#B&B celebrity meets handyman

[nixie-deangel]

make me write 📝

send me an emoji for one of my WIPs and i’ll write three sentences for every emoji you send :)

Rules: You may send in multiple asks per day (though I may be slow to answer them!), but please no more than 3 emojis to an ask that you send in.

I will be taking emojis starting now until the 7th of October. Let's see if we can't help a Nixie get some good progress on the WIP list once again! 💜💜💜💜💜💜

My Main focus this weekend are the following:

🔥 virgin jake - hangster I know this was the most voted one but y'all, I gotta be honest. I'm so lost and confused by this one, that I'm gonna pump the breaks until I figure out the direction for it. sorry!!!

🍼 non navy bradley/fighter pilot jake as parents - hangster

🍷 Jake's family causes the hangster break up

💐 serial killer Jake - hangster

🐺 shifter au - hangster

💜 But bonus WIP's I will also take emoji's for:

🦇 vampire jake/human bradley - hangster

😈 Kinktober - Virgin Jake

🥰 Kinktober - Virgin Bradley this one is mostly finished, so no longer taking requests for it!

✨ Retired Bradley, Jake climbing Command

🤠 music producer Bradley x rancher Jake

👀 B&B, Celebrity Bradley, handyman Jake

[theessenceofbeautyy]

RomanGerri Prompt Party 2024

Guidelines:

For those of you who have never participated in a prompt party you choose a number or a number is requested (depending on if you take asks) and you do the prompt that goes with that number. You can use multiple prompts for one fic and just because you see someone else use a prompt DOES NOT mean you can’t use the same one (a common misconception). All prompts are left up to your very own interpretation and you can use them at any time but when posting on Tumblr be sure to use the tag “RomanGerriPromptParty” so it’ll be easy to find. If this gets any participants I’ll add art and video edit prompts.

Prompts

One of them gets injured and the other has to take care of them.

Gerri as a sex therapist

Getting caught

PDA

Game Of Thrones AU

Gerri praise kink

Mother’s Day

Sharing body heat to stay alive

An "accidental" kiss

Gerri as a female knight and Roman as her Squire

Roman catches Gerri dancing around in the kitchen while making dinner

Person A hates celebrating their birthday but Person B finds out and does something special for them

Going shopping

Roman the handyman

Roman & Gerri get into a fight and have near death experience and angsty make up sex after (canon)

Gerri loses her memories, Roman must make her fall in love with him again

Lonely Roman paints/sculpts a picture a woman from his dreams and she comes to life

Roman & Gerri are professors at the same university, enemy-to-lovers

Gerri is Romans College professor, he can’t focus

Bedsharing

What if Logan hadn’t called (a universe where he got to lay her badly but gladly)

Roman is custodian of a cemetery and meets Gerri when she buries Baird and keep meeting as she mourns.

Roman is disguised as a priest and seeks shelter at a monastery where he meets novice Gerri

Person A is a member of the royal family. An assassination destroys their family, but Person A manages to escape and is believed to be dead. Person A finds out that their power-hungry relative (Person C) was behind the attack and wanted the throne for themself. While on the run, Person A meets Person B, who invites A to their camp. After finding out A's true identity, B and their friends agree to help A to stop Person C's tyranny so A can be crowned as the rightful king/queen

Roman buys a motorcycle

“Come inside” (wink wink) (or not)

Gerri and Roman are actors on the same Broadway show

Gerri is a neglected housewife, in comes Roman

Roman catches Gerri watching "Bridezilla" & "Say Yes to the Dress" and starts planning a secret wedding based on her commentary

Vampire AU

Drunk Gerri accidentally admits something really embarrassing

Soldier/Nurse AU

“Would you like to share the blanket?”

“We have to be quick”

Roman accidentally ingests viagra

Roman comes to bring Gerri lunch but finds her sexually frustrated

"This can never happen again" *happens again*

RomanGerri at a strip club

"I'm really angry at you but also really horny so can we press pause on this fight and fuck first?"

Jealous Gerri (when they aren't even together) and she gets all possessive, angry then takes matters into her own hands so they have a get together sex.

Gerri is a goddess of love. She is responsible to bring people together and help everyone find their true love. However, her fate is to be alone forever. Then she meets Roman and while he’s destined to be with Grace he goes against powers older than life on earth itself in order to be with her.

Drinking Game with 20 Questions

RomanGerri have sex in a library

Gerri being selfish in bed

Gerri’s hair is getting long. Roman is going insane.

Roman getting carried away during sexy times and telling Gerri he’s gonna put a baby in her, Gerri being confused because she’s literally in her 60s but going with it, they have a talk afterwards (crack prompt)

Roman is an assassin hired to kill Gerri but when he discovers a sweet older blonde he decides to protect her instead

Roman discovering Gerris curls

"Please, sing for me!"

“I’ve spoiled you.” Roman being needy

The sibs witnessing them being sweet together (post season 4)

Roman wants Gerri to sit on his lap

“Gerri’s hot right?” Roman trying to figure out if others see what he sees, word gets around to Gerri and she confronts him

RomanGerri make a sex tape (bonus points if they watch it)

Funeral sex

"You can't just run around and threaten to kill everyone." "Oh but you never told me that so how would I know?"

RomanGerri cover up a murder

Roman & Gerri are secretly together when he gets made CEO. A very special congratulations is in order (canon divergence AU)

Through a glitch in the system (or was it?) two strangers find  themselves married to each other (inspired by the movie Accidental Husband)

Roman is a gladiator and Gerri is his Domina (pure smut) (totally not at all self indulgent)

Dressing room shenanigans

RomanGerri on their honeymoon

The Devil Wears Prada AU

Surprise orgasm

Gerri meets Caroline as Romans partner for the first time

Roman loves Gerris speaking voice and she finds out just how much

Roman being “weird about Gerri” from Shivs POV

Logan thinks she coddles him

Gerri tries to teach Roman to bake

RomanGerri smoke a blunt (in honor of 4/20 being last week)

RomanGerri and Tomshiv double date (or any ship i just thought TomShiv would have the most angst potential) (angst/comfort)

Accidental orgasm

Roman has the horrible habit of staring at her breasts during meetings, Gerri notices

Desk sex

RomanGerri get stuck in an elevator for hours

Gerri shares an irrational fear with Roman

Roman is convinced he’s gonna die before Gerri and she finds it endearing

RomanGerri make love for the first time in lieu of their usual shenanigans

Pet names

Gerri discovers poems Roman has written about her

Roman unintentionally distracting Gerri

Roman finds out Gerri is weak for his puppy dog eyes

Roman fucks her tits (i literally don’t know a pretty way to put this)

Bathroom scene but the version where Gerri lends him a hand

Gerri catching Roman during one of his many “sessions” in his office

Submissive Gerri

Gerri tells Roman he’s pretty

Gerri watching Roman and Shiv cat fight

Cockwarming

During one of their top secret sexy conference calls Gerri decides to try a new method to talk him off (praise vs degradation)

Gerri is dangerously horny

RomanGerri go to the movies

Roman walks in on Gerri in the bath

Roman wants to be her sugar daddy and is upset when Gerri won’t let him take care of her

Roman being possessive

Roman seeks comfort in Gerri after the hostage situation in Turkey

Roman calls Gerri cute, she’s amused “Roman…I’m 64.” “So? You’re still fucking-I don’t know!”

RomanGerri Apocalypse AU

Roman kidnaps Gerri, she’s not entirely mad

Roman can’t stay mad at Gerri and that makes him mad

[addictedtomanga]

Shoujo manga recommendations - social gap

1.      Kiss/Hug

Ryuu, a super-business-like transfer student from England with black hair and blue eyes just arrived! During the night of the Tanabata festival, Ryuu and Yukino became attracted to each other at first sight. He then declares, "You will be mine!" This brought confusion to Yukino, who has zero experience in love. But could she actually be falling in love?

2.      Last Game

Nothing is beyond Naoto Yanagi, heir to the Yanagi business conglomerate. Idolized for his athletic and intellectual competence, looks and wealth, Naoto lived like a king during his elementary school days—then entered Mikoto Kujou, a plain, gloomy-looking transfer student.

Due to her low financial status, Naoto was initially apathetic towards Mikoto. But despite having just arrived at his school, she completely eclipsed him in everything by consistently scoring top marks in exams and placing first in athletic events. After a brief confrontation with her that left him shocked, Naoto vowed to outdo her no matter the cost.

Ten years later, they are now students attending the same college. Having failed to defeat Mikoto throughout middle and high school, Naoto decides they will have one last game: if he can make Mikoto fall in love with him and then break her heart, it will be his victory. However, he finds himself falling in love with her instead...

3.      ReRe Hello

Ririko is a hardworking girl who has been performing the role of a mother in her household after the death of her own one when she was five. When her father, a handyman, is stricken with illness and admitted to a hospital, Ririko decides to take up the role of a handyman to help her father's business in his absence. Her first client is a rich teenage boy with high expectations of his helpers. Will she be able to satisfy him?

4.      Sabaku no Harem

Mishe a strong willed girl raised from poverty has caught Prince Kallum's attention. Attention as in, "you will become one of my concubines," thus begins Mishe's adventures into Prince Kallum's world.

5.      Shitsuij-sama no Okiniiri

Himura Ryou, who after losing her parents, is taken in by her grandparents who are from a distinguished family. Through them, she transfers to the famous Souseikan Academy. On the first day at school, Ryou receives guidance from a guy in a tuxedo when she gets lost in the vast garden of the academy. Then she learns that he's Kanzawa Hakuou of the shutsuji apprentice course, which is also known as "B class," Ryou...!?

6.      The Maid at my House

Runako is studying hard to someday succeed as owner of her family's maid dispatching service company. One day, a request comes in from an entertainment production company and shockingly, it's for their super-popular star, Seirei Moroboshi! But could it be that the image he projects on the TV is far different than his true secret face...?!

