#I don’t care too much for the Jimmy discussion mostly because I don’t see how it affects Jimmy’s character

[the-somwthing]

ppl will go on about Scott’s horrible treatment of Jimmy or even Pearl but I’m out here ranting and raving about his horrible treatment of Joel and nobody cares because I also say they’re gay 😔

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - When Bad Gossip Happens to Good BL

Aug 2022 Wk 3

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying the most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

The Eclipse (Fri YT) Ep 2 of 15 - This is a great show and the leads are killer! Their conflict contrasted to moments of empathy contrasted to flirtation and then hints of genuine affection is nuanced and beautifully performed. I expected no less from this pair, but I’m delighted to see that they’re executing so well. This show has the sophistication and balance of something like Gifted, Not Me or Bad Buddy, which basically means this is the best we can expect from GMMTV. NeoLewis are also doing a better job than I expected. They aren’t my favorite pair. However Neo unexpectedly excels in a serious part. Finally, an actually deserved and appropriate pratfall moment. Very nice. 

Vice Versa (Sat on YT) Ep 6 of 12 - Living together = fake out. Curse you GMMTV! Look, here’s the thing, flaws and all I pretty much spend this entire show smiling. I don’t mind being manipulated when we are all having so much fun with it. Is Tun/Puen super suss. Oh yes. Do I care? NOPE. *bats eyes in Jimmy nation* 

21 Days Theory (Sun YT ) Ep 2 of 4? - X is def flirting in the “pulling pig tails” fashion. Also wooing his bf2b’s mum is very smart. (Why is BF2B not a 3rd gen Kpop group? I ask you.) Meanwhile Q & his friends are the new candidates for the “only one brain cell between them” club. Like Tine’s crew in 2g all over again. 

THAI LIGUISTICS CORNER

X is older than Q. X uses pom/khun & rao +kap which is stiff, adult, and somewhat formal (and pom is age backwards for him and Q). Pom is oddly servile coming from an older kid. 

Q jumps around a lot in response to this adult speech from a phi: pom/khun but also rao/nai + (a reluctant) kap, but never phi. (I don’t think I’ve ever heard a high school BL use nai this much.) 

There was a conversation about formal speech and the end of ep 2. Q was telling X that he could use guu/mueng rather than rao|pom/khun. Q had been sort of attempting to match X’s formality by using nai as a more formal version of phi, and was struggling because, I think, it’s too grown up sounding. X declined guu/mueng, he finds them too rude to apply to someone he likes. X then offered to call Q just by his name (avoiding having to choose entirely), but I think Q finds that too intimate. But phi is still not discussed and Q goes back to rao/nai at the end. So honestly I’m really not sure what the hell is happening. 

I rewatched all their interactions through 3 times and I’m still mostly mystified.

My Only 12% (Fri iQIYI) Ep 2 of 15 - Cake and Eiw’s relationship reminds me of a high school version of the friendship that’s central to the movie Big Eden. There’s a part of me that wants that to be where this narrative is going too. I’m not gonna say more, because everybody should watch Big Eden. Yes, it’s ultimately happy. However, if this narrative does choose to go with a more mature approach, then this show will ultimately be sad, as a BL. Regardless, SantaEarth are doing a really killer job with this set up. They couldn’t have chosen a better pair. Cake calling a Eiw a sheep when Eiw’s name essentially sounds to me like ewe is hilarious. I don’t think they’re being that clever, though.

Coffee Melody (Mon Viki) Ep 5 of 10 - I do love how tough Jean is - flame on, indeed. Plus his boyfriend 2B has magical pink hair. (Are they secretly a marvel superhero team?) This was another ep of a show where I didn’t care that the leads were apart, because that just meant more side dishes. It’s not bad, this show, it’s not good either, tho. 

Love Mechanics (Sun WeTV) Ep 9 of 10 - Random new faen fatal in the 11th hour is annoying. And the boxing match is a dumb plot device. But the theme around food, family, affection, and acceptance was great. Mark is so good at flirting and Vee is so confused when that skill is targeting him. Someone give YinWar a better BL. Please? 

Love in the Air (Thurs iQIYI) Ep 1 of 13 - Mame’s creature has indeed whipped me into a verbal frenzy. So yeah, that’s another dumpster fire trash watch happening. Come with me if you wanna BURN and smell bad. Good times. So what’s this show like? Terrible. Also entertaining and engaging and kinda hot. Like all good dumpster fires. 

Unforgotten Night (Weds on GaGa) Ep 9 of 12 - I don’t have very much to say about this episode. I guess they are cute boyfriends? But do we want cute boyfriends from our mafia daddy? I ask you? TRASH WATCH IS HERE!

Check Out (Sat IQIYI) Ep 11 of 12 - Jumping back to high heat like we in 2021 ep 0 I see. Fine. Also: chalk one up for an uke bj (usually bjs are seme penance) thats 3 i think: Gen Y 2 (sort of, PokeTongue always strike me as verse), SCOY, and now Check Please Out. 

My Secret Love (Sat YT) Ep 12fin - This drama suddenly got sensible and interesting in the finale after the time jump, and the reason for the split turned out to be a decent one. But frankly, that was just frustrating. Because I got a glimpse that this could’ve actually been, if not a GREAT show, at least a passable one. But they saved this for the last 2 eps? That’s just annoying. Another wedding makes me feel like this trope is becoming ubiquitous in Thai BL. Who knew Grey Rainbow would end up with us here? In the end, I can't really recommend this. There's much better Thai BL these days, and tons of it. DON’T BOTHER 6/10 Full review on MDL. 

180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us (Mon GaGa) Ep 1 of 8 - As others said this is a queer family drama not a BL. It’s fine but I don't like the lead character. He's a brat in the wrong way. Especially at 20 years old. It’s also a bit slow moving and oddly paced. I’m DNFing for now. Maybe I’ll watch it when it’s completed.

I gotta say iQIYI is really taking a stab at cornering this market and I’m not sure how I feel about it. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Minato Shouji Coin Laundry (Japan Weds GaGa) Ep 8 of 12 - So it finally came, the episode where Minato has to break Shin’s heart. It was more delicately handled than I thought it would be, and that did surprise me. It was wistfully sad rather than gut wrenching. I still loved it, of course. SQUEE WATCH ALONG 

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun (Japan Thurs GaGa & Viki) 1 of 8 - GaGa’s subs are more poetic but Viki’s are more comprehensible, so I’m doing... BOTH. It’s cute. Amagi is an ADORABLE sunshine bean nugget but I’m not sold and his confession came out of nowhere. It’s maybe too high school? (GASP, did I just actually type that?) I did really like that we switched perspectives to Takara so soon in the series. Now we know their tortured pining is mutual. I like that, even if it means the whole rest of the show will be about miscommunication. “I like him so much that it feels stupid” is a killer line (GaGa’s version). Taraka is a seme who is scared of his own semeness. That said, this show is from the Mr. Unlucky and Senpai studio featuring Jpop idols, so I’m not expecting much. But I do love a high school setting and JBL has been killing it lately. 

Papa & Daddy 2 (Mon GaGa) Ep 3 of 8 - I hate hate HATE the grandparents bloodline = have another child plot. It’s really upsetting to me in a visceral way. I didn’t even realize I had a trigger around this kind of bullshit. However, the gender plot-line is interesting. And, to no one’s surprise, I continue to have terrible 2nd lead syndrome.

Want to See You (Vietnam YT) Ep 13 - What happened? Did I miss it? Was last week the ending? Are they on hiatus? Is it a crowd funding tactic? Why tf MDL can’t list VBL is increasingly annoying. 

In Case You Missed It

GaGa stepped up and will broadcast War of Y, if any of you want more PAIN in your lives. 

GMMTV dropped Zero Photography to their YouTube, it’s a GL advert special featuring InkPa from Bad Buddy. It was cute and sweet. But that’s it. 

Gossip

Apparently Jimmy (of JimmyTommy) has withdrawn from Middleman's Love and so they need to recast both leads. Bed Friends seems unaffected. 

There are quite a few pairs that Cheewin could hand this too. Anyone wanna take bets? Who would we fantasy cast from his line up? (Cheewin uses his pairs in Y-Destiny, War of Y). Middleman’s Love requires and YOUNGER seme and an older but nerdy (or capable of being nerdy) uke for an office set romance about an intern pursuing his boss. So I think BillySeng and MaxNat are NOT right for this. Other options? Toru & First, KimCop (of course), BoomPeak if you wanted to dip into the well (and if they were up for it), PerthLay if they need bigger names. 

More bad news, Korean BL Oh My Assistant probubly DOA. Read this. 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Starting: Thai BLs What If & Work from Heart. 

Ending: Love Mechanics and Check Out the series (thank fuck). 

Still to come in August? About Youth (Taiwan), Ghost Host, Ghost House (Thai), Ai Long Nhai (Thai). I’m gathering data for September releases now, so if you have any you’re excited about, leave a comment. 

I’m streamlining my systems to better keep track of BLs as they are announced and put into production, yes, there is a NEW spreadsheet as part of the DOOM (currently with 96 entries). Look, I never said this was easy. But now I can answer peeps when they ask me about upcoming stuff. 

This week’s best moments?

Yeah I know it was a sad bit, but that’s why I liked it. Vice Versa needed a bit of a low point. But also...

How to catch a live husband 101. 

Truth in BL, 21 Days Theory. 

Epic eye rolling in Love in the Air. Also, accurate picture of me the whole time I was watching the first ep.

The shoe tie! A pretty rare trope in BL actually. Common in Kdramas. Of course, I like it because it’s always fun to see a seme kneel. 

This was SO FUNNY. This is what the GMMTV boys excel at: snappy dialogue and great friendship groups. (The Eclipse)

I LOVE A boy who crush-sniffs another boy’s shirt. 

The pining is strong with this one. (Takara & Amagi) 

But then when he’s THAT CUTE, what can ya do? 

(last week) 

current earworm? P1Harmony’s Doom Du Doom

[memryse]

many thoughts about Scar in Last Life

We all know Scar is one of the standouts of Last Life; he’s always been one of the key players ever since 3rd Life, driving conflicts and shaping the course of the server. His chaotic nature lends itself perfectly to 3rd/Last Life, and he seems to have only refined it in the hiatus between seasons.

In 3rd Life, Scar was more of a subjective villain. From his own perspective and Grian’s perspective, he wasn’t scary at all! The two of them were just having fun and causing problems – sure, they threatened people, but their dumb antics together made them just feel like two friends messing around; their POV was lighthearted until the final session, really. From other perspectives, however (particularly Dogwarts’ POVs), that was not how the two of them came across. They felt malicious, scary in how casually they approached such a bloodthirsty game. They’d laugh as they took lives, showing no care for anybody but themselves – they’d betray their allies in a heartbeat without an ounce of remorse, and the rest of the players knew it. Scar wasn’t someone to fear from his own POV.

Since Last Life began, however, Scar has become very openly malicious. Even watching his own POV, it’s hard to see him as anything but a villain – his own comment section is full of people commenting on how scary he suddenly seems. I want to expand on some of these villainous moments, because holy fuck, Scar.

In session 1, Scar is certainly a prominent figure, but we mostly get to see his classic silly Scar antics. Sure, he plans on “selling souls”, but it feels like the equivalent of his reputation points in S1. We still don’t get the sense of him going full villain arc yet. He allies with Joel and commits a crime, and we all expect another lighthearted Scar scam which definitely does not go to plan.

And that is what happened… sort of. He’s immediately caught by Scott and Pearl, etc etc etc. The two of them cheerfully agree a scheme to try and kill Jimmy, but that casual discussion of murder is as bad as they get.

Session 2, Scar is chosen as one of the two boogeymen, alongside Joel.

Things go decidedly not to plan immediately. The two of them had agreed last session to try and kill Jimmy, and were supposed to be trusting enough to tell each other if they’re the boogeyman – and yet what does Scar do? Immediately try and push Joel into lava. He’d betray Joel without a second thought – already a contrast to 3rdLife, where upon turning red Scar threw flowers at Grian and asked if they could still be friends. He doesn’t succeed, of course, and Scar and Joel realise they’re both boogeymen, before parting ways.

Scar heads to the nether, where he immediately decides to deceive Etho and Bdubs into thinking he’s weak and has no food, so that he can get close to them nonthreateningly or something. I’ll talk about this more later, but here we get to see what a good liar Scar actually is. People want to assume that he’s all bark and no bite, that he’s a schemer who poses no real threat – when Scar plays into this, he can be reallyconvincing.

The next big moment I want to talk about is, of course, Joel’s trap. The first thing to comment on here is that Scar cries “Joel, are you trying to kill your best buddy?!”, and I can’t work out whether this is Scar acting to diffuse suspicion, or genuine surprise that he’d pull the trap when Scar was right there, but either way it definitely has the former effect. None of the Southlanders suspect Scar in the slightest. Until Scar murders Mumbo in a matter of seconds.

What’s really horrifying about this is that Scar had been begging Mumbo to ally with him just last session. And yet here… not only does he go for Mumbo without hesitation, his reaction afterwards is downright chilling. He just laughs, and tells the others “Welcome to Magical Mountain!” – it’s really quite like a movie villain in how little he seems to care. He doesn’t actually say a word about killing Mumbo; again, despite having desperately wanted to ally with him. To Scar, this was nothing more than an opportunity. Or maybe it’s all a show to him. Maybe it’s both. Scar doesn’t actually care about winning this game – to him, it’s more fun to put on as good a show as possible, and drag as many people down with him as possible (which is definitely a “cc!Scar being a good entertainer” thing, but it translates very well into being a LL!Scar character trait too).

He then hands Joel some supplies, and with the exact same level of nonchalance, tells him to go burn Scott and Pearl’s house down. I’m… getting the sense he enjoyed burning down Etho’s castle in 3rdLife.

Not much of note happens during his subsequent conversation with the Southlanders beyond him failing an initiation spectacularly – after this, he heads back to Joel. They chat from opposite ends of a broken bridge, which is quite a poetic scene honestly, representing the gap between their lives, the destruction of their alliance, etc. I’m just here to talk about Scar’s villainous moments, though, so let me point out one specific line from this conversation.

“I did avenge you, to be fair - Mumbo, I burned him to death, which was enjoyable. I heard him cry, so it was- yeah, that was a thing.”

Just… what the fuck, Scar? What? I know he tried to push the “red lives are psychopathic and feel nothing except a small sense of happiness when people die” in 3rd Life, but this was definitely a lie or at least an exaggeration, because 3l!Scar definitely had a much wider range of emotions than that. Either way, here he doesn’t even have the excuse of being a red life; this is just active malice, pure and simple. Bdubs had a similar level of pride in his boogeyman kill, but I never got the sense that he enjoyed it like Scar did.

Scar goes off to visit Scott and Pearl, and figure out whether they have the enchanting table or not. Note the emphasis on simply figuring it out, not actually getting the enchanting table. Here’s where I want to talk about Scar being a great liar: he fully convinces them into thinking that he was willing to trade lives for the enchanting table, and then he convinces them that he’s so desperate to get the table that he’ll lie about Joel burning their house down. The thing is, Scar had no intention of ever getting the table at that moment – he wasn’t going to trade lives for it to begin with. He’d try his luck at threatening them, but nothing more. He got exactly what he wanted out of that situation: proof. Meanwhile, Scott and Pearl were left believing they’d outwitted him, that they’d called his bluff and bullied him into leaving. They never saw his true intentions, never saw him as an actual threat. Scar is much smarter than people believe, which only makes him all the more threatening.

And finally, he goes on to prove this intelligence even further. He figures out that Scott and Pearl planned to trade for the enchanting table simply by seeing Scott ask Lizzie if she’s home in chat. He then goes to visit Lizzie, and she tells him she declined their offer. What’s notable about this scene is how much less belligerent Scar is than usual: he readily accepts what Lizzie says for once in his life and leaves without being too annoying about it. He later talks about lulling the others into a false sense of security, letting them think he’s not after the enchanting table anymore; that makes me think his visit to Lizzie was purely to confirm that the offer was even made, and he’s now certain that she accepted it. It’s not hard to work out, especially if he noticed her life count.

So, all in all, if you’re not scared of Scar in Last Life, you most definitely should be.

Did I forget to mention he’s currently tied for the highest life count on the server?

[prismasnotebook]

The Challenge & The Cheater (p2)

Summary: reader receives tough news while participating in a MrBeast Challenge

cw: fem reader

“Alright, we’ve had a discussion,” Jimmy stated, stepping into the room. “We’re at about the 30 hour mark, and we’ve decided that you guys provide each other with way too much entertainment.”

Chris pulled on the red duct tape, and Jimmy picked up another one, the two of them making a walkway to another room.

“Oh, and also we’ve made the circles smaller,” he added when he came back, and Tareq was already stood waiting for relocation. You figured he just liked the idea of being able to move somewhere that wasn’t the circle.

“Look, we’re beating that guy,” Karl stated looking to you, and you gave a small nod, and he furrowed eyebrows at the lack of competitive drive that you usually had.

“What’s going on,” he asked and you shook your head giving him a small smile of reassurance, and he couldn’t press any further because Chris was push him down the new pathway that led to another room.

And, almost as soon as they were gone, you wanted to quit. Mostly because it was their goofing of and conversation that was serving as the distraction you needed. And, you think that’s the reason you decided to continue participating anyway. You simply needed a distraction.

“Hey, we’ve got to shrink your circle,” Jimmy said as he pulled up the walkway from your circle, and Chris came in.

“Tareq has a proposition,” Chris stated, and Jimmy furrowed his eyebrows as he passed the tape. “I really don’t think you’re going to go for it.”

“Well, let’s go see,” he said into the camera before walking out, and Chris pulled the tape from the roll, beginning to lay it down.

