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#but my friends demanded recognition
queenlypirate · 1 month
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drawing on vc with the besties ✨
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When in L.A
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Summary: while on a walk with your boyfriend, the both of you experience a horrible interaction with one of Jacob’s supposed fans.
Warnings: r is referred to being Australian but ofc you can change it :)
Wc: 574
A/n: decided to post a fic before i officially start school again tomorrow 🥹
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enews
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Liked by jacobelordiupdates, elordifan, and 3,098,261 others
Jacob spotted with his girlfriend y/n out in LA today!! The Aussie couple were playing around with their dogs while Jacob took a few photos of her :)
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user1: oh to be her 😫
user2: she’s so so pretty and seems so sweet ahh
user3: I wonder how they met lol
↘️ user4: pretty sure they knew each other since they were at school in Australia 😂
user5: did not know she was Australian? Omg what?
user6: when is it my turn 🥲
user7: thought he’d be dating someone famous but oop
↘️ user8: didn’t know celebrities had to only date other celebrities?
~
You and Jacob amble through the streets of Hollywood hills, the chill energy of the neighbourhood surrounding you as you take your dogs Layla and Freddie for a walk.
You’ve been friends since high school back in Australia and only started dating around 2 years ago when you visited LA and caught up with Jacob. And it was only a couple months ago you moved across the world to be with your boyfriend.
You weren’t foreign to the recognition Jacob garners, fans occasionally approach for a quick chat or photo, and for the most part, it’s a positive experience for the both of you.
A young woman, probably in her early 20s, spots Jacob from afar, her eyes widening with recognition. She hurries over, her excitement palpable. The two of you stop as he comes up, “Hi Jacob!” She excitedly greets, her phone ready for a selfie.
Jacob flashes his signature smile, “Hey, how’s it going?” The fan smiles widely, her full attention on your boyfriend as you stand to the side, “Great! Can I take a photo with you please?” She asks, “Yeah, sure.”
The fan, seemingly disregarding your presence, abruptly hands you her phone. “Take the photo for me,” she demands, her tone leaving no room for refusal. Caught off guard by her directness, you manage a surprised “Uh, sure.”
Even you could tell Jacob was caught off guard by her rude behaviour, his eyebrows slightly knitted. You reluctantly take the phone and frame the photo as the woman poses with Jacob, her hand around his waist as he respectfully hovers his hand on her back.
She glances at you with a dismissive look, as if you’re merely an accessory to the moment. “Make sure it’s good,” she commands, refocusing on Jacob as he visibly becomes agitated.
Despite the awkwardness, you snap the photo with a forced smile. The fan snatches her phone without a word of thanks and strides away, disappearing from view.
Jacob, sensing your discomfort, lets out a sigh. “She seemed nice” His voice laced with sarcasm as you chuckle. “They’re not usually like that, trust me.” He remarks, irritation evident in his voice.
Jacob puts a reassuring arm around your shoulders, “Don’t let it get to you. I didn’t even really smile in the photo,” He says with a cheeky grin as you couldn’t help but laugh.
~
Later that day, Jacob takes to his instagram page that he mostly posted work related things, and shared a photo of the two of you with your dogs, along with a thoughtful caption.
jacobelordi
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Liked by yourusername, alexademie, sadiesoverall, jacobelordiupdates, and 8,038,297 others
Hey everyone! I don’t usually post things like this but it needs to be said. I love meeting you all in public, and I’m always grateful for your support. However, let’s remember to be respectful to everyone, including the people I’m with. Shoving phones in someone’s hand, demanding for them to take a photo and being rude isn’t cool. Let’s keep it a positive experience. Much love to you all!! ❤️
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yourusername: 🐶💗
↘️ jacobelordi: love you!
↘️ user1: awe 😭
rachelzegler: so glad you’re bringing this up!!
alexademie: PREACH 🙌
user2: I seriously don’t understand people who call themselves “fans” and do disrespectful shit like this
user3: Is this about the incident that happened today??
↘️ user4: yup. It’s all over Twitter and tiktok rn
↘️ user5: the “fan” is getting slandered so hard rn
user6: wait I’m so confused. What happened?
↘️ user7: basically a “fan” came up to Jacob and Y/n and demanded y/n to take the photo for them and she was just overall rude
user8: so funny how Jacob isn’t even smiling in the photo 😭
↘️ user9: HAHAHAHHA I WANNA SEE THIS PIC
↘️ user10: it’s on TikTok!!
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curryshesus · 6 months
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bts fics that give me life in a drought
(aka my favorite fics of all time) pt. 2
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didn't expect to make a part 2 so soon but seeing how much recognition the first one got, here we are! some of these contain a hearty amount of angst, and oh they're just simply divine :( once again, please make sure to show your love and support to these lovely authors if you enjoyed any of these reads as much as i did!
➺ knife’s edge - by @readyplayerhobi
| jungkook x reader, jimin x reader | 141.8k
mafia au, fluff, angst, smut, violence, series
>> summary: "the jeon clan is family, built on blood and loyalty. it’s been an unspoken fact that one day you will marry the heir to the clan, jeon jungkook. you would be a fool to deny that you love him, but what happens when you meet a blue haired man who offers you a chance at normality?"
this fic absolutely BROKE ME. i was so conflicted all throughout and deadass went through all the 50 stages of grief. the angst was unparalleled. the fluff had me giggling like a madman cuz jk is an absolute sweetheart :( jimin is too :(( y/n is dumb and so is her situation :((( i cherish this fic sm
➺ novocaine - by @kinktae
| jimin x reader |
1990s au, exes au, angst, eventual smut, series
>> summary: "going home was hard – painful even. but falling back in love with jimin, the boy you left behind? downright gut-wrenching."
➺ ghostin him- by @adonis-koo
| namjoon x reader (taehyung x reader) | 26k
angst, angst, as well as angst. comfort too dw, one-shot
>> summary: "life is nothing more than dull colors for you, your world shattered and laying in the shards of what once was rather than focusing on what is. that is until you meet kim namjoon, who is immediately taken by you without realizing you’re a girl with a whole lot of baggage, through tears and many sleepless nights you’re faced with a choice of hanging on with bleeding hands, or accepting what is, and letting go."
ohmygod the writing hello? the amount of soul, depth, and sheer utter beauty in missy's words are beyond me. had me sobbing every other line and my heart aching all throughout and boy was it worth it.
➺ take five - by @jiminrings
| yoongi x reader | 10k
angst, fluff, unrequited love, pinning
summary: "dr. min yoongi's a board-certified dermatologist; skilled, renowned, and in-demand - oh and also, he's divorced."
➺ page turner - by @gukslut
| taehyung x reader | 13.6k
teacher!tae/ librarian!reader, fluff, smut, minor angst
summary: "corny romance and a zillion cheesy Romeo and Juliet quotes and references."
my tainted hopeless romantic heart ugh. they're so cute.
➺ bloom- by @hobidreams
| namjoon x reader | 20.7k
assassin!reader x florist!namjoon, smut, angst, action, sprinkles of fluff
>> summary: "family is who you kill for. who you die for. in this society, you and your kin are shadows, clinging to the darkness to obey orders absolute. but when such orders command you to abandon what little honor remains for wealth and notoriety, you find yourself lost in lonely uncertainty about the only vocation you’ve ever known. that is, until you meet a man with gentle hands, a poet’s heart, and a love for coaxing the world into bloom."
➺ counterfeit culture - by @ggukcangetit
| seokjin x reader | 29k
modern day au loosely based on jane austen’s pride & prejudice, e2l, fluff, smut, comedy
>>summary: “for as long as you can remember, you’ve always known right from wrong, good from bad, and woke from entitled/ignorant. but when you continue to cross paths with Kim Seokjin - the apparent antithesis of everything you believe in - certain walls begin to crumble. and over time, you come to realise that the world isn’t black and white, first impressions can be misleading, and that you are just as guilty as each person you’ve judged so harshly. realisation brings acceptance, and maybe, just maybe, acceptance can bring something more.”
➺ if i told you - by @gukyi
| jungkook x reader | 22k
friends to lovers!au, college!au, fluff, comedy, angst
>> summary: "in order to pay for university, jeon jungkook decides to market his most valuable asset to the wealthy socialites of campus: himself. donning a suit and tie, tousled hair, and glasses (to look smarter), he becomes every rich daughter’s dream: the perfect boyfriend to bring to balls, dinners, and business gatherings. all while you watch from the sidelines, only able to dream of having that much money to buy yourself what you really want: him."
➺ to hold a dragon's heart - by @softlyjiminie
| taehyung x reader | 19.1k
dragon prince!kim taehyung x warrior princess!reader, smut, angst, fluff, forbidden romance, dragon shifter!au, royalty!au, enemies to lovers!au
>> summary: "two kingdoms, two hearts and the world between them. your whole life has been a challenge, never an easy moment on your road to becoming queen but will one decision, one encounter with the man you were destined to hate, change the fate of your worlds, forever?"
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lunadileo · 3 months
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👑 Leo Placements. The Crowned One 👑
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⚜️ LEO IN 8H: Your charisma and self-confidence help you receive and enjoy financial prosperity throughout your life. You easily gain recognition and approval from others. You love sharing success and spoil your loved ones. Possessing great inner fortitude and bravery, you can handle any challenge with authority and self-confidence. You are controlling and possessive in love, physical pleasure and intimacy with your beloved is something you really enjoy. ⚜️ LEO JUPITER: You are very expressive and have a big heart. You draw others in with your charismatic and ambitious personality. Your strong unwavering beliefs and grandiose way of speaking inspire others. You have a natural power of persuasion. You are very energetic, prosperous and have a gift of mentoring and leading others to success.
⚜️ LEO ASCENDANT: You have a larger-than-life attitude. Like the sun itself, you radiate so much powerful and warm energy wherever you go. You have regal features and manners like a straight posture, fearless look in your eyes, gaining all the attention when you step into the room. You love to wear expensive designer clothes, shoes, bags and jewellery. Your sense of style is posh and chic and you are a trend setter. ⚜️ LEO IN 2H: You have a great sense of self-worth and know that you deserve the very best in life. You are a big spender and have a lavish lifestyle. Being generous with people you love and spoiling them with expensive high-quality gifts make you happy. You are very successful in gaining financial security and living in comfort. You possess strong values and can easily influence others. ⚜️ LEO SUN: You are like the Sun itself, full of passion, creativity, confidence and energy. You lead others with warmth, strength and generosity. You are the life of the party and enjoy being in the spotlight. Your natural desire to express your self makes you a great actor, public speaker and influencer. You have a lionhearted spirit that roars with passion and conviction. ⚜️ LEO LILITH: You are extremely magnetic and have a diva personality. Being pleased and satisfied is important for you in romantic and intimate relationships. You love yourself and express your emotions dramatically. You find most pleasure in being treated like the queen and being adored.
⚜️ LEO IN 10H: You are here to shine in your chosen career and be in the spotlight. You are a natural born leader skilled at mentoring others and creating a powerful position for yourself. You are courageous and talented, likely to select the entertainment industry as your field. You are confident and determined in your goals and aspirations. ⚜️ LEO MARS: You always make a strong impression on others with your passionate and demanding energy. Your kingly/queenly sense of entitlement propels you toward achieving your goals. You take an active role in everything and you don't forget to have fun, be playful and enjoy life on the way. You demand unwavering respect and recognition for your hard work and impact. ⚜️ LEO PLUTO: You are all about dignity, honour and authority. You are magnetic, original and dominant. You are passionate about things you want to accomplish and love it when others recognise your success. Being assertive and strong-willed, you strive to gain a deep sense of self. You love having a good time, to entertain and spend time with your friends. You are free-spirited and live your life being confident in yourself and your abilities. © 2024 Credits to my blog @lunadileo.
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sontarangaming · 2 years
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Getting Arrested 101
In light of yesterdays ruling on the Miranda rights, now that the cops don't need to read you your rights, I figure it's as good a time as any to make a crash course post on what to do if you get arrested in the US. Know your rights and how to invoke them, because cops will try and trick you into reneging on them whenever they can. Here's my bible on engaging with police, and feel free to add on if you have other tips.
If you encounter police at all, especially if it's for a protest, engage as little as possible. Protests will sometimes have police liaisons; if they do, deflect the cops onto them. They have training for this. Otherwise, say nothing to them if they don't engage first.
If they engage first, do not escalate. Cops are trained to try and escalate situations. It wins them PR, and it makes it easier for them to justify violence against you and in turn, the other protestors. I don't care how punk you think it is, do not escalate.
When they engage, if you think you're being arrested, ask them in no uncertain terms and demand a clear answer. Say "am I being arrested," and if they evade, repeat it until the answer is no or yes. If it's no, walk away and don't engage further. If it's yes, then:
Shut the fuck up. Say absolutely nothing from this point forward until you reach the station. No matter what they say, no matter how serious or casual the conversation is, you say nothing. Zip. No exceptions. This is especially important to remember because they will try and humiliate you and make the arrest process as difficult as possible to try and make you crack, so do the simplest thing and say nothing.
If you are arrested, once you make it to the station, there's a simple three step process to remember. Exact wording isn't necessary, but try and be close. Remember, you don't want to be Lawyer Dogged. Once again, be as clear as you possibly can.
"Am I being detained?" If no, leave. If yes, then say:
"I invoke my right to have a lawyer present." Any time they try and push on that, you say:
"As I am detained, I invoke my right to remain silent until my lawyer is present."
You want it to be 100% undeniable, in as much of the record as possible, that you were being detained, and therefor you need a lawyer. Otherwise, the cops will retroactively decide you weren't actually held there, and therefor you had no rights to invoke, so get that shit down. And once again, aside from saying #3, shut the fuck up. Same principle applies as #4 on the first list: they will do whatever they can to get you talking, and once they do, they'll say "oh, they decided to not use the lawyer after all because they started talking without one." So do. Not. Budge.
Lastly, some general pieces of advice, both for before and during the arrest process:
If you're going to a protest, the sort of thing where arrests can be planned for, there will likely be an organizer with some experience. They may be able to give you specific advice for that protest with regards to things like ID, liaisons, or any specific protocol. Check with them as well.
If you're in a situation where arrests are likely or expected, especially with a protest, plan accordingly. Power off your phone and deactivate the fingerprint or facial recognition unlock options, or leave it at home entirely. Don't bring anything you wouldn't want to be arrested with. Think carefully about leaving your ID at home, though. John Doe-ing can cause extra trouble for the cops (good), but it's also risky, since it can make it harder for you to pay for bail and can make things harder for you down the line.
Police always lie. Let me repeat. Police. Always. Lie. Again, Police. Always. Lie. This should be your fucking mantra. They will tell you you'll get out easier if you cooperate. They will tell you any information they can find about your friends and family. They will threaten you and them. This is all hollow. Your friends have rights as well. All of this is posturing to get you to talk and incriminate you and your friends. Police always lie.
Every American should know this, but it's especially important for any activist, or advocate. Knowing your rights is the only defense you have against cops, so you need to game that system to keep them from gaming it back.
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shanastoryteller · 19 days
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Happy Birthday!! 🎂🎂 I'd love some more What You Expect please. I think this is my fourth time requesting it! I just can't get enough
continuation of 1 2 3 4 5 6
When Eden tells Al what happened, she expects him to be pissed.
"It's good that you have a friend, Sister," he says.
She stares.
When Al just stares back, she kicks him. He can’t feel it beyond the vague recognition of pressure, but he still shouts, “Hey!”
“All your complaining and handwringing and that’s all you have to say?” she demands. “Catherine knows! She’s Armstrong’s sister!”
He shuffles away from her and crosses his arms. “I said that you should tell them, what I’m worried about is them figuring it out themselves and getting mad at you! Why don’t you try telling Armstrong? Catherine did say keeping secrets was a family tradition.”
She can’t wait until he gets his body back so he can feel it when she beats him. “We’ve been fine this long, I don’t know why you want to suddenly come clean now.”
“Because, as I keep telling you, they’re going to figure it out! You’re not a kid anymore, Sister.”
She’s already been to the office and no one acted any differently around her or tore off her jacket and accused her of heaving breasts now, bound or not. They’ve got their own shit going on and they’re too self absorbed to care about hers. She’s told Al this a thousand times, but he doesn’t believe her, so she doesn’t bother saying it again. “Just relax, okay? We’re only hanging around Central for a couple months to give the appearance to the brass that Mustang has some control over me and then we’ll go off on our own again and we’ll be too far away for them to notice anything at all.”
Al just sighs, still giving him that moody stare that she can feel even though his face doesn’t move.
She knocks his helmet off.
