#KAMALA DESERVES BETTER THAN TO MARRY HIM

[forever-fixating]

RWRB Appreciation Month Bingo: First Family

For @rwrbsource and @rwrbmovie's RWRB Appreciation Month Bingo: First Family

First Family

Author's Note: All opinions are valid, but as someone raised by a working single mom, I find some of the fandom interpretations of Ellen disheartening. I felt compelled to write this, given all the bullshit swirling around in the news about Kamala Harris. I'm not saying Ellen is a perfect mom, that she didn't make mistakes with Alex and June, but I feel she is way better than some would give her credit for. Maybe that's just my bias showing because she reminds me so much of my mom. Plus, if we want to talk about parental neglect, I think that Catherine basically abandoning her children for years after Arthur's death deserves more scrutiny than is usually given. See my previous ficlet with Henry and Pez for more on that! (steps off soapbox)

Ellen Claremont could not sleep. Leo had taken his nighttime meds and fell fast asleep, currently snoring like a buzzsaw and making Ellen contemplate homicide. She went through her mental checklist one more time, nervous that she was forgetting something that would send the entire ceremony tumbling down tomorrow. Her baby boy was getting married. In the past week, she had gone through at least two packs of tissues from bursting into sporadic fits of tears. June gave her a one-armed hug when she started crying at the florist, confirming the delivery time and location for the arrangements.

"I'm so sorry," Ellen laughed, dabbing at her eyes. "It's just-"

"Oh, you don't have to explain, ma'am," the woman said with a sympathetic smile. "I bawled like a newborn baby when all three of mine got married. You look at them and still see the babies they once were."

"You should have seen her at the tux fitting," June said. Affecting a deep Southern accent, she mock-wailed, "Look at my little boy! He's so grown up. I remember dressing him for his first day of school and now-"

"You were crying too, as I recall!" Ellen said, smacking her oldest's arm. "Just wait 'till it's your turn. I'll be inconsolable."

The two women were joyfully involved in planning Alex's wedding. Right before her second term ended, Ellen was inundated with book deals to write about her historic presidency. After the dust settled and she returned to Austin, she finally went through her inbox and contemplated such a project. There was only one person she went to for help. She called her daughter and asked if she would be willing to work with her on the book.

June was hesitant at first, so Ellen said, "I think this could be good for us, honey. I know I can't make up for all the time we lost, but I don't want to lose anymore. You may not believe it all the time, but you and Alex have always been my greatest accomplishments."

As much as she wanted to, Ellen didn't tell Alex about her offer. She wanted June to want to do this with her. It took about three weeks, but one afternoon, June called. The first words out of her mouth were, "Warts and all, right? I don't want to leave any stone unturned."

"Warts and all," Ellen agreed. With a lump in her throat, she said, "Thank you, honey."

Working on the book with June was something Ellen would always treasure. Seeing her daughter in her element, neck-deep in research materials and pages of questions, made the older woman feel guilty for trying to force her into a box that suited Ellen's needs more than June's. There were days and nights of hard work and even harder conversations, but Ellen wouldn't trade a single second. June unburdened herself of long-held resentments. She cried over being forced to grow up too fast and pick up the slack of caring for Alex when Oscar left for California.

"I was so mad at you," June whispered, her voice wavering as she studied her manicured nails. "I was mad at you for making Dad leave, mad at you for always being busy, mad at you for putting total strangers before me and Alex."

Ellen reached out to take her daughter's hand when she cut herself off. It was difficult to hear how she failed her kids, but she knew June needed this. Their relationship wouldn't progress without addressing those hurts. June wiped her runny nose, saying, "As an adult, I realize there is more to it, but try telling that to a twelve-year-old who just wanted her mom to be like all the other moms. At home doing PTA and helping with my homework."

"I felt the same way about my momma," Ellen said, refilling their wine glasses. "Why couldn't I have new clothes instead of hand-me-downs from cousins? Why didn't she make me breakfast or pack me a lunch like Donna Reed? Never mind that she was a high school dropout and a widow working two, sometimes three, jobs just to support us. I couldn't see what she gave up, just what I lost."

June sniffled, her face crumpled. "I felt so guilty because you were out there changing the world, being this hero to so many, and all I could think was how I wanted you home with me, being my momma. I'm sor-"

"No, baby." Ellen pulled June into her arms and squeezed her tight. They were both crying now. "I can admit there were times when my job took precedence over you two. Christ, after what happened to Alex, I blamed myself and my relentless ambition. Why didn't I stay in Texas? Why couldn't I be happy there? How could I let something like this happen to my own son? But I told myself that if I did stay, he wouldn't have met the love of his life."

After tossing and turning for twenty minutes, Ellen gave up on sleeping and climbed out of bed. Immediate family on both sides chose to stay at the lakehouse before the big day. She slipped on her houseshoes and headed to the kitchen for a snack. She smiled when she saw Alex sitting at the counter, tapping away on his laptop.

"That better not be work-related," Ellen teased when she reached him, "or your husband-to-be will be mighty peeved."

Alex jumped but smiled sheepishly before closing the laptop. She took the chair next to him as he said, "I can neither confirm nor deny what I was doing, but I have a bottle of Maker's and a tub of Rocky Road to pay for your silence."

"Proceed, counselor."

Alex grinned and stood. She watched him move around the kitchen with the softest of smiles. The florist's words returned to her and never felt more true than in that moment. Though a young man stood there, pouring them whiskey and grabbing two spoons and a frosty tub of Bluebell out of the freezer, all she could see was a little boy arguing with a Seaworld employee, a lanky teen excited to drive without supervision. And now here he was, about to marry his fairytale prince.

When he caught her scrubbing the corner of her eye, he shook his head and said quickly, "No, no, no! Momma, please don't start crying 'cause if you start, I won't stop!"

"I'm sorry!" Ellen whimpered between giggles. Alex set their drinks down and put the Bluebell tub between them. As he took his seat, she sipped her whiskey and said, "You're just my baby boy, and you're getting married tomorrow. Poor Junie has been consoling me for weeks."

They clinked their glasses together, and he opened the ice cream. Each of them dug in with matching watery smiles. After a period of silence, Alex said softly, "Shit...I'm getting married tomorrow."

Ellen gave him a chocolate whiskey kiss on the cheek. "You sure are."

He ate another spoonful and said around it, "Is it weird that I'm not nervous? Like...I just want to go home with my husband and unpack our house together."

"Not at all, baby." She took another sip, relishing the burn down her throat. "Alex, when things were at their worst, your love for that boy was unshakeable. Trust in that always, and you'll be okay."

"Any other pearls of wisdom?"

Ellen snorted. "You sure you want my advice? I did get divorced."

"That's why I trust you more than most," he said, his eyes and voice so earnest. "May not have gotten it right the first time, but you got there eventually."

Ellen hummed. She thought back to her marriage with Oscar. Already pregnant, they opted for a quick ceremony with the Justice of the Peace. Neither of their families was happy about that decision, thinking they were moving too fast. All her momma could say when Ellen asked her to be there was, "You're gonna regret this, Ellie, but you're grown. I can't stop you."

"Well," Ellen sighed, leaning back into her chair, "the most important thing, especially since you're your momma's child, is to make time for him. Don't wait for birthdays or anniversaries to celebrate each other. If you see a trinket that makes you smile and think of him, buy it. The little moments are just as important as the big ones, baby."

"Is that why you and Dad didn't work?"

She gave her son a sad smile and said, "If I'm perfectly honest, I don't think your daddy and me would've made it long-term. We were both too stubborn to listen, too proud to compromise. But Alex, I wouldn't change a thing. All the mistakes I've made, the regrets I have...you two were never that."

Alex ducked his head, his long curls falling forward. "Goddamn it, Momma. Told you not to make me cry."

"Oh, baby," she laughed. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed his head and said, "You and Henry are forever. I've never felt more certain about anything in my life."

"More than winning the Presidency?" Alex laughed.

"Especially more than that."

A/N: I tried to give space for valid criticisms of Ellen while still allowing for some grace and understanding. That she and Alex have such a good relationship in the book counts for something in my mind. Share your thoughts down below! I love getting nerdy about RWRB.

Check out this post and join the fun in celebrating the one-year anniversary of our little romcom that could being released!

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter

The media is normalizing Trump's victory by “blaming Democratic elites” and criticizing the Democratic campaign.

The defining feature of Trump's campaign was its appeal to racism, misogyny, and white supremacy. He pushed those themes despite pleas from his advisers to focus on the economy. Having campaigned on themes of hate and division, he won decisively. The most compelling inference from those facts is that Trump's campaign themes appealed to a broad swath of the voters who supported him.

But the media is (again) sane-washing Trump's depravity. Rather than acknowledge—or even mention—his dominant campaign themes in analyzing his victory, the media insists that Trump won because Democrats are “elitists” who somehow “alienated” major portions of the electorate or that Democrats lost because Kamala Harris and her advisors refused to run her campaign in the manner demanded by the legacy media.

Saturday brought a new spate of such articles—many of which were forwarded to me by readers who seemed to agree with the “I told you so” tone of the articles.

Okay. I’ll play that game. Let’s assume that Democrats made mistakes in the execution of Harris’s nearly flawless campaign. Let’s assume that despite the dozens of policies designed to help the working and middle classes, Democrats are not connecting with those voters. Even accepting those assumptions, the story of what happened on Tuesday is not that Democrats deserve a tongue-lashing by professional scolds.

The story is that America elected a convicted felon for the first time its history. It is that America elected an adjudicated sexual abuser as its president. It is that America elected a man who attempted a coup and incited an insurrection the last time he was president. It is that America elected a president who declares that those Americans who oppose him are “enemies from within.” It is that the man the media is currently lionizing has threatened to shut down CBS, ABC, the New York Times, Google, and other outlets that have accurately reported the truth about Donald Trump. It is that he has promised to fire the prosecutor who is pursuing two indictments issued by grand juries of his peers.

Here's the point: Choosing to write stories that “blame elitist Democrats” ignores the real story of what happened on Tuesday. That distraction normalizes the grotesque, existential threat of Trump's electoral victory. Trump could not buy more favorable and helpful coverage if he paid for those stories with Elon Musk’s billions.

The media again fails to comprehend the moment, much less rise to it. It is like reporting on the sinking of the Titanic by criticizing the viscosity of the oil in Engine Number Two. While the Titanic’s engineers might have used underweight oil, ignoring the iceberg’s role in the Titanic’s sinking is unforgivable.

The failure of the media is even more unforgivable because Trump represents an ongoing threat to democracy. Such petty, “inside baseball” reporting is fatuous under normal circumstances. It is journalistic malpractice in this perilous moment.

It is also insulting to the millions of Democrats who worked their ***** off to help elect Kamala Harris. While it is true that the Democratic Party has high-paid consultants and political insiders, they are the tiniest fraction of the party. The real Democratic Party includes Black women who staffed nearly every polling station in the South. It includes young, first-time voters who believe fervently in the promise of America. It includes retirees living on Social Security walking precincts despite aching knees and anxious hearts. It includes young married couples, straight and gay, who are desperately hoping for a better future for their children. It includes the out-of-work middle-aged mechanic with a pre-existing condition who worries about not qualifying for health insurance on the open market.

So, when clueless but know-it-all wags criticize the “elitist Democrats,” that is who they are criticizing. In fact, those who choose to criticize “Democratic elites” are revealing their profound ignorance of who makes up the backbone of the Democratic Party.

It is especially offensive to exhibit glee while chastising “Democratic elites” when most everyone in the party is experiencing raw emotions of bewilderment and despair over the fact that America would elect a convicted felon-sexual abuser-insurrectionist as our president. So, please desist.

There will be a time and a place to discuss how Democrats governed under Biden and how they campaigned under Harris. But rubbing people’s faces in grudge-settling op-eds by smug journalists is counterproductive, graceless, and offensive. Exhibit some empathy and humanity. Rather than explaining why you believe Democrats lost, consider asking someone whose heart is broken how they are doing after giving their all in the hope that Kamala would win and that Trump would lose.

I sometimes receive criticism from readers saying that my comments are “over the top” or intemperate. That may be true. However, Rebecca Solnit (of The Guardian) feels even more passionate about this subject than I do. For those of you who know Solnit, she is one of the finest writers of our generation. See her Facebook post, link here: Rebecca Solnit – F*ck the media explanations that Trump won because of the economy . . . . For those of you who do not have a Facebook account, I have excerpted the posting in a Google Doc, accessible to all here: Rebecca Solnit Facebook Doc.