“You know, you’ve been kind of quite,” Chris said. “And, I wouldn’t think anything about it, but you were all chatty and determined that you were going to win yesterday.”

“Just tired, if Karl doesn’t sleep then no one does,” you stated, and Chris paused looking at you.

“Look, if you’re tired I get it, but if there’s something going on you can talk to us. We’re your friends, ya know.”

“Yeah,” you agreed, and he finished up the circle. And, maybe it’s because you could just tell yourself it was good practice for him for when Tucker got older, but you wanted to talk. “Wait, I- Will you close the door I don’t want anyone else to hear?”

“Yeah,” he agreed and he gently shut the door, and you unplugged the mic. You knew you’d be disqualified because it seemed like you were scheming, but you didn’t care.

“I- uh,” you weren’t sure, how to phrase it. It just felt stupid coming out of your mouth. It made you feel a little pathetic too, and maybe that’s why your voice broke. “I got cheated on.”

Chris paused for just a minute as it processed and you tried to wipe at your eyes but it was pointless.

“Well, that guy is an idiot,” Chris told you. “And, jokes on him because now he’ll never have the chance to win a stupid amount of money because we won’t let him.”

You chuckled slightly and Chris pulled you into a hug, rubbing your back some.

“I’m sorry that you got cheated on, alright. You don’t deserve that, and if he’s stupid enough to cheat on you he doesn’t deserve you.”

“I really needed this hug,” you whispered, and Chris gave you an extra squeeze before pulling back, and he gave you a sympathetic look as he pulled back.

“Do you want me or one of the guys to drive you home?”

“No, I don’t want to be alone, and I especially don’t want him to come over and I have to deal with him.”

“Okay, in that case you want to help me sabatoge Tareq?”

“Not Karl?”

“No, I love Karl, I want him to win,” Chris stated and you chuckled some, wiping at your eyes and Chris gave you a smile before standing and helping you up.

My Masterlist

[storytellerofuntoldlegends]

an icarus and his sun: chapter 7

A/N: scott's pov, finally!! as well as more of my "the empires smp gals deserve to go off, actually" agenda. also check out this rad art submitted by @dancinglifeboat! i also would like to apologize ahead of time, the updates from here on out are probably going to slow down a bit because while i am still extremely motivated to write this fic, it hasn't been as high as it was for the upcoming chapters as it has been for the previous ones. i honestly don't even know HOW i was so motivated to write several chapters so fast that i actually had a backlog of them for a bit and was able to post them daily. so the updates will likely slow down to being every couple of days or maybe every couple of weeks, depending on time/motivation. but yeah! anyway, enjoy!

Warnings: lying/manipulation, threats of violence, past violence, arguing, heartbreak

AO3 Link - Tumblr Masterpost

-

Scott felt just about sick to his stomach every time he looked at the slimeball Jimmy had given him. It was such a stupid little thing to get emotional over, and it was honestly kind of gross and sticky. But Scott couldn’t bear to get rid of it. It had stung more than he cared to admit when Jimmy had reminded him of how isolated and distant Scott was from everything. Staying up and away from the world kept him safe, kept his empire safe. But being safe didn’t make it any less lonely and isolating. And then Jimmy had looked at him like he was the world, and told him that he should be able to enjoy the little things too. Scott couldn’t bear to get rid of the slimeball, even though the memories were painful now. For as much as bluntly being reminded that he was alone stung, Jimmy telling him to leave stung even worse.

Looking back on it now, Scott didn’t really know why he had sided with Fwhip. It was long before Scott had really felt anything for Jimmy, mostly flirting with him to get a rise out of him. That flirting had always devolved into fighting, and it was after one particularly nasty argument that Fwhip had pulled him aside after the meeting and talked about how the House Blossom Alliance would be the downfall of their empires. And at the time… Scott had agreed with him. He loved Katherine, he really did- but there were too many rivalries in that alliance for it to ever truly work. So he went along with Fwhip’s plan- go along with the meetings until an opportunity arose. Then came the addendum of Scott keeping an eye on Jimmy to make sure he wouldn’t be a problem. And then came the plan of rigging the ballroom to explode and blame it on another empire. And even worse- Scott actually caught feelings for Jimmy, instead of it being an act like Fwhip had planned.

So before the night of the ball, Scott had struck a deal with Fwhip. If there was no argumentative behavior during the ball, then he wouldn’t set off the TNT. To his surprise and relief, Fwhip had agreed- and then went and purposefully antagonized Jimmy. And Jimmy- sweet, impulsive Jimmy- had fought right back. Scott didn’t get a chance to pull Fwhip aside and convince him to change his mind before Lizzie had asked him for a dance, then spun Jimmy right into his arms. Fwhip had been watching them the entire time they danced, then left as soon as the song ended, heading up the stairs. Scott snuck away from Jimmy to follow him- only for Fwhip to have flown off by the time Scott made his way up the stairs. Then Jimmy followed him too, and once he spotted Fwhip in the distance with his crossbow, Scott realized he had been used to draw Jimmy out. So he kissed Jimmy, and then Fwhip set off the explosions. It was then Scott realized Fwhip had lied to him about the plan- somehow he had rigged Katherine’s entire castle with TNT, not just the ballroom, and wanted to be sure that everyone knew it was Fwhip and the Wither Rose Alliance behind it all. A show of power, so that no one would mess with them.

So now Scott was alone again. Jimmy felt like Scott had betrayed him- and frankly, Scott had. He should have told the House Blossom Alliance about the TNT, instead of striking a weak deal with Fwhip. Now the House Blossom Alliance would never trust him again, and all Scott had now was the Wither Rose Alliance- which Scott wasn’t so sure if he wanted to be a part of anymore. And at their next secret meeting, Scott found out that he wasn’t the only one with this opinion. Usually they met in Gem’s hidden meeting room, but this time around, she insisted on meeting in the Grimlands, not giving a clear reason why. Scott had thought nothing of it, until the time for the meeting actually came.

“I’m done, Fwhip,” Gem said, not even taking a seat at the table. Fwhip leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow at Gem.

“What do you mean, you’re ‘done?’” he scoffed. Gem slammed her hands down on the table, purple magic sparking in the air. Everyone in the room had ranging expressions of shock and terror on their faces. Gem never got angry like this, at least not as long as Scott had known her. Fwhip, however, seemed unphased.

“You lied to us. You said you were going to make a point at the House Blossom Ball. Instead you blew it up! You could have killed us!” she fumed. Fwhip rolled his eyes.

“Gem, you know me. What other point would I have made that didn’t go off with a bang? Besides, Sausage and Scott knew about the TNT,” Fwhip replied with a shrug. The glare Gem sent him was deadly, and Pearl rose from her seat at the revelation.

“I was hoping that maybe Scott was clever and figured out your plan, and just wasn’t able to get the information to anyone in time- but you told him and Sausage?! And I’m not exactly pleased that neither of them felt it was necessary to tell Gem and I what was going on, but the nerve of you to hide information from your own allies, Fwhip!” Pearl scolded. Scott and Sausage didn’t say anything, a little embarrassed- but to be fair, it hadn’t really occurred to Scott that Fwhip didn’t tell everyone about his plan. He had told Scott one-on-one, and Scott had foolishly assumed that he had told the others as well. Yet another frustrating hoodwink courtesy of Fwhip.

“Because I knew you would react like this! But there’s no sense in arguing about it now, what’s happened has happened. Let’s discuss plans for the future, shall we?” Fwhip said with an overly charming grin.

“No,” Pearl said firmly, and Fwhip blinked in surprise.

“What?” he asked in disbelief.

“You heard Gem. She’s done, and so am I. I won’t be a part of this senseless destruction anymore,” Pearl said evenly. And before Fwhip had a chance to protest, Pearl and Gem stormed out of the room. Fwhip let out a dejected sigh, before sitting up straight in his seat again.

“Fine. Who needs them? We’ll be just fine- won’t we, boys?” Fwhip asked, and the smile he gave Scott made his stomach roll.

“Yeah! Now we don’t have to tiptoe around them anymore!” Sausage cheered, and Scott could only give a weak smile in response. Something in Fwhip’s smile turned sharp as he leaned towards Scott with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“You know, I never properly complimented your acting skills. You really had Jimmy caught like a fish in a net. It’s a shame though- you got a little too wrapped up in the act- not to mention him- and we lost a valuable chance to deal with the Codfather once and for all. But that’s alright- I’m sure we’ll get another opportunity,” Fwhip said in a low and dangerous tone, the thinly veiled threat very clear to Scott. Don’t get in the way again, and don’t try and weasel out of plans. Or he’d make sure he’d regret it.

“R-right,” Scott said shakily. Fwhip seemed satisfied, and leaned back in his chair once more.

“Good. Now I suppose that advantage with you pretending to like Jimmy is gone now, unless you do a lot more than just kiss him this time around-”

“No,” Scott blurted, before he could really think about it.

“What was that?” Fwhip asked, raising an eyebrow. A lie about how Jimmy definitely didn’t want to see him again- which wasn’t really a lie per se, but it wasn’t the reason Scott said no- was at the tip of his tongue. But he couldn’t say it. And in that moment, he finally decided to do what Pearl and Gem had done.

“I’m not doing this anymore. It makes me sick to my stomach to even think about bringing more pain and destruction to J- to these lands,” Scott said, voice shaking a little but his eyes sharp as he glared at Fwhip. But Fwhip caught the wobble in his voice and how he nearly said Jimmy’s name. However Sausage spoke up and commented on it before Fwhip could.

“You WEREN’T pretending, you actually fell for Jimmy!” Sausage gasped, and the tone of his voice reminded him of simpler times, when Sausage would tease him about his flirting with Jimmy and Pearl would admonish him and tell Sausage to leave Scott alone. Then Fwhip had taken advantage of Scott’s banter with Jimmy, and brought Scott’s world crashing down around him as a result.

“You’ve gotten weak, Scott. What happened to the imposing, cold ruler of Rivendell?” Fwhip sneered. Scott rose from the table at that, glaring Fwhip down.

“I’m finally being the ruler I should have been. I’m not going to let other empires use me for their own gain, and I’m not going to be part of your destructive plans,” Scott fumed, wings flaring and making him seem taller, more threatening. Fwhip chuckled darkly.

“You walk out of here, and you’ll regret it,” he growled.

“I’ll take my chances,” Scott shot back, turning on his heel and exiting the room, ignoring both Fwhip and Sausage’s voices after him. He was done with the Wither Rose Alliance. In fact, he was done with alliances entirely. He was going to stay in the mountains and care for his empire, like he should have been all along.

-

Then the slimeball on the side table by his bed reminded Scott why he didn’t want to stay in the mountains. He would just be exactly what Jimmy expected of him- high and mighty, being too good for anyone. And being alone. Scott had a taste of what a sense of togetherness felt like, and now being alone hurt more than ever. But there was no one he could go to, no one who would trust him. Maybe he could form something with Pearl and Gem, or maybe the two new empire rulers, Shelby and Joey- but it wouldn’t be the same. Nothing would ever be the same, not as long as the mere memory of Jimmy’s goofy grin sent his heart fracturing a thousand times, over and over again.

He couldn’t stand being within the walls of his home any longer. His wings itched with the need to spread and take to the skies, and flying always made him feel better. So Scott did just that, taking to the skies and flying nowhere in particular, just far away from all the empires as much as possible. Maybe if he flew far enough, it would all disappear and Scott wouldn’t have to deal with his problems anymore. And maybe with enough distance, his heartbreak would disappear too.

-

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[ectora]

So, after the post of season 2, I decided to continue with season 3. I wanted to do Until episode 9 cause that’s the strict half but I knew there was along break after episode 10 so I was like let’s do until ten. For the second part, I might do it for every episode separately in some sorte of episode review or whatever, or just wait for the end of the season and do a global season 3 post. We’ll see I guess, I’m an indecisive so I hate taking decisions lmao. Anyway, let’s get to it.

Screen time

Macy : 3h03m10s (10/10)

Mel : 2h47m12s (10/10)

Maggie : 2h40m57s (10/10)

Harry : 2h09m34s (10/10) (+Jimmie 7m37s)

Abigael : 47m40s (5/10)

Jordan : 1h02m24s (9/10)

Again, those numbers are not to the second but scene wise. The only time I would separate the screen time in the scene itself was if the focus was completely on one character (vision + sound) and we know another character is there but we don’t really see them).

As before, here a graph of the screen time per episode for each character.

*harry and jimmie’s screen time are mixed for the graph but again, Jimmie’s is like 7 minutes.

And here a graph of all the characters screen time by episode so it’s more easily comparable.

Now, again, the screen time is pretty obvious on the fact the sisters are and stay the focus of the show. But far. Though I’m Ngl, I was really surprised to see Maggie being the last of the three sisters. She had way more screen time in season 2 but idk in season 3 it also felt like she was also a bit ahead. At least of Mel. But I think that’s a question of how they handle the story. I think Maggie is actually the one with the best treatment out of the three sisters, with the more consistent development. So maybe that’s why she feels more present. Because she’s actually getting development. Mel, imo, can’t really say the same. She doesn’t have that much more screen time than Maggie and yet, to me, she feels a lot more less developed. Macy had her story focused around men last seasons. And if this season hasn’t fixed that issue when it comes to Hacy imo, I do feel she gets a bit more personal development. But still, Maggie feels the most developed to me.

Jordan is more present in the story so that’s good. I love him and I hope they can find him a good place in the story as a human because he’s a sweetheart. To be honest however, he could have a bit more screen time Ngl. Same can be said for Abigael. I personally have the feeling that the story she has now wasn’t necessarily planned if I’m being honest, which is why it feels so detached. And obviously she needs to have her story more liked to the main storyline and TCO so her presence can be more natural and cohesive. However when you think about it, half the episode when we’re half way through the season, for a regular/main character, it’s a bit weird. I hope going forward, they’ll fix both these issues. Have her be in more episode and linking her to the main story.

Detailed screen time

As I did last time, here are the tables with their detailed screen time with each other main characters.

* group means 2+ characters of the core six that doesn’t involve all three sisters.

To be honest, these tables brought light on issues we - I think- were already aware of. Mel/Macy for example is basically inexistant. It’s really sad to see them barely share scenes just the two of them. Like Mel and Maggie have really nice scenes together where we can see them talk and bond. Macy has that sometimes with Maggie too. But Mel and Macy ? We barely even know what their relationship is if I’m being honest. Like it feels like Maggie and Mel have each other and they make Macy have Harry. He is her one to go, the one they develop her relationship with the most which, imo opinion, shouldn’t be the case.

It brings me to my next point. I know it’s only half season but TCO purely together isn’t even the biggest screen time anymore. Hacy actually is. Love them or not, that’s not the topic, I think there is the need of a discussion about how they slowly shifted the focus of these two characters toward each other. The pairing isn’t an issue, the way it’s handled kinda is. Because at the end of the day it’s also a disservice to both of them. I know COVID is to be taken into account and that they’re limited in the interaction and that Harry is the most integrated of the three main supportive characters but it is still an issue. Even in the story, Harry is all about his relationship and sometimes forgets his duties. Macy’s first thought is basically Harry. They could have used some of this time to develop further the sisters between themselves. Like Maggie and Mel don’t feel as centred on their romance while Macy definitely feels like it’s the major characteristic of her character right now. Same with Harry.

In a general manner however, they’ve been doing better with the sisters sharing scenes that aren’t all about fighting but there is still some serious work to be done. As said, Mel and Maggie for example have some nice scenes where it’s a bit more domestic. They talk about their actual lives more. Maggie has that a bit with Macy too but it’s mostly Mel/Maggie. While Macy talks to Harry.

When it comes to their personal time, by that I mean without the core six, they have around the same time so that’s good. Tho again, as I said before, they have around the same time but it feels like some character just have better written development.

I’m also glad to see Jordan and Abigael share screen with a bit more characters but also would like to have more mix between the mains. It’s almost odd at this point to see Jordan interact with anyone else than Maggie and Harry. I loved his episode with Macy but it almost felt random because he shared 90% of his time with Maggie. Abby it’s a little bit less the case because I feel like in season 2 she had the opportunity to share scenes with all of them (and I want more cause I love it) but now I would like to see her interact with others more too.

PAIRINGS

Hacy : 53m11s

Joggie : 18m18s

Abimel : 12m37s

Melby : 5m58s

That’s probably one of the things that annoy me the most in the show so bare with me.

Let’s start with the small things. I’m Ngl, I’m a bit confused about Maggie. Jordan is pretty obviously supposed to be her love interest I think we can all agree on that. I don’t know if they’re trying to throw some love triangle drama or fake drama with Antonio but well. In any case, I think they’re just a bit more slow burn. And I do think they’re actually the best written romance in the show since the beginning. Maggie never feels centred around Jordan. And tho Jordan does majorly gravitates around Maggie, he also gets a story and development. And yet their love connexion is obvious. Don’t know why they can’t do that with others.

I think I made my issue with Hacy rather clear. Not the ship itself but the way the show does it. I mean their time is clearly superior to everyone else (and i know it’s because Harry is technically the fourth character in terms of importance and is integrated in the story but still, I think there are still things to be fixed about this) and I think the way the show tend t have these two continuously gravitate around each other first is a disservice and just too much at this point. Like in ten episodes they have had more than the entirety of season 2. I’m pretty sure it means something.

Which leads me to my last point. And the most annoying one. Mel. It’s a whole other level. The show has a serious issue on their hands. Mel is the only sister that isn’t straight. And her relationship are not even remotely treated the same as her sisters. Season 2 was one thing. But season 3 makes it so painfully obvious. And it’s not ok. She has two potential ships. And yet, the screen time of these two combined is barely above Maggie’s with Jordan. And not even half Hacy’s. And that’s a genuine issue. I need the show to start treating their lgbt relationship the same way they do the straights. I’m tired of ghosts. I’m tired of unseen. I’m tired of two dimensional. Of the lack of development. Or the unbalance with her sisters. It’s enough.

