#they really saw lumen and went

[shaaaaaaar]

oh hes got drip

#my homoaesthetic ass rn #dual-wielding gender envy and aesthetic attraction #they really saw lumen and went #lets give him the ULTIMATE drip #i could actually ramble for a bit about how great this design and outfit is btw #i just kinda dont wanna rn because its late and if im gonna ramble about my boy lumen its gotta be coherent #but its an incredible skin and is very thought out and fitting to his character #waiting impatiently #arknights

[thepixarau]

Ember: it would take an act of God to get me across the bridge lol

God: Aight bet here’s a sweet himbo water boyfriend now go fucking do something with your life

#ember really saw Wade and went ‘yeah ok I’m convinced’ #elemental #ember lumen

[lisannastraussisanangel]

Just curious, if Lucy became Lumen Histoire to save Natsu from himself (well, E.N.D. self), how do you think Team Natsu would react to the aftermath?

Oo this ones interesting! Alright let's jump straight into it!

Natsu

He blames himself hardcore. Even tho everyone tells him it was her choice

He decides he has to save her, spending every second of the day contacting people, finding ancient tomes, and even doing research

It gets so bad that he stops eating and sleeping properly. The guild finally snaps when Natsu collapses in the hall and has to be hospitalized

Gray ends up screaming at Natsu that this isn't what Lucy would want. He makes Natsu promise to take care of himself. (just like Natsu did with Gray on Galuna)

He can often be found sleeping at the foot of the crystal. He promised he would always be by her side and he intends to keep that promise

Natsu never quits trying to save her. He takes time to look after himself but not nearly enough to be considered healthy. Everyone fears he will work himself to death, but he won't listen to reason

Gray

He cries for days, thinking he could've done something to stop it.

Part of him deep down blames Natsu and he wants to freak out on him and scream about how this was his fault because someone needs to take the blame, but then Gray looks over at Natsu and sees how destroyed he is and Gray forgets that anger

He distracts himself by taking care of Natsu. He makes him food, checks on him, makes sure he's sleeping, etc.

It's all a front because Gray is barely holding it together himself

His nightmares are brutal and he only sleeps a couple hours a night

He can't bring himself to look at her. Gray has never looked at the lacrima she's in. It just hurts too much to see her like that

Erza

The first couple days, Erza is an absolute mess. She locks herself away and just sobs.

No one hears from her until one day Erza shows back up acting as if she never disappeared

Erza reverts hardcore. Back to protecting her heart with armor. She's always tense, polite but not social, and walks through the guild with her head down

Natsu and Gray try to get her help with fixing Lucy, but Erza gets so upset at the mention of her name, they run away in fear

She's completely shut down. Lucy's name is never mentioned around her, because she will get up and leave. Sometimes disappearing for days again

No one's ever seen her visit Lucy's tomb, but Erza will sneak in from time to time to pay her respects

Wendy

She refuses to leave Lucy's side

Right after it happens, Wendy has to be dragged away kicking and screaming. She went full dragon force on them

She only settled down when Erza placed a hand on her shoulder and asked her to step away with tears in her eyes

Wendy is convinced her magic is the secret to getting Lucy back

She's just as determined as Natsu (but in a slightly healthier way)

All of her free time is spent hanging out around the lacrima. Usually researching and trying new spells, but sometimes she just sits and pretends she's talking to Lucy

Wendy goes down and vents to her, tells her the latest tea in the guild. It makes her feel better to speak to Lucy. She hopes Lucy can hear her (Lucy can btw)

Happy

He takes it really hard. He cries at even the mention of her name

When it happened, he turned around and begged Natsu and Wendy to do something. They have to know how to fix her

When they told him they didn't know, he flew off in a fit

Carla ended up finding him later that night. He had fallen asleep in a tree, face wet with tears

The guild doesn't know what to do because Happy isn't happy anymore

He spends all his time with Natsu looking for answers

Carla

While the most calm about it, Carla is upset as well. She cries in secret, but pretends to be strong for Wendy

Carla knew it was going to happen. She saw it in advance but it was the only way to stop E.N.D.

She spends most of her time trying to pretend things are normal.

She tries to force them all into their old behaviors. Like trying to instigate a fight between Gray and Natsu so Erza can break it up

Anything to get things back to normal

It doesn't work and she ends up spending her time helping them search for a cure

#I love me some angst omg #this was fun! #anon :) #fairy tail #fairy tail headcanons #lucy heartfilia #natsu dragneel #erza scarlet #wendy marvell #gray fullbuster #fairy tail happy #fairy tail carla #team natsu

[kickthecan-revolution]

Peach had a big day today. He’s been exploring the other parts of the house but has mostly spent a lot of time under my sister’s bed in a drawer (his favorite spot here as well). He keeps all of his toy mice there and his favorite wand toys, which is adorable. He loves Rupert but the dog has been scary for him. And I’m not surprised, when I was at the trailer trying to catch everybody, there were two really aggressive dogs that would chase the cats, I remember the first time I saw peach he was frozen in fear when one of the dogs almost got to where he was underneath the trailer so I was worried about that.

He’s a fearless little cat and for the last week or so, goes up to Lumen’s crate and hisses, then walks away and runs back into my sister‘s room when she comes out. But today he was out in the living room for most of the day with Rupert, and the dog. He was playing so hard with the cat, when Lumen came out of the crate, it was like he was torn – do I stay out here and keep wrestling or do I go to my safe space? So he would run back-and-forth, and it was hilarious (my sister is literally live streaming this whole experience for me so it’s like I’m there ).

A few years ago, the kids thought it would be funny to teach Lumen to chase Rupert, and sometimes Rupert initiates it so that’s what Lumen thought would be good to do with Peach who decidedly does not enjoy that at all. So this sweet puppy is just trying to figure out what the new rules are because we think he really misses spending time with Rupert. My sister’s been giving her a ton of love and attention so she’s OK, but it was such a massive step for everybody to be on my sister’s bed today. The kittens were there snuggled up and sleeping , and Lumen quietly slipped up. I guess Peach stared at him for a solid couple of minutes as they both laid down and then went to sleep, and everyone had a good long nap together. I’m no expert, but I don’t think a cat is going to fall asleep if they don’t feel safe.

That this is happening in just a couple of weeks is such an incredible blessing, it’s almost like it’s not real. I can’t explain how much I love this little kitten and to have him in a place where he’s so loved and having so much fun it’s just everything to me. I miss him for sure that the grieving would’ve been so much more terrible had he gone to a stranger. It’s just such an incredible happy ending where a lot of things really could have gone wrong, but didn’t.

[t-n-c]

My thoughts on Elemental... (CAUTION: CONTAINS SPOILERS)

So, I went and saw Elemental with my twin over the weekend and I really liked it; granted, I wouldn't say it's ground-breaking or anything, but it was way better than I thought it would be--the trailers/marketing really didn't do the movie justice.

To clarify that last part a bit, the trailer (or at least the impression I got from it) kind of implied it would be an analogy for a (straight) interracial couple in a kind of "Romeo-&-Juliet-Their-Love-Is-Forbidden" romance. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that kind of story or anything, the "experiences of fantastical creatures used as stand-ins for real-life issues" and "guy-meets-girl=love" schticks are over-done (imo at least).

With that being said, the inter-elemental relationship between the two leads wasn't actually the main point of film. Sure, the romantic element (excuse the pun) does play a big role, but the crux of the story is about Ember Lumen (the fire elemental) and her experiences as... (SPOILERS AHEAD)

...the daughter of immigrants who came to the city build a better life for her and themselves.

It's this aspect of Ember's identity that moves the story forward not her developing relationship with Wade Ripple (the water elemental).

We see this throughout the film. It's Ember's beginnings that we're originally introduced to and it's Ember who we follow as she experiences being othered by a city that wasn't made with fire people like her in mind, respecting/retaining traditions important in her culture, and feeling that she has no choice but to take over her father's shop as a means to repay him and her mother for the tremendous sacrifice they made in leaving their homeland to build a life for the three of them in Element City. It's Ember's desire to do right by her parents, specifically her father, even if it means giving up her own wants/dreams that makes up the drama of the film.

This desire is also what creates conflict in her romance with Wade. The closer she gets to him the more conflicted she feels; she becomes torn between continuing to see him and honoring the obligations she feels she has to her father and their way of life. At first, she chooses her father and culture over Wade and (in a rather emotional scene) tries to end the relationship. They do end up together at the end however—I don’t want to spoil everything that happens between the scenes but I’m comfortable revealing that much.

All-in-all, I felt it was a pretty good show with a moving story and cute little romance. When I have a bit more time I'll make a more detailed post going over what I liked/disliked/had mixed feelings about, but for now I’ll just say that I thought it was good and leave it at that.

#elemental 2023 spoilers #elemental spoilers #wade ripple #ember lumen #pixar #animated film #TNC analyzes animated movies #Elemental Pixar #Elemental 2023 #Elemental film #Elemental

[sk-lumen]

Hi Lumen,

Hope you are doing okay. I just wanted to share this here, I guess I needed to vent and write this down to show myself some sort of appreciation and to comfort myself in this choice so I thought I would share it since I saw other anons writing their progress down, hope you don’t mind. I have dropped that guy whom I was talking to since November, we tried to meet up multiple times but he always put the blame on me that we never could meet. We once tried to meet up and made plans to meet BUT the day before he went back to his hometown without any notice because he was not sure whether I still wanted to meet and didn’t even bother to make new plans. After this I decided to block him because it was literally the last drop. he made me feel confused all the time, I always felt so stressed and I remember you saying in one of your posts that a guy that makes you feel stressed and confused = not a man in his masculine energy and not meant for me. and also he tried to initiate physical and sexual conversations way to too fast which made me feel uncomfortable. I also think he love bombed me in the beginning.

i think reading your posts had helped me so much and I wanted to thank you for your posts. I really think you help a lot of young women with your advice 🌹

I know he was not worth my time and energy that’s why I cut things off with him but deep down I feel that guilt and “what ifs” but I know deep down I made the right choice and I can’t wait to elevate more in life.

Hi darling,

Thanks for sharing your journey and progress! I'm proud of you for cutting him off and moving on. Just from what you've mentioned there's already a list of red flags. I can confirm you did the right thing, but more important than that is you listening to your intuition, and honoring it! Realizing that you've known the answer all along. That's a brave thing and not easy to do especially in the beginning. And release the guilt darling. No healthy secure man that is for you will make you feel this way, or treat you like this in the beginning. All those red flags only multiply further in the relationship. You did right in moving on.

Also, posts like this make me happy to see how more and more ladies are awakening to their true worth and standing up for themselves 🥺 Moreso that my advice is helping someone out there 🤍

I like to think of my blog as an online diary dedicated to my younger self, sharing advice and experiences I wish others would have told me, so I didn't have to learn the hard way.

A lot of us girls didn't grow up with an older sister or aunt or female figure of some kind that initiates us into this experience of modern womanhood and how to honour ourselves and have better standards and boundaries. Or how to cultivate healthy friendships and sisterhood! Instead we're only programmed by society to view other women as competition and men as "the prize". To be people-pleasing and self-sacrificing to the point where we remove our "selves" from the equation of our lives altogether, centering everything around a man, family, pleasing our parents etc.

It's important to realize the #1 priority should always be yourself. You're the heroine of this story. The sooner you realize and live this truth, the sooner you can fully enjoy life, instead of being a secondary character in your own story.

Best wishes 🫶

-Lumen

#sk lumen #relationship tips #glow up #high standards #high maintenance #level up #level up journey #self improvement #personal development #dating tips #high value dating #ask #fav

[princeshroob]

Okay, so it's officially been a year since I started playing, and I was wondering if I wanted to do something for it...or even if I could do something, but I eventually came up with the idea to go over my squad in order of first acquiring them, all the way to the present

(I swear to Terra, if I get something notable from free pulls before this comes up, I'm gonna explode)

...So uh, I wanted to have Mudrock and Surtr in the same picture, but they were too far apart for that, so screw it, I'm going with two pictures at once here! Anyways, in case you didn't know, I got into this game because of Mudrock and waited until she was rate-up before rerolling, and this is basically what I ended up with. Crazy thing, I actually got her twice in the same 10 roll, so I got to enjoy her with -1 DP cost immediately! And then when I went to pull more in hopes of getting Surtr (who was the shoperator at the time) I immediately got her from a single headhunting ticket! Amazing!! And yeah, that's why I wanted them in the same picture together.

Anyways, you can also see Angelina and Bagpipe there. Angelina was from the Newbie pool, and like Mudrock I also got two of her. But...meh, I didn't really feel like building her up too much. I did e1 her, but honestly, if I got her much later on, she'd probably be sitting in e0 Purgatory. Bagpipe, on the other hand, was the first 6* I got from a Top Operator tag, and that was a heck of a lucksack! I actually got her twice total from recruits, and then another pot from the CC shop. Two more pots and she'll be epic!

so uh, anyone else in those two screenshots...Oh, Utage? I got her that early?? Dang, never realized she was with me for as long as Mudrock XD. Also Myrtle is also e2, but I think pretty much everyone has e2d her, if only for access to e2 supports. Perfumer and Cuora were much later e2s, sometime after Il Siracusano, I think? Oh yeah, I guess Indra is a bit notable in how she's a recruit-exclusive 5*, but that's it.

Hmm, a bit less things of note here. Lumen was very recently promoted to e2, although I did neglect to get his potentials since I was a bit preoccupied with getting Mudrock to e2. At least his event should rerun real soon. Meteor, Cliffheart, Courier, and Ethan I promoted to e1 since I've seen guides use them pretty often. Gavial I kinda quickly fell in love with after her Alter came out, so that was definitely a waifu e2 there! Saria tho, oh boy. She's so freaking awesome! Definitely one of my best recruit lucksacks!

Now, I think it was around this time where CC#9 started. I had Surtr that I've seen Risk 18 strats for, and I've seen strats that used Horn, so I basically fused those two strats together so I could use easier risks overall.

