#look beyond your love for a popstar

[mohabbaat]

unfollowing after the Super Bowl posts cause holier-than-thou attitude ka bhi ek seema hota hai

so sorry that i am not supportive of an event funded by a league which has been very vocally supportive of a genocide. feel free to leave, i don't want people like you on my blog anyway. 💁🏻‍♀️

#actually tell me your url too. so i can block you. #i am tired of people like you. #look beyond your love for a popstar #theres a genocide happening right in front of our eyes #the world is not all roses and sunshine #asks

[freedomfireflies]

hey can you write one where Harry is traveling on a regular flight instead of a private one to go to a show, and he sits next to y/n and they start talking, and then he takes her to the bathroom and fucks with her there.

That’s Harry fucking Styles.

You think.

You’re almost positive. You can’t exactly see his face. Obscured by dark (although incredibly expensive looking) sunglasses.

His sweatshirt is large. Large enough to fall to his wrists, effectively hiding any skin, and making it nearly impossible to distinguish him by his tattoos.

He doesn’t…look famous. Although you guess that’s a pretty rude assumption to make. Anybody can look famous.

But…this is main class. Harry Styles would never be caught dead in main class…right?

And maybe it’s not about his ego. Maybe he simply wanted to switch things up. Or help the environment? You’re not entirely sure his reasoning (after all, you’re not the rich popstar slash model slash actor) but you are almost ninety-nine percent sure that this is him sitting beside you.

Well, one seat away.

Thankfully, he was the only other person in your row, and when booking your ticket, you both apparently chose to keep an empty seat between you.

Which is almost a necessity, just in case you accidentally get stuck next to a sneezer, or a baby, or one of those old guys who watches porn when he thinks nobody is looking.

You hadn’t noticed him when he sat down. Were already pulling out your book and continuing to the next chapter.

You had barely offered a glance when the stewardess offered bottles of water and some chips. You had declined. He had accepted the water.

Which hadn’t been all that exciting before, but now you can’t help but wonder if it’s for his throat. 

Is he on tour right now?  Or maybe visiting family? A girlfriend? Is he dating anyone?

You’re a bit embarrassed by your lack of knowledge, but in your defense, he hadn’t really been all that exciting to you growing up. You’d heard a song or two. Knew he sang about fucking fruits or something. But beyond that, not much else.

Now, you regret not having his poster taped to your wall, because maybe if you had, you’d have a better chance of confirming your suspicion.

But, after a few minutes, you realize you’re probably startling the potentially famous or potentially average man beside you and return your focus to your book.

A minute or two goes by. You’ve already forgotten about the mysterious stranger. So engrossed in the plot on the page that you don’t notice his figure lean a bit closer.

“S’good, right?”

You jump, the paperback flying from your grasp before it falls into your lap, your chest heaving and cheeks burning bright red. “Shit—”

“Fuck, sorry—” He leans back, palms midair in surrender. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“No, it’s fine.” Your eyes briefly shut as your hand moves to your chest. “It’s fine, I…I didn’t like that chapter anyway.”

A smile trickles across his lips. “It’s a good book, though, yeah?”

You nod, doing your best not to stare when you realize the lilt in his voice is an accent. And Harry is English, right? Fuck, you can’t remember. Maybe he’s the Irish one. Or the one with a baby. Wait, which one had the baby? Don’t they all have babies now? “Yeah, I like…the pace. The pace is good. And Jeremy. He’s fun.”

“Oh, I fucking love Jeremy.” The stranger’s grin widens and next thing you know, he’s reaching for the rim of his sunglasses.

Oh shit.

It really is him. 

You think.

Oh, fuck, don’t stare.

“Yeah, he’s…I think I like him better than Luther,” you force yourself to reply, nodding in agreement. “Not as annoying.”

“Right.” Harry places his elbows on the armrest and leans forward, now at least two inches closer. “No, Luther is such a fucking ass, I don’t know how she puts up with it.”

“Well, she shouldn’t, right?” You turn to him, a bit surprised he shares your opinion. “Like…Jeremy is the clear choice. But she won’t give him a chance cause he’s not as tortured as Luthor and his precious daddy issues.”

He laughs at the mock in your tone, reaching up to run a hand through his curls as the hoodie is pushed off his head to reveal his hair.

Oh, that’s totally fucking him. You’d know Harry Styles’s hairstyle anywhere.

And the rings. You feel yourself physically swallow at the sight of the large medallions adorning his knuckles.

Oh, he’s got great fucking hands. Has he always had such long fucking fingers? Okay, maybe you get it now, maybe you get why everyone is so fucking obsessed with this oddly attractive—

“Exactly, which is the point, I guess,” he’s replying, and your eyes flicker back to his. “S’all the fucking angst.”

“I mean, sure…but they could also just fuck and get it over with.”

He laughs. Loudly. Loud enough that at least three people look over and your ego swells with pride. “Okay, that’s…that’s fair.”

“Exactly. I’m sure it would be great,” you continue, before biting at your lip coyly. “You know…I bet it even tastes like strawberries.”

His expression drops, and for a moment, you’re mortified because you had meant to make a joke and lighten the mood, but maybe he thought you didn’t know who he was. Maybe he was relieved to sit next to someone so oblivious.

And now you’ve blown it and he’s gonna change seats and you really fucked up your one chance because of course you did and—

“Oh, very fucking funny.” A smirk. A rather amused one. “Mhm. Yes, I bet it does.”

Thank fucking God. “Yeah. Maybe some cherries, too.”

“Uh huh.” His head shakes, fingers reaching up to pull at this lip to disguise the smile. “Probably kiwis.”

“Ooo, or peaches! Oh, no wait, that’s not you. That’s the other guy.”

The smile breaks free. “Wow. No, I was flattered, and then you ruined it.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault he snagged it before you did,” you argue, hands raising in submission.

“He did not snag it—”

“No, he snagged it. Might have even done it better than you.”

His brow raises and you fight the giddy grin. “Oh, is that right?”

“Yeah.”

He leans in a bit closer. “I’ll give you one chance to apologize and take it back.”

“Okay, or…hear me out…no.”

A soft chuckle. “Funny.”

“Thanks, I thought so,” you reply, shrugging casually before the conversation comes to a lull and you decide you better quit while you’re ahead. You reach for the book on your lap, thumbing through the pages softly before glancing at him and shaking it in the air excitedly. “Well…they’re about to fuck, so…fingers crossed.”

“Amazing.”

“Yeah!” Nope, too excited. Reel it in. “Uh…I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Yeah,” he agrees before his voice softens. “Or…hear me out…we could share?”

Your heart leaps to your throat as your focus leaves the page to land on him. “Oh?”

“Yeah, I just…fucking forgot my copy,” he stammers, motioning towards the bag at his feet. “And my phone doesn’t have any books…and, the movies here are shit, so I figured…but it’s fine, I can just—”

“No, I’m happy to share.” You open the book a bit wider as a gesture of invitation.

He seems pleased as he unclicks his belt and slides into the seat beside you, now incredibly closer, and oh fuck he smells so good. 

You figured he might, but you hadn’t been prepared for the way your mouth nearly drools as the cologne and hair products waft toward you. 

Oh, this was not a good idea.

Who the fuck smells good on a plane, anyway? That’s the whole point of flying middle class is that you're gross and smelly and sweaty and hot and—

His fingers reach for the page, pinching them carefully as his eyes move to yours. “Done?”

Oh, you’re far from done. 

You force a mute nod, leaning back as if offering room to turn the page.

His arm brushes your shoulder as he flips to the next chapter and despite your best efforts, you suck in a sharp gasp.

And the fucker has the nerve to smirk. “Sorry.”

You shake your head fervently. “S’fine.”

Pull it together, dipshit. Just because he smells like sex on a fucking stick doesn’t mean you can—

“You all right?” He’s still watching, waiting for you to either admit you’re in heat or that you’re just really into the story.

Truthfully, it’s a bit of both.

“Yeah, it’s just…the chapter,” you murmur, nodding towards the book. “Kind of awkward to read with someone else.”

He hums, looking toward the word cock prominently displayed on the page. “Yeah, maybe. Probably be worse if it wasn’t so fucking vanilla.”

You blink. “Oh…is it?”

Truthfully, you’d thought the same thing, but you’re surprised he feels the same. 

A nonchalant shrug. “Yeah, like…if he would just slow down, y’know? Take his time with her. Really appreciate her.”

Oh fuck.

“Yeah.” A dry swallow. Your tongue suddenly numb. “Uh, yeah. That’d be…yeah. He should…yeah.”

His lips pull together coyly. “Could slide his hand up the inside of her thigh. Until she’s begging him to touch her. Maybe lean in to kiss her then pull away just before.”

Oh, he’s such a fucking sadist—

“Watch her clench her pretty, little thighs together.” His voice has dropped to a low purr, so deep, you just about fall into it. “Until she’s crying for him. Bet she’s a good crier.”

You force your eyes back down to the page before clearing your throat. “Yeah, well…knowing Luther, that won’t happen.”

You’re attempting to soothe the ache between your legs, the burn of your cheeks as you use humor to force him off the topic. 

“No, probably not,” he agrees before his hand slips over the armrest. Just dangles there. Close enough that the tips of his fingers graze your thigh. 

And you jolt. Looking down at the fleeting touch with near astonishment. So utterly confused and aroused that you’re afraid you’ll pull a muscle from clenching so hard.

“Sorry, just…getting comfy,” he apologizes, the swing in his tone provocative. 

“Oh, are you?” Your response is more flippant, ready to end his game before it can even begin. “Easy, Stranger.”

His head cocks to the side as his eyes sparkle with what looks to be admiration. “Stranger, hm?”

“Well…technically, we’ve never been introduced,” you argue, leaning toward the wall of the plane in an attempt to lessen the hex he has you in. “So, until then…Stranger it is.”

His tongue slips out to wet his lips. “Maybe I’ve got a better idea.”

“Oh, yeah? And what’s that?”

His pointer finger raises into the air between you as he motions you closer.

And despite the precarious ask, you oblige, returning to your spot and turning your head so he has access to your ear.

Then, “Maybe I’ll take you to that bathroom and teach you my name. Till you’re crying as you say it. Till you’re screaming it as I come inside you. Till this whole fucking plane knows what my name is.”

You wish you had more control over the way your legs immediately pulled together, but you don’t, and he clocks it like a hawk. 

The heat is crawling up your neck as you close the book and set it onto the floor beside you.

You’re not sure if he’s simply playing with you until you cave, if this is some sort of sick game he likes to play to pass the time instead of watching a movie like a normal person, or if he truly means it.

But regardless of his true intentions, you stand. You stand and brush past him as you head for the aisle, watching as his expression drops into one of confusion and concern.

“Where are you going?” he calls right as you make it to the edge of the seat.

You turn, bracing your hands on the armrest as you lean closer, now right in his face. “You’ve got five minutes, Stranger. Don’t be late.”

You watch the smile fall from his lips as his pupils practically double in size and if you were worried that he wasn’t as aroused as you are, that doubt is now wiped from your mind.

Poor thing looks ready to keel over and as you walk back toward the small restroom, you can’t resist the proud look forming on your face.

And about three and a half minutes later, there’s a knock on the lavatory door.

“Hi, Stranger.”

(I edged you, sorry, don't be mad!!)

Next Part:

~ Middle-Class Seats, First-Class Fun pt. 2*

~ Other Harry Blurbs

~ Full Masterlist

#harry #harry styles #harry styles imagine #harry styles blurb #harry styles request #harry styles x you #harry styles x reader #harry styles one shot #harry styles fan #harry edward styles #blurb #request

[silvervioletvalentine]

🦋!Whenever , Wherever, we’re meant to be together!🦋

Pairing: Quinn Hughes x Lina Valentina (femOC)

Word count : 14k

Summary: in which Trevor accidentally steals a baby and while returning said baby they finally figure out who jacks new neighbour is.

Or: in which Quinn’s longtime crush on Spanish popstar Lina Valentina is brought to life when they find her baby in the hallway.

Warnings: fluff. Babies. Confident and knows what she wants Lina . Annoying brothers , Quinn being awkward and in love . Smut. A lot of taylor swift and shakira references because if you can’t tell already i love them <3 I think that’s it. Just a bit of a funny , fluffy one . Lemme know what u think xoxo

Quinn was seriously wondering if he had mistaken his multi vitamins for some hallucinogenic drugs of some kind , as he looked away from his brother to see Trevor skipping back into his apartment holding a baby in his hands , who couldn't have been older than a year old, high in his hands like the poor thing was a trophy.

Both he and Jack stopped their casual conversation to stare at him in various degrees of shock, Quinn's face more worried and horrified , while his brother just merely looked amused at the sight of his friend holding a baby , that they had never seen before. As though this was a completely normal thing to happen (it wasn’t).

"Something you forgot to tell us dude? Condom broke again?" Jack joked, already laughing loudly to himself as he bent his head down to coo at the baby in his friends arms. Awwing at his cute little face all scrunched up, wide eyed and utterly confused.

Trevor just rolled his eyes with a casual grin, holding the baby out like he was apart of the lion king.

Quinn's hands quickly darted out as he moved closer to him, afraid that he was going to drop the poor baby onto its head . Blinking in absolute disbelief as he looked between the two idiots silently , utterly speechless .

"No! I just found the little dude crawling around in the hallway outside our door. He was making vroom noises. Look at the curls on this kids head!" He gushed in amazement , Jack leaning down to ruffle said curls gently . Both looking like kids at a candy shop as they cooed at the babbling baby happily.

Quinn finally had enough of this concerning bullshit and snapped

"let me get this straight-" he took in a deep breath to try and calm himself down, it was incredibly difficult thing to do then, feeling his heart racing in his chest as he glared over at Trevor in absolute disbelief-

“-you found a stray baby and instead of looking around to see if one of the neighbors left the door open , or were panicking looking for him- you-" he took yet another long , angry breath , eyes flickering back down to the baby that was now looking back at him with big , bambi eyes "picked him up and brought him to jacks apartment?! That's kidnapping! You've stolen a baby! Have you lost your mind?!" He shouted in disbelief , concerned beyond it.

Trevor let out a groan as though he was the idiot ruining his good time . "little dude was right outside the door! Have you never heard of the phrase finders keepers losers weepers?" He joked, just to get on his nerves some more.

He adjusted the baby in his arms again and Quinn's heart lept , crossing his fingers tightly and praying for some patience .

Jack laughed loudly while Quinn's scowl just deepened.

"That does not count in this situation! Oh my god- you fucking-"

"Not swearing in front of the baby!" Jack exclaimed, still laughing. Unable to help himself, finding this situation far more amusing than he should be.

Trevor started laughing too, the poor baby looking up at his grinning face with wide eyes, making little noises as though he was trying to speak but had no words .

Quinn felt the same way, reaching the end of his patience as he reached over and quickly took the baby from Trevor’s arms before he could accidental hurt him. Glaring at him all the while as he awkwardly held the baby in one arm, wincing to himself as his little hand darter out to grab onto his hair with an iron grip.

God. Was he having a nightmare? What the hell was going on?

All he had wanted was to hang out with his brother , maybe play some video games and order takeout or something. Instead he was awkwardly rocking a fussy baby in his arms while glaring at the two idiots in front of him in disbelief.

"I can't believe you-" he was ready to give him another stressed out mouthful , maybe a slap too. Gently patting the small hand in his hair as he tried to get him to stop pulling on it so damn hard, worried he was going to have a bald spot by the time the baby was done with its fun.

Either the guys were going to give him one or the babbling baby was . This was unbelievable.

Trevor laughed carelessly "calm down man. I only brought the little dude here so we could all go look for the mamma. Do you think she'll be a milf-?" He looked at Jack with a sick smirk, both of them giggling like little kids as they joked around. Apparently unconcerned with the sudden appearance of a random baby at their door.

Quinn didn't know whether to hit them both or simply leave. Maybe both. Could he do that?

"Or maybe they'll be a dad waiting out their ready to beat out asses for having his baby! I know I would if I found some strangers holding mine!" He hissed at them annoyed , worried and pissed off all at once.

He couldn't believe that his relaxing Friday night was turning out like this. Holding a baby that wasn't even his .

He turned his head a little to check in on him, face softening a little as big , wide eyed stared back up at him. Framed with long lashes and a freckled nose , rosy cheeks and a pacifier in his mouth. Quinn had to admit that it had got to have been the cutest baby he had ever seen in his life . With wild Curly hair sticking up in every direction thanks to his brothers ruffling hand, he gently smoothed his soft hair back down for him. Smiling a little when the baby let out a giggle .

"mamá." He started repeating , looking around the room as though he would find her there with them .

Quinn snapped his head back over to dumb and dumber with a darkening glare , gently rocking the mumbling baby in his arms in hopes of calming him down now that he had finally realised that his mamma wasn't there with him.

"See? He's upset now! Asshole!" He hissed at Trevor , furious with him for not thinking like a normal, logical human being for once.

Who the hell picks up a baby from the floor and brings it inside without looking for the parents first?

Fucking Christ! Quinn felt like his heart was going to fall out of his ass with worry. He really did.

Jack looked at his brother with a easygoing grin, snorting a little in amusement at the stressed out look on his face. Finding it hilarious how awkward and out of place his older brother looked holding baby like that. The baby still refusing to let go of his hair.

"Always so positive." He couldn't help but remark , unbothered by his hot glare in response.

He just let out a small chuckle "calm your tits man. My neighbour at the end of the hall has a baby. Ive heard it crying some times and they play a lot of Lina Valentina music to calm him down. I think I could speak Spanish now from the amount of songs I've listened to lately." He told them casually as he led them over to the front door, ready to return the baby before his brother had a aneurysm or passed the fuck out from stress .

Trevor looked over his shoulder at Quinn with a teasing grin as he heard her name .

