#Charlotte would do well working for Sophia

[fazcinatingblog]

There's no way I'm letting her near the positivity juice card I bought today

[mariedemedicis]

inspired by @mihrsuri‘s awesome posts:

“While Charles regarded the Prince of Orange and Prince George of Denmark as suitable matches for his nieces, for his daughter and heir a mate was required who would willingly play second fiddle...” “Princess Elizabeth was given a choice among the younger sons of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg and his wife, Sophia of the Palatinate, a granddaughter of James IV and I. Elizabeth chose for her prince the handsomest of the brothers, Maximilian William, a third son three years her elder...” (Charles II and His Daughter Elizabeth II)

“The birth of Princess Elizabeth went a long way towards soothing anti-Catholic fears among the English population, with a Protestant heir standing between the Catholic Duke of York and the throne. The Queen’s position improved immensely..” “Although her fondness did not extend to her father’s mistresses, the new Queen was inordinately fond of her half-sisters and brothers. Don Carlos accompanied his niece the Princess Royal on the occasion of her marriage to Philippe, Duc de Anjou, later King of Spain...” “Elizabeth’s closest inner circle included her mother the Queen Mother, uncle the Duke of York, the younger of her surviving cousins the Lady Anne, and her half-sister Charlotte Lee, Countess of Lichfield...” (The Protestant Princess Who Saved England: Elizabeth Stuart and the Protestant Succession)

“Although the match had been set for years, as the time drew near for Max to leave for England, Sophia began to harbor misgivings. Her son was not content as a third son; he had been very pleased to have been chosen over his brothers but how long he would be contented to leave the reins of power in the hands of his wife?” "Max proclaimed himself very happy with his new bride. Elizabeth was not classically beautiful (she had too much of her father in her for that) but she was considered handsome. Max described her in letters to his mother and sister as 'tall and well-formed with dark curly hair and sensual lips'..." "The first clash came when Max, slighted over the Queen's choice of her brother for a honor he believed should have been his, lashed out by showing deliberate and obvious attention to one of his wife's ladies..." "Theirs was a tumultuous marriage but when the couple worked in concert, they could accomplish great things indeed... " "Did Max and Elizabeth feel love for one another? We'll never know for certain but what we do know is that whatever their arguments, they remained physically affectionate throughout their marriage..." (Jolly Prince Max: He Who Would Be King)

“Unlike her father and uncle, Elizabeth, who lacked close family ties to France, pursued a much less conciliatory policy towards France and one that aligned more closely with Parliament’s ...”  “Though the pair later married their eldest surviving daughter to a grandson of Louis XIV, they also married the rest of their offspring with the exception of Princess Charlotte into the other royal families of Europe...” (Politics in the Court of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Max)

[xtruss]

Britain’s First Black Queen? The Real Story of Queen Charlotte

Historians still debate whether she was really Britain’s First Black Queen. But a new Netflix spin-off of the popular 'Bridgerton' makes clear that interest in her life is stronger than ever.

— By Erin Blakemore | May 10, 2023

Scottish Painter Allan Ramsay's Portrait of Queen Charlotte in her Coronation Robes has inspired debate over whether she was Britain's First Black Queen—a question that persists today, centuries after she ruled over Great Britain and Ireland. Image Via Art Collection /Alamy Stock Photo

When 17-year-old Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz caught her first glimpse of the London palace that was to be her home in 1761, she turned pale. She was set to become Queen of Great Britain and Ireland within hours, but she had never set foot in England or met her husband-to-be.

What happened next is the stuff of royal history—and the subject of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. The new Netflix limited series fictionalizes the life of the timid German girl destined to rule England—and who is rumored to have been its first Black queen. But who was the real Queen Charlotte?

How Charlotte Became Queen of Great Britain

Just beneath this Oval Portrait of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, you'll see the Initials of the Royal Couple: G for George III and C for Charlotte. Despite the Queen's initial timidity, historians say that the Monarch by all accounts had a Happy Marriage. Image By Johann Esaias Nilson Via BTEU/RKMLGE/Almay Stock Photo

Born in 1744 in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a duchy in what is now Northern Germany, the princess had an unremarkable childhood in what other members of the European aristocracy considered to be a mediocre and provincial dukedom. But this would work in the young woman’s favor when a far-off prince became king.

In 1760, George III’s grandfather died, making him King of England—and making his unmarried status a matter of national alarm. George needed a wife, and he needed one fast, his advisers decided—and they mounted a desperate search for a Protestant princess to share his life and sire an heir.

Charlotte was unknown and thought to have no political connections or aims. This was seen as a plus by George’s political advisers, who wanted British interests to prevail after the king’s marriage. And so, though George had never met Charlotte, in 1761 an emissary proposed marriage on his behalf. Charlotte accepted, and the arranged marriage took place just six hours after the young princess arrived in England.

Though she spoke no English and had never met her husband before her wedding day, Charlotte was now Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Everyone wanted to greet the new king and queen: At their coronation, so many well-wishers crowded them that it took two hours to for their procession to make it from the street into Westminster Abbey. Soon, Charlotte had her first child, a daughter. She would go on to bear 15 children during her long marriage.

Were Queen Charlotte and King George in Love?

By all reports, the king and queen had an unusually happy marriage, and George III was a devoted father and husband. But court life was difficult for Charlotte, who clashed with her mother-in-law over the formal rules of the British aristocracy and found the expectation to bear plenty of heirs exhausting. By the time she had borne 14 of her 15 children, she wrote that “I don’t think a prisoner could wish more ardently for his liberty than I wish to be rid of my burden.”

Though Charlotte struggled with the boredom and confinement of court life, she found her own ways to deal with the crushing expectations of her new role. The year after her marriage, George bought her a large country estate owned by the Dukes of Buckingham. Buckingham House, now known as Buckingham Palace, was called the “Queen’s House,” and there she lived in comfortable domesticity, reading, doing needlework, and playing the harpsichord.

She shared a love of botany and plants with her husband, who became known as “Farmer George” due to his agricultural interests.

The 'Madness' of King George

But the couple’s happiness did not last. In 1765, George experienced a bout of mental illness so serious that his ministers proposed having Charlotte temporarily take the throne while the king was incapacitated.

Though the king soon recovered, he experienced relapse after relapse, and eventually it became clear his mental illness would not pass. The king experienced mania, depression, hallucinations, and convulsions, and historians report that he attacked and even sexually assaulted members of his family.

These bouts of illness devastated the queen. “The queen is almost overpowered with some secret terror,” wrote Francis Burney, one of Charlotte’s attendants, in 1788. “I am affected beyond all expression in her presence, to see what struggles she makes to support serenity.” Over time, the bouts turned into lengthy episodes, and the king was isolated and even incarcerated.

Social stigma and lack of understanding of mental illness meant it was nearly impossible to help the “mad” king or gain the kind of support now regarded as key for the caretakers and loved ones of people with mental illness.

Eventually, Charlotte’s son George (later George IV) took over the throne as regent. But her husband would remain ill for the rest of his life, and by 1789 the queen’s hair had “turned white under the stress of the King’s illness.” When Charlotte died in 1818, her husband was so ill he did not understand his wife was dead.

George III and Queen Charlotte Pose with their Children. The Queen gave birth to 15 children—a responsibility of her position that she found particularly exhausting. Image By Richard Earlom, Via National Museums in Berlin, Art Library/Anna Russ

Was Charlotte Teally Britain’s First Black Queen?

Today, Charlotte is remembered as a faithful wife and a tragic figure connected with the king’s mental illness. But some see her as noteworthy for another reason—they claim she was Great Britain’s First Black or Biracial Queen. For decades, historians have debated whether Charlotte’s Ancestral Ties to Portuguese Aristocracy Mean She had Brown Skin.

Those who believe she had Black ancestry point to portraits that show what they describe as “African” features and say other depictions of the time that show the queen as light-skinned would have been hiding her ancestry to conform with the era’s Eurocentric beauty ideals. But others say the queen’s ancestry was so distant it likely did not affect her looks, and argue that modern conceptions of race are what’s driving the belief that Charlotte was black.

Since it’s impossible to determine how Charlotte really looked in real life, the argument will likely never be settled. Nor will public interest in Charlotte’s life, as evidenced by the new Netflix limited-run series—which has gained fans, charmed reviewers, and drawn newfound attention to the tragic queen’s life. But as narrator Julie Andrews says in the show itself, “It is fiction inspired by fact.”

[chiakinanami82]

Ask my Sides #1: Hello Charlotte

Saige: Good morning, world!

Athena: It’s six o’clock. Why do you have to be so loud?

Saige: I’m just excited, that’s all.

Rebecca: Pray tell, what is this about?

Saige: Well, it’s mail time! I wonder what questions our anonymous friend has for us? *She opens the fleshy envelope dotted with blinking eyes.* Ah, here we are. The Puppeteer asks “Who is your favorite character from Hello Charlotte?” Sophia: *yawn* Who’s making this racket? Some of us are trying to sleep.

Athena: I always took you as a morning person.

Sophia: I am, just not today. Our host stayed up… again.

Saige: Sorry about that, guys. I’ll tone it down just for you.

Sophia: Thank god. Also, speaking of god, my favorite character is Charles/Vincent. He’s such a good example of the error of idolizing someone you’ve never met. Idolatry never ends well for anyone, as nobody is perfect, as seen with Vincent and his suicidal disposition. Also, his work often has the protagonist being alone in the world or meeting their exact copy, which gives us a look into his outlook on life.

Athena: Yeah, Vincent’s cool, I suppose. My personal favorite is Felix. He’s a tsundere scientist who cares for everyone in the House, and he’s usually the voice of reason. The clone thing is surprising, and he genuinely cares for people, especially Charlotte.

Rebecca: Felix has an adorable design, but my favorite’s always been Bennett. He’s such a bundle of energy and hyperness, and then you learn about his backstory, and you want to hug him so much. His design is also really cool.

Saige: Bennett’s awesome! Though, it takes until Part 2 to see him without his hazmat suit’s mask. Personally, my favorite’s Charlotte. She’s an adorable, sweet girl who deserves the world and doesn’t deserve to suffer.

Athena: I’m guessing you’re talking about the original Charlotte.

Saige: Yep.

Sachiko: Otherwise, it would’ve been 084 Charlotte, who’s a bloody murderer and my favorite character! Hahahaha!

Athena: I’m not surprised.

Vanessa: What’s this cacophony?

Saige: Oh, sorry, were you trying to sleep?

Vanessa: Not particularly. By the way, what are you discussing?

Rebecca: Hello Charlotte!

Vanessa: Oooooh, how fun. Well, my personal favorite is Henrietta/Anri. Sure, she seems like a bitch at first, but when you learn that she’s based on Charles’ best friend, you learn how he sees her versus her true feelings towards him. It’s a true tragedy indeed.

Rebecca: Yes, and I know that you just love tragedies!

Vanessa: I mean, you should enjoy tragic tales as well, considering your occupation and dreams.

*Rebecca growls. Athena steps between them.* Athena: Guys, chill. We’re here to have fun, not to fight. Rebecca: Fine.

Athena: Anyways, who’s left?

Ari: Luna and I. By the way, hey.

Sophia: Morning, dude.

Rebecca (under her breath): Tryhard.

Ari: My favorite character’s the Oracle. They’re a mysterious god-like being whose backstory and world-building is intriguing. Plus, I like how they change from Episode One, from a benign, gentle person to a manipulative, cynical character. Also, their design is peak.

Athena: Frei’s cool.

Luna: Indeed, darlings. My favorite’s V19, as she is the bustiest babe around. I mean, her bra size is supposedly an E. She’s not too interesting as a character herself, but sometimes you just need something to entice you.

Saige: Ew. I would rather have a visually unappealing character who’s deep and interesting rather than a blank slate body pillow.

Sophia: I think most sane, non-addicted people share your opinion, Saige, especially nowadays. I mean, just look at LoL characters. Usually, the community likes the more unique ones, like Jinx and Illaoi, and the more forgettable ones are those like Irelia and Karma.

Rebecca: I totally agree with that as a creator. We’ve seen way too many stereotypically pretty ladies in media, and I think it’s time for more variety.

Luna: Jesus, I was just giving my opinion, and y’all attacked me out of nowhere. Fine. If my opinion isn’t wanted, then so be it.

*Their conversation fades into the background.* Athena: I lost track of the convo. How the hell did we get from Hello Charlotte to League of Legends?

Ari: It’s entertaining though, right?

Athena: Eh, not really. I’m gonna go watch Gregory Horror Show for the tenth time.

*Ari now has a bucket of popcorn.*

Ari: Bye. I’ll be enjoying these guys for a while.

*The faded conversation comes back into focus.* Sophia: Saige technically started this whole thing.

Luna: Saige, darling, let’s talk about this…

Saige: How heckin’ dare you accuse me of this! It wasn’t my fault! Plus, you wanted my opinion, didn’t you?!

Rebecca: You are the one who made the comment in the first place.

Saige: You agreed with me though! Are you turning against me…

Vanessa: And you said that I’m the snake in this group.

Rebecca: Shut up, Vanessa.

Vanessa: Did I… strike a nerve?

Saige: I’m sick of this. That’s it! I’m leaving!

Ari: Awww, that’s it? I was hoping for a fistfight or something…

Luna: I… I don’t know what to do, Sophia…

Sophia: Emotions are complicated, but I’m sure you’ll figure something out. After all, you and Saige are related.

Luna: Thanks, sweetheart. How about we have some fun?

Sophia: Sorry, but I’ve got to go organize my bookshelves for the tenth time.

Luna: Oh. Well, that’s all right, darling. You go do that now.

*The others leave in silence.*

[katherinecrighton]

a long, long kiss

– a kiss of youth and love. (Oh, Byron, you are so dreamy.)

(originally posted in 2010 on annakatherine.com, and reposted in 2013 on the Anna Katherine co-tumblr)

I often think that the kiss, rather than the sex scene, is the primary romantic force of the romance novel. For me, a sex scene is emotional, sure, but for the most part shows up as titillation for the reader. The kiss, though, is where the love comes from. A kiss can tell you a lot about how two characters feel for one another, how they approach this strange new thing between them.

And there’s nothing quite like kissing someone for the first time — the leading up to it, the uncertainty, the raw delight and aching tension in the “what if” and the “when.” If a book just brushes past the first kiss to get to something ostensibly more sexy… well, it just makes my little heart break a bit. That there is a missed opportunity to make your readers really feel the investment your characters are putting into this thing.

