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#annie has witnessed me ramble about this man
prpletoast · 6 days
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I MADE A DUDE!! A FUNNY DEMISEXUAL MILITARY TWUNK!!!!! (also; 'Draugr' is the Old Norse term for the undead, or just zombies)
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Name: Keiser 'Draugr' (Lee) Hindenburg
Age: 24
Lore (+ extra info; including height):
Keiser's parents were based in Germany; his father, Paul Hindenburg, fell in love with his mother; a Norwegian woman named Åshild. They were married for two years; until the year 2000; Ashild gave birth to Keiser. He strikingly takes after his mother; other than his hair being a fairly darker blonde. In school; Keiser was learning both English and German; he also learned a bit of Old Norse from his mother! By the time he was 16; Germany was recruiting cadets for its military; due to a severe shortage. Due to how well he was growing; Keiser thought it wouldn't be a bad starting-job (He was already a shocking 5'11). However; he didn't know he'd be entitled to genetic modification.
By the time he was eighteen; the genetic modification he was thrust into boosted him into a mortifying 7'9. He grew a strong dislike for Germany after they did this to him, but what hurt the poor man the most was that everyone was scared of him; he was rather social growing up. There are some benefits to being a Super Soldier though! A fucking ridiculous level of stamina, endurance, strength, and a mortifying ability to survive severe conditions.
During his service; Keiser survived being shot 13 times (a good chunk of them being concentrated on the torso), having his throat slit open, and two concussions. The genetic modification made his stem-cells extremely strong; the healing began almost instantly. However; another funny quirk they gave him is that this regeneration required a high intake of protein. Which on the battlefield; was difficult to obtain.. So (unfortunately); Kaiser had to turn to cannibalism to regenerate from these injuries. The cannibalism he turned to (in order to survive), witnessing the few friends he made die, and the fact his mother died of cancer; while he was away, drove the lad insane. He had to go to the ol' nuthouse for a few months; so he'd recover enough to function, and that's how he earned the nickname 'Draugr'.
At 19; not long after he was released from the mental-hospital, he got a job at a lumber mill, and began saving to immigrate to America; for the sake of starting a new life. There was also a really good therapist there; who specializes in his issues. At age 20; he moved to America, and was immediately registered into therapy.
That's where he met his current girlfriend; his therapist, Annabelle Irene Johnson. She's a chubbier woman who has vitiligo (dark skin w light spots), basil green eyes, and puffy auburn hair.
Keiser has selective mutism, and when Annie found out about this, at their first session (she knows American Sign-language); the two of them communicated through sticky notes, and they grew to be great friends!
Annabelle genuinely liked Keiser; not just for how muscular he was, but she genuinely saw him as a good guy. But how hot his voice was (when he trusted her enough to speak) was just a bonus for her! She saw him as a good friend, but Keiser was already head-over-heels; because the last person who'd shown him kindness was his mother, and she died (practically) right after he left for war at 16.
They started officially dating when Keiser was 22, and Annabelle was 23. He was nervous as shit, and went Annabelle accepted his proposal; what was left of the skin on Keiser's face went BEAT RED, and he went non-verbal for a day or two.
also
do NOT let bro ramble about his gf.. he'll have you there for HOURS...
(I'll make a ref for Annie in a lil bit)
THATS SO CUTE!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! YOU GOTTA DM ME ON THIS OMLLLLLLLL
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sultryvodka · 3 years
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𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚! 𝙖𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙨 | 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 1
𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 - 𝙢𝙖𝙮 4𝙩𝙝
warnings: mild swearing, mildly suggestive (if you squint lol)
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| armin - colt - eren - jean - porco |
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armin arlert
• i think most, if not all of us, agree that armin looks like the type to get all flustered with PDA & shy away from his emotions --- HOWEVER.
• rather than being all over you, he finds himself most comfortable with holding your hand or having an arm wrapped around your shoulders.
• he wouldn't mind you being clingy though 👀
• would occasionally place a gentle peck on your forehead, cheeks & his personal favorite; the palm of your hands.
• you guys' dates would mostly end up being in a library, café & restaurants with a nice warm atmosphere.
• i bet he would be the kind of guy to take you to the beach whenever you're stressed out in hopes of calming you down.
• gets very defensive when his friends tease you, if a man could bark his friends away, it's armin arlert.
• this lad over here would establish a routine with you (with your consent & opinions ofc)
• mondays to friday mornings are centered on school, you guys do your own thing at school & walk you home while making sure to stop by a convenience store for snacks, assuming that you guys don't live together yet.
• both of you make it a point to check on one another to make sure you guys aren't wearing yourselves out.
• which leads me to the conclusion that your parents grew very fond of him & treats him more like their child
• when you guys are having a sleepover, this whole lowkey facade of his takes a 180 and the second you reach the bedroom he'll shower you with cuddles and kisses.
• you would watch movies (mostly rom-com just bc armin makes it work okay) tucked in a warm futon with popcorn and candies between you two.
• armin strikes me as a very studious guy and he does this to ensure you guys' future together ^-^
• all in all armin cares about you so much and he doesn't mind being vulnerable to you. he is your safe haven, and so are you to him.
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colt grice
• okay can we talk about how this perfect man deserves some more attention
• colt, my man, gives me disney's prince florian vibes. the soft-spoken, kind-hearted, & just an absolute dream.
• he's the kind of guy to take you to the park, a greenhouse, & WORKSHOPS!!!
• given the idea that he is in fact a shy little baby, he is actually pretty active with you. every date you guys have is different. mans has a quest planned out for y'all.
• at school i think that you might be the one to initiate skinship. doesn't have to be kisses on the lips, it's more of gently trailing your index on the back of his hand or rubbing a hand on his forearm when he gets a little anxious.
• the type to peek through your classroom's door because bubba's too shy to ask someone to call for you 🤧
• colt, in my opinion, is very domestic in private, now don't get me wrong he may be a little too shy in public because he isn't used to it but i promise you he takes on the nurturing role of the relationship more than you are.
• he helps you with cleaning, folding your clothes, and god if you guys get periods, he's got a whole pouch in his locker just for you.
• he doesn't do it intentionally, he happens to know you so well that he notices the slight change in your moods & cravings.
• colt often reads a book while you guys cuddle during the afternoons once all the work is done, he'd make you tea or whatever you want. he hums a tune, probably from old disney movies that his brother falco used to enjoy as a kid.
• your parents are more invested in your marriage than you and colt combined.
• okay, now if you happen to have a baby or a toddler somewhere around the house, someone keep this man from turning into a putty.
• as much as colt acts prim and proper most of the time, he has his moments where he just wants to be an entire mess. perhaps sleeping past his usual waking time, indulging in more snacks than usual. you know, loosen up? yeah, that is a side of his that only YOU will ever be allowed to see.
• so yes you and colt would be labeled as the: put-together couple who needs a little bit of adventure every now and then.
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eren jaeger
• i hope i don't ramble too long because i love him sm
• mr. loverboy over here is a simp for you, more than you are a simp for him! he is not afraid to show you off and shower you with flattery. now he does this because he feels so lucky to have you.
• he can be a little cliché (well maybe not as much as jean --- more on that later), like he'll randomly interrupt your vacant class with a gift box he put together, & a bouquet. yes. (carla helped him pick out flowers from her shop)
• he's the type to crash his lips with yours in the middle of campus when you achieve something or when he does, vice-versa. if he plays in one of your school's teams, there just HAS to be a bet that if he wins he gets a kiss... or more... or something else.
• dates with eren are usually random than planned. like it pops in his head and he'll inform you right away. he respects your vacancy too of course but if you aren't he might pout just a little bit.
• his ideal dates are prop shop dates, going to hotspots, amusement parks, antique shops! & maybe late night drinks at a quiet bar where you can both enjoy the solace of the atmosphere.
• on special occasions, he does plan ahead. usually it's something on the simpler side. candlelit dinners at home or somewhere you guys both enjoy dining.
• if eren's had a bad day, best believe that he will run to you for comfort. only you can help keep his aggressive response to anger at bay.
• if given the chance he would take you around the world, he's that passionate in making sure you live a little
• hear me out... you and eren would probably have the most philosophical conversations, just laying on your backs beneath his room's skylight? heavenly.
• eren can get a little poetic expressing himself & i believe that it's just wonderful. no one can describe their feelings as good as eren.
• his favorite look of yours is when your eyes beam with excitement, it usually happens when you spot something that you used to enjoy as a kid or when you're concentrating on one of your hobbies.
• he's a very touchy person too, his hands are usually on your stomach/waist, his kisses are random & they linger for awhile.
• when you're asleep next to him, it's his habit to solemnly watch you while his own drowsiness starts to take over.
• eren is passionate & sometimes people might take it the wrong way. one of the reasons eren loves you is because of the way you understand how he is. mutual growth for y'all ♡.
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jean kirschtein
• jean is not afraid to pull a live performance for you, you see this man is at the top of the world when he's with you. from 80s hits to recent releases this man will blast his playlists catered for you.
• dates with jean are certainly spent on concerts, (him & eren bond over chase atlantic don't argue with me) music festivals, thrifting & late night drives!!!
• personally, i don't see jean as very gimmicky unless you guys are with his friends, he takes you very seriously and you are his top priority.
• at school i think he's definitely one of those flirtatious boyfriends. the kind who would not miss an opportunity to blow you a kiss or throw you a wink. he can be a bit of a dork, who wouldn't be? if he can get one of your rare smiles 🥺
• jean's the type to ask his pals for help when it comes to styling. not because he dresses badly but he's too focused on getting a flush on your cheeks. he's a hopeless romantic.
• if you guys happen to stay at home, he'll definitely serenade you with the amount of songs he had written recently just for you.
• since he bonds with sasha and connie, his jokes are either dad jokes or something that went viral on tiktok. he's the perfect balance of goofy and mature.
• if you aren't much of an active person he wouldn't mind being lazy with you and insist on a diy spa day at home.
• it's just netflix with a tub of ice cream and face masks on.
• since jean is quite the romantic, he would be into couple outfits or items that aren't cringey obv and probably doesn't mind using your perfume or vice-versa.
• jean probably asked you out during one of his gigs, offering you a single rose afterwards.
• he's the type to leave you random post-it notes if he visits your house. just random phrases or doodles. and boy does he pick you up every single day on his smexy motorcycle.
• he'll bring you coffee and breakfast to-go. this man's spoiling you baby.
• aside from that, i feel like jean would make you hand-made gifts with the help of his momma. he thinks it's sentimental when you make your presents because it's one of a kind.
• jean does all these things because he's 100% about you being a constant person in his life. he loves how he can be whoever he wants when he's around you, i'm certain you guys wouldn't have it any other way either.
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porco galliard
• porco can be a dick if he wants to not to you though, this tough guy turns into putty just for you. he definitely loves being treated like a baby.
• at first he might come off as cold because he isn't used to the whole romance thing and he gets flustered with the slightest pecks so you might have to initiate at first.
• but once you guys get through the awkward phase this boy would straight up greet you with a passionate kiss and does not give a damn about everybody who witnessed it. he might even have a stupid smirk on his face.
• like eren, i feel like porco would be very passionate and intense. he doesn't say much but he definitely shows you just how much he adores you.
• speaking of friends (: reiner would tease him every second of the day. i bet he would team up with bertholdt to annoy this poor boy. annie and pieck's not much help either.
•whenever you're stressed, porco would run you a bath and give you massages very often. he'll sit on the edge of the tub while he runs his hand through your hair.
•his type of dates would be watching at a cinema or a drive-in, going to the mall just to look around,he's a simple guy.
•if you guys happen to have an argument, porco would distance himself for a few minutes to a few hours just to process the situation and avoid anything his aggression might cause.
•he knew that if he wanted you guys to work he needed to be better.
•he would come back though and hold you in his arms while you guys talk it out.
•i bet he's one of the aot characters who would be an athlete, so most days you'll end up watching him practice.
•overtime, porco would be more open to being intimate in public and post stories of you two just doing things most couples do.
•he's proud that you're his and he's all yours.
•porco is a great guy and he would do anything just to make you smile.
i hope you guys liked these~! let me know who you guys want to be in the second part. requests are open and as always, stay safe! - 🌸☁️
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ackerfics · 3 years
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hi! i don’t know if you’re taking requests but if you are would you be interested in a soulmate au with mikasa. i adore soulmates au a lot! mikasa x fem!reader (aot cast reincarnated into the modern world and they get to have a happy and not stressful life)
she is half of my soul, as the poets say  — mikasa ackerman
— mikasa ackerman x female reader (soulmate au)
— warnings: none, just fluff
— summary: you finally found each other.
— word count: 3.2k
— author’s notes: thank you so much for the request !! i hope you enjoy reading this because i had a blast putting this all together. plus, i couldn't help but place a quote from 'the song of achilles' bc that was a masterpiece.
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Underwater.
Your surroundings were submerged in the depths of the ocean to you.
The professor in front of the lecture hall continued his lesson in a cacophony of white noise. The occasional flipping of textbooks and the clacking of the keyboard droned, a majority of the students tried taking down what the middle-aged man was reciting. You should be doing those, too, but there was something about your day that made you want to skip class and bury yourself in a mound of blankets. The air-conditioning wasn’t helping at all, it just made you drift away, even more, images of flying people and humanoid giants flickering through your mind. Even your vision was becoming blurry as you stared at the seat in front of you, not noticing how your Ethics professor dismissed your class with a reminder of the paper that was due the following week. You were still seated as most of the students stood up, eager to spend the rest of their day inside their dormitories and apartments.
“[Name].” Somebody called out to you but the raw feeling of swinging in midair acted like a bubble, keeping you from going back to reality. The voice groaned in frustration at your lack of response. “Earth to [Name]! Hey, wake up!”
You shook out of your stupor with a blink, turning your head slowly at the person waiting for you. You took in her casual attire, so different from the daydream you were in. At first, you didn’t know about your whereabouts, making you look around the lecture hall — empty except for the two of you and the professor at front. The feeling of confusion once again dominated your sound mind as you breathed out, “Where am I? I thought I was just outside in this desert and I was surrounded by people who were crying like they were a hopeless case. Then there was someone screaming my name, saying they wouldn’t let me go.”
The person pursed their lips, concerned and slightly creeped out at the nonsense coming out of your mouth. There weren’t any deserts near you right now because you two were in the middle of the city, inside a university. The way you phrased those words sounded like a plot from an apocalyptic movie you were bound to binge during academic breaks. There were accounts scattered around the internet about reincarnation that the person drank in the early hours of dawn when they couldn’t go to sleep but witnessing it in front of them, was another whole level of conspiracy theories. A hand was planted on your shoulder, your friend smiling sympathetically at you, knowing that you sometimes have these episodes inside your shared apartment. The look you gave them was enough to erase the wariness bubbling in your friend’s stomach, which spurred them to gather your things and placing them inside your backpack. Your friend worked in silence, however, they were aware of the stare you never took off from the side of their head.
“In case you don’t remember me,” your friend looked up at you with a twinkle of mischief in their irises, “I’m Hitch and I’m your roommate.” She was speaking to you as if you were a toddler, something that made annoyance tickle your chest.
