#{ & about } Oliver Hampton

[bucksboobs]

In Season 8 onwards Tommy Buck and Eddie should absolutely have the Oliver Hampton—Connor Walsh—Asher Millstone dynamic where Eddie is super enthusiastic about their relationship and their sex life to the point that you wonder if maybe he wants in on it btw if you even care

[xaphrin]

At Midnight, My Heart Drops

Fuck.

Raven stared into Damian's calm face, desperately trying to think of something to say - an excuse, a flippant comment - anything. But, no. She stood there, frozen on the spot watching the muscle in his jaw twitch as he waited for an answer for the most unnerving question he could have asked her. 

“I'm… sorry?” She feigned ignorance, trying to buy enough time to get her brain to process his request again. Her heart was pounding in her throat and he had to have heard it. “Can you ask me that one more time?”

“Be my date for the Wayne New Year's Eve party.” 

When he repeated it, it sounded less of a request and more of a demand. As though the inconvenience of repeating himself should have been repaid with a ‘yes’ answer regardless of what the question was. Cocky bastard. Raven fought the automatic urge to open a portal to anywhere and shove him in it. Taking a deep breath, she calmed her pounding heart and stared at him, keeping her face expressionless. Just because she was adept at controlling her emotions, it didn’t mean she didn’t have any.  

“What the fuck for? You’re the son of Bruce Wayne. You wake up and trip over people trying to get dates with you. You have a wellspring of viable candidates to choose from for a New Year’s Eve party.” She fought to keep her panic under control, and continued to stare at him, hoping she looked calmer than she felt. “Please don't ask the girl who doesn't know the difference between an oyster fork and an olive fork.”

“Or a dessert fork.” He smirked as he reminded her of the celebratory dinner party the Mayor had in their honor last year, and the horror of some societal elites as Raven ate her salad with a dessert fork. The scandal.

Raven's face fell and she gave him a deadpan stare, but Damian was unaffected. Finally, he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “The truth is that I need someone I trust to run interference.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted an eyebrow, motioning for him to elaborate. 

“There are… girls. Women.” He shrugged. “Some men.”

“Yes. That's usually who make up populations of people. Your point?”

“I'm a rich, educated, eligible bachelor.” He groaned and stared up at the ceiling, as if he was ashamed to be direct. “Of marrying age.”

“You forgot good looking.”

Why in the fuck had she admitted that out loud? Raven bit the inside of her cheek to keep from looking embarrassed, but Damian stared at her, and she swore she saw his face flush at least a little. She shrugged, trying to be as objective as possible. “I'm not blind, Damian.” She managed to keep herself from blurting out the rest of that statement: you're drop dead gorgeous and totally stacked - of course people are going to try and at least bang you.

“So what… you want me to lurk in the shadows and scare off anyone you don't approve of? Is there someone specific you're trying to… date? Court?” She rubbed her thumb along her jaw, thinking. “What do rich people from the Hamptons call it? Woo?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned. “Is there a reason you're being so blithe about this?”

“You just asked me to be your pretend girlfriend so that you can avoid talking to people who might want to date you.” She shoved at her hair and crossed her arms over her chest, needing to do something with her hands. “That’s a setup for a bad romance movie.”

He sighed again, obviously frustrated that Raven wasn’t taking his request seriously. Raven couldn’t take his request seriously. The minute she stopped trying to treat his request like a joke, her heart would break into a hundred pieces. She had been harboring feelings for Damian for years, practically since they had been pulled onto the Titans team together. She could keep her feelings under control as long as she kept a heavy barrier of friendship and distance between them. 

But knowingly putting herself into a situation where she had to be a girlfriend - even a pretend one - would force all of those feelings front and center. It would leave an opening for her to confess those feelings, and she would admit to him (and probably all of his family too) that she loved him. If Raven was being honest with herself, she didn’t want to be hurt when Damian ultimately rejected her confession.

She could see the whole scene play out over and over in her mind, and the risk felt far too great. 

“You’re the only one I want to be my date for the party.”

Raven felt like the floor underneath her had just disappeared. Her heart fell into her stomach before leaping back into her chest to pound frantically against her ribs. Damian’s face was unreadable, and he stared at her, his eyes searching her face for something he could read. 

Raven panicked again, trying to find something she could say that would keep her in control. “Is it because you trust me to not fall in love with you?” Because too late, she added within her own thoughts. 

“Because you’re my friend and I trust you. Full stop.” 

The excitement of his words mingled with the pain of the word friend, leaving Raven to feel both elated and disappointed at the same time. But, that was what she wanted, wasn’t it? She would rather be safe behind her barrier of friendship, then put herself at risk of a broken heart. But still… if he only considered her a friend, then there was nothing she needed to worry about. She could do this for him, as a friend.  

Rubbing her forehead, she turned and stepped back from him, knowing that her next words were going to be her downfall. 

“Just tell me when I have to meet you, and what the hell I should wear.”

[unabashegirl]

Enticing 47 — Harry Styles x CEO

Summary: Harry is a young billionaire and CEO of his own company. He mostly keeps to himself, he is stern and very meticulous when it comes to business. He also likes to keep his personal life very private for the sake of his newly born son Oliver Styles. It isn't until he meets Y/N Y/L/N that everything changes. She becomes his new nanny after his previous one quits due to personal reasons. She is young, caring, and sweet. Will they ignore their feelings? Will Harry's girlfriend accept their love and leave them? Will she be able to cope with his busy agenda? What about Oliver's mother? Where is she? Who is she?

masterlist

Fury was an inadequate description. His blood simmered, muscles tensed, and an intense headache began to claim his senses. The invasion of his home by his parents, attempting to persuade him to leave his pregnant girlfriend, left him seething. His ire was particularly directed at his mother. Harry, who had been a staunch supporter of his mother, found himself taken aback by her actions. The dynamics had shifted, and it surprised him.

"I thought you liked Y/N, Mom," Harry pointed out, circling around his office desk, pulling out a chair, and taking a seat.

"Please," his mother huffed, rolling her eyes, "after that outburst in the Hamptons, did you think I would continue to tolerate her?" The word 'tolerate' cut deep, and Harry could sense that she was once again under his father's influence. "She's not fit to be with someone of your caliber, honey. Please try to understand."

Harry let out a heavy laugh at her words.

"As if you were. You were a nobody before you met my father. He made you into what you've become. Without him, you are nobody." Mrs. Styles' demeanor instantly changed. Harry realized he had wounded her in the same way she had wounded him. Despite his love for his mother, this wasn't the woman he knew.

"I went to visit you in the office, and I wasn't allowed in. May I know why?" Mr. Styles finally interrupted, sitting beside his wife. She reached for his hand, seeking comfort, but he pulled away, ignoring the gesture.

"You have no business being there. I also don't like being disturbed at work or at my home," Harry added. "I guess it's clear what's going to happen here, right?" He rolled up his sleeves and took a sip of his whiskey. "You are to forget about me and my family. I'm not leaving Y/N. I'm staying with her and our kids. Say goodbye to your grandkids because you'll never see them again."

"You can't prevent me from going to the office, Edward," his father sneered, leaning in. "I built that company into what it is today. I'm still on the board. I could get you fired with a snap of my fingers," Richard Styles warned, relishing the feeling that his son was challenging him.

Harry couldn't believe it. He was a grown man, and his father was threatening to snatch his company away as if it were some trivial possession. Adding insult to injury, Richard had deliberately called him Edward, a childhood taunt that harked back to times of abuse, when Richard would mistreat Harry's mother, and young Harry would intervene, only to be yelled at and pushed aside.

"Try me," Harry retorted, "No one on the board would support it. I'm making them too wealthy for them to ever let me go, father. Something you failed miserably to achieve at my age because you were too busy indulging in recklessness and fucking drowning your life in alcohol."

Richard rose to his feet, lunging across the table to grab Harry.

