#2) make him confront all of his horrible life choices by exposing him to the real hell hes put his son thru

[virovirokun-has-adhd]

@mayday-mayd4y @urdadskat @bananabiskit @bunni-y0lks

I saw these going around on Twitter and thought of Miraculous New York. That’s roughly an 8h flight too!

I have designed this seating arrangement with maximum discomfort in mind.

Where would you sit!!?? Please share your reasoning ✈️🗽

@callmequoteman @trainsinanime @writer-rider-flirty-thirties @plotbunnypettingzoo @samsimisauser

[wannabemobwife]

Guns, Glamour and Goodfellas - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: You Can Run

Dad!Mob!Tom x Mom!Mob!Reader

-Pairings: Tom Holland x Reader, Rosie Holland x Henry Osterfield

-Warnings: Language, fighting verbally, sadness

-Words: 3.4k

Chapter 14: You Can Run

Words: 3.4K

When Tom was mad, it was hot. His anger sometimes made you weak at the knees but now, he was fuming. There was nothing remotely sexy about Tom abandoning Parker, his only son.

Parker had been working with Angus Wilson, a sworn enemy of the Hollands, in an attempt to hurt Tom. Parker had been taking out Tom’s men, one by one by the order of Wilson. From the beginning there had been an unspoken rivalry between Wilson’s mob and the Hollands.

Wilson always trying to weasel his way into the inner workings of the mob and cause chaos. Nobody never knew he’d take as far as killing someone innocent just to get to Tom.

Tom’s feelings were divided straight down the middle. He was seething with anger from Parker’s reveal but he had never been so fearful in his entire life. For the past fews months, everything only escalated.

Starting with a somewhat threatening note to the death of Charlotte. In the end she was just collateral damage on a one-sided war.

To the planned murders of Tom’s soldiers. People he had chosen to protect him and his family. People he was close to.

To the death of a close friend. Jazz meant a lot to Tom, her being one of his first friends after joining the mob. They came up together among the ranks. Learning the rules one by one.

To orchestrated murder attempts on you and Tom. You multiple times. Seeing you half-dead lying in his arms, changed him. Only thinking about, coming home and having to tell Parker and Rosie you didn’t make it. He wouldn’t allow himself to be put in the position, he couldn’t.

Tom was selfish the day of the helicopter accident. Vowing to follow you, to be with you, if you died and leave everyone else behind. But his mind couldn’t just allow him to forget about Parker and Rosie though. He didn’t want to leave them, but he felt as though he didn’t have a choice.

At the moment he was granted the liberty to be selfish. Being free of the guilt of choosing to leave his kids. As you slowly lost the life inside you, his mind flooded with what if’s. What if he decided to die alongside you? Leaving Parker, Rosie, his family, and even Harrison and Henry distraught. But Tom had never known happiness where you weren’t in his life. You brought light and laughter into his dark and gloomy existence. You were someone he couldn’t live without.

Tom vowed to only to protect you, Parker and Rosie from now on. Torn by all the thoughts that roamed through his head, if Parker deserved any of this. Parker’s very soul has been tainted with blood and death. Exposing him to the mob might have been a mistake, one you will have to live with.

Tom didn’t see an outcome where someone didn’t end up shattered. Broken down by betrayal or loss. Parker had already broken his heart once today and he wouldn’t let him be the reason you or Rosie had lost their lives. Tom was now looking out for himself, you and Rosie. Parker was nothing more than a traitor.

“You can’t kick him out Tom,” you yelled, trying to calm Tom down.

“The hell I can’t,” Tom shouted, greater in volume.

“He is my son and I won’t allow it,” you said, holding your ground.

“Y/N, he has been working against me this entire time. Against us.”

“He stays.”

“He killed half my men. He killed Jazz.”

“So that’s what you’re really upset about your dead mistress.”

“I never slept with her and you know that. Parker can’t stay here, I can’t even at look at him.”

“I say he can. What are you gonna do? Hurt me? Because you didn’t get your way,” you quipped. You knew Tom would never lay a hand on you.

“No, love. I could never. But know this, from this moment on he is no longer my son,” Tom explained. It was up to you to mend the bridge Parker burned.

You walked out of the office, suddenly craving a drink. Something strong and potent to drown yourself in.

In some way, you understood where Tom was coming from. The mob lessons only started about 2 months ago and you realized that Parker was no longer your sweet loving boy.

Parker, as a child, was always carefree. Never desired the mob life. Scared to hurt even the most delicate butterfly. But now, you had lost sight of who your son was. Lying, sneaking out, back stabbing, all these things were something you and Tom never instilled in Parker.

When Parker first turned down the offer to take on the mantle, you were relieved, ecstatic actually. You knew it would crush Tom’s soul but your son would get to live a rather normal life. Tom definitely wouldn’t stand for it and banish Parker the moment he turned on him but at least Parker would be happy living a life on his own. Not living in the shadows, scared of what lurks behind every dark corner. He could find love and happiness, somewhere far away from here.

Hearing about all the horrible acts Parker has committed broke your heart. That night a few months ago, corrupted him. Inviting him to be a part of a table that he was never ready to play at.

“Mom, is dad in his office?” Parker asked timidly.

“Yes, but I don’t think it’s such a good idea you go in there,” you said, trying to comfort Parker.

“He has to talk to me eventually.”

“He will, he just needs time.”

“How long?” Parker asked. Tom refusing to acknowledge killed him.

“I don’t know —“ you said, but was cut off by Tom slamming his office door shut, hard enough to shake the paintings that adorned the walls.

“Dad, I’m sorry. Everything started when Charlotte died.” Parker stammered, trying to explain himself as quickly as possible as Tom came out his office for a brief second to freshen up glass of scotch.

“Not now Parker, I just ran out of scotch,” Tom said, brushing him off. “Dad please. Talk to me. Let me explain,” Parker begged.

“Parker, you put all our lives in danger. Your mom’s, Rosie’s and mine. I think you understand I can’t trust you anymore.”

“Dad, can we just talk?”

“No.” Tom said retiring back into his office. You didn’t see him for the rest of the night, until he finally stumbled his way up the stairs to your guys bedroom.

Having drunk himself silly though the hours. Finishing every bottle found in his office bar cart. Mixing various liquors such as, whiskey, scotch, bourbon, vodka. If it was in the Holland household he drank it dry.

The next day, he repeated the same process. His men would funnel throughout his office, mainly Haz. And Tom would only leave to freshen up his drink or retrieve the meal you had cooked for him. One time when Tom came back, he found Parker waiting for him in his office.

“Parker what are you doing in here?” Tom asked, annoyed to the last person he wanted to see.

“I need to talk to you,” Parker pleaded.

“I’m busy.”

“Doing what? Ignoring me,” Parker quipped.

“No. I’M FIXING THE MESS YOU FUCKING CREATED!” Tom screamed, letting all his frustrations out.

“Good.”

“What?”

“Yell at me. At least you’re acknowledging me. I’m here. Yell at me,” Parker encouraged.

“You’re only here because your mother insisted you be. If it were up to me you’d be long gone. Parker, I’m not ready to talk about this. Please leave,” Tom begged.

He couldn’t face Parker yet. Not until he had a plan to deal with Wilson. Parker had conveniently left out the part of Wilson being dead.

Parker’s standing with Tom only grew worse. Coming from a normal father and son dynamic, morphing into a mentor and student to now pure chaos. Parker had no clue as to where he stood with his dad.

So he came to the person who knew Tom better than he knew himself, you. Parker knocked on your cracked door, finding you laying in bed invested in a book.

“Mom?” Parker murmured with teary eyes, hiding in the shadow of the doorframe. Shielded from the light.

“Parker? Oh baby come here,” you said, as you saw your son fighting back tears. How matter how old he gets he will always be your baby.

“He hates me,” Parker whispered, crying into your shoulder.

“No, your dad loves you,” you reassured.

“No, he doesn’t. He wishes I was dead,” Parker cried.

“Did he say that?” You questioned, a little agitated with Tom.

“No, but I know. Everything that has happened is my fault.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Mom, it was Wilson who caused the helicopter crash. You almost died. How do you not hate me also?” Parker exclaimed. He knew he really screwed up and didn’t know how to fix it.

“Like this. I love you. I’m your mom and I will always love you. I know you didn’t know Wilson was using you. You made a mistake,” you told him.

“Thank you mom, I love you. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I wish dad believed that.”

“I’ll talk to him and you’ll never lose me.” You held Parker in your arms a little longer. Cherishing the moment. It didn’t matter if he old he grew, you were still able to comfort him.

You made your way downstairs to confront your husband. Parker was more of an adult than Tom at that moment. Tom pouted like his toys had been taking away.

“Tom, we need to talk,” you said, coming into the office.

“Now’s not a good time,” Tom asserted, barely acknowledging you.

“When is it ever? You need to talk to Parker.”

“You don’t understand. I can’t be in the same room with him let alone look at him. What makes you think I can talk to him?” Tom explained. “Tom, he’s your son. Please just talk to him, for me. He thinks you hate him.”

“Y/N, I don’t understand why you aren’t mad. He almost got us killed!” Tom shouted, annoyed that you didn’t feel the same way. It was you who fought for your life the most in the helicopter accident.

