#Cordelia and Olivia are my best best girls

[kit-o-nine-tales]

are you normal or are you replaying all the Fire emblem awakening confession scenes in the dark at midnight just to feel something?

[emblemxeno]

Welcome back! <3 What's your opinion on the second generation of Shepards? There are definitely some that could use some more development imo

Thanks for the welcome back!

(Sorry for the long post, I just kept writing and writing lol)

I agree with the sentiment to a certain extent. The second generation I feel are as well written as they could be (especially since time travel is a story tool I'm not fond of), but definitely benefitted from Future Past. Even though the Future Past kids aren't the same exact characters we have, they act as a 'what if' version so I count the development as one and the same.

However, to be a bit specific, one thing about them stood out, and it's indicative of a peculiar, unfortunate aspect of FE13's cast as a whole.

The boys are written with more taste, consistency, and sensitivity than the girls. Though outliers exist (like Lucina and Severa), the second gen girls are kind of cheap? They get more "humorous" supports (i put humorous in quotes cuz I don't find a lot of the jokes funny), and are treated less seriously as a whole.

Cynthia is like a sidekick or guinea pig more than an actual participant in the conversation sometimes (which I guess is funny in an ironic sort of way); Kjelle's supports are really vapid, offering nothing that her mom didn't, and delivered with a less entertaining speech pattern, and there's only a few things worse than being boring to me; Nah... is honestly kind of a mess, teetering between playing the mature straight man, and being the most childish and annoying creature ever (e.g. I hate a lot of Nowi's supports, but Nah's support with Laurent is singularly worse than all of them and is a contender for the worst one in the game); and F!Morgan, while her actions and dialogue are supposed to be cute, I find them to be kind of boundary pushing, alarming, or even downright mean sometimes.

Again, Lucina (some of the best supports in the game period, being varied, having great dialogue) and Severa (her self esteem issues recontextualize every support chain in an artful matter) avoid this, as does Noire for the most part (she's written pretty sincerely as comedic or melancholy when she needs to be), but the four ladies I mentioned beforehand can just be... bleh. Being honest, were it not for Future Past, Cynthia, Nah, and F!Morgan would've been several marks lower. Their peaks are lower than what Inigo, Yarne, Laurent, and Brady provide, and Owain's comedy lands a lot better than theirs as well.

Though, like I said earlier, this is indicative of a larger problem I have with Awakening's writing. Since the game was written with the prospect of being the last, the popular Japanese entertainment tropes were all thrown into the mix, and they tend to be at the expense of the women. Sumia's clumisness, Sully's experience with sexism being kind of surface level (i.e. not something that feels connected to the world of the game), Tharja being Yandere 101, Nowi in general, etc. A third of them comment on being a mess in the kitchen, they blush due to crass comments or outright weirdo requests 3x more often than the men, a good chunk of them are written to get pissed at a drop of a hat, and so on.

Hell, lots of the women in my 'Favorite' or 'Love' tiers on my list, also have 1 or 2 utterly terrible supports that really exemplify this. Lucina's support with F!Robin (when they're not parent and child) is godawful; Maribelle suffers when her subtle desire to be loved or charmed is brought to the forefront (e.g. her support with Virion is like Gray/Clair if Gray was also a noble, and her support with Gregor is very tepid and flavorless when she's usually very entertaining); Cherche and Olivia suffer when they have zero chemistry with their conversation partner; Cordelia suffers when she plays straight into the 'superior perfectionist' bit (Frederick, Donnel), using her conversation partner as a way to vent about Chrom (Frederick again, Henry, Gregor), and outright becomes a nagging mom/wife who cleans up her man with Gaius; and Panne suffers when the writers decide to ignore how her race was enslaved and hunted to near extinction in favor of other characters (often men) getting to play with her ears, cuddling with her fur, or calling her cute when she doesn't want them to.

Most damningly, F!Robin is several marks lower than her male counterpart despite being the same character in-story, because a good deal of her unique supports write her badly (Chrom, Lucina, Aversa, Yarne) or barely at all (Brady, Anna, Owain). Even supports that got a laugh out of me-which is a big accomplishment-like with Lon'qu, still aren't stellar cuz they play on her being almost a caricature; like she's "Robin but a woman (derogatory)" instead of just... a version of Robin.

[djtitus921]

What are your favorite ships from Fire Emblem Awakening? Outside from Chrobin, you seem to like: Vaike x Lissa, Henry x Olivia and Frederick x Sumia. I am currently writing a fanfic about the Shepherds and their life's (During, After, and Before the Plegian war) and some of your videos had somewhat been inspiration on how the character's interact with each other. I was hoping if you could give me some insight.

Gladly! Most of my reasoning are going to be from my own messed up headcanon world and because i am a lunatic, i am going to name like 25% of the Awakening cast because I use like 20 units (most of them being child units and dlc) and never switch them out. So im prolly not gonna be much help

Chrom x Robin - Chrobin had always been my favorite, because of the whole Romeo and Juilet thing goin on with Chrom's Exalt blood and Robin with Grima's blood. Plus i imagine that their kids are the strongest in the whole game due to their genetics. I also imagine Robin is the one who REALLY wears the pants in the relationship (even tho Chrom doesn't want to admit it) But I love the image of the royal family being probably the weirdest bunch out of the entire Ylissean Royal bloodline. With Chrom being a man who can't stop breaking things with his immense strength and doesn't think about things all the way, Robin being the technically only smart and logical one, but still doesn't know how to be a proper royal (neither does anyone else in the family), Lucina is smart yeah, but not with common sense. And Morgan is gifted with Robin's intelligence, but somehow manages it to only put it to making traps and finding ways to use Falchion as anything else but a sword.

Frederick x Sumia - Frederick is a perfectionist that married a complete clutz. And Frederick was a complete sweetheart during their conversations. He was so patient with her and never gave her a hard time for her mistakes. Plus Cynthia is practically Sumia who is hyped up on coffee 24/7. So for Frederick to have to deal with his chaotic family everyday, is not only wholesome, but hilarious.

Vaike x Lissa - Vaike was willing to discard his rivalry with Chrom to make Lissa happy when he proposed to her. And he respected her and Chrom for being a royal and not having a boujee attitude. And he said Lissa was "beautiful as a goddess" Plus a big bonus for this ship is that Vaike's and Chrom's rivalry seemed to be passed down to Owain and Morgan

Maribelle x Ricken - I love the fact that both of them are Ylissean nobles and Ricken always tries to prove himself to others that he is not a child but he also wants to restore his house to it's former glory. But a cool little parallel to Ricken and Maribelles relationship is that Maribelle did the same thing to Ricken what she does to Lissa, when Ricken saved her from Gangrel. She became overprotective and tried to get him out of the shepherds in an attempt to protect him

Lon'qu x Cherche - Cherche (being the best girl as always) is the one (out of two) who lifted the burden off of Lon'qu about Ke'ri. Gerome being Lon'qu kid kinda makes sense too. I imagine Gerome is a big loner compared to the rest of the Future Shepherds.

Stahl x Cordelia - This is purely because i think Stahl and Cordelia are neat and Cordelia was the first girl i S-supported when i first got the game 10 years ago. And because im a fool, i figured to put two of my favorite people together. But i will say this tho, Severa with Stahl's hair color is not bad

Henry x Olivia - I feel like this is probably the most chaotic family outta all my favorite ships. Henry is just a lovable killing machine. Olivia is an adorable crit/killing machine. And the stats they give Inigo aint too bad neither. Henry's and Olivia's C support made me fall in love with Henry's character. But Im going to ignore the copy-paste supports with Henry getting mad at Inigo in the B support because its somewhat out of character. But i feel like both Henry and Olivia are always compassionate to their son. Olivia is the tender one, who showers Inigo with love and affection and Henry is the one who always makes sure Inigo never loses his smile. (And completely unrelated to the ship by Inigo having Plegian blood is kinda cool because i ship him with Lucina and she too has Plegian blood, soooo.... yea)

Those are pretty much it. Everyone else is either because i dont use them or they dont have supports other than Robin

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, January 7

Oz : Big lunch? Veruca : I like to eat. I hate chicks who are like, "does it have dressing on it?" Oz : (Nods.) Agreed. You guys were tight last night.

~~Wild at Heart~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Jukyō no tōchi? a.k.a. Confucian Reigns by kerk_hiraeth (Good Omens crossover, Faith, Tara, PG)

Last Year's Rain Didn't Fall Quite So Hard by Coraniaid (Buffy/Faith, T)

trying to drown in the fountain of youth by bodytoflame (Buffy/Faith, T)

Furtive by TheCatMendacity (Tara & Oz, not rated - worksafe)

Familial Revelations (ATU 400) by Cynder2013 (Buffy/Tara, T)

Stuck at Home for the Holidays by Kittenwritings (Buffy/Faith, G)

ordinary, special, chosen by InvisiblePinkToast (Dawn & Tara, G)

for a kiss is always a gift by slambat (Buffy/Tara, G)

like family by Melacka (Buffy & Giles/Olivia, G)

these feelings tend to leave me with a hole in my chest by toyhdgehog (Buffy/Faith, T)

father, tell me (do we get what we deserve) by Cynder2013 (Faith/vampire Willow, M)

A Sexy Meal by DeamonQueen (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Buffy's Night Off by hulettwyo (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

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The Fox's Cry Chapter 4 by madimpossibledreamer (Persona 4/Angel Crossover AU, Cordelia, T)

The City on the Edge of Forever (That Never Sleeps) - Chapter 1-2 (COMPLETE!) by MCorey1317 (Buffy/Angel, M)

Where the really wild things are, Ch. 36 (Scoobies, FR21)

A Breath is But a Soundless Whisper, Ch. 12 by Blackoberst (Buffy/Spike, 18+)

Clean Slate, Ch. 1 by hulettwyo (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

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[saiilorstars]

Dare To Forget Me

Ch. 53: The Impending Meet

Previous chapters // Montserrat’s masterlist

Fandom: SVU // Pairing: Rafael Barba x OC

Warnings: Due to the nature of the series’ plots, I do have to rate this as ‘mature’ for constant mentions of rape.

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @anotherunreadblog​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @averyhotchner​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @abzidabzy​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @hellofutur​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @foxesandmagic​​​​​​​​​​​​ @xovalliegirlxo​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[If you’d like to be added to this specific OC’s stories/edits, send me a message!

When Amanda returned from her trip, she came back with another report of a victim and since that claim also came with the clear bribery of Mr. Bauer, the squad had no choice but to return to the man and get the details straight. At least this time, he wouldn't deny the story when he was brought into the precinct. This time, he and his daughter would be speaking with Rafael and Amanda, see if it would switch their stories around talking to different people.

