#Fic: Roni's Bar

[poisonappleeater]

still writing !! ill give u a hint in the tags

[divergentmisfit-fandomsblog]

Fic Idea…

What if… in one of the earlier curses, their cursed personas had switched? So that Emma is Madam Mayor of Storybrooke, Henry searches for his birth mother Roni, & Roni had opened another bar in Boston. Henry brings Roni back to break the curse. Would you read it?

*** Edit as this is getting some interest on the X bird app, I’ve decided to go ahead and write a fic for it. ***

[rockonlavender]

ISO of Swan Queen fics where Emma is off to search for Regina, who now believes she’s Roni the bar owner. Similar trope )or amy trope) where Emma finds her and they end up falling for each other (again)

[sqsupernova]

Title: Milkshakes at Grannys and whiskey at Roni‘s Link: Click Here To View and Comment Artist: Iyashpia Find them on: -Twitter: MaskedQuill -Tumblr:

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Title: Milkshakes At Granny’s & Cocktails At Roni’s Link: Click Here To View and Comment Artist: divergentmisfit Find them on: -Twitter: divergentmisfit -Tumblr: divergentmisfit-fandomsblog

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Title: Milkshakes at Granny's and Whiskeys at Roni's Link: Click Here To View and Comment Author: SQDRABBLES Find them on: -Twitter: uglyducklingem -Tumblr: Rating: Mature Warning(s): Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Words: 10k Summary: The title is from CoalitionGirl's fic "From Like a Distant Star (I simply cannot hold)" Emma and Regina were in love, and then not. They should move on, but it’s hard to do when they share the same flat to run their business. (Emma works the morning at a diner, that flips into a bar that Regina runs)

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Remember - writers and artists spent months creating the fics and art you enjoy, so it would mean the world to them if you commented to tell them what you liked! A creator who feels appreciated is a creator who is more likely to write or create art again in the future!

[eddys-plot-shop]

Camila Mendes (Regina’s daughter) + Ruby Lucas (Once Upon a Time)

Name: Raina Mills

Myers Briggs Type: ESTJ

Occupation: Town Treasurer

Quote: "I was born to rule, and my mother instilled in me all the skills to make sure I could lead effectively."

Fic Title: Ahead Of The Pack

Plot Summary: Though she’s always been evasive about who Raina's father is, Regina has taught her daughter everything she knows in order for her not to make the same mistakes she did. It appears Raina has turned out for the better because of these lessons, becoming a bright young woman who is active in Storybrooke's community and makes friends wherever she goes. She’s even seeing Ruby, which her mother seems to be fine with, though that comes as a bit of a surprise to Raina. But when the curse ends, Raina will have to adjust to a whole new side of the town and the people that she thought she knew so well.

Extras: If she were to be included in season 7's Hyperion Heights, then her cursed persona would be Renee Washington and she’d be a server/dishwasher/cleaner at Roni's bar, and Ruby would be a rival bar owner (called Lone Wolf) that Roni hates, but whom Raina is friends with, putting Renee right in between the two, ensuring she’d have to pick a side. Lose her boss/mother, or lose her friend/girlfriend.

[goldenxqueenx]

The finale two chapters of Roni’s Bar! Roni’s Bar; Chapter 19 - Weaver [ao3 / ff.net] Roni’s Bar; Chapter 20 - Roni [ao3 / ff.net]

Chapter 19

He still had dreams about it. The blood, the— his stomach churned as he turned away from the papers on his desk. Danny Devine had been set up, that much was clear, and they couldn't hold him on account of wanting the person who did the job to think they were off the hook. No. He had rights, that much Danny was correct about, but Weaver still wanted to keep him in jail regardless.

Pushing himself onto his feet, he brought his thumb and forefinger up to the bridge of his nose and gave it a squeeze as he made his way through the precinct and towards Barney Thomson. He had brought him in not too long ago and now was the time to question him on why in all hell would Danny Devine think that he set him up. The bloke was shy, it seemed, jittery even and in no ways looked like a stone cold killer, let alone someone who could frame anybody. "Barney, come with me."

The former barber followed the detective to his office and sat down, Weaver took his seat at his desk and pulled out a few files that needed to be filled in. "Why does Danny Devine think you set him up?"

"I-I-M-I had work that nigh', so I did." The man nodded, vigorously. Clearly hiding something.

"Mmhmm. And the alley where we found Danny is the alley right beside Roni's bar. So...I'm going to ask you again, Barney. Why does Danny think you set him up?"

"I didnae, I swear it!" He belted out, sweat forming at his temples and on his brow. "I 'ave a friend, he did. He did it."

"And who is this f-"

"Sorry, this came for you." Rodgers interrupted and placed the box on Weaver's desk before exiting the room, muttering another apology under his breath.

Glancing up at Barney, he watched the man shrug, raised brows — lips pursed, as he rung his hands, still very nervous — Weaver noted. Bringing his attention back to the box, he glanced at the note that said 'To Love Is To Know True Pain'. When he pulled open the gift, his eyes fell upon a human heart with an R carved into it. "Roni" Were the only words that left his mouth as he shot up out of his seat and bounded for the door; nervous Barney on his heels and following his every move. He even climbed into his car when he did and sat silently in the backseat.

The detective allowed him that, even if his breathing grated on Weaver's nerves as he raced to Roni's apartment.

It was too early for her to open the door's to the bar, so he hoped he would find her safe and still in tact by the time he got to the apartment. "Who's the friend?" He asked Barney, taking a sharp turn that caused the tires to squeal. "Who's the fucking friend, Barney?" That was when he pulled his gun from his holster and aimed it in the backseat — between Barney's eyes.

"I-I-He'll kill me, he will. I cannae-"

"Who is he?!" When he flicked the safety lock, that was when tears began to spill from Barney's eyes and the truth from his lips.

"This man. This man who came to me, he wears odd clothing, like something from a time long ago, like days wit horses n' such, speaks calm and he—he eats 'em, d'ya think he's done tha' wit' Roni? I cannae imagine, she is good, kind, didnae deserve somethin' like tha'" his accent had gone thick from the pressure building in his limbs. He was looking into the barrel of a gun!

Weaver knew exactly who he was talking about. The one man that seemed out of place, the guy he kept giving the newspaper to. Then the image of poor Tom Ward came into mind and he almost slammed on the breaks a little too quickly as he slid into a parking space. If he wasn't so worried about Roni, he would have begun wishing he had never given the man a newspaper during his time here. "Stay" He demanded, giving Barney no reason to think he could follow him up into Roni's apartment.

He burst inside of the building and began climbing the stairs at an alarming rate, heart thundering in his ears as he made his way onto the landing where her door was. He had a key, of course he had a key, and began to try and get it into the lock but panic surged faster through his body and he instead stepped back and hurled his foot against the wood. It gave way after the third attempt and he pushed through her apartment, eyeing the normal mess Roni kept her place in before he found her in bed in her room, head turned, neck patched with something white. Making his way closer to the bed, he pulled on the bandage — causing her to stir and look up at him with sleep filled eyes. "You're okay" his voice didn't sound like his own and suddenly his knees felt weaker than they had all morning, but he kept them locked, still upright.

"I am, what time is it?" Her curls were a mess on her head and all he could think about was how utterly gorgeous she looked in the lighting of day and how happy he was that she hadn't been eaten or whatever the fuck that guy does.

"Early." He stated, not caring to check the clock on her nightstand. "What happened here?"

"That guy, Ives.." Roni said a name that wasn't ringing a bell to the detective. "..the guy who orders bourbon...with the..the uhh..facial hair and smell of forests on his clothes." That was him! Weaver wanted to exclaim, but instead waited and listened to what the asshole did to Roni's neck. "..he came over to the bar late, I told him we were closed, then he just—" She pulled at the bandage, revealing bite marks into her neck, the wound still fresh. "—I thought he was kissing me at first and i tried to get him to back off, but then he bit down and damn it hurt. But he stopped after a few seconds. Said something along the lines of marking me?"

