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mydearesthrry · 9 months

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honeyed mornings - h.s.

a/n: new universe perhaps? dadrry with y/n and little miss daisy... love you, enjoy!

🎀 warnings/cw: nothing, fluff, the sweetest little girl you ever did see, dadrry (again, a warning of its own), one f bomb

🐇 pairing: dad/husbandrry x fem!reader

💐 wc: 1.2k

summary: the little princess is in a chatty mood, and more home videos are born.

“Hi mama,” Harry purrs, a soft rasp in his voice as he walks into their shared bedroom. “What’re you doin’ up so early?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Little peanut over here decided to come run into the room ten minutes after her Daddy left for his run.” She smiles widely, a happy gleam in her eyes at the sight of Harry being home.

“Really? Well that jus’ won’t do. Had y’up until three last night, Mama. Y’need your sleep." A boyish grin graced Harry's features at the mention of the night prior, earning an eye roll from his wife. How ‘bout I come back in here after I shower and we have a lazy day in? Can keep baby bunny in here so if she wakes up I can take care of her, if y’want. Sounds good?” YN couldn’t lie and say she didn’t get distracted watching her husband pad around their large room, slowly pulling off his clothes while he gathered things for his shower. She didn’t even realize that he’d stopped talking and just stood on her side of the bed, a mischievous look in his eyes. “Helloooo, is there anyone home?”

A giggle sounded in the spacious area. “Sorry, baby. Just got distracted. What did you say?”

“Nothing at all, lovie. Wait up for me, yeah? Be back in twenty minutes, tops.” With that he placed a soft kiss onto her forehead, brushing back her hair that had gone awry in the time he’d been gone, and walked over to the connected bathroom.

While she scrolled on her phone to pass time, her sweet daughter had woken up. “Good morning, sweet Daisy.”

“Hi mommy,” A yawn cut off the tiny girl, her hands coming up to her face to knuckle her eyes. “Is Daddy home?”

YN was about to answer before she heard Harry’s soft voice ring in the air. “Hi Tiny!” Harry’s voice made their daughter perk up, sitting up slightly while still in the crook of her mothers arm. Clad in a pair of basketball shorts with a towel in his hand drying his hair, he wore a loud and bright smile proudly. “Good morning, baby!”

“Daddy!” She squealed, making grabby hands toward Harry who immediately threw the towel onto a nearby chair, walking over to the bed in record speed. Pulling back the covers, he hopped in with no hesitation, grabbing his little girl and placing her on his stomach. They were chest to chest, faces mere inches apart, giggles coming out of his daughter's lips when he pulled a few funny faces and crossed his eyes for the sole purpose of hearing her laugh.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, distracted in their own little world, YN was hiding her giggles behind her phone screen that was recording the two of them interacting. “Good mooooorning,” She started, introducing the start of a new home video. “Today is… August 4th, been off tour for a good while now, Daddy and Peanut decided to get their day started early.”

“Tha’s me! ‘M Peanut!” Daisy shrieked, her little three year old voice bellowed. A soft pout made it’s way onto Harry’s lips at the sound of her small voice. She was so fucking cute.

“Yeah bunny, y’are Peanut!” He grinned, kissing the top of her head that she’d dropped down on his chest, her face turned toward her mom.

“Where are we, little Bunny?” YN asked sweetly, reaching out to push a few unruly curls that had fallen into her daughter's face.

“Home!” She giggled.

“Which home, baby?” Harry said, lips still in her hair.

“The one with the water!” A cute drawl had made its way into her voice, unmistakably stolen from her father and his heavy accent.

“She means Italy, if these ever get posted… or leaked,” YN joked, knowing she’d probably release a few of these videos one day anyway. “Anyway, we’re in Italy, and we’re honestly having like… the time of our lives.”

“Mm,” Harry hummed in agreement. “Think this is one o’the most like, relaxing times we’ve had in Italy s’far.”

“Yeah!” Daisy agreed, not even fully knowing what her father was saying but agreeing nonetheless.

“Yeah, Bunny? Y’agree w’Daddy?” He smiled, pulling her from his chest to lay in the middle of him and his wife. Him and his tiny twin turned over at the same time, facing YN. Harry threw an arm over the two of them, hand coming over to rest on the slightly exposed skin of her thigh. She had on a large shirt that she’d thrifted from a random place in LA, nothing covering her lower half besides a pair of black cotton panties. The duvet came up to about her mid-thigh, which lay at Harry’s hip, and just covered Daisy’s calves.

“Yeah! Love Daddy! Daddy’s pretty– oh! But Mommy’s so pretty!” She babbled random things often, words coming together in a nonsensical stew.

“Oh, why thank you, sweet baby.” YN laughed, leaning forward to drop a kiss onto her daughter's forehead.

“Y’so sweet, little lady, aren’t ya?” Harry tickled the side of Daisy’s body, shrill giggles and loud laughter filling the air in a cast of yellow, the sun coming in through the blinds which accentuated their golden aura.

Wherever the little family went, love seemed to trail them in soft streaks of honeyed light.

“Sweets?” Their daughter perked up.

“Nonono, I said y’are sweet, baby, not sweets.” Harry tried to backtrack, but it was no use.

“Wan’ sweets! Sweets now, Daddy!” Both of her parents took a deep inhale, knowing that this was going to be an ordeal that lasted until noon, at best. They had a strict ‘no sugar before 12’ rule, one that Daisy was usually an angel to follow if she woke up at her normal time… which she hadn’t today. But the two of them also knew that Harry was basically a doormat for his daughter, and if she even asked in her sweet little voice, he would be persuaded without a word of detest.

“Oh God– Okay, we’re gonna say goodbye to the camera now before Daddy gets your sweets for you, okay?” YN said, sitting up and pulling up the covers to keep herself decent as she twisted her wrist for the camera to capture all three of them in frame.

“Bye bye! See y’later!” Daisy waved her tiny hand.

“Bye f’now, see y’soon!” Harry followed after her, sitting up as well and pulling his tiny girl into his lap.

“Byeeeeee!” YN giggled, leaning into Harry’s side when she felt his arm wrap around his waist.

She clicked her volume button to end the video, immediately going to her camera roll to watch it despite it being freshly recorded. She started the video on a low volume, a happy glow encasing her features. Harry watched on in awe, a blush covering his cheeks, love filling his eyes and making his eyes water slightly. He didn't ever believe he would get this-- get them.

“Sweets, Daddy?” Daisy giggled.

“Yeah, m’love, sweets.” And to absolutely no one's surprise, he caved. Harry stood from the bed, his hands underneath Daisy’s armpits as he hiked her up over his shoulder, her top half dangling from his body. Loud giggles and laughs filled the air as she lifted a hand to wave at her mom.

“Bye Mama!”

“Bye, baby!”

So much for a lazy day, right?

#harry styles #harry styles x reader #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fluff #harry styles fanfic #harry styles x y/n #harry styles blurb #harry edward styles #dad!harry #dadrry #dad!harry styles #harry <3 #harry styles x fem!reader #husbandrry #husband!harry #harry styles au #harry styles one shot #honeyed moments universe

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kiefbowl · 1 month

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perhaps that response was rude but extrapolating from your anecdotal social media experience of hawk eyeing teenagers and twenty nothings doing grwm videos that we are in some dystopian "feminist hell" rather than just yet another complex and nuanced social time like all times before is in fact in my beautiful and correct opinion anti-feminist. women's brains have not shrunk. perhaps rando women on the internet do not represent the state of scholarly works by feminists. and god knows someone could screenshot one of my ding dong posts from god knows how long ago and put it on pinterest with a little "the girlies are waking up!!!<3" caption despite the fact that for sure about 25% of you following me right have most certainly rebloged terf block lists within the past ten years with my urls bolded, highlighted, and asterisked right at the top for my loud opinions. and still, I love you and your huge capable brains

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kiritkl · 5 months

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Loser!

Lee!Bakugo | Ler!Kirishima

Summary: Bakugo thinks he's an invincible force when it comes to playing games with Kirishima. He makes a stupid bet and lives to regret it - or not.

“Yeah, loser! I told you I’d win! Bakugo exclaimed, throwing his controller in the air. Kirishima frowned. Why wasn’t he doing as well as usual with these video games that he and Bakugo were playing?

Usually, he’d destroy anybody who’d challenge him. However, Bakugo had been the one defeating Kirishima every single round. Bakugo was so sure of his capabilities to win another round, that he’d offered up a challenge.

“If I lose this next round, I’ll let you tickle me for five minutes straight. Got it?”

Kirishima’s eyes widened. Was Bakugo serious? Kirishima knew how ticklish the boy was, and was sure that he would never offer something like this up. Was Bakugo sick or something?!

“Got it,” Kirishima nodded, grabbing his controller and preparing to beat Bakugo’s ass in this next round. It would be difficult, but he had more motivation than ever before.

Player 1 wins!

Bakugo looked to the side to see Kirishima with a grin on his face. Who might player one be? None other than Kirishima himself.

“Hah…alright, let’s do two out of three,” Bakugo tried to get himself out of this situation, but Kirishima had already leaped on top of him, straddling his thighs.

“Hey! Get the hell off! Fuhuck!”

Kirishima drilled his thumbs into Bakugo’s hips, eliciting a sweet laugh from his lips. He writhed around vigorously, trying his best to escape.

“You said five minutes, right? I still have four minutes and forty-five seconds left!” The redhead teased.

He kept one hand on Bakugo’s hips, letting the other one venture deep beneath his shirt and onto his sides. That one hand latched onto Bakugo’s ticklish flank and wiggled its fingers, not letting up a single inch.

“Gah!- NoHOHOHoho! Kihirishihima! StoHOHAHAHOhop ihit!” The blond howled.

Kirishima giggled at the sight of Bakugo’s pinkish cheeks. It seemed as if he was blushing. “Do you like this?” Kirishima cooed, moving both of his hands onto the boy’s ribs. All ten of his fingers drilled into his ticklish ribcage, raking up and down, making sure they could feel each ribbone that he had.

Bakugo laid his head back and shrieked, kicking his legs and shaking his hips. He thought to himself how much he hated being tickled - but for some reason, he was enjoying it today. Perhaps it was because it was Kirishima who was tickling him, but either way, he purposefully stopped trying to resist.

Kirishima grabbed Bakugo’s wrists - which was an accomplishment - and held them above his head with one hand. He had a smirk on his face as he snuck a hand underneath Bakugo’s arm, now clawing all five of his fingers across the ticklish pit.

Bakugo was in hell. This was the most tickling he’d ever had to endure in his life. “OhohOHOkahaAHAY! It’s bEHEHEheen fihive mihiHAHAhinutes!”

Kirishima looked at the clock and realized that it had been six minutes. He didn’t say anything, though. He got off of Bakugo and quickly stood up, ready to defend himself if Bakugo tried to get revenge - which he didn’t, surprisingly.

Bakugo chuckled and grabbed his controller, ready for another round. This time, he was surely going to beat Kirishima. Or, was he going to lose on purpose again..?

