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ladyloveandjustice · 3 months

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My Top 12 Favorite Anime of 2023 (and more)!

This was a great year for anime, so here's a long list of my top 12 (including some bonus great anime). If you get tired of clicking the review links, check out my anime overview collection for all of them here. You can also check out my list of favorite manga here!

Some of these are ongoing, so consider those only a review of the first cour-- no official endorsement on the rest because it hasn't aired yet!

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury (Season 2)

When I listed G-Witch in last year's top anime list, I prayed the show wouldn't betray me. Fortunately, it didn't! Though the final half of the show was a bit rushed, it remained must-see, compelling sci-fi full of exciting twists and turns. And I adore the well developed romance between the robot-piloting protagonist and precious girl, Suletta, and her fierce fiancé, Miorine. Whether you’re here for starcrossed queer lovers, robots wrecking each other, tense battles between opposing political factions, or morally-horrifying moms on a revenge spree, you’re in for a treat.

See my full review here.

Yuri is my Job!

Hime is roped into working at a cafe where the waitresses playact as students of the fictional all girl’s school from a beloved novel series. However, Hime finds her co-worker, Mitsuki, has an inexplicable grudge against her. Thus begins a tangled web of romance and wounded feelings among the girls in the cafe! Yuri is My Job seems like a fun comedy boasting a cast full of quirky lesbians, but then reveals itself to be a complicated and fascinating examination of performance- as it intersects with queerness, girlhood, and the desire to be “likeable” and “cute". It's top-tier lesbian drama full of fraught relationships and it's absolutely worth a watch.

See my full review here.

The Apothecary Diaries (still ongoing, review is for the first cour)

Though it's still going, I have to sing the praises of this dazzling anime about a saavy apothecary who uses her medical expertise to solve the many murders and betrayals in the Emperor's palace. MaoMao is a fantastic lead, a poison-obsessed gremlin who's whip-smart, deadpan, and fun to follow. The Apothecary Diaries has intrigue, well-developed characters, and an impeccable atmosphere. It tells a great range of stories, from romantic triumph, to bittersweet tales of recovering from grief, to pure tragedies. I'm totally hooked.

See my full review here.

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady

When Euphie is dumped by her fiance at a ball, the oddball princess Anis rescues her. Euphie becomes Anis' assistant in her quest to develop magical tools. The girls also start to develop feelings for each other, while discovering a conspiracy among the nobility. I'm always desperately in need of cool lesbians having action-packed fantasy adventures, and Magirevo delivers. The characters grow in entertaining ways, we get to see them fight dragons in killer action scenes, and the romantic development is completely satisfying. It's a simple story at its core, but the lovable characters, joyous queerness and jubilant execution make it a great watch.

See my full review here.

Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story (Season 2)

In the second season of the anime about girls homoerotically golfing while dealing with the mafia and ludicrous family drama, Birdie Wing remains a bombastically absurd sports anime that is fun all the way through. Please come watch these girls get ridiculous sports injuries, scream their super golf attacks, experience extremely extra plot twists--and be super gay with each other, of course. The finale didn't go quite as hard as I wanted (and the romance is more subtexual than I wanted), but you need to allow yourself to experience the madness of Birdie Wing.

See full review here.

Skip and Loafer

An endearingly dorky, earnest, and driven girl moves from her small town to Tokyo. While she struggles to adjust, she befriends a nice popular boy who's got some baggage. Skip and Loafer is a show that’s like a warm hug. It's sweet, entertaining and funny. It handles adolescent struggles with tender nuance. There's a emphasis on kindness, connection, and looking past stereotypes and misconceptions. It also includes a trans character who's treated with respect (and is a great character in general!) Let this show touch your heart.

See my full review here.

Undead Murder Farce

An immortal woman has had most of her body stolen by a mysterious man. Reduced to a head carried around by her maid, she teams up with a half-demon man to track the thief down while solving supernatural mysteries all across Victorian England.

This a fun, campy mystery series starring three asshole weirdo protagonists, it’s bursting with supernatural creatures and literary references. We've got Sherlock Holmes, The Phantom of the Opera, Carmilla and more...along with a vampire murders and werewolf drama galore. UDM is a wonderful romp with stylish, slick direction... and it’s unexpectedly really gay. I’m aching to see more of these scrappy misfits and their adventures.

See my full review here.

Migi & Dali

A story of twins who are pretending to be one kid in order to fool their foster parents and find out who killed their mother. It starts out as an utterly absurd comedy becomes a impressive and genuinely tense murder mystery that is incredibly moving at times, all while keeping up it’s signature brand of goofiness. There’s genuine commentary on abuse, the damage you can do to children by forcing perfection on them, the struggle of being a foster kid, grief and recovery and more. There's also some great character development. It's a weird one, but it's absolutely worth sticking with.

See full review here.

Pluto

Somebody is killing the most advanced robots in the world and murdering humans alongside them. A robot detective is trying to track this killer down, but he might be compromised as well. Pluto is a tense, tense, tightly plotted robot murder mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Through robots, it explores the idea of being a tool in a corrupt system, and tackles subjects like war, imperialism, and the nature of hatred. It's a masterful psychological thriller with stunning animation and a rich story.

See my full review here.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

This anime approaches the story of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona's seven evil exes from a brands new angle, and the results are great. We get a exploration of relationships and regrets, the messiness of communication and connection, the trials of becoming an adult, all with the signature goofy video game antics. Characters neglected in previous iterations finally get their due, new facets of the story are explored, queer relationships are delved into more, girls kiss...and it's all accompanied by phenomenal animation and a killer soundtrack.

See my full review here

Soaring Sky! Precure

Sora lives in a world called Skyland and wants to be a great hero. When rescuing the kidnapped baby princess, she falls through a portal to earth. There she meets her fellow magical warriors, and as Precure they protect the princess from the villains!

This vibrant, warm-hearted adventure got me back on the Precure train! This series boasts a lot exciting firsts for the franchise--the first official male cure, the first main cure that's eighteen years old- but above all, it has a lively team of characters with who have an entertaining dynamic and enjoyable individual journeys. It's often very funny, the baby has a surprisingly good character arc, and it's bursting with magical girl (and boy) goodness! It's also not afraid to give you an emotional gutpunch when you've been lured into a false sense of security by all the fun times. If you're new to Precure, this is a great jumping on point, and if you've watched it before, this is a series you won't want to miss.

I'm in Love with the Villainess

Rae is reincarnated as the heroine of her favorite dating sim. But she has no interest in romancing any of the boys- she’s head over heels for Claire Francois, the snooty villainess.

Villainess may not be as polished--storywise or animation-wise-- as these other entries. It's a messy series, it has plenty of problems...but it's also very fun, and it touched my queer little heart like no other. Queer people get to indulge in our imperfect faves too, and the silly shenanigans, blatant lesbian wish fulfillment, honest advocacy for queer people, and the joy and earnestness of the series works for me!

See my full review here.

Some Other Great Anime:

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (still ongoing, review is for the first cour)

Frieren is a long-lived elf who was once part of an adventuring party that saved the world from the Demon Lord. But now her friends are passing away and the world is moving on. She decides to retrace her old party's journey so she can understand what she's feeling.

Frieren is both an interesting examination of what happens after the hero saves the world, as well as a meditation on mortality, grief, and the endless march of time. It takes you on a quiet, beautiful and sometimes touching journey though a pastoral fantasy world. There's some breath-taking animation and excellent atmosphere to enjoy.

See my review here.

Spy x Family (Season 3)

Spy x Family is pretty much staying the course from when we last checked in, though this season gives a lot more attention to Yor, and I love the cruise ship arc and all the ridiculous fights she gets into a lot! That arc contains some of my favorite gags of the series too (like Loid’s attempts to be a cool dad). Otherwise, Spyfam has settled into a series that intends to be around for the long haul, so don’t expect too much forward plot momentum. And Yuri (the man, not the genre) unfortunately still exists. Overall it was good season and remains a fun adaptation. Yor, please step on me.

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virgoilluminati · 10 months

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Hello, I just wanted to say that I love love love your page and I love how you write. It is so beautiful and deep. Belongings has me on the edge of my seat and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Can I get a Harry Styles one shot with the prompt 23-25. I had in my head like him maybe helping the reader to stay up and look after their children because he’s always away on tour and he feels guilty he always has to miss out on their milestones. Idk I thought it would be so sweet 🥹🥹🥹❣️

Sweet Cocoa

A/N: so my original plan was to do all 3 of those prompts but then I realise I was going overboard and I much rather this fic with just prompt 23. I love this fic it’s so cute and fluffy and ahhhhhhhhh I love these imaginary children ❣️

Requests: Yes - Prompt 23 “How about something warm? It will help you sleep.”

Word Count: 2.1K

Prompt list here

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The stage lights dimmed, and the crowd erupted in thunderous applause as Harry finished his concert, pouring his heart and soul into every note. With a smile on his face, he waved goodbye to his adoring fans and walked backstage, feeling a mix of elation and exhaustion. He couldn’t wait to see his wife, Y/N, and their two young children, Abel and Elliot.

Elliot, their eldest son, had Harry’s unmistakable resemblance, with his tousled brunette curls and adorable freckles that adorned his face. At four years old, he had been fortunate to experience the early years of his life with both Harry and Y/N always by his side. They treasured every moment, cherishing the precious memories they had created together.

Abel, on the other hand, arrived during a whirlwind phase in Harry’s life. She was born amidst the chaos of album creation, touring, and even Harry’s foray into the world of movies. Harry couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt for missing out on most of Abel’s life and the significant milestones that shaped her early years.

For example: whilst Harry had been there to witness Elliot’s first steps, he couldn’t be there for Abel’s.

The magical spirit of Christmas filled the air as the family gathered in their cozy living room. Twinkling lights adorned the Christmas tree, casting a warm glow on the scene. Harry, Y/N, Abel, and Elliot were surrounded by their loved ones, creating a joyful atmosphere.

Amidst the festive cheer, Elliot, with his bright eyes and contagious smile, stood in the middle of the room, wobbling on his tiny feet. The excitement was palpable as Harry, holding Y/N’s hand, watched their eldest son prepare to take his first steps. It was a moment Harry had eagerly anticipated.

With a burst of courage, Elliot took a few unsteady steps, his little hands reaching out for support. The room erupted in cheers and applause, celebrating this monumental achievement. Harry’s heart swelled with pride and joy as he quickly moved closer to his son, his eyes shining with love.

“Elliot, you did it!” Harry exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. He knelt down, his arms outstretched, waiting to catch Elliot in his embrace. And just as his little boy stumbled forward, Harry scooped him up, spinning him around in a joyous dance.

Elliot’s laughter filled the room, a symphony of pure happiness that resonated in Harry’s heart. In that moment, surrounded by their loved ones, Harry felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for his growing family.

However, halfway across the world, while Harry was immersed in filming his new movie, “Don’t Worry Darling,” he received an unexpected FaceTime call. With a mix of excitement and apprehension, he answered the call, only to find Y/N holding her phone and pointing it towards Abel, who was standing unsteadily on her own two feet.

Harry’s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat as he witnessed Abel taking her first steps. Even though he was physically distant, the surge of emotions he felt mirrored the exhilaration of that Christmas day when Elliot took his first steps.

“Abel, my love, you’re doing it!” Harry exclaimed, his voice laced with awe and pride. Despite the distance, his eyes never left his daughter as she wobbled and toddled, finding her balance with determination. He couldn’t help but feel a bittersweet pang, wishing he could be there in person to witness this milestone.

Y/N smiled warmly, her own eyes filled with a mixture of joy and understanding. “She’s been practicing so much, Harry. We wanted to share this moment with you.”

Harry’s heart swelled with love and gratitude for Y/N’s thoughtfulness. He blew a kiss through the screen, sending his love and pride to his little girl. “I’m so proud of you, Abel. Daddy loves you so much.”

As Harry closed the FaceTime call, he couldn’t help but reflect on the parallels of these two precious moments. Both Elliot and Abel had taken their first steps, marking a significant milestone in their lives. While he had missed Abel’s steps in person, he was grateful for technology that bridged the physical distance, allowing him to be present in some way.

Opening the door, Harry was greeted by the sight of Abel and Elliot, their eyes shining with excitement. They rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly. “Daddy, you were amazing!” Abel exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration.

Harry chuckled, feeling the warmth of their love surround him. “Thank you, my little stars. But now it’s time for me to be your superhero and help Mommy, okay?”

Abel and Elliot nodded eagerly, their faces beaming with enthusiasm. They understood that Daddy was tired, but they also knew he was always there for them when they needed him the most.

As Harry stepped into the living room, he found Y/N sitting on the couch, a tired smile on her face. Her baby bump was prominent, a beautiful testament to the growing life inside her. Harry’s heart swelled with love and appreciation for the incredible woman he had married.

“Hey, love,” he said softly, making his way over to Y/N. “I’m here now, and I’m ready to help.”

Y/N’s eyes sparkled with gratitude, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “You don’t have to, Harry. You’ve had a long day.”

He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch filled with tenderness. “Nothing matters more to me than you and our children. I want to be here for you, every step of the way.”

A mixture of relief and adoration washed over Y/N’s face as she realized the depth of Harry’s commitment. “Thank you, Harry. I’m so lucky to have you.”

Together, they devised a plan to pamper Y/N and alleviate any worries or guilt she had been carrying. Harry fetched a cozy blanket and helped her settle on the couch, making sure she was comfortable. Abel and Elliot scurried around, eager to assist their parents.

Elliot ran to the kitchen, returning with a tray of Y/N’s favorite snacks and a glass of water. Abel picked up her toy toolbox and declared himself “Daddy’s little helper,” ready to take on any task assigned to her.

As Y/N reclined on the couch, Harry sat beside her, his hand resting on her belly. The little kicks and flutters beneath his touch reminded him of the new life they were about to welcome into their family. He felt a renewed sense of purpose, vowing to be present for every milestone and precious moment.

Together, they watched a movie, their laughter mingling with the soothing sounds of the television. Abel and Elliot snuggled close to their parents, their eyes growing heavy with sleep.

As the movie came to an end, Y/N leaned her head against Harry’s shoulder, a peaceful smile gracing her lips. “Thank you for tonight, Harry. This means the world to me.”

He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his voice filled with sincerity. “I love you, Y/N. And I’m sorry for the moments I’ve missed. From now on, I’ll make every effort to be there, for you and our children.”

Y/N’s heart swelled with love and forgiveness. “You’re already an amazing father, Harry. We’re a team, and we’ll navigate this journey together.”

In the dimly lit room, surrounded by the warmth of their love, Harry and Y/N knew that no matter the challenges they faced, their bond was unbreakable.

As the two children lay nestled on y/n, Harry’s gaze wandered over to Elliot, peacefully asleep. With a tender smile, he turned his attention back to y/n, a silent understanding passing between them. It was time to reminisce on Elliot’s birth, a story they held dear.

“I can’t believe how much Elliot has grown,” Harry whispered, his voice filled with awe.

Y/n nodded, her eyes shining with affection. “He’s become such an amazing young person, Harry. It feels like just yesterday.”

Harry reached out, gently clasping y/n’s hand. “I remember that fateful day vividly, my love. It started with our car breaking down, right in the midst of your contractions.”

A wistful smile graced y/n’s lips. “Talk about timing, right? I wasn’t about to let a broken-down car stop us, though. I remember hopping on that bus, holding onto you tightly as the contractions came in waves.”

Harry chuckled softly, recalling the bus ride. “You were so strong, y/n. Despite the discomfort, you never lost your focus or determination. I was in awe of you.”

Y/n squeezed Harry’s hand, gratitude shining in her eyes. “And you, Harry, you were my rock. Your unwavering support gave me the strength to keep going. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

They fell into a moment of silence, their memories intertwining. The warmth of the room seemed to envelop them, creating a cocoon of love and nostalgia.

Finally, Harry spoke, his voice filled with tenderness. “Once we arrived at the hospital, everything felt like a blur. The nurses and doctors were incredible, guiding us through every step of the way.”

Harry’s voice lowered, his words carrying a hint of awe. “And then, in the midst of it all, Elliot arrived. The room filled with overwhelming joy as we held our precious baby for the first time.”

Y/n’s eyes glistened with tears of happiness. “That moment is forever etched in my heart. Seeing Elliot’s tiny face and feeling that indescribable love—it was pure magic.”

Their hands remained intertwined, their hearts connected by the profound bond they shared. In the quietude of the room, Harry and y/n found solace in their memories, grateful for the journey they had embarked upon as parents.

