#shan and sams corner | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

avinaccia · 3 years

Text

A Completely Objective and Logical Ranking of Every Hetalia Character Song

New character songs are dropping, I have too much time on my hands, let’s go.

Also here’s a Youtube playlist for the ~✨nostalgia✨~

Bring it on in the tags

71. Ah Legendary Class⭐The Awesome Me Highway [Prussia]: Absolutely tearing it up on the drums and on the vocal cords alike (I pray for Atsushi Kousaka). Great for the memes.

70. Happy Thoughts Museum [???]: This is listed as an official song but I had literally never heard of the title. Then I listened to it and BAM! Smack back to 2013 watching the teasers for the show on Funimation. Not sure I’d count it as a character song though...

69. (Nice) My Song that is written by me for me [Prussia]: Deafened me but I can appreciate the industrial grind.

68. My House is...Quiet. ~With the Trolls~ [Norway]: I have never heard this song, nor can I find any version of it online. By default it goes here and I am so sorry Norge.

67. Make a Wish to Santa♪ [Sealand]: The discordant notes and childish exuberance only serve to make this sound like a demonic plea to Santa to eliminate the singer’s enemies.

66. Heaven and Hell on Earth [Rome]: Rome sounds like he’s been in the corner of a restroom. Extra points for the metal version, minus points for the fact that the beach scene was replayed like 1764 times.

65. Canada Complete Introduction [Canada]: Quiet af until Kumacheerio shows up and blows out your speakers. they did you dirty my darling 😔

64. It’s Easy!!! [America]: I don't think any video of this has ever stayed up for more than 20 seconds. Sounds cool, but like I was listening to 20 different genres at once, someone make him calm down.

63. Bù Zàiyì the Small Stuff ☆ [China]: I cannot for the life of me find the complete song anywhere, clips have a cool beat though

62. Let's Boil Hot Water♪ [Italy]: Exactly what it says on the tin..though a bit too close to elevator music for my tastes.

61. The Fragrance of Early Summer [Japan]: Very ‘from the books’ Japan-esque song

60. Peace Sounds Nice…[Baltic Trio]: All well and good until the radio demon shows up

59. W●D●C ~World Dancing~ [America]: How a song can sound like it’s from 4 different decades at once is beyond me

58. Overflowing Passion [BFT]: This is just drunken karaoke and I have 0 clue what’s going on #iconicforallthewrongreasons

57. Ren●Ren●Renaissance♪ [Rome+Chibitalia]: Wholesome Grandpa with Grandson content - barring the fact that Italy sounds on the verge of a nervous breakdown and Rome has had too much wine.

56. Roma Antiqua [Rome]: Similar energy to any one of China’s songs - there’s a part of the song where it sounds like he’s singing in the shower, and I will never not laugh at [CENSORED]

55. Country From Where the Sun Rises, Zipangu [Japan]: Very chill, very Japan, but just meh for me.

54. Moon Over Emei Shan [China]: Good message, okay song.

53. My Friend [England]: What a mind palace you must have Mr. Kirkland

52. With Love, from Iceland [Iceland]: Three words: Heavy. Metal. Puffin.

51. Having Friends is Nice...♫ [Russia]: Russia is the cutest thing ever

50. Mm. [Sweden]: Smooth transition from WWE Smackdown to shopping at IKEA.

49. Why don’t you come over? ~Beyond the Northern Lights~ [Iceland]: I don’t want to be mean but...this does sound like the second closing theme to an anime whose first closing was much more popular (à la Soul Eater)

48. Gakuen☆Festa [Germany, Italy, Japan]: Sounds like a 60s song of the summer but oh dear their voices do not go together. Hella cute though.

47. Wa! Wa!! World Ondo [Main Cast]: One time I travelled 10 hours in a coach bus with a bunch of teenagers to a city of note in my country, and the only souvenir I bought was the fucking PAINT IT WHITE DVD. Perfectly chaotic, UN ĐĕùX~~

46. In the Bluebell Woods [England]: In the album cover for this song he’s holding a guitar but this is not a rock song. Still has ‘running through the hills’ levels of dramatism though.

45. Poi Poi Poi♪ [Taiwan]: You’re telling me that Taiwan, someone whose has *ONE LINE* in Beautiful World (which is criminal tbh what kind of representation-) managed to get an eNTIRE CHARACTER SONG???????

44. White Flame [Russia]: There’s something to be said for a song that is 3x the length of any Hetalia episode

43. Ich liebe… [Germany]: Baking cakes for your friends has never been so wholesome.

42. We Wish you a Merry Christmas [America, China, England, France, Russia]: Nice to see they’ve gotten their shit together since United Nations Sta-hmm.

41. Ah, Worldwide à la mode [France]: Sounds like a Disney Princess song, hard not to picture France frolicking in a field of flowers.

40. Che Bello! ~My House is the Greatest!⭐~ [Italy]: Would not be out of place in an advertisement for Sea World.

39. May You Smile Today [Japan]: THE feel good song of the summer

38. Let’s Look Behind the Rainbow [Italy]: I will protect you.

37. I'm your HERO☆ [America]: “Anyone who’s sad or sullen will be arrested” did NOT age well.

36. Mein Gott! [Prussia]: Alternating headphone effect at the beginning is cool, so is the confidence...the actual singing on the other hand...

35. Nihao⭐China [China]: Listen, all of China’s character songs are great, I just can’t vibe with this one like some of the others.

34. Pechka ~Light My Heart~ [Russia]: I’m still having difficulty wrapping my head around the fact that this and Winter were released at the same time.

33. Pukapuka⭐Vacation [Germany, Italy, Japan]: Seems just a bit too much like they’re running on a treadmill that’s picking up speed and trying to sing at the same time. Peppy.

32. Santa Claus is Coming to Town [Germany, Italy, Japan]: This is unironically the best song sung by this trio; can only vibe with for two months out of the year though.

31. Excuse Me, I Am Sorry [Japan]: Japan’s character traits speedrun. Gives me barbershop quartet vibes for some reason but is catchy as hell.

30. The Story of Snow and Dreams [Russia]: A superhero anime opening in the making

29. England’s Evil Demon Summoning Song [England]: Sir that is not how you roast a marshmallow, don’t cut yourself on that edge.

28. Moi Moi Sauna♪ [Finland]: Exactly the type of song you’d expect and it’s wonderful

27. United Nations Star⭐ [America, China, England, France, Russia]: This isn’t as much of a song as it is a four minute struggle for everyone to sing without America yelling every 5 seconds...Like a particularly musical episode of Hetalia.

26. Paris is Indeed Splendid [France]: Paris-pa-pa-pa-paris

25. Absolutely Invincible British Gentleman [England]: Poppy, rocky, polka-dotty

24. Vorwärts Marsch! [Germany]: To quote the comment section: “This sounds like a German version of I’ll Make a Man out of you.” There’s some truth to that.

23. Hamburger Street [America]: The product of America’s rapper phase. 8/10 because he’s trying so hard and because I can unironically sing along to all of this.

22. Hoi Sam☆Nice Guy [Hong Kong]: A song that would absolutely destroy the ankles of anyone in DDR.

21. I Am German-Made [Germany]: There was once a version that had Germany and Prussia singing at the same time and it sounded positively demonic and Broadway could never

20. La pasión no se detiene ~Unstoppable Passion~ [Spain]: Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping...

19. Fall in Love, Mademoiselle [France]: Sounds like it should be in Mozart Opera Rock, I have kiss kiss falled in love.

18. Embrace the Très Bien Moi [France]: This is the definition of SELF LOVE PEOPLE.

17. Carrot and Stick [Belarus&Ukraine]: Absolutely DRIPPING in 2000s power ballad energy. The type of song that plays on repeat in the mind of the widow whose millionaire husband ‘mysteriously disappeared’ (and the only legit character song ever acknowledged by the anime)

16. C.B.C (Cowboyz Boot Camp) Vol. 1 [America]: AH MAH GAWWDDD

15. Winter [Russia]: Heavy metal fever dream and the perfect song for an angst-ridden teenager

14. Seychelles Here ⭐ Vacation Island [Seychelles]: UN👏DER👏RA👏TED SONG👏OF 👏THE 👏SUM👏MER👏

13. Nah, it will settle itself somehow [Romano]: One day I aspire to reach this level of chill

12. Let’s Enjoy Today [England]: I will never not feel happy when listening to this.

11. Einsamkeit [Germany]: Ludwig manages to air every single one of his worries about not being good enough compared to his friends and always being perceived as mean or uptight when he’s actually just a softie and now my heart hurts. 💔

10. Aiyaa Four Thousand Years [China]: A very poignant and beautiful song about the passage of time and the inevitability of its passing; comparable to an ancient ballad complete with explosive crescendos and meaningful lyrics.

9. Bon Bon Bon❤️C’est Bon C’est Bon! [France]: Peppy, cheerful, adorable, groundbreaking; has been my alarm tone for six years and I’ve yet to tire of it. 9/10 The moaning interspersed throughout has been an interesting wake-up call.

8. Let’s Enjoy! Let’s Get Excited! Cheers! [Denmark]: This is on par with Everytime we Touch by Cascada in terms of rage potential unlocked (the good kind)

7. Dream Journey [Japan]: Whoever’s playing the shakuhachi is absolutely KILLING IT. Dramatic, wonderful, great metaphors.