#kiritkl #lee!bakugo #ler!kirishima #mha tickle #mha tickling #mha #tickle #tickling #tickle talk #tickle fic #tickle art #tickle content #tickle thoughts #sfw tickling community

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unrinconmas · 1 month

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Skyrim's intro is perhaps the most misunderstood and confusing intro to any video game. Ten years later, a lot of players are still trying to figure out why the game starts with you heading north from Cyrodiil into Skyrim with a prisoner that should have been heading south out of Skyrim. Well, here are the facts and hopefully this will make things clearer! Ulfric was ambushed in Darkwater Crossing which is near Windhelm. He was then transported to Cyrodiil, likely for a trial in the Imperial City, the road south of Helgen is the only border crossing to Cyrodiil. A couple of letters during the Civil War questline reveal that the Pale Pass is closed and inaccessible due to an avalanche, this is also the excuse Bethesda uses to explain why the Stormcloaks are able to hold off the Empire, the Empire can't get reinforcements as the letters state. So Tullius makes the decision to return to Helgen which is an imperial outpost, he knows the Stormcloaks are coming for Ulfric so the safest solution is to kill him while they can to end the war swiftly. The Dragonborn gets caught sneaking past a closed border into a war zone, the decision to execute the Dragonborn isn't very surprising, you can hear the imperial captain trying to act quickly. Alduin appears in Helgen because of the time wound on top of High Hrothgar which is very close by, he is not summoned by the Dragonborn or by Lokir's stupid prayer, he is actually summoned because Ulfric fulfilled the prophecy of the Dragonborn when he murdered the king. Bethesda tried to make this clear by giving you the Book of the Dragonborn in the torture chamber in Helgen so that should be the very first book you find and hopefully read. "When misrule takes its place at the eight corners of the world When the Brass Tower walks and Time is reshaped When the thrice-blessed fail and the Red Tower trembles When the Dragonborn Ruler loses his throne, and the White Tower falls When the Snow Tower lies sundered, kingless, bleeding The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn." This prophecy is brilliant as it ties together the previous Elder Scrolls games. Misrule: imperial battle mage Jagar Tharn used illusion magic to disguise himself as the imprisoned Uriel Septim VII. Several wars followed due to this. Brass tower: represents Numidium and the genocide of Altmer as the Aldmeri Dominion was brought down in the second era. Thrice blessed: was the tribunal, Almalexia, Sotha Sil and Vivec, Red Tower of course is the Red Mountain, the giant volcano you see from Solstheim. Dragonborn Ruler: the end of the Septim bloodline (play Oblivion), White tower represents the White Gold Tower in the imperial city Snow Tower: represents the throat of the world where the time wound is, but also the center of Skyrim which now lies “sundered, kingless, bleeding” why? Because of Ulfric, why did Ulfric kill the high king and fulfill the prophecy? Because of the Talos ban, and why did that happen? Look back to the Brass Tower. All the pieces fall into place! World eater of course is Alduin, the Wheel is Aurbis and the Last Dragonborn is some cat that leads a bunch of thieves and is married to a lizard, or whatever you make of your Dragonborn. Finally, the reason the Seal of Akatosh (or as some people call it, Empire logo or even Skyrim logo) has a missing piece of the wing, is to illustrate that it is an old book. Yes, Skyrim's main cover is the Book of the Dragonborn, you really should have read it your first time around. I hope this clarifies things.

The Drunken Orc

#games #tes #the elder scrolls #skyrim #lore

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laxmiree · 6 months

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[CN] MLQC's Lucien Binding Knot Date English Translation

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for a date that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

She told me that a person's life is too short. In the blink of an eye, it's five years, and then another blink, it's ten years.

That's how she and her husband lived their lives, bickering and muddling through, and they ended up spending their whole lifetime together.

Looking back, the bumps in the road and trivial matters along the way don't hold much significance compared to being able to harmoniously live together for a lifetime.

Translation under the cut~

[Notes from Lux: Here's the CN video link if anyone want to follow along his Voice Acting. VERY recommended to re-read S1 chapter 9 and his Chinese Wedding SP Bound By Love/A Love Not in Vain because this date specifically references these two stories. AND perhaps Sacred Mountain Date regarding his belief in God(s)]

[Part 1]

Lucien: Today is Saturday. Didn't we agree not to work?

Lucien places a bowl of freshly washed blueberries on the coffee table and casually feeds me a few. I sit on the sofa, engrossed in the documents on my laptop.

MC: Kiki has sorted the photography registration form; I need to quickly finish reviewing it so that I can contact them earlier.

Recently, our company launched a charity project called "Taking Family Portraits for One Hundred Elderly People." After the announcement was made, we received dozens of registration forms in just two days.

MC: By the way, Lucien, if any professors from Loveland University are interested in this project, you can invite them as well.

MC: We've rented the best photography studio, and the photographers are top-notch, so you can rest assured about the photo quality.

Lucien: With so many people applying, I think we should try to avoid giving slots to people we know, right?

MC: Don't worry. Even though we're promoting it as a hundred people externally, we've discussed it internally and will try to accommodate as many as possible.

MC: We're willing to help strangers, let alone the people we know.

Lucien: In that case... I do have an idea.

Lucien points to the peace knot hanging on my wall- a knot that Grandma Wen taught me to weave, and it still hangs on one side of Lucien's bookshelf.

MC: Are you talking about Grandma Wen?

Grandma Wen is an elderly person who lives alone. Lucien and I have a close relationship with her. We've learned how to weave knots from her and even borrowed wedding attire. So, we visit her whenever we have free time.

She is also very hospitable to us, always arranging snacks for us to enjoy. She also advises us young people not to focus only on work but to remember to take care of ourselves.

MC: Actually, I did consider inviting her at first, but Grandma Wen's husband has already passed away, and having her take a family portrait alone might be a bit…

Lucien: Are you worried that it might make her uncomfortable?

Seeing me nod, Lucien leans back on the sofa, tilts his head, and smiles slightly.

Lucien: [chuckles] I think she won't mind at all.

Lucien: How about we ask her? One never knows.

After a lengthy discussion, we decided to call Grandma Wen. I carefully choose my words and extend the invitation, but Grandma Wen laughs heartily and readily accepts.

We finalize the shooting schedule. Lucien and I will pick her up together when the time comes.

However, Grandma Wen suggests she'd like to bring her cat, Baby, along for the photoshoot.

[Part 2]

On the agreed-upon morning, we arrive punctually at Grandma Wen's doorstep. While Lucien parks the car, I take the initiative to go and knock on the door.

The black-and-white spotted little cat lies under the eaves, rolling around playfully and occasionally pawing at something in the air, looking quite content.

MC: Baby~ Come here kitty for a hug~

But the little kitty pays no attention to me, completely engrossed in rolling on the ground. It rolls several times and ends up a meter away from me.

Lucien: (gently calls the kitty) Baby, come here.

Just as Lucien approaches, Baby suddenly gets up, takes two steps, and runs to Lucien's feet. It raises its paw and paw at the cuff of Lucien's pants, meowing incessantly.

MC: That's quite a contrast in treatment!

MC: Although I've played with it plenty of times before, it still prefers you. That's unfair!

Lucien lowers his gaze and sighs at the cat.

Lucien: [chuckles] You see, I didn't do anything, but she's angry just because you like me more.

Lucien: If you could talk, I'm sure you'd also think this is even more unfair to me, right?

Lucien crouches down and strokes the cat's head, using his fingers to rub its cheek gently.

Lucien: Please remember to be a little more coquettish with her later. Otherwise, I'll be in a tough spot.

MC: ...Hmph, you're not in a tough spot at all!

Lucien can't resist laughing and takes out a sealed bag of cat treats from his pocket, feeding them to Baby.

Lucien: Baby is actually relatively easy to please. Just give it some treats a few more times, and it will be circling around you.

Grandma Wen: MC, you're here…

I turn around and see that Grandma Wen is already standing at the door.

MC: Grandma! You look so beautiful today!

Grandma Wen is wearing a short jacket with a standing collar and a diagonal button today. It's evident at a glance that the craftsmanship is exquisite.

The satin fabric is smooth and lustrous, while the embroidery is lifelike with intricate stitching.

Grandma Wen sheepishly waves her hand.

Grandma Wen: These are old clothes I haven't worn in seven or eight years. It's rare that I've taken them out.

MC: Old clothes? I can't tell. They look just like new…

MC: Is the embroidery on the hem here the Lotus Pond? Each lotus is transitioned with several colors... It's really beautiful!

MC: Did you embroider this yourself, Grandma?

Grandma Wen touches the hem, smoothing the embroidered threads of the lotus leaves.

Grandma Wen: My husband made this for me when he was still alive.

Grandma Wen: From pattern drafting to embroidery, he did every step himself, insisting that his craftsmanship was better than mine.

Grandma Wen: These embroideries used to be even more beautiful, but unfortunately, the thread colors have faded over time.

MC: I can't tell that the thread colors have faded. I think it looks incredibly beautiful.

MC: Your complexion looks great today. When it's time for the photo shoot, we'll have a hairstylist do your hair. We must create a hairstyle that compliments this dress perfectly.

Lucien walks over carrying a cat carrier and lets Grandma Wen check Baby's condition.

Lucien: I used some cat treats to coax it into the carrier, and it didn't make any fuss and was very well-behaved.

Grandma Wen: Baby~ Baby, today we're going out for a photoshoot. After we get in the car, you must be good and not cause any trouble for your brothers and sisters, okay?

Grandma Wen claps her hands toward the cat inside the carrier, and Baby starts to scratch the carrier, about to meow. But Lucien offers a cat treat, and it immediately quiets down.

I give Lucien a thumbs up - only he can do it.

Lucien: How about you sit in the back with Grandma Wen later? If Baby wants to come out, you can feed it some cat treats.

MC: Mm, no problem~

Grandma Wen: Is it time to leave? Let me grab a few things.

Grandma Wen goes back inside and returns with a Chángshān covered in a dustproof cover. I have a vague idea of who the owner of this robe might be.

Grandma Wen: I made this Chángshān for my husband when I was young. It was his favorite outfit. I'll bring it along for the photoshoot. So, it's as if he's also accompanying me.

Lucien takes a half step forward, probably thinking that the gown in the bag is not light and wanting to help Grandma Wen get it into the car. However, when he catches my gaze, he takes a step back.

Lucien: Let's get in the car, Grandma.

Lucien opens both car doors, assists Grandma Wen into the car, helps her fasten the seatbelt, and then checks that the cat carrier on my lap is secure before closing the car doors.

[Part 3]

After arriving at the photography studio, the makeup artist has to apply makeup and do the hair for Grandma Wen.

I'm worried that Grandma Wen might hesitate to communicate her needs with the makeup artist, so I am constantly accompanying her, talking to her, and helping her with her makeup.

Lucien is responsible for taking care of Baby, who starts running around as soon as they enter the photography studio.

Grandma Wen: When we first found Baby in the wild, it was only as big as the palm of a human hand. I made a nest for it with a towel, and it slept under the dining table.

Grandma Wen: In the blink of an eye, it has grown so big.

Grandma Wen: When it was little, it wasn't this mischievous. It used to lie in the corner every day obediently and didn't let anyone approach. As soon as someone got close, it would run away.

Grandma Wen: Now, it plays with birds, teases dogs, and does all sorts of daring things. There's nothing it's afraid to do.

Grandma Wen gently squeezes my hand and says.

Grandma Wen: You should go outside and take a look. It's not easy for Professor Lucien to keep an eye on Baby all by himself. There are machines everywhere here. Don't let that smelly cat cause any trouble for you.

I nod and walk out of the makeup room.

In the living room of the photography studio, there is a bright lounge area. Lucien is holding a cat teaser toy, playing with Baby as it pounces back and forth on the sofa.

MC: You even brought a cat teaser wand?

Lucien: Not just that, I also have a cat jingle bell ball and a laser pointer in the trunk.

Lucien: I consulted my colleagues who have pets, and they said that if you want your pets to behave well for photos, you need to let them play for a good hour beforehand.

Lucien: Once they get tired from playing, they can cooperate more.

I walk over and sit down on the sofa, gently petting Baby's head. It doesn't resist and tilts its head up, allowing me to scratch its chin.

Lucien finds a moment to rest and casually picks up a book from the bookshelf, leaning back on the sofa.

MC: (smiles) It seems like this method is working. It's already behaving quite well now.

Lucien: It's probably just temporarily tired from playing. After a short rest, it will be jumping around again.

Lucien: After all, it's the most mischievous kitten I've ever seen.

Lucien gently taps the top of the Baby's head, and the kitten raises its front paw, quickly grabbing his finger.

Lucien: It climbs trees, catches birds, and even fights with stray cats... When it's full of energy, there's no stopping it.

I recall not too long ago when Baby went missing again. When we found it, it was in the middle of a fight with a stray cat outside, and its face was scratched up.

We were afraid that Grandma Wen would worry if she saw its condition, so we didn't return it directly. Instead, we told her that we were taking it to the hospital for a check-up and would bring it back once it recovered.

MC: (smiles softly) Do you remember what you said the last time we took Baby to the hospital?

Lucien: Hm?

MC: You said that despite its many escapades, Grandma Wen never considered keeping it indoors and always let it go out to play.

Lucien: I remember, if it were up to me, I wouldn't let this little cat run wild everywhere.

I pick up the cat teaser toy and start playing with the little cat, swinging it on and off.

MC: As soon as we mentioned taking a family photo, Grandma Wen immediately thought of bringing the cat along.

MC: It's clear that in Grandma Wen's heart, it's her most important family member.

MC: That's how it is among family members. No matter how worried or concerned we are, we still want the other person to be happy and do what they want to do.

Lucien: ….Our Great Producer has something to say and found a good way to start the conversation.

Noticing that I had a hidden agenda, Lucien had already guessed what it was.

Lucien: Grandma Wen already told you, didn't she?

