#to be fair he has a very touchable face

[rayllurn]

rayla + touching callum's face

[bonny-kookoo]

Sweet Girl [J.JK x Reader]🔞🌼☁️

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Reader

Genre: Fluff, Smut, angst because I like to cry myself to sleep

Warnings: dom/sub dynamics, dom!jungkook, sub!Reader, size kink is still strong, mild dd/lg themes, praise kink, long haired jungkook because yes that needs to be a warning, strength kink, they fuck in the kitchen smh

Jungkook and you are in a healthy relationship, managing all those things couples have to manage; building an IKEA bed, having your first fight, or arguing who should do the laundry this time. Apart from that, your life inside your bedroom has been pretty active as well, leaving Jungkook more satisfied than ever. He's not a horny teenager anymore after all, trying not to bust a nut just because he got a glimpse of your nipples through your rather thin shirt- yet you always manage to be so unbelievably sinful, he can't help but snatch a taste every now and then. After all, you're his- he's simply reminding you.

This is part of the 'Good Girl'-Universe!

Good Girl || Sweet Girl || Smart Girl || Brave Girl

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Jeon Jungkook and you loved to tease each other. From the way he would rub his sweat-soaked hair all over the crook of your neck playfully after his workout just to rile you up, just to exclaim happily that you love him too much to actually be serious when you yell that he's disgusting. And he's right- even if he's exhausting to be around sometimes with his seemingly endless energy (seriously, you're convinced at this point that he's the human embodiment of the energizer bunny), or how he could sometimes forget that you're not as tough as his other male friends that he was regularly around. You catch yourself laughing inside yourself every time you turn into a crybaby and tear up when a comment gets under your skin, because his entire body changes posture- every time he notices you getting hurt because he's too rough while playfighting, or when he again tells you you could just get your chubby butt up and work out with him, completely ignoring the fact that he knows its a very sensitive topic for you; he literally turns into a complete child who just got asked to explain rocket science. Jungkook isn't used to handle something as fragile as a girl- plus, you play along and usually brush off most things so easily, that he simply sometimes forgets that you actually have weak points.

One of these moments occured early on in your relationship; it was a silly mistake on his side really. When Taehyung asked him straight up if he was dating you, you didn't expect a huge love proposal; Jungkook wasn't like that. But a simple yes would've been okay as well- yet Jungkook being the cocky bastard he was, simply made a comment along the lines of 'nah, I'm just screwing her.' It was meant as a joke really, and it took him a good thirty seconds to notice your demeanor changing. Deep inside you, you knew he didn't mean it like that, yet it still hit you hard, especially considering his past hobby of trying to be the biggest manwhore around. When he'd went after you just when you had told him you'd be using the bathroom and not returning after a good ten minutes, he'd bursted into the womans bathrooms just in time to see you trying to wipe away your tears. His face had been priceless really now that you thought about it; before that moment you always had a hard time imagining that 'kicked puppy look' people always talked about- he didn't look like you just kicked him, but full on sucker punched his prized playstation out of orbit just for a laugh. He was totally unprepared and clearly had no idea what to do in that moment, never having needed to deal with tears in that way- and your face had hit him especially hard, considering how it was his fault at that. Considering how lost he really was he dealt with it quite sweetly, yet in a typical Jungkook fashion- uncaring of other woman and girls trying to get into the bathroom, he'd grabbed a considerable amount of tissue paper from the dispenser next to the sink you were standing in front of, promptly sitting you on top of it to properly have you at eye-level with him to wipe away your tears and smeared make up, telling you how you looked better without it anyways, and how sorry he was for being an utter asshole and idiot at the same time. You honestly started laughing at that. Not necessarily his comment even though it was true, but his extremely concentrated face, as if he was restoring an ancient artwork or something the likes of that. He audibly sighed at that, glad to know you didn't hate him. Because that was his innermost fear; you probably seeing the dickbag he thought he was underneath and leaving him for good. Not that he'd tell you that. You knew of that fear though.

Needless to say, it wasn't the only thing that happened between you both. Yet you've always overcome these things with ease, both of you growing surprisingly mature about arguments as time went on. Jungkook changed you as well- you were a wallflower before, and if you were honest, you kind of still were. But you were carrying yourself with a newfound confidence because of his daily praises- turning heads every now and then simply because you actually liked yourself these days. And Jungkook noticed as well- always commenting on how he didn't know if he liked the change or not, considering how much attention you now got everywhere you both went. You simply countered that with a simple comment along the lines of 'Now you know how I feel', because he was glowing up every month it seemed. Yet he stayed true to his words back then to you; he really did only have eyes for you anymore.

What really did piss him off was just how innocent you could be sometimes. It had him fuming how oblivious you could seem to others shamelessly flirting with you, yet he knew that he loved that about you just as much. The fact that you would willingly (and happily of course) let him corrupt you over and over again fuled his pride to no ends, making him feel like he was your knight in shining armor, even if it sounded sappy. Right now however he could really use some more patience, because he was sure his own amount was slowly running out. When he came back home, he didn't really have any plans, except for the one you had already agreed on. You both wanted to cook something tonight, nothing fancy, simply craving some kind of 'bonding time' as you called it, even though he had immediately told you this could be done in a different way, to which you blushed. He loved making you embarrassed, almost craving the way your flustered cheeks would turn into a beautiful red shade.

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He knew those plans would change however as soon as he spotted you on the couch in his living room. That itself wasn't something new since you lived here, but the attire you chose was rather.. unfair. He was supposed to keep it in his pants tonight, yet he could already feel himself rising against the fabric of his sweatpants at the view of you in a black shirt of his, oversized on your way smaller body. Yet that exactly did it- because that was all you wore, apart from your flimsy pair of pastel blue lace rimmed panties. You raised your head from out of your book and he was a goner as soon as he saw those eyes.

"Babydoll you're being really unfair right now." He groaned as he sat down on the couch, making you bounce a bit next to him. You looked at him confused, his patience snapping. Maybe it was his frustration that had filled up his mind during the day, or simply his habit of taking what he wanted when he wanted it, but soon enough you found yourself on his lap, your legs on either side of his. His hands were fast to reach under your, or more so his shirt, growling when he felt your bare breasts underneath his fingers. You really were asking for it.

Stop. Mission abort. Cancel all open tasks. Shutdown, emergency-

With a sigh the young boy detached himself from you, running a hand through his hair rather agressively. Even though he would usually not feel too bad about his actions, especially with you, considering he felt rather safe and comfortable around you, he had to remember the small argument you both had the night prior. It really hadn't even been an argument if he was being honest, and it was basically all on him that night, yet he felt like he needed to second-guess his actions now. It had been a simple question really, admittedly a fair one at that, however, it also was one he rather feared answering. Yes, Jeon Jungkook was actually scared of a mere question.

'Why won't you kiss me?'

Well, yeah. Why wouldn't he? To answer that would mean to expose himself, to open himself up, to be vulnerable- and even though he knew deep down that you would never use anything against him in an almost predatory meanor others in the past had, he couldn't shake the feeling off. The fear, of what he couldn't tell. He simply waved you off, telling you that you both didn't need those sappy gestures, and you had simply nodded, accepting that, even though he knew that you felt hurt by his answer. Hell, he felt hurt by his own answer. And what had hurt him even more was your reaction to it; somehow he wanted you to be offended, to openly dig at his wounds, to scratch at his scars and make him spill his blood into your hands. He didn't want you to feel like he only loved you physically, like he only wanted to own your body, because he craved so much more than your touchable form. He wanted to build his home into your very soul, wanted to surround himself with your voice and live in your very heartbeat- yet it didn't matter how romantic and oh-so poetic his own thoughts could be. It didn't matter at all if he couldn't say it.

He looked at you, internally cringing at the way you looked at him, utterly confused. You'd gotten so used to him using you that it made his own saliva taste bitter, making him crinkle his brows a little. "I-" He started, yet took a deep breath, his eyes aimlessly dancing over the plush carpet, analyzing the various shades of light brown it presented to him. Right now he hated it. Hated how it made his apartment, your apartment feel like home. He hated how it did fit into the living room even though he'd complained about you buying it, arguing that you started to take over his life back then when you both didn't even date each other. He hated how he fell in love with it after he'd seen you lay on it with your phone in hand, the small white fan in the corner of the room softly blowing your hair and clothes during the summer. He hated how he remembered spilling his soda on it one day, freaking out because he knew even if he would cover it up you'd notice, you always noticed. Just like now. Because the hand you'd placed on his shoulder as a form of comfort had never felt so heavy on him, like a brick trying to force his entire back down. "M' sorry.." He simply grunted out, putting his head in his hands.

"What're you sorry for?" You had laughed a bit uneasy, and he hated the sound of it. He always pictured himself as the man who was oh-so protective of you, yet right now he'd never felt so small. "Is it about yesterday? You don't have to change Jungkookie, I don't mind-" Yet he had to shut you up, turning a bit to look at you with a face melted into a vision of being thrown side by side by your own thoughts. This was exactly the issue. You didn't mind- and he knew that you didn't even lie about that- it made everything so much worse.

The nickname, the way you said it, the way you meant it- it all just punched his guts even harder. Instead of answering he simply took your face in his hands, placing his lips onto yours with so much emotion you could feel them trembling. His kisses turned into more than simple pecks, they turned into desperate cries of confusion, of insecurity, of so many things you would've never associated Jungkook with. Slowly your bodies fell into place again, with him laying you down on your back, a pillow falling down and knocking a fork down from the small table, yet none of you cared about it in that moment. As soon as you reached for his belt he'd grabbed your hand, holding them with such care. "No no- I-" He said, switching between kissing and talking. "I want to- no, I need to make love to you, yeah?" You squeaked at his sudden movement when he'd picked you up, trying to carry you to the shared bedroom, yet aborting that mission as well by simply sitting you ontop of the kitchen counter, the marbled stone cold underneath your butt. You gasped into the open air, the way he'd just lifted you with such ease making you feel so small- in every good way possible. Yet even though this wasn't the first time making out in the kitchen, this was new- to both of you. He had no clue what to actually do, exploring new territory as well as you did in that moment, never having gone slow before. Yet he slowly eased into it, his arms leading his hands over your exposed skin, fingers softly squeezing the flesh of your thighs. His kisses started to wander, caressing your neck, yet even though his dominant side was starting to show the more comfortable he got with what he was doing, you noticed a slight difference in his demeanor. His arms weren't limiting your movement, weren't moving you around to his hearts content- even though you would never complain about that- they were around you, his hands on your back, bunching up the fabric of his shirt in his hands, then letting go just to repeat like a kneading cat. "You're so sweet, so so sweet, did I ever tell you that?" He whispered almost like a secret, and you felt like he was bewitching you in a weird way. "Wanna keep you all to myself, wanna hide you like a secret." He said lowly, almost growled, and you felt yourself slowly fall for his word with every sound he made. "But I also wanna show you everyone, wanna show everyone how lucky I am, how I got the prettiest and sweetest of them all." He said, hands wandering up his shirt you were wearing, running over your soft breasts, squeezing them softly and relishing in the way they felt under his fingertips. He always loved your skin, even though you'd complained before how you disliked the slight chub on your lower belly, or how your thighs were thicker than most girls your height. Yet he couldn't find anything wrong with it, loving the way it gave you such a soft vibe and feel. This was you, every little flaw that you were seeing he saw as another thing to love about you, as sappy as it sounded. "You're my good girl, my best girl.." He said before he started to move your already ruined panties to the side, his fingers exploring your heat. "My only girl." He said, making you mewl into his neck, hands now grabbing his shirt for a change. He made you shuffle a bit closer towards him, standing between your legs while his tattooed hand pushed two fingers inside you, reaching to make you feel good, yet never going the usual pace.

