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pokimoko · 1 year

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summer winter reading/writing/arting tag

Thank you so much for tagging me @thealterscrolls in your post, you know I love an excuse to overshare about things I like and/or are working on. Though, I'll be nice and keep each list to a maximum of 8 cause otherwise I would go overboard and that would make this already long post longer than necessary. Alright, let's get into it:

Describe one creative WIP project you're planning to work on over the summer: No summer for me for a while but hey, winter for me personally is a great time to work on stuff cause excursions outside the house are at a minimum, and I don't have to feel bad about being inside all day when the sun's already going down at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Anyway, I'm hoping to work on my In the Absent Place prequel slash companion fic focusing on Jake and the events that lead into that story. It's been an idea I've wanted to do for months and I have indeed started on it but I keep getting distracted from it by other ideas and fandoms (and also working on zine fics). But I do want to finish it. I also have a fic for The Owl House and one for Wolf 359 that I keep coming back to (aka the fics that have been distracting me), so we'll see if I ever get round to finishing those.

Recommend a book: When it comes to reading books, I am both very easily entertained (I rarely give out 1 or 2 stars) and extremely reserved with what I consider a great book, to me at least. I have given only a few books 5 stars. These are those few books: • 'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir • 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke • 'Loveless' by Alice Oseman • 'Radio Silence' by Alice Oseman • 'Elatsoe' by Darcie Little Badger • 'Good Omens' by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett • 'The Witch's Heart' by Genevieve Gornichec • 'His Dark Materials' series by Philip Pullman

Recommend a fic: There are so many great fics I've read that are lost to time because I'm stupid and rarely bookmark stuff (it's that same 5 star problem, y'see). But here's some I have bookmarked or remember really liking: • 'Mens Rea' by yellow_caballero (Moon Knight) • 'the dotted line' by zippe (Moon Knight) • 'An Evolving Situation' by whiskyrunner (Moon Knight, ongoing) • 'Puddlejumping' by Davechicken (Moon Knight) • 'Misguided Ghosts' by petrichorishly (Lucifer) • 'Thermotemporal Equations' by blinkytreefrog (Captain America) • 'No Echo' by sh0rtwave (Wolf 359) • 'you were the song that i'd always sing, you were the light that fire would bring' by rnelody (The Owl House)

Recommend Music: I like listening to a lot of genres, but I think indie pop is probably my go-to, so pretty much all of these will fall under that. Here are some of the songs I've really been enjoying lately: • 'Word to the Trees' by whatever mike • 'Christmas in June' by AJR • 'Kelly Time' by Owl City • 'Bite Down (Bastille vs. HAIM)' by Bastille • 'Jigsaw' by Conan Gray • 'Bloody! Bloody!' by Junie & TheHutFriends • 'Serotonin' by girl in red • 'Talking to Myself' by Will Jay

Share one piece of advice: Nothing you learn is a waste of time. Nothing. Doesn't matter how obscure or pointless it feels like it is, everything comes in handy some way or another eventually (and, hey, even if it doesn't, it can still be fun to have that knowledge). So learn! Learn whatever you want, however big or small. Learn that fictional language or lore from your favourite story. Learn about a show you've never watched from an hour long video essay. Learn about that obscure historical event you found in a Wikipedia rabbit hole at 2AM. Learn not because you have to but because you want to and because you're interested. Because no time is ever wasted when you've gained something new.

That's it for me. I'll tag @pizzee, @yellowocaballero, @theophagism, and @mockspector. Consider it my not-so-sneaky way to learn about your projects and/or favourite books/fics. ;)

#tag game #my stuff #personal #book recs #fic recs #song recs #long post #this piece of poki advice brought to from that one time in highschool that:#a) i spent a week and bit learning how to read/write in cyrillic because i liked bucky barnes and I wanted to write/say the code words #in russian (and yes I still vaguely remember how to do that; can I speak or understand russian outside of that though? haha nope)#and b) learnt the origin of the word 'robot' for a sci-fi story I was wrting for one of english classes which hardly helped with writing it #both of which came together to help me on a visual arts exam when the artwork i had to examine had 'robota' written in cyrillic #that single moment made me realise that knowledge and random facts have funny ways of helping you at the most unexpected times #so now i don't feel bad for going down rabbit holes or for learning about things that don't have any apparent practical use #also researching stuff is fun i'm sorry i'm a nerd #and yes before you ask 'radio silence' by alice oseman was 50% of the inspiration behind the itap(listening to silence on the radio) title #it's on my bookshelf. i looked at it. went hm. okay. i think i can work with that

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mcfanely · 4 years

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Nightowls

Having someone be aware of a secret isn’t always a bad thing. It can sometimes be a relief even, the knowledge that someone else knows. That you’re not on your own anymore. That there’s someone to talk to.