7.      Adele to Darius

Adele was just another maltreated slave girl being sold at the country market. She was sold one day to become an addition to the harem of the country’s King of Cruelty. Rumor has it that the once the King takes a slave girl for the night, he then executes her in the morning. Once in the harem, she sees that all girls who are called into the King’s chamber really do not return. To fight against this fate, Adele resolves to volunteer to be called to the King’s chamber and find out the truth. But things are not what they seem…

8.      Boku no Ie ni Oide

In order to live a normal high-school life, Mirei started her first part-time job. But after receiving her first paycheck, she almost kills a highly-ranked bishounen…?! An encounter with a super poor and pessimistic innocent girl, is this a beautiful miracle?!

9.      Hana ni Arashi

Even though her body has unusual ability, Kunimi Riko is still (trying to be) a normal high school girl. One day, a guy suddenly came to see her. He's Tachibana Ran, the heir of the world leading super millionaire Tachibana family! A high tension romance between Ran, who suddenly proposed, and Riko, who turned him down. 

10.  Ibara no Okite

Earl Craven’s territory is laden with rules to abide – when the earl himself walks in the hallway, all servants present should turn their back on him, avoiding his gaze, which is why even his servants call him “the devil”… except for one. Priscilla is a maid in Earl Robert Craven’s abode and is the only one who captured the young earl’s tender heart. But what happens when a rich woman comes and calls the earl her future husband for the sake of business? Will their love prevail, or will their social status hinder them? This is a story about the struggles and trials of the star-crossed lovers.

11.  Nikoniko x punpun

Ootani Rin, a girl from a poor family due to her father's gambling, is attending a high school on a scholarship. She has been taking care of her sisters and mother ever since her father ran away. Her school doesn't allow its students to work part time, but she's not worried about it since all the students at her school are rich. However, one boy takes an interest in her, and finds out about her part-time job. To keep him quiet, she has to make him a bento.

12.  No rest for the poor, fall in love Botan

Botan, the poor girl in an exclusive school is on top of the class. But the uber rich boy, who is second in rank in school proposes to her that if he places in the first place, he get her to do what he wants. Can Botan beat him? And what is it that the boy wants from her?

13.  The honeybee earl and the flower dress

Dahlia is the only female dressmaker in Galleria. She kidnapped and commissioned by the infamous "Honeybee Earl", who is known to jump from woman to woman like a capricious bee jumps from flower to flower, to make the ultimate wedding dress for his fiancee. Can Dahlia complete the dress without getting stung by the Honeybee Earl?

14.  Ouran high school host club

At Ouran High School, an academy where only the children of the rich and powerful attend, there exists a club consisting of the most elite of the student body: the legendary Host Club. Within the club's room, six beautiful, bored boys spend their time entertaining equally beautiful and bored girls.

Haruhi Fujioka, a poor scholarship student, has no interest in the Host Club—until she breaks a valuable vase in their clubroom. After being mistaken for a boy, Haruhi is forced by Kyouya Ootori to work for the Host Club to repay her debt. Tamaki Suou, the princely leader of the club, eagerly takes her under his wing to teach her the ways of the host.

Things, however, are never quite so simple with the Host Club around. Even the most mundane events can turn into huge spectacles with the likes of prankster twins Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, stoic Takashi Morinozuka, and sweet Mitsukuni "Hunny" Haninozuka. The crazy adventures of the Host Club are just beginning, and Haruhi must learn how to survive in the glitzy world of the hosts.

15.  Kaichou wa maid-sama

Seika High School was an all-boys school, but it has since turned co-ed. Misaki Ayuzawa is the first female student council president of the school, eventually earning the nickname of the "Demon President" due to her mastery of Aikido and imposed iron rule.

However, Misaki harbors an embarrassing secret—she has to work at a maid café to support her family. If anybody from her school was to find out, her reputation would be utterly destroyed. And after Takumi Usui—the most popular boy at school—discovers her secret, that might just happen. Kaichou wa Maid-sama! follows their story as they spend more time together and eventually begin to understand each other's secrets.

16.  Special A

Have you ever known someone who was better than you at everything you did? Hikari does. She's known Kei since they were both six years old and he's surpassed her at everything. Now they are the top two students in an extremely prestigious high school, with Kei holding firmly to that number one position, and Hikari is still determined to beat him, no matter what it takes.

17.  Bitter Trap (TAKAGI Shigeyoshi) 

Nanao came from a rich family before their business failed. Now the only hope for her family to pay off their debts is if she can cement a marriage with the prestigious Takatsuki family within a week. How will Nanao overcome this problem when one of the three eligible Takatsuki men is her former arrogant schoolmate, Yoshito, who completely distrusts people? And did we forget to mention that Nanao is already the ninety-ninth candidate for the position of future wife?!

18.  Usotsuki Ouji no Karekano Gokko

A poor commoner chatterbox accidentally entered the celebrity high school and the unthinkable happened...?

19.  Takane to hana

Sixteen-year-old Hana Nonomura is forced to be the substitute for her older sister Yukari at a miai: a meeting between two people considering an arranged marriage. Hana's prospective suitor turns out to be the handsome heir of the wealthy Takaba company, Takane Saibara, who is 10 years her senior. He promptly shows disdain toward Hana and, in response, she tells him that she is equally unimpressed by his status and personality.

Hana believes that her actions at the meeting should have put an end to the discussions about marriage with Takane. To her surprise, not only does the man want to proceed with negotiations but he also starts to show interest in her! This is just the beginning of a special relationship between two polar opposites!

[miz-joelys-sherlollilists]

S3: The One Who Mattered Most Fics (#-H) - Updated 07/14/20

Series 3 stories about our darling OTP. Abbreviated to S3: Matters Most when I do my latest and greatest posts. I-P can be found here, and Q-Z are here.

#

6. Rebound by picturestoproveit (Rated M, One-Shot) 50 Reasons fic, PWP AO3 2013

12. Because it’s half-time: Half-Time by mizjoely (Rated M, One-Shot) 50 Reasons Fic, PWP, Love American (Sherlolly) Style AO3 2013 

19. Celebrate major victory by favorite team and/or political candidate: Touchdown by mizjoely (Rated M, One-Shot) Sequelto Half-Time, PWP, 50 Reasons Fic ff.net 2016

20 Questions by Vega’s Ring (Rated T, One-Shot) ff.net 2018

20. Bathroom Sex by EloiseAtThePlaza (Rated M, One-Shot) Jealous!lock, Christmas, PWP, 50 Reasons fic AO3 2014

28. Time An Egg by jane1111kimo (Rated M, One-Shot) PWP, 50 Reasons Fic AO3 2016

29. To avoid doing cleaning, studying, or work of any kind: The Case of the dirty kitchen by ducktiny (Rated M, One-Shot) PWP, 50 Reasons Fic AO3 2016

30. Because she wants to: Love Songs for Losers by hobbitsdoitbetter (Rated T, One-Shot) 50 Reasons fic, PWP AO3 2014

32: To cheer someone up (pity) by Whytejigsaw (Rated M, One-Shot) Wed!lock, PWP, 50 Reasons Fic AO3 2014

A

A birthday gift from Fairy-Godmother by kendrapendragon (Rated M, Complete, Multi-Chapter) Dom/Sub, PWP, Birthday fic, Dubcon AO3 2016

A Creative Man by MoldyMangoes (Rated T, Complete, Two-Parter) HABD Molly ff.net 2014

A Dance In The Dark by condiemint (Rated K, One-Shot) Wedding (J/M), Shall We Dance? tumblr 2014

A Goodbye by mel loves all (Rated K+, One-Shot) Wedding (J/M) tumblr 2015

A Moment In Darkness (The Missus Chronicles) by heyitsgmats (Rated K+, One-Shot) Trapped Together ff.net 2014

A Silent Vow by afteriwake (Rated T, One-Shot) Songfic AO3 2015

A Study in Jealousy by benedictedcumberbatched (Rated T, One-Shot) Jealous!lock AO3 2014

A Very Jealous Sherlock by Kalila1221 (Rated M, One-Shot) jealous!lock ff.net 2015

A While (The Missus Chronicles) by heyitsgmats (Rated K+, One-Shot) ff.net 2014

Absurd by Lady Dudley (Rated K, One-Shot) Quarantine fic ff.net 2020

Addressing The Issue by Dreamin (Rated T, One-Shot) Jealouslock AO3 2019

Adventures In The Tea Trade (Be-Bop-A-Sherlock series) by hobbitsdoitbetter (Rated T, One-Shot) Secret Relationship, Outside Looking In AO3 2014

All That Glitters by mizjoely (Rated T, One-Shot) Secret Relationship AO3 2015

An Entire Bottle of Scotch by Tearoom Saloon (Rated K+, One-Shot) Drunk!lock, Wedding (J/M) ff.net 2014

An Interlude in the Morgue by noveltyromance (Rated K, One-Shot) AO3 2017

Anatomically Correct Heart by GoddessOfApples (Rated K, One-Shot) Valentine’s Day, Locker!lock ff.net 2014

And a Crappy New Year! By Whytejigsaw (Rated K+, One-Shot) New Year fic  AO3 2012

And You’ll Be Mine by Phoebe_Snow (Rated T, One-Shot) Proposal, Jealous!lock AO3 2017

Apologies by simplyshelbs16 (Rated T, One-Shot) SAW 2019 ff.net 2019

Are You Happy? by simplyshelbs16 (Rated T, One-Shot) Wedding (J/M) ff.net 2017

Artistic License by cactusnell (Rated T, One-Shot) Tattoo!lock AO3 2015

AU of Empty hearse scene... (Empty Hearse AUs series) by Ukthxbye (Rated T, One-Shot) AO3 2018

AU of I guess the rest... (Empty Hearse AUs series) by Ukthxbye (Rated M, One-Shot) AO3 2018

The Awakening of Molly Hooper by TC (thecollective) (Rated M, series) Dom/Sublock AO3 2014

B

Be My Wife by ModWannabe (Rated K, One-Shot) Fake Relationship ff.net 2014

Because You Asked by darnedchild (Rated K, One-Shot) SAW 19 AO3 2019

The Befores and The Afters (The Pirate Annie Holmes series) by FromTheBoundlessSea (Rated K, One-Shot) Parent!lock, Outside Looking In AO3 2019

The Benefit of Friendship by lilsherlockian1975 (Rated M, Complete, Two-Parter) SAW ‘19 ff.net 2019