Talking about her potentiality, the show definitely has me confused with the whole Abimel/Melby situation. They’re hinting hard on the first one while keeping the second in the background. Which is entirely confusing. And low key a problem too. Because yes I ship Abimel but I do think Melby deserves better. And if the show is just keeping melby while they can develop Abimel then that’s just weird too.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Melby just doesn’t feel like a relationship the show has any interest of putting effort in. Ngl, when Mel said at ClexaCon that the writers didn’t really give them backgrounds or anything, it didn’t sound like freedom, it sounded like they just didn’t care enough to develop it. Sometimes, it almost feels like they just kept it around because of the Abigael backlash, so have a sapphic relationship while they can develop something else on the side. Ruby has a charming actress so she has that working for her, but her character is very superficially developed, they didn’t bother to give her depth and it doesn’t feel like it was meant to last with the whole not wanting to be involved in magic thing. I’m not trying to bash anyone or any ship, but that relationship does feel very superficial in terms of writing. And honestly if they’re just keeping it around while building something else, it’s in itself annoying due to the nature of the relationship. Like at that point it’s not even the bare minimum.

Abimel seems more build up already. They’ve been hinting at it since season 2, poring them all the time. The lines. The tensions the chemistry. The connexion. It genuinely feels like that’s were they were going toward. Because it just makes sense. It also makes sense in terms of pairing. All three sisters have their love interest in the main cast. Enemies to lovers trope. As said, it makes sense. But also who actually knows. Because let’s be honest, the show has an history with not treated sapphics the same way as straights. Which is even more obvious in this first part of the season and looking at the numbers. Again I understand Ruby is not a regular (which reinforce my previous points). But likes. That’s what brings me to say again and again that at this point, the show needs to either actually commit to that relationship and make Ruby an actual part of the show or let it go. Because what we have right now ? Not ok. Because they give us zero energy. And I’m pretty sure that if they wanted to actually do more, they definitely could have. Right now, the show is under a pretty bad light when it comes to lgbt characters and their treatment. It’s a bit ridiculous and it’s just not right.

Anyway, I think this concludes my rant. I’m sorry it’s very, very long and for WHAT 😭 I have too much time on my hands I’m telling you. Anyway, if you read all of that I hope you’re enjoyed but also you probably, too, have too much time.

[achliegh]

Bronze

Alright, I had this wonderful idea come into my head about Clayton, honestly he deserves his own fic. So here is his version of events! Lots will tie together with Golden so I recommend you read that as well. But you don’t have to of course.

Explaining:

Before Letter is the present.

Letter is updating the lives of the people back home, of whoever wrote it mostly.

After Letter is memory.

The first few letters will be very awkward because writing letters and not being sure what to talk about and what not to talk about is hard and confusing. Stick with me! Yes, this prologue is just a letter.

TW/CW: Discussions of death, miliatry training, smut, cringy jokes, underage drinking, dumb choices, swearing, and more later on.

Beta: @walking-crisis

Some Characters belong to @lumosinlove

Chapter 1:

Riding With Private Malone

Oath

Boot Scootin Boogie ( Line Dance )

Clayton read the letter over and over with a sad smile, he didn’t want to leave but he also felt like he needed a purpose in life. Sitting around while your lovers are successful isn’t what he pictured for himself. He recently found out that both his birth-parents were in the military and felt like he should follow in their footsteps.

A lot of people he was close to didn’t agree with this. Especially Leo, he was devastated. Probably the angriest Clay has ever seen him besides from when the Sheriff or his family would mention Wyatt.

This was something Clayton had to do. He didn’t know what branch his birth-parents were in so he went with the one that he thought he would enjoy most, the Navy. To be exact, Navy Seal but he has to pass training first. Which he did with flying colours making him on the younger side of the teams. But he felt unstoppable, but he missed his friends and family so much it felt like he couldn’t breathe. He also gave his lovers code names because he was worried what might happen if someone found out he was in a poly relationship that isn’t straight.

He didn’t think people would take too well to it.

He was sitting at the dinky table set up in their tent, they were on a special assignment, he had a piece of paper and a pencil that he found under the cots. He started writing back when his superior officer of their team came in. He was friendly and a good guy but a little aggressive at times. Great leader for the US military.

“Whatcha writing Stinky?” He walks over to take a peek at Clay's letter humming a song that constantly plays on their old satellite radio, Riding With Private Malone, and frowns. “Clay.” He rests his hand on Clay's shoulder making him look up. “You can’t write them back, they can’t know where we are or what we are doing.”

Clay lays down his pencil and stares at his letter.

“How will they know I’m alive?”

Deer Bestie,

I’m only writing to you because it feels right, Oath came on, remember that song? The one we would sing to each other every time it came on. It was the stupidest song but it always reminds me of middle school when we sang it in front of the school at the talent show. Stupid but worth it.

I’m still not over how you just got up and left after everything happened. It was two weeks after the worst week of my life and you just left. Gone.

You didn’t even have the thought in your head to tell me when you first signed up! You waited until the week before you left to tell me because you knew I would try to convince you not to go. You fucking idiot! I don’t think I will ever forgive you for this.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t miss you. I miss you so much.

Logan and Finn are amazing and doing all they can to make sure I’m okay. I love them, but it isn’t the same. They don’t know me as well as you and I just miss my brother.

No one has heard from you and I swear if you end up being dead I will never forgive you. I will be so fucking pissed I will meet you in hell and beat you up.

Come home Clay, please come back safe.

Love,

Leo

P.S.

You're a dickhead.

Pushing the doors open with vigor Clay and Leo strutted into their bar like they owned the place. Seeing new faces around the bullpen, Leo and him shared a knowing look and hopped the fence as a man with glasses got thrown from the bull again. Clay helped him up as Leo went over to the control board where a strikingly handsome man stood next to him. All broad shoulders and deep-toned skin. But Clay had a girlfriend so he didn’t look as long as he wished he could. Instead cracking jokes with this character in front of him.

He looked around at all the new faces, they all were attractive well-built men, he guessed professional athletes but all the logos he saw on shirts and hats. His eyes landed on two men who seemed very very close, passing a cheap cig back and forth while talking to Jimmy, the auctioneer that worked for Clay's dad. When he locked eyes with the shorter man with green eyes he knew right away.

Leo was going home with them.

Leo whistled at him as the other man walked off and Leo hopped on the machine. Saying goodbye to James, at least he thinks that's the name he told him, and walking over to the control board with Leo’s settings. He pressed the start key as the crowd sang with the song that was playing.

He cheered Leo on as he was thrashed around, catching the two guys who he spotted earlier just drinking Leo in. Lucky. It wasn’t that Clay didn’t like his girlfriend, it was just, she didn’t satisfy him in the ways he wanted. It was always about her so clay would have mediocre sex, sometimes good depending on how mad she was at him.

He had told her that he likes to be… more submissive in bed. She would make fun of him for this and while Clay enjoys being degraded he doesn’t enjoy it when it's because she thinks of him as less than a man. It really bothers him but she doesn’t care.

Later that night Boot Scootin Boogie comes on and Leo drags him to the dance floor after they had a few drinks, dancing in time with everyone else. Leo turns to him and sing with the song

“I want a shot of that redhead yonder lookin at me.” He winks at said redhead and notices the look he gets from both men. Clay smiles and laughs, shoving Leo playfully to get back in line. They dance until the song ends and wander back over to their drinks and sit as the next song starts up.

A couple songs later and Leo is waving goodbye as the two drag him out of the bar by his belt loop., Clay lifts his drink as a salute to him and drinks it in one go. He stands up and stretches, now that Leo is gone he should probably go or else Ashley will find out and give him hell for it.

“Hey yeehaw, come here!” Clay looks around and then points at himself in a questioning way when he sees who was yelling. James. Nodding James beckons him over and pats the seat between him and the man from earlier . “Your friend just stole two of our teammates!”

“From the looks of it, it seems your teammates stole my buddy.” He smiles when a man with practically white hair and a thick accent hands him a beer. “But they did seem his type.”

“Yeah, those two have been in love for years but won’t admit it. It gets really tense sometimes in the locker room.”

“What do y’all play?”

“Hockey” The man Clayton was purposefully avoiding looking at says. He takes a drink instead of answering him.

“Y’all enjoying the music? Doesn’t seem like something y’all would normally listen too.” He smiles when he gets clapped on the back by a laughing James.

“If you have better suggestions for country music we would love to hear them. Maybe we will start playing it in the locker room.” The man smiles at him and Clay feels his face heat up as he imagines being under him. The alcohol is really starting to hit.

“I- Yeah, I can give you some.” He can’t tear his eyes away from the man. He gives them loads of songs to listen to and some even come on in the bar. He sees James making a playlist and makes fun of him for it. Clay doesn’t really listen to playlists, seems boring to always know what songs are coming next.

His phone goes off with a text alert, he reads it and his face falls a little. He stands up and salutes the guys as he says goodbye and walks out the bar in a hurry. Outside waiting for him is his pickup, with Ashley in the driver's seat. He gets in and gives her a kiss on the cheek.

They drive in silence back to his house.

[childrenofthenightt]

only the black rose (chapter 6)

pairing: jimmy page x layla porter (oc)

warnings: jimmy page’s stubbornness (and his stressy hands), exposing jpj as the mom friend, fluff

words: 3.4k

summary: in the blink of an eye, it’s 1975 and layla’s suddenly joining led zeppelin for their north american tour. throughout the chaos, the band take a liking to her, she builds friendships with the boys, and love blossoms. but all good things must come to an end.

author’s note: so this one was fun, but we’re getting into the nitty-gritty of this fic :)) hope you enjoy, and please if you have any feedback it would be much appreciated!

masterlist

playlist

chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

--------

“Mr. Page, you must be extremely careful when taking these,” Dr. Vane lectures, shaking a bottle of pills. “They should help with the pain, but they are very strong.”

Jimmy sits on the side of his hospital bed, hunched over like a young child being lectured for their misbehaviour. His hands are balled into fists, though the injured finger is coiled much looser. In the corner of the small, sterile room, Robert and Bonzo glance at each other, noticing the way Jimmy grits his teeth, curling and uncurling his hands on his lap. He wants out of here, and fast: that’s plain to see.

“Doc, is Jimmy free to go?” Bonzo breaks the fragile silence that had settled over the group, pushing himself off the wall he had been leaning against.

“The anaesthetic has mostly worn off, so he should be good to go when he’s ready,” Dr. Vane turns to Jimmy then, mouth a serious, somber line. “Mr. Page—”

“Please, call me Jimmy.”

“Jimmy, I recommend taking a pill from the bottle we’ve supplied you, very soon. The pain should come back, due to the anaesthetics being out of your system. These are codeine tablets, and like I said before, they are very strong…”

Jimmy tunes out most of the doctor’s words from that point on, too preoccupied with thoughts of the upcoming tour. He knows Jonesy would memorize whatever the good doctor says anyways, the mother hen. Jimmy didn’t realize he had been shaking with anxiety until a cold hand lay across his, pinning it to the bed. He looks beside him, and on the bed sits Layla, brown ringlets a mess from their lie-down in the hospital bed. Jimmy stares back, enchanted by the woman in front of him, as he always is when she’s near. Still holding his gaze, Layla smiles, a question clear in her doe eyes.

“Are you okay, Jim?” she whispers, drawing nonsensical patterns on the back of his hand. He nods, flattened curls bobbing with the movement. Layla isn’t fully convinced, but she lets it go, vowing to keep an eye on the man.  Bringing her attention back to Dr. Vane, Layla asks the question on everybody’s lips.

“Dr. Vane, I heard you talking to Peter about this last night… Do we know for sure if he can play or not?”

Silence falls once again like a cloud over the group, as the doctor taps his chin in thought. The mighty Led Zeppelin wait with bated breath to hear the fate of their guitarist.

“I would…” Dr. Vane clears his throat, face apologetic as he glances around the room. “I would advise against it. Ultimately it is not up to me, of course. I can’t make you do anything, but Jimmy, you need to recuperate.”  

The room feels as though all the energy had been sucked right out of it, as Jimmy fiddles with a loose thread on the hospital gown he was wearing, disheveled locks obscuring his handsome face as he looks down at his socked feet. Jonesy looks on with pinched features, concerned for the man, while Robert and Bonzo sigh, sharing another wordless glance. Things just got a lot more complicated, it said. Peter sends Jimmy a smile dripping with sympathy, and walks out the door, no doubt to make some important calls.

“Why don’t we all step out of the room, so Jimmy here can get dressed?” Dr. Vane suggests, and the group files out slowly. Layla stands up to follow, stopping in her tracks almost immediately. She turns around then, meeting Jimmy’s sad eyes, gleaming like a diamond in the morning sun, and walks towards him.

“Petal, I don’t…” Jimmy mutters, trailing off, dark curls a veil, hiding him from the world once again. Layla stops in front of him and tips his head up, a familiar hand on his chin. She runs a hand through his hair, pushing it back to see the man’s face. There are stress lines on his forehead, and his eyes are glassy with unshed tears, shining in the artificial hospital light. He looks as beautiful as he always does, to Layla. Jimmy’s lips quirk up subtly in the semblance of a grin, and he presses a kiss to the woman’s wrist.

“You’ll be okay. I believe in you, and you’ll get through this.”

“How can you be so—”

Layla leans down, face to face with the man, and swallows his words with a chaste press of her lips to his. It wasn’t a particularly heavy kiss; their lips moving together softly, but it meant more than either would ever know. It was a kiss of comfort. Finally pulling away, Layla places a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder and squeezes lightly, before turning on her heel and walking out the door, leaving the man to get dressed.

Stepping out of the room, she is met with serious faces and whispered discussions of the injured guitarist. Robert and Bonzo are against the far wall, chatting quietly, while Peter, further down the hall, is using the hospital phone, no doubt to see what can be done about the tour. Layla turns her head, and sees Jonesy, who looks up as she nears him.

“Hey, Layla. How are you holding up?”

“I’m not the one with a fractured finger.” Layla snaps, immediately regretting it. She opens her mouth to speak, but Jonesy beats her to it.

“No, you’re not,” The bassist puts a hand on her arm, smiling wryly. “But you care about him. Just because he’s hurting, doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to.”

“Jonesy, I…  I’m sorry for snapping at you, I’m just—”

“You’re concerned, and that’s okay. Don’t worry, I get it.”

“But I snapped at you, and you didn’t deserve it, in any way.”

“Layla,” Jonesy presses closer to her as he says this, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace. “I know you didn’t mean it. We’re okay.”

Layla looks up at the man, a hint of skepticism apparent on her face. Not believing that he forgave her so easily, so completely, she presses on further.

“Jonesy, how can you be fine with—”

“Look, Layla,” Jonesy chuckles, looking down at her fondly, much to her confusion. “We can talk about your guilt complex later if you need, but I think there’s someone you might want to see.”

“Guilt complex? I don’t—” 

Layla spins around as a soft click echoes off the walls, and spots Jimmy, who shyly closes the door to his room. Dressed in a pair of dark flared jeans and a crisp white button up, a black suede coat folded over his arm, he looks sheepish as he walks towards the group, shoulders almost up to his ears. Peter, noticing the entrance of his guitarist, hangs up the phone with a hasty goodbye, turning to face the band.

“Right. Now, we’ve got a lot to talk about,” Peter starts, biting back a sigh. “Let’s all ride back to Swan Song, and go over our options.”

After a short car ride devoid of any chatter, the group finally walk through the double doors of the building, faces drawn and severe. Evelyn, at her post by the front desk, notices the lack of chatter and giggles that usually fill the room whenever the band enters. Finding Layla’s eyes, she reads the worry and concern in them, and lets her smile fall, snuffing out the light that always seems to surround the receptionist. Evelyn walks up to the young woman, placing a hand on Layla’s arm as she turns around to face the receptionist.

“Is everything okay, darling?” Evelyn asks, confusion in her hazel eyes as she stares at the retreating backs of Peter and the boys.

“I hope so,” Layla replies, bringing a hand up to rub at the back of her neck. “There was… an accident, and everything's a little up in the air. I’m sorry, Evelyn, I wish I could stay and chat, but—”

“Oh no, go ahead, darling. Go figure things out.”

With a grateful smile and a nod, Layla rushes to catch up with the group, slipping into the room behind Robert, the mahogany door shutting behind them to prevent prying eyes.

----------

Standing stock-still in Peter’s office, Layla glances around the luxurious office, taking in the grim faces of her companions. A soft cough echoes off the walls, courtesy of Robert, Layla guesses, if his guilty expression and the hand pressed to his mouth are anything to go by. All eyes are downcast, as hands fold over each other to distract from the silence pressing down on them. It feels like the walls are closing in on them ever-so-slowly, set to suffocate them, until Peter, sitting at the large wooden desk, clears his throat, clapping his hands together. Attention firmly on him, Peter begins to speak, his often kind voice determined.

“I’ve been calling around, and it seems as though we have two options: we postpone the tour for a later date, so Jimmy can heal… Or we continue with the tour as planned,” Peter explains, shifting his gaze to Jimmy now. “Jimmy, how is the finger feeling?”

“It’s good, I took some pain meds earlier. I can tour still.”

“Jim, you haven’t played on it yet.”

“It’ll hold up. I’m fine.”

There’s movement in the corner, as Bonzo crosses his arms over his chest, green eyes soft as he glances at Jimmy.

“Jimmy, I really don’t know if this is the best idea.” This is met by a look of betrayal, Jimmy turning around in his seat to face the drummer.