Democrats tried to stop Trump. They lost because Trump’s feral instincts knew that a substantial portion of the electorate would respond to his racist, sexist, white supremacist platform. Sadly, he turned out to be correct—for now. But he is wrong about who the American people are. When more of them vote, his dark vision of America will be repudiated, and the arc of the moral universe will once again bend toward justice.

[akbarasghar]

Fuck Bruno Carrelli lives 

[coffeecatsandcandles]

What if widowed!dad!bucky overhears toxic yet kinda close to the reader people saying how the reader deserves so much better than Bucky—

who is still hung up on the deceased love of his life?

That the reader deserves more than being a place holder, or only coming second after the ghost of his late wife? (Adding how they think everything reader does is really just second to his wife, like his wife is still the best, most beautiful and amazing woman)

That the reader could do so much better than being loved by a man only because his daughter needs and wants a mother? (Let’s pretend they heard bucky saying he needs to put becca’s happiness first, that Becca needs a mom, basically implying that they heard Bucky saying he’s with the reader bc he thinks she’s the only one willing to be the mother of his child, and not because he loves her genuinely)

That he just married you so that you won’t be able to leave them, and that he and Becca wouldn’t be alone or be an incomplete family

That she needs a man who could love her whole-heartedly, not a man who’s heart is partly occupied by his previous wife.

Basically, he heard people saying you shouldn’t have settled for bucky because you will always have to compete for his love and your place in his heart, since his wife would always be there. Since he couldn’t and wouldnt even let go. (Say they use the “he even still has a memory chest” against him)

What would his reaction be?

Would he be insecure/scared that you’ll find someone “better” than him? Would he reassure you of his love? Will he defend his and your honor and love to them directly?

I would love to hear abt this!

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞

𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐱 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐔

➵ 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 | A look into how life has been for you, James and Rebecca.

➵ 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 | widowed!dad!teacher!Bucky Barnes x teacher!reader (ft. Kamala Khan and Yelena Belova)

➵ 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 | rumors, talk of domestic violence and manipulation (this is not a dark fic), language.

The warm water fell down your body as you inhaled the scent of your lavender body wash. You let out a long, dreamy sigh at the feeling. No- at your life. It truly was a dream. You and James were still in the honeymoon phase, though you were confident you’d never get out of it. Married life was everything you’d hoped it would be and more. Maybe it was because you’d found your dream man, but now you finally understood why people made such a big deal about marriage. It was heaven.

Rebecca was excelling in school, so much so that even her teachers were trying to get her to skip a grade. You remembered the proud smirk on James’s face when they’d told the two of you that.

And with a new job opportunity lined up for you- at the college level- you felt like things were more perfect than they could ever be. You thought about all the times you thought life was perfect, and how they just got better and better as days went on. Even the little things, like your nightly bedtime cuddles on the couch with James and Rebecca as the fireplace glowed, tea or cider in hand- or the possible talk of maybe, possibly, at the perfectly right time, having another baby as you and James tried to fall asleep each night. You’d daydream about what they would look like, how Becca would react. It always brought a sleepy smile to your face as James gently grazed your scalp until you fell asleep, always feeling a kiss on your forehead right before you lost consciousness.

Life was perfect, there was no doubt about it.

Quickly snapping you out of your daydream, you heard your cell phone ringing from the bedroom, just a few feet away. Unable to answer it due to the fact that you were sudsy and naked, you called your husband.

“Jamie,” you sing-songed, “Can you get that, please? It might be the university.”

“Yeah, of course,” he said. You eased a bit hearing him answer, a muffled “this is her husband speaking,” causing a cheeky grin to sneak onto your face. You loved hearing him call himself that, just as much as you loved saying it.

James Barnes was your husband.

Turning off the water, you stepped out, hurriedly covering your body with a fluffy beige towel so you wouldn’t shiver. Drying yourself enough to where water wouldn’t drip everywhere, you made your way to James, where you spotted him staring at something on your phone.

You didn’t have anything to hide with him- you were an open book with each other. But the look of concern on his face still made you worry.

“Everything okay? Who was it?” you asked.

“Yeah, it was the university, they just said they’d email you to ask about scheduling a meeting. But then you kept getting text messages and I got a little curious, I’m sorry.” He handed your phone back to you, hands making their way to your hips.

“Don’t be sorry.” you said, kissing him once. Though he kept trying for more, sloppily kissing every inch of your face and neck until you started giggling.

“What? I can’t kiss my gorgeous, sexy wife?” James retaliated, finding that sweet spot on your neck and involuntarily earning a light moan from you.

His lips felt so good on your skin, but you couldn’t ignore the things you had to do today, and that there was an eight-year-old just a few rooms away. “Jamie, I just showered.” you said. You’d really been milking this nickname of his lately, but only because of his reaction whenever you said it. He almost went feral when you called him that- his eyes went wide and his pupils blew out, and you knew he’d go to the ends of the earth just to hear you say his name like that.

“What are you insinuating? That I’m dirty?” he asked, faking offense and returning to kissing your body, focusing on your exposed shoulders and collarbones.

You smiled, “We both have a lot to do today- maybe tonight we can,” you offered, to which James responded with an exaggerated, playful groan.

“Daddy!” Rebecca called from her room.

You shook your head and laughed, “Your daughter wants you,” you kissed him once more, “Go, before she starts yelling.”

James playfully rolled his eyes, making his way out the door to tend to his daughter and let you change. You heard his muffled voice yet again, “What, bug? I can’t spend one minute alone with Mom?”

Mom. It was a strange adjustment at first, especially for James. But after James gave you his approval for Rebecca to continue to call you Mom, the two of you agreed that “Mom” was reserved for you, and “Mommy” was reserved for her biological mother to save confusion. But still, you smiled at the title. You loved Rebecca as if you actually gave birth to her. She was the baby you had the absolute privilege of being a mother figure towards. You hoped you were doing a good job, a job that would make her late mother proud.

Your phone kept buzzing. Slightly annoyed, you glanced at the texts you were receiving, all from new colleagues. The university had asked if two students could observe your classes, and you agreed, hoping it would put a good word in with your future bosses. You were met with texts upon texts in the group message you made for them.

KK: Mrs. Barnes- I don’t want to alarm you, but the other students have been talking about you and Mr. Barnes, specifically him. I’m actually a little concerned for you.

YB: Yeah- I’ve told them to knock it off a couple times, but I think they keep doing it because other teachers talk too. IDK how you handle it, they’re not very subtle. I’m resisting the urge to fight them, honestly.

KK: Yelena, stop. You could get someone fired. I just want to make sure she’s okay.

YB: And? It’s not professional to talk about someone’s husband like that, especially in front of kids.

Besides, half of them are new hires anyway. It’s not like they’re going to stay there.

KK: Westview is a good school. Think about their families!

YB: Think about HER family Kamala! Especially Mr. Barnes, he’s been teaching there longer than most of them anyways!

You rolled your eyes and scoffed at their texts. This wasn’t new, you knew people talked. Yelena and Kamala were good kids, and you knew they were only looking out for you. You began to type.

Okay, what have you heard? I’m sure I can explain everything. I can’t help what people say, but I can shut down those rumors. Just tell me.

You got dressed as you waited for a response. Then you remembered that James likely saw these messages as he went to answer your phone. He could’ve seen everything that the two of them were saying.

The concern they show and how they may be believing the rumors going around about you and James.

That other people were talking about you behind your back, and it was affecting how your colleagues looked at you.

It wasn’t like you cared that deeply- you knew your truth and that you were a good wife, James was a good husband, and you had a wonderful, smart little girl like Rebecca to call yours.

You tried to ignore it, but still- it irked you.

You received another text.

KK: Basically, other teachers have been saying you married Mr. Barnes out of pity, he’s quite abusive, and that you could do better and should leave him for your own sake.

Your heart sank. Immediately, you began to type.

Well, I can tell both of you that is not true at all. Mr. Barnes is a wonderful man, loving husband, and exceptional father. He never would lay a hand on me- I can’t even come up with an “if he did” scenario because I know in my heart he wouldn’t. Thank you for letting me know about this and I will be talking to Ms. Danvers about these rumors.

Making your way downstairs, you found Rebecca at the table eating breakfast. Her mouth was slightly stained red from her strawberries, and James was making your tumbler of coffee. You observed him. He seemed fine, maybe he didn’t see the texts.

Trying to shake the conversation, you made your way to your husband, kissing him lightly on the cheek. He gave a small smirk in response- unusual behavior as of lately. Normally, he’d grab you by the waist and place a thousand tiny kisses all over your face until you laughed. That was your morning norm. That made your heart sink- maybe he did read those texts. Maybe he did think that you finally realized you were too good for him.

He always thought that- who was he to be so deserving of someone so perfect? Someone who treated his daughter so well. Someone who loved him unconditionally and even accepted his past.

He wanted to talk about it, but all his brain could do was shut down.

-

“I’m so sorry about those texts, Mrs. Barnes. Really, I didn’t mean to offend you or Mr. Barnes,” Kamala said almost immediately upon her entrance into your classroom. Her movements were all over the place- you worried her toasted blueberry bagel would crumble in her hands at how much she was moving and how tight her grip was. Yelena followed behind her, eyes wide at Kamala’s apology. You couldn’t have had two student teachers more opposite of each other, but worked so well. Apparently they lived together in the dorms their first year of undergrad and had been close friends ever since. They complimented each other nicely.

“It’s alright- like I said, nothing I haven’t heard before.” You said, handing them papers to place on each desk for bellwork.

“So, he’s not abusive? That’s such a relief because honestly, I thought I saw a bruise or something on your arm the other day and I got really worried-”

“Jesus, Kamala. She’s fine. Let it go.” Yelena interjected.

“I’ve heard people think we’re not right for each other. You should’ve seen our first year together. He was kind of a trainwreck. I can see how people might’ve thought that- he wasn’t exactly the nicest teacher when we met, but he was always a good guy, though. But he’s better now, isn’t he?”

Yelena and Kamala nodded as they grabbed half a stack of worksheets each, getting ready for the beginning of the day. James lightly tapped on your door, the tumbler of coffee he’d made for you in hand. You must have left it in his car.

“Speak of the devil,” you said, earning a smile from him as you took the cup from him. “Thank you- I was wondering where that went.”

He kissed your cheek- trying to keep things appropriate in front of the college students, if the two of you were alone, he would’ve done more. “You must be getting observed by Danvers today,” he turned to Kamala and Yelena, “She usually gets a little forgetful when something important is coming up. Under no circumstances would she ever forget her morning coffee on any other day.”

The four of you shared a light laugh. He seemed to be in a better mood since this morning- was he even in a bad mood to begin with? It was just unlike him to not be all over you. Was the honeymoon stage over? Right after you thought it would never end?

“Yeah, plus these rumors can’t be helpful to either of you,” Yelena said, then immediately covered her mouth.

The smile faded, and instead James looked hurt. “Rumors? What rumors? Is that what those texts were about?”

There was an awkward halt in the conversation as Yelena realized she said the wrong thing. Kamala was now the one to stare daggers at her. “I think I’m gonna grab something from the vending machine,” Yelena finally continued, using any excuse to leave the room.

“Yeah, I’ll join you.” Kamala said, sensing that you and James needed to talk about this alone. You glanced at the time. 7:45. You still had plenty of time before students would show up.

You and James waited for them to leave. He fully walked into the classroom, leaving the door ajar. “What is it this time?” he asked with eyes that could break your heart into a million pieces.

“Nothing-” you began.

“Clearly it’s not nothing. Whatever it is, I can handle it. You know once there was a rumor I purposely crashed that car? That kid had it out for me that year because I flunked her- even though she never turned her work in. Nothing can hurt me, I promise.”

His fingers grazed your face gently, his touch bringing you comfort. It always did.

“Just- same old, same old. You’re abusive, I married you out of pity, I’m taking this university job because I’m planning on leaving you. Nothing we haven’t heard before. It’s just annoying.” You sighed.

James sighed along with you. “Well, are any of those things true?” he asked. It was almost like it was a trick question.

You smiled at his optimism, “No,” you muttered.

“Then ignore them. Who cares what they think? They don’t fully understand what you and I have been through, so fuck them, alright? Life’s a lot more stress-free that way.”

“But it’s my job as your wife to defend you, isn’t it?”

“Your only ‘job’ as my wife, if you even want one, is to be there. To be a mom to Becca. And you’re already doing a fucking incredible job at that. So don’t stress about me, love. Plus, you’ll be out of here in what, eight weeks? You got this.”