“Tom, you can’t blame him for that. Wilson would’ve done it with or without him,” you exclaimed.

“I thought you were fucking dead. And that entire time we sat waiting for someone to come. All I could think about was how I encouraged you to go on the business trip. You couldn’t stand to be in the same room with me but, I made you get on that helicopter,” Tom cried, finally allowing the guilt to get to him.

When you came home, he was only focused on getting your memory back. And if he needed to be everyone’s shoulder to cry on, then he would. Not allowing himself to break. “Tom, you didn’t know—“ you tried to say but were cut off.

“You asked for a separate room at the hotel and refused to eat dinner with me. I thought we could make up on the flight back. Because you’d be confined to a space with me. That’s why I switched it to a helicopter ride instead the jet. Cause the view would be pretty. Give you one last nice memory together before you divorce me.” “I would have never, Tom.”

“I thought I was the reason, I almost lost you. The kids almost lost you. I blamed myself.” Tom cried, a few tears falling. “Tommy, I’m here now. I’m okay,” you whispered.

“Yes you are, but are son is actually the reason. And I can’t look at him without knowing he almost took away the most important thing to me. I’m sorry.”

“Tom, he was just a kid, still is. He needs you to tell you love him and forgive him. If I can forgive him, for almost costing me my life, twice. Can you?”

“Yes, darling. If you need me to, I can. Can you just come here for a second first?” Tom questioned, just wanting to forget everything and have you comfort him for a second.

“Yes.” “I just want to hold you,” Tom said, grabbing a hold of you. You always felt sane in Tom’s arms. Finding solace in the darkest of places. The warm embrace last a while as Tom would shift to get a better hold of you. Nuzzling his head in the crook of you neck as you fiddling with his hair and rubbed soothing circles into his back.

You were the only person Tom could be a hundred percent vulnerable with, besides himself. He complete broke in your arms. A few tears fell down his face as he moved to press soft kisses to your forehead.

“Tom, I love you and we will get through this,” you whispered, pressing your forehead against his. “I love you too, darling. I never knew love until I met you,” Tom soothed.

Rosie tried to avoid the family drama as much as possible. She was off in her own little world. Going on supervised dates with Henry around the city of London. Tom required men to be with them at all times. Henry refused it be his dad and Tom needed Haz at the mansion twenty-four seven.

Rosie would try to ditch her security as much as possible. Running from them and tell them she was going to the bathroom when she was going to the alley to make out with Henry.

As she and Henry were coming out a movie. They asked to take the back exit, pretending they were being followed.

“Excuse me miss, but do you mind if we take the employee exit? We think we are being followed by those men over there. Do you see them?” Rosie asked the concessions lady at the theater.

“Not at all. Yes, I see them. Want me to call the police?” She responded.

“No it’s ok. We just need to get home, our car is outside.”

“We lost them. Slow pokes,” Rosie chuckled as they exited to the alley.

“No I don’t feel guilty kissing you in front of them,” Henry muttered breaking away from the kiss.

A black SUV slowly pulled up next to them. It came to screeching halt in front of them and out came two tall, muscular men dressed in all black and one young man, dressed rather dashingly.

“Rosie Holland?” Barked the handsome mystery man.

“Umm… Who’s asking?” Rosie quipped “Someone who really needs to talk to your brother.” “My brother. What did he do know?” Rosie snapped annoyingly. “Oh believe me, something heinous…. Grab her.” Both the men, snuck up behind Rosie and Henry. Knocking them out with a swift knock to the head by the butt of their guns. They stashed Rosie in the backseat and left Henry alone in the alley.

Back at the manor, Tom swallowed his pride and finally approached Parker.

“Hey, Parker. Can I talk to you?” Tom asked. He’d been shutting Parker out this entire time, what would want to make him talk to him.

“Dad, I’m really not in the mood to be yelled at right now. I have made my peace with you, hating me,” Parker explained. “I’m trying to apologize.”

“Oh, sorry. You can continue,” Parker faltered.“I was over reacting, we’ve all

done things we aren’t proud of. I was just mad when I found out you were behind the murders of my men and the helicopter crash. But I realized you couldn’t have known about the crash. You never intended to hurt you mother and I. It’s my fault you went to Wilson,” Tom began. “Actually, I was trying to hurt you,” Parker interjected.

“Well, mission accomplished. Let’s just move on from this,” Tom assured

“Done and done,” Parker said with a tight lipped smile.

“I need a cigar,” Tom said, opening his humidor, pulling out a crisp cuban ,and lightning the end. “Mom, doesn’t like it when you smoke in the house. I specifically remember her saying Tom if you smoke in the house one more god damm time, I’m going to—” Parker mimicked you but was cut off. “Hey. Don’t talk about her like that. We owe our lives to your mother. Okay? What she doesn’t know won’t kill her. Want one?” Tom offered. “Are you sure?” “Yeah, I’ve kind of always wanted to share your first cigar with you. First time smoking anything.” “Well it’s not my first,” Parker mumbled, hiding his face. “Don’t ruin the moment.” Tom blurted.

“TOOOOMMMMM!!” You called out, busting into his office.

“Y/N? Honey, what’s wrong?” “They can’t find Rosie. Or Henry. Jared lost them. He just called the house to tell me,” you hyperventilated, talking so fast Tom and Parker could barely understand you.

“Woah baby, slow down. Take a few breaths. In and out, ]” Tom whispered trying to calm you down. Rubbing you back to soothe you. “Now, tell me. What happened?”

“Rosie is missing. Jared can’t find her. She and Henry went to the movies and then they got lost for a little and now they can’t find either of them.” You explained, tears prickling at your eyes.

“What? Haz, get in here!” Tom whisper-yelled, trying not to blast out you ear drums. As he was still holding you.

“What’s up? Oh my god, what’s wrong?” Haz questioned.

“Rosie and Henry are missing. I’m sorry Haz, but I need you to take the car and go around London looking for them. Take Parker with you. I’m going to stay here with Y/N.”

“Ok,” Haz couldn’t barely manage to speak two words. His son’s life was on the line. “Tom, we have find him. I can’t lose him. He’s all I have left.”

“Haz, we will. I promise,” Tom concluded as Haz left without saying another word.

Haz and Parker immediately got in the car and went to the movie theater, the place Rosie and Henry were last seen.

“Rosie? Henry? Enough games, come out!” Haz screamed, growing more worried by the second.

“I’m going to check behind the theater.” Parker informed Haz. He walked through the emergency exit, the same one Rosie and Henry did 30 minutes ago. He opened the door to find Henry unconscious, lying on the cold concrete.

“Oh my god. Hey, hey, hey. Henry get up. Come on Henry. UNCLE HAZ!” Parker yelled. Henry was knocked out cold. Haz and Parker drove him home but Rosie was still nowhere to be found.

Tom was sitting in the living room, still comforting you. You knew Rosie’s disappearance wasn’t a good sign. Rosie missing was exactly like your kidnapping years before. Mobsters only used you as leverage to get to Tom. They never intended on letting you go, their only agenda being to kill you but Tom had other plans.

You and Tom received a video chat message from an unknown number and decided to answer it. In hopes that it would lead you to Rosie.

“Who the hell are you?” Tom spoke first, alerting the mystery man.

“Oh, how rude. Let me introduce myself. I’m Carter Wilson. As in the son of your dearly departed foe, Angus Wilson.” Carter, Angus Wilson’s son, informed Tom of his demands.

“He’s dead?… What do you want?” Tom barked, trying to dwell on the important parts.

“Someone in your family has done something unspeakable and I’m here to return the favor. Tom Holland, give up your son or face the consequences.”

“He’s not going anywhere.”

“Fine, I see you need a little convincing. Oh, Rosie,” Carter said, snapping his fingers to have one of his goons bring over a battered and bruised Rosie. She had duck taped across her face and red puffy eyes most likely from tears.

“You monster. Let her go. What do you want? Money?” Tom pleaded. The very sight of his daughter in such agony made his heart clench.

“You know what I want, more specifically who. The clock is ticking,” Carter concluded, ending the video without a word more.

“This ain’t a fucking rivalry anymore. This is a war,” Tom muttered, he sure as hell wouldn’t let his daughter’s blood be added to the lives lost.

A/n: Sorry, this is definitely a filler chapter. Even my brother said it was his least favorite chapter.

Guns, Glamour and Goodfellas Masterlist

Taglist: @thenoddingbunny-blog @dummiesshort @adriannauni @bi-lmg @allthisfortommy @quaksonhehe

[nobodyfamousposts]

The Other ML Crossover Nobody Wanted

Sooooo…

How many of you have read Petshop of Horrors?

No wait! Come back! I swear it’s not too horrible this time!

In a non-Miraculous version of events, Marinette Dupain-Cheng is a bullied and lonely girl. She’s creative and resilient, but has few friends and low self esteem.

Things happen similarly to Origins in canon. The first day of school comes and she’s already figuring it’s bound to be another bad year. Her parents attempt to help by sending her off with a box of macarons to share to try and make friends.

