#DROP HIM DATE ME SOPHIE!!!!

[camelspit]

no wonder keefes obsessed with sophies eyes im staring at the new sneakpeak like 😳😳😳

[cameronspecial]

My Particular Girl

Pairing: Rafe Cameron x Reader

Warnings:  N/A

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 0.7K

Summary: Y/N needs things to be done a certain way and Rafe understands that.

Masterlist

Y/N likes things done in a particular. It’s the way her brain works. People often look at her and call her childish for the things she does to cater to these needs. Because of those people, she started to believe that she had no chance of finding love. Who would want to date someone who was so picky with the things are? Then Rafe came along to show her she doesn’t need to change; instead, it is the partner who should try to be open-minded and help her out. And Rafe really does try to do everything he can to help Y/N out. 

———

Y/N sits with her little cousins in the living room, listening to them recount the story behind the drawings they are currently working on. She doesn’t know where Rafe went off too, but if she knows anything about him, he is probably off trying to win brownie points with her relatives. “And this is going to be us when you and Rafe take us to the beach,” Sophie recounts, holding up the picture. Y/N’s mouth drops open, “Wow, that looks amazing.” “We look like we are having so much fun,” Rafe adds, kissing Y/N’s temple from behind the couch. She stretches her head back to see Rafe. He is holding two plates in his hands and he rounds the couch to sit beside his girlfriend. He holds out a plate for her. She notices that her plate is different from his. It is one of the special sectioned plates from their home. He catches her examining eyes and worries he got something wrong. “Did I do something wrong? Each component is in its place. I separated the mashed potatoes, the steak and the vegetables,” he starts to tangent. “Should I have separated the mixed veggies too? I knew I should’ve separated them. I know you like to be able to identify the different textures easily.” 

Her hands stop him from rising to fix what he thinks is a mistake. “No, it’s okay. You got everything right. I was just surprised you brought one of my plates. Thank you,” she reassures him, giving him a kiss. He wraps his arm around her shoulder and starts eating, “You’re welcome. I’m glad I got it right.” 

———

They knock on the door but don’t wait for it to be opened by someone inside before entering the unlocked house. “Yo, Top. We’re here,” Rafe announces with a booming voice. It’s just a little get-together so the couple takes their shoes off. Right as they are about to step deeper into the house, Y/N sees the carpeted floor of the house. She can already feel the uncomfortableness of the rug tickling the bottom of her feet and she flinches at the thought. Rafe gently holds her back by her shoulder, “Wait here, I have to get something from the car.” She waits for him at the entrance, preparing herself to walk barefoot on the rug. He jogs back inside and places something on the ground. Her eyes dart down to see slippers. “Where did you get these?” she questions while putting them on. He kisses her on the cheek, “I bought new slippers to keep in the back of my trunk for this exact reason.” Warmth fills Y/N and she wraps her arms around his neck. “Thank you.”

———

Y/N rests on the couch and watches as Rafe folds the laundry. Each article of clothing is folded exactly how she likes it with crisp edges. While she appreciates how attentive he is, worry starts to creep inside of her. What if he starts to realize that all the things he does to keep things to her taste are a waste of time? What if he starts to think she is too high-maintenance? He can see the gears turning in her head. “What’s wrong, Sweetheart?” he asks, leaning over to kiss her. She bows her head, “What if you break up with me because you get tired of having to do things a certain way for me like I am a child?” Rafe places what he is folding down and moves to the same couch as her. He brings her into a hug, attacking her face with kisses. “That would never happen because I love taking care of you. You are my particular girl and I would not trade you for anything in the world,” he promises. 

Taglist: @winterrrnight @loves0phelia @thelomlisrafecameron @wickedlovely121 @victory-in-the-llama @starkowswife @drewsmusee @maybankslover

[atzjieun]

she's ours

summary | ateez are not thrilled about jieun’s interactions with other men 

circa | april 2021

contains | 1.8k words, jealous!teez, fluff + sunji interactions !! 

notes | bold italics = english, this will be the only time i ever acknowledge that kingdom exists. (sincerely, a traumatized golcha + ptg stan)

“Stay close, Jieunie.”

Jieun could feel the light tug of Yunho’s hand on her arm as they walked down the stairs, relieved that filming had finally concluded. It was only the first day, but the long hours and lack of sleep left her exhausted, and she was glad she could get out of the view of the cameras before her mood started to show.

Who knows what the editors could do with that footage. 

Jieun chuckled at his concern but allowed him to maintain his grip on her sleeve as they made their way to their dressing room. “Oppa, I think I’ll be ok.” 

“Ya, Song Jieun!” 

The sudden calling of the girl’s name caused her to freeze in the middle of the waiting area, along with the other members of ATEEZ. They all looked back to the source of the voice, noticing the members of THE BOYZ quickly approaching, presumably on their way to their own dressing room. 

“Geez, Sunwoo. You don’t have to be so aggressive,” Jieun said, shaking her head. She took a step toward him, not noticing Yunho’s slight disappointment as he reluctantly released her arm. 

“What was I supposed to do if you kept on ignoring me?” he complained. “You didn’t even make eye contact with me during filming!”  

Jieun rolled her eyes, giving him a light shove. “You deserve it, considering you didn’t even tell me you’d be here.” 

“Neither did you!” Sunwoo protested. 

“Sophie! It’s good to see you again,” Jacob said as he approached the two, stopping beside his member. 

She smiled at him, nodding. “You too! It’s been almost 4 years, hasn’t it?” 

Before he could respond, more members of THE BOYZ showed up, each greeting the girl as they walked by.  

“Jieun! You’re so tall now!” Younghoon said, smiling at her. Jieun bowed back, reciprocating the smile as she waved at him. While the rest of the group continued on their way, Sunwoo stayed behind, as well as Jacob.  

“Wait, you know them?” 

Jieun looked over her shoulder, eyebrows raising as she saw the baffled expressions on her members’ faces, though Sunwoo spoke up before she could. 

“Jieun and I grew up on the same street and our parents are friends,” he explained. “She also came to our debut showcase in 2017.” 

A few of her members’ jaws dropped as they stared at her. Upon noticing this, Jieun frowned, tilting her head. 

“I thought you guys already knew?” She was met with blank looks and head shakes. “Remember when we were trainees and I said I was going to go see a friend’s performance?” 

“We thought you meant a school performance!” 

Jieun shook her head. “It was their debut showcase. My brother and I went to go support Sunwoo and that’s where I met everyone else.” She turned her attention back to the boy, eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down. “Anyways, Jihoon-oppa says hi. And to call him.”  

Sunwoo chuckled. “How is he, by the way?” 

“He’s having the time of his life in med school,” Jieun said with a small chuckle. “Him and Yerin-unnie are still dating too.” 

“Has he popped the question yet?” 

“No, but I think they’re waiting until after he finishes school to-��� 

Jieun was cut off as she felt two hands placed on both of her shoulders, Seonghwa standing behind her. She looked past him, only then noticing that the rest of her members had retreated to their dressing room. He gave a tight-lipped smile to the two idols.  

“Sorry, we need to head out soon,” he said with a polite nod. 

“Yeah, we should probably get going too,” Sunwoo said, glancing over at Jacob, who nodded. He looked back at Jieun and narrowed his eyes. “Respond to my messages for once, will ya?” 

Jieun rolled her eyes lightheartedly, letting out a single chuckle and waving as Sunwoo and Jacob walked off. She turned around, following the eldest back into their dressing room where the other members were already waiting. 

“Jieun! Glad you could join us,” Yunho said the moment she stepped foot into the room, a sharpness in his tone she hadn’t heard in a while. Although confused, she slowly took her seat on the couch beside San. 

“Yeah, we thought you’d never stop talking to those guys,” Jongho remarked airily. 

Yeosang nodded. “You seemed really comfortable with them.” 

A frown made its way onto Jieun’s face as she glanced around the room, the other members seemingly preoccupied by their phones, though it was clear they were just trying to avoid her gaze.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked, looking over at their leader. Even he didn’t want to look at her. “If I did something wrong, I’m sorry, but I can’t correct my behaviour if you guys don’t tell me why you’re upset with me.” 

The members exchanged glances over her head, their silence causing her heart to drop. Suddenly, San wrapped his arms around the girl, squeezing her tightly. 

“We’re so sorry, Jieunie! You did nothing wrong!” He pressed his face into her shoulder, voice reducing to a whisper when he next spoke. “Please don’t leave us for them.” 

Confusion and bewilderment spread across her face as she held onto his arm. “Oppa, what? Why would you ever think-” Jieun paused, mouth left agape as she looked up at her other members. “Wait. Are you guys…jealous?” 

Their lack of response spoke volumes, the air so thick it could be sliced with a knife. Jieun carefully pried San’s arms off her before bringing herself to her feet. She walked to the side of the room, turning so she could face all the members at once. 

“You guys are always telling me I should talk to more people,” she reasoned, crossing her arms. “And I’ve known Sunwoo since I was like 6. He’s part of the reason I became an idol.” 

“But still, you don’t have to be so friendly with them,” Wooyoung whined. “You’re a member of ATEEZ, not THE BOYZ.” 

Jieun took a deep breath as she bit on her lower lip, trying to fight the smile that threatened to spread across her face. 

“Oppa, if it wasn’t for Sunwoo, I wouldn’t be a member of ATEEZ,” she said, earning a few surprised sounds from the others. “Remember how I said I was scouted in a convenience store? I thought it was a scam, but Sunwoo was the one who convinced me to audition for the company just in case it wasn’t. If he didn’t, I probably wouldn’t be here now. And do you guys remember that snack basket we got when we debuted?” 

“The one you said was from your brother?” Jongho asked. 

Jieun nodded in response. “Yeah, it was from Sunwoo. My brother and I used to stay over at his house a lot when our parents were busy at the hospital. His home became ours for a while, and he literally refers to me as his younger sister.” She sighed as her gaze flicked between each member, the guilt evident on their faces. “But you guys are my family too, and I promise I’d never leave you guys for another group. You’re the only boys I’d willingly stay stuck with.” 

“Jieunie, we’re sorry for being jealous.” Seonghwa walked over to her, draping his arms over her shoulders and tucking her head under his chin. 

“It’s ok,” she said, the corners of her mouth curving upwards as they rocked back and forth. One by one, the other members approached them to engulf the girl in a hug, effectively trapping her in the middle. 

“Now you can never leave,” Wooyoung cackled. 

San grinned. “You’re stuck with us forever.”  

Jieun sighed, welcoming the warmth from the multiple bodies surrounding her. She wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. 

BONUS #1: 

Sunwoo leaned his head against the car window and closed his eyes, grateful for the short chance to rest after a long day of filming. They were headed to the company for more rehearsals, so he knew this would be his only moment of peace for at least a couple hours.

The peace was short-lived, however, as his phone buzzed in his pocket. He let out a small groan as he took out his phone, squinting down at the screen. 

Jieun: Hello Sunwoo! This is Jung Wooyoung of ATEEZ. Jieun: Thank you for bringing Jieun to us. We’ll be forever grateful. Jieun: But she’s ours now <3 No take-backs.

The message was accompanied by a photo of the group, all eight male members surrounding an exasperated Jieun, who stared at the camera with a tired expression. 

Sunwoo snorted, quickly typing out a response. 

Me: I understand, Jung Wooyoung of ATEEZ🫡 Jieun: oh my god Jieun: wooyoung-oppa stole my phone Jieun: don’t mind him. he’s weird Jieun: tell everyone else i say hi, btw!  Jieun: cuz idk if my members will let me next time 💀 Me: I will, don’t worry

Sunwoo clicked off the conversation before going to his group chat with his own members. 

Me: Jieun says hi to everyone who she couldn’t say hi to before btw Haknyeon: Aw, Jieunie’s so adorable Changmin: Can we trade her for Eric?  Eric: What the heck man Me: No. Her members actually like their maknae Eric: :(  

BONUS #2: 

“How old is the youngest amongst you guys?” Changsub asked from across the room. 

Jieun looked back at her members with wide eyes, all of whom motioned for her to put her hand up. Hesitantly, she raised her hand alongside I.N. 

“I was born in 2001,” I.N said. Jieun nodded quietly.  

“So was I.” 

“You’re 10 years younger than me, and 11 years younger than these two,” Changsub said, motioning to his members and eliciting a few gasps from the other idols, along with silent laughter. “So you guys are the same age. When are your birthdays?” 

Jieun glanced over, making quick eye contact with I.N before gesturing for him to speak first. Behind her, she could hear her members’ quiet snickering, clearly enjoying all the attention on their youngest member. Jieun looked back, shooting them a quick glare before holding her mic up, waiting for I.N to say his birthday before replying with her own. 

“Ah, so you were almost born in 2002,” Eunkwang said with a small sigh. A couple seconds of silence passed as he looked over at his members before eventually turning back to her. “Jieun-ah, you can call us uncles.” 

Laughter burst throughout the room, the loudest coming from her own members. Jieun’s jaw dropped before putting her hands over her face, heat rushing to her cheeks. She waved her arms at them, shaking her head. 

“No, it’s ok, sunbaenim.” Jieun took in a deep breath, subtly elbowing Wooyoung behind her, the boy still bent over in laughter. 

“Our baby Jieunie~” Jongho teased, causing her to narrow her eyes at him. 

Jieun eventually sighed, nodding in defeat and hoping that this wouldn’t be something her members would bring up in the future. 