6. Gourmet’s Heart Beginner Level [China]: Absolute banger, I’m a vegetarian but this would inspire me to eat shumai.

5. Always with you...Nordic Five! [Nordic FIVVVVVEEEE]: Everyone harmonizes beautifully except for Denmark. Extremely catchy, number placement seemed appropriate.

4. Pub and GO! [England]: I love this trash man

3. Maji Kandou⭐Hong Kong Night [Hong Kong]: If you thought Denmark’s song was a banger JUST YOU WAIT. I WILL BLOW OUT MY SPEAKERS LISTENING TO LO-HA-SU.

2. Steady Rhythmus [Germany]: THIS SONG IS METAL AF. Seriously, if it can be classified as ‘hardcore’ by my father and his group of 50-somethings who have decided to single-handedly gatekeep the metal and hardrock genres, it can do anything.

1. The Delicious Tomato Song 🍅 [Romano]: Beautiful, absolutely awe-inspiring, poignant, catchy lyrics with an extremely deep meaning that only years of meticulous research and analysis can unlock, Romano I love you.

BONUS: Closing Songs

5. Hatafutte Parade (World Series)

4. Hetalian⭐Jet (The World Twinkle): The song is good, the dancing is cursed

3. Chikyuu Marugoto Hug Shitainda (World⭐Stars)

2. Marukaite Chikyuu (Hetalia: Axis Powers): nE NE PaPA

1. Mawaru Chikyuu Rondo (The Beautiful World)

95 notes · View notes

lemonysharkbait · 4 years

Text

Code of the Hills

Tianshan fanfic, au set in the Ozark region of the U.S.

“Where’s your partner Red?”Guan Shan reigned in his panic a second too late and Click ate it up with a shit eating grin. The pain when it came was delayed, one blessing of being too fucked to walk straight enough if he wanted to. Guan Shan spit a mouth full of blood straight into Click’s leering face. Guan Shan knew his eye would be swollen for a week. If he made it past tonight.

- Warnings: Drug use, violence, dirty cops, lots of cursing, angst -

Read on OA3 for more notes

Guan Shan lapped at the blood pouring from his nose. He couldn’t taste shit, not with his gums numb and Click telling him to take another bump.

“This is Grade A shit Red. Where’d you say you get it from ‘gain?”

Guan Shan took the offered bump – his third in the about fifteen minutes he had been with Click in this fucking dingy-ass laughable excuse for a backroom at the local watering hole. He hadn’t had this much coke in years and it was already fucking with him, just like Click wanted it to.

“Told you being a cop came with perks.” Guan Shan turned and hocked a wad of blood and snot onto the floor.

Click laughed and hit Guan Shan between the shoulder blades with an open-palmed slap that was just north of friendly. “Get this man a whiskey.”

“Did’n think you’d come back te this place Red.”

Guan Shan nodded to the women who proffered him a whiskey and took a gulp.

“Ever the polite man. Sam’s got tits from here to tomorrow and you’re on better behavior than the priest during Sunday service.” Click dropped his voice “Ne’ver believed ‘em but you don’t do yourself no favors Red.”

Guan Shan sucked at his teeth. “Saving myself for Jesus.”

Click burst out into a laughing fit. “Got’ damn Red. You haven’t changed a bit.” He played with the bag of coke idly. “So you got more of this shit?”

“More and then some.” Guan Shan nodded and pulled out a cigarette. He could feel his fingers going unsteady and his words slurring, tongue refusing to cooperate.

Click smiled and it was deadly. “Sure thing Red. Sounds like we have some stuff to talk about. Why don’t you come back with us? We’ll drive you.”

Guan Shan didn’t respond. Just lit his cigarette and let the group of good ‘ol boys half push, half pull him out of the backroom, bantering like old friends, smiling like sharks. He was manhandled out of the bar and into the dark parking lot, shoved into a truck and closed behind the thunk of American steel.

He Tian sat nursing his beer. A tittering group out on a girl’s night tried to grab his attention for a little while but his best sad and broken act had them off and dancing. He was alone with those words playing through his head.

They’re gonna take me to the back. They won’t do anything at the bar so just go in a little while after me. Keep your damn head down. I mean it. No flirting, no stories, no chatting up the locals. No one can remember you were there. You need to be forgettable. Just wait and blend in. They’ll take me to Click’s place.

Follow without them knowing. Shouldn’t be too hard, they’ll be fucked up and won’t be expecting you. Then it’s your call. I don’t know how many there will be. If you can get the situation under control, do it. But if not just leave me. Finding out where this guy is based is more important.

They did come out, just like Guan Shan said. He Tian shrunk as best he could into the corner. Guan Shan’s copper eyes were bloodshot and he was stumbling. The group was rowdy, shoving him with a little too much joy. A cajoling on the sharp edge of vicious. A smear of blood decorated Guan Shan’s upper lip and his pupils were pinpoints.

He Tian waited until they were through the door before slipping out. He caught sight of Guan Shan being shoved into a beater pickup with truck nuts. Gritting his teeth, he willed himself to wait. It wouldn’t do Guan Shan any good to tip them off.

The drive was easy, following the road as it dipped and rose, hemmed in by the thick woods broken only by sudden bursts of sheer white limestone breaking through at odd angles, ragged and proud.

The moon was out and bright enough that He Tian could keep his headlights off and follow at a distance. They drove fast so it was easy to see they were turning when they slowed in a sudden tire-squealing crawl. The sides of their cars brushed the undergrowth creeping over everything.

So this was it. Asscrack of nowhere. Cicadas called out in an unending whine.

Guan Shan didn’t even try to catalogue where they were. He was too fucked up and anyways, Click was twitchy in a way that didn’t bode well for Guan Shan’s health.

They turned onto some hidden road and crawled through a winding path before the trucks stopped outside a meth den. The house was probably nice enough at one point. Dogs barked from somewhere and someone was yanking Guan Shan out of his seat. He was manhandled inside past a living room with a flickering TV into the kitchen.

“Feel like home Red?”

Guan Shan grimaced. “Don’t see why you dragged me here for.”

Click laughed. “You can stop playing dumb boy. This is some goodass shit you brought me, so I’ll thank you for that little gift. But there’s no fucking way that’s what you came out here all the way into the goddamn boones for.”

Guan Shan let one of Click’s men pull his arms behind him and zip tie them together by the wrist. He was too tired and sideways feeling. If he was going to get the shit kicked out of him anyways he might as well cooperate enough to prolong the inevitable.

“See’in as you aren’t saying nothing I’m gonna go out on a big-ass limb and say you agree?” Click said.

Guan Shan didn’t respond.

Click grunted out a laugh and kicked a metal chair over to Guan Shan. “Take a seat Red.”

With a hard stare fixed on Click, Guan Shan set his jaw and sat slowly.

“That’s a good boy. I didn’t think you’d go so easy. You’re either a complete dumbass or you have a death wish.” Click turned to the one guy who had followed them in, a big motherfucker bulked up from beers and red meat. “Tape ‘im down.”

The brute grabbed a roll of duct tape off the gritty counter and dutifully taped each leg to a leg of the chair and ran a few around Guan Shan’s chest and the chair back for good measure. The rip of duct tape and a whining light filled a tense silence.

It had been too long since he’d said something, but it was so hard to form words. The world swam and Guan Shan’s heart beat uncomfortably hard in his chest, urged to flutter faster than hummingbird wings by uppers that felt worse than one too many cups of coffee.

Click walked forward and leaned in close, the smell of stale cigarettes hitting Guan Shan’s nostrils like a mule kick to the chest.

“Where’s your partner Red?”

Guan Shan reigned in his panic a second too late and Click ate it up with a shit eating grin.

The pain when it came was delayed, one blessing of being too fucked to walk straight enough if he wanted to. Guan Shan spit a mouth full of blood straight into Click’s learing face. Guan Shan knew his eye would be swollen for a week. If he made it past tonight.

“Oh there it is. There’s our red-headed devil.” Click hacked out a deep laugh that turned into a coughing fit as he wiped the blood off his face with a black paisley handkerchief. Guan Shan glared as best he could and Click just leaned against the counter and lit a cigarette. Silence settled in.

“Bum me a square.” The words came gravely out of Guan Shan’s mouth but he was satisfied that his voice didn’t waver.

Click just laughed again, “I ain’t sitt’en here holding a smoke for you.”

“Gimme another bump then.”

Click’s expression turned sour. “You wanna be high for this Red? You’re a little shit, you know that? ‘Course you know that.” Click leaned forward. “You didn’ think we’d figure out you was with the DEA because you’re,” Click punctuated his words with a well-placed kick, “a dumbass,” another heel kick, the leather of his boots catching the ridges of Guan Shan’s ribs, “‘lil shit.” There was a special type of venom in the last word and the final kick that punctuated it was straight to Guan Shan’s gut.

Whatever was left in Guan Shan’s stomach came up onto the yellowing linoleum floor. The metal chair squealed halfway across the kitchen with the kicks.

Click looked pissed. “You can sing now or later, I don’t give a fuck Red. But we’re gonna get every little bit of information out of your dumb ass about why the fuckin’ DEA is out in the fuckin’ boones bothern’ us good folk.” Click placed his lit cigarette between his lips, nubby yellow crack teeth showing for a moment before he folded his arms and grimaced. “But first we have some other business.”

Click’s gaze flicked up to the mountain of a man that had been idly standing by like he was at a particularly boring church service. Guan Shan’s heart sank.

“Go out there and find ‘im.”

Guan Shan was knee deep into his next lie before he could think about it too hard, stemming panic from working its way in.