"That bastard." Weaver huffed out, looking around Roni's room to make sure nothing was out of place or ajar — before his eyes fell on her window and the note taped there. Crossing the expanse of the room, he made his way to it and pulled it off of the glass pane, eyes raking over the words.

If I were you, I would find a way to close the case, detective. Or I'll come back and finish what I started with that lovely barkeep. See how easy it was to get to her? To get under your skin, even? I am capable of things you could not fathom. Do. Not. Tempt.Me.

He crumpled it up and tossed it aside before a voice echoed over his radio, reciting coordinates and requesting his assistance at the scene. Weaver knew the place well, so he shot Roni a grimace before speaking. "Might want to get dressed and ride with me."

When they arrived at the bar, Weaver let Roni get out first and head in the direction of Rodgers, clearly upset at the fact that her bar was currently up in flames and the culprits were in the back of a police cruiser. "Listen, Barney. I have a favor to ask of you."

"Wha's that?" He asked, still looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"I need you to say that the guy who set Danny up is Begbie." He pointed towards the police cruiser where Begbie and Stevie were cuffed. "The one with the stash. Leave out the friend part so we don't have to ask why he's your friend. I have a feeling, you don't want us to know." When he caught the look of fear on Barney's features in the rear view mirror, he gave a nod and signaled for Barney to get out of his car. When he did, the detective let out a sigh.

He would pin the murders on Begbie, who was clearly only guilty of causing a stink and fires — that is apart from his warrants across seas — but all the same. The case would be closed and Ives would be free to roam — so long as he didn't find him back in Hyperion Heights ever again because if he did, Weaver was sure that he would lose his job and find himself slapped with a murder charge.

Chapter 20

Roni's mouth hung open as she watched her dreams go up in smoke, all of her savings, every penny she had thrown into something that was gone now — all thanks to those who liked to take other people's hard work into their hands and squash it.

A soft hand pressed against her back, right between her shoulder blades. "I can go house to house and we can rebuild." Father Joseph stated solemnly. He had become a good friend to her over the short time he had spent in Hyperion Heights. Not to mention, now he had begun his own little parish right in town — so his following would surely grow.

Barney slid up next to the two of them, tears stinging his eyes as he reached out a tentative hand and curled his digits along Roni's. "I 'ave some money I can give to rebuild it." The offer was sweet, but Roni couldn't take his money. "Did you have the insurance and whatnot on the place?" She shook her head. The cost of insurance was steep and she was barely making ends meet as it were.

Weaver walked over to the group and gave both of the men a look of appreciation at their consoling efforts. "It'll be okay, Roni. We'll get it mended." He knew he could get the force to help with the rebuilding. Especially now that the case was closed and Hamish as well as Nicholas could go back to their lives and leave Hyperion's finest to the every day normal cases like traffic tickets and corrupt idiots.

"Thank you." Was all she could manage. Roni knew she would have to give in at some point and allow others to help that wanted to. Because without her bar, she felt lost, like a part of her was missing.

Four Months Later.

"Okay okay, break it up you two!" Roni called out to Weaver who was currently arguing with Barney over who cheated during a game of dominoes. Both of them well onto their way to drunkville.

Rodgers was in the corner discussing something with Gaz about the lessons the guy had been teaching at some dance studio down the street, all the while Father Joseph was trying but failing to teach Danny how to not use a curse word in every sentence when speaking.

It hadn't taken as long as they thought it would to get the place back up in fine shape, even if there still was much more work to do, Roni felt her life slowly coming back together. She had accumulated a few people she could trust and whom had helped her at her lowest, just as she hoped to do whenever they were in need of a helping hand.

Barney slid up behind the bar, leaving Weaver to cool off as he began to help stack some bottles of alcohol on the shelf, beaming at Roni in the process. "It'll be even better than before, Roni."

The former barber had become a partner in the bar now, having poured some of his savings into helping rebuild, and so Roni treated him as such. "Now that we have a bigger team, yes it will, Barn." She gave the man a pat on the back before turning to make her way towards Weaver. "How's it going at the station?"

"JoJo finally is out, probably turning back to drugs again. Nosty is happy for the warm weather, so we haven't seen him in a while. Begbie is being transferred as well as Sergei. We can't hold men like them at our station and they have a long time before they will see the real world again."

"I can't believe Begbie would kill all of those people and in such a grotesque way." Roni stated, disbelief etching her features as she sat down across from Weaver at one of the booths. Sure, the brute seemed to not know how to treat other people around him but he never truly striked her as a murderer - especially not one that might consume their victims as the police had said he did.

He just nodded as he turned his attention to the television they had installed in the new bar, eyeing a report about an armed vehicle getting pulled over and two inmates escaping custody, now on the run and should be feared due to one being a cannibal.

"Fucking Ives." He hissed out, knowing why having Begbie free would aid the man in his work across the globe. But he couldn't place a reason for letting Sergei go as well.

"Huh?" Roni asked, not understanding what Ives had to do with the discussion.

"Nothing. Just wondering why he hasn't shown his face around here in a while."

"Probably feels bad about what he did to my neck." Roni stated, not knowing that Weaver was more aware of what Ives were capable of than she was. When he nodded, she leaned in and claimed his lips with her own.

"Get a fuckin' room if yer goin' to suck face like tha'!" Danny called out with a groan, causing Father Joseph to sigh and hold his hands up in the air as if he were giving up on getting the lad to not cuss every breath he took.

Fin.

[nickyyyy]

My What if for today :3

I can’t edit so I just drew it lmao

Roni throws a butterknife to keep the man inside i guess

So, like, Emma got caught up in the curse at S7 and her cursed self is like her old self, a bail bonds person or whatever but with a different name LMAO...I know it’s boring but hey, I just draw man!

Anyways, what if something similar to Emma’s intro scene on S1 happens on Roni’s Bar at S7??

Maybe they become friends after that or what? Are there like similar fics of this already out there? Let me know please

[eideticmemory]

EVER SINCE NEW YORK VIII | MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER

Description: I was messaged saying: “If you don’t write a young Matthew enemies to lovers fic featuring an obsession with sucking on boobs then what’s the point 😔.” So, here it is, folks! The ultimate College!Matthew fic.

PART 8! Read Part 7 here!

SOUNDTRACK:

Cry Baby - The Neighbourhood.

Past Lives - Børns.

The Few Things - JP Saxe.

Word Count: 2,832.

Rating: M.

Warning/Includes: Sexual intercourse, drinking, recreational drug use, a bit of angst.

Spring, Senior Year.

Los Angeles, 

California. 

“Not pregnant.”

You fell to your knees, grasping at the air in a fit of relief. You clutched your stomach and gasped for breath. 

“Not pregnant.” Claire repeated, looking at the second test. “Not pregnant.” 

“Fuck!” You shouted. “Thank God!”

Claire broke out into nervous laughter, “Not pregnant! You’re not pregnant!” She squealed. She dropped the tests and ran over to you, kneeling down to embrace you. 

You held each other in a deep hug for a long time. You missed her. You missed her so much. She was your rock. You once thought that when things were going to shit, you wanted Matthew. 

But who you needed was Claire. 

“I’m sorry.” You whispered to her. 

“You’re sorry? I’m sorry!”

“I was stupid.”

“I was more stupid!”

“I love you, Claire,” you told her. 

“Aw,” she smiled. “I can’t even say...how much...”

“I know,” you nodded. “I know.”