“Hitch?” You mumbled, looking down on your lap for a solid minute until you gasped out loud, the sound echoing inside the lecture hall without any warning. The professor looked up from his seat, glare already in place at the disruption you caused. You buried your face in your hands, face erupting in hues of red because of the embarrassment creeping in your throat. “Oh, my God, don’t tell me I did it again.”
Hitch nodded with a shrug. “I mean, I’m used to your episodes but it always amazed me how you wake up from them all disoriented.” Finishing with her task of tidying your bag, she pulled on your arm. “I think I should record whatever you say next time, this could be my viral moment.” When you gave her a dry glare, she laughed. “Oh, come on, think of the possibilities! But pushing that aside, let’s have dinner first.”
“Hitch, it’s only four in the afternoon.”
She scoffed lightheartedly. “We can always have a midnight snack later. Right now, I’m craving something savory.” The two of you went outside the lecture hall’s door, not missing the look of relief from your Ethics professor as you linked your arm with Hitch’s. She turned to you expectantly. “Any ideas for dinner, bub?”
There was a churning feeling inside your stomach, very much like those life-and-death situations during exams where you rely on your gut for the correct answer if the test includes multiple-choice questions. This time, instead of the nagging voice telling you to encircle the first choice, your gut was telling you to head to the café near your university. Aside from their famous coffee blends and teas (the latter being one of their specialties), the café houses a variety of dishes in its menu, which doesn’t make them a café anymore but the owner still insisted that they’ll be known as that establishment. It was more of a restaurant than your regular coffee shop, making it a hit among the students in the University of Eldia, where a majority of the student body was either caffeine-dependent or reliant on fast food take-outs. The quaint café owned by Levi Ackerman was the perfect solution to yours and Hitch’s grumbling stomachs. 
“How about the café just outside of uni?” You suggested, hoping that Hitch will consider the idea.
The said girl hummed, a finger placed on her chin. “The one owned by that grumpy short-stack?” 
“Hey, that’s rude.”
Hitch shrugged without care, hoisting her tote bag up to her shoulder. “Even his cousin calls him that, you know?” At your raised eyebrow, all Hitch could do was laugh at your adorable, clueless expression. Between the two of you, the light-haired girl was the social butterfly in your friendship and you wouldn’t be surprised if she even had an inkling of the gossips happening around your year level. 
“Relax, his cousin is a good person (that is if she doesn’t kill you with her blank stare), along with their little friendship circle. I must say, all of them look so adorable. You remember Annie, right?” She continued when she saw you nod, the mention of the blonde made you remember your time when the three of you shared your apartment. It was a good kind of chaotic, the three of you balancing out each other’s personalities. Annie was always the indifferent one, Hitch the most sociable, and you being the mediator of the two. “She’s dating one of Mikasa’s friends, Armin. Mikasa is the cousin, by the way, and I can clearly see the resemblance between her and the café’s owner. With the permanent scowl and all.”
“Uh-huh.”
You didn’t know what to do with the information so you only hummed and nodded your head every time Hitch spewed out a couple of trivia involving people you have heard down the hallways or being called during roll-calls. She even told you how one of Mikasa’s friends, Sasha Braus, was reprimanded for eating inside the class of an infamous terror teacher, which landed the girl on that professor’s blacklist. The girl, Sasha, was actually in one of your classes but you never really talked to her, all of your attention poured out into absorbing what the teacher relayed in the class. All of Hitch's ramblings spanned the entirety of your walk to the café — a talent your roommate has that amazed you every time it happened. 
The smell of cinnamon greeted you once you stepped inside the café, the homey decorations making your heart warm in an instant. There were a couple of college students in separate tables, all of them draping their textbooks and readings in front of them, headphones plugged in despite the soothing background music brought by the café’s speakers. Now that you mention it in your head, midterms were coming up in a month and you hadn’t started organizing your revisions. As your mind was filled with the scent of flowers and coffee, Hitch tugged on the sleeves of your blouse, your light-haired friend wordlessly gesturing her head towards one of the empty tables overlooking the window showing the small garden beside the café. You nodded and flashed a thumbs-up, already knowing what Hitch’s order is the number of times she went home with take-outs from this establishment.
Thinking that you should order something for a change, you looked up at the menu board above the counter. With your order listed in your mind, you faced the person manning the counter, ready to relay your order to her. What greeted you, though, wasn’t a smiling cashier, instead, wide gray eyes stared at you with a slacked jaw — irises flecked with an emotion that sent your heart lurching inside your chest. She was a tall girl with muscles in the right places, black hair styled in a pixie cut that made you appreciate her features more. You faintly recalled that she was in one of your majors, which should explain the air of familiarity surrounding her. Her hands on the small notepad hovered over the current lilac paper, her posture rod straight as her breath hitched while staring into you. You weren’t sure what made her react like that so you slightly tilted your head back to look at the booths behind you. Hitch caught your eyes, raising her eyebrow in a silent question. Facing the counter attendant again, you were shocked to see that star-like tears were decorating her eyelashes, chapped lips wobbly. 
It felt like you’ve seen that expression too many times but you were sure this was the first time you saw her face to face.
“Oi, Mikasa, why are you stalling?” A short black-haired man entered the space behind the counter, arms crossed and gaze questioning as he took in the breaking form of his employee. “It’s been a full minute and you still didn’t take the customer’s order.” 
“Can I stay in the breakroom for a while?”
Your breath was taken away at the sound of her voice. It sounded like all four seasons were present in the soft-spoken tone she carried, very different from her tough physical appearance. You were left staring at her back, chest nearly bursting open because of how fast your heart pounded just from that sentence. Images of late-night trysts played in your head; of secret kisses that created an ocean of emotions inside you; of eyes looking at each other with tendrils of hope before the gates open, death beckoning you in its arms; of desperate promises, neither person could ever keep. All of them were so familiar and nostalgic that a swarm of butterflies was starting to infest your ribs and chest, sprouting flowers that clogged your throat from speaking. 
Levi glanced at you, eyes analyzing your form with a hint of concern for his relative and wondering what made Mikasa act like that. “Sure, go ahead, brat, your friends are at the back. Hello, ma’am, I’ll be taking your order.”
“Oh, sure,” you murmured before beginning to list down the food you and Hitch will be indulging in, eyes curiously staring at the girl going inside the breakroom. “Uhm, is she going to be alright?” You tried asking Levi, who only looked at you with a raised eyebrow. “It looks like she had a fright here.”
“It’s the first time I saw her in that state, to be honest,” Levi simply answered, with no room for other discussions. “Your drinks will be served shortly.” He gave you a small gadget, his pointer finger pushing a button on the device, making it light up in a blinding red. “Once your drinks are ready, this will light up and you can get it here on the counter. Thank you for your patronage.”
“Thank you, too.”
It was only when you seated yourself in front of Hitch that you realized Mikasa’s voice sounded like the one always shouting your name in your daydreams, failing to keep the promise of never letting you go.
-
Mikasa was a mess.
First, before waking up for her 7 A.M. class one autumn day, she was haunted by the memories of her previous life (or this is what Armin told her, with him also remembering being born again from a different timeline, another universe altogether rather). In that more outdated version of this world, they were on the constant grapple with these beings called Titans. Her dreams became more complex the more time passed by as these Titans disappeared, replacing with it a looming war between two countries. Her daydreams always resulted in tear-stained cheeks, eyes then finding her best friend who started a mass genocide in their previous lives, Eren. When Mikasa remembered that part of her last life, she would often find herself staring deeply at the side of Eren’s head, resulting in the brown-haired man complaining about her soulless eyes. It looked like Eren didn’t remember it, which nearly drove Mikasa mad. 
Until that day Eren came up to her after a three-hour lecture, all haggard with his man-bun in disarray, and shouting, “I’m so sorry for laughing at you, Mikasa! I had a dream during a lecture of those titan things you and Armin are talking about. I believe you!”
Second, the warmth of somebody was a constant in balancing out the horrors of her daydreams. Among the carnage, a body fitting against hers with the morning rays passing through the slit of the windows was a sight she didn’t want to wake up from. Threads of soft hair tickled her cheek, making way for an unforgettable shade of irises that she compared to the crystals they found underneath the Reiss estate. A smile so vibrant that it paled in comparison to the blue expanse of unknown waters they saw after killing all the Titans in Paradis. The smell of freshly picked flowers lingered in the air, acting like the comforting blanket Mikasa had when she was young. At first, she couldn’t see the face of the person but as the episodes became more vivid, Mikasa finally saw the woman of her dreams. 
Pulchritudinous — that’s what you are.
After that encounter with you in the café, Mikasa immediately talked everything out with her two friends.
“So you’re saying that you kind of knew her but you don’t?” Eren pointed out after a spoonful of ice cream. “This is some conspiracy theory shit right here.”
“Eren,” Armin sighed. “This is not one of those videos you watch at 3 A.M., okay?” The blonde glanced at the last member of their little trio, who was pacing in front of them with a queasy expression on her face. “Mikasa, I know you feel like you’re in a pinch but please calm down.”
Eren leaned forward and took a spoonful of ice cream from the tub on the low table. “It’s no use, Armin. You know Mikasa.” He nodded his head towards the said girl. “Once she enters that state, we can’t do anything about it.”
“I know,” Armin trailed off, dejected.
Mikasa buried her hands through her hair. “This was so unexpected.”
“Clearly,” Eren dryly stated.
The blue-eyed boy beside him instantly hit the back of his head. “Eren!”
Mikasa stopped pacing, not hearing how Eren exclaimed ‘finally’, her face and neck erupting in a warm shade of red that made her two friends exchange a concerned glance. Placing a hand on her pounding chest, she murmured with half-lidded eyes, “She’s much more beautiful than my dreams depicted her to be.”
Armin breathed out a silent ‘oh’ while Eren snickered, “Great, she turned into a simp,” to which the former slapped another hand at the back of the green-eyed boy’s head.
“That explains it,” the black-haired girl exclaimed. “There were times where a voice inside my head tells me to be at this specific place at a specific time.” (“I’m concerned,” Eren stage-whispered to Armin.) “While applying for this university, I had a feeling that I should take up medical sciences. Every time I’m at the campus, I will always find myself in the library after five o’clock and there are instances that I would search the tables. And you guys know how I hate helping Levi in the café.” Eren and Armin nodded as if they were children. “I just realized that she was always there, I can see her now. Why did I miss her when all this time, I was meant to find her? And now that she’s finally in the café right when I told Levi that I felt like helping the shop, I ran away! I’m such an idiot!” Mikasa then sunk on one of the plush chairs, her groans mingling with the gloomy atmosphere she created.
“You’re not an idiot, Mikasa,” Armin told her, to which she replied with an aggravated groan.
“Yeah, you’re not an idiot, you’re just having a gay panic moment,” Eren casually announced. Both of his friends slowly turned their heads toward him. He stared right back, blinking as he shrugged. “You have to admit, I’m not wrong.”
“You’re not helping right now.”
“I’m just stating a fact, Armin!”
The blonde boy rolled his eyes. “So what are you going to do about this, Mikasa?”
“About Eren?”
“No,” Armin shook his head. “Eren will be fine with his two brain cells.”
“Hey, I’m right here.”
Armin rolled his eyes and fixed his gaze on his gray-eyed best friend. “So are you going to tell [Name] that you two are star-crossed lovers pre-destined since your previous lives?”
The confidence she gained the day before during that conversation with her childhood friends dissipated as Mikasa awkwardly stood in the middle of the university’s library, eyes widely staring at you, who was browsing the shelves for the reference material for your papers. She didn’t expect to meet you this suddenly. All she was supposed to do was borrow a reference material and there she realized that the two of you share the same major so most of your schedule line up with one another — the both of you share a free period. Almost as if you were surrounded by a magnetic field, Mikasa went in your direction, her heart matching her footsteps. Meters became feet as she looked at your captivating figure. Even with a shirt tucked inside a pair of jeans, you are still the most beautiful girl inside the library. 
And as you lifted your gaze, your glinting irises meeting her gray ones, Mikasa swore her orbit was waiting for this moment to be tilted to you.
Tears were immediately present in your eyes when she stood in front of you, it was as if you remembered her.
“Hey,” Mikasa breathed shakily, hands gripping the strap of her backpack.
“Hey, starlight.”
That nickname. The one you blurted out when Mikasa invited you stargazing in the meadow beside the Survey Corps Headquarters. You said it suited her because her eyes reminded you of the glow of the stars forming a canopy above you. But for her, you were brighter than any star in the sky, you were an entire cosmos altogether. “You became a part of me the moment I laid my eyes on you in our town. Right then and there — wherever you go, I’ll go. Because I know, I’m a part of you as well.”
“You finally found me.”
You are half of her soul, as the poets say, and the Fates will do everything in their power that it stays like that for eternity. 
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jpsatmur · 3 years
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FIERCE ATTACHMENTS by Vivian Gornick
I've been reading a lot of memoirs this year. Tove Ditlevsen took me from a working class childhood in Sweden to the awakening of a literary career, and through addiction and madness. Annie Ernaux made me a companion to a whole generation, and a witness to her parents, to herself in love, and to her last years with her mother. Philip Roth startled me with a frank, sensitive memoir of his own father's old age. Now, this dual, or even tapestry like memoir of womanhood - Gornick and her mother, the women closest to them, the men in their lives.
I'm in my 40s and my mother in her late 60s. She is my only living parent. In Gopnick's close, prickly, not always functional, not always adversarial relationship with her mother, I see so much of my mother and me. But, not being a woman, of Gopnick's generation or any other, I also see a perspective different from mine, a fascinating one to learn about and from.
And this is such a rich book, so full of life and feeling. And by the end, Gopnick has painted herself and her mother, people lost and found in their different ways, so vividly, I found myself laughing with the joy of recognition even in the tensest moments between child and parent.
I also love that Gopnick talks about being an Odd woman. I am married, but have chosen to be childless, and to pursue a life of literary endeavour, musical dabbling, and domestic animal rescue - I am an Odd man, in my own way, and I see from Gopnick's life that being yourself is never easy, but if it is true, it is worth it.
A rambling excuse for a review. I hope I have conveyed something of how good this book is, how generous and enriching.
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gadgetgirl71 · 3 years
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Top Ten Tuesday 16 March 2021
Welcome to this weeks Top Ten Tuesday. Originally created by The Broke & The Bookish, which is now hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week it features a book or literary themed category. This weeks prompt is:
Books On My Spring 2021 TBR
Girl in the Walls (ARC)
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Synopsis: Girl in the Walls is a story of overcoming grief, of unconventional friendships and learning that we shouldn’t always fear what we don’t understand. It is about understanding the difference between a house and a home and what it means to lose both. She doesn’t exist. She can’t exist. Elise knows every inch of the house. She knows which boards will creak. She knows where the gaps are in the walls. She knows which parts can take her in, hide her away. It’s home, after all. The home her parents made for her. And home is where you stay, no matter what. Eddie is a teenager now, almost a grown-up. He must no longer believe in the girl he sometimes sees our of the corner of his eye. He needs her to disappear. But when his fierce older brother senses her, too, they are faced with the question of how to get rid of someone they aren’t sure even exists. And, if they cast her out, what other threats might they invite into their home?
Pages: 323, Publication Date: 18 March 2021
The Best Things (ARC)
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Synopsis: Warm, funny, life-affirming and true, The Best Things is the joyous debut novel from much-loved comedian, writer, actor and presenter Mel Giedroyc.