"Jungkoo-ah- Jungkookie please-!" You sighed, and he simply chuckled, kissing your neck, down to your collarbone where he playfully nipped at the skin, loving the sounds you were making. "No no no, I wanna go slow yeah? Wanna make love babydoll, we got time.." He said, and you shot him a pout, making him laugh. "Come on I'm trying to be romantic here!" He said, and you reached for his jeans again- making him move your hands away again. "Nuh-uh. Good girls are patient. You can wait right, pretty girl?" He said playfully, making you pout again. He couldn't help but comply with you. How could he not? He loved you. He really did. Fuck, he really, really did. Undoing his belt and letting his pants fall to his knees along with his underwear, he reached for your butt, making you shimmy even closer to him so he could swiftly enter you, making both of you gasp out both in anticipation and relief from your side for getting your way.

The simple view he had of your form speared on his cock was the sole reason he loved every position that made him look at you. The picture in front of him just was too presious yet sinful to be wasted. He wished he could take a picture of it actually, yet he decided against it, having heard his phone fall out of the back pocket of his jeans before, and he was kind of too terrified to see his screen cracked yet. He also couldn't really think about it, the way your walls engulfed him occupying his mind almost completely. His arms encaved you, holding you against him as close as possible, creating a safe haven for you and your mindset. You always slipped into some sort of headspace whenever his praise and affection got to a certain point- something that had terrified you at first, making you feel a bit embarrased as well- yet Jungkook had assured you that it was completely okay and normal, having googled it someday back when he'd been bored on his phone. It was actually quite endearing that your mind trusted him enough to slip into such a vulnerable state, his pride feeding off if it to no end.

He wanted to go slow, yet by the end of it his pace had quickened to his typical ruthless tempo, making you gasp out bursts of breath against his neck, hands clawing at his shoulder blades though the material of his shirt, grabbing onto him for dear life, while on your fast lane to release. When he came himself his breathing got erratic from oversensitivity, yet he ignored it to bring you over the edge as well, even making you ride it out to its fullest afterwards. When you slowly deflated against him, hands simply reaching out for his body, he softly cooed at you, completely enchanted by you in your post-orgasmic bliss. Suddenly he laughed, resting his head in the crook of your neck. "God, why am I like this?" He said, soft smile turning bitter. "Can't even be soft for one fucking time." Yet your hand softly ran through his now slightly damp locks, head turning to look at him with so much endearment he could cry- well, he actually felt his eyes start to sting, but he swallowed them down.

"You don't have to, Jungkookie." You softly said, and he wanted to argue. "Don't change. You're perfect just the way you are. I love you either way. Doesn't matter if you buy me roses or screw me in the kitchen. I take any love you give me." He suddenly laughed, and his eyes turned into sparkling half moons, his bunny smile almost blinding you.

"God I love you."

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"Jungkookie?"

"hm?"

"I'm hungry."

"There's leftovers in the oven."

"You're not gonna treat me some chicken nuggets?"

"Tomorrow maybe. Its too late now baby."

"Come on, be a sweet baby-boy and do it-"

"Careful sweetheart."

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IT.IS.FINALLY.OUT.Thank you all so so much for waiting so patiently, I really didn't expect all of you to even stay, let alone shower me with all of your support- I really didn't deserve that! I hope I didn't dissapoint too much with it, since I didn't check for spelling errors :( I love you all, and I hope you're all staying safe and healthy during these times! Remember that spreading love begins with self-love, and self-love begins with small steps 💜

[metal-sparrow-archives]

@deaxthblossom

Rat King without a mask

[lizadale]

Do ya think Luigi's thunderhand power has any effect on ghosts or not?

It could. Here’s the thing with ghosts–elemental attacks don’t work on them directly. If he tries to nail a ghost with Thunderhand in midair, it’s not going to have much of an effect, and ghosts can’t really be ‘hurt’ easily either. What he can do is disrupt their aura with it, but only if the ghost is passing through a conductive substance such as water or metal. Now, if a ghost were to intentionally make itself corporeal, then it’s fair game. King Boo hitting Luigi with his tongue (lol) in LM would be a very bad idea if Luigi were using Thunderhand, but it’s unlikely to be a problem because it would also short-circuit the Poltergust.

There’s little use in it anyway, since Luigi can physically interact with spirits by default. They can try to be translucent and spooky all they want; Luigi can still punch them in the face if he feels like it. 

Dimentio runs into the same problem when he’s trying to move Polterpup–he can’t hit the dog directly because it’s not a corporeal being, and his magic attributes are Mind and Air so he’s pretty useless against spirits. The solution Luigi provided was that Dimentio should mess with the air currents around Polterpup, so he’s essentially not touching the dog at all still but he’s moving it by affecting the air through which it travels. (Of course Polterpup is very excitable, so it mostly thinks this is a fun game and comes sailing right back.)

Polterpup is a friendly spirit so it tends to turn on being touchable when it’s with people it trusts, but you’ll notice it goes completely incorporeal for Dimentio after he tries to murder Luigi. 

[stayforya]

I DON’T KNOW IF WE CAN BE FRIENDS | PT. 1

member: hwang hyunjin

genre: college!au

words: 5.4k

summary: there were no doubts you and hyunjin would be friends for life, nothing would be able to tear you apart. except one of you.

a/n: another au based on a song, this time it’s by hollyn. i’m thinking about a part 2, this story may need one. if you think so too, please tell me <3

link to part 2

“I love you, y/n. everything about you”

you remember those words like an echo in your head

if you’re in silence, they come back

you end up thinking about it over and over again

you remember the kiss hyunjin gave you after saying that

you were lying your head on his shoulder

and his gaze, you swear, could make you fall in love a thousand times

his lips tasted like cherry and love was almost touchable when they reached yours

you and hyunjin met years ago

he was in a big part of your life

all your high school memories had him because your friendship was too strong

it’s like never wanting to be far from each other ‘cause you were never tired of each other

morning, afternoon, even some evenings you spent together

talking about anything

hanging with some friends

crying over the tests you had to do in order to find a university

the days when the sunshine was too strong and weather too hot so he bought you ice cream even if you didn’t ask

the days when the rain was pouring and the weather too cold so he’d put his jacket over your head

he’d hug you when you were at the peak of stress

he knew it calmed you down

it was the ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of thing

you didn’t believe in only one true love during life, but you knew what you had with hyunjin was definitely special

life has its own path, though

you two finally kissed, but none talked about becoming more than friends

you were enjoying each other in a new level, which everyone already suspected but for a long time it was truly only friendship

by the way you two were involving into the relationship, it would end up happening

you kissed and said things you already said to each other before

like ‘I love you’

but it sounded different

it wasn’t just a friendly ‘I love you’

it felt like dating, but you didn’t want to discuss or label the relationship

you wanted to live it

hyunjin never had any problem in giving you hugs, even when your friends kept making some jokes about you two

he never stopped touching you because of what people said

but when you two confessed

and kissed

you kinda felt like he felt more free

he touched your hair, kissed your cheeks, looked at you closer, locked his fingers in yours

whenever he had an opportunity he’d come to you, put his right hand on your neck so naturally

and kiss you

say funny or beautiful things next to your ear

laugh when you tied his hair and played with it while he worked on some math exercises

all memories

it was hard to swallow that truth

one day, exactly one week after you got your acceptance letter

hyunjin got his

but he didn’t look so happy

even though it was his dream university

you didn’t understand

“this is amazing!”, you said, giving him a hug

he hugged you back but his smile wasn’t the same

“it’s your dream uni, right?”

“yeah yeah”, he answered, “do you want to eat ice cream?”

why did he suddenly change the subject

you agreed anyways

you tried to talk about it again, but he didn’t seem like he wanted to keep the conversation

days went by, the last days of high school

everything between you two was normal

specially during the last week

he took you to the cinema

took you to an amusement park

brought you flowers

spent a lot of time with you

and in every event he created to enjoy

you thought he was about to ask to be your boyfriend

but no, you were wrong

and the last date, on Friday

he took you home, kissed your forehead

and said “I love you, y/n. everything about you”

he held the entire galaxy in his eyes

caressing your hair and looking at you

saving that moment in his memory

right there, the sunset behind you two

you kissed like it was the first and last time

the beginning and the end of something, you didn’t know how to explain

but it kinda felt like a farewell

you loved him, too

you always did, and you didn’t plan to stop

during the same night, before going to sleep

you were so immersed in feelings and thoughts

you sent him a message

saying how you felt

how good it was to be with him and how much you wanted to spend a lot of time with him

his presence was enough cause he was enough

after that, you just went to sleep

in the morning, he hadn’t replied yet

day went by, and still, he didn’t reply

on sunday he still didn’t give you any sign

on monday, when the whole class gathered at school to prepare for graduation day

hyunjin wasn’t there

everyone was asking you

and with a broken smile you answered “he couldn’t come today”

after school you finally decided to knock on his door

no one was home, not even his dog

did he suddenly turn into dust and disappear? did he go to space or something like this?

you sat in front of his house, putting your backpack aside

since his house’s wifi connected automatically on your phone, you just stayed there scrolling through your phone

waiting

30min later, a car parked

he and his mom came out of it and you stood up

as soon as he saw you, you could notice the worrying expression on his face

his mom saw you there and came immediately

“oh, hi, y/n! did you spend a lot of time waiting?”

“hi, hm no, I just got here”, you lied and gave her a smile

“do you want to come in?”

“thank you, I have to go home because it’s getting dark”

hyunjin was doing things slowly as if he wanted to avoid talking to you

when he finally closed the car’s door, coming on your direction

your heart started beating faster

you were a mix of mad, relieved and disappointed

how could you start that conversation?

“hey”, hyunjin said and it was almost a whisper

“I don’t understand what’s happening”

“I couldn’t go to school today”

“you didn’t say anything after friday night. what am I supposed to think?”

he looked at the ground, running one hand on the neck

“I’m sorry, y/n”

“hyunjin… did you… regret? if so, just tell me”

“no, I regret nothing, y/n”, in that moment he looked at you and you could see the sincerity in his eyes, “but there are so many things happening”

“so tell me! I’m your friend, remember?”

he took a deep breath

“I’m moving. the university I’m attending isn’t here so my family decided to move.”

why didn’t you think about it before?

of course after high school things change

“when?”