Here are some examples of my favorite kinds of kisses:

I’m a sucker for the slow approach. I mean really slow. Sam and Jill’s kiss in Gilliam’s Brazil? Fantastic. And my shame when it comes to loving the kiss-before-the-reveal in the 1995 Sabrina? Epic. If it takes two people five minutes just to close the distance, I am weeping with joy by the end of it. This works better on-screen than in text, I think.

The unexpected kiss. Yes, this is somewhat in contrast with the above. I first discovered my love of this many years ago in Rosemary Edghill’s Turkish Delight, when the female lead is ranting about something (perhaps English weather?) on the back of a horse, and immediately following the end of an impassioned speech from her, the next line reads, “He kissed her.” This works absolutely best in text, though on-screen is no slouch.

The kiss everyone is pretending means something else. My absolute favorite example of that right now is from Sophia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, when Bob and Charlotte (both married) are on the elevator in their hotel, returning to their separate rooms, and they’re both pretending that wanting to touch, wanting to be together, isn’t why they’re kissing goodnight — even though they both know it is. (4:10 in this fanvid shows a little bit of what I mean.) It’s awkward, it’s a little bit wrong, and it’s fooling no one, but you can feel every second of it on your skin.

Kissing as seduction. This would seem pretty straightforward, but think about it — usually you get stuff like “witty conversation”, “deep spiritual connection”, “shared history”, or, you know, “mutual feelings” as the way to get characters to fall in love. And those are all great, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes, I just want there to be kissing. Kissing for bad reasons, like bets, and kissing for no reason, like an empty terrace and boredom. Kissing because someone’s there, and the character just really wants to kiss someone. Basically, I want all the characters to be wearing the shirt described here when the book starts. And then… it becomes something more. Maybe it’s a really good kiss. Maybe it’s all a lot less boring than everyone thought it was going to be. Maybe it was an awful kiss, and everyone backs away and says, “Whoa, what? What happened there?” — and has to think about what they’re doing. Mary Jo Putney’s Thunder and Roses has kissing thrown in to shake up a bet; the heroine just wants to get through it without embarrassing herself, and the hero just wants to see what happens if he messes with her. That entire book (and a lot of Putney’s works, come to think of it) basically becomes an ode to “kissing is awesome”.

Finally, the memory of kissing. It’s not a kiss that happens onscreen — it’s the kiss that happened years ago that no one can forget. The kiss that’s been built up and worried over and made huge (sometimes even when it shouldn’t be) — the kiss that dulls every kiss after it, because nothing can compare. With movies and television, I like little sudden flash-cuts of hotness in the middle of mundane activity. With fiction, though, I like a good solid wallow. I want every detail, and then I want to know exactly what made this kiss the one that’s stuck. Everything builds from that. Yum.

So: Kisses! Those are my favorites — what are yours?

[janeeyreheresy]

Rochester's Origin Story

Sophia Petrillo would deal with this worthless assclown, the old Sicilian way.

Picture it, Yorkshire, England, fifteen years prior to the events of the main plot. Mr Rochester, the owner of Thornfield Hall, is in a pickle: he has two sons; Rowland, the older one and Edward, the younger one. His greed abhors the notion of dividing the estate between them; yet he loathes the idea of the younger son being a poor man. And so, a solution comes to him one moonless, sleepless night--he will find a rich bride for Edward.

Okay, I made that part about the solution and the moonless sleepless night up, but come on. It's not completely out-of-the-world that a good marriage would be sought for a younger son, i.e. not the heir. To be sure, the Rochester estate was not entailed, unlike, for example, the Ingram estate, where Blanche's brother Theodore inherited everything--he's a lord, too. Still, the fact remains that he was the younger son. I read somewhere, I think it may have been someone's blog (not Tumblr), that the reason Richard calls Edward "Fairfax" is because he was the second son. When Richard met him, his older brother still lived, so yeah, it makes sense. The Rochester name would then be inherited with the estate. Mrs Fairfax tells Jane at the beginning that "the land has belonged to the family time out of mind". So they must have kept the property together, or they wouldn't have lasted. Or else they killed their younger sons... OH MY GODS!

It's amazing how doing a recap makes one's muses dance. I even had to change the meme. I was getting tired of the same old one.

Where was I, so yeah, a bride with some money would not be an unreasonable path for the second son. Why there is no word about Edward getting a job, I can only speculate. Whether it was not on Papa Rochester's mind, or not on Edward's mind, or whether Edward picks and chooses which facts to reveal to Jane while telling the story--because Jane, who does honest work for a living, would not be happy to hear the rest--is anyone's guess. 

I will say that I believe that Papa Rochester was a stingy bastard. For one, this fact can be corroborated by others and two, it explains so much about Edward. 

Papa Rochester had an old acquaintance, Mr Mason, a planter and merchant in the West Indies. He had a vast fortune and two children, a daughter and a son. It was to this daughter young Edward was promised. She came with thirty thousand pounds. And so Edward sailed to Jamaica, courted the lady, who was very beautiful ("in the style of Blanche Ingram" as he says, by which he just means tall and dark-haired--features that caused Charlotte to have an inferiority complex, perhaps?) and they got married and settled in Jamaica, in Spanish Town.

Anyone wonders if Papa Roch could not find him a match closer to home? No? Just me? Wonder with me, readers. Was there no suitable bride with money anywhere in England? Or Wales or Scotland or Ireland? Or heck, even Europe? Why Jamaica? Of all places. Why the other side of a fucking ocean? Did Papa Roch hate his younger son so much, he wanted him as far away from him as possible? Or could he not find a woman for him on the British Isles because no family wished to wed their daughter to Edward? Was the house of Rochester an unpopular one? 

Anyhow, Edward did become the heir to the Rochester estate after all. Rowland died childless, Papa Roch kicked the bucket as well, and, four years after his wedding to Bertha, Edward found himself the owner of a vast estate--with a very inconvenient wife. Now Edward is the one in the pickle. He's expected to return to England, to take over the running of Thornfield Hall, but what is he going to do about that Creole of a wife? 

And so, a solution comes to him on a moonlit tropical Caribbean night--he will take her to Thornfield and lock her in the attic. 

That's not his story, obviously. The account he gives to Jane is that of a suffering, tortured Byronic hero, chained to a wife who is mad. You know how it goes. Only after the honeymoon was over did he realise the truth. He found out Bertha's mother was a lunatic, shut up in an asylum. He found out there was a younger brother who was a complete dumb idiot. He found out Rowland and Papa Roch knew about all this, but concealed the fact from him, for they only thought about the thirty thousand pounds. The whole world conspired against Edward, the whole world deceived him. 

[gwidien]

One day, over a piping hot teacup and his newspaper spread open, Trelawny looked Mary-Beth square in the eye. The Braithwaites are in Valentine, she'd said, sitting across from him at the café.

Now, as fate would have it, so are they.

Mister and Misses Kimble out on a quiet getaway. He has the story worked out in his head, and he holds her hand because that's the ruse. They'll say they're married and renting a place—it would be scandalous living together otherwise—and they'll pretend to be the Braithwaite's neighbors, only for a spell. They'll both spin a yarn. They'll welcome them to town. Then, fitfully and dramatically, before anyone realizes, he'll make a distraction, blue in the face.

"Here we are," he says, raring to go. "Easy as can be."

The stagecoach has finally arrived. Trelawny, closer than he's ever been, lays a hand along the dip of her back, Mary-Beth looking up. The clock has started.

Warm and soft, a moment and chaste; they kiss, brief.

Something in his belly stirs, and they pull away.

"Misses Kimble," he draws out, playful, dangerously rakish. There's a smile in his eyes. "How are you this evening?"

His hand is still on her back until it isn't. The stirring stays, and they start their way down the yard.

One by one, the Baithwaites climb out of the stagecoach. A man grouses as he helps his wife down, another ambling around on the other side with his hands full of boxes and ribbons, and a woman dressed in what could only be goose feathers stands near the porch. Her neck stretches as she catches them approaching. The rest follow suit.

"Hel-lo, ladies." Trelawny's voice sails, absolutely cloying. He dips his head. "Sirs."

They introduce and welcome each other, then, Byron, Charlotte, Francis, and Sophia, all of them back from shopping. Trelawny pats her hand on his arm and, ever-high, "My wife and I are on our honeymoon," he croons.

"Congratulations. That's real sweet. Real sweet." One of the men, Francis, pulls the word 'real' long. He has missing teeth. "Why'd you go with Valentine?"

"Oh, well-" Trelawny turns to her, hopelessly besotted. His eyebrows pinch together like he's pleading. Like she's heard this one a hundred times before. "My dear, would you" —he pauses, honey sweet— "would you... be my Valentine?"

The Braithwaites laugh just as he hoped they would, the ladies smiling. "Touché."

"We're from the city, you know," he jumps back in, vibrant and wily. "Wanted to see the wild, get in touuch with ourselves," he rumbles, all bravado. "Live like the locals do."

They must think he's hilarious, because they laugh again, nodding in agreement about the wilds and the not-quite-civilized locals, the country bumpkins. Later, they ask about where they're from and the wedding and how they met.

@gwidien sent ‘a kiss pretending to be in a relationship together.’

there they were, back at it again — this time in valentine. the town that felt only a stones throw from their camp wasn’t much to shout about, certainly not in the same league as saint denis or even strawberry. . . but it was slim pickings when you’d emptied all of the pockets that were worth emptying in all other towns. josiah and mary beth made quite the pair when it came to deception and robbery, both of them luckily enough to be graced with a look and air about them that didn’t suggest even the slightest bit of trickery, but of course that was far from the truth. she was used to being the distraction on these kinds of cons, playing up to the southern belle stereotype that she had been branded with. . . but when she and trelawny stepped out together, they were on entirely equal footing.

that particular evening in valentine was drawing to a close, the conclusion of their con just around the corner. it had been mary beth’s idea to wait for that particular stage coach to pass through the town — the coach that held a braithwaite with more money than sense. the actual plan on how they would carry out such a treacherous task? trelawny hadn’t divulged into that just yet. . . only that the two of them acting as a married couple would be at the crux of the successful deception.

it was difficult for mary beth not to romanticise such an endeavour, almost impossible to not trick herself into believing that this was the truth as their hands laced together effortlessly. just as they had predicted the stagecoach pulled into the neighbouring guest house, the preverbal curtain for their performance finally lifting. as the pair stood underneath the awning of the guest house in a close embrace, the exchange that she had been working herself up about for what felt like weeks was materialising right in front of her. with her lips up against his in an instant when she received the queue of his hand resting against her back, mary beth dizzied slightly as they moved together in unison. this was the start of act one, and she couldn’t let her romantic sensibilities get in the way of such a score. . . but she couldn’t help but think that it was already too late.

[i-am-trying-my-best-okay]

Literally all of The Shadowhunter Chronicle romances are completely unhinged it’s not even funny (I lied, it’s very funny). Here’s just some examples:

William “Will” Herondale/James “Jem” Carstairs + Theresa “Tessa” Gray: It totally would have been a vee type polyamorous situation if it wasn’t for all the death and 1800s London society going on.

Henry Branwell + Charlotte Fairchild: How dare this misogynistic society put us together, I mean, we wanted to get together anyway, but not for those reasons. Welp, time to be as unconventional as possible.

Gabriel Lightwood + Cecily Herondale: Look, you made fun of my sister, it’s only fair that I marry your sister; that’s the rules.

Gideon Lightwood + Sophia “Sophie” Collins: Dad, I have a perfectly valid reason to betray you and go to the other side. What your doing is wrong and – nO tHiS haS nOThiNG to do wiTh tHeIR mAid wHy wOUlD yoU eVEn sAy tHat?

Jesse Blackthorn + Lucie Herondale: Your request to not be brought back to life has been denied, deal with it.

James “Jamie” Herondale + Cordelia Carstairs: He didn’t commit arson we were just having sex – why are you all looking at me like that’s worse?

Anna Lightwood + Ariadne Bridgestock: Listen, there’s a lot of society going on right now, so we’re going to have to get together in secret. Oh, you don’t want to? Okay, never mind, fuck society, let me win you back real quick.

Christopher Lightwood + Grace Cartwright: Oh good, you broke into my house, now we can talk about science.

Thomas Lightwood + Alastair Carstairs: I’d really like to hate you, but I think the biggest problem with that is that I love you. Once I get over that hurdle, I think we’ll be in the clear.

Lucian “Luke” Graymark + Jocelyn Fairchild: Good job on us for breaking away from the genocidal cult run by our best friend/husband; we should hook up, you know, as a reward.

Jonathan “Jace” Herondale + Clarissa “Clary” Fairchild: Ayo the same guy conducted experiments on our blood, that’s crazy; btw so glad we’re not actually siblings.

Alexander “Alec” Lightwood + Magnus Bane: Marrying each other is against the law? Okay, fine, I’m a law biding citizen. Oh oops, I made it legal. I am the law now, and I want a wedding on the beach.

Simon Lovelace + Isabelle Lightwood: It makes sense to have our engagement party on the day of my brother’s death, that’s when we really started bonding.

Helen “Alessa” Blackthorn + Aline Penhallow: Well, I guess we’re going to go in exile together. Yes, I said together; your exile is my exile, what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine, that’s how relationships work.

Julian Blackthorn + Emma Carstairs: Yes, it’s a technical war crime to love each other, but the law itself is not really our main concern about it.

Kieran Hunter + Mark “Miach” Blackthorn + Cristina Rosales: We’re really living that cottage core aesthetic, and all we had to do to get here was do a small war and some amnesia. Worth it.

Gwyn ap Nudd + Diana Wrayburn: I’m going to stand by just in case something happens, but it probably won’t, she knows what she’s doing – WHY IS SHE JUMPING OUT THE TENTH STORY WINDOW OH MY GOD WAIT

Tiberius “Ty” Blackthorn + Christopher “Kit” Herondale: We take cosplaying Sherlock and Watson VERY seriously, so of course we needed to go to all the most illegal places, it’s only natural.

Ash Morgenstern + Drusilla “Dru” Blackthorn: So anyway I saw them in a sort of fever dream like state this one time and they’ve still been on my mind for years.

[soyl4ndo]

Abu Dhabi (I) | Lando Norris

Part of the Sweet Dreams series

previous chapter: Innocent word count: 3.3k words warnings: slow burn, fluff, angst english is not my first language

LOS ANGELES, AMERICA - NOVEMBER 12TH 2020  You had the perfect birthday present in your head for Lando, you even went to get professional advice to make sure you got the best of the best. Since you were too late with ordering, the present wouldn’t arrive on time in Woking, neither would Lando be able to open it anytime soon. So you went and asked for help from the one person you knew was able to deliver the replacing present to Lando. You had called Charlotte Sefton a few days prior to inform her, she was happy to help and told you to send her the present. With all the contact over a simple present, you two had gotten closer. This morning she had sent you a video of her placing the present in front of Lando’s door, just to sent you proof. When you received that video you decided to call Lando, to see if he was awake.