“Fuck off Click. I knew you’d be cautious but this is fuck’in overkill. That coke’s real, how’d you think I get it? Ask the DEA all polite-like? Fuck-off man. It’s just you ‘in me and you’re sending Brick House here out there to crash around in the dark chasing after shadows. You’ve been hitt’in the pipe too hard. Melt’n you’re brain and shit.”

Click seemed to consider Guan Shan for a moment and his tall lackey hung between leaving and staying, waiting for the verdict.

“So you admittin’ you’re with the DEA Red?” He took a deep inhale of his cigarette, the cherry lighting up with an audible crackling sound.

“Yeah. How’d you think I get this stuff? We busted couple hundred pounds of the shit I brought you tonight. And no one checks on it after it’s been logged. Everyone in that department is dipp’in into the shit we grab. Usually just for recreational purposes. But I can get you set up with a ‘lil bit here and there. Weed. Crack. Coke. Party pills. We get the big hauls ‘cause we go after the distributors. And there’s extra in it for you if you can give me some tips every once ‘n awhile.”

Guan Shan wasn’t surprised by the fist that connected with his face. He was really gonna look like shit once all this was through.

“You got’ damn motherfucker!” Click fisted his shirt, dragging him and the metal chair forward with a horrendous squeal against the floor.

“Did you just ask me to become an informant for the fucking cops? After everything I’ve done for you Red? Gave you a fuck’in home? Took you in? Then you go dissapear’n and we think you’re dead.” Click was really yelling now, his spit spraying over Guan Shan’s face. “We spilled blood over you Red. And then you show up fifteen-fucking years later looking like the day you disappeared and you have the fuckin’ balls to just think you gonna be welcome back here? You’re dead to us, Red.”

Click turned to mountain man. “Find his fucking partner. He’s lurk’in out there somewhere in the woods.”

“Wait, no, Click I’ll tell you whatever the fuck you want but if he’s out there he’s just look’in for me. He don’ know nothin and it’s not gonna help you much to have to deal with two of us. You’re gon’ have a harder time covern’ up two miss’in people. He ain’t even from around here and you know who they’ll start com’in after first.”

“Oh I know alright,” Click growled and brought his knee up hard into Guan Shan “I know ‘cause you’re here and we seen you come into town.”

Guan Shan was spluttering for breath, gasping, winded as he remembered the fucking truck stop. He Tian kissing him in the beat up Toyota and Guan Shan unwilling to push him off. Static of a station on the radio going in and out and crumpled chip bags crunching as He Tian leaned over the armrest.

Click stilled and Guan Shan lost the thread. Click had flicked open a knife large enough to skin a deer but before Guan Shan could tense the knife was cutting him free from the chair and Click was hauling Guan Shan to his feet.

The knife was back into Click’s pocket before Guan Shan could process what the hell was happening and he shoved roughly out onto the front porch. Moths and June bugs flew through the muggy air outside, circling the porch light. Guan Shan heard the cold click of Click’s gun as he cocked it and pressed the cool metal to the side of Guan Shan’s head.

“Come on out ‘for I splatter your partner’s brains all over my porch.” Click yelled the words into the darkness beyond the porch.

Guan Shan squeezed his eyes shut and grit his teeth. Keep to the plan. Keep to the plan. Start your mother fucking car and get out of here. Get out of here.

His prayers were in vain though. He Tian emerged into the porch light silently, hands up.

–

It had been quiet, which was good. Most of the group had broken off to go party somewhere or pick up more beer and drugs, obviously bored by having their night of partying cut short. That left Click with another giant of a man inside. Easy. He just had to wait for the right moment to get Guan Shan the fuck out of there.

He Tian made a loop of the house, quietly checking if the back door was unlocked or if any windows were open. The house was locked up but again, it wouldn’t be a problem. He just had to wait for one of them to come out for a smoke or grab something from their car.

It was too risky to just break in. He Tian settled in and listened. His fingers itched for a cigarette. He could hear the muffled voice of Click talking. That was good too. Hopefully that’s all they were doing, talking.

He Tian’s first indication that things had gone south was the sound of metal squealing and Click yelling. Someone grunted and retched, a wet splattering sound punctuated by coughs and gasps. He Tian saw red. Breath. Breath. Stay calm and wait. You’ll put him in more danger if you break in now.

He Tian wanted to move, adrenaline beating a tattoo against his veins. He was shaking with it. He Tian dug his nails against his palm, trying to distract his body from the need to move. It was a beat too late when he noticed things had gone quiet.

The front door burst open and He Tian almost bolted for the assholes right then and there. Guan Shan was a bloody mess, barely able to stand up. His eyes were already swelling, purple bruises forming shapes Rorschach would be proud of. His dark shirt was wet with blood and the thin skin above his eyes was split and still flowing.

But despite how much he wanted to raise his own gun and fill these fuckers with enough lead to down an elephant, he couldn’t take the chance. Not with Click pressing the muzzle of agun into Guan Shan’s bloody temple.

“Come on out ‘for I splatter your partner’s brains all over my porch.”

He Tian walked out with his hands up. Guan Shan made a noise somewhere between anger and despair.

He had one chance at this. One chance before the mountain of a man next to Click got to He Tian, patted him down, took his gun and then hauled He Tian inside to share in a few miserable hours as a punching bag before becoming catfish food.

“There you are pretty boy.”

He Tian showed concern, fear, anxiety. Let them mask his face. Let them make Click think he was safe.

“Din’ think I would have such a fun night! Your partner here is a fuck’in dumbass. That’s it, nice and slow.”

He Tian kept eye contact and suddenly, with enough slipping to seem real, tripped. And there it was. With the sudden movement Click reacted before thinking, swinging his gun from Guan Shan to He Tian.

The rest was a blur of instinct and a prayer. He Tian rolled and pulled his gun, aimed and fired.

–

It was over fast. Guan Shan stood stock still, trying not to pull Click one way or the other. It was only after Click slumped down and the mountain man crumpled did Guan Shan realize he was splattered in blood that wasn’t his.

It didn’t matter though because He Tian was there, his hands all over Guan Shan. A quick flick of a knife and Guan Shans hands were free.

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

He Tian didn’t respond, simply went about checking Guan Shan over, pulling his shirt up and grimacing at the damage splayed across Guan Shan’s body, head bowed. Guan Shan could feel He Tian’s hands shaking where they balled up in his shirt.

“Hey, hey, come on. Let’s get out of here.”

He Tian’s jaw clenched. “You said they wouldn’t do anything.”

“Well I might have under calculated a few things.”

“A few–” He Tian shuddered, cutting himself off and Guan Shan’s world swooped for a second as He Tian swung him into a bridal carry headed for the car.

“I can carry myself, hey!” He Tian had Guan Shan in the car and was around and in the driver’s seat in one swift motion. It started up on the first try and He Tian was peeling out of the gravel lot and hurtling down the dirt road.

“Whoah, whoah, He Tian, where’s the fire? Slow the fuck down, we still gotta stay low.”

He Tian slammed the car to the stop. His knuckles were white around the steering wheel.

“Is it your first time? You know, doing that.” The words came out as a raspy wheeze and Guan Shan winced. He definitely had a cracked rib.

“Yes, sweetheart, it’s my first time dragging you as a bloody pulp out from a meth house where two motherfucking shit stains were ready to carve you up for entertainment.”

Guan Shan didn’t know why he suddenly felt like fighting but he dug his heels in. “It was our only way in, and now we know Click’s not the one who’s been mixing up the fake pain pills that have been killin’ people.”

A muscle jumped in He Tian’s jaw. The truck lurched forward. “We’re going to the hospital.”

“No we fuckin’ ain’t! Get your head on straight, He Tian, we’ve got a good half hour before the rest of Click’s ‘lil possy comes back from wherever they’ve been gettin fucked up, finds two cold bodies in the dirt and finds me not there and puts two an’ two together.” Guan Shan reached for the cigarettes He Tian kept in the cup holder. “What we’re doin’ is going back to our hotel, packin’ up our shit fast as we can, gettin’ back in this truck and driving as far away from this god forsaken place as we can.”

He Tian didn’t respond. Muggy summer air whipped around them through the open windows.

They rolled into town and Guan Shan relaxed when He Tian turned towards the motel.

“Stay here.” He Tian was out of the truck and headed into the motel before Guan Shan could say anything. He slumped into the seat and lit another cigarette.

Back on the road, orange street lights blurred by as He Tian pushed 100 down the highway. Guan Shan was crashing hard, his whole body ached and he knew tomorrow would be worse. He lit another cigarette, too tired to do anything else, too wired to sleep.

“You’re quitting this case.” He Tian’s voice barely rose above the hum of the car hurtling down the highway.

“I’m not talkin’ ‘bout this right now.”

“They could of killed you.”

“Yeah, and they coulda killed you too. I told you this isn’t like the city. The hills have their own code and these people live by it. Ain’t anyone coming to help hill folk.”

He Tian snagged the pack of cigarettes, depositing them out of reach in his car door. “So you’ve got to, is that it?”

Guan Shan grunted. “I don’t know He Tian. I just know people are dying and I have connections here and I’m gonna use them so we can stop the son of a bitch who’s been poisoning people.”

The cover of night slipped from around them, the first hints of dawn lightening the sky.

Guan Shan was somewhere between waking and fever dreams when He Tian spoke again.

“So what’s our next move.”

Guan Shan cracked his left eye open, the right one was too swollen to see out of.

“You’re sticking along with this thing? You ‘don seem like you like it much.”