The Best Christmas Gift by Dreamin (Rated T, One-Shot) Christmas AO3 2018

Bestial Urges by Apprentice08 (Rated T, Incomplete, Multi-Chapter) Casefic ff.net 2013

Billiards by mae-jones (Rated T, One-Shot) tumblr 2015

Billy's Analysis (The Missus Chronicles) by heyitsgmats (Rated K, One-Shot)  ff.net 2014

Blackbird Singing (Chemical Reactions series) by HarrisonHolmes2014 (Rated M, One-Shot) Parentlock, Songfic AO3 2015

Bleeding Secrets by mizjoely (Rated T, One-Shot) AO3 2017

Bodyguard by mizjoely (Rated T, One-Shot) jealous!lock, Proposal AO3 2014

Bright are the stars that shine by OhAine (Rated T, One-Shot) AO3 2016

Bro-Down by o0katiekins0o (Rated T, Complete, Multi-Chapter) AO3 2014

Broken Hearts by flimflam99 (Rated T, Incomplete, Multi-Chapter) Kidnapped!, S3 AU AO3 2017

Burn My Bridges Down by dietplainlite (Rated M, Complete, Two-Parter) Wedding (J/M), PWP ff.net 2014 

C

The Case of the Jaded Detective by FluffySherlollyFan119 (Rated M, Incomplete, Multi-Chapter) Jealous!lock, Dom/Sublock, Jealous!lock, Drunk!lock AO3 2014

Celebrating his idea of Valentine’s Day by zora arian (Rated K+, One-Shot) ff.net 2014

Cellblock Confessions by Emcee Frodis (Rated T, One-Shot) Drunk!lock ff.net 2014

Change by terrified (Rated K, One-Shot) locker!lock ff.net 2015

Change Just One Thing by Mistykins06 (Rated T, One-Shot) Wedding (J/M) AO3 2015 

Chapter 3: ”Trapped” in a Small Space by Juldooz (Rated T, One-Shot) Trapped Together AO3 2020

Christmas Cardigan by katiebuttercup (Rated K, One-Shot) Christmas AO3 2017

Coffee by noveltyromance (Rated K+, One-Shot) Christmas AO3 2017

Coffee Later by MelyndaR (Rated K, One-Shot) AO3 2014

Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate by Dreamin (Rated K, One-Shot) AO3 2018

Cold Turkey by JJJ12 (Rated M, Complete, Two-Parter) Wank!lock, PWP AO3 2018

Come here. Let me fix it. by ll_again (Rated K+, One-Shot) Wedding (J/M) AO3 2017

Congratulations, By The Way by Writingwife83 (Rated K+, One-Shot) Songfic AO3 2015

Consent by terrified (Rated K, One-Shot) Christmas ff.net 2014

The Consequences of Sentiment (Such Horrible Things series) by OccasionallyCreative (Rated T, One-Shot) Swaplock AO3 2014

Could I Have This Dance by Dreamin (Rated K, One-Shot) Wedding (Other)  AO3 2017

CPR Lessons by SimplyShelbs16 (Rated K+, One-Shot) Wedding (J/M) ff.net 2017

Cut A Rug by lizzieBdarcy (Rated M, In Progress, Multi-Chapter) Fake Relationship, Casefic, Shall We Dance?, Songfic, Slow Burn ff.net 2020

D

D..did you just make that noise? by sunken_standard (Rated T, One-Shot) AO3 2017

Daddy’s Girl by mizjoely (Rated M, One-Shot) Roleplaying, PWP AO3 2016

Damsel in Distress by theSapphireSky (Rated K+, One-Shot) HABD Sherlock  tumblr 2015

The Dance by Cee5 (Rated T, One-Shot) songfic, Shall We Dance?, Wedding (J/M) AO3 2014

Dance With Me: A Sherlolly Fanfiction by wibblywobblytimeywimey45 (Rated K+, One-Shot) Shall We Dance?, Wedding (J/M) ff.net 2014

Dancing! By redtaxi (Rated K, One-Shot) Shall We Dance?, Wedding (J/M) ff.net 2014

Dead men eat no cereal by TheresaWritesStuff (Rated K, One-Shot) AO3 2017

Deadtime Stories by Gypsy Rose2014 (Rated M, Complete, Two-Parter) Drunk!lock, Wedding (J/M) ff.net 2014

Declarations by afteriwake (Rated K, One-Shot) tumblr 2017

Detective Mary by MissMollyBloom (Rated K+, One-Shot)  AO3 2020

Do I have to? by askmeaboutmyoctopustheory (Rated T, One-Shot) Drunk!lock  AO3 2018

Do I Wanna Know? by benedicted-cumberbatched (Rated K+, One-Shot) Songfic AO3 2014

Do you really think I could ever replace you? by Sunken_Standard (Rated T, One-Shot) AO3 2017

Doff That Jumper! by sherlockian87 (Rated M, One-Shot) Secret Relationship, PWP ff.net 2015

Don’t Mess With His Pathologist by lilsherlockian1975 (Rated T, One-Shot) HABD Molly AO3 2015

Don’t Mess With My Pathologist by MrsMCrieff (Rated M, Complete, Two-Parter) HABD Molly, Vamp!lock, Soulmates AO3 2018

Drabble for the day by conchepcion (Rated K, One-Shot) Clueless Dating, Secret Relationship tumblr 2015

dreams, like soap bubbles by broomclosetkink (Rated M, Complete, Multi-Chapter) Angry Sex AO3 2014

Dreamweaver by Cutebutpsycho (Rated M, One-Shot) Songfic AO3 2018

Dressed to Kilt (Sight Unseen series) by SilverMiko (Rated M, One-Shot) Halloween AO3 2017

Drugged for Christmas by Ameliapoand (Rated K+, One-Shot) HLV AU, Christmast AO3 2014

Drunken Comfort by afteriwake (Rated K+, One-Shot) Drunk!lock AO3 2018

E

Enduring Atlas by DearCollectress (Rated M, One-Shot) Dom!lock ff.net 2014

The Engagement’s Over by Girlwitharedsweater (Rated M, Complete, Multi-Chapter) Drunk!lock ff.net 2014

Even Though It All Went Wrong (The Minor Fall, The Major Lift series) by Keira_63 (Rated T, One-Shot) AO3 2020

Exchange by Dreamin (Rated T, One-Shot) Retail AU, 1st Meeting AO3 2017

Experimentation by beeeinyourbonnet (Rated M, One-Shot) PWP, Virgin!lock ff.net 2014

F

The Fake Engagement by MrsMCrieff (Rated M, Complete, Multi-Chapter) Fake Relationship ff.net 2014

The Family Detective (The Family Man AU) by I 4 2 write (Rated T, Complete, Multi-Chapter) Fan/Sup, Adapt/Crossover ff.net 2015

The Fiction He Lives (Sight Unseen series) by SilverMiko (Rated T, One-Shot) AO3 2017

Filter by Lono (Rated M, One-Shot) PWP, Wank!lock AO3 2014

Filter Free by cactusnell (Rated T, One-Shot) High!lock ff.net 2015

Fisherman's Blues (Sight Unseen series) by SilverMiko (Rated T, One-Shot) AO3 2017

Five Weddings and a Funeral by floosilver8 (Rated M, Complete, Multi-Chapter) AO3 2014

Forensics by HeayPuckett (Rated K+, One-Shot) AO3 2014

Forwards or Backwards by Succi (Rated T, Complete, Multi-Chapter) ff.net 2014

From the Corner of My Eye to the Back of My Mind by Lono (Rated T, One-Shot) New Years ff.net 2014

From the Wrong Man to the Right One by GoodShipSherlollipop (Rated T, Complete, Multi-Chapter) ff.net 2020

G

Go by terrified (Rated T, One-Shot) Songfic ff.net 2014

Green-Eyed Monster by afteriwake (Rated K+, One-Shot) Jealous!lock AO3 2015

H

Handyman by cactusnell (Rated T, One-Shot) Jealous!lock AO3 2015

Happy New Year by LadySolitaire83 (Rated T, One-Shot) New Years, Proposal AO3 2014

He Said He Loved Me by afteriwake (Rated K, One-Shot) AO3 2018

The Heart Wants What It Wants by SimplyShelbs16 (Rated K+, One-Shot) SAW ‘19 ff.net 2019

He’s giving her a present… by danae24 (Rated K, One-Shot) Valentine fic AO3 2016

He’s Wrong For You by afteriwake (Rated K, One-Shot) Jealous!lock AO3 2015

Here Be Dragons (Isn't She Beautiful series) by katemiller (Rated M, One-Shot) Engaged, Parentlock AO3 2020

The Hidden Talents of Sherlock Holmes and Molly Hooper by the_noble_bachelorette84 (Rated M, One-Shot) songfic, Fake Relationship AO3 2014

His Biggest Weakness by Dreamin (Rated T, One-Shot) AO3 2017

Holiday Spirit by geekmama (Rated T, Chapter  of longer fic) Halloween, Secret Relationship AO3 2016

Honeymoon in Croydon by hobbitsdoitbetter (Rated T, One-Shot) Wedding Interruptus AO3 2014

How Dare You? by 3seconds (Rated T, Complete, Multi-Chapter) AO3 2016

How The Mighty Fall by hanorganaas (Rated K+, One-Shot) Wedding (J/M) AO3 2014

Hugs by CuriousVanilla (Rated K+, One-Shot) S3: Matters Most, Jealous!lock ff.net 2016

[ahomegirlslives]

wait a minute, is aryan virani still in town? i thought i saw a flash of a pack of marlboro reds, dainty silver chains around the neck, bitten down nails! last i heard they were working as a handyman nearby. when it’s the (scorpio)’s birthday on 11/1. i forget that they’re unreliable trait and celebrate that they’re thoughtful. i hear boulevard of broken dreams by green day every time i think of them. ⌠ avan jogia, 29, queer, gender fluid, he/they. ⌡

A B O U T

✫        aryan and his sister didn’t have it easy since they were born. they knew they had a father only because they knew biology and knew things couldn’t happen by themselves. their mother was a prostitute who struggled to make ends meet- who would do anything for their kids, but unfortunately that anything got her killed in an unsolved murder that the cops paid no mind to.

