#she's making friends again and has naia again and there's so many people she has to care for | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

opaljm · 3 years

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not gonna lie, but i liked you better when you were just doing your own little thing on tumblr. youre hybrid stories were so good and your hades!taehyung story was so promising. but now instead of writing and posting fics- literally where is eye of the tiger it's been more than a year since you teased it and where is turbulent part three?! your becoming a shooter for people that dont even like you as much as you like them. why do you hype up hantaev and chateautae when they never hype you up naia. i dont think they've ever read a single thing by you either. naia their never gonna become your bsfs and its pathetic to see you keep trying 💀 you should just write and post your fics (you know the ones that we ACTUALLY WANT) why did you even release yours truly. just give us eott youve had more than a year to work on it i dont get it. the more you draw it out the less people will care when you finally post it.

Um wow. Okay so, my readers know I have a policy of not answering hate asks and in general the treatment I get from my readers is so good and so pure and I'm always grateful for it but it seems like this motherfucker wants to ruin that relationship, but you know what? I have thick skin and I don't even know if you're actually one of my readers or you're one of those toxic anons that @hantaev and @chateautae have, that decided to come over here and bother me now.

The reasons why I'm suspicious whether or not you're even one of my followers or just fine combed my blog to find ways to hurt me is because I have actually explicitly stated why there is no Turbulent part 3 yet (It's a drabble series that I work on when I have inspiration for it or when I am not working on other works. But I literally have so many WIPs right now. All my readers know that Turbulent is the least of my priorities and they're so respectful of that).

And when it comes to Eye of the Tiger, I've literally stated that I've lost over 20k words of the fic when the file got corrupted and that actually put me into a slump and not want to write that fic anymore. Since then I've decided to completely rework the plot into something that I would want to write again. I had made it into a chaptered form before changing it back to a one-shot. It's even on my list of WIPs for this year. But let's assume for a second that you actually have read my stories and you're not a random anon from the depths of hell. Congratulations! You have delayed Eye of the Tiger for everyone. I was going to work on it next month but now it looks like everyone is going to have to wait until August at earliest. I also don't care if you think that Eye of the Tiger's anticipation is going to die down and no one ends up reading it when I finally do post it. It's not like you have clairvoyance and can see the future.

Now moving onto you insulting Yours, Truly and saying no one wants it. Anon, just because you love Taehyung to the alarming degree that you keep harassing creators for their Taehyung fics just cuz it's not set to your specification or whatever the fuck does not mean that everyone else is such a rabid crazy Taehyung stan. It literally makes no sense for me to put more importance onto your opinion of Yours, Truly over the hundreds of people who have reblogged and hearted it and even asked to be on the tag list. Not to toot my own horn but I really like Yours, Truly and I wish you would open your eyes so you could enjoy it like everyone else. Except I don't know that I want someone like you on my page so 🤷🏻‍♀️ maybe it's a blessing in disguise that you don't like Yours, Truly and won't be able to bother me about it in the future.

I left this for last because it's literally so stupid that I even have to address this. Anon, I don't think you realize this but Hads and Sammy are friends in real life, they are the type of friends that talk every day, facetime and text, and send each other presents. Not only that but they are also the same age. IN contrast, I am... get this... their online friend. I am not as deeply involved in their lives as they are in each others lives. And you know what that's perfectly fine and I'm okay with it, maybe one day it'll turn into something IRL maybe not, it's cool we're chilling either way. Also, I can't believe I even have to say this but anon do you realize that Sammy and Hads are both 19 and I am 23? I'm actually rubbing my forehead right now because there is literally no situation where it's normal or acceptable for a 23 year old to be jealous of a relationship that two 19 year olds have with each other. I just treat them like my little babies that I'm so so proud of.

If you think I'm trying too hard to be their friends, I feel like you genuinely have never seen people act kindly towards others without expecting anything in return. It literally costs me nothing to interact with them and brighten up their days. Also maybe it's my age but I'm not insecure about whether or not my mutuals read my fics or constantly reblog and promote it. We are all so busy I'm never going to ever demand that from someone. Sammy and Hads don't demand anything from me either. How can you say Hads as never read anything by me when she's listed as the beta reader of Yours, Truly (yet another reason why I think you have never read it but are just insulting it because you can)? Sammy has given me private updates of how much she's enjoyed my work. Just because she or Hads never posted a review for YOU to see on multiple works doesn't mean that they don't read and support my stuff. And it's so weird that you're claiming that about them but you're not holding me to the same standard? The last time I reviewed one of Sammy's Maybe I Do chapters was probably for chapter 4 but I've privately been keeping her updated on my progress with reading her fic. I haven't even read Hads' Before Dawn yet. But you know what? It's fine. We're all okay with it and we don't have insecurities like that, we understand that we will all read and support each other's fics when we can and when we're free. I feel like as you get older you realize that friendship is not just what you can physically show off to others its more so all the ways you can be there for someone. I thank Allah that Sammy, Hads, and I are all so much more understanding than you are and that there is not even an ounce of toxicity in our relationship.

Lastly, maybe I'm not jealous of Sammy and Hadiyah being best friends because I have my own best friends? @vivian146 is literally the light of my life and we're going on strong for almost 7 years 😭😭😭

#chatty!naia #asks #anon #naia rant #toxic anon

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mrsarnasdelicious · 3 years

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Restful Respite - Dark Crystal Polyship Fic

I also posted the on my AO3, but seeing as how I am never using that anymore, I'll put it here, too. Entirely unbeta'ed.

We're not getting a Season 2, so I'll make it up myself.

Ch 1: The Council

The first night, no one does much. They sit around their fires and talk in hushed tones. Rian is subdued and huddled into Gurjin’s side. The Drenchen and his twin speak softly to him, nothing is asked of him this night. Everyone understands he is worried for Deet.

Seladon also keeps her silence. She sits by a fire, with Baffi in her lap. She stares into the flame, thinking of her mother and Maudra Fara. A paladin stands behind her, keeping watch over her.

Brea sits with Kylan. He’s made her a special herb tea, to settle her nerves. They chatter about little nothings, trying not to think of what happened today.

Everyone heads to bed early, retiring to tents or cottages. Rian finds the cottage he grew up in. Gurjin follows him past the doorstep. “Thank you, my friend.” Rian whispers. He can’t bear to be alone, which Gurjin knows.

Seladon follows Baffi to Fara’s living quarters, insisting Brea come as well. A handful of Paladins station themselves outside the door.

Naia joins Onica to stand her by in her grief. The two women stay close beside each other.

The following morning it is Rian to address the united clans. “Why isn’t Seladon up there?” Onica hisses to Naia. The Drenchen shrugs her broad shoulders. Beside her, Brea keeps her tongue. She knows her sister is too ashamed of her past behaviour. Seladon does not dare to face her people.

“Gelfling! My People! Yesterday we began a rebellion. Yesterday we chose to face the Skeksis in battle. Life will not be easy, not a single day of it. But please do not lose your ways. Please continue to dance, make music and sing. But be aware, this is war.” He says loudly. Everyone gazes up at him in awe. This young castle guard changed into a war leader, almost overnight.

“The Skeksis will not attack us right away, but when they do, I want us to be ready.” He says. “The Drenchen are always ready!” Shouts Maudra Laesid. “So are the Dousan.” Maudra Seethi adds her voice. “And the Spriton.” Maudra Mera will not be outdone. “And I am sure so are the Sifan and the Grottan, but we have all suffered losses and our balance is upended. We must not only patch up those holes, but also find our feet again.” Rian says, in a soothing tone of voice.

“Today we send our dead back to Thra, tomorrow we set to work. We will train young warriors, fashion weapons and armour and strengthen clan bonds.” With that, Rian jumps from the dais. He gives no orders, but leads by example. He heads for where Maudra Fara has been laid to rest, with beside her Tavra and the other fallen. Seladon and Brea follow close behind him. Next come the Maudra’s and then Gurjin, Naia, Kylan and Onica.

The deceased are picked up by Paladins of the Stonewood and Vapra clan, and carried to the Thronehall. Barely a tenth of all the gelfling present fit in, everyone that does not stands outside. Rian stands in front of Maudra Fara’s throne, looking down upon the deceased and those who mourn their loss. “Kylan, if you please.” He says. Kylan brings his Firca to his lips and begins the mournful tune. This time Rian begins the song. His voice is amplified by the large stone hall. No one makes a sound, save Kylan. The songteller knows well to keep playing. Even if he too, is enchanted by the vulnerable yet secure tone of Rian’s voice.

Brea is the first to break her silence. She joins her voice to Rian’s. Gurjin, Naia and Onice are next and soon enough everyone joins in the song. The gelfling outside the hall begin to sing as well, as does Mother Augra. Never has there been a song of so many voices.

The dead are laid to rest outside Stone-in-the-Wood, under flowery hills. Tavra and Maudra Fara are laid under the hill with the other late Maudra’s.

“Thank you, Gelfling.” Rian says loudly. “Take today to overthink those we lost and to prepare for tonight’s feast, we will celebrate in their honour.” He ushers his people back to Stone-in-the-Wood.

He turns to Gurjin. “Bring me the Hunter’s mask, please.” He says. “Of course.” Gurjin replies, with a curt nod. He turges into the village to retrieve the fallen Skesis’ garb. Most of it will be burned, but he suspects Rian is planning something with the mask. The thing is huge even to the Drenchen, made of a weighty metal. He has to cradle the thing in his arms like an infant. The rest of the garb he just piles on top.

Rian looks pleased when Gurjin presents him the skull. The other garb the Drenchen has already been dumped in the burning pit. “So what do you want with this?” Gurjin asks, holding the large mask out to his friend. “I think I might hang it above the fireplace in our cottage.” Rian takes the immense piece of armour and almost drops it again, because of the weight. Gurjin’s hands meet his own, steadying him. “Don’t put a dent in the stones.” He says with a small smirk. Rian can’t help a bit a laughter, despite his mood. “I think you should give this to Mother Aughra.” Gurjin says. Rian makes a thoughtful little noise.

“Mother Aughra, Mother Aughra!” The Old crone looks up from her ponderings. She finds Rian and Gurjin by her side. Rian is tugging at her dress like a childling would and Gurjin stands beside him, his arms full of Skeksis armour. She recognises the Hunter’s mask. “We want you to have this.” Rian gestures to the mask. Aughra looks at it for a long moment. Then she shakes her head. “I don’t want it, keep it.” She says curtly. “Y-yes mother Aughra.” Rian stammers. He turns away from Aughra, putting his hand on Gurjin’s arm. “Come.” He says softly.

Gurjin follows Rian to the cottage they share. He puts the mask on the large wooden table. “You give that a place, I’ll start the preps for tonight. I’ll see you out when you are ready.” He says to Rian. Rian turns to the Drenchen and gives a small nod. Gurjin tucks a blue strand of hair behind Rian’s ear. Rian’s ears turn red and droop a little.

Gurjin heads out to oversee the preparations, dishing out a good order or two here and there. Even the Vapran do as he asks this time.

That night all Gelfling are gathered to eat and drink, around long trestle tables and cooking fires. The clans are all mixed, Drenchen drinks with Vapran and Spriton sits trading jokes with Dousan.

Kylan tells song after song and his Firca barely sits still. There are Sifan telling tales of the high seas. Bobb’N and the other Grot children are listening breathlessly. Brea spots Juni and her Spriton boy sitting closely side by side. Naia is boasting of her battle prowess to several Dousan women and Gurjin is being felt up by a Sifan gelling.

Rian and Brea sit beside each other, silently. They are comfortable with that, knowing each of them has their own griefs and pains. Grief and pains they can only handle themselves.

Seladon sits alone, gazing into her soup as if she is trying to make sense of it. “You should eat something.” She looks up. She looks into pale eyes, which could be pale green or pale yellow, she is not sure. It is the paladin that gave her a leg up during the fight. He’s taken off his paladin garb, he is dressed in borrowed Stonewood garb, which somehow makes him look out of sorts. It is as though grey is the only colour she could think that suits him.

“Paladin, are you off duty?” Seladon asks him tentatively. “Please, All Maudra, call me Maurix, for it is the name my mother gave me upon my birth.” He says gently to her. “Then you ought to call me Seladon.” She replies. “Y-yes Seladon…” Maurix replies. He pronounces her name like he is tasting tasting it, letting it slide past his tongue. Seladon feels gooseflesh rise up her arms and down her spine. As though the Paladin had just ran his tongue over the shell of her ear. She flusters and peers into her soup.

On the third day, Stone-in-the-Wood is positively an anthill with all it’s activity. Not a single gelfling is setting still. Even Bobb’N and the Grot childlings are trying to help.

The Red Paladin stands guard just outside Stone-in-the-Wood. There is a disturbance in the woods. He stands from the rock he has been sitting on and readies his spear. “Who goes there?” He cries out. There comes no answer, only more rustling of leaves and breaking of branches. And it comes ever closer. Maurix steels himself, ready for a fight.

But what comes through the line of young trees surprises him quite some. He recognises the stone creature Lore. “My Thra…” He mutters. On the creature’s neck sits an oddly well groomed Podling. “What is the meaning of this!” Maurix asks aloud. Lore rumbles at the Paladin. “Hup back!” Calls the Podling from the stone giant’s back.

“Pardon the sudden intrusion.” A Dousan steps forth from behind the stone creature. He is a gelling with a fierce and prideful look in his yellow eyes. “State your purpose here.” Maurix flares up, pointing his spear at the Dousan. Despite the unifications of the clans, old prejudices die hard, especially those against the very mysterious Dousan.

“I’ll escort you to the All Maudra now.” Maurix says. “Very well.” The Dousan nods. He turns to Lore. “Come, we will find the Princess and the Podling’s friend.” He says. “We’ll see about that.” Maurix replies. He shepherds the three into Stone-in-the-Wood.

“Where is the All Maudra?” Maurix asks an older Paladin. “She wishes not to be disturbed.” It is Mother Aughra to answer. Maurix bows for the crone. “Then what am I to do with these three.” He gestures to Lore, Hup and the Dousan. Mother Aughra travels her eye over them. “Bring these two to Rian, the stones will stay here.” She says. “Yes, Mother Aughra.” Maurix says with a curt nod.

The Dousan helps the Podling down. “Very well, it seems Rian is the next best, come on you two.” Maurix gestures. Podling and gelling follow him to the stone hall.

Within, Rian, Gurjin, Kylan and Naia are setting up a huge ornate table and majestic chairs. Maurix smashes the butt of his spear against the flagstone floor. The Stonewood, Spriton and both Drenchen look up. “I was told to bring these two to you.” He says.

Rian comes over. “Hup!” He shouts, lifting the Podling clean off of his feet and hugging him tight. Hup hugs Rian back happily. “Hey, isn’t that Rek’yr?” Asks Gurjin. “That is very correct.” The Dousan gives the Drenchen an acknowledging nod. “We were already looking for you between the Dousan ranks, but you were not there.” Says Kylan. “The Hunter held me up.” Rek’yr replies. He turns his head to the side, showing an ugly wound on his temple. “You should get that looked at.” Naia says gently.

“Kylan, could you bring Rek’yr to Onica, she will see to the wound.” Rian asks. “Of course. Follow me please.” Kylan gestures for Rek’yr to come with. The Dousan follows the Spriton out.

Hup tugs at Rian’s doublet. “Where Deet?” He asks. Rian’s ears droop. “She … she went away.” He mutters. Gurjin and Naia both move towards him. Gurjin places a hand on Rian’s shoulder, sending him a minute nod. “Deet took a lot of the blight inside her.. She went away to keep the blight away from us.” It is the first time he has said it out loud. He’s shared the memory with Gurjin already, but Naia does not know. She gives Rian a troubled look. “Deet locked herself away behind thorns, I can’t bring you to her.” Rian says to Hup. Hup promptly begins to cry.

Rian heaves a sigh. “Please bring him to Brea.” He asks of Maurix. “But .. I have been away from my post for too long already.” Maurix begins to protest. “Go back to your post then, Paladin. I will escort the Podling.” Naia says. Maurix nods curtly and takes his leave. Naia takes Hup gently by his shoulder and bring him out of the hall.

Brea sits with Onica, hearing her out about healing plants and spells. She is meticulously writing down what she is told. The Sifan elder is quite happy to regale everything she knows to such a willing ear.

“Princess Brea, Elder Onica, can I have a moment of your time.” Kylan interrupts them as politely as he can. Brea and Onica look up from their conversation. Kylan gives both of them a nod in greeting. “I have a patient or you, Elder Onica.” He says. He brings their attention to Rek’yr, with a gesture of his hand. Brea drops her pen and gasps. “Rek’yr.” She jumps up from her stool, the small piece of furniture tumbling over into the grass. Rek’yr bows for her. “Princess, what an indescribable pleasure to see your radiant presence again.” He cooes.

“Make him sit down and let me look at that wound.” Onica orders.

Brea retrieves her stool, setting it upright. “Please sit down.” She says to Rek’yr. “Of course, my lady.” The Dousan obliges. “Brea, would you mind getting me a bowl of warm water and a clean rag, please?” Asks Onica. “Right away.” Brea nods and quickly gets Onica what she has asked for.

Onica is cleaning Rek’yr’s wound when Maurix arrives with Hup. “Hup!” Brea cries out. She runs to the Podling and lifts him clean off the ground. She notices Hup has been crying. “Oh Hup, I am so sorry Deet is not here.” She says softly. She puts the Podling down and looks down on him. “I am ever so sorry. We will find her, I promise.” She says. Hup sits down where he stands and begins to sob again.

“He was so eager to see his friend again.” Says Rek’yr. “I know, Hup loves Deet so purely.” Brea kneels beside the Podling, not caring for the grass stains that will surely show on her dress later. She puts her arms around Hup and humms softly to him. Rek’yr perks his ears forward to hear her better.

In the evening the gelfling take their dinner in large groups. There is a table full with warriors, from every clan, boasting about their battle prowess. A table with song tellers who discuss specific songs and myths and how to perform them correctly. A table that seats only young women that giggle and gossip.

Rian sits with his friends and all six Maudra’s. Rek’yr sits with them as well, beside Maudra Seethi. And Hub, close by Brea’s side. Onica and Naia sit beside each other, discussing sparkly water. Naia vehemently insist sparkly water is just still water but angry.

The Maudra’s and Rian are discussing what needs to be done in the coming time. “The Drenchen will return to Great Smert, we can easily defend ourselves there.” Says Laesid.”And the Dousan to the desert, the Skeksis don’t come there.” Seethi adds. “The Sifan will take to their ships, only SkekSa sails and she hasn’t been seen in a great many Thrine.” Ethri agrees. Rian nods. “Very well, then only the Grottan, Vapran and Spriton will remain in Stone-in-the-Wood.” He concludes.

“That many gelfling will never fit in Stone-in-the-Wood.” Seladon says. It is the first time she has put something in. “No, it never will.” Rian agrees. “I will take the Spriton back to Sami Thicket. And also the elderly and childlings with their mothers, but I will need the strongest Vapran warrior to strengthen Sami Thicket.” Says Maudra Mera. She looks at Seladon. “You will have them.” Seladon agrees curtly. “That leaves only that fighting aged Vapran, the Grottan and what is left of the Stonewoods.” Brea says to Rian. “That is managable.” Rian says. His ears droop a little. Something doesn’t sit right with him.

“I will appoint Naia as my representative on the War Council.” Laesid says. “Thank you mother.” Naia gives her mother a minute nod. “I appoint Elder Onica.” Maudra Ethri adds. Onica and Naia share a small smile. “Rek’yr will stay on as my representative on the War Council.” Maudra Seethi speaks. Rek’yr nods to her gratefully.Naturally he would to stay, small surprise there. “My representative shall be Kylan.” Maudra Mera says. “B-but Maudra Mera, I know nothing of war.” Kylan sputters. “You have proven yourself a hero, Kylan. And you know the other council members, which is important as well.” Maudra Mera smiles at him indulgently. Kylan’s ears turn red as fire. “T-thank you Maudra.” He mutters.

The following morning, the Dousan are the first to leave. Rian and Rek’yr see them off with a lot of formal Dousan fare-thee-wells that Rek’yr has hissed in Rian’s ear. It is still pretty early and Rian hasn’t really gotten the chance to rub the sleep from his eyes. Heck, he has half a mind to go back to bed, to warm embrace of a certain Drenchen.

