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jiyascepter · 2 months

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Midgard Mischief: An Evening in New York

Masterlist

Pairing: Loki x gn!reader

Words: 1,831

Warnings/Content: Fluff. Loki and reader are both Avengers, soft, protective Loki, kissing, mention of other mcu characters (say hello!)

Summary: Loki's first trip to the Earth realm. You take him for an evening out in New York where his protective instincts surface.

A/n: alr first of all let's appreciate this beautiful candid picture of tom. he's so beautiful i can't. i just. can't. this is one of my favourite pictures of him.

Also I needed some suggestions. I'm thinking of writing a series (or more like, parts) ─── 'Midgard Mischief' where the reader & loki visit different places on earth, like they do in this fic. There will be different plots, not connected to each other. How is the idea & if you like it can you suggest some places (countries, famous tourists attractions, random places, anything! ANYTHING!) if possible? It would be a great help! Dms are always welcome !

After a long wait of six months, your boyfriend Loki was finally in Midgard. For the first time. Last time you met him, Thor had invited you to Asgard to fight some dark elves and their leader, Malekith. That’s when you fell in love with his brother, the charming god of mischief.

Today you decided to take Loki out with you and show him around your city like he had when you came to Asgard. But for Loki, it was more like a challenge, almost scary, to face everything in the realm.

The air of Midgard was thick with unfamiliarity— every sound and sight was alien to Loki as he traversed the bustling streets of New York City. His blue eyes darted through the tall skyscrapers, the throngs of people, and the cacophony of noises that assaulted his senses. Layers of confusion built in his mind whenever he saw the bizarre blend of technology and…magic? Is that what it is?

“Images and sounds transmitted through a glowing box? It's like watching a vivid dream unfold before my eyes, except I'm certain no magic was involved. Or was it?” He asks you while you both were passing an electronic shop with many televisions of different sizes on display. “Humans can’t do magic, Loki. I told you before.” You respond with a smile, finding the confused expression on his face too cute.

You were excited for him to be introduced to these things. Things that you used to find normal were a whole new concept to him, and you loved it when he used to listen to you so carefully— the innocent baby-like expression on the almighty god of mischief.

Loki was never one to admit fear. The unfamiliarity of the mortal realm, coupled with the constant possibility of unforeseen dangers, stirred a sense of unease within him. He always had thought mortals were one of the weaker species in all of the nine realms because of shorter life and no knowledge of magic, yet when seen closely, they were a beautiful yet a scary kind. Able to progress so much in a little span of time was fascinating yet frightening at how much these mortals can progress out of curiosity, if given the resources.

Yet, he knew he had to conquer his apprehensions to savor every moment with you, determined to make the most of your time together despite the lurking fear of losing you amidst the chaos of the place.

You take him to Times Square, as what better place could it be for a newcomer to visit?

As you two approach the iconic location, vibrant lights and towering billboards illuminated the night sky, casting a kaleidoscope of colors upon the bustling crowds. Loki’s grip on your hand tightens. So many people. Mortals. Unknown mortals. What if you get lost here? What if someone just grabs you away from him? What if he loses the grip on your hand and gets lost and never finds his way back to you?

You smile at Loki’s reaction, thinking he’s just flabbergasted with the scene. "Welcome to Times Square, Loki. This is one of the busiest and most dazzling places on Earth." Loki looks at you and his face softens and glances back at the buildings. "It seems mortals have a penchant for excess.” You chuckle. “Hm…you could say that. But it’s certainly captivating isn’t it?”

“It’s quite…different from Asgard.” He says with a tinge of fascination as well as skepticism. You snicker and nudge him playfully. “Well, that’s the beauty. It’s diverse, chaotic and endlessly surprising.”

You both continue to move along the street, with you leading Loki through the multitude of people. You notice he was holding on to the helm of your top tightly as you move through a narrow space and turn your head and give him an assured smile. “You’re not gonna get lost, Loki.” He huffs, a tinge of red on his cheeks as you point that out. “But you can."

“Come on, I know this place well.”

He rolls his eyes and looks at you. “The place is too crowded, one glance away and you’ll be gone. And let’s not pretend there are no other dangers as well.”

You raise an eyebrow. “What other dangers?”

Just then, a speedy car whizzes by, its blaring horn causing Loki to instinctively pull you closer to him, shielding you from the potential danger. His heart races for a moment, the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he realises the precariousness of mortal life in such bustling environments.

"That," he says, his voice low with concern, "is one of them."

You take a breath, still holding on to him tightly after what happened. “That was close.” He looks down at you, stroking the back of your head and looking at you with concern. “See, I told you. How you managed to survive all this time here is beyond my understanding.”

You chuckle. “I’m fine, Loki, and this incident was just a matter of chance.” You lean in and place a comforting peck on his cheek. He scoffs, cheeks red, but not taking in your point.

“Just take care of yourself, that's what I want…” He mumbles, takes your hand, and walks forward with you.

As you continue your stroll through the vibrant streets of Times Square, Loki's protective instincts seemed to have heightened after the car episode. He was keeping a watchful eye on your surroundings, his grip on your hand never loosening.

Suddenly, a street performer dressed as a superhero approaches, causing Loki to tense up. He positions himself between you and the performer, eyeing him warily as if he were ready to defend you from any potential threat.

You can't help but snicker at his overprotective nature, finding it endearing how he's so quick to jump to your defence.

“Easy there, sweetie.” You chuckle, gently tugging on his arm to calm him down. “He’s just a harmless street performer.”

Loki relaxes slightly, but his guard doesn't falter. He shoots the performer a distrustful look before turning his attention back to you, a faint blush dusting his cheeks as he realises his overreaction.

"Sorry," he mutters sheepishly, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "I just don't want anything to happen to you. You’re too precious."

You smile reassuringly, squeezing his hand affectionately. "I know, Loki. But you don't have to worry. I'm safe with you." His face softens and he leans in to place a kiss on your forehead.

Just then, you realise that maybe the hustling roads of Times Square might not be a place of interest for Loki. You hold his hand and start to pull him along with you.

“Where to, my darling?” he asks.

“A museum.”

As you step into the cool, quiet space, Loki's tense shoulders begin to relax, and he takes in the sight of the ancient artifacts and priceless artworks with a sense of wonder.

You guide Loki through the museum, stopping at various exhibits to admire the intricacies of each piece. His eyes light up as he marvels at the craftsmanship of ancient weapons, the delicate beauty of sculptures, and the vibrant colours of centuries-old paintings.

"Impressive," he murmured, a hint of admiration in his voice. "It seems mortals have a talent for capturing beauty."

As you both wandered through the halls, Loki's curiosity was piqued by a particularly striking painting depicting a scene from Norse mythology. He studied it intently, a flicker of recognition crossing his features before he masked it with a smirk.

"Ah, a tribute to my exploits," Loki remarked, his tone laced with amusement. "It seems I've made quite the impression on your kind." You chuckle. “You’re unforgettable, that’s why.” He smirks, then continues reading through the information provided below the exhibits. He liked it here, it was calm, and not many people were visiting at this hour, allowing him to soften his guard a bit.

“You know,” you say with a light smile playing on your face, your voice echoing through the empty hall, “I always had this fantasy to kiss my boyfriend in a museum.”

Loki turns, a grin on his face as he approaches you. “Is that true, darling? And why a museum?”

You blush and look away. “They just used to show it in the movies a lot…” You murmur.

With you talking about movies all the time, he knew what you meant. He cups your cheeks and turns your face back to him. “So I should fulfill the wishes of my beloved like a good lover, shall I not?”

He takes your hand and pulls you into a corner, tugging your hair behind the ear. You attempt to cup his cheeks, but he takes your hands and gently holds on to them, then reaches out to caress your lower lip softly with his thumb.

“Thank you for bringing me here…” he says in a low voice, then lets go of your hands and leans in to meet your lips.

When you finally pull away, breathless and flushed with desire, Loki gazes into your eyes with a look of adoration and longing. "I never knew a museum could be so…stimulating," he murmurs, his voice husky with eagerness.

You laugh softly, pressing another lingering kiss to his lips. "Well, now you know," you whisper.

x ────

On the following day:

“Jarvis, read the morning news for me.” Tony calls out while walking in the living room of the Avengers compound.

"Sure, sir,” Jarvis says, reading out the heading, ‘Museum Security Footage Captures Romantic Encounter: Mystery Couple Caught in Kiss.'

“In an unexpected turn of events, the security cameras at the renowned Museum of Art and History, New York, have captured a heartwarming moment between two individuals. The footage, obtained by museum authorities during a routine review of surveillance tapes, reveals a tender exchange between two individuals amidst the quiet halls of the museum.

The couple, whose identities remain unknown, can be seen sharing a passionate kiss in a secluded corner of the museum, seemingly unaware of the camera's presence. The footage, which has since gone viral on social media, has sparked speculation and curiosity among museum visitors and online spectators alike.

‘We are currently reviewing the footage and working closely with local law enforcement to identify the individuals involved,’ stated museum director Dr. Rebecca Thompson. ‘While we encourage visitors to appreciate the art and history within our walls, we must also ensure the safety and security of our premises at all times.’ " Jarvis finishes reading.

Tony, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Ugh, seriously? We’re making out in museums now? Can't people save that for the privacy of their own homes? And here I thought Loki was the only one causing mischief around here…" He shakes his head, a look of mock disgust on his face, before turning his attention back to whatever project he has been working on.

Jarvis, in his usual composed tone after running his data on the museum pictures, "Actually, sir-"

Taglist: @chronicallybubbly, @eleniblue, @foxherder, @holdmytesseract, @julia-lokidottier, @vosnatalia, @nyx2021, @wolfsmom1

Want to be added to my taglist? Here! Or hit the comment section or my dms 🥨

#jiya writes #loki x reader #loki x gender neutral reader #loki x gn!reader #loki fluff #loki x reader fluff #loki #loki laufeyson #loki odinson #loki fanfics #loki fanfictions #tony stark #jarvis #marvel

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nickgerlich · 7 months

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To The Future

Outdoor advertising has long been the haven for companies with lots of money and creative whimsy. Whereas television is two-dimensional and ephemeral (meaning a minute or less in most cases), outdoor ads can be viewed 24/7.

Rooftop scaffolding signs can be attention-getting, more so than standard billboards. Historically, perhaps the pinnacle of outdoor, though, has been Times Square in New York City. Some 330,000 people pass by each day, and up to 460,000 on the busiest of days.

There’s a new kid in town, though, that is redefining outdoor advertising, if you’ve got the ad budget, that is. And it is only fitting it is in Las Vegas, home of the biggest, brightest, gaudiest whatever. It’s Sphere, of course, which opened on 29th September this year, and U2 has a residency until at least February. Although I have not (yet) been, I understand it is a completely immersive experience with wrap-around video to complement the stage.

But what about advertising, you ask? Hold on a sec…Coca-Cola is staging a Sphere takeover of the most unique concert venue in the nation, using the exosphere to announce the launch of its latest product, Y3000 Zero Sugar. Both the soda and the visuals were created in part or in whole with AI.

I know. “There he goes again with all that AI stuff.” I’m just going to step out on a limb here and nominate AI as the Person of the Year, because he/she has totally crushed it. It’s everywhere. While AI has been around for a number of years, it was only after ChatGPT was released last November that it became a household word. Or acronym.

Coke’s larger-than-life advert will display a futuristic cityscape that ties in with their Y3000 AI Cam, a tool also available to consumers to transform their photos into future-forward snaps.

Let’s talk about Sphere for a moment. It is 336 feet high, 516 feet wide at its widest point, and 875,000 square feet. Seating capacity is 18,600, and it cost $2.3 billion to build. Alas, Sphere was in the news this last week after it announced a $100 million operating loss for its 1Q. That’s an accounting loss, though, the kind that allows for many items to be expensed or written off. Remember, Amazon did not post its first profit until 4Q 2001, six years after launching. The IRS makes the rules, and we play by them, sometimes to our advantage.

But back to Coca-Cola. Their big splash on Sphere is for a week, ending on the 13th. Las Vegas averages 88,000 tourists a day on or near the Strip. While you have to be in a specific part of the Strip to see Sphere, it will be impossible to miss once you do. I can imagine people positioning themselves just to take photos. When was the last time you heard of people photographing outdoor ads and signage? Oh wait a sec…I do that, but I am looking primarily for vintage ones.

Think of this as the biggest outdoor ad ever, one that can be static or have motion. In this instance, it is the perfect venue for such a futuristic campaign. I suspect that Sphere will soon have a long line of companies wanting to advertise on its exosphere. Furthermore, Sphere is an excellent fit for companies wishing to go all in on digital as well as AI.

Just like Dippin’ Dots once proudly proclaimed themselves to be the ice cream of the future, Sphere offers the advertising of the future. Except that the future is now. I need to get back out to Las Vegas, to see this marvel, and go to a concert. This is better than anything Times Square could ever muster, and I suspect New York will be feeling the pangs of Sphere envy.

I just hope that U2 is still playing when I get there.

Dr “Achtung, Baby” Gerlich

Audio Blog

#marketing #Coca-Cola #Y3000 #AI #Las Vegas #Sphere

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ledvideo · 10 months

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LED transparent grille screen installation and location environment

LED transparent grille screen is a new type of advertising media screen display, with light, simple, intelligent, bright, waterproof, transparent and other characteristics. It can realize the commercial value of energy saving, simple installation, irreplaceable and wider application, and promote the larger commercial media advertising market. With the rapid development of society, more and more users have experienced the benefits of LED displays, and have purchased LED transparent grille screens. LED transparent grille screen is widely used in building curtain wall, building roof, outdoor advertising and other scenes. How to make LED billboards?

Installation steps:

Design planning: Before installation, design planning is required. Considering the display effect, visual needs, audience perspective and environmental requirements, develop the layout and installation position of the LED transparent grille screen.

Support structure: According to the design plan, choose the appropriate support structure, which can be suspended, fixed on the wall, embedded, etc. Ensure that the support structure is stable and reliable, and can withstand the weight of the LED transparent grille screen and the external environment.

Installation module: The key to installing the LED transparent grille screen is to install the LED module. According to the design plan, the LED modules are installed on the support one by one to ensure that the position of each module is accurate and fixed firmly.

Power and signal cables: Connect the power and signal cables of the LED module to ensure that each module can work properly. The wiring of power and signal lines should be orderly to avoid clutter and safety hazards.

