#'actually i have a kid and am dying so pretty please raise him in luxury thx'

[icouldbemoreclever]

Honestly in George's position I would've probably done the same thing. That is to say, I would have forgiven Dario (me and George both have Les Miserables brain disease I see). And, I would have taken a chance on bringing Dio into my home and giving him an opportunity for a better life. I probably wouldn't be so stupid after that point though lol.

It actually makes me curious exactly what Dario said to George to get him to take Dio (we really only see the part of the letter with the symptoms). Perhaps he just believed George good/naive enough to take Dio in with little explanation. There was no pretense at that point of George owing him anything, and he also clearly hadn't turned his life around after being freed. Paradoxically, Dario seems to really care about Dio's success in life, so I wonder how he presented him in the letter. In the way that Dio will do anything to get ahead, it seems like Dario will do the same for Dio's sake (with the exception of like... stopping abusing him of course lol).

[shhh-no-ones-home]

noir 1/2 bucky barnes x vampire!reader

+++++++++

part 1 part 2

i had thought about making a part three with smut in it so if thats something you would like to see please let me know and ill finish it lol

Song: my name is human by highly suspect

tag list: @cynic-spirit

+++++++++

I sat at the table across from James and watched as he looked around nervously. We had already ordered drinks but not much conversation had gone on yet.

"This isn't really your scene is it?"

I asked and he finally looked at me, brows raised like I'd caught him off guard.

"Uh, my uh, last date didn't go so well."

He said and I nodded.

"I'll drink to that."

I raised my glass to him before taking a drink. He let out a short laugh before looking away again.

"So, James, why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself."

I said and he cleared his throat.

"Well for starters uh you can call me bucky, that's what my friends call me."

I nodded slowly, he seemed like he was reminiscing for a moment.

"Um I'm a hundred and six."

He said lightly and I laughed. He looked nervous again.

"If you're a hundred and six then so am I."

I quipped back and he seemed shocked.

"Right."

A nervous laugh. Cute. I took another drink.

"No seriously."

I said and he nodded.

"I'm not really one for mockery."

He said stoically and I shook my head.

"No, no, don't take it that way! I'm not either. I'm sorry it came off that way."

I said quickly and I could see him shift to rub his gloved hands together under the table.

"In all actuality 1917 was a pretty interesting year, if I'm doing my math correct."

He drew his brows.

"It was?"

He asked and I nodded.

"Well it's not every day America joins a world war, late to the party as usual but still. Don't get me wrong there was a lot that happened that year but that was probably the most memorable. My husband at the time was drafted that September."

He looked even more confused than he did earlier, his brows almost touching at this point if it weren't for the frown line between them.

"I know it's impolite to ask a woman her age but exactly how old are you?"

He asked quizzically and I looked up to think for a moment.

"Uh, this year on my actual birthday I will be two... Hundred and... Eight? I think?"

He laughed before taking a drink, finally smiling.

"Great."

He said before leaning over and pulling his wallet out of his back pocket.

"This was fun."

He said, slapping a twenty on the table and moving to stand.

"Bucky wait!"

He paused and looked back at me.

"Can we talk... Somewhere a little more private?"

I asked and he sighed, looking to the ground.

"Fine."

I stood quickly to match him, grabbing my bag off the back of the chair and following him outside. When we made it out the door I saw him tense a little bit, glancing to me a few times as we lazed down the sidewalk.

"Are you cold?"

He asked, reaching for his jacket zipper and I stopped him.

"No, no, I'm perfect, thank you though. You probably need it more than me."

There was the confused look again.

"You're probably trying to figure me out aren't you?"

He sighed, half shaking his head as he looked to the ground ahead of us.

"I guess I'm just trying to figure out why you would lie to me? Forgive me for being blunt but that's at least how it seems, even after I told you I didn't like being mocked."

I laughed a little.

"Bucky I didn't lie to you. My situation is - complicated."

He looked over me again.

"I am two hundred and eight, that wasn't a lie. Or, at least I don't think it was, it's hard to remember after all these years the exact number. But I was born in 1815 in new York after my mother immigrated to the states. It was a rough childhood and an even rougher lifestyle growing into my teens."

We kept walking. He was listening intently but seemed like he still wasn't so sure about me.

"I was engaged to be married by my seventeenth birthday but the night before my wedding I was kidnapped."

He looked to me in surprise.

"I was placed as an indentured servant in a trading charter, seen by many of the soldiers stationed on the coast of the capitol. That went on for a while and when I had reached my twenty fifth birthday I had earned my freedom."

He motioned to a small cafe on the strip and I nodded, him holding the door as we stepped in, the warmth engulfing both of us.

"Do you want a drink?"

He asked and I nodded.

"How about I get this one."

I offered, ordering before him and paying after him. When we had gotten our drinks we took to a booth in the very back of the cafe.

"So, you were free..."

He started and I let out a short laugh.

"Nice to know you're listening."

I said and he raised his cup to me. I cleared my throat.

"I was free, finally. It felt like forever to get there. But by then I was seen as too old; too old to Mary, to have kids, to live a life on my own. Many assumed I was a widow at this point, even moving back to new York with as progressive as it was still didn't feel right. It didn't feel like home anymore. Until I met him."

He raised a brow and I smiled to myself.

"My first real love, the one who made me."

"No pressure."

He said and I laughed, taking his one hand in mine. His body tensed.

"Don't worry, he's been dead a while."

I said, letting him go and he nodded once.

"Right."

I side nodded.

"Well to make that long story short, he proposed to me after two weeks of courting, we got married the following spring, and on our honeymoon he revealed to me what he really was."

"A crime boss?"

Bucky said and I laughed, him finally loosening up a bit as he took another drink.

"I think that would've been easier to live with but no. And I ask that you please don't laugh at this next part but rather, hear me out."

He rested both his hands on either side of his cup and gave me his full attention.

"Cross my heart."

He said and I sighed.

"He revealed to me that he was undead, that he was a vampire of sorts."

When I looked to him he looked like he was going to crack.

"I'm serious."

I said light hearted, hitting his shoulder as he started laughing.

"He turned me before our trip back to the city."

He nodded, rubbing his eye as he settled down, the smile still prevalent on his features.

"Sure."

I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Now who's mocking who?"

I asked and he shook his head.

"It's just a little hard to believe is all. You seem like such a normal young woman. Maybe a history buff who digs this old man but still."

I snorted at his words, taking a drink.

"You are young in my eyes bucky, believe me."

He shook his head.

"Okay, this is what, 1840?"

"Forty two i think, but yeah."

He sent me a look.

"Let me just get back to the story okay?"

He held his hands up in defense.

"Please, by all means."

I playfully rolled my eyes.

"Thank you. Now we were home, I was a newby and was so hungry all the time. He was terrible at taming a new vampire and I did eat a few of our neighbors but we lived in a bad part of town so people didn't really question it much when residents went missing. But what I didn't realize is that we were being watched and one day when I came home from work I found my husband decapitated on our living room floor."

His eyes went wide.

"I cried like a maniac but when I had heard someone still in the apartment I attacked them. They told me they were assigned to kill me because I was too dangerous. I ended him and I've been on the run ever since. After that I was desperate to find new love again. I've had courtships over the years but the early 1900's were pretty rough. Every husband I ever had was drafted into a war that shouldn't have happened. And I don't fear for my life as much anymore since I've lived in almost every state in this stupid country,"

We both laughed a little at that.

"But I do think of it often. The later years, the eighties and nineties were much easier as far as life and lovers went but even then I couldn't stay with them long."

He seemed empathetic.

"Why not?"

"Well, many people don't employ the idea that you'll live longer than them, it's a losing game. And even those I was open with, they begged me to turn them but I always refused. It didn't seem worth it to put the hurt I felt onto anyone else. And I don't say this to scare you off bucky but I've lived, and I mean really lived. I had one husband murdered, three drafted and lost to war, and three divorces; two of which ended with my exs dying of natural causes shortly after getting into new relationships. One had a heart attack and the other passed during a surgery."

I paused, looking to the table as his eyes tried to study me.

"Ive heard about you, I've been to the Smithsonian exhibit and honestly it all seemed like a myth. But then your friend saw me and pushed you to ask me out I actually saw hope for the first time in a long time. It's not often I can find someone with as much... Uh, life experience."

He cleared his throat, looking away when I looked back up to him.

"I'm not perfect."

He said and I could feel my features soften.

"It's seems I've lived just as much but I don't know if I'd exactly call it living. I was an experiment, an assassin, and a broken man. I've got a troubled past and I'm trying to work through that. Hell I wasn't even sure I'd get through this date given how my last one went."

I half smiled at him, reaching for his hand again. He wasn't as hesitant as last time but was still tense as I took it away from his cup. I looked over his face before pulling the glove off, holding the cool metal against my palm and tracing the fingers of my other hand over it.

"I wasn't blipped, I saw the news, and I saw what was lost. And I think part of you got lost with it but at the end of the day you are trying to get better. You are a hero bucky, even if it doesn't feel like it."

I watched as his jaw clenched and tightened. Then he turned his hand over and held mine. It wasn't hard or uncomfortable but it was firm, like he meant it.

"I haven't had the luxury of opening up to many people in recent times but you feel different. And don't take this the wrong way but you do feel like home."

He said softly and I couldn't help the smile making its way to my lips.

"You wanna get out of here? Maybe go back to my place? The coffee is much better."

I joked and he smiled, intertwining our fingers.

"Yeah, I think id like that."

[catxsnow]

KIDNAPPED

Request: Can I please request something with "have I been kidnapped?" + "Um.. that's unclear". Go crazy with it.

Warning: car crash, uh, swearing, cringe (I was 3/4 done this and realized I hated it so, uh, Sorry Amanda) 

A/N: Reporting to you live and Tipsy friends what’s good

Word count: 2.6k

San Francisco usually wasn't a crazy city. Sure the traffic sucked, but at least the views were nice. The local shops always had something interesting and you were guaranteed to find a coffee shop on every block. Over all, you were glad you moved there, it was a nice change in your life - one that you needed.

However, when this group of so called 'Titans' showed up, things got pretty out of control. Buildings got destroyed, people were put in harms way with the sudden increase in villains showed up to take these guys out. You hadn't had the luxury of running into any of them, hopefully you wouldn't have to.

You moved there to get away from your hectic life, you didn't want to be thrown right back into something even worse. The news was filled with these guys - a girl getting chased on rooftop by her deranged father, Robin falling to his death only to be saved by someone who resembled Superman, even a green tiger.

It was interesting seeing them all on the news, but other than that, you never wanted to be involved in any accident that they caused. It seemed they were used to hurting people more than saving them - even if it was accidental.

San Francisco seemed to be safer than the last city you were in. For once, you could walk home with your headphones in and not worry about your surroundings. Just like any night, you walked from work back to your apartment in the late hours of the night, wanting nothing more than to just crash in your bed.

The night was cold and no matter how tightly your wrapped your coat around yourself it didn't bring any more warmth. The sound of traffic was tuned out by your headphones. Street lights illuminated your path and you were so close to your home that you could almost smell the inside of it. Not actually, but you really missed your room after that long day.

The sound of a crash overpowered your music. You turned back to see what had happened by the second you had done so all you could see was the tail end of a car coming directly towards you. There was no time to move out of the way or even to think. Even if there was, you were frozen in your spot with fear.

A body crashed into you before the metal of a car. Your heart rate was going so incredibly fast that black spots filled your vision. You should have been dead, that car was coming right at you. You tried so hard to keep yourself awake, but the only thing that you saw was a red 'S' on a black t-shirt as you passed out completely.

><

You woke up to arguing and bright lights staring down at you. Your head was pounding and it took you a moment to remember what had happened. A car had nearly hit you and somehow you impossibly had been saved. Then, embarrassingly you completely passed out from shock. Wherever you were now, it certainly wasn't a hospital.

There were several people standing together, each of them trying to talk over one another. You sat up on the bed, rubbing your eyes in hopes that this headache would go away. "Uh," you spoke up, but none of them had heard you. They were too engrossed in arguing to notice that you had woken up.

"Hello?" You tried again. Still nothing. You tried to listen in to what they were talking about and quickly came to the conclusion that it was you. Whoever saved you obviously wasn't supposed to bring you there, that was what the yelling was about. There was also the point that you couldn't just be left in the street unconscious - another good point.

This time, you coughed loud enough for one of them to look over at you. Your eyes narrowed in on his t-shirt, it was the same one that had saved you. And it wasn't just any 'S', it was Superman's logo. Whoever this guy was, he was obviously fast enough to be related to the man of steel himself.

As you looked at the others in the group, you picked up on who they were as well. Fiery red hair, bright green hair, these were the people that were on the news. You were in the Titans home base with the heroes themselves. "Holy shit," you mumbled out, eyes wide. There were a few there that you didn't recognize and you were sure it was only because they were in civvies.

"You're the Titans," your jaw fell slack. As much as you bashed them to your friends, saying how much danger they brought to this city, meeting them had been completely different. This was a group of people that kicked ass and had quite literally saved your life. You never thought you'd meet them, especially under these circumstances.

The oldest one - or at least you assumed him to be - looked at the one with the green hair. "Don't let them leave," he ordered. The others followed him out into the hall. They had no idea what to do with you, that was obvious. Conner shouldn't have brought you there. They understood he was still new at this, but he should have known better.

You still felt in shock. Shock from nearly dying. Shock from being saved. Shock from waking up in the Titan's home base. You never expected your day to go like this, and you never wished it to. These masked heroes brought nothing but trouble to San Francisco... and yet if it wasn't for them you wouldn't be standing there.

The green haired one awkwardly rocked back and forth on his heels. This must have been the one that could turn into the tiger - at least it made the most sense in your mind. He avoided looking at you. The squeak of his sneakers against the floor and the hum of the medical equipment at your side was the only sound in the room. It drove you nuts.

"Can you turn into any animal or just a tiger?" You suddenly blurted out, unable to take this awkward silence any more. His eyes widened at your question. How did you even know that he could do that? How had you pieced together that they were the Titans so quickly anyways? None of them were in their suits.