"So I gave this Marcie girl five grand. She had no memory of what happened. It was the same cockamamie story Carla told," Bauer had shrugged his shoulders like they were talking about something casual.

"But...you hadn't heard Carla's story yet, and Macie-Lynn was six months ago," Amanda pointed out the error in his explanation.

Baker stumbled over his words. "Well, I may have the timeline confused…"

Cordelia stepped in to save her father. "My father runs a multi-billion dollar company fielding hundreds of emails and phone calls a day. You can't expect him to remember who said what when."

"Very true," Amanda agreed then added, with a sweet smile, "But I'm pretty sure he'd remember handing out bonuses the way these girls have claimed you have. Money tends to be hard to forget, especially if it was linked to somebody else coming to you about Shakir, right?"

Of course neither Bauer nor Cordelia had much to say after that, much less when Rafael took over. "Mr. Bauer, you're looking at witness bribery. Think hard."

"Okay, actually, we are done here," Cordelia said quickly, but her father had other ideas.

"No, no, no. There was a gold digger, a black girl...works in retail. I didn't believe a word she said."

Cordelia looked like she was ready to put her own hand over her father's mouth but the damage had already been done. Later that day, Olivia would send Amanda and Montserrat to go talk to that very girl about the situation.

"I like working here. I don't want no part of this," Tiana said first and foremost when she'd been pulled to the side in her store.

"So you think if you talk to the police, you're gonna lose your job?" Montserrat asked. It was a fair assumption to make based on who the biggest star of the company was.

Tiana nodded her head. "Mr. Bauer said Shakir is the golden goose, a role model for my community. Look around, we all have our jobs because of Shakir." And of course proving her point, the store was currently packed with customers. "I'm on a store manager track here."

"And he told you that after you went to him?" Amanda made the next assumption. She wasn't that far off. Tiana reluctantly nodded again. "Listen, honey, from personal experience? Pretending something didn't happen doesn't make it go away."

Montserrat blinked and instinctively looked at Amanda differently. With her, Montserrat could never be sure that whatever Amanda was saying was for the case or because it was actually true. The way Amanda said that right now left Montserrat wondering the same thing. Was she being honest? That shouldn't matter right now, though.

Montserrat shook her head to forget about her thoughts. "Hey Tiana, it's best if you just talk to us with the truth." The woman still seemed reluctant but after a bit more insistence, she started to speak.

~ 0 ~

"Hey," Montserrat strolled into Rafael's office with a file in hand, that of their latest victim. She dropped the file on his desk, motioning him to read it and when he didn't, she shrugged. "What?"

Rafael was giving her a look like he was trying to figure her out and that was puzzling given this was a strictly professional visit. Everything he needed to figure out was already on the file. "That's all you're saying?" he asked, still sounding like he was testing her.

"What...else am I supposed to say?"

Rafael tilted his head head at her, eyes narrowing for a moment. "Is this a test?"

"If it is, can you let me in on it because I have no idea what you're talking about."

His face fell flat. "Montserrat."

"What?" she almost laughed out of sheer confusion. "Didn't Olivia tell you we were dropping this off?"

"Yeah, I just...I didn't think you were coming to drop it off."

"Why wouldn't I?" Montserrat stiffened when an idea popped into her head. "Did you...did you want to cut our interactions short now? For the whole contract we had to sign?"

"What? No!" Rafael sighed. Even though sometimes he would admit (only to himself though) that he liked her challenging ways, he didn't want to play it right now. "I thought you were upset with me because of the...meeting the parents stuff?"

"Oooh! Well, you could've just said that! You let your mouth run all the time, dammit!" Montserrat huffed, missing the way he rolled his eyes at her. "After thinking about it, I decided to give you the space you need to really consider it."

"Seriously?" Rafael raised an eyebrow at her. Her giving something up like this wasn't exactly her way.

Montserrat shrugged her shoulders. "I actually talked to Carisi about it, so you can thank him for this. You should probably start a tally mark about this—"

"Okay, okay," he said quickly, waving that matter off for the moment. "So...you're okay for now?"

"Yes," she sighed. "I'm not going to pressure you. You know what I'd like for us to do but you have to do it out of your own accord. If you think we're not ready for that then...we'll be ready later on."

"And you'd be fine with that?"

"Yes, so long as we're fine," Montserrat's expression was cautious when she spoke.

Rafael realized she was waiting for him to confirm that, yes, they would be fine. Challenging as she was, she could also be a little bit naive sometimes. "Yes," he smiled at her. "Of course we are, and we will be. Thank you."

Montserrat nodded at him. "So...that file?" she tapped a finger over said file. "I told Liv this would be a professional visit. It's the only way she let me come on my own."

Rafael laughed. "She'll be hanging this over our heads for a while." He picked up the file to finally read it.

"Better her than anyone else," Montserrat said.

Rafael would agree. "You know I'm doing my best to avoid Casey around these parts?" It was Montserrat's turn to laugh. "She's like a version of you, only with the same skills as me."

Montserrat smirked. "Now imagine if I did all this for a living?" She made a gesture to his office. "You wouldn't be able to take me."

Rafael looked up from the file to meet her gaze. It sounded like a tempting challenge but if he was being honest, she was already too much for him sometimes. She was exactly how she needed to be and she really complimented him. It was a novelty, really. He wondered if she truly understood that.

"Your silence means defeat," Montserrat said much too proudly for Rafael to want to taint.

His mouth opened on instinct to snap but he closed it in time. A light 'sure' slipped through a moment later. She straightened up with even more pride of her triumph. It was endearing.

"Alright," she tapped a hand over the file on the desk, "This is the new girl, new victim, that Rollins and I spoke to." Rafael picked it up to skim. "She sounds legit, she definitely had things to say about Shakir." He was getting that gist the further he read. "Liv reallys wants you to talk to Shakir and his new representative in this legal matter."

Rafael lowered the file to meet Montserrat's gaze. It was much too big of a smirk not to take the bite. "Who would that be?"

"Our dear frenemy Calhoun." She nearly laughed at his reaction.

"Of course. I'll handle it, I guess...of course…" He started in a new light, even a sneaky smile that Montserrat couldn't yet figure out. "It's always good to have a detective around."

"Oh, so now you want a detective at your side?" She asked, hands on her hips, as she reminded him about his earlier comment to her at the precinct. "I thought a detective was too tiring."

"Montserrat…" He should've known that comment would come back and bite him. "Montserrat, cariño—"

"Na-na-na," Montserrat wagged a finger at him, "Don't you 'cariño' me, ha! That's not always going to work." She planted her hands on his desk, leaning over with a smirk on her face. "Sledujte svoje ústa okolo mňa."

He knew he was in trouble, she was clearly scolding him, but Rafael couldn't get past the way her foreign tongue sounded. Plus, coupled with that smirk on her face? God. "What was that, my dear?" he asked in a pitiful mumble.

"Watch your mouth around me," she translated smoothly. She leaned off the desk, once again proud of herself with his reaction.

"Always," he said automatically, making her chuckle. He shook his head, reprimanding himself for being too weak, though he was sure that the next time Montserrat pulled something like that he would fall again no doubt.

"Hurry up and read the damn thing already," she said as she grabbed a seat across him. "I can be very impatient, you know." Just for show, she kicked her feet up on his desk, raising an eyebrow at him to say something about it. She was pushing buttons and they both knew it. How far would he let her go? The tingle of the suspense was the thrill she loved.

"Montserrat Irene Novak…" Rafael muttered under his breath. He grabbed the file again and decided to focus on it entirely before he lost it again. He did, however, catch her smirk from over the file.

~0~

Calhoun was representing Shakir, much to Rafael's annoyance. She brought Shakir to the office and both listened to the case that seemed to be getting bigger and bigger.

"Tiana Raynes. Sharkwear salesgirl is your latest victim," Montserrat told the pair. There was a flash of recognition in Shakir that didn't go unnoticed by her and Rafael.

"And she kept her panties?" Calhoun raised a clear suspicious eyebrow.

"Yeah, there was semen on them and her dress," Rafael answered with a tight smile. "Better than an autograph."

"When does she allege this took place?" Shakir demanded.

"You were in her store for a march madness event, Mr. Wilkins."

"I was everywhere for march madness. 16 cities in 16 days."

"This was in the Sharkwear flagship store. Tiana took a selfie with you and your cutout," Rafael said as Montserrat brought up said picture on a tablet. It was clear as day. "That's her, that's the dress."

"Okay, she met him," Calhoun shrugged.

"Well, she says he did more than that, so we are going to need a DNA sample today, Mr. Wilkins," Montserrat put the tablet down on the desk.

"No, no, look, I wanna be totally straight here," Shakir said before anyone said anything else. "I was in a bad place. I just lost my marriage. And my wife and I separated on new year's, and yes, I've been dating since."

The term was so loose and everybody knew it.

"And you "dated" Tiana Raynes?" Rafael asked.

"No, hooked up. One time, after hours, in a...a dressing room, and it was her idea."

"Yeah, but that's not her story," Montserrat cocked her head. "See, she told me you drugged her, and she woke up the next morning in the store, her dress stained."

"She says this now, five months later?" Calhoun said, face expressing obvious mistrust. "And she just happened to save the panties? This is well-timed blackmail."

"Look, she's lying about the rape," Shakir said.

"Yeah, like... Carla?" Montserrat sighed sarcastically, "Like Macie-Lynn? They all say that you bought them a drink, and the next thing they remember, they were naked, and they had been violated!" It was hard to believe it in the beginning too but every story was aligning with their predecessors.

That didn't stop Shakir from shouting the opposite. "They are lying too!"

"About what? Tiana's lying about being raped? But you did have sex with her, and the other two, they're lying about everything?"

"Okay, okay, I don't know what's going on here, but Carla, and the other one... Macie-Lynn? I may have had sex with them also."

"And if you did, it was consensual, isn't that right, Shakir?" Calhoun cut in sharply and quickly, as was her usual talent.

"Yes, absolutely. I mean, so I wasn't all warm and cuddly afterwards. I like sleeping alone. You know, spending the night, spooning, it's not part of the Shakir Wilkins experience."

"Mm, not surprising giving the stories," Montserrat flashed him a disdainful smile. "By the way, do you have a prescription for Ambien or Xanax?"

"Yes, of course I do. I can't sleep most nights because my wife is trying to take my son. And that's why I couldn't admit to the sex. She will crucify me with it in the custody battle."

He wasn't wrong there. Unfortunately he wasn't looking at the big picture. "You've got bigger problems than a custody battle, Mr. Wilkins," Rafael promised him. Calhoun knew enough to believe it.

~0~

"Okay, now Shakir is saying he did have sex with all three of them?" Olivia asked after Montserrat returned from Rafael's office. The detective dutifully nodded her head. "And let me guess, it was consensual." Once again, Montserrat nodded.