You smiled as he kissed your forehead and wrapped his arms around you. You needed this. “How do you do it? How do you listen to all this crap about you and just ignore it?” you asked, your voice slightly muffled by his shirt.

“I didn’t always- remember how much of a jerk I used to be here?”

“What changed?” you asked, your gaze meeting him. You could fall so deep into those crystal blue eyes.

James smiled and kissed your head one more time. “You came along.”

Kamala and Yelena returned, each with a pastry snack in hand, hoping they bought enough time away and would return at the right time. Thankfully, they did. The last thing they wanted was to walk back in on an escalated argument.

“Well, you ladies have a good day,” he made his way out after kissing your knuckles. You smiled, a sense of relief coming through the student teachers. He turned to you before walking out the door. “I love you.”

You smiled- you always said that to each other every morning before leaving for your classrooms, but this time was different. His words were the most genuine they’d ever been. He had his heart on display for you with his words, and you would keep it in the safest spot in the world: your hands.

“I love you more, James.”

-

@enchantingkitchenofcanon @lneedtherapy @lonewolf471 @mrsstan21 @thatbrownbitch @agjufgtr3567 @pineprincess @effyfuckingmccall @thesnowsoldierwrites @whore-for-bucky @unlikelygalaxygiver @lively-disrespect @weirdkid-intheback @xabsinthe @xcaptain-winterx @bucky-soldat @vlondii @charnahsblog @lil-mamiii @rebelliousburgeradvocate @versacebutera @karenmissa @sweetwerewolfqueen @xxpeachyxo @i-don’t-know-how-to-words @savannahxdj @harpersmariano @tanyaspartak @fandom-life-12 @jackiehollanderr @hazzasjule @white-wolf-buckaroo @seybox @the-mystical-witch @fleetwoodmacand-cheese @hawsx3 @the-fandom-ness @thehuntresswolf @emmabarnes @anime-for-live @bakucumsackslut @ur-riddikulus @buckybarnessugarbaby @bodeckersdiamonddoll @shytypeaq @booksndraspberryjam @katzvelvet @440mxs-wife @annabethchaseinyourface

@poguestyleskye @rebloggingmyrecs @buckysbaby-doll @loudbluepancake @hdbngsprnva @slutforrafecameron @blueber-ries @haynsey @bluevxnus @starry-night-20 @1-800-benji-chilwell @vivalakatee @themorningsunshine @sunflowerfive @happytoseeyou @humansriracha @tesla-pigeon @bebravetofuckup @anna-kaye @samthemarvelfan @cumberpeepz @1-800-drugged @slutforsexyseabass @bqnners @slytherinsbuckybanesstark @peakascum @joannarabbit @maltifandomwar @bucky-stan14 @itvy5601 @foodieindisguise @buckybarneshairpullingkink @blue786sworld @upharrysnose @prettylittlepluviophile @aynanasstuff @hazzasswiftie @concettamanuppelli-blog @lovelysiriuss @alimalili @alianovnataliaromanova @elen-alambil @invisible-somtimes @lauramacch @samwilson-mylove @every-when @alexramos33 @buttercup1984 @lavendernightmares @magicalsimp

@p0tterhead934 @mrs--barnes @emetophilily @tanyaherondale @lianadare18 @lettersandsodas

[annamarielabeau]

MCU Phase 4 ships I hope to see have some outcome.

Druig/Makkari-My favorite Marvel ship EVER!!! Like, seriously I want someone to love me the way Druig loves Makkari. Barry Keoghan and Lauren Ridloff just have amazing chemistry, need I say more. Whether it’s in a movie sequel or prequel series I just hope to see more of them being a power couple, working together more, I just want them to have more screen time than they did in the first movie, they’re so sweet! 

Sersi/Ikaris and Thena/Gilgamesh-If there’s ever more Eternals content, I would like to have a prequel series about the Eternals time on Earth to better understand the characters and the relationships. Ikaris and Sersi included. I was moved by their little moment at the end of the movie but I just want more of them to understand the severity of the scene a bit more. Thena and Gilgamesh, I tbh only see as a purely platonic friendship, but if it wasn’t that works just as well. Again with a prequel series of some kind we could see more of them together and understand the reason why Gil chose to take care of Thena. (Plus Don Lee did say he signed up for more than one Marvel project so.....)

Sersi/Dane-They were very cute together, whatever is in store for them I’m on board 100%!! 

Xu Xialing/Katy Chen-I don’t really ship these two but I can see it work. One’s the love-able dork and the other is just a bad-ass. Friends to lovers, yes! 100%

Maya Lopez/Kazi Kazimierczak-Like Gil and Thena this could very well be a platonic friendship or a romantic relationship. (The scene when Kazi is patching up her wounds tho and how Maya dressed up when she went to fight him like?!) Either way they definitely have a history together. As shown in the deleted scene for Hawkeye, I’m not sure if he’s actually dead. (95% sure he is) Whether or not he is blah blah I want to see maybe one flashback scene of them in the Echo series or how his death affects or affected Maya. 

Thor/Mighty Thor (Jane Foster)-Love and Thunder wasn’t one of my absolute favorite phase 4 movies ever but I liked this “remedy” of their relationship. The “Our Last Summer” monologue was so funny and served as a great way for the audience to understand the importance of their love etc. Jane is obviously dead, died a warrior’s death, she’s now in Vahalla. I don’t know how but at some point I just want Jane and Thor to reunite, even if it’s just for a moment. 

Wong/Sara-Not too many people know about this one I’m sure and Sara for those who don’t know Sara is the one who destroyed the Darkhold, then sacrificing herself. Again with the platonic or romantic relationship question. I think it can be seen as either of them. They might have had some history together. But the moment they had together before Sara sacrificed herself and how she touched Wong’s cheek, so sweet!

Doctor Strange/Clea-I don’t know anything about them in the comics other than at some point they get married and Clea is Dormammu’s niece. But if they get together, I’m down, I kind of just want Stephen to be happy. 

Peter Parker/MJ Waston-These two are so cute!! They deserve the world. I don’t think they’ll ever be together again which is probably for best since for the moment, they seemed to have set up a Tobey Maguire Spiderman self discovery arc for Peter. But somehow I’d love to see MJ and Peter reunite. 

Kamala Khan/Bruno Carrelli-Now Kamala Khan has a few potential love interests as she does in the comics. I’m not getting ahead of myself, there’s only been one season so far, (season 2! season 2!!!) I’m team Bruno. But if they ever get together, I’d rather see more of their backstory and more of them together. 

King Valkyrie/Captain Marvel-This ship has been around for a while and I know there has been a rumor of Valkyrie being in The Marvels because of the deleted Insta post, posted by Zenobia Shroff. I’d wouldn’t mind this at all. Kevin Feige said “Every King needs a Queen” I want to see more of Valkyrie’s bisexuality expressed.

Loki/Sylvie-I mean I don’t care either way if they end up together, I’m not uncomfortable that they’re their both Loki’s, they’re from different universes so, not that bad? When it comes to their future, I don’t see them actually end up together, for Loki season 2, they’re probably just going to ignore their history and work together, maybe flirt a bit a little on the way. 

Jack Russell/Elsa Bloodstone-I sensed a bit of romantic vibes between them, I have no idea when or if we’ll ever see them again but I kind of just want Jack to show up and see Elsa again while she’s basically creating a new legacy of her family’s name and stopping monster hunting etc. 

Jennifer Walters/(She-Hulk)Matthew Murdock(Daredevil)-Whatever happens for these two crime fighting lawyers, I’m down. They had amazing chemistry in the show and I liked it because Jen met someone who made her happy. 

Ayo/Aneka-I didn’t know this but they are a couple in the comics, this is briefly represented in the movie. Like Ayo saying “I told you not to bring the daggers” and then Aneka kissing her head towards the end of the movie. I just want to see more of these beautiful warrior women enjoying their lives in their lakefront house. Make it happen Disney Plus!!!

Shuri/M’Baku-There’s not a lot of hype around this ship, some fanfics. After seeing Wakanda Forever I just felt some romantic vibes between them. I don’t see them becoming anything. But I just liked throughout this movie Shuri and M’Baku are just these two leaders doing what’s best by their people, Shuri is struggling and receives some council from M’Baku. Even if there’s nothing romantic between them I still appreciate the respect they have for each other. 

[melanielocke]

A surprise baby - part 2

After spending the night with Augustus Pounceby and being humiliated when he proposes to someone else, Eugenia Lightwood finds herself pregnant outside of wedlock. She doesn’t want to lose her child, but doesn’t know how to keep her situation hidden anymore, nor does she have any intention of marrying Augustus, or any man at that. Instead, she’s fallen in love with Kamala Joshi.

CW: Pregnancy

AO3

Part 1

Taglist: @foxglove-airmid @justanormaldemon @styxdrawings @ipromiseiwillwrite @alastair-esfandiyar-carstairs1

‘I hope you don’t like Charles too much,’ Kamala said. ‘As Alastair and I are having our weekly Charles Fairchild is an ass meeting and you’ve been invited to join.’

Eugenia would have considered Charles a friend once, but that was a long time ago. She’d thought once, that he was a more mature and sensible than his younger brother and had hoped he could talk some sense into the Merry Thieves. They certainly didn’t listen to her, and were the most reckless fools she’d ever encountered in her life.

But that was before Charles had abandoned Kamala in such a terrible way though. Who left their fiancée when they were sick? Kamala, it turned out, was glad to have dodged that bullet in the end. Eugenia guessed she felt the same way about Augustus now. She knew Kamala preferred women, and Eugenia began to suspect that she might not have a preference at all, and was in love with Kamala now.

It had been a few weeks since telling her parents and Thomas about her pregnancy. It had been decided Eugenia would have to travel for some time, but she wasn’t yet sure where and with who. With everything going on, Thomas preferred to stay in London with his friends.

‘Would it be possible to add Augustus Pounceby?’ Eugenia asked. ‘I mean, make it a weekly Charles Fairchild and Augustus Pounceby are both an ass meeting.’

‘Augustus Pounceby ís an ass,’ Alastair agreed. ‘He and I went to school together. He was the worst.’

Eugenia knew that at some point during his school years, Alastair had been awful as well. But since befriending him recently, he’d explained some of it and Eugenia could sympathize. The image of schoolboy Thomas trailing behind him was hilarious, especially now that she knew Thomas was deeply in love with Alastair. But it was also because Thomas had always noticed something was not right with Alastair, that he was hurting. Her little brother had always been awfully sensitive to other people’s moods, Eugenia couldn’t keep a thing from him. From Thomas’ stories, Alastair had grown and changed a lot since their school days, and Eugenia was glad for it because now she had two amazing friends she could hate on Augustus with.

She didn’t think anyone had ever treated Augustus badly, he simply believed he was better than everyone else and therefore deserved more. Even when Eugenia had been close to him, he’d always acted very entitled.

‘He is awful,’ Kamala agreed. ‘And racist. I agree we can hate on Augustus as well as Charles here. Who wants to share their feelings first?’

The afternoon was fun, and Eugenia felt welcomed into the group. Alastair and Kamala had been friends for a little longer, although that had taken a lot of effort on Kamala’s part. The problem was, a man and a woman spending time together was suspicious, and therefore there always had to be a third party present. At first that had been Grace, but she mostly seemed bored, and now her engagement with Charles was broken and Grace was gone… somewhere. Kamala was still looking into the whole thing as she had not given up on Grace, but Eugenia had no clue what had happened. Kamala and Alastair were glad to have Eugenia’s company, because even if the Bridgestocks did not approve of Alastair, at least they could be sure no one was ruining their daughter.

Alastair at some point decided to make fun of Charles’ posh accent, and Eugenia had to admit his imitation was on point.

‘I am thinking of traveling to India,’ Kamala said. ‘My parents… I know they love me, but they took me away from everything I know and pretend I was born here. I remember so little from India, I barely speak the language anymore. But I had a past there. And I’ve been trying to replicate the food my mom used to cook for me, but I never quite got it right.’

Eugenia had no idea what it was like, to be so disconnected from her culture and her homeland. Alastair knew a bit better. He still had his mother, but he hadn’t been in Persia for a long time and was estranged from his family. Eugenia suspected it was part of why Kamala and Alastair were so taken with each other, they both knew what it was like to live in England as someone who wasn’t white and who was disconnected from their homeland.

‘I’ll help you if you want to make another attempt at replicating your mother’s cooking,’ Alastair offered.