INTERCITY ISTANBUL PARK, TURKEY - NOVEMBER 13TH 2020 Lando was making himself ready for today, but his phone kept ringing. When the idea of you calling him ran through his mind, he made a sprint across the room. “Happy birthday to you!” You congratulated Lando as soon as he had picked up. “You’re not going to sing?..” He teased you, as he knew you had a beautiful sining voice. You shake your head, it was late at night and you didn’t want to wake anyone you used as an excuse. “..I got your present by the way..” He picked up the cap from his night stand and put it over his damp curls. You had found a dark green, with grayish hints, New York Yankees cap a few days ago. Lando had showed you different caps from this exact line, always saying something was holding him up. It looked so good on him, and the way he beamed made you melt. “It’s nothing” You tell him once he thanks you for the present. Out of nowhere Lando turns all sentimental, “You always know how to cheer me up, or just listen to all my nonsens. You’re my comfort person and I like talking to you.” You’re a bit thrown off, when you notice the smirk on his face. “Is this another attempt on convincing me to come to the last race?” “Is it working?” Lando had tried to ask you multiple times to come to at least one race this year. You always had an excuse as to why you wouldn’t be able to come, yet every time you turned him down you felt stupid.

LOS ANGELES, AMERICA  You couldn’t sleep as the idea of attending the last race kept spooking around in your mind. You decide to go downstairs and to your luck Harper was sitting in the kitchen. “Can you keep the week of the Abu Dhabi race free in my schedule?” You decide it was time for some spontaneousness in your life. “Do you need me to put a reminder there? As you will be in England for a week afterward.” You hadn’t notice Sophia walking into the kitchen, “Are you coming to Abu Dhabi?” Lando wasn’t the only one who kept asking you to come to the race, Sophia really wanted you to be there as well. “That is the plan,” Now that the week was blocked for you Abu Dhabi trip, it was time to plan the surprise.

You are pacing up and down your room, never were you this nerves while dialing Carlos’ number. “Hola Y/N..” Carlos sounded delighted to hear your voice “..Why the sudden call?” “I actually have a question, but I need to be sure you’re alone, seriously nobody needs to be around.” You hear him shut a few doors before he tells you to explain. “I don’t know if you know, but Lando has been trying to get me to visit a race all season long..” You hear Carlos chuckle, clarifying that he knowns Lando has been trying, “..and every time I have said no, but I want to change that this time.” “Why are you calling me then? Hasn’t he asked you this time?” Carlos interrupts you. “Well, that is the thing. I want to surprise him..” You hear Carlos humming along to the idea, “..So could you help me with that?” “Absolutely, I do need to ask for Charlotte’s help though.” You concur in, as Carlos cheers your idea on. He explains how Charlotte’s help would be useful, as she knows when and where Lando would be on the day of your arrival. “Alright, I will keep you updated on plane tickets and everything. Isa is also coming so I can easily come up with a few excuses to bring you along.” Carlos summoned as you have talked everything through. “You’re the best Carlos. If there is ever anything I can do for you.” “Just make the best of this trip.”

YAS MARINA, ABU DHABI - DECEMBER 10TH 2020  When you wake up you’re embraced by the warm sunlight shining through the windows. You had arrived late at night, and couldn’t wait to wake up in the comfy bed you were laying in right now. It had been hard to keep today a secret from Lando, but you succeeded although he kept trying to convince you to just come. When you arrived last night, Carlos was already waiting for you in the lobby. You two had spend a few minutes on your plane today. Carlos would come pick you up within two hours, so you had to get ready even though the bed was so comfortable.

All the waiting was even that bad, no the worst part was Lando texting you as he had seen George walk in with Sophia. As you heard Carlos arrive in the parking lot, you made a little sprint to the car. All your nerves soon turned into excitement as you get into the car. You arrive at the track and Carlos makes a quick call to Charlotte, just to be sure you wouldn’t bump in to Lando the first thing as you stepped out of the car. As the coast was cleared you made your way to the entrance, you scanned the pass and the sound it made was music to your ears. Charlotte had informed you Lando would be in the garage with his engineers so after Carlos showed you a bit around you walked over there. Charlotte was waiting in front, just in case Lando would wander off. As you walk in you hide a little behind Charlotte, in case Lando was walking around and would immediately notice, but he was way too busy. He didn’t even noticed anybody walking past him, so you decide to stand behind him, there where there was enough space left for others to walk past. Jon on the other hand, who was stood next to Lando, had notice you in the corner of his eye. He turns his head and sees you standing there, he tries to keep his facial expressions as neutral as possible, not wanting to ruin the moment.

“So what do you think about the car?” Jon the asks, returning his gaze to Lando. Lando was about to start a sentence when you cut him to it. “I think the car looks pretty awesome for the weekend.” Lando recognized that voice out of thousands, he turns around and he was right. There you were standing with your arms crossed, waiting for Lando’s reaction as he rushes to pull you into a hug. “What are you doing here?” “I don’t know, was bored and thought why not check out this car in real life.” Lando chuckles, he wants to respond to you when he gets called by Charlotte. “Catch up with her, but be ready when I need you to be.” Lando nods and drags you out of the garage. You two walk around the paddock and decide to get some lunch at the hospitality. “In all seriousness, why are you really here?” Lando asks as you’re both seated. He has no idea what to expect as an answer but he was secretly waiting for you to say you were here for him. “Apart from wanting to see that car in real life, I also wanted to see my friends again.” “How did you arrange to even get in?” “Carlos and Charlotte  have helped me with everything.” You catch up some more with each other when you see Max Verstappen walk past. You wave at him and he waves back, he turns around and runs up the little stairs to the patio as he realizes it is you. “What are you doing here?” You stand up from your seat and give him a hug. You were used to the fact that throughout the season you would barely see each other, sometimes you didn’t even speak for days. “I’m taking a little vacation and thought why not visit my friends.” “and it didn’t come to your mind to inform me about this?..” Max acts like you have offended him, “..We catch up later.” He nudges your shoulder and leaves as his PR manager calls for him.

Not much later Sophia walks past with George. “Lando are you attending game night tonight at our room?” She asks once she caught both of your attention. Lando looks at you, while you exchange a mad look with Sophia, despite that Lando agrees to come anyways. Just as fast as the two appeared, they disappeared. “Everything alright between you two?” You insensible stab the innocent bread crumbs on your plate. “More than alright.” You sound angry, which you were. “Wow, what is going on?” He grabs your arm to stop you from stabbing the bread crumbs. “I have a deadline and she knows that.” “You can still work on it right?..” You let out a sigh, you hated it when people changed your plans. You had prepared to work on it later tonight so that you could enjoy your time at the track. “..Come one Y/N, tonight will be fun. Why else would you fly across the world to see your friends?..” Lando was on Sophia’s side and you hate to admit it, but he was right. You didn’t fly across the world to be pitty and ruin a fun night. “..I have to get back though.” Lando stands up and leaves you alone. You decided to sit down inside the hospitality. As you take a look at your phone yo see that the rumors about you and Lando had resumed. There was a picture of you two eating lunch, so fans went out of their way and brought back rumors about you two dating, and the picture of Lando walking into the paddock this morning wearing your perch wasn’t help in any way. You were so caught up in the comments, that you didn’t notice someone sat down in front of you. “Long time no seen, or are we counting FaceTime calls?” You chuckle as you noticed Jon was the one in front of you. You talk a bit with Jon when you see Zak pointing at you to come to his little office in the hospitality. You excuse yourself from your conversation with Jon and walk over to Zak. “I see you’ve already settled into the team.” Zak fools as he closes the door. You knew exactly why Zak called you to his office and that was you were about to sign your contract with McLaren.

You shake hands with Zak as he congratulates you on your position within the team. You walk out of the office with a big smile on your face, and the first thing you want to do is call your mother. You were strolling around the paddock, while you were on the phone with your mother. You told her about your job and that it means you will be traveling a lot more. As you were talking to you mother, you bump into a tall male. He has blond hair and beautiful eyes. You thought he has walked away, but as you end your call you feel a hand on your shoulder. You turn around and meet the same beautiful eyes. “Were you just talking German?” He asked, there wasn’t really an accent. You recognized him, but you weren’t gong to show him that. “No? I’m Dutch actually?” You were a bit confused as to why he was questioning you. “I’m so sorry, I just thought I understood what you were discussion on the phone just now. Was perplexed thinking another German was in the paddock.” You chuckle along with him. “It’s fine.” “I’m Mick, by the way, driving for Haas this weekend.” He introduced himself, pointing at his team wear, which clearly stated he was with Haas. “I’m Y/N, friends with half the grid.” You want to shake Mick’s hand as he had reached out, but then you both remember you’re not allowed due to the circumstance of the pandemic. You spot Max walking behind Mick. “It was nice to meet you Mick, but I have to go.” “Likewise, see you around.’ Mick smiles and you walk off to Max.

“In the mood to catch up?” You say as you walk next to Max. “With you always/“ He wraps an arm around you, and you two walk up and down the paddock as there is not really a place any of you need to be. As you were catching up on the well being of your relatives Max takes his opportunity to ask the question that have been on a lot of people’s mind lately. “Y/N? What is going on between you and Lando?” “Nothing? We’re just friends” and although you were telling the truth, it felt like a lie because you weren’t just friends. You are friends that get caught staring at each other from across the room, friends who brush their hands just to get a slight touch, subtle touches which perhaps aren’t that subtle after all. “You have got to be kidding me..” You furrow your brows, Max chuckles at the words leaving your mouth. “..after all those hours of talking there is nothing between you two..” You shake your head. Max knew you better than today and although you hadn’t told him a word, he could tell you have feelings for Lando. “..not even a date?” You start to think to yourself. There was never a real date, at least neither of you called it a date. “Max there is nothing and could you please keep your voice down? I don’t need any more  unnecessary rumors.” “Y/N, you’re driving yourself crazy. Just go on a date with him already.” Max was right, you had been driving yourself crazy, overthinking every little thing.

After a long day in the paddock, you finally make your way back to the hotel. You decided to ride back with Sophia and George as Lando and Carlos had some more filming to do. You had all come to the decision to go out for dinner together, so you were getting ready. As you put your hair up, the deadline keeps popping up in your head, but what Lando said also kept repeating in your mind. It wasn’t like you were going to fail if you didn’t turn it in, but you just wanted to get it done and over with. For most of the night you were in your own headspace. You really did try to enjoy your time, but that stupid deadline kept bothering you. You were with a big group, so your absence wasn’t really noticeable. Pierre, Charles, Charlotte, Lily, and Alex were discussing the taste of their meals. Max, Daniel, and Carlos were talking about their drinks, and Sophia, George, and Isa were talking about the different jobs they had been working on. Lando, who was sitting across from you, noticed your absence. He kept trying to make eye-contact with you, smile softly every so often but even those didn’t caught your attention. As you all finish dinner you wanted to get back to your room and crawl into bed as soon as possible, just to have a mental breakdown and not bother anyone with your presence.

By the time you all get to the hotel, you’re done pretending. You grab your laptop and rush to the bathroom. You don’t care that everybody else was outside, the loud music luckily covered up your cry for help on this deadline.  You had locked yourself up and sat down in the bathtub. You received texts every now and then, with the purpose to persuade you outside. You could hear waves of laughter as the music switched, there was one laugh you hadn’t heard all night and that was Lando’s. It was as if he had taken over your mood, Carlos noticed especially as Lando kept looking at the bathroom door through the window. Sophia was done with your behavior, although she understood the importance of your deadline. Sophia walks inside and knocks multiple times on the door, you open up as you think she needed to go to the toilet. “Y/N, leave the deadline for what it is and come outside.” You shrug your shoulders and tell her there are no places left for you. Daniel walks by and informs you that there is indeed place for you as he is about to leave. You sit down on your bed as people started to take breaks and each needed to go to the toilet. You’re still working on your deadline when Lando comes back from the bathroom. “Y/N?..” You look up from your laptop “..If you want you could work in my room. It is probably quieter three, and when you’re done you could join us outside.” He shrugs as he wanted to help you, but felt so helpless. “I’m fine right here. Thank you though.” When Lando gets back outside, he sees that everybody had moved in a way, so now there was only an empty seat next to him.

Not much later, after Lando’s visit, you can submit your essay. Carlos and Sophia kept lurking and signing at you to come outside. So eventually you come outside and sit on the only empty seat next to Lando. You wouldn’t be friends with competitive people as all of you were fighting over a simple win in a round of cards. It was clear to your friends that the friendship between you and Lando was more than you both claimed, because since you came outside there was no way either of your smiles could be wiped off your faces. You knew Lando was just as competitive as you, so when it was between the two of you to win this round of cards, you did everything to make his loss even more painful. Everyone around you enjoyed the banter between you two, but as midnight was getting closer everyone decided it was time to go to bed. Unfortunately, the fun of last night was for a short period of time as overnight you developed an irritating pain in your ear and started to feel ill.

Next Chapter

[cielrouge]

YA SFF Books by Black Authors 

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow: About the strength of black sisterhood set in Portland, OR, best friends Tavi and Effie discover their true supernatural identity when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical siren voice during a police stop.

A Chorus Rises (A Song Below Water #2) by Bethany C. Morrow: Teen influencer Naema Bradshaw is an Eloko, a person who’s gifted with a song that woos anyone who hears it. Everyone loves her — well, until she's cast as the awful person who exposed Tavia’s secret siren powers. When a new, flourishing segment of Naema’s online supporters start targeting black girls, however, Naema must discover the true purpose of her magical voice.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown: Inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess, Karina, and a desperate refugee, Malik, find themselves on a collision course to murder each other, despite their growing attraction.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor: Sunny Nwazue, an American-born albino child of Nigerian parents, moves with her family back to Nigeria, where she learns that she has latent magical powers which she and three similarly gifted friends use to catch a serial killer.

Akata Warrior (Akata Witch #2) by Nnedi Okorafor: Now stronger, feistier, and a bit older, Sunny Nwazue, along with her friends from the the Leopard Society, travel through worlds, both visible and invisible, to the mysterious town of Osisi, where they fight in a climactic battle to save humanity.