He Tian snorted as though it was obvious. “I just killed two men, Guan Shan, I should think it’s obvious that I’m in this thing.”

Guan Shan closed his eye and hummed. “We’re headed in deep then, to a place where the rest of the world doesn’t exist. Where we’ll be alone. You ready for that?”

“Lead the way Red.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts, comments, questions- tell me what you think!

#19 days #19 days fanfic #dark themes #tianshan #he tian #mo guan shan #depictions of violence #midwestern gothic #set some time before cell phones #Code of the Hills #egregious use of apostrophes #the accent is a hick hill people twang #not a southern accent

16 notes · View notes

disastersiblingsau · 4 years

Text

A Comprehensive Summary Of The DisasterSiblings AU:

An AU wherein Steve Leonard does not have evil blood, and thus Larten agrees to taking him on as his assistant.

Darren, what with being Darren and all, refuses to just let his BFF wonder of with some random vampire, and after a series of highly-regrettable hijinks, winds up as Larten’s assistant as well.

Many a thing goes very differently because of this, and not only do Darren and Steve remain friends whilst making Larten Crepsley’s life a perpetual, self-imposed circle of it’s own hell through sheer act of being children, but many other characters wind up undergoing a completely different journey than their cannonical-counterparts.

Evra Von, for instance, has two friends now!.

(One is an outgoing-nightmare, and the other still has regrets.)

Trivia Time!, do ya’ll remember how in Book 2, Larten bluffed Darren into frightening his friend Sam away by saying that, in order for Sam to join the cirque, then he would have to become a Half-Vampire like Darren?.....

Well that don’t work no-more!.

Why?....

Because Steve is Steve, that’s why!.

(Turns out that bluffing Steve Leonard doesn’t work half as well as bluffing Darren Shan does, and Steve wants to keep his friends around.)

And just like that, Bada-Bing, Bada-Boom!.

Sam-hecking-down-for-anything-Grest is a Half-Vampire now, because I backed Larten into a corner, and I like it when Larten suffers.

(Hurt for me, My Vampiric-Redhead!.)

But!-

Everybody hurts, not just Larten, oh no!.

Nothing that Desmond Tiny does works out in his favor here (Because, sidenote, I’m the Authorlord, and I hate his ass.)

Said nobody to Desmond Tiny, ever.

If you’ve made it this far in the post, congratulations, because other funtimes include.......

. Seba wrongfully assuming that having grandchildren would be a fun endeavor.

. Everyone in Vampire-Mountain immediately assuming that Larten committed six consecutive homicides.

. The Princes needing a migraine-prescription.

(And Gavner’s crippling depression!.)

Enjoy it, Ya’ll.

Special-Thanks to the wonderful @festivaloftheundead for listening to these crazy whimsies and indulging my muse, without their patience and desire to answer so many Anons, none of this Dumster-Fire would even be a thing (In all probability.)

They gave me the confidence to post.

#cirque du freak #the saga of darren shan #darren shan #steve leonard #sam grest #evra von #larten crepsley #seba nile #mika ver leth #arrow #paris skyle #disastersiblingsau #ARE 'YA READY KIDS?! ('AI 'AI CAPTAIN!.)#OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

15 notes · View notes

vreugd-madelon · 5 years

Text

Cirque du Freak Series Review

This series is known under two names; Cirque du Freak in the USA or The Saga of Darren Shan in the UK. The author is Darren Shan, pen name of Darran O'Shaughnessey. It consists of 12 Books, and totals 2,698 pages. It falls under Horror Fantasy Genre.

Darren Shan goes with his friend Steve Leonard to show one night of Cirque du Freak, being obsesses with the spider Madam Octa, Darren plans to steal her. But all goes wrong. A friend gets bitten. Darren wants to save them, but Larten Crespley will only help under one Circumstance; Darren becomes his assistant. It he end Darren agrees, and joins the creatures of the night, only to end up in a raging war.

1. A Living Nightmare. 5 Stars. The beginning is every interesting. The touches of Horror and the Macabre are very much real and very gross. I like the voice of Hibernius Tall the most, it's deep and soothing with a hint of hidden malice. The voice of Larten Crepsley is much the same, but a little less deep. In the beginning I dislikes it, but it began to grew on me. Even though the story is almost two decades old, it still holds up.

2. The Vampire's Assistant. 4.5 Stars. The only things I dislikesd is Sam and Darren's whining about blood. I understand that both are a struggle for him eventually, yet it bothers me to no end. Chapters are a decent length, just enough happens within them to make them interesting. I do like the ending, as it's a really nice show rather than tell. P.S. Pickled unions are my favorite snack as well.

3. Tunnels of Blood. 3 Stars. Up until this point, I liked this one the least. We see Murlough for the first time, and it's a really nice way to set him up and introduce him. Yet the book feels like a filler. The character of Murlough himself, I do really like. He is creepy and strange, but a man of honor. I love how the bond between Darren and Larten grows from, dislike to trust.

4. Vampire Mountain. 4.5 Stars. I love this one. This is the first time we get a true glimps into the vampire world. The scenery is amazing and I remember reading this book for the very first time in my childhood. The characters of Arra Sails and Vancha March returned to me, and I felt nostalgic. We learn about their world, habits and the vampire race.

5. Trials of Death. 5 Stars. Another amazing adventure. The way the trials are described is incredible. They have me fearing for Darren's life, his well-being (even though I know there are still more book to come.). The trials are full of fear, surprise and pain. The reveal and the ending are a shocker, a cliffhanger in true Darren Shan style of writing. I hate it and I love it.

6. The Vampire Prince. 5 Stars. I though that this book was going in a slightly different direction upon seeing the title, I thought we were finally meeting the last Vampire Prince, Vancha March, but not yet. Because of this I was thrown for a loop in this amazing book. It was still full of action and excitement. From Darren's escape, to his return. From the lies all the way to the truth. From his death scentence, to him rising above the vampiric laws.

7. Hunters of the Dusk. 5 Stars. This book takes an interesting turns as DesmondTiny shows up at vampire mountain. I love how everybody is creeped out by him and I as a reader feel it too. We officially meet my favorite character; Vancha March, the green haired, animal skin wearing, throwing star chucking, old-school vampire. Personally I relate to his world view the most, and that is why I like him so much. I even did relate to him when I was a kid. They're heading out once more and we learn more about the world and how they view and understand it as vampires.

8. Allies of the Night. 3 Stars. I see how it's important for Darren to have him going back to school, as it's a personal struggle, but I really dislike the scenes. I didn't enjoy it as much at the other books. What I do really like about is the reveals about Steve and Debbie within this book as they both return. But because I've read these book before I can tell that all isn't as it seemed. I love how we got an update about their lives, but who knows how much about it is really true.

9. Killer of the Dawn. 5 Stars. Once more we retun to the action and excitement. It especially runs high around chapter 19 and 20, the climax. My heart was beating faster, even while I knew what was coming. The ending threw even me for a twist, not the big reveal, but what happened before.

10. The Lake of Souls. 2 stars. This book truly feels like a filler book. To tie up loose ends, primaraly the backstory of Harkat. I didn't enjoy my time reading. It's filled with all kinds of weird creatures. All mashed together into a single book. As if the writer was wondering; 'With how much weirdness can I get away with?' Yet somehow it still feels real and possible, maybe because we're told that the characters have been transported into a different world.

11. Lord of Shadows. 4 stars. This one didn't have the most action in it, yet I really enjoyed it. Even without it there was tension. Twist and turn around every corner, even some I didn't see coming. The only thing I will add is; May you bee triumphant in death.

12. Sons of Destiny. 5 Stars. Darren has done it once more. I remember it from my first time reading when I was younger. Now it happened again. I sobbed at the end. Tears flowed freely. The ending is really fulfilling and satisfying, one of the more creative once I've read. This books is devided into parts, and it's really nicely done. The first part is the climactic ending to which they've been working towards, but that doesn't mean the second part is boring at all. The second part is the really conclusion of it all. The last moments on the roof are incredibly well written. There were soo quality differences in the recording of this one, as some lines had the need to be rerecorded, which slightly annoyed me.

General Notes: 1. I read this story as a child of ten or eleven, and I remember them being amazing. This view has not changed into adulthood. 2. The Cirque members are very interesting with their different abilities. Some of my favorites are Pasta O'Malley, Truska and Cormac Limbs. 3. I love the really small writing details, things change like instead of 'under the sun', it becomes 'under the moon'. Very nice way to see Darren's change into the world of the night. 4. This series is made of 4 trilogies, but each has a small prologue to summarize what has happened before. Throughout all 12 book we experience ups and downs, as they grow we grow, which is really nice. 5. I also really like the spines of the phisical books, see the picture below and understand why. 6. Last but not least, I really like Ralph Lister's voice. I think it's perfect for Darren and the other characters. His voice for Harkat and Mr. Hibernius Tall are my favorites.

If you have any questions send me an ask here on tumblr or tweet me. If there are any books that you want to recommend, be sure to let me know!

#cirque du freak #the saga of darren shan #Darren Shan #larten crepsley #vampires #vampaneze #book #series #review #book review

74 notes · View notes

elveny · 6 years

Text

Fictober 2018 - Day 3

Fandom: SWTOR

Pairing: Female Jedi Knight / Theron Shan

Prompt: “How can I trust you?”

901 words

Hope was a dangerous thing as Theron had learned time and time again.

When she had smiled at him the first time, at him.

When he had seen the anguish in her eyes as she rushed to save him back on Rishi.

