right hard-sided suitcase.

Travel Backpack — Osprey Farpoint 55L

The Osprey Farpoint is the bag we would recommend to anybody for travel. It’s a unisex bag and one of the best Osprey backpacks for women and men as well. The Farpoint has become the golden standard for travel backpacks.

The backpack is referred to as front loader meaning it opens similar to a suitcase for easy access. It’s pretty lightweight, features a removable daypack, zip-away suspension, and a side handle to top it off. The side handle of the bag is an added bonus, making it easy to grab out of an overhead bin and carry it off of a plane. Most backpacks are built for hiking, but with the Farpoint, you get a travel-specific bag.

The only drawback of the pack is the less comfortable suspension and its unisex design which means it is not ideal for every woman or every man. It also really lacks any proper organization compartments and instead has one big open space.

However, the portability makes it an awesome choice for the best women’s travel backpack or men’s travel backpack. The front load and the ability to keep your clothes folded is awesome. The 40L is great for carry on luggage, while the 55L and 70L backpacks are good for long-term trips. Since the Farpoint really does not have organizational sections we suggest pairing this bag with packing cubes.

Shop on AmazonShop on REI

Hiking Backpack — REI Co-op Flash Pack

We love to shop at REI and love their gear. Their backpacks are a great value and we’ve used them for years. The Co-Op Flash Pack is one of the best lightweight hiking backpacks on the market. If you plan on hiking with your backpack this is your bag!

It’s made out of ripstop nylon and is a great 45 L trekking backpack for both men and women. With 45L it’s manageable for a gear-heavy day hike, an overnight trip, or a minimalist multi-day trek. The REI compression technology helps keep your belongings up and in to help your balance, stability, and posture while hiking. Its super lightweight frame is great and where the bag saves a few ounces.

There are attachment loops on the front to allow ice axes, poles, and other tools to be stored as well as snappable water bottle pockets on the hip belt. The mesh back panel allows for airflow keeping you cooler when walking in the sun and the removable top lid offers customizable pack volume. We think this pack is perfect for those on a long weekend hiking trip in the mountains, Inca Trail Trek, or to the base of Mount Everest.

Men’s Version on REI

Women’s Version on REI

Best Backpacks For Backpacking

Carry On Suitcase — eBags EXO 2.0 Hardside

We picked up the full set of this suitcase and absolutely love it. Even after a full year of use, the bag has held up like new. Previous hard suitcases we have used have shown serious signs of wear at this point in time. It’s our go-to for international travel and survived at least 60 flights in the last year.

The hard shell outer case ensures all your valuables are well protected. We travel with a lot of electronics that are fragile so we love having a bag that has a tough outer shell. The bag opens at the center to two separate sides of compartments. Once there it is so easy to stay organized with this bag.

There are two compartments within the bag, one designed for clothes with a compression system and the other is designed for shoes, toiletries, and where we store our electronics. Included with the bag is a nylon dirty clothes bag to separate clean from dirty and keep your clothes looking fresh.

We also love the security of the bag with a built-in TSA approved lock. It’s also extremely stylish and looks great when traveling and fits easily into overhead luggage space. The best part is you can buy this with achecked bag component as well, making it one of the best luggage sets by eBags!

eBags EXO 2.0 Hardside

Extended Suitcase — Samsonite Winfield 2

There are a number of instances in which a large checked bag is necessary. If you’re on extended, professional, or specialized trips you’ll likely need a checked bag. Generally, we suggest bringing a checked bag if you will be traveling for two weeks or more. It’s pretty often that people overpack and using too large a bag is the first step to overpacking.

For extended trips try out a 28″ wheeled hard-sided case. Above we recommend the eBags set which comes with a 28″, but this Samsonite is similarly priced and an excellent choice.

The hard shell outer case ensures all your valuables are well protected. We travel with a lot of electronics that are fragile so we love having a bag that has a tough outer shell. It’s a clamshell suitcase that comes with a divided separator, comes with a divided clothing organizer, and TSA approved lock.

Samsonite Winfield 2

Duffel Bag — Patagonia Black Hole

A duffel bag is a tremendous option for a large multitude of trips. If you’re on an active holiday with gear, headed to the beach, or a safari in Africa a duffel bag protects your belongings and is easy to transport.