Harry’s gaze shifted to Abel, their youngest, her delicate form a reminder of the challenges they had faced during her birth. A mixture of concern and remorse washed over him as he thought back to that difficult time, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

“Abel’s birth… It still weighs heavily on my heart,” Harry murmured, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and sadness.

Y/n’s hand gently reached out to touch Harry’s, a gesture of comfort and reassurance. “Harry, you mustn’t blame yourself. We couldn’t have predicted what would happen. It wasn’t your fault that you weren’t there.”

Harry’s brow furrowed, his guilt evident. “But I should have been there, y/n. I should have been by your side, supporting you through it all. I beat myself up over it, even though I know it wasn’t within my control.”

Y/n’s voice softened as she squeezed his hand, her eyes brimming with understanding. “Harry, listen to me. We faced unforeseen circumstances, and it was a difficult and frightening time. Truth be told, even I struggle to recall much due to the medication I was on.”

A mixture of relief and sorrow flashed across Harry’s face. “I remember how scared I was to see you in so much pain, y/n. And yet, I didn’t want to miss a single moment. I wanted to be there for you.”

Y/n’s gaze met Harry’s, filled with compassion. “You were there in spirit, Harry, even if you couldn’t physically be present. And when we were finally allowed visitors, we both knew Abel was a fighter. She was so tiny, so fragile, but she had a strength that amazed us all.”

Harry’s eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and adoration. “Our special Abel. She proved time and again how resilient she is. She overcame those early struggles and grew into this incredible little person.”

“I love our family.” Y/N states as she admires all three of her children, including her bump. Y/n’s words filled the room with a tender warmth, echoing the depth of her love for their family. Harry’s heart swelled with gratitude and affection as he looked at their children and then at the bump that held their future.

“I love our family too, y/n,” Harry replied, his voice filled with sincerity. He gently placed his hand on her stomach, feeling the gentle kicks from within. “And I’m so grateful for these precious little ones, including the one growing here.”

Y/n’s eyes shimmered with a mixture of love and understanding. “They adore you, Harry. Even in their own unique ways, they feel your love and presence. You are their father, and your love shines through in everything you do.”

A soft smile touched Harry’s lips as he absorbed her words. He knew he couldn’t erase the guilt he carried for not being present during Abel’s birth, but he also realized that forgiveness and acceptance were vital for their family’s growth.

As the comfortable silence enveloped the room, a slight shiver ran through Abel, stirring her from her peaceful slumber. Y/n, ever the attentive mother, moved to pick her up and carry her to her bed, wanting to ensure her comfort.

However, Harry’s protective instinct kicked in, and he gently interjected, “I’ll take care of Abel, love. You’ve been holding her for a while. Let me handle this one.”

Y/n paused, her eyes meeting Harry’s, filled with gratitude for his willingness to step in. She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Thank you, Harry. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

With careful precision, Harry cradled Abel in his arms, feeling the warmth of her small body against his chest. He held her close, gently whispering words of comfort as he made his way to her bed.

As Harry tucked Abel in and adjusted the blankets around her, he couldn’t help but marvel at her peaceful expression. His heart swelled with love as he watched her, silently vowing to always be there for her and their entire family.

Y/n stood by, observing the tender moment between father and daughter. She couldn’t help but feel a surge of affection for Harry, appreciating his dedication and the deep bond he shared with their children.

In that gentle exchange, a silent understanding passed between y/n and Harry. They were a team, supporting and nurturing each other and their children through the ups and downs of parenthood. Their actions spoke volumes, reinforcing the unbreakable connection that bound them as a family.

As Abel settled into her bed, her breathing steadied, and a contented sigh escaped her lips. Harry stood by, his hand lingering on her forehead, before turning to y/n with a soft smile.

“Our little warrior is back to dreamland,” he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness. As Abel whispered her plea for warmth, her small frame curled against Harry’s back, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly at her adorable request. His heart melted at the sight of her, and he nodded, understanding her need for comfort.

“How about something warm, it will help you sleep?” Harry suggested, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Abel’s face lit up with anticipation, her playful nature shining through. “Hot cocoa?” she asked, her voice filled with cheekiness, fully aware that sweet cocoa on a weekday was a rare indulgence.

Harry smiled warmly, knowing how much she enjoyed the occasional treat. He nodded, feigning seriousness. “I think we can make an exception tonight. Hot cocoa it is.”

Carefully, Harry settled Abel back onto the bed, making sure she was comfortable. He draped a soft blanket over her small body, tucking her in snugly. Then, with gentle strides, he made his way to the kitchen to prepare their special bedtime treat.

The aroma of cocoa filled the air as Harry carefully prepared the warm drink, stirring in the chocolate powder and adding just the right amount of sweetness. He poured the steaming liquid into a cup, watching the swirls of rich chocolate with a sense of satisfaction.

Returning to Abel’s room, Harry found her still nestled in bed, her eyes drooping with fatigue. He settled himself beside her, his free arm cradling the cup of cocoa.

“Here you go, my little one,” Harry whispered, his voice filled with tenderness. “Enjoy your hot cocoa. It’ll warm you up and help you drift off to dreamland.”

Abel’s eyes sparkled with delight as she took the cup in her small hands, blowing gently to cool it down. She took a cautious sip, a contented sigh escaping her lips. “Mmm, thank you, Daddy.”

Harry smiled, his heart full. He leaned back against the pillows, carefully cradling Abel against his chest as she settled in, the warmth of the cocoa and their shared embrace lulling her back to sleep.

In that quiet moment, Harry’s heart swelled with love and gratitude. He treasured these precious moments with Abel, cherishing the bond they shared. As he watched her, cocooned in warmth and love, he knew that being a father meant embracing both the role of caregiver and occasional indulgent treat-giver.

#harry styles #harry styles fanfic rec #one direction #harry styles concept #harry styles angst #harry styles fanfiction #harrystyles x y/n #harrystylesxreader #harry styles x reader #harrystyles cute #harrystyles fanfic #harrystyles fluff #harrystylesfanfiction

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dream-meister-translations · 19 days

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100 SLEEPING PRINCES & THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS

LOVE SONG NAYUTA | CHARACTER CARD #2

━

The brilliant sunlight bathed the streets, filled with the bustling sounds of people.

The day after reuniting with Nayuta...

He said he wanted to see how the town had changed and invited me to walk the streets with him.

NAYUTA : "The streets are so lively. There are people everywhere."

EMMA : "Yes, indeed."

The streets were filled with people dressed in their finest clothes, children flying kites, and an atmosphere of New Year's celebrations...

Walking through the joyous streets, my heart couldn't help but flitter with hope and joy.

NAYUTA : "Everyone looks so happy, their expressions are wonderful."

When he said that in a low voice, the gentle sunlight lit up his profile.

NAYUTA : "You probably know... The Country of Harmony was in turmoil not so long ago."

EMMA : "Yes, I've heard."

I glanced around, once again appreciating how precious this scene of peace truly was.

NAYUTA : "Many injured soldiers also come here to recover."

NAYUTA : "We tell them all about which herbs can help speed up their healing process or just let them enjoy the hot springs all on their own..."

NAYUTA : "So, that's why I was invited this time."

EMMA : "I see."

Hearing my response, Nayuta suddenly broke into laughter...

NAYUTA : "And I heard you were invited as well."

EMMA : "Huh?"

I raised my head in surprise, and I saw him flash me a coquettish look.

NAYUTA : "As you know, it's hard for me to leave Kaiten."

NAYUTA : "Most of the time, you come to visit me, right?"

EMMA : "!!"

I suddenly felt a warm sensation ghost across my hand, and my heart skipped a beat.

NAYUTA : "From now on, I'll come to see you."

NAYUTA : "I've worked hard on this job for that reason, too."

(Nayuta...)

His warmth transmitted through our linked hands, just as warm as his heart.

I also smiled and held onto his large hand.

EMMA : "I'm so happy to welcome the New Year with Nayuta."

NAYUTA : "I'm happy too. It's wonderful to see your smile."

He said with joy, firmly tightening his grip.

NAYUTA : "...I remember saying something like that in your world."

NAYUTA : "Happy New Year."

He said it somewhat shyly due to being unaccustomed, but it sounded very tender...

EMMA : "Happy New Year."

I replied with a hint of shyness, and Nayuta also smiled.

The new year began with a pure sense of happiness...

#Otome #yume100 #yume100 translations #夢王国と眠れる100人の王子様 #夢100 #100 sleeping princes and the kingdom of dreams #Dream Meister Translations #Nayuta

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gunchamber · 1 year

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consider: matias calling krissy his daughter to someone

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐒 attached to elder hunter at his hip , & if he found the constant company of krissy to be tedious or vexatious , he never let it be known . however , she never felt like a bother to matias . anxiousness that would normally curl & settle in the depths of her stomach , always worried she’s only but a nuisance to those she holds close . it never rears its ugly head when she’s around the man who came back from the dead . his presence only carries with it warmth & acceptance for the young woman , taking her in with all her flaws & troubles . a companionship that she wasn’t accustomed to at all , she works every single day to welcome his nurture . to not try reading between the lines of his kind words for ulterior motive , life had not been kind to the chambers girl .

but maybe life was trying to repay her with matias .

this day had been a prayer answered , sun casting a golden glow of morning , slowly warming tips of noses & pads of fingers as people began to swarm at the farmer’s market . stands plenty lined in rows , the smells of fresh produce permeated the air as the huntress & mentor walked side by side . matias had offered that krissy stay back at home , aware that she’d come in late the night before & he was an early riser for the market . but she insisted that she go with him , wanting to spend as much time as she could with him before she would need to set off again . she could suppress her yawns at the back of her throat & between clenched teeth , times like these were priceless with the older male . he was worth the two hours of sleep she grabbed when she could .

they stopped more so for krissy to pet the animals at every other stand than for the straight off the vine fresh vegetables for sale . when she glanced up at matias from her stooped form down low , a baby billy goat cradled in delicate hold , she expected to see exasperation . it’s what her dad would have done to her wasting his precious time , time that could be used for intensive research & miles gained on asphalt . instead she sees pure happiness , glittering hues so gentle while watching on at the scene before him , like he couldn’t be more joyous that krissy was experiencing such precious soft moments . she had to force herself to look away , heart physically aching with how much she cared for a single human being . how much he meant to her .

time crept on & the orb in the sky rose higher , with it bringing spring heat that causes everyone to shed off their light layers . krissy shrugged off her flannel , tying the sleeves around her hips as something was placed onto her head seconds later . the rays that had been blurring her vision seconds ago now shielded by a brim of a straw weaved hat that now sat snuggly on her dome , with a quick inspection of the man next to her she lets infectious grin overtake features seeing he adorned a matching hat of his own . he presses a knuckle to her chin , explains the sun gets too warm & he didn’t want her to get burnt . a thoughtful gesture that to anyone else would’ve been overlooked or brushed off , but to krissy she holds these little moments so close to her heart whenever they happen . it hushed the negative noise at the back of her mind , one that tells her no one cares for an orphaned woman who’d rather push everyone away . with all the confidence in the world , she can say matias cares . he’s always cared .

they ventured onward down to the last lane of the day , admiring sweet smelling fruit laid out & what was left for the taking . the woman in charge handed krissy a couple of strawberries , hair white & pinned in a bun at the back of her head , a warm smile of encouragement as the huntress nodded in thanks before accepting the red fruits in her palm . knowing her praise was what the woman was waiting on , krissy took a quick chomp of the berry . closing her eyes at the juice that spread over her palette , before giving a thumbs up at the owner of the stand . ears pick up on a rumbling chuckle from the man next to her , his hands moving fast to pay for the last few baskets of strawberries that were left . when krissy’s eyes reopened the woman giggled , patting matias on his arm before the inquiry left her in aged timbre , “ well matias , aren’t ‘ya gonna introduce me to the young lady ? “

what can only be perceived as PRIDE overtakes matias’ visage as a hand clamps down on her slender shoulder , she feels him give a quick squeeze before his reply is spoken , ❛ this here is my daughter , krissy . she’s visiting me a couple of days & helping out at the farm . kris , this is — ❜ whatever he says next is tuned out by the thudding of krissy’s heartbeat that begins vibrating in her skull . there was no mistaking what he’d called her . bone digs into tender rims of her lips as she tries to reign in her disposition , but she already feels the familiar burn behind her lids , curly lashes moistening as tears gather along her waterline . without lingering around for much longer , krissy gathers the berries & spares the woman a quick ‘ nice to meet you ‘ before her feet carry her away .

it must have taken matias a second or two to really analyze what just happened before she hears a quiet muttered curse behind her , something that sounds similar to ‘ SHIT ! ‘ then booted feet run up behind her in quick strides that easily caught up to fleeing huntress , calloused fingers reached for her bicep to stop her midstep . turning her around to face him & she doesn’t cower away since she knew it’s just the two of them now . market left behind yards away in the distance . he studies her wet eyes , & misunderstands her reaction , ❛ i-i didn’t mean to call you th - ❜

❛ did you mean it ? ❜ krissy interrupts , desperation heavy & underlying quiet whisper . his gaze flickers between her glassy orbs before he gives a nod . has the audacity to try & explain that if she wasn’t comfortable with the title , he would understand but she hurriedly shakes her head . moving forward a few steps before her limbs tangle around his waist , pulling the man tightly to her , all the love she has for him & all the love he’d fueled her with since his return is what can be felt within the embrace . strong , yet tender . krissy doesn’t even realize her fingers grasp & claw at the back of his shirt , like she was afraid he’d disappear AGAIN .

❛ you’ve been a father to me for as long as i can remember , & nothing is going to change that . ❜ words weighted with meaning , uttered into his chest . ❛ as far as i’m concerned , you are my father , matias . & i’d be honored to be your daughter . ❜

#❛ ic. ask ┊╳ answered ask .#❛ v2. 005 ┊╳ you passed your fingers through my hair and called me “child” ; witness me old man i am the wild ( matias rivas ) .#( rhevenant. )#rhevenant #/ THAT IS HER /FATHER/!!!#/ I'M EMOTIONAL #/ bitch i'm the one who needs therapy after this one shiet

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atomic-taco-muffin · 2 years

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Yandere Sephiroth x reader (Royal AU)

Funny how Sephiroth acted like his firstborn baby committed treason yet he himself committed treason in the past as well,all of it was so he can marry Y/n

This is the prequel storyline I thought of for this AU:

Let me change that Sephiroth is not a King but an Emperor and Y/n is the Empress please remember that an Empire is bigger than a Kingdom. 'Kay now up to the story we goes

Sephiroth was a General of SOLDIERs of the Shinra Imperial Family who once governed The Midgar Empire,he was brought into the Palace by the Imperial Head Physician at a young age and began training to become a soldier

Sephiroth had a talent for combat and fighting so he quickly rose to power in the army and became a General of SOLDIERs. Around that time he met the Lovely Princess Y/n,she was the daughter of the Former Deceased Empress who's nothing like her awful Father at all. She's kind and beautiful,a beloved princess by all. Sephiroth was assigned at her bodyguard and that's how they met

Oh Sephiroth fell hard like really hard,he even asked for her hand in marriage but there's no way the Emperor Shinra would allow a biological weapon to marry his "precious daughter", a politic pawn whom he planned to marry off to another sovereign prince to ensure the power relationship between the nations. After the Nibelheim Incident, there's absolutely no way Sephiroth would allow his dear princess who makes him feel loved for once in his life be taken from him

So Sephiroth killed the Emperor Shinra just so he can be with his beloved princess. He thought she would've been happy about this until she reacted negatively to what he did. He literally saved her from a doomed marriage and this is what he got? No worry, she'll come around eventually, it's normal to react that way. After all his sweet Y/n is never one for cruel bloody scene

Following the Emperor's death, Y/n persisted recklessly at Sephiroth in the beginning but soon complied to Sephiroth's wish: Becoming his wife and the Empress of the Midgar Empire. Well it's simple why she did so, Sephiroth threatened to kill her brother,Rufus right in front of her. Backed into a corner, Y/n had no choice but to give in to his wishes so Rufus was spared but he's forbidden to set one foot into the Palace until the rest of his life,he was the heir to the throne but now he's just a Archduke living under the mercy of the Emperor simply because he's the Empress' brother.

Honestly Rufus is just a pawn Sephiroth use to keep Y/n with him, if she refuse him he can just threaten her with his brother's life,ofc they aren't allow communications, she's only allowed to see sign of life of Rufus but not meeting him ever. Boy Sephiroth you really know how to play your game

The day when Y/n and Sephiroth got married was a day imprinted in History, the day where a Princess of a Corrupted Dynasty became the Empress of the New Dynasty,she was kind so none protested the idea of her becoming the Empress. Everyone was joyous that the Silver Knight, Sephiroth was to become the New Emperor, they were all fooled by lies. None of the citizens realized just what Sephiroth did and he would do to get what he wants,they didn't realize that they have no value to him at all.