The Sifan leave after the communal breakfast. Onica whispers the correct fare-thee-wells in Rian’s ear. Rian by now has the chance to whip himself into some shape and drag a comb through his hair.

The Spriton leave a little past noon, with a good portion of the Vapran paladins. Seladon and Kylan both whisper in Rian’s ear. Rian is in his leathers, his hair bunned up and a streak of soot across his cheek. He’s been training. And a little too close to the remainders of a fire pit.

Last to leave are the Drenchen. Laesid hugs her daughter tightly. “Don’t forget what I taught you, this is the time to use it.” She says. “Yes Mother.” Naia says softly. Laesid then takes her son into her arms. Gurjin noses at her hair, drinking in her scent, that means so much as home to him.

“Now you listen here boy.” Laesid takes a minute step back, her hands still on Gurjin’s broad shoulders. “You do what your father taught you. And look after this here Stonewood.” She says. Gurjin gives his mother a wide smile. “I will mother. I will do what I’ve always done. I have kept Naia safe and I will do the same for Rian.” He says. “There is a good lad.” Laesid pats her only son on his cheek. The twins hug Bellanji farewell and say their goodbye’s to the Drenchen warriors they know closely. Rian seems to have perked up now.

Rian turns to his friends. “Go do your own thing for a while, I have something to arrange.” He says. Naia and Onica head off together. Brea skips off, dragging Kylan along by his wrist. Rek’yr bows for Seladon and Rian and calmly saunters off in the same direction as Brea. “I’ll wait for you where you told me to meet you.” Gurjin says to Rian. He calmly trails off, back to the center of the village.

Rian turns to Seladon. “All Maudra… I would advise you choose a representative for the war council as well, so you can focus on the more societal aspect of the gouvernance, a lot of changes shall have to be made.” He says, sounding rather shy. He doesn’t want to seem like he is giving the All Maudra orders. But Seladon regards him with a gentle expression. “Very well, what sort of person are you looking for?” She asks Rian. Rian makes a thoughtful noise. “A warrior with battle experience, with a strategic mind and courage.” He replies.

“I know one like that.” Says Maurix. “Now don’t get ahead of yourself.” Seladon chides gently. “Not me, All Maudra. But I know just the gelling.” Says the Paladin. There is a small smirk on his lips. “Very well, go retrieve him.” Seladon says.

Maurix returns swiftly. It is the Paladin who lost his eye he is bringing along. “All Maudra, Rian, this is Betram, I think he has earned his seat.” Maurix says. Betram bows for Seladon and gives Rian a nod in greeting. “Betram, how would you like a seat on the war council?” Asks Seladon. Betram looks surprised. “I .. it would be an honour, All Maudra.” He says. “Wonderful.” Seladon smiles.

#The Dark Crystal #The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance #Gelfling

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twdeadfanfic · 4 years

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Bonded to you Pt.4

Daryl Dixon x Reader

Chapter: 3/17

Words: 3683

Summary: Daryl and reader had a something while they both stayed at the Sanctuary after the Saviours were defeated, a secret sort of relationship, that reader wanted to make something more. However, after Rick blows the bridge, Daryl leaves her without a word, unaware of her being pregnant with his child and it’s not after almost two years that Daryl finds out he has a child…and his anger at reader for not having told him before, rivals with reader’s anger at having being tossed aside as nothing by him those to years ago.

Dad Daryl, cute fluffy baby-toddler moments, angsty reader relationship.

You can find more chapters and Daryl fics in my masterlist.

Last chapter, reader went looking for Daryl to try and make him come back and to tell him that she was pregnant but Daryl didn’t listen to her, just said that he wasn’t coming back and stormed away, and so reader, brokenhearted, decided against telling him about the pregnancy...

Note About this chapter: Certain events that happen earlier in the show timeline are going to happen in this chapter later in time, but I thought it worked good for the chapter, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

You ended up leaving Alexandria.

You didn’t know if you would feel less miserable anywhere else, you doubted it, but you could try. You knew that, once you would start to show and people found that you were pregnant, they would start to wonder about the father, and you didn’t want that. You also feared that Michonne might put two and two together after your breakdown in the woods when Daryl left, and you were sure she wouldn’t agree with you not telling Daryl about his baby, and you also feared that if she knew, she’d tell him herself.

So, you left.

You considered going to Hilltop, but you thought it’d be the same, too many people knew you. And so you ended up in Oceanside. You remembered that fight you had with Daryl, in which you told him that if he didn’t care about you and what you did, then you’d leave and go sunbathe in Oceanside…you might as well just live up to your word.

Michonne was confused about why you were leaving, but she seemed to think it had something to do with Daryl and his absence, which wasn’t far from the truth, and so she seemed to accept that you needed space and a new place and life. Siddiq was worried, but you didn’t let him talk you out of it, and you made him swear he wouldn’t tell anyone about your pregnancy. He was your doctor, and so he ought to keep your secret, whether he liked it or not.

You were apprehensive about going to stay at Oceanside, though, you couldn’t help it, but even though the women there seemed a bit confused, they all welcomed you. They seemed to think that you were mourning something, or someone, which was kind of true, and that you might need a change of air, and so they helped you adapt.

When they found that you were pregnant, you knew they had a thousand questions that they didn’t ask, letting you be, but you heard the rumors anyway. Some seemed to think that you had fled an abusive relationship, others thought that the baby father had died, while others thought you might be pregnant after a one-night thing, and others thought you might have wanted to have a kid on your own. You never said anything.

It wasn’t that bad of a life, though, you had been given a small, pretty cottage that faced the beautiful beach, and despite the gossip, the women were kind, and so even though your heart was broken and you were afraid of the future and what it might bring to you and the baby, you slowly began to adapt and get used to your new life at Oceanside.

Weeks passed, turning into months, and you wondered if you would ever stop feeling that pain in your heart that seemed to be always with you, that way in which you couldn’t stop missing Daryl, even though thinking about him and about his rejection hurt so much, even though that, as months passed, your sadness was also turning into bitterness, and you were not only sad but angry at Daryl too…which didn’t help you to forget and move on.

You couldn’t believe that you had ever cared for Daryl as you had done, that you had loved him as you did…only to have his indifference thrown to your face, only to have him leaving without a goodbye, to have him not even looking at you when you tried to talk to him.

Whenever you wondered if this was a mistake, if maybe you should have told Daryl about the baby, if maybe it wasn’t too late and you could try to find him and tell him that you were pregnant of him, no matter that you were scared of his reaction, you remembered the last time that you had seen him, how he had walked away from you without a word, without even a look…

No. You couldn’t deal with that, with his indifference and his resentment. You could raise the baby alone. You wanted Daryl out of your life. You needed it.

Things went a bit better after you had your baby, if only because you were enamored with her. You didn’t know how you could love someone so much already, but she was perfect, and thanks to her, your heart was full of love again, and your smile was back on your face. She had Daryl’s eyes, though, lovely and pretty, but a permanent reminder.

You would lie if you said that you didn’t miss him, that the way in which he’d left you and his indifference, after all that you both had shared, didn’t hurt anymore, because it did, you were bitter and angry, you still felt like you were having your heart ripped out of your chest when you thought about it, and you still cried more than you would want to.

But you had to move on and push through all that, if only for your baby.

You had word that Michonne had a baby too, and you were surprised, you hadn’t known she was pregnant, and your heart went to Rick, who had died without knowing he had a kid, and to Michonne, raising the baby alone, with Rick gone.

You wanted to go visit, but you didn’t want questions about your own baby, and you didn’t dare to travel with her so little.

It wasn’t until about a year and a half after you had your baby, that you went to visit Alexandria, Michonne and his baby, RJ, you had been told he was called. Some women from Oceanside were going to Alexandria for some trading, and so you decided to go with them in their cart to stay in Alexandria for a week or two, when Michonne told you that she’d be happy to have you, after all that time.

You traveled without any trouble, and you smiled when the cart crossed the gates of Alexandria and you saw Michonne and Aaron there waiting for you all. You waved at them and smiled at your baby, who seemed confused but excited, strapped to you with a slinger. “Hey!”

“Hi!” Michonne was smiling at you, but she looked at your baby in surprise.

“Hey! Y/N!” Aaron seemed surprised too, grinning at you and the kid. “Who’s this little lady here?”

“She’s Naia, she’s my kid.” You smiled, even though you were nervous at how they might react. They seemed even more surprised, looking from the little girl to you, and back at the baby.

“How have you ended up with a baby living in a place with only women?” Aaron seemed amused, smiling at your girl, who was frowning at him as if deciding if she liked him or not.

“Well, you know…sailors come sailors go…” You tried to joke without saying anything…yes, there were only women in Oceanside, but sometimes people from other communities came to trade, so you didn’t think it was impossible for you to have ended up pregnant…you rather had Michonne thinking that after Daryl, you had looked for comfort in someone else, and ended up pregnant in a one-night thing, that knowing that you had hidden his baby from Daryl. “Anyway, I’m dying to see Judith and Gracie, they must be so big, and to meet RJ!”

“You have come in the best moment,” Aaron said as he helped you with your bag. “A week ago we found a woman who happens to be Michonne’s friend, and she’s got a lot of kids with her, Naia is going to have so much fun with them.”

“A friend?” You looked at Michonne, surprised.

“Yes, she was my best friend when I was studying at the uni…I never thought I’d see her ever again!” Michonne explained, and you grinned, you couldn’t believe such a thing could happen.

“That’s so great! Good for you, you really deserve it!” You reached out to squeeze Michonne’s arm.

Later that day, you were with Michonne, introducing Naia and RJ, and playing with them. Naia hadn’t met other kids before, there weren’t any kids in Oceanside, and at first, Naia had seemed shy, but now she seemed to be getting along with RJ and you loved it. Of course, Rick’s and Daryl’s kids were bound to be good friends…that thought sent a bolt of pain to your heart, and you rushed to push it away. Naia was your kid, yours, that was.

“Y/N...I was wondering…” Michonne began and you didn’t like how it sounded. “About Naia’s father…”

“I don’t want to talk about him, or think about him.” You stopped her before she could say anything else. “He’s not in the picture, never was, and I’m okay with it, there was nothing between us two, just…well, just comfort when both of us needed it...” It wasn’t quite a lie, but it was not the truth. You hated to lie to Michonne to her face like that, you felt guilty, but you were sure if she knew who was Naia’s father, she’d go tell Daryl, and you couldn’t face him, you hadn’t changed your mind. Besides, Michonne could very well hate you for having kept Naia from his father, and from her, she was like her niece after all…no, you couldn’t deal with that either.

Michonne looked at you for a second and you fidgeted, anxiously, and feeling a bit like crying, but finally she nodded. “Okay.” You gave her a grateful, relieved smile, and she smiled back. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to Jocelyn.”

You had never seen so many kids together, and you loved it, they made Alexandria so vibrant and cheerful, playing, and laughing, everyone seemed in the best mood you had ever seen, and although you still felt guilty about having lied to Michonne and being keeping secret who was Naia’s father, you didn’t regret having gone to visit.

The first day, Naia had been shy at so many new people, but soon she began to warm up to them, especially to the kids, although the only one as young as her was RJ, but she still loved to be with them, laughing so much, seeming so happy, you thought your heart was going to melt looking at her.

However, when a week later some kids asked you to let Naia go to a sleepover at Jocelyn’s place with them, you were unsure. You had never been away from your girl, much less for a whole night, and the idea made you anxious, besides you thought Naia was still too little for that, but all the kids of Alexandria were going, even RJ, since Jocelyn and the teens said they’d look after the little ones and made sure they were alright. Jocelyn told you that after being raising Naia alone, you deserved a night of relax for yourself, you were still very unsure, but after Jocelyn told you a million times that she’d make sure your girl was okay, and would bring her back to you if she seemed unhappy in a second, you ended up saying yes, and letting Naia go.

That evening, though, after dinner, once everything began to get dark, you started to question if it was a good idea, worried about your little girl. You had never been away from Naia, and the idea of her being away for the night was too scary. Even if she was enjoying herself, you missed her too much and you felt like crying, and so finally you decided to go bring her back.

You weren’t sure if the kids would be asleep already, but you went to Jocelyn’s place and knocked on the door, you’d take Naia with you whether she was asleep or not. Jocelyn opened, seeming confused to see you there, frowning at you.

“Y/N?”

“Hey…I’m so sorry to bother you, but…I just…I miss Naia too much,” you admitted. “And I don’t think I can take to be away from her for a whole night, so I wanted to take her back home.”

Jocelyn just looked at you for a few seconds but then she nodded and smiled. “Of course! Come in.”

You walked inside, wondering if the kids were asleep, since you didn’t hear anything, and you went to turn around and ask, but suddenly you felt a sharp pain in your head, and everything went black.

You woke up to voices calling your name, feeling a horrible pain in your head. You tried to open your eyes but everything was spinning, until you saw Aaron knelt down beside you.

“Y/N…Y/N…She’s alive! She’s waking up!” Aaron was saying and you thought you saw Michonne there too but everything was blurry and your head hurt like hell, pounding. “Someone call Siddiq!” You tried to move and groaned at the pain in your head, everything spinning again. “Take it easy…”

“I…I…” You babbled, trying to make sense of what was happening, trying to open your eyes again. “Naia…I was…she…” You tried to think, tried to make the world stop spinning. “Where is she…what’s happening?”

“Someone knocked you on the head, we thought you were dead,” Aaron explained. “Don’t move until Siddiq comes.”

“I was…I…Naia…Naia, I wanted to pick her up, she was…” Some things were coming back slowly. “She was with Jocelyn but I…I wanted…Naia, is she with Jocelyn?” Who was taking care of your baby if you were hurt…and, and why were you hurt? Aaron…did he say someone had knocked you…but, but it made no sense… You noticed Aaron looking at Michonne and shaking his head. “What? I don’t…we’re…there’s an attack? It’s someone else hurt? Just tell me where’s Naia…” Had someone managed to get into Alexandria? Were the kids okay? Was your baby okay? You still felt confused but you were panicking and you tried to move again, crying out in pain and almost passing out.

“Easy, Y/N,” Aaron hold you down again.

“Just tell me…” You whimpered, eyes closed, your head pounding so much you couldn’t open them.

“Jocelyn took the kids,” you heard Michonne’s voice.

“To a safe place?” Maybe Alexandria had really been attacked?

“No. We just got here and you were lying on the floor, bleeding, Jocelyn and all the kids were gone, the pantry is empty,” Michonne explained and you forced your eyes to open to look at her….what was she saying. “She took our supplies and our kids and left.”

“What? What?!” You could just blink at her, panic growing in your as the words began to make sense, despite the pain and your confusion. “You told me she was your best friend!” You yelled, and then groaned and closed your eyes in pain. “Told me to let Naia with her…to trust her…”

“She was my best friend!” Michonne yelled back. “I…she took Judith and RJ too!” She said, without yelling this time. “I’m going to look for them, I’ll bring them back.”

“Wait…” You opened your eyes but she was gone, as if you had lost consciousness for a minute. “Wait for me…” Your little girl…someone had taken her…someone…a friend…it couldn’t be true…maybe you were unconscious and dreaming? Maybe you had died from the blow? Was this hell, from not telling Daryl about Naia? “Wait for me…” You tried to get up and fall back again, groaning, everything getting dizzy.

“No, hey, Y/N…” Aaron tried to calm you down.

“How is she? Y/N, hey?” You heard Siddiq’s voice and opened your eyes to find him knelt down next to you with Aaron. “I’m going to take you to the infirmary, you’re going to be fine, okay?”

“Naia…” was the only thing you could murmur…where was your kid…

Siddiq helped you get up and you cried out, almost passing out again, but as you were carried to the infirmary, they didn’t allow you to pass out, not even when Siddiq stitched the wound in your head, it felt like it was on fire, kept hurting when he bandaged it, despite the painkillers. Siddiq explained that you had a concussion, but he promised you’d get better…you just wanted to know where was your baby girl…

“It’s going to be okay,” Siddiq kept trying to calm you down. “There’s people looking for the kids, they’ll find them, Michonne told Daryl too.”

“Daryl…” He…he didn’t even know….his kid, your kid…where was she, where was Naia…

“Yes, Daryl, you remember how good he’s at tracking yes? They’ll find them. Now you have to rest, okay?”

No…no…you couldn’t rest…you needed to find your baby girl…you felt you could barely move, though, your mind felt foggy, your head still felt like it was on fire…

It took you quite a few hours to feel better. The pain was still there, but your mind was becoming clearer, which just made you panic more. Jocelyn…she had betrayed Alexandria, she had taken your supplies and your kids and run away…she has taken your little girl…oh, you were so going to kill her…

You groaned as you tried to get up, head pounding again, and Siddiq rushed to stop you. “Y/N, take it easy…”

“No, I have to find Naia,” You struggled until you managed to sit up.

“There’s people on it,” Siddiq explained to you again. “They’ll bring them back. I know you want to be out there, but you can’t, not like this, okay?”

You felt tears in your eyes, but you nodded, you had the worst headache ever and the world spinning when you moved your head a bit too fast. You would be useless out there…Someone had taken your little girl and you couldn’t go find her, you were useless to her. What if Michonne couldn’t find her? What if it was too late?

You sobbed again, but you didn’t have to worry for long, because you heard a voice outside of the infirmary announcing that the lookouts had spotted Michonne, Aaron and Daryl coming back, the kids with them. You got up, ignoring the headache and Siddiq telling you be careful.

The sun outside the infirmary blinded you for a moment, making the headache worse, and once you could more or less see again you rushed to the gates in time to see them opening and the kids running to their parents, seeming okay. Naia, where was Naia… You closed your eyes tight at the bright light before you could open them again, and you saw Aaron holding Gracie tight, Michonne holding RJ with one arm and walking hand by hand with Judith.

Behind them, there was Daryl, and he was holding Naia, who seemed unharmed, and your heart skipped a beat at the sight of Naia in Daryl’s arms…her eyes were so much like his, more than you had realized. Was this…was this what you could have had, if yours and Daryl’s relationship had been something real?

There was no time to think about that, or never. Not point. And your baby girl needed you now.

“Naia!” You tried rushing to them, groaning as it made your head hurt like hell, everything turning blurry for a second, but the pain was forgotten when you opened your eyes and found Naia grinning at you, waving her arms in your direction.

“Momma!”

Daryl had seemed surprised to see you there, but when Naia began calling for you he stopped walking, looking from the girl to you wide-eyed. You ignored it, or tried to, even if you couldn’t look at him and your stomach knotted when you approached him. You reached out to pick Naia from Daryl’s arms and he allowed you to do so in stunned silence.

You wanted to rush back home before Daryl decided to say anything, though he seemed puzzled, but first you squeezed Naia to you, though you tried not to show how worried you had been, not wanting to scare her or worry her too, but a couple of tears escaped your eyes.

Naia pouted when she looked at the bandage on your head. “Hurt,” she babbled in her own way, that most times still only you could understand.

“I’m okay, sweetheart.” You smiled to her, you didn’t want to worry her, but she pouted again, booping your tear-stained cheek.

“Hurt.”

“No, honey, I’m crying because I’m happy to see you,” you kept trying to stop her from worrying. “Because I love you.”

Finally Naia stopped pouting, grinning and babbling her own way of saying “love you,” which just made you cry again, you couldn’t help it, and you squeezed her to you.

When you looked up from her, you saw Daryl was still there, looking at you both in silence. You didn’t know how he could still stir so many feelings in you, anger, bitterness, but also longing, sadness for what you had and lost, for what you thought you had and didn’t… You quickly turned around and walked away.

“Come on, sweetheart, let’s go home.”

“Y/N,” Siddiq stop you. “You should stay at the infirmary today, just in case.”

You let out a sigh…you didn’t want to worry Naia, but you knew Siddiq needed to make sure you were alright before letting you be alone when you had a concussion, and you didn’t want to have a seizure, pass out, or something worse in front of Naia, much less the two of you alone. “Okay, but only if Naia can stay.” It’d also give you an excuse to hide from Daryl, you guessed, until he left again.

“Of course she can,” Siddiq smiled at you both. “Come on.”

“Bye,” Naia waved at Daryl, making you feel all weird, and it seemed like he was about to say something, so you looked away from him and rushed to the infirmary before he could.