It’s the story of a family who lose everything, only to find themselves, and each other, along the way.
Sally and Frank Parker have it all.
Then one day, because of Frank, they don’t.
As the bailiffs move in and the money runs out, Sally realises that she and her children don’t have a clue about how to survive.
Or do they?
The Parkers are about to discover that the best things in life aren’t things at all.
Pages: 432, Publication Date: 1 April 2021
The Dictionary of Lost Words (ARC)
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Synopsis: In 1901, the word ‘Bondmaid’ was discovered missing from the Oxford English Dictionary. This is the story of the girl who stole it.
Esme is born into a world of words. Motherless and irrepressibly curious, she spends her childhood in the ‘Scriptorium’, a garden shed in Oxford where her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. Esme’s place is beneath the sorting table, unseen and unheard. One day a slip of paper containing the word ‘bondmaid’ flutters to the floor. Esme rescues the slip and stashes it in an old wooden case that belongs to her friend, Lizzie, a young servant in the big house. Esme begins to collect other words from the Scriptorium that are misplaced, discarded or have been neglected by the dictionary men. They help her make sense of the world.
Over time, Esme realises that some words are considered more important than others, and that words and meanings relating to women’s experiences often go unrecorded. While she dedicates her life to the Oxford English Dictionary, secretly, she begins to collect words for another dictionary: The Dictionary of Lost Words.
Set when the women’s suffrage movement was at its height and the Great War loomed, The Dictionary of Lost Words reveals a lost narrative, hidden between the lines of a history written by men. It’s a delightful, lyrical and deeply thought-provoking celebration of words, and the power of language to shape the world and our experience of it.
Pages: 384, Publication Date: 8 April 2021
The Summer Job (ARC)
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Synopsis: Have you ever imagined running away from your life?
Well Birdy Finch didn’t just imagine it. She did it. Which might’ve been an error. And the life she’s run into? Her best friend, Heather’s.
The only problem is, she hasn’t told Heather. Actually there are a few other problems…
Can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be her best friend (who incidentally is a world-class wine expert)?
And can she stop herself from falling for the first man she’s ever actually liked (but who thinks she’s someone else)?
A snort-out-loud romcom for fans of The Flatshare.
Pages: 352, Publication Date: 15 April 2021
Cunning Woman (ARC)
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Synopsis: Lee is a magnetic new voice in historical fiction and CUNNING WOMEN is sure to be loved by fans of The Essex Serpent and The Mercies.
Spring of 1620 in a Lancashire fishing community and the memory of the slaughter at Pendle is tight around the neck of Sarah Haworth. A birthmark reveals that Sarah, like her mother, is a witch. Torn between yearning for an ordinary life and desire to discover what dark power she might possess, Sarah’s one hope is that her young sister Annie will be spared this fate.
The Haworth family eke out a meagre existence in the old plague village adjoining a God-fearing community presided over by a seedy magistrate. A society built upon looking the other way, the villagers’ godliness is merely a veneer. But the Haworth women, with their salves and poultices, are judged the real threat to morality.
When Sarah meets lonely farmer’s son Daniel, she begins to dream of a better future. Daniel is in thrall to the wild girl with storms in her eyes, but their bond is tested when a zealous new magistrate vows to root out sins and sinners. In a frenzy of fear and fury, the community begins to turn on one another, and it’s not long before they direct their gaze towards the old plague village … and does Daniel trust that the power Sarah wields over him is truly love, or could it be mere sorcery?
Pages: 332, Publication Date: 22 April 2021
Lost Property (ARC)
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Synopsis: Dot Watson has lost her way. Twelve years ago her life veered off course, and the guilt over what happened still haunts her. Before then she was living in Paris, forging an exciting career; now her time is spent visiting her mother’s care home, fielding interfering calls from her sister and working at the London Transport Lost Property office, diligently cataloguing items as misplaced as herself. But when elderly Mr Appleby arrives in search of his late wife’s purse, his grief stirs something in Dot. Determined to help, she sets off on a mission – one that could start to heal Dot’s own loss and let her find where she belongs once more…
The Perfect Life (ARC)
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Synopsis: HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO BE SOMEONE ELSE? Vanessa has always found it easy to pretend to be somebody different, somebody better. When things get tough in her real life, all she has to do is throw on some nicer clothes, adopt a new accent and she can escape. That’s how it started: looking round houses she couldn’t possibly afford. Harmless fun really. Until it wasn’t. Because a man who lived in one of those houses is dead. And everyone thinks Vanessa killed him…
Pages: 400, Publication Date: 5 August 2021
The Summer Villa (ARC)
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Synopsis: Three women. One summer reunion. Secrets will be revealed…
Villa Dolce Vita, a rambling stone house on the Amalfi Coast, sits high above the Gulf of Naples amid dappled lemon groves and fragrant, tumbling bougainvillea. Kim, Colette and Annie all came to the villa in need of escape and in the process forged an unlikely friendship.
Now, years later, Kim has transformed the crumbling house into a luxury retreat and has invited her friends back for the summer to celebrate.
But as friendships are rekindled under the Italian sun, secrets buried in the past will come to light, and not everyone is happy that the three friends are reuniting… Each woman will have things to face up to if they are all to find true happiness and fully embrace the sweet life.
Pages: 384, Publication Date: 8 August 2019
Trusting Taylor (Silverstone #2)
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Synopsis: Former military man turned government assassin Kellan “Eagle” Trowbridge isn’t looking for love. He’d rather keep his head down at his cover job as an employee of Silverstone Towing. That all changes, however, when he meets Taylor Cardin.
Beautiful, smart, and witty Taylor instantly falls for the mysterious tow truck driver, who comforts her both in the aftermath of the car crash she sees firsthand and when the police dismiss her as a credible witness because of her prosopagnosia, or face blindness. Eagle, on the other hand, can remember every person he’s ever met—and the two counterparts forge an immediate connection. But someone else is just as intrigued by Taylor’s unique condition as Eagle is…and his intentions are downright deadly.
Soon, Eagle and Taylor are too caught up in each other to see the danger that’s approaching. But as time runs out, they’ll discover their love isn’t the only thing fighting to survive.
Pages: 278, Publication Date: 2 March 2021
Ransom (Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team)
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Synopsis: A new series from the author of the Moonshine Task Force Series! Laurel Springs, AL is about to be hotter than a mid-August thunderstorm. When the Moonshine Task Force is absorbed into a new entity, Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team (LSERT) new faces come to town, new love is born, old love is found again, and there’s a plethora of drama and romance happening all over the tri-county area. LSERT puts police, firefighters, nurses, doctors, K-9 handlers, and EMT’s all in harm’s way as they work to keep the area safe from any threat. Emotions run high, passions ignite. Come with me, back to Laurel Springs, in what’s sure to be a wild ride! Ransom Thompson For years I’ve wanted two things – to be a member of the Moonshine Task Force and to be the man Stella Kepler can’t live without. One out of two isn’t bad, or so I tell myself. Being the only K-9 handler for The MTF presents its own share of obstacles, but me and Rambo? We make it work. Life is status quo, until I’m called in to help with what appears to be a hostage situation and Stella is right in the middle of it. This is my one chance, and I’m not going to blow it. Stella Kepler When I’m stuck in an examination room holding a hurt woman and a man with a gun, I do the only thing I can. I sneak out, call 911 and hope help comes quickly. It does. In the form of Ransom Thompson. He and I have known each other since we were babies. Our mother’s are friends, our dad’s work together, and we’ve always been friends. Only, the last few months I’ve started to notice things. How mature he is, how alpha he can be, the chiseled six-pack, and the abundance of ink spreading across his body. When I offer to cook him dinner for saving me, neither one of us know how that one moment will change the course of the rest of our lives.
Pages: 227, Publication Date: 5 January 2019
Until next week.
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mrslackles · 4 years
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not sure if you are still taking prompts & this isn't brio, but what about the 2x10 scene? like did they say they would just go to canada? or did (probably) annie blurt out about the school trip? basically, give me all the banter! please & thank you.
I adored imagining this, thank you!
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“‘Ey, ladies.”
Rio sits down smoothly and Annie wonders whether the guy has heard of lighter colours. It’s daytime. 
Plus, why can’t he sit further away? 
She wrings her hands. He looks incredibly smug for some reason and it’s unsettling her. 
Also, the fact that they’re about to engage in illegal activity behind her sister’s back – yeah, that’s an issue, too. (And what kind of a world is it where she isn’t actually sure which of the two is the greater crime?) 
Then he looks at her. 
“So how we gon’ do this?”
She turns to Ruby, who unsurprisingly still isn’t budging, before looking back at Rio with a huff.
“Well, we have a fast track to Canada so I was thinking pills, but–”
“My bad,“ he sniffs out a laugh. “I meant how y'all gonna convince me this is worth my while?”
Oh. 
She’d been more caught up in the planning than pitching side of things – seriously, would it have killed Ruby to help with, like, any prep for this meeting??
But since she seems to have suddenly lost all speech beside her, Annie goes with the best she has at the tip of her tongue. 
“Uh, well, you’ll be making money and–”
“'Cuz I’m the one who needs you?” he squints, mock-puzzled.
And the words make her remember having to steal bread from Fine & Frugal just so Sadie could have lunch. God. 
“Listen,” she scoffs, “you’re thinking about this all wrong. Do you need us? No. But what’s better than a million bucks? Two million bucks.” 
Ruby elbows her sharply and she realises she’d kind of just promised to double his profits. She flushes before clearing her throat loudly. 
“Estimates, obviously.”
He’s in profile now, staring at the kids playing on the jungle gym.  
“Obviously.” 
“The point is, we can be good for each other. A symbiotic relationship. The family back together. And I know what you’re thinking: what about Beth? But I’m her better half – the truth is, she was holding us back, man. We could go platinum.”
She’s really just rambling at this point, trying to get a read on him while simultaneously desperate for him not to just get up and leave. 
But he’s like a fucking sphinx, she’s getting nothing from him.
Then, finally, a single word.
“Us?”
Now he swivels to face her again.
She gestures between him and them.
“Us. Our potential.”
The side of his lip quirks up and then he leans forward a little, hands still stuck into his pockets, to get a glance at Ruby. 
“What about you? You in on all this potential?”
“I’m the sidecar stuck to this crashing train.”
But she mutters it lowly enough under her breath that Annie doesn’t think there’s any way he can even hear it. 
“The point is,” she keeps going, “I can do anything Beth can do. Better, even.”
“You’d have to buy me a drink first.”
She flushes hot red.
“I– I didn’t– that wasn’t…”
But he seems like he couldn’t be more relaxed, rolling his shoulders.
“A'ight, I’ll start you off easy.”
What?
“Wait, you’re in?”
“I’m all wrapped up in this potential. You gon’ make me the big bucks, right?”
“Wait till your hear the elephant butt idea,” Ruby murmurs again. 
Oh. My. God. She is going to strangle her! 
Rio leans forward again, brow raised.
“You got a thing ’bout butts, don'tchu?”
…Ok, so maybe he can hear. 
Ruby takes a second to process the realisation of this too before huffing. 
“…I’m still not smuggling anything up there. That’s a standing term.”
“Oh, I’m real glad you got standards and whatnot. That’s important.” 
She pulls her jacket straight nobly.
“Thank you.”
“I might set mine a lil higher but hey, that’s just me.”
“How dare–”
“How’s it going to work?” she says with a rushed breath, placing a firm hand on Ruby’s leg.
If she manages to actually not screw this up for them, that’d be a miracle.
He shrugs a little.
“What’s your capacity?”
“Uh… I don’t know, a whole bunch.”
“How many cars?”
She tries remembering how many pills had been in each car he’d had sent to Boland Motors.
“Two,” she decides. 
Annoyance floods his features but vanishes just as instantly. 
There’s a calculated composure to him that’s sorta admirable; sorta terrifying. She misses Beth having to deal with the brunt of that. 
“That ain’t the big bucks, kid.”
And she’s not exactly the biggest fan of the kid, but that can, like, probably wait. More important right now is to save this deal.
“Well, we’re starting out,” she spreads out her hands, trying her best to be light-hearted; teasing. 
Chill. They’re chill. 
“I need to know if I can trust you,” she offers an endearing smile. 
He considers her for a long moment and Annie wonders if she’s about to be murdered for teasing a gangbanger.
Then he shrugs a shoulder.
“Fine. Text me the addy. My contact’ll meet you there and that’s it. Get em here and you get paid.”
YES!
Well. One more thing.
“And let’s say… We didn’t get it here. If we… get got, for example,” she clears her throat. “Is there like a corporate benefit, or something? Do we get some kind of legal representation or–”
“Annie!”
She’s about to shoot Ruby a look – she’s trying to set her mind at ease here – when Rio stands.
“Pleasure doin business wit’ you, ladies. Lemme know when it’s done.”
“Yes, sir.” 
He seems like he’s about to walk away but then he pauses, eyes sinister.
“Oh yeah, and – you don’t wanna go ‘getting got’. Wouldn’t be good for nobody.”
And then all the menace disappears into a pleasant smile, like he hadn’t just threatened their lives. Then, with a wink, he walks off. 
Annie lets out a long breath, feeling vaguely woozy. 
But she forces herself to drum up a giant smile, shrugging.
“See?” she turns to Ruby. “Easy-peasy.”
“If whoever his contact is doesn’t murder you, I’m going to.”
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ultimaa · 4 years
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About Shingeki no Kyojin 125 - Theories and ramblings.
Annie and her New Year's resolutions.
More than one we looked forward to Annie's return and I am deeply glad that our favorite blondie has already left her glass prison, but why has Annie returned? What are your purposes? Well, she makes it clear in her conversation with Hitch: go back to her father. We know that Annie appreciates her father more than anyone in the world; if she had to do all the atrocities she did to return to her father, she would do it again. It's not that Annie is bad, but, as Nietzsche said: “Whatever is done for love always occurs beyond good and evil.” Human nature is like that, and Annie knows that she has committed unforgivable sins. She is not proud, but she will not punish herself. SnK's world is cruel, but if there is something that represents love and kindness, it is family: Eren swore to avenge his mother; Mikasa lost her parents, but found similar figures in the Jaegers; Armin lost his grandfather; Reiner wanted to become a warrior for his father to return to his mother; Connie, who lost his family because of Zeke, is willing to sacrifice Falco, a poor child, to recover his mother... Annie's motivation is deeply human and reminds me of John Marston, protagonist of Red Dead Redemption. John had only one goal: to hunt his old friends, who were outlaws, so that the Government would return him to his family. If Abigail and Jack, his wife and son, had been killed, what would have happened to John? We will never know, but when John is killed by government agents, his son Jack takes revenge a few years later, continuing the cycle of violence and death. In the end, John... loses, because his son has become a criminal.