“we went there today to see a new place, by the end of this week I’m probably moving already”

“so that’s why?”

he didn’t understand your question

“that’s why you did it all last friday? was it your way of treating me the best you could to say goodbye afterwards?”, the words came out quickly

“y/n…”

“is that it, hyunjin?”, you were very serious

he took a while to finally say something

and you wish he didn’t

you wish he said something else

because it hurted

“yes. we won’t be able to date in this situation, I’ll be in another place and it wouldn’t be fair to you”

“did you ever ask what I think about it? I mean-”

“it wouldn’t work, y/n. it’s also a new step in our lives. maybe it’s for the best”

“would you tell me if I didn’t come all the way here, waited for you and asked? would you go there to break up with me or would you simply ignore me and move on?”

your voice didn’t show all the madness because you weren’t only mad

you were also sad and disappointed so you just kept talking fast, but not angry

he always looked in your eyes

and the fact that he wasn’t at that moment

seriously…

why was he acting so cold?

you never saw hyunjin like that before, not with you

but you knew his bodytalk well enough to know what he was feeling

he just didn’t want to show

“I’m really sorry, y/n…”, he touched your right arm

for the first time it felt different

you held his arm before he could go

“did that mean something to you?”

you both knew what ‘that’ meant

the kiss

the ‘I love you’

the moments you shared, not only as friends, but as two people who had feelings for each other

“hyunjin?”, his mom’s voice came out of nowhere

he didn’t get in so she wanted to make sure if he was still there

“I have to go”, he said

your hand let go of his arm as if it was toxic

you turned your back at him and kept walking

and walking

and walking

your steps were so firm and you felt so mad

but at the moment you got home, after a long walk

your body fell on your bed and the tears came down

silently

you’d never

ever

be friends with him again

what happened crushed it all

your friendship, your relationship

any trace of feelings should be gone

you had a lot of pictures of you two on your phone

good memories

your finger was almost deleting everything, but you’d regret

saving those moments in pictures would make you look back and feel good

in the future, maybe, not now

there was a video

of you filming the sunset and suddenly he comes running

getting closer and filling the screen with his smiley face

your voice saying “noooo” and laughing right away

dang

it hurt

you thought it would be hard to see him the next day at school because you didn’t know how to treat him

talk? ignore?

but turns out he didn’t even go

probably too busy with his ‘moving’ things

who cares 

finally the other day he was there

you arrived and he was already sitting on the place you used to sit together

since those were the last days, your class just had to finish some graduation details

so you didn’t need to talk to him

mainly because he didn’t seem to care at all

you could feel his glances

but he was the one who broke up, wasn’t he?

so it wasn’t up to you run back to him

of course it hit you hard

not because of the love relationship

but the long term friendship you guys had

if you ever knew it would be ruined like this…

after graduation, all the news you had from him were by watching his instagram stories and seeing his posts

he was already living well in his new place, making some friends and taking pics of everything like he used to

you didn’t talk again

you didn’t go to say goodbye when he left, but you almost sent a message

and deleted it all before having the courage to send it

you just had to go on with your life

also, uni wouldn’t take so long to start

the next couple months were, firstly, chill and, then, busy

you needed to get ready for this new chapter of your life and you were pretty excited

you found a nice roommate

the university was huge, so different from high school

so many things happening at once

you were still trying to absorb everything

the first weeks were quite hard

you had a lot to catch up on

new subjects, new people, new life

in the end of the day you were always tired, so you just took a shower and went to sleep

just after the first three months you’d say you were 100% adjusted

finally getting to enjoy the weekends a bit lol

“are you going to the festival this weekend?”, one of your friends asked

you made a funny face

“is there a festival happening and no one is talking about it?”

“no, you’re just out of the world”, she laughed

“there’s this band coming, two of the boys are from here”, another friend said, eating one of your fries

“are they famous or something?”

“well, people really like them here but I never saw them live, so…”

“I wonder how they find time to rehearse”

“a friend of mine said they just play for fun, so they don’t rehearse a lot but they’re very good”

“they must be talented, then. are you guys going?”

“of course, some other artists will come too”

“then I’ll think about it”, you said, drinking the last sip of juice

“you know who plays too?”

“tell me”, you faked an interest to make fun of them, cause they were already making fun of you with that question

“lee minho”

your eyebrows raised in real interest

but you tried to pretend you didn’t care

too late, they noticed

“you can’t even hide it!”, they burst into laugh

“I said nothing”

“no need to say, your face showed it all”

“alright, alright”

now you had a motivation

lee minho was a handsome and smart guy from technology department

he was your senior and you met him through some TA classes he gave

everyone knew how fun he was, yet dedicated

knowing he played in a band was unexpected but it did spark more interest

that week was full for you and the only moment you had to breathe was while walking from one class to another

but on friday morning you’d finish everything and enjoy the festival with your friends at night

that’s how it went

you just put a comfortable nice clothing on and went to the field where the concerts would happen

you met your friends there, they saved a place for you

but after a while no one would be sitting anymore

everyone was gathering

when you got up to get something to eat, you met minho on the way

“oh hey”, he smiled at you

“hey”, you sure smiled brighter

he was quite shy but cool at the same time

you didn’t know how, but minho could do both pretty well

“so aren’t you playing today?”, you asked

“ah yeah yeah…”, cutie minho jumped out, “we already set everything up”

“can’t wait”

“oops, careful”, he told someone and put his hand next to your arm as if he was shielding it

you didn’t even understand what happened but by the way the guy said ‘sorry’ he was probably about to bump into you and minho noticed before

“thanks”

“where were you heading to?”

“just to find something to eat”

“can I follow you?”, his eyes. no words to describe. cool minho popped up.

“of course”

you and him were talking about some stupid stuff and laughing together while you waited in a long line to get some hot dog

when you finally got it and was about to go back to your seat, some guys stopped you two

you and minho turned around to greet them

there were two of them

one you already knew, he was also from your uni

the other guy was from another one but minho introduced him too

and when you thought there were only those who played in the band with him

you remembered there was one missing, probably

he came running

tall and handsome

nice clothes on, but a friendly smile

wait

that shirt, you knew it

you knew those sneakers too

that necklace swinging while he ran

your smile was fading

“oh, here he is”, minho said, “this is hyunjin”

never

ever

you imagined

you’d meet

him

again

like this

out of all the possibilities, why like this? how in the world was he there, at your university, friends with minho, playing in a band

you hadn’t seen him since that day

and after a while you just didn’t pay attention to his instagram updates anymore because

one: you didn’t have a lot of time

two: you were getting over

you already did, right?

but seeing him in front of you

the sunset behind him

a pinkish orange sky

the wind blowing on his face

no matter how many days, months, years

he’d still hit right in your feelings when you met him again

and the day was there

he smiled slightly, greeting you

“we know each other”

the other boys were surprised

“we studied together”, you completed

was that awkward? maybe the way you guys looked at each other

it felt like the time stopped, no joke

but you guys made it work out well

“did you come for the concert?”, the other boy asked

“yeah, can’t wait”, you opened a weird smile now that hyunjin was, like, in front of you

even when you weren’t looking at him you could feel his stare

minho made way for you and kept talking until he had to go up and you had to find your seat again

you wished them luck, not directly looking at hyunjin for more than one second

coming back to your seat, you were just wishing so hard that he didn’t notice how nervous you got

“are you okay?”, your friend asked

“for someone who was wandering around with lee minho, you should look happier”

you made fun of her

“of course I’m okay, he introduced me to his bandmates”

“oh shoot, I should have gone with you”, she said in a funny tone

the concert started some minutes later

and that festival feeling

you were really needing that

so many things to do and finally you had time to just have some fun

minho was so amazing playing and singing

your eyes should be stuck only on him

that’s what you wanted

but hyunjin was next to him, you couldn’t help but frame them both and keep staring

it felt like some kind of dream

it couldn’t be real, he couldn’t be there

there was something different about him

still, you could see the same guy you shared so many moments

the song they were playing, the sunset, everything

it made you feel some kind of feeling you couldn’t really explain into words

they sang five songs and after them there were other artists

after they got out of the stage, you saw minho far from where you were

you were trying to communicate

but hyunjin appeared right behind him and started looking at where minho was looking at

which was you

you couldn’t really concentrate on minho with hyunjin there but you focused a lot to talk to him

he said he was going to eat

and asked if you wanted to meet next to the food truck later

you consented, it was just hard because there were so many people around you

he nodded and smiled, but hyunjin…

he did the same

he knew you weren’t talking to him, still he smiled at you after you and minho smiled at each other

stupid guy

since you were having fun with your friends, you and them watched that concert and only went eat when it finished

another artist was starting a concert

but you guys went to the food place to eat something

you found minho and waved at him

“sorry we’re late”

“no problem”

hyunjin wasn’t there anymore

minho was there with just one of them

“the other boys went home already”, he said as if he could read your mind

“uh I love this song”, your friend said

the atmosphere was very romantic to be honest

even the vocalist told the crowd to find a partner and dance

you weren’t close to the stage but the song was loud, you could hear it and feel the romantic thing in the air

“do you want…?”, minho asked in a cool way, slightly pointing to the stage with his head, just to make sure you knew what he was talking about

“yes”

he was asking you to dance

you held his hand and, slowly, let yourself come closer

because that song needed a slow dance

your arms around his neck were the first step

but after a while, your head was already close to his

and he smelled so good

he danced so well

he did everything well, right?

minho was one of a kind

you guys didn’t kiss, but for a moment you almost did

because you two were just so close, enjoying the song

and right when you had the chance

the concert was over

everyone was standing to applaud

that was the last day you saw hyunjin

he posted a pic of the concert on his instagram and you looked at it for a good amount of time

until you just stopped the thoughts on your mind and kept going

there was a lot to do

months went by

what you had with minho wasn’t a relationship

but it wasn’t a friendship also

he was in a very busy moment of his undergraduate life and you understood that

since you were trying to study the most you could while you had the energy for that, on the first years of undergraduate degree

you met each other every week because of the classes you had at the same building

people were already suspicious that you guys had something

and yes, you did

you just didn’t know how to name that ‘something’

you know what

it felt just like what you had with hyunjin

it had been one year since you and hyunjin broke up

you laughed by yourself

‘break up’

“I love you, y/n. everything about you”

what a joke

minho sent you a message at the same time you were thinking about this

he wrote that the class was about to end and he’d like to see you if you had some time

you two set an hour to meet and you were already excited to see him

maybe because the thoughts of hyunjin haunting you

minho always made you feel light and happy

you took a shower and got ready to meet him

by the amount of perfume, your roommate knew you had a date

crossing the campus to meet minho at the café wasn’t even tiring, you just put some music on your earphones and walked there

maybe because you needed some glasses you couldn’t see pretty well the person walking towards you

oh one was a colleague of yours with whom you had classes together once

the other one you never saw

it was the moment of the year new people were arriving, so that’s why there were some fresh faces

then, as if it was a movie scene, one walking towards the other

it was him

his black shirt, his necklace, his bracelets, rings

so different but still the same

again, after such a long time

right when you were forgetting everything

hyunjin

you couldn’t avoid

or turn around and pretend you didn’t see him

he was right in front of you, kinda lost

you felt your feet stopping before your mind could think about why

everyone was passing by, but you two were stuck right there

what should you say?

what should he say?

did you both have anything to say?

“y/n”

your name sounded prettier coming out of his lips

“you, here?”, you heard your voice as if it wasn’t coming from you

“I’m transferring”

“you what?”, again, you said before thinking

“it’s for a year, initially. if it works, who knows…”

“sorry. hm. how are you?”

this conversation was such a mess

“fine”, he smirked, “you?”