"Uh..." Gar trailed off. "Tiger is just the easiest," he answered. "How did you know that I could do that?" You raised your eyebrows at him - was he serious? Without words you point to your own hair. He seemed to understand what you meant. Green tiger, green hair, it was pretty easy to put together. You could see his cheeks tint red.

"My name's Garfield. Gar," He tried to cover up his embarrassment. Gar cringed at the sound of his voice cracking.

"Should you be telling me that?" You asked. Wasn't the whole point of being a hero having a secret identity? This was the first time that you had met one, and it certainly felt like he didn't really know what he was doing. Nonetheless, you were just happy that they didn't kill you for knowing their identity - or their secret location.

"You already know what I look like what's the harm in knowing my name?" Gar shrugged. He wanted nothing more than to get the attention off of him - so he decided to throw the new guy under the bus. "Besides I think Conner kinda already has a crush on you, so."

"Super-rip-off?" You asked. To be fair, you didn't know his name, or if he even was related to the great Superman. All you knew, was that he had saved your life and you were grateful for it. And from what small glimpse you got of him, he was pretty cute too.

"He probably heard that," Gar told you. Heat rose to your cheeks with embarrassment. "But yes. Superboy. He's the one that saved you and brought you here. Really, he probably should have taken you to a hospital but he's kinda new at this whole thing so, yeah. I guess now they're trying to figure out what to do with you."

"So, have I been kidnapped?" You asked again. The leader had said that you weren't allowed to leave and that Gar was supposed to stop you if you tried to. Would you ever be allowed to leave again if you knew their secrets? Would they really trust a stranger that they just met? They didn't even know your name!

"Um, that's unclear," Gar answered. To be honest, he really didn't know what Dick planned to do with you. After growing up alongside Batman, it was drilled into him to be super cautious. He knew how to keep his identity safe and not let anyone know who he really was. Conner had ruined that pretty quick.

"My name's (Y//N), by the way," You told him, sticking your hand out for him to shake. Gar grinned and accepted it. For everything that just happened to you, you were taking it all pretty well. He expected you to freak out, or even something worse like faint again. "I guess if I am being kidnapped you should at least know who I is."

Gar pulled one of the chairs beside the bed to sit across from you. He started asking you questions about your life - what you did, what you liked to do in you spare time, things like that. It was nice talking with him. For a kid, he seemed like a very genuine guy. You wanted to ask about him, but considering his lifestyle, it didn't seem like a good idea.

It felt like hours that you were stuck in there, chatting away as the people outside that room tried to figure out just what to do with you. Finally, the man that saved you - Conner - and the one who ordered Gar to stay with you, came back in. The two other women that were with them earlier hadn't come back.

You smiled at them both, hoping that your kindness would lessen whatever sort of punishment they had coming for you. Conner looked flustered at your smile, proving Gar's theory even more.

"Superboy shouldn't have brought you here," The oldest one spoke. He looked familiar, and it took you a few moments to realize why. He was that kid in the circus - the one that's parents died in the middle of an act. The Flying Graysons - this must have been Dick. "We talked abo-"

"You're Dick Grayson!" You grinned. Excitement grew within you for meeting someone you idolized as a child. "I went to like four of your shows when I was a kid! Oh my god you and your family were like my heroes! We stopped at Haly's Circus for three weeks straight. You were the reason I joined gymnastics, I wanted to be like you!"

Dick looked taken aback by your sudden outburst, as did Gar and Conner. His shock turned to a smile, it was nice to see someone who remembered his time in the circus. It reminded him of his childhood, being back there - no responsibilities, no drama, just fun. What were the odds that Conner picked up one of his old fans?

Why was he here? What connection did he have to the Titans? The three men watched as the gears in your brain turned as you pieced everything together. Bruce Wayne took him in when he was a kid - right around the same time that Robin - another childhood hero of yours - showed up. Was he Robin?

No, the one on the news a couple months back was shorter, and had different hair. But the Robin that was in Gotham - the Robin that you looked up to - had the same acrobatic techniques as Dick had. "You're Robin," you looked over him, picturing him with a mask and green suit. "The old Robin. Which means... Bruce... Holy shit!"

"Wow you put that together a little too quickly," Gar looked impressed by your analytical skills. First guessing that he was the tiger, then Conner being related to Superman in someway, now Dick being Robin? You were good. "And you look angry," he looked over at his mentor. Dick's arms were crossed and his jaw tight. This little revelation just made things far more complicated.

"Oh I'm so fucked," You whispered to yourself. Knowing who Batman was? That was something that very few people knew about. You certainly weren't supposed to know and yet here you were. "I don't suppose you'll just believe me when I say I'm really good at keeping secrets and that I promise to never say anything?"

"I do, actually," Conner spoke for the first time since you had met him. The three of you looked at him in shock. This man didn't know you, he couldn't possible just believe your word like that. "I can hear your heartbeat, you weren't lying."

"So I can go?"

"No," Dick stopped you. "If I find out that you did tell anyone out secret, I will find you. Trust me, I'll be far more kinder to you than Batman." Conner could hear your heart rate once more. This time, it was erratic - you were scared. You gulped and nodded your head. The last thing you wanted to do was get on their bad side.

Dick gestured for you to follow him. You did, with Gar and Conner only a few steps behind the both of you. The apartment was massive, and beautiful. But if Bruce Wayne was funding it you expected nothing less. You didn't get to look at much before reaching an elevator. Dick pressed the button and the doors opened wide for you to walk in.

"You don't want my name? Address? Anything to track me down?" You asked.

"I've already got a file on you," Dick answered. You should have known that he would. If he was really Robin, he would have found out everything about you the second you were carried through those doors. "And if I really wanted to find you, it wouldn't be that hard. Just remember what I said."

"Right. Don't tell anyone or Batman will break my bones. Got it," you shuddered at the thought, walking into the elevator. "Nice meeting you all, I guess." You looked over at Conner, "Thanks for saving me, and uh, feel free to call me," you winked right before the doors closed. Gar was right, and he was cute.

Conner's face flushed red. They watched in the small screen as you went down. A smile grew on your face - it wasn't very often you were so forward like that. But hey, you weren't going to see him again so why not? Unless, he did actually call you - which was unlikely. Did heroes have romantic partners?

Conner looked over at his friends. Gar was giving him a thumbs up at the win and Dick was holding back a chuckle. None of them expected their evenings to go like that, but it sure was interesting to see it play out. You seemed like a nice person, and by the way that Conner could tell that you weren't lying, a trustworthy one as well.

"You have their number in that file, right?"

[lovemychoices]

The Lost Prince - TRR AU [Epilogue] / TRH : Royal Rhys [Prologue]

After being married for three years and unable to produce an heir, Liam and Riley are about to give up when Liam gets an unexpected news that changes his life forever.

Genre : Romance, Drama

Characters except my OCs belong to Pixelberry, I am just borrowing them

Word count : 2k++

Chapter Summary: 28 years later...

A/N : One stories closes another begins. I’ve decided to put the epilogue of The Lost Prince and prologue for the sequel together because it seems to work.

TRH : ROYAL RHYS, is a sequel set 28 years later from the events of THE LOST PRINCE. Theon and his siblings are all grown up. The OG will still be in the series from time to time but it’s mainly about the kids. 😊

Sorry for any typo’s and grammatical errors. Also this is tagged under long post.

Warning : The sequel will contain mature content in future chapters such as NSFW, Violence and a few triggers which I will mention on the chapter. Only read if you are 18 and above.

Do let me know if you want to be added to the sequel.

28 years later…

Somewhere in Greece.

It was already past noon when he began to slowly flutter his eyes open as the small ray of sunlight peaks through the closed curtains of the hotel room. He slowly lifts his head up as he takes in the surroundings of his luxurious penthouse suit, a few empty shot glasses on the table and a few empty bottles of liquor along with it. Clothes scattered all over the floor and next to him was her, sleeping soundly.

A low grunt escapes him and presses his palms between his forehead. “Fuck, I probably had too much to drink again last night.” He slowly removes the sheets and carefully gets up from bed trying not to wake her up. As soon as his feet touch the floor he reaches for his boxers and pulls them on, gathering the rest of his clothes, getting dressed before leaving the room being careful not to let anyone see him.

“Hey it’s me, meet me at the back.”

Hunter Dominic Rhys was the youngest of the twins and the black sheep of the family. At the age of 3 he was already giving the nanny a field day with his mischief and shenanigans. By the time he was 16 he already had 20 different kingsguard assigned to him eventually breaking his uncle Leo’s record.

He makes his way towards the back entrance of the Hotel. As he enters the black SUV and takes a seat his phone beeps, he takes it out from the pocket of his jacket and reads the text a wide grin forms on his face as he does.

Had fun last night, hope to see you again soon. Xoxo

“Seriously man, I can’t keep covering for you.” The driver on the front seat said, giving Hunter a look between annoyed and worried.

“Common Jackson if there’s one Kingsguard who I know I can trust it’s you.”

“You know this is just going to bite you in the ass if her husband finds out you’ve been screwing with his wife right?” Jackson said with an eyebrow raised.

“Then we’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t..” He answers with a smug look on his face. “We’d better head to the private airstrip. I wouldn’t want to miss my family's Friday night dinner. My mother would never let me hear the end of it.”

Jackson rolls his eyes before putting on his aviators. “If you say so, your royal highness“.

************************

TREND studio, Cordonia.

She stood at the back of the stage, waiting for Ana de Luca to announce her name. She was invited as a special guest today for an interview.

And without further adieu please welcome today's special guess, her royal highness princess Alexandra Rhys of Cordonia.

“That’s my cue.” She murmurs to herself, putting on a perfect smile and adjusting her posture before she saunters out to face the audience and the cameras.

Alexandra Kenna Rhys, the older twin, was the poster child of the Rhys family. While her brother’s were off involving themselves in mischief and her sister rummaging her mother’s closet playing pretend dress up, she would be spending her days at the palace library reading. By the age of 24 she was already a world known author and she’s also known for her philanthropy. Even Theon had his bad press days, but there was never one about Alex. She was always primp and proper for the camera but off cameras Alex had a secret that no one knew about.

Alex approaches the couch and shakes Ana’s hand as they greet each other, they each take a seat shortly after. The sound of the audience cheering slowly dies down and they begin their session.

“Thank you for agreeing to join us today, your highness.”

“The pleasure is all mine Ana. You know I’m always happy to come to your show.” She smiles.

“Firstly I would like to congratulate you on the success of your charity last weekend, I believe you managed to collect a generous amount from the people who attended.” She said and the audience clapped and cheered.

“Thank you Ana, but you know I could have done it without the support of my family and all the other people involved.”

“Humble as always.” Ana said with a smile. “So your recent book the sequel to The Elementalist was a huge success early this year and there were rumours going around recently that you are currently working on a third book. Is that true? Could you give us a little spoiler?”

“Uh well there is definitely a third book on the way, which I’m hoping would be out sometime later next year. Fingers crossed.” She said, crossing her fingers in front of the audience. “It’s going to be the final book and it’s taking place during the group's senior year.”

The audience cheers in excitement.

“That’s great news! I’m sure your fans of the book will be eagerly waiting for the official release.” She said with a smile. “So on to the next question and I’m sure it's something the audience has been dying to know. How are things in the love department so far? You and Jackson Walker have been dating for almost a decade. Are we going to hear any wedding bells soon?”

Alex shifts her position, her body tenses a little but conceals it perfectly before anyone notices. “The two of us have been doing well but you know we each have our busy schedules. I’ve been away a lot on business and he’s been busy handling Hunter. There hasn’t been any talk of wedding bells yet.” She answers with a plastic smile. “But if there was as always you’ll be the first to know.”

The two exchange pleasantries for another twenty minute until it’s finally time for Alex to get off the set. When she gets to the back of the stage she finally feels like she could breathe, a successful charity and an upcoming trilogy but all people were obsessed with was about her love life? She and Jackson agreed on keeping their relationship as private as possible away from the cameras but whenever there was a picture of them taken together it was always perfect, they seemed perfect but were they really?

Hey.. Saw what happened at the interview. Want to meet up tonight and talk about it after dinner?

Alex bit her lip, thinking about what she would reply.

Cant, I need to focus on my next book. Maybe some other time?

“Your highness, the SUV is ready for you.” Her assistant informs her.

“Thank you, Lily.” She said and headed off to get ready for her family’s dinner.

*****************

The Royal Palace - Ellie’s room

Ellie swipes through the racks of Designer gowns sent to her from all the top designers in Europe, she’s trying to choose the perfect gown for her upcoming 21st birthday party.

“So I’ll need two dresses, one for my entrance and the other for when I blow the candles. What do you think of this one for my grand entrance?” She asks pulling out a beautiful Navy blue ball gown with golden embroideries on it.

“It looks pretty.” Was MJ’s answer to every dress she took out and showed him. Ellie frowned, narrowing her eyes at him. “You’ve been saying the same thing to every dress I’ve shown you, how am I supposed to decide like that?”

“I’m a guy Ellie, I don’t have a keen sense of tayes when it comes to haute couture or fashion. All I know is that you’d look stunning in whatever dress you choose.”

“Ugh.. Give me a break MJ.” Viola groans, rolling her eye roll as she struts into the room. “Sorry I’m late dear old mummy had a dog emergency. She tosses a few shopping bags on the settee before rummaging through the rack for a few options, taking them out and laying them on the bed one by one. “Here, these are the ones that would bring out the colour of your eyes the most.”

“You're my lifesaver Viola, you know that right?” She beams, giving Viola a hug before taking a few of the dresses and trying them on in her closet.

“Nice to see someone finally decided to show up.” MJ shrugs at Viola.

Viola gives MJ an eyeroll. “Unlike you, I actually have a social life. Plus didn’t you hear me when I said I had a family emergency?”

“If by social life you mean sleeping around with half the court then hard pass.” MJ claps back, making Viola scowls. In MJ’s defence, he has caught her a few times hooking up with other nobles, most of them already had partners. The last time he caught her was during a party at his uncle Bertrand’s estate, he was on the way to the garden when he saw her coming out from the tool shed looking slightly disheveled and coming out after her was none other than his cousin Bartie.