"You insolent fool. I should have put an end to you when I had the chance," Harry remained composed. "That woman is going to be your fucking downfall, Edward."

"Get out!" Harry demanded, his voice escalating. "Get the fuck out of my house and erase any memory of ever having a son! Both of you," he shouted, pointing to the door. "OUT. I've had enough of your nonsense!"

Harry harbored an indescribable hatred for his father. Richard was selfish and cold, devoid of any merit for politeness from Harry. When Harry became a father himself, he had hoped for a revelation, a sense of understanding or sympathy for Richard. Yet, it turned out to be the opposite. Harry loved Oliver unconditionally, placing him above all else. The profound contempt Richard held for his own children remained an unfathomable mystery to Harry.

As Richard rose and surveyed the room, Jacqueline took a moment to compose herself.

"Harry, I—" she began, attempting to speak before leaving.

"I said get out, Mom. I don't want to hear it. You've betrayed me beyond comprehension. I don't want to see you again," Harry asserted firmly, his tone unforgiving. "I don't want to hear it again." Jacqueline, laden with guilt and remorse, didn't utter a word. She simply adjusted the end of her Chanel suit and exited the room.

Y/N arrived much later than anticipated. The meeting had extended far beyond her expectations, leaving her unable to leave promptly. Upon entering the apartment, she kicked off her heels at the front door and hung her purse on the foyer table. The entire place was eerily silent, with all the lights on the ground floor turned off except for the staircase. A brief moment of unease set in until she spotted Mrs. Johnson descending the stairs, which immediately put her at ease.

"Why is it so quiet?" Y/N inquired. Typically, when she arrived, the TV was on, lights were ablaze, and Harry and Oliver were somewhere in the kitchen or on the couch.

"Mr. Styles is taking a nap upstairs. Oliver just settled down too," Mrs. Johnson explained.

"A nap? Is he okay?" Y/N questioned, surprised by the unusual resting.

"It's been quite an eventful evening, Ms. Y/L/N. Richard and Jacqueline forced themselves up here," Mrs. Johnson revealed, hinting at the unpleasant news they might have delivered.

"How bad is it?"

"He has been sleeping since five," she replied, and Y/N frowned. It was already nine-thirty, and Harry rarely slept that much.

"Alright. I'll see what I can do."

"Would you like some supper?"

"It's alright, Mrs. Johnson. I made sure to order takeout already. You can retire for the evening if you'd like," Y/N smiled before ascending the stairs, one hand on the railing for support.

The bedroom welcomed her with its cold and dark atmosphere. Y/N illuminated the space with her phone, ensuring a safe path to avoid any accidental mishaps. Noticing the balcony slide door slightly ajar explained the chilly temperature. Moving quietly, she tiptoed across the room, spotting Harry's suit on the floor. Approaching his side, she switched on a dimmed light.

He lay there, one hand covering his face, phone nearby. Still clad in the light blue button-down shirt he wore with his suit during the day, Y/N gently traced her hand down his back in an attempt to rouse him. She planted a few soft kisses on his cheek, watching as he gradually opened his eyes.

"Hello, darling," she greeted, kissing his nose. "How was your sleep?" Harry hummed in response, attempting to fully wake up.

"Hi," he smiled with his eyes slightly closed. "You're late," Harry pointed out, stretching out his arms. “Too much work?”

"My meeting ran longer than expected," Y/N explained as she unbuttoned her shirt and pants, contemplating the idea of getting pregnancy clothes for work. Harry smiled at her lovingly, his gaze drifting to her round belly, unable to contain the inevitable smile. He reached out and gently caressed her, reveling in the softness of her skin against his.

"Complaining about work, Mr. Styles? That's quite unlike you," Harry grunted with a broad smile, pulling her onto his lap. She laughed heartily as his fingers playfully tickled her sides, prompting her to burst into even more laughter. "I guess I'll just have to start coming home early for the missus."

"Oh, stop it!" Harry laughed. "You stood me up! I waited for you all night!"

"Stop!" she pleaded. "I am going to pee my pants or have the baby if you don't!" Y/N warned as he loosened his grip on her. "I love you," she whispered as she calmed down.

"I love you." He kissed the tip of her nose, a hand caressing the side of her tummy as she rested her head on his bicep.

"I've got great news," Y/N added after pushing some of his hair away from his face.

"Do tell," Harry whispered, kissing her uncovered shoulder.

"I got a call from Dr. Williams, and the genetic test results are ready. He sent them over today."

"All right. What did they say?"

"I don't know." Y/N bit her bottom lip as Harry's kisses on her neck and shoulders abruptly stopped. "I haven't checked them out yet. I wanted to wait for you. Plus, the gender is also attached." She was beyond nervous. Every time she opened her phone, it felt like the email called out to her, begging her to open and read the results. Y/N hoped that their baby was healthy.

"Well, let's read it then."

"I am nervous," she whispered as she reached for her phone, which had been placed on the nightstand upon entering. Harry grabbed both of her hands and kissed them.

"We will be all right." Harry sat up and pulled her onto his lap as she held her phone close to her body with shaking hands.

TAGLIST: @0oolookitsme, @happycupcakeenthusiast, @kennedywxlsh, @hsfics, @stylesbrock, @bluemoonedwings, @cherriesrae, @vornilla, @mellamolayla, @harryscurls21, @stilesissaved, @be-with-me-so-happily, @harryssattelitestomper, @jerseygirlinca, @tenaciousperfectionunknown, @lomloliviam @stylesfever, @daphnesutton, @n0vaj3an, @breezykpop, @kathb59, @sassamanda77, @sherbitdibdab

If you would like to read ahead and get access to the rest of the chapters and read the ending of enticing and more writing pieces then check out my Patreon and join our community.

[youcalledmebabe]

hot pygmalion summer webgott if you're still doing the wip ask game 👀

I am indeed! hot Pygmalion summer webgott (aka My Fair Liebgott) is sort of a frothy tropey Pygmalion/My Fair Lady type story. Web invites Joe to spend the summer of 1948 with the Websters in the Hamptons with the aim of turning Joe into a gentleman. If Joe marries a rich girl in Web’s circle, they’ll never have to be apart. Not that Web’s in love with him or anything—he’d never fall for his creation!

Dear Joe,

I write you as a graduate of Harvard’s esteemed literature program. At last, a Bachelor of Arts—only took eight years with a little break for war! I’ve returned from a wild weekend with my roommate in Hyannis Port to celebrate our achievement. Now all that’s left to do is choose which books and which swimming trunks I want to bring to the Hamptons for the summer. As much as I love school, I can’t lie: I’m looking forward to doing absolutely nothing but swimming and reading. Sort of like Austria, but infinitely better, because Peacock is a thousand miles away and I never have to wear olive again.

Which brings me to the real purpose of this letter. My roommate’s family is sharp and funny and they reminded me of you, but nobody else is really you. It made me miss you, deeply, which I’m sure will make you shake your head at how maudlin I am, but I’m writing it anyway. I’d like to extend an invitation to come to our summer home. Stay for a weekend, stay the summer, or anything in between.

I’m enclosing the address and a voucher for a train ticket. Do not let your pride keep you from taking it. Write me back if you come or just show up. You’ve always been my favorite surprise.

Happy early birthday! I thought about mailing your present but I’d rather see your face when you get it—yet another reason to come!

Sincerely, David

[swayhere]

canon starter call - open to anyone !

i have a strong urge to write some canon muses, so if you would be interested in writing against any of the canon muses listed under the READ MORE below, please comment/IM me and i can send a starter your way or reply to one of your starters.

i do not require you to know anything about my muse's canon, but i'm more than happy to tell you about it if you ask. i'd be happy to write canon muses against your ocs! also, mixing fandoms is 100% ok with me unless your canon muse is problematic and makes me uncomfy. my canon muses do not have all their memories or relationships from their life unless we plot it, but they will have the same general personality/ambitions.

if you are willing to write against my canon muses but don't care which, just like this post, and i'll take a look at your open starters and/or send you a closed starter at random with a muse i think fits the vibe.