✫        the children were sent to the foster system, where they managed to stay together during the first few years, but as aryan got older, it was harder to get him accommodated, so they started sending them to different places, every now and then losing track of her.

✫       he turned eighteen and got out of the system without a place to go. he was homeless, he was jobless, he didn’t have a career. at most, what he had were a lot of skills to fix anything, from the plague in a garden, to the plumbery in a house.

✫        trusting her sister still had a few years in the system, aryan dedicated his time to make enough money to pay a rent, and a lawyer to hopefully get his sister’s custody, but it was a pointless battle. one where they would end up disappointed time and time again.

✫        aryan was ready to try again when he found out that her then sixteen year old sister had escaped the house she had been in, and after a couple weeks of trying to find her, they had given up on the search, considering she had probably left their state.

✫        aryan went nuts, dropped everything he had, packed his things and switched rent for a car to try and find her. asking around, following leads, going to places they always wanted to go- but it’s been years and he has not even called her.

✫        he was losing hope on trying to find her, perhaps thought she was dead by that moment, when some lead sent him to centralia, a town in the middle of nowhere that seemed to have housed his sister on and off during the past couple years. aryan installed himself and he’s been waiting ever since.

[andrewtheconqueror-blog]

Blog No. 9

Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini’s Aria (Analysis)

                                        Gioachino Antonio Rossini

                            (February 29, 1792—November 13, 1868)

Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868) was an Italian composer who wrote 39 operas as well as sacred music, chamber music, songs, and some instrumental and piano pieces.

Life and Music 

Having produced a whirlwind series of 38 operas, following the premiere of William Tell in August 1829, and with close on 40 years of life still remaining, he laid down his operatic pen for ever. Perhaps Rossini had finally had enough, as he was once reputed to have remarked: "How wonderful opera would be if there were no singers!"

Rossini was born in Pesaro in 1793, the son of a town trumpeter-cum-inspector of slaughterhouses, ‘Guiseppe Rossini’ whose questionable political sympathies once resulted in a short jail sentence. The family was otherwise constantly on the move, Rossini's mother appearing as a principal singer in a series of comic opera productions, while the budding young composer learned his craft, based in Bologna.

He composed his first opera, Demetrio e Polibio, while still a student at the Liceo Musicale in Bologna, where his love of Mozart led to his being nicknamed, "the German". Such was its success that it led to a series of operatic ventures which initially culminated in the Barber of Seville. When Donizetti heard that Rossini had composed it in a matter of just three weeks, he remarked sardonically: "Rossini always was a lazy fellow."

Rossini's stage output culminated in the premiere of William Tell in Paris in 1829, after which he virtually stopped composing, save for a few songs, piano pieces and two famous large-scale choral works - the Stabat Mater and the Petite Messe Solennelle .

Rossini died at his villa in Passy on 13 November 1868 following a short illness. Having initially been buried in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, his remains were subsequently moved to Santa Croce in Florence in 1887.

Did you know?

For Rossini's 70th birthday celebrations in 1862, a number of his friends clubbed together in order to have a statue built in his honour. His reaction was typically boisterous: "Why not give the money to me and I'll stand on the pedestal myself!"

Figaro's “Largo Al Factotum,” From 'The Barber of Seville'

"The Barber of Seville" (Italian: Il barbiere di Siviglia) is a comedic opera by Giachino Rossini. It's based on the first play of of "Le Barbier de Seville," the three-part story of Figaro written by French playwright Pierre Beaumarchais.

"Largo al Factorum," Figaro's opening aria in the opera's first act, is considered one of the most challenging operas for a baritone to perform, due to its brisk time signature and convoluted rhyme structure.

Modern audiences may recognize "Largo al factotum" as a staple of the ​"Looney Tunes" cartoons.

History of 'The Barber of Seville'

The opera premiered at the Teatro Argentina in Rome in 1816. Now considered a masterpiece of musical comedy, "The Barber of Seville" had a difficult first performance, but quickly grew in popularity.

Figaro's Opening Aria 'Largo al Factorum'

In the first act, the audience meets the flamboyant Figaro who introduces himself as the city's top quality factotum, or handyman. Figaro is quite assured of his abilities and describes his popularity and his many talents. He's a jack of all trades. He loves his life, saying that and a more noble life cannot be found.

Italian Lyrics Largo al factotum della citta. Presto a bottega che l'alba e gia. Ah, che bel vivere, che bel piacere per un barbiere di qualita! Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo! Fortunatissimo per verita! Pronto a far tutto, la notte e il giorno sempre d'intorno in giro sta.

Miglior cuccagna per un barbiere, vita piu nobile, no, non si da. Rasori e pettini lancette e forbici, al mio comando tutto qui sta. V'e la risorsa, poi, de mestiere colla donnetta... col cavaliere... Tutti mi chiedono, tutti mi vogliono, donne, ragazzi, vecchi, fanciulle: Qua la parruca... Presto la barba... Qua la sanguigna...

Presto il biglietto... Qua la parruca, presto la barba, Presto il biglietto, ehi! Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!, ecc. Ahime, che furia! Ahime, che folla! Uno alla volta, per carita! Figaro! Son qua. Ehi, Figaro! Son qua. Figaro qua, Figaro la, Figaro su, Figaro giu, Pronto prontissimo son come il fumine: sono il factotum della citta. Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo; a te fortuna non manchera.

English Translation Handyman of the city. Early in the workshop I arrive at dawn. Ah, what a life, what a pleasure For a barber of quality! Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, very good! I am the luckiest, it's the truth! Ready for anything, night and day I'm always on the move. Cushier fate for a barber, A more noble life cannot be found. Razors and combs Lancets and scissors, at my command everything is here. Here are the extra tools then, for business With the ladies... with the gentlemen... Everyone asks me, everyone wants me, women, children, old people, young ones: Here are the wigs... A quick shave of the beard... Here are the leeches for bleeding... The note... Here are the wigs, a quick shave soon, The note, hey! Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!, Etc.. Alas, what frenzy! Alas, what a crowd!

One at a time, for goodness sake! Figaro! I'm here. Hey, Figaro! I'm here. Figaro here, Figaro there, Figaro up, Figaro down, Swifter and swifter I'm like a spark: I'm the handyman of the city. Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, very good; Fortunately for you I will not fail.

Musical Analysis:

Written in ABA form, also know as a ternary form or a song form. The flamboyant opening of the orchestra gave preparation to the robust melody of the baritone solo. The bass section opens the music with a masculine one-note pluck, suggesting a dominant chord then suddenly, the orchestra comes in, full blast, with a lot scalar passages, leaps of an octave, and grace notes. The 1st  section revolves in its home key, C major, sometimes sitting to its dominant key, (G)  then transitions to Eb major in the 2nd section by using ascending half step patterns from the note G up to Eb in a syllable ‘Na’. (G-F#-G, Ab-G-Ab-, A-G#-A, Bb-A-Bb, B-A#-B, CBC, D-C#-D---Eb) It goes to its relative minor, (C) then eventually went back to tonic. 

Artist Biography

Gaetano Donizetti was among the most important composers of bel canto opera in both Italian and French in the first half of the nineteenth Century. Many of Donizetti's more than 60 operas are still part of the modern repertoire and continue to challenge singers for their musical and technical demands. Donizetti stands stylistically between Rossini and Verdi; his scenes are usually more expanded in structure than those of Rossini, but he never blurred the lines between set pieces and recitative as Verdidid in his middle-period and late works. Often compared to his contemporary, Bellini, Donizetti produced a wider variety of operas and showed a greater stylistic flexibility, even if he never quite achieved the sheer beauty of Bellini's greatest works.

Donizetti was educated in Bergamo, the town of his birth, studying with the opera composer Simon Mayr from 1806 to 1814. His youthful works include chamber operas, religious works, and some chamber music. Donizetti's first opera of note was La Zingara, which was premiered in Naples in 1822. He continued to work in Naples throughout the 1820's and 1830's, where he was active as both a conductor and composer.

In 1830, Donizetti finally achieved international fame with his opera Anna Bolena; notable for its expressive music and more extended scenes, it established Donizetti as one of the leading contemporary opera composers. The comic opera L'elisir d'amore (1832) and the tragic Lucrezia Borgia (1833) came shortly after. Donizetti's next work was Maria Stuarda, followed the same year by Lucia di Lammermoor (1835), which became an internationally recognized masterpiece. The Elizabethan tragedy Roberto Devereux (1837) completed his trilogy of operas that chronicle the English court from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I.

Donizetti's operas from the late 1830s were unable to match the success of Lucia, and when Donizetti was passed over for the directorship of the Naples Conservatory in 1840, he moved to Paris. There he composed the opera comique La fille du Régiment (1840), which was celebrated immediately for its charm and virtuosity. Later that year he completed La favorite (1840), another major contribution to the French repertoire. In 1842 Donizetti was appointed Kapellmeister of the Austrian court in Vienna, but retained his association with Paris.

Among Donizetti's last operas are Maria di Rohan (1843), an important historic opera, and his French tragedy Dom Sébastian (1843). Caterina Cornaro (1843) is also one of his finest works for its strong dramatic content. These late operas, although rarely performed, are serious works that set the standard for Verdi.

                                                                                             - Steven Coburn

 “Una Furtiva Lagrima” From Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore

Italian Text of 'Una Furtiva Lagrima'

Una furtiva lagrima negli occhi suoi spuntò: Quelle festose giovani invidiar sembrò.

Che più cercando io vo? Che più cercando io vo? M'ama! Sì, m'ama, lo vedo. Lo vedo. Un solo instante i palpiti del suo bel cor sentir! I miei sospir, confondere per poco a' suoi sospir! I palpiti, i palpiti sentir, confondere i miei coi suoi sospir... Cielo! Si può morir! Di più non chiedo, non chiedo. Ah, cielo! Si può! Si, può morir! Di più non chiedo, non chiedo. Si può morire! Si può morir d'amor.