That’s what he gets for not listening to her.
~
Havoc really wishes Armstrong’s sister wasn’t rejecting him in front of the whole office. Why is Alex doing this to him?
“I’m sorry,” she says, blue eyes wide. “It’s just that I’m only interested in strong, manly men. Like my brother.”
Alex flexes behind her. When did he take his shirt off?
He’s doing his best to ignore his coworkers’ muffled laughter and think up some sort of reasonable response to that when he hears, “Strong, manly men, huh?”
Havoc turns to see Ed standing there, a stack of books under his arms, which is just great, that really rounds out the humiliation.
He drops the books and comes forward, reaching for Catherine’s waist with both hands and lifting her in the air above his head. She straightens her legs even as she grips Ed’s forearms in surprise, her mouth open as her cheeks slowly turn the color of Ed’s coat.
“Hungry?” Ed asks, grinning.
She nods, once, then Ed is lowering her back to the ground and offering her his arm, which she takes with light giggle. He snags his books off the desk as he leaves, kicking open the door since he’s out of arms.
Alex blinks once, then twice, apparently just as surprised about this development as the rest of them. “Hm.”
“Wow,” Breda says. “Losing women to Mustang was bad enough, but now Ed? That’s got to sting.”
“I hate you,” he says, because, yes, it does.
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thefearandnow · 9 months
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So with Oppenheimer coming out tomorrow, I feel a certain level of responsibility to share some important resources for people to understand more about the context of the Manhattan Project. Because for my family, it’s not just a piece of history but an ongoing struggle that’s colonized and irradiated generations of New Mexicans’ lives and altered our identity forever. Not only has the legacy of the Manhattan Project continued to harm and displace Indigenous and Hispanic people but it’s only getting bigger: Biden recently tasked the Los Alamos National Lab facility to create 30 more plutonium pits (the core of a nuclear warhead) by 2026. So this is a list of articles, podcasts and books to check out to hear the real stories of the local people living with this unique legacy that’s often overlooked. 
This is simply the latest mainstream interest in the Oppenheimer story and it always ALWAYS silences the trauma of the brown people the US government took advantage of to make their death star. I might see the movie, I honestly might not. I’m not trying to judge anyone for seeing what I’m sure will be an entertaining piece of art. I just want y’all to leave the theater knowing that this story goes beyond what’s on the screen and touches real people’s lives: people whose whole families died of multiple cancers from radiation from the Trinity test, people who’s ancestral lands were poisoned, people who never came back from their job because of deadly work conditions. This is our story too.
The first and best place to learn more about this history and how to support those still resisting is to follow Tewa Women United. They’ve assembled an incredible list of resources from the people who’ve been fighting this fight the longest.
https://tewawomenunited.org/2023/07/oppenheimer-and-the-other-side-of-the-story
The writer Alicia Inez Guzman is currently writing a series about the nuclear industrial complex in New Mexico, its history and cultural impacts being felt today.
https://searchlightnm.org/my-nuclear-family/
https://searchlightnm.org/the-abcs-of-a-nuclear-education/
https://searchlightnm.org/plutonium-by-degrees/
Danielle Prokop at Source NM is an excellent reporter (and friend) who has been covering activists fighting for Downwinder status from the federal government. They’re hoping that the success of Oppenheimer will bring new attention to their cause.
https://sourcenm.com/2023/07/19/anger-hope-for-nm-downwinders/
https://sourcenm.com/2022/01/27/new-mexico-downwinders-demand-recognition-justice/
One often ignored side of the Manhattan Project story that’s personal for me is that the government illegally seized the land that the lab facilities eventually were built on. Before 1942, it was homesteading land for ranchers for more than 30 families (my grandpa’s side of the family was one). But when the location was decided, the government evicted the residents, bought their land for peanuts and used their cattle for target practice. Descendants of the homesteaders later sued and eventually did get compensated for their treatment (though many say it was far below what they were owed)
https://www.hcn.org/issues/175/5654
Myrriah Gomez is an incredible scholar in this field, working as a historian, cultural anthropologist and activist using a framework of “nuclear colonialism” to foreground the Manhattan Project. Her book Nuclear Nuevo Mexico is an amazing collection of oral stories and archival record that positions New Mexico’s era of nuclear colonialism in the context of its Spanish and American eras of colonialism. A must read for anyone who’s made it this far.
https://uapress.arizona.edu/book/nuclear-nuevo-mexico
There isn’t a ton of podcasts about this (yet 👀) but recently the Washington Post’s podcast Field Trip did an episode about White Sands National Monument. The story is a beautifully written and sound designed piece that spotlights the Downwinder activists and also a discovery of Indigenous living in the Trinity test area going back thousands of years. I was blown away by it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/field-trip/white-sands-national-park/
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chelseachilly · 2 months
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tired of loving from afar
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pairing: mason mount x reader warnings: none, mostly fluff with a tiny bit of angst! word count: 5.3k
a/n: not me writing for someone other than ben lmao?? been really in my mase feels lately so here's a fluffy little long distance relationship fic (also was very happy to read this morning that he's likely going to be back after the international break! my heart has been hurting for him this season 🥺) have a great weekend loves 💓
-
Of the three years you’ve been with Mason, the past six months have been the hardest by far. 
You’d overcome other hurdles in your relationship, like adjusting to the exposure and demanding schedule of a professional footballer, learning to cope with your life being somewhat public and thousands of girls being in love with your boyfriend. None of this was nearly as challenging as having to adjust to him living 200 miles away from you. 
His move to Manchester was bittersweet - you were so proud of him for getting a spot at such a massive club and finally receiving the appreciation and recognition he deserves. You knew he was happy to have a fresh start and a chance to prove himself as a player. 
At the same time, it was incredibly emotional for him to leave his boyhood club, his friends, his family, and you all at the same time. You would’ve given anything to go with him, even if it meant leaving your own friends and family in London, but you were about to start your final year of uni there. You couldn’t just pack up and go, no matter how much you wanted to do so.
You’re passionate about your studies, and you knew it would all be worth it when you graduate and get a job in your chosen field - and in the same city as the man you love. You knew it was only a year.
That didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye.
You’ve both made a massive effort to see each other as much as humanly possible, going up to Manchester every time you have a break from classes or a weekend without an exam or assignment due. Mason has also come back to London any time he gets the chance, sometimes flying out just to see you for the day. You’ve been making it work, but it’s not nearly the same as living in the same house as him. Even when you were both super busy, you at least got to see each other when you woke up and before bed, and now all you have are texts and FaceTime calls. 
On a night like tonight, when you’re exhausted from the week and you just want to be wrapped in his arms watching a film, FaceTime really feels like a poor replacement for the real thing. 
“Hi, gorgeous,” Mason says, a sleepy smile on his face as he answers your call. “How was your day?”
“Hey, Mase,” you say, curling up with a blanket and admiring his face in the soft glow of his bedroom lamp. Judging by the fact that he’s in bed by quarter to nine, you figure he’s as worn out as you are. “It was okay, felt long. I finally turned in my essay, though.”
“Good work, babe, I’m sure you aced it like always.” 
You blush a little, never growing tired of how he takes every opportunity to praise your intelligence. Any time someone asks about your studies, he does a full spiel about how smart you are.
“We’ll see,” you say. “How was your day, love? Any updates at physio?”
The way his smile instantly fades makes your heart drop to your stomach, fearing the worst.
“Yeah, um-it’s looking like a bit longer,” Mason says, and you can tell he’s trying to keep his voice steady so you don’t worry too much. “Maybe another few weeks. They’re not sure.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” you sigh. “I’m sorry. I know how frustrating this is.”
The hardest part about being away from Mason has unquestionably been watching him struggle from afar without being able to properly support him. From the rocky start to the season, to being out due to injuries basically ever since, it’s been torture not being there for him. 
You went up straight away when he first injured his calf in November, needing to both emotionally and physically care for him, but you couldn’t stay long before your exams started. Since then, you’ve done your best to help from London - sending him care packages, calling him as much as your schedule allows, asking Luke and Anouska to keep an eye on him and let you know how he’s holding up. 
In moments like these, though, what you really need is to hug him and tell him everything is going to be alright. 
“Yeah, it’s a bit tough,” Mason admits, fiddling with his hoodie string. “But at least I’m back in partial training, it could be worse. I could’ve done my ACL or something, you know? I’ve been pretty lucky in my career so far.”
One of the many things you love about him is his infectious optimism, how he always sees the best in situations and in people. 
Right now, though, you’re not sure you fully believe the words leaving his mouth. He looks so disheartened and downtrodden. 
“Are you sure you’re okay?” you ask, frowning. “I know it’s not the news you’re expecting, you’re allowed to be disappointed.”
“I’ll be fine, angel, don’t worry about me,” Mason reassures you. “Just missing you a little extra today.” 
“Me too,” you murmur, touching the screen and wishing it were his face. “I’m sorry I can’t make it up this weekend, but this group assignment-“
“Don’t apologize, baby, I know how busy you are this term,” Mason cuts you off, just as he always does when you try to apologize for being so far away. 
You do the same to him when he tries to say he’s sorry for uprooting your life together, for not being there when you’re stressed about school or just having a bad day. Truthfully, neither of you are at fault, it’s just life. But it still sucks sometimes. 
“We’ll see each other in a few weeks when I have my reading break,” you remind him. “Just a while longer.”
“I know, I’m counting down the minutes,” Mason smiles. 
You talk for a little while longer before you reluctantly have to go so you can get ready for bed, and you promise to call him again tomorrow night. 
The sad look on his face when you say goodnight lingers in your mind as you shower and do your skincare routine, and by the time you climb into bed, you’ve made a decision.
First, you message your group for the assignment you’re working on and ask if you can push your planned meeting to Monday rather than Saturday. Next, you text Luke and ask him to make sure Mason doesn’t have plans tomorrow night.
Lastly, you book a train to Manchester, because you’ll be damned if you don’t go cheer up your man when he needs you.
-
The moment you arrive at the train station in Manchester the next day, you hop in an Uber and make your way straight to Mason’s.
You know that he’s still at training and will be for at least another hour or so, as you’ve been texting Luke for updates so Mason doesn’t get suspicious. It’s not unusual for you to ask how his day is going, but you don’t typically ask for the exact time he plans on leaving Carrington or instruct him to go straight home after training.
Using the key that Mason gave you when he moved in, insisting that it was still your home even if you don’t live there the majority of the time, you let yourself into his house.
You drop your bags and immediately get to work on creating the perfect cozy, romantic Friday night in.
By the time you get the text from Luke that he’s on his way back with Mason, having devised a fake plan of coming over to play FIFA after training to ensure Mason didn’t make other plans, you’re just finishing up.
You’ve successfully transformed his house, which he bought furnished and has put very little effort into making homey, into a much more welcoming environment. 
You ordered flowers for the kitchen table, as well as enough groceries to make dinner for him tonight and to replenish his far too empty fridge. You did a bit of tidying, deciding to do a few loads of laundry for him when you noticed there was quite a pile forming, and it must have been a week or so since the cleaning service he pays for came. 
You put some soft music on his speakers and lit a few candles in the kitchen as well, popping a bottle of white wine into the fridge so it’s ready for your dinner. 
You’ve just started chopping a few veggies to get a head start on dinner when you hear the sound of the front door opening followed by distant voices, one of which you immediately recognize as Mason.
“Do you hear that music?” 
The sound of your boyfriend’s voice after weeks apart fills your stomach with butterflies - you’re just as giddy to see him as you were in your early days of dating. 
“Probably the neighbours, mate,” Luke responds, still playing along with your ruse. 
“I don’t think-“
Finally, the guys turn the corner into the kitchen, and you see Mason come into view with Luke trailing behind him. His eyes widen in surprise for a moment, slightly startled by there being someone in his house, and then he realizes it’s you and his mouth falls open in shock.
“Surprise,” you say shyly, while Mason is still at a loss for words. 
He immediately drops his training bag to the floor and makes a beeline for you, pulling you into a tight hug and lifting you off your feet before you can even hug him back properly. 
You relax into his arms right away, squeezing him just as tightly as he’s squeezing you and breathing in the familiar scent of his soap and aftershave, freshly showered after training. It’s the same scent that lingers on the t-shirts and hoodies that you steal from him every time you come up, wearing them until you regrettably have to put them through the wash. 
“Baby,” Mason mumbles into your neck, pressing little kisses there. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I’m here,” you confirm, wrapping your legs around his waist as he refuses to set you down or let you go. “I missed you way too much to wait another three weeks.”
He pulls back far enough to capture your lips in a sweet kiss, his hands sliding down to your thighs to support your weight as you kiss him back. You can feel the pieces of your world shifting back into place, your heart settling in your chest as you sink into his warmth.
Mason presses a few more quick pecks to your lips before reluctantly setting you down, arms still wrapped around you. It’s only then that you realize Luke is still here, shuffling awkwardly in the corner. 
“Thanks for your help, Luke,” you say with a shy smile, moving to Mason’s side. 
“Of course, the man never shuts up about how much he misses you, so it’s really a favour for me as well,” Luke jokes. “I’ll leave you guys. Enjoy your evening.”
“Thanks, mate,” Mason says with an eye roll and a grin before turning his attention back to you, pressing kisses to your head. 
“Night, Luke! Give my love to Anouska and the kids,” you call out, though you’ve also turned back to face Mason and bury your face in his chest. 
You remain in each other’s arms, just holding one another and breathing in and out for a minute or two. 
You knew you missed him, but you don’t think you realized quite how much until right now. It’s taken such a toll on both of you being apart for so long.
“How long are you staying?” Mason asks quietly, almost like he’s afraid of the answer, as he lightly rubs your lower back. 
“Until Monday morning,” you say. You wish it were longer, but three nights together is the best you’ve gotten in a long time. 
“Really?” Mason asks, pulling back and looking at you with bright eyes. “I thought you had to do your group assignment tomorrow?” 
“I pushed it to Monday, I had to come see you after we spoke last night.”
You reach up to cup Mason’s face with one hand, gently stroking his cheek with your thumb. Judging by the way he’s avoiding eye contact with you, you know you were right to come. He’s obviously been struggling with the disappointment of the never-ending injuries, all the uncertainty it’s brought. 
“I’m okay,” he says softly, turning his face to press a kiss to your palm. “Now that you’re here, everything’s okay.”
You melt at his gentle words, but they don’t do much to ease your worries about his emotional wellbeing. 
Mason gives you a quick peck on the forehead before looking around the room, noticing the food you’re preparing and the cozy, romantic vibe you created for your evening. 
“What’s all this?” he asks, a small smile on his face. 
You’re not keen to drop the subject, but you don’t want to ruin your rare weekend together by bombarding him with questions either. You know he’ll talk about it when he’s ready. 
“I just ordered some food for dinner and restocked your fridge a bit,” you explain. “I figured you would be happy to stay in tonight, so I got stuff to make your favourite pasta.”
Before he can respond, the dryer beeps, signalling that the load is done. He raises an eyebrow at you.
“Are you doing laundry?”
“I just threw a couple loads of your clothes in, I noticed you were running behind,” you shrug. 
Mason looks at you with complete awe, shaking his head in disbelief.
“You didn’t have to do all this,” he says softly. “You being here is enough. It’s more than enough.”
You smile, wrapping your arms around his neck once more. 
“I know, but I wanted tonight to be perfect and relaxing,” you explain, pecking his lips. “No stressing about football or school or anything else. Just you and me.”
“You’re amazing, Y/N,” Mason sighs, squeezing your waist. “Can I help you cook?”
“No, but you can pour us both a glass of wine from the bottle in the fridge and sit down and tell me about your day,” you smile, kissing him one more time before pulling away to return to your meal preparations. 
Mason does as told, sneaking another few kisses when he brings you over your glass, then sitting at one of the stools at the kitchen island.
You treasure this domesticity more than almost anything with him - the simple act of chatting about your days while making dinner is something you’ve missed terribly.
When the pasta is ready, you dish it out into two bowls and bring them over to the table. 
“God, I missed your cooking,” Mason grins as he dives into his portion, obviously starving after a day of training. “It’s delicious, babe.”
“Thanks, Mase,” you reply, pouring yourself a little bit more wine. “You want some more?”
“Might as well, it’s not like I’m playing tomorrow,” Mason says, the offhand comment hurting your heart much more than he intended. 
He’s still smiling at you as you pour his drink, but you don’t believe for a second that it’s real. 
“Do you want to go tomorrow?” you ask after a minute of silence while you both eat. “I know you usually go to the home games, right?”
Mason shrugs. “Yeah, we can if you want.”