"It's possible," Sonny spoke up from his seat. "I once had two girls claim their dad molested them, just to get him to pay their student loans off."

"No rape kits. No outcry at the time. Barba's really gonna go forward with this?" Fin asked, leaving Montserrat to nod again. Her neck might hurt after this.

"Give it a rest, guys. I didn't want to believe it either. But we've got three consistent stories, and there's no evidence that the women compared notes…" Amanda said, everyone knowing she had been first in line to disbelieve these girls.

"They may be just after money," Nick pointed out. It was obvious that he, Fin and Sonny still held some of that disbelief. Even Montserrat found herself going back and forth sometimes. She never wanted to turn a victim away but there were a few points that made her feelings shift.

"They already got it from Bauer!" Olivia exclaimed.

"To keep quiet about being assaulted," Sonny corrected her, fully ducking his head when Olivoa threw him a glare.

"You want an outcry witness? Bauer's your guy."

"Good luck! You think Orion Bauer's gonna tank Shakir?" Fin scoffed.

"Mm-mm. I'm predicting health problems, mini stroke, something," Sonny said.

"We do have him on witness bribery charges. That gives us leverage," Montserrat shrugged. The daughter would definitely know that too which would hopefully lead to a compromise.

"In the meantime, let's vet the three complainants," Olivia decided. "Money issues, personal histories, and any previous false accusations." The others dutifully agreed and dispersed for their desks.

~ 0 ~

Despite a challenging conversation, Bauer reluctantly agreed to testify against Shakir. Everything was supposed to go smoothly despite the shaky case, but they caught a breakthrough when one of the victims, Carla, recorded a meeting between her and Shakir. It led to the full arrest of Shakir until the trial began.

A few days before the trial was set to begin, Orion Bay went on the air to announce the termination of Shakir's contract. It was all over the news and on repeat all day that even when Montserrat returned home, her ears were still privy to the broadcast.

"Turn that off," she groaned to Kara as soon as she came in.

"Well, safe to say I know the answer to 'how was work today?'," Kara said as she turned the television off. She looked over to her best friend taking off her coat. "Hey," she called with narrowed eyes, "Where's my boyfriend who promised me a delicious take out—" Sonny walked in just as she was about to finish that sentence and when Kara saw the bags in her eyes, she beamed. "My absolute best boyfriend!" She hopped off the couch to go greet him.

"Best boyfriend?" He repeated with a frown. "Does that mean there's more I don't know about?"

Montserrat rolled her eyes when Kara planted a kiss on him that shut him right up. "You're both annoying but since I want food I won't say anything." She walked by them and essentially grabbed the bags from Sonny's hands.

"That's not saying anything?" Kara made a face, giggling when Sonny very quietly said 'I wonder what she would do if she did have something to say?'.

Montserrat let it go for the sake of her hungry stomach. "Let's just eat. It's been a long day."

"I'll bet," Kara said as she and Sonny joined her in the kitchen. "It's all over the news, interrupting my shows too by the way. How big is it over there?" Both Montserrat and Sonny snorting at the same time was enough of an answer. "Okay, maybe switching topics is a good idea…"

"Yeah," went both detectives as they passed each other their respective orders.

"Hey!" Kara snapped her fingers when something came to mind, "How's that 'meeting the parents' bit coming along with Rafael?"

Montserrat froze. Her eyes flickered to Sonny who had quickly ducked his head to the box in front of him. "You're dead, Carisi."

Kara looked between them, wondering why her boyfriend was under threat. Sonny shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not looking for any arguments," he explained, something that had Kara nodding with approval.

"He's so smart, isn't he?" She curled her arm around his and rested her head against his shoulder. "I thought you looked kinda funny—"

"Funny?" This was definitely not getting better for Montserrat. "What the hell does that even mean?"

Kara pulled her arm from Sonny's to set her hands on her hips. "Montserrat, I've known you for years, like a decade really. You think I don't know when something's bothering you?"

Montserrat huffed. That was a fair point. "I'm not 'bothered'," she clarified. "Not anymore."

"Yeah, you're welcome," Sonny said, only to have a very sharp 'shut up!' thrown at him in return.

"Sure you're not bothered there?" Kara almost laughed.

"I'm not," Montserrat reassured her. She grabbed a seat and opened up her box of food. "I talked to Rafael, I told him I was giving him space. I'm not interested in pushing something on him that he doesn't want to do." It's the last thing she would ever do to him.

"He'll come along," Kara waved it off. "How do you plan on breaking the news to your family, though?"

"Gael already knows," Montserrat reminded her.

"Yeah, but he doesn't know who. And your dad has no idea about it. Got any plans?"

Montserrat shrugged. "I don't know. I figure just dinner or something."

"Why not something here?" Kara beamed at her own idea. "Oh! You can have something here and we can invite your family, even Casey to cushion the news for your dad."

"What?" Montserrat couldn't help but laugh. Casey was the last person who would 'cushion' anything about her dating life. If anything, she would make fun of them in front of her father.

"It actually could help ease the tension," Sonny put in his two cents when Kara started rambling about the evening in mind. "That's what Barba was worried about, right? He already knows Casey, he has some relationship with Gael—a limited one but something nonetheless—and Kara and I could even be around if that helps."

Montserrat smiled appreciatively at the two of them. For all the jabs she took at them and their relationship, the innate drive of them to help her constantly with her own relationship was something she would be thankful for. "You guys would do that for me?"

"Yeah!" they both exclaimed.

"When Rafael says 'yes', because we all know he's going to eventually agree, we can have everything set up!" Kara promised. Sonny chuckled when she started listing possible dinner ideas. He started eating from his own and maybe even picked from her box.

"It may not be for a while, Kara," Montserrat said. "I'm really just going to let him think about it for as long as he needs to."

"Well yeah but it'll eventually come up. So we can have your dad, Gael and the girls?" Kara laughed with Montserrat at the idea of her nieces meeting Rafael. "Oh, I can't wait to see what Ivana has to say."

"Juliana is the one that worries me," admitted Montserrat. Teenagers and whatnot.

"And I'm sure Casey will help no matter what. Plus, I'll be here," Kara gestured to herself then Sonny, "And of course my boyfriend and your partner who will say nothing but good things. I'll even bring along Damian!"

Sonny nearly choked on a bit of pasta, his endless coughing pulling the gazes of the two women. Kara patted his back while Montserrat stared with the deepest of confusion.

"You okay over there?" she asked.

"Y-yeah!" But he still coughed for a few more seconds. "Just...wrong pipe…"

"Gotta slow down there," Kara chuckled, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Yeah," he cleared his throat twice before he was able to stop. He wondered if it had even crossed Rafael's mind the inevitable meeting between him and Damian. He has to by now. It was simply too important to forget. He suddenly wished his girlfriend wasn't that big of an organizer because he had no desire to be around that gathering.

Unfortunately, Rafael would have no choice.

[karouvas]

so a month ago when I was really deep in tsc feelings I wrote this then thought I’d come back to it to write long explanations for each song but now long explantations coming seem unlikely so I’m just going to post this anyway here are some TSC chars aligned with Olivia Rodrigo songs as I see fit!

TSC characters as Olivia Rodrigo songs 

all-american bitch: Tessa anthem!

bad idea right?: couldn’t be more Blackstairs from Emma’s pov

vampire: this one I can see justification for applying to a few chars/situations but ultimately decided the one I like best is this is about Magnus + Camille. 

lacy: this was the hardest to find a tsc equivalent for but I ended up going with Cordelia and Grace

ballad of a homeschooled girl: Drusilla Blackthorn 

making the bed: Mathew Fairchild 

logical: I wouldn’t have made the connection if I hadn’t been rereading the book when this album dropped but it’s Tessa’s pov on Wessa in Clockwork Prince specifically. 

get him back!: lyrics of this song could apply to different characters but as a whole it makes most sense to me as a Maia song. 

love is embarrassing: Isabelle song!

the grudge: this one is not my original thought so credit to @julianblackthornsattorney for giving me the idea but it’s Emma Carstairs.

pretty isn’t pretty: Clary 

teenage dream: this could fit so many chars but I really like it as a Kit song, 

brutal: omg Such a Julian song like!

traitor: Cordelia re: James and Grace end of Chain of Iron. 

drivers license: Blackstairs end of LM / early LoS

1 step forward, 3 steps back: Wessa 

deja vu: Kieran about Mark/Cristina in Lady Midnight

happier: Mathew/Cordelia and James 

favorite crime: Alastair @ Charles 

hope ur okay: Kit about The Blackthorns and specifically Dru and Ty 

[colesmurf23]

(OC) Estee Mario

Bio: Estee Mario

Name: Estee

Nickname: Essie

Gender: Female

Age: 26

Sexuality: Asexual

Birthday: April 22nd

Relationship/Boyfriend: None Yet

Family Members: Marci (Mother) Mar (Father) Marimo (Big Brother) Luisinoho (2nd Big Brother) Skylen (3rd Big Brother) Thurlow (4th Big Brother) Noora (Niece) Maxwell (Nephew) Marlin (Nephew) Noel (Niece) Manfried (Nephew) Marlyssa (Nephew) Moses (Nephew) Nerissa (Niece) Nuna (Niece) Nea (Niece) Micoletta (Niece) Mickey (Nephew) Luiggi (Nephew) Luigina (Niece) Clo (Niece) Coe (Nephew) Cloris (Younger Niece) Madea (Younger Niece) Olivia (Younger Niece) Hailee (Younger Niece) Cube (Youngest Nephew) Starr (Youngest Niece) Vicktoria (Sister in law) Jamarr (Brother in law) Victorio (Brother in law) Jamell (Brother Law) Jamesie (Brother in law) Victoire (Sister in law) Colette (Sister in Law)

Personality: Girly (rarely), Adventures, Active,Helper,Clam, Protector, Brave,Caring, Strong, Wise,Smart, and Cooker,

Friends: Greedy Smurf Chef Smurf Papa Smurf Nat Smurfling Slouchy Smurf Purple Toad Julianne Ebbe ( Best friend) Calynn Korene (2nd Best friend) Bleu (3rd Best friend) Clova (My Bestie's oc and 4th best friend) Keira (My bestie's oc and 5th best friend) Roxelana (My bestie's oc and 6th best friend) Rosara (My bestie's oc and 7th best friend) Cordelia (My bestie's oc and 8th best friend) Kelsie (Our oc and 9th best friend) Keara (Our oc and 10th best friend) Annalise (Our oc and 11th best friend) Maddison (Our oc) Sharkie (Our oc) Lavonne (My bestie's oc) Maybelle (My bestie's oc and 12th best friend) Kelly (13th best friend) Bellarosa (Our oc) Corissa (Our oc and 14th best friend)

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Season: Spring and Fall

Favorite Holiday: Mayday And Thanksgiving

Fun Fact: Estee is a very girly young woman. She doesn't like to do much girly things. Expect for going on adventures with her brothers. She may be girly, but she is very active when it comes to helping her mother. And helping Princess Peach. While Princess Peach is on a trip. It is Estee's duty to look out for the Kingdom while she is away. Since Estee is going to be a queen someday and rule her own kingdom in her family. she pretty much love hanging out with the toads. she mostly hangs out with Purple Toad. That's why she is very active when it comes to watching over the kingdom. When the Kingdom is in danger while the princess is out. She is very calm to evacuate all the toads that is in toad town. She calmly tell them to go to the forest to protect them. She may be girly, but she protects the toads. She is very brave to stand up to Bowser. She may be girly, but she likes to keep her braveness a secret. So no-one knows what she really is. She have no choice but to be girly around her family. but not around her family when it comes to being brave and strong. she is also caring as well. That's why Peach only Trust Marci And Estee to look out for the Kingdom while she is out. as a princess, she can be very wise and smart. she sometimes outsmart Bowser. But doesn't see it. She is very wise.