Debug test: After the installation is complete, debug test is performed. Ensure that the LED transparent grille screen can correctly display images, colors and effects, and make necessary calibration and adjustments.

Location environment selection:

Indoor: LED transparent grille screen can be used in indoor places, such as shopping malls, exhibition halls, stadiums, etc. In indoor environments, light and temperature can be better controlled, providing a more stable display effect.

Outdoor: LED transparent grille screen is also suitable for outdoor places, such as building facades, squares, stadiums and so on. In the outdoor environment, it is necessary to choose a model that is waterproof, dustproof and resistant to bad weather, and consider a good heat dissipation design.

Transparent wall: The transparency of the LED transparent grid screen makes it particularly suitable for transparent walls, which can be used for advertising or creative display while maintaining the appearance of the building.

Stage and performance: Due to its transparency and lightness, LED transparent grille screens are also commonly used for stage and performance backgrounds to create unique visual effects.

Transportation hubs: LED transparent grille screens can be used in public transportation hubs, such as airports, train stations, subway stations, to display timetables, advertising and other information.

Commercial advertising: In commercial advertising, the LED transparent grille screen can be used for various displays, such as promotional activities, brand promotion, product introduction and so on.

When selecting the location environment of the LED transparent grille screen, it is necessary to consider factors such as viewer flow, viewing distance, light conditions, and ambient temperature. At the same time, ensure that safety regulations are met to avoid blocking fire escape or affecting the building structure. It is best to cooperate with a professional LED display supplier to develop an installation plan according to the specific situation.

Thank you for watching. I hope we can solve your problems. Sostron is a professional LED display manufacturer. We provide all kinds of displays, display leasing and display solutions around the world. If you want to know: What is the effect of high temperature on LED transparent screen? Please click read.

Follow me! Take you to know more about led display knowledge.

#led transparent screen #led display #led

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pickceldigital · 1 year

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What are 3D digital billboards? 5 jaw-dropping examples of 3D advertising

You are waiting to grab an Oreo McFlurry from your favorite McD takeout. Suddenly, you see the celebrity you adore (and pretty much who made you fall in love with the dessert) wave a ‘Hi’ to you.

You’re shocked and run out to see them…on a giant 3D screen!

Welcome to the world of 3D advertising.

From a Calico cat appearing right in the middle of Tokyo to the Resident Evil in New York, these anamorphic billboards have made everything we only see on flat screens come to life! So, what empowers this technology, and who has made the most of it?! Let’s find out!

What is a 3D digital billboard?

3D digital billboards use 3D technology on conventional signage players with precise calculations & creativity. 3D technology produces a hyper-realistic larger-than-life three-dimensional visual of anything, from a movie trailer to an iPhone ad.

Well-executed 3D footages highlight a perspective that lives on in the viewers’ minds long after they have come across the signage. Such large outdoor advertising displays help bring the brand’s person to life. With a visual so close to reality, your potential audience will be more willing to Google up and learn about your business!

Brands worldwide have embraced 3D digital displays, and more so because of the perspective and depth added to their range of marketing & promotion channels, turning advertisements into art.

Got 100 displays? You just need one software!

Start a free trial with Pickcel & manage your digital signage content from anywhere.Free 14 Day Trial

How does 3D digital billboard technology work?

3D billboard technology works on the principle of “forced perspective.” Forced perspective is a technique that uses an object’s scale and the spectator’s vantage point to create an illusion of the thing appearing larger, smaller, nearer, or distant from the viewer.

Image credit: Cmglee

To achieve this illusion, 3D billboards usually use curved displays with two faces.

High-tech billboards such as these provide a peerless visual experience with everything appearing more realistic than they are (I bet you could feel the water from the Wave right onto your face at K-pop Square in South Korea).

3D digital billboards are way more sustainable than conventional billboards and impact sales by 107% compared to only 54% for static advertising boards. In terms of story-telling, the 3D advertising system is much more engaging since it effectively engages all senses of the audience and gets the message across much faster.

5 best examples of 3D advertising billboards

By now, one thing is for sure - 3D displays are more than what meets the eye! And here, we have put down some of the most excellent advertisements created using the technology!

1. Naver’s Super Casting Campaign at COEX Square, South Korea

In early 2022, South Korea’s largest search portal, Naver, came up with a mesmerizing promo at COEX Square in Seoul.

The 3D advertising display featured global K-pop band BTS in the platform’s webtoon titled ‘Super Casting.’

The advertisement began with three of the band members, RM, Jhope, and Jungkook waving to the crowd, tapping their hands through another screen pop-up, then disappearing into an unknown world one by one, with others following suit. It also promoted the comic concept and created an effect as if the audience could hold hands with them. The crowd engagement at the Square was massive!

youtube

2. Nike’s 3D Air Max Billboard in Japan

Nike Japan launched an innovative campaign to mark its 35th anniversary in 2014.

The brand created a 3D LED billboard ad outside Shinjuku Station in Tokyo with a Nike box projecting out of the board. It then opens up showcasing various Air Max designs in customizable colors!

With a mission to highlight creativity, imagination, and innovation, Nike’s creative directors also managed to bring in the right technology and win millions of hearts worldwide. Check this out! ↓

youtube

3. Amazon Prime’s The Wheel of Time at Piccadilly Square, London

If it’s happening, it’s at Piccadilly!

In November 2021, London’s dynamic hotspot saw Amazon Prime launch a fantasy series, The Wheel of Time, with a remarkable 3D illusion featuring the show’s prima donna, Rosamund Pike. The digital billboard shows a battle between Rosamund’s character, representing The Light with the commander of The Dark army, doubling up as a promo for the show.

To add to it, similar 3D billboards were displayed at New York’s Big Kahuna at Times Square and Tokyo’s Cross Shinjuku Vision alongside Piccadilly, requiring Pike to deliver separate performances for each location to create a diverse angular impact on the audience.

youtube

4. Wave, South Korea

Seoul boasts of the world’s largest 3D advertising billboard in South Korea, and rightly so.

A giant wave appeared on the LED facade at Gangnam’s K-pop Square in late 2020, when beachside vacations were still a distant daydream for most city residents. The anamorphic illusion was created to uptick the overall footfall.

Appearing for a minute every hour, the immersive simulation synced in a way to look as if water is about to pour over the heads of the people who pass through the Square, intending to create a dynamic yet calming effect. This screen is also often used to promote Korean music, brand promos, and, more recently, art installations such as the Wave.

youtube

5. The Golden Bull at Pavillion KL, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In the wake of the country’s fight against Covid 19, Pavilion KL came up with a 3D animation of a golden bull symbolizing good health and prosperity for the nation. The billboard was unveiled to mark the Chinese New Year celebrations in the country and saw a massive trend on social media.

The 3D billboard screen showed a silver bull encased in a glass box being spray painted in gold. The bull digs its hooves into the ground and charges toward the screen with the words “Together fight against COVID-19.”

youtube

The future of 3D digital billboard advertising

With the tech storm taking over the world, 3D digital billboards are becoming more and more popular.

Although consumption patterns and market trends trigger advertising, 3D billboard ads have more longevity than traditional ones. It helps the user tap into an exciting new world while driving down a freeway or simply walking through the city’s heartland. 3D displays have become a rage, especially since the onset of the pandemic, because people did look for things to get them attracted amid the gloomy days. But now, with more and more brands jumping to disrupt marketing & advertising, it seems like 3D digital billboards are here to stay.

For More click on the link 3d advertising billboard

#Youtube

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biglisbonnews · 1 year

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tlinh is Vietnam's Brightest Star In Vietnam's emergent pop music scene — shaped heavily by nearby K-Pop and Chinese-style ballads — Hanoi-born singer-songwriter tlinh is pioneering a much-needed post-internet sound, infusing genres like pop, rap, hip-hop and R&B with Vietnamese lyrics and sensibilities. In a traditionally conservative country, the 22-year-old is also distinguishing herself from the establishment by pushing against outdated social views on women, unapologetically embracing her femininity and the sensuality that she says comes along with it. Related | Thuy is In Her Bag“I want people who listen to my music to feel more feminine, to feel more confident,” tlinh says. “There are feelings I believe we all have, but that people are not used to expressing in Vietnamese. I’m here to help people — women — get in touch with those emotions.” It’s clearly resonated: last year, she was one of Spotify’s most listened-to artists in Vietnam, and after making it onto the platform’s Equal playlist, had her photo displayed on a Times Square billboard. The success has created opportunities beyond charts, like creating a jingle for Maybelline and appearing in a music video with 88Rising. Born Nguyễn Thảo Linh, tlinh says she was always drawn to the stage — but she never thought that becoming a musician was a real possibility. She originally set out to become a doctor, like both of her parents. “I just wanted to prove to them that I could do anything,” she tells PAPER. “But I always neglected my studies to go to the studio.”It was in 2020, during her sophomore year of college, that tlinh auditioned for Rap Việt, a national reality TV competition. Although she didn’t win, she was the only female to crack the finals and had the chance to perform with Vietnam’s reigning queen of hip hop, Suboi. She remembers going from 10,000 followers to 600,000 in a matter of months.“It was crazy — people started messaging me to give me gifts and send me products,” she says, reflecting on the experience of newfound fame. “They also started sending me hate messages for no reason. That’s when I was like, ‘Oh, it’s getting real.’”tlinh reveals that some of that drama had to do with her boyfriend at the time and public scrutiny of the newly famous young couple’s personal lives. That relationship, though long over, would ultimately inspire her latest song, “nếu lúc đó” (which roughly translates to “If Only, At the Time”), which is the second single on her debut album set to drop later this year.With today’s release of “nếu lúc đó” — and its accompanying music video, which premieres below — we sat down with tlinh to chat about her musical inspiration, getting vulnerable with her emotions on camera and her hopes for the Vietnamese music industry. You’ve been called a rapper and a singer. How do you identify primarily as an artist? I identify most as a songwriter. I write everything that I sing or rap. I put a lot of effort into that part. I just like making music. Are there any artists that you would say have inspired your sound? Of course, big names like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lana Del Rey, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, and Rosalía. I would say Kali Uchis is a huge inspiration for me right now, as well as SZA. I love how these artists have such a bold style but also with sensual touches. Powerful and feminine. In general, I’m inspired by women of color, who in history have always had to fight to express themselves freely.Tell us about the experience of going on Rap Viet and getting your break in the industry.Well, I didn’t win, but I was the only girl to make it to the final stages. I didn’t really even expect to, especially since this show is so male-dominated. So I think people found it interesting when I was in the finals. Did you have much of a following before going on the show?I had a small following before, mostly from just venting and ranting on Instagram [laughs]. I like telling stories. I would also sing a bit. Let’s talk about your latest video and song — what inspired it?The song is about my feelings toward my ex-boyfriend. It’s about repressed feelings because, at the time, I was young and naive. I felt like the world was bubbly and pink. I used to post everything about the relationship online. And that became messy and chaotic. So it forced me to repress my emotions. So the song is looking back on that period in your life. Yeah, the meaning of the song is sort of like, “If only at the time, I knew better.” If I had known better, I would have been more private, so people wouldn’t make so many assumptions. If I had known better, I would have not fed into this character people wanted me to play. How did this feeling translate to the video, and how much input do you usually have on the visuals for your music?I would say I have a lot of input. I really set the tone for the art team to work off of. I share what mood I want, what feelings I want to convey and what I want the audience to experience and feel. In the first half of the video, I'm wearing all pink. Everything is picture-perfect and pink. But if you look closely at the images being projected behind me, it's a representation of my chaotic mind. The second half of the video is pure raw emotions. I’m wearing what looks like a wedding dress, but with some burnt holes. It’s a sort of eulogy to past relationships. What was it like to release those emotions and be so vulnerable on camera the day of the shoot?I think it was easy for me because I was expecting to feel a lot. Everyone on set really held space for me to share those emotions. I cried a lot. We had some of my fans there, and so I got to share that with them. Your fans were on set? Yes, we needed around 25 extras for the video, so we let people apply online and we picked some at random. They were all very kind to me that day. There was a moment where I screamed really loud — like I really screamed — and I just feel blessed to share those intimate moments with people. Speaking generally, what do you think is the state of the Vietnamese music industry right now? I think the Vietnamese music scene is in a transition period where anything can happen. We have so much potential. With this new generation of artists, I feel like we are more likely to tell our stories. We are more unafraid to speak our minds. I feel that the upcoming year is gonna be very interesting in the Vietnamese music scene. So I hope that people pay more attention to us.Of course, Vietnamese people have the same emotions as everyone else, but we’re not used to expressing them. They don’t know how to name it yet. And I am here to convey it in Vietnamese.Would you ever want to crossover to a global market or even release a song in English one day? Of course, as an artist, you want your music to touch as many people as possible. But I never want to have to change who I am to make that happen. And I feel like right now, I need to do it in Vietnamese. It’s funny because when I first started writing, I used to write everything in English, but I want to talk about emotions in Vietnamese.Do you think because Vietnam has been so conservative in the past, it’s hard for people to find the words to talk about certain feelings?Of course, Vietnamese people have the same emotions as everyone else, but we’re not used to expressing them. They don’t know how to name it yet. And I am here to convey it in Vietnamese. It’s very easy to convey those messages in English, but I want all of my fellow Vietnamese to have this voice. Do you ever face pushback for pushing the idea of being open and expressing sexuality? If so, how do you stay so confident?Yes, my music is hyper-feminine and it can be too powerful for some people. A lot of Vietnam still has the idea of toxic masculinity. That’s still very strong here. I used to repress my femininity because I was molested at a young age, and was always afraid of it happening to me. I always acted tough so that boys would not do anything to me. I got back my power and wanted to put it in my music so girls can feel that they have their power, too. Femininity doesn’t mean weakness. What’s the most fun or exciting part of what you do? Getting to meet and vibe with so many different people with mind-blowing stories.Are there any Vietnamese artists you think we should know about?My genius producers 2pillz and wokeup. Rising rapper Wxrdie, singer-songwriter Grey D, MCK, who's also dropping his debut album, Mono and Onionn., and of course Mỹ Anh and so many more talented young artists.What’s coming up for you besides the album this summer?I’m performing at a concert for Billboard on International Women’s Day, on March 8.In your dream world, is there an international artist that you would want to work with?The Weeknd.Do you have any vision of your career in five years?At this point, I’m just trying to be present and appreciate time with my loved ones. Healthy, wealthy, sexy and zen.Photography: Dao Nhat TanStylist: TigrebiaMake-up: Xi Quan LeHair: Quan LeMake-up assistant: Lam Minh QuanStyling assistants: Nekohiee, Heyiman https://www.papermag.com/tlinh-neu-luc-do-2659491967.html

#Tlinh #Vietnam #K-pop #Vietnamese music #Rap viet #Dan Q. Dao #PAPER

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jerry618 · 2 years

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LED Walls – Let’s discuss how they work and the details

A LED wall is a bit of a different technology than projection. It is an emissive vs reflective method of displaying an image.