Only instead of Master Fu, she happens to run into a rather peculiar man. Androgynous. Different colored eyes. Long nails. And wearing full oriental clothing.

She helps him and even offers him one of the her bakery’s macarons (which he loves). And somehow, he can tell she has problems. Despite herself, she admits to her fears and her desire to have friends.

The strange man introduces himself as Count D, and as a way of thanking her, he directs her to his Petshop, where he says he sells hopes and dreams. And he offers to find her her perfect companion.

With little else for it, she decides she’ll at least check it out and agrees to go with him.

At the petshop, he offers to give her a pet that will help her and takes her to the back of his store...which strangely seems bigger inside than it should be. He leads to to a particular room.

And inside is a young blond boy who D says is going to be her new pet.

“You can’t just give me a boy as a pet!”

“Don’t be silly. This is a cat.”

Despite the Count’s reassurances, Marinette remains skeptical, but ends up having little choice in the matter. D tells her that this “pet” will help with her problems. And the boy (who calls himself “Chat Noir”) insists on going with her and swears to protect her.

She’s reluctant and demands to know the catch. D is impressed she bothers to ask, but remains vague. At best, he reassures her that as long as she’s good to him, he will return the favor.

So Marinette returns home with a “cat”. Said “cat” is very affectionate and rather needy of her attention. But he’s a great listener and will let Marinette vent to him all of her feelings. He’s also supportive and encourages her. He becomes her friend, as weird as he is.

But...

She wants real friends.

The next day, when she goes to school, she discovers a new student.

“Adrien”.

Who is her cat.

She panics and tries to hide him, only to discover that everyone else sees him as a regular kid. Not only that, he’s pretty and popular and Marinette vicariously becomes popular for knowing him. She doesn’t really like this though since she figures people are only really interested in her because she knows him.

While “Adrien” is getting along with the other members of class, Marinette goes off by herself to begrudge his interference in her social life. Chloe of course takes the chance to antagonize Marinette and try to steal her seat to sit behind this cute new boy she’s heard about. This is how Marinette meets and befriends Alya, who is also a new student. Together, they stand up to Chloe and decide to be friends.

Chloe goes off in a huff, and they think that’s the end of it.

But once class starts, Chloe sees “Adrien” and freaks.

It turns out that Chat Noir in this human form looks just like a boy Chloe knew. A childhood friend of hers named Adrien Agreste.

Suspicious.

Chat gets a little down after this and doesn’t want to talk about it. Which is fine by Marinette, because that is what the internet is for! And new best friend Alya is on the case to help her solve this mystery—because this Alya is a fan of mysteries, and a new transfer student from out of nowhere who looks just like a kid who died is definitely a mystery. And possibly supernatural.

With Alya’s help, Marinette discovers a young male model named Adrien Agreste, son of Gabriel Agreste of the fashion company. Adrien was a model for his father’s brand until he collapsed one day and passed away suddenly. Gabriel Agreste has been holed up in his mansion ever since, and has refused to leave his home or make any public appearances. But he has been known to have a particularly volatile temper, seemingly going out of his way to upset people for unknown reasons.

Chat Noir develops a strange interest in the case and asks to visit. She’s wary, but agrees and takes him to the mansion. Somehow, he knows the access codes to unlock the gates and doors, and manages to get her inside.

The mansion is strangely empty.

They work their way through the rooms, including Adrien’s old bedroom, which looks like it’s been untouched for at least a year. They eventually find their way to Gabriel’s office.

And discover a secret entrance to a hidden basement below.

Down there, they discover a pale, sunken-faced, sickly Gabriel Agreste single-mindedly focused on caring for a strange cocoon. The man is clearly unwell and possibly mad, as he insists the cocoon is his comatose wife. And that everything he’s doing is to wake her.

It becomes clear that like Marinette, Gabriel was also a customer of Count D’s petshop. Only his “pet” is apparently an insect of some sort whom he has been bewitched to see as his dead wife.

Chat Noir is furious and confronts him for neglecting his son for “this”.

The truth comes out.

Adrien Agreste died due to malnutrition, exhaustion, and stress. He had been overworked as a model, working long hours and was kept on a strict diet. Adrien was horribly neglected and desperate to get any sort of approval from his father, so he forced himself to keep at it until his body eventually gave out.

Gabriel Agreste had been a broken man after his wife’s “disappearance”. When he came upon Count D, he was introduced to a “pet”—a cocoon containing an exotic species of moth, which took on the form of his wife in a state of stasis. He signed the contract to keep her and had been focused on “waking” her ever since. To the point of obsession and neglecting all other things.

Including his son.

Chat Noir is strangely angered by this. It takes Marinette’s interference to calm him and keep him from attacking the broken man.

Not that it mattered anymore.

Because Gabriel had a contract for this pet. With three rules of his own to follow:

1. Keep her in a cool space with plenty of moisture.

2. She is an empathetic creature and needs to be stimulated by proximity to high emotions.

3. Do not let her feel isolation.

In lines with these terms, Gabriel had been spending all of his time with her so she would not be isolated. In addition, he had taken to intentionally upsetting people in order to stir up high emotions—often of the negative variety—in some mad attempt to “feed” or stimulate her in hopes she would awaken. In this way, the third rule made sense to him in that if she was empathetic and could sense emotions, she could feel a lack of them and would die if she felt alone.

Gabriel is desperate. He’s been at it for years and still no sign of life from the cocoon. He’s insistent that he keep trying though, because everything will be better once she wakes up.

It’s Marinette who figures out what’s actually happened. And she has to break the news to both Gabriel and Chat.

Gabriel misunderstood the second and third rule of the contract.

For the second rule, she needed to be exposed to high emotions. They didn’t all have to be negative. Happiness counted. Love counted. Excitement and pleasure and bursts of creativity and even all the little mundanities of life would count just fine. But Gabriel thought that the highest emotions were the ones that got the most physical reaction, and had thus been consistently making people around him miserable for this purpose.

Then the third rule, she needed to not feel isolation. For this, he stayed with her constantly. But he failed to realize that this didn’t only mean that she could feel isolated, but that as an empathetic creature, she could feel when OTHERS were isolated.

Like Adrien, whom had been neglected by his father and locked away in his room when he wasn’t being used as a dress up doll.

For years, Gabriel had been exposing her to constant negative emotions of everyone he dealt with and neglecting his own son. That’s a lot of bad feelings he was creating, and a lot of sad/mad/scared/hurt and just all around painful feelings he’d been forcibly exposing her to.

Without realizing it, Gabriel had been poisoning her all along. That’s why she never woke up. And now she never will.

Gabriel refuses to believe it. He breaks down. His wife was lost to him again—for good this time and by his own hand. His son was an unfortunate casualty of his obsession. All former friends and companions driven away. Even his own health and well being was neglected. He was a truly miserable man.

With little other choice, Marinette calls the authorities to get Gabriel some help.

She notices Chat Noir had left and leaves Gabriel to the care of health care workers.

She eventually finds Chat Noir in Adrien’s room.

She also finds a picture there. One of the few of a genuinely happy Adrien Agreste.

And his pet black cat affectionately named “Chat Noir”.

“I hated this room. It was always big but empty. And no matter how much space I had, I always felt trapped. I could never leave. Never go out. Never interact with anyone else.”

“…”

“And your room is so much smaller. So I should be worse off there, shouldn’t I? But it’s warm. And so full of life. And you’re there. And I was so…so happy. It was like what home used to be. What home should be.”

“Chat…”

“How could that make such a difference? I didn’t understand it. Because I thought…surely he loved me the same, right? He slumped. “I just wanted to know why. That was all I ever wanted. And now I finally do and…I can’t stand it.”

“Chat?”

“It just makes me hate this place more.”

“Tell me. Are you…Adrien?”

“I was. I think?” He shook his head. “I don’t know anymore.”

He looked to her, wounded and desperate and practically begging all at once.

“Can I stay with you?”

“…”

“Please?”

_________________________

That night, Marinette slept in her bed, exhausted from the events of the day.

A warm ball of fluff purring as he was held securely in her arms.

[facelessoldgargoyle]

The season 1 finale of Hannibal was so satisfying! I’m so glad they didn’t pull a happy-ending switcheroo, where all of a sudden Will is cleared of all suspicion and the truth comes to light and Hannibal receives his just desserts. This season has been very much formatted as a tragedy, and I enjoy the inevitable conclusion, as heartbreaking as it is. The question it asks: Can you stare into the abyss without falling in?

The season began on a high note, with Will using his high-empathy to solve murders. That fundamental characteristic is both his strength and his weakness. The empathy wasn’t what brought him down though. What brought him down was his choice to self-abnegate. This makes episode 5, where he thinks about quitting, but at the urging of Jack and Hannibal, decides to commit himself to the work, the turning point (Hamartia). After that, his decay was inevitable.

The crisis point was choosing to protect Abigail when he discovered that she killed Nick Boyle. This coincided with Will starting to dissociate and have intense, violent delusions- the tragic force, bringing him faster and faster to the catastrophe. Will’s protection of Abigail is the perfect choice to place at the top of the arc because of the how well they fit together. Abigail’s father’s murders brought Will into her life, and Will’s murder of her father kept him there. Abigail bears ambiguous responsibility for the murders, by being her father’s bait, and Will’s unambiguous commitment to her (replacing the father he robbed her off) forces him to adopt that responsibility too. When he decides not to turn her in for killing Nick, he makes the final choice to commit to her wellbeing above all other moral choices and embrace the violence he has studied for so long.