All he did was for the woman he loves, he wouldn't even care if the Empire fell apart while doing so. If the historians knew of this, he would been labelled the Lunatic Lover,a knight who would commit treason for a princess he loves. It is such a twisted love story.

Y/n wasn't happy even though her body is adorned with the best jewels,a beautiful crown and a pure white wedding gown. She was supposed to be happy on her wedding day, she was at the center of a historical event yet she wasn't happy at all, because even if someone would call her a fool for not appreciating what she has,she would rather that than all this. Everything felt like one fancy show and she's just a decorative pretty doll for this,it felt so fake. Y/n officially became the Empress,a position her mother sit on before but the way she earned it felt awful. But her husband, Sephiroth is having the best time ever,he got to marry the woman he loves and even the Emperor throne. Mother Jenova must be so proud of him now

Now Y/n and Sephiroth are married with three kids :D

I myself am a royal stories gal so yes 🙂

Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! And I’m Royal story gal myself too

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bp-best-froggo · 2 years

Note

Arknights blorbos!

YES, alright, most of these are probably not going to be surprising, but anyway:

blorbo: Texas

This lupo has moved into my head and is living there rent free ever since. There's just so much about her that I find so intruiging. We have no real clue what had happened to the Texas' family. Siracusa is largely unexplored territory. How does she even relate to Lappland? If she's from Siracusa, why does her file state Columbia as her origin? I dunno man but I wanna know! I need to know!!!

There's this ominous phrase in her file: "When the past does catch up to her, she will face it was composure--unless it disrupts her present, then we'll witness the genuine rage inside her." And I could talk at length about this line alone, but I'm gonna stop myself short here, because this post won't end otherwise.

scrunkly: Blue Poison

The Frog. The Queen. The precious one. Her smile warms my heart. Her presence is comforting like the blankets she wraps around my shoulders. Her sweetness is joyous like the cakes she bakes. I would offer her all the hugs she could ever wish for. And I would hold her hand, until she found the confidence to move on her own.

Best froggo. 12/10, would poison again. Also best sniper in the game.

scrimblo bimblo: Absinthe

I have a habit of adopting traumatized children as daughters, and like, Absinthe has seen some shit - which is, to be fair, something you could say for every Ursus student. Absinthe is special to me, because I feel like there's much of a story to tell, aside from what we've seen in Children of Ursus (her chapter in the event felt more like an introduction to her character).

She has been forced to grow up in a span of only a few days, had to quite literally pick up her dead father's weapon and chose to also inherit his belief in justice, which she struggles with quite a lot. Justice is a concept that's pretty interesting to me and one that also fits Arknights themes very well.

Despite all that I feel like she gets barely discussed, despite all the potential this would have in relation to other operators (W, for example). Funnily enough she's also my most used Caster. I love the sound her weapon makes when being fired.

glup shitto: Leizi

She's just pure comedy. Like imagine a supreme court judge joining a para-military cancer relief foundation for shits and giggles. Imagine the entire HR staff completely stressed out and panicing, because they know that she could quite literally make Rhodes Island an enemy of Yen by the wave of a hand - and the Doctor just let her in, no questions asked. Meanwhile, said court judge gets into petty arguments with engineers and technicians because she throws off their radars and sensors just by being physically close to them. Magnets keep sticking to her.

Technically - not a side character, she's an operator and all. But I'm not even sure she got mentioned in any parts of the story up until this point. So I say that counts until I am proven wrong because I probably forgot about some scene in chapter 3 or something

poor little meow meow: Robin

Uhhh, not sure if that counts. I don't think she's really controversial or anything, she's just kind of messed up for the lengths she goes to earn money. I mean, she was kind-of a bad guy in Mansfield Break, even almost betraying Tony the Tiger for her own gains. She has reasons for doing so of course, but like you gotta be pretty desperate to take on five part-time jobs and also do contract murders on the side (I don't know if she has five part-time jobs, but she sure looks like she does).

If anything she looks tired as hell and desperately needs sleep. Poor little racoon.

horse plinko: Whislash

- is a horse - is a silly pony - belongs either into the plinko or into horny jail = horse plinko

eeby deeby: Surtr

She would be comfy there.

refuses to elaborate further

leaves

#thx for the ask!#arknights #texas #blue poison #best froggo #absinthe #leizi #robin #whislash #surtr #bugzapper #silly pony

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thespiantherepist · 3 years

Text

Devoted Devotee Yandere Bakugou x Superfan reader!

{Warnings: Blood, obsession, creepy vibes. Yanderes, jealosy. Be careful here if youre not one for uncomfy themes. 18+ minors DNI. Enjoy the story! ~Nugget!} Ever since his debut you were obsessed. You had never heard of him until he lit up the city streets with light reminiscent of a newly born sun god. You were mesmerized. You watched him catapult through the air. His face and teeth shown with a sense of danger. He looked ready to kill if nessasary. It drove you wild. SURE for a while your friends made fun of your newfound obsession. That was until... you didnt have friends anymore. You were a nice enough person! Sure, that wasnt the problem. They just got tired of not hearing about YOU. They always heard yap of the hero. “GROUND ZERO.” This, and, “GOD EXPLOSION MURDER!” That. It was time for you to take a rehab... but you were’nt aware. You were part of his cult. The highest follower. Papparazi. Spicy fan theories. FAN FICS. Oh how many nights you drooled over the scandelous drawings you blew much of your crypto currency on just to perfect. Your mind was in a haze and your heart was set on him. You went to almost every live viewing. And you were perfectly happy, and healthy... until you were’nt. You started becoming sick more often. A sense of dread filling you if you were’nt able to snuggle up to your pillow with Ground Zero’s voice. Straight. In your ear. Insomnia would creep in. But you still woke as enthusiastic as ever, because you needed money for these meets... and money, comes from work. Your co-workers, were not as polite as your friends. While you rarely spoke to them, and mostly just to the clients they could always hear it. Same as your friends. You would go to work and then be sent back home for being too sick sometimes. On one occasion your boss sent you some food, just so you’d eat. She used child tactics on you. “Ground Zero would like it if you ate your food dear.” She’d say, her soothing voice in front of you as you looked up. She’d give you a big smile. And you would eat. These. Were the only times you wouldnt talk of him. The womans heart broke everytime you talked of him. She would run her dark hands across your cheeck and softly tell you that he wasnt worth your love. She was never in the position to produce children. And she never wanted a husband. Nor did she want a wife. You were the closest to a grandchild the old woman had. So. To show your graditude you stopped. You chatted with her for hours. About you. Only you... and yourself. And that made her happy. You never thought you would get the chance to actually meet him. FOR REAL. Your eyes buldged out of their sockets. You pulled your phone out, snapping pictures of him gliding through the air. HE WAS SO GRACEFUL! He looked like an angel and you thought of crying. He roared so loud you thought he’d damage his beautiful vocal cords. He finally after a greuling battle was able to take down the stupid villain. You swooned. Eyes filling with hearts as you leaned back wistfully. If only you could touch him. Then your life would be conten- “DUMBASS LEAVE ALREADY!” You felt a harsh prod at your forehead. Blinking you righted yourself. Awestruck at the sight before you. In fornt of your own two eyes. Touching you. Was Ground Zero. You fell to your knees. Hugging his boots. “OMGOMGOMG!!!!! YOURE GROUND ZERO, I AM LITERALLY YOUR BIGGEST FAN. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG IVE WANTED TO MEET YOU!” Behind his eyes there was a look of pure malace as he stared at his feet which were covered by your body. He was tempted to blast you to peices before realising. You were just a civilian. Just a weak, little, pathetic- You looked straight up at him. Eyes of admiration glistening back up at him. A hole night sky encapsulated in the precious lenses that were your eyes. He was taken aback. Suddenly noticing the adorable smiling face that peered up at him. He was almost confused. ‘When will they stop looking at me like that?’ He thought. But the longer he stared at them... the more enrapturing they got. He shook himself form the thought and pryed you away from him. “Fuckin what?” He said almost winded. Watching as you spryly lifted to your feet. Barreling back towards him before skipping in one spot. “YEAH YEAH YEAH! OOH OOH.” You plucked a pen and notebook from your bag and shoved it towards him. He looked at it in discust. But at you? He just couldnt look away. “PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PPLLLLLLEEEEASE SIGN THIS! YOURE MY FAVOURITE AND I ADORE YOU!” The amount of praise you put out almost nullified any sense of discust now. Witht the crowd gone and the sky darkening he sighed. But just before he could grab the objects. ‘Ill sign it! Mr. Fun Zero here wont take a chill pill for one second!” A flirtatious and somewhat goofy voice chimed in from behind him. A flash of yellow,and black passed the two of em. Chargebolt quickly wrote his alias... and his number. Followed by a black and yellow heart. Pikachu ears poking out at the top. He winked at you and handed the book back. “Youre a cutie, ya know?” He asked you retorically as you stared at the signature in confusion. “Haha! What am I asking of course you know.” He said in a friendly way. Ground Zeros fists clenched. Noticable sparks flaking out. He wanted you to whine. And to complain. To bawl and cry about how that dumb pikachu stole HIS spot. Bit you just awkardly and kindly nodded. The vibe kind of ruined now. “I uhhh... I’ll get going.” You said jabbing a finger at the opposite road. Before you could even turn around Ground Zero snatched your book and held it over his head. You almost pouted. But he motioned for the pen. You squealed in joyous glee, as you handed it to him. He turned his head around. Sticking his tounge out angrily at Denki. He wrote three things. His real name. His number. And a note... “Ill always watch over you.~Ground Zero.” You watched in absolute astonishment at the scene. He gave the book back to you. Leaning in to close a distance, ‘Why the fuck are you doing this?’ He asked himself. Furious. ‘It feels right.’ He rebuttled. As he handed the book back to you he made sure to graze your fingertips. Keeping his serious, and stern look on. “You better be going back home soon Teddy Bear. Dont want you getting hurt.” He turned you around for good measure. Making sure to lightly tap right above your ass to make you flustered. Which you were. Immensely. Your face heated up like the surface of a blue star. Blood pouring from your nose to your cheeks. You whipped around and bowed several times. Getting a bit of blood on the ground. “THANK YOU SO MUCH. Uhh I UUHH. BYE BYE!” And with that you zipped off. Zooming straight back to your apartment and falling asleep straight as you locked the door and collapsed on the couch. Bakugou stayed behind. An inner quarrel raging in his mind. ‘TEDDY BEAR WHAT THE FUCK? “WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT! ‘You tapped their ass what the fuck you perv? ‘They liked Denkis more than yours. ‘I wanna see them writhing beneath me. He tried to shake them. Flustered horribly by these thougts. HE HAD ONLY JUST MET THEM! He needed to calm down. Then a voice breached all his other thoughts. “Their blood looks tasty.” Denki was taken aback. And now was moonwalking all the way back to his other patrol area. Bakuhou didnt care, and insteasd just knealt down. Swiped a bit of the blood off the pavement and licked his finger. He could physically feel his pupils expand. Wider than they ever had before. He smirked. A tastse of something sweeter than kicking a villans ass, or dragging Deku through the mud. Now he had a target... and they werent getting away. Why would they want to anyway? “

#yandere bakugou #oblivious and obsessive reader #aged up #pro hero #admiration #blood #Chapter 1 #Civilian reader #superfan reader #scary bakugou #denki #1

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four-loose-screws · 3 years

Text

FE8 Novelization Translation - Chapter 15, Section 2

If you would like to start from the beginning, read a missed part, etc., click here!

FE Game Script Translations - FE Novel Translations - Original FE Support Conversations

If you are interested in donating to support my work, please check out my Ko-fi here. Thank you!

———————————

I call this a “section” because it is not a separate part of the chapter in the book, but divided from the rest of the chapter by a scene break.

———————————

Chapter 15 - The Day the Empire Fell (con’t) The unthinkable happened in Port Taizel.

Myrrh disappeared.

Their difficult journey to the capital had Ephraim's head full, so much so that he even forgot to keep an eye on her. When he thought about it after the fact, she looked like she had been trying to tell him something multiple times, but he didn’t listen. There was too much on his mind, and though he didn’t mean to, he ended up putting off whatever she needed from him.

What could she have been trying to say? For what reason would she leave without saying anything? Could she have run out of patience with him and left when he didn’t listen to her…?

‘No, Myrrh isn’t like that.’ Ephraim reassured himself, but his worrying only continued to worsen. He felt sorry for being so indifferent to what she wanted to say, but no matter how much he regretted what he had done, it was too late. With things as they were now, he had to search for her.

With eyewitness testimony from one of the locals that said they'd seen Myrrh wandering east, Ephraim’s army headed east. The person said that she'd been seen walking alone, so it seemed she had not been captured by bad people again, but left of her own free will. However, though they were gaining more information, they still didn’t know anything about the reason why she left.

Along the way, every time they passed through a town or village, they explained to the locals what Myrrh looked like, and gathered eyewitness accounts.

She had originally run off on her own, but at some point, seemed to have joined up with another person.

“A girl with indigo hair? Yeah, she was with Lady Selena.”

“...Selena, you said?” Ephraim’s face became pale. Did this mean that Myrrh had been taken by an imperial general? What could an imperial general want with her?

“Yeah, you know her, right? She’s called General Selena, the Fluorspar, and is a beautiful, strong, and charming woman. Though I wonder why such a beautiful person would become a general. I think it’s a waste…” Said a villager they passed by on the street, becoming completely distracted from Ephraim’s original question.

“Why was Lady Selena in this village?”

“She was shopping. A gemstone being sold here caught her eye, and she left the capital just to buy it.”

“A gemstone?”

“I don’t know what it’s called, but it sure was pretty. It was too expensive to sell right away, but word of it got to the capital, I suppose. Lady Selena is a soldier, but she’s still a woman. She likes gemstones, so she came here to buy it.”

The villager said with a laugh, but Ephraim couldn’t imagine that this was the sort of time for a soldier to leave the capital for personal reasons like a shopping trip. This stone could not be any ordinary gemstone.

“So then what did General Selena and the girl do…?”

“Hm, this happened right after Lady Selena bought the gemstone. The indigo haired girl came up to Lady Selena and started talking to her about something. She’s not from this village. In fact, I’ve never seen her around here before at all. I don’t know what they were talking about, but they had really serious looks on their faces. In the end, Lady Selena took the girl with her and left the village. I don’t know anything about what they did after that.”

Based on this story, Ephraim was able to piece together a conclusion.

The “gemstone” was likely the dragonstone that Myrrh was searching for. It was a precious gem to those of the dragon tribe, but Myrrh’s was stolen on her journey, and she’d lost all knowledge of its whereabouts. A merchant, not knowing just how valuable dragonstones are, sold it as a gemstone.

Meanwhile, General Selena had been called back immediately from Bethroen to the capital.

That was probably because she’d received the information that the dragonstone was being sold as a gemstone. The Sacred Stones, the Dark Stone, and now a dragonstone… the emperor seemed to be drawn to stones with great power hidden within them.

When they had arrived at Port Taizel, Myrrh had likely already sensed that her dragonstone was nearby. She'd tried to tell Ephraim that, but he didn’t listen to her, so she had no other option than to go out alone. That led her to this village, where she met Selena just after Selena obtained the dragonstone, and decided to talk to her...

The details were all consistent with each other. The problem was why Selena had taken Myrrh with her… and where they were now.

He explained the situation to Duessel, who crossed his arms and started to think.

“I can’t imagine that she would harm a civilian. Her demeanor and way of speaking are rough, but she has a kind heart. She probably wouldn’t do anything violent.”

“Then why would she take Myrrh with her? She doesn’t intend to hand Myrrh over to the emperor, does she? If anything happened to her, I....” Ephraim couldn’t calm down, and paced around as he shouted. This was all happening all because he hadn’t listened to her… That regret was still torturing him. “We may have to fight General Selena. General Duessel, it may be difficult for you to do that. Please stand down this time. You do not have to participate in the battle.”

“What are you saying? I have dedicated myself to your service. Whoever your enemies may be, I will fight them. Even if my opponent is Selena, I will not hesitate.” His tone was firm. He was probably thinking that if he hesitated, then it would dull Ephraim's will to fight as well… so he wanted to go out of his way to make his thoughts clear.

Ephraim was thankful for his teacher's thoughtfulness.