Projectors work by using light and an imaging panel that is typically 3/4-1″ diagonal and has somewhere between 1 million and 2.3 million pixels for today’s 16:9 or 16:10 projectors. (That is a whole lot of pixels in a tiny area!!). The projector shoots light onto a screen or wall and you then see the reflection of that image.

So back to the LED display. It is made up of multiple panels which are made up of smaller modules which then have multiple multi-color LED’s on them. A typical pane size is 500x500mm or 19.7×19.7″. Four of these panels makes up one square meter. The LED’s are directly emitting light out and generally are surrounded by a black plastic housing. This method offers a high visible contrast ratio vs. projecting onto a white screen and expecting it to be “black”. In a dark room projectors do quite well, but in high ambient light the LED wall can much more easily overcome the light and offer a brighter image.

A typical panel will have it sold and marketed by its pixel pitch. What this is a measure of is the distance between each LED on the panel. The current standard pixel pitches for what you would normally find in a church today is 6mm-3mm. Outdoor LED products like billboards and gas station signs are also in the same family but tend to have a much wider pixel pitch as the viewing distance is much greater and the eye has a hard time distinguishing the individual LED’s at a distance. When you are close up you need the tighter (lower numerically) spacing on the pixel pitch.

A key point here is that a significant part of the cost in a LED wall is what pixel pitch you choose. For example, a single panel of a 3.91mm pixel pitch would have a resolution of 128×128 pixels and over 16,000 LEDs on it. Can you imagine wiring up and making that all work? Yea… And that is 16,000 for each of Red Green and Blue…

A 5.2mm pixel pitch panel has a resolution of 96×96 and about 9000 LED’s

A 7.8mm pixel pitch has 64×64 pixels and about 4000 LEDs. This is only 25% of the 3.91mm yet the pixel count is 128×128 vs 64×64…

If you go up to let’s say a 2mm LED then your pixel count goes through the roof, and the cost follows.

So to make a 16:10 widescreen video wall that has the same ACTUAL resolution as let’s say a WUXGA (1920×1200) projector would at a 3.91mm pixel pitch require you to have 15 panels wide and 9.375 panels tall. Whoops, I can do that – it’s either going to be 9 or 10 panels tall. If we go 10 that would be 1280 pixels tall and 1920 wide.

Well, what if we just did 16 panels wide and 10 tall? That is 2048 pixels wide and 1280 tall. A true 16:10 aspect, but not a standard resolution.

So size — how big is 16 wide by 10 tall?

26.2′ wide by 16.’ Tall. That is huge.

So let’s say you do a 16′ by 10′ wall? 10 panels wide by 6 tall gets you close — 16.4′ by 9.85′. That is 1280 pixels by 768 pixels… Or really close to WXGA resolution which is 1280×800.

So the cost vs resolution on LED walls is something we will explore in a future post.

#www.xygledscreen.com

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coghive · 2 years

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[Music Video] Jesus’ Fault - Zach Williams Feat. Walker Hayes

Two-time GRAMMY Award winner, multi-GMA Dove Award winner, and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter Zach Williams shares the official music video for “Jesus’ Fault” featuring Walker Hayes. The track is off his recently released and anticipated 15-track project, which is available courtesy of Sony Music/ Provident Entertainment. Listen HERE. Williams will see his collaboration with fellow platinum-selling country star Walker Hayes hit national country television today. The highly-anticipated official music video for Williams’ “Jesus’ Fault feat. Walker Hayes” makes its TV debut on CMT and CMT Music. The country twinged single comes from Williams’ first album in three years, A Hundred Highways, which was released to critical praise just this past week. The video for “Jesus’ Fault (feat. Walker Hayes)” airs October 4th on CMT at 6:42am, 7:42am, and 8:39am (EST). CMT Music will be airing the video 8 times throughout the day starting at 6:32am (EST). In addition to the premiere, CMT has given Williams their coveted Times Square billboard, where “Jesus’ Fault (feat. Walker Hayes)” will be played to the “crossroads of the world” at 12 pm and 5 pm (EST). Jesus’ Fault - Zach Williams Feat. Walker Hayes https://youtu.be/_J-6zBWJWhQ A Hundred Highways is Williams’ faith on full display from beginning to end, with each song built on his unchanging love for Jesus. “This record feels more like me than anything else I’ve done,” Williams shares. “It’s the most ‘Zach’ record I’ve made. I wasn’t concerned about if it fits in any certain pocket, I just wrote about my life experiences and the things I’m feeling and living.” Along with “There Was Jesus,” Williams is also sharing many of his new songs on his current headlining tour. Running through November 20, the Zach Williams Fall ’22 Tour is visiting 36 major markets such as New York City, Colorado Springs, Baton Rouge, Phoenix, and Austin. Additionally, for VIP ticket holders and in partnership with the Salvation Army, for every VIP ticket sold a food box will be given to a family in need in the community, providing enough meals to feed a family of four for an entire week. The Salvation Army partnership will continue through the holidays when he embarks on his I Don’t Want Christmas To End Tour, which runs through December. Click HERE to find out more and for tickets to both tours, which are on sale now. Read the full article

#WalkerHayes #ZachWilliams

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scotttrust · 2 years

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New year times square video

#NEW YEAR TIMES SQUARE VIDEO FULL#

Enjoy streaming video and audio from multiple webcams and watch as the world. Among the other changes announced Thursday, revelers won’t be allowed into viewing areas until 3 p.m., much later than in past years. Watch archived video of the 2022 New Years celebration in Times Square. I personally think that 2021 was worse than 2020 but that doesn’t. Other networks plan to air the festivities, including “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” on ABC, the stalwart now hosted by Ryan Seacrest.ĭe Blasio said along with Thursday’s announcement that the city is monitoring the COVID-19 situation and could impose additional precautions if needed. Wow, that was certainly a year huh, it felt uneventful but very eventful at the same time. On Tuesday, the Fox network gave its verdict, pulling the plug on a planned live broadcast from the New Year’s Eve event. Little more than a month ago, de Blasio gleefully announced that a fully vaccinated crowd of hundreds of thousands of people would be back at the iconic celebration - donning goofy 2022-themed glasses and watching a crystal-clad ball drop at midnight - after it was limited last year to small groups of essential workers.īut that was before omicron caught fire, forcing city officials and event organizers to rethink just how many people they wanted to squeeze into the bright, billboard-lined tourist haven known to some as the Crossroads of the World. The goal is to provide a safe and healthy celebration, according to a release from The Times Square Alliance, which noted, "The event is working closely with medical experts to consult on all health protocols and to ensure that everyone follows the state established safety guidelines.LA police kill teen girl while firing shots at male suspect NYC LIVE Times Square 2022 New Years Eve Live Stream Rules and Guidelines (Show More to Display) No racism, sexism, harassment, toxicity, violence, or. These websites stream the webcast during the event, from 6pm on December 31 to 12:15am on January 1. WATCH LIVE: New Year's Eve in Times Square 330,289 views Streamed live on 1.4K Dislike Share Save Description WCNC 109K subscribers Tonight, New Year’s Eve celebrations will look very. The new wave of cases has led to the cancellation of concerts, sporting events and Broadway shows, but de Blasio has shown a strong preference for having the annual Times Square ball drop go on as. Holidays: Things to do this season around the Hudson Valley, NYC Each year, get up close and personal with the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square with various websites from the Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, co-organizers of Times Square New Year’s Eve. Revelers will still ring in the new year in New York's. Hudson Valley holidays 2021: Tickets on sale for popular drive-thru events FILE - The 2022 sign that will be lit on top of a building on New Year's Eve is displayed in Times Square, New York, Monday, Dec. video, or audio recording taken by or New York Marriott Marquis or the. NYC: When will the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree be lit? Buy tickets to Marriott Marquis Times Square New Years Eve Party. Details are not yet available on where those entrances points will be located. The broadcasts that usually set up shop in. It's safe to expect the same for this year's celebration, with the addition of those vaccination checks. The ball will still drop in Times Square, but the celebration will be virtual this year, with no public audience. In previous years, spectators were only able to access the area via dedicated entrance spots where bags were checked. Children too young to receive the vaccine must be accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult and the children must wear a face covering. The site of the official New Years Eve Ball Drop since 1907- right in.

#NEW YEAR TIMES SQUARE VIDEO FULL#

Spectators ages 5 and older must provide proof of full vaccination as well as a valid photo ID before they can be admitted to a viewing area. See Instagram photos and videos from One Times Square (onetimessquarenyc).

#New year times square video

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electricopolis-net · 2 years

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S01E01: Shock 'Til You Drop

Alice Lang clung to the pole, pale and unsteady. She was already feeling sick from stress, and the rocking motions of the bus weren't helping at all. What was the staff going to do if she showed up looking like this? Would they have to cancel the show? Maybe they'd have another contestant lined up, and she could just come back some other day...no, she thought, they'd have to change their whole schedule around for that, and she wasn't worth the fuss.

She took a deep breath and held it tight in her chest, her eyes staring out one of the grimy windows. Better to just calm down. You don't want to look sick, she told herself, not on your big day.

The bus rounded a turn and began its slow climb up the ramp that led to the highest tier of the city. Electricopolis was a city built in layers: the maintenance tier below, the residential stages above, and, up top, the commerce and entertainment district. Like a wedding cake, each level was roughly ring-shaped and smaller than the one below. Alice herself lived in a little rowhome squarely in the most middling part of town. She had often traveled up top to press her face against the windows and drink in the lights and sound, but tonight she gripped the pole as if it were her first time away from home.

As the bus bumped its way up over the top of the ramp, light flooded into the bus. About a hundred feet away, some of the television studios towered high into the air, their sides covered with huge screens that blazed commercials into the black sky. Billboards jutted out into the center plaza, and one of them displayed THE LIGHT OF YOUR LIFE: TOP TIER ELECTRIC CO. before shifting to a cosmetics advertisement. A little closer, she could see the storefront windows and their clean, bright interiors, all white walls and glass.

The bus groaned to a halt about ten feet into the plaza. Alice and one or two other people stepped out onto the stones, and it turned right around and headed back down to the darkness it came from.

She clutched the rumpled set of directions in her fist, though she'd memorized them anyway. She began the trek to the buildings on the other side of the square, weaving through crowded sidewalks until she found the studio she needed. She barely had time to show her confirmation before someone grabbed her hand and yanked her inside.

As she was rushed down the hall, she struggled to make herself heard. "Excuse me," she said nervously, tottering down the corridor as the production assistants pushed her forward. "Can I just--I mean, may I just--"

"Sorry, but we're running a little behind," a tall, nosy lady sighed, tugging at Alice's hair with a stiff-bristled brush. "Takes and retakes, that sort of thing."

"But we can fit you in. Not that way," another person scolded, grabbing Alice's arm and sternly pulling her back in the group. "That's the way to the green room. You were there last time, weren't you?"

"Please!" she cried, pressing her hands to her face. "I can hardly tell where I'm going!"

"Hey, hey!" came a loud, piercing voice. "What's going on over here?"

The world slowed to a stop. The production assistants froze, their heads turning as one towards a broad, outlandish-looking man. His suit burned neon green and yellow, and her eyes almost hurt to look at it. "Give the little lady a break. She's not supposed to have a heart attack until after she wins," he chuckled. He leaned forward a little, craning, his long nose poking into Alice's space insistently as he busied his hands with straightening and smoothing his tie. It was cut in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Alice's mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Um...um," she stammered, holding out her hand awkwardly. "You must be, ah, the host...right?" This is wonderful, it's an honor to meet you, I'm a big fan, she thought, but the words died of nervousness before they reached her mouth. "Mister, Mister Sparker?"

"The one and only. Bob Sparker!" He laughed, sharp and high. "And, let's see...Miss Lang! Welcome, glad to have you!" The host made a movement as if he were going to seize her hand, then paused. For a moment she felt his gaze flash up and down, and then he took her hand with a restrained, delicate motion. "It's a pleasure to have you on the show. Ah, gimme a minute--"

He brought his arm back up and smoothly tossed it around the shoulder of a passing staff member. In hushed voices they started to talk, Bob's restless hands moving near his mouth. She caught half of something that sounded like "screening process" and before they could get any further, she raised up her voice over the din and chatter. "Excuse me!"

Bob turned his head to look at her over his shoulder, eyebrows raised. Alice continued, trying not to feel too embarrassed. "Mr. Sparker, I, um...I'm ready," she said, holding up her crumpled confirmation. "I've signed all the papers, and--" She felt her voice catch in her throat, and coughed it out. "I'm ready!"

A flash of skepticism passed over the host's pale face, but he discarded it with a shrug of his shoulders. "She says she's ready, then she's ready," he said. "All right, everyone, let's get out there and put on a show!"

He waved his arm. A small ocean of people grabbed Alice and sped her along the corridors, ejecting her out onto the stage. She squinted into the limelight, trying to force her eyes to adjust as the live studio audience cheered at the tops of their lungs. Vaguely, as if from a distance away, she heard the announcer:

"What time is it? That's right! It's time for Electricopolis' first and finest endurance show!" Alice could practically see the opening montage in her head, she'd watched it so many times. "Which one of our lucky contestants will win the cash prize, the stunning vacation, or the fabulous new car? Stay tuned for the one, the only--Shock 'Til You Drop!"

A fountain of lime-colored sparks cascaded down from all sides, showering the stage as the audience roared. Alice clapped politely and turned to see Bob Sparker run onto the stage and shake her hand before giving a brief bow to the audience. As he stood back up, he tugged at his tie and motioned for the audience to settle down.

"Good evening, Electricopolis! Gorgeous night tonight, ain't it?" The audience's cheering bubbled into laughter. Of course it was a gorgeous night: it was never anything else. "Brought to you, as always," Bob appended, "by Mr. Percy King and his fabulous Top Tier Electric Company. Long live the King, am I right?" Another cheer.