*please don't agree to write against my canon muses if you're one of those picky weirdos that will be up in arms if i don't write a cannon muse exactly how you would.

( if you'd prefer to write against an oc muse only, check this post. )

canon muses i'd like to write: bold = extra big muse rn. strikethrough = exclusive, so not rn.

muses from tv shows: 

911 — eddie diaz , evan buckley , athena grant , bobby nash , karen wilson

911: lonestar — carlos reyes , grace ryder , judson ryder , t.k. strand , owen strand

as the world turns — dr. reid oliver , luke snyder

boy meets world — shawn hunter , jack hunter , angela moore , topanga lawrence

chuck — sarah walker , chuck bartowski , bryce larkin 

degrassi — jimmy brooks , sean cameron , ellie nash , marco del rossi , sav bhandari , drew torres , zoe rivas , miles hollingsworth iii , tiny bell , esme song , 

gilmore girls — jess , luke

good trouble — gael martinez , jamie hunter , callie adams foster , mariana adams foster , evan speck , joaquin perez , dennis cooper 

how i met your father — sid , ian , sophie , jesse

how i met your mother — marshall eriksen , lily aldrin , victoria

how to get away with murder — laurel castillo , connor walsh , oliver hampton , michaela pratt , frank delfino 

jessica jones — jessica jones

lost — kate austen , juliet burke , daniel faraday , desmond hume , sayid jarrah , sun-hwa kwon , claire littleton , walter ‘walt’ lloyd , charlie pace , hugo ‘hurley’ reyes , shannon rutherford , miles straume 

new amsterdam — lauren bloom , elizabeth wilder , casey acosta

new girl — nick miller , winston bishop , cece parekh

one tree hill — nathan scott , lucas scott , keith scott , chase adams , brooke davis 

outer banks (obx) — jj maybank , kiara carrera

please like me — arnold 

rosewell, new mexico — michael guerin , maria deluca , isobel evans

scandal — olivia pope , prezzy fitz

scooby doo — daphne blake

stranger things — robin buckley , steve harrington , jim hopper , chrissy cunningham , eddie munson , max mayfield , eleven , mike wheeler 

superstore — jonah simms

the 100 — finn collins

the bear — richie jerimovich, carmy berzatto , marcus , sydney adamu  

the mindy project — danny castellano 

the office — ryan howard , jim halpert , pam halpert , kelly kapoor , holly flax

the politician — river barkley , astrid sloan 

the young & the restless — sally spectra , adam newman , chelsea lawson , phyllis summers , lily winters , sharon newman , chance chancellor , victoria newman , tessa porter , amanda sinclair , cole howard

younger — josh , kelsey peters

muses from books: 

along for the ride ( book version only ) — eli stock , auden west , maggie  

one of us is lying ( book version only ) — cooper clay , nate

red white & royal blue — alex claremont-diaz , prince henry , zahra bankston

we were liars — gatwick ‘gat’ matthew patil

muses from movies: 

dead poets society — neil perry , charlie dalton , todd anderson

harry potter — lee jordan

les mis — enjolras , grantaire 

super 8 — joe lamb , martin , preston

twilight — irina denali , jasper cullen

[paperleef]

Notes for the Associates of Gentlemen (and their disguises):

Madge was supposed to be a governess, that was the thing I had to latch onto with costumes. The reference photos I found of historical governesses weren't to the very specific time period of the 1880-90s. So what the hell, I found out that Doctor Who's Clara Oswin Oswald was a victorian governess and took reference to the closest photo I found. Madge's wig is also described to be blonde and her face with a beauty mark(completely forgot!) I referenced her wig from Mary Morstan in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes. I kind of thought of it to be neat since her backstory reminded me of Morstan's own.

James was simple enough. I always thought of his disguise to include a moustache when I first listened to the episode. His hair vaguely resembles Klaus's Jesper Johansson, and his clothes that of the night soil men aka sanitation workers in London. There is also the not forgotten, rogueishly askew ascot. I think it's supposed to be askew in a modern sense?

Hampton's was a bit silly. Newsboys in photographs tended to be of the 1900-1910s. I don't think there was any difference but I ended up finding out about Oliver! The Musical and Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist in general. He's a newsboy. Hampton's outfit is based off of the musical outfit of Oliver Twist. The original book was published in 1838.

Sketching ch4 was relatively the hardest. I did maybe three other thumbnail sketches before settling on the final one and I had to do concept art for the AoG and Jonathan Crimeria(who didnt even show up). At least it turned out fine. I didn't think I could've featured the AoG's disguises properly until I relistened to ch6 and realised the first part took place hours later of ch4. Surely they wouldn't have changed back even after they've done their misson?

Other drawings were Sarah, Jonathan, Archie, and McMurphy

[grandmaster-anne]

The King’s cousin David Linley on his new career

The Times article by Lisa Grainger | Published 25 January 2023

The Earl of Snowdon talks to Lisa Grainger about his book on English crafts, and mentoring future creators at his furniture-making college at Highgrove

There aren’t many people who’ll admit that crafts can reduce them to tears. The Earl of Snowdon is one of them. At one event, he recalls, musicians including Jeff Beck, Mike Rutherford and the Clash were invited to meet and interact with “incredible luthiers, who make violins and guitars and cellos”. It was “just magical”, he says. “It really did bring a tear to the eye . . .”

Since David Linley, King Charles III’s cousin, became the first royal to follow a vocation — producing handmade furniture — and set up an eponymous business, he has been one of Britain’s most vocal champions of crafts. Which is why he wrote a book, Craft Britain: Why Making Matters, co-authored by Helen Chislett, to bring attention to extraordinary craftspeople around the country.

The glossy tome, with an erudite introduction by the design writer Stephen Bayley, is not only a directory of all the key crafts organisations from Cornwall to the Hebrides but a compendium of some of our nation’s most remarkable makers. It takes in embroiderers based in Hampton Court Palace and chair craftsmen from Orkney, leather sculptors and cobblers, marquetry specialists and even a whip-maker.

Sadly, Chislett says, some crafts were left out of the book because the skills have died out. For instance, England no longer has a cricket ball manufacturer even though the game was invented here, “and we probably won’t make bats for much longer”. Hand-stitched kilt-making is on the Heritage Crafts Association Red List of Endangered Crafts, as is neon sign-making; even bell-making is on its way out, with churchgoing declining.

On the other hand, there are crafts that are growing. Ceramic-makers, for instance, have sprung up in the southwest of the country. In Newcastle metalworkers whose families previously might have made ships are constructing metal furniture. Chislett adds that crafts fairs are becoming increasingly popular, particularly with the younger generation. “They’re a lot more into sustainability . . . and you are less likely to throw something away if you know who made it.”

There’s a growing appreciation of bespoke objects at the very high end of the market, Linley says. At his furniture company (from which he resigned in November) clients loved coming in to commission bespoke pieces with little quirks: a secret drawer with a martini shaker in it, or an inkwell filled with a specific colour of ink. “You can fantasise about what you like and get someone to bring it to life,” he says.

His own London home — “a little flat, which I am very lucky to have” — is filled with handcrafted items that have meaning: a pair of candlesticks that belonged to his theatre-designer uncle Oliver Messel; cushions embroidered by British seamstresses; tables turned by fellow carpenters; a pair of bespoke British shoes made “in precisely the colour and style and shape I like”. Each of them feels special, because “there is something rather lovely about a piece that’s come from the hand of a human”, he says. “It resonates with the human spirit.”

The next part of Linley’s professional journey, he says, will be nurturing others who want to work with their hands. At Street Farm at Highgrove, the Gloucestershire home of the King, an old barn has been converted into the Snowdon School of Furniture, where Linley is going to help to mentor the next generation of furniture-makers. “I am 61 now,” he says, “and it’s time to step back and allow the young people at Linley do things how they want. I have worked all my life creating a brand. And I can now do things for the Prince’s Foundation that are enjoyable and freeing.”

