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moethewriter · 5 months

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could you do number 27 with finnick from the otp prompt list? i love yours fics!

Of course I can anon! Super excited for this one, I had the best time writing it! Lot's of angst and fluff! TITLE: The Light In The Dark WORD COUNT: 1.5k PAIRING: Finnick Odair x Reader WARNING: None! TAGS: Lot's of angst, and fluff! (As always please let me know if you think anything needs to be added) lot's of introspection and reflection from the reader! A/N: I was so so so excited to write this one! And I think it's such an amazing prompt! Thank you so much for requesting it and as always I take constructive criticism! -

District 13 was not a place you particularly enjoyed. It was safe, and secure and far better than being stranded in an arena forced to kill other people. But you weren’t as content as you had hoped you would be. When you were rescued along with everyone the rebellion scooped up, you had kept telling yourself that everything was going to be okay. You had to keep faith that whatever the next step was, was going to end all of it.

Finnick had been rescued alongside you, and he offered a comforting ear. It was so strange being close to him again. It had been a year since you two had broken up, and though it had seemed like yesterday, you were no longer the same people you once were. So much had changed, you had changed.

Though you knew once you both had been reaped that you were going to ally yourself with him. There really was no one else you would rather have at your side. Despite the separation, he had you trust and you knew he was far more capable than a lot of people gave him credit for.

There had been tension between the group, that you knew, no one got along well unless it was with Mags. You knew the other’s could sense a different type of tension between you and Finnick, one filled with unresolved feelings bubbling below the surface. It had only gotten worse after you heard his voice through the jabberjays.

Johanna had tried to talk to you afterwards, even sent Katniss your way but you wouldn’t budge. You didn’t need to have a friendship circle and talk about how you longed for Finnick and how he still had your heart. No one needed to know that but you, though you sensed Johanna had always known, she had known you better than you knew yourself most days.

There had been no major fallout with Finnick, no giant blow up that ended in destruction and despair. It had been so amicable … you had both been so busy, the life of a Victor always was. Not to mention the separation by District had been a struggle. You had been the one to bring it up, despite the pain it caused you. Finnick had agreed with you the moment you finished speaking. You hugged, and he left and then you stood there alone. You were both heartbroken over it, that much you knew.

You had cried for weeks after it, though you felt you had no right to do that. No one was able to console you, despite Johanna trying her very best too. You knew she wasn’t the best with comforting people, she had grown colder after what had happened to her family, but you appreciated the effort she had put in. Seeing Finnick on TV doing interviews, going to parties and generally being in the Capitol had upset you the most. It was hard to look at him, you knew he was hurting so much more than anyone could tell. You wanted to reach out, but you knew it would have been a bad idea. So you stayed silent and watched him from afar, and kept your thoughts about him to yourself.

Though you hoped he thought of you too.

And in a blink of an eye, months had passed. You had both been mentors for the 74th hunger games, though to no avail as your tributes had passed in the arena. You didn’t speak to him much, and he did his best to avoid you. It was strange but you knew he was coping in a far different way then you were, so you couldn’t blame him,

The universe was funny though, bringing you both together again under far different circumstances. He had come to your door days after you had been reaped for The Quarter Quell to form an alliance with you, and you were both informed together about the rebellion by Haymitch Abernathy. You were hesitant but agreed to help, as long as Finnick was there too. There wasn’t anyone else you’d want as an ally in those games. Some small part of you was thankful that he had been there.

“Penny for your thoughts.” A familiar voice broke through the jumbled mess of memories you had been reliving. “Not much in there right now.” You chuckled, turning to meet Finnick’s gaze, he seemed relaxed, and adjusting far better than most people. “Just wondering about what the next step is, thinking about all that needs to be done.” The lie came easily to you, but you knew he could see right through it. He had always been able to see past you.

“That’s not the Y/N I know.” Finnick smiled, leaning against the wall. He looked like an angel in white against the steele gray. “The one I know is simply far too deep in thought about too many things that they’re overwhelming themselves with it. Am I wrong?” He raised a knowing eyebrow.

“You know me far too well, Finnick Odair.” You snorted, crossing your arms in defeat “I was thinking about the past.” You said, quietly, almost hoping he wouldn’t catch what you said at all.

“About us?” He questioned, a strange look crossing his face.

You couldn’t quite tell what he was thinking at that moment, but you knew there was no point in lying. You didn’t want to lie to him anymore.

“You could say that.” You nodded.

“I hope it’s all good memories.” He said, meeting your eyes once more. “I know I still think of those on my dark days.” He swallowed the lump in his throat.

“You were one of the best things that ever happened to me.” You told him, earnestly. “I loved you more than life itself.”

“So you don’t regret it at all?” Finnick questioned, and you weren’t quite sure if he wanted your answer by the way his voice quivered.

“No. Not one bit.” You told him. “I don’t regret having you because you made the sun shine brighter and you made my life worth living again. You put a smile on my face anytime I wasn’t feeling myself. You were the only one who loved me when I thought I couldn’t be loved. You changed me for the better in so many ways. You were, and always have been a star amongst the darkest of skies, Finnick. That little light that kept going even though the world tried to beat it down. You have always been one of a kind. I could never regret you. I would never regret a single thing because if I didn’t have you forever at least I had you at all.” Your voice was thick with emotion, finally saying all of this to him.

You had bottled it up for so long, kept it so tight to your chest that you felt like you were going to explode into a million tiny little pieces. You knew you would always love him, but a second chance at loving him had seemed impossible.

“I don’t regret breaking things off either.” You told him. “It was the best thing we could do for both of us at the time. You and I both know that.”

“I know.” Finnick nodded, a sad smile crossing his face. “Doesn’t mean I didn’t cry for weeks after it happened though. I missed you severely during those first few months. I’m sorry I never reached out, I wanted to but I didn’t know how.”

You could see him fidgeting with his thumbs, something he only did when he was nervous, it was a quirk you thought had been adorable when you first noticed it. He had an anxious energy to him that could be hard to spot if you didn’t know him.

“It’s okay.” You whispered, sniffling a little. “That wasn’t your job anymore to be there for me.”

“You were never a job, I loved … love you and I always wanted to be there for you even when we were over.” Finnick said. “You’re the love of my life, you always have been, Y/N.”

“I’m still the love of your life?” You asked, wiping the stray tear from your eye.

Nothing could have prepared you for this conversation, but you were glad that you could air everything out. There was no one else for you but Finnick. You loved him, and you still wanted to be with him. He was the first person you thought about in the morning, and the last person you thought about before you slept. He was still the love of your life too.

He was always with you, even when he wasn’t.

“Yeah.” He said finally. “I don’t think there’s anyone else for me.”

You made a tentative step towards him, and wrapped your arms around his neck. He was tense, you could feel that, but that didn’t stop him from wrapping his arms around your waist. He was warm, he’d always been built like a furnace in contrast to your cold body temperature but you two still fit together perfectly, like two halves of a whole.

It’s like you were always meant to be in his arms.

“I still love you too.” You told him, letting yourself get lost in his arms.

“When this is all over …” He whispered into your ear. “I’m going to take you on the best date in the world, got it?”

You could hear the smile in his voice.

“Got it.” You said, hugging him tighter.

#finnick odair x reader #finnick odair #the hunger games #hunger games #angst #fluff #writing #moeswriting

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djarins-cyare · 9 months

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✭ Series Masterlist ✭

Languishing in a dull and lonely existence on the forest moon of Endor after travelling there to help salvage Death Star wreckage, a nearly fatal encounter with a mysterious bounty hunter out in the forest heralds an opportunity to utilise long-forgotten skills and develop something more profound than you ever thought possible.

Second person POV, present tense. Set post-season 2, diverges from Canon events before TBoBF and season 3. This is a novel-length, exceptionally slow burn with an original plot, worldbuilding, and fully-developed characterisation. SWU concepts and lore are accurately researched.

WORDS: 404,920

PAIRING: Din Djarin x Female Reader/You

RATING: Explicit (18+)

CHARACTERS: Din Djarin, Reader/You/Female OC, Original Non-Human Character(s), Original Human Characters, Greef Karga, Cara Dune, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Grogu, Peli Motto

TAGS: Slow Burn, Slow Build, Romance, Love, Sexual Tension, Eventual Smut, Smut, Sex, Sexual Content, Explicit Sexual Content, Fluff, Fluff and Smut, Fluff and Angst, Light Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Relationships, Healthy Relationships, Canon-Typical Violence, Blood and Injury, Dark Past, Additional Warnings In Author's Notes, Bounty Hunter Din Djarin, Soft Din Djarin, Touch-Starved Din Djarin, Din Djarin Needs a Hug, Smart Din Djarin, Soft Dominant Din Djarin, Ewok Species, Mandalorian Culture, Mando'a Language, New Razor Crest, Thoroughly Researched, Worldbuilding, No use of y/n.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This took me almost a year to write and four months to edit/proof. Each chapter is prefaced with specific tags and (where necessary) warnings, plus word counts. End notes contain translations and comments… this baby is thoroughly researched, so I’m sharing context where appropriate. I’ve also added definitions of in-universe terms so people less familiar with the franchise won’t be left wondering what the hell certain words or references mean. This is a slow burn (adult themes), and although the explicit content only occurs in the latter half, when it does, it warrants the ‘E’ rating. Basically, the first half is a love story, and the second half gets spicy. I hope you enjoy it!