“That's that spanish pop star that you always listen to but pretend you don't right?" He quipped , amused.

Quinn coloured , deciding that he absolutely hated Trevor now. Childish and right. He hated it. Bastard.

He carefully adjusted the babbling baby in his arms and glared at him sourly "I do not- not all the time. Just when she comes on the radio-" he tried to defend himself, weakly. There was no point.

His brother easily called his bluff "liar! You made me go with you to see her gig when she finally came to the states. I think that's the only time I've ever seen you flustered over a girl. It's the belly dancing thing right?" He teased him, wiggling his eyebrows at him to annoy him.

Quinn just huffed, fed up with the both them.

Trevor had stolen a baby and he was the one getting bullied.

Unbelievable. Just Really nice.

"She’s famous  for a reason jackass. Don't act like you didn't pop a boner as soon as she started dancing too!" He hissed to his brother in both annoyance and embarrassment. Hating how he apparently wasn't allowed to enjoy some Lina Valentine in his spare time now either .

I mean, who the hell didn't? She was a absolute icon. The same age as he was and she had already achieved so much. Quinn, admittedly thought that she was amazing. Unbelievably fucking beautiful with the body of a siren , and the way she moved her hips and rolled her waist-

Yeah. He just thought that she was cool. That's all.

She might have been his first and only ever crush , even to this day. She was just something else. That’s it. Nothing strange.

"How haven't you met your neighbour yet? Surprised  you weren't  banging on her door begging to be friends." Quinn muttered pissily at his brother, the complete opposite of mr social butterfly. He preferred his alone time, where nobody else could bother him.

And this, he looked down at the baby in his arms that wasn't his, then back up to his brother and Trevor with a dark scowl. Was exactly the reason why he didn't like leaving his own apartment , because he always ended up getting dragged into somebody else's shit.

Fuck them all. He thought miserably. He was too tired for this shit.

What was next? Accidentally stealing someone's car because he wanted them to see how cool it was? Fucking dickhead.

Jack just rolled his eyes at his moodiness, used to it by now. Knowing that as soon as he had some pizza and beer, he would be feeling much better again.

Hopefully. Fingers crossed.

"What if she's a mean Karen and shouts at me? I don't want to deal with that." He defensible shot back at him. Not wanting to admit that he was too nervous to approach his new neighbour after he had heard loud Spanish shouting through her door one night on his way home.

She had e scary as fuck. Especially since he had no idea what the hell she was even so mad about. What if she had been pissed off about his nosiness after boys night and was ranting about him in another language to the building owner to get him kicked out?

He didn't want to risk it. Too afraid to knock after that. But they didn't need to know that.

Trevor called over his shoulder to them in amusement "well luckily it seems like we don't need to knock because this door is already open!guess this is where the little man wandered from!”

He grinned, sticking his head around the door confidently

"Helllooo-" his sunshine greeting suddenly froze mid sentence as his body did .

Making Quinn warily approach  behind them, clutching the baby a little tighter in his arms with worry while sharing a confused glance with his brother,  who shuffled a little closer to him without even realising   it .

"Oh fuck. Oh my god." Trevor breathed out in shock, eyes blown wide as he blinked at something in the apartment that they couldn't see.

Getting impatient , Quinn snapped "what the hell are you gaping at? Move!" He shoved him aside with his free arm to take his place .

Heaving in a annoyed breath as he stepped into the apartment with a annoyed scowl "look I really don't think that-" he was ready to scold the careless idiot for losing their baby like they had  when his eyes found the source of trevors sudden speechlessness.

He found himself freezing up too in absolute disbelief, paling dramatically , as he wondered dreadfully , if the universe  was playing some sick type of joke on him then.

Was this his karma for being such a sourpuss all the time? For never going to parties and leaving before midnight at every single event? Was this his...slap in the face? Shock to the system?

He swallowed thickly .

He could only look silently down at the woman sat down in the middle of the living room , seemingly attempting to build some sort of chair, crossed legged in only some short shorts and a sports bra. Curly hair wild and free and he swallowed dryly again, throat running dry as he blinked down at her in pure shock. Heart dropping to his ass.

Because what the actual fuck was going on?-

"Holy shit you’re Lina Valentina! We were just talking about you! I can't believe this!" Jack blurted out with a loud , surprised laugh  , giving her a excited grin. Practically jumping on his feet as he realised that his new neighbour wasn't some nutty physocpath , but the Lina Valentina instead.

Master of the hips and voice of an Angel, all three guys took a shuddering breath. Hearts pounding in their chests as they were faced with the celebrity of many a mans dreams.

Startled at the sudden noise , her head snapped up from the instructions In her lap that she was concentrating on , as she took in the three guys now suddenly stood in her apartment. One of them holding her baby in his arms like he had never held a baby in his life before .

It was an strange image to be seen. She couldn't help but chuckle a little underneath her breath despite the way her heart jumped in her mouth with slight fear for a moment. But she quickly took in their youthful , excited faces and knew they weren't going to be a threat.

She relaxed a little , smiling as her little baby let out a excited screech at the sight of her. Wriggling in the mans arms as he clapped happily, eyes wide and full of joy. She felt her soul light up just at the sight of her little man.

Her face momentarily fell a little as she let out a loud, exasperated sigh, bottom lip pushing out a little as she pushed herself off the floor slowly to greet them .

"Oh no. Not again." Her Spanish  accent was thick as she shook her head a little in amusement, eyes on her baby in Quinn's arms.

She didn't even looked alarmed at the sight of them or the worrying situation she had found herself in  , nor concerned or even a little bit angry like he thought she would be .

He was expecting a little more...drama. Maybe a slap to the face or some sobbing in his arms as she thanked them relentlessly for finding her baby but not this..

Not her... god. He sighed deeply too.

Quinn didn't know what the hell he was supposed to do or what he was supposed to say, he gave a quick glance over to his brother only to see Jack quickly reaching over to introduce himself  . His excitement  obvious on his face, Trevor quickly snapping out of his own shock too to join him as they crowded her, greetings loud and more than pleased.

Meanwhile Quinn just stood aside from them in the corner in absolute disbelief, silently watching them trying to flirt with her while he held her baby to him, even going as far as exchanging a small glance with the little dude as if to say 'can you believe this?' To him.

The baby just giggled and tried to bite his noise, he held him out a little away from him at that. More Nervous now.

Feeling a little like he was going to be sick from the horrible anxiety swarming  in his stomach, unable to take his eyes away from the woman that he had spent years dreaming about.

The woman that  he had bought tickets to see live on stage a few years ago , signing up for pre sale tickets because he knew they would sell out within minutes. They did , and he had been so happy to get his own tickets despite the fact that he hadn't shown it, only privately grinning to himself in the comfort of his own room. the same woman that he shamefully had a crush on for so long now. Even attempting to learn Spanish so he could watch her interviews and understand at least single word she said.

Apparently Lina Valentina was his brothers neighbour. Because of course she was.

He tried to hold back a hysterical laugh. Coughing a little instead , unable to believe what the hell was happening right then. Wondering if he really was dreaming or if someone really had switched his vitamins for acid. Because he had got to be seeing things.

He was So in his own disbelieving thoughts he didn't realise that she was coming over to him until she was stood right in front of him, her vanilla perfume filling his senses as she smoothly took back her baby from his arms while giving him a casual smile.

As though this was a everyday occurrence for her. He sure fucking hoped not. For the baby's sake.

"Maybe I should get a gate  for the hallway too. He’s like a little flash. So fast now." She blew a raspberry on her baby's belly, giggling with him with a face full of nothing but love.

Quinn couldn't believe it. His starstruckness mixed with his usual awkwardness had him blurting out a unimpressed -

“-maybe you should  just keep your front door closed. What if he got out into the street and hurt himself ?" Frowning down at her disapprovingly. Unable to stop himself before it was too late.

Missing the look of pure disbelief that Jack shot Trevor , shaking his head slowly to himself as they watched his brother awkwardly cross his arms over his chest, scowl never leaving his face as he looked down at the grinning , unbothered pop star in front of him.

"God. He couldn't even charm a fish." Jack groaned underneath his breath, both in amusement and second hand embarrassment.

His brother had the woman of his dreams right in front of him and what was he doing? Scolding her.

It was just so Quinn like that he couldn't help but grin even wider once he noticed how unbothered Lina seemed too.

Simply looking up at Quinn with a perfectly arched brow, as though she wasn't stood in front of him in tiny shorts and a thin sports bra. Looking like a messy wet dream .

He didn't know where to look, he settled on her amused eyes instead . Fighting back a horrified wince at his blunt and not cool at all behaviour .

When he had daydreamed about all the ways he would meet her, and charm her, maybe flirt his way (or plead his way pathetically ) into getting her to give him a chance . He imagined telling her how beautiful she looked under the lights , about how she took his breath away every time he heard her songs on the radio . How he sang along and knew everyone word despite his friends and brothers teasing. He had been loyal to her for so long now that it was in his dna.

scolding her for her carelessness was not on his list of first words to her at all. What kind of meet cute was this? He wanted to die a little. He really did then.

This couldn't be happening to him. His felt his face flame , right up to his ears and nose. His lips pursed tighter , not knowing what to feel or what to do.

"Four floors down?" She said in amusement as she kissed the side of her baby's head gently "-plus you have to take the moving box to get down to the bottom to get out . And as smart as Juan is, he can't use them yet." She told him matter of factly , like he was an idiot .

Then she slowly looked him up and down, taking in his outgrown hair and messy stubble. The broken nose and nervous twitching of his fingers by his side.

She stifled a sudden smile of her own before looking away from him, wandering into her kitchen to make Juan a bottle instead.

"Elevator." Quinn muttered , because that was him told. Wasn't it?

His cheeks flushed even darker  as he ignored the two idiots snickering at his own misery . He looked down at his feet for a moment , eyes only flickering back up again when she let out a quite hum.

"Oh. Okay." She simply let out, not bothered at all. Moving box. Elevator . Same thing.

“Trevor. You asked me out . I'm afraid my answer is a hard no." She directed her attention over to the grinning guy behind him instead, giving him a amused shake of her head. Props for trying she supposed . Gotta love the confidence.

Trevor just shrugged, smile never leaving his face. Just happy to be there and to be meeting her. He couldn't wait to get a picture with her to brag to all of their friends about this moment for the rest of his life.

Nobody was going to believe this. It was a thought that they all shared. Quinn the most.

He couldn't help but glare over at him, pursing his lips tightly together as he watched Lina fondly flick his forehead as she passed him as though he was something that amused her greatly . Gritting his teeth to keep his mouth firmly shut.

He Should have known that Trevor would try snd charm his way into her pants. He couldn't blame him. But still.

They had only been there for less than five minutes , Trevor having practically stolen her baby for a good moment there without a single apology .

Didn't he have any shame? Quinn glowered, bitterly jealous that he had all the guts that he didn't have at all.

"Is it because I'm not Spanish? I could download dualingo. I'm a fast learner." He winked at her shamelessly.

Even Jack burying his face in his hands beside him with a laugh , amazed by his over confidence . Even with a famous pop star that was clearly out of his league . Well. Anybody's league really.

Lina let out a loud giggle, smirking over at him. He was cute. She could give him that, she wondered if it was just an American boy thing. Backward caps and American smiles .

She wasn't completely unfazed but her eyes kept going back to the sulking man leaning against her wall instead. Glaring at his friend as though he wanted to melt him with his dark gaze.

That one, her brain supplied like a spoiled child wanting more than they should have.

I want that one. It sang mischievously.

"You're funny. But no. I'm sick of the guys back home anyways. Very beautiful but.." she let out a long suffering sigh "so very stupid. Too beautiful , no brains , Sí?" She looked at them like they should understand .

All of them nodding along as though they did when they so clearly didn't. Just wanting to get on her good side now.

Trevor let out a dramatic sigh "well that's too bad. If you're not looking for beautiful guys then I have no chance. Because clearly I am the most beautiful-"

Quinn rolled his eyes "god. Shut up. Arrogant jackass." He muttered at him, irritated beyond belief at him. Not wanting to admit to himself why either .

Jack glanced over at him knowingly , grinning at his obvious jealously and lack of coolness around her.

He tried to help his big brother out, in a little brother kind of way of course .

"Well If you don't want a beautiful man. You should meet my brother Quinn-" he gave him a pat to the shoulder as he tired to push him towards her.

Quinn immediately shoving him away, flushing a dark red as he shot him a glare. Mortified.

"Shut the fuck up-"

Lina gasped as she covered her baby's ears with a disapproving frown towards him.

"no cursing! He's going to be a good boy. Stop that!" She was the one scolding him this time , reaching out her foot to kick at his ankle like she had seen her own mother to do her father when he was doing something that she didn't like  .

Quinn went silent in shock , eyes blown wide as he looked down at where she had kicked him in disbelief .

"He started it-" he went to defend himself pathetically , Trevor snorting behind him at how childish he sounded . So moody and annoyed that his luck was so fucking shit like this.

Lina just side eyed him , unimpressed. "Shush. Quinn. Huh-" she got sidetracked for a moment as she tasted his name in her mouth.

Completely Missing the way he swallowed and averted his gaze , needing to take a deep breath in as her heard her say his name like that. Reminding  himself how to breath all over again. It didn’t feel so easy anymore.

Not with her there, looking like that… who gave her the right to look so fucking beautiful like this? It really wasn’t fair.

How was he supposed to breathe normally now? His nose was already fucked up as it was, she was making his chest collapse too now.

Fuck. He ran a slightly shaky hand through his hair, swallowing dryly again. Fuck . Fuck.

"I like that name. But don't argue with me." She stepped to his side , no longer looking at him as she spoke up again, changing the subject quickly . Ignoring his kicked puppy look beside her.

"are the two of you men yet?" She smirked over at Trevor and Jack like she was setting a trap. Quinn falling quiet beside her as he watched them fall right into it. Fighting back a amused snort at the sight of them perking up eagerly.

"Hell yeah! Can't you tell by all this muscle?" Trevor flexed his arm at her with sly wink. Jack grinning too as he laughed loudly "yeah. We're manly men. Do you even-have to ask?" He said arrogantly . In way over his head already.

Lina just grinned at them smugly  "I do. Okay then. That's great then . Seeing as you're so strong and manly could you finish fixing up that high chair for me? I can't do it." She softened her voice along with her face as she tilted her head sweetly at them. Perfect manipulation granted.

Both of them melted just like she had planned . Nodding their heads along like obedient puppies as they quickly spun around to sit on the floor in the front room, fighting to get the instructions . Eager  to please her.

"Of course! We've got this! We'll have it up in minutes. Don't you worry." Jack told her confidently as he picked up a wooden piece of it, glancing at it uncertainly . Yet he didn't give in, pride on the line,

Quinn shook his head in disbelief "unbelievable." He muttered as he followed a smug Lina into the kitchen while Side eyeing her in amusement .

"They’re idiots. There not going to have it done quickly." He felt the need to let her know as he leant back against the kitchen counter, watching her bring out a plate of fruit . Looking down at all the different left overs pieces in contemplation.

She just shrugged her shoulders indifferently "I know. Here-" she abruptly turned around and stuck out her arms, nodding down to Juan with a expectant gaze on her pretty face.

Treating Quinn like she had known him for years, as though they were close friends and like he always held her baby for her while she chopped up some fruit in her kitchen. Totally normal.

He didn't even think, too in shock still as he awkwardly pulled the garbling baby from her arms, placing him on his side instead. Looking down at little Juan for a moment as he swallowed nervously.

"I-he's quite heavy. For a baby I mean." He blurted out, suddenly hating the silence that had fell upon them. His nerves forcing his mouth to open and spew out whatever it wanted before his brain could even catch up.

Anxiety. He shut his mouth promptly. Was a bitch.

What happened to his life long vow of being quite and chilled out? He took one glance over at the grinning Spanish woman and inhaled shakily, yeah, that wasn't going to happen. Not with Lina fucking Valentina beside him . Even her name sounded like a love song on his tongue.

Was it hot here? He fanned his shirt a little frantically , flushing . Or was it just him?

Lina just giggled, obvious to his little freak out as she focused on chopping up the fresh fruit for them to eat.

"I know right? When I thought of having a baby I thought it would be so much easier to carry him. Even when he was fist born, the dolls are really misleading as kids. If I'd have known how heavy baby's really were-" she paused her talking to glance up at them for a moment , smiling at the sight of Juan snuggling up to Quinn happily . Just happy to cuddle anyone these days. She got it. She really did.

"-I would have started weight lifting before my pregnancy. But hey!" She laughed, flexing her arm for him to see with a mischief grin "look at my arms now! So strong huh?" She winked at him, enjoying the red painting his cheeks more than she should.

But she was just a woman. As Quinn was a very cute, very awkward, adorable man. She was gonna tease him till his legs gave out and he lost all the paleness in his face.

She could fell her body perk up excitedly , eyes trained on him as she chewed her bottom lip with a thrill.

Oh yes. Maybe this was whst she had been missing since moving here . A Quinn to tease and please and play with. Her heart had been an empty room for so long now, didn't it deserve to let someone in again? To house someone new?

She was a romantic at heart. A tease and a minx. She knew it. Everybody did. Even Quinn did.

That didn't make his heart flutter any less as he tore his eyes away from her toned and tanned arms, smiling a little tensely in her general direction.

Unable to look her in her eyes. Intimated by her natural charisma and easygoing nature, and her beauty .

God her beauty... he felt sick from it. Was that normal? To feel sick to your stomach when somebody smiled at you?

He swallowed again "yeah er- yeah." He shifted Juan in his arms again just for something to do , rocking him a little as he started to drift off again his chest. His eyes softened as he glanced down at him, relaxing a little as he gently patted his small back with his hand.