English Translation of 'Una Furtiva Lagrima'

A single secret tear from her eye did spring: as if she envied all the youths that laughingly passed her by. What more searching need I do? What more searching need I do? She loves me! Yes, she loves me, I see it. I see it. For just an instant the beating of her beautiful heart I could feel! As if my sighs were hers, and her sighs were mine! The beating, the beating of her heart I could feel, to merge my sighs with hers... Heavens! Yes, I could die! I could ask for nothing more, nothing more. Oh, heavens! Yes, I could, I could die! I could ask for nothing more, nothing more. Yes, I could die! Yes, I could die of love.

L’elisir d’amore, (Italian: “The Elixir of Love” or “The Love Potion”) comic opera in two acts by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti (Italian libretto by Felice Romani, after a French libretto by Eugène Scribe for Daniel-François-Esprit Auber’s Le Philtre, 1831) that premiered in Milanon May 12, 1832. 

Main Characters

Nemorino — a good-hearted but penniless waiter Adina  — a wealthy and beautiful bar owner Belcore — experienced charmer and Nemorino’s rival Dulcamara — a travelling ‘quack’ (medicine man), who touts a dubious cure-all elixir Giannetta — Adina’s friend and town gossip

Music

What separates L’Elisir d’Amore from dozens of charming comedies composed around the same time is not only the superiority of its hit numbers, but the overall consistency of its music. It represents the best of the bel canto tradition that reigned in Italian opera in the early 19th century—from funny patter songs to rich ensembles to wrenching melody in the solos, most notably the tenor’s showstopping aria “Una furtiva lagrima” in Act II. Its variations between major and minor keys in the climaxes are one of opera’s savviest depictions of a character’s dawning consciousness.

Setting And Story Summary

The opera is set in a small village in the early 19th century, rural Italy. Some early editions indicate a location in Basque country. The important fact is that it’s a place where everyone knows everyone and where traveling salesmen provide a major form of public entertainment. 

Act I

Adina’s farm. Adina is sitting beneath a tree on her farm, reading a book. Her friend Giannetta and other peasants are resting nearby. Nemorino watches Adina from a distance, lamenting that he has nothing but love to offer her (“Quànto è bella, quànto è cara”). The peasants ask Adina to read to them, and she reads them the story of how Tristan won Isolde by drinking a magic love potion.

Sergeant Belcore swaggers in with his troop. Adina laughs at his braggadocio, but when he presses her to marry him, she promises to think it over. She invites the whole troop to her house for some wine, and the peasants return to their work. Nemorino intercepts Adina on her way to the house and awkwardly declares his love for her. She tells him that he is a nice fellow but that she is not inclined to fall in love with anyone.

In the village square, the populace eagerly greets the traveling “Doctor” Dulcamara, who proclaims the virtues of his patent cure-all (“Udite, udite, o rustici”). Nemorino asks Dulcamara if he has the Elixir of Love described in Adina’s book. Dulcamara gives Nemorino a bottle of wine, telling him that it is the magical elixir. Nemorino gulps it down and becomes tipsy. When Adina enters, Nemorino, certain that the potion will work, pretends to ignore her. To punish him, Adina flirts with Belcore, who tells her that he must return to his garrison and so must marry her at once. Nemorino, dismayed by this turn of events, urges Adina to wait just one more day, but she spitefully ignores him and invites the entire village to the wedding.

Act II

Adina’s house. Everyone is celebrating at the pre-wedding feast at Adinas house. Adina secretly wishes Nemorino had come so she could enjoy her revenge. Dulcamara sings a flirtatious duet with Adina (“Io son ricco e tu sei bella”), to great applause. Adina, still miffed at Nemorino’s absence, goes off with Belcore and a notary to sign the marriage contract.

Nemorino arrives, fearing that he is too late to prevent the wedding. Seeing Dulcamara, he begs for another bottle of the magic elixir, but Dulcamara will not give it to him until he can pay for it. Nemorino throws himself on a bench in despair. Belcore now returns, annoyed that Adina has postponed the wedding until that evening. Seeing Nemorino, Belcore asks why he is so sad. Nemorino tells him that he is despondent because he has no money. Belcore advises him to join the army, where he can instantly earn 20 scudi. Nemorino is reluctant, but Belcore persuades him with a vision of the glories (and opportunities for winning the ladies) of being a military man. Nemorino enlists and takes the money, thrilled at the prospect of winning Adina. Belcore secretly plumes himself on having recruited his rival and getting him out of the way.

In the village, Giannetta tells her friends the exciting news that Nemorino’s uncle has died and left him a fortune. Nemorino staggers in, having drunk the second bottle of “elixir.” He suddenly finds himself the centre of female attention, and, not knowing that he has become an eligible bachelor, believes that the elixir is finally working. Adina and Dulcamara arrive and are both astonished to see Nemorino surrounded by the village maidens and fully enjoying his newfound popularity. Adina angrily confronts him about joining the army, but Nemorino, enjoying her jealousy, goes off with a gaggle of girls. Dulcamara tells Adina that the magic elixir has made Nemorino popular, and that he joined the army in order to get the money to pay for it. Adina realizes that Nemorino’s love is true. Dulcamara, seeing an opportunity to sell more elixir, tries to rouse her jealousy, but she vows to win him back her own way.

Alone, Nemorino recalls the tear on Adina’s cheek and is convinced that she loves him (“Una furtiva lagrima”). But when she arrives, he pretends to be uninterested, in order to get her to declare her true feelings. She asks him not to leave and tells him that she has bought back his commission (“Prendi, per me sei libero”). But she still will not confess her love, so Nemorino vows to die a soldier. At last, Adina tells him that she loves him and begs his forgiveness. Belcore arrives to find the lovers embracing. But he is confident that there are plenty of fish in the sea—and that Dulcamara and his love potion can help.

-Linda Cantoni

What style is it in?

L’elisir d’amore is written in the bel canto style, which literally means ‘beautiful song’.  Bel canto is all about exhibiting the beauty of the human voice. The orchestra functions to support the singer rather than to compete, and the orchestration is often quite sparse, leaving the voice exposed. This means that the singer’s intonation and vocal technique must be absolutely perfect, making bel canto a challenging style to master.

Donizetti, Bellini, and Rossini were the three leading composers of the bel canto style during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Musical Analyis:

This aria, written in strophic form has a very lovely and moving melody, in bel canto style. Donizetti tried to capture Nemorino’s feelings for Adina through arching melodic lines, opening the aria in an interval of a perfect fifth downward, descending in a minor second, and then going to a minor third upward with a leisurely rhythm. 

Sources: 

“'Torna a Surriento'.” Classic FM, www.classicfm.com/composers/rossini/. 

Green, Aaron. “Translation of ‘Largo Al Factotum’ From ‘The Barber of Seville.’” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/largo-al-factotum-lyrics-and-text-translation-724018. 

Schwarm, Betsy, and Linda Cantoni. “L'elisir D'amore.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 4 Apr. 2014, www.britannica.com/topic/Lelisir-damore. 

Green, Aaron. “What Does the Famous Aria 'Una Furtiva Lagrima' Mean in English?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/una-furtiva-lagrima-lyrics-and-translation-724077. 

“L'elisir D'amore in a Nutshell.” Opera North, www.operanorth.co.uk/blogs/l-elisir-d-amore-in-a-nutshell.

[chucksandjeans]

2018 in Review and Goals for 2019

It’s 8 days into the New Year and I finally set aside some time to reflect on the past year and also set goals for the upcoming 12 months. Disappointingly, I did do this retrospective in 2018, so I am unable to measure whether or not I did well. Broadly speaking, 2018 was a very busy year, but I remember a few years ago, I told myself “no excuses”. With that philosophy, shame on me for not prioritizing an hour or so to think about my own life.

 I read a blog this morning written by an individual who broke down his goals into the following pieces: Career, Personal and Hobbies, Home, Relationship, Friends & Community. I adapted this framework and modified the categories to fit my life. Let’s see how this works out:

 2018 at a glance

The first part of 2018 - before the wedding - was a blur. It was a whirlwind of moving into the house, launching Butter and setting up operations, going to Taiwan, Texas and North Carolina, attending several weddings, and getting things ready for our own wedding. These months were reactive, less-planned, and auto-piloted.

 The latter half of the year - post wedding - was also back-to-back with the mini-moon, Hong Kong and Singapore, post-wedding cleanup, getting the house into shape and then the holidays. Overall, I’d give myself a B+ for 2018. I am proud of myself and my wife for getting through these 12 months in one piece given the heightened intensity and complexity.

 And now, a bit more detail into each aspect:

Relationship

I married the love of my life. This woman complements my strengths and weaknesses and gives me a reason to wake up every morning. There have been times where I chose to be selfish and impatient and I will work on these shortcomings this year.

 As a couple, we went through big life moments, like the wedding, buying a home, getting into a car accident, and melting into one blob unit. It’s an exciting time in my life as I grow into the role of husband.

Family

The past year was characterized by events, parties, plans, schedules, money, accidents, and everything in between. Albeit more happy than sad events, everyone was stressed. It was a testament to what a family is, and finding the definition that works for us. I am happy that I was able to visit Hong Kong in 2018 and see family who I have not seen in a decade. It’s been too long and it was my fault that I prioritized traveling and new experiences over going home in the last 10 years.

Friends

The events of 2018 brought my social circle. From traveling to Taiwan with the boys to bachelor parties to weddings galore, I think this is one aspect of 2018 that I was able to excel in.

Career

I grew a lot professionally and personally. The lines have blurred between work and life as colleagues became friends and vice versa. The skills that I learned in 2018 have been invaluable to my growth, and I am happy to say that I have rounded out my skill set to include product, development and general management in addition to my quantitative background.Some highlights from the year include building and leading a high-performing team to launch a new product in the digital space, presenting in front of 700+ people at TechTO, seeing our product featured on Product Hunt, closing deals with big-name partners, learning basic web development, and winning an award recognizing me as an emerging leader. It’s amazing that it’s still possible to learn something new after a decade being out of school. I use to think that learning meant keeping up with the latest trends in a particular industry and reading the current state of X standards. In reality, it can be so much more than that.

