#it's the first full chapter

[dunmeshistash]

Dungeon Meshi - Izutsumi & the Ninja's Room

#dungeon meshi #adventurers bible #izutsumi #inutade #tade #hien #benichidori #shuros party #rooms #grabbed the full size image from the chapter cover it first appears in #in the adventurers bible it was too small #they have weapons but also little decorations #very cute

[coquelicoq]

if you're wondering what the big deal is about the louis-philippe sentence in les misérables, it is, in the original french, 760 words long. the subject of the sentence doesn't appear until 95% of the way through, at word #711; the main verb is word #712. the sentence contains 91 commas and 49 semicolons and is almost entirely a list of laudatory adjectival phrases describing the erstwhile king of france. this is perhaps especially notable because les mis is, shall we say, not known for being particularly gung-ho about the monarchy.

this sentence copied and pasted into Word takes up more than one page single-spaced. in the 1800-page folio classique edition, it is fully two and a half of those 1800 pages. that means that les mis is 0.14% this single sentence. more of les mis is made up of this sentence than earth's atmosphere is made up of carbon dioxide (0.04%). if the page count of les mis stayed the same but every sentence was the length of this one, les mis would consist of only 720 sentences total.

incidentally, guess who named hugo a peer of france 17 years before the publication of les mis?

#he also goes on for another six pages after this but by then he has remembered the existence of the full stop #the endnotes say that hugo 'se devait de faire [ce portrait] aussi favorable que possible à la personnalité de l'homme #qui avait favorisé sa carrière' (had to make this portrait as favorable as possible to the character of the man who had favored his career) #in fairness to hugo it's not like louis-philippe was alive to read this. so he wasn't just sucking up to get something out of it #he says at the end of the chapter that this description is 'entirely disinterested'. which like on the one hand i get #bc like i said louis-philippe was not in power and reading this. but otoh victor 'ancien pair de france' hugo u r not exactly unbiased. lol #les mis #lm 4.1.3 #i just looked up the english translation and gasp! hapgood turned it into four separate sentences!!!! #so i think y'all who are reading it via les mis letters (which uses hapgood i think?) are gonna miss out on the full experience :/ #my posts #linked to #syntax #idk if i got this across but the worst part is that the subject of the sentence - the beginning of the independent clause - #doesn't occur until the very end. so for the first 95% of the sentence you're just waiting for the bass to drop!!! #like reading it out loud you have to raise your pitch at the end of every dependent clause because you haven't gotten to the subject yet #AND THERE ARE SO MANY CLAUSES!! 49 SEMICOLONS PEOPLE!!! FORTY-NINE!!!! #victor hugo would be TERRIBLE as a hype man. he would take so long that the crowd would tear him to pieces with their fingernails #before louis-philippe could come out on stage. and then they'd be so mad at louis-philippe for inspiring him that they'd tear LP apart too #actually i think i'm using hype man wrong. i'm thinking of the guy that gets the crowd hyped up for the main guy before the main guy #makes an appearance. a hype man is the guy who makes interjections during a song. victor hugo would be bad at both of these #like just imagine the announcer at the beginning of a basketball game. and now...your starting lineup...at power forward... #and then he just says the 760-word louis-philippe sentence. #dead. murdered at the hands of the fans. microphone shoved down his trachea.

[critter-covenant]

Class is in session!

Idea inspired from this that I've been meaning to draw for the past few days

#He'd be a half decent teacher except every other time someone tries to ask him a question outside of lectures he's asleep #Part time math teacher full time sleeper 👊👊 #ever so slightly lazier quality because I was tired when making this #Nearly fell asleep at my desk thrice oops #No sleep only catnap #Less lazy work when exam prep stops kicking my ass after late May yahoo #Still don't know how to draw critters from a behind and over the shoulder angle I'll figure that out someday #Going to bed first tho night chat👋 #poppy playtime fanart #poppy playtime chapter 3 #poppy playtime #smiling critters fanart #smiling critters #catnap #dogday #bobby bearhug #hoppy hopscotch #kickinchicken #Minor piggy and bubba not enough to tag me thinks #The critters playing school together and each one takes on the role of a different teacher for a while #he just has the patience for math

[wwxsflutesolo]

"Chuuya. Come to your senses. Our fate will not end in a place like this. Because you and I are destined to—"

@/kedreeva// ernest hemingway - the old man and the sea// death cab for cutie - summer years// unknown// unknown// lidia yuknavitch - the chronology of water: a memoir// richard siken - saying your names// taylor swift - gorgeous// unknown// victor hugo - les miserables// jeanette winterson - lighthousekeeping// sylvia Plath - lady lazarus// margaret atwood - power politics// tory adkisson - Anecdote of the Pig//richard siken - planet of love, wishbone// ethel cain - hard times// margaret atwood - variations on the word love

#web weaving #quotes #skk #i'll be so honest this was so much work for someone who doesn't think dazai is dead but i also cannot resist angst this good #bungou stray dogs #dazai and the idea of destiny #hot take dazai is actually so full of love & hope & he just hides it & thats why its so easy for life to get to him #dazai osamu #chuuya nakahara #dazai x chuuya #richard siken #poems and quotes #also he was totally going to say die together i just know it hes infuriating #they're soulmates your honor #bsd 109 #my first one of these ever #theres just something about dazai and chuuya being doomed by the narrative #this man thinks about his fate & how he wants to die but he's trying to live my god #all of these make sense in my head #the parallel of their meeting with this chapter also ???? hello? #bsd spoilers

[sassypantsjaxon]

Okay, so we learned from one of the light novels that Mic and Aizawa did a haunted house for their school festival back when they were students

Okay, now look at this iconic post

Please tell me somebody else sees my vision

#bnha #my hero academia #bnha school briefs #present mic #eraserhead #yamada hizashi #aizawa shouta #first year mic who has not yet hit his growth spurt+also first year Aizawa who's voice has already dropped #PLEASE TELL ME SOMEBODY ELSE SEES MY VISION!!!! #source: last chapter of the fourth light novel #and i have the full haunted house post linked

[doodleswithangie]

@reddieweek day 1: mythical creatures

I started this on actual Day 1, and as usual it spiraled into something much bigger than the simple doodle I started with, but I definitely enjoyed thinking it through and finding my take on the concept!

[Image description: A Werewolf/Vampire AU featuring Richie Tozier and Eddie Kaspbrak from the "IT" movies. The AU is detailed with handwritten notes and captioned vignettes. Alt text is provided, and copied and reformatted for easier reading under the cut.]

Copied Alt Text, reformatted for easier reading

Image one:

Young half-shifted werewolf Richie and vampire Eddie pose for the camera. Bulleted notes read:

Derry 1.0

The Losers are all some sort of mythological creature (which isn't that weird in this Derry).

Richie is a werewolf who stays half-shifted around his friends (but hides on the full moon).

Eddie is a vampire who carries blood bags from the pharmacy in his fanny pack (less messy that way).