If Mr. Leonhardt dies, something I see very possible under the circumstances, what will happen to Annie? Her great goal has vanished. Nothing makes sense anymore. If even the most sacred and beloved has died, what should Annie do? We meet like this with someone whose life has no direction. Someone who has lost beauty in a devastated and corrupted world. It is the seed of nihilism. Isayama is not characterized by fulfilling the dreams of his protagonists, not in the way that the viewer wants: yes, Armin reaches the sea, but what does this mean? It is the beginning of the end. The human being needs to cling to dreams, turn his back on reality to continue existing in it; however... What happens when nothing makes sense anymore? It is absurd, it is hopeless. It is something that could knock the strongest. According to Albert Camus, someone who has lost the meaning of his life has only three options: suicide, clinging to God or... continuing in the absurd, rebelling against it, turning life into an act of rebellion against nonsense. So, in the hypothetical case of his father dying, what should Annie do? Should he act like Jack Marston and continue the violence? I do not think so. Annie doesn't enjoy killing. Her face witnessing Marco's death is good proof of that. Annie must find a new purpose: end the violence, with that barbaric world that takes away what you love. Understand that she has lost everything, but not everything is lost. While something is at stage, we must continue fighting. In Red Dead Redemption II, Arthur Morgan knows his end is near; the love of his life has left and Dutch, the man who gave him a home and a direction, has become a mad and heartless man. However, not everything is lost. He can still save some (including John Marston and his family, as RDR II is a prequel to the first game) and he succeeds. Arthur finishes his story as a redeemed character; he, who had spent his entire life killing, lying and stealing, ends up redeeming himself. However, Arthur Morgan was not seeking self-redemption, but a future for others. It's something we can apply to Annie. His final role cannot consist in returning with his father and being happy. We know Isayama: God is more likely to come down to Earth.
Connie, Falco and a decisive meeting.
And if Annie can aspire to redemption, Connie is willing to morally condemn himself. Come on, we all know that Falco is not meant to be titan food. Connie, in addition to the prankster par excellence with Sasha, is a character with a story as tragic as any other: he lost everything, but the possibility of recovering his mother gives him hope. But sacrifice Falco? Is Connie able to do something like that? I do not think so. Connie is human; Anger and revenge are very human things, but so is understanding. Connie will abandon his plan sooner or later, when he accepts that, beyond the vessel of one of Titan's powers, Falco is just a child. A child, like his siblings. A child who is not guilty. A boy who, like him, has lost his brother and his friends. Taking into account that Connie, along with Sasha, cried when they faced Reiner during the Return to Shigansina, we must understand that he is a sensitive and empathetic character, blinded by anger and the possibility of recovering a loved one. Armin and Gabi go in search of them, but will their intervention be necessary? Mikasa warns Armin that they won't be able to reach Connie; indeed, I don't think they reach it. Armin, Gabi, Hanji, Levi, Magath, Pieck, Connie and Falco are more likely to meet. Remember that, because when it happens I will come to brag hehehe. What if they meet? The cocktail would be fantastic. They may be Paradise's last hope. Also, I want to see the reunion of Falco and Gabi; because they are very cute and deserve it. How much do we bet that Gabi ends up crying like a baby while hugging Falco? And with that confession at the last minute, I wouldn't be surprised if Isayama felt romantic and gave us a kiss between them. Imagine the faces of adults. I may be delirious, but if it happens... here I will be, again, with ‘I told you so’.
On the other hand, such a reunion can return hope to Armin. Levi, who is the strongest soldier of all time, the Messi of Paradise (yes, I had to make the comparison sorry CR7), is alive; fatally wounded, but alive. In addition, Hanji, who represents leadership, is also fine. With these two pieces again on the chess board, it is possible to trace the game. In addition, Hanji and Levi's encounter with Magath and Pieck constitutes a point of union between Erdia and Marley. In the end, it seems that yhe idea of Eren as the final and unifying enemy of humanity begins to make sense, even if he has not proposed it. After all, if you can't with your enemy... join him against something much worse.
Jean and Mikasa: replacements.
While we know that the commander and the eternal captain are alive, Jean and Mikasa believe otherwise. Well, if I were one of these two, I could only think one thing: WE'RE FUCKED. Fortunately, Isayama has wanted these two to receive the fatal (and false) news. It's not by chance. Nothing is. We know Jean Kirstein and Mikasa Ackerman well; I could say that we have grown up with them. Jean, a guy who started out as an arrogant bastard and who soon revealed his impressive leadership ability; Mikasa, a woman with a force only inferior to Captain Levi. Well, here I go: Jean must take over from Hanji and Mikasa from Levi. We have seen a practically shattered Jean, almost subjected to Folch; However, Mikasa, despite her situation, remains more or less well, keeping a level head. Don't get me wrong: she's pretty screwed, but she seems better than Jean now. During the battle of Trost there is a critical moment: the gas is running out and everyone is going to die. Then Mikasa arrived and, far from being blocked by Eren's supposed death, he tried to motivate them in her own way, you know: I am strong, much stronger than you. We already know that Mikasa is a woman of few words, but her message was enough to encourage Jean and the others. Yes, the current Mikasa is not the Mikasa of ninety chapters ago, but her character has reached a key point: she has to take the reins, think for herself. Only they can stop Folch and handle the situation in Shigansina. Their characters need it. Hanji is a leader, yes, but Jean has much more potential; Mikasa is not Levi, but she is an Ackerman, the only one capable of fighting, and in these four years she has been able to perfect her skill. If these two start working well together, they can be a lethal and decisive combo.
Louise and the scarf.
Well, if a scarf is not in your closet on a cold winter day it may not mean anything important: it may be in the washing machine, with the other clothes. However, Mikasa Ackerman's scarf is not just any scarf, but it contains crucial values ​​and stories for her... and for Eren. The scarf has taken a very important role during the last arc and has now disappeared, Louise has taken it. And it's normal, because Mikasa is her idol. Well, we all know what meanings the scarf has, which represents positive values ​​in a world like Shingeki no Kyojin. The scarf has no place in the current situation; everyone is hopeless and crestfallen, dejected and defeated. And when will the scarf return? I have read the following theory out there: Eren will find Louise's unrecognizable corpse and believe it is Mikasa, recovering the scarf and feeling like real shit. Yes, that would be a possibility of fulfilling what our boy said in chapter 50. The scarf will return when the barbarity ceases, when that beauty returns, in the words of Mikasa, who lives in a cruel world. And we know that it will return due to the first panel of chapter 1 of the manga, Eren's mysterious dream.
I'm sorry if I have grammatical mistakes: English is not my mother tongue.
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fancymuffinparty · 5 years
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Just Say You Feel the Way That I Feel...
Rating: T; for suggestive themes and eating cake wayyyyy too fast
Pairing: Mikasa Ackerman x Annie Leonhart, Mikannie
Summary:  For Day Three of Annie Week 2k19! (Modern AU) @annieweek
Prompt based on this post. 
Annie needs a fake-fiance to try wedding cake samples and Mikasa’s cute and not really doing anything sooooooo...
Word Count: 1769
A/N: My first tumblr-exclusive one-shot of 2019! :O Ahhhh! I guess this coulda worked for Day One Sweets, but it’s a modern AU too so we’ll go with that! :)
Quick shout-out to Mikannie discord peeps that I haven’t chatted with in forever but i love y’all and HERE’S THE FIC I MENTIONED MONTHS AGO!!! :’D oof
*Title inspired by this song I heard at a wedding and was like-
🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
“Be my fiancé,” Annie declares as she saunters into the room.
“Your… what?” Mikasa freezes, her coffee cup halfway to her lips.
“Only for like an hour tops,” Annie says. Her eyes are glued to her phone, focused on whatever email or text she’s answering.
“You know it’s me you’re talking to, right?” Mikasa queries, wondering which episode of the Twilight Zone this whole fiasco is supposed to be.
“Look, there’s this amazing baker that’s been written up in the Stohess Times,” Annie explains. “The reviews claim the cakes are out of this world. I guess he’s famous in his hometown or something. Thing is he only does wedding cakes… So we’re sampling them in like twenty minutes.”
Annie mumbles something to the effect of ‘Booked it!’ after shoving her phone in her pocket, then orders: “Get your coat. We gotta go now or we’ll be stuck in traffic.”
Mikasa can’t fathom a response to the blonde’s rambling, merely staring at her as if she’d missed some sort of punchline.
“You like cake, right?” Annie asks, her brows furrowed.
“Well yeah,” Mikasa replies, still unconvinced. “But why are you asking me?”
“Because you’re here and clearly you’re not doing anything,” Annie says, slipping on her jacket. “This was also the only appointment I could squeeze us in. They’re pretty booked.”
“Why don’t you just buy one?” Mikasa asks.
“Buy a wedding cake? For myself? What do I look like? A crazy person?” Annie scoffs, grabbing her car keys.
Mikasa doesn’t have the energy to put up any more resistance, though she desperately wants to point out that Annie’s practically a monster for sweets and therefore if the blonde were to buy an entire wedding cake for herself, she doubts anyone would be the least bit shocked.
Accepting the circumstances for what they are, Mikasa simply shrugs, grabs her coat, and follows Annie out the door. They’re about to hop inside her car when she suddenly remembers the next phase of her plan.
“Almost forgot,” Annie says, handing Mikasa a silver ring. “Might wanna slip this on.”
“Seriously? This might be too far- even for you,” Mikasa mutters, tentatively easing the ring on. After settling themselves in the car, however, she can’t help but admire the subtle gleam of it. “It’s almost an exact replica of yours,” she notes.
Annie nods, half-smiling. “It looks good on you, Ackerman.”
🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
The trip is mostly silent. When her curiosity gets the best of her, Mikasa googles the famous baker they’re due to meet in but a few minutes. He’s a friendly-looking fellow named Nikolo from the Marley metropolis. The cakes are gorgeous and she admires the artistic quality to them. No wonder Annie had been so insistent.
Mikasa sighs and rests her head against the backrest of the passenger seat. She gets a bit carried away with her thoughts, allowing herself to imagine what it would be like if this was her reality. What if she and Annie were engaged? What if they really were going to pick out a wedding cake? What if the ring she’s wearing meant more than simply putting on a show? (For free food, of all things…)
But she quickly locks those thoughts back to the darkest corner of her mind where they belong and tries to focus on enjoying the day with her newly acquired fake fiancé.
“Okay, looks like we’re here. Let’s go, dear.” Annie’s out of the car before Mikasa can make an objection to the pet name.
They quickly walk into the bakery where they’re immediately engulfed in the sweet smell of sugar. Annie feels right at home.
“Hello! Welcome!” A tall, slim man greets the duo after they’ve entered the establishment. He introduces himself politely and shakes their hands, to which Annie offers the same in return.
“Wonderful to meet you, Nikolo,” the blonde says. “And thank you for fitting us in. We’re aware of how busy you are.” Without using so much as eye-contact as some sort of unspoken cue, she reaches for Mikasa’s hand, holding it ever-so gently and continues with, “This is my fiancé, Mikasa Ackerman. Soon to be Mrs. Leonhart.”
A blush flashes across Mikasa’s cheeks, enflaming the bridge of her nose. Yet somehow, she manages to keep up with the charade, inserting herself into the exchange.
“Thanks for having us,” she chimes in quickly. “My fiancé practically worships sweets and from what we’ve read online, you’re the go-to guy for wedding cakes.”
Nikolo accepts the compliment, albeit modestly. “I’m honored,” he says with a coy smile. “Now please. If you’ll just follow me…” He makes a civil gesture before leading them into a small room away from the show floor.
There’s a small table embellished with innumerable slices of cake, each looking like a uniquely hand-crafted work of fine art almost too pretty to eat.
Almost.
“So, there are many different styles as you can see,” Nikolo explains. “We have the chocolate delight, the raspberry white dream, the red velvet luxury, the lemon supreme, and of course, the classic buttercream vanilla. Please, feel free to taste and try them all, let me know what you think. I’ll leave you to it.” He quietly exits the room, closing the door behind them to offer his guests some privacy.
“…Wow,” Mikasa whispers in awe, still marveling at the decorative array of sweets.
“Still think my idea’s insane, Ackerman?” Annie quips.
“Most definitely,” Mikasa replies without missing a beat. “But this is going to be totally worth it.”
“Well come on then. We don’t have all day.” Annie hurries to the table and sits down, eyes locked on the slice of the white raspberry dream. Before Mikasa can even pull up a seat next to her, the blonde has already devoured half of the slice.
“Mikasa, you need to try this,” Annie manages in between chewing. She lets out a tiny moan, a sound that is practically sinful.
Mikasa rushes to sit down when she sees Annie shove another bite into her mouth.
“Hey now, slow it down there, Annie,” Mikasa warns, eyeing the blonde with a slightly judgmental look. “It’s not going anywhere.”
“Not my fault you can’t keep up,” Annie sasses back, cake still stuffed in her mouth.
“As your fiancé, I demand you-” Mikasa is unable to finish as Annie quickly shoves a piece of cake into her mouth, using the extra fork on the table.
“Mmmmph!” Mikasa grumbles incoherently at first but as soon as the burst of heavenly flavors overwhelm her senses, she’s practically fallen in love.
“How was that, darlin’?” Annie asks. Taunts, really.
“You’re cruel,” Mikasa replies, eyes rolling to the back of her head. “I need more.”
“Mmmm, that’s what I thought,” Annie drawls. “Maybe if you ask nicely.”
Mikasa huffs and reaches for a different slice of cake. Appears to the be the Lemon Supreme. Her mouth is instantly watering.
“Or I can help myself to this gorgeous specimen,” she asserts.
Annie gobbles down the rest of her own slice, feigning indifference. “Suit yourself.”
She scoops up a hefty serving of the red velvet luxury cake and devours the morsel in predatory fashion. Mikasa finds the blonde’s feistiness rather amusing.
“You oughtta savor the taste, Annie,” she suggests, chewing her next bite slowly. “You’re eating way too fast.”
Annie waves her off, cheeks stuffed to the max. “Believe me, I am thoroughly enjoying this experience.”
Mikasa heaves a sigh and shrugs, stealing a small bite of the red velvet luxury.
Oh, yes, she thinks, cherishing every beautiful second of this passionate moment.
This one’s her favorite.
“You’re making that face,” Annie says abruptly, interrupting her thoughts. “You like that one?”
Mikasa quirks a brow. “What? What face?”
“The ‘Mikasa face of approval’,” Annie replies, smirking. “No need to get all self-conscious about it. It’s cute.”
“Cute?” Mikasa’s chewing picks up, as does the frantic beat of her heart.
Annie’s still admiring her fake fiancé’s bashful expression, until she notices the small crumbs and frosting smeared at the corner of her mouth.
“You got something on your…” Annie points the mess out, to which Mikasa merely tilts her head, questioning.
“I got cake on my face or what?” Mikasa asks, setting aside her fork.
Annie nods, a smug expression adorning her face. “Mmmhmmm.”
Mikasa looks away, slightly embarrassed. Before she can grab a napkin and wipe the crumbs and frosting off, Annie reaches for her face, hand caressing her cheek tenderly.
“Here, let me help,” she says softly. And she slowly leans in.
Mikasa stalls, the anticipation looming over her as Annie eases closer and closer. The blonde gently draws her tongue over the smeared frosting, then merges their mouths together in a sweet kiss; innocent yet so deliberate.
Annie pulls away, but only slightly. “I think I got it.”
Mikasa’s breathing is hitched. “Is a… second helping possible?”
“Oh?” Annie hums. “You mean the red velvet or… do you want me to kiss you again?”
Mikasa’s just about had it with Annie’s sass, so without warning she slips her arms around her waist and pulls the blonde in closer. Their lips meet again, this time in a deeper kiss.