Chapter 09 - You Seem Happy, 2477 words

The walk back to the Monastery was pleasant that morning, even though they were a little later getting away from the studio than Cole would have personally liked. A full conversation with Chamille when the studio announced it was time to clear out for closing about actually organising a day to meet up with the other elemental masters; because there really didn't need to be a world ending disaster as an excuse to be in the same place at once. Then Lloyd and her had gotten to talking whilst Cole had excused himself to clean off in the bathroom; well that resulted in them leaving as the sun was cresting over the horizon line, more than an hour behind when he usually left.

Lloyd could really talk sometimes.

Yet it had been a relaxed silence since they'd set off. Cole was in a clean set of clothes, with a hoodie over the top to keep the morning chill away. The grass that sprung up at the side of the path was dusted with a light frost and a thin mist hung low over the lands.

He took in a deep breath, enjoying the cool sensation that was brought with it.

Then Lloyd turned to him, poised as if he was about to break the silence that had settled, which he promptly did, "So, that was fun." He grinned, shoving his hands into his pockets which didn't hinder the bounce in his step. "I mean, dancing is one thing, but you and Chamille not even having a plan?"

"Free-styling." Cole provided casually.

"Free-styling. And a random song too, it was brutal giving you opera music, I mean, how do you even dance to that? Then you and Chamille were just like," Lloyd made a half-attempt at doing the robot, with an elaborated, "Woosh!"

"And then, then Chamille was all like," An arm wave, a pretty good one if Cole's eyebrows shooting up was anything to go by. Though he just carried on watching the scene with a small smile, and the fact that Lloyd was basically dancing down the single dirt road that led back to the Monastery. It was a long trip, but he had a feeling it would go fast.

"And then you were--"

"Lloyd," Cole interrupted quickly, placing a hand onto his shoulder, "You haven't slept all night, you're getting your second wind. Take a breath."

Lloyd paused and did as he was told, though he was still smiling far too much for that hour of the morning.

"You were so cool!"

He'd said that multiple times already, and Cole was starting to believe it.

"You can't tell anyone." He added after a short second and maybe half a block down the path.

Lloyd kicked a pebble in his way, before nodding his understanding. He brushed some hair back from his face, "I know, I know. You said so earlier."

Even then, with that vein of conversation at a resolute end, Lloyd still looked like he had something to say. Cole tilted his head, "What?"

"I'm not shocked you got into Marty's."

That was a bit off track, Cole rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"Yeah, well--"

"You've been sneaking out for a while, haven't you?"

There it was, the supposed crux of the conversation. Abrupt, but sort of expected if he was being honest. If he took into account the clear worry that everyone had expressed, it was obvious that this talk was going to turn into an insightful one-to-one.

There wasn't much point in lying anymore, so Cole simply nodded, "a couple months."

He didn't miss Lloyd's wince, "Have you even been sleeping?"

"Big talk coming from the guy who knows I've been sneaking out, staying up and spying?"

Lloyd's eyes widened, then he schooled his expression and fixed his gaze on the path ahead. They'd get to a woodland soon, and then the base of a far too long staircase, then home.

"Don't try and change the subject, Cole."

There was a nervous laugh, and he was more than content to let everything go back to silence again. Just the sound of crunching gravel beneath their feet and the intermittent noise of bones popping as Cole went through his joints to help release any pressure, but eventually the evasion tactic wore out, and he relented. "It started because I wasn't sleeping." He explained losely, "Or like, when I went to sleep all I had was nightmares."

There, he'd said it.

Lloyd seemed to falter in his walk, almost drawing to a full stop as he watched and listened with far too much maturity for someone his age, and too much focus for someone who was wide awake at near six in the morning.

He was going to crash so hard around lunch time, Cole could tell a mile off.

Yet this time, the silence was a physical feeling. Cole had finished making his point, it wasn't in depth, but it was there. Yet Lloyd's staring just brought more words to the surface, "Of, you know, when I fell from the Bounty."

There's a pregnant pause, and Cole cleared a lump from his throat.

"It's all I could think about and I would just wake up panicking--"

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Lloyd questioned, with concern lacing his voice.

Cole just brushed it off, but the worry was warranted. If it was anyone of his family in the same situation he was in, he'd be worried for them too. Maybe that was a testament to what they were actually feeling in that moment. He would feel hurt if someone kept something like this from him, since Cole knew he could help in some way. "A walk fixed it, I didn't want to annoy anyone."