Having made furniture for almost 40 years, Linley says he’s relishing the fact that crafts are becoming more mainstream. “Today you’ll hear Tracey Emin talk about craft, and even sportsmen. This morning on Radio 4 a commentator was talking about a footballer as a craftsman and comparing him to Picasso. That might have been a comparison too far — but there is now far more recognition of the skills needed to do something well. And that can only be a good thing.”

[saleintothe90s]

490. The 1980 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, November 27, 1980

(the whole parade is here, if you just want the commercials and highlights, it's here)

Randy Hamilton from the soap opera Texas sings "Deep in the Heart of Texas" with a small child? Who is this small child. I want it to be a random child that they chose three minutes before turning the cameras on. Randy doesn't have a Wikipedia page! Sadness.

Ahhh!! Is that a baby Mark Linn Baker in the GE commercial?!

I love the crowd whooping it up for the cast of One 'Mo Time. I was wondering what was behind them --- I think it was the broadcast booth for host Ed McMahon! Just ... there with the saddest looking Woolworth decorations ever.

What a weird closing card (what do you call that?) for this Child World / Children's Palace commercial that aired constantly. Ok, the bear didn't fall on his butt? That was the best shot we could get?

For some reason Marilyn Michaels takes off her gloves while singing "Watching the Parade go Byyy". That couldn't of waited, Marilyn?

Todd Bridges sang a song about the Summer. I felt bad for Todd, he had no back up dancers, just dancing in the street. Was this a time filler? Loved the song!

A baby Glenn Close was there with the cast of Barnum. I feel like Ed is auditioning for the Star Search hosting gig with this parade. I love his energy.

I love the juxtaposition of Bryant Gumbel thanking the Museum of Natural history for letting people warm up in their building with Doodlebug.

Ed sang a song! When was the last time a host SANG.

I thought Cootie ran over a clown, but the clown deliberately laid down in front of him??

Just for us Hampton Roads girlies, Busch Gardens of Williamsburg had a Loch Ness Monster float! It's still at Busch Gardens! The cast of Brigadoon was on the float.

Ed was trying to find a date for Happy Dragon. He said "I guess now that he's 21, he's free to go out in the evening and date whomever he chooses. So if you have an eligible dragon hanging around your house moping, we might be able to set them up and in the years to come, who knows how many dragons we might have in the parade!"

There was a float for everyone's favorite box office flop, Popeye! I think that's supposed to be Olive Oyl?!

1980 was electric football's year. It felt like it was the only toy advertised!

"Tonka's Bear in a Box! Everyone's favorite!"

Finally, a game that looks like one of my dad's vintage fire scanners.

Cowboys were HOT this year, due to the movie Urban Cowboy, and the TV show Dallas. Modern equivalent to this would be this past Summer's Western Barbie! We even had Dean Butler from Little House on the Prairie sing "Don't Fence Me In" while riding a tortoise. The Lone Ranger even showed up. Oh, and even the McDonalds commercial with Ronald was western themed.

While Snoopy couldn't fly this year due to a leg injury, we had Underdog.

Can we discuss how a station wagon is pulling a float. Later on, I saw an Oldsmobile sedan towing the float with the Spinners on it.

This beautiful phone store.

I feel like by the time we were growing up in the late 80s/early 90s, Kermit had more bad days at the parade than good, but 1980 was a good year for him. Just look at him.

Casper is over here looking like the baby from Ally McBeal.

Bob from Sesame Street sang a song while Bert & Ernie danced. Even Oscar liked the song.

Unfortunately, the entire parade isn't on YouTube. Looks like the recorder only set their VCR for two hours. One of the final things you see is Linda Ronstadt and the cast of The Pirates of Penzance. "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" slaps.

Related: previous thanksgiving entries.

Facebook | Etsy | Retail History Blog | Twitter | YouTube Playlist | Random Post | Ko-fi donation | instagram / threads @thelastvcr​ | tik tok @ saleintothe90s | eBay shop: deadmalls |

[girlwithshipsshitshow]

COLIVER SEASON 3& OTHER HTGAW THOUGHTS

3x1

C:don’t hire Oliver, he find out everything and I can’t let it destroy hom.

Oliver goes to interview, confesses that he deleted Conners accepts emails, and rerouted it to him. “See I can be bad”

AK: I’m going to hire your boyfriend

C: no, you told me you weren’t going to do that.

A: did you know he deleted your Standford acceptance? Plus he can hack my files.

Nice blackmail… 😒 nice way to break them up.

C: I was putting my feelings before yours, I’m sorry.

O: you’re sorry? You get to me mad. Maybe we’re just both messed up, or the sex is so good that we can’t see it, but this is not what a healthy relationship looks like.

(Or maybe, he’s hiding so much bad shit from you that this one little thing doesn’t even matter so much in Comparison)

C: we’re the best relationship that I know

O: then that’s really sad.

C: how is that sad? I love you, Oliver

O: wow that’s your response after finding out I lied to you?

C: everyone lies in relationships. (Like I was involved in a series of murders, and I’m not don’t have a drug addiction, they only thing I’ve never lied about is my feelings for you)

O: I don’t lie, so I love, I love you so Much. You’ve been so good to me, even when most guys would’ve run. You just loved me.

C: you loved me back.

O: I’m not the same anymore. I think I need to figure out when I am alone. I think we should break up.

🥺🥺🥺

3x2

C: do you like this apartment?

O: you don’t have to rush to move out?

C: we’ll you dumped me so…

Everyone: what did you do to him?

C: it wasn’t my fault this time!!

AK: Mr. Hampton is the clinics new tech expert use him as you wish.

O: as long it’s it’s legal. 😬

C: 🫣

M: think of Connors feelings, he just got dumped, we have to be more sensitive.

Ash: we’ll we have to be more sensitive to litter Asher.

M: help me find a witness.

Connor calling Oliver to make him feel better even though they’re broken up. 🥺

Ollie waiting to celebrate Connors first win, and then Connor kissing him hurts because like they’re still so In love obviously, but Connor can’t live with him like that.

C: I love you Oli, and I need you right now more than you know. So whatever you need I’ll do. I just want to make you happy like you make me happy. 🥺🥺💔💔

O: if you want to make me happy, you should let me go.

C: okay, I’ll pack.

Michaela is so sweet for taking him in though, like they have a great friendship.

3x3

AK: Mr Walsh call your boyfriend and have him-

Ash: Oliver’s not his boyfriend anymore.

An: what did you do?

C: *why does everyone think it’s my fault* it’s his decision, it’s fine. I’ll call him.

O: what did you say to that guy?

C: nothing.

O: you sabotaged me.

C: no I didn’t , you dodged a bullet.

C: sorry, I got jealous, and told him to Back off. (Obviously not true, but whatever helps the tension between them)

O: I don’t want you to be sorry, I want you to act like an adult.

C: I’ll do better.

3x4

Connor being jealous because Simon is spending time with Oliver, so he gets on humper I’m front of him, then Oliver  reveals he’s on humper and now they’re both jealous. 😅😅

Oliver doesn’t want Connor rubbing it in his face that he’s hooking up but Connor is only hooking up to fill the Void. For Oliver it’s hard for him to find someone because he’s POS and still that’s hard In community.

3x5

Simons a dick

Simon trying to go through the K5s stuff because he’s blaming them for taking his laptop. Maybe if you weren’t such an ass you wouldn’t have a reason to blame them, sorry they hate you. Love Michaela for telling him off, he deserved all of that. Fuck him.

Love that Michaela stole it for Ollie to hack, we knew Simon was a bad guy the way he trashes AK, like yeah they aren’t saints either but…

The outline won’t help, you’re still an ass.

