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twiceblackvelvet · 4 years

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Pride

A/N; hello! this here stems from two different things. the first being that i did promise to make up for my decision to make haseul straight in my recent yves scenario. so, this is me re-aligning my spirit. but also, i know a lot of people here are members of the lgbt+ community, and whether you’ve attended pride or not, i figured this could be something comforting just to help you escape for a little bit which we all need to do sometimes. i hope you all enjoy.

Pride month, or more specifically, the yearly pride parade throughout the city has always been something that you’ve desperately wanted to attend. However, going alone has always felt rather uncomfortable and prevented you from going and celebrating with those similar to you either in sexuality or identity. But, this year, you have one human-sized reason to attend finally.

For weeks now, you’ve planned out the perfect outfit for the occasion. Well, several outfits were considered because where would any of us be without a little bit of procrastination and self-doubt? But eventually, you settled on something still on the casual side but enough to make it so you don’t look like someone just trying to find a store among the many people also going. Part of you wants to believe that you only spent so long deciding because you want to look good for yourself, but the truth is that you’ve seen some of the clothing choices people have made attending pride that it almost feels like a fashion event.

The weather reports have all stated that the sun should be shining which you’re grateful for because you don’t want anything to get in the way of finally being able to see your girlfriend for the first time in three months. But also, wandering around the city in the rain doesn’t sound fun even if it does include rainbow flags everywhere and endless cliche kisses in the downpour. Without jinxing it, everything is seemingly working out perfectly which puts to rest some of your hesitations about attending. After all, not every single pride story has been one that is positive and prejudice still exists in some people’s minds.

When the day finally arrives, there’s a mixture of feelings swirling around inside your head. Excited, nervous, ready to sing, and dance around like an idiot but mostly longing to just get there and see Haseul once again. All of it just rolled into one makes your stomach feel uneasy. Either way, you’re ready to get going and see all of the brightly colored decorations, clothing, and of course, her.

Stepping into the large bundle of people, all with joy written across their faces feels liberating. It’s like, you’re finally being seen for the first time in your life and you never wish to ever return to a place of being hidden ever again. Everyone around you moving along to the music playing over the speakers aboard one of the many floats and expressing themselves in their own ways. Everything about this just moment feels right. It feels important.

Whilst Haseul had previously attended pride before and told many stories about it, she too believes this one could end up being the best one yet since you’ll be there to experience it together.

There are several bars that people along the way dive in and out of seeking relief from the beaming sun threatening to burn everyone to a crisp. A few people passing engage in conversations with you about where they’re from, how many events they’ve been to so far, and offering little anecdotes about their life. You do the same in return. As it turns out, making friends is a lot easier than you expected because everyone is on a high from the atmosphere. Some from other substances but you’d rather not dwell on that. Free-spirits may move however they wish, after all.

As the crowd of people starts to shift closer to the end of the parade where a staging area had been set up for performers, your excitement continued to grow. The energy surrounding you indescribable could only get better from watching the entertainment provided. Your strides toward it become hurried but an arm around your waist stops you dead in your tracks.

“Well, look what I’ve found here.”

Had it not been for your brain immediately kicking into gear and recognizing the voice, it’s very likely you could have turned around and punched your girlfriend in the face for this stunt. However, the months apart hasn’t made you forget what she sounds like just yet. You relax into her hold and decide to play along.

“Mm, I don’t know secret admirer, what is it you’ve found?”

It’s barely audible but you can hear her sigh against you at your unwillingness to greet her properly.

“This has backfired on me, majorly. Come on, turn around.”

“Say please.”

She tugs at your arm instead and twists your body toward her. A wide smile covers her lips, eyes sparkling into your own. She’s somehow more beautiful than you remembered from the last time the two of you were able to see each other face to face. She leans in quickly to press her lips to your own and sighs once more, this time out of contentment from finally having you back with her.

“I’ve missed you so much.” She offers you another quick peck before continuing. “I was just about to call you but I saw you walking up. You look incredible by the way.” Her eyes scan over your body quickly but then her eyes meet your own once more. If you could spend the rest of your life under Haseul’s gaze only, you definitely would.

“I missed you too.”

Music from the stage suddenly interrupts your reunion and Haseul takes that as an opportunity to drag you closer to the front of the crowd, though it’s almost impossible to weave through the number of people, she somehow manages to get you closer by a few meters before having to give up.

The atmosphere surrounding you both is intoxicating. There’s not a single person around without a smile on their face and that level of happiness is contagious enough without having your own personal reason to grin currently clinging onto you for dear life as she dances away to herself wildly. Truth be told, seeing Haseul this free and in her element may just be the best version of her that you’ve ever seen thus far in your relationship.

Whether it’s the spur of the moment, the overwhelmingly positive mood you’re in, or just a combination of the two, you can’t help but blurt out your thoughts all at once and likely way too fast for Haseul to even understand.

“I don’t want us to ever be apart again, you should move in with me.”

However, your girlfriend seemingly has the world’s most impeccable hearing because you can tell by the stunned expression she managed to decipher what you said. She looks away from you for a second before grabbing one of your hands tightly and pulling you in closer.

“You know, during my first pride, I met this girl.” Haseul instantly notices the shift in your expression and laughs at your instinctive jealousy. “We didn’t know each other then, you have nothing to worry about. But, I was so happy that I made a friend that day, I thought we were going to end up dating, living together, and adopting seven cats together by the end of the day.”

“I don’t understand.” You interject.

“I want you to be sure about this. I don’t want to agree to move in with you if you’re simply on an adrenaline high”

You want to tell her that you’ve never been more sure of anything in your life. You want to leave right now, pack up all of her items and move them into your apartment, and never look back. But, you can see how this could be seen as a choice made on a whim since even you aren’t sure why you decided now was the right time to ask her.

“You’re right. But, I mean it. I want us to still be here together in fifty years’ time, hip replacements, and all if necessary.”

She lightly jabs your arm at your joke mid-laughter.

“How about this? If by the end of today, when everyone has gone their own ways and we aren’t surrounded by,” She pauses to point out a couple eagerly making out together. “Well, that. If you still feel the same way, I’ll move in.”

“Sure.”

The two of you manage to find seats toward the side of the crowd that are free where you can watch the various singers, dancers, hosts perform and hype the already excited crowd up even more. It’s not very often that she’s comfortable enough to sing in front of you, but Haseul starts to lightly sing along to a few of the songs. You listen to her rather than joining in yourself. Her voice is quiet but you can make out her sweet tone among the noise surrounding you both.

“You’re so perfect.” Once more, words just spill out of your mouth as you admire Haseul and the glow spreading across her face.

“If I knew you were going to be this cheesy, I wouldn’t have convinced you to come.” You scrunch up a napkin from the table beside you and aim it directly for her head, however, she swats it out of the way easily. “You’ve got to do better than that, babe.” She grins.

“I’ll get you, just wait.”

“You already have me, loser.”

“Now who is being cheesy?”

Haseul leans toward you and brushes the hair past your ear before whispering into it.

“Me, but you love it.” She kisses you intensely, one of her hands snaking up to cup your cheek before returning to her seat.

You breathlessly manage to let out a reply of “I do” as Haseul turns her attention back toward the closing segment of the performances. All of the artists gather together to wish everyone a happy pride. Loud squeals and whistles are the only response everyone around you offers, so you decide to do the same. You can see Haseul watching and laughing at you from the corner of your eye but she looks like the embodiment of the occasion, full of pride for you.

It doesn’t take long for people to shuffle off to various locations together in groups. A few of them even ask you both if you’d like to join them in an after-party of sorts, however, you both politely decline. Someone should have warned you that once things begin to quieten down that high energy you felt previously also leaves just as fast as it started.

Linking arms with Haseul, you walk around for a little while longer together merely enjoying being together. You think about the conversation earlier as well as everything you’ve been a witness to today. Beautiful displays of pure love around you both from people from all walks of life. There may never be a day in your life that gets better than this one, and yet, you still decide to put a ribbon around it forever in the shape of once again requesting she never stray far away from you ever again.

“I still want it.” Your voice startles her and it’s clear she’s confused as her eyes squint slightly as she watches you, until finally, the penny drops.

“I wasn’t sure you’d ask again.” She entwines your fingers together and grasps hold of you tightly. “I’d love nothing more.”

You both decide to end the night watching the sun go down from a rooftop bar not far from your apartment. The cold breeze not enough to cool the warmth within your heart that Haseul not only provides but continues to grow with you every second of every day. All of the reservations you previously had managed to vanish and whilst it is because of more than just her, the trust you placed in her to go in the first place is what has made any of this possible.

No matter what the future may hold for you both, you’ll never forget spending your very first pride event with the girl of your dreams.

#loona #kpop #girl group scenarios #kpop scenarios #cho haseul #loona scenarios #haseul #loona haseul #haseul x reader #loona imagines #loona reactions #kpop imagines #kpop reactions #girl group imagines #girl group reactions #fluff

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percabeth4life · 4 years

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Three Old Ladies Knit Socks of Death

First Chapter || Previous Chapter || Next Chapter || AO3

I’m really glad that I have a clue as to what happened, even if the constant buzzing surrounding everyone is driving me nuts.

Someone cast a spell of some sort to trick everyone into thinking that Ms. Dodds never existed. The buzzing kept trying to affect me, but it couldn’t get me through my Purifying powers.

Thank Pontus for those.

But the buzzing is very, very, very, annoying.

One important thing I noticed was that Grover didn’t have any buzzing around him, which means that he is fully aware of Ms. Dodds. That and the fact that he’s a horrible liar.

Mr. Brunner’s buzzing didn’t lower at all, but nor did it raise.

I think he’s the source of the buzzing honestly, still not sure if he’s safe. He hasn’t asked for the pen that’s a sword that’s a pen back.

But everyone is denying that Ms. Dodds exists.

…

I may or may not be using it as practice for my purification powers.

…

It seems like a good idea (and keeps my mind off of…)

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

Okay so one person had to go to the nurses office cause I managed to get rid of the buzzing around her with my purifying powers, and whoops…

Apparently, mortals can’t handle that.

Everyone is saying she had a psychotic break yelling about a Ms. Dodds and how she definitely exists…

So, I’ve decided that I should not test my purification powers on helpless mortals.

Katara would be ashamed of me for testing my powers like that.

I’ve also decided to rewatch Avatar: The Last Airbender for the twenty-fourth time.

Don’t judge me, it’s a great show and my teacher for waterbending!

And maybe I’ll see more about healing with waterbending, I can’t remember all the details and I need a way to learn without hurting myself first.

Purification is still cooler, but healing will definitely be helpful in the future. Besides, it’s practically a signature move for Katara, the whole world would’ve ended in the show if it weren’t for her healing abilities.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

Carl was excited for my experiments with the water holder, I was messing with some ice and ignoring the growing sense of doom that was coming as exams got closer.

Triton would be disappointed in me for not paying attention to my lessons now, but I can’t help it.

It’s so hard to focus when you’re trying not to focus on the fact that you killed someone, sure she was a fury, but she had feelings and stuff too.

I shook my head, nope nope nope, not thinking about that right now.

Work on the magic portable ice fish tank.

I sighed, fiddling with the ice to twist it into the right shape.

I’ll need to add the runes-

“Percy!”

I made the ice shatter into a thousand tiny pieces and melt and nearly fell off the bed.

…

“You okay man?”

I nodded, pushing myself up and pretending like my face wasn’t on fire.

“I’m fine.”

“What were you doing anyways?”

Uh…

“I was trying to do a palm reading on my hands.” Nailed it.

“Baa-ha-ha, you do palm readings?”

“No, but I thought I’d give it a shot. I was trying to see if I could pass my exams.”

“If you study you might,” Grover bleated out.

I sniffed, raising my nose and hiding a smile, “Studying is for the weak!” I declared grandly.

Grover laughed.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar view, fields with misty figures as far as the eye could see.

I frowned.

Where am I?

I wandered forward, waving a hand in the face of one of the figures. They didn’t react.

Yep definitely a dream.

Now I just have to figure out where I am.

I probably should’ve gotten around to reading up on prophetic dreaming like probably dad Oceanus mentioned one of those times I was there, but I got distracted.

I wandered the fields, looking around in confusion, this place was very unfamiliar.

Except, a feeling of familiarity clung to me from one direction, so I started that way.

It felt like a low burn edging my senses, I’m not sure where I felt it before, I don’t really remember this feeling.

The sound of leathery wings made me look up, my eyes widening at the three figures.

Hades’s furies.

I suddenly realized where I was.

The itch of a curse made me want to scratch my arms. But looking up, Ms. Dodds, one of the furies, is alive.

It was like I could breathe for the first time in weeks.

I didn’t just kill someone who could think and breathe and feel like us.

I almost felt like sitting down right there, I let out a breath and held back the tears.

Thank Pontus.

I woke up

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

I practiced my Ocarina more, sitting next to some of the plants Grover has and settling the music book in front of me to try one of the basic tricks. Growing plants.

Technically it’s supposed to be done with coral and sea grass and other undersea plants, but I don’t have those. So, I just have to make due with the plants that Grover has.

Grover came in while I was mid-song, but I ignored him, the plant seems a bit brighter, just a little taller.

I smiled, it’s going alright.

Not as much as it should be, but it’s certainly improving.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

School was itching at my nerves. The constant buzzing was driving me up a wall and I was snapping quicker at people instead of doing it the smart way like Triton taught me.

I watched more Avatar and tried to resist the urge to break something.

I have no outlet, I can’t go practice my waterbending, I can’t talk to Triton, I only have Carl who just plain doesn’t understand.

School studies are getting harder and harder for me to do.

I could handle Pre-Calc thanks to all of Triton’s help in the past, and Latin wasn’t that hard either (why is every language but English easier? Should I try learning Spanish or French?), but otherwise… I kind of just gave up.

The buzzing stayed in the back of my head.

I threw myself into my books from Triton, devouring the information on Siren’s Song that I had been ignoring so far.

I practiced my Ocarina and paid attention to my clubs again some. Triton said they were good for me.

The buzzing filled the rooms when there was even a moment of silence.

I ended up kicked out of Model UN because of my lowering grades but music club had pity on me.

I practiced more.

The buzzing didn’t stop.

I snapped at a teacher one time too many, I’m not welcome back at the school next year.

What an underwhelming way to get kicked out this time.

The buzzing was unrelenting.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

I’m really glad for my starglobe. I’ve just been sitting here staring at it for the last hour.

Grover keeps giving me weird looks, but… It’s just sparkly and pretty and reminds me of Triton. It reminds me of the sea that one time my mom let me “sleepover” at a friends house. I got to see the stars from the sea and it was amazing.

“Did you know your eyes change colors?”

I looked up at Grover.

“What?”

“Well, they’re normally this sharp green, like, sea green, but you’re looking at your sparkly snowglobe and your eyes just turn like, silver-gray?”

I blinked, “Do they?”

“Yeah, I mean it’s cool.”

“Hmm, I guess I get it from my mom, her’s do the same thing.”

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

It was the night before my Latin exam.

As much as I don’t trust Mr. Brunner, I just couldn’t figure out this one translation, and I lost the answer key.

Ugh.

I decided to go ask him, at least he would know I was trying. As long as he didn’t like, try to kill me or something, it’d be fine!

…

Hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

I was almost to the door to his office, but something was off.

I stopped, realization hitting.

The buzzing was quiet.

I was almost to his door, where the buzzing is usually very loud, and there was nothing.

I frowned, was he not there? But the light is on?

The door was ajar slightly, and I stepped closer, as quiet as I can be.

“… worried about Percy, sir.”

I stopped, tilting my head. That was Grover.

My heart sank, so I was right, he is working with Mr. Brunner.

“… alone this summer?” Grover questioned, “I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now that we know for sure, and they know too-“

“We would only make matters worse by rushing him,” Mr. Brunner interrupted, “We need the boy to mature more.”

“But he may not have time. The summer solstice deadline-“

“Will have to be resolved without him, Grover. Let him enjoy his ignorance while he still can.”

“Sir he saw her…”

“His imagination,” Mr. Brunner insisted. “The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that. He may still have the pen, but the Mist over it will stop him from realizing.”

“Sir, I… I can’t fail in my duties again.” Grover’s voice was choked with emotion. “You know what that would mean.”

“You haven’t failed, Grover,” Mr. Brunner soothed. “I should have seen her for what she was. Now let’s just worry about keeping Percy-“

I shifted back, a small creak of my rubber shoe bottom on the linoleum floors echoes through the halls.

Mr. Brunner went silent.

I slipped back, seeing a shadow of something larger than Mr. Brunner in a wheelchair pass the lighted glass. It was holding an archer’s bow.

I moved, sliding into the first door I could find and pressed against the wall by the door.

I could fight if I needed too, my trident charm in hand, but… I need time to process.

A shadow went past, clop-clop-clop passing by. Like muffled hoof beats.

A large shadow paused by the window.

Mr. Brunner spoke, “Nothing, my nerves haven’t been right since the winter solstice.”