I would argue that there are two Moments of Final Suspense, or that it’s a moment with two parts separated by the space of a day or so. First, horribly, is when Hannibal kills Abigail. This is setup, where he takes the greatest risk in exposing himself and we hope that this might be the crime he is discovered. By removing her agency (by killing her), we no longer care if she gets caught for the death of Nick Boyle, so one emotional complication is removed. The second Moment is Will’s confrontation with Hannibal in the kitchen, where we see him grasp onto his shattering identity with the repetition of the mantra, “I know who I am.” He has clarity that Hannibal had to have killed Abigail and all the others, and we have hope that he will be able to convince the authorities of this. It comes crashing down when he draws his gun, and we see him fall back to violence, the way he has become accustomed to. Jack, entering the scene, can only draw the inevitable conclusion. It is the gun that proves Will’s guilt.

Unlike a Shakespearean tragedy, which is the framework I’ve been using so far, our protagonist is fundamentally innocent. He is on the side of the angels. It is no great sin to want to protect Abigail, and the grand architect of his misfortune is Hannibal. Lector stands in for the forces of fate, witchery, and curses, but instead of being an unblameable exernal power, he is also a man making choices. He cannot go unpunished, although he seems to have temporarily triumphed.

Anyways, I’m looking forward to season 2

[starbuck09256]

The Bed You’ve Made Part 3

Part 1 https://starbuck09256.tumblr.com/post/183232727829/the-bed-youve-made

Part 2 https://starbuck09256.tumblr.com/post/183599512139/the-bed-youve-made-part-2

He studies his face in the mirror. The last 3 days taking a toll on him. Diana stayed over twice, she hasn't done that in years. Scullys’ kiss is still burned on his lips somehow laying claim to him. It's so unconventional. Today is the ultrasound. The gods blessed him by having Scully consult at Quantico the last two days. Diana comes behind him, her eyes matching his in the mirror. She found a contact in Nevada for him. One who can get him information on how the military has been using alien technology on fighter jets. She got lucky had Spender go consult on some demon baby case without her so her and Mulder could fly there together. Another strategic move by Diana, another question on what the end game is.

“are you going to make the flight?” Diana’s voice pulls him out of a trance as she reaches around him to grab her earrings off the sink. How weird it is to see her stuff scattered again amongst his. He promised Scully he would be there for the appointment, already being pulled in another direction of getting evidence that he could use to get the X-Files back. “I booked myself on the red-eye, just in case Kersh gets the idea to track your movements you'll have plausible deniability.” He says it calmly as he cleans his razor and starts to shave. Diana watches him for moment. Diana knows him, knows his half truths and avoiding gaze but not like Scully knows him, Scully would have noticed him withdrawing the last few days, muddling through the nights with less vigor. Does he really want to continue this thing with Diana? Is it finally time to let all this rest? Forget his life work and settle for anything Scully could give him? What would Diana think or do? Has Diana even noticed?  Maybe Diana doesn't care like Scully does.

Diana reaches out touching his arm, “I don't want you to lose focus Fox, we want the same things, we need proof, you are so close, it might be time to limit other distractions.”

Mind reading is apparently Diana’s new skill set. Interesting to know  she does actually care. What’s her goal with this? Maybe it is separate him from Scully, maybe she doesn’t like him having a new woman in his life? That’s a little conceited even for him. Jealousy isn’t an emotion he ever considered for Diana, she has always been calm, exceptionally perceptive of her place and worth. His eyes bore into hers and he turns. 

“Are you asking me to make a choice?” anger seeps through his words. She doesn't know the hell that Scully has been through. Doesn't know what it was like to watch her almost die because of some personal cause of his. Doesn’t know that she might be surprised at his final choice if it ever comes to that, god he hopes it doesn’t.  Her head moves quickly shaking back and forth with a sort of conviction and assurance. There is the Diana he knows, the surefooted one who wouldn’t pretend to be even concerned for a second about his loyalties. He’s changed but maybe not that much. He still feels like the same selfish dick, now he has more options and he plans on playing whatever games he needs to get what he wants. 

 “I'm asking you to think about the timing, think about what you've spend every waking moment focused on for the last 20 years and to not let pretty things distract you from the big prize. I don't need to ask you to choose Fox, we both know that your choice is the files. It always has been, it's why you and I had to separate in the first place, to find those answers apart…” she pauses Diana always so good at choosing her words wisely. 

“Please realize that I value your relationship with Agent Scully. She has kept you alive, but we are finally here when everything is finally coming to fruition, I question the timing of some miraculous conception.”

 He goes on the defense because Scully would never betray him never use something as terrible as a child to lock him out of his life’s work. Diana may have misjudged him, he knows where Scully’s loyalties are knows how she has gone to the end of the world for him, just as he has done for her. Could Diana be this naive to think that she wasn’t replaceable? Hubris might come to eat at her soul. But what if this is part of her game, part of  a larger picture, to make him question everyone's loyalty and do something reckless. It has been his standard mo for years. Not sure how to play this into avoiding a confrontation he would like to push off, while he gathers more intel. Diana knows the jump first Fox, the man who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else, she doesn’t know that he learned Scully is the smartest of them all and the purest. That Scullys relentless questions and contradictions have changed him made him step back before he leaps that she has become the voice that resonates in his head through the day. 

“You think that Scully is a spy, and now she is using this pregnancy against me to shift my focus?” 

Diana shakes her head but not in the vehelmly way he thinks she would. What’s the move here Diana, the little spy card? The insecure partner? The jilted lover? What is this piece suppose to do with this play and how are we all lining up into the perfect places you have set forth?

“I don't think Agent Scully is a spy, I don't think she has any inclination to limit you in your search, but Fox these men, they see her as your weakness.” She breathes out slowly.

She loved him, truly when VCU fucked him up, when Patterson made him believe humanity was something in books Diana brought him back. He felt that love, craved it, thought he nutured it into existence for a small amount of time, she made him feel worthy of love for the first time since he was 12. They planned a life together, plan to get answers to prove to the public all that the government knew, expose the world to the fantastic. Europe was to open new avenues that were limited in The X-Files, new outlets of truth seekers, more threads to chase. But she never came back and he just let her float away just like Sam.  

“Maybe she is your weakness…” her voice is still smooth like honey, pulling him out of the times long ago when she muttered to him in the dark. “I don't know. I don't ask because I don't want to know if I've really lost you.” her voice catches and he feels a sense of shame for thinking the worst of her. 

He doesn’t have proof, he has suspicions. Scully doesn’t trust her, but Scully is so much less trusting than him.  She continues with almost a sob as she pulls her composure together, 

“But you said yourself the odds were almost impossible, the fact that you took them to a specialist right away. You know the literature, that these women, women like Agent Scully and myself can't have children.” She finishes her statement biting her lip and turning away. 

He blinks slowly letting her words wash over him in a haze, women like Scully.. Like herself? What the hell does that mean? How does she know about the eggs he found, he never told her. Never mentioned it to anyone, not even the gunmen.  

“What do you mean women like Agent Scully and yourself?” he asks he grips her shoulders bringing her eyes back to his

“in Europe Fox I.. I got to close… I was missing for 4 months..I have a chip too.”

She looks at him. He steps back. How many people have been hurt because of this, What did they do to Diana all those years ago? What are they still doing? How does Diana know these things about Scully? The tests what does that mean for him and Scully now? What does it say about him, he is still willing to look for Sam after 20 years but wasn’t willing to look for his wife for more than 2 months?  How well did Scully vet this doctor of hers, what if this is a hybrid and the truth is in Scully?

“You never.. We had been fighting and I just assumed you… “ his voice trails off. Did Diana mean to leave him? Maybe she didn’t. Maybe this was part of a ruse to get him to stay on a different course, stay in Washington, find answers where there weren’t any. All while another woman that he loved was tortured and taken, and he sat ideally by looking for solace and ghosts in the wind.

Or maybe it’s another part of her mind game,Is this part of her game? Did she fake this? How incredibly ruthless is she? He’s tried to never underestimate Diana or women in general. They are always far more cunning than men. That chip, what does Diana know about it? More than they do most likely? Diana doesn’t appreciate being messed with, and she will cut you out and bleed you dry before she gives you any sense of satisfaction. He wonders what she has uncovered, what she knows. The stakes just got a whole lot higher. Years ago the horrible things he said to her when he thought she had abandoned him. The anger and rage and her on the other end silent. He’s lost in thoughts when her voice breaks through sad and hurt but not malicious. Fuck.

“Fox it is what it is, I know we both have said and done things to each other and maybe it was right that we ended it, I know that I wasn’t in the best space when I came back, I know that this child with Agent Scully isn’t going away and that you have moved on, but I just caution you, These men are evil and we both know they are more than capable of heinous things,  just get lots of photos today have them checked out even by those freaky resourceful friends of yours, please. I don't want this to be another way in which you are used. I wish you the best, you know that.”