READ THE COMPLETE STORY ON AO3:

(Chapters containing explicit content marked †)

Chapter 1: The Obstacle

Chapter 2: The Interrogation

Chapter 3: The Covenant

Chapter 4: The Snare

Chapter 5: The Strike

Chapter 6: The Groundwork

Chapter 7: The Genesis

Chapter 8: The Progression

Chapter 9: The Hide

Chapter 10: The Beast

Chapter 11: The Adjustment

Chapter 12: The Storm

Chapter 13: The Broadside

Chapter 14: The Intercourse

Chapter 15: The Village

Chapter 16: The Confession

Chapter 17: The Reprieve

Chapter 18: The Fortification

Chapter 19: The Ambush

Chapter 20: The Meridian

Chapter 21: The Homestretch

Chapter 22: The Union †

Chapter 23: The Overture

Chapter 24: The Crescendo

Chapter 25: The Harmony †

Chapter 26: The Cadence †

Chapter 27: The Ride †

Chapter 28: The Veneration †

Chapter 29: The Spree †

Chapter 30: The Tribute †

Chapter 31: The Courage

Chapter 32: The Feast

Chapter 33: The Exhibition †

Chapter 34: The Reward

Chapter 35: The Binding †

Chapter 36: The Synergy †

Chapter 37: The Match †

Chapter 38: The Flag †

Chapter 39: The Foundling †

Chapter 40: The Future †

✨Additional Media✨

@burntheedges has written a spectacular little drabble detailing what Din was up to during the paragraph break near the end of chapter 1 (*SPOILERS* you don’t find this out until chapter 27).

@djarin-desires has created some awesome AI images of a few scenes using Midjourney.

I spent a stupid amount of money on the Hot Toys official Din Djarin action figure, simply so I could photograph him in poses from my fic 🤷🏼‍♀️ This is just a taster of what’s to come, but here he is offering to help Reader climb onto the speeder in chapter 8.

🧡💚 Thank you for reading! 💚🧡

Dividers by @samspenandsword

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louisupdates · 5 days

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Photo credit: BMG / Joshua Halling

After nearly two-hundred live performances spanning two international tours, Louis Tomlinson is celebrating the end of era on the road that spanned three years. On Thursday, the musician shared Live, a record captured across 15 different shows in 15 different cities.

“I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last 3 years touring the world twice over, the feeling I get sharing those live moments will be with me forever,” Tomlinson shared in a statement. “To be able to record these songs from all over the world and put them out as an album like this feels so special, and a real tribute to the fans who make each and every show feel unique and incredible. Thank you! Enjoy!”

The album features live performances from both the Louis Tomlinson World Tour — which was cut short in 2020 and resumed in 2022 — and the Faith in the Future World Tour, which kicked off in 2023 in support of the singer’s sophomore studio album of the same name. Combined, the tours included 170 shows in 47 countries across 5 continents.

Tomlinson captured performances of popular singles “We Made It” and “Walls” from his debut solo album Walls and “Written All Over Your Face,” “Silver Tongues,” and “Out of My System” from Faith in the Future. The album features recordings from London, Nashville, Vancouver, Barcelona, Chicago, Budapest, Paris, and more.

The digital version of Live is available now, with physical editions for the record set for release on Aug. 23 on a double CD and 2LP picture disc vinyl.

Louis Tomlinson Live Tracklist

“The Greatest” (Live From London, 17 November 2023)

“Face The Music” (Live From Nashville, 18 July 2023)

“Bigger Than Me” (Live From Vancouver, 26 June 2023)

“Holding On To Heartache” (Live From Barcelona, 6 October 2023)

“We Made It” (Live From Manila, 16 July 2022)

“Chicago” (Live From Chicago, 15 June 2023)

“Fearless” (Live From Rio, 27 May 2022)

“Common People” (Live From Sheffield, 10 November 2023)

“All This Time / She Is Beauty We Are World Class” (Live From Munich, 22 October 2023)

“Walls�� (Live From Buenos Aires, 21 May 2022)

“Written All Over Your Face” (Live From Budapest, 15 September 2023)

“Out Of My System” (Live From Brisbane, 30 January 2024)

“Saturdays” (Live From Paris, 14 October 2023)

“Silver Tongues” (Live From Krakow, 10 September 2023)

FULL ARTICLE, 25.4.2024

#rolling stone #louis tomlinson #louis tomlinson live #25.4.2024 #louis press

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dreamings-free · 5 days

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Live was captured across 15 different shows in 15 different cities over the course of three years while the singer embarked on two world tours

April 25, 2024 by Larisha Paul

The digital version of Live is available now, with physical editions for the record set for release on Aug. 23 on a double CD and 2LP picture disc vinyl.

Louis Tomlinson Live Tracklist “The Greatest” (Live From London, 17 November 2023) “Face The Music” (Live From Nashville, 18 July 2023) “Bigger Than Me” (Live From Vancouver, 26 June 2023) “Holding On To Heartache” (Live From Barcelona, 6 October 2023) “We Made It” (Live From Manila, 16 July 2022) “Chicago” (Live From Chicago, 15 June 2023) “Fearless” (Live From Rio, 27 May 2022) “Common People” (Live From Sheffield, 10 November 2023) “All This Time / She Is Beauty We Are World Class” (Live From Munich, 22 October 2023) “Walls” (Live From Buenos Aires, 21 May 2022) “Written All Over Your Face” (Live From Budapest, 15 September 2023) “Out Of My System” (Live From Brisbane, 30 January 2024) “Saturdays” (Live From Paris, 14 October 2023) “Silver Tongues” (Live From Krakow, 10 September 2023)

#louis #live album #louis tomlinson : live #rolling stone #25.04.24 #press

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hldailyupdate · 4 days

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Louis Tomlinson has dropped a surprise album ‘Live’ – featuring songs that he recorded at 15 shows across 15 different cities.

Announced and shared yesterday (April 25), the album comes after the singer and former One Direction member embarked on two world tours over the past three years – playing just shy of 200 shows globally.

Now, a variety of performances from both tours – the ‘Louis Tomlinson World Tour’ and the ‘Faith in the Future World Tour’ – have been compiled into a new live album, which is available now.

Fifteen songs are included in the tracklist, and each was recorded in a different city, at a different show from across the three-year run. The album comes in both digital and physical formats, and features his singles including ‘Bigger Than Me’, ‘We Made It, ‘Walls’ and ‘Out Of My System’, alongside fan favourite album tracks, all released live for the very first time.

“I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last 3 years touring the world twice over. The feeling I get sharing those live moments will be with me forever,” Tomlinson said in a statement. “To be able to record these songs from all over the world and put them out as an album like this feels so special, and a real tribute to the fans who make each and every show feel unique and incredible. Thank you! Enjoy!”

There are four exclusive tracks split between the physical editions of ‘Live’, including a special version of the One Direction classic ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go’ – which is available only on the double CD.

Accompanying video clips of compiled tour footage will be shared on Louis’s social channels to support the release, showcasing a glimpse into his past three years on the road and 170 performances.

The ‘Live’ tracklist is:

‘The Greatest’ (Live From London, 17 November 2023) ‘Face The Music’ (Live From Nashville, 18 July 2023) ‘Bigger Than Me’ (Live From Vancouver, 26 June 2023) ‘Holding On To Heartache’ (Live From Barcelona, 6 October 2023) ‘We Made It’ (Live From Manila, 16 July 2022) ‘Chicago’ (Live From Chicago, 15 June 2023) ‘Fearless’ (Live From Rio, 27 May 2022) ‘Common People’ (Live From Sheffield, 10 November 2023) ‘All This Time / She Is Beauty We Are World Class’ (Live From Munich, 22 October 2023) ‘Walls’ (Live From Buenos Aires, 21 May 2022) ‘Written All Over Your Face’ (Live From Budapest, 15 September 2023) ‘Out Of My System’ (Live From Brisbane, 30 January 2024) ‘Saturdays’ (Live From Paris, 14 October 2023) ‘Silver Tongues’ (Live From Krakow, 10 September 2023)

At time of writing, Tomlinson has shared two huge solo albums since departing from One Direction. His debut album arrived in the firm of 2020’s ‘Walls’, which has sold over 1.5 million copies, and the follow-up was called ‘Faith In The Future’. The latter went to Number One in the UK, Spain and Belgium, and Top 5 in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and across Europe.

Since May last year, Tomlinson has been on his ‘Faith In The Future World Tour’, which hits South America next month for its final leg. From there, the vocalist has a number of festival appearances lined up for the summer. Find remaining tickets to his shows here.

In other Louis Tomlinson news, earlier this week the singer, alongside Courteeners and English Teacher, were among the acts to be honoured at the first-ever Northern Music Awards.

The inaugural ceremony was hosted by the UK’s largest music therapy charity, Nordoff And Robbins and took place at the Albert Hall in Manchester; celebrating northern artists, festivals, venues and industry figures. The event saw Tomlinson named as Artist Of The Year.

#louis tomlinson #louis update #louis tomlinson live #nme #article #april 2024

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hangmansgbaby · 5 months

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You Burn With Us

TGM x HUNGER GAMES AU | JAKE SERESIN X OC!READER | 18+ MDI

Every year the capital of Panem hosts the Hunger Games where tributes are chosen at random between the ages of 11 and 25 to compete against each other to the death. 23 year old Y/n Abernathy, nicknamed Birdie by the Capital for singing in the arena, exited victorious from the 72nd Hunger games. The next year, 24 year old Jake emerged victorious from the 73rd Hunger Games thanks to the efforts of his mentor and best friend, Birdie. Now as the 74th Hunger Games nears, Jake and Birdie prepare for the probability that they will witness exactly what their fellow mentor witnessed for all but 2 years in a row, the death of their tributes all while learning if the odds were ever truly in their favor.