She can still taste the lingering presence of red velvet with every curious graze of her tongue.
“Oh, my! I am so sorry to interrupt!” Nikolo stammers as he walks into the room, wondering if he should just tiptoe out and pretend he didn’t witness their passionate makeout session. “Ummm… Just wanted to see if you two were doing all right.”
From the looks of it, it seems to be going very well.
The two pull away from each other, like shy bashful lovers. “We’re doing fine. Thank you,” Annie replies, clearing her throat.
“Everything tastes wonderful,” Mikasa adds politely.
“Perfect! Well let me know if you need anything.” Nikolo forces a smile, preparing to scurry away in humiliation.
“Actually, can we order the red velvet luxury?” Annie requests. “She really likes this one.” She shoots Mikasa a wink before interlocking their hands together.
“Of course!” Nikolo replies. “I’ll be right back with the order forms.” He excuses himself with a bow and promptly leaves the lovebirds to their own devices.
“Really, Annie?” Mikasa chuckles. “You’re really going to buy the whole cake?”
Annie’s gaze lingers to their joined hands and matching rings. Her little scheme to get her crush to try free wedding cake samples has seemingly rewarded her with the best of both worlds.  
She keeps that to herself, of course.
“Why yes,” Annie replies warmly. “Only the best for my fiancé.”
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inkykeiji · 3 years
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I am super curious about your professor now, do you have any more anecdotes on him?😂
oh my god anon i could go on about him forever you just opened the floodgates
my program was really, reaaaaally tiny, so i became quite close with many of my profs!!! i’m super grateful for it, because they’re all such amazing people, and they really helped shape me into who i am today! i miss them all so much :( i truly loved university and i plan to go back!
so! for the particular prof in question, i didn’t actually get to take one of his classes until second year (bcoz i had to take intro to film first before i could take any of the classes he was teaching) but after that i took—and i kid you not—every single one of his classes until i graduated. mf acted as if he DIDNT know he was my favourite prof (he totally did) and had the audacity to BLUSH when i told him he was (for context: he actually asked me to take his seminar in my final year, because he knew i hated the subject matter but was all ‘i’d really love to hear your thoughts + interpretations’ and i went ‘sir, are you kidding? you know you’re my favourite prof’ and he went ‘ooooh stop’ all bashful n whatever and then i was like !!!!! I TAKE ALL OF YOUR CLASSES FFS LIKE UR VERY CLEARLY MY FAVE)
anyway it was really cool that he started teaching when i started uni because i got to watch him grow as a prof!!!!!! he was a little nervous for the first few classes he taught, but as he became more comfortable he really came out of his shell (as did i, in the program) and that was super cool. we bonded over social anxiety and he gave me some advice and some tips on how to deal with it!
but YEAH he really did say to me ‘i only give one of these (an A+/mark over 90%) out a semester, and YOU keep getting them. publish this fucking paper!!’ and i was like ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ but the student journal only publishes papers under 3500 words :( hahaha but he really did pester me about that in a very endearing way. and he really was a notoriously difficult grader (his ratemyprof can attest to that LMAO) but he was also an incredible teacher and was very fun, so his classes filled up CRAZY quick (just like prof!keigo’s do oops). i’m surprised i made it into each one honestly a fantastic feat idk how i managed that hahaha
he’s seen me cry more than any of my other profs have (tho tbh they’ve all seen me cry at least once yikes) but i had many breakdowns in his office that were met with tough love lmao. but he really eased my anxiety and became almost like ??? a comfort person for me? like i knew i could go talk to him about whatever and he’d be totally honest with me. he also gave me dark chocolate a lot hehehe and he did ‘baby’ me when i needed it (he’d let me make video essays instead of oral presentations and introduced them for me and everything 🥺 i never had to stand in front of any of his classes and speak)
the last time we spoke was right before i graduated. we were talking about it and he told me ‘my office door’s always open for you. come by any time, seriously.’ and i had planned to visit him, just to chat n whatever, but then covid hit RIGHT after i graduated, and the campus closed, and just :( i have to email him soon tho, because he’s one of my references for my masters application!!! hopefully i can visit the campus soon; there’s two other profs i wanna visit as well :(
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babblingfishes · 5 years
Text
Another FroodPad Update
(I’m sending an email instead of tagging people about this one because the majority of you guys have changed urls.)
For anyone who used the original FroodPad (PiratenPad) teamsite for fic writing, the host is taking down the site next month.
As before with the Mozilla alternative, I have backups of most of the text.
Here’s what I do not have:
Backups of locked pads
Chat logs
Authors / authorship colors
Time slider histories
If you want any of those, you’ll need to grab them yourself asap! If you’ve forgotten a password, the quickest way to grab my attention is to let me know via the tumblr messager (or my Discord, if you have it) and I can help you.
As for the actual text of the pads, I have these saved! I can send them to you whenever you like. Under the cut is a VERY lengthy list of the pad titles I have backups of. I can also do a text search if you need.
!!HEY GUYS -- WRITER PROFILES *Goat scream* 2SPOOKY 2c Stories 365 days of Rabbit No! A Very Frood Pad Christmas An attempt to organize chaos And the Band Plays On Annie got her gun Ask Walter Kids BADLY SINNING BRAINTHUNDERING Best Ship Around Broken little pieces CC 4 editing Care Cat!Steve. Don't ask. Cat's sehr whichtig grad portfolio stuff Catori's Little Pad ^^ Cheeroko: ES Drabbles And Possible Story Cheeroko: Elder Scrolls Brainstorming Cheeroko: Fanficing Fanfics since ... Today? Cheeroko: Has Started Yet Another AU Cheeroko: Rabbit Appreciation Pad (Aka, SPG Pad) Cheeroko: Walter Manor Cheeroko: What Should I call this? [{Original Fic}] Cheeroko: You Know What? I'm Just Going To Use This Pad For My Gender Stuff Christmas List Come keep French Company! Please? Configuration (new-new CC and biocore planning) Counter Nonsense Crazy Community Fanfiction Crazy Community Fanfiction II Crazy SPG Collab Thing 2.0 DANGER 5 SOLVE THE GREATEST CRIME OF ALL Derelict (spoilers yo) Derelict 23 and other stuff Derelict Chapter 20 Derelict Chapter 24 Derelict Chapter 25 Derelict Chapter 25 for real this time Derelict Dragon Dreads Derelict Take 73 Derpy-Nuns Don't come here unless Fish is whining at you Don't look Dr. Babblefish's Quest to Only Become Moderately More Insane Dragon Lurve Elephants and Nachos Everyone Writing Everything FRANKENPAPPY Fantastic Mister Vox Fish Does Terrible Things Fish Fanfictions Salgexicon Now Fish and Serif attempt a role play thing. Fish and its monospaced text Fish has an F in evil Fish is Sailing a Ship Fish is a terrible person. Fish is just rambling Fish writes things about other fandoms Fish's Awkward Nonfandom Headcanons Fish's Lupin Drabbles Fish's Magical Tragical Guide to Not Writing Mary Sues Fish's OC Boat Fish's Originalish Pad Fish's Plots and Characters French Rambles French Writes Stony French is a Poet Froodpad Rules and Instructions Further proof we're all insane Futureverse G-Mans and Watering Cans GW2 Cav stuff Ghost! Ghostfacers! Hangout pad Happy Little Family Happy Little Family Notes Here ye go, Redacted Heyo, Achgfd Homestead-Ch.1 How to be nice in RP I blame everyone but me I figure at this rate I should just make a Weird SPG Dreams pad I have no idea what im working on I never tire, I serve I- I- I- LOVE ROBBIE DARREN IT IS A SMUT POWERED BLANKET MY GOOT SAR Ice Cream and Knit Bow Ties Imma figure this thing out by posting prompt responses Improb In Which Pappy Dies In Which Reed Becomes a Robot In Which Steve Drops Bass In Which There is an Abandoned Lab In which robots become metaphors for Autism Spectrum stuff Laying Down The Law Here MATURE REPLY MBG Tumblr Planning   MERRY HOLIDAYMAS YOU WEIRDOS! MWFGOH Notes MY FRIEND MATT WHERE YOU AT May B. we Feta get outta here May B. we Feta get outta here pt2 Muppet Baby Giraffe Fics Myth fanfiction maybe??? NOBODY PANIC (MICHAEL GOT THE D) Neoma's Writes Not Actually a Funeral Not!Derelict Nuns could use help writing a comedy piece for English Nuns does a research paper on GAY GODS Nuns fools around with a hero's journey Nuns hunts for the Holy Grail (and a good essay grade) OC ADVENTURE!! OFF Musingses OOPS Oedipus Script Old Money On the wings of steam One of the Fanmily Original stuff is harder than we anticipated PSILENCE WILL FALL Pappy Pad 2 Pappy Rabbit Old (Still needed though!) Pen & Kari's Pad of Fairytale Badassery Philosophy Notes Pokemanz SPG Post-Derelict Headcanons Princey and Leeland's Walter People Pad Princey definitely isn't using this pad for homework anymore Princey is the best right Leilani right Princey tries Original Stuff Princey wanted to write OC stuff too Princey's self-indulgent stuff Princeyfic (An Accident of the Smallest Kind final chapter) Princeyfic: An Accident of the Smallest Kind Princeyfic: Basically nothing but a mermaid OC Princeyfic: Canoe Catastrophe Pronz Psi does homework and other stuff Psi does homework occasionally Psi gets his shit together Psi is in pain. Also class. Psi jacks Cat's characters Psi plans the Derelict!Verse RP blog early because he's bored Psi reads Marsupial Psi takes out dysphoria on The Spine Psi tries for "canon" SPG Psi writes Cabin Pressure stuff Psi writes a thing about an author Psi's Headcanon Psi's Kazooland OCs??? Psi's class notes Psi's class notes and HatchWorth stuff Psilent's Hatchworth Feels Psilent's Pscribblings Psilent's Pstuff Psunny's Muppet Babby Stuff Public pad 2: 2 public 2 pad Pun and Psi Make a Porno Punny: Ask Index Punny: Broken little pieces Punny: Crack Fic ideas Punny: Ficlets Punny: HLF Th teen years Punny: Happy Little Family Punny: Justice Giraffes Punny: Major fics Punny: Rainbow! The Spine Punny: Trying to figure out how the hell Super spg works RABBIT NO RABBIT NO 2: electric boogaloo Rabbit writes fanfic Relish's Ramblings Reverse Pre Mid Life Crisis 3000 Rex and Captain. Rover! SICK ROBOTS. (Princey and Leeland) SIMNANIGANS SO I may have discovered aquabats and it may have given me some muse SPG/Avengers cross over collab-fic SS kills a lot of young women SS: Aftertheendverse SS: Aggressively writes happy fanfiction SS: Amnesia Home Pad SS: Amnesia Revisions SS: Amnesia!Spine Headcanoning SS: Ancient Mariner SS: Angsty Poetry xP SS: Annie/V SS: Dragon!Steve SS: Genderbends because of reasons SS: Just our positronic electronic harmonic SS: Michael wants the D(erelict!Steve's dick) SS: Michael wants the D(erelict!Steve) #2 SS: More Spine/OC junk SS: Okay actually writing Amnesia now SS: Poems by Peter VI SS: Possible Natalia 'Verse SS: Private Party SS: Ratchet and pumpkin SS: Spine/OC SS: Spine/OC #2 SS: Spine/OC #3 SS: The Only Constant SS: The Way Home SS: hoamwork Satyr Adventure script Secret Santa (Sign-ups closed, Santas have been assigned!) Serif needs to kill something apparently Serif's Dump Pad Serif's Dump Pad 2 Seth only starts things and never finishes them Sewing Stitches SisterofaFish's Pad So much craft poisoning Something Wicked This Way Comes Space-Opera Spoons' Stuff Goes Here Stalking Information Steve has Joined Your Party! THIS IS WHERE THE PARTIES AT TIME TO SCARE THE BABIES Tango's Reason Why The Case of the Quest of the Missing Coffee The Mythos Mythos The Rake This is a public pad because Fish is bored This is utter crap Thunder Charge Title! Too Many Thoughts Untitled 180 Untitled 217 Untitled 314 Untitled 322 Untitled 323 Untitled 324 Verse Fable...or something like that WE GON WRITE FLUFF WE LAV U HRUP WRITER PROFILES We write Mirrormask fics now. Mirrormask is cool. Well look what the cat dragged back in World Building You know what, ignore Nuns a surprise in every pad and no one was ever happy the end awkward monsters/spg campfire song song cat used to write hannafic class notes copper conduction 3: REVELATIONS copper conduction p. 4 death lullaby ye everybody look down fear and loathing in san diego half-baked hatchworth stuff hesitantly works on new chapter how rabbit got his groove back 2 i leik ur silileh lteile hat incdrop - frisk incwrites it's sort of like hellraiser except not lemarchand's fic oh heck there's a plot one time ruffy wrote angst original sexy awesomeness possibly part of Two Birds One Stone possibly not psi is the batman psi's original story (caution may contain robots) ((totally contains robots)) psi's presentation that's due in six hours ruffy's writing a thing schoolwork and such (go away) shit so many fics so little time so much writers block sometimes i doubt your commitment to sparkle motion the end. the fucking crying game the future doesn't love you the wit and wisdom of spg woo lets write pirates woo
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raybansandcoffee · 6 years
Text
Always in My Head: A London Calling Series - The New Year (Death Cab for Cutie)
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Happy New Year, Readers!
I’ve been struggling to get through some parts on ITHOLA but didn’t want to leave you without a bit of New Year’s Eve fun so here it is.  I hope you enjoy it!!
New Year’s Eve 2017: Harry
The New Year (Death Cab for Cutie)
2017 is coming to a close and I feel like it just started yesterday. It’s been a wacky and wonderful year that I honestly have a hard time believing that it was my life. I watched the people I love do absolutely incredible things that make them happy while getting the opportunity to travel the world while supporting the man I love. I wanted to take a minute to look back on the year that was and bring you along on the journey with me.
If there was a theme to this year it was new adventures. Kim and Nate brought twins into this world. Cam and Alyssa had a beautiful baby girl. Lizzy expanded the bookshop to include a real cafe as part of it and not just me with an espresso machine. Frankie and Patrick painted the bar, which isn’t really an adventure but TOTALLY was. Lyla styled and did makeup for her very first magazine cover! And my boys…oh my boys have had the best year ever. From #1 singles, albums and movies to babies to sold out tours. These four dudes have gone on to blow the minds of the people who love them with the successful next chapter in life that they’ve each created on their own. And while we know I love all four of those guys that allowed me to follow them around with a camera, sing show tunes at the top of my lungs in the streets of foreign countries, and be the crazy person that I am, one of them holds the keys to my heart and soul. It’s hard to put into words just how proud of him I am. He was in a film that debuted at #1, he had an extremely successful album, both commercially and critically that most important of all was loved by his fans around the world, a sold out world tour, a second planned and on sale, appeared on Saturday Night Live, and the list of things he’s done keeps going from there. And then there were my adventures. I toured the world with the man I love which meant I got to photograph the world with that man by my side. I am getting the chance to write more which fills my heart up so much. I got to spend time with my family and be with the people I love most in the world as they do amazing things.