“Mine neither,” Grover said. “But I could have sworn…”

“Go back to the dorm,” Mr. Brunner told him. “You’ve got a long day of exams tomorrow.”

“Don’t remind me.”

The lights went out in Mr. Brunner’s office.

I waited there, going through what I just learned.

They’re worried about me, whether about my health of something else to do with me…

The buzzing is probably this Mist that he talked about, I’m not sure what that is, a spell of some kind I suppose. When I can talk to Triton again I’ll ask. Maybe it’s a land magic?

Mr. Brunner, whoever he is, has no idea that I know about gods and mythical beings and the like. I can use that to my advantage if he is actually a threat.

They know about the winter solstice mess, all I know is that there’s been a theft.

I frowned, are they blaming me too? And what’s this about a summer solstice deadline? That sounds bad.

Why do they need me to mature more? What do they need to worry about keeping me from? What’s going on?

One thing I’m sure of, Mr. Brunner is definitely not human. Some human animal crossover based on the sounds I heard. Horse half? Centaur? That’s the best I’ve got right now. I’ll look into it more later.

I stood in the dark waiting.

Grover is working with him though.

My chest hurt, could I trust Grover? Was he just going to attack me? Try to hurt me?

I want Triton, I want Triton so badly. He would know what to do.

But I can’t. Triton said not to contact him until things calmed down.

Based on Grover and Mr. Brunner, things are definitely not calm.

I stood in the dark.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

I returned to my room when I calmed, nodding to Grover and settling back down with my notes.

“Hey,” He said, bleary-eyed. “You gonna be ready for this test?”

I glanced over, trying to bury any emotions, Triton had said that Grover might have empathic abilities and I can’t let him know what I’m feeling.

I forced a smile, “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” I faked a yawn, “I think I’m gonna go to bed now though. Too tired to get much more done.”

And I am tired, I’m so tired of being here.

I just want to go home, see my mom, hug her, talk to Triton.

I want to be back in the still dirty (but much improved) river and cleaning it and talking to the fish and other sea animals.

I want to go to events with Triton and talk to my merfolk friends and trade notes on our powers.

I don’t want to be here wondering if my friend is going to betray me and attack me. I don’t want to wonder if my teacher is going to try to hurt me.

I just want home.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

Honestly, I fell asleep trying not to cry, so when I woke up in my probable dad’s palace, hidden in an alcove, I kinda burst into tears.

It’s like my dreams are trying to comfort me.

I curled up and cried, this year sucks.

Everything first semester was bad, but since the solstice I’ve been so alone.

Everything aches I just want to see Triton, to talk to my friends, to not be so utterly alone.

I can’t trust Grover, I can’t trust Mr. Brunner, I certainly can’t trust any of the other students in the school.

“Oh dear…”

Soothing curls wrapped around me, banishing the cold currents that felt so like my probable dad’s palace.

A hand was on my back, I couldn’t really see through the tears though.

“Hush now little Half-Blood, it’s alright.”

I took a few minutes to calm my breathing, to stop the tears, the unknown person whispering soothing words the whole time.

When I could finally look at them, I finally saw the Titaness Tethys.

…

Oh no, don’t tell me I just cried like an idiot in front of my probable dad’s wife.

I want to curl up and die, why me.

She settled next to me in the alcove, her hand still rubbing my back, “Are you feeling better?”

I swallowed, nodding.

“Yes Tethys-ran” I whispered.

Using the proper terms of respect are important. Ran is for queen, which she is, Ari would be for king.

She smiled at me, “There, that’s better. Let’s get you something to eat hmm?”

I nodded, letting her tug me out of the alcove.

“We still have only caught the beginning of your name little half-blood, starts with a P right?”

I flushed, “It’s Percy, Tethys-ran.”

“Ah, then a pleasure to meet you Percy-tou”

I flushed, tou is used for children regardless of gender, it’s basically calling them cute little one.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you to, Tethys-ran.”

She led me to the kitchens it seems. There’s a lot of noise as they work on making the food.

Her hand was still on my back, it was grounding.

“Do you have any favorites?”

She was looking at me.

“Oh uh, I like water chestnuts? And uh frozen Plumose? Um…”

She smiled, “Any meats?”

“… tuna?”

She nodded, nudging me forward as she spoke rapid Halmaheran.

“Get something -- him to eat, something on the --- end. And something -- snack on. And some --- if you --.”

I couldn’t catch everything that she said, unfortunately, but I’m pleased I caught as much as I did. She was talking really fast and had an accent I don’t know.

It took only a few minutes before she was ushering me out, a few bowls of food in her hands.

I ended up sitting with her in another alcove, nibbling on the snacks she got me. And sucking clean water from one of the plants, usually used for that purpose. Not like you can have cups with drinks underwater.

She let us eat quietly, her gaze on me.

I glanced at her, then looked away again.

“You seem to find yourself in our palace fairly often Percy-tou.”

I shifted, “I’m sorry, I don’t know why.”

She hummed, “It’s no fault of yours, though you should learn how to control your dream walking.”

I frowned, “Dream walking?”

She smiled, “That’s what this particular branch of prophetic dreaming is called, though the technical name is Hioipihaiho.”

I frowned, Halmaheran.

“You mind effectively leaves your body and travels to another place. It is different from Ahioimua, which is looking into the future of the place you are, Imuaireira, which is seeing the future or other places, Ahiomuri, which is seeing the past of your current location, and Amuritereira, seeing the past of another place.”

I wished I had my notebook to take notes.

“Dream walking is simply traveling, it’s the most common form of prophetic dreaming in Half-Bloods. None of them technically require dreaming, though it is the easiest way to receive the visions of the other forms.”

Okay that’s interesting, so I could do this awake… How would that work?

“Though slipping through the shields of our palace to prevent entrance from those trying to come is impressive. I’m very curious as to how you’ve done so accidentally.”

I chewed on one of the nuts in my snack bowl, “I don’t know, I just started showing up here.”

She nodded, “Well, it’s certainly interesting.”

It must be because Oceanus is my dad? Is this more evidence towards that? I have a lot of really solid evidence now.

I kinda want to say that I know, but I promised Triton I wouldn’t ask or talk about my immortal parent. It would interfere with my safety.

So, I kept my mouth shut and resisted the urge to tell her.

“What had you so upset? When you first arrived?”

I nibbled on one of the tuna pieces, “I uh… Just had a stressful week.”

I ducked my head.

“Oh? Anything in particular?”

“I have a lot of big tests, and found out a friend isn’t actually a friend…”

She hummed, “A sad thing to learn.”

“Yeah…”

She ran a hand through my hair, I peeked up.

She smiled, “Friends come and go like the tides, it is good to learn from your time with them, and they will leave a mark on you. But don’t let them hold you back or cling to what has passed. If they are not your friend accept that and move forward, else you will drown.”

I relaxed, she’s not wrong. Grover was apparently not really trying to be my friend, he was spying on me?

Regardless of what he was doing, I just have to accept it.

It hurts, but… it would be better for me to move on.

I nodded, “Thanks.”

“Well, I believe it is time for you to wake. I’ve already held you here longer than you should’ve been.”

She gathered our bowls and flicked away.

Almost immediately I felt the yank at me. Like a strong current tugging me away.

“Stay safe Percy-tou.”

Oh.

I woke up.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

I finished the Latin exam.

I know that I messed up like half the grammar, but the translation to English wasn’t too hard, I could use context for some of the grammar, and I’m good at the word definitions so that was easy at least. The few history questions were annoying, but I didn’t struggle too badly.

The buzzing in my ear made it hard to focus though.

I think I managed a C? Maybe even a B if my guessing for the grammar was good enough.

I’ll just have to wait and see I guess.

I started to head out when Mr. Brunner called me back.

I swallowed back my fear that he found out about me overhearing him last night, he wouldn’t call me out for that in front of the class.

“Percy,” he said. “Don’t be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It’s… it’s for the best.”

My heart sank, I know that I can’t trust him, really, I do, but… I couldn’t help but like him as a teacher.

It hurt to hear him say that, in front of the whole class too.

The other students snickered, Nancy sent me a smug grin.

“Okay, sir.” I mumbled.

“I mean…” Mr. Brunner wheeled his chair back and forth, like he wasn’t sure what to say. “this isn’t the right place for you. It was only a matter of time.”

What does he mean by that?! That I’m destined to be kicked out? That despite the high standards he’s been holding me to he had zero faith in me? That he was going to insure I would be kicked out if it wasn’t something else?

“Right,” I whispered.

“No, no,” Mr. Brunner said. “Oh, confound it all. What I’m trying to say… you’re not normal, Percy. That’s-“

“Thanks,” I blurted, holding back my fear that he could know about my power, “Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding me.”

I bolted, hearing his call as I fled.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

The last day of term had finally arrived.

I gathered up my notebooks, my waterskin, my assorted gifts from Triton and my friends, Carl in his new transportable tank, and carefully put everything up in my two bags, my waterskin on top. My suitcase held the extra and all of my clothes.

The other guys were talking about their plans for their breaks.

They’re all juvenile delinquents like me, kids that can’t manage it in other schools, but they’re rich ones.

Doesn’t mean I have to let them know that I’m not doing much unless Triton can contact me soon. I probably shouldn’t even go to the river until Triton gets ahold of me.

One of them asked what I was doing this summer.

“I’ll be visiting some of my friends overseas. I haven’t seen them since winter break.” I flashed them a bright smile that hid the ache in my chest as they questioned me more.

“Where do they live?”

“Oh, on some islands a bit out. They’re a bit spread out, so I’ll probably move around some.”

“That’s cool, looking forward to it?”

“Yeah,” I grinned, “They’re a lot of fun.”

They went back to talking about their trips but did leave an opening for me to join if I wanted.

I didn’t, they were all kind of jerks to Grover, but I appreciated it.

The only person that I was nervous about saying goodbye to was Grover. Even with Tethys’s advice, even knowing that he may try to harm me, it’s so hard to let it go.

Turns out I don’t have to yet though because he’s coming with me. We have tickets on the same Greyhound bus to Manhattan.

Seems suspicious.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

Grover is clearly very nervous, glancing around and down the aisles, watching the passengers. It was similar to how he acted every time we left Yancy. I ducked my head and didn’t say anything about it.

“Hey Percy?”

I glanced at him, “Yeah?”

“I uh, I know that uh, that we’re going different ways this summer. But…. I thought, uh, here-“

He handed me a card, “Just take this, in case you need me this summer.”

I took the card, which is in the most obnoxious fancy script that took me a minute of squinting at to read.

Grover Underwood

Keeper

Half-Blood Hill

Long Island, New York

(800) 009-0009

My heart almost stopped, Half-Blood Hill.

What does this have to do with Half-Bloods?

“What’s Half-“

“Don’t say it aloud!” He yelped, “That’s my, um… summer address.”

I stared at him, is he trying to trick me into going into some sort of trap?

“Okay, so if I want to visit.”

“Or… or if you need me.” He nodded.

“Why would I need you?”

I couldn’t help the bitter words. How could I trust him after what I overheard the other day?

Grover blushed right down to his Adam’s apple. “Look, Percy, the truth is, I—I kind of have to protect you.”

I stared at him, the likely mythological being that I’m half convinced is supposed to be assassinating me.

“Grover, what exactly are you protecting me from?”

Could I have misunderstood?

Suddenly there was a huge grinding noise under our feet. Black smoke poured from the dashboard and the whole bus filled with a smell like rotten eggs. The driver cursed and limped the Greyhound over to the side of the highway.

After a few minutes clanking around in the engine compartment, the driver announced we’d all have to get off. Grover and I filed outside with everyone else, and my senses were on fire.

It was like a web of feeling, fabric flowing over me, almost sparking as it moved.

My head snapped around, on the other side of the road, across four lanes of asphalt shimmering with afternoon heat, was an old-fashioned fruit stand.

There, next to it in rocking chairs in the shade of a maple tree, sat three old ladies knitting the biggest pair of socks I’ve ever seen.

And those old ladies were... dangerous.

The energy I could tell was there, it was overloading my senses.

I couldn’t feel anything but the crackling fabric flowing over me.

The lady on the right knitted one of the socks, the lady on the left knitted the other. The lady in the middle held an enormous basket of electric-blue yarn that made me feel like a knife was pressed to my throat.

The combined feelings made me want to claw at my skin, what is this? Who are they? What’s going on?

The three ladies were looking right at me. I rubbed at my arms.

Grover made a strangled sound and I glanced at him. Just barely resisting bolting from the area.

“Grover?” I said. “Hey, man—”

“Tell me they’re not looking at you. They are, aren’t they?”

I swallowed, oh dear.

“Yeah, why?”

The lady in the middle took out a pair of scissors, massive scissors—gold and silver, long bladed, like shears. I heard Grover catch his breath.

“We’re getting on the bus,” he told me. “Come on.”

I stood still, staring at the old ladies with the scissors that made my head spin, their presence that made electric fabric rub at my skin, and their yarn that felt like knives prickling my neck.

“Come on!” He called, prying open the door and climbing inside.

The old ladies still watched me, and the middle one lifted the scissors.

I could hear the snip of her cutting the yarn from across all four lanes of traffic. Her two friends bundled up the electric-blue socks and I felt the at this point familiar buzz fill my head. The three ladies were gone between one blink and the next.

At the fear of the bus, the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment. The bus shuddered, and the engine roared back to life.

The prickling of a knife, the electric fabric, the head spinning all faded, almost entirely gone.

The passengers cheered.

“Darn right!” yelled the driver. He slapped the bus with his hat. “Everybody back on board!”

We got back on, the buzzing still nudging me. I pushed my power as hard as I could, shoving the buzzing trying to reach me away.

Grover looked sick, I didn’t feel great myself, but the buzzing had faded almost entirely.

“Grover?”

“Yeah?”

I hesitated, should I? I want to know… I need to know if he’s actually a threat.

I licked my lips, “What are you not telling me?”

He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve. “Percy, what did you see back at the fruit stand?”

“There were three old ladies, two knitting giant socks, one holding yarn. The one in the middle cut the yarn, then they left.

He closed his eyes and made a gesture with his fingers, one I recognized from my time with Triton. A symbol to ward of evil. With magic behind it, it can do small things. Otherwise it’s just a simple hand motion.

“You saw her snip the cord.”

“Yeah. So?” Who were those old ladies? Nothing has bothered my senses like them before.

“This is not happening,” Grover mumbled. He started chewing at his thumb. “I don’t want this to be like last time.”

I scowled, “What last time?”

“Always sixth grade. They never get past sixth.”

“Grover,” I snapped, because I just want answers! “What are you talking about?”

“Let me walk you home from the bus station. Promise me.”

I stared at him, there’s no way I’m letting him know where I live. I’m not endangering my mom like that.

“Sure.”

He continued to bemoan my fate, looking at me mournfully, like he was already picking the kind of flowers I’d like best on my coffin (Forget-me-nots so I can boss people around even when I’m dead).

#percy jackson #powerful percy #percy figures out how to control water young #percy calls himself a waterbender #waterbender percy #Avatar the legend of percy #avatar: the legend of percy #avatar fan percy #grover #Grover underwood #pjo #percy jackson fanfiction #pjo fanfiction #pjo fanfic #smart percy #strong percy

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headoverhiddles · 5 years

Text

Dante’s Inferno - Beetlejuice x Reader [Smut]

Synopsis: Spending your undead life working at a brothel in the Neitherworld isn’t the worst. It gets even better when the ghost with the most pays you a visit at work.

Notes: This was supposed to be pure smut, but it got feelsy. Lol. It’s based on the scene where the brothel shows up in the movie!

You wave goodbye to Marcel, the vampire you usually get on Tuesdays. He's a regular (nice man) but he's into biting. You don't mind-- thankfully though, your madam, Madam Bones, knows a bit of cosmetic witchcraft, to get you fixed up before the next client.

You've been working here at Dante's Inferno Room for years, ever since you came of age. It's a fun way to pay the bills, and the characters you meet along the way are well worth it. Most of them have had a lifetime of experience with women too, seeing as they're all dead, so the actual work isn't too bad either. Dante's is a highly exclusive club, that can only be conjured by few, and gossip floats around the Neitherworld establishment, as freely as a ghost who hadn't learned the gravity incantation.

Every girl in this place seemed to dream of the 'dead's most eligible bachelor'-- but nobody says his name, for some reason. It was a jinx, a curse or something to say it. You're curious just who the man behind the myth is.

You let Madam Bones heal your neck, and she checks the time on a watch with spinning hands.

"Elliot Mortescue will be here shortly," she announces to you, "He's requested you specifically." Elliot is a dead baron-- a bit of a stuffy ghoul, and you assume he wasn't that much more fun in life than he is in the bedroom dead. But, he pays well, and he's also a regular, so you don’t mind how he always asks for you. He says he likes your horns best.

Elliot arrives, and you smile, beckoning with your signature plumping of your breasts and pouting. He smirks, taking off his top hat and stalking over to you, when you suddenly hear something outside.