In the end when it was nearing dinner time, the three of them did go into the kitchen. Alastair apparently had learnt how to cook from their cook, Risa and mostly knew how to cook Persian food. Kamala knew a little about cooking, but mostly tried to go by smells she remembered from her childhood and vegetables she remembered had been in there.

Eugenia decided it was best for everyone involved if she sat back and watched. Tommy was the cook in the family. And her mother, of course, who had been a servant once. Eugenia, on the other hand, had been forbidden from entering the kitchen at home, and only helped with cutting up the vegetables here and there. Even she couldn’t mess that up, and if she ended up cutting herself, healing runes could be applied.

Bridget, the institute’s cook, was not too happy about them using the kitchen as a pastime, and released some very unsavory Irish curse words about the mess they were sure to make. Eugenia recognized the words, her mother was Irish too and she’d learnt the language, even if she had always struggled with learning languages. She responded in Irish, explaining what they were doing here as best as she could. For good measure she promised she would clean up.

‘I didn’t realize you spoke Irish,’ Kamala said.

‘I’m not great at languages, but I learnt Irish and Spanish from a young age,’ Eugenia said. ‘My mother is Irish and my father loves speaking Spanish at home. Tommy is better at languages though, he also speaks Welsh and Persian.’

Alastair stared at her, his eyes wide. ‘Thomas speaks Persian?’

‘He’s been studying Persian with Lucie,’ Eugenia said. ‘Lucie wanted to learn because she thought she should be able to speak her parabatai’s mother tongue. Thomas helped her because he’s so good with languages.’

Eugenia suspected his feelings for Alastair also played a role in his determination to learn the language. It was sweet, to learn someone’s language for them.

‘Charles never cared much about my language,’ Alastair said. ‘Nor what I said when I spoke it. I understand not everyone could learn, it’s not easy for an English speaker. But Thomas, he really speaks it?’

Eugenia imagined that had to be hurtful. She would love to learn Kamala’s language for her, even if she would never get any good at it. Still, it was the effort that counted, right? At least she hoped so.

‘He does read Persian poetry, so I imagine he grasps it. Don’t pin me down on it though, I don’t know how good he is. But he excels at languages and has been studying for several years now. He also helped James with learning for Cordelia. I was under the impression he speaks it quite well, doesn’t he?’

Alastair snorted. ‘I think he understand enough, but honestly his accent is embarrassing.’

Soon enough, the kitchen began to smell delicious. Kamala admitted what she’d made wasn’t quite what she remembered from home, but it was a better attempt than the last. Eugenia had had all sorts of cravings lately, not to mention a sensitivity to smells. She could barely stomach meat anymore, but she craved sweets at the most opportune moments.

Kamala and Alastair had made a vegetable dish with some rice and lots of spices, and the smell had to be the most amazing thing she’d smelt in a while. English food tended to be rather bland, favoring the flavor of meat and gravy which Eugenia currently couldn’t stomach. This was much better, and once they could eat, she made sure everything was finished even if Kamala and Alastair had cooked way too much for three.

‘Do they not feed you at home?’ Alastair asked when she finished her third plate. ‘Is it because Thomas eats everything? He must have gotten so ridiculously tall somehow.’

Eugenia snorted. Thomas was like a bottomless pit when it came to food, she suspected he was always hungry.

‘This is very good food,’ Eugenia said. ‘And I was very hungry.’ She contemplated what to say next for moment. Telling people about a pregnancy was a huge risk, but Alastair and Kamala were her friends. Apart from her parents and Thomas, they were the people she trusted more than anything. ‘I’m also eating for two people.’

Alright, at the moment she was eating for three people, but she blamed that on pregnancy cravings.

Alastair stared at her in confusion, Kamala in shock, her hand over her mouth.

‘You’re having a baby?’ Kamala whispered.

‘You can’t tell anyone,’ Eugenia said. ‘My parents and Tommy know, and now you, but beyond that no one can know. We’re still figuring out what to do. But as my closest friends, I thought you should know too. I don’t think I’d be able to hide it for much longer anyway.’

‘You could come to India with me,’ Kamala said. ‘I can hardly travel as a woman alone, and Alastair cannot leave his mother while she is about to give birth. We could return when you are about to give birth, make sure no one sees you until the baby is born, and the pretend we found the baby and don’t know whose it is except that they’re shadowhunters.’

Eugenia had to admit that plan was sound. She didn’t know anyone in India, no one who could spread the word she’d gotten pregnant out of wedlock. She could pretend she had a husband somewhere, but was traveling with her dear friend Kamala who wanted to reconnect with her home country.

‘Will your parents approve?’ Eugenia asked.

Kamala waved with her hand. ‘Oh, probably not. They do not approve of people calling me Kamala rather than Ariadne, or me spending time with Alastair, who they think is very improper company.’

Alastair shrugged. ‘They aren’t wrong.’

‘But I’m done seeking their approval,’ Kamala added. ‘I’m thinking of moving out. When I agreed to marry Charles, I had no one to fall back on, no support, only the very conditional love of my parents. But now that’s changed. Living as a woman alone would be unproper. But if you were to join me, dear Eugenia…. No one would question a thing.’

Would Kamala feel for her, as Eugenia did for her? She knew Kamala had recently broken things off with Anna, perhaps it was too soon. Eugenia loved her cousin, of course, but found it hard to accept that she treated her lovers as Augustus had treated Eugenia.

‘Would you help me care for the baby?’ Eugenia asked.

She knew reputation wise it was probably best to let someone adopt her child, but she didn’t want to. Eugenia did want to be a mother, and she didn’t want to wait around for another man who was only going to treat her badly.

‘Of course!’ Kamala exclaimed. ‘I’ve always wanted to be a mother, but after Charles I thought it wouldn’t happen. And I’ve had plenty of practice with little Alexander, I know how to take care of a child. And of course, Alastair will have plenty of experience soon enough.’

‘I’ll help you wherever I can,’ Alastair said. ‘And after several months of shopping for baby things with Cordelia, I know the best stores. Do you have any ideas for baby names?’

Eugenia had to admit she hadn’t thought about that yet. ‘If it’s a girl, her middle name will be Barbara,’ she said. ‘Beyond that, I have no clue. But we have at least four more months to figure it out.’

Alastair looked amused. ‘That is sweet. I am sorry about your sister.’

‘She would have loved the baby, I’m sure of it,’ Eugenia said.

‘Cordelia and I have been arguing about baby names ever since she found out mâmân was expecting.’

‘What did you come up with?’ Eugenia asked.

‘Rostam if it’s a boy. Shadi if it’s a girl. We both agreed the baby should have a Persian name, and with Father gone he won’t be able to object.’

‘Those are both lovely names,’ Kamala said.

‘I’m sorry about your father,’ Eugenia added. She didn’t think she’d offered him condolences yet. The funeral was days away now.

‘Don’t be,’ Alastair said. ‘He was… not a good father.’

She remembered Elias’ outburst at Cordelia’s wedding, how Alastair and James had dragged him off. Uncle Will and uncle Gabriel had attempted to distract people, but how much did that do, when everyone still left Sona and Alastair with him? She regretted not befriending Alastair sooner. She hadn’t known him all that well, honestly, not until he’d come to the sanctuary that day when Thomas had been arrested and she found out he’d been keeping her brother safe in secret.

‘Would you like to come take tea with me this week?’ Eugenia asked. ‘Both of you.’

Alastair hesitated. ‘With your parents? And your brother?’

Eugenia waved her hand impatiently. ‘Oh they’ll adore you. And they already know about those rumors, they’re not upset about stupid things you did when you were fifteen.’

Alastair didn’t say anything, and Eugenia wondered if he believed her. ‘I’m serious. My parents are very kind and forgiving. And they’re grateful you kept Tommy safe.’

‘I’m not sure it would be good for me to be around Thomas,’ Alastair said.

‘Because you still have feelings for him?’ Kamala asked.

‘Unfortunately, yes,’ Alastair said. ‘It is my curse, apparently, to always want what I can’t have.’

Eugenia rolled her eyes. ‘Always so dramatic, Alastair. Just ask my brother to go out for dinner with you. Tommy is old enough to choose for himself what he wants.’

[thepictureofsdr]

Hey, what are your theories on what happens in Chain of Thorn. Like, obviously, we want Thomastair, and we want Jordelia, we also want Matthew to be happy. So, can you string a theory in which all of this happens?

hey anon thanks for the ask!!! I am so sorry this is long I just have a lot of thoughts

personally, I don't think we're going to get a fully satisfying conclusion, there's far too much happening and far too little time. This series is very different to what we've seen in the past, the main cast has a lot of emotional trauma from each other, rather than having each other to help with trauma from outside situations. they've all been through an alarming amount, and of course mental healing takes a lot of personal work and time, so either we're getting a time skip or some VERY rushed healing.

I think in this situation, my ideal COT would have all the conflict resolution in the beginning. I talked about thomastair in this post, they would get together in the beginning and we could watch them grow over the course of the book. cordelia and matthew stop hiding from their problems, cordelia goes back to actually being there for her heavily pregnant mother and chronically abandoned brother. james and cordelia sort everything out, they all have a talk with matthew and he decides to get help. while he's away for a bit, we see lucie and jesse try to make a case for him to stay alive. I feel like the family would agree so we could watch the institute petition to take him in, it really depends on what direction CC wants to go with for jesse's story. while I'm madly in love with the joshwood ship (kamala and eugenia) I hate to say it but I think we all know its not going to happen. id love to see alastair and kamala become friends, and with his support have kamala realize that she's never deserved the bullshit of anna. we'd get a confrontation scene and anna can spend a few chapters re evaluating her privilege and ignorance. with all the emotional fiascos sorted out hopefully in the first third (I hate how rushed it would be but it's only one book :/) we could have actual progress for the rest of the book, because ngl im sick of drama being dragged out with annoying tropes, interfering with easy plot solutions, and then suddenly being resolved.

no more of this miscommunication, secret keeping, lying. I think everyone just needs to open up and be honest, so we can have some actual emotional growth and healing over the course of the book as they all work together to tie up the paladin and belial situation. personally I really dont care that much about the technical plot I just really want the character arcs to be done justice.

alastair - gets to apologize to everyone properly and begins to forgive himself and heal. he also gets some apologies from the thieves, gains a friend group, and hopefully one of the parents steps in to give him the support elias ripped away. spends the book learning he holds value and his trauma wasn't his fault, that he can move on and he's loved.

thomas - gets closure for barbara and learns to let himself exist beyond the "kind" box everyone shoves him in. he and alastair have had wonderful communication from the beginning so they just need to keep doing what they're doing

cordelia - realizes she isn't at fault for the paladin situation and forgives herself. is open with james and they properly get married

james - is very complicated. I think he deserves a lot of time to sort his own emotions out, have some time alone, have talks with the people in his life, just have the essential "hi im actually in love with you talk" with cordelia at the beginning then spend the rest of the book healing while also helping out with the plot, hopefully ends the book in a good place emotionally.

matthew - spends some time away to deal with alcoholism. comes back in a much better, sober, and stable state, so he can recognize his own feelings and have talks with his important people, especially finally letting others help him with the guilt of the baby situation. of course they all still love him and he begins to believe his love is real. begins to learn to love himself and like who he is. I dont think he was ever really in love with cordelia (talked about here) so id like to see them fall back into that easy friendship.

lucie and jesse - im not really an expert on their arc, so id love to see them slow down the relationship now that one isn't on deaths door. id love to see jesse get to be there for grace properly and watch lucie be a badass and defend jesse's right to exist bc we all know the clave is gonna have issue with that.

christopher just needs to be appreciated please

kamala - gains some independence, realizes the manipulative shit anna's been pulling isn't okay, confronts her and realizes that she deserves more. solidifies her love for herself and gets to be open with who she is

anna - gets called out on her privileged, arrogant, ignorant, sometimes cruel view of relationships and fixes herself up bc I just know CC is gonna put her w kamala.