Playlist | Taglist | Teaser | Moodboards

A C T I

1 : The Reaping

2 : The Train

3 : The Capitol

4 : The Training

5 : The Interview

6 : The Games pt 1

7 : The Games pt 2

8 : The Victory

9 : The Return

A C T II

10 : The Tour

11 : The Mansion

12 : The Oppressed

13 : The Quell

14 : The Reaping

15 : The Pre-Games

16 : The Alliance

17 : The Separation

18 : The Plan

A C T III

19 : The Mockingjay

20 : The Airstrike

21 : The Rescue

22 : The Hijacking

23 : The Attack

24 : The Squad

25 : The Bombing

26 : The Truth

27 : The End

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strawberrystepmom · 7 months

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f!reader is the goddess of love (aphrodite) and kakashi is a mortal. reader is obviously very old (godcore) and kakashi is in his canon age in naruto (27). im tagging @zorosdimples bc this is also partially another birthday present for her LMFAO. love u!!!!!!! wc 1.7k

divider thanks to @/saradika 🩷

You kneel near a red rose bush, delicate petals fluttering around on one of the last warm breezes of the summer and brushing over your exposed arms. It isn’t much longer that you’ll be able to visit the realm of the mortals in your lightest robes, the ones that hang off of your shoulders in a way that makes you most comfortable.

The unencumbered feeling of the warmest time of the year still flows through you despite the fact that the sun dips earlier and earlier every single day and verdant green slowly turns to russet and yellow, leaves swaying overhead even in the garden you’re visiting. You glance up from the bush in front of you, red petals dancing and settling across your skirt, and witness them wave to you, as if they’re saying goodbye to you themselves.

Shaking your head, you laugh and look back down, plucking one of the petals from your skirt and rubbing it between your thumb and index finger. It’s as velvety as you pictured it would be, soft as your skin, and it makes you wonder when the purveyor of these fine roses in tribute to you will arrive to make himself known.

Kakashi Hatake, a man whose likeness lingers in your psyche. You’ve been watching him for years, his offerings growing in both size and intimacy since he was a young man and it would be a struggle to remember the last time you wished to meet a mortal as badly as you find yourself wishing to meet him. You desire to see the man who cultivated such fine roses in the flesh, petting another petal between your fingertips. It’s the least you can grace him with, despite your true intentions being wanting to see this man who has won your affection through nothing more than devotion.

Affection, you think. You are the goddess of the very emotion and this is deeper than simple affection.

You’re infatuated with him. When you lay with your husband, captor you’re more likely to call him, you think of him. When you wander through the veil of the mortals and gods, which you are, you think of him. His scarred eye that he believes makes him unworthy of worshiping you, the way his gray hair sticks up at all angles on top of his head.

A sigh as gentle as the breeze escapes you as you sit back and think of the first time you remember seeing him.

It started years ago at the local temple erected in your honor, Kakashi paying tribute with prayer and apples daily after his hunts had finished. He’d leave his bloodied bow and boots at the entrance, propping them against pristine gray marble to stick out like the red of the very roses he now grows in your honor, and enter the temple to kneel at your feet.

“Goddess,” he asked, his voice carrying the deep timbre of a man. “I’ve come to request your blessing.”

You granted it without a second thought that day and have since, enamored with the young man asking for you. The man who, over the years, would visit your shrine to read poetry and love stories. The man covered in blood whose heart has always been deceptively tender beneath a scarred and hardened outside, years of hunting beneath the blistering sun for his family, his village, his friends.

It’s time to offer him yourself as tribute to him given all that he has offered to you.

“I was beginning to worry that you’d never arrive,” you finally speak over your shoulder, turning your head enough to watch him approaching where you sit. You hear his footsteps stop, standing in the grassy clearing with his mouth agape. He tilled, planted, and pruned this garden himself - his own devotional paradise to his favorite goddess and here you sit, sundrenched skin and hair and lips.

Did he die? Is this the afterlife he always longed for, a chance to live without burdensome responsibilities? To be the man he has always been beneath the tarnish of his life?

“Come, don’t keep me waiting.”

You pat the grass next to you, still coyly gazing from above your shoulder blade, and his footsteps pick up once again though slowly. Taking a moment before speaking, he wiggles his hands and fingers to make sure he still has feeling in them. He wonders if he shouldn’t run and hurl himself against the trunk of the trees surrounding you just to ensure he is alive and this is not a dream.

“Was I gored?” He speaks aloud and you laugh, musical and dancing on the wind. Just as he always imagined he’d heard while he spent his time in your tribute. Immediately he notices his gaffe and his face reddens, still walking toward you with his nose pointed toward the ground. He doesn’t notice when you stand, turning to face him while the petals that accumulated in the folds of your robes flutter at your feet.

Oh he has to be dead, he’s just grateful that this is the paradise he has come to live his afterlife in.

“You are alive and well, Kakashi.”

He nods, ignorant of what else to do, and you giggle. Dropping your skirts out of one of your balled fists, you produce a small parchment that you’ve been holding onto for a very long time, the edges worn and bent with the weight of your fingers tracing around the edges. You offer it in his direction and he blanches, noticing the handwriting on the paper belongs to him.

“Do you remember this?” You ask knowing that he does, given the way his eyes drift from the paper in your hand to your face and back several times. It sends a chill through you to see the color of them in person - deep like a stormcloud yet light like the marble of that temple he used to frequent years ago. He’s beautiful and who knows beauty better than you, the goddess of the very concept itself?

“I do, goddess,” he nods and reaches for the parchment, fully unrolling it and letting his eyes rove over his own words. He wrote this 8 birthdays ago, a young man full of love so thick he lived in fear it would erupt out and ruin him like that of a volcano. Hot and searing, melting all left in its path. He sighs, scanning over the poem he knows is less impressive than any you’ve probably ever had written in your honor and wonders why this is the one you’ve kept.

Have you come to punish him for his tributes and their lack in comparison to the others that love you?

“How did you come into possession of this?”

You smile at his question, approaching him with soft footsteps. He’s a hunter, after all, trained to notice the footsteps of prey and predators alike. You want to present yourself as neither as you offer no threat to him. Even if he were to decline your affections, you’d let him live. It would sear through you and you’d imagine his face in place of that of your beastly husband daily for the rest of your days, but you’d understand. A dalliance between a mortal and a Goddess often leads to trouble and this is a man who has always tried very hard to stay out of such affairs.

“I plucked it from the temple myself all those years ago,” you explain, offering your hand to him. His eyes dart nervously again and you reach down to take his hand, rubbing your soft thumb across his calloused palms.

“Surely this is an illusion,” he whispers, heart beating so rapidly he worries you’ll be able to see it through his worn linen shirt. This man is a hunter, a warrior, a teacher of the youth in his village in the same techniques that have kept them alive for decades and he has been rendered nothing more than an uncertain mess at the sight of you. “This…this cannot be happening.”

“And why do you say that, mortal?”

He straightens his back at the reminder of your place over his own, a goddess in the flesh, holding his hand and tenderly caressing the wound he received while teaching one of the village children to care for his spear.

“Because you are you and I am myself,” he mutters. “This cannot be.”

He watches your lips curve into a smile, hair swaying as you shake your head at his mortal sensibilities to believe he knows better than the goddess he has been paying tribute to for nearly his entire life.

“If you wish it not to be then it shall not be but please consider that I’ve been waiting for you as well before you turn me away.”

Kakashi raises his brow, curious as to what you mean. He says nothing and you take his silence as permission to continue speaking, still smoothing over the creases in his palm with your thumb.

“Consorting with mortals always has a potential cost but I’m willing to pay that to even speak to you,” you purport and his jaw drops again, brows knitting together in confusion.

“To…me?”

You nod, lacing your fingers between his. You do not bristle when he doesn’t immediately grasp you back, willing to allow him his comfort.

“You, who has left me poetry that makes all others pale in comparison. Who planted this rose bush and the dozens of others dotting this garden, felling the thorns as they bloom.”

For a moment he allows himself to embrace the fantasy you’re painting for him. The Goddess of Beauty and Love, pining for him just as he’s pined for you. He has spent many lonely nights in his life dreaming of a blessing from you but never imagined this would be the one.

Your delicate fingers wrapped around his knuckles, your sun warmed cheeks upturned in a smile.

“Come, let’s talk,” you offer, keeping your grip on his hand as the two of you walk toward the rose bush.

You’re willing to do some convincing if you need it but given the red tips of his ears, you don’t believe it’ll take much.

#kakashi x reader #kakashi hatake x reader #kendall writes #god like this just lit my brain up like a candle today and i didnt work on anything else what else is NEW!

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valiantstarlights · 11 months

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[Dreamling Week Day 7: AUs or Crossovers] Of Surviving

This is a Dreamling Hunger Games AU oneshot. I finished writing it on May 27, but then I saw @mr-sadman 's prompt list for dreamling week 2023 and thought, 'Oooh 🖤 This is going to be perfect for Day 7!'

And here we are 2 weeks later. I hope you guys like it! 😊

CW: I mean...it's The Hunger Games. That's a warning all by itself.

"And why should we bet that you would win?" The host asks, fake teeth gleaming under the harsh stage lights. The same question, the same maddening smile directed at all the tributes.

"Because," Dream says, feeling bile rise up his throat, "I am better than the two who came before me."

The crowd gasps, but he could see a couple of audience members, the rough-looking shark-like types, nodding in consideration.

He hopes his siblings aren't watching.

"And why should we bet that you would win?"

"You shouldn't," the smiling boy from District 9 says. "But do it anyway for spite. Who knows, in the unlikely event that I win, you'll have me to thank for getting you at least a dozen new mansions."

The crowd laughs. Dream watches from backstage and immediately dismisses the boy as someone who would die an hour into the games.

The next time Dream sees the boy from District 9 is when he was aiming a javelin right at Dream. The first words the boy ever says to him is, "Duck!"

