#spinning mushroom china

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Inspired by the 2012 Umbrella Street in Portugal, the Chinese city of Qujing did a spinning mushroom umbrella installation. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PXUciGkGck&ab_channel=SNEPY

#spinning mushroom china #umbrella art installation

[artknifeandglue]

WIP Whatever-day!

Because this piece has taken so much work today that I now have a headache, and sharing (the suffering) is caring. Have an excerpt from the first draft, y'all.

Tagging @lovingherwasgay because we are both suffering with exams in various ways lol

---

Over eggs and bacon one morning, Harry lowers the newspaper in front of him and looks at the chipped mug of coffee by Eggsy’s plate, horribly out of place with the words HANDS OFF MY MUG, YOU CUNT plastered across the side in stark contrast to the bone china of Harry’s teacup. Plodding footsteps echo from the staircase and down the hallway into the dining room as he takes stock of the things that don’t belong to him but have surfaced in his home anyway: a coat in the wrong size on the hook by the doorway; the pair of oxfords not in his size sitting by the shoe cabinet where their owner leaves them every single time despite Harry’s near-daily reminders to put them away; the box of absurdly sweet breakfast cereal with no nutritional value whatsoever, perched proudly next to the coffee machine as though that space was never empty; the second toothbrush by the bathroom sink where there was only one before; the sleepy brunette currently padding into the dining room, rubbing his eyes and colliding with the doorframe on his way in, still in his pyjamas with his hair sticking up at odd angles. Instead of all of this making his head spin, the realisation settles into a quiet sort of clarity, as though this is how it ought to be.

Still, Harry waits until the end of breakfast, when Eggsy’s coffee has disappeared from the mug, his plate is empty, and all that is left of his cereal is a lonely blue Froot Loop sitting at the bottom of the bowl, surrounded by a few spoonfuls of milk tinted an unappealing colour by copious amounts of food colouring. As Eggsy scoops it up with his spoon, Harry bites the bullet and asks, “How do you feel about moving in?”

The spoon pauses on its way to Eggsy's mouth, a drop of milk dangling dangerously and threatening to fall onto the placemat. Harry drops his gaze to his own nearly-empty plate, cutting the last mushroom into half and spearing it on his fork just to give him something to do in the unbearable silence. A second passes, and then he ends up being the one to break it anyway. “Of course, you don’t have to if you would like to remain-”

“Yes,” Eggsy cuts in, and Harry looks up in time to see his shocked expression give way to a delighted grin. “Obviously yes, Harry, I want to.”

Relief and joy swell in Harry’s chest, too much and just perfect and crowding out almost all speech except the words I love you. “Excellent,” he manages to say when his throat finally unsticks. “Will you need help with your things?”

“Nah. Haven’t got that much to pack, and I can get Rox to help. She’s been offering for ages.” Eggsy tips the last bit of cereal and milk directly into his mouth and swallows. “Can I bring my stuff over tomorrow?”

“You can do as you like,” Harry points out, “since it’s now also your house. You live here.” With me, he wants to add, horribly sentimental as it is. You live here with me.

“Sweet. Thank you, Harry.” Eggsy is smiling again, this one beatific and soft and gentle, the way he smiles only when they are alone. What Harry wouldn’t give to keep that smile, to keep Eggsy like that forever, bright and brilliant and happy.

He shelves the thought, because now isn’t the time for impassioned declarations of love. “I’m glad you’re open to it,” he answers instead.

“Open to waking up next to you every morning for the rest of my life? Fuck yeah.” Eggsy’s chair scrapes against the floor as he gets up, now-empty bowl stacked neatly atop his plate as he carries his dishes to the kitchen sink. As he passes Harry’s chair, he leans down for a quick kiss, leaving on Harry’s lips the faint taste of sugar and artificial fruit and in Harry’s chest the fierce warmth of love.

Every morning for the rest of their lives. What a prospect.

#kingsman #harry hart #eggsy unwin #hartwin #fic #how to word

[annewhitingwriting]

Portfolio:

Threadbare Promises? The 2024 Remake Report Weaves a Complex Tale (No Kill Mag) Exploring Clare Press’ Visionary New Read, Wear Next: Fashioning the Future (No Kill Mag) Glean, Glow, Glam – Denise Treizman at Coral Springs Museum (Art Spiel) Unboxing the Origins of Civilization (Hyperallergic) Periwinkle Bubble Wrap: Denise Treizman and the Art of the Disposable (The Interior Review) The Textile Anthropology of Supernaturae (SUSTAIN the Mag)

Thank Your Sanitation Worker... Compost Champion: Lisa Vehrenkamp  New Series: Waste Pioneers Introducing the ReFashion Week 2022 Designer & Stylist of the Year   Spring Cleaning—the responsible way How This Metal-Working Mechanic Moved Mack Trucks  From Trash to Treasure: Celebrating Sanitation’s historical support of the arts (Sanitation Foundation)

90’s Nostalgia, but with Concern for the Future (SynZenBe Textiles Magazine, a subsidiary of CommonShare Sourcing) A History of Cordura Fabric ; Artisan Economy: Support the Handworker Economy Blue Jeans Go Green! To which all we can say is, “Finally!” Bringing Materials of the Future to Wardrobes Today  China is Banning Single Use Plastic—Will this include polybags? ColorZen: Making Cotton Dyeing Better CUPRO: Friend or Foe? Fashion Corporations to the Rescue Faubourg à Flax Financing Circular Fashion, according to the UN Happy in Hemp Milkweed Mania: A silky-soft material too good to be true? RE-VERSO: Circular by Origin Rooted in Nature: Mylo Mushroom Leather Have shelter-in-place orders bolstered the mending trend?   Upcycling: The Current Zero-Waste Push What To Do About Microfibers Wool: Revaluing an Age-Old Textile Wool, a Wonder ZAPPOS for Good: Giant E-Retailers Try to Give Back UNSPUN Denim is Spinning a New Future Trove: The Resale Generation is Here The Revolution Will Be TikTok, Or would have been… The Canvas by Querencia: Conscious Fashion Conglomerate Taking Stock of Fashion Week Sustainability Trends Sustainability 101: Dyeing or Dying? Sustainability 101: Greenwashing Sustainability 101: Offsetting Fashion’s Carbon Footprint Sustainability 101: Textile Recycling, In Brief Sustainability 101: Textile Waste Sustainability 101: The Best Websites for News About Sustainable Fashion Sustainability 101: The Essentiality of Post-Consumer Textile Recycling Sustainability 101: The Problems of Packaging Sustainability 101: Upcycling—A Hobby, or a Business?  Sustainability 101: Water Overuse Sustainability 101: What is Deadstock? Sustainability 101: Ethical Labor Sustainability 101: Fabrics Sustainability 101: Fast Fashion

Creativity in Crisis (AGAATI Artisan Fashion Foundation)  Summer Dream is Finally Here! (AGAATI Blog)

Fashion Companies Need to Encourage Customers to Recycle (Medium)

New Yorkers Anne Whiting & Allison Vicenzi Talk About Sustainability & The City (ReFash Magazine)

Ode to Autumn: or, on falling leaves and failing friendships (bSmart Media)  If The Shoe Fits: Dating As E-Commerce  artTECA: Celebrating Your Individuality through Art and Fashion Artists in Action: Fostering Community, Bridging Divides with IThou Art On the Importance of ‘Me Too’ (bSmart, selected by Medium as top story for Women’s History Month) 

A Most Unusual Teenager (Patch News)  From MN to Peru: A Nurse Without Borders Higher Education, Higher Goals Local Ironwoman Mixes Fitness With Fun  Never Too Old for Wayzata’s Bike Parade Minnetonka Book Club Celebrates 25th Anniversary In with the old Enough Art For All Rox Minneapolis Jewelry Trunk Show Wayzata Grad’s Music Career Off To Acclaimed Start and more Cuban art opens up to the world (The Global Post/The World)

[lionkingfan]

Roof Fan For Roof VentilationRACF Alibaba Hot Sale Mushroom Roof Top Exhaust Fan Price - Buy Roof Top Vent For Gas Extractor,Industrial Used Roof Top Turbine Fan,Roof Vent Product

Overview Quick Details Type: Other Electric Current Type: AC Blade Material: stainless steel, Cast Iron Mounting: Roof Fan, Roof fan Place of Origin: Zhejiang, China Brand Name: LION KING Model Number: RACF Power: 1.1KW Voltage: 220V/380V Air Volume: 1000-100000m³/h Speed: 1480r/min Certification: CCC, ce, ISO 9000 After-sales Service Provided: Engineers available to service machinery overseas Impeller Diameter: 315-1250mm Pressure Range: up to 1200Pa Working Temperature: more than 0.5 hour in 280 ℃ gas fume Drive Type: Direct drive Installation: Installed with a circular or square flange, or flashing installation Applications: Fire-fighting smoke evacuation, workshop roof, explosion-proof Features: Low Noise Power Saving Product Description RACF series of roof fans can continuously operate  more than 0.5 hours in the gas fume with temperature up to 280℃. The fans are popularly used for roof ventilation or fire-fighting smoke evacuation in factory buildings   Impeller Diameter 315-1250mm Air Volume Range 1000-100000m³/h Pressure Range up to 1200Pa Working Temperature Work continuously more than 0.5 hour in 280 ℃ gas fume Drive Type Direct drive Installation Installed with a circular or square flange, or flashing installation Applications                            Fire-fighting smoke evacuation, workshop roof ventilation, explosion-proof ventilation         Packaging & Shipping     Company Information Zhejiang Lion King Ventilator Co., Ltd., a professional manufacturer of various axial fans, centrifugal fans, air-conditioning fans, engineering fans, mainly consists of Research and Development Department, Production Department, Sales Department, Testing Center, and Customer Service. It is located in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, which is near to Shanghai and Ningbo with very convenient transportation system. The company has CNC lathes, CNC machining centers, CNC punch press, CNC bending machine, CNC spinning lathes, hydraulic press, dynamic balancing machine and other equipment. The company has perfect comprehensive Testing Center, which includes facilities for air volume test, noise test, torque force and tensile force test, high and low temperature test, overspeed test , life test etc. Relying on its mold technology center and engineering technology center, the company has developed forward curved multi-blades centrifugal fan,backward centrifugal fan, voluteless fan, roof fan, axial flow fan, box-type fan series with more than 100 specifications of metal fans and low noise fans. The company attaches great importance to quality management, and was awarded the ISO9001 international quality system certification very early. At present, the "LION KING" brand has enjoyed great popularity and well-deserved reputation. Meanwhile, the products are also exported to many countries, and honored with consistent high praise and recognition by domestic and foreign customers. The company always insists the business philosophy of "Safety First, Quality First", and are keeping to serve all customers based on "honesty, innovation, rapid response, and full services."       Read the full article

[senor-plume]

bit by bit

raw guts pulse electric style into my unpierced ears

feedback ashtrays clog my head and this chest which soars roars knock doors

thorns on knees prey pray that someday they will become roses

sweet roses   in vases on tables in view of lovers with forks

lovers with napkin necklines and wine ...plenty of wine

a D chord dangles from the moon

exploding exposing unloading

drum beat machines tease the open thighs

blam boom blam boom

go!

the voodoo of shaken sticks rattle fine china

stir my drink

blow my nose and insert the straw

bleed the ear lance the boil

socks turn industrial wet

ship me up send me out stock me shelf me sell me own me love me play me ignore me forget to dust me

fuck fuck fuck

16 tons rattle pinball metal in my cranium

45’s spin. vinyl bleeds chamomile. 78’s drink coffee. 8-Tracks give head. cassettes eat often and CD’s burn plastic candy

mushroom clouds expose us to radiation Snickers and the burning Milky Way

the Three Musketeers riding in with the four horsemen with an exit sign slobbering off the bits

bit by bit

bit by bit

and the end rolls in wave after wave

its over

but that's ok

its ok

really

its ok

#TUMBLR POETRY #poetry

[cottageowl]

Cottagecore (and adjacent cores) activities

Bonus points (bp) are for ~the aesthetic~

Swing on swing - bp if it's a treeswing or tire swing

Line dry laundry - can be done on a balcony too

Picnicking

Baking - bread, pie, whatever; mug cakes and toaster oven pizza counts

Swimming - bp if it's in a pond or natural body of water

Make lace

Make a birdhouse

Crochet

Knit

Embroider 

Cross stitch 

Forage for mushrooms - can also cook with mushrooms

Pick wildflowers - dandelions count my dudes!

Garden in whatever space you have!

Pet farm animals - sheeples! Goatses! Moo-cows!

Gather or pick fruit - many fruit farms have programs where you can pick what you want for a fee, at least in my area

Raise honeybees

Raise chickens, gather eggs - bp cook with them eggs!

Go on a bike ride - bp if bike has a front basket

Sewing

Mending

Making tea

Drinking tea

Tea party!

Watch sunrise

Watch sunset

Read a book

Go to a library 

Draw

Paint

Handwrite a pen pal

Can, dry, freeze, or otherwise preserve food & sauces and stuff

Play an instrument

Sing

Listen to music you vibe with, even if it goes against ~the aesthetic~

Lounging in a tree somewhere

Lounging in a hammock somewhere

Decorating for the holidays

Scrapbooking 

Care for fine China and ceramics

Fill hope chest and/or a chest of things that makes you happy

Quilt

Press flowers and botanical

Potlucks

Cut firewood - OR watch hot lady chop firewood, the points are the same

Repair things 

Helping others because community is important and we're not dumbasses Carl

Yoga and meditation - bp if outside on some M.O.S.S.

Fishing

Composting

Boating

Literally any witchcraft related thing

Spinning thread

Whittling wood

Have a pet or relentlessly track down people with pets and ask to pet them/cuddle them/worship them from afar

Birdwatch

Butterfly watch

Pottery

Shovel snow, clean gutters, pull weeds, rake leaves - what, you thought this was going to be easy? This. Is. Cottagecore!

Cloud watch

Stargaze

Cook from scratch

Learn to care for cast iron cookware 

Cuddling up by a fire

Boot up and go for a puddlewalk in the rain

Take a note from your other core brethren and collect shinies, stones, crystals, what have you

Obsessively look at relevant social media accounts with relevant content, interact with them appropriately 

Start a cottagecore blog

Go camping - collect random nature, even just in photos

Go hiking - see above

Go on a nature walk - see above

Write a book - bp it involves woodland creatures

Play dress up

Make a flower crown - bp if you learn to make a dandelion crown, that ish is hard

Use a handkerchief to wipe your tears at the sins of mankind

WEAR A MASK

Milk a cow

Make butter and cheese from cream and milk

Go antiquing

Restore furniture 

Decoupage 

Light a candle

Make a candle

Listen to a windchime

Make a windchime

Make a suncatcher

Make jewelry 

Collect jewelry 

Wear jewelry 

Grow and use medicinal and kitchen herbs

Make soaps, cleaners, and homemade hygiene products

Shop at thrift shops

Upcycle

Whistle while you work - especially cleaning. See the point about shoveling snow

Shop at your local village

Shop at a farmers market

Visit public gardens, museums, zoos, planetariums - anything that can connect you to nature

Learn and use photography - capture both the important and the seemingly unimportant moments

Save up to buy a cottage of your own - or whatever your dream happens to be

Keep learning - first aid, flora and fauna, history, whatever. Improve until the moss eats you.

So that's my incomplete list. Feel free to add to it, or link to tutorials on how to do these things.