"Cole, it's not annoying if you need help. We're all here to help you with whatever problems you have. That's what family's for."

Cole shrugged, smiled, then focused his attention on some of the neon orange paint stuck under his nails. He picked at that, stared at it.

"I know that." he whispered. Of course he knew that, he knew that he could have turned to anyone and asked for help, or just someone to talk to and have them listen. Even Jay would have taken the situation seriously, he wasn't always so immature. Cole had to give him some credit. "I just… Found something that made me forget about my problems. At Nightowls, I have, like, a life." He paused, considering how that sounded, "Not that I don't have one at the Monastery, with you guys, but--"

"It's something normal." Lloyd said. Hit the nail on the head.

Yes.

Cole laughed, and nodded, "Yeah. I've never had that. My dad's a famous singer, I was expected to follow in his footsteps in some way, I went to Marty's and then I ran away, then I became a Ninja." his life, summed up. In a way, everyone's lives paralleled that in some way. Particularly the one he was talking to in that moment.

Feeling as though they had to follow in their father's footsteps only to realise that they had their own lives to live, even if it was vastly different from what had been envisioned for them.

"You were really good, though."

Cole laughs.

"You were, though. You seemed so… Relaxed."

Cole draped one arm over Lloyd's shoulder and pulled him into a sideways hug, which dissolved into him ruffling the younger ninja's hair to within an inch of its life. "Do I not normally look relaxed?"

"No," Lloyd managed out in the midst of batting at Cole's hand and arm until he was released, at which point he moved over to the safety of the other side of the path. Not that Cole couldn't reach him from where he was situated, "recently you've looked tired." He sighed, then his voice dipped in volume, and he just sounded that bit more worried, "We've all noticed, you know? We knew something was bothering you." Lloyd admitted slowly, then "We just… Wanted to wait for you to bring it up."

At that point, Cole realised that him bringing the issue up would have probably never happened by his own choice. He'd planned to, that first night. Then he just hadn't.

They eventually made it into the woodland, sunlight moving through the gaps in the canopy crafted by crown shyness, leaves dusting the road.

"How're the nightmares now?" Lloyd's voice was loud amongst silence.

Cole ran a hand through his hair, "Honestly, better." He admitted, then paused, "Actually, I haven't had one recently, I didn't realise that."

Lloyd smiled, "Because you've been distracted by sneaking away and having fun."

"I mean, yeah, technically I have." He smiled, "I've been spending days training and nights dancing, truly I am living a double life."

They both shared a laugh.

"I mean, you're basically a dance vigilante with that mask."

Cole gave Lloyd a deadpan expression, "Never say those words together again."

Lloyd smirked, "Ninja by day,"

"Lloyd--"

"Dancer by night."

"I swear to the First--"

Lloyd quickly moved forwards and plucked Cole's mask from his belt, then pulled it on himself. There was a bit of adjusting, and the elastic was a little too large, but he got it comfortably sat on his nose at least.

In the light of day, it was a funny sight. Lloyd, entirely dressed in green with a bright orange mask on that was definitely not as impressive as it was in the dark.

"This is uncomfortable." He said after a moment.

Cole just nodded, "It hurts the ears."

Lloyd took it off and stared at it, "It hurts the nose too. I don't know how you wear this and dance, you could have put some cushioning in it."

"I don't notice it when I'm dancing."

"A dragon would have been cooler, and it would have made sense."

Cole took the mask out of Lloyd's hands and held it to his chest, "Wow, I know when my talents aren't appreciated." He smirked, "Besides, it's sort of a joke. Deception, no one knows who I am underneath--"

"And no one knows what you do when you sneak out."

He just blanked that quip, "And wearing the face of a species that was nearly responsible for my death is sorta cathartic. I wear it and I have fun."

"You looked like you were loving it."

Cole grinned, "Yeah. I never thought I'd dance again, to be honest. Not like that."

They finally reached the stairs up to the Monastery and the sun was a lot higher than he would have liked. If it was early, they could sneak in and everyone would be none the wiser. Any time after six was when their absence would be noticed.

So reaching the top of the stairs would end in an interrogation and questioning, most likely. Cole hoped not.

Lloyd started on the stairs first, but as far as Cole was concerned they were always the worst part of the night. It was easier to go down them.

"So, planning on sneaking out again tonight?" the younger ninja asked as they began the climb.

"I don't know, maybe?" He'd probably give it a rest for a day or so. His sleep was nowhere close to being fixed, but he knew that if he managed to stay awake for the rest of the day, there was no way he could pull another all-nighter. He did it once, and regretted his decision immensely.