Extra: Estee is the last and final child of Marci, she is the youngest. She was born when her mother was in her early 30s. Estee can be very girly. Just because she is wearing purple. She can still be girly. When she was a little girl. Her mother Marci gave her a crown. Since she will be the queen of her family. When her mother Marci is out of the picture. she also love to cook with her mother Marci. Her and Marci have a strong bound together. She is also the only girl in her family. Since most of her siblings are males. She may be a princess. But she love going on adventures. As a teen. Everyone wanted to be her lover. But couldn't. She also have a very very strong bound with her father Mar. She love her father a lot. and Deerly. She'll take great care of her father. Also she really doesn't get along with her 2nd oldest brother Marimo. But she also have a very strong bound with her younger brothers. Skylen And Thurlow. She love her brothers a lot. and they get along real well. Unlike her brother Marimo. Who she doesn't get along with. They may not get along. But that is still her brother. She also have a hidden talent, no one not even her family knows about it. That she can draw really well. and she love painting. And another thing. She love koopa and koopalings. She love hanging out with them. But her big brother Marimo and Luishino is keeping her away from hanging out with them. she doesn't even mind if their bad guys. She mostly hangs out with her koopaling and koopa friends every month on the 22nd. She loves them alot.

Estee belong to: me

Mario Species: Nintendo

Art made by: me

#human #mariooc #princess #alternateuniverse #alternativeuniverse #alternate_universe #oc

[samalion]

Fire Emblem Awakening: The intended couples After all these years of regularly posting ships I came to realize I never posted my final conclusions for Fire Emblem Awakening. I’ll try to go in depth for each couple/child and why I think these were supposed to be the default couples. These couples are based upon their story, not on their best possible stats. In case you are curious: spoilers ahead! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chrom & Sumia This an obvious one, they are the poster couple, the true default and the easiest attainable. Sumia is already crushing on Chrom beforehand, plus she is somewhat featured in the story early on as opposed to other love interests. The only competition to Sumia would have been Olivia and Robin. If you are playing female Robin, I would recommend her with Chrom and Sumia with Frederick. Olivia doesn’t make sense because Inigo (Laslow) flirts with DLC Lucina in Fire Emblem Fates. This would be creepy if they were considered siblings. Sumia also makes a lot of sense for Lucina as a mother, because their support is mainly about fashion, Sully wouldn’t make sense here. Chrom is also a good dad for Cynthia as he might be the biggest hero of them all. Lucina and Cynthia as siblings are also a reflection of Chrom and Lissa themselves. Cynthia has a similar hairstyle and is a bit tomboy-ish, like her aunt.

Robin & Lucina Since male Robin is the default option, I’ll use him for this example. Robin is really difficult to find the fight pair for, especially with the DLC characters added. Walhart and Aversa both offered unique skills and white hair, which would be nice for Morgan. But since Morgan’s default class is Tactician, it makes sense that their parent is also someone who makes sure they get that passed down. Lucina ultimately wins over these candidates, simply because her confession image is the ONLY one with a different background. Marrying her to Robin also gives them unique dialogue options down the road during the story. It’s also interesting that the blood of the exalt and the blood of Grima are both in Morgan. Additionally if you keep your characters their base class and play the paralogue at level 20 (which I use for every child unit) Morgan will have Aether and will learn Ignis later on, having both unique offensive skills. And finally, because the pairing of Robin and Lucina is so complex, the third timeline Morgan comes from makes more sense.

 Lissa & Vaike

Lissa was a difficult one to pair because she matches well with almost anyone and Owain doesn’t really reveal any traits. It was either Vaike or Henry. Lissa and Vaike are both laid back and bond with their admiration of Chrom. Vaike yells several catchphrases into battle, which is probably what Owain adopted, though a bit over the top. He gets his blonde hair from Vaike, to match Lissa’s hair color, similar to how Lucina looks like her father. Owain and Vaike both aspire to become great heroes and he would definitely take an arrow for Owain. Vaike’s default class also gives Owain Zeal, which gives him extra critical hit points. A nice treat for a myrmidon.

 Sully & Stahl

I try to avoid same-classes as couples because those seem really obvious. Sully and Stahl are an exception though. They’re often used side-by-side, which helps to grow their supports. It might also be fanservice for people who shipped Cain and Abel. Stahl scores good points because he is one of a few characters with an affinity for food. It makes sense for him to be able to cook for Kjelle, but also to have tested Sully’s food. On top of that, by having two cavalier parents, Kjelle will have both cavalier skills on top of her knight skills, making her a two-in-one.

 Miriel & Kellam

Miriel was the hardest character to pair someone with, since Laurent gives of no hint of his father’s dna at all. But that’s where the clue lies. Kellam’s undetectability also works for his genes, creating a Miriel clone in the process. It doesn’t seem out of place for him to tickle Laurent to loosen him up. The Indoor Fighter skill is also very much an introvert skill. Miriel’s ending also mentions how she made history, which works incredible with Kellam’s: “her husband’s name has been lost to history”

 Maribelle & Donnel

It’s either him or Vaike. They both have an accent, which Brady inherited, they are both commoners which is a nice contrast next to her and they both help her develop as a character. Donnel’s Underdog skill on Brady makes sense and Donnel doesn’t exactly seem like the person to take a moment for tea, but would rather keep working. Maribelle ending up living with Donnel’s mom also is a hysterical ending.

 Panne & Henry

Henry already likes her for being part animal. He’s also the reason she went to safe the exalt. There isn’t anyone else that works with Panne the way Henry does. He loves animals so it makes sense for him to get an animal-like child. Panne claims she might be the only one to be able to change Henry, which is probably why he turned out a good father. Henry’s starting chapter is 13, which is also Yarne’s paralogue number. And who wouldn’t be a scared mess with a father like Henry?

 Cordelia & Gregor

One of the easiest ones. Gregor makes it obvious in their A-support that he is into Cordelia, so it’s canon regardless who you pair them up with. Gregor also makes sense why Severa acts so spoiled, but also caused her to work hard for what she wants. She also became a mercenary like him, avoiding pegasi that remind her of her mom. I’ve always wished I could pair up Cordelia with Chrom though…

 Nowi & Ricken

The oldest with the youngest. Ricken is statistically the partner who would stick around the longest with Nowi. Her old but childish nature matches very well with Ricken’s young but maturing nature. Nah really reflects that Ricken energy, trying to prove her worth to others and acting more mature than they are. Nah really had to grow up fast, having two children for parents. And that she gets a serious skill like Focus, just confirms this only more.

 Tharja & Gaius

Their support is a good lead-up to a romance. I don’t think him liking bad girls was part of the curse. They’re both not the nicest people, though their intentions aren’t too bad. They couldn’t care less about their odd couple ending. Gaius is the perfect person to steal Tharja’s equipment to protect Noire. Having an archer with extra movement is nice too, especially considering it’s our meek Noire.

 Olivia & Virion

The entire reason my couple hunt started. Olivia says in their A-support that she find Virion dreamy, so once again it’s a canon attraction regardless their pairings. Olivia obviously taught what she learned from Virion to Inigo, which is why he acts and looks like him so much. He has a similar way of speaking as him and even his hair looks somewhat like a shorter version of his. Virion’s default archer class also offers Inigo Prescience, which works well with his already existing Patience skill, giving him permanent +10 on dodging.

 Cherche & Lon’qu

Every female support Lon’qu has, helps him ease his fear. But Cherche really takes the cake with that. She helps him learn the truth of his past and overcome his trauma. Her knitting him warm clothes in the cold Regna Ferox is a neat detail in their ending. His aloof nature is passed onto Gerome and them being distant towards each other makes a lot of sense. And Gerome with vantage makes wyverns even scarier.

[faulkners]

『 SYDNEY SWEENEY, TWENTY-ONE, CIS WOMAN, SHE/HER. 』 can you believe it’s a new season of sweethearts? i’m rooting for OLIVIA “LIV” FAULKNER. they’re the STUDENT from BURLINGTON, VT. back home, they’re often described as +INDEPENDENT and +CHARMING, which i guess i could get behind. their -MANIPULATIVE and -CUTTHROAT side makes great television, though. you know, they kind of remind me of chewing gum, shiny lip gloss, & screaming in the bathroom at a party. i wonder who their match is. i guess i’ll have to tune in to mtv to find out.

ooc: hi all! im gray ( 19, EST, she/her ), im excited to be here, this is my baby girl olivia! she’s actually evil and not here to make friends. 

links !

pinterest

spotify

basics !

full name: olivia blake faulkner

nickname: liv

hometown: burlington, VT

age: 21

date of birth: 06/06/2000

sun sign: gemini

moon sign: leo

rising sign: sagittarius 

venus sign: gemini

occupation: student at the university of vermont

sexuality: lesbian

height: 5′3

MBTI: ENTJ

temperament: choleric

enneagram: 8w7

inspirations !

kim kelly ( if she was rich ) / leighton murray / cordelia chase / paige michalchuk

need to know !

so, it went something like this: “livvy, look. there’s this new show, like a dating show. all lesbos, though.” “hm. i would be so good on reality tv.” “yeah, ‘cause you’re hot, but not this show, though. ‘cause wouldn’t your dad, like, throw a fucking fit?” “yeah. he so totally would.”

alexa, play rich girl by gwen stefani! liv is the youngest child & only daughter of two prestigious firm lawyers. she grew up in a house that taylor swift would call “not a mansion” but, like, it was big as hell and luxurious. she’s a material gorl!