The disgust on his face when he found out his cousin was hooking up with her when he was engaged to someone else. When MJ confronted Bartie, he said it was a mistake and that it won’t happen again. He made MJ promise not the tell his fiancé and MJ agreed, only because Clara was a nice girl and she didn’t need to get hurt by one mistake.

“So what do you guys think?” Ellie asks as she steps out of the closet and twirls around in her dress. MJ eyes go wide open and his jaw drops. “You look beautiful Ellie.”

“Usually, I don’t agree with MJ but I’ll make an exception for this. You look drop dead gorgeous.” Viola exclaims.

“Really? Thanks, but I’m still putting it in the maybe pile. These dresses are really pretty, I just. I don’t know.”

“Well if there’s nothing you really like, what about the dresses you’ve designed?” MJ suggested. “I’ve seen your sketches Elle, they’re really good.”

“I would be lying if I said the thought never crossed my mind. But my mom pulled a lot of strings to get me all these dresses.”

“I’m sure she would understand besides it’s your big day. You should tell her about it during dinner.”

“Then it’s settled, I’ll let my mom know during dinner.” She smiled.

*******************

Castelsarreillan Estate, Cordonia

Theon nods attentively with a forceful smile plastered on his face as he listens to King Eirik endlessly talk about his adventure back in the day.

It was like any normal afternoon for him, attending a diplomatic luncheon that was held at the Castelsarreillan estate. As the crown prince and future king of Cordonia it was his obligation to attend such events but recently for the past year he noticed those obligations were becoming more and more. His parents were becoming less involved and he could start to feel the weight of the crown getting heavier.

“I’m sorry your majesty for the interruption, but there’s some pressing matters that require his royal highnesses attention.” Natalia said, whisking Theon away from the crowd and to the otherside the room. “Thanks for that.” He murmurs into her ear. “I was beginning to think you’d leave me there just hanging. And by the way, thanks again for coming with me on such short notice.”

“Well what are assistants for. Speaking of you should really find your own assistant.” She said, raising an eyebrow at Theon. “I can’t babysit you all the time.”

Theon chuckles. “I’m sure my mom won’t mind if I borrow you for a little longer. Besides, you love babysitting me.” He said, giving her a playful wink.

Natalia chuckles. “Careful now your highness people might talk if they see your flirting with the help.”

Their coversation is cut short by someone who approaches. “Pardon me your highness but the Duke of Krona would like to have a few words with you.”

“Ah. Of course, I’ll be there a bit.” He said, turning to Natalia with his champagne glass raised. “Duty calls. Oh and have the helicopter ready by six, I wouldn’t want to be late for family dinner.”

***********************************

Kings Office, Cordonia.

Liam sat on his leather armchair slightly pushed back, absently swirling the glass of scotch in his hand while staring at the picture of his family on his desk. He had been ruling Cordonia for three decades and during his reign he managed to achieve peace and prosperity in the country like he had always hoped for. But he couldn’t have done without help from the love of his life.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Liam turns his gaze and smiles when he sees his wife standing by the threshold. “No, I was just thinking.” He places his glass on the oakwood desk. “About what?” Riley asks, sauntering towards him then takes a seat on his lap, wrapping one arm on his shoulder.

Liam looks at his wife, taking in the sight of her. The way she smiled and her dimples that showed when she did, even after she started to age she was still beautiful and he was still madly in love with her like he was all those years ago. “I’ve been thinking.”He smiles, tucking the lock of hair that strayed behind her ear. “I’ve had the most peaceful and prosperous rule throughout my reign as king. Granted there were a few imperfect moments. But everyone of them I got through because I had you by my side.”

Riley chuckles. “You give me too much credit love. But you would have been a great king with or without me.”

“Modest as ever.” He said with a smile. “I love you Riley, I know I’ve said it maybe a million times but every word of it is true.”

Riley leans in and kisses her husband on the lips, when she pulls apart she smiles warmly at him. “I love you too Liam but where is this going?” She gives him a questioning look.

“Riley, the both of us. We’ve been through alot together, we faced scandals, threats from our share of enemies, we raised four beautiful children together while running a country.”

Riley chuckles. “How could I forget, but everything was worth it because it made us stronger as a couple.”

“It has my love. But there comes a time in a king’s life when he just wants to be a man and enjoy every moment of his remaining life with his wife.” He takes her hand gently and traces soothing circles. “Liam, are you saying?”

“Riley, love. I have decided to resign as the reigning monarch by the end of this social season. We could finally spend all our days on that private island just you and me. No country to worry about no buzzing press, I really it’s time and Theon, Theon is ready whether he knows it or not. So what do you say my queen? Are you with me?”

“Are you kidding me?” She pauses, her expression serious, it was making Liam a little worried but she quickly changes it into a gleeful smile then kisses her husband on the lips once more. “Liam Rhys, I cannot wait to spend every single day of retirement and have you all to myself.”

Liam chuckles. “You deserve it.”

“We both do.” She adds. “So when do we tell the kids?”

“How about tonight, during our dinner?” He grins.

Riley leans in and kisses her husband one more time. “Sounds like a plan. Now I need to get dinner ready.” She abruptly stands and heads out but not before stopping at the threshold, turning towards her husband once more. “I love you, my King.”

“And I love you, my Queen.”

********

TRR/TRH @charliejane-blog @dcbbw @hopefulmoonobject @cmestrella @pixieferry @lodberg @traeumerinwitzhelden @romanticatheart-posts @gnatbrain @the-soot-sprite @zaffrenotes @texaskitten30 @ao719 @desireepow-1986 @emceesynonymroll @jessiembruno @kinkykingliam @jlpplays1 @annekebbphotography @thecordoniandiaries @rainbowsinthestorm @cordonianroyalty @lauradowning29 @msjr0119 @janezillow w @heauxplesslydevoted @cordonia-gothqueen @kacie-0156 @bebepac @queenjilian @sanchita012 @iaminlovewithtrr

[jbuffyangel]

Blessed: Arrow 7x13 Review (Star City Slayer)

It may be difficult to form coherent thoughts right now because of all the screaming, but I shall do my level best fam because WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Warning: gif explosion ahead.

Let’s dig in...

Olicity and Mia Smoak

OLIVER AND FELICITY ARE HAVING A BABY 

AND IT’S A GIRL

AND SHE GROWS UP TO BE KAT MCNAMARA FROM SHADOWHUNTERS

I AM DYING Y’ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE’VE WAITED SO LONG FOR THIS DAY!!!!!!

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EVERYTHING IS AMAZING!!!!

Of course, there are plenty of other things to discuss in the episode and we’ll get to it, but right now I want to bask. 

This reveal was EPIC. 

It actually exceeded my expectations because I didn’t think we’d get all the goodies all at once. “Star City Slayer” is basically my Christmas Wish List and Beth Schwartz just put delightful rainbow colored check marks after each request.  *falls to knees to worship Beth*

We knew Arrow was dropping a bomb because Kat McNamara gave us all a heads up in her promotional press tour for “Star City Slayer.” But it’s wasn’t just one bomb. It was several.

First, Felicity is alive which DUH. 

This reveal felt fairly perfunctory and it tells me the Arrow writers didn’t really expect us to believe Felicity was truly dead because, as I always say, they ain’t that crazy. You do not throw out the lightning in the bottle. You keep the lightning in the damn bottle for as long as you possibly can until she starts screaming to get out and you are absolutely forced to let her go otherwise you’ll be charged with kidnapping.

But was I laughing my ass off at all the antis who thought this was their year and Felicity was truly dead? You’re damn right I did. SUCK IT HATERS!!!!

Everything was revealed to us in the last three minutes of the show, which felt like the writers throwing a confetti and glitter bomb at us in a dark hole. 

AND I WILL TAKE IT. Please and thank you. 

We already had a mountain of evidence Mia is Olicity’s daughter, but there are extremely big hints throughout the episode telling us exactly where we are headed.

There is an absolutely beautiful transition from Felicity’s face in the darkness to Mia’s face.  In fact, Felicity’s face almost melts into the Mia’s, so it is pretty damn clear Gregory Smith (the director) is trying to draw a substantial connection. These kinds of shots are important guys. This is how Arrow Arrows. Transitions, cuts, focused shots – it’s all trying to tell the story visually. When Arrow cannot give us the answer directly then they will drop crumbs the size and weight of anvils.

Dinah and Zoe are using Felicity’s Archer program to find where she planted the bombs, but thus far haven’t been able to locate them. Roy believes Felicity could have hid the bombs in the old, but still secret, Team Arrow bunker. But of course we know two people who are already in the bunker!

Mia and JJ tranquilize everyone, tie them up, and begin the interrogations. I like these kids. They’re nifty.

Mia wants the codes to the Archer program from William so she can find Felicity. Nobody questions Mia’s ability to kick William’s ass, least of all William, so he doesn’t last long. He also wants Mia to stop hitting Zoe. Awww… this is the Arrow equivalent of these kids playing Legos together.

Mia tells William Felicity is alive. It’s unclear if Mia knows because she has actual proof or if this is more a gut feeling type of thing. Either way it’s significant. Felicity’s circle of trust is pretty limited in the future. If she trusts Mia then she is incredibly important to Felicity. The only other person Felicity has reached out to for help was William, her son, and she sent him to get Roy, the brother-in-law (I’m just calling it like I see it).  QUEEN FAMILY REUNION!!!!

This whole “Felicity is evil” angle is total crap too. Toss that nonsense out the window.

I think Felicity, Mia and JJ are trying to stop the destruction of Star City by infiltrating the Glade because Rene’s Chief of Staff is evil. Even if I’m wrong about plot points I am not wrong about Felicity being one of the good guys.

Mia can’t quite figure William out and the feeling is mutual. 

William not a vigilante like Zoe, but finds himself embroiled in this bomb plot.

The differences between the two aren’t difficult to see. Mia is street and William is luxury condos. William is tech and Mia is Krav Maga. William is gentle and Mia is punch first ask questions later. To say these two come from different worlds is an understatement and yet they find themselves circling around each other. 

She mistakes his interest in Felicity as romantic and we all gagged right along with William.

Mia’s reaction to Felicity being William’s step mother was a massive tell, which means Oliver isn’t the only one in the family with a terrible poker face.  

Source: plotbunnyshipper

It was similar to Mia’s reaction when William told her Felicity was dead. 

There is a person who cares under that hard exterior. There is someone who loves under all that pain. Sounds like someone else we know doesn’t it?

Oliver made his famous chili tonight, which is something the comic canon nuts have been after for years. But Arrow is going to put their spin on it. The comic canon folks will get their chili, but Oliver is making it for Felicity and William (and not LL like they want and ridiculously still believe they’ll get). It was two spicy for William, but Felicity was having seconds because SHE IS INCUBATING THEIR LOVE CHILD!!!!

Source:  lucyyh

Stan the Fan, who was fantastically creepy, put some kind of drug in the chili to paralyze Oliver, Felicity and William. They went to the hospital and Felicity commented on the “mountains of blood” staff took to confirm there were no lasting effect.

DID SHE SAY BLOOD TEST? 

I didn’t jump off the ground quite yet at this point. It was a fairly offhand remark from Felicity and I wasn’t sure if they’d reveal she was pregnant at the same time they confirmed Mia’s identity. I know I know. It makes complete sense to do it at the same time, but since when does Arrow ever make complete sense? I was being cautious.

And then all the bombs drop. 

Source:  oliverxfelicity

Felicity gets a call from the hospital regarding her blood test and SHE’S PREGNANT!  THIS IS WHEN THE SCREAMING STARTED!!!!

We immediately cut to the flash forwards.  Mia & JJ are fighting Dinah, Roy, Zoe and William. This is a fantastic fight sequence. It really feels like the old guard meeting the new. Roy gets the upper hand on JJ, but Mia gets the upper hand on Dinah. That’s my baby girl!!!!

William nervously holds a gun on Mia, but she’s cool as a cucumber. She knows he won’t shoot.  

And why? *saythewordssaythewordssaythewordssaythewords*

Source:  katie-mcgraths

BOOM!

BLACKSTAR IS MIA SMOAK!!!!!!

THAT’S DAMN RIGHT SHE IS!!!!!!!!!

My screaming went ultrasonic STG. 

It’s so much goodness all it once I almost hyperventilated. 

This reveal was like setting off fireworks in this dystopian nightmare world. 

I AM ALL IN ON THE FLASH FORWARDS.

Is it awful William and Mia don’t know each other? Of course it is. My heart is broken Oliver and Felicity didn’t get to live an idyllic life, raising their babies in peace, and the city is still a hot mess 20 years in the future. I wouldn’t have picked it as a storyline, but if I was writing this show then Olicity would’ve been married in Season 3 and we’d be on our second set of triplets by now.  

I don’t know how the family became splintered, but I am dying to find out. I want to see Felicity reunited with both her son and daughter. I want to know what the hell happened to Oliver. I absolutely want to see William and Mia’s relationship as brother and sister develop. It reminds me of the Season 1 between Oliver and Thea or more accurately Oliver and Emiko now. If everything is a mess in the future then at the very least I want to see the Queen family fighting to make it better. SIGN ME THE HELL UP!!!!!!

It’s not just about the Queen family either. Roy and Dinah officially confirm Connor Hawke is John Diggle’s boy JJ. Finally someone from present day recognizes these kids. 

It’s clearly been YEARS since Dinah or Roy have seen JJ. What the hell happened? Where is Diggle? (Thank you David Ramsey for confirming you’ll be in the flash forwards).  If JJ is working with Mia and Felicity then hopefully it means Diggle is as well.

“Star City Slayer’ felt like the birth of new OTA (William, Mia and JJ). Did you notice how JJ came running in as Mia interrogated William and Dinah, all protective and concerned for her? My ship is setting sail!

Kat McNamara said in her TVLine interview, “Beth has said they’re trying to combine the best qualities of Oliver and Felicity — his physical strength and her intellectual strength. “ 

And she is the best qualities.

