r/FictoLove

(My, I hope this is not considered NSFW in here..)

⁀➷ I saw this beautiful lingerie set in the window of a clothing store while I was on my way to buy myself some iced tea after my guitar lessons.

That piece immediately caught my eye. This soft green fabric, all the flowers and the light pink ribbons..

It instantly reminded me of my wonderful wife, C.C., who was most probably in our cozy home, lying in bed and watching another episode of Pluribus (Vince Gilligan's new show I introduced her to).

I immediately went to the store and bought the set, thinking of how just stunning my C.C. would look in it, just for me and me only. ♡♡♡

"You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought." – That's what Arthur Conan Doyle wrote in one of his novels, The White Company. And it is what you are to me, my amazing C.C. 🪻🌱

I like this one WAYYY more than the last! Very proud of this one :3

I finally went through my notebook's drafts to polish my story, and tried writing a proper introductory chapter on how Kalin and my S/I first met in Satellite. I hope you enjoy! 🖤

_____

The summer air in the Satellite slums felt thick with the smell of rust, salt... and a little bit of desperation. Loreley made her way through piles of scrap in the junkyard, navigating through jagged heaps that could easily shred anyone if they dropped their guard. She wasn't just interested in Duel Runner parts nor cards to patch up her deck with today. Nope, today she was on the prowl for something different as well, something no one else in Satellite would probably dream of; she was on the lookout for pieces to build an electric hurdy-gurdy with.

Living in the slums was a relentless grind, with entertainment often strictly limited to duels, turf wars and playing cat-and-mouse with Sector Security. But music could be hers; a way to unwind, to drown out the noise at the end of a long day.

She was so wrapped up in prying a stubborn copper coil out of a busted alternator that she almost missed the shuffling steps behind her. Keyword: almost.

Survival in Satellite was built on instinct. Loreley didn't hesitate, she spun around fast and kicked out, straight towards the intruder's chest.

Thud!

He blocked her steel-toe boot just in time with his forearms. She made him stumble back a step, but he stayed upright. Clearly, he knew a thing or two about street fights.

Loreley crouched into a fighting stance, her blue eyes assessing the potential threat as she swept her silver-and-black bang aside. The newcomer was a young man... brown sleeveless leather vest, purple bandana, light blue hair framing an angular face. And chartreuse eyes smoldering with something fierce.

Kalin Kessler. Leader of the Enforcers. Everyone in Satellite heard the stories about the notorious gang.

He brushed off his vest, looking her up and down and taking in the black captain's coat he knew belonged to the head of the Kerosene Keres. Kalin raised his hands as if trying to calm down a wild animal, showing he wasn't going to harm her.

"Hey, easy. I'm not here to jump you", Kalin said, a half-smirk spreading across his face. "This junkyard isn't Enforcers' turf... yet."

He reached towards his hip, resting his fingers on his deck box. "Though I'd be a fool to run into the Kerosene Keres' captain and not demand a duel. Hell, there were times I started wondering if the 'Wraith from the Wharf' was just some story to keep rookie duelists and intruders out of the shipyard... like you were a ghost scaring them straight. But you look real enough to me."

Loreley straightened and let her long coat sweep the dirt as she stood, glancing at him as she reached for her own deck.

"'The Wraith from the Wharf'? Wow. Really rolls off the tongue."

Kalin snorted, he couldn't tell if he was more annoyed or entertained by her attitude. Most duelists in Satellite were visibly intimidated when face-to-face with the leader of the Enforcers, yet here she was, regaining her composure in a split second with her snarky response. Still, satisfied that she wasn't backing down, he lifted his left arm and activated his Duel Disk. "Let's see if your dueling skills are as sharp as your mouth then, Wraith."

The game was on: his Fiends versus her Zombies. But barely a few turns into their opening play, a small red LED light flashed frantically on Loreley's customised Duel Disk.

Not wasting any time, Loreley tucked her cards back into her leather deck box. "Gotta go," she muttered, crouching down to stuff her salvaged copper coils and components into her cross-bag. "Sector Security's on the prowl... no doubt looking to round up a few 'bargain hunters'. Better scram before I foolishly get hauled in for spare parts theft."

Kalin stood there, dumbfounded by her abrupt retreat. He looked around the silent, empty junkyard and shrugged. "Sector Security? I don't hear a damn thing- Hey! Are you seriously bailing mid-duel?!"

He moved to grab her arm but before he could reach her, the distant whine of Duel Runners echoed through Satellite's empty streets. Kalin froze; now he heard it. He shot a glance back at Loreley, who simply jerked her head in a 'follow me if you wanna stay out of trouble' motion before darting into the labyrinth of scrap. Not about to be caught by the cops, Kalin swore under his breath and took off after her.

After a few minutes of navigating the slums and eastern docks, she led him towards the edge of the shipyard where they reached an abandoned, towering ship. Kalin wasn't as knowledgeable as his friend Yusei when it came to vehicles - let alone a naval expert -, but the large crane on deck led him to assume it was some old platform supply vessel. Across the hull, graffitied gothic letters were spelling out the name 'The Styx'.

Doesn't look nearly as spooky as the rumours make it out to be... Kalin thought, watching the sunset's red glow reflect over the quiet water. ...though I guess it's a different story after dark.