Once again, you don’t press him further, listening as he changes the subject and starts updating you on Ben’s latest girl troubles. 
After you’ve finished and cleaned up, you head into the living room to catch up on the new episodes of Drive to Survive. You always save your favourite shows for when you’re together, sometimes dodging spoilers for weeks just so you can enjoy it properly with Mason.
The moment you sit down on the couch, Mason pulls you into his arms for the first real cuddle you’ve had in weeks. You very contently lean into him, resting your head on his chest and humming in delight as Mason slides his hand under your hoodie and begins to gently stroke your lower back. It’s not with the intention of anything sexual, though you’re sure that will come later, it’s just an innate need to be as close to you as possible. 
It’s the most relaxed you’ve felt since he left your flat in London three weeks ago, your body and mind decompressing with every moment spent in his arms. 
A few hours pass, and you can feel yourself growing tired, but you’re enjoying Mason’s commentary on the Alpine rivalry far too much to interrupt and suggest you go to bed. Your yawns are betraying you, though, and Mason begins to gently run his hand through your hair.
“You ready for bed, sweetheart?” he asks softly, kissing your forehead. 
“It’s so early,” you murmur as you glance at the time on your phone, barely past 9PM, yet you can’t contain another small yawn which makes Mason chuckle. “Sorry, I guess I’m tired out from the week.”
“No worries, we have the whole weekend,” Mason smiles. “Honestly, I’m a bit worn out too. Wanna go upstairs and I’ll get us some water?”
You nod as he stands and helps you to your feet, pressing one more gentle kiss to your forehead before heading into the kitchen. You make your way up the stairs to his bedroom and head into his ensuite bathroom. 
It occurs to you as you’re flicking the light on that you forgot to grab your toiletry bag from your suitcase in his room, and you’re just about to turn back for it when something catches your eye. On one of the shelves above the toilet, there’s an array of products that wasn’t here last time you visited. More specifically, there’s a version of just about every hair and skincare product you use on a regular basis, and you really doubt that Mason has taken up doing hair treatments or using Drunk Elephant serums.
Maybe it shouldn’t mean as much to you as it does - he’s always been thoughtful, and you know the expense of buying all this is nothing to him - but for some reason, the simple gesture nearly brings you to tears. 
Mason appears in the doorway a moment later, smiling softly at you.
“You okay, love?” 
“When did you buy all this stuff?” you ask, gesturing to the shelf. 
“Oh, uh, a couple days after the last time I came to London,” Mason says casually. “I took pictures of everything in your bathroom to make sure I got the right stuff, I just wanted to make it easier for you when you visit.”
As you look into his soft, sincere gaze, your love for him feels more overwhelming than ever. 
Which means your guilt does, too. 
“Mase, I’m so sorry I haven’t been up to visit more lately,” you say, your voice unsteady. “I know you’ve been struggling, and I know you’ve been keeping a lot of it from me because I’m busy with uni, but you’re my priority and I should’ve-“
“Hey,” Mason says gently, interrupting you with a hand reaching up to cup your cheek. “Don’t ever apologize for focusing on your studies. I know how hard you’ve been working, and I’m so proud of you. You don’t need to worry about me, I’m gonna be fine.”
“It’s not fine,” you shake your head, tears now streaming down your face. “You’ve always been there for me, and now you’re in a new city and a new club and you’ve been dealing with injuries and I’m all the way across the country.”
“Y/N, we knew this would be hard, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t,” Mason says, wiping your tears away with his thumbs. “But it’s not your fault I moved clubs while you still had a degree to finish, or that I’ve had a tough season. Some things are out of our control.”
You know he’s right, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Hearing his sad, defeated voice on the phone after a disappointing medical assessment or bad game and not being able to hold him has been one of the hardest things you’ve ever done.
“I just worry about you being here all alone,” you say quietly. “I know you have your teammates and you spend a lot of time with Luke, but in London you had me and all your friends and your family was closer and - I just hate that I’m not with you.”
“You’re here right now,” Mason says, pressing his forehead to yours for a moment. “You dropped everything to come see me today, babe. You have no idea how much that meant.”
“I would do it every weekend if I could.”
“I know,” he says with a sad smile. “And I would leave all of this and spend my time helping you study and supporting you if I could, but this is our reality for a little while longer, angel.”
You sigh, nodding in agreement and staring into his big brown eyes that bring you so much comfort. 
“I’ve just missed you so much,” you murmur, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him in for a tight hug. 
His own arms circle your waist and tug you impossibly closer, his nose buried in your hair so he can breathe you in.
“I know, baby, I’ve missed you too,” he exhales. “So, so much.”
You hold him for a while longer, cherishing every brush of his hand against your back and every kiss he presses to your temple. You want to memorize the feeling of his touch, so when you’re back in your bed in London a few days from now you can close your eyes and try to imagine you’re still in his arms.
After a few minutes, you break apart to finish preparing for bed. You brush your teeth together then go through your skincare routine while Mason watches fondly, letting you put some moisturizer on him when you’re done with it. Then he strips down to just his boxers, teasing you lovingly when you obviously check him out, and passes you a comfy t-shirt from his drawer to change into. You make a mental note to fill up your suitcase with a few of his hoodies before you leave - the ones you have at home no longer smell like him. 
You climb into the bed together, noticing that the side you usually sleep on has all of its pillows in place and that the nightstand is almost empty except for the glass of water he set down for you. Like he’s still been leaving that space for you even when you’re not there to fill it. 
“C’mere,” Mason says immediately, tugging you into his chest. 
You relax against him, laying your head over his heartbeat and tracing his tattoos with your finger.
“Will you tell me how you’ve really been feeling lately?” you ask in a gentle voice. He immediately tenses, and you know he still doesn’t want to discuss it, but you’re not leaving Manchester without talking to him about this. “I saw the look on your face when I asked about the game tomorrow, babe. Please just talk to me.” 
“I don’t want to burden you with all this,” Mason says, refusing to meet your gaze. “I know how busy you are-“
“I told you, you’re my priority, Mase,” you insist. “And it’s actually more concerning when I don’t know what’s going on with you. If you talk to me, then maybe I can help.”
Mason sighs and moves into a more upright position, still holding your hand and playing with your fingers as a way of grounding himself as he gathers his thoughts. 
“I just never thought it would be like this, you know?” he mutters. “I thought that coming here would solve everything I was going through at Chelsea, but in a lot of ways it’s been even harder.”
You nod for him to continue, gently squeezing his hand.
“I thought when all the contract stuff was resolved and I was at a new club everything would be fine, but then it’s just been constant injuries and trying to adjust to a whole new life without actually being able to do the thing I love most,” he goes on, making your heart splinter even more. “Fifty-five million pounds and I don’t have a single goal to show for it.”
“You can’t help that you’ve been injured, baby,” you say softly, though you know he already knows that. “If you were in top form, you’d be scoring goals all over the place. I know it.”
He smiles slightly, always grateful for your neverending confidence in him. You’ve been his biggest fan from the moment you met, cheering him on through every high and low of his career. 
“Maybe, but I haven’t had the chance to try,” he mutters. “I’m just stuck here, being useless to the club and hours away from you. I basically upended our lives just to end up not playing for months.”
“Mase, if I’m not allowed to feel guilty for us being apart, neither are you,” you say firmly. “Coming to United was the right decision. It may not feel like it now, but I promise it will in the long run. And if not, we’ll find a new place for you to show everyone how amazing of a footballer you are. Even if it’s in a different city or another country, we’ll figure it out.”
“Babe, I feel bad enough that you’re moving away from London to be here next year, I’m not gonna ask you to move again,” Mason says, still fiddling with your fingers. “I have to make it work here.”
“And I’m sure you will as soon as you’re better,” you tell him, bringing your joined hands to your lips. “But if it ends up not being a good fit, I will happily follow you anywhere you want to go.”
“Even the States?” Mason jokes, making you roll your eyes and poke him the ribs. “It would be cool to play with Messi.”
“You are not going to the MLS any time soon,” you reprimand him. “But yes, I would go to Florida for you, babe. That is how much I love you.”
Mason laughs, moving your joined hands so it’s his turn to lay kisses on your knuckles.
“Wouldn’t be so bad. The weather’s good, and we could hang out with the Beckhams,” he says, smiling against your skin. “We could take our kids to the beach-“
“Oh, our kids, huh?” you remark, raising an eyebrow. 
“Well, by the time I’m actually ready to play in the MLS…” 
“Alright, we’ll move to Florida with our hypothetical children in ten years,” you say decisively. “Then you can retire and stay home with them while I work.”
“I could take them to Disney World every day,” Mason sighs happily. “Oh, and the Harry Potter thing! Our kids would love that.” 
As much as you’re both joking, the thought of a time in the future when you’re settled with a family and not having to deal with all the separation and uncertainty makes your heart feel warm and fuzzy. You can’t wait to have a family with him someday. 
“In all seriousness, babe, you’ve already accomplished so much in your career and I know you’re going to do so many more amazing things,” you tell him, reaching out to cup his cheek. “And even more importantly, you are such an incredible person off the pitch.“
Mason blushes, leaning into your palm and holding it to his face so you don’t withdraw your touch. You know he struggles to take compliments sometimes, but you also know that this is something he needs to hear. 
“Which is why I refuse to listen to you call yourself useless when you do so much for your family, the community, for me - you make everything better, Mase,” you say softly. “That’s why are so loved. It’s why I fell in love with you, not because of your job.”
He takes a moment to soak up what you’re saying, still holding your hand to his face and pressing a few kisses to your palm. 
“You mean you’re not in it for the money?” he says after a minute, eliciting an eye roll from you. 
“It’s mostly for the money, but the abs don’t hurt either,” you tease, poking his stomach and making him laugh out loud for the first time in as long as you can remember. 
Mason pulls you into his arms again, leaning back and tucking you into his chest so your nose is pressed to his neck. You give him another tight squeeze, unable to get enough of his cuddles.
“Thank you so much, baby,” he mumbles into your hair as he slowly rubs his hand over your back. “For coming and for making me talk about this stuff. You always know exactly what I need.”
“Of course, my love,” you murmur. “Just promise me you’ll keep talking to me, okay? I don’t care how busy I am, I want to know what’s going on with you.”
“I promise,” Mason swears, squeezing your hand that rests over his heart. “And the same goes for you. I know how stressful this term has been, but I’m always here even if I can’t physically be there to help.”
“I know you are,” you smile. “And I know you’re the reason Ben or Woody brought me dinner or care packages before every midterm. They wouldn’t admit it, but I suspected they were under orders to check in on me.”
Mason chuckles. “Yeah, well, gotta send in the subs when I can’t do it myself.”
You hug him even tighter, throwing a leg over his and letting him shift you back into a more comfortable position for sleep. You’re yawning again, the exhaustion finally catching up to you now that the worry gnawing at your mind over Mason has been relieved.
“So, for tomorrow,” you say, your voice lower now that you’re both getting sleepy. “I think we should go to the game with Luke and Anouska, she already texted me and asked us to come over for dinner afterward. That way you and Luke can show your faces at Old Trafford and we can spend some time with them and the kids. Then, you and I can come back home and have a bit of a romantic night in.”
Mason doesn’t respond right away, and you give him a moment before you look up at him to see if something’s wrong. But when you do, you see only an adoring gaze and gentle smile on his face.
“Is that plan good with you?” you ask, “we don’t have to do any of it, I just thought-“
“No, no, it sounds perfect,” Mason cuts you off. “You’re perfect. I was just thinking about how much I love you.”
Your heart melts even more for him, if that’s possible, and you can’t resist leaning in to press another lingering kiss to his lips.
“I love you too,” you say, pressing a few more kisses to his cheeks and nose for good measure. “Now, let’s get a good night’s sleep so I can show you how much I love you in the morning, yeah?”
Mason nods with childlike enthusiasm, making you giggle again as you lay your head back on his chest. 
You can’t wait for the time to come that all of your nights end like this, curled up next to the love of your life, but for now, you’re grateful for this one.
No matter how many miles are between you, your heart is always gonna be wherever Mason is. He’s your home, whether you’re on opposite ends of the globe or in the same bed. 
You sleep better than you have in months.
please leave me a comment if you enjoyed this or send me an ask just to chat, love hearing from all of you xx
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kyujism · 6 months
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paris vacation gone right . . . jang wonyoung x reader
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synopsis: you went to paris for a break from your life. You go to a nice cafe to relax only to find a cute girl taking pictures it was, jang wonyoung.
As you stepped foot into the enchanting city of Paris, you exhaled a sigh of relief. This trip was meant to be an escape from the demands and pressures of your everyday life. Seeking solace, you wandered through the charming streets until you stumbled upon a cute cafe tucked away in a quiet corner. It was a breakfast cafe or something. Should be worth it to check it out.
With a heart yearning for tranquility and peace, you entered the café, its warm and inviting atmosphere immediately embracing you. It didn’t have many people in it. As you settled into a cozy corner, ready to indulge in a cup of aromatic coffee, your eyes were drawn to a captivating sight. Across the room, a young woman stood gracefully, her camera in hand, capturing the essence of the café.
Her beauty was undeniable, she had a sense of natural elegance in her every movement. She was beautiful, was she even real? It took a moment for it to register—the girl taking pictures was none other than Jang Wonyoung, it was that famous K-pop idol. What was she doing in paris!? Your heart skipped a beat, and a mix of excitement and nervousness coursed through your veins.
Lost in your thoughts, you couldn't help but steal glances at Wonyoung. Or you started staring whatever suits you. She seemed so at ease, effortlessly blending into the surroundings as she expertly framed her shots. The desire to approach her tugged at your heart, but the fear of intruding upon her private moment held you back.
Moments passed, and just as you were about to resign yourself to admiring her from afar, fate intervened. As Wonyoung turned her gaze in your direction, your eyes met, and a spark of recognition flickered in her eyes. A friendly smile graced her lips, leaving you both flustered and elated.
Summoning every ounce of courage you might have had, you decided to use the opportunity. You approached Wonyoung with a warm smile, expressing your admiration for her talent and the impact her music had on your life. To your surprise, she welcomed your presence, her genuine charm shining through.
The conversation flowed effortlessly, as though you were old friends catching up after a long time apart. You discovered shared interests and experiences, and soon, laughter filled the air. The initial nervousness began to fade, replaced by a sense of ease and comfort.
As the afternoon turned into evening, you found yourself engrossed in each other's stories, forgetting the world around you. Wonyoung's down-to-earth nature and genuine curiosity about your life made you feel seen and valued. It was a rare connection—one that transcended the boundaries of fame and allowed two souls to connect on a deeper level.
With the café growing quieter, Wonyoung leaned in closer. "You know, I've had an incredible time getting to know you," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "Would it be too forward to ask for your number? I'd love to continue this conversation. :)"
Your heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by her request. Thoughts raced through your mind as you contemplated the implications of exchanging numbers with someone as famous as Wonyoung. But deep down, you knew that this was a chance worth taking—a moment that could change the course of your life.
A shy smile tugged at your lips as you nodded, your voice barely above a whisper. "uh..sure i would love to! wait just let me take my phone" you replied, reaching for your phone to exchange contact information. As your fingers brushed against each other, a jolt of electricity surged through your veins, igniting a sense of anticipation within you.
With numbers exchanged and promises made, you bid each other farewell, cherishing the memories you had created in that café. As you stepped out into the night, the world seemed a little more vibrant, as if Paris itself had conspired to bring two souls together. It was fate!
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aemonds-sapphire · 1 year
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Acceptance
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Summary: It’s your wedding night, so why are you knocking on Aemond’s door?
Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x fem!reader
Warnings: NSFW. Virgin reader. Virginity loss. Friends to lovers. Consummation proof. Fingering.
A/N: You can most definitely read this as a stand-alone, but I do recommend reading part I, II, and III for some context. For those who have read each part, this is the final one. Hope you enjoy it!
Word count: 2.5k
To say you were nervous would be an understatement. You were absolutely terrified. But no amount of fear could deter you from the decision you had made.
You stood outside his bedchamber, the pit of your belly tightening in anticipation. Even thiugh there was still a tiny part of you that urged you to walk away, you didn’t.
Because you didn’t want to.
Your knuckles tapped the door twice and your heart lurched into a frantic pace as you bit your lower lip, attempting to keep your nervousness at bay.
It didn’t take long before you were met with Aemond.
He gripped the doorknob while his eye fell to your face first and then to your forearm.
“Did he hurt you?” he asked, clenching his jaw.
Realising the conclusion he had drawn from the bruise that tinted your skin, you immediately shook your head with a chuckle. “No. I… tripped on my way here…”
He wasn’t convinced.