Mia is the perfect blend of Oliver and Felicity. Everything we saw in the show was put there for a reason - the scotch,

the fight style, 

her reaction to Oliver’s documentary, 

her reaction to Felicity’s death, 

Mia’s intellectual smarts 

along with her street smarts. 

It was all to show Mia’s connection to her parents. We didn’t imagine anything family. This fandom called it right from the start.  

Let’s rewind a bit and go back to present day. I love how Felicity finds out she is pregnant. A blood test is irrefutable proof. Sure, pregnancy tests have come a long way, but you always get a blood test to confirm. I was happy to skip the whole “Is she sure?” trope.

It’s the perfect way for this child to happen.  I never thought this baby would be planned. Look at Oliver and Felicity’s lives! It’s going to be difficult to find “a good time” and Felicity is extremely pragmatic. I like how Mia’s arrival is unexpected. That’s life folks. If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans.

If you are screaming “But birth control!!!” lemme tell ya I know plenty of folks who have gotten pregnant on birth control. It would be easy to miss a step here or there given the craziness of Oliver and Felicity’s lives.  I am also of the opinion Oliver “The Sex God” Queen has super sperm.

Felicity is understandably stunned, but she instinctively puts her hand on her belly as she watches William being ushered away to Central City with his grandparents for a “normal life.” 

This is the life Oliver and Felicity chose, but it’s not the life their children chose. Felicity’s desire to protect William and her unborn child is completely understandable and what any mother would do. This news is unexpected and life changing, but Felicity’s hand over her belly shows her instantaneous love. Even though this child was unplanned it is already adored.

Source: olicitygifs

I’m not sure if the costume department specifically chose red on purpose, but Felicity finding out she’s pregnant dressed in a red sweater is a beautiful visual call back to Arrow 3x01 “The Calm.” 

This is the episode where the seeds of this future were sewn. Their dinner at the Italian restaurant didn’t meet the qualifications of a first date, even though it came with all the nerves, because Oliver and Felicity already knew each other really well.  They were already in love.

This was never about one date, a one night stand or even a fling. Oliver put those days behind him the minute he realized he loved Felicity Smoak. 

It was always about forever for him.

Oliver is not a man of many words and it’s difficult for him to talk about emotions or the past. But Oliver owed Felicity the truth after their “ruse” to stop Slade. She needed to know there were no lies in that “I love you.” 

Oliver tells Felicity how much she means to him and the life he dreams of having with her.  

Felicity waited two long years to hear everything Oliver said.

This is why their breakup was so painful. 

Oliver wasn’t just saying no to a relationship with Felicity. He was saying no to everything he dreamed. He was walking away from lazy days in bed, 

failed omelets, 

love ferns, 

brown bag lunches,

soufflés, 

ying yang kisses,

Christmas trees, 

vows in the park,

homework help,

video game wars,

breakfast for dinner, 

Thanksgiving,

and experimental cookies.

Oliver said no to a home, children and a love strong enough to build it all around.

Oliver could picture that life any time he looked at Felicity. He saw their children in her eyes. He knew exactly what he was giving up.  Oliver gave himself one moment to live that dream 

and love the children who would never be.

Anytime you think Oliver only loses I want you to think back to “The Calm.”  You think back to the beginning of the series and remember how far Oliver Queen has come. Remember everything he has built with his blood, sweat and tears. We’ve gone from a man who was emotionally cut off, suffering under the weight of his pain, because of his self hatred and guilt, 

to one who believes he deserves to be loved, fights with everything he has to hold on to love, and shines his light for the world to see.

The fans didn’t introduce the Olicity baby into the story. 

The writers did and they did it for a very specific reason. 

This has always been what Oliver is fighting for. Arrow is not just about saving Star City. It’s about saving Oliver Queen too. Felicity’s love and the family they will build together is his salvation. 

This family is everything Oliver dreamed of. It’s everything he believed he didn’t deserve. It’s everything he’s fought to earn. Love, family and purpose. This is what it means to be alive. From the moment Oliver stopped surviving and truly started living again, this is the promise he’s always been headed towards.

Mia is the fulfillment of that promise. 

She is the final piece to the puzzle.

Mia closes the loop around the life Robert and Moira Queen wanted for Oliver.  The life they died to give him.

Maybe the Queen family is broken and splintered in the flash forward, but they will be put back together. Don’t doubt it for a second. Arrow is mass array of broken pieces which will ultimately fit together to unveil the final image. Salvation for Oliver, Star City, his family and the team is all the same thing. It’s all connected. You don’t get one without the other.  Oliver will save his family just like they saved him. 

It’s also important to remember how far we’ve come as fans who love this romance. We were told constantly Olicity would never happen. The NOlicity haters, L*urivers and antis from every nook and cranny said everything we saw on screen was our imagination. There was never a chance for Olicity. The writers would never abandon comic book canon for a love story of their own creation.

And yet… they did. Felicity became the female lead. Olicity became the central romance of Arrow.  We didn’t imagine anything. Everything we saw was intentional. It was real. The smile was magic. 

Her belief made him believe. 

The lie was the truth. 

The kiss led to 

the sunset drive. 

Everything broken 

would be repaired. 

Shame 

would bring forgiveness.  

The bouquet 

promised the wedding.

And the dream 

would become a reality.

Oliver and Felicity are blessed, and we as fans, are blessed to have them as our OTP.

Olicity and William Clayton

Oy. What a couple of weeks with William. He still hasn’t coughed up a reason for his expulsion, so Oliver and Felicity play good cop/bad cop with him over breakfast. 

Is anyone surprised Oliver is the good cop? No. 

He wouldn’t have been on the damn boat banging his girlfriend’s sister if Robert and Moira Queen said no when he was two. The fact Oliver continually found himself in trouble with his parents is a clear indication whatever discipline the Queen’s used didn’t work. 

In fact, I remember Oliver having this fight with Moira in Season 1 over Thea. It’s a different story when it’s your kid, you’ve been in prison for several months and you just want bond with “Buddy.” Well, hike up the big boy pants and strap on those green tights Oliver. You’re a father now which means NO PANCAKES.

Felicity is the most adorable bad cop to ever walk the face of the earth, but her husband knows better than to question her benevolent rule. 

Bae is still Queen.  Felicity says one word and it’s see ya pancakes. 

Oliver even takes William’s knife and fork away. I died. He’s like a light switch she can flip on and off. Let’s see what else Felicity can make Oliver do!  Sounds like a good use of 45 minutes to me!

Source:  myhauntedblacksoul

I have to be honest if I was expelled, refused to explain why, copped an attitude and stormed out on my parents I would not live to tell the tale. Instead, I would be buried in the backyard next to our pet bunny Petunia. I had no desire to piss my parents off. I valued my life thank you very much.

William does unload on Oliver and its pretty friggin great. The attitude needs to go, but William makes some valid points. 

There’s been a lot of discussion about the “mistakes” Oliver has made and what he needs to do to be a better leader. I’m drawing a blank whenever this topic comes up around the Newbies because they are all awful and Oliver should’ve let them rot in Slabside.

However, the next phase of the Oliver Queen evolution is listening and his teachers are his wife and son. Keep your expectations low fam. Oliver is still a heterosexual male. There’s only so much listening he’s physically capable of doing.

William is cheesed off Oliver went to prison without discussing it with either Felicity or him (FACTS KIDDO), because his father does whatever the hell he wants to do (TRUE STORY). Simply because Oliver was heroically falling on the sword doesn’t erase his inability to ask for opinions. 

Oliver feels this is an unfair characterization, but we only need to look at Felicity’s face and to know William’s remarks are on target.

Source: olicitygifs

Felicity changes into her good cop hat and approaches William with Oliver’s world famous chili and a Rubik cube lesson. 

(FLASH FORWARD CALL BACK!)

Source: ebett 

Oliver acknowledges William’s right to be angry and apologizes. The kid has been through a lot in the last couple years, which is why Oliver wants to bring him home. 

It is at this point Samantha Clayton’s parents show up on Oliver and Felicity’s doorstep.  

That’s right folks! A ticked off William called Grandpa and Grandma to complain. Jeez William. This is how those awful Lifetime movies about custody battles begin. Put down the phone dude.

I’m laughing right now because I’m imagining calling my grandfather to complain about my parents. He would have reached through the telephone to bop me on the head. Then he would’ve said my parents were amazing, I’m the luckiest girl on the planet and I should apologize right the hell now. Then he would’ve sent me fifty bucks. My Papa was the best.

Grandma and Grandpa Clayton have a different approach. They want custody of William. Sigh. I’m not saying they don’t have a point. They didn’t know Oliver was the Green Arrow and the dude is convicted murderer. He just did time in a maximum security prison! Also, he knocked up their daughter and his Green Arrow activities are pretty much the reason she’s dead. So Oliver isn’t going to win the Claytons over anytime soon.

They may think it is an open and shut custody case, but WHERE THE HELL WERE THEY? 

There were plenty of times the Claytons could have intervened, but it takes William calling and complaining for these two to get off their asses? The kid was put into Witness Protection for god sake. Open and shut I think not.

Obviously, Oliver goes growly papa bear and tells them nobody is taking his son. Damn right. He didn’t even get that mad at the Claytons until they insulted Felicity’s ability to parent. I thought Oliver was gonna put an arrow in them. DO NOT SPEAK ILL OF THE WIFEY. HE WILL COME FOR YOUR LIFE AND A LIFE IS WHAT HE WILL TAKE.

I know William is going through stuff, but this is a really dick move. He knows Oliver and Felicity adore him and threatening a grandparent custody battle simply because he’s mad at Dad is completely inappropriate. Anyone can discipline this child at any time. I’ll wait.

Oliver finally finds his angry voice! 

There ya go big fella. It’s the same one you use to interrogate suspects, but with less torture.  And they say the hood didn’t prepare him to be a family man. Pfft.

Oliver and William basically have it out. 

As parent versus child fights go this is a pretty good one. Obviously, Oliver wants to have his son home and give him a normal life, but there is no normal when you are running around in green leather pants shooting arrows every night. 

Am I saying Oliver and Felicity should immediately ship William off to his grandparents? No. There’s a way to build the Queen family version of normal. They’ll do breakfast for dinner, but will occasionally be held hostage. It’s a give and take.

Parents have jobs where their lives are at risk every night. Do police officers ship their kids off to the grandparents? No. Do John and Lyla, who work for the least secret spy agency in the world, ship JJ off to Lyla’s parents? No. Zoe isn’t going anywhere. So why is William flipping his shit?

Source:  olivergifs

Because William lived ten years with his version of normal and that life was with Samantha. It was a life with no masks, kidnappers blowing up islands or incredibly dull mob bosses. As wrong as it was to keep Oliver out of William’s life, Samantha did insulate their son from all the crazy.

William’s mother died pretty recently and this child has adjusted to a lot. He meets his father, but loses his mother. He gets to live with his father and gains a step mother, but he has to move away from his friends, school, grandparents and city. Then, just when he’s adjusted, everything is torn away again. His father is sent to prison and he’s put into Witness Protection with his stepmother. I understand why William is having difficulty adjusting to the Green Arrow life.

Felicity broaches the subject, but even discussing letting William go tears Oliver apart. 

Source:  olicitygifs

Felicity thinks William is old enough to decide for himself what kind of life he wants to live. And right now that life is with his grandparents.  So Oliver lets him go.

Source:  thegayfleet

This is why I’m still mad with writers for killing Samantha. 

If the intent was to protect William from all the insanity of Oliver’s life then why kill his mother? Why bring back Raisa? Why send him off with the grandparents when William simply could be splitting time 50/50 with his mother in Central City? 

Samantha’s existence didn’t preclude Felicity from having a relationship with him. It would have been interesting to see Oliver, Felicity and Samantha co parent.

The only reason Arrow killed off Samantha was to make Oliver a full time father and for the whole father/son sin cycle to continue. Eh. That was never a good enough reason for me, but especially now because they are looking for an escape hatch to throw William out of.  If the endgame was always to route William back to Central City then they should have left his mother alone.

The argument Oliver and Felicity can’t provide William protection or a normal life, when they achieved those things all last season while living a pretty idyllic life, is a lot of nonsense.  Yes, I know Oliver went through a time in Season 6 when he hung up the hood, but Felicity was still on the team. And Oliver suited back up eventually. William could adjust to the new normal just like JJ and Zoe have.  Are JJ and Zoe getting shipped off to their grandparents? No.

It’s difficult to believe Oliver and Felicity willingly letting William go, even though I understand the kid’s frustration and anger. 

Oliver is right. William can’t call his grandparents for back up anytime he’s mad at his parents. But by letting him move to his grandparents, Oliver and Felicity are just reinforcing this behavior! The Queen family needs to learn to fight without someone packing up and moving.  

Perhaps, if we didn’t have the flash forwards we would see Oliver, Felicity and William work through this, but the writers want some distance between the three to sell the future storyline. I’m still not even sure this is the “abandonment” William is still bitching about 20 years from now, because guess what son? You left Oliver and Felicity! Not the other way around. It still boggles my mind Oliver and Felicity would allow this given how hard they fought to reunite their family this season.  

It seems a little ridiculous to me William peaces out after his dad is released from prison or Felicity being so willing to let him go.  William’s present day storyline feels slapped together with tape and glue. It flies in the face of everything this family established in Season 6 for the sake of the flash forwards. I’m having a very difficult time buying any kind of separation between William, Oliver and Felicity no matter how ticked off this kid is.

Of course, as William is walking out the door Felicity finds out she’s pregnant with his sister. I have no idea why William doesn’t know about Mia. I don’t think Oliver and Felicity said goodbye to him forever in “Star City Slayer” so there’s a lot of plot holes needing to be filled. I can’t even venture a guess and I really don’t want to. There’s too much information we don’t have and it feels like a fruitless endeavor. My plan is to wait and watch.

Curtis Holt

The Olicity baby wasn’t the only thing on my Christmas Wish List! Beth booted Curtis Holt off my show too !!!!!!!! YAHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Honestly, I felt a little bad for Echo because this was the least important development in the episode. The Olicity baby bomb blew him out of the water.