3x6

The k5 making laurel sit behind them for keeping secrets is so petty. But tbh she’s kept the most.

Coliver broke up because Oliver wanted space, and now he’s going on a date. Connor is allowed to be hurt.

3x7

Connor talking to Oliver about Thomas like he’s not jealous to make it seem less awkward is not helping.

The K4 being able to get their feelings out for AK was great, but it’s didn’t seem liked she heard them.

Oliver giving himself a prep talk is so cute. Thomas not wanting to be with him because he’s pos is a shitting move. Even with him being like “damn I was just starting to like you too” but his loss.

Not AK being mad because she gave them a chance to tell them how they feel, like come on. I know they messed up, but you holding it over their heads is shitty. “You’re my puppet” AK to laurel. Another reason why it’s shitty for her to act like that. Stop acting like you’re better than them when you got them to shoot you. 😒

O: you wanna walk over to the bar together?

C: I should go study.

O: look at you taking your schoolwork seriously.

C: *notices a change in Oliver’s body language* are you okay?

O: yeah.

C: *clearly doesn’t believe him*

Oliver comes over to talk to Connor about Thomas after drinking. Thinks it’s selfish of him to say he misses Connor after breaking up with him and hurting him.

O: it’s not fair for me to come here because I’m sad, and depressed.

C: you can always come to be, you know that.

O: isn’t that selfish though?

C: no, I miss you too.

*they kiss, they have sex on Michaela’s bed* Asher is happy they’re friends again. Ofc they’ve always been friends.

Lol. Asher’s giggle because they’re friends again.

3x8

Asher is obsessed with gay sex. Michaela is upset that Connor has sex with Oliver because he broke Connors heart. Oliver wanting to have sex at work but then he has to go to AKs. And Simon trying to start stuff. Listen SIMON, they can’t involve Oliver because there’s a lot of shot that Connor can’t tell him! BUT OUT ASSHOLE.

Them showering together is cute. Ollie trying to figure out what Connor is working on not cute, he doesn’t want to talk about AK, while spending time with you idiot. He wants to be with you.

Them fighting because Connor is hiding stuff for Oliver’s protection. I love Oliver, but Connor was right that Oliver was being a jerk, like he can’t tell Oliver he loves him but there’s a lot he can’t know. And him saying he has emotional damage, yeah I think you would too if you had to cover up a lot of shit. You don’t get to treat him like that Oliver, that’s not cool.

AK is always wanting people to shoot her, like girl stop.

3x9

O: you’re going to make a great lawyer some day

C: for someone so damaged?

O: I regret saying that.

C: don’t, I’d rather be damaged then fake.

💔💔💔💔.

3x10

Connor coming over to comfort Oliver and then him telling Conner about the hacked phone, Connor trying to Admit what happened finally, Oliver being scared to hear it. He’ll have to sometime.

Just because Connor isn’t upset doesn’t mean you get to punch him Asher. Connor has been dealing with grief and pain since day one, he gets to be upset about everything. Yeah he said something dumb, but beating him up was dumb too.

Connor telling Oliver where he was the night of the fire to hurt him and saying he’ll continue to because that’s who he is and he should go to the police to end everything.

C: I feel nothing, I’m just broken and sick. I just need all of this to stop, so please just do what I never could.

3x11

Michaela talking to him in a gentle voice about Sam, and then asking him to hack the DA… wow. She’s good.

Now they’re in this together.

C: I should’ve broken up with you a long time again, instead I just needed you.

O: I need you too. Will you spoon me?

*they do*

O: don’t let go.

C: I won’t

3x12

Coliver comforting each other 💕💕

C: the Walls are super thin..

D- do people say something when y’all have sex?

Damn, AK os crazy smart, and crazy.

3x13

Oliver calling Thomas is crazy to finally get the truth is interesting, how would that conversation even go? But Connor hiding the truth because he was scared makes sense.

3x14

Connor has felt guilty since day one, he’s either wanted to go to jail or die.

Michaela and Oliver protecting Connor 🥺🥺.

3x15

Connor trying to save Wes . And then them being mad because he didn’t call 911. Then hearing a bone crack, that’s not what killed him, gas was already leaking, there was nothing he could’ve done. Oliver is right, they’ve all done awful things, and he’s protected all of them. Do they same for Connor. He already hates himself enough for everything, Wes wasn’t his favorite, but he wouldn’t kill him.

AK, trying to get in his head by saying Oliver’s only worth him because he can’t be alone and he’s broken. Like he already knows that, is that why he choose him, because he’s been this way since he was a kid? He’s easier to break because he’s already that way?

Laurel not caring about Connor because she blames hom for was his bull he’s been there for you. It’s not his fault, and you trying to tell Oliver he shouldn’t matter because he lied for Ollie’s protection is just the worst thing you can say to him, Ollie loves him, I know you’re hurt but pulling that shit is awful. Connor feels bad enough, and Ollie is scared, he doesn’t need your pain on top of all this, everyone is in pain, and everyone is scared.

O: all of you treat Connor like shit, but i know him, and I love him. And I can’t wait around for him to get hurt.

Ash: *eating food, shoving it in laurels face*

B: *kicks everyone out*

Asher stop shoving food in laurels face dumbass. Laurel is pissing me off but at least all of them are together.

O: I know I’m not next of kin, but he’s my boyfriend, like we’re gay. We do lots of gay stuff together.

Connor telling them that Oliver had the flash drive was smart, but Laurel still being mad at him is bullshit because he thought it was safe due to what Oliver told him. And then saying Wes was the suspect, and her saying Wes was good?! When they’re all murders. Like bitch please, I know you loved him, but he wasn’t perfect either. None of you are. AK GO OFF!! Laurel needs to stop acting like she and Wes were perfect. You’re both murders.

Nothing like a marriage proposal after being kidnapped, and your partner looking at you like you’re insane.

[obscurushydrae]

The Children of Hecate:

Overview: Kar is technically the first but not the only "children". One of the abilities Hecate has in the Mignolaverse is to confer vampirism-- but not all vampires come from her. The other two children are just that-- mortal humans turned into vampires. Kar is only one who can claim chthonic heritage.

Given how much affection she gives Girescu, it is possible there is some level of care, perhaps Hecate would of course favor those who worship her, so it's understanding Girescu and Bathory were favored. It could simply mean Kar was still as much a defiant child as she is an adult and not hanging on her mother's word every word ; making their their relationship tense. However I do believe all three were not truly children to loved and cared for in the end-- they were intended to be weapons, engines of her wrath upon the mortal realm and her love could simply be a form of grooming/gaslighting them to the roles she desired of them.

It is interesting to note all three were used as vehicles for an attempted resurrection and all failed. Using Girescu in 1997, Bathory in 2003, and one final attempt with Kar in early 2005.

Makaria Polyditos/Kar Hem, the Lesser Dragon:

Born of a fusion of her own lifeforce and magic, the Promethean flame, and the egg of final Ogdru Hem, Makaria was first of her children. Bound in a body that upset cosmic balance, in the end it was her intent to leash the last of Hem to use as her own weapon upon her nonbeleivers. At least until the Priests of Anum sealed her away. It is unknown if Hecate made any actual real attempts to save or find the child, left to be forgotten by everyone. Until the 1989 expedition that recovered her sarcophagus, and was in Bureau custody. Out of all three she is one who is most defiant, constantly at odds with her mother, which could explain why is not as favored as the other two, at least until their deaths.

Erzsebet Ondrushko, Countess Bathory:

[Note: Please let me say as the writer I personally believe the historical Erzsebet Bathory was a much maligned woman and believe it was likely a fictional account created in a conspiracy against her for her wealth. However Erzsebet Ondrushko, Countess Bathory (as she called in Blood & Iron) is a fictional character and being treated separated from the historical woman. I trust my followers can understand and think critically when handling real life people, I just wanted to be clear on that.]