with how much her parents left her alone, liv figured out pretty quickly that if she wanted attention, she’d have to get it outside the home. picture the mean girl in the middle of every teen movie poster; at any given age, liv had a posse of a few other girls who walked around being kind of rich and kind of mean with her. 

basically the only way liv did get her parents attention was playing piano; she’s a total prodigy, going to prestigious music camps and the best teachers, and she’s diligent about her practice, though she doesn’t talk about it that often unless she really needs to brag - it’s just not as glamorous as she wants to make herself out to be.

during high school, she had a bunch of boyfriends, too, but they were basically just toys to her, and even after realizing she liked girls better, liv never outgrew that - she’s got this tendency to reject the idea of serious romance all together. everybody is just an accessory, or a quick fuck; arm candy at best. 

not that she makes that clear! liv loves to toy with people’s emotions; make them feel seen, like she thinks they’re so interesting, but to her, it’s all just stupid flirting - because she can’t open up her heart, not even to herself. or maybe just because she’s an evil bitch.

and she is, you know: an evil bitch. because she isn’t here to make friends, she’s here to make enemies, and make money, and she’s all too happy to play the villain for the cameras and away from them. 

she’s used to being unwanted, though she’d never ever say that. so it’s just so much better to reject everyone first, or make herself so unattainable, before she can get hurt.

and that’s one thing about liv: she’s so sensitive, it’s insane. she feels everything so deeply that she outright locks that side of herself off and becomes the ice queen instead, because she doesn’t want to feel any of it.

so, there it is: she was never really cared for by her parents, but she was expected to be perfect ( normal! straight! proper! ) and she tried to be, even though she always felt inferior ( especially to her older brother ). she’d take out her negative feelings on others by just being bitchy, and between her parent’s very conditional ‘love’ and years of dating boys just to say she did, she never truly learned to connect to people - could this show change that?

extra backstory / trivia !

liv goes to the university of vermont - a public ivy, ‘cause daddy wouldn’t pay for yale.

gorgeous gorgeous girls do lock themselves in the bathroom and cry for 3 seconds on their birthday before redoing their mascara and getting white girl wasted

olivia basically invented homoerotic codependent high school friendships that end with friendship breakups that hurt way too much to be normal. she also invented fighting with your frenemy just to have an excuse to touch them. those are the facts.

high school was a time for olivia; i said she never really connected to anyone, but that’s not totally true. when she was 16, one of the girls in her posse of pretty friends was name melanie, and melanie and liv were close. really close. liv would play piano for her; they’d share liv’s bed when melanie slept over. liv thought she was reading all the signs right, so she didn’t care that she had a boyfriend when she leant forward and kissed melanie

melanie didn’t feel what liv felt - she pulled away, grabbed her things, and said she was going to tell everyone. liv basically said ‘they’ll believe me over you,’ threatened to destroy melanie’s social life, and was a total cold bitch about it - she didn’t cry until melanie left, even. but then she cried. 

she knew that what she felt for melanie was different than what she felt for boys - she knew she was probably gay, even, though she couldn’t accept it, at least not out loud. still, as she got older, and got to college, she started letting herself hook up with girls, even if she wasn’t that open about it. 

last year, though, she took one girl - a girl she liked and maybe even could have felt more for, if given the chance - to her family’s vacation home in the hamptons. privacy for the weekend, she said. then her parents walked in on them kissing ( liv didn’t know he was coming! ) 

this... was a problem. totally unacceptable in the faulkner family - and daddy was gonna cut her off, and she was fucked, but god, is liv manipulative, and a good liar. basically, she gaslit, gatekept, girlbossed. it was just a little kiss! that’s how girls show affection nowadays. her parents bought it because they wanted to buy it. 

and liv was relieved - and ashamed - and hated herself - and then again, she didn’t feel like hiding anymore. if she wanted to fuck girls, then she would; it’s not like she was gonna marry one. so, she stopped being secretive about it. she started publicly flirting with everyone, toying with everyone, indiscriminately ( though she doesn’t really enjoy it with men, but she likes to mess with them ). still, that was just at college - her parents didn’t know.

they’re totally gonna know now, though.

yeah, this is how she’s coming out. and she’s totally getting cut off, but that prize money? it’ll pay for her last year in college, easy. and she’s sure she’s gonna win. she might be losing her family, and her trust fund, but she’s going to be okay.

[yellowspiralbound]

Just finished Fire Emblem Awakening and wanted to do a master post!

S-SUPPORTED PAIRS

Chrom & Sully - They're beards and married for political reasons only.

M!Robin & Sumia - This was an accident 😅

Lissa & Henry - I tried to keep the children paired w/ each other and Henry had the cutest supports w/ her between him, Ricken, and Donnel.

Frederick & Miriel - Look, I don't know. I just really liked them together.

Virion & Panne - I honestly really liked these two. The bond they forged over their loss and Virion's respect for hers being a greater loss, the bit about the moon at the end... I just really liked them.

Vaike & Cherche - Minerva approved so 🤷

Stahl & Tharja - I'm sorry, Stahl. I really needed Noire though.

Ricken & Nowi - Children will not be marrying adults as long as I'm around.

Maribelle & Donnel - Opposites attract, what can I say? And its cute that Brady talks like Donnel.

Cordelia & Gregor - I was running out of men to S- Support.

Libra & Olivia - I was running out of men to S-Support

Lucina & Gerome - They were the first kids I married and I kinda wish I hadn't tbh.

Owain & F!Morgan - I'm a sucker for the idea of past lives and Owain worked so hard for her.

Inigo & Cynthia - Didn't want to put them with anyone else.

Brady & Nah - Was running out of options

Severa & Yarne- Was running out of options

Laurent & Noire - I really wish I hadn't

Ships

Chrom & M!Robin - this is like the whole plot

Lissa & Henry - See above

Virion & Libra - It's the only explicitly gay thing in this game

Sully & Sumia - HORSE GIRL LOVING HORSE GIRLS

Maribelle & Donnel - See Above

Panne & Olivia - Panne wants only the best for her 😌

Panne & Virion - See above

Panne & Olivia & Virion - Just my two favorite Panne supports who happen to have a great support set themselves. How couldn't I?

Say'ri & Tiki - Say'ri literally dedicated her entire life to Tiki

Owain & F!Morgan - See above

Inigo & Gerome - Enemies to lovers type beat.

Severa & Noire - Pure and so lovely. Severa protects Noire and it helps her love them both. I just love them.

Favorite Characters

Virion - At first he seem like just a prick and he is, but he also loves his people enough to lose everything for them.

Sully - Tomboy but in a "Girls protect girls" way

Sumia - Clumsy baby that loves animals

Panne - Fierce warrior women who is hard to get to know yet loyal as fuck

Cordelia - I really resonate w/ the whole genius thing she has going on and how she feels she can never live up to the image others have of her.

Gregor - Comedy

Libra - I have a ton of religious trauma and Libra exemplifies religious trauma but in the opposite direction of my own if that makes sense.

Olivia - Shy, sweet, and easy to love

Henry - Desensitized to literally everything and 15 seconds away from mass murder

Donnel - Maybe it's because I'm from the country but I love the "I got out of my town and made something of myself" trope.

Owain - Comedy

Noire -...I don't have a reason I just love her.

Overall, pretty good! I'm doing Brithright now :)

[elefics]

torment / chapter 4

word count: 3.4k

The week after the ball, I heard nothing from Michael. Not seeing him tied my stomach in knots.

It took me a while to realise this was what missing him felt like. It was more intense than anything else I’d felt for a boy before.

I’d had boyfriends, if you could call them that. In high school, I’d had two brief flings with two boys who didn’t know how to be boyfriends (not that I was very good at any of it either, but I knew they weren’t doing it right). It felt funny to put Michael in the same train of thought as high school boyfriends. We’d spoken a handful of times, but the connection I felt to him was different. It was a pull in my core, like my soul was reaching out of my body. I knew there was more to him. I knew I’d barely scratched the surface.

One morning, Cordelia stopped me by the stairs. There was an urgency in her eyes.

“Lyla,” she grabbed my arm tight in her grip. “I need to ask you something, and I need you to answer truthfully.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodding slowly.

“That boy you were with, the warlock, at breakfast. What do you think of him?” She asked.

The wind was knocked out of me. I focused on breathing evenly and keeping myself upright as my hands shook against the banister. I brought all my energy to my core, envisioning blue, calm light there. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I was totally serene. Cordelia blinked, waiting for me to answer.

“He seems nice. A little quiet, reserved. Why? What’s wrong?” I asked measuredly.

She twisted her lips. “I can’t place it. That morning, I had a vision. Something bad – something evil, overwhelmingly so, is coming. I felt it when I looked at him.” Her voice shook. I saw a flicker of fear in our matriarch, and it was only then that I felt something might be…off about Michael.  

“What did you see?” I asked.

“Death. Decay. So much terror and heartache and darkness. I can’t explain it. I didn’t know where else to turn…” Cordelia trailed off.

“What do you mean by that? Cordelia, what happened?” I urged.

“You must be Lyla. I’ve heard a lot about you, and this boy Michael.” An old voice rang out from the top of the stairs.

I recognised the flaming red hair first. Myrtle Snow.

She was meant to be dead. I’d only ever seen her in paintings and pictures. According to Cordelia, she was one of the best women the Academy had ever seen. She was kind, strong, intelligent. Cordelia often teared up by the fireplace when she recounted stories about Myrtle. Seeing her here, in the flesh, with Cordelia trembling beside me, I knew something was wrong. Cordelia would never have brought her back if she wasn’t at her wit’s end. How had I not known? How had we all missed this?

“Myrtle Snow.” Her red glove extended towards me. I shook her hand and smiled weakly.

“Cordelia, dear, I believe we have an appointment.” Myrtle said, looping her arm through our Supreme’s.

Today, Cordelia was off to visit the warlocks, along with Zoe and Myrtle. She had been busier in the last two weeks than she had all year – diplomacy was her priority right now. I could tell she still had her reservations; over dinner, she’d stare into her wine glass for minutes without blinking, churning over the events of the day. She often went off to meetings and wouldn’t be back until after dark. She was up to something, or maybe she suspected someone else was.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Michael, and Cordelia’s questions about him. He was a boy. A warlock, and apparently a powerful one, but as far as I’d seen, he was just…a boy. What could they want with him?

“Girls! Come down here, immediately!” Cordelia yelled. I jumped from my chair, taking the steps two at a time to see what was wrong.

Two new faces stood beside Cordelia. I recognised them immediately, just like I had Myrtle. I’d seen them in photo albums around the house, but had never met them myself – Madison and Queenie.

“My girls. My beautiful, beautiful girls. Your sisters are home.” Cordelia cried. Myrtle squeezed her hand reassuringly.

A few other girls had congregated at the bottom of the stairs. It was like seeing a ghost. One thought ricocheted around the room like a bullet: How?