(It would. It definitely would.)

taglist: @teezingsiyeon

[captainsophiestark]

Unexpected Guest

Dick Grayson x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for my personal fic writing challenge for 2024, Sophie's Year of Fic! Featuring a new fic being posted every Friday, all year long :)

Fandom: DC

Summary: Dating a vigilante sometimes leads to a few false alarm scares, but Dick Grayson couldn't be happier with how well his partner rolls with his crazy family.

Word Count: 1,410

Category: Fluff

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

Crash!

My eyes shot open at the sound of a noise from the living room of the apartment I shared with my boyfriend, Dick Grayson. The man in question still snored peacefully next to me, annoyingly, but a quick glance at the clock told me why. It wasn't quite 5am, and Dick had been out patrolling until one in the morning. I listened carefully for any other noises in the apartment. I didn't want to wake my poor boyfriend up unless I absolutely had to.

After a few minutes of nothing, I heard another crash followed by a tense voice and what sounded like hushed swearing. This time, I didn't hesitate to roll over and whack Dick on the chest, hard.

His eyes shot open and he was half sitting up when I managed to throw a hand over his mouth to keep him from giving away that we were awake. My wide eyes must've tipped him off to something being wrong, because I immediately saw him shift from sleepy to ready for action.

Slowly, I dropped my hand from his mouth and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"There's someone in our living room. I heard two crashes and someone swearing."

Dick nodded once, then motioned with his hands while mouthing 'stay here'. He hopped off the bed, grabbing his escrima sticks from where he'd thrown them onto the dresser, then stalked towards the door with catlike grace and stealth. After a minute, I decided I couldn't just let him go alone, superhero or no, so I grabbed the bat I kept by my side of the bed and followed after him.

Dick popped out the door, and after a moment without hearing anything, I followed, bat at the ready. I found my boyfriend with one hand on his hip, weapons down, staring into the kitchen. I followed his gaze to find none other than Jason Todd in our kitchen, a mixing bowl and some eggs in front of him and a look with a significant lack of guilt on his face.

"What? I was after somebody and it dragged me all the way to Bludhaven. I needed a place to crash that was closer than Gotham."

Dick and I both shook our heads. As the oldest of a very high number of siblings, his apartment had become a second home base for every single other batkid. When we'd finally moved in together last month, he'd warned me I needed to be prepared for things like this.

"Glad you know to help yourself, Little Wing," said Dick with a sigh, waving one tired hand to Jason before turning and heading back to bed. I squeezed his shoulder and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as he passed me, then headed into the kitchen with a smile.

"My tax for you making me think I'd have to fight off an assailant with a bat at five in the morning is my own serving of whatever you're making," I said, taking a seat on one of the kitchen island stools. Jason raised an eyebrow at me.

"You're not going back to bed?"

"Nah. Unlike Dick, I got to bed at a somewhat reasonable hour last night, so the adrenaline dump isn't threatening to put me to sleep. I'd rather hang out with you, especially since you're a better cook than Dick and I combined. I'm not missing out on that."

Jason snorted, cracking an egg and resuming his cooking all the same.

"Dick contributes nothing to your combined cooking score," he said. "I'm pretty sure he's burned cereal before."

I laughed. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right. He's gotten better though. We watch the Food Network and look up recipes to make together, and I can trust him with way more than I used to be able to."

"If you could teach him anything it'd be a miracle," said Jason with a snort. I just hummed, trying to pick up some new skills of my own as I watched Jason cook.

"To be totally fair to him, I once forgot what I was doing and strained soup because I was on autopilot for pasta."

Jason barked a laugh, unable to hold himself back, and looked at me with a grin and a raised eyebrow.

"Really?" I nodded. "That's pathetic."

I just shrugged. "Yeah. But at least there's not a lot of places to go but up, after that."

"I guess so."

Jason and I chatted as he cooked and I watched, keeping our voices low so Dick could sleep—although, after the night he'd had, he'd probably sleep through a train in our living room. After breakfast, Jason decided to go down for a nap on the couch, passing out almost as soon as we'd put the last few dishes in the sink. I just smiled, threw a blanket over him, and wandered back into the bedroom to find Dick.

It was late enough in the morning now that my boyfriend was officially up and about, stretching by the bed with his hair still a little messed up from sleeping. I grinned and flopped down against the headboard as he crossed the room to the dresser to pull out clothes.

"How's Jaybird?" he asked. "Still a good cook?"

"Still a great cook. And he's good. He seems a little wiped out from patrols and stuff, though. He's taking a nap on the couch right now."

Dick smiled and shook his head. "I get up and he goes to sleep. Typical."

"Clearly he's avoiding you."

"Clearly."

Dick and I shared a smile, and then he sighed.

"I'm going to take a shower. Hopefully Jason will be up by the time I'm out, because I actually have things to do today."

I smiled, shifting on the bed to pull the covers over myself. "I'm sure you can be quiet if he's not. Wake me up when you're out of the shower, okay? A post-breakfast nap sounds too good to resist right now."

My boyfriend laughed. "Alright, will do. I'll wake you and Jason up when I'm out."

"Mhm. Good luck with him."

"Thanks, I'm gonna need it."

I closed my eyes, getting comfortable and ready for my nap, but before I drifted off I heard Dick's shuffling footsteps crossing the room to stand by my side of the bed. A second later, he sat down next to me, the bed dipping under his weight. I cracked an eye open to squint at him.

"What do you want?"

He grinned at me and chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to interfere with your nap. I just... I wanted to say how much I appreciate you, and how good you are with my family. They mean the world to me, but I know having vigilantes dropping in at all hours of the day and night can be a little much to deal with. So thank you for being so wonderful about it, and about them."

I sighed, sitting all the way up and propping myself up on my hands to look Dick in the eye.

"Dick, I love you. And I love your family. Sure, it took a little getting used to some of the vigilante stuff, but the longer I know them the more I love them. You don't have to thank me for anything. They're my family too."

Dick absolutely beamed at me, wrapping one arm around my back and pulling me in for a kiss. I immediately reciprocated, tangling one hand in the hair at the nape of his neck. I smiled into the kiss and a moment later, Dick deepened it. We were right on the edge of escalating into something more, but both thought better of it at the last moment.

"I should take a shower," he said, still looking a little reluctant as he pulled away.

"Yeah, and you should stop interrupting my nap."

Dick snorted, rolling his eyes as he finally stood and headed for the bathroom. I grinned after him as he went, flopping back down onto my pillow only as Dick closed the bathroom door.

I took a deep breath and sighed, a smile on my face, as I closed my eyes for the second time. I heard the water start in the bathroom, and a faint smell of breakfast still hung in the air. I was surrounded by people I loved dearly, and who loved me right back. No matter the scare Jason had given me when he'd shown up, I couldn't ask for a better start to my morning than this.

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

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989

DC Taglist: @luv-ghostie

[bon2bonn]

In daydreams with me

Charles leclerc X female!reader X Max Verstappen

This is set in an au! With CEO!Max and professor! Charles .

Words count : 1.7k

*I'm in my lestappen mood so here we are ✨

The shuffling beside (y/n) snapped her attention away from the book she was reading for the past half hour or so , looking down as a low groan came from Max when he turned around, moving to settle his head on her stomach with his face buried in her (Charles's) oversized shirt With one arm around her as she cradled her fingers through his hair in a soothing motion .

He was still tired from pulling an all-nighter the night before , receiving an emergency meeting call due to some mixed up in emails causing his day to bile up with calls and online meeting until the early hours of the day locked away in his office . Leaving you and Charles to take care of him , bringing him meals and water every now and then even little Alec and baby Mila would pop in to give him a hug sharing candy to lift up his mood or to just say hi , her and Charles stayed up checking on him through the night even though he'd scold them both not to on his behalf but he still grateful for their care .

And instead of cancelling the next day he insisted on going , for it's rare for them and their families to find time to gather without someone having to cancel due to mixed schedule , so they took the chance to spend the day out at sea as her father invited them all to his yacht for the day , having more space for the kids to roam around and their parents to spend relaxing time with family away from the bustling city .

They were to first to arrive followed by Sophie and Victoria along with her boys both exited to spend time with their cousins , then the leclercs and her brother came last , late as usual, getting teased by everyone as he made up excuses . And it didn't take long for them to set sails leaving the harbour behind .

Everyone got comfortable chatting and catching up on what's life been since the last gathering , the kids ever the energy balls they are now doubled with them reunited it was a havoc in the making but they stayed well behaved playing and chatting their uncles ears off about something they thought .

Baby Mila stayed with her grandad babbling on with him about God knows what both content as he went around with her clinging to him , refusing to let go even when Charles tried to take her leaving him with a permanent pout until Luka came running up to him to tell him about something , getting his full attention within seconds .

That left her with Pascale , Sophie and Victoria to stay in the shade , carrying on catching up from where they left the conversation with them when the meals were served . Starting with upcoming birthdays parties and planning on going to camping trips before the end of summer break , up to discreetly trying to set the youngest (her brother and Arthur) up on dates , but that would take more planning and scheming .

Around midday max found his way to her , greeting her with a kiss and a tired smile as he crawled up on the couch beside her , he must ran out of energy as it shows in his dropping eyes and slow steps . humming with half closed eyes as he saw the closed book that lays on the side , she took note waiting for him to settle before she grabbed it and started reading to him in a soothing tone running her fingers through his hair massaging his scalp lightly , not two minutes later she felt his breathing slowed and his body relaxed as he drifts to sleep with his arm draped around her waist , Charles came by a couple of times having seen Max walking up the second floor to her tiredly , he worried about him but he felt relieved as he found him cuddled up to her fast asleep so he left them with kisses on both their heads before going back down .

And now as he woke up still drowsy from his deep slumber but more rested than before , looking up at her apologetically " sorry lifeenje I kept you here all day " she shook her head "no , don't worry love . We still got the whole weekend ahead , and I'm glad you took some rest " giving him a kiss on the head , going back to read with Max now having his head on her shoulder following the lines with his eyes she read them aloud , but stopped as both looked up as Charles approached them leaning over to greet them with kisses before sitting beside them , reaching to take Max's hand in his giving it a squeeze after placing a kiss on the back of it , " how do you feel Mon Amour?" Max smiled up at him interlocking their fingers before answering " I'm alright now lieveling , how is it down there ? " Charles only groaned " I'm about to throw Arthur off deck , (B/N) too if they kept teasing me , and Enzo is ditching me for the kids , I'm not going down there anytime soon !" Both laughed at his dramatic act as he laid on top of them groaning dramatically " even my Mila won't comfort me ! What a cruel world!" Glaring at them playfully he added " don't laugh at my misery !" .

Y/n gave him comforting pats on his back " you know they love to target you the most , it's their way to show their love for you" Charles gave her a disbelieving look " they bully me!" She shrugged at him " it's the same thing" causing him to groan again as Max agreed to her statement before moving to squeeze himself between them , they both gave sounds of protest as he shifted and turned moving them to the sides as he settled himself face down , his head on her shoulder now and his arm going around Max who moved back to give them more space to lay comfortably as they could be with them tangled with each other , but nevertheless enjoying the silence and the lull of the waves .

It didn't take long for Alec to make his way to his parents , both tired and crashing down from the sugar rush he had after his youngest uncles snuck him and his cousins, leaving them cranky and tired , so now he's done for the day making his way straight to his mother's side , climbing and settling between her and Charles and reaching over demanding Max to hold his hand , who did after he leaned over to plant a kiss on his head , drifting as his parents watched over him fondly .

They talked quietly among themselves, minding their sleeping boy as they spoke in a hushed tone getting lost in their conversation , but they turned their heads as a distraught (B/N) with Arthur beside him held out a pouting Mila with her fists balled and up as if ready to fight , her nose scrunched up and her frown is permanent as she whines at her parents , Max chuckled at their state after one look at them , their hair looked like birds nests , and they looked like they've been through a fight and they both lost . He reached carefully to take her from their outstretched arms before asking in amusement as she immediately clutched onto him " what have you done to get her this upset?" , They both scoffed at her as she turned to glare up at them " we did nothing! your spawn got offended! , she saw us teasing Charles and went for blood!" , Causing the little girl to glare even more as she took what looked to them as a threatening sniff before looking up at her dad innocently pointing at her uncles with a whine her mother looked mildly amused as her and Charles cooed over her " my baby would never! , Right Mila ? " Charles agreed as he took her next prepping kisses around her face causing her to let out joyous giggles"that's right, my Mila is too sweet to do such thing! Look at her , is this the face of someone who can do such thing!?" He held her up to their faces as he stood up , careful not to wake the sleeping boy , and both of them stepped back as she reach out her small hand to them .

Pascale sat back along with Sophie , both watching in amusement as their little granddaughter reached out her grabby hands giggling as Charles held her up chasing after the Arthur and (B/N) , voicing in a joking manner " I believe that (B/N) and Arthur thought they were invincible and nothing could touch them , but God sent Mila to humble them both " , Charles laughed the loudest as he sat down helping her to balance her feet while holding her arms "is that right Milly ?, You were defending dada ! That's my baby ! Teach them not to mess with me " she gave him a wide toothless smile as she kicked her feet as if agreeing with him both now grinning as they made their way down to follow their new quest of scaring her uncles and claiming revenge for Charles .