Dream ducks, and watches as the boy's javelin strikes true, right in the chest of District 2's career tribute.

"I thank you for saving my life, but I hope you are not expecting me to save you back."

The boy looks at him like he's a weird seven-legged fish. "Sure. You're welcome, District 4."

They part ways.

"Thought you said you wouldn't be saving my life," the boy from District 9 says, hand still holding Dream's as the two of them run away from the trap Dream has sprung, which caught a couple of other tributes who had been chasing him. Them both.

It was a coincidence that they were even in the same place at the same time.

Dream should really shake the boy's hand off.

"I am saving mine in the process of saving yours," he says. "Having an ally means surviving longer."

"An ally, huh? Well in that case, the name's Hob. Well, Robert Gadling, actually. I'm from District 9."

'I know,' Dream doesn't say. 'I thought you would be one of the first ones to die.'

"My name is Dream."

Dream wouldn't have volunteered this information, or really, anything about himself, but Hob has earned his trust by being an incredibly resourceful partner. He hasn't killed anyone else aside from that one career tribute, but he makes up for his lack of kill count by helping Dream (who grew up near the sea) survive in the arena the gamemakers have fashioned for them, which was part dense forest and part prairie.

"It suits you," Hob says, eyes on Dream's when he says it, his smile soft.

Dream looks away.

The faces of the day's dead have just finished being shown in the sky. Five more dead tributes. He imagines how their family back home would react to the news of their death. Would they be angry? Would they be disappointed?

Would they be relieved that there will be less mouths to feed from now on?

Dream wants to scream. He wants to think about anything else, so he turns to Hob, sitting beside him, face still turned upwards, contemplative. Dream wonders if they're thinking the same thing.

"Tell me about your family," Dream says.

Hob shrugs. "Not much to tell, really. We're poor like the rest, work hard like the rest, and try our best to live a life like the rest."

Dream sees his hands balled up into fists by his sides, knuckles white.

"What did Johanna mean, when she said you'll share the same fate as your siblings if you cross her path?"

It was early the next day. Hob is talking about a conversation between Dream and Johanna that took place in the morning of the previous day.

"I had six siblings," Dream says. They were gathering firewood now, for another trap that Dream is planning to spring. "Two of them were both reaped last year."

Hob stops in his tracks. "Oh," he says, sadness coloring his tone and setting Dream's teeth on edge. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Dream says simply. He clutches his bundle tighter in his arms so Hob wouldn't see how his hands have began to shake. "You did not pick their names at random."

"Their names were Destruction and Delirium," Dream tells him later that night in their little camp, hidden deep within the forest. "Sometimes I wish I had volunteered in my brother's place and managed to save my sister."

"Oh, love."

"Why did you call me 'love' yesterday?" Dream does not look at Hob when he asks this.

"Why do you think?"

He wonders if Hob is looking at him when he answered.

"You should eat more."

Dream ignores him and curls up more in his tattered sleeping bag. The trap succeeded, but the gamemakers fucked around with the weather and Dream had been soaked to the bone. And now it seems that he has caught a fever.

"Please," Hob begs, warm hand on Dream's freezing arm. He has cooked a meager amount of watery vegetable soup from the plants they had foraged. "For me."

"You will be better off without me," Dream says, because it's true. "There are only a few tributes left."

Hob sighs. "Look, if you don't eat by yourself, then I'm going to feed you like a baby bird, and then we'll both feel awkward."

Dream imagines Hob sipping the soup and keeping it in his mouth, then pressing his lips against Dream's and feeding him in this manner, just to make sure that Dream has something warm and healing in his stomach. He reddens even more despite his raging fever.

He still has some good sense remaining, however, so he sits up and shakily accepts the small bowl from Hob's hands, unable to look directly at him.

Dream tilts his face away. "We shouldn't."

"Why not?" Hob has not moved, body still close and face a breath away from Dream's. "What are you so afraid of?"

Dream pushes him away with both hands, but he does so gently and with a lingering touch to Hob's clothed chest that his hands were immediately engulfed by Hob's larger ones.

Dream is becoming a hedonist under the boy's influence. It is apparent when their fingers tangled together almost automatically.

"Because if we share a kiss," Dream says, "then we would cease to be vigilant for a few precious seconds, and that could mean the difference between life and death."

Hob says nothing for a moment, before he inhales deeply and nods. "You're right."

"I almost always am."

Hob rolls his eyes at him. "I mean that you're right in that we should always be vigilant. Not that when I kiss you, I would only want it to last for a few seconds."

'When,' Hob says. Not 'if.'

Dream tries not to obsess about his wording.

He fails.

"I apologize. You should not have seen that."

"What, you killing Johanna by drowning her in quicksand?"

"I did not mean to! It was just the easiest way to do it." Dream looks down at Hob coldly, willing his anger to overtake the fear that this would be the thing that would make Hob betray him.

"You're afraid of me now."

Hob shakes his head. He still has not looked at Dream in the eye again, but his tone is as kind as always. Dream wants to hold his hand and ask for reassurance that Hob does not hate him. He doesn't, because he has always been a coward.

"I'm afraid of dying," Hob says. "Totally not the same thing."

"Dream?"

Dream is pretending to be asleep. He has to. He dares not show Hob his tear-streaked cheeks.

Hob sighs.

"Okay, here's the plan." Hob's eyes are looking furtively behind them, body tense. They are almost at the end. There are only a couple more tributes left other than the two of them. "You run right, I run left, then we lead whoever is following us to your traps."

Dream looks at Hob's handsome, dirt-streaked face and wants more than anything to survive with him. But there can only be one victor, and he has already failed two of the people he loves.

He leans forward and kisses Hob for the first and probably the last time. Then, he stands up and runs as fast as his feet can carry him towards the traps, ignoring Hob's panicked shout behind him.

"I don't want to survive if you don't survive with me," Hob tells the stars when Dream is pretending to be asleep. "I can't. I wouldn't be able to."

"Who says you're dying?" Dream replies just after dawn, when Hob is sound asleep beside him, snoring softly. "You are not allowed to die under my watch, Hob Gadling."

"No! Dream!"

"I'm...I'm sorry," Dream says, voice soft and weak. There was way too much red surrounding him. Hob is losing his mind. "I love you. I'm sorry."

"You cheated." Hob's hands are shaking as he takes his jacket off and bunches it up, pressing it hard against the wound on the other boy's stomach. "You're supposed to be the one that survives!"

"I don't want to go back," Dream tells him, eyes turning glassy with unshed tears. "Not without you."

"Shit, you're losing too much blood."

"I would have liked to show you the place where I like to read in secret..."

"Gods, shut up, shut up, shut up--" Hob looks around frantically, trying to find something, anything, that could save Dream.

He is handed a knife by a bloodied, trembling hand, so pale it was almost white. "Here," Dream says. He points to an area under his own jaw. "Put the knife... Slash deep here. A little diagonally. Most effective..." His eyes were already blinking slower, movements growing sluggish.

"No," Hob says fiercely. The knife's handle is digging into his palm from how tight he's gripping it. "No, I'm not killing you. Fuck you for even--"

"Love you..." Dream's lips mouth at him, his striking blue eyes still looking at Hob's, as if he wants Hob's face to be the last thing he sees.

"No," Hob spits in denial. "Fuck this--"

Hob has always been a quick learner. His mother had always told him so. When his older brother was reaped six years ago and died within the hour of the games starting, Hob marched out of their house and immediately learned how to handle all the farming equipment from the older men, so his family could continue to eat.

He now places the knife Dream gave him against his own neck--

Dream gasps awake and clutches at the shape beside him desperately. Hob startles awake at the frantic touch, then pulls Dream towards him, holding him tight and steady, a fortress against a howling storm.

He murmurs soft words next to Dream's ear, one hand rubbing his back gently, while the other partially covers the large jagged scar on Dream's side. Dream presses his face closer to Hob's neck, his nose right where Hob's own scar is. It's small and looks insignificant compared to the one on Dream's body, but it proved more effective in getting the gamemakers to panic. They needed to have a victor, after all.

That year, they had two.

That had been ten years ago.

"We made it, my love," Hob says against his hair. It smells like the very sea that is only a short walk away from their home. Hob can hear the waves lapping peacefully at the shore. "We made it. It's all over now. We made it."

#dreamling hunger games AU #idk why clips from the hunger games movies keep popping up on my youtube feed #but we're taking it as a sign and rolling with it #hello my loves I come bearing pain 😊#dreamling #DreamlingWeek #DreamlingWeek2023 #the sandman #my writing #good job my thumbs #wahoo i managed to complete an entire week's worth of stories! 😭🙏 🎉🎉🎉

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mariacallous · 1 month

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There’s a nasty not-so-secret secret no one likes to talk about, so it’s best to start there: Black women are among the most hated demographic worldwide. In America especially, anti-Blackness is the air. It’s everywhere even when you can’t see it. From the ivory halls of Washington to C-suites at Fortune 500 companies, Blackness is treated as less than. And because that is how it works and how it has worked generation after generation, not even Beyoncé, currently the most commanding force in music, can escape the fangs of misogynoir.

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: A Black woman was told she did not belong, that she was not welcome in a certain space, so she paved a path all her own. That’s the story Beyoncé recounted in an Instagram post in March, the day she announced her new country album, Cowboy Carter. “The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” she wrote. Unlike other musical genres, country is infamous in who it chooses to exclude. The genre’s history is rife with allegiances to the old ways of American prejudice, and no bearing or social position can change that.