Richie mimes Eddie's fangs and taunts him with puns as Eddie pulls out a medical blood bag. The dialogue reads:

"Stopping for a quick bite?" "You know I- hey wait-" "Kinda sucks to be you." "You suck! And you already have fangs! Quit that!" "Fangs for noticing!" "HISS!"

Image two:

Portraits of Richie and Eddie as unhappy adults in their human and creature forms. Bulleted notes read:

Derry 2.0

Richie

Intensely guards/hides werewolf side

Very hairy even as a human

High stress situations or the full moon will involuntarily shift him

Eddie

High neck suit collar to hide the bite

Strict diet for basic nutrients

Ironically more vampiric the more he suppresses the urge to feed.

Black ink seeps up the page, with the caption, "Pennywise forces them to reckon with the parts of themselves they've hidden away…"

Image three:

Set against an inky background are scenes of a bloodstained full vampire Eddie, full wolf Richie in the Deadlights, and wolf Richie hunching protectively over Eddie. They are captioned, "Eddie kills and drains the Leper. Richie fully shifts in the deadlights. Eddie saves Richie, and in turn Richie saves Eddie."

Set against a bright background are scenes of after the fight: wolf Richie sleeps as Eddie waits with Richie's folded clothes, and of them recreating their pose from the first image, touching foreheads. They are captioned, "Post-battle nap and swim in the quarry before hightailing it out of Derry."

Image four:

Richie's clawed hand scratches out "R + E." It is captioned, "With one final stop on the way."

End Copied Alt Text.

#reddie #reddieweek #richie tozier #eddie kaspbrak #it #it 2017 #it chapter 2 #it movie #digital art #werewolf #vampire #doodleswithangie #500 #i'm far from the first to do werewolf richie and vampire eddie but i had to bc it works so well (beyond the canonical tie ins) #full disclosure this au is not that much more detailed beyond what i managed to fit on these pages #just like a couple of more scattered thoughts about themes and such #i really want to do at least one more day but we'll see!

[littledashdraws]

elise and her little buddy from the aviary

#fire emblem #fire emblem fates #fe14 #elise #thinking about the fates manga again + how they showed the nohrian aviary being full of owls :) #i am honoring my roots (my first chapter book series being guardians of the gahoole) #northern saw whet owl is probably too small to carry letters for u!!! but it's just the right size to be stinkin adorable!!!! #my owl assignmence from twitter are leo and barn owl. camilla and snowy owl. corrin and great horned owl #(their 'ears' are matching. hehehoho) #and xander i am undecided about. but i kind of think sooty owl because those look cool as fuck

[fromtheseventhhell]

"Sansa = Ned 2.0 and Arya = Catelyn 2.0" is one of those takes where you can just tell people are more attached to the aesthetic than anything. "The Stark girls are most like the parent they look least like" sounds good on paper and people run with the idea, regardless of how it actually fits into the story. A majority of the justification relies on misinterpreting all of their characters + a healthy dose of fanon. What gets me is that this is the same fandom that insists that Lyanna, only compared to Arya in the text, is equal parts Arya and Sansa but Ned and Catelyn, two fully fleshed-out and complex characters, have to be more like one girl or the other? There's just nothing in the story to justify being so adamant about these comparisons. Arya and Sansa have parallels with both of their parents but at the end of the day, they are unique characters with their own stories. I'll never understand why people want to flatten these complex characters down to their most basic tropes and fit them into restrictive boxes just for a "poetical~" comparison.

#arya stark #sansa stark #catelyn stark #ned stark #house stark #asoiaf #BORING YAWNING SLOPPY #notice how these takes never come with actual evidence from the books to make direct comparisons from the text? #/ned is a gentle quiet poitican/ and he physically attacks someone + constantly shows his frustration and voicing his opinions #our first introduction to him is him executing a man and we know he's done so several times that year #he says that his toddler son needs to grow up and stop being afraid of a giant wolf cause /winter is coming/ and Northern life is hard 😭 #/Cat is a feral wild woman/ and her chapters are full of her holding her tongue and trying to mediate situations #people literally switch their characterizations cause the second a woman shows emotion she's /feral/ #and a man can be the most wild unhinged character ever and still be /kind/ and /gentle/ #like yeah fanon sansa is fanon ned 2.0 and fanon arya is fanon cat 2.0 but their actual characters are more complex then that #the only valid /2.0/ comparison is between Lyanna and Arya but somehow she gets split between Arya and Sansa 🥴 #my hourly frustration at this fandom not caring about the story and only being here for /the vibes~/ #like Ned hates Tourneys and protests one as a waste of resources while Sansa is planning a Tourney and using resources while winter #is arriving and smallfolk are going hungry...but she's Ned 2.0? Where? How? Huh? #And yeah Ned deals with politics in KL but that's relatively a small aspect of his character #and even him constantly speaking his mind and challenging Robert directly is the exact opposite of Sansa's approach 😭 #/courtesy is a Lady's armor/ vs. /I'm gonna tell Robert he's an idiot right to his face/ oh yeah totes the same #Arya is the character following his advice and guidance for a reason just saying #like if Sansa was doing the same I could see it but she..isn't? Her approach is much closer to Catelyn's than Ned's #I don't understand why people have all of the sudden decided that the Sansa/Cat parallels are shallow when they're #very similar characters and Sansa's current plot actually revolves around that fact #obviously they're not exactly alike but no two characters are or even meant to be...their comparisons are still very valid #tired of being expected to accept an idea just because enough people repeat it

[imma-bunni]

It Lies Beneath These Hallowed Woods ao3 by meekome @meekkome ("in which lan zhan sees wei ying possessed by eldritch horror and says if i can't fix him i can join him")

The shadows are alive. Writhing and twisting around him, creeping over him, between his fingers, around his throat, curious and hungry. The dirt beneath is black like dried blood, which makes the shards and fragments of bones half-buried around him easy to see, white and glimmering unnaturally bright in the gloom.

Then something looks at him, from behind the shadows, and Wei Wuxian flinches at the weight of its attention.

some tags: sentient burial mounds, eldritch wei ying, whump, body horror, fix-it, eventual happy ending

#my sister wrote this fanfic!!! #IT'S SO INCREDIBLY GOOD! #she published the first chapter a month ago but I've been procrastinating #because I knew I wanted to draw something for her for it because it's AMAZING #and I figured it'd turn into something more than a single drawing ':D #this took me like three full straight days of drawing #but worth it #I'm really proud of how it turned out! #myart #comic #fanfic fanart #the untamed #cql #mdzs #cosmic horror au

[tinartss]

on moving out

#for context i drew this during the paradise of providence event👍 #repost of old art #kavetham #haikaveh #i still think abt kaveh moving out often #always a bit torn between it signifying him getting back on his feet + regaining confidence in himself #but like sometimes he's a bit of an unreliable narrator....remember when he was like #hm. the first thing i will do w the prize money is move out and then build another palace but ten times bigger! like oh...kaveh..... #plus he can sometimes be blind (purposefully or not) to what's actually good for him..bc we (and alhaitham LOL) know the significance of #him having a home that's not just a house and how full circle of a moment that is for him #its always interesting to consider that their living situation in itself is this in-between flux moment #though i think kaveh trying his best to escape this “chapter of his life” isn't necessarily the solution..... #i still don't know how tumblr works so if u have to go thru all my yapping in these tags to repost i am so sorry </3 #ok thats all thank u for coming to my ted talk

[yarrowdraws]

“They are no longer there. But I still see them.”