MC: Right before the makeup session, Grandma Wen pulled me aside in a corner to talk.

MC: She said that you've been to the Matchmaker's Temple alone several times before and also visited her along the way.

I sigh meaningfully.

MC: Professor Lucien, have you encountered a problem that materialism* can't solve?

[T/N: Materialism in this context is more of a philosophical belief that only physical matter exists and that everything can be explained through the physical world and natural laws.]

Lucien leans back leisurely on the sofa, wearing only a light smile.

Baby rolls over under his palm, purring contentedly.

Lucien: Gods don't solve problems. I'm a researcher, and I still have to uphold certain principles.

Lucien: But when it comes to matters of the heart, it's just too complicated... variables abound, and there's no optimal solution.

Lucien: So, I often wonder if a certain little fool occasionally worries about me or gets angry for me. Is it because I haven't done well enough?

He lifts the corner of his eyebrows, seeming not to be troubled by this matter, just candidly sharing his feelings.

The unbridled sunlight streams through the curtains, illuminating the tenderness in his eyes with exceptional clarity.

Lucien: Questions without answers are better left to metaphysics.

Lucien: Even if the problem doesn't get solved, you can still find some comfort in it to some extent.

As Lucien speaks, he no longer plays with Baby. The cat feels neglected and keeps nudging Lucien's palm with its head.

I stroke its fluffy head and realize that it's been a very long time since the first time I saw this cat with Lucien in the wheat field.

Some things probably don't have answers in either science or metaphysics; the experiences of life are what will eventually reveal the truth.

MC: Lucien, do you know what Grandma Wen just said to me?

Lucien: Tell me.

MC: She told me that a person's life is too short. In the blink of an eye, it's five years, and then another blink, it's ten years.

MC: That's how she and her husband lived their lives, bickering and muddling through, and they ended up spending their whole lifetime together.

MC: Looking back, the bumps in the road and trivial matters along the way don't hold much significance compared to being able to harmoniously live together for a lifetime.

Lucien straightens up, seeing that there's no one around, and then suddenly leans down to place a kiss on my forehead.

The warm sunshine reflects in his eyes as he looks at me. He smiles a little and casually picks up the kitty, holding it in his arms as if nothing happened.

Lucien: Grandma Wen is right.

[Part 4]

After the lighting technician adjusts the lighting, Lucien and I stand in the corner of the photography studio.

Grandma Wen sits on the mahogany bench, spreading her husband's Chángshān flat across her lap. The photographer holds Baby and places it on the Chángshān.

The naturally mischievous cat is being incredibly well-behaved at this moment. No matter how the photographer handles it, it's willing to cooperate and even knows how to look at the camera.

Photographer: Grandma, please reach out your hand and gently touch the cat's head—yes, that's right, just a natural touch will do.

Photographer: This cat is so well-behaved, cooperative and calm.

Grandma Wen: Good Baby, I'll make you some fish to eat when we get back tonight.

Photographer: Grandma, let's maintain this pose and take two more shots.

Lucien gazes at the scene before him, momentarily lost in thought.

Lucien: From the first time we entered her house, I noticed that there were no photos of her and her husband displayed in her home.

Lucien: Upon careful inquiry, I discovered that they had indeed never taken any photos together.

Lucien: ...Two people spending a lifetime together is something worth commemorating. They should have had a photo together.

After he says that, he turns his head slightly and whispers in my ear.

Lucien: Thanks to the producer's help, at least Grandma Wen has a family portrait now, regardless of the circumstances.

For a moment, I'm unsure of what to say.

He's truly humble for someone who has doubted his understanding of love.

—--------------------------------------------------------

After the shoot, Lucien and I accompanied Grandma Wen back the same way we came.

Grandma Wen: Stay for dinner. You two don't be so polite…

Grandma Wen: I feel bad that both of you have been busy all day. Having a meal together is no big deal, just a few extra pairs of chopsticks.

We don't want her to have to deal with cooking after a long day of photoshoots, so we politely decline.

Lucien: Grandma, it's still early. MC and I plan to visit the Matchmaker Temple, so we won't stay.

Lucien: You've had a long day today. Remember to rest well.

MC: Yes, Grandma. After the photos are developed, I'll bring them to you right away. We'll have the meal you promised then.

Grandma Wen didn't insist on keeping us any longer, but she promised that the next time we visit, we must stay for a meal. We quickly nodded in agreement.

—--------------------------------------------------------

On the way to the Matchmaker Temple, the sun gradually sets, casting a beautiful array of evening colors between the trees and stone steps. It's hard for anyone walking through this scenery not to feel relaxed.

MC: It's quite rare for this place to be this peaceful.

Lucien: Festivals have yet to happen recently, so there are very few tourists. The Matchmaker God can take a break too.

MC: With no incense burning at the Matchmaker Temple, does it mean that everyone hasn't been facing relationship difficulties? It seems like a good thing, doesn't it?

Lucien: (shushes and whispers) Shhh... with a troubling view like that, you might upset the Matchmaker God. Be careful not to displease him.

I can't help but laugh at his teasing, and I also find his words reasonable. I quickly pull Lucien to pay respects to the Matchmaker and offer incense.

I hope that the Matchmaker is understanding and doesn't take my words to heart.

After offering incense and making a donation, Lucien and I found a couple of chairs inside the temple and sat down. We plan to watch the sunset for a while and leave when the temple closes.

The faint scent of sandalwood here blends with the natural aroma of the forest, creating a tranquil and enduring atmosphere that instantly soothes the heart. I lean closer to Lucien and ask softly.

MC: Lucien, what wishes did you make when you came here alone before? Have any of them come true?

Lucien bends slightly, brushing away a cluster of dandelion seeds that accidentally caught onto his shirt cuff. He then leisurely curves his lips into a smile.

Lucien: I don't even remember the specific wishes I made anymore.

Lucien: They were probably just about small things, like planning to meet up but then having something come up at the research institute, causing me to break the appointment.

Lucien: Another example is when I promise to sleep well, but then accidentally stay up for a few nights and get caught by you.

Lucien: (laughs softly)....

Lucien: Now that I think about it, they were indeed all trivial matters, and you've always been very understanding.

Lucien lifts his gaze, meeting my eyes.

Lucien: Although we quickly forget these minor disagreements.

Lucien: But occasionally, I do pay attention to these little disagreements that fill our lives. After all, even the smallest things have their own meaning.

I can't help but let my lips curl up slowly, and Lucien lifts his chin, revealing a somewhat helpless expression.

Lucien: It's evident that the Great Producer is very pleased with my introspection.

MC: …..Pfft, not exactly 'very'.

MC: I'm just marveling at how Professor Lucien sets such astonishingly high standards for himself.

MC: It seems like I don't reflect on my actions much when I make you angry... But from today on, I'll try to change that.

Lucien: [chuckles] It's okay.

Lucien changes the topic, and a smile spreads in his eyes.

Lucien: Now that I think about it, these little bumps and trivial matters aren't really that important.

He takes a knot from his pocket and hands it to me. The way the knot is tied resembles the peace knot that Grandma Wen had taught me before, but the weaving method seems more intricate.

Lucien: This is a knot that Grandma Wen taught me to weave as a special thank you for us.

Lucien: She also said that the name of this knot is yí shì yíjiā (宜室宜家).

Lucien: Today, it seems like I have a clearer understanding of the meaning of this word.

[T/N: 宜室宜家 is a Chinese idiom that means "live harmoniously; make a harmonious and orderly home." It is often used as a congratulatory message on a wedding. The idiom comes from a line in the poem "Tao Yao" in the Book of Songs, which reads, "之子于归，宜其室家" (the son is returning home, where he should live harmoniously with his wife and make a harmonious and orderly home). And it fits with the date theme of living harmoniously together for a lifetime despite all the small bumps🥺.]

Suddenly, my heart feels soft, and I take a small step closer to Lucien's shoulder. I pick up my phone and open the front camera.

I put both of us in the frame.

The setting sun casts a gentle glow behind us, and the breeze is light, creating a tranquil and beautiful atmosphere.

MC: The sunset today looks beautiful. Let's take a photo together.

MC: 3, 2, 1–

My trailing voice fades away in the warm breath as Lucien lowers his head and kisses me.

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

[Bonus Call - "Family Portrait"]

Lucien: Hello, it's me. I have some good news to tell you.

MC: What is it?

Lucien: Didn't you put Grandma Wen's family portrait photo on the company's public social media account?

MC: Um... Grandma Wen said it was okay, so I posted it. What's the matter?

Lucien: A professor from the university recognized Grandma Wen's clothes and said he had seen the person in the photo before, right at the West Moon Street intersection.

Lucien: This professor was a photography enthusiast when he was younger, and at the time, he noticed Grandma Wen's well-dressed appearance and couldn't resist taking a photo.

Lucien: Later on, he always wanted to give the photo to Grandma Wen, but he went to West Moon Street a few times and never encountered them again.

MC: "Them?"

Lucien: Mm, that's the good news I wanted to share. The photo the professor took is a picture of Grandma Wen and her husband.

MC: That's quite a coincidence!

Lucien: There's an even greater coincidence.

Lucien: I just got my hands on this photo, and in it, Grandma Wen is holding a tiny kitten the size of her palm.

MC: Is it Baby?

Lucien: Judging by its patterns, it seems so.

Lucien: Although the photo is quite old, I've contacted a professional photo restoration expert, and if all goes well, it should be restored within about a week.

MC: So, we can bring this photo to Grandma Wen next weekend?

Lucien: Exactly. They're real family portraits, and I hope it can truly make up for her regrets.

MC: ...It's really amazing, it feels like there's something guiding us in all of this.

Lucien: Who knows, maybe it really is.

Lucien: Let's go together to get the photo restored later. I know you're eager to see it as soon as possible.

MC: Um—I'll finish up what I'm doing, and then I'll come find you right away!

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

[Lux's Short Rambles]

I didn't expect this date to be this good huhu. It's far better than last pet date where it feels like a plot that got way longer than it should 😂. It's also nice to see old NPCs getting mentioned again. The story of Grandma Wen with her husband is touching.

The theme of spending a lifetime together, despite how short life is, never fails got my heart clenched. And I love how this date highlights what a sensitive person Lucien is (in a good way, well, most of the time). He doesn't mind her getting angry at him because he knows that she does it because she cares about him. But he also genuinely fears that she might not be happy; so he goes to the Matchmaker's Temple alone and cares about these small conflicts, believing that they also have meaning :". But in the end, such trivial things and bumps on the road don't matter compared to being able to live their whole lives together, so rather than getting caught up in minor conflicts or trivial matters along the way it's better to priotize living together harmoniously for a lifetime.

He also noticed the smallest things, like how Grandma Wen and her husband never had their photo taken together since the very first time he and MC met Grandma Wen back in S1 Chapter 9. To quote MC, for someone who claimed he doesn't understand what love is, he's truly humble; perhaps back then, he already understands what love is in his heart by loving MC.

#FINALLY SOMETHING TO HEAL MY HEART AFTER PAIN FROM MAIN STORY AND HALLOWEEN DATE #and touching too; i tear up a little reading this #mlqc lucien #mr love queen's choice #mlqc cn #mlqc spoiler #mlqc #mlqc translation #mr. love queen's choice #mr love lucien #mlqc xu mo #mlqc spoilers

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kerubimcrepin · 3 months

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Episode 51 - High-Temperature Trap (part 1)

aka, "try not to squeal like a fangirl over Atcham Crepin challenge", the liveblog.

A few episodes ago, we've seen (episode 45 - The Charming Justiciars 2, to be exact), we've seen that it was September. Now, we see it snowing.

I suppose around a year has passed since the beginning of the series.

It is interesting that, to Kerubim, the emotional toll of having to deal with Atcham and Indie, — and realizing that he's worse than Indie at making sacrifices, — is greater than the physical toll of dangerous enemies. He was fighting The Horrors.

This story, therefore, takes place around two years before the war between Bonta and Brakmar, in which Kerubim and Atcham seem to have been Jahash and Julith's seconds-in-command.

It makes me think... Is there, perhaps, a child-shaped little reason why Atcham hasn't tried to kill Kerubim for the past ten years, despite knowing where he lives?

Atcham does seem to know who Joris is, in relation to Kerubim, — even if he didn't know the fact that he was Julith's son. It'd be weird if he didn't know, considering he has a tendency to stalk Kerubim, and does know where they live. Which leads me to the next point:

This absolute nerd realized that he is an uncle now, and probably decided to wait until the kid grew up at least a little, before trying to kill Kerubim again. Because otherwise, it would be amoral and shit.