You didn’t go back to Matthew’s. You threw those terrible tests in the trash, scheduled an appointment at the student health center, and subsequently spent all day with your best friend. You spilled your guts. Told her the full Matthew story from beginning to end. It was like a rush of information, a physical rush of word after word after word. And Claire just listened. She chomped down on some twizzlers, dressed in her pajamas, drowning out the movie on in the background. She didn’t speak a word until you were completely finished. 

“Pass the oreos,” she said.

“That’s it?” You laughed. “I tell you all of that and all you say is pass the oreos?”

“I need oreos to properly digest all of this information, duh.” 

You handed her the blue package, which she gladly took and ripped open. Oreo in hand, a little caught between her teeth, she said, “If he hurts you, I’ll kill him.”

“I know. He knows.”

“I mean it, kid,” she looked you in the eye. “Matthew and I...we just fooled around. You guys passed fooling around a long time ago.”

“I guess...” you shrugged. 

“You guess? [y/n], I know you better than anyone. There’s never been a guy like this. Why...why aren’t you dating?”

You gulped, “Oh.” You looked down at your fingers, “Neither of us ever brought it up. It’s just...too messy. Don’t wanna deal with it. It’s fine.”

“So, you don’t wanna be his girlfriend?”

“I—“ you were cut off by the sound of your phone ringing against the couch. You picked it up to see Matthew’s name flashing on the screen. You declined the call.

Claire watched you set your phone back down, and you recognized the somber look on your face. “Well?” She continued. “Do you?”

After that, you simply refused to continue any kind of Matthew conversation. Claire noticed your sudden urge to keep quiet, and she pulled back on all the questions. 

“So,” you said. “What about you? Seeing anyone?”

She cleared her throat, awkwardly shuffling in her seat.

“I’ll take that as a yes!” You giggled. “Who is it? What’s his name?”

You sighed, “I’ve been meaning to tell you...but you can’t tell anyone, okay? Especially Matthew!”

You put up your hand, palm facing her. “You have my word. Who is it?”

“Roni.”

You sat back against the couch, physically moved by shock. “R-did I hear you right?”

Claire nodded, “Veronica.” 

“Um...yeah...I’m gonna need you to explain.”

She chuckled nervously, “There’s nothing really to explain. Um, we were drunk...and...you were out with Matthew, and I brought her back here. It—it was a total fling. Until...it wasn’t.”

“Holy shit, Claire!” You exclaimed. 

“I know! But, Veronica, she’s so cool. She’s so hot. She likes classic films, and—and she makes jewelry, and...I don’t know, I like her.”

You smiled at Claire, “I can tell.”

“Y’know, her and I are going to LA this spring break. You should come! You and Matthew!”

You cringed, “I don’t know...you want me to ask Matthew to come on a trip with three girls he’s fucked? Can you say awkward?” 

“Just ask him! We’ll invite more people to make it less awkward, and it’s not like we need to be a foursome the whole time. Just, ask. If he says no, he says no. But promise me you’ll ask?”

You sighed, “I promise.”

For the rest of the semester, you spent a very little amount of time with Matthew. Not only did the whole pregnancy scare shake you up, but you also had a lot of lost time to make up with Claire. She kept her distance from Veronica, as well. Both Matthew and her were very understanding, just taking it to means that the best friends needed some alone time. 

You spent winter break with Claire’s family, and came back with a new, restored friendship. She continued to ask if you’d invited Matthew to Los Angeles, and you always found subtle ways to say no. The trip was quickly approaching, but so was your final ballet performance. You channeled all your energy into practicing, perfecting, all while juggling class and Matthew. 

He brought you flowers on opening night, gave you a secret kiss in your dressing room, and told you to go kill it. You did. You put your soul into the performance, everything you had, everything you were. Until you were so tired that you could collapse on stage. Your ballet friends cheered you on as you exited the stage, and you stayed with them briefly before going into your dressing room. 

Beginning to take your makeup off, you heard a knock at the door. You expected Matthew, but your ballet instructor entered. “Oh. Hey! You happy?” You asked her, stepping up to give her a hug. 

“I’m very happy! You did amazing, [y/n], I’m so proud of you. Proud of everything you’ve accomplished here.”

“Thank you, Ms. Oak,” you whispered. 

“And I’m not the only one impressed by you.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes...the dean of the department has had her eye on you for a while.”

You tilted your head, “Should I be nervous?”

“No, no, not at all. Actually, she wants to offer you a job.”

You looked at her, stunned, blinking slowly. “A job?”

“Yep. Assistant ballet instructor. It’s a paid position, you’d be working under me. And if you choose to accept, NYU will pay for you to attend their graduate school.”

You jaw dropped, “You’re telling me I take this job, I can attend the graduate film school for free?” 

“Yes, ma’am,” she nodded. “What do you think?”

“I—“ you stuttered. “What do I think? I think it’s amazing! Thank you so much!” You pulled her into an excited hug. “Um, when do I have to decide?” 

“You don’t have to decide until graduation. But, the sooner, the better.”

You nodded, “Okay. Okay, I’ll get back to you.”

The first person you told was Claire. She jumped up and down in your dressing room, squealing with you. “Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! [y/n], this is huge! This is huger than huge! We gotta celebrate. Go find Matthew, we’re going out for drinks.” 

The three of you went out to a bar, and Claire proposed a toast to you. “To our superstar, [y/n], the baddest bitch, the best ballerina, and soon to be assistant—“

“Hey, Matthew,” you interrupted her, turning to Matthew. “Do you want to go to Los Angeles this spring break?”

“LA?” he replied. 

“Yeah, Claire and I are going. We want you to come.” You nodded, cutting your eyes at Claire. She was eyeing you suspiciously. 

“Claire’s okay third wheeling? I mean, you and I kind of come as a package.”

“Well, Claire’s, uh, bringing a friend.” 

Matthew looked at Claire, his arm tight around you. “Really?” He said. “Nice. Do I know him?”

“Yeah,” Claire and you said at the same time. “You do.”

Claire slapped your shoulder once you two got home. “Ow!” You winced.

“Why didn’t you tell Matthew?” She snapped.

“Tell Matthew what?”

“Everything! About LA, Roni, your job offer?” 

You sighed, “I’m going to tell him. Just not tonight.”

Or the night after that. Or the night after that. Or the night after that. 

Matthew didn’t know about Roni until the four of you met at the airport. Awkward doesn’t begin to sum it up. Matthew and Veronica didn’t talk at all. They only acknowledged you, Claire, and other friends, never each other. You didn’t bother asking Matthew what was up, but Claire filled you in. The last split had been bad. It was easier on them now that Matthew and you were...whatever you were. And Claire and Veronica were doing their own thing.

The group of you walked around like typical tourists. It was your first time in California, and you loved every second of it. Matthew and you stuck together like peas in a pod. He showed you around, paid for your dinners, held your hand. He was a perfect gentleman.

Until he got you into bed. Then he was the same old, horny Matthew. He wore you out with a bunch of orgasms. First, sliding underneath the covers and eating you, gripping your thighs, humming against you. Then, he used his cock to fuck you until your legs turned to jello and you came twice. When he told you to get on all fours, you froze.

“Okay, dude,” you giggled. “You have never lasted this long. Ever. What was in your drink tonight?”

“Viagra,” he said simply.

“Yeah, right,” you rolled onto your stomach. When Matthew stayed silent, you turned your head to face him. “Wait. Deadass?”

He laughed, “Yeah, me and some of the guys bought some as a joke. But I took one and now the little guy won’t go down.” 

You glanced down at his rock hard dick, your jaw dropped. You shook your head at him, and placed yourself on all fours, arching your bed into the mattress. “You’re insane, Matthew Gray Gubler.” You giggled.

“Fuck, you didn’t have to say my whole name,” he laughed. He slapped your ass lightly and knelt behind you, lining himself up at your entrance. 