The sweet irony, of course, is that now we have Cowboy Carter, the second installment in a three-act project of historical and musical restoration that Beyoncé began in 2022 with Renaissance, her dance-floor tribute to house music. She is on a mission to reclaim her time. The rare artist who can pull off such a canny move, Beyoncé now represents something bigger than music. She’s an industry unto herself: swaggering and audacious in reach, with a built-in fan base that anticipates every album drop, Instagram post, and product release. Whether you agree with the motivations behind her work or not (and there are valid criticisms to be made for artists who create at such a grand scale as her; mass influence in all arenas of life necessitates questioning, there’s no denying that), no other contemporary Black musician will bring more awareness to country’s gated meadowlands—its past, present, and possible futures—than Beyoncé. If nothing else, she gets people talking.

“I’d like to actually thank the CMAs for pissing her off,” X user @gardenoutro wrote Friday morning, just past midnight, in the hour following the album’s official release, calling attention to Beyoncé’s 2016 performance with the Chicks that was later shunned by Country Music Association members. Where Lemonade was scorned memoir and Renaissance flirted with fantasy—a disco-lit dreamscape where freedom and love have no inverse—Cowboy Carter unravels like autofiction, blending biography with novelistic flair on songs like “Daughter” and “Spaghettii.” It takes country into uncharted terrain. “It’s easy to listen to 27 tracks when they’re all good,” songwriter Rob Milton wrote on X.

That’s the other thing about the Beyoncé Effect: There is no room for dissent in her universe. Online, and particularly across social media, new albums of hers are given billboard status. It is cause for celebration but rarely one for challenge or sharp inquiry.

“A lot of people still want to join in with something larger than themselves. Fandom offers them a way to do that. It is not, though, entirely a utopian space,” says Mark Duffett, a professor at the University of Chester who researches fandom. “The concerns and issues that society has are mirrored in fan communities. They do not escape from being part of the wider social world.”

As powerful as her music can be, the release of a Beyoncé album exposes the fiction of a shared internet. There is not one but many. In its most intense form, fan logic thrives in isolation. On Beyoncé’s internet, as with comparable fan cultures, logic finds comfort in the sideways geometry of the echo chamber. Its reasoning animorphs into blind zealotry, wagging its finger in the face of disagreement. Fan logic butts against balanced judgment. It has led Barbs (Nicki Minaj fans), Beliebers (Justin Bieber fans), Hive members (Beyoncé fans), and the like into a cycle of heated confrontation, and sometimes wild irrationality.

Brittany Luse wasn't expecting death threats when she commented about a Cowboy Carter ad that was projected onto the front of the Guggenheim Museum, but she also knew “the Hive can be so intense in their defense of any criticism of Beyoncé, let alone any perceived slight. So I wasn't expecting nothing to happen.” Luse is the host of NPR’s pop culture podcast It’s Been a Minute and a fan of the singer. “I maintain a pretty low-key presence online, so over the years, I’ve only dealt with wild social media attacks a handful of times, with the Swifties or the manosphere, but never death threats. They probably should have stressed me out, but they mostly just confounded me. I said I didn’t like an ad, and now you want me to choke? That’s too much.”

That, more than anything, is the tenor of fandom on the internet today: Perceived disloyalty is met with Tony Soprano–style intimidation. The rise and permanence of social media has led, in part, to the decomposition of fan culture. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram brought us closer together. Platforms that prized connection boosted the careers of artists from burgeoning to box office stars. But it had costs, Luse says. Instant access to celebrities rewired our relationships entirely.

“You can find seemingly endless content from your fave and befriend other fans more easily than ever before. Of course that would bring people joy,” she says. “But that constant, instant access also at least partially fuels an us-against-them mindset that puts some people into attack mode over their favorite artist.”

But perhaps the problem is not that such intense fandoms exist, but where they take root and make a home. “Another thing that has happened is that fans might be talking on social media to each other in ways that they do not necessarily anticipate nonfans will seek out or understand,” Duffett says. “It raises the question of whether a community can keep to itself and yet communicate in a public space.”

Beyoncé represents a monoculture at a moment when monocultures have gone all but extinct. For her, extreme fandom is both anchor and ascendence. There are downsides, unquestionably so, but the people who power Beyoncé’s platform provide a necessary function too: When the door has been slammed in her face and she’s told she’s not welcome inside, or when the Recording Academy twice overlooks her for Album of the Year, it is her fans who give her the authority to reboot country music in her image, and perhaps, in doing so, chart a new course altogether. “It would be cool if she never mentioned the Grammys again,” Luse said on X. “When you can do all this, who cares?”

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skippyv20 · 1 year

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Snare plan

From Quora

12 April 2023

How do you to move on and up from a Toronto chef to a Kensington Palace prince?

Sobbing from left eye, prostrate on the floor “ I’ ll leave you if you don’t immediately tell the world I’m your girlfriend.” So despite his fear and loathing of the media, he chose the path of publicity. Over abandonment by a man- eater.

World wide opinion is growing that Meghan organised her OWN online harassment club to pressure Harry to cave into her engagement plans.

Here’s how the plan goes… April 25 2015 Meghan meets Harry at the opening of Soho House Istanbul. Meghan admits she “did her homework and scoured Harry’s Instagram feed. “

Meghan 35 says in Vanity Fair she met 32 year old Harry in 2016 and was secretly dating for about 6 months, (about April 2016 ) after chatting on Instagram.

October 28th 2016 news breaks about the “ secret” relationship.

The next day, the pair publicly celebrates on October 29th 2016 when she and Harry attend Soho House Toronto Halloween Apocalypse themed party with Eugenie and Jack.

Someone “leaks” info and photos to the press.

Such a narrow window through which to manoeuvre and organise Harry , but just one week later, he issues a public statement Nov 8th 2016 about Meghan, his new American “actress” girlfriend and media intrusion. Using his Kensington Palace Press Release he complains about nightly legal battles to keep stories out of papers.

A quote “ It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that” etc. and so on. A FEW Months???

( The UK Sun Wednesday 2 November has a front page busty photo of Meghan in her red low cleavage Deal Or No Deal dress, titled Princess Pushy. Nothing racist, just sexy photos.)

So, from October 28 to November 7, barely a week, how is such a media storm raised without prior assistance? ( Reminiscent of Megs lowering the limo windows at HMTQs Jubilee to wave ‘look at me ‘ to the media.)

December 2016 they publicly shop together for a Christmas tree at London’ s Pines and Needles store, and a few days later attend a play in London’s West End.

Meghan goes to Toronto Invictus Games with Markus Anderson and then attends wheelchair tennis with Harry 25 September 2017 happily waving to the media.

Magically , the engagement is announced on 27 Nov 2017 along with an announcement that 6 months later there would be a Windsor wedding on 19 May 2018 .

So her first consideration was how long does it take to land a big fish after he took the first risky bite, and how to fast -track the process.

Totally proficient with manipulating her own on -line Tig fan club, she sets up her own remote shark tank of anti-Megs orientated trolls. They help back in her plan of getting young Haz rage up every time he reads a critical comment about his “movie star “girlfriend. What a crisis for struggling Harry.

It has been revealed Achewell Foundation contributes to these on -line social media groups today, with the hope of influencing more accolades, tributes and awards for the pair.

Meanwhile 2023 , the world has grown bored with, and tired of watching when the reptiles will engorge on the other and who will be left

Love it! Thank you 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

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usafphantom2 · 7 months

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USAF's first female fighter pilot retires

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 09/26/2023 - 08:29 in Military

The career of an Air Force pioneer came to an end this weekend, when Maj. Gen. Jeannie M. Leavitt, the first female fighter pilot of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), retired after 31 years of military career.

Leavitt's retirement ceremony took place at Scott Air Base, Illinois, on September 23. The head of the U.S. Transportation Command, General Jacqueline D. Van Ovost - one of the only three women who have ever led a command of a combat squad - officiated and reminded all those present of the legacy that Leavitt created.

“[Jeannie] had to deal with a constant demand to be in the spotlight, because of her many premieres, something that does not represent who Jeannie is,” Van Ovost said. "She prefers to stay behind, behind the scenes to guide and educate. Taking care of people and the mission - [this is] the true purpose behind his continuous dedication to service."

Leavitt's journey in the U.S. Air Force was, in fact, marked by numerous "innovations", challenging preconceived notions about the roles that women could play in the armed forces. She was the first woman to join USAF fighter pilot training in 1993. Later, she made history as the first female fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. She was also the first woman to command a combat fighter wing, the 57ª Wing at Nellis Air Base, Nevada.

Throughout her career, she has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours, including operational missions such as Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Most of his experience was on the F-15E Strike Eagle.

Van Ovost reflected on the obstacles encountered by women in combat functions during the early 1990s, noting that simply changing policies was not enough. Gaining acceptance and recognition were separate struggles, she added, and Leavitt played a key role during a period of significant change, breaking down barriers that had long kept women out of combat pilot roles.

Throughout her career, Leavitt was a strong advocate for women in aviation and encouraged young women to pursue careers in the Air Force and aviation - four of these pilots appeared in a tribute video during the ceremony.

His commitment to challenging stereotypes went beyond the military, as he collaborated with Disney on the film 'Captain Marvel' to narrate his journey in the U.S. Air Force and share a more accurate portrait of a lifetime dedicated to service. However, Leavitt's aspirations were never just about personal fulfillment, Van Ovost said.

"On behalf of all those who have traveled by your side and behind you, thank you for having the courageous character necessary to open new paths for others to follow," said Van Ovost.

Leavitt's final mission was as head of the Air Force Security Center, overseeing the entire program and policy of aviation, occupational, weapons, space and accident prevention and nuclear safety system of the Air Force Department.

Tags: Military AviationUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work throughout the world of aviation.

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dr-cruces · 1 month

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Could you please say more about Judas and Jesus being shown *giving birth* in medieval art??? This is blowing my mind in the best way

This has been rotting in my inbox for so long, my deepest apologies, Thank you for giving me a proper excuse to talk about this.