"For those of you just joining us, here's how it works," Sparker said, striding over to the electric chair bolted to the middle of the stage. It was brightly decorated with bulbous lights around the base, and it had bright green and purple straps to match the rest of the show's decor. "This baby is the star of the show!" he said, patting it affectionately. "We strap in one of our contestants and fire her up. The shocks start out low, and the higher the voltage, the higher you win!"

While he was talking, he sat down in the chair. "And it's all real, too," he said, grinning devilishly. "I can prove it!"

There was the chunk of a breaker being thrown and Bob gripped the arms of the chair. Electricity crackled across his body as the bulbs on the base lit up all the way around, from yellow to orange to red. Alice had seen the show enough times to know how dangerous the shocks could get: almost nobody made it that far, and would settle for a cash consolation prize rather than subject themselves to the full gauntlet. But the host (and this was one of the great mysteries of the town) drank it in at the beginning of every show.

"Aaahhhhh ha!" he shrieked, leaping out of the contraption as it powered down. With a whirl he stood on the electric chair, his head thrown back and his back arched hard. "See, everyone? Not so bad at all! You know, years of doing that's made my hair turn white!" He let out a laugh--more of a cackle--and tossed his head, sending sparks flying off his hair. "Enough about that, let's get this show on the road! Come on down, Alice Lang," he boomed, thrusting his hand out towards her. "Let's take you for a ride!"

He helped Alice into the chair as several attractive-looking assistants came forward to strap her in. It was, no contest, the most nerve-wracking experience of her life. Not only was she being strapped into a chair that was a few volts shy of a death machine, but it was being recorded in front of a live studio audience, and broadcasted later for the whole city to see. She clenched her fists tightly. As the assistants tightened the straps around her arms and legs, she felt a bead of sweat roll down her forehead.

"Miss Alice Lang, everybody! Let's give her a warm welcome." There was a small rumble of cheers from the crowd, and the host casually sat down on an arm of the chair. "Tell us a little bit about yourself, Alice, why don't you?" Before she even had the chance to panic, he dropped her a line: "What do you do for a living?"

"Oh..." She flexed her thin fingers nervously. "Actually, I'm...kind of between jobs right now."

"Aren't we all!" Bob exclaimed, and a burst of cheer erupted from the audience. "And what would you liketo do for a living, sweetheart?"

"Well," she said, "I think I'd like to be on your show."

"You already are!" he laughed. "Or do you mean behind the scenes?" She gave a nod, and he threw his hands up, bringing another shower of applause into the air. "Well, isn't that a first! A contestant with the noble aim of being one of my cast and crew! Well, keep it a secret from the producers," he said, leaning in and stage-whispering to her, "but maybe we can work something out! Now...are you ready, Miss Lang?"

She nodded.

"She says she's ready, folks!" Bob shouted, and was met with an incredible cheer from the audience. "Let's start her off gentle! You know the countdown! Three, two, one..."

Alice tensed before the shock hit. It wasn't nearly as terrible as she'd anticipated; she figured the first one wasn't going to be much of a problem, but she'd still never felt anything like it before, and wasn't entirely sure what to expect. It was a zap that flashed through her body, like having a rubber band snapped all over her skin. It faded almost before she even registered it.

"How are you feeling, little lady?" the host drawled, leaning casually against the electric chair. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" Alice shook her head. "Good, good. I'd be really worried if you couldn't handle it already. And look what you've won, just by putting up with a little zap!" Alice turned her head to see him produce a small wad of cash out of his jacket, fanning them out with a flick of his wrist. "A cool three hundred dollars. Now, you can either take the cash and step off, or you can hang in there for the other seven prizes. I see that look in your eyes! You want to take it all the way, don't you?" Another nod. "Atta girl!"

The audience gave a polite, obligatory cheer. Things didn't get exciting until later. "Now for the next one. Get ready in three, two, one..."

There were eight levels of shock. Alice gripped the arms of the electric chair, setting her jaw tightly before each jolt flashed through her body, counting them down one by one. The prizes were negligible, and she turned them down almost before she even knew what they were: a washing machine, a refrigerator, a new wardrobe filled to the brim with designer clothes...

Alice's eyes snapped open and she sucked in a breath of air. She twisted, her fingernails digging curved marks into the wood of the chair, clinging to the arms with a grip she didn't know she was capable of. She could hear Bob's voice drift in and out through a haze of staticky, distant cheering. It was hard to hear him over the forceful panting of her own breath, but she strained.

"Number five! I cannot be-lieve it, folks!" She blinked away the fog in front of her eyes and looked up, her lips creaking into a smile. "She's almost into the Big Three!" Bob reached over to pat her shoulder. "Now, Alice, are you going to take your winnings and head back on home, or are you going to fight the good fight and shoot for the grand prize?"

She caught her breath before giving another automatic nod. "I'm--I want to go for the grand prize," she said, stumbling over the words.

"The grand prize, eh? Well, for those of you who are just tuning in," Bob said, turning back around to the cameras, "here's how our grand prize works. If Alice gets all the way to the end, and we do mean all the way, she can have her pick of one of these three fabulous prizes!" He turned around to gesture at some screen at the back of the stage where the prizes were being displayed. With the way she was sitting, Alice couldn't see them directly, but there was an angled mirror at the top of the stage expressly for that purpose. She tried not to look at it, but found her eyes drifting towards it for lack of anything better to focus on.

"A cash prize of a cool million dollars!" One of the attractive female assistants opened a briefcase full of money, showing it to the crowd. "Or maybe a fabulous new car! I've got 32--you can have one of my spares!" There was raucous laughter, even if the audience had heard the joke a billion times before. "Or...an all-expenses paid vacation!" he said, and the audience howled even harder. The vacation was a gag. Electricopolis was in the middle of a barren valley: where else was there to go?

"So!" he said, leaning over the arm of the chair. "Whaddaya think, little miss Lang? Wanna go for the gold, or go home with your winnings? Five hundred thousand's nothing to sneeze at!"

"No...no, thank you," she whispered, shaking her head. Bob gave her a little nudge and motioned with his hand, prompting her to speak up. "No, thank you...I'd like to go further," she said in as strong a voice as she could muster. It cracked, but he gave a very dignified nod and politely ignored it.

He turned back to the crowd and took a few steps forward, affecting a rather serious air and extending a long arm towards the electric chair. "Look at that, folks," he said somberly. "What a brave little lady we have here tonight! A working girl, come all the way up from the dark depths of the second tier, her heart set on one of our three grand prizes. A real rags to riches story, and I think she can do it!" he cried out, pointing emphatically at Alice's figure in the chair. "What about you, everybody? Do you think she can do it?"

The crowd nearly leapt out of their seats, and lights flashed all over the arena like confetti. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Alice knew that the theatrics were a necessity, to pad out the half-hour of screentime she knew they had to fill, but it didn't matter...

"How about it?" She gave a little start as she felt Bob's hand, cool and dry, over her own. She looked up to see him staring straight at her with a penetrating look. When he asked "Now, are you sure about this? You're sure you want to do it?", it was with a note of concern that was lost on her entirely. She could feel the blood rushing to her head, and her lips stretched into a wide smile as she nodded.

There was the briefest pause before Bob pulled his hand away. There was a distant click.

Alice felt her body seize up, her back arch sharply and her chest thrust out, her heart beating wildly as fire danced along her nerves and crackled at the end of every vein...

Normally, when you woke up, you had to open your eyes first. But even as the world slowly came back into focus, Alice felt as if she'd been staring at the pale blue ceiling for hours. Her eyelids were forced open as far as they could go, frozen, and the muscles around her eyeballs ached.

So did everything else. She learned this when she tried to move, slowly turning one leg back and forth. It sent a dull ache along her frazzled nerves, and she eventually settled for turning her head.

She was in the hospital. There was a cabinet on the opposite wall, and a screen folded up in the corner, and it was all white--that pale electric blue came from the sign outside her window, and it cast deep shadows across the room. Someone sat in a chair not far away, their eyes glued to the floor, their foot tapping faintly against the tiles.

Alice stared blankly. It was only until the man brought his head up to look at her that she realized who he was, and everything clicked back into place. After all, he was still wearing those obnoxiously colored green pants, but he had taken off his jacket and set it on the table. He looks smaller without his suit, she thought, blinking in mild surprise.

Bob opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it, then opened it again. "Hey." The word dropped to the floor with a dull thud.

"Listen," he followed. "I'm glad you're awake."

Alice didn't say anything. She was surprised that Sparker was even here. The host started to rub at the back of his neck nervously, and she heard the faint hiss of breath through his teeth. "We're going to...we're prepared to take full responsibility for this," he said. "The hospital, treatments, settlement costs, everything. It'll all be paid out by the end of the week. We'll have someone come over to your house to go over the details, okay?"

"What about the show?" she asked, and found her voice hoarse and scratchy.

"The show?"

"Will it be okay?"

"The filming?" He shook his head, and his foot began to drum nervously against the floor. He was leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. The light carved deep shadows under his eyes, and all Alice could think of was how drained he looked when things hadn't gone as he'd expected. "I mean, we have more contestants lined up. We'll be a little bit behind schedule, but we usually record several episodes a week anyway. One episode is nothing..." He looked up at her. "Why'd you come on the show?"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean, you've watched it before, right?" Bob asked quickly. It was the first sign of vitality she'd seen from him since waking up. "You know the shocks can get pretty bad. How did you get past the screening process?" he puzzled, sitting up in his chair and crossing one leg over the other. "The crew's supposed to check for this sort of thing. I don't get it."

"One of my cousins..." Alice reached up to feel her throat with a pale hand, grimacing a little. It felt as if the insides of her throat had been scraped with a nail file. "...works on your show. When I was chosen, she...helped me out a little bit."

"Helped you out a little bit, huh? Well, that explains a few things," Bob sighed. "Why would you go and pull a stupid stunt like that?"

There was a few seconds of emptiness, and then Alice's pale hand moved on the covers. "It won't be so bad," she insisted, pulling them away. "I'll be okay. How do I get back on? Do I make an appointment?"

"Make an app...?" Bob echoed her words. "Have you been listening? You think we're going to re-film something like that? With you in the hospital, still?"

"I've been in the hospital lots of times," she protested. "It's nothing."

"Yeah, well, you don't have to tell me twice. I've got my own room down the hall." Distantly, Alice heard the laughter of an invisible audience. "Why did you do it? Come on," he pressed, leaning forward. "You almost died on my show. The least you can do is tell me why."

When she finally spoke, her voice was small and thin. "It was kind of a joke, actually."

Bob was quiet, staring at her with his sharp eyes, and she continued. "I really like television," she explained, trying to avoid his gaze. "I didn't mention it earlier, but I'm really into color. I can't paint or anything, and I couldn't afford classes for design, so everyone said the only way I was going to get on a game show was if I was a contestant..."

"Oh!" Bob suddenly exclaimed. "So that explains it. Take the money, get classes, make all your dreams come true, right? And you just made a mistake, went a little overboard, right? Well, it happens to the best of us, believe me!" He stood up, puffing his chest out a little and looking extremely satisfied with himself, but Alice put a hand over her mouth to stifle a wheezy chuckle, and he deflated a second later. "What?"

To Alice's relief, tears began to brim at the bottom of her dry eyes. "No, no, that's not it..." Her dry, scratchy fingers passed over and around each other in an idle motion as she talked. "See, the thing is, I'm not really all that smart," she said, "not smart enough to be on a quiz show like Top Trivia. And I can't cook or dance, and I can't carry a tune, and I don't know how to race a car along the outside of town. But there's one thing I'm okay at."

She looked up at the host. "I'm really good at not dying."

He stared at her with a blank, petrified expression.

"So it's okay," she said, and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I mean, it's been everything. I almost starved, once, and dehydrated, and then I was misdiagnosed and the pharmacist filled my prescription wrong. Not to mention downed wires, bad food, tripping down a flight of stairs..." She pressed her hands to her eyes, eking out another scratchy laugh. "I guess I'm just lucky that there's a game show where the only thing you have to do--"

"No!" Bob Sparker suddenly erupted, throwing his hands up. "No, no! That's not it at all! Nobody's supposed to get hurt on my show! Well, I mean, they get hurt, sure," he sputtered, "but they don't die! I have people in charge of this!"

"Then it's okay," she repeated, tilting her head a little. "Right? I'm still here."

Bob stared at her, his eyes narrowing a little, trying to grasp something just beyond his reach. "I don't get it," he said, starting to pace in irritation. "Why use your cousin to get in if you didn't think you'd--handle it badly?"

"Because of my medical history," she said. "I thought it'd be a shame if I got turned down because of a few bad accidents."

"This is completely the point!" Bob exclaimed, sinking into the chair, exhausted. "We have those background checks for a reason. What do you think...I mean, seriously..." He pulled it back, and she could tell he was making a severe effort to hold his tongue. "All right, I'm not going to argue with you. I'm just glad you're here and not in the morgue."

He stood up from his chair and heaved a sigh, bringing up his thin arms to clasp himself in the cold air, and turned his head at the sound of distant chatter. "Oh," he mumbled. "Must be your doctor. I was wondering when he'd be back." He grabbed his clothes off of the table and pulled his coat on. It did make him look larger, and he even moved in a brisker, more businesslike, self-assured way. "So relax, all right? Once you're out we'll have someone come over to your house and talk the rest over with you. And like I said, the hospital costs--those are all taken care of."

He put his hand on the doorknob and gave it a turn, and gave Alice a dismissive wave with the other. "Listen, don't think too much, okay? Just get some rest, sweetheart."

He closed the door quietly, and the click echoed down the hall, with Alice laughing somewhere far away behind him. He drew in a breath and exhaled it in a long, slow sigh, his body bowing forward a little with the effort. "What a mess," he murmured. "What a mess."

Someone was sitting in a chair beside Alice's door, reading a newspaper. He looked up at Bob Sparker with a vague, unconcerned look, his dark eyes peering out from under heavy brows. "That's quite a conversation you had in there," he said. "How's your contestant looking?"

"Not bad, not bad." Bob tugged at his jacket and settled it into place. "She'll be okay, right, Mr. King?"

"Of course," said Percy King, bringing himself up to his full height as he folded up the newspaper and placed it under his arm. He was a broad, tall man with a neatly groomed mustache who practically towered over Bob Sparker, but had a restrained, confident, almost lazy air. "You know, I usually don't come down here when these things happen, but I figured I'd make an exception for ratings royalty."