I genuinely dont know what to feel about grace. she's been through so much, she's cute with christopher but she's caused so much pain. immediate forgiveness would be BS but she still deserves some compassion. I have no idea what could happen w her, hopefully she could talk things out with james and matthew and have a pretty decent redemption arc. get this girl a parental figure and some friends stat

also with all of this emotional maturing id like the thieves to have a talk. they genuinely love each other so much but I think they've all spent too much time neglecting or focusing on each other. their friendship has a lot of potential to be incredibly close and strong and healthy. also they could have such fun friendships with alastair id like to see them forgive him fully.

we dont need all of these characters to be perfect by the end but id like some assurances that their healing has started with support and healthy foundations. there could be a time skip where they deal with the plot, we skip the healing and see them all happy and healthy in a few years but who knows.

tl;dr stupid miscommunication resolved in the beginning > emotional healing can happen across the book > plot gets resolved without miscommunication getting in the way

[bemtevis]

I feel the reason why people criticise Anna more than Matthew, is because CC literally portrays her as a fuckboy. Mathew has slept around, and is annoyingly entitled and superficial. But him have multiple sexual partners (and treating them poorly), isn’t focal to his storyline. Whereas, with Anna, it feels like that’s all her characterisation has come to. I loved her in EET when she was coming to terms with her sexuality and first heartbreak. But after Ariadne, it honestly felt melodramatic of her to stop believing in love, hardening her heart and recklessly dumping and recording names of those she’d slept with.

Bare in mind that this series is set during a time where homosexuality was a sin, and keeping a book like that would’ve been careless in terms of the women’s safety, especially if it got into the wrong hands.

I also dislike the fact that Ariadne has been pinned up as some plot device for Anna’s character development (I absolutely hated how much she yearned and was desperate for Anna in CHOI). As if this beautiful, lesbian WOC doesn’t have anything better to do like, becoming besties with Alastair/Eugenia, and having other romantic partners of her own.

Again, I literally never seen that happen? And yeah, we were introduced to her when she kicked a sobbing girl out of her house to get married to a man she didn't love (Evangeline I hope ur doing ok), CC is def going for a fuckboy character.

I don't think Matthew treats his partners poorly, it's exactly the opposite with Kellington for example. I'm pretty sure he uses sex/falling in love as a way of self-harming, so if anything, that's a sympathetic part of his character.

Anna and Kamala knew each other for what, 8 hours? I'm pretty sure they only spent two nights together (when they met and when they had sex) and broke up the next day. I don't understand how they've been madly in love woth each other for two years, or why some Anna stans act like it's okay for her to treat women like shit because of it?

Yes, plus she literally called it her “book of conquests”! Kamala deserves so much better. Give her besties (Genie and Alastair I'm looking at u) and a gf if she wants one (gENIE I AM LOOKING AT—)

Fanon Kamala is wonderful, Canon Kamala is just Anna's and I hate it ✨ Anyway I'm a proud member of her protection squad 😌

[1237tnb]

If I Rewrote (Blackwater)

           The wind blew over the cliff that the Quileute boys used to jump off of when they were young. Things were quiet now. The town was quiet. A lot of the elders had grown ill from the coronavirus, and a lot of the residents in the neighboring town of La Push had moved away because of the rampant forest fires.

           Leah kicked her feet over the cliff that she was comfortably perched atop. She loosely held a book in her hands ‘Breaking Dawn’. She had finally finished the whole series. The only thing left to read was ‘Midnight Sun’ and Leah could not care less.

           She heard Jacob’s soft but firm footsteps come up behind her. They paid homage to who he was: strong but gently; large but kind. He plopped down on the cliff next to Leah and let his legs swing like hers did.

           “How are you Lebron?” Leah joked, before she nuzzled her best friend and alpha in a sincere hug. She was always happy to see him when he got a moment away from the Cullens.

           “You know, I’m two inches shorter than Lebron, and I don’t play basketball.” Jacob smiled his warm goofy smile that made Leah’s heart flutter without hesitation.

           “What are you reading?” Jacob asked as he leaned in for the book. Leah teasingly moved it away from him, but being nine inches taller than her, her easily leaned across her and took it.

           “Breaking Dawn? What’s it about?” Jacob looked at the cover quizzically.

           “It’s about us.” Leah spoke honestly with a shrug. “Really, it’s about the Cullen’s. We are more of supporting characters in their story.”

           Jacob raised his brow in surprise, but not as much surprise as she expected him to have.

           “So… She’s like one of the Fates to us?” He pressed for further clarification.            “Wow, I am impressed ‘almighty alpha’. You’ve been spending a lot of time with Edward if you know about the Fates from Greek Mythology…”

           “But yeah,” Leah spoke somewhat somberly. “She is like a Fate to us. Either that or she’s a really creepy stalker who’s obsessed with vampires and shapeshifters…. I’m actually hoping that she’s a Fate.”

           Jake’s eyes widened, and he looked into his best friend’s stunning hazel eyes.

           “Why…?” Jacob shook his head.

           “Because the way our lives have turned out… I would rather believe that unbeknownst to us, someone altered our lives on pen and paper, then that we made these decisions on our own.”

           Jacob’s frown deepened even further.

           “I still do not understand… Wouldn’t it be better if we were making our own choices. Shouldn’t the real joy be in that?”

           “Yes and no, because now that we know that our story is written up until the point that we all were about twenty years old, we also now know that we have the power to write our own stories going forward.”

           Leah took the book back from Jacob and chucked it off the cliff.

           “I don’t like that story.” Leah smiled thoughtfully, before she gently interwove her fingers with Jacob’s. “That story wasn’t fair to us. It wasn’t fair to you, me, Seth, Sam, Emily, your dad, my dad or the Quileute tribe.”

           Jacob wondered if Leah still wanted to be with Sam. She hadn’t given any indication that she did for almost a decade now, and Sam and Emily now had teenage kids, but…

           “Not only do I not like that story, but I think if that story was written today at the end of 2020, that it would be so immutably politically incorrect.”

“I mean a book about vampires and werewolves. In which, the only people of color (indigenous people, I might add), are known for turning into giant dogs. The whole story is revolved around a white girl falling in love with a vampire, as you are so desperately in love with her, only for you and your whole back to become subservient to her entire family forever.”

“I mean… that sounds a little…”

Leah paused. She could feel Jacob tensing beside her, and she feared that he was becoming pissed. Though Leah’s attitude had larger changed for the better over the last decade and a half, a lot of people gave Leah a lot of flack about being outspoken about both the reservation and the Cullen’s. Aside from Leah’s brother Seth, Jacob was the only one she could confide in.

           “Archaic, white savior, dripping with white privilege and a colonist mentality…” Jacob answered.

Leah’s eyes widened, and Jacob gently kissed the back of her hand and looked at her lovingly.

           “Alice gave me all four of the books to read back in 2015. She told me that she felt that I deserved to know. When I first read the books, I was taken aback for a few years. With Trump being president, I decided not to tell anybody, because I wondered if we could ever live in a better world than this.” He pulled out the book ‘New Moon’ from his drawstring bag.

           “However, when Kamala Harris became the first Indian American woman to be elected to the Vice Presidency of the United States of America and all of those indigenous women were elected to congress…” Tears brimmed at Jacob’s eyes. “I had to believe that better was possible. And you’re so outspoken, that you were the first and only person I wanted to share this with.”

           “You left me the books to find.” Leah’s eyes widened in amazement. Jacob warmly nodded.

           “And you’re right.” Jacob agreed. “I hate this story.” He laughed as he took ‘New Moon’ and chucked it off the cliff with ‘Breaking Dawn’.

           “I love Renesmee. I love the Cullens. I love being a wolf, and I love being alpha. However, the Cullen’s and other white people come and go because this is not their home. But this is our home, and this is my life. So, we cannot be driven out by vampires or forest fires. I want to believe in and build a better world for my sons and daughters and my brothers’ sons and daughters. I want to believe that I am in control of my own life, and our want to be someone that our children look up to.”

           “I don’t want these books…” Jacob pulled out ‘Twilight’ and ‘Eclipse’ “To define who we can be…” Jacob shook his head ‘no’. “I don’t want to be broken hearted and I don’t want to follow the Cullens around the world. I don’t want to be the guy in that damned book. I mean I would never have left you all, my pack, my family to die when the Vulture attacked just to save Nessie.  I would have found another way to save Nessie, but I wouldn’t not sacrifice the people I love who love me.” Jacob threw ‘Eclipse’ off the cliff even though he knew that fight with the Vulture was in ‘Breaking Dawn’

“I want to make change right here and right now, and I also want to have a family of my own. I’m done putting my life on the backburner….”

           “With Renesmee…?” Leah asked.

           Jacob lost his concentration and raised his brow before he realized what Leah meant. He smiled and laughed his big, beautiful laugh that had the power to make Leah’s heart break.

           “With you.” Jacob spoke with the utmost certainty. “If you will have me…”

           Suddenly, Leah became more aware of Jacob’s hand in her own.

           “I love you Leah Clearwater.” He smiled, “And if I could rewrite ‘Breaking Dawn’, I would rewrite it being married to you.”

           Leah’s heart skipped a beat and tears came to her eyes. Her cheeks flushed red and she covered her mouth in surprise.

           “I love you too Jacob. I love you so much.”

           “If you could rewrite ‘Breaking Dawn’, how would you rewrite it?” Jacob laughed.

           Leah took ‘Twilight’ out of Jacob’s hands and look at it one last time, before she tossed off the cliff with the other books where it belonged.

           “Being married to you.” Leah breathed.

           With those final words, the two tenderly embraced and kissed.

[monstvrsfm]

BRUCE BANNER━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

( oscar isaac . he/him . marvel . ) your name is BRUCE BANNER. you’re FORTY and you’ve been in wayward valley for as long as you care to remember. occasionally, you catch glimpses of another life, and it looks like TWO PERSONALITIES FIGHTING FOR CONTROL, GLASSES SITTING ON RESEARCH NOTES, SHADES OF GREEN AND PURPLE — but it’s all in your head, surely. after all, your BRILLIANT, COMPASSIONATE, ANXIOUS, & SELF-LOATHING disposition has found a life of sweet contentment here in town, as a PROFESSOR. so why does it feel like something’s missing? ( mipsy . 21+ . she/her . cst . )

bullying tw, abuse tw (mention of physical, mental, and emotional), alcoholism tw, death tw

new  life:

bruce  banner  grew  up  in  wayward  valley  with  loving  parents.  they  always  supported  him,  and  encouraged  him  to  go  after  his  dreams.  bruce  was  a  genius  —  he  could’ve  been  anything  he  wanted  —    a  doctor,  scientist,  engineer,  but  he  dreamed  of  being  a  scientist.  he  was  fascinated  with  science,  and  he  excelled  in  both,  math  and  science.  so  much,  his  teachers  recommended  him  to  advanced  level  classes,  in  said  subjects,  or,  at  the  least,  harder  homework.  his  parents  agreed,  so  he  was  placed  in  advanced  classes.

so began his time in isolation. bruce spent so much time around older kids and his studies, that he became socially awkward around kids his age. he was already painfully shy, though he managed a few friends. but being the nerd? made you the butt of the joke. bruce was often bullied in school, and while it never became violent, bruce hated it. it emotionally and mentally wore down on him. maybe even angered him. so when he began to act out, he was sent to the counselor. then therapy, and bruce started to act normal again.

things  got  better  in  college.  wayward  college  was  small,  but  for  the  first  time,  bruce  was  surrounded  by  educated  people.  professors  who  challenged  him,  made  him  feel  right  at  home,  and  students  who  wanted  an  education.  he  had  the  freedom  to  study  what  he  wanted,  he  loved  wayward  college.  even  had  a  college  sweetheart,  even  if  that  fizzled  out  after  a  semester  or  two,  because  bruce  was  obsessed  with  his  studies.

after college, bruce graduated with a few degrees. he still wanted to be a scientist, but sparked a newfound interest in teaching while studying, wanting to educate young people, for the future. so, he became a biochemistry professor at wayward college and has been teaching since then. he never married, no kids, head in the books and experiments than in front of people. much like bruce banner. he’s no longer shy ( for the most part ),  but  is  still  awkward  at  times. he has a dog, and does consider his students like his kids. his parents are proud of him, though they’d like fo see him married, already.

occasionally, memories bleed into bruce. mannerisms moreso. sometimes his personality changes, usually to something angry, like when he was bullied as a kid. or a feeling of self-loathing, as if he hates himself for doing something wrong. even of something terrifying in his head, a monster in his dreams full of rage. things like that. bruce usually brushes it off, but they’re just examples of memories coming through, of his mind telling him something’s not right.