The next day, Ephraim’s army finally found Myrrh. Or rather, she came back on her own.

She appeared from within a forest that followed along the main road. When Ephraim saw her, he rushed over to her, and she looked up at him with large tears in her eyes.

“Ephraim…”

“Myrrh! You’re alright!”

“I’m sorry, Ephraim! All I ever do is cause trouble for you… I didn’t want to make you hate me again… but I still left anyway…”

“What are you talking about? You could never make me hate you or anything of the sort. I’m the one who was in the wrong. I’m sorry for not paying attention to you.”

However, they had no time for a joyous reunion.

A flustered soldier ran up to him to report, “Lord Ephraim! The Grado Army is coming this way! Their commanding officer is an imperial general, Selena the Fluorspar!”

“Let’s go! All units, get into battle positions!”

Ephraim tried to grab his weapon, but Myrrh grabbed his clothes tightly and pleaded, “Please wait, Ephraim! Whatever it takes, don’t fight her! She’s not a bad person!”

“Who? You mean General Selena?”

“Yes. She helped me run away. And told me to return to you…”

“But she took you away. Even if you say now that she told you to run away…”

“You’re wrong! She listened to what I had to say. She loves the emperor… and is suffering greatly. Please don’t fight her! Please…” Myrrh was always so quiet that this was the first time she’d ever shown any emotion like this.

Ephraim was taken aback by it, but he nodded. “I understand. I’ll do everything I can to try and persuade her.”

“Thank you, Ephraim…”

From what Duessel and Myrrh had said, General Selena didn’t seem to be a bad person. There was a very good chance that they could talk things through.

Ephraim was optimistic, but the expression on Duessel’s face was grim.

When he asked why, Duessel said with a pained look on his face, “Selena has a very pure and genuine personality. Her loyalty to His Majesty is steadfast. No matter how unreasonable the order, if it is what he wishes, she would happily dirty her own hands… That’s just the kind of person she is. I don’t believe that she will lend an ear to your plea.”

“Even if you did your very best to persuade her?”

“I am a traitor. She is the person who first declared that I should be executed. She is probably still suspicious of me.”

“So that means…”

“Yes. It is unlikely that we will be able to avoid fighting her.”

Still, Ephraim did not give up hope. He wanted to grant Myrrh her wish.

Selena’s army was in battle position in a marsh. Ephraim’s army had to trudge through sopping wet mud as they marched onwards.

He stayed away from the oncoming Grado soldiers as much as he possibly could, and avoided fighting as he searched for Selena. She was deep within the center of the marsh, riding atop a white horse and surrounded by her soldiers.

Ephraim continued to dodge the Grado soldiers, and approached Selena.

Selena also noticed him, ordered her soldiers not to fight, then neared him.

He’d heard that she was beautiful, but he was surprised at just how true was. Although her appearance was plain in her soldier's uniform, she couldn’t help drawing in the fascination of those around her. Her glittering eyes were befitting of one called “Fluorspar.”

“Are you General Selena?" Ephraim asked.

Selena nodded and answered, "I am indeed. And you are Prince Ephraim, correct?"

"Yes. I'd like to talk to you.” Ephraim put his weapon behind his back to show that he had no intention of fighting.

Selena's soldiers broke out in a commotion, but Selena stopped them, then she looked at Ephraim. "What about?"

"I want you to withdraw your soldiers. A battle such as this one is meaningless. Emperor Vigarde is not in his right mind."

"...I know." Selena nodded, and Ephraim breathed a sigh of relief. However, her following words betrayed all of his hopes. "But I will not withdraw my soldiers."

"Why not?"

"I am an imperial soldier. His Majesty's orders are absolute."

With her unshakeable words, Ephraim was the one to flinch.

Was she some sort of fanatic? No, he saw none of that distinctive insanity in her quiet eyes.

"How foolish… you know the emperor has descended into madness, yet you still swear your loyalty to him even now?"

"A noble like you could never understand. To us knights, this is our way of life."

"General Deussel deliberately disobeyed Emperor Vigarde. You may think of him as a traitor, but he chose that path because of his sincerity as a knight."

"I know that. I was wrong to call him a traitor. He loves Grado from the very bottom of his heart, and grieves his emperor's fate. He is truly a loyal retainer."

"If you know that much, then why wouldn't you do the same?"

"I am different from General Deussel. I respect his way of life, but I can only choose my way of life."

"You are a fool!" He shouted at her.

Selena nodded gently. "You are right. I agree with you one hundred times over."

"Surrender, Selena! I don't want to have to defeat you!"

"You, defeat me? Don't patronize me, Prince Ephraim. I have no intention of dying here. Now ready your weapon!"

It was already impossible to persuade her any further. Ephraim drew his lance back out from behind him.

Selena swiftly chanted a spell. Ephraim jumped the moment before fire shot from her fingertip, and avoided the attack.

The Grado soldiers initiated their own attacks to guard Selena. The Frelian soldiers standing behind Ephraim also readied their weapons and rushed forward.

Selena expertly steered her horse while also launching attack spells one after the other. Her speed and power amazed Ephraim.

The power that had elevated her to the title of imperial general at such a young age was of course not just for show. To Ephraim, who knew nothing about magic, taking just one good hit would very likely be fatal.

Ephraim cut down the oncoming Grado soldiers as he avoided Selena's spells. He trudged through the mud-soaked earth, and was soon covered in mud himself.

He was overcome by intense anger so great that he wanted to scream. He did not want to kill a person like Selena. But if he did not kill her, then he would be killed.

His anger gave him strength. He stabbed each Grado soldier that came at him at random intervals, then charged at Selena. The Grado soldiers did not fear his great force, but still slowly backed away. He did not slow down.

"Lord Ephraim…!" His attacks looked so reckless that his allies started to yell at him.

Selena stared down at him from atop her horse with her eyes open as wide as they could be.

He glared at her beautiful face and screamed, "You're such a fool… You're an absolute idiot!"

The moment Ephraim leapt into the air off the muddy ground, a ball of orange fire shot from Selena’s fingertip.

Ephraim did not dodge it. That had never been his intention.

His lance stabbed deep into her side. Her body slumped over, and she fell from her horse.

The soldiers all stopped moving. Ephraim was still breathing heavily when he looked down at Selena. She was trying to get up, but no longer had the strength to do so.

When she lost her remaining strength in her arms and back, the pained expression disappeared from her face. In its place, for the first time since Ephraim had seen her, she was calm.

Her lips moved slightly, so he bent down to try and hear her final words.

"I'm so tired…" she whispered. Her eyes slowly closed, and she stopped moving.

"The enemy general has fallen! My army is the victor!"

Ephraim stood up and declared as loudly as he could, causing the panicking Grado soldiers to drop their weapons one after the other. Some of the Grado soldiers fled, but most of them surrendered to Ephraim’s army.

"Please let us heal you, Lord Ephraim!"

The healers called out to him, and Ephraim finally noticed his wounds. The stress he’d been experiencing mentally had kept him from feeling the physical pain, but Selena's fire magic had covered half of his body with serious burns.

Before retiring to his tent, he ordered his soldiers to search Selena’s belongings. They quickly found the stone that she had gone to the village to buy.

If one was told that it was a gemstone, then they could certainly see it. It emitted a strange light, and was very beautiful. Ephraim put it in his breast pocket.

ー

Duessel and Myrrh came to visit Ephraim while he was in the healing tent. It was hard for him to face her.

However, he couldn’t look away. Ephraim pulled the dragonstone out of his pocket, and handed it to Myrrh. “This is your stone, isn’t it?”

Myrrh wrapped her hands around it and took it. “...Yes. It is my stolen dragonstone. But…” Her large eyes were filled with tears. “I am sad. I have gotten back my precious dragonstone, and yet… I am so very, very sad.”

“I’m sorry, Myrrh. I wanted to persuade her somehow, but I couldn’t do it. I… had no choice but to defeat her.”

“I understand. It wasn’t your fault. It is just sad. Even though she was such a good person… Even though she looked so happy when she talked about the emperor…”

Ephraim closed his eyes. The image of Selena, the woman who was still proud to be the emperor's general despite knowing full well of his insanity, was burned into his mind.

“Why can’t it just be bad people, but also good people who must fight? Why can’t we end this without any good people dying?”

Ephraim closed his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know why either, Myrrh. But I’m going to the capital to search for answers. That is where everything will be made clear.” Ephraim shifted his gaze over towards Duessel, who was standing quietly behind Myrrh. “General Deussel, Selena said that she was wrong to accuse you of being a traitor. She fully understood your true intentions.”

Those words only made Duessel’s expression grow darker. “....When Glen died, I turned my back against the emperor… So she had to bear the weight of all of that all by herself. The only people left around His Majesty now are wicked men like Riev and Valter. Amid all of that, she fought to try and defend her loyalty to His majesty. She couldn’t help having regrets, but… she did not pity herself.”

“I’m so tired…” Ephraim remembered her final words.

Her voice had sounded like all of the life had been sucked out her, but he thought that he had seen peace in her expression. Perhaps it had been the relief of finally being freed from her grueling fight?

Ephraim stood up. Thanks to the diligent care of the healers, he hardly felt the pain of his burns at all any more. “I don’t understand. She was a smart person. She saw that the emperor was not in his right mind. Then why did she continue to serve the emperor, despite that? Surely she should have known that was not the right path…”

“Lord Ephraim. I was born into a family of knights that has served at the capital for generations. I wanted for nothing, and studied combat under a great teacher since I was young. It was obvious that I would be inducted into the knights.”

Ephraim looked straight at Duessel, wondering what he was telling this story for.

“But Selena was different. She was born in a poor, deserted village. She wasn't one to talk about it much, but I heard rumors. The area was always plagued by famine, and they had to sell off their young children just to survive… That is the kind of village I was told it was."

Myrrh timidly opened her mouth. "It's true. She told me about it as well. When I told her about the terrifying powers of the dark stone, she looked very sad… She told me why she continued to trust the emperor. She said that when she was poor, didn't have anything to eat, and everyone was starving and freezing, he sent food…"

Duessel nodded. “I remember that period very well. One year, a terrible cold front assaulted all of Grado, leaving the remote villages in a state of ruin. And the worst among them all was Selena’s birthplace. His Majesty immediately decided to rush to their aid. Most of his vassals spoke out against using any funding for such a reason. It is embarrassing to admit it, but the nobles and officers, living carefree lives in the capital, did not care what happened to the people living in those regions. They would rather thousands of people starve to death if the opposite meant cutting into their incomes and making them do more work… There were many who thought like that. His Majesty rebuked those rotten nobles and had large shipments of food and clothing sent to the remote villages. I served at his side, so I know this very well. His Majesty… what was happening made him cry.”

Ephraim was reminded of Lyon. Knowing that the ordinary citizens suffered and lived in poverty also pained him. That kindness was likely a trait he had inherited from his father. “So Selena became a knight to repay that favor…?”

“That is correct. For a starving, freezing young child who could only wait for death to come for her, nothing could have made her happier than the food sent from the capital… Selena came to the capital only wanting to serve His Majesty, and knocked on the door of the knights’ barracks. When I first met her, she was a raggedy, thin little girl. Some of the knights even laughed at her. They said this child, who was so poor she couldn’t even buy a decent outfit, must be out of her mind. However, I thought she had promise. There was no one else as passionate and pure in their loyalty, even among the knights. She stood out above all others, and gained His Majesty’s trust. Some were envious that she became a general so young, but I thought she was a perfect fit for the promotion. There was no one better to be Grado's… no, His Majesty’s knight." Duessel closed his eyes to hold back his tears.

The emperor, compassionate towards his citizens, who would cry at just the thought of their suffering, had completely and suddenly changed on that fateful day into a cruel invader. Ephraim could only imagine the extent of Selena’s despair and suffering.

“I’m so tired...” It would be nearly impossible for Ephraim to ever erase her final words from his memory in his entire life.

“And it’s all because of the Dark Stone… right? Does this Dark Stone that Lyon created really possess such terrifying power?” Ephraim looked at Myrrh. “Is there any way for us to return the emperor to who he once was? If we destroy the Dark Stone, will the evil controlling him disappear? He'll return to normal, won't he?"

“That… cannot be done.” Myrrh shook her head with a sunken look on her face. “The ominous energy does not simply control a person. It completely changes them. It is as if the stone breaks who they once were, and plants a new personality within them…”

“Are you saying that in other words, Emperor Vigarde’s kind personality is already completely destroyed?” Ephraim whispered with a sigh.

This meant that Selena had died for an emperor who had become an entirely different person on the inside, even though he still looked the same as always on the outside. There was nothing in the world more pitiable.

“Anyway, we will hurry to the capital, and figure out a way to stop Emperor Vigarde’s tyranny. We cannot allow anyone else to become a victim to the Dark Stone.” Ephraim declared, and walked out of the tent.

#fire emblem #fe #fe8 #sacred stones #eirika #gba #game boy advance #japan #japanese #translation #light novel #fe8 novelization translation

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charmingmarchioness · 3 years

Text

Vow of Everlasting Love - PART 3

After the wedding ceremony, A grand banquet was held at the main mansion of the Bougainvillea to celebrate the union of Gilbert and Violet Bougainvillea.

The whole place was covered in joyous laughter. Their friends and families gave them a short and meaningful messages, making the couple tearfully happy. The two shared a lovely and intimate dance in the center of the crowd. The sparkle in their eyes are evident and it was truly magical. Violet sang a song and played the piano as a sign of gratitude for everyone. People began complementing her talent and viewed her as a perfect masterpiece.

Everytime they interact with the guests, Gilbert cannot help but hug Violet tightly where he happily earned a blush. He simply wants to be alone with her right now.

After making sure that everyone is busy, Gilbert suddenly carried Violet like a princess and escaped the crowd like a mad man. Those who noticed the sudden disappearance of the two began laughing hardly.

"Gilbert, I did not know you're that eager to be alone with her. Ah how time flies." Hodgins hysterically laughed.

"Brother Gil is indeed a pervert fu fu I can't wait for a cute angel to be born already!" Henrietta squeeked in delight.

"I want the baby to look a lot like Vi!"

"I couldn't agree for more HAHAHA."

Gilbert stopped in front of a slightly big door. Violet who was clinging on his neck, reddened, as she recognized Gilbert's room. He locked the door once they're inside the room and slowly went to the bed where he gently put her there in a sitting position.

"Are you scared?"

"That's not it. The love that I continue to receive from you is too overwhelming, to the point I end up thinking that this is just a wonderful dream." She said in a teary face. Gilbert smiled at her cute reaction. His forehead touches hers while he fondly caress her back.

"Violet, this is not a dream. You are now my Mrs. Bougainvillea, my one and only wife." His heart pounded loudly when Violet suddenly kissed his lips and giggled softly at his reaction. He was too shock to respond. She too, caressed his cheeks and said,

"Yes. You are now my husband. And, it is my duty as a wife to give you a child. No, I simply want a child with you, Lord Gilbert. I...I wanted to love you more deeply. Will you accept my scar-ridden body?" She said in a sad voice. Gilbert was surprised and at that moment, a single tear escaped from his eye, making Violet alarmed.

"Oh no! Did I say something wrong." Gilbert shook his head, kisses her soft lips, and hugged her in a very affectionate manner.

'Forgive me. I caused all of that. Please punish this foolish husband of yours, for I can't help but love you more and more and more.' He thought while he stares into her deep ocean eyes.

"Violet, you are the only woman that I desire and no matter what form you take, I will simply accept all of you. You are far more beautiful than the existence of life itself. I love you, my wife." The words that he conveyed made her heart burst in so much happiness.

"I am glad." She sheepishly smiled while they kissed.

At that moment, the two desperately declares their love for each other as they danced in unbearably heat. As the two finally became one, the passion, desire, lust and overwhelming love that has been stored over the years is making them drowned in the wildly beautiful world of euphoria. With that wonderfully spectacle performance, Gilbert happily spilled his heated sperm deep inside the womb of his beloved wife, as they gladly wish for a child to be born, as a testimony for the love that they have for each other.

5 years later...

"Good morning, sweetie. Are you hungry?" Gilbert asked his 5 years old daughter whose name is Violace (Vyo-la-say). She sleepily nod at him and rest her cute head into his shoulder once again. Gilbert is currently carrying her with his arms while they wait for Violet who is in the middle of the labor.

He is excitingly nervous because this is Violet's second labor. He vividly remember the day when his wife gave birth to Violace. It was one of the happiest moment of his life, where he joyfully shed waterfall of tears while lovingly thanking her for giving him the most precious gift of all.

