Storytime - Blog Posts

The Beginning part 8

As the night grows later and the sky changes color to an early morning color, Kaaru and Jesse come to the edge of the desert they’ve been traveling for days. Buildings growing nearer as they make it to the edge of the town.

“Mcada, what happened next?” Jesse asks as they dust off and head towards the motel.

“Hmm? In the story?” She asks and he nods. “Well-”

~storytime~

Zenyatta stared at the couple with a face that could only be guessed as in shock, Mccree having a determined face as he held Hanzo’s hand.

“You want me to- what?” Zenyatta asks, rubbing the bridge of his non-existent nose.

“Marry us. You’ve done it before for Reaper and Soldier.” Mccree says.

“No, I helped them renew their vows. Very different.” Zenyatta corrects the cowboy.

“Can you or can’t you marry us?” Hanzo rolls his eyes.

“I can but you need at least one witness to have it be official. Preferably a family member or close friend.” Zenyatta sighs.

“No problem. Genji is waiting in the mess hall with Reaper and Soldier.” Mccree says and Zenyatta nods.

“Lead the way.” He says, acting exhausted.

The ceremony, while short and small, was probably the most magical thing the girl had ever spied on from the vents of the base, remembering the video her Oiijia showed her when she was little of her parent’s wedding. She never imagined one of her missions would allow her to actually watch it. Even if she had to put it in an essay.

She sneaks away and back to her room where her Otōsan is looking through her holo-photo album.

“Any good memories to tell a story about?” She asks and he smiles.

“There are so many and yet so few left to tell you about.” He says and she giggles.

“What about today?” She asks and he looks at her.

“Today?” He asks, not catching on.

“Your wedding day.” She nods laying her head in his lap.

He chuckles softly, starting to braid her hair.

“But I have told you that story before. Wouldn’t you like a new story, my cherry blossom?” He asks as she looks up at him.

“No. It’s my favorite story you and Papa have told me.” She says, her galaxy hair shifting slightly as it’s braided.

“Well, it was early in the morning on a Thursday, I remember it well for the chilly breeze outside on my morning walk. It was the second to last day of December and Mccree had been talking about our wedding for months. He imagined a big wedding with lots of people and food. But we decided to get married right then and there. We had some problems in the beginning of our relationship so we were off and on a lot. We-” He began but his daughter was impatient.

“Skip to the good part.” She giggles, sitting up.

“Okay cherry blossom.” He chuckles before pulling her into his lap. “My brother and your grandparents were there, taking pictures and Genji was recording as your Papa and I exchanged vows and promised ourselves to each other. Zenyatta, being a monk, forged our marriage bonds and pronounced us man and husband.” He says as he pets her hair.

She smiled gently, remembering the scene from the vents.

“I love that story. It’s happy.” She says and he nods.

“And it’s even better when we get you, my sweet cherry blossom.” He smiles.

~reality~

Jesse hums as Karru opens up the motel room they got.

“So, she got to see her parent’s wedding?” He asks and Karru nods.

“It was a good day for her.” She says before making Jesse go to bed for the night. “More tomorrow okay?” She says and he nods.

“Night Ms. Mcada.” He spoke softly before passing out.

“Night Pa.” She whispers to herself as she looks out the window into the starry night that her hair swirled to match the stars she was seeing.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

The Beginning part 7

Kaaru woke up at the buttcrack of dusk to Jesse poking her as he held a canteen out to her.

“W-Wha are ya doin up? We still got ah hour before night.” She groans, sitting up.

“Might as well get up now and get ready to move.” He shrugs.

She sighs and nods, getting up and taking a drink of water.

“So what happens next in the story?” He asks and she chuckles.

“Okay. You hear the last bit I said?” She asks and he nods. “Alrighty, let’s see…”

~storytime~

The girl hugs young Hanzo before having to push him off.

“Okay, a girl needs to breathe.” She chuckles lightly.

“Not when that disgusting riffraff is near. We must go now, my future child.” He says and presents Hanzo groans as young Mccree looks devastated.

“I’m his future kid too. And it ain’t like ya can just up and leave a hospital bed.” She says.

“What did you put in my drink you disgusting cowboy?!” Young Hanzo barks at young Mccree.

“Nothin’! I swear!” He cowers as the girl gets between them.

“Boys! I will personally castrate both of you if you don’t calm down.” She barks at them and they both cower away.

She sighs and rubs her temples.

“How did I end up babysitting?” She asks as the young and present versions of her parents start to talk, figuring out when and where the younger ones are from.

The sound of a guitar playing draws her attention to a supply closet.

She goes over slowly, a golden glow coming from under the door. She opens it slowly and pokes her head in, curious who was in there.