About three of the girls are out on the verandas, luring someone in. The music of the place gets just a little bit louder, and you walk out past the less-than-pleased baron to see.

Standing on the balcony, you look down, and see a man who accomplishes a near impossible feat-- makes you quiver.

"It's him," your fellow dancer and coworker whispers, making sure her horns are brushed off, "It's--"

Another girl puts her hands over her mouth. She frowns, grows out her fangs, and snaps down. The second girl scowls, and shakes her hand.

"Don't say his name!"

"That's...?" you whisper, looking down.

"Uh huh," the second girl nods. "The ghost with the most. Any girl in here would just die for a night with him."

You see the ghost start to dance toward you, strange spikes protruding from his jacket. They disappear though, and you can hear the excited grunts coming from him as he slicks back his wild white hair.

"Mm... ooh, yeah..." He shakes his hips as he finally enters, and he rubs his hands together. "Ah, ladies. Ladies! I'm feelin' a little... anxious, if ya know what I mean."

A bunch of the demon girls giggle, and some others roll their eyes, though not without a sideways glance. The ghost grabs his crotch, and nods. "Oof, uh huh! I'm definitely in need of a little love, girls. It's been too long. Years. Hundreds of years, ya don't know what it's like!"

"Ohhh," everyone fawns over him, and he makes a show of choosing a girl. You watch him closely as he looks around, narrowing your eyes. He looks... familiar.

"Mmm, you look like a freak! But you're real spooky, babe, maybe I should..." He trails off, and his eyes stop on you. “Ooh. Ooh, yeah.” He licks his lips, shooting you finger guns. "I have GOT to go with you, babes. Knocking me outta the park with that look, holy, is it blazing like the fiery pits of hell in here, or is it just me, huh?"

Everyone else moans and sighs that he picked you, muttering about how all of the best always choose you. You just take this ghost by the collar, leading him up to a luxury bedroom. Once you're inside, you grin, pushing him up against the door.

“What would you like, and how would you like it?” you drawl. His eyes fly down to your breasts, and he palms himself.

“Mmm... I could probably finish just watchin’ ya stand there, to be honest, babes...”

You pout, circling him and nudging him away from the door. “But you don’t want that. And I don’t want that. I want you to finish inside me.”

He groans, a sound that goes straight to your pussy. The more you look at him in the hellish candlelight, the more attractive he gets. Although... there’s something about him that’s oddly familiar.

“I know watcha mean,” he growls, looping his arm around your waist and dipping you back, “But it’d still be hot, wouldn’t it?”

You lick your lips. “Oh, yes. You, sitting on the edge of the bed...” you walk him over like a dog on a leash, and sit him down, smoothing your hands down his shoulders, “...watching as I put on a little show...” You start to strip, opening up your shirt to expose your bra. The ghost is practically salivating by now, but you put your foot up, keeping it on his chest. “Ah ah. You wanted to watch. So watch.”

You snap your panties against your ass, and unhook your bra, turning around and winking. He’s dying to see you from the front. You toss the garment back, and squeeze your ass for him, moaning softly, imagining it’s him. He curses under his breath, and you hear the telltale sound of him rubbing one off. You hold up a finger.

“You know the rules.”

He stops, and you finally turn, striding over to him. You get on top of him, straddling him, and barely touch his lips with yours.

“Hooo,” the ghost sighs, “I am gonna need a good millennium to get over those tits, babe.” You kiss him gently on the nose, leading his hands up your torso.

“Maybe more.” You squeeze your breasts with his hands, and he groans even louder.

“Fuck. I wanna fuckin’ break this bed with you, babygirl,” he growls, teeth gnashing. He’s lost his playful side-- he wants you bad now. Arousal spreads through you as you drag down between his legs, kneeling. You quirk and eyebrow, and he licks his lips again, voice register dropping down to a regular tone.

“Detours are fine too, however.” You take him out of his pants, and he gasps at the contact. “Fuckin’ yeah. C’moooon, baby. Give me summa that,” he cackles, resting his hands behind his head as he leans against some invisible force keeping him upright. You put your hand on his knee, and use the other to take his cock in your hand, sliding your wet mouth down over it. “Holy fuckin’ shit,” he murmurs, “Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about... this was worth the wait, you better believe it, mmmm!”

You suck him until he’s clutching at the bed and knocking his hips up so fast you can’t breathe. You pop off, shooting him a dirty look, and he runs a hand through his hair. “Wassamatter? I facefuck you too rough?” He sets off cackling again, so you climb on top once more.

“Fuck me. Hard. Now.”

“Can’t disappoint the lady,” he smirks, and grabs you by the hips, flipping you over so he’s on top of you. You lean up to kiss him, but just as you do, you notice something. He does as well. He notices a small tattoo, right under your ear. His eyes widen, and yours do too.

It all hits you too fast, like the car that hit you on the bridge.

"Beetlejuice?" you murmur. He swallows, worry in his eyes.

"Uh. Oops. She said it once, I can forgive it. Twice, well--"

"Beetlejuice," you clench your jaw, and he lets out a high pitched squeal.

"Babes, wait--!" he blurts, and holds his hands up as he topples off the bed. You look over the edge, accusation in your eyes.

“You better give me one good reason not to say it one more time and send your ass back to that model!”

“I’ll, uh... give ya the best orgasm you’ve had in your whole undead existence?” A pillow hits him in the face, exploding with dust. He coughs. “Evidently, that was not a good reason.”

“You LEFT me!” you shout. To hell with your job. To hell with the money you would’ve gotten for finishing him off-- you’re pissed.

When you die, you forget things. You forget who you loved, who meant the most to you. You retain some of who you are, but not a lot sticks in the afterlife, here in the Neitherworld. The workers at the office see to that.

But the cracks all seem to be getting bigger, letting little fragments through. You used to babysit for the Maitlands’ newborn. You were between jobs, and needed the money... you had known Barbara from saying hi at the local grocery mart, and after that, you had practically lived at their old house, as a live-in nanny.

Until...

You were in that accident. The car, the bridge, the river... you had drowned, you weren’t hit by a car. You were in the car! You had ended up here in the working class of the Neitherworld, and... well, you had no idea where the Maitlands ended up, after they also died in the same accident. As far as you know, their baby had been adopted by the family who moved in... though that was just a rumor from Juno.

But Beetlejuice... you had met the ghost in the model, one night when you were lonely. Everyone else had been sleeping... he had found you, calling out softly for someone, and you had started some kind of strange affair. After a while, you started to develop feelings for him. Then he disappeared.

“Hello?? Dead guy with a boner lyin’ on the ground!” Beetlejuice shouts, and you very nearly smother him with another pillow. He jumps up, covers his crotch, and sighs. “Look. (y/n). Before ya kill me again, I... I had to go!”

“Why?”

“I just!” He clenches his jaw, shaking. “I can’t answer you! I can’t tell ya, alright?!”

“Why not?”

“Babes...” He sighs, seeing there was no way of getting around this. “I started to... feel stuff for you. I couldn’t stay, cause you were alive! You couldn’t fall in love with a dead guy. Young hot thing like you... much rather pay to bang demon chicks for the rest of eternity.” He realizes the irony of this, and looks you over, cringing. “How the hell did you become a demon?!”

“Probably by fucking a ghost,” you growl, walking him up against the wall with a finger pointed at his neck. He manages a nervous smile.

“Touche.” He sighs again, brushing hair out of your face. You find yourself leaning into the touch. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry! I am. I’m just a mess. Alright? I’m a dirty mess who knows I fuck up so bad all the time that I don’t deserve a... perfect girl like you.”

You look into his eyes, and smirk. “You want me to start playing the violin?”

He starts to smile, then laughs. You laugh as well, and his usual pizazz is back. He wraps his arms tight around you, then starts mouthing kisses up your neck. You moan, remembering how many times sex had been initiated like this. Your pussy is responding to the memories coming back as well-- with every touch from Beetlejuice, you remember one more little thing he used to do in bed to drive you wild.

You both fall to the floor, fuck the bed, and you get on top of him, lowering yourself onto his cock. You lean forward so your breasts are in his face, and he lets out an excited holler.

“Yeeeah!!” He buries his face in your breasts, motor boating. “I’ve always wanted to do that.” He licks your nipples, sucking them into his mouth and grazing them with his teeth. You can’t get over his horny, salacious expression, like he wants you so bad, he needs you, he can’t get enough. You rock down, biting your lip, and he grabs your horns, holding on for the ride as you both move in time with one another, as if no time had gone by at all.

“Baby, baby,” he moans, “Ya gotta forgive me. I’m so fucking horny for you, I gotta come.”

“Come inside me, Beetlejuice.” Just then, in a flash of light, you both appear somewhere else. You look around, and he starts to laugh his ass off. “What?” you mutter, frowning at the plastic graveyard behind you.

“Ya said my name the third time!” he snorts. You turn to see his grave, and a couple of model houses. You laugh as well, and lean down, slamming your lips into his hard. He groans, hands going to your hips, and he gropes you as he pants your name and comes. He thrusts his hips up hard, and you gasp too, coming just as hard as he does.

You roll off, laying back on the uncomfortable plastic turf. “Well. You owe me my day’s wages.”

He smirks, ogling down your naked body and feeling a hand down it. “Happy to pay up. Just lemme pop down to my humble abode...” You roll over closer to him, cuddling into his arm as he brushes his nose against yours. “Wanna stay for awhile? Hope you like Italian.”

You hear a soft male voice. “What’s...?” You look up to see two people towering over you-- a familiar couple. “(y/n)! It’s been... years!”

“Barb? Adam?” you shriek, and Beej snaps his fingers fast, getting a dress on you. It’s two sizes too small, hugging you way too tight, but he just shrugs with a nasty smirk. The two ghosts above you look at each other, to you, then to Beetlejuice.

“Please tell me you didn’t corrupt our innocent babysitter, you horrible banshee,” Barbara snaps. Beej just grins in smug satisfaction, zipping himself up.

“Actually, Bab-- (y/n) corrupted me.” Shrieking laughter echoes through the model, as the ghostly couple shake their heads at what their afterlife had become.

#beetlejuice #beetlejuice x reader #beetlejuice 1988 #tim burton #michael keaton #michael keaton x reader #reader x beetlejuice #reader x michael keaton #michael keaton smut #beetlejuice smut #ghost with the most #beetlejuice fanfiction #beetlejuice fic

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james-pottr · 4 years

Text

{ 𝔦 𝔴 𝔞 𝔰 𝔯 𝔞 𝔦 𝔰 𝔢 𝔡 𝔲 𝔭 𝔟 𝔢 𝔩 𝔦 𝔢 𝔳 𝔦 𝔫 𝔤 𝔦 𝔴 𝔞 𝔰 𝔰 𝔬 𝔪 𝔢 𝔥 𝔬 𝔴 𝔲 𝔫 𝔦 𝔮 𝔲 𝔢 }

𝖖 𝖚 𝖔 𝖙 𝖊 𝖘

i solemnly swear that i am up to no good j k rowling, harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban if people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. the world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. but those that will not break it kills. it kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. if you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry. ernest hemingway, a farewell to arms being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared. being brave means you are scared, really scared, badly scared, and you do the right thing anyway. neil gaiman, coraline witty, self-deprecating, sometimes uproariously funny and sometimes unbearably sad new statesman i wonder which will get you killed faster—your loyalty or your stubbornness susan ee, angelfall

𝖇 𝖆 𝖘 𝖎 𝖈

NAME: james fleamont euphemon potter NICKNAMES: prongs, jamie AGE: 19 BIRTHDAY: march 27, 1960 GENDER: male PRONOUNS: he/him SEXUALITY: disaster bisexual, somewhat demiromantic

𝖋 𝖆 𝖒 𝖎 𝖑 𝖞

MOTHER: euphemia potter, nee valez ( deceased, aged 73 ) FATHER: fleamont potter ( deceased, aged 80 ) SIBLINGS: none biological, several unofficially adopted

𝖕 𝖍 𝖞 𝖘 𝖎 𝖈 𝖆 𝖑 𝖆𝖙𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖇𝖚𝖙𝖊𝖘

FACE CLAIM: alberto rosende BUILD: tall, defined, built like a brick shithouse HAIR: naturally disheveled and messy, often flopped over his forehead and particularly mused at the back. despite hi HAIR COLOR: jet-black EYE COLOR: hazel SKIN COLOR: tan DOMINANT HAND: right ANOMALIES: a scar on his left hip, another on his right knee and one across his left cheek from snape’s curse beside the lake. james’ hands are calloused from years of quidditch and he has a smattering of other small scars and marks from full moons and particularly violent quidditch matches. SCENT: broom polish, clean soap and something almost oaky (ya boy smells like a forest) ACCENT: british ALLERGIES: all forms of seafood DISORDERS: james has shown symptoms of mild depression following the deaths of his parents and regulus black. the revelation regarding lily’s pregnancy as well as the curse has also led to some anxiety, although james is unsure if this is natural stress or something more FASHION: whilst james still owns quite a few pairs of robes, his everyday clothing is an eclectic mix of both wizarding and muggle, quite often stolen from his friends. james likes to say that he and lily don’t have seperate sock drawer because he just steals hers on a regular basis. NERVOUS TICS: tapping his foot or drumming his fingers on things. if he has it on him, james will often play with the snitch he stole from hogwarts when he was fifteen, letting it fly away and catching it. a true indication of james’ uncertainty and nerves is just how deep into his own hair his hand is. chances are, the messier james’ hair is, the more stressed he is. QUIRKS: constantly playing with his own hair or adjusting his glasses. james is a very physical person, so if he’s speaking to someone, particularly someone he is close to, he will often lean heavily on them, or fling his arm around them.

𝖑 𝖎 𝖋 𝖊 𝖘 𝖙 𝖞 𝖑 𝖊

RESIDES: godric’s hollow, west country, england. here he lives in a cottage purchased as a wedding present for himself and lily BORN: st mungo's hospital for magical maladies and injuries RAISED: potter estate, located outside of godric’s hollow in the west country, england CAREER: auror-in-training EXPERIENCE: while the auror program has offered james considerably training and experience in both offensive and defensive magic, his role within the order of the phoenix continues to hone those skills EMPLOYER: the ministry of magic

POLITICAL AFFILIATION: aligned with the order of the phoenix BELIEFS: strongly anti-dark magic, pro-muggle and muggleborn MISDEMEANORS: a multitude of detentions whilst attending hogwarts, many of which were for jinxing or pranking other students FELONIES: one motorbike chase with two muggle policeman, is an illegal stag animagus DRUGS: none SMOKES: only when he is particularly stressed. upon finding out that lily was pregnant, despite it remaining between the two, james has banned cigarettes in their house. ALCOHOL: occasionally. james is a very overzealous and affectionate drunk, however since the deaths of his parents, he has been far more mournful and therefore tries to avoid drinking as of late DIET: while he lacks the full skillset of his mother, james often tries to emulate the traditional colombian and cuban meals that he grew up on. otherwise, he is fairly unpicky and will eat most foods.