Also, not a scholar so don't take this as gospel. (lol)

TW: suicide, crucifixion, birth, gore?

First, a little bit of history about C-sections during the 15th century. They were only performed if the mother was dead and the child was still believed to be alive, a last resort. The Jewish people at the time did not view it positively, as it was deemed not natural. However, Christians saw the survival of a C-section as a miracle of sorts. Also, there were rising tensions between the Catholic Church and Everyone Else because of a fear of religious corruption. In this, C-sections became politicized, christians born from C-sections were considered miracles, however they viewed C-sections from jewish people to be of the devil. So, thus we have our Judas and Jesus in the eyes of the church.

Jesus & the Church & Motherhood.

Medieval Christians became obsessed with Jesus' side wound, trying to figure out a meaning. Early female medieval writers saw a connection between his wound and it being described as 'spilling blood and water'. Which also continued into his maternity, as Jesus gave birth to the church:

His side wound became so significant, that it was being drawn separately from him, vertically. A vulva. This image was put in prayer books to meditate on, drawn on pregnancy girdles to ensure a healthy birth. Almost worshiping the wound separately from Jesus because it held a different significance.

Birth from Jesus depicts a version of rebirth as well as a tribute to motherhood and its attributed sacrifices. It's becoming anew, filled with the holy spirit or whatever. Cleansed of your sins. Definitely viewed in a heroic, or miracle-like, manner to call back.

Jesus' birthing also serves to have him surpass gender, becoming something holy by not adhering to normal gender roles. Congratulated for exploring gender, and this would continue with later saints.

Judas & the Antichrist.

So, some attribute this depiction of his death to a combination of Judas' mentioned hanging and a bursting of bowels (Matthew 27:5 and Acts 1:18).

However, as previously mentioned due to the tensions at the time, C-sections were not held in high favor among the Jewish at the time. Early christians also knew this, knowing it’s shameful and being relatively antisemitic, we now have Judas getting a C-section. I think it would add to his death for medieval artists since he was supposed to be the Biggest Bad. Usually, I assume they’re trying to shame him in death with the many depictions of combining his ‘deaths’ and in general trying to make him look like the worst person ever. Very much spitting on the grave. Although, in this painting, I'm not sure who the devil is pulling out? It is either Judas' soul or the antichrist. Either way, very much impure.

The End.

So yeah, Judas and Jesus are back at it diametrically opposing each other because one is inherently evil and the other good. To me, it's so fun to watch them run around and be political puppets and propaganda. I think it's the dedication that gets me, they were so committed to having This Guy be good or evil they made them both pregnant.

...

Citations & in case you want to read more:

Jesus had a vagina according to medieval Christian mysticism, by Spencer McDaniel.

Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography, specifically the essays of Sophie Sexon.

Judas The Most Hated Name in History, by Peter Stanford. Cesarean Section and Religious Hierarchies in Fifteenth-Century Europe, by Isobel Mouat.

(I haven't read this one but it's mentioned a couple times in a few articles so I'm including it anyway VVV)

Jesus as Mother: Studies in the Spirituality of the High Middle Ages, by Walker Bynum.

In closing, if there’s anything i’ve messed up on or someone would like to add to this niche thing, I’d be more than delighted to hear it. ^^!!

#tw suicide #tw crucifixtion #tw birth #tw gore #Happy Good Friday!!

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louisupdates · 4 days

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LOUIS TOMLINSON HAS DROPPED A SURPRISE NEW ALBUM, ‘LIVE’, RECORDED ON TOUR

Physical versions of the release will arrive this summer.

BY SAM TAYLOR | THU 25TH APRIL, 2024 | 5:28 PM

Photo Sarah Louise Bennett

Louis Tomlinson has dropped a surprise new album, ‘LIVE’.

The release – out digitally now, with physical versions following on 23rd August – features 15 songs, each recorded in a different city during his last few years of touring.

Louis says: “I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last 3 years touring the world twice over. The feeling I get sharing those live moments will be with me forever. To be able to record these songs from all over the world and put them out as an album like this feels so special, and a real tribute to the fans who make each and every show feel unique and incredible. Thank you! Enjoy!”

There are four exclusive tracks split between the physical editions of ‘LIVE’, including a special version of One Direction’s ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go’.

The full tracklistings read:

The Greatest (Live From London, 17 November 2023)

Face The Music (Live From Nashville, 18 July 2023)

Bigger Than Me (Live From Vancouver, 26 June 2023)

Holding On To Heartache (Live From Barcelona, 6 October 2023)

We Made It (Live From Manila, 16 July 2022)

Chicago (Live From Chicago, 15 June 2023)

Fearless (Live From Rio, 27 May 2022)

Common People (Live From Sheffield, 10 November 2023)

All This Time / She Is Beauty We Are World Class (Live From Munich, 22 October 2023)

Walls (Live From Buenos Aires, 21 May 2022)

Written All Over Your Face (Live From Budapest, 15 September 2023)

Out Of My System (Live From Brisbane, 30 January 2024)

Saturdays (Live From Paris, 14 October 2023)

Silver Tongues (Live From Krakow, 10 September 2023)

Disc 1

The Greatest (Live From London, 17 November 2023)

Face The Music (Live From Nashville, 18 July 2023)

Bigger Than Me (Live From Vancouver, 26 June 2023)

Holding On To Heartache (Live From Barcelona, 6 October 2023)

We Made It (Live From Manila, 16 July 2022)

Chicago (Live From Chicago, 15 June 2023)

High In California (Live From Amsterdam, 15 October 2023)

Fearless (Live From Rio, 27 May 2022)

Common People (Live From Sheffield, 10 November 2023)

Disc 2

All This Time / She Is Beauty We Are World Class (Live From Munich, 22 October 2023)

Walls (Live From Buenos Aires, 21 May 2022)

Written All Over Your Face (Live From Budapest, 15 September 2023)

Out Of My System (Live From Brisbane, 30 January 2024)

Saturdays (Live From Paris, 14 October 2023)

Where Do Broken Hearts Go (Live From Tallinn, 5 September 2023)

Silver Tongues (Live From Krakow, 10 September 2023)

VINYL

Side A

The Greatest (Live From London, 17 November 2023)

Face The Music (Live From Nashville, 18 July 2023)

Bigger Than Me (Live From Vancouver, 26 June 2023)

Holding On To Heartache (Live From Barcelona, 6 October 2023)

We Made It (Live From Manila, 16 July 2022)

Side B

Chicago (Live From Chicago, 15 June 2023)

High In California (Live From Amsterdam, 15 October 2023)

Fearless (Live From Rio, 27 May 2022)

Common People (Live From Sheffield, 10 November 2023)

Side C

All This Time / She Is Beauty We Are World Class (Live From Munich, 22 October 2023)

Walls (Live From Buenos Aires, 21 May 2022)

Only the Brave (Live From Milan, 3 September 2022)

Written All Over Your Face (Live From Budapest, 15 September 2023)

Side D

Out Of My System (Live From Brisbane, 30 January 2024)

Saturdays (Live From Paris, 14 October 2023)

Silver Tongues (Live From Krakow, 10 September 2023)

Kill My Mind (Live From Santiago, 15 May 2022)

DORK

#louis press #louis tomlinson #louis tomlinson live #26.4.2024 #dork #dork magazine

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bratshaws · 2 years

Text

goodness gracious 54. brb x oc

a/n: i really like writing this chapter :,).... SMUT IS IN THE NEXT ONE AND WOO BOY I GOTTA WORK ON IT! Feedback is welcome and encouraged uwu

check out the fic's playlist made by the sweet @wiipes !!

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: fluff, Rooster is good with kids more news at 12, me adding yet another character to this f i c

chapters:

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37/38/39/40/41/42/43/44

45/46/47/48/49/50/51/52/53

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!!)

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @shrimping-for-all @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3

@lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2 @emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @kulicny @winter-run @ktjmac

Shells and Bob did get there soon after Bradley and Beatrice, immediately looking at the blonde little girl that was currently drawing on a napkin. Shells had only seen Bianca once when she was much smaller, so to see her again was a delight. Shells always said she hated kids, but it was a lie, they all knew, she was just mush hearted to any baby or toddler there was.

And Bianca was behaving herself quite nicely, she did ask questions every now and again, questions Bradley gladly would answer for her. Beatrice only smiled watching the two interact, something about…Bradley talking to a five years old was so very charming and so very him. She knew Bianca already took him as her favorite, after Bea of course, he was Prince Rooster to the end. Which when she said it while surrounded by the others immediately made them all stare at Bradley, who in turn blushed with a little smile, “It’s how she refers to me,” he says with a weak shrug.

He didn’t mind it, of course, Bianca was a pure child, she just did that because she cared about him and cared about her aunt as well. And Beatrice loved it, she couldn’t stop smiling anytime that Bianca would ask him something and he made sure to give her his attention every time she talked to him.

He was really good with kids, at least with Bianca. She knew he wouldn’t do a bad job when he met the others tomorrow, she had a feeling the boys specially would be really interested in what he had to share, they only knew about aviation when Umberto visited and that wasn’t often.

He was also really sweet to Beatrice whenever she felt a bit overwhelmed, he could sense it somehow and would lean closer to ask if she was okay. She always said she was just nervous but would be fine and would hold his hand for emphasis. Even during the tribute to the Admiral who passed - whose name was Tom Kazansky - he still held her hand, maybe it was his own way to ask for support considering the way he clenched his jaw trying to hold back the emotion.