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis: For fans of Us and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comes a witchy story full of black girl magic as one girl’s dark ability to summon the dead offers her a chance at a new life, while revealing to her an even darker future.

Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi: After he eats the sin of a royal, Taj, a talented aki, or sin-eater who consumes the guilt of others whose transgressions are exorcised from them by powerful but corrupt Mages, is drawn into a plot to destroy the city, and he must fight to save the princess he loves and his own life.

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray: Two Black teenagers, talented Beastkeeper Koffi and warrior-in-training Ekon, must trek into a magical jungle to take down an ancient creature menacing the city of Lkossa, before they become the hunted.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton: In the opulent world of Orléans, where Beauty is a commodity only a few control, Belle Camellia Beauregard will learn the dark secrets behind her powers, and rise up to change the world. 

A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney: A whimsical and butt-kicking Alice in Wonderland retelling featuring a black teen heroine who battles Nightmares in the dark and terrifying dream realm known as Wonderland. 

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves: 16-year-old Hanna reunites with her estranged mother in an East Texas town that is haunted with doors to dimensions of the dead and protected by demon hunters called Mortmaine.

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury: Set in near-future Toronto in which, after failing to come into her powers, 16-year-old Black witch Voya Thomas must choose between losing her family’s magic forever or murdering her first love.

The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley: Set in Victorian England, African tightrope walker Iris cannot die; but soon gets drafted in the fight-to-the-death tournament of freaks where she learns the terrible truth of who and what she really is.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: A gripping, evocative novel about Black teen Alex Rufus, who has the power to see into the future, and whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi: 17-year-old Zélie and companions journey to a mythic island seeking a chance to bring back magic to the land of Orïsha, in a fantasy world infused with the textures of West Africa.

Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha #2) by Tomi Adeyemi: After battling the impossible, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But with civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron: 16-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia flees, hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all.

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris: A gripping, evocative novel about Black teen Alex Rufus, who has the power to see into the future, and whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.

Crown of Thunder (Beasts Made of Night #2) by Tochi Onyebuchi: Taj has escaped Kos, but Queen Karima will go to any means necessary--including using the most deadly magic--to track him down. 

A Crown So Cursed (Nightmare Verse #3) by L.L. McKinney: Alice is ready to jump into battle when she learns that someone is building an army of Nightmares to attack the mortal world, before she learns of a personal connection to Wonderland.

Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron: In Jim Crow South, black teen Evalene Deschamps finds her place among a family of women gifted with magical abilities, known as jubilation - a gift passed down from generations of black women since the time of slavery.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland: The Civil War is over, but mostly because the dead rose at Gettysburg—and then started rising everywhere else. Fighting the undead is a breeze for Jane McKenne, an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. But the fight for freedom? That’s a different story.

Deathless Divide (Dread Nation #2) by Justina Ireland: After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler. But nothing is easy when you’re a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to Nicodermus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880’s America.

A Dream So Dark (Nightmare Verse #2) by L.L. McKinney: Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she graduates) Alice must cross the Veil to rescue her friends and stop the Black Knight once and for all in Wonderland.

Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds: Jamal’s best friend Q is brought back to life after a freak accident … but they only have a short time together before he will die again.  How can Jamal fix his friendship without the truth?

Fate of Flames by Sarah Raughley:  Before they can save the world from the monstrous phantoms, four girls who have the power to control the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water must first try to figure out how to work together. 

For All Time by Shanna Miles: Tamar and Fayard, two Black teens, are fated to repeat their love story across hundreds of lifetimes, from 14th-century Mali to the distant future, as they struggle to break the cycle.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna: Inspired by the culture of West Africa, a feminist fantasy debut traces the experiences of 16-year-old Deka, who is invited to leave her discriminatory village to join the emperor’s army of near-immortal women warriors.

The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis: The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls--they know their luck is anything but. Sold to a "welcome house" as children and branded with cursed markings. When Clementine accidentally kills a man, the girls risk a dangerous escape to find freedom, justice, and revenge.

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron: Set in a West African-inspired fantasy kingdom, Arrah comes from a long line of powerful witchdoctors, yet fails at magic. When Arrah trade years off her life for magic to stop the Demon King from destroying the world—that is if it doesn’t kill her first.

Legacy of Light (The Effgies #3) by Sarah Raughley: After Saul’s strike on Oslo—one seemingly led by Maia herself—the Effigies’ reputation is in shambles. Belle has gone rogue, Chae Rin and Lake have disappeared, and the Sect is being dismantled and replaced by a terrifying new world order helmed by Blackwell. If the Effigies can’t put the pieces together soon, there may not be much left of the world they’ve fought so desperately to save.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: In this King Arthur retelling, Black teen Bree Matthews infiltrates a secret society of powerful magic wielders to find out the truth behind her mother’s untimely death.

Mem by Bethany C. Morrow: In alternate reality Montreal (1925), a young woman’s personality is the result of a startling experimental procedure, leaving her to struggle with the question of who she really is.

Miles Morales, Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds: But Miles Morales accidentally discovers a villainous teacher's plan to turn good kids bad, he will need to come to terms with his own destiny as the new Spider-man. 

Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard: Half-mortal teenager Helen Thomas goes to live with her father—who is Zeus, masquerading as a university professor—and must do her best to keep the family secret intact.

The Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds: After falling for Kate, her unexpected death sends Jack back in time to the moment they first met, but he soon learns that his actions have consequences when someone else close to him dies.

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith: Set in a futuristic, hostile Orleans landscape, Fen de la Guerre must deliver her tribe leader's baby over the Wall into the Outer States before her blood becomes tainted with Delta Fever. 

Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney & Robyn Smith: When Nubia’s best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all—her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class—to become the hero society tells her she isn’t.

A Phoenix First Must Burn: 16 Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope edited by Patrice Caldwell: Filled with stories of love and betrayal, strength and resistance, this collection contains an array of complex and true-to-life characters in which you cannot help but see yourself reflected. Witches and scientists, sisters and lovers, priestesses and rebels.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron: In this contemporary fantasy inspired by The Secret Garden, Black teen Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants with a single touch. Up against a centuries-old curse and the deadliest plant on earth, Bri must harness her gift to protect herself and her family, when a nefarious group comes after her in search of a rare and dangerous immortality elixir.

A Psalm of Storm and Silence (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #2) by Roseanne A. Brown: As the fabric holding Sonande together begins to tear, Malik and Karina once again find themselves torn between their duties and their desires.

A Queen of Gilded Horns (A River of Royal Blood #2) by Amanda Joy: After learning the truth of her heritage, Eva is on the run with her sister Isa as her captive, but with the Queendom of Myre on the brink of revolution, Eva and Isa must make peace with each other to save their kingdom.

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko: In a West African-inspired empire, Tarisai is raised by The Lady and sent to kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?

Redemptor (Raybearer #2) by Jordan Ifueko: For the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar's throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must now anoint a council of her own, coming into her full power as a Raybearer.

The Ravens by Danielle Page & Kass Morgan: The sisters of Kappu Rho Nu share a secret: they’re a coven of witches. For Vivi Deveraux, being one of Kappa Rho Nu’s Ravens means getting a chance to redefine herself. For Scarlett Winters, a bonafide Raven and daughter of a legacy Raven. When Vivi and Scarlett are paired as big and little for initiation, they find themselves sinking into the sinister world of blood oaths and betrayals.

Rebel Sisters (War Girls #2) by Tochi Onyebuchi: Though they are working toward common goals of helping those who suffered, Ify and Uzo are worlds apart. But when a mysterious virus breaks out among the children in the Space Colonies, their paths collide.

Reaper of Souls (Kingdom of Souls #2) by Rena Barron: After so many years yearning for the gift of magic, Arrah has the one thing she’s always wanted—at a terrible price. But the Demon King’s shadow looms closer than she thinks. And as Arrah struggles to unravel her connection to him, defeating him begins to seem more and more impossible.

A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy: A North African-inspired feminist fantasy in which two sisters, Eva and Isa must compete in a magical duel to the death for the right to inherit the queendom of Myre.  

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves: In Portero, Texas, teens Kit and Fancy Cordelle, daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, bring two boys with similar tendencies to a world of endless possibilities they have discovered behind a mysterious door.

Siege of Shadows (The Effigies #2) by Sarah Raughley:  After Saul reappears with an army of soldiers with Effigy-like abilities, threatening to unleash the monstrous Phantoms, e-year-old Maia and the other Effigies hope to defeat him by discovering the source of their power over the four classical elements, but they are betrayed by the Sect and bogged down by questions about the previous Fire Effigy's murder.

The Sisters of Reckoning (The Good Luck Girls #2) by Charlotte Nicole Davis: The blockbuster sequel to an alternate Old West-set commercial fantasy adventure.

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow: Set in the near-future, in which a captive teen human and a young alien leader—bonded by their love of forbidden books and music—embark on a desperate road trip as they attempt to overturn alien rule and save humankind. 

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi: Set in a futuristic, Black Panther-inspired Nigeria, sisters Onyii and Ify, separated by a devastating civil war, must fight their way back to each other against all odds.

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst: When the goddess Bayla fails to take over Liyana's body, Liyana's people abandon her in the desert to find a more worthy vessel, but she soon meets Korbyn, who says the souls of seven deities have been stolen and he needs Liyana's help to find them.

The Weight of Stars by K. Ancrum: After a horrific accident brings loners Ryann and Alexandria together, Ryann learns that Alexandria's mother is an astronaut who volunteered for a one-way trip to the edge of the solar system.

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson: Black teen Marigold and her blended family move into a newly renovated, picture-perfect home in a dilapidated Midwestern city, and are haunted by what she thinks are ghosts, but might be far worse.

Wings of Ebony by J. Elle: Black teen Rue, from a poor neighborhood who, after learning she is half-human, half-goddess, must embrace both sides of her heritage to unlock her magic and destroy the racist gods poisoning her neighborhood with violence, drugs, and crime.

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Thomas: In this Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut, two witches from enemy castes—one seeking power, and one seeking revenge—will stop at nothing to overthrow the witch queen, even if it means forming an alliance with each other and unleashing chaos on their island nation.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood: An Ethiopian-inspired Jane Eyre retelling in which an unlicensed debtera, or exorcist, Andromeda, is hired to rid a castle of its dangerous curses, only to fall in love with Magnus Rochester, a boy whose life hangs in the balance.

Yesterday Is History by Kosoko Jackson: Black teen Andre Cobb undergoes a liver transplant and as a side effect winds up slipping through time from present-day Boston to 1969 NYC on the eve of the Stonewall riots, delivering a story that is part romance, part gay history, and part time-travel drama, exploring how far we have and haven't come. 

[judylicious]

And When He Smiles I Swear I Can’t Breathe

Alan Rubin x fem!Reader

Word count: 2,211

Fandom: Blues Brothers

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blues Brothers characters or movies. This refers to Alan Rubin as a character in the movie, not the real Alan (although he obvsly played himself but you know what I mean)

I’d like to add that I made everyone of the band a few years younger (so the age gap between the reader and Alan isn’t that big), so he’s approx. in his early 30s.

Sophia, Lisa and Lex are two OCs created by two lovely people within the fandom.

Warnings: swearing, mentions of abuse

Chapter IX

Alan watched Charlotte taking a bite from her fried eggs. “What?”, she murmured. “Are we gonna pretend nothing happened last night?”, Alan gave her serious look. The girl shrugged her shoulders. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” “Huh, is that supposed to make me laugh?”

 Charlotte didn’t look up. “Why were you at the rehearsal room?” “Where else should I have gone?” “Lisa? Sophia? Or here’s a funny idea, could have given me a call.” “Look, I prefer to go into seclusion when something’s wrong. I’m sorry but I don’t wanna bother anyone with my crap.” “And I’d prefer if you’d come to me, you ain’t bothering no one, alright?”, he said in a soft tone and stroke her cheek. “Does he hit your mum and sister, too?” “No.”, she shock her head but saw a questioning look in Alan’s eyes. “My parents had broken up before my mum found out she was pregnant with me. So for my sake they gave their relationship another shot and apparently it worked but for my father I’m still the unwanted child. And I guess by forcing me to do well, in College and life, I won’t’t be such a big disappointment for him.” “Meaning if you moved out your mum and sister wouldn’t be in danger?” “Believe my, I tried getting my own place but…” “You could live with me until you find your own flat.”, Alan looked at her with raised eye brows. “I can’t, I really can’t.” “Why not?” “Cos I don’t wanna drain on your pocket, that’s why.” “I don’t care. I want you out of there as soon as possible.” “I will figure something out, okay? Don’t wanna jump the gun.” “Jumping the gun? What are you waiting for, Charlotte?”, Alan asked concerned, irritated she didn’t wanna move out. “I will come up with something alright?!”, she said bugged. “Just think about my offer, you’re more than welcomed here.” 