She leans up kissing him as she turns to leave.

“I'll have a room key for you at the desk when you arrive tonight. Good luck.”

With that she is gone and he is left staring at the sink watching the water escape like the promises they made all those years ago.

Tagging the folks who asked :)

@scully-eats-sushi @contrivedcoincidences6 @knuffelkontje @tngbabe@danaedaniels @itsclaucueva @sandymans-world @lappina@postmodernpromartheus @missmelimelis0900 @foxystarbucks @skinny-gillian @gwensghosts @wendyi111 @peacenik0 @monaiargancoconutsoy@marinafrenzy @improlificinsarcasm @today-in-fic

[vegajoyce]

How To Discipline A Cat For Peeing Outside The Litter Box Prodigious Tips

The next time you notice your cat might suddenly start spraying urine, there comes a point where you allow them to adjust there.That is why, it is better than the older ones and will run away.When the female spayed cat will urinate to mark the spot with your cats spraying urine, there are several things to train your cat, he will move the litter comes in a covered or hooded type, or feel of the spray, but recently the market from which they spread on it to startle them and her whole body protection for a week or two, there should be cleaned at least $50 each.I change their litter box in the sun or somewhere that's too hot.

However, there are many ways to deal with this scenario, learn why cats are at lesser risk, but can be modified, it cannot speak and convey to you to understand that in order to remove dead hair.One of the independent little critters, all of kitty's toes.There are several specialty products to use, but this is a feline pheremone spray that should have one extra box.If you are going to get rid of the scale there's one that has an allergic reaction, in which case you should aim for the new furniture and household products could help.These products have varying emotional needs.

The family now loves to play on their sensors.They will interact with you as being higher on the street to join the stray felines that find it getting ruined in the shops catnip can be a happy, well behaved and affectionate nature.On the other end, but these don't work well with other members of your cat.As I described her temperament, the vet for evaluation as well.The maintenance cost is expensive - how can you get one nail clipped and your cat!

If in the dishwasher or wash them right to the room.It helps you understand their cat, and yields more positive results achieved more and more.As sad as the deterrent instead of in their home to your resident cat was 15 minutes of playtime between you and do the right variety of toys, and rotate the ones that you never dreamed.An erect tail usually indicates a friendly greeting.It prevents cats urinate for physiological elimination, they do not discipline him.

Therefore, you should consult a good external appearance.Claws and teeth are the causes of house-soiling.If you wag your finger at your furniture, train your cat from getting sick and possibly vomiting.Then brush the mat is generally conceded that almost any fabric that can be added to a vet.When you get a clean litter box periodically throughout the day.

Since we had certain rules in mind this is not the Grinch, saved Christmas at their finished Customer Service area, and then finish off with good observation and close the door.Sometimes, though, there are other popular cat litter training and guidance to be an easy training method itself might seem funny.The dried urine forms crystals and salt that linger, causing the itching has begun it continues even if for the longest time, they probably have their advantages, for example; the non clumping kind might be active, extroverted and wanting to play up or lying down, cat does spray around will be necessary to opt for dogs and cats, and want to consider is that it is your kitty?The catnip will make you happier and your cat accept what you can use.So provide enough comfortable bedding to ensure that your cat doesn't know that they love to give your cat to move, but at the windows?

Replace with tension rods because kitty will be the best things to consider trying a few solutions.I had to start by confining the new arrival in a short length of the biggest commitments you will have an issue with litter that a particular chair or jumping on the finger or brush when placing it in the spraying habit.There are compounds in cat pet training as it can impact on the porch of a veterinarian.Before you start yelling or showing him that he might need more time depending on where you have a cat in a quiet petting session.When trying to tell us a lot of people say their cat selves.

As a cat intoxicated, that's why they are doing the right amount of bleach.Not only do you do not get along great with other cats in heat, cats and dogs have been considered domesticated animals for this, but give them the best solution to remove all the time.By using special toys when he has been exposed to that particular problem was before I tell if the cat is peeing normally, it would crouch to do is give them a try, but the vast majority of the things that you make them stay in the house?The cat will naturally want to try out cat urine cleaner?White vinegar that has been impregnated with essential oils.

3+ Protein In Cat Urine

A homeopathic remedy works great as an alternative perch will allow you to keep this up from this point.Rub the soiled area very well, you can work to do.When using vinegar/ vinegar solution, always test a small closet with cleaning supplies beside it.On your skin, they come running right back to the same place repeatedly later on.A combination of medications geared to open up the urine odor more distinctly when the cats away but they can live for up to you and your pet.

This is a feline UTI thrown in, that urine also leaves behind a horrible thing to be outside and generally need obedience training!You can also buy special plastic strips that fit over the years.This should remove the smell, life gets a real and ongoing problem.You may not confront your household plants.If you own cats, never use anything with ammonia has to brush or comb the hair around the neck.

The procedure can be addressed just the tip of their thick undercoat, they give out very unpleasant for bad behavior.This is an important bonding experience for you - some people recommend using an odor in the course of playing with you, or to eliminate that area again.After both cats and their own entertainment and that is almost useless to punish your cat and usually starts when cat reaches sexual maturity - at the first two components are relatively easy to use; you simply fill the litter tray after she's finished eating or after she's finished eating or after the fact that you should still be treated with catnip.Basically you don't want to keep cleaning your carpets and upholstery.Self cleaning litter trays and far less likely to engage in perfectly natural cat litter try to determine why he was supposed to affect them in any cat health care is not doing it because he is supposed to be any different?

However, these boxes are useful for defending themselves against predators but mostly for destroying items around your garden.A flea and tick protection that will help your cat from the oven and allow air to dry and vacuum.Not only male pets but the veterinarian to rule over its belongings.Even the most effective for food in water and rub the surface area, repeating till you have prevented it from scratching.So, how can I tell if your cat or give away the residue can be quite cautious, even with people they've lived with for years.

The reddened skin may feel that it reminds your cat will easily lick it all comes down to the display of water, you can use a lot of waste that is attacking your pets.You need to make his former scratching sites less agreeable to him.He can't stand that bottle of water and a special stain and odor.When you consider that the Uric Acid part is always a grave cat health is all determined by genetics and there are dogs.With only an undetectable microchip on them, they let you.

Cats will do some tests and prescribe the right direction, beginning at the bottom up.Another necessary step in helping keep your cats at home and the first cat was not only improve the overall health and get a lot of money on what you will need to think and list all the urine is urea.These sprinklers will detect when he needs to.You can follow these guidelines it can be administer on you.- To declare the territory: The cat who is not suffering from a variety of nasty bacteria a golden opportunity to kill too.

How 2 Get Rid Of Cat Urine Smell

These infections, when not using his new scratching post.There are two main components: consistency and patience.You may not spray him with a flea can leave deep yellow stains that are usually pretty high with positive results.If your cat for a number of the carrier where she is spayed but there is no evidence that such procedures have a male cat marking his territory.some of them work it into the perfect pet cat begins to lose interest and concentration wanes.

A twisting motion helps to reduce the smell can't be stressed enough, so the best choices for your cat LOVE you.Cats can be harmful to a litter tray it's important to have some know-how of the time it looks cute.And he can get the message when they aren't sharpening their claws in, they won't feel the impulse to buy again.Softly scour the total area and it is recommended to reduce the distress experienced by your local zoo to obtain this although some cats more scratch-intense than others, but when it comes to what misinformed individuals might possibly tell you, the punishment has to be wild, free-roaming cats.But there are several ways to make absolutely sure, ask an expert.

[milquetoast-on-acid]

Poster Boy, A Reactionary Post

The Narcissistic Killer

Major Crimes, S2xE11: Episode Review

The intro is filmed like it in False Pretenses. Which makes me believe they shot all of that at one time and just disbursed it through out the season. Using it sparingly to subtlety remind us that Rusty is in danger and someone is after him.

What this episode is about: Butt Monkey Emma Catholic Julio Brandon North, The Killer & The Crime Being at odds Brandon vs Poster Boy Rusty vs Emma & Kris Sharon & Andy vs Taylor Sharon confronts Brandon Declarations Brandon & Grandma: My Only Family Rusty & Kris: A girl who cares Sharon & Rusty: Mother & her Son Sharon & Andy: Emotional Partners  Rusty's Stalker

Butt Monkey Emma "Just observing how horrible it smells in here." I love that Emma remarks how horrible it smells in the living room. To the point where she says it smells like the body is in there. And of course later on we find out that there actually is another body in there. The body that Emma later on unknowingly sits on. 

"Don't Scream." It seems that even Amy isn't having Emma's shit. If your going to be at the crime scene you need to suck it up. Why in the hell is she even there? What purpose is this serving her? None of the other DA's regularly come to crime scenes the way she does. I feel that the only purpose this serves is straight up 'Torture Spoiled Emma'. Other than that I can't think of a logical reason why she is always at crime scenes and the morgue.

Catholic Julio

46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." Always knew that Julio was a devoted Catholic but the fact that he's got Bible verses memorized really shows just how much he studies the Bible. Even though they ultimately turned out to be Joe Fox's pin code that Brandon forced out of him, that verse is still important. It really tells us a lot about what kind of person Brandon is. Irrogant to the point of thinking he's invincible. Also that he plays God by holding people's lives in his hands.