Back when he had gotten the first report that maybe, just maybe she wasn’t dead after all the hope had nearly destroyed him. It had taken Lana weeks to calm him down again, make him rest and eat and not literally work himself to death to get more accurate reports and a definite confirmation of her imprisonment. And even after they had gotten that confirmation it had taken another two years until Lana had been ready to actually try a break-out. It had been enough time to warp his hope into black dread, especially after Jiune hadn’t answered his message despite that “read” confirmation in his data pad that screamed at him every time he looked at it.

And yet… every time his hope had been answered. By another smile, by a touch, a kiss, by happiness in her eyes and a whispered “I love you”. He hadn’t known true happiness until he had found it in the small gestures of joy and love she directed at him.

How twisted was he that it was exactly this that had made him actively cause her pain?

He remembered only too well the second that she understood the amount of his treachery. Supposed, planned, double agent-y treachery, true, but treachery nonetheless. The look of hurt in her eyes was still haunting him in his dreams.

That look was what he had kept closest to his heart in the months that followed in which he did not answer her messages, be they public or private. The slight crack in her voice as she called his name in desperation when he had closed the forcefield which enclosed both her and Lana on the exploding train had accompanied him for weeks. The way her outstretched hand had sunk down when he didn’t take it as she caught up with him on Copero.

He had used the memory of this moment to try and kill every inch of hope in his heart. He hadn’t deserved it, hadn’t dared to think about the future. She was save, that was what counted. It hadn’t worked, of course. There had been nights where he had hoped so badly to once more find his way back into her arms that his whole body and soul had hurt. These moments had been rare, however, and become less and less frequent the longer his mission, his treachery had continued. But when they had met again on Nathema, that first moment when she came around the corner and caught the first look at him, the hope had gripped him so badly that it took his breath away and he could barely keep his façade up.

Standing on the hangar of the base they had built on Odessen he still couldn’t believe that he had been given another chance. Theron had expected it to be… uncomfortable. He hadn’t expected it to be this uncomfortable. Not that he didn’t deserve it, of course. He deserved even more of their contempt and distrust. He deserved to be thrown out completely. But it seemed like Jiune had spoiled him by fulfilling his hopes time and time again - somehow the way Lana had just thrown him out of the meeting room with a snarled ‘How can I trust you?! Get out!’ when he first dared to make an appearance had hurt more than he would like to admit to himself. But he hadn’t even tried to argue, hadn’t stopped even as he heard how an argument about his general presence on the base erupted. Somehow he didn’t want to know who argued against him.

“She’s hurt,” the calm, deep voice of Arcann said next to him. Theron threw him a look but the former Emperor just looked straight ahead. After a second, Theron nodded.

“She has every right to be,” he answered with a nonchalance he didn’t feel. Arcann inclined his head.

“I am glad the Commander brought you back,” Arcann added after another moment. Theron looked at him again, curiosity in his eyes. Jiune had told him how Arcann had asked her to show Theron the same mercy she had once shown him but he still didn’t quite understand what had made him do so.

“Why?” he asked. The intensity in Arcann’s eyes when he finally turned to face him surprised him. They had never gotten to know each other very well, so the amount of emotion he could sense in the other man was new to him.

And so he was not prepared for the answer Arcann gave him. “It takes a great person and an incredible amount of bravery to risk everything one is and has to make sure the people you love are save. I respect that.”

For once, Theron’s usual sarcasm and wit escaped him and all he could do was nod mutely. Arcann somehow seemed to understand and he gave him a tight-lipped smile as he clapped him on the shoulder. “Lana will come around. Just give it time,” he said and left Theron alone to stare after him. There it was again, Theron thought and pulled his jacket closer around himself against the cool evening wind. Hope.

#fictober18 #fictober 2018 #swtor #my writing #theron shan #post-nathema

15 notes · View notes

garywonghc · 6 years

Text

Buddhism in modern society

by Venerable Thubten Chodron

We are extraordinarily fortunate to have the circumstances for Dharma practice that are presently available to us. In both 1993 and 1994, I went to Mainland China on a pilgrimage and visited many temples there. Seeing the situation of Buddhism there made me appreciate the fortune we have here.

However, we often take our freedom, material prosperity, spiritual masters and the Buddha’s teachings for granted and are blind to the wonderful opportunity that we have to practice. For example, we take for granted our ability to gather together to learn the Dharma. But this is not the case in many places. For example, when I was on a pilgrimage at Jiu Hua Shan, Kshitigarbha’s Holy Mountain, the abbess of a nunnery asked me to give a talk to the pilgrims there. But my friends from Shanghai who were travelling with me said, "No, you can’t do that. The police will come and all of us will get in trouble." We had to be careful about even an innocent activity like teaching the Dharma. Only when the abbess said that she was a friend of the police did my friends say it was safe for me to teach.

APPRECIATING OUR ADVANTAGEOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

It is important that we reflect on the advantages and good circumstances that we have to practice right now. Otherwise, we will take them for granted and they will go to waste. We tend to select one or two small problems in our life, emphasise them, and blow them out of proportion. Then we think, "I can’t be happy. I can’t practice the Dharma," and this thought itself prevents us from enjoying our life and making it meaningful. We human beings are very funny: when something bad happens in our lives we say, "Why me? Why is this happening to me?" But when we wake up every morning and are alive and healthy and our family is well, we never say, "Why me? Why am I so fortunate?"

Not only should we open our eyes to all the things that are going right in our lives, but also we should recognise that they are results of our own previously-created positive actions or karma. It is helpful to think, "Whoever I was in a previous life, I did a lot of positive actions which make it possible for me to have so many good circumstances now. So in this life I should also act constructively by being ethical and kind so that in the future such fortune will continue."

APPRECIATING OUR PROBLEMS

Appreciating our advantageous circumstances is important as is appreciating our problems. Why appreciate our problems? Because the difficult situations in our lives are the ones that make us grow the most. Take a minute and think about a difficult time in your life, a time when you had a lot of problems. Didn’t you learn something valuable from that experience? You wouldn’t be the person you are now without having gone through those difficulties. We may have gone through a painful time in our life, but we came out the other side with stronger inner resources and a better understanding of life. Seen in this way, even our problems enable us to become better people and aid us on the path to enlightenment.

Before we take refuge in the Three Jewels — the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Sangha — it is helpful to visualise them in the space in front of us. That is, we imagine the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats in a pure land. We are there too, surrounded by all sentient beings. A pure land is a place where all the circumstances are conducive to practising the Dharma. When I visualised being in a pure land, I used to imagine only the people I liked and left out the people with whom I felt uncomfortable, threatened, insecure, or fearful. It was nice to imagine being in a place where everything was very pleasant and it was easy to practice the Dharma.

But one time when I was visualising the pure land, all the people who were giving me problems were there too! I recognised that if a pure land is a place conducive for Dharma practice, then I also need the people who harm me to be there, because they help me to practice. In fact, sometimes those who harm us help us more to practice the Dharma than those who help us. The people who help us, give us gifts, and tell us how wonderful, talented, and intelligent we are often cause us to get puffed up. On the other hand, the people who harm us show us very clearly how much resentment and jealousy we have and how attached we are to our reputations. They help us to see our attachments and aversions and they point out the things we need to work on in ourselves. Sometimes they help us even more than our teachers do in this respect.

For example, our Dharma teachers tell us, "Try to forgive other people, try not to be angry. Jealousy and pride are defilements, so try not to follow them because they will cause you and others difficulties." We say, "Yes, yes, that’s true. But I don’t have those negative qualities. But the people who harm me are very resentful, jealous, and attached!" Even though our Dharma teachers point out our faults to us, we still don’t see them. But when people with whom we don’t get along point out our faults to us, we have to look at them. We can’t run away anymore. When we’re outrageously angry or burning with jealousy or attachment is eating away at us, we can’t deny that we have these negative emotions. Of course, we try to say that it’s the other person’s fault, that we have these horrible emotions only because they made us have them. But after we’ve listened to the Buddha’s teachings, this rationale doesn’t work any more. We know in our hearts that our happiness and suffering come from our own mind. Then, even though we try to blame our difficulties on other people, we know we can’t. We are forced to look at them ourselves. And when we do, we also see that they are incredible opportunities to grow and learn.

The bodhisattvas, who sincerely wish to practice the Dharma, want to have problems. They want people to criticise them. They want their reputation to get ruined. Why? They see problems as wonderful opportunities to practice. Atisha, a great bodhisattva in India, helped to spread Buddhism to Tibet in the 11th century. When he went to Tibet, he took his Indian cook with him. This cook was very disagreeable, speaking harshly and being rude and obnoxious to people. He even regularly insulted Atisha. The Tibetans asked, "Why did you bring this person with you? We can cook for you. You don’t need him!" But Atisha said, "I do need him. I need him to practice patience."

So when someone criticises me I think, "He is an incarnation of Atisha’s cook." One time I was living in a Dharma centre and had big problems with one person there, let’s call him Sam. I was so happy when I left that place to go back to the monastery and see my spiritual master. My master knew of my difficulties and asked me, "Who is kinder to you: the Buddha, or Sam?" I immediately replied, "Of course the Buddha is kinder to me!" My teacher looked disappointed and proceeded to tell me that Sam was actually much kinder to me than the Buddha! Why? Because I couldn’t possibly practice patience with the Buddha. I had to practice with Sam, and without practising patience there was no way I could become a Buddha, so I actually needed Sam! Of course, that wasn’t what I wanted my teacher to say! I wanted him to say, "Oh, I understand, Sam is a horrible person. He was so mean to you, you poor thing." I wanted sympathy, but my teacher didn’t give it to me. This made me wake up and realise that difficult situations are beneficial because they force me to practice and find my inner strength. All of us are going to have problems in our lives. This is the nature of cyclic existence. Remembering this can help us to transform our problems into the path to enlightenment.