“when did you…”

“I just arrived”

you nodded, looking around

“I didn’t know”, you said

of course you didn’t! was he supposed to tell you after not talking to each other for more than one year?

“yeah… not a lot of people know”

“this sounds… unreal”, you smiled at yourself. not a happiness smile, just a ‘can’t believe it’ smile

“my university offered this, some people from here are going to study there too, so”

“nice, yeah, nice”, you didn’t know what to say

he was biting his lips almost unnoticed, because he was a bit nervous

you didn’t know a lot of new things about of him, if anything, you knew his body language very well

“it’s good to see you again”, hyunjin said

“it’s been a long time”

“that day at the festival, sorry I couldn’t talk to you”

you nodded but changed the subject

“you play well”

“thanks”

the conversation was getting weirder

“do you know where minho is? he said he’d show me around”

“minho? do you guys still play?”

“just when we have time to meet”, he smiled running his hand through his hair

and you noticed everything

but, come on, he did too

he looked at every single movement you made

paying attention to you in a way he didn’t in a very long time

as if he didn’t want to miss the moment

he had gentle eyes

you missed that

you missed him, you just tried to forget

you didn’t solve things; you guys didn’t talk after what happened

he broke up and you had nothing to say

just let him go

“I’m about to meet him, though”

“oh”, he wanted to sound surprised but you could see how half of him knew what was going on. who didn’t notice on the festival day?

“do you want to come?”, you asked

“can I?”

you just gave him the look you always did

and kept walking, knowing he was following you

hands inside the pockets and a little smile on his face

minho was there at the café

he didn’t notice until you got through the door

his face went from happy to surprised

because he saw hyunjin

he talked to you first, giving a hug and caressing your hair

it wasn’t cringy, he knew the limits to affection in public

but hyunjin, after noticing the hug, started looking around

until minho greeted him too

“how did you find me?”, he asked

“y/n”, hyunjin answered

“sit with us, please”

you looked at minho trying to make him send hyunjin away

lol he could do that because he had his savageness

but since hyunjin just arrived, he’d be the nice friend

“what would you like to eat?”, minho asked you

since he wasn’t looking at any of you, both answered

“hm, I-”, you started

“anything is okay”, hyunjin said

you looked at him

he looked at you

minho looked at both

and giggled

“it’s on me, choose whatever you want”

you rolled eyes because of hyunjin

during the whole time, he was talking to minho

why didn’t he already leave?

you wanted some time alone

the date would be so nice if he hadn’t stepped in

here and there you said something, but you weren’t even in the mood

they talked about the band

talked about the university

and the only moment you really paid attention was when hyunjin started talking about his reasons to study there

“I felt bad because my family moved there so I could go to university”, he said

“and now, where are them?”, minho asked

“they’re planning to come live nearby now”

“so everything’s good, bro”

“yeah, they’re very good to me”

“oh, I just remembered. you two know each other, right?”

oh no minho

you didn’t have to…

“yes”, hyunjin answered

“we do”, you said

“but how? tell me”, he was interested and you had to be careful with all the words

why not let hyunjin explain

“we studied together for a long time”, he said, “but, because of university, we didn’t keep in touch”

ha ha ha he’s the funniest

you lifted one eyebrow paying attention to his narrative

“yeah, it’s been a long time”

“so maybe you could help him tomorrow, y/n?”

“help?”

“yes, he needs to find some places and I won’t be able to help him because of my exams”

ok but what about the other guys he knew? I mean, why you?

“me?”, you tried not to sound too bad

“his building is right next to yours”

oh great, amazing, splendid

“ok, I will”, you smiled to minho

since the three of you had finished eating and talking

and your date was successfully ruined by hyunjin’s presence

maybe now you could have time alone with minho

but you were wrong

“I’m sorry, guys, gotta go. I have an extra class now…”

your disappointed expression was noticed by him

he gave you another hug

“see you tomorrow?”

you nodded

hyunjin was pretending to search for something on his phone

“see you, call me anytime!”, minho said to him during the handshake

“thanks, bro, I will”

you watched him run to his appointment

wishing you had some time

it was crazy

cause hyunjin was there by your side too

and when you focused on the fact he was there, your mind became a mess

so you kept walking

and he followed you

you stopped

he stopped too

you turned around

“are you following me?”

“yes, so I can find things easily”

“if you need help, just ask”

“I need help”, he said

“ok, what”

“I have a question”

“I’m waiting”

“what’s going on between you and minho?”

after hearing that, you started walking again

and he was already by your side

“excuse me?”

“I was wondering…”

“we’re friends. very close friends.”

you knew hyunjin, he already knew what was going on, he just wanted to make sure by hearing it from you

“like we were?”

that topic was a bit hard

“no. like I am with him. it’s different”

silence for a while

“I missed you”

you couldn’t help but laugh a little

“you did?”

“I do”

“it was harsh when you ended up things, okay? you were childish”

he was listening carefully

you knew your words were supposed to hurt

“I am sorry. your friendship was… is very important to me, and I didn’t want to lose it”

“we couldn’t help but like each other in another level”

“I know but I was scared. it didn’t happen in a good moment because I’d have to leave anyway”

“before anything, we were friends. you should have told me.”

“I know. and I don’t regret anything we lived together. as friends and… as lovers”

lovers

for the first time, a name to what you guys had

so ‘lovers’ was what you and hyunjin were

for a brief moment

“I also don’t regret anything I told you. how I- I loved you”

“why are you telling me this now?”, you questioned, moved by his words

“better late than never. y/n, you are one of the reasons I am here. you changed my life in so many ways and, yes, I was childish by not knowing how to deal with my feelings”

you already have walked a lot and now you were close to the dorms

you looked at him

“I didn’t have to be one of your reasons”

“it’s not up to you to decide... you are one of them.”

his sweet face staring at you

being sincere with everything he felt

but you didn’t know if it was right to just let go of it all and start again

not as lovers, but as friends

at least friends…

even though you missed him in each and every way

his voice sounded soft and low

“I still love you. you are part of me and I can’t let go so easily. I wanted to tell you this for a long time, I wanted to say sorry and maybe try again.”

he reached out for you

“I don’t want to be a stranger to you like we have been for a very long time, hyunjin…”

“me neither. let the past be past. I want to be a friend again”

friend or lover, you wanted him

he was a part of you hard to let go, too

it could be easier

just say yes and become friends again

but the process isn’t easy like this

to start over would be complicated

it would mean you’d have to restore each other’s confidence

and take the risk of falling in love again

this risk… it was too much

he would always mess with your feelings, as a friend or a lover

and because it was hard

because you weren’t sure

because he suddenly came back and messed it up again

you had to say

“I don’t know if we can be friends”

his hopeful eyes became a bit sad

you tightened your grip on his hand before letting go

and walked back to your dorm

link to part 2

[fuckyeahcarlosandlidia]

Even Though Everything Has Changed.  Some Things Don’t.

So, we finally got the trailer and I feel like writing something about my feelings and expectations and hopes. I’ll remind you that the askbox is always open so you feel like sharing your thoughts and feelings, feel free to do it.

I should start by saying that the trailer was very confusing, too much stuff, too many shots and I really had to watch it more than once to catch everything. I have so many questions because as I said the trailer made me wonder lots of stuff. For example, from where Sofia ran away to go to Spain? Wasn’t she in Spain all along? Where did she leave after her Grandma’ death?  And then suddenly 5 years have become 7 years, so it’s even more time of separation between Carlos and Lidia, and  between Carlos and Eva, too.  So much for “it’s temporary”, uh, Lidia!  I really really want to know why “it’s temporary” became 7 years. I wondered that even when I thought that it would be 5 years, so now even more.

The new characters already annoy me. Not for the characters themselves, I don’t even know them, but to me this show can’t handle too many characters and too many storylines. Season 4 was a disaster because of that, too. Why should I care about a shirtless (maybe) funny guy who may help the girls? Why should I care about a bespectacled guy who IMO can even turn out evil?  Why should I care about Sofia’s sweetheart? This is just to say we’re coming to an end and I don’t want to waste time with things that aren’t really part of this show.

Now, speaking of the main stuff, clearly Lidia going back to Madrid is a huge emotion. IMO, Lidia left her heart in Madrid because Madrid is the core of the action of the show. Why should I care about Lidia and Francisco’s life in New York?  Of course their shippers are obviously very interested for the obvious, but it’s not the story.  The story is Spain, the story is the girls, the dynamic among all the main characters we’ve known from the start, and this happens in Madrid.  

The trailer focused on Sofia.  The girls’ mission is to find her.  And then, of course, the war. From what I got Lidia and Carlos will share quite a few scenes together, and alone, and this is really good because they absolutely need to spend time alone. I believe he’ll help her very much.  In the few shots we saw in the trailer, the tension is touchable. You can’t ignore it. The ending of the trailer is what left me with a bad taste in my mouth, though, because obviously they had to throw a huge triangle moment and they made it by showing Francisco alias Superman - this is a Carlos and Lidia’s blog, we don’t really appreciate Francisco’s character yet we absolutely recognize and know his role in the show - coming to the rescue when Lidia and Carlos are in jail. And there’s this hug between the two of them, right in front of Carlos. Lidia’s voiceover in the background, saying that Love is what can fight war, is general. Every kind of love can fight war. And this is classic, right? Love and War. Obviously in that context, with that hug and Carlos watching was annoying. I really don’t think Lidia says that in that context, at all. It’s just how they put it in the trailer to show that Francisco goes back to Spain, too, and he’ll very likely bring Eva back with him, and the triangle will be back in full force with both Lidia’s men in the same place and at the same time.

I’ve been asked in private about what I think about Lidia’s pendant, the necklace we see she’s wearing and holding in the car. I believe there’s a picture in it. She’s also looking at that picture and holding the pendant in her hands nervously, when Carlos is taking his shirt off right behind her.  I truly hope it’s just a picture of Eva, but it’s also possible Lidia took a picture of both Eva and Francisco, or the three of them. Obviously, it’s not something I like. The parallel with Lidia keeping Carlos’ ring as a pendant in 2x01 is immediately in my mind. But it’s not really the same thing. Here we have a woman who leaves her home to go to a dangerous place for a good cause and takes a pic of her “family” with herself. A pic of the people who are STILL part of her life. In 2x01 Carlos’ ring represented her incapacity to accept that she lost him. And she still held on what she wanted the most: being with him, marrying him. 

And speaking of this moment when Carlos takes his shirt off and she’s not looking at him, I want to say that this is not simply giving privacy to someone who’s taking their clothes off.  Carlos is NOT someone.  Carlos is the man she was with, the man she wanted to marry, the man he had a life with, the father of her daughter, the man who represed her everything right in front of our eyes. He’s not a stranger.  She doesn’t look at him because she can’t. She knows every single centimeter of that body. But now it’s not her place anymore to even look at it. And she looks at that picture to remind herself what her life is now and she can’t go back to the past, even though the tempation is strong. She can’t look at him in that moment just as much as he can’t look at her when he talks to her about the war and what it causes.  I’m very curious about that scene because the conversation has to be gold right there.  But the thing is they can’t look at each other to keep an emotional distance between each other and to protect each other. Carlos needs to protect himself because of the heartache of the possibility of losing her again and Lidia needs to protect herself because she can’t give in to feelings that never went way because too much time has passed, too many things have happened. 