You should have never gone to Alexandria. Your baby had been kidnapped, and now Daryl knew she existed, though he didn’t know she was his…but he could put two and two together, and you did not want to deal with that.. You tried not to worry, but you could help it. You’d pack your things tomorrow and flee back to Oceanside again…

So...Daryl met his kid, knid of, even though he still doesn’t know she’s her kid...or does him?

I had the idea for this fic thinking how it’d be of Daryl’s kid where kidnapped by Jocelyn, and what if Daryl requed her without knowing she was hers. Fort that, I needed to push those events in time. I hope you don’t mind.

If you liked this and had a moment, please leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts about the chapter, I’d really appreciate it and I’d love to know your thoughts.

Thanks to everyone who liked, reblog and commented in last chapter, you all really encourage me to keep writin when it gets hard.

As always, excuse my englins since it’s not my first language.

If you want to be (un)tagged let me know.

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#daryl dixon #daryl dixon/reader #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon imagine #daryl dixon & reader #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl dixon fic #bonded to you #daryl #twd daryl dixon #twd daryl

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dkscribe88 · 3 years

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Tavronica Week Prompt 7: AU

And now, for my final entry for this year’s first annual Tavronica week. I decided to set it in modern times. They’re still on Thra and still Gelfling, but they’ve adopted a way of life similar to humans, including going to college and playing sports, such as ice hockey. Tavra is team captain, single, and focused on helping her team win the final game of a tournament against their rivals, lead by Tolyn. Onica is a Psychology student who recently became single and is dragged to the game by her best friend, Tae. Tavra always seemed like she would be a jock if she were real, and the only sport I really ever played was ice hockey, so I decided to write her playing it. I hope you like this last fic. It’s been a blast writing for this event, and I’m proud to say I met my challenge of 7 prompts for 7 days. Can’t wait to do it all again next year! So now, sit back and enjoy my final entry for this year. Beware, it’s the longest one yet.

The roar of the crowd was deafeningly loud throughout the halls of Ha’rar State University’s hockey stadium. Flooded with fans of both the home team, the Ha’rar State University Fighting Paladins, and visiting rivals, the Sami Thicket University Landstriders; the atmosphere was tense. It was the finals of a two-day tournament. Both top seeded teams played two games the day before, easily routing their opponents. Their head-to-head battle had always been assured, the latter two games merely a formality. Both teams stared daggers at each other whenever the Paladins locked eyes with a Landstrider. There’s bad blood between these rivals, the wound freshly opened after what had transpired a few hours before…

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Earlier in the day, the home team had arrived two hours before they were to hit the ice, hoping to do some warmup exercises in their locker room before suiting up, only to discover that the whole place had been destroyed. Bags had been dumped out, equipment strewn randomly throughout the room, and jerseys were being soaked by the showers. Their hockey sticks were no longer in the racks, and no one would have found them, had the team not experienced this sort of attack before. The Paladin’s team captain, defenseman Tavra just sighed before casting her gaze upwards, confirming that the sticks were indeed glued to ceiling.

“Sheesh, they could’ve at least come up with a more original way of wrecking our stuff. C’mon guys, cleanup positions. Ready? Go!” The team quickly got to work straightening things, accomplishing their tasks efficiently, having done so many times before. They kept a scraper and a bottle of nail polish remover taped under one of the benches for occasions such as this, which easily dissolved the super glue. It took a little longer to get everything back in order this time though, as the Landstriders had taken the time to remove the tape from their sticks before gluing them. It was a tedious task, retaping everything, but Tavra and her crew knew everything needed to be perfect, or they wouldn’t stand a chance. STU’s captain, Tolyn the Terrible, did his best to crush anyone that stood in his way, using any means necessary. The Landstriders led the league in both penalties and player ejections. They’d already given four different Gelfling concussions, ending the player’s seasons early, and in one case, ending it for good, the injury so severe it caused brain damage, forcing the player off the team and out of school altogether.

Forty minutes later, the locker room was back in usable condition. Tavra took her place in front of her team.

“Alright! Everyone get in line for warmups. First, we stretch, then after that 20 jumping jacks. When I say go. Ready? GO!”

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Meanwhile, at the campus dorm rooms…

“C’mon, Onica! It’ll be fun, I promise. The game is going to be great and there’s gonna be a sick afterparty, with lots of hot gelfs for us to hit on, so let’s go, please? You need a new girlfriend, or at least someone to take your mind off Effiny and I need to get my flirt on. It’ll be good for you to get out.” Tae had been trying to convince her friend to attend the game with her for the last few hours, not wanting to go by herself.

“But I’ve got that test coming up for my Developmental Psychology class and I haven’t even studied for it yet.” Tae rolled her eyes.

“You’ve never had to study for any of your Psych classes before. You know every bit of that material frontwards and backwards, sideways, diagonal and upside down. If that’s your best excuse my victory is assured.”

“But I won’t even be able to get into the afterparty. You have to know someone on the team to attend and I don’t, so I see no reason to go.” Tae refused to give up.

“That doesn’t matter! I told you, I know the goalie. Zili promised that if we showed up, she’d get us in. Zili’s a bit weird, which she claims is a common trait amongst goalies, but she’s also true to her word. Please, I don’t want to go alone.” Tae had been nice so far, but it was time to pull out her secret weapon. She kneeled down next to Onica’s chair, lower lip jutting out in a pout, eyes turned up in a begging fashion, glistening with small tears in their corners. Onica had to give her style points for being able to cry on demand. She tried to turn away, but there was no escaping the power of the fizzgig pout. Unable to fend off the adorably cute assault any further, Onica let out a groan.

“Ugghhh! Okay, fine! I’ll go. But you owe me. More than one.”

“Yes!” Tae jumped up, giving her roommate and best friend a hug. “Thank you so much, Oni! There’s this new guy on the team, Galen, and Zili’s promised to help me get a chance to talk to him. Oh, I can’t wait for you to see him, he’s so dreamy. He’s tall, and Sifa, like us, with some Spriton and Vapra mixed in. He’s got beautiful tanned skin and dark hair with little bits of silver here and there, ooh-hoo-hoo just the thought of him makes me quiver!” Onica gave her friend a look of disbelief and slight disgust.

“Sounds like a creep if you ask me.”

“No! No, he’s not, actually. Zili said he’s really kind and soft spoken most of the time. When he does talk, he’s so deep, and he’s got a great sense of humor, too.” Onica smiled at her then, reassured of Tae’s choice to pursue this guy.

“I can’t wait to meet him, then. I hope you find happiness this time Tae. I’d hate for you to be stuck with someone who doesn’t appreciate you.” Onica’s face turned slightly sullen, then. Tae put a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you talking about Effiny? Onica, that girl has serious issues with where her priorities lie. She didn’t know what she had, being with you. But soon, Onica, someone will come along who loves you for you, I’m sure of it. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet them tonight. So, come on. To the game!” Tae jumped into a pose, pointing dramatically towards the door. Onica gave a small laugh, before getting up and ready for the night’s activities.

The two young women made it to their seats as the two teams warmed up on the ice, each circling around their zone, while some fired pucks at the goalie, who easily blocked them all, giving Zili a confidence boost to start off with. Tavra was gliding along on her skate’s edges, keeping an eye on her own players, looking for signs that each was ready, and smirking when she found they were. She got in line to shoot then, firing right from the line in a slapshot, typical of her defensive position. She’d placed a spin on the puck, causing it to look as if it were warping in the air as it curved toward Zili’s glove side. Tavra nearly got it in, but at the last second, Zili’s eagle eyes tracked it and she caught it neatly in her mitt.

“Nice try, Captain! Maybe next time, yeah?” Zili teased her. Tavra smacked her stick against the goalie’s pads affectionately before gliding off to the back of the line, only to freeze as a sinister gaze met her own.

“Tolyn,” she whispered bitterly. The big jerk was Spriton, tall and strong, or in Tolyn’s case brutish. The sound of ice being carved sounded from behind her, letting Tavra know her two assistant captains had her back.

“That guy almost makes me ashamed to be Spriton.” Kylan muttered, glaring with all he had at the man, who only sneered back.

“Don’t let him get to you Kylan. I’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt you this time. I’d never hear the end of it from my brother if I did.”

“You’re damn right about that, Naia.” Another player had joined the assistant captains.

“Speak of the devil. Hey, Gurjin. You ready to rumble?” Naia asked her brother.

“Oh, you know it. Gotta get revenge for them breaking my poor Ky Guy’s arm.” Suddenly, the scoring siren went off, signaling the players to leave the ice as it’s resurfaced in preparation for the game’s start. The Paladin’s gathered once more into their locker room. Tavra, Kylan and Naia stood up front as everyone else kneeled, waiting to hear some inspiring words from their captain.

“Ok, we’ve got a tough game ahead of ourselves here, people. We know just as much as anyone else that the Landstriders don’t fight fair. Expect attacks from all sides and keep your guard up. Their goalie is weak on their stick side, so do your best to aim at the space between the arm and torso, as well as high on her right side. Stay away from that glove hand, it’s too good. Now raise your swords, gelfs…” Everyone’s sticks rose in the air. “Brave paladins of HSU, are you ready to defend yourselves, your honor, and your school?” The team let out their best roars of approval. “Are we ready to face the beasts in battle, skate blades sharpened, sticks taped?” Another roar resounded throughout the room. The coach signaled for the group to head out for introductions.

“Ok gelfs, charge!” The Paladins stormed out of the locker room, cheering wildly, though it was completely drowned out by the outrageously raucous crowd. The visiting team was just getting finished with their introduction.

“And, at center, the Landstrider’s leading scorer and captain of the team, number 66, Tolyn!” Loud boos overwhelmed any cheers there might have been for the Spriton center, causing him to shake his stick angrily at his many detractors.

“And now, the roster of our very own home team, the Ha’rar State University Fighting Paladins!” The crowd cheered loudly in response. “For the tertiary line, at left wing it’s number 86, Mira!” A thin Vapra girl quickly skated out on the ice, waving to her fans. “On right wing we’ve got number 18, Deet!” A Grottan girl and Rian’s girlfriend skated over to bump gloves with Mira. “And at center, number 8, the incomparable Rian!” The Stonewood skated out strong, charming all the ladies as he waved to the crowd. “For our secondary offensive line, we’ve got our newest player, number 45, Galen!” A Spriton, taller than both Kylan and Tolyn skated reservedly onto the ice. “Coming in on right wing like a thief in the night, it’s number 13, Periss!” The youngest of the team, a Dousan boy with a rakish attitude glided out, taking bows and throwing kisses as he went. “And, at center, number 7, Bold Gurjin!” The great oaf was light as a feather as he slid past his teammates, giving Kylan’s helmet an affectionate smack as he passed him. “And now for our secondary defenseman. On the right, give it up for number 3, Brea!” Tavra’s younger, bookish sister skated calmly into place, absorbing any information she could about her enemies. “And on the left, it’s number 69, ladies let out a cheer for Rek’yr!” The tattoo-faced man skated grandly into place, blowing kisses to his many lady followers, who screamed in response, one of them fainting.

“And now, everybody give it up for our starting roster. On left wing, we’ve got number 4, the mysterious and shadowy Amri!” Amri had already snuck into his place in line at this point. “On right wing, number 32, our ever-melodious Kylan!” The lanky Spriton skated calmly into place, doing his best not to be intimidated at the sight of Tolyn pretending to slash his throat, the universal bully sign for ‘you’re dead meat’. “And at center, number 17, it’s Fierce Naia!” Naia charged onto the ice, letting out a growling war cry as she bumped gloves with all her teammates, nearly knocking some of them over in her zeal. “And starting for the defense, we’ve got number 49, Ellis!” A Vapra senior a few years older than Tavra skated out. “And don’t forget his partner, your favorite player and mine, that devastating lavender tornado, the Tremendous Tavra!” The crowd got even louder somehow as Tavra regally entered the rink, smiling at her comrades and looking disdainfully over at her opponents. “And last, but certainly not least, that eccentric and crazy girl you know and love, the goalie, number 00, Zili!” Zili skated out powerfully in her heavy goalie pads, ready to protect and defend her net with all she had.

“Whoo! Yeaaayuhh, let’s do this!” Zili riled up the crowd even more, forcing the officials to wait several minutes until things died down to start. The Skarith Land’s flag was lowered down over the rink by wires, as the country’s national anthem played. Once it was over, the teams headed for their respective benches while the captains of each team came and shook hands. Tavra took her hand out of her glove, offering it to Tolyn, who merely scoffed at it and took off to his own bench. Tavra looked at Kylan and Naia.

“Well, you can’t say I didn’t try.” The three skated over to their team, who were being given a last-minute pep talk by Coach Madso.

“Alright, lads and lassies, get out there and follow the plan. Don’t let them goad you into penalties we can’t afford. Stay onside, and for Thra’s sake, protect each other. We don’t need anymore broken arms, right Kylan?”

“Y-Yes sir!”

“OK!” Tavra barked. “Sticks in!” Everyone gathered in a circle, sticks placed in the middle, pointed downward. “Paladins on three! One, two, three-”

“PALADINS!” With that, the other lines went to the bench and the starters to their places. The referee checked to make sure each goalie was ready, and the centers faced off. The puck is dropped, and the game begins!

-------

It’s late in the third period. Both teams are exhausted from holding each other to a standstill. Neither had scored so far, and the crowd was getting restless with tension. Back and forth across the ice they raced. Naia had the puck on a small breakaway, Kylan assisting her as they passed the flat black object between each other, desperate to keep it away from the Landstriders. Suddenly, Kylan got pinned to the boards as he tried to dig the puck out from the edge of the rink. The enemy player’s skate kept blocking his stick and he couldn’t twist his body the right way to get it. What Kylan didn’t see was that across the rink, Tolyn had locked onto him. He charged, barreling straight at the unwary Spriton. But just as he was about to slam the music major into the boards, something tripped him from behind. He landed flat on his face, sliding hard into the boards from his momentum. A whistle was sounded, stopping play.

“Number 17, Paladins, two minutes, tripping.” It didn’t matter that Naia had stopped Tolyn from breaking Kylan’s clavicle, she got stuck with the penalty. Now they were one gelf down, on a powerplay in the Landstrider’s favor, at the very end of the game. They only needed to last two minutes, but with Tolyn lurking out on the ice, it might as well have been two trine. Coach Madso called timeout, gathering his brave Paladins to his benchside.

“Alright my soldiers, this is what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna hold the line as best we can. I need Gurjin on right, Deet, you’re on center. Use any tricks you’ve got to be in front of that net. Tavra, Brea, you’re in at D. Tavra, you’ve got the fast slapshot. Everyone else, get the puck into the Landstrider zone, and then get it to Tavra. She and Deet will do the rest. Are we clear?” Everyone nodded. “Good. Paladins on three. One, two, three-”

“PALADINS!” The selected players went to their spots. Deet took the faceoff. When the puck dropped, Tolyn made to tackle the small Grottan to the ground, but when he aimed high, she went low, ducking beneath his arms and skating away with the puck. Gurjin plowed through his opponent, flanking Deet on the right. Tavra and Brea trailed behind, stopping just inside the Landstrider blue line. They skated circles in place, watching the puck bounce back and forth between Gurjin and Deet, trying to thwart their attackers and draw them away from the net so Tavra could get a clear shot. The clock began to wind down. The two-minute penalty passed and Naia quickly skated to the bench, where she was replaced by Amri, who drove hard into the occupied zone to help Gurjin and Deet. Deet passed to Gurjin, who was immediately dogged by Tolyn and his right wing, Lun. Pinned against the boards, all Gurjin could do was kick his leg, which he did, successfully knocking the puck along the boards and over to Amri, who slipped and slid around his attacker like a snake through wet grass. His ears perked as he heard Coach Madso cry out.

“Hey! Get it to Tavra! She’s open! Ten seconds left! Make the pass, Amri!” Amri whipped around, searching for his teammate. Tavra was in shotgun position, ready to take aim as soon as she’s given ammo. Amri flicked the puck over to her. She barely stopped it before pulling her stick back and firing it hard through the air and over the center of the ice. The goalie reached for it…It’s…It’s…CLANG! It’s deflected! But what’s this? SMACK!

The crowd waited with bated breath. Tavra stared forward, dropping to her knees.

Wee-Ooh! The scoring siren finally sounded. It’s good! Deet had indeed been waiting, and when the puck glanced off the post, she was right there with the rebound. Her teammates suddenly surrounded her, giving a group hug and patting her hard on the back, screaming they’d won. Tavra, still on her knees, looked upward, not trusting the scoreboard. It was 1-0 Home, and the clock had one tenth of a second left. The following faceoff was just a formality, as the clock ran out and the siren sounded once more, signaling the end of the game, and of the tournament. Trophies were handed out in a ceremony before everyone started to head home. But, just before the team left the ice, Gurjin shouted to the crowd:

“Victory party at Gyr Hall!” Cheers were heard as they departed to the locker room to shower and change before heading to the party. Tavra took her time cleaning up, in no rush for the festivities. All she wanted was to enjoy the energy rush she’d gotten from a game well-played. But, as team captain, she was obligated to go, at least, that’s what Naia and Gurjin said. Kylan gave her an out, but he was quickly overruled by Rian and Deet, so Tavra had no choice. She would socialize, whether she wanted to or not.

-------

“Tae, do we have to go to this thing? All that crowd noise gave me a headache.” It was Onica’s last-ditch effort to escape the party. Tae just rolled her eyes.

“You’re fine. Don’t be such a drama queen. Besides, Zili knows we’re here, we can’t just walk out on her. There she is, Zili! Over here, girl!” After meeting up with the goaltender, who was just as weird as Onica had heard, Zili escorted them over to Gyr Hall and the party held within. The voices of others were all that was heard within the crowded dorm hall. The music was still being set up, but Gurjin kept interfering to flirt with Kylan, who was in charge of tunes. Zili moved passed them, searching for the boy Tae wanted to meet with. Galen was finally spotted talking to Amri, joining them when Zili called him away.

“Alrighty. Galen, this is Tae. Tae, Galen. Ok, let’s see some love sparks fly. Go on, you two. Scoot!” The two walked off, Tae apologizing to Onica for leaving her there with her eyes. Onica sighed lightly, she knew this would happen. She opted to plop down on a vacant couch, people watching to pass the time. Twenty minutes went by, during which Onica grabbed herself a beer from a nearby cooler. She sipped the bitter liquid slowly, not desiring a buzz, but merely drinking it as something to do. Just as she’d talked herself into grabbing one more, there was shouting coming from the front street. Changing her mind on the drink, the redhead decided to see what was going on.

A tall Gelfling of Spriton descent stood in front of a group of students, some of which Onica recognized as being part of the Landstrider’s roster. They’d had their helmets off when receiving their second-place trophy.

I guess that means the one in front is Tolyn. Not the most attractive of team captains, is he…Onica thought, watching the scene unfold. More shouting was then heard coming from the dorm’s side entrance, before a group of Paladins emerged, a beautiful silver and lavender haired woman at their head. And that must be Tavra. What an attractive Silverling. Perhaps Tae was right. Maybe I should find someone else. Tavra stepped right up in Tolyn’s face, not backing down.

“This is a private engagement, my good Landstriders. Please leave, before things get ugly.” The cracking of knuckles reinforced her words, Naia’s fists providing the sound effect. Tolyn just gave a cocky grin.

“Aww…is the big, brave Paladin afraid one of us Landstriders are gonna hurt one of her friends again? By the way, Ky, how’s the arm?” Kylan grabbed his forearm, defensively pulling it to his chest.

“I-It’s fine.” Gurjin stepped in front of his boyfriend.

“Leave him be, Tolyn. You touch him, and I won’t stop at just your arm.” Kylan grabbed Gurjin before he did something foolish, attempting to calm him down. Tolyn just scoffed.

“Tch! You need to keep a better leash on your Drenchen mutt, Tavra. Kylan betrayed his own, so he’s fair game to us.”

“Oh, my Thra, he changed schools! There’s no betrayal in that. STU didn’t have a music program, so he switched. You can’t fault him for that.” Naia jumped in, standing next to her brother and further blocking Kylan from Tolyn’s wrath.

“I take back what I said,” Tolyn paused. “It looks like you’ve got two Drenchen dogs you need to teach discipline to. You really got your work cut out for you, don’t ya, Katavra.” Tavra flinched at the use of her full name. Only her mother called her that, and when it happened, it wasn’t going to be good. Tavra stared at Tolyn coldly.