Erzsebet Bathory was introduced to the cult of Hecate in her lifetime (perhaps through Mikhail Girescu), becoming a high priestess in the cult centered in Hungary (Now modern-day Slovakia). At some point in the 1600s she was chased out of her lands, and sought refuge in Transylvania, hunting her prey until 1933.

A young Trevor Bruttenholm was part of the 1939 investigation, confronting the countess and eventually luring her to her supposed death (by forcing her out through a window into the sunlight; oddly mirroring what his son will do to Hecate in 64 years later.)

In 2003 she is resurrected with her mistress in a mansion in the Hamptons (the NYer/LIer in me is slightly annoyed at vague detail) purchased by Hotelier Oliver Trumbolt to turn into a hotel-- Trumbolt unfortunately being killed as part of the ritual. (I will go more in depth in another post about this mission in another post soon as it pertains to my muse's story directly.)

Vladimir Girescu:

[Note: I'd recommend scouring the Wiki or reading Wake the Devil for more information, I've cut it short for brevity.]

Vladimir was born into a noble family in the late 1400s (what is now modern day Romania). His father was an adherent to Hecate after buying her off a Greek fisherman in 1492, and restoring her to life. He was given the gift of vampirism; and when Vladimir drowned in his youth, she restored him to life, granting him the same powers, and started calling him her son.

For centuries Castle Girescu was the center of blood and death; Vladimir taking no less than six brides. In the 1700s he would take the role of mercenary under king George III fighting against the colonists in American Revolution. He would continue to fight wars for the English until the 1800s, where he was forced back to his home country until 1944. The Sonnerad Society recruited him for Project Vampir Sturm, with hopes of creating vampire soldiers for the Reich. After meeting the Fuhrer, he and his wives were sent to Dachau to be killed: stakes, beheaded, and eventually burned. His corpse managed to survive the betrayal and smuggled out of the country until discovered in a wax museum in New York in 1997.

Girescu and his "mother" were resurrected in his home castle by Ilsa Haupstein in hopes of bringing back the army of vampires for Rasputin, only to be destroyed by Hellboy. His body would fall into BPRD custody, but once again stolen while in temporary storage at the airport in Burcharest.

[scotianostra]

On 5th May 1646 King Charles Stewart surrendered to Scottish Covenanters besieging the English town of Newark.

This was all tied in with the English Civil War, the King, and his Royalist army had suffered defeat and Charles wanted to discuss terms for his surrender, he thought he would be safest with the Scottish army and made his way to the camp of the Scottish army at Southwell, near Newark.

To be fair, at this time none of the armies wanted to harm the King, they wanted to negotiate with him and restore peace to England. The Scots? They just wanted him not to interfere with their church and were prepared to have Charles as king as long as he did so and also create a new Church of England that was exactly like the Scottish Presbyterian Church.

The Scots eventually handed him over to the Parliamentarians for £400,000, although the numbers vary depending on the source, to pay the soldiers. At the end of December 1647, the bulk of the Scottish army marched back across the River Tweed and the king’s Scottish guards were replaced by English Parliamentarian ones.

Charles kept talking to Parliament and the Scots throughout this time, then in November 1647 he escaped from Hampton Court. He fled to the Isle of Wight and made an alliance with the Scots. In return, he agreed to the Scots’ demands about the English church. In the summer of 1648 the Scots invaded England and Royalists in southern England also attacked the army.

The Second Civil War lasted until August 1648. Oliver Cromwell defeated the Scots at Preston, and a Royalist army in the south was defeated by Sir Thomas Fairfax. Charles had been recaptured and kept prisoner at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of WIight, the English Parliament wanted peace with their King, but Cromwell was having none of it he and the other senior commanders of the New Model Army decided that England could never be settled in peace while Charles I remained alive. Accordingly, the king was charged with high treason, tried, found guilty and beheaded. Charles faced his trial and death with remarkable dignity. His last word on the scaffold was: ‘Remember’. The execution of a king was greeted across Europe with shock.

[screwball-duck]

happy 88th birthday to porky pig!

march 2nd, 1935, i haven't got a hat first appeared in theaters. this marks the first every appearance of the magnificent character porky pig. the short was directed by friz freleng and featured the first appearance of many lesser looney tunes characters, including beans the cat, oliver owl, ham and ex, and little kitty. in this short, porky pig is featured reciting the poem paul revere's ride for a class talent show.

fun facts about porky pig!

porky pig was originally voiced by joe dougherty, who had an actual stutter. friz freleng hired him for this reason. this is why the stutter porky has at first seems more genuine than when mel blanc voices porky. the part was recast and given to mel blanc in 1937 because it became too expensive to keep doing retakes of dougherty's lines and recording sessions took hours.

the first cartoon mel blanc voices porky in is porky's duck hunt (1937), which also happens to be the first appearance of daffy duck.

mel blanc continued dougherty's stutter, but tried to make it reminiscent of the noises of actual pigs. when mel blanc took over, looney tunes also began the gag where porky would struggle to say a word and then replace it with another word, which he would say in perfect clarity.

porky was originally intended to be a child, beginning in his first cartoon and represented in cartoons like porky's poppa (1938). in 1939, bob clampett (one of the best directors to ever work on looney tunes) permanently made porky a young adult.

porky wears pants in exactly three cartoons: porky's badtime story (1937), tick tock tuckered (1944) (a remake of porky's badtime story), and brother brat (1944).

porky pig's most common pairings were with gabby goat, daffy duck, petunia pig, sylvester, and charlie dog.

rover's rival (1937) by bob clampett was the first looney tunes cartoon to not only feature the merry-go-round broke down, the theme song for looney tunes, but also feature the end card with porky pig bursting through the looney tunes drum saying "that's all folks!" this end card was used till 1946, although i don't know which specific cartoon was the last cartoon that featured it.

porky's original design featured him having a large snout and a fat body. he was later redesigned to be smaller, but his face remained similar. this is the design you can see in the first edition of his end card. his design was changed to the porky we all know and love after that, which you can see in the second edition of his end card. his final and most popular design was created by bob clampett. in new looney tunes (2015), they reverted back to his original design, which luckily didn't affect any other designs of him.

porky mentors hampton pig in tiny toons adventures (1990). his descendent in loonatics unleashed (2005) is pinkster pig.

the rap sequence in space jam: a new legacy is the worst thing to happen to porky pig in the history of looney tunes (this obviously isn't a fact but am i wrong?)

[unabashegirl]

Enticing 45 — Harry Styles CEO

Summary: Harry is a young billionaire and CEO of his own company. He mostly keeps to himself, he is stern and very meticulous when it comes to business. He also likes to keep his personal life very private for the sake of his newly born son Oliver Styles. It isn't until he meets Y/N Y/L/N that everything changes. She becomes his new nanny after his previous one quits due to personal reasons. She is young, caring, and sweet. Will they ignore their feelings? Will Harry's girlfriend accept their love and leave them? Will she be able to cope with his busy agenda? What about Oliver's mother? Where is she? Who is she?

— masterlist of enticing —

word count: 1.7K

TAGLIST: @0oolookitsme, @happycupcakeenthusiast, @kennedywxlsh , @hsfics, @stylesbrock, @bluemoonedwings , @cherriesrae , @vornilla , @mellamolayla , @harryscurls21 , @stilesissaved , @be-with-me-so-happily , @harryssattelitestomper , @jerseygirlinca , @tenaciousperfectionunknown , @lomlolivia , @stylesfever , @daphnesutton , @n0vaj3an , @breezykpop , @kathb59 , @sassamanda77 , @sherbitdibdab

“You really are the asshole that everyone says you are” Allison whispered as her eyes teared. “You have no compassion for your own parents, Harry. What does it say about you?” She spat back. “You are a shitty dad. You live in the damn fictional world with all the commodities in the world, and you are still miserable! Your money gets you nowhere because you are still a dick”.