CANON━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

bruce’s  mother  loved  him,  but  his  father  hated  him.  he  was  an  alcoholic  and  an  angry  man,  who  physically  abused  bruce,  regularly.  his  father  murdered  his  mother,  right  in  front  of  bruce,  and  bruce  was  sent  to  a  mental  institution  and  left  alone  to  deal  with  the  trauma.  his  aunt,  his  father’s  sister,  decided  to  raise  him  after  that,  with  love  and  care.  he  would  go  on  to  become  a  brilliant  scientist  with  many  degrees,  and  after  one  terrible  accident  with  gamma  radiation,  would  become  the  monster  known  as  the  hulk...

bruce’s  canon  is  a  mix  of  link,  link,  link. comics,  mcu,  and  marvel’s  avengers  (video  game)

you  could  say  he’s  canon  up  to  endgame,  but  i’d  have  to  change  a  few  things  around  so  he  could  still  be  bruce  and  hulk  (  i.  e.  he  never  merged  with  hulk,  etc.  )  which  is  why  it’s  easier  for  me  to  say  he’s  a  mixture  of  a  lot  of  stuff  and  make  changes  here  and  there  depending  on  another’s  interpretation!

this  is  my  monster  #1  who  deserves  a  happy  ending,  after  his  tragic  backstory. between  having  different parents,  or  moreso  a  different  father,  and  the  hulk  never  being  a  thing  in  his  fake  life,  he  can  be  as  happy  as  he  wants  to  be  without  hurting  ppl,  my  poor  bby  :’)

WANTED CONNECTIONS━━━━━━━━━━━━━

teachers//professors!

students!  (including  ta)

therapist!

friends!

enemies!

marvel  canons!  (especially  kamala  khan  and  betty  ross!)

romantic  ship!  (chemistry  +  must  be  discussed!  doesn’t  have  to  be  canon  and  can  be  outside  fandom!)

and  more!

[vennilavee]

my thoughts on never have i ever

ok this has been in my drafts a while bc ive just been thinking about it. 

everything wrong about never have i ever feels almost personal- a tamil lead, written by a tamil writer, with a few tamil members of the cast. there’s never been a tamil lead. at first, i DID genuinely enjoy it- it was cringe at times but i think that was the point of it. i felt like i was pushing aside the cringe because it was genuinely so cool to see some level of representation- it was nice to see elements of tamil thrown in there. tamil people are hardly represented or recognized to begin with.

BUT AT WHAT COST. 

HOWEVER i dont think its fair to expect a show to represent every single indian-american out there. each person’s experience is different. do i think this show could have done better on so many levels?? YES. but in general, i dont think it’s fair for a show, the only show to EVER have a PURPOSEFUL tamil lead, to have to carry the ENTIRE diaspora of indian-americans and represent the first generation struggle. a lot of the criticism was related to devi being so “boy crazy”- while that probably wasn’t the majority of south asians in high school, i feel like i cant fault her for that because it’s clear she hasnt processed her emotions over her father’s death. (which is a lot to unpack). also her therapist wtf? telling devi that she needs a new therapist IN THE MIDDLE OF A BREAKDOWN when everyone has essentially left her? makes sense. no it doesnt.

but then i started thinking. and reading other criticisms. about what was wrong. and what i think was wrong, was the treatment of ben by devi- a NAZI joke?? SERIOUSLY? how did the writers think that was okay? and then kamala suddenly being interested in an arranged marriage because the guy (i forgot his name but he played one of the interns on grey’s) was attractive? and then at ganesh puja, when the woman who married a muslim man and divorced him told kamala to just get an arranged marriage because it’s better that way. not to mention that this woman was ostracized by the whole community just for this. her regret is a message saying that your family always knows best when it comes to situations like this. both of these things therefore push the idea that you SHOULD stay in your own lane, and marry within your caste. AND it’s islamophobic at the same time?!? and at a time when muslims are being persecuted and killed not just in india too. it was SUCH a good opportunity for the show to challenge that awful way of thinking. not to mention the pro-modi comment made in the show. was that really necessary? not to mention- devi is paralyzed due to the death of her father and then shes able to walk again because she laid eyes on a white dude?!?! it served NO purpose, other than people making rude comments to her about it.

also why is this show kissing priyanka chopra’s ass. im not surprised. 

there were a million and one ways to write the identity crisis that so many first generation indian americans face in a more respectful way. i felt like the writers (mindy kaling included- im not sure HOW involved she was in this project. but it seemed like she was at the helm of it) cared more about being “relatable” and appealing to the male gaze without caring about how it came of. im disappointed with the impactful instances of these the casual islamophobia, casteism and ableism in this show. this show reinforces old, islamophobic, castist ways of thinking in an attempt to be relatable, fresh, and modern. in a time when storytelling is at its most powerful, the opportunity was squandered.

in conclusion, south asians deserve better storytelling.

[ayeshintheclouds]

I watched Never Have I Ever!! And I have many many thoughts. Just about on every aspect of it so oops this might be kinda long. But I like having somewhere public to post it cuz I don’t have to be apologetic and guilty about making it long, cuz if I was texting someone id feel as if I’m making them obligated to read so much.

Anyways!

Overall, I quite enjoyed the show! There’s a lot of controversy around it, i keep saying a lot of indian girls complaining about being misrepresented. Which I agree that they have a right to, because it’s the first time we’ve ever gotten a main character representing us, and we can’t help but hold her to a higher standard. But I’m trying to look past that a little, past the stereotypes and see it more by itself in terms of a plot and character development rather than just the cultural standpoint.

In no particular order, here are some opinions about the show and characters:

I loved the realistic arguments they show the night of her dad’s death. Honestly, they were a bit jarring how similar they are to our family, and how sometimes under pressure everyone kinda turns on each other and doesn’t get along. I thought that was a really realistic scene how a little thing like losing a music sheet ends up turning into a lot of unnecessary drama.

I love Paxton! I still absolutely can’t decide who I ship more with Devi but I do love his character. He genuinely does care for his sister, and he’s so quick to sacrifice his pride and call Devi when his sister needs help, even though he’s really mad at Devi rn. I think it’s adorable that his sister even gives him relationship advice. And Paxton is genuinely such a good friend, although he’s tryna be all cool and stuff, he encouraged her to be herself in her indian dress and I hate how Devi disregards his whole personality and only wants him physically. It upset me that she only saw him as some status symbol to obtain, never really an actual human with feelings. He deserved better, so although I love him, I’m not sure I ship him with her after she kinda used him the whole show.

The car ride scene!!! With Paxton and Devi! Ok I watched this scene approximately a bajillion times! I think it might be my favorite moment in the whole show. I love everything about it, the subtle glances they cast each other the entire time, the neon lights as they drive through the city, the way for once in the show she seems somewhat like emotionally vulnerable and nervous rather than brash and hot headed. The music was beautiful too.

I love Fab and Eleanor!!! I love their stories and I’m so so glad they got the attention from the show at least since they didn’t get it from Devi. Fab is literally so adorable and I just wanted to hug her🥺 Eleanor’s mom made me so frikin mad and I’m truly really glad Eleanor learned to live without her and how Fab helps her deal with it. I know it’s pretty dramatic how she stays dressing all different and changing her personality, but I related to that so much:(when someone hurts me or walks out on me, it makes me feel not like myself anymore, and I often visibly and noticeably change my attitude and behavior for a while before springing back.

The Kamala plotline!!! Uhhhhh ok very mixed feelings. I thought Steve was adorable. They just discarded him when he was an absolute sweetheart and it made me so sad for him🥺poor Steve. I do like that they’re actually showing arranged marriage for what it is though. In my opinion it is a very traditional and flawed procedure, as we see when Devi’s mom has kamala wear a certain outfit and has her hide the career part of her personality, to try to be a certain way she’s not. BUT I think i am glad that they didn’t show it as something forced upon her, like she’s being married off against her will to some creep she’s never ever met. It’s more like a blind date but arranged by parents. And although she is pretty pressured into it, she has the power to back out any time (even if it’ll somewhat outcast her). And I like that they decide to continue their relationship but on their own terms and he likes her for who she is. I think overall it’s a pretty solid and realistic representation of arranged marriage: a very traditional way of doing things with many flaws, but not forced or oppressive or morally wrong in any way, and can usually work out quite nicely many times. Except why’d they break poor Steve’s heart like that:(((

Ben. Ok Ben grew on me a lot through the show. He was such a complex and interesting character and I thought his development was so amazingly done. I thought he was truly such a sweet soul for doing all that he did for her, letting her stay over, convincing her to spread the ashes, driving her there so fast. I almost feel like he doesn’t deserve her either😂. And hhfjdndndnd I really don’t know how to feel about that end scene that was wild omg. But romance aside. Ben is such a well written character and I think he really was neglected by his family and I really hope that changes or he finds a family in Devi’s.

I know her parents and the therapist were side characters. But I think they’re pretty cool. I like the really sweet relationship her parents had. It was so typical indian parents yet adorable. The motorcycle ride and the comforting scene🥺 I love them a lot they remind me of my own parents. And I think her mom is infinitely strong for dealing with the death of her soulmate and Devi being so absolutely difficult. I think the therapist was extremely patient and the scenes with her were hilarious. I loved most about her how genuine she was. No therapist irl would care enough for the patients health that they would so blatantly disagree with them and even suggest they find someone else if it’ll help them. They would never risk losing the money and offending the client. I once heard someone say that they’d love to be a child therapist cuz all they have to do is agree with everything the kids say, be like “aw yeah the world hates u ur parents hate u, ur right” like feed into their teen angst, and the kid convinces their parents to keep paying for your services. But Dr Ryan is like a mother. She just wants what’s best for Devi, and she’s willing to sacrifice her own profit for it.

Ok I guess I should probably talk about my biggest issue with the show which is Devi. I kinda hate her😭I tried so hard I really did but I genuinely cannot bring myself to like her character. I don’t agree with almost any of her actions and her behavior upset me a lot. And pls you don’t understand she nearly killed me with second hand embarrassment the first episode in approaching Paxton like that aaAAAA Like I was basically watching through my hands at that point. I know she’s going through so much, she really has a lot of trauma and grief. But I can’t help but feel like the way she handles it is not very realistic at all, cuz I know people with trauma and they would never use it to justify the awful things she does. I know that everyone grieves differently and everyone has different coping mechanisms, but I just cannot bring myself to like her. Coping mechanisms that hurt others immensely are so unhealthy and I feel like she should’ve at least redeemed herself somehow. Maybe I sympathized with her at some points. But never liked her. I think she was disgusting to her friends, she always assumed her problems mattered more than theirs despite Fab and Eleanor having such heavy stuff happening. She didn’t even bother caring, and I’m convinced the only reason she even came back and tried to make it up was because of her own selfish reasons: she didn’t want to be lonely and friendless (she literally admits that!) and she’s jealous of that new kid they’re friends with. She does not seem at any point to actually care for their feelings as humans, and treats them like status symbols, two objects she owns to show people she has a social life. She reminds me of Greg from Diary of a Wimpy Kid and not in a good way; he was so awful to Rowley and obsessed with popularity and narcissistic Blegh. Also with Paxton like I mentioned before, she only cares about his body and popularity and literally does not care for his friendship and personality the slightest bit. I think it was disgusting that she lied about sleeping with him like that, cuz it may have been manageable to him, but for a lot of people, that’s like a pretty messed up thing and I don’t think they’d want to be friends with someone who was that creepy and a blatant liar. The stuff she said to her mom about wishing she was dead, that absolutely broke my heart. I can’t imagine being her mother in that moment and hearing your daughter say something like that after losing the love of your life. I think that would be like the worst thing to say to someone grieving, and might potentially endanger their mental health. I was truly worried for her mom, even though I know it wouldn’t be that type of show. Honestly. The only reason I don’t like full on despise her and think she’s irredeemable is because I pity her so much. She lost her dad and wasn’t able to walk for a year. That’s a lot of pain. But truly, like Fab said, it’s not a free pass to be a jerk. And a character shouldn’t be written in a way that their only redeemable quality is that u pity them to hold them less accountable for their actions.

Overall I enjoyed the show!! Minus devi😭but besides that, I’m so glad we’re getting some representation and there’s a new really cute and fresh show to watch during quarantine. I NEED A SEASON TWO SO BAD PLS and I really really hope Devi grows up a bit more in it and maybe I’ll start to like her:)

[justenthusiaststhings]

The Reason Why I Loved this Show

# NEVER HAVE I EVER

*spoliers*

This is one show that I've been excited to watch ever since the trailer came out. I've been dying to see a good desi girl representation in TV shows and predominantly because lockdown SUCKS AND I HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO.

On a lighter note, let's begin the review!

Devi, a 17 year old Indian-American girl journeys through the highs and lows of being a teenager. Crying over boys, losing best friends, losing temper, mother-daughter squabble, sabatoging every relationship she's ever had, yeah, we've all been through that! Whoever said teenage is the best years of life smh. She had also lost her dad to cardiac arrest and was paralysed for 3 months. Well on the bright side, she's a exceptional in academics! How stereotypical.