“Why not—ah!” You were cut off by the sensation of him pushing into you. “I—I like Matthew Gray Gubler. Good, strong name.”

“Yeah?” He bit down on his lip, taking long, slow strokes in and out of you. “I like the way you say it.”

“I like...when you pound me.” You whispered, a sly smile on your face. 

He said nothing, just slammed himself into you. Over and over, until you were trembling and gasping. “Fuck,” you huffed, biting down on the pillow. He watched you writh beneath him, held your hips as you pushed yourself back on his cock. Your bodies moved in perfect unison with one another, and it was so good for both of you, even Matthew viagra-boy Gubler was nearing his orgasm. 

He reached around and rubbed on your clit, making sure to keep up his rhythm. You held onto his wrist tightly, calling out his name and beginning to melt into the mattress. You eagerly pushed your ass back, trying to get him as deep inside of you as possible, and make yourself come. Matthew placed sloppy kisses between your shoulder blades. 

“Come on, princess, come on,” he whispered. 

You fell helpless against the bed, your toes curled, your mouth was wide open. He licked the sweat off of your skin and it sent you over the edge. Your pussy tightened around him, and his finished you off with one final thrust. He followed right behind you, finally releasing himself, loudly, into the condom.

Yes, condoms. They’re your new best friend. 

Matthew held you against his chest, the two of you entangled in a soft cuddle session. He kissed your forehead, “My dick’s still hard.” He told you.

You burst out laughing, “Oh, God. Dumb boy, silly boy.” 

“Hey, [y/n]?” He called. 

You looked up at him, “Yes?” 

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something, but I just want you to listen. Just hear me out.” 

You sat up, nervous already. “Yeah?”

He sighed, “Okay,” he whispered to himself. “Okay. When I went out with the guys, we obviously got y’know condoms, viagra—“

“The essentials,” you shrugged.

“Right. But we also went to this film expo. And we’re just walking around, looking for jobs and...this modeling agent walks up to me. Tells me I’m very handsome, duh, and that I, uh, should come work for them.” 

You tilted your head at him, a smug smile on your face. “Modeling, huh?”

“Yeah...yeah...it’s legit. And if I take it, it’ll finally be my chance.”

“Chance to what?” You asked.

“To move to LA.”

You sat back, shocked at his words. “Hey, hey, don’t freak out on me,” he said. “Because that’s not all.”

“Oh?” Your voice came out small, weak.

“Yeah...I, um...I—“ he stuttered. “I want you to come with me.”

Talk about a double shot. You sat in utter surprise, your mouth opened slightly, your body numb. “Come...with...you?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Let’s just do it. After graduation, you and I, on a plane, going to live in Los Angeles. How does that sound?” 

You stared at him for a long time, “That...that sounds...perfect, actually.”

“But..?”

You shook your head, “No but...let’s do it.”

Matthew broke out into a huge, bright smile, “Holy shit! Really? Really?”

“Really.”

He tackled you onto the bed, both of you erupting into a fit of laughter and joy. “[y/n]...” he whispered.

You looked him in the eye, your thumb tracing his jaw. “Yeah?”

He stared at you, sighed, and leaned in to kiss you. Softly, gently, sweetly. “My dick’s still hard,” he mumbled.

You didn’t tell Claire until after spring break. It was an accident really. She caught you cruising LA apartments online, and you cracked. Spilled the truth.

“Are you...” Claire started. “Are you dumb?”

“I—“

“[y/n], you can’t move to LA with him. You will regret that shit. You’ll end up pregnant for real, he’ll leave, and you’ll be on your own.”

“Claire, what the fuck?”

“Well, it’s true! Matthew’s not even your boyfriend—“

“Stop!” You shouted. “I don’t want to argue! I don’t wanna fight with you! I love you, Claire! But I love Matthew, too, and I want to be with him!”

Holy shit. Did you just...you did. You said you loved Matthew. Out loud. And you meant every word. 

All of your attention left Claire, and you simply continued your apartment search. You spent that night at Matthew’s, cuddled up and showing him your favorite affordable places. It felt right. Real. Being in his arms, planning a future with him. 

Right. Real.

Claire swallowed her tongue a lot on the subject. She had her opinion, she made it clear. But she didn’t want to spend your last year together in a fight. So, you both ignored the situation. Even when you began to pack up your room. Even when Matthew sent you your plane ticket. Even when the future became painfully clear. 

You stuck together all of graduation day. You partied the night before, had a small movie marathon, and fell asleep on the couch. Your families harassed you two with cameras and orders and their sheer excitement bouncing everywhere. 

You did it.

After four long years, you had your degree. Holding it was everything you imagined and more. And as you wandered through the crowd, you came face to face with the best thing NYU had brought you: Matthew Gray Gubler. 

The two of you smiled at each other across the courtyard, and subsequently ran into each others arms. Matthew picked you up and spun you around in your cap and gown. 

“We did it!” He exclaimed. 

“We sure did, and fashionably, too!” You giggled. 

Matthew pulled you into a steamy kiss, one that nearly made you entirely weak in the knees. “Tomorrow morning,” he whispered, pressing his forehead against yours. “I will be in that airport, waiting for you.”

“I’ll be there,” you smiled. 

The next day, you woke up promptly at 7 o’clock in the morning. Your bags were packed, locked, and ready to go. So were you. You hopped up out of bed, dolled yourself up. You took one last look at the room you were leaving behind. And you left. 

You arrived at the airport at eight, after getting some breakfast and saying goodbye to a few friends. You saw the plane. 

You sat outside of the airport, on the bare grass, suitcases at your side. Tears rolled down your cheeks, and you saw the aircraft rise into the sky. And something in your stomach told you that he was on it. That, in another life, you would’ve been on it, too.

You sighed, followed by another slow breath.

“Goodbye, Matthew.” 

[sleepylixie]

can you assign your moots to tropes 👀👀

Yes anon, I definitely can! 

@channoticedmeuwu : E2L/ “There was only one bed!” trope// And yannow what, This trope needs to be with a certain Lee Donghyuck, coz I’m not assigning Kai a fanfic trope without him in it xD I feel like Kai would be so sassy and unforgiving and trash talk her way through the entire fic, which makes an E2L so SPICY and fun to read so like- pls excuse me my amusements, coz Kai in an E2L fic seems like a disaster in paradise waiting to happen xD 

@oifelixcmerebrou : Skater AU // Idk okay, this just fit really well, idk how to put it in words 0_0 specifically, Felix Skater AU. Either you and Lix are childhood friends and learned to skateboard together, or you decided to be his first-aid on site until he bribes you to learn skateboarding from him *cue the cliche teaching how to skateboard and slipping and nearly falling over each other scene* 

@t-toodumbtocare / @yyxgin : F2L/ College AU // I have no rationale other than the fact that Bar would probably be one of the coolest people to befriend in college? Like, the good vibes are off the charts? She’s like, the seat buddy to have in common classes so you can whisper gossip to each other and maybe politely annoy the faculty into getting tired of pointing us out xD xD 

@cotccotc : Coffeeshop/ Barista AU // Roni is that barista who would make the most beautiful latte art, or that one barista who knows just the right amount of ingredients to make your order, like, PERFECT. She’s got barista magic on her fingers and perpetually tired college boy Hwang Hyunjin needs a bit of that coffee-bean fix before his big project... Which is probably why he stumbled into the 24 hour cafe Roni works the night shift on, asking for the strongest coffee one can find- 

@bangtantaegi / @seungisms : Witch/ Magical AU // Particularly with pretty boy Kim Seungmin. Look, Danni is just- she seems like the type to live in a cottage by the edge of the woods, growing flowers and magical herbs alike. The villagers love her coz she’s such a sweetheart, and always gives flower crowns to the little girls and enchanted gems to the older ladies. Along comes traveller Kim Seungmin, who notices the cottage by the woods with the exact herb he’s been hunting across the continent for. After an attempt to swipe the herb from the garden, he finds himself flat on his face in the middle of the owner’s flower bed- 

[thecaptainsgingersnap]

Cat Chester + season 7

Cat gets sent to Hyperion Heights where her name becomes Micki Queen. She owns a smoothie truck and sometimes she and Sabine set up in the same area. She spends a lot of nights hanging out at Roni's bar. She's not quite sure why. Something about Roni feels familiar and every time she's there, she feels like she's waiting for someone to walk through the door.