I mean, he and Kerubim are orphans. It'd be fucked if he did that to someone else, right?

Actual insane behaviour and moral compass. Very commendable, Atcham.

We have years and years of unaccounted for time, after Lou left him. What was he doing, then? This haunts me!

This all, yet again, makes me question: why did he go to that war on the movie? Boredom? Wanting to beat up Atcham?

I would like to point your attention, that at this time, before Joris, and years after Lou has left him, the house was still in pristine condition.

...He let the house turn into a garbage dump and a hazard, despite having a son. Yet another reason for me to hate Kerubim's parenting.

At least he admits that he is his own worst enemy... fsdhgjdfg. Anyway, the poster's top says "CHEZ KE(KE)", while the text at the bottom is "EN VIEB--"

The actual best line in the entire franchise.

OMG. omg. the bingus...

This reminds me of something very off-topic: a while back, I had an online friend who I introduced to Dofus and Wakfu. I made memes for various new discoveries they made in the series, and that included meme videos.

Which included, after spending weeks saying shit like "yeah there's a bingus ecaflip... he's out there, I love him." and "there's a bombshell about Kerubim's backstory :) I know something you don't." and "he's omitting something MAJOR from his stories. I won't say what ❤" me dropping this video onto them.

This describes perfectly how batshit insane Atcham's first appearance in the franchise is.

#ro liveblogs dofus #dofus #krosmoz #wakfu #ep51 #atcham crepin

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genshrineimpact · 2 years

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universe abound

| ◆ ch.3 ⑊ a new door opens.

⬙⤠ masterlist ⤝⬙

◇ a/n ◇ i pray i didn't butcher venti's character in this lol i rarely write for him sooo.... hey, practice makes perfect, right?

"your grace, what an honor to finally meet you for the first time!"

you suppress a peal of laughter when the other allogenes shift in displeasure at the casual way the newly born wisp greeted you, but you allow yourself to at least smile. the wind spirit beams upon your positive response, and out of nowhere it summons a beautiful lyre that's a tad too big for its tiny form.

"i’m sure you're bored just sitting all day in this stuffy palace! would you like to hear a song?"

"insolent cur! how dare-"

a particular disciple’s yell quietens as soon as your hand raises. out of the corner of your eye, you can see morax grinning mischievously into his fist. you glance at the two and remembers seeing them together - friends and rivals, perhaps? how adorable.

with a huff, you motioned the young one to start playing. seemingly pleased with itself, it skillfully dances around the lyre. the sound waves seem to pulse off the palace’s walls, making the melodies even more pleasant to your ears. when it starts to sing, you sigh contentedly against the throne, eyes fluttering to a close.

though your existence feels burdensome at times, moments like make it not so bad.

the door opens to your abode and slams close after you. with a tired groan, you trudge into your home and let your body automatically go through the motion you’ve set for yourself for the past ten years: shower, change clothes, heat up dinner, watch some news while eating, text some family members, do some work, bed-

-oh right, you should probably uninstall that counterfeit genshin app thingy.

just on cue, a notification sound enters your ears and you glare at the nonsensical-looking text on it. it was sort of creepy at first, but recently it’s popping up so frequently it's starting to get on your nerves.

you swipe up to ignore it, but another one pops up. more corrupted letters. you sigh and swipe up once more. yet another new one pops up.

but surprisingly, this one isn't gibberish.

‘help’

your finger hesitates, hovering on top of your phone’s screen.

with a shuddering breath, you click your tongue.

"fine, just one last time, i’ll see if i can do something."

you pocket your phone and trudge towards your usual seat, completely missing the notification that pops up right after you said those words.

there's apprehension in your chest when you boot up the game this time. you really doubt you can do anything. honestly, you should have just deleted the game now, but…

... fingers crossed that the hidden quest won't take too long to finish.

just like last time, the door is already there. unlike last time, you hesitate opening it.

it feels… ominous.

like the calm before a storm.

like your life is about to be turned upside down.

"hah, what can even happen? i get isekai’d into a stupid video game?"

you snort and proceed to open the door.

"bring it on, bitch."

a bright light engulfs you completely, encasing the whole room in white.

when the light recedes and finally disappears, the monitor momentarily shows a closed door, before it glitches and an error message pops out, saying that the game isn't available anymore because its service period has ended.

on your desk, your phone lights up with a final notification. the last two unread rectangles stack on top of each other for a second before blinking out of existence, not a soul bore witness to the words flashing on the screen.

‘thank you’

‘welcome home’

‘genshi̶̘͘n impact̸͉̎’ schedules your devices to turn off, before deleting itself from both of them, leaving blank screens in the now silent room.

barbatos materializes on top of the broken head of his statue right in front of the big tree in windrise, eyes widening towards the sky. something burns inside his chest. a fervent pull that he hasn't felt for far too long. immediately, he knows. and he’s quite sure the other archons, or perhaps even the vision wielders can feel it too - the way their gnosis and visions are vibrating and thrumming with power.

perhaps?

could it be?

have their wishes and prayers finally….?

the gloomy clouds suddenly disperse, as if blown by a strong wind, revealing the starry skies that mondstadt hasn't seen in ages. a blinding flash, and the anemo god gasps when a star descends rapidly from the sky.

bright and pure white, the shooting star trails diamonds behind it, pulsating with power as it falls lower and lower. there are so many emotions running through his mind, but the loudest of all is the repentance of your name. before he can stop himself, tears pour out from his eyes, but he doesn't blink or bother to rub them away, wanting to fully witness this very moment without missing anything.

but before he can as much as utter the words of gratitude and welcome, the light starts blinking rapidly, its glowing radiance fading out, before it extinguishes completely in an instant.

horrified, he watches as you fall straight down onto the ground, creating an earthquake felt all around teyvat. at once, his mind is flooded with the thought of getting to you as fast as possible.

in a millisecond, barbatos turns into wind itself and propels himself forward, heart racing as he ignores his gnosis straining to gather the last remnants of all the anemo energy in teyvat that’s needed to carry him forward.

he’s quite sure he's not the only one risking his life just so that he can be by your side sooner. those who are still alive would have sprung into action the moment they see the anomaly of your light flickering away.

but he will be the one who rescues you if you're in any danger. he has to be.

because when it comes to you, he wants to always be the first.

© genshrineimpact | 2022 ◆ no repost. reblogs much appreciated - it's the least you could do as a reader on tumblr. remember, likes do nothing on this website! feel free to reach out to submit suggestions, feedback, comments, or if you just want to talk!

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #sagau #venti #barbatos #zhongli #morax #rex lapis #universe abound #rin writes

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mimiatmidnight · 1 year

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Hey! How are you? Would like to say that I LOVE your blog, and I was wondering if you would like to update your top 5 H&M moments, maybe add another 5??

Folks, if you've ever wondered what is the oldest message sitting in my inbox, it's this one. (Well, I'm pretty sure there are a couple others that are a touch older but every time I try to scroll back that far, my inbox just glitches. There are . . . a lot of messages sitting in there. Sorry about that 😬). So I just want to say thank you to this anon and everyone else who has sent me tens of messages over the years asking for this updated post (unless the messages were all from the same one person all this time, in which case, my god I'd feel even GUILTIER).

It's been two years since the original, but an even wilder FIVE years since Harry and Meghan wed in one of the most consequential events in modern cultural history. What a wonderful, special day to look back on their relationship, with even more of my favorite moments between these two unlikely lovers. While writing this post, I laughed, I swooned, I cried. And I, uh, REALLY went off the rails at the end. Content warning for just the sickest, sappiest philosophizing you've ever seen. I'd apologize, but I just can't help it. Harry and Meg just have that effect on me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So, with one more thank you to everyone who has been so patient and kind and loving to me these past few years, let's get into it! Five(-ish, lol) more of my favorite Harry and Meghan moments:

5. WE will not look a mess

I'd be remiss not to start this list of my personal favorite H&M moments with what is, judging by the numbers, arguably the entire WORLD'S favorite H&M moment. This iconic video by twitter user @/ddarveyy is perhaps the Sussex Squad's most viral fan tweet of all time? And if qualitative evidence is more convincing to you than quantitative, this video has been blessed with the mark of being liked by none other than Madame Rhianna herself. That's certified social media Diamond. The tweet also spawned some great jokes, ranging from Virgo Harry always making sure to keep his wife looking on point, to some people speculating about certain other, ah, intimate contexts where H might have developed this habit of putting his hands in her hair.

Ahem, either way, I've always seen this touching practice of his as being in the same vein of all those times he watches out for her footing on stairs or treacherous terrain. He's always on standby, always keeping an eye on her, never 100% focused on something else when she's near. You know, just in case she needs help. Or (more likely) just in case he has an excuse to fuss over her 😏 And you know what? Harry strikes me as the kind of man who has waited a long time to have someone to fuss over, someone to worry about and take care of outside of himself. And now that he has that someone . . . well, Captain Wales reporting for motherfucking duty 🫡

BONUS MAINTENANCE FASCINATION:

Yes we're doing bonus content again -- I did say "five(-ish)" moments! The "ish" was forewarned!!!

Anyways, while we're on the topic of sentimentally rhapsodizing about Harry keeping an eye on Meg and her hair, I want to sneak in a reboot of a discussion I had with an anon a few months ago after the Netflix documentary came out. These quiet, behind-the-scenes moments where Meg is getting her dress fitted or painting her nails, and there is Harry happily watching from behind. It's a small thing, I know, but it speaks volumes to me. The intimacy that comes with watching your partner prepare herself to face the world, the peaceful trust and unspoken support. And if you think THAT is me reading too much into it, scroll back to that original discussion and watch me make myself cry over picturing Harry as a kid watching his mom go through her similar glam routine. Y'all don't even KNOW the kinds of crazy parasocial assumptions I can lose my mind over!!!!!

And while we're here barely on topic talking about the intimacy of behind-the-scenes, let's move now from the "before" preparation, to the "after" unwinding (and undressing??). One of the most bittersweet moments from the doc for me was this picture, taken after one of Harry and Meg's final royal duty events. Away from the cameras, and the press, and the people, alone in their kitchen at last. I can think of no better representation of "Leaving the world behind."

4. Meghan "My Husband" Markle

There has been much discussion over Harry being the ultimate "wife guy," and deservedly so. If I tried to put in this post every moment the man has practically glowed with the pleasure of saying "my WIFE," I'm afraid this website would crash from server overload. But a less-discussed, yet equally sweet through line is Meghan being the ultimate "husband girl." And I think no single moment is a better demonstration of this phenomenon than her opening speech last year at Invictus 2022.

Introducing her husband to the crowd of his Invictus family, Meghan said, "I could not love and respect him more, and I know that all of you feel the same. He is your fellow veteran, he's the founder of the Invictus Games, and the father to our two little ones, Archie and Lili. Please welcome my incredible husband, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex." And then the crowd roared, and Harry and Meghan kissed, and we got all these ooey-gooey heart eyes.

And then as Harry took the stage, overwhelmed by the love of his wife and his community, he choked up.

"Thank you my love."

And I was never the same :')

BONUS "HUSBAND GIRL" SIMPING:

At the 2021 Salute to Freedom Gala, a reporter asking, "Meghan are you proud of your husband?" And Meghan bashfully turning back to answer, "I'm always proud of him." 🫠

And one even blushier, from the African tour documentary. Somebody come pick our girl up off the FLOOR!!!!

3. BAY. BEES.

Ok so I am REALLY gonna have to restrain myself for this section, cause if I put every single heart-bursting baby moment (especially after the FEAST we were delivered through the Netflix doc), I would never be able to finish this post. So I'm just gonna highlight a select few and keep my baby fever in check (and then mayhaps rewatch the entire documentary tonight lol whoops).

Our first real baby moment ever was Harry being so delirious with joy and nerves and just like, raw energy, after the birth of his first child (and then turning around after the big birthday media announcement to thank the horses in the stable behind him 😅).

A few days later, there was a particularly famous photo of Baby King Archie meeting some regal relatives or whatever, but in THIS photo, the two irrelevant old geezers are instead replaced by the new little prince's noble steeds, Guy and Pula. An iconic family photo. Outsold the original, if you ask me 😌

The news of their pregnancy with Lili was world-stopping for many reasons, but most famously it held a powerfully touching connection with the past. Apparently accidentally, Harry and Meghan announced they were expecting their second child exactly 37 years to the day after his mother, Diana, announced she was expecting him. Two extra-special Valentine's Days to remember.