"Thanks, Mr. King."

"Best healthcare money can buy, you know."

"I know, Mr. King."

"You ought to." The older man let out a low laugh and nudged his employee with his shoulder. "Don't let it get to you. There's a first time for everything. As a matter of fact, I think it calls for a drink. 'To Bob Sparker, and his very first brush with scandal.'"

"Hah. More like the last," said the host, his sizable nose starting to turn upwards. He puffed his chest out a little as they left the hospital corridors behind them. "Fire that cousin of hers, tighten up that screening process, make sure it never happens again!"

"That's the spirit!" Percy laughed, clapping him on the back. "Don't worry yourself about the whole unsightly mess. Besides," he added, "didn't she say herself she was a natural survivor?"

#electricopolis #bob sparker #alice lang #story mirror #season 1 #mr. percy king

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msmarvelouswinchester · 3 years

Text

Lost Years

Summary - After spending five years in LA, Dean comes back to Lawrence and meets up with his bestfriend or rather his then bestfriend. Y/N isn't exactly happy on seeing Dean either. Will he be able to fix his strained relationship with her?

Pairing - Rockstar!Dean Winchester x Y/N

Warning - Cheesy fluff, angst, mentions of unrequited love, mentions of divorce, parents separation, drinking, bad dates, kissing, unprotected sex 18+ (wrap it before you tap it), p in v smut, oral sex (fem receiving), sex in the Impala.

WC - 5.3k+ (....oops)

Square filled - Angst ( @girl-next-door-writes ) and “Why the fuck would you laugh at that?” ( @anyfandomgoesbingo )

A/N - This is my submission to @downanddirtydean's 500 followers writing challenge (Congratulations again, Lyd). Prompt is in bold.

This is an AU. Flashbacks are in Italics.

Beta'd by @miss-nerd95 (Thank you so much, hon) and thank you to @whatareyousearchingfordean for giving this a read and leaving some valuable comments❤️

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

“Fuckin’ brilliant!” A weary exclamation left the woman's mouth as she read the text displayed on the device's screen in her hand.

There was a very significant reason why she didn't believe in blind dates, but Jo had been stubborn and insistent. And with Valentine's Day approaching, Y/N didn't want to spend the day in her pjs, crying over The Notebook again. So she had agreed to give a chance to Jo’s friend, or to be more precise, her friend's cousin. His name was Gabriel, and from what she had heard from her mutual friend circle, he seemed to be a decent guy.

But now all she wanted was to go back in time and change her decision to give into Jo’s request, because looking at the empty chair in front of her, she regretted allowing her friend to even try to interfere in her love life.

She signaled the waiter to bring over her check after downing the entire glass of wine. The restaurant was quite busy tonight. It was packed with people on this fine Saturday evening - from lovestruck couples to families with crying kids, Y/N found herself feeling quite lonely as she had stupidly waited on her date to show up for such a long time. Heat crept up her neck in embarrassment when the waiter showed up, the latter’s eyes filled with sympathy as Y/N paid the price of her drink.

Within no time, she was out of the restaurant.

Glancing down at her green dress, she swore under her breath. She tried to book a cab to return to the comfort of her home when her eyes caught the glowing signboard of The Roadhouse right around the corner of the street. The only thing she could think of was to get black-out drunk now. Y/N, still in her high heels, trudged down the path to Ellen’s bar.

Dressed up all for nothing. Rolling her eyes at herself, she went inside the establishment, heading straight towards the counter and taking a seat there. Like any other weekend nights, the place was stuffed. Y/N let her eyes trail over the many patrons of the dingy bar, landing finally on the middle-aged brunette who ran the place

“Ellen!” She called out to the woman.

“Hey, honey,” she approached Y/N, all the while glaring daggers at the drunk she had just previously been arguing with, “A bit overdressed for this place, don't ya think?”

“Your daughter is officially fired from matchmaking services,” Y/N sighed.

“Boy troubles, huh? What can I get ya, hon?” Sympathy was evident in Ellen’s eyes as she spoke. Y/N was as much of a daughter to her as Jo was. The girl had been through so much heartbreak, all Ellen wanted was to see a smile on her face.

“The usual,” Y/N gave a sad smile.

“Rough night indeed, huh?” She raised an eyebrow. The woman in question shrugged defeatedly. Ellen patted her arm in comfort before she left her to arrange for her drink, leaving Y/N to wallow in self-pity.

She thought back to when her life had taken such a traumatic turn. All her friends were either getting engaged, married, or popping out kids. But not Y/n... she was in her late twenties now, and she couldn't even find herself an eligible man.

Ellen pushed the glass towards her. Sighing, she picked it up as she admired the liquid in it. She drank slowly, every sip creating a burning sensation at the back of her throat. Fingers still wrapped around the glassware, she set it down, looking around the bar. The place was filled with mad chatters and howling laughs along with the music blasting from the stereo placed on the deck inside the room, a stark contrast to how lonely she felt. She signaled Ellen for another round, who nodded before giving her that sad understanding smile Y/N was now starting to hate. Frowning, she dropped her head and exhaled.

“Sweetheart, where did that pretty smile for yours go?” Y/N was quickly pulled out from her daze by a very familiar voice; a voice she hadn't heard in a few years. It couldn't be him, he was supposed to be in LA!

“Ella?” The term of endearment brought back dozens of memories, some good and some bad, but all were about him - the freckled face teenage boy with dirty blonde hair and eyes as green as the forest in the summertime she had once fallen for. It brought up the painful memory of their first meet which she had tried to forget so hard.

She remembered the day of their first drama practice when Dean had grudgingly walked into the room. He had reluctantly agreed to play the Prince in the Cinderella act after Cas who was supposed to be the Prince had accidentally ended up with a broken leg. He didn’t know her name, so he had called her ‘Ella’ to get her attention which was the start of their epic friendship.

Y/N didn't dare to turn around to look at him, after all, he wasn't the scrawny teenager from Lawrence anymore. He was now the lead singer and guitarist of a popular rock band with a fancy name and songs that were in the top ten of Billboard music charts. Yes, she did keep up with his rising fame, sometimes even listening to one of his songs before she was once again reminded of the heartbreak he had caused.

“You can't even look at me.” His voice was barely a whisper but loud enough for her to hear as he slid into the stool beside her.

Gathering enough courage, she raised her head. “Dean.” His name rolled off her tongue so easily, but her heart ached for the past. Dean cracked a smile at her as his emerald eyes did not leave hers once. It was as if he was memorizing every tiny detail of her face and if anyone would've asked him, he would've replied that he was.

Y/N hadn't changed much over the years he had spent in LA. She was still the same girl he had first met in school and the last time he had seen her at their graduation. She was a shy girl but they had clicked instantly. Growing up, she was his best friend, his person, his escape.

“Dean Winchester has walked into my bar. Must be my lucky day!” Ellen’s voice thundered across the room, grabbing the attention of a few intoxicated people. “How's LA treating you, boy?”

“Ellen! It's awesome to see you again.” A grin broke out on Dean's face as he jumped out of his seat and pulled the lady into a bear hug. “LA’s pretty okay. It is as good as the industry can be.”

“Heard some of your songs, I knew you had the talent,” Ellen said, jabbing her finger into his chest to prove her point. “Now what can I get ya? On the house.”

“A beer will be just fine. Don't want to show up to the Winchester house drunk!” He chuckled.

“Alright, coming right up. Y/N, honey, you want another round or a glass of water?” The lady asked.

“I'll be leaving in a few. Glass of water it is, El.” She replied but was then interrupted by Dean.

“One drink, with me. It's on me, Ella.” There it was again, that fucking name. A few years ago, that name would have made her cheeks heat up but now, it just made her blood boil. She clenched her hand into fists, tears pricking at her eyes as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Do not call me that.” She hissed, surprising Dean. Y/N turned towards the man, finally taking a good look at him. He had changed a lot, had become more handsome but LA had not modified his clothing style because he was still wearing his signature flannel and jeans accompanied by a jacket. She wondered how many girls had stopped him for a picture or an autograph on his way back to Lawrence, jealousy seeping into her. She hated the way he still had that effect on her.

“Y/N-” She knew what he was going to say. ‘I am sorry’, but she wasn't ready to forgive him now, if ever.

“No. Don't.” She stopped him mid-sentence, hands digging into her purse as she pulled out the money for her drinks, dropping them on the counter.

“El, I am going home.” Ellen, who was silently watching their whole exchange, nodded her head before asking, “Want me to call a cab for you?”

“No. I'm going to crash at your place. I need to have a word with Jo.” Y/N said since it was near impossible for her to walk back to her house, considering she was quite tipsy and still in heels, but she also didn't want to wait until the woman called a cab with Dean Winchester anywhere nearby. After getting her belongings, she got out of the barstool and left the place on wobbly legs. Her feet would no doubt be screaming in pain the next day.

Stepping out, she inhaled deeply, letting a few tears fall as the cool air hit her face. After their graduation, Y/N had sworn she would try her best to forget the older Winchester. She wasn't quite successful in her aim, because many times she would come across his gorgeous face on the cover of a magazine or his song would be playing on the radio, striking up old memories of their time spent together in high school.

Still lost in her thoughts, she took a step forward, only to misjudge the cobblestone path and end up losing her balance. She braced herself for the impending fall but was saved by a pair of strong hands wrapped around her waist.

“Watch your step, sweetheart,” Dean said, letting her down gently. “Lemme see, did you hurt your ankle?” He went down on his knees in front of her, pulling a low gasp out of her as he examined her feet.

“Were you following me?” Y/N gritted out those words.

“No.” He shook his head but she clearly saw through the lie.

“I’m fine. You can go now.” She said, her eyes looking everywhere but the man.

“Come on, don't be so stubborn. Get in the car, I'll drop you off at your house or Jo’s place if you want.” He said looking up, trying to catch her eyes but she was adamant about not giving him that satisfaction. Y/N squeezed her eyes shut, lips quivering before she answered.

“Leave me alone.” She muttered, a tear running down her cheek. All that preparation for not breaking down in front of Dean and her body still betrayed her. The man got up. Y/N noticed that he was now wearing a cap, probably to hide from any bystander who might recognize him.

“Y/N/N, I-” Dean was at a loss of words. He hated seeing her so heartbroken and he loathed himself for being the cause of it. He tried to reach out and hold her hand but she recoiled back, making him wince. “Please, Ella.”

“Stop calling me that, Winchester. How many times do I have to repeat that?” Her voice came out as a little whine, making Dean chuckle. He missed it - her tone, the timbre, the intensity in her pitch, and the words it said, which used to be his voice of reason; he missed his best friend. “Why the fuck would you laugh at that? I am not doing stand up comedy out here.” Y/N was still the strong-headed girl he adored.

“You'll probably hurt yourself if you walk in those heels again with how tipsy you are right now. Get in the car, I know you missed cruising around the town in Baby because she missed you for sure.” And that thankfully got the exact reaction out of her that he had anticipated. She finally looked right at him, her face lit up at the pretense of seeing the beloved black car again.

“I thought she was in LA with you.” Y/N said and then it dawned on her, “Did you drive across the States?”

“Damn right I did!” He beamed in reply like he had won a trophy, his heart swelling with happiness when he saw the smile forming on her face mixed with awe and surprise. He still had to go a long way to get her back, but he had to take baby steps. At least he managed to make her smile. “So? Want to go out, just like the old times?”

The smile instantly disappeared from Y/N’s lips and Dean knew he fucked up right then. Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned the good ol’ days. “Sweetheart, I'm sorry-”

“Just drop me off at Jo’s. That's it.” She said, lowering her gaze. He waved her over to the direction where his car was parked. Y/N started to walk along as Dean wordlessly followed her.

Y/N felt a wave of nausea hit her. She didn't do well in social gatherings and this was her graduation ceremony. One wrong step, one wrong word, or a wardrobe malfunction, and the day could turn into a disaster in an instant.

“Honey, you're gonna be excellent out there! We're all very proud of you.” Mary said while hugging Y/N tightly as they both waited on the former's older son to come downstairs who was running late, as usual. She had grown incredibly close to the Winchester family over the years. They were her rock, especially Dean who was there with her at every step as she went through the separation of her parents.

“Are you and John going to join my parents at the ceremony? Someone needs to stop them before they end up killing each other.” She grimaced.

“Isn't this going to be the first time they are together in one single room, since their….you know-” Sam asked as he came out of the kitchen, a green smoothie in his hands. Dean might have been her best friend, her confidante, but Sam was the little brother she never thought she needed.

“First get that green drink outta my sight, I already feel like I'm gonna throw up. Second, you can speak about the divorce. It's not taboo and it was a long time coming. Everyone knew that.” Y/N reluctantly said. The separation of her parents might have been foreseeable but, nevertheless, it still hurt her to see her parents walkout in two separate ways once the divorce was finalized. The house had become much quieter these days which she was thankful for but she also felt the evident absence of her father.

“Mom and Dad will definitely be there!” Dean announced loudly as he came down the stairs. “Come on let's go. Don't wanna be late for our own graduation ceremony!” She could always count on him to make her day better.

“I should have told you.”

“W-what?” Y/N asked dumbfoundedly as Dean’s gruff voice broke her out of the reverie and pulled her back to reality. A minute passed when she noticed even if his hands were on the steering, he wasn't driving anymore.

“This-” she looked out of the window, “this isn't Jo’s place.”

“No, this is our place,” Dean said.

“Dean.” This was the last place she wanted to be at, let alone be here with Dean. It had taken every ounce of her strength to not run back to this place over the past few years whenever she missed her best friend, only to realize that he had left her in the dust on his path to fame and didn't care about her as much as she used to think. Too many memories were attached to this particular place.

“I missed this, Y/N.” He said, killing the engine and slowly opening the door on his side. Y/N understood what he was trying to do and her mind screamed at her in protest to not follow him but her heart told her to follow the man it belonged to.

Dean finally stepped out of the car and walked over to the closed door on her side. She opened the door herself before he could and stepped out as well with a huff. The place was the same as it ever was. “I haven't been here since graduation.” She blurted out.

“I should have told you,” Dean said as they started to walk to their spot. Y/N chose to remain quiet. “Ella, please say somethin’.”

“I am not your Ella anymore, Dean. Stop calling me that.” She said but this time it wasn't a whine, instead, she yelled it out. She was sick and tired of yearning for the man who had broken her heart several years ago and now she was scared that he was gonna leave her once again.