Also, he knew what Lloyd was actually asking about, "To be honest, I'll probably sleep tonight and go tomorrow. Why, you want to tag along again?"

The silence that followed was an answer in itself, and Cole just laughed, "You're sleeping tonight too. If Sensei Wu doesn't have my neck for you being up most of the night, then I know Kai will."

"Why would they blame you?"

"Because I'm the one in charge." Cole spread his heads as if it was obvious.

"And it's not like they would know I've been awake all night."

"You're starting to look like you've been dragged through the Boiling Sea backwards and then faced off against Sensei Wu's chicken. You look tired."

"Touché."

As they neared the top of the stairs, Cole began fiddling with the mask of the strap. He had all his old clothes in a bag over his shoulder but it was already pretty full to begin with, and he didn't have the heart to try and push the mask in too.

Which left him resorting to holding it subtly behind his back, using the bagginess of the back of his hoodie to shield it from view as they stepped through the gates and into the monastery.

Into the middle of morning training. They were so going to get found out, Cole was so going to get busted for what he'd been doing. Lloyd was going to slip up, it was obvious.

Even as Kai walked over, sword sheathed over his back and spiked hair drooping from exertion, his cut eyebrow was raised and his gaze far too analytical.

He had been doing so well, too. He could already feel his heart rate picking up, but externally he forced himself to keep his cool, "Hey, sorry we’re late."

"You guys didn't even leave a note.” Was the immediate response, and it was tense, “It's one thing Cole not being here and not telling us, but both of you?" Kai questioned, and the speed of which his hands were moving was an indication of emotion that he was trying to keep in check.

Cole winced lightly, "Yeah, sorry. I didn't think, my bad. We were just--"

Lloyd quickly stepped forwards and gave a slight smile, which seemed to quickly sway Kai's mood in a second. Big brother instincts, they could dial back just as fast as they surfaced.

"We just went on a walk, spoke a little." He looked back at Cole and grinned. "I should have written a note but I didn't. We sort of… Just needed to get out for a bit."

He was covering, Cole realised. He'd probably been thinking of an excuse for the whole walk. Something he'd forgotten to even do.

He had to force himself to not look impressed as the words rolled easily from Lloyd's lips. Even he believed them, and he knew the truth.

Kai seemed to cool down, and looked at Cole, "Are you okay?"

He let out a breath, and nodded, "I am now. The walk was good. I'm all good."

"Good." Kai nodded, then added, "You know we're all here to talk to if you need it."

Cole just gave a light laugh and nodded, carefully keeping the mask situated behind his back, "Yeah. Yeah, I know. Thanks, you guys. That means a load."

He looked at Lloyd.

"Thank you."

From the beginning

Ch 08 > Ch 09

AO3

Notes: And thus concludes Nightowls, thank you so much for reading!

#Nightowls AU #Nightowls #cole #cole brookstone #cole ninjago #lloyd #lloyd garmadon #lloyd ninjago #kai #kai smith #kai ninjago #ninjago #lego ninjago #lego #mcfanely writes #mcfanely aus #mcfanely draws #mcfanely #dancing cole

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sceawere · 7 years

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compromise | ivar ragnarsson

set after the ‘check’ series

part one: see the whole board part two: middlegame part three: check

“It’s quiet”

“Hmm” Ivar hummed from his place on the ground. He lay flat out in the sun that fell onto the grassy bank, arm hooked under his head.

You looked down at him, cast a look back, and then returned to peering out over the roadway.

“It’s quiet” you emphasised, rolling your fingers around through a loop of string nervously. You turned it over and over, like a wheel before you, like the cogs turning in your brain.

“Not when you keep talking, it’s not” he murmured, eyes not opening until you gave his side a light kick. He frowned as he inspected the site of contact, unhooking his arm as he brought himself up to sitting.

“I’ve travelled this road twenty times and each time-“

“Oh, will you-“he interrupted.

“No, Ivar! Listen to me!”

“You remember that we’re not at war anymore?” he looked up to you, eyes wide and piercing.

“I thought we were at war with everyone, everywhere, all the time? You gave me a whole lesson on it, remember, because that’s your idea of polite dinner conversation” you shot back and he returned your look, holding firm until you sighed and looked away.