LANGUAGES: english & spanish

PHOBIAS: being truly alone HOBBIES: playing quidditch, collecting chocolate frog cards, drawing TRAITS: { + }: stubborn affectionate loyal self-sacrificial dedicated { - }: stubborn arrogant boastful self-sacrificial rebellious

𝖋 𝖆 𝖛 𝖔 𝖚 𝖗 𝖎 𝖙 𝖊 𝖘

LOCATION: anywhere that his friends are, hogwarts SPORTS TEAM: puddlemere united GAME: quidditch MUSIC: most things playing on the wireless, james just likes the background noise MOVIES: james is admittedly, fascinated by muggle films and television, so he does not have a favourite as he just likes watching them in general. FOOD: his mother’s pastelitos and empanadas, moros y cristianos BEVERAGE: butterbeer, firewhiskey if he really needs it COLOR: dark red, burgundy

𝖒 𝖆 𝖌 𝖎 𝖈

ALUMNI HOUSE: gryffindor WAND (length, flexibility, wood, & core): 11", pliable, mahogany, unicorn hair AMORTENTIA: pastelitos, lavender and vanilla, old books and something musky PATRONUS: a stag BOGGART: the corpses of his family and friends, dead at his own hand

𝖈 𝖍 𝖆 𝖗 𝖆 𝖈 𝖙 𝖊 𝖗

MORAL ALIGNMENT: chaotic good MBTI: esfp ( extraverted, observant, feeling and perceiving ) MBTI ROLE: the performer ( vivacious entertainers who charm and engage those around them. they are spontaneous, energetic, and fun-loving, and take pleasure in the things around them: food, clothes, nature, animals, and especially other people and their wellbeing ) ENNEAGRAM: type 8 ENNEAGRAM ROLE: the challenger ( the powerful, dominating type: self-confident, decisive, willful, and confrontational. they use their strength to improve others' lives, becoming heroic, magnanimous, and inspiring ) TEMPERAMENT: sanguine ( fundamentally spontaneous and pleasure-seeking; sanguine people are sociable and charismatic. they tend to enjoy social gatherings, making new friends and tend to be boisterous. they are very much people persons; talkative and not shy. sanguines generally have an almost shameless nature, certain that what they are doing is right. they have no lack of confidence. ) WESTERN ZODIAC: aries ( hopeful, active, energetic, honest, versatile, brave, adventurous, passionate, generous, cheerful, argumentative, curious, impulsive, naive, self-willed, belligerent, impatient ) CHINESE ZODIAC: rat ( wise, unique, intelligent, crafty, determined, inventive, intense, acquisitiveness, ruthlessness, and nervousness ) PRIMAL SIGN: piranha ( fearless, aggressive, and get what they want every time TAROT CARD: the sun, the wheel of fortune & the magician ( there an air of earned and learned success with the wheel of fortune and magician cards, and an added dimension of peace, contentment and inner harmony ) TV TROPES: team mom ( there needs to be someone to hold this ragtag bunch of misfits together before they kill each other or wander off into the woods ) feeling oppressed by their existence ( because there is a certain kind of people that he doesn't like, and they... exist ) screw the rules, i'm doing what's right! ( helping someone out when the rules say that you shouldn't ) jerk with a heart of gold ( a person you would expect to be a big jerkass has some redeeming qualities behind their tough demeanor ) SONGS: run away - ben platt nine - sleeping at last lily and james - imogen heap young and in love - ingrid michaelson 5805 - the classic crime

𝖎 𝖉 𝖊 𝖔 𝖑 𝖔 𝖌 𝖎 𝖊 𝖘

abhors the dark arts and believes that anyone who partakes in them should be stopped

refuses to wear shoes indoors

disgusted with any form of prejudice against someone for their blood-status or other things they are unable to change about themselves

his privilege should be used to help others: he is rich and from a fairly respectable pureblooded family and he should use that to help those who are not

when it battle, it is his duty to protect those around him, even if that means sacrificing himself

stopping harm from coming to others is the most important thing

#dulcetask #i didnt spend all day doing this whut #𝔯𝔢𝔤𝔞𝔯𝔡𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔢𝔮𝔲𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔢: 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔧𝔞𝔪𝔢𝔰 𝔭𝔬𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔶 { 𝔟 𝔦 𝔬 𝔤 𝔯 𝔞 𝔭 𝔥 𝔶 }

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everly-kindred · 4 years

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Eve’s Diary - Entry #53

Date: 12th of March, 2027

Dear Diary,

I’m trying to write in you more frequently, like I said I would, so here we go!

I wanna say first off that I did a big tarot reading like I said I would, since Ostara is coming, in precisely a week! But I’ll put my translation of the cards down at the bottom, after I write about everything else.

I’ve been having a lot of dreams about frogs lately, and it reminded me of when my Gran took me to this rose garden. There were this big stone rings, like giant hag stones, and my Gran told me they’re called fairy stones and that hag stones can be held up to your eye, and if you look through the hole, you’ll see faeries. She’s a muggle, and that’s a legend that has existed for centuries, for them.

I wonder if they really do see faeries… What happens if a muggle comes across a faerie? Like… our kind of faeries? I should ask the Care of Magical Creatures professor next chance I get.

Anyways, this garden was sort of a like… loop within a circle shape, with little bridges going over these ponds with fountains, and the whole thing was surrounded by a little stone wall, and filled with benches and rose bushes and little trees. It was a tiny park, but beautiful. And I remember there were so many frogs, and I spent ages trying to catch one, while my Gran relaxed on a bench and read her book. Sometimes she’d stop and laugh at me, though, especially when I almost slipped in the pond for probably the tenth time that day. It was a good day.

Did you know that frogs lay eggs and the eggs float in clusters on top of the water? I wonder what would have happened if I scooped up some of the eggs and water and kept it in a jar… It was this weird, greenish yellow slime, with little black dots in each center. I think tadpoles are rather cute, actually.

Well, my frog dreams reminded me of that. I still need to ask Gallo what it means. Maybe it’s just because it’s been getting warmer? The snow and ice has started melting, and it’s been looking like it might rain.

I’ve been doing watercolors and sketches, and I’ve thought about getting on my broom and flying high enough that I could sketch all of Hogwarts. I think that’d be a rather magnificent experience, don’t you? Terrifying, too. I’d want someone else there to catch me if I lose balance and fall. It’d likely be best done on an extra thick, sturdy broom.

The other thing that’s been really pressing on my mind lately is the gold cauldron in the potions shop, in Hogsmeade. I can’t remember if I’ve already written about that in you, but I’ve been daydreaming about it for months! Well, I day dream about a lot of things - wand making, bread… well, baking it and other things, the stories I want to write, making cute music boxes… But the gold cauldron especially! I want to save up for it, which would be very rewarding… It would also be rewarding to win it in some sort of competition, though.

Though, the fountain outside of the Great Hall was sort of… whispering to me in a weird way. Like, I was drawn to it. So I took my last galleon and I wished for the gold cauldron! I hope it was worth it… I was also kind of thinking about rabbits and fairies at the time too, though, so I hope I didn’t muddle it up.

Something odd and… kind of nice happened the other night, which motivated me. I was running from Peeves (he was trying to dump mud on me) when I ducked into the dueling room, and came across one of the girls in the dueling club there. Her name is Briony Boggs, and she’s a Gryffindor. We got to talking, and she told me how my wand needs me for guidance, and I have to lead it. That I need to be confident with it for my spells to go off, and if I think I’ll fail, I will. So I’ve been trying to change the way I think about things ever since.

As far as what’s actually been happening in school, I’ve been going to my classes like normal. Though, of course, classes aren’t normal by usual standards. Something weird is always happening, but that’s just how it goes isn’t it? The ravenclaw boys were fainting in herbology… I think they don’t wear their earmuffs on purpose when handling mandrakes. I successfully cared for this plant called moly, though! I didn’t overwater them and I wasn’t too rough with them or anything!

In Defense Against the Dark Arts, we talked about different subjects and how they might be used in defending oneself from dark wizards. My anxiety was too high during that class, though, I didn’t hear much of what was said and I don’t remember a whole lot of what I did process. Basically, as soon as I walked in, Vikander told me to stay after class. I thought it might’ve been because of my clothes, because we had a really odd notice from him to wear house pride stuff instead of uniform and… some people wore uniform and said it’s because they were told by him to be careful of sudden odd changes of behaviour… or something like that.

Anyways, it wasn’t about that, though. He wanted to ask me about my vision. So I went up to his office, and the Healer and one of the Phoenix girls were there, Nicole I think. And he took off his glove which seemed to be like… alive or something. And his hand was all burned but I did my best not to stare. Then he put his hand on my head and asked me to think about the memory of the vision very clearly, so I did. I guess he has some sort of… mind reading magic when he touches people’s heads? I dunno. I got hot chocolate out of it, though. So that was cool. I wonder what he thought of the vision… How he felt when he saw what I saw, especially the part with him in it.

I went to dragonology, and we talked about how dragons are similar to seekers - specifically Viktor Krum. I was a bit distracted, though. Did I mention that Professor Eastwood’s eyes are orange? It’s the most… unique eye colour I’ve ever seen! And, I mean, Blightly’s eye is all red and scarred, and Dracheblume has purple eyes… Plus there are a few people with two different coloured eyes at the school, too. But his are orange and like… glowing.

In Artificer club we made a thing called a PMRA which is this like phonograph with legs and it moves and dances around and plays music and can record stuff for you! We built them and then Bonnie cast the spells for me to enchant mine, and also Marigold and this Gryffindor boy named August’s.

You can feed the PMRA sheet music or give it records to play. I went to the music room and grabbed some sheet music for Celestina Warbeck and the Weird Sisters, and also some of the Beetles and Peter Paul and Mary… Oh, also the Mamas and the Papas. It’d be cool to build up a music collection for it!

For now mine sits by my dorm bed, and I have it play music very quietly for me at night. Someone in the dorms is a bit of a snor-er and someone else talks in their sleep… I’ve been told I also talk in my sleep. Well, mutter more like. But occasionally I’ll be sleeping and then some girl a few beds away from me will start muttering strange things like… especially food related things. She must dream about lasagna an awful lot.

There've been some glitter pranks around the school, too. If you step on a trigger on the ground, you get splashed with this powder paint, and it gets everywhere and passes so easily onto other people, so some students (lookin’ at you, Peach) will go around and purposefully try to spread it. I think it’s funny, even if it’s messy, but when have I ever been a stranger to messiness? Most of my clothing is covered in paint stains…

It’s funny timing, though, because the ministry is now in the school. They’re investigating the forest. Apparently, a bunch of students were caught there, and now there’s all these aurors and occasionally Minister Merriwether walking around. The scary thing, though, is that apparently they’re putting a barrier up around the school, and if you cross it, you’ll… disintegrate? I wonder if that’s painful… I imagine so. I hope the animals know to stay away from it.

Anyways, that’s all I can think of to catch you up on, so that means it’s tarot reading time. I think I’ve done this spread before, perhaps last spring? It’s a six card spread and you make it in the The first card asks what I ‘need to decay’ or rather what I need to let go of. For this, I drew the Emperor. While he represents masculinity and a leader, he also represents a giver of sorts… So either there is a masculine presence in my life that I need to let go of, or I need to stop… providing for other people? I don’t know. This one didn’t make sense to me. I’ll have to think about it. I don’t think I’m particularly giving, and if I am, I don’t see how I’d be too giving…

Second one asks what will ‘fertilize me’ which actually means what do I need to learn from. I drew the five of swords reversed. This card, in reverse, would mean something like the desire to be mean, maybe because of wounded pride. So perhaps I am to learn from a moment in which I wanted to be mean instead of kind? Maybe it means I need to learn from any desire I might have to act when I’m angry. I’m not sure. I’ll keep it in mind though and treat it like a warning for the future.

For the third card, it asks what will ‘nourish me’ which is what I can look forward to. I drew the Chariot. The Chariot is a card of control and victory so… I’ll try not to jump to conclusions or assumptions about what that means and jinx myself. (butboydoIsurehopeit’stalkingaboutquidditch)

The fourth card asks how I ‘burst forth from the earth’ or rather what seeds I should plant for the future. For this, I drew the Magician. I’ve had this card before, and it seems like it shows up a lot in my readings. So as we know, this means power, concentration, dedicating myself. Focusing on strengthening my… smarts and wisdom and stuff. So the seeds I should plant are the seeds of learning, which makes a lot of sense since… I’m in school and all that.

As for the fifth card, it asks how I ‘grow tall’ which means what skills I should be focusing on and improving. The deck gave me the ten of swords. This card is a card of deep suffering and sadness, so if I’m needing to focus on a skill and building on it, perhaps it should be the skill of… healthily expressing sadness? I guess I do bottle stuff up sometimes.

And finally the sixth card asks how I will ‘blossom’ or rather where I need balance, and for this, I drew the nine of wands reversed. This card is a card of encouragement, confidence, and facing down fear, so maybe it’s telling me that I need to balance out my anxieties and my defeated attitude with bravery and courage. So that I am realistic and honest with myself, but also willing to take a risk and push myself to my full… potential?

Anyways that’s my reading. It felt good to get back into it and do a big one for once. I’ve just been pulling one card or doing three card readings everyday or every other day. My back hurts from sitting over my diary and writing, so I think I’m gonna lay down and go to bed.

Much love, Everly

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#harry potter #hufflepuff #diary #witch #magic #magical #witchy #witchcraft #hogwarts #journal #SecondLife #second life #mischief managed

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araminia16 · 5 years

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Not An Illness After All (Third Trimester)

XxOxX

After the third bathroom trip in what seemed to be only a few minutes Rayla glared down at the bump which housed her growing child. She could no longer see her feet. As far as she knew they didn’t exist except when they ached in time with her back and the struggle when she put footwear on and off.

Almost as if in response she received a strong kick to her rib. “Cheeky thing.” She huffed then glanced upward to find a servant across the hall from where she stood at the doorway to her room. “What are you looking at then?”

The servant quickly scurried away from her wrath and she began to walk through the castle. The training ground. That’s where she could just relax and not worry about Callum and his attentive anxious aura or Claudia’s gaze or the glare from other Moonshadow elves as they took in her state and the reason for it.

Claudia ended up on the convoy to the Moonshadow elf capital and once they arrived she had hardly been seen since in the open but Rayla knew the corners from which she hid herself.

She and Callum were ambassadors and as such received lavish accommodations though she tried to ignore the way the other elves whispered and looked her way. At this stage there was nothing to hide. None of her old clothes fit anymore and her once slim musculature of her abdomen devolved into this ball shaped mass. Her center of gravity changed with each day and the things she had been able to do in the stage before she was unable to now. Her tree travel ended up with a rolled ankle and a trip to the healer here in Xadia with a frantic Callum at her back. There was no way she wanted to have a repeat of such an embarrassment. So now her feet remained firmly on the ground though they did not remain idle as she still jogged at least a mile a day and practiced her sword forms as well as balance exercises to keep her body in shape. The head healer here Terlynna told her exercise would be good for her child as well as herself to prepare her for the arduous task of childbirth. At least Callum had embraced what she said with vigor not that she would ever be truly lazy regardless.

The training yard was much like the one in Katolis and much like the one she had trained on as she grew with Runaan. Her new shoes allowed her to feel much of the earth beneath her and she rolled her toes before she started up her jog. It was strange to feel all the weight of the child and fluids within her belly with each measured movement of her body. The support sash given to her by Terlynna helped immensely with the back pain as well. As the jog ended she went directly to the sword post and drew a practice blade or tried to when a younger male stopped her. “Shouldn’t you be in your rooms knitting or something?”

“What does it matter to ya?” She fired back and pulled the wooden blade from the rack.

“I don’t even know why they let you come back. You failed in killing the king and his son then you brought a human into Xadia to steal our magic. You should be locked up as a traitor, not married to their royalty. Or was that your plan all along?”

“Why don’t ya mind your own business before ya get hurt.” Her hiss took the male aback and for a moment she thought her threat would leave her in peace but nothing ever went as planned.

“Even that thing in your belly isn’t natural. It will probably die after birth anyway so I don’t know why you would go through all this trouble for it.”

Rayla knew she didn’t have much in the way of experience when it came to mothers. She often had doubts about what sort of mother she would make but she couldn't’ stop her hand from it’s path with the wooden sword as it hit solid flesh with a satisfying crack. The sound of his pain as he fell back and hit the ground with a thud was like music to her ears as she stood over him with menace. “I gave ya a chance didn’t I? Then you had to say something about my baby. Listen here, boy. If you so much as look my way again while I’m here I will break so many bones you won’t be able to carry a weapon much less talk again. Do ya understand me?”

The boy nodded and held his bloody nose as some other younger trainees hauled him up.

“Anyone else have a problem with me or my baby?” When no one else answered, “Good. Let’s keep it that way then.” It wasn’t until later in the safety of her room and Callum’s arms she cried.

The next day there were so many apologies from the Consul’s staff she thought she might vomit or thwack them upside the head too while she nearly had to chase Callum away from her. He actually wanted to go back to the boy who accosted her and throw him around with his power a bit. Though it would have made her happy she told him it would be a bad idea for a human to do such things to an elf with their peace so new still.

In the end he agreed grumpily and rubbed her back and feet properly as she lounged and gorged herself on Moonberries.

It was in the garden where Claudia found her of all places. A moment of peace secluded in the trees of her homeland. “Hello, Rayla.”

“Claudia.” Came the guarded reply.

“I heard about the thing in the yard.”

“It seems like everyone has. What do ya want?” Straight to the point there was no sense in making small talk as far as Rayla was concerned.

“I just wanted to talk to you. Maybe get to know you a little bit since you married Callum and all.”

“That was a role you expected to take, right?” Rayla didn’t bother to hide much of the bite of jealousy from her tone.

“I know you have a lot of really good reasons to be on your guard but please don’t do that.” Claudia came around to sit on the bench across from her.

Rayla put hand atop her belly to comfort the suddenly active child within. “Do what?”

“Attack me. It’s not fair and you know it. That stuff has been in the past for a long time now and I would rather not bring it up. Though if you want to know Callum had always been my friend and I knew he liked me but I also knew that we probably wouldn’t last as a couple. Not with his disdain for Dark Magic and I think you two are actually a really good match. You compliment each other way better than he and I could have. It was just a crush. Mostly one sided but I wouldn’t have minded if it hadn’t been. He’s got a thing for the unattainable I think.”

Claudia looked so sincere that Rayla loosened up at little bit, “Well I also have other reasons ta not like you much. With the whole trying to kill me thing...quite a few times actually.” Rayla had been about to count on her hand but decided against it. There were too many. She would have to include toes too.

“Yeah. I’m really sorry about all that too. I just feel so out of place in Katolis and here but that’s because there’s elves everywhere. Home doesn’t feel like home anymore, you know. I grew up there my whole life and I feel like it’s all gone now.”