“Aemond… he did not touch me.”
Gradually, the tension on his face faded away, but he remained unmoving.
“May I?”
He stepped to the side at once, eye still fixed on you as you walked in. Closing the door shut, he paced until he was in front of you, bringing your feet to a halt.
You swallowed hard as you glared at the beautiful man with whom you had shared so much of your life. Lines were crossed and blurred beyond recognition. The friendship you had once share had morphed into something you had craved and yearned for.
Until tonight.
Until another man took you as his wife and severed that bond.
“What are you doing here?” he asked seriously.
You stared at him dazedly, feeling a jab at your heart. “He won’t bed me. He’s too drunk to bed me,” you said in a low voice, wishing to match his level of deadpan.
Aemond stood in silence for a long while before he crossed both arms over his chest, the linen undershirt underneath wrinkling.
“No.”
“No?”
“No,” he repeated in a final tone.
Your jaw quirked angrily. “You do not know what I’m here to ask.”
Aemond heaved a deep sigh. “I already know,” he said simply. “You are not mine to take.”
“So you’d have me bed him?”
“He’s your lord husband.”
Your mouth dropped open in shock. In truth, you had considered the idea that he’d be reluctant in having you. He had done so many times before, but you had hoped this time things would go differently.
“I’m willingly giving myself to you,” you said, struggling to keep your voice steady. “My father will demand proof of consummation and…”
He held up a finger. “So that is why you’re here.”
“To give you my maidenhead? Yes.”
But Aemond saw deeper than that. “And proof of consummation.”
You stared at him long and hard. “This is the one thing I have control over as of right now. I was forced into a loveless marriage…” your voice faltered momentarily. “I’m married to a drunken fool who is too out of it to perform his duty.”
Duty.
The very thing that shaped Aemond’s being and one not easily broken.
“I will not take what’s not mine.”
“Please…” you said, realising how pathetic your plea sounded.
An empty silence weaved around both of you, only disrupted by the crackling flames dancing in the fireplace nearby. A warm hand touched your shoulder and you flinched away from his touch.
“I thought… you wanted this…” you said quietly.
His eye narrowed. “What I desire matters not.”
“It does,” you said, letting your robe slide off your shoulders and down your body. “You know I’m yours to take.”
You expected more resistance from him, but you could understand why he didn’t. After all, it was a feeling you knew all too well. Craving what is given to others.
He took a step towards you, eye roaming down the length of your body as you undid your nightgown. Aemond held out his hand to touch it before tugging softly until the sheer fabric came sliding down and pooling at your feet.
The exposure and cooler air had your nipples harden and you shivered as his hand traveled down your shoulder and arm.
“Please, Aemond…” you said, fighting back the urge to cry at how desperate you were. “Please…”
It was already appalling enough to be stuck in this situation, but you refused giving yourself to a man who meant nothing to you. Even if tradition called for it and had people marry each other out of pure convenience, you deserved better than that.
Especially when you had Aemond.
His hand came to rest under your breast and you felt his thumb caressed it slowly.
“You’re tempting,” he said as if talking to himself. “Too tempting.”
“Then take me,” you offered, bringing your own hands to rest on his chest, allowing yourself to feel his firm muscles heave underneath your palms. “I don’t give a fuck about my husband and I’m certain you feel the same way.”
He gritted his teeth. “Not even Vhagar’s fire would match the one flaring inside me when I saw you with him.”
Your fingers gripped the hem of his undershirt and he quickly got rid of it, exposing his torso to you.
“You should have killed him.”
Aemond’s lips turned into a smile. “A very alluring prospect, indeed.”
His hands were suddenly on your breasts and you bit back a moan as he caressed you. You couldn’t help but to have your own eyes travel down his torso, admiring how his muscles rippled under his skin.
“I’m sure Larys Strong will find a way.”
Aemond snickered. “Please do not mention him… it’s a sure way to ruin this.”
By ‘this’ he meant his restrained cock that had your nervousness turn into desire. Trembling fingers gripped the hem of his breeches, but before you could slip one hand inside he gripping your wrist.
“Tonight isn’t about me,” he whispered.
He ducked forward taking your lips in his and your eyes immediately slid shut with a soft sigh of pleasure. You could get lost in his touch for hours. A simple kiss shouldn’t be able to have wetness drip from you, but it couldn’t be helped. When you felt a nibble on your lower lip and his tongue lightly tapping it, you promptly parted your lips and deepened the kiss.
Without tearing himself from you, he took you in his arms, lifting you off your feet effortlessly as you wrapped your arms around his neck.
Aemond only broke the kiss once he reached the edge of the bed. He placed you on top of the soft bedsheets, bringing one knee to press down for support.
You suddenly felt very exposed and staring into his eye had a wave of embarrassment wash over you, breaking eye contact.
“Look at me.”
Sucking in a harsh breath, you did as you were told, pressing your thighs together to hide your desire for him.
Suddenly, he moved away from the bed and came back carrying your nightgown.
Confusion splattered across your face as dropped to his knees on the mattress and slid closer to you. He gripped both your knees and parted your legs slowly to reveal yourself fully to his gaze.
Without uttering a word be brought your nightgown to rest just below your entrance, tucking it slightly under your backside.
“You’ll need your proof of consummation.”
Oh.
Aemond then settled in between your legs, leaning into you to press a tender kiss to the corner of your lips, causing you to shift restlessly underneath him, very much aware of the weight of his body on yours.
Your back instantly arched your back as you felt his hard cock pressed flat against your folds, causing your clit to swell and throb in anticipation.
Aemond lowered his face to your neck, planting several open-mouthed kisses across your sensitive skin. Your eyes fluttered shut and a moan escaped your lips. His tongue slid over your pulse point, sending your hips to lift from the bed, further increasing the pressure his cock applied to your clit.
“Aemond… please…” you groaned, deciding you were too tired of waiting for him to finally deflower you.
But what you lacked in patience, Aemond made up for in incredible self-restraint.
With one hand he stilled your rolling hips. “You’re not ready.”
You huffed in annoyance, dragging your fingernails along his chest teasingly. But he was right. He was well-endowed and you needed all the preparation he was willing to provide — and you willing to go through.
After ensuring you remained still, he snaked his hand between your legs, raising his own hips to make room for his prying fingers.
He pressed a kiss to your lips before sliding one finger inside.
But you could take more than that.
And you were aware he knew once a second finger joined the other.
You gasped into his lips, breath shaking and wet sounds filling his bedchamber. The head of his cock would occasionally hit your clit each time he shifted on top of you, making your entire body shudder in pleasure.
He gave you one final peck. “Can you take another one?”
It was possible you could, but you didn’t want another finger. You wanted his cock to push through your maidenhead and have you be bound to him.
You immediately shook your head. “I need more than that… please…”
Instead, he curled his fingers inside while pressing your clit with his thumb, causing you to cry out, nails digging into his shoulders.
Aemond held himself above you, watching you intently as more head flooded your body and wetness spilled from you. You drew your eye open and realised his gaze was as a fire that burned down on your face
Your mind drew a blank and you felt your lower abdomen begin to twist into a familiar knot. It never failed to amaze you how easily Aemond could get your over the edge.
Knowing your body far too well by now, Aemond was quick to withdraw both fingers from inside just as your walls were starting to clench down frantically around him.
“Aemond!” you cried out in despair at the overwhelming feeling of emptiness.
He brought his fingers to your lips, smearing your wetness across them before tasting it in a searing and scorching kiss.
You moaned, rolling your hips into him once you felt him lower himself onto you once more.
He cradled your face in his hand. “Are you ready?”
You nodded right away in between gasps as he slid his cock along your slick folds.
Aemond heaved a deep sigh as he positioned himself at your entrance.
“Tell me to stop and I will.”
You nodded, your heart nearly bursting out of your chest.
With a slight roll of his hips, Aemond managed to get the head of his cock through the barrier. You gasped loudly you felt a sting of pain followed by the uncomfortable sensation of something rolling down.
Tears gathered in your eyes and you felt Aemond kiss each of the away with his lips. He wasn’t moving inside you and you were wholeheartedly thankful for his thoughtfulness.
The pain wasn’t unbearable by any means, but it was enough to have you sobbing lightly.
“We can stop here,” he said lovingly, pressing another kiss to your forehead.
You took a deep breath, mustering all the strength within you. “Keep going…”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
No.
But it didn’t matter. You had been waiting for this for far too long to back down now.
“Try your best to relax.”
Aemond kissed you again, but you understood it was mainly to muffle your cries as he sank deeper inside you. You tried to ease the grip around him, but it was proving itself to be harder than expected.
He broke the kiss with a growl, breath coming out in hot pants. “You’re too tight… I won’t… last long…”
Even through the pain, you managed to feel the weight of his words as your clit pulsed once again.
By the time he had buried himself deeply inside, you didn’t dare breathe for a few seconds, your body still trying to adjust to his size.
Your hands clawed at his back as you tried to ease some of the tension.
“Are you well?” he asked in between gritted teeth.
“Thought it would hurt more,” you breathed out, noticing he was struggling to keep himself steady. “Are you?”
He let out a breathy growl. “You’re squeezing too hard…”
It was clear that he wasn’t going to last long, so you squeezed one hand in between your bodies, applying a faint pressure to your clit.
“Move,” you urged him.
You needed to feel more of him and when the young prince slid out slowly and back inside, you felt the air in your lungs rush out rapidly. Your clit demanded attention and you didn’t mind to provide it, but Aemond would have none of that.
He pushed your hand away at once replacing it with his own, setting a slow and steady pace as your walls finally began to ease down around his cock.
The overwhelming heat and size of him filling the aching emptiness was something you never thought you needed. In no time, your muscles were clamping down around him urgently and the bedchamber whirled away into a blur as orgasm crept upon you, catapulting you straight into the middle of a storm.
“Aemond… Aemond…” you gasped repeatedly, feeling the muscles on his back flex languidly with each slow thrust.
Once more, you arched your back and your vision went dark. Spasms and contractions of pleasure washed down your body, centered around where where his body was connected to yours. Aemond had buried his face in the crook of your neck, no longer bothering to silence your cries of pleasure.
It took you a long time to realise he had pulled out of you and was coating your belly with hot streaks of cum, letting out the most alluring growls you had ever heard from him.
He slumped to the side, removing the blanket of warmth he had enveloped you in with his body.
You felt incapable of stringing words together for the longest time, merely trying to get your breathing to steady while feeling the rolls of his seed streaming down your sides.
Aemond was the first to move, gathering your nightgown in his hand, displaying a few drops of blood that had stained the fabric.
“I think I may have to kill your husband.”
2K notes · View notes
torukmaktoskxawng · 1 year
Text
'anla - part three
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Series Masterlist
Summary: A race against time and the problem with having a large family.
Pairing: Ao'nung/Fem!Na'vi!Sully Reader
Warnings: Mature language, time skips, strict parents, blood/gore, HEAVY angst, death, canon typical violence, canon compliance, slow burn, etc.
Word Count: 5k+
Tag: #'anla ao'nung fic
Na'vi Words: tulkun - whale like animal, ilu - dolphin/plesiosaur like animal, ikran - Mountain Banshee, kuru - queue braid, tanhì - bioluminescent freckle, tsurak - skimwing, ionar - riding visor, tsaheylu - bond, matxe'lan - my heart
posted on ao3
Taglist (red indicates "could not tag"): @aonungmyaddiction @lv9su @aisselasstuff @yourusername1 @amortencjja @king-julian6201 @gg-trini @im-in-a-pansexual-panik @mikeyswifie
A/N: I'm only tagging those who specifically asked to be tagged as of rn. If you don't see your user in the taglist and you want to be added, please lemme know. Also, please reread part two before reading this. Thank you!
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It was a dream turned into a nightmare. For a split second, Y/n wanted to drag Ao'nung by the hand and demand he takes her back to the Spirit Tree if it meant she could have one more minute of peace. The intrusive thought, however, immediately vanished when the Omatikaya girl finds herself gently holding a crying Tsireya while the entire village becomes an uproar of war cries all around them. Ronal is demanding justice for the murder of her Spirit Sister and calf, her eyes swimming with grief and anger as she mentioned the ones responsible for this crime.
The Sky People were here.
Y/n looks around, spotting her family among the crowd. In his hands, Neteyam held a long and red metal object, equipped with a sharp tip and light. Beside him, Jake is trying to calm the people, begging them to stop and think. Neytiri silently watches, a haunted look of recognition in her eyes as if she had seen all of this before. Kiri held onto her mother's shoulder as a comfort for both of them and Lo'ak, alone, stood small and quiet among the crowd while Tuk is nowhere to be found.
Her father continued to plead with the Metkayina people while Y/n drowned his voice out. She, too, had heard it all before and instead focused more on Tsireya, the reef girl shaking in fear, her innocence in question aside from what the villagers decided to do. Kiri had vanished from the crowd, likely off to find Tuk with danger so close to their new home, making a sickly feeling form in Y/n's stomach.
It only worsened when Jake took the red object, the tracker, from Neteyam's hands and held it out to the crowd, hushing them as he spoke, "You tell the tulkun that if they're hit with this, they're marked for death. And call for me, I'll silence it. Saving their lives, that's all that matters. Right? Saving your family."
Tonowari and Ronal exchange a silent conversation with their eyes alone, before turning to their people, "Tell the tulkun."
"Go. Go!"
The Metkayina scatter, and through the chaos, Tsireya turned to Y/n, eyes widening in a horrifying realization, "Lo'ak--"
"I know," determination fills Y/n's lungs as she grabbed Tsireya's arm and pulled her along, "Let's go."
The girls sprinted toward the docks, asking around for their friends as they went. Eventually, they spot two teenage boys. Not the ones Y/n was particularly looking for, but ones that Tsireya reached for in her panic, "Ao'nung, Rotxo, have you seen Lo'ak?"
"No." Rotxo paused, looking between the two girls, "What is going on?"
Y/n's walk begins to pick up, a scowl permanent on her face, "Take a guess."
She takes off down the walkways, heading toward the hut holding the ilu harnesses, not caring if the others followed her or not. Tsireya and Ao'nung take off after her with Rotxo in tow, all four of the teenagers making their way to the edge of the village. Y/n is the first one there and the first one to spot both of her brothers arguing until they spotted her.
"Lo'ak! 'Teyam!" She called out.
Lo'ak's head whipped around to spot her, Neteyam a little slower to react as Lo'ak begins to back away, pulling his arm out of his big brother's hold, "Get off me--"
Tsireya and the others catch up to Y/n and try to reach out, "Lo'ak!"
"Lo'ak!"
"Come back!"
He doesn't answer the reef girl or his brother and dives into the water below without another word, quickly disappearing into the deep with his ilu. Neteyam turned to the other teens, thumping Ao'nung's chest as he passed him, "Come on! He's going to Payakan!"
Neteyam claps his hands and makes various different calls to summon a ride of his own. The others call for nearby ilu, expertly diving into the water as they all follow suit, in sync and in formation like they have done in recent hunting parties. The ilu fly through the water, jumping out and back in through the waves, picking up speed and desperate to get to Lo'ak as he pushes through far ahead of them.
"Lo'ak! Come back!" Tsireya called up to him in between jumping up through the water before diving back down.
At one point, Kiri with Little Tuk had joined in the race as well, following after their friends and their siblings, confused by the urgency. Soon enough, the group was beyond the reef, close to Three Brothers Rocks when Lo'ak had eventually slowed his ilu, calling out for his Spirit Brother. Payakan had responded, though his calls were not one of joy or greeting. The poor tulkun sounded as though he was in pain. When Lo'ak asked what was wrong, the bull turned until the Na'vi boy noticed the bright red tracker piercing his flesh.
"Shit!" Lo'ak exclaimed while jumping onto Payakan's fin and then climbing onto his back, signing to his Spirit Brother to stay calm.
The rest of the group had caught up to Lo'ak and immediately clocked the situation, all eyes turning when they heard the sound of rotor blades. A demon ship was slowly coming out of hiding from behind the large rock cliffs peeking out of the sea, drifting over to the children and tulkun menacingly. Taking action, Neteyam and Y/n hop off their ilu and climb onto Payakan's back, lifting Tsireya and Ao'nung out of the water to help Lo'ak pull the tracker out of the injured tulkun. Everyone tried pushing and pulling the pinger out, together, with all their might as Lo'ak quickly called in their location to Jake. Neteyam eventually got an idea and used a rope to latch onto the saddle of his ilu, throwing the other end to Ao'nung after shouting his name so the reef boy could tie it to the embedded tracker. 