The Patagonia Black Hole is an established classic for adventure travel. We’re avid fans of the companies products and it’s likely anyone who’s big into outdoor adventure sports is loves them too. The Patagonia Black Hole bag is one of the largest of the Patagonia brand and perfect for extensive travel.

The bag can pack down small when empty so it’s great to stick in your bag. It was also plenty easy to stuff and organize, thanks to the large U-shaped zipper and two mesh pockets on the top flap. It’s also super lightweight an important aspect we look for in our travel gear.

Black Hole on Amazon

Black Hole on Backcountry

Travel Daypack — Osprey Daylite

This is one of my favorite daypacks! The bag is tremendous for the average traveler with the ability to hold everything you could need for the typical day. It’s one of my favorite travel purchases and has held up marvelously. That is to be expected as Osprey backpacks come with a lifetime guarantee.

The pack is sleek, feels great on your back, and can carry a fair amount of stuff. It’s not the biggest pack with only 13L of space, but the two water bottle holders free up some space you can store on the exterior. It’s also made by Osprey who make some of the best large travel backpacks on the market.

Daylite on REI

Lowepro Whistler BP 450 AW

This is the latest addition to our collection of backpacks and I couldn’t be more stoked on the bag. The camera bag is purpose-built for those who shoot photos and video in the harsh elements, specifically winter conditions such as climb or ski. It’s definitely one of the best backpacks for photographers, but it does come with a high price tag. Since it is designed for tough winter elements the build quality and design are truly impressive.

I love that the bag opens from the backside and allows you to comfortably throw the bag on the ground and reach for gear without fear of the bag tipping. It also has side and front straps designed to carry a snowboard, skis, ice axes, or hiking/ski poles (massive win for our snowboard season). I like the pullout rain cover for heavy weather. The suspension system is also the most robust I’ve found in a camera bag so far, which is great when carrying 40lbs of gear up a hill.

My only complaints would be the size of the top compartment which would be great for storing thing like a phone charging cables, or whatever accessories I may need on the mountain. There is a front compartment on the bag, but it’s one large section directly next to the camera gear so it needs to be able to bear weight. I’d also love a water bottle holder on the sides. For carrying such a large bag designed to be outdoors I need some form of hydration.

This bag is the perfect kit addition for any outdoor enthusiast looking to carry some gear high into rough conditions.

Lowepro Whistler BP450

Luggage Accessories

Packing Cubes — Eagle Creek Pack-It

Packing cubes are a great way to organize your clothes for easy access in your suitcase. They are tremendous for smaller items like undergarments, shirts, socks, or even your pants. We like the Eagle Creek Pack-It Compression set a few years ago on a mega sale at The Container Store. The Eagle Creek brand is great.

They are slightly more expensive than most other packing cubes on the market, but that’s what you get for brand recognition. We like the compression set because it compresses, but to be honest it doesn’t save a ton of extra room in my luggage! I love stuffing my packing cubes full and then having the option to zip them even tighter. In my opinion, these are the very best packing cubes for backpacks like mine.

Eagle Creek Pack-ItThe Best Packing Cubes

Toiletry Bag — Hudson Travel

This men’s bag is simple and that’s what makes it great. Dopp bags don’t need to be full of sections, dividers, or new features.

I’ve often traveled with a simple bag and it’s the only way. Synthetic bags are tremendous when you’re traveling in coastal regions and in constant humidity. We were thankful our synthetic bags in the Seychelles, Mozambique, and Zanzibar! In my opinion, synthetic bags like this are the best toiletry bags on the market.

Hudson Travel Toiletry Bag

Makeup Bag — Yeiotsy Cosmetic Bag

Make up can easily ruin clothes or other toiletries so it’s best to keep cosmetics separated in your luggage. This bag has a stylish design and plenty of features to help keep your toiletries organized. What makes this bag stand out is its organizational elements. Elastic bands on the lid allow you to store cosmetics. The outer shell is durable and water resistant and will be right at home in the wet environment.