"What are you doing here?" Realising how rude that sounded , he quickly rushed out "I mean- in America? Here . I thought that you lived in madrid." He was curious to what could pull her away from such a beautiful place. His home was nice but it wasn't madrid. Who could leave there willingly with a baby in tow?

Lina did.

She just shrugged as she placed the plate of now cut fruit onto the table , moving close to him as she carefully lifted up a piece of watermelon and held it up to juans mouth for him to suck at . Smiling down at him affectionately As he tiredly did so, eyes blearily and barely open.

"I like travelling and going to new places. It's not good to stay around in one place for too long plus.." she inhaled deeply as she glanced up at him with a small quirk of her lips , finding Quinn's eyes already glued to her face. Soaking in every word she said like a sponge.

"Plus the whole ex boyfriend putting his tiny dick in his ex girlfriends mouth thing kind of put a dampener on the city for me . Ya know?"

She said it so nonchalantly that he couldn't help but let out a surprised laugh , even snorting a little in amusement how uncaring she sounded , just a little annoyed that her home had been stained if anything .

"Oh no." He breathed out a chuckle , watching her feed Juan some more fruit as he held him carefully for her still. "So that's what happened. He was a footballer right? Everyone was talking about your split."

Lina just nodded her head casually, unbothered.

"yeah. Should have known really. He can only think with his balls, that's all he knows. He can find the back of the net but not the clit." She bluntly told him, giggling to herself as she did so.

“But it's whatever. It's his loss."

Quinn was speechless for a moment , just grinning down at the amazing woman in front of him. So beautiful and so fucking funny..so cool. He let out a sigh without even realising it.

"It is." He murmured before letting out a surprised noise when she suddenly reached up, strawberry in her hand as she tapped it against his mouth gently.

"What are you doing?" He tried to pull his face away, flustered. But she wasn't having it.

Simply rolling her eyes at him with a grin as she tapped the fruit against his lips again , more impatiently this time .

"Open your mouth Quinn. Don't waste my fruit now." She teasingly remarked , enjoying how he couldn't even look at her, face now a permanent red since he had arrived .

He kept his eyes to the wall opposite him as he hesitantly opened his mouth, heart going crazy as he felt her fingertips brush his tongue as she casually fed him the strawberry.

Tapping his jaw gently with her fingers to keep his mouth open as she reached over to feed him some more, face casual and serene , like this was a normal thing to do.

Quinn felt like he was going to collapse. Eyes flickering rapidly between the wall, the fridge , the baby and then Lina . Not knowing where to look as she continued hand feeding him the fruit , keeping her body close to his side as she smiled up at him softly . Pleased with his compliance.

"Not so bad huh?" She glanced down at his pouty lips now stained with Berry and subtly sighed .

"tienes una boca tan bonita." (You have such a pretty mouth.) she murmured in appreciation , finding it hard to look away.

His eyes shot back to her own at those words, eyes widening as he heard a familiar one.

“Pretty?" Bonita. He knew that one. He looked at her for an answer.

Lina just smiled at him and moved herself away from his side finally , coyly shrugging her shoulders at him in response .

“Very. What do you do?" She asked him curiously , mind already making plans.

She wanted him. That much was simple. And judging by his heaving chest and apple red cheeks , he wanted her too.

Quinn took a deep breath in, trying to calm himself down again . Juan now fast asleep in his arms as he watched Lina pack away the remaining fruit and put it back in the fridge , only glancing back over her shoulder at him when he took a second to long too answer.

Still lost in the feeling of her warm fingertips on his lips. He wondered what they would have tasted like if he had sucked them into his mouth and gently wrapped his tongue around her fingers, sweet fruit he knew. His mind supplied him with other dirty thoughts that he was quick to shut down, shifting uneasily on his feet instead .

"I er-I do hockey." He grimaced a little at himself, wishing he was a little more cooler and charming. Wishing that he could be more smooth with his words like Trevor and his brother were. But this was him. A little awkward and unsure "we all do. I'm the better player though." He tried to joke.

She laughed a little "oh yeah? Should I really take your word for it? What if Jack is the better player?" She teased him back. Enjoying it.

He scoffed immediately , chest flaring as he quickly countered back "he is not Better . In anyway." He wouldn't let him be.

Not with Lina . Not like this.

He looked back over at her quickly "and you don't have to take my word for it. You can come see me play anytime." There. That was smoother, wasn't it? He mentally patted himself on the back for that one.

Biting down on his lip to suppress his proud grin as he watched her giggle at what he said, his chest puffing out a little with pride. That he had made her laugh like that. Him. Not Trevor or Jack.

Him.

Lina smiled over at him slyly "I'm usually more inclined towards European footballers but I guess I could try something new." She said casually as though it was no big deal. As though she wasn't spinning his entire world on its axis at the double meaning to her words.

Something new. Like him.

She smirked at him as she carefully took back a sleeping Juan from his aching arms, Quinn barely even noticing. Too busy looking at her like a lovesick idiot. Cheeks red and belly all sticky with the feeling of the butterflies flying around in there, going crazy for her.

God. This was crazy. He let out a breathless laugh , already in love.

"Though i must warn you. I don't like losers Quinn." She said while casually grinning.

He grinned straight back, confidence slowly rising now that he realised that she was only looking at him that wag . That he had her attention.

No amount of dreaming or singing along to her songs in his car could have ever have prepared him for this.

Were they flirting? He hoped they were. He tried his best , he had to.

This was Lina fucking Valentina. And What did Eminem say? You only got one chance, do not miss your shot. Opportunity’s come once in a lifetime . Or something like that.

He wasn't wrong at all.

"That's a lie. Seeing as your baby daddy is the biggest loser out there." He shot back without missing a beat, worried for a moment that she would get pissed off over his offhand comment.

But she just laughed . Loudly . Looking both amused and proud of him, Pointing her finger at him while nodding her head along.

"you're right. I'll let you have that one! But I still don't think you're the best.." she backed away back into the front room, placing the sleeping baby into a small cot in the corner of the room . Tucking him in perfectly before coming straight back to him once she was done.

"No? What will change your mind?" He looked at her in amusement . Liking the back and forth they now had going on. Heart jumping in his chest , hiding his trembling fingers behind his back quickly so she didn’t see them.

She just hummed teasingly "not much. Maybe a lot. So much to prove ya know? Any of your friends single?" She tested him. Seeing if he would play along and fall for it all.

He did. Because of course he did.

"No. There all jackasses anyways." He snapped straight back. Frowning again.

She hid a laugh , so easy . She thought fondly. So cute.

“Hmmm. And you're so lovely? You were scolding me before you even said hello. Actually.." she smirked "I still don't think you have said hello at all. Rude."

He rose his brow at her , rolling his eyes . "Because you were careless. Who leaves there doors wide open like that? Little dude crawled right out!" He exclaimed, not letting it go .

Lina just kicked his ankle again "it's too hot In here! It's summer. Do you want me to get heatstroke and die? Is that it Quinn? You wanted me to melt? I was letting some air in." She countered back , jumping up onto the kitchen table. Feet dangling in front of them, body facing him.

Quinn clenched his hands around the counter top behind his back, eyes flickering down to her bare , swinging legs before quickly darting away again .

"Shut up. Don't be so dramatic. You're used to the heat. Don't even try it." He muttered amused. Kicking her ankle right back.

If possible, her smile grew even bigger at his actions. Chest buzzing with excitement as she took in the shy man in front of her, able to keep up with her whips and dish it right back too.

How perfect.

Before she could resort back and bicker with him some more like she wanted to, Trevor and Jack came rushing back again. Sweaty and proud , with matching grins on their faces.

"It's done! The men built the baby a chair! Can you believe it? It looks so good huh?" Jack smugly said as he pulled her down from the table, dragging her back into the room to see what they had done.

She let out a amused laugh, nodding her head along as she patted their backs. Practically feeling their manly prides boosting as she gave them a sweet smile , both guys cheeks going rosy.

Quinn was glowering at them from beside her , just shaking his head at them in disbelief. Was he this bad? He wondered a little concerned. Before quickly shaking off that question because he didn't want to know the answer at all. (Yes. It was yes. Always.)

"Well done guys! How can I repay you for your help?" She beamed at them. Pleased.

Trevor smirked "with a kiss-" he couldn't even finish before Quinn was smacking the back of his head, hard.

Glaring at him darkly "I will break your teeth." He gritted out in a whisper while Lina was distracted talking to his excited brother . "All of them." He threatened.

Trevor just snorted, side eyeing him. "Jealous are we? In love? Wanna marry her and give her your babies-" he made a baby voice at him, winding him

Up.

Quinn went bright red "shut up." He snapped st him quietly . Keeping an eye on Jack and Lina to make sure they couldn't hear . He could only take so much embarrassment before he would simply keel over .

"You should come over tomorrow! We're just gonna hang out, watch some movies , get takeout and have some beer. Wanna join us?" Jack extended the invitation hopefully. already deciding that he was going to be her friend now.

She was never going to be able to get rid of him now, he was like a overly friendly leech. Quinn hoped that lina knew what she was getting herself into. No more quite alone time anymore.

She smiled at him , thankful to be included. "Sure! Sounds fun. What are you eating tomorrow?"

"Just pizza. Any preference?" Trevor asked her.

She grimaced a little but only Quinn noticed the little sad sigh she let out . Barely audible. Already so in tuned with her . He brows furrowed a little as he looked down at her.

"I'll have whatever you guys have. I'm still not used to all the takeouts here. We never really had pizza unless it was home cooked." She told them absentmindedly . Thinking back to home.

Jack just grinned at her "you'll love it! I'll make sure to get one extra cheesy." He said as they all slowly made there way to the front door. Knowing that they couldn't stay with her forever . No matter how much they wanted to.

While they were distracted , Quinn gently

nudged lina's shoulder with his own.

“What would you normally be having on a Saturday night back home?" He murmured to her , curious.

A little homesick , she shrugged. Nudging him back gently just because she could now.

“A range of things . My mamá is the best cook in the world. But - as overly used and abused as it is- Paella has always been my favourite ." She admitted to him quietly "any kind really . It was the only thing my papa could make. Not as good as a cook as my mama ." She giggled fondly while talking about them .

He smiled at the fond tone she used to speak about her parents , In awe that she was even willing to speak to him at all.

He nodded slowly "I'll eat anything so.." he let out a chuckle "I do have a bit of a sweet tooth though." He muttered shyly , watching her play with her wild hair from the corner of his eye subtly .

His breath hitching in his chest, overwhelmed by her.

Lina giggled "me too! I love anything chocolate but- ya know. I'm not supposed to. Only on special occasions." She whispered to him like it was a secret , unable to look away from his shy smile and rosy cheeks.

Both of them completely missing the looks that Trevor and Jack exchanged as they watched the old dust turned to stardust as it fell around the apartment around them, so lost in each other as the inevitable began again.

Falling in love had never been so easy.

By the time Saturday night came around , Quinn was already tired  with the bundle of nerves that had been running rampant over him the whole day leading up to it.

Fretting over every little thing , not wanting anything or anyone to scare her away. He had made Luke promise to not do not say anything stupid , otherwise he wouldn't be allowed to join their movie night either.

In fact in the space of a couple of hours Quinn had maybe , definitely , threatened and blackmailed all three of them to be on there best behaviour or else. Like a couple hundred times already.

He ignored their amused muttering behind his back about how whipped he already was , he completely blanked out their childish teasing . Instead focusing on making sure that everything went perfectly for their night , wanting Lina to feel comfortable around them.

He couldn't imagine how strange and difficult it was being in a new country , with a baby none the less .

He just wanted her to be happy. Wanted to be the one to supply that rush of happiness and hopefully have her smile that mischievous smile at him again, to hear her giggle at his stupid attempts at a joke in the kitchen.

He just wanted her to like him.

He had felt nothing but a lot of self consciousness and sickness as he got ready for the day, looking at himself in the mirror in his best black jeans and clean shirt. Running his hand through his freshly washed hair, ruffling it as he let out a frustrated groan at himself . Pissed off for even feeling this way to begin with.

He had never cared about what he looked like before, not really , not on such a horrifying scale like this one .

But Suddenly he couldn't look away from his reflection as his grimace got deeper and deeper, eyes zeroing in on his large nose, bent and busted from all the breaks it had taken over the years. Fingers picking at the acne on his face that refused to leave even after his teenage years were long over , rubbing mostoriser into his skin with trembling hands in hopes of it somehow , miraculously taking it all away.

He didn't know why he bothered , or why he cared so much.

Okay. That was lie. He knew exactly why he suddenly cared so much. He thought back to linas long line of ex lovers and felt sick to his stomach as he realised how way over his head he was about this.

She was Lina fucking Valentina. She was beautiful. Stunning. This Ethereal goddess that didn't even seem real until yesterday.

She was everything .

And he - Quinn-felt like nothing compared to her. He thought about all the handsome footballers and other sport stars that he had seen her with over the years and swallowed thickly , averting his gaze from his reflection with haste. No amount of cream was going to change the way he looked like, no amount of cream or new clothes would make him look like they did.

He wasn't them. And he didn't want to be.

They may have had the looks, the hot accents and the ridiculous abs and muscles. But what had that accomplished? They meant nothing to Lina now. They weren't here. She wasn't feeding them fresh fruit and trusting them to hold little Juan in their arms like she was with him .

He was. She was letting him in, without Quinn even having to do a single thing .

She had looked at him and seen something that he never would , and that was enough for him.

He had a chance . He wasnt going to lose it or waste it, he had to try. Broken nose, acne and eye bags and all.

So he spent most his day around town getting everything he needed for the night . As he was unpacking the bags he brought home, Jack spotted the containers he placed on the breakfast table and frowned in confusion at his older brother.

"Why have you got food? I ordered pizza!" His voice rose in surprise , looking at him like he had lost his mind.

Maybe he had. Being lovestruck had that effort on people he guessed .

He just shrugged a little as he continued to unpack , keeping his eyes down on his hands as he felt the heat reach up to his neck .

Telling himself that he had absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, unable to look at his brother in his eye as he responded quietly.

"I know you did. It's not for you dipshit." He just muttered as he pulled a couple of jars of baby food and placed them on the counter too.

Jack looked at the baby food, the Spanish takeout bag and the big box of chocolate that he was pulling out and felt his mouth drop open in shock.

Blinking at him slowly as he slowly took everything in , realising what this actually meant .

"Quinn- I know I've been teasing you about this but- I didn't realise you-" he was baffled, unused to seeing his older brother in such a flustered state about anything. Never mind a woman.

He looked at Quinn's red cheeks and averted eyes and exhaled loudly in shock.

“I didn't realise that this was real. I mean- you're serious?" He couldn't believe it.

Couldn't believe that the day had finally arrived where his brother was losing his mind over a woman , but no, not just any woman.

Lina fucking Valentina. The same woman that Quinn had been losing his mind over for a long time. He recalled all the gigs he had been dragged along to, all the gifts everyone had gotten him for Christmas as a joke with lina's face on. He thought about the cd's and vinyls , the silent admiration and adapt attention whenever her name was mentioned on tv or on the radio and let out a loud laugh .

Because really. He should have seen this coming. For a long time really .

He just hadn't thought that Quinn would ever have the guts to actually take the chance presented to him like this.

I mean. It was Quinn..

His brother just looked annoyed at him "serious about what? It's just food. We're you planning on giving her one year old baby pizza?" He shot back at him , scowling . Getting Defensive. Hating that his brother looked so shocked about it at all.

Jack just laughed even harder "is there a ring in there too?" He joked.

Dodging the flying kitchen towel that came flying at his head with ease . He smirked at him mischievously, enjoying winding him up like this. He couldn't wait till he got to tell the rest of their family and friends about this, to let them see the uncharacteristic way that he was behaving.

He was going to be in for a lifetime of teasing after this.

"Shut the fuck up!" Quinn snapped at him, irritated and hating being put on the spot like this. His feelings were his own. He didn't want to talk to his brother, or anyone else for that matter , about this. It was stupid .

Jack snorted "why did you get her chocolates as well then?" He teased him.

"They were on sale! I'm just being nice! Something that you should try being !" He lied.

They were not on sale. They were not cheap at all and he had deliberately drove across town to this fancy chocolate shop that did the best homemade chocolates that he had ever tasted in his life.

He just knew that Lina would love them.

He did. So why wouldn't she? They both had a sweet tooth, he just thought that she would appreciate them like he did. That was all.

No big deal.

"You? Nice?!" Jack was laughing hysterically now

"yeah right! You want her! Huggy bear is in loveeeee!" He sang childishly  at him, watching his brother get worked up so easily.

Only further proving his point that he totally was gone for Lina. That this really was a big deal for him.

He didn't know why Quinn even tried to deny it. As though Jack hadn't witnessed him fawning over the pop star for years leading up to this .

"I am not! I'm just nice!"

"No you aren't!"

"Yes I am! Shut up!"

Both brothers were too busy shouting at each other to hear the front door open , Lina walking into the apartment like she owned the place, only to see Quinn glaring at Jack like he wanted to strangle him right there and then.

Laughing to herself as she watched Jack wind him up over and over again, after watching Quinn raise his finger threateningly at him while promising to

Shove something up his ass, she finally decided to make her presence known to them.

"Who's not nice?" She asked them curiously, wondering what had gotten Quinn so worked up now.

He froze in his spot, his head snapping over to where she was stood smiling prettily at them , his blood pressure scaling even higher as he took in the sight of the Red Devil's jersey she was wearing over some shorts.

He felt crazy "no. Absolutely not!" He snapped just at the sight time that Jack happily told her "Quinn! He's not very nice at all!" Smirking smugly to himself one he noticed where his older brothers eyes were glaring into .