“Bonzo, I really am fine.”

“Look,” Bonzo presses on, meeting the guitarist’s eyes. “I know you don’t want to let anyone down. The thing is, you wouldn't be in the first place, Pagey. If this injury gets worse, because you played when you shouldn't have…” Bonzo trails off, averting his gaze now, Jimmy’s eyes on him too much to bear.

“Bonzo’s right, Jim,” comes from beside Layla, as Jonesy pushes off the wall to make his point. “Taking some time off would be good, we don’t want to make anything worse.”

“Nearly 18 months is enough time off, Jonesy. Any longer and the fans won’t even remember who Led Zeppelin is. I’m ready.”

“Jimmy, really—” Robert’s reply is cut off by the guitarist’s normally soft voice, hardened with frustration.

“Shows have already been sold out. All the arrangements have been made. Peter, call them back. We’re doing this tour.”

“Pagey… Alright. I’ll call them back, if you’re sure.”

“I am.” This is followed by the scrape of the chair he had pulled up to the desk against the floor, as he stands, and storms out. The remaining occupants of the room lock eyes, panic apparent.

“I’ll go after him.” Layla murmurs, starting towards the door. She knew exactly where she would find him, after all. Easily finding her way through the hallways of the massive building, she opens the door to the studio, spotting him slumped on the drum riser. Guitar in hand, he raises the bruised finger in the air, grip on the fretboard bordering on awkward. Jimmy strums, letting out a wince as the pain rears once again. A grunt full of frustration grinds out past his lips, and he tries again.

“Are you supposed to be doing that? Doctor’s orders, and all.”

Jimmy lifts his head to glance at her, and, with the hint of a sneer at the sarcastic comment, he resumes his playing. Layla huffs, and moves closer, taking in the man before her. His dark hair is falling into his face, casting shadows upon it, and his jaw is clenched, ready to snap as he misses yet another note. Jimmy lets out another frustrated sound, and swipes the hair out of his eyes, as if that was exactly what was messing him up.

Layla takes a seat on the drum riser next to him, and watches, as he fumbles a note she’s seen him perfect many times. Before he can adjust his grip on the fretboard to try again, Layla places a hand on the man’s strumming hand, and keeps it there. Jimmy looks up at her, a glint of determination in his mossy green eyes, brown in the lighting of the studio. His hair shines, jet black curls messy, as though he’s been running his hands through it more often than not. Eyes dropping to his guitar in embarrassment, he opens his mouth to speak, Layla beating him to it in the end.

“Jim, it won’t get better if you keep straining it like this. You know that.”

“Are you here to tell me to give it a rest too? Cause if you are, you might as well just—”

“I’m here,” Layla starts, shaking her head at the stubborn nature of the guitarist. “Because I trust you. You’re the only one that knows how you feel, and I trust you.”

“You do?” Jimmy says, looking up in confusion.

“I do, angel. If you think you’re ready, then I’ll trust that,” Jimmy takes his good hand off the guitar and threads it through hers, caressing the back of it with his thumb in thanks. Layla looks down at their joined hands, and continues. “If you’re rushing this for the fans, though, or because of whatever crazy scenario you’ve thought up in that brain of yours, I think I’m allowed to say I told you so.” The couple smirk at each other, as Jimmy gives the hand in his a warning squeeze.

“Okay, mum.”

Layla unlinks their hands to give him a soft shove to the side, the beginnings of a smile tilting her lips upward. Gripping his arm, she hoists him up to a standing position, and he goes willingly. Jimmy places his guitar carefully back in its rightful place, and stretches out a hand for Layla to take. Walking out of the studio together, hope settles over them like a well-worn blanket.

Hope that everything will be okay.

----------

“Please, just don’t push too hard. You’ve got this, angel.”

After dedicating just under a week to perfecting a new guitar technique, and making adjustments to the original setlist, the band waits in the dressing room of the Metropolitan  Sports Center, native to Bloomington Minnesota. Layla’s palm raises, stopping to rest on Jimmy’s shoulder, as he looks down at her, his furrowed eyebrows betraying the picture of calm he was trying to emulate. He leans down and presses a soft kiss to her forehead, and pulls her to his chest, arms wrapping themselves around her back.

“You can do this. Just remember that, okay?” This is followed by a nod from the dark-haired guitarist, as he smiles gratefully at Layla. A chorus of groans sound from behind them, and, turning around, they are met by the exasperated faces of the others. Already dressed in their stage clothes, they look ready to perform.

“Are you lovebirds done? Bloody saps,” Robert grumbles, the corner of his lip raising in a smirk, the playfulness in his tone obvious. “We’ve got a show to play.”  

Following the boys backstage, Layla watches as they slip past the velvet curtain and onto the stage, ecstatic and powerful under the bright lights around them. They pick up their instruments, and with a collective breath and a look shared between them, the band does what they do best: play. The boys launch in, and Layla can’t help but be brought back to the last concert she witnessed. The atmosphere and the enthusiasm amongst the crowd was infectious, and Layla smiles as she looks out from the wings. Robert commands the stage, as usual, while Bonzo and Jonesy link up almost telepathically, creating a beat almost heaven-sent. Jimmy, for as awkward as it looks, three usable fingers grappling with the fretboard, makes the guitar scream and cry and sing. The winces of pain that she can see from her spot are worrying, though. To an outsider, it would seem as though he was simply somewhere else, the guitar becoming one with its handler.

But Layla knows better. She can see the exhaustion in his face, from hours spent bent over his guitar, adjusting the way he’s played for most of his life. She can see the lines of discomfort around his mouth, his lips bitten red out of concentration, from trying his absolute best to put on a good show. As she leaves her post near the stage to tune up Jimmy’s guitars for the next numbers, just as Peter had asked her to, she can’t help but let out a nervous sigh. Layla has seen how just stubborn the man is, how much he wants to succeed, and please the audience. She knows he’ll leave everything out there on stage. She just wonders how much of him there will be left over, in the end.

Completing the rest of the menial backstage tasks, the brunette walks back to the mouth of the backstage area, intercepting the boys as they come off after a thrilling encore, the deafening cheers of the crowd following them as they exit.

“If you keep this up, you’ll really get popular! I’m just kidding, but really, guys, that was incredible,” Layla raves, accompanying them to the dressing room. Bonzo sidles up next to her, wrapping an amicable arm around her as they walk, basking in the glow of her kind words. “All of you did such an amazing job!”

“Do we get a kiss now? Last time you saw us perform, Jimmy got one…” Robert asks, flipping his hair, damp and dark with sweat, off his shoulder.

“You’d like that, wouldn't you, Robert?” Layla chuckles, throwing a smile at him over her shoulder.

“Hey, it’s only fair!”

“In what way is that fair?”

The group finally reach the dressing room, lounging on the comfortable chairs strewn across the room. The boys take turns changing out of their stage clothes, and greet the guests in the room, shaking hand after hand. Soft laughter trickles like a steady stream in the background as Layla, sitting on a loveseat with Jimmy, places a hand on his thigh, prompting his eyes to meet hers.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay, petal.” Jimmy’s voice is soft, faraway as his hand meets hers on his lap. The guitarist lets out a sigh, staring at the wall, expression neutral.

“That was a great performance, Jim. I hope you know that.”

“It was… good. It could've been better.”

“You know, I really am so proud of you,” Layla says, turning his head to face her, her fingers at his jaw. She looks deep into his eyes, and he stares back, an unreadable expression on his face. She’s always been able to read him, since the day she met him. Layla feels a pang in her heart, and continues. “It was great, and you made a lot of people happy… even if you’re not 100% yet.”

This is met with silence, as Jimmy lowers his head, hair falling into his eyes. He’s developed a habit of this now, and Layla resolves to break him out of that. His beautiful eyes make her day, after all. Reminders of their stay at the hospital flash through Layla’s mind, and she moves the hand that rested softly on his cheek to the small of his back, rubbing soft circles into the fabric of his stage clothes. He hasn't changed out of them yet, or done much of anything, in fact, trapped in the prison of his self-deprecating thoughts. His gaze lifts from his shoes at the contact, which Layla takes as a good sign.

“Now,” Layla clears her throat, pulling him up from the couch with a small hand at his arm. “Go get changed. You’re all sweaty, it’s a wonder you didn’t get heat stroke.”

“It’s a good thing I have you to take care of me,” Jimmy mutters playfully, a shadow of his usual smile creasing his delicate features. “Seriously, Layla, you could give Jonesy a run for his money.”

“Isn’t it just terrible of me to want to make sure you’re alright?” Layla grumbles, the smirk playing on her lips betraying the annoyed expression she sends Jimmy’s way.

Jimmy chuckles, pressing his lips to the side of her head.

“I appreciate it, petal.”

Walking to the changing room, slipping out of the grasp Layla had on his arm, he sends her a grateful smile over his shoulder. Layla watches him, appreciating the view as he walks away.

--------

taglist: @jimmys-zeppelin @salixfragilis @timetraveller4 @earthfire-75 (let me know if you want to be added!)

[rewrite-this-story]

Ok, so I'm going to just share this long post/ rant comparing two fictional characters with abusive tendencies. They are from two very difference, completely unrelated (except for the fact that Leslie Odom Jr. appears in both) shows. I like one and tend to dislike the other and I want to share why I think this is. The two character I'm going to discuss are Jimmy Collins from Smash (played by Jeremy Jordan) and Dean Winchester from Supernatural (played by Jensen Ackles). Before anyone says anything, no, I don’t like Jimmy Collins more than Dean Winchester because one of my favorite Broadway actors plays him.

Warning: there are a few spoilers ahead.

Just for reference, this is Dean Winchester:

And this is Jimmy Collins:

I'm assuming most people have some idea what Supernatural is about and who Dean is, but Smash is not nearly as well known, so I'm going to try to quickly summarize everything you need to know. Smash is a musical TV show that ran for two seasons. It's not super well known, but it was good. The music mostly consists of original songs written by Broadway composers and writers and most of the actors are fairly successful on Broadway. Some of them weren't at the time, but are now. The first season of the show focuses on a few characters as they try to get a musical about Marilyn Monroe titled Bombshell produced on Broadway while struggling with issues in their personal lives. In season 2, they are still trying to get Bombshell onto Broadway, but the group splits up and some of them move on to working on a new musical written by Jimmy Collins and Kyle Bishop titled Hit List. Fantastic show, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Now, let's move on to talking about Dean Winchester and Jimmy Collins and their childhoods.

Dean Winchester grew up in a very unhealthy household and was trained to fight monsters and look after his brother since his mother died when he was four. His brother, Sam, was a baby at the time and didn't feel the same conviction to avenge his mother's death as his father and brother. It doesn't help that he really wasn't told anything about her and would get in trouble for even mentioning her. Different people have different opinions about their father, but I won't talk too much about him in this post. However, I will say that he was probably not the position to raise his children well. I don't care if he was grieving or trying his best, it was not healthy for Sam and Dean to be raised the way they were. Since young, they were both trained in hand to hand combat and the use of numerous weapons. By the time they were teenagers, they were helping their father fight monsters and knew how to treat most injuries. Dean was often pressured to take care of Sam. He also often found himself in the middle of arguments between Sam and their father. Many people theorize or argue that their father was both emotional and physically abusive and that he was an alcoholic.

We never meet Jimmy's parents, but we know that his father was physically abusive and an alcoholic from Jimmy's discussions with Karen and Kyle. It's reasonable to assume that he was also emotionally abusive. I don't remember what happened to his mother, but after getting away from their father, Jimmy and his brother, Adam, have no relationship with her. We also don't know much about his relationship with Adam growing up, but after they leave, Adam gets Jimmy addicted to drugs and convinces him to deal drugs for him. Eventually, Jimmy meets Kyle. Kyle helps him see the error in his ways and he starts battling his addiction and stops selling drugs. Well, it's partly Kyle's influence, partly his own conscience, and partly the shock of watching a girl he liked overdose on drugs he gave her that gets him to try to change. At some point after this, Jimmy steals money from his brother, changes his name to Jimmy Collins, and moves in with Kyle. Throughout the show, he repeatedly refers to Kyle as his brother.

Throughout each show, both Dean and Jimmy are shown to get very angry very easily and often hurt the people who care most about them. They try to use their past to excuse their behavior and they emotionally manipulate those closest to them and make them feel guilty for things that they shouldn't feel guilty for.

The major differences I noticed between the characters was their development throughout the show and how the show dealt with their behavior.

Supernatural and many fans constantly excuse Dean's behavior because he had a hard childhood. I have heard fans say that his misogynistic attitude throughout the show is ok because he has "mommy issues". His reactions are justified for various reasons and in the end, he's treated like a hero. His hypocrisy is ok because he knows best. His constant abuse towards both Sam and Castiel is ok because they somehow deserved it. I can't remember what people said to justify how he treated Jack. At one point in the show he says that he's poison. The show never addresses the fact that people around him don't get hurt just because he has bad luck. They get hurt because he hurts them or drives them to put themselves in danger. Dean never changes or improves. Even when a character tells him that he needs to change, he ignores them. He somehow hates himself whole being blind to his own flaws.

Jimmy, on the other hand, knows he needs to change and improve. When we first meet him, he wants nothing to do with anyone other than Kyle. This is probably partly because he doesn't trust them and partly because he doesn't trust himself. Kyle often puts up with Jimmy's behavior, but when he does push back, Jimmy listens. The show doesn't ignore Jimmy's issues. His backstory doesn't exist to justify his flaws, but to explain them. He works to improve for himself and the people who care about him. And he does learn and improve. He learns to trust people and do nice things just because. He does slip up occasionally, but he tries to make things right and apologize. In the end, he even manages to face his past and turns himself in for the crimes he committed to try to make things right. I'm guessing he also starting seeing a therapist while in jail, but we don't really know.

Basically, abusive characters can still be likable if their abusive behavior is addressed and they get character development.

[turning-dreams-into-chaos]

The Jimmy Jab Games

Chapter 1: The Eating Challenge

~The Jimmy Jab Games Master~

Paring: Sirius Black x Reader

Word Count: 3.3K

~Master~

There was a skip in your step as you hopped down the stairs to the common room to see your friends sat around the couch and chairs. “Okay boys. Raise of hands. Who’s bored?” Sirius quirked his brow as you plopped on the couch next to him, looking between him, Remus, Peter, and James.

“It’s past curfew.” James pointed out, sighing into his seat before furrowing his brows. “Wait. Why do you ask?” James knew by the look on your face that you had something planned whether the boys were bored or not. Not that they minded really, anything you had planned was automatically fun.

You let a smile cross your face, making you look more conniving than you’d want. “The Jimmy Jab Games.”

Everyone looked at you waiting for some sort of elaboration on your idea. Sirius sighed and shook his head with a fond smile. “Alright, I’ll bite. What’s this... Jibby Jams... Ja-Jabs?” He muttered while his brows furrowing on his confusion.

You nudged his shoulder, chuckling under your breath. “Jimmy Jab.” You corrected him.

“That didn’t clear anything up, Y/N.”

“Shush, Siri. I’m getting there.” He rolled just eyes, throwing his arm on the couch behind you. “The Jimmy Jab Games are basically a collection of challenges we play and compete to win. In the end there’s one person left who’s crowned the winner.” The boys seem sort of interested in the idea, the four of them eyeing each other as if they were trying to come to an agreement. You raised a brow, looking between James, Peter, and Remus but unable to grasp what they were saying. You groaned, turning in your seat to look at Sirius. “Pads, please! It’ll be fun, just trust me! Please?!”

“Alright! Alright!” he yelled over you, getting you to squeal in delight.

“What is happening here?” Lily laughed as she and Marlene joined the group. Marlene sat down next to you, offering smiles to everyone as Lily fell into her boyfriend’s lap.

“It’s on.” You told her as she straightened in her seat, looking directly at you.

“It’s on?” You nodded and both girls became excited. James questioned their actions, unknown to the fact that you had already filled the girls in earlier.

“They’re playing, too. Well, Lily’s playing, Marls offered to be the referee to keep the number even.” Marlene nodded, excited for the event. “Ok. Since we’re all playing-“ James put a finger up, about to object to agreeing to play before you shot him a look and Lily smacked his arm. “We’re all playing,” you repeated, and James relented, wrapping his arms around Lily’s waist. “Marlene did us the honors of coming up with the challenges.” You turned to Sirius seeing him smirk at you. “I knew you’d say yes, Siri. Anyways, like I said, at the end of each challenge someone is eliminated until there’s one person left.”

“What do you get if you win a challenge?” Remus butted in.

You paused, clicking your tongue. “Bragging rights?” You asked as a few grunts of displeasure made their way around the group. You waved your hands in the air. “That’s not the point. The point is at the end there’s one winner!”

“And what do they get if they win?” Sirius grinned at you, leaning forward onto his knees to look at you. You cocked your head, looking towards Lily and Marlene for help. They furrowed their brows, realizing none of you discussed a prize for winning. “You didn’t come up with a reward?”

“Don’t give me that tone.” You told Sirius, a smirk playing on your lips as Sirius surrendered with a chuckle. “Fine. Um… winner… gets pampered for a week by the losers?” You offered. Every took a minute to considered the pros and cons in their heads, ultimately nodding in agreement. You clapped your hands. “Great! That settles it! Marlene, the first challenge?”

Marlene cleared her throat, making a huge debacle as she moved to stand in front of everyone. You leaned back on the couch, Sirius leaning back as well and throwing an arm over your shoulder. You snickered, but didn’t make him move it, giving Marlene your attention. Sirius couldn’t help but smile as you very gently molded into his side.