Inside was a man with long white hair tuning a guitar with two little glowing dragons and a small light bulb.

She gasps and hugs him tightly.

“Otōsan! What are you doing here?!” She says, smiling widely at the Hanzo she grew up with.

“Kaaru, my child.” He smiles and hugs her back. “I know I am not supposed to be here but I wanted to check up on how your mission was going.” He says, leaving the closet with a smile.

“Are you sure it’s not because you and Pa grounded me?” She asks as she’s leading him out.

“Yes my child. Quite positive it is not that.” He laughs as they leave.

Present Hanzo and Mccree soon found their past selves too annoying and cringey to handle so they went to their room and laid down, mentally exhausted already and it wasn’t even 8 am.

“Han, I’ve been thinkin.” Mccree says as he holds his tired archer in his arms.

“That’s dangerous.” Hanzo snickers, looking up at him attentively.

“And here I was, about ta say we should get Zenyatta ta marry us taday.” Mccree says with a pout.

“I wasn’t being serious, my silly cowboy.” Hanzo chuckles, pecking Mccree’s lips. “Though, I am not opposed to the idea of getting married today. But, should we?” He asks and Mccree looks at him.

“I say yes. I want ya ta be my husband taday. Predetermined future or not. I’ve been fightin ya on it for years. I want it to finally happen.” He says and Hanzo smiles.

“Alright Cowboy, we’ll get married today.” Hanzo says, kissing him softly.

~reality~

“That was mushy.” Jesse laughs and Kaaru nods.

“That my parents are.” She says, looking off into the distance.

“What?” Jesse asks.

“What?” Kaaru asks, covering her tracks.

Jesse shrugs it off and Kaaru smiles as they walk the night desert.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6  

The Beginning part 5

Come nightfall in the desert, Kaaru is loading her gun as she smokes a cigarette, a serape draped around her shoulders that she bought, the pattern and color much like her father's except brand new and untorn. Jesse snores next to her, still fast asleep. 

She's ready to kick him.

"Jesse, get your ass up." She says, flicking his nose.

He groans and turns over.

"I said, get up." She says, rolling him into the still hot sand.

He jumps up and pouts at her, rubbing the hot sand off his singed arm and face.

"We gotta move." She says, getting up and flicking her cigarette into the sand, starting to collect her bags.

“What for? The sand is still hot and when the sand’s hot, the snakes are out.” He says, shivering at the thought of the animal.

She thinks for a minute, looking over the desert. 

“My father once taught me somethin about that. He and I had awful fears of snakes when I was little so when he took me on a campin trip out inta the desert, he showed me a snake nest. At nightfall, they all were borrowin inta the sand to keep warm. No snakes bothered us at dusk or all night.” She says. “And they won’t here neither. Them snakes are borrowin in for the night. And if we do happen upon one, I’ll shoot it before you can say “tickle me silly till i’m blue in the face, the checkered flag is mine i’ll win this race”.” She smiles at him and he stares.

“Was that a NASCAR reference?” He asks in disbelief.

“Yeah? What of it?” She asks as they start to walk.

“Nothin’.” He says, looking away from her.

She chuckles.

~storytime~

Mccree looks at the girl in absolute disbelief. 

“I’m sorry, what?!” He asks as Hanzo tries to process the information he was just given.

“My birth, I have to write a report on it.” She says. “It’s for the lowlife of an ape that calls himself a scientist.” She adds, letting her anger for Winston seep into the conversation.

“Why do I get the feelin you don’t like him much?” Mccree asks. 

“Oh I don’t. He’s a selfish asshole who wanted to and did experiments on me as a child. But only during my lessons with him and after he had me kill-” She suddenly stopped, unable to physically say anymore. 

Hanzo looks at her, his attention perked at the last thing she said.

“Finish that sentence.” He says but she shakes her head, mouth shut tight. “I order you to tell us what you were saying!” He shouts.

“I can’t! It’s against the rules! If I do tell you then you’ll remember too much when I leave! Once I disappear, all you remember is my code name and that I once existed but everything else goes away! You won’t remember who I am or what I’m doing here! You won’t even remember the things I’ve already told you! And if I break the rules the entire timeline will be broken! I won’t exist.” She says and Mccree puts a hand on Hanzo’s knee.

“Darlin, we better listen to her.” He says, convinced she’s telling the truth. 

“Why are you believing a child? She has no proof of any of this!” Hanzo scowls at him. 

“You didn’t believe me when I proposed.” Mccree says with a bland and upset face. “Or Genji when he said he forgave you.” He adds, making Hanzo back down. 