...Ah, funny that the three e2s on this image are those three. Anyways, Exusiai was, yet again, another recruit lucksack, and she does so much damage! Well, so long as the enemies don't have too much defense, but there's ways to make up for that. Texas was from the pinboard missions, nothing unusual there. Lappland was from the 5* selector new players get, and I got her because man, having her earlier would've made SN so much less painful...but also, just having her in general is nice. Also, Elysium I got as my guarantee 5* when pulling on a banner that had him, so that was pretty sweet.

Hoo boy, here we go. Imma be real, when I first saw Sideroca, my mind instantly went "I have to get her" and, well, she's the welfare operator from the W event, so of course I did. Also, you might think it's funny that Gavialter and Blaze are right next to each other. Well, I rolled a bit on the banner in hopes of getting Chalter (Not that hard tho, since the odds weren't exactly in my favor) and I ended up getting Gavialter. As for Blaze...shoperator. Even after rolling Gavialter. XD. I just think she's cute! Also, Click was promoted because the event made me realize how weak my caster game was at the time, so I thought I'd e2 her as a sort of budget option. Wasn't really ready to promote Amiya at the time, so this had to be an acceptable compromise.

(If you're wondering why I didn't mention Amiya before...did I really need to? Everyone has to promote her in order to complete chapter 8. That's just how it is.)

Oh right, around this time was when the first Trials for Navigator event started. I...can't quite recall if I did Ultimate TN-4, but I'm pretty sure I got all the rewards at least, so there's that.

Oh, and there's also CC#10. I...barely remember what I did, and past me didn't exactly do a good job of actually posting the clear screen of risk 18. Man, they really dropped the ball on that. I definitely baited the cannon with Mudrock tho, no way am I gonna forget her pivotal role there!

OKAY, I'M LOOKING OVER MY SCREEN AND THE SCREENSHOTS I TOOK AND I COMPLETELY MISSED BLUE POISON! Ugh, she deserves better than to be skipped over, though to be fair, I was trying to focus on getting all my 6*s screenshotted at least, but anyways, she's e2 as well.

Anyways, Jaye there is e2, my first male e2 actually, and Ptilopsis I actually got from the 5* selector we got last anniversary (I think I'm gonna go for Warfarin with the next one btw, not like I can lucksack her in headhunting outside of kernal) and she's been very helpful! Astgenne, the welfare from the seemingly mythical Dorothy event, was so cute I couldn't not e2 her! Pinecone I e2'd cuz I was coping about not having Chalter, and Hibiscus Alter I e2'd cuz purple hair is too good! As for Fartooth...I considered building her, heck I even promoted her to e1, but I just have too many other operators that I would rather build.

Hoo boy, this. This is undoubtedly the start of where my power skyrocketed! Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way, I originally wasn't gonna go for Mlynar, but I decided that I might as well go until a 6* (though my track record tends to go otherwise if I don't get a good result) and I thankfully got him, and oh boy has he been integral in a lot of my hard clears! Nightingale...right, I got her and Fartooth from the standard banner with Saga and Mountain cuz those were both 6*s I had an interest in. Well, unlike Fartooth, I actually built her (though it was long after pulling her) and she's been pretty helpful keeping my team alive through heavy arts damage. Also Proviso I promoted to e2 and it had nothing to do with her base skill and everything to do with how cute she is XD. Whislash I was absolutely dying to get so you bet your bottom dollar I e2'd her almost immediately! Ifrit I got from yellow cert shop, and she's been pretty helpful when I can make good use of her. Chen I just happened to get with a Top Op + Nuker combo cuz why not? Didn't like my other options at the time much. Mostima, unfortunately, was a Top Op recruit that I didn't want cuz I wanted Ceobe, but oh well.

Anyways, if Mlynar wasn't enough, how about the time I pulled FREAKING SKALTER WHILE BREAKING PITY AFTER SPARK? Like, she would've been my spark if I had lucksacked Nearl Alter, so that's basically the same exact event in my mind. Anyways, aside from her, I didn't get any off-rates in that banner, so I was left with 2 Penance and 4 Texas Alters from that banner. Ceobe, as I mentioned, was a huge want for me, so I of course got her from the yellow cert shop, and then Horn was from the 6* selector at that time, and she's also been super helpful for me since then. Especially for IS#3, dear lord is she good against the first endboss there.

Right, this is around when CC#11 started. Risk 18 was absurdly easy that I didn't even need a guide for that (though my huge spike in power was also a factor.) I did push for higher risk though, and ended up with risk 25.

Almost getting towards the end here. Mizuki was a spook from the Gnosis banner (I primarily wanted Aurora) and, while he may not be the best 6* I could've got, I still wanna e2 him real soon. Kal'tsit was from yellow cert shop (which was during that absolutely horrific time period of Yostar forgetting Saga exists) and Magallan was just a random Top Op roll. Not building her, too small brain to use her well. Mountain was from the gamma headhunting ticket, and he was the one I wanted the least, but I still wanted him...even if my post at the time didn't look like I did I am an unappreciative jerk but anyways, it turned out to be for the better that I got him over Pozyomka. Lin was an absolute lucksack from free rolls on the banner, and I actually went out of my way to e2 her during the event! Lava Alter I e2'd cuz again, purple hair. Then there's Eyja, who was another yellow cert grab. Do I need to say anything about her? She's been the top Caster in the game since Day 1, with only Goldenglow being a possible threat to that title! (though for top caster in my heart, that title belongs to Ceobe XD)

I think both Trials for Navigator 2 and CC#12 were well after this, but the later operators I got weren't that important for that, so I'll just go over them here. Except...I barely remember what I did for TN#2. I just know that I did the Ultimate trial, so there's that. CC#12 though, my memory's a bit more clear on that. I did some strategizing for a few risks above 18, then changed them a bit to get even higher, all the way up to 26, exceeding CC#11 by a single risk! I honestly feel proud about that!

And now we have reached the present day. Rosa and Pozy both spooked me during the Yato Alter banner, the latter of which I built up quickly. And oh boy, is she super powerful! Even in the current event, she's been integral in dealing with the boss super quickly in my auto deploy setup! But Rosa sadly will take a backseat while I wait for Typhon, because believe you me, there's no timeline where I don't get her! Yato of course I had to hit the hard pity for, but she's been working very well for me. Weedy was another random top op. She was supposedly good for CC#12, but that didn't really convince me to build her sadly. Saga I have waited TOO FREAKING LONG for her to be in the yellow cert shop. And of course, Goldenglow I got with the 6* selector from the store as of now! Oh, also I got FEater to e1 max cuz she's super cute and I hope to e2 her some day.

Aaaaaand that's it. Man, it took a while to get this done that I actually wrote this in a few sessions cuz my attention span is...not great. But at least I got it done in time!

#arknights

[johannstutt413]

Need a Light?

(also up on AO3, since I actually had a title ready to go for it... yes, that is a good part of the reason I don’t usually cross-post fics for here onto there, but I like this ship a lot so goddamn it I’ll sail it on every sea)

Jordi didn’t get many chances to visit Rhodes Island, but when he did, he thoroughly took advantage of the opportunity - shadowing the Doctor, watching reel after reel of operation records in the Intelligence Processing Room, and occasionally trying to recreate some of the technology his parents worked on before their disappearance. Sometimes an operator would find him and have a chat, and he was more than happy to listen for a while. In all those visits, however, there was one person he never saw. Really, he didn’t expect to, but he could hope, and hope he did.

Of course, the day Irene did arrive at Rhodes Island while he was there, he had no idea… until he heard a familiar voice in the cafeteria line ahead of him. “I must have left my meal card at home. No, no, if I can’t pay, then I-”

“Miss Irene?” The Aegir sprinted to the register, card already in hand. “I’d like to pay for both of us, if it’s alright.”

“That will work just fine, Lumen. I’ll charge it to your account when you bring your meal to the register.” Gitano winked at him as he went to the line, sheepishly accepting when an Operator about to order gave him their place in line.

The former Inquisitor stood there waiting for him to return. “You’re here, too,” she said when he did.

“The, uh, Inquisition keeps me busy,” he replied as he handed over his meal card, “but every now and again, they let me visit. How’ve you been?”

“Me? Oh, um, busy, quite busy. We can talk more while we eat, maybe?”

The Elafia finished ringing him up; neither she nor Jordi mentioned the fact he’d only been charged for his meal. He picked up his tray and turned to follow Irene. “Have a good day, Gitano.”

“You as well, Lumen,” she smiled. “And good luck.”

“Good luck?” That slipped over his head for the moment. After all, Irene was waiting for him.

She’d found a booth for them in a corner, which didn’t help the butterflies in his stomach. It wasn’t that she was a former Inquisitor that made him nervous - after the time he’d spent training with the Inquisition, he was used to that kind of discomfort. No, this was something else, something he wasn’t sure he’d ever experienced in his life. 

Fortunately, those feelings didn’t hurt his ability to ask questions as he sat down. “You’ve been busy, you said?”

“More or less. The waves bring new tidings almost daily of the gathering storm.” She smiled dryly at the unintended pun. “I must admit, though, that even with all of Rhodes Island’s research materials and training offerings, I’ve found myself with more time to think than I did with the Inquisition. How are your studies going? Are they mistreating you? If they are, let me know, and I’ll make sure something’s done about it.”

“I’m learning a lot. No worries. I’m not suffering for being an Aegir.” Not especially, anyway.

Irene sighed with relief. “Good.”

“Were you…” He blushed at the thought but carried on. “Were you worried about me, Irene?”

“Somewhat.” She blushed, too, eyes firmly trained on her plate.

For a moment, they ate in silence. Lumen didn’t mind, though. It was nice seeing her again, even if things were still a tad awkward.

They certainly got more awkward when their hands touched the salt at the same time. He managed to pull back first. “Um, after you,” the Aegir said, gesturing to the shaker.

“Oh, no, please, you first.” The Liberi pushed it towards him. “You reached it before I did.”

“Okay. How much would you like?” He positioned his hand over her tray instead of his own.

Irene stared at him for a moment before replying, red as a rose, “Two shakes, please.”

“Over the potatoes?” She nodded; he obliged. “For your steak?”

“No, thank you. Please, salt your food.” The former Inquisitor watched as he did - two for his potatoes, one for his steak.

Jordi resumed his previous line of questioning. “You mentioned that you’ve had time to think recently? More than you expected?”

“Ah, um, yes. I thought that as a Messenger, I’d be going from place to place constantly, and that is true, but not as drastically as I anticipated.” She ate a potato, visibly surprised by how much flavor it had. “It’s strange how much my life has changed since that mission…”

“A watershed moment for both of us,” Lumen agreed, trying to admire the light in her eyes without staring too intently.

The Liberi nodded. “Thank you again. If you hadn’t been there to bring us back to the shore, I don’t think we would have made it back.”

“Oh, I-” He saw the look on her face as she bit into a piece of steak and passed her the salt. “It, um, well, Doctor Kal’tsit was fighting the monsters, and I tried to get the boat ready for the both of us, but-”

“But she stayed behind to fight, and you came to our aid alone. An extraordinary deed of bravery.”

Lumen’s face lit up as he looked away. “In the face of danger, even ordinary people can be heroes, I guess.”

“Ordinary?” Irene smiled as she applied one salt-shake to her steak. “If you’re truly ordinary, Jordi, then Terra’s future must be bright.”

“Th-thank you, Irene.” The Aegir noticed that she’d stopped at one shake. He noticed the little nod she gave when that proved more than satisfactory.

He noticed the way her eyes had lit up when she was complimenting him.

He noticed the scars on her hand, some of which reminded him of his training with the Inquisition, and wondered if she had other scars in other places like he did- And with that thought bouncing around in his head, he barely heard her question. “Are you busy tonight?”

“Busy? Me? Not too busy for you.” He hadn’t meant to phrase it that way; it just sort of happened that way. “Um, why do you ask?”

“It’s maybe a bit silly, but… My lantern isn’t working quite the same as it did before, and I was wondering if you could take a look at it?” The former Inquisitor smiled again, more shakily this time.

The thought of something to work on calmed his churning stomach. “I’m happy to help.”

“Thank you.” She brushed her hair back and suddenly frowned. “Ah, right, I just arrived from Iberia. After dinner might be a better time than right now.”

“Oh, okay. After dinner works, too.”

The Liberi nodded. “Good. After dinner, then. Are you done with your tray?”

“I am.” He reached over and took hers. “Tonight, then?”

“Tonight,” she confirmed, a little breathlessly.

Lumen noticed that but decided to leave it be for now, which was the right decision.

After all, it meant Irene was free to freak out about their date, and subsequently calm down, at her own pace.

----- Later -----

Irene looked over herself in the mirror one more time. She’d gotten back from dinner at the cafeteria with plenty of time to freshen up, but she was certain she still smelt like the ocean. Maybe. That could’ve just been her worrying about making a good impression on Jordi.

God, had she worried. Ever since their afternoon encounter, the Liberi had found herself fondly remembering the ship ride back to the shore. The water had churned, but not with nearly as many Sea Terrors as it had before Jordi’s arrival, and he’d looked absolutely magnificent at the helm, hands so firmly grasping the wheel they shook. It’d been a miracle he’d found them, a miracle of his own determination and understated intellect, and even now, thinking of it sent both chills and warmth through her. What a terribly wonderful, or wonderfully terrible, journey that had been…

She managed to pull herself from her self-enrapturement when there was a knock on her door. One last glance to make sure she hadn’t missed something - no? - before she went to answer. “Good evening, Jordi.”

“Good evening.” The Aegir was out of breath, it seemed. “May I come in?”

“Of course.” She stepped out of his way, glancing at the clock as she did. Not that they had a curfew or anything as operators, but she remembered the Inquisition’s policy on such things and didn’t want to make trouble for Lumen.

Her guest flitted over to the lantern on the coffee table with a moth’s focus. “You said it isn't the same as it was before that night?”

“It’s not as bright as it used to be,” she admitted, “even when I use the same amount of energy.”

“I see.” Jordi scratched the back of his head, moving around to look at it from different angles without touching it.

Irene wondered if he’d actually seen her at the threshold. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

“Um, water, please?” He looked directly at her, a coffee table between them, and his eyes were gleaming. “I may be here a while.”

“I’ll be right back.” Which was true, after a moment to collect herself before returning with water for both of them.

As the Inquisitor initiate took out his motley assortment of tools - the same he’d had with him that night - he glanced around the room. “You have a record player?”