“I’m just doing what you taught me. And what I learned from you even when you didn’t know you were teaching me. Your fondness for surprise and confusion taught me many things, including noticing signs that aren’t there as much as the ones that are and-” you crouched before him, bending over your knees to whisper to him “It’s too quiet, Ivar”

He sighed and looked away to where the rest of the army had parked up and spread out to rest. Travelling with such a band of people and supplies meant slow going and you still had maybe a week of travel ahead before you reached the section of land that Ivar’s group were allotted.

Splitting the land as equally between the brothers control as possible had meant everyone got something to rule without hovering over each other. The hope being that it would keep everything amicable between them. If not, the distance should help.

You weren’t sure how they’d adapt to ‘peacetime’ lives and trying to pre-empt any problems and avoid familial squabbles had kept you busy right up until the moment you joined said family. Ivar seemed to be doing well, considering. Although his assurance that your agreement forbade him only from raiding where you’d agreed and no further seemed to be calming him – you’d noticed the maps of the lands that had rejected your arrangement and expected to be spending the next summer alone already. It was strange to feel dread at the thought but it sat in your gut all the same.

He kept staring off at the group and you huffed, moving yourself into his field of vision. You made sure to keep eye contact before speaking again.

“I’ve travelled this road twenty times and each time you could set your pace by the noise from the blacksmiths. It was a running joke among my father’s soldiers. The town just over the ridge is practically one giant workshop. There’s a dozen or more smiths and they make a hell of a racket and I can’t hear-” you paused to emphasise your point”…a single noise but the birds. Which don’t often nest here, because the water is so mucky and the air so smoky and they don’t like the noise”

You leant back a little before deciding to double down on your point “Which I can’t hear. Because there isn’t any”

He flicked between both your eyes and you tilted your head towards him, imploring him to consider your point. For all he nagged at you about forgetting the tactics of war, he continued to treat every conversation between you as a negotiation. It was infuriating. Most of the time. You had to admit, it was also enjoyable. While he’d fight back, he’d let you go for a while first and after years of having to hold your tongue around all but your father and brother, it was refreshing.

He turned back over his shoulder to the small creek that ran behind you and then up into the treeline.

“The water’s clear” he noted.

“And the airs fresh and there are birds nesting” you added. He leant forward a little more, eyes moving to the horizon that was barely visible down the road.

“It’s the middle of the day and its fine out. Why wouldn’t they be working?”

“You used to see the smoke plumes, dawn ‘til dusk. Navigate by them. Why is no one working?” you joined his sightline, noted the clouds rolling around the hill.

“Because there’s no-one there to work” he turned back to you.

“You never raided out this far – did you?”

“No. Did they join you? We might have killed them all” he half shrugged at the end and you shot him a look before continuing.

“We came to them before that second battle, asked them to smith for us. We promised them if they provided for the army, they wouldn’t have to serve in it” you shook your head, sighing and pushing up.

“Something isn’t right, Ivar”

He reached for his crutches and you knew better by now not to try and help him, staying staring off at the horizon that was beginning to grey. He called over to one of the men he trusted who seemed to be becoming a sort of second in command – if he would allow that. The position remained an unofficial, unnamed one, on account of your husband’s pride. They spoke between themselves for a few moments before the man ran off again and started rounding up a band.

“They’re going to scout ahead” he informed you before moving off towards the chariot.

“You’re-you’re not going with them!?” you stuttered out as you realised his intention and followed after him.

“Of course I am”

“No”

“Wife-“

“Why do you insist on-What is it that you so hate using my name?” you questioned, more to yourself, as you trudged after him and slammed your hands against the side of the chariot “Ivar, don’t leave me alone with these people!”

He laughed to himself, preparing to ride out and you gripped your knuckles white against the wood, as if that would do anything at all if he decided to speed off.

“They’re your people now too” he pointed out, too much enjoyment in his tone for your liking.

“Only by marriage and partly by trickery”

“I didn’t trick you” he rolled his eyes to you, suddenly a little more serious, though he still wore his smirk.

“No but you didn’t play entirely fair either!”

“And you did?”

“We’re getting off track and you’re getting off that seat because you’re not going into the mystery village and leaving me with-Ivar!” you jumped back and shouted after him as he set off, growling to yourself as you watched them disappear along the way. You huffed as the dust and dirt fluttered around the hooves and wheels of the disappearing figures, eyes turning to the slightly smaller crowd.

“I should have become a fucking nun while I still had the chance”

The sky was almost continuously grey by the time they returned more than an hour later and you’d about paced a new trail in the grass beneath the cover of the trees.

“There’s no-one there” Ivar explained and gave an order for the group to carry on down the road.

“What do you mean?” you questioned, eyes on the movement of the army.