Yeiotsy Cosmetic Bag

Shoe Bag — Lermende Travel Shoe Bag

We always travel with at least two pairs of shoes since we workout on the road. I’m a minimalist so I will wear a classic boot and then pack my lightweight trail running shoes in my luggage.

To protect my clothes and luggage I like to use a nylon bag to store my dirty shoes. If you’re looking for a quick packing hack to find a suitable bag, steal one of the disposable laundry bags from your hotel room.

Or you can buy these ones for a pretty affordable price. We just picked up a set of this shoe bag as we liked the clear mesh that allowed for damp shoes to dry and easy selection.

Lermende Travel Shoe Bag

Laundry Bag

We like to travel with a small nylon or mesh bag for our dirty clothes. This keeps the rest of our clothes from getting dirty and smelly. It’s really important that you do not use a plastic bag or something that does not breathe as it will cause damp clothes to mildew.

If you have a wet bathing suit and don’t have time to dry it before packing, try using a waterproof bag like this one here. What’s great are these bags are cheap and easy to order online. Plus with an abundance of manufacturers, you can often find a cute set for a couple of bucks.

Travel Laundry Bag

It doesn’t hurt to carry a small first aid kit on any trip. There is always the option to buy a kit, but I find it’s lighter and cheaper to just make your own and throw a few essentials in a container or ziplock bag.

The key here is to have something small that won’t eat up a lot of luggage space which is why we recommend you create your own kit. As another tip avoid medications that are the same color or shape that way you know the difference.

Here is what we recommend you pack in a basic first aid kit.

Ibuprofen — NSAID. Treats pain, fever, swelling.

Tylenol — Pain reliever that does not thin blood in case of a concussion or medical issue.

Benedryl — Bites, stings, allergies, and a sleep aid.

Pepto Bismol — Antimicrobial that helps treat stomach issues.

Imodium — This is is used to prevent dehydration in the event of diarrhea, but should be avoided as it does cause constipation. (Good for developing nations)

Bandaids/Gauze — Great for cuts, blisters, or scrapes.

Medical Tape — This is great for compression to reduce swelling, a deep cut, building a splint, or stabilizing a rolled ankle.

Antibiotic Ointment — Use the disposable packets as it helps to save weight with only one or two in your bag.

Petroleum Jelly — This one never hurts as it’s great for treating cracked skin or aiding in a burn.

Medical Supplies

Clothes For Travel

Travel Underwear

You should try to pack several pairs of travel underwear. We like to pack a mix of underwear and garments on extended trips. Sports or travel specific underwear is often antibacterial and quick drying. This way it stays fresh for longer and you can easily wash in a sink if you run out of clean clothes. In general, we’ll pack in our suitcase five to seven pairs of underwear for a trip. As a woman, Natasha likes to pack a little more based on the length of the trip.

For men, I have a couple of pairs of the ExOfficio boxer briefs I’ve been traveling with for years now. For women, it’s all about personal preference, but the Patagonia Barely underwear comes in both bikini and thong versions.

Men’s UnderwearWomen’s Underwear

Sports Bras

No need to wear push up bras as they’re often cotton based. Tasha likes to pack several pairs of sports bras as they’re more versatile and like sports underwear hold up better than a traditional bra.

It’s easy to forget bringing a sports bra as you might not be headed to the gym, but they’re tremendous for active or hot summer days. This one from Patagonia is tremendous as it provides support in a more a subtle cut.

Patagonia Sports Bra

Wool Socks

We’ve learned to love our feet with a good pair of socks. You will want to keep your feet nice and dry while you walk around. Most importantly wool socks stay fresh for several days as they have natural antimicrobial properties.

We travel with a couple of pairs of the Darn Tough Merino socks and our feet have never felt cold or wet. You have several options for size, but on the average day or the summer, we like to wear thin wool socks. However, in the winter months or on an adventure, a thick pair of hiking socks are always good to have in your luggage.

Darn Tough Merino Socks

Performance Shirts

I love to wear a comfortable shirt on hot days. It’s best opt for shirts that are made from a performance fabric that handles sweat and the sun. A good number of tee shirts to pack for a trip is around three.

You should look for a fabric that is lightweight, breathable and has quick dry qualities such as merino wool, nylon, or polyester. Even if you don’t plan to work out they work great as undershirts.