“I asked Specter if I could borrow it for a night.” And endured no small amount of teasing because of it. That shark enjoyed watching her squirm, apparently. “I can turn it on, if you’d like?”

“Yes, please. I’m not sure how talkative I’ll be once I start with my tools.”

The Liberi retrieved one of her personal favorites from Iberia’s Golden Age - also, admittedly, borrowed from Laurentina for the night, but she’d known the song much longer. Eventually, she’d get her own, but not on eight hours’ notice of needing it. “I won’t disturb you.”

“Actually, I might need your help,” he admitted with a blush. “I’ve never worked with Inquisition technology before.”

“Oh, um, then I’ll sit here.” She sat on the couch, doing her best to leave him room to move around, and watched him lift the lantern.

Lumen frowned almost immediately after. “Is there a screw, or can I unscrew the top?”

“No screw,” Irene confirmed. She watched him remove the lid and gently remove the Arts mechanism from inside it… Oh, was he squinting? It was rather dark in the room - she kept the overheads off because the darkness reminded her of better days. “Need a light?”

“Another would be nice,” Jordi agreed.

The former Inquisitor glanced around her room. “Another one?”

“...I said that out loud,” he realized, also out loud. “Um, yes.”

“I suppose you are holding one,” Irene admitted, going to turn up the slider.

The Aegir cleared his throat. “I was… referring to you.”

“I’m sorry?” She accidentally turned the overheads all the way on, temporarily blinding them both, before bringing them down to a more manageable level.

“You, um…” Lumen couldn’t believe he’d actually said that either. “Meeting you was like stumbling over a candle in the dark. Not just because you introduced me to the Inquisition, that was part of it, but you… How do I explain this…”

The Liberi walked back to the table, fiercely blushing. “Do you know how to dance, Jordi?”

“Eh? No, I’m afraid I don’t.”

“Neither do I,” she replied, holding out a hand, “but maybe we can figure it out?”

Jordi took her hand as he stood up; the top of her head barely reached the base of his neck, he learned as she drew closer. He vaguely remembered how his parents would sometimes sway together in the living room. “I’m not too tall for you, am I?”

“As long as I’m not too short for you,” Irene chuckled, locking her fingers with his and putting a hand behind his waist.

“That’s good.” He put a hand on her shoulder. Something seemed a little off, but it didn’t matter. “Um…”

The former Inquisitor took the lead, and after a few missteps, they settled into the rhythm of the music, one quarter-turn at a time. “Are you working out of Gran Taro, by any chance?”

“When I’m on Inquisition business, I travel a lot… but I go back to Gran Taro when I can’t come back here.” That Iberian town was still home, even if RI’s ship called to him often.

“Good.” She set her head against his chest. “I’ll be able to visit you easily, then.”

He couldn’t have heard that right. “Visit me?”

“I like spending time with you. More time with you would be better for me.”

“You can visit me whenever you want,” Lumen agreed, voice dropping to a whisper. The hand he’d set on her shoulder drifted to her cheek. “Irene?”

The Liberi looked up at him, eyes momentarily shimmering before she closed them. She hoped he got the message. “Jordi…”

He didn’t recognize the gesture immediately, but he followed through on his instincts and bent forward to reach her face.

The lantern could wait until the morning; after all, neither of them were going anywhere else the rest of the night…

#arknights #arknights fic #lumen (arknights) #irene (arknights) #man both of these two have options when it comes to shipping #there are so many fics to write and not nearly enough time! #grah

[sihakadan]

Firelight pt. 4

I think this might be the last or second to last. We will see when I finish this bit.

Lumen Au is from @meliapis and I used some of the head canons from @vastaya-simp.

NSFW, MDNI

///You///

You weren't ashamed that whatever happened, it turned you on and some alone time was...necessary. Even if you weren't in your own bed.

It also helped you relieve the stress you were feeling, and you were able to fall asleep, Scar's lumen gently running over your skin in a comforting brush.

Since there were no windows, you didn't know what time it was when you woke up, just that you could hear kids laughing somewhere and the whirling of those boards.

Groaning and stretching all the soreness from your body, your back arching off the bed, you felt a tickle against the skin that was exposed and you giggled.

"Good morning." You said groggily, holding out your hand to the lumen, letting it go up your arm and into your hair. It was a slow movement, as if it was also tired. "Did he not sleep well?"

A knock on the door made you sit up and cup the lumen against your chest, your eyes glued to the door. "Yes?"

The door cracked open slightly and the light flooded the little room. A young girl poked her head in, her eyes wide as she looked at you.

"Hi?" You swung your feet over the side of the bed and stood up slowlly.

She opened the door a bit more and you saw she had some food in her hands. Thank Janna, you were starving. "Hi..." She was unsure of you but that was fair. You were a stranger.

The girl went to the little table by the bed and set the food down and then stood there, shyly looking at the lumen in your hair. "I-is that a lumen?"

Scar's lumen left your hair and floated towards the girl, spinning around her head, making her laugh. That was cute.

"Yeah, it is." You sat back down and watched the lumen tease the girl, playing with her.

"I like the little ears." She giggled, tilting her head as it went back to you.

You let it settle in your hands and you pet one of the ears. "Me too."

The girl sat on her ankles in front of you, peaking at the lumen. "Is it Scar's?"

Well, the ears probably gave it away; Scar also had a lumen following him around. "Yeah, it is."

Her eyes lit up and she almost bounced on her knees. "Really?"

This kid was really cute. She couldn't be more than 8. "Yeah, doesn't it look like him?" You held your hand out and giggled as it bounced in your hands. It was putting on a show for the girl.

"Are you gonna live here then?" She scooted closer to you, leaning forward on her hands, eager for your answer.

You had made up your mind but saying out loud felt so final. So official. "I think so." You bit your lip. "You think I'll fit in?"

"Everyone has a place here. Even those who do silly things." The girl stood up and behind her you saw Ekko leaning against the door way.

That was sneaky. Maybe he felt you could talk to the girl more easily? Feel more comfortable?

"So, is that your final decision?" He was analyzing you with his eyes, his face not as soft as it was yesterday. He wasn't playing around.

Inhaling, you stood up and squared your shoulders, Scar's lumen puffing up slightly to look bigger. Your little defender. "Yeah, it is."

///Scar///

He didn't mind the kids, he really didn't. But did they always have to come running in at the break of dawn to jump on him and ask him to play?

After he left your door, he went to his bed and replayed how you had said his name over and over. That airy moan, the few pants. It had his body burning. He had to leave that door before he busted it down.

Now he was worried that you were leaving but instead of pacing a hole in his floor, he punched his enforcer dummy outside where they practiced their skills.

Your lumen stayed in his collar, the light simmering still and every now and then he'd feel a kiss. You were an affectionate little thing.

"Hey."

He turned and saw Ekko, watching him. He nodded, going back to vigorously beating the shit out of the dummy. What he wouldn't do to punch a real enforcer.

"So I just talked to y/n."

He stopped and dropped his fists. You were leaving, weren't you? Would you even let him say goodbye? Would you let him write you?

"Looks like you'll need a bigger hut. Y/N decided to stay."

Scar spun on his heels and sent a glare at Ekko. Sweet Janna, he was gonna throat punch Ekko. He could have led with that.

Ekko chuckled and waved as he turned. "Come on. Y/N wants to talk to you."

This was it. Finally. Many emotions filled him as he followed Ekko towards the mural, wondering what you would say. Your lumen floated ahead and met his halfway, the two circling each other. Yours was much smaller than his, but his was not even half as bright as yours. His little firelight.

Your back was to them as they approached, your head tilted back as you looked up at the faces on the mural. Did you know any of them?

"I'll leave you two alone. Come find me when you're done. We'll flesh some things out." Ekko patted Scar's shoulder. "Good luck, man." He whispered before walking off, taking some of the kids who were watching with him.

Fuck, he needed it.

Taking a deep breath, he walked forward, watching your back as he did. The lumens kept dancing around one another, occasionally bumping into each other playfully.

Well, here goes nothing. "Hey."

///You///

The tree was remarkable, and you fell in love with the Firelight base as soon as Ekko led you out of the dark little room. It was like a little piece of heaven to you.

The first place Ekko took you to was the mural, showing you what this place had cost. A couple of the faces you swore you had seen before, but no one you knew personally. All the little handprints on the bottom from the kids ripped your heart open. It reminded you of your own childhood as well.

"I...I wanna talk to him." You turned towards Ekko. "We've barely even looked at each other since I got here." You got off while thinking about him last night, lumen skimming your skin and pressing against you- he was doing the exact same thing. He wanted you. You just needed to hear it for yourself.

Ekko inhaled and looked up at the mural. "Before I go get him, I'm gonna say this as his friend: don't hurt him. He's a good guy and he works hard to help keep this place safe. Please, be good to him."

That was sweet, that Scar had people who were willing to protect him. It made you a little jealous, but maybe in time, the others would warm up to you. "I will."

The wait was hard, because you had a million questions and worries. Thoughts raced around in your mind and your heart pounded and you found yourself studying the faces on the mural to distract yourself. What were their names and stories? The little girl with the blue hair looked a lot like the Jinx girl who shot at you when you ran for someone on the other side a while back.

"Hey."

Was that his voice? It awoke something in your chest. When you turned you saw Scar standing there, fists closing and opening, giving away his nervousness.

"Hi." You rubbed your arm and let out a deep breath. What did you do? What was the protocol on this kind of thing? "Look, I'm sorry for yesterday-"

He held up his hand to stop you and came a bit closer shaking his head slowly. You didn't expect him to say much since chireans didn't really talk. "Still, it was a shitty way to meet you." You shrugged. He smiled and it sounded like he was chuckling. He had a really deep voice...

He nodded and looked behind you at the mural before looking down at you. "You're staying?"

He was really talking to you? You gave him a shy smile as you shrugged your shoulders, taking a few steps forward. "Yeah, I am."

His eyes lit up and his lips spread in a smile. You could feel your heart melting. This man was really made for you, meant to be with you for life. "Good."

The lumens flashed brightly and nuzzled one another again and you laughed gently. It was a sweet moment. Taking a step forward you wrapped your arms around his middle and rested your head on his chest. Something in you seemed to say finally as you did and all the tension left your body.

He didn't wrap his arms around you immediately and it was probably you surprised him, but when you felt his arms slipped around your shoulders and his hand rested on your back, a sigh left your lips. You weren't alone anymore. You had him.

Home.

#arcane netflix #arcane #arcane league of legends #arcane lumen #arcane scar #arcane ekko #arcane firelights #bat guy arcane #arcane chirean #arcane x reader #arcane scar x reader #scar x reader #lumen au

[deadpresidents]

Saw your photo post of Pope Benedict XVI and wanted to know if you know any books about him to share?

You know, I've always had at least a passing interest in Papal history, but what really got me fascinated in the history of the institution and its leaders and traditions was when Pope John Paul II died in 2005. I couldn't stop watching coverage of his funeral and, especially, the Conclave because neither of those things had ever happened in my lifetime. I'm not even Catholic -- or religious! -- but there I was hooked by the combination of majesty and mystery with the whole deal.

Then-Cardinal Ratzinger was the leading figure of the funeral ceremonies for John Paul II prior to that Conclave and he went into the Conclave as the leading candidate among the Papabile, so it was not surprise when he was quickly elected and became Pope Benedict XVI. Because of all that, I ended up with a lot of books about Pope Benedict (long since surpassed by the library of Pope Francis books I now have), and even quite a few books written by Benedict XVI. Unless you're really into learning about his theological philosophy, I'd skip most of the books that Ratzinger/Benedict wrote. The exception would probably be Pope Benedict XVI's encyclicals: God Is Love (Deus Caritas Est), Saved In Hope (Spe Salvi), and Charity In Truth (Caritas in Veritate), which I do find interesting. Plus, the Ignatius Press of San Francisco publishes each of the encyclicals in gorgeous little volumes that are nice to collect. Benedict was also working on another encyclical when he resigned in 2013 -- The Light of Faith (Lumen Fidei) -- which was completed and released by Pope Francis, but credited as the work of "four hands" and considered the only encyclical co-written by two Popes.

However, when it comes to the Popes, I've always been more interested in the biographical than ecclesiastical, and there is no shortage of great biographies about Benedict XVI. Elio Guerriero's 2018 biography, Benedict XVI: His Life and Thought (BOOK | KINDLE) is excellent. But the very best books about Pope Benedict are those written by Peter Seewald, who basically ended up as Benedict's official biographer and had incredible access to the German Pope. Seewald's 2008 book, Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait, is a solid starting place and takes you about halfway through his pontificate. Benedict XVI: Last Testament: In His Own Words (BOOK | KINDLE) from 2017 is basically a book-length interview of Benedict by Seewald. But the definitive work about Ratzinger is the two-volume biography Seewald recently published -- Benedict XVI: A Life, Volume I: Youth in Nazi Germany to the Second Vatican Council, 1927-1965 (BOOK | KINDLE), published in 2020, and Benedict XVI: A Life, Volume II: Professor and Prefect to Pope and Pope Emeritus, 1966-the Present (BOOK | KINDLE), which was published in 2021.

Two other titles are worth mentioning just because they are written from unique points of view. My Brother, the Pope (BOOK | KINDLE) was written by Benedict XVI's older brother, Georg Ratzinger, who was also a Catholic priest and died in 2020 at the age of 96. And John Paul II: My Beloved Predecessor is obviously not necessarily a book about Benedict, but it was written by him and provides an interesting glimpse of the relationship between then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Pope John Paul II. Oh...and I'd also suggest Anthony McCarten's The Two Popes: Francis, Benedict, and the Decision That Shook the World (BOOK | KINDLE), which was originally published as The Pope, and used as the basis for a great little movie starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, as Benedict XVI and Francis respectively.

It might seem like I mentioned every book about Benedict XVI, but I promise I narrowed it down to the best ones in my library. If you're just looking for a good, comprehensive biography, go with any of the books by Seewald.