“It’s abandoned. Looks like it has been for at least a few days, maybe even a week or two”

“I was here six months ago. It was thriving”

He shrugged again and started preparing to turn back.

“Ivar-“

“It’s safe. We checked everywhere. We checked around. I stationed guards” he stared you down and while his tone wasn’t reassuring, you knew the intent. He’d spent enough time chasing you from battle to battle to lose you to something stupid now.

“Alright. Then it’s safe”

He never really seemed to know what to do once you agreed with him and it was almost funny to see him retreat back and flounder in his words.

“Well. Let’s go then. Unless you want to camp here in the mud and the rain with the pigeons” he motioned to you, regaining his mocking tone as he turned around.

“You know I could tip you off that thing or strangle you in your sleep or something?”

He scoffed a laugh as you set off.

This felt odd. You both sat before the fire, Ivar down in the furs while you sat above him on a chest you’d pulled over. He studied the book on his lap, moving his head almost on instinct as your fingers worked through the braids. All you’d known together was war camps and stops on the trail. Being together between walls was something you hadn’t experienced before. It almost felt realer. More true. But still a little like playing house, with the remnants of someone else’s life all around you.

Surveying the place and following down the trails out in the opposite direction you’d come to the conclusion that they’d probably heard of their new oncoming rulers and decided it was best to cross the border back into ‘proper Christian lands’. Ivar was right. These were your people now, too. You didn’t fit neatly into either group. You were a bridge now. A compromise.

Ivar had worked his way through the Church documents and the records building in an effort to understand his new kingdom better. You were glad at how serious he seemed to be taking this, regardless of his motive. If he wanted to keep the lands he’d taken and prove himself as a ruler he had to be more than a good conqueror and he seemed to understand that. Or at least he was going through the motions of it. He was trying to study a book of land contracts but given that the lawyers had fled with all the others, the two of you were having to cobble together your scant knowledge of the wording.

“This one” he pointed to another word and you lent over his shoulder, your hair trailing over his chest as you rested your chin on his skin. The village had in fact been abandoned but most of the ‘non-essentials’ had been left in place and so there was still a working settlement ready to be picked up. You’d all taken full advantage, glad to feel a few more home comforts after sleeping in tents in random fields for the last few weeks.

“Uhhh…I’m not sure actually”

He sighed and turned his head to you, so close you had to lift your head to keep your eyes on him.

“What?” you questioned.

“You’re supposed to be helping me-“

“If I would have known one day I’d have to teach a heathen raider to understand legal documents I would have studied a little harder. But as it was, there were monks and priests to help with the Latin and so I didn’t. Too bad your lot tried to kill them all, isn’t it!” you stuck your tongue out at his snarl, lifting yourself back up behind him properly. His hand flew up to grab you hand when you gave a little tug to his hair and you laughed as he tried to pull you back down over his shoulder, fighting between the two of you.

You shrieked a little as you lost balance and went swinging around, dragging his arm at an odd angle and he gave a shout of his own as you met the floor. You couldn’t help the laugh that came as two of his guards popped into the room and you waved them off.

“It’s alright boys, it’s alright” you made out through the giggles and they looked between you both confused as Ivar nodded them away. He looked back to you on the floor and you smiled even wider at him as you got comfortable. He rolled his eyes but moved to his side anyway, head lying on your stomach as your fingers weaved back into his hair. This isn’t how you thought it would be.

“We need a priest”

“No, we don’t” he grumbled, sliding the book away across the floor, a little too close to the fire. You slapped it back, jostling him as you reached across. He huffed as you settled back, taking a little too long to get comfortable again.

“If you want to do this right-“he groaned “we’re going to need a priest”

“We don’t need a priest, you want a priest”

“Fine, I want a priest. I don’t accept your argument, but if it gets me a priest, then I’ll entertain it. How about that?”

He closed his eyes and didn’t reply so you tugged at his hair again.

“I don’t like it” he grumbled.

“You don’t have to. You’ll like what it gets you though. That’s the problem with warriors gaining kingdoms. They’re good at the taking, not so good at all the giving and not-so-fun ruling that comes after. You all think it’s going to be battles and feasts and fancy fun stuff and not counting grain harvests and making sure the roads aren’t flooded on market day”

“I prefer the fighting”

“Of course you do. Fighting’s simple. Just kill everyone. Can’t kill everyone at a council meeting” you scratched at his scalp, staring up at the joists. Whoever lived here before had been drying herbs and flowers when they left and they remained tied up around the beams.

“I could” he replied and you tucked your free arm behind your head to help look down at him.