But that’s the thing: even though many things have changed, some things don’t. The love they feel for each other. The passion.  The warmth of being so close yet so far.  And so far yet so close.  The sparkle that’s always been between them, that always challenged them.  And this is not the connection Lidia and Francisco have always had.  Here, we’re talking about another kind of connection. 

What really hurts me even more, I think, is Eva.  Eva has grown up for 7 years having Francisco as her only father figure, seeing her mother close to this man, seeing them together. Eva doesn’t know Carlos and Carlos doesn’t know his daughter. It’s a real tragedy. Even though I guess some people know each other by their heart no matter what. And this kind of bond is even stronger when we’re talking about parents and children. But that’s not fair what happened to Carlos. Again, I would say we’ve seen everything about the Cifuentes-Aguilar family, we’ve known Eva since the moment she was conceived and all the obstacles and dramas this family had to go through just to be able to live their life. We saw how it ended because that was a real break up. They gave them 7 years of separation and I’m more than sure they never saw each other in this huge amount of time. It just can’t be compared to the separation Lidia and Francisco were forced to face. Yes, we know they suffered, because we’ve been told. He was luckier than her.  He got Carlos before she got him. But here we’re talking about much more memories.

I just hope that through all this time, Eva may have known Carlos through Lidia’s words and that she tried to picture him in her mind. And that when she truly sees him for the first time, reality will be a long way better than her imagination. And her reaction will be full of wonder just as I hope the one of her mother will be when she sees Carlos again. The man that broke her heart but that changed her life completely, hitting it and overthrowing it like a hurricane. Because that breath of life Lidia lost at the beginning, it was Carlos who gave it back to her.  

And that’s not what Francisco is.  Francisco is the shelter, the one you always find when you’re having a bad time.  The home you’ve always known.  But Carlos is the place you want to live in, the place where you actually belong, even though it’s hard and risky.  But that’s what life is.

It’s different when you hear something and when you actually see it. We’ve seen every chapter of Carlos and Lidia’s love story, something that didn’t happen with Francisco and Lidia. Sure, we’ve seen two people with a deep bond that couldn’t be together because Lidia has always wanted and loved Carlos.  She only went back to Francisco when she couldn’t have Carlos or when she was on the outs with Carlos. And now they can’t just tell us that Carlos turned out being the third wheel.  It just doesn’t work like this. It doesn’t make any sense with what we’ve seen so far.  And 7 years apart can’t justify it.  Sure, they mean a lot, they have a huge impact, these years exist but there has to be logic with what we’ve seen ‘till now.

And they can’t rob a character like that, taking everything away from Carlos to give it to Francisco, as a sort of a punishment. Carlos doesn’t deserve this.  And Lidia as character doesn’t either. Remember what she told Francisco in 1x07? “Carlos makes me happy. He’s giving me the chance to build a new life.  We’re not good for each other.” That was one of Lidia’s milestones.  And I won’t even repeat now what a asshole Francisco was with his insinuation. If Lidia is okay with the life she built with Francisco in New York, a life we may be informed a bit about, it would make her an idiot. So what, it doesn’t matter who you build a life, a family with, what matters is that you do it?  My point is I want Lidia to prove that she can even be content and she may have settled for her life in New York, but that’s not what she truly wanted and something is missing because Francisco is not the man she wanted all of this with. Because Francisco is NOT the man she wanted all of this with.

[sleepinelysium]

Let us Tell Sad Stories of the Death of Kings

A new fic!  I had intended to write a fluff fic, but that obviously didn’t happen.

I hope y’all enjoy!

tags: @skeleton-richard, @princess-of-france, @catedevalois, @themalhambird

Hal sat among his father’s lords, his princely robes heavy on his shoulders.  He was sat next to Harry Percy, tall, strong, and confident, leaning casually in his seat.  The others whispered to each other lowly in the presence of the King.  Hal felt antsy.  Really, he wanted to be anywhere but here.  Since the King’s--- since Richard’s deposition, Hal had felt very uncomfortable at court or in his father’s presence.  He couldn’t put a finger on what was wrong, either.  He had had a wonderful time in Richard’s court.  He was supposed to have been a prisoner, but Richard had knighted him and taken him on as more than that.

 He was pulled from his thoughts by his father calling his name.

 “Hal,” he said, sharply.

 He looked up.  “Yes, my lord father?”

 “Sit. Up.” Henry instructed.

 Hal hadn’t noticed he’d been slouching, but he nodded and sat up straighter, trying not to let the whispers around him crawl under his skin.  “As pleases my dread father,” Hal said with a bow of his head.

 Henry nodded with approval.

 In that moment, a messenger walked into the throne room.  “My Liege!  Richard is dead!”

 The whispers became murmurs and York paled to the color of snow.

 Hal could feel the blood drain from his face as he turned to watch his father’s face.  Henry’s face looked surprised, but Hal could tell it was fake.  It was a similar look as the one his father wore when receiving his Christmas gifts from himself and his siblings.  

 He was pretending to be surprised.  One eyebrow raised, a feigned openness in his face.  But it was too tight and controlled.

 Hal could feel a dark pit open up in the depths of his stomach.  He felt sick.

 Henry stood.  “In deference to our late cousin, Bordeaux, we shall marshal his funeral.  He will be displayed before the altar of St. Paul’s Cathedral before his burial.” Then, Henry pressed his hands together as in prayer and bowed his head.  “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.”

 Henry crossed himself, as did the rest of the court.  He stood from his throne the rest of the room rose.  “If you will excuse me,” he said, walking out the door.

 The court bowed to him, and the moment the King was out of the room, York left the room.  The others meandered about, but Hal couldn’t move. He wanted to, but he couldn’t make himself move.

“Your Highness, are you well?” Hotspur asked, placing a firm hand on his arm.  

 Hal looked up at him and nodded.  “Yes, Sir Harry, I am well.”

 Hotspur looked dubious. “Perhaps you ought to retire, you seem tired.”  

 Hal could tell that Hotspur wasn’t just suggesting it, so he nodded.  “I believe you are right, Sir Harry, I have not been sleeping well of late.”

 Hotspur nodded.  “Rest well, Your Highness,” he said with a bow before leaving the young prince.

 Hal tried not to look like he was rushing out of the room, but now that he was free of his strange paralysis, he felt like the walls were closing in around him.  He walked down the hall towards the courtyard.  His mind was running in circles and the abyss in his stomach opened its gaping maw.  He thought it might consume him from the inside.  His pace picked up until he was running down the hallway.

 He threw open the doorway, standing there, letting the near freezing air cool his face.  

 The truth of it all hit him hard all at once, and the tears that had collected in his eyes rolled down his cheeks.  Bile rose in his throat and he started throwing up.  Crying and throwing up the more he thought about it.

 He didn’t know how long he’d stood there, but it couldn’t have been too long when someone pulled him back into the hallway, holding him by his shoulders.  The man’s voice was familiar but rough.

 “Coz, breathe,” York said, holding him tight.

 “He did it,” Hal gasped. “He did it, I don’t know how, but I know it was him.  He did it.”

 York was confused a moment, but when he realized what his cousin was saying, he gripped him even tighter, near to the point of bruising the young prince.  “Stop talking.  Now,” he snapped.

 Hal looked up into his cousin’s bloodshot eyes.  “But I know he did it.”

 York pulled him out the door into the courtyard.  Neither of the two were dressed for the cold or the snow dusting the ground.  “You need to stop talking right now, Your Highness. If someone were to hear you--- You need to stop.”

 Hal lowered his voice. “Father murdered the King--- Richard, and you’re alright about this situation?”

 York’s eyes filled with tears again, but he blinked them back.  “Of course not.  But, there is no helping Richard now.  The best we can do is not get caught in your father’s way.”

 Fear creeped into Hal’s eyes.  “You don’t think he’d…”

 York shook his head. “If there’s one thing I know about your father, it’s that he loves you and your brothers very much.”

 “But what about you?”

 The older man was surprised by the question.  “I barely made it after the deposition, your father would not be so gracious a second time.”

 “We’re just talking---”

 “You’re suggesting that your father is responsible for Richard’s death.  That’s not something you say flippantly.”  

 Hal sat on the stairs in the snow, wrapping his arms around his knees.  “He said that Richard would live.  He’d be imprisoned, but alive.  What happened?”

 York looked sheepish and perhaps a little guilty.  “The uprising in December.”

 Hal nodded.  “Oh.  Right.” The boy was starting to shiver, but he didn’t seem to notice.  “I just can’t believe Father would do something like this.”

 “You don’t know he did.”

 Hal looked up at his cousin.  “He wasn’t surprised by the message.  Why wouldn’t he be surprised unless he’s responsible?”

 York sat down next to him. “I don’t have an answer, Hal.  I don’t know.  All I do know is that you can’t share your suspicions with anyone. You don’t want them getting into trouble.”

 Hal nodded with a sniff, wiping his nose on his sleeve.  York smiled and pulled out a kerchief.  “Here, use this instead.  And let’s get inside, it’s bloody freezing out here.”

 They went inside, still standing close to the doorway.  Hal stared at his cousin’s shoes.  “I can’t believe he’s gone.  I can’t believe all of this has happened.  He seemed untouchable.”

 York looked sad and nostalgic.  “Oh, coz, he was very touchable, or touchable to those of his close acquaintance.  But he was the sun of his own court.  He brought art and light into the court.  I’ll not see his like again.”

 “I’m sorry for what my father has done, cousin,” Hal said, earnestly.

 York blinked furiously. “It was none of your doing, Hal. You are not to blame.”

 “But, I will benefit from Richard’s demise.  Is that not just as bad?”

 York leaned against the wall.  “I must believe in a just God, Hal.  You have done nothing, so why would He punish you?”

 Hal nodded.  “I suppose you’re right, coz.”

 “I know you are.”

 York wrapped an arm around the young prince and walked through Westminster silently with him.

 “Tell me when you decide to stand Vigil for him; I’d like to join you,” Hal said.

 “There’s no need---”

 “But, I want to.”

 York conceded.  “As you wish, fair coz.”

 Hal sighed and disentangled himself from York.  “I should to my room to freshen up before my father calls for me.”

 “Remember, you can’t tell anyone your suspiscions.”

 Hal nodded.  “I know, coz.  I know.”

 York squeezed his shoulder. “Good.  Be safe, coz.  Pax vobiscum.”

Hal nodded to York, “Et cum spiritu tuo, Cousin.”

 Once his door had latched, Hal reached for the new beads that his father had commissioned for him. He crossed himself and knelt beside his bead, praying for Richard’s soul.

[lokisoulmateimagine]

Chapter 2

As Natasha leaves with Steve, I choose to stay in the lab with Bruce Banner. As I observe him fidget and tap his fingers, I notice how nervous he seems.

“Dr.Banner, are you alright?” I ask him gently.

“It’s just that, I’m not sure Fury truly understands how dangerous it is to have me on the Helicarrier.” he sighs.

I nod, not quite sure what to say to comfort him.

“So, why don’t you tell me more about yourself.” Bruce suggests trying to fill the silence.

“Well, I don’t really talk about my life before knowing Steve. It would just bring up too many questions.” I reply.