#Pope Benedict XVI #Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI #Benedict XVI #Papacy #Popes #Papal History #Books about Popes #Death of Pope Benedict XVI #Funeral of Pope Benedict XVI #History #Catholic Church #Religion #Religious History #Religious Leaders #Peter Seewald #Biographies #Elio Guerriero #Anthony McCarten #Papal Encyclicals

[dark9896]

Magic Fight [Blurb Cannon]

This fun little blurb cannon was requested by anonymous ✨️

Of course you would be trying to relax when a Lumen Sage came along. You couldn't get out of the fight that ensued, and your lover got caught in the crosshairs.

.

Klaus

This was bad. Not only had the Sage attacked you at random, but he was more tasked with keeping the innocent people from getting injured. While Klaus could accomplish this easily, he was stopped suddenly by an enormous demon erupting from the ground. Though it was mirrored by an equal sized... angel? Was that how those looked?

Klaus was desperately hoping that your demon beast would remain focused on your opponent and not turn against you this time. As much as Klaus wanted to help, the speed at which you two were moving was simply too much for him to keep up with. And you had long since warned him against getting too close to the rampaging demons you tended to summon.

If Klaus had known how "on sight" your fights with Lumen Sages would be, he would have tried to divert your attention. And block you from sight... if that would even work.

.

Steven

It was taking all of Steven's self control to not freeze everything in sight. The problem, well there were simply too many bystanders that would get hurt. Until they moved, Steven would just have to try and wall off the area where the fight was taking place.

Seeing that same demon beast however, Steven had to stop himself from attacking your summon. But he immediately saw why you felt the need to summon a demon at all. There was a similarly nasty looking summon staring it down. Though, was it suppose to be an angel? The color scheme suggested that much. The weird ribbons and wings at odd angles, not to mention the multitude of eyes all over its body.

Steven either needed something strong, or he hasn't had enough coffee yet. That was plain bizarre. Sure, he'd seen plenty of accurately depicted angels, in pictures. But seeing one in person, and knowing it was attacking a demon wielding person who was actively fighting on the right side... Steven really needed something to drink. Didn't matter if it was alcohol or coffee, something for his nerves before all hell broke loose would be nice.

.

Leo

Leo really wished you wouldn't fight in the middle of the street like this. Sure, the other guy started it, but he really couldn't do much to help the people around you two. And it wasn't like you could enter that... uh, wherever it was you went. The ethereal state where you didn't affect the real world as much, not within the mist of Hellsalem's Lot anyways.

Leo really didn't like watching you summon like this. And so soon after what happened with your soul. Though, what made it worse was how you didn't have a choice. There was a... a... angel? Leo couldn't be sure. It might just be a "holy" demon. Since the only real difference was the colors and summoners of both beasts.

Leo's silver knife wasn't going to be enough this time. There was no way he was going to be able to get close enough to do anything to those monsters. Especially with them fighting like that. If you got closer he could at least try to get a hit or two on the Sage. They would likely not expect him to do much. Though Leo could always shuffle their vision.... if he knew where to aim his ability under that mask. Where they human or...?

.

Zapp

Another pompous &sshole picking a fight. Though this chump seemed like a real stick in the mud religious type. Man those b&st&rds really pissed Zapp off. At least you, his sexy, bad&ss Umbra Witch, was more than capable of going toe to toe with them. While he couldn't really keep up the way he wanted to, Zapp was able to get a hit off every so often. Not like it really worked that well against the Sage. Zapp was holding back though, he didn't want to hurt you after all.

But of course it would come to summons, the magic d!ck measuring contest if there ever was one. Zapp absolutely hated seeing that demon beast of yours again, after what happened, but if it was the only way to keep from that 'holier than thou' jack&ss from winning, and killing you again, then Zapp would hold off on trying to attack it. And that thing it was facing down wasn't exactly a golden retriever.

Zapp couldn't tell what it was your demon was facing off against, but at least your demon seemed to be winning. Were there even such things as holy demons? Or were they called angels? Since that guy was a Sage... Zapp couldn't really care less about it. As long as he didn't get stepped on and you didn't get hurt too badly.

.

Zed

This was bad, Zed couldn't have guessed there were more types of magic users. First the casters and sorcerers, then literal witches, now sages as well? And those were just the magic users that didn't use channeling devises. Though at least you seemed to be an even match, after what your soul just went through. Zed had been worried about your magic waning a bit.

His worries only increased when you both summoned demons. If that was even what the Sage's summon was called. If Zed remembered correctly, you called them angels. Yet he didn't realize that there was anyone that could summon a literal angel. Then again, if everything you said about your being an Umbra Witch was true, then you were technically suppose to be the 'evil' side. At least if this person had their way about history.

Zed really didn't like the idea of you being considered evil in any capacity. He knew you were a good person. And the most he could do to really help you was attempt to use his blood threads to pin the beasts down. His wind would easily knock both of you off course, and Zed didn't want to risk you getting hurt. Or do any more damage than necessary considering how many innocent people were crowding around the obviously dangerous area!!

#bbb #kekkai sensen #kkss #blood blockade battlefront #klaus von reinherz #steven starphase #zed o'brien #zapp renfro #leonardo watch #ask

[nyotasaimiri]

Arc Two (redux) 57

(Okay I’m biased but I absolutely love this scene)

Hadley whirled around—didn’t need the radar. Fear shot her sideways just moments before a missile crashed into the rock where she had been, sending shrapnel higher than the gate. A small sting in her arm—no time to think about that. She turned and ran as her enemy took aim again.

“Get to your mech!” Nyota repeated, fear snapping her words into almost a bark. “You don’t stand a chance against that thing outside it.”

“In a minute!” Hadley snapped back. Still had some clarity. Some time. “What is that thing?”

Fingers on keyboard sounded like gunfire through the mic. “It’s some kind of drone. Automated. We aren’t detecting any communications to it.”

“Great, great.” No one to aim at her little beacon, then. Hadley rolled behind the gate to avoid one more shot and drove the beacon into the loose ground where the first shot had knocked the tiles free. Then she took off again before the drone’s sensors could figure out she’d done anything.

*

Nyota’s breath hissed between her teeth as she realized what Hadley had done. Hadley must have heard her, because she could almost hear the cocky smile in the ex-bandit’s voice as she said, “I had a job to do, right, Captain? Can’t leave it half done.”

The pneumatic hiss of the mech closing cut off any attempt at a reply. Nyota grinned and shook her head, then strode toward the teleporter. “Lumen, you’re in charge.”

“Captain, what are ya doin’?” His voice went sharp as glass as she grabbed her environmental protection unit off the rack.

“Hadley gave us an opening,” Nyota said. The teleporter chimed as it registered the new beacon. “I intend to use it.”

“Without a mech?” He started to follow, flaring bright with fear and worry. “All due respect an’ all, Captain, but that’s above yer bend! Ya ain’t got a—”

“Lumen.”

He stopped as she turned her eyes on him.

“She did her job.” Nyota closed her hand around her staff. “I’m going to go do mine.”

*

It was fast, Hadley would give it that. And tough. Her shot didn’t do much more than glance off the drone’s hard armored body. Felt like the damn thing was leering at her as she barely twisted out of the way of another blast. Its ‘face’ was some kind of monitor with a winking smile emoji plastered across it. She really hated that one. Her second brother used it way too much.

“Maybe if I imagine it’s Teo…” she muttered. Hm, nope. He could be just as robotic as this thing, but she didn’t hate him quite that much.

Force slammed her mech and spun stars over her sight. Hadley coughed and swore. “Really hate this thing.” A warning light was blinking at her. She wasn’t sure which one. She fired anyway and grinned a little bit as a few hairline cracks split the smiling monitor. The grin tasted like blood. That was fine. She’d lived through worse. She dodged the next shot and shoved the mech high out of reach as the drone tried to ram her.

“That’s right. Come and get some, you bastard.”

*

The nausea faded fast, and Nyota spent her first breath silently thanking luck for being beside her for once. Her second went to taking stock of the moment. She saw Hadley spin out of the way as the drone charged, missed by a hair, sparks trailing from her damaged mech. The drone was damaged too, but not by much.

You risk your life for her. Nyota hissed softly, fierce fanged grin aimed at herself as the thought caught up. She could not deny it. Alone, unarmored, protected by nothing but her speed and wits against something that could smash through that heavy mech.  

Nyota shook her head, argued against the doubt. She is useful. Reckless, insubordinate, so prone to defiance, so quick to rise against Nyota’s authority. She is clever. She fights well. She fought against us.

That flash of orange, the fear in such young eyes.

Enough. She banished the thoughts and tracked the movements of the two machines. I am not the Agent anymore. In the back of her mind, she held the promise Geo had made—“We can kill her together, bury her properly, and live.”

“Yes,” Nyota murmured aloud, too focused on the fight to be aware that she had spoken. Her hand tightened on the staff again and red light danced between the crystals at its tip. “It is a good day to live.”

Hadley pulled off another daring stunt and brought the drone between herself and Nyota. Nyota heard the sudden startled laugh from the girl as she caught sight of her Captain standing there on the barren rock. A smile tickled her lips. She felt—imagined—the Agent smiled back. Of course. She reminds me of myself.

Nyota Saimiri raised her hand.

#arc two #repost

[ati-kun]

Procrastinating with being productive

I just realized, even If I don’t have the time/energy to write full posts on my “real” blog, I could totally make a short post here! So today I did it again. :D You know that process, when you have something important to do, or something looming over you, you really don’t want to tackle it, but you also don’t want to be unproductive and just ignore everything and everyone and play games/watch shows for the day? So what do you do? Postpone the thing with doing a million others! :D  I am kinda struggling with work nowadays, because they can’t give me enough hours to work, because they’ve hired too many people (bad management), so I thought I’m going to supplement it by doing some deliveroo/uber eats driving, which I like, I tried it out in the past too, and it’s not bad money to be honest.  I was supposed to ride today, but I was really not in the mood, so I was like “let’s still do some stuff” The things I’ve done today instead: - I applied to about 7 new jobs, hopefully I get some responses soon! - I put my road racer up for sale on facebook market - Rode to ESSO in hopes of washing my bike and put some air pressure in my bike tyres - Friggin pressure washer was closed of course, so I managed to pump my tyres, and rinsed my bike as much as I could with the dinky water hose that is on this air/water thingy - It worked okay - Went to B&Q to get: Zipties, WD40, and some hose (I have the stupid separate taps in my flat so I wanted to connect them and cut a hole in the middle instead of having a cut plastic bottle on it now XD), and some metal binds to fix the hose on my sink - I found two of these, and I’ve found a good LED lightbulb that is in my main light now in my room, it’s 1580 lumens so it’s nice and bright! - I found a KFC right outside so I had a 4 piece boneless meal with a Latte and it was super nice! Also super expensive, prices are going up! x_x It was like 7 pounds something, it used to be 5 :( - Found a huuge TESCO extra, went in to get some MILK and BREAD, and some chocolate bars (I got snickers and twix OwO) - In addition of finding these I found a nice thick single duvet that was 13.5 tog, (which should be really warm) only 11 quid, and 100% polyester! Which I learned through my camping trips, is very warm!  I also managed to do the canadian jam knot for the first time from memory! So I had no extra bungee cord to fix the duvet on my pannier, but I always carry a piece of paracord in my bag for emergencies, and I tried doing this knot I saw a million times from Joe Robinet in his bushcraft videos, and I managed to do it from memory! I was so happy! :D And it’s a great knot because you can just pull on the cord and it becomes tighter and tighter but does not release at all! When you’re done it’s easy to undo though, so it’s very good. ^^ - I came home and sprayed my bike with the WD40 - I sorted out my drawer with all my paperwork - I also found there all my “gaming sticky notes” which were on my wall behind my computer in the previous flat - I decided to glue these in my notebook to keep them as a memory, and they will also come in handy if I play these games again! :) Subnautica, Warframe, Graveyard keeper, and Destiny! - Removed the tatami mats from under my pull up bar, because they were too soft so the pull up bar was moving a lot, now it’s much better!  - Made dinner and ate it! ^^ So even though I haven’t gone to do deliveroo, I still managed to do a lot!  Didn’t earn money though, just spent some though. x_x Well shit! :D

#personal #blog #I should do this more often #I mean writing these

[aeide-thea]

guys i'm pretty sure i've forfeited the right to think anything but deeply grateful thoughts about G— ever again

i have been in SUCH an anxietyknot about this seneca paper, you don't even know, it got very badparalysisland

and today was exam day and i went off with an ache in my gut knowing i had neither prepared enough nor slept enough, plus i was theoretically supposed to finish this paper by the end of the day, when i was presumably going to have post-exam sludge brain…

and then it turned out the quote IDs weren't totally brutal after all, even though i hadn't reviewed worth a damn; and of the passages in the explication section, not just one but two of them were ones i was thoroughly familiar with and comfortable writing about; and then one of the long essay questions was stuff i'd been thinking about for my paper; and i ~managed my time~ with such success that not only did i finish all sections of the test creditably (which i very much did not do on the midterm), i actually had time to go back and read the whole thing through and make a slightly better job of the one quote ID i'd fumbled?

anyway i always have belated Doubts about whether what i had to say was sophisticated enough but i did have one line of argument i was pleased with about, like, clytemnestra being bad at assigned gender roles/relating to people, in the sense that like, when agamemnon leaves she's supposed to, like, 'keep a chaste bed as a wife and hold her widow's scepter in unsullied trust' (pudicos coniugis quondam toros / et sceptra casta vidua tutari fide), which whole notion of course she, you know, crumples up and sets on fire with the whole aegisthus thing; and then she brings up femininity but only in conjunction with deceit (femineos dolos), which like, you'd think was going to be makeup or something but in context turns out to be, uh, murder, since she cites medea (ardens impia virgo face, / Phasiaca fugiens regna Thessalica trabe), which is obviously a very, um, ideolectic understanding of femininity! and so the passage as a whole ends up being (among a whole lot of other things) a sort of loose recasting of maiden/mother/crone, substituting wife for mother both because clytemnestra has barely any maternal/familial instinct (she really shies away from using possessive pronouns for family members, which, like, i don't want to over-read, latin can be elliptical without meaning anything by it necessarily, but helen isn't soror mea but just unadorned soror, and then later she asks electra 'ubi sit natus, ubi frater tuus,' and of course you can supply the possessive from the parallel but still, i think i agree with G— that it's no coincidence natus is the connection that goes unclaimed) and because of course her daughter has been killed, though even that she doesn't seem quite to have the proper feelings about, insofar as the whole line of argument is that it 'shames and grieves her [in that order, not to mention that some texts have not dolet but piget, so like, 'irks' or 'displeases' rather than 'grieves'] that she, a tyndarid, of divine stock, was reduced to calving a lustral sacrifice for the doric fleet!' i mean the 'was reduced to' is me editorializing but like. that's the sense i get. so anyway, that was a fun line of argument to follow out and i had a good time with it. also i love clytemnestra and her proud unsympathetic unwomanly steeliness!! we stan one (1) gnc murderbot.

