she's got a way about her.

[samatethecookie]

Randomly, two Beluga whales are pregnant at the Shedd Aquarium! They're both expected to give birth this fall. How awesome is that? I want to go see the babies after they arrive, if that's possible.

The answers to the Top 5 Meme are nearly finished! I have one list to complete - top 5 fanon ships, fuck yeah! - and the lists are ready to go.

In the meantime, allow me to pimp a few stories out to you! I've been searching for Final Fantasy fanfiction, and I'm looking for rare ships that I've never thought about before. There's a Kingdom Hearts story in the list, but it's still related to Final Fantasy. Each story rec will come with a snippet from the story.


Go Not Gently - Thirteen years after the events of Final Fantasy IX, and Eiko Carol's life is turned upside-down once again by an enemy supposedly long dead. What's a girl to do?

A rustling. The candle was retrieved, but not lit; the touch in his voice grew, and the tone was of bitter irony. "Tango."

"What?"

"Tango. Black Tango." A rustle – he stood, sounding like a birdflock – and lit the candle again with his own fingers, straightening the wick. Magic still radiated off him like the warmth from a star, only now I knew he was more dangerous than I’d dreamed – a sentient-insane creature, no clockwork.

I was stunned. "You have got to be kidding me."

"No. I am – "

"I mean, that’s the stupidest name ever. All right, I get the three and the Waltz, but what’s up with Tango? What’s your brother’s name, Black Hokey-Pokey? Black Swing? Black Samba? Black Chocobo Dance?"

There was another breathless silence, and then Tango laughed. It was not a happy sound, but he laughed.

"I like you," he said eventually. "I won’t kill you tonight."

"Thanks ever so."

I liked the story, but I feel like I have to warn people ahead of time: this story has a lot of triggers, specifically for female readers. The author mentions that her editor called this the "wife-beating Stockholm Syndrome fic". It's not romanticized, though - or at least, not to the point where the complications are blatantly ignored. If you can get through the first two or three chapters, then continue reading.)

Ain't Like I Planned - Five years after Meteor, Cid finds that some dreams are harder to chase down that he thought. One troubled relationship, one unwanted vacation and one nosy teenager later, things start spinning out of control.

“You sure this piece of shit is gonna hold?” Cid asked uncertainly as he stared down at the slope, the hang glider rising around him.

“If it can carry Godo’s potbelly, it can carry you,” Yuffie reassured him, making a few last checks on the straps. “Now remember what I said, lean into the wind and don’t lift the nose up too high or you’ll—”

Cid swore loudly, cutting her off. “I know how to glide, damn it!” he growled at her. “Just never done it without the goddamn plane before,” he added gruffly, trying to mask his discomfort.

“Then this should be a piece of cake!” Yuffie said cheerily, giving him a pat on the back. Her eyes popped open and she pounded on his shoulder once more with more force. “Geez, you’re stiff! Loosen up or you won’t even make it to the cliff’s edge!”

“Fuck off,” Cid replied tersely, ignoring her and lowering his goggles over his eyes. “I’ll go when I’m ready.”

“Ohhhh-kay,” Yuffie drawled cheerfully, giving him a wave. Then, with her usual speed, she ducked under the wing of the glider, freeing his path towards the ocean.

Cid stared into the horizon, inhaling deeply and steeling himself for the run towards the stark drop. She better not be lyin’ about this thing, he thought as the muscles in his legs tensed. Ain’t too late to call this goddamn crazy idea off, he added, hesitating as his mind pictured the various different ways that his body could end up smashed against the rocky seashore below. A sharp kick to his legs caught him by surprise and sent him stumbling forward towards the edge; the wind lifted, and Cid swore as he realized he wouldn’t be able to stop himself in time before reaching the edge of the cliff.

“Have a nice flight!” he heard Yuffie call from behind him, the laughter clear in her voice.

I normally don't seek Cid/Yuffie fics, but last night I was on a hunt for rare pairings specifically Barret/Tifa goddammit there are no fics and I stumbled upon this. I decided to give it a read - because the wife Sev, sleepyscribbles, and I joked about the ship once in June - and I really like it. What I love about this story is the way Cid and Yuffie were written and how they go together.

Knight of Flowers - [Goofy x Aerith].

He sits on his bench, occasionally lifting the rose so he can smell it. Its petals are a very dark color and the thorns are wicked and long. He can feel them pressing into his hand, but he takes no harm; his glove protects him.

A red rose. For true love.

He doesn't like to think about his wife much, because the thought of her makes him sad. Goofy is a naturally happy person, and he tries not to dwell on the few bad things that have happened to him in his life. And sometimes when he starts thinking of Penny, he can't stop.

Usually when he can't get her off his mind, when he can't help remembering how bewildered and scared he was after it happened, how his friends were so nice to him for so long—even Donald—he thinks about his son and that works. Max was a good boy, has grown into a good man, and Goofy is proud of him.

But today he just wishes he had someone to give a red rose to.

That's right. Goofy/Aerith. The author makes it work, trust me!

Comments

[cheriestar.livejournal.com]

Aw, baby whales! Do want! They'll be adorable, I'm sure.

And I'm not a huge Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts fan, But Goofy/Aerith sounds adorable.

[samatethecookie.livejournal.com]

The whales' health seems to be a-ok, as well as the children. I'm excited. I can't wait to see them.

Hope you read the fic! Even if you're not into Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts, it's still an adorable read.