Strangely Rayla knew exactly what she meant, “Yeah. I’m back in Xadia but since I married Callum and ‘betrayed’ everyone I feel like everyone’s judging me. Especially with this little wee thing in me. They keep thinking it’s some kind of monster but I can tell it’s only got two legs and two arms and probably a head in there somewhere. But I can’t help but wonder if they’re right. What if it can’t live?” Why she confessed such things to the women in front of her she didn’t know but the way Claudia looked at her only made her feel more vulnerable.

“I didn’t know that.” She uttered quietly though her look now pensive as she offered Rayla a small smile, “I’m sure everything will be fine. Does it move a lot?”

“Constantly especially while I’m trying to sleep. It likes it when I run and move sort of like i’m rocking it to sleep.”

“Is it moving now?”

“A bit.” Rayla paused, “I suppose you want ta feel it then?”

Claudia looked guilty but put her hands up, “Well I do but I wasn’t going to ask you. That’s really personal and I don’t know if we could even be that personal anyway.” She had started to ramble a little after that when Rayla sighed. The elf reached over and sntached the wrist of the other girl in hand to place it atop her belly.

It warmed her heart when she felt her child kick against Claudia's palm. Claudia jerked a little and looked in open mouthed shock at the place where her hand rested. There was a quiet wonder in bright eyes as it happened again and this time she smiled and Rayla heard a quiet giggle. “Holy cow. It kicks really hard. Do you know what it is? Well of course you don’t. It’s not here yet. Do you think you know what it is? What do you want?” The questions were rapid fire as Rayla released Claudia’s hand and the other woman sat back in anticipation of the answers. It reminded her a little of Callum.

“I haven't thought much about it. I just hope it’s healthy. Callum thinks it’s a boy. I’m not sure if that’s because men have an obsession with a carrying on the bloodline or something ridiculous.”

“Yeah. It’s pretty dumb honestly. But I think you have a preference. You just don’t want to jinx it.”

Rayla felt her child kick but didn’t answer the question, “What about you? Do ya have any men in mind?”

Claudia gave a slow, sly smile, “Maybe.”

Rayla leaned back to listen. Maybe Claudia wasn’t quiet so bad after all.

$#$#$#

Callum sighed as he felt the steady thump of their child’s feet on his back. It amazed him how hard such a little thing could kick and from the even breaths on the nape of his neck he knew she slept deeply now even if his abuser didn’t. Callum managed to wiggle away from Rayla without her awakening and he silently congratulated himself even though he was sure she was just exhausted and sore from her continued punishment on her body.

There was nothing he could say to make her slow down but she wouldn’t be Rayla if she did.

He scooted down the bed until he lay face to rounded belly. The loose shirt she wore to bed had ridden up to expose round purple flesh and half of her belly button. He could see the bulge just under her skin and muscle where he rested. Or she. He would secretly call the baby ‘he’ until they knew for sure. Right now he lay on the bed where his mother positioned herself and each kick shifted the shirt a minute amount but he could see where her skin poked out and it fascinated him. One time when they lay in bed he watched as his son rolled from one side of Rayla’s belly to the other with fascinated horror and an exclamation to match. To Rayla it was business as usual and so she laughed at his utter shock of something actually being alive in there. Something alive that moved constantly from the way she talked about it. It would be so interested to be pregnant but he didn’t have any wish to be in her shoes.

Elven pregnancies, he learned were shorter than human ones at thirty four- thirty six weeks where humans usually lasted longer. Maybe it was the less fingers but he had to hide from a projectile when she learned she might actually have to be pregnant longer than she thought with a half human child. Right now she was thirty two weeks along and he thought she looked better than she ever had. It was a testosterone thing but he didn’t care.

“Hey.” He whispered to his child. “Could you take it easy on your mom and me? She’s pretty tired and grumpy and you have a crazy hard kick. I think I might actually have a bruise or something tomorrow. I bet you’ll be just like your mom. Kicking serious butt all the time or maybe like me because I can’t even lift a sword properly. Or you might not be like either of us but whatever you do just know we will always love you and be so proud of you. But for right now you should get some sleep. You have some more growing to do before we get to meet you for real.”

“Who are ya talking to you loon?” Rayla mumbled sleepily from above as she shifted and sat up on her elbow to stare at him through bleary eyes.

“Your child was kicking me in the back.”

“Welcome to my life. It’s always kicking me somewhere. Speaking of I think I need some help. I feel like a whale and I probably look like one too.”

“You look beautiful.” His response was automatic, “Trust me.” He moved up and over her legs to help her sit then stand up.

“Yeah well you are the one who got us in this mess to begin with.”

“It takes two you know.”

“Shut it.” She meandered over to the door.

“That’s the hallway.” He called out just before she turned the knob and he could hear her sigh of irritation as she turned and went to the other door.

Callum smiled as he leaned over to his side of the bed and pulled out his sketchbook. Rayla trudged back to lay on her side and pulled the covers over her before she drifted back to sleep.

It was a while before he went to bed. He just had to draw her again. Had to capture this moment forever onto paper though with his memory he would likely remember it for as long as he wanted. Soon he might not have the time to do much of anything from what the other older parents told them. Soon two would become three.

$#$#$#

Rayla shifted on her knees uncomfortably, “Would you hurry up?”

Callum shifted behind her, “I have a feeling you don’t want to do this.”

“Noooo. Ya don’t say? This is what the healer told me we should do to get this little beast out of me faster. It’s been thirty six weeks. I want ta be done already.” She whined.

“I don’t think I want to do this if you don’t want it.”

“Just do it already. I’ll be fine.” Even with the pillows bunched as a cocoon under her substantial belly her back was already sore. She shifted on hands. “Now.”

“I’m...I’m not feeling it.”

“Do ya need me ta serenade ya with a sweet melody and hold ya close before ya get into the mood then? I swear I ask my husband to lie with me and he acts as if it is a burden.”

“I--.” He started then gave up. “You aren’t even ready.” For emphasis he stroked fingers through her warmth and she knew he was right. This would be painful and so close to delivery injury to her nethers was hardly a good idea.

“I want to try this. I’ve done just about everything else.” And she had. She tried to walk and eat spicy foods, tried to bounce on a large spongy ball, but not the castor oil the healer recommended. She wanted to do this first. “Ya know how to prepare me. So do it.”

Callum sighed, “It will be harder in this position. You’ll have to get on your side for me.”

She complied and soon his mouth had her well and ready for whatever he wanted to do for her as he rolled her onto her knees again. It was still a snug fit even with preparation but he went so slow she growled with impatience and in return he gave her a swat on her backside.

At first she felt as if everything was too deep. This position didn’t usually do much for her but it was the only one she could manage without too much trouble. Being flat on her back made her breathless and if she tried to sit astride she would have to do all the work and she was too heavy for that. They had tried on their sides a few times but they couldn’t get the angle right.

Rayla’s arms wobbled with sudden weakness and she dropped to her forearms to wait Callum out. The movement arched her back and sudden on his next pass he brushed against something strange but good.

He paused as he felt her reaction and passed over the same spot slowly and she reacted again with a short exhale. Callum gave a small noise of triumph and though the angle brought something in his back taut and sore he hit the same spot with slow regularity. She shifted and moaned softly as he sped up. Soon enough her cries grew needy and Callum’s brow moist with the effort of trying to keep his release in check as she shuddered and whined. It wasn’t enough.

Though it messed with his rhythm he reached around to the front and found the other place he knew she loved and timed each thrust with a motion of his hand.

There it was. Within a few more strokes he had her keen her release as he groaned and let himself be carried away with her until they were both sated and spent.

“I hope that was enough.”

“Me too.” Callum pulled back and grimaced as his back spasmed uncomfortably while he stood. “Not that I don’t really enjoy doing this together.”

“Quiet, you.” Rayla sighed and shifted to lie on her side. “How am I so tired all the time?”

Callum smiled and leaned over to kiss her, “It probably won’t get any better. At least that’s what they tell me.”

“Comforting.” She grumbled.

Several hours later in the dead of night Rayla stirred but didn’t understand why. Eyes open she surveyed the room and found no sound or strange shadow in the room. She felt the heat of Callum’s hand atop her belly and just as she started to drift off to sleep she felt a pain tighten in her belly. It rose slowly and peaked uncomfortably before it fell again to disappear. Now she was awake. It happened two more times in sporadic intervals before she decided to wake him, “Callum. Wake up.”

When he only muttered and shifted sleepily she sighed, “Callum.” Louder now. “I think it’s time.”

“Time?” The sleepy murmur sounded adorably confused until he shot up as she shifted to sit up herself. “Time? As in ‘the time’?” He scrambled out of bed and with very little grace he shot across the room to unlock the door and flung it open.

He was halfway out the door, “Callum.” Rayla called out, “You might want to get some proper clothes on before we find the healer.” She felt far calmer than she ought to as another pain began.

Callum scrambled back to her and hovered anxiously, “What can I do?”

“Get clothes on. And find some for me too.”

He did as he was bid while the pain passed and soon she had a proper dress thrown over her head and Callum had some semblance of proper clothing on as they made their way down to the healing ward, “Shouldn’t we go faster?”

“I don’t think it’s just going ta fall out of me, Callum. There’s some work to it. My work.”

When they reached the hall the pains continued for a while but after the healer checked her over she had told the two expectant parents, “You’re child isn’t on the way just yet. These are practice contractions.”

“Practice? They bloody well hurt ta be practice.”

“Labor is no easy thing. As with your weapons your body needs to train to be able to do its job.”

“This is all your fault.” She huffed at Callum who merely sighed in disappointment.

“Well I think we should go back to our room and get some rest.”

After a heated discussion between the two parties Rayla’s contractions had faded into the day and they trudged back to their room exhausted and discouraged. The healer had told them the baby was low and in position but was in no hurry to leave it’s current residence.

He left her for the day in their rooms for her to rest with a kiss to her head near her horns and a rub to her back, “Don’t worry about it. Everything will be fine. He’s just being stubborn. You rest and maybe today will be better.”

Rayla nodded off to sleep after she had gone to the bathroom again. For the millionth time today.

It was three more nights in the past five days where they made their way down to the healer ward to be told there were only practice contractions. By the last they didn’t even bother to get dressed properly as they made their way down the halls.

With little to no sign that her child would make an appearance any time soon Callum arranged for their departure to Katolis with Claudia in tow. A healer had offered to make the journey with them just in case they had need of one.

Rayla, now a week overdue by her standards, sat in the carriage as now she felt too large to ride comfortably on horseback in a sullen mood.

Claudia offered to sit with her a while on the road back to the new bridge built to cross from Xadia into the human kingdoms.

“It can’t be that bad can it?”

“What?” Rayla shifted as her back spasm and ached uncomfortably. The pain radiated around her sides and faded after she moved.

“I mean at least you get to be more prepared for it. It gives you more time to just be the two of you. Because from now on it’s going to be the three of you. No more couple time.”

“We have had plenty of ‘couple time’. I just want to stop aching and be able to sleep and eat without having to pee every two minutes.” She paused and growled, “Stop. I need ta take a break.” She called out of the window and the two women felt the carriage stop. The door opened and Callum appeared to help Rayla down the step and watched as she trudged into the foliage to take care of things.

“So you and Rayla are friends now?”

“Maybe. I’m not really sure. We talk but I would call us more friendly acquaintances than friends. It’s hard to be the only girl in a group of guys.”

“Yeah. I get that.” Callum agreed and spied Rayla on her way back. “Thanks for being there for her. I really appreciate it.”

“We’re friends, aren’t we, Callum? At least I hope we still are.”

Callum nodded as he helped Rayla back up who now winded settled into the carriage as the door closed and they started to move again. She sighed and leaned back as another shot of pain started at her back and rolled around to the front.

“Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

“No. Not at the moment, thank you.” Rayla sighed and rubbed at her belly. “There feels as if there’s a large fruit in between my thighs and I cannot move without looking foolish.”

The pains continued with increased regularity and intensity but Rayla paid them little mind and contributed them to the less than perfectly comfortable carriage but Claudia kept time on each wince on Rayla’s face in time to notice a pattern.

She was about to bring it up when Rayla’s expression changed and the sound of water colliding with wood filled the space as Claudia looked down at the mess of liquid on the floor and her shoes. Rayla froze as Claudia opened up the door and leaned out, “Callum! I think Rayla’s water just broke."

XxOxX

Sorry it’s a bit late. Work sucks. The wee babe is coming! And the next chapter should be out sometime next week! Have a good weekend!

#rayllum #rayla x callum #the dragon prince #fanfiction #rated m #fluff #sassy grumpy rayla #braxton hicks #pregnancy sex #callum x rayla #claudia #cause i like the idea of the two becoming friends #a bit of xadia #on ao3

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thefloatingstone · 5 years

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In 2012 I did not think I’d be able to make this list as I was convinced anime was on a permanent decline towards nothing but trash, but I am so happy that has changed! And so I give you a quick list of;

Favourite Anime made in the last 4 years!

Mob Psycho 100 (2016)

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A no brainer, really. With a 2nd Season having JUST premiered earlier this week, MP100 is easily one of not only best LOOKING animes in a very very long time, but also one with an extremely strong empathetic message that’s completely opposite to most shounen anime. The theme of “having outrageous powers doesn’t make you any more or less special and important than any other human being” and how all the villains in the show are people, either super powered or not, who believe themselves “more important” than others is at the heart of its story. And our protagonist who is a person with horrifically strong powers, but who is trying to develop as a human being, and finds himself to be a rather emotionally brittle person who relies very heavily on others for emotional support. As well as focusing on the people willing to grant him that. It’s got some strong influential roots in the Earthbound and Mother 3 games and despite never saying anything along those lines, I can bet you anything the original Mangaka, ONE, drew heavy inspiration from their tone and presentation, as well as emotional core despite the oftentimes wacky setting.

The anime should also not be overlooked for its incredible Sakuga sequences, as well as using mixed media in its animation from pencil drawings, to paint of glass, to charcoal to sand, cementing it as easily one of the most visually interesting and ambitious shows in the last decade or so

Made in Abyss (2017)

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An anime that understands concepts of Scope and Scale and manages to bring what is normally reserved for feature films to an episodic storyline. Made in Abyss’ entire theme and story is that of exploration of the unknown and everything in this anime’s power is honed to bring across that feeling. Its art direction headed by Osamu Masuyama whose previous work include working on the background art for both Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, is painstakingly rendered to bring as much gravitas to the setting as possible, aided by the soundtrack written by Kevin Penkin which is just as much atmospheric as it is musical in nature. Every ounce of talent is focused on making Made in Abyss’ world, culture and characters feel solid and real. And unlike other anime with cutesy art styles but dark subject matter, Made in Abyss’ darker tone is established right in the first episode and gradually builds to its first season’s climax, rather than blindside its audience out of nowhere.

I sincerely cannot sing this show’s praises enough.

It also doesn’t hurt that the animation itself is fluid and lively.

Re:Creators (2017)

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When I gave this to an animator friend of mine, one who is NOT as big a weeb as I am, he referred to it as “if Ready Player One actually knew what it was doing.” Re:Creators is one of a trend of some anime where the narrative is extremely meta in nature, but rather than use this as a form of parody, Re:Creators instead focuses itself on using its meta storytelling to shine a light on Japanese popular media as a whole, both from the side of the creators who MAKE such things, as well as the side of the fans and not only their response to media, but their interpretation and addition to popular media. And unlike the more critical approach several horror anime have taken in the past, Re:Creators also shows the positive effect stories in the form of anime, video games, manga etc both on those who read it as well as those who create it. And show how fan creations and their responses and reaction to media are just as important and enriching to works like this as the very people who create them.

It’s also one of the first shows from any country that correctly portrays what online fan culture is like. Both good AND bad.

Erased (2016)

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HOO BOY. The Big Guns. Most mainstream anime set in a modern setting inevitably seem to involve high school or at least characters who are high school aged. Erased, however, deals with a protagonist who is 28 years old. Due to time travel shenanigans, he is transported back to 1989 when he was 11 years old growing up in Hokaido. So already, this anime is complete skewing the generic setting for stories of its type, further hammered in by the fact that the show has no romantic subplot in it. There might be a smidge of something like “preteen romantic feelings” among the children but as far as “female hero the protag is going to fall in love with at the end” goes? Yeah there’s none of that.

Erased is an extremely dark anime, but not in the way Made in Abyss is dark. Whereas Abyss’ dark tone comes from things like getting eaten by monsters and body horror caused by the Abyss’ curse, the dark theme of Erased on the other hand is much more horrifying as it comes from “reality”. And it’s because of this I WILL have to warn people about its plot points because it WILL and DOES get uncomfortable.