Max watched them disappearing down the stairs giving Y/N a thoughtful look " imagine if she could walk ", she countered back equally amused " imagine if she have teeth !" Max made an ooooh sound before they both started chuckling but stopped as the boy who now slept in hi mother's arms shifted slightly but kept sleeping , giving eachother a knowing smile as they settled back hearing Arthur's and her (B/N) shout's followed by the girl's giggles " get her away from me ! , Charles I'm telling Maman on you!" , Charles taunted them both " tell her what , little Mila just wants to show you her love , isn't that right Milly? " Followed with loud squeal from the said girl as in confirmation .

Max turned his head with thoughtful look as he asked " should we held them ? " She shrugged then shook her head " they deserve it " .

[pigfacedbitch]

Dating Hort of Bloodbrook

summary : general headcanons of dating Hort while being the princess of Camelot.

word count : 0.7k

type : headcanons

pairing/s involved : Hort x Reader, Sibling! Tedros x Reader

warning/s : discrimination against Nevers and Evers.

here is my masterlist!

Note : I know this is late but this has been on my unfinished works since the movie came out. I fell in love with Hort, he is so cute and loyal to Sophie 🥹. I haven't read the books but I might soon when I need to escape reality again.

You will likely be a year younger than Tedros.

Because of the heir and the spare™.

I know it sounds bad but some rulers actually do those.

Tedros is extremely overprotective over you, especially when Queen Guinevere ran away with Lancelot and King Arthur died.

He's like the typical older brother you see in movies; handsome, buff, (kind off) a meathead, and annoys you to know end.

Will also be the first one to come to your defense.

When you got to the School of Good, you were determined to destroy the image of being Tedros' little sister.

Which results to you preferring to be a hero in your own story than being a queen in someone else's.

As expected, you quickly became friends with Agatha.

Not afraid to stand up to those who think girls are inferior to boys.

While the other Evers found the Nevers horrible for being future villains, you have a neutral perspective towards them.

After all, the School of Good has many stuck up and vain students.

Meeting Hort was definitely a memory to remember. It was when Professor Dovey took the first years to the Wish Fish (Let's pretend Agatha didn't free them).

When you put your hand on the water and begin to think of a wish, you didn't feel the water swirling like Agatha told you she experienced,

Instead, it was hand that intertwines its finger with yours.

And it harshly pulled you down the water.

The girls' screams and the professor calling out your name in panic caught the boys and Tedros' attention, running to the 'rescue'.

Under the water, you see someone smiling at you, or at least that's what you hopes he's doing.

A Never named Hort, son of Captain Hook.

Tedros immediately pulled you out of the water, with Hort in tow.

The angry professor commands the nearby guards to bring him back to the School of Evil and how Lady Lesso will surely punish him.

"It seems like I'm your wish, my lady."

He expects you to be disgusted like the other Evers. To his surprise, you give him the sweetest smile he has ever seen in his life.

"That you are, Hort of Bloodbrook."

To say Hort is surprised was an understatement.

You didn't only smile at him but also knew his name.

Cupid's arrow struck him at that moment. His villainous smirk drops, staring at you with wide eyes as much as he could before they were out of sight.

Tedros, who saw the whole thing, was not pleased and gave you a warning on how Nevers can't be trusted.

After your encounter, Hort seeks you out more.

You didn't mind, he is an odd yet funny companion.

He also doesn't care for one's physical appearance like the girls do or how you're nothing but a pretty face with a royal title like most guys think.

He encourages you to be yourself, like Agatha does.

You two would get judgmental looks from both sides.

Sophie was pissed, not only because Hort was losing interest in her but being the princess of Camelot is everything she wants to be.

So is Tedros. And everyone else who sees you together.

Agatha is just worried and would remind you to keep your guard up.

But you enjoy each other's company, that's what matters.

Hort was in love with you the moment you met but it took you a longer time to realize your feelings for him.

You only told Agatha about it but Tedros overheard.

Believe me when I say that Tedros will demand you to be examined.

"She's not under any spells, my prince."

"Are you certain?"

"Oh my God, I love Hort and there's nothing you can do about it!"

Everyone in the hall heard you.

Silence before a giddy howl ensues.

Hort runs to you and gives the biggest hug you could ever receive.

Despite being initially embarrassed, you returned it.

Before he could kiss you like he always dreamed of, Tedros stops him.

He pulls out Excalibur and points its tip on Hort's neck. Your brother will mercilessly give the poor boy threats if he broke your heart or hurt you in any way. Agatha joined in without words, just sending a warning glare on his way.

Hort would be lowkey terrified but so happy at the same time.

I mean you love him back. He could take a fucking army if you command him to.

Lady Lesso and Professor Dovey would only look at each other in disbelief, worried for what happens next.

[themultifandomgal]

Tommy Shelby- Ex’s

Tommy and I were young when we got married and had our daughter. After the war and I got divorced, but we promised that we would stay friends for our daughter, which we have done. I still get on really well with Tommys family, often going over on a Sunday for lunch.

Tommy ended up remarrying a woman named Grace while I remarried a man named Oliver. Things were great for years, until Oliver started drinking and Grace passed away.

"YN!" Oliver shouts from the living room

"Yes dear" I smile coming out of the kitchen drying my hands with a tea towel

"Where is my whiskey?"

"I thought we should eat before..."

"Fuck sake woman just get my drink!" Oliver shouts. Wanting to keep the peace I silently walk back into the kitchen and find a clean glass to pour some whiskey into.

I walk back into the living room where my husband is sat while my daughter is sat on the floor with some dolls

"Sophie I need you to start to tidy up soon. Dinners almost ready"

"But mamma I don't wanna have dinner"

"Hmmm I think you'll change your mind when it's in front of you"

"Sophie listen to your mother. Tidy up your shit"

"Do you have to swear in front of her?" I raise my eyebrows

"Your ex probably says worse" Oliver downs his drink and hands me the empty glass "get me another one" I take the glass off him just as the phone rings

"Sophie tidy up now" I tell her before leaving to answer the phone

"Hello?"

"YN hi"

"Tommy how are you doing?" I ask him. I know it's been hard for him since Grace was killed leaving him to parent their son

"I'm ok. I was calling to ask if Sophie would like a play date with Charlie tomorrow?"

"Erm sure"

"It will have to be at yours. I have a meeting here"

"Tommy..." I sigh

"I know I know. I'm sorry, please?"

"Fine" I give in way to quickly. I always have with Tommy. He says I say how high

"Thank you YN"

"Yeah yeah. I'll see you tomorrow"

"I'll drop him off about 11"

"Ok see you then"

"Bye YN" I place the phone down and make my way to the kitchen

"Who was that?"

"Tommy"

"Of course it bloody was"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He's always phoning you" Oliver argues

"He's the father of my daughter. Of course I'm going to speak to him a lot"

"I just think it's to much" I roll my eyes at Oliver and take his glass into the kitchen. I don't realise he's behind me until I turn around and end up face to face with him making me gasp and drop the glass on the floor

"Fuck sake woman. You are a fucking disgrace" he slaps me across making me jump backwards hitting the cupboards and hurting my back. I place my hand on the cooker which instantly burns my hand

"Mamma?" Oliver turns around and now I see my daughter looking scared

"Go tidy up your dolls then go wash up for dinner"

"Mamma your hurt. Oliver hurt you"

"Listen here you little brat...."

"Sophie now please!"

"Ok mamma" once she leave I run my hand under the cold tap

"Are you insane. Sophie saw that. She will tell Tommy and if he thinks your harming his daughter then he will...."

"What kill me? The big bad Thomas Shelby" Oliver laughs

"Can we just have dinner please?" I sigh not having the strength to argue.

Dinner is quiet, Oliver drinks his drink slowly barley eating anything.

I clean up after dinner while Sophie goes to play with some bricks

"For fuck sake girl pick up this shit I nearly broke my fucking neck!" I hear Oliver shout. Immediately I drop what I'm doing and make my way towards them

"Mamma!" I hear Sophie shout and run in between Oliver and my daughter which earns me a slap across my face. I send Sophie up to bed and I follow up not far behind after I tidy up leaving a glass and bottle of whiskey for Oliver downstairs.

The following day there a knock on the door and Tommy walks in without me telling him to

"Daddy!" Sophie yells running over to her dad who scoops her up with ease

"Hi Soph"

"Mamma daddy's here!" Sophie shouts and I walk towards them and give Tommy a small hug

"Hi Tom" Tommy kisses my forehead before I pull away

"YN! Where the fuck is my drink!" Tommy frowns at me and I shake my head a little

"I'll be back in a minute" he then pulls my arm gently towards him and looks at my hand wrapped in a bandage

"What happened?"

"Just burned myself cooking last night. Don't worry about it" I walk away from Tommy to my husband and take his empty glass in my hand. I go to pour some whiskey when the glass slips out of my hand smashing all over the floor

"Your so fucking incapable woman!" he yells now striding over to me. I hear Tommy tell the kids to stay put as he makes his way to me

"What's going on here then eh?" Tommy pulls Oliver away from me "go wait in the car with the kids love. I'll be there in a minute"

"Tom..."

"Now YN" I nod my head and turn around leaving Tommy and Oliver alone.

We arrive at Tommys and not long later Tommys brothers and aunt arrive

"YN love how are you?"

"I'm ok"

"What happened?" Arthur asks

"Oliver hit mamma and she hurt her hand last night because of Oliver"

"Right Poll stay here with YN and the kids. Boys let's got"

"Where are you going?" I ask frowning

"No one hurts my family and gets away with it. We'll be back soon" and with that Tommy and his brothers leave.

[aardvaark]

I just developed the Leverage brainworms, and they commingled with the House MD brainworms from when I was super into that show, so I came up with a rough outline for a House MD/Leverage crossover: Parker is in the ER after an injury on the last mission and overhears House loudly complaining to probably Cuddy about how some rich asshole is getting the organ his 16 yo patient needs because the patient got accused of something that he knows is fake. Everyone on the coms is telling Parker that it's not their job, to just drop it, but she fakes a much bigger injury and gets admitted as a cancer patient, so now they have to steal a hospital again.

House clocks Nate almost immediately and agrees to keep Cuddy off of them while they do whatever else they need to do. He also takes on the rich guy's case at the same time as the 16 yo, to keep him in the hospital.

Parker and Wilson get a few scenes together, and she has to talk him through some crime to help them along at some point. Foreman and Hardison get paired off, as well as Chase and Sophie, and Cameron and Elliot. At one point, Sophie and Chase have to fake dating for the case.

House and the team figure out that the rich guy's prognosis is even worse than he'd initially thought, even with the organ, he's not living past a year. This revelation comes at the same time as the Leverage team finding the evidence of the faked stuff that blocked the transplant initially. It's probably at this point that Cuddy is clued into everything as well.

The transplant committee agrees to give the organ to House's patient, and the rich guy gets scammed out of money somehow to pay the other patient's medical bills plus other things.

first of all, congrats on catching the leverage brainworms :) welcome to the party lol. secondly i love the idea of crossing over with house, because you’re so right, nate & house share quite a few major traits and would definitely clock each other! like the two spidermans meme. and the team has had a couple run-ins with medical & hospital settings and, notably, a guy trying to steal an organ, so it fits the jobs they take on very well. timeline-wise, the shows ran at the same time for a bit, too, so that’s nice because the technology level and their ages etc can be consistent.

i think eliot & foreman might bond a bit over their frustrating bosses. i’d love to see the ducklings eventually break into their patient’s house as they often do, and some of the leverage team already being there just like "umm we know what WE are doing here, but why the hell are this kid’s doctors breaking and entering??". and then bond over the whole "ohhh trust me, i know what having a really weird boss is like" thing lol.

also once parker’s recovered enough to sneak around, we def need to see more of parker pretending to be a nurse (eg order 23 job & miracle job) because 1) parker being a little disturbingly happy about being around sharp things (like needles & scalpels) or getting to drug people is always funny, and 2) easy seasons parker trying to comfort people is the best. her flight attendant alias in the mile high job? incredible. "death haunts us everyday :) <3" lmao.

thanks for the ask and infecting me with leverage/house crossover brainworms now too!!

[thewritingofspencerrose]

Luke Hughes x Crossed Girlfriend (Sophie) As promised, the Luke x crossed girlfriend I promised before my midterms ended!

"LuLuuuu!" A sing-song voice is what greets the youngest two of three Hughes brothers, both freshly home from a week on the road.

"What is that- is that pot?" Jack is the one to question, his brows furrowed in confusion as he turns to his little brother. "Since when does your girlfriend smoke pot?"

"She only does socially," Is Luke's awkward answer, scratching at the back of his neck. "Like, when she's drinking with her girls."

"Are you not Lukey? Are you Jacky then?" Her softer voice calls, bringing a smile to Luke's face that makes Jack want to hurl.

"It's me Baby," Luke calls back, slipping out of his shoes and dropping his bag on top. "Just getting back."

His body follows the familiar path to the living room, used to the little routine that he and Sophie follow after every game she can't attend.

No matter how much fight he puts up, she's always sitting on the sofa waiting for him. Whether she's awake or not, now that's usually another story.

Tonight though she's wide awake, and by the looks of it, has been busy.

"Did you have a good night Soph?" Jack's teasing joins the couple as Luke squats in front of his girlfriend, tucking her stray hair behind her ear.

"Yes!" She yells out, only earning a shush from her boy. "The girls and I went to a party on campus! I hadn't been in a while, though," She continues, pausing in thought, "I think I had too much."