“Someone make some tea. We have much to discuss.” Myrtle commanded.

That day, over half empty cups, Cordelia told us everything.

That beautiful boy, the one I’d danced with all night at the ball and who’d adorned my neck with diamonds, was more powerful than he let on. My very first thought was, I should have taken what Jerome said on board. Was it a warning? A message?

“Michael brought our girls back. While grateful, I simply can’t see how he could be the next Supreme. Warlocks have never, ever claimed this title. As far as anybody knows, it’s impossible.” Cordelia mused. Several witches nodded enthusiastically.

“He gives me the creeps. Something about him isn’t right.” Olivia, a witch a few years younger than me, said. Her nose wrinkled in disgust. I clenched my jaw defensively.

“I just can’t see it. I went to the ball with him. He seems so…normal.” I spoke up, surprising even myself.

Every pair of eyes in the room swivelled to face me.

“What’s he like, then?” Olivia sneered.

“Quiet. That’s all.” I said, looking into the bottom of my cup.

“He doesn’t seem so bad. He was at our table, seemed like a decent guy…and he saved our sisters.” Penny spoke up.

I was flooded with gratitude, which I’m sure she felt, as she shot a smile my way. At least I didn’t look crazy on my own.

“That may be so. Regardless, I want you all to be more alert. Because tonight, we’re going to the Hawthorne school. Michael is to perform the seven wonders.”

A gasp ripped through the girls.

“I haven’t even had a chance yet! That’s not fair!” Olivia whined.

Cordelia smiled tightly, “This title is a burden, Olivia. You should be glad you’re not in the spotlight tonight,” She sighed. “I am not happy about it. But if this boy is as powerful as the warlocks say he is, I cannot stand in the way of the coven.” She squeezed both the returned witches’ knees affectionately.

“Be ready by dark. Look presentable.” Myrtle ordered finally.

---

The day, and all its confusing revelations, exhausted me. I fell asleep in my clothes at three in the afternoon. I dreamt of Michael, as usual. This time, he was grabbing my hand, pulling me further and further into the rolling green fields beside the Academy, running – I couldn’t tell if it was away from or towards something.

“Lyla. Lyla, wake up. Lyla-”

Sweat slicked my forehead when I jolted awake. My room was empty and drenched in golden light. I sighed heavily, squeezing my eyes shut and open again.

Like a mirage, Michael stood in the yard outside my window. I blinked to make sure I wasn’t still dreaming. He smiled, and without a word exchanged between us I was hurrying down the stairs. Most girls were too busy with study to notice. I slipped out the back door like a ghost.

“Hi.” He greeted me, reaching out for my hand. My skin buzzed at his touch. He immediately led me away from the house, into the field like in my dream. He smiled, but kept his gaze fixed on the horizon.

I wasn’t used to this kind of contact with Michael – his thumb drawing soft, unconscious lines across the back of my hand. He seemed completely at ease.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Somewhere quiet. Away from them.” He cast his eyes back towards the looming shadows of the Academy.

I kept quiet the rest of the way. Instead of talking, I drank him in. I felt like an addict, clinging to any scrap of Michael available to me. His black combat boots crunched against the dry grass. He donned faded black jeans and a black tee shirt, a departure from the more formal attire I’d seen him in. I admired the smooth golden skin of his upper arms, and the freckle near his elbow. The chain I loved so much was hanging across his chest. I bit my lip and tried to keep my thoughts quiet, locking them tightly in a box inside me. I hoped it was enough to stop him overhearing.

Eventually, we came to a tall tree with just enough shade for the two of us. Michael sat down cross-legged and waited for me to do the same. Our knees touched, and neither of us moved away.

“What’s with all the secrecy?” I whispered.

“First of all, I heard you earlier. You called me normal.” He fake pouted.

“Well, they certainly don’t seem to think so,” I sighed. “Why?”

“It’s complicated.” He picked at the grass, scattering blades in the breeze.

“Everything’s complicated with you, huh.” I looked at up him. Every time I thought I was starting to get to know him, another wall went up between us.

He smiled, taking my hand into his. He played with my fingertips gently, traced the lines across my knuckles. “You have no idea.”

“So, the seven wonders test. Everyone’s losing their minds in there.” I laughed. Personally, I didn’t give a shit if the Supreme was a witch or a warlock. But I hated the idea of losing Cordelia…and I didn’t want to fathom that that might be the cost of Michael’s success.

“Will you be there?” He asked softly, looking up at me. His baby blue eyes looked so vulnerable, so innocent. He needed me, whether he’d admit it or not.

My heart swelled in my chest as I nodded. “Of course.”

He leaned closer, our noses half an inch away from each other. “Can I kiss you?” He breathed.

“You’ve never asked before.” I whispered. My heart was in my throat.

“This is different. For good luck. Can I kiss you?” He repeated.

I kissed him before he could ask again. This was different to his kisses at the ball – before it was lust, now it was…something else. He kissed me like I was air, like he needed me to survive. His lips fought mine hungrily, moving closer until my back was against the solid tree. His hand cradled the side of my face, tangling into the base of my ponytail. Pinned there, tight against his body, Michael made me forget anything existed at all.

---

The sun was setting by the time I slipped back into the house. Leaning against the front door, my head spun like a coin. I was dizzy with bliss – kissing Michael was how it was supposed to feel, I was certain.

He’d had gone a different route, avoiding the house all together. While the witches were on high alert, we had to keep things quiet. He peppered my face with kisses on that last corner, before he turned right and I continued. I still felt their warmth.

“Where have you been?” Zoe asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

“For a walk.” I’d never been good at lying, but I shocked myself at how easily it rolled off my tongue. I had a feeling spending time with Michael was going to make me a very, very good liar.

“Car’s ready.” She shrugged, leaving the front door open for the remaining girls.

The Hawthorne School didn’t look as nice as Robichaux’s from the outside, but the inside was dark and lush. Wine-red lounges sat on cool cement floors, and every wall was lined with old books. Cordelia and Myrtle sniffed with disdain, claiming the air reeked of unwashed teenage boys. I tried to hide my eye rolls. The witches filtered in, and the cement doors slid shut. We milled around the common area, chatting idly with the warlocks, but the air crackled with anticipation. I hadn’t seen Michael yet.

Ariel and his men stood by the hallway, muttering under their breath to one another. John Henry lit up another cigarette, tapping his foot impatiently.

I made my way to the edges of the room, wanting to melt into the walls. If Michael wasn’t here, I had no desire to be here either. As I inched around the outskirts of the room, I felt a warm pair of hands around my waist. He pulled me backwards into the pitch-black hallway and I didn’t flinch.

“I missed you.” He whispered against my lips. The jeans and tee shirt I’d seen earlier were discarded – tonight, Michael was in a full black suit, with a small silver pendant close to this collar. I laughed softly. It had been a few hours, tops. I had this kid in the palm of my hand. Michael didn’t seem happy to overhear this; he bit down on my lip, then wedged his knee between my thighs. Rocking it there, the friction was unbearable. A moan rose in my throat, but Michael clapped his hand over my mouth before it surfaced. I ran my tongue against his thumb and his eyes darkened, even in the low light. He kissed me again, deeply.

“Tonight, doing all this, know that all I want is to be here with you.” His eyes smouldered with intensity. I believed him.

He pushed me into the room softly, smirking in the darkness. He didn’t come out until he was called.

Ariel’s hand rested on Michael’s shoulder like a proud father.

“Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, is a momentous occasion. The first warlock to ever attempt the seven wonders. Michael Langdon.” Ariel said his name like a prayer.

“No need for theatrics. The first task is telekinesis.” Cordelia said shortly.

Michael summoned the fire poker from the fireplace across the room, landing in his hand with ease. My heart soared with pride, then guilt. How could I be happy for him, and be a witch? Weren’t the two at odds with each other?

“Vitalum vitalis.” Cordelia declared.

A small, brown mouse lay dead on the tabletop. Michael gathered its tiny body into his hands, closed his eyes, and in seconds the animal was alive, sprightly.

“Concilium.”

Zoe and Madison’s bodies were pushed together by invisible forces, and they danced an awkward waltz. This all seemed to come so easily to Michael – he was the real deal.

“Divination,” Cordelia said, scattering a handful of stones across the table. “The locket hidden somewhere in this building-”

Michael immediately rose to his feet and strode to a small cabinet. I hadn’t even noticed it when we’d arrived. But somehow, he knew. The golden locket hung between his fingers delicately. The smugness emanating off Ariel was palpable.

“Transmutation.” Cordelia spoke. There was a smile in her tone – clearly, she thought this would be Michael’s downfall. She was searching for a chink in his armour.

Michael stood in the centre of the room. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. When I blinked, he’d moved twenty feet, to stand beside the warlocks. The boys’ cheers filled the room. Again, with a small puff of smoke, he appeared beside me, across the room. I longed to touch him, but quickly remembered where we were. He smiled softly. I ignored the witches’ sounds of disgust.

“Pyrokinesis.” Cordelia’s voice shook a little now.

Ariel handed Michael the short blade. Without a second guess, Michael sliced his palm open, letting the blood drip into the flame of a candle. The light was brighter than anything I’d ever seen – nuclear, incredible.

“The final task, descensum. Today, I am not asking you to perform this wonder. I am asking you to conquer it. You must retrieve Misty Day.” Cordelia said. My gut twisted – I was torn in half. One part of me knew Cordelia was grasping at straws, desperate for a rule change this late in the game to dethrone any potential Michael had at being our leader. The other part of me knew something about this boy wasn’t magic at all, it was something more.

Ariel asked for a word alone with Cordelia. The room burst into chatter the second they left.

Michael stood beside me, hands behind his back. His confidence radiated like flames.

“Are you nervous?” I whispered, keeping my gaze ahead of me.

“No. I have you.” He whispered back.

After some heated debate, and Cordelia appearing especially flustered, Michael laid on the floor, reciting incantations. Six minutes. That’s all it took. Six minutes for him to descend into Hell, Misty’s own personal suffering, and bring her back to life. He barely broke a sweat.

After standing up and straightening his jacket, Michael glowed with pride. He avoided looking at me, knowing better than to draw attention to us, but glanced my way a few times. I tried to make my thought as loud as possible – I am so proud of you. You’ve done so well. Thank you for bringing our friend back.

“Cordelia.” Myrtle spoke, eyes wide with worry. Our Supreme’s nose had begun dripping with blood, and she quickly stumbled.

“What’s happening?” I asked, rushing to Cordelia’s side. I felt her arms quivering weakly.

“What always happens when a new Supreme rises: the old one fades away. We demand what’s ours.” Ariel spoke, his face hard with determination. The other warlocks nodded in agreement.