The jersey that he had deliberately left at lina's for her to wear , not telling her which brothers it was . Poor girl had no clue , Quinn's face couldn't have gotten any redder it tried to, only with fury this time.

Only his anger quickly melted away when Lina stepped in front of him and reached her free hand up to grip his jaw in her hand, titling his head to the side so she could admire him closely , with no shame at all as she hummed a little fondly .

"I think he's very nice. I've been so sick of those pretty Spanish boys back home anyways." She muttered , leaning up to kiss his cheek before moving away.

Casually turning to greet both Trevor and Luke, the younger brother just as starstruck as he hugged her, excitedly introducing himself while Trevor pulled her closer so that they could take a selfie together.

Quinn just watching on In disbelief , hand to his flaming cheek gently , heart stuttering in his chest while Jack just snickered at his flustered face from beside him.

"You bastard! I know you did this!" Quinn hissed at him, annoyed.

Lovesick and overwhelmed , not knowing what the hell he was supposed to do next. His plans to be cool and collected going right out of the window now, all he could feel was his skin tingling and buzzing from where her lips had touched it.

He inhaled shakily and tried to get a grip of himself , shaking his head in hopes of snapping out of it quicker.

Jack smirked smugly "the jersey? Yes I did. She looks good in my colours eh?" He teased him.

Quinn had enough . He scoffed, tugging at the back of the stupid jersey she was wearing to get her attention again.

"Get that shit off." He told her bluntly , not amused by his brothers antics in the slightest. The only jersey he wanted her ever wearing was his own.

Lina looked up at him in surprise , raising a amused brow as she casually passed him Juan to hold.

The baby just giggling as he cuddled his neck in excitement , Quinn's anger briefly melting away as he swayed him gently in his arms , caressing his curly hair affectionately . Heart melting.

"Why?" She wanted to know . Confused.

He huffed "it's jacks. Get it off." He grumbled , kicking her ankle Impatiently. A new tradition setting in now. For years to come.

She kicked his ankle straight back, laughing at his red face and narrowed eyes. Finding his jealously more than amusing.

"Right now? You want me to strip?" She looked pointedly at the other three guys around her and shrugged dramatically "okay then If you say so-" she made a show of pulling up the Jersey as though she was going to pull it off, showing her bare stomach underneath . Only wearing a bra underneath it.

Panicked , Quinn gasped sharply "okay no! Stop! Ah ah!" He shook his head quickly as he reached out to yank it back down. Everyone laughing at him, he ignored the guys and focused on the Lina's grinning face in front of him instead.

“Never mind!"

After messing about and chatting with the other guys, she wandered into the kitchen to find Quinn again. Smiling to herself in contentment once she spotted him sat at the breakfast table , her baby on his lap as he fed Juan a pot of baby food that he had bought for him without her even having to ask.

Her face softened , a teasing remark dying on her tongue as she looked at them. Throat closing a little as she looked the little bottles of baby food, the container of takeout and big box of chocolates on the table as well.

"You got Juan food? That's so sweet..." she muttered, swallowing as she felt her throat dry.

A sudden rush of feelings falling upon her as she took a seat beside him at the table , tapping Juan’s little nose with a small smile on her face . Overwhelmed . But so grateful.

Quinn nodded a little shyly "yeah. He needs to eat to.I. He likes the chocolate pudding one." He mumbled as he carefully spoon fed the baby it, chuckling at the mess that he was making .

Grabbing a paper towel and gently wiping his chin with it , missing the look of softness that fell over lina's usually calm and teasing  face . Unable to take her eyes off him.

She giggled a little, fiddling with the takeout container as she pulled it closer to her. Heart racing in her chest as she peeked inside to see a familiar food and beautiful smell drifting up to her , looking back at Quinn beside her in amazement .

"You got me paella? Oh my god. Quinn!" She gushed , so giddy. So happy as she inhaled the delicious smell of her favourite Spanish food , shaking her head in disbelief at how good he was to her already.

He still wouldn't look at her, couldn't . Instead he focused himself on feeding little Juan , grinning a little as the one year old try to speak .

"Qqqqq-" he babbled , blinking up at him with his big eyes. Quinn melted. "Quuuuqqq"

"Quinn." He smiled down at him fondly , stroking his soft hair . "You'll say it soon enough little man. So smart already."

Lina let out a silent breath. Her mother's words rushing back to her as she recalled her soft voice talking about her papa. "When you know. You know, you just look at them and think, yes, this is what I want, forever and always. I want this man."

She looked at Quinn holding her baby so delicately , took in his bashfulness and shy smiles. His thoughtfulness and pretty face and let out a small laugh too.

Oh god. Her mama was right.

She was never going to live this one down,

An American boy. Her father was going to have a stroke! She giggled to herself .

Not scared at all by the sudden realisation that she knew exactly how this was going to go. She decided to just let the story play out how it was supposed to instead , to let herself enjoy the small moments and secret grins.

She had seen this film before and she loved this ending. She was finally going to be the starring role in somebody else's universe.

Quinn was going to be the sun in her sky , she could feel it. All the stars finally aligning just the way they were supposed to be.

"And the chocolates?" She asked him quietly , knowingness written across her face as she pulled open the pretty box. Slowly Lifting one to her lips, eyes never leaving his flushed face.

He finally allowed himself to look up at her, his eyes dropping to the small chocolate now between her teeth, his lips parting in a breath as he watched her take a bite. Humming softly as her eyes fluttered close in happiness, smiling around the sweetness as she grabbed another one immediately after.

"You like them." He almost whispered , enjoying the quietness between them. And The teasing smile she gave him setting him right .

"-and I like them. We both like them. So why not? They were on sale." He lied again.

She just laughed quietly , picking up a chocolate and bringing it to his lips. A exact reminisce of the day before with the fresh fruit.

Quinn swallowed and admitted In a mumble like she had some kind of spell on him  "no they weren't."his lips parting as he let her feed him the soft chocolate , humming too. "They're good."

"They should be. They were expensive right?" She called his bluff. Seeing right through him. Just like her mama could with her father.

He just nodded a little in defeat "yeah. They were. You like them?" He looked hopefully at her chocolate covered lips, watched her slowly lick them clean. Shuffling in his seat as he tried not to lose his head right there and then.

She was a goddess . It was night time yet all she made him see was daylight. He felt Alive in a way that  he had never done before. It was surreal. Magical. Erotic . Loving. Strange . All rolled into one fancy chocolate .

Lina smiled "I do. I love it all. gracias." She simply said. Kissing his cheek again, just to see him smile bashfully down at the table , his cheeks a cherry red as he laughed quietly to himself , shaking his head in disbelief.

It was silent for a moment before Quinn hesitantly spoke up again.

“You said you're sick of pretty Spanish boys. That you think I'm nice." He was almost speaking to himself. In disbelief .

Lina frowned a little, nodding her head. "Yes. I think you're pretty too. If that's what you're wondering." It was almost like she couldn't read his anxious mind. She rested her chin on her hand, elbow on the table as she tilted her head at him, still smiling.

He looked shocked, and it made her sad to know that he didn't see himself the way she did. He was fucking beautiful to her. He really was. She liked all the imperfections , inside and out.

She just liked him.

It was that simple. No need to complicate things.

"Really?" He looked at her . Eyelashes fluttering as he fought to hold her gaze. Goosebumps breaking out on his skin. "No kidding?"

She shook her head. Tapping his chin with her pointer finger gently.

“ "no kidding." She repeated just as quietly . Eyes glittering around his face thoughtfully , just taking him in.

“I like really like your nose." She told him . Meaning it.

Quinn couldn't have gone any more red , blinking at her in shock. "Really?" He hated it. Couldn't imagine why she would like it, in his mind it was ugly and far too big and crooked.

Lina told him why , blunt as always, accent thick with something else as she gently caressed his nose with her fingertip confidently .

Before Smirking softly at him "big noses are great for riding . And yours is perfect for it. For you. And me." She winked at him before hearing Jack loudly call her.

She swiftly stood from her seat, kissed his cheek again before leaving him there, flustered , red and swallowing loudly in the kitchen , oblivious baby clutched to his chest , gaping at where she had just been sat , speechless.

He finally inhaled sharply , blinking rapidly as he felt Juans tiny hand pull at his hair , snapping him out of it, shaking his head to himself in disbelief.

"Your mama is going to kill me. My poor heart..." he sighed out , picking out another chocolate and eating it. Smiling all the while .

This was what dreams were made of.

By the time midnight hit, Lina was sneaking into his room to check up on him after he had disappeared a little while ago. Mumbling something about being back in a minute , but he didn't .

She didn't knock, just slid into his room and closed the door behind her.

Quinn smiling up at her lazily from where he was laid stretched out in his bed , looking like he had been waiting for her to come despite neither of them having said a thing.

Some promises were made with quick smiles in the dark.

She had waited until little Juan was asleep and cozy in the portable cot before hurrying off the see him again.

Heart calm and cozy in her chest, meanwhile Quinn's was racing as he watched Lina climb onto his bed and settle in beside him silently , both just looking at each for a long moment, smiling in the dark.

"You okay?" She whispered to him, both of them on their sides facing each other. She felt his hand slowly come up to play with the ends of her hair, a soft sigh leaving him . As though he was already asleep and dreaming something seeet and easy.

"Yeah. Just tired." He murmured , yawning .

Fingertips lightly tracking over her shoulder and down her arm, blinking slowly as he pulled the blanket over their laps , making sure that her bare legs were covered . No wanting her to get chilly, but Lina was burning .

For him.

"Me too." She whispered with a lazy smile, head on his pillow that they both now shared. She lifted her hand to run her fingers through his hair , feeling him let out a shaky exhale , subtly shuffling closer to her till they were as close as could possibly be.

"Want to-" he hesitated for a moment before mumbling quietly "do you want to stay?" He asked her , hope filling his chest as he quickly added to avoid confusion "with me. In here."

She just laughed quietly , soothing her thumb over his burning ear . Finding him so endearing that it hurt.

"In your bed? With you?" She giggled "how scandalous." She couldn't help but tease him. Loving how his tiredness brought out some confidence that he struggled to find around her so far.

He groaned a little and tired to bury his burning face into the pillow, Lina giggling as she followed him down. Pressing her own cheek against his as she hugged his face to her , grinning against his heated skin. Quinn smiling against the pillow as he raised his hand to press it against the side of her face, keeping her face pressed to the side of his own

Firmly.

Giddy with the feeling of falling love with someone you only just met.

Giddy with the feeling of knowing that this this was it. The moment that their mamas had always told them stories about.

"You know I do Quinn." She told him sincerely "I'm gonna stay with you from now on. For a while I think. Because I like your stupid face." She said as she pulled their cheeks away from each other so he could pull his face out from the pillow, done with hiding now that he had some reassurance again.

He looked up at her , biting down on his lip with a shy grin. "Yeah?" His eyes flickered down to the jersey she was still wearing "not in that stupid jersey you're not." He muttered, hand sliding down to settle on her thigh instead. Rubbing soft circles in her even softer skin.

She grinned wickedly down at him, feeling his fingertips wandering up to fiddle with the end of the jersey .

"You want me to take it off?" She teased down to him , biting back a giggle when he averted his eyes to the ceiling for a moment . Taking a deep breath to gather himself and his courage before facing her again, bravely nodding his head yes.

"I want to take it off you." He couldn't help but add a small "please" at the end.so sweet that she couldn't help but smile at him.

This was it. This was what her mama had joyfully  warned her about while Lina just rolled her eyes and listened in disbelief . Not believing that she would ever find a love like that. Being told about Guys like him with their crooked smiles and heated cheeks , good intentions and pure hearts.

She hasn't known that they existed . Until she met Quinn . Now her heart was in her mouth and she was nodding her her head in consent as Quinn's shaky hand pulled up the wrong jersey over her head, his mouth falling open in a hitched breath once it was finally gone .

His eyes tracing over her Tanned stomach , toned from all the belly dancing on stage. Then down to her wider hips , following up to the dip in her waist before settling on her breasts encased in a pale pink, lace bralet.

He swallowed thickly , hands gripping her hips as she swiftly climbed on top of him, straddling his lap as he laid out beneath her , sweaty , flushed and with his heart in his mouth . Body Trembling and she hasn't even touched him properly yet.

"You're so beautiful Lina." He whispered to her . Just like he had always dreamed of telling her.

He finally got to now as his hands softly followed a path up her stomach , caressing the warm skin of her body as she leaned down, settling her own hands on his broad shoulders .

Biting her lip as she let him lean close to kiss her bare shoulder , open mouthed kisses being spread down to her chest, then over her neck . Anywhere that his lips could reach without moving too far from her . His arm around her waist as he hugged her too him, needing her close, having dreamt of this moment for what felt like his whole life.

Unable to believe that this was actually happening, that this wasn’t one of the many dreams he had about her over the years.

She sighed blissfully , gripping his chin to pull his lips away. Looking into his glossy eyes and flushed cheeks , his lips parted And pink from kissing her heated skin. She softened completely .

"Are you gonna buy me flowers just because?" She asked him softly , curious and playful as she pulled off his shirt so she could return his kisses down his body too.

Quinn's breath hitched as he tilted his chin down, utterly breathless as he watched her kiss down his chest , sucking softly at his freckled skin , his hips jumping as he felt her hand slide down to his pelvis , playing with the band of his pants teasingly .

"Yes. Sí! Sí!" He Moaned out breathlessly , hands desperately gripping at her back, then at her hips as she kissed up his neck. Tongue marking over his racing pulse below his ear , he trembled.

"I'll buy you flowers every Friday to mark the day we met." He breathed out. Already planning on which florists he would be running to, which flowers he would pick. Something beautiful. Like Lina.

She smiled softly against his jaw as she teased him some more, nudging her nose gently against his as she felt him try to lean forward to close the gap.

She just pulled away with a breathy laugh , brushing their lips together her softly, slowly as she spoke against the corner of his mouth , her words kissing him . Teasing him. Testing his control.

He whined.

"Will you dance with me in the kitchen? To silly songs?" She whispered quietly into the dark .

He groaned lowly , just wanting to kiss her. Just wanting her completely .

"I'll dance with you in every room. To every fucking song , to all of them..please.." he pleaded . Desperately. Kissing her chin over and over again.

She gripped the back of his neck and held him firmly , pressing their chests together as she let him unclip her bra . The flimsily material falling somewhere on the bed as he Palmed at her breasts messily , lips sucking at her jaw, down her neck , hips bucking up to meet her own. Begging her for more,

"Please Lina.. por favor." He pleaded breathlessly , rocking up into her, sweaty and so in love he could cry.

He sucked lovemarks over her heart , panting against her skin as she held his head close to her chest , head thrown back in pleasure as he got messier , spit leaning a trail against her skin as he gripped her in any place that he could . Fingers bruising and desperate.

"You'll come home? With me? To Spain?"

"I'd follow you anywhere." He promised , eyes wide and showing nothing but sheer desperation and the truth.

“I’ll take you joke to meet my family , I still have your poster on my wall though. Maybe you'll believe me then... I need you.." he told her shamelessly , meaning it with every fibre in him.

She laughed breathlessly "yeah? Should I put a poster of you above my bed too now  chico tonto?" (Silly boy) She teased him with a smirk.

He laughed too , breathless and smile too big for his face as he pulled her face up to his own, their teeth knocking together as he kissed her, hard and messy. Needy and wanting. He kissed her firm and true, just like he had always dreamed of doing .

"We can try right?" He murmured hopefully against her lips , trembling as she bit down on his bottom lip, soothing the sting of it with her tongue .

He sighed shakily, body trembling with anticipation and pleasure. "please? I want you so bad ."

"You want to fuck me?" She giggled mischievously as she leaned back to pull down her shorts and then his own. Eyes never leaving his flushed and sweaty face as he watched her like she was god above him.

He swallowed audibly "yeah." His voice cracked as he admitted lowly "I want to fuck you and you to fuck me , and I want to love you. I just want you. In every way."

Lina paused for a minute as she hovered above him for a moment , both breathless and needy. Quinn whining beneath her as she rocked her hips slowly , humming softly as their eyes fluttered closed in bliss.

"You're gonna love me forever if I let you Quinn ?" She wanted to know . Needed to. This was the real thing for her. It had to be. She had dreamt of moments like this, or all the pieces falling into place.

Hand caressing him firmly as he squirmed restlessly Beneath her , looking like he was going to laugh and cry at the same time. Eyes dazed and teary as he looked up at her , grinning wildly .

He nodded frantically "I am. You're all I've ever wanted Lina." and he meant it and she knew he did.

She sunk down on him , both moaning lowly as he pulled her down onto his body, cradling her close as he buried his face in her neck, breathless pants filling the air as she showed him why she was the one of the most wanted woman in the world.

But that didn't matter anymore because all she wanted was him.

She kissed him, laughing softly against his trembling lips as she whispered softly "I'm going to love you too. Maybe a little too much."

Quinn just moaned louder , mouthing at her sweaty skin with his bruised lips as he gripped at her hips tightly , realising why they didn't lie now. It all made sense as she snapped her hips down and around and around , bouncing and leaning , fingernails digging into his shoulders as she made him see heaven.

Eyes rolling to the back of his head as she fucked him, his lips unable to leave her skin as he wiped away the sweat dripping between her breasts with his tongue , in another world completely,

His heart sang in her voice  as she danced above him, belly moving as she moaned his name quietly , leaning her hands back on his thighs as she felt him hit deeper inside , feeling his body moving.

She made a man want to speak Spanish .

She rolled her hips again, like she did on stage , making him cry out as she clenched around him, his hips snapping up to meet her own as tears filled his eyes , pleasure whitening out his vision as his body shook below her.

"I got you. I got you bebé" she sighed , breathy and high pitched as they came together . Like it was supposed to be.