“Just leave, Tolyn. You’ve had your fun. Enough is enough.” Tavra turned, attempting to end the incident, but Tolyn wasn’t of the mind to leave. Onica watched as he snuck up behind her back.

“Oh, no. H-Hey! Tavra, look out!” Onica’s warning came too little too late, as Tolyn turned Tavra by her shoulder, only to haul back and hit her right on the jaw with a sickening crack. The poor woman was knocked off her feet, saved from hitting the ground by Gurjin, as Naia charged forward with the rest of the team in retaliation. A fight broke out, the Paladins easily outwitting and out-brawling their opponents, only to chase after them as they tried to retreat. Gurjin had left Tavra with Onica, who had approached to see if she could help. The Drenchen charged into the melee, flinging Landstriders left and right. Brea came over to where her sister lay with a washcloth and ice, handing them to Onica before grabbing her phone to call campus police. The Sifa placed the ice gently to Tavra’s already swelling jaw. The dazed Silverling gazed up at her, a strange smile spread across her face.

“Hmm…I must be dead…” Onica looked at her oddly.

“What makes you say that?”

“I’ve got a beautiful, red-haired angel taking care of me. If this isn’t paradise, I don’t know what is.” Onica chuckled at the rather forward-speaking Vapra.

“Well, I’m afraid this isn’t paradise, but if you’d like, I can care for you a little while longer.” Tavra smiled at her, before suddenly pulling her in for a dazed and clumsy kiss. Onica pulled back, blushing wildly.

“I’d really like that. My name is Tavra. And what is the name of the gorgeous angel that’s caring for me, if you don’t mind my asking.” Onica blushed even further, beguiled by the Vapra girl’s charms.

“I’m-uh…I-I’m Onica.” Tavra took her hand, holding it up to her lips for a kiss nearly missing it because of her dizziness.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear lady Onica. I hope we can get to know each other better, that is, once my jaw stops hurting so much. *Groan* Coach is going to be so mad at me if I can’t practice tomorrow.” Onica placed a gentle hand to the uninjured side of Tavra’s face.

“Lucky for you, my hobbies include learning traditional Sifa herbal Less side effects than regular medications. And I guarantee you’ll be up and skating by tomorrow. Now, let’s get you up and into bed.” Onica helped Tavra to her feet, the Vapra swinging an arm around the other girl’s shoulders.

“You’ve known me less than ten minutes, and already you’re trying to get me into bed. My, my, don’t you work fast.” Onica rolled her eyes, but still laughed quietly.

I think I’m beginning to like this girl. With that last, lingering thought, the two walked unsteadily into the dorm, and into a wonderful new relationship.

-DK

#tavronica week 2021 #tavra #onica #gurjin #naia #amri #kylan #tae #brea #periss #rek'yr #deet #rian #mira #gelfling OCs #ice hockey #college

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thebibliomancer · 3 years

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Tides of the Dark Crystal liveblog pt 22

Tides of the Dark Crystal because Amri just got pulled into the water, perhaps by some manner of white whale but probably not.

Last times on book: Amri and co are on a quest to unite all the Gelfling against the Skeksis. They’ve succeeded with the Sifa at Cera-Na and the Dousan of the Wellspring but while they were avoiding ever going to Ha’rar, All-Maudra Mayrin was killed by the Skeksis. Her daughter Seladon has become the new All-Maudra and spoke out in favor of loyalty to the Skeksis. In Ha’rar, the protagonists run into Tae of the Sifa and regrouped with her. While they were supposed to be sleeping on the problem, Amri instead fell off a boat because he heard a sea monster.

Chapter 22

Amri meets a new friend, unless he doesn’t, and then has an epiphany after getting friendly with a city street

So Amri is not drowning for the second time in the book despite being in some deep water. The first time it was because Naia was there sharing oxygen with him. This second time he’s just not drowning for some reason. He ponders aloud if he’s dead.

The creature he saw in the water is swimming around him, not giving him a good look, but untangling the rope that Amri tangled himself in like an idiot.

Pretty friendly sea monster.

The water filled his mouth, but he didn’t drown. He turned when he saw movement, but the creature that circled him, long and streamlined, was always just out of sight. It swooped through the thick water, giving scant glimpses of its long tail and powerful limbs that propelled it through the water as easily as a bird in flight.

The sea monsters responds to Amri pondering mortality by telling him he’s not dead.

“Um... am I going to die?”

“That is a strange question.”

Stupendous.

The sea monster’s voice (and general unhelpful way of answering questions presumably) pricks at Amri’s memory.

“Are you a Mystic?” he asked.

“Hmm... I am pretty mystical.”

Which is what Amri had said about urLii to Kylan and Naia back in the previous book!

Amri has enough of the vagueness or wondering whether he is or isn’t dead and just goes “I’m gonna go” because the whole conversation is like this. The Mystic asks Amri to wait and finally swims into sight.

Amri recognizes the multi-limbed individual as definitely a Mystic and guesses that they’re also the water spirit who is reputed to light the coast side lanterns.

But when the Mystic swims closer, Amri realizes what really seemed familiar about them. The Mystic’s eyes remind Amri of skekSa’s.

“Are you skekSa’s opposite?” Amri gasped.

“Opposition is a falsehood. Like day and night -- convenient words, but only part of the truth. For there exists such a thing as dawn, and also dusk. All phases in the turning of the spheres. I am merely a swimmer of the seas.”

It’s she!

They don’t name names here but its urSan the Swimmer!

Because in the game of not quite opposites between the Skeksis and the Mystics, skekSa said ‘i’m going to sail on top of the water haha’ and urSan went ‘ok i’mma swim everywhere’ and jumped into the ocean.

I can’t get over how great a concept that is. Just a urRu swimming everywhere.

Mystics are so ponderous on land but urSan is zooming around underwater. Maybe their problem is that they’re meant for the water.

She apparently also knows magic that negates the coldness of the water or the need to breath which explains why Amri is definitely not dead.

Amri asks if the Swimmer is here to help the Vapra, somehow believing “in the past, the Mystics had come to their aid when they had needed it most.”

“You already know how to help the Vapra,” the swimmer said, echoing his intonation so it was like hearing his own voice bubbling back at him.

“So you’re not going to help.”

“A compass is nothing without a ship.”

“Then point me in the right direction!”

“I already have.”

Because, yeah, that’s about the average level of helpful the urRu tend to be.

I mean, it is helpful, in the sense of you eventually figure things out. And Amri tries.

He keeps trying to puzzle through while the Swimmer keeps offering vague answers.

Amri complains that he doesn’t know anything about the Vapra or their city and that the Swimmer should be speaking to Tavra.

“I am speaking to whom I should be speaking. To the Shadowling that brought a song from deep caves to an oasis lake. Tell m, what is the difference between the waves of the sea and the waves of the sand?”

and

“What is the difference between crystals of stone and crystals of water?”

“Crystals of water?” Amri asked. Then he remembered. “You mean ice?”

“Deatea. Fire. Deratea. Air. Kidakida. Water. Arugaru. Earth. Four words with one center sound. Four elements with one central heart. Water becomes steam. Is that not air? And then it burns. Is that not fire? Dawn becomes day becomes dusk becomes evening becomes night. Becomes dawn once again. Where does one end and the other begin? Is there such a thing?”

This would be great for my fantasy setting with the elementalism magic system.

Its good stuff. I’m not sure where its leading. The solutions in these books tend to surprise me because they’re pretty magical.

Amri still doesn’t get it either and is now so confused that he’s seriously considering that he is drowning.

“But I’m a Grottan,” he called desperately. “I don’t know anything about waves except that I’m scared of the ocean. I don’t know anything about the daylighter world except that I’m clumsy at walking in it!”

You’re not clumsy at walking. You’re clumsy wearing shoes.

That’s pretty inspirational actually.

Not helping the unreality Amri feels, bubbles obscure the Swimmer and then propel Amri to the surface where he suddenly wakes up and finds himself on the deck of Onica’s ship, being shaken awake by Naia. Not wet at all from a dip in the ocean but a bit damp from snow melting on him.

Uh. Huh. Weird.

Naia is touching him to make sure he’s okay and they have a mutual blushy moment about that.

They go inside and Naia makes him a nice hot cup of... uh, water. Do people just drink hot water? There’s so many herbs in this boat.

“I had the strangest dream,” he said. It tasted like a lie. It couldn’t have been a dream, could it? He stared at the bundle of herbs in the center of the table, cold and dormant in the clay bowl. He shook his head. “Must have been a dream.”

He tells Naia what he dreamed, trying to be quiet but waking up everyone anyway. It seems more and more dreamlike the longer he’s awake and he’s pretty sure that the herbs that Onica used to try to Far-Dream earlier gave him a weird vivid dream.

Silly of him to think a Far-Dreamer would say a dream is just a dream.

“Even if it was a dream, that doesn’t mean it’s not important,” Onica replied. “Do you have any idea what it means?”

Amri blushed. “You’re the Far-Dreamer. Aren’t you supposed to be the one that knows...” Even as he spoke, he thought of what the Mystic had said. Dawn to day to dusk. Being a Far-Dreamer didn’t mean it was her responsibility to know everything there was to know about dreams. Perhaps he had been putting too much stock in titles.

You already know how to help the Vapra.

And this time he does already knows, it seems, because he suddenly darts out into the night, dismissing Tae’s concerns about the Skeksis since they can’t see very well at night.

Naia catches up with him and Amri feels comforted by having her at his side.

Shiiiiiiip tease.

They hike together into the city in silence where Amri does a thing.

Amri leaned down and pulled and pulled the straps off his sandals. Naia stood by and watched, hand on the hilt of her dagger. Ready to protect him from anything, even as he did something she didn’t totally understand. He tried not to worry what Naia would think of him, acting like a Shadowling in the middle of the Gelfling capital. He couldn’t worry about it. He had to be who he was.

He tossed the sandals aside, letting his back curve to the shape he had tried to hard to straighten. Barefoot, he crouched on the frozen stone pathways, and for the first time, his fingers and toes tasted the street of Ha’rar.

I’m of mixed feelings about this.

A revelation that Amri should just be himself does fit. His super move has been letting Tavra take over his body so she can do what she does do. But they don’t really do that enough that you have to start worrying about Amri wishing he were another person.

There was that bit where Tavra told him he couldn’t rely on Grottan tricks.... uh, and then his Grottan tricks don’t come up so much. Oh, Amri. Why won’t they let you be the weird alchemy boy?

He has had repeat things about being unfamiliar with shoes and walking without crouching but he wasn’t doing that to fit in socially. He had to wear sandal shoes because walking so much was doing a number on his feet. He had to walk not crouched because that was messing with him adapting to walking with sandals.

And in fairness, he puts the sandals back on after this so he doesn’t freeze his feets while walking back. So, the practical benefits of wearing shoes are recognized.

So I don’t know about Amri hadding to be who he was but I’m glad that he is.

Anyway. Amri has ground sense. Talking to sand and talking to rocks. Now, thanks to the Swimmer, he has realized that water is a beautiful spectrum and he can talk to ice too.

He gets a good feel for the vibrations of Ha’rar. The whole thing.

From the street to the Vapra homes to the citadel, the ocean and the cold blue mountains. It was all connected, intertwined somehow. As if some perfect, pure mineral laced the entire city in a web of crystal, originating from a source high in the mountains that looked down on Ha’rar.

Amri actually presses his ear to the ground to hear even better. And he hears how the song of Ha’rar differs from the mineral of the Dousan Wellspring or the rocks of the Caves of Grot.

This was fluid, like the sea or the lakes or rivers. Clear and pristine. Diamond-hard, carrying the thousand sounds of the city from one end to the other.

It was crystal, but not of stone.

OF COURSE ITS SO OBVIOUS NOW

No, I lie, I’m still lost.

What did you learn, Amri?

It was so simple, now that he knew. Now that he’d listened.

Dangit. Just tell me.

But he doesn’t. Cruel, cruel POV protagonist. Withholding plot.

“We have to get Tavra and Kylan to the trees of the Waystar grove,” he said. “I know how to send a message to the Vapra of Ha’rar.”

Fine, I guess I’ll read another chapter of the book I was already reading!

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #tides of the dark crystal #liveblog #Amri #naia #urSan #the Swimmer #OR IS IT?#Onica #Tae

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sweetiepie08 · 3 years

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Time not Wasted (Part 2)

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance fanfiction.

Rian, Mira, and Gurjin get a night off of guard duty and decide to spend it at a nearby tavern. As they drink and celebrate their night of freedom, they laugh, make mischief, and create memories that will warm their hearts for years to come. Time is never wasted when it is spent with the ones you love.

Part 1. Part 2.

[-]

Rian looked around the table. Friends from all seven clans filled the seats. All were in Ha’rar for a summit to report on the rebuilding efforts after the skeksis were dislodged and defeated. But it wasn't all business. Rarely were they all together like this. It was time for some fun. “Alright,” Gurjin, the self-appointed master of ceremonies, spoke up, “Everybody ready to drink their way around Thra?”

“Everyone took out their flagons and bottles. Rian brought one of his favorite Stonewood brews and he was excited to share it with the rest of them. He looked around the table and wondered which drink would be the best to try. The plan was to taste the drink from each of the seven clans. They had Stonewood ale, Sifa rum, Vapran liquor, Drenchen moonshine, Spriton wine, Podling lager, Dousan wellspring water (the only nonalcoholic drink of the bunch) and, most dread of all, Grotton glow spirit.

“So here's how it's going to go,” Gurjin began once everyone had their drinks on the table. “I've got the symbols of each seven clans…”

“And podling,” Hup chimed in.

“Yes and podling,” Gurjin went on, “in this bowl.” He presented a wooden bowl with several folded slips of paper in it. “I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. Whatever I pull out, that's what we'll try. Shall we begin?”

A cheer rose from the table and Gurjin picked the first paper out of the bowl. He unfolded it, looked at it, then fold it up and put it back.

“Hey, hold on, hold on,” Naia protested. “Who was that?”

“I was Dousan, but we can't start with the wellspring water, alright?” Gurjin explained. “Deet’s got glow spirit. We’ll die. Okay, picking again.”

Gurjin reached back into the bowl and plucked out a slip of paper. “Stonewood,” he announced. “Okay, we're easing into it. What have you got Rian?”

“Alright, everyone pass your cups,” Rian said, producing a small wooden keg. He opened the spout on the bottom, filled his friends’ cups, and passed them back. “Stonewoods have brewing recipes by the thousands. Everyone's got different tastes and you can easily start a pub brawl by insisting one brew is the definitive best. Harvest Gold is generally agreed to be among the top tier of brews.”

“This Rian’s favorite?” Hup asked, accepting his pint.

“I like it alright but…”

“Oh here it comes,” Gurjin cut in.

“What?” Rian snapped, turning to his friend.

Gurjin rolled his eyes. “Here comes the lecture about what makes a good beer and why everyone else’s opinion is wrong.”

“Are you drunk already?” Rian retorted with a smirk. “When have I ever said everyone else’s opinions are wrong?”

“How many times have we argued over beer?”

“That doesn't mean I think everyone else’s opinions are wrong,” Rian shot back. “I might think your opinions are wrong.”

“Sours,” Gurjin said as if that settled things.

“Oh now you're bringing up sours?”

“I got you to renounce your opinion about sours, remember?”

“No, I renounced my opinion on people who drink sours.”

“What's wrong with sours?” Kylan asked.

“Aye, I like sours,” Onica added.

“They're just…” Rian sighed, “so bad…” He let out a long, disgruntled breath. “But you're allowed to like them.” He laughed wearily. “So anyway, I prefer a stout. That’s what I was about to say. I like the dark brews. As far as pale wheat beer goes, this one is one of the best.”

“Alright, enough talk,” Gurjin interrupted. “Let's drink. Vliya!”

“Vliya!” they answered back and they tipped back their tankards.

“Very refreshing,” Kylan said, taking another taste of his.

“Thank you.”

“Alright,” Gurjin drained his and slammed it back down on the table. “Tastes like beer. Moving on.”

“Hey, hey, wait a minute!” Rian protested.

“What? The stone Woods export their beer to almost every clan. We've all tried it before.”

“I thought it was good,” Deet put in with her sweet voice.

“Of course your mate's going to say that,” Gurjin answered. “Deet may as well be drinking water.”

“What does he mean by that?” Rek’yr asked.

Deet shyly played with a lock of her hair. “Grottons tend to be less sensitive to strong drinks than most gelfling.”

“Famous Grotton alcohol tolerance,” Grujin added. “You'll see it at work later tonight. Speaking of which, let's move on with the show. Who’s next?”

They moved on to trying Sifa spiced rum, Vapran mountain mist, and podling ale. Naturally, Gurjin felt the need to tease Rian about his beer snobbery. “Well, I hope you’ve got liquid gold in that keg,” Gurjn had said. “Otherwise, you're not likely to impress him.”

Rian managed to surprise them by complementing the podling beer which he had to admit was very smooth. And Hup’s face lit up like a firework when he did.

As the night wore on, everyone grew tipsy and their different reactions started to show. Rian was starting to feel light and loose. Brea and Seladon became surprisingly giggly. Onica and Naia somehow decided they were best friends, despite having only met a handful of times before. Kylan stumbled through a bizarre retelling of an old gelfling legend while Hup drowsily mumbled back in podling. Rek’yr, unused to drinking in excess, possibly had the worst reaction. He leaned on the table, propping his head up with the hand, and closed his eyes. He also seemed to deeply regret his decision to sit next to Deet, who only became more talkative and she, apparently, decided it was time for jokes.

“So anyway,” she said, taking a long sip from her glass of Spriton BlackBerry wine, “so he knocks on the lady’s door and says, ‘I'm sorry. I've accidentally let out all your rock sprites and they flown away. I'd like to replace them.’ And the lady says, ‘I don't know if that would work. How are you at fertilizing glow moss?’”

“I'm sorry, I'm confused,” Rek’yr said, slowly cracking his eyes open. “Did this happen to friends of yours?”

“This didn't happen to anyone. It was a joke.”

Rek’yr nodded and closed his eyes again, though it was questionable whether or not he comprehended what she just said.

“Delicious as usual,” Gurjin said, finishing his glass of wine. “Everyone ready to move on?”

“I am,” Deet said cheerfully, passing back her empty glass.

Rek’yr just gave a slow, resigned nod.

Gurjin reached into the bowl and announced, “Dousan wellspring water.”

“Oh blessed Thra,” Rek’yr muttered.

Gurjin poured a glass for everyone pass them. “Rek’yr, if your still able to speak in complete sentences, please tell us about Wellspring water.”

“The water comes from the Wellspring Oasis in the crystal desert,” he explained. “It's a sort of home base for my clan. The water is said to have restorative properties.”

“Oh, perfect because the two hardest drinks are saved for last,” Gurjin said.

This seemed to dampen Rek’yr’s mood some, but they all took their glasses of Wellspring water. It was shockingly cool and refreshing. The best comparison Rian could come up with was catching fresh snowflakes on his tongue in the winter as a childling. Amazing that water from the desert oasis could bring snow to mind. And the restorative properties seemed to be at work as well. He could always feel his head becoming clearer.

It was a good thing too. Gurjin was right that they would need that break, because the next slip pulled from the bowl was Drenchen. That meant moonshine.

Grujin and Naia wore matching grins as they took out the clear glass jug filled with possibly even clearer with liquid.

“I don't like that I can see straight through it,” Seledon remarked, regarding the jug with some suspicion.

“Gurjin…” Rian said in a warning tone, “don't do to them what you did to me.”

Gurjin slapped a hand on his chest in feigned offense. “I have no idea what you're talking about.”

Rian threw him as stern a look as he could muster. “Tell them.”

“Fine…” Gurjin sighed. “Okay everyone, the secret to moonshine is tiny sips.” He passed out glasses which barely had anything in them. Having tasted this particular moonshine before, Rian thought that was for the best.

When they all took a drink, Rian was rather proud to be one of the few who wasn't coughing. In fact, it made him nostalgic for his training days when he and Gurjin would sneak a drink late at night.

He heard Deet chatting and looked over to find her talking Rek’yr’s ear off with her full drink still in her hand.

“I learned the names of all seventy-two types of glow moss when I was a childling. Moss husbandry is actually a hobby of Papa Mitjan’s. Anyway…”

“Deet,” Gurjin interrupted, “try your drink.”