“It’s okay, I’m not asking for any details.” 

“Well, um, I can think of one story. I use to tell it to Steve and other soldiers during the War.” I suggest.

Buce nods, encouraging me to go on.

“So it’s a story I grew up with, a fairytale. The story starts off by stating that their are Fates that watch over us mortals. As a mortal is born, the Fates can see into the mortal’s future. The Fates determine if that mortal accomplishes anything of great value in their life. If the Fates deem that a mortal has, the Fates grant this mortal a soulmate. So at birth, the mortal is given a birthmark. This birthmark is unique to each mortal. Only that mortal’s soulmate will have a soul mark identical to theirs. Once the younger of the two mortal’s turn eighteen, only then will the two mortals know they are each other’s soulmates. Each mortal’s soul mark is only visible to themselves until they turn eighteen. Once together, soulmates become stronger. A better version of themselves. The bond between soulmates is impossible to describe. The closest thing to describe said bond is magic. Magic that is palpable; magic that is touchable; magic that is real.” 

“That’s quite the story.” Bruce chuckles.

“But that’s just it. This story, we’re all taught to believe.” I tell him.

“So, if it is true you have a ... what, a soul mark?” he asks.

I slightly lift the hem of my white tee shirt to reveal my soul mark. It wasn’t very large, the entire thing would fit on a quarter. It’s a small heart appearing to be painted onto my fair skin. 

“Are you sure you aren’t just pulling a joke on me? It sort of looks like it could be a tattoo.” Bruce frowns.

“Never said you had to believe me. Just trying to tell you more about myself.” I reply in a clipped tone.

“Look, I didn’t mean to offend you.” Bruce apologizes. 

“I’m sorry. I got a lot of teasing from several soldiers who over heard the story. Ive gotten defensive whenever people begin to doubt me.” I sigh.

                                                 *************************

Several hours later, I was surprised when i saw Tony enter the lab Bruce and I were in. Natasha and Stave also walk in, but I’m utterly shocked when another familiar face walks in.

“Lady Astrid?” Thor whispers.

I run forward and hug Thor. 

“It’s really you! We all thought you had died!” Thor exclaims as he hugs me back.

“Woah, Lady Astrid? When did you two meet?” Tony interrupts.

“Tony, not now.” I scowl.

“Um, yes now.” Tony insists. 

“Lady Astrid, how do you know this metal man?” Thor asks.

“When I appeared here on Earth, Tony’s family adopted me.” I explain to Thor.

“And how do you know Goldielocks?” Tony asks.

“Well, I’m actually from Asgard.” I admit shyly.

“WHAT?!!!”

[agritecture]

Europe's 'best-kept secret': Its booming bio-economy

CONTENT SOURCED FROM EUOBSERVER

Europe's bio-economy is worth €2.2 trillion and employs 18.6 million people across the bloc, but a third of citizens are unaware it exists.

"People are completely unaware that the EU is number one in the world [for bio-based products] and they don't know it is investing [in the bio-economy]," said Susanna Albertini, managing director of FVA, the Italian partner of the Bioways project, at the first stakeholder forum for the bio-based industries (BBI), which took place in Brussels on 7 December.

The BBI joint undertaking (BBIJU), running from 2014-2020, is a €3.7 billion public-private partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium. EU funding through Horizon 2020 has committed €975 million, with the rest coming from private investment.

So far, for every €1 put in by the EU, €2.59 has been invested by the private sector. Companies outside the EU are "getting interested" in what is going on here, said Philippe Mengel, executive director of the BBIJU. "The EU is back on the map as a place to invest in bio-based industry."

Since the BBIJU started in 2014, 45 new bio-based building blocks have been developed, exceeding the 2020 target of 30, as well as 90 new bio-based materials, against a target of 50.

Some 40 new bio-based consumer products have also been launched (the target was 30).

One innovation with considerable potential – not least given the focus on disposable plastics currently – is PEF (polyethylene furanoate), a bio-based alternative to PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

Around 70 percent of soft drinks are now packaged in PET plastic bottles, but PEF is the "first example of a polymer that's better than the petroleum-based ones", said Tom Van Aken, CEO of Avantium, which has developed the technology.

Stronger and thinner than its oil-based cousin, PEF also has improved barrier properties, said Van Aken, so the shelf-life of products can be extended.

Backed by a €25 million BBI subsidy, the company is part of a consortium developing a supply chain for FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid), the building block for PEF. Coca-Cola and Danone have also invested in Avantium's research.

700,000 jobs by 2030

For bio-based products, supply chains are critical.

New markets for agricultural and forestry products that are used in bio-based materials could reportedly create around 700,000 jobs by 2030, 80 percent of them rural, and much has been made of the potential in the bio-economy to tick a number of boxes in terms of economic and environmental sustainability.

PEF won't be available commercially before 2020, for example, but it is part of a global bio-plastics market that is set to grow 20 percent in the next five years, according to researchpublished at the European bioplastics conference in Berlin in November.

Asia accounts for the largest share of production (50 percent). Europe represents 20 percent, but this should expand to 25 percent by 2022, thanks to the European Commission's commitment to transitioning to a circular economy model.

A political deal on the circular economy package was struck on Monday (18 December).

A full review of the bio-economy strategy – which is seen as complementary to the circular economy – is planned for 2018, but a progress report published in November has already concluded that "there is great potential in a sustainable circular bio-economy".

With forward-thinking policies in place more investment should follow. As Europe's science and research commissioner Carlos Moedas has said: "Private money goes where stability is and where policies are predictable."

Much less predictable is how consumers view bio-based products. It was through a couple of new surveys with 500 people that Bioways – which was set up to raise awareness of bio-based products – discovered just how poor people's understanding is. "It's a mess," admitted Albertini.

To date, there has been little research on people's perceptions regarding bio-based products.

One of the few academic studies there are suggested a general state of confusion. Researchers in the Netherlands quizzed 89 people from five EU countries (a fair-sized study in qualitative terms) and concluded that a large number of them had questions, felt uncertain or had "mixed feelings" regarding the whole thing.

What does 'bio-based' mean?

"It [bio-based] is very strange. What does it mean?" admitted one of the consumers involved. Others suggested the whole thing could be a "marketing gimmick".

Concerns certainly intensified when the products in question are not 100 percent bio-based (one of the products given to them was Coca-Cola's part-plant bottle), or if they were produced outside the EU in countries (for example, a hemp-based T-shirt from China).

Companies will need to tread carefully when it comes to marketing their wares. Whether it's face creams enhanced by cellulose microfibrils, thistles for compostable packaging or waste milk proteins that are used to make dresses, the message from the study was to keep things simple and clear.

The term 'bio-based' doesn't help in that respect. But this shouldn't stop companies ramping up their efforts to communicate the environmental benefits and functionality of their products.

MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij, the Dutch Christian Democrat member of the Europe People's Party, said Europe's design ability isn't always matched by its selling techniques. He called on the sector to "be visible and be touchable."

Some already are. In a survey of 40 brands by bio-economy communications specialists, Sustainability Consult, published in November, 71 percent said they were already communicating their use of bio-based products externally.

Consumer demand for environmentally-friendly products was the key driver for their investment.

More and more member states have also adopted bio-economy strategies, which will help raise awareness at a national level. And the potential of the bio-based economy will no doubt continue to appeal to a commission that has made jobs, growth and investment a priority.

"I think 2018 is going to be a turning point for the bio-economy as it moves from niche to norm," said John Bell, bio-economy director at DG research and innovation.

At €2.2 trillion and 18.6 million jobs you could say the bio-economy has already arrived – but many people are still waiting for the bang.

CONTENT SOURCED FROM EUOBSERVER

[ihavereadandagreetothetermsofuse]

Day 9: Bell Collar

 <<Day 8 // FF.net // Ao3

This is a chapter fic in the works, but I thought it fit alright with today’s prompt. A continuation will be posted to my ao3 or FF, then the final chapter will probably go to day 17.

It could get worse, and he’s not going to pretend like Murphy’s Law doesn’t hold shackles to his wrists. He told Adrien. Plagg told him he’s sick, he needed to be healed, and what does Adrien do? Gets ear of LB and floors it.

So when he transformed into Chat Noir and leapt off for the roofs, you can imagine his surprise when his efforts sent him maybe five feet off the ground before he careened down, only to land perfectly on his feet.

He lifted his hands - raven clad fur paws - and turned his head in time for a new tail to flick his nose.

“No way!” He exclaimed— yowled a meow into the school.

“Ew!” Chloé sneered, lifting her hands up and away as she pointed. “Sabrina! Get this filthy stray out of my sight!”

“Chloé!” He meowed.

Sabrina took off her bag and swung. It connected with his side, and he didn’t need any more of an incentive to scat.

Sabrina screamed as he dashed by her. A pitch that grated painfully against his senses. The moment he could, Chat hid under a bench, peering wide-eyed at the giants stomping above. His heart raced, he needed to calm down. The sounds, the sounds. Too much. He closed his eyes, and after two awkward attempts, cupped his ears. Calm down. Calm down.

Ladybug, the name flew by and his eyes snapped open. Alya gestured excitedly with her phone to Nino as they passed. “That was incredible! And I got grade A footage. Ladybug’s at the top of her game,” she cheered, “smashed Laughter Lines in seconds! Views on the Ladyblog are up! ”

“What kind of villain sends victims into a laughing fit? Not cool.” Nino grumbled.

Alya patted Nino’s shoulder with a mock-pout. “Still sulking?”

He shrugged her off. “My side still aches, ugh, I need to lie-down.”

She laughed. “If you say so.”

Chat slumped onto his paws. Ladybug’s fine, thank goodness. He slowly rose to his feet, amazed by the sense of balance, and shook himself off. The bell at his neck surprised him, he pawed at it, noticing a light collar attached to it. Okay... at least he looks owned. Does that make this any better? ...anyway.

First he tried to simply release the transformation, dead-end. Then he searched for some form of Miraculous to remove, but found nothing.

He extended his paw and claws, shouting, “Cataclysm!” (a mew echoed through the trees in an empty park) He admired his new little weapons, but nothing more.

Chat growled. He scratched the ground, pouncing around, shredding grass till he collapsed from exhaustion. He flopped onto his back and called, “Ladybuuuug!” Chat pouted, murmuring, “your precious kitty’s an idiot.” He got up to go begrudgingly back home, and started at a giggle.

“Never seen that before.”

“Marinette!” He shouted.

“Eek!” She fell from a crouch to her bum. “N-nice kitty.”

His ears folded despite himself. “Sorry,” he mewed. He sat and waited, trying to seem as innocuous as possible.

She tilted her head. He lied down onto his paws, and mewed.

Suddenly Marinette cupped her cheeks. “Aww!” She glanced back and forth before taking out a sandwich and plucking off a bit of cheese from the contents.

“Marinette,” squeaked a small voice, Chat’s ears flicked to it. “I’m starving, and you’re wasting your lunch break with a kitten.” A red being slumped out her purse, and he stopped breathing. “Typical.”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “Tikki, Chat Noir didn’t even show up.” She haughtily raised her nose. “Your argument is based on flawed logic.”

“Marineeeeette!” she groaned. “This Caaaat!”