No, it doesn’t bother me he isn’t dead. I’m perfectly fine with Arrow shipping Curtis off to Washington D.C. for his dream job. I didn’t need him dead. I needed him GONE.

At first, I wasn’t quite sure what route Arrow was going. He tells Diggle about the job in DC but then John, who is determined to piss me off at every turn this season, offers Curtis a bigger job at ARGUS. 

He’ll be in charge of their science division because what would we do without Curtis! HE IS SO VITAL. 

Dammit Diggle! You had one job! JUST LET HIM GO.

Curtis goes out into the field with the team to hunt the Star City Slayer and I felt certain we were headed into L*urel L*nce territory. She decided to suit up “one last time” before taking her DA job and then BAM! Arrow right to the gut.

Amazingly, Curtis makes it out relatively unscathed and he even saves Dinah’s life with one of his T-spheres. I think. I didn’t really care other than he wasn’t dead. I was too busy thinking, “Shit he better not take John up on the ARGUS job.” 

But I was prepared folks. As long as I got an Olicity baby I was prepared to deal with whatever other disappointments came my way.

But NOPE! Beth decided to be Santa Claus and give me allllllllll my goodies.

Curtis decides to take the job in DC. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The minute Curtis said it I went online to buy him 15 plane tickets – one for him and his 14 PhDs.

Of course, he gives full ownership of Helix back to Felicity. 

See this is why he needs to go. He acted so magnanimous - like it was his to give. Curtis gives Felicity some pompous talk about finding her purpose. OMG THIS GUY IS TOO MUCH. IT WAS HER COMPANY AND YOU ROAD ON HER COATTAILS. MAYBE SHE WOULD HAVE HER “PURPOSE” BY NOW IF THE WRITERS WEREN’T CONSTANTLY SIDE LINING FELICITY TO GIVE YOUR USELESS ASS SOMETHING TO DO. Ugh. Is the plane here yet? I’m so done with this douche.

Anyways, what matters is Curtis Holt is GONE!!!!!!! 

And it looks like we’re full steam ahead on Smoak Technologies. 

Source:  felicitysmoakgifs

I don’t know why Arrow continually compartmentalizes Felicity. It seems to me she could be deputized and work with Team Arrow as Overwatch while creating Smoak Tech. Maybe that will happen, but for now it seems only one activity at the time. But at least her storyline won’t be stripped and ransacked to serve Curtis Fucking Holt anymore. WE CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED FANDOM. ALL MY PRAISE TO JESUS AND BETH SCHWARTZ.

Stan the Fan

Last, but certainly not least, “Star City Slayer” finally delivers a villain worth watching. Stan the Fan is back and is more creepy, diabolical and terrifying in one episode than Diaz was for a year and a half! 

Brendan Fletcher is a genius and the smartest move Arrow made was not killing him off at the end of the episode. WE WANT MORE STAN!

The back story even made sense. WILL WONDERS EVER CEASE? 

Stanley was abused and tortured by his parents until he finally killed them. Stanley’s older brother, who always tried to protect him, was horrified when he found out.  So, Stanley killed him too. Now he seeks out older brother types to look up to and endear himself to. Stanley tries to protect his new “big brother” just like his brother did for him. He kills anyone he believes are bad for the person he admires – friends and enemies alike.

Okaaaaay. My man Stan has some legit issues. 

Oliver: My teammates would never hurt you.

Stan: But they’re still bad for you!  Worse even because they don’t understand you.

Soooo… not for nothin’ but I found myself nodding along with Stan the Fan. 

He was making many of the same arguments many of us have made about the Newbies. 

Is Stanley wrong? Are we wrong? HELL NO THEY ARE THE WORST! Is it a little worrisome I’m agreeing with the psychopath? Well sure, but I think it’s find to agree with crazy people when they make sense.  Did Stan back into the right opinion via Insanity Street? Sure, but facts are facts no matter what route you choose.

I also completely understood his desire to hang out with the Queen family and make a new team just the four of them. I’ve had that dream myself. 

But let’s be clear - I’m not a crazy fan like Stan. I AM COMPLETELY RELAXED ABOUT OLIVER QUEEN!!!

Slicing Dinah’s throat was a step too far over the line though Stan my man. 

Source: arrowdaily

I just want her to take a job in Central City like Curtis moved to DC and bring Rene with her. Relocation would have been fine. You didn’t have to fricassee her vocal chords, bro.

I think the scariest movies are when you are physically restrained from defending yourself in any way. You can’t move or scream. The scariest Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode is “Hush” and it remains one of the most terrifying hours of television I’ve ever seen. I’m still traumatized.

Obviously, Oliver can take Stan the Fan in a blink of an eye so the paralyzing drug really shifted the power dynamic. It made Stan a real threat not only to Oliver, but his whole family. 

Source:  plotbunnyshipper

It’s completely unnerving to listen to a powerless Oliver Queen trying to reason with Froot Loops. Stephen Amell always does such a great job with making his voice melodic like Oliver is trying to lull Stanley into submission.

But you can’t fix crazy Oliver! I love how the Queen family worked together to stop him. William slides the bottle, 

Felicity pisses Stanley off to get him to attack her, 

and Oliver takes him out in one shot. BAM! 

That’s how we do! It’s gonna be so great when all four members of the Queen family are reunited, kicking ass, taking names and saving the city together.

Stray Thoughts

Wait. So Bl*ck S*ren isn’t even IN the episode where Mia’s parentage is revealed. HAHAHAHAHA. Obviously, KC was on her honeymoon and that’s lovely, but it never ceases to amaze me how wrong her fans are. Just when I think they’ve hit a new low they reset the whole scale by digging even deeper into the Pit of Wrongness. Am I being petty? YA DAMN RIGHT I AM.

Ben Lewis’ scream when Dinah shoves William off the platform made me laugh until I cried.

Roy’s parkour made its triumphant return!

When my parents asked me to unpack the groceries it wasn’t a request I could refuse. My parents are lovely people, but next to Oliver they look like the Gestapo! Someone in the Arrow writer’s room needs to take a parenting class.

Felicity’s apartment security system is great and everything, but can’t she install a camera or something so they can see who the unidentified persons are? It’s called The Ring. Quite handy.

Loved the pink. Felicity was checking off all her signature colors. Source:  lucyyh

Dinah lost her Canary Cry. Since she was having trouble dealing with being an outed meta it’ll be interesting to see what her reaction is. She doesn’t need to be a meta human to be part of Team Arrow. Although, I think this gives Team Arrow more of a reason to occasionally reach out to Bl*ck S*ren. 

This was such a mom moment. Source: EBETT

This was such a dad moment. Source:  olivergifs

Followed by another mom moment.  Source:  olivergifs

The woman loves her man and his chili. Source: feilcityqueen

This is the zenith of my shipper life. I have reached the top of Everest. Time to take stock of my OTP journey.

One taught me patience

One taught me pain

One taught me love

Thanks to @callistawolf for the review title!

Disclaimer: Any gifs on the blog are not mine. If you would like a gif removed from my reviews, please message me. 7x13 gifs credited.

If you’d like to support the blog, please buy me a cup of tea!

[chimcharstar]

1 THROUGH 55 AND 1 THROUGH 30 GO GO GO

LETS FUCKIN GO

tumblr please actually make this a keep reading

55 interesting questions you should drop in someone’s inbox

1. If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?

I ALREADY WATCH NETFLIX AND AGONIZE OVER MY STORY

2. What’s your favorite piece of clothing you’ve own/owned?

MY JACKETS. ANY CHEST OBSCURING, BROAD SHOULDERED, COZY JACKET

3. What hobbies would you get into if time and money wasn’t an issue?

DANCING, ID NEED TO GO TO CLASSES OR SOMETHING

4. What would your perfect room look like?

IM ACTUALLY PRETTY HAPPY WITH MY ROOM BUT IVE ALWAYS WANTED A LAVA LAMP, AND 1800 MORE PLANTS COULDNT HURT

5. Do you play sports?

NO

6. What fiction place would you love to go to?

SINNOH REGION

7. What Job would you be terrible at?

DEBT COLLECTION. I WOULD BE GIVING SHIT TO PEOPLE FOR FREE. I COULDNT BEAR BEING ENCOURAGED TO FORCE PEOPLE WHO CANT PAY FOR SOMETHING TO PAY MORE

8. If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would it be?

SERVING. HOW MANY PLATES CAN YOU CARRY AT ONCE

9. What’s the most annoy habit other people have?

WALKING IN MY SPACE BUBBLE WHEN MY SENSES ARE OVERLOADED

10. What skill would you like to master?

A SECOND LANGUAGE

11. What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?

THE ONE FROM MY DREAM WHERE I KISSED A GIRL DYED MY HAIR BLUE AND WE ELOPED TO BRAZIL TO RAISE SHEEP

12. What’s your favorite drink ?

THAT CHRISTMAS SHIT. PEPPERMINT MOCHA AT STARBUCKS. A FRIEND GOT IT FOR ME ONCE. NOW I ORDER IT A BILLION TIMES.

13. What state or country would you never like to go back to?

I HAVE NOT TRAVELLED MUCH EVER

14. What songs do you have completely memorized?

I DONT REMEMBER LYRICS SO MUCH, BUT I COULD PROBABLY REMEMBER HOW MANY SONGS GO COMPLETELY

15. Are you usually early or late?

LATE. IM GETTING BETTER THOUGH

16. What takes up too much of your time?

GETTING OUT OF BED

17. What do you wish you knew more about?

SWORDS

18. What are some small things that make your day better?

COFFEE. SOMEONE SAYING SOMETHING NICE TO ME.

19. What TV channel doesn’t exist but really should?

QUEER EYE BUT BY TRANS PEOPLE FOR TRANS PEOPLE

20. Who has impressed you the most with what they’ve accomplished?

YOU. AND ME. ITS GROWTH

21. What age do you wish you can permanently be?

21, SO I HAVE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FUCKS GOING ON

22. What TV show or movie do you refuse to watch?

13 REASONS, THE BOOK WAS TRIGGERING SO I WONT RISK IT

23. What would be your ideal way to spend you weekend?

TAKING A WALK, HAVING COFFEE, WATERING PLANTS… IM HAPPY

24. What’s something in your life that’s considered a luxury?

I HAVE PERFUME...

25. Is there anything you’re too young/old for?

TO YOUNG TO NEVER DRINK. TOO OLD FOR POKEMON

26. What’s your favorite genre book or movie?

I DONT HAVE THE ATTENTION SPAN FOR EITHER BUT I SEEM TO LIKE URBAN FANTASY A LOT

27. How often do you people watch?

I THINK IM SO POLITE BUT HONESTLY, I QUIETLY SCRUTINIZE SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE TRAIN EVERY DAY AND GUESS AT THEIR PERSONAL HABITS AND SELF IMAGE.

28. What’s the best single day on the calendar?

MY BIRTHDAY, SAGITTARIUS SEASON RULES BABY

29. What are you interested in that most people haven’t heard of?

I DONT KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING PPL HAVENT HEARD OF BUT IM INTERESTED IN BLACK HOLES

30. Do you relax after a hard day?

FOOD. NETFLIX. DECOMPOSING ON TUMBLR

31. What’s the best book or series you’ve ever read?

I HAVENT READ A BOOK I REALLY LOVE IN AGES. HARRY POTTER AND ARTEMIS FOWL WERE MY FAVOURITES GROWING UP, BUT CORNELIA FUNKES BOOKS SLAPPED AND HIS DARK MATERIALS WAS GORGEOUS

32. Where’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?

IDAHO?

33. What’s the most heart warming thing you’ve ever seen?

LUCIFER WAS LIKE YOU DESERVE SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR BORING MIDDLE NAME JANE AND KNOWS THAT EVERY MURDER BREAKS YOUR HEART AND YOU SIMPLY DESERVE BETTER SO NO MORE MOMENTS WHILE THEYRE HAVING A MOMENT AND CHLOE IS WATCHING THIS FUCKING IDIOT AND IVE WATCHED THIS BEFORE SO I KNOW SHES GONNA KISS HIM AND THEN THEY KISS

34. What’s the most annoying question that people ask you?

ANY SMALL TALK QUESTIONS

35. Would you give a 40 minute presentation with no preparation?

YES. ID MAKE THAT SHIT RIGHT UP. SKILLS

36. What’s something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?

GIVE ME A HUG AND SOME CHOCOLATE

37. Would you rather go Hand Gliding or Whitewater rafting?

HANG GLIDING

38. Dream car?

SOMETHING I DONT HAVE TO WORRY WILL FALL INTO PIECES AT ANY MOMENT

39. What’s something so many people are obsessed with and you just don’t understand why?

STRAIGHT LOVE SONGS

40. What are you most looking forward to in 10 years from now?

HAVING A CAT

41. What’s something you’ve been meaning to try but haven’t gotten to it?

DECORATING THE DOLLHOUSE I RESCUED FROM THE BATHROOM

42. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you all week?

IM NOT VERY FAR THROUGH THE WEEK AND I HAVENT ENJOYED MOST OF IT BUT PEOPLE SAYING ADORABLE THINGS

43. How different was your life one year ago?

NOT A LOT DIFFERENT, IM JUST LONELY IN THE CITY NOW, MINUS A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP, ONE YEAR ON T

44. What/who would you rate 10/10?

MY CACTUS JAKEN. I DROPPED HIM SO MANY TIMES AN ENTIRE HALF OF HIS SPIKES ARE FLAT SCARS. AND LOOK AT HIM. THRIVING

45. What kind of art do you enjoy the most?

GENUINELY MADE ART

46. What do you hope never changes?

MY T PRESCRIPTION

47. What movie title best describes your life?

I LOOKED THROUGH NETFLIX AND I PICK TWILIGHT

48. What website do you visit most often?

TUMBLR

49. What’s something you’re looking forward to this year?

MY BIRTHDAY

50. What’s something you’d like to unlearn?

FINDING A REASON TO CANCEL EVERY SINGLE LITTLE THING

51. Where would you spend all your time if you could?

WALKING BY SOME RUNNING WATER

52. What age would you like to live to?

80. THATS MY MENTAL HEALTH ANSWER

53. What’s something you’re most likely to become famous for?

SOMETHING CREATIVE WOULD BE AWESOME

54. What’s something you’re most likely to be arrested for?

CRIMES

55. What’s something you really want but can’t afford?

A CAT

Lgbt+ ask game

What do you identify as and what are your pronouns?