"Too much of what, Baby?"

"You have pretty curls," Is her distracted response, running her hand through the curls on his head and choosing one to fixate on.

"Baby," Luke is trying again, taking her hands into his own in an attempt to limit distractions. "What did you have tonight that has you so giggly?"

"I had wine," She giggles, "That one with the red fruit on the label!"

"Your cranberry fruitscatto, yeah," Luke nods, knowing it's her favorite. "But did you have anything else?"

She's giggling again, pulling him in with his hoodie ties to be closer to him. "I may have had some weed."

"I can smell it in your hair," He can't help but chuckle, turning to his brother, who is still standing amused in the entry. "Can you keep an eye on her for minute so I can grab her different clothes and stuff?"

"You mean, can I babysit my future sister-in-law? Yeah, no problem," the older Hughes assures, dropping onto the couch and throwing his arm around said girl. "So, Soph, tell me about this party-"

And while Jack is giving her a hard time, Luke knows that he cares and he knows that his little adventure for supplies that will make the morning much easier for the three of them.

And uncomfortable Sophie always leads to an uncomfortable Jack.

And an overwhelmed Luke.

Soph doesn't go out, she considers going out to be sitting with the other girlfriends and wives at Devils games, but whenever she does, she makes it easy for him.

A black and white Devil's sweatshirt (his sweatshirt) and her matching polka dot pajama pants sit neatly folded on her side of the bed, her make-up wipes on top.

He knows exactly where she keeps the aspirin, right in the same first aid bin as her Midol and the bandaids.

Luke can hear her giggles from whatever story Jack is telling, probably another one from their childhoods, but he knows they can go over stories in the morning. Right now she needs sleep.

"Jack, can you herd her in here for me?"

It takes a moment, as expected, but soon enough Jack's goofy smiling is in the doorway, an equally goofy smile on his glitter-covered girlfriend, a clear sign her dress had probably been shedding all over the apartment.

"Delivery, one crossed Sophie ready to order," Jack jokes, physically handing the girl over as she giggles.

"I'm not a pizza," She can't stop the giggles now, and Luke is positive this the most inebriated he's seen her in their 2 years of dating.

"No, you're not, you're my pretty girl and we need to get into pjs so we can go to bed," Luke answers, taking her into his arms and plopping her on the bed.

His gaze floats to his brother, no words passed between but it's written in Jack's smile what he's thinking.

This girl really will be his sister-in-law one day.

"I'll get her some water while you two change up," Jack offers, pulling the door shut before Luke can even thank him.

And he's gone.

"Pj time?"

"Pj time," Luke confirms, pulling her into a standing position. "Can I take this off?"

"You'll get glitter on you!" Is Sophie's protest, being barely able to finish the thought before giggling.

"Baby please? You'll be so much comfier."

But this time, she nods.

"Baby, a verbal yes, please."

"Yes, you can help me with pj time," She nods with a giddy smile, already trying to wiggle out of her dress.

His hands slide down her sides slowly, making her wiggle even more intensely as the dress flows down with his fingers.

"Okay, now your-" And he was about to say bra, but she beat him to it, unclipping her bra in what must be record time for someone in her state and leaving her in just her panties. "Well, that helps with our progress."

It continues like that, his soft encouragements and hands helping her with her every move. The drag of the sweatshirt over her head, the pull of her pajama bottoms up her legs and over her hips.

To the cool makeup wipes washing away everything from the night.

Just in time for the knocks on the door signaling Jack's return. "I have her water!"

"Come on in, J!"

"You boys are too good to me," Sophie mumbles out, smiling sleepily.

"It's just cause you're lovable, Kid," Jack is saying in a joking manner, although he hands her her water, other hand occupying a mug. "I brought her tea too. I know that's helped her in the past."

"Thank you, Jacky," Is her smiley reply, taking the water first and the pill that is now being handed over from her boyfriend.

"To pussy and gunpowder. Live by one, die by the other....and love the smell of both!" Down goes both the pills and the water, going down like a shot while both boys stare in shock.

"Who taught you that shot call?"

"The girls!"

"I need to spend more time with these girls," Is Jack's cheeky response, earning Luke's eye roll.

He knows these girls. They'd eat Jack alive.

"I'm going to get her into bed, we'll see you in the morning," Is the youngers excuse to kid his brother out, but Soph is already curling under the covers, arms reaching out desperately for her curly haired boy.

And Luke concedes, crawling in and pulling her tightly into his chest.

All Jack can do is smile, shaking his head at the couple and turning off the lights.

"I'll see you two tomorrow."

"We love you Jacky!"

And he can't help but chuckle.

"I love you both too, Sunshine."

[moongreenlight]

WIP Wednesday except it's Thursday and I'm using this as an excuse to post something without the imaginary pressure of getting a full fic out. :D

800-ish word excerpt from my Ghoap x Reader nutcracker AU that I meant to finish around Christmas.

The orchestra has picked up about half a beat too fast and the conductor seems not to have noticed.

Too busy salivating at the legs of one of the snowflake girls a few spots to your left. His baton is getting lazy. Long, drawn out flicks and swishes like he’s casting spells instead of directing. Strange, you think. If anything they should be slowing down to match his tempo.

Maybe it’s the strings? They’re nipping into the winds and forcing the entire group forward. It throws off a girl in front of you. She’s younger by a handful of years. Doesn’t quite have the music- even at the right tempo- committed to memory. She drops her arm a full count too early. Even from behind you can hear her curse.

This seems to rouse him. He jerks his head back to center and starts flicking the tip of the baton back on beat. He’s a stern man. He’s got coal-black eyes that seem to house the staggering power to burn a hole straight through someone bone and all. You swear you can hear flesh crackling and sizzling as he casts his gaze out over the stage. It takes a moment, but he’s able to herd the group back onto a single track. Dancers and musicians alike.

Someone has either put too much or too little rosin on their shoes. It’s difficult to pinpoint, but there’s a terrible squeaking sound from somewhere on the stage that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Like nails on a chalkboard. It gets worse during the final round of turns.

And then, by some miracle, intermission. Big cloth curtains draw together. Kicking up dust and loose sparkles and large pieces of fake snow that adhere themselves to your skin. Kept snug in place by the sheen of sweat that collected under the brutal heat of the spotlights and the effort it took to dance for nearly forty minutes straight.

Imogene, the girl who’d just recently championed the superlative of biggest blunder to date, was now heavily crying into the arms of her older sister.

You relish the few moments you get to catch your breath before the mistress comes and begins to shoo you and the other girls offstage. She’s far more stern than the conductor. And unfortunately less handsome, though they share the same deep-set frown lines that cage their mouths. You catch her give a shaking Imogene a whack to the ear before you can duck backstage.

In your hurry to whip your head back around for fear of meeting the same fate, you run directly into someone’s back. You’re quick to hiss out an apology, but it’s drowned out by the sound of a man speaking terribly muddy French.

“- gorgeous. Even caught the orchestra’s attention.” (please pretend this is French I forgot to translate it and I'm too lazy rn)

The girl he’s talking to, Sophie, giggles and he sways slightly from her batting him in the chest.

“Excuse me.”

It comes out a bit more stiff than you mean it to. He doesn’t wait for Sophie to dismiss herself before turning around.

John MacTavish is one of the few men in the company, but even without such slim options, you feel he would still be a standout.

He’s not from France, though it’s not uncommon for members to have made pilgrimage to join such a prestigious group. His accent is horrible, any potential ruined by his upbringing somewhere in Scotland, though he earns himself a few points with native speakers for his enthusiasm.

He’s also granted the cushion of patience because of his undeniable good looks. He’s got great blue eyes that emote just as well as he does. Shining and laughing along with him like they’ve got personalities to match. He’s big. Tall and muscular, which -again- isn’t uncommon what with all the lifts and spins and acrobatics he does, but he packs on muscle in a way not many other male dancers have the capacity to do.

You’re sure it’s a nightmare to source costumes for him. He’s tore the back panel out of his jacket twice this season alone and you’re only about three-quarters of the way through.

He’s gorgeous and he knows it, which makes him insufferable. He’s charming and got fantastic whit, sure, but he’s perverse and a habitual letcher so it all seems to cancel out.

His great beauty makes him the popular option for most all of the company and the patrons of the opera house alike. It’s become a running joke that you’ve not really served your time unless you’ve had a go with John.

Your participation is left widely up to speculation.

���Sorry, hen.”

If he noticed your rigidity, he doesn’t bring it up. Instead he leans down and takes you by the wrists. Brings his face close to yours and plants a kiss on the right corner of your mouth.

“Jesus, John.”

You scramble away, much to his delight.

“Always forget if it’s right or left first.”

He’s snickering like he’s clever. It takes some legitimate effort to wrench your arms out of the manacles that are his hands.

“Funny.”

You say flatly as you shoulder past him, wiping at the corner of your mouth with the heel of your palm.

“I thought so.”

[n7punk]

“Slipstream” Fic Notes

Slipstream is done after growing far beyond the “simple hacker fic” concept and honestly Mara’s so cute I can’t even be mad. Fic notes below.

Playlist:

I’ve got the playlist here, but other honorable mentions I listeded to on repeat during this just because I wanted to: The Sex Was Good Until It Wasn’t album by XANA (it dropped in May and that shit is still on repeat), SUCKERPUNCH album by chloe moriondo (for chapter 6), PVRIS’s entire discography (I was going through something).

The Kicker — XANA

Good Luck, Babe! — Chappell Roan

Diet Heartbreak — chloe moriondo

TRAUMA BOND — poutyface

Albi — XANA

Rly Don’t Care — chloe moriondo

Chaos Is Love — K.Flay

Teenage Nightmare [unreleased demo]

What’s My Age Again? — Emilia Ali

Late Bloomer — Allison Ponthier

Holy Revival — Maisie Peters (ignore the verses)

Femininomenon — Chappell Roan

Mercury In Retrograde — Avril Lavigne

NIGHT IN JAIL — Rachel Bochner

my best friend’s ex — emlyn

Even If It Kills Me [unreleased demo]

Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl — Chappell Roan

Sirens (feat. Sophie Powers) — MOTHICA

Homewrecking Era — XANA

Obsessed (feat. Ashley Sienna) — Sophie Powers

Obsessed — Astrid S

Look At Her Now — Selena Gomez

Pretty Girls — Renee Rapp

Cruel Summer — Taylor Swift

Picture You — Chappell Roan

Epilogue Life:

It takes a few months for Catra to feel like she has any handle on “parenting” or any right to even think that term about herself when she’s still a newcomer to Mara’s life, but Mara has accepted her at that point, it’s Catra and her own lack of a parental figure that is stopping her. She never would have accepted someone trying to come in and parent her after being so jaded from the first few years of her life (see her  relationship with Adora’s parents in high school), so she’s expecting Mara to be a lot more hesitant and take “convincing”. She wants to give her the time she needs, but Mara had a loving parent growing up and doesn’t see adding Catra to that role as a bad thing.

Mara also has a little kid understanding of the world, so to her the instant Catra and Adora are dating she’s her stepmom, not because it’s that easy, but because obviously dating = will get married, so there is no point “fighting” something that is inevitable. Even though her parents don’t talk to each other, it doesn’t occur to her that people break up under normal circumstances. Her dad has hurt her mom and her a lot, he’s a bad guy, and Catra isn’t that, so why would she ever leave. They’re both girls and gay, they have no need to breakup. Life isn’t that simple, but it does make their relationship transition pretty smooth from Mara’s perspective.

Catra still insists on the stepdad thing and it becomes a family joke. Catra tells Mara it’s because it would be too confusing if they were both mom and Mara accepts that without question, because she is actually right. The reasons for stepdad are multi-layered, like this addition which helps Mara accept it: Mara wants someone good to replace the force of rejection and imbalance her bio dad was, so she’s more than happy to have Catra take that mantle instead. Catra wants to replace him as well, for many reasons including her own selfish hatred of him, but also her own insecurity. She knows she can be a better parent than Falcon, but she doesn’t think she can ever be equal to Adora and thus an equal mom. Adora’s parents weren’t 100% wrong when they mentioned the butch thing either because it is my headcanon Catra is a little GNC at times. Not really anything deep or strong enough for her to identify any particular way, just something that means she wouldn’t mind stepdad or “sir” even without all those other layers. Eventually a lot of those factors stop seeming like such a big deal but at that point it is just a family joke that never really dies. Occasionally once she’s in high school Mara calls her mom, but mostly Catra is “Dad” or “my stepdad” when being referred to singularly, and then when Mara is referring to both her parents she calls them “my moms”. Which does confuse people and Catra finds that funny.

When Mara is in high school and the age Adora and Falcon were when they started dating, Falcon finally tries reaching out again. That was a phone call Adora never wanted to get, but he’s not coming back to the country — he does still have those debts waiting for him, after all, and unable to pay them back, the stress would take him right back to that mental state he fled — and he’s not trying to rejoin their lives, he just kind of wants to know what happened after he left. Adora is angry and tells him he doesn’t have the right to know that after what he did — and she’s right — but later she still regrets it and, after talking to Catra (who also tells her she was right and she shouldn’t call him back and open that door back into their lives for him, but sits by her side when she’s on the phone to support her when she insists on going through with it), she calls him back. She only gives him the very high level stuff: she started dating someone right around when he disappeared, and they’re married now and happy, and she has become Mara’s new stepdad — something Falcon thinks she says as a pointed jab not knowing that’s really what Mara calls her — and Mara is doing well despite Falcon messing up her sense of trust and safety as a little kid, and definitely doesn’t need him fucking with her again by trying to contact her now. Adora makes it clear this is a courtesy she is giving him with the understanding that, now she has volunteered the information, he isn’t going to seek any more out or bother them.