Holding his head close to her chest as he mumbled her name over and over again like a pray , grunting and shaking before finally collapsing against her body tiredly , pulling her down with him in a heap of sweaty limbs and kiss sealed promises.

It took them a while to calm down, Quinn's face in her neck as they tiredly cuddled into each other , soft kisses in the dark .

He smiled against her skin in joy, overwhelmed with love.

"You meant it? No kidding?" He whispered to her , holding her close and never wanting to let go again.

He was going to get her roses tomorrow, the biggest bouquet he could find.

This was it for him. He knew it was. This was the start of forever . Whenever , wherever , they were meant to be together. She was right. He wanted to hear her sing it again and again and again.

Only he had his own private show now. No more nosebleed tickets and tuning into the radio just to hear her voice .

He has the real thing right here, in his arms , smiling down at him like he was something worth keeping around .

"No kidding." She smiled , yawning as she combed her fingers through his sweaty hair . Holding him close as they both relaxed properly for the first time in a long time. Because they finally had someone to lean on.

"I meant. I'm keeping you forever now. Better get used to the heat because Madrid is even hotter, American boy." She teased.

Already planning on calling her mother in the morning to tell her the news that she was right all along .

She had found her star in a clouded sky of grey, she had found her daylight.

#Quinn Hughes imagine #nhl imagine #hockey imagine #Quinn hughes oneshot #nhl fic #ice hockey imagine #nhl oneshot

[thelarriefics]

MAGICAL REALISM FIC REC: Below you’ll find fics that have magical elements to them that blend fantasy with reality in their own ways. 

📖 Three Days in February by @mercurial-madhouse (187k)

How close is too close? Harry and Louis are about to find out after a drunken night leaves Louis cursed. With only a week before tour starts, the race is on to fix things before they lose Louis forever. Oh, and Harry has to keep his long-time crush on Louis a secret while the lad can literally hear his thoughts. Easy, right?

Featuring ridiculous amounts of banter and angst, a healthy dose of OT5 friendship, and one very magical weekend.

📖 hymn for the wretched & divine by @wlwmermald (126k)

Death loses a bet with a mischievous and lively mortal by the name of Louis Tomlinson, who loves his old cat too much, the price being he must unconditionally befriend Louis. Death ends up getting more than he bargained for.

📖 Si Pudiera Volar by by @softfonds (69k)

When Harry’s fiancé leaves him for his cousin, he looks the other way for the sake of his happiness. He’ll do anything to forget about him, including joining a monastery. It isn’t until his cousin’s former lover, a pirate, appears that he realizes everything is not as it appears, and an honest pirate might be the only person worthy of his heart.

Or, a fic loosely based on Corazón Salvaje.

📖 Take on Me by @haztobegood (60k)

Actor Harry Styles is preparing for his next leading role as Antonius the Gladiator with the help of Louis Tomlinson, Hollywood’s top stunt coordinator. When the demands of Harry’s career get in the way of their training, the pair head to a secluded cabin to complete their training. Then, Louis begins to share senses with Harry. What is causing this mysterious connection and can Louis and Harry figure out how to stop it before they leave the cabin?

📖 Driftwood by @justanothershadeofblue (51k)

Eroda was all Harry knew. He lived there all his life, but he always knew he was peculiar. He had dreams that go beyond this small, cold, and lonely island. He wanted to leave; he HAD to leave. But that meant leaving Louis...

Harry is a lonely and depressed popstar who sailed out of his hometown on Eroda years ago to chase his dreams. He comes back to the island only to find his shining childhood best friend Louis just as cold and dreary as the island they grew up on.

📖 Chasing, Searching, Dreaming by @parmahamlarrie (46k)

Everyone is chasing, searching, dreaming of their soulmate.

Harry has known who his soulmate is since he was twenty years old, and ever since, he has been waiting for Louis to be ready for him. The unexpected passing of Louis' mum, and the fact that now he is the guardian of his twin two-year-old little siblings, just means that Harry is going to have to wait a bit longer.

A soulmate AU full of cute kids, house building, therapy, and a lot of dreaming.

📖 Soul of the Sea by @vurdoc (32k)

Louis lives a nomadic lifestyle. Never settling down in one place for long, he finds himself caught in a storm, as he’s passing through a small Scottish seaside town.

Everywhere is full, except the old B&B perched up on an isolated hill near the coastline, where the recluse owner isn’t what he seems.

Then again, who really is?

A fic about belonging, supernatural beings, and finding your own home.

📖 Fate & Chance by @zanniscaramouche (31k)

Haunted by his own ghost, the Duke von Tomlin fears for his safety and sanity as the days tick down to his certain engagement with the Crown Prince of Vienna. Meanwhile the travelling magician Hassenheim takes residency in a well established theatre, drawing mass crowds with his awe-inspiring illusions. Is it fate or chance that entwines their paths?

📖 The Honeycomb Bed and Breakfast by @daggerandrose (8k)

“I’m sorry, but where did we land?” He asks one of the flight attendants when he reaches the door.

“We’re in Bucharest.”

It takes a minute for Harry to process the location. “Romania? I was supposed to go to Rome, not Romania! How does that happen?”

or the one where Harry's work trip to Italy makes a tiny detour to Bucharest, Romania and he has to find a place to stay.

📖 i was at an all night diner by @yoursongonmyheart (5k)

"I know. I was there. I saw the great void in your soul, and you saw mine."

//or, the one where none of the boys can sleep and they all meet at a diner where it's always 3 a.m.

📖 The kaleidoscope of your eyes by @greenblueish (4k)

They are greeted by a young, handsome man in his late twenties, dressed in wide black trousers and a purple silky dress shirt. Usually Louis is quick to judge such daring pieces of clothing, as this colour in particular can easily look like a cheap Halloween costume imitation of a computer game character, but at this sight, he can think of no criticism. Except that there’s no way in hell that this man has the medical knowledge to cure his neighbour’s tumour.

or, the one where Harry, disguised as an alternative practitioner, uses his magic to cure people's health issues and Louis doesn't believe in the faith healer until he meets him himself.

📖 'Cause I Just Wanna Feel Alive by @goldenkinglouis (3k)

“Oh, cheers, mate, but I don’t do dates.”

Harry’s brow furrowed. “Are you–” he waved vaguely.

Louis shook his head. “No, it’s just… been too long for me.”

“And how might I convince you otherwise?” Harry asked, his eyes glistening under the lights.

OR: Louis is a lost, lonely vampire. Harry is the witch who brings him home.

📖 Just a little taste by @lunarheslwt (3k)

Harry is a vampire that comes home one night, grappling with the darkness that comes with being one. Louis offers him unwavering love, acceptance and the one thing he needs but is reluctant to ask for; permission to bite for the sake of comfort and safety seeking.

📖 all was golden in the sky by @daydreaming-sunflower (1k)

The Sun and the Moon are in love.

#masterpost #1dsource #hljournal #hlcreators

[desultory-novice]

who would be more traumatized?

Marx who literally was to the verge of death <like this close 🤏>

or

Magolor who got possesed with an acient artifact? <he wasnt as close as Marx to dying tbh>

In strictly canon terms, Magolor went on to build a theme park and literally invite the Master Crown (riding Landia) to come play and Marx seems really gleeful to be Marx so I'd argue neither of them!

^_^

.............

:psst psst: ...But if we're talking Dess's very particular brand of Kirby-verse, and I assume you wouldn't be writing me if you didn't want to hear my very specific Kirby worldview...

...Okay, so, the first time I rolled this answer over in my head, my heart immediately spat out: "Marx."

Because Magolor does have his theme park! He has his ambitions. The crown manipulated him in a lot of horrible ways, but he has something outside of that, which he is slowly regaining. He also has friends - though the degree of friendship was in doubt for about 10 years. Yes, I'm certain that having your warped and twisted body, practically bursting with power too great for you to possibly wield and puppeted by a malevolent artifact while you're not even free to scream about it is an experience beyond horrible...!

But...let's look at Marx here.

Marx has no friends.

We GIVE him friends. We say he's friends with the Wave 1 group and we see no strong reasons he shouldn't be. (Even if we don't know what they have in common...) But a few of us have tried to advance the cause of Marx + Animal Friends + Gooey = good pals! We also say he's friends/found family with Gryll, a character he's never been on screen with! We say he's friends (and some of us say he's more than) with Magolor - who he also hasn't TRULY been on screen with!

The closest thing he has to a friend is Kirby. And some of that stems from the fact that a very "...distinctive..." looking gag manga made up The Most Believable Backstory for Marx in his 25 years of existence! This isn't the first time people have assumed Marx and Kirby had a complex friendship, however. (And I'm incredibly fond of reading a lot into their having something, with or without any canon backing.)

But...

...While Magolor remembered HIS wish, Marx never did - if he even had one. We won't know until further evidence is provided if Marx was manipulated into wanting control of Popstar but if he did, then he was just as much a victim as Magolor...

And if he wasn't manipulated... well, he's just empty, isn't he? And isn't that more sad, in a way? The silly clown just wanted one star. One star, all for his own. And it's a wish he'll never, ever get...

Marx is considered by some to kind of an empty character. I would say to be so "empty" is actually really tragic...

(You don't even have to get into HC territory, about Marx's lack of hands or Marx's resemblance to a Noddy or Marx sharing a few design elements with Nightmare but if you do, it gets WORSE.)

Back to canon, we have no idea how long Marx was floating through space, in a state of near/undeath, unable to move. We only ASSUME Magolor picked him up in the Starcutter. But if so... when...?

And you know how 'everything is a MF Jojo's reference?'

I made a slight note in a random post last year about Marx's heart theming reminding me of Dio, but I gotta say, the JJBA villain that Marx reminds me of the most is Kars. His "death" just gives very "Eventually he stopped thinking" vibes. (I suppose there's a chance that actually factored into my "Clockwork Marx = Marx Can't Die" theory, now that I put it all together like that.)

And even though Marx is back again, one has to question what the overall effect of his experiences was on him? We don't see if Magolor has crown scars under his silly tophat. But we know Marx bleeds Fecto Green and can do other scary tricks. Does he love them?

He seems to. But just as a lot of people DO headcanon Magolor to have those scars, just as many people have HC'd that Marx can...lose control of his body horror tricks. And the results aren't pleasant.

Of course, ju~st as soon as I had settled on Marx's personal and unspoken tragedy being kinda more sad than Magolor's, well...

...I remembered The True Arena...! DAMN YOU, TRUE ARENA MAGOLOR...!! :sobbing endlessly:

Because we can't just stop at "had his body puppetted against his will while he was forced to watch" now can we?! Noooo! Because Kumazaki won't give us anything nice! (Just kidding & thank you for all the good angst food every time, Director, sir! Love it!)

Because Magolor is literally crying for help. Have you listened to "Supreme Overlord's Coronation" recently?! God... the sounds he makes... He can barely get out Kirby's name amidst his gasps. The Master Crown has rendered him blind, having Stolen His Eyes along with everything else, so that Magolor can't even visualize whether there is any hope; whether "he" has killed Kirby or Kirby is still fighting for his sake (and can he HEAR at this point or is that gone too?) but he never.stops.calling.for.him. Let me say that again:

He never stops crying out for Kirby to save him. Can you imagine being in THAT much pain?! That's hurt and fear and death all in one. But he doesn't even have the mercy of dying...?! He's carried away from us, out of reach, still a victim of the crown, his haunting cries echoing in our ears. Where has he gone? Will he ever be free or will Magolor's fate linger in our nightmares for another decade?

Of course, True Arena Magolor may just be out of the running for this whole argument because, again, as we don't know if he shall ever be free, it's hard to talk about how traumatized he is if the trauma is actually unending/still present. But if he is ever rescued alive from that fate worse than death (else he may just suffer until the Crown has finished absorbing the last bits of his soul and he ceases to be "Magolor") I would think the mental scarring from that experience is probably going to be as near to permanent damage as you can get.

So, from least traumatized to most: Game Marx < Game Magolor <<<<< Dess's Magolor < Dess's Marx <<<<<<<<<< True Arena Magolor

#Dess Rambling #Kirby #Marx Kirby #Magolor #Thank you for letting me indulge in... #...my particular brand of sad Marx and sad Magolor

[moonshotsx]

interview - anarcia popstar au

i want to thank @purplejan for suggesting this idea a while ago in an ask, hope y'all enjoy a bit of anetra being unable to keep a smile off her face 😌

--

Anetra wiped the few droplets of sweat off her face with her arm before going up to stop the music. She had been spending the entire evening working on a choreography for an upcoming competition, focusing all her energy on perfecting every single movement.

Just as she went to grab her water bottle, her phone lit up: two new texts from Aura?

She picked up the phone, quickly unlocking it and opening the chat she had with the other dancer.

aura💪🏻: your girlfriend talked about you in a new interview, here's the link - you can thank me later 😌

netra🦆: how many times do i have to tell you she's not my girlfriend, i just work with her

aura💪🏻: yeah sure, keep telling yourself that, baby 😘

Anetra rolled her eyes. Aura had been on a streak lately, ever since she bumped into Marcia while the latter was waiting for the brunette.

She opted to not feed into Aura's teasing further and went to grab her earphones before pressing on the link.

She sat on the floor with her legs crossed and her back to the wall.

The video loaded right in the middle of the interview, just as Marcia was asked about the choreography in her latest singles.

"Oh! I'm so happy the fans are loving it. I recently got to work with such a legend in the dance world, Anetra!"

The singer was wearing a casual yet still stylish look, a simple long sleeved orange top and a pair of high-waisted shorts. Her hair had been put in a ponytail, two golden locks framing her face.

"I've been such a big fan of hers for the longest time, so I was beyond excited to have the opportunity to have her choreograph a few of my new singles," Marcia continued, her cheeks reddening as she talked.

Anetra didn't even notice her usually emotionless face was slowly breaking into a soft smile at the sight of Marcia talking about her.

"She made this new era such an amazing experience, I... I'm really glad to have her around, hopefully, you know, work with her in future projects too. If you're watching, 'Netra, see you in the dance studio!"

Anetra tuned out as the interview kept going, a soft giggle from the singer echoing in her ears. She couldn't help her smile growing as she thought about Marcia.

Fuck... she was a goner for that pretty blonde.

#fic prompt #anarcia #popstar au

[ionianwanderer]

It was in every tabloid, on every gossip site, and plastered all over social media: 

World Famous DJ Yasuo Ito of TRUE DAMAGE seen on a DATE with heartthrob popstar Ezreal Hall!

He's called into a meeting with the PR team who, quite frankly, looked absolutely over his shit. All eyes on him for an explanation as to why photos of the two men were found spreading like wildfire across the mediasphere. Yasuo sat leaning on one hand, a brow cocked wondering why he's the one to shoulder the blame for the paparazzi having managed to catch a shot of the two.

"Am I supposed to care about being seen with him?" Sounding like he'd rather be anywhere else but in this meeting.

"You understand the media is catching on to your little flings right? You're not some small town nobody djing in a basement, Mister Ito. Your public image matters."

"Oh, am I not supposed to be a person? Am I not allowed to have feelings? Didn't think that was part of the package with all this."

"That is not what we're implying here, Sir."

Yasuo gives them an icredilous look. "Then what ARE you implying? Don't tell me it's about the fact we're both me-"

He's immediately silenced by a file slammed against the table, a few snapshots of previous relationships scattering out of it. "That isn't it either. You get around, so to speak, and the tabloids DO pay attention to a celebrity that likes to hop around. Both you and him are known to do that-- so understand where we're coming from."

A tense silence hangs between everyone in the room. Yasuo stares at a few of the photos-- some going as far back to when he was first establishing himself in the music scene and then as recent as him fooling around with A-list celebrities. His jaw clenched hard… as if that alone would hold back the anger that was slowly creeping in. He slumps back against the chair he's in, using one foot to swivel from side to side as he took all this in. 

Eventually, hands suddenly clap together as he tongues his cheek, the noise startling some of the folks in the room. All he offers is a grimace. This was going to be so… annoying.

"So… you're trying to tell me that the 'mediasphere'," he air quotes his words while rolling his eyes, "--thinks I get too many pieces."

He waits and watches each of the members of the PR team stare at him. Until one of the executives nods slowly, to which he then proceeds to point and single them out.

"Do you know how fucking stupid this sounds? Understand here and now, take me down on record: I don't give a FUCK what the mediasphere thinks about my love life. They're just mad that they can't have half these bitc--"

"Mister Ito--"

"Nope-- I'm not gonna hear it. Don't "Oh but the image of the band" me. Have you seen K/DA and their PR nightmare? And you're telling ME I can't date fucking Ezreal? That's the line we're drawing? This is a joke!"

"Well but consider their PR team and how much they have to--"

Yasuo slams his hands against the tabel in front of him as he shoots up from the chair. For a man usually so calm-- most of the time-- the executives seeing him like this was something… new. With a fiery anger in his core he taps his pointer finger against the manilla folder that had been tossed to him, pissed off beyond belief.

"Well maybe you all should learn a thing or two from THEIR team about this." His words accentuated hard as he grits his teeth. "Don't call me for a stupid fucking meeting like this again because I will NOT be attending."

Yasuo holds the gaze of one of the team members for an uncomfortable amount of time, sending them into a fit of trying to make themselves smaller in their chair. 

"Do I make myself clear to you stooges?" Only relenting his piercing gaze once he'd watch every single one of them nod in agreement. It's then that he storms off, slamming the door behind him as he exits the confrence room to punctuate his outburst.

So stupid. So STUPID. Yasuo shoves his hands into his jacket as he makes his way down to the ground level of the office building; people were practically jumping out of his way as he trudged past them. And if they weren't paying attention, a broad shoulder shoved them out of his way. The only thing that really drew him out of his head was the buzzing of his phone. At first he ignores it. Focusing more so on getting out of this awful building, his hands shoving one of the many front doors open to make his way back to his apartment.