“You are a pathetic pompous ass!” Myrtle yelled. It seemed to be directed at all the warlocks, not any one in particular.

“I did everything you asked. I descended into Hell, and I did what you couldn’t. I brought her back. I passed the seven wonders. Unless you want to add another one.” Michael’s said calmy, with a pinch of sass. His expression scorched under the surface.

“No. There can be no doubt. You are the next Supreme.” Cordelia managed, before falling to the floor.

“Cordelia!” I yelled, reaching out for her. Among the chaos, Michael smiled.

---

Later, in a room off the main corridor, Cordelia sat wrapped in a blanket. I hid just outside the door, listening. I had to know what was going on, what they were planning.

Misty brought in a cup of tea, and I ducked into the shadows.

“I knew you for such a short time, but I missed you forever.” Cordelia said softly, looking at Misty in awe.

“You should have left me where I was. That man you sent to fetch me – he gives me the heebie-jeebies. There is something wrong with him.” Misty whispered.

No. I can’t accept that.

“When he came to get me, he was…talking to somebody. Something. I could hear their gibberish, all around the classroom. Evil was speaking to him.” Misty recounted.

“Delia, what have we done? We’ve anointed that boy the next Supreme.” Myrtle lamented.

“He will never be the Supreme. I needed to know how strong he was. I knew there was something…dangerous about him, something dark. I had to keep him close, so we’d be ready. Something is coming. I can feel it. Michael Langdon has already given us an advantage – I have all my girls back with me.” Cordelia smiled.

My heart was by my feet and my arms were covered in goosebumps. There was no way Michael was as bad as everyone said he was. I knew in his core, there was good. I just had to bring it to light.

The women stood to leave.

I quickly snuck away, watching where I stepped so as to not let them know I’d been eavesdropping. Taking a few steps down the corridor, I hid I the shadows like a creep until they’d moved back into the common area.

“How long have you been hiding, angel?” A familiar deep voice asked behind me. I yelped, and Michael grabbed my hand to let me know it was him.

“You scared me!” I whispered, smacking his chest lightly.

He smirked, chuckling to himself. “Listening in on gossip?” He teased.

My stomach churned. “Something like that. They’re worried about Cordelia.” I lied. I focused on that blue light inside me, hoping Michael wouldn’t sense my heart racing. I knew in my heart I couldn’t tell him what I’d overheard, not yet. I had to understand it for myself first.

“How are you feeling, boy wonder?” I asked lightly, tracing the outline of his tie.

“Tired, and seen – I’m sick of everyone staring at me.” He growled, flicking his eyes at the warm light of the common room. He brought my hand up to him mouth, brushing his lips against my knuckles. I shuddered.

“I need coffee. I know a place.” He smiled, taking my hand.

 taglist: @theneverendinghunger @outpostmichael @angelicmichael  @leatherduncan 

[hauntedscreams]

🌟💕 (all)

🌟 …someone my muse trusts.

(ted)

ted trusts a little too easily at times, but the main people he trusts are enzo, daisy, and molly. he doesn't keep secrets from them and he knows they would never repeat anything he tells them.

(jackson)

rita, sera, and cordelia. he knows all three of those girls would never betray him for different reasons.

(amabella)

she trusts ramona and she trusts her cousin, tig. she knows they have her best interest at heart.

(kingsley)

he trusts val with absolutely everything. fabian and frank also know any secrets he has, not that there really are any, but he would trust them with his life in a heartbeat.

(bellatrix)

bellatrix and trust don't exactly go hand in hand. she trusts certain people with certain things, but there isn't anyone she fully would confide in.

(tilden)

tilden trusts daisy and mara. he knows he can go to them with anything.

(alexander)

the only person alex fully trusts is emma. which is funny considering she is an open book, but he knows any secrets he might have are safe with her.

(rosalyn)

roz trusts fenrir, emma, and the rest of her pack. the family they have all built together is based on trust.

(olivia)

she trusts he brother for the most part. also, sera, cali, and paris. but, she doesn't hide too much, she is kind of an open book, for better or most definitely worse.

(cooper)

he trusts his siblings and araminta. the bond that he has with his family is a huge part of who he is, and araminta is basically an adopted part of that family.

(henry)

henry only fully trusts niamh.

💕 …someone my muse loves.

(ted)

ted loves all of his friends, but romantically? he is quite sweet on andromeda. he can already tell he is falling in love with her, whether it is a good idea or not.

(jackson)

rita. he would do anything for her.

(amabella)

she loves her friends and bad ideas.

(kingsley)

valerie has his entire heart, body, and soul. she is his everything and he loves her immensely.

(bellatrix)

herself? the dark lord. her sisters, in her own way.

(tilden)

daisy, he has been and always will be in love with daisy hookum.

(alexander)

emma, though he would say it is just because she is his best friend. though, that would just be him denying the true extent of his love for her.

(rosalyn)

fenrir. he is her soulmate and everything she could have dreamed of in a partner. she knows they have one another through everything.

(olivia)

she loved araminta in her own twisted way. it was the reason she knew she had to let her go.

(cooper)

he loves his siblings more than anything else in the world. though, he is ever trying to deny his growing feelings for nora.

(henry)

he loves niamh to the moon and back. he believes that they were destined to be together and he can't remember his life before he fell for her.

[green-eyed-whumpster]

My OC Universe: Rowan 109

Chapter 109 Summary: Rowan and Peter struggle a bit trying to find their dynamic once Cordelia leaves. Also sorry about yesterday i was [insert strongest excuse here]. (Tags: @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi, @much-ado-about-whumping, @abitefullofeverything, @whump-me-all-night-long, @sky-or-something-idfk and @tears-and-lilies)

Trigger Warnings: PTSD whumpee, cuts, blood, dead animals

Rowan felt very uncomfortable the first night after Cordelia left. He didn’t want her to leave, he wasn’t as afraid as he used to be with Peter, but still he didn’t know if he was entirely at ease with her gone.

“Are you sure you’re all right with me sleeping in here?” Peter had asked as he sat on the edge of his bed.

“Yeah, I don’t mind,” Rowan smiled unconvincingly.

“If you need anything, I’ll be right here,” Peter said, climbing under the covers. Rowan nodded in agreement and shifted against the wall, looking to Olivia longingly. He liked her sleeping with him, but he didn’t want to upset Peter.

“Do-do you mind if Olivia sleeps on the bed with me?” He asked nervously. “Just for tonight,” He added quickly.

“Of course, Rowan!” Peter replied, adjusting his pillows. “I’ve already told you, I don’t mind Olivia sleeping with you if it makes you comfortable.”

“Thank you, Peter.” Rowan said softly and glanced to his faithful companion, who leapt easily onto the mattress and curled up beside him. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t make a mess or anything.” He promised.

“It’s fine, Rowan,” Peter reassured him. “Olivia’s a clean girl, just try and rest, all right?” Rowan nodded obediently and settled into the pillows, a hand resting between Olivia’s shoulders.

~

Peter noticed Rowan’s nerves, but was afraid of drawing attention to it, just in case it upset him. It was awkward for a while, with the pair tip-toing around each other, Peter would make distant conversation to try and make sure Rowan was all right, and Rowan would reply in as few syllables as possible.

“I don’t think you should go see your father at the moment,” Peter said one morning after Rowan had asked. “I don’t want you to get overwhelmed. Maybe we should wait until you’re a bit more used to Cordelia not being here,”

Rowan was hoping for that distraction, for something else to focus on rather than Peter’s presence that seemed to grow to the point of suffocation. He didn’t want to have to wait anymore. But he wouldn’t argue with Peter. Peter usually knew better than Rowan.

“But if your hands feel any better you can continue carving, if you’d like?” Peter added, seeing how Rowan reacted.

“Maybe, thank you,” Rowan replied. “I would like to,”

He was good at working, he enjoyed working. Peter would have to physically stop him in order for him to have lunch, or come inside because it was getting dark. He was diligent, Peter thought, and could be very beneficial if only he were slightly sturdier.

The way Rowan’s eyes blazed when he finished the spoon was like he was born again, he had never looked so confident to Peter as he held it out for the hunter to examine. Peter saw the pride swirling in his chestnut eyes as he turned over the utensil, it was something he had made, something he had done, mostly on his own, something that could make their life easier. And the grin that broke over his face when Peter commented on the craftsmanship was unlike any other, the pride stepped aside and allowed gratitude to twinkle in the corner of his iris, unfazed by the enormous and tight hug he enveloped Peter in as thanks.

When Peter suggested he continue to make spoons, and forks and other artefacts that he could sell, Rowan had never felt so powerful. This could be a job, he could be like Peter and provide. Maybe not to the same extent, since Peter seemed to do half a million things a day, but perhaps he could earn his keep. He didn’t want to rely on people’s kindness to survive anymore, he didn’t like feeling as though he owed people, because then they could ask anything of him, and he couldn’t deny it. But he could never really pay Peter back.

“Could you teach me to break that down?” Rowan asked while watching Peter cut up the carcass of a rabbit he had brought inside, the nights were getting longer as midwinter drew closer, and Rowan pledged never to be outside when the sun went down and Peter was not with him.

“You want to learn how to prepare a carcass?” Peter asked curiously. “You’ve never liked the idea of handling an animal,”

“Well, no, but I want to help, and I think it would be a useful skill.” Rowan replied sheepishly. It was true, he didn’t mind meat when it was an indistinguishable lump, but the reality of a full body was a bit more confronting. “If it’s already dead, I’m sure I can get over how it feels and then I can help out more.” Peter smiled as Rowan admitted the real reason behind his new motivation and looked up.

“I don’t mind doing this, you know,” Peter said, looking down in order to separate the left thigh from the pelvis of the creature. “I would do it even if you weren’t here.”

“How many times should we go in this circle, Peter?” Rowan asked, in a surprisingly firm voice. “I say I owe you everything I could possibly give you and you deny it, and I do my best to try and pull my weight and you tell me it’s fine. I do owe you everything I could possibly offer. You saved my life when I stumbled into your trap and then you’ve done so much to care for me now I’m here again. How can you contradict me so readily? Am I that insignificant to you?”

“What? Of course you aren’t, Rowan!” Peter replied quickly, looking back up again. “I just, I know that there will never be a way for you to feel as though you’ve paid me back, and I don’t want you to worry about it so much. Because I don’t want your payment, I only want to help you.” He shook his head as he looked down again. “How could you even suggest such a thing?” He murmured as his hands readjusted the creature.

“But I don’t like owing you. I want to earn my keep, I don’t like feeling so indebted to you, should you try to claim your payment.”

Peter’s head shot up incredulously and he hissed, pulling his hands away from the table as he found the source of his pain. A vicious scarlet crescent was welling across the webbing between his forefinger and thumb.