Send me an oc/fic + a season/book/movie and I’ll share an important scene that happens

[eirian-houpe]

Scene-it Saturday

Okay, so... no one has requested any particular fic for Scene-it Saturday since I launched it in the shake up. That’s why it’s never been done.so just like the Little Red Hen... I shall do it myself.

So here is the opening scene from Darkness Falls In Hyperion Heights.

Thunder rolled overhead and Detective Weaver turned up the collar of his jacket against the rain. They were huge, fat, tepid globules that fell from a slate gray sky that was fast becoming almost black, and not yet the sheet of water that was promised in the weather forecast. Weaver knew that - as they would have said in his native Glasgow - it was in the post.

He took a long, lasting look along the street opposite to Roni’s Bar. Daytime drinking for the next few days, if he wanted to be social, which was rare. He was on the late shift, six till two, not that he ever really stopped working. One thing about Weaver above all else, he was always on the go - always watching.

With a sigh he turned and hurried into the forty-second precinct building, where he almost immediately bumped into his partner. Rogers appeared to have been waiting for him, pacing the foyer for some time, judging by the look of relief that came over the desk sergeant’s face, and the way Rogers’ shoulders slumped as he sighed when he set eyes on Weaver.

Questions? Comments? Requests for next week? Anyone?

[emospritelet]

#94 — “I wasn’t expecting a gift,” from the festive fic prompts. Original sin verse, please!

Belle heads to Storybrooke to give Demon!Gold some news...

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [AO3]

x

It was snowing again.

Belle closed and locked the door of the bookshop, turning her face up to the darkened sky and feeling the light kiss of cold flakes on her nose and cheeks. She let out a sigh, blinking rapidly to clear the snowflakes from her lashes, and put her keys in her bag before heading down the street. It was the day before Christmas Eve, and people hurried around her, clutching bulging bags of last-minute purchases. Belle had already made it known by virtue of a card in the bookshop window that she would not be open on Christmas Eve. It would mean that she would lose some last-minute sales, of course, but that couldn’t be helped. There was somewhere else she needed to be.

The wind was biting, and she shivered a little, pushing her chin down into her scarf as she quickened her pace. The neon sign outside Roni’s bar was a welcoming sight, and Belle ducked inside the door, letting a wave of heat and the raucous guitar of some rock ballad wash over her. She stamped snow from her boots, eyes flicking to the bar. Roni, the dark-haired owner and bartender, was deep in conversation with a woman that Belle hadn’t seen before. She was blonde and slender, with pale skin set off by the cream coat she wore above leather pants the colour of tropical sand and a cream turtleneck sweater. The woman had a glass of white wine, and was running a pale finger around the base of the glass as they talked in quiet voices. Roni had a glass in her hand, and was wiping it with a cloth in a surprisingly nervous fashion.

“So, I’m closing up tomorrow around eight,” she said. “If - if you wanted to come over for a drink, or something.”

The blonde woman smiled a little sadly.

“I don’t think my side would like that,” she said, and Roni’s face fell a little before a bright smile curved her red lips.

“Sure,” she said. “I understand. Big night for you guys, right? I don’t exactly celebrate.”

“It’s - it’s not that I don’t want to…”

“Really, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” 

Roni turned away, her smile tight, almost a grimace, and Belle felt a surge of sympathy for her. She had never seen the blonde woman before, but there was clearly some history there, and deep feelings that were not remotely one-sided. She hoped they could work it out.

“Hey,” she said lightly, as though she hadn’t noticed their pining. “Man, it’s freezing out there!”

“Belle,” said Roni, looking relieved at her arrival. “You okay? Haven’t seen you in a week.”

“Yeah, I was feeling under the weather,” said Belle, wrinkling her nose.

“Nothing serious, I hope.”

Belle sucked her teeth, then shrugged. May as well tell someone.

“Depends on your point of view, I guess,” she said. “I’m pregnant.”

“A baby?” The blonde woman looked delighted. “That’s wonderful!”

“Thank you.” 

Belle returned her warm smile. Roni’s reaction was nothing more than an upward flick of one brow.

“Oh,” she said. “Uh - congratulations?”

“Thanks.” Belle shrugged out of her coat. “You don’t seem too surprised.”

Roni pulled a face.

“You did look kinda beat last time you were in here,” she said. “When you said you couldn’t face a gin and tonic but scarfed down a bowl of pickled jalapeno slices, I gotta admit I had my suspicions.”

“Is that why you pushed me away from the wine and towards the iced tea?” said Belle wryly.

“Speaking of…” Roni picked up a glass with a questioning look, and Belle nodded, climbing onto a bar stool.

“You got any of those jalapenos?” she asked.

Roni slid a glass of iced tea across the bar towards her, and smirked before reaching for the jar of pickled chilli slices behind her.

“I’m gonna have to get in some more of these,” she said. “Never took you for a spice fiend.”

“Can’t seem to get enough of it right now,” said Belle, eyeing the slices of jalapeno as Roni scooped them up and drained them with the edge of a spoon.

“Is that a pregnancy thing?”

“Must be,” she sighed. “I guess at least it’s more healthy than my old cupcake obsession.”

“Got a fresh batch in today.” Roni pushed a little dish of pickled chillies towards her, and gestured to the plastic cake stand to her left, where sat half a dozen chocolate cupcakes, each topped with a thickly-piped swirl of inky-black frosting and a single dark cherry, sticky with syrup. “Want one? On the house, since you’re eating for two.”

Belle was tempted, tapping her fingernails on the bar.

“Guess I’d better check there’s nothing in there I shouldn’t be having,” she said. “You got a list of what’s in these things? I ate like two dozen of them leading up to Halloween, and they taste too good to be totally healthy.”

“Yeah, I got an ingredient list somewhere,” said Roni vaguely, fishing around under the bar. “The guy that makes ‘em dropped it off. Get a lot of questions about allergies. Here.”

She slapped a somewhat ragged piece of paper on the bar, and Belle looked it over. She glanced up, fixing Roni with a flat stare.

“Activated charcoal?” she said. “You weren’t planning on mentioning that?”

“Oh, yeah, apparently it’s how he got the frosting black,” said Roni, unconcerned.

“Activated charcoal?” said Belle incredulously. “Are you kidding me? I thought it was just regular food colouring!”

“What?” asked Roni, looking confused. “Isn’t it supposed to be good for you? That’s what the guy said, anyway. Some sort of hipster ingredient?”

“Not if you’re on bloody birth control!” 

“What?”

“It screws it up!” exclaimed Belle, throwing up her arms and letting them fall. “You do know that?”

“Uh…” Roni shifted uneasily. “No?”

“Roni!”

“Well, why would I?” she said defensively. “I don’t take birth control! I’m not even sure I understand how it works!”

“I don’t believe this!”

“Seriously, you’ve been handing out cupcakes that mess with people’s birth control?” remarked the blonde woman. Roni put her hands on her hips.

“It wasn’t me!” she insisted. “Do you really think I could do something that evil?”

The blonde woman gave her a very flat look, and Roni huffed.

“Well, I didn’t!”