The plot of Erased is our 28 year old protagonist gets hurled back in time to when he was 11 years old in Hokaido, as I said. In the winter of 1989 there were a string of child abductions and murders, and it’s up to our main character, again in his 11 year old body, to solve these crimes to prevent a tragedy in modern day. Not only does the show deal with the very uncomfortable topic of child abduction and murder, but a MASSIVE part of the plot revolves around the would be murder victim, Hinazaki Kayo, who is living with her physically abusive mother. And unlike shows like “Magical Girl SITE”, the abuse is not shown as “suffer porn” and blown up to be so over the top in how bad it is, ut is instead extremely grounded and feels waaaay to real to the point of being very upsetting. However, the abuse is not there to make the audience sad. The abuse is in the plot to further press upon the audience the borderline helpless state our main character is in. As a child, he has to rely on his experience and ability to think like an adult to try and prevent the serial murders, as WELL as try and get Hanazaki out of her abusive situation. It also serves as a learning experience for our main character, and him figuring out how he hasn’t changed at all since he really was a child, and how his own stagnation in life itself needs to change and be redirected. The show is bursting with tension and every episode exists to turn the stakes up just a little bit higher.

I’ve heard some people are extreme disappointed by the show’s ending which I will not spoil, but personally going into it completely blind, I didn’t find any of it to be a let down and its very quickly become one of my favourite anime of all time.

The Ancient Magus Bride (2017)

(I actually don’t like the intro to Ancient Magus Bride so it only gets a link since I can only embed 5 videos)

https://youtu.be/KuZbmLLv1vM

Based on a manga by Kore Yamazaki, who has stated that her reason for writing the story was out of frustration that in “Beauty and the Beast” type stories, the beast always turns back into a human at the end. However this anime is far more than just a monsterfucker’s romance novel (although it... DOES follow a LOT of those tropes but hear me out.)

Set in the English countryside (although our female MC, Rise, is herself Japanese) the show makes heavy use of english folklore. Faeries are a constant presence throughout the show, and these are not the “nice” kind of faeries you’d see in Disney. Despite theyr good nature and honest want to help, these are the kinds of faeries that will kidnap you to their realm if you so much as let your guard down. We also have excellent portrayals of Titania, the queen of the faeries, and her heated relationship with her husband Oberon. Several other creatures from folklore make an appearance too, as well as old traditions such as faerie rings, seeing stones and the magical properties of herbs and flowers.

But beyond all of that, and even beyond the romance tropes or monster protector who is also a threat and powerful lead female who also needs protecting, the core theme of the show is on life. Or more specifically, death. Rise is a girl who is suicidal. And despite her not making any kind of suicide attempt in the show, this is a fact. The majority of the show is focused on Rise learning to “be alive” again, as well as process what life is, as well as what death is in its many forms. The show is a slow build of Rise reclaiming her will to live, not because of a romantic partner, but for herself. Reclaiming her own importance as a person removed from who she could be useful towards, and a slow coming to terms with a truly terrible event in her past and letting go of a traumatic past.

The show has some pacing issues here and there, but I still qualify it as one of the better modern anime shows to have come out in years, and can only praise its life-affirming message it’s trying to tell.

Osomatsu-San (2015)

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I am.... not entirely sure how to explain Osomatsu-San.

Based on a manga published in the 1960s by Doraemon Creator Fujio Fujiko about 6 identical sextuplet brothers and their friends... the current and newest anime adaptation has borderline nothing to do with its original incarnation which was more your typical Showa era “hi-jinx” type gag manga. I think the very first episode of Osomatsu-San (which is not available for official purchase last I checked due to copyright issues) sets up the entire show perfectly, as the 6 boys and their friends learn they have a new anime adaptation coming up and realise that nobody in the modern age will want or even understand Showa era manga. So, instead, in an effort to be like “a real anime” they go about parodying literally every popular trope and show that’s out at the time. From yaoi-incest baiting to Jpop boy band to Attack on Titan to Sailor Moon, they keep cranking up the “modern anime” aesthetic until it literally explodes and collapses in on itself. And after realising they don’t have what it takes to compete in a modern anime word, the characters resign themselves to being losers who will never achieve anything in life.... and that’s where the show starts.

I can only refer to the show as “Millennial humour: the anime.”. 90% of it is just comedy with our 6 main characters who are, at their core, pretty terrible people. However, their issues and struggles of trying to be adults make them some of the most relateable anime characters out there. The show bounces from parodying popular culture both in anime as well as in movies to outlining the problems of trying to be a late 20-something year old in modern society to actual hard hitting drama that actually makes you angry because how DARE this stupid show actually make you FEEL things???

It’s borderline impossible to try and explain this show because, just like its 6 protagonists, it doesn’t seem to have any direction in its life. Which is exactly the point.

#anime #Long post #image heavy #video #recc #modern anime

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malpabo · 6 years

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[Drunk Talk 2] Shinhwa “Luckily we didn’t break up despite the temptations”

Shinhwa welcomed their 20th birthday. It’s their 20th debut anniversary. Shinhwa debuted in 1998, and has released 13 studio albums in the past 20 years. While the mountains and rivers changed twice, and even through much complications, they have protected the name of Shinhwa, and received a lot of love as they released multiple hit tracks, starting with their debut song, ‘The Resolver’.

Shinhwa is the longest running idol group that is ‘currently active’ and has continuously promoted for 20 years, without even one member change. There are so many groups that have dissolved or experience member changes to the extent that the ‘idol 7 year jinx’ saying exists, and that is what makes Shinhwa’s 20th year shine even more.

The drunk talk interview was arranged with great difficulty, as Shinhwa was busy with preparations so that they can celebrate their 20th anniversary in an even more meaningful manner with the fans. It so happened that this interview was conducted on ‘Shin-dependence day’ (a phrase that combines Shinhwa and Independence day that fans use to commemorate the end of the trademark lawsuit, falls on 29 May), which was even more meaningful.

(continued from part 1)

- There must have been a lot of complications during your lawsuit to protect the name of Shinhwa after your contract with SM Entertainment ended Minwoo: Oh, the day we’re doing the interview is Shin-dependence day. It’s a meaningful day for Shinhwa and our fans. Actually, SM Entertainment was good for us because the conditions and system were good. Even when we said we’re leaving, they treated us nicely so I’ve always been grateful. We did experience difficulties after leaving SM Entertainment and starting at a new place. And that also made us stronger. Before leaving SM Entertainment, I told the members, ‘Let’s not break up, no matter what’. We were committed to sticking together, and not get shaken by whatever temptations there were in the confusion. That’s why we shared everything with each other, no matter how small. Back then, one of the CEOs of SM Entertainment left and we started with him in a family-like atmosphere. It was exciting to start again and we were determined to make it our second leap forward. We wanted to protect Shinhwa. We even received a daesang after we left together. Eric received a big award and gained recognition as an actor. The other members also received good reviews in their respective positions, so I’m proud of them. It’s really great that we didn’t break up.

- I’m sure all your interests were different, how did you come to the same conclusion? Minwoo: We talked a lot while drinking. We got everything out of our system, and I think that’s why we didn’t have a huge clash of opinions. Also, different members did well at different times but whenever a member was doing well, he would think even more for the team, and be even more considerate, and I think that is how we managed to maintain our team well. All the members are also the head of the family. It’s partly our environment but there isn’t a large gap of rich and poor between the members. I think that also played a part in keeping us together. Eric: We have never said ‘We definitely should not break up’ to each other before. We’ve only said that if we are asked during an interview. I think it is also due to the members’ personalities that we are able to maintain the team. When I was young, I wanted to be a singer not because I loved music or dance but because it looked cool. But as we continued this line of work, I think we had the common wish to maintain the coolness and not be servile. If I chose solo activities because I did well as an actor but not as Shinhwa, going down that route seems servile, doesn’t it? I think we all dislike choosing something that looks uncool.

- Who takes care of himself the best? Junjin: It has to be Dongwan hyung. But can you write ‘All of us (laughs)’ in the article? (laughs) Dongwan: Jinnie is right. We’ll all good at it.

- You can’t miss out on ‘pranks’ when talking about Shinhwa Andy: Eric hyung is the best. When we lived in the dormitory, he once stared at me for one hour out on the porch that is connected to the room while I was playing computer games. I felt weird so I turned to look and I was really startled because of him. Hyesung: I try to act as calm as possible even in a prank. Minwoo: In Eric’s case, he will not prank you again if you have no reaction. He really loves shocking people after waiting for a long time, so we were often shocked when we lived in the dormitory. Eric: (laughs) There was once Hyesung flew up in the air because of me. He was doing his business in the toilet, and I was hiding in the bathtub. I peeked my face out slightly, and he jumped up to the roof from a sitting position. Hyesung: I’m totally not afraid of scary activities, like bungee jump, but you can’t help with being surprised.

- Any ugly pasts? Junjin: I’m sure all of us has one. Especially in relation to fashion, or hairstyle? (laughs) Minwoo: There’s something I’m still curious about. When we had our first broadcast for ‘The Resolver’, Mr Lee Soo Man said we had to stick a CD player on our pants. The cover was transparent so you could see the CD spinning if you played it. He told us to go up on stage with that kind of CD player attached to our pants. We only did it once and I still have no idea why he asked us to do that.

- What is the most difficult song to perform amongst Shinhwa’s songs? Minwoo: ‘Your Wedding’ is the most difficult. So is ‘Wild Eyes’ Hyesung: Minwoo flies around during ‘Wild Eyes’, regardless of in the past or now. In the past, I would just think ‘That’s cool. He does it well’ when I see him do it. Now I will think ‘He can’t fall down. He can’t be hurt’. Minwoo: Why? I’d still be doing ‘Wild Eyes’ even when I’m in my fifties. (laughs)

sr: Ilgan Sports Translation by @malpabo Please take out with full credits

#shinhwa #eric #lee minwoo #kim dongwan #shin hyesung #junjin #andy #shinhwa interview

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honeynutts · 6 years

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Get to know the author

Got tagged by @unfocused-notwriter AGES ago~ (thank you!!)

I’ll tag @breakeven2007, @elliewritesstories, and @amerraka, but only if you want to do this along with anyone else if you’d like~!

1. Is there a story you’re holding off on writing for some reason? I have a strong urge to write sci-fi someday, but I'm waiting to finish Mercy. It would be difficult to work on two complicated stories at once. 2. What work of yours, if any, are you embarrassed about existing? Probably this short story I wrote for a stupid creative writing class about a spiteful guy named "Dusty Wolf"... That explains a lot, doesn't it? 3. What order do you write in? Front of book to back? Chronological? Favorite scenes first? Something else? Front to back. I've attempted to write out of order and have also started from the ending-forward, but these do not work for me. If the beginning isn't solid, I can't move on for some reason. 4. Favorite character you’ve written? It's a tie between Joey and Edith. They're both fun to write because they have such bold, colorful personalities, and I'm introverted. They give me the chance to speak whatever comes to mind without holding back no matter how mean or inappropriate. 5. Character you were most surprised to end up writing? Rowan, because I actually hate her? Jessyka! She's got the most shocking motives and is relentless and unapologetic for the messed up things she does. In general, there's a lot to explore through her, even though she's not like the characters I normally write at all. 6. Something you would go back and change in your writing that it’s too late/complicated to change now? The origin story with the Creator. Originally, there wasn't an origin story at all and everything in Mercy just existed without a higher entity (besides angels and demons, but they didn't have a purpose) so I came up with a Goddess to balance out the emptiness and also provide a rational for everything that happens. I'll just say that there's a lot of simplifying that needs to be done, but its a lot to fix. 7. When asked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write? I'm enthusiastic until they ask me what I'm working on or if the questions "will you write this for me/will you add me in as a character" comes up. 8. Favorite genre to write? I've always been comfortable with fantasy, but I really want to write sci-fi and I wouldn't mind exploring horror (It just sounds difficult to create fear through words for some reason. Kudos to horror writers.) 9. What, if anything, do you do for inspiration? Listening to music, reading a book, watching a movie, watching an anime, talking to a friend, reading over old ideas, Ted-Talks/inspiration videos in general, and if possible going outside (whether it be going to the store or walking around) all help me get inspired. 10. Write in silence or with background music? Alone or with others? I always listen to music if possible, usually one song on loop. I normally write alone, but I don't mind being around others. Having company is comforting, but I don't write around my friends often enough to be affected. (I MISS THEM A LOT THOUGH :””^>) 11. What aspect of your writing do you think has most improved since you started writing? The character development has grown a lot, so its not writing with my characters is not like puppetry anymore. Also, the plot is driven by character actions and motives which was really hard to plan out, but worth it. 12. Your weaknesses as an author? Descriptions (especially with setting) and actually writing. I get stuck on opening easily, so I still have to learn how to move on and finish my drafts instead of starting over because of one sentence. 13. Your strengths as an author? I think I have succeeded with character creation and depth. I'm extremely attached to my children and I hope readers will feel the same way someday. They don't feel fictional to me, they are actual people. I love them a lot :^) 14. Do you make playlists for your work? I try to. The longest playlist I have for Mercy only has 10 songs on it and their more like...character theme songs if they were to have them. I have a huge playlist of my favorite songs that I listen through when I write, but I guess that isn't made for just writing so.... 15. When did you start writing? In third grade, we had a project to write a story in class, and I really liked the feeling of making something up as I sat in the coatroom. I also made a Deviantart in that same year and I started RP-ing before I got banned for being under-aged but that's where I really kicked off. (Around fourth or fifth grade, I made the initial premise for Mercy) 16. Are there characters that haunt you? Rowan. I'm just gonna name the ones I remember: Lyra, Haru, Kavanaugh, Avery, Iren, Zaire & Lucas, and Wisteria. 17. If you could give your fledgling author self any advice, what would it be? Keep. The. Beginning. Keep. Writing. Its. FINE.

and don’t feel bad for saying no to people when they ask to be/make characters for your story. 18. Were there any works you read that affected you so much that it influenced your writing style? What were they? No books off the top of my head, but anime wise, Cowboy Bebop has become a standard/major influence for me. I love the story line and the character and the theme behind the entire show. And the soundtrack is pure gold. 19. When it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keep track of outlines, characters, development, timeline, etc? I just write everything down in writing notebooks or on new documents or whatever. Sometimes I can keep an idea in my head. Everything random and unorganized to be honest. I really should consider fixing that, but I don't have time. :"} 20. Do you write in long sit-down sessions or in little spurts? Both! Sometimes I can get into a deep writing kick for a few hours, and other times I write more within a 15 minute break. Just depends on my mood and if there are things stealing my attention. 21. What do you think when you read over your older work? Either "This is actually trash. Why did I write this? I'm so glad I've improved from this." Or "WHAT THE HECK THIS IS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD WOW WILL I EVER BE ABLE TO REACH THIS LEVEL AGAIN? I'M GONNA PUT THIS IN THE NEW DRAFT!!!" 22. Are there subjects that make you uncomfortable to write? Romance and anything of the like. Its difficult for me, but for some reason I still try and the outcome is always disappointing. :"^) 23. Any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped your writing? I don't wanna get too detailed here, but pretty much my home environment is toxic and is not a fun place to grow up in, so Mercy is like my vent space. Silas is literally a punching bag if you didn't notice. I think he goes through as much as he does because its my way of releasing negative energy in a positive, harmless way. 24. Have you ever become an expert on something you previously knew nothing about, in order to better a scene or a story? My favorite thing to teach people is the difference between a graveyard and a cemetery because Silas is a grave digger. (P.S., a graveyard is connected to a church, and a cemetery is not. Silas works in a cemetery.) I also know a lot of cocktails (for Misha's sake as a bartender) even though I don't plan on drinking in the future. 25. Copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you’re particularly proud of. "It was clear from the air on his breath that he was a Jinx as well, but one who wasn't jaded. He told Silas one day that he was "too cold" to let hatred and bitterness consume him. At first, he thought that was a joke, but over the course of sitting next the boy at lunch and shivering in the middle of the summer, he found this to be true. He was the embodiment of ice, as Silas would say, but Dei insisted that he call him the host of winter instead. That was his magic ability."

#tag game #THANKS FOR TAGGING ME #I'm really short on time #but this was a fun destresser #get to know me #mercy #edith #silas #dei #joey

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lakkimi · 7 years

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[TRANS] FTISLAND Lee Jaejin "Bad relation with FNC, NO.. We are like an old married couple"

(Due to some time limit, I will omit some parts that basically only talk about the drama, sorry.. ><)

Band FTISLAND’s Lee Jaejin (26) showed his serious acting through SBS Saturday drama, “Sister is Alive”. Since the drama earned high popularity, Lee Jaejin who also starred in it also attracted much attention to his acting there.

Lee Jaejin played Na Jaedong, the troublemaker youngest son of Na Daein. He often created comical situation with his mother in the drama that is acted by Hwang Younghee. He also built a lovely romance with Kang Hase (Jin Jihee) with various incident unfolding in the development of their story. In the setting of a band with him as a guitarist, he also had a perfect synchronization rate as he is FTISLAND’s bassist and vocalist in real life.

“Until now, I have been able to work with colleagues around my age. Even though it is comfortable to work with people from around the same age, I also wanted to work closely with senior actors/actresses, so that I can learn from them closely and improve as an actor. For me to find a gig that I can work on simultaneously with working on music for a long time, I think this opportunity will only come this time, so I thought to take it no matter what.