“You could. But then no one would count the grain harvest and the carts wouldn’t move on market day. So suck it up and make some compromises, King Ivar”

He smirked up at you, rolling his neck to stare up himself.

“Where am I going to find a priest?”

“At a church?” you posed sarcastically and he heaved himself up, lifting the book and throwing it across the room to land back in the pile.

“I can’t believe you did that” you watched in shock, keeping your place on the floor as he made his way over to the bed.

“I can’t believe you care that much about a book you can’t even read properly” he shot back, lifting himself onto the edge of the bed with a groan. He settled and rolled his shoulder and you wondered if you’d actually hurt him.

“Books are precious, Ivar. They’re essential to our continuation as a society and as an enlightened people” you pushed up to rest of your elbows and he laughed at you.

“We never needed books and look where we are” he pointed out, combing back his hair with his hands.

You rolled your eyes and got up, following over to where he sat.

“Yes. Look at all the things you managed to steal. I’m sure you’re all very proud”

His hands came to your hips and you leaned into him a little more, fingers tracing over the ink at his shoulder.

“You’re not proud of me, wife?”

You rolled your eyes away from the design on his shoulder to meet his gaze and tilted your head.

“I didn’t say that”

The ghost of a smile came to his face and you lifted the finger that had been tracing to flick his cheek. He wrapped his arms up around your waist properly and rolled you to the bed beside him, squealing as you flopped down on the blankets.

“Ivar! A little warning, for heaven’s sake”

He hummed a response, hand diving under the shirt you were wearing to trace your side as he lay kisses at your hip.

“God, I’ve missed real beds” you settled back, taking in the feel “Ow”

You tugged Ivar’s hair again as he nipped at your hip.

“What is it with you and pulling my hair?” he mumbled, trailing his way up.

“What is it with you and calling me ‘wife’? I do have a name, husband” you reminded him.

“You don’t like it?” he asked as he settled next to you.

“I don’t understand it”

“I use your name sometimes” he hooked his arm behind his head again and you tugged the edge of the blankets up with your foot, kicking them into the reach of you hand so you could pull them up over you both.

“Rarely”

“I like it”

“It’s a nice name” you joked.

“I like calling you wife. I never thought I’d get to do it”

You paused, eyes softening as you crooked your neck and looked up at him.

“Oh”

He hummed in his throat, not lowering his eyes to meet yours. You lifted yourself onto your hands, hovered over him, and planted a kiss to his forehead. You dropped and rolled to your back, tucking your hair back as you settled in.

“Well, goodnight, husband”

“Goodnight, wife”

The fire crackled in the space between your words and the shouts from outside where it seemed they were taking full advantage of the wine that had been left behind echoed in.

“We should stay here for a few days” you whispered, shuffling a little closer to his side.

“Hmm”

You trailed your eyes over his profile, the light flickering behind him.

“I’d like a priest”

“Oh, for fucks-“he groaned and turned to his side.

“Hear me out, here!” you argued, resting on your elbow and wrapping an arm around his waist. You dropped your chin to his arm as he linked his hand in yours “I’ve got three main lines of argument that I think will-“

#vikings #vikings fic #vikings imagine #ivar the boneless #|writing #i ran out of clever chess analogies so here we are

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milominderbindered · 7 years

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thirty days of skam fic: day four

beginning. accusation. restless. leaves. rainbow. flame. formal. under. move. silver. prepared. knowledge. soft. cans. order. thanks. pink. summer. transformation. tremble. tent. mad. thousand. paper. winter. luxury. letters. promise. simple. future.

[ READ ON AO3 ] --- [ from: even ] I sing the Body electric;

[from: even ] If any thing is sacred, the human body is sacred, And the glory and sweet of a man, is the token of manhood untainted;

[ from: even ] And in man or woman, a clean, strong, firm-fibred body, is beautiful as the most beautiful face.

Isak blinks down at his phone. By this point in their relationship -- coming up on a year, and they’ve been living together more than half that, so they know each other pretty fucking well -- he’s stopped being surprised when Even just starts sending him snippets of lyrics out of the blue. It’s actually pretty cute. Rather than being confusing, like it used to be, Isak has come to realise that when Even hears something that reminds him of Isak or their relationship, he just sends it to Isak right then, even if the context is utterly irrelevant; it means he’s thinking of Isak, and Even thinking of him is something Isak is always happy about.

But these lyrics, sent to him in the middle of the morning on OD day as Isak hopelessly battles with a rake outside Eskild’s flat, do seem particularly random. He’s not technically supposed to be taking a break yet, but the building’s janitor, who he’s working for again, has disappeared around the corner for a smoke break, so Isak doesn’t feel particularly bad about hiding behind a tree and tapping out a reply to Even.