Pete was called to speak, the older pilot trying his best to not get choked up, even joking every now and again about the things he knew about the admiral. Even if she wasn’t part of this world, and had never met the admiral before, she felt her own eyes brimming with tears. Especially when the admiral’s widow stepped on the stage, her kids and grandkids stood to the side, to speak about him. She doesn’t think there was one dry eye in the room, she could hear the sniffling and the shaky breathing around them.

His widow, whose name she now knew was Genevieve, thanked every single one of the people there and told them that “Tom would never want his passing to be remembered with sadness.” and to “Remember this is a celebration, not a mourning.” Beatrice thought she was so brave, even with how her voice shook and cracked at times, she never stopped smiling, smiling wider when she turned to look at the face of her husband on the screen behind her.

After she thanked everyone and told them to enjoy the night because it’s what he would’ve wanted, Beatrice sighs softly, turning her head towards Brad whose eyes were glazed over just a bit, “You okay?” he nods, clearing his throat, smiling when she touches his cheekbone soothingly only to find it just a bit damp.

“I’m fine.” is all he says, something in his eyes tells her that this was more than just the effects of Admiral Kazansky’s death. She wondered if he somehow remembered the time when his own father passed. She wouldn’t ask him, of course, but she held his hand under the table, rubbing the side of his thumb with her own and sighing in relief when he squeezed her hand back.

While there was a layer of sadness around the whole room, it wasn’t so bad. There was music and laughter around them, Pete even sharing some stuff from his time in TOPGUN with the Admiral as well. He called him an ‘annoying son of a bitch’ but it had fondness in every word. Much like how the others talked about Hangman back at the bar, it had something within the obvious annoyance that made her smile.

It was like a huge family alright.

During dinner she felt Bradley’s hand on top of her clothed thigh, not doing anything illegal per se, but just resting it on the plush flesh with the casual squeezing. She didn’t mind, especially because no one else in their table seemed to notice his hand there or if they did they said nothing. The conversation was mainly about the Navy, or deployment tales she hadn’t heard about from Rooster before, even Bob seemed more talkative than normal much for Shells’ happiness.

After a while she noticed that Bianca was fidgeting a bit, the little girl making a ‘come hither’ towards her aunt who immediately lowered her head to Bianca’s level, “Auntie,I need to go potty.” she whispers sweetly, still bouncing a bit on the seat.

“Ah.” Beatrice smiles, then turns towards Rooster, “I’m going to take Bibi to the bathroom.” she says, grabbing her clutch as she stood up. She shouldn’t be surprised when her boyfriend stood up as well, placing his hand on her lower back as she grabbed Bianca from the seat to carry her to the restrooms.

She thanks him for coming with her, kissing his lips sweetly before she enters. Rooster, obviously, waits outside leaning against the wall. Beatrice barely puts Bianca on the floor and the little girl is scampering to one of the bathrooms with her aunt close behind. From outside Rooster could hear Bianca’s high pitched voice followed by Beatrice’s calm tone, he couldn’t understand what was being said inside, the voices and music around the area made it hard for him to understand.

But, he couldn’t lie that the image of Beatrice and Bianca did warm his heart just a bit. However he immediately tried to shove that deep within his mind, they never talked about it, they were about to move in together. One step at a time, he didn’t even know if she would want something like that.

He knew he wanted to have a long term relationship with Beatrice, however long that’d be - hopefully forever - and if…the situation came and the topic arrived, he’d be sincere in telling her about it. Just not yet, not now.

Inside the bathroom, Beatrice lifted Bianca high enough so she could wash her hands on her own, telling her to press the soap dispenser only once even if she wanted to do it a few more times. Once her hands were washed, Beatrice then carried her to the hand dryer, smiling when her niece giggled as the warm air hit her palms, drying them completely, “There we go.” she puts Bianca down, then crouches to fix her dress and headband, “Do you need anything else?”

“No, auntie.” she says, looking down at Beatrice’s hands as they fix the edges of her dress, “Auntie,” Bea hums in question, still paying attention to the dress, “When are you and Prince Rooster going to get married?”

Beatrice stills her hands, her whole body freezing as she takes in what her niece asked. It hit her like a ton of bricks, how would she explain it to Bianca? “...um…” she clears her dry throat, focusing on relatching Bianca’s Mary Janes as she tried to figure out how to respond, “...I…well, you see–” Bianca just blinked with a little smile, still waiting for a response, “I-I…Bibi, that’s, um…”

Bianca then smiles, leaning closer while cupping her hands around her mouth, “I gave him a magic rock.” she says, “When zia Martha got married! It makes people get married too!!” she had a feeling her aunt Martha told her so and Bea dropped her head forward with a heavy sigh. She hated how fast her heart was beating just at the thought. But it was too soon for that, they didn’t even move in together.

She understood why Bianca would be excited, but it wasn’t that easy, “Listen, Bibi.” she grabs her niece’s smaller hands on her own, breathing in slowly, “It’s…not that simple, it's something grown ups think about a lot you know? It’s a big step.”

Bianca purses her lips in thought, “But daddy said you and Prince Rooster already look married!” oh she’s going to kill Leonardo, “I heard him telling mommy that when they thought I was asleep.”

“Well, your daddy can say a lot of stuff he doesn’t know about.” she tries to say firmly with her cheeks burning red. She wasn’t mad at Bianca, she was just a child with the simple mindset of ‘if you want to do it, do it’ without any consequences. And Rooster was right outside, what if he heard ??? With as much strength and calm she could muster, Beatrice smiled down at her niece, “Sweetie, look, I know you…want that to happen.”

“Yes!”

“But it’s not so simple. Because…it’s…really early to think that.” the little girl furrows her brows, “Because um…there’s a lot of steps involved. A lot of them. And well, it’s a two person process, honey.” she cups her niece’s chubby cheeks with a smile, “But I promise that when,” if, the goblin voice growled in the back of her mind, “It happens you’ll be the first to know.”

The little blonde girl blinked again, but she seemed to accept that answer a lot more than whatever else her aunt wanted to say, “Okay!”

“Good, now,” she pressed a finger to her lips, “We need to keep this between us okay? It’s a secret,” the last thing she’d want was for Rooster to freak out at the thought of marriage before they even moved in together. She holds out her pinky, “Pinky promise?”

Bianca’s smile widened as she wrapped her little pinky around her aunt’s, much like she did with Rooster earlier that nice, “Pinky promise, auntie!” she giggles and hugs her aunt. Beatrice hugs her back, even if she is a bit nervous about this sudden conversation, suddenly remembering she also needed to use the bathroom and forgot after taking care of Bibi.

With a worried bite to her lip, she walked out with Bianca to see Rooster still leaning on the wall, nothing in his expression showed he could hear them inside, “Hey,” she says, then looks down at her niece, “Can you stay with her for a little bit? I need to go too,” and calm myself down, she thought, before I freak out in front of you.

“Yeah, sure.” he says, offering his large hand to Bianca who quickly grabs it, “We’ll be waiting for you out here.” Beatrice smiles, kissing his lips sweetly before she rushes inside with the bathroom door shutting behind her. Bradley inhales happily, moving his gaze from the bathroom door to Bianca, who was using his hand to hold her up as she leaned back, swinging from left to right by using her weight.

He chuckles, allowing her to continue, even extending his arm a little more so that the little girl had more room to move, much to her delight. Bianca giggles happily, bouncing back to her feet and then holding tightly onto his fingers “Can you lift me?”

“Lift you?”

She nods, “My daddy lifts me one handed! He’s super strong!” the way she was holding onto his fingers probably meant he was supposed to hold her up as if she was a dumbbell. He just grins, lifting the little girl up with ease, earning a happy squeal from her tiny form as she kicks her legs in the air.

He does that for a few seconds, until he hears someone clearing their throat next to him. He turns his head as he lowers Bianca to the ground, “Oh,” he straightens himself, “Ma’am.” he nods respectfully to Admiral’s Kazansky widow, Genevieve, who was just smiling sweetly at him.

“Hello, Bradley, I almost didn’t recognize you.” she says kindly, holding her hands together, her strawberry blonde hair painted with faint streaks of white and yet she looks younger than half of the people there, “Until you turned around.” he laughs softly, dipping his head in thanks as Genevieve’s eyes drop to the little girl, “Oh, is she yours?”

Yours.

“Uh, no, no, she’s my girlfriend Beatrice’s niece,” he says quickly, picking Bianca under the arms to hold her up so Genevieve could have a better look at her. Bianca was anything but shy when meeting new people, something he rarely saw with kids her age - at least the ones he’s met before were always very shy when approaching people - which was a breath of fresh air sometimes.

Genevieve was smiling when Bianca introduced herself, hugging Bradley’s neck to keep herself upright as the older woman asked her if she was enjoying spending time with Bradley. Bianca corrected that it was ‘Prince Rooster’ and not ‘Bradley’ much to the other woman’s amusement, especially when the pilot’s cheeks flushed slightly. “I don’t think I’ve met your girlfriend,Rooster.” she says after a while, “Is she the brunette you came with?”

“Yeah, she’s uh, inside right now.” he says, tossing his thumb over his shoulder, realization dawning on his face, “Oh, do you want to–”

“No,no,” Genevieve laughs, waving a hand, “I was simply taking a walk, to clear my mind.” The words came out heavier than he thought, his own eyebrows furrowing with concern but the blonde woman just tapped his arm, “Don’t worry about me,I’m fine.” right after she said that, the bathroom door opened and Beatrice walked out still shaking her hands to get rid of whatever moisture the fan couldn’t dry.

“Sorry was I– oh.” she noticed the older woman talking to Bradley and her niece on his arm, “Oh, hello.”

Genevieve looked from her to Rooster with a smile beaming on her face, “Hello, Beatrice,” she held up an elegant hand that the girl grabbed with a nervous smile, “I’m Genevieve, I was just asking Bradley about you.”