#sacred and terrible air #disco elysium #püha ja õudne lõhn #hot entropolic summer #pjõl #Målin Lund #this chapter was so intense #i wanted to draw something for it for a long time. it turned out different than what i planned first (more abstract) #and too pg for a scene where children do meth lmao #i put so much thought into it but forgot to check the canvas size so this is the full sized image #*

[cozylittleartblog]

:)c

queen pin real. we all have to be a little self-indulgent sometimes 💙

#deltarune #queen #Q5U4EX7YY2E9N #enamel pins #utdr #video games #deltarune chapter 2 #turns out the budget Did allow for this and i instantly could not help myself #alright boys now don't let all these milfs be shelf warmers #deltarune fanart #pins #i wanted to do something more interesting with the wall but i was like 'this is a backing card and i need it done Today' so . window #gotta take advantage of those sales!!!! backing cards probably go in the trash anyway #.... i save all mine though 👉👈 i have a box full of backing cards from all my pins. they're pretty...... #ok in the tags or the replies: do y'all save your backing cards. yes no or only sometimes #this is the tallest pin i've ever made. the first pin with screenprint. aND THE MOST EXPENSIVE PER UNIT LMAO

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

"i have to go to sleep" i say

"i really have to go to sleep" i say again, four hours later

#WHEN THE WRITING GROOVE HITS I GOTTA STICK WITH IT #WHO KNOWS WHEN SHE'LL RETURN TO ME #listen this decapitation fic might actually get Done! #ive got the first part written out #all it needs is a re-write and a read and then i guess i could start posting #BUT! i won't until im done with it all #im not making that mistake... #absolutely unprompted #also i need to decide on How to post it #bc it has three little 'arcs' #the Event - the conflict - the resolution #and each one has its own separate chunks with different povs #so its like... each section posted as a full chapter #with distinct separated povs / scenes #or each pov is a new chapter? #but then if its that then the chapter lengths would be so uneven. #its be like 'oh ch.1 is 3k. ch.2 is less than 2k. ch. 3 is less than 3k #rrrgh. but then just posting three big chapters #would be like 'ok part one has like. 7k. part two has 10k. part three has whatever k' #so the question is! #three big chunks posted over the course of three weeks? #or up to 10 smaller chapters over the course of a equal amount of weeks? #im inclined towards the former.... #wanna get this out before the next big update releases and smashes it all into tiny shards! #big chunks! three releases! Once Im Done With The Writing / Editing Process! #might ask a certain someone to beta read! who knows! i do have a person in mind that i'd ask! #we'll see we'll see

[milfp1lled]

hi! i'd love to request a chessy x reader fic where reader is a friend of the twins when they're all in college ish times (of age) and reader is crushing on chess

The Chessy Trap

Pairing: Chessy x Reader

Summary: After noticing the chemistry between you and their housekeeper Chessy, your college friends Hallie and Annie decide to try and set the two of you up

or

Two times Hallie and Annie try to set an oblivious Y/N and Chessy up with each other and the third time it actually works

Warnings: Mostly just fluff. Very brief mention of homophobia, mentions of drinking/underage drinking, strong language.

Words: 6975

Note: The word count on this is absolutely atrocious and I have no idea how that happened. Sorry/You're welcome (depending how you feel about it haha). Hope you enjoyed it anyway!

Sorry for any mistakes! It's not been proofread (yet!).

"Parker-James family vineyards" you read aloud with a dreamy sigh as Annie drives the car beneath the archway sign at the entrance of the estate- there was lush greenery as far as the eye could see...miles away from the concrete jungle that was Atlanta, or the loud hustle and bustle of LA. You tilt your head skywards, closing your eyes to take in deep breaths of clean air and to revel in the feeling of the sun on your skin...it was even more beautiful than the way they had described it.

It'd been a long 6 and a half hour drive up to Napa (the three of you deciding to split the drive between you in two hour increments) but you were finally on the last stretch.

Hallie let out a leisurely sigh from the back seat of the jeep, stretching her arms up to cradle the back of her head.

"I know we're only here for a week, but trust me when I say this Thanksgiving break will be a blast...not to mention it's so needed! We have a pool, and there'll be music...also Chessy and Mom make the best thanksgiving dinner" she rambled talking at 50 miles a minute (as per usual).

You'd not had the pleasure of meeting Chessy before. Sure you heard of lots of stories about her and their butler Martin before, but you'd only gotten the chance to meet the second half of the duo when you were down in London.

Beside you, Annie nodded in agreement with her sister, eyes still trained on the road;

"It really will...and our Mum and Dad quite literally live on a vineyard so there's no need for Hallie and I to crack out those ridiculous fake IDs either" she grumbled in mock irritation.

You let out a hearty chuckle at that, "No fake IDs...are you sure?" You grin.

"Because I would like to see Hallie bring out 28 year old London expat 'Philomena Crocker' for a night out in Napa Valley" you quip, mimicking a British accent.

Taking one hand off of the wheel of the car, the Brit gives you a playful shove in response, Hallie on the other hand snorting with laughter,

"I have class and you don't!"

Back in your first year of college, Annie had (mistakenly) tasked you and Hallie with finding someone to make some fake IDs for the three of you so you could get into this trendy bar, which lead to the two of you selecting the most ridiculous aliases you could think of...it would be fair to say the Annie didn't take kindly to having to assume the identity of  'Talulah Higginsbottom' for the next two years.

The three of you had been friends for a while now, having met during your first year of college at UCLA.

Annie was a fellow English major and her abundant enthusiasm and charm meant that you quickly became fast friends and Hallie was your volleyball teammate; effortlessly hilarious and always bouncing with energy.

You first met her at volleyball tryouts mistaking her for Annie, the only other freshman trying out who you recognised, so you'd waltzed up to her to engage in conversation...only to find out that she'd all of a sudden adopted an American accept and in fact went by Hallie...because she was a completely different person who had no idea who you were.

In hindsight...after two seconds of conversation (accent aside) you should've seen it coming...where Annie was prim and proper, Hallie cursed like a sailor and said whatever she was thinking at any given moment. After that mix up you were mortified (Annie found it hilarious)...safe to say the three of you had been inseparable ever since.