#cottagecore #crowcore #naturecore #witchblr #gremlincore #grandmacore #farmcore #long post is long

[oberlinsciencelibrary]

Celebrate International Women’s Day by reading a book by a woman scientist!

Our recommendation:  Assistant Professor of Physics Jillian Scudder’s “curious journal through our cosmic family tree,” Astroquizzical; a “quirky guide to how things work in the universe.”

Scientists are more likely to publish research articles than monographs, of course.  As indexed in the Web of Science, there are nearly 35 articles published in the past three years by Oberlin College scientists who identify as female.  This is not an exhaustive list by any means, and it’s impressive to see the breadth of research.  

Articles are listed after the break, arranged alphabetically by the last name of the first author; faculty names are show in bold font.

                                                            ------ Publications by Oberlin College Women in Science 2018-2020: limited to current faculty/recent emerita in the departments of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, geology, neuroscience, physics and astronomy.

Bailey, H.D., A.B. Mullaney, K.D. Gibney, and Leslie D. Kwakye. 2018. Audiovisual integration varies with target and environment richness in immersive virtual reality. Multisensory Research 31:689-713.

Barald, K.F., Y.C. Shen, Lynne M. Bianchi.  2018.  Chemokines and cytokines on the neuroimmunoaxis: Inner ear neurotrophic cytokines in development and disease. Prospects for repair? Experimental Neurology 301:92-99.

Bell, E.W., E.J. Zheng, Lisa M. Ryno. 2018. Identification of inhibitors of the E. coli chaperone SurA using in silico and in vitro techniques.  Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 28: 3540-3548.

Bianchi, Lynne. 2018.  Developmental Neurobiology.  Garland Science, Taylor and Francis Group. 345p.

Bohm-Levine, N., A. R. Goldberg, Monica Mariani, M. Frankfurt, and Janice Thornton. 2020. Reducing luteinizing hormone levels after ovariectomy improves spatial memory: Possible role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Hormones and Behavior 118:104590.

Ceperley, Elizabeth G., et al. 2020. Widespread early Holocene deglaciation, Washington Land, northwest Greenland. Quaternary Science Reviews 231:106181.

Drabeck, D. H., A. Rucavado, E. Hingst-Zaher, Yolanda P. Cruz, A. M. Dean, and S. A. Jansa. 2020. Resistance of South American opossums to vWF-binding venom C-type lectins. Toxicon 178:92-99.

Edwards, J., Marta Laskowski, T. I. Baskin, N. Mitchell, and B. DeMeo. 2019. The role of water in fast plant movements. Integrative and Comparative Biology 59:1525-1534.

Ellison, S. L., M. D. Thorp, L. Lin, H. Pan, A. F. L. Bluck, Jillian M. Scudder, H. Teimoorinia, S. F. Sanchez, and M. Sargent. 2020. The ALMaQUEST survey - III. Scatter in the resolved star-forming main sequence is primarily due to variations in star formation efficiency. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 493:L39-L43.

Ellison, S. L., M. D. Thorp, H. Pan, L. Lin, Jillian M. Scudder, A. F. L. Bluck, S. F. Sanchez, and M. Sargent. 2020. The ALMaQUEST Survey II. What drives central starbursts at z ti 0? Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 492:6027-6041.

Garvin, Mary C., et al. 2020. A survey of trace metal burdens in increment cores from eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) across a childhood cancer cluster, Sandusky County, OH, USA. Chemosphere 238:124528.

Garvin, Mary C., et al. 2018. Attraction of Culex pipiens to house sparrows Is influenced by host age but not uropygial gland secretions.  Insects 9: article 127.

Garvin, Mary C., et al. 2018. Attraction of Culex pipiens to uropygial gland secretions does not explain feeding preference for American robins. Journal of Vector Ecology 43:110-116.

Hammer, A. C., X. Jia, M. Zeller, E. J. Coughlin, W. Zhang, and Catherine M. Oertel. 2020. Ligand geometry directs the packing and symmetry of one-dimensional helical motifs in lead oxide naphthoates and biphenylcarboxylates. Crystengcomm 22:6465-6477.

Hillis, D.M., M.V. Price, R.W. Hill, D.W. Hall, Marta J. Laskowski. 2019. Principles of Life, 3rd ed. Sinauer Associates; Macmillan. 1050p.

Ijiri, Yumi, et al. 2019. Correlated spin canting in ordered core-shell Fe3O4/MnxFe3-xO4 nanoparticle assemblies. Physical Review B 99:094421.

Kamhi, J. Frances, A.B. Barron, A. Narendra. 2020. Vertical lobes of the mushroom bodies are essential for view-based navigation in Australian Myrmecia ants. Current Biology 30:3432+

Krycka, K.L. ...Yumi Ijiri, et al. 2018. Spin waves across three-dimensional, close-packed nanoparticles.  New Journal of Physics 20: article 123020.

Mariani, Monica M., K. Mojziszek, E. Curley, and Janice E. Thornton. 2020. Lowering luteinizing hormone (LH) reverses spatial memory deficits associated with neurotoxin infusion into the hippocampus of ovx rats. Hormones and behavior 119:article 104631.

McCormick, Catherine A. 2019. Immunocytochemical evidence for electrical synapses in the dorsal descending and dorsal snterior octaval nuclei in the Goldfish, Carassius auratus. Brain Behavior and Evolution 93:34-39

Oberdick, S.D., ...Yumi Ijiri, et al. 2018. Spin canting across core/shell Fe3O4/MnxFe3-xO4 nanoparticles. Scientific Reports 8:3425

Paine, Tracie A., S. Chang, and R. Poyle. 2020. Contribution of GABA(A) receptor subunits to attention and social behavior. Behavioural brain research 378:112261.

Pan, H., L. Lin, B. Hsieh, T. Xiao, Y. Gao, S. L. Ellison, Jillian M. Scudder, et al. 2018. The effect of galaxy interactions on molecular gas properties. Astrophysical Journal 868:132.

Riordan, A.J. ... Tracie A. Paine, Janice E. Thornton. 2018. Estradiol and luteinizing hormone regulate recognition memory following subchronic phencyclidine: Evidence for hippocampal GABA action. Psychoneuroendocrinology 91:86-94.

Rutter, M.T., Angela J. Roles, C.B. Fenster. 2018. Quantifying natural seasonal variation in mutation parameters with mutation accumulation lines. Ecology and Evolution 8:5575-5585.

Ryno, Lisa M. and C. Cottine. 2018. Biological impact and ethical implications of pesticide use: A short module for upper-division-undergraduate biochemistry courses. Journal of Chemical Education 95:1771-1777

Saintonge, A., … Jillian M. Scudder, et al. 2018. JINGLE, a JCMT legacy survey of dust and gas for galaxy evolution studies - I. Survey overview and first results. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 481:3497-3519.

Schijf, J., Mary C. Garvin. 2018. Validation and application of a new microwave-digestion/ICP-MS method for the analysis of trace metals in tree increment cores. Geochemical Journal 52:347-358

Schmidt, Amanda H., S. Ludtke, C. Andermann. 2020. Multiple measures of monsoon-controlled water storage in Asia. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 546: article 116415

Schmidt, Amanda H., A.R. Denn, A.J. Hidy, P.R. Bierman, Y. Tang. 2019. Human and natural controls on erosion in the Lower Jinsha River, China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 170:351-359.

Schmidt, Amanda H., et al. 2018. Agricultural land use doubled sediment loads in western China's rivers. Anthropocene 21:95-106.

Scudder, Jillian M., et al. 2018. Cosmic happenstance: 24-mu m selected, multicomponent Herschel sources are line-of-sight projections. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 480:4124-4137

Smith, Christina L., et al. 2020. The line-of-sight extinction record at Gale Crater as observed by MSL's Mastcam and Navcam through similar to 2,500 Sols. Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets 125:e2020JE006465.

Violino, G., S. L. Ellison, M. Sargent, K. E. K. Coppin, Jillian M. Scudder, T. J. Mender, and A. Saintonge. 2018. Galaxy pairs in the SDSS - XIII. The connection between enhanced star formation and molecular gas properties in galaxy mergers. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 476:2591-2604.

Yang, B. ...Rachel Eveleth, et al. 2020. Phytoplankton phenology in the North Atlantic: insights from profiling float measurements. Frontiers in Marine Science 7:article 139.

#oberlin college #oberlin college libraries #women in science #women as authors #women scientists

[war-sword]

the ilvermorny exchange (6)

Part 6 | index | masterlist

summary: you’re an Ilvermorny student, and you’ve applied to the International Magic Student Exchange Program to attend your sixth year at Hogwarts instead. You and your friends are excited to go to school overseas, but a certain blonde prefect has decided to personally make your exchange year suck. You decide to give him a taste of his own medicine. (draco x reader, enemies to lovers, female reader) words: 7,699 A/N: Hi guys! Welcome back! So many people asked me to continue this fic so I decided fuck it lets go. And here we are!!! Hope you all enjoy. Small side note, when I was writing the first 5 chapters of this story I did originally have a side-plot of Alex having a crush on Ginny Weasley. I took those parts out because for some reason I thought it might be distracting?? Or people would think it was weird?? Idk but now I'm putting it back in because the person irl who Alex is modeled after asked me to lmfao. So I've gone back and added those into the past chapters, in case you wanna go back and refresh yourself anyway! taglist: @tragically-cordelia @mhftrs @2pumpkin-pasty @gingerlouisgirl @seriouslynotfunny @clockworkherondale @cherrie511 @songforhema @marvelrose @acciodracoo @eltanin-malfoy​

◈◈◈

“Fucking finally.” Alex smirks at you good-naturedly as you meet her in the corridors between the Horned Serpent and Thunderbird dorms.

“Ms. Angeles had to pin my skirt! It was an emergency!” You reply.

Alex just rolls her eyes, and you head off in the direction of the center of the Ilvermorny castle. “Ugh. I wish Mr. Foxbrair had let me wear the boys outfit,” she pulls at the suspenders of her pale blue skirt irritably.

“At least we have pockets!” You say, digging your hands into them for emphasis. “I think they’re cute.” You spin as you walk, letting the skirt flare out. You and Alex, like all the rest of the last years, are dressed in your formal Ilvermorny uniforms. Blue suspender skirts and white long-sleeve button downs for the girls, while the boys wear cranberry pants and white button-downs. Everyone wears ties with their house emblem.

As last years, you’ve arrived at Ilvermorny a few hours early to change into your uniforms and prepare for the lower years to arrive. You get perform the opening dance at the First Feast tonight, and help younger students find their way as they settle in. But first– you want your wand.

There’s a bit of a line at the counter, which has multiple windows. You and Alex join the shortest one, and you peer over the shoulder of the person in front of you to watch the slender wand boxes fly around as the teachers working the counter summon them from the safe behind.

“I’m so glad this is the last time we ever have to do this. I can’t wait to do magic at home,” Alex sighs.

“Same. It’s so hard having to go from cleaning my room here and then having to do it manually all summer,” you agree.

You and Alex are both startled by a hand clapping down on your shoulders. You both turn to see Chris behind you, laughing.

“Chris! Hey!” You say, grabbing him around the middle in a tight hug. Alex piles on top and the three of you giggle, swaying unsteadily.

“What’s up?” He asks as you all separate.

“Not much,” Alex says. “You look good in those pants.”

Chris poses. “I think pink and red are my colors. Too bad I’m going to look like a giant idiot when we have to dance.”

“Chris, literally all we do is weave between the tables and shoot the streamers out of our wands. We’ve watched it happen for the past six years, do you not know how it goes?” You ask, incredulous.

“You think I pay attention?” He responds. You just laugh and move forward in the line.

 Alex gets her wand first and cradles it like a newborn. “Ohhhhh, my sweet baby, I missed you.” She kisses it gently for dramatic effect. You don’t even laugh though, because the second you have yours in your hand, you feel like you could do the same. Holding your wand for the first time in three months makes your nerves come alive and you feel like you could burst at the seams with happiness. Being reunited with your wand feels like being reconnected with a part of your soul.

You flick your wand and gentle wisps of glittery mist come out of the tip and dissipate into the air, making you grin. “I love magic.”

The three of you mill around in the entryway afterwards, greeting all your other friends you hadn’t seen over the holidays. Some of your friends from last year’s exchange trip come over, too.

“What’s up, Y/n?” Kenny asks as he sweeps you into a hug.

“Hey!” You and Alex take turns giving him a hug, and he goes in for a handshake with Chris.

“How was Taiwan?”

“Oh, so cool.” Chris’s eyes glitter.

“Whoa, I forgot you were going there!” You exclaim. “You were meeting family, right?”

“Yeah. So many cousins, so many family meals. I’ve never eaten so much zong zi in my life, dude.”

“Did you go anywhere else?” Kenny elbows him, a sly smile on his face. “England, perhaps?”

Chris just rolls his eyes. “No. Emi only ever sent me three letters, but she was in China visiting her family like I was in Taiwan. What about you guys?” He turns to you and Alex. “Either of you go to Europe?”

“Hell no, Portkeys overseas are expensive!” Alex says. Chris was, of course, referring to her visiting the Weasley’s. Alex had started dating Ginny towards the end of the term in May, shortly after the last Quidditch match. Ron was of course angry Ginny kept dating his friends, but the rest of you thought it was cute. Chris and Kenny look at you expectantly.

You shake your head. “Me neither. Draco was traveling, and we agreed against meeting the parents anyway. It was never that serious.” You give a shrug. It was true, though. Still, when you’d left Hogwarts in June, it had obviously been a sad departure. You’d been a little teary as you hugged goodbye.

“Are you crying?” Draco had asked, sounding both shocked and concerned for you.

“No,” you said grumpily, rubbing your eyes fiercely on the edge of your sleeve.

His eyes had softened and he brushed your hair out of your face. “Come on, you know you can’t lie to me. Why?”

You’d just buried your head into his chest, too embarrassed about being so emotional. “‘Cuz we’re breaking up and I can’t handle it like an adult. Ugh.” You’d mumbled.

Draco pulled you away from him a little so he could whisper in your ear. “Who said we’re breaking up?”

“We’re not?” You’d sniffed.

He’d had that stupid smile on his face that made you want to deck him but also make your heart jump into your throat. “Last I checked, I didn’t break up with you, so, unless you’re the one doing the breaking up…” 

“Oh, I hate you!” You’d groaned, but also smiling at the same time. Draco had picked you up off the ground to make you giggle.

“I hate you, too. So stop crying!” He’d put you down and pressed a few kisses on your cheek and your forehead. “Write to me, okay? I promise we’ll see each other again.”

“Okay, we better. Wait, I need your address!”

“Oh, shit. Do you have parchment?”

“No.”

“Uh, okay stick out your arm.”

You’d both been a giggling mess as Draco scratched out his address onto your forearm with one of his fancy Always-Inked Quills, your laughing interspersed with him begging you to be more still and not smudge.

“We’re such idiots.” Your tears of sadness had turned to ones of laughter.

“Speak for yourself!” He’d exclaimed. You kissed one last time.

“Bye, Y/n.”

“Bye, Draco.”

“Uh, ‘not that serious’ my ass.” Alex says, bringing you back out of your memories. “You were both crying.”

“We were laughing!” You defended. “And it’s true, we only exchanged a few letters. We were both busy and international owl post takes a while.”

“Damn, we all got the shaft from our British wifeys!” Chris complains.

“Aha, not me!” Alex does a little dance. “Ginny is coming for the Exchange this year.”