So in honor of adventures here are a few photos of the adventures that H and I have had this year.
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Sometimes the two of us just have fun with a camera when we are trapped places and can’t get out an explore, which sadly happens more than I would like. But this man is the greatest model a photographer could ask for. And this photo is one of my favorites. The way he’s looking at me through his hair, just about ready to play with his lower lip because he knows it makes me crazy, that as soon as I took the photo he started laughing me and chasing me around the room. This photo captured a moment at the beginning of this crazy year that was shared just between the two of us but was worthy of the world being let in on. H, thank you for supporting my work in more ways than just reading what I write or looking at my photos but allowing my work to be part of how you show the world what you’re up to. You’ve been my biggest cheerleader for the last almost 3.5 years and I’m so grateful to have you.
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Those Styles kids should be models. I swear. My foray into freelance writing that has happened over the last several years (not just on my blog but in other places) has been strictly because these two humans believed in me and encouraged me to write and not just write about my life on a blog but write about things that matter to me. To use the voice and platform I’ve been given to make a positive impact on the world. They have helped me through some dark times and been with me to celebrate during the light. Over the years, Gemma has become one of my best friends and I feel lucky that the man I love has a sister who I love. Thank you for your endless support of me, your brother and our relationship. We are both unbelievably lucky to have you.
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So I mentioned those times where we are stuck inside and can’t go anywhere. I’m not the only one looking through the viewfinder on a camera during those moments. H thinks he’s a fashion photographer sometimes and starts directing me around hotel rooms and rentals and our houses to make me pose for him. He’s crazy and I love him but some of those pictures are amazing. You’ve all seen them before, placed into my blogs so you can see my face on occasion, you just perhaps didn’t realize he was the photographer because he refuses to take credit. This is one of the photos where I feel he truly captured me. The smile on my face is because of him being goofy. I very rarely stop smiling during those moments because it’s as if the world stops and the two of us are able to just be for a while. Thank you for always keeping me laughing, Dimples.
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That moment where all our dreams came true. When H’s dreams come true, my dreams come true. But the night at The Troubadour was the night that LITERALLY MY DREAMS CAME TRUE. I mean we’ve gone to see Fleetwood Mac together several times, I’ve met everyone and they are truly magnificent people who are loving and welcoming to these two crazy kids who were raised on their music. But getting to see my idol share a stage with my fiancé was one of those moments where I nearly stopped breathing. Her voice soundtracked so much of my life, her style influenced mine, the way she lived and loved showed me that growing up and following society’s rules didn’t have to be in the cards for me. From the very beginning Harry has known that I wanted to grow up to be Stevie Nicks and he’s loved and encouraged that in me. I can still close my eyes and hear their voices together. I want to thank every fan who posted a video or took a photo because I only managed to get these two because I was in the balcony with Harry’s guests BAWLING MY EYES OUT. I am sure everyone remembers my absolutely incoherent blog post about that night, I still haven’t found the right words yet and just manage to ramble on about how much I love Stevie Nicks. Stevie, thank you for your support of Harry and the friendship you’ve provided to him. Thank you for not thinking I’m a freak with how much I love you. And thank you so much for this moment. Watching him get emotional on stage was something I knew he was fighting but you have meant so much to him over his lifetime that having you share a stage with him was something he hadn’t ever imagined. You made our dreams come true.
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If a moment could be bigger than Stevie (which is debatable) it would be one of these two moments. To listen to Harry and his band perform in these two legendary locations gave me goosebumps. Abbey Road Studios in London and Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center. The best of the best have performed in these places. I shed a tear during both and I had my Mom with me during both. Having her be able to travel with us in her retirement has been an absolute joy…pun intended. Harry loves to make really bad jokes about my mother and her name being Joy. I’m sure that due to his stand up career during his shows you can all imagine just how weird my life is sometimes. Thank you to everyone at Abbey Road, that helped film the documentaries for H’s album, and everyone at SNL for allowing me to hideout with my camera. Someday he and I are going to look back on these photos and wonder how this was our life. You’ve all made it special, so thank you for being part of it.
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Alyssa and Cam welcomed their first little girl this year. Charlotte is the light of their lives and mine! To see my best friend, my sissa, become a mother has been incredible to witness. She’s a natural and this little girl is already breaking the hearts of every boy in town, including her Uncle Harry’s. What can I say? She loves me more! I hated being away for so much of Alyssa’s pregnancy and had even offered to come back home for the final month before Lotte came into the world, but Alyssa insisted I spend the time with Harry. I did manage to get back just in time to be there when Lotte was born. Watching one of my best friends as she created life was literally one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed. Yes, I was in the delivery room with her. No, Cam was not. He passed out and hit his head. It’s a good thing I’d been Nate’s back up for birthing classes with Kim! Alyssa, thank you for having my back since high school, for being my best friend in the universe and allowing me to spoil the shit out of your little girl. Having you with me in London has been amazing and I’m so glad I get to be around to watch Lotte grow up. Cam, thank you for taking care of these two beautiful girls. I’m glad you are here to protect them when I am gone. Charlotte Ann, my beautiful little girl, you are going to rule this world someday. Watching you grow up is going to be so much fun.
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Watching my best friends go through pregnancy and childbirth was such a beautiful thing. Kim was literally glowing through her entire pregnancy. Nate will point out that she was often glowing with rage at him for getting her ‘knocked up with two boys’. But the moment those two boys screamed their way into the world she was in love. Getting the opportunity to photograph her during her pregnancy was an honor. And those Salisbury twins own my heart. Harry and I both miss all of the babies that are part of this crazy family we have so much when we are away from home for extended periods of time. I think they are all already used to FaceTime and think that anytime Aunt Annie and Uncle Harry come to visit that there will be a new toy, onesie or stuffy to give them. What can I say? Guilt from being away from home when your friends’ kids are growing up is real. Kim, thank you for allowing me to take these photos. For not killing me when I stole some of your candy when you were pregnant and for letting me love on your boys as if they were mine. You have been so supportive as I’ve gone through a rough part of the road of life and being able to be part of these boys’ lives has made the road smooth out.
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And now you can see why I am so in love with them! Look at those faces. Max got a little tired of dealing with me trying to take their photos and face planted into the bed. I’ve taken so many photos of these little guys in their short time on earth that by the time they are older and Kim and Nate are required to find old pictures for something they will probably have several million to choose from. Max and Jack, Aunt A and Uncle H love you both so much. We can’t wait to spend the evening with your Mummy and Daddy tonight to snuggle and love on you while we welcome in the new year.
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Speaking of adorable twins…my better half made a music video that involved children and puppies. One of those children was dressed as him. I feel like the entire day everyone kept commenting that she looked like she could be Harry’s child, which is sometimes hard for me to deal with, but on that day it wasn’t. She did look like she could be his and boy did her curls make me miss his! All of those kids were wonderful to work with and Harry had to take a few of the puppies out of my bag on the way home from set because I wanted to bring them all home. I love animals and can’t wait for a time in life where we are home enough to be able to have one. When we were home for an extended period of time at the beginning of the year and last year I worked with a local shelter to foster some kittens and let me tell you, watching Harry bottle feed a litter of baby kittens is one of the cutest things on the planet and is as close as we are going to get to midnight feedings. Thank you to the cast and crew of Kiwi for bringing the weird sugar induced visions of my love to life. This was one of the strangest sets I’ve ever been on and I loved every minute of it.
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Another one of Harry’s photos from this year. I even let him help pick a few of them for this blog, this was the one he insisted on being in here. This was me over our New Year’s vacation last year. We opted to spend the time somewhere warm with Harry’s Mum and Robin. It was a great way to spend time with the two of them and get them away from home for a while. It was truly one of the most wonderful vacations we’ve taken and I loved the chance to spend time with Harry’s family. H, thank you for always making sure that there’s a photo of me and forcing me to get out from behind the camera. You are the best there is.
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This photo is framed and displayed in a place of prominence in all of our living rooms. Harry is so lucky to have such wonderful parents, but beyond that he was lucky to have had Robin as a part of his life for so long. His sense of humor always had me laughing, often at Harry’s expense. His smile was infectious and the way that he waited inside the door for us to arrive and always engulfed me into the biggest hug is something I miss so much. Robin loved me like I was his own daughter and always made me feel like I was part of the family despite what he often referred to as the longest engagement the universe has ever seen. Last spring when Harry and I had gone home to visit I sat with Robin in the garden talking while Harry had gone to run errands with his Mum. I told Robin that I’d begun to think Harry and I should get married soon. That we didn’t need anything special, just a courthouse and a day and that I wanted Robin to pick it. I’ve honestly never even told Harry about this conversation, so babe you might want some Kleenex. Robin told me that he wasn’t going to let me decide to marry the boy just because he was sick. That Harry and I needed to live our lives by our rules and no one else’s. That life was too short to make plans for other people and that when the time was right and we were ready to be married that it would happen but not because of him. He also then told me that secretly he enjoyed watching Harry contort his face every time someone asked him if we’d set a date yet, he just awkwardly answers that we are happy and in love and we’ll send out a save the date when there’s one to save. You’d think after a three year engagement that question would stop, it hasn’t. Anne, your strength during this time is inspiring. You are the rock that this entire family unit is built upon and we are beyond blessed to have you as our matriarch. You are an incredible woman who I count lucky to have in my life. Robin, we all miss you dearly, this holiday season has been dreadful without you there to pick on Harry with me. I promise you that I haven’t let this year go to his head, my gushing in this blog is not a great example of how I’ve behaved without you here. I have to be kind to him on occasion, you know that.
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Lou modeling the 2017 treat people with kindness tour tee. The fact that my love has started to get people to focus on kindness makes my heart explode with pride. I see so many people in this world live life guarded because of the fear that the other people they encounter in their day have hearts filled with hate. If people start filling their heart with love and kindness and acting with that in mind the world will be a better place. To my partner-in-crime on the road, Lou, having you with us to start and end this year of touring was a blessing we both are grateful for. You mean the world to us and we miss you when you aren’t there but we are so glad you’re able to be with Lux and your family. Thank you for teaching me the tricks to styling his hair so when he can’t figure out how to do it himself he doesn’t kill me when it falls on my shoulders.
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Harry has incredible friends. Friends who have clearly lost their damn minds and let him take over a television show several times. There was the weeklong residency in Los Angeles, performing on the rooftop in London and then the last minute fill in a few weeks ago to help out as James welcomed the newest addition to the family. I appreciate that the crew of Late Late let me run around with my camera all week and take photos to document this part of Harry’s career. To Ben, James and the entire crew at Late Late, thank you! From the bottom of my heart, thank you! You gave Harry a platform to be 100% himself, a stage to sing on, and a place where if the audience didn’t laugh there was a laugh track waiting to be added in post production.
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There was this big adventure that happened, Harry became an actor. While the adventure itself took place in 2016 but the world got to see it this year. During the London premiere I took a few moments to allow Harry to walk the red carpet by himself and with Anne and snuck to the camera line where I could snap a few photos. He is so at ease on a red carpet. Chatting with journalists, signing autographs, taking selfies, and making sure that his Mum and I don’t feel like he’s left us alone. While I was occasionally allowed around set to watch what he was doing and was always there to listen to him decompress from the day getting to see him on screen as Alex in Dunkirk was such a mind blowing experience for me. His talent was incredible. The way he looked in that uniform nearly killed me. Though I’m still not 100% sure I can handle the different accent. Sometimes to throw me off if I am acting distracted he will start to slide back into Alex’s accent. A HUGE thank you to Chris, Emma, the cast and crew of Dunkirk. Thank you for believing in Harry and allowing him the chance to take this adventure. Your film is magnificent and I’m looking forward to the next time we all get to be together because I miss each of you dearly.
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So Nate is kind of a big deal. He will tell everyone that whether they already know this or not. But this year he actually became a big deal. He closed a record setting case last spring and was featured in several publications because the ‘hot lawyer’ became a thing. When asked for photos Nate refused to work with anyone other than me so I was given the opportunity to have my work published by several national publications, mostly geared towards lawyers, but some were tabloids talking about the ‘hot lawyer’ who was working his butt off to help people. I am so proud of Nate and how hard he has fought to turn his legal career into something that meant more to him. Nate, thank you for being you. One of the best people I know, someone who supports me (and Harry) endlessly, and for being one of the best friends I could ask for. I still don’t always understand what you’re saying but I love you anyway. Thank you for loving Kim and those boys the way you do. Thank you for being a best mate to Harry and standing up for him during those moments where I’m being utterly ridiculous and a horrendous bitch, your words not mine.
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This year was clearly the year of my friends kicking absolute ass. The crew at O’Brien’s was featured in a local publication and I was given the opportunity to photograph them. My friends are gorgeous and the recognition they received this year for the things that O’Brien’s is doing to change their game is well deserved. Niki was awarded a few different awards for the menu she has put together and is getting a TON of attention for her amazing food. With Cam and Alyssa behind the bar and Patrick and Frankie running the entire place it’s doing amazing things. And this year they were also the greatest friends I could’ve asked for. From hosting a private album release party for Harry to every birthday party of our little crazy family, O’Brien’s continues to be our home. To all of you, your friendship means the world to me. Thank you for being there through both good and bad and always reminding not to do that shot of Jameson. I love you all and can’t wait for tomorrow when we all get to enjoy time in the bar together in our sweatpants!
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Watching this man get on stage and perform every night is incredible. I am so proud of how hard he works and how determined he is to be himself and be the best that he can be. From night one of the tour in San Fran to Radio City and every date around the world he gave 100% every night. His devotion to his craft is inspiring. I can’t wait for the next tour to start so I can see him back on stage again every night, doing what he loves.
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I got to see two of my favorite guys perform on the same night at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. Getting the chance to photograph Niall as a solo artist and spend time with he and Lyla for a few hours in the midst of all of this crazy was so wonderful. It made me miss having them on the road with me every day. And seeing the embrace that the boys had as Harry walked off of the stage brought a tear to my eye. They are still so close despite this massive change in their lives. True friendship is the best kind to have.
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And since I know he’s reading this I’m going to speak directly to my love for a little bit. Hope you all don’t mind. Harry, thank you for making the last 365 days the best they could’ve been. Despite us experiencing an immense amount of heartbreak this year you moved through life with a smile on your face and reminded me constantly to have a smile on mine as well. You’ve supported me in my dreams by doing everything from being my photographer to being my editor. You’ve held my hand and stood beside me every day of the last year and I don’t even know how to explain how lucky that makes me feel. To be the woman you’ve chosen to be your partner in life is a gift I am still not sure I deserve. I love you with all of my heart and will love you forever. Thank you for being you and for loving me and encouraging me to be me.
Thank you to each and everyone of you who reads this blog. Your support through the last year has not gone unnoticed. You mean the world to me. I can’t wait for the adventures that 2018 will bring and for the opportunity to share them with you. Peace and Love, Annie
Oh and one final selfie of the year before we head out to the Salisbury residence to ring in the New Year with the people we love.