Beatrice looks to her boyfriend, who’s still cradling her niece in his arms, “Oh, oh um…well!” she laughs nervously, dropping her hand from the other woman’s hold and wringing them together since she didn’t know where to put them “I…I’m glad?”

Genevieve chuckled, turning to Bradley with the same smile, “She’s a gem,Bradley.” Bea’s cheeks turned an even darker red at the compliment, even more when her niece agreed that indeed her aunt was a gem, “But please, do not mind me. I was just taking a walk, it was very nice meeting you, Beatrice.” the brunette nods with a little smile, watching the woman walk past the two down the hallway that led to the outside of the building.

Beatrice waited until she was out of view to turn her worried eyes to Bradley, “I…should I have said I was sorry for her husband?” she asks quietly, “Was I rude?”

Rooster recoils his head in surprise, moving Bianca to his opposite arm when the other started to get tired and the little girl didn’t complain, “No? Didn’t you hear her compliment you?” Beatrice just blushes harder, still playing with her fingers, “Hey, pretty girl, you are anything but rude. I think she prefers not to be reminded every now and again of what happened.”

“...okay.”

He tsks, holding Bibi one armed to cup Beatrice’s chin and tilt her head up, “Gorgeous, don’t doubt yourself like that,” he says pressing a kiss to her painted lips, “It’s not a good look on you. And I love seeing you smile.” he whispers against her mouth, kissing her for a few more seconds before pulling back. Beatrice’s smile was all he desired for an answer, even more when she grabbed his free hand and the two made their way back inside the main room.

Bianca was put down when she noticed a few kids playing not too far from them, in the ‘kids area’ and she asked Beatrice if she could go, “Okay, but don’t wander away from the lady that’s with them.” she said, gesturing to the woman wearing a black vest who was keeping an eye on all the kids there. Bradley put Bianca down, the little girl running to the others and immediately sat down next to a boy who was playing with LEGOS.

Beatrice’s smile only broadens when she feels Bradley’s hand on the curve of her waist, she knew he wanted to wrap his arms around her but considering where they were it wouldn’t be a good idea. But she could feel the subtle twitch of his fingers, nearing the front of her stomach, “You look absolutely fucking beautiful.” His breath touches the shell of her ear and Bea laughs softly, turning to look over her shoulder, “I know I’ve said it but, ho-ly shit. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

She chortles quietly, turning to face him and running her hands on the shoulders of his suit, “And you look extremely handsome.” she says, leaning up to peck his lips, dropping her hands to hold onto his, blinking when he lifts his arm and twirls her around, “Brad!”

“I just want a full look,” he says sweetly, laughing at her red cheeks and bringing her closer to press their foreheads together, “...I’m glad you are here.”

“...yeah?”

“Yeah,I’ll be honest…I don’t know if I’d like to be here alone, or just with Mav and the others. Having you and Bibi is really good.” he touched the side of her face with his knuckles, then tilted his head back when he saw movement behind him. Beatrice looked in the same direction and they widened their eyes when they saw Jake nearing a standing Evelyn who was no longer sitting with her parents and was now leaning against a wall with her back to them.

Beatrice and Bradley exchanged looks, with the brunette tugging him further close to a large vase so they could hide, peeking over the leaves to have a better look, “Oh my God.” he whispers, “Do you think they are together?”

“She hasn’t pushed him away yet.” In fact she didn’t even recoil in disgust when Hangman was right by her side, he wasn’t touching her but his presence was hard to be ignored. They tried to be subtle, the best they could, using the large leaves to hide themselves and pressing up against the wall from time to time hoping they wouldn’t see the two.

There’s a ping coming from inside her clutch and Beatrice clicks it open, pressing the power button on her phone

Ev (20:21)

You two are anything but subtle.

“Oh.” she lowers the phone and peeks out the leaf, seeing that now Evelyn was alone and holding up her phone with a grin, shaking it a bit for emphasis. Both Rooster and Beatrice looked sheepish and waved at Evelyn. The woman chuckles, rolling her eyes then going back to her phone

Ev (20:24)

I’m going to go back to my seat. Don’t tell Shells or else she’d never leave me be.

And after that she turns around, leaving the couple alone and staring at where she once stood, “Well…” he lets out a quiet laugh, “That happened…should we go back?”

“...yeah it might be a good idea.”

They leave when it’s past Bianca’s common bedtime, the little girl resting her head on her aunt’s shoulder as she takes her to the car. She doesn’t wake up when Beatrice buckles her on the seat, just lolls her head to the side, only actually waking up when they arrive at Beatrice’s house.

Rooster waits for Bea to take the little girl out, he removes the seat himself and grabs the duffel bag he kept under the front seats for when he got there, following Beatrice into the house only to be greeted by a very excited Jolene. Bianca made a noise on her aunt’s shoulder, something that resembled Jolene’s name but was too quiet to be understood “I’m going to change her.” she whispers to Rooster, “Then bring the mattress out.”

“Mattress?”

“Yeah, I keep an inflatable mattress for Bibi whenever she has to sleep over. I used to do it back when I lived with my parents because Leo and Cyn didn’t want her getting used to sharing a bed with other people.” she says, adjusting the little girl in her arms while kicking off her shoes with a sigh of relief, “I’ll be right back.”

But he follows her up the stairs, “I can help.” he says, unbuttoning his suit jacket and trying to hold back the grin of her eyes dropping when his undershirt comes into view. She didn’t say anything but she nodded before disappearing inside the bathroom with a sleepy voice Bianca asking her what was going on, “Where do you keep the mattress?”

“Oh, it’s under my bed.” she says and he hears her telling Bianca to lift her arms so she can put on her onesie, “It’s a dark blue bag with a yellow smiley face on it.” He crouches next to her bed after he kicks off his shoes, tilting his head until he sees the smiley face. The bag is squished between the bedframe and the floor, so it takes a little while to yank it out, grunting to himself until it’s finally visible.

He sits back on the bed and pulls the mattress out just in time for Bea to come out as well, now wearing her long shirt and pants she wore as pajamas, smiling at him and holding a dinosaur onesie dressed Bianca in her arms, “Oh,’ he sounds pained, slapping his hand over his heart, “Oh that’s so cute.”

Beatrice laughs quietly, face completely clean of makeup , “You can go change.” She says gently lowering her niece onto the bed, “I’ll set up the mattress.”

“You sure?” she nods, approaching him to kiss his lips and grab the bag from his hands, he smiles, following her mouth with his head to press a few more pecks to her lips before he stands up to go to the bathroom. Beatrice smiles as she picks up the mattress and makes her way downstairs, silently picking up her coffee table and putting it to the side before she drops the mattress to the floor.

Something inside of it clicks and the blackish blue flat fabric slowly begins to inflate, Jolene watching this ordeal with her eyes on it and still seated on the couch. Four legs pop from under the mattress, making it stand a good distance from the floor, going from a paper thin structure to a large queen sized bed that took a good chunk of space in her living room.

She rushes back upstairs to grab a few blankets and sheets, alongside Bianca who now was already fast asleep. Since her niece was so small, she made sure to make the couch as comfortable as it possibly could since she’d want to sleep next to Jolene, “Jojo?” Bianca asks when Bea puts her down on top of the various pillows she arranged, the pitbull quickly leaping on the bed and snuggling closer to Bianca, who hugs her neck.

Beatrice smiles, pulling the dinosaur hoodie back just enough so her lips touched her niece’s forehead, then Jolene’s head. When she leaned back, she saw Bradley looking around her room in confusion until his eyes met hers on the lower floor. Beatrice walks closer to the staircase with her hands on her hips, meeting Rooster when he steps down, “I thought we were staying up there?”

“No, I can’t see Bibi if I do.” She looks over her shoulder to the mattress, “I usually sleep down here because she loves the couch and loves sleeping with Jolene.” The five years old was hugging the dog’s neck as they slept soundly. “If she needs my help I can get her quickly…is that okay with you?” Would he think it was weird?

“Yeah,” he smiles, “It’s fine, I was just expecting us to be up there, is all.” He walks closer to the inflatable mattress and blinks at how soft it is. And spacious, “Woah,I love this, it’s so nice??”

“I used it while going camping, it’s really good.” she says quietly, keeping her tone down so her niece wouldn’t wake up. She lay down next to Rooster and the two of them focused their eyes on Bianca’s sleeping form, the blanket now covered both her and Jolene, with the dog huffing in her sleep as she dreamed. When Bea turns to face Bradley again she finds him already looking at her with an unreadable gaze, “What?”

He purses his lips,shakes his head and tries to hold back his own smile, “Nothing, gorgeous.” he whispers, “Just looking at you and how amazing you are.” she laughs quietly, covering her mouth with a hand so Bianca won’t wake up. He pulls the covers up to their shoulders, still facing her, “No wonder she loves you so much.”

“I love her too.” she whispers, looking back at her sleeping niece with her own eyes blinking heavily, “We better sleep, we have a long day tomorrow.” for obvious reasons, she thought.

“Yeah,” he tried to hold back his own yawn without success, chuckling tiredly when she smiled up at him, “C’mere,” he wraps his arms around her, turning her around so her back touched his chest and her vision remained on Bianca, “There, much better.” he says against her ear, leaning down to kiss the skin below her lobe.

“It is.” she says, leaning back just enough to kiss his lips, “Night Roos.I love you.”

“I love you too, gorgeous.” he murmurs, his own voice dropping into a tired tone as Beatrice watches his eyes slowly drop shut and his breathing get even. She smiles, then turns to see check on her niece one last time, gently rubbing her smaller hand and Jolene’s toe beans before she too drifted off into dreamland.

#bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x oc #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw x reader

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