And once again, as I said at the time, I am NOT someone who is particularly occupied with imagining the spirits of the departed watching over us, nor am I crazy about inserting the memory of Diana into discussions in which she has no agency. HOWEVER . . . who could stop the wave of emotions looking at this moment, as the grandbaby she never got to meet reaches out to her photo, through glass and time, trying to hold her hand. Bruv . . . 🥲 Even a motherfucking atheist can occasionally feel God in this Chili's tonight.

I don't even have anything to say about these next two, except to wonder with awe at the universal panacea that is baby snuggles. My absolute favorites:

And lastly, to wrap up this unbearably melty baby section, I have a moment that isn't really about the babies at all. In this video you can watch here, Easter 2021, we have Mama Doria, Meg (bursting at the seams with soon-to-be Lili), the little king himself, Sir Archie, his ever-loyal canine companions, and Harry -- who stands there, on the other side of surviving so, so much, and says almost under his breath, "Come on, family, let's go." And . . . yeah. That pretty much says it all 🥹

2. My Sussex Squad Origin Story

I'm going to keep this one short, cause I know what #1 is about to be and it's a doozy. But I wanted to briefly mention a moment in Harry and Meghan lore that will forever be the most special to me, because it is the one that sucked me into this here community I still haunt to this day.

October 2018. I have just recently managed to recover my old Tumblr password and logged into this site for the first time since middle school. I am scrolling the trending pages and see "Meghan Markle" listed among the top current tags. It says she's recently announced her first pregnancy. "Huh," I think. "I kinda remember hearing she got married." I've never willingly read or watched a single solitary piece of information about the royal family ever in my life. I don't even really know who's who, outside of the members immediately surrounding Diana. But I scroll through the Meghan tag, and I see she and her new prince are on tour. I see a photo. I read the headline attached.

Is that an actual tear spilling out from the corner of my eye? I stare at the tag for a few minutes more. What is wrong with me? Maybe I'll check this page again tomorrow, just to see what else they get up to on this tour. Couldn't hurt to learn a little bit more about this couple that literally stopped me in my tracks. I wipe the back of my hand across my burning eyes. "Well," I think as I try to bring myself back to what I was doing before. "That was weird."

Ha. Little did I freaking know :')

1. A Modern Fairy Tale

And now, to end this long-winded (and -awaited, sorry again >_<) journey, if you will allow me to get a little unbearably sappy.

When I set out to write this Part 2 post in 2023, I was doubtful. Could I even muster up that same enthusiasm, that same untrampled hope with which I beamed when I wrote the original? Harry, Meghan, the world, and I have all lived a thousand lives in these brief five years. There has been so, so, so much unspeakable pain. More than anyone has a right to suffer in a lifetime, let alone half a decade. "And for what?" I've sometimes asked myself. "What is the point in trying to love when there's all this pain that follows?"

This June, we will be coming up on the 10 year anniversary of my absolute favorite Internet meme of all time: Tim Kreider's legendary New York Times Op-Ed "I Know What You Think Of Me," which gifted human history with his startlingly sincere declaration, "If we want the rewards of being loved, we have to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known."

Well, there is perhaps no one on the planet who has submitted herself to a more painful ordeal of being known than Meghan. She has bared to the world her vulnerabilities, her quirks, her flaws, her losses, her pains. To think of the life she has lived thus far, and the life that she walked away from to be here . . . I can't pretend that I've always been certain of the righteousness of her choice. But as I was working through writing this post, I reached a point in my research where I landed back on the speech Meghan delivered on the night of her wedding, shared in their Netflix documentary. And she told, as she called it, "a modern fairy tale."

“Once upon a time, there was a girl from LA (some people called her an actress) and there was a guy from London (some people called him a prince). All those people didn’t fully get it. Because this is a love story of a boy and a girl who were meant to be together.

“Amidst whatever momentary worries that creep in, they look at each other and think, ‘Whatever world, we’re in.’

“They would love, and garden, and travel, and laugh, and rack up more air miles than any couple could have.

“And when the tides were rough, they squeezed each other tighter. ‘Nothing can break us,’ they’d say, ‘For this love, she was a fighter.’

“I appreciate, respect, and honor you, my treasure, for the family we will create . . .

“ . . . And our love story that will last forever.

“So I ask you to raise a glass to the astounding assurance that now life begins, and the everlasting knowing that, above all, love wins.”

And so, here I am once again, with real actual tears streaming down my face, listening to a woman who has crossed so many oceans and lost so much of herself to get to where she's sitting today, and yet still, STILL, speaks with the same determination and conviction in love that she had all the way back at the beginning. They have taken so much from that woman, but they have not taken this. And so if Meghan, of all people, can still believe that love is worth it all . . . well, then, how could I possibly disagree?

Happy 5th anniversary to the lovebirds, and my heartfelt wish to you all that you may find victory in joy, love, and peace, just like them.

L'chaim 🥂

#meghan markle #prince harry #harry and meghan #anniversaries #see you all again for year 10?#and to many many more 💞

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vantekoos · 2 years

Text

Curse | jjk (m)

Pairing: Jungkook x reader

Genre: established relationship, smut

Word count: 800+

Warnings: literally smut without a plot, switch jk, dom reader in this sense, Jungkook is whiney, handjob (m), Jungkook looks at reader’s nudes with consent, boobies nudes, ass nudes…that’s it

Summary: With you gone for work, Jungkook grows impatient and decides to help himself out with the thought of you.

Notes: I’ve been writing one shots and deleting them because I’m a perfectionist, but I promised myself to post this one to get some feedback! So, all feedback is welcomed!

P.s: this is low key all over the place, but bear with me. I’m kind of all over the place right now too.

Oh, he looked like such a pathetic little slutty boy.

Mind occupied with having you home so you could take care of him.

And he felt like one as well.

Time read 2:33 am on his phone, right above the picture of your perky tits displayed on his screen.

You were away for work, working late hours again to pay for school like always. Usually, Jungkook could wait for you to come home to help with his…issue. However, he was impatient.

Plus, the tightening in his pants was getting too suffocating.

He was hesitant to fix his problem. Perhaps he was worried to be caught and teased to death for pleasuring himself without even waiting a few extra hours.

In his defense, Jungkook had you on his mind all day. From those cute voice messages that showed off your pretty sexy voice to the teasing messages you sent just to rile him up.

You were captivating, alluring, and amazing all at once. And he needed to be inside you now.

Reaching over the nightstand to open the drawer, aimlessly grabbing his AirPods to connect to his phone.

If he was going to jerk himself off, he needed some motivation.

Clicking out of his pictures, he goes onto to Spotify to look for a certain song that reminded him of you to a perfect ten.

The Internet’s Palace/Curse begins to play in his headphones, though he skips it to Curse because of its tempo.

It reminded him so much of you on top, riding his slow with him under your curse. It nearly has his breaths unequal, brining a soft smile to his lips.

Swiping back to his nude pictures of you, the tight fitted black t-shirt that once covered Jungkook bare chest was between his teeth by the hem.

Finally, his tattooed hand rubs softly at his chest and down his smooth abs. Peaking from the band of his boxers, his happy trail shows on his v-line. Though, he doesn’t waste any time on unbuckling his belt.

The clicking of the metal sounds the room until he pulls down his pants past his thighs, having his boxers still sit on his hips.

A sigh of relief leaves his lips, eyes flutter shut when he wraps a hand around his cock over the thin material.

Of course it felt nothing close to your touch, but it was enough to leave him thinking of you.

Pushing his hand underneath the band of his boxers, he grabs his cock from the base and slowly moves his hand up and down. Precum leaks from the tip, giving just enough lubricant for immersed pleasure.

Jungkook relaxes against the pillow cushions, teeth biting harder on his shirt as soft sighs and moans leave his lips. His eyes stare at the screen, studying the way your ass could barley fit in his hands. Or the way your tits sat pretty when you gave him a handjob in the next video of his camera roll.

It was enough to have his hand move faster, eyebrows furrowed from concentration of this mental fantasy. The pictures, videos, and music was the key to have him completely memorized on the thought of you.

Feeling his foreskin drag when his hand goes from tip to base has him in complete agony for your touch. The quick thumps of his fist hitting his stomach sounds the room, letting it be the music filling the empty room while soft tunes plays in his ears.

“Fuck,” Jungkook breathes out shakily, his fist tightens onto his phone before releasing his shirt from his lips.

At this point, he didn’t care who could hear or if you’d walk in. He was too far gone in the pleasure.

Twisting his hand on every stroke has his hips rising up to meet his fist. It embarrassing how desperate he was to cum. Though, it was more so embarrassing to hear those whiney little gasps and moans whenever he felt his cock throb against his hand.

The tip of his cock leaks more drops of precum, become slick and fast as the sound of his movements grow louder and louder. No longer did Jungkook whine quietly, your name was groan out every so often when he felt his climax approach.

“A-Ah please baby–baby,” Jungkook whimpers.

Jungkook’s mouth opens slightly, eyes squeezed shut, and brows furrowed that he completely falls apart. His chest rises and falls from panting, cums coaxing his hand of thick white stripes of cum. It was euphoric, the feeling, to have a climax with you in his mind.

Even a soft smile appears on his lips of pure satisfaction, having his hand take out his AirPods to have a sound of keys at the other end of the room.

“You’re so dirty,” your voice echoes throughout the room. Kicking your shoes off, you crawl onto the bed with a smirk big enough to have Jungkook’s smile disappear.

He didn’t know if he was to feel ashamed or excited. Though, you on the other hand, was delighted to see that your boyfriend couldn’t keep his hands to himself.

“Guess you really couldn’t wait.”

#bts #kpop #jungkook #bts jeon jungguk #bts x reader #bts smut #jungkook smut #bts reactions #jungkook oneshot #jungkook drabble

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kevinsreviewcatalogue · 3 months

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Review: Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

Rated PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, sexual material, language, sexual assault, teen drinking and drug content

Score: 3 out of 5

Lisa Frankenstein is a vibes movie. Despite having been heavily marketed on the fact that it was written by Diablo Cody, the writer of Jennifer's Body (who has said that the two films take place in the same universe), her screenplay is actually one of the film's weak links, falling apart in the third act as the plot starts to get weird and disjointed in a way that left me wondering just how many scenes got rewritten or left on the cutting room floor. No, it's the cast and director Zelda Williams (daughter of Robin) who put this movie over the top, crafting a film that feels like if a young Tim Burton directed Weird Science in the best possible way. (In the interview with Cody that the Alamo Drafthouse showed before the film, she cited both Weird Science and Edward Scissorhands as inspirations, alongside Bride of Frankenstein and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and I'm not surprised.) It's at its best as a pure comedy, one that sends up its nostalgic '80s setting to the point of farce and pushes the PG-13 rating as far as it can go. I'm not surprised that, much like Jennifer's Body did in its initial run, this movie failed to find its audience in theaters (though releasing it on Super Bowl weekend probably didn't help), but while I don't think it'll be treated as an outright classic in ten years' time, I do believe it'll follow a very similar trajectory of being rediscovered on home video and streaming.

Set in suburban Illinois in 1989, our protagonist is Lisa Swallows, a teenage girl who's been moody and morose ever since her mom was killed by an axe murderer two years ago, followed by her father Dale remarrying the obnoxious jackass Janet and thus gaining a stepsister in the cheerleader Taffy. She likes to hang out at the old cemetery, where, one night after going to a party where she accidentally takes hallucinogens and subsequently gets sexually harassed, she runs off and tells one of the men buried there that she wishes she was "with him" (i.e. dead). Something must've been miscommunicated, because that night, that grave is struck by lightning and its occupant rises from the dead, trying to find Lisa and be with her. Lisa is initially horrified, but soon realizes that, beneath this creature's rotten exterior, there's actually a romantic soul who longs to be human again. And after tragedy strikes, Lisa decides to find a way to make her new boyfriend's dream a reality... no matter who gets in her way.