“Oh right.” She tipped the glass back, emptying it into her mouth, and went back to her story. “What was I saying? Oh yes, when I was in school, I did a project on the different levels of luminescence in each type and I found…”

“Deet!” Gurjin interrupted again.

“Yes?” she asked, turning innocently to the table who stared back at her in shock.

“You're supposed to sip that.”

“Was I?” she said as she looked down at her empty glass. “I'm sorry. It was lovely anyway. Here, pour me another one so I can get a better taste.” She passed her glass back to Gurjin and continued. “Where was I? Oh, anyway there's a type called Moonlight Moss which makes your wings glow bright white and that's what the name moonshine reminds me of.” She finished her story with a pleasant smile.

Rek’yr looked at her like she was a witch. “I'm sorry do you really not feel anything.”

“Now that you mention it, that did tingle my nose a bit.”

“A little tingle?” Seladon said, aghast. “That's it? Has science looked into you?”

“They have actually,” Brea interjected, “and it's theorized the veins of crystal energy in the cave have given Grottons certain advanced abilities, such as sensitive eyes and ears, increased durability and pain tolerance, and, as demonstrated tonight, a certain degree of immunity to poisons.”

“Look at her,” Onica grumbled, “Still bright as a guiding star. She’s putting us all to shame.”

“Guys,” Rian laughed, “I guarantee you, later tonight, she's going to be up in bed reading or something, sober as a stone, and I'm going to be hunched over a bucket, crying.”

“Well then,” Gurjin said, taking up the bowl again. “Let's waste no more time.” He took out the last slip and revealed the Grotton sigil. “Time for glow spirit.”

There was a collective groan around the table, save for Deet, who smiled at the mention of her favorite drink, and Gurjin, who grinned gleefully.

“I've never seen anyone so excited to face their own death,” Rian quipped.

“If I go out having fun with my friends, how can I ask for a better death?”

“How about one in your own bed?” Rian suggested. “After living to old age?”

Gurjin shrugged. “Overrated. So Deet,” he clapped his hands together. “Show us the good stuff.”

“I hope I brought enough.” She took out two clear bottles filled with a glowing blue liquid. “This is glow spirit.”

“What gives it that glow?” Kylan asked, staring at the bottles like they were filled with magic potions.

Rek’yr looked at them like they were filled with actual poison.

“It's made from herbs and flowers in the same family as glow moss, which gives it this color. To Grottons, it has a subtly sweet taste with a bit of a bite to it. To others, I hear it's… quite strong.”

“I thought it tasted like arathim poison.” Rain added, staring down the bottles.

“No, if it were arathim poison, Deet would say ‘finally, a strong drink,’” Gruijn laughed. “Wait, you tried it without me?”

“Papa Mitjan’s birthday day,” Deet explained. “It didn't go down easy.”

“I'm insulted,” Gurjin huffed. “We were supposed to try glow spirit together.”

“It was their birthday tradition,” Rian argued. “I didn't want to be rude.”

“I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had a pact,” Deet said. “I can invite you to Papa Lath’N’s birthday, if you like.”

Grujin shrugged it off. “Hardly matters now. We're about to try it anyway. But don't think I won't take you up on that offer.”

“Any tips for surviving this?” Brea asked.

“I'm not sure.” Deet tapped her cheek thoughtfully. “We don't really think about it too much. I suppose just try to ease into it.”

“Just don't let it linger in your mouth,” Rian added.

“Alright, final drink,” Gurjin announced. “Everybody ready?”

He was met with an uncertain cheer.

“Eh, sure you are,” he dismissed. “Three, two, one, vlyia!”

“Vlyia!”

They tipped the glasses back and almost instantly began to gag. Hup spit his directly back into his glass. Onica managed to swallow it, but her face scratched up like a raison. Naia swore loudly and wiped her mouth. Brea got caught up in a coughing fit while Seladon dove straight for her water. Kylan just quietly put his head on the table. Gurjin made a valiant effort to act like he was in much less pain than he actually was. Rek’yr battled with his impulse to be polite before muttering “poison” and burying his head in his hands. Rian, having learned from last time, had his water glass in his other hand, ready to chase the burning away.

Amongst the chaos, Deet contently sipped from her glass. “This is actually quite a good batch,” she mused, taking another sip.

“Oh, is it?” Gurjin squeaked. finally reaching for his water.

“Yes, the herbs are complementing each other nicely. It has a smooth finish…”

“Smooth?” Naia coughed. “Did she just say smooth?”

“I did say it tastes different for Grottons,” Deet said, taking another pleasant sip.

“And what a difference it must be,” Kylan said in awe. “I've never tasted anything like that.”

“You know what?” Gurjin said with a cocky grin. “My favorite of the night.”

“Would you shut up?” Naia groaned.

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll push you off the chair.”

“Bet you can't.”

After a short scuffle, Gurjin ended up flat on the floor. “Ha! Told you I'd do it!” Naia boasted.

This elicited raucous laughter from the table. Gurjin popped up, no worse for wear. He reached across the table and grabbed a pair of spoons. “Rian, I hope you're not too drunk to play.”

“Oh, this is later than I expected,” he answered, taking the spoons.

“My inner Bard has waited long enough.” Gurjin winked and launched into an old gelfling folk song. Then Kylan joined in, then Hup, then the rest.

As Rian played, he looked around at their smiling faces, grateful to just have them all there, safe and happy. After going through so much hardship together, it still felt miraculous just to have a fun night with his friends.

#the dark crytsal: age of resistance #the dark crystal #the dark crystal fanfiction #the dark crystal: age of resistance fanfic #gurjin #rian #deet #rek'yr #kylan #brea #seladon #naia #onica #hup #sweetiepie writes #sweetiepie fanfiction #sweetiepie08 fanfiction #sweetiepie08

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beanie-on-a-string · 4 years

Text

Finally - Modern AU! Dark Crystal AOR

Hey! So, a few months ago, I posted a Dark Crystal AOR Modern AU post, and someone sent in this ask:

And a few months later, here I am. With the fic. Idea by @canadachild9

If you want, you can read my Dark Crystal Modern AU post first for context HERE

“Gurjin, that’s a terrible idea.”

“Aw, come on!” Gurjin rolled over from his sprawl on Brea’s couch, moving into a sitting position and leaning in closer to Brea, who was sitting on the floor in front of him. “We’ve tried everything else.”

Brea scrunched her face up a little. “I still don’t know. Maybe it’s –“

“What’s going on in here?” Tavra poked her head into the living room. “I heard… how shall we say… heated conversation.”

Brea turned to face her sister. “Hello Tavra. What, no Onica this time?”

“Oh no, she’s in the kitchen.” Tavra gestured to the doorway. “She’s cleansing her crystals. Anyway,” she said, smirking, “I didn’t forget the reason I came in here. What’s going on?”

“Gurjin wants to put Rian and Deet on a boat together,” Brea replied. “He thinks that they’re going to confess their love for each other or something.” Just as she said this, Lore, the family pumi, shuffled into the room and curled up into Brea’s lap

Tavra laughed lightly at Lore, then looked back at Gurjin. “You’ve been watching too much Disney lately.”

Gurjin huffed and sprang into a standing position. “We’ve been trying to get these two idiots together for – what, a year now? – but they’re both so dense that they refuse to believe they’re liked back. It’s literal torture, you know. I’m always telling him that Deet very clearly likes him, but then he’s all,” Gurjin’s voice shifted into a mopey impression of Rian, “ ‘Oh no, I don’t know, Gurjin. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t.’ It’s so stupid I could cry. Neither of them have made anything even close to a move yet, and anytime we try, they undermine themselves.”

“You have got a point there,” Tavra murmured. Brea emitted a little cry of betrayal as her sister said this. “I mean, whenever I’m around them, I want to kick myself. And trust me, I have come close to actually doing it.”

Brea huffed. “Usually I’m up for these ideas, but this sounds like the equivalent of locking them in a closet, you know?”

“It’s not really like that, Brea,” Gurjin insisted. “A closet has… implications. But a boat? If it goes wrong – and let’s damn hope that it doesn’t – they could just have a conversation or something. And if they don’t like it, they could always swim back to shore.” That last remark earned him a slight dirty look from his friend.

After a moment of thought, Brea spoke up again. “I’m still not convinced. Too many things could go wrong.”

Gurjin pulled at his bun and inhaled. “Okay. Brea. If you don’t do this with me, I will make sure that you find a pigeon in every room in this house.”

Brea’s eyes widened, whispering a soft “no,” as Tavra doubled over.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Brea scowled as they stood at the line where the dock met the grass, watching Rian’s silhouette approach them. “Correction – I can’t believe you dragged me into this.”

“Look, it’s nice to drag someone into something instead of being the one dragged into everything for a change,” Gurjin shrugged. Brea shouldered him lightly with a soft “you’re lucky we’re friends.”

“Hey guys!” Rian jogged to them, pulling Gurjin and then Brea into quick hugs, then casually placed his elbow on Gurjin’s shoulder.

“Hi Rian,” Brea giggled as Rian softly poked Gurjin’s bun, the mass of hair slouching to one side.

“Give me a break, why don’t you?” Gurjin lightly bumped his friend off of his shoulder as Rian gave an exaggerated huff. Gurjin rolled his eyes but smiled as he took his hair down to fix it. “Now all we need to do is wait for Deet. Right?”

“Deet?” Rian’s eyes widened. “Deet’s coming?”

“You didn’t know?” Brea asked. “I thought we’d told you.” She turned to Gurjin. “I thought you’d told him!” She hissed quietly.

“I must have forgotten,” Gurjin whispered back. “Sorry. I had to help Naia prepare for a trip, and it completely slipped my mind.”

Brea shook her head a little. “It’s fine. Sorry.” She turned back to Rian, who was quietly waiting, fingers absentmindedly lacing through his necklace.

“So. Deet.” Rian laughed a little nervously. He brushed his bangs out of his face. “Yeah.”

Gurjin resisted the urge to facepalm. “I forgot to tell you about it earlier. She got pretty excited about observing all the plant life out here. She also got pretty excited when she heard you would be coming.” His delivery was one of someone who had gone through all the possible options and was now on his last leg.

“Oh?” Rian’s eyes lit up slightly. “Well –“

“I’m sorry I’m late!” Rian’s gaze snapped over to the girl racing towards them, cheeks flushed from running. She stopped, chest heaving, by Rian, who was staring at her with a wide-eyed mixture of fondness and nervousness. She turned to him and uttered a ‘hello’ with a small smile, and the two observers could swear Rian melted.

“Hello, Deet,” Rian softly said back, all confidence replaced by a flustered air that he never had around anyone else.

“Now that we’re all here,” Brea said, causing Rian and Deet to jump, “we should probably get to the boats.” She approached the rental booth, beckoning to Gurjin, who followed behind, leaving Rian and Deet alone together. For a moment, they did nothing, simply looking at the grass, then each other, then back at the grass again. Finally, Rian spoke up.

“You’ve got a – you’ve, uh –” Fumbling on his words, Rian decided to just pick the leaf out of her hair himself.

“Oh!” Deet’s hand flew up to the spot where Rian had touched it. “Thank you! Are – are there more?”

“I don’t see any more,” Rian said. “Wait, hold on.” He moved closer to her, turning to peek at the back of her head. “Yep, no more.” He pulled back, then frowned. “Deet, you alright?”

Deet furrowed her brows in confusion before realizing that she was holding her breath. She exhaled. “Yes. Thanks, Rian.” She smiled.

He smiled back, pink coloring his cheeks, and was about to say something else when Brea and Gurjin returned, life vests draped over their arms.

“So,” Brea said, clapping her hands together. “We got two boats, each one holding two people.”

“Brea and I are going to take one,” Gurjin said, “and you two can take the other.”

“…Us?” Rian asked after a beat, pointing to him and Deet.

Gurjin gave an exasperated sigh. “Who else? Now let’s get these on.” He threw a life jacket to Rian, who was too busy gazing at Deet to catch it. Deet giggled at the vest lying limp on the grass as she put hers (which Brea had simply handed to her) on. Flustered again, Rian made haste in acting like nothing happened and putting on his vest.

Soon enough, the two boats were on the water. While Gurjin and Brea were comfortably chatting (and sneaking glances at the other boat), Rian and Deet sat on opposite sides of the small rowboat, doing everything they could to keep their feet from touching (and sneaking glances at each other).

Rian cleared his throat. “Deet.”

Deet looked up. “Rian?”

Rian looked up at the sound of his name, surprised for some reason that Deet actually responded. “Oh. Yes. Um, lovely day, isn’t it?”

She giggled, her large black eyes glittering. “Oh yes, absolutely! It’s absolutely beautiful. Everything looks so alive.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I can see what you mean. How’s Fizzgig?”

“He’s alright,” she replied, referring to her pet dog who seemed more like a pompom with teeth than an actual canine. “He’s been a little more feisty than usual these past few days, but otherwise, he’s okay.” She grimaced. “I bet Hup’s got quite a few bandages on his fingers.”

Rian clucked his tongue, shaking his head a little. Hup was a boy who lived a couple houses away from Deet. He had big dreams of becoming a knight and was never seen without his trusty sword in hand. (It was actually a large wooden spoon, but everyone chose not to say anything about it.) He was often seen fighting dragons (Fizzgig) and saving a damsel in distress (often Deet, or a halfway enthusiastic Brea).

“I wonder what Brea and Gurjin are up to,” Rian mused. Deet followed his hand as he ran his fingers through his bangs to keep them out of his eyes, then squinted through the sunlight to watch the other boat. Turns out, the other boat was watching them, and Deet laughed as the other two waved to them.

“They can be so strange,” she giggled as she leaned cautiously to observe a particularly large lily pad. As she did this, Gurjin started waving frantically to Rian. Rian furrowed his brows, mouthing a “What?” Gurjin mouthed something, and Rian grimaced, circling his pointer finger in an ‘again’ motion. Gurjin mouthed again, and this time Rian understood.

Tell her.

Ah. So that’s what this was. Rian ran his hands through his hair again, this time in slight annoyance, as he pulled his phone out.

You: Really?

You: Did you set us up?

Gurjin is typing…

Gurjin: maybe

You: DUDE.

Gurjin: I’m sorry I’m just rlly rlly tired of watching you two making goo goo eyes at each other

Rian rolled his eyes.

You: We don’t make goo goo eyes. Please

Gurjin: yes u do

You: Shut up

Gurjin: tell her and I will

“Rian? Is everything alright?” Rian’s head snapped up, and his eyes softened immediately at the sight of Deet, hand just touching the surface of the water with a small, concerned frown.

“Yes, it’s all good,” Rian replied as he tucked his phone away.

“I was wondering... may I braid your hair? I mean, there’s not much to do on this boat, and –“

“Of course, Deet,” he said, already turning so that his back was to her. “Shall I scoot back, or…”

“No, no, I’m on it,” she said, the boat creaking quietly when it shifted under her weight. Rian could feel her breath on his neck as she gathered his hair up and gently tugged it away from his neck.

“I can never believe how long your hair is,” Deet murmured as she combed her fingers through his hair. Shutting his eyes at the sensation, he leaned into her touch.

“It’s beautiful,” she continued as she sectioned his hair into parts. “My hair could never be this soft. It’s like it’s made of silk.” She made to brush away a wisp that had fallen away from a section, but her hand caught the necklace instead.

“Nngh,” Rian’s eyes fluttered open and he winced as the necklace began to grow tight against his neck. “Deet…”

“Hm?” She felt a tug against her finger and saw the necklace wrapped around it. Then she saw Rian. “Holy Thra!” She twisted her finger, and the necklace fell back onto Rian’s neck. She could hear him suck in a breath. “Rian, I’m sorry-“

“No, it’s alright,” Rian quickly waved his hand.

“Should I stop?”

“No! No, please continue.”

“Alright then,” she said as she adjusted again, picking up the sections. After some braiding, she spoke up again. “I’ve never asked about your necklace.”

“Oh.” Rian’s voice was deeper, more relaxed. Deet could feel the blush growing on her cheeks at the sound of it. “It was a gift from Mira. She left before you moved here. A year before, maybe.”

“That’s lovely. What’s the bottle in the front?”

“Ah. The vial.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “A few years back, Mira and I… we used to date.”

Deet blinked. “You did?”

“…yeah, we did. We eventually broke up. Well, obviously,” he said, the smile back in his voice. “but it was on good terms. When she was about to leave, she gave me this. She made it herself. The vial was… something of an inside joke that’s kind of a long story to tell – don’t worry, I’ll tell you eventually – and something to remember her by. Oh, and it glows in the dark.”

She laughed. “I like glow in the dark things.”

“I know you do.” His words were interlaced with a chuckle.

“Okay – done.” She leaned back a little to admire the French braid in his hair, smiling at the streaks of blue peeking through the brown.

“Can I see?”

“ ‘Course you can! It’s your hair, after all,” she said as she pulled out her phone. Leaning back just a little bit more to get the right angle, she snapped a picture. “Here.”

Deet leaned back in to show Rian, and he twisted to look.

“It’s amazing,” he breathed, sounding as awed as the first time she had braided his hair.

“Thank you,” she whispered back. Rian was suddenly aware of how close they were, and that their hands were touching, and-

“I like you.” The words tumbled out of his mouth, and he couldn’t catch them in time. Deet froze.

“What?” Her voice was quiet, shaking. He slowly looked up at her. Her large eyes were on him, wide and surprised.

He inhaled. “I like you, Deet. A lot. It may even be more than a lot. And I understand if you don’t feel the same way –”

“Are you crazy?”

Damn it, Rian, he cursed himself. You were an idiot to think she’d ever return your feelings. He looked back down, shoulders beginning to sag.

“Of course I like you.”

What? “You- you-” He looked at her again and nearly melted. Her eyes were soft, and she was beaming. “I thought you didn’t –”

“I thought you didn’t!” Deet began to laugh, which caused Rian to do the same. Soon, the two were laughing so hard the boat began to sway dramatically, and the laughter died down as the gripped the edges of the boat to keep from capsizing. Rian met Deet’s eyes, a silly grin wide on his face.

After some time, she spoke up. “I would really like to kiss you right now.” She blinked, her eyes wide. “Sweet Mother Aughra, did I just say that out loud?”

Rian chuckled, scooting closer to her. “Yes, you did. And I would just like to say that… I wholeheartedly accept your offer.”

“Oh, good, ‘cause I-” She wasn’t able to finish the sentence before Rian had brushed his lips against hers.

“Sorry for interrupting,” Rian muttered, face impossibly close to hers. His voice was low again, but heavy this time. Deet was sure she was blushing furiously.

“It doesn’t matter,” she muttered back. She saw his eyes flick down to her lips, then back up to her.

“Can I kiss you again?” He asked quietly.

Deet answered by closing the distance between them. She could feel Rian’s arms wrap around her back, gently pulling her closer. She slowly moved her hand to rest on the back of his neck, her fingers lightly tangled in the wisps of hair too small to stay in the braid. She tried to soak up the moment as best she could. She wanted it to last forever.

“FINALLY!”

Deet and Rian jumped back in surprise, Deet emitting a little yell of shock. Gurjin was close to standing, Brea attempting (and failing) to tug him back down as her laughter resounded across the area.

“I’ve been waiting for goddamn ages. Ages!”

Deet turned her head slightly to Rian, her eyes meeting his. She raised a brow, clearly amused. “Rian, how long exactly have you liked me?”

“Uh…” he ran his hands through his bangs. “Around since you moved here, if I’m being honest.”

“Oh?” Two years? Deet began to giggle. “Two years? Rian, I- I-” she couldn’t find the words, so she settled on pulling him close again and pressing her lips to his.

xxx

#The Dark Crystal #the dark crystal age of resistance #the dark crystal aor #rian #deet #gurjin #brea #tavra #the dark crystal fanfiction #the dark crystal fic #the dark crystal modern au #the dark crystal headcanon #the dark crystal aor headcanon #tdc lore #tdc hup #hup

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aughraseye · 4 years

Note

kinda obvious but for the "give me a character" Tavra!! and maybe a onica... if you are feeling both :)

Oh anon. Thank you for this. I’m gonna answer for Tavra because I got another request for Onica! Also this definitely has spoilers for the books.