“Alright! After great thinking and listening to Y/N give idea after idea when this was supposed to a secret to her as well,” She sent you a playful grin as you shrunk in on yourself, feeling Sirius squeeze your shoulder. “I’ve decided the first challenge be an Eating Challenge!” Your friends and you cheered, excited for the start of the Jimmy Jab Games. “First thing’s first!” Marlene calmed you all down as the very few students around the room rolled their eyes at your friends and your typical giddiness. “We need to get food from the kitchens.”

“Ah. Perhaps that’s where I come in?” James spoke up. Your eyes widened in realization when you realized James’ Invisibility cloak could be used to get food from the kitchen without getting caught.

“Perfect! Prongs, can you and Pads go get the food we nee-“

“Why don’t you go, Y/N.” Lily interrupted you, momentarily confusing you. She beamed at you, grabbing a hold of James’ hand. “I just had something to talk to James about and I didn’t want to put a damper on the challenge. So why don’t you go with Sirius?”

You turned to Sirius and both of you shrugged, seeing nothing wrong with the two of you getting the food. While James went upstairs to grab the cloak, Marlene told you to grab as much disgusting foods as you could find. She patted your shoulder as James returned and gave you a small push towards Sirius. You stuck your tongue out at her before your friends hid you and Sirius from the rest of the common room and let you duck under the cloak. Your back pressed up against Sirius’ when you straightened yourself out, his hand coming around your waist much like it had the many other times you’d borrowed the cloak. You stayed quiet as you left the thinning common room, walking down the stark halls of Hogwarts.

Sirius’ eyes moved off the path in front of him onto you as he exhaled humorously. “Ready to pamper me for a week, Y/L/N?” he mumbled into your ear, earning a gasp of surprise from what you thought was just the fright of being caught off guard. You peaked over your shoulder, feeling his grip adjust around you as you caught sight of his smug face.

“Are you mad? If anything, you’ll be treating me like a queen when this is all over.”

“And how is that different than how you act now?” He cocked, hearing you jokingly scoff.

“Well, when I win you can’t complain about it.” You told him, seeing his face falter slightly before the Sirius you knew was back.

“Care to wager then?” He asked. You raised a brow, interested in his suggestion as you beckoned for him to continue. “If you win, I won’t complain about doing things for you for a month.”

Your jaw dropped open. “But Siri, that’s half your personality! Who will you be if not against serving me whenever I call?” He snickered under his breath, knowing you were teasing him as you bit your lip. “And what will you get if you win?”

“When I win-“

“If.”

“When I win, you have to buy Butterbeers for me for the next month.” You took a minute to think over the bet. There was no real downside to losing, sure you’d have to buy Sirius his drinks for the next months, but that was only if you lost. All you’d have to do is not lose.

“Deal.” You whispered, sticking your hand behind you for Sirius to shake. He took it happily, shaking your hand before the sound of Filch coming around the corner caused you both to freeze. You knew you were invisible, but you didn’t want to make a noise just in case. Sirius pulled you closer to him, both of you pressing yourselves against the walls for the man to walked down the corridor without risk of running into you. You held your breath as he got closure, feeling Sirius hide in small laugh in your hair as you grabbed onto his hand.

No matter how many times you snuck out with your boys, you were always petrified when Filch showed up.

You waited a couple minutes after Filch was gone before you pulled away from Sirius, his hand releasing yours as your cheeks heated up. “Come on. The others are probably waiting.” You whispered, turning to look at Sirius.

“Good idea, love.” Despite being covered with the cloak, the moonlight streaming in through the window fell on his face, only calling attention to the happy, almost embarrassed look on his face as he nodded, letting you lead the way to the kitchen and back with Sirius’ arm wrapped around your waist again.

You threw the cape off the moment you entered the common room and saw it was just your friends, pulling Sirius to sit on the couch with you as you uncovered the food. You tossed an apologetic smile towards Marlene as 7 mini tarts you and Sirius managed to sneak sat on the tray.

“They didn’t really have any disgusting foods, mostly just leftovers from dessert.” She shrugged, picking up a treacle tart. She bit into it and everyone started to grab for the tarts and you were about to as well before Sirius grabbed one for you, a custard tart rather than a treacle tart because he knew you loved them more.

He sent you a wink before you all settled into your places on the floor around the small table in front of you with Marlene off to the side. “So, whoever eats theirs first wins? Doesn’t seem much like a challenge.” Peter asked as you all looked over to him. He was right, eating just one singular tart was nothing. You pulled out your wand, flicking it at the tart as you concentrated.

“Geminio!” You shouted as the mini tart in front of you doubled. You bit your lip as Sirius took his wand out and copied you, your friends following right along until you each had 30 tarts.

Marlene shook her head at you all. “Oh alright. Whoever eats all their tarts first wins. Ready?” She asked and everyone nodded. Sirius shot you a cheesy grin as you rolled your eyes, shooting one back. “Go!” Everyone picked up their first tart and bit into it. Almost as fast as you all started eating you stopped.

“What the hell?” You mumbled, spitting out the now bitten into Tart. Sirius, Lily, James, and Remus had reacted much like you and discarded tarts were tossed back onto the table. “Marlene! I thought you liked yours!”

It was only then did you realize the treacle tart Marlene had eaten was still in her hand, a small bite taken out of it. “I did! When I first bit into it… but after that, it started tasting a little… off. At least now my plan of disgusting foods still works.” You just stared at her, betrayed but also wanting to laugh at the situation before Sirius tugged on your arm.

“Uh, Y/N?” He whispered, pointing towards Peter. You turned to look, seeing Peter having already downed 3 tarts as your mouth fell open. “Wormtail, mate what are you doing? The tarts are bad.”

“Can’t talk…” he spoke between bites, shoveling another treacle tart into his mouth.  “Busy winning.” A quiet look at your friends sent you all scrambling to catch up, groans and gags coming from all of you as you ate the horrid food.

“Better catch up Y/N.” Sirius said as he picked up two tarts, taking bites out of both of them. He grimaced at the taste before swallowing, a second bite taken not long after. “I’m feeling extra parched lately, wouldn’t mind a butterbeer or five.” He smirked and you cackled, increasing your speed just slightly.

“You know Sirius, if you ate rather than run your mouth then perhaps, you’d have a chance at winning.” You told him, not giving much thought into your argument as you took lead over him by one whole tart. Sirius chuckled as you both continued eating, the occasional sound of laughter coming from you both when Sirius choked on a tart or you would gag, making the other think winning a possibility.

Sirius finished off the last bite of the treat he was working on and looked to you, seeing you slowing down and making a weird face. Almost like you were about to throw up as he furrowed his brows. He put a hand on your back, leaning over to talk to you before Peter’s voice interrupted him.

“Done!” The boy shouted as you all looked at his plate. True to his word, the plate was clear.

“Oh, thank god.” You moaned and tossed the half-eaten tart onto the table. You let yourself relax in your seat and your head fall into Sirius’ shoulder.

“Glad to see you’re feeling better.” He shook his head in disbelief at you, mentally thanking the fact that the challenge was over. Those tarts were disgusting. “I don’t think I’ll be able to eat another mini tart again.” Sirius grumbled and made you snort.

You nodded at him, feeling him move underneath you to stand up along with your friends. You sighed as you leaned back against the couch with an arm wrapped around your stomach. Sirius looked down at you, stretching his hand out to help you up. “I’m good thanks.” You grinned up at him, flashing your teeth comically as Sirius grabbed your hand and pulled you to your feet. “Nooo!” you groaned out and leaned onto Sirius. Lily giggled behind you as you glanced over Sirius and your shoulders, sticking your tongue out. Damn your other friends who hadn’t gone as hard as you and Sirius did.

“And the winner of the first challenge in the Jimmy Jab Games is-“ Marlene’s speech was cut off as Peter, who had rightfully won the challenge, covered his mouth when a loud grumble erupted in his stomach, alerting you all. “Uh, Peter?”

“I don’t feel so good.” He mumbled, running out of the room towards the bathroom. You all watched him leave, suddenly quite worried. Remus followed him out, being the one to check on him as you all tried to figure out what to do.

“Ok.” Marlene spoke slowly. “I guess that means Peter’s eliminated?” She asked you. You hesitated before nodding.

“I think that’d be best.”

“Alright then, the winner of the first challenge of the Jimmy Jab Games is…” Marlene stopped herself, quickly counting the small piles of tarts left over on the table. You chewed on your lip, seeing Sirius just as nervous as you as Marlene finished counting. She took her time to tell you the results, ending in all you yelling at her until Marlene stopped teasing. “Okay! The winner of round one is Sirius!”

“Yes!” Sirius shouted the same time you cried out no. He pumped his fist in the air, turning to you with a cocky smile as you crossed your arms in front of you, trying not to laugh at Sirius’ happy dance.

“How many did he eat?” James asked, falling into the couch and pulling Lily down with him.

“Uh, 24? I think.” Marlene said as she pushed around the last six tarts on Sirius’ plate.

“And how many did Y/N eat?” Sirius questions, running a hand over his mouth and pulling you into his side. Marlene looked down at your plate and held up your half-eaten tart.

“23 and a half.” She gave you a sad smile as your mouth fell open.

“What!” You growled, hearing Sirius cackle as he clung onto you, wrapping his arms around both your shoulders and pulling you into a hug. You stayed completely still, trying to keep an angry face on yourself but finding it way too hard not to laugh with your best friend hanging onto like this.

Sirius wasn’t even trying to hide his reaction. He used you for support, burying his head on your shoulder as he celebrated. “Don’t get too excited Siri. Just because you won one challenge, doesn’t mean you’ll win the game.” You told him, patting his back and letting your lips turn up slightly. You couldn’t help it! It was always so amusing seeing Sirius act like this.

He let his laughs die out slowly, pulling away to see your defeated yet happy face, completely unaware of the smug exchanges of his friends. “Aw, someone’s upset.” He faked pouted, bopping your nose with his finger as you shook your head, sticking your tongue out at him.

“I’m not upset.” You pretended to pout as well, making Sirius’ smile turn soft before he fell onto the couch, pulling you down next to him. Your friends took their seats too, no one saying a word as you leaned onto Sirius. “Round 2 tomorrow?” you asked them, specifically looking towards your lovely host who nodded her head. “Alright then, probably should get some rest if I’m planning on beating this git.” You patted Sirius’ knee as you pushed yourself up.

“Oh, in your dreams, Y/N.” You threw your head back and guffawed, sending Sirius a wink as you linked arms with Marlene to head upstairs.

“Lily? You coming?” You asked seeing the girl stay in her place despite James kissing her and leaving himself.

“No, you go ahead. I’ll be up soon.” She shooed you as you furrowed your brows, but left the room. Sirius found himself watching you leave, gnawing on the inside of his cheek before facing front. His eyes locked with Lily’s who was staring him down, a smirk on her lips that caused his stomach to drop.

“What?” He questioned her and shifted uncomfortably.

“Oh nothing.” She said and leaned back in her seat, waving her hand in the air to dismiss the question. “I was just watching you be in love with Y/N.”

Sirius froze, actually freezing in his seat as Lily held back a laugh. He finally came to his senses, clearing his throat much harsher than he meant to. “What uh, I mean, what are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on, Sirius. You know what I’m talking about. The playful bickering, wanting to make sure she was alright during the challenge, the clinging onto each other, the everyday flirting-“

“Flirting?! Y/N and I don’t flirt with other!” He objected, trying to find a flaw in Lily’s thinking. The red head just rolled her eyes.

“Fine. Take it as you want, but I know a thing or two about dancing around feelings. Trust me, Y/N’s in the same place.” She stood up, fixing her shirt before shrugging. “But if you don’t feel that way for her, forget I said anything.”

Sirius didn’t say anything as Lily left him. He’d never thought the way he acted around you meant he was in love with you. Sure, he was always more comfortable when you were around and you and him always tended to be touchier and more personal towards each other than the rest of the group or the way he could tell you anything and you’d never judge him, in fact sometimes you knew him better than he knew himself.

But that didn’t mean he was in love with you.

Did it?

A/N: Alright! You all waited long enough for me to get my shit together so here it is! The first part of the Jimmy Jab Games! Part 2 will be up tomorrow (May 29) at some point during the day, so you want to be tagged let me know. 

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[arcticdementor]

[This is the fourteenth of many finalists in the book review contest. It’s not by me - it’s by an ACX reader who will remain anonymous until after voting is done, to prevent their identity from influencing your decisions. I’ll be posting about two of these a week for several months. When you’ve read all of them, I’ll ask you to vote for your favorite, so remember which ones you liked. If you like reading these reviews, check out point 3 here for a way you can help move the contest forward by reading lots more of them - SA]

What went wrong in the 1970s? Since then, growth and productivity have slowed, average wages are stagnant, visible progress in the world of "atoms" has practically stopped - the Great Stagnation. About the only thing that has gone well are computers. How is it that we went from the typewriter to the smartphone, but we're still using practically the same cars and airplanes?

"Where is my Flying Car?", by J. Storrs Hall, is an attempt to answer that question. His answer is: the Great Stagnation was caused by energy usage flatlining, which was caused by our failure to switch to nuclear energy, which was caused by excessive regulation, which was caused by "green fundamentalism".

…

Before reading this book, I thought flying cars were just technologically infeasible, because flying takes too much energy. But Hall says we can and have built them ever since the 1930s. They got interrupted by the Great Depression (people were too poor to buy private airplanes), then WWII (airplanes were directed towards the war effort, not the market), then regulation mostly killed the private aviation industry. But technical feasibility was never the problem.

Hall spends a huge fraction of the book on pretty detailed technical discussion of flying cars. For example: the key technical issue is takeoff and landing, and there is a tough tradeoff between convenient takeoff/landing and airspeed (and cost, and ease of operation). It’s interesting reading. But let’s return to the larger issue of nuclear power.

Nuclear power started off well; “the cost of nuclear plants was decreasing by about 25% for each doubling of capacity in the 50s and 60s”. Then, in 1977, Jimmy Carter established the Department of Energy. Costs immediately skyrocketed, and never came back down. It’s hard to briefly convey the regulatory issues because it’s death by a thousand cuts.

…

Why is regulation so crippling? The public is wrongly terrified of nuclear energy, but they shouldn’t be. Radiation killed 0 people at Fukishima; the radiophobic evacuation killed >1000 (“Some 1600 of the evacuees died from causes ranging from privation in refugee camps (notably loss of access to health care) to suicide”), and the tsunami/earthquake killed >10000. Hall quotes an estimate from the Guardian that Chernobyl - by far the most serious nuclear disaster - killed “approximately” 43 people.

Why are people so terrified? Hall says we were a victim of our own success from World War II. Before the War, America was an individualistic nation. Then  came the Depression, the New Deal, and most of all the War. America won the war with a “completely centralized bureaucratic government structure” - and it was a huge success. And for a while, that worked: the generation forged in the war had a “cooperative “same boat” spirit” that “[made] the centralized corporate structures work.” But then it didn’t. Hall blames the hippies:

“The Baby Boomers—my generation—split into two cultures which, as far as I can see, not only didn’t agree on values but which fundamentally couldn’t even understand each other. Ask any Boomer what was the greatest, most pivotal event of 1969. Half of us will say the Apollo 11 moon landing. The other half will say Woodstock. Both sets, hearing the other’s opinion, will emit an honestly uncomprehending “Huh!?!?” From the Fifties to the Seventies, the average American followed the lifecycle of Sinclair Lewis’ Babbitt from conformity and cooperation to non-conformist rebellion in a search for personal meaning. The corporate state worked with the cooperating, self-sacrificing Greatest Generation. It didn’t work so well with Aquarians.”

His theory, basically, is that the next generation - the Baby Boomers - got spoiled. Automation had come into its own, and people didn’t need to struggle for survival anymore. America was on top of the world, and there weren’t enough real challenges to work on. But people need challenges. So they made some up.

Hall says the most damaging strain, still common today, is “green fundamentalism”, the idea that human agency over nature is fundamentally bad. An early example is Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, which got DDT banned on the grounds that it was causing cancer; in reality the cancer increase was from smoking, and from technology improving living conditions (the healthier you are, the more likely you’ll survive long enough to get killed by cancer). “The Green religion has essentially superceded Christianity as the default religion of western civilization, especially in academic circles”. Hall is dismissive of climate change, citing an estimate that it will cost only a few percentage of GDP by 2100 even in the worst case. (This is something that always confused me; there’s such a big gap between quantitative economic estimates of climate change and qualitative ones. My impression is the quantitative ones are way too optimistic. Hall does not agree with me). Anyway, he says, climate change is all the more reason to embrace clean nuclear power and flying cars (highways use a lot of land; if flying cars replaced highways, that land could be returned to nature).

The upshot is there is strong intellectual skepticism about increasing energy usage. As government has taken much more centralized power, “we have let complacent nay-sayers metamorphose from pundits uttering ‘It can’t be done’ predictions a century ago, into bureaucrats uttering ‘It won’t be done’ prescriptions today.” As a result, “a lot of inventiveness and engineering resources got shifted from doing new things, and doing things better, to doing the same old things, usually not as well, but using less energy.” Our machines use less energy, but they don’t work any better. Is single-mindedly improving efficiency really the best use of our time? And anyway, the efficiency gains - while real - are basically on the same trendline as they were before all this regulation. The difference is that we used to have efficiency *and* more energy every year; now all we get is efficiency. The twin tragedies are that so many talented people went into activism instead of engineering, and that the activism was so often opposed to progress.