His phone buzzes again…

He stops in his tracks. A small sigh before he fishes it out of his back pocket. The screen comes to life as he clicks one of the side buttons.

Five messages from [ Apollo 🩵 ]

It's instant-- the anger washing away as he taps the little bubble and inputs his passcode. What his phone opens up to are the same photos he was just shown: him and Ezreal holding hands, both with goofy little smiles. There's another shot of when they got coffee at that little hole in the wall that Ez swore up and down was the best in town. They… He really enjoyed that outing. Yasuo scrolls down a bit further.

→ [ Apollo 🩵 ] : thy ddnt evn gt my gud side in thse

→ [ Apollo 🩵 ] : [ 1 attachment ]

→ [ Apollo 🩵 ] : LYK LOOK @ U. u look so gud in thse Yas.. i look lyk im choking on air wth! !

…God, he really couldn't be mad with this little shit around. He brings up his keyboard to reply.

OUT → [ Apollo 🩵 ] : who are you kidding i look like a bum in these tf?

OUT → [ Apollo 🩵 ] : i look good my ass.

Three dots appear at the bottom before he can keep typing, Ezreal's response coming faster than he can type.

→ [ Apollo 🩵 ] : ya i do agre ur 🫓 lks gr8 😚

Yasuo scoffs, types as quick as he can before the blond can get in any other words.

OUT → [ Apollo 🩵 ] : stfu ik you do. still down for the movie tonight? my place?

→ [ Apollo 🩵 ] : abs, c u in a fw 💙

He stares at his phone for a while, thoughts going a million miles a minute before the DJ practically sprints down the street towards his apartment. 

--

The days following their little homebody date another set of snapshots of Yasuo walking Ezreal to his car surface online. This time around, in one of the photos, you can very clearly see Yasuo flipping off the camera. The tabloids don't let that overshadow the visible hickey on his neck though--

#drabble; #the warning label you've chosen not to read;; ezsuo #TRUE DAMAGE; #{ i wrote this on the plane bc i just listen to my ezsuo playlist... } #{ this is my propaganda brain worm ship hi everyone } #{ i hope the formatting isnt ASS im on mobile } #{ also. ezreal's typing style straight from R's mouth which killed me while waiting to take off }

[thetorchwoodarchive]

Hello!! I was wondering if you guys have any recs for fics where Ianto meets a past version of Jack 💕

Sing Me Like a Choir by princessoftheworlds (JackIanto | complete | 62462 | E)

Javic Thane and Ianto Jones were never meant to meet, but that won't stop them from falling for each other. A love story where even time and space couldn't keep two men apart.

synchronicity by princessoftheworlds (JackIanto | complete | 1805 | T)

Sighing, Ianto continues further up the Plass, the soles of his boots striking against the cobblestone as he rounds around the water tower. Then he glances up, and his mouth drops open in shock.

Right there, standing smackdab in the center of the Plass, as striking and obvious as it could possibly be, is a bright blue wooden box with glowing windows.

Jack and Ianto have a chance meeting in Cardiff, two years and several tragedies too early.

minor details by fitzroysquare (JackIanto, Gwen&Ianto | complete | 12246 | T)

Jack Harkness is a liar. Jack Harkness is also a lie. Surprisingly, no one has seemed to have caught onto those two things yet.

[Or: Jack loses his memory and thinks he’s Javic Piotr Thane, conman. He acts like it, too.]

Of Motion In Perpetuity by Beleriandings (JackIanto, GwenRhys | complete | 106706 | M)

When Gwen, Jack and Ianto investigate a cold case from end of the nineteenth century, they find themselves pulled back in time against their will, fighting to protect each other and to get home.

Time Tracks by (Cyborgtamaki, thirteeninafez | complete | 174005 | T)

It took him a second to realise what had happened; what had felt like hours while travelling through the rift shrunk itself in his head to a mere instant of searing gold. That’s when the flicker of the fire in front of him finally registered through his confused daze. In his haste to get away from the flames around him, he slipped and fell, scrambling back until he was a safe distance away from the smoke and the heat. It was only then that he took notice of the voices behind him. He turned towards the noise of a deep, northern voice spluttering and saying, confused and almost angry.

“Who the hell are you?”

The man rolled over onto his knees and stood up, looking around like he’d never seen a street before. “Jones.” He sounded uncertain but then spoke again with more confidence. “Ianto Jones.”

Ghost Story by Mad_Maudlin (Jack/Ianto | complete | 70423 | T)

I called out. "Would you like to hear a ghost story?"

For a moment Jack didn't move, and I knew he'd recognized my voice. After a moment he said, flatly, "I don't believe in ghosts."

"It's a complicated story," I admitted, and pulled the watch from my pocket by the chain. "And it starts with 'Long ago and far away.'"

Requiem by engagemythrusters (JackIanto | complete | 2462 | T)

Captain Jack Harkness died on Satellite Five and woke to find someone he had never seen before in his life.

The Star of the Universe by celedan (JackIanto | complete | 23729 | E)

By chance, young Torchwood One employee Ianto Jones saves popstar Serenity Carter from aliens, and has to flee with her from their assailants. At the same time, the Doctor drags Jack Harkness back to Earth for an impromptu adventure. Running into each other, the two parties have to flee together and solve their problem while Jack's heart aches to see Ianto again after all this time.

Your Face Is Turned by copperbadge (JackIanto, JackOther(s), IantoOther(s), JackIantoOC | complete | 75390 | E)

Lo Boeshane has a promising career ahead of him as he enters his first year of Fleet Officer Training, but the war is still with him and life at Quantico Station can be difficult. Meanwhile, Ianto Jones is just trying to figure out why the Doctor kidnapped him to the fifty-first century and why Jack abandoned him at a school for the Fleet's military elite. He suspects it may have something to do with Lo, but his attempts to help the troubled young veteran may damage his own timestream beyond repair.

Another Chance by gmariam (JackIanto | complete | 3108 | T)

Jack Harkness meets Ianto Jones in a London pub, celebrating his birthday with friends from Torchwood One.

Resurrection of the lost by FredAndGeorgeForever (Jack&Ianto, Jack&Team, JackIanto | complete | 2794 | T)

It was a perfectly normal day at Torchwood when a demand came to help bring Torchwood four back. Nothing weird about that at all.

#fanon:time travel #fanon:jack and iantos first meeting #ship:jackianto #character:ianto jones #character:jack harkness

[thetaekookcloset]

Do you think TK will still do FS on their Busan Concert given how everyone knows now that he is dating a girl.

Oh my god lol. Normally I would just delete this, but I have been thinking about giving an update on my thoughts about this whole thing, so here we go, I guess.

To answer your actual question: yes. Jungkook and Taehyung have the relationship that they have regardless of what I think about it. Right now I think it's likely that they're in a romantic relationship, because that's how I interpret their interactions, but if my interpretation is wrong, that doesn't change those interactions. I can't imagine that people knowing that one or both of them are actually dating women would affect them in that way. I would assume they would continue to act as they've always done, both on and offstage.

To talk more generally about this situation and your evident assumption that we all know Taehyung is dating a woman now: I personally remain unconvinced.

Frankly I think that under normal circumstances, we wouldn't even be giving this "leak" account the time of day. It's a brand new account with no clarity around the source of the pictures, and lots of holes in the story. The only reason people are giving it any credibility is the lack of original photos, but that's not something we necessarily need to be able to see, depending on the way they're edited.

I didn't know as much about this a few days ago, but you can essentially use programs that compile images to create a new image, as long as you have enough material to draw on. Obviously with celebrities, there are so many photos to use to make those composite images from. You can even do it with video. I saw one yesterday where someone had replaced Julia Roberts's face in Pretty Woman with Willem Dafoe, it was wild. If someone can do that, someone could easily put blurry versions of Taehyung and Jennie's faces onto images of other people.

Basically, people can make something out of nothing, which means that the one clinch pin of this whole issue is essentially moot. The silence from the companies also makes more sense, as time goes on, if the photos are fake or of entirely different people.

And I just need to be petty for a moment because beyond the fact that the man in the third photo doesn't look much like Taehyung and you can't even see the girl's face well enough to know if she looks like Jennie, the people in that photo do not look like millionaires. No offense to the girl in the photo, whoever she is, but that is not the hair of a highly famous and successful popstar with millions of dollars at her disposal. And I'm sorry but the absolute audacity of claiming that Kim Taehyung, who wears designer lounge wear, would wear a Winnie the Pooh t-shirt that says "Pooh" on the sleeve and looks like it cost about $10 at Walmart -- I just can't buy it, I'm sorry.

Add to all of that the fact that the second photo has so many mistakes that are clearly visible, and I'm left thinking that this is mostly still developing out of a mix of wishful thinking and love of the drama.

If Taehyung and Jennie did happen to be dating, I don't think these images prove it in any regard, and to bring it full circle: whether they are or not, it doesn't change the relationship that Jungkook and Taehyung have anyway. If we ever see real proof of a romantic relationship between either of them with someone else, the only thing it will do is change the way I interpret their interactions.

#i have serious reservations about posting this lol #but idk i'm feeling petty so we'll see how it goes #might delete later #taekook #ask

[kirby-universe-4162]

The Vigilante Squad - The Hero Sigils - Chapter 5

“Master of Puppets.” That’s what he’s called, though there’s always someone better. It’s one thing to puppet those physically, but what of mentally or emotionally? Keeping her under his thumb was his main goal. He knows that she loves him. That’s all he needs. Of course the attachment towards her was mutual, but his twisted mind continued to convince himself that he was nothing more than a villain.

***

Mirrors are known for reflecting light– and often what’s behind is the dark. While it holds the truth, it also holds lies. Those who look at mirrors show themselves an exact image of those who see, but the eyes’ owners may see themselves as monsters. They may try to lose weight, cut up their face, and demand surgical modification. Regardless, the mirrors may hold truths, but there’s always lies. 

Taranza’s relationship with mirrors are dicy, after all, they’ve ruined a friendship and a kingdom he swore to protect and rebuild. Despite the calamity taking effect, the mirror that destroys those who desire wishes and answers was unharmed. Occasionally something would fall through the cracks, attracting a princess. 

The Princess of Leafans was always curious and naive, however determined and feral. When upset or protective… or hungry, she leaves a trail of blood behind. There was one thing that kept her from being completely savage, and that was Taranza. He was her mentor when she was learning about the world outside of popstar, and as thanks, she fell in love. Of course she was smart enough to know that she had no competition with Taranza’s late queen, so she kept quiet for quite some time, afraid of what reaction he’d give.

Vulnerability gives opportunity for those who hunt. It’s a cautionary tale. Beware of those who chew on their victims and spit them out when there’s no more flavor. The heart broken princess was perfect prey. It was time to reel.

As the princess lingered close to the Mirror full of lies and deceit, a voice danced softly into her ears.

“Such a sad expression on an otherwise beautiful face. Loneliness is a killer, you know. Don’t you have friends? Have family? People who care about you?”

The Princess’s voice wavers as she speaks “Who are you? Where are you?” She cries.

“I am desire, draped in a dream come true,” the voice gloats, “I grant wishes of those who ask. I am the Amazing Mirror.”

“The Amazing Mirror…?” She asked. She shuffled her leafy dress, and straightened up her blonde short hair, looming closer. 

“You’ve left your people and left your status for someone, haven’t you?”

Her eyes widened in bewilderment. “W-wha?” She gasped, “I don’t understand.”

“Isn’t it obvious, Beautiful Dandelion?” The voice purred, “Just from mere glimpses, I can understand troubles from anyone who looks closely. 

She scoffs, doubtful, “Oh yeah? Well… what are you going to do?”

“A beautiful princess deserves more than what was handed to her,” it responded. a gloved hand familiar to the princess proceeded to snake out the mirror, gently caressing her face.

“Taranza…” She whimpered, she quivered, flinching away. After their hand pursued once more, she did little to resist, nuzzling against his touch, “W-wait…” she breathed meekly.

“His true feelings are just beyond this realm,” it informed, “He does his best to hide it well, but it’s not enough, for even I know better.” His hand let go of her and retreated back into the mirror’s realm. Disappointment struck the princess. “If you’re unsure if this is what you want, how about a taste? There’s no harm in taking something that’s free… but know that if you decide against it, an offer as bold as this may never happen again.”

“A taste, huh?” she mumbled, “if I cannot make a decision, can I come back later?”

“Take all the time you need, Bella,” it confirmed, exasperated, “I have been patient for quite some time, a tick more wouldn’t hurt.”

Nodding, the blond leaf themed princess retreated away. She was so mesmerized she had to recollect where she was. The attic was stale and coated up with fresh webs– red fresh webs. The sudden sight caused her to reel back in confusion. Her gut demanded her to run, but her body refused. “No harm in taking something that’s free…” She pressed her white-gloved hand against the golden crested mirror, noticing her conflicted face staring right back at her. “Just a taste…”

The mirror rippled steadily. She was greeted with those daunting red webs, wrapping around her hands and waist. Before she had time to even consider struggling, she was yanked inside, leaving no trace. She winced in discomfort, her heart racing from that little scare she was given. She turned back, watching helplessly as the mirror shattered behind her. No turning back now. Once the mirror’s new status was confirmed broken, the webs weakened its grasp, falling back to its owner. 

“You’ve decided much quicker than I expected.” what was thought to be the voice of the mirror, was in truth owned by a frightening parallel of someone the Princess knew well, “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess Gaiakon.”

Gaiakon pulled her hair back to get a full picture of what she was witnessing. This was the castle she came from. Uncanny in similarity, yet different enough to raise suspicion, she knew that she wasn’t home. “I’m not home, am I?”

“It can be,” Taranza’s reflection offered, “Only if you let it.” 

It was time to interrogate. “You’re not Taranza, are you?” she asked.

“No. I am Taranza’s true face, yet treated like an echo and mimic,” He explained, “He won’t admit it from out there, but in here… in the mirror world, restraint isn’t a hurdle to pass through.”

“Oh…” she pressed her forefinger against where her lips could be, pondering, “What should I call you then?”

“If the world out there resembles light, then I lurk in the shadows. I’m Dark Taranza, King of the Mirror Realm,” He introduced.

“Daranza, then?” she asked politely.

“You can call me whatever you want, Princess. Daranza will do,” he purred, “Follow me. I’m sure you’re confused, maybe even scared, so a tour may help.” 

The castle wasn’t much different aside from its attire. It was more extravagant with golds, violets, and reds. Despite the unfamiliarity, it was recognizable enough for the ditzy princess to not get lost. Gaiakon's eyes scanned, darting them across each room with wonder, curiosity, and suspicion. “I’m here because you wanted me around, am I wrong?”

“That’s correct. I do,” Daranza confirmed, “As I said, your story is as tragic as ever. The calamity doesn’t help things, doesn’t it? The universe out there wreaks of memories, unable to visit again. It didn’t reach here however. Call it a safe haven if you will, but only if you keep it a secret between us.” His voice was gentle yet firm, as if instructing a child.

“The calamity took my home,” she stated. A hint of sorrow was etched in her words, “They took my people. Whispy Woods is gone– no; all of Popstar is gone.”

“I see.” His voice once again gentle, “You miss them don’t you? Now you live in Floralia because there’s nowhere else that will take you. I’m sure you think Taranza took you in and gave you the status of a princess out of pity.” A smile cracked on his face.

“T-think? Is there something wrong with my logic?” she asked.

“No, no~” he hummed, “At least it’s not with knowledge you had before, but since you’ve met me you know better, right?” Nodding meekly, she shied away from him, only for one of his hands to turn her head back to face him. “Despite your timidness being adorable, I don’t want it to shield you from what we could be?”

As his words shattered any rational thought she had left, her face flushed. With her face red and cloudy, a smirking Daranza let go. Taking Gaiakon’s breath away was easy for him. “Y-yes sir…”

“I promise you. As long as you are with me, you’ll learn to smile again. You won’t need to use falsehood in public, for it will shine through as it does within private walls.”

“This is all new to me,” she protested, “You won’t hate me if I need time to think, will you?”

“Anger isn’t something I resort to when I don’t get my way,” he comforted, “I promise you, all there will be is joy and pleasure behind this mirror. Keep it to yourself, and all will go smoothly.” 

Oh poor Princess Gaiakon. Her guard fell. Her shaking ease. Her breath steadied. Gaiakon was completely docile and snagged against his web of fantasies. “Thank you, Daranza.” she leaned against him, nuzzling against him. He responded back with a tight embrace, petting her blond hair.

“It’s simply what you deserve, my beautiful Princess.”

#kirby #kirby oc #gaiakon #magolor #taranza #kirby au #taranza x oc #dark taranza #majaway #dark taranza x oc

[occupyswift]

Rocket It Off by occupyswift

Rating: Mature

Chapter: 45/???

Summary:

Taylor Swift and Elon Musk appeared on a livestream for charity. But instead of presenting a united front, they began insulting each other. As the insults got more cringe-worthy, a shipping war broke out in the comments. To distract from the arguing, they decided to play Minecraft, but a random player came and tried to destroy their creations. Despite this setback, Taylor and Elon persevered, proving that even a billionaire and a popstar can put their differences aside and work together for a good cause.

Chapter 45

As the sun sets in the horizon, Elon's luxurious mansion radiates with warmth and anticipation. The aroma of a delicious meal wafts through the air, tantalizing the senses. Inside, the table is set impeccably, adorned with elegant china and flickering candlelight.

Elon leads Taylor down a hallway adorned with family photographs, an intimate glimpse into his life. They arrive at a door adorned with a playful sign that reads, "X's Room". Elon knocks softly, and a small voice replies from within, "Come in."