You were known as 'The Three Musketeers' around campus—you'd taken a big sister role in their lives and you'd do everything together; study, go shopping, eat...get embarrassingly drunk at frat parties.

So when it came down to holidays, of course they'd offered to extend an invitation for you to spend it with them and their family...they'd considered you as such anyway at this point.

Before college you'd taken a year out post highschool to work and save up to move states after getting your dream spot at UCLA, but it just wasn't enough to cover everything, which meant you'd come to terms with the fact that you'd spend most of your time outside of the semester in California.

To fly from LA to Atlanta for thanksgiving just wasn't feasible...well that and the fact that you weren't exactly jumping at the chance to go home seeing as things between you and your conservative parents were on the rocks ever since you'd come out as a lesbian.

Your original plan for Thanksgiving was to spend it back in your dorm with some Seinfeld reruns and a Turkey microwave dinner to keep you company and you'd actually grown to accept that...it wasn't like you had any emotional tie to such a pointless holiday anyway...not to mention there were much worse places to be spending it than LA.

But of course, the twins weren't having it; outraged upon hearing this, demanding you spend it with them in Napa. You loved them and appreciated their offer, but first denied the invite, feeling guilty for intruding on their family thanksgiving...you knew that they came from wealth but regardless having them incur further expenses because of you made you feel like you were taking advantage.

Following this Hallie had barged into your room complaining and pouting about how not coming with them to California was 'so unfair' because they really wanted you there. Annie on the other hand, always leading with logic, had given you a stern 'talking to' about how not coming with them would be a "disservice to yourself" as they were making the journey regardless of whether you tagged along or not...not to mention you'd be able to join in with the driving which was a relief to Annie as she hated driving on "the other side of the road".

...eventually you gave in.

How could you possibly argue with that?

It wasn't like the stakes would be too high anyway. This would be the third time you'd met their parents as you'd spent the final months of last summer with them at their townhouse in London, (Their parents being convinced for some bizarre reason that you were Annie's girlfriend for the entire duration of the trip).

_______________________

As you near the house, you could already see someone standing in the archway of the door, clearly waiting for the car to arrive. Annie turns down the Britney Spears song playing on the radio to focus as she squints to see who it is before it dawns on her and she haphazardly parks the car, bounding into action to greet them.

"Chessy!" She squeals, uncharacteristically excited as she jumps out of the car, Hallie following closely behind as they sandwich the shorter woman in a hug.

"My gorgeous gorgeous girls! Every time I see you you've grown taller, there's gotta be something in that LA air I'm telling 'ya!"

"How was the drive up?"

Hiking her duffel pack further up her shoulder, Hallie raises her eyebrows up to her hairline,

"Oh it was just riveting...Annie forgot what damn country she was in and nearly wiped out a deer changing sides on the road!" she smirks with a chuckle,

Annie fake laughs in reply,

"Oh Yeah? Wow that's so funny Hal, how about you tell Chessy about the fact you made us take an hour-and-a-half detour to find a gas station because you needed another pack of smokes?"

At least to their credit...both of their claims were in fact true...your turn behind the wheel had probably the most peaceful time of the whole trip. You chose to put it down to the fact that you had the latest Gorillaz album playing on repeat, (But honestly, it was probably just because you didn't have a raging nic addiction and knew which side of the road to drive on).

Watching the exchange on from a distance you let out a breath of laughter that seemed to catch the attention of the trio, three pairs of eyes turning to look at you leaning against Hallie's jeep.

That was when you really saw her.

She seemed slightly shorter than you (you put that down to the pair of 6-inch wedges you had on) and was dressed casually, wearing a pair of beige Chinos, her button-up tucked askew into them, but regardless she had that kind of beauty that you couldn't help but notice.

To put it simply she was gorgeous. And boy, were you starstruck.

Shiny brown hair flying in the California breeze, the older woman shoots you a smirk before sliding her sunglasses onto of her head to get a better look at you. You hold your breath at the way her gaze rakes up and down your form as she walks over to you before holding her hand out for you to shake:

"And who is this? She asks without averting her stare from your face.

"Chessy this is Y/n...Y/n, Chessy"

This was Chessy? You friends had not given you the heads up that she was this...hot. Honestly, you didn't know what you'd expected.

"This is the famous Y/n!?" Chessy beams, her unwavering gaze rooting you on the spot.

"I've heard a lot about you"

"Uhh...I'm y/n" you gawk, mouth opening and closing like a fish.

Real smooth.

Chessy chuckles as she lets go of your hand before giving your forearm a gentle squeeze.

"Yeah...I gathered that hon."

Hallie and Annie look between the two of you before exchanging a glance...you had no idea what for.

That damn twin intuition.

They could sometimes have entire conversations between them without saying a word and you were left clueless every time.

Elizabeth runs down the stairs, Nick hot on her heels and the twins head towards them, enveloping them each in a hug too, before the two parents turn to you.

"And y/n! so good to see you again!"

"Great to see you again Mr and Mrs Parker-James"

Elizabeth gives you a look and you correct yourself sheepishly,

"Sorry I keep on forgetting...Liz and Nick" before she pulls you into a hug.

"So how is college girls?" She asks the twins, and Hallie bursts into action, animatedly telling her parents about some scientific field trip she went on last week,

You and Annie look at each other holding back laughter.

Here she goes

This was about to be a long conversation, the twin would talk all day about her environmental science degree if you let her.

Then a blur of yellow runs out of the still ajar door, crashing into you and sending you teetering backwards slightly on your heels.

You manage to catch yourself (thank God).

Falling in front of a beautiful woman right after stumbling over your words like an idiot would've been the nail in the coffin for your ego.

You look down to see the sweetest looking golden retriever you've ever seen, pawing at your capris for your attention. Without hesitation you quickly crouch down to your knees in the gravel, letting him jump up and lick your face,

"Oh hi!" You coo in a baby voice, as you begin fawning over him,

"You must be Sammy!" You exclaim, leaning down to scratch his belly.

"Aren't you just such a good boy!"

"Huh..." Chessy states in confusion,

You shield your eyes against the sun to peer up at her through your fingers, the sun haloing around her chocolate brown hair,

It seemed fitting... Chessy had to be an angel.

"Sammy doesn't usually like strangers but he came to greet you first..." she explains,

"...Guess you must be special"

You bite your lip with a shy smile as you feel a slight blush tinting your cheeks,

Oh, Chessy.

"...I am."

__________________________

"Hey." you smile softly, hip leaning against the doorway of the kitchen,

It'd been two days since you'd arrived here and sure you'd obviously seen Chessy around (as expected embarrassing yourself each time by being a fumbling mess), but only now had you finally managed to work up the courage and confidence to say something to her without short-circuiting.

Chessy startles momentarily before turning away from the pot in front of her expecting to see Annie or Hallie,

"You scared the shit out of m- Oh! How you doing hon?" she smiles softly.

"You looking for one of the twins?" She offers.