“Fine. But I won’t believe her until she gives definitive proof.” He says and she shrugs.

“Would this count?” She asks, two purple dragons in her lap growling at the men, summoned from her adrenaline spike. 

She hushes them as they glare at Hanzo the most. 

“Shinpaishinaide. Kore wa kakodesu. Sore ga otōsandesu. Kare wa tada konran shite imasu.” She says in hushed Japanese to the dragons. (Don't worry. This is the past. That is Otōsan. He is just confused.) 

Hanzo is astonished.

“You have dragon spirits.” He says, shaking his head slightly.

“Yes. They appeared two months ago on my first mission.” She says.

“How are you born?” Mccree asks.

“I don’t know. You’ve never talked about it.” She shrugs.

~reality~

“She has dragons?” Jesse asks. 

Karru nods. 

“Yes. But that’s not even the best part.” She smirks. “But that’s enough for now. I’ll tell you more in a few hours.” She adds, putting her serape on him as he shivers. “Keep ahold ah that for me.” She smiles.

Part 1    Part2    Part3    Part4

The Beginning part 4

Kaaru and the boy are walking through the desert, their car broken down and their destination 15 miles away. 

“Where are we going Mcada?” He asks and she hums. 

“Well, We’re tryin ta get to Arazonia, which is 15 miles north. Across this desert unfortunately.” She says and he cringes. 

“Can I hear more of the story as we walk?” He asks and she smiles a bit. 

“Sure thing Jesse.” She says.

~storytime~

Mccree and Hanzo stare at the girl in front of them. They can’t believe their ears! There was no possible way she was one, telling the truth, and two, even possible if it was true. 

“I don’t hear any questions.” She says, looking expectantly at them.

“How?” They ask in sync and she nods. 

“Okay, not the best question I’ve been asked by the two of you from any point in time but whatever.” She shrugs. “I have a similar ability to Lena’s blinking. But instead of just going back a few moments, I can go back entire years. I collect intel but because I’m currently grounded by you in 2093 I’m technically supposed to use any of my abilities.” She says as Toby grabs her holo-album.

“Why should we believe you?” Hanzo asks as Mccree tries to process he’ll have a daughter in the future. 

“Alright alright, better questions already.” She nods as she opens the album and swipes through photos before bringing up one of Mccree and Hanzo with a little girl in a kiddy pool in the backyard of a little house on the treeline. “This was when I was 4. Genji took the picture.” She says.

“Pictures can be faked.” Hanzo huffed. 

“Fair point. Hold on. I have something that might help.” She says, digging into her pocket.

“What are you doing?” Hanzo frowns at her. 

“Looking for a note you gave me.” She says. 

“What good will a note do you?” Mccree asks. 

“It has a bunch of your secrets listed on it.” She says and Hanzo rolls his eyes, taking a drink of his coffee. 

It takes her a little while but she finds it and Mccree looks at Hanzo worriedly. He simply rolls his eyes again.

“Mccree can’t dance without stepping all over his partners feet.” She says, making him flush. 

“Only Reaper knows that. And he can be bribed.” He says looking away.

“Hanzo can’t swim.” She says and Hanzo chokes on his coffee.

“Y-You could have found that out from Genji.” He says insistently.

“Mccree is a Narcolept. Hanzo an Insomniac.” She says, not looking at the note. "I know that one from experience." She says as Mccree looks at Hanzo, starting to believe her. 

"Everyone knows that." Hanzo insists. 

"Fine, I'll tell you something you don't even know yet. You're wedding is tomorrow because Mccree is going on a 2 month mission to Siberia to track down talon agents left in that part of the world. And he already knows." She says and Mccree looks at her shocked. 

"Only Morrison knows that." He says and Hanzo looks at him.

"Why were you keeping that from me? You promised to be honest with me at the beginning of our relationship." Hanzo hisses.

"He planned to tell you tonight but I beat him to it." She shrugs, suddenly sipping from a tea cup.

"Darlin I didn't know what ta do. I was just tryna figure out the right words ta explain myself." Mccree says, pleading with the fire in Hanzo's eyes. 

Hanzo looks to the girl with a deep scowl. She knows it well as the teacup disappears and toby barks at him. 

"Why are you here?" He insists from her.

"I'm here to write a report on my birth." She says simply, causing them to go into shock again.

~reality~

Jesse looks at Mcada skeptically.

"Time travel? Now that's impossible." He says, causing her to laugh.

"Maybe right now but this story is based in the future." She says as they stop at a little tree to sit under until dark.

"Then how do you know it?" He asks.

"That's another long story entirely." She laughs. "Go ahead and sleep some kid, we're walking all night." She says and he nods, leaning on the tree.