The first two acts of this film felt like they were building to something very interesting. The thing about the best takes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, not least of all the 1931 Universal classic, is that they recognize that the real "monster" is in fact Dr. Frankenstein himself, the creature's creator, and this film leans heavily in that direction with its depiction of Lisa. She eagerly starts killing people in order to build the perfect boyfriend, getting sucked into darkness as she's blinded by love, and Kathryn Newton completely steals the show playing her, starting the film as a dowdy, depressed dweeb but eventually developing a gothic fashion sense and, with it, a catty diva-like attitude while channeling a young Winona Ryder in both Beetlejuice and Heathers. There were many places that this film could've gone, most of them involving Lisa becoming a full-bore villain while Taffy suddenly finds herself in her stepsister's path, with the creature either serving as Lisa's partner in crime from start to finish or perhaps slowly gaining a sense of morality as he becomes more "human" and realizing that Lisa is evil. All the while, the Frankenstein metaphor becomes one about somebody who'd do anything for love, including that, and loses herself in the process. And at times, it seemed to be going in that direction, especially as Taffy grows increasingly traumatized over the course of the film.

Unfortunately, whether it was the PG-13 rating or a desire to make Lisa more sympathetic (and Taffy less so), the film won't commit to the bit. Lisa's characterization does a near-total 180 in the third act as the film asks us to side with her as, at the very least, a sympathetic anti-villain with good intentions. Lisa should've been the bad guy that the film was building her up as, no ifs, ands, or buts -- a sympathetic and compelling one like Jennifer Check, but still somebody who crossed the line miles ago and never looked back. It would've given Liza Soberano, who plays Taffy and will probably be the breakout star of this film, more to do instead of making her a supporting player in Lisa's story who plays only a minor role in the third act. Instead, it felt like I was watching a whole new character entirely that just so happened to share Lisa's name and face. I highly suspect that there's a lot of alternate material here, either in earlier drafts of the screenplay or deleted scenes, because the sudden tonal shift in the third act feels like a product of a completely different movie.

What saved this film in the end were the style and the humor. Much like Karyn Kusama on Jennifer's Body, Zelda Williams imbues this film with a ton of gothic flair, Lisa's outfits being just the start of it, inspired by Tim Burton and, by extension, the German expressionism that he in turn drew from. The bright pink suburban house that Lisa and her family live in is almost cartoonish, and draws a sharp contrast to the world around it. The moment we're introduced to Carla Gugino as Lisa's stepmother, a hilariously over-the-top parody of an '80s suburban mom who needlessly antagonizes Lisa every chance she gets, and Joe Chrest as her spectacularly inattentive father who looks the part of a wholesome suburban dad but otherwise can't be bothered to look up from his newspaper, we see exactly the kind of people who'd happily live in a house like that. There are multiple animated sequences that liven up the film throughout, most notably the prologue/opening credits showing us the creature's backstory in life. The soundtrack is filled with great retro '80s needle drops, especially once the creature regains the use of his hands and can play the piano again. Cole Sprouse as the creature had no dialogue barring grunts, moans, and screams, but he still made for a compelling presence on screen as the other half of the film's central romance, proving that seven years on Riverdale was a waste of a lot of young actors' talents. This was Williams' first feature film, and if this is indicative of her skill behind the camera, I can see her going far. And most importantly, this movie is hysterical. The entire theater was laughing throughout, and I was right there with them. There are jokes about everything from "back massagers" to the creature's physical decay, and more broadly, its campy gothic tone is played far more for laughs than frights, most notably in one death scene that would be the most brutal in the film on the face of it but is instead one of the most hilarious scenes in it as the film shows us just enough to let us know exactly what happened and wince while still remaining PG-13. Cody's grasp of storytelling may have been shaky here, but her knack for getting me to laugh my ass off remains fully intact.

The Bottom Line

Lisa Frankenstein should've had more care put into its screenplay, especially once act three comes around, but it's still a very funny and watchable movie that, much like Jennifer's Body, I can see enduring as a cult classic. If you're not into the Big Game, check it out.

#lisa frankenstein #2024 #2024 movies #horror #horror movies #comedy #comedy movies #horror comedy #frankenstein #monster movie #80s nostalgia #diablo cody #zelda williams #kathryn newton #cole sprouse #liza soberano #carla gugino

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shinjukuspiritcommittee · 5 months

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A glimpse into the future

...

The days to follow since the incident at the Field Day were a return to a status quo in a way. You easily slip back into that sense of normalcy with all your friends at school, partaking in the occasional Guild battle, and growing closer to a new cutie every now and again. It’s been about a month since you had that adventure with Tatsuya and Yui, but it isn’t the last time you’ve spoken to them. You manage to maintain reasonable contact with both, especially since the pair attend the same school as the jocks you’ve grown close with. It didn’t even take long to incorporate them into group activities- they just naturally fit.

Things have been looking up for you- enjoying school life and all the freedoms of a student well before they’d be replaced with the cynicism of adulthood. Well, that’s how things WERE supposed to be. One afternoon on your way to the guildhouse…

“Man, I’m beat.” Kengo yawns as your group, sans Ryota and Toji who had taken a detour to pick up snacks, strolls back to the guildhouse for your usual guild meeting to discuss plans going forward- personal and otherwise.

Shiro sighs in response to Kengo’s complaints. “If you weren’t busy staying up late playing video games you might’ve not fallen asleep in class today.”

“It’s not MY fault that the boss took me three hours to beat!” He whines. “And I swear it was gonna be the last thing I did that night.”

“If only that could be applied to your studying…” Shiro laments. You do point out that since meeting with a tutor Kengo’s scores have been improving. “Fair enough. Speaking of, I noticed your grades have been on the rise as well.” You mention how with a certain someone’s tutoring you manage to boost your grade by a few points. Shiro smiles, taking pride that at least one of his peers is taking steps to improve their grades.

Moritaka can’t help but let out a little laugh. “That’s splendid to hear,” the dog Therian says. “Perhaps one day you may even match Shiro’s intellect at the top of our class.” You ask if he really thinks so, and proceed to grow a bit enthusiastic at the idea of ranking in the top ten if nothing else. “Sure I do. I’ve seen how you apply yourself with a blade, so learning new subject material should be plenty within your wheelhouse.” You do remind him that knowing how to swing a sword around is one thing, but knowing when to do so in a fight is another thing entirely. “Also true.”

“I believe in my partner.” Kengo quips. “If they got anything going for them it’s their wits when under pressure.” You ponder aloud if that’s a good thing to have in your talent list. “Sure! Means you work great under pressure, right?”

Shiro blushes a bit at all the ideas that have been presented. You notice this and decide to tease him a bit about how the two of you could be a power couple in the academic field! This flusters him immensely. “P-Please try to be realistic here. While it makes for a nice daydream, do consider all the extra work you’d need to put in to actually match my grades. Plus a power couple would imply we’re… you know…”

“As if they’d go for a dork like you!” Kengo declares with the widest grin on his face. “If I know my partner, then your chances are practically ze-” It’s at this moment Kengo made a grave mistake. Shiro quietly glares in his direction causing his childhood friend to freeze mid sentence. An unnatural chill washing over him as the bespectacled gaze locks him in place and throws daggers at him. Shiro isn’t using any sort of supernatural abilities, nor does he possess anything over Kengo except authority. “Ch-chill I was just teasing ya…” He nervously utters out.

His gaze softens and becomes a more relaxed smile. “I’m relieved.” His tone isn’t out of relief, but more so along the lines of ‘you made the right choice’. Once the muscular friend lets out a sigh of relief you tell him that sadly… he had it coming to him.

“I agree,” Moritaka sighs. “You shouldn’t provoke your friend that way.”

“Aww, c’mon. I was only teasing- honest!” He whines once again. Chatter like this continues for a bit longer as you near the safehouse. All of it’s shaping up to be a good day.

But something’s amiss. Why’s Agyo standing outside of the safehouse? “Hey, yeah. That’s pretty weird.” Kengo comments. “Yo, Agyo!” He calls out suddenly. The small guardian perks up the moment he registers you’re home.

“There you guys are-!” Agyo huffs out in relief. You ask if he’s alright since he seems to be in a bit of a panic. “I-I’m okay! It’s just um… there’s someone here to see you.” To see you? Who-

“So, you’ve finally arrived.” A deep and powerful voice declares to you. It sounds unfamiliar and when the owner of such a voice steps out you’re taken aback in astonishment.

The individual towers over most of your peers, roughly 210 cm tall and packed to the brim with powerful muscles. His medium skin covered in blond hairs matching the spiked up hair atop his head. Said hair also had a lighter patch in the middle which looks more odd than anything else. The man is dressed in a form fitting tank top and orange athletic shorts along with mismatched black animal skin boots. The most distinct part about this man however, are his eyes- one yellow and green, looking right at you. For a brief moment an unfamiliar chill shudders down your back as he looks at you the way a predator gazes at its prey.

Then, almost in an instant, his expression softens and gives way to a smile. “I’ve been anticipating this meeting, Guildmaster of the Summoners.” You wonder to yourself just who this stranger even is?

#housamo #tokyo afterschool summoners #sfw #fanfic #oc #pov #summoners

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comfortless · 4 months

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Hello! I love your work and ur such a talented writer ❤️❤️

Can I request a part 2. for “This Time Around”. It’s so good and I’d love to see more of them ☺️

thank you so much!! i am offering you a little gift through the screen do you accept… 🎁

i could not will myself to write a full part as i feel their story is very much an ‘and they lived happily ever after’ sort of thing BUT. i have been thinking about their date… it would be so cute, i think…

content/warnings: this is just fluff heheh

She doesn’t sleep the entire night after that phone call— instead, there is an abundance of planning and preparing to do. It has to be perfect, everything, right down to the finest details.

She’s spent years watching him, she knows what he likes and it should be easy despite her lack of human graces. There’s… still the urge to do the instinctive sprite things, lurking some where in her very flesh. She takes his shirts to sleep when he’s deployed, still steals any treats he may have hidden. The problem with planning for a very human date is that she simply is not human, even if she looks the part now.

The bulk of her night is spent seated on the sofa, trawling through the channels on his television for any glimpses of human romance. She’s never been very studious; there’s no need for that in her reality, where things just go easily with a touch of enchantment and revelry. Settling on one, she watches the humans on screen with rapt attention. She doesn’t realize that while film is an art, most don’t speak or behave this way in natural circumstances. She practices her swooning, the fanning of her face, her sighs and demure glances all on the couch.

Cooking is far less troublesome, at first. The giant had taught her patiently, insisting that he did not wish for her to eat little else than cookies and slices of bread during those times that he was away. She had learned how to use the kitchenware, chest fluttering with contentment any time König had taken her hand to guide her or stroked the top of her head and praised her. She promised him cake, settling on Esterházy torte when she recalls a lazy afternoon with him where he told her about his homeland. He liked his coffee black, yet he did not shy away from sweetness. Perhaps that was part of the reason that he enjoyed her company.

Only, she hadn’t anticipated that Esterházy torte would be such an utter pain to make. Her pace is frighteningly quick as she buzzes from the kitchen to the cooking instruction on screen, trying to squeeze every bit of information for the next ten minutes in her mind already bogged down with excitement; over and over for what felt like an entire century. Each layer of the treat had to be prepared separately. König was by no means a baker, and the items that she needed to prepare it properly ranging from different sized pans to certain ingredients simply… were not there.

There was no apricot jam; she settles for plucking blackberries, ripe and sweet, from just outside and making a rushed jam of her own. What was meant to be five layers is whittled down to three; a thick portion of the makeshift blackberry jam slathered between two overly fat layers of sponge cake. It’s not pretty, either. The icing isn’t evened over like the cakes in the video she watches from the kitchen’s doorway. The dark jam makes the poor thing look as though it’s spilling blood rather than seated cozily like any of the cakes in display cases. It would have to do, because the morning sun is already high in the sky by the time that she finishes it.

Getting ready for the date seems worse. The women in films were perfect; their hair was smooth and even, the colors they wore on their faces highlighted their femininity. König had never purchased her makeup, and the dresses he had filled her share of the closet with were not the same. They weren’t revealing, not enough to highlight the curves of her hips or her cleavage when she pictures herself leaning over to him to bat her eyelashes and tell him just how much she adores him.

She’s a bit sullen when she settles for the soft pink one with the lace trim that she wears often. It’s cute, but it isn’t one of the strappy, silky things she had seen in the movies. She does her best with what she has, and when she looks into the mirror for confirmation she only recalls their first meeting— where König had called her pretty, despite being several great sizes too small and covered in cookie crumbs.

All of the exertion was for naught, she realizes when the sun hangs high in the sky and the sound of the door opening pulls her from her rampant preparing. König simply looks content, more at ease than she had ever seen him when he pulls her into a hug and presses a lingering kiss to her forehead. They’re already head over heels before the date even begins, as they have been for months, and she simply doesn’t realize it.