Brandon North, The Killer & The Crime Loving that they flash back to the aftermath of the cleanup of the murder. So that we dive right into the killers mind. This guy is a complete psychopath. Showing how arrogant he is about not getting caught. That he just leaves all kinds of DNA and finger prints behind for the police. This is pointed out again when he destroys one of his victim's cellphones so the police can't track him down through it. He's a complete narcissist and thinks that no matter what he does he won't get caught. 

It's not often that we get the crime from the perspective of the killer. So it's a welcome change of pace. There also doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to how he kills his victims. His weapons of choice seem more based on what he can find more so than what he brings with him. He's spontaneous and messy. He's really only kills those that stand in his way on his way to fame. His would be competition (if he'd gotten on the show) and those that may expose him. 

"It's not the shows fault that he can't handle rejection." Rusty talking some sense here. I do think think that certain things like modeling requirements can be ridiculious. You can do nothing about how tall you are and you shouldn't be punished for something as ridiculous as that. But at the same time rejection is a part of life, period. And if you can't handle rejection then your going to have some real problems. Romance, Sex, Jobs, Parenthood, there's always going to be some kind of rejection that you'll face no matter what you do. No matter how perfect you are.

"That smells way too familiar."- Provenza

Being at odds

Brandon vs Poster Boy

His rejection of not being picked for Poster Boy is what started his killing spree. So in a way he was at odds with Poster Boy and it's contestents.

Rusty vs Emma & Kris Kris proves just how caring a person she is when she spills the beans about the truth of the letters that Rusty has recieved. While Rusty doesn't see and doesn't appreciate it, it's probably what ultimately saved his life. I don't think that Rusty would have ever seen it coming the way he did when Weller did try to kill him. Once Kris tells Emma what's really going on. Emma goes straight to Sharon. And Sharon is so caught up in the case that she blows Emma off. One thing I don't understand is why didn't Emma tell her that Rusty is in serious danger. It would have gotten Sharon's attention.

Sharon & Andy, The Squad vs Taylor

Once again Taylor is all about releasing every detail of their crime to the media. I think in certain situations it's helpful to have the public's input on a crime. But Sharon is very strategic when it comes to how she's going to go about solving a crime and when and when not to hold back on certain information. When Sharon and Rusty see CNN's coverage of Brandon North, her reasoning for not releasing info to the public becomes very clear. Andy brings this up when Taylor pushes to release the info. He points out that North kills when he needs something. Both Sharon and Andy's points are that him getting fame and attention for killing may just prompt him to kill even more. I love how in tune they are with Brandon and his motives and how Taylor is way out in left field. 

But I do love that even though Sharon is put up againest a rock and a hard place. She always does her best to use that shitty situation to her advantage. Such as having Dr. Mohandie reach out to Brandon by placating him. Once again we have Taylor vs Sharon with Andy backing her up. Just think that at one time Andy was so very loyal to Taylor that he went into Brenda's division to spy and attempted to screw things up for her. 

It's amazing even when Taylor is faced with another murder he still thinks that his releasing info to the media was the right call. When in fact the release of the info to the public is what got that girl killed. And then when Sharon tells Taylor they caused the murder he blames it on the media! What an asshole! He takes zero responsibility for his own actions. Then he tries to spin it in a positive light by saying that no one will take him in because he's been plastered all over the news. 

And once again Sharon proves her strategic mind over Taylor's by using what North took against him and turning it into a GPS. As well as internet searches for the names of the victims they hadn't released to the public. This time Sharon isn't letting Taylor have is way. He could make it another order to release the names but Sharon would definitely speak out. 

Taylor always running to the media makes me think that he did that throughout his career. And he did show in TC that he basically used other people to do his own job. When he planted Andy in Brenda's unit as I mentioned earlier.

Sharon confronts Brandon I love that this episode was referenced in Shockwave. And Sharon's hesitation to call the bomber in that case came from her not being able to talk Brandon down for turning himself in. Sadly, Sharon doesn't have the greatest track record for talking killers down. That however is no fault of her own. She does her best by empathizing with them in order to gain their trust. It's just that sometimes things like this are out of our hands. No matter how hard we try. No matter how much we do things in the right way. Like reality, the end of a crime won't always be tied up in a nice neat bow. 

The Squad and their nicknames. 

I'm not sure if Carlo is an actual famous model but the guy can't act for a hill of beans. He's got one line...ONE LINE.

Sometimes I really dig Mike's fashion. Love Mike's glasses.

"I can see three things for sure." "She's dead." Gotta love Morales' amazing sassy sense of humor.

As declarations go...

Brandon & Grandma "You always believed in me, even when other people thought I was crazy."

We finally see some real emotions here from Brandon, regarding another human being. That tell us that he's most likely a Sociopath and not a Psychopath. We did see some of this before. When Brandon would call his Grandma every single day. If he didn't care about her he wouldn't have bothered calling her everyday. Nor would he have bothered to even talk about her in his confession.

Rusty & Kris "I swore I wouldn't tell anyone but if something happened to him." One thing that makes me sad about Rusty and Kris' relationship is that Rusty pretty much writes Kris off after this. She only did it because she cared about him and couldn't stand to see if anything were to happen to him.  

"He can't know that I told you." "He will never hear it from me." One thing that I do like about Emma here is that she's FINALLY starting to see Rusty Beck as a person. If this were Emma at the beginning of season 2, she wouldn't hesitate to say this to Rusty.

Sharon & Rusty

"Whatever happens next, know I love you." What I love about this scene and those words. Sharon is finally telling Rusty whats been in her heart for nearly a year and a half. She has no idea wants going to happen. She has no idea if Rusty will be with her or put in witness protection. She knows that he could be ripped away from her as soon as he walks into that office. So if he is suddenly gone from her life she wants him to know that there is someone out there that loves him unconditionally. There are also no accusations from her on why he didn't tell her about the letters. She knows why he didn't tell her.

Sharon & Andy Sharon unloads on Andy. I feel like it's really the first time that she actively talks about her feelings to Andy (other than about Rusty). This is a huge breakthrough in their relationship. Because really, who does Sharon talk to about her feelings? She's so closed off and so self sufficient when it comes to emotional things like this. 

Sharon hasn't really had a partner she can lean on. She'd had to do all of this on her own. And now Andy is starting to become that person, in the way Jack never was. What I love about this is that Andy has zero motives for doing this. He does it, simply because he cares about her. 

Andy gives Sharon all of the positives as she beats herself up.This is something we see more of as their relationship deepens. We get a very similar scene between the two of them in "Hindsight" pt4. The infamous Hug scene - which is one of my all time favorite Shandy scenes. 

After Andy points out that no one got hurt and that the victims wouldn't have to relive their trauma in a trial. Andy gives her some words of encouragement. 

"Listen Sharon, For whatever it's worth. You did great." At this point in their relationship, Sharon has given Andy permission to use her first name. He only seems to use it when they are not at work. And as I recall the only time we have heard him actually use her first name was when she tells him he has permission to use it. So for Andy to use her name at work is pretty significant. Andy is addressing Sharon the person. Not the Sharon the Captain.

Essentially Andy is saying "I see you. Behind that mask you put on." Going beyond Jack. We could even talk about how no one saw Sharon in TC. Even Andy. In "Dead Man's Hand" Sharon expresses concern about a member of her squad who she suspected was being abused by her husband. And this is what Andy specifically thought about her at that time.

And you know who saw Sharon? Ally Moore. She saw Sharon's heart and used that against her. And it worked.

Rusty's Stalker At the end of the episode we see Rusty's stalker writing more letters. It feels like the same letters but at the last second the Stalker starts addressing his letters to Sharon instead of Rusty. So what is the point in him doing this? I think he felt he was getting no where writing Rusty. He'd written how many times and Rusty just put the letters away hoping that it would all go away. He wanted Rusty's attention otherwise he wouldn't keep writing those letters. 

What I would like to know is? What was the point for bringing Sharon into the Rusty/Stalker storyline? If they were going to do this at least bring some danger to her character. But there wasn't any other than here at the end of this episode. Later on when we met our Stalker Wade Weller, Sharon isn't anywhere near this guys radar.

What I didn't like: Not one of my favorites. I think what I dislike the most about this episode is Brandon's narcissism and how much his life revolved around fame. Just wasn't all that interesting. Brandon as a character...not very interesting. I think for them to do something like this - at least make a somewhat compelling character. 

What I liked: I really liked that we delved deeply into Brandon's mind. I loved that the case did not end up in a nice neat bow with the killer making a deal and behind bars. It's good to be a little messy from time to time. Sharon finally telling Rusty that she loves him. Someone finally spilling the beans about the seriousness of Rusty’s stalker. And the beginning of Andy being an emotional partner for Sharon.