“Hush, eat my sandwich if you’re so desperate.”

The red being—Tikki sprang into her bag with delight, earning a fond smile out of Marinette. Then she looked at him, still holding the cheese. Marinette lowered it invitingly. “Here kitty, hungry too?”

Chat dumbly took the morsel, green eyes locked with blue, he chewed mindlessly as she beamed. He’s sure his tiny kitten heart couldn’t handle this, legs jello, he would have fallen had he not already been down. Her hand went from a small daze-inducing scratch at his cheek, to an electrifying caress from his head to back. Muscles involuntarily reacted, and suddenly they were magnets. His back arched into her, but his legs refused shortly after, and he flopped back onto his chin.

She laughed behind her hand, a gentle melody to his sensitive ears. Eyes lidded, he gazed at her in a stupor.

Then a bell rang, and it scared him to see the color drain from her face.

She tugged her pigtails. “I’m late!”

“Marinette!” he cried after her. “Wait!”

“Bye kitty!” she shouted over her shoulder.

“No!” He got to his feet and dashed. “I’m Chat Noir— Adrien, Ladybug!” Ladybug. His heart skip a beat in the midst of a samba. She crossed a street with cars and thunder-herds of footsteps and he leapt back, curling away as he cried. “Ladybug! Help me, I’ve turned into a cat!” She turned out of sight. “Marinette!!!” He panted. His mind whirring around the double meaning. She’s real. Ladybug is real, he can touch her, and she’s sat behind him from the start! And she can help him, she has to be able to, she can do anything!

Given a moment he knew school had to end eventually, and she would come waltzing home. He admired the Boulangerie Patisserie before him and sighed, contented. She lives next to the school, she sits behind him. So close, so real, so touchable, and he’s not getting over it anytime soon.

With the coast cleared, he trotted to her home doorstep and sat adamantly at the entrance.

Thunder cracked.

His ears folded down, the first droplet hit him, and it rained...

But that’s okay. She’ll show up, fix him - and really - being wet is the least of his worries.

It’s when the sun began setting did he realize she probably wasn’t coming back. The rain only worsened, he sneezed, shivered, and regretted not searching for her instead. Chat had long since curled into himself. But this is okay. No one’s expecting him anyway. Gorilla isn’t picking him up today, nothing scheduled, all that is expected is that he’ll walk home, and do the same tomorrow.

Easy.

No worries.

Ladybug will fix it.

———————

Chat startled awake at a shove. His sense of balance betrayed him and he twisted to lie on his paws, a swift movement that jump started every new ache in his body. He groaned before blinking up at— Marinette!

“Kitty!” Marinette harshly whispered, drenched and panting. Her pigtails drooped from the rain, she crouched over him, and he suddenly felt very awake upon spotting a cut at her cheek.

“What happened?” Chat chirruped.

She lifted him onto her lap, warmth, and he almost drifted back to sleep. Safe.

“You’re soaked,” she breathed.

“Hypocrite.”

When she jittered and struggled to stand, he felt a zap to wake and try to look her over. The angle proved that effort fruitless, so he impatiently waited as she entered her home.

“Marinette,” her mother called from a room over. Marinette planted herself against a wall, hidden, except for her face around the corner. “I heated up some dinner after you said you’d be home soon. It’s in your room. How was that project you had to stay after for?”

Marinette said a bit too cheerfully. “Fine! We - uh - got a lot of research done on our particle physics paper.”

Even in his sleep riddled state, that sounded far from right. They went over particle physics weeks ago. Still. Ladybug’s a good liar. That’s something to keep in mind.

“Okay, good,” her mother said, a smile in her voice.

When her footsteps faded, Marinette tip-toed down the hall, and wrapped Chat into a cozy towel ball before creeping to her room.

When she set him down, he protested out a meow, but obediently stayed as she ruffled his fur dry. It enveloped his being, and only bits of light cracked into his cocoon before she left him settled in a pile. He peeked out to catch her slumping over an open drawer, her clothes dripping, making a puddle on the wood floor. His heart withered at the sight. Chat needed to help her, but was too tired himself. Helpless, he watched her. A longing pushing down his chest as he cursed his new body.

“Is it still bad?” Tikki asked, circling Marinette.

“Yeah,” she rasped.

“You shouldn’t have forgotten the Lucky Charm.”

He blinked. An Akuma? But she handled Laughter Lines fine, Alya said.

Marinette pulled things from her drawers in quick succession. “It’s fine. No one else got hurt.” She groaned. “Except the tinsy little power outage over three fourths of the city.”

“Marinette...”

“It wasn’t fair. The Inductor shocked my yo-yo.”

Inductor? A second akuma?

“Where was Chat Noir?”

Chat huddled away into the towel.

“MIA,” Marinette puffed, pushing from her knees to her feet, holding a set of pj’s. “I hope he’s okay.”

What?

“Why do you say that?” Tikki questioned.

“That cat loves being a superhero.” She smirked. “More so than me. I don’t think he’d disappear for no reason.” Marinette glanced at Chat. And he clung to some far gone hope that she recognized him, but found no glimmer of familiarity. “He’s not moving, but keep an eye on him, Tikki?”

Tikki nodded and Marinette disappeared down the trapdoor.

———————

“I think the kitten’s upset.” Tikki announced as Marinette stepped in, a towel hung over her shoulders. She gritted her teeth with each step, reaching the top to look at the kitten; the picture of despair. Ears folded, he stared at the floor in a daze, a sad black puddle on her chaste. She wondered briefly if pets could be akumatized.

“Oh no, I forgot! He got drenched too!” Marinette put a hand to his body. “Is he sick— geez, he’s freezing! I’m such a ditz, Tikki, what do I do?!” Her body protested wildly, but Marinette lifted the limp kitten to her chest. “He’s gonna die!”

The kitten mewed indignantly, but it came out cracked.

“Relax, Marinette,” Tikki soothed. “Give him a warm bath too, maybe that will help.”

Marinette didn’t respond. She flew down the stairs and shut them behind the washroom door. Only pausing when she had grabbed the doorknob, and it sent an electric jolt from her head to soles. She turned the shower dials with a wince to the temperature she used earlier, before lowering the kitten in.

“Please be okay,” Marinette begged his half hooded gaze. She propped his head onto a dry sponge momentarily before rolling her sleeves. Using a cup, she doused him in warm water. Only daring to breath when a pur reverberated around the tub walls. Given a few minutes the kitten padded to the deep end of her slanted tub and plopped down. Keeping his head above water, he mewed through a pur and pawed in her direction.

She giggled, relief evident.

In his playful efforted, the bell at his neck jingled.

“A collar.” Marinette turned the bell in her hand, quirking a brow at the design she knows she’s seen elsewhere. “But no name.” She dropped it. “It’s a fancy bell. You have to belong to someone...”

And his tail sparked. Panic seized her heart like her ribs discovered how to give it a hug, when the current of electricity traveled across his body. Limbs awkwardly thrown about the tub, Chat Noir took its place, smiling up at her.

Marinette sucked in a deep breath - and inherently knowing - Chat Noir whipped the towel from around her neck and pressed it to her lips before she screamed her lungs into raisins.

Her hands came to his, yanking the towel away to hiss, “you’re a cat?” She flailed her hands. “An actual cat?!”

“If m- my lady purrfers it.”

She spun the towel into a whip.

“No! N- no wait!” His hands drew between them. He watched his arms move like watching a movie in slow motion. Lethargy kicking in from the cold. “My kwami, P-Plagg, he was s- sick. I transformed, and I shouldn’t have, because what a transformation. I’m sorry, this- this isn’t how I wanted to find out either...” He growled at the inelegance of it all. “Agh, I’m an idiot. But... um,” his hands fell to his lap, splashing slightly, and she didn’t know those leather ears could droop. “I kn- know you’re not happy, but I’m glad to ha- have found you, Ladybug.”

She huffed, hands pushed onto her knees as she looked away. She’s trying to be upset, but he’s shivering, and being sincere. That added to her exhaustion brought a sigh. Best to deal with this later.

New objective in mind, she cupped his cheek, heart flopping like a land bound fish when he nuzzled his nose into her touch. “Well... if anyone were to find out, I’m glad it’s you too.” Marinette praised herself for not pulling away, and instead went to his neck. What she thought was a safer area to check for fever, until his hair stood on end, and he looked at her like—

“You- you’re still freezing,” she told him before her tongue got any dryer. “I know the suit’s waterproof, warm up through the shower.”

He waited.

“Well?”

“Oh,” he toyed with the knobs. “Privacy?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re fully clothed, Chaton. Besides, I leave, and my parents ask why I left the water running.”

He shrugged, drawing the shower curtain to a close. “No peeking!”

Day 10>>

[jessicakehoe]

Being Blind Hasn’t Stopped Molly Burke from Experiencing the Power of a Perfect Lipstick

Molly Burke’s love for makeup runs deep, an admiration that began to flourish when she was 12 and her mom took her to a M.A.C counter at a local Hudson’s Bay store for a makeover one Christmas. “That was my big gift that year; my mom bought me all the products they used on me,” shares the 26-year-old, who was born and raised in Oakville, Ont., and now lives in Los Angeles. After that, Burke was hooked, and beauty counter visits and product hauls became her go-to wish for every birthday and Christmas during her teen years.

Most of us are lucky to hold a vivid visual memory of our first encounter with makeup, from the overall look to the colours swept on. In Burke’s case, she couldn’t see herself in the mirror. At the age of four, she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa—a rare degenerative eye disease that slowly deteriorated her vision for the next 10 years. By the age of 14, she was legally blind. As if the prognosis weren’t hard enough, Burke soon found herself an easy target for bullying by classmates, an experience that left her severely depressed and led her to turn to YouTube’s beauty vlogging community for solace. “I really gravitated toward girls who were around the same age as me. When I went blind, I lost any friends that I had; these girls online felt like my friends when I really had nobody,” says Burke, adding that the descriptive video tutorials opened her up to the plethora of iconic beauty brands.

Today, Burke is a social media heavyweight herself, with almost two million subscribers to her YouTube channel and more than 850K Instagram followers. Having turned her disability into her strongest power source, she posts regular lighthearted and educational vlogs and beauty tutorials that give curious fans raw and genuine footage inside her life as a blind woman. Burke’s content is no doubt a breath of fresh air in a giant sea of YouTubers, and, what’s more, her strong reputation extends far beyond a screen: The social media buff has been public speaking since the age of five and has shared stages with the likes of Justin Trudeau, Malala Yousafzai and Meghan Markle.

Despite a life without sight, Burke has never let her vision loss stop her from revelling daily in applying makeup or doing her signature updos, like messy topknots and high ponies. “For me, it’s never been about covering anything,” she says. “It’s never been about making myself feel more beautiful or more confident—because I can’t see myself in the mirror. It’s all an act of self-care: taking that time for myself every single morning, when I sit at my vanity and do my makeup and hair and I play and express myself.”

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Gallop and I had such a wonderful time @streamys last night with all our friends! So grateful 🙏🏻💕🍾🎉 Styled by @theclothingtherapist HMU by @maureensherwoodmakeup . . . #accessability Photo Descriptions: Molly is standing with Gallop on the red carpet. She is dress in a one piece tuxedo style one piece that are shorts. Her ankle boots are sparkly and she loves them:) Gallop has a blinged collar and was just groomed before he left for the event!]