He doesn’t complain about the state of the ugly cake when she carries it into the backyard. The picnic blanket is spread out by him while she tells him about how she spent her time apart from him. He doesn’t explain the gritty details of his work this time, only that he saw flowers she may have liked on his deployment and how he wished he could take her to prettier places one day.

She seats herself in his lap while they talk, pressing bites of cake between his lips while the back of her head rests upon his shoulder. His arm curls around her waist as he does the same for her in turn. The confection… isn’t the best, not by a long shot, yet König doesn’t voice a word of complaint. Not as she does, when she grimaces from the tart flavor of the jam clashing with the cinnamon and cream. Fortunately, he only seems to find that cute, and he tells her this, harping on everything that she does that sets his heart aflame until she giggles sweetly for him.

“I wrote you a letter,” he tells her suddenly after the horrible cake has been cleared away and they’re watching the clouds above on their backs. It probably isn’t something that he would enjoy on his own, but for her… it seemed that any silly idea she supplied was met with acceptance from him.

“I didn’t get any letters.” She frowns as she points out a cloud that looks suspiciously like the cat that nearly ate her several months ago.

König reaches into his pocket and presents her with a folded note, one worn down and torn at the edges. One he probably had never had the intention to send at all. With it unfolded and held high up in her hands to read, she squints over the sloppy handwriting.

The letter is a recounting of all of the things he thought he had seen, dates supplied next to each point on the list. It begins two years prior, where he had jotted down that he thought someone must have left a doll in the house before he moved in, how he saw a tiny thing seated on the windowsill and when he looked back it was entirely gone. A strange occurrence, but not one he put too much thought into.

The list ends when he describes how his eyes had met hers when she watched him from the bookshelf, how he had seen the most beautiful thing alive in just a glimpse before she tucked herself away from him, how he had left the lights on in a small hope that she would realize he wanted to look after her. He just didn’t know how to without scaring her off.

In part, she’s horrified to know that she hadn’t been as sneaky as she once thought. However, what feels more pressing is that he had been worried for her just as she had been for him, that every little detail shared within the list was merely a mirror of her own feelings. The ever-present curiosity and the fear that one day this stranger he shared his home with may not be around any longer.

She gives him a wistful glance before flipping to the next page to continue to where the letter truly begins. It’s pure poetry, the way in which he describes his feelings, prettier than the songs she’s heard sung from the fae housed in riverbeds. He describes his elation upon meeting her, how he would check through the window of the dollhouse bedroom to see her beautiful face in dreaming, how each time they were apart he wanted little more than to return to her and simply hear her tiny voice calling out to him. It says his heart nearly shattered in his chest when he saw the change she had made for him before he realized that she loved him too, that the stuff of the silly fairytales that his oma would read to him all felt real because of her; how unintentionally he believes that she may have saved him.

‘Ich liebe dich.’ is how it ends, and he says the words aloud when her eyes rove over the sentence.

Her hands are shaking when she drops the letter onto her chest, curls her arms around it in the softest hug. Just like before, each word she wishes to say to him dies in her throat. The only difference is that now, her heart feels so full it’s overwhelming; she doesn’t feel small, but larger than even him— a strange sense of pride and fulfillment taking her over.

“I love you, too,” she says after a moment, face warmed and a smile stretching her cheeks. “I’ve always loved you, I think.”

“I know.”

Her mind whirls at that response, uncertain of what to say next. Except, she doesn’t have to speak at all. When a cloud passes, puffed up and brilliant white, shaped like the golden arrow of Cupid himself, she curls against him with her forehead pressed to his. Eyes flutter shut as an arm is dragged over her and a kiss is brushed against the tip of her nose.

#f: this time around #do they kiss… we will never know…

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oldsargasso · 2 months

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Re: Winner cooking for his boys

SLKGDFGSFHSHIHGJO I'M SO! EMOTIONAL! WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!

First of all, it's so easy to picture Winner doing all this coz Pop is such a cook 🥺 BUT ALSO! HE LIKES THEM! HE LIKES LIVING WITH THEM! WHY AM I SO AFFECTED BY THE MERE FACT OF THIS

I love that Kim's laundry habits are a recurring detail. I'd LOVE to be a fly on the wall watching Kenta's probably very intense negotiating tactics with market vendors.

As soon as Winner set the chilis aside I got mushy 🥺 I know I asked for a token of mild (hah) thoughtfulness but! It's such a small and yet thoughtful action!!!

Kenta sitting in the car after therapy - you had to stab me extra good didn't you hmm. But also just the way that Winner is so used to their rhythm GETS ME!!! Also KimDean shopping date 🥺 And Kenta getting post-therapy kisses my GOODNESS!!! I'm such a mess good god

One other domestic detail we must consider is that Winner is the tallest in the household and is therefore in charge of top shelf duty. And perhaps he takes advantage of this at moments, such as when Dean is struggling on tiptoes to reach a large mixing bowl stored just out of reach, and Winner presses his body flush against Dean's back as he reaches up from behind him to grab the bowl. "Need this?" he might say, before planting a sly kiss on Dean's cheek and laughing when Dean playfully shoves at him.

Also your tags!! Kim and Dean cuddling 🥺 Of course they'd share a bed. Winner takes up absolutely too much room and probably also snores at night. Kim and Dean are less particular about touch, they don't have to worry about it, whereas Kenta deals with a mix of touch aversion and touch starvation and needs his own space. BUT THE IMAGE OF HIM LINGERING IN THE DOORWAY WANTING TO BE WITH THEM AND NOT KNOWING HOW TO ASK. LET ME LIE DOWN FOR A MOMENT!!!!

In regards to cuddly Dean, I had been thinking about how he probably touches Kenta in the most casual way out of the three of them.

Winner probably (at first) uses touch to get on Kenta's nerves and rile him up (Winner likes getting shoved against hard surfaces ok), and then has an awkward period where he realizes he doesn't want to upset Kenta and has to figure out how to not be annoying.

Kim's touches are always heavy and intentional, there's a tangible weight to them, and they calm Kenta rather than rile him up.

But I think Dean would just be outright cuddly with Kenta, like he's touchy without thinking about it. Kenta will be sitting on the couch and Dean will plop down with his head in Kenta's lap, jabbering away about some new car he got to test drive, or he'll lean his head on Kenta's shoulder when they're watching a movie. And it's just. Something Kenta hasn't had since Pete left.

And he doesn't really know how to be physically affectionate (not at first), how to let himself just… touch someone for the sake of touching them. But it never phases Dean, if it takes Kenta ten minutes to convince himself to put his arm around Dean's shoulder. Dean doesn't pull away in a "oh I must be making you uncomfortable" manner. He doesn't withdraw his affection unless Kenta pushes him away.

And I think that would mean so much to Kenta? That Dean doesn't worry at all about being cuddly with him. He's not scared that Kenta will lash out at him, even though Kenta does occasionally snap when he's in a "don't treat me like I exist" mood, which is something they learn to navigate. But Dean still comes right back to him once things settle, simply because he likes Kenta and he enjoys being in contact with the people he likes.

Kenta also simply finds it cute at times and tells Dean so, which is how I ended up at the first ask I sent you 😌

YOU BROUGHT THAT ON YOURSELF!!!

onmg is he? I basically don't know anything about the actors beyond what photos/videos are shared on tumblr lol. that's funny though. I very much ascribe to cooking as a form of love. and spending time in the kitchen together is like THE activity so I always use it to show how people care!

listen if nothing else I will make up tiny details that I can tenuously connect to onscreen characterisation and carry it through all my stories. you KNOW Kenta has a Reputation in the market. half of it is intense negotiation and the other half is old ladies seeing his sad puppy demeanour and adopting him.

food is a language of love!! thoughtful consideration!! I feel like Winner would be big on these little actions where nothing is said and nobody has to say anything but it's obvious that he was paying attention. and making an effort.

I need Kenta to go to therapy so bad. also the car is the perfect place for containing maybe a little mini breakdown or just collecting yourself. like it's so obviously an in-between space that while you're there you can just process. that's why road trips are the best. imagine them all going on a road trip lmao there'd be at least one roadside argument and constant judgement of whoever is behind the wheel. Winner claims front seat privileges for height reasons. Kim for sure creates a perfect playlist or two (and then everyone keeps talking over the best songs so they have to start them again a bunch of times). that post that's like "doesn't matter how old you are, all road trip snacks should look like a child was given $20 and free reign" that's Dean. and then Kenta also packs some healthy snacks but he's the first one into the junk food.

Kim and Dean deserve to go shopping together! Kenta has no style and Winner has a very particular style so it is up to Kim and Dean to look good for everyone. also they're the only two who can be trusted to behave properly in a dressing room. by which I mean keep quiet. Winner doesn't give a fuck and Kenta doesn't like being forced to keep his noises in. they're buying jewellery and going to an ~adult store btw. KISSES FOR KENTA agenda.

!! YES. omg Winner would be the best/worst being the tallest. he'll help BUT. he definitely stores everyday items up high and is like "you just have to ask nicely~"

(uh I just read your newest ask and now my brain is like. derailed completely.)

I think Kim likes the closeness of sharing a bed and Dean likes knowing someone is always there. and Winner definitely needs his own space - for sprawling but also because I think he's the one out of all of them that very much needs His Space and His Things. Kenta would have had his own room in Tony's mansion right? or no??

stopppp cuddly Dean is KILLING MEEEE. also the thought that Pete was casually touchy with Kenta even with his power? death for me actually. but ughhh yes it's the fact that there's no expectation behind Dean's physical contact! it's just so natural and unconscious, like of course he's gonna reach out! I wonder too because North, Sonic and Alan are all pretty touchy as well, like Dean might be so used to it he doesn't even think twice about it. and now. they're pack! they're family! of course Dean isn't concerned about touching Kenta; he's not only allowed he's encouraged to do so because of that. am thinking of Kim and Dean in their bed with Kenta at the door and it's Dean who wakes up and welcomes him in, gently pulls his arm until Kenta climbs into bed and into prime cuddling position. and Kim sleeps through the whole thing because he knows he's safe.

deeply love the thought process that lead from this to where you ended up, you have a beautiful brain.

#asks #pit babe #pit babe polycule

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gentlebeard · 2 months

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Ella, did you know when I picture you that you are two apples tall? It's because you are SO sweet, SO kind to absolutely everybody, totally unsuspecting... and then you create these STUNNING video edits that have me by the THROAT. Every single time I go "THIS is Ella's best one of all time, nothing can top this," and then you PROVE ME WRONG. And leave me bawling on the floor. Your POWER. Anyway in my mind you're one of those teeny tiny cartoon figures and everyone goes "awww how sweet" and then BAM!!! THE MOST!!!! I love you dearly even when (or perhaps especially when?) you have me eating my drywall. MWAH. 💕

emy 💕 i started reading this ask like 3 times and had to stop after the first 1.5 sentences each time because i was starting to cry. i told you earlier that you’re absolutely incredible for spreading so much love and positivity and then BAM! you come into everyone’s inbox ten times larger, sweeter, greater. sending back so so so much love 💕💕 as much as i can hold in my two tiny arms (because yes, i actually am two apples tall, thank you very much 😌)

#emy you’re so fucking wonderful i can’t even put it into words #okay actually gonna sob now 😭💕#asks #❤️

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lonely-soul-02 · 11 months

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https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/noel-gallagher-interview-oasis-reunion-high-flying-birds-l02r389l

Noel Gallagher: ‘Oasis reunion? Liam hasn’t called, but I’m free the back end of 2024’

Aweek or so before Noel Gallagher meets me at his studio in King’s Cross, the Oasis reunion rumour mill went into overdrive. In March, Gallagher’s younger brother Liam wrote on Twitter of returning to his frontman duties: “It’s happening.” In a radio interview in May, the rhythm guitarist Paul “Bonehead’’ Arthurs said: “I’m ready.” Then came reports that Knebworth had been booked for four nights in 2025. So I begin our interview by asking Noel: “What’s happening?”

“Liam ain’t called,” the band’s 56-year-old leader, songwriter and guitarist says, sitting deep in a sofa, an unmoving, authoritative presence with cropped grey-black hair, wearing Levi’s. “I’m not expecting him to, because he’s full of shit and very disingenuous with his beloved Oasis fans. I say to him, ‘Get somebody to call somebody my end. Let’s see what you’ve got to say.’ Guess what? My phone has not twitched once.”