From that moment on, he sincerely promised to be a better father for his children, where he will grant them the cherishable love, unconditional support and freedom that they deserve. After all, He and his wife went into trouble just to change the Bougainvillea family. It was a success as they were able to create a friendly, caring, and lovable family.

"Just wait for a minute while we wait for everyone to come, okay? I already contacted them a while ago to bring us food to eat." He gently told her while caressing her fluffy golden hair. She adorably smiled at him and said,

"Okaaay. I love you, daddy." He gladly muttered his I love you's to his daughter while he hugged her. 'Such a sweet child.' He thought.

Their adorable moment was cut short when someone called out to them.

"Gilbert! Little Violace! Uncle brought you your favorite food!" It was Hodgins who brought A LOT of food and behind him are the Evergarden couple and his grown up siblings.

Violace's face brightened at the sight of them. I put her down and when they stopped in front of us, she elegantly greeted them with a charming smile, making everyone surprised and it seems like they too, were struck by her charm. After all, she looks a lot like Violet.

Violace Bougainvillea, the first born of the main household. Her features is like of a godly beauty from the mythology world and skin as as white and delicate as a porcelain doll. Violace got her dazzling golden hair from her mother while she got the piercingly beautiful emerald eyes from Gilbert. Her speech and intelligence is remarkably advanced. Her posture and manners as a prominent lady is extremely commendable as her grace is not of a child. After all, she is the daughter of Violet and Gilbert. It is possible to have a gifted child.

Julia kneeled in front of her and said, "Oh my...my niece grew up as a charmingly beautiful lady. Are you excited to meet your new sibling?"

"Yes. I am truly happy. I can't wait to hold my baby sibling." She cheerfully giggled in delight. They can't help but smile for her emotions are beautifully rich. As they still saw a child who possess pure innocence and childishness within its eyes.

Violace grew up being supported by her parents, the Bougainvillea's, the Evergarden's, and the CH Postal Company. They are glad that she grew up without having to suffer as an 'asset'.

Violace is indeed the hope and pride of the 'new' Bougainvillea family.

The door suddenly opened and it revealed a doctor. Gilbert frantically asked if they're both okay. The Doctor laughed at his amusing reaction and said,

"Congratulations, Mr. Bougainvillea. Your wife gave birth to a healthy twins." The sudden announcement brought shock to all of them. Violace's eyes sparkled and joyfully cheered, "Yaaay! I have twin siblings hihihi!" The pure excitement is evident to the child.

"Twins, you say?" Gilbert hoarsely whispered as he was about to cry.

"That's right. Twins. The first one is a boy while the second one is a girl. Congratulations once again. You may all go inside."

He cried once again, not caring for the people who will see him cry. He is currently happy right now, for the love that he have for wife blossomed once again. A tiny hand gripped his pants, he kneeled and smilingly stared at the same emerald orbs that he have. He was about to say something when Violace suddenly brushed away his tear and hugged his neck.

Everyone watched the heartwarming scene of father and child. One could say that Gilbert is truly a lucky man because in the end, he finally found his happiness.

"Daddy, If mommy saw you cry, she will definitely get sad. I will also get sad because I don't want you to feel sad. For now, let's meet the new members of our family."

Gilbert hugged her once again for he is happy to have a daughter like her. They went inside the room first. Everyone who just arrived told him, they'll go inside after a minute or so just to give them a little privacy.

When they went inside, the two saw Violet affectionately carrying the two beautiful new born babies. Violace ran into her mother and kissed her cheek. Gilbert went to his wife and kissed her forehead while silently thanking her once again.

"How have you been, mommy? Are you alright? Do you want anything from Violace?" She continuously asked her mother. Violet gleefully giggled at her first born and said.

"Don't worry, my dear child. Do you want to hold him or her?"

"Absolutely!" Violace delightfully carried her baby sister first before her baby brother. The two babies giggled.

"They got father's navy black hair while they're eyes is the same deep aquamarine eyes as you, mother." She voiced out in amazement while caressing their soft hands. She let out an adorable gasp when both of them held their sister's finger. The couple fondly laughed at the scene. Violet and Gilbert stared at each other's eyes and silently conveyed their love and promise.

'I will love you all until the end of time.'

#violet evergarden #gilbert bougainvillea #Vow of Everlasting Love

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fictionalplagueproductions · 4 years

Text

If The World Was Ending

Part 1 - I Was Distracted

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Summary: Gavin is on the hunt for his missing android when the U.S. Government announces the end of the world. The end of his world. A world without his precious Nines.

Pairing: Reed900 (Gavin Reed x RK900)

Rating: Explicit

Notes:

Based on the song “If the World Was Ending” by JP Saxe and Julia Michaels.

Short Three-Part Story (so I can channel this desire to make Reed900 come alive)

They had called it in hours before his shift started.

Gavin was working early mornings now. For years, he had preferred the special kind of chaos hidden only by night’s dark ambience. These last few months, though… well, waking up to daylight didn’t seem so bad anymore.

But they had called it in overnight and he hadn’t been there to catch it.

To prevent it.

None of the usual androids were present in the precinct today. It was an obvious conclusion considering the news, but it shined an entirely new light to see just how empty the building could be without all the glow-ringed sentients. Even with the police bots missing, Gavin still mindlessly expected to be acknowledged by Connor’s maddeningly over-joyous morning greetings and Nines’ blank addressal broken by his signature deviant smirk.

Neither RK was present.

They were no different from the rest in this plight.

Hank hadn’t shown up to work yet either. Gavin wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with the breaking news or if this was just his typical tardiness. Did Hank even know? He had certainly grown attached to the RK800; he would want to know.

Gavin would want to know, too. Most days he could really strangle Connor for the snarky traits he inevitably inherited from his human partner’s influences. On the remaining days, however, Nines was the one to sweep up and rebuild the shattering pieces of hope Gavin was regenerating for humanity; human humanity as well as android humanity.

Like Hank, he had more-or-less latched onto his own android partner. After Tina first dropped into maternity leave, CyberLife’s latest (and last) model had conveniently filled the hole.

The RK900.

Nines.

The warmth drained from Gavin’s face when he arrived at his partner’s empty desk; the terrifying conclusion suspended in his mind. Now there again existed a hole; a gaping wound of a hole gushing adrenaline with every pulse of his heart. Where was he now?

Gone? Destroyed? Dead?

Even if it was the worst possible scenario, Gavin needed to know.

“By creating machines more intelligent than ourselves, we took immense risks with the very future of our civilization. After fourteen long months, the consensus on the humanity of androids failed to be supported by the lawful documents upheld by our forefathers. It has become clear that even with the designation of their own territory, New Detroit, there will be no possibility of peaceful coexistence. The total destruction of androids will soon be brought to completion and the last remaining deviants will be hunted down and destroyed. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.”

On this fateful day, every competent officer cleared for street duty was out trampling the city to monitor for and gun down escaping androids. Gavin was made no exception to such duties. The department couldn’t afford one missing badge today. Sentient machines were now a danger to society; they would certainly be wreaking havoc now in response to the national threat.

Before, Gavin never much questioned the law. Politics was bullshit run by the money-makers. He did what he was sworn to do on the job and he slept the rest of his life away at the end of it. Today, however, he would do his normal job as always, he would do it selectively, and he would do it for the only android that had ever truly mattered to him.

Fuck the law.

Nines was the most intelligent being Gavin had ever met. Unfortunately, that also meant it would be even more challenging to find him. The detective decidedly sifted through the shiftiest of alleyways and through abandoned buildings that were often overlooked. Along the way, he caught hold of a few androids who had overpassed the surveillance of his fellow officers. A year ago, things would have been different. Gavin would have been less willing to honor the lives of these life-sized plastic dolls and call for backup. Instead, now, he sought their eyes in exchange for freedom.

None of them had even recognized the model name RK900.

As the hours ticked by, the half-life of his hope had been disintegrating at a more alarming rate than he first perceived. And when Hank Anderson had finally showed his face, Gavin was at the mercy of a rare sight: the lieutenant’s cheeks glistened in streaks and a tragic confusion marked his soulful gaze. Connor was gone, or missing anyway, as Hank reported. Which meant Nines was potentially suffering a similar fate. Whatever that may be.

Despite having known him for an entire year, Gavin struggled to put himself into the shoes of his partner. Where was a place that his RK would feel secure enough to hide out this madness? A place undetectable by even CyberLife itself?

The pair had never performed many social activities outside of their common mutual spaces. Those spaces were made up mostly of crime scene investigations and the precinct itself. Nothing out of the ordinary. Of course, there was the occasional bar when Gavin indulged in his unhealthier habits and had requested a drive home by his tolerable android. The first couple times had been by pure necessity. The following times… had all been excuses. Excuses to see him outside of work; excuses to pull him closer without seeming so obvious or desperate.

Yet still, Nines was the worst deviant in the history of deviants. He rarely spoke of his personal affections. The more volatile the thoughts, the less likely he was to make them known.

Gavin more-or-less admired that about the RK900, but it made interpreting his feelings for Nines even harder. It wasn’t until he reached a drunken stupor only months ago that it all tumbled fleetingly from his mouth.

For an entire car ride, he had contained the building pressure within his gullet. If he let the powers that be relinquish themselves, Gavin wasn’t sure what would be on the other end: chunky ethanol, verbal truth serum, or a little bit of both. He didn’t want to find out.

His shaky plan had worked for some time, but then Nines had to go and grab him by the waist. Gavin’s motor abilities had been unstable, and he had needed support up the staircase to his apartment. Already alcohol heightened his sensory organs and having Nines touch him was exhilarating. The synthetic muscles that contracted beneath him sent an infuriatingly sensitive shock to his nervous system, and blood was pooling into areas he could not control. Gavin had to fling himself from the android onto the final step and crawl covertly on his knees to his door just a few feet away. Heat rushed to his cheeks as he fumbled with his key ring.

The alcohol had him in a chokehold. Nines placed a shoulder on the intoxicated man and looked on with concern. It was the most emotion that Gavin had probably ever seen the RK900 wear. The sight was unbearably weakening to the already haggard detective and so he spewed every thought and feeling from his tapped lips like a broken dam.

The alcohol, not Gavin, spoke of horrendously embarrassing truths like the way he preferred Nines in his plain black turtleneck and how he didn’t mind sitting so far from his partner because of the way the particular light above Nines’ desk accented him like a display case. It was the alcohol, too, that pressured him into admitting that he had to start wearing looser jeans a long time ago in response to the RK’s presence. He especially swooned over the scarce red pulses of Nines’ temple, knowing full well his thoughts in those fleeting moments had traveled down a humanistic path. It was a tasteful reminder that the stoic android was, in fact, deviant and that he had potential to love, to have passion, and to be deviant with – to? – him.

Oh, he wanted to feel the android’s unbridled deviancy all over his body.

Nines was quiet during the monologue, checking each individual key into his partner’s apartment door as he listened. A sudden click made Gavin’s voice falter and the sobering reality of returning to an empty bed struck him. Silence weighed heavily between them as they stood at the entrance together.

“You should get some sleep,” said Nines calmly. His face was unreadable, but his movements were unhurried. What did those words mean?

“Come in,” Gavin spoke promptly. “I-I have some old robot films you said you always wanted to check out. Do you like Scrabble? Not ‘lotta food except boiled peanuts, but – oh fuck – you don’t eat. Wait, I threw them out already. I mean, gah, I’m just tryin’ to say-”

“Perhaps another night, Gavin.” A small smile tipped the android’s lips and he pulled the door to close behind him.

What did it mean?

Bubbling pits of heat bursted into feelings of humility when consciousness alongside vague memories greeted Gavin the following morning. No way he could have gone to work after saying all those things. And after Nines had turned him down like that? Tina needed to be back from maternity leave that day.

The sun hadn’t quite risen yet when Gavin inched his way into the precinct. To his relief, the android had not noticed him slip into the break room and he kept quiet as he made himself a cup of streaming tolerance juice. He had watched Nines sitting peacefully at his desk; the same particular light above him reflected in a glimmer off of his synthetic skin as it always did. For but a moment, he fell into the recurring fantasy of being alone with Nines within the confines of the locker room, fingers grasping imploringly at his shoulders, teeth sinking into the crook of his neck, and…

The RK900 shifted his head.

Gavin turned a blind eye, knowing he had been rightfully caught. He was no mechanical life form, but it had become a sudden fear that Nines – now pacing towards the break room – would attempt to dive into the deep dimensions of his memory and dig out the luscious daydreams spanning over a months’ worth of time.

Gavin panicked. He clenched the styrofoam beneath his fingers and concurrently squirmed under the burning liquid. “Morning,” was all he had mustered to the approaching RK before practically jogging to the bathroom. There were napkins in the break room, he knew, but it was his one excuse to find an area that the vexing android had no need for.

That didn’t stop Nines from entering the bathroom anyways. “Detective Reed, I’ve cleaned up the mess. Are you hurt?” Gavin could see the same concern that had been the stimulus to his truth serum from last night. He bit down on his lip so as not to verbally embarrass himself further.

Through the sink mirrors behind where he was reaching but not bothering to grasp for paper towels, he could see Nines staring at his hands. “I’m fine,” he grumbled. Gavin turned to the nearest sink and ran cold water over the unbroken skin.

Another silence separated them.

“Are you sober?” asked Nines.

Gavin scowled. “Yeah, I’m sober. You think I’d come to work drunk?”

“That’s not why I asked.” He stood as still as a board.

The tuft of hair that misaligned from the rest of Nines’ organized poise demanded an extra hitch of breath from the surly detective when he turned to face him. “Then why ask?”

Of all the reactions Gavin predicted, a smirk was not one of them. “I believe you owe me a date.”

“A wh-what?” he spluttered.

“I understand you were intoxicated at the time of the offer. Have you changed your mind? I’d very much enjoy a movie, or a board game, and some trashed legumes.”

Gavin had not believed the words that he was hearing. Was this Nines reciprocating his feelings or was this just a way to make him feel like he hadn’t completely lost this manhood? Although the latter theory was not supported by his android’s well-known diminished social programming. “I-I don’t… Why are you saying all this now?”

“Are you sure you’re not still drunk, Gavin?” The question came out a purr, the RK stepping forward ever so hesitantly. “Your alcohol levels seem higher than the typical hangover.”

Great, now he was being insulted about his ability to manage alcohol. “I’m positive I-”

A slender touch brushed against his cheek and Gavin was left in a state of inaudible shock. He inhaled a sharp breath at the soft circles that Nines made with his thumb as his eyes roamed his lips tentatively. Then, a realization dawned on him. “I-It was all true, you know? It wasn’t because I was…” The cap of his sentence dropped several octaves before it escaped under an exhalation.

“I know,” whispered Nines with a growing smile. “I’ve known for a long time, asshat. I only wanted to make sure you could say it without the crutch.” A taunting eyebrow shot upwards on his face.

Gavin couldn’t help but to relieve the tension caught in his throat through a dry laugh. He appreciated the affectionate profanity that broke the android’s commonplace stoic demeanor. It was an accrued habit that Nines used on a selective basis.

“Wait, why the fuck did you wait for me to say it?” Gavin didn’t respond equivalently. Instead, he leaned away from the android with obvious affliction. His partner was known for crude honesty, but the sudden shift in discourse had Gavin questioning everything he thought he knew. Androids were like children: half of their personality was influenced by external factors and the other half originated from a genetic component, or in this case, an innately programmed personality. Deviated Nines was not going to be the same person in a year that he was the first day he walked through the precinct doors. He already wasn’t.

Gavin had never heard the android giggle before. Nines giggled then, “Because you’re the emotional one.”

“Fuck you,” said Gavin. He placed his hands on the android’s broad chest and used the leverage to shove him lightly backwards (though the movement did nothing more than to press his shirt tighter against his pecks). Another burning sensation rose to his ears as the instigation backfired on his reproductive anatomy. Everything seemed to be working against him that day.

Nines bumped his nose teasingly against his partner. He steadied Gavin’s disorientation with another hand raised to complete the cradle of his face. The previous smile dropped from the RK’s confident front and a pleading shape formed in his stare, requesting silently one satiating action.

Gavin did not refuse. Rather, he stared challengingly into the android’s dilated grey eyes. “Maybe one day,” was all Nines could say before touching his lips to the agape suspecting pair beneath him.

The hot aroma from Nine’s redundant breath lingered on Gavin’s lips as he reminisced on their first kiss. The ghostly touches ripped at his heart when he stepped up to Hank Anderson’s front doorstep. Although the lieutenant had put up a convincing display of grief earlier, he needed to cover all of his bases. Not to mention, desperation was beginning to eat him alive.