Belle leaned on the bar with a sigh.

“At least I have an explanation now,” she said dryly. “I thought it was just bad luck. Or - or good luck, I guess. You know what I mean.”

Roni leaned on the bar, putting her head to the side.

“You’re happy about it?” she asked carefully.

Belle took a sip of her iced tea, and smiled as she set down her glass.

“Yeah,” she said. “I am. I mean, it was a shock, not gonna lie, but now I’ve had time to think about it, I’m really excited. I guess the timing isn’t great, but is there ever a perfect time?”

“And the father?” Roni sounded cautious, and Belle sighed.

“Haven’t told him yet,” she admitted. “I only found out yesterday, and - well, he lives up in Maine. Something tells me this needs to be a face-to-face conversation.”

“Yeah.” Roni poured herself a glass of whisky, and leaned on the bar. “Well, I imagine he’ll be pleased to see you.”

“You think?” asked Belle. “We only had one date.”

“Apparently it was one hell of a date.” Roni sipped at her whisky.

“Yeah, but we haven’t managed to cross paths since,” she said. “We’ve been emailing, but - well, I guess it’s a long drive. He said work was keeping him busy until the New Year.”

“So are you going up there?”

“Getting the bus to Maine tomorrow,” she confirmed.

“Hmm.” Roni smirked. “Give the old bastard my regards, won’t you?”

“Do you know him?” asked Belle, confused. “He said you didn’t, but the two of you acted kind of…”

“Kind of what?”

“I don’t know.” Belle popped a chilli slice in her mouth, savouring the sharp heat. “Like you were in some sort of secret society and couldn’t talk about it.”

“Who are you talking about?” asked the blonde woman, suddenly suspicious, and Roni sent her a smile.

“No one important,” she said. “At least not to me. Don’t even know the guy’s name.”

“His name’s Damien Gold,” said Belle, and the blonde woman frowned slightly, as though she was trying to remember something.

“Anyhow, never mind about him,” said Roni hurriedly. “When’s the baby due?”

“July.”

“You know what you’re having?”

“Oh, it’s way too early to tell,” said Belle hastily. “I don’t care, anyway. Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“Well, I wish you every happiness,” said the blonde woman warmly, reaching out to take her hand.

Belle went to take it, opening her mouth to say thank you, when a spark of electricity bounced between them, making them both yelp and jerk back before they could touch. The woman rubbed her fingers on her pants, frowning.

“Ouch,” said Roni. “Man-made fibres, huh? Give me leather every time.”

The blonde woman gave her another suspicious, somewhat weary look, and Belle wondered exactly what it was that was going on between them. She took a sip of her iced tea, picking at the chilli slices as Roni went to serve another customer. Twenty-four hours, and she would be in Maine. Seeing the father of her child. She wondered what he was doing with his day. Whether he had the faintest notion of how his life was going to change.

x

The Greyhound bus pulled into Storybrooke just before seven, and Belle looked around herself as she stepped off onto a sidewalk covered in snow and crisscrossed with footprints. The town looked quaint, the main street strung with festive lights and the shops all sporting decorations. A large Christmas tree sat in a square off to her left, lights flashing red and gold, and she smiled. Storybrooke certainly embraced the Christmas spirit.

Belle clutched her bag in one hand, a holdall stuffed with enough clothes to get her through the next week if necessary. She wasn’t sure how long she would need to discuss matters with Gold. Worst case scenario, he would refuse to have anything to do with her, in which case she would be back on the bus to New York and preparing to raise her child alone. She didn’t think he would cut them off completely, but she was prepared for it nonetheless.

She had called ahead to the only place to stay in town, a bed and breakfast called Granny’s. Finding it was easy; a nearby diner bore the same name, and she could see the inn attached to it. She bypassed the diner and walked up a dark path, the trees lining it strung with coloured lights. The interior of the inn was old-fashioned, but it was clean and comfortable, and Mrs Lucas, its grey-haired owner, seemed kindhearted, if a little brusque.

She did little more than check that her room was clean before dropping her bag on the bed and rummaging in it for the gift she had brought. Perhaps it was foolish, bringing Gold a Christmas present, but she had been poking around the flea market and the item had called to her. She had taken it home and set it carefully in a box, wrapping it in bright red paper with stylised reindeer and Santa figures, and tied it up with a red ribbon. Now that she was looking at it, it seemed garish and somehow insulting, although she wasn’t sure why anyone would be insulted by receiving a present. Telling herself she was nervous, and therefore not thinking straight, she shoved it into her handbag and checked her hair and make-up, reapplying deep red lipstick and pulling her cloche hat back on her head.

Belle had asked Mrs Lucas where Mr Gold’s antique shop could be found, and after receiving a surprised, narrow-eyed look, had been given directions. She could hear the noise from the diner as she passed by: Christmas music and the raucous laughter and cheerful conversation of the diners. It faded as she walked away, down the darkened streets with the snow falling around her and deadening her footsteps. It was late, and she wasn’t sure if she would find Gold in his shop, but the lit sign appeared out of the night, a square of gold against the black of the sky. His was the only shop not decked with coloured lights, the window displaying an old tea set, an ancient globe and a brass telescope, all cushioned on black velvet and lit with a warm, golden light. Perhaps he didn’t celebrate Christmas. It made her feel even more nervous about buying him a gift.

Glancing through the window, she could see him, and her heart began to thump harder. He was standing behind the shop counter, hands poised on tented fingers and his eyes fixed on the door, as though he was waiting for someone. As though he was waiting for her. It made her swallow hard, her nerves increasing. Why the hell didn’t I call, tell him I was coming? What if he has family visiting? What if - what if he has a wife? Is that the reason he didn’t come back? Because he has his own life here? Oh God, why didn’t I bloody well call?

Taking a deep breath, and telling herself to be brave, she pushed open the door, a bell tinkling cheerfully above. It swung shut behind her, and she took a step forward, moving closer. Gold’s dark eyes caught hers, but there was a tiny smile on his face, and it gave her courage, made her move closer.

The shop smelt of beeswax and old books, filled with the low, rhythmic ticking of clocks and the gleam of soft yellow light on polished wood and shining brass and cut crystal. Belle stepped up the counter, meeting Gold’s eyes. He was wearing black, the faint gleam of silk in the folds of his shirt where gold sleeve garters pushed them up above his elbows. His tie was black silk, too, with a damask pattern, a gold tie pin clipped across its dark length. He wore no jacket, a waistcoat closely fitting his slim form, the thin gold chain of a pocket watch looping across from his belt. His hair hung around his face, soft and shining, and she remembered how it had felt slipping between her fingers, brushing her cheeks as he moved inside her. She felt a surge of desire go through her, and licked her lips. Not the time.

“Hey,” she said, and he smiled in a satisfied manner, settling back on his heels a little.

“Miss French,” he said. “How lovely to see you.”

“I think we’re on first name terms,” she said, with a nervous smile. “We’ve seen each other very naked, or did you forget?”

Gold’s grin widened, showing white teeth.

“Oh, I could never forget that.” He put his head to the side. “How are you?”

“I’m - uh - fine.”

Her heart was thumping, her belly twisting with nerves. How would he react? Would he be pleased? Angry? Certainly he’d be shocked, but would he reject her, reject his child? God, she wished she had called first! Telling herself it was too bloody late now, she decided to follow her original plan. She reached into her bag, taking out the gift-wrapped box, and placed it on the counter. 

“Merry Christmas,” she said nervously.

Gold blinked, and looked from the present to her and back again, seemingly unsure of himself.

“I wasn’t expecting a gift.”

“Tis the season.”

“Yes.”

He picked it up and turned it over in his hands, looking oddly hesitant.