Hanes Performance Shirts

Technical Shirt

A technical long sleeve shirt looks great and is typically well constructed. You should look for a nice blend of synthetic materials that allow for quick drying. A long sleeve shirt like this allows for greater comfort moving from chilly mornings into warm days.

It’s a great travel shirt as it avoids wrinkles, resist stains, and looks better than a relaxed tee. It’s a tried and true wardrobe staple for travelers all around the world. Of course, a good dress shirt definitely has its time and place and should not be neglected. However, we feel pretty safe recommending a shirt like this for almost any trip or environment.

Tamiami II Long Sleeve

Dress Shirt

I’d look pretty ridiculous wearing a T-shirt or a flannel out to a nice meal in Europe. Men should pack at least one or two dress shirts for a trip to Europe. I like to stick with a classic color like blue or white that will never go out of style.

I recently ordered a new selection of shirts and ties from the Tie Bar and so far I’ve loved my clothes. All stylish, nice quality, and affordable. Plus their online website makes it easy to order a new wardrobe with suggestions for what matches and inspirations for outfits.

Blue Dress Shirt

Wool Sweater

If there is one article of clothing made for travel in cool climates it’s the wool sweater. Sweaters are a tremendous travel outfit staple. They’re comfortable, stylish, and warm. It doesn’t matter the season either as most of many of our favorite destinations around the world are temperate and remain cool year round. This means comfortable day time temperatures during the day and chilly evenings in the summer.

I have a number of sweaters, but my favorites are from organic materials like wool or Alpaca. It’s even become my favorite travel souvenir and I treasure my Scottish wool and Peruvian Alpaca sweaters. Ever since then we’ve been living out of them in the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Ireland.

Of course, you can still find a great sweater at home. I love this recycled one from Patagonia, one of our favorite outdoor brands.

Patagonia Recycled Wool Sweater

Down Jacket

There are only a few travel items we recommend everyone has and one of those is a down jacket. A down jacket is a staple for travel and outdoor activities as it’s tremendously versatile.

We always recommend you bring a great packable down jacket on just about any extended trip. When you’re dealing with the mountains and wide temperature shifts it’s a great way to keep warm without eating up too much space in your hiking backpack. Plus if you have any last minute plans and find yourself in a cool environment they’ll help you out in a pinch.

Best Packable Down Jackets

Shell Jacket

A great item to have on the road is a shell jacket that is designed to protect you from the wind and rain. This is not about wearing a winter jacket, but a rain jacket that lends a little more versatility when combined with a down jacket.

The alternative to a shell jacket is something light like an anorak or more stylish like a trench coat. Either way, you can’t always expect the skies to be sunny when you’re traveling.

We both have rain jackets made by Kathmandu and Patagonia. They are lightweight, durable, packable, waterproof, and windproof. Any jacket can do the job, but the top dollar ones will hold up and really help in inclement weather. The reason we love shell rain jackets are their ability to pack down and fit inside your suitcase.

Kathmandu Rain Jacket

Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket

Chinos

A pair of chinos works on both sexes for a classic look that works in a multitude of enviroments. It’s a classic look that when combined with a sweater, dress shirt, tee shirt, or blouse.

We love to go for simple colors that will work with multiple shirts. A good brown, white, pastel for women, or grey is always a safe bet. What’s great about chinos are they look equally good on the beach as they do a nice restaurant or bar.

Women’s Chinos

Men’s Chinos

Hiking Pants

Lightweight pants that are made from synthetic material are tremendous to add to your travel packing list. As with many technical clothes, their shelf life in your bag is much longer than cotton-based alternatives. There are many kinds that work as a more casual pant and will be just as comfortable on the city streets as the mountains. For example our favorite hiking pants down below.

For women, Tasha likes a pair of hiking pants made by prAna that roll into capris. For men, prAna makes the Stretch Zion Pant, one of the best pairs of hiking pants on the market for a reasonable price. If you want to check out more of the best travel pants we have a post for that!