Why I like them

There are SO many reasons why I like Tavra. She’s just incredibly cool. In the books and the show she has this easy confidence about her, and even under extreme stress and adversity keeps a level head. So much of who she is can be defined by her convictions and the people/causes she cares about. She is a loving sister, concerned for the wellbeing of her family. She a princess willing to sacrifice and fight to protect all gelfling and Thra. She is a paladin, protective and brave, dedicated to doing what is right. She is a lover, a friend, and ally, who helps those around her feel surer in themselves just by being there.

Tavra is a character who provides a steadying energy to those in her life. She helps Brea see beyond her youth and naivety, reassures and comforts Seladon, and offers both an open heart and an open mind to all she meets.

Though she can at times be gruff or stoic, she is a deeply caring person. She also has a mischievous and reckless side that is enormously endearing.

In short, Tavra is a wonderfully constructed and multifaceted character driven by an easy confidence in herself and her abilities, a steely and sharp mind, and an extraordinarily compassionate heart.

Why I don’t

 I really don’t like how much she is treated as a secondary character or used simply to move the plot around. By that I mean a significant portion of Tavra’s role in the books and the show revolves around other characters. She’s used pretty frequently only to give insight into someone else’s emotional state, as a tool in their character development, or to keep the plot moving forward. You see this in her relationship with Seladon, her relationship with Brea, her relationship with almost all the book characters, and even in how her independent plot lines are handled.

She’s pretty much only ever around when someone needs something from her, whether that’s emotional support, guidance, a skilled fighter, to be possessed so they can borrow her fighting skills, or when you need someone to became a spider puppet or be an easily kidnapped spider to add tension and drive the story forward.

Though Tavra is the type to keep her business private and put herself in situations that are high risk, it’s honestly ridiculous how often she’s used as plot device instead of treated as her own character. I’d even argue that this way of handling her is totally unnecessary in most cases could be done better.

When she’s one of the three characters to have a defining presence in all four books (along with Naia and Kylan) and is still never promoted to a more prominent position in the story - when one of those four books is spent with her under another entity’s control - when a significant amount of her screen time is when she’s part of the ascendency - when even her own death is more about how it’s affecting her sisters and their relationship than it is her - you start to see what I mean.

On a little lighter note, I also think that in the books she sometimes gets portrayed as serious to a fault. I prefer the easy going, casually joking Tavra we get in the show.

Favorite episode (scene if movie)

I really love that scene where she finds Brea after she’s run away fro the Order of Lesser Service. It really highlights the best of her character. She’s comforting, caring, open-minded, a little funny, a little tough, and unafraid to contradict her mother when she feels it’s right. I love how she trusts Brea from the beginning and provides her with a non-judgmental audience. It’s just such a sweet moment in time.

I liked the scene with Seladon for the same reason. And seeing Tavra get frustrated with her and reassure her all in the same breath offered great insight into their relationship.

I also really loved her in Shadow of the Dark Crystal. She’s such a fucking badass in that book. Tides was great too because we get to see her interact with Onica.

Favorite line

I’m the fun one.

Also not a line but I really loved the beginning of Tides when she has this kind of breathless anxiety about getting to Onica and the absolute and utter relief she feels when they get there.

Favorite outfit

I like her in her armor, no helmet, no circlet.

I’d throw her circlet away if I could. She just doesn’t pull it off.

OTP

Tavronica. I live and die for them.

Brotp

I loved her friendships with the characters in the books, Naia, Kylan, and Amri.

I also think she and Seladon, if they aren’t already, will become great friends as they mature (assuming Tavra’s still alive).

Head Canon

I have so many…I guess for this I’ll say that when Tavra was younger she made Brea looked well-behaved. She got away with a lot of it because she’s middle child, but she was definitely pretty wild. Joining the paladins helped her get that raucous energy under control and instill her with a sense of discipline.

However, even though she’s calmer and more behaved on the surface she still gets up to plenty of antics.

Unpopular opinion

I don’t know that this is unpopular per se but I do think she and Seladon are close. I actually think they are closer than Brea and Tavra.

Based on looks and personality, I would guess Seladon and Tavra are closer in age than Brea and Tavra. Because of that, I imagine they spent a lot of time together during their childhood, as friends, sisters, classmates, etc. Even when Brea came along, she seems like the type to have been independent from a young age. I think for the most part she would probably have been content to do her own thing while occasionally joining in with her older sisters.

Seladon though, she’s definitely a person who’s stronger and better off with people around to support her. She needs close relationships. We get small moments in the show of Tavra being there for her, acting as her confidant and friend. It’s a quick glimpse evidencing the strength in their relationship. But they are also both adults. They have their own lives and responsibilities - stressful, time consuming responsibilities. This is especially true for Seladon. So they don’t have as much time to maintain their relationship as they each might like. It’s also hard at times for Tavra who feels that while she’s there for Seladon, Seladon’s not always there for her.

As for the few disparaging comments Tavra makes about her in the books…

I think that Seladon, trying once again to emulate her mother instead of figuring out her own leadership style, strived to be more independent and self sufficient in her duties. And this in combination with finding out about Tavra’s relationship with Onica (if only very vaguely) led her to put distance between them and push Tavra away. As a result there’s some bitterness and a lack of shared understanding between them. Though we don’t get to see it resolved in the books, I have hope that the show will do justice to their friendship.

A wish

Yeah I wish for Tavra to be alive and not a spider please.

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen

Well they killed her, so…

But if I had to say pick a different answer, I guess I would say something else that very nearly happened. When Tavra was under the ascendency’s control and almost had her own sisters drained, if they’d actually gone through with that I would have been devastated. And if they released Tavra so she had to confront the fact that she killed her sisters…

I just really don’t ever want her to watch the people she loves die helplessly from the sidelines, or even worse manipulated into causing them harm.

5 words to best describe them

Reserved, cool, badass, caring, and of course fun :)

#tavra #seladon #brea #onica #tavra x onica #tavronica #the dark crystal #shadows of the dark crystal #tides of the dark crystal #song of the dark crystal #flames of the dark crystal #age of resistance #ask meme #mine

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soft-imagines · 6 years

Text

I Think I Love You {Park Jihoon}

Park Jihoon

Fluff

[100+ Request]

@parkji-hoons

synopsis: it’s been 10 years since you saw a really good friend of yours.

note: this is so overdue, i’m sorry naia TT i hope you like it though!!

It was a chilly, December night as you pulled into your friend’s driveway. You put the Corolla into park and turn the engine off, shoving your keys into your pocket. The backpack in the passenger seat is light on your back as you walk up the walkway to the door. Upon Seolhae’s door was a frosted wreath with pinecones littered around it here and there.

You press the doorbell, regretting your choice of sliders and socks for shoes. Seolhae opened the door and herded you in, immediately enveloping you into a hug.

“Are you ready for the surprise?” She laughs, shutting the door.

“Of course,” you laugh, shaking your sliders off.

Seolhae leads you up to her room, the carpet soft on your feet. Upstairs is warm, and her parents are folding clothes in their room.

You plop onto her bed as she hurries over to her closet. You glance at the time. 4:30 PM. Seolhae is rummaging through her closet, and she comes out with two hangers. On them are long coverings of plastic. You stare at them and then back at your friend. She grins, unveiling one of the hangers.

On it is a rose-gold dress with a pair of sparkly silver pumps hanging with it. Seolhae lays it on the bed and you marvel at the outfit. The next hanger includes a navy blue dress, a golden necklace and a pair of sparkling golden pumps hangs with it.

“What’s the occasion?” You ask.

“Just a gala my parents were invited to, but they’re not feeling well and said I could take you.”

“I could of just brought my own dress from home.”

Seolhae drapes the second dress over the bed and sits beside me.

“Y/N, you’re my friend. We’ve been studying for exams for the past two weeks. I knew we were the same size, so I just got two dresses. Now, which one do you want?”

You glance at both dresses. “Whichever one you don’t want.”

Seolhae slightly frowns but looks at the dresses, contemplating. “You choose a dress.”

You can’t help but smile because this argument could go on forever but you lean forward and grasp the hanger to the blue dress. “I’ll take this one.”

Seolhae takes the other dress and smiles at you. “Brought your makeup?”

You gesture towards the backpack on her bed and she grins.

“Let’s get ready.”

You step out of the bathroom and walk into Seolhae’s room. She looks up from her phone and immediately stands.

“Girl, you’re looking good. The boys are going to be all over you.”

Boys???? “Wait, what? I haven’t talked to a guy besides my family in over 5 years. That’s 1825 full days of never t-”

“Y/N! You’ll be okay, I swear. I’ll be right next to you.... Unless you wander off, okay?”

You nod and she hands you a faux fur coat and a golden clutch. You slip your phone inside the clutch and bring along your backpack to your car.

“Do you mind dropping me off after the party?” Seolhae asks you as you walk to your car.

“Nah, that’s fine,” you reply, opening the door and starting the car.

The two of you carefully sit, making sure not to rip your dresses against your heels or anything. You start the car and reverse out of the driveway as you follow the directions Seolhae punched into her phone.

Seolhae hands a man your invitations. Before you can even step into the building, the smell of alcohol stings your nostrils. Seolhae leads you, gently pulling you along by your fur coat. Everyone was dressed luxuriously. One woman was even wearing a gold foil dress. A bit flashy for you but it was a nice dress in terms of style.

You and Seolhae are at the bar. You order a cherry coke and Seolhae manages to score some coke and rum.

“SEOL!” A girl screeched, stumbling to the seat beside your friend.

Seolhae smiled and greeted her. They talked about everything and everything as you finished up your coke. You didn’t mind not talking, really. Seolhae was popular and social, so she knew basically everyone there. You only recognize some people from school, but that’s it.

“I’m going to dance for a bit,” you tell her, siding off the chair.

Seolhae glances at you and fully turns. “You sure?”

You nod. “If we don’t find each other at all, we can meet by my car when the party is over.”

Seolhae nods and smiles, waving as you walk away. You wave back and approach the dance floor. Even though people were cooped up in suits and expensive satin dresses, they still danced like there was no tomorrow.

The song playing ended, leaving a little it of silence in the air as you stepped onto the the floor. A few people glanced your way but continued their conversation. You leave your heels on, prepared to rock out. It’s been a while since you’ve let loose. The last time you were at a party was a few years ago, your freshman year of high school.

Some k-pop song comes on and you groove along to the beat. It’s catchy and you get really into it. When the beat drops at the chorus, you smile to yourself and dance along, bobbing your head along to the song. It gets intensely hot as more people join you on the dance floor, some people saying ‘hi’ as they waltz by.

You were enjoying yourself, song after song. After an intense session of dancing to ‘Likey’, you go over to the bar where your seat was, a full glass of cherry coke with a maraschino cherry glistening. You sit and smile at the bartender. You glance at him. “Thank you.” He grins and nods. You realize he’s dressed differently from the other bartender. His shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows and he’s very handsome. Too handsome to be a bartender, actually. You take a few glances at him as he washes some cups and you sip on your cherry coke.

“Y/N?”

You turn at the mention of your name, nearly choking on your coke when you notice an even more handsome guy sitting next to you and smiling. He was in a stark, black suit; a black and silver-striped tie resting on his chest. He looks familiar but, who the hell was he?

“Um, hi,” you hesitantly say, passing him a polite smile.

“Oh, right. We’ve changed a lot since elementary school, huh?” He says, slightly smiling. “I’m Park Jihoon.”

Everything suddenly floods back into your brain. Every little cute memory from elementary school with him. You stare at him and Jihoon chuckles.

“Oh… Jihoon, it’s been so long!” You gasp. “You look so different.”

“You do, too. I saw you dancing and thought you looked familiar, so I couldn’t help but see if it was you,” He laughs. “So, what are you doing here by yourself?”

“Oh, I’m here with a friend. Her parents were invited, but they decided to stay home, so we ended up coming.”

“I see… Well, if you need anything, I’ll be at the table over there.”

Jihoon points towards the back of the building, where tables were elegantly decorated with tealights in the middle. One table was over-crowded with many boys, and the handsome bartender comes over.

“Hey, I’m gonna head over to the table. Can you help me find Jinyoung and tell him it’s his turn to help with the bar if you find him?” He asks Jihoon.

“Sure. Oh, Minhyun, this is Y/N. Y/N, this is Minhyun.”

You smile. “Hello, Minhyun.”

“Hi Y/N.” Minhyun smiles a very charming smile and looks around, probably for this Jinyoung guy. “I’ll see you both later?”

Jihoon nods and you nod as well as Minhyun walks off. Jihoon turns to you. “I’ll be back after I find Jinyoung.”

“I’ll be on the dance floor,” you tell him, smiling and standing.

He stands, and he has a good couple of inches on you. You look up at him and laugh. “See you later?”

He nods, and you two walk off in different directions. You find yourself jamming again, this time to ‘Kokobop’. After about an hour, Jihoon hasn’t returned, and you’re slightly worried but shake it off as a k-rock song plays. One you recognize as ‘Sorry’ by The Rose. You found it weird that on a dance floor, they would play a k-rock song. Some people start to couple up, though, and eventually, everyone starts pairing up. You freeze, wanting to stay because it was a good song that you wanted to dance to, but you had no one to dance with.

“Would you like to dance?”

You turn, a bit disappointed not to find Jihoon. Instead, a boy who seemed slightly intimidating held his hand out to you. When he smiled, though, a little fang poked out and you immediately softened up inside and smiled while nodding, slipping your hand into his. You two start dancing, a bit awkward at first. You let your arms rest on his shoulders, his arms starting to relax onto your hips. After a minute, you have the courage to introduce yourself.

“By the way, I’m Y/N,” you tell him, speaking a bit louder so he could hear over the music.

“I’m Woojin,” he says, smiling. “You’re a friend of Jihoon’s, right?”

You nod and smile, glancing away. You two were very close and you felt your face getting slightly warm. Woojin was actually quite handsome, now that you thought about it. After the song was over, you smiled at Woojin, thanking him for asking you to dance.

“Well, I didn’t just want to leave a pretty girl standing there by herself,” Woojin tells you. You blush and blink a couple of times and can’t help but smile. He smiles as well and chuckles. “I’ll see you later?”

You nod, waving as he walks toward the table Jihoon had pointed to an hour earlier. You sit in your seat at the bar, asking the bartender for a cherry coke. He starts making it, and you take out your phone from your clutch, texting Seol.

Where r u? I’m gonna go so come find me @ the bar

You set your phone down and glance around, noticing the dance floor getting empty. You hear a glass being slid to you across the counter and you thank the bartender who nods and goes to make someone else a raspberry margarita. You get a text back.

akreadu wrnt homee. . . my frieends drooped mer off

You can’t help but laugh at your friend’s drunken text, even though you were a bit pressed that she would leave you alone at a gala where you didn’t really know anyone. You sip on your third cherry coke of the night, eventually slamming it.

“Coke and rum please?” You call out to the bartender, who starts making it without question. He slides it to you and you take a sip. It was nasty, yet good.

By the time you finish it, you’re a bit tipsy and the gala is settling down. You stand, your head slightly pounding. You slip everything into your clutch, take out your keys, and put on your fur coat. You look around one last time, and start towards the entrance. Even though you haven’t had alcohol in a long time, you’re not as drunk as you thought you were going to be. Last time, you could barely even talk, let alone sit up. Just as you step out the door, though, the security guard asks if you’re okay.

“A bit tipsy, but I’ll be okay,” you tell him, giving him a serious look. “Trust me, I’ll be okay.”

He seems convinced. “I don’t care what age you are, or how tipsy you are, but someone’s driving you home.”

“My car is right there.”

Your Corolla sat there, waiting for your arrival.

“I can drive her.” Jihoon comes up from behind the guard and looks at you. You stare at him and are about to protest, but Jihoon takes your keys and nods at the security guard.

“You know her, Jihoon?”

“Yes, she’s a friend of mine. I can drive her home and have one of the guys pick me up.”

The guard nods and Jihoon takes your hand and places it on his arm. You hold onto his arm and walk towards your car. You let him open the passenger door for you and he climbs into the driver’s seat.

“Jihoon, I can drive on my own,” you say, leaning back into the chair.

“No, it’s fine. I can drive while you just take a little nap.” He takes out his phone. “What’s your address?”

You tell him and he types it in, starting the car and reversing into the lot. He drives off to your house and you realize that the pounding in your head gets a little more intense.

“Y/N?”

You didn’t realize you had fallen asleep, but you blink your eyes open and look at Jihoon, who had opened the door for you. You slowly step out and Jihoon closes the door. The two of you walk up to your door as he locks the car up, and you ask for the keys.

“I got it.” Jihoon unlocks the door and you enter first. He follows and you don’t know what to do first. You want to drop to the ground and sleep, but your mind tells you to wash your makeup off and get ready for bed.

“What time is it?” You mumble, rubbing your eyes.

“Two in the morning.”

You’re suddenly awake, staring at Jihoon. “What?”

Jihoon nods, and you look at your phone for confirmation. Unbeknownst to you, you had been at the gala for hours. You sigh and look around.

“Well, I’ll call Daniel or Jisung and see if they’ll pick me up,” Jihoon says.

“I think you should just stay here.”

Jihoon looks a bit surprised, and you realized you just invited someone you haven’t seen in over ten years to stay over at your place. You were surprised yourself, but you just nodded to make sure he understood that he could stay over.

“Are you sure?” He asks, not sure of himself.

“Yeah, you can even take my bed. I’ll be fine on the pull-out couch,” you tell him. “I just need to find you a change of clothes. My older brother has some clothes upstairs, hold on. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

You hurry upstairs, going to your room. You wriggle out of your coat and dress, putting on a baggy mustard yellow sweater with the names of cities in the right corner and a pair of track shorts. You go into your brother’s old room and take some sweats and a t-shirt. You go back downstairs.

“Actually, you can sleep in my brother’s room,” you say, searching for Jihoon in your living room.

He’s on the couch, his suit jacket on the arm of the couch. His sleeves are rolled up and some buttons are undone. Jihoon looks at you and smiles, getting up. “Okay.” He takes the clothes and you point out the bathroom, a bit embarrassed to see him like that. When he comes out, his hair is messy and you can’t help but giggle at the places where his hair sticks up.

“What?” He asks as he comes over to you on the couch. He plops down beside you, and you laugh a bit more at his hair bouncing to become even more messy.

“Your hair,” you manage to tell him before dying in a fit of laughter.

Jihoon laughs along and your guys’ laughs quiets down a bit. You two sit there in a bit of silence and you don’t want to glance over, afraid of staring.

All of a sudden, you grin. “Remember when we were 6, and you were convinced Santa was real, so we stood up all night by your fireplace to see of he would fill the stockings, but it was your dad?”

Jihoon laughs, and you smile a bit more at his laugh. “Yeah. And then I started crying?” You nod and Jihoon seems to be thinking about something else. “When we were about… I think in 5th grade? And you slid down the slide right after I did and we ended up falling on top of each other and we thought we broke our legs? Do you remember that?”

You search through your files and nod, remembering that you face-planted into the wood chips and started crying because you thought a woodchip had poked your eye out. “Remember when we went to the local pool and I pretended I was Arielle and you were Prince Eric, and our parents even took pictures and held a fake wedding with every person there as our guests?”

Jihoon suuddenly grins, nodding. “I remember that like it was yesterday.”

You think for a moment. “I really miss when we were in elementary school. I’m still upset that I had to move away.”

Jihoon frowns and nods. “I cried for a week straight, and my parents told me that we could call but… We never saw or contacted each other again.”

Suddenly, you being tipsy went out the window. You felt perfectly fine. The headache throbbing had gone away while you two talked. The two of you stare at each other for a moment, and you have an urge to lean in and hug him. He has a slight pout on his lips and you want to squish his cheeks, kiss him, and tell him you’re here for him now. You lean forward and place a quick kiss on his cheek. “Well, all that matters is that we’re here right now. We’re seeing each other again after 10 years.”

Before you let him say anything, you get up to look through your box of movies. “What should we watch?”

“Um… Whatever is fine,” Jihoon replies just as you pull out a DVD set of Descendants of the Sun. You put the first DVD in and give the remote to Jihoon. “I’ll get some snacks.”

When you and Jihoon are ready to watch with the snacks, you’re on the opposite sides of the three-cushioned couch. A bowl of popcorn was in the middle cushion and the first episode had started. Neither you or Jihoon mentioned the kiss earlier, which made you relieved.About 10 minutes in, you’re focused on what’s going on but notice Jihoon moving around. You look over at him and see him trying to get comfortable.