Chris and Kenny ooh’d. You already knew this, of course. Alex was lucky that Ginny was in the year below. It was unlikely you’d see any of your Hogwarts friends until you graduated, but Alex and Ginny would get a whole other year together.

“Who’s coming for the Exchange?” Sarah had appeared, walking up with Alice.

“Ginny Weasley,” you answer.

“Ooh, fun. Who else is coming?” Sarah asks.

You all exchange glances. “I dunno, I guess we didn’t really know many other people in the year below us while we were there,” Kenny says.

“I don’t think any of Gin’s friends are coming, she probably would’ve mentioned it,” adds Alex.

“Anyone want to go to the inner courtyard to go do some spells?” Chris suggests, changing the subject.

You all agree readily, and head outside. You take turns messing around– levitating rocks, each other, and you and Chris have a mini-duel, ending with his dress uniform completely ruined. Sarah expertly Scourgifies it clean again. Alex and Kenny work together to enlarge a small patch of mushrooms so you can all climb on them. Chris has just discovered they’re great slides when you hear a voice ring across the courtyard.

“WHAT DO YOU YOU ALL THINK YOU’RE DOING?”

Everyone freezes, your first instinct being fear. You turn your head, gazing down from the mushroom to see Ms. Bell standing a few feet off, watching you with a smile on your face.

“Uh, nothing!” Kenny calls.

“Hey Ms. Bell!” You, Sarah and Alice chorus.“We’ll put it back, don’t worry!” You slide down off the mushroom and run over to her to give your favorite teacher a hug.

“How was your summer? You need to come visit me and tell me about your Exchange year!” She asks, giving you a gentle squeeze.

“Great!I’ll definitely come by to tell you about Hogwarts.”

“Awesome!” She beams.  “Ready for your last year?”

“Yes! But also no, I’ll be so sad to leave.” You say, as the rest of the group comes over to say hello. “I’m going to sign up for your new class! the History of Magical Painting and Photography, right?”

“Yes, I’m excited for it,” she says, giving Sarah a side hug. “You should all sign up if you like art, I think it’s going to be lots of fun. I’ve been planning for it all summer.” Sarah and Alice nod, and the others politely say they’ll consider it.

“Alright, I’ve got to go. I’m on Exchange Student duty again.” Ms. Bell brandishes a scroll of parchment, her own dress cloak swishing as she moves.  “Fix those mushrooms back before you all leave, please!”

“Wait, which Exchange?” You ask.

“Hogwarts, same as last time.”

“Can we see the list?” Alex asks. “My girlfriend is coming, we just want to see if there’s anyone else we know.”

Ms. Bell unrolls the parchment and you all gather around to read it. Your eyes scan the paper and you don’t recognize anyone else except Ginny– Wait! Your heart skips a beat, and you blink your eyes and grasp the edge of the parchment next to Ms. Bell’s hand, making sure you read it correctly.

Draco Malfoy.

“See anyone else you know?” Ms. Bell asks.

Alex catches sight of your shocked expression and laughs. “We know him!” She points to Draco’s name.

“But… but he’s in our year. He isn’t eligible for the Exchange,” you say softly. “It must be a mistake.”

“Hm, I don’t think so. I remember he was a later addition.”

You’re still staring off into space while Ms. Bell rolls up the parchment. “I really have to go. Would you guys like to come along to greet your friends?”

You and Alex follow Ms. Bell out of the courtyard, still slightly in a haze. Was Draco really coming? He’d never mentioned it to you, while you were at Hogwarts or in any of his letters. And besides, IMSEP rules were really strict; He was too old for Exchange. Alex elbowed you and broke you from your stupor.

“You didn’t know he was coming?” She asks.

“No! I had no idea! Is that like, allowed?” Even as you say it, thoughts are already bubbling into your mind. Draco, here, at Ilvermorny. With you. You’ll get to show him around, go to classes again, you can go on dates on weekends out… You were getting excited. Alex is smiling like crazy and clutching your hand. You can’t help but grin also.

When you get to the front lawn, the afternoon sun is getting lower as the last of the Portkeys come in. Students are arriving in descending order of their grade, so they can get settled into their dorms before dinner. First year’s arrive last, as well as Exchange students, so they can be sorted before the First Feast. You watch a group of eleven year olds go by, led by a teacher and another last year. Ms. Bell leads you over to an open patch of grass where the Hogwarts Portkey will let out, and checks her watch. “They should be here any moment.”

A moment later, there’s a whooshing sound and a group of almost twenty people land on the lawn pretty far away, some of who you can see toppling over as they land hard. “Oh no, we’re too far away!” Ms. Bell begins walking at a brisk pace towards the group.

Alex starts running, obviously already honed in on Ginny. You walk along with Ms. Bell, still not sure Draco will be there. As you draw closer, you spot his bright hair in the mass of people. You start running too.

Draco spots you coming, and looks slightly surprised, but still smiling. He lets go of his trunk and bag to open his arms, and you launch yourself into them.

“Hey baby!” He laughs into your ear as he spins you around. “Are you surprised?"

“You. Are. The biggest. Bastard!” You cry once he puts you down, hitting on his chest with your fists to punctuate your words.

“Ouch! Okay, enough with the hitting!” He’s still laughing though, pulling your fists away. You put up a tiny fight, but he’s much stronger than you. When he lets go you wrap your arms around him in another hug.

“Yes I’m surprised!” You say, pulling back again. You’re not sure if you want to hug him again, kiss him, hit him some more or just look into his eyes. There’s so much you want to do at once. “And wow, I think you got tan when you went to Italy.”

Draco chuckles. “It won’t last long. And look at you! You’ve cut your hair!” He takes his hands off your waist to brush through the strands.

“Yes! It’s a little shorter now. You like?”

“I love it.” His eyes keep flicking across your face and the rest of you like he can’t get enough, and you’re glad to know he feels the same way. He leans down and finally places a gentle kiss on your lips, and you feel like you could explode from happiness.

Ms. Bell finally reaches the group. “Hi Everyone! Welcome to Ilvermorny. Please look around and make sure the person you were standing next to is here, sometimes people do go missing… all good?” She retrieves the used Portkey, an umbrella, from the ground, and waves her wand. Everyone’s luggage vanishes, off to be kept until after the sorting. “Alright, let's go!” We don’t want to get behind schedule, we’ve got lots to do tonight before we get to eat!”

You grab Draco’s hand as you all start the walk back towards the castle. “So how were you allowed to come here? You’re too old for Exchange! How did you convince your parents? How long will you be here?” All the questions that were buzzing around in your head came spilling out all at once.

“I’ll be here all year,” Draco said. “I transferred, I’m not on Exchange. And lots and lots of convincing.”

You really didn’t have anything to say, you were just in happy shock. You smiled to yourself as you looked back at the castle and thought about Draco living there, too.

“I hope you’re not mad,” he said, looking over at you. “Should I have told you?”

“No! I’m not mad, just surprised is all!” You say. “Wow, I can’t wait for you to get sorted!”

“Should be interesting,” Draco muses. “I’ve been wondering how it will go.” The group had reached the castle, and Draco gives your hand a squeeze. “We’ll talk after, okay? You can show me around.”

Ms. Bell marches up the steps and stops in between the large statues of Isolt Sayre and James Steward, where the large group of first years are gathered. She motions for you and Alex to follow her, and you leave Draco behind with a wink. The three of you go around the set of big front doors and enter through a side corridor.

You part from Ms. Bell, and head quickly up the stairs to the balcony under the glass dome on the main rotunda. Alex spots your friends, and you both hurry to join them, muttering apologies as you make your way to the railing– last years get to sit at the front to watch the sorting.

“Hey,” you mutter, sitting down just behind your roommates, Stella and Grace. You hadn’t seen them since you moved in earlier that afternoon. “Guess what?”

“What?” Grace asks. Chris shifts back to be next to you so Alex can sit near the railing and dangle her feet off the edge.

“Y/N’s boyfriend is here.” Alex answers before you can.

“What?” Stella gasps. Grace’s mouth drops open in surprise. “You didn’t tell us!”

“I literally found out ten minutes ago! Sneaky asshole.” You look between Alex and Chris. “He’s transferred.”

“Oh, shit.” Chris looked impressed. “Because of you?”

“Maybe? I don’t know! We didn’t get to talk too much, we were coming in here.”

“Point him out to us when he comes in.” Grace says, looking towards the big double doors. Stella nods in agreement.

A hush falls over the rotunda as your Principal, Joan Rittler, sweeps into view below to stand on the golden knot on the floor, surrounded by the four statues of Ilvermorny. She’s wearing dress robes also, long black ones with intricate navy, cranberry and gold embroidery that swirl gently. Her long dreadlocks are piled on her head in a complicated knot that also has gold accents decorating it. She raises her ring covered hands for complete silence. “Hello, everyone,” she begins. “We are about to start our age old tradition of Sorting our new students. Please remember to remain quiet until the student has chosen their House.”

 She turns and raises her hands toward the double doors, and they swing open. The group of first years all shuffle in uncertainty, the older group of exchange students sticking out at the back because they’re so much taller. Principal Rittler ushers them to come further inside with a welcoming smile on her face. Once the blob of kids has made a rough semicircular shape at the edge of the room, the doors close back. You spot Draco near the wall, his eyes scanning the balcony for you, but you’re probably just a bit too far back. You elbow Grace and point to Draco’s blonde head.

“I didn’t know you were dating an albino,” Grace murmurs over the sound of the footsteps below.

You can’t even argue with her. “He’s actually tan right now, if you can believe it.”

“Merlin.”

Principal Rittler’s voice fills the rotunda without her even trying. “Welcome, students. You are all about to be sorted into your Houses. You will come up, one at a time, and stand on this knot–” she gestures to her feet– “and your House will be announced by the movement of the statues. You may then go over and join your new House mates behind the statue.”

“We have Thunderbird, for those with powerful and adventurous souls. Puckwudgie, for the strong and healing of heart. Wampus, for the brave warriors of body, and Horned Serpent for those engaged and scholarly minds. If more than once House wants you, it is up to you to choose, so think carefully.”

You felt a tiny twinge in your stomach at Principal Rittler’s words as you did every year.

“May the sorting begin.” Principal Rittler pulls her wand from inside her robes and conjures a scroll. She steps back off the knot and outside the circle of statues, and lets the long scroll fall open. “Acworth, Ames.”

A tiny girl with thin hair scurries from the middle of the blob and goes to stand on the knot. A few tense moments pass, and then the Thunderbird comes to life and beats it’s huge wooden wings. Thunderbirds all around the balcony burst into cheers as Ames beams and walks over to stand behind the statue.

It goes on like this, down the list. Ilvermorny is a huge school, and between first years and Exchange students there are at least eighty people to be sorted. You lean over and whisper in Chris’s ear. “Kinda makes you miss the fifteen minute Hogwarts sorting, doesn’t it?”

Chris’s eyes go wide as he gives you a deep nod.

You watch as the light changes from yellow to orange through the top of the dome. Two children have more than one statue offer them a place in their House, which always livens up the sorting. One girl immediately chooses Puckwudgie, while the other boy starts to cry before finally choosing Horned Serpent. You hope he’s not wrong, and make a mental note to try and find him at some point during the first week. 

Finally, all the first years are done, and it’s time for the Exchange students. Principal Rittler turns her scroll over to the back side. “Álvarez, Jose!” A tan boy steps onto the knot and is immediately made a Wampus.

When Principal Rittler calls out “Malfoy, Draco,” your heart starts to go double time, like it’s you getting sorted all over again. You lean forwards to look between the bars of the railing, and you can feel Chris, Alex, Grace and Stella all watching you as much as they watch him.

Draco steps out onto the knot. There is no movement for a second, and then, three statues come alive at once. The Puckwudgie raises his arrow up, while the Thunderbird beats its wings. The crystal set into the forehead of the Horned Serpent glows, and it twists its neck around.

Murmurs are heard across the rotunda. You’ve seen threes happen only twice more in your years at Ilvermorny. Twos are much more common, and fours almost unheard of. Everyone is watching with bated breath to see which house Draco will choose, but you have a feeling you already know.

When Draco walks over to join the group behind the Horned Serpent statue, you scream along with Stella and Grace. The rest of your House is the loudest it’s been all night.

Several other students go, and then it’s Ginny’s turn. Alex is gripped by the same anticipation as you as Ginny strides out of the group and onto the knot. She’s made a Thunderbird, and Alex whistles loudly for her.

You grab Alex’s shoulder. “Did you guess right, too?” You yell over the other Thunderbird’s raucous applause.

“Uh-huh!”

You and Alex high-five hard.

Finally, the sorting comes to an end. Another set of double doors opposite the main ones open into Ilvermony’s Great Hall, and the newly sorted first years rush inside to receive their first wands. While the wand choosing doesn’t take nearly as long as the sorting, it’s another round of waiting the upper years have to endure. There’s lots of traffic going down the two staircases from the balcony to the main floor.

“Aw, guys, that was our last sorting!” Stella pulls a face and puts her hand on her heart.

“So many lasts,” Chris adds.

“Hey, look on the bright side,” you interject. “This gets to be our first time leading the dance and the songs!”

“True.”

You finally emerge at the bottom of the stairs. You intend to try and find Draco, so he can know where to sit, but your Head of House, Ms. Angeles, is collecting last years at the back of the rotunda. You and Alex exchange an annoyed glance as you make your way over.

Ms. Angeles is attempting to count everyone, but gives up. She rests the tip of her wand on her neck and clears her throat. Everyone stops talking, lower years still filing into the Great Hall peer over at you all as they walk. “I sincerely hope that after six years you know how this is going to work!” Ms. Angeles’s voice sounds extra loud.

Next to you, Chris grimaces.

“If you don’t, stand behind someone who does and follow them. Four lines, please! And do not stand next to your house mates!”

Alex grabs you, and you in turn grab Chris. Grace and Stella follow you anyway as you make your way to one of the four lines forming. “Think again if you thought I’d listen to a single order Angeles tells me this year,” Grace mumbles.

Ms. Angeles evens up the lines until she’s satisfied. Through the open doors you can see that most everyone has taken a seat at the many tables, first years closest to the walls, with a cluster of empty tables in the center of the room for the last years to sit at. The edges of the room are fraught with excited conversations as eleven year old’s hold and compare wands for the first time, unable to contain their excitement. Ms. Angeles leaves you to take her seat at the staff table, and you all wait as the last few people sort themselves out. It’s then you notice Draco sitting all alone at one of the empty tables. He’s picked one on the edge so he blends in with the sixth years at the tables nearest to him, but it’s still a sad sight. You cover your mouth with your hands, not sure if you want to laugh or cry.

“Aw, Draco!” Alex notices, too.

“That’s literally the saddest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Stella comments.

“We have to go over there after, oh my God,” you giggle, tearing up. All your emotions from the past hour– seeing your friends again after summer, Draco suddenly appearing, and remembering you’re doing this all for the last time– are coming to the surface in a weird mix.

“Babe! Are you crying?” Alex turns around and puts a hand on your shoulder.

“No! I mean, yes, but… I don’t know, there’s too much happening right now!” You sniff, flicking away the tears that cling to your lashes. “Ugh! Okay, let’s go.” You pull out your wand and bounce on the balls of your feet, ready to get the dance started.

There is some whisper-arguing amongst the four leaders of the lines, and then they set off skipping, starting to clap in time. The two center lines wind their way back and forth between the tables through middle, while the outer lines go along the wall.

 “We stand as one united,

Against the Puritan.