DHARMA PRACTICE IN MODERN SOCIETY

This is an important aspect of Buddhism in modern society. Dharma practice isn’t just coming to the temple; it’s not simply reading a Buddhist scripture or chanting the Buddha’s name. Practice is how we live our lives, how we live with our family, how we work together with our colleagues, how we relate to the other people in the country and on the planet. We need to bring the Buddha’s teachings on loving-kindness into our workplace, into our family, even into the grocery store and the gym. We do this not by handing out leaflets on a street corner, but by practising and living the Dharma ourselves. When we do, automatically we will have a positive influence on the people around us. For example, you teach your children loving-kindness, forgiveness, and patience not only by telling them, but by showing it in your own behaviour. If you tell your children one thing, but act in the opposite way, they are going to follow what we do, not what we say.

TEACHING CHILDREN BY EXAMPLE

If we’re not careful, it is easy to teach our children to hate and never to forgive when others harm them. Look at the situation in the former Yugoslavia: it is a good example of how, both in the family and in the schools, adults taught children to hate. When those children grew up, they taught their children to hate. Generation after generation, this went on, and look what happened. There is so much suffering there; it’s very sad. Sometimes you may teach children to hate another part of the family. Maybe your grandparents quarrelled with their brothers and sisters, and since then the different sides of the family didn’t speak to each other. Something happened years before you were born — you don’t even know what the event was — but because of it, you’re not supposed to speak to certain relatives. Then you teach that to your children and grandchildren. They learn that the solution to quarrelling with someone is never to speak to them again. Is that going to help them to be happy and kind people? You should think deeply about this and make sure you teach your children only what is valuable.

This is why it’s so important that you exemplify in your behaviour what you want your children to learn. When you find resentment, anger, grudges, or belligerence in your heart, you have to work on those, not only for your own inner peace but so you don’t teach your children to have those harmful emotions. Because you love your children, try to also love yourself as well. Loving yourself and wanting yourself to be happy means you develop a kind heart for the benefit of everybody in the family.

BRINGING LOVING-KINDNESS TO THE SCHOOLS

We need to bring loving-kindness not only into the family but also into the schools. Before I became a nun, I was a schoolteacher, so I have especially strong feelings about this. The most important thing for children to learn is not a lot of information, but how to be kind human beings and how to resolve their conflicts with others in a constructive way. Parents and teachers put a lot of time and money into teaching children science, arithmetic, literature, geography, geology, and computers. But do we ever spend any time teaching them how to be kind? Do we have any courses in kindness? Do we teach kids how to work with their own negative emotions and how to resolve conflicts with others? I think this is much more important than the academic subjects. Why? Children may know a lot, but if they grow up to be unkind, resentful, or greedy adults, their lives will not be happy.

Parents want their children to have a good future and thus think their children need to make a lot of money. They teach their children academic and technical skills so that they can get a good job and make lots of money — as if money were the cause of happiness. But when people are on their deathbed, you never hear anybody wishfully say, "I should have spent more time in the office. I should have made more money." When people have regrets about how they lived their life, usually they regret not communicating better with other people, not being kinder, not letting the people that they care about know that they care. If you want your kids to have a good future don’t teach them just how to make money, but how to live a healthy life, how to be a happy person, how to contribute to society in a productive way.

TEACHING CHILDREN TO SHARE WITH OTHERS

As parents you have to model this. Let’s say your children come home and say, "Mom and Dad, I want designer jeans, I want new roller blades, I want this and I want that because all the other kids have it." You say to your children, "Those things won’t make you happy. You don’t need them. It won’t make you happy to keep up with the Lees." But then you go out and buy all the things that everybody else has, even though your house is already filled with things you don’t use. In this case, what you are saying and what you are doing are contradictory. You tell your children to share with other children, you don’t give things to charities for the poor and needy. Look at the homes in this country: they are filled with things we don’t use but can’t give away. Why not? We’re afraid that if we give something away we might need it in the future. We find it difficult to share our things, but we teach children that they should share. A simple way to teach your children generosity is to give away all the things you haven’t used in the last year. If all four seasons have gone by and we haven’t used something, we probably won’t use it the next year either. There are many people who are poor and can use those things, and it would help ourselves, our children, and the other people if we gave those things away.

Another way to teach your children kindness is to not buy everything that you want. Instead, save the money and give it to a charity or to somebody who is in need. You can show your children through your own example that accumulating more and more material things doesn’t bring happiness, and that it’s more important to share with others.

TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND RECYCLING

Along this line, we need to teach children about the environment and recycling. Taking care of the environment that we share with other living beings is part of the practice of loving-kindness. If we destroy the environment, we harm others. For example, if we use a lot of disposable things and don’t recycle them but just throw them away, what are we giving to future generations? They will inherit from us bigger garbage dumps. I’m very happy to see more people reusing and recycling things. It is an important part of our Buddhist practice and an activity that temples and Dharma centres should take the lead in.

The Buddha did not comment directly on many things in our modern society — such as recycling — because those things didn’t exist at his time. But he talked about principles that we can apply to our present situations. These principles can guide us in deciding how to act in many new situations that didn’t exist 2,500 years ago.

NEW ADDICTIONS IN THE MODERN SOCIETY

However, the Buddha did talk directly about intoxicants and discouraged us from using them. At the time of the Buddha, the chief intoxicant was alcohol. However, extrapolating on the principle he set down, the advice against intoxicants also refers to using recreational drugs or misusing tranquilliser. If we take this a step further, we have to observe our relationship to the biggest intoxicant in our society: television. As a society, we are addicted to TV. For example, after getting home from work, we’re tired and want to relax. What do we do? We sit down, turn on the TV, and space out for hours, until we finally fall asleep in front of it. Our precious human life, with its potential to become a fully enlightened Buddha, gets wasted in front of the TV! Sometimes certain TV programs are far worse intoxicants than alcohol and drugs, for example, programs with a lot of violence. By the time a child is 15 years old, he or she has seen thousands of people die on the television. We’re intoxicating our children with a violent view of life. Parents need to select the TV programs they watch with a lot of care, and in that way be an example to their children.

Another big intoxicant is shopping. You may be surprised to hear this, but some psychologists are now researching addiction to shopping. When some people feel depressed, they drink or use drugs. Other people go to the shopping centre and buy something. It’s the same mechanism: we avoid looking at our problems and deal with our uncomfortable emotions by external means. Some people are compulsive shoppers. Even when they don’t need anything, they go to the mall and just look around. Then buy something, but return home still feeling empty inside.

We also intoxicate ourselves by eating too much or eating too little. In other words, we handle our uncomfortable emotions by using food. I often joke that in America the Three Jewels of Refuge are the TV, the shopping centre, and the refrigerator! That’s where we turn when we need help! But these objects of refuge don’t bring us happiness and in fact make us more confused. If we can turn our mind to the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Sangha, we’ll be a lot happier in the long run. Even in this moment, our spiritual practice can help us. For example, when we are tired or stressed out, we can relax our mind by chanting the Buddha’s name or by bowing to the Buddha. While doing this, we imagine the Buddha in front of us and think that much radiant and peaceful light streams from the Buddha into us. This light fills our entire body-mind and makes us very relaxed and at ease. After doing this for a few minutes, we feel refreshed. This is much cheaper and easier than taking refuge in the TV, shopping mall, and refrigerator. Try it!!

View On WordPress

9 notes · View notes

soaimagines · 7 years

Text

The Girl With The Crow Tattoo

Request: Imagine having a tattoo that resembles a crow design and the Sons think its one of theirs.

(I changed the placement of the tattoo for this one, I hope you don't mind.) Also Ive had writers block and managed to get this trash out, Im sorry its short and not very good. don't hate meeeee

♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔

Happy leant against the wall of the gas station and lifted his cigarette to his lips. He took a drag, letting the smoke fill his lungs while Kozik purchased some drinks inside. They had been riding all morning, their destination Charming. Clay had called last night asking them to come down and they had both been happy to oblige. They were a few miles outside of Stockton when they had decided to stop at the gas station for a break. Their bikes were parked to the side of the building and Kozik rounded the corner, two cans of red bull in his hands. He passed one to Happy and started to babble about a car they had passed on their travels. Happy didn't take notice. He tilted his face towards the sun and closed his eyes, letting the warmth soak into his skin. “Damn, thats the car!” Happy opened his eyes and focused his gaze on the old 1966 Ford Mustang that rolled to a stop in front of the pumps. He flicked his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed under his heel as he cracked open the can and lifted it to his lips, all the while never taking his eyes off the car. Kozik let out a low whistle when a woman hopped out of the car. She wore black jeans that hugged her thighs and a black tank top. Her long hair blew out behind her in the gentle breeze of the wind she lifted her sunglasses to rest on top of her head. She was stunningly beautiful and oblivious to her audience as she opened the door to her gas tank and reached for the nozzle. Kozik threw Happy a cheeky wink and grinned. “Cmon.” Happy followed him across the gravel and they both stopped next to the pumps. “Need a hand?” Kozik asked. She looked up and a slight frown crossed her features as she saw them both. Two handsome bikers leaning against the pumps, their eyes lingering on her curves. “Y’all work here?” She asked. Kozik chuckled and ran a hand through his blonde spiked hair. “No, darlin, but we don't mind helping out a pretty lil thing like you.” She stared at him, a blank expression on her face before shifting her gaze to Happy. He met her eye and watched as she studied him. “I can pump my own gas.” She said as she stuck the nozzle into the gas tank and squeezed the trigger, her eyes turning to the meter on the pump. “You know, I’ve been feeling kinda of off today..” Happy watched Kozik speak, knowing that this wasn't going to end well. She turned back to the blonde and crossed her arms over her chest, which only seemed to accentuate her cleavage. She raised an eyebrow in Koziks direction, waiting for him to continue. “But you definitely turned me on.” He grinned with a wink. Her face never changed as she stared at him and she shifted her gaze back to Happy. “Is he serious?” A ghost of a smirk crossed Happys lip and he nodded. “Sadly.” She wasn't expecting the gravelly rasp of his voice and although he only spoke one word she was intrigued by the dark stranger. She smiled and turned back to the nozzle and lifted it away from her car and placed it back on the hook. Kozik let out a sigh of defeat and they both watched as she reached into her car to grab her wallet. As she reached her tank slid up, revealing a large crow tattoo on her back. “Shit.” Kozik frowned and she straightened, pulling her tank back down. The expressions on both their faces had changed and they both eyed her curiously. “What?” They both exchanged a look and Happy looked away and lifted a toothpick between his lips. Kozik shook his head. “Sorry sweetheart, I didn't realise.” This only seemed to confuse her more and he continued. “I didn't know you were an old lady.” “Excuse me?!” The shift in her tone of voice brought back Happys attention and he watched the expression on her features change from shock to anger. “How old do you think I am?!” She demanded, her hands on her hips. Happy rolled his toothpick across his lips as Kozik shook his head. “Your tattoo,” He said, as some sort of explanation to his insult. “I didn't know you were taken. Who’s are you?” “What?” Her brows furrowed together in pure confusion and this time Kozik rolled his eyes. “Which one? Chibs? Tig? Juice?” She stared at him and then looked at Happy, her face blank. “Is he having a stroke?” This time Happy smirked and he pulled his toothpick away from his mouth. “Your tattoo.” “What about it? Its a bird.” “Its a crow.” Kozik stated. “Good spotting, Champ.” Happy smirked again while a brush crept up Koziks neck and she turned back to Happy for further explanation. “Crows are what some of our club use to show that a woman is theirs.” She nodded in understanding. “Well Im not anybody’s. Its just a tattoo, its not even finished yet.” Kozik perked up at there realisation that she was single but before he could bombard her with another pick up line she lifted a finger. “Dont even start.” She said to him and turned her back as she headed in to the gas station to pay. When she returned she found that Kozik had left, but Happy was still leaning against her car. She met his gaze as she approached and he watched her closely. “Whats your name?” He asked. She smiled. “(Y/N).” “Happy. Ican finish it.” He said, his voice low and he pointed towards her back. “I do tattoos.” She studied his features closely and nodded. “Give me your phone.” He passed her his burner and she scoffed as she turned over the flip top in her hands. “What are you, a drug dealer?” She passed him her phone and he added himself to her contacts. He smirked at her words and watched as she entered her phone number into the phone and passed it back to him. “Call me when your free.” She smiled up at him and Happy stepped towards her, closing the gap between them. He lifted his hand carefully and cupped her cheek before pressing his lips to her forehead. It was over before she could register what was happening and she bit her lip as she watched him walk back to his bike. She slid into her car and shut the door and gripped the wheel, knowing that she would be calling him tonight, and it wouldn't be to finish the tattoo.

♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔♔

If you want to be added to the tag list for any, or all Sons please let me know.x

@i-want-to-be-watered-by-roger @daniehelene27 @hellsmurf96 @xsvanjasx @blustar02 @homicidalteenagedream @jaaxsoadeaanspn @trinasoftballgirl @the-reagan-whittemore @thejulietfarciertlove @kacilove26 @mrsirishboru @soafanficluvr1 @fortheloveofthesoa @khyharah @samcrolivesforever @redwoodog @jade770 @realpowertwix @supernaturalanarchy @sam-samcro @my-bitch-the-tacoma-killer @thewifeofsethrollins @docsangel @eternalmikaelson @fullyoriginalruins @middle--fingering @shan-xoxo

#happy imagine #happy lowman #soa happy #sons of anarchy happy #happy soa #happy lowman imagine #happy lowman oneshot #sons of anarchy happy lowman #sons of anarchy #sons of anarchy imagine #soa #samcro happy lowman #samcro imagine #samcro fanfic #SAMCRO #soa fanfiction

762 notes · View notes

ddepressedbookworm · 3 years

Text

Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, DARK! DEMIGODS AU

based on the fic by @idiotacadamia and i which we are writing, in which everyday until the new year, we come out with a new chapter and a moodboard about dark! demigods!

here’s a playlist if anyone is interested

—

https://archiveofourown.org/works/35805196/chapters/89688664#workskin

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Category: Gen

Fandoms: Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan, The Heroes of Olympus - Rick Riordan

Characters: Hazel Levesque, Nico di Angelo, Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, Jason Grace, Leo Valdez, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, Thalia Grace, Frank Zhang, Piper McLean, Will Solace

Additional Tags: Shan and Sams' 2K22 Countdown, Angst, dark demigods au, get ready for a but load of angst, we might put in some fluff too, shan and i aren't completely evil, no beta we die like jason, Suicide, Blood and Violence, you know, the normal stuff

Summary: Every day until New Year, Shan and I bring you Shan and Sams 2K22 Countdown: Dark! demigods edition where every day a Dark! demigod drabbles will be released along with moodboards for each demigod (available on our tumblrs) and a playlist Shan put together personally.

REBLOGS > LIKES

8/11

NICO || JASON || THALIA || PERCY || LEO || HAZEL || ANNABETH || REYNA || FRANK || PIPER || WILL || RACHEL

okay ily bye

tagging some pjo moots under the cut (tell me if you don’t wanna be tagged <33)

@travelledtheseas @onlypanickedqueerness @drunk-on-water @simpingforreynarameriz @simpingforpjo @simpingforwillsolace @incorrectinfinity @simping-for-solangelo @dustyp1xie @darkandbittercat

#pjo #hoo #toa #riordanverse #annabeth chase #thalia grace #reyna avila ramirez arellano #jason grace #nico di angelo #percabeth #percy jackson #dark demigods ah #Shan and Sam’s 2K22 Countdown: Dark! Demigods Edition #shan gets randomly motivated #shan and sams corner #sam my beloved #Spotify

33 notes · View notes

idiotacadamia · 3 years

Note

ily

Omg I love you too, let’s enact a plan for world domination

#Shan asks #sams asks #Shan and sam time #shan and sams corner

10 notes · View notes

depressedacadamia · 3 years

Note

time ; mcga

hdjskksks ily <333

The link for that fic is here!

Thanks for the idea shan!!!

#asks #pjo #hoo #nico di angelo #will solace #leo valdez #solangelo #piper McLean #send me asks!#send asks #send requests #shan and sam's corner

3 notes · View notes

jeramymobley · 6 years

Text

Nat Geo Reveals Hong Kong’s Beauty Secrets

The Hong Kong Tourism Board and Nat Geo have tied up for the tenth annual installation of the Great Outdoors national tourism campaign.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has partnered with Nat Geo to promote the destination’s tenth annual Great Outdoors campaign, which features thirteen of the city’s most stunning landscapes. The push introduces visitors to some of its most picturesque nature trails.

Through the contrasting lenses of Nat Geo photographers and trail experts, the alliance backs the campaign’s One Place, Two Perspectives theme. Delivering a visual dichotomy, the imagery features verdant mountains, rustic villages, natural flora and fauna, beautiful landscapes, and spectacular seascapes.

French photographer, Matthieu Paley, whose Nat Geo assignments have taken him to far-flung corners of the globe, has lived in Hong Kong for nine years. For the project, he shot the majestic volcanic rock columns of Hong Kong’s famed Global Geopark on land and across its mesmerising aqua waters.

Local and renowned equal, Tugo Cheng, whose background in architecture lends his work a unique aesthetic, offers an inside scoop on the natural landscape’s beauty. He captures the indigenous culture of the historic Sam A Village as well as the exotic wild- and plant life over at Plover Cove Country Park.

Trail runner, Wyan Chow Pui-yan, leads the Nat Geo team into Tai Mo Shan Country Park and the city’s tallest mountain at more than 2,000 feet above sea level. Chow—and her godmother who runs a kiosk there—talk about hiking and trail-running at Tai Mo Shan.

“In a fresh attempt to showcase Hong Kong’s beauty through stunning photography and inspiring stories by some of the world’s top photographers, we encourage travellers to discover another side of cosmopolitan Hong Kong during hiking season from November to March,” said Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

The article Nat Geo Reveals Hong Kong’s Beauty Secrets appeared first on World Branding Forum.

0 notes

webcricket · 8 years

Text

The Lucky Ones

Characters: CastielXReader, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester

Word Count: 1798

A/N: Birthday challenge fic written for @splendidcas prompt #17 - “A kiss for good luck?” Congrats on 3K followers Shan! And happy 2-0! Fluff with extra ‘luff’ and a capital ‘F’ because birthdays should be sweet.