“Need to lay down?” You ask.

“Oh no, I’m good,” he replies, looking at you while sheepishly smiling. You smile and continue watching, eating the popcorn in the process.

After the first episode, you realize you and Jihoon had scooted closer together. Both of you had to keep reaching for the bowl so you two just sat right next to each other in the end.

“Next episode?” You ask him. Jihoon nods, and you press play. You lean back, getting a bit tired.

“Go to sleep,” Jihoon says, tapping your shoulder.

“I’m fine,” you say, crossing your legs up on the couch and sitting up.

Jihoon laughs and sits cross-legged, too. While the two of you are watching, you both reach into the bowl for popcorn, only to be met by nothing. You glance at the bowl, then at Jihoon.

“I’ll be right back,” you say, pausing the show and getting ready to stand.

But a warmth surrounds your hand. Right away, you look and see that Jihoon had taken it, his thumb gently running over the top of your hand. Your eyes meet his and you’re at a loss for words. A bit taken aback by his own actions, Jihoon blinks innocently, then slightly looks away before speaking and gazing shyly into your eyes.

“Can I kiss you…?”

No words come out of your mouth, so all you do is smile shyly and nod, nervous to break away from his gaze. Jihoon leans in, letting his lips softly meet yours. The warmth and gentleness of the kiss makes you smile, and you could feel Jihoon’s shy smile, too. Your eyes close, and you take in the moment. The two of you pull away and let each other’s breath linger, and you gaze into Jihoon’s eyes. His eyes shimmer with adoration as he pulls you closer, his arms around your waist. You hadn’t noticed that your arms made their way around his neck and a hand was playing with his hair. Jihoon pulls you in for a hug, and the two of you are a suddenly a cuddling mess. Your legs are entangled with his, and he twirls around some of your hair, then tucks it behind your ear. You smile and scoot closer to him, his arms around your waist.

“I think I love you,” he murmurs, pressing his forehead against yours.

You giggle, lightly twirling a bit of his messy hair. “I think I love you, too.”

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ragmachristinemae · 4 years

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👩‍🦰 'Fake News' will always be fake news that kills a single fact of an article. Choosing this profession will always be a hard one for me since getting real time information is kinda hard to do because of the fake news all through out the web and everywhere in the globe. These fake news really bas thing to do since people are easy to deceive and journalists are having having hard time to reach huge audience who believes and follows trolls.

🎞 There are fake news photos all through out the internet that varies under Politics, Showbiz, Medicine, Sports and Academe. Let me share my thoughts of how these fake news spread and deceive hundreds of Filipinos.

🎞 The first 3 photos which is the said Priest who impreganated 2 teens, Queen Elizabeth who said Mr. President is a 'brave man', and the issue of NAIA Airport. Okay, for the first photo wherein the true post is a police officer caught sniffing a shabu and not a priest. People will really give a bad image of a Catholic Priest for some articles are true and this maybe made to destroy a specific priest. The second photo of which Queen Elizabeth saying 'brave man' to Mr. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the person who uploaded and created the article maybe a fan or follower of our President and this thing is being investigated by some researchers and I.T experts. There is nothing bad on creating a post for someone but creating it with a false words is a shamful thing to do. While on the third photo is the NAIA Airport issue wherein Aquino said the he is dissapointed on changing its name to Manila International Airport but this post is just a fake news. For me, there is nothing wrong on changing its name, as long as it stays the proper ways of how they serve filipinos and international people. And that is the very best for that.

🎞 Let us now move on to the Showbiz fake photos wherein Mr. Kim Atienza, Ogie Alcasid and Mocha Uson are the the fake news articles.

🎞 Fake news coming from haters are always in the field of entertainment, bashing and spreading fake news is their way to drag down someone who are in the field of entertainment. These people who have been said died and spreading fake news about politics. The 4th photo which is Mr. Kim Atienza who had been said dead, saying in an interview that he is alive and kickin' and also the 5th one wherein Mr. Ogie Alcasid had been also said dead, and he is the one who refused the fake news about him. These people who's creating posts and articles about dead actors and actresses are kind of bad habits, and why are they doing these, if these could not even benefit their own lives. The 6th photo which is Mocha Uson spreading fake news about politics and some stuffs, she is being with NBI and needed to explain why she's spreading fake news all through out the press. Ms. Mocha Uson has a bad habit of saying unlawful words to the press yet she cannot handle the law herself. While you are busy spreading fake news, make sure that you are happy in your life, and you know the meaning of happiness? It is respecting the person you even don't know and have much love in yourself that you don't even ask for more.

🎞 Under the Medicine fake news which I have 3 photos again, that the fake medicine news sites, the Covid Medicine and the fake doctors are the ones who are being in the line of fake news under the field of medicine.

🎞 The 7th photo I have uploaded is the Fake medicine sites wherein filipinos are have benefited their selves, and as far as I know, these sites have earned so much money because the readers needed to pay such amount to read and contact a doctor which is not really a doctor. I think the real deal here is that some filipinos do not go to work for some reasons and the way they think they can have work is to spread fake news all through out the sites that people are willing to read and pay just to see the answers. While the 8th photo is the fake news about Covid Medicine that we are really hoping to have just to end this pandemic and people who creates an article will be benefited by their works as people will read their uploaded article. And by this fake news, what is in my mind is that why create a fake news about medicine if there is no really a medicine for COVID-19. Families who were expecting to have cure for their love one's who's affected by the virus, will eventually believed since its a news, and afterwards, knowing that it is really a medicine, then you'll break their hearts tripple as you upload a fake article all through out the social media. While on the 9th photo which is the Fake doctors who have been caught because of the Hospital they are running for COVID-19 patients. These people really took advantage of the situation of the whole nation since we all know that this pandemic is not a joke, and why are we still doing this kind of act since half of the world are already dying gradually. Why not just help them, and get through the pain of each patients and families who grieves on the lost of their family members and friends. We should heal as one, and no matter what happens, we should stay kind and humble as we walk through the fight of this deadly pandemic.

🎞 Sports are waving! and fake news about this is everywhere so beware! I have 3 photos here which is really a fake news, pardon me because I dont have so much photos because articles are really the thing they upload and photos are not that really in sports, since it is really a fake article.

🎞 The 10th photo which is the Flag of the Philippines being used in the SEA Games was been used as a table cloth and the netizens are really angry about this but a researcher said that this is just a fake news and the uploader of fake news about this just want destroy the image of some persons. While on the 11th photo is just the same of the SEA Games wherein Cayatano explained the real news about the fake news of SEA Games athletes and the 12th photo of CEBU Fake News reveal the real news about the uploaders of fake news online. These people who spreads fake news doesnt have the right to do those things since there is a law now that prohibits fake news.

🎞 The academe wherein fake news is really common. Here are some photos wherein I have my thoughts on it.

🎞 The 13th photo about the UP Fake news wherein in the said video about fake news still being used since it is understood by many. Still, they should have some ways on how they will deliver some learnings to students since schools teaches good moral and honesty. The 14th photo which is the 'Walang Pasok' post by a Random Post page on Facebook and the same issue with the photo 15th, the 'Walang Pasok Update' page saying an Advisory about no classes and this was all fake news. Many creators of page nowadays are really getting in our nerves, they try to deceive us and some of us really into it. We fall for something that must not, but there are still people who take advantage of us, and we can't deny that.

👩‍🦰 The only thing we could to to fake news is to fact check everything. That is the very best thing you can do for yourself and for everyone who have been deceived many times and to the future generation who will live into a very new modern life of theirs.

Do not be deceived easily, fact check!. ♥️

0 notes

callmenaia · 7 years

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//Okay, this is going to be a long post going into more detail about things and why I’m leaving.

I don’t really know where to start. I’m autistic and have had chronic depression my entire life. The first time I tried to kill myself, I was 7, and again when I was a teenager. I was put on serotonin reuptake inhibitors (mood balancers) just to find out that I’m allergic to them. I’ve told a few of you this already.

Basically, my life just progressively gotten worse and now I have two toddlers on top of it (one of which has autism, as well, which is very difficult). If you think that feeling like your own life is going nowhere and/or downhill, just imagine how much worse it feels when you know you’re dragging two innocent lives down with you. Knowing they never had a chance with you as their mom.

I joined Tumblr 4? or 5? months ago thinking that the distraction would be nice. That I could have friendly RP’s, maybe make friends, and try to be more positive about things.

But, in just the past 3 months, I’ve dealt with both of our vehicles breaking down and discovering they were unusable, my meth-making mother trying to force her way into my house to the point that I had to threaten to call the police (and she has not stopped harassing me since), two house fires that required evacuation, a friend who randomly stopped talking to me entirely that had previously been my best friend, my cat running away, my mother-in-law in general, finding out that we wouldn’t have enough money to move out of this shitty neighborhood where we’ve been broken into 4 times in two years, etc., etc. It just keeps adding on, and that’s just in the past few months. Then I come on here and have to deal with extra stress, whether that’s the minute stress of struggling for an hour to come up with a reply I’m unhappy with or the exceptional stress of having someone actually call out me/my muse for not shipping with them, and having another vague posting about me.

Now an extra stress comes in that not many RPers have: I also have everything riding on Naia. That call-out post terrified me and has made me so afraid to RP much because Naia is the main character for a project that I plan to publish and make money on and launch my business from. It is so close to being done after 4-5 years or so of work. If someone says something about her and it gets spread and suddenly everyone hates Naia, that is a terrifying prospect because my character will be SO hated before her book is even finished. So, that stresses me out a lot and keeps me from feeling like I can easily reply to people, which just cycles into feeling like I’m making others feel bad because I’m not getting replies to them, or I’m being extremely selective with them. And it’s just not fair to my friends.

And, finally, all of this just has me so on edge that I snap at people I shouldn’t. It isn’t primarily Tumblr’s fault, but it certainly isn’t helping. So, I think it’s best to just leave and focus on my art and let that be that.

TL;DR: Life’s shit, have had a few bad experiences here, and I need to focus on other things. It’s not anybody, specifically,’s fault. It’s just what I think is best for me right now.

#ooc//#tw: suicide mention

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smallcollegebasketball · 5 years

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The Historic NAIA Tournament

I’ll be heading down to historic Municipal Auditorium for the NAIA Tournament today. As I think about doing so, the memories come flooding back..... I moved to Kansas City to become the Director of the NAIA Tournament in 2007. My first tournament as the Director of the Tournament was in 2008, and I served in that capacity (among others that I picked up along the way) through the 2012 Tournament (which was the 75th Anniversary of the Tournament).

My son had just turned four-years-old when we moved here. This morning, I dropped him off at his high school. He was a baby then. Now, he’s taller than me, shaves, and just got his driver’s permit. This will be my 12th NAIA Tournament in a row.

The NAIA Tournament is the longest-running collegiate championship of any sport in America. It began in 1937. The NIT began in 1938. The NCAA Tournament began in 1939. In 1936, Dr. James Naismith and Emil Liston gathered at Frank Cramer’s house in Gardner, KS, to discuss the creation of a collegiate basketball national championship. (Also in that year - 1936 - the game of basketball was first played in the Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Basketball was played outdoors in that first Olympics). Ultimately, their dream became a reality when the first collegiate basketball national championship was played in March of 1937 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

In that first national championship, there were eight teams. Central Missouri State Teacher’s College won the first national championship. In 1938, the field was expanded to 32 teams from around the country. Here’s what many people don’t know: In 1938, only 31 teams actually showed up, as Western Kentucky was unable to make the trip, and for the first and only time, a bye was awarded. In 1939, the tournament had the full field of 32 teams. With the exception of a short period of time surrounding World War II, the format has remained unchanged.

The citizens of Kansas City would routinely skip work and school to attend the tournament. There are many wonderful stories and memories of families, fathers-and-sons and good friends that would spend morning-til-night in Municipal Auditorium watching NAIA basketball. The format - where people would watch basketball from morning through the night and where teams would play day after day until a National Champion was determined - makes the tournament unique and special. It’s what defines the NAIA Tournament.

Neat memory for me, and a piece of history for all: As I researched more and more about the NAIA Tournament (I ended up writing the foreward for Danny’s Stooksbury’s book, National Title, about the history of the NAIA Tournament), I realized that Dr. Naismith had left in his will (when he passed away in 1939) that the trophy that was presented to the winner of the tournament be named after his first wife, Maude. As such, the Maude Naismith Trophy would be presented to the winner in each year. Pretty special and historical, I think. Well, when I looked at the trophy that was being presented to the winner, it was the James Naismith Trophy. Somehow, over the years, it was changed to the James Naismith Trophy. I did a bit of research and confirmed that it should, indeed, be the Maude Naismith Trophy. We changed it back to the Maude Naismith Trophy, which is the trophy that is still presented today (well, it certainly should be). So, on the 75th Anniversary of the Tournament, I tracked down Dr. Naismith’s grand-daughter, Hellen Naismith Carpenter, and asked her to come present the trophy to the winner of the 75th NAIA Tournament, and she agreed. She was very gracious, and it was a thrill to have Hellen Naismith Carpenter present the trophy, named after her grandmother, to Concordia (CA) University in March of 2012. Neat moment.....really neat moment....

.....and so this morning......well, here we go again. 32 teams at Municipal Auditorium. 31 games over one week to determine a National Champion. The games begin at 9:00 a.m. CST, and next Tuesday night, a National Champion will be crowned.....and they will be presented with the Maude Naismith Trophy.

It’s 2019. 32 teams. 31 games. 1 week. 1 National Champion. Municipal Auditorium. Dr. Naismith, Emil Liston and Frank Cramer: Your vision became a reality in 1937, and today, in 2019, your legacy lives on......

#NAIA Tournament #Dr. James Naismith #Frank Cramer #Emil Liston

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smoothshift · 5 years

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How my $800 Ford Explorer almost became part of the 2020 Ford Explorer Media event today. via /r/cars

How my $800 Ford Explorer almost became part of the 2020 Ford Explorer Media event today.

Every once in a while opportunity knocks at your door, and you simply know that regardless of comfort zone, and whatever your capabilities may be, that you just need to leap and to hell with what could go wrong. This happened to me recently, and it all started with a story that I wrote about my $800 2002 Ford Explorer XLT that I purchased from a friend, the story can me found HERE.

Originally written just to share my experience with fellow car enthusiasts, it turned out that one of Ford’s contracted PR firms had their eye on this story. So, back in early December, someone from Epic Digital reached out to ask me more questions about this story and to invite me into something that was special, or rather… it was supposed to be special, more on that later.

The woman from Epic, we will call her Sam, wanted to have a short phone conversation with me about the aforementioned article, and ask me some questions about the experience and learn a little bit more about myself. So one evening in Mid-December I had a sit down in my office and took a phone call from Sam for about 15 minutes. She asks me about where I am from, what I do, and what inspired the road trip, then goes on to explain that Ford is planning a brand new version of the Explorer for 2020, and wanted to get real stories from real owners to inspire today’s family generation to take more time away from work, and soak in the things that really matter about life; Traveling, exploration, and time with your family. Obviously this campaign was designed to be focused around how the 2020 Explorer could be the choice vehicle for the outdoors family.

She asked if she could share my story with some Ford executives and the event organizer company, and if I was interested in participating in the event. I instinctively told her that I was all in and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

A few days go by, and I receive an email from another company that was organizing the event, we will call her Jane. Once again, Jane wants to have a phone conversation with me about the event and ask some questions about my story. We schedule a phone call for that evening and chat briefly about the media event and what it is they wanted from myself and a few other people that had been selected to do similar things.

I was told Ford loved my story about exploration, about trusting an old used vehicle to safely transport my family from the safety of our home to be our portal to the great things that Michigan had to offer. She explained that she wanted me to be at the event, on stage, and to tell my story to the press and be a part of the Explorer’s history.

Needless to say, I was over the moon. Finally, my love and passion of cars and being a part of Detroit’s resurgence could come together, and my name and face would be a small part of history. I told her I was in, and asked her to send me details about the event and what I needed to do to be prepared. Jane sent me a detailed email with some questions she wanted me to answer, an attachment of photos from my trip, and a few play lists that were listened to during our trip. That evening I spent 4 hours writing out the details of the trip, selecting photos, and picking the best music from the trip and composed all of it to send to her in an email. Pressing the send button felt like such an event, like it was etching everything in stone. My Explorer and I would be a part of Ford history, and that felt special to me.

Weeks passed, and I hadn’t heard anything, I did already have a basic itinerary of events already sent to me, so I knew where I needed to be for rehearsal, and the dates I needed to have open, so I had already taken vacation time from work to make sure my schedule was open enough for me to be able to do anything that was needed of me. I found it a bit odd that I didn’t get any follow up from Jane; no matter though I figured everything I needed to know would be discussed during the few rehearsals we had. In preparation I wrote myself a script that was tested to be about 5 minutes of talking time, and I rehearsed it accordingly so I didn’t make a fool of myself in front of thousands of people invited to be at the private press event on the 9th of January.

Rehearsal day came, I spent my day staying relaxed, ate a good lunch, took a nice nap leading up to leaving to go to the venue. The rehearsal was scheduled to be at 5pm at Ford Field in Detroit, I left to give myself some time to navigate and figure out parking once I got downtown. I arrived about 20 minutes early and entered Ford Field at the South Eastern entrance, I was met by a security guard that I asked where I should go, when he pulled up the manifest my name wasn’t on it. Red flags started to happen, if I was supposed to be 1 of 4 guests for the show, my name should be easily found on that manifest.

15 minutes of phone calls, and they are able to locate a lady who knows Jane, but doesn’t know of me. This lady meets me at the entrance and takes me through the corridors until Jane just shows up seemingly out of nowhere. The other lady leaves, Jane welcomes me, and explains that my part has been removed from the show. I could tell she felt a bit of remorse, considering she clearly forgot to inform me that they had changed plans and my services weren’t needed. She then offered to give me a VIP pass so I could be part of the show and watch it happen along with the other attendees.

I felt blindsided, and didn’t really know how to respond, but I knew being angry or upset wasn’t going to get me anywhere. So naturally I asked questions about what had changed and acted interested in what was going to actually happen. She explained a story about a Ford employee moving back from Mexico to Chicago with his Family, and went on about that for a bit. She then offered VIP passes for the event. I accepted the passes, thanked her for her time, and she helped me find my way out.

As I drove home in my Explorer, I immediately got caught in the 5 o’clock rush hour traffic, I started to feel frustrated, I had taken vacation time from work, spent hours writing and rehearsing my part, just to be told I wasn’t needed, but in the final outcome the experience was a positive and I am glad I was able to attend. However, on Christmas Eve my Explorer started to get sick, I lost 3rd gear when driving to a friend’s house to drop off a gift I had picked up for my friend and his wife. I was devastated, and had to limp my Explorer home by manually shifting it.

Thankfully, I was able to coax the tired 5R55W back to life with 5 fresh quarts of Castrol Transmax, but its not 100% right. Im hoping another fluid service will help, but now im deciding if im going to find another used transmission for the truck, or just throw in the towel.

Originally, the plan was that myself, and 3 other individuals were going to be story tellers during the event, we were going to talk about where our Ford Explorers took our families, and what kind of experience we had in our time away from Work. After seeing the presentation first hand, I can say the revised plan seemed to fit the flow of the show a lot better than having live performers.

To those involved with Imagination Detroit, I greatly appreciate the opportunity and the invite to the show, it filled me with great pride to be a citizen of Detroit and owner (and prospective future owner) of the brand. And to all of the redditers that upvoted my aforementioned story of exploration which allowed it to get Ford's attention, thanks to you guys as well! I will be at the NAIAS Press day shooting photos and will likely get a few interior/close up shots of the new Explorer (and many other vehicles) while I am there.

TL;DR - I was invited by Ford as a special guest for the new 2020 Explorer event to tell a story, instead they opted to use stories from Ford Employees and pre-recorded it, which in hindsight makes quite a bit of sense. I still got invited to watch and thats okay to.

#reddit #autonews #auto #cars

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thebibliomancer · 3 years

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Song of the Dark Crystal liveblog pt 26

Song of the Dark Crystal by J.M. Lee because Naia and Kylan are trapped on a mushroom with a snarling Skeksis Satirist. That’s a heck of a place to wait a whole weekend before continuing.