A few days had passed and Charlotte still hadn’t figured out what to do. She came back from jogging, when she noticed a stranger’s car in their driveway. Her father’s office was being refurbished this week, so he met all his clientele at home, in his home office. She hurried down the hallway to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, not keen on being seen in her current shape, all sweaty and her face red like a tomato. When passing by she took a quick glance into her father’s office though and realised she knew the person a few moments later only, so she went back. “What are you doing here?” “Oh, hi!”, the person greeted her with a big, fake smile. “Are you one of Mr. Ellington’s precious daughters? I didn’t know that!” “No, I’m Mrs. Mop.”, Charlotte replied sarcastically. “You do look like her.” “What’s going on here?”, Frank said in a harsh tone and gave his daughter a push against her shoulder as he entered the room. “Be nice to Ms…? I’m awfully sorry, what was your name again?” “No harm done, Sir. My name’s Brooks. Lari Brooks.” “I apologise for my daughter Ms Brooks and also for this chaos. I should have been prepared more thoroughly for this week of Home Office. I left some of my notes in my car, I’ll be back in a moment… Charlotte, go and get us a coffee, won’t you?” “Frankly I’d like to take shower.” “Yeah, you can do that afterwards.” Charlotte closed her eyes and took a deep breath before facing Lari again. “Oh kiddy, milk and sugar for me please.” Ugh that creepy smile again. “Listen up, bitch!”, Charlotte leaned over the desk. “I don’t know what kind of ratty games you’re playing here, getting in touch with my father but stay the hell away from Alan! You heard me?” Lari started laughing, not the reaction Charlotte was hoping for. “You really think Alan is interested in you? He’s not the man for relationships but you’ll figure that out soon enough. Once he had his fun with you he’s gonna drop you like a bad habit.” Lari looked her up and down. “Tsk, I’m surprised he even thinks he will get it up with you in the first place.” Charlotte clenched her fist. “Not that it’s any of your business but he already did!” “Oh good to know he’s finished with you then.” “He is finished with you, or why do you think he started seeing me?” “See honey, what-“ “I’m not your honey!” Lari sighed. “What you don’t see is, Alan needs a real woman at his side. Not only to satisfy his sexual needs but he certainly doesn’t wanna play babysitter for you. And he doesn’t need no social project either.” Charlotte backed down and slowly removed her hands form the table. “Oh, honey, don’t you think I haven’t noticed your bruises. And don’t you think I don’t know who did that to you.” Charlotte swallowed hard. For God’s sake, where was her father when she needed him. What was taken him so long? “Does your father know you’re dating Alan?” Charlotte clammed up. “Aha, I thought so.”, Lari grinned. “Would be such a shame if he did, eh?” “Why haven’t you made any coffee by now?! Frank bumped back into the office, a stack of files under his arm. “Come on!” dragging her into the kitchen. “I asked you for a simple favour.” “You didn’t ask…” “I swear to God, make that fuckin coffee or I loose my shit.”, he hissed through gritted teeth and Charlotte quietly set up the coffee brewer, while Frank went back to his newest client. While the machine ran, she tried to catch a few scraps of their conversation. What was her game? It was surely no coincidence she wanted to hire her dad. Charlotte overheard that apparently she had some trouble with a former affiliate of hers. What a pretence. And Charlotte started to worry. Knowing about her and Alan, Lari had her by the short and curlies. After serving the coffee, Charlotte quickly got into the shower. As the warm water ran over her body she couldn’t help but bursted out into tears. She knew Lari was right. Alan didn’t want no helpless, little girl at his side, that needed to be rescued from her father. And Charlotte wanted to be that independent and mature woman he was looking for but also felt trapped, like she couldn’t break away from her father. That was also why she didn’t wanna move in with Alan, even it was temporary only. She feared someone like Alan would eventually be sick of dealing with such preschool problems, when he was at a complete different state of life than Charlotte was. And perhaps her intuition on this one wasn’t letting her down.

During the next days, Charlotte and Alan didn’t see much of one another, they didn’t had a fight but both felt some tension between each other. While Alan was trying to give Charlotte some room to decide what she wanted to do in order to sort out her problem at home, Charlotte felt rejected and that Alan didn’t wanna see her.

So when she and her besties, Sophia and Lisa were on their way to another concert of the boys, she had mixed feelings. The three entered the backstage area, where they were happily welcomed by the band. Jake pulled Sophia into his strong arms, giving her passionate kiss, while Lou and Lisa were still a bit shy around other people, so the saxophonist grabbed his girlfriend’s hand and gave her a short peck on her cheek. As Charlotte and Alan met they faced each other awkwardly. “Hi Alan.” “Hi Charlie, you look gorgeous tonight.” “Thanks.”, she responded with a little smile. Everyone who was watching the two instantly felt something was wrong and were kind of embarrassed to be present. The blonde girl turned around to her friends “Think I’ll be heading to our seats already, see you in a bit.” 

Lisa and Sophia gave each other a look before hurrying after her friend. “Charlie, wait! What was this all about?”, Sophia grabbed her arm. “Nothing.”, she shrugged her shoulders in response. “Did you break off?” “Were we even a couple?” “Were?”, Lisa asked shocked. “Relax, we didn’t. It’s.. I don’t know… tensed. He hasn’t been calling me for a couple of days.” “Have you called him?” “No… I didn’t wanna bother him.” “Why do you keep saying that?” “Because it’s true. Alan could date everyone. It’s just a matter of time ’til he’s tired of my bs with my dad.” “Why would he? He offered you to move in with him for now.” “Right, so what if that wasn’t a genuine offer? Perhaps he only felt the need to say that.” “Jeez, you still think the worst of everyone!”, Sophia rolled her eyes. “Last thing you told us is that he asked you to think about it. So I guess he’s just waiting for an answer.”, Lisa explained. “Go and talk to him after concert.” “But before that we’re gonna enjoy the music, nothing will cheer you up like their songs, trust me.”; Sophia said with a big smile and grabbed Charlotte’s hand, dragging her to their seats.

Meanwhile Lou got after Alan. “Hey man, are you and Charlotte alright?” “Yeah, yeah, we’re fine.” “C’mon Alan, talk to me!” The trumpet player sighed. “I don’t even know what it is! I told her she could live with me until she found a flat for herself cos I want her away from her manic father and gave her some time to think about it and since then: nothing. I don’t know what else to do if she keeps refusing my help! Maybe it’s all too much for me.” “What are you saying? I thought you liked her, for real!” “Yes, I do.” “Sometimes a relationship needs some work, especially at the beginning.”, Lou advised. “See? This is why I never got involved in anything serious before. It just complicates things.” “Even if things are difficult at the moment, I’ve never seen you any happier than being with Charlotte. So perhaps it’s time you step out of your comfort zone if you wanna make things work with her.” They got interrupted by Elwood, yelling across backstage. “2 minutes guys!” “Lou gave his friends a warm smile and a pat on the shoulder “Think about it.”

The concert was extraordinary. They were rocking the crowd and the atmosphere was purely captivating. After the band finished playing “Hey Bartender” Jake got on the mic again. “This next song, we haven’t played in front of anyone yet, so feel honoured to be the first.” He put in one of his little giggles there. “It’s called ‘Gimme Some Lovin’ by the Spencer Davis Group. And me, Blue Lou and Mr. Fabulous here, would like to dedicate this song to three incredible, young ladies in our lives, who also happen to be in the audience tonight. Sophia, Lisa and Charlotte. Sophia? I love you babe!”, he said and pointed to his girl in the audience causing Sophia to scream, who soon got drown out by the band starting to play. Charlotte was excited to hear the boy’s version of that song, thinking back when Alan told her, they worked out a nice part for the horns and they clearly didn’t disappoint. 

After like three or four encores, the girls were all hyped up and on their way backstage. “Relax, just tell him how much you liked the song and that you wanna talk with him in private. It’s your Alan after all.”, Lisa tried to support Charlotte.

When they walked up the little stairs their glances first hit Elwood. He was caught up in a passionate kiss with someone in his arms, his hands all over that someone. As soon as he realised all eyes were on him, he cleared his throat. “Everyone this is Lex by the way.”, he said and a big grin formed on his lips. “We met a few nights ago. Please be nice to them.” Lex seemed a big nervous as they were playing with their dark, slightly wavy hair but all that seemed to vanish when Elwood pulled Lex back into his arms and planted a kiss on their cheek. The two seemed like a great match. Lex was really casual looking, they were wearing a jeans jacket and a graphic tee combined with a pair of combat boots. They clearly seemed to be on the same level, funny and not taking things too serious. Most of the guys had a stupid grin on their face except for Jake of course, who already knew about his brothers new partner in crime but everyone was just happy for Elwood, he deserved to be with someone after everything he went through. 

That amusement didn’t stay for long though as Charlotte noticed Alan. He was sitting in a corner on one of the amplifiers, focused on cleaning his mouthpiece, Lari standing next to him. She was straddling his shoulder and trying to get his attention. From the distance it was hard to tell if he was wrapped up in a chat with her but frankly, Charlotte didn’t even wanted to know. 

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

[xtruss]

Scottish painter Allan Ramsay's portrait of Queen Charlotte in her coronation robes has inspired debate over whether she was Britain's first Black queen—a question that persists today, centuries after she ruled over Great Britain and Ireland. Image Via Art Collection/Alamy Stock Photo

Britain’s First Black Queen? The Real Dtory of Queen Charlotte

Historians still debate whether she was really Britain’s first Black queen. But a new Netflix spin-off of the popular 'Bridgerton' makes clear that interest in her life is stronger than ever.

— By Erin Blakemore | May 10, 2023

When 17-year-old Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz caught her first glimpse of the London palace that was to be her home in 1761, she turned pale. She was set to become Queen of Great Britain and Ireland within hours, but she had never set foot in England or met her husband-to-be.

What happened next is the stuff of royal history—and the subject of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. The new Netflix limited series fictionalizes the life of the timid German girl destined to rule England—and who is rumored to have been its first Black queen. But who was the real Queen Charlotte?

How Charlotte Became Queen of Great Britain

Just beneath this oval portrait of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, you'll see the initials of the royal couple: G for George III and C for Charlotte. Despite the queen's initial timidity, historians say that the monarch by all accounts had a happy marriage. Image By Johann Esaias Nilson Via BTEU/RKMLGE/Alamy Stock Photo

Born in 1744 in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a duchy in what is now Northern Germany, the princess had an unremarkable childhood in what other members of the European aristocracy considered to be a mediocre and provincial dukedom. But this would work in the young woman’s favor when a far-off prince became king.

In 1760, George III’s grandfather died, making him King of England—and making his unmarried status a matter of national alarm. George needed a wife, and he needed one fast, his advisers decided—and they mounted a desperate search for a Protestant princess to share his life and sire an heir.

Charlotte was unknown and thought to have no political connections or aims. This was seen as a plus by George’s political advisers, who wanted British interests to prevail after the king’s marriage. And so, though George had never met Charlotte, in 1761 an emissary proposed marriage on his behalf. Charlotte accepted, and the arranged marriage took place just six hours after the young princess arrived in England.

Though she spoke no English and had never met her husband before her wedding day, Charlotte was now Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Everyone wanted to greet the new king and queen: At their coronation, so many well-wishers crowded them that it took two hours to for their procession to make it from the street into Westminster Abbey. Soon, Charlotte had her first child, a daughter. She would go on to bear 15 children during her long marriage.

Were Queen Charlotte and King George in Love?

By all reports, the king and queen had an unusually happy marriage, and George III was a devoted father and husband. But court life was difficult for Charlotte, who clashed with her mother-in-law over the formal rules of the British aristocracy and found the expectation to bear plenty of heirs exhausting. By the time she had borne 14 of her 15 children, she wrote that “I don’t think a prisoner could wish more ardently for his liberty than I wish to be rid of my burden.”

Though Charlotte struggled with the boredom and confinement of court life, she found her own ways to deal with the crushing expectations of her new role. The year after her marriage, George bought her a large country estate owned by the Dukes of Buckingham. Buckingham House, now known as Buckingham Palace, was called the “Queen’s House,” and there she lived in comfortable domesticity, reading, doing needlework, and playing the harpsichord.

She shared a love of botany and plants with her husband, who became known as “Farmer George” due to his agricultural interests.

The 'Madness' of King George

But the couple’s happiness did not last. In 1765, George experienced a bout of mental illness so serious that his ministers proposed having Charlotte temporarily take the throne while the king was incapacitated.

Though the king soon recovered, he experienced relapse after relapse, and eventually it became clear his mental illness would not pass. The king experienced mania, depression, hallucinations, and convulsions, and historians report that he attacked and even sexually assaulted members of his family.

These bouts of illness devastated the queen. “The queen is almost overpowered with some secret terror,” wrote Francis Burney, one of Charlotte’s attendants, in 1788. “I am affected beyond all expression in her presence, to see what struggles she makes to support serenity.” Over time, the bouts turned into lengthy episodes, and the king was isolated and even incarcerated.

Social stigma and lack of understanding of mental illness meant it was nearly impossible to help the “mad” king or gain the kind of support now regarded as key for the caretakers and loved ones of people with mental illness.

Eventually, Charlotte’s son George (later George IV) took over the throne as regent. But her husband would remain ill for the rest of his life, and by 1789 the queen’s hair had “turned white under the stress of the King’s illness.” When Charlotte died in 1818, her husband was so ill he did not understand his wife was dead.

George III and Queen Charlotte pose with their children. The queen gave birth to 15 children—a responsibility of her position that she found particularly exhausting. Image By Richard Earlom, Via National Museums in Berlin, Art Library/Anna Russ

Was Charlotte Really Britain’s First Black Queen?

Today, Charlotte is remembered as a faithful wife and a tragic figure connected with the king’s mental illness. But some see her as noteworthy for another reason—they claim she was Great Britain’s first Black or biracial queen. For decades, historians have debated whether Charlotte’s ancestral ties to Portuguese aristocracy mean she had brown skin.

Those who believe she had Black ancestry point to portraits that show what they describe as “African” features and say other depictions of the time that show the queen as light-skinned would have been hiding her ancestry to conform with the era’s Eurocentric beauty ideals. But others say the queen’s ancestry was so distant it likely did not affect her looks, and argue that modern conceptions of race are what’s driving the belief that Charlotte was black.

Since it’s impossible to determine how Charlotte really looked in real life, the argument will likely never be settled. Nor will public interest in Charlotte’s life, as evidenced by the new Netflix limited-run series—which has gained fans, charmed reviewers, and drawn newfound attention to the tragic queen’s life. But as narrator Julie Andrews says in the show itself, “It is fiction inspired by fact.”

[lunarliza]

JJ Maybank Must Die | Chapter 2: Ping Pong Balls

fuckboy!JJ x Reader

series masterlist | chapter one

JJ Maybank is the island’s most infamous fuckboy- not that you ever cared. But when a group of tourist girls come to your surf shop crying to you about him, you agree to help them plot revenge. Sabotage is all fun and games, until you find that the playboy you were sworn to ruin happens to be falling head over heels for you.

Yes, this is based on John Tucker Must Die lol

Problem not solved.

You and Sophia eagerly sipped on your smoothies, waiting for the trio to show up to their five-o’clock session the Monday following the party. Alas, they piled through the front door with deflated shoulders. 

“Well?” Sophia perked, eyes gleaming, “How’d it go? Did you make him cry?! Please don’t spare any details!” Her palms clasped together in front of her like a kid who just came up with an evil-genius plan.

“Tell them what happened,” Annalise ordered Arabella, clocking the fiery-haired girl’s shoulder. 

Arabella sighed dejectedly. “Well... not exactly. So I went to the party, hoe clothes on and everything like we planned. Saw him, used my signature look and look away move, and it worked! He came over and we started talking and-”  

“She fucked him,” Maia finished bluntly, prompting a betrayed gasp from Sophia and face-palm from you. 

“Mhm,” Annalise added, “He whisked her away before me or Maia could get the chance to interfere.” 

“I couldn’t help it!” Arabella cried, covering her face in mortification, “He was just so... smooth and sweet. And those eyes! We started talking about sea turtles! You guys know they are my weakness.”