A post shared by Molly Burke (@mollyburkeofficial) on Dec 14, 2019 at 3:23pm PST

Burke has even mastered her own unique ways of acing her go-to looks. “I’m always asked for tutorials on my ponytail because I do it all the time,” she says. “Honestly, I just lie on my bed and flip my hair off to the side, and then I brush it into a ponytail and that’s it.” And that topknot? “I flip my head upside down, pull all my hair on top of my head, twist it and I’m done!”

The millennial powerhouse is also as passionate about fashion as she is about beauty, with an obsession for flowy maxi-skirts that can easily be paired with crop tops—especially come summertime, she says. “I feel like that’s my look as a 26-year-old.” As for how she navigates her closet at home? “I memorize everything by how it feels,” she reveals, noting that her fingers are extra-sensitive (compared to people who are sighted) due to her Braille expertise. The same applies for the makeup on her vanity. “I memorize everything in my life: from where every lipstick sits in my makeup collection to where every eyeshadow is in a palette. It’s not work for me.”

Being blind has never held Burke back from indulging in her love of beauty and fashion—and the global pandemic isn’t either. “Right now, beauty and fashion make me feel normal: putting on a cute outfit (even if it’s loungewear), still doing my full face of makeup every day, putting my hair up, shaving my legs—I even still put self-tanner on,” she says of her quarantine routine. “I’m doing all the things that I would do if I was living my normal life, because doing these things truly makes me feel better.”

In Her Kit

These are the makeup staples that line Molly’s vanity.

1/5

Tarte Rainforest Of The Sea Water Foundation in “Fair Beige”

($51, Sephora)

“My biggest thing about makeup is texture. I really can’t stand it when I can feel heavy foundation on my skin. I love a very healthy, radiant look, so for that I use Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea Water foundation.”

Buy Now

2/5

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

($51, Sephora)

“I need a good setting powder that doesn’t feel cakey but makes my skin feel touchable. I don’t think any other setting powder holds a candle to the Laura Mercier one. There’s a reason why it’s so popular.”

Buy Now

3/5

Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara

($27, Shoppers Drug Mart)

“I love a lot of the Benefit mascaras, like the classic BADgal lash mascara.”

Buy Now

4/5

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in “Milk Chocolate”

($40, Sephora)

“As a girl who is super fair-skinned, I find this bronzer is a really good shade for me.”

Buy Now

5/5

M.A.C Amplified Lipstick in “Up The Amp”

($24, M.A.C Cosmetics)

“Purple lip shades are my favourite. This one isn’t too bright or too deep. It’s the perfect shade. It was the first purple lipstick I ever owned.”

Buy Now

The post Being Blind Hasn’t Stopped Molly Burke from Experiencing the Power of a Perfect Lipstick appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Being Blind Hasn’t Stopped Molly Burke from Experiencing the Power of a Perfect Lipstick published first on https://borboletabags.tumblr.com/

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Ed and Charlie on a Mission from God

HOW would be feel if you’re Tom Hawkins?

Both Curnow brothers head to the tribunal and get a great result, with Steven May allowed to board the plane to China as well. All after poor Tom copped a week for his indiscretion only one week prior.

It is all a bit random at the moment these sanctions, but for mine, given the sudden increase in umpire contact, the resolution isn’t about consistency with the tribunal outcomes, but if the umpires can stop being so touchable, dial back the flirting.

Haven’t had umpire contact for years and now four in two weeks. Perhaps the Lynx Africa umpires sponsorship is working too well.

Onto more pressing and interesting matters..

1.  Monday night, Chris Judd had an idea to increase the spectacle of the game by replacing percentage on the ladder with simply points scored, encourage teams to score more. That works well for Etihad Stadium tenants always under a roof on a fast track, but for anyone else, particularly those who play in Queensland monsoons every now and then, not so good. Thanks Chris.

2.  Essendon - something else going on? The Mark Neeld thing is bizarre. Don't believe 'public media releases'. It's amiss. Especially when the coach uses "they" in press conferences talking about his own players. Heppell is a star looking anything but, Goddard is not good for that team at this minute and don't ask on Stringer. This is a very well-run organisation, particularly post-drugs saga, and it’s a very talented list. Worsfold was good at West Coast and awesome in his first year at Tullamarine. So yep, something away from the cameras, away from game day, is properly wrong.

3.  Devon Smith a bright spot for Essendon though, in a side looking light on for want, desire, effort, he is averaging 8 tackles a game, second in the comp.

4.  Buddy Franklin, bruised heel, didn't get up last week and already ruled out for this week. Strange. Wouldn't be another Dayne Beams-style injury-layoff, would it?

5.  Ben Ronke, seven goals, fantastic, taken as a rookie, pick 17. The pick before in that same rookie draft was Jack Henry, last week’s rising star nominee for Geelong. The pick before that, Tendai Mzungu, the ex-Docker, taken by GWS. They can't get much right the Giants.

6.  As for the GWS, now sitting out of the eight. If they don't beat North down in Hobart they're in big trouble to get back in the eight. As it stands you’d be happy to lock in the top two on the ladder for September, and pencil in those three through seven. You could argue Port, in eighth, with the next four or five clubs are playing for perhaps one spot. The  Giants are supposed to be a team almost ‘designed’ to be top four at worst. Early crow, but they can’t afford to head past midnight on the premiership clock, they are getting no crowds and need a flag within their first 5-10 years of existence. Need.

7.  Good to see Port turn up but you just don’t trust them. They'll win this week and go 6-3 before their post-China bye, however, if they were anyone else you'd be locking them in for the eight, but with Alberton we still have way too many trust issues.

8.  North have got a good thing going, not a super list but this column must give credit to Brad Scott. They play a different style to Richmond but are performing in a similar vein, Scott is extracting success from the specific parts he has available, akin to Hardwick last year. Other than the Crows who took the Tigers apart in in Round Two, are North the best opposition the reigning premier has faced to date?

9.  Jack Macrae having some sort of year! Will be second in the Brownlow count to this point; remembering unless the leader gets injured or suspended he has his second medal. Listen to this column, put your life savings on, and be grateful later.

10. Speaking of Nat Fyfe, he is in unreal form and so to is Patty Cripps. Both similar styles on the inside, huge beasts almost impossible to stop. Both those boys crumbing to Nic Naitanui in an Origin game, something utterly magical we're likely never going to see. Shame.

11. Melbourne are the sleeper, got themselves to 5-3 and are getting the most inside 50s of anyone in the comp, genuine initial entries but also re-entries due to pressure. Second in the comp for clearances too and fifth in tackles. Have the game to go well and deep. A 'Buy'.

12. Shout out to Angus Brayshaw, looked at one point to be the next Jack Trengove, incredibly talented junior, more than their fair share of injuries, becoming an unfortunate but inevitably wasted pick. But no no, he is now integral to their midfield mix. Brings the tackle pressure, over five a game, averaging 23 touches as well. He is amongst the league leaders for inside 50s too, a clean user, is tough – a fantastic foil to some of their real jets. Like I said, get on the Dees.

13. Let’s get a couple on the Pies out of the way – firstly Mason Cox, top five in the comp for contested marks. Not many strings to his bow, but on the back of his vast improvement catching the thing, worth persisting with for now. A 'Hold’.

14. Tom Mitchell and Jack Macrae having great years, not only amongst the league leaders in contested ball, but ranking really highly in uncontested ball too;  working hard inside and on the spread alike. Only one other is doing something similar, Adam Treloar, top 20 in both categories, having as good a year so far as his 2016 where he polled 21 Charlie votes.

15. No-one has handballed more than the Pies this year, not even close. The Tigers are going about 1.26 kicks to handball, around average, the Eagles are kicking the highest, 1.78 kicks to handball, yet the Pies, 1.11 kicks to handball. Looks to be working visually, impressive against two 2017 preliminary finalists (Adelaide and GWS), and for a half against a third (Richmond). But three of their four wins though are against 15th, 17th and 18th. However, if they were to win every coming game against someone currently below them on the ladder they will finish with 12 wins, so the draw is their oyster.

16. Darcy Moore stays at Collingwood a million percent, unless Ned Guy is as confident in securing Tom Lynch as Sydney was all 2013 in securing Lance Franklin - it’s already been done, it’s just a secret until it's permissible to go public with it. With Ben Reid the wrong side of 30 next season, and always injured, no way the Pies go into 2019 without one of Moore or Lynch. Having both is more likely than having neither.

17. Reckon Olli Wines goes. Victorian boy out of contract, the Power had a tonne of space last year but whilst they didn't spend all of it, they did commit plenty of new money beyond 2018, so the space wasn't just used up for one year, it’s considerably used up going forward. Plenty of Melbourne clubs with space they've been trying to burn for a while, so North, St Kilda, these clubs, unless the kid's dead loyal or sees real premiership potential soon (maybe?), the money and term will be better back this side of Horsham.

18. Top 3 in the Coleman? Ben Brown on 26, on 70-goal pace, utter megastar the Taswegian. But second and third, Luke Breust and Jack Darling.  Will Tom Lynch's price be going down with every passing round? Why would the Tigers want him? Breust has 23 majors, Roughead for comparison, four inches taller yet nine less goals, who is more important? Breust top 5 in the league for assists too, unbelievable first third of the season for the Riverina product.

19. This column loves that this game has so many unique aspects, most notably the father son in the draft. It’s awesome - no-one else has it. But its gone too far now with academies. Not only do the expansion clubs have priority access to kids in their area, but also the northern clubs get the same entitlement with anyone remotely geographically close too (Heeney and Mills with Sydney for example). But now all clubs have pseudo academies, which aren't academies at all, they are basically the re-emergence of zones.

Take Tarryn Thomas. He is an indigenous gun from Tasmania, a serious jet who I’m really looking forward to see in the big time, who in this new world comes under the Roos' ‘Next Generation Academy’. Nothing to do with North really and Tassie has produced VFL/AFL footballers for as long as a typical season of MKR. But recently they were given the area to which Thomas is from for who knows why. So they will now get priority access to him in November’s draft, but then take the case of former North and Fitzroy wingman John Blakey's son, Nick. Could go father son to North, could go father son to Brisbane too, but because John has worked for Sydney as a coach and lived there long enough, Nick is eligible to go via academy to the Swans as well. And guess what, the kid doesn't want to move interstate so has nominated Sydney as his club of choice. This draft, combined with all the malarkey with points accrual and what not, has lost its essence. Go back to something simpler or just ditch the draft and revert to zones proper like it always was and be done with it.

20. Lastly, to Rugby League. Last Saturday night there was over 30,000 to a double header at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Nothing else in the round came close to half that, most crowds in Sydney barely broke five figures. How is that competition, a comp dying out for an in increase in crowds, still without a second team in Brisbane? Imagine the AFL not having the Power or Dockers, it's a real head scratcher. How a broadcaster hasn’t demanded it either is also staggering. Especially when it seems the Broncos aren’t just a universal love up there either, which surprises this column. You want the next bitcoin – shares in the second NRL team in Brisbane. A HUGE ‘Buy’….. when it happens. If, sorry, if it happens. Clowns.

(originally published 16 May)