"No it's okay...Annie is reading by the pool and Hallie will probably be knocked out taking her afternoon nap right about now..." you share a laugh with Chessy,

"I..." you smile shyly at the ground with a nervous giggle before looking back up to meet her gaze "I, uh, actually came here to see if you needed any help with anything?"

The housekeeper tucks a strand of messy hair behind her ear, a small smile blooming across her lips,

"Me?"

"Well...yeah."

"Do you even know how to cook?"

"Do I know how to cook!?...I'll have you know I worked at an Olive Garden in my teens!" you joke back pretending to toss your updoed hair over your shoulder.

Chessy pauses before bursting into loud laughter, clutching her stomach slightly. You noted how her entire face crinkled up, like her laugh was trying to force its way out of her, when she smiled unabashedly like that and you couldn't help but feel some sort of weird pride swell in your chest at being the cause of it.

...all you'd really done was tell a joke.

But making her laugh was addicting and you all of a sudden wanted more.

"Who am I to refuse the help of someone with such high expertise?" She quips grabbing another apron from the hook behind her and tossing it your way, as you grab it with a seamless catch.

"You can start on chopping the onions for the sauce" she points, and with a salute, you move to stand at the counter.

That you could do.

Surprisingly, you get a good rhythm going between the two of you, smoothly manoeuvring around each other as you focus on chopping and dicing, whilst Chessy takes the ingredients to the pot after you're done.

The only thing was you hadn't said a word to one another yet.

You opened your mouth to speak before clamping it shut immediately.

What did you say to her? What if you said something weird? That would be a nightmare; You didn't want her to think you were weird.

"So...you're an English major like Annie huh?" Chessy starts after a while, and you're thankful she's the one to fill the silence,

"Ya' planning on going to law school like She is?".

You let out an amused snort in reply,

"God no! After I graduate next year I'm not going back! Annie is as smart as anything but law school is not for me..." you state moving on to dice up some carrots.

"I think wanna teach kids: I'm pretty good with them and love being around them, so...but honestly I think I originally chose to major in it because I love to read...it's all I do."

You pause, reaching out your hand to pretend to smack yourself, "Sorry...I'm rambling.".

It was a habit of yours when you were nervous...Chessy made you nervous. Which you knew was ridiculous because she was so incredibly warm.

She was so disarming and open and welcoming and kind...so why couldn't you look her in the eye?

Chessy smiles, "No...it's cute."

She thought you were cute.

"I like to read too...I'm a sucker for a good romance novel..." she starts,

"I've been at this house so long though I think I've already read my way through all of the books on the shelves here so I'm starting to read the same ones over and over".

"I love romance novels too,” you begin, feeling a slow blush spreading across your cheeks,

"I brought some books from my collection with me this week so I could lend you some of mine?" you don’t look at her when you make the offer, trying to seem unbothered despite your heart beating out of your chest.

Chessy beams at you, "I'd love that.".

"So...do you think that love like in the books actually exists like that? ...in the real world?"

She pauses with a frown and you can tell she’s really mulling your question over, "I don't know...I mean I've been around for a while now and I haven't seen it yet but who knows".

"That's kind of a deep question to ask me over some pasta...you got your eye on a boy at your college?"

You laugh like its the funniest thing you’ve ever heard,

"I mean...I'm a lesbian so no boys...no 'girls' at the moment either though, I've not really clicked with anyone "

She gives you a look like she wants to say something but doesn't.

"What about you...I'm sure someone must've snapped you up by now."

You mean...look at her.

Chessy rolls her eyes at you as though taking what you said as a joke,

"Not at the moment...been on a couple of dates but nothing stuck...the dating pool in Napa is quite small let's just say"

Hm.

Chessy turns to look at you pensively with a tilt of her head,

"I know you want to ask...I can see you've got that look in your eyes"

You relent immediately,

"I heard that you and the butler, Martin were engaged a while back..."

This time it's Chessy's time to laugh and you're thrown off.

That wasn't the reaction you were expecting.

"That's what you were to afraid to ask me?" She looks up with a contemplative pause,

"It was around 10 years back now but, there's not really much to tell...we realised neither of us were exactly each other's type... I'm assuming you met Martin's partner Edward?".

You nod in understanding.

"Anyway..." she begins with a clap of her hands to change the subject,

"I'd say we just need to leave the sauce to simmer now, so I don't really need your help with chopping anymore...It could be useful to have someone roll out the pasta for me though"

Turns out that was something you in fact could not do.

"Is this how they had you kneading dough at Olive Garden?"she teases with a bump of her hip

"Shameful..."

"Here let me show you how to do it..." she offers gently, standing closely beside you

"Can I?" She asks hands hovering above yours, and you nod as she weaves your fingers together guiding you to follow her actions,

"You have to work the dough, see like th-"   Naturally of course, you tune her out completely. Too dazed by your proximity to her and the entrancing flex of her fingers as she kneads.

You weren't even going to let your mind go to that place... you refused.

But she did seem to know what she was doing. Chessy was really good with her hands…

The woman herself pauses before turning her head around to face you eyebrows raised.

"Did you get that?"

"Yeah...but I think I'm better off being on pasta sauce duty." You mutter, shaking yourself out of your daze as you walk back over to the pot,

"You're gonna quit just like that?" She chuckles and you shrug with a smirk as she gets back to work.

You look at across Chessy, the older woman trying to blow away a stray wisp of hair as she wipes her hands on her apron to no avail,

She mutters an expletive under her breath, opting to tuck her hair behind her ear with the side of her hand, leaving a huge white flour mark on her face (Chessy of course none the wiser)

With a chuckle, you lean forward to wipe the flour off her cheek with your thumb, pausing to admire how the flecks of light shining through the window twinkle in her sparkling green eyes.

"Thanks..." she smiles staring back at you just as intensely.

"You're welcome"

You drag your gaze from those piercing green eyes down to her lips and back up again. You were so close. It would be so easy to kiss her if you wanted to.

And you really really did. At that moment you wanted to kiss her more than you've ever wanted anything in your life.

"Shit! The pasta sauce is bubbling over " exclaims Chessy and suddenly the moment is gone as you both spring into action.

____________________________ 1.

Turning to the next page of your book, Annie punctuates the silence with an exhausted sigh,

You ignore her.

She sighs again, this one even louder and more obnoxious than the last,

You slam your book closed throwing it onto your lap,

"Hmm...something the matter Annie?" You grin,

"Well...Chessy left her glasses on the table and is blind as a bat without them...do me a huge favour and go give them to her?"

You raise your eyebrow, Seriously?

"Well...I can't be bothered to go!?" Explains the Brit as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Hallie looks away from the tv to join in on your conversation, frowning at her sister as though she had lost her mind, "Huh? Those glasses aren't eve-"

Annie cuts her off with a look.

Something was up here...but if you were being honest you were too happy to have an excuse to see Chessy to even bother to even attempt to figure out what.