That holds kind of true. He checks in with Adora around high school graduation just to make sure Mara made through it okay — he can’t help but remember around this time he was ruining both their lives — and to see if she plans to go to college, which she does, and then he calls again three years later just to see if she’s still on that track, which she is. He never calls again and Adora never knows if that’s because he moved on, or got closure, or lost their number, or died. Mara knows he called to check in on her once or twice but Adora didn’t tell her until she was an adult because she worried about reintroducing all that old uncertainty and fear back into her life, and at least now no one can force her to see Falcon if she doesn’t want to.

Catra seriously considers hunting him down after he goes dark, but she has done what she can to close the illegal chapter of her life and she knows Adora wouldn’t be happy with her reopening it — especially when she’s a little rusty — for their own closure with him. Catra didn’t exactly succeed in turning over a new leaf overnight, but she did greatly reduced her law-breaking, leaving only little slip-ups that happened every few months until she managed to stretch a gap long enough for it to become permanent, the impulse no longer second nature and her episodes of feeling untouchable either more rare or focused on something other than being unafraid of the government. She does stay in the cybersecurity sector professionally for a long time and works alongside Entrapta several times throughout the years.

I’ve kind of talked about this before and even included it in the concert scene, but Catra and Entrapta do kind of keep  referring to each other as partner occasionally and honestly neither of them are really sure how they mean it. They never formally said “QPR over”, they said “no more physical affection (sex)” and they remained very close, though it felt like it did end more definitively when Catra eventually moved in with Adora. That took her longer to do than it usually does in AUs due to both her happiness/comfort with Entrapta, trying not to “upset” Mara by forcing the change on her, and Catra still needing the ability to get distance from them for the night sometimes while dealing with her own demons, but those slowly disappear as Mara lets her heal her own childhood and she sees she can be a good parental figure with experience.

Chapter 1:

⦁ “Slipstream” was once again a temporary placeholder name that became permanent. It’s a reference to the hacker Slipstream, one of the names behind the Nintendo gigaleak.

⦁ Entrapta’s daily energy drink limit is by no means her daily average, but any day drinking seven energy drinks is a bad one. She doesn’t actually drink Monster every day… Just like 95% of them. And she is a lot more likely to drink 1-3 than 5.

⦁ Okay I’m like half bullshitting the tech speak in this fic. The 20 minute decryption Waffle House thing? Yeah that’s actually optimistic. The kid who hacked the CIA did that exact thing and took 30 minutes to log on and he still eventually got caught.

⦁ Close followers of my Tumblr will already know Adora Maria is reference to some terrible  “wrong” trivia answers to a question about She-ra’s names.

Chapter 2:

⦁ Steps (loosely): 1) Identify absolutely necessary files and save them, 2) Paste contents of other important word/text files into empty cloud documents she can download later (cleaning metadata), 3) Create a new encrypted email on a totally different machine (in this case, Catra’s clean laptop she had with her), 4) Forward absolutely necessary emails to new address (being very selective), 5) Delete what accounts it’s reasonable to just nuke, 6) Completely wipe computer and reset it, 7) Change first the associated email and then the password of all other accounts in a closed environment (Catra’s laptop) and turn on two-factor for absolutely everything that has the option, 8) When all information has been reset, delete old email in closed environment as insurance.

⦁ Adora’s scent changed some with pregnancy and then the rest with lifestyle changes.

⦁ Mara comes out to check on them because Adora told her an old friend from high school was coming over and she wasn’t making the happy sounds she makes with her friends. When she realized Adora was stressed she got worried, doubly so when she said it was grown-up stuff, because that grown-up stuff could be Mara-related — especially since she knows Falcon is causing problems with child support even if Adora tries to keep her from hearing about it too much — which is why Adora invited her out to see it’s really okay.

Chapter 3:

⦁ Originally when I wrote the group chat there was nothing differentiating who was speaking, but I had the idea to use emojis like profile pictures to make it more clear. The scorpio icon was originally head-in-the-clouds (high af emote), the star was originally just a sassy emote, and the dragon changed the same. I ended up changing them because a reader sent an ask letting me know that the emotes wouldn’t translate to epub format and the Scorpio and star “emote” are part of the standard unicode colored symbals, so I’m hoping they’re included, but I also don’t have any way of checking without just uploading the thing so this was my best effort. I kept the dragon even though it’s not included because I was too attached and only one person missing an icon would at least differentiate it from the others still.

⦁ Adora named Mara after her old teacher Mara because she was the only out lesbian she (knew) she had ever met. She was pretty quiet about it to not get harassed by parents, but she wasn’t about to lie about it, and she would talk about Hope when prompted. Adora admired that back in high school thinking she just Respected Her Ideals™️ and later realized it was more than that.

⦁ Catra’s conflicting feelings looking at Mara hugging Adora’s hip are actually less because she’s remembering her father and more remembering she was doing that to feel safe and she doesn’t like to think she’s making a kid feel unsafe too.

⦁ Adora’s habit of rubbing at her tattoo (versus something like the back of her neck) started when it itched a lot while healing. She has terrible tattoo discipline and really shouldn’t get another one because she couldn’t leave it alone.

⦁ You might be able to tell here, but originally Mara was intended to be older (8-ish or something) but I didn’t want them to separate that long. The timeline is already kind of screwy because even with Adora a year older Mara should actually be four with pregnancy time, but shhhhhh.

⦁ Oh my god I wish more people knew the difference between the deep web and the dark web. People act like they’re interchangable when Facebook qualifies as the deep web. Catra is a deep web miscreant, not the dark web.

Chapter 4:

⦁ Perfuma doesn’t know they’re cyber criminals but given the jokes about felonies she can guess that’s the only thing that makes sense, and then she elects not to think any more about it because they’re really important to Scorpia and she wants plausible deniability.

⦁ Obviously Catra hadn’t said Adora’s name yet, but Adora is such an Entity in her mind it feels like everybody should think about her as much as Catra does.

⦁ Perfuma would have to be totally oblivious to not pick up from the conversation that Catra had a crush on Adora in high school, and knowing what she does about Adora’s comphet she just kind of assumes it was the classic “crush on a straight girl” that went nowhere until Catra left school. She’s not about to embarrass Catra by bringing that up to Adora, but if she knew how serious it was and had a hunch how Adora felt she might interfere.

⦁ Table break lore. I wouldn’t say this is a reference so much as a shared headcanon that previously came up allllllllllll the way back in Drawn Into The Music, where Scorpia breaks a table trying to lean on it while drunk because Biceps.

⦁ Mara’s set up is basically what I had as a kid. When we were little we had the “kid computer” which belonged to someone back in the day when it was actually considered a good machine. It didn’t have internet and was just for playing games (which were all offline at that point in time). When we got old enough for the internet we had a  software that only let us browse for like 30 minutes each day and I think had an automatic filter of inappropriate sites? If it did, the site list was very minimal and I never ran into any issues personally, but a software that blocks pornhub isn’t a bad thing for a five year old to have even if I’m generally against online surveillance lmao. It’s not making a list of sites she visited for spying purposes or anything, and generally Adora tries to be in the room with her when she’s online (in-game or not) because you know. Super young. She’s really busy though and sometimes has to rely on the idea that the parents of Mara’s friends are doing the same thing and monitoring them so they can keep safe. That is not always true.

⦁ Adora tousles Mara’s hair and pets her so much because that became one of the ways she knew how to express affection with Catra and now it’s just ingrained as a part of her.

⦁ Semi-related, she and Catra didn’t actually meet until middle school in this ‘verse and had about five years together before Catra’s breakdown.

⦁ Adora’s tattoo is the season one sword in a deep maroon and then the gem in the center of the hilt is the sunset ombre from the lesbian flag. Catra just thought the lines were black because she couldn’t see that shade of red.

⦁ “The breakup” here is code for “uncomfortable sex experience”.

Chapter 5:

⦁ Catra was about to say she doesn’t get on her knees unless a pretty girl asks nicely before her brain caught up with her mouth.

⦁ Adora was absolutely not going to interrupt because she was smitten watching them interact. She never in her wildest dreams thought Catra would do more than tolerate her child at best, but she forgot the factor of her kind of outweighed the factor of child.

⦁ Uhhhh. So. Alright fuck it. Catra was in a mania fit when she broke into the mall. That can come from a couple things and I’ve experienced it once I think, but yeah she really should be on mood stablizers and just refuses to see a professional about it. Once her life stabilized and she essentially had Entrapta as a safety net, knowing she wasn’t going to kick her out if her work lapsed, it made things a lot easier, but her constant vigilance against authorities could just as easily be seen as appropriate vigilance as it is paranoia (primarily socially-unacceptable anxiety).

⦁ Catra doesn’t know how to categorize her emotions outside of bad criteria so any strong emotion gets categorized as “breakdownable” or not but that’s definitely not what she’s feeling here, having emotions just feels like she’s dying.

⦁ Bella Sara supremacy !! 🗣️🗣️I don’t think it was available on the Vita lol but it was in THIS universe.

Chapter 6:

⦁ Catra was, subconsciously, still trying to delay the inevitable of Adora and Entrapta meeting by meeting with Adora and Scorpia downstairs. When they finally came home and it was time, Catra basically tried to get everyone settled in the living room and her own bedroom without “bothering” Entrapta, but she did vaguely greet them when they got home. Their first real conversation was the one in the bed, though.

⦁ Adora is the type of drunk to try to perpetuate her own existence. If you look away from drunk Adora for a second she’s doing another round of shots and trying to get herself hospitalized.

⦁ “Adora shouldn’t be worrying about this” yeah this reaction has nothing to do with cheating, Catra, that’s just all she can do with her jealousy reasonably.

⦁ The Scene (1)

⦁ Belgian Boys mini pancakes my beloved

⦁ Okay so “cheating” per se isn’t so much a thing in their relationship, but by the idea that there are rules and they have an understanding which involves not messing around with other people without notification/permission, then yes cheating is a thing. It would  be shitty for Catra to do anything without letting Entrapta know she intends to, which is the entire point of the fun pass.

Chapter 7:

⦁ Catra didn’t really have a sex addiction or anything she was just really, really lonely, knew people found her hot, and needed reasons to stay at other people’s places, so it ended up as a perfect storm.

⦁ “Put the kid on and let me talk to her” from Catra “I’m just tolerating the kid” Meow Meow.

⦁ Yes I know that “bludgeoning weapon” was not at all correct. But it sounded good, and that’s what writing is sometimes.

⦁ “She tells herself Mara would miss her gifts and then immediately questions why she needs to tell herself anything at all.” Idk Catra I think Mara might miss you as a little more than a gift-giving source. She might be really broken up by you not coming around. (You would also miss her but I’m not even going to pretend you’re open to that idea)

⦁ IDK CATRA MAYBE THE KID WANTED TO BE AROUND AND TRUSTED BY YOU. IDIOT

⦁ The Scene (2)

Chapter 8:

⦁ Turnabout’s fair play and we’ve gone from Adora thinking she can’t stay over to Catra thinking it. These two lesbians just need to accept they’re equally needy.

⦁ “Hoodwinked” agenda !! In all seriousness I haven’t watched it in years so I’m not sure if it holds up, but I loved that movie as a kid and so did my mom. I watched it so many times.

⦁ “Tax-free” is in reference to the final line of the chapter, where Catra has some (minor) dues to pay for how she has lived her life, but it’s nothing more serious than what she has already done, because as awful as she often thinks herself, most of what she did was just surviving under hard circumstances.

Chapter 9:

⦁ Adora has it right with Falcon. To him, he and his girlfriend had sex bad enough for her to realize she was gay (he was not being a good partner for that because he didn’t notice she was uncomfortable, he was just thinking three years together made it about time), he suddenly has a kid at only 19, and his now-ex he was planning to marry can’t even look at him. He already had gambling tendencies and really fell on it with the stress of college and navigating the kid situation, and then everything snowballed because the debt got bad enough he couldn’t make tuition and his stress went even further through the roof when he was forced to just get a job to pay what child support he could, and then he starts getting these threats and at that point completely starting over is looking pretty attractive. Whether or not he was in the right has no effect on how his brain was able to handle it and Mara’s inception turned out mildly traumatic for everyone involved.

⦁ “The fact that Adora is right to have her suspicions is annoying.” That’s a little thing called guilt, kitten.

⦁ I don’t know what my thing with Albuquerque is but whenever I think of someone going into hiding/leaving the country I think of them doing it there. I’m sure it was used in some piece of media I consumed when I was young and that’s where it came from because to my knowledge it’s not an international flights hub.

⦁ Glimmer is one of those people who will drop in the group chat like hey who wants to see a show in two weeks and then just buy tickets for everyone. This was actually arranged months ago, hence the Star siblings not thinking about the timing and having a conflict, and it was before Perfuma and Scorpia even started dating.

⦁ Melendy Britt was a voice actress on the OG cartoon and like a third of the female characters, playing Adora amongst others. She was recently at the MOTU SDCC panel.