We draw our inspiration,

From good witch Morrigan.”

 The students sitting down continue clapping while you all sing. Your line turns when you reach the staff table, and you begin to skip in the opposite direction of the other lines. Most of the first years sit at their tables and listen to the song, watching with excitement. Older students reach out their hands and you give them all high fives as you pass. Across the hall, Draco catches your eye, smiling as he watches you dance. You grin back as your classmates sing about Ilvermorny, the supreme wizard school, and green streamers come out of your wand as you twirl around.

After a long and satisfying First Feast, you jump up from your table to go find Draco. After the dance, you hadn’t been able to make your way to sit with him. Alex was also unable to find a seat near Ginny, and so you’d both suffered through the meal away from your partners. But now that it was time to go back to your dorms, you had the chance to find Draco and not be separated again.

As everyone exited from the hall, you squeeze your way over through the crowd. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He grabs your hand to keep you together.

“I knew you’d be Horned Serpent” you say, following your House mates out of the hall and towards the west staircase. “Did you pick it to be with me, or because you felt it fit?

“Many reasons,” he says. “But I will have you know I read up on Ilvermorny this summer and did think about it before I got here.”

“Really?” You’re impressed, but also that’s such a thing he would do. Draco doesn’t like unknowns.

“Of course. Got to be prepared, right?”

You don’t say anything, and instead just enjoy a moment to yourself gazing at his face. “Wait ‘till you see our common room, it’s so fun.”

You climb up several flights of stairs until you reach a large wooden door that’s covered in a grid of carvings. The door is already open, letting the steady stream of students through. “You get in my tapping certain squares in a pattern,” you say as you pass. “We’ll find it out from someone before tomorrow. And I want to take you around.”

As you enter the Horned Serpent common room, you turn to Draco to see his reaction. The Horned Serpent dorms are located in one of the five big turrets of the castle, meaning the construction leads vertically rather than horizontally. The common room is a the bottom, a large circular room with chairs, couches, and three fireplaces on the walls. Piles of books are all over the floor, separating clusters of chairs near the fires or windows, so people can study or talk in groups. Your favorite part of the common room though is the ceiling– perhaps hundreds of chandeliers, ranging from the largest one in the center to tiny ones the size of cups cover the room in a soft glow. On opposite sides of the room are entrances to the different dormitories, and you drag Draco over to the left one.

“This is to the girl’s rooms, I want you to meet my cats!”

“Can I go in there?” Draco says, unsure.

“Duh.” You roll your eyes. “I wouldn’t be taking you if I couldn’t”

You lead the way up a spiral staircase. You stop on the second landing, which is semicircular, and lead Draco to the second door.

“Hey.” You poke your head inside. Grace is already laying on her bed, reading, while Stella is at her desk struggling to open an ink bottle.

“Hey,” Stella and Grace answer in unison. “Did you bring him?” Grace asks, marking her place and closing her book. 

You nod. You step into the room and pull Draco in behind you. “These are my friends, Stella and Grace.” 

Draco looks back and forth between the three of you for a moment. “Are you guys… sure you aren’t related?”

Grace laughs and you sigh. “People get us mixed up all the time. Our hair looks the same from the back. But other than that we all look different, I’d say.” Your first year at Ilvermorny had been a tough one for teachers. Stella and Grace being your roommates, they were also your first friends, so you all had to endure lots of “Grace! No, er- Y/N!” “Actually, I’m Stella,” in any class and around the hallways. As you’d gotten older and the three of you had changed around your haircuts, it had gotten easier.

“Congratulations on Horned Serpent, Draco,” Grace says as Stella continues to struggle with her ink bottle. “It’s lucky you got to pick. So did Y/N.”

“Yes, she’s told me about it. And you all, too. Er, do you want a hand with that?” Draco asks as Stella slams the ink back onto the desk in defeat.

“Please.” Stella grabs the bottle and silently offers to toss it. Draco nods and catches it deftly with one hand, cracks it open in one go, and throws it back to a bewildered Stella.

“Show off,” you mutter, bending down to look under your bed.

“Hot,” Grace corrects. “You picked a better one this time, Y/N.”

You choose to ignore this comment. From under your bed, you pull a fat grey cat. “Draco, this is Benedict, one of my cats.” With Benedict’s massive body balanced against your chest, you reach onto your bed and scoop up a much smaller black cat with huge green eyes with your other hand. “And this is Sophie.” Now that you’ve woken the cats up, their voices start to filter into your head.

‘Who’s this?’ Sophie questions, sniffing the air.

‘Mom, I don’t like it, he smells different!’ Benny starts to squirm in your arms.

“Settle down,” you say, clutching Benny tighter to you. “And be nice! This is Draco, I’ve told you about him.”

“Ahem, your cats?” Grace interrupts. “They’re my kids too now, I looked after them for you while you were gone.”

“Fine, our cats.” You hold Sophie out to Draco. “Here, she wants to see you.”

Draco takes Sophie from you with some hesitation. You wrangle Benny in more securely now that you have both hands. ‘Oh, he’s warm!’ Sophie closes her eyes and starts to purr. ‘I see why you chose this one.’

‘Mom NO! Sophie don’t, he seems strange! Don’t trust him!’

“Don’t be rude!” You scold. Benny continues to writhe in your arms so you put him down, and he runs over and jumps onto Grace’s bed.

“Hah!” She says triumphantly.

“He’ll come around,” you assure Draco. “But for now Sophie really seems to like you, she’s always been the friendlier one.”

‘More like reckless!’ Benny meows allowed, but only you understand what it means.

“Be nicer to your sister!” You say to him. He sulks back and hides behind Grace.

“What are they saying?” Draco asks, intrigued. He scratches Sophie under her chin and she purrs even more.

“Benny says you smell and Sophie says you’re warm and I made a good choice.”

Draco laughs, which disturbs Sophie a bit. ‘Ah, he can be loud though! I’m too hot now. I want to keep napping.’ She leaps from Draco’s arms and back onto her little hollow in your blankets.

“It seems like they’re done. Let’s go on a castle tour.” You move around Draco to go back out the door. Stella and Grace chorus goodbye as you whisk Draco out again.

As you re-enter the common room, Draco stops you. “Can I find my room first? I want us to be able to take our time and I want to know where I’m going when we get back.”

“Oh, yeah, of course. My bad.” You start to blush with embarrassment that you’d forgotten. “Want me to go up there with you?”

“I think I can manage.” He gives you that stupid crooked smile and you immediately realize you’ve been a little clingy.                                                                                                        

“I’ll wait down here for you when you’re ready,” you say as Draco disappears up the stairs. You settle into one of the chairs to wait, swinging your feet over the side. Several more of your House mates pass, including Alice, who gives you the pattern for the door. After what feels like an eternity, Draco reemerges from the boys dormitories looking pleased.

You close the book you’d pulled out to pass the time. “Are you with anyone you know?”

Draco shook his head. “No. You know Gao and Will very well?”

“Which Will?” You chuckle as you get up. “There’s at least 5. And Gao’s real name is Will too, by the way. We just all call him Gao.”

“Brilliant,” Draco sighs. “Also no. He’s got brown hair and green eyes if that helps.”

“Nope, two of them look like that.”

“I give up.”

“I’ll find out tomorrow and give you my opinion.”

You lead the way out of the common room and into the halls. “Where do you wanna go first?”

“I don’t care.” Draco takes up your hand. “Your favorite spots.”

So you take Draco around the castle. Ilvermorny is massive, and you show him little shortcuts along the way when you can. You take him to the halls where all the seventh year classes are located, and down to the hallway where Ms. Bell’s new history classes are taking place and halfway convince Draco to sign up with you. As you go through the halls, you greet all the statues you’ve come to know over the years. Ilvermony’s corridors are filled with enchanted sculpture, some small, some lifesize, and others so massive they require their own small rounded spaces and are situated in the middle of hallways. You take him to see your favorite, called Lady Lightfoot, whom everyone affectionately calls Lucy.

You pull Draco into her rounded hallway room, one side of which has huge windows that look out onto the East Lawn of Ilvermorny. Linda has long locks of flowing hair and is sculpted in a sheer dress. She’s in her true sculpted position, resting against a rock, when you enter.

“Hi, Lucy!” Your words echo in the empty room.

Lucy turns away from gazing out the window at the sound of your voice. “Y/n! What a lovely surprise, I should expect one of my favorite students to come and visit on the first night! And after such a long time, too.” The two of you walk to stand in front of her, and Lucy’s pale marble face beams down at you. Her stone locks fall about her face as though they were as soft as real hair. “Who’s this?”

“Lucy, this is my boyfriend, Draco. He’s from Hogwarts.”

Lucy gasps so loudly both you and Draco jump. “Boyfriend! My, you leave me for a year and come back with an English beau? And he’s handsome too!” She leans down to get a better look.

You laugh, and start to blush again. “I’m just showing him around.”

“How lovely,” she sighs, clasping her hands together. “I’m so glad you’ve opened your heart up again, Y/n.”

You draw in a short breath. This was not a subject you wanted to broach tonight, and take this as a cue to get out before Lucy spills anything else about your embarrassing lower year self. And why did everyone keep bringing it up?

“We’ve still got lots to see, but we’ll be by tomorrow. Bye!” You drag Draco to the exit and keep going down the hall. “Okay, I’ve saved the best for last. Come this way.”

At the end of the hall, you find a wooden door to the left of another big window. You tug on the door–it’s always a bit sticky– while Draco gazes out across the lawn.

“The Quidditch pitch here is huge,” he says, sounding impressed. “Much bigger than Hogwarts’.”

“Oh, yeah definitely,” you grunt, giving the door one last hard pull and it finally comes open. “That’s what we’re going to look at, but the view is better from up here.” You usher for Draco to follow you into the door.

It leads to a short set of stairs which have a trapdoor at the top. Draco closes the door at the bottom at your instruction, and you light your wand to see in the darkness. The trapdoor is easier to open, and you climb up and out.

You come out on a small landing, a circular balcony with a roof just big enough for four people to sit or stand. Draco emerges from the trapdoor and you firmly shut it behind him. “So this is what those tiny little turrets are,” Draco says.

“Yep, there’s little places like this all over the castle.” You use your wand to blow a few leaves and dust off the floor of the balcony. “Some are permanently closed, but others you can get to. This is the one my friends and I use. Mostly people use it for smoking, but I like the view.”

You join Draco in leaning against the railing. “You can see the pitch, and that building is the creatures barn, where all the magical animals live.”

You watch the sunset over the trees for a few moments before you feel Draco staring at you. “What?” You say, looking over.

Draco pushes off the railing and leans back against one of the pillars holding up the roof. “I don’t know what you’re waiting for.”

“I’m the one waiting?” You put a hand to your chest in disbelief. “I brought you up here.”

Draco opens his arms up. “Come on.”

“No.” You smirk.

Draco’s mouth drops open. “Stop being difficult, Y/n!” He pretends to sound aghast.

“I’ve never been difficult in my life,” you say airily, turning back to look out across the trees. Draco comes up behind you, wrapping his arms around your torso and resting his chin on top of your head. Your heart flutters in your chest with excitement. Draco reaches a hand up to brush your hair away from the side of your face, and you feel his breath on your ear when he dips his head down. There’s nothing you can do to stop the involuntary curl of your toes when he presses his mouth to the sensitive part of your neck, and your resolve is immediately broken.

You twist around in his arms, and your noses brush together as your lips meet in a much anticipated kiss. An entire summer of waiting comes to the surface immediately, and you’re pulling each other close with an almost desperate need. You hadn’t forgotten how well you fit together and the wonderful ways Draco could touch you that made you dizzy with desire, but it was nice to have a refresher.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” you say unevenly between kisses.

“Me too,” he responds, just as breathless.

After several long minutes of heated kissing, you end sitting on the floor in Draco’s lap, his fingers tracing patterns along the sides of your thighs while you catch your breath.

“I know how much you like Ms. Bell, but Merlin if I wasn’t angry I couldn’t kiss you like that when I first caught sight of you.”

You let out a soft laugh, and press a kiss to his forehead. “So tell me, I want to know the story of how you ‘go here now’.”

He lets out a sigh and looks off to the side, fingers still trailing across your legs absentmindedly. “I was so tired of Hogwarts. My father always wanted to send me to another European wizarding school, but mum wanted me closer to home. I told them about how all the Exchange students from America took much more useful and interesting classes and how schooling abroad looks impressive, and after a few weeks I had them convinced. Mother was annoyed I didn’t just apply for Exchange last year, but this way I won’t get behind in classes like everyone, because I’ll graduate with you all here.

Obviously I chose Ilvermorny because you’re here. But if you’re worried about this being some grand romantic gesture I was expecting you to return, that’s not it.”

You nod, taking in everything he’s said. You brush a finger down the line of his neck to his partially unbuttoned shirt collar. “I did wonder about that. But those are good reasons. Ilvermorny is superior, anyway,” you smirk.

“Good,” he says, running his entire hand over your leg now. “I thought you might be mad that I came without telling you, but I wanted it to be a surprise. I know you do like a little romantic gesture.”

“Thanks. I really think you’ll like it here, too. I meant it when I said I’m glad you’re– hey, stop that! I’m trying to talk!”

Draco’s slid both his hands under you skirt, making you gasp. You grab his wrists and put his hands back near your knees while he laughs.

“You know, it won’t be as convenient as it was at Hogwarts. We both have roommates now, it won’t be like when we could have your Prefect’s room all to ourselves all the time,”  you say.

“Yes I know, which is why I’m trying to get a head start.” He grabs one of your hands, brushing his fingers across your open palm.

Suddenly you feel a bit shy. “I hope you don’t regret transferring. It’s a lot different here than Hogwarts, and my friends can sometimes be a lot sometimes.”

“So I’ve gathered from Alex and Grace.” Draco flips your hand over and your fingers intertwine together. “I’m sure it will be fine, darling. I’ll make my own friends too, some of yours are bound to be obnoxious.”

That makes you laugh again. “I’m sure, especially since Ginny will be hanging around.”

Draco seemed to have genuinely forgotten this because he leans his head back against the railing and makes a face. “God, I forgot about her.”

“Come on, Ginny isn’t that bad! She’s less annoying than Ron.”

“They’re all annoying,” he scowls.

“Now who’s being difficult?”

He reaches out and pinches your sides, making you squeal. “No tickling! Or no kisses!” You warn.

“How about I get both?” He wraps his arms around you and pulls you against his chest, kissing you repeatedly on your cheek while he digs his fingers into your sides again.

“Nooooo!” You cry, wiggling around like your cat had earlier. You sucessfully pin one of his arms against the railings and grab his other wrist, your free hand groping at your side for your wand. He’s strong, though, and twists his arm around in your grasp to keep you from reaching it.

You wrestle for a minute, which unfortunately ends with you against the ground under Draco’s iron grip. The two of you never fully grew out of the fighting phase of your relationship.

“At least you can’t tickle me now,” you pant, blowing a wisp of hair out of your face.

Draco eyes are flirting all across your face and down your neck, just like when he saw you when he first arrived. Except it’s different now that you’re alone and pinned beneath him.

“Let me go,” you say, narrowing your eyes.

Draco stays silent and loosens his grip experimentally. You slip your arms out from his hold and instead rest them across his back, inviting him to come closer again.

You might not have Draco’s single bedroom this year, but you suppose the balcony isn’t too bad either.