Ao'nung successfully knots the rope around the red pinger, encouraging Neteyam to pull, "Go, go, go!"
"Pull! Now!" Neteyam demands as he orders his ilu to swim, the strain of the rope tightening as the ilu struggles with all its might, flapping its fins in the water.
"Everybody! Together!"
"Pull!"
Rotxo and Lo'ak pull at the very end of the tracker, while Ao'nung tries pulling at the rope now attached to it. Tsireya tries pushing it out with her foot while Y/n takes both hands and grips tightly onto the base of the needle that stuck out of Payakan's flesh, pulling that with all her might. 
"Pull! Harder!"
"Pull!"
Y/n was the first to feel the tracker loosen and eventually, the pinger releases its grip on Payakan and the force of the rope threw all the teenagers into the water, each of them shouting in surprise as they splash into the sea.
"It's out! Kiri! It's out!"
"Go. Tuk, go!"
"Go! Everybody!"
"Go on, get out of here!"
They don't take time to revel in their small victory. Panicked on borrowed time, the kids immediately swim to their mounts and round each other up. Lo'ak instructs Payakan to dive and get as far away as possible while the others were screaming to one another to hurry up, the demon ship nearly upon them.
Chaos erupted after that. The children were forced to split up after Neteyam took the tracker to draw the Sky People away from the others. Depth charges were tossed into the water, exploding on impact and confusing the children, rattling their teeth and ringing their ears. Neteyam had a couple of close calls but was at least able to stay attached to his ilu as he ditched the tracker, letting it sink to the bottom of the reef. By the time he had lost the Sky People, he looked around and realized that he had been completely separated from his siblings.
Meanwhile, the other Sully children and the Metkayina trio were hiding underwater with their ilu among a forest of gigantic seaweed as they were being pursued by the Sky People's crab suits and submersibles. Weaving through the kelp and trying to keep a safe distance, the children urge their mounts to swim away, the sweet creatures clicking to one another in distress. 
At one point, Y/n loses sight of half of the group as she maneuvers her way through a thicket of seaweed while being pursued by a crab suit, long claws stretching out to try and grab her. She dodges and weaves expertly, her thighs clenching tightly around the saddle of her ilu with the muscle memory of an ikran rider. Her stomach clenches once and Y/n noted that she would need air soon after hiding down here and holding her breath for so long. She needed to lose the demon crab, the others were no longer her priority until she can shake her pursuer. Out of the corner of her eye, Y/n caught sight of another demon crab searching through the seaweed, unbeknownst to her presence. Thinking fast, she sharply turns her ilu and frantically swims over, the crab that had been chasing her still right on her tail. With speed and the element of surprise, Y/n ambushed the unsuspecting crab suit and swiftly swims over it, causing both crabs to crash into one another in pursuit of her. Y/n beams smugly while looking over her shoulder, happily watching the way the machines struggled and quickly forget about her before slowing her swim, looking around in search of the others.
She catches sight of Kiri and turns toward the direction she spotted her sister, ordering her ilu to leave after disconnecting her queue braid. Y/n followed Kiri after she noticed Rotxo and Ao'nung with her. The three others caught sight of Y/n and even look relieved, waving her over and signing for her to follow them for air. Ao'nung takes the lead, swimming ahead, without an ilu, as he finds an underwater pod, swimming up into the center of the blooming flower for a pocket of air. Rotxo has the Omatikaya girls swim ahead of him, letting them swim up after Ao'nung, who grabs Kiri's arm first to bring her up for air, then Y/n. All four teens gather snugly together in that small pocket of air, taking their breaths while Kiri looked around frantically.
"Where is Tuk? Did you see her?"
Y/n's eyes widen, "You mean she's not with you?"
"She had fallen off, but I don't think the Sky People noticed. They were too busy with us."
"I think we lost them," Ao'nung stated.
"What do we do?" Rotxo asked.
Kiri's pupils shrunk and grew rapidly through her panic, "We can't stay here. We gotta find the others. Any of you see Lo'ak and Tsireya?"
"No. It all happened so fast--"
"We find Tuk first," Y/n exclaims, ears pinned back and staring them all down with authority, "She's all alone, then we find the others."
"What about Mom and Dad?" Kiri questioned her older sister.
"Lo'ak called it in. They're on their way, likely with an army. 'Teyam drove the demon ship away, leaving us with whatever is left of their subs," her face suddenly splits with a twinkling, uplifting grin, "I already damaged two. You guys need to catch up."
Kiri rolled her eyes but let out a huff of air resembling a short bout of laughter, her adrenaline appreciating the small bit of humor Y/n tried to break through the tension. Looking around at the other three, Y/n raised her eyebrows, "We ready?"
Ao'nung nodded then turned to his friend, "Rotxo, you go first. I'll stay in the back, in case we need to grab them and swim out of there fast."
Kiri and Y/n exchange a look but say nothing, both internally shocked that Ao'nung didn't take the time to make a 'bad divers' comment while Rotxo just nods, "Right."
He takes a long, practiced breath and sinks back down into the water. Y/n expands her stomach as she takes a deep breath and holds it, following Rotxo as her arms and legs push and pull her through the water. Kiri is not far behind and Ao'nung follows suit, the teenagers carefully looking around, cautious for signs of danger. Rotxo led them all back the way they came in search of Tuk, but the longer they swam, the more things looked unfamiliar. He had turned to swim backward while signing to the others following closely behind him, 'We should have seen her by now.'
Y/n briefly grabs Kiri's shoulder before signing, 'No Sky People either. Maybe we should--'
Throat grunts echo behind her, Y/n's ears perking up at the sound as she spins around. Ao'nung was frantically clicking to grab their attention, pushing Kiri forward as he quickly motions, 'Demon!'
A small submersible appears from behind the large seaweed, bright searchlights blinding the Na'vi children as it spots them. Ao'nung continues to shove the girls forward until they pick up enough energy to swim away, trying to lose the sub around a large coral reef at the edge of the kelp forest. They swim close to the wall of the reef, all the while the sub maintained speed. In her determination to get away, Y/n lost sight of Kiri for a moment only to realize too late that her adopted sister had hung back. Y/n mewls deep in her throat as a way of screaming a warning, stopping and trying to turn around to go back for Kiri, but Ao'nung was suddenly there and he was using his powerful legs and tail to push Y/n in the opposite direction. Y/n tries to struggle but remembered to slow her heartbeat when she realized her thrashing was draining her of oxygen. Looking around for Kiri, all three turned back and notice the girl had attached her kuru braid to a nearby daisy anemone, watching the large plant-like sea creature move and grow out its long tentacle entrapments at her command. 
The submersible arrives and is unaware of the trap until Kiri uses both of her arms' movements to mimic a push as if she was forcing someone off of her. The command is clear as the anemone reaches out, grabbing hold of the sub and completely encasing it with its tentacles. Kiri then uses one arm to mimic smashing something to the side of her, then the anemone pulls the sub in, smashing it against the side of the reef, squeezing the sub until the glass shatters and collapses within itself. When the sky demons within the sub try escaping out the hatch, Kiri makes a motion mimicking the way she would squeeze fruit for a fun and juicy treat as a child, only she made this motion with a menacing glare. The tentacles completely surround the Sky People, swallowing them whole and squeezing them to death. Kiri lowers her arms, satisfied even as her tanhì flickers up and down her entire body.
Ao'nung and Rotxo look at each other, amazed, confused, and a little freaked out. Y/n was used to her sister's... strange abilities and instead tried focusing on holding her breath. She had been underwater for far too long. Ao'nung and Rotxo were just fine and Kiri was strangely accustomed to holding her breath just as long as a Metkayina could, even without training, leaving Y/n to be the only one who was starting to struggle. Her lungs and stomach clenched and constrict, begging for air. Y/n's hands rise to her mouth and nose, forcing them to stay closed as she tries not to panic and keep her heart steady. Black spots started to dot her vision when she looked up to the surface, catching the sun rays peeking through the water.
Y/n grunts deep in her throat to get the others' attention. Kiri and the boys all turn and she frantically signed, 'Need to breathe.'
Kiri swims forward, gesturing with her hands, 'We can't wait for it to be safe. Need to go up.'
Ao'nung and Rotxo move then, taking Kiri's orders when she told them to bring Y/n up to the surface, 'I'll be right behind you.'
Ao'nung took one of Y/n's arms and Rotxo took the other. Together they use their speed to swim the forest girl up to the surface. The moment she felt air on her face, Y/n gasped for breath, sputtering and coughing with whatever water she had accidentally inhaled. Rotxo had let go of Y/n's arm and Kiri emerged, taking deep, more steady breaths. If she had taken the time to notice through her panicked breathing, Y/n would have noted the firm hold Ao'nung still had on her other arm.
The teens form a circle as they breathe but are not spared a moment of peace. The silence should have been a warning before an ikran, armed in Sky People gear and sporting a Recom for its rider, swooped down out of nowhere, wrapping its talons around Kiri's arms and plucking her out of the water like she weighed nothing. 
Kiri screamed, kicking the air as she struggled, "LET ME GO! NO! SISTER, HELP!"
"KIRI!" Y/n screams, staring up and watching in horror as the ikran takes her sister away. Once she realized the banshee was taking Kiri to the demon ship, Y/n immediately began to swim. Her limbs, however, protested. Her arms were heavy and her lungs spasmed, everything begging her to rest even through her determination to go after her sister.
"No!" Ao'nung grips Y/n's elbow a little tighter. She spun back to hiss at him, but noticed the way his entire hand was able to wrap around her whole arm and found it pointless as he continued, "You'll be faster on your ikran. Let's go home and bring back reinforcements."
"No, no, no, I can't. I have to find Tuk!" Y/n exclaims, now allowing her panic to sink in at the idea of all of her siblings separated from one another, "I have to get Kiri back and find Tuk! I have to find Lo'ak and Neteyam--"
"Y/n." She paused at the sound of her name, turning back to the reef boy holding her. Ao'nung makes sure she's looking him in the eyes as he nods encouragingly, "They'll be fine. Look."
He turns his head and Y/n follows his gaze, her yellow eyes widening by what she saw. Fire, for one, lining along the ocean's surface, and a battlefield between the Na'vi and the Sky People. Boats and gunfire ring out against tsurak and Metkayina spears. It was an all-out war, and Y/n couldn't find herself looking away from it.
Ao'nung does, however. Moving his hand up from her elbow to grab her shoulder instead, pulling her gaze back to him, "Our fathers are driving them back. We can use this to buy time to get whoever is left at the village. Come on, Forest Girl. You need your ikran."
He knew -and she did, too- that Y/n stood a better fighting chance in her element, upon her own mount and using her own weapons. Even so, her stomach drops, dread filling her heart at the idea of her brothers and sisters among all that death and destruction. She wasn't sure if she had the willpower to run back now, and somehow, she managed to say it with her eyes alone without ever speaking a word.
And somehow, Ao'nung heard her. She watches his eyes as he reads something written on her face before a decision was made. Ao'nung expression of reassurance melts into something determined, nodding sternly at her as he calls and clicks with his tongue, summoning an ilu.
Rotxo does the same, confused and unsure what decision had been made, and two ilu emerge from the depths. Without a word, the boys climb onto the backs and Ao'nung drags an exhausted Y/n to sit behind him, making sure her hands were secure around his waist before internally ordering the ilu to dive. Y/n hangs on for dear life, taking another deep breath as they submerge underwater. She pressed her whole front against Ao'nung, afraid that she wouldn't have the strength to hold on otherwise, and the warmth radiating along his back was the smallest bit of reassurance she didn't realize she needed.
The swim back to Awa'atlu was longer than she remembered. Eventually, she had to pat Ao'nung's stomach to let him know she needed air. They resurface just outside the large atoll seawall. Without even looking for the village beyond the wall, Y/n remembered to breathe and her first exhale was a shout. She mimicked a bird call, shouting at the top of her lungs as she, Ao'nung, and Rotxo swim through the tunnels of the weaving atoll. Y/n kept yipping and calling out until finally she received an answer. A screech rings out and slowly a large form flies over the treetops behind the Metkayina village, flying over open water and toward the teenagers. 
Hope floods Y/n's chest at the sight of her loyal friend flying toward her. She smiles briefly, sitting up straighter in the ilu saddle as she squeezes Ao'nung's shoulder, "Don't wait up for me, Seaweed Brain."
Ao'nung smirked at her from over his shoulder, "Honestly, Forest Girl? That's all you have to say? Why not 'Thank you, Ao'nung' or 'Be safe, Ao'nung'?"
"Who's Ao'nung?" She grinned back as the shadow of her ikran looms overhead, "I only see you."
Both of them had frozen at her words, eyes widening at one another, the only sound between them being the squeaking ilu, clapping its fins in response to whatever emotions were going through the bond between the creature and Ao'nung. Thankfully, Y/n didn't have to backtrack or rephrase her words as her ikran decided to drop in at the perfect time. Talons out as she dove forward, the ikran screeches again, breaking the awkward air around the teens. The spell breaks and Y/n looks up, holding her hand out just in time as she grabs hold of her banshee's open talon. The ikran bats her wings as hard as she could, banking up high in the air and completely pulling Y/n out of the water. Ao'nung and Rotxo watch the display in amazement, necks craning up with eyes wide and jaws dropped. Y/n pulls herself up and climbs onto the back of her mount, finding her ionar in its respectful saddle pouch and slipping them over her eyes before completing the tsaheylu. 
"Good timing, Evi," Y/n whispered to her ikran, patting the mighty beast's neck, "Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~
The sky was dark as eclipse rolls around, the fires from prior explosives the only thing lighting up the war zone. It was like a waking nightmare for Jake Sully, watching a small group of teenagers come rolling onto the shore of the rock face he had landed on. Quickly, he noticed something was wrong, running over as Lo'ak waved him down.
"Dad! Dad, help! It's Neteyam!"
Tsireya briefly closes her eyes as a harsh wave smacks her in the face, ears drooping when listening to the sounds of Neteyam's coughs. He was weak, short of breath even through her lessons on how he could take large gulps of air for deep diving. It scared her, "Hurry!"
Lo'ak peers back at his brother before sinking into the water, dismounting his ilu and handing his brother to Tsireya, "Here, take him!"
"Oh, no," Jake gasped as he took in the horrific sight of the half-drowned kids trying to pull his wounded firstborn to shore, blood pouring from his chest like the water he was floating in.
Lo'ak keeps repeating the same words through his fear, "It's Neteyam! He's hurt!"
Spider, the only human among them, reaches out for Toruk Makto's arm as he grasps Neteyam's body, "Jake, come on! Come on!"
"Hurry, please!" Lo'ak begs.
Jake finally snaps out of his daze and grabs Spider's arm, trying to help drag all the connected teenagers to shore, "Pull!"
"Bro, watch his head, watch his head!" Lo'ak instructs Spider, panic set in as he watches Neteyam's eyes begin to roll back, the older boy still coughing and otherwise unaware of his surroundings. 
"Pull! Come on!" Jake grunts, finally managing to get all the kids out of the water. He grabs Neteyam's torso, lifting him in the air while Lo'ak and Spider have his sides and Tsireya has his legs. Jake has them bring Neteyam to more solid ground before lowering him, "Just watch his head. Okay--" 
Neteyam shallowly breathes, unable to suck in more air as Lo'ak grasps one of his hands, squeezing hard in comfort, "It's okay, bro. We got you."
Jake pushes Neteyam onto his side, immediately clocking the exit wound bleeding profusely with the help of Spider's flashlight, "Oh, no," looking around, frantic, he instead grabs Lo'ak's hands and presses it harshly against Neteyam's bleeding chest, "Put pressure-- put pressure on it!" 
Neteyam stifles a grunt at the pressure against his chest, trying to get a word out, "Dad, I--"
"It's okay, I'm here!"
Neytiri lands her ikran when she spotted a few members of her family, barely pulling her braid from her mount before running over to the scene, muttering in fear and denial, "No, no, no, no, no!"
"It's okay. It's okay, son, I gotcha." Jake comforted.
Lo'ak tries the same, "It's okay..."
"Dad, where's Y/n?" Neteyam's eyes wildly looked around, unfocused and frightened.
"I don't-- I-- I don't--"
"Where's Y/n?"
"We'll find her, son, we'll find her--"
"--Is she alright?"
It was like his son couldn't hear him, the shock setting Neteyam into panic mode as Jake tries to firmly reassure him, "Neteyam--"
"Is she alright?"
"She's gonna be fine, boy. She'll be here soon."
"More... Tell her-- tell her-- 'find more.'"