Devi's love interest in the show is Paxton. Paxton is a senior who took a class with her because he had failed. Paxton is the guy every girl desires in the school. Paxton has a sister with special needs, Rebecca, whom he's very protective of. I was very happy with the representation. Individuals with special needs HAVE to be normalised. I love the way Devi treats Rebecca. Kudos to the team for including a character with special needs. Devi is just obsessed with Paxton. She loses almost all her loved ones for him. Trust me, she could do a lot better than Paxton. Sure, he has the looks, but Devi has the brains, she deserved someone better. But I understand, we all have had crushes on these types of guys.

Now to my favourite part of the show, Ben. Ben is this straight A's-mama's boy- rich kid types. Ben and Devi are these two kids we all have in school who always keep fighting for #1. Ben's been my favourite character from the first episode, he's ben (see what i did there ;)) lonely all his life, his parents are always busy with work, his girlfriend only wants him for money. The only thing real in his life is the competition between Devi and him. Also, the episode on him was narrated by Andy Samberg (FOR WHOM I WOULD DIE) , Ben had already won my heart. There's this scene where he tells Devi's mom that he always eats dinner alone, poor Ben, I just wanted to hold him and caresse his hair. And to see him fall in love was just :')

Devi's friends are Fabiola and Eleanor. Fab is the computer girl. She has the cutest little robot. Fab and her mom have an adorable relationship. It was very beautiful to see Fab find herself and come out to her mom. I love how supportive her mother was. Her support was played very beautifully. Media needs to show more content about supportive parents. Eleanor is such a diva! Although, Eleanor doesn't have a good relationship with her mother, she's a talented actor and has an excellent taste in clothes.

Another one of my favourite characters was Devi's sister, Kamala. Kamala is a PhD scholar living with Devi and her mom. She is a responsible adult although it is tested when her parents arrange a marriage for her. Kamala is torn between choosing the guy she loves, Steve and the guy her family chose for her. I personally loved Steve and I wanted them to end up together. I didn't understand why she decided to end things with him after meeting the guy her parents chose for her. It was probably the aunty who told her she regretted not marrying the guy her parents chose for her and marrying someone outside the religion whom she ended up divorcing at the Ganesh Pooja. I also loved the scene when Devi meets her old friend who said he missed all the traditions after going to college and was grew into being proud of his ethnicity.

The reason why I loved this show is we are all like Devi in some aspect. Devi did not grieve her father's dismissal. Sure, she was sad but she never properly healed. She was not ready to deal with her feelings and always thought of something that made her happy. It was very beautiful to see her come to terms with it and for her to join her mom and cousin in paying respects to his ashes.

Overall, I enjoyed watching the show and it was a good watch for the lockdown.

[dcmeterwrites]

oh boy, did you get tom ellis for an eight a.m.? wait no, that’s NOAH MADDOX. i heard the forty one year old professor gives a pretty tough lecture in archaeology. he tries to be thoughtful and even-tempered but on the stressful days, he’s prideful and evasive. when he gets a chance to relax, catch him at the local bar listening to start // end by eden.

— RUNDOWN. 

full name: noah rhys maddox

name meaning: rest, enthusiasm


date of birth: october 7th

place of birth: cardiff, united kingdom


age: 41


star sign:
 libra


department: archaelogy

specialisation: near eastern and greek antiquity, classical archaeology

alma mater: university of oxford, harvard university

alignment: neutral good

mbti: infj

spoken languages: english ( native speaker ), coptic ( proficient ), arabic ( proficient ), aramaic ( intermediate ), hebrew ( intermediate ), welsh ( intermediate )

mother’s name: elizabeth maddox née llewellyn

father’s name: peter maddox

siblings, if any: andrew and derek maddox

birth order: middle 

height: 6′3″

hair colour: black

eye colour: dark brown

— BACKSTORY. 

noah over here was born in cardiff, wales, the middle of three brothers. you couldn’t find a more accomplished family anywhere. his mother was a retired olympic gold-winning cyclist, and his dad an ex-member of parliament.

within just five years, three boys were born to the couple and they fought furiously. when they weren’t trying to get their parents’ attention and praise, they were trying to prove to themselves that they were capable of besting the others. if andy was student gov president, noah had to be the captain of the rugby team, and derek the captain of the swim team.

this installed performance anxiety from the very beginning. noah always felt like he had to earn love and praise — that nobody would ever give it to him unless he was working for it, and that he didn’t deserve love at all if he wasn’t. 

noah made it to university with star-struck academic records and extracurricular participation. he opted for history and economics: but ended up giving a lot more priority to history in his college years. 

trouble was, though, that the spirit of competition that had fueled him to oxford was just — gone. college left him so confused. no matter what he did, there was always someone else that he wanted to do better than, but just couldn’t. was there even a point to working hard if he was just barely keeping his head above water ?

in the last year of his degree, he accepted that there was no fucking point. in just a few months, noah began to drink more, go out to more parties, let himself go. at first, it was difficult. he was a reserved man by nature, but the books and the conversations were becoming reminders of his own inadequacy, so he took on a life that he used to look down upon. 

this was the life that gave him instant gratification. a busy night meant that he was valued by the woman in his bed, or by the bars he visited, or by the mindless crowd that cheered when he uncorked a bottle of champagne. 

one of the addictions that stuck with him a little too far was ecstasy. at one of his earliest raves, noah was offered some because he looked as though he was on the verge of a panic attack, and he started using regularly when he was twenty four. by twenty six and a half, it had utterly destroyed his life. he was irritable and aggressive when dealing with his family, concealed the fact that he used from close friends, leaving him a large circle of acquaintances, and no one to trust completely.

when he was nearing twenty seven, his secret was out. when high and euphoric, noah started a fight in a belfast nightclub. it was a lifetime of resentment at himself and everyone around him bursting out in a vicious break of violence.

noah doesn’t remember much of that night. he remembers waking up nearly a week later with an awful headache. turns out he’d suffered a skull injury that night, not to mention several bruises and a twisted ankle. but if he was bad, you should’ve seen the other guy, named dave watkins. 

a lot had to be done even before noah was out of the hospital. for one, noah owed an enormous fine for possession of mdma. for another, watkins was more than eager to press charges. hundreds of thousands of pounds were paid in an out-of-court settlement as compensation.

if you ask him, noah would take the injuries all over again over the shame. the one thing he was supposed to do was not fuck up royally — and that was exactly what he ended up doing. the entire family had to come together to clean up his mess.

nearly two years of his life went by in in-patient rehab and generalised therapy, during which he relapsed once. because finding work was going to be difficult due to social stigma, it was recommended that he return to studies, so he returned to his old love, history.

the degrees he completed were in antique studies and classical archaeology — because he was steadily rediscovering a practical use for what he loved about the subject. delving into lives he was not lucky enough to live, putting together puzzles and answering questions.

in the span of two years, he developed a friendly acquaintance with a fellow graduate student called elene keo, as they worked with the same professor on a research project. the project inspired him to do his own digging ( if you’ll pardon the pun ).

his paper on coptic egypt was a sensation in the field of archaeology. he’d struck gold. not only had he earned a bit of money, but also an invitation to work with researchers at harvard university. after negotiating a short undergraduate teaching gig there as well, just to pay the bills, noah was well on his way to a doctorate. 

then — new people entered his life. kamala jones was part of the same doctorate program he was, alongside callum winston, a bright scholar with a similar background and education to noah. the two men hit it off instantly as a result, but noah never told either him or kamala what exactly he was trying to get away from.

the three of them began to go on expedtions and excavations together, collecting information and soaking in the atmosphere of the rest of the world. it was a good time. 

too good. noah got soft. kamala was so clever and quick on her feet, ever ready for a new adventure with no hesitation. it was like having every good memory you’d ever had around you. he couldn’t help but get the stirrings of something for her, but what, he never quite had the courage to define. 

then she got married, and he had to sit through every minute of it. not to mention the stag night, planning the wedding, fixing out tuxes as best man. it was a miserable night all in all. 

noah stayed friends with callum for the while, but their collaboration was mostly professional, on joint research proposals, seminars, and most importantly — publications. 

at the age of thirty-eight, he and callum published their seminal work, essentially a textbook on myths and symbolism. soon after, callum and kamala split up. noah was curious, he couldn’t deny that much. but he chose not to pry.

while he had been getting teaching and research positions all across the united states, noah needed tenure, somewhere. the best way for him to find institutions to join was to look at where the people he knew went — and the only name that he remembered and respected was elene keo, who had ended up at riverbank university.

a small caveat: kamala was there too. but he had to be over her — it had been years since they talked, even longer since they were friends, and calling callum a friend was becoming a little generous. they could certainly have a totally professional relationship. bury the past and all that.

he applied for a specialisation in the near east and was given a position, but as a result of his past, the university’s mental health services kept a watchful eye on him. occasionally, he had been asked to talk to students about addiction, an offer he repeatedly and vehemently refused. 

at the moment, he’s doing — meh. he’s got a job, one that he likes. slowly and steadily, he’s built his life back up from the damage. withdrawal from dependency leaves him with serotonin and dopamine imbalances for which he takes anti-depressants. 

it seems, however, that things are coming back on track. 

[theliterateape]

The Old Lady Who Hated Halloween Put A Sign Up Letting Us Know

By Don Hall

When I lived in Arkansas, there was a woman in our neighborhood who absolutely hated Halloween. I don’t know if it was that she was extremely Christian and found the themes of ghouls and monsters and magic to be offensive or if she simply didn’t like kids. Perhaps she had some sort of traumatic event on Halloween when she was younger. No matter. Every Halloween, she’d sit outside her house to scream at the kids as they would come up to her yard — every other home in the neighborhood was decked with fake spiderwebs and jack-o-lanterns and were reservoirs of candy. Chris (one of my roommates) and I would buy tons of the good stuff (aka full-sized Snickers, Twix, and Reese’s Cups) and had a blast with the kids. But not this lady. 

At first I was annoyed by her curmudgeonly attitude toward a harmless kid’s holiday. I mean, these weren’t the asshole kids who fucked with your house if you didn’t provide them the sugar-rush they so craved. These were mostly littler kids and the old lady scared them by screaming from her porch.

One year, as October was at the halfway mark, Chris went over to talk to her. He said later that he had suggested she put up a simple sign on her lawn that declared to all walking by that she did not participate in Halloween and that the kids should just pass her place by. It did not go well, according to him. She felt that she shouldn’t have to be singled out, that the children shouldn’t be bothering people anyway and why not just do away with the practice on the block altogether instead of forcing her to put up some sign.

We didn’t push the issue as it wasn’t really our business. On the day of Halloween, however, sure enough, she put up a very nice sign that said “This House Does Not Celebrate Halloween. Please Come Back at Easter and Candy Will Be Given Out Then.” And, lo and behold, the kids left her house alone. I don’t know if she gave out candy at Easter but I thought it was a nice way of dealing with it. She managed to protect herself adequately without forcing everyone else to stifle the joy and enthusiasm of the night which, despite it being Chris’s idea, I thought was both responsible and kind.

Just lately, Vice President Joe Biden is under attack for touching women inappropriately. He’s not being accused of sexually harassing anyone because the man is ebullient and tactile with men, women, children with no regard for sex. The man is just enthusiastic about hugging and showing affection in a physical way. I can’t say why so many women have an issue with this, as if consent is required in every physical interaction but I respect their position. Maybe they don’t want to be touched because they had a traumatic experience earlier, maybe because they grew up in less tactile families, maybe they are using this issue as a way to sour voters on Biden so Bernie or Kamala are more viable options. The why isn’t really all that important. 

What is important is that most people don’t mind him hugging them or the onslaught of complaint would be voluminous. I mean, over the forty or fifty years as a political figure, I’d guess the guy has hugged and enthusiastically greeted thousands upon thousands of people so the seven women complaining about his hugging them without explicit consent is a margin of a margin of a sliver of that number.

Most people don’t mind a big, friendly greeting. But a few do. They really do. They have prioritized their personal space in such a way that they feel requires everyone to forego the spontaneous joy encapsulated with a happy to meet you greeting. A backslapping, fun way of saying hello or showing affection. I think they are right to feel that no one should invade their person should they feel it is a violation but I hardly think their peace of mind is worth the stifling of joy that everyone else gets from a grand, high-minded hug.