#draco x reader #draco malfoy imagine #draco imagine #draco malfoy x you #hp imagine #the ilvermonrny exchange

[how-does-one-college]

Four Years Worth of Quotes That Sum Up High School

- I'm going to throw all my ideas away

- Back at square -8

- You're gonna wake up and you're gonna get a pressed ham on your window

- You're punching my sandwich? That's so cruel!

-No pants! That's my logic

- I'm string bean actually

- All my friends are gay, I got this

- Those people in Pompeii? Fucking pussies

- Don’t try to tell me how fish work! Are you a fish? Have you put your penis in a fish? I have! So I know how it works!

- Or you could just stab it.

- I need candy so bad!

- Stop throwing things at people! Yesterday it was beans! Today it's... it's grapes

- Did I just hear you summon the octopus?

- You can never run out of cake! If you do, you will die! You're veins are made of cake!

- Oh shoot! - Shoe?? *takes off shoe can holds it up* did you say shoe?

- Can plants be gay?

- I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I'm not going to name my child Titty

- My headphones' connected to my pants. My pants are connected to my pelvis!

-This is like a chemistry experiment! Trying lotion and talking about grandmas 

- It wasn't dangerous! I knew exactly what I was going to cut off!

- You just broke my twix and stole my hat! And you're calling me the bad guy?

- I don't know what politics is

- Do you have the 24 hour clock thing?

- Max is our resident thug

- In-class essays are the sprints of high school

- I think screaming is universal

- So is the yeti spinning in circles?

- There's an Ethiopian caterpillar called slick daddy?

- *chasing after someone* um, excuse me! Marlow! I want a carrot!

- I don't have a blood pressure, clearly I'm dying

- I'm the coupon dealer *throws pile of CVS coupons onto the table*

- Look at your tiny little feet! Do a dance!

- I did it all but I did it all wrong

- Last is first in my mind

- Meet up at my house Saturday, we're gonna have a snowball fight.

- *repeatedly hits sprained arm against chair* Do you think I'll need to skip practice?

- It's pregnant - A pregnant lemon? - Yeah!

- Nipples are a trend

- A dynasty of thugs

- My plant is cuter than your candies

- You once brought a travel mug of espresso! - I didn't know! I didn't know... - Please don't tell me you drank it all - ... - Megan!

- Cone earth!

- George Washington is illuminati. Like, Beyonce? She's part of the illuminati; she's part of George Washington.

- Are we in China? Are we in China? Are we in China? Are we in China? - I mean basically. Everything around us was made in China - Not this! I made it at home - You can mold plastic at your house? - Well yeah, I have a gun!

- Do you want me to tell you about my mushroom?!?

- This dice is sexually attractive.

- Are you the fountain? - No, I am not - Are you sure? - If I was a fountain, I would tell you

- Obama is the captain

- I was like, where should this go? So I jumped out a window of course

- What does fish sex smell like? - Like really fishy but also really sexy

- Shoot! I should have said aardvark!

- Can I hold your hair?

- Andressa we've talked about this! You can't keep petting people at the grocery store!

- *says something in Portuguese* *throws clementine at person*

- No I'm dead! This is fun!

- But that's like a European country

- It’s Switzerland, it's about the same as Russia isn't it? - No, no it's not

- Student 1: You're stupid! - Student 2: *slaps Student 1* - Student 1: You're still stupid - Teacher: *laughs*

- I'll give you food if you can count to ten in Basque

- I'm gonna put my octopus on you!

- Emily, sell by dates are lies!

- Anyone want a peeled lemon?

- So to go fast, I gotta be naked!

- Why don't you wax your mustache!

- You're sort of passively on fire

- I have an infinite crocodile

- I'm good at math normally, I swear

- Can you go say hi to a pyramid, in Egypt? Technically you can, it just won't say hi back. So like, you can technically divide by zero, it just won't work - That is very different! - No! It's like the same thing - That has nothing to do with dividing by zero!

- Now, flowers will die. But chicken wings, at least you can eat them

- All nonbinaries love telekinesis

- My super power would be super speed because- - You just want to be the flash!

- Chaotic neutral? More like chaotic gay

- So aside from killing your relatives, there's something else I wanted to say

- They're all my children, but also all my equals, but also infants!

- You wanna go to the beach?!? Let's go to the beach!! - We're just going to the elevator - No let's go to the beach!

- I lay claim to the turtle! I own the turtle under your land!

- If I touch you will you die?

- I really want to drink my seltzer but I'm scared to open it

- Are you on crack? - Only

- Is he vaping? In temple? - We should check if it's kosher

- It's an old Somalian custom to stick Poland Spring labels in coffee. I learned it from the pirates.

- But why would you go to a soccer game in a suit? - Professionals, dude

- You like, basically killed batman

- What if I kidnapped their entire boat?

- I am literally decaying. Lucas, my arm is not on my body

- I'm a reverse vegan

- I am now Hitler! You cannot defeat me, for I am covered in a thick layer of slime. You cannot take my title of Hitler! - I'm pretty sure Hitler was not covered in a thick layer of mucus. At any time

- I paralyzed a shark

- There is no record here of anything sandwich related

- Your lips are like the ocean!

- Everybody needs a French man!

- It will be the Pinocchio of daggers

- Pinocchio you would be a great politician

- You know what? Fuck you, and fuck Italy.

- You're a bathroom

- *really slowly* Baka Baka is the sound a chicken makes. Baka baka baka

- If it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid

- Oh shit, I just opened Safari instead of Chrome - Well, I can't help you now

- Everyone in this room has gotten a wedgie at least once

- Yeah well you got in trouble - I did not get in trouble. I got talked to by a teacher

- Taylor! You did better than me? You're fake!

- It's all from a pizza of my heart

[pug-bitch]

That’s not why I’m going (28)

Be cool

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Drake Walker x Amara Suarez

Rating: some foul language, some extremely suggestive, and a VERY steamy scene. This is absolutely NOT appropriate for people under 18.

Word count: 4,350 (let me know if the ‘keep reading’ cutoff isn’t working well!)

Notes: This picks up basically where we left off, during the last night in the cabin, starting with Amara’s POV. This chapter is a little slow, but it sets up several things that will be important for what will happen next!

*****

Amara had gone back to the kitchen for the umpteenth time to make more margaritas. And to think she’d made fun of Drake for buying so much booze.

Dinner had been amazing, Drake truly hadn’t lied about his grilling skills. Even Hana, who was always poised and polite, had asked for thirds, and downed one burger and two hot dogs. Olivia had begrudgingly agreed that the mushrooms and leeks on top of the burgers were a nice touch.

Armed with two pitchers of margarita and her pineapple and coconut cake on a tray, Amara made her triumphant entrance in the backyard. As everyone cheered for her to fill up their glasses, she caught herself worrying for their livers, but promptly remembered that, if everything goes to shit tomorrow at Penelope’s estate, this may be their last fun night, so cirrhosis be damned.

‘Amara! This cake is heavenly,’ Hana gasps.

‘Oh, honey, you don’t have to say that,’ Amara responds. ‘I’m not the best cook--’

‘Shut up, Suarez, and give me another slice,’ Olivia cut her off.

‘Guys,’ Max says, his mouth full of cake, ‘let’s continue, it was Liv’s turn to dig into the bowl.’

They had started a game of Truth or Truth, for which they had written deep questions for one another on little pieces of paper, and mixed them in a bowl. Olivia rolls her eyes but picks up a paper.

‘When was the last time you were in love,’ she reads.

‘Oh, that’s my question!’ Hana beams.

‘Kid, you know we all have to answer, right?’ Olivia says. ‘You included.’

Hana blushes. ‘Oh, I didn’t realize that.’

‘I’ll go!’ Max says enthusiastically. ‘Drake, you remember Gianni, right?’

Drake nods, ‘I fucking loved that guy. He was hilarious.’

‘Yeah,’ Max says wistfully. ‘I thought we were more serious than he did. He ended up going back to Italy and breaking my heart.’

‘Max, I’m sorry, that sucks,’ Amara says as she reaches to hug him.

‘Your turn, Suarez,’ Olivia interrupts.

Amara blushes. She feels like a schoolgirl playing Spin the bottle. Are they really gonna make her say it in front of everyone? ‘Guys… you know.’

‘Ooooooh,’ Max teases, ‘no we don’t!’

Amara throws her hands up. ‘Well, obviously it’s Drake. Last time I was in love is now, with Drake. Happy?’

Drake reaches for her cheek and brings her face to his. Their mouths crash together in a sweet, yet urgent kiss.

‘Same answer for me, bitches,’ Drake slurs. ‘My last time is also now, with Amara.’

She knows he’s drunk. When else has he called anyone ‘bitches’ as a term of endearment? But then again, she’s drunk too, and so blissfully happy that she couldn’t care any less.

‘Alright, you guys are fucking gross,’ Liv says, waving her hands at them as if to shoo them. ‘Lee, your turn.’

Hana blushes again, and takes a big sip of her margarita. ‘Damn, Amara, these drinks are good. Thank you for making them strong. Well, you guys remember the infamous photo, right?’ Everyone nods, and she continues. ‘I told some of you that this woman, Caroline, was kinda...the one who got away. We were together at Oxford. After graduating, I had to go back to China, or, to be more exact, I didn’t have the guts to stay in the UK and defy my parents. So, I broke up with her, said I wasn’t ready, right before our third anniversary. She had booked us a trip to New York as a surprise, which I found out after, through a mutual friend. In any case, I didn’t break up with her for lack of love. More like...for lack of courage.’

Max holds out his arms and Hana pulls him into a hug. ‘Hana, babe, there’s nothing harder than coming out to tough parents. You didn’t lack courage, it was simply not the right time!’

‘Exactly,’ Amara chimes in, ‘look at how brave you were in front of the whole court the other day. A fucking champ! Because now is your time.’

‘You think?’ Hana sniffles. ‘I mean, I basically didn’t have a choice…’

‘Yes you did,’ Amara continues. ‘You could have denied it, said that it was a fake picture, or said it was a joke among friends. But you took the high road, and we’re so proud of you.’

‘Ok, this game took a turn,’ Liv sighs. ‘I didn’t think it would end in a group hug.’

‘Well then,’ Max replies, ‘you go ahead, Liv, answer the question.’

Olivia quickly glances at Amara, who gives her an encouraging smile. For a split second, Amara thinks she’s gonna be truthful and open up about her feelings. But, after a brief pause, she says ‘Nope. No heart, remember? Icy Nevrakis bitch here. Nothing to see. Next!’

*****

‘Babe, we’ll clean up in the morning,’ Drake whispers in her ears, his arms draped around her waist as she does some dishes.

‘I want to help,’ she says, leaning into his embrace, ‘I know you have to get up early, to go to the grocery store and get ready for Liam and Bertrand coming over.’

He kisses her neck. ‘I don’t mind. I like it. Besides, you made all of the drinks all night long, which was by far the biggest job of all, given this crowd.’

She chuckles. The sound of her laugh makes his heart full. He hates to admit it, but the glowing heart imagery from Jane the Virgin is spot on.

She says, ‘I know you like entertaining, but I don’t mind doing a few dishes. It’s not even that late. Please, let me help.’

He takes a kitchen rag. ‘Alright, then I’m gonna do the drying. Team work, right?’

*****

Olivia turned on her phone for the first time for a few hours. After what happened with it, the mere thought of sending a text filled her with dread, but she had to check her email at least, in case something was needed from her at Lythikos.

She plops down on the bed, and unzips her dress while her phone turns on. It’s strange to be here, at the Walker cabin, but especially in Savannah’s room. Maxwell and Hana had called the Master bedroom, which had a king bed. They had rightfully assumed that Liv would rather cut off her own arm than share her bed with either of them. But still, in here, she feels like she is sharing it with Little Savannah Walker, whose spirit is all around.

She wonders if she had contributed, even minimally, to sending her away. She’d never been very nice to her, never welcoming. But then again, it’s not her job to hang out with the Kingsguard’s offspring. She had enough on her hands as a child, after all.

Her phone buzzes, pulling her out of her daydream.

I had a good time yesterday. I decided to come to Portavira after all, so I’ll see you tomorrow?

Rashad. Damn, she hates how her heart jumped like an idiot as she read his name on the screen. Why? It’s stupid. He’s just being nice.

She takes off her dress and gets into a tank top and shorts, before heading to the bathroom.

She’s not answering that text.

*****

‘Wow, you look hot,’ Drake whispers as he sees Amara come out of the bathroom in her new, emerald green nightie.

‘Oh, this old thing?’ she smirks. ‘Just kidding, it’s brand new. I got it at the lingerie store the other day with Hana.’

Drake pulls her into bed with him, and kisses her urgently. ‘How come I’ve never seen it?’

‘Well, Walker, as I recall, you didn’t exactly give me time to wear anything last night.’

He chuckles as he plants a trail of kisses from her lips down to her collarbone. ‘Heh. I guess you’re right. What can I say, I can’t resist you, Suarez.’

‘Mmmm, ditto. Don’t stop.’

He has no intention to stop. His mouth runs all over her chest, until he’s kissed every inch. He pays special attention to her nipples, which get harder and harder under his tongue. Soon enough, off comes the sexy nightie, to make more space for Drake to kiss her all over. On his way down, he kisses her stomach, until he reaches between her legs, where he’s been aching to go, all night long. Amara moans in anticipation as Drake pauses before putting his lips on her core. He teases her with his tongue, softly at first, then more deeply.

Her moans get louder and louder until she catches herself and remembers they are no longer alone in the house. Somehow, her muffled grunts turn him on even more. His only mission tonight is to make her come, and judging from her increasingly intense breathing, it becomes obvious that he’s on the right track.

As Amara orgasms, she lets out a barely muffled low groan, which Drake is pretty sure everyone in the house heard. But he doesn’t give a shit. Amara catches her breath, and whispers, ‘Wow, Walker...you got game.’

He smirks, ‘I fucking love taking care of you.’

She pulls him into a kiss, and he shivers as his hard cock touches her naked body. She reaches down and starts stroking it slowly, drawing groans from Drake. ‘Fuck me, Walker,’ she whispers in his ear.

*****

Amara opens her eyes, awakened by Drake’s soft kisses on her forehead. ‘H--hey,’ she mumbles.

‘Oh baby, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.’

She smiles and kisses him. ‘It’s ok. I need to take a shower and move my stuff anyways.’

Drake nods, stroking her hair. ‘Wanna join me in the shower?’

She acquiesces enthusiastically.

After showering, she stands in a towel in front of the mirror, brushing her rebellious curls and spraying rose water on her face. Drake gets into his jeans as quickly as he can and kisses her lips. ‘I’m gonna run to the supermarket to buy lunch before everyone else wakes up. I’ll see you later? I’ll bring croissants back for you guys, so don’t make anything, ok?’

‘You’re the best, thank you!’

He really is. Amara hopes that things don’t change too much from the bliss that she’s been feeling for the past two days, but she doubts her wish will come true. She already feels stressed out about Liam’s upcoming visit, and it’s not even an official courtly one. She’s already scanning the cabin in her head, to make sure nothing incriminating lies anywhere.

Once dressed in a casual outfit --light-wash skinny jeans and a yellow blouse--, Amara goes downstairs and puts the coffee pot on. Hana is already in the backyard, reading a novel.

‘Hi Amara!’ she waves.

‘Hey hun, I’m making coffee. Want some?’

‘Sure,’ Hana replies enthusiastically. ‘I saw Drake leave a while ago, he’ll be back with breakfast.’

Amara waits until the coffee has brewed and pours two cups, with a dash of milk.