…

Hall blames public funding for science. Not just for nanotech, but for actually hurting progress in general. (I’ve never heard anyone before say government-funded science was bad for science!) “[The] great innovations that made the major quality-of-life improvements came largely before 1960: refrigerators, freezers, vacuum cleaners, gas and electric stoves, and washing machines; indoor plumbing, detergent, and deodorants; electric lights; cars, trucks, and buses; tractors and combines; fertilizer; air travel, containerized freight, the vacuum tube and the transistor; the telegraph, telephone, phonograph, movies, radio, and television—and they were all developed privately.” “A survey and analysis performed by the OECD in 2005 found, to their surprise, that while private R&D had a positive 0.26 correlation with economic growth, government funded R&D had a negative 0.37 correlation!” “Centralized funding of an intellectual elite makes it easier for cadres, cliques, and the politically skilled to gain control of a field, and they by their nature are resistant to new, outside, non-Ptolemaic ideas.” This is what happened to nanotech; there was a huge amount of buzz, culminating in $500 million dollars of funding under Clinton in 1990. This huge prize kicked off an academic civil war, and the fledgling field of nanotech lost hard to the more established field of material science. Material science rebranded as “nanotech”, trashed the reputation of actual nanotech (to make sure they won the competition for the grant money), and took all the funding for themselves. Nanotech never recovered.

Flying cars didn’t have the same issues; they were being developed privately. But regulation doomed them. Harold Pitcairn was almost successful in developing a flying car, but then in World War II the government nationalized his helicopter patents (they promised to give them back after the war, but reneged) and he spent the rest of his life in court. He won, 17 years after his death. Bruce Hallock had a promising design, but he sold a plane to a missionary group in Peru and was arrested as an “arms trafficker”. Robert Fulton had a successful prototype, “however, Fulton’s financial backers had become discouraged with the seemingly endless expense of meeting government production standards, and they withdrew their support.” Molt Taylor “was actually in serious negotiations with Ford as late as 1975 to have the Aerocar mass-produced. The monkeywrench was thrown into the negotiations by the FAA and the DOT. Taylor already had an airworthiness certificate for the Aerocar, granted by the CAA (predecessor of the FAA) after a delay of 7 years from its first flight. He claims that the agencies turned thumbs down on the Aerocar ‘because everybody would have one, and we couldn’t handle the [air] traffic.’ Airplane regulation has only gotten stricter: “The entire F.A.R. / A.I.M., which every airman is responsible for knowing, is 1085 pages long. At least it was in 2013; a new one comes out every year.” So in the end, we have none of these technologies. No flying cars, even though they were prototyped almost a hundred years ago. Some nuclear energy, but crippled, aged, feared, and hated. 3D printing, but no nanotech. No level 5. Because the state needs legibility, and progress is not legible. The bureaucratic incentives are to calcify. If no one does anything new, no one will do anything wrong.

…

The book is 550 pages long, so there’s a lot I didn’t cover. I thought the political/social analysis was its weakest aspect, basically a strongly worded but conventional version of the libertarian case against regulation, although I appreciated the detailed examples of how regulation harmed flying cars and nanotechnology (And I’ll admit I haven’t heard the libertarian case against funding science before!). I’m more convinced than ever that not embracing nuclear power was one of humanity’s worst mistakes (partially because I’m more afraid of climate change than Hall is). I found the book most valuable as a statement of “definite optimism” - a concrete vision of attainable yet extraordinary technological progress. I recommend it on that basis.

[ciriceart]

OC profiles: the Lawson family

From the now-defunct semi-interactive comic/creative writing projects, “Hunger, Nevada”, “Far From Any Road”, and “Saudade”.

The plot of these three stories cover topics and conflicts such as learning to relate to those around you, breaking toxic cycles, smalltown stagnation and the isolation of close-knit communities, and metaphorical (sometimes literal) body horror monsters that slowly poison towns and families. I wrote these stories from the ages of 14 to 21, and they're all very much a reflection of myself and my perspectives/outlook at those times. I still go back and revisit certain areas, but can't see myself rewriting them in full any time soon. I feel like that would be a disservice to my past self - I used these to sort out and explore my own feelings and hangups, and they served their purpose, but I still draw and talk about the boys more often than I expected I would when I drew my first doodle of Ellis and Lawrence in 8th grade detention. This post is just an infodump about the family of the main characters. I'm not getting into plot details just yet. Though it is worth noting, this was at the height of my Silent Hill hyperfixation, and Ellis and Lawrence began life as the protags of my imaginary Silent Hill fangame for which I made an entire gamefaqs walkthrough because I did not know how to write or draw too well. That doesn't really matter too much now, I just think it's fun.

The Lawson family consists of Francis (or Frank) and Amalia Lawson, and their two sons, Ellis and Lawrence.

Frank is a large man, about 6’3 with green eyes, short auburn hair,  and a beard. His skin is somewhat pale but has a minor farmer’s tan from working outdoors, and there’s a spatter of freckles across his entire face. He sometimes wears rectangular half-frame glasses and uses a walking stick.

Amalia is about 5’4 and stocky, with dark brown, almost black hair cut in the patented Mom Bob(tm) with bangs and dark eyes. Her face is somewhat oblong with round, soft features and her skin is a warm mid-to-light brown.

Ellis ranges in age from 17 to 26 across plots. His facial structure favors his father. He’s about 5’10,  has very light brown skin, freckles on his face, arms, chest and shoulders, dark eyes and auburn hair. As a teenager, his hair reaches to about his jaw with an off-center part, and he keeps it short and parted on the side as he gets older. He usually at least attempts to comb his hair back but half of it just falls back in front of his face anyway. Sometimes sports various non-serious injuries such as scratches and bruises. He’s rough-and-tumble.

As a teen, most of his outfits consist of torn up jeans, skater shoes, and a plethora of graphic or band tees. Sometimes an old flannel stolen from dad, or black canvas jacket. As an adult, he wears mostly intact but faded black work pants, black or brown work boots, a plain T-shirt and often an unbuttoned overshirt with either short sleeves or the sleeves rolled up.

Lawrence also ranges in age across stories, from 9 to 17. His facial structure favors his mother. He has pale skin, freckles across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, green eyes, and auburn hair in a short, choppy buzzcut that he later grows out to reach past his shoulders as he gets into his teens. As a child, he’s very short and scrappy, and then becomes gangly and awkward as a teenager.

As a child, his wardrobe is typically all childish graphic tees and cargo shorts or jeans, all picked out by his parents. As he gets older, he becomes introverted and shy, always covering himself up in an absurd number of layers – he's often seen wearing a short-sleeved shirt with long sleeves underneath, either a flannel or sweater, and a massively oversized forest green jacket with a red fleece collar. He usually sticks to plain, slightly baggy jeans and sneakers.

--

Frank and Amalia married in their mid to late 20’s and moved to Frank’s hometown of Ansley, [state redacted].

Frank works in a hardware store and as a repairman. Some years ago, Frank suffered a spinal injury, resulting in chronic pain and his use of a walking stick. He still works at the hardware store and takes repair jobs, though he’s unable to work as often or for as long as he used to.

Ellis drops out of high school in the second quarter of 11th grade to work full-time at the hardware store and begins picking up smaller repair jobs around town. Lawrence, being much younger, is not employed but occasionally does smaller tasks such as sweeping up or organizing shelves after closing hours, or tagging along with his brother or dad on repair jobs to help where he can.

Amalia works at a packing and shipping facility in the city. She works overnight, six days a week with Mondays off. She’s usually home about an hour before her sons have to get up for school. Amalia’s pack a day smoking habit and Frank’s temper are the subjects of most conflicts, but they never progress past passive aggressive remarks or heated discussions. The family occasionally relies on financial help from a man named Mike, whose family has been friends with Frank’s for several years, to make ends meet. He’s often the reason that their heat and water stay on.

The Lawsons are a practicing family of Amicists. They regularly attend service at The First Church of the Shoal United in the next town over. More on Amicism at a later date.

Ellis has a lot of pent up resentment toward authority figures and “grown-ups” in general, even into his own adulthood, due to Backstory Reasons I won’t get into here.

James, Marie, Robin, and Brian are Ellis’ friends from high school. They mostly sit around smoking pot and watching bad movies, sneak out to drink at the park after curfew, and attempt to skate in vacant parking lots.

James was held back in middle school and is one or two years older than the rest of the group. Most parents in town still call him Jimmy and think he’s a very nice boy. If asked to describe him, his long line of ex-girlfriends would say “he’s so nice, but GOD he’s so dumb.” Marie was closer to Robin and James than she was to Ellis, so they didn’t hang out outside of the group at all. She thought Ellis was kinda weird, but not a “bad weird” so she never mentioned it or complained. Robin is that sort of midwestern emo girl in everyone’s math class who’s an artist, but all she draws is semi realistic eyes with elaborate eyeliner in her English notes. She regularly gets into arguments with Ellis and James on what genre different bands count as. Brian is the obvious stoner friend who would be kinda chill to hang out with if he weren’t so loud and annoying about how his parents totally don’t even care and just like, totally let him do whatever he wants.

Dropping out of high school to work a fulltime job, having no interest in college, minimal relationship experience, and staying in such a small and rural town leads to Ellis becoming socially isolated and unable to fully relate with people his own age. He slowly falls out of touch with his friends and people he knew from school, preferring surface level interactions with older coworkers, relatives and friends of the family.

Lawrence, as a result of his older brother’s attempt at parenting while Frank and Amalia are working, learns to be untrusting and uncooperative as well. He picks up a smoking habit by age 14, often stealing them from Ellis or from their mom's purse when she’s home, and sneaks out of his and Ellis’ shared bedroom through the window at night.

Lawrence is a nice kid, but struggles to make friends. Throughout all of middle school and into high school, he only manages to befriend two others named Catherine and Donnie.

Donnie is Brian’s little brother. He and Lawrence aren’t actually friends, but they tend to tag along when Ellis and Brian hang out at each other’s houses. Catherine has known Lawrence since they were in third grade, but they never hung out until they got put in the same advanced math class in middle school.

As he gets older, Lawrence begins to neglect his few friendships and social life in favor of fiction; most notably stories and unfiction focusing on the occult and supernatural, as well as a video game series called Sprout Friends, a puzzle game involving farming and anthropomorphic fruits and vegetables. If he isn’t hiding out on the rooftop of the house at night, he’s locked in the bedroom playing one of multiple Sprout Friends titles, or hunting for strange occurrences around town during the night.

--

Fun fact: Ellis' middle name is Layne, and Lawrence's middle name is Elijah. I thought it would be cute if their middle names had the same first letters as each other's firsts.

[suitofvibraniumarmor]

Boston Boys [Part Nineteen]

Summary: Chris and Aurelie take a stand against Downey and Scarlett.  Pairing: Chris Evans x OFC, John Krasinski x OFC Word Count: 1692 Chapter Warnings: Angst, language, physical violence, discussion of criminal activity, pregnancy, gun violence.  A/N: This story contains a character who lost her hearing as she got older. I do work closely and regularly with the D/deaf community (I’m a sign language interpreter), but my own hearing problems do not involve significant hearing loss. It is not my intention to offend anyone, only to bring in a character with a quality I don’t see often in other fics. If you have questions about her, feel free to ask :)

The rest of this fic gets relatively heavy, my friends – this chapter and the two after it. I’m trying to warn as best I can without giving anything away. If you at any point find yourself uncomfortable finishing it, please just don’t finish it. I’m happy to give you the highlights if you want to DM me instead of reading any chapter!

Boston Boys Masterlist

She could hear voices, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying; her hearing aid had been taken and her processor knocked from her head. Her vision was blurred and her body hurt from head to toe. As she drifted in and out of consciousness, she tried to figure out a way out of this, but her jumbled mind couldn’t manage a coherent thought pattern.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when cool, thin fingers lifted her chin. A familiar face grinned down at her and held up a phone.

“Don’t worry,” the voice said, close enough to her right ear for her to understand the words, “your brother was already on his way here. I have no doubts that he’ll be anxious to save his precious sister. You know, sometimes I wonder if he isn’t in love with you himself.”

Aurelie coughed; she tasted blood. The fingers gripped her chin hard before shoving her face away. Darkness slipped in and out again and silence reigned.

Downey’s place was quiet and dark when Chris approached. Working his way in here wasn’t going to be nearly as easy as it had been to break into Scarlett’s place undetected. Ringing the doorbell was not an option.

Going around to the back of the sizeable house, Chris found a window that he could reach and remove the screen from easily. Using skills he had learned when he was very young, Chris jimmied the locked window open and crawled inside. He kept his footsteps soft and stayed alert -- his doubts were high that Scarlett had kept his visit to herself. Of course, he had planned it that way.

The house was mostly dark, but there was a light coming from under the basement door. The sounds of a baseball game floated up the staircase. With a deep breath and renewed determination to end the way things had been going, Chris slowly and silently opened the door and made his way down the steps.

The television was on, two beers were open on the table, but no one was in sight. Moans and groans from one of the rooms in the basement gave away his target’s location. Chris pulled his gun, clicked off the safety, and kept his weapon at the ready. Licking his lips, he pushed open the door to the room and trained his aim on the one person in the room.

“Aurelie?” Chris lowered his gun before tucking it into his waistband. “Oh my God …”

He rushed to the chair she was tied in; the room was otherwise empty. He removed the gag from her mouth and used the knife that had been sheathed at his ankle to cut the zip tie around her wrists. Once her hands were free, she positioned the processor of her implant in place.

“You have to get out of here,” she breathed, “they’re expecting you. They know you’re coming.”

Chris frowned. “They? You know what, don’t worry about it. We have to get you out of here. My bullshit can wait. I’m sorry, Aurie. This was never supposed to --”

“Never supposed to involve her?”

Still propping Aurelie up against him, Chris turned to the voice behind them. Downey was there, in a crisp, navy blue suit. Scarlett was behind him. He could see the marks on her neck -- marks he had caused. She seemed otherwise unfazed by anything that had gone on that evening.

Downey stepped into the room and continued. “You know, when your father, Chris, wanted Aurelie’s mother, I told him to take what he wanted. To do what he had to do to make it his. I guess that advice stuck a little too well -- he got sloppy there at the end. Got himself caught up in the law … well, we all know how that ended, I suppose.”

Chris pursed his lips. “What’s your point, Downey?”

The older man smirked. “He passed that on to you, didn’t he? Taking what you want. Nevermind that you had already ruined that blonde’s life by taking her hostage. You had to have her in your bed, too. Don’t worry -- Scarlett’s got me caught up to everything. I know all about Aurelie’s fling with Krasinski, too. And about the baby.”

“No,” Aurelie groaned. “The baby has nothing to do with this.”

Downey looked back to Scarlett, who took far too much pleasure in presenting her own gun and training it on the siblings.

Whistling as he entered the ER, John stopped at the triage desk and asked them to page Aurelie. He had a bouquet of flowers in one hand. Whatever love sickness had hit him, John didn’t care. He couldn’t wait until the end of her shift to see her.

The triage nurse hung up the phone and smiled up at him. “Charge nurse says you can go back. Dr. Juneau is with a patient, but she should be out soon.”

John grinned his thank you and meandered over to the doors leading back into the ER. The charge nurse waved and motioned to the room where Aurelie was currently treating a patient, promising that the doctor should be out momentarily.

Ten minutes passed and Aurelie was still a no show. The charge nurse realized John was still waiting and offered to go into the room to check on his fiancee’s status for him. When she came back out, she was wide-eyed.

“They’re gone. Both of them.”

John’s heart dropped to his feet. “Who was the patient?”

“I don’t … it was …”

John took her by the upper arms. “Randi, slow down. The patient, what did the patient look like?”

The nurse took a deep breath. “It was a woman, with red hair. She was -- she was sort of beaten up. She asked for Aurelie by name, wouldn’t let anyone else even touch her. She insisted on Aurelie treating her.”

John had a good idea of who that must have been. “Right. Alert security, okay? They’ll take it from there.”

Randi nodded and went to page the security team. John left the flowers on the counter where they were and rushed out of the hospital. He made one phone call before pulling out of the parking lot, speeding toward Downey’s house.

Chris tucked Aurelie behind him. “She’s right. The baby has nothing to do with this. Aurelie has nothing to do with this. She was dragged into it by my father’s selfishness. She was kept in it by mine. You didn’t need to bring her here since you already knew that I was coming.”

Downey sighed, feigning sadness. “I wish it were that simple, I really do. But, you see, whether Aurelie likes it or not, she’s an Evans by marriage and not only has she agreed to marry a Krasinski, she’s having his child. That’s not how things run, that’s now how I run things. The families stay apart.”

“Why?” Chris asked, narrowing his eyes. “To keep you in your place? Perhaps you’re not quite so high and mighty as the front you put on, huh? If the two families joining are enough of a threat that you have to resort to kidnapping and murder to keep your place, maybe you were never quite so high up as you thought.”

For that, Scarlett stepped forward and used the gun in her hand to hit Chris across the face. He fell to all floors, blood dripping from his mouth. He wiped at it and stood again. He pointed to Aurelie.

“Take all the hits you want on me, but you leave Aurelie out of this. Hell, call John, I’m sure --”

“No!” Aurelie exclaimed. “This is on me. I was the one who came clean to John first, who convinced him we could make this work. Don’t call John. Don’t.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes and stepped toward Chris, putting her gun to his temple. “The tables have certainly turned, old friend. You’re both going to die tonight, so you tell me; do you want to put your sister out of her misery, or do you want to die before you have to see me put a bullet in her head?”

Chris swallowed hard. He held his hands up in surrender as he worked his way to his feet. He tried convincing Downey and Scarlett again that this didn’t have to end in anyone’s death, that something could be worked out.

Aurelie felt as though she might vomit. Between the pain of the hits she had taken and the stress of the situation as a whole, she was overwhelmed. She had to get the both of them out of this, before it went any further. With a surge of courage, she took two long strides toward Chris and pulled the gun from his waistband. She pointed it at Downey. In return, Scarlett kicked Chris behind his knee, sending him back to the ground. She held the gun to his head and ordered Aurelie to lower the gun in her hands.