I’m even a little shaken by a questioning state right now but for a while I’ve felt the best fit is the androgynous label -- I read a description of it being the purple on a pink to blue scale, both at once but not specifically either one, and something else by itself. I’m also happy with a cryptic masculine grey area. My pronouns are he/him.

How did you discover your sexuality, tell your story?

During the Puberty 1.0 nightmare, I was basically living someone else’s life, and any attraction I felt wasn’t in relation to myself. I felt disconnected from my body and gender and everything too, and I felt a lot of social pressure to experience a certain type of attraction, fit into a certain role, et cetera, and none of these feelings existed in me at all, so I used to identify as ace. When I realized I was trans, I was too caught up in the, transition safely, my life is a lie, stopping dysphoria drama to focus on this, but I had an idea I might be a gay guy judging from my gay creative writing until I caught feelings for a girl and realized this wasn’t the first time that had happened. Some bi positivity and nonbinary rage later, I am reminded that gender is a joke.

Have you experienced being misgendered? What happened and how did you overcome it?

Yes of course A LOT. Starting with my parents, who do it aggressively and maliciously. And plenty from strangers and customers, mostly after hearing my voice pre-transition. It used to hurt terribly because I was dealing with so much other stuff at the time, and one little thing could be the last straw, so I used to react strongly and harshly, to people you express yourself to anyway. On T, I’ve been so much more chill and confident, and it’s less painful to accept that some people just don’t know any better, although that doesn’t change its effect.

Who was the first person you told, how did they react?

I don’t remember, I think it was a high school friend. I vaguely remember texting someone in a bathroom during a crying session at work. My high school friends were all warm and supportive.

Describe what it was like coming out, what did you feel?

It was scary as hell. I’m sure coming out (with your gender specifically) is scary by nature because it’s a huge truth to be telling that can really change how the people you love perceive you, for better or for worse, but for me, I’m also thinking with the dread and certainty that my family would be too conservative and potentially dangerous. Coming out to my family was one of the worst, most painful things I’ve ever been through -- being kicked out and laughed at, a lot of drama, confrontations, Bible readings and being ganged up on at odd hours, trying to comfort my mom who took it as her personal failure -- I was shaking with adrenaline 24/7. I think of the “I’ll suffer through anything as long as it has meaning” comment that was about angsty fanfics, but knowing the truth about myself was a source of unshakable strength and it felt refreshing and even triumphant to say, like I was giving myself permission to exist for the first time. I came out a bunch of times, though...

If you’re out, how did your parents/guardians/friends react?

My family reacted mostly badly, my sister is a little confused but has the spirit, and my friends have been wonderful.

What is one question you hate people asking about your sexuality?

It’s more of a gender thing, but I hate it when people imply that I shouldn’t be on T or are subtly trying to talk me out of it with their questions. After all the disrespectful as fuck bullshit I heard from my parents, I’m tired of this.

Describe the style of clothing that you most often wear.

Zombie apocalypse denim? Gay Layers

Who are your favourite lgbt+ ships?

I’m not really emotionally invested in these “ships” you cool kids are talking about. I like canon, age-appropriate ones.

What does makeup mean to you? Do you wear any?

I’ve never really worn makeup. I brazenly never bothered to growing up, and if it had an effect on me socially, I was too tuned out to care. My sister always wanted to do my hair and makeup, but I wasn’t interested and wouldn’t let her, much to her frustration. I wore some for a musical once though, and I had no idea what I was doing and it was extremely uncomfortable. I felt what I know now is dysphoria and ended up using the lipstick to draw. Another aspect to this is my family forbade it (or my dad made the decision for everyone), not that it made my sister feel less pressured to wear it, so maybe it was some female presentation I could easily get out of. For that reason, I don’t have super strong feelings about it. Not understanding it probably resulted in me feeling left out a lot among my peers.

Do you experience dysphoria? If so, how does that affect you?

Yes. Before my realization, it was a numb horror I wasn’t consciously aware of, ruining nice things growing up to the point where I feel like I missed out on being a teenager. I remember it as feeling nauseous while sitting in a corner, feeling like none of my clothes ever fit for some mysterious reason. Living with my family in the closet, it defined my life, and I was obsessed with my presentation. These days, it does not bother me on that level at all, except a minor freakout now and then if I get really wild and wear feminine clothes. Or I still feel it in more subtle ways, when I default to customer service voice, or when guys my age are twice my height and I look aaaall the way up at them and wonder what gender they see me as.

What is the stupidest thing you’ve heard said about the lgbt+ community?

Trust me, I have heard truck loads of dumb shit and the winner is the Gay Agenda is R****a’s propaganda to weaken the integrity of North America. Considering what is happening over there, it was enragingly stupid.

What’s your favourite thing about the lgbt+ community?

I feel like I can be myself around lgbt+ people. I don’t feel like I have to hide stuff or put on a show, and I’m not afraid because it’s familiar territory.

What’s your least favourite thing about the lgbt+ community?

Aside from obvious problems like TERFs, ace discourse. Ace people are part of the community if they want to be and that’s enough on that, my skin is already breaking out.

Have you ever been to your cities pride event? Why or why not?

I finally went to a Pride event this year! I was surprised it was the first one I’d been to, then remembered my parents discouraged me from going anywhere, never mind to a gay where.

Who is your favourite lgbt+ Icon/Advocate/Celebrity?

I can’t think of many people right now, but Leslie Feinberg seems awesome, and some quotes from Stone Butch Blues are very validating.

Have you been in a relationship and how did you meet?

No. Technically I have been in one, but it was shitty and ridiculous, and basically platonic, and I don’t want it to count.

What is your favourite lgbt+ book?

I barely read… I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe in high school and it was honestly so precious.

Have you ever faced discrimination? What happened?

Yes. I got kicked out (but then kicked back in again), had my stuff stolen and damaged, was verbally harassed… and I was indirectly fired by an employer, but We Will Never Know Why...

Your Favorite lgbt+ movie or show?

Queer Eye! I don’t know of many though, and some important ones, I just haven’t watched.

Who are some of your favourite lgbt+ bloggers?

My mutuals :D

Which lgbt+ slur do you want to reclaim?

I’m okay calling myself queer.

Have you ever gone to a gay bar, or a drag show, how was it?

No, but I did see some drag performances at the one (1) Pride event I went to, and they were jaw-dropping.

How do you self-identify your gender, and what does that mean to you?

I’m not sure what this question means, but I decide what fits right by what makes me feel the most alive and emotionally real and in the moment. What makes me feel the most attractive to be honest. There’s a post about dysphoria I saw going around, the things on it are basically what I use to figure things out.

Are you interested in having children? Why or why not?

I am actually! Not anytime soon, but I’m the responsible type for sure, and judging by the way I love growing plants and being around animals, I’m probably a nurturing person. I actually like kids too, lol, they’re just so high-energy.

What identity advice would you give your younger self?

You’re a boy. Go!

What do you think of gender roles in relationships?

I think people are going to have different ways of expressing themselves that make them happy, but… I don’t think they should infringe on basic human decency. When I hear “role” I think of acting a certain way because someone told you to, something I want to disagree with on the spot.

Anything else you want to share about your experience with gender?

People move out of my way on the sidewalk and take me seriously now. Privilege or self-confidence… I never want to forget what it used to be like, or get too entitled.

What is something you wish people know about being lgbt+?

That it’s simply living one’s reality. I think that trips up a lot of straight people -- that some people just come like this, and they don’t have to make it fit into their personal identity.

Why are proud to be lgbt+?

Because I worked hard to be alive and happy right now. I’m proud of choosing to get through those rough patches, take care of myself, heal, take walks, cook breakfast, learn healthy coping mechanisms, that was out of love for myself and a defiant conviction that I have a place in this world.

[autumnfanfiction]

13.

They were on a train on their way to Paris. Chris didn't want to go take a plane because he felt like a train ride was a little more romantic and fitting for both of them. He seemed to be right because Robyn was so happy looking out the window seeing the cities in a different view and perspective. He'd do anything to keep that smile on her face, luckily for him it was the same on her end. The City of Love was the perfect place for lovers and what couple better than them would Paris be suited for? Chris had multiple tricks up his sleeve for this trip, and his heart pounded just thinking about her reactions to them all. After all, she'd been through she deserved to have the world, the universe, the galaxy. If he could give it all to her, he would and if only him dying trying was only an expression.

"Chris, this was such a great idea. I'm glad we took a train, you can appreciate everything more like this. Everything is so beautiful, I'm glad I brought my Polaroid camera with me too."

She held the camera up. "Smile Pooh." He gave a soft smile, and she took the picture. "I think I'm going to make a photo album with all our pictures from this trip. I don't know where we're going, but I know you picked a good spot. It'll be something we'll show our kids someday." Chris felt his chest constrict hearing her say that. If only she knew the truth. It made him think about whether she would want kids after she found out they wouldn't live long enough. He would agree with whatever her decision would be, but he hoped she wouldn't hate him for feeding her lies all this time. "Yeah, definitely. Hopefully, your head will fit in the pictures though."

Robyn raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Are we starting this again? I will lay you out, Chris."

"Or you can let me lay you down." He wiggled his eyebrows and she smirked

"That was smooth."

"You'll be saying the same thing when I slide up in it."

Robyn frowned and he laughed. "You're nasty. Why are you so horny?"

"I'm always horny around you, I just do a good job hiding it because I have strong resolve and control. Besides, look at you. I'd be insane not to get hard at the sight of you."

She laughed. "Awww, that was oddly sweet."

Silence fell over them, and Robyn stared at him keenly. She didn't know what it was, but there was something different about him. Chris had been acting so mysterious and wasn't being himself. He made an effort to disguise it like he just did, but she knew better than to fall for it. She wouldn't question it right away because she didn't want the mood to switch especially when he wasn't actively giving her a reason to be concerned. She just couldn't put her finger on what caused him to change but decided to give it a rest for now before she drove herself crazy.

"Today is a pretty day."

"I see why you would think so considering it's wet outside."

"I really cannot with you right now."

"And it's thunder storming. You'll find comfort in that climate soon enough because it'll become familiar territory."

Robyn furrowed her eyebrows before gasping. "Christopher!" She threw a balled napkin at him, and he was just cheesing at her "I love the way you say my name, Buttercup."

"See this is why I don't talk to you long."

"It's because you haven't experienced things of that length quite enough. That'll change."

"I don't like you."

"I have to cap off my afternoon with a bang, you understand."

"It's not even nighttime yet!"

"You know better than anyone routine is boring, you're the spontaneous type." He winked at her and Robyn groaned. He was having so much fun annoying her. It was actually the highlight of his days because it spurred reactions in her he loved so much. Seeing the shine in her intoxicating eyes, the curve of her heart shaped lips and the sweet sound of her laughter.

"I'm on a legendary run."

"Start walking."

"You know all about pace, huh?"

"Chriiiiiiis."

"Yes, Buttercup?"

"Why do you like putting me in this position?"

"I can put you in different positions."

She shook her head at him but couldn't deny her heart filling with warmth that he was in true form. She stood up and went over to his side and just looked at him with a look in her eye. He pointed down. "Have a seat Gorgeous."

"I don't wanna sit on your lap."

"You can sit on my face."

Robyn sat down next to him and he pulled her close as she rested her head on his shoulder. She placed a kiss on his neck before sighing. "What am I gonna do with you?"

He shrugged and smiled down at her.

-

The train finally arrived at their destination, and it was night time when they got off. Chris held their bags, and once Robyn realized where they were she squealed before jumping up and down. "We're in Paris? I told you in one of my letters I planned to go someday."

"That's why I planned for us to come here. I didn't forget, I remember everything you tell me. Everything you say is important and holds weight."

She kissed his lips and smiled softly. "You're bringing out your romantic side for this, huh?"

"Buttercup you have no idea."

-

They found a taxi that drove them to where they would be staying for however long Chris planned the trip to be. The hotel he picked was the best, and the most expensive but nothing was too good for her in his book. The Shangri-La Hotel was a five star hotel––– luxurious and what made it special was that the Eiffel Tower wasn't far away. In fact, it was 0.4 miles away precisely, and he made sure their room could reflect that.

Robyn was overly excited to be in Paris that she couldn't keep her hands off Chris. She couldn't believe he did this for them and it was much needed after dealing with her Gran Gran's death. Part of her felt guilty for being so happy when she just lost somebody, but she knew this is what her Gran Gran would have preferred. She spent the week of her death two weeks before coming to Paris hidden away in Chris' bedroom in his penthouse. It finally hit her that Gran Gran Dolly was gone when her funeral happened. It was an intimate occasion with the pastor, her, and Chris. She was a mess seeing her name on the tombstone. After that night she faced the reality of things she took a week to get herself together, and that's when Chris told her to pack her bags so they could get away for a while. This trip was what she needed more than anything. All Dolly ever wanted was for Robyn to be happy and remain happy. To live her life without regrets so she would live during this trip with her love and have fun doing so.

When they entered their suite Robyn gasped at the display. There were about three dozen roses in the room, rose petals leading to the bedroom, but what caught her eye was the decor. It was red all over, except for the walls. The bed was covered in red velvet sheets with a heart encrusted in the middle. She ran her fingers over it and smiled, turning to see Chris setting their bags down to get them situated.

"Have I ever told you how lucky I feel to have you?"

"Hmm? Oh, this is nothing. I just did it because you've been through so much, so you deserve to get treated like the queen that you are."

She went over to hug him, and when she lifted her head, she noticed the Eiffel Tower. "POOH, WE'RE BY THE EIFFEL. IT'S LITERALLY RIGHT OUTSIDE."