-----------------------

Lee Jaejin wasn’t satisfied with his (acting) performance. He is upset that he couldn’t draw more from his character and settings. “I really was upset for more than 90% of the time. At the filming set, with that many staffs and actors, it would be better if I could focus a little bit more, but I just couldn’t get myself to. There is no problem with the scenes and characters, and they were made well enough, however, there were a lot of scenes where I ran away after getting beaten up by my mom and dad, that I could have made more fun, but I was lacking energy that I couldn’t make out more of those scenes. I couldn’t make those ordinary scenes to come more alive. Since this is a weekend drama that the directors, actors, and staffs are the people that I worked together with for a long time, the directors and the senior actors just told me that “you have done well, it is right to not go too hard on (the scenes)” but I think I am still far from being an actor that can go beyond the standard to make the scenes more alive.”

Before Lee Jaejin, his bandmate, Lee Hongki, has started to go acting first. It is true that the as Lee Hongki brings people’s awareness toward him through his acting, at the same time, he also has helped people to raise their interest to FTISLAND’s music as well. As Jaejin saw the advantages that Hongki brought by the synergy of doing music and acting, his desire to try out acting grew too.

"Frankly speaking, I have always had the desire to go acting too. My bandmate, (Lee) Hongki hyung was able to communicate a lot through his dramas, he has also garnered people’s interest, and he has also received much love, that it also helped with the band activities too. Lately, we are strongly venturing to a more non-mainstream music, that you can feel the most fun when you are actually there to see us in person. If you only listen to our recorded music, I can only tell you “well it’s just strong”. As hyung does dramas, it also helped a lot with our music life, as he would have more opportunity to tell more people about us. Also, I think my experience in acting helps with my music, and the other way around, so I want to excel in both areas. Since then that I started to diligently study acting.”

Lee Jaejin who played a playful character in Sister is Alive, similar to himself, expressed his desire for a character that is the opposite now. More importantly, for the coming future, he wants a character that can improve his acting skill.

“I want a villain character, a character that seems to not have anything much to say, a chic one. I want to try comical roles too. Even though so, I want to study (acting) more now. I want to jot down things that I experience now on my acting note, so I can study more from it.”

To Lee Jaejin who is used to work in a band of 5 persons, working just by himself has its difficulties too. However, he was able to gather more strength as he received support from his members. For him who has been in FTISLAND for more than 10 years, the relationship among the members is like that of a family.

"Our members are like real brothers. I have met our drummer (Choi) Minhwan since he was in 5th grade. We know what’s going on with each other’s lives, we are just like a family. When they saw my acting, they didn’t seem to bee too impressed. “You’re working hard” they say, but I’m not sure if that’s a compliment, I think it’s more like teasing me. “Well, he will take care of it” its closer to that feeling. But when I cried in the drama, they took a capture of it and to their friends, they used it as an emoticon along with this message “today, I’m sad”. (laughs)

Even though they are colleagues in music, in the acting world, Hongki is a senior. Before Jaejin made his character, Hongki offered his advises too.

"Hongki hyung always had a funny character except for his role in Bride of the Century. Therefore, before I met with the director and the writer, I went to him first to ask about how to build the character. When I asked ‘Hyung, what should I do?’ He replied ‘I have done it that many times that this is the thing that I often overlooked. We should build the character from things that don’t appear in the script, that person’s gestures, way of speech, his childhood accidents, or how he grew up, make the character concrete.’ When he said that I thought of, ‘Ah, a senior is indeed a senior.’“

FTISLAND is a group of longevity that is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. There is this thing called the 7-year jinx in which a lot of groups either disband or have a member leaving, but FTISLAND is an exception.

"If you look at the members, we’re all like Peterpans. When adults see us who are emotional and don’t want to grow old, they would tell us “think a little bit more wisely”. But, we as a group have done well in coming this far. When we fight, we will fight like elementary schoolers, we would get sulky and all, but the next day, we would tell each other “let’s work hard together”, and our fights just end like that. That also shows on stage. FTISLAND consists of 5 persons who don’t want to grow old like Peterpans.”

FTISLAND’s bond can also be seen from their plan to enlist together. They have said it several times that they are going to enlist together. Jaejin revealed that there is no plan to change that.

“We want to enlist together. I want to use the time efficiently, so when hyungs go, I will also go too. I still have things that I want to accomplish both in the band and as an individual, so I still want to work hard a little bit more in a lot of things.”

They also have a long history with their agency, FNC ent. FTISLAND had expressed their regret and dissatisfaction toward their company. Jaejin revealed that indeed, there have been some disagreements in the past, however, now they have come to understand each other better, so they would like to put it all in the past.

"It is true that there were some instances that our relationship with the company turned sour. However, we are good now. We have our own stances, and when we look at each other’s stances, just like an old married couple, we would go “if it is things that I have to understand, then, I have to understand”. In the past, we would say “We can do these abroad, why can’t we do the same in Korea?” and the company would tell us that the situation is not the same in our country. We are not a country that gives a lot of love to the very existence of band music itself. So, they told us to be more realistic. Now, we focus more on what are more feasible to do, and the company would tell us “Whatever it is that you want to do, OK! In return, please also work hard on the other things.” So, no we won;t really clash with each other. This year too, as we celebrated our 10th anniversary, our (HSH) CEO gave us a call and told us, let’s gain strength.”

As a musician, Jaejin’s goal is for the group to last for a long time. Following music, as an individual, his goal is to succeed in acting. We look forward to Lee Jaejin who aims to be a good person, musician, and actor. "As a musician, I want our group, FTISLAND, to be a long-lasting group. It is not easy to be a long-lasting group you know. As we downscale, it is not easy to keep operating as a group, but, even though so, we will still want to confidently and passionately stay in this place as we aim to stick together as a group for a long time. I also want to succeed as an actor. I want to be an actor that is recognized by the seniors, and juniors think of “I want to work together with this senior”. When I first learned acting, I thought of “as long as I become a good person, I will also become a good actor”. There are busy people who just take care of their own matters but I want to be an actor who is considerate of the others, so when I take care of other people, won’t I receive more then? My goal is to become a good person and a good actor.”

Trying to be translated by Lu / Not 100% accurate, feedback is always appreciated :)

#ftisland #ft island #lee jaejin #interview #trans #drama

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pinupgalore-lanadelrey · 7 years

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Lana Del Rey for Elle

“I know that if I had more of a persona [before], I have less of one now. And I think it comes down to getting a little older. Maybe I needed a stronger look or something to lean on then. But I feel like it wouldn’t be hard for me today to play a mega show in jeans without rehearsing and still feel like I was coming from the right place.”

“Looking back now I get a little more of what [the critics] were saying. When I was in the mix of a lot of reviews and critiques, I was kind of like, “What? I do my hair and my make-up just like everyone else for my pictures and my show, and yes my songs are melancholic, but so are whoever else’s.” So to see a couple other female artists not get criticized made me think, “What is it about me?” I think it comes down to energy, I really do. I wasn’t overtly saying “I’m unhappy” or “I’m struggling” in my music, but I think maybe people did catch that and they were saying, “If you’re going to put music like that out you better fess up to it.” But I don’t think I really knew how I felt. Then when things got a little bigger with the music, I was still figuring out what was important to me.”

“I have cringey moments. Certain things I have said and certain songs I have done, but mostly the ones that were leaked.. I mean, they’re not my finest.”

What does performing on stage take from you emotionally and what do you gain from it? “It depends on the day. If I’m having a good day, it still takes a lot, but so much of it is physical. I try to take strength and sing from my core, so I have to actually feel good and get a lot of sleep. Of course, it also helps if my personal life is even; when you’re on stage for an hour, you think while you’re singing. I don’t like my in-between thoughts to be restless, or worrisome, so I can focus on the crowd. It’s not like you do it and it didn’t happen; it’s a real experience. I know rock bands who say they fucking love it- that they would [perform] every night and wouldn’t do anything else. I don’t know if it’s as emotional for them [as it is for me.]

Staying in L.A has made her happy right now - “I’m growing my roots and meeting a lot of other friends, so I feel a little more settled. I have a friend called Ron who likes to swim with me. So every now and then we find an empty beach, jump in, and swim the length of the coast, from one side of the cove to the other.”

Her friends are her family, says Lana and that’s why she can’t accept anything less than total honesty and trust from them. “The fact that I know that now makes everything a lot clearer. What’s interesting is how unsafe we [could] feel among each other [if we weren’t] able to express how we really feel. It’s hard knowing that if you tell someone exactly how you fee, like if you’re happy or unhappy, that could be the end of the relationship because they don’t feel the same way.”

“When you’re in your twenties, you let this cast of characters [into your life], especially if they’re in you’re in the arts. It didn’t matter what they stood for or what they thought was important. But as the years went on, there were things I saw in people that I didn’t like.”

Lana is enjoying being part of a music scene in LA where her friends include Emma Tillman, Father John Misty, Zach Dawes (Last Shadow Puppets), Jonathan Wilson and Cam Avery. They play music together which is not something she’s done with her friends before. The first time she had dinner with the whole gang, she thought “Wow, this is great.” “Feeling a part of something is definitely a nice feeling.” Karaoke competition - “If I am with the guys, they’re always on the microphone and sometimes it’s hard to grab it from them. Everyone pretends it doesn’t matter but you can tell there are moments in the choruses when people are really singing.”

“All the tough things that I have been through – that I’ve drawn upon [in my work] – don’t exist for me anymore. Not all my romantic relationships were bad, but some of them challenged me in a way that I didn’t want to be challenged and I am happy I don’t have to do that now.”

I asked whether she feels that when she admits she’s happy that something bad might be just around the corner? “Yes, sometimes. I have a little bit of that. I feel that it’s a human thing to be superstitious. Sometimes I like to say to my friends,”I don’t want to jinx it”. Or if I’m on the phone I’m like, “I’m so excited about this”, and then I’m just waiting for that phone call the next day... but there’s no such thing as jinxing it. Just let go.”

“I try not to do anything that won’t [make me happy], even if it’s just a show in a place that doesn’t suit me. It’s so simple; I always used to ask myself that, but I never listened [to the answer]because I knew I was probably going to do it anyway. If someone really needed me to do something, I would probably be like,”OK!” I think happiness is the ultimate life goal. I think it’s the only thing that’s important. There are no mechanisms in place for routes to happiness, that’s the whole fucking problem. I think people are unhappy in school – the education structure has been the same for a long time and kids are still not satisfied with their educational experience. And you don’t have enough conversations when you’re young about what makes for a satisfying, mutual relationship. Those collective life experiences – your youth, your academic education and your education about business, marriage or relationship goals – they all lead up to your collective happiness. I think the emphasis is on the wrong things and it has been for a long time.”

“It would be weird to be making a record during the past 18 months and not comment on how [the political landscape] was making me or the people I know feel, which is not good. It would be really difficult if my views didn’t line up with a lot of what people were saying.”

I think it’s a balance, I really do. You are so fortunate if you have good health and high energy because it takes a lot to be a responsible human. Responsible to yourself, responsible to others, and to know when not to get too deep into the wormhole of news, but still be politically in-the-know, and not be disconnected. In my life, it’s like walking on a tightrope.I read the news, but I won’t read it before bed; I won’t read it when I get up and I won’t read it between my recording sessions. I have windows of time where I check in and catch up with everyone, but I keep my sacred things sacred.”

I wrote “God Bless America” [a track on the album] before the Women’s Marches, but I could tell they were going to happen… I realized a lot of women were nervous about some of the bills that might get passed that would directly affect them. So yes, it’s a direct response in anticipation of what I thought would happen, and what did happen.”

Lust For Life - A pop collaboration with The Weeknd on the title track to the moody duet with Sean Lennon and Yosemite, a beautiful song about the way relationships change over time with the refrain that she’s “no longer a candle in the wind.” The chorus of Yosemite is about doing things for fun, for free, and doing them for the right reasons. It’s about having artistic integrity; not because you think they would be big but because the message is something that’s important. And then it’s just about being with someone because you can’t see not having them in your life, not because it would be “beneficial” to you to be in their company. It’s that concept of just being in a relationship for 100% the right reasons. Being a good person, basically.”

I actually am the best girlfriend because I only get into a relationship if I’m really excited about it. I’m unconditionally understanding, very loving and I like to be with that person for a lot of the time. For me, the dream is to have a little bit of edge, the sexiness, the magnetism, the camaraderie, be on the same page and all that stuff, but without the fallout that comes from a person who is really selfish and puts only their needs first, which is like a lot of frontmen if we’re talking about musicians! I’m going to write a book one day called, ‘The curse of the frontman and why you should always date a bassist’. I guess I have a little bit of fantasy that really great relationships, friendships, and romances can stand the test of time. Even though each person in the relationship or the group changes, they don’t change in ways that would make the relationship come to an end.

#lana del rey #elle #interview

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theseventhhex · 7 years

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Amy O Interview

Amy O

Photo by Anna Powell Teeter

On her latest album, ‘Elastic’, Amy O snaps and pops exuberantly, zigzagging constantly with a sense of joy that is undeniably infectious. With songwriting becoming a way of life for Amy very early on, her motivation for this music-making project is very much substantial, relatable, fresh, and meaningful. ‘Elastic’ ultimately is an album about learning to live in your own inescapable skin—a challenge that defines not just Amy O’s life, but everybody’s existence. Identifying that universal truth has shaped her into an exciting and insightful artist, one who is no longer making music for herself but is working to command whatever stage she steps onto… We talk to Amy O about layering harmonies, playing the ukulele and downtime…

TSH: How do you feel your songwriting has evolved in the lead-up to ‘Elastic’?

Amy O: When I first started writing songs I was often afraid to jinx it, so I was wary about editing myself too heavily. Now I take a lot longer to work on a song and push myself harder if there’s anything like a word, a structural issue, or a melodic line that feels off to me. I also write with a full band in mind, whereas previously I used to just think about just my vocals and guitar.

TSH: Did you feel compelled with ‘Elastic’ to delve into one’s ability to adapt and heal from difficult circumstances?

Amy O: I would say I felt compelled to dive into my own ability to adapt and heal from difficult circumstances. I hope by exploring that in my music, it can affect other people positively.

TSH: What other natural compulsions do you feel came into play with this body of work?

Amy O: In the studio, I left room for some unknowns and ended up adding a lot more vocal parts than I’d initially envisioned on some of the songs. Layering harmonies is generally a natural compulsion for me.

TSH: Can you tell us more about the studio dynamic this time around and what type of atmosphere you were surrounded by?

Amy O: The dynamic in the studio was both relaxed and focused. My band and I worked a lot in the weeks leading up to our session so we were really tight when the time came. For a lot of the songs we recorded bass, guitar, keys and drums at the same time to give it that live feel. The studio where we recorded (Russian Recording in Bloomington, Indiana) has a really homey atmosphere. During our downtime, we drank a lot of tea and coffee and pet the cats that live there.

TSH: Do you feel being in a more refined studio allowed your music to become more fuller and expansive?

Amy O: Definitely! Also, playing as a 5 piece contributed a lot to having a fuller sound.

TSH: What does a track like ‘Soft Skin’ imply to you?

Amy O: ‘Soft Skin’ is an exploration of the reality of what we do with our bodies day to day after dealing with trauma, the conflict of how things should be versus how they actually are.

TSH: Also, what are the origins of ‘Spacey Feeling’?

Amy O: It’s about the mythical, almost magical memory that forms around a loved one when they die or leave your life. I had a lot of trouble writing ‘Spacey Feeling’, it took on many forms and didn’t make itself clear to me until I started working on it with the band.

TSH: How beneficial was the ukulele in helping you shape your overall playing?

Amy O: Ukulele was really helpful for me in my early songwriting career. It gave me the freedom to explore melodic ideas that I didn’t know how to make a reality with guitar. I don’t play it anymore, but I’m grateful to it for opening up my writing style.

TSH: How vital can it be when forming new music to step outside of your comfort zone to allow for new perspectives?

Amy O: I think it’s really important to listen to lots of different kinds of music and go to a variety of shows when you’re in the process of working on new songs. You can learn so much from observing other people - even if it’s just what isn’t working for you.

TSH: When you encounter the more difficult days, what helps you get through?

Amy O: Perspective, gratitude and self-care.

TSH: Is it a very tangible feeling that you get when you feel like you have the inspiration to write a new song?

Amy O: Yes! It’s one of my favourite feelings. I write a lot of songs without having that initial burst of inspiration, but when I do get it, I feel really lucky.

TSH: Does listening to Elliott Smith take you back to specific high school memories?

Amy O: Absolutely, Elliott Smith was one of my favourite musicians in middle and high school. His song ‘Say Yes’ was one of the first songs I ever attempted to learn on guitar.

TSH: Tell us more about your experiences at the Rhino’s Youth Center where you work and setup creative afterschool programs for teenagers…

Amy O: At my job at Rhino’s Youth Center, I make zines with teenagers and do screen-printing, mural-making and other creative projects with them. The last few zines we made were about neurodivergence, resources for LGBTQ+ folks, food and music. I’ve been there for about 4 years and feel lucky to be able to work with such amazing young people.