Personal

My early 30s is another chance to redefine my life and character. It happens every 10 years or so, in my mind: at age 0, age 10, age 20, and now, age 30-ish. Life changes quickly but the most pivotal moments occur at the decade marks where I change along with everyone and everything around me. I don’t want to watch life go by and have it spin out of control. I want to take the reins and define for myself who I want to be.

 2018 was so busy that I didn’t sit down and think about life. From a broad-level identity perspective, I can do better. I did do well from a life-skills perspective though. In early 2018, I was uncomfortable drilling holes at home and freaked out over what are now seemingly small tasks. Now I am able to use my toolkit to diagnose, install and fix basic elements around the house. Handyman, not yet, but not an idiot either.

Travel

I flew a lot in 2018: Taiwan for Duncan’s bachelor party, Texas for my bachelor party, Raleigh for work, Mexico for our mini-moon, and Florida for the holidays. To be honest, I lost direction in traveling once I hit my “50 countries before 30 years old” milestone goal. That North Star was what drove me to be creative, bold and adventurous to seek out new places and commit to culture shock. Now, I have no goal and feel directionless, which may or may not be a good thing. On one side, it allows me to seeing things I really want to see, regardless of whether I’ve been to the place before. On the other hand, I don’t have a fire under my butt. Whatever the goal happens to be, I will set one.

Health

I can’t say that it’s been a great year for my mind and body. Stressing out over the many events of 2018, making excuses for not running, spending only 45 minutes at the gym vs. 60 in the past, and indulging in fatty foods more often, this year was bit out of the ordinary. But staying too long in out of the ordinary becomes ordinary, so the fix has to be made immediately. I did switch to meal prepping with the help of my wife which has been great, so kudos to her for that.

Finance

We did well given the wedding and house. Buying the home, procuring the first bit of furniture and supplies, paying vendors, trips here and there, unexpected expenses and daily living costs – these all made it exceptionally hard to balance the books. Cash was tight and we lived through one of the most financially difficult years of our lives to date. It did force us to be on top of our finances though which has given us a great set of skills and dialogue for what life has in store for us.

2019 and Stretch Goals

Relationship

I will continue to support my wife in her endeavors, and challenge her to be better every day. I will be a role model, make healthy and well-balanced choices that help us succeed as a couple, and be less critical. In tough situations, I will control my emotions and focus on the bigger picture, which means taking a step back more often. I will recognize events in our lives and celebrate those because life is too short to have no special moments!

Stretch: I will create and capture more memories outside of Instagram, through writing, photos or videos.

Family

Goal: I will work on being more present in the family and fostering a harmonious balance where possible. Striking a medium is important and I will take initiative on being the family man that I strive to be, which includes my immediate family, my parents, my in-laws and my extended family overseas.

Stretch: talk to at least 1 overseas family member once a month

Friends

Preamble: as the years go by, I am more appreciative of friends who stay in touch. Life gets busy and all around me, people are getting married, buying homes, having kids and moving up in their careers. All these things require constant re-prioritization of time and focus.

I will build on strong social bonds by reaching out, staying in touch, physically going to see friends, and recognizing special moments. This will be a challenge without the aid of weddings and bachelor parties but I am confident. At a more granular level, I will proactively reach out to friends on a more consistent basis either weekly or monthly, seek out those who I have not connected with in a while, and hang out with at least 1 friend once a month.

Stretch: hang out with 2 friends once a month

Career

I will think about my career more critically and plan out my path. Although it’s not possible to predict the future, it’s definitely possible to set goals and have criteria. The opportunity cost of making the wrong career choice is too big now, especially in my early 30s. It will be a blink of an eye before I am in my mid-30s, so from here to there…these need to be fruitful years. The role that I am in must provide me with new skills development, learning and intellectual stimulation, a strong team and network, upward mobility, reasonable compensation and good people. I will not settle for anything less. I will not let 2019 be a year that sails by as I sit idly staring off into the distance – 2019 will be a defining year.

Stretch: meet at least 2 new people every month who can help me in my career or gives me new ideas and add an international aspect to my experiences

Personal

Preamble: identities cannot be created or concluded definitively. It takes time. In my 20s, I don’t think I had a plan but I felt confident in my direction. I have to find that in my 30s.

I want to ignite that flame and give myself opportunities to find enlightenment, for lack of better word. What this practically means: I know who I am, I know what I am doing, and this is where my ship is headed. I will put time into soul searching, mind-exploration exercises, and philosophical debates to have a clearer answer by the end of 2019. I will also learn how to do more things around the house, like gardening (maybe) and doing basic electric (and plumbing?) work. I will read expand and relax my mind, which can span from reading to watching TV to playing video games. I’m not going to rub off video games and TV. I will do these things in moderation and be cognizant that it’s for relaxing the mind. I will write things down in my journal 1x a month and read 3 books this year. And lastly, I will be more organized. I will ask myself “does this make me happy” before buying things.

Stretch: write in journal at least 2x a month and read 6 books this year.

Travel

Preamble: April is the first trip of the year: Chile. It’s been 5+ years since I’ve been back to South America and I’ve always wanted to go to Patagonia so this trip checks multiple boxes. Additionally, the Andean air may give me that jolt and inspiration to LOVE travel again. I still love travel but I want to find that flame…to hit 50 countries…but now a new goal. Is it to try all the cultural flavours of the world? Is it to climb the peaks of the world? Whatever it is, I hope Chile will spark and awaken. Later in the year, the plan is to go to a wedding in Italy and then jet off somewhere nearby afterwards. I have yet to figure that one out. Lastly, there’s a brimming desire to add more of an international flavour to my career. I wonder what life has in store.

Find a new goal that revolves around travel and cultural exploration. I want to love travel immensely again.

Stretch: Eat a weird animal.

Health

Preamble: I am a proponent of making small decisions that eventually lead to bigger ones, which become habits and those then define lifestyle and character. In 2018, I did not make the best decisions and 2019 will mark my climb back to the top. I saw a picture of myself from 5 years ago and I looked great. Age is obviously a contributor to looking different but that’s no excuse to not live a healthy lifestyle.

I will continue to meal prep, choose more vegetables and fish over red meats, push back to 60 minute of gym, and drink more water. And yes, drink at least 2L of water daily. I will hit 158lbs by end of the summer and run an organized 5km run.

Stretch: drink 3L of water daily, 160lbs by end of summer and run an organized 7km run or two 5km runs.

Finance

I will go back to the way I use to plan finances, and have a more holistic and long-term view on how to grow the family net worth. This will mean a dedicated savings plan, an investment portfolio, perhaps a way to make money on the side, and a way to control costs such that we have enough to live and enjoy.

This post took over 3 hours from ideation to planning to writing. It was mentally exhausting but I managed to get it all down. I feel good. And now, time for execution. Let’s go!

[trulycertain]

The Shield Raised Masterpost

May also be of interest: The Great Big Masterpost (everything I’ve ever written on Tumblr) The Armour masterpost (F!Amell/Alistair) The An Unquenchable Flame masterpost (F!Trevelyan/Cullen) The Knight Shop masterpost (multi-writer modern AU)

Shield Raised is a series of drabbles about my stoic, awkward Trevelyan, Gal, and his romance with Dorian. a.k.a., “A Marcher nearly-templar, a Tevinter altus, and a slow understanding.” The Inquisition-era ones (though not the pre- and post-game ones) are collected on AO3 here.

Pre-Inquisition

sans peur et sans reproche: Basically, Gal’s angsty backstory. Chantries, angry young men and controlling mothers.

Haven

Rejection: The Herald has barely spoken since he arrived. (Josephine, Gal and the beginning of a tentative friendship.)

Futures: Dorian thinks the supposed Herald of Andraste is rather… odd.

The Measure: Dorian, Gal and a slow understanding. Also Dorian working out. Because apparently that’s important?

Drinking with the Tevinter: The Inquisition isn’t happy having someone from the Imperium in its ranks. Gal feels rather differently.

Questions and Answers: Gal gets upset and a bit drunk and finally opens up about his past. That’s pretty much it.

pictures in the snow: The attack on Haven and Gal’s apparent death.

Skyhold

Crossing: Turns out Gal’s alive. Cue Skyhold, UST and a step forwards.

Mamihlapinatapei: Promptfic. Mamihlapinatapei - The look between two people in which each loves the other but is too afraid to make the first move.

Sweet Nothing: The companions attempt to be helpful because the UST is getting painful to watch. Gal and Dorian do not appreciate it, but it gives them food for thought.

Liminal: Dorian tries to deal with being chucked into the Fade, and then with his father, and lines are crossed. Angsty as hell, even by Shield Raised standards.

Out Of My Head: Post-Last Resort Of Good Men. Dorian gets drunk, tries not to snog Gal and is homesick.

Answers: In which they finally spit it out. Only took them 21k.

Rumours:  A revised and improved rewrite of “Answers.” Blech, kissing.

Attachment: Some fluff, some angst, some snogging. In the aftermath of That Kiss, Gal and Dorian try to work out what this thing between them is.

Truths: Homesickness, making out, and Dorian playing the “what, of course I’m not falling for him, what do you mean I called him amatus, I don’t even know what that means” game.

Promises: “Wishing but wondering, wounded and wistful. What if he doesn’t want me after?” A seduction, and Dorian waiting to get his heart broken. As usual.

the light of day: In which all the companions have an opinion. Of course.

Chess: Gal gets trounced at chess by a twelve-year-old. Oh, and he and Irene talk about happiness.

Pretexts:  SFW, despite subject matter. Gal attempts to find time to do some “paperwork.” Said paperwork has a moustache.

Gifts, and surprises: Two short drabbles for the prompts “Did you do this?” and “So uh. I noticed you’re kinda naked. Is that intentional, or… ?” Gal and Dorian attempt to be spontaneous, with varying levels of success.

Sers: SFW, but written for #sexlaughterhonesty Week and the theme “coitus interruptus”. In which a messenger is privy to too much.

A Request: Short snippet. Josephine and Gal, pre-Winter Palace.

Formality: Why they got scruffy!Gal at Halamshiral, despite Josephine’s wishes.

A letter found on the Inquisitor’s desk: For the Dragon Age 100 prompt “Family.” Gal and an old friend from the Chantry days.