but so afterwards i go up to G— and i'm like, so uh, about this paper... which, you know, i do give myself credit for doing, because even though i should've come to him a week ago it's frankly Harder to angle for an extension when you're doing it inexcusably late, because you know it's inexcusable and so you have to climb over all the shame about that in addition to everything else... but anyway he made some extremely nonjudgmental inquiries abt where i was with the thing and finally was like, okay, look, i'm going to asia for two weeks, how about you have it done by the time i get back?

so, in conclusion this paper is now due june 1st, i was angling for like, a day or two at most so this is absurdly luxurious?? and as i said initially i'm pretty sure i've now forfeited the right to ever say anything but good things abt G—, because i was so stressed about this this morning/all of last week and now it's just like, the whole knot's been undone, i get to take the evening off and have a lounge and read a detective novel and start again tomorrow in a calm thoughtful way and i'm just. really lucky and desperately grateful. wishing all of you even half as much luck with salvaging yrselves & being salvaged, in whatever proportion you need. <3

#i mean also the punchline is just 'these people really don't want to fail u‚ they would much rather take a late paper than... #...brutally downgrade u for lack of one bc that just isn't fun for anyone!' which really i kind of knew already #but i just. even knowing that‚ this was very much a grace unlooked-for #anyway i have an absurd amt of time now & i feel not embarrassed abt how this exam went & i just. #this is not how i saw today going when i woke up this morning #and like‚ i saved myself from one Looming Doom & was saved from another‚ & honestly? that's a balance of earned & unearned i can live with #journaling #videbimus lumen #ktema terpnon #(...also for the record i am being—hopefully obviously—slightly facetious in characterizing C as 'gnc murderbot'?) #(if anyone needs me to elaborate on what i do & don't mean by that i can) #anyway it's floptiem thank u for ur attention 2 these obviously critical matters

[heshoes]

Uni Daze

She was his best friend and they shared everything together already anyway. What difference would it make if it were a hat, shampoo, or the same bed sometimes? So what? That's what the Uni Daze were about, having fun, traditions, getting serious, new relationships, friendships, heart ache, break-ups, make ups, secrets, the occasional/casual bajingo here and there, and possibly, just maybe, finding the love of your life and hoping that it all works out.

Warnings: Slow burn, smut, angst, mentions of abortion, mentions of verbal abuse

Pairing: Harry Styles x OFC ( face claim Zendaya)

Uni Daze Masterlist

Chapter 4 (word count 11.2k)

Harry

Usually a busy day keeps me grounded and out of any possible trouble that Michelle could help get me into, but today was different. It seems like whenever there was something toolook forward to, the day seems to drag and the minute and second hands on the clock move at a non existent pace. Any other day I would almost dread going to work the front desk in the first year halls though I know it had to be done. Today, however, I looked at it as four hours that I could use to talk to Rion.

There was a two hour gap in my time frame today due to a professor sending out a bullshit email telling us the reasons as to why his class was cancelled. He was one of the youngest professors at the university with a track record of hanging out with his student's. But what he did behind the closed doors with Lumen, the girl who lived down the hall from Michelle and I was none of my business.

After I'd taken the spare time to shower, change clothes, and read a chapter and a half ahead in my anatomy text I found myself antsy and ready to go to work, much to Michelle's amusement.

"Just sit down. You have twenty minutes left yet. Did you not have some kind of I'm an important person meeting that you could have went to? Or any equations that you could crack in hopes to surpass both Galileo and Einstein combined? Over achiever."

"Michelle, your grade mark average has been higher than mine since birth and I'm older than you."

“True. But I just don't put as much effort into it as you do."

"That's what makes it all the more annoying. No, I don't have any meetings lined up for senior class. You could be a part of it you know. All you have to do is come to a meeting."

"I'll pass on that. Thanks."

"It looks good on job applications."

"And so does First Class Honors at an Ivy League Uni." Michelle spoke, paying little attention to me as she smiled down at her phone. Ten minutes had passed before I stood from the couch, drawing Michelle's attention again. She smirked at me while shaking her head.

"I'm gonna walk. It's a nice night out, plus if I work a little earlier I get paid more and that doesn't hurt."

"No, I'm sure it doesn't. Especially if you're not really in it for the money in the first place, Hershey. Ask her out today, yeah?"

"I just enjoy talking to her. I don't want to ask her out. It's too soon. It's cliche."

"Says the man who was turned down once and then gave up completely. You don't have to date her Harrow, but stop lying to yourself. It gets you nowhere fast. Ask her to the party."

****

The walk to the first year halls was quicker than I expected. I wasn't sure if it was due to the distraction of the scenery change or my pace, but a fifteen minute stroll was cut down to one that only took ten. When I walked into the double doors I saw her again, seated at the front desk with her eyes focused on the pages of her book taking in each word with a lazy grin on her face.

“Hi Rion. How are you?" I asked somewhat loud, causing her to jump. "Sorry didn't mean to scare you."

“No, it’s fine. I didn't see you walking up. I should pay better attention sitting here. Sometimes I just get so engrossed in the words that I forget what's going on around me. How are you this evening?"

I grinned at her before running a hand through my hair and taking the hair tie that I'd stolen from Michelle off of my wrist before pulling it halfway up.

"I'm alright, but I think I asked you a question first.” Rion looked down at her half way finished novel that she had barely scratched the surface of on Monday and then smiled up at me as I made my way around the desk, taking the seat next to hers.

"I'm doing quite well actually. I have no real complaints." Her face dropped.

"That face that you're making is telling me that the last thing that you said was a lie. Clearly."

"Well..."

"Go on. Say it." I grinned while pushing my chair back and resting my feet on the shelf of the desk in front of us.

"My flatmate."

"Yeah?"

"She had company last night.” Rion's voice lowered to a whisper and her cheeks twinged the lightest shade of pink.

"And?"

"And they were very...loud. I didn't get much sleep and every time I had time between classes and I went back to my dorm to take a nap I would always oversleep. I could swear I was late to almost every class today, but my professors were kind of understanding. They all cut me a break because I'm new." Rion rested her head in her hands before she began to shake it back and forth. "I mean I don't want to be that girl who switches dorm flats because their flatmate makes them uncomfortable. She's a really nice girl you know?"

"Uh-huh." I chuckled. I didn't mean to laugh at her misfortune and bad day, but she looked so distressed while explaining it all. No wonder she was rushing about today.

"But I can't risk being late to class, or miss classes because her and her girlfriend insist on having loud goes at each other. My parents had to pay so much for tuition here and I'm working at least three jobs to pay the loans I've taken out myself."

"Yeah that's-Wait what did you say?"

"I said I'm working three jobs to pay off loans and my parents for school and-"

"Wait, no. Sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off, but what did you say before that?"

"My flatmate and her girlfriend have loud goes at each other."

"Your flatmate is a girl?"

"Yes." Rion tilted her head, looking at me as if I'd lost it. When you live on campus, the dorms are usually co-ed, but the actual rooms aren't.

"And you said she had a girlfriend?" It wouldn't be her. It can't be.

"Yes she's a les-"

"Lesbian."

"Yeah. And it's not that, that makes me uncomfortable. I believe love is love no matter who you find it with. It's just that they were so loud and I think sex is a very private and sacred thing… And I mean it was so disrespectful because Alison knows that I have to be up so early for my first class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but she was— they were both...and then there was this buzzing sound. I think toys were involved."

I laughed out loud. I couldn't help it. The mix of the story, the situation, and the toys made it too good to be true. Rion pouted, but I could still see a trace of a smile on her lips.

“Sorry. It's not funny. You were just making a funny face. Did you say your flatmate's name was Alison?"

"Yeah. Do you know her?"

"No." It's really not a lie. I don't know her.

"Oh. She's a really sweet girl, but I need sleep."

"You do. Three jobs is a lot to juggle. It makes me feel like I'm not doing enough."

"You do though. You work, you have more classes than I do, and you're president of senior class. We both are tackling a lot…But, I can't help but feel like something is missing from the equation for the both of us. I just can't quite put my finger on it."

“Yeah, me either. Do you know Alison's girlfriend. Have you seen her?" I don't know why I'm hoping that there's a chance that this Alison is playing the same game that Michelle is or that it's a completely different girl.

"No. I'm sure that she said it at some point last night, but I put my earphones in to try and muffle the sound as much as possible." Rion sighed as she turned around to face the desk again, looking back down at her book.

"It kind of sounds like you need an escape." I say, hoping that she would turn back around to face me.

“It's only the start of the year. Usually I'd be fine, but I'm already tired. Cambridge comes with a price, but I'm more than willing to pay it. A get away sounds good."

"Well, there's this party on Saturday that practically the whole school contributes in. I've even seen some professors there, the younger ones at least."

"Really? At a school like this?"

"Rion, Cambridge may seem mysterious, with all of its prestige, low acceptance rates, and student's who attend with big brains, but it’s a university first. Parties exist here and because we're not supposed to be considered a school known for parties, they exist a little bit more than your regular university. We just keep it a secret. You should come."

"I'm not really that much of a partier. The last one I went to was after I finished all of my GCSE. I was talking to this boy that I liked and I'd never really drank that much, but I was with my friends and peer pressure and all... It just didn't end well."

"Let me guess. You threw up on him?"

"No... I— I can't! I can't tell you it was so embarrassing!" Rion laughed covering her mouth before she stood up to help a first year out. I swear its only Wednesday and more than a fourth of the first years who live in this building have already lost their keys. I'm sure that after the party on Saturday and the excessive drinking that's going to take place there's going to be a line outside the door for key replacements.

Chelle: I'm so bored so I'm gonna clean the apartment. Starting in the living space, then your room, then mine. Anything that might stick to my fingers if I touch it this time? 😜😷

To Chelle: Don't clean my room! It's already clean! And please don't tell me you touched anything in my bin?😨😳

Chelle: I haven't, but I assume the worst. And I may or may not have changed your name in my phone to Mr. Tissue. I will never let you live that down.

To Chelle: Call one of your bitches and leave my shit alone, pimp daddy. I'm buying a lock for my door.🔒

Chelle: 😼Bitches? What good will a lock do when I'll have the spare? 🔐👀

To Chelle: We'll discuss this when I get home. I’m Busy.  🗣DO NOT TOUCH MY SHIT!

"You alright?" Rion asked pulling me out of my text war with Mitchell.

"Oh, yeah. Just texting my flat mate."

"Mitch, right?"

"Yeah," I snickered, shaking my head while thinking about the well being of my things, "So are you going to tell me what happened when you were at this party years and years ago talking to the boy you liked?"

"Ugh, no I can't. I absolutely can't embarrass myself that much again. It would be like reliving it."

"I'll tell you one of mine. My most embarrassing, but you've got to tell me yours first.” Rion hid her head in her hands peeking out at me between her fingers and laughing.

"Fine. But please don't judge me. It was my first time being drunk. Promise?"

"I promise that I might not be able to not laugh and I won't judge you but tease you for it later."Rion squinted her eyes at me processing what I said before she turned around facing away from me in her swivel chair. I heard her take a deep breath before she started.

"I'd never been drunk before and we were at this party because everyone finished their GCSE. We weren't really old enough to drink-"

"No shit?"

"Don't interrupt," she laughed dragging out the words, "All of the toilets were taken in the house so I was waiting outside of this one when Flynn came up to talk to me-"

I laughed out loud for the third time today and the story wasn't even over. "His name was Flynn?"

"Yes. He was very cute! Let me finish!"

"Okay, soz."

"So we were talking and I was really drunk and I really had to go and....I peed! Don't laugh! You said you wouldn't judge me!” Laughing was an understatement. My stomach hurt and my eyes started to water.

"You pissed yourself?!"

"I didn't talk to anyone for a week, even my best friend for letting me get that drunk."

"Why didn't you go wee outside?"

"Well it's so easy for boys to do that isn't it? You can just whip it out, shake it off, and put it away. Girls have layers that they have to get through, and I'm a lady."

"A lady who wet herself."

"And what's your story?"

"And it appears that we're out of time."

"Oh no you don't!" She laughed wiping the corner of her eye and pouting, "You promised!"

"Alright I guess. I was out with one of my friends and his parents had just gotten divorced so he was living with his mum at the time. We'd went to a bar and I'd gotten so drunk that I forgot where I was-"

"That's it?"

"No, I wish it was but no. We went back to his place because my mum doesn't like me drinking and I didn't want to hear her nag. But when I got back to his place, I started stripping off."

"You didn't!"

"I did. I took off everything.... Everything. My friends mum was at work at the time but when she came home the next morning I was ass naked in her hallway sleeping on the floor...on my back...and it was morning...My friend had went in his room and closed the door. But, now every time I come home to visit him and his mum is there she winks at me and pinches my bum."

Rion was in tears the same way that I was a few minutes ago and I didn't even care that the story was embarrassing, because her laugh was as cute as she was. I looked at my phone to check the time and our shift would be over in five minutes. Any other day time would have dragged on, but it always seems when I'm here with her it goes by a little faster.

"I can't believe that." Rion spoke while wiping her eyes again.

"Well believe it, because it happens every time. Makes for a good story though." We both started to gather our things to leave but before we left the building, Rion tore a sheet of paper from her notebook and began to write on it.

"Here. Um, that's my number. I don't know about the party just yet because I have to check my work schedules and everything else, but I don't know. Just text me sometime before then?"

"Sure. I mean yeah of course I will.”

Rion grinned at me while biting her bottom lip before walking away and the walk home that usually took fifteen minutes now felt as if it only took five.