Harry maintained a tense silence, his anger too overwhelming to find words. His jaw clenched, nostrils flared, and a knot formed in his throat. He yearned to express everything, to make his sister understand why their father didn't deserve an ounce of pity, but his fury stifled his voice.

“I know this may not concern me directly, but I can't stand by and let you talk to him like that, Allison, while I remain silent,” Y/N boldly declared as she rose from the couch, cradling Oliver. “You've come here seeking forgiveness for your father, yet you insult Harry, calling him a bad man when he's everything your father isn't. He's a great dad. So, instead of cornering him after his workday and insulting him in his own home, in front of his child, you should be asking him about all the trauma he's endured because of your father.”

Some newfound strength had surged within her. Y/N wouldn't have dared to intervene in such a matter a few months ago. Perhaps it was the hormones, the surging vitality within her, or the impending arrival of their baby that had emboldened her to speak her mind.

“Excuse me; I'm going to put Oliver to bed,” Y/N gracefully announced, heading upstairs to Oliver's nursery. She gently placed his sleeping body into the cot and kissed him goodnight before making her way back downstairs. Harry and Allison remained in a tense silence.

“What trauma?” Allison finally inquired. “He was cold, Harry. Just like he is now. Nothing has changed. Is that the trauma?”

“You're truly oblivious. Mom and Dad have really fooled you,” Harry responded with a sarcastic chuckle, surprised that she had never asked the right questions until now.

“Tell me then,” Allison took off her gloves and coat, placing them on the couch alongside her purse. “Humor me,” she added as she sat down, crossing her ankles. Y/N, watching from the kitchen, felt a growing disapproval toward Allison. This version of her wasn't the same Allison she had met at the Hamptons.

“I'm not ready,” Harry admitted. He had attended therapy for most of his teenage years and young adulthood to heal the wounds inflicted by his father. He had discussed many of the painful memories, but he wasn't prepared to remember it all and shatter the image his sister held of their father. Harry's mother had insisted on hiding it all from her youngest child, even begging Harry not to tell Allison.

“Why? If Dad is as terrible as you say, then I should know.”

“It's not my place to tell you, Allison. It's mom's,” Harry explained, turning his back to her and heading toward the kitchen. He was hungry, and he knew Y/N must be too. He didn't want to keep her waiting. “Hungry? I got you some Chinese.”

Y/N couldn't help but smile, her heart fluttering at this simple but sweet gesture. She found it endearing that he had made time in his day to satisfy her cravings.

Harry opened the brown paper bags, and as Y/N wrapped her arms around his torso, she kissed his back, holding him tightly as a way to comfort him and ease some of the stress he had just experienced.

“I love you,” she whispered against his shirt, savoring the scent of his sandalwood aftershave mixed with cologne.

Just as Harry turned his head to reciprocate her declaration, Allison walked into the kitchen, carrying all of her belongings.

“I guess this talk is over. I'll get out of your hair, then,” she said, displaying disappointment and confusion about how their conversation regarding their father had concluded.

“Have you had dinner already?” Harry inquired as he unpacked the boxes from the bags. Allison shook her head as she donned her gloves. “And you aren't staying for dinner?” Harry asked.

“Do you want me to stay? I thought you were angry with me,” Allison questioned, her expression a mix of uncertainty. “I thought you wanted me to leave.”

“You're still my sister, Allison, and there's plenty of food,” Harry replied. “It's Chinese. I hope that's not a problem.”

“That's perfect, actually,” she said, moving to the kitchen island and retrieving a stool to sit on.

“Let me get some plates,” Y/N offered as Harry began to open the boxes containing noodles, rice, and more. Y/N stretched on her tiptoes to reach for the plates that were stored higher than she remembered.

“You're pregnant?!” Allison exclaimed as she noticed Y/N's bump revealed by her sweater. Y/N quickly lowered her arms, covering her baby bump with the plates. Harry turned to Y/N with a small smile, understanding her embarrassment.

“She is,” Harry confirmed, considering how practical it would be to inform his parents about his second child. He anticipated his father's disapproval for having another child out of wedlock, but Harry didn't care; times had changed.

“No way! Were you ever going to tell me!” Allison beamed and pulled Harry into a tight hug. Harry had planned on informing her the next morning when he returned her calls, but Y/N had preempted him. “How far along are you?”

“Four months,” Y/N revealed as she set the plates on the placemats.

“Do you know what you're having?” Allison asked eagerly after hugging her.

“Not yet. Hopefully soon,” Y/N replied. The baby hadn't been in the right position during the last ultrasound, preventing the doctor from confirming the gender. Harry hoped for a daughter, as he had always wanted both a boy and a girl, while Y/N was less concerned about the baby's sex.

“I can't believe it! I'm so excited. You've got to tell Mom!” Allison couldn't contain her joy at the thought of Harry slowly building a family of his own. She might not have appreciated Y/N's interruption during their intense conversation, but she was genuinely pleased that Harry had found a woman who would stand by him through thick and thin. What astounded her even more was how comfortable Oliver had become with Y/N. He relied on her like a child would on his mother. And now, they were on the verge of expanding their little family even further.

“I'll call her soon. We wanted to savor this moment in private,” Harry explained, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. “I'd appreciate it if you don't tell anyone just yet.”

“Of course, just Nate and Mom,” Allison replied with a giggle. “These are fantastic news!”

“Here,” Harry said, handing Y/N a box of freshly cooked dumplings he had gotten for her. “I hope you like them.” Harry smiled and planted a gentle peck on her lips. “Would you like some wine?” he offered his sister, while simultaneously pouring a glass of unsweetened tea for Y/N.

“Yes, please,” Y/N replied after wiping the corners of her mouth. “So, what's going to happen with your job as a nanny?" Allison inquired with genuine concern. “I can't imagine everyone wanting to hire a pregnant nanny.”

“I don't work as a nanny anymore,” Y/N revealed between bites of her dumpling.

“You're staying to home?” Allison asked, puzzled, as she hadn't envisioned Y/N as a full-time housewife.

“She's working at William’s company as an analyst,” Harry chimed in as he returned with his shirt untucked, two glasses in one hand, and a freshly opened bottle of wine in the other. “Y/N had been hiding her degree from everyone.”

“Well, I'm happy for both of you. You've managed to build a very nice life,” Allison said, smiling as Harry poured wine into her glass.

“How's Nate?” Harry inquired about his brother-in-law.

“He's working hard, as usual. He's fine. I'm fine,” she replied, nodding as if she were trying to convince herself.

“You should have brought him along,” Harry suggested.

“He's not into these kinds of things.”

“You're obviously staying the night, right? I assume you didn't bring a driver,” Harry stated firmly, determined not to let her drive, especially after drinking.

“No, I couldn't.”

“Allison, you're staying, and that's final. There's plenty of space,” he insisted, and they continued to eat and discuss the impending arrival of the baby.

After a few more glasses of wine and a bit more gossip about their inner circle, the Styles siblings decided to call it a day. Y/N was already yawning as Allison finished her fourth glass of wine.

“I'm exhausted,” Y/N said as she sank her petite frame onto the massive bed in Harry's bedroom. Harry watched her with amusement from the end of the bed.

“Maybe I should become a housewife and let you pay for everything,” she joked, eliciting laughter from Harry.

“No way, and not because I don't want you at home, but because I know how much you love going to work and earning your own money,” Harry responded. Y/N let out a soft groan of pleasure as Harry reached for one of her feet, massaging her sole gently.

“Still, I could be your trophy wife,” Y/N said, her tone playful. Harry laughed and continued his gentle touch.

“Why are you laughing? You think I can't?” she challenged.

“You'd go nuts in just three days, baby,” Harry replied, knowing her well. “I was thinking of taking a bath. Would you like to join?”

— PREVIEW OF CHAPTER 61 —

“What's wrong?” Y/N inquired, her voice laced with worry. She scanned Allison's face for any sign of distress, her heart pounding with apprehension.