He laughed before leading her outside. "That was by design. Out of all the hotels, this one is closer to the Eiffel, so I made sure to book it in advance. I remember how you mentioned you wanted to have dinner on the balcony with it behind close by. Waking up and seeing it within the distance, so I kept that in mind when looking for a hotel."

"You're so thoughtful, what did I do to deserve you?"

"By being you. Come, sit." He pushed her chair out then pushed it in before sitting in the chair next to her.

He had the staff cook her favorite pasta accompanied by fresh garlic bread, soup, chocolate cake, and red wine. They weren't supposed to drink, but it was a special occasion, and they wouldn't indulge much. She was beyond impressed with how he planned this without her knowing or suspecting anything because usually, she was able to foil his plans. She was just overwhelmed with joy that she was here and he was the one with her. They ate their food and made light conversation. Ultimately allowing silence to dictate the atmosphere.

Chris looked over at her and smiled. "Buttercup?"

"Reeses?"

"I want to propose——"

She felt her heart race. "Chris..."

"A toast."

"Chriiiiiis." Robyn pouted and he laughed.

"You fall for it every time."

"I don't like you. This is the second time, almost gave me a heart attack."

"It gets funnier every time."

"Whatever. Did you plan anything else for the night?"

"We could go to a club if you're down for it."

"Yes! It's been a while since I've been in a club. I can't wait to put my hips to good use." He gave her a big grin "Sounds like you're trying to get in trouble tonight."

"After everything you've done you deserve everything coming your way. I just hope you can handle it when I put it on you."

-

They were dressed casually for the club, and the way Robyn was looking had Chris feeling every kind of way. Her legs were out, and he's always had an affinity for them. Now that they were in the stage of their relationship where sex was the next step, neither of them had any problems vocalizing how much they wanted it. All that consumed his thoughts these days were wrapping her legs around him and doing what he told her he wanted to do; go inside of her raw. He wanted to please her in a physical sense now that he got the important aspect of their relationship established. He wanted her badly, and with the way she was looking tonight, they wouldn't make it out the club.

Robyn was no different. She always imagined what it would be like to be intimate with him, she often had wet dreams about it, about him. Some of them being so vivid and feeling so real. Chris was just so sexy; he oozed sexual confidence and with him looking the way he did it was hard to keep her thoughts pure when it came to him. He was as beautiful as dawn and as dominant as the sun. His hair as black as the wintry night and the silky feel of his curls––– what she would give to be tugging on them right now.

He was watching her as she put on a show, swaying her hips losing herself in the music. She seemed so in her element and seeing that caused an ache deep in his loins. The music changed to "Big Poppa" and she looked over her shoulder at him and smirked watching as he was walking towards her. They rocked together so in sync it was effortless. He wrapped his arm around her waist before reciting the lyrics in her ear while she smiled.

I just creep up from behind

And ask you what your interests are?

Who you be with?

Things to make you smile

What numbers to dial

You gon be here for a while?

I'm gon call my crew

You gon call your crew

We can rendezvous at the bar around two

The way she was rubbing against him had him unraveling right in front of her. She wanted it. He did too. And he would give her a little something to curb their sexual appetite for now. He took her hand and led them to the bathroom. Their hands were all over each other as they entered, frantically kissing. Robyn pushed him inside the stall and stepped in after him locking it while biting her lip. Chris wanted to taste her so bad, so he reached out, but Robyn pulled away waving her finger before unzipping his pants and pulling them down along with his boxers.

"I'm in charge right now," She kissed his lips before sucking on his lower lip. She gripped his dick and started stroking it and he groaned lowly. He was getting hard with every stroke and the confidence exuding from the woman in front of him was sending him over the edge. She tugged lightly on his lip before letting it go and pressing her lips to his jaw. "and I'm going to bring you to your knees, Mr. Brown."

"Baby," he breathed out. His eyes were tender and the thought of her actually getting down on her knees and sucking him off was enough to make him want to cum. Robyn sank down to her knees still stroking him. He was huge and she couldn't wait to have him in her mouth. "Fuck, is this really about to happen?" He was salivating at what was about to take place, but he didn't want her to think she had to. "Rob–––" She cut him off by flowing her lips over the head of his dick. She mouthed the head, sucking gently with no hands. The softness and wetness of her mouth made him groan. He touched her cheek as she fluttered her tongue across the underside, his eyes rolled in the back of his head, while he shot a burst of pre-cum into her mouth. "Shit."

Her head bobbed as she increased her rhythm, stroking him with one hand while she sucked and stroked the crest with her mouth. He kept growing thicker and longer, heavy veins coursing his length, and Robyn slid the flat of her tongue along them, caressing each one. "Fuck, Baby, you're making me cum." He gripped her head and started thrusting his hips. Her hand went towards his balls, rolling them gently. He threw his head back and moaned. "Robyn." The first squirt of cum was so thick, but she had no trouble swallowing. He kept thrusting and to him, it felt like he was hitting the back of her throat. A shudder ran through his body followed by a loud moan as he came. Robyn withdrew her mouth from him slowly, kissing his tip before standing to her feet smiling.

His breathing became steady and he brushed the curls from her face before kissing her. "I wanted to cum inside you."

"We have all night long for that."

[nibsthebravelostboy]

talking to my parents [tj x nibs x misty]

@itslostgirlmisty @princetjrobinson

[TJ]

TJ was pissed. He had heard his parents were back only through the news of the couple giving birth to two new healthy babies. The whole kingdom was in celebration and the maids and butlers were setting up even more festive decor for the kingdom. There was talk of parties and a Christmas ball but TJ didn’t care about any of that. He didn’t even know his parents were back or that had siblings from them. He knocked briefly on their door before going inside. His eyes blazing red in anger as he looked at his parents.

“So when did you think the appropriate time to tell your children you were back was? Or that we had two new siblings. You both didn’t even talk to us about losing the four siblings we had before and now we are just supposed to accept these new ones and not feel like you are just trying to replace them? You guys are so selfish why do you even have kids? You don’t care about us. While you two were fucking nonstop, Hope lost a baby, there’s a dragon terrifying the sirens and mermaid, and I haven’t left the house since Liam. You would know all this if you stayed and protected us just like you promised you would. But no, if it has nothing to do with you or putting Nibs dick inside of you you don’t care. I fucking hate you.”

[Misty]

Misty had put the twins down for a nap and she knew Nibs was going to be pretty busy with his meetings he had scheduled so she made sure that before he left for them they could spend a few moments together. When she heard the knock on the door she assumed it was someone coming to let them know Nibs had to go but she was pleasantly surprised to see TJ walk through the doors.

She listened to him talk and the mood completely shifted as his words felt like a knife to the heart. Hearing his last words her eyes turned blue as she looked at Nibs. Misty was so at a loss for words she didn’t know what to say. Most of what TJ was saying was completely disrespectful and just untrue but if she had made her own son feel that way then she couldn’t ignore that. She was more concerned though that Nibs had the same anger as TJ if not worse when pushed to far and she didn’t want him to get upset. “TJ we have been incredibly busy, we haven’t had a moment to even sit down with the royals yet. We got back because I went into labor and then we just wanted to spend the rest of that day together because we knew that as soon as people knew we were back they wouldn’t give us that time anymore.”

“You are right we didn’t talk to you guys but your father’s memory was gone, I had to deal with the royals and the funeral and my father, I was trying and I knew you guys were safe and that was my priority. I wish I could go back and check on you but I didn’t have that luxury, we don’t have that opportunity once you become the ruler of a kingdom and you are married. That almost destroyed me and your father and that’s what our trip was for. Because without it we wouldn’t even be together and all those problems you listed wouldn’t have been dealt with. And no matter how upset you are disrespecting us will never be allowed. Ever.”

[Nibs]

His eyes blazed bright red as he heard TJ's words. “That is a shit ton of assumptions coming out of your mouth. How dare you speak of things you don't understand anything about. Your mother and I left for couples counselling not just ‘to fuck’ as you put it. You are right your mother and I lost children, more children then you even know about. I brought her away from the castle and the stress because I wasn't going to let us lose more children. You aren’t a fucking child anymore TJ and if you want to be king you need to grow up. I am not babying you anymore so you deserve to know. Your grandfather was a bad man, he almost caused your mother to miscarry you and he even did cause us to lose kids before you came along so I am not going to sit here and let you insult your mother and myself over things you don't even know about. Hell even your grandmother tried to get her to miscarry.”

“And if I remember correctly, you came to the vacation house and we dropped everything to comfort you when Liam and you broke up which I can’t even fathom why you would bother doing that when everyone fucking knows Stiles and Liam love each other and you going after him while knowing he loves your brother is just setting yourself up for heartbreak. We raised you to be smarter than that.”

“And another thing, you see how fucked up Liam got when his parents were going through their divorce and how stressed he is about being King, you could imagine why keeping our marriage together would be in your best interest. We went to therapy to talk about what happened when you lost your siblings because Jack killed them and how we would move forward. How we would honor their memories and make sure that we can be in a stable enough mindset to help you and your sister through what happened. How do you expect us to be there for you if we don't even have our own lives put together? If we don't have our shit together there is no way you would take any of what we say seriously.”

“If you really think that we are trying to replace your siblings you are crazy because we value both you and your sister so much and ever since you have both been born we have been fighting for your birth rights. Do you know the shit I had to put up with from the royals about a hybrid as king? Hell they wanted us to never have children and force your mother to have a pureblood child with someone else thus removing you and your birth right of being King so don't you dare disrespect your mother and I ever again. I get you are upset but if you are to ever be king you need to learn to talk to people before you start throwing accusations around.”

“The fact you would regard your mother as some kind of whore for me instead of as my wife, your mother and as queen is just so incredibly insensitive and I raised you to respect your mother with the most utmost respect and you just...how dare you.” He hissed beyond angry as his eyes turned black as he stepped protectively in front of Misty.

[TJ] TJ didn’t back down from his father and step closer to Nibs, “So what you didn’t fuck her downstairs while I was upstairs crying my eyes out? Of fucking course if I’m not Stiles it doesn’t matter but when he was walking around here like a pussy because Liam broke up with him you gave him your full attention. Don’t tell me about who I shouldn’t fall for and who I should you are not someone I ever want to take advice from. I don’t have to go through the whole island before I actually settle down. I don’t have to have kids with people I beat and hate before I find the person I love. That’s you dad. Not me.” “You don’t get it. You didn’t raise me. You gave me a second of your time while most of it was Misty. You didn’t even know your daughter was basically being raped by guards. She was what 13? Having sex with 21-25 year olds? You only notice when it’s Misty going through it. And when you weren’t there for her miscarriage I was and how do you think I felt dad? I didn’t have anyone to teach me what to do. I felt so helpless and I saw that and you couldn’t give me a second of your time to check on me. You put your dick right back in her like someone would do with a whore and got her pregnant again. You don’t care about me or Hope. Stiles you do but us? Oh yeah no we don’t matter. And I feel sorry about the twins because they will realize they don’t matter either.” “I would rather you two divorce. At least then I know you would care. So no what I say stands I hate you both and I wish for just a moment you could admit that you are a shit father and she’s a shit mother. Because you are.”

[Misty]

Misty felt Nibs pushing her behind him and she grabbed his hand trying to get him to calm down. Nibs I’m fine. Really it’s okay. Just calm down for me, please. She said before flinching at TJ’s words. She never imagined her son would ever feel this way about her or Nibs. She didn’t know if Nibs would calm down after hearing TJ’s response. There was so much sadness radiating off of her, she couldn’t even respond. She couldn’t make the situation better. There was no way she was going to divorce Nibs and she couldn’t go back in time and be the parents TJ clearly says he wants. So what were they supposed to do.

[Nibs]

“Shows how much you know. I didn't pay attention to Stiles when he was whining his eyes out Liam. You know what TJ when you meet your imprint and they reject you to the point where your body starts physically dying then you can come bitch at me about it. I have spent more time with you than I have Stiles. I comforted you when you broke up with Irene after she pulled the same shit and you know what, you and Irene are perfect for each other.”

“Both of you are so selfish, making assumptions and not taking time to talk to people about an issue, throwing your family under the bus. You don't think you and your sister are in our best interest and you don't want to be in our family anymore then I am not stopping you from leaving. If you really think we don't care about you, there is the door. Now if you are done making everything about you and talking about how much you hate us. We need to go and check on your sister then figure out what all this stupid dragon shit is about. Until you can carry a respectful conversation this is over, now get out.” He could feel himself digging his nails into his palms until they bleed.

[TJ]

“You know what dad, fuck you. My whole life I have wanted to be you, I idolized you. But now I know that you are nothing. And you aren’t even half of the man I thought you were. You don’t have to worry about how selfish I am, I’m gone. You don’t have to worry about me at all. If I could I would give you your name back just so I have nothing to be associated with you.” He growled.

“Good day, your highness.” He said sarcastically as he bowed and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

[Misty]

Misty heard TJ’s words and she moved in front of Nibs to grab TJ’s hand before he could leave. Once he turned back to look at her she slapped him. “I don’t know who you are. You are not the son I raised. You father loves you more than anything in this world. Stiles grew up watching Nibs be the father he wanted to you because you came from me. You have no idea how hard it was when we lost our first child together, and then Hope came and Nibs was wrapped around her finger. And then we had you and you...you were everything I saw in Nibs. That is why you have his name, because you have so much of him in you. You father would die for you. He would leave me and go to you in a heartbeat if you needed him to. Your father is everything you wish you could be. And he doesn’t deserve what you said to him.”

“I love you TJ but I will not accept this type of behavior. You will go to your room and stay there until me and your father decide what to do with you. And thanks to your big sister every room is literally impossible to sneak out of. So apologize to your father and then get out of my face.”

[Nibs]

Nibs eyes turned from black to bright blue as he heard TJ's words. It was like a hit to the heart each word hurting more than the last. He was shocked that that was what his own son thought of him. Everything went rather slow as he found it hard to breathe as he took a few steps back.