“Cas, wait!” Breathless from sprinting through the bunker, you caught up to the angel before he reached the stairs. It was now or the actual real imminent probability of never based on the supreme peril of the situation the seraph and the Winchesters intended to confront. Ignoring the nervous flip-flopping of your stomach, you gulped, swallowing your uncertainty, voice timorous. “A kiss for good luck?”

He blinked, eyes glinting puzzlement at your odd request, jaw slackening in an as yet unspoken appeal for clarification.

Sensing your resolve failing under the steady regard of those shining sapphire eyes, you mustered your will to action. Laying a palm on his chest for balance and standing up on your tip toes, you pressed a chaste kiss half onto his slightly parted mouth - the prickle of his unshaven cheek stinging your soft lips.

He peered down as you shrank away, expression curious, contemplating your pink flushed cheeks, shyly slumped shoulders, and apparent sudden inability to look anywhere in the vicinity of his vessel.

“Um, so good luck,” you managed to mumble, attempting to redirect any need for further explanation by pretending the quick kiss did not just require every ounce of courage you could gather.

When his tongue darted out to wet his parched lips in preparation to speak, he could taste the residue of strawberry lip balm lingering on his mouth. He determined the taste to be a pleasant one. Brow furrowing in thought, he regarded you with a tilted countenance. “What about Sam and Dean?”

Presented with evidence of the angel not interpreting your action as the embarrassingly cliché romantic gesture you intended it to be, you recovered your ability to look him in the eye. Lifting your chin, you met his searching gaze, offering an honest reply. “They don’t need luck, they have you.”

Eyes softening, a rare small smile illumined the angel’s aspect. Though baffled by it, he appreciated your unyielding faith in him. He didn’t know where it came from, or why he deserved it, but you had a way of shining a light brighter than the brightest in all of creation when his thoughts turned darkest.

Drowning beneath his ocean blue scrutiny, you could not help but mirror his smile.

“You coming, Romeo?” Dean brooded on the landing, hanging over the railing, glaring at the angel, tone impatient, slaying the moment as emotionlessly as a hunter would behead a vampire.

Your indignant eyes flew to the elder Winchester, scowling.

“Death doesn’t wait for any of us, sweetheart.” He shrugged unapologetically, all business-of-the-hunt, and ducked from view.

“That’s because you killed him, Juliet!” your raking shout echoed off the tiled walls.

Cas reached out, brushing your shoulder, drawing your attention. “Thank you Y/N, for the luck.” Shuffling his weight from foot to foot and back again, he hesitated - uncertain if it would be the correct thing to do to offer you hope of their safe return, deciding it would not hurt, yet unable to tell what might very well be a lie directly to your face. He turned to mount the stairs, glancing back over his shoulder without looking at you, tone falsely reassuring, “We’ll be back soon.”

Clamping your eyes shut to hold back the threat of tears, you listened to the padding of the angel’s heels on the steps, counting them, committing the sound to memory, wincing when the metallic clang of the outer door heralded your isolation. Fingers gingerly touching your lips where the tingling sensation of his stubble persisted, you choked back a sob.

Three days later, drained by constant worry and lack of sleep but somehow rallying the reserve energy to vibrate with contained excitement at Sam’s text of their imminent safe return, you stood again in the very same spot in the map room where you and the angel had parted, focus fixed on the door above. You stood, and you stood some more – and then you paced the room, every normally ignored creak and settling sound of the bunker setting you spiraling on edge.

When the boys finally made their tardy entrance hours later, arriving via the garage egress, they discovered you sound asleep, collapsed in a tangled heap of arms and hair on the map table.

“I told you we should have come straight home.” Sam frowned empathetically at your harried appearance.

“Trust me Sammy, the look on her face will be so worth it,” Dean insisted, a dopey smirk jerking his mouth.

“If you say so.” Sam shrugged, ever the skeptic when it came to his brother’s half-baked shenanigans.

“Awe, look, she’s drooling,” Dean snickered in a hushed tone, bending over your frame to peer into your face and poke your lax cheek.

“She’s exhausted.” Castiel shot Dean a reprimanding glare, striding in from the hall door. “And Sam is correct.” The angel crouched protectively beside you, features tempering sorrowfully when he beheld your strained aspect, two fingers swiping lightly across your brow to soothe your worried mind. He carefully hoisted your limp figure from the chair, intending to carry you to your bed where you might find peace, or at least be free from Dean’s teasing.

“Hmm, Cas?” Halfway to your bedroom, you stirred to consciousness, foggy eyed in his strong embrace, muscles tensing, arms instinctively snaking around his neck and shoulders when the realization of being held aloft dawned on you.

Cas abruptly stopped in his tracks, rocking on his heels, explaining, “You fell asleep at the table.”

“Oh.” You relaxed, melting against the heat of his body, cheeks flushing warm and pink at this close proximity.

The angel’s throat bobbed prominently, flustered and wide-eyed as he stared down the hall. “I was, uh, going to put you to bed.”

You wanted to respond with something along the lines of by all means, don’t let me stop you, but before the words could leave your lips, you second guessed yourself. You did that a lot in the presence of the angel.

“But since you’re awake, perhaps we should go to the kitchen instead.” He nervously licked his lips.

You contemplated the square line of his jaw, pondering what mode of thinking could possibly have prompted him to change destinations from the bedroom to the kitchen in the span of a few heartbeats. Even for Cas, this was far north of odd. Curiosity got the better of you, and you decided it didn’t really matter. Kicking your legs playfully, you chuckled, “Well since I don’t seem to have much choice in the matter, by all means, onward my angel.”

Cas squinted down at you, the corner of his mouth quirking into what might pass as an amused smile. He spun around, redirecting to the kitchen.

As you drew closer to your destination, your ears picked up on the familiar muffled murmur of Sam and Dean bickering.

A few feet before the doorway, Cas cleared his throat, angling his chin so as not to shout directly in your ear, “Sam, Dean, Y/N is awake, we’re coming in!”

“Son of a bitch!” Dean cursed. “Hang on!”

A glass crashed on tile, something metal clanged to the floor, someone grunted, and the light emanating from the threshold of the kitchen extinguished - replaced with a shimmering orange glow.

“Cas, what’s going on?” you whispered, peering up into the angel’s glittering eyes.

In answer, he swept you across the threshold.

Your eyes drifted from the cluster of balloons in Sam’s hand, to the bouquet of your favorite flowers in the other, to the pure smile lighting up his face, to the delicious looking candle-illuminated cake outstretched in Dean’s arms, to Dean’s borderline smug self-satisfied grin, then up to the angel’s smiling eyes.

Cas bent to set you lightly on the floor. “Dean said this is a surprise party. Are you surprised?”

“Cas, dude, look at her face.” Sam grinned wider. “She’s surprised.”

“Happy birthday, sweetheart!” Dean beamed, pivoting to slide the cake onto the table.

You bounded over, leaping on his broad back to hug him. “Thanks guys!” Slipping to the floor, you punched his bicep hard.

“Ow, what’s that for?” Dean winced, rubbing the throbbing limb.

“Love tap.” You stuck out your tongue. “And payback for worrying me.”

Sam stepped up behind you, engulfing you in his long arms, embracing you tight and planting a sloppy kiss on the top of your head. “Happy Birthday, Y/N.”

Dean leaned over to peck a kiss on your cheek, pausing to whisper in your ear, “Totally worth it and I’m not even a little bit sorry.” Straightening up, he winked. “Now blow out those candles and make a freaking wish so we can eat. You have no idea how hard it was to spend four hours in the car with that confectionary masterpiece.”

“Yeah, you actually literally have no idea.” Sam laughed.

“It’s a cake, stuffed with pie.” Dean waggled his eyebrows. “Piecaken. One day someone decided to stuff a pie up a cake’s ass and the world became a better place.”

Filling your lungs to capacity, you puffed as hard as you could, milking every last wisp of air from your chest to douse all the candles at once.

“You owe me $20.” Dean thwacked his brother on the pecks, screwing up his face at the unanticipated firmness of them.

Sucking in a deep breath, you glared between them. “Seriously guys?”

“Hey, don’t look at me, I had no doubt about how much you blow.” Dean laughed, crossing the room to flip the lights on and grab utensils and plates.

Sam rolled his eyes. “What did you wish for, Y/N?”

Your gaze settled on the spiraling smoke wafting upward from the extinguished candles, focus rising with it to find the silent angel beyond the table observing what must seem to him to be silly human antics. You sought out his eyes, giving him a tiny blushing smile. “No telling wishes, but maybe if I’m lucky, someday it will come true.”

Dean clattered the plates and forks across the table, startling you.

When you glanced back up, the angel was gone.

A hand grasped your shoulder, twirling you around, and before you could comprehend what was happening, Castiel’s arm wound around your waist, his lips pressing tenderly to yours. Easing away, he steadied your swaying body, hugging you firmly to his chest, blue eyes brimming over with affection. “A kiss for good luck,” he whispered, tone gravel.

You couldn’t suppress the delighted grin blossoming across your features. “I don’t need luck Cas, I have you.” Palms skimming his chest and neck to cup his cheeks, you threaded your fingers into his dark locks and yanked him back to your lips.

Dean’s forkful of chocolate cake slash cherry pie hovered just shy of his gaping jaw.

Sam smirked at his brother, muttering out the side of his mouth, “Hey, you owe me $20. Guess that makes us even.”

#castiel x reader #castiel x you #castiel fluff #castiel reader insert #castiel #shannons birthday challenge #castiel imagine #cas x reader #castielxreader #castiel fanfic #casxreader #castiel oneshot #castiel drabble #spn reader insert #cricket writes cas

398 notes · View notes