Opening the door, they find themselves in a whimsical wonderland. The room is a vibrant explosion of colors, filled with toys, books, and a bed adorned with spaceship-themed sheets. At the center of it all stands X, a lively and curious little boy with Elon's eyes and mischievous grin.

Taylor's heart melts at the sight of X, his youthful innocence and boundless energy. She kneels down to his level, offering a warm smile. "Hey there, X! I'm Taylor, and it's so lovely to meet you." X gazes at Taylor, his eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of shyness. He takes a moment to look at her, as if decoding whether she's a friend or foe.

Elon watches the interaction with a proud smile, his heart swelling with love for both Taylor and X. He steps forward, gently placing a hand on X's shoulder. "X, Taylor is a very special person in my life, and I thought it was time for you to meet her. She's incredibly talented and kind-hearted, just like you." X's eyes widen with excitement and intrigue.

Feeling the weight of the moment, Taylor reaches into her pocket, pulling out a tiny spaceship trinket. "Hey X, I brought you something. It's a little spaceship to remind you of all the adventures you and your dad have together." She places the toy in X's small hands, and his face lights up with pure joy.

X's eyes sparkle with delight as he clutches the spaceship trinket Taylor has given him. Overwhelmed by happiness, he wraps his little arms around Taylor in a tight hug. She feels her heart melt as she returns the embrace, a surge of warmth spreading through her.

Giggling, X takes Taylor's hand and begins pulling her towards a colorful box overflowing with toys, his excitement palpable. Taylor follows willingly, her heart brimming with affection for the young boy and his infectious energy.

Elon watches the scene play out before him, a sense of pride and contentment washing over him. Seeing Taylor connect with X in such a genuine and loving way confirms his belief that they are meant to be together, not just as a couple but as a family.

As Taylor and X explore the treasure trove of toys, their laughter fills the room, creating a joyful symphony. Taylor discovers a miniature rocket ship and holds it up, her eyes sparkling with shared enthusiasm.

"Hey X, look! It's a rocket just like the ones your dad builds," she exclaims, her voice brimming with excitement. X's eyes widen in awe as he grabs the toy rocket and begins to mimic the liftoff, making swooshing sounds with pure delight.

Elon can't help but smile at the sight of his son and Taylor bonding over their shared love for exploration and adventure. It's in these moments that he realizes he has found something truly special in Taylor—a connection that goes beyond just romantic love.

Taylor settles herself beside X on the floor, their eyes twinkling with excitement. She watches as X happily sorts through his toys, his imagination running wild. With each passing moment, the bond between them grows stronger, an unspoken connection that warms Taylor's heart.

As the sounds of their laughter fill the air, Taylor turns her gaze towards Elon, a mischievous smile dancing on her lips. "Hey, E, has X met Whisket yet? I think it's about time they become friends."

Elon chuckles, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I've been waiting for the perfect moment to introduce them properly. It seems like now is as good a time as any." He rises from his seat, heading towards the room where Whisket is quietly exploring.

Moments later, Elon returns, cradling the fluffy bundle of fur in his arms. Whisket's captivating eyes peer curiously at the world, unaware of the adventure that awaits. Taylor's heart skips a beat at the sight of the adorable kitten, her fingers itching to stroke his soft fur.

Elon gently places Whisket on the floor, and the playful kitten immediately pounces into action, swatting at an imaginary prey. X's eyes widen with wonder, captivated by the tiny creature before him.

Taylor smiles at X's reaction and leans towards him, whispering excitedly. "X, this is Whisket, a special little friend who wanted to meet you." X's gaze meets Whisket's, and a connection sparks between them—a deep understanding that reaches beyond words.

With cautious curiosity, X reaches out his tiny hand, gently stroking Whisket's back. The kitten purrs contentedly, basking in the warmth of this newfound bond. Taylor watches the exchange, her heart swelling with joy.

Elon, too, is captivated by the harmony unfolding before him. He joins Taylor and X on the floor, sitting close as Whisket explores their shared space. As Taylor strokes the kitten, she smiles at Elon, a silent affirmation of their growing connection and the beautiful moments they are creating together.

Elon observes Taylor's interactions with X, his heart swelling with a profound sense of gratitude. The way she devotes her undivided attention, so sweet and kind, to his son fills him with an overwhelming sense of love and admiration. In that moment, Elon realizes that Taylor is not just perfect for him, but for his entire family.

As he watches them giggle, play, and bond, Elon's certainty grows. Taylor's genuine affection and care for X are undeniable, forging an unbreakable bond uniting the three of them. It is in witnessing this connection that Elon knows his search for love has come to an end.

The twinkle in X's eyes, the infectious smiles, and the warmth radiating from both Taylor and his son fills the room with an undeniable magic—a magic that cements their love and intertwines their lives in a way Elon never thought possible.

Elon quietly approaches them, his heart brimming with affection. He kneels down beside Taylor and X, his fingertips gently caressing X's cheek. "You know, X, Daddy loves you very much. And I love Taylor too, because she makes you so happy."

X looks up at his father and then at Taylor, a smile spreading across his face.

Elon's eyes meet Taylor's, brimming with sincerity and love. "Tay," he says softly, "I have searched far and wide for someone who could complete our family, someone who sees the beauty in the world, and I have found that person in you. You are perfect for me. I love you."

Taylor's eyes well up with tears of joy, her heart swelling at Elon's heartfelt proclamation. She can feel the weight of his words, the depth of his love, and she knows deep within that she has found her soulmate, her partner not only in life but in raising their children together.

She reaches for Elon's hand, their fingers intertwining. "I love you too, with all my heart. X is such a wonderful little boy, and being a part of your lives means more to me than words can express. I'm grateful for the love and happiness we are building together."

As Taylor's words hang in the air, Elon leans in and softly kisses her, sealing their love and commitment in a tender embrace.

As the warmth of their kiss lingers, both Elon and Taylor emerge from their embrace, their faces flushed with a combination of love and excitement. Elon takes a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest, realizing that the time has come to take the next step in their relationship.

With a nervous yet determined tone, Elon looks deeply into Taylor's eyes. "Taylor," he says, trying to steady his voice, "I think it's time for us to take this love and commitment to another level. Will you... would you like to move in with me? To become a bigger part of each other's lives and build a home together?"

Taylor's eyes widen, her heart racing with anticipation. The joy spreads across her face, causing her to blush at the thought of merging lives with Elon. After a brief pause to process his words, she lets out a playful laugh.

"Well, Elon, are you sure you're ready for me and my crazy cats to invade your space?" Taylor jokes, her voice laced with a mix of playfulness and affection.

Elon chuckles, relief washing over him. He had been secretly hoping she would respond with humor, confirming her readiness to accept his offer. "Oh, absolutely! Consider your cats officially welcome to join our family as well," he replies, his eyes twinkling with adoration.

Taylor's heart swells with happiness as she realizes that Elon not only accepts her, but also embraces every part of her life, including her beloved cats. The bond they share stretches beyond just their love for each other—it encompasses their shared values and the understanding that they are creating a home filled with love, acceptance, and companionship.

Touched by his acceptance, Taylor gently cups Elon's face, her voice filled with sincerity. "I would be honored to move in with you, to join our lives and create a loving home together. Thank you for loving me and my cats," she whispers, her words carrying the weight of her love.

Caught up in the whirlwind of their decision, Elon's eagerness to have Taylor by his side intensifies, fueling his heartfelt desire to welcome her into his life completely. He looks at her, a timid smile on his face, and asks, "Tay, could you move in right away? I can't wait to have you here."

Taylor chuckles, eyes sparkling with both amusement and affection. She gently brushes a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her heart overflowing with warmth. "Oh, Elon, you're so eager! Of course, I want to move in, but I'll need to gather my things and my furry companions from my place."

Elon's eyes light up, a sense of determination glimmering within him. "Don't worry. I'll gladly assist you in picking up everything you need. I want to make sure our home is truly ours, with enough room for all your cats and all your belongings," he replies earnestly, his voice brimming with reassurance.

Taylor's heart swells with gratitude for Elon's understanding and support. She admires his dedication and willingness to accommodate her and her feline companions. "Thank you, E. Your love and consideration mean the world to me," she says, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Knowing that Elon is ready to embark on this adventure by her side, Taylor can't help but feel overwhelmed by the love she has found in him.

Grinning at Taylor's playful nature, Elon joins her on the floor and begins tickling X's belly. As they play, Taylor looks up at Elon, mischievousness dancing in her eyes.

"So, Elon, what's for dinner?" she asks, a playful tone in her voice.

Elon chuckles, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Well, my dear, in honor of our first night together, I've ordered pizza." he replies, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Taylor giggles, rolling onto her side and propping her head up with her hand. "Oh, I hope you didn't order pizza with pineapple on it like that one you had during the latest Joe Rogan podcast. We can't have any pineapple debates in our home," she jokes, a mischievous smile stretching across her face.

Elon bursts into laughter, his laughter contagious and filling the room. "I promise, no pineapple on our pizza tonight! Just the traditional flavors that will satisfy our cravings and fuel us for our new beginnings," he assures her, still chuckling.

As X pounces onto Elon's lap, joining in the playful atmosphere, Taylor's heart swells with happiness. She realizes that their home will be filled not only with love and laughter but also with the joy of shared jokes and lighthearted banter.

The sound of the doorbell echoes through their new home, interrupting the playful moment shared between them. Elon rises from the floor, gently placing X down onto Taylor's lap, and makes his way to answer the door. Taylor, with a smile, follows close behind, carrying X in her arms.

Elon opens the door to find the friendly faces of the security staff, who have kindly picked up their pizza order. Expressing his gratitude, Elon thanks them warmly and accepts the deliciously fragrant boxes, his mouth watering at the sight.

"Thank you, everyone! We really appreciate it," he says, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Taylor, holding X tightly, feels a rush of gratitude for the security team that not only ensures their safety but also lends a helping hand when needed. She gazes at Elon with adoration, appreciating his thoughtfulness in arranging their meal.

Elon, with the scent of warm pizza filling the air, realizes that their little family is already creating cherished memories in their new home. He calls out to Taylor, a twinkle in his eyes, "Taylor, darling, the pizza is here!"

Taylor's face lights up, and with a laugh, she places X in his high chair, making sure he's comfortable and secure. As Elon sets the pizza boxes onto the dining table, they all gather around, ready to savor this simple yet special moment.

As Taylor takes her first bite of pizza, a burst of flavors dance on her tongue, mirroring the burst of happiness and contentment in her heart. She looks around their cozy dining area, the walls decorated with cherished photographs, and a feeling of overwhelming joy washes over her.

She gazes at Elon, a soft smile gracing her lips. "You know, E, I can't help but feel so incredibly happy and grateful in this moment," she says, her voice filled with sincerity.

Elon, his eyes filled with love, reaches across the table to hold Taylor's hand. "And I feel the same way, Taylor. Being here with you and our little family, it's a dream come true," he replies, his voice overflowing with emotion.

With every bite, Taylor savors not only the delicious flavors on her plate but also the love and comfort that surrounds her. It's a feeling she's longed for, a sense of belonging that fills her soul.

#elon musk #enemies to friends to lovers #ao3 author #ao3 writer #fanfic #fanfic authors #fanfic rec #fanfic writing #alternate universe #fanfiction

[tomorrowedblog]

Friday Releases for February 24

Friday is the busiest day of the week for new releases, so we've decided to collect them all in one place. Friday Releases for February 24 include The Consultant, Cocaine Bear, Cracker Island, and more.

Cocaine Bear

Cocaine Bear, the new movie from Elizabeth Banks, is out today.

Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner’s plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild dark comedy finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow… and blood.

Bruiser

Bruiser, the new movie from Miles Warren, is out today.

In director Miles Warren’s searing feature debut about fathers, families and the effects of toxic masculinity, 14-year-old Darious (Jalyn Hall) explores the boundaries of his manhood through tumultuous interactions with Malcolm (Shamier Anderson), his strict but loving father, and Porter (Trevante Rhodes), a charismatic drifter. When Darious learns Porter’s true identity, he is thrust into a conflict between the two men that may rip his family apart and threaten his safety.

God’s Time

God’s Time, the new movie from Daniel Antebi, is out today.

An electric odyssey through New York City as two best friends race to stop the woman they’re both in love with from committing murder.

Juniper

Juniper, the new movie from Matthew J. Saville, is out today.

A self-destructive teenager is suspended from school and asked to look after his feisty alcoholic grandmother.

Linoleum

Linoleum, the new movie from Colin West, is out today.

Cameron Edwin (Jim Gaffigan), the host of a failing children’s science TV show called “Above & Beyond”, has always had aspirations of being an astronaut. After a mysterious space-race era satellite coincidentally falls from space and lands in his backyard, his midlife crisis manifests in a plan to rebuild the machine into his dream rocket. As his relationship with his wife (Rhea Seehorn) and daughter (Katelyn Nacon) start to strain, surreal events begin unfolding around him – a doppelgänger moving into the house next door, a car falling from the sky, and an unusual teenage boy forging a friendship with him. He slowly starts to piece these events together to ultimately reveal that there’s more to his life story than he once thought.

We Have a Ghost

We Have a Ghost, the new movie from Christopher Landon, is out today.

Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin’s family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest go rogue to investigate the mystery of Ernest’s past, they become a target of the CIA.

The Consultant

The Consultant, the new TV series from Tony Basgallop, is out today.

When a new consultant, Regus Patoff (Christoph Waltz), is hired to improve the business at the App-based gaming company CompWare, employees experience new demands and challenges that put everything into question… including their lives.

Liaison

Liaison, the new TV series from Virginie Brac and Stephen Hopkins, is out today.

Vincent Cassel and Eva Green star as agents—and former lovers—who must work together to combat international cyberattacks threatening the UK while also confronting the buried secrets of their destructive relationship.

The Pale Beyond

The Pale Beyond, the new game from Bellular Studios and Fellow Traveller, is out today.

You didn’t ask to lead this expedition, but here you are. Stuck in the ice, Captain missing, miles from civilisation. Someone has to take charge. Manage your meagre resources, balance safety and morale, make the hard calls, and head in the only direction you can - through The Pale Beyond.

Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe

Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe, the new game from Nintendo, is out today.

The tough puff Kirby is back for a 1-4 player platforming adventure across Planet Popstar. Help Magolor rebuild his ship with newly added Mecha and Sand Copy Abilities!

Float and fight along with friends on the same system as you control Kirby. Each other player can control a different Kirby or one of Kirby’s iconic friends like King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Bandana Waddle Dee.

Kerbal Space Program 2

Kerbal Space Program 2, the new game from Intercept Games and Private Division, is out today.

Kerbal Space Program 2 is the sequel to the acclaimed space-flight simulation game Kerbal Space Program. Enter the next generation of space adventure with exciting new parts, stunning visuals, fully revamped UI and Map View, and rich new environments to explore.

Octopath Traveler II

Octopath Traveler II, the new game from ACQUIRE Corp. and Square Enix, is out today.

The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.

It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.

Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty.

In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit, using their unique talents to aid you along your journey.

Embark on an adventure all your own.

Cracker Island

Cracker Island, the new album from Gorillaz, is out today.

Love Sick

Love Sick, the new album from Don Toliver, is out today.

#Games #Movies #TV #Music #News

[jwzyreviews]

Album Review: "S.O.S" BY SZA

It had been five years since the last time we received an album from one of, if not the leading, R&B girls, Solana “SZA” Rowe. After dropping her introspective and tear-jerking debut “CTRL” in 2017, fans around the world were waiting for another body of work from the singer. While she didn’t leave us completely in the dark, appearing on a number of singles in the meantime, including Maroon 5’s “What Lovers Do”, the soundtrack single for Black Panther  “All The Stars,”and the record-breaking smash collaboration “Kiss Me More” with fellow popstar, Doja Cat, we needed tracks completely devoted to SZA’s vocals and artistry. After numerous delays from her label, and countless teasing, the era started to pick up. After delivering us a stream of inconsistent singles, including “Good Days”, “Hit Different”, and the soundcloud track-turned-single “I Hate U,” the drought eventually ended with receiving the genre-bending and emotionally packed sophomore effort, “SOS”.

Sza is known for her relatable lyrics and unique vocalizations. Despite becoming a fan of hers later in the game than most, CTRL is one of my favorite albums, as are many other people. I was going through a tough time during the release of CTRL, dealing with a variety of similar emotions that were discussed on SZA’s debut album. Such as feelings of insecurity, developing self esteem, and reflection. I was also dealing with my first real “boyfriend”, or my first situationship. It was a hard time in my life, and CTRL definitely was a comfort album during those times. I was definitely looking forward to SOS once it was finally announced, and I love the singles that were leading up the release. “Hit Different”, despite being absent from the final tracklist, ended up being on my Spotify Wrapped in 2021. The smooth production from Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, combined with the melodic vocals from Ty$, was a hit in my personal playlist. “Good Days”, the official lead single, was a bit of a miss for me, nonetheless it proved to resonate with the masses, becoming SZA's first solo top ten hit and third overall on the Hot 100.”I Hate U”  was a BANGER, and my first few listens of the track brought me to tears. The lyrical content of the song hit home for me, reminding me of my feelings to my first love, especially when she sings a line from the chorus, “What I would do to make you feel just like this.” The things I would do for the guys who did me wrong to feel how they make me feel, hating them for making me feel so inadequate when I have done nothing but show them love. This song was such an emotional release, SZA’s pen was on fire when she wrote this track despite being classified as an “[soundcloud] experiment”. The way she is able to write out feelings that everyone can relate to is what makes her such a powerhouse, and I believe that it is because she writes from the heart, and from experience. 