You hesitate, before looking at your outfit, smoothing down your T-shirt,

You'd been laying around all afternoon...you didn't want to go in there looking like a mess.

"Well go on! If you take too long she's gonna confuse the salt with the sugar again" Nudges Hallie.

You don't move.

"...y/n?"

"Sorry it's just.." you shake your head, feeling like an idiot, you knew deep down you were being ridiculous but you couldn't help it.

"...do I look okay?"

The twins look at you, nonplussed and you can't say you can blame them, you normally oozed confidence so suddenly being flustered like this was even scaring you a little.

There was just something about Chessy that made you feel like you a teenager having your first schoolgirl crush again.

You laugh at yourself, discreetly fanning your face,

"It's just...you guys didn't tell me that..."

Hallie looks even more confused "Didn't tell you what?"

"You know...that Chessy was so.." a blush creeps up on your cheeks and realisation appears on Hallie's face as she turns to look at her sister, eyes wide.

Oh. Your best friend gives you an encouraging smile,

"You look amazing as usual...go and give Chessy her glasses princess charming" and you're shooed out of the room before you can even protest.

You don't even fully register the sensation of your feet moving until you find yourself in the entryway of the kitchen.

"You okay y/n?" begins Chessy, peering up at you from over her cup of coffee,

First thing you notice was the fact that she in fact already had a pair of glasses on.

You frown. "Uh...we saw you forgot your glasses so I was gonna bring these over to you"

She holds them up to her face to inspect them for a moment, perplexed before folding them again to place in her breast pocket.

"Huh. These are actually an old prescription so I'm not sure how they got there..."

You look liked a kicked puppy.

"But...thanks anyway Hon!" she smiles giving your shoulder a squeeze upon seeing the look on your face,

"Whilst you're here, I need someone to taste test this chilli for me...I mean I think it's the best thing I've ever tasted but who knows, I could be biased"

Loading up a spoon, she blows on it momentarily, hand cupped beneath it, before holding it up to you.

"Come on...I'm not gonna stand here all day!" she states with a snicker and you lean forward to allow her to slip the spoon into your mouth,

She shoots you an enchanting smile as you swallow.

"Good girl...was that so hard?"

What.

You chastise yourself for the place you just went to mentally before closing your eyes and taking a deep breath to compose yourself.

God, she was so hot.

"Come again?"

You'd said that out loud.

"The chilli I mean. The chili is so hot. But so good! I mean it's hot but it's like hot just to the right level. I think you'r--it's perfect!"

"The chilli! Really good"

You run a hand through your hair, face beet red as you turn around to flee the kitchen before things could possibly get any more embarrassing for you.

Chessy shakes her head with an empty chuckle as she turns to resume stirring the ladle in the pot,

Cute.

God she was losing her mind. _________________

2.

"Honestly don't worry about it sweetheart, do you want me to make you some soup?" You hear muttering outside your door and you poke your head out of the doorway, towel still wrapped around your hair to see what's going on.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Whispers the older woman as she turns around to look at you, her gaze wandering with a blush as she sees what you're wearing,

You look down at yourself realising you're wearing the skimpiest pair of pyjamas you own and scratch the back of your neck in embarrassment

"No it's okay...I'm an early riser, what's going on?"

"Annie was supposed to lend me an extra hand and tag along with me to the market to get stuff for the house and some last bits ready for the Thanksgiving dinner but she's not feeling well..."

You raise an eyebrow, Annie? Sick? That girl was never sick.

She shrugs throwing her hands in the air

"Never mind... I'll see if Hal is up to getting out of bed"

Both of you knew that hell would freeze over before Hallie 'don't bother me unless someone's dying' Parker-James got out of bed before eleven.

"No! No, I mean, you don't have to...I could go with you?" You offer, trying to hide the fact your heart was racing out of your chest.

"Chessy's face lights up

"I mean...if you're sure?"

"Yeah...you're in luck: I've got strong volleyball player arms so I can do all the heavy lifting for you too" you jest holding your arms up with a flex,

"Just give me a moment to change and I'll be down." ___

As you and Chessy walk back into the house arm in arm and rosy-cheeked from a day in the Californian sunshine, you're thankful that the others don't acknowledge how a trip to the market that should've taken an hour instead took you four. In return, neither of you opts to say anything about the fact that Annie who this morning was on her deathbed, seemed to have miraculously been cured of her illness upon your return.

And if the others catch you mooning over Chessy, whose smile was that little bit brighter that day, at the dinner table, they decide to chalk it up to coincidence and not say anything.

—

Chessy catches you after dinner, appearing slightly nervous as her hands are held behind her back.

"Hey I got you a little...you know, something to say thanks for your help today?"

she holds out a bouquet to you and you smile at her like you've just won the lottery.

You feel like you have.

"Freesias!" you exclaim giving them a sniff, practically bursting with joy,

"...you really didn't have to Chess" you beam, "I honestly had fun today...the market was fun.".

The housekeeper shrugs, eyes somehow managing to look even more glazed over over than yours.

"...they're gorgeous..." you begin shyly "...almost as gorgeous as you"

Chessy bursts into laughter,

"Real smooth. Do you use that trick on all your college girls?" She quips

You look back at her, eyes shining with reverence,

"Nope...freesias are my favourite so that's a compliment that I'd reserve for only the most beautiful of women" You state with a nod of your head.

Chessy giggles uncharacteristically before placing a hand over her mouth as though she didn't realise where the sound had come from.

Her laughter sounded like the tinkling of bells...you felt like your heart was going explode.

She shakes her head with a chuckle, "That's sweet" she murmurs, not believing you,

"I mean it. You really are! So beautiful…just gorgeous.”

You sigh, feeling yourself get lost again in those kind, soft green eyes.

You wondered what it would be like to kiss her...would she give you that same sweet laugh again? Or couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to trail your lips down her neck and see what kind of sounds she'd make.

You were getting ahead of yourself.

You've only known this woman for a couple of days and you were already acting head over heels for her.

"Sleep well Chessy." You smile sweetly with a sigh, before hurriedly turning to make your way up the stairs.

You miss the longing gaze directed at your retreating form as Chessy lets out a dreamy sigh.

__________________

"Hey, so I saw you helping Chess cook dinner again this afternoon...." Annie quips perching on the end of the bed,

"Oh Chessy! I'm so clueless I don't know how to roll pizza dough...can you show me how...with your mouth?" she mocks you, speaking in a high pitched voice and a faux American accent.

"That doesn't even make any sense." You deadpan,

Hallie bursts into laughter before joining in, giving you her best attempt of Chessy,

"Oh y/n hon, you're such a good helper! Can I sleep in your bed tonight so you can hold me with your big strong hands?" She jumps in, wrapping her arms around herself before launching into a round of kissing noises.

You bite your lip trying to stop yourself from laughing at your friends' theatrics...

"Real fucking mature guys...you're in your 20s by the way, just in case you forgot" you chuckle giving in to the humour of it.