“You don’t – shit – you don’t really think I would do that, do you?” He asked to distract from the blood that would surely distress Rowan, who was already racing over.

“I-no, but it doesn’t stop the feeling! I know I shouldn’t fear you but I still feel it in my chest when I think of being alone with you. And I don’t know why! Why can’t you just let me help?” Rowan squeaked in distress, eyes locked to the shallow wound that was steadily leaking into Peter’s palm. “I don’t want to rely so entirely on everyone, I want to be capable like everyone else!” His fingers rested around Peter’s wrist as he strained to see the cut. “But, I’m sorry, are you all right?” He asked as he pulled it closer.

“It’s fine, Rowan, go back and sit down.” Peter said gently, carefully pushing him back. “You’ll get dirty.”

“But –“

“I will let you help in other ways, Rowan, but don’t worry about it,” Peter insisted, turning away from the boy. “I understand what you’re saying, and I’m sorry,” He added as he glanced over his shoulder. “I shouldn’t be so constricting. However, I may wait a while to show you how to break down an animal, because as you can see, I keep these knives very sharp, and I don’t want you to hurt yourself worse than I have. My father also used to be a butcher, he had a scar all the way up his forearm from slicing through it.”

“O-of course, thank you, Peter,” Rowan muttered, sitting down again. “I don’t want to hurt myself, and I didn’t mean to hurt you, either.”

“It’s fine,” Peter chuckled. “I don’t need you in order to hurt myself! I’m perfectly capable on my own.” He smiled at Rowan and the boy smiled weakly in return.

[kafkaesquegf]

much ado for shakespeare asks 👁💕

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: Go off about the best female character

ooh okay it is SO hard to pick a best female character from shakespeare because he wrote so many awesome women (beatrice, lady m, juliet, ophelia, olivia) but i’m going to be controversial and say that cordelia from king lear is one of the best and most underrated shakespearean women. i remember i once saw a post on here by a popular shakespeare blog that basically called cordelia stupid and a doormat and a caricature of a real woman because she didn’t lick her dad’s boots and also wasn’t violent or manipulative like goneril or regan and i swear i almost started shaking with rage. you know that quote that’s like “having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage, not weakness”? that’s cordelia in a nutshell. literally the balls on this girl to say to her slightly demented and increasingly power-mad father who literally holds sway over her entire nation “no, i’m not going to bow and scrape and say things that aren’t true because i love you too much to lie to you like that.” also do not lie cordelia has some of the most metal lines in the entire play i mean “i cannot heave my heart into my mouth”?? fucking “time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides / who cover faults, at last shame them derides”???? the INFLUENCE she has... the POWER... the RANGE. i mean i could also write a whole other essay talking about how her and ophelia would be best friends in a shakespearean multiverse but thats a post for another day

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter - Sunday, July 18

Cordelia: It was a nightmare, a total nightmare. I mean, they promised me they'd take me to St. Croix, and then they just decide to go to Tuscany. Art and buildings? I was totally beachless for a month and a half. No one has suffered like I have. Of course I think that that kind of adversity builds character. Well, then I thought, I already have a lot of character. Is it possible to have too much character?

~~When She Was Bad~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Wonder Woman (Tara/Willow, T)  by 29PheonixLement

Dark-Eyed Girl (Cordelia/Angel, G)  by TanithClaraComet_BillPip

don’t have the blood to show (Buffy & Giles, G)  by rippergiles

A kitty saves her owner (Tara/Willow, T)  by Aragorn_II_Elessar

[Chaptered Fiction]

What You Do Afterwards: Season Four Complete (Cordelia/Doyle, M)  by myheadsgonenumb

Breathe Again Chapter 17 (Cordelia & Angel, M)  by Califi62

Fighting the Darkness Chapter 24 (Multiple crossovers, Buffy, T)  by lateVMlover (Buffyworldbuilder)

Chronicles of Faith the Vampire Slayer Part Two - On the Road Chapter 14 (Faith/Buffy, M)  by QuillBard

Yvette, the Vampire Slayer - Arc 2 Chapter 10 (Castlevania crossover, G)  by TheSovereigntyofReality

Club Zero Chapter 1 (Buffy/Spike, E)  by MaggieLaFey

Heartbreaker Chapter 15 (Faith/OFC, M)  by taylorgirl6

Singularity Chapter 5 (Cordelia/Xander, T)  by gleefulmusings

The Cookie Incident Complete (Buffy/Spike, T)  by DeamonQueen

The Bone's Prayer Chapter 4 (Multiple crossovers, M)  by mabus101

The Sky Under My Skin Chapter 18 (Tara/Faith, T)  by BuffyBot3000

Broken Bridges Chapter 15 (Buffy/Spike, M)  by Dusty87

Imperfect Memory Chapter 7 (Buffy/Spike, E)  by LBdress87

Innocence Chapter 11 (Buffy/Spike, M)  by EllieRose101

And the Devil Will Drag You Under Chapter 14 (Dexter crossover, Faith/Debra Morgan, M)  by frogfarm

Wicked Magic Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, PG13)  by TBD

The New Millenium Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, PG)  by JustWriter

Something Old is New Again Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, R)  by yellowb

Monky Business Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, R)  by Girlytek

Bite Your Tongue Chapter 7 (Buffy/Spike, NC17)  by hostile17

The Weight of a Dream Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, R)  by Eurydice

Shot Through the Heart Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, PG13)  by bookishy

Beneath the Surface Chapter 24 (Buffy/Spike, NC17)  by The Danish Bird

Raining Possibilities Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, NC17)  by DarkVoid116

Treasured Pieces of Her Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, R)  by Lurkingabout123

Impulse Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, NC17)  by Pet35

Scooby Crew, Where Are You? Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, G)  by Twinkles

The Love of the Bullied Chapter 13 (Spike/Xander, R)  by Forsaken2003

Seeing Clearly Chapter 159 (Multiple crossovers, Dawn, FR13)  by JoeB

Key to the Stars Chapter 50 (Stargate crossover, Dawn, FR13)  by Cordyfan

[Images, Audio & Video]

A Question Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer  by Question Of Trek

Willow - Going Under by Evanescence  by Jordan Robinson

Jealousy Jealousy | Cordelia Chase Buffy Summers  by Sunnydale Remains

Buffy Summers x Woman Like Me  by x burning crystal x

Buffy and Angel: Don't Talk About It  by breakingabstract

We Don't Like Xander Over Here  by Geekin' Out

[Reviews & Recaps]

Discussion of 3.20 "A New World",   by Stake fodder

3.21 "Benediction"  by

Just started reading Boom comics...and am disappointed  by Dyslexicchurchofdog

Just rewatched Tabula Rasa, and it may be my pick for the best episode of the show...  by National_Walrus_9903

Buffy Reaction Season 4 Episode 16 Who Are You?  by surreal-wanderer

Buffy Reaction season 4 episode 15 This Year's Girl  by surreal-wanderer

First Date  by yetanotherbuffyblog

Unpopular Opinion About Buffy the Vampire Slayer  by Lorna Sharp

Analysing Buffy | Racial Issues in Buffy "Gypsies" | Gypsies Are Real?  by What the Pop

The Chaos Demon  by Nerd .World

[Recs]

More Links Than A Bag Of Sausages  by petzipellepingo

Art: Ripper & Olivia 76 (worksafe)  recced by il_mio_capitano

[Community Announcements]

Fanfiction Challenges

[Fandom Discussions]

Why didn't Riley kill Spike in Into the Woods?  by American Aurora

Collin - what was the problem?  by Stoney

Best Angel episode/s to watch in the dark?  by Various_Repeat

What are your favorite Buffy the vampire slayer books?  by Charlie678812

Rewatches growing up  by buffy0808

favourite Angel season?  by gottalovespuffy

[Poll] Most selfless character  by Use_Her-Name

We talk a lot about how they did Cordelia's character dirty - what about Gunn?  by LanceGardner

I wish they’d show Spike dying his hair  by luvmyvulvaxoxo

Do Aliens exist in the Buffyverse?  by 2Legit2Cwithe

What kind of Demon was Cordelia mixed with?  by DarkstarX84

What the difference between the PTB Visions and Drusilla's Seer abilities?  by DarkstarX84

I don’t get why some folks prefer Angel to Buffy  by Lord_Parbr

For those introducing Buffy to young kids or teens, what do you do about the sex scenes?  by precita

Season 5 Without James Marsters  by xlefaux

I Think Angel and Cordy Could’ve Worked  by Frogurt1337642

I’m gonna get some hate for this but….  by Frogurt1337642

What would have happened to Wesley had Glenn Quinn never had a drug addiction during Angel?  by jdpm1991

  by jdpm1991

Tthe librarian from their high school  by lqvewillow

Teacher’s Pet  by comradesummers

Spike is responsible for Buffy being called  by kristos-nikos

I don't hate Riley Finn  by oveliagirlhaditright

Dawning Light  by mhalachai

Spike’s speeches  by gatergirl

i don’t think “bad eggs” deserves its reputation...  by bloodsuckingfiend

True Shakespearean tragedy  by aliendissection

Okay but imagine a btvs spin off about Nikki Wood...  by wakandan-thot

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

10 Questions Fans Still Have About The Initiative  at Screen Rant

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[cortexifansquint]

tagged by: @szonklin

top 4 ships: 

Booth/Brennan (and really all main 3 couples on the show) (Bones) - when do you ever get 6 seasons of will-they-won’t-they and 6 together/married with children (with storylines)?

Regina/Emma (Once Upon a Time) - how full circle it could have been in terms of “happy endings aren’t always what we think they will be”? Also just the show in general. The curse actually leading Regina to her happy ending, with Emma, breaker of said curse and finding a family with her former enemies. All thanks to Henry, son of the person the curse was originally created to find. I mean...hello? lol

Angel/Cordelia & Buffy/Spike- yikes on seasons 4 & 6, but overall yes (BtVS/AtS) - Cordelia grew as a person, in turn gave Angel a mission they  worked together and made him laugh/smile. They could have been the mostly healthy relationship of the buffyverse imo. They just got each other and had an actual foundation of friendship. 

Peter/Olivia (Fringe) - a freakin’ universe / timeline crossing love story 

honorary mentions: Alice/Claire (Resident Evil movieverse) - so much in canon zombie apocalypse wives and potential, but it mostly lives it’s best life in fanfics. Nick/Jess (New Girl) - my favorite weirdos in love! 

last song listened to: No Shame //  Alexz Johnson

currently reading: just started House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig and just finished Witch’s Oath by Terry Goodkind (man was it tough to get through all his repetitiveness but I wanna keep with with Richard and Kahlan y’know lol) 

currently craving: my favorite vegan chocolate chip cookies from whole foods!

tagging: @ettadunham, @finnverbose, @kissesnrevolution, @amysaintago