⦁ In most ‘verses I think Catra loves music, she just has a specific history in this AU that makes it a weird thing for her because she knows it was robbed of her but can’t try to get into it now because that’s acknowledging everything she has lost.

⦁ The brain development thing is actually a myth and it varies wildly between people, but Adora’s parents are also the kind to sincerely believe you’re only using 10% of your brain at any given time.

Chapter 10:

⦁ When I was initially figuring out what to do with Falcon, I wasn’t really sure what to do with him. I wanted to get him involved in criminal stuff Catra could uncover so he couldn’t be around Mara anymore, but I was also hesitant to do that because Adora’s life is in a precarious place without the child support. I also didn’t want to make him into this caricature of awfulness when he was once Adora’s longterm boyfriend and thus at least seemed decent. Then I remembered Catra has a tech sector paycheck and I could easily just run him off at that point.

⦁ Honestly, now is probably the time to admit that every third time I went to write Falcon’s name I almost wrote Sea Hawk just because they’re so similar, which makes sense since Falcon was invented to be Sea Hawk’s ex, but it was a struggle the whole fic lol.

⦁ Okay, but what did happen with Falcon and the money/threats? Well, Catra had it pretty right: they were sketchy people, and criminals sure, scammers definitely, but they weren’t actually going to send hitmen after him or anything. He was never in any danger. Leaving the country did actually give him a new leaf though and he was a better person with it, managing to build something even though he was still struggling with his gambling addiction. He wasn’t able to keep any kind of savings going as a result but he at least learned not to spend money he didn’t actually have and get in debt. He managed to find a small pension job and get help for his anxiety, which let him at least a small modest life.

⦁ Mrs. Bee is Sweet Bee.

⦁ I meant to have a conversation about swearing they never ended up having. Basically, Adora vaguely tries to censor herself, but things like “oh stars” come naturally to her from her parents, “fuck” just also comes naturally from everyone else in her life lol. Mara knows kind of what swear words are and that they’re “adult words” you need to be older to understand the impact of, so when Catra (or Adora) does inevitably swear in front of the kid, it’s  not much of a big deal. Catra ends up making it out to be a bigger thing in her head and putting more effort into censoring herself (read: any effort) than Adora does or cares. Eventually they do talk about it when Catra takes a bit more of a parental role in Mara’s life and is trying to figure out what that entails.

⦁ There’s this tendency for people talking to kids to refer to their parents as “your mom” rather than like, their name which you would be using in any other context. Catra has had a secret rule — secret even to herself — that she’s going to keep Adora’s name and not do that “your mom” shit. Well, here she is doing that shit, and it’s because she feels a lot less like she needs to distance herself from Mara — and thus the concept of Adora having kids — than she did at first when Mara quite frankly terrified her.

⦁ “I didn’t remember your phone number-” a straight up lie, “-and I wasn’t about to go back home under any conditions to ask your parents what you were up to,” will turn out to be a lie.

Chapter 11:

⦁ “It’ll even look bad on Mara by the time of their next zoo visit.” Oh? Are you planning to be part of that visit, Catra?

⦁ (I am not personally a big fan of bucket hats but there are times when they look really cute — yes even on adults — Catra’s just a hater)

⦁ Catra’s description of how the magicat crowns work is actually how her mask works on her official doll. In the case of the magicat queens, though, the hooks were more like a fallback because the mask was made to be so perfect against their face its weight was distributed over the entire thing and the small hooks just kept it from getting out of place.

⦁ Catra’s freakout is very funny to me because kids will play with literally anyone they like but Catra has so little experience she thinks this is what fatherhood is. Not that she isn’t a Trusted Adult to Mara but most of her “signs” would be there whether or not they were dating.

⦁ “It’s also partially that she isn’t ever going to be a father to anyone, and thus using it has more joking distance that feels marginally more acceptable.” She’s a dad within six months lmao.

⦁ Being a parent doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people, and Catra is one of those, so for most of the fic you don’t really get to see her in “parent mode”, and I do worry where it leaves off some people will see her as not a good step-parent for Mara, but that’s a slow process for her to reach. The fic would have to drag out a lot longer before it could reach  the point where it’s natural for her. For most of the first year she feels like she’s horribly flailing during every interaction with Mara, and that doesn’t change with this chapter, but she does internally accept that this is a role she’s going to have and wants to take  up, so while she still jokes and occasionally slips up, she does love the kid and is doing her best.

Chapter 12:

⦁ I’m basically picturing the Home Alone house for Adora’s parents but I don’t remember it from the movie, I remember it from the LEGO set. So do with that what you will.

⦁ Marlena knows what she’s doing and she’s just trying to feel Catra out because she never would have pictured her becoming a parent in high school, but she also knows, both logically and from her phone calls with Adora, that Catra has grown a lot.

Original Outline:

I actually have my original idea for the fic still written down from a Discord conversation with a friend so here it is in its entirety:

vague idea is catra + entrapta are a hacker duo and they’re a thing. adora's organization is data compromised, forcing catra to get back in contact with her to help her fix it (vaguer idea is adora works for a nonprofit or something. dont hold me to that) like catra independently finds out there's a security vulnerability and is like fuck i have to be a good guy about this Maybe Catra tries to hack them to spy on adora because she misses her and then she gets way too much way too easily.

So yeah obviously a lot changed. Another idea was that Catra had to protect Adora from people trying to get her for… IDK, something Catra uncovered that Adora didn’t even know she knew (or at least didn’t realized was incriminating enough for people to want to cover it up), but I don’t really like writing action lol.

Everything changed because I had been wanting to write a single mom Adora fic too, just didn’t have anything written for it. In the initial version of Slipstream, I had no background for how they drifted apart, and the comphet backstory for the single mom Adora fic slotted nicely into Slipstream’s empty past, so I combined them so I could write both at once, especially because (as evidenced by how little was in the outline) I didn’t have any kind of ongoing plot after they reconnected that I actually wanted to write (again, action ideas are fun, but not for me to write). The new story gave me a lot more avenues to explore relationship dynamics as a big element for all the characters, and thus gave the QPR more relevance and let me portray something I think is kind of rare. Entrapta’s relationship with relationships in this fic is really personal to me and it kind of stuck out as a little out of place in the old idea, but in this version of the fic it works into the overall themes of relationships, self-denial, and accepting that what satisfies you isn’t necessarily the thing that will make you happiest and that’s worth whatever risks are associated with it.

I want back and forth on the club chapter and the following revolving around a few points: should they actually kiss in the club or just come close, should they kiss in the kitchen, and should they get evolved enough in that kiss for Adora’s hand to reach Catra’s tail. I kind of knew the latter would be too far, but ultimately decided the first two were permissible within their rules.

Meta:

Adora’s floorplan

Upcoming:

Next up will be an OotW oneshot. I’m also working on the Lightbeam sequel fic, and lowkey another AU I’ve been teasing, but I don’t think I'll have time for them before Sapphic September starts and I chip away at some of those prompts, so we'll see what’s going to shove to the forefront first, so stay tuned IG lol

[camlannpod]

Trailer Drop! Camlann releases in January 2024, subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript available here, or click the Read More below.

[Image Description: A blue-back painted background shows mountains that vaguely look like a figure lying down face up under a starry sky. Orange looping text says the title 'Camlann' and 'Subscribe where you get your podcasts'. White bold text says 'Trailer, Listen Now'. A wave form wobbles as the audio plays, and subtitles appear beneath it in white text.]

Camlann - Teaser Trailer Transcript - 6th November 2023

[Camlann is written and directed by Ella Watts and produced by Amber Devereux at Tin Can Audio, with production management from Ross McFarlane. This transcript was written by Ella Watts.]

A dial tone - it’s a low, warm trilling beep which rings in sets of two, six times, before stopping abruptly.

The voice that follows is feminine and light, with a precise English accent. The character speaks with a sense of formality, and formal warmth - like you might find in a hospital.

RECORDING 1:

Please hold. Your call is very important to us and we will get to it as quickly as we can. The Cataclysm is frightening for everyone. Remember, in times like these we need to stick together more than ever. If you need emergency assistance, please call 999 -

The dial tone returns, ringing three times. The voice that follows is light, masculine, with a Scottish accent.

RECORDING 2:

Your position in the queue is -

The voice that follows is androgynous and light, a different Scottish accent to the one before.

RECORDING 3:

Three-hundred and thirty-three

A long, continuous droning beep as the phone connects, which ends abruptly. 

The voice that follows is feminine and Scottish, specifically Glaswegian. She sounds confident, but somewhat rushed - like an emergency phone operator. She is immediately authoritative and polite.

PHONE OPERATOR:

Hello, you’ve reached the Cataclysm Casualties Hotline. Can I take your name and date of birth?

At this point, a very soft static begins to build in the background. 

The first voice we hear is androgynous, English and precise.

PERRY:

Peredur Green

The second voice is a low, feminine voice with a Welsh accent.

MORGAN:

Morgan Jones

The third voice speaks with a Chinese accent, and is light and feminine.

GWEN:

Shújūn Liu

The fourth voice is low and masculine, with a broad Scottish accent. 

GWAINE:

Gwaine Turner

The fifth voice is light and masculine, with a light Welsh accent.

DAI:

Just call me Dai

The Phone Operator is business-like and professional.

PHONE OPERATOR:

Ok, and who are you calling for today?

The static keeps building softly, getting slowly louder. 

Dai sounds frustrated and anxious, and he speaks quickly.

DAI:

My Mum. Siân Thomas? She was in Aberystwyth.

Gwaine speaks firmly and slowly. He falters when he clarifies Kirkwall, revealing his anxiety.

GWAINE:

Matthew and Louise Turner. In Kirkwall on Orkney. 

Gwen sounds audibly anxious, speaking with urgency and a slightly higher pitch.

GWEN:

My father, Kai Liu.

Morgan says Ben’s name as if around a lump in her throat - she sounds sad, like she already knows something has happened to him.

MORGAN:

Ben. Ben Jones. 

Gwaine sounds comfortably skeptical - as if what he’s referring to cannot possibly be true. 

A new drone builds alongside the softly building static - like a swarm of bees or string instruments being played vibrato. It slowly gets louder and louder, a low pitched sense of intensity and dread.

GWAINE:

I saw something on the news about a sea serpent?

Morgan sounds like she’s going to be sick. She’s deadly serious, firm and clearly seriously worried.

MORGAN:

He’s fifteen years old.

Perry is authoritative and comfortable with the bureaucracy, though they still speak with a sense of urgency.

PERRY:

Anna and Sophie Green, in Portsmouth. 

When Gwen speaks, there’s a sense of dread in her voice.

GWEN:

What’s happening in Kowloon?

Perry sounds incredulous and confused as they ask their question, full of disbelief. 

The droning bee swarm sound gets louder, it’s hard to tell if it’s musical or a sound effect, only that it’s building a sense of dread like a horror film.

PERRY:

Listen, is this real? I’ve been seeing news reports about dragons -

The phone operator sounds guarded and distracted when she answers, clearly avoiding the questions.

PHONE OPERATOR:

Let me look that up for you. Where are you calling from today?

Each of the following answers comes quickly and firmly. Gwen’s stands out.

PERRY:

Bristol

MORGAN:

Bristol

GWAINE:

Bristol

DAI:

Bristol

GWEN:

Leicester

The phone operator sounds sincere and sympathetic in the way that a doctor might when delivering bad news to a patient. 

A new sound effect joins the static and drone - background voices or muffled clanging metal, like the echoes you hear in a swimming pool. It sounds strange and surreal, contradicting the sensible pragmatism of the Phone Operator’s delivery.

PHONE OPERATOR:

I’m so sorry, it looks like we haven’t got anyone listed under that name on the database. This means they have’t been listed as a fatality. Call back tomorrow, and if you haven’t heard anything from us or your loved one in three days, try the online form. 

Very softly, music fades in - synthetic strings playing a warm, hopeful folk music kind of melody. The strings build.

PHONE OPERATOR:

I know this is scary, but it’s ok. We’re going to get through this…

Everything pauses - the sound effects, the music, and the Phone Operator herself. There’s a beat of silence.

PHONE OPERATOR:

…together.

The music resumes, louder than before, as everything else fades away. The tune builds from strings into a melodic keyboard like-tune on a synthetic instrument that sounds like fairy lights. The music is warm and hopeful. 

It dips in volume under the following voiceover - delivered by a light, masculine voice with a Welsh accent, the same actor as Dai. His delivery is confident and formal.

VOICEOVER:

Camlann, a post-apocalyptic audio drama by Ella Watts, inspired by folklore and Arthurian legends. Coming January 2024. Produced by Tin Can Audio. 

The music builds - the synthetic keyboard and strings joined by a synth that sounds almost like an organ, building to a gentle, slow crescendo before dipping back down - each instrument falling away until only the strings are left playing the core melody of the tune, more and more quietly until the music fades and the trailer ends.

[crimswnred]

I've just gotten back home from work so I'm a little late to the party, however...