You couldn’t help look on your face. Arabella was sweet, no doubt, but boy, the girl sure was spineless. It was a good thing she was pretty.  

“He is the devil!” Sophia enunciated each word of her sentence and huffed. “This is going to be harder than I thought!” 

“We just need someone stronger! Someone with a heart of steel unlike this one,” Annalise added, smacking her friend on the back. 

“We could give it another go,” you agreed, “but who’d be our guinea pig now?”  

You pondered at the ceiling until you felt all four pairs of eyes practically stab at you. It was like jumping into a vulture’s nest. 

“Oh no, not me!”

“Why not?” Maia questioned, frustrated. “You’re the only available one left. Plus, you couldn’t give two shits about him. It’ll be like busy work to you.” 

“Yeah not gonna happen. Find someone else, please. This is non-negotiable.” 

Out of nowhere, Sophia seized your hand and tugged you into the back room of the shop. “Excuse us for a minute,” she said to the girls before shutting the door of the crammed space.

It was a good thing your supervisor left early for the day, your asses would be toast if he were to witness the scene. 

“I think you should do it,” your best friend urged.  

“Have you lost your mind?!” you yelled-whispered. 

“Oh come on, y/n! Do it for me. For Annalise. No! Do it for all the girls on this island who has ever shed a single tear for him!” 

You sighed heavily. “I can’t do it, Soph. I’m sorry. He’s terrible and Karma has her kiss for him, but not me. Also, you know how I feel about those parties at the Boneyard.” Your look grew to one of disgust. 

“Mhm,” she crossed her arms, “This wouldn’t be because of Pope would it?” 

“No!” 

Yes. It absolutely was. 

So you might’ve maybe use to have a teensy tiny little crush on Pope Heyward-one of JJ’s best friends. It wasn’t your fault he was so cute and smart... and respectful! 

The boy stole your heart and ran away with it when you were paired up for science lab sophomore year. Him, being the genius he was, always did the experiments so gracefully while you royalty fucked everything up. 

One day, you poured the wrong solution into the beaker and the goopy liquid exploded everywhere. However, without an ounce of complaint, Pope offered to stay after with you to scrub down the walls and tables. A modern day romance if there ever was one. 

After months of daydreaming about him, you finally worked up the courage to ask him to the end-of-year dance. Sophia and your other friends hyped you up as you approached his locker after school.

Much to you dismay, he said no. But he did it in such a nice way, you couldn’t hate him for it. If anything, it made you hurt even more that you got rejected so kindly. Ever since then, you never stepped foot near him or his friends, too humiliated to even think of it. 

“You’re a terrible liar, y/n,” Sophia stated. 

She then grabbed onto your shoulders to stare you straight in the eyes. “Look, I know you swore never to see Pope again, but, honestly, fuck him! He missed out on a kick-ass date. But think- you could kill two birds with one stone! Go to the Boneyard, look hot as fuck, dance on JJ a bit and then vamoose! Pope’s jealous and JJ gets a bite in the ass!”  

Your brows furrowed in annoyance. Leave it to Sophia to convince you into her petty ploys. “I don’t know...” 

She persisted further. “Okay, I wasn’t going to tell you this because I knew you’d be super jealous, but my cousin got me front row to Venus Panic in Charlotte at the end of the summer.” 

Your eyes jolted out of your head. “No fucking way!” 

You loved Venus Panic with a dying passion. They were your favorite band who never ever came to the U.S. 

Sophia let out a long breath. “Yes. If you do this, y/n, the ticket,” she paused, “the ticket is yours.” 

It was like pulling teeth from her to make that kind of offer. Damn her for being so conniving! 

“Alright. For Venus, I’ll do it.” 

“Thank the gods!” Sophia leaped up and down in the confined room, hugging you and thanking you a ga-zillion times. 

She looked as if she sealed a million dollar deal when you two emerged from the room. You, on the other hand, were ready to fling yourself to the seagulls. 

“Operation JJ Maybank must die is a go girls!” she announced before the group started frolicking up and down, earning stares from people looking through the glass. 

“Alright, alright,” you said as they settled down, “Now that we have that done, can we please actually surf now?” 

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

The night of the next Boneyard party, you and Sophia drove to the condo the girls were staying at. Pulling up to the building, both yours and Sophia’s eyes widened. You knew the complex was on Figure Eight, but you didn’t know it was that luxurious and huge. They even had valet at the front, and you were greeted by doorman on your way in. 

Apparently Annalise’s dad was an important rich man in Virginia. He remarried, and was currently honeymooning in some exotic island. Sending his condolences, he let her choose whichever one of his condos she wanted to stay at for the summer with friends. For some unknown reason, she chose the Outer Banks. 

“Party’s here!” Sophia sang when Arabella answered the door. 

You entered into the spacious unit, in awe. The endless kitchen was lined with white Italian wood while the counters were topped with the fanciest marble you had ever seen. The living room was the size of your house with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the island. And the view was spectacular. 

So this was how the other side lived. 

Maia and Annalise squealed when they emerged from their rooms and hugged you and Sophia hello. They had on silk robes with their hair up in rollers. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show had nothing on them. 

They handed you two some seltzers from the fridge before Maia dragged you to the gigantic vanity in her room. Eyeshadow palettes, brushes, and compact powders littered the surface. She sat you down and fiddled with the ends of your hair. 

“So, y/n, what kind of look do you wanna go for tonight?” 

You were taken aback. “I’m not sure. Maybe something natural since we’re gonna be outside?” 

Maia scoffed playfully and shook her head. “Y/n, it’s a party! If you’re not glamming you’re not scamming. Actually say no more! I know exactly what we’re gonna do.” 

And so, she worked her magic as you watched through the bulb-lined mirror. You asked her about the products she was using while she gave you the rundown of the importance of each item and step. She was very knowledgable and swift with her hand- especially when it came to the winged liner. 

You got along with Maia. You learned that she had a successful makeup channel and wanted to start her own brand one day. She also told you about her boyfriend and how he was in Thailand for the entire summer. 

After two hours of searching for lost lip glosses, waiting on Annalise to change for the tenth time, and chugging your fifth seltzer, the five of you finally made it to the Boneyard at its peak hour. 

Linking arms, you all strutted down the beach, ready for your mission. 

The four scattered when you reached the sea of people, leaving you to locate the blonde target. After a few minutes of searching, you couldn’t find a single trace of him or any of his friends. 

Heading over to the keg, you poured yourself a drink in hopes it would loosen your raging nerves. It also didn’t help that Maia’s bikini top was hardly covering your nipples. You knew a nip slip was just waiting to happen at some point in the night. 

You casually sipped your drink and circled the party again, catching a glimpse of the wavy-haired boy at the beer pong area. 

JJ slammed his fists on the table after landing another shot. 

“Fuck yes! One last shot and your ass is grass!” he belted to his competitors: two random tourist boys who were chugging at a ridiculously slow pace. JJ then proceeded to high-five his friend, John B, who you also recognize from school. 

“Don’t be a coward,” you muttered to yourself before striding to the crowd clamoring around a fold-out table. 

From the sides, you attempted a few of the “flirty glances” Arabella taught you but no luck. The boy would much rather bounce a ping-pong ball.

You resorted to crossing your arms and waiting for the game to be over. With no surprise, JJ and John B won as the tourons groaned and withered away to the bonfire. 

“That’s right baby! Undefeated!” JJ gloated with his hands smugly flung in the air. 

“Alright who’s next?” John B shouted, earning no response from the herd. 

Welp... it’s now or never. 

“I’ll play,” you volunteered and stuck your hand up. You could feel JJ staring at you quizzically.

“Alright, alright we have a challenger! But who’s your partner?” John B asked. You wanted to slap yourself for not thinking this through properly.

“I’ll do it,” a deep voice spoke behind you. You whirled around to meet eyes with none other than Pope. He stood cooly behind you with a beer in hand. 

You originally planned to avoid him at all costs during the party. But that all went down the drain as he set down his drink and started ordering the cups in a pyramid formation. 

“You’re going down Heyward!” JJ hollered, taking the first shot. The ball glided into the first cup with ease. John B’s shot followed, but bounced off to the side. 

Your partner grabbed the beer and hurled it down instantly, using his wrist to wipe his mouth. You snatched the fallen ball on the ground while Pope nodded for you to go first. 

So this might have been the first time you’ve every played beer pong in your life. But, in your defense, you’ve done it a million times on your phone. It couldn’t be that hard. 

You tossed the first shot and it wheezed over all the cups. Whoops. 

“This is too easy,” JJ jeered, eyeing Pope as he made the next throw. It landed in one of the back cups and John B swallowed the contents down. 

“Sorry, I’m just off my game today,” you mumbled to your partner. 

“Nah, don’t worry about it. You wanna know my trick?” Pope raised as another one of JJ’s balls flew into one of your cups. You raised your brows as he handed you the beer. 

“The more drunk you are, the better you play.” 

Guzzling down the liquid luck, you fingered another ball and took your aim. Flinging it towards the mass, you gasped when it actually landed into the center cup. 

“Oh my God!” you cheered as Pope’s face mimicked yours. He high-fived you with both hands as you bounced up and down in glee. 

“That’s what I’m talking about y/n!” 

For the rest of the game you and Pope played neck-and-neck with the other two, continuously making shots and chugging down beer. His tactic worked. You were on fire. 

The flock around you chanted your name every time you scored. You could see your friends hanging around in the far corner hollering your name and sending you thumbs ups. 

It was game point as both teams had one target left. It was their turn. JJ took the stage, chucking the ball skillfully. Much to your demise, it swirled along the rim before plopping in. JJ roared out in victory. 

“Hold your horses,” Pope interjected with a finger in the air, “We still have redemption.” 

“Let’s see it then,” John B panted, worn out from the tension. 

“You got this.” Pope patted you on the back and handed you the ball. 

Your eyes bursted. “W-What? No no no, Pope you go.” 

“Relax, y/n! I believe in you. Just focus.” 

You gulped and turned to the boys taunting you across the table. Saying the quickest Hail Mary in your head, you launched the ball and had to shut your eyes. 

A sudden rush of shrieks alarmed you. Peeling your eyes open, you saw both JJ and John B’s jaws plummet to the ground. 

It went in. 

“Now that’s what the fuck is up!” Pope hurled his fist at this chest. You were frozen in utter disbelief. Maybe the Gods were in your favor. 

Pope added two more cups to your side of the table as John B copied his actions. The four of you went at it a few more times before you were one-and-one again. Both John B and JJ missed and the balls rolled back over to you. 

Taking the first shot again, you slung the ball, but it flew off the rim. You were chattering on your nails as Pope proceeded to make his attempt. 

One swish and the ball landed straight in the hole.  

You both jolted up in the air, doing a little victory dance. JJ shushed you- ready to go for his redemption kill. His ball missed the cup by a hair and John B’s slid off the table, deeming you and Pope the winners. 

In your exhilarated drunken state, you threw your arms around Pope, and he let out a soft chuckle. You hastily pulled away after you realized what you were doing. Thankfully, the crestfallen losers immediately came over to shake your hands and say “Good game.” 

JJ’s hands hung onto yours a moment longer. He studied you with his eyes before treading away towards the bonfire. 

As winners, you and Pope stayed a few more rounds before getting beat out. You noticed JJ come back to watch you for a few rounds, eyes fixated on your every move. 

After shaking hands with the girls who beat you, you waved a confused Pope goodbye and jogged over towards the drink area for water. In the corner of your eye, you saw JJ hurry up to you with giddiness. 

“That was some game you played out there,” he complimented as you swigged down your water. 

“Thanks! Guess I just got lucky back there.” 

He leaned both arms on the table, raising his brows suggestively. “Might just be your lucky night then.”

Oh brother. 

You threw him an uneasy smile and treaded away to the dancing crowd. Of course, he followed you, struggling to keep up with your pace. 

“Hey, what’s your name? I’ve never seen you around before.” 

You scoffed low enough to where he couldn’t hear. Never seen you? You’ve been in the same classes since second grade. 

“I’m y/n.” You slowed down a bit, remembering your sworn duty. 

“Well I’m JJ. JJ Maybank.” He flashed you a toothy smile. 

You stopped amidst the dancers as a popular, high-beat electronic song came on. You flung you hands around JJ’s neck and pulled him close. “Dance with me, JJ Maybank.” 

The two of you rocked back and forth for a while before the music transitioned to a provocative rap song. Both you and the light-haired boy rapped the entire first verse with ease, giggling once the chorus hit. 

“So... how come I’ve never seen you at one of these parties?” 

You shrugged tossing him a look of disinterest. “Not really my thing.” 

He tugged you in so his forehead was on yours. “Then what is your thing then, hm? What’s a cute girl like you up to all summer?” 

“I’m a surfing instructor.” 

“Is that so? You know, I’m a pretty good surfer myself...” His hands traced down to your swaying hips. 

“I’ll be the judge of that,” you retorted, running your hands up and down his biceps flirtatiously. 

It was probably the alcohol doing all the work, because in that moment, you knew you were being absolutely irresistible to the boy who’s hands were burning to stay in the... respectful areas. 

“Maybe one day I can show you,” JJ rasped. You barely heard him through the booming of the speakers, but still locked eyes with him alluringly. 

“Mmm, don’t really have time for amateurs.” 

“Ouch... feisty aren’t we?” His lips were millimeters from yours. 

“Please, you know you like it.” You decided to close the gap. 

Boy, were his lips soft. His chiseled hands made way to tangle up in your hair as he expertly kissed you amongst the throng of people. He slid his tongue into your mouth, and you could feel how hungry he was. 

You stopped after a minute, purposely cutting it short. His eyes were aching for more, but you refused. You wanted to starve him. 

“Wanna get out of here? There’s a cool place on the beach I can show you,” he asked, fingers toying with the back string of your bikini. 

You shrugged. “Why not.”

Smirking, JJ’s hand snaked around your waist as he led you to the back trees of the Boneyard. You approached a small patch of sand enclosed by a circle of trees, and it all clicked in your head. This was his sex hideout. 

You glanced around the spot. The moon beamed straight into it, and the leaves of the trees hung down fancifully. In its own weird way, it was kind of romantic- if you didn’t think about how many times he’s taken people there to fuck.

He tugged you towards the center, wrapping you in his muscular arms. 

“You’re the cutest girl I’ve ever seen. I could just eat you up,” he muttered seductively, nipping at the sides of your jawline. 

You were beginning to understand it now- his irresistibility. The guy was charming. You let him kiss you for a little bit until you felt him undo your back bikini string. 

You quickly jerked away, tying it back into a bow.