Hallie ignores you, continuing with the kissing noises and you throw a pillow at her, the throw landing perfectly on her head with a satisfying thud,

Volleyball came in handy sometimes

"If you keep on fucking with me, I'm gonna put strawberries in your smoothies tomorrow morning when Chessy isn't looking" you tease, eyes narrowed as you give Annie a gentle shove

Your friend laughs, an inquisitive look on her face, "So what you're saying is....you're planning on waking up at the crack of dawn to help her cook breakfast..."

"Isn't that so interesting Hal?"

Hallie taps her chin, "Very Interesting..."

"You know what else is interesting Annie? The fact that Chessy has been making our friend over here special cups of peach tea like some kind of barista"

"...we don't even have peach tea in our pantry but I do know that it's y/n's favourite"

You pout, suddenly fascinated by a piece of lint on your sweater.

"Well...maybe she was just being nice and appreciated the help I gave her..."

Hallie placed her hands on her knees like she was sitting on a piece of top secret information before turning to face the group,

"Or...what about the fact that I saw Chessy reading y/n's copy of Great expectations yesterday"

"What!?" yells Annie in shock, jumping up with so much force she knocks her blackberry on the floor, the battery within it clattering to the floor beside it.

She looks at her sister mouth agape and Hallie nods her head enthusiastically in reply, "It's true! She was holding that book like it was a fucking bible or something"

"You tried to crucify me for even looking at your antiquarian book collection and Chessy has free reign over it after a couple of days!?"

"Oh you really do like her"

"What? No, I just lent them to her because she a- I was being nice! It was just a-...shut up." You stutter in resignation, face turning as red as the twins' hair

"Look anyway...does Chessy even swing that way?" You question inspecting your nails to fake casualness again.

Your friends look as you as though you were stupid.

"Seriously y/n? Do you know any straight women who own that many buttons ups? That's exclusively been her wardrobe for over 20 years by the way"

"she literally drives a pick up"

"Did she not tell you the story of why she and Martin split up?"

"Yeah because Martin was gay...so?" You question being met with a collective of groans at your obliviousness,

"Look y/n...none of us care that you've obviously got the hots for our nanny...but the tension between you guys at the dinner table is getting weird to the point that I feel like for everyone's sake you need to just go for it" explains Annie crouching down to talk to you the way a kindergarten teacher would to a student.

"Look we're all grown women here! Just sleep together and be done with it...you're grossing me out" adds Hallie with a playful eye roll

"Hal!"

Your best friends had the worst delivery you'd ever heard but maybe they had a point. Maybe you did just need to go for it. _____________________________

3.

It's just gone 13:30 when you pad softly into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes as you're still waking up from your nap.

"You? You're still here?" Snorts Chessy at the kitchen island, nose deep in today's paper but somehow still sensing you before you could even got a word out.

You perk up as you walk over to where she's stood.

"Oh please, you love having me around! You're definitely gonna miss me" You bite back, laughter in your tone

"Yeah..."

The truth is you and Chessy had been spending a lot of time together and tomorrow was your last day in Napa. You'd be lying if the thought of leaving the place, no, the thought of leaving Chessy didn't make your heart ache.

"You seem really invested in that paper...haven't even looked at me once...How'd you even know it was me?"

With a dramatic sigh, she neatly folds the newspaper before placing it on the table in front of her with a flourish and you grin as you finally get to see her face...it was quickly becoming the highlight of your day.

She was glowing... she probably had no makeup on either and still looked breathtaking. But that was just Chessy; stunning,even without trying.

"I don't know...just did." She explains simply, looking at you with a warm smile.

And boy was it warm.

You felt your insides turning to mush again and you lean against the countertop behind you to keep yourself upright.

Sure you were in California but Chessy had one of those smiles that you think could warm you up even on the coldest day...heck you reckoned her smile could probably melt the ice caps.

She casts an appraising look at your outfit, and you ask yourself if you imagined the lingering gaze on your chest,

"Where are you off to looking so sharp?" She asks after a while, eyes darkening,

Oblivious, you give her a twirl with your arms out by your sides before tucking your sunhat back under your arm

"You like?"

"you look gorgeous y/n" She remarks sincerely, gaze unwavering and you turn around momentarily, tucking your lips into your mouth to suppress your grin.

"I was supposed to go out for a picnic with the girls but, I overslept a little and now can't find them...I need your help with that actually..."

"I'm supposed to meet them at some spot by a tree? I was gonna walk down but I don't know where it is."

Her eyes light up in recognition,

"I know where they mean...but walk!?"

"It's at least a mile and a half out...on the trails...you're better off riding there"

"Riding?"

_____

Chessy watches on with her hands in her pockets as you reach out to gingerly to pet the horse,

Sure you were good with animals...but by that you meant ones that were a little...smaller. Like house pets.

Take dogs for example, (especially sweethearts like Sammy) they were easy; give them belly rubs and slide them a couple pieces of chicken and they'd be anyone's best friend.

"Hmm...that's Annie's horse..." The housekeeper states after a while,

"Hallie's horse is gone so I'm assuming they're waiting for you to catch up with them"

"I feel like I already know the answer, but do you know how to ride a horse?" Chessy asks softly,

"Uh, no" You reply incredulous with a head shake.

She sighs, a small smile on her lips before climbing on

"Guess I'm gonna have to give you a ride then...hop on hon" She starts holding a hand out and you look anywhere but at Chessy,

You had a feeling this wouldn't end well

"Today hopefully," she nudges and you sigh softly, taking her hand with a sheepish grin as she helps you get on the horse behind her,

"Never ridden a horse?...You city slickers" she playfully mumbles to herself with a soft shake of her head grabbing your hands to place them on her waist,

"Look it'll be fine...I'll take care of you" she reminds you, clearly sensing your nerves and you barely manage to suppress a shudder,

Take care of you huh?

"Actually I'm from a small town in Georgia." you quip in reply, refusing to acknowledge her first statement and admit your fear.

Chessy teasingly scoffs and you feel her shoulders shake with laughter, giving away the fact that she's joking,

"Yeah, yeah...that's what they all say. You holding on tight?"

You do as told, tightening your grip to wrap your arms around her waist as you lean your head against the older woman's back,

"Yeah."

And the two of you take off.

As the wind blows through your hair you take deep breaths to inhale the musky, floral scent of her perfume closing your eyes and as if it would somehow burn it into your memory.

She smelt like wood fire , and lilies and coffee and you suddenly feel that same pang in your chest at the thought of going home in a couple of days time.

You seriously really needed to get it together...it'd been 10 days. But you don't know if you could.

As you stop to a halt, Chessy expertly dismounts the horse, turning around to hold a hand out to help lift you down after her:

Or course you completely tumble head first and Chessy helps you to your feet, non-judging and patient as per usual.

"How are you so good at that?" You ask with a blush,

"I live and work on a 60 acre vineyard so I had to learn" she explains with a gentle shrug.