LITG SEASON 8: TEMPTING FATE — VOLUME 2: thoughts, concerns and prayers

first of all yesss more hair booooo paywall, fusebox get it together??? (at least they are pretty but again that's the bare minimum)

anyway, here's my girl with her new hair

why do all of the girls' nightwear look like I'm on a strip club and they're asking me if I want something to drink

it's so over for you Theo

honestly she's too good for him anyway

okay kiss challenge!!!! let me snog everyone

I don't want any more of that "peck" crap we want FULL ON SNOGS, TONGUE AND CHAOS

Jin: "Nap, then results?" Hamish would be so proud of him

okay, so you rate me EIGHT just so I feel like I have to pay to have one extra kiss, your game is a dirty as ever Fusebox

date time!!!! going with Jin ❤️

LMAO Jack is kinda funny

so sad to see a baddie doing too much to keep a man in love island 💔 Luna I'm so sorry you didn't deserve it your only crime was being coupled up with the one guy I want

oh. so about the terrace scene...

first of all, super sweet gem scene. it seemed like a super important one for it to be a gem scene though. so idk I'm a bit lost.

Jin is a walking red flag 😭 this boy is soooo gonna flip on me when the next hot girl shows up!! but let's enjoy the ride

and Luna... girl... was it ever that serious?

the award for worst outfit design goes to 👇

and the one for BEST outfit design goes to 👇

like wow wowza mmmhmm yeah! this man is hot hot HOT 🔥🔥🔥

I had to kiss him HE IS SO FINEEEEEEEEEEE

oh, Jack is kinda sweet... if he looked more like Lewie/Alex he would be favourite boy of the season for sureeee

keep the compliments coming, darling

I had to kiss him too. you know, to be polite.

but it was just a peck, tho

okay, NOW JIN!!!

having a spicy conversation with the guy I want to fuck and his currently girl isn't how I planned to spend my afternoon but here we go

"You're adventurous. You're fun to be around. And you'd make every sight even more beautiful", "Okay. Where's the punch line?", "There isn't one :)" OKAY GAG ME WITH THE WRITING

FUNNY BOY WHO'S A HISYORY NERD? OH OKAY!!!! BIG T??? NO IT'S BIG J!!!!!! JIMOTHY!!!

lmao Sophie mixing the boys up she's so me

Claudia is a real one let me tell you that

she's nice, she doesn't force herself upon us, she's polite, she give us all the tea, and she even help us to graft on the boys behind their girls' backs. like, THAT'S MY GIRL

and if Theo doesn't step up she will DEFINITELY be mine

TIME TO PICK MY BOY LET'S GOOOOOOOO

so sad to see Luna go, I really like her :/

lmao???????????

I TAKE BACK EVERY GOOD THING I SAID ABOUT JACK WTFFFF 😭😭😭😭

he was so out of pocket ?? what's your deal man, are you jealous I picked Jin instead of you? we kissed ONCE. be sooooooooo for real rn

okay Sophie you can join your boy in this bullshit he still cheated on you with me when you weren't looking (and he probably would do it again)

no. I won't forgive you?? you were basically calling me a whore back then and now you are SORRY? don't say something you'll regret later that's not cute.

and he's supposed to be serious?

anyway, stressful night over. time to go to bed with my babygirl Jin

BITS BITS BITS BITS

29 gems to go all the way? what is this?

they could've make the scene a little longer but they have gotten way better ever since the writers dropped the word crescendo

MR TYLER WHO ARE YOU?

still not 100% sure if I'm going with Jin or Oakley but I'm leaning towards Jin, I'm not gonna lie 😁 I did some stuff that will fuck me over on movie night if fusebox finally learnt how to code (which they prolly didn't so I guess I'm safe)

I really enjoyed this episode except for the part when Jack and Sophie went full on villain mode but if the narrative made sense all of the time it wouldn't be LITG, right?

anyway, let's see what this Tyler guy is about... see you all next week 🫶

[captainsophiestark]

The Richmond Vampire

Damon Salvatore x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for my personal fic writing challenge for 2024, Sophie's Year of Fic! Featuring a new fic being posted every Friday, all year long :)

Fandom: TVD/TO

Summary: Damon's come to retrieve his SO for involvement in some Mystic Falls drama, but unfortunately for him, they're not willing to miss their favorite class at Whitmore, which just so happens to be covering vampires.

Word Count: 1,699

Category: Fluff, Humor

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

"Hey! Babe!"

I stopped short of the door to my lecture hall, letting my classmates go ahead at the sound of my boyfriend's voice from behind me. I turned to find none other than Damon Salvatore heading towards me, weaving through the undergrads with incredible impatience.

"Hey yourself!" I called out to him with a smile. "What are you doing here?"

Damon huffed at the last college student in his way as they wandered past, before turning his attention to me.

"I need your help. We've got... business we need to take care of."

The smile immediately dropped off my face. I'd been dating Damon long enough to know that 'business' was code for some supernatural problem that had somehow managed to follow us out of Mystic Falls. I shook my head.

"No. No way, Day. I have class."

"Oh, come on," he said, rolling his eyes a little before taking a step closer to me, into my space. One of his hands came up to play with the ends of my hair. "Don't tell me I'm gonna have to convince you to cut class with me."

He lowered his voice, teasing and flirting at the same time, but I just put a hand on his chest to stop him moving any further.

"You know I love you, and if it was you in trouble, I'd drop everything to help you in a second. But I'm not missing my favorite class, especially not the lecture I've been waiting for this whole semester, just to involve myself in the latest Scooby Gang drama. Whatever it is, it can wait, like, two hours."

Damon opened his mouth to continue making his case, but I just gave him a smile and a wink, then pulled out of his grasp. I slipped through the door of the classroom before he could stop me and headed for a seat near the front. When I sat down, I wasn't surprised to see Damon following right behind me, settling a moment later in the seat next to mine. I turned to him with a grin.

"Last chance to leave before class starts. I can call you when it's over."

He turned to me with a fake smile I knew well.

"Nope. If you won't leave, I might as well stay here with you. Then we can leave even faster once it's over."

My smile only widened. "Alright. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Damon raised an eyebrow at me, but I was able to avoid answering him as our instructor began class, drawing my attention back to the front. Still, Damon didn't have to wait long to see what I was talking about.

"Alright, everybody, it's time for our much-awaited, headlining lecture for myths and folklore. Today... we're talking about vampires."

Damon didn't even bother to hide a snort, but I just grinned. Despite dating a real vampire, their place in mythology, folklore, and other storytelling had never lost its appeal for me. I loved reading and studying about them in all forms, and I'd taken this class largely for this part of the course. Having a real life vampire sitting next to me for the whole thing could only enhance the experience, as far as I was concerned.

"Everyone's heard a vampire story at least once in their life," the professor continued at the front of the class. "Whether it was Dracula, Anne Rice, or just second-hand knowledge of Twilight, as creatures, they're ingrained in our cultural conscious.

"However, not all vampires are the same. Stakes, crosses, cutting off the heads, garlic. Even whether or not sunlight will kill them, although sparkling is a bit of an outlier. Each myth of the vampire, or a vamprie-adjacent creature, has a slightly different description of exactly what makes a vampire. We even have our own local variety, with the myth of the Richmond Vampire existing for just over a hundred years now."

I leaned over to Damon, getting close enough to whisper in his ear.

"How many of these myths do you think you're responsible for?" I asked.

"All of them," he deadpanned, without even glancing over at me. "Except Edward."

Now it was my turn to snort. Luckily, my professor didn't notice.

"Today begins the unit of our class where we look at the permiation of the folklore not just of vampires, but of all the undead creatures that stalk the night. Is it simply a fascination with death that has led to most cultures telling a tale about some kind of undead creature, or is there something more? Something beyond the legends?"

"What do you think she'd do if you turned in a paper theorizing the vampire myths were mostly created and spread by this group of really old assholes we know?"

"Shh."

"Oh, so you're allowed to make little comments to me but I'm not allowed to make them to you?"

"Yes. That way I can make sure I don't miss anything I want to hear."

I didn't need to look at Damon to know he was rolling his eyes.

My professor continued her lecture, digging in a little on some specific examples of the vampire myth. I took dutiful notes, mostly blocking out the comments from my boyfriend, and eventually he settled for just doodling his own, much more sarcastic notes in the margins of mine. I smiled as he drew a particularly cartoonish fanged vampire. That'd make studying a little more fun in a couple weeks.

Damon managed to sit through the whole hour and a half class with me, all in all with much more patience than I'd been expecting. I should've known he was just waiting for his moment.

After class was dismissed, I quickly packed up, ready to head off with Damon to handle whatever ridiculous drama he'd wanted me to get involved with in the first place. When I stood with my bag, however, I found him heading for my professor at the front of the room. I frowned.

I walked quickly to catch up to Damon, hearing the tail end of his sentence as he shook my professor's hand.

"...incredibly interesting lecture to get to sit in on," Damon said, his voice dripping with charm and a fake smile plastered on his face. "Really, it was outstanding. The vampire myth is just so interesting."

I barely managed to stop myself from laughing out loud. For anyone who didn't know Damon, they'd likely be swayed by his apparently genuine interest, rapt attention, and dazzling smile. I'd seen him flip the switch to manipulative people-person enough that it didn't convince me anymore, although my teacher sure seemed to be falling for it.

"I'm glad you agree. It really is a most fascinating topic. You'd be welcome to sit in on future lectures, if you'd like."

"Thank you! I just might have to take you up on that. You know, I had a friend once who swore she saw a vampire in some small town bar around here."

My professor laughed. "I've heard of small town Bigfoot and Mothman sightings, but small town vampire sightings might be a new one."

"Right? I mean, I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but it's a little unbelievable to think a vamprie could be standing right in front of you, isn't it?"

I stepped up to Damon's side and discreetly elbowed him as my professor laughed. He just grinned at me in response.

"Well, it was almost as much of a pleasure talking to you as it was listening to your lecture," Damon said, holding out his hand again for a fairwell shake. My professor took it, and I caught the glint in Damon's eye as he shot the man a wolfish smile. "Take care. Don't let the vampires get you."

He chuckled again, giving both of us a smile as Damon finally dropped his hand.

"I promise, I won't."

Damon hummed and smirked while I fought through the most forced smile of my life as I hustled Damon out of the room, just barely managing to maintain a casual facade. The minute we cleared the classroom door, I turned to my boyfriend with a scowl.

"You laid that on a little thick," I said. Damon just scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You're the one who insisted on sitting through that class. I just decided to engage with the lecturer and the content a little more."

I snorted. "Yeah, sure. I take it you enjoyed yourself then?"

Damon grinned. "Very much."

"Should I be changing your name in my contacts to 'The Richmond Vampire'?"

Damon smirked. "That wasn't very subtle."

"Neither was a single word you said to my professor."

He huffed a laugh. "True. Then sure, if you really want to. Just don't ask me to help you test which vampire myths are true and which aren't. You already know real vampires burn in the sun."

"I promise not to use you as a vampire lab rat as long as you promise not to take a bite out of my folklore professor."

"Hmm..."

"Damon."

"Fine. I promise not to bite your folklore professor. At least not this semester."

I rolled my eyes, but decided to let that one pass without comment, at least for now. Damon gave me his real smile as he took my hand, and I sighed as I leaned into him, the two of us heading for the doors to the building together.

"So am I going to be hearing about your vampire mythology theories for the next few weeks?" he mused as we walked. I hummed.

"Probably, yeah. It's part of being there for each other, right? I get involved in your little brother's teen drama, you listen to me talk about vampires like they're not real, and like the Mikaelsons had nothing to do with the global spread of the myth."

"Sounds like a match made in heaven."

"I'll say."

Damon and I shared a smile, and as we reached the doors, he paused long enough to pull me to him for a long kiss. I smiled into it as one of his hands tangled in my hair. Damon could be absolutely ridiculous sometimes, but so could I. At the end of the day, we made a pretty damn good couple as a result of it.

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

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989 @space-helen

TVD/TO Taglist: @elenavampire21

[ginnyw-potter-archive]

The Tram Stop: A Tale of Date Accidents and Incidents

Inspired by The Loyal Companion: A Tale of Bad Dates and Good Whiskey by the lovely @sophie-hatter-jenkins

Harry gets stood up not once, but twice and the girl at the tram strikes up a conversation, noticing the bouquet of flowers in his hand. The first time he gets off the tram too quickly and doesn't know how to contact her. The next time, he is ready to ask for her number.

Harry stared ahead of him blankly, clutching the flowers. Pristine and bright in colour they seemed to mock him. He placed them on the bench beside him at the tram stop. He checked his phone to see no notifications whatsoever.

He watched the first of many drops ripple the water from a puddle that hadn’t had a chance to dry up yet since the last time it had rained. When they began to fall in quicker succession, someone who had been waiting outside of the stop stepped under the roof. He picked up the flowers again in case she wanted to sit.

He didn’t look up as she mumbled a thanks and sat down beside him, brushing her long red hair out of her face.

“Stood up?” she asked. “That sucks.”

Surprised she spoke, he looked up to meet her eyes, brown and warm and tracking over his face.

“Likely,” he said with a nod. “If I’m being optimistic, perhaps she has been hit by a tram and didn’t reject me.”

The hint of a smile danced around her lips. “Darkness. I like that in a man.” She looked at the phone that remained in his hand. “How long ago were you supposed to meet?”

“An hour and a half,” he responded. “Not a single text.”

(Full oneshot on AO3)

[silverhallow]

Not So Secret

Benophie Week Day 1: Wedding/Best Friend’s Brother/ “hey look at me, i’m yours. No one can change that” pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x Sophie Beckett Word Count: 2.6k Summary: It's Daphne's Wedding and a secret is about to be discovered… will it ruin the wedding or was it not so secret ever after all?

authors note: it's inspired by @bridgertonbabe's Harry Potter AU and Colin's reaction

Sophie hated keeping secrets. She really did. Especially from her best friends… but she had no idea how Daphne and Colin would take the news that she was dating their older brother Benedict.