According to him, there is a simple reason why his problem child of a brother will not pick up the phone. “He knows for a fact that should someone call me, and I go, ‘You know what? F*** it. Let’s do it,’ then he has to actually stand in the same room as me. Then it will be, ‘All right, dickhead, how you doing? Before we go any further, there’s a few things I have to say to you.’ That’s when the arse will fall out of his trousers.”

On top of that unhygienic scenario, an Oasis reunion would have to be off the scale in brilliance to not be a massive let-down. The end came in April 2009 when Liam threw a plum — and then, more dangerously, a guitar — at his brother before a concert in Paris, and that was 14 years ago.

“If it’s going to happen, Liam has to pull it off. It’s got to be the best it has ever been. But he’s one of these guys and they’re ten a penny, particularly up in Manchester, the bully, who when you put it on ’em and say, ‘Come on then, let’s see what you’ve got,’ start doing a lot of harrumphing.

“Liam is like a violent version of Arthur Fonzarelli. So I’ll say it again: I’m free, back end of 2024. He could even video himself calling me. That would be good for his little f***ing Twitter feed. But since then he’s gone quiet. Funny, innit?”

All of this feels particularly relevant because the new album by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds is the older, wiser, sadder cousin of Oasis’s world-changing 1994 debut, Definitely Maybe. Council Skies has a reflective mood that draws not just on memories of Gallagher’s childhood in northern Manchester, but also his situation as a multimillionaire rock star dealing, for the first time in his adult life, with things going very wrong indeed.

There has been a divorce, health issues, and the psychological aftermath of a global pandemic and ensuing lockdown. Perhaps that’s why a handful of the songs, Dead to the World and I’m Not Giving Up Tonight in particular, have that hymnal, bittersweet quality of the Oasis classics Live Forever and Don’t Look Back in Anger. Oasis meant so much to people because they offered defiance against the everyday grind. Council Skies harks back to that feeling.

“I always thought there had to be a price to pay for happiness,” Gallagher says of his situation. “I’ve had over 20 years of absolutely no turbulence in my life whatsoever and I kept thinking, ‘It cannot be this great, all the time, until it comes to the end and I go, may as well die now and end up in Heaven.’ It turns out I was right. Luckily, as an artist you get to write about it.”

Dead to the World is one of those songs that Gallagher has a special knack for, which don’t do anything hugely different from what has gone before yet capture a universal feeling in a signature melancholic, soaring fashion. You wonder if the best material comes out of the most difficult times in his life.

“For sure, and right now it is the most uncertain time I’ve ever had,” he says. “It seems I peaked in my forties, because the moment I hit 50 it’s been one thing after another: personal issues, health issues, the city we love [London] going down the toilet. Definitely Maybe was born out of anxiety, thinking, this is the one shot we’ve got, we can’t f*** it up. There’s something similar here. Uncertainty is at the heart of it.”

Oasis took that uncertainty and made people feel, for one small moment, like they really might live for ever. “People will never forget the way you made them feel. I’ll never forget how the La’s or the Stone Roses made me feel. You can’t go back to 1995 because things cannot be the same — parents grow old, your cat dies, things rust — but the feeling remains and there is something beautiful in that. That’s why Dead to the World is up there with Live Forever. It’s just a different version of it.”

Gallagher grew up, by his own description, as a loner, estranged from his frequently violent father, Tommy, after his Irish parents’ divorce and taking solace in his bedroom in the Manchester suburb of Burnage, where he taught himself guitar and learnt to write songs by listening to the Beatles, Slade and T. Rex. While Liam was busy being the good-looking lad about town, the carefree kid who never second-guessed himself, Noel worked on an escape route via rock’n’roll.

“I didn’t invent anything,” he confesses. “I had good taste in music, a cool record collection, I could write a melody simple enough to make it work and it was 50 per cent inspiration and 50 per cent copying. It was a Tuesday night, raining, when I went into the rehearsal room and said, ‘I’ve just written the greatest tune of all time.’ We started Cigarettes & Alcohol and Bonehead went, ‘You can’t get away with that.’ ”

Bonehead was referring to the fact that Cigarettes & Alcohol is essentially Get It On by T. Rex after a trip to the off-licence, of which Gallagher says: “It’s not like I was expecting nobody to notice.” The genius of the song was in its celebration of working-class hedonism; the idea that you may as well live for the moment in the absence of any deeper meaning or nobler purpose. “That’s why Oasis were the modern-day Slade. They didn’t give a f*** either.”

Oasis’s take-no-prisoners assault targeted a few victims along the way, the most frequent being Phil Collins. What did Gallagher have against the balding king of 1980s smooth pop? “He kept the Jam off No 1 with You Can’t Hurry Love,” he reveals.

“I thought, ‘Once I get there, I’m not going to let him get away with that.’ The best thing about the Phil Collins thing is that Liam got accosted by his children one day because they thought he was me. They had a pop at him, saying, ‘Why are you always having a fing go at our dad?’ When I heard about it I thought, ‘I really hope someone filmed it.’ Anyway, f Liam. And f*** Phil Collins and all.”

As for Oasis becoming the biggest guitar band since the Beatles, Gallagher thinks it was down to a lack of artifice. “Oasis had a laddish, yobbo image, built in the image of the singer, but look at footage of Knebworth [two nights, 1996, two and a half million ticket applications] and you’ll see loads of girls down the front.

“Melodically it spoke to the masses, lyrically it spoke to people our age, and everyone looked at Bonehead and went, ‘If he can do it, any f***er can.’ My guitar rig at Knebworth was a piece of plywood, an on-off switch, and a tuner. It keeps going now because kids recognise the real deal. Oasis will never make another record, but if we put a tour on sale it would destroy everything.”

It makes you wonder if a band like Oasis, who summed up both the meritocratic possibilities of the New Labour 1990s and the black-humoured cynicism of Britpop, could happen today. Gallagher is adamant they could not.

“We would be killed before we even started,” he says with a sigh. “What made Oasis great was that we were moody c***s, a bit wild, and back then labels were run by amazing characters like Alan McGee of Creation and Jeff Barrett of Heavenly who loved the chaos.

“On the ferry to Amsterdam, when everyone got nicked [1994, first European tour, too much champagne and Jack Daniels, fights break out, Liam Gallagher goes on a Benny Hill-like rampage through the casino] I called McGee to tell him what happened and he went, ‘Brilliant.’ Nowadays, the label would wait to see what the public perception was before throwing you under the bus. And the word ‘career’ was never mentioned once. You were in a band. That was enough. And we could pull it off when we went on stage.”

Not always, though: In 1994 Oasis played the legendary Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, shortly after taking what they thought was cocaine but which turned out to be crystal meth. It resulted in the band members playing different songs at the same time before attacking each other. “Ringo Starr was there that night,” Gallagher remembers. “He walked out. One of the Beatles comes to see the new Beatles — and it’s shit.”

Gallagher thinks the music industry no longer has faith in itself, with labels monitoring how well an artist is doing with the public on TikTok and YouTube before taking a punt. “Can you imagine going up to someone in 1993, when [jokey indie duo] Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine were smashing it, and saying, ‘Got this idea for a band. Couple of gobshite brothers from Manchester, bang into cocaine, lager and shagging birds, ripping off the Beatles and T. Rex.’ ‘Oh no, thank you. I’d rather have Fruitbat and Dickhead from Carter, jumping about in shorts.’ Don’t focus-group anything! People are stupid! That’s how we ended up with Brexit. Now they will usher in AI. There is no hope for the world.”

How could we not mention AIsis, a virtual band with a “lost” Oasis album, conceived by some thirtysomething musicians who took Noel’s tunes and Liam’s elongation of the word “sunshiiiine” and got artificial intelligence to do its stuff? Needless to say, it hasn’t gone down well with the real-life human at the heart of it all.

“AI: made by robots, listened to by shitheads,” he summarises, before saying in comically pathetic tones: “ ‘Have you heard Ringo Starr singing She’s Electric?’ You’re all f***ing idiots! AI did a cover of Morning Glory and it sounded like shit indie music to me, but I can guarantee you the record companies are already buying up the technology.

“The label doesn’t want the artists to write the songs because they want to employ songwriters. Now the songwriters will be out of business because they’ll employ a robot to do it. You know what? I’m 55 and I don’t give a f***. AI is not going to put me out of the game. It is just going to make your life a little bit shitter.”

Whether Oasis or AIsis will be the first to fill the public’s desire for that much-talked-of reunion, Gallagher has the sanctity of his studio, the reassurance that his children, Anais, 22, Donovan, 15, and Sonny, 12, share his opinion on modern music (“The 1975 wear a guitar and get voted best rock band at the Brits. I’m going to the kids, ‘Is it me or is this shit?’ And they’re going, ‘Dad, it’s f***ing awful’ ”) and the creative satisfaction of making the best solo album of his career. Easy Now, a lonely ballad about strangers passing on the way to work and wondering about each other’s lives, has a mix of grandeur, hope and longing similar to the Oasis favourite The Masterplan.

“I can already picture a sea of lads in Scotland with their tops off, having it to Easy Now,” Gallagher says. “Usually, when a song starts sounding like Oasis I’ll go, ‘This is just a shit version of Supersonic.’ Now I’ve written a song that is a bit Oasisy but it is actually up there with them.”

Gallagher sounds like he has made his peace with Oasis, having made a solo album that doesn’t shy away from the quality that made people fall in love with his old band in the first place. Now he just needs to make peace with Liam and the next chapter in the Gallagher saga will begin.

“A new generation recognises how Oasis wasn’t manufactured,” Gallagher concludes, before heading off because Manchester City have a Premier League game. “It was chaotic, and flawed, and not technically brilliant. Blur did it all with a nod and a wink, but we were rough and ready guys from a rehearsal room and people recognised it. If we did go out and tour again, playing not just to blokes in their fifties but to the kids . . . We’d blow their f***ing minds.”

Interview behind a paywall. Anon, thank you SO much for sharing the content of the interivew.

Noel really wants to fend off any divorce claims on an Oasis reunion, or he really wants to see Liam lose it on Twitter again.

*sigh* Here we go. Isolated quotes:

“Liam ain’t called."

“I’m not expecting him to, because he’s full of shit and very disingenuous with his beloved Oasis fans. I say to him, ‘Get somebody to call somebody my end. Let’s see what you’ve got to say.’ Guess what? My phone has not twitched once.”

“He knows for a fact that should someone call me, and I go, ‘You know what? F*** it. Let’s do it,’ then he has to actually stand in the same room as me. Then it will be, ‘All right, dickhead, how you doing? Before we go any further, there’s a few things I have to say to you.’ That’s when the arse will fall out of his trousers.”

"Anyway, f Liam. And f*** Phil Collins and all."

And finally we get to the core of it all:

“I always thought there had to be a price to pay for happiness...”

Fic writers are going to have a field day with that last one.

With my Oasis conspiracy theory hat off, It certainly does seem as if Noel is deliberately sabotaging any chance of reconciliation. But then he might say Liam did the sabotaging with his uncomplimentary tweets that began with the 'meet him or fuck him off' tweet that came from out of the blue, kickstarting the media spat.

He's using the strongest language to date in this interview, but he's also contradicting himself as usual. Liam is apparently a violent bully but he is also afraid of standing in the same room as Noel.

I also sense a lot of projection. The implication that Liam would somehow not be match fit, or not be able to 'pull off' an Oasis reunion is completely laughable when he's pulled off two nights at Knebworth on his own. This is all Noel's insecurity. Noel is afraid of not being able to pull it off. Because Noel would have to pick up his guitar, assume his old role and solo again. Over the years, he has become self-conscious about his guitar playing. He said that he left behind his ability to play guitar solos in Paris the night of the fight. It wouldn't matter that the songs are old and all he has to do is rehearse them. Noel is afraid of not measuring up. Noel is the one afraid to stand in the same room as Liam.

To be honest, I think they'd both be afraid of meeting each other and that's entirely normal. After 14 years, of course they'd be apprehensive, anyone would be. This is why I wish there were a mutual friend of both, who loves them both equally, and has both their best interests at heart to help them through a reconciliation process. Debbie has said it's not her place to intervene, but that's a hard disagree from me. If people continue to leave them to their own devices instead of trying to support them, the estrangement and conflict will drag on.

Update:

Not taking any bait today, good on you Liam!

#noel gallagher #noel gallagher interview #liam gallagher #oasis reunion speculation #ask #times interview #oasis

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