"Alright, alright, I will."
Neteyam briefly looked relieved before tears started to brim in his eyes. Just this once, he allows himself to be a little boy again, tearful and sad, "I want to go home..." he grunts out before gasping rapidly, the words exhausting him.
Jake's voice quivers, holding his son's shoulder, "I know. I know. It's okay, we're goin' home. We're goin' home." 
He softens his voice, pushing the desperation away to try and calm his son, as if he was still an infant he was soothing to sleep, "We're going home. It's okay, it's okay."
"Dad, I..."
~~~~~~~~~
The battle was already starting to disperse when Y/n finally arrived, flying in on her ikran. She had spotted a few stranded Sky People and made quick work of them before they got any ideas, taking her bow and arrows from their places attached to Evi's saddle. Like her mother, Y/n didn't miss and continued onward without ever even watching the bodies drop.
It was almost too quiet for her liking, with only the beat of an ikran's wings to keep her company. Searching around and wishing she had a throat mic to contact her family for their location, Y/n's heart sank when she couldn't find the demon ship, wondering if it had left or if something worse had happened to it. Did it sink? If it sank, then they won. But where was Kiri if she was meant to be on that ship? Where are Tuk and Y/n's brothers? Where are her parents?
Her questions are answered when a geyser sprays out of the water, rocketing almost high enough to hit Y/n. Evi squawks as she evades the water spray and Y/n looks down, spotting Payakan below, unharmed. Flying like a vulture in circles so she can get a better look at the tulkun, Y/n's eyes squint as she catches sight of a small ring of blue bodies, drifting over the top of Payakan's only pectoral fin. Gasping in shock, Y/n orders her ikran to dive, pulling her smaller body closer to Evi's as they fall. Once close enough to the water, Y/n suddenly asks Evi to pull up, and as the ikran lifts its wings to catch the air and slow her descent, Y/n holds her breath and breaks her bond with her banshee, diving into the water. She immediately swims back up to the surface and paddles over to the tulkun, where she had seen the group of blue bodies.
"MOM! DAD!"
Jake's ears perk up as he pulls away from the family embrace, and hurriedly looks around until he spots a familiar figure in the water. He wheezes in pain because of his injuries, but he lifts his arm and frantically waves, "Y/n!"
Neytiri follows her mate's gaze and nearly sobs in relief, crying and smiling all at once, "Y/n, matxe'lan! Matxe'lan!"
Lo'ak, Kiri, and Tuk also chime in, relieved and excited to see their big sister, alive and well, "Y/n!"
"Y/N!"
"Sister!"
Y/n is crying and shaking in relief as she finally reaches her family, both her mother and father pulling her up onto Payakan's fin when she couldn't find the strength to do it herself. The parents nestled their oldest daughter between them, each embracing her one at a time and surrounding her in their hugs, Neytiri even going as far as to kiss all over Y/n's face.
Jake is almost beside himself, hushed exhales escaping him as he settles his cheek over the top of Y/n's head and closes his eyes in relief, "You're okay. You're okay, sweetheart."
For a moment, she revels in the peace and her parents' embrace before looking around, inspecting each of her siblings' faces before she took a head count in her mind. She pulls away to look at her mother's face, "Where-- Where's Neteyam?"
Immediately, Neytiri's face falls, and unshed tears quickly form in her aging eyes. Her hand reaches up to cup Y/n's face while looking each of her daughters in the eyes, "Y/n... my girls... something happened."
~~~~~~~~~
Payakan brings all of them to the flat rock faces sticking out of the ocean, forming small islands of their own in the middle of the empty war zone. The Sully family slowly and painfully drag themselves to shore and Lo'ak thanks Payakan before the tulkun leaves. Y/n catches her breath and looks around, finding Tonowari and Ronal, standing off to the side, holding Ao'nung and a sobbing Tsireya in their arms. Lo'ak calls out the reef girl's name and Tsireya starts a new round of crying as she broke away from her parents to embrace him. Ao'nung briefly looks up when the Sullys arrived and locked eyes with Y/n, and to her sinking horror, he looked at her with pity and sorrow. 
She soon found out why when the sound of Tuk's crying rang in her ears. Y/n spun around, ready to defend her baby sister, until she realized that there was no danger. Tuk was crying over a body, holding its arm to her little chest and hand to her face, sobbing. Neytiri blocked Y/n's view as she knelt on the other side of the body, picking it up and holding the head close to her chest. Y/n looks around and catches Jake's eyes as he looked at her expectedly, waiting for her reaction with broken eyes and tear tracks running down his aging face.
Y/n begins to catch on to what was happening, but the words that fled her mouth were ones of denial, "No... no no nononono."
She stomps over to her family, kneeling down around the legs of the body as she frantically looks around, "What's wrong with Neteyam? Mama, don't just stand there! What's wrong with him?! Someone help him! Help him!"
"Maite..."
"Don't!" She pushes Neytiri away and hovers over the body, kneeling down to it opposite Tuk. She finally allows herself to stare at her twin brother's face, and she's haunted by those unblinking eyes, unfocused and staring off at a place they couldn't see anymore. Panicked, Y/n roughly grabs Neteyam's jaw and tries tilting his head around to make him look at her, "'Teyam. 'Teyam? Wake up. You're okay, you're okay, you're okay..."
She is met with silence, and that almost rings louder in her ears than the sound of a roaring waterfall. His eyes still don't blink and his mouth never moves. Y/n, from that day forward, wished she had never looked down, because all the blood was permanently sewn into her memory and purged her nightmares. 
One look at the gunshot puncturing her twin brother's chest, Y/n became a madwoman, roughly grabbing onto Neteyam's shoulders, "TSMUKAN! ZA'U NE'ÌM TSONTA, RUTXE! RUTXE!"
The noise that escapes her lungs is unlike any sound ever heard on Pandora. It pierces the air, shattered and broken like glass to the point where it had to hurt her throat. Tuk was completely terrified, scared to see her oldest sister lose her cool and continue crowing and sobbing like a feral, wounded creature. It was heartwrenching to listen to, and even worse to watch.
Y/n rocked herself back and forth as she sobbed uncontrollably, trying to find the smallest bit of comfort as she held her other half in her arms. Neytiri tried to be her comfort, even through her own shattered cries. Neytiri knelt on the other side of Neteyam's body, holding his shoulder in one hand and Y/n's in the other. The twins, neither living nor dead, noticed or even acknowledged their mother's touch.
"NETEYAM!"
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Y/n's last words to Neteyam are roughly translated to: "BROTHER! COME BACK TO ME, PLEASE! PLEASE!"
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A/N: So... uh... did I not mention that I write heavy angst? I think I should've put that in my resume. I have several blogs for several fandoms, and if you asked my followers anywhere else, they'll tell you I write angst on purpose. I write angst to make them suffer. Their tears keep me young forever.
Although I can't say this was written without any of my own tears being shed. That would be a lie. I swear I was bawling my eyes while watching the death scene happen (for the dozenth time, I'll be honest) and writing it out. No movie has ever pulled tears from me after I've already watched it several times, which is why I admire Zoe's acting for shattering my heart every time Neytiri screams and cries over her dead child.
But, look at that! Y/n's ikran has a name! It's Evi, derived from the Na'vi word 'evi, which is an affectionate word for 'kid'. That's something light-hearted and cute, right??? Right??? Ha ha, please don't kill me.
Anyway, I promise that this is only the beginning of the series and I hope the rest of it helps you heal from this loss like I know Y/n will likely learn to heal in time 😇 I honestly believe this will help me recover from Neteyam by writing about my characters' own healing journeys.
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Note
It is very important to me that you know the guy who played Xenk is fantastic at singing. I think it eould piss Edgin off. I can't find the a recording of the full song he sand for audible but here is some of it
https://twitter.com/audible_com/status/1446158444990451713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1446158444990451713%7Ctwgr%5Eaad2df8b46f6d5bf12bb625d9abcdc63aa0410f8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgraziamagazine.com%2Farticles%2Frege-jean-page-singing%2F
(Sorry for the atrociously long link)
ANON THANK YOU. This is for you!!
~
When Edgin hears the sound, he looks up from where he’s chopping onions for the stew Holga and Kira are making.
He glances at Holga, who is halfway through demonstrating the best way to skin a rabbit. She catches his eye over Kira’s curls, shrugs, then gestures with her head towards the door: Go check it out.
Ed puts the knife down, wipes his hands on his breeches, and pushes through the front door. Standing in the garden, what sounded like a sort of low humming melds into—
Singing. Someone is singing.
He peers around in the dusk light. This isn’t like his singing, the sort of tune that gets the blood pumping and the tavern carousing, this is something else. It’s low and mournful and, as much as he hates to admit it, it’s beautiful.
Ed heads down the little stone steps and onto the road. The singing grows louder, accompanied by the gentle rhythm of hoofbeats and the percussive clang of armour. The mounted singer is approaching. 
At the garden gate, Ed hesitates. He doesn’t recognise the language - it's lyrical and lilting, like the words melt into each other - but when the singer swings from a high to a low note, making the hair on Ed’s arms stand on end, there’s a glimmer of recognition. 
And then Xenk appears from around a bend in the road. He looks exactly like he did the last time Ed saw him, and he’s singing. 
Xenk finishes the song before dismounting and striding towards him. Ed opens his mouth to demand to know what he’s doing here, but what comes out is “I didn’t know you could sing.”
Xenk smiles at him. “I find that there is no better way to soothe the soul than with the wonder and joy of song,” he says.
“Yeah,” Ed blinks. “Right. Uh. What are you doing here?”
“I find myself in need of you, Edgin Darvis. May we speak?”
Before Ed can answer, the front door opens.
“Xenk!” He turns to see Holga leaning out. There’s blood splattered on her arms. “Good to see you, you bastard. Do you want to come in? We’re having stew!”
Xenk shoots her a blinding smile. “I would love to,” he says. “Edgin?” he gestures back up the garden path.
Ed hesitates, and then, knowing he doesn’t really have much choice, leads Xenk up towards the house.
“But listen—” he says, as he ushers Xenk inside. “We have to talk about your singing—”
Xenk clasps him by the shoulder. His touch is sure and strong. He smiles again. The goosebumps return. Ed pulls his arm away.
“All in good time, my musical friend," Xenk says. "All in good time.”
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waltzingwithspirit · 7 months
Text
PICK A CARD: MESSAGES FROM MAHADEVI (CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE)
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Top Left: 111 ; Top Right: 222; Bottom: 333
Disclaimer:
This is a general reading take what resonates and leave the rest
No one is allowed to copy my work under any circumstances
DM for a personal tarot reading
All personal readings are paid.
HAPPY RADHA ASTHAMI 🤍♥️🤍
🌸111🌸
Be grateful for all that you have. Be grateful for all that you have been blessed with. You may think you lack, but the truth says otherwise. You have the warmth of the sun, coolness of the moon, you have water to drink, you have food to eat, you can walk among beautiful scenery. You have all that you need, so don’t look for more. If you have a guitar, play a  song instead of dreaming about building a boat. You have all that you need and more. Be creative, once you start focusing on what all you do have, you’ll feel much richer. I am hearing you should spend time with your mother, help her in her work, be sweet not rude, it will go against you. Walking in nature barefoot will bring you tremendous results, especially if you are having troubles with rahu or shani. If you are taking sone sort of therapy /any healing sessions it will be successful, in 3 months you’ll notice a difference. Give service to cows and animals in general, this good karma will bring you recognition and even fame for some of you. Some of you need to cut your hair, even just a little bit to let go of the energy. Others need to start sadhana and grow their hair out. REGARDLESS take good care of your hair, it’s important. Keep it braided if you need to conserve energy. Wear more orange and red, and don’t let a day go by without writing how you felt today, why you felt that way, and end it with a gratitude list. Not just you, I am seeing your entire family successful, if you have been considering a family business or have one, this is a good sign.  Comment ‘Mahadevi’ to Claim!  🌙 DM TO BOOK A TAROT READING 🌙 🌻 Thank you for letting me read for you 🌻
🌑222🌑
Okay so listen, you know you have a choice, you have the choice to speak up your idea in the meeting, you have the choice to say ‘No’. You always have a choice. You are not tied down by chains, you are not tied down at all except by your mind. No cages exist outside your mind. It is your greatest friend and has the ability to be your greatest enemy too. How do you want it to serve you? That’s again a choice. Make the right one. Choose freedom. Choose expression. Don’t let others walk over you, tell them you have plans and you can’t help them today, its okay. HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT. If you never ask, you’ll never know. You think you don’t have much to offer so you become the person who doesn’t need anything, and that not doing anyone any good. DEMAND YOUR RIGHTS. Ask for what you want. You want your partner to come watch you play violin? ask him, have the courage. You are a lion then why do you pretend to be a sheep. You could be born in the year of the horse as well. Some of you are lion yoni. Behave like yourself, the more you astray, the more depressed you feel. You want adrenaline, and you are scared of the same. Trust me, if you let loose you won’t run wild and return home safe. You are somewhat terrified of what could happen if you let yourself be, since you’ve never been, you can’t comprehend and with the fear of uncertainty, so you are always on edge, to say what you actually want to but never do and they are out the door. Other have a pre-conceived notion of you that you want to keep, honey its not healthy you have to let that go before it swallows you complete. Your fire has been watered down, its time to bring it back.  Comment ‘Mahadevi’ to Claim!  🌙 DM TO BOOK A TAROT READING 🌙
🥀333🥀 If you have been seeing a humming bird, or after reading this if you see one, don’t be surprised. They are a sign that you are taking everything too seriously, even things that shouldn’t be taken that way, you have forgotten to stop and smell the roses. It seems like you are someone who has a responsibilities on their shoulders, and you just can’t seem to relax. Between all things mundane, you have forgotten to keep track of your soul’s purpose. Many of you don’t know why you are here. You world is limited to the material realm. You are being told to take time out for honoring your soul’s purpose. One of them is ‘Joy’. You are not here to be in a low or neutral emotional state, you are hear to feel joy and spread joy. It could come from any number of things, from just taking a day off or making time for your hobbies or laughing your ass off. You are here to be curious and be filled with wonder and awe. All these responsibilities are making you anxious, you can’t sleep, you can’t eat, and all you do is think all the time, about business and about family and that’s all your life is, you aren’t even in there. I am not saying you shouldn’t focus here, you should these are key areas of life but take a step back, take some time for yourself. HEVAY BURN OUT ENERGY. This isn’t even burn out, you are toasted and done, most of this is coming from the fact that most of your day you do things put of compulsion, you don’t want to do them, but you do. Figure out how to honor your soul’s purpose, and find joy in things or simply do what brings you joy. There is work that need to be done within the family dynamic as well. One step at a time and step starts with you.  Comment ‘Mahadevi’ to claim!  🌙DM to find your Soul’s Mission🌙
- EL TAROT
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victoria-daydreams · 10 months
Text
Compliments to the Chef
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AN: It's here people! I floated the idea and you all demanded it be written. Don't care if there's any inaccuracies about fine dining culture or rules, we're all here for Chef Luca. If you commented on my original post I went ahead and tagged you. I wrote this on my phone because I'm on vacation so excuse any typos or errors.
Taglist: @chiddybangchiddy @emjayewrites @ay0nha @adorabubblesblog @ayoarticulate @blowmymbackout
Word Count: 4.4k
Prompt: Thinking thoughts about writing a fic with Chef Luca from The Bear involving an black!oc/black!reader on a study abroad trip in Copenhagen and them falling for each other.
"How do you even function in this weather?"
The coldness of December in Copenhagen could be quite unbearable at times. In her thick peacoat, Dannie shivered as snow gently fell to the ground in large, fluffy clusters. The tingle of cold air on her golden brown skin felt as if someone was jabbing needles all over her body. It was an unfathomably cold evening and Dannie began to wonder if this outing was worth it.
Aya, a native to the country, only laughed and tugged at the thick knitted scarf around her neck. "You want my scarf?" she questioned, smirking at the American.
Glancing at her friend, red-cheeked from the cold, with snow falling in her dark, springy curls, Dannie shook her head.
"Don't think that will change me freezing my ass off," Dannie retorted, wrapping her arms around herself, trying to maintain some warmth.
Aya laughed again in response, "Come on, we're almost there," she said, linking her arm with Dannie.
Dannie's teeth clattered as the cold wind continued to permeate her coat and her wool sweater. Stiffly, she walked with Aya, her shoes crunching loudly against the snowy cobblestones underfoot. Despite the frigid temperature and the feeling of being frozen to the bone, it was beautiful day in the capital of Denmark. As far as the eye could see, picturesque buildings lined the streets in colorful rows. The vibrant colors of the architecture reminded Dannie of cakes and other tasty pastries. The two women passed by cafes which littered the narrow streets of the snowy city, filled with tourists and locals of all ethnicities and nationalities.