My suggestion is simple. If you feel somehow that no unsolicited physical contact is appropriate, wear a sign or a t-shirt or a hat that declares that you do not want to be touched without expressed permission to do so. If you have kids who have suffered trauma and they need some sort of badge to indicate that grandpa shouldn’t tussle his hair, treat it no differently than a peanut allergy rather than expect everyone to stop eating peanuts.

It is completely your right to protect your personal space and for whatever reasons you may have. It is, however, unreasonable to expect those with no sexual or harmful intent to read your mind and somehow know that this will be interpreted as inappropriate. It is unreasonable to expect that no one ever engage in any spontaneous hugs because you don’t care for them. I’ll add that, unfortunately, this isn’t going to stop the assholes looking to cop a feel which is an entirely separate issue but it will let the Joe Biden’s of the world, the truly gregarious, genuinely affectionate humans out there understand where your boundaries are.

I suppose a better way of looking at it (and in an unusually funny piece of satire on behalf of SNL) is this (watch it to the end):

The saddest thing I can imagine is the looking out among all the people in the world and only seeing predators when so many simply are not. Some, like Joe Biden, are just really nice people who like to express their affection by getting up in there and touching you. I’d prefer to live in a world where those people are not shut down because there’s enough anger and suspicion in society as it is to paint us all as monsters.

I’ll quote a Faceborg post of a friend who sums this up so much better than I can:

As both a woman and a survivor, I actually have a problem with the idea that this whole thing is supposed to be about women reclaiming their voices and rejecting victimhood. Barring obvious and egregious assault, if you can't own your own boundaries and articulate them at the time they're being breached, that is the opposite of empowerment and the epitome of victimhood.

Maybe articulating those boundaries is uncomfortable for whatever reason. I get uncomfortable asking for a raise even when I know I deserve it. But I don't make my boss read my mind that I want a raise and then torch him two years later because he didn't give me one. Life is sometimes uncomfortable -- learning to recognize and enforce our boundaries respectfully (unless real danger is involved), and learning to operate outside of our comfort-zone sometimes, are fundamental adult skills. Sometimes we'll be better at it than others, but it's not reasonable to expect others to know my boundaries, nor is it reasonable to expect everyone else to adopt my boundaries just so I'll never, ever be uncomfortable.

When I was in my early 30s I moved to a new town where I knew no one. A friend of mine contacted a friend of his and before I even got there I had been invited to a party by someone I'd never met. This guy was part of a close-knit group of friends; the very next time I saw these people, the women hugged me and the guys all kissed me on the cheek to say hello, even though I had only met them once. It was clear that this was how they always greeted one another, and not only did I not take offense at near strangers touching or kissing me in what was obviously meant to be an affectionate gesture, but it actually meant a lot to me to be so quickly and obviously accepted as part of this group during a particularly lonely time in my life, and to know that they were happy to see me. FWIW, I eventually married one of them.

So why is it okay that someone who doesn't communicate her own boundaries gets to decide that her boundaries should be the default for the rest of us? If I had been a different person, perhaps I might have felt uncomfortable with physical affection from people whom I'd just met, but then it would have been my responsibility to say so. Maybe it would have been awkward. Maybe I might have been afraid that if I rejected their gestures they wouldn't like me. But on the flipside, if that's all it took for them to withdraw their friendship, I would have been better off without that friendship in the first place.

I certainly respect someone else's right to feel that discomfort. But I don't respect their right to impose it as the standard by which everyone else has to operate, especially when they don't speak up for themselves and give people the chance to respect said boundaries. (Again, I'm not talking about egregious words or acts like, say, talking about grabbing women by the pussy....)

The world owes none of us a life free of all discomfort, free of all awkwardness, free of all confrontation. And this kind of hysteria robs young women (and the rest of us) of real agency instead of teaching us to speak up when it really matters, to shake off that which really doesn't, and to understand that that line is different for everyone.

— Risa McDonnell

[xswestallen]

Earth-2 Barry and Iris: High School Sweethearts

Summary: on Earth-2, Barry and Iris confess their feelings at junior prom and start dating in high school

A/N: Welcome to Earth-2 and Escape from Earth-2 were such great episodes. I love Iris and Barry’s doppelgängers. In 1x09 when our Barry tells Iris he’s in love with her, he mentions all the times he wanted to tell her in past. One of them is junior prom. Since it’s obvious Earth-2 Barry and Iris got together and were married before our Iris and Barry, I thought it might be at their junior prom. Sorry it’s long but I’m pretty proud of it.

(A little easter egg in here: since Beyonce is a senator on Earth-2 I thought that our Earth-1 senator, Kamala Harris, could be the Earth-2 Beyonce.

Barry Allen and Iris West have been best friends since elementary school. Now they’re standing in the Allen family’s living room taking pictures before leaving for junior prom. Barry’s mom was getting emotional and embarrassing Barry and Iris by showing old pictures of them to their dates.

“Oh here they are at 10. Barry wanted to make a potato clock and Iris wanted to have a mashed potato fight. That’s why you see wires and a huge mess.”

“Mom…..” Barry wanted to get out of the house before Nora made it to the kindergarten pictures.

“Barry, you’ve always been cute.” Becky Cooper said looking up at him with a coy smile. Barry didn’t know if she was messing with him or being serious, but he didn’t care. He was too busy being annoyed at how funny Chad Erikson found the pictures. He was laughing so hard Barry’s dad had to ask if he was having trouble breathing.

Iris cringed. This was her first date with Chad, a football player she’s had a crush on all year. Iris was over the moon when he broke up with his longtime girlfriend and asked her to prom. She shot a desperate look at Barry.

“We better go now.” Barry said after pulling out his pocket watch. Becky thought it was dorky but Iris said it made him look sophisticated.

They left the house and piled into the limo. They’d all chipped in to rent it for the night. Iris put on a Kamala Harris song and everyone was feeling great. Iris felt more confident than ever in her strapless blue dress. It took a lot of effort for Barry not to look at how perfectly it hugged her curves. Chad didn’t have to make this effort.

“You look so good.” He told a blushing Iris. “That dress is like a paint job.”

They started making out. Barry looked away feeling awkward. Becky was looking at Barry with a smile that clearly meant ‘Aren’t you going to compliment me?’

“You’re beautiful, Becky.” He told her. It was true. Becky was a very pretty girl and her purple dress with an open back looked gorgeous on her. Barry was happy with Becky. They’d been together a few months and things were going really well. Barry didn’t know why he felt jealous of Chad.

Barry put his arm around Becky and she nestled into his side. Chad and Iris barely came up for air the whole ride to prom. When they arrived, Barry and Becky were both relieved to escape their friends’ enthusiastic PDA.

Walking into prom was sensory overload. There was loud music playing, a disco ball drowning the dance floor in shimmering light, hundreds of people were dancing, talking, and kissing. Iris was excited but Barry was apprehensive. He hoped they stay together as a group, but Chad quickly pulled Iris onto the dance floor.

“I don’t like dancing.” Becky said.

“I remember from the winter formal.” Barry took her hand and lead her toward the punch bowl. A group of girls Barry recognized as Becky’s friends screamed out in delight as they approached. As Becky and the other girls talked, Barry leaned back on the wall and sipped his punch.

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

The night was getting old and the prom was only half full now. Iris was sitting at a table waiting for Chad to return from the restroom. She texted her dad an update that she was having a good time and would make it home by curfew. It was such a great night. Chad was such a great guy. They spent more time kissing than not kissing and he was constantly holding her hand. This was the prom Iris had been dreaming of since she started high school. Just when she thought things couldn’t get better, her favorite slow song came on. Iris didn’t think she could stop smiling if she tried.

Until she looked up from her phone………..

Iris’s world same crashing down. She saw Chad and his ex-girlfriend slow dancing. They were completely pressed against each other. Iris just stared. At the end of the song, they kissed. Iris felt sick. This must’ve been his plan all along. Ask out another girl just to make his ex jealous and get back together with her. That must’ve been why he was so affectionate.

Iris sat alone, abandoned, and cried. She was just a stupid pawn. She was so stupid to think Chad would actually want to be with her.

“Iris?” It was a girl from Iris’s biology class asking. “Are you alright?” Iris was too embarrassed to talk so she ran outside as fast as she could

Barry was still standing by the punch bowl with Becky and her friends lost in conversation beside him. Barry saw what happened and felt his heart break as Iris cried. He dropped him punch on the ground and some of it splashed onto Becky’s dress.

“Ahhhh. Barry, what the hell?” Becky was furious and Barry knew he was terrible for doing this but he had to do it.

“Becky, I’m so sorry.” He took her hands but she yanked them away. “Becky, I… We’re not going to work out.”

Becky looked appalled. Her friends were all whispering and looking at them in shock. “You’re very pretty and nice but we have nothing in common. Sometimes our relationship feels like work, like a strain to keep a conversation going or do something together. You deserve to be with somebody who it’s easy to be with. Somebody who’s your best friend.”

Becky sighed. “You’re right. We aren’t a good match.”

“I’m sorry.” Barry said again and he turned to run outside.

“IRIS” he called as he exited the building. He saw her quietly crying on the building’s steps. He walked down them as quick as he could, but tripped and fell on his ass a few steps above Iris.

“Are you ok?” Iris asked in a meek yet concerned tone.

“Fine. Are you?” Iris cried a little harder at that question. She felt humiliated. Everyone saw her walk in with Chad and must know how he ditched her. Barry took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

“Thank you.” Her voice was low and shaky. Barry gave her a shy smile. It was strange to see Iris so upset and vulnerable. She was usually a pillar of strength. Confident and strong, she was the last person you’d expect to see crying over a stupid jock.

They sat in silence for a few moments. Barry had a million things to say but didn’t know how All he knew was he couldn’t watch Iris cry anymore. Barry pushed up his glasses and spoke.

“Iris, Chas Erickson is the dumbest person on the planet. Anyone who would give up the chance to be with you is an idiot. You are the best person I’ve ever met. You’re smart, kind, strong, beautiful, and you make everyone around you happy. I’ve never admired anyone more.”

Barry wanted to look her in the eyes but she kept them focused on the ground. He wondered if he should leave, or hug her, or keep talking… but then he saw the slightest smile on her face.

“Does anyone include Harrison Wells?”

They both laughed. Iris finally felt confident enough to look at him.

“Yes it does.” Barry eyed her hand on laying on the step and placed his hand over it. Iris smiled again.

Suddenly, Iris realized being betrayed by her date didn’t wasn’t that big of a deal. Who needs Chad when you have a bestfriend like Barry. He’s so sweet. And his hand is so warm. She looked into his eyes. Oh god, his deep green eyes with show much love in them. They were mesmerizing her.

Iris didn’t know what she was doing. It was like her body was moving without her mind’s approval. She was slowly leaning in closer to Barry. She just kept looking into those eyes. His lips were now just a few centimeters apart from her own.

“Iris” Barry said like a prayer. His breath hitched. What was happening?

Iris closed the small distance between them and they were kissing. At first Barry didn’t respond. He was shocked. This couldn’t be real life. It felt too good. Iris’s lips were soft and tasted of that cherry lip balm Barry always saw her applying. He started kissing her back.

Iris felt like she was being lifted off into space. She put her arms around Barry as if he was an anchor that could keep her from floating off. When he started moving his tongue she moaned. She’d never felt so much emotion kissing someone before.

Slowly and almost painfully, Iris pulled away from him. She felt guilty for kissing him when he had a girlfriend. His eyes remained closed for a minute but they opened when she put her hand back on his.

“I’m sorry.” Iris was more embarrassed now than ever. “I’ll tell Becky it was all me. You didn’t want that and I shouldn’t have done it. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just emotional tonight. I don’t know why I did that. I’m sor-”

“Iris,” Barry stopped her “I broke up with Becky”

Iris was shocked. That was too good to be true. Barry saw the disbelief on her face and nodded his head. “I remember how you told me once that you didn’t think she was right for me because we had to try so hard to be boyfriend and girlfriend. You were right. It should be natural. It should be two people who love each other and…..”

Barry brushed her hair back and cupped her face with his hands. “And are best friends.” He finished.

Iris started crying again, a happy cry this time.

“Barry, you’re the best person I’ve ever met. Your so nice and caring. You’re like a genius and I love it when you go off on nerdy rambles about science because I love seeing the passion in your eyes. I love being around you and when I’m not I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“I never stop thinking about you.” Barry said.

This time Barry kissed her. It started off slow and soft but became hungrier. When they separated they couldn’t stop smiling.