Women’s Pants

Men’s Pants

The Best Travel Pants

Outdoor Shorts

A great pair of shorts are self-explanatory for keeping yourself cool on hot weather days for that we love a pair of hiking shorts. Even if you’re not an adventure or outdoor trip outdoor shorts can have a nice style while retaining technical details that help with travel. Things like quick dry, wrinkle resistant, and comfort.

prAna makes some tremendous lightweight hiking shorts that are both comfortable and affordable.

Men’s Stretch Zion Short

Women’s Tess Short

Swimsuit

I don’t think there has ever been a time we regretted having a swimsuit in our luggage. Everything on this list about comfort and being prepared, but a swimsuit is the one thing you’ll kick yourself if you don’t have in your luggage. There have been numerous trips any time of the year or destination where we had the chance to swim whether that’s a real beach trip of a heated pool in the Alps. You never know.

For active swimsuits, Tasha loves swimsuits made by Patagonia. Many of their pieces retain some style, offer support, and are not too revealing. So if you have plans to go surfing, bodyboarding, or play beach volleyball these swimsuits are for you. For affordable and stylish bathing suits check out AdoreMe.

For men a classic pair of board shorts are staples. A lightweight surf pair from a company like Billabong or Quicksilver won’t eat up much room in the bag and they’re super comfortable.

Shop Bathing Suits

Sundress

It’s a tremendous idea to have a comfortable sundress. Not only is it more comfortable, but it’s also cute and doubles as a cover-up. Tasha got the Krawcheck Dress from Title Nine who have several different colors of this sundress.

It has built-in support and sturdy straps, so you can be active in this dress. It’s even possible to take easy hikes in the dress, like in Waimea Canyon on Kauai. We’ll admit this one probably belongs a little more in the beach or city packing lists, but it’s so versatile we thought we’d add it here.

Title Nine Dresses

Athletic Gear

It never hurts to bring some athletic gear in your backpack or suitcase. Just because you’re traveling or on the road doesn’t mean you have an excuse to not be active.

Athletic Gear

Buff Headband

We have a collection of buff headbands and bring them everywhere. They’re great for a multitude of reasons such as sun/wind protection, a scarf, headband, or an ear warmer.

We always have one in our suitcase or backpack no matter the destination and consider it one top travel accessories. I imagine most people have one or two of these by now! They aren’t the most stylish thing in the world so maybe a scarf will make a better fit.

Buff Headbands

Belt

This is one of those obvious things that can be really easy to forget at home. I’m partial to the simplicity of a canvas belt that has a locking buckle. I’ve had one that I use almost every day and it’s lasted for almost four years.

Canvas Outdoor Belts

Shoes For Travel

Leather Boots

These are great all year round as you can never go wrong with a pair of leather boots. Women can wear them with a pair of chinos and a blouse while men can pair them with just about anything from jeans, chinos, and even a suit.

With the right pair of boots, you’ll be ready to climb the Alps, stroll through The Louvre, or eat to your heart’s content in Italy.

I’m a leather boot fiend and love a classic boot. For an affordable option check out Clark’s or Timberland for leather boots. However, if you want quality and boots to last a lifetime check out Chippewa, Danner, or Red Wings boots all manufactured by hand in the United States.

Chippewa 6″ Boots

Sneakers

Hitting the sidewalk and letting the city or world unfurl around you is one of the best ways to get familiar with a new destination. A comfortable pair of shoes for both men and women are essential when packing your bag for a trip.

However, I wouldn’t recommend packing those terrible clunky hiking shoes or athletic shoes many tourists like to bring. You want a stylish shoe that is both relaxed and comfortable.

We like to opt for a pair of casual Vans. These old school skate shoes have a great look to them that will keep your feet comfortable and look great with a pair of jeans, shorts, or chinos.

Van’s Unisex Old Skool Shoe

The Women’s Travel Shoes

Trail Running Shoes

When it comes to athletic gear and travel we love versatility such as trail running shoes. This way you get more value out of your shoes because they’re capable of handling the gym, street, park, or trail.

We both picked up the Hoka One One’s Speedgoat 2 last summer had a great time on the trails. They’re pretty heavily cushioned so they protect your feet from uneven or rough surfaces and can even double for hiking shoes.

I would recommend you look at the weather and your shoe preference before you pick either a nice hiking boot/shoe or trail running shoe. In the cooler temperatures we appreciate the added insulation in hiking shoes, but in the warmer months prefer the breathability and lightweight nature of trail running shoes.