Last times on book: Kylan, Naia, and Tavra have been on a quest to find a bell-bird bone firca that they can use to warn all Gelfling about the Skeksis. There’s been complications and setbacks. Tavra is a spider now, due to circumstances. They have a fourth party member, a Grottan alchemist named Amri. And the Skeksis Satirist skekLi and an army of millions of spiders have taken over the Caves of Grot and the Grottan Sanctuary where the extinct bell-birds used to live. But the upside is that Kylan has trapped skekLi with him and Naia on top of a mushroom. Wait, that’s the upside?

Chapter 26

An epic mushroom top showdown, with musical finish

Kylan and Naia parted, flanking skekLi instinctively. Armed with the staff, the Skeksis’s reach was incredible. With the long weapon, he might even be able to sweep them both off the platform in a single move, should they be in the same place.

Naia says the game plan should be to get the staff away from skekLi but given that their equipment is Gurjin’s Sweet Metal Dagger and the clothes on their backs… outlook bad. Kylan instead wonders whether they should try escaping.

skekLi guesses Kylan’s thought and laughs that a Drenchen’s wings aren’t for flying (they’re more fins for swimming better) so Naia’d be lucky to save herself, let alone Kylan.

skekLi’s beak broke into a grin.

“Though we could then say you had fallen for each other! Ha!”

Oh snap! That’s the wit that earned him the sobriquet Satirist!

Just puns and dunking on people.

I assume he dunked on the wrong person and that’s why he’s in a cave.

The sweet pun dunk has skekLi turn his attention to Kylan briefly and Naia uses the opportunity to close in and… honest to god, she does a SHORYUKEN

Naia surfaced right inside the space made by his outstretched arms, then jumped, holding her fist up and clocking skekLi solidly in the bottom of his bill. His beak made a loud CLACK and he stumbled backward.

Amazing. Incredible. Another thing I’d like to see in puppet.

Apparently, I was right when I said that skekLi is the scrawny nerd Skeksis because both Naia and Kylan realize that he’s not a fighter. He’s bigger and stronger and has more reach but he’s uncoordinated in a fight.

Kylan manages to get inside his guard too and bites his wrist. Alas, he doesn’t get skekLi to drop his staff and the Skeksis also flings him almost off the mushroom. But nice try, Kylan.

While dangling, Kylan spares a glance down.

“I don’t mean to add to our troubles,” he said, “but the spiders are coming.”

You have a gift for understatement, Kylan.

Yeah. The MILLIONS OF SPIDERS are crossing the lake at the base of the petrified giant mushroom so they’ll be climbing up soon. And that will spell very bad times. Even worse times than being trapped on a mushroom with this nerd forever.

Kylan tries to get Naia to run because friends but she insists on not leaving him. Because friends. And because he’s their bard and the quest reward is an instrument and they’ll need him to play it.

skekLi finds this hilarious. Because what a cute quest. Adorable.

“Oh yes. The bone! The bell-bird bone from the Book of Raunip. Krychk told me of it, that you had a bone to pick. Ha! I’m sad to say, you won’t find it here. Poor, stupid Gelfling. All the bodies have been borne away, chewed up by ruffnaw and crawlies and time.”

I mean, he has a POINT. Its been about a thousand trine. On the other hand, the nests and feathers are still here, in flagrant disregard of good sense. So I don’t know what to believe.

But I like that skekLi saw the punpportunity and went for it. I’m still not sure how good he is at satire but he has a wit.

skekLi shifts into Chamberlain-energy PEACE PLEASE mode. He really is like a scrawnier quippier Chamberlain that even skekSil would bully.

He tells Naia if she surrenders and comes to the castle, he might see his way to sparing the other Gelfling.

“We only need a little essence. A little, only a little. From you and your other half. In exchange, we would feed you. Care for you, as we have always cared for Gelfling. We need only a little to save our Emperor.”

Naia presumes that what the Emperor wants is to steal life from his Mystic counterpart and she won’t truck with that, if she knew what a truck was. But skekLi insists no, if the Emperor is dying then his counterpart is dying. And only special Gelfling essence can save them.

Kylan has serious DOUBT about this, especially how this all sounds too good to be true, and warns Naia that this Satirist is clearly lying. But on he rolls.

“That is what you want to do, isn’t it? Drenchen? Save the others? Save the Crystal? Save Gelfing - save Thra? To do so, help us save Skeksis. Look! We are not mad with Gelfling. Even when it bites us. We only want Drenchen twins, for reunion. Only a little. You would spare only a little, if it might save everyone… wouldn’t you?”

Kylan again objects that this is all pretty fishy, that if the Skeksis just needed a little, they only needed to ask. skekLi responds indignantly yeah like that would go over well. Just dress up nice, stroll into the village, ask to borrow a cup of life goo. Suuure.

Although, the more pressing thing is 1) they were draining Gelfling before they knew about Gurjin and Naia. That’s what set off this whole thing. Rian discovered that his girlfriend had been drained. 2) They don’t know that special twin essence would work. Aughra said it won’t. 3) This good of the many thing is pretty dubious when at this point I’m sure the Skeksis have killed more Gelfling than there are Skeksis and Mystics combined.

That obliquely reminds me that I’m glad that the big prophecy didn’t get play in the Age of Resistance series. During Chamberlain’s PEACE PLEASE moment, he claims that the Skeksis just wiped out the Gelfling because they were scared of the prophecy that Gelfling would overthrow them. Classic fiction trope genocide backfire. You try to thwart a prophecy by doing a lot of murder and it blows up in your face.

But the series has it so that the Skeksis were exploiting the Gelfling long before they started drinking them, were drinking them before they started trying to wipe them out, and had messed up the environment with their exploitation of the Crystal. So, yeah. I don’t buy what you’re selling, skekLi! Not even at a limited time offer reduced price!

“But listen, Gelfling. Listen. Gelfling people entrusted the castle and the Crystal to the Skeksis. We keep it. We protect it. Dust the mantel, clean halls, and so on. All for free, with never thanks. So, least Gelfling could do is help the Skeksis when they can. What are two lives to all lives on Thra?”

Wow, he is really good at playing up sob story here. ‘Oh woe is us we have to live in a giant castle.’ When we’ve seen and we know that the Castle is/was stocked full of staff and guards and that the Skeksis go around to do a census and tithes.

But it doesn’t matter, skekLi was just saying sweet sounding words to fill space because SPIDERS ARE HERE

Dammit, you let him monologue and talking wasn’t a free action and now we’re lousy with spiders!

The Skeksis chuckled to himself, gnashing his teeth.

“Gelfling waited too long. Time to make a deal is over. Now the deal is only that both Gelfling come quietly, or Spriton dies.”

But but but but, killing time is also what Amri needed to do!

He calls over from one of the bell-bird nests, waving a tiny bone. Even just waving it blows some air through it, releasing an eerie tone that makes the spiders and the skekLi sit up and take notice.

“Play it!” Kylan shouted.

“Play it? I’m no musician!”

“Just blow in it!”

“Oh!”

Hah!

Kylan: ‘It's a wind instrument, not rocket science, Amri!’

Amri: ‘What’s a rocket?’

Except it's not not as complicated as Kylan hopes.

A long soft note rang through the corrie. It was faint, and only one note, but it brought a chill to Kylan’s spine. The spiders that were closing in on the nest where Amri perched backed away, too close to the sound of breath in the bell-bird’s bone. Even the spiders on the cap trembled, whispering among themselves in hesitation and fear.

But the note did not grow louder, instead fading out as Amri lost breath. Kylan fidgeted in frustration, licking his lips. He knew if he had the bone, he could raise its song to fill the entire corrie. Amri was blowing too hard, or too soft - either way, it wasn’t enough.

“It’s too difficult! I don’t know how!” Amri called. “I’m sorry!”

And that’s why you have a dedicated bard.

I like Kylan getting frustrated, seemingly not because they’re all about to be spidered, but because Someone Is Musicing Wrong.

He asks Naia to go get the bone and bring it to him but she hesitates to leave him alone. skekLi mocks them, because its what he do, and pokes Kylan with the staff in a patronizing way.

Which just unleashes the primal Angry Kylan within. He grabs the end of the staff and holds it so skekLi can’t pull it back (because he is the scrawny nerd of his group.

“I’m not a hostage,” [Kylan] growled. “And I”m not helpless. And I’m not weak! Naia, go get the bone from Amri and bring it to me. Then I will take care of the spiders and this Skeksis liar!”

Kylan has hit his ‘aren’t you tired of being nice? Don’t you want to go ape shit?’ point!

This is amazing, by the way! Kylan isn’t heavy enough to prevent skekLi from actually picking up the staff so he’s just clinging to it while skekLi waves it around trying to dislodge him.

Another thing I would very much like to see in puppets!

Naia is still torn because she wants to protect her best friend Kylan and so splits the difference while still trusting him not to die if she’s not there for five seconds. She doesn’t fly over to Amri. She hasn’t flown at all and now is no time to stress test the wings. But she tells Amri to throw the bone to her.

Kylan feels like his heart is exploding with pride because Naia trusts him but uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Uhhhhhhhh

You want to THROW the plot critical item across a vast gulf? And its a tiny, hollow bone so it probably doesn’t throw all that well. Not aerodynamic, not very able to fight wind resistance. Is this a good idea? Amri isn’t sure its a good idea but he does it anyway!

skekLi slams his staff into the mushroom ground, breaking it in an attempt to dislodge Kylan. Which he does because Kylan is smart enough not to hang on for that.

When the staff crystal breaks, the ringing distracts the spiders and the skekLi and the Skeksis can’t do much more than curse as Naia jumps off the mushroom to catch the bone.

Which is falling slowly because it has a web parachute on it?? Good job, Tavra! I don’t know when you learned to do that! Is it instinctual? Are you just that skilled??

Kylan now gets to taunt that Naia totally caught the bone and will be up to give it to him any time now. And skekLi basically goes NUH UH.

C’mon, man! Where’s the wit I briefly knew you for?

Kylan snatched one of the staff’s splinters, stepped, and threw it like a miniature spear. It made its mark, striking skekLi in the shoulder, sticking out like a pin. The Skeksis squawked and yanked it out, but Kylan threw another, and another, sticking him full of darts from his own staff.

Oh my god this is amazing. This is ridiculous and amazing!

“GRAGGGHHH!” roared skekLi. “Stop it! Stop it, Gelfling!”

“Or what?”

“Or - or - wait! Stop it, and! AND! Stop it and we’ll let you go! Eh?”

“I don’t think you’re in a place to negotiate!”

Oh my god it just got better! This is a truly ridiculous scene!

Naia DID catch the bone and she IS coming to Kylan but she’s being obviously chased by ohgodsomany spiders.

skekLi claims he’ll do something kind and orders the spiders away. Before leaning over the edge and just yanking Naia back up to this mushroom cap.

He’s not good at fighting but he’s great at plucking Gelfling from places, I guess.

skekLi holds Naia up by the back of the neck and tries shaking the bone off of her but she refuses to let go. She throws it to Kylan and the Skeksis threatens to kill her if Kylan plays the bone.

Naia tells him to do it anyway because she’s figured she’s pretty safe from casual Skeksis violence since they need her for twin goo although skekLi is angry enough to go ‘yeah but what if no?’

We might be in movie territory where we have a standoff between a Gelfling, a plot item, and a Skeksis with a hostage except there’s a third party.

Tavra-spider was hiding in Naia’s tunic and runs out along skekLi’s arm and… GOD. She bites him ON the eye. Geez, Tavra! You don’t mess around!

So now we have Tavra-spider running around on skekLi’s head and him freaking out slapping his own head with his non-Naia-grabbing hand and this is all very silly. Also, very serious but very very silly.

And in this silly spectacle, Naia reminds Kylan to play the bone.

The note was a thousand times stronger than when Amri had tried. It filled the corrie like wind, or water, or fire. Its reverberations circling against the walls from the pool at the bottom and all the way up to the sky. As it echoes, it reinforced itself, growing louder and louder until the mountains themselves began to sing with its song.

And the bone flute works! The MILLIONS OF ANGRY SPIDERS just start falling off the walls in droves, Tavra-spider, confined to a spider body, falls off skekLi and does a dead spider impression with her spider legs folded under her. Buuuut it doesn’t affect skekLi as much and covering his earhole with one hand, he makes ready to smash Naia against the mushroom with the other.

I guess that makes sense! It sucks for the Kylan Crew but it makes sense! The Skeksis are aliens to Thra and logically (?? with magic bird bone flute crystal music) aren’t as affected by the song of Thra.

But maybe it just needs the right accompaniment.

The song of the bone-flute faded, but skekLi’s death thrust halted midair. A second note, then a third, vibrated through the corrie. The tones were deep. Primal. Voices, Kylan realized. As the tone-tone chant sank into the walls of the cliffs, Kylan picked up the bone-flute from where he’d dropped it. He played the instrument and found the single note joined the other two with no discordance. It was the song of Thra, after all - the song that would move mountains.

skekLi dropped Naia. She fell with a gentle thump, then climbed to her feet and stumbled away. The Skeksis was frozen where he stood, eyes wide and pupils tiny, panting so heavily that drool dripped from his open mouth.

Naia doesn’t dwell on being a second away from death just recently and notices the New Challengers.

Over on the edge of the corrie wall, urVa and urLii have reentered the plot and and filled the corrie with their song.

I love the Mystic song. I love it more when it saves Naia.

One held a tall bow, arrow nocked, though the point was lowered. There was no need to use the weapon while skekLi was held immobile by the bone-shaking song. He twitched and jerked against the power of his other half. He could do no more harm to the Gelfing, at least for now.

Maybe a Mystic could keep a Skeksis in one place…

Aughra’s words echoed in Kylan’s memory.

This is really cool but its raising my expectations for the Mystics! I know they have other stuff they could be doing but maybe they should go around singing the Skeksis away from causing trouble!

Plus? Now I’m imagining an urRu barbershop quartet!

#dark crystal #the dark crystal #Song of the Dark Crystal #liveblog #Kylan #Naia #Amri #Tavra #skekLi #the Satirist #many spiders; mostly peeved #some special guests

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newssplashy · 6 years

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Entertainment: He was quitting golf. Then he qualified for the u.S. Open.

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Less than a month ago, Chris Naegel called his wife, Lindsey, with a lump in his throat. He was done, he told her. He was ready to quit professional golf.

The admission did not exactly stun her. Naegel was 35, a journeyman bobbing in the backwaters of the sport, from the Hooters Tour to the eGolf Tour to the Adams Tour to the Minor League Tour. He had just badly missed the cut at a Web.com event.

“I was kind of, I don’t know,” Naegel said. “Over it.”

He recalled that moment as he was looking for his ball Monday evening somewhere on the fifth hole here at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, where he was practicing with his caddie for the U.S. Open, which starts Thursday. It was late, the shadows were growing long, and the barn swallows were sweeping across the fescue. Only a few golfers remained on the course. One of them was Tiger Woods.

Naegel caught sight of a large crowd of fans streaming down an adjacent fairway.

“Yeah, that’s got to be him,” he said, knowing the kind of commotion that follows Woods.

They passed like ships in the night — if one was an ocean liner and the other a dinghy. But this week, they will share the same coveted waters.

The charmof the U.S. Open is its meritocratic qualification system, which allows peripheral players to dream of joining the elites. Anyone with a handicap below 1.4 can place an entry with the U.S. Golf Association to compete in sectional tournaments that determine about half the Open field.

This week, there are college amateurs, club professionals and a National Hockey League referee teeing it up alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Woods. Perhaps the longest of the long shots among the 78 qualifiers is Naegel, the long-thwarted pro from Wildwood, Missouri, near St. Louis. He is ranked 1,098th in the world.

He arrived at Shinnecock buoyed by a magical three-week stretch that followed his dour conversation with his wife. The couple agreed that he would be done with the game after he went to Texas to compete in a one-day, 36-hole sectional qualifier for the Open. They had no reason to expect him to reach Shinnecock, but he had already booked the trip.

Knowing that he would walk away soon, Naegel felt liberated. He started playing like an athlete with nothing to lose. A couple of days after the decision, he competed in a Monday qualifier for the Nashville Open and carried his own bag, forgoing the use of a caddie. He shot a 64. He finished seventh in the tournament to earn Web.com tour status for the rest of the year.

At the qualifying sectional June 4 at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Richmond, Texas, Naegel needed four birdies over five holes to force a playoff. Down by two strokes on the par-5 18th, he made a 40-foot eagle putt, then birdied the first hole of the playoff for his ticket to the Open.

A week later, he and his caddie, Michael Wellington, pulled into Shinnecock shortly before 5 p.m. and quickly sped out to play nine before the sun sank into Peconic Bay.

Wellington, 40, who cannot always travel with Naegel, had to use a friend’s frequent-flier miles to get to the sectional near Houston.

“I told him even before we played, ‘I’m going with you to Shinnecock,'” Wellington said. “He goes, ‘I know.'”

The two met and started playing together in 2002, not long after Naegel picked up the sport. He had never played a round of golf until spring break of his freshman year in high school.

“I probably 10-fingered it and gave it a baseball swing,” Naegel said.

But he fell headlong into the game. He tried to walk onto the team at the University of Mississippi but could not get playing time. So he went to Missouri Baptist, an NAIA school, and led the Spartans to the 2006 American Midwest Conference championship.

“I just stayed with one of my teammates in Chicago,” Naegel said. “He sells insurance.”

For Naegel, golf has been an undulating flow of minor progression and devastating setback, as it is for many golfers on the margins of the professional tour. In 2017, he missed full status on the Web.com tour for the season by one stroke at qualifying school.

Forced to play his way into events with Monday qualifying rounds, Naegel shot 64 in one but lost in a playoff. He shot 67 in another but missed by a stroke.

“It’s one thing to play poorly at these qualifiers and not even have a chance,” Wellington said. “He was playing well.”

After earning a spot in the Web’s BMW event in Greenville, South Carolina, last month, Naegel missed the cut, beating only a handful of golfers. It was, he said, the worst he had felt as a professional.

He called his wife and said he would rather be home with their two boys. She could tell he was serious.

“He’s like, ‘If I’m going to be grinding this, I’ve got to see something better,'” Lindsey Naegel said. “That’s probably the most frustrated I’ve seen him in a long time.”

She told her husband she supported his choice, either way. But she also encouraged him to reconsider making any rash decisions before they had a chance to talk things through.

“I didn’t think he was done, really,” Lindsey Naegel said. “I said, ‘Get through the next two weeks and come home, and we’ll talk about it.’ In the next two weeks, our lives changed significantly.”

Wellington said he could see how Naegel’s decision allowed him to relax and have fun again. Wellington related it to his own experience after he learned he was bipolar. He stepped away from the game to focus on his new charitable foundation, Birdies 4 Bipolar.

On Naegel’s bag at the Open, Wellington said, his job will be easy. Naegel keeps his own yardage and typically reads his own putts. Wellington’s primary task will be to roll out quotations from the book they are both reading, “Relentless,” by Tim S. Grover, and from their favorite movie, “Caddyshack.”

“I’m just out here working on my comedy act,” Wellington said. “What I know about the mental game,” he added, “is that if you’re laughing, you’re in the present. Golf is about being in the present.”

Naegel admitted that might be a struggle this week. The goal of competing in the U.S. Open had helped sustain him through the years of frustration.

But regardless of how he plays at Shinnecock, he knows he cannot give up the game yet. There are still too many possibilities.

“Plus,” Naegel said, “I don’t know what else I’d do.”

Just before darkness fell Monday, he and Wellington made their way down Shinnecock’s ninth fairway only to stare up at the face of a drastic elevation change leading to the green.

“Holy smokes,” Naegel said.

“Is that the green up there?” Wellington asked.

“I didn’t know there’s mountains on islands,” Naegel said.

He managed to deposit his shot within birdie range.

“I believe in his game,” Wellington said. “People are just getting ready to understand how good his game is. All the guys in St. Louis, we know about his game. It’s no secret to us. We just wondered when it was going to be put on full display.”

As word got out about Naegel’s improbable run, Wellington became an overnight celebrity in his own right. Fans on social media have bestowed a nickname on him, right out of a golf movie that seems aligned with Naegel’s journeyman narrative.

They have been calling him Romeo, the name of the caddie in “Tin Cup.”

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

source https://www.newssplashy.com/2018/06/entertainment-he-was-quitting-golf-then.html

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