****

I closed the door behind me with an exhaled  breath and  a smile on my face before  inhaling the scent of pine and citrus. Michelle poked her head out into the hallway that led to the door where I stood before she stepped out of the kitchen fully wearing pink rubber gloves, a pair of my favorite Green Bay sweats, and a t-shirt that also happened to be mine.

“Honey, I'm home."

"Bitches?"

"Excuse me?" I looked at my best mate confused as she crossed her arms across her chest after removing the gloves from her hands,  tilting her head to the side as she spoke again.

"You said I have bitches, Styles. Apparently there's more to discuss."

I walked away from the door removing my work shirt and tossing it at Michelle. She tried to move out of the way and dodge the laundry that I'd threw at her but it still landed on her shoulder. She shrugged it off, causing it to land on the floor before shouting at me.

"I've just cleaned this entire apartment and you come in here making a mess! Pick it up and take it to you're room you quadruple nippled fuck."

"Girls don't mind my bonus nipples. It even sometimes becomes interesting foreplay, when I was having sex that is."

"Gross!"

I laugh and duck when she launches the shirt back to me causing it to land in in a pile on the kitchen floor. We both look at it and step over it before I grab two beers out of the refrigerator, one for myself and one for Chelle.When I try to hand her the beverage, she frowns at the twist off cap and then pouts at me causing me to scowl before I open it for her.

"You're so useless sometimes, Chelle."

"Says the man who doesn't clean, yet looks around at a spotless household that smells of cinnamon. I wonder who did that? Ah, it must have been the useless one. Now," Michelle spoke before clicking the neck of her beer with mine and then taking a sip, "What's this about my bitches?"

I chuckled as I took a gulp of my drink and headed for the living-room with Michelle close behind. We sat on the couch on on opposite ends of each other, relaxing after a long day as we usually do.

"Maybe not bitches in the plural sense. Maybe there's just one?"

Michelle stretched out on the couch putting her mitch-matched sock clad feet on my lap, drawing a displeased look from me but ignoring it entirely as she dramatically massaged her temples with her free hand.

"I can't deal with your game of clue today. The chemicals from the cleaning made my brain go fuzzy and I don't think the beer is helping. Just tell me what you think you know so I can tell you that you're wrong as usual."

I smiled at her, placing my half finished beer bottle on the table in front of us and then began massaging her calves causing her to close her eyes and hum in appreciation before taking another swig of her drink.

"Alison."

Michelle opened one of her eyes before quickly closing it again.

"What about her?"

"Was she a part of your plans B and C last night? Because something or someone tells me that she may have been." Michelle's eyes snapped open and she looked at me in shock. "It's okay if you like her. You can't help who you like."

"I don't like anyone," Michelle looked down briefly at her lap as she shrugged off my discovery. If I've learned anything about her from being her friend its that when she fails to make eye contact, she's lying. "Gianna stood me up last night and Alison was my backup plan. It's simple. I got what I wanted and left in the morning before she even woke up."

"Okay," I smirked at her before picking up my beer again, finishing what was left of it.

"I'm serious. I don't like anyone. I don't feel anything for anyone anymore. Senior year, up the ante, remember? I barely like you."

"Alright," I chuckled before pushing her legs off of me, returning to the kitchen to grab another drink.

"Harry!"

"I believe you, I believe you. You you're an emotionless drone," I spoke as I opened the refrigerator, "We need to go to the grocery store. This is getting ridiculous. We don't have anything in here besides beer, fizzy drinks, and water."

"There are plenty of noodle cups in the cabinet. We'll just tell people we're on an all liquid diet if we ever get visitors. We're not done talking about the other thing. Stop changing the subject. How did you even know I was at Alison's last night?"

I closed the door to the refrigerator with a smirk on my face walking past Michelle to go back into the living room. She followed behind me while lighting a candle that smells like oranges to keep the citrus scent going.

"Well? Come on Har. I don't want to have to chase you around the apartment all day for answers."

"Make me a noodle cup and bring me a bottle of water and I'll tell you."

"You were just in the kitchen!" Michelle speaks as she throws her lighter at me but does what I ask.

When she gets back, she hands me a fork and places the bottle of water on the table in front of me. I smile at her as a thank you before I speak.

"Rion."

"What?"

"Small world right? Or, small campus? Rion, is Alison's flatmate and she kind of, she heard you two last night. I mean, unless that wasn't you and there's another girl named Alison on campus? She said you guys kept her up because you both were too loud."

"There very well could be another Alison, Harry. It's not like there are only four lesbians that exist on earth. But Rion? The girl that you work with? The one that you have the hots in the pants for, Rion?"

"Yes and I don't just like her that way."

"Hm. Of course you do, you've only known her for three days..."

"What, hm? What do you have to say about her?"

"Oh, nothing except Alison calls her prudence. She says she's a real goody good and she's annoying."

"Thats sad," I say as I finish all that I was going to of my noodles leaving the rest for Michelle to eat. She takes the cup from my hands and takes a bite while looking at me to finish what I was going to say, "Rion says Alison's really nice and sweet."

“Well, I don't know. Rion may very well be Princess Peach. You know I don't do girly gossip. It gets on my last nerve. Alison just feels the need to talk to me when I'm there and its like shut the fuck up, girl. I didn't come over here to hear you talk, now get between my legs and-"

"Woah! Okay, and Mitchel is back. How are ya bro? I haven't really seen you in a few days."

"Fuck off Harry." Michelle laughs. "I hear the sordid details of you and the lads sexcapades all the time...well not you so much now, but you know what I was getting at."

"Yeah but, it's kind of different..."

"How?" Chelle quirked an eyebrow and turned her head looking to me for an answer that I'm not sure that I wanted to give her.

"Well, because... I um... and it's just that sometimes-"

"Wait! Harry you pervert! You get turned on by it don't you? It gives you a stiffy?"

"No!"

"Yes! Yes it does! You're turning all red!"

“No it doesn’t, Michelle!"

"Then what's your valid reason?"

I couldn't think of a lie fast enough and Michelle started to laugh, nasty snort and all. I took a pillow from the couch and threw it at her, making her fall backwards on the floor and stay there, using the pillow to her advantage as she lied down on the throw rug that covered the majority of the hardwood flooring in the living room. Our apartment was pretty nice considering that it was still school property, then again we did luck out putting in our bid in order to get into the newer buildings.

"Okay Hersh, I'll keep my dirty details to a minimum for the sake of your tight trousers. I can only imagine that, that gets uncomfortable. Anyway, did you ask prudence- sorry, Rion, to the party this weekend?"

"I did." I smile as I think about the neatly folded piece of paper in my pocket with her number written across it.

"What did she say?" Michelle looks up at me from her place on the floor.

"She said that she's not really that much of a party person." I smiled again a bit harder than I had before.

"So she's not going and she turned you down again? Maybe she is a prude. Don't worry about it Harry, there are plenty of other girls out here on campus just as smart, if not smarter than she is, prettier, and who will appreciate you for- What are you smiling about? Why are you so giddy from being turned down twice?"

I chuckled to myself while shaking my head and standing from my place on the couch, stretching before going towards my room.

"I didn't necessarily get turned down."

I could hear Michelle's footsteps close behind me as I walked into my room. She'd been in here. I can tell not only because of the clothes that she wore to clean that were mine, but because I could still faintly smell her perfume. Nothing was on the floor anymore and she even made my bed. I looked around the room and then back at her before I sat, grabbing one of the neatly placed pillows to put under my head, then lied back on it with my legs hanging over the edge of the mattress.

"Before you say anything, you'll be able to find your things. I just put everything where it’s supposed to normally go."

"I wasn't going to say anything besides thank you. I'm still buying a lock for my door, but thank you."

Michelle rolled her eyes. Something she calls a brainless trait. When she catches herself she covers her face in embarrassment before she continues to bother me, taking a seat  next to me on the bed. "So how is Rion's telling you that she's not a party girl, not necessarily turning you down?"

"She gave me her number. You know, for someone who doesn't like to hang out with girls you surely do a lot of girly gossip. You're so nosey, Jesus."

"Oh please, Harrow. You wanted to tell me just as bad if not worse than I wanted to know. Are you going to call her tonight?"

“No. That's too forward and desperate. I'll text her tomorrow or something."

"You're such a teenaged girl. You think about things too much instead of just doing them. Sometimes I wonder if you have a bajingo where your penis should be. If she gave you her number its because she wants a call.”

"Go fuck off somewhere else Mitchel! And by the way, those joggers and that shirt are mine. Thief."

Michelle stood from the bed with a smirk on her face before she took off my shirt and my sweats, folding them precisely before she put them in my washing basket. I kept my eyes on her face when she looked back at me and I swear that I tried to keep my eyes on her face the entire time, but I would be lying if I said that my eyes didn't roam over her  smooth skin when she wasn't looking at me. I closed my eyes quickly and turned my head away. Hearing her laugh was the only evidence that I had to let me know that she was still standing in my room.

"I didn't say take off my clothes right now. God, Chelle don't be so literal. Go dress yourself!"

"I have on underwear! And you took off your shirt when you came through the door. AND I've seen you walk around in your boxers plenty. Is there some sort of double standard because I'm a woman?”

"That's not the point! And yes there is! Please go put on trousers and a shirt?"

“Whatever, Harry. I'm going to bed. Clearly I'll have to sleep this way because it's hot as hell fire in my room. It's a shame that this is a new building but they still didn't bother to make sure that the ventilation was right before they stuck people in it. Good night and all that."

"Night." I looked towards Chelle and then looked away again as she began to walk out of my room, her nicely rounded bum bounced as she closed the door behind her.

****

Saturday came quickly. Too quickly for my liking, and I hadn't text Rion or called her at all. I didn't want to seem desperate, but perhaps waiting three days made it seem like I wasn't interested? I hadn't seen her at work for the past two days because she has two other jobs to juggle. I'd hoped that she could get off for today, however, even though I haven't said a word to her.

"Just call her. Stop being a chicken shit. The party is tonight, and I'm rooting for you, Styles." Michelle spoke as we walked down the aisles of Sainsbury Supermarket. We'd been here for nearly half an hour and had nothing in our cart except beer, noodle cups, frozen pizza's and a bottle of Goldschläger for tonight. Broke college students can afford alcohol when they can't afford anything else.

"Are we going to buy any real food, or is this about as good as it gets?" I asked, ignoring Michelle's comment.

"What? We've got plenty. Plus I think there are chicken nuggets in there and that's a delicacy for us. Don't avoid what I've said to you."

"I haven't avoided anything, and we would be able to get more than chicken nuggets and noodles if you would just call your parents."

Michelle hesitated before she looked back at me and then back down at her list. She doesn't call her parents much to ask for money if she can avoid it. Her mum isn't doing so well health wise and to the best of my knowledge she hasn't been for some years now. The doctors thought that she had leukemia, but apparently they've only just discovered that's not the case. I think it's what drives Michelle's dream to become a doctor. She's eager to find out what's going on with her mum so that she can be the one to cure it.

She glanced at her phone having an internal battle with herself on whether she should ring home or not. I felt bad for asking her and I normally wouldn't, but I'm running low on funds myself. I usually get a stipend every other week from my mum and paid every other Friday from my shitty job, but unfortunately I'm between pay checks and for some reason my mum is late.

Michelle decided against my idea putting her phone back in her pocket.

"We're in our last year of uni. What would it look like if we resorted to calling our parents to wire us food money? You call yours if you're so hungry."

"It would look like we're both working shit jobs barely making wage and paying to rent out the apartment that we have so that we can finish out this last year with a roof over our heads. I wouldn't ask you to usually, but is an emergency. I asked my parents last time. It's your turn."

“Well, we can just get rid of something then if we don't have enough." Michelle stopped the cart and began to sift through the contents inside it, moving over ten cups of noodles out of the way and the one bag of chicken nuggets that we had. When her hand landed on the alcohol, we both looked at each other and shook our heads no. "Fuck," Michelle groaned under her breath, "Fine I'll ask my parents tomorrow. Let’s just get this for now and get out of here."

When we left the grocery store, after loading all four of our bags into my car, Michelle got quiet while looking out the window. I still hadn't told her that Louis is planning on meeting up with me and the lads to drink before we go just to prove that he's not one of those people and usually, now days anyway, wherever Louis is Michelle is far away and vice versa. I figure that there's no better time to tell her rather than now while she's quiet, but at the same time I don't want to hurt her feelings. She seemed lost in thought, but there's still a smile on her face.

I cleared my throat causing her to look at me quizzically with an eyebrow raised.

"Um, so.."

"Yes?"

"About the party tonigh-"

"No you don't!" Michelle cut in not allowing me to finish what I was going to say as we pulled up to our apartment. "You're not cutting out of this. Gosh, Harry, I know that you want to be more serious and that this year and I'm sorry for not using the Ultimate Alarm the other day when you were in an alcoholic hibernation, but it's a Saturday. Can you not have fun on Saturdays?" Michelle frowned pouting a bit.

"I'm going to the party, if that's what that speech was pertaining to at all? I wasn't going to say that I'm not going."

"Oh. Well then by all means continue." She smiled this time, happy with herself because she didn't have to argue her case any further.

"Yeah, I um, I'm going to the party, but Louis wanted me and the lads to meet up with him before we go. Pre-gaming and all that." I spoke quickly hoping that she didn't mind or hear what I said for that matter. Her eyes stayed straight forward, looking outside the windshield before she replied.

"All of you?"

"Yeah. He kind of asked about it earlier this week when I saw him...But you know we'll hang out at the party and stuff."

She nodded her head. It was the only response she'd given as her eyes stayed on the boot of the car in front of us.

"Are you alright with it? I can always-"

"Don't worry about it, Harrow. You were his friends first after all, and we live with each other. I'm tired of seeing your ugly mug anyway." Michelle laughed while patting my cheek and I shoved her hand off of me. "Plus, we all know I have bitches that I need to tend to so it's fine."

She covers up how she truly feels with a joke and all of a sudden I feel guilty.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah it's fine. You're very much a pleaser, Harrow. Did you know that?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked as I parked the car and grabbed the groceries out of the back seat to go upstairs.

"You can't please everyone. In the end someone is going to have to be let down or hurt. That's the way of life. It's okay to be selfish sometimes, Harry. That's what I mean."