“You'll always be my Ella.” He said.

“The Prince didn't lie to Cinderella and leave her behind but you- it hurts me to remember how close we were then. You left me without even a simple goodbye, so no, I am not your Ella anymore.” She flinched when he reached out for her.

He had stopped walking now and so had she. Dean moved closer to her before standing exactly in front of her. His hands lightly traced her jaw as she looked up at him. She looked just as enchanting under the moonlight as he remembered. He cupped her face in his hands, thumbs gently caressed her cheeks. She had given up fighting herself now, driven only by instinct. All the walls that she had put up came crumbling down with one touch of his.

“Why do you think I didn't say goodbye to you?” Dean whispered.

“Maybe all the years that we spent together meant nothing to you.” Her voice was like a melody to his ears but the words broke his heart even further.

“Because it was too damn hard. When RC Records called me up three days before graduation, you were the first person I wanted to tell, but I couldn't, ‘cause if I did, I wouldn't have made it to where I am right now.” He said, not a trace of mirth on his face.

“I wouldn't have held you back.” It was simple. Y/N always wanted to stay in Lawrence and look over her mother's bakery shop, and that's what she ended up doing. She now owned the shop and her business was thriving. Dean had wanted to become a singer ever since he was ten when he was forced to play the Prince, opposite to Y/N’s lead. He had found his passion and she had always encouraged it, even when John had strongly protested against him choosing music as his major. “You know I always supported you.”

“I know that, but thinking about not seeing you every day made me not want to go. I kept imagining you upset and that's why I didn't have it in me to tell you about my break.” He said. Y/N grabbed his hands pushing them away from her face.

“You ended up making me sad anyway. So why the fuck are you back?” She was enraged.

“Ella-” Dean tried to come closer but she stepped back, “I came to see my family.”

“Then why are you wasting your time here with me?”

“Because you're the most important person in my life and every day I spent away from you, you were the only person on my mind.” Dean smiled.

“What?”

“You were the first thought when I woke up and the last thought when I went to sleep.” He said and pulled her close when she finally stopped fighting. “I love you, Y/N Y/L/N. I know I am late and probably missed my chance, but five years in LA have taught me to take the risks. I love you, Ella.”

“I can't-” Dean’s smile felt but he quickly recovered.

“I-I understand.” He let out a dry chuckle, “You got a man back at home waiting for you. He sure is one lucky bastard.”

“No. You do not fucking understand! You are just so in your head, it's just-” She flailed her arms around in utter frustration. “Do you have any idea how long it took me to move on? I have been on so many dates but no man was ever enough for me, all because of your sorry ass! The Graduation Day - I knew you always thought of me as your best friend, so I had decided to ask you out myself,”

“Y/N-”

“No, let me finish. You have to fucking listen about how much pain you put me through these five years! The next day, I went to your house only to hear from your parents that you were on your way to LA. I fucking hate you!” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I fucking hate how much I still love you, Dean!”

His eyes widened in surprise as he kept opening and closing his mouth like a damn fish. He was unable to form a coherent sentence and so he cupped Y/N’s cheeks in his big, warm hands once more, but now he dipped down, tilting his face and pulling her in for a kiss. His teeth grazed her bottom lips, making her moan into his mouth. She could feel the blood rush to her cheeks as she found herself completely enamored by him. Her hands snuck to the back of his neck as she steadied herself. Her knees buckled under his hypnotic touch as he slipped his tongue into her mouth, her whole body tingled and toes curled up as his tongue explored every inch of her mouth.

“De,” Y/N tried to catch her breath when Dean finally let go of her lips, already missing the feel of her on him.

His hands traveled down her body, making her gasp aloud at the feel. He lowered his mouth as he started to leave a trail of kisses along her jaw and down her neck. “Dean, please. Don't.” Her three short words made him stop.

“Alright.” He gulped.

“I don't want to get my heart broken again, Winchester, I don't think I can survive it again.” Y/N knew he would return to LA within a week, and so she didn't want to take this any further. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me, right?”

“I won't. I am not going back.” Y/N looked at him, surprise evident in her eyes, “I don't care about my career anymore. Five years without you was like living in hell and my bandmates are probably so tired of hearing how much I missed you. I will write my songs from here in Lawrence if it means that I'll be closer to you.”

“You would do that for me?” She asked sincerely.

“I would. I was a stupid kid back then but now I have realized that nothing's more important to me than you. I don't want to lose my Ella ever again.” He said, “I'm sorry for taking so long to understand that. There is no way-” His words were cut off as Y/N captured his lips with her own. The sudden kiss caught him off guard but he quickly pulled himself together to kiss her back. “Shit, Y/N-” he gasped when he felt his dick twitch. He picked her up in quick motion and went towards the car. Y/N giggled when her back lightly collided with Baby’s door. Dean dropped his head, nipping at the pulse point on her neck.

“Dean-” She moaned, which was better than any music he had ever made as his hands slipped under her dress, his fingers hovering over her soaked panties. Her thighs clenched in anticipation.

“You have no idea how long I dreamt of having you. You're soaked, sweetheart. ” He huskily said, his fingers hooking on the waistband of her cotton panties. “Tell me to stop and I will, in a heartbeat. No questions.”

“N-no. Don't stop.” Y/N cooed. Dean dragged down her panties which pooled at her feet. He picked it up and stuffed it into his pocket. Thankfully, there was no one around but the thrill of being out in the open with Dean got her even more hot and bothered. Her hands grasped onto his biceps tightly so that she wouldn't topple over when Dean slipped a finger into her tight pussy. Her mouth fell open, her head dropping on his shoulder as he started pumping slowly, every drag of his finger pushing her closer to the edge.

Dean felt his pants tighten as he heard the sweet moan of his name leave her lips. Her raspy voice was one he could hear all day long, her heavy pants tickling his skin. With one hand he unbuckled his belt, trying to relieve himself a little, but when a cry of pleasure left her lips as he slipped in another finger, he hoped that he wouldn't cream his pants like a freaking teenage boy.

Y/N felt the coil in her stomach tighten as she inched towards her climax. Dean quickened his pace, curling his fingers inside her and brushing her g-spot, each time eliciting a low moan out of her. “Dean….” She couldn't form any coherent words other than chanting his name over and over again and a moment later, the coil snapped as she felt herself coming undone. He delicately pulled his fingers out of her, which were covered in her juice. Dean reached behind her, yanking the door open as he nudged her to go in. She readily obliged and slid into the seat with shaky legs. He climbed into the backseat after her, closing the door behind him.

Her dress had ridden up her thigh, exposing her glistening pussy. Dean’s eyes darkened at the sight before him as he swiftly pulled his shirt over his head, discarding it somewhere in the front. He pushed her dress further up. She raised her hands as he successfully got her out of the garment and unhooked her bra. Y/N moved further back into the seat, her back resting against the door on the other side as Dean started to leave kisses down her body.

“Have you ever thought about this? ‘Cause I did, every freaking day.” Dean asked, kissing the valley between her breasts, the rumble of his voice sending shivers down her spine.

“E-every time I touched myself, I thought of you.” She said, gasping out loud at every word when his mouth found her breasts and started to suck on the soft skin, flicking a nipple with his tongue and twirling the other within his fingers.

“Oh-” Dean raised his head to look at her before he moved south, “Did you think about me between your legs just like this-” He said as he left kisses along her thigh, his stubble creating soft burns on her skin in its wake that she would definitely remember. He finally stopped at her nether regions, his hot breath fanning against her throbbing pussy. “Did you think about me tasting you like this?”

Y/N threw her head back in pleasure when his mouth latched onto her sensitive bundle of nerves, his tongue flicking at her aching nub. Her hands traveled down to his head, her fingers getting tangled up in his soft hair and pulled at the strands, making him groan.

“Fuck-” She exclaimed as Dean hungrily devoured her, his tongue repeatedly assaulting her sensitive pussy, sucking needily on her bundle of nerves. Y/N threw her head back in pleasure as she felt the coil in your stomach tighten before a wave of pleasure washed over her. “Shit!” She gasped as Dean’s tongue lapped her juices hungrily.

“Fuck, sweetheart, you taste so good.” He panted before he unbuttoned his pants pushing them down along with his boxers, freeing his erection sprung from his confines. “Son of a bitch, I don’t have-” Y/N sensed his uneasiness.

“I’m on the pill.” She smirked as she stared at his toned body.

“Well, I’m clean.” She reached out to touch his stomach, hands then traveling down to his length. Dean dropped his head, biting down on his lips, “Y/N-” He pushed her hands away, smirking as he ran his hand along his hardened cock, giving it a few strokes, the tip beaded with precum. He looked at Y/N once and lined himself with her dripping entrance when she gave him a nod to go ahead.

His swollen tip teasingly nudged at her opening before he pushed himself into her.

“Shit Y/N-” Dean grunted, simultaneously as Y/N hissed out at the painful sensation at the beginning as he pushed himself into her, letting her adjust around his size before she told him to move. He circled his hips as he slowly pulled out, leaving only the tip of his engorged cock inside her, before pushing back in again, deeper than before.

“Holy fuck-” Y/N moaned out when he quickened his pace, hitting her g-spot repeatedly with every thrust as they both inched towards their release. Dean kissed her as he continued to thrust deep into her, their breathing growing erratic, the windows of the chevy fogged up and the car filled with their groans and moans as they both chased their release. She hooked her arms at the small of his back as he started to nibble at her sweet spot. His hand moved south, his thumb rubbing circles on her clit which further edged her.

“Shit De!” Y/N cried out loud as her walls fluttered around his pulsating length when she felt herself coming undone. Dean’s thrusts became sloppy as he grunted into the crook of her neck before he spilled into her with one cry of her name, painting her walls with his seed. He dropped his head, trying to catch his breath before he gently pulled out.

“Fuck sweetheart.” Dean panted, beads of sweat lining his forehead as they both laid in each other’s arms, basking in the post-coital bliss. “Was this better than your fantasies? ‘Cause, ‘twas surely better than mine.” Dean smirked, reaching out to grab a piece of cloth to clean themselves up. “We should have done this sooner.”

“If only you hadn't been such a coward.” Y/n teased with a giggle.

“Your dumbass could have called me up. I wasted five years being one, terrified to hear how much you hate me.” He grumbled, cleaning up the mess on the seat. Honestly, she could have but she didn't ‘cause she was scared to hear the truth as well; that Dean had truly left her.

“So, you’re sayin’ we’re both a couple of dumbasses.” Y/N chuckled, putting on her bra.

“Your words, not mine.” Dean gave her a sly smirk. “The Winchester household will be so delighted, once they know I finally got my head out of my ass and looked at the beautiful woman right in front of me.” He was right in every sense. The Winchesters, all of them had always believed that those two would end up together. Everyone saw how in love they were except Y/N and Dean.

“Isn't it too early for the introduce-the-girlfriend-to-the-family thing?” She asked which got an eye roll out of the man. “Panties?”

“I don't have them.” Dean sneakily raised his hands.

“I saw you stuff them into your pocket.” He grabbed her dress from the front seat, throwing it at her.

“Put this on, or preferably, just don't.” He gave her a boyish smile, getting a raised eyebrow in reply, “Oh I'm not done with you. Gotta make up for the lost years, sweetheart.” Dean's eyes darkened at the thought as Y/N gulped, knowing she wouldn't be able to walk properly for weeks.

Feedback is highly appreciated!

#downanddirtydeans500followerschallenge #make me feel bingo #dean winchester fic #dean x reader #dean winchester x reader #au dean x reader #au dean winchester x reader #dean x y/n #dean winchester x y/n #au dean fic #au dean x y/n #au dean winchester x y/n #spn fic

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andrei-svech · 3 years

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today, tomorrow and all of our lives | n. mackinnon

Word Count: 7.3k Warnings: Some smut in the middle, swearing, minor character death. Summary: Leah reflects on her relationship with Nate through a series of memories they’ve shared in the minutes before they say I do. a/n: Full disclosure this is the first piece I’ve written in almost 10 years. It turned out way longer than expected and I am so terrified to post it but I hope you all love it as much as I do. Any and all feedback is appreciated, happy reading!

As she looked into the mirror, running her fingers over the white silk lining her frame, all she felt was calm. Peace. She’d surprised herself in that regard. She’d expected nerves, expected anxiousness, but she didn’t feel either. She simply felt calm. Her fingers moved up toward the tulle settled neatly in her hair, then ran down the fabric of what had once been her grandmother’s veil. Her something borrowed. She thought of her grandmother then, of the relationship between her and her grandfather, one that had lasted almost sixty years before they’d left this life together, just months apart and still madly in love. The kind of love she’d hoped for as she watched them as a child, then as a teen, then as an adult. The same kind of love she felt she’d found when she met him. Her eyes closed, thinking back to the day she’d first laid eyes on him.

The excited little voices of the children filing back into her classroom brought a small smile to Leah’s face in an instant. Kindergarten had just finished art, and as she watched them come in and sit back at their tables, she silently thanked Mrs. Claskey for the lack of paint on their clothes and hands. There’d been a small (according to Mrs. Claskey, not so much to Leah) incident last week at the very end of art class that had somehow ended in Jack Ledger’s entire right arm and half of his shirt covered in brown paint. Of course the 5th graders had already been lined up at the door waiting to come in, so Mrs. Claskey hadn’t had time to clean him up. That’d been a fun afternoon at the sink for Jack and Leah. Once all of the children were seated, Leah stood from her rocking chair at the front of the room and raised her hand. Her students followed suit, having been conditioned to quiet down and raise their own hands when she did so. Their hands lowered as she began to speak.