The Speedgoat’s are rated as some of the best trail running shoes on the market and so far they haven’t let us down add them to your travel packing list.

Trail Running Shoes

Black Flats

A pair of black flats is always great to have in a suitcase. They’re stylish comfortable and they take up minimal space in your luggage.

My tip, stay away from heels as many destinations around the world have uneven streets and you don’t want to break an ankle trying to look good.

Black Flats

Dress Shoes

It never hurts to to be prepared for a more formal environment. When we were younger and backpacking around the world there were numerous occasions when we were underdressed. It’s a crumby feeling, so we always try to pack a shoe for more formal occassions.

If you plan on spending any time in a big city you’ll likely want a decent pair of dress shoes or casual shoes.

Dress Shoes

Sandals

Sandals are meant for the beach or hot weater destinations, but considering how many destinations that fall into they are an easy add to your travel packing list.

We travel with our Rainbow leather flip flops and they’ve lasted for years.

Rainbow Sandals

Toiletries For Travel

Prescribed Medications

This should be at the top of the list, but if you have any prescribed medications make sure not to leave them at home. It’s best to keep them separated from your first aid kit as to not confuse.

If you have multiple types of medication try using a pill organizer instead of traveling with a handful of pill containers that consumer luggage space. Just make sure to have any prescription forms in case you’re traveling with any controlled substances, like pain killers. To further that point you should do research if traveling internationally to make sure you’re within legal restrictions.

Pill Organization

Toothbrush

This should be a no brainer, but don’t forget your toothbrush. We’ve actually taken to packing two toothbrushes. We pack a toothbrush in our carry on bag and our electric one in checked luggage.

You never know if you’ll be separated from your checked baggage and if you’re on a long haul flight it’s great to be able to brush your teeth so always have one on you. Another great item to have for your toothbrush is a small toothbrush cover to protect it from germs and allows to throw in your bag.

Pill Organization

All Natural Deodorant

Dedoerant is a travel kit essentials items. I like to bring my special all natural deodorant with me when I travel since the all natural stuff can be really hard to find abroad.

If you use specialty products like this make sure to bring it with you when you travel as sometimes they can be very hard to find. However, generic roll-on sticks can be found at pharmacies around the country.

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Eco-Friendly Toiletries

We’ve taken the pledge to lead a more environmentally friendly life. Ethique makes some of the best eco-friendly skincare products on the market right now. Ethique has a wide range of toiletry products ranging from shampoo to face cream. All of their products use natural and organic ingredients and use completely eco-friendly packaging on their products.

Oh, yea it doesn’t hurt that this small business was started by a woman and every product is Cruelty-Free, TSA Friendly, and Compostable. There are 80 billion shampoo and conditioner plastic bottles thrown out every year and they all make their way to the ocean. By purchasing one bar from Ethique you are saving three plastic bottles from ending up in a landfill.

We have a whole post on eco-friendly products and it’s jam-packed with more great travel accessories aimed at reducing waste. Essentials like shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toothpaste and body lotion can all be bought

Eco Friendly Toiletries:

Shampoo

Conditioner

Face Wash

Toothpaste

Body Lotion

Solid Toiletry Products

Dopp Kit

Within your toiletry bag make sure not to forget all of your other necessities. These are all of the things that we like to make sure are in our bags.

It’s easy to forget something like dental floss or contact solution, but they can be a pain in the ass to grab once you’re on the road.

Dental floss

Brush/comb

Contact lenses/solution

Shaving supplies

Feminine-hygiene products

Nail file/clippers

Birth control

Tweezers

Makeup

This one is for the ladies, and I wanted to make note of it for anyone still wondering what to pack for a trip. If you’re coming from America the makeup in Europe can be expensive in comparison to prices in the States.

On her first trip to Europe Tasha had enough to laste almost a year. It’s nbest to have enough mascara, eyeliner, and foundation to get through your trip plus a week or so.

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Sunscreen

Skin cancer is for real! Don’t forget your SPF during the summer. We recommend ordering some online before leaving the house as you will need it underneath the sun.