Finally, they arrived at the restaurant, its name written in Danish. Savory scents and muted conversations greeted Dannie as Aya spoke with the host about her reservation. Without a doubt, this was the most expensive restaurant she'd ever been to in her life just based off the interior. After taking their coats, the host showed Aya and Dannie to their table, which offered a splendid view of Copenhagen. A glass of water was poured for her followed by a menu being placed into her hands. Browsing the menu, Dannie's eyes nearly bulged at the prices of dessert alone.
"Aya, why does a desert cost damn near an arm and a leg?" Dannie asked, her brows raising in disbelief.
"Because it’s 'fine dining'," Aya explained simply. "Don't stress about prices tonight," she reassured, with a dismissive hand wave. "It's your birthday, I'm treating you remember?" she reminded.
"Aya, I love you, but I'm helping you pay for this," Dannie stated firmly, placing her hand over her heart. "I refuse to let you break your bank account over a tiny portion of food and dessert," she added jokingly.
"Aya?" a British voice called.
Dannie's eyes flitted over Aya's shoulder to see man dressed in a fitted navy blue shirt and black slacks with a black apron tied around his neck. Aya turned in her chair, her face lighting in recognition.
"Luka! Hej!" she exclaimed, waving him over.
Approaching their table, Dannie realized that this Luca was nothing short of a heartthrob. Strikingly warm blue eyes, tousled blond hair, and not to mention his wide and undeniably strong frame.
"It is so good to see you here again!" Luca said, smiling at her.
Playfully she rolled her eyes, "You don’t know how long I remained on the waiting list to eat here again," she quipped, standing up to give him a quick hug.
"I see you brought a friend this time," he noted, as Aya pulled away from him.
"Yes! This is Dannie, she's studying abroad here and today is her 26th birthday, so we're celebrating!" Aya introduced excitedly. "Dannie, this is Luca, my chef friend I've been telling you so much about!" she said, gesturing towards him.
Dannie gave him a shy smile and offered her hand to shake as Aya sat down.
"A pleasure to meet you Luca, I’ve heard so much about you," Dannie said, her voice laced with the warm southern twang she was born with.
"First, a happy birthday is in order, I cannot think of a better place to attend for such a special occasion," he responded, mirroring her smile. "And hopefully Aya here has only been saying good things," he joked, glancing at her before reaching for Dannie's hand.
The moment their hands brushed against each other, Dannie felt Luca slightly jump at the sensation.
"Good god, your hands are freezing," Luca commented, letting out a chuckle and moving his right hand to the other side of hers. "You need a warm drink in you," he said, in that thick accent of his sending a shiver down her spine.
"Well, I wouldn’t mind a hot chocolate, if a fine dining establishment like this can manage it?" Dannie suggested, enjoying the heat from his hands engulfing her own.
Luca's mouth curled upward and nodded, "Yeah, I think I can manage that just fine," he assured, rubbing small circles against her skin. "I'm sure the kitchen has everything I need for this special request," he informed. "Anything for you—as friend of Aya's," he added quickly.
If Dannie’s was not mistaken, there was a hint of red he saw on the man's lightly freckled cheeks.
"I will be sure to get that out you, Dannie," he promised.
"Thank you Chef Luca,"
Reluctantly, Dannie pulled her hand from his grasp. Silence lingered between them for a moment and blue eyes stared unblinking into dark brown eyes. His intense eyes sent another pleasurable shiver down Dannie’s spine. That look…God, it made the temperature in the room increase by at least five degrees. Aya sharply cleared her throat, snapping them from their heated gaze.
"Right," Luca began, clearing his throat himself. "One hot chocolate coming right up for the birthday girl," he said, with a grin before leaving for the kitchen.
Dannie watched his form retreat. Luca went to rub the back of his neck, clearly feeling sheepish. Three quick snaps drew Dannie’s attention back in front of her to Aya grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
"Girllll," Aya sung, her eyebrows raised high. "What was that?" she asked, leaning her body forward. "Did I just inadvertently play matchmaker? Is this love at the first sight?" she questioned.
"Listen, it may not be love at first sight, but…” Dannie answered, taking both of Aya's hand. "The spirit of Tamera has fully possessed my body!" she joked, causing both of them to quietly squeal together and lightly stomp their feet on the floor.
~~~x~~~
An hour later
"This has been one of the best meals I have ever tasted in my entire life," Dannie stated, dabbing the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
Aya hummed in agreement, "Including the specially made hot chocolate?" she asked teasingly, wriggling her eyebrows.
"Yes, the hot chocolate too," Dannie agreed with exasperation, rolling her eyes and laughing.
"Maybe we should send our compliments to the chef, personally," Aya suggested, a mischievous expression on her face.
"No!" Dannie whispered, her face growing hot at the mere thought of Luca coming back to the table.
"Why the fuck not?" she whispered back. "You two were practically eye fucking each other in front of me earlier," she pointed out.
"Okay, but—"
"Excuse me," Aya called, cutting Dannie off and a maître d' promptly was at their table. "The dessert was absolutely phenomenal. My friend here would like to personally send her compliments to the chef who made it," she explained, a barely hidden smirk on her lips.
"Of course, ma'am,"
Feeling utterly mortified, Dannie had taken to hiding her face behind her hand.
"Why would you do that?" Dannie asked, her hand sliding down to cover half her mouth.
"Come on, you’ll thank me later," Aya dismissed, picking up her wine glass. "You and Luca would be such a hot couple together," she said, before sipping her dry red.
"Really?" Dannie asked skeptically.
"Yes bitch!" Aya responded, almost in disbelief she had to answer that.
Dannie grabbed her own wine glass and raised it to her lips, thinking of Luca. His warm demeanor was definitely an attractive trait, as well as his prowess in baking such delicious treats. Any woman with a pulse will find that trait irresistible in a man.
"I was told I've been summoned,"
The sound of a British accent instantly snapped from Dannie from her musings and straighten up her posture. Looking up, Luca was at their table and smiling at the two of them, his hands folded behind his back.
"Yes, hello Chef Luca!" Aya greeted, with a knowing grin. "The dessert was to die for!" she complimented. "Dannie and I just had to tell you in person. Right Dannie?" she asked, nodding encouragingly.
"Everything was superb, Chef Luca," Dannie agreed, "Thank you,"
"You're very welcome and thank you. I'm so glad you enjoyed it," he said.
"Before you go Luca, could you tell the maître d we're ready for the check?" Aya said.
"Ah, yes the check," he replied. "I already have it here," he informed, unfolding his arms and giving the little black book to Dannie.
Opening the book, let out a small gasp of surprise. The receipt showed a balance of zero.
"Are you kidding me?" Dannie asked, glancing back up at him.
"The chef heard it's your first time in Copenhagen, wanted to make this an unforgettable experience," Luca explained.
"Job well done, I'll say," Dannie retorted, chuckling a little. "I fear wherever I go next in Copenhagen nothing will hold a candle to this,"
"Well, I know my way around the city pretty well," Luca began. "I can show you some spots that will blow you away, if you’ll let me," he offered, smiling shyly.
Dannie nodded vigorously with a smile, "That would be amazing, Luca. Thank you," she said, mindlessly playing with her ginger dyed hair.
Luca’a face seemed to brighten and a faint blush starting to cross his cheeks, "Saturday?" he questioned.
Dannie took the pen from the checkbook and wrote her phone number on the receipt.
"Saturday,"
~~~x~~~
Saturday
Dannie loved farmers markets. There was always just a magical feel when she visited one. Now, compound that with the fact that she was in a different country during Christmastime and she might as well been in Winter Wonderland. Above, the sun shone uninhibited in a perfect, cloudless blue sky. With a gentle breeze, snow from the ground and buildings swirled past Dannie as tiny crystals. She could not envision a more perfect day for a first date.
"I think you're a mind reader Luca," Dannie said, stealing a glance at him. "I absolutely adore farmers markets," she informed, with a smile.
"I promised I'd show you the best spots in the city, didn't I?" he reminded, their arms brushing against each other as they walked side by side.
She nodded, "You did," she agreed. "Keeping promises, a good quality to possess. I like that in a man," she stated, their arms brushing again.
Luca smirked, "Noted," he said, smoothly lacing his fingers with hers.
Dannie’s heart fluttered, her chest blossoming with warmth. She could've just melted right into a puddle at that very moment. They made their way deeper into the busy market, walking through the narrow lane as the mouthwatering aroma of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine was soon thick in the air.
Along a few connecting streets, each road was dedicated to different vendors. One street was filled with paintings and handmade jewelry. Another street had fresh produce and jams. While a different different part of the market was selling hot food based on scent alone from how strong it was.
"You know," Luca began. "Aya said you were studying abroad, but you never said what for," he said.
She chuckled, "You're right, we knew you were needed in the kitchen, so our conversation was pretty limited," Dannie recalled, with a nod. "History, that’s what's I’m here. I’m a history major,"
"Ooh, not my best subject," he mentioned, laughing lightly. "History class use to always put me to sleep," he joked.
"Why does everyone say that!" Dannie exclaimed lightly, laughing a little. "You mean to tell me there was never a time period you learned about and just became obsessed with it?" she asked,
"I became obsessed with baking at a young age," he answered. "You, on the other hand, are a true history buff. I can tell just by how excited you’re getting," he stated. "So, tell me, what are your favorite periods to study?" he asked.
"It’s World War I followed by the Roaring 20s, then World War II, lastly the 50s and 60s," Dannie listed, using her free hand to count them off. "I dabble in The Gilded Age as well," she added, shrugging her shoulders. "I don't know something within me just gravitated to those periods the moment I learned about them in school. I think it’s mainly the aesthetics, fashion, and music," she explained, smiling softly. "To be clear though, I would never want to live through those eras. The world is hostile enough to Black people as it is. I can hardly imagine what it was like back then," she finished, raising a finger.
When Luca didn't reply after a beat, Dannie began to internally panic thinking she said something wrong.
"Oh no, did I kill the vibe?" Dannie asked, with a horrified expression. "I swear every time I speak about my love of history it always somehow results in vibe killing,"
"No, no," Luca reassured. "I'm just admiring how cute you are nerding out over history, I do the same when it comes to cooking," he explained, with a grin.
"Well, join me in my cuteness and tell me what made you nerd out over cooking," Dannie said, playfully bumping his shoulder.
"I fear the amount of time that would take would consume our whole date," Luca joked.
"And I want to hear every second of it," Dannie said. "I'm dying to know how the man next to me became the esteemed Chef Luca,"
"Alright, you asked for it," he said, letting out a chuckle.
Listening with her full attention, Dannie learned from Luca how at a very young age he’s always had a passion for cooking and because of that he was able to hone in on his skills. Of course, this led to Luca thinking he was ‘the shit’ by the time he got to culinary school, carrying a major chip on his shoulder. That chip stayed him as he progressed into his career until he was unintentionally humbled by another chef after witnessing their skills in the kitchen. Without working with this chef, Luca swears he would not be where he is now had it not been from him.
"So, a slice of humble pie did the trick, huh?" Dannie concluded, her tone teasing.
"Yeah, yeah it did," Luca admitted, laughing and nodding his head. "You can either choose to accept it or deny it. Luckily, I accepted it and changed the course of my career," he went on.
They crossed into the main of the market, stumbling upon the Christmas market . The massive space was filled with all sorts of food vendors, stalls, vendor kiosks, and there was even a petting zoo with a variety of farm animals. At the center of it all, a gigantic Christmas tree stood, towering above everything in the square. The freshly cut pine tree was covered in lights, garland, and ornate ornaments.
"This will always be my favorite time of the year," Dannie sighed wistfully, admiring the lights and decorations around them.
"I remember spending my first Christmas here in Copenhagen," Luca mentioned. "It felt like I was in a movie," he added.
"If it snows on Christmas Day, that would just put the icing on top of the cake,"
He turned to look at her, "You know what, an idea just popped into my head,"
"What?"
"Has anyone ever made you dessert from scratch?"
"Yeah, some family members of mine, but never like a romantic partner or anything like that," she answered, and the realization dawned on her. "Wait—are you offering to do that for me?"
"I am," he nodded. "You mentioned cake and the gears in my mind started turning," hestated. "Plus, all the ingredients I would need are all around me,"
"Making a girl feel special, that must be your superpower Luca," Dannie joked.
“Not just any girl. I like to make you, feel special Dannie,” he corrected, squeezing her hand.
She giggled, "If you’re making dessert from scratch, chances are I won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor tonight,"
"Guess you'll have to come back to my place again tomorrow then," Luca suggested, smirking slightly. "Come on," he said, leading her the nearest stall.
For the next thirty minutes, Dannie and Luca shopped at the farmers market, grabbing everything necessary for the surprise dessert Luca was going to make. Instead of the usual 'divide and conquer' tactic, they remained together, tackling neighboring stalls at the same time. After two laps around the market, Dannie and Luca were at there final stalls. Luca was at a strawberry vendor a few stalls down, while Dannie waited at a honey seller’s. Shifting the weight between her feet, Dannie could feel her feet start to grow tired from walking. Another minute passed before the older woman handed her the jar of honey with a smile.
"Is there anything else you and your boyfriend are interested in purchasing?" the older woman questioned, still wearing a kind smile.
Boyfriend. The term nearly makes her choke on her water she was drinking.
"Oh no, we’re not—" Dannie began, but stopped herself. "Thank you for the honey, ma'am," she finished, nodding her head and placing it in her canvas tote bag.
Not soon after, Luca appeared next to her carrying his own bag of groceries. Automatically, his hand came to rest on her lower back.
"Do we everything we need?" he asked.
"I believe so," Dannie replied, with a nod. "Can't wait for you to wow me again in a more intimate setting this time,"
"I aim to please, love,"
"A fucking pet name? Pick me up from the goddamn floor!" Dannie thought.
Grinning, she linked her arm with his, "Next time, instead you baking for me, I want to be apart of the baking process," Dannie informed.
"You’re already planning for a next time?" he questioned, arching his brow.
"Of course, do you know how rare it is to find a man who has a passion for baking?" she quipped, raising an eyebrow of her own.
"Back to my place?"
"Lead the way," Dannie encouraged, and Luca guided her out the farmers market
~~~x~~~
"I cannot wait to eat this cheesecake," Dannie said, leaning back on the counter and crossing her arms. "Too bad I have to wait until tomorrow to get a slice," she pouted playfully.
"We can have a slice of it over afternoon tea," Luca suggested, carefully placing the cheesecake into the refrigerator.
Dannie rolled her eyes, "Ugh, god you’re so disgustingly British," she teased.
He closed the door to the fridge, "Hey, don’t knock it until you try it," he retorted, pointing the tip of the wine bottle at her that he grabbed.
"I'll have you know, my drink of choice is a strong coffee," Dannie informed, lightly digging her index finger into his pec. It took everything in her to keep a straight face feeling the firmness of the muscle. "Not black coffee though, I'm not a serial killer," she clarified, laughing lightly which he shared. "But because you're so cute, I'm willing to try it for you," Dannie conceded, booping the tip of his nose.
"You'll thank me for expanding your palette," he quipped, causing her to roll her eyes again. "If you would be so kind to get the glasses, love,"
"Since you asked so nicely," Dannie said, moving over to the overhead cupboard.
Grabbing two wine glass, she turned back around just in time to get a perfect view of Luca's back. His shirt was just tight enough that she could watch the flex of Luca's muscles in his biceps and shoulders underneath the fabric.
"So goddamn strong," Dannie thought. "I wonder what it would feel like to have that grip around my hips or my ne—"
The cork escaped the bottle's hold with an echoing pop, snapping Dannie from her impure thoughts.
"You okay back there?" Luca asked.
She cleared her throat, "Yeah, totally," she answered, finally walking back over. "I didn't want to startle you as you opened the wine," she explained, placing the glasses down.
Filling both glasses, Luca handed her a glass first and then picked up his own.
"Cheers," Luca said, tilting his glass.
"Cheers," Dannie echoed, clinking their glasses together and sipping their wine in unison.
Lowering his glass, Luca’s gaze fell back on Dannie.
"After our afternoon tea and cheesecake, how would you feel going to the National Gallery of Denmark with me?" she wondered, swirling her wine around in one hand while the other reached for a blueberry left over in a bowl.
"I would love that,"
"It’s a date then," Dannie smiled, dipping the berry into the bowl of whipped cream and popping it into her mouth.