Michelle sighed as she walked ahead of me, using her keys to unlock the door to our flat. I put the groceries and my things down in the kitchen before I went for a wee, all the while trying to figure out where the hell that last bit of our conversation was coming from, but when I came out of the bathroom she was back to acting like her normal self.

"Since you're leaving me to fend for myself tonight," Michelle spoke holding up two double shot glasses filled to the brim with alcohol, "We didn't buy this for nothing." She spoke in reference to the Goldschläger that ate up the majority of our money and bit her bottom lip while smiling at me.

I winced, already feeling the burn of the liquid going down my throat, before looking at my watch.

"It's only five. No one is going to start drinking until at least nine. You're trying to kill me. I said sorry for agreeing to go with Louis and the lads. Why are you making me do this?"

"Harry, when we were first years we drank early all the time."

"And my liver paid for it."

"Oop, Harry what's that?"

I looked over my shoulder confused before I looked back over to Michelle.

"What's what?"

"Is that a bajingo between your legs where you penis should be?" Michelle started to laugh while pointing in that general area.

"Piss off Chelle!" I spoke before walking up to the table and grabbing the shot that she'd placed there for me. I held it up to eye level inspecting it first. There was something floating in the glass.

"It's actually gold," Michelle said seeing the confusion written clean across my face, "hence the name Goldschläger."

"So we can afford to drink gold flecks in alcohol, but we can't afford real food?"

"I'm going to call my parents tomorrow I said, Mr. Sensable. Now shut up and down it!"

I looked at Michelle shaking my head as we clinked glasses and turned the shot up to our lips. The burn of it made my eyes water and when I looked at Michelle, hers were doing the same. I picked up the bottle on the table and read it before Michelle took it from my hands, pouring us both another shot.

"This is forty-five percent alcohol."

"Yes. It's strong. So, so strong." She nodded as if she already knew.

"We'll be trashed if we keep drinking this. We probably wouldn't even make it to the party." I spoke before I walked over to the refrigerator to grab us beers, hoping that she would switch substances.

"No we won't. I won't let us miss it. But legend has it that this is supposed to get you drunk quickly. The gold flecks supposedly make microscopic cuts in your esophagus so the alcohol can get into your bloodstream faster. Cheers." Michelle handed me the shot glass again as if after hearing that I would want to drink it again.

"Michelle that's horrible. I don't want to-"

"Just take one more shot of it and then we'll just sip beer until you leave to go meet up with Louis and the rest of the lads."

Her eyes were pleading and I couldn't tell her no. We both flipped our heads back as he downed the shots and with in a peer pressured hour, ten shots and two beers later, there was a sloppy grin on my face and I my vision was doubled. Michelle however seemed fine.

"Your alcohol tolerance has lowered dramatically. It’s almost seven. What time were you going to go to Louis'?"

"In an hour."

"I'll drive you." She spoke as she sat against the couch taking out her phone and laughing at my facial expression.

"You had just as much to drink as I have. You can't drive."

"I can. I've got a buzz but that's all. You're trashed. I only had three shots. The other seven you took alone." I looked at her in shock. How could she have tricked me that way? I swear she was drinking too. Michelle laughed and I could already tell that she was recording me. "I'm putting this on instagram."

"Don't! I really hate you." I slurred while pointing at her, only causing her to laugh more.

"You need to loosen up, especially for your hot date tonight. There's no point in you being so uptight at the start of the quarter. I'll let you go back to your boring self when Monday comes around again." She pulled her phone away from me as I tried to take it from her. "You might want to check your phone by the way. It seems you have a message."

I looked down at the notification that showed on the screen, squinting my eyes to try and focus on what was there. When my eyes adjusted, I almost felt sober.

Rion: I was starting to think that maybe you'd forgotten about me. I checked my schedule and I'm actually free tonight. I don't know how long I'll stay, but I'll meet you there. Alison is going so I'll just be with her.

My eyes widened before I scrolled up to see what I supposedly said.

To Rion: Hiiiii, It's Harry. Sorry for being such a stupid arsehole and not texting you sooner, but would you still want to go to that party tonight?

"You texted Rion?"

"Yup."

"But I-I'm not...Fuck!"

"What? You like her right? I've done you a favor."

"Yeah, but—“

"No but's. You either like her or you don't and if you do and if she likes you, which she does, obviously, then you have the go ahead to call. She wanted you to call. She clearly likes you. She's excited and so are you. You're just nervous. You haven't been on a date in six months or maybe more? But, this should be like riding a bike, if you will. I've removed your kickstand, now all you have to do is pedal."

I looked at Michelle and shook my head before I went in my room to find something to wear for tonight, deciding on the usual skinny jeans and oversized shirt, leaving a few of the buttons in the front undone as I stumbled into the living room to wait for Michelle. She reappeared from her room shortly after I did wearing black leather looking tight pants and some sort of red cut off shirt along with her fake glasses and red lips. She looked beautiful and I could only think that she was doing so for Alison.

As much as Chelle would doubt it, I think the player may have taken an interest in one that's supposed to be a pawn in her dating game. All I can hope for is that Alison treats her right. She deserves someone who would.

"What's the point of wearing a shirt if it’s barely buttoned, Styles? And it's see through. I mean I guess kudos for buttoning the three buttons you did bother with correctly." It could be because I'm drunk, but I could have sworn that I saw her look me up and down...not necessarily in a friendship manner. I ignored her while grinning and standing from the couch before she grabbed the Goldschläger again pouring us both another shot. "One for the road?"

"I'll take it if you take it first you lying Judas. I'm already drunk enough as it is."

Michelle cringed before she threw her head back downing the shot, eyes watering again by how strong of a burn the cinnamon schnapps left behind. I did the same and then took another for the hell of it since I wouldn't be driving tonight. Michelle eyed me as I walked down the stairs and to her car as if I would fall.

"Stop watching me and walk yourself."

"Someone has to watch out for you. You're clumsy enough as it is, bambi. Adding alcohol to the mix is a disaster waiting to strike."

"Says the absolute asshole who got me drunk in the first place."

"Oh yeah...That's right." Michelle smiled victoriously before she spoke again, clearing her throat before hand, "Uh, so, since I'm taking you to Louis' place where does he stay? I know he must have moved from where we lived before..." Her face dropped slightly.

"With his bird about five blocks over... Sorr-"

"It's fine." Michelle started her car, looking through the windscreen straight ahead like she did earlier as she drove and listened to the directions I gave her, telling he where to turn.

When we pulled up in front of the house, Niall was outside on the porch with a beer in his hand, smoking a cigarette. No doubt because Hollie put him out of the house, not wanting anything to smell like stale smoke.

"Harry! Hi Mitch!" He waved to us as he stumbled over to the car clearly drunk himself and louder than usual. "You're staying too, Michelle?" She shook her head no while smiling half way at Niall as I got out of the car. "You should stay. This thing, whatever it is, between you and Lou is ridiculous. You guys were so close and it can get there again. Just get out of the car and-"

"I can't Ni, I have somewhere to be, myself." Michelle's eyes begged Niall to be more quiet but he didn't get the hint. He was going to speak again, but was cut off by Lou as he walked out onto his porch with Hollie close behind. He didn't notice that Michelle was with us until I moved to walk towards the house.

"Lads!"

I looked from Michelle to Louis then back to Michelle again and as I did I saw her eyes widen right before she cursed under her breath. Louis paused in his steps, and his eyebrows drew together slightly before he spoke.

"Michelle." He nodded at her as a greeting gesture making everything more awkward.

"Louis."

"Mitch can stay right?" In that moment everyone looked at Niall as he took another drunken, oblivious drag off of his cigarette and it appeared that everyone wanted to punch him in the face, including me.

"No actually I was just leaving. Enjoy your night boys. Be safe, Harrow. I'll see you later yeah?"

I nodded my head before she spoke a simple "good," and sped off as quickly as her car could take her. Louis took a deep breath, shaking his head before smiling at us and inviting us in for more booze. I honestly didn't think that I would drink anymore tonight, but after that I felt the need to.

Niall dropped his cigarette and stepped on it while shrugging his shoulders at me as we followed behind Louis into the house where everyone else sat.

“Read the room next time, yeah?” I spoke under my breath hoping that only Niall would hear me.

“What room? It’s stupid that they don’t talk anymore. For fucks sake he was going t’ marry—”

“I know, Niall. I know.” I interrupted Niall mid sentence and could not help but notice the hitch in my jaw, that became more sore than it had been in a while.

 We all spoke as we walked in the house and I put the topic behind me in order to proceed on with the rest of the night and  for the first time in a while I was happy that the liquor continued to flow. It  seemed to put me and everyone else around in the right mindset for one of the biggest parties of the year, but Louis still seemed somewhat flustered about seeing Michelle for the first time since they called things off. I know Michelle probably didn't feel the best either and I tried to text her to see if she was alright, but I got no response.

Chelle: Are you okay, Chelle? I'm so sorry about that. Didn't know that he would come outside.

Though I got no response to my text, I expected to see Michelle as soon as we got to The Barn. The title of the bar was fitting as it was out closer towards farmland and covered in red paint as it actually was previously a stable. It was crowded with everyone from students to professors indulging in what the night had to offer, but as I skimmed the crowd I began to get more anxious. We had been here for an hour. I was sure that by now that I would have run into her. Taking out my phone, I’d opted to give her a ring, but before I could unlock my screen my phone began to buzz in my hand.

"Hello?" I slurred on the line while closing my opposite ear with my finger so that I could hear whoever it was I was talking to.

"Harry?" The deafening music and noise in the background made it almost impossible to hear.

"No, this is Harry." hiccup “Who is this?"

"Harry, it's Rion can you hear me?"

I walked away from Niall, Darragh, and the rest of the lads as they prepared to make Niall do a keg stand; swaying as I went.

"Who is this?" I repeated trying to hear better, hoping that it was Michelle calling me back in response to the text I’d sent.

"Harry, it's Rion. Can you hear me now?"

"Rion?"

"Yes."

"Hi." I smiled as if she were in front of me, when in all actuality I was in the middle of the crowded street surrounded by a sea of strangers. A car honked at me just as I was about to cross back towards the party, causing me to step back so that I didn't get hit.

"Where are you?" She laughed into the phone causing me to smile again.

“Outside enjoying the weather. Are you here? At the party I mean."

"I am," when she spoke I could hear the smile in her voice, over the excessive chattering and music in the background. "Can you come to the doors near the front of the pub and meet me there?"

"Sure. Stay on the phone with me? You know, just until I find you." I slurred into the phone but Rion laughed again nonetheless.

"Of course...Is that you in the middle of the street? Please be careful if it is."

I looked around, confused as to how she could see me but I couldn't see her. I walked towards the pub again forcing my bleary eyes to focus until I spotted her, standing on a large rock that was just outside the door. When I reached her, I held out my hand to help her down. She took it and called me a gentleman before I said anything else.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked as I looked down at her in her jean jacket and simple black dress that clung to her chest then flowed down to her feet.

"I guess. It's not that bad. Ten times better than the last party I went to already."

I laughed.

"You haven't drunk anything?"

"One mixed drink, but I didn't really finish it. Are you enjoying yourself?" She asked me as we began to walk to nowhere in particular.

"I am. A little bit more now, actually.” A slight blush came to Rion's cheeks before she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and I cleared my throat to continue. "Where's your flatmate?"

"Alison? I'm not sure. She said she was going to meet up with a friend of hers. The same girl that she was with the last time no doubt."

My mind went to Michelle as I checked my phone again and still I had no messages from her.

"So, she left you here?"

"I haven't seen her in the last hour... She could have. But if she did, I have no real way home now. She was my ride. I knew I should have just driven on my own."

I didn't say anything more, but I had the feeling that Alison bailed. I might have an idea as to who with and where to as well.

"Well, are you ready to go?" We ended up closer to the street facing in the direction of the campus. "The night is oddly nice for the end of August and the sky isn't as cloudy as it could be. We might miss getting rained on if we leave now."

"Do you have your car?" She asked looking towards me as if it were a deal breaker.

“No, but I would walk back with you. The parties aren't really my thing anymore. I just came to catch up with some friends. It was nice to get out. We're only about a 15 minute walk away from campus."

Rion looked towards the pub and then back at me again before she smiled and answered me sweetly.

"I'd love to get out of here with you."

Rion and I began walking, but as soon as we got a little bit past the corner where the party was being held at she stopped, causing me to stop as well and look back at her with an eyebrow raised.

"Are you going to tell any of your friends that you're leaving?" She asks while holding her dress up just past her ankles so it doesn't touch the ground.

I grin at her, absolutely ecstatic that she's giving me the chance to walk her back to her dorm room. If those tossers want to know where I went they know how to call. I guess Mitch really did do me a favor and I might owe her one after this.

"Oh, um...No. They're having a good time. I'm sure they won't even notice that I left. It's okay. Besides, I'm getting kind of tired anyway. I could always just shoot them a message."

Rion nods her head in agreement before we begin to walk again. Bunching the material of her dress in one hand in hopes not to step on it, I couldn't help but chuckle as I looked at her.

"Its so long. I love this dress but it's a bit of a hassle to wear." Rion comments, already knowing the reason for my amusement. I gently grab her hand to stop her once more and this time she looks at me with as soft smile forming on her lips.

"Here, let me..." I trailed off, gently taking her hand that had the fabric of her dress, causing her to let it go. Our eyes met as I slowly went down on my knees in front of her. If I would have gone too fast I'm sure I would have lost my balance or worse. It's almost a wonder that I can form a coherent sentence. All that I can hope is that I don't completely reek of alcohol.

I take the hem of the dress and tie a knot in it that's hopefully loose enough to undo when she gets home if she wants, and high enough so that she doesn't have to worry about stepping on it or have it sweep on the ground to get torn or dirty; just above her ankles. I'm not going to lie, when I was down there I looked at her feet and what I could see of her legs. I won't say I have a foot fetish or anything weird like that, but if a girls toes looks like they can pick up an orange with ease and whip it at the back of your head, it's kind of a turn off for me.

Her feet were beautiful aside from a few cuts here and there on her the tops of them. She even had a plaster or two on one of them, but somehow she even made that okay because they matched the purple coloring of her nail polish.