But the doctor shook her head. “No. This is all because of him. My father died right in front of me. I grew up hiding family secrets and pretending like I knew nothing about the things that Robbie Evans did. I’ve been exiled from the family for years because you taught that man to take what he wanted, and my family believed I was the one who turned him in!”

Downey smirked. “Oh, yeah, no. That was me.”

Angry tears rolled down her cheeks. Aurelie shook her head. She could have screamed she was so angry; this was never what her life was supposed to be. Sirens sounded in the distance, growing louder by the second. The authorities knew what was happening and they were coming to the scene. If she didn’t act now, Downey would smooth talk his way out of things, the way he always did. Her status at MassGen would likely excuse her from any suspicion, but Chris would be locked away, just as his father had been.

“This ends now!” Aurelie yelled.

Seconds later, as police forced their way into Downey’s front door, two gunshots rang out from the basement.

AlloftheThings: @captain-s-rogers​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked​​​​​​​​​​​ @hurricanerin​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @horsesandbandsforlife​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @im-not-an-armrest-im-short​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @captain-rogers-beard​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @shynara51​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @sea040561​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​  @pinknerdpanda​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @xtina2191​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @jackryanplz​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @beakami​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @heartsaved​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @fullprunerebelstatesman​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @blackwidowismyhomegirl​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @averyrogers83​

Boston Boys:  @the-murder-strut-murdered-me​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @becs-bunker​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @shield-agent78​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @patzammit​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @crazyandanonymous4u​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @ntlmundy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @jennmurawski13​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ @okay-maybe-i-like-marvel-too​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[give-me-back-my-rhodey]

The Trio is Back - AUgust Day 7

Title: The Trio is Back

Author: Purple_ducky00

Rating: Teen

Warnings: N/A

Relationships: Bucky/Nat/Tony, Bucky/Tony

Square Filled:  N2: Didn’t Know They Were Dating Link: Read on AO3

Summary:  Natasha, Bucky, and Tony have been friends since childhood. Everyone speculates that Natasha will have to choose between the two of them. Little do they know she might just choose both.

+++++++++

Tony, Bucky, and Natasha have been friends since toddlers. The Starks, the Barneses, and Natasha’s adoptive parents were a close-knit bunch who played bridge on Thursday nights, usually at the Stark mansion.

 As children, the three would run through the house playing superheroes, Super Mario characters, jedi, etc. The Stark butler, Jarvis, always made sure nothing valuable was broken. They would often rope him into their play. As they got older, they calmed down somewhat. Natasha taught Tony to braid so he could braid her and Bucky’s hair.  Both would push him to get more intricate braids. Bucky would recommend books for the others to read, and they had a book club group chat where they would discuss plots and theories. Tony lets them in his lab and teaches them about science.

 When the three turned ten, the adults would joke that Natasha might have a hard time choosing between the two handsome boys. Natasha’s fathers said she should be able to do whatever she wanted. Natasha never paid them any mind because Tony and Bucky were her friends. Why did she need to choose?

The three were inseparable until middle school. They never had a falling out, per se. They just stopped hanging out. Maybe they were tired of everyone trying to figure out who liked who, or maybe they just wanted more friends. No one actually knows. Tony became close with his lab partner James Rhodes, who he dubbed Rhodey. He also roped Virginia Potts into his trio as well. She became known as Pepper almost overnight. Natasha basically adopted the “school nerd” Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers, the girl most of the guys hated because she was “too feminist.” Carol, an avid lesbian even at a young age, didn’t care. Boys were a waste of time to her. Bucky was fast friends with Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, and Sharon Carter.  Every once in a while, all ten of them would hang out, but it seemed like the legendary trio was over.

 As they reach puberty, the comments about them increase. Instead of being smelly boys, Tony and Bucky both grow into handsome young men. Both realize as they grow older that they were kind of into boys and girls. Sure, Natasha is beautiful, Bucky thinks, but so is Sam. He doesn’t know how Tony feels about Nat, and since one of them was “destined” to get her, he decides he will step back and let Tony ask her out. He takes Sam on a date, and they are steady for a couple of months. They split on good terms at the end.

 Tony has the same line of thought, and he dates Tiberius Stone for a while. Both Bucky and Natasha hate him, but Tony doesn’t know why. Ty is cultured and handsome, a real catch. So, what if he verbally abuses him and guilt-trips him? That’s the way his father always treats him. Isn’t it normal?

 Natasha doesn’t date. She doesn’t care to. If people want to speculate, she doesn’t care. She’s only sixteen, why does it matter if she doesn’t have a partner? Her fathers tell her to take her time, and if she never wants to date, that’s her say.

 When they graduate, Tony goes to MIT. Natasha gets in at Stanford, and Bucky’s parents can only afford for him to go to NYU. Tony offers to pay for a better college, but Bucky won’t let him. They keep in contact and see each other every break. Tony finally breaks up with Ty in his freshman year, but he becomes a party animal. Rhodey does his best to keep Tony out of trouble, but even he fails sometimes. When he graduates summa cum laude, he takes his place at Stark Industries. Natasha studies to become a lawyer, and she passes the bar easily. Bucky graduates NYU and saves up enough to buy his own auto repair shop. All are successful and don’t have much time to spend with each other or anyone else, to be fair.

 ++++++

Jan, Tony’s stylist, sets him up on a blind date with a Jimmy because he “works too much.” He shows up at the restaurant she picks out to only find Bucky sitting at the table to which the maître d leads him. “Bucky?”

 “Tony? What are you doing here?” Bucky stands.

 “I’m as confused as you are.” Tony sits at the table. “Jan told me I’d be meeting a Jimmy. Who the hell calls you Jimmy?”

 “Well, she called you Anthony. I can’t believe you let anyone call you Anthony.”

 Tony shoots him a glare. “I don’t. Not sure why she told you that you’d be meeting an Anthony… unless she did this on purpose.”

 “What? The parents figure that if Nat doesn’t want to date either of us, they might as well put us together?” Bucky’s eyes snap.

 “I don’t know.” Tony shrugs. “But it all seems very suspicious, you know? What do you propose we do about it?”

 “I think we should eat dinner and go have fun. We both go home to our own houses afterwards and never try to date again, just to screw ‘em.” Bucky smiles sharply.

 “I like that. Deal.”

 Tony wakes up in Bucky’s bed the next day. “Well, I guess that plan didn’t work out.”

 “Yea… I’m torn up between kicking you out now just to fuck our parents or actually fucking you again,” Bucky comments. “Damn, Tones, you’re amazing.”

 Tony colors. “Yea, I had a lot of experience in college. People still like to say they spent the night with me even though I haven’t slept with someone else for months now. I’ve just been busy.”

 “Same. Who has time to date anymore?” Bucky shakes his head. “It’s a shame because I would love to have nights like last night more often.” He straightens completely and raises a finger. “I have an idea, and you may not like it, but here me out. What if we were each other’s booty calls? Just whenever we need a quick smash, we text the other?”

 “James Buchanan Barnes, you are a fucking genius. I would kiss you right now, except my PA’s probably calling my dead phone, wondering where the hell I am. Can we rain check the next session?” Tony hops out of bed, pulling on his pants. Once quickly dressed, he heads to the door to leave and blows Bucky a kiss on his way out.

 Using his watch to ping his driver, Tony heads home to get changed before going to work an hour late. Howard doesn’t berate him as much for being late for work, so Tony wonders if he knew something about his date with Bucky. The thought leaves his mind as he gets started on his day. He doesn’t have time to think about dates or meddling parents.

 As the months go by, both Tony and Bucky text in claims to their booty call agreement. Tony is happy to do so, but he finds himself catching feelings for Bucky. He wonders if it’s because Bucky is the only one that he’s in close contact with, which he mentions to Rhodey when they get lunch on Rhodey’s first day on leave.

 “I mean, I don’t think it’s a good idea to be fucking the only person you have a steady friendship with.” Rhodey steals one of Tony’s fries.

 Tony pouts. “Don’t be like that honeybear. You and Pepper are my friends, too.”

 “Yea, but I’m in the Air Force more than 80% of the time, and Pepper works for you. It’s different.”

 “You’re just jealous that you’re not getting any.” Tony decides.

 Rhodey just smiles. “Says who?”  Tony begins to assault Rhodey for details, the topic of Bucky forgotten.

++++++

“Hey, Natasha’s moving back to New York, apparently.” Bucky informs Tony one morning. “My mom just texted me.”

 Tony groans. “If this becomes another ‘Why don’t you date her?’ thing, I swear I’m going to move to Tahiti and not accept any long-distance calls. You’re welcome to come with if you’d like.”

 “I think we should take her out to dinner one night when she gets settled, just to catch up.” Bucky muses. “Then our parents can’t be mad because we didn’t try.”

 “Yea, I wonder how she’s been. We haven’t talked in so long.” Tony agrees. “I wonder if she got a partnership here or something. I hope so. That’d be good for her.”

 “Nick and Phil will be glad to have her back. If only my parents were as supportive as they are. You should have seen my dad when I told them I was opening my own auto shop.” Bucky smiles that unhappy smile.

 Tony laughs mirthlessly. “I’d be happy if my parents talked to me at all. But being that Howard’s always cranky anymore, I guess it’s best that he doesn’t.”

 ++++++ Natasha moves back less than a month later with a short, sandy haired man in tow. They move into an apartment on the Upper East side. Once she’s settled, she agrees to meet Bucky and Tony for dinner. About ten minutes in, she asks them, “How long have you two been together?”

 “Did someone tell you that we’re together?” Tony demands. “Because they’re wrong. We’re simply booty calls to each other.”

 She shakes her head. “No, you’re not. You might like to think that, but you’re in love with each other. No one told me; I can see it from here.”

 The two men shift in their seats, not daring to look at the other. “So how have you been?” Bucky asks her.

 “Busy. Jenn and I are setting up our own partnership. We’ve gotten a lot of cases lined up, and we need a secretary.  There’re two lawyers working pro bono mostly down in Hell’s Kitchen. We might add them to our firm and pick up their secretary as well. I saw them in court for the Punisher trials, and she seems to have her stuff in order.” She takes a sip of her drink. “Sorry for not keeping up with you guys. I barely even talk to Bruce and Carol.”

 “Mom told me you brought a man home with you,” Bucky says. “She didn’t seem too happy about it. Are you two dating?”

 “Clint? No, he’s just a friend. I’m too busy to date, honestly. I’ve tried a couple times in LA, but it turns out I’m very selective of those with which I choose to hang out. Most men are idiots, and I’m tragically straight. You see my problem, right?”

 “We don’t feel your pain, but we understand,” Tony says. “Well, what we should do is make sure the three of us hang out at least once a month. If we want to bring our other friends, I don’t care, but I’ve sorely missed you, Nat. And Bucky, maybe we should spend more time together with our clothing on.”

 “You say that now, but what about tonight when…” Bucky begins but stops when Natasha gives him her death glare. “Okay, that is still as frightening as ever. Is that how you win all your cases?”

 “No. I’m skilled enough that I don’t need to use that.” Nat flips her hair. “But I’m glad it works on you.”

 Tony stick out his tongue at Bucky. “She’d never kill me. Who would give her those amazing scalp massages?”

 “Now that you’ve brought it up, I demand one once we leave the restaurant.”

 Natasha goes home that night realizing that she missed out on a lot of Tony and Bucky’s lives. If she were being honest, and she is, she kind of relied on their parents’ hope that she would one day marry one of the two. She always acted the way she did because she was equally attracted to both of them, and she would never be able to choose. So, she moved away and let them get on with their lives. She never thought once that they would choose each other and leave her out. She tells this to Clint when she gets home.

 “Talk to them. Maybe they’ll share.” Clint suggests before he falls asleep on the couch.

 She rolls her eyes. “You have a room for a reason.” Natasha knows he’ll still be there when she gets up to go to work the next morning.

 ++++++

The trio meets up at least twice a month. Per Natasha’s goading, Bucky and Tony start to actually date. She’s happy for them but seeing them sometimes is bittersweet. She just wants to go back to the times where they didn’t have to worry about feelings. All feelings have done for her were made her sad.

 One night, they’re eating takeout in Tony’s kitchen when he says, “You can kill me if we’re wrong, but I want to proposition something with you.”

 Natasha raises an eyebrow. This ought to be interesting. Tony proceeds. “So, Bucky and I are very happy in our relationship, but it could use one more thing… you.”

 “Me?”

 “Yea. We both really like you, and we kind of got the feeling that you like us, too. Are we wrong?” Bucky bites his lip worriedly.

 “No, you’re not wrong. I really like both of you. I have since we were kids. I just never wanted to choose between the two of you. When you got together, I was happy for you. I never thought that you’d both want me as well.”

 “Why wouldn’t we want you?” Tony asks. “We love you so much. Obviously, we’ll have to talk about how this is going to work. I hear communication is key to any good relationship. I should know.”

“Also, if we all date, that’s one way to make sure our parents don’t get exactly what they want. Instead of you choosing one of us, you chose both.”

 Natasha grins. This is a fine arrangement indeed. “I would invite you back to my place, but Clint’s there. Would one of yours work?”

 “It’d have to be Tony’s. I just moved in two weeks ago.” Bucky jabs his thumb at his boyfriend.

 ++++++

Natasha’s parents are overjoyed when they hear the news, Bucky’s parents don’t say anything, but Bucky knows they are a little wary of his relationship. Tony’s parents, on the other hand, are very vocal. Howard has a yelling fit, screaming at Tony until he loses his voice. Maria asks him why he vexes his father like that.

 When Bucky and Nat try to comfort him, he shrugs them off, saying, “That’s the first real conversation I’ve had with either of my parents since I was a kid. Don’t worry; I always knew Howard would have a problem with it.”

 “It still sucks,” Bucky tells him. “No matter what, you’ve got us.”

 Tony knows he’s happy when both his partners cuddle around him in the middle of their California King bed. Throughout all odds, the trio is back together.

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

A Hallmark Secret

Day 4 of 2020′s 31 Days of Ficmas.  Thanks to @doctorroseprompts for the list!

Prompt: Holiday movies

Rating: G

Pairing: 12xRose AU; part of the Queen of Hearts universe

Summary: Even after seven months of marriage, Rose and Ian still have a lot to learn about each other.  A secret from Ian’s past brings back bad memories from Rose’s.

2020 31 Days of Ficmas masterlist  |  Queen of Hearts masterlist

AO3

---

Humming a vague Christmas tune to herself, Rose meandered her way through the palace hallways.  The decorations had started going up a few days earlier, and just that afternoon she’d overseen the last wreath being mounted in the ballroom, over the thrones.  The gigantic “official” tree in the foyer would have a ceremonial lighting ceremony the next evening, the one in the town square several days after, but the more reasonable-sized (but still large) one in their bedroom was already fully lit and decorated, giving the season a magical air none had had since she was a small child.

Without really planning it her feet followed her heart, and she ended up heading down the hallway where Ian’s public office was located.  She felt terrible for her poor husband; this was apparently a busy time of year, for nearly every night he’d have to return to work after dinner and an hour or so of relaxing with her.  She’d offered multiple times to help, to ease his burden, but he gently, kindly rebuffed her.

Approaching the door, she considered knocking – all she wanted was to help, to support him, considering how patient and supportive he’d been of her as she navigated her new life – and froze, as the distinctive peal of a woman’s laugh echoed through the door.

Oh, no.  Her heart dropped to her stomach, the previous decade vanishing and returning her to the stupid, prideful eighteen-year-old she’d been, so desperate to prove her mother (and Mickey) wrong that she’d put up with Jimmy Stone’s lying and cheating for longer than she cared to remember. No, no, no…

She stood frozen in the hallway, unable to make a decision – confront him, or run away?  I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation, her optimistic side encouraged, but the sinking feeling in her gut disagreed.  We’ve been here before, and it never ended well.

But Ian’s not Jimmy or Mickey, the optimism countered.  Ian is different – Ian is better.  That’s why we’re married.

Decision made, Rose took a deep breath for courage before moving forward, pushing the door open. She gave it more force than necessary, but didn’t wince as it banged against the wall, too focused on Ian’s guilty expression.  He was alone in the room, his laptop newly shut in front of him, and her stomach turned as he just stared at her.

“I heard laughter,” she said stiffly, fighting back the urge to start accusing, or shrieking – neither would help her now, not with him.  Not that they’d ever worked before.  “Meeting going well?”

Another flash of guilt made her stomach turn, before his brow furrowed.  “Wait, do you think-”

“I don’t know what I think,” Rose cut him off, “except that you’ve been lying to me.”

He watched her with a curious expression, before looking down at his laptop and sighing.  “All right, come here.”

She did, moving stiffly as he opened the lid, stopping at his side and glaring at the screen.  The image was generic Christmas, a tall decorated tree lit up with colorful lights, the dark night sky behind it. Then he clicked the screen and the image came to life, panning down and around to focus on a couple standing next to it.

“I’m sorry I made you doubt me,” Ian started, pausing the video again and rolling his chair back to make room for her, tugging her down onto his lap; she didn’t resist, but didn’t relent either, perching on his knee with her arms crossed, feeling vaguely guilty and somewhat silly, though the fears beating through her brain were not subdued.  “How do I explain?  When I was studying at Johns Hopkins, I lived with Grace – we were more roommates with benefits than anything else, as you know.  Well, when we would be overwhelmed with work and school, she liked to watch these movies that had started airing – Hallmark?  It’s a… thing over in the States, and it’s only grown over the last twenty years, but these were the early days.  They were cheesy and predictable, but… mindless.  A distraction.  I grew to enjoy them as well, because they were light and hopeful, and I needed that.”

Rose arched an eyebrow. “Are you telling me all your ‘late meetings’ were just you, in here, watching… Christmas movies?”