TSH: Outside of music, what makes you smile and feel content mostly?

Amy O: I love cooking, hiking and reading a really good book.

TSH: Finally, what is your ethos with future musical ventures?

Amy O: My ethos with music is to continue to grow my technical skills, to share my inner world creatively and genuinely, and to be part of an artistic community.

Amy O - “Lavender Night”

Elastic

#Interview #Amy O

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buildercar · 7 years

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New Post has been published on http://www.buildercar.com/roaming-with-buffalo-in-a-2017-audi-a4-allroad/

Roaming with Buffalo in a 2017 Audi A4 Allroad

It’s a good day to get lost out here,” Steve Dobrett says, his voice calm and comforting as it crackles over the radio. During his 24 years as the manager of New Mexico’s Ladder Ranch, he’s explored every inch of this 156,000-plus acre property. As he guides us to one of his favorite spots at the ranch’s north end, his white Chevrolet Silverado bounces over rocks that we edge around in our Gotland Green 2017 Audi A4 Allroad. The wagon’s ground clearance is good, but it’s no truck. Gray rain clouds hang low, and thick fog obscures the rutted two-track, so we take it slow as we scan the horizon for bison.

“Do you hear the music playing?” Dobrett jokes as we climb up and over a ridge and see some 200 bison huddled together, their damp, dark-brown fur matted and dripping. Dobrett comes to a stop but waves us on, telling us we can drive into the heart of the herd if we go slowly and keep quiet. The Allroad’s 252-horsepower, turbocharged inline-four faintly hums as the stout Michelin Defender LTX light-truck tires we strapped on for this trip delicately crush bushes and brush. When grunting bison fill each of the Allroad’s windows and mirrors, we turn off the engine, get out of the Audi, and lean against the driver’s door, listening to the deep, powerful breaths of the broadchested bovines.

Media mogul Ted Turner had the right idea buying this property in the early ’90s, wanting somewhere to kick back, hunt quail, and concentrate on his ongoing conservation efforts. Ladder Ranch sits just outside the small town of Truth or Consequences, which changed its name from Hot Springs in 1950 when the NBC Radio quiz show “Truth or Consequences” offered an annual party to any town that renamed itself after the program. The ranch rests in the foothills of the mountainous Black Range, with elevation spanning from 4,500 to 10,000 feet, and it shelters four tributaries of the Rio Grande river — the Animas, Seco, Palomas, and Cuchillo — which help support breathtaking biodiversity.

The Allroad feels surefooted on this red gravel trail. Its body stays composed as its suspension soaks up the washboard earth.

Turner’s then-wife Jane Fonda decorated the property’s adorable, two-story ranch house (Turner still visits often, and the house can be rented as part of a Ted Turner Expeditions experience), while he focused on creating a privately owned preservation for New Mexico’s flora and fauna. Throughout Ladder Ranch’s 245 square miles, you can see elk, deer, antelope, mountain lions, bears, buffalo, turkeys, and wolves wandering through cottonwoods and pines and across desert grasslands. There are even petroglyphs carved into rocks by ancient indigenous peoples. The rich habitat around Ladder Ranch allows at-risk species, such as leopard frogs and cutthroat trout, to survive and also helps healthy species thrive.

Turner brought in Dobrett — a respected biologist researching quail — from the outset to build up the property’s quail population as well as nurture habitats for other sensitive species. Dobrett started by removing 250 miles of perimeter fence so Turner could bring buffalo onto the property. Now, a quarter century later, Dobrett oversees a team of employees and a herd of more than 1,000 bison. “I never had any experience with bison when I came here,” he says. “Twenty-four years of handling buffalo has taught me a lot about that species. It’s been an all-around education to the facets of ranching and managing wildlife on the property.”

It’s hard to believe places like this exist. Staring out on the open expanses of land at Ladder Ranch is overwhelming, almost as overwhelming as standing in a herd of a couple hundred bison

Through the bison’s measured inhalations, we hear one sharp, snappy snort and turn to see a giant female with her tail pointed straight up. Dobrett says she probably thinks the Audi is a “critter” because of its peering, eye-like LED headlights and tells us to move slowly as we get back into the Allroad. We shift the wagon’s seven-speed automatic transmission into drive and begin to herd the bison, but it’s not long before they buck and run toward the hills where we can’t follow.

Ladder Ranch is lovely but also daunting, with the majority of its rugged terrain pretty much inaccessible to anything without hooves or paws. “There are about 500 miles of ‘road’ on the ranch,” Dobrett says. “We try to get out and clean them once a year if we can. Some of the roads, we don’t, and they’re not very passable.” It’s a 20-mile straight shot to Turner’s ranch house where we’re shacking up, but we’ll need most of the day to get there, winding our way up and down tight mountain passes, tiptoeing through deep creeks, and doing our best not to beach the Audi on a boulder. The Allroad’s plastic-covered belly can handle scratches from small stones and tall grass, but it’s best to avoid the big stuff.

The rain slows to a stop, and we set off south with Dobrett leading the way. The car’s adaptive dampers are set in off-road mode, and the Allroad feels surefooted on this red gravel trail. Its body stays composed as its suspension soaks up the washboard earth, and its rear end breaks loose and slides as we power out of slippery corners. Dobrett heads up a particularly steep stretch of road, and after the crest his taillights disappear in the fog. We charge after him but stomp on the brakes near the top, stopping to turn on hill-descent control, which holds the Allroad at a set speed. The ABS gnaws at the brake rotors as the car saunters down the slope at a steady 6 mph. We land in a stark, narrow offshoot of Cuchillo Creek, where the dried-up bed is a craggy mess of sharp stones and bulging landmasses laced in loose gravel. Worse yet, heavy mist has once again settled on top of us, so visibility is nil. We switch on the Allroad’s front and rear fog lights before crawling forward, getting out every few hundred feet to lift and heave particularly gnarly stones; the heated steering wheel, part of the $500 cold-weather package, is now much appreciated.

The Allroad shimmies as the tires claw at the glassy, muddy route, which thankfully turns to gravel when we eventually reach the top.

Slivers of sunlight leak through the overcast sky as we slowly make progress. We’re happy to have satellite radio playing through the wagon’s Bang & Olufsen audio system, the music helping to keep the mood light as we navigate the ranch’s remote and wild terrain. As the creek jogs left, the bed turns to soft, smooth sand that the Allroad plows across. “That should be the worst of it,” an apologetic Dobrett says. We begin to climb again, and as we snake up narrow passes, horses and stallions start to appear in the mist, steam shooting from their splayed nostrils. The clouds clear, and we see snowcapped mountains jutting up from the skyline, and in the foreground a huge herd of giant elk prances up the face of a verdant slope.

We stop on the spine of a tall hill, pull up Google Maps on the Allroad’s navigation system and confirm what we already know: We’re in the middle of nowhere. We stare out across the boundless landscape, appreciating the opposing color palette that seems like it shouldn’t blend together as well as it does. As we walk, we scoop up black, pearly white, and pink dirt sandwiched together like Neapolitan ice cream — an amazing soil variety the likes of which we’ve never seen before. We get back in and press on, but it’s not long before we stop again near the edge of Animas Creek, where Dobrett points toward a humongous tree with a thick trunk. “I like that tree,” he says looking up at its lanky branches, spinning and twisting out in every direction like long, white ribbons. “It’s mystical. It’s a mystery how these trees got here. It’s the only canyon in this drainage that has these Arizona sycamores. They’re more common west of Continental Divide, but for some reason we have them here. And they’re ancient trees.”

Back in the Audi we cross the first of about two dozen creeks that grow wider and deeper as we get closer to the ranch house. We enter each creek slowly, making sure the Audi won’t bottom out, then go flat out toward the far bank. The rushing water overwhelms the Allroad’s flared wheel wells, flies up, and lands on the windshield, causing the rain-sensing wipers to turn on. Fortunately the wagon has no issues fording the little rivers. “I know you’ve heard me say it before, but that should be the worst of it,” Dobrett says just as we come to an appropriately named pass called Greasy Hill. Not a minute after Dobrett jinxed us, we hit a slick patch of road that sends the Allroad into a four-wheel slide, and the passenger-side tires land in a deep rut on the edge of the trail. The wagon is fine, but we have to back down the hill to level ground and take another shot at the ascent. The Allroad shimmies as the tires claw at the glassy, muddy route, which thankfully turns to gravel when we eventually reach the top. Just below us is the white ranch house.

The Audi Allroad isn’t a rugged, do-it-all, off-road machine, but it doesn’t mind having some fun with a little light rock crawling. Who cares about a few scrapes on the underbelly of an all-wheel-drive wagon?

“I was concerned that we were going to tear up the car or get stuck where we’d blow a tire or bust something, but as it turns out, it performed just fine, especially in the rocks and mud,” Dobrett says as we drink coffee next to a hissing fireplace. “It just doesn’t have enough clearance.” Maybe not to make it across Ladder Ranch completely unscathed, sure, but the Allroad has plenty of clearance and absolutely enough talent to be considered a light off-road vehicle. Ladder Ranch turned out to be more treacherous than originally expected, but the Allroad handled it just fine, and its underbody has a few scars to prove it. The ranch’s chef, Tatsu Miyazaki, cooks us an unexpectedly luxurious meal that starts with salad and soup made from locally sourced, seasonable vegetables, moves to a perfectly cooked, prime cut of bison that comes from the same place that processes Turner’s herd, and ends with a delicious mousse sitting atop a frothing mixture of water and dry ice.

When we ask Dobrett what he’s going to do now after such a long tenure at Ladder Ranch, he says, “I’ll stay connected to this ranch as long as Ted wants me. I think it’s an example to others how a ranch can be managed, balancing commerce and conservation.” After a handshake, he tips his cowboy hat as a goodbye. We can barely keep our eyes open as we slink back toward the fire and collapse onto one of the house’s bison-fur rugs, rubbing our bare feet along the soft center. We smile as we drift to sleep, recalling the hauntingly beautiful sound of 200 bison taking deep, heavy breaths.

About Ladder Ranch Ladder Ranch is part of the larger Ted Turner Expeditions luxury travel experiences, featuring eco-conscious adventures individually tailored to guests interested in anything from mountain biking to bison photography to simply exploring the ranch’s 156,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness. A three-night expedition for two people with accommodations at Ted’s house starts at $9,000. Visit theladderranch.com.

2017 Audi A4 Allroad Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE $44,950/$52,625 (base/as tested) ENGINE 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/252 hp @ 5,000-6,000 rpm, 273 lb-ft @1,600-4,500 rpm TRANSMISSION 7-speed automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine, AWD wagon EPA MILEAGE 23/28 mpg (city/hwy) L x W x H 187.0 x 72.5 x 58.8 in WHEELBASE 110.9 in WEIGHT 3,825 lb 0-60 MPH 5.9 sec (est) TOP SPEED 130 mph

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malpabo · 6 years

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[Drunk Talk 3] Shinhwa’s Junjin “I’m thankful just being able to participate in ‘Infinite Challenge’

(continued from part 2)

- You’re preparing for a Shinhwa variety after JTBC’s ‘Shinhwa Broadcast’ Junjin: It was difficult when we first started it and there were many complications. This time I think we can do better because we’re more experienced. There are really a lot of different variety shows nowadays, and we’re thinking hard on what we should do that will be interesting. Even though just the fact that we’re doing a variety together with members who have promoted together for 20 years is in itself meaningful and will probably be fun.

- Season 1 of MBC’s ‘Infinite Challenge’ ended this year. Junjin, how did you feel when you heard season 1 was ending? Junjin: I really learnt a lot while filming ‘Infinite Challenge’. Being able to participate, for a period of time, in a variety program that is so loved, that alone is something I’m really thankful for. Personally, I’ve learnt a lot from the hyungs. When I appeared, we had a lot of physical challenges. Before I get any older, if there was a chance, I would like to try the physical challenges, such as bobsledding, together with the hyungs again.

- Eric became part of PD Na Youngseok’s team with tvN’s ‘Three Meals a Day’. How was doing a variety with him like? Eric: He is really excellent in his observations and understanding people. All these while, I’ve rejected a lot of varieties because I felt burdened having to be observed and showing my true self, without being aware and without putting on an act. But PD Na Youngseok observes and films without making me realise it. In the past 20 years, when I did varieties, the interviews always started with, ‘Alright, camera rolling, we’re doing the interview now’. But that team films the interview from far away, and zooms in the camera. You speak naturally because you’re mixed into the environment around you.

- In the past, people were often biased towards idol-turned-actors. How did you overcome that, and do you think you’re going on the path you want, as an actor? Eric: I am a singer-turned-actor but Dongwan is an actor-turned-singer. I think Dongwan doesn’t get asked as much of those questions as I do. There are a lot of singer-turned-actors now but back then, there weren’t so many. It is true that there is a negative view towards singer-turned-actors but I think entering into a project without being fully prepared for it also played a part. I use Mun Junghyuk when I’m acting because I don’t want to use Shinhwa’s name. But after time passed, I think that was arrogance on my part. I think at that time, I was determined to be responsible as an actor and lead the story, whether I am the main lead or not, and that’s why I acted as such. Now I just act with a comfortable feeling. Dongwan: Looking back, I think I have lived well as Shinhwa but I’m not sure how I have performed as an actor. And to be honest, I do have some regrets.

- Dongwan, I heard you started living in the countryside. Dongwan: I have moved from the house I showed in MBC’s “I Live Alone” to Gapyeong. If I get busy, I probably need to find a one-room suite in Seoul. People I work with says it’s tiring to be going back and forth. But in Gapyeong, I play with my neighbour’s dog, cut the grass, I do even more things. I had nothing to do so I even bought and installed a pull-up bar at home.

- What did you think when you see first generation idols that debuted together with you in the 90s reuniting? Minwoo: It looks good. There is someone who choreographed the dances for Sech Kies, Fin K.L, and even us. We still reminiscence about Dream Concert. One day, that person said it’d be fun if Shinhwa, god, H.O.T, Sech Kies, Fin K.L, S.E.S, all got together and held a festival-like concert at Seoul Olympic Stadium. I think it’ll be really fun. Eric: The main point of that concert will be the tension between the fans. It doesn’t seem so nowadays, with so many idols, but back in the days, each group had a clear rival group. The tension between the fans was huge back then. I think it’ll be fun if that happened during the concert. Dongwan: I hope anyone who reads this is report and is interested in investing will contact us. (laughs) Hyesung: I think anyone thinks about a collaboration like that. I’ve talked about it with Kangta too. We were saying it’d be fun if, at an awards ceremony, (Jang) Woohyuk and Minwoo appeared while doing a dance battle. It’s enjoyable just thinking about holding a concert with singers we have promoted with.

- Is there a title you’d like to have? Minwoo: People use the word ‘legend’ when you promote for a long time, so now, I’m just thankful for the phrase “legendary idols”. I want Shinhwa to be a legend of Korean idols because we’ve been here for 20 years. Don’t you think Shinhwa goes together nicely with the word ‘legend’? Eric: Shinhwa is Shinhwa. I think that is the best title. Andy: I go to the mountains often. There are old trees there. Trees look more awesome the older they are. I hope Shinhwa will become more awesome and have a rich aroma.

- You must feel a heavy sense of responsibility as the seniors and longest running idols Minwoo: Our juniors do very well nowadays. I’m really proud when BTS topped the Billboard charts. I’m close with (Bang) Sihyuk hyung and their choreographer. It is really impressive that they have come to where they are just with music and performance alone. They have an energy different from the one Shinhwa has, and they are writing a different legend from us, and I feel proud. Jungkuk ah, call me. (laughs)

- What will you be like, 20 years later? Hyesung: There’ll be members who have lesser hair than they have now, and members who walk crookedly but even so, I think we’d still be immature. I think we’d gather together, talk and still be pranking each other then. I think Junjin will still be annoying, even 20 years later. Junjin: Ey~ how can you call me annoying Hyesung: I’d like to continue to do as well as I have been doing.

- Is there a dream or goal that you haven’t attained yet? Minwoo: Instead of wanting more popularity or fame, I just really want to continue walking on this path that we are on now, because I like it so much. Maintaining this is the goal. Even when it’s our 30th or 40th anniversary, we don’t split up and do different things. We continue to work as Shinhwa, and also do our best in our individual work. The members are like family now. Dongwan often emphasises on health, and I’d really wish for the team to continue on, healthily. Dongwan: In the past, ‘let’s not get hurt’ was the goal, now, ‘let’s not die’ is the goal. Because as long as you’re not dead, you can do anything.

- Shinhwa to Shinhwa is? Hyesung: Family, and our heart. Minwoo: Shinhwa is our heart. It was beating in the past, it is beating now, and will continue to beat in the future. Eric: Shinhwa is Shinhwa. I hope that line alone explains everything.

sr: Ilgan Sports Translation by @malpabo Please take out with full credits

#shinhwa #eric #lee minwoo #kim dongwan #shin hyesung #junjin #andy #shinhwa interview

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