Pure bliss swept over her face at the sweet and tangy flavor flooding her taste buds.
"Fuck that was so good," Dannie laughed, shaking her head when Luca leaned in towards her. She swallowed. "Luca?" she asked, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe.
"Sorry, you…you got a little something…" he trailed off. "Right," he continued softly, reaching out with his thumb and gently wiping leftover whipped cream from the corner of her mouth. His thumb drew across her bottom lip. "There," he finished, dragging her lips apart slightly.
Dannie couldn't move from her spot, and from the looks neither could Luca.
"Silly me, I’m such a slob," she said, the words coming out in one soft breath.
He removed his thumb from her lips, "No, you’re fine," Luca responded, before bringing his glass back to his mouth and quickly downing the rest of his drink. Clearing his throat, he placed the cup back down on the counter. "It might not be the cheesecake, but might I offer you the best strawberry you'll ever eat?" he asked, regaining his usual warm demeanor.
Dannie smirked, throwing back the rest of her wine as well, "You may, since you forbade me from eating any earlier," she reminded, putting her glass down.
Luca grinned, plucking a freshly washed strawberry from the bowl and gently pressed it against Dannie's lips. The move caused a giggle to bubble within her chest and her face to flush with heat. Opening her mouth, Dannie bit down into the perfectly proportioned fruit in Luca's fingers which moved a little. The sweet juices filled her mouth, a drop of it escaping from a corner of her lips.
"How was that?" he asked, a cheeky smile on his face.
"Mmm," Dannie hummed in satisfaction, closing her eyes and nodding. She waited a moment after swallowing her first bite, still relishing the nectar of the fruit, before speaking. "Certainly the juiciest strawberry I've ever eaten," she responded, wiping the corners of her mouth with the back of her finger. "You flinched slightly when I bit into it," she pointed out, making Luca chuckle.
"I was hoping you wouldn’t notice,"
"Don't worry, I don’t bite..." Dannie promised, her voice dropping a pitch. Instantly, Luca's cheeks flared red at her words. "Unless, you want me to," she teased, and leaned forward to bite into the remaining strawberry.
"Fuck me..." Luca breathed.
Smiling coyly, Dannie turned her back to Luca and started to walk over to the living room. Suddenly, a pair of warm, strong hands gripped her waist and spun her back around. Luca's face was expressionless, but his pupils had darkened considerably and flickered over her face. Dannie met his stare through hooded eyes, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. The tension between them was palpable and it hung thick, making the soft and shallow breaths from both of them more pronounced. Luca ran his hand across her lower back before pulling her closer, dipping his head towards her.
The little space remaining between the two sent Dannie's heartbeat into overdrive. Their faces were barely an inch from each other. Her eyes dropped to his lips, slowly making their way back up her his by way of his jawline. It was as if a dam broke. Within a blink of the eye, Luca pressed his mouth against Dannie's. Inhaling sharply, any and all thoughts flew from her head at the feeling of his lips. Dannie softly moaned into the kiss, her eyes closing while her fingers found their way to grip on Luca's blond locks. Eagerly, she returned the kiss as he walked her back until her lower back was pressed into the edge of the granite countertop.
"God, you're so beautiful," he huffed out before leaning back down to kiss her roughly.
Luca's palms slipped beneath Dannie's sweater to glide across her warm skin, his lips nipping hungrily at her lower lip. Only heavy breathing and the smacking of lips filled the air of the kitchen. With practiced ease, Luca wedged his leg between her own while his left hand skirted around her midsection until it he hooked her leg around his hip. Dannie's hands gently made their way to unbutton Luca's shirt, finally being able to fully appreciate the taut muscles underneath her fingers.
Another moan fell from Dannie, this one breathier than before. His body responded, grounding himself into her. Moving his mouth to the corner of hers, Luca's lips trailed down her neck, peppering open mouthed kisses down her jaw and neck. Dannie could only pant his name in quick, short gasps.
"Luca…Luca…." she breathed, her head thrown back.
Slowly, he drew back from her, forcing Dannie to open her eyes and lift her head up. Staring into his smoldering eyes, Dannie was mesmerized by the flush that stained Luca’s cheeks and neck, not to mention his swollen lips. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers, both their breathing labored.She felt herself chasing his lips as he withdrew. Luca wrapped his arms around her thighs and effortlessly lifted her onto the cool countertop.
"You're too good at this," Dannie commented breathlessly, before capturing his lips in another slow, languid kiss. "I bet there has been many girls in this same position," she suggested, kissing him again while her hands busied themselves with undoing his belt.
"Not on the island darling," he whispered, running his tongue along the slope of where her neck curved into her shoulder, making her shudder uncontrollably.
"No one has had the pleasure of christening this?" Dannie questioned, slowly dragging her legs up to wrap around his waist.
"Until now, no," Luca answered, his face retreating from her neck. "Would you like to do the honors?" he asked, smirking at her.
Her legs tightened around his hips, "Yes Chef,"
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3rdeyeblaque · 1 year
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On January 7th, we venerate Ancestor & Hoodoo Saint, Auntie Zora Neale Hurston on her 133rd birthday (updated 2024). 🎉
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Novelist, Anthropologist, Folklorist, Scholar, Vodou initiate & Historian, Zora Neale Hurston's legacy is forever cemented in Hoodoo Culture (and beyond) as the masterful wordsmith who cast a shining light on black excellence in all everyday forms/spaces, our ATR roots, & the preservation of Black Voices during the prime of the Harlem Renaissance.
Auntie Zora was born in Notasulga, AL and raised on 5 acres of land in Eatonville, FL by her preacher-father and free-spirited mother ; in what would be the first all-Black township in the country. After the shattering loss of her mother, Zora turned up in Baltimore, MD where she presented herself as a 16 year old (10 years her junior) in order to access free public school education resources; thereby finishing school. From then on, Zora lived her life presenting herself as 10 years younger than she actually was. She'd go on to graduate from Barnard College in 1928. 
She published several novellas & articles, including "Mules & Men"; a collection of Hoodoo Folklore. She entered the zenith of her career in the late 30s/40s after publishing her masterworks: "Their Eyes Were Watching God", "Tell My Horse", "Moses, Man of the Mountain", & an anthropological study on Hatian Vodou .After publishing her autobiography, "Dust Tracks on a Road, "Auntie Zora finally received the public recognition & literary respect that was long overdue. Despite her successes, and unprecedented contributions in classic literature & anthropology, Zora never received the financial contributions that her work so deserved. 
Zora Neale Hurston passed away; penniless, alone, & drifting into obscurity. Friends and supporters from near and far raised $600 for her funeral service and burial. She was buried in an unmarked grave, in a segregated section, at the Garden Of Heavenly Peace Cemetery in Fort Pierce, FL. Over a decade later, in 1973 the Great Alice Walker found the unmarked grave and ordered a headstone to be placed on it; engraved with, "Genius Of The South" in Zora's honor. It remains in place today.  “Let no Negro celebrity, no matter what financial condition they might be in at death, lie in inconspicuous forgetfulness. We must assume the responsibility of their graves being known and honored.” - Zora Neale Hurston to W.E.B. Dubois Auntie Zora wanted to be remembered & demanded that the same honor and respect be given unto her peers & others. Never forget the infectious voice that defined & defied, inspired & struck fear in many hearts of her time & after. We pour libations & give 💐 today as we celebrate Auntie Zora for her enigmatic spirit, ancestral wisdom, labor of love for Hoodoo Folklore, & for the seeing the beauty in the dark, sometimes solemn, corners in Black Culture. Let her studies continue to inform our own. Let her spark a fire in us to reconnect to our roots & grow within our lineages.
Offering suggestions: money, music, read/share her work, libations of water, & flowers.
‼️Note: offering suggestions are just that & strictly for veneration purposes only. Never attempt to conjure up any spirit or entity without proper divination/Mediumship counsel.‼️
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skyloftian-nutcase · 7 months
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A continuation of this sickfic
Mood music that helped inspire this
My solitary contribution to flufftober <3
Prompt 1 – “I’ve got you”
The camp was gone. The permeating sickness that hung heavily like a wet cloth draped over him had vanished. No one was coughing, or vomiting, or moaning in pain. No abandoned tents, no empty pots, no chainmail laying forgotten beside an empty sickbed.
Warriors opened his eyes blearily, confused. Something lapped against him, a liquid, cold and warm, buzzing with energy and gentle all at the same time. It surrounded him on all sides as if he were laying in shallow water. The sky above was clear but swam as if he were looking through water already, light refracting all around in colorful arrays, golden beams shimmering down like leaves falling in autumn.
Slowly sitting up, Warriors felt so light. His chest expanded with such ease that he almost overtook a breath, like a gasp of surprise.
This place was… quiet. So, so quiet. And so utterly empty. Or… was it? The more Warriors looked around at the strange vastness, the more he saw figures dancing in the water, their images stretched and squished with the oscillations of the fluids. He rose to his feet, again overcompensating for a weight that should have been there, nearly tipping himself back to the ground—water—not-water? Whatever he was laying in before.
The images were so far away, reflections of people who weren’t actually there. Armor. He recognized armor. His men? His troops?
A face caught his eye, and his breath froze. That was a young knight, new to the army. He’d been killed in his very first battle. How was…?
Warriors walked forward slowly, his feet sloshing gently in the water. Despite displacing the fluid, it barely made a sound, emitting gentle trickling noises rather than the splashes he should’ve created. The golden rays from above continued to glimmer, glow and sunlight from a sun that wasn’t present. The landscape was so utterly flat and desolate, yet so strangely warm and… not unsettling.
He definitely should’ve been unsettled.
He was so transfixed by the reflections of those long gone in the water that he didn’t realize a figure had somehow appeared in front of him. Warriors flinched, taking a step back after nearly walking right into the person, and then the warmth all around him was stolen away for an instant as recognition slammed into him.
This person was wearing his clothes. But they weren’t him – the hair was too dark and fluffy, build a touch stockier, skin tanner. And the ears—
Those ears! Small and delicate and curved in such a unique way.
“Sky?” Warriors questioned, taking a step towards the person. Sky was a little taller, more built, and why was he in Warriors’ uniform? He didn’t know why he hadn’t realized who it was sooner – he even had the Master Sword strapped to his back.
Sky turned to face him in profile. The sunlight grew brighter, enveloping Warriors in warmth. His friend, his brother, looked… different. Older but younger. Eyes exhausted but strong. Face worn but soft.
Sky smiled gently, facing him fully.
“Sky, where are we?” Warriors asked.
His friend said nothing. Instead, he pulled the Master Sword, scabbard and all, from his back and held it towards the captain. Warriors watched him for a long while, studying the motion, taking in his surroundings. This all felt very… final.
“Sky…?” he asked again, growing worried. His earlier lightness was vanishing, replaced with a heaviness in his heart that nearly sank him into the water and drowned him.
He suddenly felt so very alone and far more scared than he was comfortable with.
He wanted to ask what was going on, to demand an explanation, but the words were stolen along with his breath. Sky continued to watch him, eyes warm, smile intact, arms reaching just a hair closer to indicate his next move. His gaze, however, eventually settled above, directly into the sunlight.
The sunlight. That came from no sun. Warriors glanced up, and he swore he saw a figure.
Goddess above.
His mind swam with thoughts, with worries and fears. He distinctly remembered the last coherent thought he had before waking up here.
Everything was so far away. So quiet, muffled, like he was buried alive. Goddess above, he didn’t want to die, please, he didn’t want to die. Not like this. Let him die on his feet, in battle, like it was meant to be.
It was meant to be like that, right?
He’d… been in a camp? No, that… that had been so long ago, hadn’t it? He’d… been sick, right?
“Sky…” Warriors managed to choke out, but he couldn’t add anything to it. Sky continued to watch him, waiting patiently, ever so patiently.
What was he doing? Why was he waiting like this? He looked… he felt…
This was it, wasn’t it?
The reflections in the water danced behind Sky, inviting, warm, familiar, comforting. Sky stood between him and them, stalwart but caring.
Warriors took a step around his brother, just for a moment. It grew brighter. He grew lighter.
Home. He was going home.
But…
“The others,” he said softly, pausing just as he stood directly beside Sky. His friend looked at him, not turning from where he was facing, but he still said nothing.
“How are you here but they’re not?” Warriors wondered, taking a step away to really look at Sky. His stomach knotted as he considered it. “Did you…?”
Oh goddess above. Warriors hadn’t gotten Sky sick too, had he? Sky wasn’t… Sky wasn’t dying as well, was he?
This was it. He knew this was it. The others looked so inviting. He… he could see…
“Mom?” he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.
He swore he could see her. She looked at him lovingly, arms extended to receive him. They all were waiting. He…
There was no war here. No need for a hero, no need for a captain. He…
He…
“I… can’t.”
He was needed. He was still needed. Goddess above he ached for rest, he longed to go home. But he was still needed, and… and he wanted to help. He wanted to live.
Sky faced him fully, offering the sword once more. Warriors looked at the blade, then at his friend.
“You’re not… the Sky I know, are you?” the captain asked discerningly.
Sky’s let out a breath, as if to chuckle, his head cocking to the side in that way he always did when he was amused or happy. The sword in his hands glowed with an otherworldly hum, a melody too sacred for his ears to hear.
Warriors reached forward, taking the sword. Sky’s hand settled over his own as he held it. The boy’s calloused fingers caressed his gently, a promise and reassurance, a protection and a blessing, as if to say I’ve got you. He nodded, and Warriors nodded in return, pulling the blade from its sheath.
The Master Sword sang, glowing so brightly the captain had to close his eyes. He grew impossibly heavy, to the point he couldn’t hold himself up anymore, collapsing to the ground. Instead of splashing into the liquid, however, he sank into something soft and dry, a touch too warm, and his clothes clung to him in a cold sweat. His world was encased in darkness before a dull light pierced it. He was suddenly laying on his side, sword gone.
Warriors opened his eyes.
He was in a bed. He immediately deduced that. A hand was wrapped around his wrist. The blurry images coalesced. Sky was slumped against the bed, hand holding Warriors, fingers lazily resting over a pulse point. Candles littered the nightstand, all lit, their dull glow overwhelmed by the sunlight spilling in through the window.
A hand brushed against his back, sweeping gently up and down. “Captain?”
Warriors blinked a few times before trailing his gaze up to see Time. The man’s face was creased, bags under his eyes, but he immediately brightened when the captain made eye contact with him. It was immediately apparent that relief flooded through him, easing the tension in his brow and shoulders.
“Welcome back,” Time said gently.
The captain smiled tiredly. “It’s… good to be back.”
Movement caught his eye, and he saw Twilight come into view. The Rancher looked worn thin, equally as exhausted as Time and more overtly worried.
Warriors’ smile pulled harder. “You look like shit.”
Twilight barked a laugh. “Well at least I know you’re feeling better. You don’t look that great either, you know.”
The captain chuckled, rousing a phlegmy cough, and Time quickly pulled him to sit up so he could get it out of his lungs. Twilight fluffed the pillow against the backboard as the eldest Link helped Warriors lean against it. Sky squirmed, nose wrinkled in discomfort, but he didn’t wake.
“Everyone… alright?” Warriors asked hesitantly, a sliver of worry seeping into his heart. If he’d gotten this sick… and he swore he remembered seeing Sky somewhere…? Was Sky sick too? He slid his hand back towards the teenager, fingers clumsily entwining with the younger knights’ own.
“Everyone’s fine,” Twilight replied. “They’re all worried ‘bout you. Malon pulled everyone else out for some breakfast, but I reckon they’ll be back soon.”
“Watch the accent, I’ll need a translator,” Warriors chuckled weakly.
“Oh, stuff it. You were really sick, Cap. We were all worried.”
Warriors’ gaze fell back to Time, who was watching him carefully, his expression eerily similar to the one he’d worn when Twilight had been progressively worsening. But… he knew he would be okay. He wasn’t sure how he knew but… he did.
The captain waved his left hand dismissively. “I’m fine.”
“You will be,” Time assured him, arms crossed and face stern. Then he softened. “Rest, Captain. Don’t stress about the others. Just take care of yourself.”
Warriors hummed, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the pillow. He felt the covers get tucked around him a little better, and a cool hand rested on his forehead.
“We’ve got you, Link,” a voice promised, and in his groggy state he couldn’t tell if it was Twilight or Time. Maybe it was both of them. It didn’t really matter – it was a promise from all of them, from his brothers, and Warriors smiled, sighing softly as he slid back into a comfortable, restful, healing slumber.
I’ve got you.
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