The Golden Floor: Halamshiral fluff, and why dancing can sometimes be an act of bravery.

Kohl: The adventures of Gal and Dorian and their battles with eyeliner. Does a little bit of timeline-hopping.

Mornings: On waking up together and Gal’s ridiculously large bed.

Mutual Domesticity: “You didn’t think I lived in leathers, did you?”

Maps: Short promptfic for “kisses meant to distract the other person from whatever they were intently doing.“

Dignity: Very daft fluff. Gal’s battles with the Helm of the Inquisitor. And prima sandwicha.

Ironically, Zombie Spider: What it says on the tin. Dorian really, really needs to stop idle magic experiments.

For Now:  The Arbour Wilds fallout, and the “I’m going back to Tevinter” conversation. Angst, 5.1k.

“So if Gal’s 'amatus’, what does he call you?” Very short headcanon drabble thing.

Post-game

A Problem: Spans from shortly after their meeting to post-game. About 7k. Dorian and his struggles with The Dreaded L Word.

The Hangover: The big “we survived” celebration. Gal finally gets truly, astonishingly drunk, and emotional honesty happens. Much to his horror. Also: sorbet.

Malapert: Promptfic. Malapert - Clever in manners of speech.

“I love you” - said loudly, so everyone can hear

The Trespasser hair: Short, silly headcanon drabble.

Trespasser

Worst Case Scenario: Angsty AU drabble where Trespasser was even more difficult for Gal and Dorian. I let these two be happy sometimes. I promise.

Green: How Trespasser actually went. Truthfully, it’s not much less angsty than the AU.

Post-Trespasser

on the turning away: Leaving, and coming back.

Depth Over Distance: Gal, Dorian and managing the long-distance thing. Partly epistolary. Also, the return of Erren.

The Trespasser hair, part two: Gal has opinions on long-haired Dorian.

“I love you” - said as a thank you

Pain: Gal gets another tattoo. Dorian has… thoughts on it. Written for a Dragon Age 100 Challenge prompt.

A Question: What it says on the tin.

AUs

it’s running you with red: A short, miserable red-templar!Gal drabble.

Birthright (AO3): Another of the not quite fairy tales: the Cinderella AU no-one asked for. In a world where things happened slightly differently, Dorian takes a masked ball as a chance to covertly investigate this Inquisition he’s heard so much about. It’s only one night. Not much can go wrong. Can it? (Spoiler: The answer is yes. Or it can go very, very right.)

“Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.” (All things change, and we change with them.) For a prompt. In which a time travel experiment goes wrong and Dorian ends up meeting a very sad eighteen-year-old stuck-in-the-Chantry Gal.

Reprise: Or “the one where Gal freaks out and breaks up with Dorian in Trespasser because he is an idiot, and they have to sort things out nearly two years later.” Ten-parter (there is a lot of mess to sort out). Over at AO3 | On Tumblr: Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |  Angsty extra drabble | 9 | 10

That very silly modern AU where they met at Yvaine’s wedding

Antivan Brandy: “I’d make an excellent spy. Charming, handsome, perfect teeth and hair…”

july forever (AO3): These visiting Tevinters are going to be fundamental for trade. The Trevelyans' son is under no circumstances to do anything stupid or inappropriate to embarrass the family, like seducing any of their foreign guests. Unfortunately, said Tevinters' son has rather different ideas.The "angry young men have a doomed summer romance" AU.

The Knight Shop stuff (modern-ish fluff-ish AU)

Terms & Conditions - The problem with distinguished old houses is that they tend to fall down around your ears when ignored for a decade. Dorian needs a handyman (possibly a whole squad of them). Gal is... well, a one-man most-of-a-squad. Or a knight.

Revenge - Gal’s all pink round the edges due to the Shop’s newest customer. Time for Alistair to tease him relentlessly about it. “I didn’t know ‘seventeenth-century villain’ was your type, but whatever works for you…”

“The washing machine broke, I almost lost my keys, the car got dented, and a wasp got into the house and hijacked the bedroom for four days! Four. Days.” Promptfic. The Knight Shop AU I will someday write properly with these two.

A to B - That time Dorian ended up on the back of Gal’s bike. Yeah, really.

DELETED SCENES

The First Round - Very important shirtless *cough* plot.

Happiness - Gal, Irene and a game of chess

Graphic depictions of cuddling

If asked, “When did you first fall in love?” both Gal and Dorian will struggle to answer the question.

OUTTAKES

Tru and Gal get a pint together, part one

Tru and Gal get a pint together, part two

“Only one orgy?”

Very, very bad jokes

HEADCANONS/COMMENTARY

Gal headcanons and history

More headcanons/extra info on Gal

Why Gal is called Galahad

Half-asleep Gal

Haircanons - Gal’s “phases” after DAI

Ten questions for Gal

Pros and cons of dating Gal (what pros?)

Gal and romance

Gal vs. TVTropes

Gal/Dorian couple-y silliness

Gal, Dorian and the bedroom (not quite as unsafe for work as it sounds)

Erren headcanons and info

Dorian headcanons (very general, but might tell you a bit about how I write him)

Dorian totally had a punk phase (Knight Shop/modern AU, I guess?)

Shield Raised and horses

Chev Trev The Horse

[nixie-deangel]

make me write 📝

send me an emoji for one of my WIPs and i’ll write three sentences for every emoji you send :)

Rules: You may send in multiple asks per day (though I may be slow to answer them!), but please no more than 3 emojis per ask that you send in.

I will be taking emojis starting now until the 18th of November. Let's see if we can't help a Nixie get some good progress on the WIP list once again! 💜💜💜💜💜

(Sorry I'm gonna be clogging up the hangster/sereshaw tags this weekend!!!)

My Main focus this weekend are the following:

🍼 non navy bradley/fighter pilot jake as parents - hangster

🍷 Jake's family causes the hangster break up

💐 serial killer Jake - hangster

🐺 shifter au - hangster

😎 win a date with jake - hangster

💔 icemav break up / icedad

✍🏻 insecure bradley - hangster

💜 But bonus WIP's I will also take emoji's for:

🦇 vampire jake/human bradley - hangster

😭 jake doesn't deal with bradley's death - hangster

✨ Retired Bradley, Jake climbing Command

🤠 music producer Bradley x rancher Jake

👀 B&B, Celebrity Bradley, handyman Jake

No longer taking emojis!

[junker-town]

Tony Romo should be in every single CBS TV show

Tony Romo is joining CBS as a sports broadcaster. Why stop there?

Hold on to your butts, sports fans, because the next time you turn on CBS and expect to hear brilliant insight from Phil Simms, such as, “I know Brock Osweiler is not Tom Brady,” you won’t. You know what you’ll hear instead? Brilliant (or not, there’s no way of knowing yet) insight from Tony Romo.

That’s right: On Tuesday it was announced that the Cowboy’s old quarterback is going to replace Phil Simms as the lead analyst for CBS alongside Jim Nantz.

Way to go, Tony Romo. You just found yourself on the highest rung of a corporate ladder without having to climb a single one. Guess that’s what happens when you’re a football guy who still has decent vertical ups — you jump right to the top.

But why stop there, Tony Romo? Why not infiltrate all of CBS’s programming? Here at SB Nation, James Dator and I took it upon ourselves to imagine the roles you could play on other TV shows. Think about it. Also, you’re welcome.

2 Broke Girls

Max and Caroline have run into a problem at the Williamsburg Diner where they work: The frier is broken! They call the handyman, but instead of the old, curmudgeonly New Yorker who usually comes to help them, a hot young hipster shows up, played by Tony Romo. His mustache is waxed to pointy perfection, and Max immediately develops a crush on him.

The only problem? Tony Romo the handyman has taken a vow of celibacy until the coffee they serve at Dunkin’ Donuts becomes Fair Trade. Max is heartbroken because she knows that if she dates him she’ll never have sex again, and she doesn’t want that, so she can’t be with Tony Romo the handyman. On the upside, Tony Romo the handyman does manage to fix the frier by throwing an artisanal football at it. — Charlotte Wilder

The Big Bang Theory

The new season of Big Bang Theory is going to turn their world UP-SIDE-DOWN [dramatic music]. There’s a new neighbor for those nerds and he loves ... [record scratch] SPORTS?!

Tony Romo joins the cast as “Truck Runnels,” a former college football player who hates three things: Millennials, nerds and hi-jinx — and Truck’s about to learn that this crew rolls deep with all three.

Did we mention Truck used to go to the same college as Sheldon and they hate each other? Because YEAH that’s a thing. Big Bang Theory will never be the same again. Or will it? — James Dator

Kevin Can Wait

I don’t know what this show is about and I have absolutely zero interest in finding out. I’m not even going to Google it, because I’m pretty sure it’s just Kevin James sitting in his man cave, texting his wife (who is unrealistically attractive for a guy who looks like Kevin James) in the kitchen to bring him sandwiches.

Tony Romo’s role here could take a number of shapes: The most obvious choices are a) Kevin James’ more attractive best friend, b) the plumber who stops Kevin James’ man cave from flooding after a rainstorm, or c) Kevin James’ nephew’s piano teacher.

But my favorite option is the one where Tony Romo plays a football coach putting on a clinic for kids. Kevin James enrolls his children, and then Kevin James’ super hot wife and Tony Romo have a sexy affair while Kevin James sits in his man cave, bragging to his friends about how he threw Tony Romo a spiral when he dropped his kids off. — Charlotte Wilder

NCIS

There’s a problem in the Navy. Someone has been planting homing beacons on battle cruisers — and I only just realized I’ve never seen an episode of NCIS in my life. It’s something about Navy lawyers, and for CBS to be on-brand there has to be a character who hates millennials. Okay got it.

Tony Romo is: Special executive prosecutor Lance “Turmoil” Riggerson and things will never be the same again. He’s a no-nonsense Texan who doesn’t take guff, especially when that raucous Abby steals his fruit snacks — WHICH WERE A GIFT FROM HIS DAUGHTER! These homing beacons won’t investigate themselves, and who better to bust an international conspiracy than Tony Romo?