[TJ]

The sting radiated off his face and his eyes turned black as before he could even control himself he ended up slapping his mother back. He froze as the slap echoed through his ears and his eyes immediately returned to normal as he looked at his mom. He knew it was hard because of his strength power and he brought his hand down in disgust. “Oh my god…mom I didn’t...I am so sorry I didn’t...I didn’t mean to do that. I couldn’t...I wasn’t thinking.”

[Misty]

Misty didn’t even see the slap coming before a sharp pain hit her and before she knew it her body was hitting the ground. Her neck completely broken.

—————-

[Misty]

It took a moment for Misty to realize what happened before she heard TJ apologizing. She took a step away from him and just nodded, “It’s fine. I know you are sorry.” She said. She stopped as she realized how many times she had had to say that exact thing to people in her life. “Just go to your room TJ and Nibs go to work. We can finish this later.”

[Nibs]

Hearing the slap caused Nibs instincts to kick in. He couldn’t control himself as he shifted and tackled TJ to the ground and bared his teeth at the younger. YOU DON'T DO THAT. DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN DO YOU HEAR ME. SHE IS YOUR MOTHER. He snapped before realizing what he was doing and his face fell before he got off TJ. Walking over to Misty he licked her cheek affectionately before nuzzling against her and then shifting back as he turned to look at TJ. “No, it's not fine. Go to your room. Now.”

[TJ] TJ was going to head to his room before his head hit the floor as he was tackled by his father. His eyes turned blue as he nodded over and over again. “I won’t I’m sorry it was an accident.” He cried before seeing his father moving. He got up, still shaking in fear as he nodded, “I’m really sorry mom.” He said before leaving the room.

[Misty]

Misty saw Nibs tackling TJ and wasn’t surprised, his first instinct was to protect her no matter what, but she could feel how scared TJ was. Nibs quickly snapped out of it like she knew he would and she flinched when he licked her cheek but smiled softly regardless so he knew she was really okay.

When TJ left, Misty took Nibs’ hand and kissed it softly before licking away the blood. “Stop hurting yourself Nibs. You know I hate it.” She said looking at him.

[Nibs]

Seeing TJ go out, he sent the guard to tell Jay to make sure TJ makes it to his room before turning his attention back to Misty. “I didn't mean too. I should have known he was going to do that. I should have protected you.” He sees the bruise already forming on her face as he frowned.

[Misty]

“Stop Nibs, he is our son you don’t have to protect me from him. I am okay. You need to go, you have meetings and I have to see the twins. I can put ice on my face later. It’s be fine, at most just swollen.” She shrugged trying to not make it a big deal as she moved to grab Nibs’ crown. “Go. Or you’ll never hear the end of it.”

[Nibs]

“You and I both know you can't walk out of her with that mark on your face or they might find some way to blame me for it. I will check on our daughter first before I handle the royals. Maybe she knows something about this supposed dragon.”

[Misty]

“Maybe but Nibs, just be sensitive about the whole miscarriage thing. Hope doesn’t love talking about things that really affect her. She’s like you when it comes to that.” She replied before sighing, “I am not staying in here to avoid people seeing my face. This isn’t the first time Nibs, I know how to cover it. I’m pretty good at it. Just go and I’ll see you tonight.”

[Nibs]

“I know. I will let her bring it up. You shouldn't have to cover it because he never should have done that.”

[islandofkiwi-blog]

Time’s Mirror Episode 3 - A Web Series by Steven Embers

Chapter 3

 I sat at a bar stool in the kitchen and stared at the blue flames underneath the metal tea kettle. There was something enchanting about the flames, something about the way they danced like tiny, turquoise, teardrop wisps, synchronized in a perfect circle while their slow, swaying shimmy set the world above steaming with life. I reached out my hands and popped opened the lid of the kettle so I could hold my palms over the scalding, silver steam. The warm, wet air lazily lifted up and enveloped my hands and brushed in between my fingers and I imagined I was absorbing the energy of those dancing, blue flames.

           The steam was starting to form droplets at my fingertips when my father walked in through the door to the garage.

           “Hey,” he said, tossing back the hood of his dark green parka and running his hand through his short, brown hair.

           “Hey,” I returned, closing the lid of the kettle and wiping my hand on my pants. “You’re home early.”

           “Yeah, work blows,” he said, throwing his coat on the rack by the door.

           “Don’t I know it,” I replied, looking back at the blue flames.

           “Snow’s supposed to come tonight,” he said, rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt.

           “Huh.” I remarked, setting my chin down on the island to look under the kettle at eye level.

           He walked over towards the opposite end of the kitchen island where I was sitting and he started spooning tea leaves into a ceramic tea pot.

           “You’ve been talking to her, I see.” He whispered the vague pronoun; he knew she could always hear when someone was talking about her.

           “How did you know?” I asked.

           “You have that look on your face. The ‘EMC’ face.”

           I looked at him funny. “Pretty sure it’s called a ‘Eureka’ moment.”

           “Ah, so you know it. But not exactly. ‘EMC’ is a trademark classic from your mother. Epiphany, then Meaningless Chore, masterfully orchestrated by your very own, Morgan Prince. She’ll give you a vague life lesson or new outlook on life – because she has one for every situation – and then she sends you on a fifteen-minute assignment to figure out your life. She loves messing with your head, and you always leave feeling like a child. Hell, she might have even guessed your exact predicament without you ever saying so, that’s how much of a wizard she is.”

           “Giving away my secrets?” My mother walked through the kitchen door right on cue. “Pretty shoddy on the presentation don’t you think: lot of guess work, flimsy metaphor. I’d be a witch or a sorceress, but never a wizard. Gold star for flattery behind my back though.”

           She took a step closer to him, and greeted him “Hello, Darling.”

My dad replied “Hey, Kid,” and they kissed. She was just a couple inches shorter than he was, so they were able to stand like a two-headed, eight-limbed monster-thing when he craned his neck a little to rest his chin on her shoulder. He held her around the waist and we all stared at the blue flames for a short moment, disregarding that adage of the watched pot.

           “Bailey is thinking about what he wants to do with his life,” my mother said after a pause.

           “Oh, I take the wizard comment back,” my father quipped. “That definitely couldn’t have been hard to guess given that he’s a teenager.”

           “Don’t trivialize his situation.” She slapped the hand that was holding her. “Support your son.”

           “Not while you’re watching.” He winked at me, a sign I had learned to recognize to mean that he was trying to impart a twisted life lesson. “I can’t show my soft side in front of a woman or I’ll lose my place in Darwin’s Hall of Fame.”

           “Oh, please.” My mother scoffed, and they continued to argue while still in that weird, standing, spooning position. “You could literally point at any bunny and it would beat you in a number of survival competitions.”

           “What about that bunny out back who keeps falling into that window well? Pretty sure I’d be able to find my way out after the seventh time. And I would gladly take a seat below a bunny. They’re noble creatures.”

           My mother shook her head and pulled herself away from him. “Just talk to your son,” she said. The kettle started to whistle and she turned off the stove. I watched the blue flames fade away while she poured the water into the tea pot to steep.

           “Bailey, we’re behind you in whatever you want to do,” my father began. “That is unless what you want is to do is be a drug dealer or a dentist.” He had a weird thing with teeth.

           “Actually if you would like to get into dental practice reform and tell them they can stop putting cold, metal picks and power tools inside of my mouth I would be very appreciative. Just throwing that one out there.”

           I hadn’t said a single thing since my parents had started talking, so I wondered how they knew I just needed a little push in the right direction. They started making dinner and I went to do homework, but mostly I was thinking about my life, because I thought I had finally found what I was missing.

 From the time when you’re a kid, barely able to sit on the toilet seat by yourself, to the time you get out of college you’re continually asked one question:

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

A normal kid will answer something like “Doctor,” or “Firefighter,” or “Policeman,” but we all know the real answer for a kid between the ages of seven to twelve is something along the lines of, “Why are you asking me about this? I don’t know squat. Give me another year and I’ll try to figure it out.” And so it goes until the kid sits through enough Parent Career Days and figures out what the internet is and then the answer becomes “Marine Biologist,” or, “Archeologist,” or “Back-up dancer for that one rapper I like.”

           For me, somehow or another, I managed to skate by sixteen years of my life and still hadn’t come up with a real answer to that question. And right up until the conversation with my parents I had no idea that I was reaching the stage where that question becomes very important. I had this vague idea that I wanted to make people laugh, or maybe I wanted to help people in need, but somehow I was still at this point of “Hey. Let me have another year and I’ll get back to you.” But the problem with not knowing what you’re working towards means there’s nothing that you can focus on.

           The thing that I so desperately wanted was: ambition.

           That night was a pretty important for me in terms of sorting out who I really was. I started to think about people way back in the Stone Age. People who were fighting to survive – their purpose was very clear: don’t get eaten. It was kind of weird to think about, because I have the luxury of not having to worry about getting eaten by saber-tooth tigers, yet I struggle to find purpose when there is no saber-tooth to eat me.

           As my thoughts shifted to present day, however, I started to think about my lot in life. I had parents who loved each other, which I counted as very lucky, and moreover, they loved me. I had a roof over my head and food in my belly. I had friends that I could vent my problems to and video games to distract myself with. I had a sufficiently functioning brain and a body that wasn’t sick or dying. The only thing I could say was missing was an overarching purpose to it all.

           I was beginning to think that I didn’t hate being content, like my mother had thought, it was worse than that. I hated being happy.

           And that thought scared the hell out of me.

 And so I become aware of my problem, but completely unaware of a way to fix it. The next day, despite, again, the predictions of a terrible snowstorm, I find myself at school scuttling through the hallways like a dejected zombie, not even willing to raise my arms in self-defense as Dylan Clifford slaps me upside the head, and blames me for getting him yelled at in his math class.

           My mind is stuck in a sea of thought, which quickly reduces to muddled nonsense as the day drifts by. Depression becomes apathy and it is not until midday that I remember actually being conscious that day.

           I am in the bathroom on the second floor next to the Science classrooms and, after heeding nature’s call, I wash my hands – I am a zombie, not a barbarian – and I look into the reflecting glass and I see a wounded man and I think to myself: I cannot help you, friend, but I wish you luck, and I shuffle out of the restroom.

           I stand at the brink of the hallway and I become truly aware of my surroundings for the first time. I see a hundred students move past me and, for some reason, I see them differently than I remember ever seeing them before. My zombie state has given me a zombie-radar and I can distinguish the other zombies in the crowd; I notice the lackluster movement of bodies that differ from their excited or determined counterparts. I try to count those that seem to move with no purpose and I find a surprisingly even mix.

           I enter into the flow of students and I brush shoulders with the lively few that I see, hoping that I can sap some of their determination for myself. This game provides small interest for my mind and helps me retain whatever sanity I have left. I feel more beast than man now. I have lost connection with my inner thoughts – I passed my class two rooms ago yet I continue to walk.

           The number of bodies in the hallway has thinned as people find their classrooms and I find myself close to the end of the hall searching for something that isn’t present. I am prowling the familiar scenery, hoping I might find something that I missed, something that will save me from my depression.

           I search until something catches my eye that commands all of the focus that I have left. I cannot walk. I cannot move. I can only stare.

           I see a girl and she is more stunning than I can handle. She is an angel on the battlefield where I lie half-dying; a flower in the desolate wasteland that I call my home. Her dark amber hair flows like a waterfall as she tosses it after turning her gaze. Her lips pucker and unfurl like a ship’s sail kissing the wind. The bridge of her nose slopes to a dainty point, and her eyes shine like a pair of emeralds as they look directly at me.

           I am still a beast at this point, and true beauty cannot deign to know that one such as me gazes upon her. I look away for a moment, but I have so little will to resist that I find myself staring once again. She, for some humor, continues to look at me. A moment passes, maybe more, and the bell rings to signal class has begun.

           The ringing stops and our eyes are still locked. She approaches, but I cannot speak for I am a creature of body only. My senses have deserted me even as she continues to advance.

           She stops right in front of me. The heel on her boot allows her to stand nearly eye to eye with me, and her stare is unwavering. I fear she is about to say something and air escapes my mouth in a soft, primal growl. She does not snort; she does not walk away in disgust. She merely continues to look into my eyes as though she wishes to tame the beast inside of me. I can smell her now, her scent, not rough or overwhelming like perfume, but like a forest. She smells wild and intoxicating, yet serene and inviting.

           We remain silent, though I begin to feel the beast recede into the awkward boy that I truly am. I know that in moments, if the silence continues, I will have to break the stare and hum a safe song to myself to keep from bursting in flames of shame. Who is this girl, I think to myself, that she can break me with only her eyes? She seems to sense the beast is gone and she cocks her head as if to comment that I am no longer interesting.

           But, curiously enough, she moves her hand, palm facing upwards, like she is extending an introduction. Before I know how to react her hand has risen to my face. Her touch is soft and she traces the line of my jaw from my ear down to my chin. I begin to breathe heavier, being notoriously uncomfortable in close proximity to pretty ladies. Her thumb stops on my chin right below my lower lip and grips gently so that my mouth opens in a stupid gape. Her face comes closer to mine and my brain erupts in panic.

           I am about to kiss a stranger.

           She touches her lips to mine and her hand runs the line of my jaw back up behind my ear. Her kiss feels like velvet against my lips, and her nose pushes up against mine as she straightens her face and her lower lip glides along my mouth. I’m unaware of how to react, so I simply stand in shock, staring at her hair on her shoulder and smelling her scent and feeling my heart pound anxiously in my chest.

           As she pulls away our eyes meet once again and I notice that her lips seem a shade of blue, but I can’t be sure that was the color of them before we kissed. She appears to be looking at my mouth as well, perhaps assessing the quality. She smiles, at any rate, a coy smirk, and she presses a piece of paper into my hand. Then she winks once and turns to leave.

           I watch her walk away, unsure if I should call after her, but mostly wanting her to turn around so I can look at her face once more. But she keeps walking. She hasn’t made a single sound since I met her, and I happen to notice that she walks so lightly that her boots barely even click against the hard floor.

           As she disappears I become aware of myself, but completely unaware of what to do next.

           “What…” I say.

TO BE CONTINUED!