‘Thanks,’ Hana says. ‘Did you pack? You should put your stuff in the master, we’ll say you slept with me, and Max on the couch.’

Amara nods. She loves that Hana has thought of everything. ‘Thank you. I was gonna ask if you mind lying a little…’

‘Of course not. We don’t want to raise suspicions, not now.’

Amara takes a big sip, pauses a bit, and says, ‘Hana, do you think we’re fooling ourselves? Liv is right, Liam will be furious however we announce it.’

Hana gives her a reassuring smile, and somehow, Amara already feels soothed. ‘Liv is hurting right now, she’s lost and she sees everything in a negative light. I think you and Drake are doing what you can. If the timing is right, if you wait until Liam has proposed to someone, and has moved on, you could always fudge the details and say you guys fell in love after the Decision Ball.’

‘You’re right. But...what if we don’t pull it off? What if someone rats us out before that?’

‘I understand the fear, believe me. Given everything that’s happened, it’s legitimate. But you can’t live in fear, honey. You’ve already lived the past two years punishing yourself for something you didn’t cause. You need to let yourself be happy.’

Amara swallows hard. She and Hana had many heart-to-hearts in the past few weeks, ever since she’d told her all about Sergio. Hana had been an excellent listener, and an even better hugger, but had never expressed any judgment or given her opinion on Amara’s past. This was the first time she had said something like that. ‘Funny,’ Amara smiles, ‘you’re not the only one who’s been telling me this, lately. My dad, Drake, Max, even Liv…’

Hana smirks, ‘Well maybe we’re all onto something. Obviously, you can’t announce your relationship to everyone right now. Liam and Drake’s friendship would not survive. But even in secret, for now, maybe you could find a way to stop feeling guilty. To stop fearing.’

‘Good Lord, woman,’ Amara whispers, ‘you’re so wise. It’s exhausting, really.’

Hana laughs heartily. ‘Oh well, I try, but I can only apply my wisdom to other people’s problems.’

Amara grabs her friend’s hand. ‘I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday, about Caroline. You should reach out to her. Explain to her what you said to us, about timing, about being ready. Maybe she’ll understand. It’s worth a shot, right?’

Hana smiles wistfully. ‘It definitely is.’

‘Morning my little blossoms!’ Maxwell kisses Hana’s and Amara’s cheeks. ‘How did you sleep?’

‘Great,’ Amara says. ‘Help yourself to coffee, Max, there’s plenty. Has anyone seen Olivia?’

Max shakes his head, all the while pouring himself a cup, to which he adds about four spoonfuls of sugar. ‘No, not yet. Hope she’s alright.’

As if on cue, Olivia comes down the stairs, looking more relaxed than the day before. ‘Morning guys,’ she says softly.

‘Hey Liv, how did you sleep?’ Max asks.

‘I um…’ she scratches her head and grabs a cup of coffee. ‘I actually slept really well. I’m sure it was Suarez’s margaritas.’

‘Or it could be the peace and quiet,’ Amara chimes in.

‘Yeah yeah, nature is fucking adorable,’ Liv replies.

*****

All five of them are still sitting outside, enjoying their coffee and croissants, in the sun. Drake bought something easy for lunch, he will just have to assemble the salad, and grill the steaks at the last minute. They will have ice cream for dessert.

The croissants he brought back were a hit, although he wishes he had had more time to make them himself. On second thought, he is glad he spent that time in bed and in the shower with Amara instead.

There is a knock on the door, and when Drake looks at his watch, he sees that it’s only eleven. Could it be Liam already? ‘I’ll get it,’ he says before getting up.

‘Good morning, Drake,’ Bertrand says, an awkward smile on his face.

‘Hi Bertrand, welcome!’ Drake responds, opening his arms for a hug.

Bertrand, visibly taken aback by the gesture, hesitates before walking into Drake’s hug. ‘Thank you for having me. I hope I’m not too early, I just, um…’

‘No, not at all, come have a coffee with us, we’re outside.’

He walks in, and Drake notices that he is wearing a black shirt, and a vest with little embroidered horses on it. Drake has to fight a smile. Bertrand probably thought that coming to the countryside warranted a horse-themed outfit. Thankfully, he didn’t break out the riding boots, just some boat shoes.

‘Hello everyone,’ Bertrand says awkwardly. It occurs to Drake that he had never really been included in any of their private get-togethers, besides the Beaumont Bashes. Drake feels bad. Although he doesn’t know it yet, this man is the father of his nephew, they should be closer.

‘Hi Bertrand, good to see you!’ Amara says, as she gets up and gives him a hug.

‘Oh, um, hello, yes, um, good to see you too, Amara,’ he mumbles, patting her back like he’s trying to burp her.

‘Do you take milk or sugar?’ Hana asks.

‘Um, no, I take it black, thank you, Hana, you’re very kind.’ He takes the cup. ‘Before we sit down, I wanted to make sure that everything is in order. I mean um, Amara, did you think of removing all evidence that um… that you were staying…’ He rubs his neck, obviously unsure of how to say what he wants to say in an appropriate manner.

Amara sees his struggle and interrupts. ‘Yes, thank you for thinking of this, Bertrand. I removed my belongings from Drake’s room and transferred them to Hana’s. Also, I wanted to apologize. For keeping you in the dark.’

He waves her off. ‘Please. There was a clear conflict of interest. You couldn’t possibly tell me, when I was so eager to push you on Prince Liam. But um… for what it’s worth, I am happy for you both. Love is precious and should not be apologized for.’

Drake’s eyes widen. Did Bertrand just say something adorable? Well fuck. ‘Thanks, man, we appreciate it. We heard you had our backs yesterday, thank you for that too.’

‘Oh,’ Bertrand mumbles again, ‘it was nothing.’

*****

Liam looks at his watch. He’ll be right on time for lunch at Drake’s. He decided to drive himself, to clear his head. Bastien had begged him not to, but he needed to be alone on this drive. He needed to feel normal.

Nothing feels normal. His best friend is acting weird and distant --although he hopes that today’s lunch will reinstate things. Olivia is banging her bodyguard and refusing to talk to him. Amara, the woman he’d been dreaming of, has made it clear she does not want him. Madeleine keeps pushing and pushing.

He thinks back of their encounter, just this morning, in the gardens. He was taking a stroll, coffee in hand, before leaving for Portavira, and she was obviously looking for him. After they exchanged pleasantries, she squeezed his arm, and lingered for a little too long. Then, like clockwork, his father called him into his study and asked him to give Madeleine a chance. He can bet that Madeleine went crying to her aunt Regina as soon as Liam was dismissive of her. According to Constantine, she is the best contender and Liam has not even considered her.  

His eyes on the road, his hands firmly on the steering wheel, Liam tries to clear his head. It feels good to drive himself. But really, he can’t relax, not properly anyways. All he can think of is how weak his father looked, this morning, in his study. So small in his chair. Liam wonders how much weight he’s lost. How much time he has left.

He can’t stop thinking about what his father told him. Consider the good of Cordonia. Don’t give the kingdom to a stranger, or to a hotheaded woman who fornicates with the help. The kingdom needs stability, and Madeleine is stable.

Is she, though? What she pulled the other night in his study was definitely a little crazy. Leo has warned him that she is way more harmful than she looks.

What are his options? Olivia is shutting him out and banging other people. Amara says she doesn’t love him, but maybe she could learn to? Or, maybe she could just be his companion, and… No, she won’t accept. He’s pretty sure she wouldn’t accept.

But then what, at the end of the week he chooses someone, and he never sees Amara again? That’s no good either. There has to be a solution.

‘Shit,’ he swerves, almost hitting a hedgehog trying to cross the road. Damn, he thinks. He really is distracted.

There’s still Kiara and Penelope. Are they contenders? Not sure if Penelope has it in her to be queen. Kiara, he sees her as more of a noblewoman doubled as a diplomat. He would definitely get her to be a part of his council, but marry her? No. His father is not a fan either, he doesn’t think she’s a leader.

‘This is a clusterfuck,’ he mumbles to himself. In five days, the Decision Ball will be upon him, and he is very far from having made a decision.

He turns onto the small road leading up to the cabin. He hasn’t been here in a while. Last time was months ago, when he needed to unplug after his brother abdicated. Drake had offered to have a weekend at the cabin together, just them guys. Max had joined for one evening. That was probably Liam’s last memory of normalcy.

Here he is, pulling up to the cabin. He parks near Bertrand’s car and lets himself out of his own. From the backseat, he grabs the apple pie and white wine bottle that he brought despite Drake’s request not to bring anything.

He knocks, weirdly anxious.

‘Hey,’ Drake says, opening the door. ‘I told you not to bring anything.’

He wraps him in a bear hug, and Liam lets out an imperceptible sigh of relief. ‘You knew I would.’

‘Heh, I did. Come on in. Everyone’s here already.’

And here they are. The Beaumonts, Hana, Liv, and Amara, all out in the backyard, joking around and having coffee.

‘Liam!’ Hana notices him. ‘So good to see you!’

She approaches him and gives him a warm hug. Liam is grateful for the enthusiasm. Everyone else greets him, Bertrand with a handshake, Max with a huge hug, and Amara with a quick one. Upon touching her skin, Liam’s heart flutters. He’ll have to shut it down really quickly if he doesn’t want to make everything awkward.

Only Liv has not gotten up from her chair outside. ‘Liv, hi, how are you?’ Liam risks.

‘Liam. I’m good, how are you?’

Her tone is cold as ice. Still no improvement from their last interaction. She’s not even meeting his eye. Is she embarrassed about the bodyguard? Is she angry with him for not standing up for her more? He has no idea. What he sees is resentment, and he has never seen that from her before.

‘Alright,’ Drake says, ‘let’s have some food!’

*****

Amara is pleasantly surprised with the free-flowing conversation. She thought Liam’s arrival would put a damper on things, and it has, to some extent, but his company is pleasant today, he’s not being weird, except for when she hugged him hello and he lingered. But if that’s her only problem, she’ll be fine.

She has to watch herself, though. Be cool, Suarez, she thinks. She made a point to sit farther from Drake than she usually does. She is between Hana and Maxwell, which feels natural, but also prevents her from reflexively taking Drake’s hand for everyone to see.

They try not to interact too much, but still let themselves joke around with each other in reaction to Max’s antics, or Liv’s badassery. It feels restrained, but natural nonetheless. Liam knows they’re ‘friends,’ he probably even thinks they’re close, especially since Drake defended her against Tariq and stood up for her when Liam was inappropriate.

‘Oh, so you were all here last night?’ Liam asks, when Drake makes a reference to last night’s dinner.

‘Yeah,’ Max quickly responds, ‘except for Bertrand who had business to conduct. But I took Hana, Amara and Liv here. It seemed like a good opportunity to blow off steam and hang out!’

Amara holds her breath. She can see on Liam’s face that he has FOMO. Before he arrived, they agreed that they wouldn’t hide that they’d all spent the night, especially since they’d have to take their luggage back and bring it to Penelope’s estate. But still, his reaction was somewhat worrying.

Drake’s eyes meet hers, and he chimes in. ‘It was a spur of the moment kinda thing. I know you had meetings. But next time--’

Liam waves him off. ‘Of course! I wish I could have been there, but I could barely free up these few hours this morning, can you imagine the uproar if I’d left court last night?’

He plasters on the fake smile that Amara hates so much. She knows she has to change the subject. ‘So how are things at court? Is everyone behaving without us?’

Liam drops the façade and takes a deep breath. Shit, Amara thinks. Maybe it wasn’t the right way to divert the conversation. ‘Well,’ Liam begins, ‘it’s definitely been quiet. Kiara and Penelope spend most of their time together, although I had a very pleasant one-on-one with Kiara. But um…’ He pauses and scans everyone’s faces. ‘Madeleine is acting a bit...suspicious. Can I be blunt?’

Drake nods. ‘Go ahead. We’re steel traps.’

‘She showed up in my study the other night, clearly trying to seduce me, and when I rejected her, I could tell that she was really pissed off. I’m convinced that she’s involved in the...pictures.’ Liv looks away, and Liam continues. ‘I’m waiting on some more reports from security. Bastien is on the case, looking for clues.’

Amara turns to Drake, and they make brief eye contact. They both know that putting Bastien on the case will do nothing. And yet, they both have zero interest in speaking up about him, because he’s the only reason why no one has found out about their relationship yet.

Hana senses the tension and chimes in. ‘I think there’s nothing more you can do, Liam. Amara has tried to investigate. The phone used to send out my picture was a burner, linked to no one. The envelopes are untraceable for now. There’s just not enough to go off of. All you can do now is keep being a reassuring presence.’

Liam nods. ‘You’re right. I just want this madness to stop. If Madeleine is involved…’ he interrupts himself and glances at Amara. She knows what he wants to say. But he stops in his tracks, probably not wanting to offend her or freak her out.

So, Amara says what they’re all thinking. ‘If she’s involved, I’ll be the next target.’

*****

Taglist:

​ @drakeandcamilleofvaltoria @jovialyouthmusic @andy-loves-corgis @mariahschoices @drakesensworld @thequeenofcronuts @notoriouscs @drakewalkerisreal @nikkis1983 @simsvetements @alesana45 @iplaydrake @emceesynonymroll @lily1999love @drakewalkerwhipped @drakxwalker @drakewalkerrosenberg @drakelover78 @silviasutton1989 @dcbbw @carabeth @furiousherringoperatortoad @hollygirl1269 @sirbeepsalot

Thank you for your encouragements, everyone! Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist :)

#that's not why i'm going #drake x mc #drake walker x amara suarez #drake x amara #dramara #drake walker x mc #drake walker #drake trr #trr drake #drake walker trr #trr #choices fanfiction #the royal romance fanfic #trr fanfic

[fardell24b]

Sonic the Hedgehog Delayed Review

Sonic the Hedgehog

Spoilers

A movie about a fast extraterrestial hedgehog based on the video game character from Sega. It is much better than I expected. It opens on an alien planet (that may as well be Mobius, but that name wasn't mentioned), where Sonic is a young child being brought up by an owl named Longclaw. However, his speed powers mean that others on the island want to get them, so Longclaw sends him to places where he may be safe. This early scene was definitely done very well. He eventually ends up on Earth, outside the small town of Green Hills, Montana.

(A cool reference there.) Here, we are introduced to some of the townsfolk (via Sonic talking bout them), including the Sherrif Tom Wachowski and his wife Maddie. Tom is introduced as wanting to do more than what Green Hills has to offer (including pointing his speed gun at a tortoise). However, the story gets moving when Sonic realises that despite hanging around Green Hills and, sort of, interacting with it's residents (including a 'Crazy Carl), he is desperately lonely. As he reaslises this, he accidentally releases an EMP that blacks out several states.

Thus he gains the attention of the United States Government, or more specifically, the military, who want to deal with what caused that EMP. They in turn, despite misgivings that may turn out to prudent, call in Dr. Ivo Robotnik, an insufferable genius with robotics. All this attention causes Sonic to prepare to leave Earth via a bag of magic rings, but an encounter with Tom causes him to accidentally drop them through a portal to San Francisco. This scene in which Sonic accidentally get shot by Tom (with a tranquiliser gun) is quite good.

Thus begins the road trip portion of the film. Tom had planned to go to San Francisco anyway, as he had felt, limited, in Green Hills and had applied to join the SFPD. He is shocked by Sonic appearing in his garage, but is able to escape when Robotnik arrives whilst tracking the hedgehog. They set out on their trip, as Sonic can't go there directly, he doesn't know where he's going. So, they travel overland to San Francisco. First night, they get involved in a bar fight. The use of bullet time here isn't identical to other film's depictions.