There will be a scene where he knocks the homing beacon off the battleship with a football, turns to the camera and says “Fourth quarter comeback complete.” -- James Dator

Survivor

Tony Romo goes on Survivor and gets voted off the island first, because he tries to throw a football at a palm tree to get the coconuts down and he misses three times in a row. — Charlotte Wilder

60 Minutes

It’s CBS’s view that millennials ruined hard-hitting TV journalism so things have got to change. One thing is certain: 60 Minutes will never be the same again.

The entire show is being reworked as new host Tony Romo will watch game film from 2006 for a full hour and offer useful commentary tidbits along the way. If you though you loved the exposées of the past just wait until you’re getting walked through the Cowboys’ 21-14 win over the Colts from Week 11. — James Dator

Country Music Awards

Hahahahah remember when Tony Romo dated Jessica Simpson, and when Jessica Simpson briefly tried to be a country singer? Hahahaha this song is so bad. Ahhhh I can’t stop laughing.

Also, want to go on record saying it was garbage when everyone blamed Jessica Simpson for Tony Romo not being able to win in December.

WAIT. OH MY GOD. TONY ROMO WAS THERE IN 2015. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED!!!!

— Charlotte Wilder

Hawaii Five-O

We’re totally re-working the show top to bottom. It’s now called “Hawaii Rom-o” and Tony is just a regular beat cop in Honolulu. What kind of people will he meet? What kind of crimes will he solve? All we know for sure is that some pesky millennials are causing a ruckus and things will never be the same again. — James Dator

Tony Awards

This is the most obvious place for Tony Romo on CBS. I honestly can’t believe they didn’t hire him to host these awards. His name is literally Tony. I could see Tony Romo having a real soft spot for musicals. I bet he LOVED Hamilton. He knows all the words to Wicked (“Defying Gravity” is his favorite song, though, because he’s a little basic). Neil Patrick Harris is his celebrity crush. His opening monologue would involve throwing a bedazzled football through a bedazzled hoop. — Charlotte Wilder

Madam Secretary

Secretary of State Tea Leoni has gone to Bolivia to try to bust up a drug cartel (the writers of the show don’t actually know what a Secretary of State does, hence the muddled plot line here), and she gets kidnapped by the kingpin. Tomy Romo shows up as a DEA agent who played high school football. He saves Tea Leoni by throwing a football packed with explosives into the jail cell next to hers, blowing a hole open in the cinderblock wall. He climbs in, pulls her out of the rubble, and they make out. She doesn’t tell her handsome professor husband. — Charlotte Wilder

The Amazing Race

The Amazing Race is one of the best-dang reality TV shows in history. It combines all my loves: Couples fighting, travel problems, lost passports, divorced couples thinking they can re-ignite the spark of passion by putting themselves in an entirely too stressful situation that will never help their relationship and oh god they’re screaming again and lol these people need to eat 12 pounds of caviar on a rickety boat in the middle of the Caspian Sea.

Tony Romo is the host. — James Dator

Undercover Boss

Tony Romo tries to go undercover at CBS to see what it’s like being a janitor there. They’re all like “Uh, dude, you’re Tony Romo. We watched you play football for over ten years. You can’t go undercover.” He’s like, “Fair point,” tosses a football into a trash can, and goes back to his cushy corner office. — Charlotte Wilder

[nixie-deangel]

for @phisworld14 who asked for 🍷💔👀:

🍷 Jake's family causes the hangster break up

“Tally,” Jake murmurs. But clears his throat before he says anything else. He brings a hand up to rub at his face, ensuring that while he feels the sting, the burn at the back of his eyes at his baby sister’s words, no tears actually fall from his eyes.

💔 icemav break up / icedad

“What?” Pausing, all three of them whirl around to see Bradley standing there. His face paling and stricken as he seems to register what exactly his mom and uncles were arguing, fighting about. Tom feels like his heart is falling, ripping, from his chest as seeing the absolute hurt and heartbreak overcome Bradley’s face.

👀 B&B, Celebrity Bradley, handyman Jake

“And you went into modeling and entertainment?” Bradley inquires. “How’d that happen, with all your sisters and brothers getting involved with the family business?”

Make Nixie Write!

[nixie-deangel]

@cep3025 who asked for:

🍼 non navy bradley/fighter pilot jake as parents - hangster

“Fuck,” Jake rubs his face before fully turning to look at Javy. “Just. Will you come? I’ll. I’m gonna ex-explain. On the way. But just.” Though he doesn’t actually say the word, Jake knows Javy can read the plea in his voice, in his eyes, so he doesn’t have to verbally say it. Javy stares at him shrewdly for a long moment before asking, “Everything?” “Everything,” Jake nods, confirming.

👀 B&B, Celebrity Bradley, handyman Jake

“Fuck, this place is gorgeous,” Bradley murmurs, climbing out of the truck and staring in awe. While the expansive acreage gave the illusion of privacy, even though the little cabins were close enough you could see but were spread out enough you wouldn’t be able to hear unless someone was yelling up a storm. “Told you, man,” Javy laughed. “My sisters don’t play none when it comes to this place,” he waves his hand to encompass the nearly three hundred acres.

🤠 music producer Bradley x rancher Jake

“You BradBrad?” The man drawls, lips curved into a half smirk as his eyes sparkle with amusement.  Nearly swallowing his tongue, Bradley nods a little dumbly before clearing his throat. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I mean yes. I’m BradBrad, er, well, Bradley Bradshaw,” he says, tripping over his words as he tilts his head back and closes his eyes, grimacing at his own stupidity.

Make Nixie Write!

[nixie-deangel]

Soooo it's not 7th yet where I am. Hopefully it counts 🤣

✨✨👀👀 pretty please

✨ Retired Bradley, Jake climbing Command

“Dinner?” Jake blurts out. He squeezes his eyes close as he grimaces at himself for being such a dumbass. “Would you like to get dinner. With me. As in a date, with me,” he corrects himself as he opens his eyes and gives Bradley a small, tentative smile.  He feels a rush of tension he didn’t even know he was carrying leave his shoulders as he watches the way Bradley brightens, nodding his head so much he causes his dangly earrings to clink together in his enthusiasm. “I’d love to, Jake.” Bradley grins, shuffling a little closer, face turning a little bashful.

👀 B&B, Celebrity Bradley, handyman Jake

“So Nat said your sisters and brothers own this place?” Bradley asks as he tosses his bags into the back of the pickup truck Javy had brought to pick him up from the airport. “Yeah,” he grins as he helps Bradley with his bags. “The lands been in their family since their great-granddaddy settled out here in Texas from Italy. While it was mostly cattle farming, Grace, the eldest of us all, decided to turn it into a bit of a destination wedding venue, without actually having to leave the country for it.” He explains as straps the bags down, so they wouldn’t go flying about on their long drive before they climb into the cab and set off. “Then they expanded on adding little cabins for a B&B experience. Though each cabin has a small kitchenette, so they don’t have to come to the main cabin for food if they don’t want to. Plus hunters will use them during the seasons. So it's a pretty steady income for the family.” “Sounds interesting,” Bradley murmurs.

Make Nixie Write!

[nixie-deangel]

👀 👀 👀

{You've added this one haven't you? 👀}

👀 B&B, Celebrity Bradley, handyman Jake

“You sure me showing up early won’t cause an issue?” He asks again, even though Bradley knows the answer. Natasha had already told him more than a dozen times but he also felt nervous about accidentally ruining this for her. After all he knew that his fame could overshadow this for her and Javy if the press caught wind of it. Paps could absolutely be the worst. And even more so at the worst of times. “BradBrad, if you ask me that again, I will nut punch you happily,” Nat sing songs with a shark-like grin as she raises her brow at him. Sighing, he gives her a sheepish smile as she shrugs. “Sorry, I know, I know. I’m just worried.” “You don’t need to,” she sighed, shoving him lightly in the shoulder before going back to half focusing on her laptop. “Besides, the venue is privately owned by Javy’s step-sisters and brother. And like hell any of them would let someone ruin Javy’s big day.” “Yeah?” Bradley asks, laughing slightly as turned fully to sit sideways in her arm chair. “Not your big day but his?” She hummed. “First time I met them, they all let me know they knew how to shoot a gun and where the prime spots on the property to bury a body were.” “You fell in love with them didn’t you?” She flashed him a bright smile before her gaze locked back on the screen, “I told Javy if he ever fucked us up, I’d definitely try and sleep with at least one of his sisters. Both to get back at him and because they're all scary hot. Which, as you know, I like my ladies like that.”

Make Nixie Write!

[nixie-deangel]

for @tothepayne who asked for 🍷💔👀:

🍷 Jake's family causes the hangster break up

Scoffing, Tally shoots Jake a look as she settles back onto the couch, getting comfortable. “Obviously, I’m out here because my big dumb brother needs me. AND needs to be surrounded by people who love ‘im and support his wants and needs.”

💔 icemav break up / icedad

“No,” Bradley mutters, shoving his bowl of oatmeal away from him. “It’s… it’s fine. Tha-thanks, uncle Ice.” “Of course,” Tom murmurs. “Anything for you, you know that son.”

👀 B&B, Celebrity Bradley, handyman Jake

Grinning, Javy nods. “Yeah. Grace and Dante handle everything, like events and bookings. While Kitty hands serving the food with Sandy. Ty and Jake usually handle the maintenance on everything. Plus take care of the horses we breed and sell as well. And whatever animals mom and mama decide they’ve wanna try their hand at breeding. Ty more deals with animals, using that vet fancy vet degree he worked his ass off for. While Jake is more focused on the maintenance of keeping everything up and running.”

Make Nixie Write!

[nixie-deangel]

🤠 + 👀 please!

🤠 music producer Bradley x rancher Jake

They had to be. It was the only explanation he could come up with that made sense. But fuck, Bradley thought as he shuffled awkwardly over towards him, what a way to go.

👀 B&B, Celebrity Bradley, handyman Jake

Chuckling, Javy gave a little shrug as they climbed into the cab of the truck. “Mostly by accident really. Went into the city with mama and Sandy for, fuck, something. I think it was shopping for our prom outfits and got scouted by someone by complete accident.”

Make Nixie Write!