“I-I...” Allison stammered, struggling to catch her breath. Elizabeth, sensing the urgency of the situation, hurried to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water, her motherly instincts kicking in.

“Please, sit down,” Y/N urged, gesturing to the nearby couch. She knew that whatever news Allison had to share couldn't be easy to deliver.

Elizabeth swiftly returned with a glass of water, her hands trembling slightly as she handed it to Allison. The two women settled onto the couch, their eyes fixed on Allison, awaiting the news that had caused her such distress.

To their surprise, tears welled up in Allison's eyes, her emotions overwhelming her.

“Ali, please,” Y/N implored, her voice tinged with concern as she reached out to grasp Allison's hands, offering comfort. “Tell me what’s going on. You are scaring me”

Struggling to regain her composure, Allison took a deep breath before finally speaking.

“It's my mom and dad,” she began, her voice trembling. “They're at the hospital with Harry. They've decided to take him off life support.”

As Allison's words hung heavily in the air, a deep silence settled over the room. Y/N's heart sank at the news, her mind struggling to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

If you would like to read ahead and get access to 17 more chapters of enticing and more writing pieces then check out my Patreon and join our community.

[malkaleh]

What’s something you’ve learned about while doing research for a fic?

Growing oranges in Tudor England (it turns out Tudor oranges were the kind you can’t eat but can use in cooking + there was at least one orange tree in Hampton Court for marmalade making purposes) as well as olives and pomegranates and lemons.

16th century Ottoman Garden Design (it’s gorgeous and also influenced gardens in Europe a lot)

The specifics of expensive fabrics in Tudor England (thank you @star-anise for the help with all the historical fashion things)

How plausible is it that an important historical document could get lost + process after finding it - thank you @nocompromise-noregrets

Medical questions with so much love to @wheresonichedgehogwnt always

[a-lile-angel]

ANGEL'S TOP 50 SIMILAR CHARACTERS

fgeyhsjdkmxa i love this

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

Andrea Sachs (The Devil Wears Prada): 93%

Anastasia Steele (Fifty Shades of Grey): 93%

Penny (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog): 91%

Rosalind Walker (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina): 90%

Georgiana Darcy (Pride and Prejudice): 89%

Valentine Wiggin (Ender's Game): 89%

Pam Beesly (The Office): 88%

Rita Bennett (Dexter): 88%

Hilda Spellman (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina): 88%

Kevin Keller (Riverdale): 88%

Eliza Hamilton (Hamilton): 88%

Tracy Mills (Se7en): 88%

Gabriella Montez (High School Musical): 88%

Ducky (The Land Before Time): 88%

Ann Perkins (Parks and Recreation): 87%

Beth March (Little Women): 87%

Cosette (Les Misérables): 87%

Belle French (Once Upon a Time): 87%

Nina Locke (Locke & Key): 87%

Triss (The Witcher): 87%

Emily Fields (Pretty Little Liars): 87%

Mayuri Shiina (Steins;Gate): 87%

Jane Bennet (Pride and Prejudice): 86%

Anna Bates (Downton Abbey): 86%

Charles Boyle (Brooklyn Nine-Nine): 86%

Julie Mayer (Desperate Housewives): 86%

Cameron James (10 Things I Hate About You): 86%

Dana Polk (The Cabin in the Woods): 86%

Monica Gaztambide (Money Heist): 86%

Mary Margaret Blanchard (Once Upon a Time): 86%

Waverly Earp (Wynonna Earp): 86%

Aimee Gibbs (Sex Education): 86%

Alphonse Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood): 86%

Donna Moss (The West Wing): 85%

Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer): 85%

Molly Hooper (Sherlock): 85%

Esme Cullen (Twilight): 85%

Deanna Troi (Star Trek: The Next Generation): 85%

Sara Tancredi (Prison Break): 85%

Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of Oz): 85%

Melanie Hamilton (Gone With the Wind): 85%

Jess Day (New Girl): 85%

Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs): 85%

Armin Arlert (Attack on Titan): 85%

Kelly Erin Hannon (The Office): 84%

George O'Malley (Grey's Anatomy): 84%

Nick Carraway (The Great Gatsby): 84%

Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly (M*A*S*H): 84%

Oliver Hampton (How To Get Away With Murder): 84%

Grace Florrick (The Good Wife): 84%

[chicleeblair]

Dawn of Redeeming Grace [4/23]

Title: Chapter Four: December 23, 2005 || FFN

Rating: NC-17/Explicit

Pairings: Meredith Grey/Derek Shepherd

Six weeks after Derek left to take the NIH job, Meredith is ready to use the holidays to prove she has this working mom thing on lock. Sure, he neglected to tell her he'd be bringing a guest, but whatever, 'Tis the season for truces. Even Ellis Grey took the day off. But with every moment of family togetherness, a return to the trenches seems more impossible. Can a few days of peace put their relationship back on track, or has she fallen for the illusion of a snow-globe, destined to either settle or shatter?

Dawn of Redeeming Grace|| FFN

New York Derek. Genetically-engineered for Manhattan, maybe, but it’s not all about genetics. The show never goes into it explicitly, but I think it’s very important that Derek went to Bowdoin for college. At eighteen, he wanted out. I think he came back because of Amelia, and between Mark and Addison, found his life shaped into this Upper East Side, house in the Hamptons lifestyle that he didn’t actually like. The guy with that life isn’t even the one Addison fell for, judging by things like the Chinese food on Thanksgiving. She might’ve felt as out-of-place in the world they would’ve been in if he’d had the self-awareness, or felt allowed to make the choices that would’ve taken them toward a life more like the one her and Meredith get—but it wouldn’t have been as extreme as the trailer.

I go back and forth as to Derek’s desire to have kids, and knowing what happened with Amelia makes a lot of sense in that regard. I know people who were really responsible for their siblings and feel like they had their kids. That said, his dad is his hero, and nothing in his life looks at all like his dad’s life. Kids would change that—but he’s best friends with a guy who had well-off parents who likely had their kid for the wrong reason. He wouldn’t want to do that.

At the beginning, I think a lot of the appeal of his relationship with Meredith is the fresh start. That’s a huge part of their s3/s4 issues. This guy, who clearly adores his family, wants to leave all the past in the past. He can’t do that. After he has to necessitate Meredith, he’s sitting there with Addison and Mark at his sides—exactly like he would’ve been when Amelia OD’d. It’s not a coincidence to me that his mom showing up is part of the arc before his s5 breakdown. But his assertions about his family, about “normal” families, are also pretty rose-colored. Amelia’s arrival on the show is after he’s been offered the D.C. job, but their interactions; that he reminds her of the person he used to want to be—I think that has a lot to do with why he can’t let it go. Also, we’re not two full years out from Mark dying. It’s still one of the longest periods he’s gone through without him.

If anything feels like foreshadowing or a dark joke in this chapter, it is. This whole fic is about how the past affects you, particularly on holidays where tradition rules, this is the chapter with the most allusions to A Christmas Carol. Derek throughout the end of his time in New York is a very Scroogian figure if you ask me—I really should’ve Amed one of my Shepherd kids Fred.

For reference, here is my Shepherd family headcanon.

Kathleen + Reid (2nd husband)

Allegra (’87 stepdaughter)

McKenzie (’89 stepdaughter)

Stephanie (’93)

Oliver (’99) or Lucas (’96)

Nancy + Peter

Carly (’90)

Elena (’92)

Shepherd (’94, nicknamed Squared)

Hunter (’95)

Tyson (or Lucas, ’96)

Liz + Ian

Briana (’93)

Frances, Maria, Patrick (or Lucas)* (’96)

Hannah (’00)

*I’d have to reconfigure for Lucas to be Liz’s, I think, because I don’t see him as a triplet. I think he’s Kathleen’s, since he’s Derek’s favorite and Meredith liked her kids, but if he’s not I like having the gap between her youngest wider because of how I’ve written Stevie.