I stood after I was finished, and by the look on her face I must have been down there for a reasonable amount of time to make a knot, at least I hope I was. When I was looking at her feet, I had to make it not so noticeable that that's what I was doing. I don't want her to think I'm some kind of a freak.

"Thank you," she exclaimed while smiling, "I don't know why I didn't think of that."

"Yeah I saw some other girl do it and thought it made sense."

Rion smiled at me again and as we walked next to each other, her hand grazed mine; once, twice, three times before I grabbed it in my own. I saw her look over at me through her peripheral vision. It was a quick glance but I saw it nonetheless. I also saw her bite her bottom lip to try to prevent her smile from getting any bigger than it already was.

I didn't want to bust her out and embarrass her, but I did want to tease her a little. I gently squeezed her hand while biting my bottom lip to stop my smile from spreading much like she did, causing her to laugh before I changed the subject.

"The sky is really clear tonight. I can see Orion's Belt. It really might not rain after all."

"My namesake." Rion smirked.

"Sorry, what?" I spoke noticing that the party sounds were fading farther and farther into the distance.

"My mum is really into Greek mythology and constellations, so my name and its spelling came from Orion himself." She pointed towards the sky and the huge constellation before she looked back at me, slipping her hand back into mine purposefully.

"Cool story. And I'm not being a sarcastic asshole or anything by the way. That makes your name original." hiccup "And I like it a lot. I think my mum named me Harold because it was the only male name that begins with H and that comes after G that she could think of. Her creativity stopped after she realized that she wanted to put her kids names in alphabetical order." Rion laughed and nudged my arm.

"Don't talk about your mum. I think she might have chosen the name because Harry fits you. I've always liked that name."

"Have you now?" I asked with a smirk on my face and an eyebrow raised.

"I have."

"It's because of Prince Harry isn't it? Be honest."

"No it's-"

"Tell the truth."

"He's just so cute. He's the dreamiest ginger I've ever seen besides Ed Sheeran. All due respect to his royalness." Rion spoke causing me to laugh and shake my head before she continued. "Then again, all of the Harry's I've had the pleasure of meeting were pretty fit." She said looking over at me and then back up at the velvety black night sky speckled with beautiful stars.

"How many of us have you met?"

"Well...Just one so far."

I looked over at her as we finally reached a street that had lamp posts and she let out a small chuckle that sounded as if she were clearing her throat. Her eyes caught the light that lined the streets making her irises seem to brighten even though her eye color was dark brown.

We'd finally reached campus just as the clouds started to roll in at two in the morning and from there, I followed Rion's lead back to her dorm. In my three full years at Cambridge, I'd never been to this one in particular, but apparently, Michelle has. I saw her car in the parking lot. Something told me that she would be here, seeking comfort for the blow she received earlier. The sooner that she realizes that fucking doesn’t fix what hurts her, the better off she'll be. Part of me wants to bang on the door as soon as we get to the room, but I decide against it. All I cab hope that she’ll talk to someone eventually. If that someone happens to be Alison, then I'll be happy for her, I guess.

"Thank you, Harry. For getting me home safe and asking me to come out. I had fun for the amount of time I was there for." Rion leaned against her door, smiling while looking up at me.

"It was no problem. Thank, you for, you know, coming." I could hear myself wanting to ramble before I closed my mouth.

“Good night, then." Rion spoke, still smiling and then pausing.

"Goodnight."

Rion turned to unlock her door and when she got it open I turned to leave, but before I could go I could feel her pull my hand. When I turned she had a pout on her face.

"You know, you're really horrible at picking up on signals."

Huh?

"I-"

"I waited so patiently as well."

"I'm-"

"Three days. You didn't text me or say anything for three days. I didn't know what to think. I still don't."

"You're-"

"Oh shut up, Harry."

Rion crossed her arms over her chest and out of shock I closed my mouth, not really sure what to say or do. Rion squinted her eyes at me before shaking her head and turning to go into her little dorm before I stopped her, pulling her to me before I kissed her deeply, pushing her against the wall a bit to show her how it should be done.After it was over Rion sighed in content with her eyes still closed before reopening them slowly. I grinned against her lips before speaking knowing that I’d won her over.

"I didn't know what to think either to be honest. It's been a while."

Rion grabbed me by the front of my shirt, bringing my lips back down to hers.She pulled away, kissing the corner of my mouth making a trail to my ear and then kissing me right beneath my earlobe. There was no tongue involved at all but it still had been the most action than I'd gotten in months and it was still enough to leave us both breathless at the end of her antics. 

"Do you know what to think now?” She pushed her door open, speaking before she closed the door behind herself with a cheeky smile.

I’m not sure how long I stood there with a goofy grin on my face after it was all said and done, but when I got to the stairs my drunken mind allowed my legs to work properly and carry me down while still having the memory replay in my head.

I'd only gotten through the doors of the exit of her dormitory before my brain went to my pants, thinking that I might be able to get a good wank before I fell asleep with Rion's lips pressed against my jaw as the mental muse. Just when I thought about flushing any possible tissues instead of putting them in my bin, my phone rang.

"Harry?" Rion whispered into the phone, sounding on the agitated side.

"Rion? What's wrong?"

"She's at it again." Rion exhaled into the phone before I heard the creaking of a door, sounding as if it were being shut.

"Who's at what?"

"Alison and her, friend."

I started to chuckle, thinking of all of the ways that I would tease Michelle tomorrow when I saw her. I know that she's been active, but damn. She's got to be insatiable. I pictured her and Alison, terribly sweaty, gasping for air-

"Harry?"

"Sorry, what did you say?" Rion's voice snapped me out of getting too carried away in inappropriate thought again. Thoughts that I shouldn't venture into about my best pal.

"I really want to be able to sleep without being disrupted. Do you mind if I come to yours? I'll sleep on the couch, the floor, a chair. Anything you wouldn't mind sparing really."

“No, of course I don't mind."

Oh god.

"Are you sure? Should you ask your flatmate first? I wouldn't want to intrude on you or him."

My mind was swimming with a thousand things. Minor details that had the potential to be major. Is my room clean? When is the last time that I had a girl in my room that wasn’t Michelle? Do we have water bottles that I can offer Rion when we get into my flat if she's thirsty? Why does Rion think that Mitch is a guy?

“No… I uh, I'm alone for the night, actually. My flatmate is staying somewhere else I think." In your roommates' room, disrupting you currently.

"Thank you so much." Rion breathed out, sounding somewhat relieved.

"Yeah no problem. I'll turn around now."

"Oh shit, did you get far? I'm so sorry."

"No it's fine. I just got down the street a bit." I spoke as I neared her building again.

I saw her walking out in the same clothes she was wearing before. When she got to me, she thanked me again before we took the surprisingly short walk towards my flat.

"You live in the new buildings? Fancy."

"Yeah, it's alright. For it being new, the ventilation sucks in Mitch's room, but that's the only complaint we have."

I unlocked the door and turned the knob saying a silent prayer as we walked in, but I'd forgotten that Michelle cleaned the whole place, including my room despite my protest for her not to.  It was the first time that I’d been happy that she didn’t listen to me.

"It's really nice, Harry. You were being modest." Rion spoke as she tiptoed through the apartment, stopping in the living-room and taking a seat for herself before removing her sandals. "Really clean for two lads."

"Oh, actually-"

"Sorry, Harry. I don't want to interrupt, but do you think I could use the restroom first? I'm bursting to go."

I laughed while running my hand through my hair. "Sure. It's just down the hall. We wouldn't want a repeat of your last party."

Rion turned red, covering her mouth in a laugh and speaking to me as she walked down the hall.

"I really still can't believe I told you that."

While she was gone, I grabbed extra blankets from the linen closet and laid out a t-shirt and a pair of shorts of mine for her to wear on my bed. I also grabbed a bottle of water and put it on my desk for her in case she was thirsty, thankful that I made Michelle put some of those noodle cups back in exchange for it. Before I made my bed on the couch, I went into Michelle's room to steal one of her pillows but I’d gotten distracted easily. On her bedside table was a picture of the both of us taken last year. We were both pretty out of it and you can clearly tell in the photo, but in the midst of all the insanity Michelle was still alert and smiling at me while I was laughing and pulling her shirtsleeve with my teeth.

When I heard Rion leaving the bathroom I quickly left from Michelle's room, placing the photograph back down where I got it from and closing her bedroom door behind me.

"You'll be in my room. I've laid you out some things to make you more comfortable."

"Awe, Harry. I can take the couch really. I don't want to kick you out of your bed."

"No you won't. Now, go to bed. Good night, but for real this time."

Rion eyed me as she nodded her head in agreement, a slight grin on her lips. 

“Yes for real this time.” She spoke before her bottom lip was drawn into her mouth. The liquor I consumed tonight made me do the same as I looked her up and down shamelessly, grinning as I did so.

I started to take a step backwards only to notice that Rion advanced forwards causing me to stop in my tracks. Our lips connected again more fervently than they had before, before I started to walk again leading Rion back into my bedroom.

#Harry Styles #harry styles slow burn #harry styles smut #harry styles writing #harry styles fanfiction

[the-splodge]

Okay I’ve been overtook by the Kirby brainrot so here’s my interpretation of the four heroes of yore!

Galacta Knight:

- he/they pronouns

- probably the first of the four heroes to be recruited by the ancients, and their unofficial leader!

- definitely their favourites! Was gifted the special title of Aeon Hero by them, and it’s pretty much all they went by

- genuinely wants the best for people and is kind, but is realistic with his expectations and knows his limits. Hopes that after the war that there can finally be peace

- was the one to both suggest Una and Heart join the heroes, partially out of concern of what could happen to them and partially because he genuinely saw talent in them!

- feels bad for Heart, since he essentially put them into this whole situation, but doesn’t mention it because he knows it’ll make it worse

- has magic, but they don’t often use it because of how powerful and uncontrollable it is; they’re worried that they’ll accidentally kill or seriously damage someone/something. Most of the time, they only use it in minor ways to amplify their attacks

- was betrayed by the ancients a few days after sealing void, and got sealed into the crystal

Mirror Galacta/Heart:

- also he/they pronouns

- Galacta’s mirror counterpart! He was accidentally created by the ancients when they tried to make a mirror that could grant wishes (and thus created the mirror worled) and used Galacta as a test subject, but was quickly taken in as one of the four heroes

- physically resembles aeon hero dark!

- has a Lot of self esteem and identity issues, most of the stemming from being Galacta’s mirror counterpart. they often feel like they’re not worthy to be a hero, and feel like they’re really friends with the other three, as well as trying their hardest to differentiate themselves from Galacta

- this isn’t helped by the ancients outright ignoring them at worst and treating them like a replacement Galacta at best

- their friends picked up on this, and try their best to remind them that they’re worthy and wanted

- issues aside, he’s genuinely extremely kind and has a lot of love for the world. He may not be as outgoing as Galacta, but he makes it up at least twice over with the amount of compassion he has

- took on the nickname Heart after Una joked one too many times that he was the heart of the team, since he didn’t like being called mirror Galacta!

- Denver also hand made a custom heart shaped mask for him! Heart appreciated the gesture a lot, but had to break it to him that it was basically the equivalent of proposing

- a talented mage! Mostly to do with the fact that Galacta wished he had more control over his strength, although a small part of him also wished he could be stronger as well. Heart benefitted GREATLY from that

- fights with his lance and shield to begin with, but will happily switch to magic + shield if necessary

- made friends with another mage, Lumen! They, alongside Hyness, were tasked with finding out a way to seal away Void!

- Lumen unfortunately fell victim to the master crown, as he offered to be the first one to test it. The four heroes had to fight his possessed corpse off in order to avoid more casualties

- That was the first and only time Heart lost control of his power, he was that distressed

- Eventually he came up with the Heart Spears to keep Void sealed! Hyness was. Not Happy

- Very proud of their achievement in doing so, as it was all their own work. Slightly annoyed that they were disregarded, but that wasn’t anything new for them.

- Heard about the plot to imprison Galacta, but didn’t know what to do. They didn’t know whether they could reach Galacta in time, and worried about what they could do IF they managed to reach them

- They could only see three outcomes of the situation; be imprisoned alongside them, be forced to replace them entirely or they both got away but lived life from then on as criminals on the run

- Eventually they decided to take a fourth option, and hide in the mirror world. They felt a lot of guilt about abandoning their friends, but fortunately for them the ancients never found them

Denver:

- he/him pronouns

- a penguin? (The same species as king dedede)

- a member of nobility who chose to join the war

- the group’s science/tech guy! He’s very smart when it comes to that sort of stuff, even if magic confuses him on a fundamental level

- the most calm and reserved of the group

- was actually the one to build the lor starcutter! It was originally an old ship, but with the help of lumen they managed to revamp it! (Lumen helped with the magical aspects, whereas he focused on getting the energy spheres to work and the AI running)

- genuinely didn’t realise he accidentally proposed to Heart, just wanted to help him feel included! They laughed it off though, and they remained as close as ever!

- fights with a large battle axe, which for some reason has an overheat and electrify settings. they’re exactly what they sound like. his teammates can‘t quite tell if he’s a genius or a major threat at this point

- after Galacta was sealed away and Heart disappeared, the ancients had to force him to ‘retire’ on a remote planet and gave him his own bodyguard to make sure he stayed there, since they genuinely feared him digging deeper into things and exposing the truth (something he was already threatening to do)

Una:

- they/she!

- a golden waddle dee!

- actually originally from popstar, but chose to join the war after dark matter infested the place

- was actually just an ordinary soldier, but snuck into the elite barracks quite often in order to improve much more!

- they trained with Galacta quite a few times, and was on good speaking terms with both them and Denver!

- when it got found out that they were sneaking into prohibited places, they were ready to take a heavy punishment for her actions, but Galacta stepped in and wanted her to join the heroes, as he genuinely saw talent in them

- uses crossbows as a weapon!

- very excitable and enthusiastic, as well as outgoing

- Gave Heart his nickname after seeing how much they cheered everyone around them up!

- like Denver, she was forced to retire after sealing void away, but unlike Denver, they went without much of a fight and therefore didn’t have a bodyguard assigned to them

#kirby series #galacta knight #heart (oc) #denver (oc) #una (oc)