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I put the iPad back down on the kitchen counter and walked up the stairs to the office. I found Annie sitting at her desk, her back to the door as she scheduled the various posts for this blog to get shared out through her social media over the next few days. I’d made her promise that as soon as this went up she wasn’t working until at least January 3rd. We needed some alone time and a chance to also be with friends. It truly had been a wonderful, yet rocky, year. She’d stood by my side through it all. The fear of an album that wasn’t what the world expected from me, showing a new side of me with my acting, taking the stage alone for the first time, everything we’d gone through with her health, and the hardest part of all, losing my stepfather. It didn’t matter the punch life through at us she bobbed and weaved like an expert fighter.
“Bravo, Sugar.” She spun in the chair to look at me and smiled as she realized the look on my face was a good one.
“You liked it?” I pulled her out of the chair and sat down before pulling her onto my lap so I could hold her as she did the last bit of work. I kissed her shoulder before resting my head on her back.
“I loved it. The photos that you chose were incredible and seeing the way you look at the world is always something I enjoy. You made me laugh, you made me cry and you made me so excited for the adventures we are going to have next year.”
“It’s going to be an amazing year. We are going to see the world together.”
“Having you with me makes it all better.”
“It makes not sleeping in my own bed every night worth it.” She clicked away on the keyboard. “So are you sad we aren’t going out tonight?” With three kids under one in this group plus all of Frankie and Lizzy’s kids we had all decided staying in was the perfect idea. Everyone was bringing food to Kim and Nate’s for a night of games, music, and perhaps a quieter New Year’s Eve celebration. Though knowing the group of adults that would be there, quiet didn’t seem like an accurate description.
“I’m not sad. I’m excited about a night with our friends and all of the kids. As long as we are spending the evening together it will be perfect.” She turned a bit so she could kiss me.
“You are perfect.”
“I’m not but thank you,” I replied.  “Are you almost ready to leave?”
“Yeah, I just need to grab my purse from upstairs. Oh and I got party supplies that are in here.” She gestured to a few tote bags sitting on the sofa in her office.
“I’ll grab those, you go get your purse.” I kissed her one more time before she stood up and hurried up the stairs. I grabbed the bags and saw that they had goofy glasses, streamers and sparklers loaded inside. If there was one thing this woman of mine loved, it was an excuse to give party favors to her friends and take pictures. I headed downstairs and started to get all of the food we’d made for tonight ready to load into the car.
It was a few moments later that Annie came into the kitchen, she looked like a knock-out today. The girls had all decided that even though we were staying in tonight that we needed to have festive attire, or at least they were trying to convince us of that. I put on jeans and a comfy jumper knowing that it was going to be a cold night. Annie had on gold sequin leggings, a black tee that hung off her shoulders and had some metallic saying about champagne on it and some fuzzy furry or feathery jacket. She had heels on but I’d caught ridiculously sparkly slippers in the bag of stuff she was taking to the Salisbury’s house.
“You look cute,” I said as I slid my arms around her and snuggled my face into her neck. “You look cozy in your jumper. Though I’m admittedly disappointed that you didn’t go for sequin bowtie I left upstairs.”
“Oh I thought that was for later when we get home.”
“It wasn’t but I definitely like the way you think.”
“And I like the way your bum looks in these pants.”
“Oh do you?” she asked as she turned around. I squeezed her butt a little making her giggle. “Thank you for this.”
“For what?”
“This life. Letting me decide that we get to be home in England for New Year’s. I know that LA and the party scene call you during times like this but being here with our little handpicked family and all of the babies, it’s just what I wanted.”
“I know it is. And it’s definitely the way we should celebrate this year. Now let’s get everything loaded in the car and head out.”
“Alright.” We put everything in and Annie hopped into the driver’s seat and we took off for Nate and Kim’s. We pulled in at the same time that Cam and Alyssa did. I jumped down and headed over to give Alyssa a hug.
“Happy New Year,” I said as I kissed her cheek.
“Happy New Year to you too, Harry,” she replied. I opened the back door and ducked in to see Charlotte bundled up tightly.
“How is my favorite little girl?” I asked as she started to giggle. “I’ll take that as ‘wonderful and so happy to see you Uncle Harry.’” I scooped her up and kissed the top of her head. Alyssa looked like she was ready to take her. “I’ve got her, don’t worry about it. I haven’t seen her in a good 36 hours.”
“Alright, Uncle Harry. You can have the first round of snuggle time.”
“Thank you,” I replied. She walked over to Annie to give her a hug. Cam, Alyssa and Annie grabbed everything out of the car as we headed inside.
“Hello!” Kim yelled as I opened the door. She appeared in the entryway and started laughing. “How is it that you’re the one walking in with the baby?”
“I kidnapped her from the backseat. She sent me a text on the way over here saying she was excited to see me and no one else.” Kim started to laugh before leaning in to give me a hug.
“The boys might get jealous if Lotte gets all of the love. They missed their Uncle Harry when they had to go visit Nana and Papa for the week.”
“I missed them too. I think I can manage all three of them.”
“I’m sure you can,” Kim said as she laughed even harder. Everyone else came through the door with the bags of stuff they all had.
“Thanks for all of your help, Dimples,” Annie groaned.
“No problem, Sugar. I knew that the hardest thing to carry was going to be Charlotte so I bit the bullet for the team.”
“I’m gonna get no time with my kid tonight, am I?” Cam asked.
“Probably not,” I replied. “She loves me most.” And as if I’d timed it perfectly, Charlotte squealed with delight and snuggled into me.
“She definitely does,” Cam added. I headed into the living room where I found Nate on the floor with both of the boys.
“Happy New Year, man,” I said as I walked towards him. He stood up and pulled me into a hug.
“Happy New Year to you too, buddy. Thanks for coming tonight.”
“Nowhere else in the world we’d rather be tonight than here with all of you,” I said.
“I doubt that you’re telling the truth but I’ll take it.” It didn’t take long for Annie’s bag of tricks to get unloaded. She had a photo booth set up, enough streamers to decorate for every kid in this group’s birthday, and noisemakers galore. By the time Frankie and Lizzy strolled in with their kids and Niki arrived with Tom everything was set up. It was going to be the perfect evening for our little family to spend together. Eventually I was forced into letting Lotte spend time with other people at the party which was okay because it meant I got to eat and roam around without worry about the tiny girl in my arms. We all sat down to eat dinner together and Nate stood to give a toast. “Thank you to each of you for choosing to spend your New Year’s Eve here with us.”
“Nowhere else we’d rather be,” Annie said as she poured champagne into both her glass and mine.
“I know that’s a lie,” Nate continued through a bit of laughter. “We could all be making tips at the bar, having a wild night out, or celebrating in some exotic locale somewhere. Yet, we’ve all decided here is where we want to be. It’s been quite an exciting year. Three new little ones to this group.”
“Sorry we are late,” came an Irish accent from the front door. I leaned back in my chair to see Niall helping Lyla out of her jacket.
“What are you two doing here?” Lizzy asked standing up to hug her sister. “You’re supposed to be in Los Angeles or something.”
“We decided last minute that this was where we wanted to be,” Lyla said as she hugged her sister tightly.
“Literally last minute. Our flight landed about two hours ago. Enough time to get home, shower, and throw something together to bring. I hope you don’t mind that we are here,” Niall added.
“Not at all, mate,” Nate replied as he hugged him. “We are glad you both chose to be here.”
“Nowhere else in the world we belonged,” Niall said with a giant smile spreading across his face. Everyone from the table stood to hug our last minute arrivals and make room for them at the giant table in Kim and Nate’s dining room.
“Now where was I,” Nate started. “Oh right, we added three new little ones to this family. We are in the midst of the final stages of planning the biggest wedding Ireland will ever see. We’ve got a couple of chart topping artists at the table. Two ladies who are embarking on a new adventure with a lifestyle brand. A bonafide writer and photographer. The staff from the greatest bar Camden has ever seen. But what makes this special is that we are all here together. Our little functionally dysfunctional family is here to celebrate the end of a year together and start the next. While we’ve had a lot of wonderful things happen we’ve also been through a lot of hard times this year.”
Nate looked at Annie and I as she rested her head on shoulder. I kissed the top of her head. I squeezed her tightly. This group had gotten us through the greatest and hardest year we’d ever seen together. While there were three new little ones in this group there was one that was missing and always would be. There would never be a little version of Annie or myself present at these functions. We started the year off thinking that we would be starting a family only to find out that we weren’t going to get that chance, now or ever. It was a hard few months of tests and tears. But we came through it as a stronger couple.
It wasn’t just that Nate was talking about though. Losing my stepfather had been hard on this entire group. My Mum and Robin had become an important part of this little family over the years. And since losing Robin this group had become an important part of my actual family. Each of them were there for me, my sister, Annie and my mother. Whether it was calling Mum to check on her or the trip that the girls planned for my Mum’s birthday where they all flew to Los Angeles for a week to spend time with Gemma, Mum and all of her closest friends. They were able to see me play at the Hollywood Bowl and drink mimosas all around Malibu for a week. With Annie and I on the road the girls stepped up. They’d taken trips up to visit my Mum and entertained her while Gemma worked during her trips to London. Without even consulting us they all showed up for Robin’s funeral, which was something neither of us expected. It made me realize just how important each of them were to my life.
“We’ve been there for each other throughout the hard times because that’s what friends do. I am so grateful to have each of you in my life and all of you together in my home right now. Cheers to a wonderful year ahead.” We all raised our glasses to toast the year ahead of us. Annie tilted her head towards mine to kiss me.
“I love you,” she said softly.
“And I love you.” After dinner I found Niall and Nate both sitting on the back deck smoking cigars together. “Niall, you little shit. How did I not know you were going to be here?”
“I am full of surprises. We have been in Ireland with my family since Christmas and just decided this would be more fun than flying to Los Angeles and being in crowded parties while we were tired. We were supposed to fly out to LA two days ago, changed our plans and hopped a flight here. The only people that knew were Lyla’s parents.”
“Why is that?” Nate asked.
“We are all going to get together for dinner tomorrow night,” Niall replied. “She missed Christmas at home with her family to be in Ireland with mine. So her Mum is leaving the tree up one extra day so we can have a family dinner tomorrow night. Her oldest sister is down for the holidays while her kids are on break so it made the most sense to come here.”
“That sounds like fun. I felt a little bad that Annie and I are here instead of back home. But Gemma and her boyfriend headed up there this weekend to spend time with Mum and I think Mum’s tired of me following her around the house. We spent the last two weeks at home.”
“I’m sure Anne enjoyed having you both there. She doing okay?”
“She’s doing as well as can be expected. It was a tough Christmas but we made it through. Although as soon as she reads Annie’s year end blog I’m sure I’ll get another teary phone call.”
“I read that earlier,” Nate said. “She did great. Captured our year perfectly.”
“In more ways than one,” Niall added.
“That she did.” The night continued on with drinks, games and Annie attached to her camera. Finally as the clock got close to midnight we all bundled up and went outside. It was time for her sparkler countdown to the New Year. Each of the adults and the older kids were given sparklers and just in time for midnight lit them off of a candle she’d brought along.
“Ten!” Nate yelled.
“Nine, eight,” the rest of the group joined in. “Seven, six, five, four.” I pulled Annie into my arms and made her drop the camers. “Three, two, one. HAPPY NEW YEAR!” Everyone was shouting and dancing. I pulled Annie into a deep kiss.
“Happy New Year, Sugar.”
“Happy New Year, Dimples.”
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bookshopbirdie: Happy New Year from my corner of the world to yours!
AHH!! I can’t even explain how excited I am for everyone to get a chance to read this. I am so happy to be writing something that is present day.
I hope you enjoyed a 2017 recap for our friends in London Calling. It was a rollercoaster of a year for them but just like friends do, they stuck through it together. I can’t wait to hear what you think of this.
I also want to thank each and every one of you who reads what I write. I tallyed it up and I wrote (and published nearly all of it) 295,888 words in 2017. That’s just between these two series. That doesn’t include my writing for work or blogging for fun. Sticking by me through good, bad, and horrific writers block moments has been something that I appreciate. You all mean the world to me even though I don’t know each of you individually. 
My goal for 2018: Pass 300,000! I’m so close and a bit pissed that I’m not there. So I hope you’re all willing to stick with me for whatever comes next.
Thank you again for loving the characters I create and being such an amazing support system.
Cheers to 2018!
xx AM.
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bloodunderthebridge · 6 years
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The Magic of Postmodernism in How I Met Your Mother
We all know (and if you don’t, you should know) that How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) is a comical t.v series that went off the air after its ninth and final season in 2014. But, for those of you who have not enjoyed the future storytelling plot that is HIMYM, here is a quick recap of what takes place in the t.v show composed of nine amusing seasons. The first main character is Ted. Ted is the guy who narrates the entire story to his teenage kids of how he met their mother. Ted tells the story of his journey to finding a wife in 2030 and each season takes the audience through another year of Ted trying to find his wife with his best friends/sidekicks adding to the drama prior to 2030. For the second, third, fourth and fifth characters, you’ve got Lily and Marshall who have been together since college, but have their ups and downs that result in marriage and a baby. You have Barney who has a sketchy job that makes an absurd amount of money and spends most of his time dating as many girls as possible while asking them out in extreme, impossible ways and then you have Robin. Robin brings her daddy issues, t.v broadcasting skills and rough Canadian lifestyle to the streets of New York City. Combined, these characters date each other, date an uncountable number of other people, succeed along with tons of failure and in the end, create a t.v show that reaches a large audience with its sarcastic tone and unrealistic, but relatable circumstances.
So now that I’ve throughly discussed the characters and their role in HIMYM (for those of you who have watched HIMYM and for those of you who's my detailed description is good enough), what comes to mind when we think of the show? Perhaps how uneventful and upsetting the end of the series was or how Barney and Robin should have never broken up and like why did Tracy have to die? Whatever the reason, it probably wasn’t the postmodern aspects of the t.v show. In-between Barney’s multiple conquests, Robin’s foreign Canadian phrases, Lily and Marshall’s never ending relationship and Ted’s seemingly forever lasting search for love are techniques typically used in postmodern works of literature and in this case, good t.v. But since there is a handful of ways in which HIMYM can be looked at through a postmodern lens, I’m going to focus on three specific techniques, metafiction, magical realism and intertextuality. Now although metafiction and intertextuality may sound boring in comparison to watching t.v and even though magical realism seems to entail more fun, each technique adds a level of depth to HIMYM.
T.V, I’m pretty sure everyone has watched it at least once, but what happens when we’ve watched all the shows that interest us, do we exit our box and try a new show or do we watch a series over again? I’m voting for the latter. Whenever I watch something for a second or third and sometimes a fourth time, I notice different things about the show or whatever episode I’ve re-watched. “I could have sworn that storm trooper wasn’t there before”, I notice the smaller details when I re-watch shows and that’s why looking at HIMYM while keeping the postmodern techniques in the back of my mind, helps understand the t.v series more accurately. It’s an underlying layer that you don’t notice at first, but contributes to how the show is perceived by the audience. Imagine HIMYM having modern aspects, rather than postmodern, would more or less people watch it? Would the meaning and perception change? My guess is yes, of course it would change because even though it’s only a small number of aspects that I am looking at, those small parts are what make up the whole and changing enough of those small parts will eventually change the whole.