[ to: even ] babe we’ve only been apart for two hours you don’t have to serenade me already

[ to: even ] also i don’t know this song?

He barely has to wait a moment for a response. Now that Even’s graduated he doesn’t have to do OD day himself, so he’s just sitting around at home, apparently with nothing better to do than text Isak at any opportunity.

[ from: even ] haha, not a song today! poetry - walt whitman. you’d like him!

[ from: even ] (All is a procession; The universe is a procession, with measured and beautiful motion.)

[ from: even ] you should read leaves of grass. i can lend it to you – i have it in that box of books under our bed

Well, that’s something new. Most of the books in their flat are actually Isak’s, but he reads non-fiction, books about all different kinds of science, or sometimes history. It’s not like Even doesn’t own books, but Isak’s never spotted any poetry collections floating around, that’s for sure. Maybe he needs to snoop in that box of Even’s stuff under the bed sometime, in case there are any other revelations in there.

[ to: even ] i didn’t know you like poetry?

[ from: even ] maybe that’s on purpose. i know we live together now, but i have to maintain SOME of my mystery! otherwise how would i be able to do fascinating things like pull out poetry quotes when you least expect it?

[ to: even ] haha

[ to: even ] you’re so weird

[ from: even ] you love it

[ to: even ] ♥️

Okay, if there’s one thing Isak can’t deny, it’s that he loves Even -- quirks and all. Quirks especially . Back when they were first getting together and all the drama of Even’s manic episode went down, Isak had been terrified that all Even’s adorable uniqueness had been part of the mania, that every impulsive decision he’d made and every weird joke he’d laughed at hadn’t even been real. Isak had thought he’d fallen in love with a personality that didn’t exist. But thankfully, it turned out that was completely untrue. Even is exactly as odd as he’d always seemed, and Isak adores it more and more every day. He adores the surreal cartoons Even draws, and the weird experimental meals he makes, and the way he sometimes wants to go for a walk at three in the morning, or build blanket forts when they can’t sleep, or paint all the furniture in the flat when Isak goes out for a few hours. And now, it seems that he also gets to adore the fact that Even likes to read weird poetry in English, and is apparently storing up unknown facets of himself to surprise Isak with for the rest of their lives.

[ from: even ] so, how’s OD-day going? has your lazy little body had an allergic reaction to all the work yet?

Isak scoffs. He spins his snapback around so that it faces forwards and he can lean against the tree he’s hiding behind, head lolling back while he taps out a response.

[ to: even ] rude!! and at some point you’re gonna have to stop calling me little, we’re basically the same height

[ from: even ] i notice you don’t refute the ‘lazy’ part ;P

Sometimes, Even sounds like Eskild. Those two definitely plot against him in secret, and Eskild is definitely slowly corrupting Even; the biggest mistake of Isak’s life was introducing those two to each other.

[ to: even ] i’m refusing to even engage with that. you know i have no time for haters

[ from: even ] no hate here! just adoring observations about my beautiful boyfriend who couldn’t be more lazy if he tried. i have noticed that like you said, you’ve only been gone for two hours, but you’re already taking a break to text me ;P

[ to: even ] you texted me first!!

[ to: even ] anyway, janitor PK is off smoking, i’m allowed a break too

[ to: even ] but it’s going alright. funny you should mention leaves and grass, since all i’ve been doing all day is raking them up

[ from: even ] leaves OF grass, babe

Isak’s brow furrows. Even's texts are quite often a bit confusing, but that one doesn't even make sense grammatically. Isak should know -- he's become quite the expert on leaves over the last couple of hours.

[ to: even ] huh? that doesn’t even make any sense, leaves are leaves

[ from: even ] hahaa, never mind. my little realist

[ to: even ] *same height as you realist

From the corner of his eye, Isak spots PK the janitor emerging around the side of the building again, finished with his smoke break. Ugh, it must be time to get back to work -- maybe Even and Eskild have a point about Isak being lazy, because he thinks he’d do anything to be able to just keep leaning against a tree and texting his boyfriend all day.

[ from: even ] but still mine tho

Isak rolls his eyes, but without being really able to help it, he sends a single heart emoji back. Yeah, he thinks, as he slides his phone back into his pocket and picks up the rake again, ready to tackle a new pile of leaves. He’s still Even’s.

#evak #evak fic #skam #skam fic #isak valtersen #even bech næsheim #eskild tryggvason #even x isak #isak x even #evak fanfiction #evak fanfic #maia writes fic #30 days of skam

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