“I thought you’d come to me,” he admitted. “But I didn’t know when that would be. Perhaps the New Year, or—”

“Did you want me to come?” God, this was agony! Gold sighed, but gave her that tiny smile again. 

“Of course I did,” he said. “What I mean to say is, I - I don’t have anything to give you in return. I don’t celebrate, you see. Tomorrow I was planning on doing inventory.”

“That’s okay,” she said, and took a deep breath. “You already gave me the best present I could hope for, anyway.”

His eyes flicked up to meet hers, a gleam of gold shining in their depths.

“Really?”

“Yeah.” She shifted awkwardly. “Uh - you might want to be sitting down for this.”

His smile widened.

“Whatever you have to tell me, I can take it.”

“Right.”

Her heart was hammering in her chest, her skin prickling all over, and she wanted nothing more than to climb over the counter and kiss him. She licked her lips, and summoned all her courage, raising her chin.

“I’m pregnant.”

[sqsupernova]

Title: So a Swan Walks into a Bar - [Protostar Art] Link: Click Here To View and Comment Artist: Dragoon23 Find them on: -Twitter: -Tumblr: Drag-oon23

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This art has TWO fics associated with it - be sure to read and comment on BOTH!

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Title: When a Swan Walks into a Bar Link: Click Here To View and Comment Author: Temera_D_Miller Find them on: -Twitter: -Tumblr: Rating: Mature Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply Words: 9k Summary: Emma Swan needs a distraction while her roommate uses their apartment for her amorous lifestyle. Entering into Roni’s Bar, she meets up with the establishment’s namesake and finds that she’s falling for her. It doesn’t take long before Roni Mills admits she’s falling for her too. Loosely based off ‘The Apartment’. “She knew something within her heart that needed to wait until the right moment. Until then, she would love this woman, support her and become one with her. There was nothing she wanted more.”

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Title: So A Swan Walks Into A Bar Link: Click Here To View and Comment Author: Nightwriter89 Find them on: -Twitter: -Tumblr: rolling-thru-life Rating: Mature Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply Words: 9k Summary: Roni had only one rule in her bar, no requests to show sports events on her tv, no matter how big or important the match was. Roni hates sport, any sport, with a passion. Then how did she end up dating the hottest, newly discovered basketball player Emma Swan?

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Remember - writers and artists spent months creating the fics and art you enjoy, so it would mean the world to them if you commented to tell them what you liked! A creator who feels appreciated is a creator who is more likely to write or create art again in the future!

[peacehopeandrats]

Final Line Friday

Friday posts are all about my last lines. Whatever is posted here hasn’t been posted anywhere else, so you are getting a glimpse into a fic that is in the stages of production. This means last lines shown here won’t always end up in the posted work. Also, I will occasionally include whole sections of a scene to make the final line make sense. Sometimes I play fair.

Forgery

Part of my Once Upon A Crime series, Forgery covers episodes of Season 7 that center around the image Tilly gave Rogers. All of my Once Upon A Crime stories fill in the blanks and give us a glimpse of events that were never on screen. Basically, the series is my attempt to make sense of some of the nonsense. This bit is after Jacinda runs out of Roni’s bar to go get Lucy after Belfrey gets arrested.

“What I know of it seems to be a pretty long story,” Henry told her, eyebrow raised. “You sure you have time for it?”

“For a story from my favorite author?” Roni lifted her beer and tipped it to him in salute. “I’ll make as much time for him as he needs.”

Second Chance

A series about Gideon’s return to Storybrooke after his parents have passed. I wanted to continue where the show left off and maybe explain things like why it is still Mr. Gold’s Pawn shop even after he is gone. The series focuses mostly on Gideon, Alice, and their families (yes, Gideon finds love and has kids) but all of the usual suspects are included. In the scene this comes from, Gideon is trying to learn how to make books from August. The reason he’s doing that? Well, I’m not telling.

“It's not bad for a first try,” Pinocchio told him. He lifted the sewn pages into his hands and turned them in various directions for proper examination, then shot a brilliant smile over at Gideon. “You could almost glue those to a cover.”

“I appreciate the compliment,” Gideon said before wrinkling his face in uncertainty. “But that's probably better used as a notebook.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, then lifted his eyes upward and willed the ceiling to shower prowess down onto him. It wasn’t a wish, he knew better than do do anything like that, but it was a hope. That or an act of pure desperation, even he didn’t think he could determine which.

A steady hand rested on his shoulder and forced his attention to turn on the crystal blue eyes that met his gaze. “You'll get this. You've just been around books so much that you have higher standards than anyone else.”

[ussjellyfish]

my insomnia laced dragon queen season s7 au

mostly becuase it won’t leave my brain alone....

Dragon Queen snuck into s7, which a touch of Glass Believer. (it’s not a real fic because my brain doesn’t really have time for that, but if I did...)

(should probably dedicate this to the person posting in the tags about how they didn’t ship dragon queen, nothing makes me ship it harder, apparently. )

Henry, Ella, Regina and the resistance run into Lily in the EF2. Lily’s also been wandering the realms, trying to find herself. She gets lost easily, no real concept of time either, being that she’s a dragon on this side.

Henry recognizes her before she recognizes him. He’s supposed to be a kid, he’s like twelve.

They laugh about that. She comes home with him from the tavern where he was getting supplies, listening to everything that’s happened to him since he left Storybrooke.

they meet Ella who’s initially a little skeptical of Henry returning to top secret camp with strangers, but no, this is his sister.

Half-sister. Sort of.

“Oh? I didn’t know you had a half-sister.”

Henry shrugs a little, scratches the back of his neck. “The other half is dragon.”

“Dragon?” And Ella thinks that’s actually pretty amazing (if she doesn’t think about it too much, there’s some weird logistics there, but a dragon is really helpful to the cause, because it’s air support, that’s awesome.)

Lily listens and is willing to help them but when they start talking about actual combat she pauses. “You kind of want Mom for that. I can look scary, definitely burn some stuff, lots of stuff, but anything precise is still kind of beyond me. I can do sound and fury but I’m not really good at the terrifying beast thing.”

Ella takes a moment to blink and switch “Mom” for “Dad” in her head, because no one really specified the pronouns before.

Regina returns from doing something outside of camp and Henry and Lily are talking about trying to summon Maleficent and Lily jokes that it’s not the other world. She can’t just call her.

Regina looks kind of sheepish and corrects Lily that actually, there’s a summoning spell for Maleficent that Regina knows because it was in her spellbook, that Regina basically memorized as a young woman, because she’s a giant nerd and she was fangirling, and she might have had a chance to cast it someday.

Regina casts the spell, because two dragons in the resistance is pretty damn cool. Maleficent appears all drama and fury at first, old school terror, until she recognizes Regina and drops the green flames.

“I didn’t know you knew that spell.”

“I knew all of them, never thought I’d need to cast it.”

And Ella, who’s just sharp as hell, watches them kind of sort of flirting and nudges Henry who’s all.

“They broke up literally ages ago.”

“That’s not what broken up looks like, Henry.”

“They’re friends.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And they’re Lily’s parents.”

“You’re the author,  tell me, how did that story end for them?”

He doesn’t know. Regina’s never talked about it. They ask Lily and she’s also in the dark. She knows the gist of it, Regina wanted to cast the Dark Curse, Maleficent didn’t, they fought.

“Regina kept Mom in dragon form in a cave for like, forever.”

“Just the curse.”

Ella watches Regina and Mal talking across camp and there’s no animosity, none at all, they’re catching up like old friends. Really old friends who walk around holding hands.

Henry and Lily are both all “there’s nothing, really.”

Ella gives them an “uh-huh, sure” sort of look.

In Hyperion Heights, Roni needs money to fight Victoria. Some kind pf outrageous permit or something, and she doesn’t know how she’ll get it and Herny mentions something about fairy godmothers, and she laughts.