“Alright, my friends. I know we’re excited, today’s a special day for us. We have new friends coming to spend time with us this week! Do we remember who they are?” As soon as she finished, little hands all over the room shot back up. Leah looked around, pointing to the tiny blonde in the far too large and, Leah suspected second hand, Avalanche jersey dead center. “Emory, who are they?” “The Colorado Avalanche, Ms. Brewer! They play hockey here, at the Pepsi Center! My dad says some day they’ll win the… the um…” “The Stanley Cup?” Leah supplied. That and what information Emory had spoken aloud was about all she knew of them as well, not really following the sport herself. “Yes!” Emory continued, “The Stanley Cup!” Leah nodded and clasped her hands together. “Good job Emory that’s right! Some of the players from the Avalanche are coming to meet us this afternoon. They’re just as excited to meet you as you are to meet them. But before we can do that, we need to talk about the rules for when we have guests in our classroom.” A small groan sounded throughout the room and Leah giggled under her breath. “Okay, okay. I know talking about our rules isn’t always fun, but we want to show them how kind and polite we can be, right?” Twenty-two heads nodded, so she continued. “Good! Okay, who can tell me our rules then? Thomas?” Her gaze fixed on the quiet boy in the back corner, smiling slightly at him as he straightened up in his chair. Leah had been subtly attempting to bring Thomas out of his shell throughout his time in her class. As she remembered his silence and lack of eye contact at the beginning of the year, she felt nothing but pride for how far he’d come. “We don’t leave our spot at the carpet unless you or our guest says that we can. We sit criss cross applesauce and don’t touch our friends while we’re listening. When we want to talk or as a question, we raise our hands until someone calls on us. And we always show kindness to our friends, our visitors and our teachers.” Leah felt a swell of pride at the last bit. She had a great group of kids this year, and though she knew she shouldn’t play favorites, if she’d had a list this class would be up at the top for years to come. Teaching at a school in a low income area of Denver wasn’t what she’d expected herself to do after graduation, but she adored it all the same, and the children she’d taught were all incredibly special to her.