"Goodnight Mcada." He mumbles and she smiles a bit.

"Night, Jesse." She says softly, keeping watch.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

How shall I begin?

So, recently I've been mulling over actually starting to post Kaaru's story, starting with her birth, BUT, I have no idea if I should. I would love to share the characters I've created but I'm simply worried that I might now give her enough substance or too much. Kaaru and Jedediah are very complex people and I've put nearly 2 years into their development. I'm just nervous of posting anything. I'm just in need of some positive feedback about it because I dont even know if anyone wants to learn more.

Please let me know.

For today's prompt, I give you the youngest I've ever drawn Jedediah. He's roughly 5 years old and has been in a test tube his whole life besides the few moments Winston takes to teach him to walk, eat, and breathe.

From day 1 Winston has kept the young boy a secret from his family. Only he knows that the day of the explosion, the day of young Kaaru's birth, a second child was born. Her twin brother.

He had given the boy a name and a purpose, knowing that the Asian archer and cowboy would never let him near their daughter unsupervised.

He named him Jedediah Sherbert Shimada-Mccree.

And his purpose?

Winston's labrat.

But the boy is dying and only one thing can save him.

Will she find him in time?

Storytime!

Sorry for my broken English and dumbness in advance!

So I wanted to share it for a while... It happened 285 days ago. Yes, I remember the exact date.

I was on a small trip to Melihovo (Chekhov's manor) with my family. I had a weird urge to dress according to the time period Chekhov lived there. Lucky I had just the perfect dress that looked 1890-1900-ish. Some people even thought that I am one of the actors :)

I was taking pictures by a huge tree when a girl offered me an apple as a prop. She was so nice! I wanted to take pictures with her but she had to follow her family. For some reason couldn't stop thinking about her until the play started. And later on I managed to find her and we just danced in the garden to the faint sounds of distant music and fooled around. I think I began to like her so much... Strangely, I didn't get her social media...

So now I remember this trip from time to time and I want to meet her again. But I have troubles recognising people's faces so the only way for me is to come to the manor in this 1900s dress again in hopes she'll be there

Hm I might be reblogging more these days BUT I HAVE A STORY!

tl;dr #8 on the aforementioned list is fantastic and *NOT just for flirting*

Last year (actually around this time of year) I was in a store looking for plantains (disappointed in what I could find but hey, the store was in Nevada) and while in the checkout line this old man approaches me just a little too fast and goes

"Do you always look like..." and boy howdy I was ready for some awkward way to avoid the conversation BUT THEN HE GOES "...you're up to something?"

And fellas it's been a long day you have no idea how far I drove and how long I'd been in stores that day

and I just

staring dead-eyed at this random old stranger

say

"Yes."

20 Flirty Remarks to Build Romantic Tension Without Being Overbearing

Feeling stuck trying to give your characters a good flirty one-liner that doesn't sound cringe/overdone? Here are 20 ideas/dialogue prompts for you (that I may or may not have stolen from my own books): 

“I must warn you: you have a dangerous effect on my heart rate.” / "You have no idea what you're doing to my heart right now."

"If I said I wasn’t thinking about you, I’d be lying. And I’m a terrible liar."

"You know, I could get lost in those eyes, but I'd probably trip over my words trying to find my way back." (could also double as description/inner monologue).

“I can’t tell if you’re really charming or if I’m just easily charmed.”

“You have a knack for making me forget what I was going to say. It’s kind of impressive/infuriating.”

“I think you owe me a drink. When I saw you, I dropped mine.”

“I’ve been trying to find the perfect excuse to hang out, but I keep forgetting everything when I’m around you.”

“I bet you get away with a lot of trouble with that smile.”

“You must be a magician because every time you walk in, everyone else disappears.” (The right character could pull it off I swear)

"I’ve been trying to think of something clever to say, but all my brain can come up with is how much I want to (kiss) you."

"I saw that little glance—you’re not as sneaky as you think."

"How do you manage to make even the most mundane things sound exciting?"

"You do this cute thing with your hands when you’re nervous, you know?"

“One more word, and I might just have to kiss you.”

"Finally, there's that pretty smile of yours. I've been waiting for it all day."

"You keep staring—should I be flattered?" / "Keep looking at me like that and I might start thinking you have a crush on me."

"Do you have any idea how fun it is to watch you try to keep a straight face?"

"I’m pretty sure you could charm the socks off anyone, but I’d like to keep mine on for now."

"If laughter is the best medicine, then I’m pretty sure you’re my favorite doctor."

"Is it bad that I kind of like the way you’re trying to mess with me?"

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