We highly recommend getting an eco friendly sun cream that does not contain harmful chemicals. They’re mineral based and usually only cost a few dollars more to help protect our oceans.

If you’re not going to swim in the ocean or lakes just go with a reliable name brand. You can learn more about eco-friendly travel products here!

Mineral Based Sunscreen

Electronics For Travel

Travel Adaptor

You will definitely need an adaptor for your electronics on your packing list for Ireland. We always keep one handy in our carry-on bags, that way we can charge electronics on arrival or at the airport.

You’ll need the British “Type G” three prong adaptor for the United Kingdom. However, most of Europe uses theType C, F, and E adaptor. Check out the one I have which is good for all of Europe.

Travel Adapter

Roku Express

Best this travel accessory must have is one you haven’t thought about. Just because we are traveling doesn’t mean we like to fall behind on our shows and movies.

We have traveled for three years now with a Google Chromcast and Roku Express and it seriously makes Airbnb’s and hotel rooms so.much.better. We just plug in the streaming device to any TV when we travel and Voila – Netflix!

Roku Express

Camera

A high-quality camera is an important packing item for Ireland if you want some great shots while on your vacation We travel with a bunch of cameras, but the one we universally recommend is the RX 100.

They make a number of models at different price points, but it’s a simple to use point-and-shoot camera that anyone can operate. It also takes superb images with a 20mp resolution and full manual controls.

Cameras For Travel Blogging

Kindle Paperwhite

While I love having a good real book when I travel sometimes it’s just not practical because of the weight. I’ve recently switched to a Kindle Paperwhite which is small and compact, plus it has a backlight for reading at night without a harsh glare.

Pick Up A Kindle

Headphones

Almost all international flights have entertainment systems on board, but the headphones are often lackluster. That’s why I think headphones are a airplane travel essential you need. It’s best to travel with a decent pair of noise canceling headphones to save your ears.

They’re also great for entertainment with long layovers. These headphones by Sennheiser may not be the best in the pack, but they’re affordable and will sound great to the average ear.

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Portable Charger

I love traveling with a power bank to make sure my phone never dies. The majority of the time I don’t need to use it on long flights as some of the nicer airlines provide entertainment systems with USB ports! We also make sure to find a charging point during layovers, but getting to a new city without your hotel reservations and map can be a major pain in the ass.

Check Prices Here

Laptop

We travel with our MacBook Pros to keep up with this website and YouTube when we are traveling; however, a MacBook is probably not necessary for most travelers!

We just got our hands on the Google Pixelbook which is an ideal computer for most travelers who don’t have to work all the time on the road. It’s super slim, lightweight, and does everything your computer at home can do. We love the way it flips around too so that we can stand it up and watch movies on the plane with it.

Some other fantastic features of the PixelBook is that it houses all apps, like a phone – except it’s a computer! An all-day battery delivers up to ten hours of power from just one single charge. If you don’t have the time to charge it I love that you still get 2 hours of battery life from only 15 minutes of charging. It also has automatic security, software, and features from Chrome OS.

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Accessories For Travel

Water Bottle — Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier

A water bottle is a travel must have to save money and cut down on plastic. Like my other favorite, the Lifestraw Go this bottle also features a filter. However, the filter design is entirely different than the Lifestraw. Most important is that this water bottle system purifies water vs. filters which removes viruses and virtually removes all threat of waterborne illnesses.

It’s the perfect water bottle for those spending a significant amount of time in developing nations with questionable water supplies. We love filtered water bottles because they save space in our daypacks when we’re on a hike.

Take note, this is an expensive water bottle and it may make consumers think twice about purchasing. However, as avid travelers who’ve spent more than our fair share of time in developing nations the Grayl Filtration Cup is a travel essential item for us every time.

Grayl on Amazon

Grayl on REI

Hand Sanitizer

Walking around and taking part in everyday activities in can get pretty dirty.

It has been a reoccurring theme to not find hand soap while traveling. You can’t go wrong bringing some hand sanitizer and baby wipes in your bag.

Travel Hand Sanitizers

Insect Repellant

If you’re headed to a warm destination it’s very likely you could face the dreaded mosquito. It’s pretty common for the unsuspecting travelers to leave with legs full of mosquito bites.