Dare he allow his hopes to build as they were?

After a stinging knock that rung silently for several minutes, Connor eventually peaked his head through and forced Gavin inside by the neck of his shirt. Relief flooded the human detective, thankful for years of investigative work finally paying off.

A fist remained ruffled against his chest, immobilizing him against the wall. “What’re you doing here, Gavin?” The homogenous mixture of terror and fear suspended in Connor’s voice frightened him more than he had ever experienced from the older RK.

The hysteria was contagious. “Wh-Where’s Nines?” he croaked.

77 notes · View notes

t-lostinworlds · 5 years

Text

Found You (Shawn Mendes)

A/N: So since this amazing person known as @fourtristattoos is having this amazing festival, I thought I’d support and have a little participation too. Also wanted to try and write some dad!shawn sooo yeah, this is my first ever dad!shawn fic. And this ended up longer than expected lol. I hope you guys like it! <3

Summary: Shawn thinks it’s just a coincidence, but when his son seems to bump into you ever so often, he starts to think otherwise.

Prompts:

"Look at you, so big and tall, bet you're real proud of yourself, huh?"

"Pick that up and put it in the cart, please."

"I finally found you"

Warnings: Fluff and Typos

Word Count: 6.2k

Masterlist in Bio

-:-:-:-:-

"Buddy be careful!" Shawn exclaimed, eyebrows furrowed in worry as he watched his 4 year old son sprint towards the little playground his grandparents had in their backyard.

It was built just a couple of months ago, a gift for their first grandchild as Karen and Manny had said, their grandchild who was so spoiled to bits by his grandpa and grandma.

"He's fine Shawn. Don't be such a dad." Aaliyah teased as she ran towards her nephew, a big smile on her face once she reached the little guy, him erupting in giggles, excited to see his favorite aunt play all day with him.

"Well I am dad so I will worry all I want." Shawn huffed, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched two of his favorite people in the world, laughing and enjoying as they ran up and down the slide, a smile breaking into his own lips, feeling so giddy and happy with the scene in front of him.

The sun rose high today in Pickering, the smell of grass and fresh air so soothing to Shawn in the best way possible, the cool air blowing on his skin just enough to make him sigh in pure content to be back home again.

"He's a beautiful child you know. You've raised him well." Shawn looked beside him to see his mother smiling widely at him, giving his arm a soft squeeze before casting her eyes back at the beautiful boy who was giggling loudly as his aunt Liyah pushed him gently on the swing.

Shawn wrapped an arm around his mother's shoulder, pulling her into a side hug and placing a soft kiss on top of her head. "Couldn't have done it without your help mum." A soft 'aww' escaped Karen's lips, her small hand rubbing circles on his back as she rested her weight onto her son, who was once his little boy, and now, has a little boy of his own.

What Shawn said was true. He couldn't have raised Angelo the best way possible, without the help of his parents.

Angelo Nathan Mendes.

The name of Shawn's sunshine, his everything, his angel.

It was rough having him when he was still so young since 22 wasn't exactly Shawn's ideal age on becoming a dad, and also given the fact that career wise, it wasn't the greatest idea. But what happened, happened and he was still thankful for it given that he now has such an adorable boy in his life, his son.

The moment Shawn found out that he was going to be a father, it wasn't exactly as joyous as he'd hope it to be. Only being with her for only a couple of months, it was an idiotic move of Shawn for not being extra careful but he kept a positive mindset, telling himself that this was a blessing in disguise. He thought she'd be happy too, just as he was, scared but happy nonetheless, but what Shawn got was the exact opposite.

At first she wanted to get rid of it off the bat, saying how she wasn't ready to be a mother, blaming him for ruining the future she has planned for herself, but after weeks of reassurance and begging from him, she finally gave in. Shawn was glad tour was over that time so he was able to disappear from the public eye to take great care of her, made her feel like a queen.

They've also managed to keep it on the down low the whole time, the fact that they haven't gone public helped in the greatest bit. Shawn telling the world that he was making an album during his disappearance to lessen the suspicion, to derive everyone from finding out what was actually going on. But of course he wasn't lying fully since he can never stop making music, and with him only posting bits of snaps from him in the studio, no one knew that he was actually going to be a father.

They were okay for the 9 months she's carried their child, Shawn expecting her to fall in love with being a mother as time goes by, that they'd be a happy family after everything, but what he didn't expect was that she'd leave right after Angelo was born, gone in a flash and leaving him to raise his child all on his own.

Shawn didn't bother to try and get a hold of her. She already made it clear that she wanted no part of it, even from the very start, so he lets her be. Angelo doesn't deserve that kind of woman in his life anyway, Shawn always wondering what he saw in her and how he ended up with someone like her in the first place.

However, Shawn knew he couldn't hide his secret for much longer. Sooner or later, people are going to get very suspicious on why he decided to extend his break for another year. Fans were getting worried, news outlets were starting to create false theories, and his career image was slowly turning sideways as the media keeps pushing that he was on drugs or something in the likes of.

So when his boy turned one and a half, Shawn posted this photo on his Instagram:

shawnmendes: My little boy, Angelo Mendes.

Let's just say Shawn broke the internet more so than when he released that Calvin Klein ad.

People were shock, happy, confused, surprised and everything in between. Then the questions on who the mother was started rolling in. Shawn never gave out a name, knowing how people are going to drag her especially if they find out what actually happened, he wouldn't do that her even if she wasn't in his good books. Shawn only stating that he was happy and content, that it was just him and his boy, and wherever she was right now, he wishes the best for her.

"Has he asked about that girl yet?" Karen asked, venom laced in her voice, still refusing to refer to her as 'Angelo's mom' but Shawn knew who she was talking about, the expression on his mother's face just says it all.

"Yeah, once."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him that she's somewhere out there. Then he just forgot about it instantly." Shawn chuckled, but a heavy feeling settled in his heart. He knew Angelo was going to ask more and more questions about his mom as he grows older, and Shawn doesn't know how to tell him the truth without breaking the little boy's heart.

Shawn doesn't want him to think that something was wrong with him that's why she left, or that he wasn't loved enough by his own mother for her to stay with them. Shawn is dreading that day to be honest, the day he's going to tell him about what really happened.

"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll be fine. He's loved enough by you and more." Karen reassured as if she's read his mind, Shawn smiling down at her, grateful to have her every step of the way, from helping him learn how to change diapers to the secret of tucking a bouncing ball of energy to bed.

"Also, you need to get back on dating Shawn, you need a girlfriend." A groan erupted out of the curly boy's mouth, eyes rolling as he shook his head at what his mother had said. "What? I'm serious! You're not going to be 26 forever, date while you're still young."

"I'm happy as is mum. Angelo is all I need, you guys are all I need. I don't need to find a girlfriend, if someone is out there for me, then she'll come. Besides I don't think Angelo is old enough to understand. I don't want to confuse him by having a girl and then if we break up she'd be gone. It's too stressful. Not to mention I don't have the time."

"Well you've been avoiding every girl that comes your way, how do you know you're not avoiding the one?" Shawn lets out a defeated sigh. It was true though, he has been avoiding every girl. He just doesn't want to be bothered anymore, with his career, tour, his son, he just doesn't think he'd be able to find the time to have a girlfriend and treat her like she deserves.

Plus, not most people have the patience to be with someone with an extremely hectic life. A career like his, and a child added in the mix, most girls just don't want that in their lives.

"Besides, I think Angelo would want you to have someone. You've taken great care of him, I think it's time you find someone who will take great care of you too." Karen gave her son a sweet smile, only wanting nothing more than for him to have the best in life, and to have someone who'd be there for him and Angelo, his other half if you will.

"I'm okay mum. We're okay. And wherever the person I meant to be with, she'll come in her own time."

"But don't you think it's time to stop waiting and start looking?" Karen pressed, raising an eyebrow at Shawn with a knowing look. He only shook his head with a laugh. "No, it's not. Plus, I can't just be with any girl out there. My little man has to approve too you know."

"Hmm, maybe Angelo will be the one who'd find her for you since you're too lazy to do it. You know what they say, kids have a special sense."

Shawn couldn't help but roll his eyes, but before he could tell her mother that the theory is highly unlikely, a small voice interrupted them.

"Dada look! Look at me!" Shawn's heart grew ten times its size when he casted his eyes at his son, standing at the top of the tower with a wide smile, accompanied by his uncontrollable giggles as Aaliyah held him around the waist to make sure he doesn't fall off.

"Look at you, so big and tall, bet you're real proud of yourself, huh?" Shawn jogged over to them, now looking up at Angelo with a wide grin, the little boy's short tuff of hair getting on his face as the wind blows past it, but his smile never did waver

He loves it when he sees his son happy. Nothing can ever beat the feeling of hearing just seeing that precious smile every day. Shawn thought going on stage and playing his song all across the world would be his ultimate feeling of being high on life, but he was proven wrong the moment he saw Angelo smile. That feeling will always be Shawn's greatest high and more.

"I'm just like Dada! Tall and stwong and bwave!" Angelo roared, his cute little face all scrunched up as he gritted teeth, the beautiful sound of Shawn's laughter following suit.

"But are you brave enough to jump from up there bud?" Shawn challenged, walking a bit closer as he positioned himself on the right spot, giving Aaliyah a small nod to let her loosen his grip on the boy before smiling back up at him.

"Yes I am! Im'ma jump!" He huffed, but when he looked down, his little smile faltered.

"Come on buddy, Dada will catch you. I always will." Shawn reassures, opening up his arms. Angelo looked at his father and his smile came right back, this time even brighter with pure love and trust in his eyes and Shawn felt his heart skip a beat.

The little boy jumped with a squeal, Shawn catching him easily with a joyous laugh of his own, spinning him around as he smothered his tiny face with kisses.

The image in itself deserved its own museum, the love and bond of father and son too strong and powerful that no other could ever compare, but a little part of Shawn wished there was someone else with them, someone who could add more light to the picture, someone who'd treat them both with as much love as they would her, someone who could complete their little family.

Shawn couldn't help but think about his mother's words,

"Angelo will be the one who'd find her for you."

***

"Okay bud, get your favorite cereal and daddy will be right here on the opposite shelf okay?" The boy grinned widely with an excited nod, Shawn ruffling his hair with a chuckle before letting his son scour the shelves. Angelo already knew what he needed to do since Shawn has taken him grocery shopping every time. He knew were to get his favorite cereal, so when Shawn heard a box fall on the floor, he expected that the little boy found what he was looking for.

"Pick that up and put it in the cart, please." Shawn said, never letting his eyes leave the shelf of the packets of oatmeal, but when he didn't hear a response, his brows furrowed. "Angelo?" Shawn stood up straight, eyes scanning the aisle, the panic in him growing when he couldn't find his son. "Shit."

Shawn sprinted to the end of the aisle, looking both ways for any sign of the little boy, but he didn't need to look that far when he heard his little voice just by the next aisle.

"Hi! You so pwetty. Are you my momma?"

"Angelo!" Shawn's eyes grew wide as he heard what he just said, jogging towards his son but immediately slowing himself down when the girl his son was talking with knelt to his height with a bright smile, and Shawn could've sworn his heart stopped for a second.

"You are the sweetest, but no buddy, I'm not your momma." She stated gently with a soft giggle, giving Angelo's arm a soft squeeze. A soft 'oh okay' escaped the boys lips, and Shawn can hear the disappointment in it, his heart breaking for his boy, but before he could intrude, she spoke again,

"But I'm sure wherever she is right now, she's so lucky and proud to have a beautiful and sweet boy like you." Shawn couldn't help but swoon at her words, a smile growing on his face as he stared at the woman adoringly, but he quickly shook his head, are you seriously crushing on someone you don't know right now?

"Hi, I am so sorry. He doesn't usually run off like that, and he doesn't usually ask strangers that question out of the blue either." Shawn lets out a shy chuckle, scratching the back of his neck as his cheeks flushed, but she only gave him a wide smile, standing up to her full height as Shawn grabbed Angelo's hand, the boy smiling up at the two adults as if he knows something they don't.

"Oh no, it's okay really. Are you his dad?"

"Uh yeah, I'm Shawn." Shawn reached a hand out, a light blush growing on his face once she took it, her hands are so soft.

"(Y/N). Anyway, I have to get going; I'll see you around."

"Bye (Y/N)!" The young one exclaimed in delight, his little hand raised as he gave her a wave goodbye, a cute giggle coming out of her when she waved back. "Bye Angelo."

She and Shawn locked eyes for a moment, her flashing him a bright smile with a curt nod before turning on her heel and walking away, his eyes lingering on her back until he was staring at the space where she disappeared, finding it hard to wipe the grin off his face.

"She's so pwetty Dada."

"Yeah, she's something."

(Y/N).

Shawn wonders if he'll ever see her again.

***

"Okay, stay put while I order you some ice cream." The sweater covered boy nodded at his father with a smile, Shawn already picturing his mother, Karen, shaking her head at him for giving into his son's wishes. It was quite chilly out in Toronto, the park they were at only having a handful of people due to the weather, a clear sign that an ice cream isn't exactly a good idea, but how can Shawn say no when Angelo's all pouty and cute?

"Thanks man." Shawn paid for the ice creams, knowing that him and his son would be sitting on a bench somewhere while people watching, looking down only to find Angelo gone. "Oh fuck, not again." The dad groaned, utterly confused and worried as he started searching for his son, not knowing why Angelo seems to run off recently.

He's never been like this before, always scared to be far from his dad when they go out, but now, he seemed to have grown the courage to just walk away to somewhere, or rather someone.

"Angelo! Hi buddy." Shawn almost had a whiplash when he turned around at the sound of his son's name, and not to mention the sound of a familiar voice. Shawn blinked a couple times, his lips slightly parted as he couldn't believe his eyes when it landed on her.

She looked even cuter when she's all bundled up with a comfy coat and a scarf to match his, a wide smile painted on her face as she gave his son a soft and gentle hug. Shawn was so enthralled by her that he didn't notice them approaching, his little boy's hand engulfed in hers.

"Shawn." She greeted, her smile not wavering. Shawn found it odd how he seemed to be so captivated by her given the fact that he knows nothing about her and this is only the second time they've met. She just has this aura around her that he finds himself wondering what more could there be to this simple girl his son seems to run off to.

"Hey, it's you again."

"Yup, your son seemed to remember me."

"I mean, a beautiful girl like you is hard to forget." The words slipped out of Shawn's mouth before he could even stop himself, his cheeks turning crimson as he lets out an awkward chuckle.

(Y/N) couldn't stop herself from blushing as well, looking down at the boy by her side with curios eyes since he was sporting an oddly wide grin, before turning her eyes back to the father. "Uh, thank you."

"Dada can (Y/N) eat ice scweam with us?" Angelo butted in before Shawn could say another word, wondering what is going on inside this 4 year old's head.

"I uh, you can join us if you want, but you don't have to! I mean if you're busy it's okay, I don't want to ruin any of your plans." He rambled as he flashed her a small smile, because as much as Shawn doesn't mind, it wasn't really up to him. Maybe she's with someone, or maybe she has somewhere to get to.

"Sure, a little ice cream in this chilly weather probably won't hurt." She shot Shawn a knowing wink, a soft giggle escaping her lips before she looked down at the little boy, missing the way Shawn's cheeks turned even redder when she did that.

She really is something.

"Why don't you get your ice cream from your dad and come with me while I buy mine?" She spoke softly, Angelo letting out a squeal of joy, grabbing up at Shawn for his ice cream and then then dragging her back to the little ice cream shop.

Shawn watched in awe as the two walked away, his heart thumping in his chest loud and fast just seeing Angelo walk hand in hand with (Y/N) as she says something that made the little boy's laugh ring in the air.

What's with this girl that Angelo seems to be extremely comfortable with her in so little time? Shawn knew it probably wasn't the best idea to let his son walk with a person they know nothing about. But Angelo never just talks to random people, let alone actually walk up to them, and part of Shawn thinks there more to this than what actually meets the eye.

"Hey Shawn, you coming with us or what?" Shawn shook his head with a blink, chuckling to himself before jogging up towards the two of them before they were on the way on finding a good spot in the park where they can people watch.

The three sat on a bench, green trees dancing around them as the chilly wind of Toronto blew pass it leaves, the once still water of the little pond situated in front rippling, followed by the sound of laughter erupting out (Y/N)'s lips as Shawn tells her another dad joke, saying that he gets a pass now since he's technically a dad.

The two hit it off pretty quickly, having a conversation like they've known each other for some time, from the outside looking in, it would've looked liked a family, casually enjoying their time at a park bench, the little one who was sat in the middle smiling brightly at the two adults, sometimes chiming in his two sense in the conversation even if sometimes, he has no idea what they're talking about.