“You know what, I think I’m good,” you said abruptly, backing away. 

JJ looked as if someone offered a kid ice cream and knocked the cone off the second he was about to dive in for the first taste. “Wait! Where are you going?” he urged.

“Away.” 

His face flooded in disbelief as he let out a loud scoff, darting after you as you jogged back to the dancing pack.

“Wait! Y/n come back!” he called out. 

“What for? I’m not sleeping with you JJ!” you shouted, making sure everyone around you heard. 

When his face went beet-red you knew you work was done. 

You sped up the sand, out of sight, to Annalise’s car where your friends were circled. They whooped and cheered at your presence. 

“We saw everything!” Maia exclaimed, hauling you in for a bone-tight hug. 

“That was so awesome! Y/n, you’re my hero!” Arabella chimed in while you all crammed into the Mercedes. 

“Ladies, ladies,” Annalise began before pulling out of the parking lot, “Tonight we celebrate the fall of JJ Maybank!” 

The car erupted in drunk glee as everyone swaddled you from their seats. 

As you drove back to the condo, Sophia rolled down her window from the backseat and stuck out her head. 

“Fuck you JJ Maybank!” 

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

note: dw there is even more D R A M A to come lolz 

chapter 3

tags: @obxlife​ @rudyypankow​ @yeehaw87​ @ilymarkchan​ @jellyfishbeansontoast​ @tangledinsparkles​ @toloveortobeinlove​ @pixelated-pogues​ @normatural​ @teamnick​ @drizzlethatfalls​ 

[fuckallthegood0nesweretaken]

New World CH. Twenty One

Title: Thirty Days

Words: 4155

Warnings: Character death, canon-typical violence

A/N: It’s the beginning of the end of an era. Hope y’all enjoy!