She’d had a crush on him for years -  since she was about 11, if she was being honest with herself - and she’d always assumed that he’d only ever seen her as his brother and sister’s best friend and nothing more…

But all that had changed at Daphne and Simon’s joint Hen and Stag do…

Sophie had had one too many drinks and had been dancing with him. It had been quite charged as he’d wrapped his arms around her, let them stroke over her skin, and held her far too close to be decent in public.  As the song closed, Benedict had leaned in and been about to kiss her when Colin had drunkenly jumped on them, killing the moment.

Sophie had excused herself and gone outside, her heart aching and racing at the same time as she’d slumped against the wall, cursing Colin for interrupting them and knowing at the same time it was probably for the best. After all, she was just his younger sibling's best friend, and he’d just been caught up in the moment.

Or so she’d thought.

He’d come outside not two minutes after she had, and without saying a word, he just walked over, pulled her close, and kissed her. She’d been too stunned to do anything for a moment, and before she could respond, he pulled away...

“I’ve been wanting to do that for ages,” Benedict admitted, and as he was about to apologise for it, Sophie yanked him back to her and kissed him back.

She’d gone home with him after that, and for the last 3 months, they’d been sneaking around behind Daphne and Colin’s back, it had been Benedict who suggested that he walk Sophie down the aisle since Sophie was maid of honour. Anthony was giving Daphne away and was also acting as Best Man, so Benedict offered to do it instead of Anthony.

Colin had argued that he should be the one to walk Sophie down since she was their best friend, but Daphne had said it made more sense as Benedict was the next in age to Anthony and was therefore deputising as best man for the aisle walk and as a result, Colin was to walk down with Eloise.

They’d been cautious for 3 months, not letting anyone know, sneaking around and trying to be discreet, and sharing night after night together. Sophie felt like she had been on cloud nine, though she hated keeping it from her best friends, and she didn’t want to upset Daphne or Colin before the wedding.

She suspected that Daphne wouldn’t take it too badly given she was marrying Anthony’s best friend… but Colin… He was a loose cannon, and he’d been pissed when Daphne had briefly dated his other best friend, Fredrick…

The morning of the wedding came around and Sophie had woken in Benedict’s bed. He told Daphne that he would pick Sophie up and bring her to the family home so the two of them arriving together wouldn’t be a surprise.

“I’ve brought you some breakfast and coffee. It’s going to be a long day, so I figured we’d need it,” he grinned at his girlfriend as she pulled the duvet up over her bare breasts.

“Thank you,” she smiled sleepily. “I am pretty tired. Someone kept me up late,” she teased.

“I didn’t hear you complaining,” he smirked as he climbed back into the bed next to her, dropped a kiss on her lips, and placed the tray between them.

“Well, it’s not every day I get told someone is in love with me…” she returned, laying her head on his shoulder

“Is it not? Well, I think I shall have to change that,” he said gently, moving her so he could stare into her moss green eyes: “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she replied, leaning in and kissing him gently.

“We are going to have to figure out how to tell my siblings, though… I don’t want to hide anymore.” Benedict said honestly and gave her a serious look.

Sophie nodded, “I know…” After all, it had been her reluctance to say anything before the wedding, “it’s just… I’m just a bit worried about how they’re going to react,” she admitted as she turned her gaze away.

“Hey, Look at me… I’m yours. No one is going to change that. Not in the least my twin brother and sister… besides, I have a feeling they won’t care,” Benedict grinned

“Ben… you saw what Colin did to Fredrick… and what Anthony did to Simon…”

“That was different…” Benedict said with a shrug as he started on his bacon sandwich

“How?” Sophie asked, rolling her eyes

“Well, Anthony walked in on Simon and Daph naked…” Benedict chuckled

“Well yeah, I guess that would cause any of you to go nuts…”  Sophie admitted, “But Colin hardly walked in on Daph and Fred”

“No, but he did see Fredrick snogging Cressida the day after he found out about Fred and Daph… and saw him with Rosamund the day before.”

“HE DID WHAT?” Sophie said, outraged.

“Yeah, Daph had told him about Fred the day before… she told you the next day, which is when Colin saw Fred with Cressida… so he punched him. Quite rightly as well,” Benedict explained

Sophie just blinked. “How… How did I not know about this?”

“Daph didn’t want you to know, especially since the witch's apprentice was involved…” Benedict said. “So they agreed between them not to say anything. She didn’t want you freaking out”

Sophie just stared at the breakfast in shock “oh…” was all she could say.

Benedict kissed her cheek.

“everything will be okay, I promise… and besides, my mother has final approval on all couples, and she was the one who gave me a shove to act on my feelings for you, so she’ll be thrilled…”

Sophie’s mouth dropped open, which caused Benedict to grin. Before she could say anything more, he silenced and distracted her with a kiss.

Several hours later, the wedding was over, and everyone was getting ready for the evening reception. Sophie had caught the bouquet and gone a bright red shade as Benedict gave her a subtle wink, and she’d run inside to compose herself.

Benedict barely had any time with Sophie since they arrived at Aubrey Hall for the wedding other than when they were walking down the aisle together.

So when everyone was milling around and with his family suitably distracted, he walked over to Sophie and, with the pretence of grabbing a drink, whispered in her ear: “Meet me on the private terrace…”

Then he quickly disappeared.

Sophie excused herself from her conversation with Anthony’s girlfriend Kate, who smirked knowingly,  as she left to meet Benedict. The moment she’d stepped onto the balcony of the private terrace, he’d wrapped his arms around her.

“You look so beautiful,” he smiled “The silver looks amazing on you.”

Sophie beamed “You scrub up well yourself… I’ll never forget the first time I saw you in a suit…”

Benedict laughed “Oh, I know, you spilled your juice all over yourself” 

Sophie went bright red “I thought you hadn’t seen that…”

“Nope, I just pretended not to notice, it was very cute, but you were only 12 and looked like 9 or something,” he teased

Sophie scowled, and Benedict laughed “I jest, my love, but seeing you dressed like this… reminds me of seeing you in your Prom dress, then seeing you again at 18, dressed up for your sixth form formal with Daph… made me realise how beautiful a woman you were growing into… and when you came back from France… it was my turn to spill my drink all over me” he admitted

“You did?” Sophie asked, shocked.

“Yes, after my mother told me it was you… because I was so shocked at how beautiful you’d become, I dropped my glass of wine down myself in shock,” he admitted, his cheeks becoming red. “I suspect it’s when my mother realised that perhaps I had feelings for you. Or was starting to develop them… I’m not sure.”

“Oh, Benedict,” she sighed as she leaned into him and pressed her cheek into his chest.

“If only I’d had the courage to tell you this, this could have been our wedding,” he said softly. “rather than two years of dancing around it…”

“I don’t think I’d have believed you if you told me then… I still have trouble believing it now… it feels like it’s a dream, as if I’m going to wake up and none of this would be true,” she admitted.

“Shall I prove to you that you’re not dreaming?” he asked as he pinched her hip

“Oww…. that was mean,” she pouted, rubbing her hip.

Benedict grinned for a second “Just proving this is real…” he said before pulling her back into his arms and kissing her, his hands snaking around her back, holding her close.

His hands were just slipping upwards to cup her breasts when the doors of the terrace flew open. “Ben? Are you-… BEN??? SOPHIE?! WHAT THE FUCK?!” came Colin’s voice, and both Benedict and Sophie jumped apart in shock.

The colour had drained from Colin’s face, “We… we can explain,” Benedict said, looking at his brother earnestly.

“Explain what?! That you are messing around with my best friend?!” he yelled at his brother, drawing himself up to his full height in an attempt to look threatening.

“We’re not messing around Colin… I am serious about this… about her,” Benedict said honestly.

Colin shook his head “No… No… You… you can’t. You don’t!” he muttered while grabbing his hair and walking around in circles.

“What’s all the racket?! Colin, I thought you were looking for Benedict for some photos?” Daphne asked as she walked into the room leading to the terrace, with Violet and Anthony behind her.

“I was!! Him… sophie… snogging?! Groping!!!” He stammered, pointing at Sophie and Benedict who were standing there blinking.

“And what’s the big deal?” Daphne asked, “Kate and Anthony were just in the closet…”

“BUT- IT- SHE’S OUR BEST FRIEND!!” Colin squeaked.

“And? Just cause she’s our friend doesn’t mean she can’t date Benedict,” Daphne said calmly “They’ve been dating for a while…”

“Wait… how… How… how did you know?!” Sophie asked, finding her voice and looked out from behind Benedict’s back, shocked at Daphne’s revelation.

“We all knew, dear… or I assumed we all did… it would appear Colin did not… we assumed you’d tell us in your own time,” Violet said with a bright smile.

“How did you all know?” Benedict asked “I thought we were being careful…”

“I saw you snogging outside the pub… Simon saw you and Ben getting into a taxi back to his…” Daphne explained.

“I saw Sophie’s baking apron in your flat… and her Converse at your front door… and some erm… undergarments on the ceiling light in your flat…” Anthony admitted.

“I saw you sneaking out of Sophie’s office,” Kate said grinning.

Sophie and Benedict blinked, Sophie went a delicate shade of red, which only went more red when Violet explained, “I erm… overheard you after the rehearsal dinner in Benedict’s room here.”

“Eloise and Hyacinth found out when they stole Benedict’s phone and saw the messages you’d been sending one another. We bribed them not to say anything as we assumed you weren’t ready to tell us,” Anthony said, “but they ended up telling Fran and Greg anyway…”

“So I was the only one who didn’t…?” Colin asked, outraged. “Why did no one tell me!?”

“Colin, you overreact at everything” Daphne sighed, “and besides, I assumed you knew since we both were at Sophie’s when she did a terrible job of trying to hide Benedict’s clothes in her car. No one else we know rowed for Cambridge…” 

Colin blinked and just stared

“Why did no one say anything to us?” Benedict asked

“Ben… you asked to walk Sophie down the aisle instead of Colin… we assumed that was you telling us” Violet smiled, exasperated with her son.

“Oh… but… so… no one… you don’t mind?” Sophie asked her question more towards Daphne and Colin.

“I don’t, I am thrilled! We always talked about being sisters! Why do you think I threw my bouquet directly at you” she grinned." If Ben asks you to marry him, we'll be sisters truly! It’s the best wedding present!” Daphne said as she pushed Colin out of the way and hugged Sophie, who had turned beetroot at the marriage comment, tightly.

Sophie looked towards Colin, who scowled, “I am not thrilled about it… Ben’s got a horrible track with relationships… he’ll break your heart”

“I won’t,” Benedict said “I love her, Col, I have for ages… it’s why Tilley, Tessa and Gen didn’t work out… they weren’t Sophie…”

“No, you haven’t. You’re just saying it,” Colin huffed like a child who was being told he wouldn’t get his favourite dinner.

“He’s not Colin,” Violet said. “He might not have known it at the time, but he definitely started developing or realising his feelings when Sophie returned from her apprenticeship in France…” 

Benedict nodded in agreement with his mother “It’s true, Col, I am sorry you’ve had to find out this way, but it’s true… since then… I didn’t think she returned my affections… it’s why I tried to move on…” he explained.

“But… but…” Colin stammered

“We were trying to work out how to tell you, Colin. I’m sorry you found us like this, but we were going to tell you…” Sophie said earnestly.

Colin just blinked and looked around “and no one else has an issue with this?”

Everyone shook their head “Hyacinth’s desperate to celebrate that Sophie’ll one day be our sister in earnest…” Anthony explained. “I think you’re the only one with a problem”

“I…I… I Don’t… I just… she’s my best friend. I don’t want her hurt,” Colin said.

“I am not going to hurt her, Col, I promise,” Benedict said “I love her. She’s it for me…” 

Sophie beamed, tears forming in her eyes as she went red “Really?” she asked.

He nodded “I’d marry you tomorrow if I could”

“Oh…” Sophie said as Colin gawked, not sure if he was about to rage again or throw up.

“Really?” he asked.

Benedict nodded. “But I do not wish to steal Daph’s thunder, and it’s only been three months…”

“No eloping, please!” Violet said, doing a bad job of hiding her laughter.

Anthony laughed. “Hyacinth would murder them.”

Colin sighed: “Fine… I guess… I guess I'll tolerate this… but I swear, Ben… if you hurt her…”

“There will be a long line of people ready to kill me…” Benedict said, “Daph at the front I’d imagine”

“Yes… and now this is sorted… can we please go take family photos?” Daphne said, linking arms with Sophie. “And you my dear sister-to-be, will be in them.”

Sophie couldn’t help but smile as she knew it was pointless to argue with her, and as they walked back into the main room for a few more photos, she tried to apologise to Daphne about how they’d been discovered.

“Nonsense. Like I said, I've known for ages, and it’s the best wedding present ever. My best friend is dating my big brother! We'll truly be aunts to each other’s babies!” Daphne said brightly as they all gathered for the family photos.

“Don’t worry, Daph. I plan on giving mother a run for her money with the number of babies,” he chuckled. Sophie just gasped and spluttered but was unable to reply. Her face was a picture—literally and figuratively, as it was the picture that Benedict chose out of the wedding photos to hang proudly in the living room of his home—the home that Sophie moved into the day after the wedding, and where, six months later, he asked Sophie to marry him.