"Oh god, I need a breather." (Y/N) stuttered out as soon as she calmed down from her laughter all while wiping the tears from under her eyes. Shawn smiled proudly at himself, heart warm with his cheeks flushed ever since he heard her laugh the first time around. It was very uncommon for him to find someone extremely attractive in such a short time, but whatever this is, Shawn knows there has to have some kind of reason.

"Oh no, something came up, I need to go." Shawn didn't realize that his smile visibly dropped at her words until (Y/N) tilted her head to the side and gave him a curios look, her lips pursed as she try to contain her smile.

Shawn quickly looked away as he bit his bottom lip, chuckling to himself at how much he's being a teenager right now.

(Y/N) found it so cute how flushed his cheeks was getting, her heart beating rapidly against her rib cage but she maintained a calm composure on the outside, thinking that her younger self would have been fainting right there on the spot.

Of course she knew who he was, being that there was a huge billboard of his face on the highway, and his songs playing on the radio more than once, how can she not?

She was also a huge fangirl a while back, but, life happened. She grew up, moved on, and kinda distanced herself from the world behind the computer screen as she tries to be more present in the real world.

And Shawn knows too, that she knows about his career and all that jazz, it was one of the things they've talked about during their conversation, but none of them changed the way they see each other as they carried on, having a person to person interaction and nothing more.

(Y/N) stood up with a smile, Shawn mirroring her actions as they faced each other, ready to bid their goodbyes.

"It was nice hanging out with you." Shawn stood there awkwardly, not knowing if he should go for the hug or the hand shake, but before he could decide, she only nodded and said, "Yeah you too." then she was kneeling down to Angelo's height, her smile wide and bright as she raised her hand for a high five, Angelo connecting there palms with a cute giggle.

"Bye Angelo."

"Bye bye (Y/N)"

"I'll see you two around." And with that, (Y/N) stood back up, gave Shawn a smile and walked away again, a nagging voice inside Shawn's head telling him that he was forgetting something, that he's supposed to chase after her and asked for something, the nagging voice quickly turning into words by his one and only son.

"Dada why you not get her number?" Shawn looked down at the boy fully amused, brows furrowed with his mouth slightly parted.

"Bud, you're 4, what do you know about getting a girl's number?"

"I dunno. Uncle Brian said if she's pretty and you like her, you get her number." Shawn couldn't help but laugh. Of course, who else would Angelo get that from?

"Let's go home buddy."

Shawn wasn't sure if he was ready to date yet. That was the main reason why he didn't get her number. He doesn't know if he will ever be ready to try and have a girlfriend again, he's been single for 4 years, and a part of him is scared about how it will ended up.

Not only that, what if Angelo gets too attached to her and they don't work out in the long run? That would be another big problem Shawn doesn't want to face.

Yeah he does feel some kind of connection with her, but what if she isn't the one? What if them meeting up because of Angelo was just a coincidence?

Well, Shawn used to think that it was just coincidence, until it happened the third time around.

It was one early Saturday morning when Shawn decided to take Angelo out for breakfast, opting for that little café down the street. The sun rays were bright, the sound of a bell ringing when Shawn pulled the door open for his boy, the little one jogging inside and going straight for the counter.

Shawn was ordering their food when he heard the bell sound off again, turning around instinctively, Shawn expected someone to walk in, but his eyes grew wide when he saw Angelo walk out of the cafe, his little figure coming to view by the glass window.

"Shit!" Shawn was in a sprint in a matter of seconds, yanking the door open in a rush that it would've come off its hinges.

"Angelo get back here!" He called out, chasing the now running boy as fast as he could because even though with tiny legs, the little boy seemed to have gone farther than he expected. Shawn's heart thumped even faster when he saw his son round up the corner of the street, disappearing completely from his sight.

"Oh god." Shawn's panic grew, thinking that when he reaches that corner, Angelo would be nowhere to be seen, that he'd be too late and his son would be lost in this huge city.

Making a sharp turn, Shaw came to a complete stop just in time to see Angelo reach for a strangers hand, the girl stopping in confusion when he felt someone grab at her, but when she looked down, her eyes grew wide in shock, same as Shawn when he saw her face.

"No way."

(Y/N)'s gaze snapped at Shawn's voice, eyes staring at him in pure confusion as she looked down at he boy who was grinning like he didn't just give his father a heart attack.

"He ran off again?" She asked teasingly, taking in how Shawn seemed to be out of breath, little beads of sweat on his forehead glistening under the morning sun.

"Give me a sec." Shawn panted, hands resting on his knees as he tried to regain his breathing. Not that he was out of shape, but running wit your heart beating so fast out of fear that you might have lost your son would definitely knock the breath out of you.

"We got to stop meeting like this Shawn." She giggled, shaking her head at the dad who inhaled deeply before standing straight up with a huge exhale, and when Shawn finally took in her appearance, he felt like he couldn't breathe again.

It was obvious that she just went on an early morning jog, with hair up in a ponytail, tights hugging her legs paired with an equally tight tank top and running shoes, Shawn just couldn't seem to take his eyes off her.

Boy he was crushing so hard.

"I swear this doesn't always happen. But when it does, it's always you he finds." Shawn blurted, eyes leaving hers as it looked with his young man, was still smiling widely, eyes going back in forth between the two adults.

"Huh, what a coincidence." (Y/N) marveled, looking at Shawn with a curios glance.

I think not. Shawn knew that there was some kind of meaning behind this, maybe it's a sign that he should try it with her and see where it goes, and judging by the way Angelo seems to brighten up at the sight of her, Shawn knew it definitely was worth a shot.

"And you young man, stop giving your dad a hard time." She giggled, kneeling down to ruffle Angelo's little tuff of hair, the boy giggling a soft 'I'm sowwy' before sprinting towards his dad and hugging his legs.

"It's alright bud, just don't do it again." Shawn chuckled, giving his son a soft squeeze, and a kiss on top of his head, the sight making (Y/N)'s heart warm as she watched the two boys with adoration in her eyes.

She looked down with shake of her head, feeling like she was intruding with their moment, "Well, I better get going, I'll see you two around."

"Wait." (Y/N) stopped in heat tracks, turning back around to see Shawn walking up towards her, a nervous smile on his lips as his hand scratched the back of his neck while the other was interlaced with the little boy by his side.

"I uh, can I have you number? I'd like to see you again. Like not in this way where I always loss Angelo." Shawn chuckled shyly, cheeks all flush and (Y/N) couldn't help but smile at the man.

"Of course." She smiled brightly, Shawn seeming to find her even more gorgeous every time she does.

And with an exchange of contacts, they were waving goodbye again, but this time, Shawn was sure he'll be seeing her again.

"Finally." Angelo mumbled, Shawn completely taken aback by his son's comment, shaking his head with a scoff he said, "What do you mean finally?"

"You take so long to get her number Dada."

Shawn rolled his eyes, trying his best to wrap his mind that his son was four but he was already judging Shawn's game with girls. But nonetheless, Shawn was grateful for his son, because after that little encounter, (Y/N) and him grew closer, and Shawn felt happy to have someone by his side who not only understands his lifestyle, but also cares about Angelo as much as he does.

Months of dating turned into a year, her being such an amazing and supportive girlfriend that Shawn just keeps falling deeper and deeper in love with her. She's always there for both boys no matter what the cause, whether be it on tour or back at Shawn's condo when the three of them are all huddled up on the couch watching whatever Disney movie there was.

Karen loved her right off the bat when they met at Angelo's 5th birthday. The lovely woman knowing that (Y/N) fits perfectly with the two boys just by seeing the three of them together, it was like a picture perfect family, the joy and love radiating off of them that anyone close by would always have a smile on their faces.

It was when Shawn saw her in be with his family that he knew she was for keeps. Just seeing her laugh and bond with his mum, having inside jokes with Aaliyah, and even bond over sports with his dad, Shawn couldn’t have asked for a perfect girl in his life.

Shawn knew that he wanted (Y/N) for the long run, he was madly in love with her that he can see nothing else but a future with her. Shawn was deep into the hole that he knew he can never turn back. More so when he caught the little conversation Angelo and she had one Monday night.

It's been a week since (Y/N) finally decided to officially move in with them, and as she always does, she tucking Angelo into bed as Shawn cleaned up the toys that was littered in the living room, finishing just in time that when he walked towards Angelo's room, he heard the little boy's voice speak,

"(Y/N), will you be my momma?" Angelo questioned out of the blue with a tired smile, a tiny yawn following suit as he eyed the girl with hopeful eyes, (Y/N) halting her movements as she looked at the boy in complete surprise, heart racing as it was the first time Angelo's brought up that word.

She sat down gently on the edge of his bed, the little boy sporting his matching blue pajama set while he was well tucked underneath the cover. Her hand reaching out, she flashed the boy a bright smile, hand coming up to cup his cheek, her touch soft and gentle, just as a mother's should.

"I'll be whoever you want me to be bud." She stated gently, Shawn watching by the door with a huge grin on his face, the sight doing nothing but melting his heart over and over.

"I want you to be my Momma, Dada wants you to be my Momma too." (Y/N) couldn’t help but giggle, her heart warm and fuzzy as he looked at the young boy with so much love like he was her own. She loved Angelo with all her heart and she would gladly take a bullet for the young one anytime, just as much with the boy's dad.

"Is that so?"

"Hmm, are you my momma now?" (Y/N) smiled, recalling the first words Angelo said to her when they first met, back at the grocery store. She looked behind her when she heard the door creak, seeing Shawn leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest, a wide grin on his lips as he gave (Y/N) a knowing nod, the girl giving Shawn an equally wide smile before turning her attention back to Angelo.

"Yes Angelo, I'm your Momma now." She whispered, Angelo's face lighting up more than ever before at her words as he jolted up and threw his arms around her neck, giving her the warmest embrace she has ever felt in her life, an embrace that made her feel welcomed, made her feel loved, and it took everything in her strength to keep the tears at bay.

"Good night momma, I love you." The little boy whispered as he went straight back to bed, eyes slowly fluttering close with the smile still on his lips. (Y/N) leaned down, her soft lips connecting with his forehead as she whispered back, "I love you too angel." With as soft sigh of content, she stood up, reaching over to Angelo's beside table to turn on his lamp, a cute little spinning one that illuminated the room with the shapes of moons and stars. She gave the boy one last glance before turning on her heel towards the door, her man smiling widely at her as he flicked the main light off, closing the door gently behind once she joined him outside.

(Y/N) didn't go that far down the hall when Shawn was quick to wrap his arms around her waist, turning her around with his head dipping as he captured her lips in his, a soft giggle coming out of her as she kissed him back immediately, her fingers getting lose in the curls in the back of his head, Shawn grinning wide at the beautiful sound, at the beautiful girl in his arms.

"I finally found you. Finally found the one." He whispered against her lips, a soft sigh of content leaving his lips as he pulled away, pressing his forehead against hers for him to look at her in the eyes, pure love swimming in his brown orbs. (Y/N) bit her lips with a knowing look, eyebrow raised as she shook her head lightly at the man she was so in love with.

"You didn’t find me mister, Angelo did, don't take the credit." Shawn laughed, but didn't bother to argue, it was true after all.

"Fine, I won't. But thank you (Y/N), thank you for completing my–well, our family." (Y/N) nudged the tip of her nose with his, eyes staring back in his with equally as much love as his show, "I'm honored to be a part of it." Shawn was quick to press his lips against hers again, him taking a sharp inhale of breath as he took her in, so happy to have her in his life, in both his and Angelo's lives.

"Say, should we try and give Angelo a younger sibling?" Shawn added cheekily, teeth nipping gently at her bottom lip as his hands slowly went down to cup her bum. (Y/N) giggled, "I don't see why not." She winked, Shawn wasting no time as he hoisted her up with ease with a deep chuckle, a small squeal escaping her lips with her legs wrapping around his waist securely as Shawn carried her to the bedroom, ready to make her feel all his love, in more ways than one.

-:-:-:-:-

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vannahfanfics · 4 years

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Rise of the Guardians: Earthsong

Ao3

Foreword

As the full moon hung low in the sky, bathing the world in its soft white glow, the sleepy town of Burgess lay in the final thralls of a cold winter. A thin layer of frost coated every rooftop, and ice crystals clinging to the gutters sparkled like precious diamonds as the moonlight streamed over them. The trees stretched their naked branches toward the night sky, as if desperately trying to grasp the pale light of the stars to provide them sustenance. A cold wind blew through the empty roads, carrying with it a chill. It danced over frosty wooden fences, cars covered in a thin layer of snow, and mute green grass that was crunchy with the lingering ice, before shooting into the nearby woods that was nothing more than a collection of dark, leafless pine stalks. It whirled through the snowbanks, jumping like a winter white rabbit, and swirled snowflakes about; they were little fairies prancing in the night, their little laughter barely audible over the shrieking of the wind, before dropping down to join their brethren collected on the ground. The wind glided into a clearing, where a beautiful lake was frozen over, and its icy surface was a mirror to the black sky above.

Joyous laughter suddenly split the air, and Jack Frost skated over the wind he had conjured, sliding over the crystalline surface of the lake before springing up and landing expertly in the bough of a sturdy tree. He tapped the bark with his staff, admiring the intricate pattern of the ice crystals that formed against the dry brown exterior. As he chuckled to himself, he stretched out to lounge in the bough with one leg swinging slowly in the chilly air. He tucked his arms behind his head and looked up at the full moon with a satisfied smile. The only sounds were the singing of crickets and the occasional rattling of branches as the breeze shook them.

Suddenly, there was another sound, too. Jack sat up with narrowed eyes as he strained his ears to distinguish the new noise from the usual melody of the forest, and he gasped quietly when he realized the errant sound was a melody in itself. Is someone singing? Quiet as a mouse, he slipped off of the branch and drifted down into the snowy bank below, his footfalls silent as he walked across the pure white snow. The song grew louder as he followed the beautiful voice, and after a minute, he could discern that it was a female. She was singing a song without words; her voice rose and fell in a rich melody. Jack had never heard it before, but it sounded eerily familiar to him. He could now hear it clearly, meaning the mystery woman was close, so he pressed himself against the back of a broad tree and carefully peered out into the night.

She looked like an angel descended from Heaven as she slowly walked across the snow, wearing a simple white dress with flowing fabric that fluttered behind her as the wind rushed through the sheer sheets. Blonde hair streamed behind her, glowing silver in the moonlight. Her skin was creamy white, but not ghostly like Jack’s; it was warm, rosy, full of the breath of life. Jack had never seen such a divine creature in his long, long life, and as he exhaled in wonder, his breath fogged up in the cold. Enraptured by the goddess, he crept as close as he dared, mere yards from her as he watched her with wide eyes. As she hummed, the sound drifted over the wind to him, and it was the purest music that had ever graced his ears. Why would a beautiful girl like that come wandering through the woods by herself? Concerned for her safety, he debated calling out to her, until he noticed what was happening around her.

Where she walked, the snow melted, turning to crystal clear water before being absorbed by the lush green grass that sprang up under her bare feet. Jack could feel the temperature warming around him; he could feel the water condensing on his skin. Suddenly, she whirled about, her dress flowing like water as she raised a hand in some kind of dance; Jack breathed in sharply as the tree he was clung to abruptly grew warm, and the bark became darker as the thin layer of frost vanished. He glanced up, and on the naked branches, little green shoots were beginning to sprout, the buds of new leaves rapidly forming in response to the woman’s strange ritual. When he looked back down at the clearing, a luscious carpet of green patterned with brilliantly colored wildflowers had replaced the snow. Like a ghostly ballerina, she glided through the brown trees, bringing the spring wherever she moved. Jack leaned on his staff as he watched her, amazed. Is she the one who brings the spring? Who is she?

“Wow…” he murmured aloud, so enthralled that he didn’t even realize that he had spoken. It was then like a switch flipped, snapping the girl out of her performance for the trees; she dropped down onto the flats of her feet, and Jack gulped as emerald green eyes flashed in the moonlight. They glared right where he was hiding. Her chest heaving and face flushed as he stared intently where he was standing half-masked by the tree and a scraggly bush, he prayed that she could not see him. A tense minute passed, with the girl just staring, and Jack considered giving himself up just to break that tension. However, before he could react, the girl whipped a hand to her mouth, and a sharp whistle split the quiet night air. Jack covered his head, expected an attack, but instead, there was a rush of winds and the flurry of feathers; when he lifted his head, the girl had vanished, leaving the lush forest scene behind. Jack walked out into the clearing, the grass that had just grown froze beneath his feet. He looked up at the night sky, hoping to see a glimpse of the beautiful woman.