They then continue going towards San Francisco. Robotnik gives chase. That he would get information from those at the bar would be obvious. Designing his robots keep going despite damage goes a little overboard, but it's consistent with his character (from the games and various animated series). The way Sonic discovers his spin attack was funny, and it was also believable. The way he and Tom deal with the robot as it kept on going despite damage was done well. (Even if Tom's SUV is 'totalled').

San Francisco. Meeting Maddie at her sister's place, they go to the Transamerica Building to get the rings. (Not sure what to make of Rachel being vehmently against Maddie's marriage to Tom.) But Robotnik is still hot on Sonic's trail, and corners them on the roof. This scene was done very well.  Sonic gets the rings, but then Robotnik fires the missiles. This leads into another chase sequence. Sonic pushes Tom and Maddie off the edge, through a portal back to Green Hills. He then leads Robotnik through another portal to the Great Wall of China.

Thus begins another chase through the ring portals. From China to Egypt (where Robotnik accidentally destroys the Sphnix) and back to China again. Sonic's surprise at this was well done, as was the overall chase sequence. There wasn't too much CGI. It eventually ends, where it began, at Green Hills, leading into a final sequence with Tom, Maddie and the townsfolk. This whole sequence in Green Hills was very well done, especially the choreography as both Sonic and Tom try to outwitt Robotnik. The characters also shine, particularly Wade and 'Crazy Carl'.

The resolution, in which Tom tricks Robotnik through the portal to the Mushroom planet was done well. The Government disavowing Robotnik as as result of his actions was believable. (And it's a good thing that Tom and Maddie adopted Sonic. 8.5/10.

The mid credit scene with Tails was very good too.

#delayed review #review #sonic the hedgehog

[hoodie-at-the-bar]

b side

These aren’t dates, but they’re something. Jensen was a friend of a friend couple, Andy and Kate. Actually the plot thickens in that Andy and Kate are best friends with Ben, the ex-boyfriend. In fact, Jensen looked like a thinner, more attractive version of Ben. I swear it’s not a bitter thing to say. It’s borderline fact.

I had posted on Facebook that I should open a business helping people with their Tinder profile since even simply picking six decent photos seemed to be so hard. That was when Jensen sent me a message.

I was confused. Jensen was married, what was he doing on Tinder? Ah… separation.  He had two kids, but lived in an apartment on his own. I helped him pick some photos and what to write for his Tinder profile. He said he was just dipping his toe and wasn’t ready to date.

Worth keeping, but not ready to be kept. Jensen wrote that in his profile.

I really liked that line - he wrote it, and I said he should keep it in his bio. Jensen and I started talking every day, and every night. It reminded me of John and Hugh. What is it about me, that has guys who are sad about ex-wives just want to talk to me? Is it because I’m open and listening or do I gravitate toward them? It’s not like I had an ad out, or updated my dating filters.

We started talking back in the fall of 2019, but things picked up in the beginning of the year. I even sent him Christmas cookies. He came down to Seattle for my big costume birthday party in February. He packed a bag, hoping I’d have an after party and he’d likely stay over. Unfortunately, I came down with a severe cold, probably flu, and he got drunk enough he stayed with Andy and Kate, 

I saw him once before the birthday party, at Andy’s work anniversary. Ben was there too - Jensen came as I was leaving and we hugged. It was the first time I had seen him since we started our forbidden pen-pal love. He told me later he just wanted to pick me up and spin me around and kiss me. Yes, we got to that level already.

After Andy’s work and my birthday party, I had to tell Kate. It felt wrong. I told her and her sister, Emily, and some friends that I had been messaging with Jensen everyday and I felt sorta guilty about it. Kate’s sister said she thought we had already slept together, and I let out a cackle of a laugh.

They were all for it, just wanted me to heed caution as he was messed up from the marriage and probably not ready to date. Fair enough

A few weeks after the birthday party,. I had tickets to a show and asked Jensen if he wanted to come. Jensen lived over an hour north, so if he did he would have to find a sister, and spend the night. I became that timid virgin in college again, the one who has a panic attack whenever a guy says, “should we go to the bedroom?” I was fine making out with boys on a couch, but with that “bedroom” suggestion, I immediately assumed it meant sex and I wasn’t ready. I still held sex in high regard back in college - though to be honest I lost my virginity when I was 23. Anyway, I digress,

We went to the Paramount Theater to watch Beirut, a European singer with brass instruments. We got drinks at the Carlile room after, Our conversation was very different. It was still good, but something felt off. I realized when I mentioned Ben, who Jensen knew, he didn’t react. I wasn’t sure if he knew of our history because he would be cavalier to say things like, “but he’s a cool guy.” When I found out Jensen did know aspects about  my relationship with Ben, about how Ben had cheated on me and wasn’t awesome afterwards, I was a bit turned off that Jensen remained so neutral. I’m not saying he should flip the table and say he’d want to murder Ben in the name of love, but at least make a face. Or pretend to.

Okay, no problem. Pack a bag. Jensen came over and we hugged, and It was very bizarre. He looked so much like my ex-boyfriend, the guy who haunted me for several years. Same best friends, same height. I shook it off and we went to the show. 

After the show we came back to my house and I got awkward again. We had been flirting, and messaging for months. But I didn’t want to be presumptuous. I showed him the guest room and he immediately said, “oh, I thought we would cuddle?”

“Sure” - do I know how to make a guy feel wanted or what? I’ll throw that onto my list of things to learn,

We did cuddle throughout the night,  He had motioned for us to sleep together and though I had a box of condoms in the bathroom, I didn’t feel like having sex with him. I lied and said I didn't have any protection, or rather, I didn’t have any in the room. I’m a terrible liar, but it was a half lie.

Something just told me that this didn't feel right. I was attracted to him, and enjoyed our conversations, but it was deja vu of Hugh: it felt like an attractive guy filling the void. We went to bed, and the morning was fairly normal.

He  messaged moments later. 

As you can see, I have trouble flirting. I also have trouble taking a compliment. In fact, I have trouble letting a guy know I like him. Humor saves me, while also is my demise. 

But wait, it gets better.

Like I said, making a guy feel wanted was something I needed to learn.  This is the kind of honest text any woman would dream of getting, and I shat all over it. An accidental asshole, with unknown intentions - I didn’t feel top of the class.

Shortly after I took a two week trip to China and Hong Kong was when our messages started tapering off, It may be a coincidence right after we spent the night together was it slowed down, or maybe I grew distance. I was also traveling, and maybe he thought I couldn’t be reached.

Several months later Jensen came to the adult summer camp I threw, and I was completely turned off. He became more and more like the old Ben. As some had called him, “Generic Drunk Guy”, he just came off slightly douchey. He was going around telling everyone about all of his Tinder conquests, offering mushrooms to people.  

He had told me about the other women he was dating before, but when we started talking it didn’t matter. But to tell me he liked me “a lot”, like really liked me - remember that text the day after? Was I had? I felt I dodged a bullet. Then again...there’s a song with interesting lyrics.

“And everyone thinks I dodged a bullet, but I think I shot the gun” - Greg Laswell.

Greg may be onto something. I’m not into the victim mentality - I want accountability. These guys who aren’t awesome, who I’m not into, or who end up not being into me: is it possible that somehow it can be circled back to me? Could I have prevented this? Or are my actions a self fulfilling prophecy? Maybe. Maybe I keep shooting the gun. I don’t think it was the case for Jensen, but my finger prints are all over it.

Hell if I know. I need a break.

-February 28, 2019

Date #1 w/ Jensen Suitors in 2019 YTD: 1 Dates in 2019 YTD: 1

[bountyofbeads]

Hong Kong Protests: How Does This End? https://nyti.ms/2rSYDLn

Hong Kong Protests: How Does This End?

A bill before Congress would put the United States squarely on the side of the protesters, even as the demonstrations seem to spin out of control.

By The Editorial Board | Published Nov. 16, 2019 | New York Times | Posted November 17, 2019 |

After nearly six months of escalating protests, Hong Kong is a mess, its reputation for efficiency in tatters, its economy in recession, its roads and rails often blocked. And there is no end in sight.

That poses a quandary for those who admire and support the protest movement, but who recoil at the notion of such a unique and vibrant enclave self-destructing. The difficulty is compounded by the fact that the movement has no leadership, no coordinating committee to advise, to cheer or to warn.

In the end, however, there is no choice for those who cherish freedom but to support the protests, as a bill pending in the United States Congress does. The protests may be counterproductive, destructive, leaderless and even futile, but for these same reasons they are an altruistic, self-sacrificing and genuine demonstration that people who have known freedom, even in a limited form, refuse to surrender it.

It is doubtful that Xi Jinping, the authoritarian Chinese leader, understands the resistance or the longing. Those who rise to the pinnacle of a secretive, authoritarian, coercive system like China’s are molded to believe that you can control all the people all the time, if you can only find the right combination of sticks, carrots, lies and information filters. To them, any dissent must be a political plot hatched in dark foreign corners.

What Mr. Xi does instinctively understand is the threat posed by Hong Kong while he is waging a global propaganda offensive, backed by the lure of China’s enormous market. A Tiananmen-style crackdown, he knows, would be disastrous for China’s standing and image. But letting the protesters have their way, he believes, would show weakness and potentially encourage repressed minorities in China, such as the Uighurs, Kazakhs or Tibetans, to push for their rights.

Lacking any means for winning the Hong Kongers’ hearts or minds and unable to give in to their demands, leaders in Beijing and their loyalists in Hong Kong, including the administration led by Carrie Lam, see no alternative to exerting ever greater police force. And that serves only to further inflame the demonstrators.

Foreign governments, too, confront a dilemma. On the commercial side, overt support for the protests could lead to a loss of Chinese business. President Trump, for one, has stayed largely silent on the latest protests, even while grappling with Mr. Xi on trade, evidently seeking not to trammel the chance of a deal. There is also the problem of supporting demonstrations in which protesters have sometimes resorted to violence, even if police violence has been far greater and more systematic. Nothing justifies setting an opponent on fire, as one protester apparently did.

These incidents of violence must be noted and condemned. But they are inevitable in confrontations with police that have been escalating over many weeks. One thing remains incontestable: In this protracted and painful confrontation, the people of Hong Kong hold the moral high ground in their determination to decide their own fate and to reject the animal farm that China would put them in even before the transition to full Chinese control in 2047, the date established in the agreement that ended Britain’s control over its former colony.

There is no way to predict how long the protests will continue, or what will be their outcome. But the people of Hong Kong deserve support, and Mr. Xi should be left with no doubt that violent intervention will carry an immediate and heavy price.

The bill before Congress, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which accuses the Chinese government of creating more chaos and warns of new sanctions, has the support of both parties, and should be brought to a vote without further delay. Painful as it is to observe, this is a struggle that the free world must support.

🍁☕🍂🍞🍁☕🍂🍞🍁☕🍂🍞🍁☕

Can Hong Kong’s Courts Save the City?

Don’t count on it.

By Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, Ms. Eu is a barrister and former legislator in Hong Kong. | Published Nov. 16, 2019 | New York Times | Posted Nov 17, 2019 |

HONG KONG — It both comforts and depresses me, as a lawyer who has practiced for four decades, that every day over the past few months I have been besieged on Facebook by anxious Hong Kongers urging me to take legal action to help protesters.

I have been asked to demand investigations into mysterious deaths, allegations that people have been raped while in police custody and claims that police officers have been impersonating protesters. Some people seek redress for police brutality. Others want to pre-empt the routine use of tear gas in crowded public transportation, old people’s homes, shopping malls, universities or the central business district.

That people come to me is comforting: It suggests that even though the government and the Legislative Council have failed us, Hong Kongers still believe in our judges. It is depressing because I fear that they will be disappointed.

Initiating litigation against the government, particularly in very political cases, is an uncertain and very expensive endeavor at any time. The government has unlimited money — the taxpayers’ money — to hire a large legal team, and so even if it loses a case in the first instance, it can appeal it all the way to the final court. You, the citizen, might have found lawyers to represent you for free, but should you lose, you may have to foot the government’s legal bill — in some cases, risking bankruptcy.

The odds are also stacked against you. Judges are conservative by nature and trained to give the establishment a wide margin of appreciation. They are not the ones fighting protesters on the streets; they are not the ones making the tough political decisions. They should be slow to criticize those in the hot seat for getting something wrong.

More ominous, in 2014, the Chinese State Council issued a white paper about governance in Hong Kong, which required, among other things, the city’s judges to be “patriots.” Way back in the summer of 2008, Xi Jinping — then China’s vice-president, now its president — called on the three branches of government in Hong Kong to “cooperate.”

For China’s leaders, law is a political weapon; they routinely refer to governing the nation “in accordance with the law.” This may sound like the same thing as “the rule of law,” but it is nothing like that: It merely justifies the rule of those in power and ensures that they are above the law.

If judges in Hong Kong issue a decision with political consequences that the Chinese authorities deem unwelcome, it can always be overruled by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, which is vested with the ultimate authority to interpret Hong Kong’s Basic Law, or mini-constitution. Let us not underestimate the tremendous pressure many of our judges have faced dealing with the highly sensitive and politically charged cases that have come to them in recent years.

Earlier this week, the police and anti-riot squads attacked the campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, firing hundreds of cans of tear gas and rubber bullets, and spraying parts of the campus with a toxic blue liquid. By Tuesday night, the university gym had been turned into a makeshift hospital, as though on a wartime battlefield. Joseph Sung Jao-yiu, a former vice chancellor of CUHK and a gastroenterologist, came with a team of doctors to help treat the injured — more than 110 people.

The police did have reason to take action that day: The CUHK campus is connected to a public footbridge that hangs over a major highway, and the footbridge was occupied by protesters who were throwing bricks and petrol bombs, blocking traffic and endangering the public.

Whatever the protesters were doing did not justify the authorities’ disproportionate response, however. Even CUHK’s current vice chancellor, Prof. Rocky Tuan, wasn’t spared being tear-gassed: He tried to defuse the situation with the police, but was told that he could not control his students and now was no time to negotiate. The clashes lasted for hours. Black mushroom clouds hung high above the campus and could be seen from a great distance.

Late Tuesday night, at the height of the confrontation, I was approached by Jacky So Tsun-fung, the president of the CUHK student union. He wanted to apply for an urgent injunction to stop the police from breaching the campus without a warrant and bar the use of crowd-control weapons without the assent of university authorities. Some students had become very emotional; word was circulating that one of them (and perhaps more) was considering suicide. But the judge declined to hear the application that night and wanted the police to be notified.

I met Mr. So the next morning. He has a shy, boyish face, delicate features and a mat of hair like a K-pop idol. The first thing I did was give him a big hug. His shoulders felt too small for the large burden he was carrying. I don’t mean just the burden of litigation; I mean the burden of being young in Hong Kong these days and daring to stand up or speak out. Young people are targeted, stalked and at risk of physical attack. Even secondary-school students in uniform have been stopped on their way to school, searched and harassed by the police.

There is no denying that violence has been committed by the protesters, too. But during our hearing on Wednesday, while the police’s lawyers wouldn’t tell the court how many tear-gas canisters officers had used at CUHK, they were quick to say how many petrol bombs had been thrown at them.

Never mind, apparently, my argument that at times as difficult as these, there is all the more reason to hold authorities accountable for any abuse of power. And that we, the public, are looking to the courts as our last safeguards. The judge dismissed our application.