He nodded.  “I thought… I’m sorry, but I thought you’d laugh. No one knows.  Well, Grace, and we’ll occasionally discuss them in there’s a particularly good one, but- I was embarrassed.  I didn’t want you to think less of me.”

As his words processed, Rose didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.  Sinking into him, she buried her face in his neck, hating his hesitation before tightening his arms around her waist.  Emotion bubbled up her chest, and they were both surprised when it erupted as laughter.  Clinging to him, she gasped for breath amongst her howls, all of her worry being expelled until love tinged with shame remained, and she calmed.

Eventually she sat upright again so she could see his face, smiling as she wiped at her eyes.  “To be clear,” she started, voice hoarse, “I’m not laughing at you watching Hallmark movies.  I’m laughing because how I’ve entertained myself while waiting for you is by watching the same sort of cheese on Netflix.  And in fact, I’ve watched so many of them that I’ve gone through all the non-royalty ones and have resorted to watching those against my better judgement.  And let me tell you, this whole suddenly a queen thing looks a lot easier in the movies.”

Ian laughed as well, expression lightening.  “Sounds like we still need to work on being open and honest with each other,” he said easily.  “Why don’t we go back to our bedroom, make a cuppa, put on some seasonal pajamas, and curl up and watch a movie together?”

“I would love that.” She kissed him, deep and lingering. “And then maybe we’ll go to bed early.”

“Deal.”

-

Once settled on the couch, movie queued on the screen in front of them, Ian allowed himself to relax. It had felt good, sharing this aspect of himself with her, and he was gratified to know that not only had she not made fun of him, but she actually enjoyed the same sort of guilty pleasure.

He couldn’t help but be a little hurt at her initial reaction though, her suspicion and veiled accusations, wondering what he’d done to have that be what she jumped to, rather than planning a surprise (which he was, to be fair).

“Ready?”  Rose flopped onto the couch before curling into him, one arm firmly wrapped around the large bowl of popcorn fresh from the microwave. “Let’s start, so we can call it a night.”

“Sure,” he agreed, hitting play on the remote as they snuggled together.

He tried to focus on the plot, but his thoughts kept running away from him, and by the time the leads had ‘re-met’ as more than passing characters, he was consumed with questions. Hitting pause, he struggled to sit up as Rose protested the change.

“Hey!”  Putting the bowl on the coffee table in front of her, she turned around.  “What’s wrong?”

Ian licked his lips, trying to marshal his thoughts into coherence.  “Can we talk?”

Expression faltering, she nodded, crossing her legs and facing him.  “I guess you wanna know why I sort of overreacted?”

“I wouldn’t have put it that way, but, yes.  I… didn’t realize we had, well, trust issues.”

“We don’t.”  She sighed, not sounding particularly convinced. “At least, we don’t, and it’s honestly got nothing to do with you.”

He kept silent, watching her.  She seemed to have something on her mind, something from her past, he suspected, and tried to keep his features arranged in an open and inviting manner.  The fireplace crackling was the only sound, the light from the flames making her seem to glow.

“When I was sixteen, I had this shitty boyfriend,” she said haltingly, staring down at her hands and twirling her ring.  “He was a musician who thought he’d make it big, so it was the usual story – I dropped out of school to support him, and he thanked me by getting drunk and being abusive. Verbally, mostly, but- well, mostly. He also cheated.  A lot.  In our- in my bed.  The one that I paid for.  Long story short I eventually went home with my tail tucked between my legs, and you know the rest of that, but…  And then Mickey- don’t tell Martha, he was different then- well, he wasn’t much more inclined to be exclusive, but he wasn’t cruel about it, and to be honest I kept one foot out the door the whole time anyway.  The point is-” she took a deep breath, placing her hand over his, “the point is those scars are deep.  I thought they’d healed- I put a lot of effort into it- but when I stood outside your door, just wanting to be with you and help you, worrying about how much more you’d been working lately- and I heard a woman laugh… it just brought it all back.  Like getting slammed with a rogue wave, just instant- and I know you’re not like that, and I do trust you, I just-”

“Old wounds pull,” he murmured, when it was clear she wouldn’t continue.  “Instinct.”

“Yeah.”  She gave him a soft, tentative smile.  “So, really, I’m sorry for coming on so strong.  I just… I love you so much, I couldn’t do that again. Be the fool again.”

For the first time the conversation made him angry, but not at her.  “You are not a fool,” he told her fiercely, bringing both hands up to cradle her face and make her meet his eye, so she could see the sincerity there. “You are wonderful, and smart, and talented, and brave.  I’m sorry I was a prat sneaking around, I didn’t mean to make you worry.  And I won’t do it again.  I absolutely forgive you, not that there’s anything to forgive.”

“Thanks.”  She sniffled.  “And I forgive you.”

They kissed, a warm, buttery meeting of lips, just a joyful expression of love and happiness.

“Now, what say you we finish this movie?” he asked, tucking her hair behind her ears and making her smile. “I want to share this with you.”

Rose bit her lip, looking between the screen and his face, before shrugging one shoulder.  “Dunno, are you sure we’ve made up enough?”

His brow furrowed, her smile morphing into a cheeky grin and she tilted her head in the direction of their bed.  Finally understanding her meaning, he laughed, reaching for the remote and shutting off the telly without a second thought.

“An excellent idea,” he stood, offering her his hands.  “I think I have some making up to you to do.”

“Well, if you insist.”

And just like that, a new holiday tradition was born.

[hecohansen31]

Will you write more about the foursome where reader's Duncan's soulmate ? Please, I need more drama and fluff with them !! I need to see Michael and Jim trying to be nice with her (and failing like idiots), Duncan trying to please everyone, Reader finally having the chance to know them better and... get closer in every senses of the term (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

(A/N): Hello there, lovelies!

So I have been having an hard time finding time for writing lately and I am very sorry about it, because... a lot of the prompts you sent me are beautiful so... I can’t help but feel sorry, but things are getting in the way!

Still... I should be able to publish something more this week!

Sorry again lovelies and thank you for your patience!

I am going to tag @angel-langdon, because I know she enjoyed the first part of it, but if I am wrong, I am sorry I tagged you and with this being said, I am leaving you to the fic!

WARNINGS:  Sexual Themes, Idiots, Slight Mention of Trauma and Fights.

Since the revelation that Jim and Michael didn’t hate you, your relationship with them had surely gotten better, mostly due to the fact that they had started treating you with less coldness and much more gentleness, although they both had still their limits when it came to you.

Still, it was nice to actually not have to deal with them in awful and fighting moods, mostly so that you could relax and have truly fun with them and Duncan, who was literally the happiest man alive.

You had started taking surfing lessons with Jim in the weekend, although you sucked terribly at it, but you didn’t mind it, even when the boy would tease you endlessly, mostly because the same boy would appreciate completely the moments spent together, showing it to you in a much affectionate way than Michael.

It wasn’t that with Michael it was more difficult, because Jim with his abandonment issues wasn’t definitely the easiest of the two, but you had much less interests that you could share, mostly because not only the man was pretty closed off, but he still held some kind of distrust in you.

Still, talking with him about either Jim and Duncan was an amazing experience to bond over, mostly because he would soften up a bit and if you took care of his favorite boys, he would be the one to take care of you, pampering you at home or outside.

That period, the one under the Christmas’ months, you and Duncan had been pretty busy since it wasn’t easy for either of you to pull off your jobs, mostly in such an active period, although you wished no more than to crash in bed with your lovers.

You had been surprised that Jimmy and Michael hadn’t tried to stop you and Duncan from going to your respective job, as they always did with Duncan when they were feeling like he was neglecting them, like two spoiled children, but you just guessed they knew and understood that you were both struggling to give them best you could.

What you and Duncan hadn’t taken in account was the fact that those two weren’t being respectful of your jobs and lives, but were secretly plotting something in silence, to bring you together.

And it all started working when you received a rather cryptic message that morning, about Jimmy having felt sick t the airport and Michael needing a help with him.

Hadn’t you been so worried about Jimmy Boy you would have probably questioned why you had had to go to the airport, but you had been simply too worried and when Duncan came out of the car in front of you, also warned by a similar message, you knew that there might be trouble on your way.

You and Duncan both rushed to the position in the airport where Michael and Jimmy were supposed to be, the departure lounge where you found your boys… completely fine and with two sets of luggage each, in vacation attire and flowery shirts.

Both you and Duncan threw a look at each other, wondering in which strange reality you had wandered in, the moment you had entered the airport, but were quickly ushered in by your lovers, and meanwhile your “sick boy” literally welcomed you with kisses and hugs, Michael stood beside him, happy to see you both but a trace of uneasiness showed in his face.

“What is the meaning of this?” asked Duncan, meanwhile you were too taken by cuddling Jimmy who literally purred against you, trying to slip a hand in your jeans “… Jim?! Michael told us that you were sick!”

“… yeah sick of you being apart from us!” he commented as if it was the most obvious choice ever, gaining a dreadful look from Duncan, meanwhile Michael shifted from the side of his lover to yours, clearly ready for Duncan to debunk the entire plan Jim had brought him into.

Duncan took his head in his hands:

“Jim, I have told you…!” he mumbled annoyed, since one of the most obvious causes of fights between Jim and Duncan was how much time the latter spent on his job, instead of spending it with him.

‘You know that I have to go to work to make the money you and Michael spend, don’t you?’.

‘But you just spend any second you can on your work, even when we are together! You always take calls and never make time for us!’.

And although you understood that Duncan was a busy man, you had to agree with Jimmy about Duncan needing some kind of rehab from work that he could spend with you, which you and Michael had discussed many times, having similar ideas on this.

‘I just wished that he would be less… tired from his work… I know that he can take some time off, but he just doesn’t think that those things can work without him, but we can’t also work without him’.

You had comforted both the boys and had tried to talk on your way with Duncan, explaining that, although your work took much less time than his, you understood what he was going through, but this didn’t oblige him to constantly work himself up to the bone, mostly neglecting others.

‘… I am trying, it’s just the most difficult thing ever to balance my relationship and work… I honestly wish that I could stay with you, but I am also worried that something will blow up my empire and who will want me without the money…’.

You had acted as a mediator between them, and you though you were making some progress since Duncan tried to use the phone less and less when he was with you, meanwhile the boys could count on your attention, when Duncan was away.

But then Jimmy decided to throw the entire thing away.

“And you think that giving me and (Y/N) a heart-attack was a perfect idea to get our attention?” Duncan was trying to keep his tone low, mostly because he didn’t want to give a scene, but Jim didn’t seem to care about anything.

“... it was the only way I could get your attention! You constantly are away, huddled up in your office and thankfully there is (Y/N) or we would just be alone for the entire time…!”.

What was the worse thing was that Jimmy looked close to crying and Duncan close to an emotional outburst.

Michael was the one who had the coldest blood and tried to bring some kind of peace:

“What Jimmy did was wrong, I am not going to lie, but we wanted to have your attention, and to make you relax since we know how much time you spend to make money for us to have a nice and comfortable life and we wanted to give you some kind of break”.

Jim immediately pushed himself so that he could side with Michael to reinforce the proposal, meanwhile he looked at you expecting to do the same, but you couldn’t help but be slightly conflicted: Duncan was your soulmate, but you were slowly learning to love those two idiots.

“… you organized a vacation on your own for me?” Duncan mumbled surprised, his voice little, almost as a shy kid receiving a gift.

“Yeah, we did!” giggled Jimmy, meanwhile Michael muttered darkly, sending you an obvious look.

“… but it isn’t simply for you, we also did it for (Y/N)” mumbled the blonde man, turning to you with a shy glance, that got your heart to lightly beat faster, meanwhile you blushed.

“Ah, that is too nice, sweeties!” you didn’t know what to say, because you were speechless due to the fact that they went from literally ignoring you to buying you a vacation in the span of a few weeks “… I am honestly… I don’t know what to say”.

Which meant that you honestly felt like crying a bit, and Duncan, recognizing your emotion immediately, hugged you close to his chest. Kissing sweetly your forehead, before he sent a look to your other two lovers, inviting them to join the hug.

Which they did with no hesitation, immediately hugging you closer with extreme gentleness, squishing you lightly and making you laugh through your tears, meanwhile Jimmy muttered something about ‘not wanting to make you cry for his stupid ass’, meanwhile Michael mumbled about the fact that he couldn’t believe that he had fallen in love with three idiots.

A few minutes later you were boarding in first class for an unknown location since the boys wouldn’t tell you and Duncan where you were going, but it was nothing that champagne couldn’t soothe.

In the end you ended up reaching a tropical island in a five star resort, with a beautiful sight on the beach and even more beautiful room service that you and Jimmy took immediate advantage of, mostly ordering fruit and some other delicacies, starved after the journey.

But Jimmy didn’t seem tired in the least and dragged you and the others, who were barely able to put on your swimming costumes, to the beach, and Duncan had no choice but play volleyball with him, meanwhile you and Michael researched whether this place was perfect for surfing or not.

It was more a cover mission not to be dragged in the “hurricane Jimmy”, meanwhile you two looked at your boys playing heavenly in the water, with you blushing and with Michael having that smug smirk of his which was like ‘Well, he is all mine’.

You both gossiped sipping on your drinks, meanwhile the boys tried to tire each other out in the water, trying to dunk each other, and to steal each other the ball, till they got tired of each other and in the end moved to annoy you and Michael, with cold hugs and splashing you.

You were more cooperative and accepted to immerge in the water, with your hands around Duncan’s neck and Jimmy linked on your back, trying to steal a piggyback ride.

Michael kept, as a cat scared by the water, to himself, till all your stomachs grumbled, and the brats of the relationship had already helped themselves to booking for an entire night the main room in the hotel you were staying, so that you could have a rather romantic and private dinner.

Michael and Jimmy helped you get ready, although it was more Michael, since Jimmy only ate up all the snacks in the minibar and “booed” any dress that he thought was too conservative (which was everything to you), meanwhile Michael gave you some suggestions about what to do with your hair and make-up, even applying your eyeliner, since you simply couldn’t.

Duncan had been waiting outside, although he hadn’t wanted you to know, he was probably phoning some of his companies to let them know he was on vacation, and when you all walked on him, his phone literally fell from his hands, as it happened in the movies.

Michael coughed pointedly to make Duncan close his open mouth, meanwhile Jimmy just thought about snapping a picture at his cute face you just blushed compulsively, and as you moved to get Duncan’s offered arm, both the boys brought you back, grabbing an arms of yours each.

“Brats” he mumbled annoyed, making another attempt, but both the boys growled light.

“… you don’t get (Y/N), because you are a meanie”.

“Can you not treat me like a toy?” you whispered, not wanting to be caught in this war, and they all seemed to settle for a truce.

… till you all settled down and ordered and meanwhile you were waiting for your food, you felt a leg brushing lightly against yours.

You didn’t mind it too much attention, mostly because accidental brushes weren’t uncommon, and although Duncan was pretty affectionate with you, “the brats” hadn’t tried to make a move onto you, in that sense, although Jimmy could get pretty handsy and, more time than not make-outs, with him were messy.

But you had never been all together with the four of them.

You didn’t mind it too much thought, when it happened again, talking calmly with Duncan about work, meanwhile Jimmy sometimes intervened and Michael mostly nodded, listening softly to the both of them, his hand gently caressing Duncan and Jimmy’s back, since he was settled between them and in front of you.

But the third stroke was definitely much more intrusive and clear in its intention, caressing the entirety of your thighs from your ankle to the inner part of your thighs.

You almost bumped your knee against the table at the pleasurable sensation, definitely not expecting it, and all the eyes were on you, and you couldn’t help but feel like it had been Jimmy, because he was at your left and smirked like he knew what was going on, but the next time the stroke happened, Jimmy was turned to Duncan, who you thought was the culprit.

And you sent him a pointed look: couldn’t he stop acting like a horny boy, just for a romantic dinner?

He looked confused, after receiving your glare, but you knew all too well that your soulmate was sneaky, but he was also ruled out as Michael’s hand moved onto your thighs and his legs caressed you again, this time making it clear it was him.

When you turned to chastise him, he just had this beautiful smile on his face, completely smirking at you, knowing what was going on and worst of all, that you were unable to do more, and as he reached down the skirt of your dress, he sneaked his hand into the slit and onto your panties.

He had been the one to suggest the dress with the slit and now you understood why.

Michael had been the most cold to you, so you definitely weren’t expecting it, as he pushed himself through the fabric of your panties and brushed your most intimate place, gently caressing your folds in a distracted way, meanwhile he involved himself in the conversation.

The pleasure going through you was gentle and soft, but it kept you distracted and when Jimmy asked you if what the waiter had brought you was yours, you had to almost get him to repeat the phrase, but worst of all as you were answering it, Michael inserted one finger in you, making you feel every inch of his thick finger, and you were unable to hide a moan.

Thankfully the waiter was graceful enough to disappear, but as he went away Jimmy ducked his head under the table to see what was going on, immediately grumpily mumbling:

“You little shit, Michael!” he screamed, meanwhile Duncan understood what the heck was going on, smirking at you, probably understanding the horrendous teasing that you were going through, right now “… we said we would wait till tonight”.

And Michael, although heartbreakingly, retreated his finger from you, sending Jimmy an annoyed look, before he showed you a teasing smirk, gently enveloping his fingers stained with your juices in his mouth, making you not only blush but molten heat was immediately poured again in your center.

“I just wanted a little taste” he mumbled, almost as child caught with his hand in the cookie dough.

“Well I can’t blame you… lovely (Y/N) here tastes just like cotton candy” mumbled Duncan, sharing an intense look with Michael, a light smile on his face, meanwhile Jimmy just pouted, before he drifted down under the table and before you knew it, your dress was brought up to your hips and your panties down.

“Then it’s only fair that I take my taste”.