Okay, so now that I’ve convinced you that looking at HIMYM through a postmodern lens is important, what specifically does metafiction, magical realism and intertextuality mean? Meta fiction is the act of writing about writing or making readers aware of the fictional nature of the very fiction they're reading, or in the case of HIMYM, when the characters know they are in a t.v show. This is commonly know as “breaking the fourth wall”. Magical realism is the introduction of impossible or unrealistic events into a narrative that is otherwise realistic which is pretty explanatory and an easy definition. And lastly, intertextuality is the acknowledgment of previous literary works within another literary work or when a t.v show references a movie or book or vice versa. Each of these three techniques are actively used in HIMYM and now that you know what they mean, time to dive into a close viewing of HIMYM.
Metafiction, breaking the fourth wall, if you will, is not something I am typically a fan of. I think some shows use it well, like Jane the Virgin, but than shows like House of Cards, I can’t stand, but then again, the majority of people I know like House of Cards, so maybe thats just me. Anyways, Jane the Virgin and House of Cards use metafiction many times throughout each episode, but that’s not the case in HIMYM. There are only a number of instances in the entire series of HIMYM where metafiction is used, it is a technique that is used in addition to many other techniques, but not alone. Okay so to give an example so everyone can see what I'm blabbing on about, I’ve looked at season eight, episode four titled “Who Wants to be a Godparent?”. In this episode, Lily and Marshal, now married and pregnant, are hosting a game-show-like competition between Ted, Barney and Robin to see who should be the Godparent of their first child. Towards the end of the scene, when the game is almost over, Marshall looks directly at the screen and says “we will be right back after a message from our sponsors” (00:11:40 - 00:11:50). This was a clear cut, easy example of meta fiction. Another example just for good measure, but not as obvious as my first example is in season seven, episode six, “Mystery vs. History”. Barney, Ted and Robin are all sitting on the couch in Ted’s apartment and Ted is rambling on about breaking the fourth wall in Annie Hall (this is also intertextuality, but that’s for later) and then, out of nowhere, Robin turns to the camera and says “can you believe this guy?” and motions her thumb in Ted’s direction. Personally, Robin breaking the fourth wall is my favourite out of the two just because it was less expected in that scene than in the other one, you know. Okay well, I think that’s enough about metafiction for now… on to magic……al realism!
When I first heard of magical realism, I thought, yes finally some magic being taught in university. This is not the case, but also it sort of is the case. Let me explain. Magical realism is when events and stuff happening in a t.v show or movie or whatever are unrealistic, but they are shown in a realistic setting, therefore making it somewhat believable to some people (maybe?). Now, magical realism is so important that even Oprah talked about in her book club. On Oprah’s website an article is posted saying “magical realism sets magical events in realistic contexts, thus requiring us to question what is "real," and how we can tell” (Parkinson Zamora), which is my opinion, nicely summarises why magical realism is like magic. So thank you Oprah for also seeing the importance of magical realism and talking about it, but now to bring the magic to life in HIMYM, we need to look at season seven, episode seven titled “Noretta”. I know I’ve already explained a bit about Barney’s role in the t.v show and if you’ve watched HIMYM, you already know for yourself, but Barney is addicted to asking as many women out as possible. Like I’m pretty sure that’s all he does, it is his life mission to sleep with a record number of people. Not the most attractive quality in a person/character, but it does make for good t.v. “Noretta” is a prime example of far Barney will go and magical realism all in one! Background: Barney is on a date with an attractive British women he has been dating. They have not slept together yet, but in episode seven, Barney was determined to change that. While skating, Barney’s date fell down on the ice and completely lost a tooth, but somehow Barney managed to convince his date to not give up on the night. After his date fell, Barney also looked up to the roof (aka the sky, aka God, aka magic) and said “I can turn this around” (00:05:40 - 00:06:11). Magical realism? Yes, an extreme example of it? No, but the saga continues, finally back at Barney’s apartment, they go on the balcony where Barney and his date witness a man jumping from a roof committing suicide. Barney again says, “I can turn this around” and despite his date crying “I want to go home”, he manages to win her over (00:09:30 - 00:10:12). What makes this magical realism, if it isn’t clear enough, is that Barney still managed to sleep with his date despite her losing a tooth (which must have been insanely painful and ugly to look at) and that she witnessed death. Those two things happening don’t really set the mood for most people. That is one example of an episode of HIMYM where there is magical realism, but you could find magical realism in probably more than half of the episodes of HIMYM because the technique is used too often when it comes to Barney’s character.
Now finally, we get to discuss intertextuality, my personal favourite. You may be thinking, why is intertextuality my favourite? Especially compared to a technique that is magic adjacent, but when I understand a reference to another movie or book, I just feel like I know more, you know. The important thing to note about intertextuality though is that “much of the show’s humour relies on the reader’s recognition of common tropes” (Levine 67). This directly relates to HIMYM because if the viewer doesn’t understand the reference, they may also miss the humour which would be unfortunate and HIMYM uses intertextuality as humour more often than not. To illustrate intertextuality in HIMYM, I am going to use Star Wars as an example. Star Wars is my all time favourite movie series and therefore I like to take every opportunity to force my obsession upon everyone else and lucky for me, it seems that the characters of HIMYM love Star Wars the same as me!! So here we go, example number one, season nine, episode seventeen, “Sunrise”, Ted argues with his fiancé about what CP30 is made of and he also mocks her by saying “You know what’s weird? Not seeing Star Wars until you’re thirty” (00:03:15  - 00:03:47). Example number two, season nine, episode fifteen, “Unpause”, Barney gets so drunk the night before his wedding he mimics Jabba the Hutt. Example number three, season nine, episode two, “Coming Back”, Barney speaks like Yoda to Marshall, “there is no try” (00:16:18 - 00:16:26). Example number four, just kidding, I won’t keep going with the Star Wars intertextuality references because if you don’t get the point by now, you probably won’t ever get it. That was rude, if you didn’t get the point though, its that if you don’t understand or know Star Wars, HIMYM won’t make any sense. Just kidding, but it definitely won’t be as funny.
We all know now that How I Met Your Mother is a comical t.v series that went off the air after its ninth season and that the producers of this t.v show employ the use of the postmodern techniques metafiction, magical realism and intertextuality. So if anyone ever asks you for examples of magical realism in HIMYM, hopefully now you will be able to give them at least one answer. But in all seriousness, looking at pop culture or anything with a certain lens in mind (in my case, postmodernism) helps read between the lines of whats going on. I find that closely viewing movies and t.v shows or even literature gives a different perspective and shows the layers that can be hidden and I encourage everyone to stop watching HIMYM for a good laugh, but to really learn from the show.
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dsmroleplay · 4 years
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#TheIslandOfTheDolls #DSM #SPN #RP Part 1
Written by @LoneHuntressIRP & @TridentHunting
Annie:
| I paced the floor of Dean’s office. I needed to do something.
Sam had been nice and showed me how to use the computer for research. It was way different now than the way I’d found cases before. It was easier but also made the vastness of the world easier to access.
I plopped down in Dean’s chair spinning around as I try to focus on one thing. But my mind spun just as I did in the seat. The chair stops it’s spin and I open the laptop on the desk. Thinking I’d find bookmarked anime porn, I pause as the article opened up.
Isla de las Muñecas
I read through file after file. I saw the faces of different girls that had gone missing under unique circumstances. Then the dolls. Creepy as shit. Tourist reports seeing the arms and legs following them as they toured the island. Reporters chalked that up to overactive imaginations of witnesses. But hunters know differently. Behind the strange stories, there was always something there. Something that went bump in the night. The boogyman or a ghost. Something supernatural to explain everything that couldn’t be explained.
I pulled a credit card from the desk drawer and booked the next Red-Eye to Mexico City. I’d figure out how to pay back the cost of the flight when I got back. But that would be another worry.
A couple of hours later I snap my seatbelt closed and stare out the window of the plane as it starts to descend. Nervous after my first flight, my fingers dig into the arms.
“Welcome to Mexico City. Sorry about the bumpy landing. It’s not the captain’s fault. It’s not the co-pilot’s fault. It’s the asphalt. Please remain seated until the plane reaches the gate,” the stewardess, I mean the flight attendant, says. “The pilot has turned off the fasten seatbelt sign, it is now safe to deboard. Thank you for flying with us, and enjoy your stay.”
“Hi, do you know where I can get a ride to the,” I glance down at my notes then back up at the attendant, “Xochimico canals?”
“Welcome to Mexico City, Señorita,” he says, “there are buses there.”
“Gracias Señor,” I responded with an accent that would make my tenth-grade Spanish teacher roll in her grave. :::::::::::: John: -John had been trying to keep an eye on everyone but things had gotten crazy. Something came across his desk though that signaled that something was off. A credit card statement on one of Dean's cards. Mexico? What the fuck was the boy in Mexico for? Picking up his phone he called him. And to his astonishment found out his eldest was at home safe as was Sam and Adam. That left one person with access to their credit cards and case files... he and Dean talked it over and concluded it was Annie. Dean had offered to go after her but John told him no. Dean had enough shit going on, getting off the phone he rounding up his secretary and lead team officer. Giving them instructions to hold the fort down leaving Dean in charge while he was away. He kept a gear bag at the office, it was a have to with their lifestyles. He called his pilot and headed to the airfield to get on one of their private jets. What the hell was the girl thinking he had no idea but he'd take care of this hunt and bring her ass back to the US in one piece. For whatever reason he felt responsible for her now.- ::::::::::::::::::: Annie:
I give a sweet smile to a toothless old man selling Churros from a cart and hand him a few bills. I'd hadn't converted the currency right so I hoped I gave him enough. He hands me my treat with change so I was satisfied.
I plop down on a bench, dangling my feet as I devour it. I was reminded that I hadn't eaten at all since I left the US. The bus to the Xochimico canals wouldn't be arriving for an hour at least.
I hadn't been on a hunt on my own in a while. And hindsight I probably shouldn't have traveled across the border alone. But I'm a big girl and can handle my shit. At least I hope I can handle my shit. ::::::::::: John: -John arrived at the airport and an SUV arrived to drive him where he needed to go. He knew Annie's flight had made it safely but she was ahead of him and it would take time to get to her in a third world country like this.- :::::::::: Annie:
I fling my backpack over my shoulder and climb on the crowded bus.
"Excuse me," I step over an older man's foot as I make my way to an empty seat. The sound of chickens crowing in a cage beside him caused me to jump. "Hi," I take a seat next to a little girl holding a doll. The doll's eyes were dark and cold. The girl looked up at me, her eyes flashed the same dark color. I blink, I was just seeing things though I felt a shiver down my spine.
I reach into my bag and pull out my phone, powering it back on. :::::::::: John: -The SUV moved slow through the dilapidated towns. People and animals just wandering through the streets. He looked at his watch, this was taking to long for his liking. Taking out his cell he wondered if he could even get a call out. Put he found her number and tried it.- :::::::: Annie:
I glance at the screen as the phone trills in my hand. The number didn't look familiar other than the area code. Kansas. Figuring it had to be either Jo or a Winchester I swiped the screen to answer.
"Hello?" :::::::::: John: Annie? This is John. Where are you? -He tried to hold in the annoyance and temper but he was sure it would probably bleed through but then again she'd went off half cocked.- :::::::::: Annie:
Irritation oozed from his words. I suppose running off on my own wasn't in my top five of the best ideas but I didn't want to put anyone out.
"Where am I?" I chew my lip nervously, "Well, I'm in Mexico City. Just got on a bus going to," keeping my voice low, "Isla de las Muñecas. There's something there. I know it." ::::::::::: John: I’m on my way. You shouldn’t go out the alone. Get a hotel and stay put till I get there. ::::::: Annie: "Alright, I'll text you when I get checked in," I chew my lip after disconnecting the call. I wasn't sure what to expect from John when we met up.
Would he believe me that there was something here? Or would he snatch me back up and take me back to Kansas.
I wasn't exactly ready to click my heels and head back. Not yet. Not until I figured out what the hell was going on.
A chill ran down my spine as I take the steps from the bus meeting the gaze of the dark-eyed girl again. It was fucking intense. And made my stomach churn. I draw in a deep breath and spread my lips into a warm smile again and walk to the front desk.
"Hi!" I catch the attention of a dark-haired man behind the desk, "Need a room." After some broken English from him and broken Spanish from me, I was able to check-in.
I drop my bag on the floor and toe-off my shoes and shoot a text to John. "I'm at Casa de Muñecas, Room 206." Then fall backward on the bed. Closing my eyes for just a minute. :::::::::: John: -He’d received her message and had gotten to town in the wee hours of the morning. Carrying his gear bag up the stairs of the hotel he found her room and knocked. It being so late he figured she was asleep. Glancing down the hall, no one in sight he used his credit card to open the door easily and slipped inside. Putting his bags down he took a seat in chair and shut his eyes a minute.- ::::::::: Annie: My minute turned into hours. I must have needed it. I didn't sleep at all on the plane. My lids flutter open and I jump slightly seeing that John had nodded off in the chair.
I pull the blanket off the bed and tuck it around him. Trying not to wake him. The clock ticked to four am. Still early. I shimmy out of my jeans and toss them over my bag before tucking myself under the sheet. Trying to fall back to sleep. :::::::::: John: -John awoke to a sound maybe a sense of movement. He stretched and looked at his watch.- Annie, are you awake? -His voice calm and not overly loud in case she was still asleep and it had been his imagination.- ::::::::: Annie: I nod as I raise up and rest my head on my hand. "Sorta," I give him a sleepy smile, "didn't mean to wake you." I was nervous hadn't spent much time with John. I wondered if I should brace myself for a tongue lashing or something else.
I  bite my lip and look up at him through my lashes. "I'm sorry if I worried anyone." ::::::::: John: -She sounded tired and he got that, he was too.- You're alright that's all that matters. Just please, especially out of the US take some backup okay? ::::::::: Annie: His voice was soothing and softer than I expected it to be. "I will," I scoot over to one side of the double bed, "the ferry to the island won't load for a while. Wanna try to get some more sleep until then," I glance over at the empty spot then back to him, "here is probably more comfortable than that chair." :::::::::: John: -He got up and walked over to the bed taking his boots off, laying down beside her.- Thanks Annie. :::::::::: Annie: I turn to face him on the bed. "Did you get a chance to look up anything on the island?" I tuck my arm under my pillow. "It's something right. I mean it's gotta be. Ghosts or something. There was this little girl on the bus," I could hear myself rambling on but I just couldn't stop the words from falling out of my mouth, "I swear her eyes flashed black. So weird right?" :::::::::::: John: I think it's a legit case Annie. And not weird, in a country like this especially when the infrastructure is so bad and corrupted it's a perfect opportunity for demons. How much do you really know about hunting? I'm not saying I don't think you're not capable, I'm just  wondering what you know and don't know. If you saw a demon then there's a damn good chance they know you're a hunter and are keeping an eye on you. That worries me. :::::::: Annie: "I started just outta high school, officially," I tell him. I didn't blame him doubting me even if it was just a little. John was notorious. So I was in awe of his skills.
"I've learned a lot on the job, I suppose there's no real training class for this," I raise and rest my head on my hand, "I know about possession and stuff. But I haven't successfully depossessed anyone before." ::::::: John: Do you have an anti-possession tattoo or charm? Because it's not pleasant to be ridin' by a demon. We should get up and get moving. I've read the local lore and I know the caretaker died not too long ago. I also saw where a few tourists have gone missing so you are right there is something going on with the little island.
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