“That’s it.”

And she ‘summons’ Mal with a tattered old business card that still has her contact info, and as much as Roni is not Madame Mayor Regina, Maleficent in the cursed world is an airy sort of hippee with thick glasses and scarves and a save the rhinos t-shirt. She’s even vegan.

Henry doesn’t see how she can possibly be helpful fighting Victoria.

Regina explains that Mal is actually a brilliant financier, they met in college. Mal was day trading her way through an accounting degree.

“And?” Henry asks, because there’s some tension before Mal and Roni, kind of delicately flirty.

“And she has a cat named Lily.” Roni pours herself a drink and sighs. “We had a cat.”

“And?”

“And nothing, we went our separate ways, she went to Tanzania to save the elephants and the alligators and wildebeest, I ran this bar.”

Mal works on Roni’s books and the ordinances and can help Roni turn the bar more profitable but it’ll take a few years to make what Victoria wants.

Roni’s crushed but puts on a brave face and starts making them a ‘you tried’ drink and she sets it in front of Mal and is ready to give in and Mal takes the drink and grins.

“Of course, if you had an investor.”

“What?”

Mal takes out her checkbook and writes a check (on some “save the elephants” ridiculously cute check). “Here.”

“I cant.”

“Of you can, I can’t let you lose your lair.”

“It’s not a lair.”

“No, it’s a very nice bar and I’m glad you kept it all this time.”

Roni takes the check, drinks and pours them another set of shots. “How’s Lily?”

“Would you believe she’s still with me?”

“She must be the oldest little cat.”

“She’d remember you.”

“I doubt it.”

“I don’t.”

And they get far too close to each other, but don’t kiss. Henry catches them hugging goodbye and Roni explains the whole thing in a haze, puring herself another drink.

It’s plenty of money, enough to set Victoria back and keep fighting and--

Lily’s still alive. She’s like a twenty-year old cat, which is ridiculous. She’s just a cat.

“But you never had a cat on your own, did you.”

“Never wanted one.”

And they look at each other far too long and it just hurts us that they don’t know they’re related because they just ache for that family connection.

“Maybe you did want something, and you were just afraid.”

“It was a different time, Henry.”

“Of course, I get it.” He lifts his drink. “But you’re here again now.”

Later he’s talking to Ella and mentions that Roni might just have a crush on her ex.

“What kind of ex?”

“The kind you never really get over.”

“I knew there had to be something in her past, she’s too much of a romantic.”

Back in the EF2, Mal and Regina fall wistfully for each other again, but neither of them mentions anything. It’s just nice being togther, talking, having someone who understands everything. They gear up for a fight and it’s just like the old days.

Except they’re on the same side. With their children.

“Grandchildren even,” Mal teases Regina.

“She’s beautiful.”

“I know.”

The fight happens offscreen because we have no budget for cgi dragon battles, and its weirdly offscreen in Hyperion Heights too.

Victoria fumes and threatens Roni. Roni has the last laugh because she’s safe for the moment.

Mal asks her to host a fundraiser for whales or something and Roni teases her that she could just write the check.

Mal laughs, because she will, she donates everything she can get out of the evil capitalist stock market to all the right charities, even has several of her own, but sometimes it’s the idea that has to spread. People need to believe they can do good.

Roni smiles kind of wistfully at her, because that sounds so familiar but she can’t place it.

Back in the EF2, the fight’s over, Mal did the ridiculously dangerous thing they needed her to do, and she flies back as a dragon and shifts back, eyes shining, almost laughing, drunk on battle, but she’s injured and spent and sways a little and Regina catches her.

Mal insists she’s fine, just burnt more than she’s needed to for a very long time.

“You were wonderful.”

“As were you.”

And Ella elbows Henry REALLY hard because they’re leaning into each other, nearly kissing (and Regina’s so damn sort it’s adorable)

Switch back to Hyperion Heights and they’re walking, hands in their pockets, passing just under the Troll Bridge and it’s raining a little and they pause, waiting it out and they get a little close to each other, then closer and Roni jokes that Mal had to swoop in, save her like she’s some endangered cat in the jungle.

Mal teases that very talented bartenders are rare indeed, and need to be protected. They’re very close to each other. Mal invites her back to say hi to Lily.

“Lily doesn’t remember me.”

“I’ve never stopped thinking about you, so how could she?”

Roni hesistates, Mal starts to step back, letting her go, again, but Roni grabs her, kissing her in the chilly Seattle rain.

And we cut back to the EF2, where they’re sitting by the fire, Regina’s cleaning the last of an arrow wound in Mal’s side, healing it up.

“That’s not something you got from my spellbook.”

“No, no I guess it’s not.”

And they’re very close, right next to the fire, and Mal’s half-undressed, wrapped iin a blanket. “You’ve come so far since you broke down my door.”

“I guess I have, but you- you have Lily and you’re here, being pretty damn heroic.”

“Heroic stings a little.” Mal teases, and Regina kisses her hand.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For defending my family.”

“Of course, they’re important to you.”

“They’re everything.”

Mal’s eyes get soft, and she tears up a little. “You know, I never, ever regret you being Lily’s mother, because you love her so fiercely.”

“She’s my daughter.”

Mal touches Regina’s chin. “And I’m so grateful.”

And they’re close, very very close.

“Loving too much has always been my problem.”

And Mal kisses her, gently. “I don’t think it’s a problem at all.”

[goldenxqueenx]

Roni’s Bar; Chapter 11 - Father Joseph MacAvoy [ao3 / ff.net]

He had just come back from two funerals that he presided over. The first had been interrupted by some man who kept yelling obscenities at the coffin while the police dragged him away. The second had been odd, people in uniforms he had never seen before had attended followed by the entirety of the group getting into official looking black vehicles and insisting on actually taking the coffin with them instead of burying it. They did so and it seemed they left town with it.

Currently the father was sitting next to the detective he had become close to over the time he had spent here and sitting on the other side of him was Roni, who had given him a club soda flavored with orange and topped with mint garnish. It was delicious and he was sure there was more than orange in the drink considering the flavor that had stayed on his tongue felt like it had a hint of cherry. Brilliant, that one, he thought as he took another sip - savoring the delectable taste that really did make him favor it over that of whiskey or any alcohol beverage he had ever used to slick his thirst.

"Such a shame." Roni stated, eyes staring off into the air as if she expected her words to just conjure up the reasoning in murder, the reason the man she had spoken to had to die at the hands of someone as cruel as the serial killer currently making their mark on this up and coming city. "He was so young." She of course was referring to the young Matthew. She had no idea who Tanner had even been nor had she ever talked to the man before, or at least what she could remember.

"Yes, it is a shame." Father MacAvoy heaved a heavy sigh, his torso visibly lifting and falling at the force of which he pulled the air into his lungs and pushed it out. He wanted to scream when things that this happened, when murders as savage and as ruthless as the ones of late caused good people to just sit and ponder on the why and the how and the reason behind it that they would never be sated with knowing. Or at least from his experience that had always been the case.

Weaver leaned his head against the bar's cool surface, allowing it to chill his heated flesh. He was visibly throwing in the towel so to speak, happily wanting to raise a white flag in an effort to get some shut eye considering he couldn't even get that much lately. The paperwork on his desk back at the police station was calling to him, the streets were screaming to be searched, and yet his body was weeping for the comfort of his bed with the warm company of someone who could help lul him into a sated bliss right before nodding off to sleep. The likes of the current murders were grating on his mind and the last thing he felt like doing was walking back into the muck of it. Hamish had been helping more than not and he couldn't even begin to thank the young lad for all he had done to keep half of the paperwork off of his desk. Hell, Hamish was currently out trudging through the streets and getting information that Weaver should be currently soaking up as well.