“Good, Thomas! But there’s one more rule we forgot, the most important rule. I know we remember, so how about let’s all say it together?” “Have fun!” “Yes! Have fun! I don’t think it’ll be hard with these new friends.” She glanced up at the clock then that read one o’clock on the dot. “Okay friends, time to make our way to the carpet! Please find your spot in our circle.” As her students got up and made their way to their seats in front of the rocking chair, she heard multiple people enter her room and all twenty-three heads, including her own, turned toward the intruders. Leah studied them for a moment as they made their way through the desks toward the group. There were two of them, both in blue and burgundy jerseys graced with the numbers 29 and 92 and an A and a C, respectively. Excited gasps and whispers filled the front of the room. The first to reach them was 92, and probably the most conventionally attractive man Leah had ever seen in person. His perfectly straight, shining white teeth were on full display, a wide grin stretch prominently across his face. His attention was focused solely on the children, so Leah looked past him and settled her eyes on the other, 29. She was surprised to find his attention fixed on her. She was also surprised at the butterflies that filled her stomach when her eyes met his. The bright blue staring back at her was like a shock to her system. She felt herself blush and quickly averted her gaze down to the jeans, white tank top and baggy yellow cardigan she’d pulled from her closet that morning. ‘Probably would have been a good day to dress it up a bit, Leah.’ She quickly shook herself from her thoughts and smiled at 92, still unable to meet the eyes of 29. “Hi there! I’m Ms. Brewer. We’ve all really been looking forward to this, I know they have especially.” Leah gestured to her excited students, some of the visibly trying to stop themselves from squirming in their places. He smiled at her and took her outstretched hand, shaking it and then setting his sights back to the children. “Hi everybody, we’ve been really excited to meet you! I’m Gabe, and this is Nate.” He gestured behind him to number 29. Nate. The name bounced around her head like a stray pinball. Nathan Mackinnon. She remembered seeing his face plastered over billboards downtown, along with that of who she now remembered 92 to be, captain Gabriel Landeskog. The two large hockey players sat in the admittedly too small chairs in front of the group, and Leah quietly made her way to the corner of the room, plopping in her desk chair to watch the interaction between Gabe, Nate and her students. As they excitedly asked and answered questions and talked about school, hockey and life in general (as much as five and six year old children could), Leah found herself unable to look away from Nate. He wasn’t handsome in the way that Gabe was. His nose and teeth were slightly crooked, and his jaw a bit more squared, but she found him incredibly attractive all the same. He smiled brightly at the group of children in front of him and enthusiastically spoke with them, his laugh speeding up the butterflies she still felt. She again found herself shaking her from her own thoughts, looking down at the papers on her desk. Leah hadn’t dated anyone seriously since her disastrous relationship with Scott had ended just before her college graduation. They had met in high school and began dating junior year, when they were both far too young and impulsive to have actually found the kind of love that was meant to last. They were two different people from the start, Scott preferring to get plastered at a large house party, Leah preferring to spend her Friday night on the couch under a blanket watching bad television. They had somehow lasted through their first three and a half years of college together, though they spent large chunks of it arguing or in silence, before Leah had discovered that the last seven months of their relationship he’d spent in bed with a blonde he’d met in one of his classes. She’d been devastated, but deep down she’d known he wasn’t the man she was meant to marry. Following graduation, she’d packed her things, picked up and moved to Denver for a fresh start, and hadn’t looked back since. She blamed her lack of dating for her current thoughts about Nate. She’d been so lost in her thoughts that she was surprised when she heard one of her students saying her name, immediately turning her attention back to the carpet ready to answer, though she found Millie still speaking to Gabe and Nate. “-she’s the best! She’s so much fun, even when she’s making us do our counting worksheets. Ooh, she lets us sing our weather song every morning, that’s my favorite part of the day.” Millie turned towards Leah and spoke directly to her, “Ms. Brewer, can you sing the song for them! It’s so much fun, they’ll love it.” Leah blushed slightly but chuckled as all twenty-two excited smiles and two curious pairs of eyes turned towards her. “Why don’t we all sing it together? Show them how great we are at it.” Leah led the excited group through their morning weather song about the rain, the snow, the wind and the sunshine and as they finished (loudly) she once again looked at the two blonde men and found Gabe smiling widely at the class while Nate looked at her with a small smile of his own. Her face warmed yet again as they all began clapping and laughing at her as she grinned and took a small bow in her chair. Conversation between Gabe and her students continued, but for a long moment Nate’s gaze remained fixed on her. She looked down at the papers on her desk again, trying not to read too much into his glances that were frequently aimed at her. All too quickly the two men stood from the chairs and bid goodbye to the students and after a collective “aww” and a round of high fives, left the room to meet the fifth graders waiting for them in the gym. As Leah focused on getting her students back to their seats at their tables, she didn’t notice Nate casting one last look through the door as they left, his eyes only set on her. By three o’clock all of her students were gone and Leah made her way around the room, cleaning up leftover trash and wiping the crumbs from their end of day snack from the tables. She jumped as she heard the deep voice coming from just outside her door. “Hi, did you need some help?” Her head snapped towards the voice and her eyes again met the bright blue that hadn’t left her mind for the rest of the afternoon. The small smile she’d gotten before was present on Nate’s face as he watched her drop the wad of colored paper in her hands into the trash. “Oh no thank you, I’ll be okay here.” She silently willed the butterflies dancing around her stomach and the blush painting her cheeks to go away as he stepped further into the classroom and waved her off, starting to push the chairs into the tables as he spoke again. “It’s no problem, it’ll go faster if we work together. Besides, Gabe’s somewhere shooting extra footage with our media team and this’ll get me out of that.” They both chuckled at that and she nodded, keeping her eyes averted as she helped push in the chairs. “I’m Nathan. Mackinnon. Nathan Mackinnon. But, um, everybody just sort of calls me Nate.” “Nice to meet you, Nate. I’m Leah, Leah Brewer.” She knew there were nerves in her voice, but she didn’t know if she’d imagined the hint of them in his. They worked in silence for a few minutes before he spoke again. “So, Leah, are you from Denver?” She shook her head. “No, I grew up in Murraysville. It’s in Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh.” He lit up a bit, turning towards her fully. “One of my best friends lives there, plays for the Penguins. Sidney’s his name, Sidney Crosby.” She shot him a playfully unimpressed glance as she stopped pushing in the chair. “Now Nate. I may not know much about hockey, but I can assure you, even I know who Sidney Crosby is.” She laughed quietly at the blush that tinted his cheeks and he chuckled along with her, shaking his head. “Yeah that was stupid, sorry.” They kept on cleaning up the last of the classroom until he plopped into the last chair. “So, what brought you to Denver all the way from the East Coast?”  Leah figured that since he’d sat down, he wasn’t planning on leaving right away, so she made her way to her rocking chair. She thought for a moment before she answered. It wasn’t like she could come right out and tell him Scott had emotionally destroyed her, so she settled for the cliche, generic answer she gave most people when they asked her. “I graduated from college and just… needed a fresh start.” He nodded slightly, but by the look he gave her, she knew he was curious for more. He didn’t press her, and the small talk moved onto other things, her job, then his job and then their families and friends. The conversation flowed so easily between them. By the time she realized almost forty-five minutes had passed, they were laughing and sharing stories as if they’d known each other for years, not hours. “Oh, it’s almost four o’clock, you should probably get back to Gabe and the rest of your team.” He sighed as they both looked at the clock, like he knew she was right but also like he didn’t want to leave. “You’re right. It was really nice meeting you though.” He stood from the chair as she returned the sentiment and turned to leave the room. He’d made it almost fully out the door before he stopped and turned around asking her one last question. “Listen, I don’t… this might be a little forward, I- would you maybe want to go out to dinner sometime? With me? Like, as a date?” She stared at him in surprise for a moment and then thought about her answer. Sure, she hadn’t really dated much since Scott, but it had been three years and thousands of miles since then. And there was something about Nate that intrigued her, something that had caused the butterflies to erupt the minute they’d made eye contact. Something that made her answer fairly easy. “Sure, Nate, I’d really like that.” The memory flooded away as she opened her eyes and looked back into the mirror. One dinner date had led to another, which had led to a few more, then spending the night at her place and then his. She’d met Cox then, which she was glad had gone well because, as Nate had told her later, he couldn’t date somebody Cox didn’t like. That had led to her meeting his teammates and their significant others, and him meeting her friends. That summer when his season and her semester had ended, they traveled to Murraysville where he met her family, and Nova Scotia where she met his. Before they knew it a little over a year had flown by and they’d bought their first house together. She chuckled at that memory, instantly thinking back to the mess of hockey players that had filled their home the day they moved in. “Josty come on, man! The box says fragile!” Leah giggled from her place in the kitchen at the sound of JT’s voice echoing down the hallway, and then at Nate’s voice, floating in from his spot in their living room. “Don’t break any more of my shit, Josty, you know I still haven’t forgiven you and Z for the broken lamp from the Christmas party.” Mel snorted across the counter, Jackie shaking her head as Leah placed the last of the bowls in the cabinet. “They’re a fucking mess, the whole group of them.” Jackie and Mel laughed and nodded in agreement before moving to start on loading the cutlery into the drawers. Leah made her way from the kitchen into the living room, passing by Gabe, EJ and Naz walking to the front door to pull more of the heavier pieces of furniture from the truck. “Thank you guys again for helping us with all of this. No way Nate could have done all the heavy lifting himself the softie.” She smirked at the indignant ‘hey!’ that came from their sofa and the boys chuckled before assuring her again it was no problem and heading for the door, EJ jostling her on his way. She rolled her eyes but smiled at the toothless grin she got in return, passing them to plop down next to her boyfriend, leaning heavily into his side and closing her eyes with a yawn as he lightly kissed her forehead. “Tired, baby?” “Mhm.” As she opened her eyes again, she finally took the chance to look around their living room, the large bay windows bathing the room in sunlight. Boxes were scattered around, the television still waiting to be mounted above the fireplace and the shelves empty, save for one photo. Her eyes landed on it and she smiled fondly, one of her favorites of the two of them. It was taken in Cole Harbour on one of their last trips. They sat together on the boat, her leaning against his side with his arms wrapped around her, much like they were now. They’d gone for a sunset cruise with Sid and Kathy and Tyson and Emma who had also come back up north, just chatting and enjoying the company when Kathy told them to pose, that the sunset created the perfect backdrop behind them. As they leaned into each other and smiled at the camera, Tyson said something from just beside Kathy that had drawn her attention as Kathy snapped the photo. She’s laughing in his direction in the photo, still leaning against Nate who’s smile is directed only at her. The love between the two of them is obvious, which is exactly why it’s one of her favorites. Leah is drawn from the memory captured in the photo when she feels Nate’s lips on the top of her head again and the smile on her face grows even wider. She listens to the sounds of a pot clattering to the floor in the kitchen followed by Jackie’s voice scolding EJ and Gabe and Mel laughing, Josty, JT and Burky pushing each other around in the hallway and Nate’s slow, even breathing right beside her on the couch. As her eyes closed once more, she couldn’t remember if she’d ever in her life felt as happy as she did in that moment. Nate’s fingers ran through her hair and she pulled slightly out of his embrace, taking a moment to silently study the man she’d so quickly found herself falling madly in love with. “What’s on your mind?” he asks her, and she finds herself overwhelmed with emotion as she tries to put her thoughts into words. “I love our friends. I love our new house, but I love even more that we get to make it a home. I love this life that I get to build with you. I love you Nate.” The silent exchange that directly followed was just as meaningful, if not more so, than the words she’d just spoken. She could feel it. He’d felt it too. “I love you, too.” He hadn’t said much, but what he had said had told her everything she needed to know. She’s yanked quickly from that memory as the door to the bridal suite opens. Linnea flounced into the room in her white tulle dress, looking every bit the little princess they all considered her to be. Mel shuffled in behind her before the door is closed again. The soft pink of her dress perfectly complimented her blonde hair and pale skin, amplifying her beauty even further. Mel and Gabe were two of the best things to come from her relationship with Nate, quickly becoming some of her very best friends. Through every hardship or struggle she’d faced during her relationship with Nate he’d been right there beside her, but the Landeskogs had been right there on her other side. She still feels a jolt of happiness when she remembers finding out about Linnea for the first time, and the first time she got to hold her. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face as they entered the room, fiddling with the small diamond bracelet Mel had given to her as a gift the night before from both her and Gabe, her something new. Mel snorted, joking “What, already thinking about the honeymoon?” Of course she hadn’t been before, but she started to now, and she quickly tried to ignore the tingle she felt between her legs at the next memory, one from just a few weeks ago. “Oh fuck, yes.” Leah’s eyes were shut tightly, mouth wide open, one of Nate’s arms thrown across her lower stomach to keep her from squirming as his tongue slowly circled her clit. She was panting, hard, one of her hands wound tightly in his blonde hair while the other held onto their headboard. She’d already come once on his fingers, but he hadn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He groaned as he pulled away slightly, his mouth and chin covered in her wetness and let his eyes roam back up her body, flushed, until they met hers. “Fucking love your pussy, baby.” He dove back into her cunt then like it was a five-course meal as she tightened her grip on him and moaned loudly, her body thrashing and hurtling toward her second climax. She’d found out early on in their relationship that in contrast to how soft he was with her normally, in bed Nate was filthy. And she fucking loved it. They both shared a high sex drive, and when they first started dating, they’d gone at it like rabbits. In the morning in the shower before she left for work, on their couch when he’d gotten home from a game, one particularly exciting afternoon when he’d come home after practice and laid her out on his kitchen table. They constantly got each other off over FaceTime or Skype when he was on the road, and on their first bye week together they spent almost the entire five days of their trip fucking on every surface of the villa they’d rented. She’d been sore for almost a week. And after almost four years of dating, it hadn’t really slowed down at all. When Nate moved his tongue from inside her back to her clit, flattening it and shaking his head from side to side, she felt her orgasm crash over her. “Fuuuuck yes!” Her back arched sharply off the bed as she rode out the waves of her high, Nate continuing to lick and suck at her through it. As she worked to catch her breath, he kissed his way back up her body, biting down softly on her neck when he reached her sweet spot. “So sexy when you cum. Think you can give me one more, baby?” Though she was exhausted from the first two orgasms he’d given her, she still nodded enthusiastically and let her hand snake down his body, taking him in her hand and guiding him toward her center. She let out a sigh which turned into a quiet moan as he entered her. Of all the men she’d been with, which though admittedly wasn’t many, Nate was the biggest. His length was average, but he was thick, spreading her open and filling her better than any man ever had before. Their mouths met as he started to move inside of her, swallowing the noises she made. She knew it wouldn’t take much for either of them, her already sensitive from her first two highs and him keyed up from the reactions he’d gotten while giving them to her. As his thrusts picked up in both pace and in power, their kisses turned more into breathing and moaning into each other’s mouths before he moved back down to her neck then down further, taking one of her nipples into his mouth and biting before rolling it between his teeth. “Ah, daddy please, I need to come, I need to come.” She whined, rolling her hips up to meet his the best she could. He kept his pace and shook his head slightly. “Wait baby, wait for daddy. I’ll give you what you need, be patient.” He stopped for a moment and took her ankles into his hands, placing them up over his shoulders and she cried out as he began thrusting against her harder and faster, hitting a spot deeper in her than before. Her breathing went ragged and she struggled to get out anything but whines, which quickly turned into yells, then sobs. “Please daddy! Please, I’m gonna, I can’t- I need to cum!” she clawed at his back, her head lolling back against the pillows as she felt his hips begin to move more frantically and uncontrolled. “Yeah baby, fucking cum for me. Show daddy who makes you feel like this, who’s pussy this is.” She shrieked and seconds later felt her fluids gush around him, pulling a loud groan from him as he followed her over the edge. “Fuuuuuck yeah baby, your pussy feels so good when you cum around me. Fucking angel.” He grunted, filling her with his seed. They’d stopped using condoms six months in and he maintains it was one of the best decisions they’d made. She couldn’t help but agree with him as she felt his warmth pulsing inside of her. When they’d both given each other everything they had, he dropped down gently over her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her as she trembled through the aftershocks of her third high of the night. Soft kisses were planted across her neck and jaw and she lightly combed her fingers through the sweaty mess of blonde on the nape of his neck. These were some of her favorite moments with Nate. Just after a round of great sex when they just laid catching their breaths in the silence, still connected and just basking in the warmth of being together. All she was capable of thinking about in those moments was the man laying over her and how much she loved him. “I love you baby.” He whispered quietly to her as he pulled away from his place at her shoulder, leaving her with a languid, toe curling kiss on her lips and feelings of love for him swirling around her body. It was Mel snorting again that brought her back to reality and she turned toward the other blonde, realizing she’d been biting her lip as she got caught up in the memory. “Jesus, I was kidding. My child is in the room.” Mel smirked and Linnea answered perfectly with a giggle from her spot in the corner, making both women laugh. She turned back toward the mirror to readjust her veil for what felt like the twentieth time since it’d been put in her hair. Mel continued. “Anyways, we just came by to tell you we’ve got about 15 minutes to go time. Maid of honor duties and all.” She winked making both of them laugh again before she swept Linnea into her arms, heading for the door “We’ll leave you alone now, see you in a bit.” As she exited the room, another woman entered. “My baby. Look at you, you look beautiful.” Her mother moved to stand by her side in the mirror, placing a hand gently on her shoulder, eyes filling with tears as they met hers in the mirror. “Your dad would be so proud, sweetheart.” Her own eyes filled with tears this time and as she closed them, she could hear the beeping of the heart monitor and smell the sterile scent of the hospital as clear as day. She couldn’t breathe. The only word to describe her in that moment was numb. Her eyes traced the wires to the white linen blanket, up to the machine that measured the slow heartbeat of the first man she’d ever loved. A face eerily similar to her own, her father had never looked thinner and paler than he did laying there in his hospital gown. ‘Brain aneurysm. Ruptured. Hemorrhagic stroke.’ The words the doctor had spoken to them rested like a weight in her head and in her chest as she stared down at their hands, hers clutching tightly and his limp and unmoving. She couldn’t cry. Not yet. She’d been holding onto hope for days now that he would wake up, that they could talk about how terribly their Steelers were doing and laugh about the clumsiness of her mother. That they could drive home together in his car, singing terribly along to the old Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin tunes he’d brought her up on. That one day he could walk her down the aisle (‘Not until you’re 30!’) and hold his first grandchild. No matter how many times she’d heard the words braindead and pull the plug, she held onto that hope, the same hope she was starting to feel slip between her fingers. The beeping was the only sound in the room aside from her mother’s sniffling and Nate’s steady breathing. Her parents had divorced just before her fourth birthday, but they’d remained great friends and worked together to raise her, something she didn’t realize how grateful she was for until she reached adulthood. It was only fitting that she, Leah and Nate were the three present at his bedside as two of them were what he always called ‘the loves of his life’ and the third one of his ‘favorite people out there’ as he’d called Nate just a few months before. The doctor entered the room again and when Leah met his gaze it was somber. She looked away almost immediately, knowing what was coming as he started speaking to them again. “I’m sorry, we’ve done all that we can, but we believe at this point it’s about a five percent chance he’ll wake, and if he does, we can almost guarantee significant brain damage. It’s in my medical opinion that you may want to consider pulling him off of the life support.” She felt it then, the first tear slip down her cheek where she sat in the chair by her father’s side. She locked eyes with her mother and they both knew what they had to do. This isn’t the way he would have wanted to live, and that’s if he did, and she wasn’t going to put him through any pain and suffering simply because it would make her happy. An hour later, after the three of them had all spoken their goodbyes and spent their last minutes with him, the machines were turned off. The beeping stopped, her father’s hand, still clutched in her own smaller, softer one went cold. Leah wept. She laid down on the bed beside her father’s body and held him, weeping as the last signs of life left his body. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t get through this. She didn’t want to live a life without her dad’s obnoxiously loud laughter and world famous bear hugs. She didn’t know how she was going to pull herself from the grief crashing over her in waves. Then a warm hand circled her ankle from its place at the foot of the bed, thumb softly smoothing over the skin there. Nate. Her rock, her stability, the calm to help her weather the storm. He’d be right by her side through it, just as he had been in everything else since the day they’d met three years ago. She knew when she felt the letters he was tracing onto her skin. I love you. It was strange but through all of her grief then, she felt the slightest bit of joy, because she also knew that her father had gotten to know and love the man she was going to marry, the love of her life. Her mother quickly pulled a handkerchief from her clutch, chastising both herself and her daughter for ‘ruining her makeup.’ She giggled as she clutched her mother’s hand and then directed a small smile at the pair of sapphire earrings she wore, a gift from her father on her eighteenth birthday and now her something blue. He was there with her, she knew that he was. Quickly wiping at her eyes, she handed the handkerchief back to her mother and went to gather her bouquet from the small table but stopped when her eyes landed on her engagement ring. One that had belonged to Nate’s grandmother, her something old. She floated away into yet another memory, and by far one of the best of her life. The air was crisp and smelled of the first signs of winter as Leah and Nate walked hand in hand down the lakeside pathway through Confluence Park. This was her favorite time of year, filled with memories of pulling out the Christmas decorations far too early with her mother as her father just smirked and shook his head at them. Memories of home games spent with her girls in the family box cheering on the men they loved. Memories of cold mornings spent curled up on the couch with Nate under the blankets, Cox at their feet as they fell in and out of sleep, watching the snowfall through the bay windows. She smiled as Nate gently tugged at Cox’s leash, willing him to slow down as they strolled lazily behind him. “This is my favorite time of year. I know I always complain about how cold it gets, but nothing beats a winter day like this.” Nate brought their joint hands up to his lips to place a kiss and replied, “I know baby. It’s one of my favorite times of year too, just because you love it.” She laughed at the cheesiness of his statement but leaned into his side, looking up at him as they slowed even more. “I love you, you know.” He didn’t reply immediately so she continued walking, only stopping when he did, turning to gaze at him curiously. It was only then that she felt the trembling of his hand still clasped in hers. “Nate? Why are we stopping, are you okay?” Cox whined behind her, probably wondering the same thing. “Yeah baby I’m fine, I just needed to say something and I wanted your full attention when I did.” This intrigued her even further but she didn’t answer, waiting for him to say whatever it is she could see was stewing in there. He stared at her for a moment longer before he started to speak again. “There’s something that I haven’t told you. I spoke to your dad on the phone a few weeks before he died. Spoke to him for quite a while, actually?” Leah was now incredibly confused, so she waited for him to continue. “You know how much I loved and respected him. I don’t know how but in three years he became another father figure to me and I wanted his opinion on something important so I called him to ask.” “What did you ask him?” her interest was thoroughly peaked as Nate’s hand dropped to his pocket, until he pulled out a small velvet box and both hands came to cover her mouth when she realized what was happening. She went completely still, tears already coming to the surface as he took a step closer to her, one of his hands still holding Cox’s leash and the other the box. “I asked him for his blessing.” He looped the leash around his wrist, but Cox was still then, sitting on the pavement at her feet, tail wagging furiously though she knew he had no idea what was occurring. How much her life was about to change. Then Nate took one of her hands from her mouth, her left hand, and held it tightly in his own. “When I was growing up, I watched my parents all the time when they were together, and you could see it in their faces when they looked at each other. It was this pure, real, genuine kind of love that doesn’t scream at you. The kind of love that’s just there, the kind that looks like making each other breakfast or bringing each other the morning paper, the kind that’s sitting on the couch together doing two completely separate things but somehow still being connected, the kind that looks like smiling through raising two children together. I saw other people find it, Mel and Gabe, Erik and Jackie, Sid and Kath. I always wanted that kind of love, but I never believed that I would have it, that I would somehow be lucky enough to find someone that loved me like that or that I could love like that. I think I realized on our third date that even if it wasn’t there yet, I could see that kind of love with you, and then it happened. There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not thanking whoever’s up there in the sky or wherever they are,” she giggled slightly through her tears at that bit, “that I got lucky enough to fall in love with you. You are everything. You’re kind, you’re witty, you’re intelligent, you’re incredibly beautiful and you’re so loving to everyone around you. But especially me. You’ve loved me through every bad game, through every hotheaded tantrum, through every argument, through every loss and every heartache. It didn’t matter what I was facing, what we were facing, you’ve loved me through all of it and I can only hope to spend the rest of my life giving that love right back to you.” At this point she was ugly crying, clutching his hand so tightly her knuckles were turning white, but he pressed on. “This kind of love, the love we feel for each other is special, once in a lifetime. It doesn’t come around often and my grandma always told me when you find something like it you have to hold on as tightly as you can and never let go. This was hers, actually.” He opened the velvet box then and Leah gasped as she saw the simple round diamond set on a silver band. “After I called your dad to ask for his blessing and he not only told me yes but that he couldn’t be happier not only that his daughter had found someone she loved so much but someone who loved her the way she deserved,” she wept harder at that “I called grandma and told her I had found it, the kind of love she told me to never let go of, and the next time we were in town visiting her she gave me the ring. This ring is from a marriage full of that love and I thought it might be a good luck charm for us, not that we need it.” She laughed loudly at that and he grinned at her, but his smile softened and she found tears to match hers in his eyes as he dropped to one knee. “You’re it for me, baby. My best friend, my soulmate, the love of my life. I’ll never need to wonder again if I’ll ever find this kind of love because hopefully I’ll get to have it with you and the family we’ll build forever. If you say yes, I promise to fall asleep a little more in love with you today, tomorrow and all of our lives. I love you so much. Leah, will you marry me?” She didn’t even need to think, she knew. She’d known for years, just as she was it for him, he was it for her. “Yes. Yes, Nate. I love you. I love you.” He slid the elegant diamond onto her finger and his lips were immediately on hers, kissing her through their laughter and through their tears, over and over again. If you’d ask her, there weren’t words she could put together to describe the love she felt for him in that moment. Everything, every moment and memory that lead them to this place was worth it for the reward of getting to call him her husband for the rest of her life. They spent what felt like hours but could only have been minutes kissing and laughing in that park, elated at the idea of spending their lives together. As they finally pulled away from each other Nate excitedly pulled her left hand forward, flashing it at their dog proudly, making her laugh once again. “Cox, she said yes! Mom and I are getting married.” The knock on the door shook her from her happiest memory, Gabe standing proudly in it’s frame offering her his arm. When she’d thought about who would walk her down the aisle that day, though they’d never fill the void left in her father’s absence, Gabe was the only choice. The older brother she’d never had but had found in him. “Ready to be Mrs. Mackinnon, kid?” The nerves still didn’t come, the calm and the peace remaining. She grabbed the bouquet and crossed the room to take his arm. “Never been more ready in my life.” (+ bonus:) Their bedroom was still save for her husband’s soft snores and the hum of the ceiling fan. The clock on the bedside table next to her that was illuminated by the soft glow coming from her reading lamp read 3:53 am, but she didn’t feel the sleep gripping her like she probably should. She took the quiet moment to glance at the man sleeping soundly beside her, the man she’d called her husband for the last two years but her best friend for far longer. He was the man of her dreams and though they’d faced challenges, she wouldn’t have wanted to face them with anyone else. She scanned quickly back through all the memories she had of their relationship and smiled when they brought back the feelings of intense love between them. And as she looked down at the tiny baby nestled softly in her arms, his eyes an identical blue to his father’s, she remembered the words he’d said the day he proposed. “I promise to fall asleep a little more in love with you today, tomorrow and all of our lives.”

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