My personal favorites from “SOS” are "Snooze”, “Blind” “Seek and Destroy”, and “Love Language”. Despite having an excess amount of songs on this record, SZA managed to put some real gems on this record. Her music palette definitely expanded on this album, with slow alt-pop track “Ghost in the Machine” featuring Phoebe Bridgers and pop-rock track, “F2F”. There is a song for everybody on this album. With CTRL, I feel like it was a bit more streamlined, and was more about the lyrics and the story. With “SOS” I feel like she was trying to go above and beyond with vocals and production. “Smokin on my Ex Pack” showcases her rapping skills and lets us know that she can ride a beat if needed while “Nobody Gets Me” lets us hear her voice on a true pop sound with some real nostalgic flair. The emotional spectrum of this record is way different from CTRL, as she is more liberated on this record. Yes, there are definitely songs that touch on the topics as mentioned above, this album really steps in the way of moving on, knowing your worth, and knowing that you’re still a bad bitch no matter how you’re feeling at a specific time. It’s truly an evolution, and an upgrade from the melancholy vibe of her previous record.

  All in All, SZA “SOS” is a classic in the making. Despite being a bit too long, I enjoyed most of the tracks, even the ones that did not make the cut. It blends new production and lyrics, while still keeping that nostalgic tone. Despite all the setbacks,, SZA is an artist that almost does no wrong because every song is from her heart, and who are we to judge that? She really snapped on this album, and if you haven’t checked it out, please!

Overall Score:

 7/10

#music

[hlficlibrary]

- HL Fic Library's A/B/O Fic Rec -

Remember to leave kudos and a comment on the fics you enjoyed to show your appreciation! You can find our other recs here. Want to help pick the next fic rec? Fill out this form!

❤️ Light, Spark and Fire (series) by @greenfeelings {E, 216k}

Life’s pretty ordinary for Harry. He lives with his best friend, got into university just like he’s planned, and manages to support himself just fine for an unbonded omega. If he sustains that lifestyle by getting paid to help alphas through their rut every now and then, that’s nothing to be hung up on. Until he’s hired by an alpha that turns everything upside down.

Or, Harry’s working on taking Louis’ walls down, until he builds his own up.

❤️ Saving Symphony Hall by @helloamhere {E, 124k}

“I think I have an idea,” Louis said. Slowly, and reluctantly, but with a growing sense of the inevitable. “God damnit, I think I have a really good idea.”

“Oh christ, that's the problem-solving face,” Babs said. “Last time we saw that face, he sold a company.”

“Wait, what?” Zayn asked.

“Right place, right time,” Louis said. “Also, fuck my life,”

“What?” Zayn repeated. Niall patted his hand.

“I usually just roll with whatever Louis is about to do,” he said. “It’s better for us all.”

“That’s the attitude,” said Louis, “I’ll tell you tomorrow. Tonight, I need to do some research. Zayn, give me your number. I’m gonna save our symphony.”

❤️ Say Something by @kingsofeverything {E, 105k}

At fifty years old and recently divorced, Omega Harry Styles isn't interested in dating. When his doctor suggests a heat and rut matching service, he signs up out of necessity. It’s the only use he has for an Alpha in his life.

Twenty-eight-year-old Alpha Louis Tomlinson aims to change that.

❤️ Cameras Flashing by @juliusschmidt {E, 81k}

With his breakout single platinum three times over and his second album still selling out in stores around the world, Louis Tomlinson has made it to the top. However, his position as Pop Heartthrob of the Decade is threatened by the edgier, more artistic Zayn, who happens to be releasing an album a week after Louis’ upcoming third. Louis needs something groundbreaking- scandalous, even- to push past him in the charts. Much to Louis’ dismay, his PR team calls in The Sexpert.

Consulting with PR firm Shady, Lane and Associates pays the bills so that Harry Styles can spend his down time doing what he really loves: poring over data. On weekends and late into the evenings, he researches gender, presentation, and sexual orientation, analysing the longitudinal study that is his father’s life’s work. That is, until his newest client, the popstar with the fascinating secret, drags him off his couch and frighteningly close to the spotlight.

As the album’s release date approaches, will Tomlinson and Styles be able to pull off the most risky PR scheme of the millennium and beat Zayn in sales or will the heat of their feelings for each other compromise everything?

❤️ Little by Little by nonsensedarling / @absoloutenonsense {E, 65k}

Harry Styles is an omega who works at the London Planetarium, has lived in the same flat for ages, and is happy enough on his own. When he gets home from his first (horrible) attempt at dating in years, a new pregnant neighbor knocks on his door after smelling his cooking. He and Louis quickly become close, but their friendship gets complicated when Harry begins questioning who he is and what he likes.

Or Harry discovers figuring out who you are is more complicated than a potato metaphor.

❤️ Unveiled by phdmama / @phd-mama {M, 60k}

The train grinds to a halt and Harry leans forward in his eagerness to take it all in. It’s a gorgeous Spring day, the sky the same intense blue that he knows from home, which comforts him. There’s much here that looks almost familiar, but then so much that is new and strange to his eyes. The bustling station platform and winding streets beyond paved in cobblestones look much like home. There are vehicles ranging from small to very large, some with strange and unusual shapes of which he can only guess the purpose. But most surprising are the people. There is a crowd gathered, filled with men and women, some in what looks to be a military uniform, some in what must be the street clothes in this Land.

There are no robes. And not a single one of them is veiled.

❤️ where the lights are beautiful (series) by twoshipsdrifting / @polkadotlou {E, 48k}

Harry wasn’t wrong about that, not in a general sense. Lots of omegas did seek out rich alphas and betas, hoping or planning to go into heat at the right time. Plenty of omegas saw this as their duty, especially if their families weren’t well off. Worse, Louis couldn’t honestly say he’d never thought about it. If that had been his life, his goal, Louis would feel pretty good about himself now. As it is…Louis feels like shit.

Or the accidental bonding a/b/o fic.

❤️ eucalyptus by docklands / @hershelsue {E, 46k}

Harry didn't mean to get pregnant at all. When little Agnes comes along, his bachelor life takes a turn and he has to figure out how to single parent, with the occasional help from his best friend and co-worker, Zayn. Everything is running smoothly until Agnes starts acting strange, crying non-stop, sleeping at the most unconventional hours and not caring that she's ruining Harry's life. Her doctor says she's just an infant and that there's nothing wrong with her. Harry's instincts tell him the doctor's wrong and that he needs to seek a second opinion. Agnes' new paediatrician, Louis Tomlinson, is enthusiastic, passionate about his job and a little too charming for Harry's lonely heart to take. More than figuring out what's wrong with her, Louis ends up revealing secrets about Harry's life he had never even dreamed about.

❤️ Just for Tonight (I can be yours) by @sadaveniren {E, 42k}

Harry, prince of Cestrescir, has been betrothed to Ludvic, prince of Yorvik, since birth. He'd accepted a loveless marriage as his duty to his country, until an accident threw him in the path of a gentle alpha.

❤️ If I Loved You Less by @allwaswell16 {E, 36k}

Beautiful omega Louis Tomlinson is set to make his come out in London society and determined to find a mate in his first Season. With the help and protection of his oldest friend, Lord Niall Mendes, he takes Society by storm.

Being a wealthy and titled alpha means Lord Harry Styles has grown used to avoiding unmated omegas...until now. This Season he finds himself at every Society event just for a chance to speak with the omega with the flashing blue eyes.

Louis has the aristocracy at his feet and all the suitors he could hope for, but his secrets may ruin his chance at a love match.

❤️ And That's the Tea by @2tiedships2 {M, 27k}

I’d like an Earl Grey with milk and sugar, please.

Louis had the phrase memorized, even though it had disappeared off its place on his upper arm over thirteen years ago now.

At fourteen he didn’t understand. Soulmarks don’t just disappear. Not unless…

Unless one of them dies.

Or, the one where Louis loses his soulmate before even getting the chance to meet them, and he is in no way prepared for the kind of distraction his new friend Harry proves to be.

❤️ Strong Enough To Get Us Wrong by thinlines / @thinlinez {E, 24k}

Should Louis just come clean and tell Niall? Fuck, maybe he should.

Hell, he hasn’t even shown anyone in the last seven years his damn etching. But then again, he knew that if he were to lay it all on the table, his omega friend would surely understand his predicament.

“Ni, it’ll never work coz… Coz that bloke out there, Harry Styles, he’s my fucking soulmate.”

OR Omega Louis have always considered the soulmate etching on his left thigh to be a curse. It takes a world tour, the bustling city of Tokyo, a hike to see Mt. Fuji, some hidden feelings, sea urchin sushi and the alpha he hates most in the world to change him.

❤️ Love, Ever After by jacaranda_bloom / @jacaranda-bloom {E, 20k}

One would assume that the charismatic omega in charge of the local matchmaking service would have found a mate and settled down ages ago. His clients, in fact, are always a bit surprised when they come to learn that Louis is still single. But Louis doesn’t mind, not really. His standards are just high; he is happy holding out for his alpha, his soulmate, and chooses to not waste his time with anyone else, despite what his friends might think.

That is, until his best mate from uni drags him out of bed far too early on a Saturday morning after a night of drinking to go to a farmers market, of all places. It’s there that he proceeds to make an utter fool of himself in front of the hottest alpha he has ever laid eyes on. There’s truly no coming back from that, is there?

OR The one where omega Louis makes love matches, alpha Harry makes cheese, and meddling friends might finally make their dreams of finding their soulmate come true.

❤️ swimming in a champagne sea by delsicle / @eeveelou {E, 17k}

Louis is a supermodel. Harry is a celebrity photographer known for capturing the brightest up and comers in their most candid moments. They meet at London’s most exclusive New Year’s Eve party.

An alpha/alpha fic filled with confusion, banter, Ubers, and glitter

❤️ I've Always Liked the Fireworks by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird {T, 12k}

When alphas and omegas reach the age of twenty-one they are required to attend a Proving Day ceremony. Omegas watch as alphas do their best to compete in events, show off their skills, and prove how good a mate they can really be. The whole thing is a bit ridiculous, but Louis Tomlinson has always dreamed of finding his mate. He's got two unsuccessful Sheffield Proving Days under his belt and decides to go for the much more competitive one in Manchester. His goal is to play his best, leave it all out on the pitch, and hope that one of the omegas watching just happens to be his mate.

❤️ a body wishes to be held & held by @turnyourankle {E, 12k}

Harry wants to return the favour after Louis helps him out with his heat.

❤️ Woke Up Feeling Knotty by @jaerie {E, 8k}

Beta Louis has a kink for knotting and the secret aesthetic porn blog he runs about it is more than proof. When he accidentally finds out his alpha best friend Harry is one of his biggest fans, he knows he has to come clean after everything that has already happened between them. Harry just might be willing to help him out anyway.

❤️ The World Will Open Its Arms by @lululawrence {NR, 4k}

Harry scrubbed at the countertop. It wasn’t even dirty, but it was three in the morning and the girl who was supposed to relieve him over an hour ago never showed. He was now on hour ten of his shift and his feet hurt and his back ached and he was trying not to cry, thanks to more fucking judgmental alpha truckers who could smell it on him.

Of course they could. He practically lived at the diner. The entire place reeked of it.

Unbonded pregnant omega.

❤️ Moon Dances Over by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup {G, 2k}

Louis knows that his tail is, frankly, stunning. His iridescent blue scales shimmer in even the slightest sunlight, and his fins have grown since he presented, delicate and almost transparent in their webbing.

He also knows that that means he’ll be one of the first to pick tonight, as the most beautiful omegas are blessed to pick their mates first. It’s considered a huge honour, since the guppies they’ll eventually birth will certainly be beautiful as well, bringing favour on the whole clan.

Louis has a stubborn streak, though. He’s always been rather a fan of mating for love, and there’s someone he’s had his eye on for a long time now.

#larry fic rec #hlsource #1dsource #hlcreators #hljournal #trackinghome #tracksintheam #trackinghappily #greenfeelings #londonfoginacup #lululawrence #jaerie #turnyourankle #becomeawendybird #thinlinez #jacaranda-bloom #2tiedships2 #sadaveniren #hershelsue #helloamhere #kingsofeverything #phd-mama #juliusschmidt #eeveelou #absoloutenonsense #polkadotlou

[ao3feed-piltovers-finest]

Hello! I'm so grateful for the work you do with the fics! Literally it makes my day better! I was wondering if you have recs for fics longer than 25k words. Thanks :)

Hiya!

I am beyond glad, my friend. I’ve got to be honest, I've done this because I personally can't be arsed to browse A03 manually - and when fics just casually flow over my dashboard, and I can skim through summaries and click and choose what takes my fancy... it's just so handy, isn't it? :)

Now, as for your recs... uhhhh.... from the top of my head – I can’t really think of a lot of canon compliant novel-sized ones you’re looking for, and it would seem that most of the longish ones I liked are - AUs? So if you don't mind those, here are some that I liked more than the others:

The Heart's Epiphany by Cityseeker

An emotionally complex modern, from friends with benefits to lovers to exes and lovers again AU, dealing with… post PTSD and a lot of angst?

House of Bricks by TheHomelyBadger

Action-packed, modern(ish) on-the-run (with lots of twists) AU. Plot driven, quite dynamic, stellar characterisation,

Count the Ways by Sophnyx

Obnoxious-neighbour, enemies to lovers modern AU (that gets progressively emotionally more involving in the second half :)

Sorry for asking but please come and take me home by BluejayBoi

Post-canon (compliant) story about grief, guilt and… love. Some 10k less hefty than what you’re looking for, but totally worth your while. Definitely one of my most fave ones, among these. <3

And, uhh... that’d be all? All the others I liked (and bookmarked, in my own personal fic library ;) are less than 25k. So in the end... here’s also  the obligatory mention of some of the WIPs that I’ve been enjoying as well (updated regularly, so no worries there) that also qualify, length-wise:

The Threads Of Fate Tangle And Twist by Misthios

My absolute fave at the moment, the stunning canon-adjacent (or canon-divergent if you prefer) version of "what-if" they met… in Stillwater, but under drastically different circumstances. Quite dark, violent and... dark. (It's lookin' up, though. ;)

Butterflies (Don't Belong in Zoos) by AmberZ10

A somewhat at times ooc (but the char dev is there, gradually) popstar/fuckboi Vi AU that's... quite fun to read, with its twists, turns and complicated entanglements (quite of bit of angst and smut, mind you) that might at times make you want to break your ebook reader, or laugh out loud. (My guilty pleasure at the mo, yes :)

Aaand that’d be all, from the top of my head? I certainly do hope you haven't already read at least some of them.

Lemme know?

Thanks for your kind words, and... of course, if you enjoyed any - please do also drop note of appreciation and encouragement to those lovely creative folks out there. 

XOXO

#caitvi #vicait #piltover's finest #violyn #caitlyn x vi #vi x caitlyn #piltovers finest #arcane (league of legends) fanfiction #arcane series #fic recs #m-wolf-39 #replies

[sunshinemarauder]

Just Pretend Ch 2 - sep jilychallenge

read on AO3

Jily Challenge | September 2021 | Theme: Celebrities

prompt: “we’re hiding in an alleyway from the paps and crap they’re coming quick kiss me to hide our faces”

paired with the lovely @be11atrixthestrange!

THE PEOPLE'S QUILL

YOUNG CELEBRITIES, INCLUDING ACTRESS LILY EVANS AND THE MARAUDERS, GATHER FOR AN EPIC TROPICAL PARTY

Ask a random group of American teenage girls who their favorite celebs are and you’re sure to hear some of these names: Mary Macdonald, or M Mac, who is known for her popular YouTube channel; Marlene McKinnon, openly lesbian singer and the only daughter of 80s popstar Paul McKinnon; and Lily Evans, a talented actress who rose to fame out of nowhere three years ago.

And, of course, a list of popular internet personalities wouldn’t be complete without the most famous of them all: The Marauders, a catch-all boy group that functions as a clique, amateur boyband, YouTube sensation, and inspirations to the younger generation all at the same time. The Marauders include Remus Lupin, loved by fans for his relatable bookish personality and known for being somewhat of a nerd; Peter Pettigrew, who stars in the majority of their YouTube uploads and whose tutorials are looked forward to by the fanbase; Sirius Black, a supermodel, ex-heir to the Black family, as well the most followed social media personality under twenty years old; and James Potter, the only child of the incredibly famous couple Fleamont and Euphemia Potter and the public’s darling since his birth.

Now, if you’d asked us a year ago if we’d expected these two groups to spend time together, we would have laughed in your face. First of all, although Macdonald and Evans have been fast friends since the latter’s introduction to the sphere of elite, McKinnon is a recent addition to their group, normally spotted with her non-celebrity girlfriend of three years, Alyssa Martino, up until six months ago. The Marauders have been friends for years, and their bond was solidified after Black disappeared from his family and reemerged into the public eye as a member of the Potter family.

The only thing these young influencers share is their celebrity statuses. Beyond that, they’ve notoriously clashed on many occasions, including Macdonald and Black’s fleeting romance two summers ago, Pettigrew and McKinnon’s parents’ decades-old feud known to all who are well-versed in Hollywood drama, and, perhaps most scandalously, James Potter and Lily Evans’ infamous rivalry, starting at the premier of Ophelia two years ago and sparking many a headline along the way, including a particularly amusing instance involving a drink thrown upon the young Potter.

For a full recap on Evans and Potter’s feud, check out this article. For a deep dive on Macdonald, McKinnon, and Evans’ friendship, be sure to read this exposé.

Now, none of us are sure what went on in this celeb retreat on an exotic resort, but what we do know is that the seven young adults recorded a video together for M Mac’s YouTube channel. Here’s what happened, down to every juicy detail. Get ready for some serious drama, because Hollywood’s hottest did not disappoint...

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#james x lily #james potter x lily evans #jily #jily fic #jily fanfic #drabble #just pretend #kat recs #jilychallenge #jilyarchive