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New World Masterlist

Daryl Dixon Masterlist

The Walking Dead Masterlist

Masterlist

~~~~~~~

Six months had passed since the Governor and you were thriving at the prison. The gates had all been fixed, and the walkers were out of the yard. Crops were growing food, some livestock had been found, and no one had died in almost a month. You had given birth to a beautiful little girl named Charlotte and you were the happiest you’ve been in a while.

 You had also remodeled your cell. You took the bottom bunk out, leaving the top one for storage, and Daryl had found a better mattress on a run a few months before Charlotte was born. You did feel bad that you had a nice thing to sleep on, but everyone assured you it was alright. Maggie and Glenn had found one a week after you got yours and you felt a little less guilty. Daryl also found a thick comforter blanket and some more pillows for you along with a kids bed for Adeline. Charlotte slept in her little playpen right next to Adeline in the cell next to yours. It was a little weird not having your kids in the same space as you, but the privacy was welcomed with open arms.

 Waking up with Daryl next to you felt amazing every day. His arms would be around you and his face tucked into the crook of your neck. His hands gravitated towards your belly, even after you had Charlotte, in his sleep and it made you smile every time.

 “Mornin’,” he mumbled into his pillow.

 “Good morning yourself.” Shifting, you kissed him and pulled yourself up.

 “Where ya goin’?”

 “It’s the Big Spot run today so we need to eat. Come on and get up, sleepyhead.” Daryl groaned and Adeline decided to join you in your cell and jump on him.

 “Get up, daddy, get up!” Her knee caught his junk and he let out a low groan before laughing.

 “I’m up, princess. I’m up. Ya hungry?”

 “Yes!”

 “Then get dressed so we can go get breakfast.”

 “Okay!”  

 The three of you got dressed and you met Beth in the common area.

 “Good morning. Excited for the run, I see,” Beth teased as she took Charlotte from you and put her in a double stroller with Judith.

 “I am. You got any requests?”

 “Um, a new notebook and some pens?” Beth asked. “But only if you see them! Don’t go out of the way.”

 “Will do, sweetheart.” Waving goodbye and kissing Lottie goodbye, you walked outside with Daryl and Adeline. Stepping out into the fresh air, you took a deep breath and made your way over to where Carol was handing out breakfast, Sophia coloring on the ground next to her. Adeline joined her best friend and you smiled at the sight.

 “Hey, Carol. Hey, sweetie. Good morning,” you said. “Smells good, what’s for breakfast?”

 “Some left over venison from last night.” Carol handed you a bowl and Daryl a bowl.

 “Thanks.” Leaning up against the counter, you looked out past the fences.

 “You two going on the run today?” Carol asked you.

 “Yeah.” You stuffed some meat in your mouth. “Dean too.”

 “Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Carol chided lightly. You gave her a sheepish grin, Daryl barely hiding a laugh.

 “Sorry. Dean’s coming too. We want to see if there’s anything we can use for, uh, hunting.”

 Carol nodded in understanding before leaning in slightly.

 “We ever going to tell everyone else?” She asked you.

 “I don’t know. The Council knows and everyone from our group does as well as Dr. S.,” you said with a shrug. “I think that’s all who has to know. Do you think we should tell everyone?”

 “No. People are still in a panic over the walkers happening. If they knew about everything else then it would cause mass hysteria.”

 “Fair point.” You turned back to your food and saw that Carol had put more in your bowl.

 “Don’t tell anyone,” she said with a wink. You laughed lightly and turned to face the tables.

 “Well, I’m going to sit down and eat. I’ll see you at the cars in a few,” you said to Daryl, giving him a kiss. To Carol you said, “Thanks for breakfast. It’s delicious.”

 “Of course. I’ll also make sure Adeline gets to school on time,” Carol said.

 “Thank you.” You gave your daughter and Sophia a hug and kiss before going to sit down next to Dr. S. and Sam, the two of them munching on their own food.

 “Who’s focusing on medical today?” Dr. S. asked you.

 “Sasha. Did you need anything specific?”

 “Just the usual but I’ll take anything really.”

 “I’ll pass the message on.” You shoved the last of your food in your mouth as Dr. S. gave you a nod of thanks. Standing up, you went to put your bowl away when Sam came up to you.

 “You and Dean are getting things for hunting right?” He asked you.

 “Yeah,” you said with a nod. “Anything we can find that could be useful.”

 “I know you always are, but be safe. Please.”

 “I will be.” You stood on your tiptoes to kiss his cheek before walking away.

 ---

 When you got to the cars, Zach and Daryl were already there. Beth was walking away and you heard Daryl mutter something about a romance novel.

 “What’s this I hear about romance novels?” You said, a teasing lilt to your voice.

 “Them kids,” Daryl said. “They’re so cheesy sometimes.”

 “Cheesy can be a good thing, Daryl,” you said, a smirk on your face. Daryl just rolled his eyes.

 “Sometimes it’s just bad,” he muttered.

 You snorted out a laugh and Daryl cracked a small smile at the sound. No one saw it but you since it disappeared when the others started coming to pack up the cars. You started helping and when you went to get in the passenger seat of the truck, you saw Bob walk up.

 “Hey,” Bob said. “I’d like to start pulling my weight around here.”

 “Bob, it’s only been a week since you got here,” Sasha said.

 “That’s a week of meals and a roof over my head that you’ve helped provide. Let me earn my keep.”

 “You were out on your own when Daryl found you, right?” You asked him. He nodded.

 “Yeah. I was.”

 “We just need to make sure that you can play on a team. That you know how,” Sasha said.

 “You know, he was a medic in the army,” Glenn said. Sasha looked at him then looked at you.

 “Your call,” you said with a shrug.

 “The two of you are tough sells, you know that?” Bob said.

 “You’re telling me,” Dean said with a snort. Giving him a glare and the bird, Dean just laughed.

 “Alright. You can come with,” Sasha said. “But you do as we say without any hesitation. That sound reasonable?”

 “Yes, ma’am.”

 “Let’s get going then.”

 She climbed into the driver’s seat of the car and you heard Daryl start his motorcycle. Dean got in the driver’s seat of the truck, Zach getting in the back seat. The mini caravan was almost at the gate when you saw Michonne standing next to Rick.

 “She’s back!” You said excitedly. Rolling down the window, you stuck the top half of your body out of it and waved at her. After she had waved back and her conversation was done with Rick and Daryl, she got in next to Zach.

 “Glad to see you’re okay,” Dean said once the door was shut.

 “Same to you.” She put her hand on your shoulder, giving it a squeeze, and you turned to give her a smile.

 “Did you find anything?” You asked her.

 “No.” Michonne shook her head. “You have any problems with some newcomers?”

 “Nothing of that sort. We’ve been lucky when it comes to that department,” Dean said.

 “What are you talking about?” Zach asked. You looked at him and shook your head.

 “Don’t worry about it.”

 “Alright.” Zach gave you a look, but dropped it. Turning to face the road, you leaned back with a smile on your face. Today was gonna be a good day, you could feel it.

 ---

 When you got to the Big Spot, you hopped out of the truck and lifted one of your empty bags onto your shoulders. Making sure your pistol was secured in its holster and your knife was strapped to your side, you made your way over to the fence where Daryl and Bob were.

 “The army came in and put these fences up, made it a place for people ta go ta,” Daryl said to Bob.

 “When we spotted this place last week, there were a bunch of geeks in here,” you said.

 “They was keepin’ people out like a bunch’a guard dogs.”

 “So they all just left?”

 “No. Listen.” Everyone went quiet and the faint sound of music could be heard.

 “You drew ‘em out,” Michonne said, impressed.

 “A boom box hooked up to some car batteries will do wonders,” you said.

 “Yeah. Now let’s make sure none of them bastards are left,” Daryl said. “Grab whatcha can, but be safe.”

 He walked through the hole in the fence and you followed close behind. You readied your rifle and walked through the maze of tents. Your eyes were peeled for anything you could use and they lit up when you saw a few guns. Slinging your rifle onto your shoulder, you checked all of the guns, happy to see that the magazines were still full and the weapons themselves in working order.

 “Find something?” Dean asked as he came into the tent.

 “Some automatics. They’re in good condition and still have ammo,” you said. Standing up, you held out one of the guns and Dean took it, automatically checking it.

 “Good find, sweetheart. I’ll go put these in the truck.” Dean took the guns and put them in a bag before heading back to the cars, Tyreese going along with him. You walked to the front of the store where Daryl was.

 You sat on the small wall outside and Daryl sat down a few feet away before banging his elbow on the glass.

 “Give it a sec,” he said. You put your chin in your head, eyes closing as the small breeze washed over you.

 “I think I got it,” Zach said after a minute.

 “Me or Daryl?” You said, cracking an eye open.

 “Both.”

 “Got what?” Michonne asked.

 “I’ve been trying to guess what Daryl did before the turn. [Y/n] and her brothers too,” Zach said.

 “He’s tried for, like, six weeks,” Daryl grunted.

 “Been wrong every time,” you teased.

 “I’m right this time, I just know it.”

 “Alright then. Let’s hear it.”

 “I think [y/n] was a teacher of some kind,” Zach said.

 “Of some kind?” You echoed, a little confused.

 “Well, you don’t seem like a traditional teacher. Like, English or history, stuff like that. But you’ve definitely taught something.”

 “You’re not wrong, but you’re not right,” you said. “I’ve taught people skills that I have, but that’s not what my main profession was before.”

 “Damn.”

 “Now let’s hear Daryl’s,” Michonne said.

 “Well, with the way you are at the prison and you being on the council and knowing how to track. You’re helping people but you’re still a bit, uh, surly.” Zach paused for effect. “Homicide cop.”

 Michonne started laughing and you couldn’t help but let out a giggle.

 “What’s so funny?” Daryl said, looking at the two of you.

 “Nothing. It makes perfect sense.”

 “Actually, the man’s right. Undercover.” Daryl looked at you and sent you a small wink before looking at Zach.

 “Really?” Zach said, surprised that Daryl was confirming he was right. You were doing your best to hold in your laughter but what Daryl said next made you lose it.

 “Yep. I don’t like ta talk ‘bout it ‘cause it was a lotta heavy shit, ya know?” Daryl’s voice was all serious and you laughed, causing Zach to look at Daryl.

 “Alright. I’ll have to keep guessing then.”

 “Ya keep doin’ that.”

 A few seconds later and a small group of walkers ran into the glass behind you.

 “You ready, detective?” Michonne teased.

 “Let’s do it.”

 You stood up and took your knife out of its sheath. Daryl took the crowbar Glenn handed him, Dean and the others coming closer. Glenn stood next to the door, you and Dean standing right in front.

 “Zach, you go stand with Tyreese and Bob,” you said.

 “But I want to help.”

 “This is only the second run you’ve gone on. Do as I say.”

 “Alright,” Zach muttered. He walked over to the two other men and stood next to them, gun at the ready just in case.

 It didn’t take long to clear the walkers, you and Dean making quick work of them. Once they were all dead and out of the way, you walked into the store to sweep it. You and Dean were a team and you quickly made sure there were no more walkers in the store.

 “Alright. What do we need the most?” You asked Dean.

 “Rock salt and silver. We’re almost out of rings and if we keep taking people in, we’re gonna need more.”

 “Okay. You look for those and I’ll look for anything we can use to make more bullets,” you said. “I know we have a fair amount, but it never hurts to have more.”

 “Let’s get going then. No time to waste.”

 The two of you went your separate ways and you immediately went for the dish section. You tossed anything made out of brass, iron, or silver into your cart and after everything was cleared out, you made your way to the weapons. There wasn’t any ammo left due to the army making camp outside, but all of the knives were still there along with crossbow bolts. Stuffing as much as you could in your bag then putting the rest in the cart, you made your way back to the front of the store.

 Taking the stuff and putting it in the back of the truck, you walked back inside. You had gotten all of the things you could so now you were just wandering the store, looking for anything that your group could use. Finding yourself in the kids clothing area, you pulled your duffel around to your front and started shoving clothes that looked like they might fit the kids, taking some bigger sizes too. When the bag was halfway full, a crash reverberated around the store.

 You zipped up the bag and went running towards the source of the noise. Daryl had beat you there and you saw him crouched down next to two fallen shelves.

 “Ya alright? Got any cuts or somethin’?” You heard Daryl say.

 “No, but my foot is caught, man,” Bob said back. You let out a small sigh of relief to hear that it wasn’t Dean caught under there.

 “[Y/n]!” Dean yelled, skidding to a stop. He saw you and wrapped his arms around you. “Thank god you’re okay.”

 “I’m fine, Dean,” you said, hugging your brother back.

 “What happened?” Glenn asked, coming around the corner.

 “Bob’s stuck,” Daryl said.

 “Everyone’s fine. We’re over in wine and beer,” Zach called out.

 With a grunt, Dean and Daryl lifted the first shelf and you helped Zach steady it.

 “I was moving too fast, man,” Bob said. “Ran right into the drinks.”

 “You lucked out, dude,” Dean said.

 “If this thing had come down the wrong way I don’t want to know what could have happened,” Tyreese said.

 “Let’s get you out and finish the run.” You went to grab the other shelf, but a loud crash sounded. Looking up, you saw a walker had fallen through the roof.

 “We should probably go now,” Glenn said.

 “Bob’s still stuck! We gotta get him outta there,” Daryl said. He rushed towards Bob, Zach right next to him.

 “You two get him and we’ll take care of them,” you said.

 More and more walkers were falling from the ceiling, your eyes widening at the sight. Some died on impact with the floor, their heads being bashed in when they fell. But most managed to fall without any damage. You spun the duffel around so it was on your back and grabbed both your pistol and knife, having both at the ready.

 “[Y/n]! Go!” Dean yelled.

 You backed away, Tyreese at your side. He grabbed your wrist and the two of you went running towards the entrance before being cornered by four walkers. Tyreese shot one in the head and you ganked two. The third one managed to duck Tyreese’s next shot and you surged forward to stab it in the head. Blood sprayed on your face and you wiped it away before continuing on.

 Metal began to creak and you looked up to see a helicopter starting to fall through the roof. When you saw that it was almost directly where Bob was trapped, you started running that way. You and Tyreese managed to get there right as Bob got free and Zach was bit.

 “No!” You cried as Zach was pulled down by the walker. His screams were loud and you surged forward to grab him but Daryl pulled you away.

 “We gotta go!” Daryl yelled.

 The creaking of metal was getting louder and with a look up, you saw the helicopter fall. Running as fast as you could, you got outside the building and to the cars. Most of the supplies people had gotten belonged to the walkers now, but some of the group had managed to shove things in bags before shit hit the fan.

 When you were safely inside the truck, you leaned back and let out a sigh. It had been thirty days since someone had died on a run and you wished it had been longer.

 You were wrong about it being a good day.

 ---

 When you got back, it was dark. You were silent as you helped bring the hunting gear to your little shed. Dumping the metal, you got to work sorting them out and putting them in their own little piles. You were so submerged in your work, you didn’t notice someone had come inside the shed until the door closed. Turning around, you saw Beth standing there.

 “Beth,” you said quietly.

 She said nothing but ran into your arms. Her body was shaking and you could tell that she was holding back tears. Shushing her softly, you held her tight, rubbing your hand up and down her back.

 “He’s gone and I never even said goodbye,” Beth whispered after a few moments.

 “Who told you?” You asked her.

 “Daryl.”

 “Did you want to go back? Or did you want to stay here for a while?”

 “Can I stay with you?”

 “Of course you can, sweetheart. If you’re up to it, I could use some help sorting these.” Holding up a cast iron skillet, you waved it slightly.

 “I think I can help. What do you need me to do?”

 You smiled brightly before explaining what you were doing to Beth. It took little over an hour for you to sort everything and prepare it to be melted down in the morning. You could have done more, but you saw Beth yawning and trying to stay awake.

 “I think it’s time for bed,” you said. Beth nodded sleepily and you wrapped an arm around her to keep her from falling.

 When you got to her cell, she was asleep on her feet. Taking her boots off and putting a blanket on top of her, you kissed her forehead before leaving the cell. Quietly walking up the stairs, you got to your own cell to find Daryl waiting for you. He opened his arms and you fell into them.

 “I saw that Beth went ta ya after I told her what happened,” Daryl said after a moment.

 “She did. She seemed pretty shaken up about it but I took her mind off of things with menial tasks.” You sighed and shoved your face in Daryl’s chest. “He didn’t deserve a death like that.”

 “He didn’t. But it happened and we can’t do nothin’ ta change it.” Daryl kissed the top of your head and held you tighter.

 “I know.”

 ---

 When Rick’s alarm went off, you woke with a start. Daryl had already left for his watch shift and you groaned quietly, you covered your head with your blanket before throwing it away completely to get dressed. Putting on a stained tank-top and an old flannel, you pulled on a tattered pair of jeans and your boots. Walking out of your cell, you grabbed a protein bar before making your way down to the shed with Dean. Shoving the rest of the bar in your mouth and rolling up your sleeves, you started working.

 About ten minutes after you got the fire going and when you were about to put the metal in, you heard gunshots. Head whipping around, you made eye contact with Dean before rushing to the main buildings. Dean put out the fire and ran after you.

 “Help!” You heard Lizzie yell. “Come quick!”

 “Carol, what the hell is going on?” You said, panting slightly from running.

 “I have no idea!”

 “There’s walkers in D!” Glenn yelled, running up to you.

 “What about C?” Rick asked.

 “Where are the kids?” You said, eyes widening in fear.

 “It’s clear!” Sasha said. “We locked the gates to the tombs.”

 “It ain’t a breach!” Daryl said.

 “Hershel’s on guard and watching the kids.” Sam came up to you and Dean before everyone went running to D-Block.

 When you got there, everything was in chaos. A man was shooting a shotgun and Daryl quickly took it from him, handing it to Rick. You were quick to save a child from getting bit, stabbing the walker in the head before picking her up and handing her to Sam. He got her inside a cell and closed it before going back over to you and saving you from another walker.

 “Thanks,” you said.

 Turning around, you saw a walker get behind Rick. Flipping your knife, you threw it at the walker, hitting it in the back of the head. Bounding up the stairs, after all the walkers downstairs were dead you checked the cells with Glenn. Daryl was close behind you and when Glenn was attacked by a walker, he shot it. Carefully making your way over, you looked down and saw that it was Patrick.

 “It’s Patrick,” Daryl said quietly.

 “That’s all of them,” Sam said.

 Your stomach was twisting at the sight of all the dead people you knew and you took a deep breath before going back to look in the cells. When you saw someone without a head wound, you stabbed them before moving on to the next cell. When you got to the downstairs and saw the people who remained, your heart broke at the terrified expressions on their faces.

 Suddenly, Daryl was next to you and you found yourself holding onto him tightly. It was short and you were moving up the stairs, Sam and Dr. S. leading you to a cell.

 “There’s no bites or wounds,” Rick said, motioning to the walker in front of you. “I think he just died.”

 “Awfully, too. Pleurisy aspiration,” Dr. S. said.

 “Choked on his own blood.”

 “Patrick looked like that,” you said. “He had the same lines on his face as Charlie here.”

 “And I’ve seen them on a walker outside the fence,” Rick chimed.

 “The lines on his face are from the internal lung pressure. It builds up, like if you shake a can of soda and pop the top. But imagine your eyes, ears, nose, and throat being the top.”

 “Is it a sickness from the walkers?” Bob asked.

 “No. These things happened before they were around,” Dr. S. said.

 “Could it be pneumococcal?” Sam said, crossing his arms.

 “It could be. Most likely an aggressive flu strain.”

 “Someone had good timing when they locked him in,” Hershel said.

 “Nah. Charlie sleepwalked. He locked himself in,” Daryl said. “How can someone die in just a day from a cold? He was normal yesterday.”

 “There was a sick pig. She died quick. I also saw a sick boar in the woods,” Rick said.

 “Birds and pigs are how these things spread in the past.” Hershel looked at Rick. “We gotta do something about those hogs.”

 “Maybe we got lucky and these two cases were it,” Dr. S. said.

 “No one’s that lucky,” you muttered.

 “[Y/n]’s right,” Bob said. “Bugs like to run through close quarters. Doesn’t get any closer than this.”

 “All of us here, we’ve been exposed to it.”

 You looked around at the people next to you and bit your lip in worry.

Taglist:

@jazzy1118

[oraclememehacker]

A Personal Message (SOTFD)

Sitting at her desk, staring at the computer monitors that was shining brightly in the mostly dark room, Futaba was riding an emotional high after telling her team some of the problems that she was dealing with, and why it was affecting her. Some of them were her fear that she had deep down about seeing her teammates getting hurt and worse, and it would all be because of her inadequate Navigating skills. She had been told repeatedly that she was an amazing navi and to not worry about it, but it was still nagging at her. She really didn’t know what to do, until she decided to just lay it all out for her team with a personal message to them.

Team 3,

I’m sorry to have put you all through all my issues that I’ve been through recently. The truth is some of these issues have appeared since I arrived here, and instead of dealing with them appropriately, I’ve been working on being a navi and it’s getting so overwhelming that I don’t know what to do currently. This initial fear that I had about not being a good navi stemmed from how we have to summon our personas. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do it. I managed to, but it still made me worry about my efficiency.

We’ve had some rough battles, especially before the formations of the teams, and it’s only amplified my fears. I’ve seen so many people get hurt and unable to do anything. It’s only made me wonder if all these were my fault, and that I’m not a good navi. You all are wonderful, and I’ve really enjoyed being part of your team, but the thought of some of you getting hurt, again potentially brings such crippling fear that I end up freezing up momentarily.

It’s made me worry that I’m slowly sliding back to how I was before I got my persona. A neet who was so afraid, so hateful of oneself that I wasn’t able to do anything besides be in my room. I don’t think I’m going back fully to those days, I have you all to keep me in check. However, it’s made me think of my mom as well, and how much I miss her, and how much I wish things were different. And with someone who has the ability to change reality, there are sometimes that I wonder if he would allow me to see her at least one more time...

Vivi, you are great. I wish I could’ve participated in the silliness of calling you mom but thinking about it made me extremely uncomfortable. You are someone that I can trust and rely on. I wish I had your strength and determination and the way you present yourself. Sophia, you are amazing as always. We’ve known each other the longest obviously and seeing how you react to new things brings joy to my heart. Michael, I understand your frustrations with the group, and I understand how things are still different and weird for you. Just know I’m proud of you for doing your best with everything that’s going on.

To both Akiras, I of course will always thank my you for helping save my life, for bringing the truth to my eyes and not allowing me to be surrounded by darkness and blinded by the truth. I will make sure to keep you both safe no matter what. Mystery, you’re a good doggo :p. A very good doggo who needs all the pets and treats. Charlotte, you’re the newest one, and I know everything is scary, but trust me, I’ll be there for you no matter what. Makoto, you are also someone that I admire a lot naturally. You are a great strategist, are able to keep everything in check. Plus, you really do have a great body. Not that I think of you as just that...but I am jealous of you and a lot of other women. Regardless, I think you are great, and even though you aren’t the Makoto I know, we can still be great friends again, I just know it.

Thank you everyone for being there for me. A lot of these issues are going to take a while for me to deal with. I’m not sure how I can get this crippling fear out of my heart. Maybe I just need to see a battle go smoothly and for things to get better. It doesn’t help that we have a lot of fighting in the main chat and people acting smug and superior because they think they are better than the drama that’s unfolding. Plus, you have Takaya who’s constantly looking over us and finding ways of dividing us further...

Hopefully soon I’ll be able to purge this from my heart and I’ll be able to work as a great navi that I know I am. I just, I just really need you all to be there for me, as much as I’ll be there for you. Thank you so much for reading this, and let’s all work together to get home properly. 

- Futaba

[fundiebabynamebible]

Keller Family Baby Name Themes and Future predictions

Esther (Keller) and John Shrader

John and Esther got married in 2001 and currently have 12 children; Enoch, Alatheia, Timothy, Nehemiah, Agape, Elijah, Charis, Sophia, Stephen, Isaiah, Caleb and Joseph. Esther will be 40 this year but I think there is likely to be more children. She has a child about every 18 months-2 years. They seem to be doing a Biblical theme for their children. Future names I think they may use include Noah, Charity, Eunice, Jonah, Lydia, Amos, Caleb and Abigail.

Rebekah (Keller) and Kevin Hunt

Rebekah originally married Joshua MacDonald on August 21st, 2004. Rebekah and Joshua had two daughters together; Annabel in July 2005 and Alyssa in May 2007, and then they divorced in May 2015. Rebekah has since got remarried to Kevin Hunt. I wasn't unable to find out whether they have had any children together or if Rebekah is currently pregnant, but she is currently 37 so still of child bearing age. I don't think Rebakah has an A name theme for her kids. Names I think would go with Annabel and Alyssa include Lauren, Eddie, Amelia, Darcey, Isla, Leo, Evie, Richard, Georgina, Summer, Oliver and Eleanor.

Daniel Keller

Daniel married Candice Richards on October 3, 2006 but they divorced in 2016. Daniel and Candice adopted a baby boy named Brighton in 2012. Since his divorce, Daniel has married an unknown woman and chosen to keep his personal life private. Here in the UK, Brighton is a city on the south coast so I would be tempted to use a places theme for future children; Paris, Rio, Bethany, Kimberley, Charlotte, India, Cody and Taylor

Priscilla (Keller) and David Waller

David and Priscilla's wedding on February 4, 2012 was featured on the 19 Kids and Counting Episode 'Duggars Down the Aisle' (Season 6, Episode 10). Together they have five children; Paul, Davia, Phillip, Destiny and Peter. If you haven't worked it out yet, they're doing a P names for boys and D names for girls theme. Names I think may be used for future Waller boys include Parker, Preston, Praise, Paris, Perry, Phineas and Payton. For the girls; Danielle, Daisy, Deborah, Doris, Dana, Delta, Diana and Dottie/Dorothy.

Josh and Anna (Keller) Duggar

Anna Keller married Josh Duggar on September 26th, 2008. Josh and Anna have already said they would be naming their children with names that begin with an M to honor Josh's Mom, Michelle. They currently have 6 children; Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason and Maryella. I think we can safely rule Madison out as being used for one of their daughters. Other possible M names I can see Josh and Anna using include Melissa, Max(well), Molly, Matthew, Mercy, Marlon, Melody, Melanie, Moses and Moriah.

Susannah (Keller) and York Bridges

Susannah gave birth out of wedlock (scandal!!🙄) to a baby girl named Noelle in January 2013. She married York Bridges on September2, 2019 and is currently pregnant with her second child and due in May. I've read the baby is a boy but there was no source to back that up. Names I think will go with Noelle include Harry, Eleanor, Isabelle, Aubrey, Christopher, Alexander and Charles.

Nathan and Nurie (Rodrigues) Keller

Nathan and Nurie married on July 25th 2020. They are currently expecting their first child. For their baby names I think they will either use an N name theme or J name theme. Jill will insist on the J name being Josh, John, Jana, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph Josiah, Joy, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn or Josie. N names I think they could use include Noah, Natalie, Nicole, Nathan Junior, Naomi, Nancy, Nevaeh, Novak and Nolan.