You turn to survey the scene:

There was absolutely no sign of Hallie and Annie.

The apple tree that Annie and Hallie had advised you to meet them at was indeed there, a picnic blanket laid on the lush green grass, adorned with a spread that you think belonged on a lifestyle magazine; candles nestled amongst a display of grapes and chocolate coloured strawberries, and fancy cheeses and glasses of wine.

It looked really romantic. Oh.

Hold on a minute...romantic candlelit meal? That sounded familiar.

Chessy crouches down to pick up a piece of paper wedged beneath the basket and unfolds it leaning closer so the two of you could read it:

Chessy and Y/N,

Enjoy your picnic! Thank us later :)

-Annie and Hal xx p.s don't do anything I wouldn't do! ;) -Hal

You look at each other in realisation clearly having just come to the same conclusion.

Hallie and Annie's matchmaking trap.

You really should’ve known...The twins had told you about how they got their parents (back together) when they were 10.... you'd even helped Hallie reenact a similar plan like this to set Annie up with a girl on the cheer team she had a crush on.

Step 1 and 2 were "spontaneous" meet-cutes and step 3 was a romantic candlelit dinner.

The only thing was...what had been step 1 and 2 of the girls' plan?

Chessy bursts into laughter

"They set us up on a picnic date huh?" She smiles shaking her head looking at the spread,

"We've been parent trapped..."

You look across at Chessy and for the first time since you've met her, she looks unsure of what to do.

"Look..." you begin,

"we might aswell enjoy their effort before we head back...I suppose the food does look good" You smile and Chessy relents, her hand sitting on the small of your back as she guides you to sit down beside her.

She gives you a look you can't quite recognise before picking up one of the glasses of red wine, and downing it in a single gulp.

It you didn't know any better you'd say she looked...nervous.

That made two of you.

For the second time today you have to stop yourself from losing your cool. The goosebumps forming on your arms give you away regardless.

"You cold?" Whispers Chessy, taking off her button up without a second thought and draping it over your shoulders

"I get to wear one of the Chessy's famous button ups?" you hum as the taller woman smooths it down over your shoulders 

"I know," she agrees playing into your joke, "Guess you must be really special."

She's wearing a tight tank top beneath it and you give an appraising glance at the cleavage now on show, in turn earning a smirk from Chessy. Your gaze then drifts down to the freckles dusted on her arms and you reach out to skate your fingers across them, smirking at the way Chessy shivers.

"...I am."

"...I'm really gonna miss you when I go." You sigh sadly after a while,

Chessy takes your hand in hers, "I'm really gonna miss you too."

You look up at her in surprise, being met with a pensive look from the older woman.

Just go for it y/n. Fuck it.

With a shuddering breath you allow yourself one last glance at her plump lips before leaning in an-

Chessy places her hands on your sternum to stop you a sheepish look on her face,

You frown.

Were you being rejected? Oh, God this was humiliating.

You quickly began to pull away to stand up but she doesn't release her grip on your arm,

"wait...please?" she begs, looking at you conflicted

"Look, you're in your 20s...you sure you want this?”she explains

“Don't you want a nice college girl who's your age? That would be a lot less complicated..."

"I'm sure a hot young thing like you wouldn't have any issues finding someone in your class."

That's all this was about?

You shake your head with a smile, looking at her like she'd just said the most ridiculous thing in the world,

"Sure, I'm young. But Im also a grown woman. I know what I want and I want you."

"You're witty, outspoken and gorgeous , and compassionate...I've just...I've never met anyone like you and I won't forgive myself if I don't at least tr-"

you're interrupted as Chessy cuts you off with a bruising kiss and you let out a squeak of surprise before relaxing into it with a whimper,

You push her onto her back with a giggle, straddling her waist as you lift your hands to her cup her face, trying to pull her as close to you as possible.

Her lips were soft and warm against yours and she parted them slightly with a groan to allow your tongue to slip inside. Chessy tasted sweet; like red wine and strawberries and future lazy afternoons spent cuddling beneath the napa sun...like hope.

Breathless, you begrudgingly pull away from her, leaning your forehead against hers, up close like this you could see every single little detail on her face;

The laughter lines that were deepest beside her eyes, the way the slithers of sunlight, peeking through the leaves of the tree illuminated little specks of brown that danced around in her eyes, her swollen pouty lips that now had your lipstick all over them

She was the most gorgeous thing you'd ever seen.

You let out an airy laugh but you couldn't pinpoint what at...relief, happiness,just general amusement at the situation?

You got the girl. You really did need to thank the twins later.

Chessy chuckles too, turning to press a soft kiss against your palm, hands slowly snaking up your thighs.

"...Just incase we haven't covered it already...I want you too."

#first ever fic on here ahhh #used to writing full on chapters on ao3 so writing short oneshots will be a learning curve #chessy x reader #chessy #the parent trap #wlw fanfic #genuinely was terrified to post this

[missmungoe]

If Garling is confirmed as Shanks' dad, will you include him in your fics?

Oh I already have! We don't wait for canon in this house if we like a theory (see: Makino's baby), so he shows up in Andromeda Unbound, and my planned outline for Salt Vows, although I've left it vague enough to (hopefully) accommodate for any eventual corrections, since nothing has been confirmed yet, although my suspicions are strengthened now that we know what he looked like 38 years ago:

Must be all the evil in his diet that's made him age like that, because I refuse to accept any future where Shanks doesn't turn into a stone cold silver fox.

#opspoilers #One Piece chapter 1095 #One Piece 1095 #Saint Figarland Garling #If he is Shanks' father I am curious to learn the full story here #my theory so far is he knocked up a girl on God Valley a year prior #then when he found out she had a child by him - got them to arrange the population eradication games there in order to wipe out his mistake #but woopsie! the Pirate King found him first and then raised him to be his complete and moral opposite

[rainy19days]

Chronological order of each time Mo blushed before more significant blushes came:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Worth mentioning:

Mo never blushes when He Tian twists his balls.

Mo doesn't blush when He Tian comes to his house and forcefully puts an earring in his ear.

He doesn't blush when He Tian falls on him during basketball game.

He doesn't blush when they are squished in the elevator.

He doesn't blush when they rub crotches on He Tian's bed.

He doesn't blush when He Tian lays down on him on his bed.

Of course he doesn't blush when He Tian force-kisses him.

He doesn't blush when he realizes he had wet dreams about He Tian and at this point he already had two out of three (first at the hospital when he dreams that He Tian squeezes his butt and second one that we can't see but he says "I dreamed about this bastard again")

#I count the first one as blushing because mo's face looks red #I'm kinda surprised that he doesn't really blush until chapter 280ish #significant blushes coming soon #chronologically 7th is at the aquarium #8th when he realizes he tian's phone is full of his pictures #9th when he tian hugs him after he asks for black studs #19 days #tianshan #old xian #mo guan shan #he tian #compilation