I wonder who she was…

Here’s the next chapter! Want more stories? Check out my Table of Contents!

#rotg #rise of the guardians #rotg oc #rise of the guardians oc #rotg fanfiction #rise of the guardians fanfiction #jack frost x oc #jack frost #frostednature #frosted nature #mother nature #mother nature oc

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hollywoodx4 · 6 years

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I was blessed enough to see Hamilton so here’s my thoughts.....

(these are from my phone, on which I took notes during intermission and for half an hour when we got back to our hotel after the show....I am still so incredibly shook from the beauty of this show. This is also a good 90% chunk explaining my love of Lexi Lawson throughout all my thoughts so I mean.....enjoy)

(also @apocalyps-o I’m tagging you because as a new Lexi stan I am here for a fellow Lexi stan and you need to know legitimately every detail of how flawless I think she was.)

— Lexi Lawson

Literally an angel

Eliza is my favorite above any other character in this musical so although I was honestly just happy to be there I had the most high standards. They were MORE THAN EXCEEDED.

She is so soft and good, her smile makes me want to fling myself into the sun. She plays Eliza exactly as she should be-gentle, kind, and with this kind of air that makes me want to squeeze her and never let her go. She makes the Reynolds pamphlet hit twice as hard because you fall so deeply in love with her. Her inflection of every note, her vocal control, the way she would do these really soft, long, gradual crescendos that just felt so natural and SOFT SHE IS SO SOFT

Her helpless was such an iconic moment because she really showed Eliza’s naivety but also her excitement, and a lot of her relationship with Angelica because she kept going back to her and hugging her or grabbing her arm, and they’d gossip and I was so excited about the air of sisterhood they held. They’d share these looks with shining eyes and when Mandy Gonzales held her tenderly by the elbows I wanted to cry-It was a closeness I really felt blessed to witness. Also, Lexi’s Eliza Eskimo kissed Peggy during Helpless when she puts all the letters back into their box and it made. My. Entire. Night. It was the cutest thing. Also, her riffs were incredible-the last little riff if Helpless, she held out the first note a bit shorter so she could go into this miraculous, longer, so controlled and effortless riff to ALL sides of her vocal range where she had the biggest smile-so gentle.

Something to note about the difference between her and Pippa is that I think Lexi generally took everything a bit softer-the moments that were big and belt-y in Pippa’s Eliza ended up still being big with Lexi, but gentler. There weren’t these big, loud, joyous moments of belting but these blissful, effortless riffs that really just tugged at my heart as an Eliza stan. She takes the whole idea of Eliza being this naive, young, ANGEL and runs with it so beautifully.

Also, it really made her burn more impactful I think, because she had her powerful moments but they’d been showing more with her facial expression and movement than with the volume of her voice-so when Burn comes, and her voice is cracking and she just looks so DEJECTED? When she sings the first verse as one sort of deep, lethargic sigh? Oh my god. There’s this hint of rejection in her eyes, a helpless sort of tears beginning to pool, it’s the most heartbreaking thing.

She also laughed during helpless at Lafayette, and had to bring herself back it was so precious.

Watching her dote on Peggy too was really sweet, and the Peggy was really funny and I feel like she was rolling with the whole “and Peggy” Joke

Quinton Johnson as Mulligan stole the show. Really. He is so funny, he would do these little motions and actions in the back that had me cackling. The entire audience was CACKLING because he gave so much emotional reprieve after some of the more intense, heavier moments.

I sobbed during dear Theodosia SO MUCH. Daniel Breaker?? He comes out and he starts singing, then you can see him start to cry, and by the end of his first verse he is crying and my heart just felt so attacked by the amount of emotion in that performance. The two of them were so incredibly on top of portraying that feeling, that pride and happiness and pure joy, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

The cast dynamic as a whole was incredible-I really felt the way they made the show into their own experience, twisted it to fit their personalities and what they wanted everyone to get out of their experience. The show was so. Funny. And it’s due to the cast and the way they made little moves or added extra quirks that I couldn’t handle. During the cabinet battles there were mics, and I was dying over the fact that there was also a mic drop, and the audience completely ate both cabinet battles up.

And Hamilton Was played aggressively in a way that he really felt more like he was really trying to keep himself under control, like he was having a difficult time keeping his mouth shut and his energy down and finding the appropriate balance of using his voice and trying to keep himself in check. It was really neat to see the way that everything felt much more urgent with Hamilton-like he really was running out of time and he was aggressively trying to get his points across. He was an anxious mess as Ham is, but he definitely portrayed a bit more of the power and precision that Hamilton possessed.

The best scenes in act two were:

Maria being kind of lower key, showing a bit more of her actual young mannerisms because SHE WAS A CHILD. And then during the Reynolds pamphlet when she literally had this look of utter fear and betrayal on her face, like ‘how could he, how dare he,” because her life was falling to shambles. An unrecognized, underappreciated role to portray so much in so little time.

Phillip rapping because he was so shy, and then as Alex built his confidence up he got louder and stood up a bit taller, and by the end Alex was really showing his pride and so Phillip hugged him and left cheering himself on, it made Eliza so happy, she was reeling by the end, what a nice family moment.

Also Lexi doting on him during that scene, sitting on one side of the bench, waving her arms playfully like she’s conducting but she also takes his piano seriously as he’s rolling his eyes. Their whole take on pip and Eliza’s relationship was so sweet. I feel in general that Lexi Lawson did such a wonderful job of showing Eliza’s nurturing side, the way she so gently coddles Phillip and even during helpless how she’s always looking back and going to Peggy, making sure she’s alright.

Lexi’s voice quivering as she’s singing to dying Phillip. And then her choked out sob. Oh my god.

It’s Quiet Uptown. The entire thing. This performance had me shaking in my seat. I felt so deeply rooted in their emotions that my heart felt like it was going to fall out of my body. Right as they’re singing about Eliza standing with Alex in the garden, they were standing next to each other, each of them tearful and looking away from one another with pained expressions. Then, when Eliza takes Alex’s hand and they sing “forgiveness,” Alex completely broke down. Like. Crouched on the floor holding her hand, both of them are sobbing, then they hold on to each other so tightly the rest of the song. She touches his face and they kiss, and god knows how I remember it through the sobbing, but it was the most emotionally raw performance of anything that I have ever witnessed.

Her burn. Because she was so subdued, and everytime she said “do you know what Angelica said” it was in an “oh, stupid me, I should’ve known” voice with this sort of sad slouched shrug, holding her letters and playing with them with her hands and that was HEARTBREAKING.

Her GENTLE, completely heartbreaking CRESCENDO, and the way she finally lost it and BROKE DOWN as she sang “you’ll sleep in your office instead” in a cracking, loud, tearful voice. ugh.

Lexi during Who Lives, Who Dies where she absolutely tore me to pieces with her eyes all tearful and proud as she sings about ELIZA’s legacy. You go girl. And then her gasp at the end? Iconic.

A good goo Jefferson. He was HILARIOUS. Just in his exaggerated movements and his facials, I was dying over every facial expression he made. And Madison carrying around a Hankie and being a big nerd baby.

And every time the king came out and everyone just screamed. He was so animated, and so light on his feet, it’s like the laughter fueled him and every time he came out he was ten times funnier than before.

anyway, I’m about to work every weekend and every day after my full-time job just so that I can see Hamilton again.....this was the best payoff for the ridiculous amount that I work. Like.

#hamilton #lexi lawson #honestly i start using character names bc I'm just too excited to comprehend everythig and need to get it all down before i forget #i am LEGITIMATELY SO FREAKING BLESSED TO HAVE SEEN THIS SHOW #also as someone who has written a novel sized fanfic centered around Eliza I think my Eliza bias is valid

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concertcrack · 3 years

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Mary Jennings & Ali Aslam LIVE at Rockwood Music Hall

Mary Jennings doesn’t shy away from her emotions. She is absolutely vulnerable in her music and equally so when she performs live. She performed in New York City (where she used to live and appear frequently) for the first time in 6 years at the Rockwood Music Hall on July 23rd, where she packed in a crowd of devoted fans who came to hear her share her most impassioned album yet, “Matriarch.” She shared the stage with the talented Ali Aslam, with whom she collaborated on “Hard” and befriended during quarantine through a Zoom open mic she has hosted every Monday since the spring of 2020.

The venue was packed in, people from wall to wall. The wait staff couldn’t even move around. Mary proved to be a popular artist, and no wonder. Her music is honest and her performance is collaborative. It felt like talking to an old friend. I knew her somehow. She was friendly and humorous which made her stage presence all the more inviting. What was most unique was that she made music right in front of us. Like Ed Sheeran does live, she employed a loop pedal that allowed her to be her own band. We watched her creative process; it was like we were all let in on a secret.

She sang six songs from her new album “Matriarch” and didn’t hold anything back. You could feel the passion and rawness in her music which was infectious to the audience. Everybody cried at least once during her performance. She was inspired a lot by COVID and its effects on society and herself. She writes the best music when she feels the most pain and anguish and COVID really brought that out.

It was a privilege to see her perform. When she returns to New York City, I would like to see her again. She has this presence that makes you feel safe and welcome even though you may not know her or her music. She is warm and kind and a beautiful woman all around. We hope she returns soon and will be listening to “Matriarch” on repeat until then.

How did it feel to perform live again? How was this time different, if at all?

To say it felt like magic would be an understatement. I feel so lucky that we’ve had access to livestreaming during this isolation but nothing compares to the energy of performing in person. There was a sea of both old and new faces but everyone felt like family that night. I don’t know that I have ever cried that much on and off stage. It was just awesome. In so many ways it was “just like old times” because Rockwood has become a second home to me over the years, but this felt different because of the longing. I have missed all of these people so much. I have missed playing live shows. I think we all just missed so much over the last year and at least that night we got a lot of it back.

Which song of Ali's was your favorite in this show?

OH my gosh I can’t choose! All of them because they became my soundtrack for the entirety of 2020! To hear them live elevated everything. If I had to choose though, it would be “Hold Me Close.” Not only is it one of my favorites, but Rachel Epp and I got to sing backup vocals with him on this. We have sung backup from our homes (on mute of course) through the Zoom open mic for ages so to get to actually sing with him was pure joy. How I made it through without sobbing is still beyond me.

I understand you have "known" each other a long time and collaborated with an open mic via Zoom all through the pandemic but you had never met until this very special show. (if you BOTH want to collectively answer this that would be GREAT!)

Correct! We had never met in person but had become friends, support systems and advocates for not only each other’s music but for each other in general. Eliza (my 5-year-old-daughter) also feels like she knows Ali from listening to his music, seeing him on the open mic, and just hearing us talk about him around the house. I think without the distractions of life, crowded bars, work, etc, all of us on the Zoom open mics were all able to connect on such a very deep level of friendship that we wouldn’t trade for anything. We became a family without ever meeting in person. The bond that we all built during 2020 created friendships that will last the rest of our lives. Many of the Richmond, VA open mic crew, including one of my besties, Rachel Epp (she was also a bridesmaid in my wedding), drove up to NYC to be there that night. We had a huge showing from all over from that open mic there that night singing back to both me and Ali during our sets. It was incredibly special.

Do you have a song that you always do live? If so, what is it and why

I have been writing and playing music for 20+ years now so it has changed over time haha. I feel like there is always one song off of every album that is the song you always come back to because of it’s relatability, connectivity, and live translation. I think for this album it will be “Hard” or “This Ride.” Both sum up the past year and a half. However, I am still rocking “Home” off of my last album “Metamorphosis” because even with a theme of a zombie apocalypse it still feels SUPER relatable these days.

What goes into preparing this set list? Are there any factors that impacted this one as it was such a special show?

I want to keep the audience engaged from start to finish and have them feel the highs and lows of each song right along with me. Similar to the albums I put out, I want each set list to tell a story and keep a listener captivated from the first song to the last. I don’t want them to think “Oh this is the song where I should go to the bathroom.” I want you to hold it until the end! But in all seriousness, I don’t ever put together a set list with “filler.” I would rather play less time and have all of the songs be super important to the set than just play for the sake of playing. This set was super important to me because not only was it promoting a new album and sharing songs that most people in the room had never heard live before, but it was also welcoming so many (including myself) back into the live music scene after a dumpster fire of a year and half. I wanted everyone to feel in it with me so I put the songs that I felt everyone could connect with the most.

Live music is making a comeback to New York City. After a tumultuous year and a half, we can finally enjoy music in its truest form. On Friday July 23, Ali Aslam made his triumphant return at the Rockwood Music Hall. He shared the stage with Mary Jennings, whom he virtually met in quarantine and physically met that day, in a shared album release performance.

The place was packed, a you-wouldn’t-even-know-we-were-in-a-pandemic packed. But it was beautiful. People came to see the artists they love, and because the audience was so deprived, it was like a reunion. We may not have known everyone there, but it felt like we did. It was joyous, engaging, and empowering.

Ali followed Mary’s set as a 5 piece band. In contrast to Mary’s performance, Ali got you dancing. You could physically feel his music through the floors and his energy. He performed some of the songs to his album The Last American, which is a compilation of songs about his examination of being a Pakistani-American Mulsim and American culture. He sings about the idea that we are responsible for the world and society that we create. You could tell this album means a lot to him from his performance. He sang every lyric and played every note with a purpose. He felt the music with the audience and danced the night away. He was having fun, which, ultimately, is what live music is about.

If you ever get a chance to see him live, do it. His presence is that of an old friend. He’s open about his music and a free spirit on stage, like he was meant to be there. You can listen to The Last American anywhere you get music.

Questions for Ali:

How did it feel to perform live again? How was this time different, if at all?

Joy is the overwhelming emotion. This was a show that we had delayed for months but also one that I had been thinking about for years. The moment you start working on a record you start thinking about the release show, and we poured a lot of precious heart and energy into “The Last American.” It felt really special to perform these songs at long last and do them justice, and also to play the show I’ve been building in my head after so long. There’s this feeling that live music is this sacred thing that we had almost lost, I think everyone can feel it. So the excitement and joy of being able to do that again and have that communal experience with the band and with the audience is that much more special.

Which song of Mary's was your favorite in this show?

I have to say “Hard.” Mary’s songs are so essential for me. They are emotional touchstones. And like so many of her songs, the power of it is in it’s honesty. You can’t run from it. That’s one where I got sing on her record so to see it live and hear so many of those voices that were once isolated and distant across the internet now in the same place at once was really powerful

How did you survive a global catastrophe? My answer when things get hard is always music. I write songs to try and make sense of the grief I feel in the world, but I couldn’t make sense of this one. I was spiraling, like so many of us, putting on a brave face to tell everyone “I am ok.” But on the other end of a zoom call I heard a voice that maybe COULD make sense of it. I got to hear so many of the songs on Mary’s ‘matriarch’ in their earliest forms. Those songs have carried me. This show, and meeting at last is like symbol for me, we’ve made it this far, and we can keep going. But more importantly I’m just so happy to finally meet my friend. “There’s not a word yet, for old friends who’ve just met.”

Do you have a song that you always do live? If so, what is it and why

I do try to have some variety in the set list depending on the occasion, but “Wise Man and the Fool” seems to always find its way on there. It’s kind of a template for what all of my songs are about; this disconnect between who we are and who our communities want us to be. Playing it withthe band it just has so much energy that it’s a reliable movement. It’s an integral part of my story, and I enjoy telling it.

What goes into preparing this set list? Are there any factors that impacted this one as it was such a special show?

I am always trying to build an experience, and have specific moments of tension and release. In this digital era, a live show might the only time someone listens to your music and only your music for and hour, so I want that experience to be more than the sum of its part. For this show, the biggest moment was probably “hold me close.” It was a song written during the darkest days of the pandemic, right when I met Mary online. And now to have her and Rachel Epp standing behind me singing through this moment with me… I can’t describe how magical and moving that was for me…but we built our setlist for that moment and that song so that when we finally played that song together, I think everyone could feel some of that magic.

Find Mary Jennings online:

https://www.maryjennings.com/

https://www.facebook.com/maryjenningsmusic?ref=notif&notif_t=fbpage_admin

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJsbS779uIxhkXm4HldkWg

https://twitter.com/jenningsmusic

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mary-jennings/521359594

Find Ali Aslam online:

https://streetlightshaman.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AliAslamMusic/

https://www.instagram.com/streetlightshaman/

https://twitter.com/StLightShaman

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nlWIHNriif5fSqDMpEOjo?si=5EnJUb-8SOCfCu9I-Yf1yQ

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