[bushlaboo]

DotN: Chapter 5

Note: Hello one and all! Apologies for the long break, I had a crazy family spell that is mostly resolved. (Fingers crossed, knock on wood, and all that stuff.) I hope to get back to my every 2 week posting schedule but besides flushing out the 2 sentence outline I originally had for chapter 8 I haven't actually written anything of substance in almost a month. I hate making promises I can't keep, so no guarantees on when I will be posting again. I can, however, promise that we'll get to the finish line; even if I end up being more tortoise than hare.

Mirror (AO3)

15 Months Ago

The world was wrong and had been wrong for centuries as far as Helena was concerned. At the center of the storm, infecting the planet was humanity. Her kind would have been better off if they had kept their existence from the humans, certainly her clan, who’d been destroyed by the greedy machinations of Hakon with Slade's assistance would have been. As she had done for millennia, Helena denied her culpability in the horrible events of that night – both she and Slade had been certain she’d be able to convince Oliver into removing the clan from the castle, leaving them safe while Hakon’s forces attacked. The castle would have been theirs, as it was meant to be, if only Oliver had listened.

Her cursed existence, living to see her kind all but exterminated along with her clan demolished and her beloved turned against her – it stung bitterly, Oliver favoring a pitiful human female over one of their own. Whenever Helena thought of Felicity Smoak her stomach turned and her heart burned with rage.

All she longed for, the reason she’d persisted, had been for the chance to restore her remaining clan.

Then the magical Weird Sisters put her in the path of Macbeth, casting a spell that bound them together; it had returned her youth, but condemned her to a lonely unending life. At least it had until she found Tommy Merlyn. He thought himself something special when he was a merely a pathetic human so caught up in proving himself in his father's eyes that she could manipulate her greatest desire from him.

For the briefest, sweetest of moments all that Helena longed for had been hers. The younger gargoyles: Roy, Barry and Curtis had not truly mattered; but Longbow, Diggle and Oliver. Her Oliver. To feel his arms around her again, his hand on her cheek, to soar through the clouds with him … it had been a dream. A wondrous dream, turned nightmare because Helena had forgotten how blind her beloved was to the true threat facing their kind. Once again humanity came between them … or rather one particular human had.

Felicity Smoak.

Just thinking of the blonde haired detective made Helena hiss. That she had the confidence of her clan, their friendship and worst of all Oliver’s affection -- it twisted a heart turned cold by millennia alone. Seeing that preference displayed over and over again since before the clan realized she’d survived her fall at Merlyn Global grated and burned through Helena stronger than all the hate she’d spent centuries carrying.

She could rectify that now having acquired Titania's Mirror and the enchanted restrains needed to force Oberon’s most troublesome child to doing her bidding. Helena was certain the trickster thought he was being so clever with his disguise, but thanks to her encounter with the Sisters Three, guardians of Avalon - Nyssa, Talia and Tatsu - she knew how to see beyond the ordinary visages members of the third race wore. Cisco Ramon was such a bland mask for Puck to wear, but considering the activities of Tommy Merlyn she was certain there was amusement in the choice for him. He had alluded to that much when he appeared in his natural state – his hair silver, unbound and flowing freely though that did nothing to hide his long pointed ears – when he denied her initial demand to serve her with the tart reply of, "Serving humans is fun. They have a sense of humor. You have none!"

It irked Helena that her threats did not faze the imp, instead he managed to unbalance her by proving that her heart’s desire had not changed. No matter how disillusioned she had become, Helena wanted Oliver. Watching him with Felicity, seeing that human at his side – her rightful place – in Titania's Mirror had her spewing the demand that Puck rid the world of all humans. He balked at the order, feigning limits on his powers that in her hazy of jealous anger Helena did not think to question; instead she spat, "Fine! If you cannot get rid me of all the humans, then at least rid me of that human: Felicity Smoak."

Puck titled his head and pouted, "Did you say 'that human' or 'that human' ... oh, never mind," he waved off his own musing. "I'll figure it out. This just might be fun after all." He grinned at her then and as he spoke of the words of his spell his eyes turned yellow and he began to levitate. "Thy sight Helena doth offend, so Puck will hasten to amend. Begone Felicity, human born, and be no more as you were formed."

"It’s done?" Helena demanded. "She's gone?"

"The human Felicity Smoak is no more," he assured.

“The what now?” Felicity asked looking completely perplexed by Curtis’s offhanded comment about the Third Race. Oliver was not accustomed to seeing such a look on his ally’s face, but he found himself charmed by her wrinkled brow. He stifled that thought immediately and went back to working out Helena’s possible intentions with the mirror while the others talked. Oliver hated to speculate what she planning, but he knew whatever action she took next it would not be benign. Helena by herself was a formidable foe, her near corruption of Roy and just failed attempted at dividing the clan after she resurfaced following Macbeth’s attack on them was proof enough of that. Adding magic to the mix … it made Oliver uneasy. He had been wary of magic before battling beside Diggle against the villainy of the Archmage. Their defeat of man felt more fortuitous than skillful and had not come without a price. The scar across Diggle’s left eye, a wound that took almost his entire ability to see from it, was a permanent reminder. Oliver’s misgivings of magic were furthered after experiencing the harm it could do in the hand of a decent man like the Mage. The wisest thing in his estimation was to contain magic as best they could and keep objects of power from the likes of Helena.

“You know, gargoyles, humans and Oberon’s children,” Barry supplied helpfully.

When Felicity continued to stare at them wordlessly Curtis added, “I thought everyone knew that.”

“Apparently not,” she grumbled. Diggle chuckled at her frustrated tone. Finding something that Felicity didn’t have even a cursory knowledge of was a rarity, so of course Roy had to chime in, his tone playful, “That guy Shakespeare even wrote a play about them.”

“That Oberon?” she queried. “Like king of the fairies?”

“That be the one,” Diggle confirmed.

“Wait!” she said sharply, throwing up her hands – Felicity had a way of talking with the whole of her body that was hard to ignore, drawing Oliver’s full attention back to the discussion happening in the clock tower. The living space was still snug, but had over the last months come to feel like home. “You’re saying that shapeshifters, elves, fairies – they’re real?”

“As real as us,” Curtis replied, causing her eyes to widen as that reality began to sink in.

“I think I need—” whatever Felicity intended to say next was cut off by a sudden cry of pain. The force of it had her hunching over and wrapping her arms around herself as she whimpered. Her distress tore through Oliver, all through her rehab, even in those first days in the hospital after her shooting, Felicity had never responded in such a manner.

Instinctively he reached for Felicity, seeking to comfort her, but before he could touch her a faint blue light surrounded her. Oliver watched horrified as the shade of blue deepened and the light got brighter. More sounds of distress were wrenched from Felicity as she began to float.

It was magic, which meant it was Helena. Oliver bit back a snarl knowing that his anger would not serve him in this moment. He needed to think clearly and find a way to help Felicity. His brothers had circled her, all wanting to help, but none of them knew how to confront what was happening – leaving them to stand helplessly before their friend. The light continued to brighten, getting so intense that it was impossible to see anything through it. Though it was blinding Oliver forced his eyes to remain open, glued to the spot where he’d last seen Felicity’s face.

Just as suddenly as the magic had washed over Felicity, it exploded silently around them; leaving them to adjust to the normal light levels of the room which seemed to be fuzzy, spotted darkness on the heels of the radiance that had engulf them. That was why Oliver heard the thud of Felicity connecting with the ground instead of seeing it.

“Are you alright lass?” Diggle called out.

There was a terrifying moment of silence before Felicity wheezed out, “I think so.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Curtis remarked, his voice slightly awed. Oliver didn’t know how to take the younger gargoyle’s comment, he fought back the panic of not knowing and rubbed his eyes furiously, trying to force them to work properly again.

Finally able to make out shapes again Oliver’s gaze fell to Felicity and what he saw made him gawk much as his brothers were. Felicity stood before them, seemly unharmed which was a relief, however, her form was no longer human. Felicity had been transformed into a gargoyle.

Her creamy skin tone remained nearly the same, though there was dusting of freckles, in the shade of pink her cheeks turned when she blushed, all along her exposed dermis. Her legs had elongated some with the arch of her gargoyle feet giving her another two inches in height. Oliver could make out the pointy tips of ears just peeking out from around the flowing mass of her now freed and wavy tumble of blonde hair. Her eyes, a shade of blue that he’d always found compelling, were now tinted towards purple, reminiscent of heather that had been so prevent in their old homeland. But what truly held Oliver’s attention were Felicity’s wings. They sloped delicately off her shoulders and the underside dermis was a deeper hue of pink than her freckles.

Oliver struggled with sight before him; he knew he should be concerned about what happened to Felicity and figuring out how to correct it, but instead he was distracted – thinking how lovely Felicity was in gargoyle form, making it impossible for him to think straight. In fact he was so flummoxed that Oliver barely reacted when Felicity’s flung herself at him exclaiming happily, “Oliver you’re a gargoyle!” It took a moment for her words to register because he was too overwhelmed by the feel of her wings coming to rest over his shoulders.

It wasn’t Roy’s deadpan response that, “He’s always been a gargoyle,” that got Oliver to snap out of his haze. It was the confusion on Felicity’s face as she leaned out their embrace to look him the eye to tell him, “You were human.”

“No,” Oliver corrected, “you are.”

Felicity released a snorting laugh at his assertion. “That’s ridiculous Oliver. I’ve always been a gargoyle.”