And yet the Hong Kong courts have readily granted the police sweeping injunctions. There was one last month, cast in broad and vague terms, that barred anyone from “unlawfully and willfully” disclosing the personal information of police officers or their relatives. Naturally, no one was there to argue against the measure: Why did the court find it necessary to enjoin putative and nameless defendants from breaking the law?

Also last month, the government issued a regulation banning face masks at gatherings. Even as it insisted that Hong Kong was not in a state of emergency, the administration of Chief Executive Carrie Lam ordered the mask ban by invoking outdated, colonial-era emergency legislation — paving the way for more draconian measures in the future. Several legislators have challenged the regulation in court. A ruling is expected Monday.

Whatever the outcome of that case, it would be naïve at this stage to think that a few lawyers and judges can defend the rule of law in Hong Kong. Once the city’s pride, the rule of law cannot survive under the pressure of a government that does not respect fair play, freedom or democracy.

🍁☕🍂🍞🍁☕🍂🍞🍁☕🍂🍞🍁☕

Hong Kong Protests: Activists Clash With Police Near Besieged Campus

The multiday siege escalated on Sunday, a day after unarmed Chinese soldiers stirred fears by staging a choreographed photo op.

By Mike Ives, Tiffany May and Katherine LI | Published Nov. 17, 2019 Updated 9:50 a.m. ET | New York Times | Posted November 17, 2019 |

HONG KONG — The Hong Kong police on Sunday clashed for hours with antigovernment activists who were staging a siege-like occupation of a university campus and blocking an adjacent cross-harbor tunnel, the latest escalation in a monthslong crisis gripping the city.

The standoff on the fringes of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, in which a police officer was hit in his leg with an arrow, shattered a fragile calm that had returned to the Chinese territory after a workweek marred by severe transit disruptions and street violence.

Schools across Hong Kong were canceled for Monday. And on Sunday evening — after protesters set fire to two bridges near the harbor tunnel and police officers appeared to surround them — the force threatened to use “lethal force” to arrest those who did not surrender.

The Hong Kong protests began in June over legislation, since scrapped, that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, and have expanded to include a broad range of demands for police accountability and greater democracy.

Here’s the latest.

A FIERY CAMPUS STANDOFF

The police on Sunday fired gas and sprayed water cannons at young demonstrators who were continuing a multiday occupation of Hong Kong Polytechnic University and blockading an adjacent tunnel that connects Hong Kong Island with the Kowloon Peninsula.

Ensconced above the Kowloon streets in fort-like enclosures, some of the protesters spent hours throwing gasoline bombs, some from improvised catapults. Others were armed with bows and arrows, and the police said an officer had been hit in the calf with an arrow.

After nightfall, the protesters set fire to a flyover near the tunnel and a pedestrian bridge leading to the campus, forcing an armored police vehicle to retreat and setting another on fire. A riot police officer warned that protesters were surrounded and that the force would use lethal force against them if they did not surrender.

“Time is running out,” the officer said on a loudspeaker.

Dozens of hard-line protesters also clashed with riot police in Mong Kok, a working-class neighborhood, apparently to divert the force’s energies away from the campus.

The PolyU campus, which sits beside the harbor tunnel and a Chinese military barracks, is one of several that young protesters had occupied days earlier, turning them into quasi-militarized citadels. Most of the other sieges gradually tapered off.

The Sunday clash came on the heels of a particularly intense week of transit delays, street scuffles and flash-mob-style demonstrations across the city. The unrest was prompted in part by the police shooting of a young demonstrator at point-blank range. He survived.

A RARE PROPAGANDA STUNT

On Saturday, Chinese soldiers jogged out of their barracks near Hong Kong Baptist University and cleared bricks from streets that had been swarmed days earlier by young demonstrators.

The soldiers wore T-shirts and basketball jerseys, rather than military uniforms, and carried brooms instead of weapons. Their appearance threatened to inflame tensions in the semiautonomous Chinese territory, where many are deeply sensitive about what they see as Beijing’s growing influence over their lives.

The Hong Kong garrison of the People’s Liberation Army is based in 19 sites once occupied by the British military before the former colony returned to Chinese control in 1997. But even though Chinese troops have been stationed in Hong Kong for years, it is highly unusual for them to venture into the city.

Hong Kong’s mini-Constitution says that P.L.A. forces “shall not interfere” in local affairs and that the local government may ask for the army’s assistance for disaster relief and maintaining public order. The Hong Kong government said in a statement on Saturday that the soldiers’ cleanup had been a self-initiated “community activity.”

The cleanup, which was lauded in China’s state-run news media, prompted a torrent of criticism from local residents. On Saturday, 24 lawmakers from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy legislative minority issued a joint statement saying that the local government and the P.L.A. had ignored restrictions imposed on the troops by local laws.

🍁☕🍂🍞🍁☕🍂🍞🍁☕🍂🍞🍁☕

#china #trump china #no china extradition #china news #hong kong protests #hong kong #hongkong #xi jinping #worldpolitics #world news #politics and government #politics #u.s. news #u.s. foreign policy #international news #asia news #asian voices #national security #national news #top stories google news #top news

[inner-dreamscape]

“…He’s your problem.” Chuuya decided, grabbing his half empty wine glass and making for the exit.

A hand reached out and tugged on the back of his jacket, halting his escape. Chuuya tsk’d. He should have kept his damn mouth shut and made a sneaky exit. His hand tightened on the glass when a loud clatter rang through the kitchen leaking out into the rest of the apartment. Blue eyes kept their focus on the door; if he didn’t look where that bastard was no doubt making a mess for Chuuya to clean up, maybe he could pretend he was never there and push the responsibility onto Oda.

“It’s Tuesday. He’s your problem.” Oda informed him, pulling him back further away from escape.

“Tsk. Goddamn it!” He slammed his glass down on the coffee table, spinning around to face Oda. “Let’s play for it.”

“No, I took care of him the last time he ate poisoned mushrooms as well as the time he caused a mess by using your-”

“Gah! Okay, don’t fucking remind me! I still get nightmares just thinking about it.” He shuddered.

Oda raised an eyebrow at his reaction, silently telling him see? Imagine real time, up front and close. Which, Chuuya thought, sounded fair. Oda didn’t even ask for compensation (which Chuuya would have totally done). Chuuya owed him. And if it was one thing Chuuya absolutely hated, was owing anyone anything. He’s learned that lesson very well under Dazai’s hands in their partnership. Though Oda wouldn’t do that to Chuuya as he was a totally better person than Dazai, the potential to use him like that remained a possibility as long as the debt was there.

Gritting his teeth, he hissed a “Fine!” and stomped his way into the kitchen where Dazai was doing who knows what.

--

Oda followed the angry redhead’s path with his eyes. Not an ounce of pity or sympathy welled up inside him. Chuuya deserved whatever Dazai’s scheming for making Oda deal with their boyfriend on the days that belonged to Chuuya to field the chaos that undoubtedly would arise where Dazai’s concerned.

The commotion in the kitchen silenced upon Chuuya’s entry though it didn’t last long.

“What the fuck are you doing you shitty bandage wasting device!?” Chuuya screamed.

Oda couldn’t hear Dazai’s response but he would bet Chuuya’s wine collection that it was an insult. Now, along with the shouting, were things being thrown every which way. Perhaps Oda should have fielded this one too. Those two were going to cause more damage than a bull in a china store. Sighing, Oda pulled out his phone. He opened up a market app, repurchasing some dinnerware and a new table. Thank God for executive paychecks.

#Oda's dating brats #They have designated days on which one would take responsibility of Dazai and his resulting chaos #the package delivery man is used to them by now with how much they reorder stuff that they've broken #Oda takes him out for drinks every once in a while as thanks for dealing with them #chaosia writes #BSD #dazai x oda x chuuya #Nakahara Chuuya #Dazai Osamu #Oda Sakunosuke #odasaku

[senor-plume]

bit by bit

raw guts pulse electric style into my unpierced ears

feedback ashtrays clog my head and this chest which soars roars knock doors

thorns on knees prey pray that someday they will become roses

sweet roses   in vases on tables in view of lovers with forks

lovers with napkin necklines and wine ...plenty of wine

a D chord dangles from the moon

exploding exposing unloading

drum beat machines tease the open thighs

blam boom blam boom

go!

the voodoo of shaken sticks rattle fine china

stir my drink

blow my nose and insert the straw

bleed the ear lance the boil

socks turn industrial wet

ship me up send me out stock me shelf me sell me own me love me play me ignore me forget to dust me

fuck fuck fuck

16 tons rattle pinball metal in my cranium

45’s spin. vinyl bleeds chamomile. 78’s drink coffee. 8-Tracks give head. cassettes eat often and CD’s burn plastic candy

mushroom clouds expose us to radiation Snickers and the burning Milky Way

the Three Musketeers riding in with the four horsemen with an exit sign slobbering off the bits

bit by bit

bit by bit

and the end rolls in wave after wave

its over

but that's ok

its ok

really

its ok

[nordicsymphony]

A Romantic Birthday Kiss on the Ice

Good news: today is Rem’s birthday!

But, today is also the 2-year anniversary of the Cup of China kiss shared between Yuri and Viktor!

So I got a few ideas...

Shout out to @rem-is-best-almond​ and @loyalhoetokondo​ on twitter for helping to suggest ideas!

A few notes before we begin:

The Vampire Monarchy has been abolished, but Azuna lives.

Viktor Nikiforov’s name is spelled with a ‘k’, Yuri Katsuki’s name is spelled with 1 ‘u’.

This takes place in real time, spread over 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Rem Kaginuki couldn’t believe his eyes.

Sure, he was a bit interested in figure skating and he couldn’t resist the demands of the student body when one of them sent him a link to a Youtube video, but to witness two humans of the same gender share a kiss on the ice in front of the whole world was something else.

On his birthday, no less.

Something compelled him to rewatch the video. In it, Yuri Katsuki was the last to skate at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China Men’s Free Skate. A few mistakes aside, he did an excellent job despite the fact that (and Rem did look it up later) he didn’t get enough sleep the night before. After a shocking attempt at the quadruple flip, which was a jump that only his coach, Viktor Nikiforov landed successfully, he did one last combination spin and held his final pose. As the audience cheered, Yuri looked around to see how Viktor reacted to his flip. He rushed over to greet Viktor, only to be met in turn by a glomp... and a tender kiss on the mouth. As the audience cheered, Yuri and Viktor gazed at each other with loving gazes before heading off to the kiss-and-cry.

Rem paused the video, and started thinking hard. Ever since he chose to stay in the human realm for his love for Ritsuka, the only kiss they shared was at the castle belonging to the former Vampire King. Since then, their only kisses were on the cheek, sometimes the neck. But never on the lips, for some reason. Not helping their case was her over-protective older brother Lindo, and the occasional visits from Urie, Mage, Shiki and Roen, who found it amusing to break the mood at the most inappropriate of moments.

Determined that Yuri and Viktor’s kiss on his birthday had a hidden significance to him, he decided that he would replicate the scene with Ritsuka, no matter what it takes.

2016

If Rem wanted to make this kiss as grandiose as possible, what better location would be to hold it at a public rink? Taking Ritsuka by the hand, Rem skated with utmost grace with her. Some people were already staring at the loving couple. Good. The more people noticing, the better. After all, he had watched that video many times and was determined that it will work. After all, if those two could do it, they could too.

Taking his position, he steadied himself and waited for Ritsuka to unknowingly get into the situation he wanted her to be in. And when she did, he took the jump, hoping that he would successfully initiate a kiss similar to the one at the Cup of China.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

The first time, Ritsuka was so shocked at his direct attempt, that he fell flat on his face. Embarrassed, he decided to try again when she felt ready. He WILL get it to work. After all, he was the Arlond heir, and the Arlonds ARE the most powerful family in Gehenna.

The second time, Rem caught Urie, Mage and Shiki giggling like a bunch of middle-school girls at him and lost his balance. They would get it from him when he came back.

(Roen was there too, but no one noticed. At least that was one advantage of being a lower-class Cerebus.)

The third time, Azuna happened to come by to pick Ritsuka up and drove him off with holy water. Disappointed at his failures so far, he settled with a peck on the cheek before sending both ladies off.

Oh well, there was always next year.

2017

Earlier on, Rem had booked an entire indoor rink to himself and Ritsuka. Telling the PA crew to play Yuri Katsuki’s Free Skate music at a certain timing, he took Ritsuka by the hand and led her on the ice. He had practiced a certain routine for ages, and made entirely sure that no one would be around to disturb them.

When ‘Yuri on Ice’ started playing, he danced around her, subtly creating a few sparks to enchant her eyes. Seeing an impressed Ritsuka with a delighted look on her face, he was absolutely sure that this time, he will be able to replicate what was now known as the ‘Vikturi kiss’.

If it weren’t for some unnecessary interference.

The first time, some vampires who were very slow on the update regarding Nesta attacked them. After fending them off, he promised to himself that he would fix the rink before anyone noticed.

The second time, Rem felt a jolt and a shiver behind his back before he could so much as jump. Ritsuka swore that she heard some cackling in the distance, before assuring herself that only the two of them were there and no one else.

(Somewhere beyond linear space and time, a white-haired boy was laughing his ass off at Rem’s awkward attempts to imitate Viktor and Yuri, before turning his attention to a timeline belonging to a group of Shikoku-based magical girls and unleashed whatever hell he could think of on them.)

The third time, Lindo was the one to pick Ritsuka up and happened to witness Rem trying to kiss her. Furious, he stormed up to Rem and demanded an explanation. One quick brawl (and some shiitake mushrooms in Rem’s face) later, Rem swore that he will get that kiss to her, no matter what.

Next year, he promises.

2018

Having found a quiet lake in the nearby woods, Rem managed to get a servant with ice powers to ensure that the lake stayed frozen throughout the date. But before he could bring Ritsuka out, she asked him a question that made Rem quite red in the ears.

“What have you been trying to attempt on the ice all these years?”

Rem froze. Did she know? Even if she didn’t, how could she have realised? Stuttering, Rem tried to come up with a legit excuse, but was unable to get it out of his system. Words weren’t exactly his thing, per se.

Laughing, Ritsuka decided that if that were the case, shouldn’t SHE be the one doing it? It is his birthday, after all.

And with that, she led him towards the middle of the frozen lake...

And straight up french-dipped him.

Before a very red Rem tried to protest, she planted her lips on his. Damn, it felt so good! But it was disappointing at the same time, because all of Rem’s attempts to replicate the kiss had ended in failure.

Well, whatever. This would do just fine.

After all, they have as many years as possible to copy the figure skating lovebirds.

What the both of them didn’t know, however, was that Urie, Mage, Shiki and Roen were hiding in the bushes, and all had cameras in their hands, getting delightful footage of Rem and Ritsuka’s kiss on ice. Snickering to themselves, they collectively decided that if Rem were to refuse anything they asked, those videos would spread to the whole school. Lindo’s face if he saw those would be priceless!

And with that, they made a break for it, leaving Rem and Ritsuka to share one last tender kiss on the ice.

#Nanami Says #Nanami Writes #Dance with Devils #Yuri!!! on Ice #Rem Kaginuki #Ritsuka Tachibana #OTP #well that was an awkward attempt at fanfic #I put in a Take That somewhere too #see if you can spot it #but anyway I hope you guys enjoyed my very awkward birthday fic #Happy Birthday Rem!