We’d recommend to pack a bottle of insect repellant that has DEET in it so you’ll scare away those annoying biting demons. And in the worst case scenario and it reduces the chances of Malaria or Yellow Fever in places like South America, Africa, or Asia. Just keep in mind that DEET can destroy plastics so mind your sunglasses or camera when applying.

Insect Repellant

Sunglasses

Make sure to protect your eyes from the sun since you’ll likely spend a lot of time outside. There are a lot of options for sunglasses and everyone should own at least a pair. It’s best to make sure they do have UV protection for the health of your eyes.

We made our first investment in quality polarized sunglasses with a pair of SMITH Optics Lowdown 2. Truthfully, not everyone needs to invest $150 in a pair of sunglasses; however, we love ours and will never buy cheap ones again.

Smith Lowdown 2.0

Sports Watch

This is a travel staple that’s often overlooked, but having a watch on the road has become a must for me. It helps keep me on time when I’m out in the water, on a hike, or catching the next plane on a layover.

Men’s Sports Watch

Travel Towel

We always recommend bringing a travel towel when you’re on the road. If you plan on staying in hostels or more budget accommodation you’ll often need your own towel.

If you head to the beach or want to take a hike it never hurt to have a towel packed away in your day bag. Consider a towel an essential for your Europe packing list.

The biggest complaint about travel towels is that they often feel nothing like the plush cotton towels we are accustomed to at home and in hotels. However, with the PackTowl you can forget about all of that because they set out to create a towel that mimics its cotton counterparts with the technical features of a travel towel.

Best Towels For Travel

Travel Pillow

We’ve suffered through enough red-eye flights to never forget to pack a travel pillow for international flights. My favorite travel pillow is the Cabeau Evolution Pillow, but we break down more of our favorite travel pillows here.

The Best Travel Pillows

Ear Plugs

These are small but essential travel necessities as they can be crucial to your sleep. Whether you’re flying in business class or sleeping in a hostel a good pair of earplugs will help you sleep.

You also never know if you may have noisy neighbors, have a room on the ground.

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Umbrella — Repel Windproof

Whether you’re hurrying to an important business meeting on the road or you’re only visiting a particular city for a couple of days and need to see the sights, a little rain shouldn’t be allowed to stand in your way!

We’re more impartial to rain jackets, but they are not great for formal occasions or professional trips. For that, you’ll need an umbrella that can pack up in your luggage.

Repel Windproof

The Best Travel Umbrellas

Herschel — Strand Tote

No matter where you plan on venturing, it’s pretty much a given that you’ll need something to hold your daily items when you set out to explore a new place; whether that means wandering through cobbled streets in bustling European hubs or boarding your next plane ride.

Herschel — Strand Tote

Travel Essentials

Passport

If you’re taking a trip internationally don’t leave without your passport and appropriate visas! It really helps to have a travel wallet that holds your passport or at the very least some form of protection. It’s not a good idea to travel with your passport unprotected as it the most vital document you carry abroad.

Keys

Another essential before you leave home, but we need to add to the list. Make sure to do a full rundown of your place before you leave we like to turn the A/C up or the heat down and enter a power saving mode whenever we leave our home.

Travel Wallet

Even if you’re a grizzled veteran, a good travel wallet is a relatively small investment, considering the headache it could save you down the road. This guide to the best travel wallets will help you make a wise purchasing choice.

Travelsafe Wallet

Boarding Passes (Printed or Confirmed)

If you’re catching a flight you better have your boarding passes ready before you arrive at the airport. We like to check in online and then have a mobile version on our phones beforehand. Most things these days are fine to be stored on your phone and save paper.

However, if you are depending on your phone make sure important documents are saved in your email or cloud as a backup. The powerbank we mentioned above is also important in case you find yourself with a dead phone and need to access your documents.

Travel Insurance

We never travel without travel insurance with World Nomads. Natasha is a bit of a worry wart and would rather stay safe than sorry. World Nomads offers incredible flexible and great plans!

You never know if the worse could happen while you’re abroad and often your insurance plan at home will not cover medical emergencies abroad. Having the peace of mind that we have a good backup plan helps us sleep at night.

World Nomads Travel Insurance

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