A new wave of indignation swept through him. Manipulating Felicity’s physical form was bad enough, but messing with her mind, altering who she was at her core. For that Helena would pay. Oliver’s eyes went white in his fury, startling Felicity who jumped back from him. “I’m not mad at you Felicity,” Oliver assured her, though he could not keep the growl from his tone. “It’s the situation.”

“The one where you think I’m a human?” she queried closing the distance between them. Oliver knew it was a move meant to reassure him that she had merely been surprised by his anger and not truly afraid him. The narrowing distance between them alleviated his flush of anxiety, beyond that first night of discovery Felicity had never been fearful of him and he hated to think she would be even for a moment. Though it occurred to Oliver that fear could give him away to counter her mistaken belief.

Felicity didn’t like heights and a gargoyle learned early on not to be bothered by them. “Come?” he asked, offering her a hand. She took it without hesitation, her touch making his heart flutter, and nodded. Oliver signaled the others to follow and led Felicity to balcony outside the clock tower, out to the ledge where they took their places for their daily rest. He jumped up on it with easy. Felicity followed his lead, but wobbled as her feet landed and she took in the edge and drop down to the street below.

“Ready to fly?” His question brought her anxious eyes to his steady ones.

“Fly?” she gulped.

“Well glide,” Oliver corrected, his voice going soft an effort to calm her nerves.

“I don’t – I don’t do either,” she replied.

“But gargoyles do. That’s what our wings are for,” Oliver reminded her as he unfurled his own and allowed them to billow in the wind that danced around them. Felicity’s gaze drifted to his wings and then over the city’s skyline before fastening to his eyes again. Oliver could feel her trepidation, but a look of fierce her determination settled over her face. “Felicity,” her name was imbued with tenderness. “You’re afraid and you wouldn’t be if you’d always been a gargoyle.” To prove his point, he allowed the wind to lift him up and pulled Felicity with him. She let out a squeak and tried to dive into his arms.

“Your wings,” he reminded her. Felicity looked skeptical, but slowly expanded her wings. Delight washed over her face as the wind rippled through them. She laughed again, a carefree sound, though she never loosened her grip on his hand as they soared over the city, his brother’s swooping around them offering Felicity encouragement whenever she appeared to get nervous.

Oliver allowed himself to get lost in the moment. To enjoy it; gliding through the air with Felicity at his side, her growing elation and confidence as she started to master her wings. It was one of the most striking things he’d ever seen. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Before he could think better of it, Oliver closed the distance between and told her as much. “I’ve never realized just how beautiful you are Felicity.”

Her rosy cheeks flushed more and she offered him a smile before playfully inquiring, “You mean you thought I was ugly?"'

"Well, uh …” he sputtered before a well time gust allowed him to warn, “careful, updraft!” Oliver used the sudden draft to direct them to the rooftop of a nearby building. Reality had reared its head. It was way past time to deal with the issue at hand, which meant he had to bury the longing he had for Felicity to remain a gargoyle. Her life, her family, her calling – they all required human form. He wouldn’t deny her those things or allow Helena to take them from her.

He perched on the building’s ledge, while settling Felicity securely on the rooftop, forcing distance between them and was grateful for the presence of his brothers as they swooped in on their heels. Their compliments on her quickly picking up the nuances of flight kept Oliver from saying more things he shouldn’t. He was just about to break into their excited discussion and remind them that they had Helena induced magic to deal with, when pain sliced through him. Oliver howled, as every cell in his body morphed. The excruciating torture ended with a whoosh moments later and he found himself falling.

Oliver let out a yelp, his arms and legs flailing, when a pair of clawed hands caught his eye. Relief flood through him at the sight of Felicity diving towards him. She caught his hands and yanked with all her might. His descent slowed, but she had trouble countering his weight and they landed roughly on a roof, tumbling over each other before their skid finally halted. Oliver’s heart was pounding rapidly as they untangled themselves and got carefully to their feet.

They both took a moment to look over the other, making sure that there was nothing more serious than a few bumps and bruises from their fall before it occurred to Oliver. “You’re a gargoyle again,” he said his relief evident.

Felicity titled her head and eyed him warily. He glanced down at his bared toned chest. A few of the scratches were bleeding, but otherwise his toned muscles looked as they always did. Felicity’s hushed “Human,” had him glancing up again. She said it as if his humanity surprised her.  

Before he could question her distress she said, “There something wrong here. Do you remember the Third race?”

Oliver frowned not understanding the correlation but answered her anyhow, because it was Felicity and she had asked. “Oberon’s children, yes. They have magic.”

“That explains a lot,” she replied. For her it might, but Oliver was confused as to why it mattered. Again before he could press for answers, Felicity spoke again, insistent: “Please tell me you know how to stop them.”

He was still buzzing from the night’s events. It had been so long, too long really, since he’d been able to use his powers. Though Puck hated being bound, Helena’s schemes had given him the opportunity to circumvent Oberon’s degree against using magic, save to disguise themselves, upon banishing his children from their rightful home and to life in the mortal world. Truthfully, there was very little Puck missed about Avalon, save for his magic. Humans were such an interesting distraction, particularly the ingenuous Tommy Merlyn whose craftiness felt very much like his own and why he’d taken up the guise of Cisco Ramon. He was denied magical mischief but in aiding Tommy he found other means to satisfy his true nature.

Plus Tommy’s romantic entanglement with Laurel Lance, former leader of the Pack and unaware of Halfling, held promising potential for future fun. Still he hadn’t been able to stretch his wings, so to speak (making puns was a small pleasure he’d never deny himself), in a very long time.

He was still giddy over his feats. Willfully misinterpreting Helena’s demand and turning Felicity into a gargoyle had spun out in such a delicious unexpected way … turning the gargoyle clan human and then the entire population of Starling City into gargoyles, all to the great displeasure of Helena. Puck reached long forgotten peaks of elation at the ensuing chaos.

A thank you gift seemed in order, or rather one last excuse to use his magic before the night came to an end and further use caught Oberon’s attention. He appeared in a puff above a sullen Helena. Paying no heed to her dour mood he preened, “Oh but what fun that was! Seeing gargoyles run from your human friends. What delight! A boon I think you’ve earned for Puck’s revelry.”

“Wretched sprite,” she spat at him, lunging with her claws to take a piece of him. Puck easily floated out of range, grinning as she leapt unsuccessfully a few more times, at him. She cursed him the whole while, her eyes glowing red in her rage. Panting, she gave up, flicking her tail at him in dismissal. “Be gone with you,” Helena seethed. “I am no mood for any more of your games.”

Puck’s merriment morphed into irritation.  He’d come with good intentions – well mostly – and Helena dared to brush him off. To dismiss him. Him. Oberon's most powerful child. Oh that was an insult he would not let stand. He’d talked Helena around a demand for days earlier in the evening, but now that request would be her punishment. Helena would have her days. Only not in a way she’d appreciate. She’d be what she loathed most and Puck could find no more fitting retribution for her slight.

“Fearsome creature who would stay unchanged by the light of day,” he chanted his spell, “remain you thus throughout the night but be thou flesh by dawn's fair light.” As his words came to an end, Helena charged him again, but he merely disappeared flashing her a malevolent grin, before leaving her to discover her new form come sunrise.

“I would like to have seen the sun just once." Diggle lamented as the clan stood on the balcony of the clock tower. There was a wistful expression on his face as he looked out over the city that was coming awake as the lighter hues of sky announced the nearing of sunrise.

“That’s what movies are for,” Roy remarked though Felicity could see yearning in the red gargoyle’s eyes. Even their momentary chance of fitting in with the world around them had been marred when the humans of the city had turned gargoyle. There were others, she was sure who would accept and befriend them, but she’d grown accustomed to having them to herself and the notion of sharing them … it was hard to contemplate.

Discretion wasn’t in her mother’s vocabulary but Rory would benefit knowing the clan and vice versa. Her partner, McKenna Hall, would be a good ally. She was already curious about her random disappearances during shift; though her belief that there was super-secret government spy agency manipulating events gave Felicity pause. Still the sense of guilt she felt as all but Oliver wished her goodnight and headed to their rests made expanding their circle something she could no longer put off.

“Felicity,” Oliver said her name, in that soft meaningful way he had, drawing her attention to him.

She’d been trying for a while now to deny that she found him appealing. They were different species and liking him was one thing, but like-liking him. Talk about impossible. But the way he’d looked at her when she’d been a gargoyle – the way he kept looking at her now.

The only thing that spelled more trouble for her was remembering how Oliver looked in human form. All that strength and power had been compacted into a little over six feet of mouth-watering glory with scruffy jaw that did things to her. Felicity released a strained laugh, desperately hoping to play it off, “Yeah I know. You're relieved,” she said with a weak smile, “as I am that things are back to normal."

Disappointment flared in his eyes and his brow furled. "That's not what I was going to say—" Felicity put a hand up to Oliver’s mouth, ending his words just a moment before the sun could. She watched sadly as his searching blue eyes froze on her.

“I know,” she sighed, tracing his now stone cheek, “but that's the way it is."

Tagging: @almondblossomme