On deck, she pulled open the cabin door for him, gesturing with theatrical politeness for him to step inside first. Kalin rolled his eyes, silently praying that he wasn't walking into some ambush.... wondering why in the hell he had followed a total stranger instead of booking it back to his own hideout in the first place, his curiosity would get the better of him someday. But he couldn't hide the amused grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

The cabin inside was surprisingly personalised: a small workbench covered in wires and dismantled electronics, an old worn sofa and walls plastered in pages ripped from Duel Runner magazines. A graffiti scrawled in black paint above the sofa caught his attention : "Though born in the shadows, we're destined to outshine the stars."

Loreley flopped onto the couch with a heavy sigh. Noticing Kalin now staring intensely at her, she raised her forearm, giving him a better look at her modified Duel Disk.

"This," she said, "is my latest project. And a total lifesaver. As you probably figured out, it's a tracking device that picks up Sector Security's patrol signals." She let out a weary huff, her eyes landing on the other works-in-progress strewn across her makeshift workbench. "Well... at least when it comes to the officers patroling the nearby area, whose Duel Runners I've managed to bug. It's got a limited range."

The Enforcer followed her gaze, taking a closer look at the unfinished projects scattered across the desk. "But for what it's worth, it's done its' job and has kept us safe so far", she added. "We Keres know when to bolt. Makes life here a lot less, uh… deadly."

Kalin leaned against the work table with his arms crossed over his chest and the smallest hint of respect glinting in his eyes. "A street tech who hacks Sector Security's own rigs to keep her crew safe? Alright, Wraith. Maybe there's more to you than a ghost story after all."

Loreley scoffed again at the nickname, but it was more playful now. She stood up and joined him at the workbench, where she added her newest findings to her other salvaged parts. "...the name's Loreley, but my friends call me Lola. Sorry about ducking out earlier. I'm always down for a rematch."

"Lola..." Kalin lowly repeated to himself, as the young woman fetched a hand-drawn blueprint. He had a vague idea of what it was. "So, what are you working on? Breaking into Sector Security's mainframe?"

Loreley chuckled, but it was clear from her small smile that she had absolutely dreamt of it. "Don't be ridiculous. Though I wish... Right now, I'm trying to rig up a signal booster. The people in the slums need to hear the news. Be informed, organised and united. We can't always rely on rumors to stay safe from our common oppressors."

Kalin nodded, admiration prevailing over his usual swagger for once. "Smart. This is a bit beyond my… more forceful persuasion skills. Definitely not my speciality." He gestured to the complex wiring.

"That's why you should leave it to the professionals, Enforcer.", she teased, but her tone lacked its' earlier bite.

"...maybe.", Kalin grinned. "Or maybe... we join forces. Your expertise, my… connections."

Loreley turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Us Enforcers have a guy," Kalin explained. "Yusei. He's got the know-how with that line of work. I'm sure the gearhead's brains could be of use here. He'll help if I ask him."

"...you guys would work with us?" Loreley's surprise was evident. The Enforcers were notoriously self-reliant.

Kalin shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant as he fidgeted with some busted radio. "It's for the good of the Satellite." He paused, then met her gaze, his eyes suddenly intense. "Besides, maybe... I want to see what you can do, Lola."

Loreley looked out the porthole for a moment as she thought through the proposal. She turned back to him as he handed her back the device, her voice softer as she reached out her hand to take it. "Okay, Kalin. Let's work together." 

Their fingers brushed and in that moment, the spark wasn't just from faulty wiring.

Here's the link to the comparison chart!

Gyro's birthday is May 6th; while his birthday was never officially confirmed in DT 2017, it is a widely held belief, especially since Gyro made his first appearance on May 6, 1952 :>

Went out to Starbucks this morning before my shift started and we had a bagel. Didn't get a Unicorn Frappuchino though, too much sugar

I went to the beach... I took this picture and I had to put Morris into it!! the water was beautiful... I go back to work tomorrow I'm so saddd so drawing him helps...

I had to give him his incredibly stupid worksuit tan lines.

It's too late to be posting art BUT I FINISHED THIS. Look at them. You will consume Moon beam art. CONSUME. Plus baby Aurora is there.

We saw the eclipse a few days ago when it happened

If you find yourself in London this weekend, come on down!

Your loved one just came out as a (GASP!) fan fiction writer. How do you respond to that? What will the neighbours think? What is Omega Slick, anyway? Don't worry because fanfic veteran MinaRoseTook is here to answer all your questions. Join us for an unhinged look at where fan fiction came from and why it's a valid art form. Who knows...maybe YOU will write something. 

A one-woman show by award-winning playwright Deanna Strasse.

Get tickets HERE: https://camdenfringe.com/events/dead-doves-and-lemons-or-everything-youve-ever-wanted-to-know-about-fan-fiction-but-were-too-afraid-to-ask/

** Praise for Dead Doves and Lemons OR Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About Fan Fiction (but were too afraid to ask)**

"Deanna Strasse...has created a brilliant piece that is not only interesting but educational in a fun way and the show is fairly unserious in the educational aspects which made the show incredibly enjoyable." - GJD Reviews 

"Such a joy to watch!" - Colchester Fringe audience member

"This is an important piece of storytelling." - Colchester Fringe audience member

I wanted to make something special for my beloved Princess Guinevere!

I had so much fun drawing the two of us together, especially with the dreamy starry theme. She means so much to me, and I wanted this piece to capture just how much I adore her.

No matter how many stars fill the sky, she'll always be my favorite one. 💙

I hope you enjoy this little piece of my heart! >w<